Disclaimer: I do not own Claymore
POV = Point of View – Told in 3rd person
Waking the Dead
Chapter 13: Getting to Know Each Other
Dietrich POV
She had been awake for a while yet unable to move. She woke just before Helen and Miria entered the room. No matter how hard she tried her limbs would not move. She tried opening her eyes and speaking but could do neither. After five fruitless minutes, she gave up and simply listened to her surroundings. Currently, Rina and Yuma had just left the room and each team was assembling to get to know each other.
"Where is Dietrich going to go?" she heard Jean speak
"She'll join my group. That way the groups will be even." She recognized the voice of the warrior who had saved her from the handler and other warrior.
"Are you sure Kuroui?" Miria asked.
Kuroui. So that was her name. Dietrich realized while she had been paying attention to the conversation that a lot of time had passed. In that time her body had stopped hurting. She tried to move her fingers first and with satisfaction they moved.
"Did she move just now?" she heard Undine in front of her, most likely at the foot of the bed.
Dietrich then tired to open her eyes and with joy they did.
"Dietrich!" Helen's face exploded in joy
Cynthia rushed over as she sat up. "Do you hurt anywhere?"
"No, I'm fine Cynthia." Dietrich thanked her.
"I guess we should bring you up to date on what's happening." Tabitha commented
"Don't worry. I was awake for a long time. I just couldn't move so I heard everything."
"When did you wake up?" Flora asked.
For the first time Dietrich fully took in her surroundings. Around her bed were Kuroui, Noel, Undine, Veronica, and Deneve. Cynthia had rushed over from the opposite wall from her team where at the table sat Flora and a warrior with long silver hair who had to be Irene while Kayla, Jean and Clare stood around. On her right on the farthest bed sat Miria, Helen, and Tabitha on the bed. Beside her standing along the wall by the window was a warrior with wavy hair, that must have been Sophia.
"I woke up just before Miria and Helen came in"
"Then we don't need to explain anything." Veronica stated. Dietrich swung her legs of the bed as Cynthia went to rejoin her team. Deneve took a seat beside her and Undine joined. Veronica sat on the middle bed facing her while Kuroui and Noel remained standing.
"Feeling better?" Deneve asked
"Yes"
"If you're hurt you can always ask Cynthia or Kayla to help. Tabitha or I will sense it anyway" Kuroui let her know without hurting her warrior pride.
"Thank you" Dietrich looked up at Kuroui "I need to repay my debt of you saving me"
"Forget it." Kuroui shook her head "I didn't do much."
"But without you, I would be dead or Awakened."
"Don't try." Deneve smirked at her comrade "Kuroui isn't one to accept debts."
"If you really want to consider a debt then follow my orders without complaint." Kuroui suggest
"Understood."
"Ne, shouldn't she loose the formality." Noel put a hand on her hip
"This is the way I speak" Dietrich let her know
"Well I don't like it"
"You really don't need to be so formal Dietrich" Undine also joined in
"This is just my way."
Undine shrugged.
"So I assume everyone here knows each other except me and Noel, correct?" Kuroui jumped to the point
"Yea. Just who are you?" Noel raised an eyebrow at her new captain
"I was part of the second generation of warriors. My rank was Number One." Kuroui answered uncaringly
"What?" Noel's eyes bulged and she drew attention of other groups
"Calm down" Kuroui sighed at the unwanted attention.
"Why did you defect?" Dietrich asked
"…It's not a story I wish to repeat. You can ask Deneve or any of the ghosts." Kuroui turned and looked out the window.
Dietrich turned questioningly at Deneve who shook her head "not now" she mouthed.
"So what was your rank?" Noel asked the other four
"Number Thirteen" Veronica said first
"Eleven" Undine huffed
Deneve looked at Noel and said "Fifteen"
"And I am- was Number Eight" Dietrich corrected herself. She was no longer part of the Organization.
"So you're the weakest one, eh?" Noel sneered at Deneve
"That is incorrect" Kuroui faced Noel
"Huh?"
"Our team is quite strong. Deneve's been hiding for seven years and in that time had become stronger. Veronica being Number 13 is currently the least strong" Dietrich noticed how she didn't say weakest
"Heh." Noel turned away.
Dietrich took the time to get to know Kuroui who answered her questions simply, not much information but just enough.
Rina POV
She hummed an unrecognizable tune as she walked along side Yuma to the group of parents and children.
"Clyde!" Yuma called out. He looked up, after excusing himself he went over to the warriors
"So what's going on?" he asked as her approached
Yuma shyly explained the situation.
"Why don't you stay here until we figure out just what we plan to do?" Rina suggest
"I don't mind that." Clyde agreed
"Alright then." Rina looked up "Sayako!" she called to one of the parents. The woman came over
"Yes Rina-san?"
"Something came up and we need to keep Clyde safe. Could he stay with your family?"
"Well, of course. The children would love to have him!" Sayako smiled brightly. She had always been a kind and gentle woman
"Thank you"
"It's the least I could do"
With a formal bow she and Yuma began to walk back to the inn.
"That went well" Rina began to hum again
"You're amazing" Yuma said looking down
"Hm?" she turned her head at Yuma
"You deal with people so well and you're strong too."
Rina stopped walking. Yuma was startled a bit and stopped as well turning around. Her eyes widened and she flinched when Rina flicked her forehead. The scene was a bit funny since Rina was a head shorter than Yuma.
"Baka. I told you to be more confident in yourself" Rina crossed her arms
"Y-yes, I know but-"
"No, buts!" Yuma jumped slightly and looked down. Rina gave a gentle smile. "You can do it Yuma. I know you can!" she playfully flicked Yuma on the forehead again. Yuma smiled and nodded and the two went back upstairs. When they entered the room the groups were well into discussion. They walked over to their group.
"Hey" Rina waved as she approached the group looked up from their discussion
"So?" Sophia asked
"He understands and will be staying with one of the residents" Rina explained leaning with her hands on the edge of the bed frame.
Miria nodded understanding.
"So" she turned to Sophia "Everyone in this group knows each other. You're the only exception"
"Then I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?" Sophia smirked. "Former Number Three, strong point my strength."
"You don't seem as hot-headed as your friend over there" Helen smirked pointing her thumb at Noel
"Noel is quite the hot-head isn't she?"
"If you want my opinion-" Helen started
Miria cleared her throat and Helen stopped. "Before we talk about… different matters, we should be aware of each other's strengths. Sophia you don't know much about any of us correct?"
Sophia nodded.
"Since I am going to be your leader I feel obligated to let you know of my own power as well as your teammates."
"Fair enough. You seem like a good leader" Sophia leaned back against the wall
"I was Number Six" Sophia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Yuma was Number Forty, Tabitha, Number Thirty-one, and Helen Number twenty-two all from the generation after you. Rina here was Number Two in the second generation"
"Second generation?" Sophia blinked making sure she had heard right
"Yup" Rina smiled in her carefree way
"Then shouldn't you be leader?"
Sophia was surprised when Rina giggled. "No, I'm a horrible leader"
Sophia asked "But if you were a single digit didn't you lead some parties?"
"Well, yes but…" she trailed off remembering the past, a grin on her face
"But what?" Helen asked. Rina had not told the ghosts anything about her missions and leadership skills.
"I don't know if I should say…" she tapped her chin.
Helen sighed "Oi, Kayla!" she called out to the group by the table. Even though she only called Kayla everyone looked over. "If Rina was a single digit didn't she lead any parties?"
Kayla blinked "Why are you asking?"
It was Sophia who responded "Well if Rina was part of the second generation and number two she's the most experienced. I was wonder why shouldn't she be leader?"
Kayla blinked again. Then a grin spread across her face "Well Rina could be leader if you want everyone in your team to die."
"Huh?" came the many questions
"Don't even ask" Rina was grinning at hearing Kuroui's input. She looked over at her friend who had her face in one of her hands as if she had thought of something stupid, in a way she had.
"What did you do?" Tabitha asked. She was obviously amazed at Kuroui's expression.
"Se-c-ret" Rina playfull said each syllable. All the members of her team raised an eyebrow but the subject was brought to a close
"So, if you've been hiding for seven years you obliviously aren't your previous ranks" Sophia started a new conversation.
Irene POV
Irene observed as her team talked amongst themselves. They had already said their previous ranks and strong points, though ranks may not count with all the time they hid, they got stronger. She scanned the faces of her new team.
Former Number Three of the second generation Kayla. She was a calm individual and Irene knew that she was no match for her if they ever fought. She was very cooperative and friendly, a person easy to work with. She didn't probe into others business, actually all of this team was like that.
Next, Clare she used to be Forty-seven but Irene knew she had surpassed that by far. She had learned two techniques. Irene's own Quicksword and Windcutter, she was anticipating much progress from her former student.
Cynthia was former Number Fourteen her specialty, Yoki synchronization which she learned from Kayla. She was friendly and didn't seem all that hard to work with either.
Number Nine Jean, she seemed calm as well. Irene could sense her devotion to Clare, what they had in common, Clare had explained. Irene hadn't seen it but apparently she could twist her arm multiple times and release it sort of like a drill.
Last, the warrior which bothered Irene the most, former Number Eight Flora. When Irene looked at her she would get an odd sense of déjà vu every time. Her face was also familiar but Irene couldn't figure out why. She often noticed Flora looking at her when she thought no one was looking. Flora's technique Windcutter was act of slashing your sword and returning your arm back into the same position fast than the eye could follow. In a sense it was quite similar to Irene's Flashsword. Flora Irene was sure she knew someone of that name, but she couldn't recall when or who
"Irene?" she blinked and realized she had spaced off. Her team was looking at her weirdly.
"Sorry, I was thinking about something. What did you say?" she asked Cynthia
"If somehow we get split up from you, shouldn't we know who would be in charge of who?"
That was possible; it would be a good idea to know where each person stood but...
"I don't think that's necessary"
"Why is that?" Jean asked
"Everyone here is cooperative. I would understand if maybe someone like Noel was in this group but that isn't the case. If we get split up no one here would fight for leadership. You could all very well just work together as a team and if you really wanted a leader, then you would choose based on the majority." She explained knowing well her team would do exactly that.
