As the mission came to an end, the members of the Kuzuryu clan gathered at the front of the old building, a mix of relief and fatigue evident on their faces. Fuyuhiko stood slightly apart, scanning the groups of clan members, his heart sinking as he noticed the absence of one key figure: Hannah.

His brow furrowed in concern as he approached Mei and Takumi, who were engaged in hushed conversation. "Where's Hannah?" he demanded, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice.

They exchanged confuse glances, their expressions shifting from surprise to worry. "We thought she was with you." Mei replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Fuyuhiko's anger flared, hot and immediate. "Why the fuck would Hannah be with me, Mei?" he snapped, his voice sharp as he fought to keep his temper in check. He had meticulously arranged the mission with her safety in mind, placing her within a large group where she could be monitored. The thought that she had strayed from that arrangement sent a wave of frustration through him.

"Fuyuhiko, listen!" Takumi interjected quickly, his tone urgent. "Hannah was in pain. She had a migraine, and someone from the clan said they would take her back to you. But we haven't seen her since the start of the mission, and now we can't find her at all."

Fuyuhiko's heart sank, panic tightening its grip. "What do you mean you haven't seen her?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Who took her? Which idiot thought it was okay to remove her from the group?"

"We don't know!" Takumi replied, frustration edging into his voice. "She was taken out of our sight, and now... now we can't find her!"

Fuyuhiko felt a chill run down his spine. The implications of Hannah being separated from the group were more terrifying than he wanted to admit. Had someone taken advantage of her vulnerability? Was this part of Saito's plan?

"Then why didn't anyone follow up?" Fuyuhiko snapped, his frustration boiling over. "She's not just some responsibility to pass around like a hot potato! You both were supposed to watch her!"

Mei stepped forward, her expression serious. "We're sorry! We didn't think-"

"Clearly!" he interrupted, feeling the tension in the air thickening as his anger morphed into a visceral sense of dread. "Did you even think at all? She's vulnerable, and you all just let someone take her?"

"I- we... thought she was g-going back to you." Mei murmured, not wanting to look the blonde straight in the eyes.

Fuyuhiko's fury boiled over as he faced Mei and Takumi fully, the weight of Hannah's absence pressing heavily on his chest. "What the hell were you two thinking?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the tense atmosphere. "You were supposed to keep her safe! You knew she wasn't ready for this!"

Mei opened her mouth to respond, but Fuyuhiko cut her off. "Did anyone even think to check on her?" His eyes swept over the gathered clan members, searching for answers. "Where is she? Someone must know!"

A younger clan member stepped forward, his expression uneasy. "Uh, she was assigned to the water part of the mission." he stammered, his voice shaky under Fuyuhiko's glare.

Fuyuhiko's eyes narrowed, a sense of dread coiling in his stomach as he addressed the Kuzuryu member. "How the hell did she end up with the water group?" he demanded, his voice seething with anger. "She was assigned to the main group, and she shouldn't have been anywhere near the water."

Before he could unleash the full force of his wrath, Riku stepped in front of him. "Hold on, Fuyuhiko." he said firmly, his tone authoritative. "That can't be right. Hannah's records clearly state she isn't fit for water-based missions."

Fuyuhiko glanced at Riku, momentarily taken aback by his calmness amid the chaos. "What do you mean?" he snapped, but there was a hint of confusion in his voice as he realized Riku was making a valid point.

"Her health history shows she has difficulty with water." Riku explained, his brow furrowing in concern. "She was never meant to be near any water. Whoever assigned her to that part of the mission clearly disregarded her limitations."

The words hit Fuyuhiko like a punch to the gut. Fuyuhiko's anger turned inward as realization washed over him. If Hannah had been assigned to the water, then someone had deliberately put her in harm's way. This wasn't just negligence; it was a betrayal. He felt a wave of nausea rise within him, his thoughts racing as he grappled with the implications.

"Assigned to the water.." Riku repeated to himself. "What the fuck kind of decision was that? She can't even swim!" he said, turning to address the whole group.

Another figure stepped forward from the shadows, one of the clan members who had been assigned to the water group. He hesitated, visibly uncomfortable under both the young men's glares. "Um, it's possible that Hannah is still in the water..." he said, his voice trailing off as he realized the implications of his words.

"What do you mean 'still in the water'?" Riku exploded, stepping forward with his fists clenched. "Hannah can't swim-! Why the hell was she in the water at all? This is just a disaster waiting to happen!"

