Disclaimer: I do not own Psycho-Pass nor its characters. They rightfully belong to their creators!
The letter she held in her trembling hands made her scared for Kougami Shinya's life. Her heart was broken when that one promise was pilfered and smashed into many pieces. It felt as if those splinters could never be mended again.
"You idiot!" She exclaimed.
Tears flowed from her eyes. Her nose clogged up from crying over the written words by her fellow companion. Sliminess build up in the back of her throat and made it difficult for her swallow. Shakily, she folded up the written message and placed it in her breast pocket.
Determined expression soon replaced her teary face. It was up to her to find him before Fate could snatch him in its voracious hands and make him vanish forever much like Kagari. There was no doubt in mind that if Akane didn't search for him, the Sybil System would… Only without any extension of mercy.
As she turned around, she saw Kougami's back in front of her. He was walking towards the end of the dark corridors.
"Kougami!" She shouted! "Please stop!"
She tried to reach him. Her hand stretched out to seize him but he only seemed to get further away. No matter how loud her screams were, he never heard her. Then the darkness swallowed him as whole as if he had vanished into the beast's belly, and then a reverberating roar overtook Akane's ears as the blackness blinded her.
Then she gasped while her eyes twitched open. Indistinct beeps from machines infiltrated Akane's ears, arousing her into a state of awareness. Her pulse still raced from the odd dream she had. She could hardly decipher anything but the dull aches that throbbed deeply in her shoulders.
Emitting a pained moan, the lights that poured into her brown, bloodshot orbs unsympathetically. The brightness threatened to sting her already watery tear ducts; her eyes brimmed with hot tears. Akane's lashes batted as she strived against the tears. Weakly, she lifted a hand to push her hair away from her bleak gaze.
Her bangs were like an adhesive; each brown strand clung onto her perspired forehead. Her head palpitated from an awful headache. She fought against the grogginess as she looked on her left side.
Manifolds of garish bouquets were placed on a table; some consisted of large roses that bloomed beautifully while some were exquisite arrays of daisies as delicate as the female inspector who lay in the bed. The ambrosial aroma of the flowers seemed to soothe Akane. Embellished cards stood out between the stalks. "Get well soon!" or "We wish you a speedy recovery!" were scripted upon them in bold, curved letters.
"Akane?" A male voice called her name softly. "Are you awake?"
Surprised, she turned her head to find Kougami by the other side. His eyebrows were pulled together, his piercing gaze concerned.
From where he was sitting, she could smell the aftermath from the cigarettes he would waste his life away on. Few bandages on his face were adorned, and he also wore a sling. His long lashes fluttered as he blinked. Grey areas mottled under his eyes, forming unsightly bags due to possible lack of sleep. Wondering how the inspector turned up in a hospital with a battered enforcer sitting next to her, she tried to recollect her memories.
Only the distinct sound, one was very similar to a tiger's thunderous rumbling growl she would see in zoos, she remembered hearing, and a flash of light as well. The woman remembered two strong arms that encased her so securely before she passed out to a terrible pang in her head. Collecting all her strength in her voice, she cracked, "Mr. Kougami! What are you doing here?"
"I've decided to check on you. How are you feeling, Miss. Inspector?"
Akane's chapped lips trembled as she turned her head back, staring up to the glaring lights regretfully, "I've got the worst headache. I don't understand what happened; I don't remember very well."
Then she looked at him again, and lines of worry dimpled in her youthful, plump skin.
Kougami's lips curved upwards, creating a faint ghost of a smile.
"You became unconscious with a concussion. You kept slipping in and out of consciousness." Kougami said, "However, the docs say you'll recover fairly well."
"I see… What about you, Mr. Kougami? Are you hurt?"
"Just only few scrapes."
"But what about your arm?"
"I'm fine; it turned out to be a nasty sprain. The cast is going to be temporary. Honestly, instead of worrying about me, you should be focused on recuperating."
Akane inhaled sharply before she said, "One more question."
"What is it?"
"Did you save me?" Guilt seemed to ravage her. The look of shame was the only mask she wore right now. She instinctively knew it was her job to protect him. It wasn't supposed to be the quite opposite.
"Yes."
Akane's nose scrunched up. This was a huge failure on her part. How could she ever become a better inspector if she couldn't up hold an important responsibility of watching over the Enforcer she was assigned with? Not to mention, she nearly lost him twice. It just was a fluke that the Chief hasn't smote them yet…
Kougami assessed the displeasure she displayed, he only snorted, "No gratitude, huh?" Dry humor was in one of his desk of cards.
"No, it's not that!" She sulked, oblivious to the satire, "I'm just disappointed that you got hurt, and I could've prevented that."
"No one could have known. It wasn't your fault."
She reddened, "But it's my job to protect you!"
Kougami was flummoxed. His eyebrows were arched in astonishment. Was this woman really willing to safeguard a latent criminal?
"Why are you so willing to go far to protect me? You seem to easily forget that I am a latent criminal. Practically an expendable person. It's only important as long as you are sa-"
In an instant, Akane was furious and interrupted, "Don't say that! I don't understand why you have to treat yourself like that! You're a person just like everyone else. Besides, it is my job to watch you, and to make sure you don't get hurt…"
He knew it was worthless to argue with her so he only shook his head wordlessly. He continued to gaze at her.
"Kougami. You're an idiot for believing in what you just said." Akane sniffed, her cheeks still ruby in color, "Please don't ever say that again. Can… you promise me that?"
The way Akane glared at him so boldly and sincerely stirred something inside him; it was the pail that poured water ever so lovingly over the red lotus that carried on to blossom. Akane was helping him to grow and realize the true importance of life, even his own.
The only reaction he could give was a smile; the corners of his eyes crinkled fondly. He couldn't help but to comply with her pouting he had grown fond of.
"Yeah. I promise, Miss. Tsunemori."
Akane's heart skipped as soon as she witnessed the cordiality. She was afraid for a moment that he would not answer. Her rancid consternation was chased away when he smiled; relaxed, she took confidence to his words.
Then he started to move away from his seat, ready to leave. Akane was dismayed by his sudden resignation. Dominated by an overpowering, mysterious compulsion, she grabbed Kougami's sleeve and tugged. She quelled the squeak that was about to form in her throat and looked up to him.
Mystified, warmth crept up to her ears. Discomfort stabbed at her injured shoulder and regretted the cursory movement. Her face burned as she let go of him and shifted her stare onto the bleached floor. Her words faltered, "I—ah. Please don't leave. Not yet."
Kougami sighed at the childishness she just had expressed, his expression softening. Then he plopped back into his seat and leaned back. He saw her viscid muscles loosen, and she wasn't as disquieted anymore.
The room became silence but the beeping by then Akane grew sleepy again. As soon as the worn-out Inspector succumbed into the arms of Morpheus, he reached out for her hand.
He slid his calloused fingers over the satin flesh, he lifted the back of her hand and pressed it to his lips. His mouth brushed the skin as he susurrated, "I also promise that I will protect you, Akane."