FINALLLY! MY FINALS ARE OVER!

God! That is the last time I take two classes in a single Summer Sumester.

So to show you how happy I am...HERE IS CH2 FOR THE USUALLY RATHER SLOW CLAYMORE FANFIC! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW YO!

Ch2 Cruel Reunion

A Claymore with unusually colored short brown hair stared at the scene before her, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open….it was a slaughter.

She had not expected this to happen. First she was sent to the North only to witness the vast difference between Awakened Beings and Claymores. She then returned to the Organization after somehow surviving the assault.

As soon as she returned she was assigned to work with the unstable Number 4 warrior, Miata.

If the difference between her and common youma was very large than this child who suckled on her breast was as far from them as the distance between heaven and earth.

She'd known that the child held her position as Number 4 for a reason and her skill in combat was superior to her in so many ways that she was nothing compared to the little girl with long blond hair that tended to cover eyes.

But Number 47 Clarice hadn't realized just how far apart they were in terms of abilities…

Weaponless…This little girl who is covered in the purple blood of youma…The same girl who had temporarily discarded her armor, making her diminutive figure and young age even more apparent. The same girl who is hugging her and murmuring over and over again the title she'd bestowed upon the warrior she'd adopted as a parental figure. "Mama". …She'd slaughtered most of their monstrous assailants with her bare hands.

Clarice's body was trembling slightly, while her mind was struggling between terror at what she'd just witnessed, and maternal concern and care for the first person to have ever treated her with such affection.

Almost of her own accord, her left arm, which had been limp at her side, slowly rose, and her hand settled on the back of Miata's head. Suddenly conscious of her actions, Clarice hesitated for an instant, before bring her right arm around the child while she began to slowly stroke Miata's hair.

That was the first time they fought together, and it wouldn't be the last. As they traveled onwards towards their target, they fought Awakened Beings and youma time and again, but always remained on track thanks to Miata's greatly enhanced five senses. Their target, was former Number 3, Galatea.

They had recently reached the outskirts of the Holy City of Rabona…Where Miata can smell the presence of a powerful Claymore…And…A hint of something else?

"Don't worry Miata…We will hunt down Galatea…"

(Meanwhile…)

A group of four Claymores, all dressed in black, the Ghosts of Pieta, were quickly running through the trees to get away from a certain monster…Riful of the West.

Well…That's what they were supposed to be doing anyway…

Miria, Helen, and Deneve, all of whom was carrying an unconscious Organization warrior, stopped to look back upon realizing their most troublesome member had stayed behind.

"Che! That idiot!" Helen shouted.

Miria and Deneve shared a worried look. While Riful had not attacked Clare yet

"Oh?" The Abyssal One raised a non-existent brow as she stared at a lone Claymore with short silver blond hair and silver eyes.

"You stayed behind?"

"There is something I want to ask you…Riful of the West." the lone warrior replied.

"Ah?" Something clicked inside Riful as realization struck

"Oh, it's you…I remember you. That's right; you fought Duff 7 years ago. You were one of three at the time."

Riful smiled, leaning the humanoid portion of her body forward as she did so.

"That sure takes me back. How are the other two? I am especially curious about the one with long hair. That girl was very interesting."

"That is none of your concern."

"Gosh, that is quite an attitude. Is it one that someone asking for a favor should have?"

Clare was silent for a moment.

"One is them is dead…Another, the long haired one I haven't seen in a while."

"Oh, how regrettable. She was such a good girl." Riful cooed. "So? What is it that you want to ask?"

"…Seven years ago, a horde of Awakened Beings invaded from the North and struck the South and the East. I want to know what happened since then. I want to know the status quo between the Abyssal Ones and the Organization."

Mirira, Helen, and Deneve's eyes widened as they realized their troublesome comrade's intent.

"Ahahahaha. I see…Now I understand."

Riful smiled in all knowing manner.

"You hide yourself for 7 years, severing all contact with the outside world…And during that time you somehow mastered concealing your youki. And from what you're telling me, it seems you participated in the battle up North against Isley's army and somehow managed to create a façade of total annihilation to hide your survival to the organization." Riful stated jauntily.

"Well, I won't ask for more detail since that is long time ago, but…If you want something from me, I have a condition."

"A condition?"

All of Clare's comrades hiding in the trees and listening felt their pulses quicken.

"I want you to become my ally." Riful stated.

Miria and Deneve's eyes widened, while Helen flat out gaped, a short exclamation escaping her that Riful fortunately did not hear.

"I am in need of someone who can sense and control youki energy very precisely like the long haired girl, but if I remember correctly youki sensing is your forte too. And I remember telling you that the fastest way to achieve your revenge was to join me. Really, I am offering you a great deal. After all, your enemy is that woman and that woman is protected by those men."

"Men?"

"I will say no more unless you agree."

"…Very well, I'll consider it." Clare stated. Her face gave nothing away.

Her comrades were startled, but only Helen let out a 'What?'

Riful smiled. Her smile seemed so gentle, but ill intent was flowing off of her like waves of sea. The First female Abyss' body coiled and flicked her body.

"Excellent…Alright I'll tell you."

Riful looked up into the sky as she began.

"There were a total of 23 Awakened Beings under Isley's command in the Northern Invasion. 11 went to the East and 12 came down to the West toward me. And finally Isley himself headed South to face the Abyssal of the South, Luciela."

Riful frowned.

"I destroyed the invaders myself with Duff, and Isley was victorious against Luciela. The remaining Awakened Beings that headed East were annihilated as well."

"What? I can understand the West, but the Organization as well? How-?"

