Author's Note Again, conversations in parentheses are in Japanese. And I DO NOT own Ronin Warriors. I am but a poor hayseed of a Floridian, so please don't sue. The ellipses between every two words when it's Rowen talking is because he took a breath. Super long chapter here.
Rowen improved slowly over the next few days. He takes to writing down what he wants to say because just blinking was aggravating and limiting. He had had the colostomy bag, and his colon repaired just three days ago. When Rowen saw his four friends around his bed, he weakly raised his right hand. Ryo and the others smiled. They took turns clasping Rowen's hand while he gave them a drowsy smile. On February 10th, 2014 Dr. Smith made the decision to remove Rowen from the ventilator as he was now taking fairly regular breaths on his own. Kelly, Rowen's nurse, walked into his room. "Okay, sweetie." said Kelly. "On the count of three I want you to cough as hard as you can while I pull out the tube. I'll then give you an oxygen mask to help you. We will remove the two port-o-caths and see if you can't start drinking clear fluid. Okay?" Rowen nodded. At the count of three, Kelly pulled out the vent tube while Rowen coughed as hard as he could. In one pull, the tube was out. Kelly, true to her word, drew an oxygen mask over Rowen's head and over his mouth and nose. "That was...awful." gasped Rowen weakly. "Sorry, sweetie." said Kelly. "It's okay...but that...was really...tiring. Can...I go...to sleep...now?" said Rowen. "Sure." said Kelly. Rowen smiled tiredly then fell asleep. While Rowen slept, Kelly carefully removed the port-o-caths, bandaged those areas, and then left the room. The other ronins and Rowen's parents smile as they watch him sleep.
On February 14th, 2014 Rowen graduated to a nasal cannula and was moved to a normal room which was room 612 on the sixth floor. Rowen and the nurses found that tea and coffee would make him vomit, but he could drink any other drink, soup, or whatever on the clear liquid diet he was on. He took vitamins to get what he was not getting through the clear liquid diet.
On February 16th, 2014 attorney Meghan White came to the hospital to let Rowen know how things would unfold for the trial on March the 3rd, 2014. Rowen had heard he would be released on March the 1st, 2014 as he had improved drastically. Meghan knocks on Rowen's room door. "Hello, there." said Meghan. "You must be Rowen Hashiba. I'm attorney Meghan White, in the case of New York vs. Silas Jameson." "Silas Jameson...who's that?" said Rowen. "He's the creep that shot you, Rowen." said Sage. "Can I talk to you in private?" said Meghan. She jumped when she heard Ryo and Kento growl. Rowen rolled his eyes. "Ignore them." he told Meghan. "They're just...being hissy...and overprotective." "Okay." said Meghan."How are you feeling, Mr. Hashiba?" "I've been...better." said Rowen. "Well, the reason I'm here is to let you know that the trial will start on March the 3rd. The defending attorney Michael L. Sosinsky has twenty-six years of experience. I have twenty-six years of experience as well. My job is to ensure that the creep that shot you, Mr. Hashiba, does not go free. Attorney Sosinsky knows about your lungs and will give you enough time to answer his questions during your testimony. You and Mr. Date are my prime witnesses along with your doctors and those that gave you first aid in that bookstore. The judge is Claude M. Abrams. He's stern but fair." said Meghan. "Any questions?" said Meghan. "No, Ma'am." said Rowen. He then took a sip of Sprite. "Well, then. I'm off." said Meghan. "See you on March the 3rd, Mr. Hashiba." Rowen nodded, and reclined in bed.
On February the 18th, 2014 detective Amy Walker received permission to question Rowen about the shooting. She had received Sage's version of events November 28th, 2013, the day of the shooting, while he, his friends, and Rowen's parents waited for word on Rowen. She knocked on Rowen's door. "Come in." said Rowen. "Hello. I'm Amy L. Walker, detective for the New York Police Department. I need to hear your version of what happened on Thanksgiving Day, November the 28th, 2013. I need to see if your version of events correlates to Sage's version of events." said Amy. "Sage wouldn't...lie Ma'am." said Rowen. "I didn't say he would. I still need your version of events." said Amy. "Okay." said Rowen. "It was...about 10...am when...we got...to the...bookstore. I...found all...my books...in ten...minutes. Sage...found his...in ten...minutes as...well. I...spent all...my money...save two...dollars. When...Sage checked...out he...was short...by two...dollars. I...gave him...my two...dollars and...him not...to worry...about the...money. We carried...our books...to the...aisle fourth...from the...back...exit. We...looked over...our books...about ten...minutes later...we heard...someone say...hold it ...this is...a robbery. We...raised our...hands. We...saw four...people come...in. Two...women and...two...men. About...five minutes...later my...cell phone...rang. It...was my...dad. I...told him...in Japanese...that I...couldn't talk...and the...store was...being...robbed. I...told Sage...that. We...looked to...the front...of the...store. One...woman told...Silas that...I had...been on...the...phone. He...walked back...to where...we were...standing. He...introduced himself...as Silas...Jameson. He...asked me...who I...was talking...to on...the...phone. I...told him...it was...my...dad. He...said he...didn't believe...me. He...called me...a chink...and asked...me who...I was...really talking...to and...did I...have any...money. I...asked Sage...in Japanese...what chink...meant. He...said he...didn't know...in...Japanese. Silas...called my...answers strike...one." Rowen took a long sip of Sprite as it was tiring to talk that long. "My phone...rang...again. I...quickly disconnected...the...call. Silas...then told...us that...he knew...me and...my lousy...friend had...contacted the...police. He...called me...a chink...again and...asked if...I had...any money...and who...did I...call. I...told him...no...one. He...hauled off...and blackened...my left...eye. I...cried out...and staggered...backward toward...Sage." Rowen took another long sip. "Sage told...me my...eye was...already starting...to...blacken. Silas...called it...strike two...and my...last chance...chink then...pulled a...gun. We...both walked...backward a...few...steps. Silas...asked again...who did...I call...and did...I have...any...money. I...told him...no." Rowen took another long sip. "He also...asked us...our...names. We...gave...them. Silas...then told...Sage his...name sounded...french...But I...as a...chink...was dead...meat. He...fired four...times at...me. I...staggered back...into the...bookshelf. I...supported myself...for a...few minutes...then the...final shot...sounded. I...put my...hand over...the last...shot. Then...I crumpled...to the...floor and...knew no...more." Rowen took a final sip. Detective Walker finished writing. "Thank you, Mr. Hashiba." said Amy. "I will let you rest now." said Amy. Rowen nodded, reclined in the bed, and went to sleep.
