LINKED TO JOIN AS ONE
There was an edge to his voice that just irritated her, the kind that did not remind her of the Kougami Shinya she once knew so long ago. But in truth it had only been the span of a couple of years where their lives had been separated. She had thought deep down that maybe he cared for her in a way that exceeded the fine line between inspectors and enforcers. That thought had been replaced with hope that she could get him back to life in Sibyl ruled Tokyo. Kougami was not someone who would listen to her, he had changed dramatically and Akane could not help but wonder why he had truly left.
Kougami passed another man a round of ammunition, patting his back and laughing gently. The men here respected him as a leader. Akane had to admit she admired this new Kougami. He seemed more free than he did in Tokyo.
"Inspector?" Kougami's voice called for hers.
Akane blushed twirling her head to meet Kougami's face. Night had begun to settle among the camp and the fading light played shadows on the sharp angles of his jaw.
"What is it Kougami san?" Akane replied coldly.
In truth she could not stand her own hostility.
"It's getting dark. I'll show you where you can sleep."
A slither of hurt was laced within his words, alerting Akane to lift her guard slightly. They walked together in silence, the trudging of their shoes on the dry earth was the only melody filling their ears. She followed him, weaving through passages and keeping her head down. She did not need to attract unwanted attention in this place. Especially at the sake of Kougami.
He finally reached a piece of fabric covering a doorway, holding it for Akane as she walked past him into the room. The space was small but furnished well, a low table and couch in the centre with a cot in the corner. A balcony with swinging doors took up the northern wall. Kougami threw his belongings on the table and sat down on the couch beckoning Akane.
"You must be starving." he said pulling out a plastic container of something.
"I'm fine thanks." Akane lied but then her stomach growled and Kougami laughed.
"Your belly says otherwise." he smiled pulling out the containers.
"You don't have to Kougami san." Akane said, eyeing his careful handiwork.
"Please Akane… Call me Shinya." His eyes locked with hers.
She could feel herself blushing, the tension in the room was building and the air between the two became electrified. He gave Akane one look. A look that she could not translate from Kougami's language of raging emotions.
He pounced on her, covering her mouth with hand and using his body weight to hold her down underneath him. Her eyes widened in horror as she thrashed uselessly against Kougami's rock solid torso.
"Shh! I'm not going to hurt you." he assured and Akane relaxed slightly.
He removed his hand from her mouth and moved his face closer to Akane. So close that he could feel her timid breath against his mouth. Their noses touched as he rested his forehead on hers and felt her arms cling onto his neck, reaching up to his hair.
"Why do you do this to me." Kougami whispered against Akane's lips and she shuddered.
"Why did you leave me?" she replied, sending a shiver down Kougami's back.
"Because I couldn't protect you from the horrors of this world." he placed her hands weakly against his chest, avoiding her eyes.
"I should of been there… I should have gone… I couldn't have left you alone to face that monster. Why the hell was I so stupid."
Akane went silent. She could never forget the look on Makishima's face when he had slit Yuki's throat. How her muscles did not cooperate with her brain because she was so terrified.
"Why do you blame yourself for this when it isn't your fault?" Akane smiled pathetically and Kougami could not bear the pain in her voice.
"Because it is always my duty to protect you. Even if I am no longer an enforcer."
Without a moment for her to respond. He leapt onto her lips, stealing her breath away in a single motion. She gasped at his gesture, unaware of the feelings he had stored inside him from when he first met her. She kissed him back, equally as passionate, her head swirling in euphoria. She gripped at his cotton shirt as he hugged tightly onto her as she arched her back to meet his lips.
"Shinya." she breathed him. He became her oxygen while she became his.
"Akane…" he loosened the kiss and looked her in the eye. "Sleep with me."
Akane reacted quickly as ever, swinging her palm towards his face and catching him on the cheek. Akane blushing wildly feeling embarrassed. Kougami just smiled and cocked his head to the side.
"Inspector, do you assume I meant s e x?" Kougami toyed with her.
Akane blushed madly, nodding her head slightly. Kougami smiled and chuckled.
"Only if you want inspector." Akane blushed more, retreating to the far side of the couch. "But I really meant if you could sleep in the same bed as me?"
Akane's face lightened and she looked deeply into the face of Kougami Shinya. His raven black hair, slithered eyes and mocking expression. Could a man like him be of interest to a female of her sort? A latent criminal, no worse. But in the end she knew him for what he was. A good, passionate man.
"Okay." she agreed, a thousand warning lights going off in her head.
There was a remarkable age gap but that did not seem to bother him. Did he really want her or just a one-night stand? Well he did not ask for what most males would. He moved over the overhang where the bed stood, it's covers messed up. And then…
Akane blushed again, stammering. "Kouga… Uh Shinya is that necessary?"
Kougami looked up her through the darkness, his toned torso exposed. "It's hot, I hope you don't mind. I'll give you some privacy."
He turned his back cueing Akane to change herself. She turned away and slid out of her MWPSB jumper, remaining in a skimpy tank top. She pulled off her work pants leaving herself in simple black underwear. She sighed and climbed into the sea of covers and the musky scent of cigarette smoke and metal, a smell that was distinctly Kougami Shinya's.
He pulled her into his strong arms and she placed her hand on his chest as she lay on his outstretched shoulder. He looked down at her, tracing her fingers over his skin, leaving an irresistible tingling sensation.
"You're very shy tonight, my inspector. What have you got to fear?"
My inspector…
Akane blushed and looked down, hands laying awkwardly on his chest. She could feel the steady motion of his heartbeat, studying every single angle of his muscular chest. She could feel him moving underneath her and she looked up to see him with an unlit cigarette hanging out his mouth.
"Care to come to the balcony with me?" he asked, peering down.
She nodded and he passed her the shirt he was wearing.
"Can I have one?" Akane motioned towards the packet of cigarettes in his hand.
He looked at her hesitantly before handing her the lighter and packet. He watched her out the corner of his eye as she expertly lit the cigarette poking out her mouth, exhaling a trail of smoke and balancing the cigarette in between her fingers. She passed him back the packet.
"I didn't realise you picked up my habit." he finally said as they both smoked on the balcony.
"Work is stressful." she replied bluntly.
He looked at her. Her eyes were staring out into the distance, devoid of happiness.
"I keep thinking there's no one to live for anymore. I want to give up but I think of all those people out there that could get hurt." she said out of the blue.
His eyes widened.
"It's pathetic huh? That I'm living for my job. I've got no one to trust anymore." she said, leaning against the balcony rain.
His body stopped against his command and all he could do was listen to her open up to him.
"Years ago I would have secretly loathed you smoking." she lifted her head up and scoffed. "But here I am doing the same stupid thing."
He looked away disgusted with himself. He had left her to fend for herself.
"Then I came here because I wanted to find you… And bring you back." her eyes gave way to a stream of tears.
Kougami rushed up and grabbed her in his arms, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
"You have me." He leant his chin against the crown of head. "As long as I have you."
"You do." she cried.