Sorry I've been AWOL so long, I have no excuses other than pure lazyness and ADOSD (Attention Deficit OH SHINY Disorder) keeping me playing video games and not typing :P

That being said, this chapter was rough. It is something of an important chapter, and I couldn't get it to come out the way I wanted it for a while. It's still not perfect in my mind, but it's the best I've had so far in my attempts :P

This chapter also contains my first fight sequences for this story, although they are short and not very detailed to be honest with you...

Standard disclaimers about AU, OP characters, and me having way to much fun coming up with crazy shit apply. Please restrain your "canon this, canon that" lectures unless you feel I have made a drastic error! In which case, let me know ASAP so I can fix it before too many people read this XD

Here we go!

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Silver Eyed Angel

Chapter Seven

Flashpoint

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"Why the hell would Renee break the most important rule! It's not like her to pull that kind of bullshit!" Audrey grumbled as the 7 members of the Renee Execution Squad flitted along the forest path at what humans would call a dead sprint, but for their kind was more of a brisk stroll. It had taken the group three days at this pace, stopping only twice for what minimal food and rest was needed before continuing on. Now they were just crossing into Southern territory, with the port city Nasau another three hours ahead of them.

"It's not important. She broke the law, she suffers the penalty. Just make sure #00 and #08 don't know what's going on, orders are to keep this quiet from #00 specifically." Alicia responded calmly, if a little shortly, from her place at the front of the group, where she ran alongside her twin.

The group went quiet once more, the only sounds being the sound of metal boots striking the ground in a steady tempo, and then it was broken once more as Anastasia spoke up.

"What I do not understand is why all of us save Dietrich and the target are being sent after a single warrior. Surely we are not all needed to eliminate number 6?" the number seven of the Organization asked aloud, and her answer came from Nina, number nine, who scoffed slightly before speaking.

"Because Renee is the Eye of the Organization. She will sense us coming eventually, which means that we need to have enough people to prevent her from slipping away past us. While we could use Suppressant Pills, we are in the territory of an Abyssal. Being unable to fight properly would be a dangerous risk to take." she responded, and Anastasia hummed in understanding from her place beside Miata, number four. At the beginning of the mission, she had taken to accompanying the child-warrior about, her protective and kind nature taking hold the moment she had laid eyes on the girl.

"And if she tries to use the town people as cover?" Audrey pointed out, and it was Beth who answered, her tone stern and even.

"Then we flush her out and kill her regardless. If she has any honor left, however, she will let us take her head without a struggle." she said, ending the discussion permanently as the Execution Group continued towards Nasau.

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Unbeknownst to them, they were begin watched by a trio of Youma and a single former warrior. All four were especially trained by Seoirse, their Abyssal leader, to be her scouting/assassination team. Once Seoirse had sworn her loyalty (and her heart, so the rumors said) to Raki, they had been assigned to keeping an eye on any Organization warriors entering the South. Isley had a similar team in the North, it was said, though Isley's liaisons to Seoirse had arrived after they had left for this mission.

"What are your orders, Lady Katarina?" one of the Youma, a flying-type, hissed as they watched the Organization warriors disappear further into the woods. The former warrior, dressed in black leathers, her scarlet hair (restored to its former glory after her Awakening) loose and free, hummed to herself for a moment before rising from her crouch on the tree branch.

"You take word to Lady Dietrich and the Master. They will decide the fate of these warriors." Katarina ordered, and the flying type inclined it's head in respect before lifting off and winging its way west, towards where Raki and Dietrich were in conference with Seoirse. Turning to the other two, she continued. "We three are heading to Nasau, quickly. We will keep Renee alive until the Master arrives."

"So it is true. The Master means to try to recruit and rescue the slaves of the Organization from their chains." one of them hissed, and Katarina nodded in response, though her eyes were a little cold, and she was frowning. Something the Youma noticed. "What is it?"

"I do not trust these un-Awakened. They could betray the Master in the end. Better to Awaken them or kill them all instead." she grumbled, and she had a point. Aside from Dietrich, the other Un-Awakened that Raki was trying or already had recruited had no reason to truly be loyal to him.

"If they betray the Master, we will kill them all. Besides, he is at not danger from these weaklings. Were it not for his desire to save the Organization warriors and find Lady Clare, he could destroy them all now." the second Youma replied simply, following as the red-head dropped out of the tree and landed like a cat on the ground.

"Damn straight we will. Come on, off we go." Katarina responded, and the odd trio headed off to Nasau.

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"Thank you, Seoirse. I'll join you shortly." Raki said evenly to the beautiful coal-haired Abyssal, who inclined her head in a bow with a faint smile on her face, and she left with a sly wink to Dietrich, who blushed faintly and glared at her until the door shut behind her. She knew what their ally, who was quickly becoming a good friend, was implying, but that hadn't happened yet. At this rate, it could never happen, damnit! she grumbled to herself mentally, feeling a familiar longing and heat stirring in her loins as she thought of doing such things with her Master.

