Disclaimer: I do not own Claymore

POV = Point of View – Told in 3rd person

Waking the Dead

Chapter 10: Relaxation and the Past

Normal POV

Clare stopped right in her tracks in shock, staring at Kuroui

"H-how do you know that?" Clare whispered not wanting the others to hear.

"Keep walking, they'll suspect something if you stop." Kuroui simply said. Silently Clare resumed walking alongside Kuroui. "Now is not the place to tell you. We'll speak about it when we get to our destination."

"There it is!" Rina shouted pointing to a cliff.

"It's just a friggin' cliff" Helen put one hand on her hip not seeing the big deal

"That's what you think." Rina walked up to the cliff. It was covered with long vines that trailed down from the top and covered the wall. The layers were quite thick. "One, two, three…" Rina began counting her steps

"What are you doing?" Jean asked

Rina did not respond. Instead after reaching twelve she stopped. "Here!" She walked right into the vines and disappeared

"What the-!" Helen gaped

Rina stuck her head back out through the vines "Come on!" Kuroui walked away from the hesitant group and went inside.

"Don't worry, its safe" Kayla looked at the warrior behind her. She then walked up to the spot where Rina had disappeared and pulled back a large number of vines, revealing a cave. "Go ahead."

The warriors looked at each other and with a nod from Miria they walked into the cave. The path inside was small that they could barely walk in pairs with their shoulder brushing, because of that they walked separately

"Wait!" Rina appeared in the. They couldn't see her well because of the darkness but they could hear her. "Close your eyes."'

"Why?" Cynthia sounded

"Because it's a surprise."

"Geez, they don't need to" Kayla said from the back

"Whatever"

"If we do can we keep moving?" Undine asked

"Yup"

"Then my eyes are closed."

"The rest of you too." Rina said

"Okay okay" Helen sighed. When she was positive they all had their eyes closed, she led them through the cave with her voice. A while later she made them line up against a wall. Kayla muttered something under her breath and since this was no surprise for her, she did not join them.

"Okay! Open your eyes!" the warriors did.

"This is...!" Tabitha's eyes widened

"A hot spring!" Helen cheered.

The cavern was filled with steam and the top had sunlight pouring through the large hole in the ceiling which was 20 meters high. There were three bodies for the hot springs. The largest one was closest to them and farther back was the smallest one. Beside the smallest one was the other body of water. One wall of the cave had been carved in so that there was a small tunnel where people could change, in total there where ten 'change rooms'.

"There are towels already set up inside the 'change rooms'" Rina smiled. She had already changed and now had a towel wrapped around her under her arms that went to her knees. "Join us if you like" with that she turned around and slipped into the water. In the smallest body in the back, Kuroui sat alone her shoulders just above the water, head back and eyes closed.

"This is going to be sooo relaxing!" Helen grinned heading for the a 'change room'

The warriors looked at one another and shrugged. Soon they had all joined in. All of them submerged themselves in the hot relaxing water. Apart from Kuroui and Clare they were sat in the largest spring.

"I can't remember the last time I felt this relaxed" Deneve said looking up at the opening in the ceiling at the sky.

"You aren't the only one" Tabitha said from her right. The all leaned against the edge with the water coming up to their shoulders. The twelve warriors sat across from each other, with their backs to the tunnel which led to the cave sat, Flora, Undine, Deneve, Tabitha, Miria, and Rina. Across from them, starting in front of Flora sat Jean, then Veronica, Cynthia, Kayla, Yuma and Helen.

"I always love coming here." Rina sighed.

"How did you guys find this place anyway?" Cynthia asked. It surprised her as once she had asked that question Kayla burst out laughing. The warriors looked at her like she had gone mad.

"Shut up" Rina grumbled aware that her cheeks were reddening.

"What?" Helen asked curious to know why Kayla was laughing and Rina was blushing.

"Well… I was the one that found it." Rina said quietly

"How though?" Helen looked over at Kayla as she once again began to laugh

"Well… I sorta fell through the ceiling" Rina muttered submerging herself deeper in the water as the warriors smiled and chuckled.

