This is a work in progress (not yet complete). It is the best
combination
of anime and Lord of the Rings that I've seen yet, which is
why I
asked John for permission to post it here. Enjoy. Tim
Seltzer
John's Disclaimer: 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. By the way,
this fanfiction
is taken pretty much from the movie directed by Peter Jackson. I,
like
many of you, can't wait when Return of the King comes out. This is
not
for profit, only for entertainment.
Summary: Here it is folks, a crossover between
Rurouni
Kenshin and Lord of the Rings. In this Kenshin & company defend
middle
earth and at the same time help a certain hobbit destroy the ring of
power.
Gandalf accompanied the hobbits and the humans, Kaoru and Yahiko
out
of Hobbiton. "Come along Samwise, keep up! You too, young Kaoru
and Yahiko!"
Gandalf commanded.
The group finally stopped by grassland, under some trees, before
parting
with Gandalf.
"Be careful, the four of you, the enemy has many spies in his
service.
Birds… beasts." Gandalf knelt in front of Frodo one last time.
"Is it safe?" he asked. Frodo nodded as he covered his
breastpocket
with the ring in it.
Gandalf reminded Frodo once more, "never put it on. For the
agents of
the dark lord shall be drawn to its power. Always remember Frodo,
the ring
is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found."
Afterwards, he mounted on his horse and rode off. Frodo hears the
cries
of birds and fears it because of what Gandalf told him. Sam walked
up to
Frodo and gestured a face of confidence at him. Kaoru placed her
hand gently
on Frodo's shoulder.
"Let's go Frodo," she said.
The group began their journey to Bree. They crossed through
waterfalls,
rivers, and lakes trekking throughout the lands of the Shire,
avoiding
the roads like Gandalf instructed them to. The group came across a
farm
field.
Sam suddenly stopped for unknown reasons but he spoke to his
companions,
"this is it."
"This is what?" asked Frodo.
"Is there anything wrong Sam?" wondered Kaoru.
"Yes, Miss Kaoru… if I take one more step, it will be the
farthest away
from home I've ever been."
"Don't worry about it, Sam, "interjected Yahiko, "ever since my
parents
died… I've always felt that I was away from home… until I met
Kaoru and
Kenshin. And I've managed to keep on going, despite the fact that
I'm an
orphan."
After a few moments of silence, Frodo walked up to his gardener,
"come
on Sam." Sam reluctantly agreed to take the step that he mentions
will
be the farthest away from home.
Frodo tried to comfort Sam with something Bilbo said: "Remember
what
Bilbo used to say; it's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your
door.
You step on to the road… and if you don't keep your feet… there's
no knowing
where you might be swept off to."
The group continued their journey.
Gandalf continued his ride to Isengard, to see Saruman. In an
open patch
of grassland, Gandalf spots from a distance, a figure. He takes a
closer
look and slows his horse. It was another human, dressed in strange
clothing.
He had red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. Gandalf
spoke
to the stranger, "greetings, young man, what do I owe the
trouble?"
"I'm sorry to have to ask sir, but do you know where Rivendell
is? I'm
afraid I got lost, that I did," the stranger smiled clumsily at
Gandalf.
"I've also seemed to have lost some friends of mine."
"Indeed," said Gandalf. "I'm seeing a lot of strange clothed folk
of
late. Are your friends' names Yahiko and Kaoru, by any chance?"
The inquiry
made the stranger gasp.
"You've met them? Then I must tell you sir… me and my friends
have gotten
involved in something that can endanger all of this land," the
stranger
finished.
"Let me guess," inquired Gandalf, "the one ring of power." The
stranger
put on a serious look and convinced the wizard as he nodded.
"I am Gandalf the Grey stranger. Your friends are now
accompanying a
pair of Hobbits, who have the ring, to Bree."
Kenshin has found the other wizard that Radagast spoke of. "Is
the hobbit's
name, Bilbo Baggins by any chance, Sir Gandalf?" he asked.
"You seem to know a lot. What is your name, sir?"
The stranger answered, "I am Kenshin Himura. One of your wizard
brethren,
Radagast, informed me of the details of this ring. My friends and
I come
from a world that is different from this one, that it is. Besides
Kaoru
and Yahiko, I've brought four other companions with me, to help
defend
this world from Sauron."
"I see. Well, young Kenshin, you were almost correct about the
hobbit's
name. Bilbo no longer holds the ring. It now lies in the
possession of
his nephew, Frodo Baggins and he is with your friends as we speak.
I am
heading to see the head of my order, Saruman the White."
