6. Truth and Method

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"This is because knowledge is not made for understanding; it is made for cutting" (Foucault, 1984, pg. 88).

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Akane wasn't sure if she like the research building. Since Kogami pointed out the concrete nature of the style, she was unable to shake the authoritative feeling it imposed. Even once they made it inside the sleek white corridors so common for contemporary buildings, she felt that heavy pressure. It didn't fade until she could no longer see the building from the rearview mirror as they drove away.

After meeting with Nosaka in December, Akane had gone with Ginoza another few times to speak with the researcher. It was now February, and Kogami instead drove them to the research facility, finally fully recovered. The relief on Ginoza's face when he was relieved of his temporary position as Akane's partner had almost been insulting.

She'd be lying if she said she weren't also relieved though. Kogami was just as taciturn as Ginoza and nearly as moody, but Akane felt immensely more comfortable in the Enforcer's company. His words weren't as sharp as Ginoza's, his observations a bit more open for discussion. It left Akane space to reach out without fear of her hands being slapped away.

There was a new edge to him though, sharper after their journey into the Tokyo underground. While recovering from his injuries, he'd been quiet, and even after getting released from the hospital, he seemed to be constantly in deep thought. So when he'd asked Akane if they could go speak to Nosaka Hotaru at the technology and research labs, she had cautiously agreed, eager for a chance to finally see what had been cycling through his head.

The car ride was quiet, save for Akane's quick review of her and Ginoza's meeting with the researcher. She was sure he had already listened to the recording of their last interview, but if he wanted to hear it from her, she was willing to oblige. Everything he did was with reason. If he wanted to know her opinion on cats and dogs, she would tell him, only to know what he gleaned from the seemingly

The receptionist at the desk wasn't pleased to see Kogami return, but he barely paid her any mind. They made their way through the bright white corridors without easily, and as they knocked on the door to the Coefficient Capture and Analysis lab, Akane took a breath. Kuma answered the door.

"Officer Tsunemori," he said. She noted that his greeting was not as warm as it had been the first two times. His smile leaned in a bland line. "You're back. Officer Kogami, too."

"I'm very sorry to be inconveniencing you again, Kuma-sensei, but- "

Kuma didn't bother waiting for Akane to ramble through her pleasantries. He turned and called, "Nosaka!" before walking away from the doorway entirely. Akane and Kogami peered in to see the young researcher making her way to them. Her face lit up at the sight of Akane and Kogami.

Akane couldn't even ask Kuma to use his office. He threw the door open and walked away just as Nosaka met them.

"Kogami-san, welcome back," greeted Nosaka happily. "Tsunemori-san, you look nice. Did you get a haircut?"

"Oh, yes, I did. Thank you," said Akane, surprised. It had been a week since Akane had her hair trimmed.

"Sorry for bothering you again at work," Kogami said. Akane thought to herself that he didn't sound sorry at all. "Is this an okay time?"

"It's okay. Kuma-sensei is in a bad mood today, so I'm grateful to get out of his way for a bit," said Nosaka, ducking into said-supervisor's office.

"Did something happen?" asked Akane.

"Nothing directly having to do with us," said Nosaka. She paused thoughtfully as she sat down. "I guess I can tell you, since you're detectives. The IT department found traces of a hack in our system last night. The higher-ups are having a fit, thinking someone is trying to steal our research."

"Did they find any corrupted data?" Akane had no idea how Nosaka seemed so relaxed.

"That's the weird thing - there was no evidence of any files getting stolen, no viruses, no corrupted data. Someone just broke into our system and looked around without touching anything."

"You don't seem concerned," noted Kogami. Nosaka shrugged.

"It doesn't affect my paycheck or anything big. I think knowledge should be free anyway."

"You're not bothered by the thought of someone taking your ideas?" asked Akane.

"If someone takes my work and does it better, then that's great. It just means I have to work harder, too." She grinned. "But that won't happen, so I don't need to."

"You're pretty confident."

"I'm good at my job," she said. "Anyway, did you find anything out about the case? I'm assuming that's why you're here."

Kogami nodded and put his hand on the table. After a few clicks on his wrist, an image appeared.

"Will you please confirm that you recognize the person in the photograph as Shibata Yukimori?" asked Kogami, showing a holographic image of the white-haired man. Nosaka's eyes narrowed.

"I already told Officer Tsunemori I do."

"I just want to confirm again for myself, since I wasn't here last time," said Kogami, turning the image off. "Ginoza and Tsunemori say you've been very helpful in my absence. Thank you for cooperating with them. I know these things can be draining. Would you mind if I asked a few more questions?"

Nosaka cocked her head to the side curiously and stared at Kogami for a moment in silence. He matched her, impassive. Akane wondered just what the woman was looking for, what she was thinking behind those strange, still eyes. She smiled. Akane still couldn't pinpoint why the shifting of Nosaka's expressions seemed stilted.

"You know, you kind of remind me of him - Shibata-sensei," she finally said. Even Kogami looked surprised at her comment. Nosaka's lips curled up just slightly at his reaction. "I've been thinking about it since you first came here. Something in the way you hold yourself - it's very familiar."

"In what way?" asked Akane, a bit too panicked for her liking. She detested the idea that Kogami was anything like Makishima and wanted to erase any notion of it. Nosaka gestured to her shoulders.

"Something in the posture, the way he holds his head." Nosaka slid back in her seat, and her shoulders slid and settled smoothly into a position that was exactly like Kogami's. "Shibata-sensei also sat like that."

The way she smiled made something in Akane bristle. She wanted to deny it, but the simple shift in posture was disturbingly accurate, and if she allowed herself, Akane could perfectly picture Makishima sitting across from Kogami in that same way.

"Is that relevant somehow?" asked Kogami. His expression was unchanged. He still sat back as Nosaka did. She smiled and shook her head.

"No, it just occurred to me suddenly, now that I've seen you again. You're obviously nothing like him." Her lips quirked lopsidedly. "It's interesting how people from such different circumstances can take on similar traits and mannerisms though, isn't it?"

Akane's eyes narrowed. It was a harmless observation, but the comparison between her partner and her target was alarming. As she glanced at Kogami again, all she could see was the arrogant stance of the man who had murdered her friend. She wanted to splash cold water on her face to erase the image.

"Anyway, you had questions."

"Yes, how long did you know him?"

"A couple of years - he began teaching in the art department during my second year at Oso."

"When was the first time you spoke to him outside of class?"

"It was probably early on that year," she said thoughtfully. "We didn't talk much that year though, mostly small talk. I don't really remember."

"Try."

Nosaka arched a brow but paused as she thought. "We dissected a lot of things that year in biology class. He complained about the formaldehyde during that time, had a sensitive nose." She paused and scrunched her nose. "I guess in light of his association with Toma-sensei, that memory is kind of gross," she added. Akane's stomach churned at the thought.

"Is that the only comment he made to you about that class?"

"I think we talked once about fetal pigs. He didn't like them."

"He thought they were gross?"

"He thought they were sad."

Kogami's expression didn't change, but he paused, staring hard at Nosaka. The woman still wore that disgusted twist of her nose.

"Did you enjoy biology class, Nosaka-san?" he finally asked.

"Of course. I'd have to in order to do what I do now."

"There's not a lot of dissecting of flesh in your profession."

"No, but everything I work on is ultimately used by people," she said. "And in order to most effectively design machinery for people, I have to have at least a basic understanding of humans mechanics."

"You said when we first met that you often spoke to Makishima about philosophy. Did you enjoy that, too?"

"Not really." She smiled sheepishly. "I just liked hearing him talk about it. It was a little boring on its own, to be honest."

"Then why is that what you talked about as opposed to, say, politics?"

"We talked a little about that, too. It was never about a specific topic. When you're bored, you're willing to talk about anything as long as the person you're talking to is smart."

"You couldn't find that with your classmates?"

"Oso Academy doesn't accept girls on the basis of something so useless as intellect," scoffed Nosaka.

Kogami went quiet again. Akane wondered if he empathized with her. Akane herself had always excelled and found little match for her abilities in those around her, but she had never felt that absence with pain. She had always just assumed it meant she needed to use her talents for others who couldn't do things for themselves. It was why she chose the MWPSB after seeing that no one else scored as suitable by the Sibyl System. Perhaps others felt that singling out more negatively.

"If you hadn't joined the MWPSB, what would you have done professionally?" asked Akane.

