Sakura steadied herself for what she was about to do. She hated having to use this attack, but if she didn't Aria would defiantly kill her and then go after Ryo and she couldn't let that happen.
"Ryo," She said quietly so that Aria couldn't hear. "You have to get away, now!"
"What?" Ryo asked confused, "I'm not leaving you. Aria drained almost all of your magic; there is no way I'm leaving you now."
"Ryo, please, I can still win, but I can't if I'm going to be worried about your safety." Sakura pleaded with him. She had to get him to get away. If he didn't he would be caught in her attack on Aria.
"Sakura, I'm not leaving you!" Ryo said with no argument in his voice. He didn't understand why she wanted him to leave so badly, but he wasn't about to let his soon to be wife fight a battle she almost certainly couldn't win alone.
"At least go and get up in that tree." Sakura said earnestly.
"But… Sakura" Ryo started.
"No! Ryo, you don't understand, please, I don't want to hurt you too." Sakura begged.
Ryo looked at her and saw the pleading in her eyes to get away from her. He sighed in frustration and resignation.
"All, right." He said quietly as he found a nice hiding spot in the tree that Sakura had asked him to sit in.
Sakura gave a sigh of relief, although he wasn't as far as she wanted him to be he was at least out of immediate danger. She'd just have to use her remaining magic to create a temporary barrier around him. Aria had figured out that Sakura had a plan and was confident it was nothing to worry about. In fact, she couldn't wait to see what her last ditch attempt at survival was. Aria drew closer to the weakened Sakura.
"Are you ready to die?" Aria asked spitefully. "Because you're about to." Aria gloated as she raised her right hand over her head and started charging up her magic. Sakura glared at her and spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry, but you have already lost this fight. I hate to do this, but you have left me no choice." Sakura reached up and unhooked the crystal that hung around her neck. The crystal her mother had given to her. She held the crystal high in her right hand as Aria charged her magical energy. Sakura knew she'd only have one chance to hit Aria, she better not miss. Aria threw her magical energy at Sakura, who was still holding the crystal in the air. The energy sailed through the air and headed straight for Sakura. Ryo gasped out loud as the energy hit her. When the dust cleared Sakura was still there, holding the crystal up.
"What!? Why aren't you dead?" She screeched. Sakura looked at her as she carefully aimed the crystal. Her crystal radiated with a bright light blue color. She then threw the crystal at Aria. The crystal made a direct hit and shattered into a million pieces and emitted a blinding white light. Ryo up in the trees felt a pulling sensation as he was blinded, but it soon subsided and the light a few seconds later started to flicker. He then heard a scream of rage and fury as the light dimmed and everything returned to normal. Ryo gazed out of the tree to see Sakura standing ram rod straight staring at the spot Aria had been. Sakura stared at the spot where Aria had stood a few minutes ago, smiled weakly and dropped to the ground. Ryo rushed out of the nearby tree and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Sakura…Sakura?" he said panic in his voice.
Sakura's eyes flickered open as she gazed into his eyes.
"I told you I could do it." She murmured as she slipped into unconsciousness.
"Sakura…SAKURA!" Ryo yelled. He picked her up bridal style and quickly took her to the house.
'Come on Sakura, don't you dare die on me.' He thought as he quickly made his way home.