"Oh? You didn't know? The organization is sly and has no oversights. Without letting us notice, they created a warrior capable of taking on an Abyssal One, a new Abyssal One if you will."

"So in the end-"

"In the end there were still three Abyssal Ones at the time."

"So when Isley defeated the Abyssal of the South why didn't you try to kill Isley while he was weakened?"

That is the next logical step…The 3 Abyssals managed to maintain their balance because despite the ages and experience that separates them, their power levels are close to each other. So even if one 'win' a battle between them…It will never be a clean victory.

And a wounded prey so an appetizing prey.

Riful let out a short grunt filled with bitter amusement.

"You're very bright…I did go after Isley. A battle between Abyssal Ones is a battle to the death. Even though Isley was victorious he was still gravely injured. I didn't have any grudge against the man, but it was a chance of a life time. He was acting very capricious at the time, so killing him when he was weak had merit…However, when I got there…The chance was right in front of me…if it wasn't for that thing…"

"'That thing'?"

Riful was silent for a moment, her mind going back to that day. The shattered landscape, the torn up ground, the huge clouds of dust that had yet to disperse. An unclothed man with long white hair, on his knees, heavily wounded…And that woman. Short in height, brown hair, wearing a worn dress…and emitting so much youki that Riful was, for several moments, frozen in shock, and fear.

"No one…can kill Priscilla now" Isley's voice echoed in her mind.

Riful opened her eyes.

"There was nothing I could do…That woman was stronger than me."

This was without a doubt the most shocking revelation revealed to the Ghosts today. All three of Clare's hidden comrades were gaping in various states of shock. Even Clare, who had long known that Priscilla was extremely powerful, had the slightest hint of surprise on her otherwise impassive face.

"The rumor of Isley beating her and making her his was a false rumor made by the Silver Haired King himself. He actually lost to her and submitted himself as her general. If there was any chance of beating her it would have been me and Luciela working together, but anticipating this, Isley made the first move. And now they hold the power to rule all the land anytime they want…Even without their other comrade."

"What?"

"Do you recall me mentioning how there were still three great powers despite Luciela dying…? Well, that was true until 2 years ago."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean there is another, the fourth power in the land. The new Abyssal of the South."

"Does that mean Isley lost control of the South to another?"

"No, more like he given away the control of that land to another. The fortune smiled on that man in such biased manner that he gained such a powerful follower. If you girl don't know I heard that his second in command, Rigaldo the Silver Eyed Lion King was killed 7 years ago…Well, now he has a new lieutenant that surpasses the old male Number 2."

"!"

"Stronger-?" began Miria.

"-Than the Lion King?" finished Helen as Deneve remained silent.

"This Abyssal of the South is rather unique. I met him several times in the past to see how strong he was, when Isley and that woman weren't around, of course, and he did not disappoint. Very polite young man, quite handsome, and very powerful."

"A man?" questioned Clare, a brief look of surprise passing over her face "As in one of the old male generation? Was there a survivor of the Northern Invasion?"

"Oh, no. I might not have met, known, or remembered every male Claymore, but I would have remembered one with his potential. And given the fact that he appeared out of nowhere two years ago, I would surmise that he is a very recently created-and Awoken-warrior."

"You mean the organization restarted the male program?"

"Nope, that's not it either. There is no way those crafty old men would risk it. This is most likely done by Isley to increase his military might. He has a fixation of being a king after all and what king has no army to weld?"

"What is this Awakened Being's name?"

"Ah ah ah…This is a give and take. I did plenty of giving and now I want to tell you of the job I need you to do for me."

"I refuse."

"Huh? But I believe we had a deal?"

"I recall telling you I would consider it…And I decline."

Riful stared at her with her glowing green eyes.

"…I expected this kind of response from you…it seems your personality has taken a turn for the worse since then…Or was it always like this?"

"Most likely the latter. But thanks for the information."

"I could always cut off your arms and legs and keep the important parts, you know?"

"Too bad that's impossible as well. I have grown stronger since 7 years ago."

"Oh? In those 7 years you grew strong enough to defeat me?" Riful questioned amusedly.

"Even if I can't beat you, I can still escape from here." The moment she finished, Riful's cage of long, tendrils with their exceptionally sharp ends launched at her. Clare blurred into nothingness as she agilely avoided the barrage of appendixes.

Riful swung her thread like spears across the forest to slice through trees, aiming to bisect Clare and keep her top half, but Clare used her new sword technique Windcutter to shred the obstacles and avoid the spears by zipping back and forth.

"You little…STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Riful swiftly brought her body tendrils up and let out a loud 'Kyyyaaaa!' as she launched a massive volley into the forest around her, ripping apart dozens of trees, shattering branches, sending countless leaves to the ground, and ripping up the earth…But she missed her target.

Soon the target of her rage escaped…hiding her youki once more…

"…Gosh this is pathetic…Even after all the effort I put into this I still have yet to harvest a single one." Muttered Riful as her rage and anger was not hidden in her soft voice.

A cruel smile filled with anger swiftly overtook Riful's face.

"Remember this…I will make you pay one way or another."

As she and her friends fled Clare pondered…Who is this Abyssal of the South…? And who is mad enough to serve Isley after being turned into an Awakened Beings by him?

Several months after his separation from his mentor…Raki found himself in the city he once visited many times in his travels…The Holy City of Rabona.

Well he was not among Rabona and its inhabitants…No; he was deep underneath the city.

The compound he was in was a secret chamber within the main church that Father Vincent lent to him. After it was given to him years ago he redecorated and expanded it further into ground. The secret base is his was made to accommodate many people and to be spacious. It has many ancient and new tunnels that some are dangerous and some are safe after creating a strong support beams made of his bones.

The compound had bedrooms, a supply room, and a living room. Candles were everywhere. The place was so deep underground that it was virtually soundproof and he'd gotten Father Vincent's permission to use as he wished….So this was his secret hideout to avoid the demons that hunted him and Isley.

When he visited the city with Priscilla he only informed Cid and Galk that he was there because of an emergency situation. He wanted to stay out of the city to protect them. Unfortunately, the city was the safest place he could go, and they all knew it.

They asked no questions and took no offense to his secrecy. They most likely suspected something bad was happening to him.

There was another reason why he came to Rabona despite the danger. He need a secluded area… Chomp!...Schew, Schew…Lick…Scheei, Chomp…

"Uh…." Raki grunted. He was perfectly capable of handling pain much worse than this, but it didn't mean he liked it. He is being eaten alive after all.

In his hideout's living room Raki was sitting down in a steel chair. He was pale and was gripping the handset with all his might as he tried not to burst out of his seat.

The reason was that Priscilla was naked as the day she was born and kneeling down before him her face near his lower area…NOT DOING WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT!

She was actually eating the contents of his stomach…The intestines that youma and Awakened Beings crave.

Normally youma and Awakened Beings only go for human intestines because they weren't tainted with youki. However Raki was not a real Awakened Being or Claymore. When not actively using his youki, he was, appearance and presence wise, a normal human.

He emitted very little youki in his current form, making him especially appetizing to Priscilla. Fortunately, she had never shown any inclination to act on her culinary desires.

For the last few years there had been signs of Priscilla's growing cravings…Both Isley and Raki knew she would eventually succumb to her hunger, and there was no guarantee that they could stop her.

So the solution is to feed her live humans…or allow her to eat Raki. This is something that only happened once a year...so Priscilla still retained her child form despite feeding on him once before.

This is risky and dangerous…But for honorable Raki…This is a plan worth looking into.

Chomp!...Chew,Chew…Lick…Chew, Chomp…

Raki would control the direction his youki would be flowing and he would send the flow other way…away from his intestines and stomach so they will be more 'human.'

More 'delicious' he is…the better.

Chomp!...Lick, chew…Lick…Chew, Chomp…

Raki would be vulnerable as Priscilla indulged herself, and thus the need for the base underneath Rabona. She was naked because Raki saw no need to pointlessly ruin her clothes. Honestly this is not the first time they did this, so they know the procedure to avoid trouble…but the pain is all the same.

"Raki…Does it hurt?" Priscilla asked with a hint of concern, well hidden behind an innocent tone. Raki smiled easily despite his discomfort

"It's fine. That's it for today Priscilla. Take a step back."

Priscilla nodded as she stepped back her lips dripping with blood.

Raki opened the dam that was holding his youki back and felt his tainted energy filling him up. His body shifted as the youki filled the damaged opening in his stomach and it started to regrow and regenerate.

Raki felt the wound closing, felt the shifting and healing underneath his skin. He would recover faster if he transformed, but releasing his youki spontaneously might alert the monsters and that blind nun…Keeping away from her radar was actually harder than feeding Priscilla.

Fortunately, the other Awakened Being was in the city sewers.

The only reason the blind Claymore didn't sense him was because he used the bare minimum of youki in his healing and used the other Awakened Being's youki to mask himself. He synched his youki with hers to create the same presence and being deep underground helped prevent the nun from finding him.

The other Awakened Being, the nun, and himself…There's a stalemate between them, but it's one only he knows of.

"Hmm!"

Raki looked up as he felt a presence. It was weak…So weak that he barely felt it.

"No Claymore is that weak…suppression medication?" Raki wondered.

Raki was not so skilled that he could sense a warrior's youki under suppression pills from a distance, but his instincts were highly tuned as an Awakened Being in control of himself, and highly skilled warrior. He could pick up the intangible presence that warriors gave off…if they were strong enough of course.

To someone sharp as Raki, hiding one's warrior presence is difficult.

"I sense two fighters…One is pretty weak, but the other…she has a strong, wild presence."

That didn't bode well…The Holy City still has rules against Half-breed warriors despite Father Vincent and the Royal Guardsmen' attempt to be more peaceful…So only reason they are here is by mission like what happened to Clare or…They are here for the blind nun.

"They're taking a risk. If they managed to bypass the guards Cid or Galk might help them out of respect…And if they do fight the nun, the other Awaken might stir because of the commotion. And if she is to be killed…My cover will be ruined."

There isn't much he can do besides killing the Claymores, but he has his rule of not killing warriors…Oh, his softness will get him killed one day.

"…I might have to deal with this myself regardless…But for now"

He'd stay hidden for now. If the blind Claymore is killed he can stay here with no trouble unless either of the two newcomers is an especially sharp sensor. However if Agatha decided to reveal herself, the city would be in danger…And his rule…No Awakened Beings in the South may attack the settlements…Either hunt bandits or move out of his territory…If Agatha wishes to defy him…Than so be it.

He has a reputation to keep after all...

Clank! BASH! CRASH! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! BOOOM! SMASH! WHOOSH! CLANK!

The sound of metal clashing, walls breaking, and streets being demolished could be heard across the Holy City...The Orphanage near the Curch has now become a battlefield...

NOw why would such place become a battlefield...

Well...

Clarice and Miata had engaged Galatea.

It started off well considering they found help in the Rabona guardsmen Cid and Galk. They even narrowed their search down thanks to the information of the older men and found the nun's residence.

The target was found, and was isolated from the population…All that was left was to use Miata to overwhelm the former Number 3.

However, no plan survives contact with the enemy.

The blind Claymore should have been rusty due to lack of training and combat, however she lived up to her former rank as Number 3. Her sword blurred in her hand as she slashed and stabbed so fast that Clarice couldn't even see the end of one swing to the next.

However, that was not the case for her young companion.

Miata couldn't detect youki, but her 5 enhanced senses served her well in her fight against her senior.

Clank! Clank! Whoosh! Duck! Clank! Clank! Clank!

The little Claymore swung and thrust her sword with skill that was clearly outclassed by her opponent, despite the fact that Galatea seemed to be out of practice. Miata's current skill was born of untamed instinct and wild potential, allowing her to keep up, and very slowly overcome, her opponent.

Galatea took her time to make some space between her and the little one, but the wild child refused to back off or give her breathing space.

The blind nun fell back entirely on her sensory skills, seeking a weakness in Miata's assault.

Even the wildest storm had a calm center.

So too will Miata's barrage have one.

…Subtle…Almost invisible…THERE!

Whoosh!

Galatea thrust her sword right where her senses told her an opening existed, but to her surprise Miata somehow bent and avoided the thrust! With a gasp, Galatea dodged the return blow.

"Such sharp instincts. You can't sense youki yet you still managed to predict where I would strike…the Organization sent a strong one."

The two continued their battle quickly scaling the wall, fighting for the high ground. Miata didn't care for a height advantage per say, but her instincts told her not to let the blind lady get any advantage. She was already fighting with a handicap, no need to make it more difficult.

Galatea launched a counterattack from above. Her experienced sword strikes aimed for any opening she could detect, but Miata didn't receive her rank for her cuteness and countered accordingly.

However…Galatea smirked as she enhanced her arm muscles with youki and knocked Miata away.

Miata landed on her feet against a wall. She didn't seem fazed by the impact and blasted off the wall.

"MIATA! MAKE SURE NOT TO HURT ANY CIVILIANS!" Clarice shouted, unable to keep pace.

Miata gave no sign of hearing her, but she land on the ground and dashed at Galatea in controlled speed that didn't destroy walls or building by her steps. She managed to catch up and reengage her former coworker. The child warrior grabbed her sword tightly and slashed down with all her small might. The resulting attack was Galatea flying backward this time with a timely block that allowed her to keep her head.

Galatea felt the youki underground…Agatha the Bloody was stirring. It was almost time for an old fashioned Awakened Hunt.

"Hahhh!" she shout as she crossed sword with the younger girl once more.

"..."

Clank! Whoosh! Bash! BREAK! CLANK! CLANK!

"..."

BOOOM! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

"…I don't believe this." Raki muttered, keeping track of the fight on the surface.

He originally hoped that the Claymores would kill the nun and leave the city, but they were making quite a mess and now that fool Agatha was moving.

"…This is no longer a situation I can simple observe from the dark. If Agatha so blatantly defies me, then she must be punished for breaking my law."

As an Abyssal One he is a symbol of power, but compared to the older Abyssal Ones, he lacks experience and credentials. Even after the Slaughter of the Southern Mountain there were still Awakened Beings that felt a new male Awakened Being was full of hot air.

He needed to enforce his law to show his strength lest the balance made by him and Isley break. And with the demons sent by the Organization out there, he can't risk a war against the former warriors.

"A war with multiple front means thinning out all resources…Essentially it will be an uphill battle." Raki quoted one of Isley's many sayings from his lessons.

Raki turned and saw his little companion sleeping on the soft bed like the child she resembled.

"…I didn't want to risk this. Forgive me Priscilla."

Raki stood up and walked towards the supply closet. He removed the armours hidden in there, modified to expand slightly, enough for a very large human. The feature was needed for his awakened form. The shoulder pads are connected by connected steel chains that could be unhitched, and the small chest plate was detachable with a slight twist to remove the strap…All hand made.

Raki patted down the armour as he headed to the entrance.

HUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

"Huh?"

He suddenly detected several new presence…It were nearly invisible and insensible, but he barely felt it...One? HE can only faintly feel one...Nothing hostile and yet familiar... Whatever it is, it is now nearing the city. Strange, he isn't the best sensor yet felt it, despite its obviously far superior stealth skills.

"What's going on now?"

(A few minutes later)

"What's going on now?" Raki repeated as he watched the battle. He was on top of one of the tallest buildings and his enhanced eyes could see great detail even at a distance.

He watched as the unusual brown haired Claymore ran away in fear leaving an injured child and a nun with a missing arm (granted, she was her enemy, but the Awakened Being should have taken priority) to their doom. Hell, the other two had holes all over their bodies and clearly unfit to battle any more.

"How disappointing. But not surprising considering Agatha's power. And since when did Claymores have brown hair?"

He was rather upset at the older Claymore's cowardice. True, she was weak compared to her ward but so was he, astronomically more so before his transformation, but he never backed off from a challenge –or abandoned his little sister figure.

Letting children fight…it's an adult's duty to protect them from harm, not abandon them like a coward.

However, Raki was soon pleasantly surprised at the bravery of the weakest Claymore present. The brunette sneaked back and attacked the Awakened Being from above before darting back and slicing off the tendrils impaling her young friend. Unexpectedly, she burst into tears. She was wailing up a river and…well, she seemed to be questioning her actions, and then…scolding the younger girl? Then she was hugging the child tightly, and they were both wailing.

"…Okay, this is absurdly confusing, but it looks like she isn't all that bad." Raki muttered as he brought an arm up. He concentrated his youki, focusing on his wrist, and the bones beneath the flesh shifted and changed as his wrist bone extended out from his flesh and two curved bones formed on the top and bottom of it, curving in towards him.

It was a bow made out of his bones, with a bowstring formed from his flesh.

In his other hand he focused his youki and from his palm extended a long bone arrow. He grabbed hold of it as the end of it emerged, and set it on the shaft of his bow. It was smooth with a sharp end. However, unlike normal arrows, this one lacked feathers for stabilizing it in flight. Instead it had small holes to decrease wind resistance and a drilled arrowhead to improve its speed, range, power, and accuracy.

An arrow that is not an arrow…A spear that is too short to be a spear…it is a hybrid weapon.

"I'd better finish this…Huh?"

Suddenly, he sensed the faint presences of seven new beings. One of them sped forward, and launched an rather fast barrage of strikes on one of Agatha's rear legs with a sword that was without a doubt a claymore. The appendage was quickly sliced part, the remains falling to the ground.

"What the hell? This feeling...One of them...I felt one of them before...The faint one? I can't believe it...There are seven of them supressing their power and I only felt one of them?"

For Raki who can sense even warriors under medication...this was a shock.

Raki watched curiously as the whole group of warriors gathered on the rooftops before Agatha. They all wore black cloaks with the hoods up, save for the one at the front, who had destroyed Agatha's leg. Her hood was down, and exposed short blond hair.

'Claymores?' Raki wondered.

There was a short pause, and it seemed like words were exchanged, before the warrior at the front threw off her cloak, revealing a black uniform, one that was NOT worn by the Organization's warriors. Her comrades scattered, darting around before converging on Agatha from various sides, dodging the tendrils with a good deal of ease. Tendrils also shot at the uncloaked warrior at high speed, but when they were merely about a yard away, the aforementioned woman sliced them to pieces with the same speed that destroyed Agatha's first leg. It had to be some sort of technique. Despite the odd attire, the uncloaked warrior seemed familiar-Ah she is one he felt from the group...Perhaps she is the worst of them in energy control?

However...Raki felt his mind going blank…She was…familiar...very familiar. He closed his eyes for an instant, before opening them again and focusing all his senses on the oh-so-familiar warrior, her image, her scent, her presence, everything. She leaped forward, and her image froze in his mind, captured by his full focus.

"It can't be…"

It was her…

"Clare?"

There was no mistaking it…That hair, that face, that calm look…The way she carries herself…The familiar sensation…

"Clare…To think I'd run into you in a situation like this after 7 years…Gods of Rabona, your blessing is much like a curse…Of all the times you return her to me, it's a time of hiding and desperation…How kind yet cruel of you."

Whoosh! Clank! Clank! Whoosh! Oosh! Resshh! Schissh!

In an instant, the rest of her crab-like body's legs were destroyed by the seven black warriors, all armed with Claymores, bringing her central mass and her humanoid form to the ground. As the warriors approached her, now all uncloaked, and wearing the same uniform as Clare, slithery masses of flesh rose from what remained of the crab form and enveloped Agatha, merging and morphing into her true, enormous humanoid form.

The battle resumed, but it soon became clear that her defeat was inevitable, as the black warriors took apart her true form piece by piece, before her real, human body was completely exposed. It was time to end this.

"One's rule must be enforced…right Isley?" He muttered to himself.

He approached, quickly but stealthily, when suddenly Agatha managed to outpace the attacking Claymores and take the blind nun hostage!

"How unsightly Agatha…In the end you shame yourself." Raki muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. He watched as Agatha faced off against Clare with her living shield.

Raki notched his arrow. He pulled it back and took aim.

His sight wasn't perfect…And the nun was still being used as a shield.

But archery was not aiming and shooting, but envisioning the target being pierced before the arrow leaves the bow.

He aimed…And envisioned his projectile impaling Agatha's side, leaving the nun unharmed.

Whoosh!

Schick!

"Gaaauhhhh!"

And his will was done.

Clare was startled as a moment before she could unleash her Windcutter on the Awakened Being, something long, and white, slammed into its side, plunging through her body and out the other side. The force, and apparent pain, given the exclamation that burst from Agatha's lips, caused her to let go of Galatea who immediately leaped to the side. Clare didn't think, merely reacted, and moved to finish her assault on the Awakened Being.

Agatha's terrified and confused eyes stared back at her. Clare's sword comes down.

Whoosh! Whoosh Whosh!

But Lady Luck decided otherwise.

Clare was suddenly forced to redirect her sword to deflect more arrows and thus abandon her attack. Even though she was using the windcutter, the force of the arrows striking her blade sent small jolts of pain down her arms.

"What?"

Clare leaped back as arrow after arrow came flying at her-wait, no, after she had gotten several more yards away, she noticed that none of the arrows were following her. They were all flying at Agatha. The small volley stopped, giving everyone a chance to come to grips with what just happened.

Agatha had multiple large holes in her form, torn flesh hanging off them, and blood pooling around her feet. Her back, left shoulder, thigh, and right leg were pierced by white arrows with an odd shape and made of a strange material. The shaft of the arrow was as thick as the blade tip. Multiple other arrows were scattered around her, small craters marking some of their impact points.

Clare and the other Claymores noticed, despite their shock and bewilderment at this surprising turn of events, that Agatha turned pale as she stared at the arrows in her body and the arrows that Clare had to block.

She grabbed the arrow stuck in her thigh and pulled it out, disregarding the flesh being torn from her recklessness. She stared at the projectile in her hand and became white as a ghost…Her hands trembled and her knees shook. Her emotions were running haywire.

