Chapter 17: No hope of winning, the battle for Kyoto commences

It was time.

The soldiers of the Japanese imperial army, assisted with the civilians of the city, a company of Samurai, Elves, and the rangers of the North, prepared extensively for the battle that was to come. The sky was filled with darkness as it covered Kyoto in every nook and cranny. There were no traces of light that could seep through the darkness, as if it was impenetrable like a stone wall of a fortress of evil.

The defenders of the city looked up in the sky in despair. For them, it felt like the world would end today. Many to almost all of the men of Japan had completely emptied themselves of any shred of hope or faith. However, there were some who were had faith, even in this dark hour. As Shiro and Ochika of the Oniwaban group, along with Radagast, stood together on the balcony of the Aoiya, observing the darkness, as it had completely covered the city.

“Â…Days are darker,” spoke Radagast, almost to himself, “the whole land is almost as dark as Mordor. Everywhere, the people are filled with despair. They don’t even know the whole personification of despairÂ… for if one goes into MordorÂ… all abandons any morsel of hope. His Orc minions patrol the land endlessly.

“Everywhere in the Black LandÂ… Sauron’s bite and sting will find you. When you pass through his Black gates, nothing can save you. The Dark Tower of Barad-dûr is filled with Sauron’s presence as his Eye glows atop of the tower, endlesslyÂ… and sleeplessly watching his lands. Evil will always reign in Mordor.”

Shiro and Ochika listened to the wizard’s comments on the Black land of Middle-Earth with hardened expressions. As each momentÂ… Radagast explained the land of evil in great detailÂ…

“Â…There are ashes,” Radagast continued further, his voice growing in disgust, “Â…ashes everywhere you turn to. You will find no trace of food, nor water in the earthÂ… it is a dry, barren land of poverty and strife. Even the mountain of Doom, which resides in Mordor, is treacherous, surrounded by pits. Pits of fire, pits of ashÂ… pits of death!

“Â…And yet, sadlyÂ… it is where Frodo must go to save our worlds, and other worlds as well. But while the ringbearer and his remaining company of the Fellowship, Samwise, Kaoru, and the young, impulsive, yet stout-hearted Yahiko, travel to that pitiless landÂ… we must hold our ground here, as Gandalf will hold his own in Minas Tirith. And regretfully, with Ayame and Suzume, as well as the Hobbit, Pippin, mistaken for the one who holds the One RingÂ… it is our one opportunity for Frodo to complete the task.

“Â…But if Sauron’s forces were to win in this battleÂ… then these people will know what true fear is, as this land will be like Mordor. NoÂ… perhaps even worse than that,” Radagast finished forebodingly.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Radagast,” Ochika assured Radagast, “the Oniwaban group has protected Kyoto for generations, even before the days of the Revolution. And we even helped to stop the city being burned down by Shishio. BesidesÂ… when Master Hiko told us when we were up against Shishio’s menÂ… that those who believed in Mr. HimuraÂ… would win this day.”

Shiro then added, “and that’s why we believe that Himura and the man called Aragorn will come to our help with this army of the deadÂ… although I am a little jittery about ghosts.”

Ochika smiled a little mischievously at Shiro’s nervousness for his remark about ghosts. Radagast couldn’t help but smile himself, for they all needed a period of amusementÂ… even in this dark hour.

“And we’ll also believe in Mr. Frodo,” said Ochika, “his role in this struggle is the most important. Because, whether he succeeds in destroying the ring or notÂ… it will be the true decisive factor in this battle, won’t it, Mr. Radagast?”

“YesÂ… indeed it will,” confirmed Radagast, “even if we manage to win this fightÂ… the war will be far from over.”

Yamagata, Kawaji, and Glorfindel, accompanied by many soldiers of Men and Elves, watched from near the entrance of Kyoto, gazing towards a grass plain where thousands of Orcs were marching forwardÂ… to battle.

The many Elves and Men have also banded upon the rooftops of the city, to give the troops on the ground some additional support. The Army and Police, manned with their gattling guns gripped the handle of their weapons, ready to fire upon and kill the Orcs, not willing to take any chances as they were filled with fear. The soldiers with their rifles at their side were just as frightened as some of them laid their fingers on the triggers, having a firm grip on their guns.

The Elves standing by the Japanese Police and Army remained calm as they watched in silence, with their faith unwavering, as the Orcs drew closer to them. The Orcs marched forward even more as they brought in catapults, grappling hooks, and siege towers, pushed by the Trolls. The defenders of Kyoto had seen for themselvesÂ… that the enemy had been prepared for any and all eventualities.

