Disclaimer : Not mine. Claymore's Norihiro Yagi's property.


--BlackSakuyamon-- Well, here's your prize. Enjoy!

--Shelter-- That's exactly what i needed. Thanks for your honest review. I really appreciate it. I'll try to fix it somehow. Now, how about this one?


"Clare...!Clare…!!Where are you?!"Cutting through the thick bushes Raki keeps on calling his guardian name.

"Sheeessh…what's the rush? And with all these thickness, how could she run that fast? I'd never understand Claymore's power."

Reaching a clearing not too far in front of him, he finally found the person he looked for. She was staring strangely at the unconscious girl lying on the tree trunk.

"Ack! And here I thought you would really spare me the bandits…"

Acknowledged the brutal massacre, he scan the place already went red by the blood splattered all over it. Not to mention some dispersed limbs here and there.

"You really finished them, didn't you? I couldn't even hear their scream." He approached the still petrified Claymore.

"Hey…clare. Are you listening?? What's wrong? Why'd you looked at her like that??"

What happened next, really beyond the boy's wildest and strangest dream. First, Clare's sword falls with a loud clang. Then its proprietor collapsed with a soft thud. She fainted.

"C-clare…clare!!" he rushed to her side. Afraid if she was injured from the last battle with the bandits.

Realizing that not even a scratch appeared on the Claymore's porcelain skin, he can't help but wonder. "She fainted. But…from what…??"


I can hear the wind rustling. I can sense a squirrel jumping from one tree to another. I can feel the ground shake from someone walking back and forth, making an invisible pattern on it. I'm awake.

Opening my eyes, I sat up. The person's walking back and forth pretty shocked by my sudden gesture.

"How long am I…?"

"Approximately for two hours. What's the matter clare?? Why'd you fainted??" he cut-off, definitely worried.

"Fainted?? Me??" I tried to clear my hazy memories.

--Flashback--

I was walking through the bushes when I heard one of the bandits called out for someone. Then I saw some slender figure managed to sneak in to some hole in the tree trunk.

"Too late. They had seen you." I spoke to myself. Walking closer.

Twelve bandits against one unarmed girl. This is my lowest point of view to the creature called human.

One of the bandits grabbed the girl hands and dragged her out of her save confinement. Only nurturing their earthly desire, fulfilling their sexual hunger come first above anything else. What's so different from a Yoma then?

Who soaked in the sin most? Us Claymores, or that of humans?? No. It doesn't really matter. In the end, every single being in this world is sinners.

I was still in my train of thoughts when the image of the girl finally comes into my view.

"Teresa…."

She bites off one of the bandit's ear who leaned in to kiss her neck. Her futile resistance results in a hard slap on her cheek. She fell unconscious.

The last thing I could hear was the bandits laugh when they undressed her. Then, silent.

As I regained control of my body, I was standing in front of her. My body already cloaked in blood.

It's just too much. "Teresa…"

Too much emotion whirled inside me. Confusion, pain, happiness, disbelief, angry, relief, but above all, the emotion I felt long vanished, warmth.

--End of flash back--

"The girl! Where's the girl??"

"Girl?? What girl…?"

"The girl!! The one who almost got raped by the bandits!!"

"….Ack! I forgot about her! I guess she's still lying there beside that tree trunk."

Standing up, I run to where the girl lying unconscious before. Still there. Still unconscious.

"Sorry, Clare. I was…so worried about you I forgot about her."

"Nevermind, now go get some water."

I brace myself to touch her. To feel that she's real, not a fragment of my wishful dream. The back of my palm made a direct contact to her cheek. Warm. Her chest up and fell in steady motion. She's alive. Above all the impossible and awkward occurrence I've been through, I still couldn't believe it.

"I can't believe you're really here…Teresa…open your eyes please…"

"Clare!!I brought the water. Is she okay??"

I dip my hand in the cold water and tapped it on the girl's cheek. Painstakingly slow, she opened her eyes. I didn't realize that I held my breath the whole time.

No…not silver… instead; a pair of blue-sky orbs are looking straight into mine.

This is my second greatest shock in less than one day. I was expecting her eyes to be silver, just like that time long time ago. The eyes of the person I dearly loved.

And all I can do was blink. She's not Teresa

It was another slow motion when she raised her right hand and cupped my cheek. I can feel my eyes almost fall out from its socket when she did that. How I missed this touch badly. I still couldn't believe that she was about to give me the third shock.

She smiled. One glance and I knew that smile. The only being in this very planet that can gives off that smile was only her. Through all this year, I can still remember her smile clearly. As if I just met her yesterday. It was the sole reason why I followed her wherever she goes in the first place. That cruel yet filled with tint of sadness smile. Teresa of the faint smile.

Then, her hand went limp. She fell unconscious once again.

