Claymore Fanfiction Discussion

[Yosei]

Well, with Hell's chapter I just needed to change the format. With your edits... I had to remove one or two parts that I myself wrote so it didn't conflict with yours. Luckily, I believe the main plot has remained acceptable in your eyes, so in all practicality it hasn't been changed. But if you go ahead and introduce a certain character, who knows... the possibilities are there.

@ Akatsuki: I sent you a PM, thanks for your help.

Here is Chapter 20 of the main plot. BUT after the real-time of the setting's "evening and day" are over, people are welcome to start anew with separate individual plots (barring Flora and Clare). One-shots, chapters, even contemplative poetry accepted, lol.

Spoiler for space:

Chapter 20: New Faces of Bloodshed

“Rigardo seems to hate you,” observed Clare dryly, sitting beside Flora and across from Irene and Galatea. She gnawed at a piece of chicken. “You seem to have a history with the Royal Lancers. Something I’ve never known about. Care to enlighten me?”

Galatea scowled. “No need to get smart with me, young lady. I never expected this either. But… I suppose I should have told you more about… your potential opponents when you became the Continental Champion. But we were too busy celebrating, remember?” She quaffed down a mug of ale and signalled for another one. “Since becoming a boxer, don’t you feel our Academy has been getting the short end of everything? And I mean, everything.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“You may have noticed some… suspicious things ever since your early days leading up to the Champion Carnival,” said Galatea, leaning forward. “I’ve had to swallow these injustices year after year just so my boxers could compete, and I still question the merit of that.” She raised a forefinger. “Deneve and Undine. An impossibly unfair match, one that even I did not expect. It is a miracle that a Featherweight survived, let alone defeated, a Heavyweight. But why was she placed in the same circuit as Deneve? She could not have had any choice in the matter; neither did Deneve. At least, by the time they were already in the pit, and honour-bound to proceed with their contract. And I the coach, was completely powerless.”

Galatea raised another finger. “ It happened again with Cynthia. Does it not seem bizarre that a mere showman like Rimuto is rather happy to let cheaters have what they don’t deserve? Ophelia’s domination of the Lightweight circuit was in part due to her penchant for dirty boxing, but even when Cynthia challenged her Champion title, Rimuto made no effort to legitimize the match – and as far as I’m concerned, he wanted Cynthia to lose, to lose to that witch.”

Galatea’s thumb was now in the air. “Lastly… why is Sutafu permitted to block contenders to the Continental Championship with two of their own boxers? That debacle with Noelle and Sophia… even Irene had to keep her silence about it, despite her Champion status.”

“If I understand you correctly, Mistress Galatea, you are insinuating there is some manner… of intrigue?” asked Flora.

“I’m not simply insinuating. I’m asserting it. I’ve suspected this ever since I left my old home, years ago. What you two should have noticed by now is that there is someone unwilling to have any student from other Academies to attain the glory of a Champion – unless, of course, if they’re from Sutafu.” Her eyes flashed. “After all, Priscilla and Teresa both trained there, and there seemed to be no foul play at all when the young girl defeated the legend. Yet, all that the boxing world could hear was silence, as if this was merely another everyday bout that was not extraordinary in any sense.”

Clare’s eyes widened.

Come to think of it… Irene, Galatea, Teresa, Priscilla… and even Rigardo… they were all affiliated with Sutafu, or remain so. Why do so many of these titans come from that place?

Irene offered her voice. “In short, the Royal Lancers manipulate Sutafu’s boxers to rule the most important circles of the Bordeaux tournaments: the Championships. In the past generation, the three Champions were Teresa, Isley, and myself. Later, Priscilla’s shock victory seemed to shake the earth, but she was still yet another boxer from Sutafu. One student had merely been replaced by another.”

She sipped at her mug quietly. “Many of us were not even aware that we were in thrall to this alliance between our Academy and the Royal Lancers. This has been a time-honoured, perverse tradition of theirs ever since Sutafu pledged to supply them with warriors who would fight in their name. Together, they have always possessed the influence and authority to identify and adopt the best fighters with the greatest potential, to undergo the most expensive training. Possessing coffers large enough to arrange tournaments to their advantage, they have nearly succeeded in turning bare-knuckle boxing into a sport with themselves and no one else as the patrons: one monopolizing, monolithic, mechanical empire controlled by their leader, Isley. It is such a mocking endeavour; one that has singlehandedly mired the noble art of martial boxing in corruption, cheating and turpitude. It is almost tragic then, when one remembers that the Royal Lancers are ironically the most powerful boxers in the world.”

She sighed bitterly. “That is the reason why Teresa was so cynical of our school, and made no secret of it to me. But I… I was a coward then…”

Clare nodded, too thunderstruck to feel anger just yet. “And is that why you eventually left the Academy too, coach? To come to Rabona and found your own?”

“Yes,” smiled the other proudly. “And that is also why I thanked the heavens when Cynthia destroyed Ophelia, and showed Rimuto that the Royal Lancers cannot always have their way. And… I thanked the heavens when you, defeated Irene, too. You freed my senior from her servitude to Sutafu, and for the first time in two generations, the Lightweight and Featherweight Continental Champions do not owe their allegiance to Isley.”

“As much hope as I feel for your potential to defeat Priscilla, your victory over me has indeed sent ripples through the higher echelons,” admitted Irene. “Galatea. They will not sit idly by, for one less Sutafu Champion means one less amongst their host of warriors, and one less opportunity to do business with our old school.”

The coach nodded. “I am worried for my own Academy members. When those bastards speak of punitive expeditions…” she looked at Clare. “… In the past, they have often involved more than a mere grudge match. They have involved strongarms knocking at Academy doors, with predictable and tragic results.”

Clare shook her head. “They could not. To do so is simply criminal – ”

“And that is what they are, as far as I’m concerned.” Galatea rose. “I want to be prepared for the worst – if they really do come. They see us as a legitimate threat now. All semblance of civility on part of those cutthroats shall be thrown aside. Of that I’m certain.”

But then, to Clare’s surprise, she smirked.

“None of my boxers will die or be crippled before the World Festival. And now that my students finally dominate the Continental circuits, I’m not about to surrender to those scumbags. No… not now. Not ever.”

They will harm my students over my cold, dead body.

*

Sutafu


It was already dawn. Had he walked for this long, all the way?

At the grand gates of the ancient Academy, two smiling attendants drew open the door, bowing before Rigardo. The raven-haired boxer nodded briefly, and continued on through the lined, meticulous pavement that opened to an enormous garden of lilacs, roses, lotuses, and many other plants of nobility. By the porch of the first level of the Academy sat a young, barefoot brunette on a white chair, her plain pink dress fluttering in the morning breeze. A hulk of a man attended to her, his lopsided grin perverted and disgusting. He wore a mucky, poorly woven set of brown and slime-green garments, reflecting his peasant origins, and clashing against the opulent gardenscape as a whole.

Rigardo stopped before her and gave a short nod. “Lady Riful. I have relayed Master Isley’s message to the boxers of Rabona.”

“Good going, Lion Lord,” laughed Riful, hugging her knees to her small, undeveloped chest. “And how did they take it?”

“They seem to understand our intentions. I expect that sharp-tongued God-Eye to be preparing for the worst.”

“And it’s the worst they shall get,” twittered the youthful girl. “Shower on them a little attention. A personal touch from us, so to speak. It will weaken their capabilities for the World Festival. By the end of this evening, they’ll no longer have the gall to wrest our Championships away.”

“Surely we Royal Lancers need not make a move until the World Festival begins,” protested Rigardo. “Do you propose attacking them personally? Hardly a necessity.”

“I’ll send Dauf against them first,” mumbled Riful absently. She glanced at the light-haired brute. “You’ll never be a Royal Lancer, because you always lose to weaklings. Tonight will be a good chance for you to convince me you’re worth keeping. Or else… I might just start eyeing Rigardo or Isley.”

“You’re cruel,” sniffled the ogre, scratching his nose. “I promise, I’ll do the job right this time.” He glared at Rigardo, his massive fists clenching. “Tell me what I must do, and I’ll make sure none survive – ”

Riful nodded. “That’s the man I prefer. But do not kill them, unless you can wash your hands of the deed. Otherwise, merely incapacitate them, so that they may not participate in the World Festival at their full strength. That is what Isley wants to do. Utterly stupid, if you ask me,” she muttered under her breath. “I can never understand what’s going through that dolt’s head. Either way, since we cannot extend our hegemony of the pits for now, we might as well… reproach those who have intruded on what is ours.” She gave Rigardo a light wave. “Thanks for the help!”

Rigardo expressionlessly departed, his cold demeanour silencing any possibility of further conversation.

“Dauf,” smiled Riful. “I’ll give you twenty men for your little romp tonight. Do try to keep the head count from falling below ten.”

Dauf nodded. “Yes, darling.”

Riful smiled and breathed in the scent of the blooming lilacs.

“Well, sweet baby God-Eye. We’ve made our move. Now, why don’t you show us your capabilities?

“I can’t wait to see how much you’ve improved.”

*

Rabona Academy. Nightfall


“I’m done, sister,” called Helen, clouting the sandbag one last time. Beads of perspiration trickled down her skull, her eyes shining with the pleasure of an entire day's session of training. “Coming to dinner yet?”

“Clare. Jeane,” invited Deneve, glancing at the two warriors who sat on a bench, guzzling water from their pouches. “We have plans for a roast tonight.”

“Sounds like a good plan indeed,” commented Clare. “Should we wait for Galatea and Flora to return?” The two women had departed from the academy for several hours, to purchase provisions and treats… and to discuss esoteric affairs concerning Clare.

“Alright,” conceded Helen. “But remember, my stomach’s screaming already.”

Jeane raised herself, standing. Her calm face shifted into one of consternation. Initially, she had understood dusk to have already thrown itself around Rabona, obscuring the scenery outside in a blanket of night. But as she glanced outside the window, hoping to catch the smiling moon unawares, her eyes fell upon the shapes of humanoid giants instead. They were…

At least six feet tall?

“Helen,” she called slowly, “did you… invite about a dozen guests to this little dinner of ours?”

“No,” growled Helen. “Why?”