Inside the city of Kyoto, the Samurai, along with the other forces of the Police and Army, had themselves concealed in every street corner of the city. Ishimura was among them, as he would be commanding his brethren from within the city. The other Samurai, despite being in armor were filled with the same fear as the Police and ArmyÂ… for none of them shall ever face a foe that was as fierce as the Orcs. However, Ishimura, as hardened as he was, had a strength that was unsurpassable to the other Samurai. He was set on defending Kyoto, despite the grave oddsÂ… until his commander, the mysterious red-armored Samurai, arrives with the other Samurai, to help win this struggle.

At the Aoiya, the others were gathering their weapons and gear for the big battle that was ahead, as they would be fighting the Orcs within the streets. However, some would be staying at the restaurant, for there were three defenseless people, Megumi, Ayame, and Suzume, who decided to stay behind because of the danger that they were in, now that Sauron may have reason believing the children to be possible ring-bearers.

“My lady Megumi,” said Halbarad, with concern for her and the children, “are you sure you wish to stay here in the city? Perhaps you should be with the other women and children.”

“I’ve made up my mind,” replied Megumi, “I may look fragile, but I know how to heal people. And I promised Sir Ken that I would stay and help the afflicted to the best of my ability.”

Megumi then turned to the children and laid her hands on them as she said, “Â…more importantly, these children here are my responsibility as much as anyone else’s. And we’re all hereÂ… waiting for Sir Ken to return.”

“Â…Lady Megumi,” Elladan interjected, bluntly, “Â…surely it will be dangerous for you three to remain in the city. You may not even survive this battle.”

The mere mention of the impossibility of survival had chilled the children’s bones a littleÂ… but then Ayame spoke, “Â…we won’t leaveÂ… not without knowing Uncle Ken’s okay.”

“We won’t leave until Uncle Kenny’s alright,” Suzume swiftly repeated.

“However–“

“I believe you’ve heard what Ayame and Suzume said by now,” said a defiant Megumi, and then asked, “tell meÂ… do you have anyone that you care for? If you knew that that someone you cared for left from this very place and that you had hoped for his return, what would you doÂ…?

“Â…You would stay behind until that person came back, wouldn’t you?” Megumi finished with this question.

Elladan and Halbarad had pondered Megumi’s question for a momentÂ… feeling that she had a good point to make. If they found someone they cared for deeplyÂ… they also would’ve stayed behind and have great faith and hope for their return. Even Radagast the Brown could not fault nor could find any faltering within Megumi’s reasoning. Katsu also sympathized with Megumi’s feelings as he and Sanosuke still greatly missed Captain Sagara. Halbarad and Elladan nodded their heads solemnly to Megumi’s question, honestly agreeing with her.

“I thought so,” retorted Megumi, obviously noticing the affirmative signals from the man and elf, “and to tell the truthÂ… I don’t like the idea of the children being in this battle no more than you do. But since they did make themselves targets for Sauron, we have no choice but to use them as bait so Frodo can safely make his way into this horrid Mordor place.”

“Indeed,” interjected Kuro, “but the real question will be whether or not we can survive long enough for Frodo to complete the task.”

“That I do not know my friend,” sighed Elrohir, “we will have to have ceaseless determination to win this fight.”

“No arguing with you there, partner,” said Chou, with a smirk, “I know that I’m not the type to give up without a good little fight, once in a while.”

“Well, if we’re all agreed, let’s discuss the plan,” Okina began, “most of the Army and the Galadhrim will be the first line of defense against the bulk of Sauron’s army from outside Kyoto. However, there’s still a chance that the Orcs will be able to arrange a surprise attack and enter into Kyoto from another point in the city. If they do, we shall split into teams to be able to lend some support to the remaining forces, including some of the Samurai, which are stationed in every corner of Kyoto.”

Okina faced Kuro, Shiro, Hiko, and Katsu and said, “Shiro, Master Hiko, Kuro, and Katsu will go left.”

Okina then turned to Ochika, Omasu, Chou, and the Elf-twins and added, “Omasu, Ochika, Chou, Elladan and Elrohir will take the right.”

“Sojiro, Halbarad, Megumi, Radagast, and myself will stay behind at the Aoiya and protect the children,” Okina finished.

“Will you be okay, Okina?” asked Omasu, “you may not be bandaged up, but you were still severely wounded by Lord Aoshi during the battle against Shishio.”

“I appreciate your concerns, Omasu,” Okina said thoughtfully, “I will be fine. But if worse comes to worseÂ… we might have no choice but to go out into the battle ourselves. And by then, it will be difficult to protect the children and trying to find a safe place for them.”

“And if we’re not able to find a safe place for the children?” asked Sojiro, with concern filling his eyes.

Okina froze in response to Sojiro’s question. Even he did not know what to do if every part of Kyoto became a danger zone.

Radagast then solemnly interjected, “either way SojiroÂ… hope is the best means of protection that we have now.”

“There are about over 99,000 of them,” said Glorfindel to Yamagata.

“Is that how many we’re up against?” asked Yamagata.

Glorfindel nodded with much despair.

“This is dire,” commented Yamagata, “Â…if we only had more men available. Why did this have to happen? We fought long and hard to establish a new eraÂ… a new and unified Japan. However, even in the Meiji Era, there are civil wars being foughtÂ… and we find ourselves unable to walk away from those conflicts and start a new world together.”

“Â…In our world,” began Glorfindel sadly, “Â…men are just as impulsive to fight each other and desire power. It became evident ever since the One Ring was created and Isildur was easily tempted and corrupted by it and took the ring for his own.”

Yamagata and Kawaji listened with hardened, yet solemn expressions to Glorfindel’s sad comments about the corruption of Men.

Glorfindel went on, “Â…and this has given rise to many Elves, in the belief that Men were weak against the temptations of evil and power. So much soÂ… that they became scattered around the many lands of Middle-Earth, without any wise leaders or rulers that will live by them all the days of their lives.”

After a pause, Yamagata began, “Â…it seems that the men of your world can relate greatly to us in our world. We have a ruler here in this country, Glorfindel. HoweverÂ… he is only a young boy who’s yet to become a great leader for us all. And by what you’ve explained, suddenly reminds me of what Himura said to meÂ… that we fought in the revolution for peace, not for power.”

“I concur, Mr. Yamagata,” interjected Kawaji, “Sir Himura has been a great influence to those around him. Which is why they all wait with hope for his safe return from this strange land of Middle-Earth.”

“Indeed Kawaji,” agreed Yamagata, “Â…and this eventÂ… is something more horrifying than the old scars of the revolution that come back to haunt us from time to time.”

After they all shared last words with each otherÂ… the Orc army suddenly came to a stop many kilometers away from the Men and Elves.

Silence came over the opposing armies, as none of them made one moveÂ… but could only look at each other with disgust and revulsionÂ…

The sky above the city became darker each momentÂ… as thunder filled the skies, rumbling around the battlefieldÂ… as well as the cityÂ…

Moments laterÂ…

Rain began to pour down, soaking the ground underneath their feet.

The Orcs began to laboriously pull back the catapults, while the Japanese army began to load their cannons and gattling guns for heavy firing. With both opposing armies ready for battleÂ…

The others at the Aoiya could only watch as the rain poured down heavily in Kyoto, even the Samurai within the city were getting soaked by the free-falling precipitation. Ishimura raised his head ceremoniously at the rain as it splashed over his face. His fighting spirit strengthened in that moment as he anticipated battle with the enemy.

Dothmákh, the one-eyed Orc captain slowly came out from deep inside his battalion, mounted atop a Warg. The vicious, horrid looking, one-eyed Orc sneered at the Japanese army, joined by the Galadhrim in front of him. Yamagata, Kawaji and Glorfindel could barely stand the sight of the massively scarred Orc. The rest of the army of Men nearly wanted to scream in horror and fear at the Orc with all those horrid scars over his face. However, the Elves remained fearless and stouthearted for they knew that their growing fear would be their downfall in this struggle.

“Â…heheheheÂ…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!” Dothmákh roared with malicious laughter, which received scowling expressions upon Yamagata and Kawaji.

“Â…HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Is this all you have?!” Dothmákh mocked and ridiculed, “Â…you are all WEAK! You have no chance against our strength! We all know that you’re still fighting amongst yourselves. I reckon you have a band of Elves guarding your backs. It still won’t do you of any good. If you’re thinking about bluffing, THINK AGAIN!”

“There are more of us than you know, you fiend!” Yamagata said defiantly, not letting his determination waver, despite the undeniable truth of how overwhelmed he was, “as long as we live and breath, you will not take Kyoto, OR THIS COUNTRY!”

“Hahahaha–don’t make me laugh!” replied Dothmákh, “you have no hope of winning! My lads and I shall reward your ignoranceÂ… WITH YOUR OWN DEATHS! HAHAHA!!!!”

