“Attention, there is an elevated stress level in the Edogawa ward.”

“Kougami, Kunizuka, you’re with me,” Ginoza glanced at Akane, who was looking even paler than usual. He sighed. “Tsunemori, just stay here with Kagari.”

She nodded, leaning forward to rest her head on her desk. It had been almost a year since she and Shinya had started their relationship. It amazed her they’d been able to keep the secret.

The stress must be getting to me, she thought, swallowing a nasty taste yet again. She’d felt lousy for almost a month now, some days so bad she could barely make herself get out of bed. The anti-nausea pills didn’t help much, usually just giving her a migraine. She groaned, longing for the time she could eat more than plain soup and saltines without throwing it back up. I need to make some kind of appointment.

She turned to Kagari, wondering if the carrot-top was trying to set some kind of button-mashing record. His latest handheld game had been a source of constant frustration for him, the sessions usually ending with Kougami having to stop him from chucking it against the wall.

“You need to stop playing those things so much,” she said without thinking. He didn’t answer, his hands tightening on the small console before he threw it into Kunizuka’s empty chair. He leaned back, putting his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling.

“There’s something weird about you lately,” he said. “You’re acting more and more like our mom.”

She stared at him, but didn’t get the chance to respond. Bile rose in her throat again, only this time she couldn’t hold it back. She clutched her stomach, hurrying to the trash can for the hundredth time that day. This time the stream seemed to go on forever, probably from forcing it down so much.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Kagari asked. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She suddenly felt the need to brush her teeth. She nodded.

“Yeah, it’s probably just a bug.”

“Then shouldn’t you be at home?” he asked jokingly. “Or are you trying to spread it around?”

She chuckled weakly, going to the door. She’d barely reached it when her hand went to her chest, her breath becoming rapid. A panic attack? Now? She reached for the knob, hoping she could make it to the restroom before she fainted. Darkness closed in quickly, her last conscious thought being a plea to know what was happening to her.

"Akane? Akane!"

Kagari shot to his feet, kneeling beside her. She was even paler than usual, her face locked in a tight, frightened expression. He brushed the short hair from her forehead, realizing she was burning up and covered in sweat. How could she have let herself get so sick?

I should get you to the infirmary, he thought to himself. He slipped his arms beneath her, picking her up like she was made of the thinnest blown glass. She was a bit heavier than she looked, but nothing he couldn’t handle. As he made his way down the hall, all he could think was what had put Akane in such bad shape. It was obvious she was sick, but at the same time it felt like there was something else at play.

Hope they can find out what’s going on, he thought as the infirmary door slid open. Karanomori was already there, looking over an Enforcer from another unit. She looked over her shoulder when he entered, her eyes widening when she saw the unconscious Inspector lying in his arms.

“Put her in the next bed,” she ordered. “I’ll be right there.”

Kagari nodded, doing as he was told., he was struck with the fear he’d be saying goodbye to one of the only people who’d ever made him feel human.

The rest of the team didn’t return until that afternoon. Kougami, as usual, had cuts and bruises on his face and hands, Kunizuka fixing her perpetual ponytail. Even Ginoza looked a bit roughed up, a stain on glasses and a small welt under his left eye. He looked around the office, seeing it was almost empty.

“Enforcer Kagari,” he turned to the ginger, who was actually working for once. “Where’s Inspector Tsunemori?”

“She fainted earlier,” Kagari paused in his typing, looking over his shoulder. “I took her to the infirmary.”

“Is she okay?” Kougami asked, a little too earnestly for Ginoza’s taste. Kagari shrugged.

“Karanomori said she’d be fine, but she looked pretty exhausted.”

Kougami didn't look convinced, about to rush out when Ginoza grabbed his shoulder.

"Tsunemori is in good hands," he assured his subordinate. "Right now, we have work to do."

Kougami grit his teeth, but went to his desk and sat down. He typed out his reports even faster than usual, determined to visit Akane as soon as he could.

Please let her be okay...

----------------------------------------

Akane set the glass aside, sighing heavily. She'd woken up in the infirmary an hour earlier, feeling drowsy, dizzy and confused. The last thing she remembered was hearing Kagari's worried voice just as everything went black. She looked at the thin, clear line that pierced her arm, following it to the bag hanging from the ceiling. It was the first time in almost two months she was able to turn her head without feeling like she had to puke her guts out, something she couldn't be thankful enough for. But that still didn't erase her fear of why it was happening.

She hadn't gained weight, if anything, she'd lost seven or eight pounds. She was just as regular as she'd ever been, if a bit lighter. The only real differences were the headaches, fatigue and of course, vomiting. But that could mean anything; she was probably just overworking herself.

