Chapter Text
“I want to help you”
Hide would’ve liked to think he was prepared for this. He knew coming down that there was nothing else, after all. Kaneki had a gaping hole in his side and there was no one in sight; the nearest corpse –human or ghoul— was either by the sewer entrance in plain sight of the CCG, or further down the tunnels before the unforgiving god of death. There was no one else. Nothing else. Nothing that he could do to save his friend this final, heart wrenching grief.
Besides let him die. Let him face the god of death already far too broken to be salvaged. And there was no way, not while he breathed, that Hide would let that happen. (He choked back a grin. While he breathed. To think there would come a day he would mean those words literally).
But still, the shock and the pain of it overwhelmed him. The feeling of blunt teeth sinking into his vulnerable flesh, drawing blood and cracking bone, made him recoil, the pain drawing a cry from his lips.
For a moment, everything was still, and then his legs gave out beneath him as he realized what he had just done.
He had screamed.
He had screamed and flinched and –for a dreadful, unforgiveable second— he had wanted to run away.
Run away from Kaneki.
From his best friend.
From a Ghoul.
The thought alone brought tears to his eyes. The knowledge that Kaneki could’ve been conscious. Could’ve heard and have nightmares about this each night for the rest of whatever life he might’ve been capable of having if he survived all this, tore through his very soul.
Hide was going to die –he didn’t plan to, he hoped he wouldn’t have to, but let’s just face the facts. (He was scared. If he dies, then Kaneki would be all alone. But it couldn’t be helped…)
There is only one way into the abyss.
It was either him or Kaneki. And Hide was just far too selfish to let it be Kaneki.
He hoped against all hope that, as he forced himself forward to grasp his best friend’s shaking form, drawing his head close, Kaneki was too far gone to remember any of this. Please let him not remember. He can’t have the last memory he might’ve just given his most precious person be rejection. Please don’t let it be this, either.
He closed his eyes, takes a deep breath as soft murmurs left his lips. “It’s alright. Shh. I’m here Kaneki. Sheesh, you’re such a crybaby” he whispered, even as his own tears flowed from his eyes, pain flaring through his entire nervous system as more of his flesh disappeared from his body, barely leaving the ability to form any coherent thought. Kaneki had faced more pain than this, and he survived. Hide might not, but he knew Kaneki would be alright. They made a deal, after all. “That’s it… it’s alright… You’ll be fine… You’ll be fine…”
You haven’t done anything wrong… and yet you’ve suffered so much.
Hide knew even then that everything was pretty much his own fault.
His fault for not talking to Kaneki.
His fault for not showing how he accepted him earlier, human or ghoul or half-and-half.
His fault for not looking hard enough.
His fault for not contacting the CCG when he realized Kaneki was missing.
His fault for not warning Anteiku about the dangerous ghouls he’d seen when they first appeared.
His fault for acting like he didn’t know anything when he could have helped. He should have helped.
And his biggest fault for letting him go on that stupid date in the first place.
Hide would’ve taken the blame. He would’ve taken it all if anyone had known. But he was just that good at hiding. And in the quiet darkness of the sewers, no one would ever really know. Except maybe Kaneki, but Hide knew there was no way Kaneki would ever blame anyone but himself, no matter how he may have changed. Hide figures he might’ve gotten that from him.
He felt his lip twitch in a last ditch effort to smile. If I could go back, I would take all your pain he thought, touching his forehead to the half-ghoul's, wondering if the way he caressed his most important person’s hair was real; wonders if the feel of lips, tacky with his own blood, pressed against his own was just a product of his desperate imagination, his consciousness barely hanging by a thread as the searing pain finally began to seep into gentle darkness.
And then Hide felt the world tilt on its axis, jarring him awake as he felt the ground give away beneath him, nausea far removed from the feeling of blood loss rushing through, his head spinning and everything around him blurring into indiscernible nothing…
And then everything stilled, bright white light suddenly searing through his eyelids, making him double over on the table, his hands shooting up to clutch at his pounding head and… Table? Hands? What...
The blood was gone, the darkness, the sewers, the pain, and…
“Hide!! Are you even listening to me??”
Kaneki was in front of him.
Not the white-haired, broken half-kakuja, but Kaneki. Kaneki as he was before: soft black hair framing mildly irritated grey eyes, giving way to a flash of worry as he realized Hide wasn’t responding as he usually does. “Hide? Are you alright? You look a little pale…”
Hide has no idea what was going on, but somehow Kaneki was here. And Hide was making him worry. And Hide never makes his best friend worry.
“Aww, what's this? What's this? Are you worried about little old me?” he tried to coo, summoning the brightest grin he could manage in his current mental state, trying to mask the way his head reeled as he tried, desperately, to make sense of the situation. Mid-afternoon. Anteiku. Coffee. The slight blush on Kaneki’s cheeks. “You were saying?”
Kaneki rolled his eyes, and relief and nostalgia surged through Hide in waves as he realized he hasn’t seen that trivial look in forever. It was so… normal. “A date, Hide. A bookstore date!”
“With me? You asking me out? Gee I’m flattered!!” Hide teased, taking in the black-haired teen’s flustered protest as he finally got himself to calm down, to take in and process and not panic.
There was a familiar book on Kaneki’s side of the table, The Black Goat’s Egg. The coffee shop they were in -- and indeed it was Anteiku-- was quite full; the delicious aroma of different brews of coffee wafting gently through the air, Touka-chan flitting about from one table to another with her amiable persona... and Kaneki was talking about a date.
It seems absurd, Hide knows –perhaps he died and went to heaven, or he could be dreaming, probably stuck in a hospital somewhere in a coma— but he thinks he’s beginning to understand what was happening. Then, the bell chimed behind him, and the sudden star-struck look in his best friend’s eyes was the final piece that made everything click into place.
He can think about the how and why later. Right now he’s got other things to worry about.
“That’s her… that’s the one I…”
Hide had never met Kamishiro Rize face to face. His first and only impression of her in this very Coffee shop (in this very frame of time, even. But he’ll think on that later) had been that of an cunning intelligent, vain beautiful woman with far too many secrets. He’d thought she might’ve been a sadist behind her glasses. He’d thought she wouldn’t even spare Kaneki a second glance. He’d thought that even if she did, she’s just drop him like a fly the moment she got bored. (Hide had thought all this, but he still let him go.)
(…He just looked so happy that-).
Looking at her now, knowing that she’s the infamous ‘Binge Eater’ ghoul that caused so much tragedy, he was able to see all her tells. See just how calculated her actions are, how her eyes shone like an insatiable predator constantly searching for pray, how her tongue moved subtly behind her lips. It made him feel sick.
“I don’t like her.” he lets out, ignoring Kaneki’s squeak of outrage, looking away when the girl (ghoul) caught his eye, instead regarding the cooling cappuccino in front of him before picking it up and taking a large gulp. His hands were shaking, he noticed, and he took in a couple of calming breaths. “’sides, don’t you think she’s a bit too much for you?” he flashed his friend a playful grin to hide the way his stomach twisted in dread.
He needed to get his best friend away from her.
Kaneki pursed his lips, offended. He took a sip of his coffee. “O-Of course… I know that we wouldn’t go well together.” he mumbled, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he peeked around him like a secret admirer --which he is. “I’m happy enough just seeing her.”
Hide let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “You’re such a hopeless romantic.” He’s already heard this before, but it seriously sucks whenever he sees his best friend like this; it makes him want to do anything but crush his dreams. (And that had been his first mistake, hadn’t it? First in a loooong line of them.) “But trust me Kaneki, this gal’s a no go. She’d eat you up and leave you for dead. Don’t even bother.” he phrased it lightly, jokingly, but his stomach lurched as his words rang just a bit too true. And it wasn’t even that simple. Suddenly, he just couldn’t take it anymore; the atmosphere, the scent of coffee, the nostalgia and the foreshadowing and the pounding in his skull that he realized never really went away no matter how much he tried to ignore it. He had to get out and clear his head, but when he stood up, he found his knees to be too weak to carry his weight.