"You… fell… through the ceiling?" Jean asked trying and failing to keep a straight face.

"Yes." Rina closed her eyes and dunked her head under the water in embarrassment. She raised her head out of the water a moment later though.

"Did you make those?" Undine asked pointed to the 'change rooms'

"No, Telous workers did. We told them about the spring and they said that it was ours, a payment for saving them." Kayla told her

"That was really weird" Flora recalled the town

"Hey" Deneve spoke up, sitting up straight. "Where did Helen go?" They all looked beside Yuma and sure enough she wasn't there

"She was there a moment ago" Yuma was confused

"You don't think-" Miria never finished her sentence. Her eyes widened as she was dragged under the water.

"What the-!" Veronica stared at the spot Miria had disappeared. A second later Miria burst out of the water coughing.

"When I get my hands on her…!" Miria growled looking around for Helen. Rina began to giggle at that moment. The others also were trying to suppress their smiles.

"She's going to be hiding for a long time." Kayla grinned anticipating.

*SPLASH* Helen stretched out her arms trying to get Miria off guard and grab her from the back. The water level just under her chin. Miria smirked and as Helen's hands passed through her body. Helen's eyes widened and she cursed. Before she had time to move, Miria put her in a head lock.

"A phantom? Really Miria?" Rina grinned

"Ne, let's talk about this!" Helen said nervously

"Let me think about it" Miria tapped her chin. "Let's see. No" with that she dunked Helen underwater head first.

"Ga-puhh" was the sound that Helen ended up making. The others all burst out in laughter. Today was a day of relaxation and peace, where the warriors would not have to worry about fighting and Yoma.

Well… that was how it's supposed to be

Clare POV

Slipping into the water and sitting opposite to Kuroui, she felt the gazes of her comrades on her. Thankfully, Kayla told them to leave them alone. She then turned to Kuroui

"How do you know Teresa?"

Kuroui had her head back but now sat up straight looking at Clare "While hiding, I met Teresa when she was a trainee."

"Then what about Priscilla?"

"Even before we met you guys we kept an eye on the Organization. When we found out that a rookie had risen to Number Two we investigated." She paused as if remembering something "We kept an eye on her, we wondered if she would become a threat but decided if she did become one, the Teresa would be able to deal with her." She paused again "Of course, that assumption was wrong since Teresa had become soft."

"Were you there that day?" Clare asked quietly

"… Not physically." Kuroui took a breath "We watched that day from afar using our Yoki sensing skills. We felt Priscilla's Yoki rise and assumed Teresa would be able to finish her off, the difference in power was too great, but…" Kuroui looked Clare in the eyes and Clare's head dropped. "By the time we got there you were gone"

"You know about Irene, Noel, and Sophia then?" Clare asked head still down

"Yea…" they had no more to say "… it's not your fault Clare, it was mine" Kuroui said after a while

"Stop trying to comfort me. I know all too well Teresa died because of me." Clare hated the way she was acting. She had tried to keep her emotions locked away but her she was about to cry in front on Kuroui.

"You are partially at fault but I am as well. I assumed Teresa could handle Priscilla and stayed away. I could've came and helped but I underestimated her."

"Even if you did come out then the Organization would know you were alive. What about Irene, Noel and Sophia? They would have gone back to the Organization."

"Or they could have come with us"

"… You know very well that wouldn't happen."

"There are too many possibilities. I've run that day through my head millions of times with different possibilities. The only way to know would have been to actually do it"

"That doesn't change the fact that it was my fault"

"…Even though I only knew Teresa for a short time, I don't think Teresa would want to see you like this."

Clare raised her head teary-eyed "What?" her voice cracked

"She gave up everything for you and I think she wants to see you happy… even if you became the thing she didn't want you to become, think Teresa wants you to smile."

