Mable: We're working our way towards the half-way mark slowly, but we'll get there! ^-^ I don't own 9, Enjoy!


Souls Run Deep

Chapter Forty-Three: The Beast's Training

It was so early that Nine couldn't believe Child forced him to awaken. Toto had slept at the foot of his bed and was well behaved. Even Five liked the new addition and gave her a few pets the night before. The twins had seemed interested in what made her a female and curiously examined her underside. One was a bit stricter, insisting that it didn't approach the new baby when he was born, but it was acceptable and understandable.

That didn't very well explain why Child woke Nine so early to begin the training regimen that Toto needed to go through. Nine stumbled about in exhaustion after the white, burlap skinned Stitchpunk. They entered the lift and they lowered down into the Library. Pet had been brought as well and he was curiously looking over Toto who seemed a bit less social. Nine guessed it was because she was still a newborn and unsure. Almost like Nine had been.

They headed outside to the front area before the Library. The sky had a dim glow that was almost unnoticeable and would eventually rise into the dawn. The air was chilled and Nine rubbed his arms to warm them a bit, wishing he had a cloak like Child's. Two was right when he suggested that the summer was ending and leading into the cooler seasons. They were hard to decipher, having little fauna, but the temperature could definitely be felt.

"Pet, here." He said lightly and Pet scurried away from Toto and beside his master. "The first rule is to be firm with your Beast. They are you companion, they must be treated with affection, but without clear commands they will not learn. They do not see being strict, they just see a command. After doing a command correctly you will reward them." He turned to Pet, "Good." He kneeled and stroked his top.

"The first commands to be learned should be simple. Such as 'stay', 'come', and 'no'." Nine tilted his head a bit, "'No' is a command?" Child nodded immediately, "Absolutely. If they do something dangerous or risky, you tell them 'no' and they comply. It is to be for emergencies and should not be overused. However, it will be harder to teach, as you cannot very well correct her until she does something wrong. Instead, we'll start with 'come'."

He faced Pet and stepped away backwards. Nine noticed he kept his hand up in a silent alert for the Beast to stay. Then he spoke, "We won't attempt silent commands yet. Verbal are easier for them to understand. However, using hand gestures can guide them." Child beckoned in a sweeping motion towards himself, "Come, Pet." The Beast scuttled along towards him and stopped at his feet. Toto watched the action in an almost curious way.

"Now you." Child commanded to Nine who noticed he used the same tone as with his Beast. Nine exhaled calmly and gestured in the same way Child did, "Come here, Toto." The Beast didn't even look over. "Say its name first, to catch its attention." Nine, again, spoke, "Toto." He said louder, "Come here." Toto finally looked over, but still didn't approach him. "You're not being firm enough. Remember; this could be a life and death situation."

Now Nine was becoming a little annoyed at Child. It was the middle of the morning, he was exhausted, and becoming a bit agitated with all the commands being thrown at him. "Toto, come here." He said firmly and, finally, the Beast started over towards him, even if she was moving at a slow and relaxed pace. Nine was still thrilled at this and kneeled down. "Good girl!" He praised, stroking her head, "You did great!"

He could clearly tell that Child was not nearly impressed, but understood that this was the first command Nine gave and why he would be so excited. After a few seconds he abruptly spoke, "Now let us continue. Stand." This received direct ignoring.


"Six?" Eight's voice roused Six from his deep sleep. Last night, Eight had meant to speak to the Artist, but Six had been fast asleep. He had no idea that it was triggered from him coming down from a magnet high. The Artist had a slight ache in his head, but managed to roll over. "Is something wrong, Eight?" He asked gently and the larger male looked to him quietly. Then he exhaled calmly and forced his pride to recede a bit so he could admit the truth.

"I'm sorry." He admitted and Six blinked in alarm, "What?" The Guard rubbed his forehead tiredly, "About how I've been acting; I've been a fool." The Artist softly shook his head in defense, but Eight was insistent. "I was upset about you leaving. I shouldn't have taken it out on you… I should have taken it all out on Nine." This was a pitiful excuse for a joke and the striped one smiled a little, "It was my fault."

"No, it wasn't. I just need to get a grip." He lay back on the bed for a second before continuing on, "I just was a little concerned when you didn't get back." Normally, he wouldn't admit this, but Six was different. He cared about the other and knew that he could trust him. Six slowly slid over in bed and wrapped his arms around the other's stronger arm. He didn't say a word, but it was enough, and Eight pulled him closer.

The fight was over and they could move on. Now Six would be fine, he wouldn't have to use the magnet anymore, he didn't need it.

Or, at least, he didn't need it at the moment.


