Be it as it May
Audrey and Aoshi have been trailing the twenty yoma who had been trekking along the countryside outside Rabona unaware that the two hunters are on their trail. The green monsters haven't bothered transforming into their human facades that made the Claymore in pursuit wonder whether they are experienced and overconfident or if they are just plain stupid in the first place. They had been informed by the tall nun before and the two have eagerly complied followed by a reluctant Yuma who is staying a way back giving the two a long berth. The girl sadly lacked confidence and Galatea explained to Audrey that it may be good for the young one to participate, in order to be reminded what it means to be a warrior again. Looking back at the girl who hid her face in her long hair, Audrey doesn't think that it is working. Yuma is afraid, plain and simple.
"Dreee…. I'm tired," whined Aoshi beside her. The ex-Number Three stiffened as she heard the handsome human complain. As much as endearing the new pet name he called her, the man seemed to do his best to cause her Aneurism. And by the size of the tick in her head, he is succeeding. Aoshi may be a great warrior and something to be reckoned of but when boredom settled into him, he is pitiful. And if his pranks aren't enough, having her in the receiving end is proof enough.
"You're a warrior for heaven's sake!" shouted Audrey making the man wince and Yuma at the back to increase her distance away from the pair. "It's just three hours, I don't know why you are complaining already?"
"I really don't get why didn't we brought the horses," argued Aoshi making Audrey's eyebrows crash in her eyes like stones. "It would have been faster and we could avoid having sore feet," They had been along this discussion twice already, but the person beside her seems to press the argument even more, despite Audrey's explanations. She also knew that if she didn't answer, the man would whine and pout in the next thirty minutes that would make another tick grow in her brain.
"Aoshi," sighed Audrey. As much as she hated his antics, she can't bear being angry with him.
"Especially with that cute nose of his," she thought happily as she looked at the handsome face before shaking her head to clear the fancy things away.
"This is no time for silly crushes,"
"I've already told you that Yoma have excellent sense of smell about animals, the horses would alert them in our presence in the area. We would be spotted before we can even reach a hundred meters near them, and the last thing we want is for them to scatter making it even more difficult to catch them," she explained. "In my part, I want to return to Galatea's before dinner and you…" she whirled pointing a finger in his chest, the silver-eyes boring into his.
"Have some explanations for all of us tonight,"
"Yeah, right," smiled Aoshi through forced lips. He have faced demons, heretics, and mutants. But facing a beautiful woman who is a head shorter than him, pointing a finger at his chest made him sweat with fear. So he did what is the most tactical thing to do that any man will do in a situation like this. Agree to whatever she says and be silent until she is convinced that she got her point through.
"Good," Audrey smiled before going back to the small business of sensing where those Yoma are.
The search did not need that great of an effort. After thirty minutes of walking and another session of Aoshi's pouts which Audrey magnificently handled by drawing her sword at the annoying figure making him squeak in alarm. The three finally heard the sounds of men screaming and the unmistakable roars of the Yoma they are hunting.
A large pine tree grew in the middle of the cleared ground greeted them. At the base of the tree stood back to back three men, their spears held threateningly on their hands. The twenty Yoma have surrounded the humans, while their longer weapons held them at bay. Already they are already doing feinting movements trying to break the line of weapons to find an advantage.
Audrey grimaced as she saw them. It never ceases to amaze her how ugly these Yoma really are. Human in build but taller, they had brown skin like cracked leather, yellow teeth exposed as they snarled at their prey. Their long claws are extracted and are making skittering noises when they hit the steel of the spearheads.
"Here!" shouted Aoshi in a voice large enough to rival a trumpet making the Claymore slap her face in his stupidity as Thirty-Three eyes turned in surprise. One of the Yoma recovered first. Realizing that the spearmen was distracted, it darted forward and slashed the nearest one who died instantly clutching his neck wound. A second later he and two others was cut in half as a flying sword passed cleanly through them crashing headfirst into the ground.