Maybe I should take a day or two off…

 She shook her head, shocked the thought had even entered her mind. Being sick had never stopped her before, why should now be any different? She pushed the thin blanket aside, about to pull out her IV when Karanomori pushed open the curtain.

“Well, it’s good to see you up and around,” the blonde smiled. “You were in pretty bad shape when you came in.”

“I know,” Akane sat up, letting her legs dangle over the edge of the bed. “I’ve been feeling like this for months. 

I don’t know what’s wrong.”

Karanomori looked at her, concerned.

“Akane, did you know you were pregnant?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“What!?”

----------------------------------------

Kougami couldn't wait any longer. He stood, stalking past Kagari, who'd just come back from the bathroom. The carrot-top quirked a brow, smirking.

"Finally going to Akane, huh?"

"Looks like it," Masaoka glanced at his son's desk. "Gino's still at that meeting with the Chief. What do you say we check it out?"

"Sounds good to me," Kagari rubbed his hands together. "I'll take any chance to get out of this place for a while."

The old man chuckled, strolling into the hall with his younger counterpart. It was easy to see how much Kougami had changed since Akane's arrival to their unit, how much of an effect the little missy had had on him. He was less reckless, not exactly thinking things all the way through, but at least willing to hear other options instead of rushing blindly into a situation. More recently he'd cut down on his smoking, the same pack lasting him a month or more instead of one or two weeks.

Akane was the same, sweet girl she'd been at the start, if even brighter. She was exactly what their team had been missing, even if there was a member or two who refused to admit it. He remembered when Ko had told him he'd fallen for her, how surprised he'd been. Even so, he was glad his honorary son was happy, even if he couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his gut. Something was going to happen, something that would put all of 

them to the ultimate test.

"You okay, old man?" Kagari looked up at him, one eyebrow raised.

He nodded, smiling.

"Just thinking about how that little missy has changed things around here."

Kagari laughed.

"I hear that," then his smile faded, that worried feeling coming back. "You think she might actually be sick?"

Masaoka's only answer was a small shrug.

----------------------------------------

Kougami stopped just outside the infirmary. It had been so long since he'd actually felt fear, the emotion now controlling his every thought. Was Akane alright? Had she been hiding something from him? Had Karanomori been able to find out what was wrong?

Standing out here won't get you anywhere, he told himself. He swallowed, pushing the door open, more than a little surprised to see the tall, buxom blonde on the other side.

"Oh, Akane just told me to come get you," she said, standing aside to let him in. "She said she didn't want me to call your communicator."

He stepped inside, his fear spiking then receding when he saw her in a bed. She was sitting up, smiling at the image being projected from her communicator; her parents. Her color was better than it had been in weeks, her eyes shining.

"Okay, I'll see you guys later. I can't wait!"

She hung up, blushing when she noticed her small audience.

"Oh, Shin-," she shook her head. "I-I mean Kougami…"

He looked over his shoulder, only to find Karanomori had vanished. He turned back toward Akane, giving her a 

small smile.

"How are you doing?"

"A lot better," she blushed again.

"You…wanna sit down?"

He chuckled. Even after so long, she still got shy around him. He took the chair next to the bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

“Did Karanomori find out what’s going on with you?”

She looked nervous, running a hand through her short hair.

“That’s part of why I was talking to my parents. I’m going to see them this weekend, and…”

“You told them about us and now they want to meet me?”

She stared at him, earning another small laugh.

“It wasn’t that hard to figure out, Akane,” he kissed her cheek. “Do they know I’m a latent criminal?”

She shook her head.

“Even if they did, I don’t think they’d care. They’ve never judged people by their psycho-pass.”

They would if they saw mine, he thought, remembering the clouded colors that had followed him for years. But 

if Akane said they wouldn’t, he had to believe her.

“When are we going to see them?” he asked.

“This weekend, if we can manage it,” she swallowed. “But that’s not the only thing I wanted to tell you…”

She gazed in his eyes, cool gray with icy blue highlights under his pupils. She swallowed again.

“Shinya,” she started softly. “There’s something you…you need to know.”

She took his hand, laying it tenderly on her stomach. He gaped at her, then his free hand trailed through the hair that brushed her cheek. He smiled, leaning forward to kiss her. She returned it gladly, grabbing his lapel so he couldn’t pull away. By the time it ended they were both panting, gazing at one another like it was their first meeting in a thousand years.

“No matter what,” he said quietly. “We’re going to make this work.”

“I know we will,” she touched his chest. His heart was beating just as hers was, reminding her there was no difference between them. It didn’t matter that he had a clouded hue, or an elevated Crime-Coefficient, he was still human. He was just like her. She smiled. “I know we will.”