Seto ran, hard and fast, his breathing was stressed and he knew that he didn't want to get caught by whatever the monster was. He didn't bother looking behind him, he didn't want to see the destruction. He was lost and he didn't where he was going. Fear was a lovely emotion. He had to keep running, but the monster was gaining on him, its gold catlike eyes glowing with anticipation, that its hunger would be satisfied, he fell. He was injured, badly and the monster was savouring its victory, as it went to eat him, when a large broadsword slashed through its head. Seto gasped in shock, and the world went black. The last thing he knew was that he was bleeding, though he didn't know where from and that it was unbearably cold. This wasn't home, this was a foreign place, and he had no idea how he was supposed to get back.
Miria had spent days trying to track the yoma and she had felt a spike in its yoki, and she ran and killed it. A human was on the ground, but he wasn't moving, and he was dressed in strange clothing. He was badly injured, and if he weren't treated soon, he would die. Carefully Miria turned him over, he had a few scratches and bruises, however on closer inspection a large wound in his thigh was the main cause of the bleeding, and she wondered how the hell he'd made it through Alphonse with so little clothing, if he didn't bleed to death, he would freeze to death, unless…she know there would be a risk, making him a male half yoma…but it wasn't like there were a lot of options. If she made him half yoma, he would live, but he might awaken…she weighed all of her options and decided that she would do it. She would make him half yoma, using the yoma she had just killed. Miria used her cloak to make bandages, and wrapped his wounds, she made sure to grab a fair amount of yoma flesh. She bundled up the flesh and carried the half-dead human to a cave. She then set about the tasks necessary to change him.
Seto woke to a fire within his body that burned and damn near threatened to kill him, he knew one thing, he didn't want to die, he didn't care how long he burned, and he didn't want to die. He was too weak to scream, or else he'd be screaming his lungs out. Someone, or something had saved him from the monster. He could feel a damp cloth on his forehead, and was vaguely aware of a woman gently dabbing him with a damp cloth. Every so often, she gave him something that tasted like water, but it had a slight flavour, like a broth. Seto slowly slid into unconsciousness, his last thought was wondering when the pain was going to end.
Miria kept a constant watch on the young human, she hadn't told the others what it was she was hiding just yet, in case Clare jumped the gun and thought it might be Raki before Miria would have any time at all to explain that he lacked the scar that Raki had on his face. She would hide him until he either awakened or was complete. She felt slightly daunted with the prospect that she could have the first male warrior in almost half a century, a thought that made her wonder what might be…if he was strong, and he could control his yoki, they might have the power that they needed to take down the Organization! Miria trembled, but kept herself devoid of emotion, only time would tell what he would become. She had fed him a broth, which he managed to drink a fair bit of, before he settled. Miria wondered if the raw yoma was already affecting him, but she could see no changes yet.
Time passed strangely to Seto, the pain continued, but as he slowly recovered, he knew one thing, whoever it was that was sitting beside him was definitely a woman, her hair was long, pale blond and he could smell what he believed was wildflowers. He didn't know where the hell he was, nor did he know what time it was. Seto knew that something had changed, when his brown hair slowly changed to blond. He had no idea what was happening, but as his hair slowly went blond, he swore that he could hear beyond the room that he was in. He could hear six female voices, all complaining about being bored and wanting to go out hunting. A strong female voice spoke, close to Seto,
"Come now, if you're going out, please avoid unnecessary fights." Her voice was strong, authoritative, clearly, she was in command here. So that makes it seven, he thought.
"Sure Big Sis," Someone replied, she sounded like a trouble maker, 'perhaps I should avoid that one' thought Seto
"We'll keep an eye on Clare," a soft, almost trusting voice added,
"As well as Helen." A serious female spoke, the second in command perhaps?
"Deneve!" the troublemaker patronised the strong voiced one.
So the troublemaker is called Helen, and the serious one is Deneve. Seto committed the two names to memory,
"What about you Miria?" the serious one, Deneve asked, she was closer,
"I'll stay here," the authoritative one answered, "I trust that the six of you are smart enough to stay out of trouble, besides, after your last training session, I have a lot of mending to do."
"Alright then," said the one Seto thought of as Deneve.
He heard them leave. A scraping chair told him that whoever was next to him had gotten up, he heard something boiling, but he didn't know what it was. He sat up, pain laced through his body. He looked and almost gasped in horror. It looked like he'd busted his left leg, a bandage neatly bound around his thigh was evidence enough for him. He tried to get up, and gasped in pain, loudly. A woman was in the room at once,
"You need to rest, your injuries could have killed you." she said.
