Ryo stumbled out of his plush, king sized bed, slamming his hand down on the alarm clock as he did so. Looking abuot to get his bearings before getting dressed and waking Bikky, he spotted a note tacked to the edge of his nightstand.
"hmm..." wondered Roy as he bent over and lifted the note. The note was in Bikkys scrawling handwriting and read:
Ryo, my aunt has come to get me.
I'll be in touch with you. Don't look
for me.
-Bikky
"WHA?!" Ryo rubbed his eyes hastily, then re read the note, to make sure his eyes hadnt decieved him. "Damnit!" He grabbed his pants and shirt, and threw them on while jamming the note into his pocket. He pulled on his shoes. "Ugh... I've got to find Bikky! Who could have taken him! He doesnt have an aunt!!!!"
Just as Ryo reached the doorknob, the door flew open and Ryo was met with Dee's grinning face.
"Whoa!" Dee exclaimed as he jumped back in surprise he wasnt expecting to see Ryo in the door way.
"DEE!" Ryo flailed, catching himself before he fell backwards. "What are you doing here?!"
"Er... bringing breakfast?" Dee snickered innocently, holding up a box of warm, fresh doughnuts.
"Oh... thanks, but i'm kinda in a hurry." Ryo muttered as he shoved past Dee.
Ryo looked nervous and of course, Dee noticed this. "Whats wrong?" Dee asked as Ryo pushed past him and began sprinting down the hall.
"Heeey wait up!!!" Dee called after him. "What about breakfast..." Dee asked more to himself then to Ryo as he caught up to the other man.
"Whats going on Ryo?! What happened? You didnt lock your door agian..." Dee pointed out.
Ryo glanced at Dee as he waited impatiently for the elevator. "This," Ryo sighed as he pulled the note out of his pocket and handed it to his partner to read.
"Eh...?" Dee unfolded the note and began to read.
"Bikky doesn't have an aunt, Dee." Ryo said with a worried expression.
"yeah... I know, and i can see why your worried... but what are you doing? Where are you going to go?" Dee questioned, handing the note back to Ryo which was then pocketed.
"Well... I... I dont know. I was going to--"
Bing Bing Bing-- the elevator had arrived. Quickly, Ryo rushed in, Dee following behind.
"Look Dee... can you check the stationto see if there's been any kidnappings or something like that... I'm going to check at Carols and see if he's there, or if she's heard anything." Ryo sighed.
"Ryo..." Dee could see the pain and worry written all over Ryo's handsome face. "Okay, i'll call you if i hear or find anything. And, call me if you need anything. I'll be there as soon as possible." Dee told Ryo as the elevator came to a halt on the first floor and they stepped out.
"Thanks" Ryo told Dee before the two headed in opposite directions. One to the station, and one to Carols.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dee casually strolled into the station, puffing on a cigarette as always. "Sheesh, I wonder why Ryo's so upset he knows Bikky pulls this kinda crap all the time... Like last week when he left the note that he was leaving for California to meet some chic he met online... Of course... he didnt have any money for a plane so that didnt last long... but still.." Dee mused to himself.
"Ahem... Ahem... AHEM!!!!" A voice from behind coughed.
"Uh...?" Dee turned around to be met with J.J's beaming face,
"DEE!!!!!!" J.J. launched himself onto Dee, hugging him like crazy and attempting to kiss him. "I missed you!!!"
"Let me go... NOW!" Dee growled and shoved J.J. away.
"Awww..." J.J. untangled his arms from around Dee's neck. "What's wrong?" He asked, noting Dee's stressed expression. "Where's your boooyfriend?" He snickered.
"Shut up J.J. Something happened earlier."
"Like...?" even if J.J. hated Ryo for stealing his Dee away, he was still concered since what happened to Ryo usually involved Dee.
"Just something. Hey, J.J..." Dee got an idea. "Could you do some research for me?"
"Uhm... Okay!!" J.J. grinned at the idea of helping Dee. "Heh Heh, just you wait Ryo, Dee WILL be mine." J.J. thought to himself.
"J.J... run a search on Bikky's relatives, I think we've done this, but try it agian. And then, i want you to run a search for any kidnappings lately on this side of town."
