N0mster: Yeah, Raki is using his position to the greatest effect, I assure you. Yes, Raki will be able to boost his allies exponentially, but in doing so renders himself vulnerable. Kind of like battle meditation from Star Wars.

Dany le fou: Hope you still like it after this chapter, kinda took a risk with it. Anyway, out of all the Ghosts, I liked Yuma the least, so I killed her off. I actually planned on having more of the Northern Force saved, but I couldn't without making it ridiculous, so I had to cut some people out with immense regret. Yes, Irene is a bit OOC, but I think she was only so emo about her arms because she didn't think she could do anything about it. Now that she knows she can, she has some hope. Plus the twins are a good influence. Also, if you missed it, the Abyssal Feeder project was scrapped by Rimuto when Raki was captured in chapter three, because they are no longer needed with Raki in the Organization. And as you will find out, I bring back a lot more than the three #1s. Or I will, at any rate.

Sigh: I think that I portrayed Raki's character rather accurately. He doesn't seem to be the type to hold grudges for too long, ESPECIALLY not after he is given a good reason for the actions against him, such as Renee's. If you've quit reading, well, goodbye. If not, stick around and enjoy, yeah? 3

A-01: Yeah, I get terrible writer's block sometimes, and it will usually result in a new story being posted on my profile because, if one plot isn't working out, I try another one. Forcing a chapter would just go poorly.

Just in case you people forgot, this is a Godlike!Raki. He is THE most powerful Claymore EVER, equal to or greater than even Theresa. If people bitch to me about him being overpowered, I will ignore you.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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Silver Eyed Angel

Chapter Five

A Silver Eyed Angel

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"So, you scouted for approximately three days and found no definitive signs of the new Abyssal of the South's location?" Rimuto inquired somewhat skeptically, and Deitrich nodded tightly. Raki had already been debriefed and then dismissed to his quarters, and now she had to try and deflect the Council's questions without giving anything away. Raki and her sisters were counting on her. She wouldn't fail.

"Yes, Sir! Number 00 and myself found a few hints and rumors, but nothing concrete. I believe that Saoirse* of the South, as she apparently is called, knows of our presence and our task. It is the only explanation for her to be so truly invisible to 00 and myself. It is probable that she has scouts all over the territory to watch for enemies, whether they be warriors or fellow Youma." she responded like the loyal soldier she was portraying. After answering a few more mundane questions, she was dismissed, leaving the Council to their musings and plotting.

"Saoirse, hmm..." Jo'sef Stalin mused, drumming his fingers on his armrest. "Former number one of the 15th generation, also called "Saoirse of the Shatterpoint". Why has she revealed herself after all this time? She could have claimed the title of Abyssal of the South at any time, Luciela never would have stood a chance against her, so why now?"

"Many of the most powerful of the former single digits were never confirmed dead. It is possible, even probable, that most Awakened and went into hiding to disguise themselves. It is possible that they are planning to unite in the face of the threat that Number 00 represents to them. He is on par with the greatest Claymore of all, Theresa of the Faint Smile. Perhaps even stronger. They would be wise to try to unite against him." Rimuto pointed out, and the Council murmured in agreement.

"How goes your Resurrection Project, Dae?" an Elder inquired, and the deformed madman shrugged nonchalantly with a twisted grin.

"It goes well, very well. I believe that, with the flesh and blood harvested from Number 00 during "maintenance" and "routine checkups", we will be able to resurrect all eight of the legendary number ones. Furthermore, they will not be likely to Awaken. According to all of my tests and prototypes, warriors created with samples of his blood and flesh, or normal warriors infused with his blood, are capable of using incredible amounts of their Youki and not Awakening. In fact, not a single of my test subjects ever Awakened." he answered casually, and the Council murmured in pleasure and interest. However, Dae continued. "Well, that's not entirely true. One Awakened voluntarily and the most interesting thing happened."

