Made Up Myself

Kougami Shinya's window held the sights a man would die to see. Miles upon miles of farmland, skies that bled in the evenings and children… Children laughing, dancing, helping their families, smiling. But Shinya was not a man who would die so easily to see the sun set by himself. It had been a few years since he denied himself the only happiness he would ever allow himself; the sweet taste of Akane Tsunemori, an angel bathed in a cruel city's life. Those years he dared to forget but he begun to see her face in everything, especially in his dreams where she would wake up right beside him, smiling like a glittering diamond.

After the fighting he had taken the time to lie low for a couple of years. If Japan wasn't the home he was looking for, then maybe someplace far and quiet would do the trick. He secretly waited for her everyday by his window, watching families stroll together on hot days. This fantasy, he thought, would never see the light of day. There was only one woman he wanted bearing his children. But for now, he sat on the same chair each evening, reading a paperback as the wind swayed softly.

Far across the sea… Does she call for me?

Akane groaned when she saw herself in the mirror, dark circles stretched to her cheekbones. The lack of sleep had made her a mess but she still had to work a double shift today. The Bureau was short on man-power and she refused to quit just because of some nauseating thoughts that struck her eyes awake in the cold depths of the night. She hoped nobody could see she was struggling; Mika wouldn't give a damn about Akane's mental state yet Sho and Yayoi would give her strange, sympathetic looks. The two she was most worried about was Shion and Gino, the two were always looming over her shoulders, nagging her like a bunch of old parents.

"Kanamori san, Gino san! I'm fine, I ate half an hour ago!" Akane lied, masking the protests of her stomach.

"Yeah that bowl of ramen you hid in the cafeteria! Akane pull yourself together… Is there something troubling you?" Gino pressed, hands on his hips.

Shion smoked a cigarette, peering at Akane through the corner of her eye. "Gino san, I need a minute with Akane chan. Skedaddle."

Gino gave her a long glare until finally shrugging and trudging off in a foul mood.

"That one worries way too much. It makes me want to press this," she motions to her lit cigarette butt, "Right up his…"

"Kanamori san don't be a hypocrite… You are the exact same," Akane sighed and fell back into a chair. "You secretly calculated the hours of sleep I got and my calorie intake for an entire week! Remember?"

Shion scoffed and put her cigarette out in the ash tray. "Akane that's my job. I get to find out information about all of you," she winked, sitting on a chair opposite Akane. "Surely it's not old Shinya…It's been long enough Akane chan... I don't think anyone knows if he's dead or alive."

Akane looked blankly at the ground, placing her chin in her palms. "Is that so…" she sighed deeply, "Would you or Gino care if he did pass."

Shion looked away, tapping her manicured nails repetitively on the desk. "I would care darling, Gino would probably have mixed feelings…" she exhaled, closing her eyes. "It's because of how Shinya left us all so suddenly… Especially you."

"I don't feel left behind trust me…" Akane whispered, rolling her eyes, "I just felt disappointed… I don't know what our relationship was in the end but at least it was something…"

Shion smiled sadly at the young inspector. That piece of muscular shit was going to get it from her.

"I could track him… But Gino would have my head…" she started, driving the attention of the short-haired girl.

"I know, I know! But do it for my sake… Just to see where he is? If he's doing okay by himself" Akane begged.

"Alright, you have yourself a deal. But I'm not helping you if you decide to go out and find him." Shion laughed at her concern.

Akane radiated and suffocated Shion in hugs. "Thank you so much Kanamori san."

"Oi, oi oi! I'm too old for this Akane chan!" Shion laughed, thrilled to see the girl so happy. "Come back tomorrow and don't bring grumpy pants or he'll crack it!"

Akane nodded and walked out of Shion's lab. She couldn't tell if she was feeling relief or anger… The thought of him being within a fingertip of reach kept her on her toes.

He sought a job in the village to educate the younger generation. He enjoyed it and he wanted to help others. By raising the topic with the elders, the children were over the moon with excitement. The community helped build a small classroom with enough room to place small desks and chairs with additional outdoor space to cook and play. He felt like an immature version of Saiga.

He didn't realise how much he loved working with kids. Seeing their bubbly, confused faces as they learnt something new. Watching their fumbling fingers try to write out big loopy letters or hear their childish chants of the alphabet.

"Kougami sensei?" a little girl called, with her hand raised up high.