"Great, what are you going to use now that you had thrown your blade?" asked Audrey to Yuma who suddenly turned scarlet as she realized the flaw of her actions. She began to tear up making Audrey's eyes roll to the heavens.
"Here take this," she gestured to two sharpened dirks that is standard issue to warriors other than their swords. "Be careful," she added not looking at the scared face before dashing towards the small group who roared in response at the approaching claymore. Behind her she could feel Aoshi also running as the two of them met the horde head-on.
"This is fun," Audrey thought to herself as she decapitated two of the Yoma instantly before they even do more than move. At her side, six suddenly went down as Aoshi appeared making Audrey jealous.
"That is so unfair with that move of his," she pouted as she blocked a train of claws and teeth with her gentle sword technique. Pushing the nearest one off she cut one in the chest making it scream in agony. Another two went down somewhere in the battle.
"Damn! Eighteen more to go," she counted as she felt Yuma join the fight with her double-knives. Audrey grimaced the girl really lacked confidence as she focused on defending rather than attacking. She can't stop wondering how did this one survived the missions that the Organization gave to its warriors with her sloppy moves.
"Die Claymore!" one of the Yoma shouted before having it's beheaded by the heavy blade of Audrey.
"You're too messy you know that?" asked the woman as purple bits stain her long hair making it look like a puddle than its natural blond yellow.
"This is way too easy," joked Aoshi as he easily killed twelve in one move. Audrey can't stop but wonder what Aoshi is, as she felt the aura again that he had when he killed three of the Executioner's before. When using that technique of his, the stronger the aura he released the more his kills increase.
"Audrey!" the sound of Yuma screaming snapped Audrey from her thoughts as she saw three of the remaining five Yoma pinning the girl in the dirt. The knives lay forgotten a few feet buried in one of her kills. Two are pinning her arms to the ground while the last one buried itself on her abdomen. Audrey was sure it was trying to reach her guts.
Acting fluidly, she picked up a stone before hurtling it at full strength to the one eating the girl making it scream as a new hole was added on its head. Not waiting for any reaction, she ran forward cutting the nearest one in half showering Yuma with purple blood. As usual the last Yoma made a run for it when his brethren died. Audrey sighed when she felt another hand grab her claymore. Yuma who is so afraid was now standing up in anger, her eyes turning to gold as she released her Yoki. Twisting her arm to the side, she twirled the sword once before throwing it at the yoma, a good thirty yard throw with an equally heavy weapon. The Yoma didn't stand a chance of escaping as the blade pierced it in the back, it slumped down hard on the ground dead.
"Damn that was some throw girl," commented Aoshi as he kicked one of the corpses aside. "You would have made a very good archer if you are born in our land," he added with a smile making the girl blush with the praise.
"Good," nodded Aoshi as he sheathed the two short blades that he is using in his usual scabbard. "Now I suggest you two ladies find a stream or something to wash off while I asked for the price of coal, you smell disgusting," he pointed out before going to the remaining men alive who is looking at them somewhere between fear and awe.
"Come on Yuma let's go," Audrey said ushering the younger warrior beside her. Falling a couple of steps behind, the former Number Three looked back and could see the man she liked also looking back at her. Butterflies and fireworks flaring in her gut she moved on blushing furiously, happy that Aoshi cannot see her face in the distance. Little did she know that the other one's thoughts are also running the same line as hers did.
…
…
"You do know how to cook right?" the amused voice of Katea asked as she watched her taller companion cut the onion in uneven pieces. "Have you even learned how to do it properly?" she added with a sly smirk which made the one beside her grit her teeth even more.
"I know how alright!" Galatea snapped as she tried to disagree with the younger girl. "I just don't care a little bit how it looks like, as long as it tastes right," she pointed out. "The children never complained with my cooking so I think that puts my culinary skills above average then," she said proudly.
