Natsuki: ...
Staring into the silent room, Natsuki approached Kaneki's bed where he was as still as ever.
Natsuki: Alright...
Following Aiya's request, Natsuki opened the eye drop bottle and poured a few drops onto both of Kaneki's eyes.
Natsuki: Done... Now let's take a good look at you.
She then used her ability to see Kaneki's soul.
Natsuki: ... Same as ever...
With her inspection of Kaneki's soul done.
Natsuki: ...
She just sat beside him not without doing much.
Natsuki: Sigh~ I really miss you Kaneki.
Grip~
She held onto Kaneki's left hand with a soft grip and continued looking at him.
Natsuki: Hey Kaneki. I don't know if you can hear me or not but... We're doing fine right now.
And she began to talk to him, although she was having a hard time picking what she should say to him.
Natsuki: ...
Natsuki's thoughts*
(What should I talk about? Oh I know!)
Natsuki: Oh yeah yesterday we all went fishing. Me, Miku, Shino, Yuuka, Sachi, Chi-chan all went to the river and guess what? Miku caught a huge brown trout.
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: And get this? The fish was HUGE and it had a couple of hooks in it's mouth, it's so cool right? Although she did needed Kotori-san's help.
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: Oh yeah I don't know if Kotori-san or Miku had told you yet, but Miku had been calling Kotori "Onee-chan" lately. Looks like she really had accepted her huh?
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: Also! We actually played on the water after we finished fishing, it was so much fun!
After she had finished talking about her trip with everyone else from the previous day, Natsuki then started talking about the past.
Natsuki: Do you remember our first outing as friends? When we went to the arcade? You know I was really surprised when you came in your second body haha~
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: And... Sigh~
But she had immediately felt depressed again, and she was a bit more tired as well.
Natsuki: Hey Kaneki do you mind if I take a nap here?
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: Well... Excuse me.
She then placed her arms onto his bed before her head.
Natsuki: ...
And before closing her eyes, Natsuki stared into Kaneki's soul once more.
Natsuki: Kaneki... Please come back to us...
With small tears in her eyes Natsuki closed her eyes and tried to take a nap.
Tremble~
But unbeknownst to her, something incredible happened without her noticing.
Tremble~
Reach~
Kaneki's arms were trembling and his hands were slowly trying to reach Natsuki.
Poke!
Natsuki: Huh?
Natsuki jolted up as she felt her head got poked.
Natsuki: !!!
And she looked towards Kaneki, and to her surprise.
Natsuki: Kaneki you're awake?!
His eyes were open.
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: Can you hear me?
Although he didn't responded, Natsuki did noticed something different happening with Kaneki.
Natsuki: Your eyes...
Apart from his arms, Kaneki's eyes were also trembling.
Natsuki: Blink your eyes twice for yes and blink once for no.
After telling Kaneki on how to communicate, Natsuki took a deep breath and began asking Kaneki questions.
Natsuki: Haa~ Alright. Can you hear me?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(He can hear me!)
Natsuki's eyes lit up with joy now that she was certain Kaneki was now awake and conscious.
Hug~!
And without any warning, Natsuki hugged him.
Natsuki: I really missed you Kaneki... I know only half of you is here but... I'm just happy you're awake.
Tears rolled down her eyes and onto Kaneki's body.
Natsuki: Oh my sorry. I should hold that off for now.
Natsuki the pulled away her body from Kaneki knowing that it wasn't the time for hugs.
Natsuki: Haa~
And upon taking another deep breath, Natsuki began asking Kaneki more serious questions.
Natsuki: On that day, when you were supposed to reconcile with Shino, Yuuka and Miku... Did they say some mean things to you? Things they wouldn't normally say?
Kaneki: ...
For a moment Kaneki didn't responded, but after a few seconds he gave his answer.
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(That's not good)
Natsuki then pushed for more.
Natsuki: When they told you those things, were you angry?
