Chapter Nine;
The final two days of their journey went smoothly. They ran into ten bandits, but Shoto easily took care of them herself. They reached the eastern hideout as the sun rose on the twelfth day. There were already about a thousand rebels there, all men, just waking up and preparing for the day. Again, the troop was greeted with cheers. Most of the group hollered back greetings. Evelynn, Shoto, and Mira just waved and Mira smiled as they entered the domain.
Really, it was a large valley. On one side was a cliff, and the rest was surrounded by trees. There were target practices along the tree lines, and their tents were all pitched together in the center of the valley, around a large bonfire. Which was only lit up at night. The rest of the vast clearing was used for practice spars.
"Master Oki!" Evelynn waved at him.
He was a fifty year old man, who over looked all the training. He had often helped Shoto, Evelynn, and Mira hone their skills. He was a man that was well respected, and well known, among the outlaws of Cadonia. Even at his age he had no problems with fighting Hanzo's men. He, too, possessed a spirit animal. A giant cheetah named Aksil. Like his human counter part, Aksil was old, wise, but incredibly fast and diligent. Oki and Aksil were one of the few who could merge together.
"Girls!" Oki embraced them. "I take it the trip went well?"
"Of course." Evelynn grinned.
"Master Oki, these three are are new comrades. Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara." Shoto introduced them.
"Ah, yes, Lady Giovanna sent a messenger eagle to inform me of them." Oki nodded to the men in greeting, and the three bowed back respectfully.
"How is Lady Giovanna?" Evelynn asked "Had she written you recently?"
"You three didn't hear?" Oki frowned.
"H-hear what, M-master Oki?" Mira inquired softly. Oki bowed his head solemnly.
"Lady.. Lady Giovanna passed the same day you left with the rebels." Oki responded softly.
The girls were silent. Why were they just hearing about this? Mira's heart stung, Shoto felt herself so slightly numb, and Evelynn felt enraged. They had been there. When she died, they were there. Yet, they just left. Without a second thought. Suddenly, Evelynn felt disgusted with herself. She turned on her heels, and walked off towards the cliff. Shoto and Mira stared after her, and then they each went their separate ways as well. Each one had their own way of mourning, and for now they needed to be alone.
"Will they be alright?" Itachi asked as the boys stared after them.
"In time. Even girls as strong as that feel the sting when someone they cherished passes." Oki replied with a small smile.
"Is there anything we can do, un?" Deidara frowned.
"Just give them some space." Oki assured. Then, he went to help unload the weapons cart, and help care for the donkey's that had pulled the food and weapon carts.
"What should be do, yeah?" Deidara asked.
"Perhaps we should check on them?" Itachi suggested.
"The man said to give them some space." Sasori muttered, and then he walked off. His two comrades watched him go, but decided to let him be. He was an odd one, that puppet master.
"Well, I'm going to check on Mira, yeah." Deidara said, and then he took off as well.
Itachi decided he ought to check on Shoto. The girls had been kind to them, and he saw no reason to not return the favour. So, he too walked off after Shoto.
When Sasori was sure he was out of sight of Deidara and Itachi he re-routed his course, and went in the same direction he had seen Evelynn go. Sure, he was a bit.. Harsh. Sometimes. Still, he knew the pain of losing someone who admired, and once ever cared for. Emotions that he had pushed away, no doubt. Still, he understood. Besides, Evelynn so was destructive. He had to make sure she didn't hurt herself, right? Or destroy the cliff.. Sasori shook his head as he approached where the red-headed woman was.
Evelynn, who had not been expecting anyone to follow her, whirled around and punched Sasori in the jaw when he touched her shoulder. She blinked in surprise when she saw who it was. Heh, luckily she wasn't wearing her knuckle spiked gloves.
"What the hell are you doing?! Sneaking up on me like that!" Evelynn snapped.
Sasori picked himself up off the ground, and rubbed his jaw. Curse her inhuman strength. Any harder, and she probably would have knocked his jaw off. Literally. He narrowed his hazel eyes at her, and crossed his arms.
"I thought this was a free land, no? That's what you keep preaching about. I can walk where I want." Sasori stated calmly.
"Why you little.." Evelynn pulled her fist back to punch him, but Tokala appeared. He placed a paw in front of Sasori, and gently nuzzled Evelynn with his nose.
"Calm down, Evelynn. Fighting with a comrade is no way to run an army." Tokala scolded lightly. He then went around Sasori and Evelynn, and laid behind the female. She rested her back against his side, and eyed Sasori.
"What are you doing here?" Evelynn asked.
"I.." Sasori paused. Just what was he doing? Checking on her? Making sure she was okay? It wasn't like him. "I wanted to see if you needed anything."