"Let us try 'stay'." Child suggested next and turned to Pet, holding his hand still, towards the small one, "Pet, stay." Then, afterwards, he began to walk off. Pet watched while staying in the same location. "Toto barely comes when I call her. Why should I have to teach her how to stay in one spot? Wouldn't she do that naturally?" Nine asked and the other shook his head, "She could wander if she believes you are not commanding her. She could follow or leave and in certain cases this is not acceptable."

He crossed to a few feet away and stopped, "Pet, come." Pet loyally followed and stopped at his master's feet as he waited for a command. "Now you will make an attempt. If she follows, quickly correct it. Begin." Nine turned to Toto and put his hand up, "Toto, stay here, don't move." Then began to back away. "Stop." Child commanded, "If you keep eye contact she will be lured to follow. Try again and this time give her the command confidently."

Nine walked right back up to Toto, "Toto, stay here." Then turned and started to walk towards Child. After only a few steps he could hear her following and turned back, "Toto, no, stay here." Putting his hand up again, he looked away and walked onwards once again. Once again, she followed, and he turned back again, "Toto, stay here." He came closer and rested a hand on her as to keep her in place, "Stay." He stood and started off, she began to move, and he repeated it again.

"Stay." He pressed on her top lightly as though to push her back and stood once again. This time he nearly ran to Child before she could move. Child was giving him a very unimpressed look and the zippered male stopped before him. "There we go." He looked back, seeing Toto was still standing there. "So she knows how to stay now." He pointed out and the other haughtily suggested, "Yes, now bring her over here."

"Alright." Nine accepted the challenge and turned to Toto, "Toto, come here." There was a brief pause before the Beast began to scuttle. Unfortunately, she was not approaching Nine, and was instead wandering around on her own. Once again, Nine ignored Child and his smirk.


Four had found that Three and Five's romance was actually interesting to watch for ideas to use with Seven and Nine. Especially on a day like today, when Five had some free time to spend with the Librarian. They were down in the library looking at a book, leaned against each other and scanning over the novel pleasantly. Every once in a while one of them would point out a scene and give the proper emotional response.

Being a fantasy book, they were usually looking either excited for something or smiling pleasantly. This interested Four to a great extent. Perhaps Seven and Nine reading a book together would bring them together in such an intimate way. An adventure story would probably suit both Nine's wonder of exploration and Seven's interest in excitement. Four knew she had quite a few of them left around the library and began to look.

After a while, she was soon joined by Three, who gave Five a small kiss as he went to go see Two. She marked the book on the page they were and followed after her twin. Apparently, she had the same feelings, and they began to look through the books. Soon, Three suggested that perhaps they find a book with an undertone of romance, as it would push the two together on a subconscious level. Four vigorously agreed.

They began to narrow it down to two books in particular. The first was a dramatic book with heavy romance and a bit of adventure. The second was heavy adventure and had the smallest slither of romance. It was another fantasy, the second one, so they decided to go with that one first. It was then that the two decided to go through the reasons Nine and Seven were compatible. They decided to do this to help them come with more ideas.

They first started with Seven's almost closed in behavior and caution while being in the Emptiness a sharp contrast to Nine's more reckless views and wish to travel. Three even pointed out that Five told her Nine mentioned wanting to be the 'Traveler'. Four reminded that, even though cautious, Seven did enjoy freedom and wished to travel just as much as Nine did. It was simply in more moderation instead.

Three agreed and pointed out that it was almost love at first sight, since Nine feel for Seven almost right after he met her. This was agreed on by both and they had matching smiles. It took Seven a bit more to be swept away, she was still playing as though she was oblivious, but this was because she was a single female among many males. While none of them made advances, she had to keep her defenses up, to keep the best suitor in mind.

A pause passed before the twins suddenly went quiet. Something started to stir as they quietly mentioned that Nine wasn't the only male Stitchpunk who could make a good candidate as a mate. Three voiced that she felt badly for Nine, but mentioned that if they pushed her into mating with him too fast that they may not turn out right. That would hurt much more for Nine than it would if they didn't end up together.

Four pointed out that it was only right if they gave Seven a chance with another suitor. Either she'd enjoy this other male more, or it would make her like Nine more. They both agreed; since Seven was not yet tied to a mate. It could be risky, but they would attempt to keep everything calm and keep anything from going wrong. With that, Three and Four marked the book, and went to plan once again.


"Now, we will begin something a bit more difficult." Child suggested with an unenthusiastic look, "Commanding your companion to go before you to a location." He looked a bit tired, possibly for the hours they had spent out in the morning sun. "Pet," He called to attention and pointed at a nearby statue, "Go to the statue." He began to run and the Stitchpunk turned to Nine, "They can understand speech well enough, so as long as you are directing towards the object they will learn to see the object as such."

