A/N: Here's one for all my sour-loving readers. (HINT: GIANT LEMON ENSUES) But it does further the plot at the end. I just can't help myself, these characters are so adorable. ~R3d

A week later, Akane surprised them with a vacation day and a trip to walk around and do whatever they wanted around town. She'd somehow convinced Shimotsuki to go along with this, since she couldn't chaperone more than three Enforcers on her own. Ginoza suspected it had some to do with the chance to visit one of Shimotsuki's favorite tea houses on the way. He buttoned his black peacoat and fixed his sleeves, taking care to cover the wristband that might make any civilians he encountered uncomfortable with his presence.

"What do you think?" Maekawa asked from behind him. She spun in a circle when he turned to look. She wore a dandelion colored knit cap with a white crocheted flower, her hair braided back per Ginoza and slung over her shoulder. Her olive green dress hung below her knees. In the space between the hem and her gray woolen leg warmers he could see black leggings over her shins. She clicked her black boots together and shoved her hands into the pockets of her yellow cardigan.

"I think yellow is definitely your color," he complimented coming to stand next to her. She reached up to him, standing on her toes, and kissed his cheek.

"And red is yours," she winked as he blushed.

"Stop being cute and get out here," Yayoi called from the open door. She and Sho were hip to the more intimate turn in their relationship without it being explicitly stated by either of them. Honestly they were thrilled for Gino. Even in the time before the Specimen case lead to Kogami's demotion, Yayoi hadn't ever known the man to genuinely smile. Now he seemed to be having the opposite problem.

"Alright, alright," Gino complied, throwing his hands in surrender. He offered one to Tsubame and she took it happily to follow him to the main room. Akane and Mika were there already and Sho was throwing a few things into his backpack to head out.

"Okay, ground rules: stay in sight at all times. I am not afraid to report you MIA. Don't talk to anyone unless you're buying something. I don't want you clouding the hues of unsuspecting citizens. And for the love of Kami keep your hands to yourselves. We work together, for crying out loud." Shimotsuki glared at the couple currently holding hands.

"That'll be a hard one for me," came a voice from the door behind the Inspectors. Shion entered the suite with a grin. Gino wasn't sure if Yayoi's expression was one of surprise or horror.

"Shion, what are you doing down here?" She shoved past a clearly fuming Shimotsuki to get to her lover.

"Akane said we were going out. I thought a trip outside could do me some good. I'm pretty sure it's been years since I've walked on grass. Besides, I took the day off already." She winked at Yayoi who was unconvinced, but the fact that Shion hadn't set off the door scanner on her way in indicated that she was at least below 300.

"If you're sure," Yayoi smiled weakly.

"Whatever, can we get out of here?" Shimotsuki huffed. Ginoza chuckled quietly at her blatant jealousy.

"That sounds like a great idea. Inspector, will you take Ginoza and Maekawa? My car will fit the other three a little more comfortably," Akane suggested.

"Why don't I take Kunizuka and Ginoza? They're the tallest so they'll have more leg room if they're in my car."

It was the weakest excuse Ginoza had ever heard to get Yayoi away from Shion and to simultaneously keep him away from Tsubame. The hand in his tightened angrily, but before anyone else could respond, Shion cut the red wire.

"That's fine," she shrugged, blonde hair bouncing. "Once we park we'll all be on foot anyway." Bomb defused. If Shion wasn't going to fight it with him, Ginoza would rather just get it over with. And at least then he wouldn't have to worry about Mika clouding Tsubame's hue with her tormenting. He brought the back of Tsubame's hand to his lips before letting her go to move towards Shimotsuki.

"Trackers," the Inspector insisted. Both Yayoi and Gino rolled their eyes and pulled up their sleeves. That's when Ginoza noticed the Dominator on her hip.

"You're joking, right?" he scoffed, pointing.

"Ginoza," Akane warned.

"Do you want to go for a walk or not?" Shimotsuki growled. He narrowed his eyes at her but pressed his lips closed into a hard line. "Good dog."

"Inspector…" Akane sighed.

"Just remember this was your bright idea," Shimotsuki reminded her. She then turned to lead the way to the parking garage.