“Then… why are there so many people outside our door?”

Following Jeane’s line of sight, Clare stood, and her eyes narrowed as well. Certainly, they were not people she knew. They were all large, pale men, either fat or muscular, but one towered above them all, an ugly, lumbering hunchback, whose eyes narrowed as he continued to utter words, presumably to those behind him.

Galatea’s words from the night before suddenly rang in her ears.

“Those men out there,” growled Deneve, catching on quickly. “They’re not one of us. They don’t belong in this Academy, probably not in this city. I’ve never seen these guys in my three years here.”

Clare’s heart pounded loudly as she waved her hand. “Back away from the window and door. They’re planning to break in.”

“Clare, who – ”

“Just do it. This is dangerous. We’re all in danger,” snapped Clare, as the door suddenly trembled, and fell flat on the ground, the hinges snapped.

The goons of the Royal Lancers… are here already? she thought to herself, steadying her nerves.

This could get messy.

*

Outside the Academy, Dauf scratched his stomach and sneered. “If we get this over and done with quickly, we can still make it back in time for drinks, boys.” He cracked his neck carelessly, and as his cue, his singleted, trousered men advanced. One lifted the bench outside the gym and roughly hurled it against the window, shattering it and sending shards of glass careening into the hall. Another two threw themselves against the door, snapping the hinges and sending it crashing inside. They backed away, and Dauf entered the gym, opening his arms at the light that streamed through. “Good evening, ladies,” he guffawed, swaggering into the hall, to the hateful gazes of the four women. “Care for some fun tonight – ?”

At his signal, almost two-dozen enforcers lumbered quickly into the Academy hall, sealing off the smashed windows and broken door. “As of tonight, Rabona’s going to be hurting from ‘unfortunate circumstances’ that compromised their boxers’ chances of winning the World Festival,” declared Dauf, with an absurd air of formality. His careful tone suggested he must have taken pains to memorize this incensing oratory. “Darling – I mean, Lady Riful – hereby declares Rabona Academy officially defunct.”

An enraged Helen dashed towards him and shot her fist his face, but a thug had moved in, catching her arm. Dauf leered and looked at Clare. “So that’s the strong one. Darling said I should play with her first. Oh, yeah – ” he turned, shooting a contemptuous glance at Helen. “The Royal Lancers say hi,” he sniggered, as the strongarm belted her in the face, hurling her to the ground.

The thugs leered at the four women. Then suddenly, attacked as one, and from then on, Clare could only see red.

Deneve rolled out of the way as a hooligan suddenly grabbed a bench beside the door and swung it against her, smashing it into the wall and leaving an ugly dent against the concrete. She struck him in the midsection, hurling him painfully into the mock-pit. She swore as five men converged on her. Furious, Helen lunged, and Jeane did the same, but they were hemmed in by ten gargantuan ruffians, who proceeded to charge them. Helen’s knuckles found one’s lips, and he reeled back. Another tried to clinch her in a bear hug. She danced away, punching him into the sandbags.

But the brawlers were far too big, too numerous. It was twenty to four…

Jeane’s corkscrew mutilated the mouth of a leering enforcer, but yet another had struck her at the back of the head. She felt her nerves stiffen. A rabbit punch. An illegal technique that could damage the senses permanently, but to a brawler, it must have seemed a punch from the gods. She staggered, struggling to block against the wild swings of the dribbling, wild intruders, pinned alongside Helen against the wall.

Their disregard for rules was, as on so many occasions, an advantage.

Helen liked that. Her sneakered foot crushed into the testicles of a lunging enforcer. As he folded, she thrust her knee upwards, ensuring his future spawn would pay a high price for his break-in tonight. But as she prepared to finish the broken thug, Dauf charged, tackling her and grabbing her roughly. As she struggled, he quickly applied pressure at her elbow, and it promptly snapped. He grinned at her enraged, apple-red face and her screaming, tossing her into the wall.

Clare sent a thug to the stars, her knuckles breaking his chin. She riposted and weaved through a second attacker’s clothesline, sending him upwards with a brutal rip. She had turned and shot the Flash-Strike towards an advancing Dauf, who tried to catch Clare’s fist. To his surprise, he felt her quickly snapping it back and striking him in the lip again. “Hey, you’re not bad,” he growled, tasting blood. “They were right about you. You could actually be a challenge. Well, sort of.”

Clare angrily struck him again and again, his thick, clumsy arms unable to intercept her Flashcutter. But he was tough – tougher than any other boxer she’d fought. He wasn’t even bruised, although his lip was bleeding.

Who was he?

“You’re getting annoying, little girl,” growled Dauf, as Clare’s Flash-Strike cracked his jaw, but failed to topple him.

Even Irene’s technique –

Clare abruptly felt his retaliatory punch slam into her stomach. She did not even stagger back – a deafening shockwave reverberated through the hall, and she felt herself gasping in disbelief, her entire body warping for just one moment.

She felt her intestines curling in pain and her organs reeling.

His strength… is truly insane!

And now, Clare felt her head spinning – had one punch damaged her this much? No, he had grabbed her – he had taken her head in his hand and raised her up, his contemptuous sneer broadening. “Look here,” he laughed, as Clare struggled to free herself, “I got myself a boxer!” He squeezed, and Clare cried out, her cranium groaning. She could feel his bone pressing inward, suffocating her senses –

The eighteen thugs who still stood, surrounding Jeane, Helen and Deneve, guffawed along with him. “This is bad,” muttered Jeane amidst the encirclement. “We’re outnumbered, and about to be outfought.”

But suddenly, Dauf’s hand loosened, and Clare fell to the ground and managed to roll away. “What?!” he cried angrily, childishly. “Who – ?”

He whipped his head around. Who could have possibly caused him to release her? He couldn’t have seen it coming… it seemed as if his hand was moving on its own!

He blinked as two sniggering berserkers unexpectedly collapsed, their noses mangled into something unrecognizable.

Another four bruisers fell, knocked unconscious.

He looked wildly around. Who had managed to beat them like that? It couldn’t have been any of the four whores –

His yellow, sickly eyes widened.

“My, my. You have made a mess.”

Dignified, queenly, and gorgeous, Galatea stood at the destroyed entrance to the Academy, with Flora by her side. They had dropped their goods and were glaring daggers at the havoc the hoodlums had inflicted.

For once, Dauf seemed almost awestruck. “God-Eye!”

The coach’s eyes blazed. “You break into my Academy. Attack my students.”

Three enforcers hurled themselves at her. Clare could not see what counterattack Galatea had pulled off behind them, but in a heartbeat, they crumpled where they stood, silently, their eyes blackened and their faces appropriately rearranged.

Dauf began to sputter incomprehensibly. “How – how – ”

Helen snickered, still clutching her arm. “You bastards messed with the wrong coach... big time, you stupid oaf."

Jeane smiled, and Deneve could only shake her head in awe.

Hardly satisfied, Galatea rubbed her knuckles. They were dripping with the blood of the trespassers. “I’ll give you one last chance before I send you all back to Sutafu in body bags,” she snarled.

“Get out of my gym.”

Spoiler for w00t:

After 20 chapters former Sutafu student Galatea (finally) reveals her power and abilities! Next chapter: "God-Eye Unleashed"! Cue dramatic orchestra music

[shelter]

Originally Posted by Tempest35

...could I suggest the Clare/Miria angle if for nothing more than to have even more development for Tabatha - and her feelings of being measured up against Clare in Miria's mind? A lil angst there but hey - its for the story...

Thanks Tempest, your inputs are very insightful.

Hmm...since I'm the type of Claymore fan that thinks that Clare belongs solely to Raki... (ducks all the rotten tomatoes)

It is worth a thought. When I write fics I write them around characters, not situations. So at the beginning it began with Tabitha in mind, & of course Miria as the leader, and Clare in the background. I feel a Tabitha-Miria-Clare love triangle is worth a challenge - given all the unnecessary angst that will come out from it, but Clare's role in this story is a bit too small for that.

Also I'm not too sure what you mean "being measured up". I will, however, try to explore your idea in the fics I'm writing for Akatsuki Yu.

Thanks KillerYomaFromSpace & Yosei for your comments too Must get down to reading all your stuff here.

[Tempest35]

@ Shelter - Sent a PM, hopefully that gets across what I meant. I have to clean out my PMs at least once a week now thanks to this. lol

Hnnn, not the right time yet...I'll jump in after antoher chapter or so.

[hell88]

@shelter: If you continue this story about Miria and Tabitha, I will be a Tabitha fan. Even though there was no action in that, I can still say wow good job.

@Yosei: So there is more to the boxing community then meets the eye, but finally Galatea is going to fight. I was wondering if you were going to have her fight or just coach, she's probably going to kick Dauf's ass.

[Yosei]

Okay short break after this chapter since everything is geared for the World Festival. Guest chapters are pending: Hell is coming up with two chapters for us, and I am hoping AkatsukiYu has something cooking too. Hopefully more guest chapters will encourage others to take up the adventures of their favourite boxer.

Spoiler for space:

Chapter 21: God-Eye Unleashed

Galatea stood amongst the strewn bodies of Royal Lancer enforcers; her eyes utterly defiant, daring Dauf to move a step closer towards her. The dozen or so brutes that still stood shifted in her direction, but there was hesitation in their manic eyes.

“Lady Riful’s going to have my head for losing so many of the boys,” growled Dauf. “She wants your head… all your heads. And I’m here to take them.”

“Flora,” requested Galatea quietly. “Help the others.”

Flora walked slowly towards the sprawled Clare, who had rolled behind Dauf. She moved almost leisurely, her slender form nearing him, her bewitching hips swaying left and right. Her high heels clacked quietly on the floor, and she brushed back her hair, possibly intentionally.

The hulking titan grinned lecherously. “D’you think I’ll let you get past me that easy, pretty – ”

A wet, wide gash suddenly opened up in the centre of his face, the laceration audibly pouring black, sickly gore from skin and flesh. How had she managed to attack so quickly? Blinded, he roared in agony and fury as Flora calmly passed his trembling body. She reached down, smiling at Clare and taking her hand. “Let us repulse the remainder of these vandals,” she suggested.