"Am I doing the right thing, Dietrich?" her Master's voice broke her from her thoughts, and she looked up to see him gazing emptily through the window towards the distant forest, stretched out below the abandoned (but being refurbished) fortress Seoirse had claimed as her base. "Working with our natural enemies, with the enemies of humanity even? How long can my blood free a Youma from their craving? How long will they obey my orders to not hunt humans? How long until the break, and I am forced to slaughter them all?"

"Master..." Dietrich murmured, stepping up beside him and laying a hand on his arm she sought words of reassurance for him. "Master, you're doing the right thing. You're giving everyone a chance to live, everyone a chance to earn themselves the right to live. Killing things without thought of mercy isn't like you. If the Youma betray their oaths to you, we will wipe them out, once and for all. Nothing more nor less."

"Do you think that it will be necessary to do so?" Raki asked her quietly, and she shook her head with a smile.

"No, Master. I believe that you have their loyalty, for giving them the chance that you have. The chance to live peacefully, the chance to not be hunted everywhere that they go." she reassures him. He smiled at her warmly, causing her to flush slightly, and become intensely aware of the bed a few feet to their right. Screwing up her courage, she was opening her mouth to tell her how she felt about him (and hopefully from their passion would get the best of them both!) when there was loud pounding on the door.

"Master Raki, Lady Katarina's flier has arrived with an urgent report!" one of the Youma assigned to the fortress shouted from the other side, and Raki's head came around and his eyes narrowed.

"Dietrich, come." he ordered sharply, cloak swirling he turned from the window and strode towards the door, which he flung open and moved through so rapidly the Youma on the other side actually lost his balance, only to be steadied by Dietrich, who had followed closely on her Master's heels.

"What is Lady Katarina doing that he would react like this?" the Youma asked, having never seen Raki so agitated over just about anything. The Master was always in control of himself, seemingly unflappable, something that gave confidence to his followers as well.

"Katarina's team is tasked with scouting for large numbers of Organization warriors entering Southern territory. If she sent and urgent report, it could mean that the Organization has figured out what is going on and sent a force to attack." Dietrich replied over her shoulder with a hint of worry as she hastened her pace to disappear after Raki.

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The stone floor and soaring columns of the recently-restored Great Hall of the reclaimed southern fortress of Elysium gleamed in the light of the half-dozen large fireplaces set at intervals along its length, creating a comfortably warm atmosphere in any season, even this close to the mountains. In the center of the room was a large, oaken table with numerous engravings and carvings. Around said table sat or stood Raki and his closest advisors. Raki himself sat in a large, almost throne-like chair, with Dietrich standing behind his right shoulder. Similarly seated at the table were Seoirse of the South, Nimue, Kiara, Galatea, and Irene.

"Damnit!" Raki snarled, slamming a fist down on the table, upon which lay a large and detailed map of the explored regions of Toulouse. Several differently colored pins were placed in numerous places, each pin representing things such as enemy units, strongholds, or oft-patrolled areas. A single black pin was placed on the town of Nasau. A silver pin and two red pins were on the outskirts of town, while eight more black pins were arrayed in a vaguely crescent-moon shaped formation at the edge of the forest, just outside of the town. "You're positive that they're after Renee, and think she broke the taboo law on killing humans?"

"Yes, Master Raki. They didn't detect us once we cut the flow of our Youki as low as it could go. We listened in while they talked on their way through the woods, just about here." the flier youma from Katarina's unit replied from where he stood towards the center of the table, tapping a spot on the map about half way into the woods. "They sent everyone from the single digits except Lady Dietrich and Renee herself in. Apparently, Renee's status as the current "Eye" means that they need to be able to surround her and prevent her escape, since she will sense them quickly."

"That makes sense, but it will make things difficult." Raki mused, staring down at the map, before sighing and straightening. Looking around the room, he spoke again. "Seoirse, Galatea, Irene, Kiara, Nimue. You five meet up with Katarina and force the single digits to withdraw. I will intervene if needed, but I would prefer to keep myself and Dietrich's involvement under wraps. Once you're clear, bring Katarina's unit and Renee here. Understood?

A chorus of confirmations came back to him, and he nodded, making a gesture with his hand. The Evacuation Squad blurred away, heading at high speed towards Nasau. Moments later, another Awakened Being, one who had taken to acting as Raki's Herald, entered the room and bowed, before speaking.

"Master Raki, a former warrior and number two of the Organization, one who calls herself "Wild Horse" Octavia, is at the gates. She wishes to speak with you on behalf of herself and several other Awakened Beings." she reported, and Raki sat down in his large, almsot throne-like chair, before nodding and responding.