" I guess you'd better let her rest Clare. I believe she's pretty tired right now. After all she went through." I know it was Raki's voice, but why'd it sound so distant?? "I'm off to find her some food when she's regained some consciousness, okay?"

I nodded.

This is just too real. Is she really Teresa?? But…how…??

I scooted her up in my arms and lie her down next to the fire raki set up for the night.

Not too long later, raki came back with two rabbits in his grip for dinner.

"Is she awake yet?"

"No."

"Do you know her? Is she one of your comrades? You seems paying a lot of attention to her."

"…no. She just looked so similar to someone I knew." Not a Claymore. I can't feel her Yoki.

"She's just an ordinary human. No more, no less. We'll drop her off once we reached the next town."

That's right. She's not Teresa. Just someone who 'coincidentally' looked a lot like her. --Are you blind? Did you not see her faint smile? Did you not feel the tremor when she cupped your cheek??-- That doesn't explain anything. Teresa's gone from that day. And now she sleeps in me. There's no way this girl sleeping in front of me was her! I won't accept this absurd meeting any further!

I gaze up to the starry night sky. Hoping to calm this heating battle within.

I was distracted when I felt Raki's hand tucking onto my arm.

"Clare. I think she's awake."

The said girl was now in sitting position. Rubbing her sleepy eyes.

I approached her. Cold and composed as usual. But inside I can tell how inflame and miserable my self-control at that time. All the feeling has now mixed up.

Feeling the weight of my hand on her right shoulder, she gave me that smile again. Speechless and defenseless only on sight of that smile, the word 'oh', or if you can tell that's a word, was the only sound I managed when she flung herself unto me and embrace me tightly.

"W-what's your name girl?" I can't believe I just stuttered!!

She keeps snuggling deeper to my chest. Not that I mind though. "Excuse me. May I know your name miss?"

"Hey…"Raki cut-off. She just asked you a question. "At least answer her. Are you deaf or something?"

The girl glanced at him; somehow I can feel she's pretty annoyed by Raki's word. Or is it just my imagination?

I cant help but scrutinizing the girl once more. I really having some difficult time to comprehend this.

She had the same height as Teresa. The same hair length. The same heavenly, one-of-a-kind smell that belongs only to Teresa. It seems like Teresa herself before me. Not aging even one bit since I last saw her when Priscilla awakened... If only her eyes were the same as hers. Then I wouldn't have this kind of burdening doubts.

Unaware I had been caught looking by the girl, she smiled again and squeeze my hand lightly. Pointing at her throat.

"What? You thirsty?" She shook her head. Now making another strange gesture with her mouth.

"Clare… I guess, what she's trying to say is, that she's unable to talk."

"What!!" I glare at him. Then the girl nodded energetically.

I couldn't believe what I just heard and saw. Does fate playing tricks on me? It's just like when I met Teresa. Now I felt like I swap place with her.

"Now let me guess her name. Let see…Victoria?" she shook her head. "Hmm…Magdalene?" she shook her head again. "Then…Sara?" the girl had now crossed her arms.

"Lynn? Gina? Eleanor?" still, the answer is no. "Argh..!!This way we would never know her name!!" he shouted frustrated.

I smirked. "Don't tell me…Teresa?" The girl's smile grew wider and nodded happily.

So fate did playing its cruel tricks on me. I refused to buy it.

"Okay, Teresa. Can you walk now? We're going to reach the port town Azura in a few days. I'll leave you there." I began to walk off, leaving them both behind. Her name, felt strange in my lips. 'Teresa'.

I can still see her angelic face dimmed and the smile has now vanished.

"Hey, don't be upset. Outside, she might look cold, but I know deep inside she's a warm person. You'll like her. I'm sure of it. She can even guess out your name in one shot. Great, huh? " raki tried to provoke the girl about me.

Nevertheless, he made it. The girl's smile crept back to her face. So he continued his pointless one-sided conversation with 'Teresa'.


Day two.

Along the way Raki's teaching her a lot of things for sure. From hunting dinner, how to cook and how to use sword.

Though I'm sure he's younger than 'Teresa'. He surely acts like a proud big brother towards her.

Then one night.

"Hey, clare. Why don't you taste her cook? She said she made it especially for you." I couldn't understand why'd he understand what the girl wants? She can't even speak. I looked at him curiously.

"It doesn't need a genius to understand her you know. She made it pretty clear herself, see?" The girl was now offered me the bowl with the soup she made. Had nothing else to say, I took it and starts to eat.

Hmm…not bad. This girl's sure knows how to cook well. "Delicious".

It was the only word came out from my mouth when she threw herself unto me again. Hands wrapped around my neck.

"How cruel. You never compliment me like that before." He crossed his arm in annoyance. The girl still clinging to my neck.

It was night time when we reached the port town Azura. Almost all the door's closed and rarely found any human on the street.

