For a few long moments the two of us stared at each other, neither of us saying a word. 

Crata looked between us, frowning. “Liana? Do you…know Teru?”

The boy quickly averted his gaze, setting a bottle on the counter before kneeling down to stock the cabinets. “We’ve met.”

His neutral tone was reflected on his face, perfectly devoid of emotion. I turned away to gather my thoughts, grabbing the last thing I needed. “Y-yeah. At the cafe. Loren…….his behaviour was unacceptable.” I brought my things to the counter and bowed my head. “I’m so sorry about all the things he said.”

He shook his head and started scanning the items. “It’s fine. Not the first time.”

His casual acceptance did make me somewhat relieved, but it also summoned a pang of sympathy. Crata helped bag my purchases and I paid the bill, sneaking another glance at Kou. He carried the half-empty box back into the storeroom and locked the door, pulling a small notepad from his pocket and flicking a glance over its contents. “I’ll go log the orders upstairs, do you want me to sweep up after?”

Crata smiled. “Oh, you’re such a big help. Once you’re done with that you can head home, I can handle closing the shop by myself.”

“Okay.”

He passed without so much as a glance in my direction, disappearing up the steps with barely a sound. Crata sighed. “He’s a nice boy, but so quiet. Nearly gave me a heart attack when he suddenly popped up on the other side of the counter, asking for work. He could probably give ghoul the slip if he wanted to. Thing is, I can never tell what he’s thinking.”

I sighed. “Neither can I. Saying Loren was rude to him would be an understatement, but somehow I don’t think he’s upset. He’s wary, but not…angry.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me. He doesn’t really seem to like attracting attention. Take care, and say hello to you mother for me.”

The sun was reaching for the horizon as I left the store, but as I and turned towards home I hesitated. Crata said that he could go home after that last task, but……does he have anywhere to go? I cast a glance back at the store, one of the only ones still open late at night. He might be living at a motel. Or maybe I was overreacting and he does have a home to return to.

I still didn’t move, fingering my pendant. Or…...he might not. He might be living in a motel on limited funds. A shadow approached the door and I darted around the corner, holding my breath as I gripped the four-leaf clover hanging around my neck.

I didn’t hear any footsteps, but given how things went down that morning I probably wouldn’t have heard him even if he was tap dancing his way down the sidewalk. I held back as long as I could before carefully peeking around the corner, holding my breath.

The boy was walking in the opposite direction, towards the less pleasant side of the ward.

I only needed two seconds to decide what to do next. I stuffed the medical supplies into my handbag and started to follow him, keeping out of sight as he headed through the streets while the sun dipped lower and lower. He might be quiet, but when the street is this empty he could easily get mugged. Or worse.

I set my jaw and walked faster, trying to figure out where he was going. He’s almost definitely headed for a cheap motel. There are two in the area that I’ve seen when Loren and I went out on patrols. He walked fast, and I was just starting to relax as he headed for the better of the two motels when a group of people funnelled out of an alley in front of him.

He stopped walking immediately as they formed a half circle, and I froze as the leader hefted a metal pipe up onto his shoulder with a smile. He said something to the others and a round of laughter echoed across the street, my hands clenching into fists. Not on my watch. I hiked my bag up to my shoulder and strode briskly towards them.

I was still a good twenty metres away when his eyes darted back and locked onto me, and I nearly froze mid stride. He heard me from this far away? I kept going, but the would-be muggers didn’t acknowledge me until I cleared my throat. “Hi! Is something the matter here?”

The leader smiled, the scar on his chin stretching. “Not at all doll. We were just looking for this little guy, he’s my little brother. You know how dangerous the streets can be at night.”

He reached for Kou’s hand, but before he could get close I put a hand on Kou’s shoulder and gently put myself a step in front of him. He looked almost calm on the outside, but I knew I’d made the right call as I felt him tense beneath my palm. He’s in fight or flight mode, and against ten people his odds aren’t good for either. “Really? That’s strange. Jay didn’t mention he had a brother."

The leader smiled again, but this time it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh? Well, he’s not much of a talker is he? That reminds me, you haven’t introduced yourself.”

I shouldn’t use my trump card just yet. “I’m his Senior at school, an upper-classwoman if you will. I must say, for a pair of siblings you don’t look very alike.” 