She pulled, and Clare nodded, rising. “Your Windcutter is no pushover. I’m glad I learned that early.”

At a silent accord, back-to-back, the two comrades raised their fists. “Come,” challenged Flora, her clear, strong voice ringing out across the Academy hall.

Helen grinned. “Reinforcements, hey?”

Despite her arm having broken, it did not stop her from turning and kicking another thug in his groin again, dropping him instantly. Deneve and Jeane quickly lunged at different attackers, surprising them and overwhelming them. Observing the rather effective strategy of war that Helen employed, Clare made her move, punching one brawler in the face, before sending a knee into the private parts of another. He rolled away, incapacitated, and even as the last remaining man desperately swung a lifted bench at her, she merely ducked, dropping her knees downwards, and shooting Irene’s Flash-Strike in between his thighs. The crippling crack of his pelvis was more than enough to tell her that her attack had succeeded.

Dauf had recovered slightly from Flora’s Windcutter. “You damn witch!” he roared, his eyes opening between his ugly gash and gazing in rage at the twenty groaning or silent bodies that lay amidst broken glass, splintered wood, unsettled sandbags, and scattered benches. “I’m… I’m going to rip you apart!” He lunged at Flora, fist raised. But his arm suddenly moved down, and his clenched hand brushed past Flora’s arm, narrowly missing her and slamming into the ground.

He glanced up. Again?! Who had managed to move him without… him knowing? “Damn it!” he roared. “Damn it all to hell!” He began to roar mindlessly, as if he knew nothing else. “I’ll kill you! I’ll pulverize you, then eat your – ”

“You’re pathetic,” said Galatea coldly, stepping closer. “Are you the best ambassador the Royal Lancers could throw at me?” She smirked. “Why don’t you trample me to the floor first, before you try your little bragging game again.”

“Damn you, slag!” roared Dauf, punching her in the face – or so he thought. Something in her eyes… had moved. And when it did so, his arm also did of its own accord – but this time, it was his leg. It stepped to his right, unbalancing his entire lunging body completely; so much that he almost fell. He staggered in disbelief. “Why… why?!” He charged, unwilling to yield, and threw a clothesline, his thick arm swinging towards Galatea’s head. Aware of its tremendous force, she calmly leaped back, and as he attempted to follow up with a punch, she gazed at him, willing him to shift him slightly to the left, and he slipped, falling ridiculously to the ground.

He struggled up, looking as if he was going to cry. What a child. “Why… why can’t I hit… you?”

Galatea closed her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but it was not in answer to Dauf.

“Once upon a time, there was a boxer nicknamed God-Eye, who left everything behind at Sutafu. She despised all who fought there, for they were either aristocratic imperialists like Isley, or inhuman dogs like Rigardo, or callous, ugly brutes like you. She believed herself far too good for the likes of them.” Galatea opened her eyes, her irises clear. “And to this day… she still believes she was right.”

She slowly raised her fists. “Blame your little whore for your misfortune tonight,” she growled, “for now that you’ve harmed my students, I won’t hold back."

With that, she suddenly swung. It was not the most refined punch Clare had ever seen; in a way, it was slightly uncontrolled, slightly overcompensated. Had it not been Galatea who had thrown it, Clare would have thought it was a relatively elementary technique.

Yet that one blow possessed a superhuman power that Clare had never borne witness to before.

A true boxer’s punch, pure and absolute.

Dauf gasped, his large nose breaking the moment her knuckles landed. His body was massive, at least three times as heavy as Galatea’s, but it still crumpled like wet parchment upon meeting her fist. Her punch was so forceful that it hurled him across the entire hall, zipping past the bodies of his cronies, sending him crashing through a sandbag, grains of miniscule rock pouring out the sides and onto the ground even as he finally smashed against the wall, his body leaving a huge dent in the cracked concrete.

Groaning, he slumped to the ground, blood pouring from his mouth.

Clare gasped, and Flora’s eyes widened. “Mistress Galatea,” she mouthed. “A most… estimable attack.”

Helen whistled, still propped on Deneve’s shoulder. “Not that we ever had any doubt about your strength, but after tonight, we’ll never question you again on anything,” she quipped.

Galatea snorted, rubbing her fist again. “Your minions lie broken around you,” she declared casually. “You have only two options, little one – return crawling to the Royal Lancers for forgiveness, or stay and lose by my students’ hands.” She smirked. “Both are welcome choices by my count.”

Tears streaming down Dauf’s face, he threw his hand up, expressing something far ruder than a mere punch. He forced himself to stand, still dizzied from Galatea’s crushing blow. His face was a mangled mess, but his hateful countenance was easily visibly underneath that bruised skin and wet blood. “You won’t hear the last of me. Lady Riful will know about this, and all the Royal Lancers will know. Then you’ll regret challenging them when they were just going easy on you with me.”

“Flee,” denied Galatea calmly. “Flee, and don’t soil my Academy with your presence ever again. My boxers have just shown you that there are plenty of courageous fighters willing to defend the nobler side of martial arts. Now get out of here before I destroy the rest of my gym with your fat, disgusting carcass.”

Dauf limped out of the destroyed entrance, wailing and bellowing in pain and humiliation and vengeful desire. His howls did not cease for several minutes even as they grew fainter in the distance.

Clare looked around at the trashed gym, expressionless. Only the mock-pit remained relatively untouched, whereas most of the benches, glass windows, and two sandbags had been utterly destroyed. The door to the Academy lay on the floor, leaving the entrance rather naked. It was a miracle that the bathrooms and Galatea’s study had not been vandalized.

She felt a bitter, hateful anger swirling in her.

What had their coach done to deserve this?

“Damn those strongarms,” snapped Jeane, raising herself. “Is this… retaliation from those so-called Royal Lancers?”

“Clean up this mess,” was all that Galatea commanded. She retreated to her study, tiredly rubbing her nose with her sore hand. “Send these barbarians to the city guard. They’ll be taken care of there.”

Helen scrunched up her nose. “I’m not cleaning up after these guys.”

Galatea was already too mired in thought to respond, let alone sharply.

I’m not worried about the wreck in this gym at all. But I am concerned for all of you. Who knows what Isley might try next? He won’t give in to us so easily. Not now that we’ve challenged him like this.

I should have told the lot of you earlier. I am so sorry.

She quietly closed the door behind her.

Flora bowed her head. “Mistress Galatea… she will surely feel the stress very shortly." She picked up the half of a splintered bench. "I will help clean up.”

Helen and Deneve nodded. Jean and Clare wordlessly moved to find a broom, to get rid of the shards of glass that lay scattered around the hall.

Tonight was going to be a long one.

*

Sutafu Academy. Morning


In a wide, lavish mock-pit that was larger than the Bordeaux Coliseum itself, a bare-chested Rigardo tussled against a massive bull, thrice his size, its mere horns thicker and longer than his very legs. This pit laid underneath Sutafu Academy as the guest training room for the Royal Lancers; such was their wealth and authority that they had commissioned the architects of the Academy to build a labyrinth of facilities underneath it many years ago. It remained an essential secret to the younger students, lest there be… complaints of misuse of coffer gold.

Struggling to subdue the raging bull, Rigardo’s booted feet skidded slowly back, his rippling, half-naked form wrestling with the gargantuan monster’s primal strength. But his lean, powerful, aching arms eventually grew accustomed to the giant beast’s, and in one brutal twist, he yanked, snapping the animal’s horns off its head. Blood pouring, it snorted mindlessly and tried to charge, but it was silenced permanently by Rigardo’s fist. His brutal cross flayed into the bull’s skin and flesh, penetrating into its skull and brains and breaking open its head. Deprived of its life, the animal sank to the ground at Rigardo’s feet, silent.

He wiped his sweat-drenched face with a blood-drenched forearm, his eyes cool and calm as he regained his breath quietly. It seemed he was reaching his strength threshold. Very soon, he would require another training plan from Isley.

“Master Rigardo,” called a brown-haired messenger from above the pit. “Report. Dauf was defeated last night, in the city of Rabona. An entire division of strongarms are completely unaccounted for. It is possible Dauf lost them to the enemy as well.”

"So... our little 'accident' has failed." Rigardo paused, taut muscles tightening even further. His eyes narrowed. “That fool,” he muttered. “He can never accomplish any objectives we set him. At least, without Riful guiding him every step of the way.” He looked up. “Have you notified Lord Isley, Slasher?”

“Yes, milord,” said the armoured retainer nervously. “He appeared calm, but his response was clearly one of anger.”

“That is to be expected,” affirmed Rigardo thoughtfully. “First… the Champion Carnival. And now this. It is nothing less than an open rebellion against us.” He made his way to the stairs that led out of the pit, retrieving his shirt. He looked at Slasher. “Tell Master Isley I will see him within a week. I must apologize to Riful. If she is truly correct and peons like Dauf cannot cow them…”

His eyes glinted.

“We Royal Lancers really will have to deal with them personally.”

[hell88]

@Yosei: So this is Galatea's power, she seems stronger than Irene. Good cliffehanger, now it seems Rigardo is going to do something. I wonder how the world championship festival will go now that everyone is fighting before that.

[Yosei]

Hehe well not much, since it's guest chapter time!

[shelter]

@ Yosei: Guest chapter time? So you'll be taking a break while guest writers fill in some additional characters?

I didn't review your last chapter - but I felt that you built thew tension over from the previous one quite well. Both chapters seemed simply geared towards the teasing climax of Galatea showing her power. And, yeah, it reminds me of the Galatea vs. Dauf fight in the canon. It's not explicitly said what exactly did Galatea do to overwhelm Dauf & his hooligans, but am I right to say - just like canon - she possesses a skill that is beyond the usual melee style?

I found it very uncanny that (it seems) Flora & Galatea can stand up to Dauf's undefined style. Since Clare knows a bit of both Irene & Flora's skills, why were her moves so ineffective?

Rigardo wrestling the bull: now that's a good image to keep in mind.

[Ryuken]

@hell, bringing back Rafa was ok. I think that the surprise factor was a little bit off. The best bit for me was the interaction between Raki and Clarice. Now that was beautiful. Was a little surprised that Raki stopped. This would mean that he really has strong feelings for Miria don't you think so?