“H-Hide??” hands on his shoulders steadied him. “Are you alright? Do I need to take you to the hospital?” Kaneki’s concerned grey eyes stared into his own, searching, and Hide felt the last of his fake energy drain out of his system.
Kaneki was here. And he was safe, and ok, and worried about him.
Glancing just over his shoulder, though, he spotted purple eyes eying them both curiously, and he repressed the urge to flinch.
“Actually… yeah. That might be a good idea. Man I feel terrible, help me up won’t you?” he grinned, wrapping his arm over his best friend’s shoulders and playfully leaning his weight on him, to which Kaneki only rolled his eyes. It sent warmth pooling in Hide’s stomach. He hated making Kaneki worry, but he honestly really missed this.
“Seriously.” the smaller boy sighed, supporting him as he placed some money on the table before grabbing his book and walking him out of the Café.
The feel of the crisp autumn air served to clear a bit of the fog in Hide’s mind, and he took in a deep, cleansing breath. He had to wonder if maybe he’d been dreaming, as now, finally outside with the afternoon sun in his face, he could barely grasp his thoughts, his worries.
The sewers. The raid on Anteiku. The CCG. The white-haired Kaneki. Just how true were those? How true could they be when he can remember laughing with Kaneki about his lame dating plans just a few minutes ago and—
He paused.
Yes. He can remember that conversation as if it was just minutes ago, as opposed to two whole years. He can remember his Asian History class yesterday, that he had to go to work in ten minutes. That Kaneki had been eating him alive not too long ago.
He shook his head vigorously, memories from before and before clashing in his mind, seeking dominance, making him dizzy and warping his sense of reality, and he tried desperately to push his thoughts into some form of order…
“Hide?”
“I’m… I’m ok, ‘Neki. Really.” he grumbled out, scratching his cheek. “Just need to go home, I feel... really sleepy..” he yawned, realizing that yes, his consciousness was indeed fading slowly, and he was quite desperate for his favorite pillow…
If anything, though, Kaneki just looked even more concerned. “Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” the smaller teen asked, placing a hand on his forehead.
Hide sighed at the comforting gesture, nuzzling into the other’s palm until the teen pulled away. “I’m fine. Just tired. Guess I finally hit the limit with my late-night gaming sessions.” he grinned, making Kaneki roll his eyes once again. But Hide could still see the small tug at the corner of the other’s lips, and yes… Man I really missed this. “Hey Kaneki…” he began.
“Hm?”
“Let’s go home?”
~_~_~
I wonder if Hide’s alright… he was acting so weird…
Two hours later found Kaneki browsing through the fiction section in his favorite bookstore with a slight knit in his brow.
The blond had frozen three steps into his apartment, looking around as if he’d never been there before, but it hardly took a second before he was back to his cheerful self, practically dragging Kaneki to his room and then crashing unceremoniously into a heap on his bed.
Although it was well hidden, Kaneki had seen how dazed his friend had been throughout the trip, and he couldn’t help but worry because, as distracted as Hide may sometimes be, he was never dazed. Especially since, thinking back on the day’s events, Kaneki found no reason for his friend to suddenly act like that.
…except maybe…
“I don’t like her”
Kaneki deflated. Hide had always been a great judge of character –his instincts aren’t just limited to whatever Kaneki was thinking, of course, and could be frighteningly accurate a lot of the time.
This time, though, Kaneki couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He doesn’t easily find people he likes, and this girl was almost perfect in his eyes. He trusts Hide’s judgement –of course he does— but this one still upsets him.
…maybe he took a liking to her too? But no. Hide isn’t like that. He shook his head, as sudden traitorous thoughts filtered through his mind. It was possible, sure, but Hide isn’t the type to discourage someone just because they had a crush on the same person. He’d have said it out loud and then propose a challenge like he did with Kirihito in middle school. …not that I’d ever be able to compete with him though. He sighed at the thought, resigned.
