Nov. 26, 2014 2:33 PM
Chapter 1:
Spoiler (Click to View)
Tsukiyama Shuu was the kind of man that always got what he wanted no matter what, he'd tear down a forest of men to reach his goal. He was a connoisseur of a variety of things, mostly the classical arts of literature and music, but most intensely with food.
Being a ghoul made it relatively difficult for Tsukiyama to be much of a connoisseur, but the thrill of the chase was a large part of the fun. Finding someone that took his fancy and meticulously planning out the hunt and capture, he enjoyed it immensely. Took great pleasure from seeing the look of horror and betrayal fall over their faces, like an ancient Greek play.
Tsukiyama loved drama, a man with a grand nature. He moved with such a finesse, expressions so energetic that he'd make you tired just watching him. He also loved gossip, being the one who knew something that other's did not thrilled him so. He was the cat that got the cream and couldn't stop licking himself, he wanted things that no one else had, wanted to taste things that no one else had.
He was a monster by human definition, a menace and weirdo by ghoul definition, but still very much a ghoul.
Despite his outward portrayal of himself, Kaneki Ken was a very bitter boy. Spending large expanses of time alone caused him to internalise himself, his feelings, opinions and emotions. The loneliness had rotted his core, but he was oblivious to it.
The boy was desperate to please and not be a burden to anyone, a longing ground into him by harsh and difficult experiences. Watching his mother work herself to death for someone that didn't really deserve the effort, seeing someone who was supposed to care about him slowly turn sour toward him.
He kept himself to himself, that way he wouldn't upset anyone, that way he would be a bother to no one. Few tried to penetrate his circle of friends and even fewer broke through, Hide Nagachika. Hide was one stubborn and persistent carp, he stole his space next to Kaneki and anchored himself there.
At eighteen, Kaneki's life seemed on track, he'd only recently started college, he had his best friend right by his side and a date. Kaneki had a date with a beautiful girl who shared the same interests as him, he could hardly believe his luck.
Tsukiyama didn't know he'd been searching for something, longing, yearning for something so profound that even he, with his wide vocabulary, could not articulate. Didn't know until he saw the red spear from only one eye across the arena, Kaneki Ken proved himself far more valuable than Tsukiyama had first thought.
That intoxicating scent of the barriester first brought the boy onto his shopping list; Kaneki was already on his radar with the whole ward buzzing of the boy's escapade with one of those doves. The addition of Keneki's intelligence and impeccable taste were a delightful bonus, something to spice up his meal.
Watching the small boy hold his own against Taro-chan, a despicable thing more than twice Kaneki's size, was quite the entertainment. Seeing him put a lesson only learnt in text into practice was thrilling, but everything has an end and Kankei's was on the horizon or so Tsukiyama had planned.
When the boy raised his head to reveal his two toned nature, Tsukiyama could no longer bear the thought of sharing Kaneki with anyone. Such a rarity would be lost on these people, they would not understand the subtleties of a taste as complex as the boy before them. He swiftly drew their attention away from Kaneki and gave a feeble apology, not that it mattered. He would not let Kaneki stray too far from his plate.
Kankei felt true horror for the first time in his life, suffice to say that the date did not go as planned. The feeling of teeth sinking into his flesh was surreal, he didn't believe it was really happening. She ripped, tore and skewered him, her terrifying tendrils speared him, Kaneki quickly lost hope. Fate or something worse saved his life that night, dropping the fractured parts of a structure straight through the manic woman before him.
He dreamt of a warm welcoming embrace, the pressure of heat enveloping him.
The first thing he noticed was his change in taste, everything tasted terrible. All food he had once loved now tasted like raw sewage, it was disheartening and disturbing. He couldn't eat anything and it was starting to ruin him.