[Tempest35]

Hnnn, Okay, this might be a good time for me to intro the person I'll be handling. It will be quite a long chapter so bear with me. Give me a week. lol

[Yosei]

Originally Posted by shelter

@ Yosei: Guest chapter time? So you'll be taking a break while guest writers fill in some additional characters?

Yup. It won't be a long break though. Basically, apart from AkatsukiYu inspiring me, Tempest also suggested that an "overarching" plot with some sinister elements would make this story better than it was. So I am going to be devoting my writing to this main plot about the Rabona gang vs. the Royal Lancers whilst the guest chapters are intended to give other writers a chance to bring their interpretation of the everyday lives of any boxer/s and give a depth to the story I probably can't.

It's not explicitly said what exactly did Galatea do to overwhelm Dauf & his hooligans, but am I right to say - just like canon - she possesses a skill that is beyond the usual melee style?

Her official style is of a defensive nature, but her Fist of Heaven is unparalleled amongst the Rabona gang for its sheer destructive capability. After I post up Hell's chapter, I will make use of my short break to compile a short list of techniques every character uses... you are welcome to add more techniques that you think would fit the character, or even suggest how certain moves work.

I found it very uncanny that (it seems) Flora & Galatea can stand up to Dauf's undefined style. Since Clare knows a bit of both Irene & Flora's skills, why were her moves so ineffective?

Perhaps it's a lame explanation, but Clare was unlucky. She's a poor match-up against Dauf (who has no real style). She hasn't mastered Flash-Strike fully, nor has she any experience in street brawling... something many boxers/martial artists find difficult adjusting to.

Galatea, as her background will be gradually revealed, is a different story.


Here is Hell's guest chapter. Have fun.

Spoiler for space:

Guest Chapter by Hell88: Chapter 22 – A Returning

Early morning in Rabona, Clarice stood infront of the academy waiting for another day of training. The place was beat up pretty bad since those guys with Dauf broke in to mess everything up. When she looked to see the sun rise she noticed Jean walking to the academy.

"Hello Jean." Clarice said in a friendly voice.

"Hey how did you get here so early? I was wondering where you went, I left Miata in my apartment. She'll be okay right?" Jean asked.

"Oh yeah she'll be fine, whenever I leave her she just waits at the door for me to come back. I don't even think she leaves her spot either." Clarice said looking up at the sky.

Then the doors opened and Galatea walked out. "Wow you two get here early. Almost as early as me." Galatea said pointing to herself.

"Hey do you live here or something?" Clarice asked.

"Well sometimes, I have a room I can stay in if I have to." Galatea said before Cynthia walked out with barely any clothes on.

"What a night Galatea! I feel great!" Cynthia yelled spreading her arms and breathing in the fresh morning air.

Galatea looked at Jean and Cynthia who had very confused looks on they're faces. "E-extra training... Yeah thats right I have to train my star fighter more than everyone else if I'm going to keep her in tip top shape." Galatea studdered trying to make sure Jean and Clarice wouldn't catch on to hers and Cynthia's relationship.

"Makes since I guess." Jean said hearing the sounds of others walk to them.

"Oh its Clare, Helen, and Deneve." Galatea said noticing Helen and Deneve were finally mobile.

"Hey Galatea! I'm ready to go again!" Helen yelled almost tripping over a stone but Clare caught her.

"I saw these two coming here so I joined them." Clare said closing her eyes for a few seconds.

"Yes well now that everyone is here, I'd like to go inside and show everyone a new member of the academy." Galatea said making everyone confused.

Clare had a feeling she knew who she was.

Helen was the first to be say something when she saw the first one of them. "Its you!" She yelled pointing at Miria.

"Oh yes I forgot the loud mouth one trained here." Miria said putting her hands behind her head.

"Hey who are you calling a loud mouth?!" Helen yelled again. "I beat you and you know it so shut up!"

Miria laughed. "Last time I remember it was a draw."

"Hey! Hey! It wasn't but if your ready to go again then I'll beat you in our pit right here!" Helen yelled excited about her new team member.

"Calm down Helen." Galatea said annoyed at Helen's yelling so early in the morning. "You arm’s not healed yet, I can tell by how you’re standing. You too Deneve, I'd like the two of you to rest some more before you start back up here again."

"She's right Helen. We're not ready, we only came here to see everyone." Deneve snorted.

Helen turned back to look at Clare. "Oh yeah I know you beat Irene, I guess I underestimated you. Your probably the best fighter here, only until you face me!" She yelled.

"Helen go and rest!" Galatea yelled getting real tired about Helen right about now.

"Jeez okay, I'm only playing." Helen said walking away with Deneve.

Miria went to go train with Cynthia, unlike Helen who was still healing, Miria had almost fully recovered and was ready to fight again.

"Miria could I ask you something?" Cynthia asked before they walked into the sparring pit.

"What is it?" Miria asked.

"Why are you here now?" Cynthia asked again.

"Well it was Flora's idea. We… couldn't save Hilda's Academy, she had to close the place down, and let us go, but I'd like to win some big fights and help Hilda reopen a new academy, with better training facilities and in a more warmer environment so more fighters will join."

But she had lost Cynthia's attention.

"Well Miria." Said Galatea. "Those are some really big goals you have. You know your going to have to prove to me if you can win those fights your talking about."

"I'll prove it to you now when I beat Cynthia here." Miria said with a look of determination in her eyes.

"Finally I got tired of waiting, lets go," Cynthia yelled putting her fists up.

*

Clare and the others ran out near a lake, Jean thought it would be nice to train Clarice here. They took turns training Clarice, Jean was trying to teach her the drill punch. "Cynthia will never see it coming." Jean said motivating Clarice a little to learn it.
Clarice was dead tired, Jean did a real number on her. Now it was Clare's turn, Clare made Clarice train kind of like how Irene was making Clare train now. Clarice would do ten push ups then jump up to do non stop punching for two minutes over and over again. Eventually Clarice fell to her knees.

"I can't do anymore." Clarice said gasping for air.

"Get back up, how are you going to become a boxer if you can't even train, if thats the case you will die in your first fight, if you even make it." Clare said helping Clarice back up.

"Oh come on Clare, I only have to last a minute against Cynthia then I can really start training harder like this." Clarice said still gasping for air.

Clarice fell on her back beside Jean who was sitting beside Flora, Clare joined them as well. The four of them sat together and rested for a little bit, only until they heard someone walk up to them. They turned around and saw Ophelia standing their.

"She's the one Cynthia had to fight." Clarice said.

Clare was the first to stand up. "What do you want with us?"

Ophelia smiled. "Not much, I just want some revenge thats all. Your all from Rabona and thats where Cynthia is from, you might not be her but after I'm beating you all to a bloody pulp, well I should be proud."

"Your sick in the head!" Jean yelled.

Then Ophelia ran at Jean and punched her in the stomach. Jean fell back holding herself, her insides felt like they were rippling.

"Jean!" Clare yelled watching Jean hold herself on the ground.

"Your next." Ophelia said pointing to Clarice.

Clare blocked Ophelia from attacking Clarice, only to be hit in the face and sen't back a couple of feet. Flora then stood infront of Clare. "Let me do away with this scum." She said making Ophelia laugh.

"You can't beat me." Ophelia laughed some more. "You couldn't even keep your personal life going right, word got around quick to what happened to you Flora. Go home!" She yelled while attacking Flora.

Flora felt her insides rumble when Ophelia hit her. "Whats this painful feeling?" She said dropping to one knee.

"Flora!" Clare yelled watching another friend get hurt.

"Oh my rippling punch, my technique." Ophelia said going after Flora again.

Clare jumped infront of Flora and took the hit. She fell to the ground and Ophelia jumped on top of her. Flora and Jean watched as Ophelia started to punch Clare in the face. Then Clarice ran at Opheila and hit her in the side of the head.

"Go away!" Clarice yelled swinging hooks and cross jabs like you wouldn't believe.
She didn't last long though once Ophelia got in an attack. "I don't know who you are but your not very smart are you?" She asked throwing Clarice on the ground.

Clare got up again and stood infront of Flora and Jean. "Did Cynthia have to go through this pain that Ophelia is using on us?" She thought as her body felt like it was going numb. "Do the others feel like this as well?" She thought again. Then a hooded figure walked out from behind Ophelia.

"Hey who are you?" Ophelia asked.

"Run away she's to strong!" Clare yelled.

Then the cloaked person jabbed Ophelia in the face. "What so you can fight?!" Ophelia yelled.

Clare watched as the the person used a familiar technique on Ophelia, and knocked her out with it in a second. It was the quick strike, she lifted her hood off and it was Irene.
"Clare you can't stay out of trouble can you? Oh well its a good thing I was here just now. Be more careful when protecting your friends in a street fight like this one, you don't want to get killed doing so, and a certain mother would be very angry at you." Irene said with a little smile before leaving them behind.

"Please don't tell Teresa about this." Clare thought.

They walked back to the academy and Galatea had a confused look oh her face when she saw them. They were all covered in bruises like they had been in a pit fighting somewhere.

"What happened?!" Galatea yelled concerned about her students.

"Clarice is ready to face Cynthia." Clare said changing the subject.

"Really? Clarice you know this will be your last chance right?" Galatea asked.

"Hey, wait, what, ah?" Clarice said not really knowing why Clare would do that.

"Alright tomorrow morning in the pit, now go home and get some rest!." Galatea said leaving them behind.

With that everyone left, Jean and Clarice went home only to see Miata in the same spot as before. Jean thought it was pretty funny, and hoped that Clarice would be able to get her own place soon because living with these two was kind of a drag. Clare walked with Flora instead of going home right away to where Teresa would be waiting, but what the hell she had Irene their now.

*

The next day Clarice stood in the pit facing Cynthia, Galatea hit the clock and watched them go at it. Cynthia swung hard and knocked Clarice senseless for a few seconds. Clarice quickly shook out the cobwebs and power jabbed Cynthia. Cynthia side stepped it and hooked Clarice in the face, then gave her an uppercut. Clarice walked back trying to defend herself.