"Before you go, Sir Gandalf, there is one more thing you should
know,"
said Kenshin. Gandalf listened. "My friends were attacked by
monstrous
creatures that came to my world before we came to this world. The
creatures
were painted with this hand, that they were."
Kenshin pulled out the black cloth with the white hand on it and
showed
it to Gandalf. Gandalf looked at it with great shock. "Radagast
told me,"
said Kenshin, "that it was the personal mark and trade of Saruman
the White."
The group decided to take a rest. They were not far from the
road. Sam
was cooking food. Yahiko was awake and waited for the food to be
ready.
Frodo and Kaoru were resting. Suddenly they hear distinct singing
voices.
Frodo said, smiling, "Sam! Wood-Elves!"
The group went to investigate. They went closer to the road for a
closer
look. They saw a pilgrimage of people dressed in white carrying
lanterns.
Kaoru and Yahiko found themselves bewitched at what they saw with
their
own eyes.
"So, Frodo, these are the Elves?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes, Miss Kaoru," answered Frodo.
"They're incredible Frodo," said Yahiko, "…where do you suppose
they're
going?"
"They're going to the harbor beyond the White Towers, Yahiko,"
answered
Frodo, "…to the Grey Havens."
"They're leaving Middle-Earth?" asked Sam.
"Never to return," answered Frodo.
"Why are they doing that?" inquired Kaoru.
"Their time is ending here, Miss Kaoru. Gandalf told me this,"
answered
Frodo.
"I'm not exactly sure why," said Sam, "but… it makes me sad."
Later, the travelers went to get some sleep. Sam was somewhat
unaccustomed
to his place of rest. "Everywhere I lie," mentioned Sam, "there's
a dirty
great root sticking into my back."
"Well," interjected Yahiko, "get used to it Sam. Kenshin's been
accustomed
to sleeping outside for 10 years before I even met him."
"Kenshin," started Frodo, "must be very special to you people
indeed."
"Yeah Frodo," answered Yahiko, "you bet he is." Frodo smiled at
the
youth's fascination.
Then he gave Sam some advice, "Sam, just shut your eyes, and
imagine
you're back in your own bed with a soft mattress and a lovely
feather pillow."
But it didn't look like Sam was about to agree.
"It's not working, Mr. Frodo," said Sam, "I'm never going to be
able
to sleep out here."
A moment of silence followed, but Frodo does agree with Sam, "…me
neither,
Sam."
Kaoru looked with sympathy at Frodo. 'Poor Frodo,' thought Kaoru.
The group strives to get some sleep. But they wouldn't be able to
sleep
longer as a black rider watches relentlessly over the Shire…
Gandalf and Kenshin rode together, until they looked and saw a
large,
black tower. Gandalf stopped his horse. "Here it is Kenshin.
Isengard,
and the tower of Orthanc, the stronghold of Saruman. I need you to
let
me go forward to the valley alone."
"But Sir Gandalf," objected Kenshin. "What if Saruman should
suspect
that you suspect him of joining Sauron?"
"I shall proceed with caution. If I should get in any trouble, I
shall
eventually get myself out. You wait here. If I'm not back here, or
any
chance of being imprisoned here, I shall let you know, somehow."
Kenshin
reluctantly agreed and dismounted off the horse.
"Good luck, Sir Gandalf."
"To us both, young Kenshin." Gandalf rode off again to Isengard.
Gandalf passed through the opening hall and rode towards the
tower in
the center of the valley. An old man, dressed in white, started to
come
from the tower to greet his guest…
'Smoke rises from the mountain of doom…
The hour grows late…
And Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard…
Seeking my counsel…'
Gandalf then dismounted his horse to greet the leader of the
order.
"…For that," said the old man, smiling, "is why you have come, is
it
not? My old friend."
"Saruman," greeted Gandalf bowing his head to Saruman.
The two wizards took a walk throughout Isengard, talking about
what
has happened lately. Gandalf keeps in mind what Kenshin has said
about
Saruman and proceeds with caution.
"You are sure of this?" Saruman asked.
"Beyond any doubt," answered Gandalf.
"So the ring of power has been found."
"All these long years, it was in the shire, under my very nose."
"And yet, you did not have the wits to see it!" he scolded
Gandalf,
"your love of the halfling's leaf… has clearly slowed your mind."
"But we still have time," resolved Gandalf, "time enough to
counter
Sauron, if we act quickly!"
"Time?!"
Gandalf stopped with shock to hear this questioning from the wise
leader…
"What time, do you think we have?" asked Saruman.
