A/N: HOLY CRAP THREE UPDATES IN ONE DAY I AM ON FIRE!

I was too tired to proof read this so there might be some mistakes, sorry...

You sighed in relief when you pushed the secret box containing your mask and hunting clothes in the back of your closet without interruption and got up, satisfied with your work. Now, if you rationalize your food well enough, you should have some for at least two months. Everything was okay for now.

Closing your closet door, you walked out of your room and to the kitchen to double check if the human flesh was hidden well enough before heading to your living room to plop down on your couch with a sigh.

You hated this whole process, but it was mandatory.

You hated being a ghoul, but it wasn't something you couldn't change.

The only thing that brightened up your life was the fact that there was at least someone out there who helped you feel human. With him around, you'd forget what you really are and you could pretend to be on the other side of the war, where everything seemed easier. You'd sometimes get so into the role that you'd eat human food by accident. Thank god you knew how to act in those situations (you owed a lot to Yoshimura and Touka for that).

Your thoughts were interrupted by that very human, walking into your apartment and bringing a smile to your face.

"Hey, sorry I didn't swing by earlier, there was a ghoul problem a bit further down town." Shirazu said, giving you an apologetic kiss on the forehead before letting himself drop on the couch near you, oblivious to your frown.

"Did you catch it?" You asked, turning your frown upside down. You knew he was talking about you.

"No, it ran away before we could attack and it managed to kill someone, too. Luckily, the poor guy wasn't married, but still... His family must be heartbroken."

Okay, was he doing this on purpose? Because if you didn't feel like shit before, you sure as hell did now.

"That's awful." You answered. "Luckily he didn't have a significant other, right?"

Shirazu frowned. Did you say something wrong..?

"Hey, promise me you won't wander around at night like that?" He asked. "I really don't want to chase a ghoul and learn that you were their latest meal."

"I swear I won't get eaten." You answered, leaning onto his side and yawning. "But you have to promise me you won't get yourself killed, either."

"I promise." He answered, wrapping an arm around your shoulders.

Although you usually loved cuddling with Ginshi like this, the recent conversation just made it impossible for you to escape into your human fantasy.

Because you killed a possibly innocent man. One with a family, with friends who will mourn him. And you stole him away for his flesh. The thought of it made you sort of sick...

"Hey, you okay? I didn't mean to spook you with the ghoul stuff, sorry."

You quickly shook your head and assured him it was okay.

"Hm, okay." He answered, heart fluttering when he felt you shift against him to get comfy. "Hey, could I spend the night? We haven't spent time together in a while and I wanna make it up to you." He said.

You beamed up at him, causing Shirazu to give you a sharp toothed grin in exchange.

"No." You said, making the blonde's smile fall quickly.

"W-wha... Uh, okay, sorry..." He trailed off, obviously a bit sad.

"I'm kidding, Shark Boy. You can stay over as long as you want. Actually, how about some tea? It'll probably help you relax after that ghoul chase." You proposed, using most of your strength to get up.

"I've got no complaints about that." Your boyfriend said, getting up as well. "I'll just get into something more confortable than this. No offense, but I feel a bit over dressed compared to you." He said, motioning to your loose T-shirt and sweat pants. "You still have some of my clothes, right?"

"I could never throw them away. They're in the closet." You said, heading to the kitchen. "Oh, and I've got some left over cheesecake, want a piece?" You called out.

"Fuck yeah!" Shirazu answered from your room.

You smiled at his enthusiasm before taking out a kettle to boil water in, and grinding some coffee beans to brew yourself some coffee afterwards.

"Ginshi, is camomille okay?" You called out. "It would help you relax!"

You waited a few seconds, and soon grew worried when your boyfriend didn't answer you. Frowning, you turned around and called out once again. "Ginshi?"

The lack of answer made your stomach turn with anxiety as you quietly made your way to your room, slowly pushing the door open and closing it behind you. The metal click of the door closing shut made Ginshi turn his upper body towards the sound, showing you what he had in his hands.