"Galatea told me not to hold back this time!" Cynthia yelled hooking Clarice in the face.

Clarice tried to block, she tasted blood in her mouth and felt blood dripping out of her nose. Care and everyone watching were silent, hoping that Clarice would last this. Clarice fell to one knee and used a hand to push herself back up. Then she was hit again by Cynthia, Clarice's back was against the wall. Just when Cynthia was going to finish her Galatea yelled. "Thats it!"

Cynthia put her fists down. "Good job you made it." She said winking at a almost knocked out Clarice.

Galatea helped Clarice walk out of the pit. "Good job, I'd like you to meet some other young students of mine, they will be training with you. This is Tabitha, and Yuma."

Clarice looked at the two girls. "Hey." She said having a hard time speaking now after what Cynthia just did.

They smiled and took her to a place to rest for a little.

[hell88]

@Yosei: I see you posted my other chapter, It feels a little quick with all the things you took out, oh well Clarice still got in.

[Yosei]

Hm a bit quiet here since I last posted

@ Hell: Damn, I'm so sorry. I'm so lame, to ask people to write for the story and then arbitrarily say "Gnah, Flora's mine!" I promise this won't happen again. (Your third chapter's 100% fine BTW, checked it twice)


Dauf's profile up.

Spoiler for big oaf:

Dauf: A peon of the Royal Lancers, Dauf spends his time attending to his beloved lady Riful and carrying out menial tasks for Isley, such as vandalizing rival schools and attacking prospective opponents with mobs of Royal Lancer enforcers. Mindless, stupid, and cruel, Dauf is surprisingly chivalrous towards Riful, and perhaps his only redeeming quality is that he would gladly sacrifice his life for her before she comes to any harm.

Also looking for people who like the more technical side of storytelling, i.e. coming up with cool moves and techniques for boxers. For example:


Cynthia (name) (All-round) (style)

Demon Hook (technique): Rolling infighter technique that cannot be stopped once initiated. Continuous hooks from both sides. (description)

Will post up all the Rabona gang later... and the Royal Lancers afterwards...

[shelter]

@ Hell & Yosei:
I don't find anything bad, or wrong about the guest chapter. It fit the plot well, and beyond some spelling problems it's all right. But here are some thoughts that I had:

1) In the established story, Galatea as the manager of the Academy requires proof that fighters wanting to join are worth the time, effort & cost to train. With Clare, the chosen & accepted method of this examination has been to last 1 minute in a bout against Cynthia. For 3 different characters - Clare, Clarice & now Miria - you've used this development. Do you think it's a bit overused?

How about a tagteam bout to see how well the new fighter can get along with her potential teammates? Or a proof of loyalty, like doing something that would show her devotion to Galatea?


2) With all the guest writers contributing, I wonder if this will affect the direction of the original. I've got no doubt that Yosei has untouchable characters, but with all these additional people in Rabona Academy, how will you reflect their strength? Since ultimately, in the showdown with the Royal Lancers, the strength of Rabona Academy will be the main issue.

[hell88]

Originally Posted by shelter

2) With all the guest writers contributing, I wonder if this will affect the direction of the original. I've got no doubt that Yosei has untouchable characters, but with all these additional people in Rabona Academy, how will you reflect their strength? Since ultimately, in the showdown with the Royal Lancers, the strength of Rabona Academy will be the main issue.

This is what I think, the guest chapters that I or anyone else make up should not effect Yosie's story. They are like side stories, and Yosie keeps the orginal plot going the way it is. So some of the characters are there like Clarice, only Yosie is not writing about them and sticking to the characters he started out with while anyone else like me can write about the characters that aren't really in the story.

[Yosei]

@ Shelter: I personally think it was slightly overused, but because Miria and Clarice are not my focus, it was up to the guest writers to diversify... or keep it simple.

And on the question of untouchable characters. I admit that is still an issue to untangle. We will see how it goes.

Okay, now here's Hell's new guest chapter. Hope it goes well - and I will soon start my continuing chapter, followed up by AkatsukiYu's contribution.

Spoiler for space:

Chapter 23: Guest Chapter by Hell88: New Faces of Bloodshed II

Another day at Rabona Academy, it was all the same for the fighters there who hadn't won a Championship title. The usual would happen, go their and train and wait for a fight to come up some place. As for Clarice she really wasn't getting anywhere, she had been training with Tabitha and Yuma but they weren't really experienced fighters at all as they had less fights than Clarice. Yes Clarice wasn't really getting anywhere, she had won one fight though in that time she had been in Rabona so far though, it was against a woman named Zelda and Clarice had made enough money to move out of Jean's place and find her own place.

Clarice left the training room in the academy to get ready for her daily run. Only to really run into Irene who was walking into the room. Clarice wasn't around at the time, nor Miria.

"Irene?!" Clarice said confused.

Irene looked at Clarice for a few seconds until it hit her. "Oh I know you, you're from Sutafu like me."

"I didn't know you would be here." Clarice said in awe of the great fighter in front of her.
"Yes well I have retired from fighting and I'm training Clare, you haven't seen her have you?" Irene asked as she watched Clarice's jaw drop.

"Oh she's with Jean, I saw them go to the weight room down downstairs." Clarice said watching Irene walk by her.

Her attention though moved to someone else, it was Helen and she was saying how good she is at everything to Miria. Clarice didn't hear what Helen said but Miria replied with, "then how come you haven't won a championship yet?" Then Helen went on some more and challenged her to a race.

"Looks like I won't be running alone." Clarice thought as she walked outside behind them.

"Hey what do you think you can beat me too?" Helen said noticing Clarice behind them.
"No not at all, I just went out here for my daily run thats all." Clarice said shaking her head.

"Yeah sure thats what they all say." Helen said laughing.

"Hurry up Helen I'm going to beat you!" Miria yelled running down the path.

Helen looked back at Miria and saw her running really fast. "Hey thats not fair!" Helen yelled.

Clarice laughed and decided to take the same path they did, just incase because Helen looked like she was going to hurt herself the way she was going. While running behind Helen and Miria, Clarice realized that she did not have the endurance yet to keep up with them and saw them dissapearing in her view. Clarice slowed down and stopped running in a park. She sat down taking deep breaths on a bench.

"Wow those two can really move." Clarice said gasping for air.

She looked ahead and saw someone walking to her. Clarice reconized her, she was one of the women that was with Zelda when Clarice beat her. "Veronica, I think thats her name." Clarice thought.

"Hey I don't take to kindly of you beating one of my students!" Veronica yelled.

"Oh great." Clarice thought putting her head down. "This isn't good."

"I want to fight you, but I'm a coach now and can't fight any novice fighters such as youself, well in the pit that is." Veronica said, which made Clarice stand up.
Clarice raised her hands. "Hey wait come on, I was only doing my job. I have a kid to raise."

Veronica laughed. "Your wasting your life if you are spending all of your winnings on a child. I wonder how tough you are?"

Clarice put her hands down. "What?"

Then Veronica smacked her over the head, making Clarice fall back. "What your down already?"

Clarice got on her knees. "Wait I don't want to fight if its going to be illegal like this."

"Illegal, most of pit fighting is illegal!" Veronica yelled smoking Clarice with her right fist just left to her nose.

Clarice was forced back by the power of the punch and tripped, rolled backwards to a stop. When she got up her nose was bleeding and she tasted blood in her mouth, she felt her left eye and could tell it was going black.

"Damn why did I stop running? Where's Helen and Miria when I need them?" Clarice thought looking up seeing a cross jab coming her way.

Instinct kicked in and Clarice closed her eyes waiting for it to happen, but as her eyes were closed nothing happened. The attack never came, Clarice opened her eyes and saw someone blocking Veronica's attack. Someone wearing a black overcoat and had a hood on covering that persons head.

"What are you doing?!" Veronica yelled. Her fists were caught by this person.

Then the person let go, Veronica pulled back and looked like she was going to attack. At that time the hooded person punch Vernoica in the jaw, and Veronica felt herself go numb for a second.

I better get out of here." Veronica thought backing up looking very dizzy now.

Who ever it was that saved Clarice was about to walk away. "Wait!" Clarice yelled grabbing the person around the waste. "Who are you?"

"Are you okay?" The person said.

Clarice could tell it was a woman by her voice. "Yes thank you, but who are you?"

The woman turned around taking her hood off, Clarice recognized this woman because of her short blonde hair and a big scar on the left side of her face.

"Its you!" Clarice yelled getting to her feet. "Raphaela what happened to you? Where have you been?"

"I've been in hiding, only until I heard a former student of mine was kicked out of Sutafu, but you look like you're doing alright now with that Rabona outfit on." Raphaela said noticing the Rabona boxing logo on Clarice's training outfit.

"Oh yes about that, you see I've joined them now. I still have a long way to go with my training." Clarice said to her former teacher.

"Oh I see." Raphaela said, her voice was as cold as ice.

"Oh, by the way, I met your sister." Clarice said.

Raphaela was about to walk away when she turned back and looked at Clarice with an evil look on her face. "Where is she?!"

"Well she trains at Abyssal Academy, why?" Clarice asked.

Raphaela smiled darkly. "Because I'm going to kill her."

Raphaela started to walk away but Clarice caught up to her. "What you can't do that!"

"Are you worried about me or something?" Raphaela asked.

"You can't do that, please. I look up to you so highly, you can't do something like that I..." Clarice said before Raphaela covered Clarice's mouth with her hand.
"It should'nt matter to you what I do." Raphaela said turning away.

Raphaela walked a few feet, only to feel Clarice's arms wrap around her. It felt so good, Raphaela hadn't been touched by anyone else in so long, she could feel Clarice's warm body against her back. Clarice had her face against the back of Raphaela's head and Raphaela could feel something wet dripping on her head. She looked back and saw Clarice crying, it was Clarice's tears that were falling on her.

Raphaela looked up at the blue sky which was starting to get darker. She took a deep breath and felt sad inside. "Alright stop your going to make me cry."

Clarice only held her tighter. "Come with me." She whispered.

"Come where?" Raphaela said confused.

"Come to Rabona and help me, I need your help you are one of the most powerful fighters around and everyone knows it, please." Clarice said whispering again.

