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DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Though this might just be the ending
Of the life I held so dear
But I won't run
There's no turning back from here

Stand my ground I won't give in
No more denying
I gotta face it
Or close my eyes
And hide the truth inside
If I don't make it
Someone else will
Stand my ground

All I know for sure
Is I'm trying
I will always stand my ground

~Stand My Ground, Within Temptation

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Jean knelt on the ground, examining her hand. Her completely human hand, "My fingers . . . they're . . ." She stayed kneeling on the ground, completely naked, entranced by the feeling of being human again.

The, once again human, Claymore didn't even notice anyone else in the room, not until she felt a weight drape over her shoulders. She glanced backwards to see the Claymore who had brought her back, along with the boy from before, the one who had given Katea a quick death.

"You're half Awakened. I don't know too much about it, but for now, you get to remain as a human."

Jean narrowed her eyes as she tried to remember what had happened, "It as if something something was pulling at me."

She looked over her shoulder at Clare, glancing at the boy as she did so. Clare spoke quietly, "I tried what Galatea did with me. It's a miracle that it went smoothly, although it felt like something was helping me." They both looked at Noah, who looked straight back at them unflinchingly.

"I was curious to how the long haired warrior managed to turn you back, and the best way to learn something is to do it."

Jean stood up and turned to him, "You have my thanks, both of you. I owe you two my life."

Clare drew her attention by handing the Number Nine ranked warrior her sword, "I need your help, that's why I came here."

Jean looked at her, eyes wide open, "Me?"

The ceiling rumbled and shook, small chunks of rock clattering to the floor. Clare looked up to the roof, hints of worry dancing across her face."Not good. Galatea can't hold out much longer."

Jean strapped the cloak closed, fastening it around her neck, "My name is Jean, and I'll be glad to help you."

MINI BREAK

Panting hard, 'God Eye' Galatea slumped to her knees, panting hard. She was bleeding from a cut above her eye, and there was a thick pole jutting through the side of her abdomen. She'd had to stop using her yoki, or risk beginning to Awaken.

Riful was sitting on her rocky seat, legs swing back and forth like the child she appeared to be, "You know, I thought you did rather well."

Dauf laughed, even though his body was covered in hundreds of scratches and scars. Despite the number of them the only real wound that he had was his missing hand, nothing else had managed to penetrate his skin. The cuts that the Claymore had managed to land on his weak spots were shallow and easily healed.

Riful leaped from her seat and stood in front of the Awakened being, "You nearly went all out in releasing your powers. At that rate, you'd have almost gone over your limit. Things like that are what I expected of the highest ranked warriors."

Galatea was apparently ignoring her, but the Abyssal One continued on regardless, "Your release of yoma powers was very impressive and so was your control of it." Riful's face became solemn and serious, "Now then, can I have you Awaken?"

When the warrior said nothing, the girl sighed and looked up at Dauf, "I'm counting on you, Dauf." And with that she calmly walked back to her rocky seat, and jumped back onto it.

Galatea finally looked up as Dauf loomed closer, "God . . . you guys are so slow."

Riful tilted her her head, "Huh?" There was some strange yoki in the floor below . . .

The floor between Galatea and Dauf ruptured and crumbled, breaking upwards as Jean and Clare jumped out. They landed beside the wounded Number Three, "Sorry, it took me a while. Are you ok?"

Noah jumped out of the hole, and walked over to Riful. She looked at him, smiling in that innocent way of hers, "Did that sate your curiosity?"

Noah smiled slightly at her, "In a way, yes."

Riful gave him a bemused look, and turned back to the fight.

Galatea closed her eyes for a second, "I can't say that I'm fine, but I'll do what I can."

Riful smiled joyfully, "Wow, you turned her back, as well? You guys sure do some interesting things." She glanced to the side, looking at her fellow Abyssal One. She wondered if he'd given them a helping hand, but Riful dismissed the thought. It didn't matter in the end.