"And what was that, Dae?" an Elder inquired when Dae didn't continue.

"She remained in complete control of herself. Even when we pitched in a few humans with their bellies slit open, she made no attempt to feast. Instead, she got angry with me for killing humans, as we of the Organization is meant to protect them. Took us forever to convince her that they were traitors aiding the Youma. Even then, she simply tore them apart instead of feeding." came the jaw-dropping answer, and there was dead silence for several minutes, the Council shocked into it by such incredible news.

"That...shouldn't be possible." Rimuto breathed, his normally cold and aloof attitude stripped away by his shock and awe. "Imagine the possibilities of warriors that could truly Awaken on command, and remain in control of themselves! The Great War would be over swiftly!"

"Precisely, Lord Rimuto." Dae replied with a short bow and a smirk. "However, like you said, it shouldn't be possible. Even for a Claymore created with the flesh of the One-Horned Demon. It has to be something about Number 00 himself, but even I cannot fathom what it might be."

There was a long silence as the Council considered his words, before a reply came from a strange, but not unbelievable source.

"Strength of Will." a voice spoke up as Rubel exited his favorite shadowy corner.

"What do you mean, Rubel?" inquired an Elder, and the black-clad man shrugged, adjusting his bowler hat slightly.

"Raki was always a stubborn brat, from what I observed. He refused to believe that Claymore's couldn't control themselves, and as you know, kept the former #47 from Awakening in Rabona through sheer force of will and courage. Or, at least, that is the way rumors tell it. Soldiers do love to gossip, even in the Holy City." he answered, declining to mention that he had been there the whole time, watching. As the Grand Alliance's spy in the Organization, he had ways of make himself unnoticeable, and he knew that keeping an sharp eye on Clare's and Raki's activities would pay off. Looks like he was right. "So, it seems to me, that the power of Priscilla's flesh and blood augmented that stubborn will and made it into a true power, infusing it into his own flesh and blood..."

"And therefore, giving the ability to restrain themselves to anyone who receives it." Rimuto concluded, and Rubel nodded.

"I believe so, although I would hasten to add it is a mere theory, and even if it is true, it relies on the warrior choosing to remain in control." he cautioned, and Rimuto flapped a hand dismissively.

"Minor details. We will test your theory on Alicia and Beth." he responded, and Dae cleared his throat before speaking up.

"If we do so, I do not believe we will be able to totally destroy their emotions and sense of individuality like we had planned, Lord Rimuto." he warned, and again Rimuto dismissed it out of hand.

"It matters not. If the pair of them are able to Awaken and remain in control without resorting to the Twin Souls method, then spending the extra time destroying them mentally is unnecessary and a waste of time and resources. Dismissed." he scoffed, and Rubel smirked internally as he bowed and left the room. He was well aware of the little rebellion that Raki was brewing, and he was equally aware that the Organization was doomed, even if most of its warriors remained loyal, which he highly doubted. With the Organization destroyed and Raki in command of the remaining Claymores, all danger this island could pose to his superiors would vanish. He knew full well Raki would never get embroiled in the continental war unless he had no other choice. Just like he knew full well that Miria, Clare, and seven others were still alive in the North, and plotting their own revenge. He had hoped as much when he had subtly warned Clare about the mission and given Miria copies of the files that revealed the Organization's true purpose and ideals.

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"Well done, Dietrich. With any luck, they will do precisely what I hope they will, and send us out on a longer reconnaissance mission. then, we can continue to consolidate our forces."

"Thank you, Master. I was terrified that they would find me out. Um, Master...?"

Renee paused outside of Raki's door, frowning heavily as she listened to the odd-sounding conversation going on inside the room. What on earth could they be talking about? Forces? Master?

"Leave it. Even if the Council does figure out what is going on, pretty soon it will be too late. Another month, maybe two, and we can crush the Organization and stop their production of Youma."

