Chapter Eight;
They reached the southern hideout within eight days. Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori stared at the place in wonder when they had first arrived. It was a vast village, at east twice the size of the hideout the had previously left, that was located behind a cavern, and nestled between the bases of two giant mountains. All around there were log cabins with straw rooftops, a bakery, a fishery, and there were two separate hot springs on either side of the village. One was for the villagers, and the other was a much smaller spring, hidden by trees, for Shoto, Evelynn, and Mira to escape to. It was told they would rest for three days. One fourth of the men would stay to protect the village, and the three fourths would continue to the eastern hideout to train for war.
At the moment Evelynn, Shoto, and Mira were relaxing in the hot springs hidden in a small woods at the far back of the village. Their clothes had been washed, and were drying on a tree branch in what little sun could get through the mountains. They had already bathed, so now they were simply relaxing their aching muscles. The news of Giovanna's death still had not reached them.
"So what are we going to do? Search for Ivanna once we leave the training hideout inn the east, or go on a wild goose chase for sacred weapons that don't exist?" Evelynn asked a she rested her back against a warm boulder.
"We may as well search for Ivanna first." Shoto replied calmly as she shrugged. "I mean, if she can help them remove those seals, the more reliant they'll be in combat."
"I a-agree." Mira said softly as she tied her damp hair up into a bun. "B-besides, I l-like them, and th-they seem rather u-upset without th-their chakra."
"How can you like them?" Evelynn wrinkled her nose.
"Well, Deidara is rather kind, though he seems young. He's not naive, though. Simple minded might be the way to describe him." Shoto replied thoughtfully. "Itachi and Sasori are fairly respectful, and all three follow orders well. They're rather ideal men, when you think about it."
"Yeah, to the typical woman." Evelynn rolled her eyes.
"W-we are women." Mira reminded her.
"We're not typical women, though. We're the leaders of an army. We don't have time to dote on men." Evelynn argued. "Sure, I'll admit their handsome. Whatever. Still, as Shoto said, Deidara is simple minded and young. Itachi is some sort of emotional disregarded guy, and Sasori is an asshole."
"You shouldn't completely disregard them before you give them a chance, Evelynn." Shoto scolded lightly.
"Y-yeah. Besides, l-like Shoto said, they f-follow orders wonderfully. Th-they're also willing to aid us. W-we should appreciate th-that." Mira smiled slightly.
"Heh, probably. Still, we've only known them going on a month now. They could turn on us." Evelynn pointed out.
"Perhaps. Then maybe we shouldn't ask for Ivanna's help at all." Shoto stated thoughtfully.
"No, that wouldn't be fair to them. As much as I hate to admit it." Evelynn frowned.
"So, you're willing to risk the chance of them killing us when they access their chakra again, all for the sake of wanting to be fair?" Shoto raised an eyebrow. Evelynn nodded.
"That's what we're after. Aren't we? Freedom, justice, and peace." Evelynn said quietly. "We'll keep to that, no matter what or who."
Mira and Shoto nodded silently in agreement. Meanwhile, not but two or three yards away, Deidara, Sasori, and Itachi were hidden at the base of a tree. Keeping at eye on the girls. They were also close enough to hear them without any interference.
"Well, at least of them think highly of us, yeah." Deidara muttered.
"I can understand Evelynn's view point." Itachi whispered thoughtfully.
"How? She just accused us of basically throwing them to the dogs." Sasori hissed. He was a bit upset, being referred to as an asshole.
"They've known us about three weeks." Itachi stated. He was cut off by a new voice.
"Evelynn is just overly cautious. She had thousands of rebels and outlaws she wants to protect, as well as Shoto and Mira."
The men turned to see a fox, about eight feet tall, laying near a tree to their right. The men stepped back, and were about to reach for their weapons.
"That'd be pointless." Another voice snorted. They looked to the left, and there was a giant wolf, slightly bigger than the fox, also laying under a tree. It had black fur with blue tips.
"Pointless?" Sasori inquired.
"We're spirit animals. Human weapons won't do anything to us." The fox explained. "I am Tokala, Evelynn's spirit."
"I am Mira's spirit, Zev." The wolf yawned.
"As I was saying," Tokala continued. "Evelynn is just precatious. She, as well as the other two, wish to protect everyone. To give them the peace and freedom they deserve. Try not to think too much into it if they don't completely trust you, at first. After all, they don't know what chakra is, and anything so foregin and powerful could be considered a threat."