Hide was like the sun –bright, energetic, friendly and talented. Kaneki had always looked up to his best friend, always marveled at his ability to make anyone feel better with just a smile. He’d always wondered why it was that Hide was still hanging out with an introvert bookworm like Kaneki when he could be off on some grand adventure with someone more fun. Thinking about it like that, Kaneki wonders if maybe it was him, if he was somehow holding Hide back in some way, and—
“You seem upset. Can you not find what you’re looking for?”
Kaneki jumped at the voice, having been so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t realize someone had crept in so close. “S-Sorry. No, I mean I was just browsing through titles and… I mean I was just thinking about things and…” he turned around and his brain promptly shut down as amused violet eyes met his own.
He gaped.
The girl from the coffee shop (i-it’s really her!! And she’s talking to me??!!) smiled warmly at him, and Kaneki almost fainted then and there.
“You’re that guy from Anteiku right? The one reading the same Takatsuki novel as I am?” she asked. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but notice. Was your friend ok?”
It took a few moments for Kaneki’s brain to register these words through the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He feels so lightheaded… (S-She knows who I am… she knows who I am!!) He could’ve jumped for joy. “Y-Y-Yes!! That’s me. Uhm, m-my name is Kaneki!! And Hide is alright. I just took him home.” he introduced himself eagerly.
“I see. So Kaneki-kun, then? My name is Kamishiro Rize.” she smiled again, taking his offered hand. (Her hands are so soft…). “Are you a fan of Takatsuki-shii’s works?”
“Y-Yes!! I LOVE Takatsuki Sen! I love Mysteries!!”
“Eh? So do I”
Kaneki was on cloud nine. He'd never thought this day would come, but here he was, in his favorite bookstore, somehow talking to his crush about the things he loves most.
Could it be that his luck was finally looking up?
“U-Uhm!! Are you free right now? W-Would you mind having coffee with me for a bit?”
~_~_~
It didn’t take long before Hide grew restless, and he spared no thought into trading his pillow for his bike and riding off to work. He knew he was late, but it was better than staying in that dark room filled with memories of too many sleepless nights, of the aura of loneliness and worry permeating the air.
It was just so ironic that it felt even emptier without all his research pinned up all over the place. I never did find him. Not until it was too late.
But that didn’t matter now. At least not here, in this weird world where everything was in the past; where Kaneki was safe and unassuming, still unknowing about the world of the ghouls and the CCG, where he can read his tragic novels with a smile on his face because he thinks they're only stories separate from real life.
So… time travel.
Thankfully, going to work wasn’t absolute chaos, even if he got yelled at. He was half-way through the motions when he realized that he was clearly back in routine, that he knew where he was needed today, that he remembered what he did the day before.
It was all so confusing having two memories of yesterday, and it made his head spin at the most inopportune moments, but thankfully it didn’t cause him too much trouble.
Being a part of the courier service can be quite hectic at times, but Hide always did enjoy the feeling of riding his bike places, the wind brushing through his hair and seeing the sights of Tokyo undeterred. It had the power to distract him from his thoughts, but it can also allow him to think.
So he took this chance to align his thoughts.
He knows he’s back in time, for some unknown reason. He knows it’s just his consciousness and not his body, and that he became aware right in the middle of his and Kaneki’s discussion about the guy's hypothetical date plans. And he knows that he may have just gained the ability to avert the biggest tragedy of all time and save his bestest-best-friend-in-the-entire-universe a world of grief.
But:
He doesn’t know how or why this happened –can’t even begin to comprehend it without delving into the world of magic or fairies or super advanced Quinque (which is, frankly, kinda cool… but seriously weird). He doesn’t know if everything he’s experiencing now isn’t just some elaborate dream world his mind made and he’s actually stuck in a coma in the real world (and isn’t that just depressing). He, frustratingly, doesn’t know any of the important details about Kaneki’s previous life anyway so there’s that…. And he doesn’t know if he can be sure that, by attempting to change the past, he wouldn’t just be making things worse. (He’s seen far too many movies and anime about that and the last thing he can ever want is to make things worse.)
And last, but definitely not the least of his worries, he doesn’t have the first clue about what he should do.
It’s the most frustrating thing anyone can ever, ever experience. To think that, right now, this was Hide’s life.
