Rowen finished his story and then fell silent, waiting for Ryo’s reaction.  Ryo at first was silent, not quite sure what to think.  How did Rowen feel?  Ryo wasn’t even sure of that.  To have his best friend, his only friend, captured, kidnapped, what was that like, how would you feel?
 "So she was captured?"  Ryo finally asked, breaking the silence.
 "Yeah, and now I know by whom, Tulpa captured her, I’m sure of it."  Rowen answered, hatred filling his voice.  Or was it sadness?
 "And this is the first time she’s ever appeared again?"
 "As far as I know."  Rowen was starting to loose his self-control.  His voice wavered, and the tears were pushing at his eyes.
 "Rowen, I…I wish there was something that I could say to make you feel better."  Ryo said, trying to give his friend some sympathy.  But what could he say?  Rowen, your girl’s evil, she’s gonna try to kill us, sorry about that.  No, he couldn’t say that to Rowen, because Rowen already knew that.
 "I guess that there isn’t.  But at least you’ll understand why I probably won’t be able to fight her."  Rowen answered.  He was in the danger zone.  Any minute now, he would break out in tears, all of those years of sadness bottled up, they would be let out.
 "I’ll understand.  Rowen, you don’t have to fight her if you don’t want to, but she probably doesn’t remember you anymore," Ryo said, sorrowfully.
 Rowen sighed.  Here it comes.  If his tears were rain, here comes monsoon season.  Ryo was probably right; Cora probably didn’t remember him anymore.  Tulpa probably filled her with so much evil; her mind would have just pushed him out of itself.  But then, he and Cora were practically soul mates.  How could she forget?  Even if they had been apart for almost 5 years, should that matter?  What had happened to her, after she had attacked him?  She suddenly forgot where she was, and then she disappeared.  The amulet!  Kayura wore a similar one, maybe that was how Tulpa had control over her!  Cora, I will set you free, I promise you that!  Rowen made a silent vow to himself.
 "Rowen?  Are you gonna be okay?"  Ryo asked him gently.
 "Yeah, I think so.  I just need a little time to think this over."  Rowen answered.
 "Okay.  See ya later."
 Rowen didn’t answer.  Ryo looked back at him once more before he left the room, closing the door behind him.
 Rowen lay down on the bed.  Trying to contemplate these questions spinning around in his head, confusing him.  Then his mind brought him back to Cora, and everything that they had done together.  The tears again formed, and this time, Rowen did not hold them back.  He turned his head to the pillow and cried for his friend.

 Ryo walked slowly down the stairs.  Poor Rowen.  As childish as that sounded, it was how he felt.  His best friend, captured, turned evil, and now wanting to destroy him, how lucky Rowen was.  Cora didn’t even recognize him.  Rowen wouldn’t fight her.  Ryo knew that.  He wouldn’t force him to.  And he also knew that Rowen would not kill her if it came down to that.
 Ryo entered the living room, where the others were talking.
 "Hey, how is he?" Sage asked.
 Ryo sighed.  "You won’t believe what I have to tell you."
 Kento, Cye, and Sage all gave Ryo a quizzical look.  Then Mia came in behind Ryo.
 "What?" she asked.
 Ryo sighed, and took a deep breath.  Then he proceeded to tell them about Cora.  When he finished, everyone was silent for a moment.
 "Well, now that explains some."  Sage stated.
 "What do you mean Sage?"  Cye asked him.
 "Well, when we fought her, Rowen didn’t say much, he didn’t get very involved.  Only when Cora practically forced him to fight her."  Sage answered.
 "So, what, Rowen won’t fight her?"  Kento asked.
 "No, he won’t.  Cora is still Cora to him, whether she’s evil or not.  Rowen will try to find a way to break Tulpa’s hold on her."  Ryo answered.
 "And some small part of Cora must still remember him."  Sage added.
 "What?"  Ryo asked, turning to Sage.
 "After Cora’s attack hit Rowen, she had a memory lapse, she didn’t recognize where she was, and then she disappeared.  Some part of her inside must have recognized Rowen and fought for control of her, that is the part that is still good."  Cye answered for Sage.
 "Yeah.  So my guess would be that Cora’s not completely gone.  We might be able to break Tulpa’s hold on her."  Sage agreed, nodding.
 "Okay, let me get this strait, Rowen won’t fight Cora because she’s his long lost friend or whatever, and we have to find a way to make her good again?"  Kento asked to clarify the confusion.
 "Exactamundo Kento."  Ryo answered.
 "Oh, this is gonna be loads of fun."  Kento said sarcastically.
 "Don’t we know it."  Sage said.
 "But give Rowen time to think this over, and let him rest from the last battle, let the Dynasty make the next move."  Mia told them.
 "Right, we wait for them to act, agreed?"  Ryo asked, surveying the others.
 The others responded in Yes’ and Yeah’s.  Everyone agreed.  Now all they had to do was wait.