"Really?" smirked the younger Claymore in a tone that is saying that she can cut through the bluff the other one is making. "And you suppose it'll taste good with those onion skins still covering the onion then?"
"What are you taking about?" protested Galatea but was greeted by Katea's raised eyebrows aimed at her.
"Turn your work upside down and I think you will know what I am talking about," she said before returning to her own peeling and cutting. Making sure that the younger one was not looking at her direction, Galatea inspected the finished product of her hands. She grimaced as she saw that the skin indeed was not that cleanly removed. The nun wondered how that happened, she had been thorough three minutes before when the two of them started working. Sneaking a glance at the work of her younger protégé, she felt a little envious at seeing how her work is so much cleaner than her own.
Galatea had taken it into herself to learn the art to cook well, the moment she felt that of all the women within range fifty yards of her home can prepare a meal better than her. Even little Yuma, being so shy and reserved can outrank her easily as long as the subject is food and the objective is about pleasing the stomach. So when Aoshi with Audrey and Yuma left to do the little side trip on the road, she stayed behind dragging a confused Katea to stay at home with her. She could have picked Yuma but Katea is a lot more talkative and not to mention a lot more fun than the usually reserved Yuma whom she considered her surrogate daughter. So for the past hour, Katea had introduced the nun to the mysteries of cutting, chopping, picking the right food and ingredients and best of all, how to make it smell and taste great at the same time.
"This is so perfect," commented Galatea as she tasted the stew. Closing her eyes she sighed in content as she felt the food bring bliss to her body. The stew they have cooked almost contained twenty ingredients with five of them that Katea called her "Original" ingredients. It had taken at least an hour to cook, despite the pleasing aroma wafting in the air Galatea's patience was tested. She preferred things quick, fast and efficient, just like her mission hunts long ago.
"I'm glad you liked it," replied Katea as she filled her own bowl with the broth shimmering in front of them half an hour later. "Now that you know how to cook Gala, I'm sure many more boys will come running to be your suitor," she added with a smile which made the long-haired beauty beside her flash a smile back.
"If that was three years ago Kat, it would have worked. But now," she shook her head in a graceful manner before answering. "Somebody already has claim on my heart,"
"Oooh who is it? Is he handsome?" the excited voice of Katea replied. "Is he from Rabona? Is it Galk?"
Galatea actually choked as she heard the name of Galk. She can't bear imagining what it must feel like being partnered to that sorry excuse of a man being the size of a grizzly bear. Any girl who would be unfortunate enough to be his wife would surely be flattened if they make love. Galatea shivered as she again remembered those rippling extra-large muscles that the lead knight is so proud of.
"Yep, something to really stay away from," she thought to herself silently as she took another bite on her food. The excited gaze of Katea still remain glued at her and Galatea sighed as she felt that an answer was needed to satisfy the girl's curiosity.
"No it's not Galk Kat," she replied simply and continued as the younger warrior opened her mouth to ask another question "Its Hara my dear."
The silence that followed are so deep that the sound of the bubbling food in the pan are the only thing that can be heard. The nun was confused at the lack of reaction of her younger companion. Katea just sat there looking at her as if she couldn't believe what her ears just said, the spoon halfway toward her mouth was completely forgotten.
"Katea?" Galatea mouthed her name worriedly not understanding what caused her protégé to act like this. "Is there a problem?" she asked.
"B-b-b-b-b-b-but she's a girl?" stuttered the younger woman in a confused voice.
Galatea had to actually go outside as she erupted into snorts of barely controlled laughter. She didn't know the reason yet why she found the girl's question funny. Again she had to remind herself that the young claymore is still a girl at heart and have more to learn about the world. Sobbing herself up, Galatea stood straight returning her most dignified poise to its previous form to have a little sensitive talk with the girl who is still quite flabbergasted by the nun's laughter.
….
….
