" True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen."
- Francois de La Rochefocauld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaneki POV
"You want me to do what?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
Yomo had come to visit Nest yesterday, and had a request he directed towards me, catching me off guard.
"I want you to fill in for me at Re so I can go do some business." Yomo explained.
Working at Re? I don't know if I'd be good at it, I don't have any confidence that I remember how to brew coffee as good as I used to.
And... do my old subordinates still go there?
Yomo seemed to be reading my mind. "Your old squad members don't go there anymore. I wouldn't worry about it." He said.
Levin, who sat beside me, gave me a grin, looking up from his studies that I have been instructing him on for about two weeks now.
"Go ahead. I'll just review until you get back. Plus, I have something I need to go do in my free time." He said, scratching his cheek.
Levin is a very exceptional student. If he wasn't here and not labeled as dangerous by CCG, I bet he could've made it into Kimi, the University I went to.
He has huge determination to do what he said, which makes me happy. Even if it's a goal that seems far away, I hope one day he does the impossible. Not for me, I don't need it. That life of isn't for me anymore.
I give a slight nod to him. "Okay then. I'll fill in for you, Yomo." I said, giving him a small smile.
Yomo gave me a small bow of gratitude. "Thank you. It's tomorrow in the morning all the way to around six in the afternoon." He said.
"An all day shift? I guess I need something to do besides teaching." I said, standing and automatically reaching for my mask, stopping before I grab it.
Do I need this for what I'm doing? No, but I can at least bring it with me, just in case. I stuff the mask into my bag and head out, wanting to get a head start on my job.
- - -
I arrived early, and was already dressed in the uniform. I felt a strange sense of nostalgia wearing something like this. But I felt a smile from on my lips.
Apparently Touka wasn't awake at the moment, so maybe I should set everything up before she wakes? I quickly get things together and clean the place, sparkly and everything.
Dusting, mopping, wiping, and doing a lot of dish cleaning. Why didn't Touka do this before today? Was she beginning to slack? Now that you think about it, I haven't seen Touka in awhile.
I finish cleaning everything and look at the clock, I still have around an hour and a half before Re opens. I look behind the counter and head back, seeing some stairs to the second floor.
I make my way up the stairs, being a bit quiet as I do this. Soon, I find myself on the second floor. It hits me that this place is modeled almost exactly like Anteiku.
I stop at the door labeled as "Touka Kirishima", and give it a light knock. There is no answer. I give it a harder knock to be sure, but I get the same outcome.
I open the door cautiously. "Touka, I'm coming in." I said.
As I enter, I see things lined up in the kitchen, pans and ladle sitting around, old food stuck to them. She hasn't been doing much of her own dishes either.
I look to the bed and get a sight I wasn't expecting.
Touka was in bed, sleeping very soundly. I didn't make a sound, all I could hear now was mine and her breathes. Her indigo hair was in her face, and she wore nothing but a black T shirt.
Her long legs sprawled across the mattress, and I couldn't help but stare. My eye sight went up and down her body, the smoothness of her skin making me wonder what it feels like.
I give myself a light shake of my head to snap out of it and walk over to the side of her bed, and push the hair out of her face. She didn't stir a bit.
So defenceless, I'll need to warn her about her posture while sleeping, she should be more prepared. After I'm done staring, I move myself to the kitchen and begin doing the dishes, cleaning up the pots and cleaning the counter.
I grab another blanket and put it over Touka, before leaving silently like a cat. I slip downstairs and into the counter, checking the time again.
I still had an hour left until opening. I sigh and sit down behind the counter, resting my head on it. My vision blurs and I find my mind wondering off. I close my eyes and fall deeply into sleep.
But it seemed before I was completely into the realm of dreams, I heard foot steps above in the second floor. Was she awake now? Good, now I can scold her.
I get up quickly and wander back up stairs and knock on the door. For some reason I get no answer, so I open the door.
I froze in place as I caught the sight in the room. Touka hadn't noticed I was interested room yet, which was probably why she had ear phones on, listening to music.
She was getting dressed!
Think Ken think!
Think quick before this becomes a disaster and she sees you!
I quickly dart behind the kitchen counter in her room, crouching stealthily as she looked in the direction of the door. At least that was what I caught before I lunged down behind here.
Did she see me?
"Hmm. Did I leave the door open last night?" She asked herself, walking to the door.
Wait! Shit! If she walks over to the door and closes it, once she turns she'll see me for sure! Crap, I need to act fast!
The foot steps were getting closer! I could feel cold sweat going over me already, I gulped as I peered over the edge, seeing her only a few feet away.
Now!
Just as she passed the kitchen and went to the door, closing it, I rolled over the counter silently, crouching on the other side. I let out a sigh in relief, but quickly correct my thoughts.
Didn't I just make it so once she passes the counter again she'll see me! And now she doesn't have a distraction!
I look around hastily as I hear her foot steps again. I lay my eyes down on the controller to the TV, and I quickly snatch it up, pressing the on button.
The TV turned on, the news coming on, talking about weather today and such, apparently today was going to be cloudy, with a chance of rain.
I stop listening to the news as Touka walks to the TV, past me. She passed not four feet away from me, making me freeze in place. She scratched her head once reaching it.
"Where did I leave the remote?" She asked herself, beginning to look around.
I roll over the counter again, and hide in the kitchen as she searches. I put the controller on the counter and Touka picks it up, looking puzzled. But she doesn't turn the TV off, but turns it up so she can listen to it.
She pulled her ear phones out so she could listen to the news, while I slipped open the door, and headed into the hall towards freedom.
Once making it all the way downstairs, I silently sit on the seat behind the counter once more, and let out a huge sigh of relief.
"I think I just lost a few years of my life." I mumbled, laying my head on the counter.
Just after I say this, Touka comes out of the door way behind the counter and lays eyes on me, looking bewildered by me being here.
"K-Kaneki? What are you doing here?" She asked, looking confused.
"Filling in for Yomo today. He said he had business." I mumbled, still feeling vulnerable.
"What's wrong? You look pale." She said, leaning close and feeling my forehead. "Hmm."
I feel my cheeks warm and I look away from her eyes. But Touka didn't seem to notice and looked over at the door. "Then let's open a bit early, shall we? I'm gonna work you to the bone today." She said, a small smirk on her face.
I let out a small nervous chuckle and watch her flip the sign from closed to open.
I get the feeling today will be nice.
(I could barely hold my laughter at this part. Stealthy Kaneki is stealthy. Nonetheless I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!) - MnMs171