"Tell her to enter in peace and depart in peace, or else depart in pieces." he said firmly. While not one normally prone to threats, a former number two was not to be trifled with. The Awakened bowed and withdrew once more, only to return a few minutes later with a blonde-haired and brown eyes girl who looked like she was 17 or 18 years of age. The Herald bowed and withdrew at a gesture from Raki, leaving the former number two alone with Dietrich and himself. "Welcome to my fortress, "Wild Horse" Octavia. I'm told you have business with myself?"

"Quite the setup you have here, Raki, the "Silver-Eyed Angel"." Octavia replied, looking about the large Great Hall with a faint smile as she took it all in with calculating eyes. Said calculating eyes were soon turned on Raki, who was immediately on guard. This one was smart, not a creature controlled by its hunger or power, like many former warriors. No, they played second fiddle to her wits, and that made her a truly dangerous opponent. Smirking slyly as he narrowed his eyes, she sauntered towards him, taking extra care to make her hips sway more than usual, before leaning over the table before him, presenting an excellent view of her cleavage beneath the very loose tunic she wore. Dietrich bristled at the blatant seductive moves, unhappy with how close she was to her Master for several reasons.

"So, you've heard of me then. That being the case, you didn't come all of this way simply to admire my home. I was told you requested to speak to me on the behalf of a group of Awakened Beings. I'm listening." Raki responded evenly, seemingly unaffected by the view, although it was far from the truth. He was simply in control of himself.

"Oh, yes, them." Octavia sighed, pouting seemingly in disappointment at the lack of reaction as she sat down properly in a chair, quickly becoming more serious. "Frankly, they're a secondary reason for my coming here. The primary reason was that I felt your aura and was so very intrigued. It surrounded me, cocooned me, made me feel things I haven't felt in many years indeed. I just had to meet you, see if you were everything your aura hinted at."

Raki simply gazed at her evenly, trying to figure out what she was really saying. He, of course, had no idea the kind of reaction that his aura evoked in the females of warrior-kind, as none of his followers of the afore-mentioned gender and race were quite willing to tell him just yet, though a few had come close. Like Dietrich had not so long ago. Therefore, he believed-somewhat accuratly, as it turned out- that what Octavia was really after was protection and a place of power in the new regime she saw preparing to rise.

"I assure you I am powerful enough and in enough control to accomplish my goal. The Organization will fall. This is my solemn oath." he said by way of reply after a few long moments, his tone so overwhelmingly full of conviction and honesty that Octavia was taken aback. She hadn't heard such honesty in many long years, so used as she was to the lies and false promises that ran rampant between all Awakened and Youma, if they were even made in the first place.

"...I believe you." she said with a faint smile, before turning to the map and observing it. Tapping a section of the mountain range that helped to separate the Western border with the South and the East, she continued in an all-together different tone of voice. "I live in an old outpost, from long before the Organization existed, here. With me are several other former single digits, including Chronos, Lars, and Europa.

"Chronos and Lars? Isley spoke of them in passing. They were the third and sixth ranked warriors of his generation. That means they're extremely powerful." Raki mused, peering at the indicated location. "Dietrich, instruct one of the Awakened Isley sent-make it Kitas, actually, he was ranked seventh in that generation-to go to this location, and inform Chornos and Lars that the Silver King calls to them once more. Let us see if they heed the call. Octavia, who is this Europa you mentioned?"

"Powerful, but in my opinion useless. I don't know what generation she is from, but she was ranked third, according to her, though she could have had higher rank if she hadn't been so lazy. She has a tendency to declare things to "troublesome" to deal with, and will simply go to sleep or pretend to be dead thereafter, depending on the situation." Octavia explained, disgust and more than a little annoyance in her voice. Clearly, Europa was not high on her list of favorite people. Dietrich scoffed slightly in derision, and Raki leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.

"She may become a liability then. No doubt she will find my laws regarding feeding to "troublesome" to follow. Speaking of which," he said, looking sharply at Octavia, staring deep into her eyes. "Will you obey the laws? Take my blood into yourself and hunt only animals? Or will you insist of feeding off of human flesh, and die by my hand?"

Octavia actually blinked, momentarily nonplussed. High in the mountains as they had been, she and her group had not heard of the new laws that Raki had imposed on all youki-enhanced beings, only that the highly powerful aura had belonged to "the Silver-Eyed Angel" and "Master Raki", depending on whom they talked to. All that being said, now that she knew, she would have to be careful. She truly had only one option if she wanted to live, she wasn't foolish or arrogant enough to believe otherwise.

