Return of Rowen
Chapter 2
by Rowen
"Wake up Yuli! It's time to visit Rowen," said Mia as she turned her jeep into the parking garage of Toyoma General Hospital.
"What?" asked Yuli groggily as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"We're at the hospital, Yuli. We came to see Rowen. You remember don't you?" said Cye.
"Of course I remember, Cye. I'm sure Rowen's feeling better!" exclaimed Yuli. His enthusiasm drew a loud sigh from Sage.
"What's wrong, Sage?" asked Cye.
"Nothing," replied Sage glumly, but his response was far from the truth. The last four days had been hell for him. Although Rowen's condition had greatly improved, Sage's
heart was burdened by feelings of guilt, worry, and anguish. "Why didn't I notice it before? And how could I have let the suffering he faced at home go on for so long? I'll never
forgive myself if anything happens to you Rowen," thought Sage as he stepped out of Mia's jeep.
"Rowen's going to be okay," said Cye comfortingly as he noticed the glum look on his friend's face. Sage nodded and forced a small smile as he tried to keep the tears from
falling from his violet eyes.
"Hey there's Ryo and Kento!" said Yuli jubilantly as he watched the warriors of Wildfire and Hardrock get off a bus.
"Let's join them," said Mia as she led the way to the elevator.
"Mia! Cye! Sage! Over here!" called Ryo as he saw them emerging from the garage.
"Ryo!" shouted Yuli as he ran over to the bench Ryo was sitting on.
"Don't forget about me, Yuli!" said Kento.
"How could I forget about you Kento? You're my friend too!" said Yuli.
"Let's go in," said Cye as everyone gathered around Ryo and Kento.
"Welcome to Toyoma General Hospital! My name is Kyoko, how may I help you?" asked a young dark-haired woman as they arrived at the front desk.
"We would like to visit a friend," replied Mia.
"Name, please?" requested Kyoko.
"Rowen Hashiba," answered Mia.
"One moment please," said the receptionist as she typed several commands into her computer. A puzzled expression crossed her face a few seconds later. "That's strange,"
muttered Kyoko as she reentered the commands. "Released, without doctor's consent?"
"Is there a problem?" asked Mia worriedly.
"Maybe, just give me a few minutes to see if I can get things sorted out," replied Kyoko as she began searching through the files on her desk. "His file's not here! I don't believe
it!" she said to herself as she picked up a phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Setsuna? I'm missing the file of a patient. His name is Rowen Hashiba." "You have it? Great- is
there any information regarding his release. No? His parents visited him? Yes, I know that. Then, he should still be in his room? Is it okay if some of his friends visit him? "Yes?
Excellent! I'll tell them. Thank you so much Setsuna, Bye!" she continued after a pause.
"So what's going on? Can we see Rowen?" demanded Ryo.
"I'm sorry for the delay, but there was some mix-up involving your friend's records, but I think everything is straightened out now. You may visit your friend," said Kyoko with
a smile.
"All right!" exclaimed Yuli as they headed for towards an elevator.
"What do you mean he was released from the hospital? We were told that he was still here," said Ryo.
"His parents asked for him to be released when they visited this morning," answered the nurse.
"But the doctor said that Rowen needed to be kept in the hospital for three more days so his condition could be monitored!" protested Kento.
"Something's not right. Rowen's parents would never do a thing like that. They would want Rowen to stay in the hospital, even if it is because they don't want him around,"
thought Sage.
"I'm sorry, but... Hey stay out of those files young man!" ordered the nurse suddenly. The others turned to find Sage digging through a pile of folders.
"Sage, what are you doing?" asked Cye.
"Young man if you don't stop I am going to have to call security!" shrieked the nurse as Sage opened up a blue folder and began reading the contents.
Sage ignored the nurse's threats, looked her in the eye and asked, "How did this happen?"
"How did what happen?" she asked angrily.
"This," replied Sage calmly his finger pointing to a blank line on the bottom of a document.
"I don't believe it. Nobody ever signed this release form. How?" said the nurse dumbfoundedly.
"I suggest you find out," said Sage icily as he thrust the file into her hands and stormed out of the ward.