Kaneki: Blink!
(Of course he wouldn't)
Natsuki: Were you confused?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
Natsuki: Did you try to ask them why they were acting that way?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(...)
For each answer Kaneki gave, Natsuki imagined how the events of that day had went.
Natsuki: Were... Were you attacked when this was happening?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
Tremble~!
Upon answering that specific question, Kaneki's body began to tremble.
(What's happening?! Why is Kaneki— Wait is he worried?)
Not knowing why Kaneki began shaking, Natsuki tried to reassure him.
Natsuki: Shino, Yuuka and Miku are okay! They aren't hurt! If anything I was the one who had hurt them when I found out the truth!
Kaneki: ...
After that Kaneki's body stopped moving.
(Is he unconscious again?)
Natsuki: Are you still awake?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
Natsuki: Phew~ I was worried for a second... You tried to protect them didn't you?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
Natsuki: I see. Now the important questions...
Natsuki hesitated for a moment before asking.
Natsuki: Was the person that attacked you... Itadori?
Though Natsuki suspected that Ryueki probably had another personality that could've done it, she wanted to know what Kaneki thought.
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(Okay I should definitely ask whether or not that "he" acted differently—)
Kaneki: Blink!
But Kaneki's answer confused her.
Natsuki: What? But I didn't say anything yet... Was that a third blink?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(I only told him two blinks for yes and one for no, what does the third blink mean???)
Natsuki: Hey Kaneki what does that third blink mean?
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: Damn I forgot. Sorry let's do this again. Are you saying yes?
Kaneki: Blink!
Natsuki: Then are you saying no?
Kaneki: Blink!
Natsuki: I seriously don't get what you're trying to tell me— wait... Did you pause before doing the third blink?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(A pause...)
Natsuki: Are you saying it was and wasn't him at the same time?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
(So that would mean...)
Natsuki: He has another personality which attacked you?
Kaneki: ...
Natsuki: You aren't sure, aren't you? But he did acted different right?
Kaneki: Blink! Blink!
Natsuki: I see... Sigh~ well at least I can tell Kotori-san that he is for sure our main culprit.
(Oh yeah I should tell him already)
Knowing that the person responsible for what had happened is now in custody, Natsuki decided to tell Kaneki so he wouldn't be too worried.
Natsuki: Oh yeah he is already been caught, he is currently in the Council's custody and your father, Atsuo-san is interrogating him himself.
Although her intentions were to reassure that everything is fine.
Shake~!
Natsuki: Kaneki?!
His body began shaking violently.
Natsuki: CRAP!
Natsuki then got up and rushed to get Kotori.
(I messed up so bad!)
Though Natsuki thought she had worsen Kaneki's condition.
In Kaneki's mind*
Azuna: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! KILL HIM BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
The truth is the remaining part of Kaneki's soul, Azuna his demon half was only panicking.
Azuna: IF YOU CAN'T KILL HIM FIND ME! BE QUI—
Back in reality.
Kotori & Aiya: Kaneki-chan/Kaneki!
Kotori and Aiya came into Kaneki's room alongside Natsuki all worried about him.
But it was stoo late, Kaneki's body was no longer moving.
Kotori: Crap!
Kotori immediately began checking whether Kaneki's condition has worsen.
Aiya: Natsuki what happened?
Natsuki: I don't know...
(What had happened?)
Fearing that she made things worse, Natsuki used her ability to look into Kaneki's soul.
Natsuki: Wha-?
But to her surprise the colors being shown revealed what Kaneki was currently feeling.
Aiya: What is it?
Natsuki: Kaneki looks... Anxious?
Meanwhile~
"We're getting closer and closer now, are you prepared?"
Ryueki: Hehehehe~ Yes~
Back in the Higanbana household*
(I have to tell them the information I got from Kaneki)
Though she was worried about Kaneki, Natsuki now has new information which she has to tell.
But where would it lead them?