IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Okay, so I've lost my motivation to write this fic these days. But as a reader myself, it makes me really sad when the story I'm following has been abandoned. But you see, writing this fic is tiring. I'm not a fast writer. English is not my native language. It takes me weeks to write a single chapter which contains about 4k words because I wanted it to be perfect (even when I know it's far from it). In the end, it drains my energy. I feel dread writing this fic. Writing is supposed to be fun, but it's not like that anymore for me (at least for this fic).

I hate to say this but I'll be posting halfway edited (or not edited at all) drafts starting from this chapter onwards. By drafts I meant only dialogues with very little actions and descriptions so the pace might seem a little too fast. You will notice a huge quality drop in this chapter, and from the next couple of chapters onwards. Well, screw descriptions or beautiful words or correct grammar usage. I'm tired. This fic still has about 16 chapters to go so please understand. I might be posting short drafts just to keep this fic going, I don't know. I have written some future scenes already, and for some scenes, I haven't written a thing.

Dear readers, especially the ones who have been following this fic for more than a year, I'm really sorry to announce this. At least, (I think) I'm being considerate enough that I want to finish this despite not in a beautiful way. You may choose to unsubscribe or unfollow if you want to, I don't mind really. This is for readers who want to see this until the end. Thank you for the support that you guys have been giving me so far. I really, really appreciate it. Without you guys, I wouldn't have made it this far with 50k++ words. Again, I'm sorry. I really am. Please forgive me.

P/S: I'm continuing my other fics as usual. The drafts thing is only applied to this fic.

Morning light streaks illuminated the study chamber. The melodious chirps of the birds filled the air, as if singing joyously. But they flew away the moment Tsukiyama's squeal echoed throughout the castle, obviously way too excited at hearing the good news from Hirako.

The One-Eyed-King was not excluded in hearing Tsukiyama's loud squeal, making him wake up – only to find he was in his wife's arms. Carefully, he sat up. His eyes gazed lovingly at the sight of her beautiful sleeping form. The soothing sound of her light breathing, the way her eyes were not fully closed while she was sleeping, and her cute little nose that seemed a little red, as if she cried herself to sleep.

He poked her cheek. He didn't know why he felt like teasing her, but her eyes squinted and she looked so cute that he did it again until she eventually woke up.

"Good morning." He greeted, blushing slightly. She blushed too remembering what they did last night, also due to their lack of clothing.

"Morning." She replied, smiling warmly as she looked at their surroundings. "We should've done it in our chamber..."

"You're right. We should have." He smiled. But gradually, it faltered.

They weren't able to reverse last night. What had happened marked the consummation of their marriage, and she might get pregnant from it, if his seed found her egg of course.

Silence filled the study chamber as he was contemplating his words. But before he could even ask, she managed to beat him to it.

"I don't regret it. Not a bit."

His breath hitched, how was she able to understand him so much in these few months? The fact that she chose to stay by his side despite his impending death, chose to bear his child to save their kingdom when he had given her nothing but sadness made his heart ache with guilt. How could he do this to her?

"Touka... You're also suffering, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Eight years ago, I stole your dad from you... and now I'm stealing you from Anteiku. I- I'm really happy that you chose to stay but I've always troubled you, Touka."

She watched him as he finished his sentence, his head looking down, his fists clenched on his thighs. He was trembling.

Slowly, she lifted his chin up.

"Kaneki. Here is my home, with you. It doesn't matter where we end up, I just want to be with you."

He embraced her, the tug in his heart becoming more and more painful. She hugged him back despite being aware that they were naked and sticky with dried sweat and something else last night. It didn't matter.

Kaneki pulled away slightly, his fingers traced her soft skin carefully as if she was a glass doll, as if he was touching her for the first time. Even after what happened between them, he still couldn't believe that this was real, that this was really happening.

The back of his palm brushed her cheek and she leaned into his touch reflexively.

"You're beautiful." He whispered, staring at her lush lips for a brief moment before leaning in, capturing them with his own in a sweet kiss. He could feel her nipping his upper lip, her hands weaved into his hair, pulling him closer – then she remembered about his hair fall – so she wrapped them around his neck instead.

She gave him a sad smile as he pulled away, stroking his cheek and shook her head slightly.

"You're beautiful, Kaneki."

He chuckled. She said he's beautiful even with his scarred eye.

"We're both beautiful?"

"Yeah." She pulled him in for a kiss again, but his mouth somehow made its way lower to her jaw, her neck, then eventually the valley between her breasts.

Then, he stopped.

She looked up, he was staring at the mole on her right breast sheepishly.

"It's… enticing."

"You can touch me, you know?"

"Yeah… but – um, okay."

He gently poked it a few times, as if experimenting before leaning in to plant a small kiss on it. Suddenly she remembered his mole on his Adam's Apple. An idea sprung into her mind.