Dothmákh turned to his troops and said viciously, “let’s teach these imbeciles a lesson they soon won’t forget! Kill them all!”

“Fire the catapults!” the Orc lieutenant ordered.

Massive boulders were fired from the catapults that flew high in the airÂ… and smashed into the army, killing many of the Men.

Unwilling to give up, Yamagata ordered, “READY–!”

Immediately, the men armed and loaded their rifles and others stationed by a gattling gun began to grip the firing handles, getting ready for rapid firing of fast bullets.

“Tangado halad (Prepare to fire!)!” Glorfindel ordered his Elves as they began to mount their bowsÂ…

“COMMENCE FIRING!” Yamagata roared out his order as many soldiers fired their rifles, hitting their marks one by one, falling each Orc. The Orcs had absolutely no chance when the gattling guns had also fell many Orcs, instantly killing them in less than a second.

“Leithio i philinn (release the arrows!)!” Glorfindel cried out to the Elves as they released their arrows, and killed many of the Orcs just as much as the gattling guns were.

“Don’t be frightened you maggots!” yelled Dothmákh, “hit ’em with everything we’ve got!”

ThenÂ… a new barrage of boulders were launched by the catapults, diving into the defenders, hitting and crushing each gattling gun that they had with them.

“RibedÂ…bant (full volley flow!)!” Glorfindel cried out as massive volleys of arrows were launched at the Orcs, slaying a full crowd of them.

From the AoiyaÂ… the others could hear a faint, but loud roar of battle cries that came from outside the city.

“Â…So, it has started,” Okina said forebodingly.

“And I guess that means that we have to be on our way now,” Hiko added.

“Yeah,” added Katsu.

“Good luck, Master Hiko,” Ochika said thoughtfully.

“To you too,” smirked Hiko, receiving a heavy blush from Ochika in return.

“If Master Hiko makes Ochika blush,” Shiro grunted, “she should go with you. Why do I have to be teamed up with you?”

“Because the old man set you up with me,” Hiko replied, stating the obvious, “if you have a beef, take it up with him.”

“Well to tell the truth,” interjected Chou, “I’d rather not be teamed up with a bunch of women.”

“Its like Master Hiko said, Chou,” said Omasu, “Okina placed you with us. Although I must admit that the feeling of you with us is mutual.”

“Please,” reasoned Radagast, “this isn’t the time to be fighting amongst ourselves. You had best be on your way now.”

“Every moment we waste with speed things with the Orcs,” added Okina, “right now, Kyoto needs you all to protect it.”

“You heard the old man, let’s get this started,” said Hiko as he jumped off from an open window, taking his team, Kuro, Shiro, and Katsu with him.

“Let’s do it guys!” exclaimed Ochika as she took her team, Omasu, Chou, Elrohir and Elladan with her to the opposite direction of Hiko’s team.

After the two teams left, Ayame and Suzume walked over by the window, seeing them go off in either direction.

“Will they be okay, sir?” asked Ayame.

“I don’t know my dear,” said Radagast, “Â…I honestly do not know. But as Okina said beforeÂ… we must prepare for the worst, for we might have to leave this place for our own personal safety.”

The statement made by Radagast filled the children with uncertainty, with their fearful gazes fixed upon the wizardÂ…

Meanwhile, along the Anduin River, just south of GondorÂ…

The Corsairs of Umbar, upon their massive, iron-fitted ships, with fan-shaped sails that casts terrifying silhouettes upon the water, sailed northwards, leaving destruction in their wake upon the shores of Lebennin, Pelagir, and Belfalas. Homes were raided and set ablaze in an inferno of flames, killing many people that lived in them. But this would be a small sample of what they intended to do with the city of Minas Tirith, as they would soon meet up with the forces of Mordor that now lay siege to the White city.

Some of the pirates on deck, while many others worked endlessly to tend to their sails and iron-framed weapons, smiled viciously at the havoc they’ve wrought on shore and taking great pleasure in seeing their victims’ homes burnÂ….

“AhhhÂ… what a delicious sight to see, ain’t it?” one of the pirates, who was bald, said with wicked delight.

“Yeah,” replied another pirate, with a top knot on his head, “nothing but a good old fashioned raid to get our destructive juices flowing, eh?”

The two pirates broke out in a fit of malicious laughter. Their act of cruelty was definitely the pirates’ way of having fun.

“But you know,” interjected a fat, heavily bearded pirate, “there have been talks of people from some ‘other realm’ coming here to this one, and making some trouble for us.”

“Some of them think its mere rumor, though,” mentioned the bald pirate.