Renee's eyes widened in shock. Not only was Raki plotting to destroy the Organization, but he had help! From Dietrich of all people! One of the most fanatically loyal warriors there was! And what did he mean by the production of Youma? The Organization had nothing to do with that, surely!

"What about Riful, Master, and the Great War on the continent? If either nation attacks, we will lose. All-powerful you might be, but even you cannot be everywhere at once."

Great War? Continent? Riful, Renee could understand. The Abyssal of the West was an aggressive little bitch, and any damage to the Organization would incite her to try and expand her territory. Everything else, though, sounded...impossible.

"We have to make sure the Organization doesn't get any messages out to their superiors across the ocean. As long as we intercept any missives that they might send out after we strike, the mainland won't know that Toulouse has had a change of management."

"And the humans, Master? The Organization Council and soldiers? The bandits? The criminals? What will we do with them if we succeed. In the chaos, who knows what they might do!"

"The Council and their soldiers will die, that much is certain. Either during the rebellion or after a fair trial in Rabona. I will not ask you and your sisters to compromise on your beliefs and your oaths to never harm a human."

"Master, those trash are hardly able to be considered human any longer."

"True enough, but that is for later. For now, return to your room until I call for you, or we are assigned another mission."

"Of course, Master."

Renee, hearing movement, hurriedly flash-stepped away, using as little Youki as possible to remain undetected. The moment she was gone, Dietrich's voice spoke up again.

"She is gone, Master. Are you sure this is wise, letting her hear all that?"

"It won't make a difference. If she betrays me again, intentionally this time, then she will prove just who's side she is on. If not, we can count her a loyal comrade. At this point, as I said, it's too late to stop us. Now, go and get some rest. That's an order."

"Yes, Master. Sleep well."

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Raki breathed a deep, strong breath and smiled as he let it out. The warm, flavorful scent of a bustling city brought back fond memories and joy as he gazed at the gates into the Holy City of Rabona. Traders, soldiers, farmers, and simple travelers bustled to and fro along the road to the gate, or around the small farmsteads clustered around it. Children scampered about in the grass under the watchful eyes of their parents and roving patrols, ensuring none vanished and were replaced by a Youma.

"Is this wise, Master? Sneaking into the Holy City of Rabona? You know of course that they hate our kind?" Dietrich asked cautiously, and Raki rolled his eyes slightly. She was always so on-guard around him, having to be respectful and deferential even when asking a question. Although. she seemed to be questioning his sanity and judgment a lot recently...

"Oh, stop calling me Master, Dietrich." he grumbled, only to be ignored as she looked at him expectantly, and he sighed before continuing. "I know Rabona is publicly not fond of us, but ever since Clare and I helped save the town from a Youma back when we first met, they've been slowly lightening up. Besides, I'm friends with a Bishop and two City Guard officers. This will be a cakewalk."

With that, the silver-eyed male headed off down the hill, Dietrich just about stomping after him while huffing in annoyance as the third member of their party, Irene, smirked in amusement as she followed sedately. After nearly a half an hour of walking, they arrived at the massive gates that allowed entrance to the Holy City, and were stopped by the guards, who eyes their cloaks and drawn hoods.

"Names, purpose, and duration of stay, if you please." a Holy Guard Captain asked with polite steel in his voice.

"I am called Raki. With me are Irene and Dietrich, my sisters and steadfast companions. We've come to visit my dear friends and members of the Guard, Cid and Galk. Could you, perhaps, tell them we're here?" Raki replied politely, and the soldiers exchanged looks before the Captain jerked his head to two of his men.

"Go an find the Commanders. Tell them the names and see what they want to do." he ordered, and both saluted before rushing off in a clatter of steel armor. Turning back to the trio, he gestured towards one side of the gate. "Please, stand over there somewhere so traffic can continue moving. Next person, please."