"I'd have done the same thing, just with a private company," said Nosaka.

"You wouldn't have pursued something like medicine or engineering in another field? I'm sure someone of your abilities scored well in other areas."

"I definitely couldn't have done medicine. I don't care enough about other people." Akane frowned at the woman's dismissive attitude.

"You just said you work to help people."

"No, I understand people to work. I don't really care if people like my machines or not." Nosaka paused for a moment. "No, that's not right. I want people to get use out of what I make. I just don't particularly care about their personal matters. I think you have to care about those things to be a good doctor." She smiled at Akane. "You would've been a good doctor, Tsunemori-san. You have a very gentle bedside manner."

"O-oh, um, thank you," said Akane, not sure of how to receive the compliment. Kogami let out an almost inaudible sigh.

"So back to Makishima. When would you say that you started speaking more in depth with him?" he asked.

"Maybe in the winter? It was a very casual thing. We only had in-depth conversations a handful of times."

"Did he ever seek you out beyond class?"

"No, it was always me harassing him," she said, smiling a bit.

"Was he your favorite teacher?"

"He was my favorite to annoy. I liked other teachers' subjects more."

"Did you have the same report with them?"

"I had similar banter I guess, but we didn't necessarily talk about philosophy or anything like that."

"Which writers did Makishima enjoy discussing?"

"He liked Nietzche a lot and a bit of Freud. I'd say his favorite was Foucault though."

"Foucault?" said Kogami, hands tensing for a brief moment.

"Have you read him?" asked Nosaka, interested.

"Yes."

"You seem like someone who would enjoy Foucault."

"Why is that?" asked Akane. She felt a little ashamed for not knowing who Foucault was.

"Foucault wrote at length about the relationship between power and knowledge and how that dynamic is exerted in social relationships," said Kogami, barely looking away at Nosaka. She seemed deeply satisfied to hear his explanation. "He asserts that knowledge is used to exert control over those with less power and then is reshaped by those with power to continue and strengthen their control."

Akane ran through the diagram in her head and nodded slowly. She agreed with Nosaka'a assessment. Kogami clearly was someone who would find great interest in such a thinker. Nosaka smiled at Kogami in that strange way, and Akane did not wish to hear her comparison between men again.

"So Makishima liked Foucault," said Akane. "What's your opinion?"

"Personally, I think Foucault gives the powerful too much credit. Most people would choose a reshaped truth if it meant that they prospered, even while oppressed," said Nosaka. "And most people wouldn't even know they were being oppressed if the powerful were competent enough."

"I agree," said Kogami with a nod. His gaze was intense, settled entirely on Nosaka. "But that doesn't mean we should let ourselves become compliant." Nosaka smiled gently. It softened her pale face.

"I agree," she said.

For a long moment, they were quiet, the discussion naturally concluding. Akane tried not to shift or break their silent understanding, though she felt a pang of envy. She had still been unable to achieve such easy clarity with the Enforcer.

"I have a proposal for you," said Kogami finally, his voice like dripping ink. "I ask you to hear me out before you make a decision."

Akane's shoulders tightened at his tone. He didn't inform her of anything like this when she agreed to come with him here. Nosaka nodded warily.

"We have been able to determine a general range for where Makishima may be. I'd like you to contact him."

Akane's eyes flew open.

"Kogami-san," she said. He gave her that impassive expression that told her to humor him. "Kogami-san," she repeated.

He ignored her, and continued, "It wouldn't be anything intense. We just need to locate him and confirm his identity."

"You just did," responded Nosaka.

"In the flesh."

Akane didn't like any of this. No matter how Kogami wished to play it down, knowingly placing a civilian in the presence of such a criminal was undoubtedly dangerous. Makishima had never harmed Nosaka during their acquaintance, but they could not know for sure if that were from lack of intent or lack of success. After all, he had shown that he was not above manipulating students, or even disposing of them.

Nosaka's expression didn't change from that guarded gaze. She asked, "Why me?"

"He knows you already, and if what you've told us is true, then he'd have a natural inclination to trust you," said Kogami, ignoring Akane's look of horror. Nosaka's lips tightened.

"But he's dangerous."

"Yes!" gasped Akane finally. "He is! How could you ask her to do that?"

