DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto nor Claymore.
I would like to thank the following people: Julian Carax, animecrazyguy, Fuyuriku, Trife, deathsilver, and aznblackhowling.
Thank you for your reviews. They are what keeps me motivated to write and improve my craft.
Onwards…
Chapter 3
"Be at ease soldier, I meant the girl no harm."
The deep voice directed her attention at the kneeling man, with an outstretched arm, holding the black trench knife that was checking her sword.
She looked at his face and saw his azure eyes.
"Clare," she called out, "are you alright?!?"
"Yes. This man…he saved us," answered Clare.
Teresa looked at the man once more and only now noticed his blonde hair, and three strange slash marks on each cheek that were previously hidden by the hood of his long gray cloak.
"If you're not one of the bandits, who are you?"
"Ladies first," he answered.
Her face was impassive, but inside, thoughts reeled wildly. Who was this man? How come I didn't see him coming in from the village's only road? To have beaten those men…but most of all, to have been able to block her sword…that in itself was no common feat.
This was no ordinary man.
"I am Teresa. Claymore. Rank 1."
"I see…Teresa, Claymore, Rank 1, do you think you can now stop trying to kill me? My arm is beginning to ache."
She hadn't realized that all the while, she had still been pressing down on him with her sword. She sheathed her long blade and suddenly felt Clare's small frame embrace her.
"Don't do that again!" the child cried, "Don't you ever leave me alone again!"
"Shhhhhh. Forgive me. It won't happen again."
Teresa kept her eyes on the man, still not trusting him as he stood up and sheathed his ebony-colored knife on a holster along his belt. She noted that there was another one on his opposite hip when the cloak had parted.
The surviving villagers began to emerge from their hiding places, and slowly gathered around the three.
"Sir, thank you! If you hadn't arrived in time, those bandits would've massacred us all! How can we ever repay you?"
The cloaked man turned to look at the villager. His slender form, cloaked in gray, with the hood hiding his blonde hair and azure eyes, could easily blend in any crowd. You would not think to look at him, but if one did, the nuances of a warrior could easily be discerned.
The man stood broad shouldered and well balanced on his feet. His boots and traveling pack were made of sturdy leather. His calloused arms and hands spoke of rigorous training, and most likely, of much combat.
"I do not want a reward. I did what I did because those people were evil. But a warm bed, and hot food would be nice," replied the stranger.
"Consider it done! Elias, prepare food and quarters for him immediately! As for everyone else, lets start cleaning up the village," the head villager commanded and the people busied themselves, but would steal a glance now and then at the three.
"You never told me your name," Teresa stated.
"I don't have one. If I did, I've long since forgotten it. You may call me whatever you wish," came the reply.
The answer was unexpected. But she continued nonetheless, "Well…I think I'll call you Gray, because of your cloak."
The man looked upon himself. "Hm. Seems fitting. Gray it is."
Elias ran towards them to call upon the stranger, informing him that the food was ready.
The man looked at her and asked, "Would you like to join me?"
"I don't need food. Claymores hardly do. But Clare might be hungry." She looked down at the child and stroked her hair. "Would you like something to eat?"
Clare nodded weakly, but never released her embrace from the claymore. And they slowly made their way to the house that Elias was now waiting in.
"She's quite fond of you," he said.
"Yes, she is."
"Your daughter?"
"No."
A large banquet had been prepared for the stranger. Roasted pig, grilled potatoes, fish, some goat stew, and fruits were laid out before them.
"I was not expecting such a feast…Thank you," the stranger said while bowing towards Elias.
"Please, this is nothing. Our village prides itself on making good food. Please, sit. Would you like some ale?"
"Yes please, and some cider for the child if you have them."
"Of course!" And Elias ran to the back to fetch some from his supply.
Teresa sat beside Clare as the child began to slice some of the pork, and looked at the stranger opposite her.
"I was just walking along the only dirt road that leads to this village when the bandits came. I am certain you didn't pass me by. How did you come here?"
Gray sipped some ale from a goblet and spoke as he helped Clare in slicing some meat. "I came through the mountains. There's a rough path that you can follow."
"I see..."
"I was just passing by when the bandits attacked."
"And where are you headed?"
"No where. I 'm a wanderer. I go where the wind is blowing."
