Rain Code : Eye of the Storm

Case 1 - Night Terrors

But suddenly, the door of the agency creaked audibly, and Yuma was dragged out of his already light sleep. As soon as he heard the low rumble of footsteps in the other room, something woke inside of his mind as adrenaline kicked in. He threw the covers out and grabbed whatever he could defend himself with, sweating bullets as he stared straight at the door. Shinigami was…still sleeping, apparently.

Yuma's heart raced as he lay frozen, gripping the makeshift weapon tightly. The anticipation of confrontation was palpable in the silent darkness of his room. But the tension shattered into confusion and slight irritation when the door swung open to reveal Halara, bathed in the soft glow of the hallway light, a smug expression playing across their features.

"Really, Yuma? I expected you to be a bit more prepared for unexpected visitors," Halara teased, their eyes scanning the room with a hint of amusement.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Yuma lowered his impromptu weapon, a heavy sigh escaping him. "Some of us need sleep to function, Halara. What's so important that it couldn't wait till morning?"

Halara leaned against the door frame, flipping their coin with a flick of the wrist. "I found the location of the doctor's lab. And from what I've gathered, the peacekeepers haven't raided it yet. Time is of the essence, Yuma. We need to move tonight."

The urgency in Halara's voice cut through Yuma's grogginess, sharpening his focus. "You're sure it's still untouched?" he asked, pushing himself to sit up.

"Quite sure. But it won't stay that way for long. The peacekeepers are thorough, and once they decide to move in, anything of value will be confiscated or destroyed. This might be our only chance to find something that can lead us to the killer," Halara explained, their tone serious for once.

Yuma weighed his options, the gravity of the situation settling in. The prospect of infiltrating the lab under the cover of night was risky, but it was a risk that could potentially crack the case wide open.

"Fine, let's do it. Give me a few minutes to get ready," Yuma conceded, swinging his legs off the bed and starting to gather his gear.

"Just hurry up. We don't have all night, and this opportunity won't wait for us," Halara said before turning to leave Yuma to prepare.

As Yuma geared up, the adrenaline began to pump through his veins, pushing aside any remnants of sleep. He checked his equipment, making sure everything was in order. Shinigami, who had been quietly observing the exchange, floated closer.

"This could be a big break for us," she said, her voice low. "But be careful, Master. We don't know what we're walking into."

Yuma nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "I know. But it's a chance we have to take."

Yuma's footsteps echoed in the empty main room as he approached Halara, the quiet atmosphere of the early morning wrapping around them like a thick blanket. "What time is it?" Yuma asked, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder.

"It's about 1 in the morning," Halara responded without looking up, their focus on the device in their hand, presumably checking some last-minute details about their destination.

Shinigami's laughter filled the air, her voice light and teasing. "Quite the awkward time for a date, don't you think?" she said, her incorporeal form drifting closer to Yuma, who couldn't help but blush at the comment.

"Shut it," Yuma muttered under his breath, trying to wave Shinigami away, though his gesture was futile given her intangible nature.

Halara glanced up, catching the tail end of Yuma's embarrassed reaction. "Are you ready to go?" they asked, a hint of curiosity in their voice.

"Yeah, I'm all set," Yuma confirmed, doing his best to regain his composure.

Halara noticed Yuma's flushed cheeks and couldn't resist commenting. "Are you sure you're okay? You look a bit feverish," they observed, a teasing lilt to their voice.

Yuma stammered, caught off guard by the direct attention. "I-I'm fine. It's just... weird, I guess. Going out in the city, just the two of us, alone like this," he managed to say, his words tumbling out more honestly than he intended.

Realization dawned on Halara's face as they frowned, cheeks reddening ever so slightly. "You-" they said, shaking their head in a rather shocked manner. "You are a lost cause, Yuma."

Before Yuma could protest or clarify, Halara turned towards the door, the slight blush on their cheeks visible even in the dim light. "Let's not waste any more time with your shenanigans. We'd better hurry," they added.

The chilly air of the early morning nipped at Yuma's cheeks as he followed closely behind Halara, their footsteps echoing softly on the deserted streets of the Ginma District. Despite the tension of their impending investigation, Shinigami's light-hearted taunts floated through the air, a constant undercurrent to their journey.

"Careful not to sell your soul to Hell-ara," Shinigami teased, her voice a whisper only Yuma could hear. "They might charge you an arm and a leg—or worse, your detective badge—for the truth."

Yuma couldn't help but let out a soft, amused sigh, shaking his head at Shinigami's relentless jesting. Yet, as they continued on, his thoughts turned inward, reflecting on his relationship with Halara. They hadn't known each other for long, and while Halara often appeared distant or uninterested, Yuma couldn't shake the feeling that they saw potential in him. Despite their cold exterior and their tendency to keep a professional distance, Halara had shown moments of unexpected support, encouraging Yuma to grow and stand on his own as a detective.

Lost in his thoughts, Yuma barely noticed the passage of time until they arrived at their destination. Before them stood a seemingly ordinary house, its appearance incongruous with the significance Halara had suggested it held. The quiet façade offered no hint of the secrets it might conceal within.

Halara turned to Yuma, a serious expression on their face, breaking the silence that had accompanied the latter part of their journey. "Are you ready?" they asked, their voice low but clear in the still night air.

Yuma nodded, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. He felt Shinigami's presence at his side, a reassuring reminder of the support he had, both seen and unseen. "Yeah, I'm ready," he responded, his voice steady despite the nerves that fluttered in his stomach.