"Sage! Wait up!" cried the others as they caught a glimpse of Sage heading down the stairs.
"Come on! We've got to catch up to him!" said Ryo.
"Excuse me miss," said Sage breathlessly as he reached the front desk. "Can you... answer... a few questions... for me?"
"Sure. Did you get to see your friend?" asked Kyoko.
"No... He... he's gone!" stammered Sage. "But how?" she inquired. "When we reached the ward, the nurse told us that he was released that morning upon his parents' request.
You saw his parents right?" he continued.
"Yes, bu..."started Kyoko.
"I need to know a few things. What did they look like?" interrupted Sage before Kyoko had a chance to finish her reply.
"Well his father was a little shorter than you. He had blue hair and I... I can't put my finger on it, but..." Kyoko's voice trailed off.
"But what?" urged Sage.
"He seemed to be in a trance. His eyes were glazed over," she continued.
"Oh no! I've got a bad feeling about this," thought Sage.
"Anything else you can tell me?" he asked.
"Well I... I got the chills from being around that man. Something just didn't feel right. Even though he only stopped by for a second to ask to see your friend, I felt so
uncomfortable being with him," finished Kyoko.
"And his mother?" asked Sage.
"The same thing, it was rea..."
"There he is!" said Cye as they entered the lobby of the hospital.
"Sage, what are you doing? Why'd you run out on us like that?" asked Ryo.
"Rowen's in trouble. We have to act fast! I'll explain in the car," said Sage as he pushed the others towards the exit.
"All right Sage, here we are. Now tell us what's going on," said Mia as group piled into Mia's jeep.
"From what the receptionist told me, I think Rowen's in serious danger, and I think the Dynasty's behind all of this," he began.
"Very perceptive Sage of Halo. Unfortunately it is too late for you to save your friend from the clutches of the Dynasty," boomed a dark voice who had been watching the turn
of events from the Nether Realm...
"Master Talpa will be very pleased," said Dais as he transformed from the guise of Sage to his true form. "You too have done well, Nether Spirits. Lord Badamon will be
pleased," he continued, addressing the possessed body of Mrs. Hashiba. "Ronin Warriors, you are finished!" gloated the Dark Warlord of Illusion as he carried Rowen into the
Nether World.
"Master Talpa, I have done as you have asked. Here is Rowen of the Strata," said Dais triumphantly as he appeared before his commander. "Dais you fool! You almost ruined
everything! I ordered you to wipe out Strata's memories as well, but you failed. He figured out our plan. Your little magic show wouldn't have worked without my intervention
and you dare call yourself the Warlord of Illusion!" growled Talpa.
"I am sorry master. I will do better next time," said Dais as he cowered before his master.
"If there is a next time!" bellowed Talpa as he disappeared from the room with Rowen.
"My lord, Rowen of the Strata has been captured," said Talpa as he bowed before his master.
"Excellent! With Strata on our side, I shall defeat the Ronin Warriors," proclaimed a voice from the shadows.
"But how will you turn him to the Dynasty? We have never succeeded in breaking a Ronin Warrior's loyalty to his friends," said Talpa.
"We!? I think not! It is you who have failed. I will succeed," boomed the voice. As the echo from the voice died away, quiet chanting could be heard in the chamber. Rowen's
body appeared, floating in mid-air. His kanji sign appeared on his forehead in a brilliant blood red. Talpa watched as a black shroud covered the warrior. With a flash of blue
light, Rowen reappeared in his armor.
"Welcome Rowen of the Strata. You may begin your mission," greeted the voice. "Thank you my lord. I will not fail you," said Rowen as he disappeared from the room.
When Rowen had gone, Talpa asked, "If I may ask, master, why Rowen of the Strata?"
"Do you question me Talpa? I have not made a foolish choice. Rowen of the Strata possesses great cunning in addition to the power of his armor," answered the voice.
"But surely, his armor does not possess the power of the Armor of Inferno," said Talpa.
"Fool! Rowen of the Strata possesses power beyond your comprehension. I have just begun to tap his tremendous power. The Ronin Warriors are finished," the voice roared
triumphantly.
