Chapter 2: Unexpected Guests

Middle-Earth: The Shire

The gang from Feudal Japan had swam to shore after looking at their surroundings and quickly dried themselves off before making their way up a large hill toward civilization. Inuyasha was still annoyed that the mysterious man had tossed them into the river that mysteriously put them into the lake.

"If I see that guy again I'm gonna toss him into a river; and what is this Middle-Earth anyway?!" He barked out loud.

Miroku spoke up to answer his comments, "I've never heard of this Middle-Earth but that mysterious traveler did claim that it was in danger and that we would be the ones to save it."

"Yeah, well he could've at least asked first." He responded.

Kaname saw how annoyed he was and said in a polite manner, "Inuyasha, if people are in danger then it's our responsibility to help them whether we're asked or not."

Inuyasha scoffed and didn't say anything else after that; not wanting to get in argument with her. He could choose to argue but not with Kaname, she was as innocent as her brother, and that was a quality within them that he did not want to see go away.

Sango spoke as she gazed at the scenery around them, "So far I don't see any danger. There're no demons, no monsters, no anything. It looks so calm and peaceful."

Shippo showed a hint of fear and said, "Does anyone think it's too calm around here? It's a little too quiet."

Inuyasha spoke over him, "It's not quiet, listen."

To everyone's surprise it wasn't too quiet; they could hear music playing and the voices many people enjoying themselves and it was coming from the nearby town. Suddenly they saw a huge firecracker shoot up into the sky and explode into white streams of light. Everyone was surprised by this for the firecracker was different than most when it didn't dissipate right away.

Kagome was the only one who spoke with delight, "Wow, they have fireworks. There must be a party going on up there!"

Inuyasha looked at Michiru hoping he could explain, being a Modern kid and all. Michiru smiled and said, "Well, I guess we should check it out. Besides we might find some information up there."

Inuyasha responded almost humorously, "Yeah, provided nobody's too drunk to tell us anything." Michiru couldn't help but to laugh and with that they rushed toward the town to see where they had gotten themselves into.

By the time they had arrived they saw all the partygoers only to their surprise, they were all the size of children. As everyone looked bewilderedly at the scene, Kaname was the one to ask, "Are they all children?"

Miroku responded, "It looks that way. I do wonder where their mothers are; someone should watch over them." The girls began to give Miroku the death glare when he hastily said, "I meant someone should watch over the children."

Kagome walked toward the party and said, "Well, I'll go ask them where their parents are."

Inuyasha looked at her and asked, "What are we supposed to do, hide behind a bush?!"

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and said, "We can't just go marching up there, you might scare them."

Inuyasha grew aggravated and said, "Why me?!"

Kagome replied, "Hello, you have dog ears and fangs!"

Inuyasha was about to say something insulting when Michiru got between them and said, "Now's not the time to fight, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha got annoyed having to back down and said as Kagome got out from the bush, "This ain't over."

Kagome walked over to the nearest child and said, "Um, excuse me?" When the child turned, he looked old, about as old as her grandfather.

"Yes, what can I do for you, big lass?" He asked her, giving her a suspicious look at her attire.

Kagome picked her jaw up and asked nervously, "C-Can you tell me... uh, what's going on here?"

The short old man responded, "Why sure, we're celebrating Bilbo Baggins' one hundred and eleventh birthday."

Kagome was surprised, not just by the short old man but that someone had lived to be one hundred and eleven years-old. She simply said, "Thank you." She went back to the others who were already browsing around trying to keep Inuyasha under control and she almost walked into two of the small people carrying a huge firecracker in the shape of a dragon.

They dropped it believing they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar but after getting a good look at her, they sighed in relief. One of them wearing a yellow vest said, "Oh thank goodness you're not Gandalf."

Kagome saw that they weren't as old as the other man but they weren't children either, they looked about her age despite their size. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know any Gandalf."

The one wearing a green vest said as he picked up the firecracker, "You don't know who Gandalf is? Then you didn't come here with him?"

Kagome replied, "I'm afraid not, me and my friends just got here. Forgive me for asking but what exactly are you?"

The one in the yellow vest laughed and answered, "Why we're hobbits of the Shire; my name is Meriadoc Brandybuck but everyone just calls me Merry, and this is my cousin Peregrin Took but everyone calls him Pippin and on behalf of all hobbits, welcome to the Shire. But if you didn't come here with Gandalf, then who did you come to the party with?"