"I will obey your laws, Silver-Eyed Angel. Your wish will be my command." she said with unusual solemnity in her voice, and in a move Raki had come to expect from his subordinates, knelt at his feet and inclined her head in a bow, looking for all the world like a knight reporting to his-or her, in this case-king. Raki swallowed his immediate request that she stop, having been respectfully chastised over it by several of his Awakened. He also ignored (barely) the side of him, growing ever stronger, that hummed in satisfaction with every show of submission.

The poor fellow had yet to realize that it was because of the bestial side of all Youma meant that the weaker served the whims of the stronger or died, and that the true natures of all of his allies suborned them to his own without thought or hesitation. The very same bestial nature that was beginning to influence his own mind, and his interactions with them all.

"Please, rise. I am no king." he said after a moment's thought, and Octavia rose to her feet fluidly. Glancing at Dietrich over his shoulder, he motioned for the pair of them to follow him as he rose to his feet and strode towards the door. "Come, we need to reach Nasau quickly if we want to save lives on both sides. The single digits are to powerful as potential allies to waste."

"Yes, Master." the two women replied in unison as they followed him, each falling into step just behind a shoulder, and Dietrich shot a glare at the interloper and, in her mind, thief of her Master's attention. Octavia responded with a sly smirk and a wink, causing Dietrich's glare to intensify.

"Dietrich, stop glaring. Octavia, stop teasing her." Raki commented aloud absently an instant later, having read the change in their auras' subconsciously.

"Yes, Master." they replied in unison once more, facing forward with twin, though differently caused, pouts.

Raki rolled his eyes heavenward in exasperation as they exited the fortress proper and broke into a run. Jealousy and competitiveness were the last things he need to make his life "interesting." It was already "interesting" enough as it was!

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"So, that's "Renee", huh? I guess she is sort of attractive, but she isn't much of an Eye if she doesn't sense us!" Katarina grumbled, inwardly happy that there was something wrong with the warrior she was spying on, having found her exotically dusky skin and unique cornrow braids somewhat threatening on some level. They were crouched low on a rooftop, overlooking the small cafe that the aforementioned eye was sitting in for reasons known only to the Eye herself, and were in all honesty incredibly bored.

"Most people can't, only the Master can with ease." one of her Youma hissed in amusement, and Katarian snorted in amusement and to cover up the flush on her cheeks and the quickening of her breath when she remembered her Master testing her ability to hide her aura...and ambushing her in the forest they were in and pinning her to the ground, her wrists pinned by his powerful hands, his hard, muscled body pressed up against her on soft and supple flesh, his...

A growl from one of her Youma grabbed her attention, and she looked up to see the two warriors identified as Rachel and Audrey standing before Renee, swords in hand and pointed at the formerly-sitting-but-now-standing warrior, who had a look of confused outrage on her face as she snarled at the pair. Concentrating, Katarina caught the last few words.

"...ridiculous! I have never, would never, and will never kill humans in cold blood, something you and the Council is well aware of!"

"Fine by me if you want to fight, then. Always wanted to see how I measured up against an Eye!" Rachel said gleefully, and Renee growled at her before looking at Audrey.

"Audrey, you have to know that this is insane! You know that whoever gave this order is wrong!"

"The Council doesn't make mistakes. They give orders, orders that are meant to be obeyed. That is all there is too it. Will you let us take your head honorably, or will you make us take it with force?"

"Let's go!" Katarina ordered her Youma, drawing her sword-which she had recovered from where she had abandoned it upon her Awakening at her Master's request- and flash-stepping several times in rapid succession until she and her team stood between the two single digits and their mark. "I am Katarina, former number seven of the 19th Generation, and I have been ordered to ensure the safety of Renee of the Golden Eye by my Master. I am also ordered to offer you the chance to withdraw in peace. What say you?"

"An Awakened and two Youma? This is proof that you have fallen to the lowest of lows, Renee." Audrey hissed, incensed with the apparent new depth to her former comrades betrayal. Coldly staring at the redhead before her, she continued. "I refuse your offer, and will take your head as well!"

"Not today you won't!" Katarina shot back, gesturing to her Youma, who grabbed a surprised Renee and bolted, Katarina following after a moment.

"After them, Rachel! Herd them out of town and towards the others!" Audrey snapped to her friend as she rushed after the withdrawing quartet. Rachel merely whooped in excitement and followed, and eager if somewhat crazed grin on her face as she anticipated the fight to follow.

The chase continued out of the town and into the forest, the rebel trio and their baggage flitting from branch to branch with practiced ease, using the dense forest climate to slow down their pursuers, who were still on the ground. After several minutes, the group entered a forest clearing, and the tree-jumpers were forced to return to the ground. The instant that they landed, the rest of the hunting party landed around the edges of the clearing, preventing further withdrawal and closing off all avenues of escape.

"Give it up, you cannot escape! Just let us kill you and be done with it!" Audrey snapped as she and Rachel skidded into the clearing, completing the enclosing circle of swords and flesh, and Katarina's eyes darted around as she tried to think of a way out of the situation. After a long moment, she felt a tremor in the air, a tremor that made the Organization warriors look around in confusion, before breaking into a wide grin before she began to laugh somewhat maniacally.

"What's your malfunction, girl?" Rachel snapped, irritated by the chase and the laughter. She wanted to fight, damnit!

"I knew my Master wouldn't forsake me!" Katarina crowed, as five more warriors flashed into view around her, catching the hunting party of guard and causing them to feel a hint of worry. It was bad enough that they didn't sense the two Youma and the redhead, but now five more warriors who had hidden their presence until the last instant.

Each was wearing a set of armor, true armor that covered far more than the steel pauldrons and waist guards that the Organization issued. Folded steel plates covered the chest, stomach, and upper thighs, while the standard mid-length cloak, knee length boots, and decorative but ultimately useless shoulder guards remained as well.

"You two, get Renee to the Master, he is waiting. Katarina, remain." the apparent leader, a women none of the Organization warriors recognized, ordered the two Youma and Katarina herself. The Youma nodded and made a break for the trees with Renee.

"...!" Miata landed in front of the Youma, slicing one from crown to crotch in a single blow, while the other barely managed to keep himself and Renee alive by evading the three follow-up attacks.

"Damn! Little bitch is fast!" the Youma growled, puttign Renee down and attacking Miata, crying over his shoulder as he did so. "Run west, Lady Renee, my Master will protect you!"

Confused and filled with fear, Renee obeyed, scrambling to her feet and dashing away towards the west. Behind her, the Youma was quickly overwhelmed and slain by the child number four, his bisected corpse falling to the ground with a meaty thump as his killer and Anastasia dashed after their fleeing prey, catching up with her quickly. Anastasia cut her off, forcing her to a halt, and Miata made to cleave her head from her shoulders. Renee closed her eyes in preparation for her death...only to hear a clash of metal against metal. When her head wasn't separated from her shoulders, she tentatively opened her eyes to see Dietrich standing there, struggling to hold back the younger but far more powerful Miata's blade.

"Dietrich?!" Anastasia and Renee both cried in shock, and the Organization's number eight smirked slightly despite her arms shaking with exertion as Miata put more force into pushing her blade down.

"Renee is under the protection of my Master! You will not be allowed to harm her!" Dietrich grunted out, lashing out with a leg to land a punishing kick to Miata's ribs. Anastasia dashed in to attack while Miata recovered, but was intercepted by another blade, one held by someone she expected even less than Dietrich.

"Raki? What are you...?" she breathed, but the hard-eyed double-zero simply took advantage of her shock to bat her blade aside and strike the back of her head with the flat of his blade, knocking her out. Turning to Miata, he expected to engage the child in combat, but instead was greeted with the sight of her blindly striking away at Octavia, who was smirking confidently as she easily ducked and weaved through the blows like a leaf on the wind.

"Go and deal with the others, Master, Dietrich and I will handle this child and take all three back to the fortress." she said calmly, as though she were simply taking a stroll through the park. Dietrich looked to Raki for confirmation, and at his nod leapt into the fray as well.

Raki turned to leave, but Renee crying out halted him in his tracks.

"Raki, what the hell is going on?" she asked, desperately attempting to make sense of the whirlwind of activity that had occurred in the last hour or so, and Raki half-turned to look at her with a faint smile.

"Subdue Miata and return with Dietrich and Octavia to my headquarters. I will explain everything to you and your former comrades once I return there with them." Raki ordered her gently with a warm smile, causing her to flush warmly, before turning and vanishing with sight as he went to help his other warriors and to subdue the single digits.

Moments later, Katarina reappeared to assist in the defeat and capture of the powerful single digit.

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"Former number two, Irene. Former number three, Galatea. Presumed killed in action. It seems you, too, are traitors instead." Alicia said in the same even, almost dead tone she always spoke in. She cocked her head slightly to the side and continued. "I do not recognize your companions, however. More traitorous former warriors who didn't send in their Black Cards, I assume?"

"Traitors? Perhaps, in your limited world view. We prefer to think of ourselves as free, however, something that you may or may not experience someday." Irene retorted evenly, before gesturing to her companions. "May I introduce Seoirse of the South, the new Abyssal of this region. Kiara, former number two of Riful's generation. And Nimue, number two of Chloe's generation."

Their five enemies sucked in a deep breath as one. That was a significant amount of force arrayed against them, even without counting Katarina. The Execution Party exchanged glances with each other, silently considering their options. Unanimously, it was decided that attempting to kill one or two before retreating temporarily might be the best course of action. That decided, they did so. Alicia and Beth charged Seoirse and Kiara, Audrey engaged Irene, Rachel assaulted Nimue, and Nina attacked Galatea.

The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed throughout the forest...

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Nina vs Galatea

"I'm going to kill you, traitor, and once you are dead I may even get a promotion!" Nina shouted, attacking the blind women furiously, but Galatea's physical impairment did nothing to hamper her abilities. In truth, her Youki sensing abilities were more powerful than ever, and every twitch Nina's of Youki-enhanced muscles might as well have been a brightly painted sign telling the "God-Eye" her opponents next move. "Hold still, damn you!"

"Hold still, so you can kill me? A generous offer, but I am afraid I will have to pass. The Master is such a handsome man, after all, and I would hate to be shuffled off of this mortal coil without indulging in some sin first." the sort-of-nun responded in amusement, causing Nina the flush in anger, perceiving the reply to be mockery instead of the honest answer it was.

Closing her eyes, she reached out with her Youki sense, and engaged her special ability, the ability that had earned her the moniker of "Shadow Hunter". Locking onto Galatea's Youki signature, she released herself to the technique, and immediately her body began to hunt Galatea, seeking to extinguish her Youki aura, and life along with it.

"Ho!" Galatea said in suprise as she was forced to actually block Nina's blade, it and her body having followed her latest series of dodges with unerring accuracy. "Well, isn't that interesting. You're no Eye, and yet your accuracy has improved drastically despite closing your eyes! Tell me how?"

"I suppose I will, since you're going to be dead soon anyway. I am Shadow Hunter Nina, number nine of the Organization. So named because I lock onto my target's Youki aura, and my blade will follow them wherever they go, until that aura is extinguished by their death. There is no escape. You can only die tired!" Nina said proudly, and rightly so. Galatea was rather impressed with the technique, to be honest. While it had several, glaring weaknesses (such as the vulnerability it put her in when fighting alone) it was a magnificent start. Perhaps once she joined The Cause they could help her develop it into a more powerful, and safe, ability to use on their enemies.

"That is very impressive. An innate skill or created talent?" she mused aloud, not really talking to Nina, but the warrior answered regardless, able to focus on talking given that her body and blade were more or less running themselves.

"An innate skill that was honed into a talent. I'm still working on it, to be honest, but against a crippled former Eye like yourself, it should be enough. " she said, and Galatea giggled lightly. Nina heard as much and frowned in annoyance. "What are you laughing at?!"

"You're forgetting that I've been in hiding, undetected by any of our kind, for years without anyone having even the slightest hint of my location. Ever wondered how?" The former Eye asked, and Nina gasped, eyes flying open as Galatea's Youki vanished. She looked around wildly, only to collapse as seh was struck sharply on the back of her head. As Galatea caught her slumping form, the blind woman continued. "I can erase my Youki aura, which means your technique is useless against me."

With that, Galatea leapt into the trees with her prisoner, binding her and watching her fellows, ready to intervene should they need assistance.
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Rachel vs Nimue

"I am Rachel, and I'll be killing you today, you old bitch." the manliest looking woman Nimue had ever seen said arrogantly, a smirk on her face, and Nimue smiled serenly in response. Having expected and desired an angry response, Rachel frowned and snapped. "Aren't you going to say something, bitch?!"

"No, not really. I don't feel the need to correct a child like yourself." Nimue responded calmly with the same serene look, and Rachel's temper (never far from erupting at the best of times) exploded. She charged, her sword biting into the ground for the entirety of the time she was closing the two yards or so of distance between her starting position and that of Nimue. With a shout, she let her sword come free in a blurring arc. Nimue's eyes widened as her sword moved to block it, but she hadn't been expecting such speed and power behind the blow, and failed to do so. In a fountain of blood, her off-hand arm seperated from her torso.

"Who's the child now, bitch? Just one arm now!" Rachel crowed, glad to see her favored technique claiming yet another un-suspecting victim.

"Hmm, impressive move...for a child." Nimue museed, looking at the stump of her arm with a detached calm that Rachel found unnerving. "You use the ground-or some other form of resistance-to build up strength in the blow. Then, when it comes free, it moves faster and with more power than your opponent expects. A strong move. A strong sword. Hmm, I think that is what I will call you. "Strong Sword" Rachel has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

"Yeah, I like it. As thanks I'll kill you quickly!" Rachel said with a grin, only for said grin to falter as the bloody stump of Nimue's left arm bulged, a new arm rapidly growing to replace the one that was lost. "What the fuck How the fuck did you do that?!"

