Claymore - Wanted
Disclaimer: I do not own Claymore and some of the characters in the story.
A/N: Thanks for the awesome reviews, Isley Dweller of the Deep and Madwomans. I apologize for taking too long because I'm doing two different kinds of claymore fan fics right now. Please read and review everyone!
xXxXx
The cool southern breeze greeted Efrem by gently swaying his cloak in the wind. It felt good to be back in the southern lands. Efrem took a deep breath of the refreshing air and slowly exhaled. It had been awhile since he last been in this area, carefully avoiding the organization's female warriors, yomas and awakened beings due to the fact he was a male warrior in secrecy.
Efrem could see the city Teo from a distance. He detected the presence of a warrior and several yomas within the city. This female warrior however... emitted a faint yoki so she must be a lower rank warrior - in the 40's perhaps? And the yomas, there were three of them, probably hiding themselves in the populace. Will she be able to succeed in ridding the yomas? That thought alone started to resonate in his mind.
"Take it easy. It ain't your problem." He told himself plainly.
Even though telling himself it had noting to do with him, Efrem still found himself walking much quicker than before. He never once interfered in other warrior's battles so why was he thinking it now? Was it because she wasn't strong to handle it herself? Oh hell. I must be outta my mind. He finally concluded and started to run towards the city in such an amazing speed.
He quickly went by the city guards as they were too busy inspecting an inbound wagon that was full of goods. As soon as Efrem made it in the city, he immediately scaled the tall building closest to him so he could get a clear view and have a better reading of the yomas exact location. It only took a moment to pin point the yomas and he also noticed that the female warrior was straying from her targets.
But the yomas, to his surprise, were following her for some reason. Did she know about it or did she not have the slightest clue? He let out a sigh and jumped down from the roof into a dark alley and proceeded to go after them.
The streets were filled with vendors and shoppers but that didn't slow him down one bit. Less than a minute later, he caught up with the warrior in question and got a full visual of her. Her body was slender built and her blonde hair was not near shoulder length. She was talking to a middle aged man and was holding something in her hand. The man kept shaking his head 'no' while she tried to convince him to take what was in her hand.
"I said no, now just go away!" Efrem heard the man shout.
The middle aged man simply walked away, not bothering to look back. She stood alone in the empty street and holding the item in a tight fist. Looking at her now, he sort of felt sorry for her. She was in a miserable state and the claymore she was carrying on her back wasn't helping either as it looked too big for her to be wielding it around in the first place. How was she able to make it as a warrior? That he did not know or better yet, he didn't want to know.
Efrem saw the trailing yomas and there were three of them in their human form. They were waiting patiently for an opportunity to strike. He looked back at the female warrior and was surprise to see her sobbing. Hey now, this ain't the time for that, You're gonna get yourself killed. Can't you sense them at all? He glared at her as she turned the other direction as she covered her face with her left arm. That was when the yomas took the initiative.
The three yomas attacked, shocking her completely. Her tear stained face looked horrified and confused by the sudden attack. She leaped out of the way just in time as dozen sharp extended fingers hit where she'd been walking and started running to get in better fighting position so she could fend off the attacks but the three yomas were already a few steps ahead of her as they successfully closed off all the escape routes. She halted when she realized she was surrounded but still desperately searched for a way out.
"Time to die, you stupid witch!"
The yoma in the back of her was about make another attack when it's head suddenly flew off it's body. After disposing the first one, Efrem briskly turned on his right heel and dash foward to cut down the next nearest yoma in it's exposed abdomen. The last and remaining yoma was in full retreat unsurprisingly and was about fifty meters away when Efrem's heavy blade entered the yoma's back and sent it flying ten more meters.
"W-who are you?!" The shaken warrior suddenly burst out. "That was- I mean... everything happened so quick... I don't underst-"
He immediately moved in and punched her in the stomach with a bit of force which intantly brought her to her knees. She barely managed to look up; her mouth was wide open in shock and was still clutching the spot she got hit. A moment later, she blanked out and fell to the ground unconscious.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, miss," he said bleakly, "I'd have to kill you too."
People started to gather. Efrem quickly picked her up and her sword without difficulty. He then rushed over to the dead yoma that was the farthest away and took back his claymore. "Well, let's skiddattle, shall we?" He asked her, not really expecting a reply.
Efrem covered part of her body with his cloak and swiftly made an exit by entering into another dark alley, only to exit out in another street. It was more crowded and made it easier for him to blend in with the people. He carried her for a couple minutes til he was able to find an inn. Efrem went in and gently placed her in a cushion wooden chair.