Ginoza couldn't honestly remember the last time he'd taken the time off work to just walk around and enjoy Tokyo. They drove a ways out of the center of town in order to get away from the stress of the city, finding themselves in a quieter suburban area. They had tea together at Shimotsuki's favorite tea house just as Ginoza had suspected. Fortunately, the Inspector had excellent taste in tea, so it wasn't a complete waste. Ginoza happened to be familiar with the area they were in, and afterward managed to convince the Inspectors to allow him to lead them to his favorite place to get udon when he and his mother lived north of the city. Akane was somehow unable to put herself between Inspector Shimotsuki and Ginoza at the table. She cast a meaningful look at him over Shimotsuki's shoulder as she decided to take the seat across from her at the round table instead.

"So how do you know this place, Mr. Ginoza?" Akane asked as she peered over the menu.

"My mother used to take me here for lunch. Sometimes it would be during my father's lunch breaks and he'd meet us," Gino remembered suddenly. He shifted in his chair but allowed no other indication that he was uncomfortable to pass his countenance. Tsubame slipped her hand into his discreetly under the table.

"Before his demotion, then," Shimotsuki observed, absently, as if she thought pointing that out was necessary, but equally unimportant.

"Obviously," Ginoza growled. He bit his tongue.

"So what do you recommend?" Shion asked, in a voice louder than necessary. Ginoza rambled off menu items without even looking at it.

"The udon is the best, but their miso is to die for. You can't really go wrong," he assured them, a warm smile gracing his features. Tsubame and Akane beamed back at him. He could feel the surprised stares from Shion and Shimotsuki, who until now had probably never seen Ginoza smile before. The Inspector wasn't the most perceptive when it came to the Enforcers, so she probably hadn't noticed the subtle changes in Ginoza's demeanor until now. Karanamori just hadn't been around enough to have noticed. For the first time in a very long time, he felt happy enough to have returned to this restaurant at all. Before it would've just been too painful, but now with his friends and Tsubame there to reassure him, it seemed silly for him to have harbored bad feelings for the place.

It had been so long since many of them had been out to a restaurant at all that Akane decided to treat them all to dessert as well. The mochi ice cream they were served was the best Tsubame thought she'd ever had. They left in high spirits despite Shimotsuki's insensitivity. The Inspectors took up a watchful post behind the group of them and Sho placed himself conveniently in the way of the view of Tsubame and Ginoza's entwined fingers as they traveled down the sidewalk. Shimotsuki had already given up on the PDA rule for Yayoi and Shion at the restaurant.

They neared a large park and couldn't resist stopping for a bit. Akane and Mika found a bench that overlooked the playground, the small fish pond, and the gazebo in the distance. Hand in hand, Yayoi and Shion walked leisurely toward the gazebo. Hinakawa, Maekawa, and Ginoza meandered over to the deserted swing set, the two younger Enforcers taking seats while Ginoza leaned against a support pole.

"So, who plugged the virus into Shimotsuki's OS? Surely she hasn't always been this way." Tsubame glanced weakly at the Inspectors seated on the park bench.

"A while ago, Shimotsuki's friends were killed by a psychopath by the name of Rikaku Orio, the daughter of a painter whose works were too violent and explicit to be displayed in the public. She was only a high schooler when her friends were killed, plastinated, and turned into a sculpture. I don't think she ever saw what was left of them, but she knows it wasn't good. I suppose she has the clearance now that she could've looked it up. For her sake, I hope she didn't…" Ginoza closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the pole behind him.

"Just like the Specimen case?" came Hinakawa's meek voice. Ginoza peeked an eye open in a deadly glare. "Sorry, I, uh, do some light reading when I have spare time… I dug into the file of a certain vigilante and came across the case file."

"It's alright, you were bound to find out anyway. For the sake of your psycho pass I wouldn't recommend going through it more than once." Ginoza sighed and turned to them. "Ever since her friends' deaths, Shimotsuki has been particularly wary of latent criminals. I can't say I blame her, though I question her lack of basic humanity towards us. Then again, I'm sure I was the same way. She has a soft spot for Yayoi though. Kunizuka comforted her at the scene of her friends' murders. I don't think she ever forgot that, as confusing as it must be to her now… A latent criminal who cares about her psycho pass? She's never really understood that we're here to help her do this job. She can't get past the bitterness. Sometimes I wish she'd listen to me. I've been in her shoes. I was a fool. I thought I was better than my father… Better than Kogami. I know now that I am no different. And neither is she. Truthfully neither is Inspector Tsunemori. She just deals with it differently."