Kagome was nervous for she never heard of any of this. She said, "Well, we were just simply passing by when we heard the music." She stopped when she saw Inuyasha and the others walked toward her. "Everyone, this is Merry and Pippin." She looked at the hobbits and said, "These are my friends."

Inuyasha said as he approached, "We saw that you were just standing here so we decided to look around." Inuyasha then looked down at Merry and Pippin and said, "So I take it you're not all children, huh?"

Merry replied rather sorely, "Of course not. We're hobbits. This is our homeland the Shire, you should know that if you're gonna be traveling through here."

Michiru responded nervously, "Well, we kind of came here unexpectedly."

Merry said, "Hmm, maybe you should go see Gandalf."

"Maybe who should go see Gandalf?"

Everyone turned and saw a normal-sized old man with a long grey beard dressed in grey wrinkled robes with a serious wise look on his face. Merry and Pippin grew nervous by his appearance and tried to hide the firecracker as Pippin said, "Well, we'll be off then. Wish you guys the best of luck."

With that, the two hobbits ran off with the firecracker. Michiru couldn't help but to crack up at this. The old man approached them and looked closely at there strange clothes. Though they appeared strange, he could sense no evil about them however he could not help but to be mindful of Inuyasha's demeanor.

Michiru noticed this and said to Gandalf, "We're sorry for intruding on this celebration, my name is Michiru Kururugi, and this is my twin sister Kaname and our friends Kagome Higurashi, Inuyasha. Sango and her younger brother Kohaku, Miroku, Kilala, and Shippo. We came here unexpectedly by a mysterious traveler."

Gandalf listened to the tale of how they got there and was surprised by all of this and yet he said nothing. Instead he gazed at each one of them: He sensed that Michiru was kind and generous. Kaname showed that she was a brave yet timid young girl. He saw that Inuyasha was arrogant but noticed a hint of loyalty toward his friends. Kagome was a young girl of great talent and sense of willpower. Sango held great strength and determination as well as her brother. Kilala and Shippo held such kindness that could make even him smile and Miroku showed humbleness and concern. Gandalf said, "I sense no lies to your tale but you do not reveal all. What world do you all come from?"

Michiru replied, "Feudal Japan."

Gandalf asked, "I have never heard of Japan but why is it feudal?"

Michiru responded, "Well, Me, my sister and Kagome come from five hundred years ahead of our friends in the Modern Era and we decided to stay in the Feudal Era to help stand by our friends."

Gandalf took a minute and then said, "I sense no evil in any of you. Maybe mischief and past discrepancies but no evil; however I suggest that you all stay with my friend Bilbo, and his nephew Frodo. They are celebrating Bilbo's Birthday this evening. I will tell them both about your situation but I suggest that you keep this story to yourselves. We don't want word to spread to any unwanted ears. So come and enjoy the party."

As Gandalf wandered off, Inuyasha said, "Can we trust this guy?"

Kagome replied, "It is kind of him to trust us, after all we're the strangers here. And besides it would be nice to simply relax and enjoy ourselves for a change."

Michiru said, "Yeah and we've been traveling for awhile, it would be good to rest up here."

Miroku put on a smile and said, "Well then if you'll all excuse me, I shall make my way toward the catering area."

Everyone then wandered around and enjoyed the festivities. Kilala was playing with some of the hobbit children while Shippo was showing most of them his fox magic and they were delighted when he showed them his firecrackers.

Inuyasha and Miroku were at the tables enjoying the food and the ale while Sango, Kagome and Kaname sat back eating delicious cake.

"I tell you, these people sure have good taste in food." Inuyasha mumbled as he chewed on a piece of corn.

"Yes and this ale is a rather soothing drink." Miroku said as he politely sipped his mug.

As the girls watched them, Kagome said in a rather sulky manner, "We arrive at a party and the first thing on Inuyasha's mind is food."

Sango responded bitterly, "Yeah, and what kind of monk immediately thinks about alcohol?"

Kaname looked at the two and said, "Hey, it's better than them sitting around daydreaming like my brother."

Sango looked at Kaname and asked with a smile, "Michiru daydreams?"

