WILD [Shirou Ogami x OC]

Chapter Nine- Neutralizing a hostile at the hospital, Shirou's fighting ability!

It had been weeks since Shirou had vanished without a word. I didn't show it much, but his absence gnawed at me. The way he disappeared so suddenly didn't sit right, especially with everything Michiru and I had been investigating. We were getting closer to uncovering why she'd been turned into a Beastman, and with him gone, it felt like we were missing a vital piece of the puzzle.

Michiru was just as restless. Her curiosity and drive to help others had only grown since we started working together. She never backed down, not from the truth and not from danger, which was exactly where we found ourselves when we arrived at the hospital that day.

I could sense the tension in the air the moment we stepped inside. The place felt off—like the energy was vibrating with unease. Beastmen filled the corridors, but they weren't moving with the usual hustle and bustle. They were on edge, whispering to each other, glancing over their shoulders.

Michiru's sharp eyes scanned the room, and her brows furrowed. "Something's wrong here," she muttered, voice tight.

I nodded, my muscles tense. That's when I spotted him. Yaba, a hulking rhinoceros Beastman, standing at the end of the corridor near a set of doors that led to the main medical wing. His expression was hard, his body rigid. Something about the way he stood sent a cold shiver down my spine.

"That's Yaba," I said under my breath. "He's been involved in some shady stuff before, but this... feels different."

Michiru glanced at me, concern etched on her face. "We need to stop him before anyone gets hurt."

Before I could respond, a loud, deep voice echoed down the corridor. Yaba, his face twisted in rage, was shouting something about retribution, about making sure the world knew the suffering Beastmen endured. His voice boomed through the hospital halls like a storm about to break.

Then, without warning, he charged toward the medical wing, sending people scattering in every direction. Panic erupted around us, and I grabbed Michiru's arm.

"Stay close!" I yelled over the chaos, already moving toward Yaba.

But before we could reach him, something moved in the shadows—fast, precise. Shirou.

He appeared out of nowhere, his tall frame cutting through the commotion as if he'd never been gone. My heart skipped a beat. There was no time to ask questions; we had a situation on our hands. He didn't acknowledge us at first, his focus laser-sharp on Yaba.

"Shirou!" Michiru called out, relief mingling with surprise in her voice.

He didn't look back, his voice a low growl as he advanced on Yaba. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

Of course, Michiru and I ignored him. We weren't about to stand by and watch. As Yaba reached the entrance to the medical wing, he swung his massive arms, smashing through doors, walls—anything in his path. Patients and doctors scrambled, trying to escape the impending destruction.

Shirou was faster than I'd ever seen him, closing the distance between himself and Yaba in a flash. His hands glowed with a strange, intense energy, something I hadn't seen before. It was almost like watching lightning flash in the middle of a storm.

He slammed into Yaba with incredible force, the impact shaking the ground beneath us. Yaba roared, stumbling back, but he wasn't going down easily. The rhinoceros Beastman was tough, built like a tank, and he charged again, this time straight at Shirou.

Michiru and I moved into action. "We've got to help him!" she shouted, her hands already shifting as she tapped into her shapeshifting powers. I watched as she transformed, her body becoming more agile, more animalistic, her abilities evolving right before my eyes.

We flanked Yaba, trying to divert his attention and give Shirou the upper hand. Michiru was fast, darting in and out of range, landing quick hits, her determination fierce. I aimed for his legs, trying to slow him down, my claws slashing through the air with precision.

Despite the chaos, Shirou remained a force of nature. His powers were beyond anything I had seen, and there was a sense of righteousness in his every movement. It wasn't just about stopping Yaba—it was about protecting Beastmen, even from themselves. Shirou wasn't fighting for glory. He was fighting for justice, for the city that had given him purpose.

"Stop this, Yaba!" Shirou's voice rang out, commanding and filled with conviction. "This isn't the way."

Yaba, breathing heavily, glared at Shirou, but his anger faltered. There was a brief moment of hesitation, and in that instant, Shirou took his opening. With a single, powerful strike, Shirou brought Yaba down, his immense form crashing to the floor, the threat finally neutralized.

Michiru and I stood back, catching our breath. My heart was still pounding, but it wasn't just from the fight. Shirou had reappeared just when we needed him most, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much more to uncover—about Michiru, about Shirou, about everything happening in Anima City.

As the dust settled, Shirou finally turned toward us. His gaze met Michiru's, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them. She was still coming to terms with her own abilities, but I could see the fire in her eyes—the desire to help others, to understand who she was and what she could do.

Shirou nodded slightly, his expression softer than I'd seen before. "You did well today," he said quietly.

Michiru blinked, surprised by the compliment. "Thanks," she replied, her voice quiet but determined.

As the hospital staff began to take control of the scene, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever was happening to Michiru, whatever mysteries were still left to unravel, I knew we'd face it together. And with Shirou back in the mix, there was no telling what we'd uncover next.