"Kaneki?"

"Yes?"

"Let's count all the moles on your body."

He blinked in confusion.

"What? What for?"

"Come on. I'm curious."

"Uhh… Okay…"

Kaneki didn't have that many moles – one on his Adam's Apple, two on his left elbow, one behind his left ear, several on his back – where he flinched whenever she traced his old scars, accompanied by a soft kiss – and two on his right ankles.

"Are you satisfied now?" He asked, embarrassed to have her inspected his whole body from head to toe just to count his moles which he unsure why she wanted to. Well, whatever his queen wants, she'll get it.

"Yes." She sprawled on her back, smiling as her eyes glinted up at him. "You can count mine now, if you want to."

Except, he got distracted as he counted and they ended up doing something else.

Nishiki and Miza sat in peaceful silence, having their coffee while watching their soldiers training. Push-ups, shooting arrows, melee fight, they were the ones responsible for improving these soldiers' skills.

It was supposed to be a nice afternoon for Nishiki, but Miza's request bothered him.

"Hey, Nishiki."

"Yes?" He answered as he lifted his cup, planning to sip some more.

"Are you a virgin?" The coffee spilt on his lap.

"Are you drunk?!" He yelled.

"I'm serious."

"Why are you flirting with me when we are both taken?"

"I'm not flirting with you, dumbass!" She kicked his shin.

"Ow!"

"Naki proposed to me two weeks ago… I said yes but I don't think he knows how to, um…" She blushed, unable to continue her sentence. Nishiki smirked in amusement.

"So you want me to teach him? Why don't you ask our king? He was the one who gave education to your fiancé after all." His smirk grew deeper.

"Are you out of your mind?! There's no way I could ask our king to teach him that. Come on. You're not a virgin, are you?"

"…"

"I knew it. Come on, help me."

'Ah, this is troublesome.'

"Teach him yourself."

"No, we-", she paused, whispering, "we haven't even kissed." Nishiki smacked his own forehead hearing that.

"Gosh, you guys are even worse than our king and queen!"

"S- Shut up!" Another kick.

"Hey, shitty Miza! Stop kicking me!"

"Teach him, will ya?"

"Yeah yeah, I'll teach him. Whatever."

He let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Hey Naki." Nishiki greeted the Head of Public Relations in his chamber.

"Nishiki." Naki grinned widely. "How may I help you?"

"Let me just cut to the chase. I heard you wanna know how babies are made?"

"YES!" The excitement on his face was priceless. "I've been waiting for this moment to come! Please, Nishiki! I want to know!" He clasped his hands together and gave the knight a pleading look.

"Well, you just need to hug Miza when she's sleeping. That's all. The baby will come out in nine months."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"That sounds so easy. Thank you, Nishiki! I owe you!"

"No problem."

'Sorry Miza, I'm not teaching your fiancé about this. Do it yourself.'

That night, Nishiki lay on his bed, his teeth gritted hard. Family, he would never achieve those with Kimi. He loved her too much, but she was infertile. Even so, he didn't want to leave her. He was determined to stay by her side, growing old with her, protect her until he dies. He fell asleep thinking about her. He missed her so much.

The day has come where Kaneki met Washuu royal family to discuss his surgery agreements.

"I have stated all of my terms and conditions. I hope Washuu could attend to them."

"I can't give you my word, King Kaneki. I need to take a look at them first. Have a look at ours too." Tsuneyoshi said. Kaneki nodded.

The old King's eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment as he read them line by line.

"'If I died during the surgery, Washuu is not allowed to conquer Re.' what nonsense is this? Do you think so lowly of us?!" He snarled, clearly unhappy with the agreement contents.

"I'm trying to be safe. I'm leaving my life in your hands."

"And we have the best doctor in this region." Yoshitoki interjected.

"As if I'm the only one who's spitting nonsense." Kaneki retorted. "'In case I die, I will let Washuu keep my body for research purposes'. This is outrageous. I will not let you keep my body." He scowled.

"Please don't get us wrong. The parasite living in your eye is rare. We would like to inspect it for medical purposes, in case someone has a similar disease in the future." Kanou spoke for the first time since the meeting had started.

"I got this due to an injury-"

"An injury that was not treated properly. How many times did you wake up to see stains of black tears on your pillow? How does it feel like to be aging this quickly? You know how the suffering is – if you could sacrifice your body for the future it would greatly help-"

"I will not sacrifice my body. I will live." He spoke each word determinedly with high confidence despite his doubt towards these people.

"You can trust us, King Kaneki. We will not kill you." Nimura grinned. Kaneki replied him with a death glare. Out of everyone in that meeting room, he doubted Nimura the most.

"I am a doctor, Your Majesty. My oath is not to kill a person, but to save them instead. I will not go against my oath." Kanou reassured him, though it did not sound very convincing to him.

"I hope you're a man of your word then."