"No…Why? Why are you here? You weren't supposed TO BE HE-! Her steadily rising voice was cut off as another arrow buried itself in her heart.

The force of the arrow impaling her threw her forward…Shaking on her feet and unbalanced. To her the world slowed down as all sounds faded…All the faces around her were blurs and meaningless…

"…No…"

The arrow was delivered so fast that she couldn't react and the beautiful Awakened Being stared at her punctured chest.

She touched the white pole with shaking fingers in disbelief.

"Ahhh….Gahhhhhaaaa….I…I can…heal this….I can…survi…Wait!"

Agatha tried to use her regeneration to push the arrow out and heal herself, but her muscles weren't functioning properly…Actually the parts of her body that were impaled or injured from the arrows were sluggish and weak.

"AGGGH!" Agatha screamed, but she couldn't remove the arrow from her chest. It was strange considering that her only weakness should be her real head attached to her real body.

But that didn't seem to be the case as Agatha desperately tried to remove the arrow. The reason for her panic revealed itself as flesh around Agatha's wound began to rot and decompose…It was the same with the other arrows imbedded in her flesh. The arrows' youkis seemed to be interfering with Agatha's regenerative powers, as well as destroying her flesh from the inside, like some sort of poison.

The Claymores watched, spellbound as Agatha bellowed and roared as her body was slowly destroyed.

"NO! Spare me! Please spare me! NO! Please!" Agatha shrieked, but no reply came…In the form of words.

Whoooosh!

Her cries were ended by an arrow to her head…She was killed and she didn't feel a thing.

A merciful death for a monster…Not many of her kind can say that they didn't notice they died until they were in the afterlife.

For a few seconds, all was still. Then the Ghosts of Pieta snapped in combat positions, and began searching, with both eyes and youki sensing, for the elusive archer. However, no more arrows were forthcoming, but they didn't relax.

"Tabitha!"

"…I can feel a faint trace of youki to the North of our current location…But, Captain…"

"What is it Tabitha?"

"The one I felt…He feels different."

"He? Different?"

"Yes…It definitely felt like a male, considering the roughness and the unique sensation the male youki produces, but there is something else…That I can't quite put my finger on."

As a sensor Tabitha had the ability to sense every detail and sensation within youki. Male Awakened Beings in general release a lot of youki with no restraint because they feel due to the immensely pleasing sensation of Awakening. Both male and female Awakened Beings release their energy freely, but the males' textures are more rough and bristling than females.

Only those who have fought in the presence of male Awakened Beings, and even then only good sensors, can pick up the detail.

However, what Tabitha felt had a male signature, but the youki felt…more tamed? It is a sensation she'd never felt before.

"Is he close enough for use to catch him?"

"No…He's too fast, I can't keep up…No…Wait! It hid itself! The last confirmed direction…East…! Towards the church!"

At that point some of the humans approached the Claymores. Cid and Galk walked up to Clare for old time's sake, but when they heard someone was heading toward the church they recalled something.

"East? What about the East?" Galk asked, but suddenly his partner clapped his fist onto his palm.

"Wait a minute. Speaking of the eastern part of the city, Galk, isn't that where Raki's staying? We should tell him Clare's here."

"Yeah."

At that moment Clare turned to Cid.

"Raki?"

"Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you because of the mess, but the kid's here in Rabona. He's actually at the church to the east…I hope he didn't get hurt because of the youma attack." Cid said good-naturedly.

Clare was moving before Cid had finished speaking, the rest of the Claymores following behind her.

"I'm being chased….Damn it…" muttered Raki as he supressed his power as much as he could, but once a good sensor catches his signature, well, that's when he's in trouble.

He reached his hideout soon enough and felt that he still had about 5 minutes, more than enough time.

Raki walked towards a wall and pressed block that sunk inwards. The wall shuddered once before slowly twisting, and revealed an entranceway. He quickly entered and dashed through the passageway. He unlit every candle he passed with a dash of wind. It'd buy him a little time.

"Raki…"

He looked to the side and saw his little and dangerous companion.

"Hi there, Priscilla…" He kneeled in front of her. "You wanna go further south?"

The brown haired girl stared and slowly nodded. Raki patted her head with a smile.

"Okay, let's go. Go to my room and get my pack. I need to visit the armoury."

"Okay…" Priscilla walked toward another room to get her bag. A she left, Raki walked to the armoury. Inside were multiple human forged weapons, on one wall. They were useless to him in the long run.

His true weapons weren't. Raki reached forward and began pulling out bones arrows. Their tips came in a variety of shapes, all designed to make them more difficult to pull out of the victim's flesh. He also had numerous arrows with tips the same as Clare's symbol.

Raki smiled as he picked up a quiver. He came here for the arrows. He could form all the weapons he needed himself. The remaining weapons weren't for him.

Suddenly a group of regular youma appeared around him. The one in the front kneeled before him.

"Raki-sama, your orders?"

"Vodka…"

He'd spared these youma from the wild in exchange for their service. They were spies and informants in his land and those under his service are not killed by him and are fed human intestines from bandits, criminals, thieves, or rapists. On occasion any business tyrant that earns Raki's notice.

Among them is Vodka, the leader of this group of youma under his command.

"Take your team and arm yourselves. Protect the hallway for as long as you can without getting annihilated. Defeating the pursuers is not your goal. Use my bones to disrupt their senses and use the narrow hallways to your advantage. Retreat using the secret escape route."

"Hai!"