The trio moved to an out of the way and somewhat shadowed alcove, watching with amused interest as person after person came forward with reasons to enter the city. Some were legitimate, while others just served to irritate the guards and get the irritants a boot print on their backsides. Sometime later, the two messengers came huffing back, followed by a tall, broad shouldered tank of a man in ornate but fully functional plate armor, and a shorter and slimmer, but no less muscular, younger man wearing flexible yet tough studded leather armor. Both conversed with the Guard Captain at the gate for a moment, before striding over to the trio, stopping before them. After a hard stare, Galk's hand flashed up and jerked Raki's hood back from his face, revealing his shimmering silver hair and gleaming eyes.

"Well, well, well." the man mused, settling his weight on his back heel as he crossed his arms. "What have we here, Cid? He looks like the brat would after a few years. Same scar, same attitude, but he's not all that human anymore. What's to say you're the same brat who helped that Claymore, Clara, save the Duke's life?"

"Clever, Galk, testing me to see if I am a Youma by changing the fact. My companion was Clare, not Clara, and we saved then-Father Vincent with your help, though I hear he has been prompted since then." Raki responded, not at all concerned. In fact, to Irene and Dietrich's disbelief, he seemed amused!

"Good to see you again, kid!" Galk said gruffly after a moment clapping Raki on the shoulder hard. "What the hell happened to ya, and where is Clare?"

"Yeah, where is Clare, and has she grown up as much as you have?" Cid smirked a little lecherously, and Raki eyed him dangerously.

"You remember what happened the last time you did something perverted to Clare?" he asked casually, and Cid's smirk dropped into a grimace as a phantom pain went through his crotch. Smirking, Raki returned his attention to a chuckling Galk. "Clare is missing, maybe dead, after a suicide mission to the North. As for me...well, the Organization decided I would make a good guinea pig. Think you can get me and the girls inside, find us a nice place to have a drink and catch up without some young punk trying to take my head clean off?"

"That's grave news. Come, I know just the place." Galk replied grimly, turning and heading back towards the city. Raki smiled slightly before pulling his hood back up and following, Irene and Dietrich flanking him, with Cid following along behind and cursing the long cloaks from robbing him a nice view of their no-doubt athletic bodies and...assets.

Twenty minutes later finds the five of them sitting in a dark but roomy bar, food and drink on the table before them. The bar, frequented by members of the Guard, was probably one of the safest places in Rabona during off-duty hours.

"Alright kid, fill us in. What's happened since we saw you last?" Galk grunted, taking a draught of his mead.

"Clare and I moved on to our next missions. Time passed and we were forced to separate by a rogue warrior. Not long after, I was found by the Organization's 'soldiers' and sent to the work camps in the North. Soon after arriving there, I was found by the Abyssal of the North, Isley, and his mate, Priscilla. They took me in and have been caring for me and teaching me to fight until the last few months, when I returned here in search of Clare. In the interim, Priscilla was murdered and the Organization used her flesh and blood to create me, the 'perfect warrior'."

"What do you mean, perfect warrior?" Cid asked, frowning slightly, and Raki shrugged slightly before responding.

"I can't ever lose control of my power, and I have the most power out of any warrior ever, bar one. Theresa of the Faint Smile had the same amount of power I do now, but rarely ever used it. It is said she never used more than ten percent of her strength. She only died after being betrayed by a comrade, who Awakened." Raki explained, not mentioning that said warrior was Priscilla. After all, the girl he considered a sister was not the same person who became the One-Horned Demon all those years ago.

"And what about Clare? You say she was sent on a suicide mission to the North? Why didn't you find each other then, and why do you think she is alive now?" Galk inquired after a moment. It was...staggering, to hear that the strong-willed and stubborn, but overly emotional kid he remembered had not only turned into a powerful swordsman and Claymore, but was apparently the closest thing to all-powerful that existed in the mortal plane.