"That's true. No one here is rebellious or that sort of thing" Kayla pointed out. As if on cue Noel burst out
"What?" she yelled. Her team members tried to calm her. "I don't need you to boss me around" she growled loudly at Veronica who had spoken to her. Irene sighed and was about to stand when Kuroui said something to Noel. Noel whipped her head around but before she could say anything Kuroui beat her to it. Whatever she said Noel took it to mind because she looked away and sat down.
"Well Kuroui seems to have control of things over there." Kayla said.
"Ne," she called to Kayla. She just remembered she still hadn't seen her face; she was reminded as Kuroui no longer had her mask on.
"Hm?" Kayla turned her head to Irene
"I still haven't seen your face"
"Oh" Kayla said as if she had not realized she still had her mask on. Without protest she unclasped her mask revealing her face. "Sorry, it's just a habit to keep it on"
"No, I understand" Irene shook her head.
"Hey!" Noel's voice sounded through the room. It wasn't an argumentative tone but more of one that called for attention. Everyone turned to look at her
"Thanks but that was unneeded" Kuroui said to her teammate who shrugged before looking at the warriors. "Since Dietrich is awake, we need to move out now before the Organization decides to do something."
"What's going to happen?" Tabitha asked
"We're going to decide that now." Kuroui answered. "Will we stay as separate groups or together, is the main question"
"That would depend on our plan of action" Irene informed
"We can't just go waltzing into the Organization" Sophia scoffed at the ridiculous idea
"Then may I propose a plan?" Miria spoke up. Kuroui nodded indicating her to speak "Why don't our groups split up and meet back up in Pieta?"
"That would give us time to shake off the Organization, and the north doesn't have many warriors" Irene considered the idea
"If anyone has any other suggestions, speak up." Kuroui addressed all the warriors. No one did. "Then we will go with Miria's plan." She paused "Unless there are any protests."
"One question." Noel said on cue "Why Pieta?" Kuroui blinked and then looked at Miria
"I suppose it's more personal matters that I choose that place." Miria hesitated as if not sure herself. Noel accepted the answer with a nod.
"So where will each groups go?" Kayla voiced
"My group will first go south-west and stay there until we're sure the Organization does not know where we are." Irene suggested
Miria nodded "My group will go north first then but we will stay away from Pieta"
"All right then my group-" Kuroui stopped abruptly in mid-sentence and her eyes flew open wide.
"Kuroui?" Rina asked worriedly
"Oi" Noel shook her shoulder "Oi!" Noel was now shaking her harder
"Tabitha?" Irene switched her gaze to Miria's group where Yuma had called out Tabitha's name. The warrior was wide-eyed and was shaking. "Tabitha?" Yuma called again
"Wha-what is this?" she choked out. Now Irene felt it as well as did the other warriors. A Yoki right then exploded and a shockwave ripped through the room. It lasted two seconds but then the Yoki disappeared.
"Wh-what the hell was that?" Noel asked fearfully. Before anyone could respond Tabitha collapsed
"Tabitha!" Miria caught her comrade before she hit the ground, now unconscious
"Why...?" Kuroui's quiet voice was barely heard. "Why is she here?" Kuroui's eyes were now closed and her hands, in fist by her sides were shaking.
She knew who the Yoki belonged to. Just as Irene did, The familiar Yoki of one of the very very few things that Irene was fearful of. The one name that if said still sent shivers down her spine despite it being over a decade. The Yoki which now had her frozen in the spot.
Priscilla
Memories ripped through her brain as she scented all eighteen warriors. Four particular ones were the ones that brought back her memories.
She remembered turning. Getting her sword. Being promoted. Given missions. Meeting others. Fighting the one warrior stronger than her. Losing to that warrior. Losing control. Fighting that warrior again. Losing again. Unable to turn back. Killing her. Letting it all go. Killing her three superiors. Walking away from the human.
She remembered it all. She could hear her guardian calling her name as she shook.
She let out everything. Blasting into her true form, ripping her clothes to shreds as she changed. The change caused a shockwave but as she let out all the stress she changed back and hid her power once more.
She wrapped her arms around herself shivering. She felt a cloak being wrapped around her and she looked up at her guardian.
"Are you okay?" he asked placing a gentle hand on her head
She nodded. "Can I ask you a favour?"
"What is it?"
"Can you go into town and get Claymores there? I want to talk to them."
"Claymores?"
She nodded "There are seventeen or eighteen Claymores in that town. If I go in they'll target me. Can you go instead?"
"Of course" he smiled in understanding "Who are they?"
"They're four Claymores. They go by the names of Noel, Sophia, Irene and...
Teresa" she smiled
There's Chapter 13~
Hoped you've liked it!
Sorry I tried to update earlier but I was out one day and yesterday my laptop was being jacked up and I couldn't upload anything.
Authors Note: Had anyone read ch. 116? I think the power difference is really unfair. Poor Miria is going to be in trouble. And where the heck are the others?