The crow flew fast towards the Shadow lands intent on delivering this new development to his master.  The same woman who had greeted the crow last time was already waiting there.  The bird circled around her and then perched on her outstretched arm. 

"So Faust, what news do you bring us today?" the blond haired woman asked as she again removed the glowing green medallion. Holding it upright in her hand she concentrated on it when a holographic image of the two warriors fighting appeared.  The woman watched the two bicker with increasing interest, her smile growing wider as the holographic Sakura ran out the door tears in her eyes.

"This will make a certain someone very pleased." She said as the image disappeared. "Thank you Faust, you have done your job well," she said petting the crow. The two then turned and vanished out of sight.

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

Sakura stopped running as she reached the edge of the forest that surrounded Mia's house. She fell to her knees sobbing. How could Ryo do this to her? What had she done to make him so upset with her? Sakura's sobs soon subsided as she stood up and headed for the nearby city.  She's just go talk to Mia, she had asked for her help anyway. Sakura dried her face and made her way along the edge of the forest until she soon saw the city in view. She was heading down there when a howl from Artemis reached her ears.

"Artemis?" she gasped as the grey wolf ran next to her. Using her magic to speak to him she found out that there was another robbery. She was just about to go when Sage appeared out of the forest followed by Draco.

"I'm assuming that there is something wrong in the city." Sage guessed as they started towards the city.

Sakura nodded, "Yes, Artemis and Draco say that there is another robbery. We'd better hurry." And the two climbed on Draco's back and rushed to the scene of the crime.

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

Meanwhile Ryo was mentally kicking himself for what he had said to Sakura. 'I'm such an idiot!' he thought. 'Why did I yell at her? It's not like it's her fault that everyone needs her help. I'll just have to make it up to her' he thought as Kento, Dais, Cale, Anubis, and Cye entered the front door.

"Hey Ryo, what's up with you?" Kento asked noticing his upset expression.

Ryo shook his head, "Nothing," he said.

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

Sage and Sakura had just made it to the scene of the crime when two men dressed in black burst out of a jewelry store.  'It's another jewelry store robbery' Sakura thought as Draco swooped down over them.  Sage and Sakura jumped off his back and began chasing the two thieves.  The two noticed they were being chased and ran harder.  One tripped on a rock and fell. His partner quickly helped him up right as Sage and Sakura caught up to them. 

"Excuse me, but I don't think that belongs to you." Sakura quipped as the two thieves spun around to see Sage and Sakura drawing closer to them.

The two thieves smiled knowingly at each other as one took out a small ball from his pocket and threw it on the ground at Sage's feet. The ball issued smoke and temporarily blinded them.

"It's a smoke bomb," Sage coughed. Sakura summoned her use of the wind and blew the smoke out of their faces, but it was too late. The thieves were gone.

"Where could they have gone?" Sakura asked looking from left to right. 

"They couldn't have gone far." Sage said. "Let's split up, you go that way, I'll go this way."

Sakura nodded as they tool off in separate directions. Sakura was about to head another way when something glinted out of the corner of her eye. Turning around she picked up a small piece of quartz crystal, cut into the shape of a prism.  'This must be what they were after. I bet this is what they stole from those other stores too.' Pocketing the crystal she headed out of the city and into the forest.  Talon had found Kero and they were now close at her heels.  She stopped short as she came to the forest.  Sakura sat with the her back up against the tree and took out the crystal.  'What could they want with this little thing?' she wondered. Sakura shrugged and put the crystal back into her pocket.  She leaned her head against the tree when she heard a twig snap. Becoming alert Sakura looked around.

"Sage?" she called.

"Afraid not, pretty girl." Came a cold voice. Sakura instantly got on her feet and faced her intruder.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"You" came the menacing reply as a hand appeared behind her to cover her mouth. Sakura sensed the hand and dodged out of the way. She turned and found that she was surrounded. Sakura tried to fend them off, but she was outnumbered and quickly overpowered then everything went black.