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Silver Eyed Angel

Chapter Six

God-Eye and Compromise

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"A tall, blonde-haired woman with scars? There are few that fit that description in this city, and the most prominent in my mind is Sister Latea. She came to us a couple of years ago, having lost her eyes to some wound-a large gash-like scar is there now-and asked for refuge. We accepted, of course, and now she spends her time with the children the Church cares for. They all adore her." Vincent mused, eyes vacant in thought, and Raki exchanged loaded looks with his two female companions. Vincent came back to earth and gave them a cautious stare. "You're aren't planning on bringing any harm to her, are you? Former Claymore or not, she is well-loved in this city."

"Hardly, I want her help. I plan on ending the Youma threat once and for all, but I need her help to do it." Raki said honestly, and Vincent blinked before smiling broadly, clapping the young man on his shoulder cheerfully.

"Not a week ago I would have said such a thing was impossible, but you...you, I believe in. I hope you can manage it, my young friend, because this land is sorely in need of such an act." he said warmly, and Raki flushed slightly at the old man's faith in him. "You can find Sister Latea at the orphanage this time of day, playing with the children."

"Thank you, Bishop." Raki bowed slightly, the two young women copying him, before all three swept from the room, determined to find and recruit the "God Eye" to their cause. Vincent watched them go with a small smile, praying for success to The Twins, while simultaneously wondering what the future held for his young friend. Glancing at the ornate grandfather clock against one wall, he sighed and headed for his closet to prepare for the first meeting of his day, with the Archbishop.

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"I feel like some sort of celebrity." Raki grumbled with a forced grin as he waved to the many citizens crying out greetings or shouting his praises. He and his two ladies had been noticed the instant they exited the Bishop's home, and the adoring crowds of Rabonians had been watching them since.

"You are a celebrity, Master." Dietrich said dryly, though it was obvious she was amused and irritated. Amused because of her Master's situation, with the discomfort he was exhibiting due to the reverence and awe he was being regarded with. Irritated because, well...

"Great Angel, The Twins spoke to me in a dream last night! I'm meant to have your children!"

"No, I am! Give me your babies, Angel!"

"I love you, Angel! Take me now!"

Both Dietrich and Irene growled faintly in annoyance, glaring at the young women in the crowd that were propositioning their love-interest/denied crush. All of them wanted him for his fame and his body. None of them knew anything about Raki, nothing at all, and here they were trying to get into his bed.

"All I did was kill an Awakened Being." the propositioned male groaned, increasing his pace in the hopes of outrunning his admirers, but when that proved futile he, and then his two companions, blurred slightly before reappearing on a nearby roof, and the crowd watch with awe (and disappointment) as the trio leapt from building to building until they vanished from sight.

Grumbling, the crowd dispersed to return to their daily lives, and the bustle of the city returned as merchants hawked their wares, customers shouted, children rushed about underfoot, and the guard tried to keep it all under control.

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Inside the Holy Orphanage of the Sacred Twins, the blind, statuesque blonde known in Rabona as "Sister Latea" paused and smirked faintly, before getting to her feet with swift grace.

"Please continue with your lessons, children, I'll be back shortly. Behave yourselves." she ordered her charges gently, before sweeping from the room and out into the courtyard.

"Well, well, well. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Silver Eyed Angel of the Twin Goddesses." she smirked provocatively, resting one hand on her hip as three blurs jumped from a nearby roof to land in front of her. She had felt him yesterday, of course, even the humans could feel such a massive surge of power, and she had found herself rather damp between the thighs. If she was honest with herself, she had wanted to hunt the male down and take him then and there, but was unwilling to risk exposing herself without knowing more.

"I'm no more "Silver Eyed Angel" than you are "Sister Latea", Galatea of the God-Eye, former number six of the Organization." Raki said, eyes roving the admittedly beautiful form of Renee's predecessor before settling on where her eyes once were. "I have a proposition for you."

"I took a vow of chastity." Galatea said promptly with a teasing note in her voice, and Raki nearly tripped over his own feet , blushing heavily. Internally, both Irene and Dietrich were a mixture of disappointed and elated. One the one hand, she was gorgeous and they knew they would have to share Raki, so why not share with attractive women? On the other hand, it meant less competition and less sharing if her comment about the vow was true.

"I'm here to ask you to join me in destroying the Organization and wiping out every Youma alive, and stopping any more from coming to be." Raki said bluntly after regaining himself, and it was Galatea's turn to react in shock as she "stared" at him in disbelief. "Should you decide to join me, I can get you your eyes back."

"Somehow I doubt that..." Galatea mused, before using her Youki to "look" at his companions. "I recognize one of the auras with you...Irene, is that you? And...do you have two arms again?"

"It's me, Galatea, and yes I do. One of our comrades, Nimue, was able to completely restore them both to me, as strong as before, with Raki providing the power necessary. They can restore your eyes, Galatea, you just need to let them." Irene answered her former comrade and subordinate. Pondering this information, Galatea hummed a little to herself. She thought of the children, who had grown so attached to her, and to whom she had grown so attached to. Could she leave them behind? On the other hand, going with Raki meant the chance to secure their future safety and happiness by destroying both the Organization and Youma. Could she ignore such a chance?

"...Do you stand a chance at winning?" she asked quietly, and received a curious look from Raki and incredulity from Irene and Dietrich. Sensing their shock and incredulousness in their auras, she shrugged slightly and smiled faintly. "I felt your power, but Priscilla was powerful too. She is dead."

"Priscilla was killed by a specialized poison that forces Youki out of control until it kills it's owner, a poison that has to be ingested to work. I am not stupid enough to eat food cooked by the Organization, and they don't know I am an enemy. As far as they know, I don't even know my own past, and I am just their brainwashed killer." Raki answered evenly, with an imperceptible flinch as he was reminded of Priscilla's fate. "I will achieve victory. All that remain is whether you are on my side, or theirs."

Galatea regarded him curiously, head cocked to the side slightly as she weighed the pros and cons once more, before sighing and nodding her head. There was really no other good choice, and besides, Raki seemed very...interesting. And she had never gotten around to taking that Vow...

"Is there no neutral ground, Raki?" she asked quietly, and Raki sighed heavily before shaking his head.

"As of now...no. I cannot afford to have any lose ends during this rebellion. I need to know you won't be attacking me from behind, and the only way to do that is to have you where I can see you. After everything is over, than maybe you can go your own way. Come back to this orphanage or something, but as of now, there is no neutrality." he responded almost sadly, and it was Galatea's turn to sigh before she nodded acceptance.

"Very well, it's not like I am a great believer in the Organization now anyway, otherwise I wouldn't be hiding out here. I'll meet you at the Bishop Vincent's home tonight, after I say my goodbyes to the children and gather what things I possess." she responded, not unhappily.

"I'm relieved to hear it. I did not relish the idea of killing or imprisoning you until it was all over, Galatea. We will see you tonight, but until then we are going to hunt Youma in the surrounding region." Raki said, relief palpable in his voice and bearing, before the trio blurred away across the rooftops towards the main gate.

"You are indeed an interesting man, Raki, the Silver Eyed Angel." Galatea mused, turning back to the orphanage, smirking all the while. I look forward to knowing more...

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Three Days Later, Manor House, Northern Lands, Tolousse.

Inside the former manor that the Ghosts had made their home, a debate had been raging back and forth between the sister warriors as they argued over whether the stay and train further, or journey south. The debate had been sparked by the overwhelming aura from the south four nights past, and Clare's identification of it as Raki's had sparked concern for her sanity. However, when Miria, Helen, and Deneve had all mentioned that it felt somewhat familiar and similar to the latent aura the boy had possessed as a human (all living things possessed an aura, but only Youki-enhanced beings or very rare and skilled humans could utilize it to any effect) the group had settled into the current argument.

Clare, Helen, Veronica, and Zelda all wanted to head south immediately, galvanized by the knowledge that the most powerful being on earth was Clare's human friend, and therefore likely to help them end the Organization swiftly.

Cynthia, Deneve, and Lily, being more cautious and wary, all wanted to train for another year before heading south, to ensure that they were fully prepared.

Miria was stuck trying to mediate the "debate", which was getting ready to escalate into a full-on brawl.

"ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU!" she finally roared, slamming her hands down on the desk she was sitting behind, silencing the room immediately as all faces turned towards her. Glaring around at them all, she continued. "I know this is a stressful topic, and a highly contested one, but you are sisters and comrades. You will treat each other with the respect and affection you all deserve, understood?"

There was some half-hearted grumbling, but her shout and reminder had done its job to settle the dangerously high tempers down to a mere simmer, something that she could work with.

"Good, now I believe that both sides have a good point. Clare is correct," she said, looking at Cynthia's group. "Raki is very loyal to Clare personally, so much so he refused to stay in Rabona with a powerful religious leader that offered him a home, just to be with her. If we asked for his help, he would surely give it, and the Organization would fall. Furthermore, we are very nearly as strong as we can be at this time."

Clare's group began to smirk triumphantly as Cynthia's group reluctantly agreed., but the smirks were wiped away as Miria turned to them sternly, and continued.

"Cynthia's group has just as good a point. We aren't ready yet. Even after we end the Organization, which will surely be much easier now, we will still need to hunt down and subdue or kill the Youma and Awakened Beings. We need to have the strength to do so, because there won't be anyone to replace us in protecting Humanity and this land from the Youma and Awakened Beings if we die. True?"

Receiving a grudging nod and agreement from that group, she turned back until she was facing the middle ground once more.

"Therefore, we shall train for another six months before we head south. By that time, all of us should be in peak condition and have mastered our current techniques. Now, Tabitha, what is Isley and his people up to these days?"

"Pretty much the same, Captain Miria. Gathering together in the town closest to the border and preparing for battle. With who or what, I don't know, but a large contingent, maybe twenty Youma and two high-ranked Awakened Beings left two days ago. Their orders were to "find the allies of the Silver Eyed Angel" and make sure that the "rebel Youma don't interfere" with his "plans to secure the Eastern and Southern Lands." Tabitha replied, allowing some murmuring before she continued. "Another pair of mid-ranked Awakened Beings headed South with orders to liaise with Seoirse, the new Abyssal of the South, on Isley's and this "Silver Eyed Angel's" behalf."

"'Silver Eyed Angel?'" Veronica frowned, puzzling over the phrase. "It doesn't sound like a name any Youma or Awkened Being would give someone, and what would cause humans to call an Awakened Being an Angel?"

"Theresa was highly respected in a couple of towns after she went rogue for saving me. She had killed Youma there for free, and the people loved her for it. Perhaps this Angel did the same thing?" Clare offered, and the group nodded, as that did make some sense, but then Deneve frowned.

"If that was the case though, why would not one, but TWO Abyssals be willing to aid this warrior? And why would the Organization let her go around saving towns without requiring pay?"

"Well, Isley has been acting more and more like a warrior or a human for the last few years, and especially the last year and a half, than I have ever seen any Youma or Awakened Being act. Maybe this Angel reminded them of who they used to be, turned them to her side? Doesn't make much sense otherwise." Cynthia offered, and Helen chimed in.

"As for the Organization, as long as the warrior hasn't broken any laws, they technically can't do anything. I mean, if she just comes across a Youma while patrolling and kills the thing without a request being made, she isn't doing anything wrong."

"The world is getting stranger everyday..." Lily moaned, cradling her head in the palm of one hand. Snorts of amusement and agreement echoed through the room, and the group split up into their own discussions. Clare got to her feet and swept from the room with an angry, if graceful, rush. Miria watched her friend go worriedly, and started when Tabitha appeared beside her and lay a hand on her arm.

"Go after her, Captain Miria. She is so close, and yet so far, from finding him again. She needs you more than the rest of us right now." the Ghost's "Eye" said softly, and Miria gave a brief nod of thanks before hastening after Clare.

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Clare stood in the yard of the manor house the Ghosts had lived in the past few years, staring at the bright starlit sky. It was clear, so clear tonight, not a cloud in sight to mar the view. The calm summer breeze rustled through the bushes and trees hardy enough to survive the brutal winters. She both heard and sensed Miria coming to a halt a few feet behind her, but continued to silently regard the skies for another minute or so. Miria, to her relief, was willing to let her have her peace for as long as she needed.

"...what do you want now, Miria?" she said finally, turning to face her friend and leader. "You've already gotten what you wanted earlier. Now I have to wait another six months to even begin to look for him, even if I know he is right there. So why are you here?"

Miria winced at the bitter sadness filling Clare's voice, and her heart ached at the incredible loneliness behind it. She hated seeing Clare like this, depressed and lonely whenever she thought of the handsome brunette that had stolen her heart. It had gotten even worse after the aura incident, because now she knew he was alive and in the south, when before it was nothing but a forlorn hope.

"Its sixth months, Clare. We know he is alive, and strong enough to stay that way until we find him. But we need to get stronger in order to survive and stay by his side, otherwise he could very well get hurt trying to protect us." Miria reasoned, and Clare gritted her teeth angrily, trying not to unleash harsh words on her sister warrior.

"It is easy for you to say, Miria. You're not in love with him." she ground out, but her words were met only with silence, and she turned to see her friend looking pensieve. "Miria?"

"I may not love him as much as you, but his aura," the Phantom replied, shuddering faintly, though not from fear or disgust, but something else entirely. "His aura evoked such a feeling in me that I shall never forget. My instincts have been screaming at me since then. It's not just me, either. All of the Ghosts are drawn to it, like moths to a flame. It...it calls to us, Clare. So I know what even a small part of what it feels like, I assure you."

Clare was speechless. Her Youma side didn't particularly care if her mate decided to take others, as long as they understood their place-below her. Her human side, however, was protesting very loudly, and was hurt by the apparent betrayal of her sisters and closest friends. How could they feel anything for him, knowing that she, Clare, was in love with him? How could they betray her like this?