Kaneki happened upon a broadcast and then he knew, he didn't want to admit it to himself but he knew. The snapped blade of a steak knife was further confirmation. The way just standing on a crossroads with people passing him by had his mouth watering more than he could handle, the scent of human flesh was so tantalising. When he was confronted with his reflection, the sight that confronted him cemented the truth within Kaneki, but he still denied it.
He denied it right up until he swallowed, Touka forced the flesh down his throat. He was sated and he could no longer deny the fact that he was a ghoul.
The boy's connections worked against him, but really who could blame Tuskiyama for not being able to wait? He knew he'd been too hasty, knew he had miscalculated Kaneki's resilience. Tsukiyama admired the other's resourcefulness, had underestimated Kaneki again. And Kaneki had underestimated him again.
Tsukiyama ate himself, it reminded him of the ouroboros. Philosophy swirled around his mind, he felt oh so cultured. He sat in a dark corner sating and healing himself. Tsukiyama thought of the trap door spider, lying in wait for its prey to come to him.
Although, Kaneki would definitely not come to him. Tsukiyama knew this, but like the trap door spider he would wait until the time was right.
Kaneki found a place where there was a space for him, where he could learn what it meant to be a ghoul. He wanted to be of help to everyone there, wanted to repay them for their kindness. The people of Anteiku had saved his life, saved him from himself and saved his friend too. It was a debt he knew he could not repay, but he would try.
He met a number of people there, some would become his closest comrades, some would tinker in the shadows and some he would never truly know.
Touka who berated him and seemed ambivalent toward him, would come to his aid like a guardian angel. Yomo became something like an older brother to him, taught him how to fight, how to defend himself. Uta appeared indifferent but stable, someone who would arrive when he was most needed. Hinami took the place of little sister, someone to protect, someone to teach, someone who broguht a little light into his life. Nishiki had sharp edges and a sharp mind, he would be there in the time of need. The manager stood over him feeding him wisdom and advice, he became a father figure watching over his children with a stern but forgiving eye.
Tsukiyama would definitely never allow anyone else to have his Kaneki, hearing that the boy had been stolen had enraged him. A spark of an idea came to him in his moment of darkness, joining the inevitable rescue party may just put him on good footing with Kaneki. He smirked to himself, knowing that they would have no choice but to rely on his aid. The expedition would prove most interesting.
The rattling never died down, not even after the insect was no longer in his ear canal. Kaneki's experiences thus far had taught him that the strong always win, they crush the weak under foot.
His fingers and toes fell from him as he recited basic calculations, numbers reeled through his mind as his nerves prickled with pain. It was so overwhelming he could hardly feel anything.
Kaneki realised he'd been weak for his entire life, never taking charge of anything. All he wanted to do was protect his friends and as he was then he was incapable of doing so, but he'd change that. He would become the strong by consuming others.
He accepted his ghoul side, or so he told himself, in order to save himself and those around him. Kaneki would no longer be the one that needed saving, but become the one that saves others.
The sight before Tsukiyama was quite the sight to behold, a phoenix borne anew from the flames of despair. Kaneki stood on his own two feet draped in confidence and strength, Tsukiyama's mouth watered.
Although Kaneki's words of warning worked against him somewhat, they sent a shiver down Tsukiyama's spine. The boy had plumed white and with it he'd become a much more difficult prey, but nothing worth doing was easy and nothing easy was worth doing.
He would stick by Kaneki's side and slowly gain the boy's trust, he'd bide his time as trust was something earned and not taken. It would definitely prove to be an interesting place to be, he was sure that this new Kaneki would show him wondrous sights.
Ruthless teeth bared by pulled up rotten lips, Kaneki hated the taste, it drove him mad and the rattling echoed from his memories. He'd solider through though, he would do whatever he could to protect the people he cared about. He had a sword that he couldn't trust and a shield he could rest everything upon, people relied on and that depended on him. Kankei had to eat in order to become to stronger in order to protect his friends.