"Yes sir!" J.J. exclaimed with delight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ryo pulled up outside Carols apartment i his black honda. He climbed out of his car and walked into the apartment building, and took the elevator to the 2nd floor. Ryo made his way down the hall looking for room 217.
"Here it is.." Ryo exclaimed as he knocked on the door.
"yes? Who is it?" a soft girls voice called.
"Hey! It's Ryo!"
"Oh! Coming!" Carol exclaimed as she yanked the door open and peered out. "Come on in."
Ryo stepped into the small, but clean apartment.
"My dad's out right now... Hey, where's Bikky?" Carol asked as she offered Ryo some water.
"Well, thats what i was hoping you could tell me..." Ryo told her as he took the glass.
"What? You mean he's not with you?!" Carol exclaimed.
"Well... yeah. I was hoping you'd know, since he's really good friends with you and tells you everything." Ryo shrugged.
"No... I'm sorry. I havent heard anything, Bikky hasnt come by here today, but he was over here yesterday morning... Where could he be?"
"Well, if i knew, I'd tell you.. but, he did leave his note." Ryo spoke while pulling the note from his pocket and handing it to her.
After she read it, and re-read it, a gasp of shock and fear caught in her throat. "R-ryo... this is bad."
"Huh..? But, Bikky doesnt even have an--"
"Yes he does!... well... sort of..." Carol tried to remember.
"He does?"
"Um.. here." She led him to the living room "Sit down." Carol told him.
He sat.
"When we were kids, and his dad was still alive... his aunt would visit everyonce in a while."
" no one told me this!" Ryo interrupted.
"Sh.. let me finish." Carol glared.
"Sorry... please continue." he apologized.
"Well, somehow, his father got in a bind and needed money, so he borrowed it from Clay, his aunt's boyfriend at the time. but, he couldn't pay them back, so Clay kidnapped Bikky and told his father if he wanted him back alive, he was going to have to pay somehow. Finally, his father was able to get the money, but thats a different story." She spoke in a hoarse dry voice.
"Well... if nothing happened to Bikky, then i'm sure he's okay now. We'll go find him and bring him back."
Carol was sobbing, and the tears were staining her face. "Carol.." Ryo hugged her "It's okay, we'll find him. it's okay.."
"No! Its not! Ryo!! He raped Bikky! thats why Bikky hates seeing you and Dee together!" Carol sobbed into Ryo's shirt.
"W-What?!!!"
"Ryo! You have to get Bikky back! Bikky... Clay swore he'd kill Bikky because Bikky told his father and many other people what Clay had done!"
"...No..no, Dee and I... we'll save Bikky. Don't worry." He pushed carol away and stared her hard in the eyes. "I promise."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hello?" Dee answered his cell. He had just finished telling J.J what to look for. "ryo?" He paused for a moment. "WHAT?!!!....... uh-huh... look just calm down Ryo. I'm coming over right now------ then where are you?!!... UGH! Ryo! Not alone! Wait for me!...don't hang-- up." Dee ended the call and shoved his cell into his back pocket. He rushed out of the office, his coat in hand. "Damnit" he muttered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dee. spotting Ryo's black honda, parked his red Jeep Wrangler and jumped out of his car. Glancing about for Ryo's blonde-brown hair, he spotted it behind a dumpster.
"Ryo!" Dee called out, rushing up next to the other man.
"Ryo?" The man with blone-brown hair turned around, "sorry man, I'm Clay." The man stared Dee hard in the eyes. "Whatcha doin' round this part of town? This ain't no place for a cop on his own."
"Oh.. a-heh, i was just looking for someone. He was looking for a kid... Bikky, maybe you know him? " Dee flashed one of his infamous smiles.
"Bikky...? Nah, havent heard of him." The man lied while thinking - "this guy knows bikky, but he;s after another guy, Ryo, who;s after Bikky. damn, this guys a cop too. Should i kill him? Nah... it's too early, it might arouse suspicions. "
"Hmm..." Clay scratched his head. :Well, why dont you look around here, i'll come back and let you know if i see the kid or your friend." The man finished dumping his trash into the dumpster and walked off "cya." he called behind him before going into the building."
