We enter Cool Cat Waffles only to be greeted by a massive crowd yelling and shoving to look at the message board. Most of them appear to be young adults or teens, shoving to place requests on the board.

"We have a lot of work to do," Purity smirks, "don't we Richard?"

I nod, and play dumb as I ask, "what's with all the ruckus?"

"It must be related to this Purity stuff," Lily explains, "let's check it out."

Lily and I try to push through our way through the crowds, but we keep getting pushed out by the swarm of people.

"Dammit," Lily mutters, "I wanna see what all they're posting up there."

"Well," I shrug, "guess there's not much we can do. Sorry Lily. I gotta use the restroom. Place my order for me. I'll take bacon and eggs."

I hear to the restroom and enter a stall, removing the mask from my jacket.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Purity demands.

"Lily wants to see the requests," I explain, "and everyone here is in support or Purity. They'll part ways for us if we-"

"Are you crazy!?!" Purity demands, "what if Lily puts the pieces together?"

"Simple," I smirk, taking off my shoes, "we'll be in the stall, or, it'll look like it. We go out there without shoes and just... speak."

"How does this advance our goals?" Purity demands, "how does this help us? No shoes? She'll still see that anyways."

I glare at Purity, a stream of light shining through a thin window above the white tile floor and red stall catching my eye.

"What about the window?" I ask, "we can use that. Now, quit your bitching and let's do this!"

"Why?" Purity demands.

"Cause it's for Lily," I glare, thinking about seeing her smile, her joy my only desire, "and that's reason enough. Let's go."

I put on my mask and open the window, a tight squeeze of only eight inches. I crawl out and land on my hands outside in the bushes. Ouch, that stings. Oh well, it's worth it. I dust myself off and proceed into the diner.

"Hey it's him!" A member of the crowd exclaims, pointing at me, "it's Purity!"

The crowd rushes over to me. "Man I'm glad someone like you is out there!" He shakes my hand forcibly, "teaching those bastards a lesson!"

"Please," another pleads, a young lass with slightly curled blonde hair, "you have to stop my parents. I moved out but they're crackheads. You have to-"

"My mom's beating my little sister since I moved out," a young man, taller than me with freckles, dark skin, and black hair pleads, "please you have to save her!"

"Ladies and gentlemen," I wave my arms, opening my stance in a confidant fashion as I walk forward, silencing the crowd which splits to let me pass, "I am but one man. I will purify all in due time. Fear not. In fact, I'll be taking a request today."

I examine the message board which is covered in sheets of paper of various colors and napkins with writing on it saying things like, "my parents beat my brother and now he's dead. Suicide. I fear I'm next." Another reads, "my parents make me want to kill myself. Please help!" A third reads, "my dad's a druggie who sold my sister for drug money. I need help!"

"So many," I hide the aniexty I feel as the only one to save these people, "I can't decide. I'll let one of you choose. Let's see..."

I get an idea and smirk, "let's get someone unbiased. Who here didn't file a request?"

"I haven't," Lily gets up from our table.

"Come on up," I smile.

Lily, slightly nervous, approaches me.

"What's your name cutie?" I inquire.

"Oh," Lily chuckles, "it's Lily."

"Pick a request," I request, "who shall I purify tonight?"

Lily examines the requests. Did I call her cutie? Why did I say that? What's this feeling? What is this desire to hold her? To kiss her cheek? To see her smile? I don't understand!

Just ignore it Richard. Just like everything else.

"This one," Lily pulls a piece of paper down, pink and crumbled up.

The request reads, "my mom... she's addicted to meth and I haven't been home in a week. She said if I came back and ate any more food, she'd kill me. I have nowhere else to turn. Please, I need help!"

"Who's request is this?" I demand.

A timid girl, shorter than me, long, unkempt hair, brown in color, large brown eyes, a tan, tired face and tears in her eyes approaches, and speaks, "it's... It's mine."

"Has she hurt you before?" I demand, realizing the girl is the youngest here and I must be on my knees to look her in the eyes, "how old are you?"

"I'm..." The girl shakes and looks away, "I'm ten Mr. Pure. Please, she killed my big bro. He would protect me. She never struck me but he..."

The girl breaks down crying again.