The sound of boots crunching in the dirt brought Katea the first indications that her comrades have returned. Launching herself from one of the nun's wooden comfortable armchairs, she dashed outside eager on sharing her newfound knowledge to the sister-like figure that is slowly approaching their new home.
"Home…..I never thought I'd call something like that ever," she thought wryly as she stood outside the cabin, the wind whipping her long hair and dress. Galatea is still inside the house tending her lover's body, making sure that it is fed, cleaned and taken care of until the consciousness of its owner returned from the world of dreams. The devotion of the nun to the other woman was so great that Katea wondered what the crusader ever did to earn the long-haired beauty's love like that. She wondered if one day she could also find someone who would care for her like the way Galatea cared for Hara.
It did not take long for the approaching warriors to return. Two of them are wearing the usual Organization suit and armor, though it looked like they could have seen better days. Scratches and dirt covered them, even Audrey the former Number Three. Not much could be seen on the shorter one's face, considering half of it hidden by the curtain of straight blond hair, a joyful eye looking back at her as it recognized her as the one standing.
Katea however was quite confused at seeing their third member. He is tied and gagged by an array of ropes being dragged by the Number Three. Muffled sounds that oddly sound like "I'm sorry," repeating again and again are heard through the tight leather that is covering his lips as he frantically begged the long-haired woman who is holding the ropes dragging him in an iron grip. Katea wondered what'd he did this time that ended him in that sorry state.
"Kat," the happy voice of Yuma cut off her train of thoughts as the younger warrior hugged her affectionately making her smile. She had grown to like the shy girl the first moment they met. After Galatea had confidentially told her how the low-ranked warrior became a victim of rape by an Awakened Being, she had taken it as her personal mission to lift the girl's spirits as many times as she can.
"What happened to those two?" she curiously asked the thin warrior with a small nudge on her head.
"Oh them?" replied Yuma giggling. "Aoshi just ended up in the wrong side of the stream we are bathing at. Unfortunately Audrey isn't too with that,"
"She's really hurting him isn't she?"Katea asked with some concern as she watched the bound and gagged man struggling on the ground.
"Audrey's just playing around Kat. She's not really causing him harm if you observe it carefully," Now that Yuma have mentioned it, Katea could actually see that her former captain is being gentle when handling her crush.
"Right," she replied, smiling inside. It looks like the former Number Three is starting to loosen up a bit. A squeeze brought Katea's attention to the arms holding her midriff.
"It's good to be back Kat," Yuma whispered shyly as she looked at the sister-like figure in front of her.
"Come here Yuma, I want to show you something," said Katea affectionately after she extracted herself from the girl's arms. Pulling her hand to drag her along.
"Wait Kat," Yuma stopped and pointed at Audrey who is leaning down on Aoshi whispering something on his ear. The two girls stood there amused as the fearless male warrior nodded his head furiously to whatever the pretty warrior said. It felt amusing for both of them to see the man face numerous and more dangerous opponents, only to be cowed down by Audrey. Using her knife, the former Number Three cut off the ropes and walked towards them leaving Aoshi groaning on the ground.
"Hey Katea," greeted Audrey as she gave the junior member of her team a small hug and a peck on the cheek. "It's good to see you again,"
"It's good to see you too Audrey," replied Katea. "So how did the trip go? Did you get the Yoma? Have they hurt anyone?" she asked in rapid succession and Audrey had to put a hand on her lips to stop the train of words that came out.
"Geez Katea one question at a time would be preferable alright?" joked Audrey out as the younger warrior's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. It was an old joke between them ever since they are trainees. "Now what do you want to know?" asked the long-haired woman as she removed the hand covering the mouth of her comrade.
Taking a deep sigh to compose her mind, Katea smiled ruefully at her ex-captain. "So how did the trip go?" she asked and stopped the urge to ask another question automatically. Ever since she had been a warrior, that particular habit of her got her into more trouble than she had bargained for. Especially to the handlers who did not take it well at being asked.
"Well it was quite alright especially with Yuma here," she smiled widely at the shy girl who looked down and shuffled her feet awkwardly.