He sighed, running a hand through his short hair as he ticked off the last delivery on his list. “…wonder if I should ask Dad…” he mumbled, and then gagged. No. Nope. Bad idea. Horrible, terrible, terrible idea Hide. Don’t even entertain that thought. You did not just think about it. Nuh-uh.
…
What was he going to say anyway? “Heeey Dad, it’s Hideyoshi. Remember me? So yeah, I know I haven’t called in, like, forever, but guess what? I kinda woke up back in time after being eaten alive by my tragic best friend in the future and I was kinda wondering if I could ask for some advice?”
Yeah right.
(He’d probably jump with joy.)
(And then lock Hide up in an interrogation room.)
Hide sighed again, slumping on the arm of his bike as he despaired over his thoughts. “Why did you have to think about that Hide??”
Besides, it was late –his deliveries having taken him across three whole wards— and he was finally beginning to feel just how exhausted, physically and mentally, he was. In a momentary lapse of attention, he managed to take a shortcut he knows that cuts right by the currently infamous Takada building and paused just as the construction site nearby came into view.
This wasn’t the first time his bike had unconsciously taken him here, not since that incident two years ago. It still hasn’t happened yet, his mind supplied, staring at the ominous structure. I can probably still keep it from happening. Sifting through his memories, he recalled that the accident happened two days from their interaction this morning. Back then, Kaneki had gone on his dream date, and frankly, it ended in the worst possible way. Of course, back then Kaneki had been able to actually ask the ghoul out on a date. He wonders if, since he’d practically dragged him out of that chance, that route still applied.
Adjusting on his bike, he was about to kick off again when he spotted a familiar head of blue hair not too far away.
It was the waitress from Anteiku, Kirishima Touka-chan, walking with a girl with orange hair –a classmate, judging by their uniforms. Walking alone at this time of night with a ghoul huh? He had to smirk at the irony. He wonders if she’s human, and if she is, is she a friend or food? (He mentally berated himself. He didn’t know Touka all that well, but she was Kaneki’s close friend, and Kaneki would never choose to associate with cold-blooded murderers.)
They seemed close, at least. And as they turned the corner closer to his position, he was able to see the genuine smile on the blue-haired girl’s face, her relaxed posture, and he smiled. At least Touka seemed to genuinely care for this person.
Well, it's not like ghouls aren't able to have human friends, right?
“Heeey!! Kirishima-san!!” he greeted, deciding to make his presence known before approaching them on his bike. “Fancy meeting you in a place like this, huh? On your way home?”
The blue-haired girl tensed for but a moment before taking a more casual air. Hide was impressed by the quick change.
“S-Someone you know Touka-chan?” he heard the other girl ask, eyeing him curiously, if shyly. Hide blinked, his smile warming as her actions reminded him of someone.
“A-Ah yeah… he’s a customer from our shop.” Touka answered, and Hide felt his lips twitch at the forced way the young waitress smiled. “G-Good evening…”
“Nagachika Hideyoshi, but everyone calls me Hide! I guess I never did introduce myself” he winked at them, extending a hand and making sure to flash the other girl his most disarming smile. "It's okay. I swear I'm not anyone suspicious, just a random secret admirer." he mock whispers.
Almost immediately her whole face brightened, surprising Hide just a bit as she returned his smile full force, taking his hand as well. "I-i-it's nice to meet you, Nagachika-san! M-my name is Kosaka Yoriko, Touka-chan's best friend. Touka-chan can seem a bit tough and scary at first, but please do your best!!" She stated with a determined face.
"H-Hey, Yoriko!?"
Hide couldn’t help the laughter that suddenly escaped his lips, and he shook her hand. So she has friends like these too huh? he thought, marveling at the girl's genuine liveliness. “Likewise, Yoriko-chan! I promise never to lose hope!!” he vowed, his eyes twinkling in mirth.
He felt rather than saw the death-glare Touka sent his way, and he simply smiled, letting the brunette go.
“Nagachika-san… uhm... We’re on our way home now.” Touka finally answered his earlier question, steel seeping into her voice, a thinly veiled threat in the set of her shoulders.
