Rules of Engagement: BOOK 2 [Tokyo Ghoul: Female!Kaneki x Tsukiyama]

Rule 9: Don't Speak for the Dead

Ken woke up six hours later, confused but well-rested. After a moment, she recognized the blanket and the apartment.
"Hide?" she called out, stretching.
"At your service," he said, coming out of his bedroom with a smile on his face. "Did you sleep well?"
Ken nodded, dazed. "What time is it?"
Hide looked at the clock. "About 9 PM."
Ken's eyes widened. "Oh, shit, my aunt..."
Hide just shook his head. "Don't worry. I called your aunt and told her you were spending the night to help me study."
"But she's probably just going to think I'm sleeping with you," Ken mumbled, looking down.
Hide just laughed, causing Ken to look up at him.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Well, I sort of might have hinted that I maybe wasn't into girls," Hide said, laughing.
Ken just blinked. "But you're the most girl-driven person I know."
"But your aunt doesn't know that."
Ken's lips slowly twisted into a smile. "Hide, what would I do without you?"
Hide pretended to think hard. "Probably buy your own couch."
Ken just rolled her eyes. "Seriously, thank you."
Hide nodded, throwing her a thumbs up. "Now you owe me a few rounds of Call of Duty."
"Fine," Ken said. "Dibs on the 205 Brecci."
Hide fake-pouted. "Fine, I'll just take the Argus."
The two argued over what guns they where going to use until Ken's phone buzzed from within Hide's pocket. He took it out, hiding it from Ken's view, and checked her messages.

***

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Ken
Please stop ignoring me Ken
I really want to take you
**TALK
**talk to
Sorry
Ignore that
I'm just worried
Are you okay?
You have been ignoring me for over 7 hours now
I don't want to seem clingy but
I really wish you'd pick up your phone
Ken
Ken?
What did I do wrong?
Please tell me and I'll fix it
Ken?
Look I'm sorry for talking to Hide about you
But I was just concerned
Okay?
I'm trying to keep all your rules
Ken
Kennn
Please reply
I'm begging you

KenYouLeaveMeAlone:
I hate you and you're disgusting
I'm breaking up with you
Right here right now
So leave me alone and stop texting me
😡😡😡🔪🔪🔪

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Hide please give Ken her phone

***

Hide sighed and handed the phone to Ken, quickly deleting his message first.
Ken set down her video game controller and picked up the phone with a sigh.

***

Kenyouleavemealone:
What do you want

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Ken
I need to know that you're okay

Kenyouleavemealone:
I feel like that's all this relationship is
Me freaking out
And you being worried
You're more like a nurse than a boyfriend
But maybe a nurse is what I need rn?
Idk
I'm tired
Ignore those messages

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Ken :(
I really want this to work out for us
But you keep pushing me away
Do you feel guilty?

Kenyouleavemealone:
About what?

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Your mom, or your dad, or even Ayato
Cause none of that is your fault
I just want you to know that

Kenyouleavemealone:
But you don't know that??
Maybe I was the reason my mom overworked herself
Maybe I should have helped her more
Instead of fighting for her attention
Maybe if I'd been better
Dad wouldn't have died when I was only 4
Maybe if I'd been stronger
I wouldn't have spent that night with Ayato

Shuuflydontbotherme:
But your mom and dad would want you to be happy, right?
So stop blaming yourself and let yourself be loved and cared for
Why is that so hard for you, to let me love you?

Kenyouleavemealone:
Rule #9

Shuuflydontbotherme:
Not another one
Ken
Don't

Kenyouleavemealone:
Don't speak for the dead
You don't know what my parents would say
Or what they'd want for me
You never even met them
I barely even knew them tbh
And I'm ashamed of myself
Frick
Nvm
Forget it
But rule #9 still exists
I gotta go
Bye

***

Ken threw her phone at the ground and picked up her controller.
Hide didn't ask what Shuu said, just smiled sadly and started a new game.
Afterwards, Ken went back to sleep on Hide's couch, and he sighed before going to sleep in his own room. He had an idea of what was going on with Ken, but it wasn't his place to tell Shuu. Hide wanted to protect Ken from everything, but there were some battles she would have to fight - and lose - on her own.

A/N: am I updating too much? Weird question to ask...I guess I'm just too impatient to create suspense and leave you all hanging