"She and twenty-three other warriors were sent to confront an army of powerful Youma in the North. What most of the warriors didn't know is that they were sent to be disposed of. All of them were what the Organization Elders considered "problems" or "troublesome warriors". Questioning Organization orders, asking to many questions about where Youma come from, having independent thoughts, things like that." Raki explained, and the two older men exchanged glances at the anger and bitterness in the boy's tone. Raki sighed before continuing. "None of the warriors ever returned. But Clare swore to me that she would come back to me, and so I look for her while plotting to destroy the Organization for their crimes."

"So why are you here then? Not that we mind, you're a friend, but what purpose can Rabona of all places serve in these plans of yours?" Galk asked, slightly suspicious.

"For one, my people have reason to believe a defector, God-Eye Galatea, is hiding in the city. I want her to join me. For another, I sensed a powerful Youma here not too long ago. I am positive that it isn't a comrade of mine," Here Raki held up a hand to forestall any protests or outrage from the two humans. "Trust me, normal Youma are usually irredeemable but the more powerful ones used to be like me and Clare. Therefore, they can be reasoned with if one knows how to do so cautiously. Regardless, I aim to seek it out and confront it."

"Want do you want we of the Holy Guard to do while you confront this creature?" Cid asked, not willing to sit on the sidelines.

"Nothing except protect the civilians. It is powerful, a former single digit at the very least. Probably a former number one or two." Raki replied, shaking his head at the human's angry grumbling. "I understand that this is your city and you want to protect it, but you remember what it was like facing an above average Youma, not a powerful Awakened warrior. Your men would be slaughtered and Rabona would be vulnerable to bandits. No, leave this thing to me and my girls."

Hidden inside their hoods, both Irene and Dietrich blushed at being referred to as such by their powerful leader and friend. It was a well-known fact in the infant rebellion that Raki was considered the number one most desirable mate by the majority of its female members. Many wanted him only for his power and nothing else, but a few (such as Kiara and Nimue) loved the person behind the overwhelming aura of strength and command. Amusingly, Raki was totally oblivious to the respect, lust, and affection with which his female comrades regarded him, much to their everlasting chagrin. While Dietrich was in love and in awe of him, Irene still wasn't sure how she felt about him as a potential lover. He was kind, and sweet, and a gentleman, but was he what she wanted to welcome to her bed at night? She just wasn't sure.

"Very well, then." Galk nodded, getting to his feet. "Do you want to see Bishop Vincent?"

"Not at the moment, best that I eliminate the threat first, and socialize more later." Raki disagreed, getting to his feet and glancing at Dietrich and Irene as they did the same. A small smile inexplicably tugged at his mouth for a moment before he shook his head and led the way out of the pub.

"Try and keep it quiet until the fight starts, you two." he ordered Cid and Galk absently as he reached out, searching for his target. "I don't want to tip her off if I can avoid it, that could cause unnecessary damage to the city and deaths amongst its people. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" both saluted reflexively at the tone of absolute command and authority Raki used, and the silver-haired male smirked rakishly before vanishing in a flash-step, Irene and Dietrich following quickly. Cid and Galk exchanged speaking looks before hastening off to gather soldiers for the evacuation...quietly.

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"There she is, girls. 5' 9" tall, reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, lingering near the pastry booth watching the kids. Description matches Fresh-Blood Agatha's human form." Raki murmured lowly to his two comrades after locating their quarry, who gave soft sounds of acknowledgment and confirmation as they, too, spotted her. "Alright, this is the plan. I go in and fight her, you guys stay here and watch! Got it? Great!"

"Master/Raki, wait!" the pair cried together, hands reaching to stop him, but he was already gone, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as he raced towards the Awakened Being, landing before her as civilians scrambled away from the cloaked man who had just landed in their midst.

"Former number two, Agatha, called "Fresh-Blood Agatha". This is your first and last chance to surrender peacefully and live. Resist and you will be eliminated as a threat to the citizens of Toulouse." Raki's voice rang against the stones of the marketplace.

