Disclaimer: Do not own.

AN: Here's the fourth chapter, please enjoy and review.

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

I was just guessing at numbers and figures,
Pulling your puzzles apart.
Questions of science, science and progress,
Do not speak as loud as my heart.

And tell me you love me, come back and haunt me,
Oh and I rush to the start.
Running in circles, chasing tails,
And coming back as we are.

Nobody said it was easy,
oh it's such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
No-one ever said it would be so hard.

I'm going back to the start.

~The Scientist, Coldplay

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Galatea was the first to speak, "But, that's impossible! The Organisation would know if there was another Abyssal One!"

Riful opened her mouth to speak, but Noah waved her off. The male Abyssal One straightened up, "I was the Number One in the generation after the first generation's Mass Awakening. Back then, the ranks were being shifted around from week to week, warriors were Awakening or being killed one after another."

The green haired boy tilted his head, "When I Awakened, no one even noticed, they'd all thought I had died in battle. Because I didn't claim territory or start a rampage like the others, I didn't attract any attention from the Organisation either. Instead, I went into seclusion and no one was the wiser about my existence. Riful found me eighteen years ago and convinced me to become her ally."

The two Claymores took a few seconds to absorb that piece of information. Finally, Galatea looked up, having calmed herself down, "Why have each of you started movements again recently? Not just you two, but the ones in the North and the South as well. Each of you are beginning to gather more Awakened allies. What are you four planning on doing?" Clare stayed quiet, curious as to where this was going.

Riful looked up to the ceiling in thought, "Well, the guy up the North is picking a fight with us. It's like . . . the guy up North has gotten conceited after getting that woman."

Clare sat up straighter, something about that statement drew her attention, "That woman?"

Riful looked at her, "Yes, an Awakened being that was having a rampage up North. The guy up there battled her, defeated her and made her his woman" Riful raised a finger in the air. "They say that her true form is that of a One Horned woman."

Clare's eyes widened, 'Priscilla!'

"So, heck. I was bored, too. So I decided to answer his call."

Dauf gave his only contribution to the conversation so far, "Yup, yup."

Riful smiled at him, "So I decided to stock up on some pawns, and with Noah here, there's no way that man and his woman can beat us!"

Clare bowed her head, and muttered, "Where . . . is she . . ."

Riful leant forwards, "What was that? You talked so softly, I couldn't hear you." Noah tilted his head at the fluctuating yoki of the warrior.

Clare looked up at her, glowing gold eyes penetrating the gloom of the tunnel, "Tell me the name of the man in the North. I'm going to kill his woman."

Riful smiled slyly, "Oh, you know her?" Personally, Noah didn't think that this was some one who she should be playing games with, but Riful was a big girl, she could take care of herself.

The Claymore glared at her, her face in an impressively blank mask despite the yoki she was releasing, "Don't ask me anything! You just tell me the name of the man in the North and his location!"

Riful frowned a little, "Wow, that's some attitude. Hmm, let's see . . ." Riful brought a hand to her chin, ignoring the sharp look from Noah. She raised a finger, "If you manage to hit me even once, I'll tell you what you want to know."

Clare didn't even nod before she disappeared, leaving several puffs of dust in her wake as she dashed towards Riful. The Claymore jumped into the air and swung her sword in a massive over head swing at the Abyssal One. Clare's blade was stopped by Dauf's hand, a mere two feet away from Riful.

The two Abyssal ones looked up at the enraged Claymore calmly, while Riful spoke, "Too bad, that was close."

Dauf slammed his hand into the ground, causing it to crumble under his powerful blow. Even so, he still hadn't managed to crush Clare.

Riful didn't move, "Above."

The short haired warrior plunged down from the ceiling, and was again blocked by Dauf's hand, this time by his palm. Her blade sank through his hand, emerging a few inches in front of Riful's face. Noah had to respect the short haired girl, even if she was going berserk, she was still getting closer and closer to hitting the Abyssal One.

"You fucking-" Dauf slammed his hand into the wall, wincing when the stab wound flared with pain.

Riful smiled as if she was having the time of her life, "Now, now, it's no time to be in pain."

