Chapter Eleven;
It was another week into their journey. The six companions were starting to feel the stress of travel. They were dirty, and hadn't had a decent meal since they left the training hideout. Still, they had another week before they would reach Lion's Valley. Currently, they were traveling through a desert area. Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori had removed their shirts, and only wore their mesh-Armour tank-tops. Their cheeks red from the blazing son. Evelynn and Shoto had also removed their shirts, and were only wearing the bindings to cover their torso's. Mira had removed her trench coat, and left it somewhere behind them. It would be a matter of time before she only wore her bindings as well. (1)
Deidara lifted his water canteen to his dry lips, and frowned when nothing came out. It was a two day track across the desert, and they had no food and very little water. He sighed as he dropped it back to his side. He blinked when a canteen found it's way under his nose. He turned to see who was offering, and Evelynn was looking straight a head as she held it out to him.
"That's yours, un." Deidara stated.
"Take it." Was all she replied. Deidara took the canteen, and realized it was almost completely full. She spoke again, "drink as much as you like. I have one more you can have tomorrow."
"I couldn't, yeah.." Deidara frowned. Evelynn just grinned at him.
"Don't worry about me." She stated with a grin as she moved on to the head of their group.
-Time skip!-
It was the second day of them traveling in the desert. The heat was starting to get to them. Soon, they would be in a swamp area, and it would be cooler. All they had to do was make another few hours. They tried to keep up the pace, but once in awhile one of them would start the lag behind. When this happened Shoto or Evelynn would push that person forward.
Currently, Sasori and Itachi were half dragging Deidara. He was practically passing out from the heat. Evelynn was devastatingly worried, and kept giving him drinks from her water canteen, which was running low. Mira kept wetting a piece of her shirt, and pressing it to his forehead, trying to keep him cool. Shoto was keeping a weary eye out for any predators or enemies.
"We have to pick up the pace." Evelynn ordered. The sun was making her blood boil, and she was getting more snappy by the minute.
"We can't." Sasori growled.
"Don't you three have chakra?" Evelynn snapped.
"Deidara's passing out.." Sasori started, but Evelynn cut him off.
"Itachi, can you carry Shoto and Mira?" Evelynn asked.
"Yes.." Itachi said slowly as he raised his eyebrow.
"Sasori, carry Deidara on your back. Itachi, carry Mira and Shoto. Run ahead, and I'll be close behind." Evelynn ordered.
"Are you sure?" Shoto looked uncertainly at her friend.
"Just go. I'll be fine." Evelynn assured.
So, Mira climbed onto Itachi's back, and then Itachi picked Shoto up bridal style, much to her discomfort. Evelynn helped get Deidara onto Sasori's back. Just before he and Itachi took off, Evelynn grabbed his arm.
"Keep them safe." She whispered.
"Promise." Sasori gave her a nod.
He and Itachi took off at ninja speed. With how fast they ran, they would make it to the swamp terrain within three hours. Evelynn, at her pace, would take six or seven. She took a quick swig from her canteen, and started forward again.
-Time skip!-
The five comrades had made it to the swamp land. Deidara was completely passed out, Sasori and Itachi were looking weak, and Mira looked like she might pass out next. Shoto, for the most part, was fine. A side from slight dehydration. Her and Sasori set to work filtering water, and getting it into the canteens. Obviously, it would have a little dirt, but it would get them back on their feet.
"Wh-where's Evelynn, hm?" Deidara asked as he woke up.
"She asked us to go ahead of her, so we could hydrated and rested." Shoto explained as she handed him a canteen.
Deidara nodded, and gratefully drank from the canteen. Mira was ripping apart the girls shirts, so she could soak them in the water, and they could use them to cool down. For awhile the girls would just have to wear their bindings. She handed each one a soaked piece of cloth, and they all started dabbing their foreheads, necks, and arms.
"D-do you think sh-she'll be a-alright?" Mira asked.
"If she's not here in another couple hours we'll head out to find her. It'll be dark soon." Shoto replied as they all looked towards the desert.
-Evelynn-
The young red-headed woman trudged through the sand. She had ripped off a piece of her shirt before the others left, and had her hair tied back. She glared up at the sun as it's rays bore into her. It would be night time in a few hours, and she wanted to make it to the other before then. Hearing the sand shift behind her, Evelynn groaned and turned around. Rising from the sand was a giant lizard. Known only to the desert, and famous for it's poisonous saliva.
"Really?" Evelynn asked as she rubbed her temples.
She was tired, sweating, hungry, and dehydrated. Not to mention agitated, because of the combination of all four. Her canteen had gone try thirty minutes back, and now she had to deal with this? With a sigh, she half heartedly swung her pole axe off her back.
"Let's get this over with!" She snapped, and ran at the giant lizard. It let out a wild shriek, and snapped it's jaws.
Evelynn leaped to the left to avoid the acidic saliva. The giant lizard swung it's tail at her, and Evelynn jumped over it. Only to have it swung at her again, and she went flying a few yards back, the sharp spikes on it's tail cutting into her flesh. Evelynn growled slightly, and jumped up. She swayed on the spot for a moment, and then ran at the lizard again. She slid under it, and impaled her pole axe into its gut. The reptile let out another shriek, and kicked her out from under its belly. As it did she, her pole axe ripped into it's abdomen. Evelynn got drenched in blood, but remained on her feet. She jumped back to avoid any more saliva, and while it's head was lowered she hopped on top of it. She slammed her pole axe into the top of it's head with such force that part of it's brain fell out of it's mouth. The giant lizard gurgled on it's own blood, and Evelynn jumped down. Evelynn took a couple viles from the travel pack on her hip, and filled them with the lizards saliva. Mira would be able to make anti-venom's out of it.
Evelynn replaced her pole axe into it's strap, and started towards the swap land again. Now, on top of being tired, hungry, dehydrated, sweaty, and agitated, she was now wounded as well. She sighed as she stumbled over the sand. She could feel herself getting light headed, but she had to carry on. At least for her friends sake. After all, she didn't want them worried about her, and coming back out into the desert. So she continued to move forward.
-Time skip!-
The five had been making small talk, trying to pass the time. Itachi had explained his genjutsu's, Deidara is kekki genkai, and Sasori his puppets and chakra strings. They also explained to them what the Akatsuki was. Mira and Shoto listened intently. At the end of their explanations, Shoto was smirking in amusement, and Mira was giggling slightly.
"What's so funny, hm?" Deidara asked.
"B-before you came t-to our world, y-you were the bad guys." Mira giggled.
"Now, you're on the opposing side, which is rather ironic." Shoto smirked.
"Yes, I suppose so." Itachi said thoughtfully.
"Funny how things turn out." Sasori muttered.
"E-Evelynn!" Mira suddenly jumped up. Everyone looked to the horizon.
Sure enough, against the setting sun, Evelynn was making her way to them. Relief flowed through all five of the companions. Their little vixen was safe, and she was just a few yards away. Evelynn caught sight of them, and lifted her arm in a wave. Even from their distance they could see she was covered in blood, and looked to be wounded. They all stood. Just as she was taking another step towards them, she fell face first into the sand. Without missing a beat Shoto and Mira took off towards their friend.
"Evelynn!" Shoto yelled as they ran to her.
The two slid down onto the sand next to her. Evelynn groaned, and tried to push herself up into a sitting position. To no avail. If Shoto and Mira hadn't been holding onto her she would have went face first into the sand again.
"You're h-hurt!" Mira exclaimed softly, and set to work healing her wounds.
"I'm f-fine." Evelynn mumbled as they sat her up. Shoto handed her a canteen, and Evelynn drank deeply.
"What happened?" Shoto asked.
"Green Spiked-Tailed Lizard." Evelynn explained. She drained the rest of the canteen, and shakily got to her feet.
"Help?" Shoto asked.
Without waiting for a response Mira and Shoto put either of her arms over their shoulders, and helped her back to their small camp at the edge of the swamp lands. Evelynn had never been so grateful for her two friends. As they sat her down against a moss covered boulder she sighed.
"I can take watch tonight." Evelynn murmured as she rested the back of her head against the boulder.
"Alright." Shoto smiled slightly as Evelynn drifted off to sleep. The raven haired woman stood as she spoke again. "I'll keep watch tonight. You guys get some rest."
They all nodded silently. It was dark now, and they curled up in a place on the ground. Mira cuddled near Evelynn. Even if the red-head was asleep, Mira still felt safe when she was near. Shoto kept watch the whole night. Her eyes flickering towards any noises that might be threatening. Nothing would harm the people who had become to dear to her. Even if she had only known the former Akatsuki members going on three months, she still felt a deep desire to protect them, and protect them all she would.
-Time skip!-
The next morning they all woke around the same time. Evelynn told Shoto to sleep a couple hours, since the sun wasn't quite up yet. The raven haired woman tried to refuse, but Evelynn insisted. Promising to wake her when the sun was up. So, Shoto agreed, and laid down to rest. They still had quite a way to travel, and they all needed to keep sharp.
"Oh, I managed to grab this, Mira." Evelynn suddenly stated as she pulled the two viles of saliva out of her pack. "It's saliva from the reptile."
"Oh, I-I can make anti-venom o-out of i-it." Mira confirmed as she slid the viles into her own pack.
"You doing alright, un?" Deidara asked Evelynn. "You looked pretty bad yesterday, hm."
"So did you." Evelynn said with amusement. Deidara just grinned sheepishly.
"How long until we reach Lion's Valley?" Itachi inquired.
"It'll take three days to get through the swamp, and another two days across a dead field." Evelynn told him. "Then we'll reach Lion's Valley. We can stay in Mira's old village to rest up, and then we can start searching for the Lion's den."
Itachi just nodded, and the five awake waited for the sun to rise.
-Time skip!-
The comrades made it through the swamp with no trouble. They ran into a group of Hanzo's men, but there were only five. Sasori killed them all with his Third Kazekage puppet. he had relished in the feeling of once again being able to use his puppets. Shoto, Mira, and Evelynn had actually seemed quite impressed by his abilities. Deidara had complained about not having clay, and was promised they'd get some when they went to a thriving village.
Now, they were quickly approaching Lion's Valley. Mira hadn't been to her home village since she was three, the night of the raid. She would be lying if she said she wasn't unnerved. Wondering what had changed, and if there was anything left of her once beautiful home. The closer they got, the quicker Mira moved. Soon, she was ahead of her friends, and then in a full on run towards her beloved home. No matter how long it had been Mira could feel her heart here. She could feel the soil, the dying grass, and the breeze running through her veins. Everything about the land was welcoming her back with open arms. Her breath caught in her throat as she reached the village gate, and she choked back tears.
Her once beautiful home was no overrun with grass and weeds. The farm houses we crumbling, and all of the fences were torn down. The fields where cattle once grazed were now dead and dried. The gardens were nothing but patches of dried soil. None of the farm animals were left, but that didn't surprise her. Still, to see her home that had once been green, colour, and so alive look so dead was heartbreaking. She gently brushed her fingertips against one of the old farming plows, that had once been pulled by a donkey. Mira felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright, hm?" Deidara asked softly. Mira nodded as she wiped her eyes.
"My.. My home.." She whispered. Deidara squeezed her shoulder gently, and Mira smiled slightly at him.
"Hey, Mira." Evelynn approached. "Why don't you take a look around. I'll find one of the more stable homes, and perhaps get a fire going. You just take your time, okay?"
Mira nodded gratefully, and started wandering around the village. The other four followed her, by order of Evelynn, as the red-head went to look for a farm house that wasn't in complete ruins.
"This place is still beautiful." Itachi commented gently to Mira.
"Yes.." She said softly while nodding. "I-it's still.. Home."
The others could do little to console her as she broke into sobs. Shoto pulled the young girl into her arms. She was still only eighteen, after all. Also the youngest of them to be forced to flee from her village.
"What's that?" A frial voice asked from a ruined farm home. "Is someone there?"
Slowly, a woman with deep brown eyes emerged from the rubble. Her greying hair was loose and flowing to her mid-back. The woman stopped when she saw Mira. It was like she completely froze.
"D-do you n-need help?" Mira asked shyly.
"Mira..?" The lady looked in shock.
"Do I kn-know you?" Mira asked curiously.
"Mira.. My Mira.." The woman's eyes filled with tears.
When they did Mira's brown eyes met the woman's. Then, realization dawned on her. Those eyes, they were so familiar. Mira saw them every time she looked at her own reflection, and they had been the same eyes that she found so much love and comfort in her first three years of life.
"Mother?!" Mira gasped. The woman started to smile, but broke into a harsh coughing fit. Mira cringed as she watched her wipe away a bit of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Mira, my little Mira." Lilyanna smiled.
She had grown very sick, living in this village on her own. Which had caused her to age faster than she should. Still, her eyes held the same kindness and warmth from fifteen years ago. Mira embraced the woman.
"Where have you been, child?" Lilyanna asked as she gently touched her daughters cheeks. She looked to the other four. "Who are they?"
"M-mother, these a-are my friends and c-comrades. Shoto, I-Itachi, Deidara, Sasori, and E-Evelynn is looking to make sh-shelter somewhere." Mira introduced them. "E-everyone, this i-is my mother."
"Lilyanna." She smiled kindly as she introduced herself. Again, she fell into a coughing fit. Mira helped her sit on an set of crumbling stone steps. After a moment she spoke again. "Where have you been the last fifteen years, darling?"
"Well, my s-spirit animal, Zev, took m-me in. He's a g-great wolf spirit, and he t-trained me for t-twelve years. Th-then, three years a-ago I met E-Evelynn and Shoto, and w-we've been gathering r-rebels. W-we're going to s-start a revolution." Mira explained softly.
"A revolution?!" Lilyanna laughed lightly. "My sweet little Mira is a little outlaw now, it seems."
"Y-yes mother." Mira smiled gently. Lilyanna softly touched Mira's cheek as she looked to the other five.
"You lot take care of my Mira now." Lilyanna smiled. "I have never loved anything more, and I hope she's in good hands."
"She is, ma'am, un." Deidara responded before anyone else could. They all seemed slightly surprised, but Lilyanna just chuckled.
"Mira, my dear, I waited so long to see if you'd ever return." Lilyanna sighed as she turned back to her daughter.
"Mother, c-can I ask you s-something?" Mira asked.
"Of course."
"D-do you kn-know of a p-place called the L-Lion's Den?"
"Why would you want to know about that?" Lilyanna frowned.
"It's p-part of an important m-mission." Mira explained.
"Very well." Lilyanna sighed again. "There's a passageway hidden in the elders hut. It will lead you to where you need to go."
"Th-thank you, m-mama." Mira smiled. "Y-you'll be coming to m-meet Evelynn, r-right?"
"Oh, Mira.." Lilyanna smiled sadly. "I'm afraid I won't make it that long."
"Wh-what do you m-mean?" Mira asked quietly as she diverted her eyes. Lilyanna gently lifted her daughters head so their eyes met.
"Mira, I've waited so long to see you. I loved you from the day you born, until now, and I will love you when I pass on.." Lilyanna was cut off as she started to cough again. Blood splattered onto the cloth she used to cover her mouth. When she was able to, she continued. "I've been very sick for some time now, dear. Remember how we used to lay under a tree, and I would hum you to sleep for your nap?"
"Y-yes.." Mira whispered. Dreading where this was leading.
"Could I have the privilege of doing so one last time?"
"O-of course, mama."
Using Mira as support the two made their was to a tree. The other four watched sadly, staying back in order to give mother and daughter their time together. Gently, Mira laid her mother down. She laid beside her, and rested her head against her mother's chest. Softly, Lilyanna began to hum a lullaby. After a moment Mira started to hum with her. Slowly, Lilyanna's humming faded, and only Mira's could be heard. The young, brown eyed woman tried to keep her emotions under control.
When the lullaby was finished Mira sat up slowly. She looked down at her mother. Her eyes were closed, and a content smile was on her face. Before she could stop herself Mira broke into a harsh sobbing. She cursed herself. Why couldn't she be strong, like Shoto or Evelynn?! Why couldn't she just keep these damned emotions in check. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could not cease her cries.
Deidara was the first to move to her. He scooped her up bridal style, and started carrying her back to the others. She clung to him, and cried into his shoulder. Just as he was approaching the others Evelynn showed up as well.
"What happened..?" She asked, her eyes flickering with worry.
"Her mother.." Shoto whispered quietly, and nodded her head in Lilyanna's direction.
Evelynn looked from Lilyanna to Mira. Then she pulled Mira out of Deidara's arms, and held her in a crushing hug. Mira clung to her friend as she sobbed. Shoto came up, and hugged both girls from behind Mira. A few tears escaped both Evelynn's and Shoto's eyes as the three friends embraced. A promise from the beginning; Their pain was each others pain, and right now Mira was in pain. So they held her as she cried. The men stood off to the side, and bowed their heads in respect. If any of the girls had been looking they would have seen them wipe away a few stray tears as well.
It was that moment that Sasori, Itachi, and Deidara came to learn that the pain of Evelynn, Shoto, and Mira was their pain as well.
(1) Chest bindings, for those who don't know, basically look like bandages wrapped around the chest. It replaces the bra, but can be worn without a shirt as well. A/N; I really wanted to get one more chapter done, but I'm exhausted. So.. Bedtime for Evie. Please review, and have a wonderful day/night, everyone.! I'll have another chapter or two up tomorrow.