“Well, I heard that some of our allies from Mordor, including some of the Haradrim and Easterlings, were going to this other world to lay it to waste,” the fat pirate said, with a great smirk.

“If that’s so, then why are we left here?” inquired the top-knotted pirate, “I’d like to see this other world to bring it much terror and misery.”

“So would I,” added the bald pirate.

“Maties, maties,” gestured the fat pirate, calmly, “our part in this skirmish is to meet up with our allies upstream, so we can all deal some much-needed pillaging to those whelps in Gondor by burning down that great white city of theirs. And that’s something in which I personally shall take great satisfaction in watching myself, ha ha!

“The other world means absolutely nothing to me whatsoever,” ended the fat pirate, walking off with nonchalant laughter.

“Â…Maybe, but I’m still curious enough of the other world to cause devastation to it,” noted the bald pirate, with the top-knotted pirate nodding in agreement.

“You may go no further!” someone called out, catching the attention of the corsairs. The corsair fleet captain, stood up from his chair as he and his crew looked to the sideÂ…

Spotting four figures upon the shore. Two of them were men, one with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, the other with long, scraggly dark hair, bearing a sword, engraved with Elvish runes on the blade, in hand, laying it upon his shoulder. The last two figures were a Dwarf with red-brown hair and beard, armed with an axe, and a blond elf archer. They all stood on the shore, like they were wardens.

“You will not enter Gondor,” declared the dark-haired man.

“Turn your ships around, and you will not be harmed, that you won’t,” added the red-haired, scarred man with firm advisement.

The pirates laughed loudly at the strangers, as the captain stepped up to the front of the ship, demanding, “who are you to deny us passage?”

“Legolas,” the dark-haired man spoke, to which the elf archer acknowledged with a slight nod, “fire a warning shot past the bosun’s ear.”

The Elf archer called Legolas, reached back to pull an arrow out of his quiver to notch onto the bow, ready to shoot.

“Mind your aim,” the Dwarf lightly advised, as he used the butt of his axe to knock the tip of the Elf’s bowÂ… which was noticed by the red-haired man.

The Elf shot the arrowÂ…

But it hit the fat, bearded pirate in the chest instead, making him bump against the wheel, wincing loudly in pain as he fell dead.

“Oh!” gasped the Dwarf, covering his mouth.

“Oro!” the red haired man’s eyes widened in shock, commenting to the Dwarf, “Sir Gimli, it was only meant to be a warning shot, that it was.”

“Â…It–it was an accident,” the Dwarf, Gimli, stuttered hastily and guiltily in his reply, as the others looked at him, a little exasperated.

“Everything is with you,” the Elf said smugly to the Dwarf, with narrowed, angry eyes.

“Well, uh–uh, that’s it–! Right–we warned you,” the Dwarf, avoiding the subject, stammered further to regain his composure, before calling out clearly to the ships, “prepare to be boarded!”

‘HA! HA! HA! HA!’ The corsairs broke out in laughter once more, thinking of the Dwarf’s threats to be nothing more than mere comedy.

“Boarded?” inquired the captain, jokingly, “by you and whose army?”

The dark-haired man, with serious, fixed eyes upon the passing ships, replied quietly, yet firmly, “Â…this armyÂ…”

Suddenly, a green, glowing mist appeared from a rocky wall from behind the strangersÂ… littered with what seemed to be ghostly warriors, charging wildly and swiftly over the water towards the black ships.

The humorous expressions upon the crew quickly turned to frightened screams as they saw the shadow host, close in on themÂ… fastÂ…

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Lord of the Rings. RK is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and Lord of the Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien

A/n: So, what did you think? I hope you know who the four strangers are. Oh, and for one of my reviewers, Cambion, I hope that you like how I finally put in the ‘Oro’ remark.

But anyway, my job’s going great and this weekend, I’m going to see an old friend up in Woodbridge, Va, a priest named Rick Veit. He, along with his wife, Caroline, is moving west, to be one of the rectors at a church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mom, Robert and I are going to see Rick and Caroline one last time this Sunday before they go off to Wyoming.

And this Sunday, you all should know, is Father’s Day. It may not be that day, but I guess that you all have something to read for Father’s Day. In a way, I looked to Rick as a second father, when my dad died. Rick even took me to see dad at the morgue on the day of his death as he performed the last rites. I give Rick God’s grace as he leads a new congregation.

Next upÂ… you know who comes, and I’m not talking about Voldemort. Please read and review, and have a great Father’s Day weekend, you people.