Seto gaped, her hair was a pale blond, with her bangs being shaggy and razor cut. It would have been fine, but her eyes were silver, not the blue that he was expecting. Pain rushed through him, and it had nothing to do with the cut on his leg. He forced himself up again,
"Where am I?" he asked,
"Alphonse, the land of snow and ice." She replied, "You've been unconscious for three days, and as of yesterday seem to have been drifting in and out."
Seto realised that he'd never heard of 'Alphonse'.
"I have to get back…I…" Seto shut his mouth, "I still don't understand."
The blond sighed, she was sewing leather together,
"You are in Alphonse, your clothing is strange, by my guess you belong south, but a human on their own spells only one fate here and that is death. I have a hunch, but let's see to it you get better first."
He looked down, there was a cut down his chest, it looked horrible and sickening, and he looked away,
"I don't know where this is…my home certainly is warmer, but the monster that was chasing me…"
"A yoma, was what was chasing you." She said calmly,
"Alright, the yoma that was chasing me, shouldn't be real. Where I live there is a stack load better technology and such beings…" Seto went to start
"Exist where you are now. I doubt very much that you can return to you old life, you will have to forge a new one, one of a fugitive." She leant back and looked at her handiwork, she was skilled, better than any sewing machine.
"How long have you been here?" He asked,
"Half a year now," She replied, "we have much to hide, especially you."
Seto blinked and asked why, she sighed and told him how things were. Seto had never heard such horrible things, not even the spasms that ran through his body worried him as much anymore. He realised that the spasms were what was now a part of him, he knew what she'd been forced to do in order to save his life.
Half a day passed and Miria had eight outfits made. She made Seto something so that he wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb. She also made cloaks and straps to hold swords.
She remembered learning his name,
"I'm Seto," He'd said, "I am grateful that you risked your life to save mine…"
"I have no need for thanks." She replied,
"Could I at least know your name?" He asked, pleadingly,
"I'm called Miria," She sighed.
And since then, he insisted on calling her by her name, which meant nothing to her. By the time he'd been a week with them, since Miria had found him in the snow drifts, Seto proved to be a valuable addition, although Tabitha seemed to hate him, for no apparent reason. Miria ignored that and pushed the girls to train hard. It was clear that Seto would need a sword, and Miria half wondered if she could replace a grave marker, she knew that she would have to do something, so she quietly slipped away, for not the first time, leaving Seto with the girls.
Seto was learning the art of yoki perception from Tabitha and Clare, they soon realised that he could see as far as Galatea, without really trying. Clare asked him to range out, with Seto being vaguely aware of where Dark Alicia was. Clare and Tabitha looked at each other, Seto housed a great monster, so they were naturally worried. They would be glad when Miria returned, they had much to tell her already. Seto quietly waited, he had no idea why, but those two were nervous of him, despite the fact that they could kill him, easier than he could harm them.
Miria travelled quickly, she had two blades on her back. She'd found a blade lying in the snow, a symbol-less one. It was still as sharp as her own blade, and as heavy. She used the quickest way towards the others. Miria could see Clare, Tabitha and Seto, all anxious for her return. She moved swiftly over the snow, the powder flew everywhere as she raced gracefully forwards.
Seto was unable to take his eyes off her, he realised that Miria was one of those people who ran very fast. The speed was more than a normal person and Miria seemed to get a thrill from the run itself, as she moved over the snow, her yoki hidden, but not impossible to spot. Seto could sense so much in her yoki. He had learned reasonably quickly, stunning Clare and Tabitha with how far he could sense. Miria would sure have quite the surprise waiting for her. He wondered what the other sword was for that she carried on her back. He hoped it wasn't for him. He didn't realise though, how important that sword would be to him. It would be a life or death matter.
Hours later, Miria was still smarting from Clare's revelation. She was surprised that he was "eyes", and Seto didn't understand what that meant until Miria spat out what the other two couldn't.
"'Eyes'," Miria explained, "are half yoma who sense yoki over distances that "normal" half yoma cannot. In short it is an ability that the Organization takes advantage of, I've never heard of male 'eyes' but that doesn't mean that it is impossible to have male 'eyes' well that will make our hiding easier, if Seto can detect at a distance. It might mean that we have a bit more room to manoeuvre, however that doesn't mean that we drop our guard. Tomorrow your training will start Seto, we can't afford a fight where other warriors or awakened beings or yoma attack you and we aren't here to help. It doesn't matter how good you can sense yoki, if you don't have some form of protection, you will suffer."