Only one shadow fell over him down in that dark place, the disgusting twist of a man wore a solid flat mask with an empty expression. Kaneki swallowed loudly, the warm blood ran down his throat.
"To live is to devour others," he heard himself say as if to explain himself, as if he'd ever need to explain this sort of thing to the man before him.
"That's a very literally translation of our existence Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama said simply with that exquisite voice of his. It was elaborate, fanciful and downright annoying, Kaneki held back his laughter.
"I think it's how everything continues to live," he said before licking the bone in his hands dry.
"How poetic," Tsukiyama considered, "I suppose you're right," he hummed in agreement, he watched Kaneki discard the bone upon the ever mounting pile.
Tsukiyama watched Kaneki fowl his flesh for the sake of strength, it thrilled him but also left a bad taste in his mouth.
Something quivered inside him at the twitch of Kaneki's neck, that twitch had continued to bother Tsukiyama with no real cause. He knew that it was yet another new habit that the other had picked up from his time with that brute, but why did it ruffle him so?
Tsukiyama chalked it up to having someone else leave their mark upon his prey, but there was a deeper quaking within him. Things he thought he'd drowned rose to the surface, they stared up at him from beneath the water. Kaneki stuck his finger in his ear, a deep frown spread across Tsukiyama's face at the sight.
"Is something bothering you Kaneki-kun?" He tilted his head with real concern, which irked him.
"No," the boy said simply, the sound was an echo from the past, sweet and innocent. Tsukiyama both loved and hated it in equal measure.
Being a ghoul made it relatively difficult for Tsukiyama to be much of a connoisseur, but the thrill of the chase was a large part of the fun. Finding someone that took his fancy and meticulously planning out the hunt and capture, he enjoyed it immensely. Took great pleasure from seeing the look of horror and betrayal fall over their faces, like an ancient Greek play.
Tsukiyama loved drama, a man with a grand nature. He moved with such a finesse, expressions so energetic that he'd make you tired just watching him. He also loved gossip, being the one who knew something that other's did not thrilled him so. He was the cat that got the cream and couldn't stop licking himself, he wanted things that no one else had, wanted to taste things that no one else had.
He was a monster by human definition, a menace and weirdo by ghoul definition, but still very much a ghoul.
Despite his outward portrayal of himself, Kaneki Ken was a very bitter boy. Spending large expanses of time alone caused him to internalise himself, his feelings, opinions and emotions. The loneliness had rotted his core, but he was oblivious to it.
The boy was desperate to please and not be a burden to anyone, a longing ground into him by harsh and difficult experiences. Watching his mother work herself to death for someone that didn't really deserve the effort, seeing someone who was supposed to care about him slowly turn sour toward him.
He kept himself to himself, that way he wouldn't upset anyone, that way he would be a bother to no one. Few tried to penetrate his circle of friends and even fewer broke through, Hide Nagachika. Hide was one stubborn and persistent carp, he stole his space next to Kaneki and anchored himself there.
At eighteen, Kaneki's life seemed on track, he'd only recently started college, he had his best friend right by his side and a date. Kaneki had a date with a beautiful girl who shared the same interests as him, he could hardly believe his luck.
Tsukiyama didn't know he'd been searching for something, longing, yearning for something so profound that even he, with his wide vocabulary, could not articulate. Didn't know until he saw the red spear from only one eye across the arena, Kaneki Ken proved himself far more valuable than Tsukiyama had first thought.
That intoxicating scent of the barriester first brought the boy onto his shopping list; Kaneki was already on his radar with the whole ward buzzing of the boy's escapade with one of those doves. The addition of Keneki's intelligence and impeccable taste were a delightful bonus, something to spice up his meal.
Watching the small boy hold his own against Taro-chan, a despicable thing more than twice Kaneki's size, was quite the entertainment. Seeing him put a lesson only learnt in text into practice was thrilling, but everything has an end and Kankei's was on the horizon or so Tsukiyama had planned.