"damn... now what?" Dee sighed and looked about for any sign of Ryo or Bikky.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ryo sprinted up the stairs, looking about for any sign of Bikky. Carol said Clay used to live in this building, and if he had come back, would probably be here. "But why... why would he want to kidnap bikky agian? " Ryo thought to himself as he knocked on the door infront of him.
"Yes?" a loud deep voice called from within the apartment. "Who is it? what do you want?" Ryo could hear footsteps approaching the door.
"Uhm.. hi, my name's--" Ryo was interrupted as the door was flung open by a big burly man in a white undershirt.
"What the hell do you want?" The man glared at Ryo, making him uneasy.
"Oh uhm.. well, you see... I was just wondering if you'd seen a kid. He's got light blonde hair and dark skin... His name's Bikky and he's about 10-years-old..." Ryo told the man.
"Hmm.." the mans expression softened... "come to think of it... i did see a kid that matches that description. He came by here last night with Clay Check room 439, thats where Clay's staying, though i think he's out right now, he just passed this way. You can probably find the kid there."
"Thanks alot!" Ryo smiled before dashing up the stairs.
"Anytime" the man replied shutting the door.
Ryo looked down the dim lit corridor, "Bikky has to be here... he just has to be... " Ryo thought to himself as he looked on the doors for room 439.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hmm..." Dee climbed the stairs slowly, looking around for any signs of Ryo. After about 10 minutes of wandering about aimlessly and not seeing any sign of his partner, Laytner had given up and decided that where ever Ryo was, he was inside. So, here he was, climbing the stairs of an old apartment building without any trace of his parter. "Guess i should ask someone" he muttered to himself "but who?"
Dee, deep in thought didn't realise he had bumped into someone while not paying attention.
"Whoa! Watch it!"
"huh?" Dee looked up, and found himself face to face with a man in a white undershirt. The man was burly, and was, infact, the same man Ryo had previously run into. "Sorry, guess i wasnt looking where i was going" Dee grinned, the man had that kind of air around him that intimidated people, even Dee.
"hmph" the man grunted in reply, shoving past, ramming Dee into the wall while starting to descend the stairs.
"Mmph.. ow." Dee rubbed his elbow and shoulder. "hey.. he might have seen Ryo... or even Bikky." Dee thought to himself. "Hey! mister!!!" Dee called after the larger man.
"What?!" the man turned around a glare on his face.
"Uhm... you wouldnt have happened to have seen a man with light chesnut hair and--" Dee was cut off.
"yeah, yeah, i've seen him. he came by here looking for some kid about 10-15 minutes ago." The man scratched his head.
"Where did he go?!" Dee questioned the man urgently. "i really need to find him!"
"Oh.. i sent him up to Clays, thats where the kid is staying i think. Up on the 4th floor, room 439."
"Thanks!" Dee sprinted off, down the hall to the next flight of stairs.
"Sure.." the man continued on his walk down the stairs, humming a tune as he did so.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Bikky!" Ryo's fist slammed down on the door "Are you there?!" Hearing no reply, he aimed a well aimed kick at the door, and slammed his foot into it, breaking down the door. However, a wrist grabbed his before he could step in.
"Ahhh!" Ryo winced in pain as his arm was twisted behind his back and broken with a satisfying snap.
"Come for Bikky have you?" Clay shoved him inside. "ryo.. isnt it?"
"Y-yeah.. " Ryo spat "you must be Clay. I won't let you do anything to Bikky. Where is he?!"
"Oh? that little twerp? I've already had my fun with him.. Heh heh" Clay snickered, shoving Ryo into a wall and grabbing him from behind by the neck. "And ive already gotten my money for him. You see... he's been sold. So sorry your pet is gone."
"Gr.. you bastard! if you harmed him--" Ryo growled, biting his lip to supress the pain that was shooting though his arm and neck.
Clay let his grip on Ryo's neck loosen, as he pulled out his gun. "I didn't harm him" Clay interrupted "I simply gave him to a friend in exchange for a bit of cash. " Clay mused as he loaded the gun.
"You sick perverted--"
Clay flipped Ryo around so that he was facing him and shoved the end of his gun into Ryo's open mouth. "Now what Mr.Cop?" Clay snickered. "Forgot to call for backup?"
"Mmph.. " Ryo gaged.
