Chapter two

She walks down the sidewalk, heels clicking, away from the dreaded office and it's horrid occupants. She crosses a street and a couple allies, but she freezes at the sight of a girl in one of the alleyways. She turns to walk down it. The girl is shivering in shredded clothes, making it obvious what had happened.

Lee pulls her black shirt of, revealing an ashen tank, and hands it to the girl who pulls it on over her head, and tuck her knees in under it. Lee kneels next to her. "My name is Lynette, but you can call me Lee." She puts a slender gloved hand to the girls trembling cheek; gently coaching the girl to look at her. "I'm going to get you help. Can you understand me?" The girl gives a frightened nod. "What's your name?" Lee's tone is soft and caring; easing the girl into trust despite current conditions.

"Ami," the small girl chokes out. Her raven black hair is plastered back and her skin is drained over color. Frightened hazel eyes look up into Lee's shaded ones.

"Ok, ok, Ami-chan. I swear, I'm going to get you help." Lee stands up and turns towards the road. "Daisuke ! Yo Daisuke! I need your help over here!" she yells, knowing he is somewhere nearby. She turns back as footsteps pound closer and closer to their location. "Daisuke is a friend of mine. You can trust him, I swear."

"I go by Crunch, you can call me that if you want." Crunch kneels down next to Ami and picks her up. She whimpers, trembling at the closeness of another male, yet flings her arms around his as to not fall.

"Do you have a phone on you?" Lee asks him.

"Na. You?"

"It broke. Shit!" She stomps on the ground in anger and frustration. "There isn't a place we can take her in walking distance," she thinks aloud before meeting his eyes. "Folow me."

She turns, leading him out of the alleyway and back the way she originally came. "Where are we going, Lee?" He asks; carrying Ami while he follows Lee down the street."

She doesn't answer him until they've crossed a street or two. She stops abruptly, causing him to almost run into her. "Here. Wait outside, I'll be right back." Ami whimpers at the thought of being alone with a guy she doesn't know, or trust, and Lee shakes her head. "Fine follow me but keep your mouth shut." Crunch nods.

She marches inside the SPR office, grabbing Naru, who was still in shock in the main room, against the wall while holding the collar of his shirt. She holds it in one hand, using her other to hold up a drivers license. "Mia?" She glares at him. "Lee?" he chokes.

"Give me your car keys," she growls, "Now!"

"Why" Naru asks as he shifts in her grasp.

"I need to get her to a hospital, and fast."

"Why? What's going on? Who are they"

Lee tightens her grip and presses Naru harder against the wall. "Because. I. Said. So. I don't have time for questions. If you must, follow me in Lin-san's car." He whimpers, his lungs being crushed, and hands her the keys."Good boy." She marches outside, followed by Crunch and Ami. She hops in the drivers seat of the sleek black car she recognises as Naru's. "Put Ami in the front seat." Crunch does as told. "I'm taking her to the hospital downtown. You now the one?" At his nod she continues, "Good. Stay here and tell those men. Thanks." She flashes a smile before zooming out of the driveway.

…...

Ami got to the hospital safe, and Lee saw that Crunch did follow her with Naru and Lin. She sits with them now in the waiting room, waiting for Ami's mother to arrive. Her eyes are dull with exhaustion, she only got a couple of hours of sleep last night for fretting over her meeting with her ex boss and coworker.

"M- Lynette." Naru's voice interrupts her tired thoughts, and she looks at him. He sits across from her, Lin in the seat to his right. "Who's he?" He motions to Crunch who sits on her left.

Crunch leans in closer to her, wrapping his arms around her in a protective grip. "I'm Crunch, Daisuke if it's an emergency."

Lee brings her hands up behind Crunch's arm thats wrapped around her front. She pushes it away, letting him fall back into his seat. "Calm," she tells him, causing him to frown. "That's Lin-san," she motions to Lin's tall figure, "and Davis-san," she motions to Naru's curious figure. "As he said, he's Crunch."

"The sound of bones breaking," Crunch adds for good measure. Lee glares at him and the others shiver.
"Wow, doesn't sound like the type you'd be into," Naru states.

Lee raises an eyebrow. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"He's your boyfriend, isn't he?" Lin asks.

"What?" Crunch chuckles in her ear. "Are they serious? But then maybe you'd show more skin…" He runs his fingers over the top hemline of her tank. Next thing he knows he's in a headlock, which isn't very comfortable in normal occasions, let alone hospital waiting chairs. "Kidding, kidding," he repeats from that morning.

Lee turns to the others but keeps her hold. "No, he is not. I don't date. He's more like a perverted older brother."

"Umm, Lee?" Crunch manages to gasp out. "Feel like letting go."

She tightens her hold. "Not particularly, no." He rolls his eyes.

"So, is this what it's been like since we left?" Naru inquires.

"You mean since she came back?" Crunch asks. Lee lets him go and he rubs furiously at his red neck.

"Came back?" Lin asked.

"Yeah. Two years ago she came back after-" Lee kicked him hard in the shin and he quickly stops. "Never mind. It's nothing, really."

Lin raises an eyebrow, but he and Naru let it go.

"Lee?" a bell like voice calls out. She looks up to see an older woman standing at the entrance of the room. She has raven black hair and hazel eyes-the spitting image of her daughter. "We talked on the phone? I'm Ami's mother."

Lee stands and greets the lady. "Mrs. Mizushima! I'm sorry we had to meet under such occasions. I'm Lee."

The two ladies shake hands. "Please, call me Akira. If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"I was walking by when I saw her. I called my friend Daisuke to help me. We brought her to my old office where I borrowed my old boss' car and brought her here. Um, everyone's here if you would like to meet them. Ami's sleeping right now. Sorry, I took the liberty of checking in on her real quick."

"That's fine, thanks." Mrs. Mizushima's eyes are lonely and sad. "I'm sure you have places you need to be."

"Ah, yes, thank you." Lee recognises a dismissal when she hears one. "I hope Ami recovers. Take care of yourselves."

"You too," Mrs. Mizushima calls as Lee leads the others out.

Lee keeps on walking. She turns the corner and walks straight into the chest of a man she hasn't seen in years.