Galatea stood, slowly pulling the rod out of her side. The wound would heal fairly quickly, she was a defensive type after all . . .

Jean stood in front of her fellow Claymores, holding her sword firmly in both hands. "If you want me to hold them off while you guys run, I'll gladly accept the job. I owe you my life. Use my life as you wish, when you wish."

Noah stared at her in amazement, smirking slightly. Oh, Riful wouldn't be happy that this one got away. He had to say, that sort of loyalty and devotion in people like that were so rare to find. The Abyssal One's eyes caught Jean's and he saw the promise in them.

He tilted his head slightly before closing his eyes. He didn't know why he'd helped Number Forty Seven bring the Awakened Claymore back, and now she had the silly notion that she owed him her life!

Noah could only hope that she decided he wasn't worth her loyalty because he wasn't human. He could see that she felt the same way to the other short haired Claymore, and the Abyssal One could only hope that she gave her loyalty to Number Forty Seven, and ignored him. Noah was fully capable of protecting himself and if Jean got hurt trying to repay the 'debt' . . .

Galatea and Clare walked past Jean, standing between the Number Nine ranked warrior and Dauf, "This adversary isn't someone that you can do anything about by yourself, no matter how hard you try. Number Forty Seven and I will stop that big guys movements. You concentrate on striking your sword into his throat."

Both of them readied their swords, "It's the perfect job for you, as you have the fastest and most powerful strike attack of all the warriors." Noah leaned forwards, curious about Jean's special attack. It was always interesting to see the special attacks of different warriors. Special attacks, while extremely rare in Noah's own time as a Claymore, were so much more common here in this time.

Clare's next words made him smile slightly, "Use your life for yourself, ok?." This group of warriors was an interesting bunch.

Riful leant her hands on her chin, "Now then . . ."

Galatea shouted, the first time she'd done so since entering the mountain, "Here we go!"

She and Clare dashed forwards, jumping over Dauf's wild swings. The Claymores started slashing and cutting every spot they could reach, trying to concentrate their attacks on Dauf's weak points.

Noah turned slightly towards Riful, "Are you learning anything, Riful?" He sounded amused, and Riful pouted slightly at the insinuation that she was stupid. Clare jumped over one over Dauf's wild punches, and Galatea's eyes turned gold, her yoki reaching out to mesh with the Awakened being's. Dauf's next punch fell short of reaching the Number Three female, and she leaped into the air.

"Of course. If there's more than two people attacking Dauf, he loses concentration, and the long haired girl's skill becomes usable again." She smiled sweetly at Noah, silently daring him to say anything else

Noah looked at her, even more amused now, but wisely didn't say anything. Riful could be vicious when provoked, which made provoking her so much more entertaining. It still wasn't clear which one of them would win in a fight, as Riful still hadn't seen Noah's fully Awakened form yet, even after eighteen years.

Riful smiled again, and turned back to the fight, swinging her legs again like a small child.

Noah was spellbound watching the battle between the huge Awakened being and the three warriors. On one hand, there was Jean, whose yoki was doing a strange spiral in her right arm. It was probably the lead up to her special attack, and he didn't really want to miss it. Number Forty Seven, on the other hand, was performing one of the most interesting special attacks the Abyssal One had ever seen. It was like she was allowing her right arm to almost Awaken, and then just let it go berserk. It was strange though, the yoki was different in her right arm, and the yoki emanating from her body was eerily familiar . . .

Finally, Jean's attack was ready, "Highest number of rotations reached . . . I will strike him with every ounce of my strength!"

Galatea, eyes glowing gold with the use of her yoki, jumped onto Dauf's hand, and using two of the Awakened beings rods, pinned his hand down to the ground. On the other side, Clare did the same using her sword. Galatea turned to the third warrior, and yelled out to her, "Now! Strike him, Jean!"

The Number nine warrior nodded, and her eyes turned gold as she used her yoki to power her jump. She leaped straight for Dauf's head, cloak fluttering around her body.

