Chapter Nine- The Council
"Where am I?"
"You are in Rivendell in the House of Shunsui Kyoraku."
Hanataro opened his eyes slowly. He knew that voice. He glanced to his side. "Ukitake-san," he said happily.
The man smiled kindly at him. "Yes, I am here too."
Hanataro's smile faded away. "What happened? Why didn't you meet us?"
The smile faded slightly. "Yes. My apologies. But I was delayed."
Upon the top of the tower, the silver wizard had chosen to visit him. But only to torture him more. The mocking smile of a man who was no longer his friend.
"One ill turn deserves anotha," Ichimaru said calmly. "Ya shouldn't o' tossed away my kind offer,"
"There is only one lord of the ring. Only one who can bend it to his will," answered Ukitake. "and he does not share power."
"Tsk. So ya have choosin' death,"
However, Ukitake had not lived through his many years without making some allies. A black butterfly hovered just behind the silver haired man. So as Ichimaru pulled out his blade to pierce his flesh once more, the white haired man stepped off the tower. He fell on the back of a loyal friend. A black butterfly as big as a small home caught him. It's black wings fluttered wildly and took the wizard to safety.
He looked back at the tower once more. Ichimaru standing on the roof watching him fly away. Red rubies watching him leave.
"Ukitake-san?" asked Hana nervously. His wizard friend had seen better days. He looked tired his hand heavily bandaged.
"It's nothing, Hana." the wizard said kindly.
"Oi! Hanataro you're awake!" a blonde quickly ran to his bedside.
"Hiyori has hardly left your side." Ukitake laughed as the fiery girl looked over her friend. "And with the healing skills of Lord Shunsui Kyoraku you are beginning to mend."
A man walked in. He had dark hair tied back that was wavy. He gave the young boy a lazy smile. "Welcome to Rivendell, young Hanataro."
Ukitake watched as the young boy was reunited with his other two friends. Toshiro and Yachiru, Hiyori watching them carefully so that no more harm would come to her friend.
"We were so worried about you," sobbed Yachiru embracing her friend.
Toshiro pushed his pink haired friend aside. "Look," he nodded over to a bench.
"Kisuke-san!" the dark haired boy cried happily. He ran towards the man in the stripped hat.
The blonde looked up from his book. "Hanataro," he smiled as the boy ran into his arms.
Hanataro took a seat next to the blonde. He looked much older then the last time he had seen him. His blonde hair was turning white. The lines in his face were becoming more defined.
"Look what I've almost finished writing," said Kisuke.
"There and Back Again," Hana said out loud, reading the title page of the book. "You've almost finished it!" he said excitedly.
Urahara smiled proudly. "I wanted to see more. But age seems to have caught up to me at last."
Hanataro flipped though the pages of the book. "I miss the Shire. I haven't been gone that long. Almost everyday, when I was there, I'd wish I was off on some adventure. But when I finally got my own, it turned out so much different."
Kisuke sighed. He took off his hat. "There, there, Hana." he patted the boys back.
"His strength returns,"
Ukitake glanced behind him. "Yesm butthe wound will never fully recover."
"Hmm," the man behind him continued. "But to have come so far bearing the ring. The boy has shown extraordinary resilience to it's evil."
Ukitake looked over at the Elf lord. "It's an evil he should have never had to bear. We can ask no more of Hana,"
Shunsui sighed. "Juu-chan," he began warily. "the enemy is moving. Aizen's forces are growing in the East. His eyes are fixed on Rivendell. And now, you tell me, Ichimaru has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."
"That's not even the worst part," Ukitake said bitterly.
"Oh?"
"Ichimaru has crossed man and Hollow. He is breading an army. He calls them Arcarnarr. It is an army that can move faster in sunlight, stronger than your average Hollow. And can cover great speeds at an alarming pace. Ichimaru is coming for the ring."
Shunsui again sighed. "You think that the Elves are strong enough to fight the forces of Isengard and Mordor?" He looked at his wizard friend seriously. "The ring can not stay here," he placed a hand on Ukitake's shoulder. "This is a pearl that belongs to all Middle Earth, only they can decide how it ends."
Ukitake looked out the window. In the far distance he could see riders entering the city.