Raphaela sighed despite all of the revengeful things she had on her mind, with her sister being one of them, she couldn't help seeing one of her former students like this. "But I don't have a place to stay."

"Don't worry you can stay with me." Clarice said slowly letting go of Raphaela so she could turn around to face her.

Raphaela had a confused look on her face. "Will I be aloud to train you at Rabona?"
"Yes come on, there is no way Miss Galatea would let someone that has the attributes you do to not be their." Clarice said starting to take Raphaela back to the academy with her.

Raphaela didn't know what to say, all this time she was in hiding she just wanted to get revenge on people, but Clarice was making her feel different. "Come on lets hurry before Galatea locks up, I still have some things in the change room!" Clarice laughed as she started to pick up the pace.

When they got back to the academy it was completely dark now and Irene was walking out of the place. Raphaela and Irene caught glances at each other.

"Raphaela?!" Irene said confused to see her.

"If it isn't Irene." Raphaela said.

"I haven't seen you in a little while now, what happened?" Irene asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Raphaela said looking away from Irene. "I didn't realize that Rabona was the place for former Sutafu fighters though."

Irene gave Raphaela a smile before letting her go.

"Come on already." Clarice said pulling Raphaela inside. "Galatea! Where are you?!"

"What is it Clarice? Are you still here? Where's Helen and Miria you were the last one with them." Galatea said walking to the front of the academy only to be taken back once she saw Raphaela. "You!"

Raphaela glared at Galatea for such a rude welcome. "You? Come on I would have thought someone like you would have something better to say than that, like how are you? Oh well who cares, by the looks of this place you seem to be having some fun." She said looking at all the damage in Rabona Academy.

Galatea noticed anger in Raphaela's voice and movements. "I mean't, its been a long while."

"Galatea." Clarice said getting her attention. "Raphaela was my first teacher and I would like it if you would let her train me here."

"You trained Clarice? That explains why Clarice was such a horrible fighter when I first met her." Galatea laughed, but stopped quick once she realized Raphaela giving her a death glare. "Okay really, I didn't mean it like that it was a joke, ah you know what nevermind. Raphaela you are a very powerful and smart fighter, I would rather you fight for me."

"Sorry but the only person I would like to fight is my older sister. I'm only here to train Clarice, I'll fight one fight for you, only if you can set up a fight between me and my sister." Raphaela said with a hateful look on her face.

"Wow you still have a bad attitude, no wonder why Sutafu had a hard time training you." Galatea said trying to joke around but it didn't work. "Okay you don't have to be so serious. Anyway its lucky for you that your sister Lucielia fights for Easily, you know why?"

"Why?" Raphaela asked.

"Because we are up against his Academy right now and need someone to fight Lucielia, do you think you can do that? No can you beat her?" Galatea said a smile making its way on her face realizing that what she was saying was getting into Raphaela's head.
Clarice watched as Raphaela's fists tightened and she saw an evil smile show up on Raphaela's face. "I've been training hard sinse I left Sutafu, and I have had lots of dangerous street fights that would make any fighter stronger. I will fight her for you."

"How dangerous?" Galatea said raising an eyebrow.

Raphaela took her overcoat off and undid her black silk shirt that she had on underneath. Her body was covered in scars, and Galatea's eyes widened when she saw her like that. "Wait until you see my back." Raphaela said turning around. She had several long scars on her back that even made Galatea look like she would faint. "Would you like to see the rest of my body?"

"No thats okay. You can fight for me and train Clarice. One thing though." Galatea said getting Raphaela to look at her. "Could you find Helen and Miria? Clarice you were last seen with them."

"I don't know where they are." Clarice said going to the change rooms.

"Well could you find them I can't close this place up until they come back." Galatea said.
"Okay." Clarice said. "Come on Raphaela you can help me."


*


Helen and Miria were both flat on they're backs, they were sparring with each other all day. Until they started getting serious and it turned out into an all out brawl. They had both almost knocked each other out like back in their first fight.

"We should call it a night." Miria said.

"Hey I can still fight!" Helen yelled.

They heard someone laugh at them, they looked over and saw Undine walking to them.

"Its her! She's the one that almost killed Deneve!" Helen screamed getting up.

"Undine why are you here?!" Miria yelled.

"Oh no reason really, I only came here to laugh at that horrible perfomance you two call fighting." Undine said, glaring at Miria. "Hey I saw Hilda not to long ago, she's sad that you left her, no failed her."

Miria felt herself gritting her teeth in anger. "Hey, you weren't much help in saving Pieta either!"

"Yeah I know but I haven't been in a fight since and I wanted to fight you for failing, or Flora but I haven't seen her around… so I'll just beat on you." Undine said walking past Helen who was imtimidated by the muscle freak of a woman.

Nieher Miria or Helen could fight now, they were too tired from fighting each other. Miria held her arm, she injured it today. "Whats wrong not going to fight? Well I'll kick your ass anyway." Undine said.
All of the sudden Undine landed six feet back, she looked up and saw Raphaela standing there. "What the... Who the hell are you?!" Undine yelled.

Clarice came running holding Raphaela's overcoat. "Looks like we got here just in time."

"This will be a good warm up for me." Raphaela said cracking her knuckles.

"I'll make you pay for that!" Undine yelled running at Raphaela and throwing a punch.
Raphaela smiked and dodged the punch, she ran around Undine and hit her in the back of the head. When Undine realized what had happened she tried to get up but Raphaela smashed her across the face with a regular jab. Undine went flying and when she hit the ground she was out cold.

"That was amazing!" Clarice yelled.

"Raphaela? Whats she doing here?" Miria asked.

"Holy shit!" Helen yelled. "If that was a jab I'd hate to find out how strong your other punches are."

Raphaela didn't answer.

"Raphaela will be training me at Rabona now, and Galatea is setting up a fight so she can beat her sister." Clarice said overjoyed about what Raphaela just did. "Oh and Galatea wants to close up so you better hurry up and get back to the academy before she does."
Helen and Miria looked at each other.

"I bet I can beat you back." Helen said.

"I'm already winning!" Miria yelled already on the run.

"No fair!" Helen whined as Miria got another head start.

Clarice gave Raphaela her overcoat back. "Here we have to go to my house."
Raphaela looked back at Undine's body wondering if she was dead. Her jab was very strong, but it was the weakest of her punches, she didn't care she only wanted to fight her sister, then she wouldn't need to fight again.

Clarice was looking at her the whole time she was thinking. "What?" Raphaela asked.
"Nothing really, I wanted to know though. Are you going to teach me how to punch as hard as you do?" Clarice asked.

"I can't do that, that is something that comes along in time. I will make you better though." Raphaela said looking at the lanterns above them casting light on the path they were walking on.

"Okay, my house isn't to far now, actually thats it right there." Clarice said pointing to a small house that looked like a cabin.

When they walked in Miata was sleeping on the floor.

"Who's this?" Raphaela asked.

"This is my daughter Miata, she always waits for me to come home. We took to long to get here and she fell asleep waiting." Clarice whispered taking Miata to her room.
Raphaela looked around. Clarice lit a candle and Raphaela got to take a look at the place, everything was thrown around. Clarice had just moved in so it kind of resembled a dump right now.

"I hope you don't mind the place, its not the greatest." Clarice said moving a box out into another room.

Raphaela had seen worse, she had been living on top of a building for the past year. A warm house like this would be nice. "Clarice I don't know what to say, you are being so nice to me. To tell you the truth no one has been like this to me for a long time."
Clarice smiled. "Come on are you hungry?" She said looking around in the kitchen. "Lets see... Well I don't really have anything."

"I haven't ate anything since yesterday, so yeah I'd be grateful if I could eat right now." Raphaela said remembering how hungry she was. Clarice found some bread in a cupboard, they ended up eating that.

After eating Clarice had an extra room in her basement with a bed so Raphaela could sleep there.

"I'm sorry it isn't much but its all I got." Clarice said before Raphaela cut her off.

"No this will do just fine." Raphaela said. "I haven't slept in a bed in so long, thank you."

*

Raphaela dreamt of laying on the ground in an open field with no one around. She looked up at the sky and felt a cool fall breeze that lifted dead coloured leaves off of the ground, making them blow by her.

"This feels great, I've beaten her. Now I've killed my sister in the pit and I can finally relax." Raphaela thought hearing footsteps, it was her mother.

Raphaela got up to greet her, she was so happy to see her. She hugged her and for some reason felt someone poking her back. Raphaela slowly woke up realizing it was just a dream. Tears dripped from her eyes, she quickly wiped them away once she still felt more poking.

"What?!" Raphaela said rolling over and pulling off the blanket that kept her warm.
Miata stood before her smiling.

"Oh its you." Raphaela said wondering why she would wake her from such a nice sleep.

"Come on Raphaela we have to go soon!" Clarice yelled running down the stairs.

"Guess I can't enjoy this nice rest any longer." Raphaela thought getting up.

Clarice came in the room and saw Miata watching Raphaela. "Oh there you are Miata, don't bother Raphaela." She said picking her up.

"You know I don't like being woken up." Raphaela said.

"But you'll be late. Galatea will be angry." Clarice said wide eyed.

Raphaela laughed. "Hey Galatea knows I'm powerful and I will only be there to train you and to fight my sister."

"I guess you are right." Clarice sighed.

They heard someone knocking on the front door and Clarice went to go get it. She opened the door and was surprised to see Clare.

"Clare, why are you here?" Clarice asked.

"Galatea decided to give everyone a day off and I came here to tell you that." Clare said as Flora and Jean walked up behind her.

"You two are here as well?" Clarice asked.

"Good morning Miss Clarice." Flora said nicely.

Clarice stood there for a few seconds. "Oh you have to meet someone, she's my first trainer." She said letting everyone in.

Raphaela was putting her clothes on when Clarice told her to come up stairs. Raphaela walked up stairs and went into the living room where Clarice was, she wasn't expecting anybody else to be their.

"This is Raphaela if you don't know her, she will be at Rabona Academy now." Clarice said as Flora stepped forward.
"Mistress Raphaela, it is an honour to finally meet you in person, I am Flora." Flora said bowing her head respectfully.