There was dead silence in the courtyard for a moment that seemed to be an eternity, and even Irene and Dietrich were holding their breath to see her response. Finally, the silence was broken by high, cold, and rather maniacal laughter.

"You think a mere boy-child, warrior or not, can slay me, Number Two of the 60th Generation?" Agatha hissed, sneering at Raki with contempt and arrogance. "This is your first and last chance. Submit to becoming my slave, and I may mate with you every once in a while."

"Very well, I warned you. Prepare yourself." Raki sighed sadly. Casting off his cloak, he drew his claymore and fell into the initial stance of Cabur. A breath later, and Agatha was leaping backwards in an effort to keep her head on her shoulders. The civilians watched in awe as the Raki standing still slowly faded, revealing itself to be nothing but an afterimage left behind the pure, unadulterated speed.

"You will not prevent me from feasting on this city!" Agatha raged, leaping backwards in a rather elegant back flip to land on top the market's centerpiece, a rather beautiful fountain inscribed with passages from the holy texts of the city. Jumping straight up from the point, the sky was blanketed with black tendrils that lashed out from her transforming body and weaved themselves together to form a massive eight legged monstrosity several house-widths in size. From atop the massive platform that the legs supported, a now naked Agatha lounged comfortably even as more tentacles appeared, wrapping around several young men and women from the market, pulling them up to her platform.

"Oh, don't you all look so delicious." she smirked, licking her lips hungrily as she eyed their lean, youthful bodies. Guts from the young was always better than those from the old, she had discovered. Lifting a young woman above herself, she opened her mouth in preparation to drink the girl's lifeblood before feasting on her guts, but before she could tear the girl in two, a blur and a searing pain stopped her. In an instant, all of her body's massive legs, as well as the tendrils holding the girl had been cut away, and the girl found herself wrapped in strong arms, staring with awe into the gleaming silver eyes of Raki even as Agatha's massive body began to drop towards the ground.

"Are you alright, miss?" Raki asked gently, and the girl nodded with a bright blush. "Good, I am glad to hear it. If a pretty and sweet girl like you was hurt by my enemy, I don't know what I would do. Irene, Dietrich, get her and the others out of here. Protect the civilians while I deal with Agatha."

"Okay/Right Away, Raki/Master!" the pair replied in unison, flash-stepping about retrieving the innocents while Raki distracted Agatha with a veritable barrage of high-velocity sword-strikes, ones that she struggled to block with walls of tentacles.

"Why do you fight so hard for humans? We are gods! They are nothing but food and entertainment!" Agatha growled darkly, and Raki glared at her. Their standoff continued for several long minutes, around them Irene and Dietrich protected the humans from stray, hunting vines seeking blood to boost Agatha's strength.

"We were human once, Agatha. If you've forgotten what we were and why we were made into warriors, then you are beyond help!" he hissed, removing her head from her shoulders with a well-done butterfly sweep. However, her body did not crumble with her decapitation, and her head smirked at him viciously.

"You will have to try harder than that to kill me, whelp! Behold, my TRUE FORM!" she snarled as more vine-like tentacles wrapped around her, forming a towering humanoid creature that stared down at him. The watching crowd of soldiers and citizens alike gasped in horror, fearing that their hero was now surely dead. Imagine the surprise of everyone present when he began to laugh uproariously.

"You...call that...your true form?" he bit out between snickers, and she hissed hatefully at his amusement. All merriment abruptly left his face as he rested his claymore on his shoulder. "Nonsense, I can sense your Youki moving around inside of it. The head of your human form is what needs to be cleaved, and that's what I'm going to do."

The sharp crack of rapidly displaced air echoed, and faster than any eye could perceive, Raki was standing behind Agatha.

"Wha...?" Agatha gasped, and suddenly fountains of blood burst forth from inside the husk of vine-tendrils, which immediately collapsed and withered away, the corrupted flesh quickly disappearing without the Youki that had kept it alive.