"Shhhh," I hug her, "it's OK young one. It's OK. Please, take your time. What matters is that you're safe now. I'll purify your mom. First, however, have you tried the police? I can only cover so much ground. If the police can purify her then-"

"She is a cop," the young girl cries.

There is a gasp in the crowd. "Kill that witch!" One exclaims.

"Dude to far!" Another exclaims.

"I don't kill," I remind the crowd, "I purify. She will be purified. Do you have any other family members? Anyone who can take care of you?"

The young girl shakes her head.

"Any volunteers?" I demand, standing up, "at least as a temporary solution?"

That's when Bertha approaches. She approaches the child calmly and with kindness and compassion in her eyes. Things I never saw in my mother's eyes when I was this girl's age. "You poor girl," she hugs the smile child, "it's OK. Bertha here's to help."

Bertha looks at me, standing up, "I'll take care of her sir. I'll get in touch with my uncle. He's a good guy and a foster parent. He'll take good care of her, maybe even adopt her." Bertha takes a knee and asks the girl, "would you like that sweetie? Would you like to have a new home? One where you'll be taken care of?"

The girl, crying, nods.

"Good," Bertha picks her up and holds her, "it's gonna be OK sweetie. Come on, Bertha will fix you something to eat and we'll clean you up."

"What about Richard?" Lily asks.

"I dunno," Bertha shrugs, "next time, OK?"

"But he-" Lily pleads.

I interrupt, "excuse me, I have work to do."

I exit the restaurant and make sure no one is looking in the parking lot. I turn the corner and remove my mask. I then proceed to climb back into the window and enter the stall before exiting the restroom.

I enter the main area, where Lily is still talking to Bertha and the crowd has calmed and seated.

"Look I'll watch her but you gotta talk to Richard," Lily pleads, "I don't know if he'll even be alive tomorrow. You have to-"

"What did I miss?" I ask, "and why's everyone chill now?"

"Purity came in and took a request," Bertha explains, "for this little girl here. Who's name is..."

"Mary," the little girl sobs.

"Anyways," Lily continues, "that means Bertha can't see you today. I mean I'm sure we can find a way if-"

"I don't like Purity much," I explain, "but if a child this small is desperate enough to file a request to a vigilante she needs help more than me. It's fine. Mary, I promise you, everything is gonna be OK. Purity will help you."

"Thanks," Mary smiles slightly, still crying, but less so than before.

"Come on sweetie," Bertha walks back into the kitchen, "do you like bacon?"

With that I can no longer see Mary or Bertha. We sit at our table and await our food.

"That Purity dude," Lily sighs, "he seems... really nice actually."

"I mean," I reply, "he has good intentions at least."

"He handled that little girl so well," Lily continues, "it was almost like he knew what not to do. Almost like he's been abused himself."

"What?" I play dumb.

Purity smacks the back of my head, and yes, I do feel it, "smooth move dumbass! She's figuring us out!"

"Abused?" I play dumb and inquire.

"Wouldn't it make sense?" Lily asks as our food arrives, "I mean, think about it. Dude is abused, physically, emotionally, or some other way, maybe related to drugs or booze and he finally snaps. He becomes a vigilante under a persona to save others. Does that sound so absurd?"

"Sounds like some sort of weird romance novel with that as part of the plot," I reply, "but what do I know?"

"Well they say the truth is stranger than fiction," Lily reminds between bites of bacon.

"As someone who writes fiction," I reply, "I can tell you that's right in the sweet spot fiction would fall in."

"Yeah," Lily sighs, "maybe you're right. Who knows? If he ever gets caught, maybe we'll find out."

"I don't think he'll get caught," I reply, "the cops have no leads. Whoever he is, he's careful."

"More like paranoid," Lily replies, "but damn, news spreads fast in this town huh? Who knew this many people would be desperate enough to seek Purity's help?"

"Who else but Purity?" I reply, "if he didn't expect at least some response, he wouldn't be taking requests, but even I doubt he expected this much."

"Well," Lily smiles, "the mystery is part of the fun. I think I'll try to figure out who he is. Not to bust him or anything, but, for fun. Someone like me? He can't stay hidden forever!"

"Is that a challenge?" A familiar voice chukles.

No fucking way.

I turn and see Bleach, standing there, smiling, "cause we accept that challenge..."