I… I will" Sakura said happily as Ryo picked her up and spun her around. He set her down and gave her a solid kiss on the lips.
"I love you Sakura." He said as he set her back down on the ground. "More than you'll ever know."
"And I love you, Ryo." Sakura replied. She leaned forward to give him another kiss when a cruel laugh surprised them.
"How sentimental." A familiar voice called out as a person hidden by shadows appeared.
Ryo stepped protectively in front of Sakura as the sinister form of Aria stepped out of the shadows.
"Well, it seems as though you can love with that cold heart of yours Ryo." Aria said spitefully.
"Are you still not over the fact that it's over between us?" Ryo asked.
"Oh no, I'm way past that," Aria said. "I have a new person to rain my wrath upon." She said glaring at Sakura.
Ryo drew his sword and prepared to fight. "I won't let you hurt Sakura, Aria." He said threateningly. "You'll have to go through me first." He said the light glinting off of his sword. 'I just got her back,' he thought fiercely to himself. 'I won't lose her again!'
Sakura stepped calmly in front of Ryo and pushed his arm down and lowering his sword. "Sakura?"
"Ryo, this is between her and me now, I have to fight her. Please, let me do this on my own." Sakura said never taking her eyes off Aria.
Ryo sheathed his sword and shot a murderous look at Aria. "I won't be far away and don't be afraid to let me help you, we're a team."
Sakura looked at him tenderly. "I know. Don't worry this won't take long." She said as she approached Aria. Aria held out her right hand palm up and created a ball of magical energy. It glowed bright green. Sakura did the same thing, hers glowing blue.
"I seems as though this is going to be a battle of magic and knowledge." Sakura said facing Aria.
Aria smiled evilly, "I wouldn't have it any other way." She said as she threw the ball of magic at Sakura. Sakura jumped avoiding the blast and sent her own sailing at Aria. Aria leapt nimbly out of the way and landed safely on the ground.
"It looks like this is going to be tougher than I anticipated." Aria said silkily. "You actually have some skill regarding your magic."
"Yes, it seems you do to. But answer me this one question. What happened to you after I broke your spell over me?" Sakura asked. She truly wanted to know. According to Alanna she had been hit with a blast of light from the Armor of the Inferno. That was the same thing that had banished her father; surely Aria wasn't strong enough to withstand the same thing that had gotten rid of him. He was much stronger than her.
"Need I remind you that I have more magic than you could ever dream of. I can use it to protect myself when necessary." Sakura smiled.
'So that's how she managed to escape, she formed a barrier right before she got hit and once the attack subsided; she teleported out with her magic.' Sakura thought to herself. "Thanks, that was all I wanted to know," she yelled as Sakura sent another volley of attacks at Aria. Aria threw up her barrier shielding herself from Sakura's attacks. Aria then transformed herself into a lion and charged Sakura. Sakura transformed herself into a tiger and charged as well. They met in the middle with a mighty roar. There was a flash of claws and teeth as they bit and scratched, and did everything to injure the other. Ryo watched helpless. Even if he wanted to help there was nothing he could do, trying to break them up now was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. He'd be seriously hurt. Sakura and Aria continued fighting. Aria bit down hard on Sakura's back leg. Rounding on her Sakura hit Aria full in the face with her claws outstretched leaving a nasty slash across Aria's face. Aria screamed in pain and fury and transformed back into a human.
"Look what you did to my perfect face! You will pay for that you little tart!" She jumped and threw a ball of magic. Sakura transformed back into a human and laughed.
"You call that aiming, I'm over here!" she said.
"I wasn't aiming for you!" Aria said triumphantly. Sakura whirled to see the unsuspecting Ryo about to be hit with the ball of magic.
Sakura's eyes widened as she concentrated hard on his safety. The ball hit Ryo issuing a cloud of dust. Sakura and Aria stared waiting with bated breath to see of he was ok. The dust cleared to reveal a barrier around Ryo leaving him unharmed. Aria screeched her fury and grabbed Sakura's arm trying once again to make the warrior her slave.
"You will obey me and kill your little fiancé." She said gripping Sakura's wrist tighter. Sakura fell to her knees screaming from the pain that Aria's magic was causing.
"Don't try to resist it, you know that it's useless." Aria said giving out a surge of power. Sakura's eyes flashed from golden to violet and back again. Since she had been freed once her resistance was stronger than before, but Aria was taking no chances. She was giving it everything. Ryo watched Aria and charged at her sword raised ready to help Sakura when her voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Ryo, No, don't touch her whatever you do!" Sakura sent him telepathically.
"Why not? Let me help you." Ryo protested back.
"I'll explain later, but I have to concentrate, just don't touch her!" Sakura pleaded.
"But.." Ryo protested again.
"Promise me you'll let me do this." Sakura asked.
"But, you… I…" Ryo began
"Say you'll stay out of the way and not get hurt." Sakura repeated.
Ryo stared at her. "But…" he tried again.
"PROMISE ME!" Sakura begged.
Ryo lowered his sword and watched. 'All right Sakura, I promise, I trust that you know what you're doing.' He said sadly.
Sakura's head was a whirlwind of magic and memories fighting to take control. Her eyes had taken on a violet tint, but were still gold. She was fighting with everything she had. She thought of Ryo, knowing that her love for him would be the thing that saved her. She happened to glance down and saw the diamond ring Ryo had placed on her finger earlier.
(Flashback)
"Sakura, will you marry me and become my wife?" he asked on one knee.
"I will" she had answered. He picked her up and spun her around.
"I love you, Sakura"
(End Flashback)
Sakura felt a fresh wave of love and strength come and she emanated with a radiant blue light. She stood up and knocked Aria back.
"It's over Aria!" Sakura said.
Aria stood up and laughed, "No, Sakura, it has barely begun!"
