Sakura stumbled wildly through the forest. She didn't know where she was going; all she knew was that she had to be alone. 'Why won't they believe me?' she thought to herself. 'I thought they realized by now that I was on their side. I guess I can't blame them though. Why didn't I tell them everything when I had the chance?' Sakura came out of the forest and found herself at the edge of a cliff.  Sakura walked over to the edge and looked down at the view. 'It's pretty here.' She thought as she sat down, her feet dangling over the ledge.  She stared at the empty air for a while, the wind rustling her hair which now reached to the middle of her back. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ryo and the others watched as Sakura took off through the forest, Kero and her other pets at her heels.  Ryo felt as if his heart would break, she was still the enemy and apparently nothing he could do would change that.

"I just can't believe this." Mia said.  "Sakura hasn't done anything to show that she's been against us ever since she came here."

"We heard her talking to her father, Mia." Sage said. "She was getting orders to destroy us."

"Maybe we didn't hear all of the conversation." Cye said tentatively. "I mean we did leave before it was over."

"If you had stayed, you would have realized she was on your side." A familiar voice said.

The Ronins turned around to look at the owner of the voice.

"Ancient!" they all cried.

"What do you mean?" Sage asked. "She was on our side?"

Ancient waved his staff and the image of Sakura and Talpa appeared before them. "If you had stayed this is what you would have heard."

The holographic Sakura said "I won't help you hurt them."

The image of Talpa sneered at her and said, "Then you will die with them as well." Before the figures vanished.

The Ronins stared in shock and humility.  "She was telling us the truth the entire time." Rowen said.

Ryo gaped at where the image disappeared. 'What have I done?' he thought miserably to himself.

Spinning around he turned to the others, "Come on, we have to find her!" he yelled as he tore into the underbrush in the direction he had seen Sakura go.

The others nodded their agreement and took after Ryo intent to find their teammate.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sakura tears had finally subsided.  She continued to stare at the valley below her when she realized she wasn't alone. Turning she saw all the warlords, plus the head of her father behind her.

"What do you want? Sakura said defiantly as she stood to face them.

"We are here to give you one last chance to join us again and take back what you have said." Cale informed her.

"We are willing to forget this whole thing if you promise to never let it happen again." Dais said.

Sakura stared at them coldly, "I will never fight for you again!" she said sternly to her father.  Turning to the others she pleaded with them. "Don't you understand? He's just using you, once he's done with you he'll cast you aside."

"How dare you say that about Lord Talpa?" Sekhmet ordered.

Unbeknownst to Sakura and the others, the Ronins had found them and were hiding in the trees listening to the conversation. 

"Sakura," her father demanded. "Stop trying to change the subject, we will give you one last chance to regain your place in the dynasty. So what will it be, us or them?"

Sakura glared defiantly at them. "Them" she promptly said.

"They have disowned you." Anubis pointed out. "You must listen to reason, they will never accept you as one of them, and we on the other hand have always been like family to you."

"No, Anubis, they were more of my family that ya'll ever will be." Sakura stated. "They may not accept me into there group anymore, but I won't stop fighting for what's right.  And I will fight against you all by myself if I have to."

"So be it." Talpa said coldly, "Attack!" The warlords jumped at her weapons raised. Sakura took out her own when the Ronins jumped in to help her.

"Ryo?" Sakura asked, shocked to see him there.

"Sakura, we're sorry for ever doubting you, from now on, you have our trust." Ryo said.

Sakura smiled, "All's forgiven." She said as they fought back against the warlords.