"Now, to deal with this thing..." Raki murmured, gazing at the giant crab-like corpse that had been Agatha's true form. Flash-stepping onto the top of it, he stood in the center of the platform and sucked in a deep breath, bringing his Youki to bear on his blade, which glowed white-hot from the pure power flowing through it. With a shout, Raki plunged the blade into the corpse.

The resulting flash of light could be seen for leagues, yet somehow didn't blind any of those watching. The wave of Youki that accompanied the light could be felt in all regions of Toulouse...

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In Staff, every present warriors head swung in eerie harmony to the north-west, where Rabona lay. Each knew only one being alive could create that power, and shivered in mingled lust and fear before they returned to their duties.

Deep in the bowels of Organization Headquarters, in Dae's lab, the eight reassembled corpses of the legendary eight warriors twitched and vibrated under the effects of the aura, their bodies rippling as stitches were forced from flesh...flesh that was rapidly healing itself. Even the throat-to-crotch gashes that could never be healed shut were closing themselves. An observing Dae roared with giddy laughter, devising new experiments and 'product' ideas on the fly as he observed what even peripheral power of Number 00's aura could perform.

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In the dank halls of her abandoned castle home, far in the west, Riful looked to the east and growled, rubbing her thighs together slightly. Once again, that boy was outside of her reach. He was to powerful for her to subdue now. It would come down to cunning and persuasion now. Until then...

"DAUF! GET IN HERE!" she roared angrily, and waited for her bumbling mate to arrive. He may not be Raki, but Dauf could scratch an itch well enough, for now.

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Far in the north, Clare staggered and fell to her knees, nearly losing her head to Miria as they sparred, and instantly her comrades were by her side, worry and concern filling their faces and voices as they both discussed the massive aura to the south, and Clare's near death.

Clare, however, wasn't paying any attention to their words. That aura, it was more powerful even than she could produce. That wasn't what mattered to her though. She would recognize the feeling of that aura anywhere, even if the last time she had felt it was when it belonged to a human. Her human.

Her Raki...

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Deep in the mountains, far from any civilization, the aura was fainter, but still powerful, drawing the attentions of many former warriors, but one in particular took special note of it.

"Hmm? Oh my, such a...wonderful aura..." a female voice, youthful and beautiful, murmured, followed by the sound of a hoof pawing the earth. "Filled with strength, yet kindness. I must meet its maker. Perhaps I have finally found a male worthy of mating with me."

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Far in the North, Isley and two of his lieutenants stopped, and gazed to the south, and one of the lieutenants questioned his Lord and Master with fear in his voice.

"Lord Isley...who or what was that?"

"Do not worry yourself, Casan. That, or rather "he", is Raki, and it seems that his power is greater than I could have ever imagined. come, we must continue preparing for the war. Make haste." Isley responded, a smirk on his handsome visage even as his eyes gleamed with happiness and confidence. Make them fear you, brother. Let them know what will be coming for them!

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Later that night, Raki and his girls, along with Cid and Galk, found themselves being entertained at the beautiful and ornate residence of one Bishop Vincent.

In the hours that had passed since Raki had incinerated Agatha's body to ashes with his sheer power, he had found himself looked upon with awe and reverence by the entire city. He was heralded as a hero, a silver-eyed angel sent by the twin goddesses Teresa and Clare to protect the world from the Youma. Many of the laws against Claymores had been abolished almost instantly as a crowd of civilians, carrying Raki on their shoulders, swarmed the palace of the Archbishop, demanding that he honor those made in the image of their angel. Faced with little choice, and having no personal reasons to deny them, the Archbishop had agreed immediately and set his scribes to work, promising it would be done by morning.

Then Raki had suffered through hours of well-wishers, tearful thank yous and (to the outrage of Irene and Dietrich) hordes of marriage proposals from swooning and sighing young (and even old) women.

