A/N. LISTEN, I did not mean to start a new work, though technically speaking this doesn't really count as an ongoing fic, right? *laughs nervously*

Basically, while finishing up the new chapter for my Pacific Rim AU, I kept getting distracted by the idea for this ficlet, so here we are. This will be updated sporadically (read: whenever I get short bursts of inspiration in between writing my ongoing fics). Title is from "Heaven Knows: by Five for Fighting. Hope you enjoy!

- hold me like we're going home -

There was something about seeing someone's entire life reduced to a few neatly packed boxes that left Akane deeply disconcerted, especially when that someone is Kougami Shinya.

How strange, she thought, for someone who left her at such a loss in their early days, who seemed to refuse any pattern, any static perception of him, any form of restraint, to be filed away so easily in a box now.

How can something so simple hold what's left of someone so complex?

There wasn't much left to begin with either, Akane reminded herself.

Kougami couldn't bring much with him, but he didn't own much either. His quarters at the MWPSB always struck her as being oddly impersonal—bare walls and standard issue furniture, possessions that were mostly functional and easily replaceable, a place to stay instead of a place to live. It was a stark contrast to the warm lived-in space that Kagari created, full of games and stuffed toys and enough candy to rot anyone's teeth—a real home carved out of the MWPSB building's sterile walls.

That's because Kagari-kun never had any intention of leaving, she told herself. It's like Kougami-san said, Kagari-kun weighed his options a long time ago and chose the Enforcer life.

Perhaps that was where Kagari and Kougami differed—Kougami had always known he wasn't going to stay. Perhaps it was naïve to think she could've changed that. Perhaps it was even more naïve to trace her fingers over the cracked spines of the books he left behind and hope that things could still change.

The older novels had been browsed through so often that they were falling apart. Flecks of paint stuck to her fingers when she pulled her hand away, dotting her skin like a tiny constellation that gave her the strange urge to make a wish.

With no one around to make her feel silly, Akane wished they could meet again someday, not as an Inspector and an Enforcer, but as ordinary people. Her grandmother had always taught her that wishes were promises you worked to make happen, and so, without a second thought, Akane gripped the sides of the box with the intent to bring them home, the promise of someday burning bright in her mind.

Besides, Akane knew he wouldn't mind if she browsed through his collection in the meantime. And by the time someday rolled around, perhaps she could tell him which one was her favorite.

A/N. Yay! Finally did something completely canon compliant!

I have an idea for a follow-up drabble to this one, if anyone's interested. Most likely post PP:FI, I think? We'll see?

Anyways, comments are very much appreciated as always 3 You can also find me on tumblr now as indy-mickey