A/N: Bet you thought I just fell off the face of the Earth, right? But I am BACK! Yay! And I appreciate all of the feedback I've received on this story from all of my wonderful reviewers, thank you so much! Also, really important, I am changing my penname to Ada Eliana, so don't be confused when the story updates under a different name. I would like you all to know that I am making this story a priority now, I want to see it finished, and soon. So once again, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the Ronin Warriors, if I did it would be called "Rowen and the Ronin Warriors" a much more apt title, I assure you.

Hostage

By: Sarah Shima

Chapter 6

The sounds of boots on cement resounded around the building, sirens wailed in the streets, and Rowen stayed frozen in place. Kneeling beside the dead teller, his body felt like lead. He never saw someone actually die before. With the Dynasty, it was different, it was never… like this. The pool of blood continued to spread, now darkening the denim around his knees.

A life just ended, just blasted out by a bullet. Rowen stared at Kimi's face, her expression stuck in one of surprise, and of resignation. He wished he could close her eyes, but felt that it should not be done with his hands behind his back. Forcing himself to look away, he turned to stare coldly at Gunman. He was conferring with some of his colleagues again; just talking, as if nothing happened, as if he had not just killed that girl. Rowen's eyes turned an icy blue as he staggered to his feet. He would find a way to end this.

Slipping backward to sit again beside Kyoko, Rowen stared at his surroundings, he surveyed the bank with cold scrutiny, searching for exits, hiding places, structures, anything he could make out.

The criminals started grabbing hostages, using them as shields as they pulled blinds down in front of the windows to block the police's view of the interior. Rowen knew now that things were only becoming worse. With the police blocking all of the exits, even if they managed to get the vault open and take the money, there was no way the hostages were getting out of here alive. They would have to use the hostages as bodyguards if they wanted to get out.

Dammit.

Rowen looked around at the people in the bank. They were clearly thinking the same things he was, they were scared.

The room became darker as all of the blinds were shut, and this gave Rowen an idea. However tough these hostage-takers were, there was no way they had better night-vision than a Ronin Warrior. If he could somehow get the lights turned off, then he could take them easily. The only problem was the other hostages, they would have to be out of the way before that could work. No way would he let them catch a stray bullet or get killed because of him.

He looked around again, and decided it was time to form a plan.

Sage checked his watch – again. 12:50p.m.

"Kento, I'm getting worried, this is late, even for Rowen. I already tried his cell a dozen times, and he hasn't picked up," Sage said. Kento looked up from the game long enough to catch the look of unmasked anxiety in Sage's visible eye.

"Okay," Kento said, standing up. The person sitting behind Kento groaned as he missed seeing a good play. The crowd cheered around them.

"Kento?" Sage asked.

"Come on, you're worried, so that means something is definitely up. So let's go, we should look for him."

"You sure?" Sage asked, knowing that Rowen was not the only person excited about that baseball game.

"It's just a baseball game. Besides, I already ate my limit of hot dogs. And it's really not as fun when Rowen isn't here getting all flustered and shouting things at the players. So let's go, Sage!" Kento ordered.

Sage nodded; standing and gratefully following Kento out of the row, and out of the stands. He only hoped Rowen were not in some sort of trouble.

Rowen began fiddling with the rope holding his hands together. The only way this would work was if he had his hands free. He felt someone's fingers briefly rest on his, and looked discreetly over his shoulder to where Kyoko had slid around so that she now sat back to back with him. "What are you going to do?" she whispered, her fingers working on the ropes binding his hands.

Outside the police were demanding that the criminals turn themselves in and release the hostages – as if that would work.

"Why don't we return some of these hostages, eh boys?" Gunman suddenly said. He paced the outer perimeter, staring down the people huddled together. "You." He pointed to a middle-aged salary man sitting in the far corner, a leather briefcase lying beside him. "Pick up dead-girl over there," he motioned at Kimi's body. "And go out to say hello to the police. I'm letting you go."

The salary man seemed dubious at first as would anyone. But a second later, he clattered across the floor like an elementary school boy going to recess. He grabbed Kimi from around her torso and dragged her towards the doors and the welcoming arms of freedom.

"See that alcove? There's a door there, leads to the alley next to the building, that's also where the power box is. I need you to get everyone out of here, and turn off the lights," Rowen hissed in Kyoko's ear, certain that no one was paying him any attention.

"What about you?" Kyoko asked, Rowen could barely hear her because of his injured ear, but he could tell that she was less than pleased with this plan.

"I'll be keeping our 'friends' busy. Don't worry, I can handle myself. When I say "go," okay?"

"All…. all right, Rowen," she said hesitantly. "Good luck," she sighed, nearly done untying the rope, and her own being loosened by Rowen's nimble hands.

Gunman's goons had all collected around him, watching the man stumbling towards the door, the corpse he held weighing him down, relief and happiness contorting his aging face. The hostages were rapt with attention, jealous that he had been let go; nervous that their captors had something devious planned.

Rowen's heart began to beat erratically as his mind worked through his plan, which seemed more and more hopeless, only making him 'Rowen the Human Target.' He just needed to focus. If he could defeat Talpa, then these thugs should be no problem – except he could not use his armor. But they did not have magical swords either, so it all evened out. As long as he could distract the criminals long enough for the hostages to escape then he had succeeded.

He was expendable, always had been.

Just as the salary man made it to the door and pushed it open, Rowen felt the ropes shrug off his hands and Gunman took aim. One shot rang through the air, and the salary man keeled over on the steps of the bank, landing on top of Kimi and bleeding profusely.

It was now or never.

"Go!"

A/N: The end of another chapter. What will happen to Rowen? Will Kyoko turn the lights off? Will anyone else die? Will Kento and Sage find out what happened to Rowen?

The quickest way for an update is if I find my inbox full of reviews! So hit that button and let me know what you think of this latest installment!

Thanks a bunch,

The author soon to be theWriter formerly known as Sarah Shima