The huge Awakened being smirked, and tore his hands free, lifting both of the Claymores into the air as he did so. He slammed them together, driving the air from their lungs and dropping them to the floor.

Jean narrowed her eyes, and stretched out her sword arm. The Number Nine ranked warrior's sword began to rotate at an astounding speed. Dauf gave a stupid grin and put a hand in front of his face, confident that her strange attack wouldn't breach his iron hard skin.

His eyes widened in astonishment and pain as Jean's drilling sword cut through his hand, absolutely destroying his thumb and forefinger as it went. The only thing that kept her from taking his head along with his fingers, was Dauf's other arm flailing around.

Jean was smacked out of the air and sent hurtling to the ground, landing with a pained groan. Noah sighed, it looked like all three of them were down for the count. A pity, he'd been hoping that they would manage to kill Dauf, the insufferable moron.

Riful started giggling next to him, "And the fight is over . . ."

Dauf was crying again, "Dangerous . . . that move's dangerous!"

The little girl just ignored him, lost in her own little world, "It was so intense; I thoroughly enjoyed it!"

Noah rolled his eyes. While he liked a fight just as much as any Awakened being, a battle where his lover basically lost both hands didn't sound like something he'd find 'enjoyable'.

They both ignored Dauf's whining, "Comrades are very important, after all. I would love it if you could share some of that friendship with me."

Noah turned to look at her, "Riful, Dauf's your comrade and look at the way you treat him."

She glared at him lightly, "Dauf's my man, it's another thing entirely." The Abyssal One sighed, "And now you've ruined the moment."

Dauf turned towards them, "Look . . . my hands . . ."

Riful glared at him too, causing the enormous Awakened being to flinch, "Dauf, shut up already! You're not helping the sentimentalism here either." She sighed again, "For all of your massive strength, you sure take a long time to regenerate. Ah well, at least it's all settled now. All that's left is to take some time and make them Awaken-"

She looked up as Noah poked her in the side, ready to reprimand him, when he pointed over to the three downed warriors.

To her amazement, the warrior in the strange armour was on her feet again, panting heavily. The blonde haired girl had blood running down both sides of her face, but she was gripping her sword tightly.

"What's wrong with you?" The Claymore continued to glare at the female Abyssal One, "Please don't attack, it's clear we won." No one in the cavern was fooled by Riful's helpless little girl attempt. "It's not my objective to kill you guys. I just want to inflict pain so that you Awaken."

Noah rolled his eyes again, oh yes, Riful, torture and then becoming a monster, instead of death? Such a convincing argument.

Riful put her hands together, as if in prayer, "Please, be understanding. I really don't want to kill you."

Clare noticed that Noah hadn't said anything, apart from rolling his eyes occasionally when Riful was talking, "Jean, are you still alive?"

She didn't turn around to look at the Number nine warrior, but still heard her pained voice, "Yeah, somewhat."

Clare narrowed her eyes slightly, "Can you do that move of yours one more time?"

Jean raised her head off the ground and opened her eyes. Her arm felt twisted and stretched, but she was confident that she could do it again, "It's not a move that I can use many times, but I'll try my best . . . to do it one more time . . ."

The Number Forty Seven warrior grimaced. She didn't want to risk her comrade's life so cavalierly, but at the moment she had no other choice. "Sorry, but I'll take you up on your words. Entrust your life to me."

Jean's eyes flicked to the green haired boy sitting on the rocky pile, "That was my intention from the very beginning."

Clare braced her shoulders, "Forgive me."

The Abyssal One of the West let out a huff, "You guys really don't learn, do you?" She raised her head, smiling slightly, "Dauf. Take them on, but don't kill them, ok?"

The Awakened being grimaced, he didn't want to go easy on these bitches! But Riful's word was law. He grinned at the thought of being able to rough them up a little more.

Raising her sword, Clare called out to her fellow Claymore, "I'll create a path for you. Jean, you strike your Claymore into his throat."