Seto looked down, Miria was right, this world that he was in was strange and unpredictable, he shuddered, and there was no way around it. He didn't have a choice, despite his best efforts. He would have to learn to fight the creatures, and fast.
A horrible storm whipped up over the mountains, and despite the weather, a young man with pale blond hair was clashing swords again and again with the pale blond haired woman. He half wondered if there would be a break in their training, she was pushing him, hard. She was pushing all of them, not just Seto, but Clare, Helen, Deneve, Cynthia, Tabitha and Yuma. She pushed herself harder than the rest of them. In the time that he had been with them, interesting things happened. Firstly, once they got used to him, most of the girls warmed up to him, Tabitha was however colder than any Alphonse wind. Clare too for that matter, but he soon discovered that Clare was always like that. Helen was too much, and Seto often found himself running to Miria for some hope of safety, to their amusement. He sparred with Miria because the others weren't as game, or had felt that he wasn't worth crossing swords with, or in Helen's case, were too tempted to try and roll in the snow with him. Miria had a lot of patience, she didn't yell at Helen, but she did make a threat, and Helen didn't like the idea of 'sewing duties' until she behaved herself. Seto was trying not to laugh at Helen's indignant expression, he wondered how Miria was immune to it, he was so close to cracking up, and he wasn't the only one. There were a few snickers, but they were too quite to tell who was doing it.
Apart from his training sessions with Miria over the blades, there were other developments that made him blush. How Miria made no sign of what else they got up to, he didn't know. The cold nights were passed with his body pressed against hers. He had needed much rest as she did, so most nights they were simply pressed together, Seto marvelling at Miria's figure, and that was as far as he was willing to go. His resolve would be tested and broken however at the Alphonse hot springs.
Miria had thrown her leather outfit onto the high rocks that jutted out above the springs, she was completely naked. She lowered herself in the water, having sent the others there earlier, she was surprised that they came back at all, she figured that after almost seven years of full training they would enjoy the treat that she had discovered, barely a week ago. Their loss. Miria thought. She stretched out her body feeling the hot water soothe her. Miria let out a low moan of pleasure, enjoying the hot water as much as she could, knowing that she would have to savour the peace as long as it lasted. She had no doubt that Helen would soon cause trouble, and someone would come running to her. She lowered herself into the water, her hair flowed around her in the water, she could sense what was going in the cave, and she rose sharply out of the water, Helen I am going to kill you Miria thought, as a commotion hit her senses. Why does she have to insist on annoying Seto? Miria sighed and slowly got out of the water. Today was going to be a long one
Seto sniffed in annoyance, Helen was irritating him, and he just wished that she'd leave him to practice the technique that Clare used, the Windcutter. He quickly bolted, avoiding Helen, knowing that she was up to something, but he didn't want to know what it was.
He'd not realised that he was at the hot springs. He froze when he realised. Miria's clothing sat on the rock, he tried to force himself to turn back, but Miria was heading up the path and any minute now, she'd see him, staring like an idiot. Seto tried to force himself to move, the most he managed was to drop his head.
"Seto," Miria came over to him, "What's wrong…Helen had better not be causing trouble again,"
He heard her sigh,
"So much for a peaceful day," she shook her head.
Seto froze, damn, she's… his mind stopped as he fully took her in. Miria's breasts were full, he was feeling a blush creep up his cheeks, and his eyes travelled downwards her waist was small, her hips neatly filling out to her powerful and yet shapely legs. Seto trembled and he could feel his yoki trying to respond to the desire that he felt for her, he pushed it back, but not before she noticed,
"Are you alright?" She asked him,
"I'm fine." He said abruptly, though he was shaking with desire, and he felt quite irritated with the thoughts that were running through his head about Miria, thoughts of him making her moan, thoughts of tasting her, and worse still the desire to be inside of her. He had to push his yoki back hard, Miria had warned that it was harder for a man to control his yoki than a woman, and know Seto knew why. He was pushing his yoki to suppressed, and he was trying not to shake with his unbidden desire, women didn't get much better than Miria, despite the scars on her body. The most noticeable one was on her chest, between her breasts, it was as tidy as his own was, and he couldn't help but notice that discolouration covered a fair area around it, making it look like it was dead and rotting, yet disgustingly alive. If Seto had have seen it as a human, he would have been repulsed, he would have cringed. However, he was used to staring at his own scar for hours, so he was too used to it now. There were a few scars over her shoulder, wounds that she'd long since healed. He didn't know what possessed him to touch her scar, the one between her breasts, and if you were to ask him, he wouldn't have an answer. The effect was even stranger. Miria stood still, she let him touch it, and Seto was astounded by how it felt, leathery, soft and warm, it was still living. He could feel Miria tremble, but neither knew what to do. For a moment neither moved, and then she shifted closer. Unbidden Seto's hand shifted, over her breast, slowly tracing her shoulder. He was vaguely aware of his shirt falling to the ground, he was mesmerised by Miria's body. He followed her scars, tracing them softly. He felt Miria tremble, her own hands smoothly guided him, and soon they were in the hot springs, Seto's clothes abandoned on the top of the rocky out crop above them.
