Sakura had no clue as to what was going on around her. As far as she knew, Ryo and the others were still back at home, asleep where she had left them. Sakura looked at the scowling girl in front of her.
"Kanna? What's wrong?"
Kanna seemed to be listening intently to something then gave a wide grin and turned to Sakura.
"Nothing." She replied. "Everything is working out fine." Sakura shrugged as Kanna led her into the throne room and up to the throne.
"There," Kanna said pointing to the small wooden door hidden underneath. "We need to get in there."
"Under my father's throne?" Sakura asked with suspicion. "What could possibly be underneath there that would help us?"
"You'll see." Kanna replied.
Ryo and the others looked on with bated breath. Sakura showed some hesitation as she neared the door.
"Don't you trust me?" Kanna asked sadly when she saw Sakura's hesitation.
"Of course, I do." Sakura assured the little girl. Nearing the door, Sakura took off the locket and held it in her hands.
Ryo made a movement to knock the locket out of her grasp when Seriyu noticed his movement out of the corner of his eye. Seriyu drew his sword and held it to Ryo's throat.
"Don't even think about it." Seriyu said cruelly. Ryo gave him a glare as he watched Sakura bend down and open the locket, placing the two hinged pieces in the little indention, never letting the locket leave her hand. The wooden door glowed a bright yellow as it vanished, revealing stone steps that descended down into the lower bowels of the castle. Sakura placed the necklace once again around her neck, prodded by Kanna's insistence, and walked down the stairs. The Illusionist and the others right behind her. The Ronins and Warlords looked around as they walked down the stairs. It was cold as they continued walking deeper and deeper underground, Sakura leading the way. It soon became dark, but the others continued following the red glow from Sakura's locket and the Illusionist's orb. They finally reached the bottom of the long stairway to find themselves standing in front of a huge stone door that towered over them. Sakura looked at Kanna who urged her to open the door. Even though Sakura had never been here before, she somehow knew exactly what to do.
The others looked on in rapt attention as Sakura, using her magic, rose a few feet in the air and remained there. Then holding out her hand; her crystal around her neck glowed a light blue as a ball of magical energy formed in her hand. Once she was satisfied with the size, Sakura returned to the ground, stepped a few paced backward and hurtled the energy at the stone door. The small room shook with the force of the attack as the stone door started to crumble. Various sizes of stone fell to the floor, sending everyone but Sakura scattering to get out of the way of the fallen debris. After the dust had settled, everyone returned out in the open as Sakura still continued to stare at the wall she had just knocked down in stony silence as if she was waiting for something. Her patience was rewarded when another gateway appeared where the stone one had previously stood. Stepping around the pieces of fallen rock, Sakura walked to the base of the door. Upon closer inspection the others could see small figures engraved in the door arranged around a small circle. Placing her hand in the center of the circle; the room crackled with electric energy as Sakura struggled against the slight pain to hold her hand in the circle. She then raised her right hand and began to trace the figures with her index finger, each glowing as she traced it. Once she completed tracing the figures and they were all glowing yellow, the circle too began to glow. Then the wall started to be eaten away by the light, starting from her hand and spreading out, until a doorway was visible. Stepping through the doorway the group found themselves in a large underground cavern. Sage and a few others let out an audible gasp at the size of it, even Seriyu let out a whistle. The ceiling, covered with stalactites, reached for forever. The floor as well was littered on the sides with multiple sizes of stalagmites but a visible path was cut in the middle. This was the path that the group followed toward the darker end of the cavern. Once after the walk to the other end, Sakura stopped. She stood in front of a small panel. She lifted the cover as she bent down and stood about eye level with it. A beam shot out, identifying her DNA to see if it matched. Once it was done, it gave a small beep of acceptance as a huge stone slab next to it began to rise. The group watched in fascination as the slab lifted higher until it stopped. There was nothing but blackness behind it as two red eyes suddenly sprang to life. The Illusionist smiled as Seriyu smirked happily and turned to the others.
"All right, we have what we want, Here is your precious Sakura." At his words the Illusionist smashed the red orb as Sakura was surrounded by red energy.
Once it was gone, she slumped to the floor as Ryo rushed to her side.
"Sakura," he said his voice pleading for her to be okay as he held her in his lap.