Those were definitely not his clothes.

"You're... You..." He could barely utter a sentence, glancing from the mask reeking of blood and back to you. You had forgotten to wash it.

"Ginshi, I'm sorry you had to find out like this..." You stated calmly, trying not to make him panic. Apparently, your dark statement made him do just that. He jumped up, looking like he was about to jump out the window until he noticed there were no windows.

He swallowed dryly, mustering up all his courage to look back at you, finally getting what the situation apparently was. "You tricked me..." He stated. That meant you lied. You tricked him to eat him. You were faking everything. "You don't..." Shirazu shut his mouth before he could pronounce the last words.

The fact that he, a CCG investigator, was heartbroken because a ghoul didn't love him what the most twisted thing he ever experienced. His throat seemed to tighten, which you took notice of. You were going to kill him, weren't you? At any moment, you would drop your façade and murder him.

He didn't get to say goodbye to Haru...

"Ginshi, I never tricked you." You said, not moving from the door. You weren't going to hold him here by force, but if he wanted to leave, he'll have to at least walk by you. "I understand that some ghouls would have tricked you, but I'm not one of them. The only lie I told you was that I'm human, and I would have told you the truth, just... much later."

Your words nearly got to him, but he knew better. You were using him, using his emotions against him. Ghouls don't stop at anything to get their meals.

"Ginshi, you have to believe me..." You took a few steps towards him, hand reaching out for him. Once you saw your lover flinch, you retracted your hand. "I don't enjoy this lifestyle. I don't enjoy killing. The only reason I do it is for survival. And that's a normal instinct every living being has... Please, hear me out. Hear my version of the story. I never would have harmed you. That's why I fled instead of taking you and your squad on, Ginshi." You took a few more careful steps until you were within arms reach of the man. By now, you looked more dejected than he did.

Shirazu kept his eyes on you, until he saw that the door was mainly free. He had to admit you were a good actress, but he knew you were just waiting for him to let his guard down so you could just betray him once more and attack him. What you did earlier tonight was just a way to earn his trust, but he won't give in so easily.

Once you were close enough, he made a run for it. He bolted out of the room, ran down the corridor and nearly threw himself at the front door, fiddling with the lock. He didn't have a lot of time. You'd be on his heels soon enough.

Once he swung the door open, he ran out of the apartment, pulling out his phone to dial for backup.

Staring at the door he ran through, you couldn't help but let out a loud sob as you sat down on your bed. You couldn't believe you were this stupid.

Stupid for meeting him, for accepting on going on a date, stupid for actually thinking this would work, for pretending to be human, stupid for not washing that damn mask of yours.

"I'm sorry I had to be a monster." You wailed as you curled up on yourself, sobbing into the soft mattress. Thanks to your carelessness, you were going to be assassinated by the love of your life.

Honestly, though, maybe that was a good way to go. It was better than being killed by another ghoul or an investigator that meant nothing to you. With Shirazu, at least you'll get to see the person you love one last time before dying...

Ginshi halted in front of the apartment building, confused as to why you were no where in sight. On the other end of the phone, a rather annoyed Urie was waiting for what ever the teen had to say.

"What the hell do you want?" He asked once again.

"Uh..." Shirazu looked around once more, before answering Urie. "Actually, I think I got it, never mind." He said, hanging up before Urie could answer.

He was absolutely stupid for doing what he was about to do, but there was a feeling in his gut telling him that maybe you weren't lying. Either that or he was hungry.

The blonde hesitantly made his way back up to your flat, looking around every corner before proceeding, afraid that you might be waiting somewhere to ambush him. So far, so good.

After walking inside your apartment (the door was still wide open), he heard the distant sobs that could only be yours and his heart broke once again.

He stealthily made his way back to your room, scolding himself and telling himself how this was a very, very bad idea. For all he knew, this could be a ruse, yet he couldn't just stand there while you were crying. Ghoul or not, he still cared about you a whole lot.