Miria moaned, she felt his touch, she wanted to keep feeling it. Seven years…seven years since she met him. In those seven years they had an unspoken pact, and now, Miria didn't know if it was broken or made stronger. She moaned, her head thrown back, as his hot kisses brushed her neck, his hands making her feel pleasure that she hadn't felt since she'd come close to awakening. He moved smoothly, stroking her, stirring her, making her moan loudly, her yoki slipped, her eyes were as gold as his was. She moaned again, as his touch brought her to her knees if she was standing on them, as it was her thighs twitched open strongly from the pleasure he was making her feel, inviting him further, to make her moan louder. Thankfully the others seemed oblivious to what was going on. Miria moaned, Seto moaned with desire as their lips met. The kiss deepened and Miria felt her body arc to Seto's, she wanted him, badly. Her own desires made themselves known, and he lightly teased her some more, making her moan, but also making her a little uncharacteristically impatient. She put him on to his back and her hips pressed against his. She moaned heavily as she felt him inside of her, and his moan was deep, he felt pleasure from her. It wasn't like the pleasure that the men had taken before she was made half yoma, this was something different, and something she wanted. She moved her hips and he moaned, holding her, guiding her down. The warm water made it all the more sensual, and Miria could feel something happening, she could feel the desire building, stronger, though her yoki remained at 10%, she was intrigued, Seto's yoki also remained at 10%, his gold eyes shining with anticipation.
Soon Miria felt as if she'd fallen from a height, and a wave of pleasure surged through her body, and she wasn't the only one moaning heavily, Seto's moan was loud, and Miria half wondered why the others hadn't investigated yet. She was tired, she rested on his chest, and her eyes closing as sleep took her.
Tabitha was worried, she had felt Miria's yoki rise in a strange way, and it was frightening. Tabitha had felt her gut tremble, she wanted to feel what ever it was that Miria was enjoying, but she noticed that Seto was equally as strange as Miria in the yoki release. They went no higher than 10%, and if Tabitha listened carefully she could hear moans. She didn't know what just happened, but both of them returned to their suppressed state easily. Tabitha was shaking, confused and had no idea what had happened.
Miria woke, and she realised that the others would be worried about them. She gently woke Seto and they raced to their clothes, getting dressed quicker than a human could say twenty five million.
The girls were training again and Miria seamlessly joined in with Seto. The others didn't even notice that the two had been absent in the first place…except for Tabitha who would follow Miria everywhere if given the chance.
The warriors watched intently as Seto whipped up a windcutter that made Flora's look slow and weak in comparison. Clare felt colour drain from her face as a fierce wind blew solely from Seto's sword. Miria grinned,
"It looks like we can head south," She sounded optimistic, "We have gained all the power that we can. If you want to you can stay here in the north, I'm sure our fallen comrades won't begrudge you if you do."
"My Captain will always be you Miria, where you go I will follow," Tabitha walked forward,
"Well, it'll be no fun, and you're not the only one who wants revenge for our fallen comrades," Said Helen,
"I'll come along as well, someone needs to keep an eye on Helen." said Deneve,
"I want revenge for Veronica," Cynthia came forward,
"I know I won't be much help…but please don't cast me aside," Yuma begged,
"I have various unfinished tings left to do in the south," said Clare,
"I'm not going to stay here on my own!" Seto said calmly, "If we were to mount an attack on the Organization, count me in."
"Alright then," said Miria, "Let's go with the fallen souls of Pieta."
A few weeks of travel later and Helen wouldn't shut up.
"OH MY GOD IT'S COLOUR!" She screeched, "GOD I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!"
Seto rolled his silver eyes,
"God, I thought she'd be settled, but I guess Helen's Helen." He sighed, "I think though we could do without the yelling."
"Yeah, that's Helen," said Deneve, "She gets over excited easily."
Miria tried not to laugh at them, but a small giggle escaped, much to everyone's surprise. Miria pulled a straight face,
"Seto," she looked at him.
He knew what to do so he stood on the edge of the cliff.
"In my range I can sense a group of warriors who appear to have two single digits, to my ten o'clock." He told them.