The pair listened to the black-haired Enforcer earnestly. Even through the disdain they felt for Inspector Shimotsuki, both of them wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Ginoza's perspective was something neither of them would ever have. He had been an Inspector. He remembered what it was like to not be a latent criminal.

"I try to be patient with her. I understand where she's coming from, for the most part. But there's no way I'll ever convince her of what I know to be true. It sounds crazy to someone in her position. At least, it sounded crazy to me coming from Akane all those years ago…" He shook his head.

"Hindsight it twenty-twenty, Gino," Hinakawa smirked. "If I could go back in time and tell myself to stop taking pills, I would. Back then it was the only thing that seemed to work. I ruined my own life. Child-prodigy holo programmer and I couldn't handle the stress." Hinakawa shrugged and kicked his feet, propelling the swing forward. "Now they won't prescribe me anything, hence the constant reading. I don't sleep well."

"That makes three of us," Tsubame added with a small chuckle.

"Four if you count Tsunemori. She messages me at two in the morning sometimes." Gino resumed his relaxed position against the swingset.

"I doubt anyone in Division One sleeps well," Hinakawa observed. "We're either on duty or on call most nights of the week." Both men were startled when Tsubame suddenly gasped next to them.

"Gino! Hinakawa! Look!" Tsubame pointed excitedly at the gazebo across the park where Karanamori had knelt down in front of Yayoi, whose blush was visible from this distance, a small red box proffered between them.

"Can she do that?" Hinakawa asked, honestly concerned.

"I don't think it matters," Ginoza smiled. He glanced at Tsubame whose eyes twinkled with the absolute delight of a girl who'd probably planned her own wedding at six years old. It occurred to him, not for the first time, that some more chivalry on his end might result in a little more confidence on hers.

They watched excitedly as Yayoi dropped to her knees and buried her face in Shion's jacket, likely displaying some emotion that no one else had ever seen her express. With shaking hands, they situated the ring on Yayoi's finger, kissed, and stood to find their friends shouting from the swingset in support. Shion escorted her fiancé back to where their friends gathered on the sidewalk, Akane standing to join them.

"Congratulations!" Akane chirped as they approached.

"Couldn't have swung it without you, Inspector," Shion winked at Akane. "Somehow asking that important of a question in the Analysis Lab just didn't seem very romantic."

"That's so sweet," Tsubame swooned. Yayoi offered her hand to the group so they could see the ring that was so perfectly Yayoi it almost made Ginoza laugh: nothing flashy, completely practical, and no places for things to get hooked on it.

"We'll have to plan another vacation day like this for the wedding," Hinakawa mentioned, pulling up the calendar on his holoscreen.

"Assuming there is one." Everyone turned to look incredulously at the sulking Inspector still seated on the bench. "What?" Shimotsuki demanded. "I've never heard of a marriage license being granted to a pair of latent criminals. Even couples with only one latent criminal have a hard time, especially since the margin between therapy and isolation is so small."

"Seriously? What do you even care?" Shion snapped. She'd been pleasant to the Inspector all day and her patience had finally worn out. Yayoi put up a hand to calm her down.

"You're both still technically Institutionalized. I'm just saying…"

"Well don't," Ginoza barked. "You really think we need to hear it? Today has been mostly pleasant. We're out doing something that feels normal for once. Our co-workers are engaged. Can't you just congratulate them and get over yourself for four hours?"

"Ginoza, that's enough," Akane warned him.

"No, Inspector, she needs to hear it. Shimotsuki, listen to me. I was just like you. I treated my Enforcers like animals. I showed them little reprieve for the slightest mistakes, I hounded them about their whereabouts and intentions on missions… I treated my best friend and my father like dogs Mika! And look where it got me!" He revealed the tracker at his wrist. "I was no better than Kunizuka, or Kagari, or Sasayama, or Kogami, or Masaoka… No, I'm especially no better than Masaoka… You are no better than any of us. We've all got hues, and they can all get clouded. The more you pretend that we aren't also human, and you distance yourself from the reality that you can fall, the faster your Crime Coefficient will climb."