The uncertainty in the air thickened, and the man from the water group shifted uncomfortably under the intensity of Riku's glare. "We thought... we thought she could handle it. I didn't know- none of us did!"

Fuyuhiko felt his blood run cold. "So you just decided to throw her into a situation she clearly wasn't prepared for?" His voice dripped with venom. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to her? What the Morioka clan could do if they found her out there?"

The other clan member stepped back, clearly intimidated by Fuyuhiko's rage. "We just assumed-!"

"Assumed?" Riku snapped, his frustration boiling over. "Assumptions don't mean shit in this line of work! We need to act, not guess!"

Fuyuhiko's mind raced as he thought of Hannah struggling in the water, vulnerable and terrified. The mere image of her frightened him more than anything else. He couldn't let this turn into another nightmare for her. "We need to find her- now! If she's still in the water, we could lose her!"

"Let's split up." Riku suggested, urgency lacing his words. "I'll head to the water area with a few others. We'll check the docks and the shoreline. Takumi, you and Mei coordinate with the rest of the clan. We need to cover as much ground as possible!"

"Agreed." Fuyuhiko said, his voice steady despite the panic rising within him. "Everyone, move! We need eyes everywhere. Check the water first! If she's in trouble, we have to get her out!"

They sprang into action, the atmosphere thick with tension and urgency as clan members scattered in every direction. Fuyuhiko felt a surge of adrenaline as he pushed through the crowd, determination fueling his steps. He couldn't afford to waste a single moment.

As they reached the water's edge, Fuyuhiko scanned the murky surface, his heart racing. The moonlight glinted off the waves, and he felt a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the temperature. "Hannah!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the night. "Where are you?"

Silence answered him, a heavy blanket of dread settling over the group.

"Over here!" Riku called from a little further down the shoreline, his voice filled with urgency. "I think I see something!"

Fuyuhiko rushed toward Riku, his heart pounding in his chest as he approached the water's edge. He could barely make out a shape in the water, barely visible beneath the surface. Panic surged through him, and he dove forward, ignoring the icy chill of the water as he waded in.

Fuyuhiko pulled Hannah out of the water, her body heavy and barely conscious, and instinctively wrapped her in his arms. She spluttered and coughed, clinging desperately to his shirt as if he were her only anchor in a tumultuous sea. Her skin was cold and slick, and the chill of the night air bit into them both as he moved.

"Hannah- stay with me!" he urged, his voice low and steady, though his heart raced with fear. He could feel her shivering against him, and he tightened his grip, willing warmth to seep into her fragile form.

Hannah didn't respond verbally, but her grip on him tightened. Her eyes fluttered, struggling to remain open as they made their way toward the waiting car. Each step felt like an eternity, and Fuyuhiko could feel the weight of the world pressing down on him. He had to get her warm, get her safe.

As they reached the vehicle, he gently set her down on the back seat, careful not to jostle her too much. "Riku!" he called, urgency dripping from his voice. "Help me get her in."

Riku rushed to his side, his expression a mix of concern and determination. Together, they maneuvered Hannah into the car, tucking her shivering body beneath Fuyuhiko's jacket, which was still damp from the water but offered some warmth.

"Turn on the heat." Fuyuhiko instructed, his tone clipped as he knelt beside her, checking her pulse. It was weak but steady, and he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

One of the other clan members in the front seat quickly adjusted the climate controls, and soon warm air began to circulate around them. Fuyuhiko took Hannah's hand in his, rubbing it between his palms, trying to restore some circulation. "Stay with me, Hannah." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're going to be okay."

"I'm... I'm sorry." she finally whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyelids heavy as she fought to stay conscious. "I didn't mean to..."

"Shh," Fuyuhiko interrupted softly, brushing her damp hair back from her forehead. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault. Just focus on breathing. You're safe now. I'm here."

She coughed, water spilling from her lips as she looked at him, panic giving way to recognition. "I... I couldn't b-breathe." she managed, her voice shaky.

"Hannah, darling." he soothed, holding her face in his hands, searching her eyes for signs of awareness. "I've got you, okay? I've got you. Just breathe."

As the car pulled away from the shoreline, the familiar landscape of the Kuzuryu manor came into view, a beacon of safety amid the chaos. The weight of fear and frustration threatened to overwhelm him again, but he forced it down. Hannah needed him.