Jean sat up with a grunt, which Clare took for a yes. Dauf opened his mouth, preparing a large rod to launch at the annoying little Claymore. Clare's eyes turned gold, and she leaped out of the way of the missile. Her right arm turned into a blur as she began her attack, landing dozens of hits on the Awakened being's head and shoulders.

Dauf launched another large rod, which Clare dodged in mid air, landing on the dull red male's arm as he tried to land a punch. She started to run up towards his shoulder, and the former Number Three fired a barrage of smaller poles at the Claymore.

Clare leaped over them and used her Quick Sword again, cutting at Dauf's entire body as she fell towards the ground. "You little bastard!" The Awakened being yelled as he raised a handless arm to try and crush her.

Noah 'ahhed' in realisation, "It's someone else's arm." He ignored Riful's look of confusion. It had taken him a little while to work out why the yoki was different in the Claymore's right arm. It seemed so obvious now that he thought about it.

Riful looked more closely at the girl, "For borrowing someone else's arm, she's doing rather well."

Noah nodded, "Yeah, but she's wasting a lot of yoki and stamina."

The brown haired girl nodded, analysing the technique, "Uhuh, it's clearly an overuse of her yoma power. It's like it's her partially Awakened right arm that's in control of her actions. Overall, she makes too many unnecessary moves, you know?"

Clare leapt forward, and launched another flurry of sword strikes, 'Still not ready, Jean?'

Clare perched on the ceiling, rods striking the rock around her. Below, Jean called out, eyes golden and veins beginning to pop out on her face, "Twenty one . . . highest number of rotations reached!"

Clare's eyes widened, "Yes, it's ready?"

Dauf let out a cry of triumph as his fist pulverised the spot where Clare was standing. Jean shouted out, "Clare!"

Dauf looked at the cloaked warrior, and his eyes widened, "Holy shit! This one's twisted her arm out of nowhere already!"

Jean's grip on her sword tightened, but she kept a firm grip on her emotions. She'd just have to stick to the plan, and avenge Clare. The huge Awakened being raised both hands, small rods generating from his fingertips and wrist-stump, "God, you're annoying." He aimed all of them at the Number nine warrior and fired, "Go to Hell!"

Jean flinched, knowing that with her Drill Sword prepared, she wouldn't be able to dodge or deflect the missiles. Suddenly, with a whistling noise, the rods were knocked off course and up into the air.

Jean stared in amazement as Clare appeared in front of her, panting heavily, "Clare . . ."

"Trust me, I will create a path for you no matter what.

The Number Nine warrior spoke quietly but with steel-hard resolve, "I've already said . . . that this life belongs to you. I will abide by your orders, no matter how reckless they are."

Clare turned her head slightly and smirked slightly. Riful hunched her shoulders, confused by the lower ranked warriors drive to survive, "Hmm, she stands up again. Either way, I don't think she has any tricks left."

Beside her, Noah narrowed his eyes, "I wouldn't be so sure . . ." She'd risked a lot to bring Number Nine back from the brink of Awakening. "I don't think she'd risk her life again unless she was certain that she had something that could ensure their victory."

Riful looked at him, raising one eyebrow, but in the end she said nothing, returning her attention to the battle in front of her.

Dauf smiled, "Heh, you just won't die, will you?"

There was dead silence, when Clare raised her sword, "Go, Jean. Strike him with your attack!"

Jean grunted, and leapt over her head, again aiming for Dauf's head. The Awakened being raised both arms, "How stupid! I'll clobber you and end this!"

The two Abyssal ones watched as Clare closed her eyes, arms outstretched to either side of her. Her yoki dimmed, and Noah murmured something, "Another sensor . . ." Riful looked at the girl in confusion, not understanding the statement.

Clare tried to focus, 'Concentrate . . . read the flow of his yoki . . . and direct my Quick Sword to only those locations!'