Clay cocked the gun, pressing his index finger on the trigger. "Nighty night now.."
"Dee!" was Ryo's last thought before darkness gripped him.
"hmm..." wondered Roy as he bent over and lifted the note. The note was in Bikkys scrawling handwriting and read:
Ryo, my aunt has come to get me.
I'll be in touch with you. Don't look
for me.
-Bikky
"WHA?!" Ryo rubbed his eyes hastily, then re read the note, to make sure his eyes hadnt decieved him. "Damnit!" He grabbed his pants and shirt, and threw them on while jamming the note into his pocket. He pulled on his shoes. "Ugh... I've got to find Bikky! Who could have taken him! He doesnt have an aunt!!!!"
Just as Ryo reached the doorknob, the door flew open and Ryo was met with Dee's grinning face.
"Whoa!" Dee exclaimed as he jumped back in surprise he wasnt expecting to see Ryo in the door way.
"DEE!" Ryo flailed, catching himself before he fell backwards. "What are you doing here?!"
"Er... bringing breakfast?" Dee snickered innocently, holding up a box of warm, fresh doughnuts.
"Oh... thanks, but i'm kinda in a hurry." Ryo muttered as he shoved past Dee.
Ryo looked nervous and of course, Dee noticed this. "Whats wrong?" Dee asked as Ryo pushed past him and began sprinting down the hall.
"Heeey wait up!!!" Dee called after him. "What about breakfast..." Dee asked more to himself then to Ryo as he caught up to the other man.
"Whats going on Ryo?! What happened? You didnt lock your door agian..." Dee pointed out.
Ryo glanced at Dee as he waited impatiently for the elevator. "This," Ryo sighed as he pulled the note out of his pocket and handed it to his partner to read.
"Eh...?" Dee unfolded the note and began to read.
"Bikky doesn't have an aunt, Dee." Ryo said with a worried expression.
"yeah... I know, and i can see why your worried... but what are you doing? Where are you going to go?" Dee questioned, handing the note back to Ryo which was then pocketed.
"Well... I... I dont know. I was going to--"
Bing Bing Bing-- the elevator had arrived. Quickly, Ryo rushed in, Dee following behind.
"Look Dee... can you check the stationto see if there's been any kidnappings or something like that... I'm going to check at Carols and see if he's there, or if she's heard anything." Ryo sighed.
"Ryo..." Dee could see the pain and worry written all over Ryo's handsome face. "Okay, i'll call you if i hear or find anything. And, call me if you need anything. I'll be there as soon as possible." Dee told Ryo as the elevator came to a halt on the first floor and they stepped out.
"Thanks" Ryo told Dee before the two headed in opposite directions. One to the station, and one to Carols.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dee casually strolled into the station, puffing on a cigarette as always. "Sheesh, I wonder why Ryo's so upset he knows Bikky pulls this kinda crap all the time... Like last week when he left the note that he was leaving for California to meet some chic he met online... Of course... he didnt have any money for a plane so that didnt last long... but still.." Dee mused to himself.
"Ahem... Ahem... AHEM!!!!" A voice from behind coughed.
"Uh...?" Dee turned around to be met with J.J's beaming face,
"DEE!!!!!!" J.J. launched himself onto Dee, hugging him like crazy and attempting to kiss him. "I missed you!!!"
"Let me go... NOW!" Dee growled and shoved J.J. away.
"Awww..." J.J. untangled his arms from around Dee's neck. "What's wrong?" He asked, noting Dee's stressed expression. "Where's your boooyfriend?" He snickered.
"Shut up J.J. Something happened earlier."
"Like...?" even if J.J. hated Ryo for stealing his Dee away, he was still concered since what happened to Ryo usually involved Dee.
"Just something. Hey, J.J..." Dee got an idea. "Could you do some research for me?"
"Uhm... Okay!!" J.J. grinned at the idea of helping Dee. "Heh Heh, just you wait Ryo, Dee WILL be mine." J.J. thought to himself.
"J.J... run a search on Bikky's relatives, I think we've done this, but try it agian. And then, i want you to run a search for any kidnappings lately on this side of town."
"Yes sir!" J.J. exclaimed with delight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ryo pulled up outside Carols apartment i his black honda. He climbed out of his car and walked into the apartment building, and took the elevator to the 2nd floor. Ryo made his way down the hall looking for room 217.