He was vaguely aware of some conversation between the women,
"Damn it!" He yelled, "A large yoki is approaching the hunting team, and it's huge!"
The women shivered.
"It…it's Riful of the west," Clare shook,
"What the fuck!" Helen yelled, "Riful's one of the creatures of the abyss! We leave Alphonse and this is the first thing we run into!"
"One of the single digits has drawn her sword, she plans to fight." Seto reported,
"Nhhh, Helen, Deneve, Clare!" Miria yelled, "Follow me, we have to help!"
Seto felt uneasy about Miria running off like she was about to,
"Why don't we just finish this abyssal off?" He suggested, "We still save the warriors, but we take out the abyssal at the same time."
Miria looked like she wanted to kiss him!
"What are we waiting for!" Miria called, "If we're going to fight her, we might as well do so together!"
Soon all of them were rushing forwards
"Lemme go!" A young warrior yelled,
"We can't go back, Audrey and Rachel will be dead before we can get support!" The other girl yelled back,
"Yeah, well I'm going anyway!" yelled the first, shoving her elbow towards her comrade, only to realise that she had fallen to the ground,
"Who's there!" She screamed, before she was swiftly knocked out.
"Hmm, how odd," Said Riful, "It appears that the yokis of the lower warriors that were hiding have disappeared, as if their energy was disrupted some how. Oh, who are you?"
Seto stood on the body of the one they called Riful of the west. Her yoki was immense, but he wasn't afraid,
"You don't need to know…because this is where you die." Seto told her. Miria jumped up behind him and grabbed the unconscious warrior who had been skewered by the creature of the abyss. Helen used her drill sword to free the still aware single digit. Helen pulled her away,
"Wait a minute you can't just waltz off with my prey." Riful yelled,
"They just did, for the warriors own safety." Said Seto.
Riful didn't even have time to attack, the windcutter that he released was powerful and he hacked Riful apart. He jumped and rolled on his shoulders as he heard Helen's charge be stubborn,
"Who…who are you?" she cried, and then she froze as Seto came near, "What! No way, there aren't supposed to be male half yoma!"
"Well I'm here so impossible is possible." Seto glared at her, "Don't piss me off."
She cringed as the rest of her team were gently place of the ground,
"Who are you?" She asked again,
"Feel free to guess, what ever you ask, we won't answer." Miria told her, "However, we have some questions for you. We would like to know the current structure of the Organization, especially Number 1 through 5."
She looked semi amused, "If you ask me like that…do you really think I'll answer."
"I told you not to piss me off," Seto growled, "Answer the question, since a single digit wouldn't be as rude as you are being after her life was saved."
The girl cringed, and she looked away. Helen snorted, half-heartedly it was quiet for a few seconds, and just when Miria thought she would speak, the warrior spoke up.
"The Number 1 and Number 2 have not changed for seven years. I am the Number 3, Audrey, and my comrade Rachel is the Number 5," the woman, Audrey, looked them in the eye, "the Number 4 is called Miata."
"I see," Said Miria, "so they are short handed. Alicia's more an issue, if she still lives, then she must be complete."
Seto looked at Audrey, she was nice enough,
"You have our thanks." he told her.
Her silver eyes regarded the group. Clare looked at Miria,
"One more question, Galatea, is she still alive?" Clare asked Audrey,
"I am the Number 3...is that answer enough for you?" she replied,
"I see, you have my thanks." Clare and the rest of the group turned to leave,
"She may still be alive," Audrey called, "the Organization said that she died fighting an awakened being, but that is a lie, during the chaos seven years ago, she simply disappeared and there wasn't anyone that could follow her."
"Thankyou, Audrey," Said Seto.
"Though this may seem insufficient to you I now consider my debt paid in full, the next time we meet I won't hesitate to turn my blade on you."
"Really," Seto smirked, "Your yoki says quite a different story."
Audrey looked away, she'd never met anyone like the male before and quite frankly, she doubted that she could even match blades with him. The lead female she might be able to, but even then…Audrey was sure that the lead female had an advantage over them all.
The warriors of the north headed away, their path was Rabona, though Audrey would never know that. She looked after then,
"It seems that we'd better choose sides it we want to live," She murmured to herself, "Our lives will depend on it."
Audrey decided that she would say that they didn't see what killed Riful, and that they'd completed the task, the awakened one they were supposed to kill was dead. They needed no more. Whatever Riful wanted a skilled yoki reader for would remain a mystery that Audrey had no care for. She would shut her trap…she owed the warriors as much. She would have to work out how to find out who they were without rousing suspicion, she hoped that the next time she saw them, she didn't have to turn her blade against them