"This is Jean and Clare, they got me into Rabona." Clarice said pointing to them.

"Hello," Jean said as Clare nodded her head.

"I recognize this woman. I saw her way back in when Teresa got beat by Priscilla, this woman was their chanting Teresa's name." Clare thought looking at Raphaela.

"You know me?" Raphaela asked Flora.

"Yes of course I know you, you are one of the most powerful fighters around." Flora said smiling.

Raphaela didn't seem to happy once she found out that she didn't have to get up today, but it was okay since she got to meet some team mates. After the three women left the house, Clarice stared at Raphaela.

"What?" Raphaela asked.

"Why are you always so angry?" Clarice asked.

"Because my life sucks." Raphaela said walking out of the room and back into her room in the basement. "Now don't wake me up, I have no reason to get up today!" She yelled throwing her clothes across the room and jumping back on the bed.

"Okay." Clarice said wondering if letting Raphaela stay with her was a good idea. "I hope everything works out now that she's around."

[KillerYomaFromSpace]

wow, it seems that everyone wants vengeance now...

btw Yosei, if I remember right, in one of your previous chapters Rigald included Teresa as one of the traitors who must be punished. I don't think it makes any sense if they blame her for anything, but thats not the case, they can think what they want, what I want to ask is: do they really plan to do anything against Teresa?

[Tempest35]

Their best bet of doing something against Teresa would be to hurt Clare - that's about it. So they'll focus on Clare until she breaks. Someone might try to attack Teresa directly but she'd get help from the most unlikely of sources for that.

[hell88]

Originally Posted by Yosei

@ Shelter: I personally think it was slightly overused, but because Miria and Clarice are not my focus, it was up to the guest writers to diversify... or keep it simple.

And on the question of untouchable characters. I admit that is still an issue to untangle. We will see how it goes.

Okay, now here's Hell's new guest chapter. Hope it goes well - and I will soon start my continuing chapter, followed up by AkatsukiYu's contribution.

Spoiler for space:

Chapter 23: Guest Chapter by Hell88: New Faces of Bloodshed II

Another day at Rabona Academy, it was all the same for the fighters there who hadn't won a Championship title. The usual would happen, go their and train and wait for a fight to come up some place. As for Clarice she really wasn't getting anywhere, she had been training with Tabitha and Yuma but they weren't really experienced fighters at all as they had less fights than Clarice. Yes Clarice wasn't really getting anywhere, she had won one fight though in that time she had been in Rabona so far though, it was against a woman named Zelda and Clarice had made enough money to move out of Jean's place and find her own place.

Clarice left the training room in the academy to get ready for her daily run. Only to really run into Irene who was walking into the room. Clarice wasn't around at the time, nor Miria.

"Irene?!" Clarice said confused.

Irene looked at Clarice for a few seconds until it hit her. "Oh I know you, you're from Sutafu like me."

"I didn't know you would be here." Clarice said in awe of the great fighter in front of her.
"Yes well I have retired from fighting and I'm training Clare, you haven't seen her have you?" Irene asked as she watched Clarice's jaw drop.

"Oh she's with Jean, I saw them go to the weight room down downstairs." Clarice said watching Irene walk by her.

Her attention though moved to someone else, it was Helen and she was saying how good she is at everything to Miria. Clarice didn't hear what Helen said but Miria replied with, "then how come you haven't won a championship yet?" Then Helen went on some more and challenged her to a race.

"Looks like I won't be running alone." Clarice thought as she walked outside behind them.

"Hey what do you think you can beat me too?" Helen said noticing Clarice behind them.
"No not at all, I just went out here for my daily run thats all." Clarice said shaking her head.

"Yeah sure thats what they all say." Helen said laughing.

"Hurry up Helen I'm going to beat you!" Miria yelled running down the path.

Helen looked back at Miria and saw her running really fast. "Hey thats not fair!" Helen yelled.

Clarice laughed and decided to take the same path they did, just incase because Helen looked like she was going to hurt herself the way she was going. While running behind Helen and Miria, Clarice realized that she did not have the endurance yet to keep up with them and saw them dissapearing in her view. Clarice slowed down and stopped running in a park. She sat down taking deep breaths on a bench.

"Wow those two can really move." Clarice said gasping for air.

She looked ahead and saw someone walking to her. Clarice reconized her, she was one of the women that was with Zelda when Clarice beat her. "Veronica, I think thats her name." Clarice thought.

"Hey I don't take to kindly of you beating one of my students!" Veronica yelled.

"Oh great." Clarice thought putting her head down. "This isn't good."

"I want to fight you, but I'm a coach now and can't fight any novice fighters such as youself, well in the pit that is." Veronica said, which made Clarice stand up.
Clarice raised her hands. "Hey wait come on, I was only doing my job. I have a kid to raise."

Veronica laughed. "Your wasting your life if you are spending all of your winnings on a child. I wonder how tough you are?"

Clarice put her hands down. "What?"

Then Veronica smacked her over the head, making Clarice fall back. "What your down already?"

Clarice got on her knees. "Wait I don't want to fight if its going to be illegal like this."

"Illegal, most of pit fighting is illegal!" Veronica yelled smoking Clarice with her right fist just left to her nose.

Clarice was forced back by the power of the punch and tripped, rolled backwards to a stop. When she got up her nose was bleeding and she tasted blood in her mouth, she felt her left eye and could tell it was going black.

"Damn why did I stop running? Where's Helen and Miria when I need them?" Clarice thought looking up seeing a cross jab coming her way.

Instinct kicked in and Clarice closed her eyes waiting for it to happen, but as her eyes were closed nothing happened. The attack never came, Clarice opened her eyes and saw someone blocking Veronica's attack. Someone wearing a black overcoat and had a hood on covering that persons head.

"What are you doing?!" Veronica yelled. Her fists were caught by this person.

Then the person let go, Veronica pulled back and looked like she was going to attack. At that time the hooded person punch Vernoica in the jaw, and Veronica felt herself go numb for a second.

I better get out of here." Veronica thought backing up looking very dizzy now.

Who ever it was that saved Clarice was about to walk away. "Wait!" Clarice yelled grabbing the person around the waste. "Who are you?"

"Are you okay?" The person said.

Clarice could tell it was a woman by her voice. "Yes thank you, but who are you?"

The woman turned around taking her hood off, Clarice recognized this woman because of her short blonde hair and a big scar on the left side of her face.

"Its you!" Clarice yelled getting to her feet. "Raphaela what happened to you? Where have you been?"

"I've been in hiding, only until I heard a former student of mine was kicked out of Sutafu, but you look like you're doing alright now with that Rabona outfit on." Raphaela said noticing the Rabona boxing logo on Clarice's training outfit.

"Oh yes about that, you see I've joined them now. I still have a long way to go with my training." Clarice said to her former teacher.

"Oh I see." Raphaela said, her voice was as cold as ice.

"Oh, by the way, I met your sister." Clarice said.

Raphaela was about to walk away when she turned back and looked at Clarice with an evil look on her face. "Where is she?!"

"Well she trains at Abyssal Academy, why?" Clarice asked.

Raphaela smiled darkly. "Because I'm going to kill her."

Raphaela started to walk away but Clarice caught up to her. "What you can't do that!"

"Are you worried about me or something?" Raphaela asked.

"You can't do that, please. I look up to you so highly, you can't do something like that I..." Clarice said before Raphaela covered Clarice's mouth with her hand.
"It should'nt matter to you what I do." Raphaela said turning away.

Raphaela walked a few feet, only to feel Clarice's arms wrap around her. It felt so good, Raphaela hadn't been touched by anyone else in so long, she could feel Clarice's warm body against her back. Clarice had her face against the back of Raphaela's head and Raphaela could feel something wet dripping on her head. She looked back and saw Clarice crying, it was Clarice's tears that were falling on her.

Raphaela looked up at the blue sky which was starting to get darker. She took a deep breath and felt sad inside. "Alright stop your going to make me cry."

Clarice only held her tighter. "Come with me." She whispered.

"Come where?" Raphaela said confused.

"Come to Rabona and help me, I need your help you are one of the most powerful fighters around and everyone knows it, please." Clarice said whispering again.

Raphaela sighed despite all of the revengeful things she had on her mind, with her sister being one of them, she couldn't help seeing one of her former students like this. "But I don't have a place to stay."

"Don't worry you can stay with me." Clarice said slowly letting go of Raphaela so she could turn around to face her.

Raphaela had a confused look on her face. "Will I be aloud to train you at Rabona?"
"Yes come on, there is no way Miss Galatea would let someone that has the attributes you do to not be their." Clarice said starting to take Raphaela back to the academy with her.

Raphaela didn't know what to say, all this time she was in hiding she just wanted to get revenge on people, but Clarice was making her feel different. "Come on lets hurry before Galatea locks up, I still have some things in the change room!" Clarice laughed as she started to pick up the pace.

When they got back to the academy it was completely dark now and Irene was walking out of the place. Raphaela and Irene caught glances at each other.

"Raphaela?!" Irene said confused to see her.

"If it isn't Irene." Raphaela said.

"I haven't seen you in a little while now, what happened?" Irene asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Raphaela said looking away from Irene. "I didn't realize that Rabona was the place for former Sutafu fighters though."

Irene gave Raphaela a smile before letting her go.

"Come on already." Clarice said pulling Raphaela inside. "Galatea! Where are you?!"

"What is it Clarice? Are you still here? Where's Helen and Miria you were the last one with them." Galatea said walking to the front of the academy only to be taken back once she saw Raphaela. "You!"

Raphaela glared at Galatea for such a rude welcome. "You? Come on I would have thought someone like you would have something better to say than that, like how are you? Oh well who cares, by the looks of this place you seem to be having some fun." She said looking at all the damage in Rabona Academy.

Galatea noticed anger in Raphaela's voice and movements. "I mean't, its been a long while."

"Galatea." Clarice said getting her attention. "Raphaela was my first teacher and I would like it if you would let her train me here."

"You trained Clarice? That explains why Clarice was such a horrible fighter when I first met her." Galatea laughed, but stopped quick once she realized Raphaela giving her a death glare. "Okay really, I didn't mean it like that it was a joke, ah you know what nevermind. Raphaela you are a very powerful and smart fighter, I would rather you fight for me."