“I see. Me too” he announced, pretending not to notice but retreating all the same. “Will you two be alright around here? This place is kinda dangerous, what with that binge-eater ghoul lurking around and all.” he explained casually, subtly eyeing Touka’s reaction.
As expected, her expression hardened, shifting her body slightly closer to the girl by her side –a protective stance. If he had any doubt that Kosaka Yoriko was a treasured friend, this cleared it. Hide thinks that Kaneki probably knew about them. He wonders if the Touka from that future ever thought about telling her, or if Kosaka ever found out. Probably not.
“We’ll be fine” the ghoul spoke up, her tone hard, and though her face was turned away, he was able to see equal parts determination and helplessness flash behind her eyes.
Seeing her like this, Hide realized that she probably knew. Probably even saw Kaneki with that ghoul at this very street that very night.
But she didn’t try to stop them.
And why would she? Hide thought. She’s a ghoul, and Kaneki had been just another human who didn’t know a thing about them, simply unfortunate enough to catch the eye of an active predator. Besides that, it was clear to Hide that Kamishiro Rize had been the stronger ghoul. Even if Touka had wanted to (and judging by her personality alone, that’s a pretty ridiculous notion), taking action would have meant risking everything she had, and glancing at Kosaka who was now glancing worriedly around them, it seems she has much to lose.
“Well, I guess I should probably go now. School and all tomorrow” His smile then was understanding, and slightly bittersweet. He was about to kick off again, though, when he saw Touka tense, her expression growing troubled, conflicted. “Touka-chan?” Kosaka asked worriedly, and Hide tried to follow the ghoul's line of sight. He was barely able to make out two forms in the distance…
He froze. No… but… it’s too early… it shouldn’t… can’t… it’s too early…
“Hey N-Nagachika-san, isn’t that your friend over there? F-from earlier?” Touka’s voice pierced through the sudden fog that was his thoughts, confirming his fears.
Slowly, Hide turned to her with wide eyes, shocked that she'd actually spoken. They were too far for a simple human like him to notice, and it shouldn’t have been her concern. If she hadn’t pointed it out, he could have been gone before the two even became recognizable. And he would’ve just sat in despair in his dark and lonely apartment for hours on end all over again as the reports of the accident and the emergency organ transplant flashes across his television screen. Only this time knowing everything that was happening and would be happening and knowing full well that he was right there and wasn’t able to do anything.
His eyes caught Touka’s, making her flinch, catching the sudden flash of guilt and unease in her eyes. He didn’t know what expression he might be wearing right now. He was already having a hard time keeping himself steady through the pounding in his ears.
This girl was kind.
Although she might have just sentenced him to death as well, the fact that she was willing to give him this chance meant that this ghoul cared.
And he found himself smiling at her, kind and genuine, as he whispered out “Thank you.” , watching her cheeks flush in confusion. “Now you girls should get out of here. We wouldn’t want anything bad happening, right?” he tried, finally, to assume his casual attitude, although he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking as he waved them goodbye, riding out in an attempt to stop a tragedy.
It might’ve been a bit reckless, charging in with no battle plan, but Hide could feel himself on the brink of panic because he knew that this was where it all started. The stone that rolled off a cliff, gathering dust, growing in size and momentum and then slowly crumbling until it finally breaks off into a million pieces.
This was the beginning, and if he failed to prevent it then would anything else matter? If he let Kaneki turn into a ghoul here then will anything he does later even make a difference?
He's watched enough movies and read enough manga to realize what could be happening. Fate can be stubborn like that, he thinks. Try to change or escape it and it will forcefully drag you back, often with dire consequences.
Eyepatch, the CCG, the Aogiri Tree, Centipede, the Anteiku Raid, and finally the god of death. This could just simply be the fate of a college student who was turned into a ghoul against his will but still trying to find a place where he can belong.
Hide gripped his bike’s handlebars as he skidded to a halt just at the mouth of construction area, his heart pounding as he felt his resolve settle. So be it.
If it was happening, then it was happening. But that doesn't mean it has to be Kaneki, does it?