"Besides, if you kill them, we'll kill you." Zev stated nonchalantly as he rested his head on his paws.
"We have no intention of killing them." Itachi assured.
"That's good to hear." Tokala smiled.
"Where's Shoto's spirit animal, un?" Deidara asked as he looked around.
"Probably off eating bamboo somewhere." Zev snickered. Tokala rolled his eyes.
"Armel is making sure that the training hideout is secure, and that Hanzo's men haven't reached that far into the east." Tokala explained as he glared at Zev.
The spirit animals, as it turned out, had vastly different personalities from their charges. Zev was rather sarcastic, and loved to tease everyone. Tokala was wise, patient, and very calm. Armel, they would find out later, was very outgoing, slightly lazy, and took his time with everything. Yet, spirit and human worked together in complete harmony.
"What exactly is a spirit animal, anyways?" Sasori asked.
"A spirit animal is born from the heart of a human. Usually, they are only created when a human's heart had been through such a turmoil, and have no one else to turn to. In our girls' case, it was when their villages were attacked. Mira, wished to be strong-willed, and more boisterous. That was when Zev showed up, and took over as her guardian. Shoto wished to laugh more, and to ease the worries of others. Therefore Armel was created. Evelynn, after seeing her villagers being taken and killed, bore a strong desire to protect, and have the wisdom to lead. Thus, I was created." Tokala explained. "Giovanna, when she was younger, was a slave to Hanzo. She wished for nothing more than to have freedom. Which was why her spirit was a great hawk."
"So, basically, their fears of not being able to obtain their dream is what gives birth to their spirit?" Itachi inquired.
"That's only part of it. Not everyone will be granted a spirit animal." Zev cut in. "Only those who are strong in body and mind can be granted the ability to create a spirit."
"What about the lion, serpent, and dragon, un?" Deidara asked. "Were they someones spirit animals?"
"If they were real at all." Sasori added. Zev growled softly, but Tokala just chuckled.
"Indeed, the lion, the dragon, and the serpent were real. They weren't spirit animals, no. They were very much alive." Tokala smiled as he laid down.
"So, does that mean those sacred weapons are real?" Itachi asked.
"They're real, and hidden safely. When the time is right, we will lead the girls to their rightful weapons." Zev chuckled.
"Their rightful weapons, un?" Deidara raised a brow.
"Giovanna did not lie when she told you that we believe they are the chosen ones to lead the lands to peace." Tokala stated. "It was no coincidence that they were the only one's who survived the raids on their villages. We were placed within their hearts long before they even left the womb."
"I thought spirits were only born when hearts were in turmoil?" Sasori questioned.
"Of course, but for our girls it was a bit.. Different." Tokala said slowly.
"How, un?" Deidara asked.
"We were asked to protect them, and that's all we can say." Zev growled.
"So, what do spirit animals do?" Itachi changed the subject. "Just protect them, and follow orders?"
"Ah, we fight with them, do tasks to aid them, anything we can do to help." Tokala yawned. "There's also a means of connecting together, and coming as one. When that happens, the human takes on characteristics of the spirit, and are able to use any special techniques the animal may have."
"Such as?" Sasori raised an eyebrow.
"If I were to ever merge with Mira she would be able to completely heal any type of wound, and she wouldn't tire out. She'd also make a stronger defense, since her shyness would be overcome by her loyal heart." Zev explained.
"Shoto would become faster, and more diligent than she already is. Not to mention she would be able to create at least ten strategies to defeat the enemy. Instead of the usual three or four." A new voice stated. An enormous panda walked up, and sat beside Zev, munching on a bamboo stick. "My name is Armel, Shoto's spirit animal. By the way, the eastern hideout is clear. They can move out when they're ready."
"I'll let Evelynn know." Tokala stretched as he stood. As he turned to approach the girls, Sasori spoke up.
"What happens if Evelynn merges with you?" Sasori inquired. Tokala looked back at him.
"Well, her strength would increase tenfold, and she would have no need for her pole axe. Regardless, our girls can't merge with us. That is reserved for someone else." Tokala spoke, and turned away again. As confusing as the statement was, the men decided to drop it.
"Wait!" Sasori jumped up. Again, Tokala turned to him. "You're not going to tell them we were here, are you?"
"No." Tokala smiled. "I like you."
With that Tokala bounded off towards the girls, to give them the news that Armel had brought.
"I knew you would stop for some bamboo." Zev snickered.