"Really? What did she do?" inquired Katea curiously as she recognized the awe on the older one's voice. It took a lot to gain Audrey's attention, and Katea already knew she isn't the one to offer false compliments.
"She threw her sword at the enemy a two hundred yard away," said Audrey with a proud smirk. "A clean hit, got two of them in a far distance. Cut them clearly in half,"
"I didn't really do much," mumbled Yuma shyly as she averted the eyes of the two women. "I'm just too afraid to fight much at even quarters so I decided that throwing is much safer," she admitted. "It was Audrey and Aoshi who did all the work,"
"Aw come on Yuma you must also take credit for your actions even though Aoshi and I have higher kills than you," Audrey pointed out as she laid an arm happily across the insecure girl's shoulders. "No warrior could throw a sword successfully at that range. You should be proud of yourself,"
"But-,"
"No but's," snapped Audrey. She had enough about the lack of confidence of her younger companion. "You have done well, and for heaven's sake, just smile and say thank you already," she said in an exasperated tone.
Yuma smiled softly and uttered a whispered "thanks" making the two warriors proud of themselves of how they lifted the girl's spirit up. Yuma is an innocent soul, a rare person that is found now in their monster-infested world even if she is a half-breed warrior. And as far as the two older warriors are concerned, they want to keep it that way as long as they can.
"So Audrey, how many Yoma have you actually encountered today?" asked Katea.
"Thirty," replied Audrey and before the startled reply of Katea could be voiced out, she added. "I know alright. It's weird for their kind to travel in groups larger than ten,"
"You think something's changing their kind's behavior?" inquired Katea worriedly. That number of Yoma wandering together in the woods, could overcome lower double-digit warriors easily. A terrified squeak behind made her aware that Yuma also agreed with her.
"I know something's changing them," answered Audrey worriedly. "The question is what?"
"Do you think it is the Organization's doing that the Yoma are changing their behavior?"
"I'm not sure, but anything's possible with those bastards," the long-haired warrior sighed inwardly. Truth be told, if she was left alone facing those monsters, she would have been hard pressed to defend herself. Though she won't admit it to the others.
"Audrey, what should we do?" asked Yuma.
"I don't know," replied the Former Number Three dejectedly. If they are still with the Organization the automatic and most sensible kind of action would be to report it to the higher-ups and leave it at that. But now that they are independent and fugitives, it is no longer their responsibility to deal with major scale problems like this. Especially when the fact remains that they don't know when the next Execution squad will arrive to finish them off. Of course it helped a lot to have two resident "eyes" with them. At least no warrior could surprise them easily.
"Leave," the sudden curt answer brought their attention to Aoshi who now stood behind them with crossed hands successful in his attempts untying the leftover ropes Audrey had bind him with.
"What do you mean leave?" asked Audrey with slight annoyance putting her arms over her chest.
"Exactly as I meant it," replied Aoshi.
"There are no lands beyond here," pointed out the former Number Three. "We are stuck here whether we like it or not,"
Aoshi raised an eyebrow at her before answering.
"Really? And you are sure of this how?" asked the two-bladed warrior in a slight mocking tone.
"During my time as a Number Three, I was given access to the archives. The Organization's records made no mention of whatever land after this. There is only the sea which had brutal storms wrecking every ship that tried to leave, and the long cold land of Alphonse in the North which is quite impassable due to the snow and the large number of Awakened Being's roaming there. Not to mention it is now the territory of Rigaldo, the Silver-Eyed Lion King,"
"Hmm..who is that?" asked Aoshi in curiosity. He had no idea who is this Rigaldo, Audrey is talking about.
"Oh just somebody who is one of the most powerful Awakened Beings that ever stalked this land of ours, nothing that you should be concerned about," replied Audrey sarcastically earning her an annoyed glare from the taller warrior.