Raki dashed off to get Priscilla…it seems they'd have to hit the road and Isley…Wherever he may be.

When the assorted Claymores found the entrance they were met by a dark hallway.

"Wow…This pretty much screams lair of a bad guy huh Miria-nee?" Helen quipped jokingly.

However, the Phantom was silent as her senses told her there was a large concentration youki…and for the youki seemed to be spread throughout the tunnel. The closer she got to the hallway the more her senses were muddled. A very handy defence mechanism.

Clare turned to Galk and Cid as they approached.

"You're sure Raki is here?"

Cid was confused but nodded. "Yeah. This secret passageway was originally built as a safe house or an escape route for the priests if necessary. It's built to be confusing and complex, and to last."

Galk turned to the entrance frowning, having noticed the unease on the faces of the various Claymores.

"However, it was so old that none of the newer priests knew about it. Since it was unused, Father Vincent had no problem giving it to Raki when he asked for a safe place, hidden even from the Organization. This place always gives me the creeps, but he liked it." Galk said, staring at the entrance.

The Ghosts, nodded to each other, silently agreeing to not inform the men about the youki coming from the entrance.

The Claymores steadied themselves and went in. At first they planned to leave Miata and Clarice behind, but Clarice pointed out that, Miata's senses wouldn't be fooled even if youki senses were. Miria didn't really want to, but Clare seemed to be ready to head off on her own, so she accepted.

With the current Number 4 in the front, the group of Claymores marched into the passageway.

They paced themselves to not move too fast or too slow. With Miata in the front as their foremost sensor and Clare, Tabitha, and Galatea helping as best they could in the youki damping field. Everyone but Miata held torches to light the. Miata had her enhanced senses, and needed both arms free since she was at the front, and would be the first to engage any attacking enemies.

The sounds of their footsteps echoed in the fairly dark hall. "Huh? What are these?" asked Helen as she found the hallways filled with white pole of some kind. They were all over the wall as they ran.

"These…poles….They're emitting youki." Reported Tabitha as Galatea and Clare's tensed slightly in recognition.

It was familiar…They'd both seen this before. This is the same method the Witch of the West used in her lair with her lover.

'So this was the source of the youki concentration that was ruining our senses, but these…are not Duff's.' Clare pondered.

'But they're as effective as that male Awakened Being's from years ago.' Galatea thought.

They continued on for two full minutes before Miata abruptly stopped.

Clarice spoke up. "Miata?"

"…Youma…mama, there are youma ahead."

As she spoke five youma appeared in front of them. They were lined up side by side in the hallway.

Miria immediately noticed her side's advantage in numbers…as well as the white bone like weapons in the youma hands.

They held spiked skeletal spears and swords in ready positions. The one in the middle, a youma with a scar across his face gritted his teeth. It was Vodka.

"Hear me, Claymores! I am Vodka and we are the servants of the Gouging Spearhead, the Abyssal of the South himself! We are ordered to protect his hallways and his home! All those who invade are the enemy of the South! You have been warned!"

The Claymores were surprised at his words, but did not falter. They came here to track an Awakened Being, but instead find the underlings of an Abyssal. They could work with that.

The loudmouth ran her mouth first.

"HA! Chump change like you is nothing compared to Awakened Beings, and we've been fighting and killing them for years!

Several of the youma simply grinned, baring sharp teeth.

"Perhaps! But in this anti-sensory field your senses are befuddled and your advantage gained through numbers is negated by these narrow hallways!" One of the youma dashed forward. "And we were granted our master's very bones, turned weapons! We fear no Claymores!"

Miata was in the front and swung her sword with so much forced that when it smashed into the youma's bone sword, he was sent flying. However, his weapon wasn't even scratched.

The youma flew back, slamming into the wall and bouncing off of it to land near the other youma.

Vodka tsked. "Whisky, you fool!"

He turned to the other three, each holding swords and clubs of bone.

"Gin! Rum! Tequila! Stay in formation!"

The four youma closed formation, staying together.

Two got on their knees as they all pulled out white bows and quivers of arrows. They notched together and took aim, pulled, and fired. The four arrows cut through the air, zooming towards the gathered Claymores.

Miata and the others in the front easily deflected the arrows, but some actually ricocheted off the wall and one nicked Yuma on her arm. At that moment the warriors realized the sharp and compact projectile weapons were a real murder in the tight corridor. The first youma to attack them, Whiskey got back on his feet and ran to his brothers after few seconds.

"Aniki!"

"Fool! Get ready!" They fired repeatedly as they held their position, but the difference between their powers was too vast for the advantages the youma had to secure their victory.

In addition, their supply of arrows was not unlimited.

After the first barrage, Clare stepped forward to use her Windcutter to make a slicing barrier of steel. Not one arrow made it past her. Five youma rapidly firing arrows was no match for the speed if Clare's Windcutter.

The youma soon ran out of arrows, and thus made use of the numerous bone spears scattered all over the hallway, and began a slow retreat, to allow them to grab more bone spears as they backed up.

Amazingly, the first volley of spears completely missed. Vodka's eyes went wide.

It was impossible! The Claymores were less than 15 yards away, they might be able to block, but there's no way that his squad's aim could possibly be that bad!

"What the hell?"

Unknown to them, Galatea's youki manipulation skill, enhanced even more over the years, was the cause of their horrific barrage.

The youma were wide open, because the first set of spears were meant to buy them a few seconds to ready the second one…With the volley's failure, they are exposed…And just like that they were cut down by Miata, Clare, Miria, and Galatea, who covered the distance between them and took them out in less than a second.

Gin's left arm was lopped off by Miria.