"Shut up." Armel whacked the great wolf over the head with one of the bamboo sticks. Zev growled, and rubbed his head with a paw.
-Time skip!-
It was the morning they would leave for the eastern hideout. The only things that they would bring with them were one food supply wagon, and one weapon supply wagon. Everything else would be left behind. As there was already medics at the eastern hideout. Right now, loved ones were sharing a last farewell kiss, and wishing a safe trip. Shoto, Mira, and Evelynn were off near the wagons watching them, along with Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara.
"Sissy stuff." Evelynn muttered.
"What's so wrong with showing your love for someone, hm?" Deidara asked with a chuckle. Itachi and Sasori noticed he wasn't his usual sadistic self in this world. No, if anything, he was actually.. Happy.
"Tch. Love is nothing but a short circuit in the brains nervous system." Evelynn replied as she tapped a finger against her temple. "You're really better off throwing those useless emotions into a ditch or something."
"Weren't you just cooing over Tokala last night, and telling him how much he meant to you, and that you missed him?" Shoto inquired teasingly.
"That's different!" Evelynn declared.
Shoto just smirked, and Mira giggled. Soon, the men were done with their farewells, and the troop was ready to move out. Tokala, Armel, and Zev would be joining them on this trail. Evelynn climbed onto Tokala's head, and he bounded off to the front of the troop. There were only two hundred traveling this time. So Shoto walked along side Armel on the right of the outlaws, and Mira rode on Zev's back on the left side. It would be a twelve day trip to the eastern hideout, and they would be traveling by daylight this time, so the chance of them running into Hanzo's men were greater.
"Move out!" Evelynn ordered, and the troop was off.
-Time skip!-
It was the sixth night of their traveling. With Armel, Tokala, and Zev they had no concerns about camping in the open, and making fires for the troop. Currently, Shoto and Itachi were preparing a fire together. Armel was laying beside them sleeping, though his ears twitched at every sound.
"He's very loyal." Itachi commented once they got the fire going.
"Indeed." Shoto nodded. "Spirit animals will always remain loyal to those who deserve it, be it the human they were born from or not."
"Do they have special abilities as well? Like you, Mira, and Evelynn?" Itachi asked. Shoto shook her head.
"Not that I know of. When they fight, they fight like wild animals. When they're birthed from our hearts, that's also when our ability is released." Shoto explained. "I hear you can merge with your spirit, and your abilities are enhanced. We've never tried with ours, though."
"What's it like, living as a rebel?" Itachi asked with some amusement. He had a general idea, seeing as how he was once an Akatsuki member. Generally, the concept was the same. The only difference was the Akatsuki had many stable hideouts, that were close to impossible to penetrate, and they never looked after thousands of civilians. Outlaws, as the three girls called them.
"I don't really know how to describe it." Shoto shrugged. "We're always one the move, never in one place long. It does make you miss having a place to call home, sometimes. Other than that, it's not really a burden or anything. We're preparing for a war that might make or break the kingdoms. Which is why we do our best not to get caught or killed. The truth is, why we're so much better at combat than most, is for the simple fact when our spirit guardians took us away we were trained by them. Sure, it sometimes feels like you're lonely, but in the end we know it's for a good cause. Perhaps once the war is over, if we win, we'll be able to make ties with villages again. Maybe.. Maybe we'll have a home again. Still, until that time comes, if it ever does, we have to put on a brave face. We have to carry on. The moment we decided to become outlaws, and started rallying rebels, was the day we gave up caring only for ourselves. Now, we have others who look to us, and we will damn well save them."
Itachi listened intently. Awed by her passionate words. So it seemed, being on the run all the time did not affect her. In fact, Shoto seemed almost honoured that the rebels looked to her and her friends for leadership. Even if being a leader meant to die. Itachi gently put a hand on her shoulder, and Shoto looked up at him questioningly.
"We'll help." He said simply. "To the end, we will help you."
"Thank you." Shoto whispered as she turned back to the fire.
They remained in a comfortable silence for the rest of the night. Shoto only hoping that he held to his promise, and Itachi only hoping that he and his comrades could help them. Sure, these rebel troops had a similar goal to the Akatsuki, but they were so much different. They were warm, and they weren't afraid to fight for the people of Cadonia. Even if they only knew a handful of the people, they fought for everyone. Akatsuki had, in lack of a better word, been selfish in their goals. Always looking out for themselves, and hardly for each other. This simple difference is what brought Itachi to respect and admire the Freedom Outlaws. This is what made him want to fight with them.