She prepared to unleash a brutal stream of anger and cursing, but hesitated at the look in Miria's eyes as they met her own. Fear, concern, affection, regret, and...hope. Such overwhelming hope that it took her aback, her anger seeping away as she sighed heavily, understanding the situation.

"I'm not going to yell at you, Miri. I wish it hadn't happened, and I'm by no means happy about it, but I could think of worse people to have beside me seeking his affections than my sisters. And I know that your Youma natures are pushing you into this, just as mine is. That, and ONLY that is why I'm not trying to beat you bloody at the moment."

"I..thank you, Clare..." Miria murmured, thankful that her friend was being so accepting. This couldn't be easy for her, she knew, but fortunately Clare also seemed to accept the inevitability. of course, whether or not she remained as accepting when it came time to actually be with Raki and share him, well, that remained to be seen.

"Hmph." the inheritor of the Quicksword and Windcutter grumbled, turning and starting to walk away. "If I have to stay here for another six months, I'm going to go train. I'll be back later."

Miria watched her go, a small smile touching her lips before she turned and headed back inside. The other Ghosts needed to know about Clare's tentative agreement to their desire to share Raki. It ought to make them happy, even the ones who claimed they weren't interested in him at all, such as Tabitha and Zelda. Their tunes would change when they met him in person. In fact, if his aura at this distance was any indication, the Ghosts might just end up tearing of clothes and begging him to have his way with them right then and there, and damn where they were, and who else was present.

Her smile broadened into a smirk as she considered the stoic Deneve begging Raki to take her. Wouldn't that be an entertaining sight?

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Deep in the bowels of the Organization, the Council has met once more to discuss the changes that had been occurring almost constantly since #00 had been "finished" and started doing missions.

"So, you say that Number 00 is essentially the solution to all our problems? His flesh and blood can give them control and healing, his aura itself can boost their Youki enough to heal that one wound that never has healed before?" Rimuto inquires of the Head Scientist, and he nods with something akin to excitement. "And you're sure that you can resurrect just about any warrior whose complete body we have? Including both Theresa and Priscilla?"

"Yes, Elder Rimuto. With the concoction that is keeping #00 under our control, I can ensure that any resurrected warriors, even former number ones, won't remember a thing about their former lives. They will be totally under our control, and between them they would be more than enough to subdue #00 should it become needed." Dae confirmed confidently, his disfigured face twisting into a gruesome parody of a smile. "And with his power supported by theirs, the world will fall before us!"

Pleased murmuring filled the room, and Dae was dismissed back to his lab. After the door had shut behind him, a shadow detached itself from the wall and stood before the Council, revealing itself to be Rubel.

"You have a report for us, Rubel?" Rimuto asked curiously, and the man in black nodded with his ever-present smirk.

"Yes, I've heard the warrior Renee has been poking around, trying to figure out what happened to #00, how to get his real memories back. I think she might be harboring some sort of romantic attraction to him, or at least to his former self." the spy reported with just the right amount of concern in his voice. Discontented mutterings circled the room, and Rimuto actually leaned forward, looking arouund the room.

"#00 cannot be allowed to discover the truth. Is #06 currently on a mission?" he said quietly, and at the affirmative leaned back, shrouding himself in shadows once more. "Falsify a report of human-killing with #06 as the perpetrator. Dispatch #s 1-9, baring #08, to hunt her down and kill her. Is she anywhere near #00 and #08's operations area?"

"No, Elder Rimuto. She is miles west of them, scouting around the edges of Riful's territory for possible incursions. They are in the South, hunting Seoirse' lieutenants." the Council member in charge of missions responded, and Rimuto grunted in acceptance.

"Good, then there is little risk of #00 and #08 interfering inadvertently, or #06 saying something that could crack the conditioning." Rimuto, mused, before dismissing the Council before returning to his rooms, confident that the only threat to his power, and those of his nation, would soon be removed.

If only he knew.

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An hour later, the seven out of the nine best female warriors of the Organization were being briefed on their new mission by a highly, if secretly, amused Rubel.

"Your orders are to take the head of Renee of the Golden Eye, former number 6 of the Organization. She is reported to have killed numerous humans over the last week or so, for unknown reasons." he said, ignoring the discontented murmurings from the warriors at the news. "She was last spotted in the Western town of Nasau. Start your hunt there."

"Yes sir!" the warriors chorused with salutes, before exiting the Headquarters and heading off to hunt down their sister and comrade, unknowing that they were being duped, tricked into killing Renee for no other reason than a few old men's paranoia and hunger for power.

Well, Raki, what will you do now? Will you leave Renee to die for betraying you and Priscilla? Will you save her life? Will you wait to rebel, or attack immediately? the man in black mused, adjusting his hat casually before ambling off down the dark and dank halls. I do so look forward to finding out.

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A little shorter than usual, but that was a natural stopping point. Don't forget to review!