Ransom

Four figures were gathered around the blond haired boy as he laid his hands on the injured tiger. His eyes were closed and he was glowing a bright green. The light transferred to the tiger and bathed him. He poured half his healing into the large beast, healing his wound and the concussion he had received. The light faded and the tiger opened his eyes.

"White Blaze!" everyone said in relief. The tiger licked Sage's hand, then gazed around. He let out a cautious roar, and tried to get up.

"No, White Blaze," Sage admonished. "Rest awhile." He stood up and looked at Mia. "About this note."

Rowen took the crumbled note out of his pocket. He un-crumbled it and handed to Sage as everyone gathered around. Sage read it out loud, his violet eyes narrowing angrily.

He ripped up the note.

"So what do we do?" Cye asked worriedly.

"What do you think we do?" a big boy asked. "We find Ryo, and beat the crap out of whoever took him!"

"Don't be so quick, Kento," Sage said. "We need to come up with a plan first. For one thing we have no idea where they took him. We know he's not in the Dynasty. Talpa wouldn't demand money. All he wants is our armors."

"Sage is right," Rowen said. "We need to see if we can contact Ryo through the mind link. Hopefully he's not unconscious. We need to find out if he's all right, and let him know that we're going to find him."

"I'll contact him, Sage said. "The rest of you get White Blaze inside and let him rest as much as possible. We'll need him." With that, Sage went into the mansion.

Ryo let out a sigh. He was alone in the room. It had been four hours since his arrival here, and he hadn't seen this Gono, Sama, or Tomo since they had left about an hour ago. He struggled against the ropes binding his wrists, and cursed when they didn't give. Well, it had been a good day, eh, now this day sucked. He could defeat Talpa and the Dynasty, but he couldn't even defeat these three losers. And to top it all off, his head hurt like hell. Need Motrin or something. I swear when I get out of here, those three are going to be hanging off the telephone pole!

Ryo's eyes widened. He knew that voice. 'Sage?' he answered back.

A few hours passed again. The Ronins had all eaten, and White Blaze was well rested. Now they were all following the tiger as he followed Ryo's scent. Mia had stayed behind, to lure any suspicion away from them.

They were all in their subarmors and walking quickly down the street.

"So what's the plan?" Cye asked.

"I'm working on one as we go along," Rowen said. "Once we find their hideout, we should split up into two teams, and a single, and surround the place. The two teams distract while the single searches for Ryo. Hopefully we'll be able to distract the kidnappers enough to rescue Ryo."

"Why can't we just break in and knock them out?" Kento asked.

"Because, they might be expecting that, Kento," Rowen said. "And they could have guns. We may be wearing subarmor, but that doesn't protect our heads from a bullet."

"So we call on our armors."

Rowen let out an impatient sigh. "Kento, use your head. We were given the armors to restore life, not tear it apart. Those kidnappers don't have armors. They're regular humans. After we rescue Ryo, we send them off to jail and let the Police handle them for awhile."

Kento grumbled slightly, but let it go. He looked toward White Blaze. The tiger was still hot on Ryo's trail. So far they had walked at least a half mile. Just how far did these losers take Ryo anyway?

Sage wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was hot today. His violet eyes peered at the sun, and then he had a fleeting thought. I hope we don't have to fight in the dark.

Cye was quiet. He wished that he or someone would have stayed with Ryo. Maybe none of this would have happened. He hoped Ryo was OK. He hated to think of them killing a good friend and leader. He wiped his eyes. Ryo, I hope you're still all right.

"Get up!"

Ryo awoke to someone yanking his hair. He yelped, and then glared at Sama, his tiger blue eyes narrowing dangerously. ""What?!" he snapped.

SMACK! Ryo's head flew to the side, a bright red hand mark on the side of his face. He turned his head and glared at the man again.

"Give me the number to your house, boy. I'm getting money for you one way or another!"

Ryo glared at him. "And will I be returned to my home if you're paid?" he demanded.

Sama smirked. "No. We're going to kill you once I get that money. And no one will ever suspect me either. You see, I know how to cover up my tracks, and make murders look like accidents, or suicides." He pressed his finger against Ryo's temple. "You see, one shot right here, would end your life quickly, and believe me, I have plenty of guns to choose from."

