Chapter 9:

Tai and Muffy were now all alone in the forest...or so they thought. They couldn't be sure what was waiting for them behind the shadows. But, they continued farther into the forest, hoping, praying, that they could save Celia and Jason.

The farther they ventured into the forest the darker and scarier it got. Fog layed on the forest floor while trees blocked most of the sun from reaching them. Sometimes, it would get so dark that the horses would freeze and would have to be forced to continue on.

Tai was still poundering on Takakura's death and his words. Revenge. Who would want revenge on him? And for what reason? Something just wasn't right about this concept.

Suddenly, a shot rang through the forest, breaking Tai from his thoughts and causing Thunder to rear up. Tai calmed his horse and looked into the trees.

"Tai, what was that?" Muffy whimmpered, obviously scared. Tai brung a finger to his lips, silencing her. Again, the shot rang out, this time closer. Tai was beginning to feel uneasy and dismounted Thunder. Slowly and quietly, Muffy did the same while Tai tied the two horses to a nearby tree. He wrapped his hand around his sickles handle. He stood in front of Muffy, not wanting the same fate to come to her that came to Takakura. He lifted his sickle when he heard deep breathing from the trees.

"Who...who's there?" he shouted into the darkness, raising his sickle into a defensive position. Another shot rang out, this time so near that Tai had to cover his ears. Then, as suddenly as the shot rang out, Tai felt a sharp, agonizing pain in his shoulder. Grunting with pain, Tai got down on one knee and dropped his sickle, trying to keep the shoulder from bleeding to much.

"Oh my goddess!" Muffy cried. "Tai, they shot you-"

Suddenly a dart whizzed past Tai's head and hit Muffy square on the side. In moments, she was out cold.

"Muffy!" he choked out, trying to keep the shoulder from bleeding. A sudden sharp pain rose in Tai's side and he started to feel lightheaded. His vision became fuzzy and he blacked out...but not before seeing a figure standing over him

Tai awoke to a throbbing pain in his head. When he opened his eyes, the pain just got worse. His vision was blurry and he couldn't see anything. He felt lightheaded and droopy. He reached to rub his eyes but they wouldn't move.

After a few moments, Tai's strenght and vision returned to him. His head no longer hurt, but his should felt like it was on fire. He tried to move his hands and found they were tied behind his back. Slowly and quietly, he tried to loosen his bonds.

Suddenly, a chuckled rang through the cabin and Tai aburtly stopped his work and jerked his head torward the sound. A figure was standing in the darkness.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Yamerio," the voice rang out in a mocking tone. Tai felt his blood boil.

"What have you done with Celia and Jason?" he shouted, clenching his hands into fists. He'll die a slow and painful death if there harmed!

"Why, Tai," the voice stayed calm. "Why would I want to hurt Celia? I mean, she is the one you love, right?" The figure chuckled.

"Where is my family?" Tai demanded, still working with the tight bonds. They slowly began to loosen.

"You'll know soon enough," the voice remained calm and cool.

"I swear to the Harvest Goddess, if one hair is harmed on their heads you'll pay," Tai growled threatenly.

"Please, you are no threat to me," the feminien voice replied.

"If I am no threat, why am I tied to a chair!" Tai shouted back.

The figure walked torward Tai but stayed in the darkness. He was determined to not show his face at the moment.

"You made the wrong choice when you married Celia. You killed her right then. She didn't love you. No, I loved you. I cared about you. But, you still marry Celia."

"What-what are you talking about? Who are you?" Tai was utterly confused. No one else in the small valley of Forget Me Not loved him...only Celia.

"You betrayed me, Tai!" the voice roared. "As soon as I heard about the marrige, I locked myself in my room and cried for days! I wouldn't eat! I couldn't stand Celia anymore!" The person paused. "So that's when I made my plan. I decided I would kidnap your family and show you what I felt those days after you betray me."

Tai's hands were almost free from the ropes. He could feel them loosening up.

"I decided to take everything from you, everything I knew you loved," Then, thats when it hit Tai.

"You killed Takakura," he mummered. "You killed Takakura!" His voice was loud and filled with rage and sorrow. "You took everything I had! You killed Takakura! You stole my son! Kidnapped my wife! What makes you think you'll get away with it and we'll live happily ever after?"

The figure chuckled. "This is revenge, Tai. Just to get you back. You'll watch them die tonight. And it'll be all your fault." The figure turned and started to walk away. With all the rage in his body, Tai found new strenght. The bonds suddenly broke and Tai felt his hands come free. He jumped from his chair and charged at the figure. The figure turned around, and gasped.

Tai jumped on the stranger, rage blinding him but he knew exactly what he was doing and was in control. He punched the person in the face and kicked him in the stomach. When Tai was finally able to see, he looked down at the person.

And gasped.

Whoops ended too soon, huh? Oh well, I'll update in about a month or two...maybe three...busy being lazy...J/K.. lol

WELL, I wonder who the person is? ...OH wait! I KNOW! MWAHAHAHAHA! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EVIL! YES I ROCK HARD! Well the next chappie is going to be either the last or second to the last. Something like that. Anyways, you'll find out soon enough who is the kidnapper. Stay tuned!

SoL

(P.S: Man, I feel bad...I guess I'll tell you who did it. Look at the bottom of the screen and you'll see the kidnappers name.)

Almost there, little more!

Little more!

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU FEEL FOR THAT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

But, seriously, review or I won't update!

SoL (Serious this time!)