Finally, Cid and Galk arrived with a contingent of guards and broke the crowd up, loudly declaring that the Bishop had requested "the silver-eyed angel's" presence, and that he and his comrades had to depart immediately.

"'Silver-Eyed Angel!' Bah!" Raki growled, crossing his arms with a dark frown. "I am nothing of the sort! I did my duty, I don't understand why they are placing me on a pedestal!"

"Did you not see it, Raki?" the Bishop asked softly, gazing at his young friend with warmth in his eyes. It was good to see the boy alive and well, and even better to see him saving his home from a true monster.

"See what?" Raki asked, confused, but it was Dietrich who answered him.

"It was incredible, Master." she breathed in awe, and Raki swore her eyes were turning into miniature stars as she looked at him. "The aura of your power, it formed to bright, golden wings behind you before you struck the corpse. Your eyes shone with the power of ten-thousand lamps. And your aura..." Here she shuddered and tried to avoid rubbing her thighs together as she remembered the feeling it gave her. "Such strength, but in that strength was endless warmth. I could feel the goodness of your heart in that moment, like your soul itself was before us all in all of its glory, basking us in the warmth and gentleness of its presence..."

"You're getting very spiritual here, Dietrich..." Raki said a little awkwardly before turning back to Vincent, whom he swore was pretending his laughter were coughs. "So, because of my aura, everyone thinks that I'm an actual angel sent by the Twin Goddesses or something?"

"I think that tomorrow they will realize you are simply a very powerful, and a very good, man. But a man all the same. As for being sent by the Great Twins...well, that is for the future to reveal to us." Vincent said wisey, before smiling and shaking his head. "Regardless, enough excitement for one day. Come, let me show you three to the room I have set aside for you. I was going to give you separate quarters, but the two ladies insisted on sleeping in the same room as you."

"Thank you, Bishop." Raki said softly, his mind whirling with what he had seen and heard today. The trio followed the Bishop through the beautiful and welcoming halls of his home until they reached a pair of large, double doors. Nodding to them, he smiled warmly at the trio.

"Here you are, my young friends. Sleep well, I shall see you tomorrow."

"Sleep well, Bishop." the trio replied together, bowing low as the man turned and headed for his own suite of rooms.

An hour and several arguments later, Raki was lying in bed with Dietrich and Irene on either side of him, both having claimed a shoulder to sleep on "because the pillows were too comfortable".

"Raki?" Irene murmured quietly.

"Hmm? What is it, Irene?" said young man asked, and Irene paused for a beat before continuing.

"Your power is beyond anything that I've ever heard of beyond those of the gods themselves. Why do you not simply destroy the Organization now?" she asked, and Raki hummed to himself for a moment before answering.

"Because I need to gather allies, to show the world that the Organization is corrupt, dark, and twisted. A lie bent on ruling the world using us as its soldiers and victims. I need to show our kin that they are being deceived. Then, when it comes to the fighting, I will not have to spill the blood of the very people I am trying to save. Besides, if all I did was use my power to crush the people I didn't like and take control, I would become the very people I am trying to defeat."

"With great power comes a heavy burden, and great responsibility." Dietrich murmured sleepily, proving herself awake, if only just. Leaning up she gently kissed Raki's cheek before snuggling into him slightly. "You would make a great king, Master, because you care for the people. You will never be seduced by your power, I know that to be a truth. Goodnight, Master."

"Goodnight, Raki." Irene murmured, placing her own kiss on Raki's other cheek, before settling down to rest. soon enough, Raki was the only one awake, and he sighed mentally as he wrestled with himself in his mind.

Such power...will I become the very demons I now try to destroy? Or will I do the right thing and free this land? Who am I? What am I? And who, or what, will I become?

Consumed by his doubts and fears, Raki slept little that night...

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That is a wrap! Remember, I have a plan, so don't go complaining about his power.

*Saoirse: Irish-Gaelic. Pronounced Seer-Sha.