Chapter Five;
It took only a day on horseback to reach the western hideout. Normally, the girls didn't like riding on horseback. It was too troublesome to keep the animals safe, as well as themselves. After they approached a cave opening the six hopped down from the horses. They removed the saddles and bridles, and let them run free. Evelynn and Shoto each lit a torch, and into the cave they went.
"Isn't a cave a rather obvious place for a hideout?" Sasori inquired.
"You'd think." Evelynn smirked.
Halfway through the cavern the girls stopped. Evelynn handed her torch to Mira, and with little difficulty pushed a side a boulder. Behind it was a tunnel that led underground. Shoto led the way, and the others followed her quickly. The men seemed slightly impressed. Evelynn pulled the boulder back in place, and quickly followed the others down the dirt tunnel. It was small, and Itachi and Deidara had to duck to avoid the ceiling. When they finally reached the end the me gaped.
Before them was a vast colosseum like area with a high ceiling. All around there were tents, drapes, stands, and people bustled about. Honestly, it was like a small town underground. The ceiling, floor, and walls all consisted of dirt, but it had been smoothed and packed down in a way they made it sturdy. Truly it was a remarkable sight. The girls walked down the stairs, and when everyone noticed them they started to shout greetings and cheer. Evelynn dramatically took a bow, Shoto rolled her eyes at Evelynn, and Mira was waving to everyone as they approached. An old woman greeted them, and the girls embraced her as they said their hellos.
"Who are these young men?" The woman asked staring that the boys. The woman was short, white haired pulled back into a bun, and her wrinkled face was etched with kindness.
"Itachi, Deidara, Sasori." Evelynn stated bluntly, waving them away. With that she took off farther into the crowd. Shoto rolled her eyes, but the old woman chuckled.
"My name is Giovanna." The old woman introduced herself.
"Sh-she's been l-like a guardian to us f-for the past th-three years." Mira explained.
"It's a pleasure." Sasori said as the three men bowed their heads in respect. Even if they didn't know her, she was still an elder.
"My, my." Giovanna shook her head. "We ought to get you some clothes, dears. Come along. You look like you could use a bath, too."
With that, Giovanna ushered the boys away to the bath house. Which was really a tent with a tub, and large pots of hot water surrounding it. Giovanna made the men strip, much to their embarrassment, and then instructed them to stand in the tub. Two chamber maids dumped a pot over them, and then proceeded the scrub the men down.
"Ah, hey! Isn't this a bit indecent, un?!" Deidara yelped as one of them scrubbed a rather sensitive area.
"In Cadonia it's considered a woman's job to cater to the men." Giovanna explained as she instructed another maid to get the men clothes.
"Then why are three women starting a revolution?" Sasori inquired. He seemed a bit embarrassed as well, considering one of the maidens was eying him with a hungry look in her eyes.
"Those three are.. Different." Giovanna said thoughtfully. "Besides, Mira will probably end up a house wife when it's all over."
"What about Shoto and Evelynn?" Itachi asked. Now that the men were finished being scrubbed, the maidens dumped another pot of water on them to rinse the suds off. Despite how uncomfortable it bad made them, they had to admit they felt better with a.. Proper bath.
"Shoto may end up married, but no doubt she'll control the relationship." Giovanna chuckled. "Evelynn, well.. She's one that will never be tamed or tied down, I'm afraid."
"I can believe that." Sasori snorted as they were each handed towels to dry off with. The maiden had returned with clothes for them, and set them down on a bench on the left side of the tent.
"You shouldn't say such things, Sasori-no-danna, yeah." Deidara said. "If you do, you'll be the one to marry her, un."
"Not likely." Sasori growled as he pulled on the clothes that were presented to him.
They each more the same outfit. Black cargo-like pants that were slightly baggy around their thighs, and the ends hugged their legs just a little below their knees. They kept their ninja sandals, since it seemed that's what everyone wore in this world, as well. Their shirts were black, and they wore mesh armour underneath. Deidara's was a tank-top, and the mesh armour was revealed slightly, since it was designed as a short sleeved top. Itachi and Sasori wore long sleeved v-neck shirts, the sleeves stopping just above their elbows, and the mesh armour was visible just below their collar bone. Deidara was also brought a pair of fingerless gloves. He had requested them, since he wouldn't be using his palm mouths any time soon.
"Lady Giovanna." Shoto called out as she waved the elder over. Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori followed behind. "Evelynn and I confiscated a scroll from some of Hanzo's men. It mentioned a prophecy hidden in Lion's Valley, do you know anything of it?"
"Ah." Giovanna smiled. "Aye, I do. Go gather Mira and Evelynn, and we'll meet in my quarters."
"Of course."
Again, Shoto took off. The three men followed Giovanna to her tent. There was a small cot to the far left, and there were pillows of all colours lined against the back and right walls. Giovanna gestured for the boys to sit, and she took a seat herself in a cushioned rocking chair near the entrance. Soon, Shoto, Mira, and Evelynn joined them. They each pulled over a pillow, and sat comfortably around Giovanna. Evelynn lit a cigarette, and Giovanna herself lit a pipe as she explained the prophecy.
"Long ago, when the Great Kings of Lion, Dragon, and Serpent came together they each made a weapon out of a piece of themselves. The Lion took a claw, and crafted a dagger that could pierce through even the toughest of stones and metal. The serpent took a poison filled fang, and created a septum that could kill with just a scratch. The dragon took a scale, and with it created two gloves. When used, they could kill a man with a simple flick of the finger. They knew they would eventually pass on, be it old age or war. Not wanting just anyone to possess these precious weapons the put a curse on them, and hid them in stone in the Lion's kingdom. The legend goes that only the ones with the kindness of the lion, the cunning of the serpent, and the heart of the dragon will be able to remove these items from their stone encasement."
"Wait, how is anyone suppose to find them?" Evelynn asked.
"Ah, when the one's who were blessed with the gifts of the great kings meet their spirit animals, and learn to become one with those animals then they will know what to do." Giovanna smiled. "Much to contrary belief not many actually possess spirit animals."
"W-we were t-told everyone h-has one." Mira said softly.
"Well.." Giovanna paused. "It is many who believe that you three are the chosen ones."
There was a silence.
"You're telling us this now?" Evelynn asked in disbelief.
"When I spoke with your spirit guides we agreed it would be best not to tell you until the war was upon us. Which is why I ask you this. When you lead the men to the eastern kingdom, let them train. Go off, and find these sacred weapons. Hanzo can be defeated. Your answers will be given when these weapons are found." Giovanna explained. "I know no more than I told you."
"Don't you have a spirit animal?" Shoto inquired. Giovanna smiled again.
"Of course." As she spoke a giant eagle swooped into the tent, and perched itself on her shoulder. The animal was almost as big as she.
"Then how do you know someone else isn't the chosen one?" Evelynn asked skeptically.
"When you three met your spirit guardians there was a connection. Something very unique. Most people don't have such a connection. Their guardians are simply that. Guardians. Yet, when you feel pain, so do they. Then you're overcome with join, their hearts swell in happiness as well. That is the difference." Giovanna explained.
The young women absorbed the information, then Evelynn stood up to leave.
"We'll be moving out in a week. So everyone get ready. I'm going to over look the carts, and make sure they get packed up."
With that she left. Shoto and Mira left soon after. Mira was going to check on the medics and medical supplies, and Shoto was going to make sure they had all their maps and whatnot's. The men were going to leave, to see what they could do to help. Giovanna stopped them.
"Please, watch over my girls." Giovanna asked them. "Spirit guardians or not, they've been very lonely creatures since their homes were taken from them. I don't want them led down a stray path."
With that, she left as well. The Akatsuki members shared a glance.
"So, what do we do, un?" Deidara asked.
"As she asked." Itachi said simply. "Where they go, we go."
"This is turning out to be a lot more than we bargained for." Sasori muttered as he ran a hand through his hair.
"We didn't bargain for anything. The leaf-nin sent us here. Regardless, these women took us in, and in return they only ask for our help." Itachi drawled. "If their elder asks us to look after them, I don't see the problem. We have no way of getting back to our world anyways."
"I kind of like it here, yeah." Deidara muttered as he looked out of the tent flap. The others looked out as well.
"Yeah, I kind of do, too." Sasori whispered as they left the tent, and searched for the women.
They decided then, silently to themselves, that they would protect and help in any way they could. After all, it wasn't such a bad feeling to be relied on.
Even if the women who were relying on them didn't know it.
A/N; Sorry updates are slow. I'm currently looking for a new place to live. Also, I know the story has probably been kind of boring, but everything will have significance, I promise.! Anyways, review and stuff. It's nice. Have a great day/night.!