You Promise This Time? A Kogami/Tsunemori fan story

No More Running

She choked back sobs as she began to walk away. Once she was a good twenty feet apart, Shinya swallowed his pride and ran after her. Turning her around by grabbing her lightly by the wrist. Kou slightly knelt down to embrace her. Akane's tensed arms eventually slumped back down to her sides as she melted into his warmth. Being in his arms... It felt like home. This was what she had wanted for so long. What she had yearned for for all those long, lonesome days she spent without him. She felt happy. For the first time in years, she felt pure, unadulterated joy. The young woman could hear the raven haired man's heart beating loudly against his rib cage and even made her heart begin to quicken its pace.  Crying softly into his chest, she could hardly hear his words.
He repeated himself. This time she lifted her head to hear more clearly. He placed both of his calloused hands firmly upon her shoulders. "I've made my decision." Her eyes widened as he slowly leaned further down, now meeting her face to face. Her blood pressure went sky high as she felt his lips press into hers. Euphoria. She knew it now. She had been in love with Shinya Kogami this whole time. It was both scary and enticing to have such passionate feelings toward her old partner. It was a wonderful, foreign thing. Though being in love was something that hadn't occurred to her up until now, she still felt humbled by the fact she felt this way. She returned his feelings earnestly as she pressed her lips against his in return. Akane wanted this moment to last but knew she was only getting her hopes up by wishing for such an impossible thing.

He had done it. He new he would come to regret his decision later but just couldn't bring himself to fight the urge. He'd been away from her for far too long and had been so eager to see her again. He knew the consequences would be dire but he didn't care. Right now he had just kissed the woman he had loved for so long. The world could be burning at his feet and he still wouldn't budge. She meant everything to him and now that he realized just how much he needed her he would rather have to see the earth crumble at his feet before he would even dare to let her go again. Akane Tsunemori was all that mattered right now. He didn't have time for regret. He wanted to savor the moment they shared. When they finally broke away from one another, he decided to speak again. "Akane...  I know this is absolutely ridiculous for me to ask of you but please...Come with me." She wished she could but with Sybil dominating Japan and dictating other people's lives she remembered her duty and rejected his offer. "I can't go with you. I still have to take down the Sybyl system and reestablish democracy for the people of this country. To leave now would be incredibly selfish of me. I won't stand by as Sybyl turns humans into slaves to do her bidding. We need change or the system will take over the world." She walked up and hugged him. "I love you, Shinya... But I have to do this." He wanted to argue but instead just responded with a sweet smile. "But who says you have to go it alone? I may be a latent criminal but I know quite a bit about taking down corrupt governments." She was pleased to hear this. She always knew he was someone she could count on, despite the day he left.

"Okay, then let's make a deal." She said. "If you promise to help me take down Sybyl, then I'll go with you." He cupped her face in his hands and pecked her lightly on the forehead, causing her to blush and smile happily. "I promise." He replied. "I promise I'll help you take down Sybyl and take you with me this time. No matter where I go, I'll bring you along. We're in this together from here on out." These are the words She had been waiting to hear. She never thought she'd ever get to hear them from him. Last time he had promised her something he ended up breaking his promise to her. With that in mind, she stayed weary of the possibility that he might lie to her again, trying not get her hopes up too high. A part of her still trusted him however. Even after all the things she had gone through. All the pain she endured while he was gone. That all hardly mattered to her now. She was determined to make this work. She was determined to restore true order and peace to the citizens of Tokyo she fought everyday to protect. It was going to be an easy task, but with him now alongside her, she felt unstoppable. Like she could do anything so long as he was there. It was a unique thought process for the young inspector, yet she felt great comfort in being able to trust him again after she nearly lost all trust. Akane was absolutely overjoyed to have him back again. She was so incredibly in love and it felt surreal to be in this situation with him. It had been such a long time since she felt this genuinely happy.

She hadn't felt this way since she first joined the MWPSB six years ago, where she met him for the very first time. Thinking back to those days made her think of all the bittersweet moments and she found herself crying again. Shinya took the woman into his arms once more, caressing her back to soothe her. He was happy too, which was a rare thing for him considering all the pain he endured. The pain of loss, the pain of loneliness, even the pain of having to say goodbye to the girl who taught him to feel again. None of it mattered much anymore. He would still remember the death of his old partner Sasayama, the man who taught him how to fight and helped him understand life's cruel intentions as well, but he would remember him fondly and no longer with a burning rage of vengeance over his death. He even thought about Makishima for a brief moment without feeling hatred. Akane had saved him from himself after all. Everything he once was had been restored with each passing second he spent with her. She cleared his skies and kissed his pain away and although he knew he didn't deserve such kindness, he would no longer refuse her. He finally realized just how important she had become to him. Upon their first meeting she was a young, bright eyed young lady with a certain naivety about her. Now she had grown into a smart, courageous woman that everyone wanted to look up to. She had grown into a woman that Shinya wanted to spend every day of his life with. No matter the cost...He wouldn't hesitate to protect her with his own life. And if she were killed in the process, he'd jump through the heavens or hell just to get her back.