Aria stood silently on another building waiting with Sakura for Ryo to make his way here. She knew him well enough to know that he would save his friends first because he would want all the help he could get to save his precious Sakura. 'But this time, if he wants to even think about saving his friends he'll have to kill his girlfriend. And if he doesn't his friends will die along with him.' She laughed quietly as she saw Ryo run into the center circle.
"Aria! I'm here, now let my friends go." Ryo shouted. He looked around trying to locate her. If he knew Aria then she would be around waiting for him so that she could gloat. A mist was starting to cover the ground making it hard for Ryo to see in the already dark town.
"You will get your friends sweetie when you defeat my servant." She said as she appeared standing on a demolished building above him. Ryo looked wildly around trying to find out where the attack was going to come from. He saw a figure emerge from the mist. He gasped in shock as relief flooded through him. IT was Sakura walking toward him, Kero at her side and Talon on her shoulder. He ran to her and gave her a hug not noticing the absence of the return embrace.
"Oh, Sakura, I was so worried when you didn't come back home. I looked all over for you. But you have to get out of here. It isn't safe." He said trying to get her out of harms way.
Sakura stood immobile as Ryo tugged at her hand. She quickly yanked her hand away. Ryo turned to look at her in surprise finally noticing something was wrong.
"Sakura" he said with confusion in his voice. "What's going on?" He asked gazing into her eyes as he backed away in shock. Her eyes weren't there normal beautiful golden color, they were glowing purple.
"She won't listen to you anymore!" Aria said triumphantly. "She is under my control now! Now my servant,…Attack!"
Sakura leapt at Ryo sword magically appearing in her hand. Ryo dodged drawing his own. 'Now what am I supposed to do?'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Sakura's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura didn't know why her master wanted to destroy this attractive man in front of her, but she wasn't about to disobey orders just because she found the man handsome. Sakura studied him noticing his masculine chest and striking features, but what really caught her attention were those eyes. Those cool blue eyes of his. They seemed so …familiar. When he grabbed her hand she felt warmth spread through her as she quickly pulled her hand away.
"Sakura" he asked. 'How does he know my name?' Sakura wondered. 'Do I know him?' she didn't have much time to contemplate this when Aria ordered her to attack. Sakura magically called her sword to her and jumped at Ryo sword raised. He blocked as she landed next to him. She took a stab at his sword arm, but he blocked that one also. 'Hm… he has some skill,' she thought. "Let's kick things up a notch." She said as she backed away. Ryo dropped his arm wondering what she was doing now. She kept backing into the shadows, Talon flew off her shoulder circling the air. Kero moved out of the way to watch the fight close by in case Sakura needed help. He didn't understand why his mistress was attacking the man she loved, but he was going to do what he was told for once. Sakura, once covered by shadows, used the added magic she had gotten from Aria and transformed herself into a tiger. She slowly watched the confused warrior and prepared to pounce. With a roar she jumped straight at Ryo. Ryo heard the roar and moved out of the way, Sakura missing his throat by inches. Sakura spun around and slowly stalked toward him. Ryo gazed in shock. 'Kero?' he thought. 'No, it couldn't be, Kero hasn't moved from that spot over there,' then Ryo noticed the blazing violet eyes. "Sakura" he said astonished. 'When did she learn how to do that?' he thought as he evaded another attack. 'I have to get her to listen to me. I also need to go on the offensive, but I don't want to hurt her.' Sakura was charging at him again as he held up his sword to block her attack. Sakura's claws clanged against Ryo's steel sword. Her claws slid off as Ryo swung the sword trying to dislodge her claws. His sword caught her side and she let out a roar of pain. She quickly turned and transformed back into her human state holding her side which was bleeding heavily. Ryo advanced slowly. Sakura glared at him with fire in her violet eyes.
"Sakura are you okay?" he asked slowly going to her side. Sakura's fierce gaze faltered. 'He's the enemy, why does he care about me so much?' Ryo realized that he was getting through to her.
"Sakura, it's me, Ryo" He said inching forward. Sakura looked up sharply. "Ry…Ry… Ryo?" she stuttered. 'Where have I heard that name before.' She shook her head. 'It's nothing' she noticed how close he was and put her guard up. "Don't come near me!" she hissed. The connection she had had with the name broken. But Ryo knew that he could still get through to her. He could still save her.