"The time of the Elves is over, my people are leaving these shores. Ukitake, who will you turn to when we're gone?"
Ukitake took a deep breath. "It is men that we must place our faith in,"
Kyoraku's expression turned dark. "Men?" he scoffed. "Men are weak. The race of men is failing, it's pride and dignity are forgotten. It's because of men that the ring survives. I was there. I was there three thousand years ago, when Isshin took the ring. I was there the strength of men failed,"
Inside the volcano Mount Doom stood two people. And elf and a man.
"I took Isshin into the heart of the Mountain. The one place it could be destroyed."
"Cast it into the fire!" cried the elf. "Destroy it!"
The human held the golden ring in his hands. He was captivated by it.
"Hurry!"
The man looked at the Elf. A smile slowly gracing his lips. "No," His eyes glinted madly as he turned around to leave.
"Isshin!"
"It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure. Isshin kept the ring. The strength of men failed and the line of kings was broken." Shunsui looked back at Ukitake his features no longer dark. "Juu-chan, there is no strength left in the world of men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless,"
Ukitake met his old friends gaze. "There is one. One left that could unite them."
Shunsui shook his head turning away from the white haired man. "He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile"
The orange haired man, that had saved the four young ones, sat alone. He was reading quite content with the silence.
Quite footsteps approached. Hair as red as autumn leaves in the fall caught his eye. He looked up for a moment to see who had entered.
The two men seemed to have noticed each other at the same time. "You are no elf," the newcomer stated.
"The men of the south are always welcome here," the Ranger stated.
"Who are ya?" the red haired man asked.
"A friend of the Ukitake, the Gray Wizard."
The red haired man nodded. He had unusual markings along his forehead. Black lines in a symmetrical formation. The red hair done in a pony tale. The newcomer continued to though the room. There was a mural along the wall of Isshin swinging his father's sword at Aizen. The red haired man ran his fingers lightly across the mural. Mesmerized by the detail of it. The features of the arrogant Aizen and the determined Isshin.
His eyes then caught something that immediately grabbed his attention. "The blade that cut the ring from Aizen's hand." he said in whispered wonderment.
It lay shattered on a tray. The blade had broke into several pieces after it had cut Aizen.
The red haired man slowly reached out for the blades handle. Gripping it carefully. His other hand grazes the shattered blade. He pulls his hand back suddenly. "Still sharp," he murmured placing the cut finger to his mouth.
His eyes connect to the Rangers' once more.
"But nothing more then a broken blade." he said a little louder. He carelessly places the blade back on its stand. He walked out of the not the paying the blade or the orange haired man another bit of attention.
The ranger went to where the red haired man had been. He adjusted the blade so it sat nicely back in its original place. Almost connecting to the other broken fragments.
"Why do you fear the past?" asked a kind female voice. "You are Isshin's heir, not Isshin himself. You are not bound to his fate."
The orange haired man turned to look at the woman behind him. The orange haired elf woman that had rescued them in the woods. Inoue Orihime.
The orange haired man sighed. "The same blood flows through me. The same weaknesses."
She smiled at him kindly. "You will face the same evil. And you will defeat it." she cupped his cheek. "The shadow does not hold sway, not over you, not over me,"
She led him to a bridge. The forest surrounded them and the sound of the river was very soothing.
"Do you remember when we first met?" she asked.
He smiled. "I thought I had wandered into a dream."
She took his hand. "Many years have passed since then. You did not have the cares that you carry now." Her gray eyes looked up into his light brown ones. "Do you remember what I told you?"
He spoke quietly. "You said you would bind yourself to me forsaking the immortal life."
Her smile grew. "And to that I still hold true. I would rather share one lifetime with you, then face all the ages of this world alone." Her hand moved to the blue flower clips in her hair. Carefully she placed them in his hand. "I choose a moral life."
His eyes went wide. "You cannot give me these! They are your power. Without them-"
She cut him off quickly. "They are mine to give to whom I choose, like my heart."
She looked at him with a loving expression. Closing the Ranger's fingers around the pins.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction none can escape it. You will unite or you will fall."
Hanataro looked around. They sat in a large circle. