Chapter Twenty;How long it had been before they reached the farm house, they did not know. The only thing they knew was the overwhelming relief they felt as it came into view. Shabby and worn from lack of care, and a distinct smell of decay traveled for miles around the building. No doubt the smell came from Kumo's victims. Evelynn wrinkled her nose. The smell becoming unbearable the closer they got.

"This is strange." Sasori muttered.

"What is?" The redheaded woman running beside him inquired.

"We haven't run into any of her subordinates. Nor any of Hanzo's men. You don't find that strange?"

"I find it lucky." Evelynn muttered.

Sasori didn't respond with anything but a roll of his eyes. Typical Evelynn, not taking anything like this into consideration. Just keep on moving head first into everything, and IF something did happen, just take it for what it was. Sasori couldn't help but think her naive at times. The two stopped as they reached the front of the barn house.

"Ladies first." Sasori drawled. Evelynn frowned at him.

"Coward." Was her reply as she stepped forward.

The smell alone was almost enough to knock them out. Their eyes blurred over with tears, and Sasori had to hold onto Evelynn's arm to keep her from falling to her knees. When their vision cleared they looked around. Thick web covered the entire place, and the drained, rotted bodies of men, women, and children could be seen wrapped up in the web in various parts of the room. Most held looks of agony. Others had looks of shock. One stuck out to Evelynn, and the sight almost made her collapse again. The soldier she had made send Hanzo her message. His was the only corpse with a brave expression. Evelynn and Sasori took a moment to honour him, and then continued to look around. Kumo HAD to be here. She just had to. Before either of them could work out a plan they were suddenly bound with web. It seemed the more they struggled the tighter it got.

"Dammit!" Evelynn snapped.

"I do not wish you any harm." A soft voice floated from the ceiling. The two redheads looked up, and slowly a large, black spider made her way down through the webbing. "I only wish to speak with you."

"So you get us stuck up in this sticky web?!" Evelynn snapped. "Look at everyone ELSE who ended up in the fucking web! This is a web of lies!"

"Shut up, Evelynn!" Sasori hissed. He turned his attention back to Kumo. "What do want to speak to us about?"

"Lord Hanzo and what his wishes are for this land." Kumo replied. "As a child he was so sweet. I did not sense the evil seed that he bore inside him. Now I wish to redeem myself to the Great Spirits by offering my information to you, Lady Evelynn."

"Awesome. Could you get us out of this web first?" Evelynn frowned. "Where's Tokala?"

If the spider spirit could blush, she would have.

"I have him tied up in my web just behind this farmhouse." Was the timid reply.

Evelynn snorted with laughter, much to Kumo and Sasori's surprise.

"What do you find so humourous?" Sasori inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing, just the thought of Tokala tied in a web is hilarious." The woman shrugged. She then turned to Kumo. "So, what do you want to tell us?"

"And can you get us out of this web." Sasori demanded dryly.

"Oh my, please forgive me." Kumo hurriedly released the web that bound them. "I must tell you Hanzo's plans, and what he knows of you."

"Wait, aren't you his spirit guardian?" Evelynn asked with a frown.

"I am, indeed." Kumo nodded slowly as she settled herself into a nest of web in front of the two rebels.

"What's that have to do with anything?" Sasori turned to his lover. She looked slightly pale and disturbed.

"If a spirit guardian betrays the person they're attached to.."

"Then the spirit it destroyed. Forever lost. Never alive, nor dead. I will simply cease to ever exist." Kumo finished.

"What you're doing is incredibly risky then.." Sasori noted respectfully.

"Indeed." Was the morose reply.

"Kumo, you don't have to.." Evelynn started, but Kumo cut her off.

"I do!" The spider spirit's voice was so urgent that it startled the two red-heads slightly. "When I first came to Hanzo he was such a lonely boy. Brilliant, but oh so lonely. I thought maybe I could reach out to him. Take him out of his dark world, and show him something better. To make something better of him than what fate had in store. Alas, I could not. He chose to nurture that dark seed inside him. Now, it has become too much. I, too, love Cadonia. I would anything to protect it. Just like you, and your rebels. I am willing to give my life for this land that I'm sworn to protect anyways!"

Evelynn looked distressed, and Sasori bowed his head slightly. It seemed a shame, almost a waste, that a man like Hanzo ended up with such a delicate spirit like Kumo. It was Sasori who spoke. He knew very well that Evelynn wouldn't have it in her heart to allow Kumo to speak.

"Continue."

"Thank you." Kumo bowed to him in respect. "I know many things concerning Hanzo, and he has learned many things about you and your rebels, Ms. Evelynn. He knows the Great Spirits live, and he knows you and your right hand girls are their guardians. This only becomes a problem, because he now knows that you three bear great power. He does not know that your lovers possess chakra.."

"How do you know that?!" Evelynn snapped.

"We spirits have our ways." Kumo chuckled lightly.

"Heh, proceed." Evelynn nodded to the spider spirit.

"Yes. Strength on your part is that Hanzo does not know of your lovers' chakra. His weakest walls are in the North, which means his strongest men will be there. Though your best option would be to attack from the sky." As Kumo spoke she looked to Evelynn. The woman nodded once in understanding, and Sasori had an idea of what Evelynn would plan. "Also, learn to merge with your spirit guardians. That is the greatest weapon you, Mira, and Shoto will ever have.."

Kumo suddenly cut off, and her breathing started to shallow. Evelynn and Sasori got into defensive stances. Suddenly, there was a blinding light that enveloped Kumo.

"Oh my, it seems my time is up!" Kumo cried softly. "Evelynn, Cadonia rests in the hands of Shoto, Mira, and yourself. I believe in you, and I believe Hanzo will fall at your hands. Please, correct the mistake I made so long ago."

"I give you my word Kumo." Evelynn whispered. "In honour of your spirit I will defeat him."

"Thank you." Kumo said as she closed her eyes.

The spider spirit let out a blood curdling scream as the lights ripped through her. Evelynn's heart clenched, and even Sasori felt a bitter feeling in the pit of his stomach. Another life, so shy and loyal, lost to the terrible fate called Hanzo. A spirit that would have loved him, remained loyal, and helped him through everything. Yet she risked her life to stop his evil, and the Outlaws of Freedom would make sure said evil was stopped.

A/N; This is a bad filler chapter. I haven't updated in forever, and I am a horrible author for that. I'm so sorry.! Anyways, I'm still working on this story. I don't know if I want to end this one here, and start another story completely that will be about preparing for war and the war itself, or keep going with this book. I don't know. Regardless of what I decide the next chapter all of Evelynn, Shoto, and Mira's rebels will be brought together.! So look out guys.!

Ah, so this story is on hold for awhile. I have ideas for the war and whatnot. I just need time to write it out, and figure out how I'm going to make everything flow. Do not fret, though.! I have a new story I'm starting called 'Be careful what you wish for'. Another Akatsuki come to our world type thing. So you can always jump over to that until this story is on the move again.!