So he ran.
~_~_~
What is this…..?
Kaneki couldn’t understand.
He couldn’t— he didn’t know what was happening. He couldn’t understand… What is this—
Pain blossomed in his left shoulder, blood pouring out a sudden, gaping wound as the girl before him, the girl he admired, suddenly transformed. Once kind eyes going pitch black at the sclera, purple irises turning blood red and demonic.
He was shaking, he knew he was shaking, his knees were trembling, clutching at his throbbing wound, his fingers wet and sticky with fresh blood. This can’t be real… this can’t be happening… He needed to run. He needed to get away from here. He can’t believe the girl he’d admired was—
“You know Kaneki-san…” the girl— ghoul. She’s a ghoul... Ghouls exist… I’m going to be eaten— began, her tone amused and sinister. And he couldn’t move. He was shaking too much and he couldn’t move— “There’s this scene in The Black Goat’s Egg that I really love…”
She came closer, hands reaching up to tug at her hair tie and glasses and Kaneki didn’t know why he was still watching this, why he wasn’t just running away—
“Where the Black Goat catches a man who’s running away in bewilderment… and rips out a~~~ll his entrails…” her mouth was watering. He was literally watching her salivate. Monster. “It always makes me shudder!!”
He tried to move. Tried desperately to run and hide and just get away… adrenaline coursing through his very blood, but he can’t, he can’t— I can’t run away, not like this, not from this monster. I’ll be eaten. I’ll die and be eaten and my body won’t even be recognizable and Hide’ll— his eyes widened, suddenly remembering his friend’s earlier warning as fearful tears began pouring from his eyes. Hide probably noticed… he tried to warn me, he tried to stop me but I didn’t listen and now I’m—
“OOOOOOOYY!!!!” and just like that, his head snapped up, feeling his heart jump to his throat as a familiar head of blond hair suddenly barreled towards them, a metal pipe in hand, and Kaneki sobbed as sudden despair pulsed through him. No. This is worse. This is worse this is worse this is wrong No— Hide— don’t—please!!
The ghoul whipped around and Kaneki watched as blood red appendages erupted from the her lower back like a blossoming spider lily, pointed tips lashing out towards his best friend and he screamed. “HIDE!!!”
But Hide simply dodged, jumping safely out of the way. He didn’t even flinch, and Kaneki watched, astonished, as the blond ran almost skillfully around the writhing limbs --as if he knew what he was doing, as if this wasn’t the first time he’d encountered a monster like this.
And then he was flying, and Kaneki felt his breath hitch as one of those… things picked his best friend up off the ground like he was nothing and threw him down, so hard that he was able to hear a sickening crack and he couldn’t breathe… he couldn’t breathe—
But then Hide was standing up again, only a little shakily, and –closer now— stepped over to stand between him and the ghoul with nothing but a metal pipe and a challenge to fate in his hands. “Yo, Kaneki. Man you look terrible” he greeted with his usual smile. As if this was nothing. As if they were just meeting on the street or at school or at a coffee shop and there was no man eating ghoul with tentacles set to kill them.
Kaneki couldn’t take it. He couldn’t understand. Why was Hide here? How did he know he was here? Why wasn’t he running away? Why was he just standing there with his back straight like he could actually do anything when they were clearly facing a bloodthirsty monster and— It was all too much… too much…
He’d just wanted to go on a date...
The ghoul paused before them, the red limbs flicking around before a loud, obnoxious laugh erupted from her belly, making Kaneki flinch. “Oh, oh!! This is rich!!” she began. “You’re planning on stopping me with that?” she indicated the pipe in Hide’s hands and Kaneki could only despair because she was right.
It’s useless.
But to his surprise, or not at all, the blond only pouted, scratching his cheek with a finger. “Yeeaaa No. I was actually just hoping to distract you with it while I take my friend here and run.” he stated, like it was just that simple, and then he was doing it. He’d thrown the pipe at her face, hard, and suddenly Kaneki was being pulled up by the wrist. He held back a hiss as his injured shoulder was jostled, but he was able to follow on his feet.
Only, of course it didn’t work.