"Sorry but the only person I would like to fight is my older sister. I'm only here to train Clarice, I'll fight one fight for you, only if you can set up a fight between me and my sister." Raphaela said with a hateful look on her face.

"Wow you still have a bad attitude, no wonder why Sutafu had a hard time training you." Galatea said trying to joke around but it didn't work. "Okay you don't have to be so serious. Anyway its lucky for you that your sister Lucielia fights for Easily, you know why?"

"Why?" Raphaela asked.

"Because we are up against his Academy right now and need someone to fight Lucielia, do you think you can do that? No can you beat her?" Galatea said a smile making its way on her face realizing that what she was saying was getting into Raphaela's head.
Clarice watched as Raphaela's fists tightened and she saw an evil smile show up on Raphaela's face. "I've been training hard sinse I left Sutafu, and I have had lots of dangerous street fights that would make any fighter stronger. I will fight her for you."

"How dangerous?" Galatea said raising an eyebrow.

Raphaela took her overcoat off and undid her black silk shirt that she had on underneath. Her body was covered in scars, and Galatea's eyes widened when she saw her like that. "Wait until you see my back." Raphaela said turning around. She had several long scars on her back that even made Galatea look like she would faint. "Would you like to see the rest of my body?"

"No thats okay. You can fight for me and train Clarice. One thing though." Galatea said getting Raphaela to look at her. "Could you find Helen and Miria? Clarice you were last seen with them."

"I don't know where they are." Clarice said going to the change rooms.

"Well could you find them I can't close this place up until they come back." Galatea said.
"Okay." Clarice said. "Come on Raphaela you can help me."


*


Helen and Miria were both flat on they're backs, they were sparring with each other all day. Until they started getting serious and it turned out into an all out brawl. They had both almost knocked each other out like back in their first fight.

"We should call it a night." Miria said.

"Hey I can still fight!" Helen yelled.

They heard someone laugh at them, they looked over and saw Undine walking to them.

"Its her! She's the one that almost killed Deneve!" Helen screamed getting up.

"Undine why are you here?!" Miria yelled.

"Oh no reason really, I only came here to laugh at that horrible perfomance you two call fighting." Undine said, glaring at Miria. "Hey I saw Hilda not to long ago, she's sad that you left her, no failed her."

Miria felt herself gritting her teeth in anger. "Hey, you weren't much help in saving Pieta either!"

"Yeah I know but I haven't been in a fight since and I wanted to fight you for failing, or Flora but I haven't seen her around… so I'll just beat on you." Undine said walking past Helen who was imtimidated by the muscle freak of a woman.

Nieher Miria or Helen could fight now, they were too tired from fighting each other. Miria held her arm, she injured it today. "Whats wrong not going to fight? Well I'll kick your ass anyway." Undine said.
All of the sudden Undine landed six feet back, she looked up and saw Raphaela standing there. "What the... Who the hell are you?!" Undine yelled.

Clarice came running holding Raphaela's overcoat. "Looks like we got here just in time."

"This will be a good warm up for me." Raphaela said cracking her knuckles.

"I'll make you pay for that!" Undine yelled running at Raphaela and throwing a punch.
Raphaela smiked and dodged the punch, she ran around Undine and hit her in the back of the head. When Undine realized what had happened she tried to get up but Raphaela smashed her across the face with a regular jab. Undine went flying and when she hit the ground she was out cold.

"That was amazing!" Clarice yelled.

"Raphaela? Whats she doing here?" Miria asked.

"Holy shit!" Helen yelled. "If that was a jab I'd hate to find out how strong your other punches are."

Raphaela didn't answer.

"Raphaela will be training me at Rabona now, and Galatea is setting up a fight so she can beat her sister." Clarice said overjoyed about what Raphaela just did. "Oh and Galatea wants to close up so you better hurry up and get back to the academy before she does."
Helen and Miria looked at each other.

"I bet I can beat you back." Helen said.

"I'm already winning!" Miria yelled already on the run.

"No fair!" Helen whined as Miria got another head start.

Clarice gave Raphaela her overcoat back. "Here we have to go to my house."
Raphaela looked back at Undine's body wondering if she was dead. Her jab was very strong, but it was the weakest of her punches, she didn't care she only wanted to fight her sister, then she wouldn't need to fight again.

Clarice was looking at her the whole time she was thinking. "What?" Raphaela asked.
"Nothing really, I wanted to know though. Are you going to teach me how to punch as hard as you do?" Clarice asked.

"I can't do that, that is something that comes along in time. I will make you better though." Raphaela said looking at the lanterns above them casting light on the path they were walking on.

"Okay, my house isn't to far now, actually thats it right there." Clarice said pointing to a small house that looked like a cabin.

When they walked in Miata was sleeping on the floor.

"Who's this?" Raphaela asked.

"This is my daughter Miata, she always waits for me to come home. We took to long to get here and she fell asleep waiting." Clarice whispered taking Miata to her room.
Raphaela looked around. Clarice lit a candle and Raphaela got to take a look at the place, everything was thrown around. Clarice had just moved in so it kind of resembled a dump right now.

"I hope you don't mind the place, its not the greatest." Clarice said moving a box out into another room.

Raphaela had seen worse, she had been living on top of a building for the past year. A warm house like this would be nice. "Clarice I don't know what to say, you are being so nice to me. To tell you the truth no one has been like this to me for a long time."
Clarice smiled. "Come on are you hungry?" She said looking around in the kitchen. "Lets see... Well I don't really have anything."

"I haven't ate anything since yesterday, so yeah I'd be grateful if I could eat right now." Raphaela said remembering how hungry she was. Clarice found some bread in a cupboard, they ended up eating that.

After eating Clarice had an extra room in her basement with a bed so Raphaela could sleep there.

"I'm sorry it isn't much but its all I got." Clarice said before Raphaela cut her off.

"No this will do just fine." Raphaela said. "I haven't slept in a bed in so long, thank you."

*

Raphaela dreamt of laying on the ground in an open field with no one around. She looked up at the sky and felt a cool fall breeze that lifted dead coloured leaves off of the ground, making them blow by her.

"This feels great, I've beaten her. Now I've killed my sister in the pit and I can finally relax." Raphaela thought hearing footsteps, it was her mother.

Raphaela got up to greet her, she was so happy to see her. She hugged her and for some reason felt someone poking her back. Raphaela slowly woke up realizing it was just a dream. Tears dripped from her eyes, she quickly wiped them away once she still felt more poking.

"What?!" Raphaela said rolling over and pulling off the blanket that kept her warm.
Miata stood before her smiling.

"Oh its you." Raphaela said wondering why she would wake her from such a nice sleep.

"Come on Raphaela we have to go soon!" Clarice yelled running down the stairs.

"Guess I can't enjoy this nice rest any longer." Raphaela thought getting up.

Clarice came in the room and saw Miata watching Raphaela. "Oh there you are Miata, don't bother Raphaela." She said picking her up.

"You know I don't like being woken up." Raphaela said.

"But you'll be late. Galatea will be angry." Clarice said wide eyed.

Raphaela laughed. "Hey Galatea knows I'm powerful and I will only be there to train you and to fight my sister."

"I guess you are right." Clarice sighed.

They heard someone knocking on the front door and Clarice went to go get it. She opened the door and was surprised to see Clare.

"Clare, why are you here?" Clarice asked.

"Galatea decided to give everyone a day off and I came here to tell you that." Clare said as Flora and Jean walked up behind her.

"You two are here as well?" Clarice asked.

"Good morning Miss Clarice." Flora said nicely.

Clarice stood there for a few seconds. "Oh you have to meet someone, she's my first trainer." She said letting everyone in.

Raphaela was putting her clothes on when Clarice told her to come up stairs. Raphaela walked up stairs and went into the living room where Clarice was, she wasn't expecting anybody else to be their.

"This is Raphaela if you don't know her, she will be at Rabona Academy now." Clarice said as Flora stepped forward.
"Mistress Raphaela, it is an honour to finally meet you in person, I am Flora." Flora said bowing her head respectfully.

"This is Jean and Clare, they got me into Rabona." Clarice said pointing to them.

"Hello," Jean said as Clare nodded her head.

"I recognize this woman. I saw her way back in when Teresa got beat by Priscilla, this woman was their chanting Teresa's name." Clare thought looking at Raphaela.

"You know me?" Raphaela asked Flora.

"Yes of course I know you, you are one of the most powerful fighters around." Flora said smiling.

Raphaela didn't seem to happy once she found out that she didn't have to get up today, but it was okay since she got to meet some team mates. After the three women left the house, Clarice stared at Raphaela.

"What?" Raphaela asked.

"Why are you always so angry?" Clarice asked.

"Because my life sucks." Raphaela said walking out of the room and back into her room in the basement. "Now don't wake me up, I have no reason to get up today!" She yelled throwing her clothes across the room and jumping back on the bed.

"Okay." Clarice said wondering if letting Raphaela stay with her was a good idea. "I hope everything works out now that she's around."

I wasn't expecting you to put this chapter up so soon. Which means I'm going to have to finish my next one soon and send it to you.

[shelter]

Originally Posted by KillerYomaFromSpace

wow, it seems that everyone wants vengeance now...

That more or less summed up my reaction to Hell's guest chapter. Again, it's structurally sound & quite a joy to read since everyone Clarice & the Rabona trainees go up against get beaten back to the ground I just think that, unfortunately, unlike Clare, Clarice is taking quite a long time to even punch right. Maybe that's because we don't see too much of her.

Hell stumbled upon quite an interesting point in this chapter: apart from Jeane & Flora, it seems that all the new arrivals to Rabona are either dropouts, rebels or runaways from Sutafu, right? And it seems that all their opponents are Sutafu people as well? I understand that Yosei mentioned a least 2 other academies in the main story, so why don't these fighters choose the others instead? I interpreted it as Rabona's rise to power as a boxing school in its own right.

The question on untouchable chapters is really fine - I just brought that up because it seemed that most of the other characters save for Galatea, Cynthia, Clare & Flora were being developed at their expense in the guest installments.