Clare dropped her head again. Kuroui remained silent and waited. After several moments Clare raised her head again "I…I think- no, I know you're right. But under these circumstances…"

"I know, but even if it's just a little, show Teresa a smile."

Clare nodded. Kuroui smiled slightly and put her head back relaxing "I know and if Rina didn't tell you, Irene, Noel and Sophia are in Lezon waiting to pick up messages"

"Rina told me about that when you guys were in Pieta. She said that Miria explaind everything to her on the way here."

Clare nodded "…Thank you" she spoke again

"Hm?"

"For letting me talk to you and telling me the truth."

"That's what friends are for."

Clare blinked "Friends." She said as if she was unsure

Kuroui raised her head "Yea, friends" she raised out a hand. Clare looked at it for a moment then shook it with a smile on her face. They heard a splash and when they turned to look at the others Miria was standing up out of the water and Helen was coughing. Rina was laughing as were the others.

"Go join them." Kuroui said

"Huh?" Clare looked back at her

"Go join you're friends"

Clare hesitated before standing "Thank you" she said again. She then walked over to the others and slipped into the water beside Jean.

Kuroui POV

Now that Clare was with them she could go deal with the two warriors nearing the town. Silently she stood and got out of the water. She changed quietly, pulling on her cloak and placing her mask in place she stepped out.

"Where are you going?" Rina sounded. Kuroui looked over at the water where they were all staring at her

"I'll be back. I just need to deal with some annoyances"

"I don't sense any Yoma."

"Not Yoma."

Tabitha closed her eyes and began to search for Yoki. Before she said anything Kuroui launched herself through the hole in the ceiling and ran towards Telous. The two warriors had come to a stop near the town. One seemed upset about something and her Yoki was unsettled. Suddenly the stronger one pinned the weaker warrior down. The stronger one's Yoki was upset as well, it seemed she did not want to do this but was following orders. The weaker warrior struggled and Yoki was bursting with effort. She felt the others out of the spring and begin to chase after her but Kuroui didn't wait sensed a handler and continued to run.

The stronger warrior was now speaking with the handler. Her Yoki showed she was arguing with him but she did not release the weaker warrior who was struggling beneath her. The weaker one's Yoki was a bit funny and Kuroui figured out that she had taken some suppressants. That would be the reason for her weird Yoki. Kuroui sensed the stronger warrior protesting even more now and the others were speeding up. Kuroui didn't wait to think about the reason they might be doing that, the stronger warrior had given in. Her Yoki was upset and sad, regret showed everywhere. The handler stepped up and knelt by the warrior pinned down.

Kuroui burst into the clearing and saw the handler inject the warrior pinned down with some fluid. When he saw her his eyes widened and he dropped the syringe. Over half the fluid had already entered the warrior though. Without hesitation Kuroui knocked out the stronger warrior with a kick hard enough she landed a good distance away but not strong enough to hurt her. She then turned on the handler.

"W-wait" he put up his hand as she raised her left arm to draw her sword

"What was in that syringe?" Kuroui asked

"A-a formula that m-makes warriors a-awaken. W-we have t-to run!" Kuroui's eyes widened and anger boiled in her. She kicked the handler as hard as she could and he flew back crashing into a tree. The impact of the crash made the tree splinter and wood flew around. There was an audible crack and the handler fell to the ground motionless. Not caring if he was alive or not Kuroui turned to the warrior on the ground that was now beginning to awaken.

"K-kill me" she said. She was kneeling and hugging herself trying to get her Yoki under control.

"I'm sorry. I didn't make it in time." She drew her sword raising it. "What is your name and who do you want to send your black card to? I will let them know of your death."

"T-thank you. My black card has the symbol of the person I wanted to kill me but she's a rebel."

"So am I. I will find her."

"Thank you" she repeated.

Kuroui raised her sword "What is your name?"

The warrior looked up at her a tear falling out of her eye "Number Eight Dietrich." Kuroui brought down her sword.

Suspense filled cliff-hanger!

There's Chapter 10! Hoped you liked it!

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