Ransom

Cye and Kento joined the others. Both were very relieved to see Ryo. "Are you OK, Ryo?" Cye asked, as Kento laid the unconscious man down on the ground next to the other one.

Ryo nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I have a slight headache, though."

Sage heard that and came over. He placed his hands on Ryo's head and healed him. Ryo felt better. Arigatou."

"Sure, Ryo. I took care of that concussion for you."

Ryo nodded, then stared down at the two men. "There's one more."

Kento looked up, confusion was written all over his face. "One more?" he repeated.

They all frowned. "Uh oh!"

"Hold it right there!"

All five turned around. Sama stood a few feet away from them, loaded gun in hand. He looked angry. But that didn't worry them. What worried them was that loaded automatic pistol.

Sama peered at them. He did not know how the boy had escaped, but he was betting that it was the other kids who freed him. Well, he was going to take care of this little problem once and for all.

"I'm still going to get my money, boy. But you won't live to see your friends ever again!"

He pulled the trigger....

"NOOOO!" Sage shouted. In one quick movement, he leapt in front of Ryo, sheltering his leader. A loud pop was heard, and Sage's arm was on fire. He cried out in pain as he and Ryo crashed to the ground.

"SAGE!" everyone cried.

Sama was about to fire again when something big and powerful attacked him. He fell to the ground, and tried to desperately get his arm out of the tiger's mouth.

"Let go! Let go!" he cried. Had it been his other arm, he would have shot the dumb animal.

White Blaze held his grip tightly on the man's bleeding arm. The man dropped his weapon, and Cye kicked it aside. (hey, Cye, aside! that rhymes!) And then White Blaze promptly sat on the man.

Ryo looked behind him at his tiger. "Good boy, White Blaze. You just stay there until the police come." He was busy helping Rowen get the bullet out of Sage's arm, while Kento went into the cabin and called the Police. Once the bullet was out, Sage healed his wound the best he could.

Kento came back out, carrying some bandages. "They're on their way. Here, Sage. I found these. They look pretty clean."

Sage nodded and let Rowen and Ryo wrap his arm up. Sama tried in vain to get out from underneath the tiger, but it was no use. The animal was too heavy.

"Could you get your tiger off me?! I can't breathe!"

White Blaze snorted.

Rowen crossed his arms. "You're talking, aren't ya?"

Sama glared at Rowen and struggled all the more. Gono and Tomo began to come to. Once they were fully conscience, they tried to move, then discovered to their disappointment, they couldn't. And they were surprised that four teenage boys had done this. But what scared them even more, besides an angry tiger, were the sirens in the distance.

Kento grabbed another chain and used it to tie up Sama nice and tight. White Blaze took off, going into hiding. The five Ronins switched to street clothes. The Police soon arrived.

Three squad cars came to a stop, and six police officers got out. One immediately began questioning the boys while the other five loaded the abductors into the backseats of the cruisers.

"I thought he just wanted to use the phone," Ryo explained. "At first everything was cool, until those men right there attacked me. I got knocked out, and the next I know I'm here!"

The officer nodded as he wrote that down. "And what about you four? How did you know where he was?"

Rowen thought he suspected suspicion. They couldn't tell truth. The officers would try to have them committed. "One of the kidnappers goofed on the phone call, and gave the location of the place," he said. He shook his head. "I don't think these are what you call skilled abductors."

The officer seemed to take that and nodded. Several more questions, and more answers. Finally, he asked for their names, addresses, and phone numbers. All was given, and that was written down too.

"OK," the officer said as he flipped his notepad closed. "We're going to take these losers off to jail. Tomorrow, Ryo, come down with your parents or guardian and file charges." He paused and looked at Sage.

"Are you all right?"

Sage nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just got a flesh wound that's all."

The officer nodded. "Have a doctor take a look at it at least. You don't want an infection."

Sage nodded, and the officer asked. "Now do you boys have a ride home?"

They all shook their heads.

The officer sighed. Two squad cars were already leaving, and his partner was waiting for him. "Is there anyone I could call who can come and get you?"

"Mia Koji," Cye replied. "She's a friend of ours. She has a license."

"Give me the number."

The number was given, but when there was no answer, Ryo gave her cell number. It rang three times before someone answered.