Nine nodded from his position from the entranceway, sitting in the shade beside Toto who was resting against his thigh. He began to stand to his feet and watched as Child called for Pet to return. The small Beast returned and climbed up Child's back as the male sat down on a broken piece of cement. Nine now turned to Toto, "Toto, go to the statue." He commanded, pointing towards the statue that Pet went to, and the small Beast didn't move.

Nine exhaled tiredly and kneeled down before nudging Toto's side. "Come on, Toto, this is the last one." Child chimed up, "I did not say that." With this, Nine looked up at the other male, "This is the last one." Child scoffed, "If you would be that firm with Toto, we'd be finished by now." At this the zippered male looked away and turned back to Toto, "Come on, girl, go to the statue, please." The small Beast still didn't budge and Nine slowly nudged her along.

Soon he hooked his hands under her frame and somewhat carried her all the way over to the statue, having her bump the statue, and then walking her back to Child. "That was particularly lazy." Child responded; a mix of a compliment and an insult. Nine huffed, "Yeah, well, I do a lot of things when I'm exhausted. You should see on the nights when I don't sleep at all." He stumbled back inside the Library and Child followed.

"Do you plan to go back to bed in the middle of the day?" Child questioned in confusion and Nine smiled, "Actually, I'm going for a swim. Want to come?" Child immediately was suspicious, "You have never mentioned learning how to swim." The zippered one shrugged a bit as he felt Toto climb up his legs and onto his back. "Not really, but as long as I don't go in deep it should be fine."

They approached the pool and Nine set Toto down before sitting on the side, dangling his legs in the water. "Is she doing well?" He asked the makeshift mentor who responded with a curt nod. "For her age, yes, she is doing well. There is much more work to be done, though." Nine smiled once again, "I think we can handle it. Don't you?" Child was about to respond when he noticed that they were being approached by the twins.

They were looking oddly curious, but Child didn't seem bothered or uncomfortable. That was because the twins were outright scanning Child with their optics, flickering, and he quietly stepped towards the zippered male in an attempt to have them change their view. Nine slipped into the water and his plan was ruined. The zippered male submerged himself to slightly above the middle of his chest. His zipper pull brushing the water.

The two Training Beasts were somewhat examining each other, wandering around in circles, and Child tried to keep his mind on them as the twins managed to move in closer. They were now fondling his cloak and examining it before moving onto the closed openings on his back. The second one of the hooks was popped open; he pulled away out of reflex. A second passed of silence before he averted his optics to the floor in a submissive gesture and fixed the hook again.

"Want to come in?" Nine asked playfully, directed at the twins, and they soon began to nod a bit. They now were smiling again and approach the edge of the water before helping each other in. Child felt the need to say something, "Careful. It may be too deep for you." The girls looked to him, looked to each other, and then gave kindly smiles with a nod of agreement, showing that they were planning to be careful.

Something about that exchange of looks made Child feeling incredibly uneasy. He was not entirely sure, but he was beginning to believe that they were studying him for some reasons. He was more than willing to pass this off as child-like interest in another being of the same species, but a small lingering of paranoia prodded and suggested that, perhaps, they were trying to study him out of suspicion. After all, they had gone straight towards the Machine limbs, and those made him feel uncomfortable under normal circumstances.

Three bobbed about in the water first, managing to keep herself above by kicking her feet a bit. Four then also climbed down and mimicked her twin's actions. Their hands stayed locked as they tried to move after Nine who was now approaching Child, "Are you going to just sit there and watch us have fun?" He asked teasingly and Child gave as much of an annoyed look as he could manage after his incident with the twins.

"If I wanted to get drenched by throwing myself in the water then I'd chose better suited company." He then promptly looked to the twins, "Such as you two." This was a small attempt to seem like a normal Stitchpunks and the twins accepted it with small flashes that signaled giggles. Nine shook his head, still smiling, and turned to the younger girls to address them. Child busied himself by discarding his cape and quickly washing it in the pool.

It wasn't until a bit later that the twins began to speak once again. They were discussing what Seven was like. The Warrior was quite bright and, occasionally, standoffish. She was a bit unknown in the way of love and trying to slowly become accustomed to living as a family after so long of being reclusive.

Oddly enough, this was just like Child.

Three and Four had a new plan.


Mable: That's not good, in the slightest, but at least the twins are staying open-minded. As we walk around the elephant in the room involving Six, let me say that the arch has ended. However, I will be posting the next arch a day early, and will be trying to make it longer than this one. Next Thursday it is! I hope everyone enjoyed!