"A drink." Evelynn snorted. Sasori almost smiled. Almost. Within the month he and the other two former Akatsuki members had been around he had grown used to her attitude. He was brought out of his thoughts when Evelynn spoke again. "By the way, we'll be looking for a woman. She's known as Ivanna the Gypsy Witch. She may be able to help remove those seals on your and your friends."
"Shouldn't you be searching for those weapons Giovanna told you about?" Sasori asked with slight surprise. Since when did Itachi, Deidara, and himself become a first priority?
"Well, we figured the weapons will still be there, no matter which we do first. Ivanna is hard to catch. Her tribe travels south east around this time. So if we're lucky we'll run into her." Evelynn shrugged. Then she grinned slightly. "Besides, we kind of like you guys."
Sasori studied her for a moment, and then offered her a half smile.
"Yeah, we kind of like you too." He replied.
"Well, rest up tonight. We'll be leaving first thing in the morning." Evelynn stated.
Sasori nodded, and went to inform the other eight of Evelynn's order.
-Time skip!-
It was midnight, and Evelynn was sitting on the very top of the cliff overlooking the training hideout. Her, Shoto, Mira, and the former Akatsuki would be leaving in a few short hours, before sunrise. They would be heading back south, and hopefully catch up to Ivanna's tribe. Ivanna was a tart woman, and would most likely ask for some sort of exchange. Nothing the girls could really afford, but they to do it. For their new comrades.
Evelynn shivered, and cursed herself for not bringing a blanket with her. At night the winds picked up, and often made it rather chilly. No sooner had the thought escaped her, she felt a blanket being draped over her shoulders. She turned to see Sasori.
"It's getting late." He noted.
"Aye." Evelynn nodded.
"You should be resting?" Sasori raised an eyebrow as he sat down next to her.
"I could say the same about you. Besides, I have people to protect." Evelynn replied as she looked out over the rebel camp. It was quiet now. Peaceful, almost.
"Why do you do it?" Sasori asked quietly. He too was looking out over the training camp.
"Do what?" Evelynn looked at him curiously.
"Protect everyone. I know you don't know most of them, though they all seem to know you." Sasori noted with a slight smirk. Evelynn smiled slightly.
"These lands are my home. Every inch of it." Evelynn started as she looked back over the rebel hideout. She gestured towards it. "These people need hope. When Hanzo first took over, people just gave in. They saw no reason to fight a man so powerful. Yet, when Shoto, Mira, and myself started this revoltion, they seemed to see a light. A small glimmer of hope stood before them. I protect them, because I know them. I know the feelings of the ones who lost their homes. I know the feelings of the ones who lost their loved ones. Even if I don't know their names, I do know their pain. That bond alone drives me to protect them, because if I can stop anyone else from feeling that pain I felt, I still feel sometimes. Then it's worth it. It's all worth it. Which is why I fight, I defend, and I protect."
Sasori listened, but continued to look out over the tents. He could understand that. Feeling the same pain as another, and feeling bonded over that pain. It was why he joined Akatsuki in the first place. He felt they understood his pain, if only a little. Of course, as time went on he realized how selfish they were, and in turn he became just as distant. Just as selfish.
He looked to the red-headed woman that sat beside him. Her eyes held a determined, protective look as she stared down at the training grounds.
'Everything Evelynn does for everyone she meets is for their benefit. She thinks little for herself when she fights.'
Shoto's words echoed in Sasori's mind as he studied Evelynn. The woman who would protect anyone who needed protecting. Who would fight for the freedom of thousands she did not know. It was in that moment that Sasori decided he would protect Evelynn. He would protect the protector. After all, Sasori figured, if anyone could understand the pain he went through. Perhaps these girls could.
So, together, the two red-heads watched over the camp for the night.
-Time skip!-
It was noon the next day, and the eight comrades were hiking through the forest to the south east. It was well known that Ivanna's tribe liked to keep to the trees. Ivanna herself had a spirit animal, the owl. So more likely than not, if they wanted to find her, she would be among the forest.
"What do you suppose she'll ask for this time?" Evelyn asked.
"Who knows. She can be rather sketchy." Shoto replied. Personally, she despised Ivanna. That had done a little business with her in the past, and every time they met she rubbed Shoto's nerves the wrong way.
"What's that mean, un?" Deidara asked.
"Ah, in exchange for information or whatever Ivanna always asks for something in return. Though, sometimes her demands are outrageous." Evelynn explained.
"O-one time, when w-we needed information o-on a p-poison she made us h-hunt up some fungai." Mira stated
"What was so outrageous about that?" Sasori asked.
"It was the beginning of winter, and they don't grow until the damned middle of spring." Shoto growled.
"She sounds charming.." Itachi stated dryly. Evelynn scoffed.
"If we keep heading south from this point, we should be able to cross her path." Shoto stated.
Evelynn nodded, and south they headed.