"Miss Koji? This is Officer Brum. I found Ryo Sanada, Cye Mouri, Kento Rei Faun, Sage Date, and Rowen Hashiba. All of them are safe and sound, and they need a ride. We're two miles northwest of Toyoma, just east of Sandei. It's old country. Just follow Wicca Road all the way straight and you'll come to an old cabin. Sure thing, ma'am. Good day." He hung up.

"She's on her way. Are you boys going to be all right here?"

"Yeah, sure. No problem!" Kento exclaimed. "We handle those guys didn't we?"

The officer nodded. He had been wondering about that. He bid them good-bye and headed off for his car. The Ronins watched the squad car drive off.

"Now what?" Cye asked as they sat down on the porch to wait.

"We wait for Mia," Rowen replied as White Blaze came out of hiding. He nuzzled Ryo.

"White Blaze, I'm sorry, boy. For not believing you. Can you forgive me?" Ryo asked.

White Blaze licked Ryo's face. That was answer enough. Ryo climbed onto his back and sat there.

"I'm hungry," Kento said. Cye rolled his eyes. He was positive that was Kento's favorite phrase.

"You're always hungry," Rowen said.

Kento shrugged. It wasn't like he wasn't going to deny that fact.

They continued to wait, feeling very bored. Sage's arm hurt, and he already knew that Mia would want to take a look at it when she saw it.

Finally after an hour, they saw her coming.

"It's about time!" Kento exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. The others stood up and watched as Mia parked the jeep. She climbed out and headed for Ryo.

"Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine, Mia, and no, they didn't hurt me."

Mia nodded, then looked at Sage. "What happened to your arm, Sage?!"

Sage grimaced. "One of them tried to shoot Ryo. I jumped in front of him. It's healed halfway...."

"Let me see."

Sage sighed and allowed Mia to unwrap the bandages. She studied it. You're going to need that cleaned. We'll have to do it at home. Get in the jeep, everyone," she ordered as she rewrapped Sage's arm.

They obeyed. Sage climbed in too, and Mia got up front. She put the jeep into gear and headed back to Toyama with White Blaze following behind.

"YEOW!"

Sage, would you hold still!"

"But it hurts!"

"Well, if you hold still we'd get it done faster!"

Ryo let out a smile as he watched Mia try to clean Sage's wound with peroxide and antiseptic spray. They had been in the living room for the past fifteen minutes now. He and Rowen were playing Mortal Kombat, while Cye and Kento waited for their turn.

Finally Mia rewrapped Sage's arm with fresh cleaned bandages. "There, all done. There's Advil in the medicine cabinet."

Sage bounded up the stairs. "Good, I need them!"

Mia shook her head and sat down on the couch. She was glad this day turned out better than she thought. Ryo was safe, and so were the others, and she still had her money. She planned to go with Ryo to the Police Station tomorrow so they could press charges against his abductors. But that would have to wait until after school.

Sage came back down and joined Cye and Kento as they watched Rowen and Ryo play their game.

"Ha!" Rowen cried triumphantly. "I won! Pay up!"

Ryo frowned at the screen. "But how?" he pouted. Then he sighed and dug out ten yen and handed it to Rowen.

Rowen put it away. "Pleasure doing business with ya!"

Ryo only grumbled.

"Our turn!" Kento cried.

The game was given over to Kento and Cye.

Mia sighed inwardly. It was pretty relaxing, even with the TV sound up loud. For once none of them were fighting or battling. The game ended ten minutes later with Cye winning. Kento grumbled a bit, but paid Cye his ten yen.

Mia glanced at the clock. "It's after 11 P.M. guys."

The game was shut off, and the remote was handed to her as everyone got to their feet and began to head upstairs.

"Ryo, Sage, are you two going to school tomorrow?" Mia asked.

Ryo nodded and smiled and headed off for his room with White Blaze beside him.

"Of course I am," Sage replied, flashing Mia one of his smiles. "There'll be enough girls there to pity me!"

Mia rolled her eyes. "Sage Date, do you ever get tired of flirting?"

Sage shook his head, a big grin on his face. "Nope!"

Rowen pushed Sage up the stairs. "Let's go, Sage. Good-night, everyone."

They all headed off for their rooms.

Mia turned on the lamp, and shut the big light out. She flipped through several channels until she found something interesting.

Ah, peace and quiet at last!