-Time skip!-
The tenth day, two days from the eastern hideout, was when they ran into a troop of Hanzo's men. Most on horseback, as they charged at the rebel group. Three hundred soldiers. Apparently, they were going to head north from the south east, and had crossed paths with the rebels. Realizing the three who led the rebel troop is what caused them to attack. The three girls had a large bounty on their heads, and since they were heading to Hanzo's kingdom anyways, it was almost too perfect.
"Are you ready, Mira?" Zev asked. She was currently standing beside him. Her dagger out, and in a defensive stance.
"Y-yes!" Mira nodded firmly.
"Don't forget, I'm here with you." Zev comforted her. He knew how withdrawn and easily scared she was in battle.
"Me too, yeah!" Deidara declared as he stepped up to the other side of Mira. Zev looked at the blonde in some amusement.
Already, Deidara was firing arrows at the soldiers. A couple of those arrows had lit dynamite attached to the ends, and exploded as they reached the galloping cavalry. Mira could almost laugh at the spark that came into Deidara's eyes as the dynamite exploded. She herself was told to stay back, help the wounded, and only engage in combat if the enemy got close to her. Zev did no allow his. With his gigantic paws he crushed soldiers, and ripped throats out with his teeth. The way the three mighty animal spirits fought made it rain blood that splattered across the rebels faces and clothes. None of them minded, and most looked in awe as the fox, he panda, and the wolf swiftly and gracefully demolished the enemies.
Within thirty minutes the Hanzo troop was down to only twenty men. Those who could flee did, and those who weren't so lucky had their heads smashed in by Evelynn, an arrow through the head by Deidara, their throats slit open by Itachi, an axe head embedded in their gut by Shoto, or decapitated by Sasori. Mira was already working on healing those who had been unfortunate to get wounded, and there were only two deaths among the rebels this time.
"Yeah, get to running!" Evelynn hollered at Hanzo's men with a laugh.
"We did most of the work." Zev growled.
"Who asked you, anyways?!" Evelynn snapped at him.
Zev growled softly, and lowered into a pouncing position. Evelynn herself got into a defensive position, but Tokala stepped up behind her, one paw in front of her, and snarled softly at Zev.
"That's enough you two." Tokala ordered. He then lowered his head. Evelynn scoffed, and climbed on top of Tokala's head. The two then took their places back at the head of the troop.
"So, you alright, un?" Deidara asked as he approached Mira. Mira was now perched on Zev's back.
"I'm f-fine." Mira smiled. "W-would you like t-to join me?"
Mira offered a hand to Deidara to help him up. He happily accepted her offer, and climbed up behind her on Zev. The great wolf didn't seem to mind the extra person, and took his place to the left of the troop. Once again, they were on their way to the eastern hideout.
"So, what made you go against Hanzo, hm?" Deidara asked twenty minutes after their journey restarted. "It seems like it would be much easier to just follow his orders, yeah."
"P-possibly." Mira mumbled. "Still, h-he's not very f-fair. I-if anyone j-just simple speaks o-out of line h-he kills them on the spot."
Mira frowned at the thought for a moment, but then continued.
"Sh-Shoto and Evelynn f-fight fiercely for our h-home." Mira stated quietly, but boldly. "E-even if a-all I can d-do is heal everyone, a-and make sure they s-stay safe, I w-will. I l-love Cadonia, and e-everyone i-in it. E-especially Sh-Shoto and Evelynn. Th-they're like m-my sisters, and I-I'll do everything t-to support th-them."
Deidara listened, and couldn't deny the high amount of respect he had for the girl. She was shy, and easily frightened. That was much obvious. Yet, for her country, and everyone in it, she pushed back her fears. She stood beside Evelynn and Shoto, no matter what the cost.
"You could die, un." Deidara said softly.
"I m-might be afraid of many th-things." Mira stated fiercely. "One th-thing I'm n-not afraid of, i-is I'm not afraid t-to die."
Deidara stared at the woman with admiration. How someone so meek could be so loyal and brave he did not know. He only knew, he secretly promised to himself, is that he would not let her die. Even if it meant his own life. She would not die, and those girls would achieve their land of freedom and peace. Willingly, he would aid in that cause.
A/N; Sorry updates have been so slow. This story is a lot different than my other ones, yeah. Instead of 'they meet, they fall in love, and happily ever after' I'm going more into depth, and letting everything move a lot slower. I'll try to get at least one more chapter up by the end of the day. So, review, and have a good day/night.!