Hearing this remark alone, started to convince Gandalf that
Saruman
isn't all that he seems to be, according to Kenshin.
Inside the tower, Saruman began to explain to Gandalf why he
doubts
that there is time.
"Sauron," he announced, "has regained most of his former
strength. He
cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its
potency.
Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His
gaze pierces
cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh."
Gandalf was speechless and shocked hearing this explanation.
Saruman
went on, "…you know of what I speak of Gandalf. A great eye…
lidless… wreathed
in flame."
"The Eye of Sauron," Gandalf said in shock.
Saruman continued even further and even more frightening than
before,
"he is gathering all evil to him. Very soon, he will have summoned
an army
great enough to launch an assault upon Middle-Earth."
"You know this?" inquired Gandalf, "…how?"
"I have seen it."
If anything else, Gandalf is now, after hearing all this, almost
fully
convinced of Saruman's growing misdeeds. Gandalf walks to the
throne room,
with Saruman behind him, where he spots a covered stone sphere.
"A palantir is a dangerous tool, Saruman," stated Gandalf. They
both
approach the covered stone and Saruman tries to reason with his
kinsman.
"Why? Why should we fear to use it?" Saruman asked as he uncovers
the
stone. The palantir shone a black pearl color.
Gandalf still refused to use it, "they are not all accounted for,
the
lost seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching."
Gandalf snatched
the cloth from Saruman and re-covered the palantir. As he did…
AACCK!
Gandalf instantly sees the fiery eye the moment he puts his hand
on
the seeing stone.
Saruman walked to his throne. "The hour is later than you think,"
he
stated, "Sauron's forces are already moving." Saruman sat down and
continued,
"…the nine have left Minas Morgul."
"The nine?"
"They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's Eve, disguised as
riders
in black."
"They've reached the shire?"
"They will find the ring," stated Saruman maliciously and let a
few
moments pass before finishing even more ominously, "…and kill the
one who
carries it."
"Frodo!" Gandalf gasped and started to go out the door… but it
closed…!
Gandalf turned around to see Saruman grinning maliciously.
Gandalf started
to go to another door, but Saruman closed that as well, and all
the other
following doors closed one by one. Gandalf was completely closed
in. It
seems that he now has the proof that Saruman is indeed, a traitor.
"I know what you're probably thinking," said Saruman, "…you've
started
to suspect me ever since your encounter with your new friend, Mr.
Himura.
Yes… I've used the palantir to see that as well. There's nothing
he can
do." Gandalf went speechless at Saruman's discovery of his
suspicion.
"And you did not seriously think that a Hobbit could contend with
the
will of Sauron. There are none who can," added Saruman. Gandalf
turned
to face Saruman, frowning.
Saruman continued, "against the power of Mordor, there can be no
victory…
"
Saruman then leaned forward to announce, "…we must join with him,
Gandalf…
we must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend."
Gandalf has heard enough of this mad talk, "tell me… friend. When
did
Saruman the wise abandon reason for madness!"
Insulted, Saruman roared as he grabbed his staff and used it to
slam
Gandalf onto the wall, hard. The treacherous wizard kept holding
him there
and released him, letting him drop to the floor. Gandalf struck
back with
his staff, knocking Saruman down. Saruman then took another swing
at Gandalf.
The fight became intense as Gandalf struck back harder with his
next
attack. And swung again, sending Saruman against the wall, hitting
his
head. Saruman was really mad as he struck back at Gandalf, making
him twirl.
Saruman growled with a vengeance, swinging Gandalf around each
time, enjoying
it. Gandalf regained his composure and struck back at Saruman,
sending
him crashing onto a door, and into another room.
Gandalf ached with great pain, with his head bleeding, suffering
the
attacks Saruman threw at him. Unexpectedly, Saruman quickly sat up
and
held out his hand, snatching Gandalf's staff from him and into his
hand.
Saruman now had two staffs. He used them to throw Gandalf onto the
floor.
Saruman wouldn't let up this time. He walked into the throne room
with
both staffs, with his head also bleeding and hair messed up,
making Gandalf
twirl around the floor…
"I gave you…" growled Saruman, "the chance of… aiding me…
willingly.
But you… had elected… the way of… PAIN!"
With all of his anger, Saruman sent Gandalf soaring up in the air
until
he reached the top of the tower…
CRASH!
Outside Isengard, Kenshin senses that something bad has happened
as
he looked with shock at the tower. A breeze of wind passed through
him,
making his hair fly through the air. "So… Saruman has shown his
true colors,
that he has," Kenshin said, frowning.