They arrived at the manor in record time, and Fuyuhiko wasted no time in lifting her into his arms again, cradling her against him as he rushed inside. He could feel the heat of the house enveloping them, a stark contrast to the cold water that had soaked her to the bone.

"Get some towels and blankets!" he barked at the clan members who followed them inside. They sprang into action, rushing to fetch whatever they could find.

"Get her to the living room." Riku said, his voice steady as he guided Fuyuhiko down the hall. "We'll set up by the fireplace. She needs to warm up fast."

Fuyuhiko nodded, his jaw clenched with determination as he carried Hannah into the spacious living room. He settled her onto the couch, carefully propping her up with pillows, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. As the fire crackled to life, he felt a sense of urgency wash over him.

A few moments later, the clan members returned with blankets, draping them over Hannah's shivering form. Fuyuhiko's heart ached at the sight of her pale face, her lips tinged with blue. He gently took her hand, his thumb brushing across her knuckles.

"Fuyuhiko..." she murmured, her eyes fluttering open for a moment. "I'm so cold..."

"I know, I know." he replied, his voice steady despite the rising panic in his chest. "But you're going to be okay. Just focus on me."

Hannah's eyes drifted shut again, and he leaned closer, desperate to keep her awake. "You're a fighter, remember? You've made it through so much already. Just a little longer, and you'll be warm again."

"Fuyuhiko..." she whispered, her voice trailing off as she succumbed to the weariness threatening to pull her under.

"Hannah!" He shook her gently, panic rising in his chest as he watched her slip further away. "Stay with me. Don't close your eyes!"

At that moment, the door burst open, and Mei rushed in, her face a mask of concern. "What happened?" she exclaimed, taking in the scene. "I heard... Is she okay?"

Fuyuhiko looked up, desperation etched into his features. "She was in the water, Mei. She's freezing, and I need her to wake up."

"Let me help." Mei knelt beside them, her hands moving to check Hannah's pulse. "We need to get her out of these wet clothes."

Without waiting for Fuyuhiko's response, she began to carefully remove the drenched clothing, revealing Hannah's shivering form. "We need to warm her up. Get more blankets! And a hot drink- something sweet if we can find it!"

Fuyuhiko sprang to his feet, racing toward the kitchen. "I'll get something!" He rifled through the cabinets, his mind racing as he searched for anything that might help. After a moment, he found a thermos filled with hot chocolate, something sweet and warm that might coax Hannah back to consciousness.

He poured it into a cup and hurried back, finding Mei covering Hannah with more blankets, her expression grave.

"Is she-" Fuyuhiko began, but Mei cut him off.

"She's stable for now, but we need to get her warmed up. Give her the drink." she urged, gesturing toward Hannah.

Fuyuhiko knelt beside her again, carefully lifting her head to bring the cup to her lips. "Hannah, can you drink this for me?" he asked softly. "It'll help. Just a little bit."

He tilted the cup gently, allowing a small amount to spill into her mouth. She swallowed reflexively, her lips parting as she did. "That's it." he encouraged, feeling a flicker of hope as she managed to take a few more sips.

Hannah's eyes opened slightly, her gaze unfocused as she tried to take in her surroundings. "Fuyuhiko..." she murmured again, a faint smile touching her lips, though it quickly faded as her exhaustion took hold.

"Just relax." he said, brushing his thumb against her cheek. "I'm right here. You're safe, I promise."

The warmth of the hot chocolate seemed to spark some life back into her, and she shivered less as the blankets enveloped her. "W-what... happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"There was a mix-up." Fuyuhiko explained, keeping his voice calm. "You were put in the water group, and I didn't know- I should have kept a closer eye on you."

Hannah looked away, shame flickering across her face. "I.. d-didn't want to be a burden. I thought I could help-"

"You're never a burden, Hannah." Fuyuhiko insisted, feeling a surge of protectiveness. "I need you to understand that. You're important to me. I won't let anyone put you in danger again."

Her eyes glistened, a mixture of gratitude and fear reflected in their depths. "I'm so s-sorry..."

"Stop apologising." he said firmly, his voice steady. "Just focus on getting better. That's all that matters right now."

As they sat together, the fire crackling softly, Fuyuhiko felt the weight of the night lifting ever so slightly. He would keep her safe. He would protect her from the shadows that loomed around them, from Saito and the Morioka clan. No one would hurt Hannah again.

He promised himself then and there, as he held her close, that he would find a way to put an end to this chaos once and for all.