Christmas specials... I love writing them. I don't own the pic!
" If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life."
- Oscar Wilde
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Touka POV
Standing on my toes, I reach up to the top of the tree, trying not to trip over the small ladder I'm using. Tonight was Christmas eve, and I needed to get the shop ready for the party we were having.
Those coming to the party would be mostly people from the old Anteiku, but I think Tsukiyama is coming also. People from Nest are caught up with Kurona's sickness and Levin suddenly... joining Aogiri.
It's been a few days since Kaneki and Rize got back and told everyone. Nearly gave Kurona a heart attack, with the condition she's in.
As I'm get the star around the top of the tree sitting in the middle of the cafe, I let out a sigh, but find my gravity losing itself. The ladder underneath me gave way and I was already tumbling downwards.
But suddenly, I stop in the middle of the air. I open my eyes again to find Kaneki there, holding me in a princess hold. For a moment, I remember when he saved me from Ayato like this back when he first got his new look... after Yamori...
But that memory soon fades and I find the situation I'm in to be very embarrassing. My face turns red, and I try to squirm out of his hold, but he holds on tight.
"Hey, I'll drop you of you squirm." He said.
I stop and look away, every time I look him in the face I get flustered beyond belief. He slowly puts me down, then sighs, putting his hands on his hips.
"Be more careful. Sometimes I won't always be here to help you." He said, turning back to the counter and started to wipe it down with a wet washcloth.
Yeah, sometimes you won't be here, like the last four years... I wanted to say, but I held it in, feeling that letting a short burst of anger out suddenly would be a bit wrong.
I still wanted to punch Kaneki in the face more for leaving Anteiku and going on his little quest to "protect" everyone. I didn't abide to it, I didn't agree to it one bit.
"Hey Touka, now that I think about it... you ended up not going to Kami?" He said, he was still looking away, so I couldn't see his expression.
I freeze and slowly put the ornament on the tree that I was holding. "Yeah."
"Why didn't you?" He asked.
There was a long silence. I couldn't bring myself to say anything, because he would probably blame himself. The reason I made Re was so that if Kaneki came back, he would have a place to come back to.
"Why didn't you?" He asked again, this time more forceful.
I snap out of it and answer slowly. "Because... I wanted to open up a coffee shop... it was something that I found out I wanted to do... when you were gone." I exclaimed, which wasn't a lie.
Kaneki was frozen for a long time, then, he dropped the washcloth and sighed, walking to the back. I didn't follow, I didn't want to talk anymore. If we did end up talking it'd end up being an argument.
But sure enough the day dwindled by and soon everyone was gathered. Yomo and Kaneki were playing chess at the counter, and Hinami and Tsukiyama were placing some presents under the tree.
Re was closed today since it was a Holiday, and we wanted to do a little event to clear the air a bit.
"Little Hinami! It seems you are still a pretty flower just like before, aren't you?" Tsukiyama said.
Hinami giggled a bit. "Really? I'm not that good looking." She said, being as modest as ever.
Yomo placed his piece somewhere on the board and Kaneki bit his lip. The match seemed pretty intense.
Kaneki cracked a smile suddenly and moved his king, a bold move, and crosses his arms like he already won. "Check." He said.
Yomo quickly looked at the board for two seconds or so, and moved a piece, making Kaneki flinch and grow a nervous smile. Yomo looked him in the eyes.
"Check mate." Yomo said, making Kaneki sigh in defeat.
"Your much to good at this." Kaneki mumbled, leaning his head on his hand.
"You just suck." Said Nishiki, coming out from the back, yawning.
He hadn't come around for some time, it was nice to see him actually come out for the occasion. Kaneki and Nishiki begin arguing about chess while Yomo sips his coffee silently.
"Touka? Hello~?" Hinami said, tugging on my sleeve, getting my attention. I snap out of it and give her a quick smile. I was spacing out staring at Kaneki again...
"What is it?" I asked.
"Can we open presents now?" She asked.
I nodded slowly, glancing at the presents under the tree everyone had brought. We all slowly but surely gathered around, pulling up chairs to sit near the tree.
Kaneki handed them out, all the while having a large smile on his face. It was nice to get his mind off of things, if I can do even the smallest things to make it easier on him, then it'll be worth it.
But I would never say so out loud...
I'm spacing out once again as Kaneki hands me a small box. I look down at it to see the tag, "To: Touka, From: Kaneki". I look up at him, but he looks away, talking with the others.
"Okay... open them on three... one... two... three!" Hinami said, ripping apart hers first present quickly. It soon showed a make up set, she had said she wanted it since she was interested in make up and cutting hair... cosmetic stuff.