Once at the door way, his frown deepened at your crying form, on the bed.

Ginshi's smell invaded your nostrils for a few seconds, causing your pathetic crying to stop. "You're back." You stated, not turning towards him. You didn't want to see with what weapon he was going to murder you with. "I won't fight back, don't worry. Whenever you're ready."

You said, taking a deep breath once you heard his footsteps approaching the bed, and you felt it dip at where your head was. A hand gently passed through your hair, causing you to jump and let out a small yelp.

"You shouldn't throw away your life so easily. Isn't survival a primary instinct?" Shirazu asked.

You shook your head, refusing to look at him. "I promised myself I wouldn't hurt you, and even if I probably already did, I intend to keep the physical part of the promise intact until my last breath."

You heard him sigh and you clenched your fists, bracing yourself for what ever pain was coming.

"Chill, I'm not gonna hurt you either." Ginshi said. "Now could you look at me? The lack of attention's making me go nuts."

You obeyed his request, slowly sitting up and making eye contact with him.

"Gee, you look like a mess." He said, grimacing a bit.

"I am a mess. An emotional mess." You answered, getting a few chuckled out of him. "So what's gonna happen to me? Cochlea?"

Shirazu shook his head. "I... I might regret this, but I'll keep your secret."

You gasped. "You could get killed for that!"

"I know, but I'll take the risk."

"Don't. Call someone to take care of me if you don't wanna do it. You don't deserve a horrible lifestyle like this. Plus we both know you're a terrible liar. The Quinx would know you're hiding it before you can even open your mouth." You said sternly, shaking your head. "Don't let my pathetic weeping get to you, Ginshi. You deserve better."

"Shut up." He muttered. "From what I'm seeing, you don't deserve this either. You... you were just born in the wrong species." He said, unsure if he was trying to reassure you or himself at this point. "I'll keep your secret and we'll both make it safe and sound."

You frowned, but kept your mouth shut. Shirazu was legit going to risk his life to ensure your safety.

"It's the least I can do for someone I love." He said, taking your hand in his. "Just, lay low?"

"I'm already trying to do so, trust me." You answered.

A silence settled between the two of you, leaving you time to think.

"Ginshi, if things calm down and stuff, I'd like to marry you in the future." You spoke, your voice back to normal. "I just... Tonight was it for me. It's not just anyone that'd to this. And thank you."

You felt him flinch. Right, maybe marrying a ghoul wouldn't be a good idea...

"When I'll have the money, we'll think of something..." He answered. "I hope you'll keep this in your mind. I fucking love you."

"A bit too much as it seems." You teased, earning yourself a whack on the arm. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I fucking love you too." You said before wrapping your arms around his neck and dragging him down on the bed to cuddle.

"Hey, (Y/N)?" He asked, settling his head on your chest.

"Yeah, Ginshi?" You shifted a bit and raised a hand to your boyfriend's hair, gently scratching his scalp.

"Are there other nice ghouls like you out there?"

"I'm not selling out my friends, Ginshi. I know you mean well, but it's one of my personal rules."

"But did we meet some before?"

"Several."

"Where?"

"I'm not selling them out!" You said, laughing. "There are a lot of ghouls who just wish they were born human instead of born as monsters, trust me. We're not all like Aogiri and binge eaters."

"That's... sort of sad."

"Well, that's a ghoul's life. Simply tragic." You sighed, glancing down at the boy. You knew something was going to happen in the future. Your life was a tragedy, after all, but for now, you just wanted to enjoy this moment while you could.

The nice silence was interrupted by a high pitched squealing, making you sit up, accidentally hitting Shirazu.

"SHIT, THE TEA!" You yelled before running towards the kitchen.

Shirazu couldn't help but smile. Maybe ghouls weren't so different than humans after all, and he'll get to experience it first hand.