"If you're just going to kill me, then why should I give you that number? How do I know that you won't harass anyone else in there?"

Sama smiled. "You're smart, kid. Real smart. But if you don't give me that number, then I'll just go and spend some quality time with that woman I saw in the photograph on the mantel. If you know what I mean." He smiled cruelly.

Ryo gasped. "Don't you dare hurt her!" he warned. "You do and I'll...." He was rewarded with another slap, and then his throat was grabbed.

"Either you give me that number, or she'll lose her innocence, and you'll lose your life!"

Ryo struggled to breathe. The man's hand was tightly wrapped around his throat. His face started turning red. He tried to talk, but it was difficult.

Sama finally pulled away, and glared down at the gasping boy. Ryo's face was pale, and for a moment he was almost scared. "Are you going to give the number to me or not?"

"555-598-7575," Ryo said weakly. He could not stop shaking. The man smiled and patted his head. "Thanks." He started for the door. "Oh, by the way, Gono is making you something to eat. I know you got to be hungry." He went out the door, closed it, and locked it.

Ryo stared at the shut door. Come to think of it he was hungry. He wished his friends were here already. He was worried about Mia and worried about White Blaze too. If he knew tiger, White Blaze would be paying one of these losers back for bashing him over the head.

A tear dripped down his face. Guys, please hurry.

Mia picked up the ringing telephone. "Yes?" Her face grew pale. She sat down as the talker spoke. She began searching for something. She found whatever it was she was looking for. "Yes, I got a pen and paper." She began writing. "You want me to drop off the money at the Santigao Park, and look for an old oak tree at least five feet away from the swing set on the left side. There's a big hole. Stick the briefcase inside there and make sure it cannot be seen from the outside. A million yen? I have only twenty-four hours to gather the money and to get it there? Yes, I understand. Can I please talk to Ryo?"

The person hung up on her. Mia stared at the humming phone, and let out a pathetic sigh. She was scared for Ryo. Who knew what those awful men were doing to him? Her thoughts focused on the other boys. Please find him, guys.

White Blaze was getting closer to Ryo. The scent was very strong. He was walking more quickly, and the Ronins found themselves trotting just to keep up with him.

"I think we're getting closer!" Sage said.

They continued going, sensing that Ryo was close by. They found themselves outside the city and into the country side. As they traveled down a dirt road, some fenced in grazing cows looked up and saw the large white tiger running down the road, followed by four young male humans. The cows scattered.

A man sitting on the fence, drinking a bottle of rum, saw them as well. His eyes did a double take, and he looked at the bottle in his hand. Without a second thought he poured the entire bottle out.

Rowen looked back at the man. "I guess he's never seen a tiger before."

"I think he's just surprised that ones our age would be running after a large tiger," Cye said.

"Do you think we're getting closer?" Kento asked.

White Blaze sniffed the air, and growled. He suddenly broke out into a run."

"Does that answer your question?" Rowen asked.

"Come one, let's go!" Sage shouted as he ran. The others followed, soon catching up to Halo and the tiger. All five ran down the street. Their armors were beginning to react and they knew they were indeed close. They would have Ryo back in no time.

Ryo wryly watched as Gono walked in with a plate of food. There were small helpings of cut up pork chops, mashed potatoes, and corn. He eyed Ryo. "I could just free one arm, but then you would try to hit me, and we don't want that."

Ryo didn't say anything. He could sense his friends and knew they were close by. The man began to feed him. Ryo gave no trouble. He was hungry anyway, and wanted to keep his strength. He had a feeling they weren't going to be feeding him all that much. But that didn't matter anyway. He was leaving this place just as soon as his friends got here.

Sage saw the small cabin in the distance. The cabin was completely built out of logs, didn’t seem to have a porch nor any stairs. It was sitting completely on the ground, and looked dilapidated. It was surrounded by woods, and seemed perfectly isolated. Was Ryo in there? He had to be, because White Blaze was heading in that direction.

Kento could see that the cabin was getting closer. His armor was reacting even more. He wanted to get in there and get Ryo out, and send those goons off into oblivion.