Every one but Jean watched in amazement, as Clare's right arm started to move, blurring as she swung her sword. Riful gasped as all of the warrior's strikes avoided Jean, and started cutting along Dauf's arms, stopping him from using them to hit Jean.

Riful leaned forwards, "I don't believe it! She managed to have her berserk-like right arm pass by her comrade, and land her attacks only on Dauf's arms!"

Noah grinned at her, "She's a sensor, just like me and the long haired one. That's why she closed her eyes and suppressed her yoki . . . to get a better read on Dauf's yoki."

"Screw. You!" Dauf opened his mouth, generating a large pole to smash Jean out of the air. All of a sudden, the Awakened beings mouth was forcefully closed, stopping him from firing the pole.

Galatea spoke from her seat on the ground, "Forgive me . . . this is all I can do for now."

Clare's blade stilled, "Do it, Jean!"

Jean's sword started to spin, aimed right for Dauf's chest. It struck, carving a huge, gaping wound through the Awakened being's chest. The Claymore emerged from the back of Dauf's chest, the force of her jump carrying her to the wall behind him. "I shall completely cut off that head of yours!"

She lunged forwards, but suddenly several dozen deep green tendrils wrapped around her and slammed her into the ground as Clare and Galatea watched on in shock.

Standing from her rocky seat, Riful's right arm was in it's Awakened form, dozens upon dozens of tendrils emerging from the little girl. Noah was standing as well, looking in amazement at the gaping hole in Dauf's chest. The destructive power of Jean's attack was unbelievable!

The little girl looked uncommonly serious, "Sorry, I wish I could let you enjoy the moment of victory, but I can't really let that happen." She tilted her head to the side, smirking slightly. "After all, he is my man . . ."

Galatea looked to the side as Clare disappeared. The Number Forty Seven let out a yell as she swung her sword down, slicing into the female Abyssal One's head.

Riful's expression didn't even change, although Noah smirked and muttered, "Well done." From beside her.

"I'll consider this the one strike you need to land on me." Clare's eyes narrowed as the little girl's body fell apart into more ribbons.

It was too fast for any of the Claymores to properly process what happened, all they could see was a huge blur of green. Suddenly the mountain collapsed around them.

The Three Claymore's struggled to their feet, reaching for their swords as they did so.

"Awww, I wanted to end things before it came to this." Riful's true form had been revealed.

Clare, Galatea and Jean stood and stared in awe. The Abyssal One was enormous, far larger than any Awakened being any of them had ever seen. Riful was made up of nothing but tendrils, hundreds and hundreds of them that formed into the upper half of a woman's body, the same size as a normal humans, sitting up atop a massive web of tendrils.

Dauf was hoisted into the air by some of the tendrils, some how still alive despite the hole in his chest. He moaned a little, but didn't even raise his head. Noah stood on a stone column, watching in silence. "Oh, Dauf. Sorry for leaving you like that. I can't have you die on me, you know? You're like the only one that can accept me without breaking."

Jean and Clare limped over to Galatea, wary of the Abyssal one. The Number Forty Seven ranked warrior stiffened slightly when Riful turned to look at her.

Riful smiled, "Ah, yes, yes, like I promised. 'If you can even land One strike on me, I'll tell you the name of the guy in the North.'" Clare gave a little gasp, "Ok, I'll tell you. I mean, you put a lot of effort into this. As for his name . . . the Northern lands, sealed away by snow and ice . . . Alphonse."

Clare clenched her hands tightly, an action that didn't go unnoticed by anyone there. "He is their White Silver King . . . Isley!"

The short haired warrior whispered to herself, "Isley . . . of the Northern lands of Alphonse."

All three Claymores heads jerked up at Riful's next words, "If you want to defeat that guy, then join me. That is your only way." Denial was on all their lips, but Riful saw it, "I'll be waiting for you, then."

The Abyssal ones looked at each other, Noah smiled, "I'm going to go with them, to see the North. If you ever need me, you know how to get my attention."