Elias came bustling back and gave Clare a goblet of Cider. "Please excuse me, but I need to prepare your quarters. Madam, will you and the child be staying as well?"
"I don't think we wi-"
"The child is hardly in a state for traveling. She was beaten up by a one armed bandit," Gray interrupted.
Teresa looked down at Clare and only now noticed the bruising on her arms. Her left cheek had puffed up, and her right eye was nearly closed from the swelling.
"Very well. We shall stay for the night."
"Good, good. How is the food?" asked Elias.
"Excellent," replied Gray.
"Please excuse me once more. Come on up after you've eaten. Your rooms will have been ready by then."
"Thank you," Gray said. Once Elias was out of earshot, he turned his attention on Teresa and asked, "So…what exactly is a claymore?"
Teresa was taken aback, but her face remained impassive. Everyone knew about claymores.
"You mean to tell me you do not know about the organization and its army of claymores?"
Gray shook his head slowly as he chewed on a morsel of fish.
"What about yoma? You've seen them, right?"
"Nope," he replied with a full mouth.
"Where exactly do you come from? I've never seen eyes like yours before," she asked, flustered at his lack of knowledge.
"From a village far, far away." he drawled.
"And why did you leave?"
"Because it was destroyed…by demons."
The air in the room took a serious turn. Clare stopped eating and also stared at Gray. "Weren't you able to beat them, Mr. Gray?"
He smiled sadly at her and said, "No. The demons were gigantic, and there were seven of them. My village, and the neighboring villages were all destroyed. I'm the only one that's left."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Clare replied.
"Nothing could be done."
"Where did these…giant demons come from?" asked Teresa, interested.
Gray shrugged then said, "I don't know."
The claymore sensed the lie, but opted not to call him on it because of Clare, who had resumed her eating.
She sighed then said, " Yoma are beings that consume human flesh and blood to survive. These creatures have the ability to shape shift into a human form that allow them to live among humans. A yoma has strength and speed that goes beyond human capacity, and can generate and heal their bodies at incredible speeds. Non human-transformed yoma present common characteristics such as cat-like golden eyes, veins coming out of their head and arms, and their skin color turning brown."
"Claymores," she continued, "are former humans turned hybrids with implanted flesh from yoma. Although all current Claymores are female, male Claymores did exist in the earlier days of the organization. They proved too prone to the kinds of power releases that led to awakening, however; hence the later switch to exclusively female warriors. We use large claymore swords that normal humans lack the strength to wield and are characterized by our silver eyes and light-blond-to-white hair. A Claymore's standard abilities include overall enhanced physical strength, speed, faster healing, limited shape modification and the ability to detect Yoma by sensing their Yoki. To use our special abilities, we access the powers of our Yoma-half. However, if the Yoma powers of each Claymore are pushed over a certain limit the Claymore loses all humanity and becomes a powerful, highly intelligent, and incredibly bloodthirsty Yoma called an Awakened Being. A Claymore will ask a friend, usually a fellow Claymore, to kill them if they sense that they are "Awakening", ensuring that we do not turn into the very monsters we hunt."
"Sooo," he pointed with his fork at Teresa, "your not human?"
"No. I am a claymore."
"And if you're not careful with your yoma energy, you could turn into an awakened being?"
"That is right."
"Spooky," he replied. Noticing that Clare was yawning and barely awake, he looked at Teresa and said, "It's getting late. You guys should get some sleep."
"What about you?"
"I'm still hungry," he smiled.
Teresa nodded in understanding and lifted the already sleeping child into her arms. "Good night, Gray."
"Sleep well, claymore."
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you…for saving Clare."
He slowly finished chewing a piece of meat as if thinking about what she just said, his eyes shadowed by the hood of his cloak.
"You're welcome."
She arrived on the second floor to find a sleeping Elias lying down on the floor against the wall between two open doors. She chose the room on the left with the bigger bed, laid Clare onto it, closed the door, pierced her broadsword on the floor, removed her cape and armor, sat against the flat side of the gigantic blade and pondered about the mysterious man below.