When the boy raised his head to reveal his two toned nature, Tsukiyama could no longer bear the thought of sharing Kaneki with anyone. Such a rarity would be lost on these people, they would not understand the subtleties of a taste as complex as the boy before them. He swiftly drew their attention away from Kaneki and gave a feeble apology, not that it mattered. He would not let Kaneki stray too far from his plate.
Kankei felt true horror for the first time in his life, suffice to say that the date did not go as planned. The feeling of teeth sinking into his flesh was surreal, he didn't believe it was really happening. She ripped, tore and skewered him, her terrifying tendrils speared him, Kaneki quickly lost hope. Fate or something worse saved his life that night, dropping the fractured parts of a structure straight through the manic woman before him.
He dreamt of a warm welcoming embrace, the pressure of heat enveloping him.
The first thing he noticed was his change in taste, everything tasted terrible. All food he had once loved now tasted like raw sewage, it was disheartening and disturbing. He couldn't eat anything and it was starting to ruin him.
Kaneki happened upon a broadcast and then he knew, he didn't want to admit it to himself but he knew. The snapped blade of a steak knife was further confirmation. The way just standing on a crossroads with people passing him by had his mouth watering more than he could handle, the scent of human flesh was so tantalising. When he was confronted with his reflection, the sight that confronted him cemented the truth within Kaneki, but he still denied it.
He denied it right up until he swallowed, Touka forced the flesh down his throat. He was sated and he could no longer deny the fact that he was a ghoul.
The boy's connections worked against him, but really who could blame Tuskiyama for not being able to wait? He knew he'd been too hasty, knew he had miscalculated Kaneki's resilience. Tsukiyama admired the other's resourcefulness, had underestimated Kaneki again. And Kaneki had underestimated him again.
Tsukiyama ate himself, it reminded him of the ouroboros. Philosophy swirled around his mind, he felt oh so cultured. He sat in a dark corner sating and healing himself. Tsukiyama thought of the trap door spider, lying in wait for its prey to come to him.
Although, Kaneki would definitely not come to him. Tsukiyama knew this, but like the trap door spider he would wait until the time was right.
Kaneki found a place where there was a space for him, where he could learn what it meant to be a ghoul. He wanted to be of help to everyone there, wanted to repay them for their kindness. The people of Anteiku had saved his life, saved him from himself and saved his friend too. It was a debt he knew he could not repay, but he would try.
He met a number of people there, some would become his closest comrades, some would tinker in the shadows and some he would never truly know.
Touka who berated him and seemed ambivalent toward him, would come to his aid like a guardian angel. Yomo became something like an older brother to him, taught him how to fight, how to defend himself. Uta appeared indifferent but stable, someone who would arrive when he was most needed. Hinami took the place of little sister, someone to protect, someone to teach, someone who broguht a little light into his life. Nishiki had sharp edges and a sharp mind, he would be there in the time of need. The manager stood over him feeding him wisdom and advice, he became a father figure watching over his children with a stern but forgiving eye.
Tsukiyama would definitely never allow anyone else to have his Kaneki, hearing that the boy had been stolen had enraged him. A spark of an idea came to him in his moment of darkness, joining the inevitable rescue party may just put him on good footing with Kaneki. He smirked to himself, knowing that they would have no choice but to rely on his aid. The expedition would prove most interesting.
The rattling never died down, not even after the insect was no longer in his ear canal. Kaneki's experiences thus far had taught him that the strong always win, they crush the weak under foot.
His fingers and toes fell from him as he recited basic calculations, numbers reeled through his mind as his nerves prickled with pain. It was so overwhelming he could hardly feel anything.
Kaneki realised he'd been weak for his entire life, never taking charge of anything. All he wanted to do was protect his friends and as he was then he was incapable of doing so, but he'd change that. He would become the strong by consuming others.
He accepted his ghoul side, or so he told himself, in order to save himself and those around him. Kaneki would no longer be the one that needed saving, but become the one that saves others.
