Chapter 2
By Butterfly

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Ryo sat on his bed, staring lifelessly at a wall. It had been two months since Mia was taken. The Ronins were clueless on how to get her back. There had been no Dynasty attacks since that day, and the hope that the Ronins had for Mia's life was slowly diminising. White Blaze rubbed himself against Ryo's arm, hopeing to give som comfort to him. Ryo looked down at the large tiger. The body of a beast, but the heart of a timid house cat. Ryo wrapped his arms aroung the tigers neck, crying, and letting his emotions show for the first time in weeks.

"Oh white Blaze....where could she be? All of our strength, our courage, even our armors are useless in finding her. We've tried everything! I never realized....just how important Mia is to the Ronin Warriors. Without her....we're nothing. Half of us don't even bother to get out of bed anymore. There's no point! We need to get her back......I need to get her back. Oh.....why didn't I tell her....I ....I should have protected her! This is all my fault! I should have senced something! Been there for her! Oh Mia! I'm so sorry! I let everyone down! I let you down!"

In the next room, Cye and Kento lay in there beds, neither slept, nor spoke. The room was filled with nothing but silence. The wind blew through the open window, sending a breath of fresh brisk air to them. Cye inhailed deaply, and turned to face his best friend. Kento stared up at the ceiling. He looked as if he searched for something.

"Kento? What are you thinking?" Cye quitely asked, eager to break the silence that seemed to stand between them. Kento looked over to Cye, and smiled.

"Nothing much. I just wish that we could do something to help Mia you know?" Cye turned away.

"Yeah Kento. She must.... feel so alone. I wonder what happened to Kayrua and the Warlords... do... do you think they could have been taken....like Mia?"

Kento shrugged. "Don't know. But you can be sure, when I get my hands on that Rahucas guy...."

Cye smiled. "I know what you mean Kento. Have you seen what's happened to everyone? Even little Ully seems terribly depressed. He hardly ever shows up anymore, unless he's asking if we found Mia."

"I think it's gotten to Ryo, Sage and Rowen the most." Kento grimley replied. "They haven't been aking the same ever since..." He trailed off. "I mean Rowen has been up everymorning before the crack of dawn, searching through all of Mia's files, hopeing he can desipher them."

"Yeah," Said Cye. "and Sage has been doing nothing but meditate. Not that it's unusual for Sage to do, but he doesn't even sleep anymore! All he does is try and contact Kayrua and the Dynasty warlords."

Kento shook his head. "None of us has seemed to get any sleep lately. I think the person who this has affected the most is Ryo. Have you seen his eyes lately?"

Cye nodded. "They're bloodshot. He's been crying a lot. You can tell."

Kento got up. "I'm hungry, you want anything while I'm downstairs?"

Cye shook his head. "No thanks Kento, I'm just going to go over it all again, see if we're missing anything."



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Kento slowly walked down the stairs. A cold gust of wind blew through his hair. "What? Where's that coming from?" Kento walked throughout the house, searching cautiously for the direction the wind came. He found that the glass sliding doors heading into the back yard open, and he stepped outside for a closer look. Sage was sitting in the grass consentrating on contacting the others, or finding out where Mia was. He yelled out fustrated when he found nothing, grabbing grass and throwing it into the air. Tears streamed down his sheeks as he collapsed to the ground.

"Why can't I find her!!!! Dammit! WHERE IS SHE!" He held his face in his hands as his entire body racked with sobs. "Mia.... are you alright? What have they done to you? Are you even alive??!!" Kento walked over to Sage slowly making his presence known.

"Sage, we will find her, be patient man. Will get her out of where ever it is they got her, and get rid of that Rahucas guy for good!" Sage looked away doubtfully. He wiped his eyes embarrased.

"I hope, for both Mia's, and all of our sakes, that you are right Kento."



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Mia yawned. Day by day, she began to master her skills and proseded with her training with flying colors. SHe still thought of her friends constantly, but she no longer thought that she was alone. She had long stopped at her attempts in escaping, for she knew that Rahucas's power was far to great. Cale had long left her room, and Kayrua visited constantly, by order of Rahucas, but neither minded. Mia began to understand why Kayrua had so easily given into Rahcuas's influence.

"You see Mia, Rahcuas and I are connected. He is also a desendent of the ancient." Kayrua looked down ashamed. "For you see Mia, he is my brother."

Mia gasped. "Kayrua, how, could he be... your brother?"

"Long ago, when Talpa came to conqure my villiage, he tried to capture me for the use of my powers. But you see, my brother and I were very close. He stood by my side, and would not allow Talpa to take me. Talpa admired his strength, and wished to take us both over to his Dynasty's side. I was easily turned for I was but a mere child, my brother on the other hand, fought with all of his being to stay pure. Without the power to turn my brother to his side, Talpa throught him into the care of the nether spirits. Over time, Talpa believed that my brothers soul would be corrupted enough to use in his plans. Many thousands of years passed. Talpa had long been defeated by the ancient, but my brother still lay in the hands of the evil dynasty. The corruption of his tormented soul was working, but not in the way Talpa had planed. Rahucas used all the negative and evil feeling poured into him by the nether spirits, and directed them toward Talpa. The ronin's soon destroyed Talpa, and The warlords and I left and went back to the Dynasty, to do our best to redirect its energy, and Make it a better place. In releasing the Captive spirits, and changing all the evil Talpa had created within the Dynasty, we found my brother, but by then he was to corrupted to turn back. We tried to contact you and the Ronin's, but he is far to powerful for us to withstand. He appealed to me as a lost brother. I didn't know he was corruped enough to do this. I'm sorry Mia.I tried to help him but..."

Mia smiled warmly. "I understand Kayrua. Maybe together, we can find a way to appeal to his human side and bring your brother back."



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