With the man’s brown hair and bloodshot eyes he really didn’t, but that was besides the point. Kou was absolutely still, and if I wasn’t holding onto his shoulder I probably would have forgotten he was there. “Anyways, what’s with all these people? Seems like a bit much just to find one kid, even if he is a bit stealthy.”

Another smile, but a bit more strained. “He’s just that important doll. Anyways, we’ve found him and that’s what matters. Come on little brother, mom is worried.” 

The man turned around and started walking, the other thugs watching with predatory smiles. I felt Kou start to move forward, but I tightened my grip on his shoulder. “I can walk him home myself if it doesn’t bother you.”

The man turned around, smile gone. “Oh but it does. It does bother me.”

I dropped my smile too. “Then I guess you’ll have to get over it. After all, what kind of guy doesn’t know his own brother’s name?”

The men in the circle snickered, casually showing off homemade shivs and bats hammered with nails. The man smiled again, amused, taking the bat off his shoulder. “I don’t think you quite understand the situation here little missy. See, that little boy isn’t my brother; I just want what’s in his pockets, and if you’d stayed out of it you could have kept what was in yours. Now I’m thinking you should both empty them, unless you want to end up with a few broken bones.”

Before anyone else could make a move I pushed Kou behind me and flipped open my badge, my voice turning to ice. “CCG, Rank 1 Investigator. Drop your weapons and I’ll let you off with a warning.”

The gang members staggered back a step, eyes widening at the insignia on my badge. The leader stared at me, flicking his gaze from me to the badge. Then his eyes narrowed, and he worked his jaw. He’s thinking about it. Not as dumb as he looks. “Now now, let’s not be hasty here. Ten against one? With a kid to protect? I doubt even one of you fancy Doves could take us all on with some dead weight to protect.”

I smiled coolly. “Then why don’t you try it?”

Please don’t. I resisted the urge to look back, dearly wishing Kou would run. The man watched me for a few moments, then shrugged. “I think I will. Come on boys! Let’s have a bit of-”

A shout cut him off, and everyone turned to look on instinct. 

One of the men with the shivs was on his knees, clutching at his gut as blood stained his pants. What-? A chorus of screams erupted from the men as a shadow darted between them, blood spurting out and onto the street wherever the dark figure went. Something flew up and my gaze instinctively followed it, tracing the outline of a shiv before it clattered to the ground.

I snapped back into the present moment, whirling around. Almost all of the men were on the ground, clutching joints and sides as the rest whirled around brandishing their weapons at nothing. The figure had disappeared, and I reached for Kou’s hand as I recovered my wits. “Let’s go, while they’re-!”

I turned around to find myself grasping at air. 

What-?! I whirled around, searching the alleys. How did he-? When-! He was gone, and there wasn’t so much as a hair of evidence that might have told me where he went. I backed up, slowly at first and then faster as I turned around and started running.

The gang members continued shouting at nothing as I rounded the corner, and as I sprinted home a thousand thoughts spun through my head. Who was that? That speed was almost on par with a ghoul. But they didn’t kill anyone, and they didn’t even try to attack me. And what happened to Kou? Back in the shop I’d been so focused on Loren I didn’t notice him leave, but I was positive he had been standing right behind me.

I got to the house in record time and locked the door behind me, leaning against the wall. Whoever that was didn’t attack me, but Kou went missing immediately after. Was he kidnapped? But why didn’t they attack me then? They must have seen my badge, so- “Liana? Why are you out of breath? Are you okay?”

I looked up to see Loren and Kyoko, both watching me with concern. I looked back down. “I….I ran into Kou at the pharmacy, but as he was walking home he nearly got jumped by a gang and-”

“A gang?! Are you okay? Did they attack you?”

I shook my head. “They were about to, but then….somebody attacked them first. I don’t know who, but they were fast. Almost as fast as a ghoul, maybe. But they didn’t attack me even though I’d flashed my badge to warn off the gang. They stole a shiv from one of the thugs to incapacitate them, you should have seen the precision in those cuts. None of them looked lethal but they were all nasty enough to keep them in bed for a few days.”

Loren furrowed his brow. “So it was a human? Some kind of vigilante?”