-Time skip!-
They group had been traveling for two weeks, all over the south eastern forest. Finally, the night of the fourteenth day they saw a fire deep among the tree trunks. Wearily, they made their way towards the crackling fire. Sure enough, sitting on the opposite side of the fire was Ivanna the Gypsy Witch. All around they gypsies were dancing, beating on drums and tambourines, and singing songs of old. Ivanna caught sight of them, and smiled warmly. Not that it fooled the girls, but Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori seemed mesmerized by her.
She had long, flowing black hair. Deep grey eyes, and her skin was sun kissed. Her was draped in clothes of deep purple, and a golden headdress adorned her head, a diamond drop dangling in the middle of her forehead by the golden chain. Golden bracelets adorned her wrists and her left ankle, and golden, flat sandals were on her feet.
"We need a favour, Ivanna." Evelynn sighed.
"Oh, you know the price for that." Ivanna smiled. She spoke in a low, sensual tone. One that made the girls' skin crawl, but seemed to have the opposite effect on the men.
"Well, what do you want?" Evelynn narrowed her eyes as Ivanna approached.
"It's been awhile since we've had a new man join our tribe." Ivanna stated thoughtfully as she ran a finger along Sasori's cheek. "Perhaps you would be willing to part with one of them, no."
Sasori shivered at her touch. He was well aware of women like these. They could suck you in, and the only way out was death. Still, he felt drawn to her, for some reason. Before he could speak, Shoto spoke up.
"They aren't for sale." Shoto told her in a low, dangerous tone. "They're the reason we even came to see you. Show her the seals, see if she knows."
At her order Sasori lifted his shirt, revealing the seal on his chest. Ivanna ghosted her figners over it, and goosebumps made themselves present on Sasori. Ivanna smiled a familiar smile at him, and turned to the others.
"You can remove these on the full moon. All you need is the sap from the faerie tree. You make a cut over the wound, and apply the sap. Then the seal shall remove itself, and their powers restored." Ivanna instructed.
"Okay, now what do you want?" Evelynn eyed Ivanna uncertainly.
"If I cannot have him forever, I ask for him one night." Ivanna offered as she linked her arm into Sasori's. "That is, if he agrees."
"Well, what about, Sasori?" Evelynn raised an eyebrow.
Sasori looked over, and hazel eyes met green. Only, Evelynn's eyes didn't have their usual fire in them. No, it was like someone dropped the lens over a camera. Completely blank.
"I don't see why not." Sasori responded.
"Fine, we'll start searching for the fucking tree. You have fun." Evelynn turned, waved over her shoulder, and walked away.
Her comrades looked after her, and when they looked back towards Sasori, Ivanna was already leading him into her tent. Her lips pressed to his in a heated kiss. Shoto and Mira felt they might be sick, and took off after Evelynn. Itachi and Deidara shared a disturbed glance, but followed as well.
"Are y-you alright?" Mira asked as she and Shoto caught up with Evelynn.
"Fine." She stated bluntly as she scanned the trees. Faerie trees were usually in the very depths of the forest, and there was only ever one in a place. Though they were usually easy to spot. They were pure white with yellow flowers.
"You basically just handed one of our comrades over to a harlot, and you say you're fine?" Shoto raised an eyebrow.
"He had a choice. He agreed. That's that." Evelynn stated as she continued farther into the woods.
Itachi and Deidara had caught up with them, and the four shared an uncertain glance as they continued after Evelynn. In the two months the men had been there, they were fond of the girls. They were all friends. So, shouldn't Evelynn be more upset? Of course, it was a question that would remained unanswered.
-Time skip!-
The next morning Sasori rose just as the sun was rising. He felt a pair of slender arms around his waist, and looked to his side to see Ivanna tangled around him. Slowly, he sat up. This caused the woman to wake. She smiled welcomingly at him.
"You have to leave so soon?" She asked.
"It would be best. Evelynn has a lot of things we need to do." Sasori explained.
"You should be careful with her. She's a sly little vixen, you know." Ivanna crooned as she brushed her lips against his.
"Oh?" Sasori raised as eyebrow as he started kissing along her jaw line.
"You'll find out, if you don't stay." Ivanna murmured against his ear.
This seemed to snap Sasori out of his trance. He pulled away from her, and stood to get dressed.
"You're really choosing to leave?" Ivanna pouted.
"Yes, like I said, our little 'vixen' has a lot of things we need to get done." Sasori snapped as he finished getting dressed, and had his weapon back on his hip.
"Why do you follow her so readily?" Ivanna wondered out loud. Sasori paused at the tent flap. Without looking back he spoke.
"She understands."
Then he left. Ivanna watched him go. Wonder etched in her face. Rarely did a man ever reject her so openly. Yet, she felt no ill will towards this. There was something between him, and the little rebel vixen. Something Ivanna the Gypsy Witch couldn't quite put her finger on. She shook her head of the thoughts, and went to dress herself. Only time would tell the answers, after all.