Disclaimer: I do not own Kaitou Sentai Lupinrangers VS Keisatsu Sentai Patrangers. No profit is being made from this story.

In the Patranger operations room at GSPO headquarters Asaka Keiichiro was busily typing up a report, as were his teammates Hikawa Sakuya and Myoujin Tsukasa. Their latest case had gone reasonably well. Although the Lupinrangers had gotten away again, the Gangler Bundolt Peggy had been defeated and they had managed to retrieve the Trigger Machine Biker.

Normally Keiichiro would be fully focused on his work. This time however he found himself struggling to concentrate. His mind kept going back to something that had happened earlier that day…

As the Patrangers de-transformed, Keiichiro was vaguely aware that Sakuya was saying something but he ignored it, too fixated on his fury that the Lupinrangers had not shown up.

"I was so close" he seethed angrily, clenching his teeth together.

WHAP!

His head jerked to the side as Tsukasa slapped him hard across the face. Sakuya stared in shock and dismay.

"What was that for?" Keiichiro asked as he glared at her.

Tsukasa met his gaze, her expression firm but calm. "To clear your head" she replied.

He self-consciously reached up and touched his cheek as he recalled that moment. Tsukasa had been right of course. He had allowed his pride and ego to blind him to what was truly important; defending public safety and upholding peace. He had even ordered Sakuya to try and drag a fight with the Gangler out in hopes of luring the Phantom Thieves to them. Thankfully, during the subsequent three-way battle between the Patrangers, Lupinrangers and Bundolt Peggy he had come to his senses in time to protect civilians from the Gangler's attack. Afterwards he had apologised for his behaviour to both his teammates and Director Hill. While he knew they were all fine with him now, he was still discontent with himself.

He glanced over at Tsukasa, his teammate and closest friend since their police academy days, as she typed up her own report. As usual when on duty, her entire demeanour was one of calm professionalism. Her entire focus was on her work, allowing nothing to distract her. Much like how Keiichiro himself usually operated in fact, but without the same intensity. Not that there was any doubt as to her dedication to her duty, she simply approached it in a different way.

She helped me to regain my focus when I had lost it, he thought. If it hadn't been for her, I might not have been able to react in time to save those civilians. And if something had happened to them then I would have never forgiven myself. I ought to do something more, something to show my gratitude. And I know exactly what.

Eventually the clock struck four, signaling the end of their shift. Sakuya grinned as he got up. "Finally! Now I can go and see Umika-chan!"

"I'm a little hungry myself" Tsukasa agreed as she also stood up. "Would you like to come too Keiichiro?"

"No thanks" he replied. "There's something I have to do first."

She frowned slightly. "Keiichiro, you've been working for hours. I know the paperwork needs to be done, but it's okay to take some time off every once in a while."

"It's not that. This is something else. Something… personal."

She looked at him curiously for a moment and then nodded. "All right. Well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you."

"Bye sempai!" Sakuya called boisterously.

"Bye" Keiichiro said distractedly. Already he was thinking ahead to what he had planned…

A little while later Keiichiro was in a toy shop. He stood in front of a shelf filled with stuffed animals and analyzed them with the same laser-like focus he used when he was examining a crime scene. More than a few of the other customers gave him funny looks as they walked past, all of them taking care to give him a wide berth, but he ignored them. His full attention was on the rows of toys.

Hmm, given how much Tsukasa loves stuffed animals she probably has a wide and varied collection of them already. I must make sure to choose something distinct. Something that shows that thought and effort was put into it. But what?

He briefly considered going to Bistro Jurer and asking Umika for advice, but he soon decided against it. This had to be a decision he made himself.

Keiichiro began to pace up and down the shelves, letting his gaze wander over the stuffed animals. Their unblinking eyes stared back at him, almost as if they were mocking him. He felt his annoyance start to grow but he pushed it aside, not without some effort, and kept looking.

Then he saw it. He stopped pacing as he noticed one toy in particular. "Yes, that's it! That's the one!" he exclaimed.

Pleased with himself, Keiichiro picked up the stuffed animal and marched directly to the counter. "I want this one" he said, not noticing the bemused look on the cashier's face.

"Uh, yes sir" the man replied. As he put the toy into a carrier bag a thought occurred to him and he smiled. "I'm sure she'll like it very much" he said.

Keiichiro took the bag. "Yes, I'm sure she will" he agreed. He smiled back, making the cashier flinch at how it looked.

Tsukasa was back home at her apartment. She had changed into casual clothes and was relaxing on her settee, happily cuddling a stuffed panda.

She looked up curiously as she heard a knock at her door. "I'll be there in a moment" she called as she tucked the panda behind the settee. Even though she knew that her teammates were aware of her "quirk" she didn't want to risk anybody else finding out.

"I'm sorry Panda-kun" she said before hurrying over to the front door and opening it. She blinked in mild surprise. "Keiichiro? What are you doing here?"

"Sorry for dropping in unannounced like this" he replied as he entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. "I, uh, I have something for you."

"For me?" Her gaze went to the shopping bag in his hand but he was holding it so firmly closed that she couldn't see what was inside it.

"Yes. I wanted to thank you for what you did today. You reminded me of what being a member of the Global Police is about" he said.

"That's very nice of you but you really don't need to give me anything. I'm glad to help."

"I know, but all the same, I would like you to have this" he said somewhat sheepishly. He held the bag out to her.

"All right. Thank you, Keiichiro" Tsukasa said warmly as she accepted the bag. "I must admit, I am curious about what this is." She reached inside and felt something soft and fuzzy. At once her excitement grew but she managed to maintain her composure as she pulled it out. Tsukasa's eyes widened and she uttered a small gasp.

In her hands was a stuffed Tyrannosaurus Rex plushie. It was bright red with a white tummy, mouth, arms and big white eyes. On top of its head was a grey patch.

"Ah! It's so cute!" Tsukasa exclaimed happily as she rubbed her cheek against the stuffed dinosaur. She had to admit it was a relief that she didn't need to hide this part of herself from her closest friend anymore (not that it had ever actually been a secret since he'd known about it since their academy days.)

"I take it that you like it then" said Keiichiro fondly.

"I love it" she replied with a bright smile and a gleam in her eyes. "Thank you so much Keiichiro."

"You're welcome, Tsukasa." He smiled and unlike most people, it didn't bother her.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" she offered.

"I'd like that very much."

After their meal the two friends spent a pleasant couple of hours enjoying each other's company. When Keiichiro left, he finally felt at ease with himself.

Tsukasa settled back down on her settee and cuddled both the stuffed panda from before and the T-Rex Keiichiro had just given her.

"Rex-kun will have a special place in my collection" she said delightedly. While she loved all of her stuffed animals, this one was a symbol of her friendship with Keiichiro and how much it meant to her. She would treasure it always.

Author's Note: The T-Rex plushie is based on the stuffed toy version of Guardian Beast Tyrannosaurs from Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger.