I do not own Claymore, Alicia, Beth and Raki or any of its related copyrights and characters. These are the property of Norihiro Yagi, Jump Square, Madhouse, Viz Media, Shonen Jump and Funimation Entertainment with their respective affiliates.
(To my readers, please forgive the very cramped presentation of this document as the editing capabilities of the site leave little choice otherwise.)
Claymore
Black Cherubim
The day had been long and tiring; the grey skies of morning soon yielding to the clear blue and heat of the day proper. The familiar plains rising into forested hills, the party has made their way beneath the shifting canopy of greens and browns; the leafy roof shielding from the fiery countenance above, while twilight played below. Upon a narrow, old path the figures passed with purpose; of the three, two possessed of firm, silent resolve while the third was somewhat more taxed and pressed upon the dusty earth of the road. Though possessed of a more fragile and wavering nature, he was resolute in form, though less so in mind; his damp brow and deeper breath testament to trial, though not remarked upon. These things, his weariness was the very least of his problems as eyes occasionally skimmed the shadowy recesses around and the sharp, metallic play of booted heels kept rhythm with his weaker steps. Reaching for the canteen that hung limply from his neck, eager lips felt the rush of water before it sunk downward; licking his lips at the faint flavour of the more fertile plains before capping the vessel again. Turning his eyes to the path, he knew that they might be stopping soon as the sky started to dim and light receded before shadow. If his companions noticed, they did not speak of it, as they moved purposefully forward. One behind him, and the other in front as had been the order of things since the beginning; something that still perplexed and mystified, as to how he had come to walk in their presence.
The genesis of this bizarre fellowship a painful, horrific and nightmarish trial in which he had borne witness to the fantastic and bloody, extraordinary and strange, the young man was thankful for the relative calm that had followed in the weeks after, even if only to lose his mind........ They had ventured into a clearing; the lead figure affording a brief scrutiny of the leafy, still grove before turning to ask, in that still, dispassionate voice, if they should make camp for the night. Eager for rest, he agreed and the figure behind him, bearing the likeness of the first, followed wordlessly. Sometime later, a fire crackling and shadows languidly shifting, the party retired for the night; he watching the silent rituals of his.........company, while he made busy with his own needs. Declining some food when asked softly, the sky had long given to cold stars as he soon took to his quilts; the thin pillow a welcome relief for a heavy head. He closed his eyes, the snap of flames and earthly scents playing with his senses before dimly falling away as sleep came that night.
But his repose was not deep, awaking not long after to darkness; his troubled mind spawning grim thoughts as the voice of nature and distant stars gave their faint chorus. He was not still, turning to and fro before coming to settle somewhat; drawing the covers up as a thin hand squeezed the thick cloth. True rest had been brief; his dreams cold, uninviting and stained with blood. A pained, horrific maelstrom within as he vainly tried to give some greater order to the bizarre twists that had given his life over to the fantastic.
His life marred by the appetites of a Yoma; the monster which had devoured his family, his brother and stole his face. Delivered from death by a nameless pearl skinned warrior, who wet her blade of the thing's blood then left. Abandoned by his village, exiled to the deserts beyond.........a day and night of numbing grief, yet dull purpose with each step. But, once again, delivered from death by shadows beyond the storm of sand and dust; apparitions of ebony with faces like porcelain and eyes of quick silver. He recalled one of them speaking, a slender powerful hand closing upon his shoulder, his own fearful protests and cries......then suddenly something like flight; the world rushing beneath as the heavens roared above, his form held tightly as he beheld a cold visage lent to some purpose. Then nothing.............. The life he had truly known was changed forever after that; the strange exploits that had seen him summoned by the nameless organisation which created the silver eyed slayers.........yet only to find their rendezvous a place of slaughter and stillness, then the eruption of ambush by the greater Yoma........trying desperately, heart and soul, to convince his ebony clad escort to think and flee, even with their superiors and peers dead. The monstrosities drawing in....the wall of claw and fang had suddenly fallen away as he was pulled back; the world erupting again into a blur of colour, mingled with the roar of monsters and the shriek of air, bound in those same arms...... Awakening, somewhat strangely to the soft warmth of a warrior's veiled breasts, he had stumbled about; pained, fearful, deranged as his saviours watched on unquestioningly. Trying to leave, they had followed; seeking answers, one of them had explained. Those cool, undisturbed words heralding the start of a new life for him, and as it turned out, for them too.
In the weeks since then, he had come to know much of the world, of those who commanded the slayer's called Claymores, of their tragedy, their nature and the vicissitudes of his own, new life. Much he learned from the one who called himself Rubel, a emissary of the organisation, who seemed as knowledgeable as much as he was loathed. With the revelations and discoveries of his own experience, and those of the enigmatic, softly spoken man, he thus found himself walking with the slayer's Alicia and Beth; ranked first and second of the organisation, of terrible power and among the greatest warriors of the age............and now his followers, benefactors and, with a cold realisation, unflinching guardians when necessary beyond their first purposes.
It all seemed too much, sometimes. The powerful, unyielding and strange world that had become his, seemingly on chance. It was tonight, as he reflected with a weary mind and spirit that he could do little not to hold back the pain, fear and loss he felt; like some lingering disease of the heart which surged on occasion. Rubbing his brow, he gave a deep sigh; wishing for the touch of sleep that did not come. The only thing that greeted his thoughts the rustle of leaves upon the breeze, the lonely squawk of a unseen bird, the whispers of a nocturnal world. In something like frustration, he arched back fingers to clamp his hands upon a tired, afflicted face. For a while this he knew, until the dull flow of his thoughts was interrupted by the sudden realisation of something towering beyond his head. Pulling his hands away, wide eyes rose up to find a tall, lean apparition; more so now without her customary apparel of the warrior. A ghostly pale visage framed by seeming silver, her skin marked out against the contours of her ebony suit. He recognised, as had become his habit, the mark upon her collar. Peering down upon him with a still face was Beth, her eyes unmoving in some unspoken purpose. Lost a little, he moved to speak; catching the figure of her reclined twin, Alicia, with back to her sunken sword beside a nearby tree. Nearer, he caught Beth's own lone sword, before twisting his head around to meet her.
"Uh....eh....what is it? Is something wrong.......is something the matter?" His unsure words did not immediately spark a reaction as she continued to peer down. At last, after some consideration, the Claymore spoke.
"Yes. I have been watching you. You seem ill at rest, tonight. Does something trouble you?" He listened and understood; somewhat frustrated at himself for disturbing her before trying to answer.
"I...It....it's nothing really....really....just...ehmm.....some bad dreams and weariness. It happens from time to time. Please don't be worried, I'll get over it soon." The warrior did not make to move, yet seemed to take in his form before returning to his tired eyes.
"If you are so afflicted, I can perhaps help you seek rest. If you so wish me to do so?" Perplexed he hesitated for a time before answering; unsure as to what she could mean or not.
"Well.........yes, thank you. But, what did you have in mind?......." His words unsure, the waiting ebony clad warrior nodded softly before sinking to her knees. Gently returning him to the mat, he felt his heart stir as she slowly eased his head on to her lap. Feeling the warmth from beneath, he tried to still his breath as, with a gentle touch, she closed her hands around his head; feeling the heat from her usually veiled hands upon his cheeks. Leaning over slightly, she filled his vision. Imagining on a whim that the warrior captured some ethereal beauty beneath the veiled moon's light and overhanging shadows, his tentative thoughts stalled as she spoke once more. Cool, calm and focused as she began to the nervous human below. Peering down, his silver gaze met his own; her eyes seemingly so cold and powerful as to plunge beneath, and examine the small, inconstancy of his soul. For a time, she simply stared into him, then began.
Raki, there is no night. No forest. No whispering trees or scratching animals, no dull embers of the fire, no white moon in yonder sky. There is only my eyes. Look into my eyes. Always into mine. Do not look away, even for a moment. Always be in my eyes. Looking, staying, keeping in my eyes, Raki. Deeper and deeper, listening to nothing, thinking of nothing but my voice and my eyes. Remain in my eyes........"
Something strange was happening. He did not understand it. It had to be some trick of the night, though her eyes; those pools of still silver seemed all the more brilliant, all the more captivating and arresting. He was being drawn in by something. With a dimming mind, he was aware that the slender, white contours of her fingers seemed to be faintly resonating with a strange aura. He could not make it out, and the will to question or resist was fading as the numbing draw of her refrain soothed him, enchanted him with some unknown power. Soon, all he knew were the twin windows of her silver soul. His mind descending, deeper and deeper into their world and the spell she was casting upon him, seemingly. Soon, his body drew distant from thought, his worries, fears and terrors melting away as his conscious mind faded to blackness, and then there was nothing at all. The last thing he knew, that radiant, cold gaze then the world was no more............
He dreamed. Or at least, it felt like dreaming. He was in a place as yet unknown to him; somewhere unfamiliar, yet he felt no fear. Gone were the strains, the fears, discomforts and fatigue; distant, yet not wholly disconnected. They seemed to have lost their bite a she did abide in this special, new place. He knew of these maladies, yet they were far off; as if the spirit and flesh had stretched away from each other, but not separated. He knew of his body, yet is felt far away and at rest while he was content to be here. More than that, he could.........feel her presence here. Unseen, yet he knew it to be her, exactly her. Her presence was firm, assuring, warm and embracing; her power seeming to relieve him of his burdens, and replace with a new wholeness which affirmed that he was not alone or imperilled. It was strong, potent and..........even beautiful. He felt the need to stay in this place, and to abide by the serene nothing all around; remain embraced with her energies and power for as long as possible. This link, this strange yet warm embrace was all he knew before he knew nothing anymore.
Slowly waking from a deep, comforting sleep, heavy eyes slunk around the tranquil grove; a dim recognition of the shapes and scents as he blinked slowly before carefully raising his head. Turning a little, now awake, he finally fell upon the nearby tree. Below, he found her; her great blade still sunk into the earth while she sat silently, head dipped as her locks shielded a sleeping visage. Watching for a few moments, he caught the little rise and fall of her breath before he sunk back to his pillow. Casting an eye around, it seemed to be late morning and the beginnings of a clear day. Alicia was gone, probably to scout or another purpose, while her sister slept. He did feel a little guilty for occupying her, though still wondered if the warrior race to which the twins belonged needed long hours of sleep as he did. He wasn't entirely sure of many things concerning them still, though perhaps the answers would come in time. Still, he was very grateful to her; even if her technique or power had left him mystified.
