Sakura and Cale made it back to the house in record time. They burst through front door much to the surprise of Alanna, Sage, Rowen, Yulie, and Dais in the living room. Sakura and Cale stood in the doorway panting from lack of breath.
"Is everyone here ok?" Cale managed to get out.
"Yes." Rowen said slowly. "Why, are we not supposed to be?"
Cale shook his head as he and Sakura walked in the room and took a seat on the couch and proceeded to explain to the five listening about the robbery and the thieves' lack of interest in the money.
"Nothing's happened out of the ordinary here." Dais said after hearing the story.
"Well, that's good to know." Cale said.
"But it doesn't make sense. Why would someone go through all the trouble of getting some of us out of the house and not try anything?" Sakura asked thoughtfully.
"To throw us off maybe?" Rowen suggested.
Sakura shook her head. "No, I don't think that's it. I feel like I'm missing something, but what is it?" She thought. She suddenly straightened up in her seat.
"Ryo!" she shouted.
"Huh?" everyone chorused.
"There weren't after anyone here, they were after Ryo!" Sakura said rising to her feet.
"What makes you think that?" Alanna asked.
"Think about it, nothing happened here and yet the trouble was made to create some kind of a disturbance. Me, Cale and Ryo were the only ones to leave the house. Nothing happened to me or Cale and Ryo hasn't come back yet. I have to go find him." She said preparing to run out the door.
"Wait." Sage called. Sakura stopped and looked at him. "We'll help you." He said rising to his feet. The others followed suit.
"One of you needs to stay here and tell the others what we think has happened. It's possible that I'm wrong and that we'll run into Ryo along the way." Sakura cautioned.
"I doubt that, I agree with you. I think something has happened to him." Rowen agreed.
"I'll stay here." Yulie volunteered.
"And I'll stay with him." Alanna voiced. The others nodded and raced out the door, Sakura leading the way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ryo struggled valiantly against the single shackle chaining him to the wall. He pulled, tugged, and yanked as hard as he could at the chain without making any progress. Ryo wearily leaned his back against the wall and slumped to the floor. 'It's no use.' He thought leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes.
'I bet Sakura is wondering where I am.' He thought to himself. He jerked his head up at the sound of an opening door and looked up to see Seriyu approaching him. Ryo glared at him as three other men followed behind him.
"It's time." Seriyu said in a sing song voice.
"Time? For what?" Ryo questioned standing to his feet.
"You'll find out soon enough." Seriyu said grinning.
"You won't get away with what ever you are planning." Ryo spat. "I bet Sakura and the others are already getting suspicious."
Seriyu grinned. "That won't be a problem for long." He said as he reached out and placed a black amulet around Ryo's neck. Ryo looked down at the amulet puzzled.
"What's this for?" he demanded to know. Seriyu ignored his question as he pulled a similar amulet out from a chest and placed it around his own neck. He closed his eyes and stood still for a while. Ryo observed him. 'He looks like he's concentrating on something,.. but what?'
Seriyu closed his eyes listening. With the magic that the amulet held he could hear Ryo's heartbeat, along with his own. He had to wait until they were on the same beat, when the two hearts were beating as one Seriyu opened his eyes. "Conversion!" he shouted at he and Ryo were enveloped in a flash of white.