You Promise This Time? A Kogami/Tsunemori fan story

The Monster Within

Shinya was laying in his bunker, hidden away safely from his pursers. Thoughts of his old buddies back in Japan surrounded him. He wanted to go back. He wanted to see what became of Sybil, and if Tsunemori had finally defeated it once and for all. There was so much uncertainty looming about, that he wasn't even sure if any of them were still alive. He had lost so many of his comrades recently that it was nearly too much for the Thirty three year old to bear. Kogami's mind wandered back to his days working with the MWPSB. Images of Shougo's head being blown to pieces by his gun, the inspector's limp body in the corn field, feeling her pressed up against him while he carried her back to safety in his arms, and the day he sent her back to Japan. The final thought caused shinya to clench his teeth together. He sat up, and fiddled around his left pocket for his Spinel brand cigarettes. He put one between his teeth and lit it. A warm sensation burned in his lungs as he inhaled, then gently exhaled. Thin wisps of smoke danced around the room, wavering gently, like translucent silk ribbon.

He truly didn't want to send her back but something writhed within him saying: "This time it really will have to be goodbye. If she keeps looking for me, she'll only waste her time and energy. I'm not a man of such worth. I'm putting her in danger with this false hope to see me again.It's too much of a risk to keep doing this." He knew the voice in his head was speaking words of wisdom but deep down, he wanted to rebel. He wrestled with himself until he realized there was probably no point in it. That she had long since forgotten him by now. He knew it was selfish to want her after all these years. It wasn't fair of him to chase after a ghost of his past. He too, had to move on. Exhausted from the stress of thinking, he put out the cigarette and flopped down on his make-shift bed. He assured himself that this was the last time he'd ever think of her. It hurt too much to hold on, but much to his dismay, her smiling face came back into his head. This both soothed, and overwhelmed the restless man. "Let me stay." The woman's voice echoed. Shinya sat up quickly as though he had physically heard her talking in the room. Despite the foolishness he scanned his eyes across the dimness of the bunker.As suspected, Kogami found nothing. "Of course she wouldn't be here, you dumbass." His conscience mocked. Of course she wouldn't be there. She had no idea where he was at this point. Still, he desperately wanted it to be real. He knew he'd never find another woman of such purity, such potential and that's what caused him to keep running back even if he knew he should've left her back at Shamballa Float. Both in the physical and in his mind. He couldn't get himself to do it. He had been thinking of her ever since and he was at long last, admitting to his weakness who's name was

Akane Tsunemori.