When everyone remained silent, he took a deep breath and continued.

"Masaoka… My father once gave me some advice. I'd asked him about Inspector Tsunemori and how he figured she kept her hue so clear. He had speculated that perhaps her disconcern with getting cloudy was what saved her. She didn't worry about her own hue, and she didn't get fixated on anyone else's. It was her trust in a latent criminal that solved so many cases her first year as an Inspector, and it was my distrust in latent criminals that lead to my downward spiral my last year as an Inspector. Don't walk this path, Mika Shimotsuki. You won't like where it leads you. SYBIL doesn't have favorites. It has citizens and it has criminals, and as an Inspector you walk the tightrope between them."

Mika scoffed.

"In your position, I'd be careful what I said about the SYBIL System. How could a latent criminal possibly understand how it works and still end up a latent criminal?" she spat.

"I'm not saying I know how it works. I am saying that it doesn't discriminate. You are no different than I was. I don't want you to end up like me."

The Inspector mulled this over for a moment. The rest of the group held their breath. Feeling Ginoza's temper flaring next to her, Tsubame reached out her hand and took his human one, stroking his knuckles to keep him calm.

"I don't need your pity, Enforcer," Shimotsuki finally decided. "And I don't want your help. You failed the SYBIL System, it's my job to use you until it decides your usefulness is expired. That's how it works. Don't worry about me because I don't worry about you." The Inspector stood and stalked off. "If you don't want Tsunemori to get written up, I suggest at least two of you come with me," she called over her shoulder angrily. Hinakawa volunteered himself, and after a brief and silent exchange, Tsubame took off after them, deciding it would probably be best for Ginoza to stay away from Shimotsuki for a while. A fifteen minute car ride with the woman wouldn't kill her, hopefully.

"I don't know what else to tell her," Ginoza huffed, irritably.

"Well challenging her whole belief system all at once might not be the best method," Yayoi suggested. "She operates on the same assumptions everyone does. Hell, even we operate on those assumptions. It's how our society works. It's easier for normal people to demonize us. It puts up a barrier to protect them. I know she's mean, but maybe we should just let her be. It hasn't hurt her yet."

"Yet," Ginoza emphasized.

"Enough," Akane sighed. "Let's get you guys home. Congratulations again, you two."

Shion and Yayoi nodded and began the walk back to Akane's parked car. Gino, slow to respond to the order, hung back.

"Ginoza don't make me paralyze you," Akane grumbled, only half joking.

"It's just so disappointing to watch someone make your mistakes and have them refuse your help. If there was one thing I wish I could go back and do it would be to take my father's advice more seriously. Even if I'd still ended up a latent criminal when he died, at least I would've been prepared for it." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I know, Gino. She'll see, eventually. But there's nothing more you can do. C'mon. Let's go home." She smiled and nodded her head in the direction of the parking garage and he followed reluctantly.

Akane was surprised to find a stray rose petal on the floor outside her apartment door, but didn't really think much more of it. When she opened the door to Candy squealing about a delivery, she quickly silenced her and flipped the lights on. A trail of long-stemmed red roses led into her bedroom, and her heart stopped.

"Kogami?" she called hopefully, dropping her bag. Stopping in the doorway she found him placing the remainder of a massive bouquet on the top of her bedside table.

"I thought I'd have a little more time," he smiled at her. "I haven't even made dinner yet."

"What's the occasion?" She unbuttoned her blazer and it fell to the chair next to her.

"I'm sorry I've been away so long. We were making some preparations for which my presence was necessary…"

She scoffed, interrupting him.

"Obviously."

He smiled taking a step toward her.

"Sorry about that," he mumbled, reaching out to place his hand tentatively on her hip. She didn't protest as he pulled her closer.

"You're forgiven, but only because you aren't dead. Don't do something like that again," she warned, hugging him.

"No promises," he chuckled. "Anyway, I brought some groceries over. How does katsudon sound?"

"Delicious!" she smiled up at him. He caught her lips in his and kissed her gently.