"Ah, that's much better!" Nimue sighed happily, rotating her arm slightly as if working out a kink in her shoulder. Looking at Rachel again, she raises an eyebrow and replies. "I'm a defensive type, probably one of the most powerful ever created. Nimue the Immortal, they called me, because I could heal any damage within seconds. I even reattached my head once, though I needed help for that, and I doubt I could do so after more than fifteen seconds or so."

"Then I guess I just have to take it for sixteen!" Rachel roared, unleashing a barrage of attacks on her infuriatingly calm opponent. Rachel hated fighting people like her, people who were always calm and never felt the same rage-born thrill of battle that she did. Her rage and bloodlust continued to build as her opponent-now knowing Rachel's fighting style- dodged or blocked her blows with ease befitting her former rank. "STAY STILL YOU GODAMN WHORE! I'M GOING TO SLICE YOU INTO TINY FUCKING PIECES AND USE THEM FOR FISH BAIT!"

"All this anger, violence, and impatience could get you killed one day if you're not careful. You really need to learn how to calm down, relax, and enjoy life." Nimue responded, her serene smile still plastered across her face as she continued to dance around the flailing form of Rachel as if she was truly the child Nimue was treating her as for several more minutes. Eventually growing tired of the one-sided fight, and continued and somewhat irritating ranting of her opponent, Nimue proved why she was formerly a number two despite being a healer and was on Rachel in a instant, striking her hard in the chest three times, making breathing nearly impossible, and then once across the back of the head as she collapsed. Squatting next to her laid-out opponent, Nimue rolled her over and healed her abused ribs and lungs. Once Rachel's breathign evened to healthy levels, the healer bound her and carried her over to where Galatea was waiting with her own fallen opponent.

"How did your fight go?" she asked the former Eye, who smiled in a rather pleased fashion.

"Quite well, actually. Mine has this most unique ability to lock onto and attack Youki signatures by reflex, eyes closed and all! I may even have had trouble if she was stronger and the technique more refined."

"That is impressive. Mine was not so much, but perhaps having a partner-and a refresher in basic manners and self-control- will turn her into a true force to be reckoned with." Nimue hummed, looking at Galatea's opponent, impressed with her just from her comrades description.

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Irene vs Audrey

"You might as well surrender now and willingly serve my Master. You can't stop what is coming, nor can you defeat me." Irene told her opponent with calm confidence, but Audrey merely sneered at her in contempt, settling into her stance. Sighing, Irene followed suit. The pair stared each other down, each waiting for the slightest of movements to begin the battle. Then, it happened. Audrey shifted her weight slightly, moving her sword to the side by the tiniest fraction, and Irene attacked. Her blade flashed, cut, and twirled, but every strike she made was diverted before it struck its target. Her opponent did not even meet her blows head-on, something that would have allowed her to use any one of several techniques to gain a significant advantage. "Oh my, that is an interesting technique."

"Thank you. I call it "Gentle Sword". By using my ability to sense Youki, I detect oncoming attacks and divert them just enough to prevent injury, but not enough to allow my opponent combination moves. It is the perfect defense against your own Quick Sword." Audrey replied calmly, although with no small bit of well-deserved pride.

"Oh really? Challenge accepted!" Irene grinned, activating her own signature ability, her sword blurring out of sight as her Quick Sword lashed out at Audrey, far faster and more accurate than it had been all those years ago, though it still had far less than perfect accuracy. To her surprise and excitement, each and every blow was deflected by Audrey's Gentle Sword. "I am very impressed, to be sure! Pure defense versus pure offense. This will be quite the match! Let's see who misses first, hmm?"

From then on they were silent, focused completely on the strokes of their blades, the flow of their opponents muscles and Youki. Each was steadily growing more impressed with the prowess of the other, although both wanted the fight to end. Audrey, because Irene was a traitor and an obstacle in her mission. Irene, because she wanted to subdue Audrey before her Master arrived. It really wouldn't do to look weak in front of him. She wanted to remain a valuable ally and powerful companion to him. That way, they might grow closer and closer and eventually...

"Hey! Stop daydreaming!" Audrey snapped, incensed. She had seen it in Irene's eyes, the far-off look and faint blush. What might have created such a reaction, she was unsure, but it was insulting that she didn't have her opponent's full attention.

"Ah, my apologies, I was simply thinking of my Master." Irene said, embarrassed for the first time in a long time by something that didn't involve Raki. Returning her focus to the fuming Audrey, she smirked and continued. "Please forgive me, but as much as I am enjoying battling someone whose skills directly contradict my own, I need to end this fight. My Master will be here soon, and I would rather not appear weak in his eyes by having my opponent still standing. So, if you would be so kind," Irene flared her Youki, increasing her Quick Sword's speed exponentially for a sheer instant, shattering Audrey's defensive "bubble" and knocking her unconcious with a blow to her head from the pommel of her sword. "Go to sleep."

