Touka's POV

"Hold on. You guys didn't know Kaori was a girl?" I asked. "No! We thought he was a boy this whole time!" Naruto said. I sighed and looked at Kaori as she slept. "Well, I guess if you look at her from an angle, she does kind of look like a guy." I said.

"Wait, just what is Kaori? Who are you guys?" Sakura asked. "Like hell we're going to tell you." Nishiki said coldly. Hinami and Itori were watching over Kaori as she slept while Kaneki and Yomo were checking on Ayato.

"Look, I know you guys are good friends of Kaori's and I know you're worried about her, but telling you guys about what we are... it's just too big of a risk. Because, no doubt, you guys will be afraid of us,"

I glanced over at Kaori as Hinami was gently stroking her hair, "You'll even be afraid of Kaori. What we are... We're ghouls." I said. "Ghouls?" Sasuke asked. "Whoa, hold on. How is Kaori a girl?" Naruto said. He's still stuck on that?

"You guys have no right to butt in. This doesn't concern any of you humans," Kaori sat up and groaned in slight pain. "Kaori!" Hinami cheered as she hugged Kaori's waist. She smiled and petted her head.

"Kaori, are you all right?" I asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." She replied before looking at Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. "You three need to leave. Now." She ordered. "But Kaori-" Naruto started until Kaori snapped at him.

"I said, go!" Her kagune appeared and smashed on the ground, beside the squad. "Don't make me repeat myself." She said coldly. "Let's go." Sasuke said, leaving the shop. Naruto and Sakura walked behind him as he lead the way.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to let them go?" Ayato said as he sat up with a grunt. "Maybe. Maybe not. Why do you ask?" Kaori said as she deactivated her kagune. "Because they could tell the doves. You should've just killed them right then and there." Ayato argued.

"Don't stress out, Ayato. I'll keep my eye on them. I'll kill them before I let them tell the doves if it has to come to that," Kaori vowed. "By the way, how are you feeling?"

"I'm healing up all right. But I've had worse injuries." Ayato said. "Okay, Kaori. Tell me. Why the hell are you dressed as a guy?" I asked her. "Are you trying to be a guy, Kaori?" Uta asked.

"As if. I only did it because of my father." She explained. "Your father?" I repeated in confusion.

"Well, my father always wanted a boy. But my mother died just a few days after I was born. Because my father couldn't get a boy, he started dressing me as a boy. He cut my hair short and got rid of any clothing that was female. He was so obsessed of having the perfect son, he made sure I didn't look anything like a girl." Kaori explained.

"That sounds awful." Kaneki said. "So, is that the reason why you've shut yourself in your own home?" Itori asked.

"No, not really. The reason why I've shut myself out was because of Rize. After she died, I felt alone and useless. Rize was the only ghoul who could control my hunger and temper. You could say she was like my master." Kaori explained.

"Sounds like a strong bond you two had there." Nishiki commented. I nodded in agreement. "But it doesn't matter anymore. Because I have you guys. I had such wonderful friends the whole time and I couldn't open my eyes to see that." Kaori said with a soft smile.

We all smiled back as Hinami hugged Kaori again. She hugged back, petting her head.

Kaori's POV

"Hey, Kaori. Can I ask you something? It kind of has something to do with your father." Uta said. "What is it?" I asked. "How come you have green eyes and your father has brown eyes?" Uta asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know. I don't even think I know what my mother's eyes are like." I said. "I better get home. My father could be worried about me." I stood up from the couch, but quickly lost balance until Touka caught me.

"Are you sure you'll be all right?" She asked, helping me stand. "I think so. I'm just a little tired." I assured her. "See you around, Kaori." Nishiki said with a wave. I waved back as Touka guided me back to my house.

Once we were there, I thanked Touka, then headed inside my home. "Father, are you home?" I called through the house. He's not here. I wonder where he went? I looked near the coffee table when something caught my eye.

A photo album? I didn't leave this out, did I? I picked up and looked through the pictures. I looked through the pictures and saw my mother. I smiled and flipped the page with my mother standing next to... Hold on. Who's this man in the picture?

It wasn't my father, and it definitely wasn't my uncle either. Maybe he's a friend of Mom's? I couldn't tell, but this guy almost... almost looked like me! "Hey, Kaori. I was wondering when you were going to get home." Father greeted as he entered the house.

"Who is this man?" I asked, staring down at the picture. "Who, Kaori?" He asked, walking over to me. "Here. This man in the picture here. Who is he, and why is he with Mom?" I demanded, showing him the picture.

"Why is this man with Mom? Tell me, Father. Who is he, and don't lie to me." I commanded. My father sighed before sitting down on the couch. "Have a seat, Kaori. I need to tell you something." He said.

I did as he said and sat by him. "Kaori, that man in the picture... is your father." He said. "Quit joking around, Dad. I know you do this just to be funny. But this time, I'm being serious." I said. "I'm being serious, too, Kaori. That man in the picture really is your father." He said.

His eyes told me that he wasn't joking. "What? But then... that means I'm..." I said, trailing off. "It means you're adopted. I'm sorry I kept the truth from you." Father said. "This whole time, you played as my dad and you never told me that you were a fraud?!" I shouted at him.

"Kaori, calm down."

"Who are you if you're not my father?!"

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I was a friend of your mother's. When she told your father that she was pregnant with you, he didn't want to have a child. So, he left your mother. I stepped in and took care of your mother so she wouldn't have to take in all the burden,"

I couldn't believe my own father didn't want me. I felt heartbroken and angry at the same time. "But after you were born, your mother grew very ill. A few days later, she died. Because you didn't have a father and had no one to care or look after you, I decided to raise you as the child your mother would've wanted." He explained.

"And dressing me as a boy is what Mom would've wanted?" I asked with a deadpan look on my face. "Yeah, sorry about that. I just always wanted a boy, so... I guess you get the picture." Father said sheepishly.

"You're pathetic, Dad." I said bluntly. He chuckled and petted my head. "So, where's my real father now?" I asked. "I'm not sure. But if you want, I can help you find him." He said. "Yes, thank you, and thank you for telling me the truth." I said, smiling as I hugged him.

So, it looks like I'm adopted. Let's see where we're at here... My team knows I'm not human. The doves are probably looking for us, now that they know ghouls are here, and now, I just found out I'm adopted. 

But that wasn't my real concern. The one question in my mind is what got me worrying: What if my real father won't accept me because I'm a ghoul?