a/n: this is a mess i'm so sorry
white instead of pink.―

"Touka-chan, do you want to get married?"

For a moment, all Kirishima Touka did was blink. Was Yoriko serious? They're third-years, yes, and the only major thing that should be on Yoriko's mind was which college she was planning on going to. As far as Touka was concerned, marriage could wait later.

As a ghoul, Touka was fairly sure that the opportunity to get married would never present itself. Most ghouls never had the opportunity to get married, and those that did were usually of higher class. The ones who weren't immediately threatened by the CCG.

Besides, she didn't really like the idea of getting married. Big, white wedding dresses seemed like too much hassle. Walking down the aisle, flowers in one hand and her father's arm in the other…

Nobody was there to pass her off, give her away, however it was phrased. She doubted Ayato would do it, and bothering Yomo or Yoshimura to do it was like the wedding dress―it was too much of a hassle.

"Touka-chan?"

She blinked. "Oh, sorry, Yoriko. What was your question?"

Touka heard Yoriko's soft laughter over the phone. "Do you want to get married? I understand if you don't want to answer the question―"

"It's fine." I think. "I don't know if I want to get married. Being with somebody who loves me enough to stay with me forever sounds good enough, ring or not."

Not that she'd have the chance to find that person, of course.

(She didn't think of Kaneki. Not even.)

"Oh, alright, the, Touka-chan," Yoriko said, sounding a bit depressed. "Do you have the answer to question thirteen on our classical literature worksheet?"

Touka frowned. "Before I tell you, do you want to get married?"

Yoriko was silent for a long time, and Touka wondered for a moment if she'd hangen up.

Then, "I think I'd like to get married, actually. You'd be my maid of honor, or bridesmaid, Touka-chan. Now, what about the answer?"

.

.

.

No, Touka didn't want to get married.

Maybe she'd get married if her significant other got down on one knee and proposed, but...

Touka closed her eyes and sighed.

"Are you feeling okay, Touka-cha―OW!"

Oops.

Grimacing, Touka rubbed her forehead, then looked at Kaneki. It wasn't her fault she'd headbutted him. On accident, of course.

It was his fault for catching her unaware, obviously.

"Sorry, Touka-chan."

She scowled at him. "Watch what you're doing next time!"

Kaneki nodded, rubbing his forehead.

Before she could think better of it, Touka swatted his hand away and pulled him down to her height before pressing a kiss to his forehead. He pulled back and she released her grip, watching as he slowly turned red.

"Touka-ch―"

"If you speak a word of this to anybody, I will kill you, Kaneki Ken."

Threatening Kaneki usually her day a little bit better, but this time she felt guilty about the horror that flitted across his face. The guilt didn't go away completely, even when she insulted Koma's bow-tie to cheer herself up.

.

.

.

The more Touka thought about it, the more she came to the realization that she didn't want to get married.

She could never promise someone that, honestly.

Who knew when she'd fuck up and the CCG would get her? Touka didn't. Marriage was a life-long commitment, and really, did ghouls have the time to do things like that?

Nope.

The best she could do was make sure Hinami was okay, especially since losing her parents had come across as a shock.

"Hey, Kaneki," she said, wiping down a table.

"Yes, Touka-chan?" came the quiet response.

Touka frowned at the table. "Do you ever think you'll get married?"

Kaneki was silent for a long time, just like Yoriko had been. She took the opportunity to wipe down the other tables and nearly jumped when he spoke.

"I don't think I ever will."

"Neither will I, Kaneki," Touka said slowly.

At least she could be old and unmarried with someone―if she ever got old, that is. Considering the recent activity in the 20th Ward, she kind of doubted she would get old.

.

.

.

Kaneki put his pen down with an annoyed sigh. "Touka-chan, you're distracting me."

She looked over her shoulder to glare at him. "I'm asking you your opinion on marriage."

He shrugged.

"Come on, Kaneki."

"...I don't think I have an opinion, Touka-chan. Marriage is okay, I guess. If I'm ever with somebody long enough to get around to proposing, then I guess I would get married."

Touka groaned and returned to cleaning the coffee cups.

Neither spoke for awhile, Kaneki being too engrossed in writing an essay to hold a conversation. She occupied her time with cleaning coffee cups and talking to Irimi.

Eventually, Irimi handed her the keys and said, "I'm heading out early. Tell the manager for me, Touka?"

"Yeah, Irimi-san."

She watched as Irimi left to change, then turned her attention to the only other person in the coffee shop.

"Hey, Kaneki."

He narrowed his eyes at his essay, sighed, then put down his pen and shifted in his chair to face her. "What is it?"

Touka narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you think you'll ever find somebody who's going to stay with you long enough to get married?"

He blinked at her, then quickly said, "No," and turned back to his essay.

Touka's lips twitched upwards into a smile. "Thought so."

We're on the same page, then.

.

.

.

It was cold.

Touka absolutely hated the cold, but she guessed it was better than the heat. She hated sweat, and all the uncomfortable things that accompanied summer. Like unsticking her legs from a chair. Ugh.

(Today, it was cold. She wanted to grab him and demand why he was born on such a cold day.)

She walked along the pathway, leaves crunching underneath her boots. Touka wasn't fond of visiting the place, but she guessed it was either this or sit down and offer a prayer.

He wasn't dead, and she needed to get out a little bit more. Yomo sometimes nagged at her, about how her physical condition was deteriorating. She usually ended up snapping at him about his physical condition, and Hinami would look between them and ask them to calm down.

The main reason she came there was because he was special.

Touka exhaled and squatted down in front of the grave. She knew there wasn't a body there.

"Kaneki," she said quietly, placing the bouquet of flowers at the foot of the grave.

Pastel-colored flowers. Watercolor.

"Hinami misses you. I feel like she's planning on going to Aogiri, or just.."

Touka frowned and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I feel like Hinami's getting ready to leave Yomo-san and I. She's been avoiding us more often, and I think it's her way of detaching herself from us."

She clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes. Damn, it was cold. She hoped she didn't get sick, because that would suck.

"Shitty Kaneki, I wish you had decided not to be a selfish asshole and leave."

There was no response. Touka didn't expect one.

"I know you said you never wanted to get married, but…"

Touka reached forward and adjusted the flowers.

"Maybe, if you'd stayed alive at Anteiku, I think I'd stay with you long enough to get married."

She got to her feet, sucking in a breath at the sudden rush of blood going through her legs. She should get going, before Yomo or Hinami came looking for her.

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.

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Two years later, she sees him.

In a Dove's white coat.