Clare appeared behind Riful, ready to strike the little girl's head from her shoulders. Dauf growled at her, "Don't be getting cocky there, you fool!" The former Number Three opened his mouth and fired a large pole at the Claymore, who was shoved backwards into the wall.

Riful didn't even turn around to look at her, "Hmm, I see. Rather than just surpassing your limits by mistake, your power and speed will be greater if you surpass your limits willingly."

The dust cleared to show Clare, holding the rod back with her sword alone. Noah could feel her yoki surging harder and faster, showing that she was close to Awakening now.

The Forty Seven ranked warrior gave a grunt, and with a huge amount of effort, shoved the rod back, sending it flying towards Dauf. The Awakened being didn't have time to dodge before it smashed into him, sending him tumbling backwards.

Clare raised her sword over her head, preparing to slice Riful's head off, "Care to answer my question now?"

The Abyssal One tilted her head slightly, "Hey, I haven't gotten slashed yet."

"If you want to die so badly, I'll grant your wish." And with that, she swung her sword down.

The Claymore was mystified when she was left holding nothing but air. She heard Galatea's voice from beside her, "Gosh, you are such a problem child that needs looking over." Galatea used her free hand to grab Clare by the collar and throw her over the two Abyssal ones.

Noah looked on in amusement. Yep, he really liked this one.

Clare landed on her hands and knees, facing the two former Claymores, but before she could get back to her feet, Galatea appeared above her and shoved her head down onto the ground.

Clare's yoki settled as she lost her grip on it, and her face and body returned to normal. Riful put her hands behind her head, "Aww, and it was so close, too. What a pity."

Clare shook her head clear as Galatea let her go, "What was I . . ."

She had expected Galatea to answer, so when Noah did so instead, it came as a complete surprise, "You lost it, and almost started to Awaken."

Galatea nodded in agreement, hiding her surprise, " I just tried to pull you back, the rest was you. You'd be doing exactly what she wants though, if you Awaken to her cheap taunts." Noah smiled slightly at her, while Riful pouted.

The Number Three ranked warrior stood up, "We'll take down that sasquatch first. If neither of the Abyssal Ones intend on fighting, then we may have a chance to get out of here alive."

Clare turned her head slightly to look at Galatea as the other Claymore continued on, "For that, we need one more force with us."

"One more?"

"One that can strike her sword into that iron-hard body of his. We need the power of the warrior trapped below us, Number Nine, Jean."

Noah tilted his head, extending his senses towards the third remaining Claymore within the mountain. What he sensed made him both impressed and made him a little bit apprehensive. Despite the massive amount of stress on her body and mind, Jean still hadn't Awakened, even with her yoki surging immensely. He wondered if the other Claymores would reach her in time.

Clare stared at Galatea, "Number Nine, Jean?"

"She's in a very unstable condition. It wouldn't surprise me if she Awakened any moment now. She must have been tortured a lot, both physically and mentally." Galatea noticed that when she mentioned the torture, Noah looked away, as if in guilt. She couldn't read his emotions through his yoki to be sure any more, as he'd already suppressed it again. Interesting . . .

She kept speaking, putting the matter to the back of her mind, "Considering her personality, she would rather choose her own death over Awakening, but apparently she's in a position where she can't end her own life." Galatea started to walk forwards, drawing her sword as she did so. "I'll handle this guy. You head down and rescue Jean."

Clare stared at the Number Three warrior, "And if it's too late, end Jean's life with your own hands. Go! We don't have much time"

Clare nodded and turned around to run deeper into the mountain. Noah made a split second decision and ran after her, quickly catching up and matching speed with the Claymore. Riful stared in bemusement after her ally, but shrugged it off. If he wanted to watch the short haired girl cut off her comrade's head, that was his choice.

Dauf growled and tried to hit Clare with a barrage of poles, but Galatea easily deflected them all. "Take this!" Dauf stretched out a hand to try and crush her, but she jumped out of the way in time, leaping in to the air above the Awakened being's head. "Why you-"

Dauf's words were cut off as Galatea began her assault, slicing at his face as fast as she could. The former Number Three groaned in pain, but none of the cuts penetrated his skin. The Claymore's eyes turned gold, with a slit pupil, and she appeared standing on Dauf's shoulders, her sword resting in the Awakened being's mouth against his cheek.