She smiled brightly. "Who gave me this one?" She said, looking at me.
"I didn't... it was Yomo." I said, smiling.
Hinami gives Yomo a confused look. Most wouldn't expect him to give other people gifts, but he had come to me and asked what she wanted, so I told him. He really is a nice guy deep down all that intense atmosphere he gives off.
Nishiki gets a nice new sweater, which he reluctantly says thank you, to Tsukiyama who gave it to him. Yomo gets a pair of mittens, pink ones. Nishiki let's out a laugh when Yomo stares at them with a blank face.
Hinami had gotten them for him, but instead of saying something bad about it, he put them on and have Hinami a small bow. Hinami looked pleased by this, thought was obviously teasing him to be more open.
Kaneki opens his and finds a book, he smiles widely, but freezes as if to remember something. I didn't know what he was thinking, but he turned to me and thanked me for it.
I honestly didn't know what to get him, so I got the first intellectual and interesting book I could find. I was too embarrassed to ask what exactly what he wanted.
"I-If you don't like it, then you can turn it back it... I have the receipt." I said quickly, to hide the feeling welling up in me.
But instead Kaneki smiles gently, making my heart jump and my chest tighten. "No, I love it. Thank you." He said softly.
Tsukiyama got a few books, but he still seemed to take them with a smile, especially the one Kaneki gave him. I think I saw him sniff it a couple of times, but by now that doesn't shock me.
I look down at the presents I got. I got some new socks from Nishiki, I still I have no idea how he knows my size. Hinami got me a perfume, and Tsukiyama got me a nice new dress, a very high class looking one. Yomo gave me some books on new recipes for tea for the shop.
The last present I hadn't opened was Kaneki'. I stare down at the small box, I felt anxiety building, I felt nervous. Everyone was showing off their presents, no one is looking anyway.
I quickly rip the paper that was neatly and nicely wrapped, and from a small open up box. There's a note card on top...
I take the note that was taped on top and open it, reading it in my head. As I read the words, my heart bursts.
To Touka,
I don't know if this small gift I can give will express all of the gratitude I feel towards you, but I suppose it's the thought that counts. Whenever I'm in a corner, or afraid to lose something, your always there, I failed to see that in the past. So thanks for being my friend. Back then, when you punched me and told me never to come back to Anteiku, I was actually thinking of coming back. To be able to see through me was beyond me, I had no idea you knew me so well. Maybe I'll have to work harder to get to know you better, after all, your my friend.
Sincerely, Kaneki
I slowly put the note in my pocket, my chest twisted in ways that I can't express. I open the box and stare at the contents.
Inside laid a small necklace. It was silver, and felt heavy, not that cheap stuff. This was the real deal jewelry. At the base of the necklace was a small gem. The color was a dark red, in the shape of a hexagon.
This was a real gem...
I stare at it then at Kaneki, who was smiling while talking to Hinami, his hair was almost completely black again, the edges of his hair still had a tinge of white.
Why would he...?
Just as I'm thinking this, Hinami points at the base of the tree.
"Hey, who does that go to?" She asked, pointing at a medium sized box at the base.
It was wrapped in white, with a blue bow on the top. I pull it out from under the tree and read aloud from what it says.
"To: Anteiku, From... Levin?!?!" I said, making everyone jump to their feet.
"How did that get in here?!?" Nishiki wondered aloud, looking around like he might be around.
Kaneki slowly took the box away from me and stared down at it. "The presents were near the back entrance before we brought them in here... Levin has a key to that door." He said.
I grit my teeth. "That idiot?!? Why didn't he say hi at least?" I growled.
Kaneki looked down at the box with a sort of sorrow. Apparently, Kaneki had found out something about Levin that no one else did... except maybe Vincent.
What happened to Levin? Why is it so horrible it would make Kaneki look this way?
Kaneki then opened the box slowly, then looked in, his eyes going wide. He put his hand in and brought out a teacup. It was a beautiful design, and it was familiar.
"That's..." Nishiki whispered.
It was the managers cup. How did Levin acquire this? We had searched and searched, we only found a broken one, but the other one was nowhere to be found.
Kaneki stared at the cup, then slowly smiled.
"Still a nice guy." He whispered.
"Hmm? What was that?" Nishiki asked, but everyone blew it off, as Kaneki placed the teacup next to the broken one on the shelve behind the counter.
Then another thought occurred to me, since everyone was leaving now. We had talked for awhile, but everyone had places to be. Hinami went back to Nest, Tsukiyama back to wherever hole he came from... and Nishiki to his apartment.
Me and Kaneki cleaned up.
The room was silent once we finally finished, I sat down at the counter and he was on the other side, placing a teacup in front of me with steaming coffee in it.
