Hiraeth (A HideKane/ KaneHide multichapter fic)

Chapter 24

I do not own this story. It is written by Aellia on FanFiction.net. All credits go to her.

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ao3: Aeliia
http://www.fanfiction.net: Aeliia
tumblr: memesbeforedark/sunshineboyhide
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"Kaneki!"

Kaneki turned and saw Hide speeding towards him. He gasped in surprise as they collided, and Hide spun them around in a circle before clamping his hands down on Kaneki's shoulders to steady them. Dull gray eyes met lively brown, and his friend exclaimed, "You have to cheer up! Rabbits get lonely when they die, you know!"

Kaneki smiled wearily. "You're not a rabbit, Hide."

"Well, I'm still your friend and you have to get better sometime, so I'm going to help you whether you like it or not!"

It had been weeks since his mom died. Kaneki was living with his aunt, who paid him almost no attention. And when she did, it was only to scold or scorn him. He didn't understand why she acted the way she did towards him-his mom had supported her for years. She's probably still grieving, like me, he convinced himself. It'll get better. She's just sad.

Hide began to drag him to the park they frequented. Albeit reluctant, Kaneki gave in and followed him. All he really wanted to do was go home, curl up, and read. Reading was his only escape; it was his outlet for sadness. By losing himself in a book, he forgot about his grievances and everything happening in his increasingly troubling life. Was a ten-year-old supposed to feel like this? All of the children he read about were so happy. He wanted to be like them, too.

They climbed the piece of playground equipment they'd sat on so many times before. A comfortable silence fell over them as they stared off into the distance, watching the sun slowly set. Kaneki couldn't help but steal a glance out of the corner of his eyes at Hide. In the radiant glow of orange and yellow, his hair greatly resembled the raging ball of fire in the evening sky. It mesmerized him, so he kept staring.

"Kaneki?" Hide questioned, noticing his gaze was cast on him. Kaneki blinked and quickly looked away.

"Sorry," he murmured.

"What are you sorry for?"

"I...I don't know." It was then Kaneki realized a few tears had managed to escape his eyes, and he wiped them away before Hide could see. But he saw anyways. Scooting closer to Kaneki, Hide wrapped his arms around him and pulled him against him. Kaneki buried his face in Hide's shirt and began to cry quietly. Hide sat still as he did this, letting him get out his tears.

After a while, Kaneki's sobs quieted, but he remained in Hide's arms. "I'm here for you, Kaneki," Hide said, his voice quiet and gentle. Kaneki nodded against his chest. "I'll always be here, no matter what. I'll never leave, because that's what best friends do. They stay together. Will you stay with me too?"

Kaneki looked up and met his friend's eyes. He nodded. "I want to stay with you too."

"I don't like seeing you sad. I like it when you're happy. Will you try to cheer up, even if it's just a little?"

Kaneki managed a small smile. "I'll try." Hide grinned in response and hugged him tightly, squeezing the air out of him but Kaneki couldn't care less, and he hugged back with just as much enthusiasm. Thanks to Hide, for the first time in weeks, his sadness had been temporarily lifted.