"Here it is.." Ryo exclaimed as he knocked on the door.
"yes? Who is it?" a soft girls voice called.
"Hey! It's Ryo!"
"Oh! Coming!" Carol exclaimed as she yanked the door open and peered out. "Come on in."
Ryo stepped into the small, but clean apartment.
"My dad's out right now... Hey, where's Bikky?" Carol asked as she offered Ryo some water.
"Well, thats what i was hoping you could tell me..." Ryo told her as he took the glass.
"What? You mean he's not with you?!" Carol exclaimed.
"Well... yeah. I was hoping you'd know, since he's really good friends with you and tells you everything." Ryo shrugged.
"No... I'm sorry. I havent heard anything, Bikky hasnt come by here today, but he was over here yesterday morning... Where could he be?"
"Well, if i knew, I'd tell you.. but, he did leave his note." Ryo spoke while pulling the note from his pocket and handing it to her.
After she read it, and re-read it, a gasp of shock and fear caught in her throat. "R-ryo... this is bad."
"Huh..? But, Bikky doesnt even have an--"
"Yes he does!... well... sort of..." Carol tried to remember.
"He does?"
"Um.. here." She led him to the living room "Sit down." Carol told him.
He sat.
"When we were kids, and his dad was still alive... his aunt would visit everyonce in a while."
" no one told me this!" Ryo interrupted.
"Sh.. let me finish." Carol glared.
"Sorry... please continue." he apologized.
"Well, somehow, his father got in a bind and needed money, so he borrowed it from Clay, his aunt's boyfriend at the time. but, he couldn't pay them back, so Clay kidnapped Bikky and told his father if he wanted him back alive, he was going to have to pay somehow. Finally, his father was able to get the money, but thats a different story." She spoke in a hoarse dry voice.
"Well... if nothing happened to Bikky, then i'm sure he's okay now. We'll go find him and bring him back."
Carol was sobbing, and the tears were staining her face. "Carol.." Ryo hugged her "It's okay, we'll find him. it's okay.."
"No! Its not! Ryo!! He raped Bikky! thats why Bikky hates seeing you and Dee together!" Carol sobbed into Ryo's shirt.
"W-What?!!!"
"Ryo! You have to get Bikky back! Bikky... Clay swore he'd kill Bikky because Bikky told his father and many other people what Clay had done!"
"...No..no, Dee and I... we'll save Bikky. Don't worry." He pushed carol away and stared her hard in the eyes. "I promise."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hello?" Dee answered his cell. He had just finished telling J.J what to look for. "ryo?" He paused for a moment. "WHAT?!!!....... uh-huh... look just calm down Ryo. I'm coming over right now------ then where are you?!!... UGH! Ryo! Not alone! Wait for me!...don't hang-- up." Dee ended the call and shoved his cell into his back pocket. He rushed out of the office, his coat in hand. "Damnit" he muttered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dee. spotting Ryo's black honda, parked his red Jeep Wrangler and jumped out of his car. Glancing about for Ryo's blonde-brown hair, he spotted it behind a dumpster.
"Ryo!" Dee called out, rushing up next to the other man.
"Ryo?" The man with blone-brown hair turned around, "sorry man, I'm Clay." The man stared Dee hard in the eyes. "Whatcha doin' round this part of town? This ain't no place for a cop on his own."
"Oh.. a-heh, i was just looking for someone. He was looking for a kid... Bikky, maybe you know him? " Dee flashed one of his infamous smiles.
"Bikky...? Nah, havent heard of him." The man lied while thinking - "this guy knows bikky, but he;s after another guy, Ryo, who;s after Bikky. damn, this guys a cop too. Should i kill him? Nah... it's too early, it might arouse suspicions. "
"Hmm..." Clay scratched his head. :Well, why dont you look around here, i'll come back and let you know if i see the kid or your friend." The man finished dumping his trash into the dumpster and walked off "cya." he called behind him before going into the building."
"damn... now what?" Dee sighed and looked about for any sign of Ryo or Bikky.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ryo sprinted up the stairs, looking about for any sign of Bikky. Carol said Clay used to live in this building, and if he had come back, would probably be here. "But why... why would he want to kidnap bikky agian? " Ryo thought to himself as he knocked on the door infront of him.