"Thought you'd need this." He said, drinking some himself.
I let out a small smile, sipping it. "Why did you spend so much money on me?" I asked suddenly, making him almost choke on the coffee he was drinking.
"U-Umm... reasons. You probably read the letter then, huh?" He said, getting embarrassed.
I suppose he wrote that letter to express what he was to embarrassed to say. But he still didn't have to buy this for me.
"Your an idiot." I mumbled, looking down at the necklace, then I make eye contact and puff up my cheeks. "Put it on for me?" I asked slowly.
Kaneki slowly nodded and grabbed the necklace, lacing it around my neck while I held my hair out of the way. Soon he backed away and I turned towards him, giving him a smile.
"Does it look nice?" I asked.
Kaneki nodded, staring, he seemed completely at the loss for words. But I speak up again to keep the embarrassment to come out of me again.
"It is a pretty necklace though." I said.
"Yeah... She is pretty." He said on autopilot. He didn't seem to notice his mistake, but I sure as hell did. My face went up in flames, I couldn't help it.
Kaneki snapped out of it and looked at the ceiling, to break eye contact, but he froze when we saw something.
"What is it?" I asked, following his gaze to something hanging from the ceiling.
A mistletoe.
We both froze, the only sound that could be heard in the cafe was the small sounds of our struggled breaths. I look away and give a nervous laugh.
"Haha. We both know that's for kids-!" I started to avoid it but, Kaneki suddenly leaned across from the counter, and placed a quick kiss on my cheek.
He quickly turned around. "There. I'm going to bed." He said quickly, and as he turned, I saw his face was as red as a tomato.
After he left, I stared at the mistletoe. Who put it there?
Kurona POV
The letter that appeared on my window sill I hid from Nashiro before she went to bed. With the sickness that I was told I had from Vincent, I was completely bed ridden.
But this letter had my name on it, it had appeared awhile ago.
I sit up in bed and open it up carefully, my hands felt as weak as a feather. Inside was a carefully and neatly wrote letter.
To Kuro,
If your getting this then it's probably Christmas, and I'm not back yet. You already know I'm in Aogiri now. But I still don't know if I can keep that promise I made. It's impossible, this has finally struck me. But I will keep trying, because it's simply something I have to do. If your wondering why I didn't come in person, well, I have business to take care of. I probably won't be back for a long time. But if I end up not returning, then I'm sorry, that's all I can say. This world of different from what I first thought. It's ugly, and is slowly becoming more so. But at least if I look hard enough there's things that are beautiful too.
Sincerely, Levin
I put the letter down and let out a sob. I don't know if it was happiness or sorrow I felt. The fact that he said he might not come back, or the fact he said he was still trying to keep that stupid promise.
I look outside to see snow falling. A White Christmas, isn't that what this is called? I wish Levin was next to me, maybe it'd hurt less if he was. But still...
He didn't have to work so hard for me. He could just live for himself like a normal person.
Why does it have to hurt so much?
Eto POV
"That was awfully nice of you." I said, with a smirk across my face.
We sat in my home, a classy place I had bought. Levin sat on the couch, wearing black pants and a black t shirt. I could see his muscles through his shirt. I help myself and stare at them.
"It was necessary." He said with a cold tone.
I crack a larger smile. "You've changed a lot, y'know, from when I first met you." I said.
"How so?" He said, looking over at me.
"Before you'd easily get embarrassed by seeing me in a bath towel." I said, looking down at my body only being covered by, you guessed it, a bath towel.
He looked down at my body and gave a bored expression. "Trying to seduce me won't make me fall for you." He said coldly.
"Ah~! I love this new side of you! You'll kill anyone who gets in your way now! There's no remorse for you, is there?" I said, walking around the couch and wrapping my arms around him.
"Get your hands off of me, you piece of shit." He said, making the entire room feel cold.
I love it~!
"Didn't you say you were going to live for people to fear you?" I said, rubbing my cheek against his.
"It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both... that is what I said... but that is also a stupid statement in itself." He said, sipping water from a cup.
"How so?" I asked.
He turned to look at me. "Machiavelli didn't have the power to be loved and feared at the same time. I do."
Levin stood up, and looked at the map that was spread across the coffee table next to the couch, he look at it and grinned, a smile that spelled insanity.
"Down to two more labs, aren't you Kanou? Well, not that it matters... the more you run the more fun it will be when I finally catch you, and put you through some..." he pulled out a pair of scissors and snipped them.
"... intense questioning."
(Did you love that large part? I wanted to cram a lot of shiz together. And yes, I put a Touken moment in, don't like it? Deal with it breh. Nonetheless I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!) - MnMs171