"She's the only person in the MWPSB who has ever had a relationship with him that we know of. Do you have another plan?" countered Kogami. His tone was even, but Akane saw that narrow edge in his eyes.

"Well, n-no, but… it doesn't matter! She's still a civilian!" argued Akane.

Kogami eyed her carefully, but Akane held her ground. She felt a growl bubbling at the back of her throat at the very thought of endangering the young woman. Nosaka looked between them with that quiet expression.

"Kogami-san, I've seen how dangerous he is," whispered Akane so that only Kogami could hear her. "We can't put her in that danger. I… I'll never forgive myself if she gets hurt."

Kogami met her gaze heavily. She felt her mouth begin to tremble as she imagined Yuki's bare neck, Makishima's blade slicing through it like one of Nosaka's dead fetal pigs. She jumped as she felt Kogami's hand subtly touch hers under the table.

"Trust me. We won't let him get away this time," he whispered. "Trust me."

There was no room to argue, not when Kogami had already made up his mind. They turned, the last decision being Nosaka's. Her stare was cloudy and still again, as if she had turned to stone. She stared, almost at nothing. The room was silent, even without breath.

"I have some concerns," she finally said breathlessly. Her voice seemed to set the world spinning again.

"Of course," said Kogami.

"My coefficient," said Nosaka, shifting uncomfortably. "It's… risen a bit since I started working with you."

"You should have said something," said Akane quickly.

"It wasn't anything dramatic. I knew I could take care of it on my own as long as my involvement remained so minimal, but this seems like more than I can handle alone."

"We can arrange for you to meet regularly with a department therapist."

"I'd appreciate that. I'd also like to make sure my father doesn't know about my involvement."

"Your father?" asked Akane.

"Representative Nosaka Hideyoshi," said Kogami, "Head of the Science and Technology Committee in the House of Representatives."

"You knew."

"It's my job to know," said Kogami. Akane felt the sting of his words painfully.

"You don't want him to know about you working with us?" she asked.

"My father is… rather conservative. One of the reasons I chose to work in the government instead of with a private institution is because he wanted me to have the extra security." She gave them a pointed look, and Akane understood the irony. "He sent me to Oso Academy. I think that really says it all."

"Understood. I'd rather not have someone like him interfering with our work anyway," said Kogami. "No one beyond our unit will know."

"Thank you."

Kogami smirked triumphantly, and Akane glared at him but found she couldn't argue. It was Nosaka's choice after all, no matter how foolish. Akane had a terrible feeling in her gut. Kogami stood and Akane followed.

"Great. Thank you, Nosaka-san. We will need to prep you for your initial contact, so please stay available in the coming week or so."

"So soon?"

"We have to move quickly." Kogami paused and glanced back at her. "I think it goes without saying, but everything said between us here and in email is to remain confidential."

"Of course."

Kogami and Akane's walk to the car was silent. Kuma eyed them warily as they exited the laboratory.

"How long have you been planning on using her in this case?" she finally asked as they drove away. Kogami had the decency to slightly flinch.

"Who says it didn't come to me right then?"

"Don't lie. You didn't tell me you wanted her to work with us," said Akane.

"I knew you wouldn't approve."

"Of course not! She's not an agent. She has no training."

"She's smart and resourceful, and as far as we know, she's known Makishima longer than anyone else. She's the best choice we have."

"We could disguise an actual agent. We can put a holograph on me and send me out in her place." Kogami eyed her almost with annoyance.

"Do you really think you're good enough of an actress to pull that off?" he asked. Akane flushed. "And do you think Makishima is stupid enough to fall for an impostor? He'd see through you the second you opened your mouth."

"You don't think he'll see through Nosaka?" she countered.

"She'll at least be able to get a few words out, and we'll have our man."

"But what if we aren't able to find him?"

Kogami was quiet for a moment. The streetlights came flickering on as the sun dipped low. His face glowed orange in the evening light.

"He'll come." His tone was sure, and Akane had no choice but to believe him. She just prayed Nosaka was as resourceful as he seemed to think she was.

Disclaimer: I own no rights to Psycho-Pass. This story is written as a piece of fanwork without profit or claims.

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Sources:

Foucault, M. (1984). Nietzsche, genealogy, history (pp. 76-100), in P. Rabinow (Ed.) The Foucault reader. New York: Pantheon.