Shinya snapped out of his daydream and leant forward. "Yes Akara?"

"Where did you come from before you came to the village?" the curious girl asked, rocking side to side on her chair.

Kougami smiled and got up, watching the dozen seven-year-old children gaze up to him with big eyes. "I came from a country called Japan. Across the sea."

"My mummy said that Japan has a silly system!" a little boy this time called out.

"That's right! Japan has a very silly system called Sibyl!" he chuckled and the children repeated the name with fascinated tones. "You're not allowed to do a lot of things! And if you do one little bad thing…" he walked around slowly.

"What happens?" one student asked.

"You get locked up forever and ever!" Kougami said and all the children gasped.

"It's true." a voice called out, one Kougami didn't associate with a little child.

He looked up to see Akane, leaning on the wall of the classroom.

"Who's that Kougami sensei?" the children asked worriedly.

"Yeah! Who's that!"

Kougami quietened down the class and ushered Akane to come to the front.

"This is Akane senpai… She's from Japan too." Kougami explained, feeling conscious of his baby voice he was using with the young students.

"Is she your girlfriend Kougami sensei?" Akara asked innocently and Akane couldn't help giggling.

"Well… No erm… Uhhh… Of course, not!" Kougami stuttered and the classroom roared with laughter.

"Kougami sensei has a girlfriend! He's got a girlfriend." The kids chanted like the taunting song he remembered from his own childhood.

"Come on! End of class! Time to go home!" Kougami stammered, heat rushed to his cheeks.

The kids rushed out of the wooden building, laughing and singing. Soon the whole village would know about Akane…

"Nice way to make a entrance." Kougami complained rudely, straightening the desks and chairs.

His heart was racing in his chest, each glimpse of her face sent his pulse into a frenzy. He was just daydreaming about her today…

"Teaching? An influence from Saiga san?" Akane noted, picking a loose stick of chalk and handing it to him.

"I guess… It's relaxing normally… But not when you show up randomly like that." Kougami scoffed.

"This is how you're going to treat me after all these years." Akane remarked calmly, watching the warmness in Shinya's eyes dissolve into something much colder.

"How do you think I'm going to react seeing you here randomly Inspector."

She flinched at the name and he immediately saw his mistake.

"Look I'm sorry Akane… I'm sorry for giving you hope that this could work out…"

"But how can this not work out here?!" Akane shouted, pointing the obvious serenity the land held. "It's almost like you're begging to play house!"

"Akane…" he tried to start, but she wasn't finished.

"You're being selfish again… Just like you were when you left Japan…" she stared at him coldly. "Tell me that night in your room meant something to you… Even if it was just a fleeting feeling of desire. I don't care anymore Shinya… I lo-love you."

Kougami stared at the girl he kept from his heart with disbelief. She was bawling her eyes out because he was too scared to express what he felt. No... He wouldn't put himself or her through that misery ever again.

"Hey… Akane…" he cooed, holding her and wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I've been distant and I've hurt you… I know I'm a complete bastard but… I meant everything I said that night. And you're right. Now is the time Akane… I want you to be with me forever. You don't need to go back to Tokyo, just stay here with me."

Akane smiled to herself and stroked his wild black hair affectionately. Her tears disappeared and she felt a dark cloud being lifted from her shoulders.

"I'm glad Shinya… I'm really glad. But what about the Bureau? I can't just leave."

Kougami smiled and cupped her chin with his palm. "Don't stress. I'll take care of everything."

Akane hugged him tighter and tighter. Thinking maybe she shouldn't ever let go…

"Oh Akane?" Kougami asked against her short brown locks.

"What's wrong Shinya." She countered gently.

"When I've sorted everything…" he continued.

She looked up at him, wriggling out of his embrace. "Yes?"

"Could I call you my girlfriend?"

"Sure."

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Ugh this isn't my favourite piece of writing because it feels kind of rushed but whatever... At least my updating is getting better... (yay?)

I'm actually really enjoying writing these fics now that we're in the time arc after the movie, it feels... Different. Sorry if they aren't the best quality, I write at crazy hours of the night and the rest of the day is just homework, homework, homework.

Anyway, if you could drop a favourite or a follow for support that would just make my day (night?) and please let me know if you want this fic to continue by just popping a review! Thanks for the support guys!

Lots of Love!

-thelandofnothing