The sight before Tsukiyama was quite the sight to behold, a phoenix borne anew from the flames of despair. Kaneki stood on his own two feet draped in confidence and strength, Tsukiyama's mouth watered.
Although Kaneki's words of warning worked against him somewhat, they sent a shiver down Tsukiyama's spine. The boy had plumed white and with it he'd become a much more difficult prey, but nothing worth doing was easy and nothing easy was worth doing.
He would stick by Kaneki's side and slowly gain the boy's trust, he'd bide his time as trust was something earned and not taken. It would definitely prove to be an interesting place to be, he was sure that this new Kaneki would show him wondrous sights.
Ruthless teeth bared by pulled up rotten lips, Kaneki hated the taste, it drove him mad and the rattling echoed from his memories. He'd solider through though, he would do whatever he could to protect the people he cared about. He had a sword that he couldn't trust and a shield he could rest everything upon, people relied on and that depended on him. Kankei had to eat in order to become to stronger in order to protect his friends.
Only one shadow fell over him down in that dark place, the disgusting twist of a man wore a solid flat mask with an empty expression. Kaneki swallowed loudly, the warm blood ran down his throat.
"To live is to devour others," he heard himself say as if to explain himself, as if he'd ever need to explain this sort of thing to the man before him.
"That's a very literally translation of our existence Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama said simply with that exquisite voice of his. It was elaborate, fanciful and downright annoying, Kaneki held back his laughter.
"I think it's how everything continues to live," he said before licking the bone in his hands dry.
"How poetic," Tsukiyama considered, "I suppose you're right," he hummed in agreement, he watched Kaneki discard the bone upon the ever mounting pile.
Tsukiyama watched Kaneki fowl his flesh for the sake of strength, it thrilled him but also left a bad taste in his mouth.
Something quivered inside him at the twitch of Kaneki's neck, that twitch had continued to bother Tsukiyama with no real cause. He knew that it was yet another new habit that the other had picked up from his time with that brute, but why did it ruffle him so?
Tsukiyama chalked it up to having someone else leave their mark upon his prey, but there was a deeper quaking within him. Things he thought he'd drowned rose to the surface, they stared up at him from beneath the water. Kaneki stuck his finger in his ear, a deep frown spread across Tsukiyama's face at the sight.
"Is something bothering you Kaneki-kun?" He tilted his head with real concern, which irked him.
"No," the boy said simply, the sound was an echo from the past, sweet and innocent. Tsukiyama both loved and hated it in equal measure.
Chapter 2:
Spoiler (Click to View)
The handkerchief that Tsukiyama had in his inside breast pocket was a heavy weight on his mind. He felt like some kind of junkie, but the smell of Kaneki's blood was so intoxicating that he couldn't have cared less.
At first it was a tantalising appetiser for the main course, it made his mouth water with anticipation. It slowly turned into something else, a lead like reminder held close to his heart. His fingers constantly twitch with the need to at least hold it.
When Tsukiyama is at his most alone, in the complete darkness of the night, he may admit to only himself that it might be a sentimental thing.
Kaneki's hand delved into the hot sticky mess, all he thought about was being strong. Numbers reeled off in his mind as bone twisted and snapped. He brought the severed arm to his mouth and tore the flesh away from the bone with his teeth, the overwhelming stench made his stomach churn.
filthy wretched ghouls, their bones littered the floor of the second level basement, he hadn't yet figured out what to do with them and wasn't about to turn to anyone else with this macabre issue. Kaneki gorged himself on the tattered bodies, feeling himself grow stronger with each cleaned cadaver. However, this strength came with a heavy price; his new transforming kagune was hard to control, he could feel himself shifting closer to the edge of the cliff of insanity each time he let it loose.
He spent his nights eating other ghouls and sparing with Tsukiyama all in the effort to gain more strength, but it was still not enough.
"Rome was not built in a day Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama said between pants, hands braced on his knees as he tried to catch his breath whilst a deep tear in his shoulder and the cuts in his side slowly began to heal. Kaneki stood up straight and smacked the side of his head, he'd almost forgotten that Tsukiyama took far longer to regenerate than he did.
"Let's take a break," Kaneki's voice was stern and most definitely not a suggestion.
"You mean to continue?" Tsukiyama raised a brow, chest still heaving.
"Is that a problem?" Kaneki tilted his head, his tone left no room for negotiation.
"Of course not," Tsukiyama smiled, Kaneki didn't miss the pained twitch of his mouth.
"Does this please you?" Kaneki said right out of nowhere, Tsukiyama wasn't quite sure that he'd even heard the other. They sat side by side in the first level basement that served as their sparing room, sweat rolled off their bodies in waves.
"I don't quite get your meaning Kaneki-kun," Tuskiyama twisted his head to get a better view at the other's contemplative face.
"Do you get a kick out of not getting what you want," Kaneki turned fully toward Tsukiyama so fast that the other had to quell the urge to scramble backward. "I'm sat inches away from you and yet you're sat there doing nothing about it, doesn't it pain you having what you want so close?" Kaneki's words were lightly dipped in darkness, giving off the slightest hint of his sinister intent.
Tsukiyama was no fool, extremely dense yes, but not a complete idiot. And thus he knew that his continued lust for Kaneki's flesh would not go unnoticed by the boy, but that didn't mean he would just give up and go home.
"What kind of unrefined monster do you take me for?" He said, pretending to be taken aback. "You know I've turned over a new leaf, I am your sword now Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama gently placed his hand over his heart and Kaneki snapped one of his fingers. The sound was carp deafening, it echoed around inside Tsukiyama's brain cutting through his consciousness. "I really wish you would stop doing that," he frowned both at Kaneki's action and himself for saying such a thing, as if it had anything to do with him at all.
"Why?" Kaneki's soft yet sharp voice echoed the question he was asking himself.
"You're letting that vile man taint your mannerisms," Tsukiyama was yet again surprised by his runaway mouth. It showed in his eyes and in Kaneki's silent reaction. The boy reached his hand out toward Tsukiyama slowly and ruffled the older boy's hair with a soft smile, Tsukiyama's chest suddenly turned overwhelmingly warm.
"Finally, the truth falls from your mouth and you look so surprised by that," Kaneki sounded amused, Tsukiyama felt much like a dog being praised by its master.
"Is it such a shock that I would tell the truth?" The words came out wrong as Tsukiyama batted Kaneki's hand away, but it all just rubbed him the wrong way.
"Such a spiteful child aren't you," Kaneki said almost giggling to himself, hands resting lifelessly in his lap. The pout on Tsukiyama's lips was so faint that Kaneki really had to fight himself from laughing at the other.
"It just irritates me, the way you let the people that wanted to destroy you into your body," Tsukiyama's frame rattled as the words shuddered out of him, he couldn't stop his mouth from moving no matter how hard he tried. "They don't even deserve the fine grace of your kagune," he huffed eyes trained on the fractured ground, "let alone the pleasure of your fist." Tsukiyama ground his teeth together, willing the words to stop.
Kaneki tilted his head, cracked a smile and cracked his finger.
At first it was a tantalising appetiser for the main course, it made his mouth water with anticipation. It slowly turned into something else, a lead like reminder held close to his heart. His fingers constantly twitch with the need to at least hold it.
When Tsukiyama is at his most alone, in the complete darkness of the night, he may admit to only himself that it might be a sentimental thing.