In barely a blink of the eye, Rize was once again in front of them, blocking the only exit they could take. They were cornered in an abandoned construction site. They were going to die. Hide was going to die. Hide was going to be eaten and it would be all my fault.
“Hmmm, how brave. I do like the unpredictable ones best.” Rize began, head tilted a bit to the right, watching them with her terrifying eyes. “Tell me Hide-kun, how did you know it was me? Kaneki-san barely even had a clue.” she asked, their names pouring sickly sweet from her lips, and Kaneki felt his tears just flow that much faster.
“I didn’t.” Hide replied bluntly, casually, and Kaneki couldn’t tell whether he was lying or not. Whether he was serious or not. Whether he was real or not because everything is just so messed up… “But I was passing by and it seemed a little too suspicious that you’d be pulling my best friend into an abandoned construction site. I mean really, even for a late night rendezvous that's a bit too much, don't you think?”
“Hide…” he hadn’t realize he had spoken, but the blond met his eyes then, flashing him a reassuring smile before his face grew serious. He made a pointed glance over to a slightly narrow space between a wall and a fallen slab of concrete, and Kaneki realized his best friend was telling him to hide.
But it’s too small. You won’t be— the blond’s warm eyes turned grave, and Kaneki could only nod as he tried to make his legs work. Hide knows what he’s doing. He’ll find another hiding spot. He’ll be fine… right?
Rize hummed, steepling her hands before her face. “True…” again she tilted her head to one side, and along with the extra limbs and her unnatural eyes, she looked more like a serpent that the girl he’d been so enamored with not too long ago. I was so stupid… so so stupid “And yet you’re not fazed at all… ah.” she paused, looking the blond right in the eye, as if she’d forgotten Kaneki was there at all. T-This could be my chance.
“Could it be I’m not the first ghoul you’ve met?” she spoke up again, amused, her words echoing Kaneki’s earlier questions. “Do we have a survivor in our hands?” and then she licked her lips, anticipation and bloodlust shining in her red and black eyes, and suddenly... “A Dove, perhaps?” she was lunging straight for them, kagune fanned out in four points.
Kaneki immediately scrambled backwards. “Hide—”
“GO!!” Hide cried, and Kaneki leaped up into a sprint, squeezing himself through the small space Hide showed him earlier, turning around immediately to watch out for the other.
Hide managed to dodge the limb headed straight for his head again and Kaneki breathed a sigh of relief. He can make it… he can run. He might be able to get out of here and call someone, the CCG maybe, and then we’ll be ok and we can go home and—
And then another scaled appendage suddenly wrapped around the blond’s neck, lifting him off the ground. Kaneki didn’t even know he was moving until he saw Hide’s hand pointing at him, his eyes practically glaring for him to sit still.
He didn’t want to. Hide needed help. Hide was going to die. But what could he do? What could he do when he was so weak and useless and stupid enough to follow a ghoul that his best friend was going to die—
“I must say I wasn’t expecting a free appetizer.” Rize began, her tentacle moving over the blond slowly, like in some sick porno. “I was quite anticipating Kaneki-kun tonight. He’s my favourite type, you see.” she explained, and Hide hissed when her kagune tore through his shirt and skin, drawing blood. “The proper amount of fat and not too much muscle, so they’re soft and easy to eat.”
Kaneki watched, transfixed, as her hand trailed over his torso, nails digging into flesh until it her hand disappeared completely and how could it disappear completely? Where did it go?? What is it doing—
“You, on the other hand, seem a bit too tough for me. You definitely put up a good fight.” he watched through fuzzy vision as her hand reappeared covered in red, raising it up to her lips and giving it a lick. There was something oval and soft-looking in her grasp and it took Kaneki a moment to register what it was. “But I don’t like to waste food so…”
It was a kidney. She was eating Hide’s kidney.
She was eating Hide.
Then sounds of the air and metal shifting reached his ears and Kaneki’s head snapped up, barely catching a glimpse of a shadowed figure from the sky.
He thinks he could hear a clown laughing as metal beams rained down, down, down and everything around him turned black.