7. キャンプの夜

Itachi

"I guess we'll just have to camp in unil the sun appears again." Itachi declared, making Mimori moan in dread.

"But you said we're getting close to a village!"

"It's pointless. We can't pursue to continue walking with someone playing mind games with us at the moment." Itachi replied across the campfire.

"Y-You mean..." Peering over her shoulder to the vast darkness, Mimori shivered in fear and slid closer to Itachi in an instant. Looking back to the darkness, a small rabbit emerged, making Mimori scream. But just as she was about to, Itachi pulled her closer and put a hand on her mouth. "Stop screaming or you're gonna scare our dinner away." He whispered.

Mimori raised her brows. Itachi lets her go and threw a kunai knife towards the furry animal, hitting it right on its head. Walking over to pick the rabbit up, a tongue-like tail shot up out of the blue, strangling and swallowing him back to the darkness.

"Itachi!" Mimori yelled. She was about to run towards where he disappeared when she turned around and began running to the opposite direction. She was heading to nowhere. Nevertheless, she still kept going straight and forward. She was driven by fear. The bearing of her heart was so loud it's all she could hear in the vast darkness.

After an intense battle with a large snake, Itachi drew blood, separating the reptile's body from its head. When he came back to the lighted clearing, Mimori was nowhere to be seen. "Mimori! Where are you?" Itachi shouted over the faint silence of the forest. "Mimori!" He shouted one last time before he stopped and mustered enough chakra to use his tracking jutsu again. The crow appeared and he sent it out to search for Mimori. Bringing a torch with him, Itachi dove in the forest once again and followed the crow. I hope she's still alive, Itachi thought. I wouldn't forgive myself if I fail this mission, nor would I have to live longer. Coughing a few drips of blood, Itachi leaned against a nearby tree for support.

"Dammit." He cussed under his breath. "I'm weaker than before. I better find her soon before." Itachi coughed up more blood, forcing him to fall to the ground. He threw the torch away, making sure it wouldn't be an instigator of a forest fire.

He began to fight with his need of sleep and the thronging pain in his chest. He lifted a finger to his chin, feeling crimson beginning to cascade from his mouth.

"Mimori..." He muttered weakly, letting sleep take over him at last.

Mimori had stumbled to the ground. She didn't saw herself stumble, but she was able to feel it. Feeling fear taking over her, she looked up to the sky hoping she would see her mother, the moon. But the foliages of the tree were as thick as a rock. Mimori began to feel confined, trapped. The air is becoming humid, making it harder for her to breathe. She thinks of nothing but fear and Itachi being eaten alive by a horrifying winged monster with demonic horns and a snarling wicked grin.

It didn't take long for Mimori to start tearing up. "This is too much. I'm unable to run farther. I should've just returned to the village. I shouldn't have-"

"Mimori! Where are you?"

Mimori tensed stopped resisting to collapse at last. "Itachi, h-help me..."

She could make out a dim warm torchlight heading towards her. It was her glimmer of hope, she was smiling. But the light vanished, having Mimori believed it was only her illusion. Itachi isn't going to save me, she thought. Because I wasn't able to save him. I'm not strong enough. No! I should be stronger than I am now. I should finally put my powers to good use. But how?

"Mimori." A motherly feminine voice spoke. It was like a melody, so heavenly. "You are already strong but the only way to unleash your strength, is to remain faithful and optimistic. You can do it sweetheart, for I, your mother, believes in you."

Mimori opened her eyes and they were no longer in their normal state. They were as bright as a full moon in a clear sky and the sun in a high noon. Miraculously, Mimori could see in the dark and she feels stronger, healthier than ever. Her recovery from running used to last for days. Now, it is far less than that, for she heeded and believed in herself.

After seeing Itachi's unconscious body from a few meters away, Mimori immediately headed over. She rolled him over and had his back laid on the ground. She pushed aside every strand of his long brown hair away from his face, examining him. Once she saw the blood on his mouth and hand, she frowned. "Itachi..."

Itachi

Itachi woke up, to the sight of Mimori being so closely pressed against his face. It didn't take him long to realize—she was kissing him.

"Mmh!" Pushing her off with a firm hold on her shoulders, Itachi groaned and released a big sigh. Mimori backed away, apologizing frantically. "Sorry, sorry. I'm so sorry, Itachi!"

"Why... Did you do that?" He glared, roughly.

"I, uhm, well... I don't know. It just-"

"Let's just go. We've no time to waste."

Mimori stood up next, grabbing the rabbit he killed last night and she resurrected earlier on. After grabbing all of his gear, Itachi turned to the animal. "No, we're not bringing it with us."

"It's a she and I'm bringing her with whether you like it or not, Itachi-kun." The girl protested sassily. She squeezed into in her chest, almost suffocating the poor long-eared animal.

"Make sure not to lose it. We might cook it when we get to camp again."

"What? No way! I rather starve than to kill him."

"With that state of mind, I bet you wouldn't survive long on your own."

"That is very offensive, do you know that?"

"I know. I'm just trying to piss you off. You did kissed me to wake up, didn't you?"

"I-I forget about that! I was just curious, not like curious in a weird way but in a helpful way, like why were you still not—"

"Why don't you talk less fast and walk less slow, Mimori?"

"I am walking less slow! Ugh..."

Looking at his back, Itachi stopped walking and caught Mimori before she could fall to the ground. "Mimori, what's wrong?"

"I must've used up all my chakra to heal you last night."

"You healed me?"

"Y-Yeah... Can you give me a piggy back ride instead? I promise I won't be heavy."

Itachi smiled flatly. He didn't like the idea but his adrenaline is rushing for some weird, uncommon reason.

"How about bridal style this time?" He said. He locked her legs in his elbows and hoisted her to the air. The rabbit tensed but gladly it didn't jumped from her hold. But Itachi's hands were trembling slightly, she felt.

"Itachi, are you sure you're okay with this?" Mimori asked, worried.

With the realest-looking smile he could muster, Itachi nodded. "I'm very sure. Now let's get going while we have daylight."

"When will we have breakfast? I'm kind of starving."

"We could have breakfast right now if you give up that rabbit."

The rabbit squeaked in fear. Mimori exclaimed. "No!"

"You said you rather starve than to eat your friend, so starve."

"But what about you, Itachi-kun?"

"I'll be fine as long as you're able to heal."

"You can't heal a hungry stomach."

"If you can heal a broken heart then you can."

Mimori chuckled in a raspy tone. "Good point, Itachi-kun!"