Tequila's left leg was cut off by Galatea.

Whiskey was cut down by Miata's strike.

And finally…Clare sliced Rum's body to pieces.

However, Vodka was spared and he counterattacked.

Whoosh! Clank! Clank! Clank! He clashed with his bone sword against the nearest Claymore, which was Galatea, swinging wildly. His thinner sword was lighter and just as tough. Despite the lack of sword skill, the youma wielded the bone sword in a manner that somewhat worked.

However, Vodka didn't fight for long as he dashed away from her. He picked up one of the spike bones on the wall and threw it at the blind nun. Despite the desperate attack the nun blocked the spike with her steel blade.

"Damn it…Our order was to delay...Not to fight out…"

Behind him Miria appeared ready to slice him into two, but Tequila jumped in front of her with a bone club. However, the leader of the Ghosts was simply too much. Tequila didn't have a chance to scream before he was cut down.

"Tequila!" Vodka was the most experienced of the youma and he proved that by leaping onto the ceiling and pulling out two more bone swords without a pause. However rather than engage her he jumped past her to guard the hallway.

"GIN! STAND UP! RAKI-SAMA'S ORDER IS SIMPLE! PROTECT THIS HALL!"

Those words startled Clare out of her "battle mode".

"What?"

"HAHHH!"

Gin, one of the two remaining guards picked up a bone spear to gut Clare, but she was saved by Helen and Deneve when they sliced the youma into pieces.

"Clare! FOCUS!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

Clare was saved by her friend, but the last remaining youma refused to die.

"GGUAAAHHHH!" Vodka threw more bone spikes at the group as a whole and the rapid fire spikes slowed them down…For a total four seconds…Not bad for a mere youma.

Clare's focus was now as sharp as a blade as she covered the distance between them by batting and blocking the projectiles. In a matter of seconds she stabbed her large sword into the youma's stomach.

"Guaaahh!" let out Vodka as he spat out purple blood.

Clare was merciless as she pulled the sword out and sliced the youma all over, not aiming to kill, but to cause pain.

"Ohh…AhhhhhGGGHHHHH!" Vodka groaned as he fell to his knees.

However Clare did this not because she is merciful, but to keep the flesh eating monster alive for questioning.

She stomped the injured youma to the floor and yelled at him.

"TELL ME! WHAT DO YOU MEAN, RAKI? WHERE IS HE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM!"

"R-Raki...? How dare you a mere Claymore call him in such manner! HOW DARE YOU!" the injured Youma's finger extended into a spear, but it was cut off from the shoulder.

"I am the one doing the questioning! NOW, WHERE IS RAKI? WHERE!"

The injured Youma stared at his soon to be killer's silver eyes…A Claymore…In the end it is a damned half breed killing him…How fitting.

"R-Raki-sama…Pleae forgive this incompent Vodka…I…I was unable to fulfil…my duty…Please forgive this incompetent servant…My…lord…" groaned Vodka as he lowered his head.

"There it is again! You know who Raki is! SO TELL ME WHERE HE IS!"

"I'LL NEVER BETRAY MY LORD!"

"TELL ME!" Clare roared as she lowered her blade.

"NO!"

However…At that moment…Vodka stared at the dim light that brightened the dirty hallway…and saw the symbol on his soon to be killer's sword.

"Y-You? You can't be…"

Clare was confused by his words until the youma got up to his knee.

All the other Claymores were ready to finish him off for making him waste their precious time to chase their original target.

However they were more than a little surprised at the next action of the youma.

"Please wait! Lady Clare!"

"HUH?"

Already on one knee, Vodka placed his remaining arm on his folded knee. His claw down and his neck exposed in a sign of submission and respect.

"You…You wield the sword that is supposed to belong to Lady Clare…That is you, yes?

"…How do you know my name?" questioned the increasingly bewildered Number 47, with every other warrior listening in, eager to hear the answer as well.

"H-HAI! I am named Vodka and I serve the Abyssal of the South…Lord Raki, the Gouging Spearhead." Vodka said, doing a deep bow despite his injuries and missing limbs.

He slowly looked up.

"As one of his eyes and ears…I…We have been searching for you….Milady…Please forgive our foolishness! Clare-sama!"

This is a sight no Claymore has seen before…A youma…Showing respect…deference for a Claymore…Wait…Did he say Raki was the Abyssal of the South?

'Lady Clare', as expected, gave an elegant response befitting her status.

"…Huh?"

What do ya think? I named the Youma after alcohol beverages.

This chapter took a lot of time, but I think it was well worth it.

The Raki I am trying to create is trying to achieve the same kind of control and power Isley used to have before he threw them away. He has spies all over the land to listen and see everything. And here I added the responsibility of a king that he has to follow.

In terms of power, Raki is not as powerful as Isley. In Claymore extra chapter 77.1 Regaldo revealed that despite his size Isley was still faster than him. So in terms of speed and power Isley is stronger and faster, but in terms of weapon creation skill Raki is faster and his weapons are more durable because they are made from his bones, which are considerably more durable than the flesh of even an Awakened Being, even one like Isley.

Also in terms of arrows, Raki's arrows are faster, and they take less time to be created. Also his arrows and weapon can cause youki poisoning. However Isley's arrows strike with more force due to their size and has eyes for tracking their targets.

The next chapter has not even been started because I am adding the finishing touch on my ch12 for the Reflection of the Sky. But the King Shackled ch3 will be out before that…I think…I really depend on my beta.

Now that my summer class is over...for now, because i am taking two summer sumesters...I am going to write a bit more...Review everyone.