"OK," Rowen said when they were right by the cabin. They were hiding from view along with White Blaze. All of them were eyeing the cabin. "I think it's time we put our plan into action."

"So which of us is going to look for Ryo?" Cye asked.

Before any of them could answer, White Blaze was already on his way. "Guess that answers our question," Rowen said.

"Let's go," Sage said as he began to sneak off toward the cabin. Rowen followed him, and Cye and Kento went off in another direction. They surrounded the cabin the best they could. Now all they had to do was wait for White Blaze and Ryo.

Ryo felt a presence outside the window of the small room he was being held in. Gono had just left, which was fine by him. He hoped that would give him enough time to think of revenge hit when the guys rescued him.

Virtue! Ryo felt his kanji come to life. He could sense the others. They were here. Just like they said they'd be! He heard a slight roar. White Blaze?

The window broke through, and White Blaze poked his head through. Ryo smiled. "Ah, White Blaze. Good to see you, boy!"

There were footsteps coming toward the room. White Blaze ducked out of sight, and Ryo pretended he was asleep. He hoped he could fool them into believing he wasn't awake. Who knew what they would do to him if they suspected anything.

The door opened, and two men stood in the door. Sama's lackeys. They stared in disbelief at the broken window.

"How?" Tomo began as he stared in confusion.

"Tomo, I told you we needed to replace that window! Let's go downstairs and get the new one. I don't think anyone will see the kid. Sama will be taking him with him when he goes to get that money anyway, and after that the kid's good as dead anyway."

The two men left, locking the door behind them. A few minutes later White Blaze jumped through the window. Ryo opened his eyes and smiled.

"Get me out of here, White Blaze!"

Sage turned around. Ryo and White Blaze were coming toward him and Rowen. He nudged Rowen. Rowen turned and smiled. Ryo was unhurt and now safe. It was time to get the losers out here. He tossed Ryo's orb to him, and soon Ryo was in his subarmor. Rowen contacted Kento and Cye through the mind link and told them Ryo was them.

Sage cupped his hands, and switched his voice to sound like a man speaking through a megaphone. "This is the Toyoma Police Department! We have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up!"

Any other time, the Ronins would have cracked up laughing, but this was serious. All of them stood ready and tense.

Inside the men froze. The police were here! But how? That woman! She must have contacted the police!

Sama angrily headed for the room where they keeping the boy.

"What are you doing? Gono asked as he searched for his gun.

"Going to use that boy against them!" he shouted as he flung open the door. An empty room met him. He stood there, stunned and angry. "How did he get out?!"

Tomo looked in. "Those cops must have found him! I say we blow their heads off, and the kid's too!" He went off in search for his gun.

Gono already had his and was loading it. Sama seethed for a moment and went to get his own. There was only one thing on his mind. Bloodshed.

Sage's second sight flashed a warning at him. "They're coming out with guns! he warned, then told Kento and Cye.

Ryo looked at his tiger. "Be careful, White Blaze!"

The tiger roared in agreement. Of course he would be careful.

Sage heard someone coming to the back door. He stood beside the door, his back pressed up against the wall beside it. He waited. The door opened, and a man grasping a gun slowly began to emerge. He didn't get much of a chance to start firing before Sage grabbed him, and threw him head first off the porch. His gun went flying out of his hand, as he landed into Ryo's and Rowen's grasps.

"Hello!" Ryo said, and his fist came crashing down on the man's skull. Rowen slipped the man's belt off him and used it to tie his hands behind his back.

"Gee, I hope his pants don't fall down," Ryo said.

"That's one," Sage said.

Kento stood waiting by the front door. Cye was in the yard. They heard someone coming to the front door. They were ready. The door opened.

Kento's fist swung quickly, knocking the man right into the forehead. He fell backward, the gun sailing out of his hand. Kento caught the gun and broke it over his knee. Kento found a chain lying off the side of the porch, and used it to bind the man up. He lifted the man over his shoulder and carried him outside.

Cye joined his side as Kento laid the man down. "Now what?" Kento asked.

"I guess we let the others know we have one of them."

"I wonder if they caught the others?"

"Let's find out."