The room chosen by Teresa was directly above the dining area. When she had pierced her claymore on the floor, the tip protruded below, and flecks of wood rained down on the cloaked man's meal. Surprised, he looked at the protrusion, removed the pieces of wood from a portion of meat, sliced it, and placed it in his mouth. He chewed slowly while continuing to look at the tip of the blade, pondering about claymores and the mysterious woman above.
On a nearby hillside, an organization member stood robed in black, and could hardly be seen in the dark of night. He had witnessed the recent events that transpired. Her relationship with the child was a small refraction of her character, and change was never always for the better, not when it came to claymore. He frowned upon the idea of Teresa befriending the child and felt that this was conduct unbecoming of the rank-one claymore.
"Tsk tsk tsk…oh my dear Teresa…your current position will not bode well with the organization."
This needs to be reported back to the organization even though Teresa hadn't broken any rules…yet.
His gaze lingered at the tavern for one more moment, before walking away, blending with the darkness.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows and gently caressed her closed eyelids. Clare awakened slowly, not recognizing the room, nor the bed she was lying on. She turned to find Teresa seated against her broadsword on the floor with a frown on her face. She'd never seen the claymore frown before and wondered what she was thinking about.
"Good morning," she called out softly.
Teresa looked at her and smiled. "Hi there. How are you feeling?"
"Sore in a few places, but much better."
"Better enough to travel?"
"Yep!" Clare quipped.
"Good. I need to move on to my next assignment." Teresa stood up, handed Clare her shoes and donned her armor and broadsword.
Opening the door, they found the still slumbering Elias on the floor. The door next to theirs was still open, and the bed had not been slept in.
They walked past the sleeping man and descended to the dining room. The scent of newly cooked breakfast greeted them as they rounded the wall, and found Gray sipping coffee.
"Good morning. I took the liberty of making breakfast since Elias looked tired."
"Good morning, Mr. Gray! Did you sleep well?" asked Clare as she sat on the same place she did yesterday and began eating.
"I did." He acknowledged Teresa's presence with a nod, and resumed drinking his coffee.
"Where are you headed?" he asked her.
"My next assignment is at a village behind the mountains. It seems multiple yoma have been spotted there."
"I see. And how do you plan to get there?"
"Clare and I will follow the trading roads. I am not familiar with the mountain path you took, and I don't wish to be delayed by getting lost."
"I could guide you."
"I don't think Clare can keep up."
"I could carry her."
"I don't trust you."
"…oh…"
Azure eyes stared into silver ones, neither one blinking. Clare felt uncomfortable with the silence and she too became still.
"Claymore, why are you ranked one?" he asked.
"Because I am the best of the claymores."
"Being the best, your senses at detecting yoki should be unmatched, yes?"
"Yes."
"Do you sense even the smallest trace of yoki in me?"
"No…but you're strong. I've never met a human who could hold against me blade for blade. Only few claymores have such strength, or yoma, or…awakened beings"
In the blink of an eye, Teresa had her claymore unsheathed and merely an inch away from the cloaked man's nose. "Tell me Gray…what plans do you have for Clare?"
Gray hadn't moved through all this, and kept a calm gaze directed at Teresa.
"You are sorely mistaken," he replied softly. "I just wanted to be of assistance."
"Teresa," Clare called out quietly, "look at his eyes…"
It took the claymore a moment to realize what Clare had meant. How could she not see it before? Those crystal blue eyes held the same sadness…the same hurt …the same loneliness…the same pain that she and Clare had endured.
Her sword wavered, and she quickly sheathed it back lest it injure someone. Her eyes began to water, and she quickly turned around and blinked rapidly, hoping that Gray hadn't seen them.
The cloaked man didn't know what just happened, nor understood what they saw in his eyes.
"Forgive me for anything that I might've said to offend you. I'll leave you two be," he stated while standing up slowly, not wanting to make any sudden movements.
"Gray…"the claymore called out while still not facing him.
"Yes?"
"Will you guide us through the mountain pass?"
He smiled softly and said, "I'd be happy to."
The organization member entered into the chamber of the tribunals. He bowed before the three leaders and waited.
"We've come to a decision," said the first. "The organization's number one cannot be seen having relations with this little girl."
"Here is our ultimatum," said the second while holding up a parchment. "Give it to her. If she accepts, then the matter will be settled."
"And if she refuses, my lord?" asked the member.
"Then have her killed." answered the third.