Kaneki's hand delved into the hot sticky mess, all he thought about was being strong. Numbers reeled off in his mind as bone twisted and snapped. He brought the severed arm to his mouth and tore the flesh away from the bone with his teeth, the overwhelming stench made his stomach churn.
filthy wretched ghouls, their bones littered the floor of the second level basement, he hadn't yet figured out what to do with them and wasn't about to turn to anyone else with this macabre issue. Kaneki gorged himself on the tattered bodies, feeling himself grow stronger with each cleaned cadaver. However, this strength came with a heavy price; his new transforming kagune was hard to control, he could feel himself shifting closer to the edge of the cliff of insanity each time he let it loose.
He spent his nights eating other ghouls and sparing with Tsukiyama all in the effort to gain more strength, but it was still not enough.
"Rome was not built in a day Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama said between pants, hands braced on his knees as he tried to catch his breath whilst a deep tear in his shoulder and the cuts in his side slowly began to heal. Kaneki stood up straight and smacked the side of his head, he'd almost forgotten that Tsukiyama took far longer to regenerate than he did.
"Let's take a break," Kaneki's voice was stern and most definitely not a suggestion.
"You mean to continue?" Tsukiyama raised a brow, chest still heaving.
"Is that a problem?" Kaneki tilted his head, his tone left no room for negotiation.
"Of course not," Tsukiyama smiled, Kaneki didn't miss the pained twitch of his mouth.
"Does this please you?" Kaneki said right out of nowhere, Tsukiyama wasn't quite sure that he'd even heard the other. They sat side by side in the first level basement that served as their sparing room, sweat rolled off their bodies in waves.
"I don't quite get your meaning Kaneki-kun," Tuskiyama twisted his head to get a better view at the other's contemplative face.
"Do you get a kick out of not getting what you want," Kaneki turned fully toward Tsukiyama so fast that the other had to quell the urge to scramble backward. "I'm sat inches away from you and yet you're sat there doing nothing about it, doesn't it pain you having what you want so close?" Kaneki's words were lightly dipped in darkness, giving off the slightest hint of his sinister intent.
Tsukiyama was no fool, extremely dense yes, but not a complete idiot. And thus he knew that his continued lust for Kaneki's flesh would not go unnoticed by the boy, but that didn't mean he would just give up and go home.
"What kind of unrefined monster do you take me for?" He said, pretending to be taken aback. "You know I've turned over a new leaf, I am your sword now Kaneki-kun," Tsukiyama gently placed his hand over his heart and Kaneki snapped one of his fingers. The sound was carp deafening, it echoed around inside Tsukiyama's brain cutting through his consciousness. "I really wish you would stop doing that," he frowned both at Kaneki's action and himself for saying such a thing, as if it had anything to do with him at all.
"Why?" Kaneki's soft yet sharp voice echoed the question he was asking himself.
"You're letting that vile man taint your mannerisms," Tsukiyama was yet again surprised by his runaway mouth. It showed in his eyes and in Kaneki's silent reaction. The boy reached his hand out toward Tsukiyama slowly and ruffled the older boy's hair with a soft smile, Tsukiyama's chest suddenly turned overwhelmingly warm.
"Finally, the truth falls from your mouth and you look so surprised by that," Kaneki sounded amused, Tsukiyama felt much like a dog being praised by its master.
"Is it such a shock that I would tell the truth?" The words came out wrong as Tsukiyama batted Kaneki's hand away, but it all just rubbed him the wrong way.
"Such a spiteful child aren't you," Kaneki said almost giggling to himself, hands resting lifelessly in his lap. The pout on Tsukiyama's lips was so faint that Kaneki really had to fight himself from laughing at the other.
"It just irritates me, the way you let the people that wanted to destroy you into your body," Tsukiyama's frame rattled as the words shuddered out of him, he couldn't stop his mouth from moving no matter how hard he tried. "They don't even deserve the fine grace of your kagune," he huffed eyes trained on the fractured ground, "let alone the pleasure of your fist." Tsukiyama ground his teeth together, willing the words to stop.
Kaneki tilted his head, cracked a smile and cracked his finger.