Grabbing the fallen number three under one arm, Irene flash-stepped out of the combat zone to join her sisters-in-arms. Binding Audrey as her fellows had bound their own opponents, she set the young woman down on the growing pile of defeated warriors and looked at Galatea and Nimue.

"This one will be a powerful boon to the Master. Her defensive technique was able to resist my Quick Sword until I used my Accel to knock her out." she said somewhat smugly, proud of her opponent. Nimue pouted slightly while Galatea grinned.

"Mine wasn't all that special. Brash and annoying." Nimue grumbled, crossing her arms in a pout. Glaring at her companions, she continued. "You two bitches get all the luck, getting decent opponents that put up a good fight!"

"Aww, poor baby." Galatea cooed with a smirk, and Nimue's resulting glower merely made her laugh cheerfully as the trio returned their attention to the continued conflicts.

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Alicia and Beth vs Seoirse and Kiara

"Surrender now or be taken unconscious, Black Twins of the Organization, it matters not to me. You face an Abyssal and a former number two. Your defeat is inevitable." Seoirse said evenly, staring down her opponents. Frankly, she could probably beat them alone, but exerting that much effort and Youki would guarantee that other warriors to the north would sense their position. She had no idea why there was no Man in Black assigned to watch over this mission, but neither did she care. It was an unexpected boon, but one she was not inclined to question.

"Abyssal in name only. You lack the power that Luciela possessed." Alicia responded evenly.

"And even if you did possess power close to her own..." Beth continued.

"You would still be facing us, and we are not your average numbers one and two." They said together, and their opponents found themselves slightly disturbed by the twins' apparent ability to finish each other's sentences.

Kiara and Seoirse said nothing further in reply, well aware that while their victory was assured, it would by no means be swiftly or easily done. Silence and stillness reigned supreme for seconds that dragged into minutes as the powerful adverseries stared each other down, all four well aware of the one ultimate truth in combat.

When the fight is between opponents of significant power and skill, the battle can begin and end in an instant should either falter for even the slightest of moments.

The stillness shattered, Alicia and Beth charging as one behind a flurry of sword-strikes, putting Kiara and Seoirse on the defensive from the outset, though the initiative that they had aquired so easily did not last long, as Seoirse and Kiara quickly began to match them blow for blow, footwork for footwork. Back and forth the quartet raged across the clearing, neither party seeming to be capable of claiming the upper hand. While Alicia and Beth were arguably more powerful than their opponents, Seoirse and Kiara had been Awakened or deserters longer than the twins had been alive. Power versus Skill. A time old battle being reflected once more.

In the end, neither duo claimed victory over the other. Raki appeared behind the Black Twin, striking both of them hard across the head before they had the time to react to his presence. Slinging them over his shoulders, he waited as his warriors joined him with their own prizes. Giving them all, warrior and prisoner alike, a quick once over and search of the aura, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Come, we must get them secured in the fortress before they wake up." he ordered, vanishing with speed as he sped back towards the west, his warriors following one after another.

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Anastasia groaned, holding a hand to her aching head as she sat up, looking around. She was in a stereo-typical dungeon. Dark, damp, with tiny windows and a door that looked like it could withstand the attempts of even one of her kind trying to break through it. A slight shift in her body caused a dull clanking of metal, and she stared down in shock at the steel binders on her legs, keeping her mobility limited.

"Ugh, where the fuck are we?" Rachel groaned a little from across the room, and more groaning and grumbled questions filled the room shortly thereafter.

"Anyone have any idea where we are? Last thing I remember is Miata and I being engaged by Dietrich and..." her eyes widened and she gasped.

"Attacked by who, Anastasia? Was Dietrich under duress?" Audrey inquired, only for the voice of their subject matter to interrupt the conversation.

"The only time in my life that I have been under duress is when I worked for the worthless old men that run the Organization. My Master freed me from my chains, and now I serve him gladly." Dietrich answered, stepping into the room and lighting the two torches on either side of the door with the one in her hand.

"And who is your Master, this powerful being that could acquire the loyalty of so many traitors, Youma, and Awakened?" Alicia inquired, emotion entering her voice, if only slightly.

"I am her Master. I am the Lord of Youma, Leader of the Awakened, and the Liberator of the Warriors. I am Raki, the Silver-Eyed Angel." a voice none of them save Anastasia had expected to hear echoed as the tall and broad-shouldered form of the speaker entered the cell. Looking around at the shocked and somewhat betrayed expressions, he continued. "And we have much to discuss."

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DONE! Nearly 8000 words, about twice as long as my usual chapters, but I figured I owed you guys. Please remember to review, leave advice, and tell your friends! Also, go to Dany le fou's page and read the one-shot he posted based on the last chapter, it's brilliant!