Hey, I would just like to say to all of you who have read and reviewed my fic. Thanks so much. I really appreciate you all taking the time to do it. I hope that you are enjoying the fic as much as I am writing it. So please keep R&Ring my fic and thanks again.
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It didn't take long for Sakura and the others to fend off the warlords. They soon realized they were outmatched and left, to fight another day. The Ronins gathered around Sakura giving their apologies for not believing her.
"It's ok you guys, really, I probably would have done that same thing if I was in your shoes. But I am sorry for not telling you about my father being Talpa." Sakura said.
"Why didn't you?" Yulie asked.
"Because I was afraid of what your reaction might be." She admitted.
"Well, we probably reacted the way you thought we would didn't we?" Sage said sheepishly.
"But, that's all in the past." Ancient said appearing beside them. "And the truth is, is that Sakura is now an official Ronin warrior and henceforth needs a new name."
"A new name?" Sakura questioned. "Why would I need a new name?"
"Because you are no longer a warlord," Ancient answered. "You are no longer Sakura the warlord of hate; you are the Ronin warrior Sakura of the cyclone."
"Sakura of the Cyclone, huh?" Rowen said. "I think it's very fitting, what with your wind abilities and all."
So Sakura became the sixth Ronin warrior. The others made her feel as if she had always been one of them and she couldn't have been happier, except for one thing, Anubis and her father. It still upset her to think about it. She could often be found awake late at night sitting in the tops of trees just thinking about them.
One night Ryo joined her.
"Sakura, you up there?" he called up to her.
"Why do you ask me that when you know I am." She asked good naturedly.
"Wanted to give you a chance not to answer." He joked. "Mind if I join you?"
"Climb up and have a seat." She said patting the space on the tree next to her. Ryo made his way up the tree until he sat next to her.
"Still thinking about your father?" he questioned after a moment of silence.
"Is it that obvious?" she asked with a smile.
"Well, I know that you've been kinda upset ever since you publicly defied him." He said gently.
"Well," she acknowledged. "He is my father."
"But, think about all of the horrible things he's done, the people he's killed, the lies he's told you." Ryo said trying to make it sound better.
Sakura shook her head sadly, "But, he's still my father. Nothing can change that." The two sat in silence a little while longer when Sakura spoke again.
"Did you know that my father never wanted me?" she asked him.
Ryo didn't know how to answer that. "Really?" he asked weakly.
"Yeah, to tell the truth he never wanted a wife." She finished.
"Then why did he marry in the first place?" Ryo asked confused.
"To ensure his getting free from spirit world." Sakura informed him.
"You're going to need to explain that one to me." Ryo said.
Sakura giggled, "It's a long story."
"How long could it be, you're only eighteen." Ryo joked.
"Ok," Sakura said with a laugh. "It all started after my father got banished to spirit world. He tried so many things to get back here, but nothing worked. Then he figured out that some kind of magic put him there, and since magic got him there maybe magic could get him out. So he got on his best behavior and started scouting about for the most powerful sorcerer he could find in spirit world. He found one. His name was Barbadoss. My grandfather. To my father's surprise, Barbadoss had a daughter. Her name was Kairiou. Talpa figured that the way to get to Barbadoss was to suck up to Kairiou and once he was on her good side, Babadoss would do whatever he wanted. So he did just that. There was one thing he didn't count on and that was Kairiou falling in love with him. Although he didn't love her back, it worked to his advantage to marry her, which he did. Once Kairiou was his wife, Barbadoss would do whatever Talpa asked, to make Kairiou happy. So that's how my father got back. A few months later, I was born."
"Wow," Ryo said when her story was finished. "But, what happened to your mother?"
Sakura lowered her head and looked away. "She died when I was born."
"I'm sorry" Ryo sympathized.
Sakura held up her crystal necklace so Ryo could see it. "This is all I have left of her."
Ryo reached out and took hold of Sakura's hand, glad it was dark so that she couldn't see him blushing. Sakura looked down at their hands then at him, feeling her face heat up.
"Your father may not have wanted you," Ryo said softly. "But, I'm glad that you were born." Sakura smiled and leaned closer to him. Ryo leaned closer as well; they were just about to kiss when…
"Ryo… Sakura. It's time to eat." Sage yelled though the forest.
Ryo and Sakura quickly looked at the intruder and smiled self consciously.
"Come on," Ryo said with a laugh. "We better go before Kento eats it all."
Sakura laughed as they climbed down out of the tree and headed back towards the campsite. Sakura and Ryo both thinking about what had almost just happened. 'What am I doing?' Sakura thought. 'I'm acting like schoolgirl in love. LOVE Where did that come from, I'm not in love with Ryo. I mean I couldn't be…could I?'
The same thoughts were running through Ryo as the two sat down to eat.
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Author's note- annoying, isn't it? Anyway just to let you all know the way to pronounce Kairiou's name is Kai-Re-You. Thought I would let you all know. I think that is also the name of the group of pirates in Rurouni Kenshin, but they may be the Kaidiriou. So the next chapter will be up soon, and I promise the long awaited kiss between Ryo and Sakura is coming.