Galatea's arm muscles bulged and flexed, and she whipped her sword across, slicing through Dauf's cheek fibres. She jumped down to the ground as blood gushed from the wound, smiling slightly as the Awakened being yelled in pain.

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Several floors below, Clare and Noah dropped down a hole in the floor, dashing forwards. The Claymore kept glancing at the Abyssal One, wondering what the former Number One was doing. If he had come to stop her, then he would have done so already. So, why was he here?

She glanced at Noah as she heard him speak, "You should hurry, Jean doesn't have long."

Clare looked forwards, frowning, 'Jean.'

MINI BREAK

"You bitch . . ." Dauf's words were slurred, speech hampered by his severed cheek.

Galatea turned around slowly, arms and legs bulging with veins popping out sporadically. "This goes against my policies regarding beauty, so I don't really do this often . . ."

She turned around fully to face Dauf, and the huge Awakened being shifted apprehensively. The Claymore's muscles were much larger than before, and her face was twisting and beginning to contort. "The rate that my physical power rises from releasing my yoki is the highest among all Forty Seven warriors. Sorry, but you'll have to deal with this ugly face of mine for a little while longer."

Dauf leaned forwards, "Damn bitch, toying with me . . . I'm going to make you pay. I'm going to kill you!"

Over on her perch, Riful smirked, "She's only trying to buy time."

MINI BREAK

Noah and Clare ran into the cavern, but both of them stopped when they saw what had become of the Number nine ranked warrior.

Jean was still chained to the roof by her hands, and both Claymore and Abyssal One could hear her groans, filled with pain.

"This . . . is . . ." Clare's voice was quiet, her eyes wide open with horror.

Jean had almost completely Awakened, body and mind pushed to the edge by the pain. Her body had shifted, skin turning sickly white, while her legs had melted together and created a tail-like shape, which split into several tendrils. Her hair had morphed into a sort of crown, flaring out around her head.

Wings had grown from her back, a pair of magnificent shimmering blue-green wings, formed by a web of white tendrils. She looked like a butterfly, just hatched from her cocoon.

Clare walked forwards sword in her hand, "Damn it! It's too late . . ."

She jerked her head up when a voice broke into her thoughts, "Kill me . . . please . . . hurry . . ."

Clare flinched as Noah appeared beside her, "Her mind . . . it's still human, even though her body's already Awakened." Clare looked at him, confused by the awe that she heard in his voice, and the way that he was staring at Jean with fascination.

The Awakened being's hands unclenched, struggling against the chains weakly, "I can't . . . suppress it any longer . . ."

Clare readied her sword, while Noah watched. Riful might be upset, but she'd get over it. Jean probably wouldn't have joined Riful once she Awakened, the Number Nine was too strong willed obey someone who forced her to become a monster.

"It's ok . . . I can . . . die as a human now." Tears began to run down her face from her golden slit-pupil eyes.

Clare narrowed her eyes, and leaped forwards as Jean closed hers. She landed on top of Jean and wrapped her arms around the Number Nine's head, "Come back! You can do it!"

"What . . . are you saying? Once we . . . go over the limit . . .there's no way . . . we can turn back . . ."

Yoki started to flare around the two, swirling around and around, "Don't worry, you can do it! The chances of turning back to normal after going over the limit aren't zero!"

Fresh tears blossomed in Jeans eyes, "Im-impossible. Hurry . . . and . . . kill me."

Clare just gripped harder, "Don't give up, you can do it!" She synchronised her yoki with the other Claymore, trying to pull her back. She could distantly feel another yoki, stabilising her own, helping her turn Jean back to normal.

Jean managed to say one last thing, "Please . . . let me die . . . as a human."

There was an enormous explosion of white light, and even Noah had to shield his eyes. Upstairs Riful tilted her head, ignoring the clanging and crashing of the battle raging in front of her, "She Awakened. Looks like they were too late after all."

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Thanks for reading and please review.

Phoenix