Hydranomaly

Chapter 12: The Cycle Of Torment

The city had worn them down. Every step Usagi and Ryujin took felt like dragging their bodies through an invisible weight, the exhaustion seeping into their very bones. Ryujin, now back in his human form and still mending from the wounds of his previous battle, leaned heavily against Usagi. She, in turn, clung to him with what little strength she had left, cradling Ruby in her arms as if she were the only thing tethering her to consciousness.

Their journey finally brought them to the entrance of the Headquarters. The sleek, metal doors loomed ahead, their presence imposing against the darkened sky. Without warning, they slid open with a soft hiss, a sudden motion that startled Ryujin. Unfamiliar with such technology, he recoiled, eyes wide with a primal fear. His abrupt movement nearly toppled Usagi, who had been relying on his support.

"A-ah-h-hey, easy there!" Usagi's voice was a squeak of surprise as she stumbled, nearly losing her footing.

Ryujin's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he stared at the doors. "What kind of horse crap is this? Just sliding open like that..." His hand tightened around the haft of his axe, instincts screaming at him to defend against whatever trickery this was. He planted his feet, prepared for a fight, even if it was against inanimate, lifeless metal.

"They're just sliding doors, Ryujin. You've seen them before, remember? They won't harm you." Usagi's voice was soft, almost coaxing, as she slung her arm tighter around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. A faint, breathless giggle escaped her lips, though it lacked its usual mirth.

"How would you know?" Ryujin shot back, his gaze never leaving the doors. "They just blasted us with that cold air. It's trying to attack us!" Despite his suspicion, the cool breeze from within was a welcome relief against the heat that had clung to them all day. His stance, once rigid, began to soften, though his guard was still up. "Though... it does feel... kinda nice..."

The tension was abruptly shattered by a voice that cut through the air like a knife-low, almost monotone, yet laced with an undercurrent of restrained emotion. "So there you two are..."

Both Usagi and Ryujin turned to see Yamikumo stepping out of the shadows, his one eye widening as they fell on the battered forms of the two and the child in Usagi's arms. The moment seemed to stretch, his gaze taking in every bruise, every cut, every sign of the battles they had fought and barely survived.

"Heh, what's good, lil bro..." Usagi's voice was barely more than a whisper, her grip on Ruby loosening as she slumped further into Ryujin's side, her consciousness slipping away.

Yamikumo's composure cracked, and he was at her side in an instant, his movements sharp with urgency. He hoisted Usagi onto his back, her weight nothing compared to the fear gnawing at his insides, and then carefully took Ruby into his arms. His voice, though attempting to remain steady, betrayed the whirlwind of emotions he was trying to contain. "Don't 'What's good, lil bro' me, not now... You both need medical attention. Ryujin, come on, you're getting checked too. Dear God... why did I let this happen..."

Ryujin barely had a moment to process before Yamikumo surged forward, urgency propelling him back into the base. There was no time to think, only to act, and Ryujin found himself following on instinct, the two of them moving through the corridors with a speed that belied their exhaustion. The hallways seemed to blur around them, each sterile, white wall blending into the next as they hurtled towards their destination. The only sound was the rhythmic pounding of their footsteps, echoing through the otherwise silent corridors, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling in their minds.

As they finally burst into the Medical Bay, Yamikumo wasted no time. With a precision that spoke of experience, he laid Usagi and Ruby down onto the waiting beds, his movements quick yet careful, as though afraid that any roughness would shatter them completely. The pristine, sterile environment of the ward stood in sharp contrast to the chaos they had just escaped, the bright lights casting harsh reflections off the spotless surfaces. Ryujin barely had time to take it all in before Yamikumo's voice cut through the stillness, sharp and commanding.