Note from the Writer: I apologize to all of you who have taken a liking in Chobits Aftermath for 1) taking so long to update the story. Life got in the way of my writing unfortunately, and 2) If it is slightly inconsistent with the previous chapter due to the gap of time in between writing the 1st chapter and this one.

Chapter Two

A continuous strand of drawn out beeps was the first thing Hiroki heard when we arose what felt like ages later. He was in a complete daze, not being certain of where he was, or how he came to be in a place he didn't recognise. His vision slowly returned to him from the darkened fog he awoke in and it was then he realized that he was in a hospital room.

It took another several moments for him to remember how he ended up here, but as if he had been struck by lightening the moment he realized where he was the memory of witnessing the attempted murder of a teen age girl and diving into the frigid water to save her came back into his mind. Hiroki groaned and stood from the bed, just about to exit when the doctor walked in.

"Oh, I see you've already recovered fully. That's a relief." He smiled at Hiroki, "You didn't even have a substantial amount of water damage, I was quite surprised."

Hiroki didn't respond; he took his coat from the chair where it had been placed and continued towards the door. He could hear the doctor let out a sigh as he exited and ask something of Hiroki that made him stop in his tracks.

"Won't you at least go visit the girl you saved?"

Hiroki gritted his teeth, and felt his temperature rise in irritation slightly, he'd been pinned, and the doctor knew this as well as Hiroki, himself did. He pivoted on his heals and faced the white-clad man as he tried to disguise the pulsing vein on his clenched fist.

"So then…where is this," He hesitated for a moment to collect his calm, "girl's room then."

The doctor smiled, "Right this way."

"…bastard…" Hiroki muttered under his breath as he lagged behind the doctor. If the mere fact that he had been brought to a human care facility wasn't annoying enough that also meant that the paramedics that found them thought he was human. It left a bitter taste in his mouth imagining their expressions when they were corrected. Once again, as he weas faced with so many times in the past, Hiroki was reminded of the reality that he was too much human for the other Persicoms and still too much Persicom to be human.

"Here we are." The doctor said with his back to Hiroki as he unlocked the door numbered seven.

Hiroki sighed at the number, "Lucky number seven…how quaint."

He walked in expecting the man behind him to follow suit, so when he stood outside it reactivated the irritation within Hiroki once again. Was the doctor expecting some beautiful romance scene to unfold before his eyes? The thought of it made Hiro's stomach turn. He approached the girl's bedside warily, as he could feel that he was being watched, and stared down at her. Pale complexion, seemingly lifeless, but he reluctantly saw why the doctor thought a romantic vision would unfold before him. This girl, a random strange that Hiroki saved appeared much like a damsel in distress.

"Perhaps all she needs is a kiss to awaken her from this spell?" The doctor joked as he walked up behind Hiroki.

"Don't make my sick, I have no intention of involving myself with this girl." Hiroki fought back.

"You saved her life? Isn't that involvement?"

Hiroki glared at the man that stood before him, outraged at what he was suggesting, "Excuse me? Where have you picked up the idea that I would even have remotely considering interacting with this girl based solely on the fact that I saved her life? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. If a young person saves an elderly woman from being killed does that mean that they will become entangled with one another? I sure as hell hope not. You disgust me."

He didn't wait to see the doctor's response or even to be granted permission to leave the hospital. Hiroki left the girl and the doctor in the room and exited the building walking back down the streets towards his own home. It was late though, and though it was summer the night's air felt icy against his skin- icy against his cheeks that burned with frustration at the lingering statement of the doctor.

It was nearly two in the morning when Hiroki finally reached his street. Through out the entire walk home, Hiroki still felt the sting of frustration deep within him, and even the dull sound of his shoes hitting the pavement seemed taunting. The soft rustlings leaves in the breeze called at him to turn back. Something was no sitting right within him. He paused momentarily, and glanced over his shoulder towards the direction of the hospital, towards the faint screech of the sirens in the distance; he drew out a sigh and continued towards his home.

The shriek of tires skidding again pavement behind him caught his attention and he looked over his shoulder, to see a car speeding towards him with two grizzly looking men inside. "No fu-…" He gasped and dove towards the sidewalk. Just as Hiroki stood from the asphalts the two men grabbed him by the arms and tossed him into the back of the car, "W-what the hell is going on!" He yelled, "Are you abducting me?"

"Shut up!" One of the men yelled, "Yur comin' wit us."

"Where the hell are you taking me!" Hiroki continued to yell, "This is illegal, did you know that!"

"I sed SHUT IT!" The man yelled and slammed Hiroki in his temple with the blunt end of the gun's handle, "That'll teach you to uncover that stupid girl from the rivah."

Hiroki groaned in pain as he felt his consciousness fade around him and his vision slowly blacken. He had fallen unconscious, unaware of what the two men- the same men from the park had in store for him…and the girl Hiroki had saved.