Kaname replied, "Yeah, one day in school his mind wandered off and he ended up drawing a sketch of you." Sango blushed deeply upon hearing this. Kaname continued, "His teacher then chided him for it and then told him to dream night not in school."

Sango's blush faded and immediately started laughing.

Meanwhile, Michiru and Kohaku had bumped into the two hobbits from before, Merry and Pippin, and were making good conversation with them.

"So this Bilbo person journeyed with Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to slay a dragon who had taken their home?" Kohaku had asked referring to Bilbo's journey to the Lonely Mountain.

"Oh yes, and he encountered trolls, goblins, elves and a strange creature known as Gollum; and when they finally reached the Lonely Mountain they were involved in the Battle of the Five Armies." Merry replied.

Michiru then asked, "What were the Five Armies?"

Pippin responded, "It was consisted of elves, dwarves, men, eagles and a large group of orcs. The men, the elves and the eagles joined the dwarves to help them defeat the evil forces, but many lives were lost even some of the thirteen dwarves had died."

Michiru said, "That so sad, and Bilbo was fifty-one when this happened?"

"That's right, but fifty-one is still considerably young to us hobbits." Merry said.

After a while they all gathered at a big table and spoke of the good time they were having. They were amazed when Merry and Pippin had said that Gandalf was a wizard and that he made the fireworks. They were suddenly met by another old hobbit that looked to be very cheerful. "You all must be the people Gandalf spoke of. Gandalf just told me about you."

Kaname asked, "Are you Bilbo?"

The old hobbit smiled and said, "Why goodness, yes! And don't worry we hobbits may be small but there's enough space in Bag End for all of you. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves, but if you'll excuse me I have to prepare my speech for tonight; until we meet again!" With that Bilbo scurried off.

Kaname turned to the others and said, "He seems nice."

"They all seem nice." Michiru stated.

Miroku looked at the hobbits who were dancing with a concerned look and said, "Yes and it would explain why that mysterious traveler brought us here. It would be a shame if these nice hobbits were to fall victim to whatever evil that threatens them."

Everyone went back to enjoying themselves. Miroku found a rather pretty hobbit that he couldn't take his eyes off of and the girls gave him death glares which made him back off. Michiru and Kaname were sitting near Gandalf asking how he uses magic without being too annoying and Inuyasha had finished beating Shippo in cake eating contest which left Shippo's stomach sore.

"Maybe in ten years you'd have a chance of beating me, Shippo." Inuyasha said in triumphant.

"I-I don't feel so good." Shippo said as he rolled off the chair and onto the ground.

They all stopped what they were doing when they heard everyone say, "Speech, speech, Bilbo!"

Bilbo stepped onto a podium and welcomed everyone to his birthday party. After the pleasantries he wore a sad look which raised concern from everyone as he said, "I regret to announce that this is the end. I going now and I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye." And suddenly he vanished at the blink of an eye.

As the hobbits sat there shocked out of their minds, Inuyasha's group turned their heads trying to spot him and they noticed Gandalf was gone as well. Inuyasha sniffed the air and said, "They're still here, I can smell them. Let's go find them."

When they came up toward Bag End following Inuyasha's lead, they were baffled to see Bilbo wander off down the road singing to himself while Gandalf went inside the house. Most of them watched Bilbo walk off into the night while Kagome walked up to Gandalf and saw that he was looking at a lovely golden ring lying on the floor. He went to reach for it but quickly pulled his hand away as he saw her standing there.

"That's a beautiful ring." Kagome said, marveled by its beauty.

Gandalf pulled the door shut and said, "Yes, it is, but do not touch it. None of you must touch it for it now belongs to Frodo; but when he gets here tell him to put it in an envelope and to keep it safe. There are some things I must see to. It would be best if you all stay here and keep your story to yourselves. Bilbo has gone to stay with the Elves but Frodo is still here and knows your story. He shall help you with whatever you need."

He grabbed his staff, pointed hat and got on his horse and then rode off into the night. Everyone stood there and could only wonder what was going on.


I'm intended to follow movie-verse of the Lord of the Rings for those who are wondering. The book was good but the movie made a little more sense to me like when Gandalf left the Shire, in the book it took a few years to get to Minas Tirith on horse-back; in the movie it took at least a few days which made sense since it was a short ride from Edoras to Minas Tirith in the Return of the King.