Chapter Twenty-One; -Time Skip-

Evelynn had sent word to Shoto and Mira to meet her back at the great spirits sanctuary. Currently, the three girls were with said spirits. Itachi had remained behind to help train the rebels. Sasori was leading the final of the outlaws to the camp, and Deidara was left to keep an eye on the medical camp. Evelynn had filled her sisters in on what had happened with Kumo. They had mourned the loss of such an innocent spirit, and were now currently deciding what their next move ought to be.

"It's too soon to attack," Shoto started calmly. "The rebels aren't ready. We need more time to train."

"Not only them, but ourselves as well." Evelynn mumbled thoughtfully.

"Hm?" Mira titled her head curiously at the redhead.

"We still need to learn to merge with Ryuu, Hebi, and Tau." Evelynn frowned. "Completely merge."

Suddenly, the redhead was whacked over the head.

"Ouch! Hey!" She turned enraged emerald eyes to her raven haired friend. "The hell was that for, Shoto?"

"You still haven't completely learned to merge with Ryuu?" The young woman scolded gently.

"You can completely merge with Hebi?!" Evelynn exclaimed. Shoto just nodded, so the redhead turned to Mira. The brown eyed girl only nodded as well. "Bullshit."

"Perhaps Hebi, Shoto, Tau, and Mira ought to meet up with the rebels. Evelynn, you and I will complete your training here." Ryuu nudged to order at the young woman. Slowly, she nodded.

"Alright. Agreeable?" Evelynn turned to her two companions. Both gave a firm nod.

The outlaw leader watched as her two best friends and their spirits ran south to the camp. She felt her insides trembling. They were so close to war. Steadying her nerves she turned to the great dragon before her.

"We have a lot of work to do…" The young woman whispered. The spirit nodded.

Only now did he notice, and how he had never noticed before was an enigma to him. Evelynn was scared. Mira, Shoto, and their lovers. They were terrified. All of them so young, and yet their lives were at stake. Did the rebels take notice to the risk? Perhaps, but not like Ryuu was taking notice. To the fear, the anticipation, the risk, and the very core of every feeling the little redhead had ever felt in her life. It all seemed to play through his mind, his heart, like a movie film.

They could merge completely now. She could completely harness his powers. He only knew this because he could feel it. To his very center. Gently, he nuzzled his nose against her head.

"Let's get started then?" He inquired.

"Aye."

At her small affirmation they began their training. Only this time Evelynn herself could feel the change. What it was she didn't know. Yet, somehow she knew they wouldn't fail this time. They simply couldn't.

-Time skip!- Shoto and Mira -

The two young women were about a three days travel from the camp now. They never stopped. When they had to sleep they would simply climb on their spirits backs, and keep traveling. Hebi and Tau didn't need sleep.

"I can't believe Evelynn would be careless enough to not complete her training with Ryuu." Shoto stated thoughtfully.

"I know. It seems strange to me, as well." Mira responded in her soft voice.

"It wasn't a choice." Hebi hissed gently.

"What do you mean?" Shoto inquired up at the giant snake.

"Ryuu and Evelynn were unable to merge for two reasons." Tau started. "One, was because of Evelynn's hesitance. The other, because of Ryuu's being unable to understand that hesitance. In order for spirit and vessel to merge both must already be in perfect sync."

"What was Evelynn so hesitant about?" Mira wondered outloud.

"Perhaps the thought of failure. Perhaps death. Perhaps losing those she holds dear." Shoto muttered a few fears. Things all three girls were desperately afraid of.

The comrades fell into silence. They kept their eyes a head, and continued to push forward. How could they not? There was a thickness in the air. Surely by now Hanzo had learned of Kumo's betrayal. War was at their finger tips, and there could be no way to stop it. No doubt Hanzo would want revenge now, too. For the loss of his spirit animal. He would be after the girls, as well as any who followed them, with a heated vengeance.

Still, they carried on. After all, what more could they do…?

A/N; I am so sorry an update took this long.! I don't have a computer, so I did this really quick while I'm at my aunts place. Hopefully I'll have my own computer soon, but until then... Ugh. Anyways, I decided this will be split into three parts. Part one is currently finished, so please keep a look out for part two.! I'm hoping to have the first chapter of that up tonight.!