I'm Still Here

Part 1: Hold Me

"Daddy pick me up!" Ichika squealed.
Kaneki picked up his daughter and swung her into the air. Her laughter filled up the entire room.
"Again! One more time!" Ichika said.
"Alright you ready?" said Kaneki.
"Weeee!!!!" Ichika yelled.
"Kaneki, I got word from the Tokyo Security Committee...." Touka said suddenly.
Kaneki put Ichika down and headed into the office.
"Mommy is everything ok?" Ichika asked.
"Go with Shuu in the living room, Ichika. Mommy has to talk to Daddy about grown up things." she said in a soft tone.
"Ok.." Ichika said in a somewhat disappointed manner.
"Kaneki... they found Yomo near a bridge." Touka said shaking.
"What happened? Is he ok?" Kaneki said thinking back to the time he fought with him all those times ago.
"Yes, well he's been hurt pretty bad, they said he would make it." Touka said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Kaneki hugged Touka tightly. He remembered the nights Touka would cry and wonder if her uncle was still alive or not. It had been a few months since the rescue mission had preceded since Yomo had gone missing.
"That's not all Kaneki, they warned me about Dragon Orphans. I'm worried for Ichika. What if one of her classmates is one of the rare orphans that...." Touka said.
"Don't say things like that. Everything is going to be fine. Please Touka, you've been through a lot lately. I can't have you stressing over things that are my responsibility." Kaneki said firmly.

In the Living room.....
"Shuu, can you paint me a flower?! I like roses." Ichika said.
"Of course! My little princess. Anything to make you happy." Shuu said.
He went to get a canvas and started painting a rose among a garden landscape.
There was a loud noise outside and Ichika headed towards the window to see what it was.
"Shuu, what is that thing down the street? I heard a big noise." Ichika said as she pointed to what looked like a large sized Dragon Orphan.
Shuu immediately put down the painting and he picked Ichika up to set her back onto the couch.
"Ichika, I need to tell you something. I don't know if your teacher in school has told you already, but if you see anything like you saw today. Run away as far as you can ok? Don't try to approach it. Your parents and I want you to be safe." Shuu said seriously.
"Yes Shuu. Are you almost done with the flower?" Ichika said.
"Yes. Almost done. Aw yes!! Now it's done. Très Bien!" Shuu exclaimed.
"It's beautiful!!! Thank you, Shuu! I love it." Ichika said.
Kaneki and Touka walk out of the office.
"Ichika, do you want to go to the park? It looks like a nice day outside." Touka asks.
"Yeah! I want to fly the new kite Daddy gave me." Ichika said.
"Ok, grab your jacket and put on your shoes. We'll go right now." Touka said.
Shuu pulled Kaneki aside quickly and told him quietly about the Dragon Orphan Ichika pointed out to him.
"I'll be cautious. If anything, I'll let you know if I need assistance." Kaneki said.
Touka and Kaneki left the house with their daughter.
They headed down the street towards the park.
"It's such a nice day today." Kaneki says.
Once they reached the park, Touka helped Ichika set up her kite and the wind eventually carried it up in the sky.
Kaneki was on high alert after what Shuu had said to him.
"Daddy it's flying! Look! It's so cool!!" Ichika said.
"That's great, Ichika. I'm glad you like it." Kaneki said.
Kaneki spotted a Dragon Orphan coming towards the area they were currently at.
(No...) he thought to himself.
Not wanting to cause any alarm to his daughter he carefully tried to corner the Dragon Orphan but it suddenly headed for Ichika.
"Touka!!!" Kaneki screamed.
"Ichika... run away!! Go!!" Touka yelled.
Ichika was struck with fear and froze in her tracks.
Kaneki started going into half-kakuja state telling himself he no choice since he had to protect his daughter.
"Kaneki, please don't do this!! I can't... lose you right now!" Touka said.
The dragon orphan stabbed Ichika in the chest leaving her lying on the ground.
"Dad.. dy.... Mo...." Ichika struggled to say.
Kaneki strikes blades at the creature beating it to a pulp. It eventually lets out a loud squeal and dies.
Touka runs over to her daughter and screams.
"Mom.. my. Don't cry. I'm right here." Ichika says wincing in pain.
(Kaneki... please snap out of it.) Touka said to herself.
Kaneki eventually returns to his normal state then falls to ground, weak from the attack he just delivered.
"Daddy!! Daddy!!" Ichika yelled with tears in her eyes.
Kaneki tried to bring himself to his feet but kept stumbling.
He lay on the ground and eventually fell unconscious.