"Definitely," he agreed, brushing the hair from her face. Her stomach growled between them, making them both laugh.

"Sorry. We did a lot of walking today," she blushed.

"Chasing a beat?"

"No, actually I took the team out to lunch and then we walked to a park… Oh! Karanamori proposed to Ms. Kunizuka!" She wiggled out of his arms to grab her costuming device, changing into more comfortable clothes.

"That's exciting…" Kogami seemed distracted as he watched her make her way back over to the door.

"What?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I've never seen you in leggings before."

Her face reddened, but she laughed.

"Shinya, you've seen me naked," she reminded.

"Still different," he insisted, shaking his head. "Anyway, food."

They made dinner together, laughing and discussing the day's events. Kogami was happy for Yayoi and Shion, but seemed unconvinced that they would be able to get married. Akane told him about the restaurant that Ginoza took them to and Kogami nodded, closing his eyes.

"We passed it on a case one of the first weeks he was an Inspector. Masaoka, Sasayama and I were looking for a place to stop for food and the old man said it was his favorite. Gino convinced me we didn't have time to stop and sit down. When I asked him later why he'd seemed so cold about it, that was when he told me that the father who'd become a latent criminal who'd abandoned him and his mother when he was a child was Masaoka, our Enforcer. I'll never forget the way he looked after that. He could hardly spit it out. It's great that he was alright to take you all there. I'm glad through all of this he's able to face some of his demons. They tortured him for a long time. I hope he was able to reconcile his feelings about his old man."

Kogami sighed and flipped the pork cutlets he was cooking in the pan.

"That smells wonderful," Akane mumbled, placing the cutting board she'd used to cut the green onions and Nori onto the counter. Kogami set the tonkatsu onto a plate for Akane to slice and began preparing the donburi in the same pan.

"My mother's recipe. I prefer simpler dishes, myself, but this isn't just for me… I don't think I've ever cooked for two people in my adult life," he realized aloud.

"You've always been a loner, it seems," Akane prodded, jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow.

"I think I'm growing out of it," he smiled, grabbing the plated pork and placing it back into the pan.

"I would hope so," Akane grumbled. She tossed the knife into the sink and grabbed bowls for their dinner. When she turned around she landed face first into Kogami's chest.

"If this starts to cloud your hue, I'll have to leave. You know that, right?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Akane rebutted. "I'm worse off worrying about you when you don't check in than having you here. You're clearly able to come and go without being detected. So long as no one finds out you're staying here, there's no way the alternative is better."

"Alright, alright. Let's eat."

Akane couldn't help but smile to herself throughout dinner. Of all the things she'd done with him, excluding their previous private rendezvous, this was probably the most human he'd ever seemed to her. Before he'd deserted, and even a little when he'd shared her bed, he seemed unattainable, like a ghost walking the earth with a singular purpose, never looking up or turning back. It tickled her to death that the man she thought didn't have time for anything but his mission had snuck into her apartment with roses to surprise her with a dinner date.

As Kogami finished his bowl, he peeked up at her.

"What's so funny?"

"I just can hardly believe you're here, sometimes," she admitted.

"If I get my way you won't ever feel that way again," he replied, determination lacing his words.

"So what exactly are you trying to do anyway?"

"Akane," he sighed, "I don't want you to get hurt, so I think the less you know the better."

If only he knew how much I know, she thought, her mind taking her back to that room full of floating brains. They'd more than proven themselves corruptible. She'd had fewer problems with them since they'd passed judgement on their own collective, but that didn't keep the worry that they could be corrupted again from creeping into the back of her mind from time to time. She'd found that those were her "cloudiest" days as her hue dipped to a hardly distinguishable baby blue.

"Anyway," Kogami interrupted her thoughts as he stood, "I think we've got more important things to do tonight."

She raised a brow at him as he cleared the dishes and returned to the table to pull out her chair for her. Once she stood he took her hands in his and brought them to his shoulders, leaving them there as he trailed his own back down her arms and sides to a light grip at her hips. He looked down at her and smiled, bending to press his forehead to hers.

"Sometimes this doesn't feel real," he breathed.