"We'll depart by ship first thing in the morning." I stated. Eyes darted around to find an inn.

"Clare…what about Teresa?" raki spoke.

"Ah…" To tell the truth, I'm so absorbed in the strange presentiment I felt once I stepped into this town I almost forgot about her. Taking a short glance on her, it seems she didn't take much heed to what raki just said. Instead, having her eyes focused on one of the wrecked ship ashore.

"Yeah, we'll search a nice family who's willing to take her in. For now, lets spend the night in that in." I pointed out to the dim light far in the corner of the street.

"Right. What's the matter with this town anyway? Why didn't they light the lantern instead of leaving the alleys and street hollow and dark like this?"

I converted my silver eyes once we enter the inn.

"Good evening sir. It's pretty rare to have guests at this hour."

"Yes, we're sorry. But we're really tired right now. Could you please set up a room for three?"

"Room 47 on the second floor. Here's the key, but…"

"Something's the matter?"

"Do you still waiting for the third occupants? There's just the two of you."

Whirling around, I didn't realize she's no longer following us.

"Where is she? Raki! Didn't she just walk beside you?"

"I-I don't know! She was there a second ago!!" he replied, panic and confusion apparent on his face.

"This is bad" The inn keeper said. "A girl? I'm sorry…is she, by any chance, still a virgin?"

"How'd we supposed to know that?!What kind of question is that!!" raki shouted back. Face flushed.

"I-I'm sorry. Its just, this town has long been haunted by some unseen monster. Its after pure girls. That's why we keep the surrounding dark It seems the monster's afraid of the dark."

"Why didn't you just slay it?! The whole townsfolk versus one silly monster who's afraid of the dark shouldn't be too hard."

"We tried! But it's the problem whether we can find it or not. Rumors said the monster can take human form. We can't just slay people with no reason! Moreover, no Claymores answer our calls just because they're not dealing with a Yoma."

"That's enough" I said. "I'm going to search now. Raki, you gather more information from the town's people. Wake them if its have to."

"What! But I want to search for her too!"

"We'll meet again at this inn in three hours time. If I haven't found her then, you'll come with me to find her."

With that I run outside, scanning the places we've been through previously.

Where'd I last saw her…I wonder. I walk along the dark beach. Then, that wrecked ship appeared on my view.

I remembered she's looking at that wrecked ship. She's there.

I notice some light come from one of the closed doors. The monster's doesn't like dark places.

I withdraw my sword.

Opening the door cautiously, I cant believe what my eyes seeing.

Teresa's there. Humming softly to a little girl sleeping in her lap. As if trying to sing a lullaby for her. Her hands softly caressing the little girl's hair.

I composed myself after a few minutes watching them in shock. They have yet to notice me. Was that the monster? That little girl?

"Teresa…Teresa, come here." I whispered as low as possible. Trying to attract her attention without waking the little girl on her lap. She saw me. Now trying to remove the little girl from her lap softly.

"No no no! Forget it. Don't move. I'll get to your place. Don't move that little girl." She seems pretty bewildered by my statement.

Tch, I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed if it turns out the girl is the monster. Proceeding forward, I caught that sudden change on her face. She's terrified.

By…what…?? Why'd she looked at me like that? 'Behind you'. I ducked out on last second before the ugly beast managed to dig its claws deep within me.

Did she…said that? I got no time for that matter. I must deal with this monster first. I advanced swiftly, sword slashing upwards trying to cut him into two. He managed to dodge it.

If this thing attacked further, those two might unable to escape here alive. Obtaining a few scratched and a pretty fatal blow on my left arm, I finally got his attention to run after me, and ended up on the deck.

It still dark outside, and once he realizes it, he tried to retreat back inside. Not wanting to let this chance go waste, I strike him straight in the back of his head. Done.

In minutes count, Teresa appeared from the stairs, carrying the little girl in her arms. Crying.

I feel this spiky lump start to make its way to my throat. Something's wrong.

It was then, until she came closer to me I realize. That girl had just died. Everything dawn on me like the sun to the earth.

She's the medium. So when the monster dead, that little girl with long golden hair, tiny hands and chubby cheek, will lose her life as well.

Teresa kissed the little girl. Still crying. She buried her head on the little girl's chest.

We claymores. Had long trained not to know fear, hesitation, mercy, cruelty and above all, sadness. So I wonder, after all those hellish training I've been through, why'd all that forbidden feeling all resurfaces at once?

I don't know what I'm doing anymore. All I want is to ease the pain on her face. Standing closer, I wrapped them both in an even heart-wrenching embrace.


It was still dark.

Not a single star visible in the night sky. Not even the crescent moon. As if they're also grieved for this one soul we've lost tonight in this mortal world.


A/N : So here's the next chapter. Hope not many typos and grammar mistake this time. As always. R&R!

Akai Hime