He glanced over at the frightened owner. "I'll leave her in your care until she fully regains consciousness," he said before the person could say anything. "Here's some money, for taking care of the girl."
The woman nodded hesitantly but couldn't look away from his silvery eyes. He knelt down next to the unconscious girl and noticed she was still holding something in her hand. Efrem carefully opened it and saw five gold pins in her palm. He close her hand back after he understood what she was trying to do and stood up.
"I will be going now, ma'am. Have a good day."
"Take care, kind warrior," the woman said at last. "May the gods be with you."
He smiled at her and exited the inn.
xXxXx
Isa tapped her foot impatiently and her arms were crossed while she waited for her male warrior to arrive. She'd been waiting in this tavern for more than a few hours now and because of that, every damn drunkard in here were coming up to her, offering her a drink. And giving them her deadly glare didn't seem to affect them no more, maybe it was because they were too drunk to notice.
"For the last time, I don't want any!" She said irritatedly.
"Ah, come on, pretty lady." The drunken big man replied and hiccuped. "I'm just... i'm just trying to be n-nice."
"If I wanted something to drink, I would've gotten it myself."
"Huh?" The man was in a state of not understanding anymore. "Wha did y-you say? H-here... down this pint of beer f-for me would ya?"
She rose from her chair. "I'm leaving."
"Oh n-no you're not going a-anywhere, m-missy." The man responded, getting in her way. "W-we're just gettin' s-started."
"Move it."
"N-nah uh."
She attempted to go by him to his right but he blocked her. Then again to his left and it was the same result. She glared up at him and tried to go to his right once more but he grabbed her arm this time and harshly yanking her back in front of him. "Oops, I'm so s-sorry," he grinned at her, not sounding sorry at all. Isa winced and held her hurting arm. She then unexpectedly punched the big man's chest out of anger with her good arm.
Isa thought she put everything she had in that punch but the man just looked down at her puzzled. "T-that k-kinda tickled," he told her and pushed her backwards, bringing down a table with her.
"Then allow me." A voice suddenly said and the big man went soaring over Isa and crashing loudly at the other end.
"Big Brute! You okay, buddy?!" His comrades all rushed to him. "He's out cold!"
The men looked in Efrem's way and he simply stared back dangerously. They instantly took the hint and left the tavern along with 'Big Brute.'
"You're late! You're really late!" Isa said getting back up. "Care to explain yourself!"
"I got held up."
"That's not good enough!" She quickly strode before him. "My arm hurts now because of your lateness!"
"I'm sorry," he said, apologetically. "You want me to kiss it for you so it'll go away?"
She glared at him even more. "Not interested! Now have a seat!"
He raised up his hands in defeat and took a seat near the window. Isa sat across from him and observed him for a moment. "I see you've dyed your hair." Efrem removed the hood of his cloak and showing it to her completely.
"I figured it'd be best if I did it this way so that I wouldn't be discovered by someone else."
"What if someone suspects you of being an awakened being?" She questioned, her eyes meeting his silvery ones. "What then?
"Awakened beings don't carry swords unless you know of one, do you?" Efrem answered her question with a question of his own.
"No. I don't believe I do," Isa said, setting her hands down in the center of the table. "Efrem, we have a situation and the organization summoned you to take care of the problem."
"Oh? How thoughtful of them," he said, pleasantly enough. "Who is it?"
"Teresa of the faint smile," she replied and watched his shoulders tighten slightly. "The organization's current number one ranked warrior."
"Did she awakened?" He gave her a quizzical look. "Is that the reason why?"
"Teresa didn't awakened but she apparently gone rogue after she killed a bunch of human bandits," Isa went on after a brief pause," It's an iron clad rule for the organization's warriors not to kill any humans. And if they do, they are to be executed for their crime."
Efrem raked his fingers through his hair and took a breath. "I see. I'll get on it immediately."
"I have this other thing that I want to discuss with you," she said, glancing up at him as he stood up. "But I think it could wait until this 'Teresa' matter is taken care of."
"Okay. Where she is now?"
"Teresa's much further south," she told him. "Traveling with a companion of hers, a young human girl."
He turned his attention back to her. "What should I do with her?"
"Just worry about Teresa for now and everything will fall into place soon after," she said coolly.
"Understood." Efrem relaxed a little, and went on. "But before I leave, you wouldn't mind if I bought us some drinks, would you?"
"No," Isa gave him a sharp look and offered him a smile. "I don't mind it at all."
To be continued...