"Yes?" a loud deep voice called from within the apartment. "Who is it? what do you want?" Ryo could hear footsteps approaching the door.
"Uhm.. hi, my name's--" Ryo was interrupted as the door was flung open by a big burly man in a white undershirt.
"What the hell do you want?" The man glared at Ryo, making him uneasy.
"Oh uhm.. well, you see... I was just wondering if you'd seen a kid. He's got light blonde hair and dark skin... His name's Bikky and he's about 10-years-old..." Ryo told the man.
"Hmm.." the mans expression softened... "come to think of it... i did see a kid that matches that description. He came by here last night with Clay Check room 439, thats where Clay's staying, though i think he's out right now, he just passed this way. You can probably find the kid there."
"Thanks alot!" Ryo smiled before dashing up the stairs.
"Anytime" the man replied shutting the door.
Ryo looked down the dim lit corridor, "Bikky has to be here... he just has to be... " Ryo thought to himself as he looked on the doors for room 439.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hmm..." Dee climbed the stairs slowly, looking around for any signs of Ryo. After about 10 minutes of wandering about aimlessly and not seeing any sign of his partner, Laytner had given up and decided that where ever Ryo was, he was inside. So, here he was, climbing the stairs of an old apartment building without any trace of his parter. "Guess i should ask someone" he muttered to himself "but who?"
Dee, deep in thought didn't realise he had bumped into someone while not paying attention.
"Whoa! Watch it!"
"huh?" Dee looked up, and found himself face to face with a man in a white undershirt. The man was burly, and was, infact, the same man Ryo had previously run into. "Sorry, guess i wasnt looking where i was going" Dee grinned, the man had that kind of air around him that intimidated people, even Dee.
"hmph" the man grunted in reply, shoving past, ramming Dee into the wall while starting to descend the stairs.
"Mmph.. ow." Dee rubbed his elbow and shoulder. "hey.. he might have seen Ryo... or even Bikky." Dee thought to himself. "Hey! mister!!!" Dee called after the larger man.
"What?!" the man turned around a glare on his face.
"Uhm... you wouldnt have happened to have seen a man with light chesnut hair and--" Dee was cut off.
"yeah, yeah, i've seen him. he came by here looking for some kid about 10-15 minutes ago." The man scratched his head.
"Where did he go?!" Dee questioned the man urgently. "i really need to find him!"
"Oh.. i sent him up to Clays, thats where the kid is staying i think. Up on the 4th floor, room 439."
"Thanks!" Dee sprinted off, down the hall to the next flight of stairs.
"Sure.." the man continued on his walk down the stairs, humming a tune as he did so.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Bikky!" Ryo's fist slammed down on the door "Are you there?!" Hearing no reply, he aimed a well aimed kick at the door, and slammed his foot into it, breaking down the door. However, a wrist grabbed his before he could step in.
"Ahhh!" Ryo winced in pain as his arm was twisted behind his back and broken with a satisfying snap.
"Come for Bikky have you?" Clay shoved him inside. "ryo.. isnt it?"
"Y-yeah.. " Ryo spat "you must be Clay. I won't let you do anything to Bikky. Where is he?!"
"Oh? that little twerp? I've already had my fun with him.. Heh heh" Clay snickered, shoving Ryo into a wall and grabbing him from behind by the neck. "And ive already gotten my money for him. You see... he's been sold. So sorry your pet is gone."
"Gr.. you bastard! if you harmed him--" Ryo growled, biting his lip to supress the pain that was shooting though his arm and neck.
Clay let his grip on Ryo's neck loosen, as he pulled out his gun. "I didn't harm him" Clay interrupted "I simply gave him to a friend in exchange for a bit of cash. " Clay mused as he loaded the gun.
"You sick perverted--"
Clay flipped Ryo around so that he was facing him and shoved the end of his gun into Ryo's open mouth. "Now what Mr.Cop?" Clay snickered. "Forgot to call for backup?"
"Mmph.. " Ryo gaged.
Clay cocked the gun, pressing his index finger on the trigger. "Nighty night now.."
"Dee!" was Ryo's last thought before darkness gripped him.