Rubbing his features, he gulped down some water before rising. Nearing the remains of last night's fire, he pondered a new one before looking about to gather some sticks or fallen branches. Careful not to make too much noise about the reclined warrior, the quiet morning and his own musings were broken when a familiar voice over his shoulder gave him a little fright. Composing himself, and silently cursing for disturbing her, he turned to find that same unmoving face peering over to him.
"Eh...heh....Sorry to wake you. I was just fetching some wood for a fire. Please...ehmm.....please don't mind me if you're feeling tired and want to sleep......." His words had no impact upon her features, eyes unmoving before those pearl lips responded.
"No. You did not wake me. I was simply resting. I have already slept and need no more, this day. Did you find your rest last night, Raki?" He nodded before answering, ready to thank her deeply for her kindness, even if he did not fully understand what had happened. Perhaps some special power granted by their Yoki...or maybe something granted by the nature of twins, as some myths said? He did not know, but wished to thank her just the same.
"Yes, yes I did very well. Really, very well. The first in a long time, actually. And, thank you. You have my gratitude for your.........help, last night, Beth. I didn't realise just how much I needed that until now." The seated warrior listened silently, giving no gesture or expression before speaking.
"That is good. To function you must have deep, restful sleep before the days travels. Additionally, you were afflicted and were in need of aid. I am satisfied that you have gained rest and are restored. Your gratitude is not necessary for such an action." Her words reaffirming her somewhat unique nature in his eyes, he nodded before tentatively continuing.
"Well.....but....still, thank you any way. I do appreciate it and for all you've done. I really do." Giving a small, nervous smile he nodded before continuing by her; readying to pick up a tangle of twigs before, half way to snatching them up, she spoke once more. His posture freezing, before rising up slowly at the unexpected continuation.
"The desert........." Turning stiffly, confused, he blinked at the utterance.
"W..what...what did you say?..........."
"The desert. I saw the desert. You fear the desert within you........." Her words stung him into silence; in an instant sinking within to touch one the deepest held fears of his soul. But.....but how could she know, how? It wasn't possible........yet........
"When we were as one, last night. I saw a desert. I felt many things. Strange things. You fear. You fear to be alone. To be without and abandoned. To know nothing except yourself for so long...........I saw that, I felt these things within you as we were together." Her words only stirring a greater sense of incredulity and shock, he could do little but flex trembling lips as he tried to answer.
"Heh.....ehmm.........y..yes. You....you're right there.......I'm afraid.........I'm afraid of that. Just as you said, I fear it terribly..........but....b..but how did you see it, I don't understand?" Unmoving, she continued unhurried.
"Yes. It is a technique from an older time. When much rest and stillness was needed between Alicia and I, to cultivate that which was needed for future purpose. As was the wish of our teachers and the necessity our bodies, and minds. I observed and assumed that it would be possible here, too. It affords a glimpse of the heart, though what is seen cannot be controlled. I saw the seat of your ill. And another...........you had a family, a brother............" The cool tones and words at odds with his deepening amazement, and flutter of sadness, he just nodded before uttering his answer weakly.
"I.....I...I did. Yes. My...my father and mother, uncle and my brother.........before...well, before a lot of things......."He sighed as he rubbed his neck; suddenly wanting to sit down again. Nearby, she was silent before continuing.
"I know. I felt that........the pain of your loss. It was strange. Curious. Yet, I know it does afflict you. It is the source of that fear, with other things too which I saw. It is a burden upon your spirit." Feeling small, somewhat guilty and weak he nodded before quiety uttering.
"Well......yes. You are right. It is, to me. I am sorry you.....you had to know that, Beth........" Down cast, his gaze was pulled up by her words; her form still sat, her gaze still peering at something far in the other direction.
"No. Your apologies are not needed. Your burden remains, but it is not beyond you. The past cannot be remedied, but your fear need not linger here. For you are not alone, between yourself, Alicia and I. This is a fact. This we know to be real. As should you. To function better, do you understand this too, Raki?" Her silver gaze turning slowly to meet his blinking, soft brown he slowly came to understand. Though the words held no inflection, no token of sincerity or honesty, he could not help but feel a small stir of something within; something he had not felt in a long time. Though the words held no warmth or tenderness, their strength was like iron to a wavering, delicate spirit. He nodded. A small smile raising his lips.
"Yes. I will, I mean I do understand. I know, Beth. Thank you." Nodding, he turned and went about collecting as she watched. It seemed he was lighter in spirit after their exchange in words. She realised this, considered it but did not think it immediately relevant. Instead committing it to memory for another time, she rose smoothly before dressing; her blade rasping as it sunk into its cradle while Raki sparked a fire beneath a clear sky, under the watch of the surrounding, high trees.
To be continued...
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