"That's an understatement," she corrected, tipping her chin up to meet his lips. He pulled her closer, if that was possible, disheveling her sweater and revealing skin at the small of her back. Not one to miss out on an opportunity, he slid his hand gently up her back under the light fabric that tickled the backs of his hands. When his hand reached the area between her shoulder blades he was surprised to find no other barriers between them.

Empowered by the hitch in his breath, Akane reached up and tugged the spiky styled hair at the nape of his neck, pulling his head to the side to nip playfully at the skin under his ear. A soft groan escaped the back of his throat and his nails traced electric paths across her skin.

"Sensitive, are we?" she teased, making sure to breathe directly onto the same spot.

"You're feeling bold, I see," he observed, pulling back to look at her.

"Shinya, you haven't been by in weeks," she defended. "And that does not give you permission to be away that long again!"

He chuckled and pulled her close once more, bringing his lips to her ear.

"Is that an order, Inspector?" He brushed his lips teasingly down the side of her neck and back up to her ear, earning a shudder. "I'm known to be quite insubordinate. You may have to spell it out for me. What is it you want?"

"Hmmm…" she pretended to think about it for a moment before looking directly into his eyes. "You."

With that she pushed him backwards towards her bedroom door and into her room. He'd flipped a switch and the anticipation on his face was more than enough encouragement.

"Strip," she demanded, crossing her arms and taking a seat on the edge of her bed. His eyes widened for a moment before he smiled and acquiesced, starting at his tie. "And I'll be needing that when you're done," she added, holding out one hand. He dropped the article into her palm and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, maintaining eye-contact with her as he dropped it to the floor behind him. She stood up and sauntered over to him, running her hands across his chest and shoulders. She couldn't contain the smile as he shivered under her fingertips. When he reached for her, she stepped away just out of range, a playful smile gracing her features.

"Not yet," she teased, sitting back down and crossing her arms once more.

He grinned back, biting the inside of his bottom lip as he watched her. Resuming his task, he undid his belt and the fasteners on his slacks, dropping them to the floor and stepping out of his socks at the same time. When he reached for his underwear, she stopped him.

"Leave those on for a little bit. I like them," she admitted. He smirked and stepped towards her. She caught his extended arms by the wrists and quickly knotted his tie around them. Before he could react, she stood and pulled him around so his back was to her bed and pushed him onto it. If there was any concern that he wasn't as into this as she was, it vanished as she straddled his hips and he pressed himself enthusiastically against her. She kept his hands from finding purchase on the hem of her sweater, and pushed them back over his head, her face mere inches from his. She smiled again and buried her face in his neck, slowly trailing hands and kisses down his body, at times nibbling slightly, others, brushing her tongue softly against his bare skin. She did not miss the death grip he took on her headboard, or the way his back arched off the mattress as her breath ghosted over his nipples. Reaching the waistband of his black boxer-briefs, she found the tip of his hip bone and sucked a small red mark onto it, his voice suddenly filling the room.

"God damnit, Akane," he moaned, clearly straining against the desire to take control.

"Good boy," she praised, giggling. She took another pass across his waistband before pushing herself back up to be even with his face, her body was flush against his. She reached down to the hem of her sweater and slowly pulled away one of the barriers between them, watching him the whole time. Gradually, she felt the heat of his body against her stomach as she inched the sweater up. Suddenly, he swung his arms down around her, pulling her close as he rolled her over so he was the one on top.

"Impatience will get you nowhere, Shinya," she chided, looking down between them. "I still haven't even taken my clothes off."

"You are… really good at this," he gasped. He lifted his arms so that she could roll out from under him, and retook his position on the bed.

"I'll let you do all the work once I'm done with you, don't worry," she promised, winking. With that, she shed her sweater, tossing it unceremoniously to the floor. Having to remind him once more to keep his hands to himself, she straddled him again. This time, she lowered her chest to his stomach and slowly snaked up his body to bring her lips hungrily to his. His body felt like fire against hers.

At some point he'd completely lost control of his hips, she realized, as they ground up into her weight over them. An idea struck her then, and she slipped back down his torso, fingers outlining his muscles, until she reached his hips once more. She re-situated herself between his legs and rubbed her palm over the bulge, the groan she received completely worth it. She laid her forearm across his hips and rubbed him again through the thin fabric, failing to hold him down completely, but still stifling his efforts to increase the friction.