Katea sighed within herself. The two are acting like glorified schoolchildren even when they are talking seriously to one another. She wondered if she should bump their heads together to put some sense on their brains. It was clearly obvious to any observer the mutual attraction that is flying between the two. She still can't believe why they can't see that already.
"Wait Audrey did you just say Alphonse?" the abrupt change of tone by Aoshi from joking to serious caught all of their attention.
"Yes…why?" the Number Three asked. Audrey was interested now, she had been in Aoshi's company long enough to know that it must be something really interesting for the male warrior to react like that.
She was surprised as her love interest walked shakily a few meters to the forest slumping hard on the nearest trunk, and putting his hand over his head groaning a few words she doesn't want to hear again.
"Aoshi?" Audrey whispered while approaching the unmoved warrior cautiously. Behind her the silent forms of Katea and Yuma followed though they stayed a little back, content on letting her take the lead.
"Audrey….," he replied lifting his head up nearly causing the warrior to squeak in alarm. His eyes are red-rimmed and filled with fear and unbearable sadness "Do you want to hear the entire story of our Order? Of my home?"
"Does this have anything to do with Alphonse?" asked Audrey.
"Everything,"
"Yuma, Kat would you mind getting Galatea," Audrey ordered. "She also needed to hear this," she added before sitting behind the man putting a hand on his shoulder. When the two younger warriors left, she nearly leapt out of her skin as Aoshi rests his head on her left shoulder sighing audibly.
"I'm glad you're here Audrey,"
…
…
…
"Kat is Aoshi alright?" the concerned voice of Yuma asked. The two of them had left the couple sitting there for some time. Katea had judged that Aoshi needs a little time with Audrey before he began his tale. She preferred listening to the old Aoshi rather than the gloomy one sitting in the log twenty feet away from her.
"Yes Yuma, he just needs a little time alone. Audrey will help him be the lovable Aoshi we all knew," she smiled at her younger companion who beamed back. "You're pretty when you do that often Yuma," she commented making the girl blush.
"Do what Kat?"
"Smile more often," At that Yuma blushed even more and remained silent as they entered the house. As expected Galatea was busy sewing something, while sitting beside the table where Hara lay asleep. Yuma ran forward at the nun embracing her affectionately nearly making the chair tip backward. Despite herself Katea smiled, Yuma loved the older woman and it seems the other also share the feelings back.
"Katea what is it?" asked Galatea as she finished greeting Yuma who chose to sit at the side of Hara's bed observing the sleeping woman with a curious gaze.
"Gala, Aoshi wanted to tell us his entire story about his home. I wonder if you would come and listen. Maybe it can help us bring Hara out of her stupor," she said. "Audrey is with him now, the poor guy nearly broke down when he heard the term Alphonse,"
"Really?" asked the nun. "Did he tell you why?"
"No Gala, but I guess we will all know it when he finished telling us his tale,"
"Hmm… let's go then," the nun stood up and it never ceases to amaze Katea how regal she looked.
"Gala would you mind showing to me again the slate of you and Hara. I'd like Yuma to see it,"
"Sure, it's in the living room," replied Galatea before walking out of the door.
"Yuma come here," Katea said pulling the long-haired girl with her. "Look at that," she pointed to the marble slate hanging on the wall.
"Is that Galatea and Hara?" the awed voice of Yuma answered. "It's beautiful. Just like the twin goddesses Teresa and Clare,"
"Yeah…. I wonder when we grow up, will we be as beautiful as they are?" wondered Katea allowed.
"I'm not sure I will," shuffled Yuma nervously. "I mean you can, but not me,"
"Come on Yuma. You're pretty already. Don't think negative," she slapped the other playfully on the back. Yuma suddenly seemed to realize something for she looked at the slate and her back again a couple of times in a fast manner.
"Kat…if I may ask, why do you look like Galatea?" asked Yuma. And for that question Katea remained silent. She didn't know the answer, and she was afraid that it might not be the one she expected.