Riful nodded, "See you again, and don't start anything you can't win, you know?" Suddenly, the Abyssal One's body unravelled, and in a blink of an eye, she was gone, taking Dauf along with her.

All three Claymores stared in awe, even 'God Eye' Galatea couldn't sense her after a few moments. "Something as gigantic as that . . . just disappeared?"

Jean whirled around when she heard a sound behind her, but it was only Noah. "You should never underestimate Riful, or any of the Abyssal ones."

"Does that include you?" Clare spoke quietly, watching the green haired boy warily.

Noah smiled at her innocently, while Jean stared at him. Abyssal One? Was he really? He turned to her, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm former Number One, Noah. And I'm going to be heading North with Number Forty Seven." He gestured to Clare.

"I'm sorry, but I must complete my original mission." Galatea spoke up and the other three looked at her with curiosity, amusement and fear. "Number Forty Seven. I was ordered to take you back to the Organisation. It's be great if you followed me back without any resistance." Her eyes narrowed, "If not . . . you understand, right?"

Clare gripped her sword tighter, she doubted she had a chance to even escape from the Number Three, exhausted as they both were, but she would try her hardest. "I have no intention of returning to the Organisation right now, for I have something that I must do first."

Galatea stood up straighter, "In other words . . . it's reasonable for me to take you back to the Organisation as a corpse?"

They stood there in silence for a second, but both of them stiffened in surprise when Noah and Jean stepped in front of Clare. "Jean, Noah, what's the meaning of this?"

Jean spoke first, "Sorry, but I owe her my life. I just decided to use my life for her." Her eyes slid to the side, 'And him.' She added silently. Jean had decided to ignore what Noah really was, she still owed him her life, and it was impossible for her to ignore a debt like that.

Noah smiled lightly, "Number Forty Seven's too interesting for me to let you take back to the Organisation. I hope you understand."

The Number Three grimaced in defeat and turned back to Jean, "That would mean that you're defying the Organisation, as well."

Jean stood firm, "I have lost my life once already. I have no intentions of going against my morals to prolong it." She could see Noah giving her an approving glance from the corner of her eye, and it helped steady her shaking hands.

It was a tense moment, until finally, Galatea lowered her sword and smirked. She turned away and began to walk off, sheathing her sword as she did so. Without turning around, she spoke quietly, but loudly enough for Noah, Clare and Jean to hear, "Low ranked warriors, like you two, can't possibly survive an encounter with the Abyssal One, Riful of the West." She could almost feel Noah's silent gratitude for not mentioning him. "And basically, I had no intention of searching the bodies that were destroyed by her."

She looked over her shoulder, smirking again, "I don't know whether I'll be your friend or foe next time we meet. Either way though, live on till then." Galatea started to walk, but paused as Noah called out to her.

"Galatea! If you ever need a favour, flare your yoki, as big as you can. I'll be there." Even though her face was turned away, the Abyssal One could tell the Number Three smiled.

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

Far to the North, in the snow covered land of Alphonse, three Claymores slowly walked backwards, trying not to break ranks and escape as fast as they could. "Fall back! Fall back, fall back, fall back!" One of them called out to the others.

She turned her head to the left as one of her comrade's called out, "Eva! Kate's been killed!" Eva's face twisted in horror as her comrade was abruptly struck down in a shower of blood.

"Lucia!" She looked forwards as something in front of her roared.

The snow cleared slightly, and dozens of huge shapes loomed closer in the blizzard. All different shapes and sizes, Eva stopped, "Wh-what . . . what the hell . . . what the hell is happening here!"

As the blizzard howled, the Claymore's screams could barely be heard in the darkness.

DON'T MIND ME I'M A LINE BREAK

I hope you enjoyed it :) I haven't replied to any reviews because no one signed in. I love you guys for reviewing, but I'm not going to leave replies for you in the author notes. Sorry.

Phoenix