"Akane, please," he begged. She was not expecting that. She glanced back up at the pieces of the man she'd torn apart, his chest flushed and his head thrown back, hands shaking as they gripped whatever purchase they could find. Fairly satisfied with that, she pulled the waistband down just enough to slide her tongue over the tip of him, a shudder wracking his entire body at the contact. For a few moments she drew further pleasure from him, alternating between tentative kisses and completely enveloping him in her mouth. When he'd given up his hold on the bedframe and his hands wound their way into her hair, she pulled away and maneuvered her pants and panties off.

With a mischievous smile, she reached for the tie that bound his wrists together. As she slowly undid the knot, she wondered what she was in for in retaliation. He didn't give her long to think about it. With one deft movement he rolled over her once again, grabbing her wrists in the process and pinning them down above her head. He was panting heavily, but an undeniably wicked smile spread across his face.

"My turn," he growled, causing excitement to spread like electricity through her body. He dipped his head to the side of her neck and sucked. In the back of her mind she admonished herself for not telling him that Ginoza picked up on the last hickey he'd left on her, but the rest of her couldn't care less. He adjusted her wrists so he was holding both with one hand, while the other arm snaked beneath her to encircle her waist. Drawing himself closer to her, he guided her legs in front of his body so that her ankles rested on his shoulders. Returning to himself for a moment, he dipped his free hand between her legs to make sure he wasn't going to hurt her. The gasp that escaped her lips brought a smile to his own, and he slowly inserted one finger into her while his thumb teased her center, causing her back to arch and her head to fall back as she moaned. He released her wrists, his hands coming to support her back, before lining himself up and pushing slowly into her.

Her legs slid off his shoulders to rest in the crooks of his elbows as she pulled his face to hers. He thrust deeper into her and she moaned into his lips, trying to press as close to him as physically possible. The rhythm he took was slower than she wanted at first, but didn't last long as he became lost in her body. The new angle had her calling his name feverishly into his shoulder, her nails digging desperately into his back. Her body started to spasm and she felt him smirk against her neck. Once her moaning gave way to panting, he backed up a little to allow her legs to fall back to the mattress.

"You okay?" he beamed, clearly very proud of the twitching wreck he'd made of her.

"Better than," she nodded, taking a deep breath. "Here." She reached into the drawer of her night stand and pulled out a condom to hand to him.

"It's almost like you planned to lure me back to your bed, you minx," he winked.

"Almost," she laughed. He opened the packet and took his time to give her another moment to catch her breath.

"Flip over," he murmured, running a hand up the inside of her thigh. Once she'd made her way onto her hands and knees in front of him, he pushed gently on her back to get her to lower her chest onto the bed. "Trust me, it's better," he promised as he pushed back into her, running his hands along her body. He was right.

She grit her teeth against the sudden desire to be a lot louder than she had been already. He seemed to notice this and leaned over her as close as he could get, his breath brushing against her shoulder blade.

"I love the noises you make," he whispered. He kissed her back before a particularly hard thrust, and her self-consciousness faded into loud whines. He grabbed her hips as he continued his rhythm, the thrusts increasingly more desperate. She heard his breathing become heavier and more frantic when his hips stuttered against her and he stopped, gasping for air. He flopped himself sideways next to her, and removed the condom. She fell over next to him as his arms enveloped her waist, and he kissed her neck as he curled himself around her.

She pulled a conveniently placed trash can from the space between the bedside table and her box spring for him and then curled up into his body, her limbs heavy. Shinya sighed contentedly into her ear.

"I can stay for a few days this week," he whispered. "We don't have much going on, in case you were wondering how busy you'd be at work."

"You aren't the only criminals we've chased down in the last few weeks," she scoffed sleepily in fake offense. "But I'd really like that. Just don't let the neighbors see you. I'll never hear the end of it."

He chuckled quietly. "That's what you're worried about? What the neighbors will think? And not about the fact that you're harboring a wanted criminal?"

"I can handle SYBIL. They don't scare me." She drifted as he mulled over her words.

"They?" He murmured into her shoulder. "Akane? Akane, what do you mean by they?"

She answered him with a light snore. Damnit.