A/N: This story is not connected in any way to either "The Consequences of Fallibility" or "Changing Series: A New Foe." It stands alone.
Here's an idea I came up with recently of what the Ronin Warriors would do when presented with the life and death of those around them. To use the power, or to not use the power? In Hostage, Rowen will consider exactly that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors.
Hostage
Chapter One
Bang! A single shot was fired into the air. The atmosphere of the room immediately changed; panic replacing the calm attitude. Screams echoed off of the marble walls as people reacted to their fear and instinctively covered their heads. "Listen up! Nobody move!" The words were shouted at the crowd, causing an instant silence to descend. "Get down on the floor! Hands on your head!" a disembodied voice ordered harshly. Directly after, five men appeared from seemingly thin air, cheap ski masks fixed over their heads. One man still held the gun, rotating it at the crowd of citizens inside the main lobby of the bank. The other four unsheathed long knives, holding them out to prevent any attacks. The gunman's second command has been completely contradictory to the first command, but no one said anything. This man had a gun, in Japan. That should be impossible. As each person, young and old lowered themselves to their knees and placed their hands over their heads, the four men with knives walked around, binding the hostage's wrists together. The last person they came to was a teenage boy with blue hair. The criminal jerked his arms harshly behind his back, as he tied the stiff rope around his wrists.
Rowen felt shame color his cheeks as he sat there, his hands bound behind him. He was a warrior after all, or at least his had been, back when the Dynasty had attacked. He surveyed his surroundings. An old woman sat immediately to his right, silently weeping with fear. To his left was a young boy, whose mother kneeled behind him, whispering encouragements into his ear. From what he could see, there were roughly twenty other hostages, making the grand total twenty-three. It was a busy day for the bank. Rowen had been astonished by how quickly everyone – including himself, had followed the criminal's instructions; the men were outnumbered after all. The Japanese really were an obedient society.
The employees of the bank had been led away from the counter, and were now kneeling on the cold floor, their wrists bound as well. The young bank tellers, who prided themselves on their respectable positions were now staring at the floor, shaking with fear. Rowen pitied them, understanding how much terror a single gun could produce. However, as soon as he thought it, he realized he was in the exact same situation as they were. He only hoped the criminals would get what they came for and get out. Otherwise… Rowen let his thought hang, he was not sure what he would do if the situation worsened. Could he really do anything? Would he? He ignored the questions in his mind and looked for the criminals.
The gunman was walking around them, his pistol pointing at each person's face, just as a pleasant reminder that he could take them out at any time. He paused as he leveled the gun with Rowen's forehead. Rowen was not sure what made him stop; perhaps he could see the icy determination and confidence in his steel blue eyes. The man made eye contact with the young Ronin, his gaze a warning that easily read 'do not even think about trying anything.'