First attempt at fanfiction. enjoy (:

Disclaimer: I don't own Claymore

It was this scene again.

The girl's vision was always blurry and hazy, but everything else felt so realistic, as if she was really on that hill, peering at the two figures in the distance, with one hand on the boulder she was hiding behind. She could vaguely discern a figure with long hair standing back facing her, a long sword in her hand. And there was another…creature? Whatever it was, it appeared to be kneeling on the ground. Then everything happened. The girl saw the arms of the one standing fall, and with a flash of a blade her head flew off, flying a few metres in the air.

Pain. Sorrow. Help. The girl felt as if her life was sucked out of her as she stood helplessly, watching the dead person's body slide lifelessly to the ground. She did not even know who the person was, but her heart ached, her limbs felt numb, and devastation overwhelmed her. As hot tears stung her eyes, she reached out with her hand, wanting to cry and scream out the name of the one person she loved more than anyone else in the world…

Clare's eyes shot open, only to be greeted by the white ceiling.

Dream, it was just a dream…

Calming herself down, she turned her head towards the right. The alarm clock read 7.00am. Heaving a big sigh of relief, she turned her head back towards the ceiling, trying once again to figure out what the dream was all about. This particular lucid dream had been recurring for the past two weeks, each time getting more vivid, leaving a deep impression in her memory. If the dream lasted any longer, she might have drowned in the sorrow that felt so real.

Composing herself, she got out of her futon and headed towards the washroom, stealing a quick glance at the photo on her study desk.

It was a photo of an elderly couple smiling benignly, with young Clare in the middle, her smile so subtle it was hardly noticeable.

Grandpa…grandma…

The couple was Clare's grandparents whom had been taking care of her for as far as she could remember. She never knew her parents, and never questioned about them either, thinking that perhaps Grandpa Seth and Grandma Erika would reveal everything to her in due time. However, a car accident snatched them away, together with half of Clare's soul. She had been an introvert to begin with, never expressing much emotion even in front of her grandparents, but that incident closed her heart to the world.

All that was left of Clare was the cold, empty apartment, with many sweet memories, only to feel bitter when the harsh reality sets in. She had to survive in this world alone, pay the school fees and earn enough money to keep herself alive at the same time. When he was still alive, Grandpa Seth struggled to make ends meet by selling newspapers on the streets, so he did not have much fortune to leave for Clare either.

After washing up, Clare returned to her room and slipped on the white blouse and sky blue uniform of Blue Glory Middle High School. She observed her reflection in the wall mirror and could not help but notice how her pale green eyes and short orange hair did not match well with the uniform.

Well, not that it matters anyway.

Pinning the blue Year One badge on the right collar, she straightened her blouse and ensured that everything was in order before heading towards the kitchen to pack her lunch box, consisting of two slices of bread with butter. After that she filled up the clear blue bottle with the school logo on it. Taking both items back to her room, she stuffed them into her brown briefcase-like bag. She turned to read the time on her alarm clock. 7.25a.m. Retrieving a pair of socks from the closet, she slowly put them on, took her bag and went to the entrance. She was ready to set off to school. Slipping on her shoes, she snatched the keys from the key holder and got out of the house. Then she took the stairs that led to the first floor.

Blue Glory Middle High School was a mere five-minute walk from her house, which was one of the reasons why she chose to enroll there. She could not afford to waste money on transport. The morning was filled with blaring honks and the ever-present heavy traffic on the roads. After turning left from the stairs, she took another left turn, and the school was already almost in sight at the far right corner.

Before she knew it, she was at the gate of the school, with many other students pouring in from all directions. The school compound was simple: A main building, an extension just beside it, an assembly area on the left and a track on the right.

Clare managed to locate her classroom without any difficulty, having been given instructions via post from the school beforehand. Year One classrooms were on the second floor of the main building, and she headed towards the one with the sign "1-2" and stepped inside the classroom without stopping. There were already a few students in class but none of them seemed to pay her any attention. Almost immediately she chose the seat at the left extreme corner at the back of the classroom just beside window and settled there. The wall clock read 7.35a.m., which was ten minutes earlier than the stipulated reporting time.

It was the first day of school, yet Clare felt no excitement, no anticipation and no expectations. With her elbow on the desk, she propped her head up and gazed outside the window across the red track. It was empty, just like what she felt…

Soon, the class was completely filled and the homeroom teacher entered to welcome them and brief them about general information about the school. Apparently they were going to have a series of orientation games and then a few lessons after lunch. Not that Clare was interested in anything anyway.

After the orientation activities, it was finally time for lunch. By that time, almost everyone had gotten acquainted to someone…except for Clare. She hardly participated in anything.

"Gosh that was so damn awesome…did you see how I whacked that guy before he could squeal a name during whacko! And also the slam dunk during the basketball match! Orientation games totally rock with Helen in the house!"

"Yeah and you just became infamous as the crazy girl on your first day of school. I am wondering if I should applaud you."

"Whatever Deneve, you're just jealous!"

"As if I would ever be jealous of you. And I see your love for apples stays with you, just like your insanity."

"Jealous Deneve, jealous!"

Clare could hardly not notice the presence of the student sitting on her right, Deneve, and the one sitting in front of Deneve, Helen. Then she heard an exasperated sigh from the student with long spiky hair sitting in front of her.

"It seems that both of you have hardly changed since Elementary school…"

"Hah Miria, jealous of our eternal sisterly love?"

"I wonder who's the one you have "eternal sisterly love" with, definitely not me."

"Don't you try and wiggle your way out of this Deneve! Don't you remember the time…"

That was beyond the threshold of nonsense for Clare. She was just about to grab her lunchbox and proceed to a quieter location when the one called Miria suddenly turned around to face her, a confident smile on her face.

"Hello there, I believe we have not introduced ourselves. My name is Miria, nice to meet you."

Clare was stunned momentarily that someone actually talked to her voluntarily. It took a few seconds for her to process her thoughts, but she did not reply.

"I'm Helen! And this weird-looking girl behind me is Deneve!"

"And look who's talking, the weirdest of them all."

"Oh yeah Deneve? You want to fight it out with arm wrestling?"

"You just presented the proof of your own weirdness. How does arm wrestling relate to this?"

"Whatever! Let's just do this!"

Miria visibly suppressed the urge to smack her own forehead and flashed another composed smile to Clare.

"So, what's your name?"

Three pairs of eyes laid on her, waiting for an answer.

"I'm…Clare."

"I'm sure we'll get along well, Clare."

Clare was skeptical about Miria's words.

Pretty boring for a first chapter, because the main point of this chapter is to introduce Clare's background in this modern context. Critics and comments are appreciated. Sorry if it was boring! Currently a die-hard fan of ClarexTeresa sisterly love so...hopefully the plot goes well ^^ Thanks for reading!