“I don’t know. But Kou disappeared.”

His eyes bugged out. “They kidnapped him?!”

“No!” My brow furrowed. “I mean, maybe? I don’t know. I pushed him behind me a few moments before they were about to attack, and then the other guy appeared. I swear Kou was right behind me, but when I turned around he was gone!”

Kyoko looked between us, her brows knitted together in confusion. “Kou? Who’s Kou?" 

My eyes narrowed at my brother, and he avoided both of our gazes. “He…….might have come to the café yesterday. I…said a few things I shouldn’t have.”

I didn’t have the mental space to snipe at him for that anymore. “He was working at the pharmacy with Ms. Crata, I didn’t even realise he was there until he said something. He’s stealthy, but did he really manage to run away without anybody noticing?”

Mother walked over. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

I relayed the story to her and she gasped. “A gang, acting before full nightfall? What about the boy?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I hope he got away, I don't know if he's fast but he's definitley quiet. I’ll check with Crata in the morning, if he’s missing I’ll file a report.”

After I assured them that I was okay Loren and Kyoko went back into his room, and I went to take a shower. Once I was done I sat down to restock the medical kit, but even as I packed things in my gaze strayed to my phone. Will Crata call me if she thinks something is wrong? Should I call her? Should I just report it now? But what about Kou? What if he ran away from an abusive household? Would he be forced to go back? He looked healthy, but what if-

My phone buzzed and I jumped, staring at the caller ID. Crata? I picked up the phone and answered the call. “Crata? Is something wrong?”

“Liana! Oh thank goodness, I was so worried! When Teru told me what happened I was-”

I jumped to my feet. “Kou’s with you? Is he okay?!”

“Yes, although he nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw the blood on his sleeve. He told me what happened, Teru was inching away when that person started shanking those gang members. A spray of blood hit him as he was running, he ran five blocks before coming back here and asking me to call you.”

I collapsed back onto the bed, sighing in relief. “Can I talk to him?”

“Of course. Teru?”

There was silence for a few moments, then a tentative “Hello?”

“Kou! Are you okay? Did that person hurt you? Where did you go?”

“I-I’m fine, I didn’t get hurt. I….I saw a person in the alley and thought he was just another gang member, but then they stole a shiv and started attacking them.” There was a pause, and for a moment I held my breath. “I….I’m sorry for running away without you.”

He’s…sorry? I blinked twice, staring at the air in front of me. Then I giggled, unable to stifle my laughter.

There was a shocked silence on the other end, and I smiled. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t laugh. Thank you for worrying about me, but I’m a Rank 1 Investigator; I was far more worried about you. When I turned around to find you gone I thought you’d been kidnapped or something, but I’m glad you got away safely. I have to say, I’m impressed; I didn’t notice you go, and I had no clue where you went.”

“I…guess I’m just fast. So you got away safely?”

“Yeah. That guy didn’t try to hurt me, and I made a run for it while the gang members were occupied.”

“Good. I……I guess I should let you get some sleep. I’ll pass the phone back to Crata and-”

I jumped to my feet. “Wait! There’s something else I want to talk about with you first.”

Silence. Then “Is……something wrong?”

I flicked a glance at my bedroom door, glaring in the general direction of Loren’s room as if I could summon him here and keep his mouth shut through sheer willpower. “I….I followed you from the store, I know you were headed for that cheap motel. I’m sorry, I know I shouldn't have, but I was worried you might not have a place to stay after what happened at the cafe.”

I fingered my pendant. “If you’re okay with it, you can still rent out the apartment above the café; it should be safer for you, in case those thugs come looking for you again. We’re a lot closer to Ms. Crata’s shop, and I can promise that Loren will keep his mouth shut this time.”

He went silent again, and I held my breath. It took a few moments before he spoke again, slowly and carefully. “I….I’ll think about it. Thanks.”

Before I could say anything there was a rustle on the other end. “Liana? Are you still there?”

That didn’t sound like a yes. I deflated, sighing. “Yes Ms. Crata, I’m still here.”

“What was that about? Teru looked rather worried just now.”

“Nothing much. Thanks for calling Ms. Crata, I should let you get home. Good night, and stay safe.”