I Can Wait

“Trash like you should stay out of Anteiku!” Touka yelled as she punched him. He was so shocked that he didn’t have time to defend himself against her attack. He laid there silently as he gazed at Touka above him, panting and shaking. “Why...Why did you have to end up like this?” she said softly as she leaned down, resting her forehead against his, their lips nearly touching. Kaneki could feel her warm breaths ghosting across his lips and he so badly wanted to feel them. Touka did too but seemed to change her mind and stood up, leaving him as he sat up, staring at her. He slowly brought his hand up to his cheek as he felt the wet spot there, eyes widening. He made her cry. His chest tightened with guilt as he turned back to look at her but she was already gone. He gasped as he stood up quickly and started to run after her. He caught up to her in an alley and yelled out, “Wait!” She stopped and turned to glare at him. “I thought I told you to stay away from Anteiku!” she cried. He just stared at her until he finally said, “You did. You did not, however, tell me to stay away from

you.

" Her glare turned menacing as her eyes turned to that of a ghoul’s. She charged at him and tried to punch him but Kaneki swiftly dodged. “What the

fuck

is wrong with you?” she yelled, sending a series of punches and kicks at him which he easily dodged. “Wait, Touka-chan-” but she diddn’t let him talk as she kicked his stomach, sending him crashing to the wall. He sighed. This was getting ridiculous. He just wanted to talk to her, to hug her, to protect her, to...kiss her. He charged himself at her, successfully pinning her to the wall. She squirmed and tried to get him off her but he wasn’t relenting. “Touka-chan, just listen to me. Please,” he said,desperately. Touka stared at the floor and quietly said, “Why don’t you just leave? Isn’t that what you wanted?” He gazed at her sadly and said, “Is that what you want?” “I don’t care anymore. Everyone ends up leaving me anyway,” she said angrily. She suddenly saw flashes of her mother, Arata, her father and Ayato, leaving her. Everyone kept leaving her but not him. She didn’t want him to leave. Kaneki gazed at the girl in front of him. “I just want to protect-” “That’s bullshit and you know it. Protect us? We. Don’t. Need it. How many times do I have to tell you that?” she spat at him. “Touka-chan...” “Stay,” she suddenly said. He snapped his head back up at her. “What?” “Stay,” she repeated softly. He had to because...because... Suddenly, her chin was lifted up and she felt warm lips crashing against her own. She gasped in surprise and Kaneki wasted no time in slipping his tongue in her mouth. Touka released a small moan and kissed him back. After some time, they pulled away for air and Kaneki rested his forehead on hers, panting. “Touka-chan. I’ll...I’ll come back. I promise. I just...need to do something but when that’s over, I promise. I promise you I will come back to you,” he said, determinedly. “Idiot, just...Just don’t get yourself killed,” she said. Kaneki smiled softly at her and kissed her again. “I love you,” Kaneki suddenly said. Touka felt her cheeks heating up and weakly punched his chest. “I love you too...Bakaneki,” she replied.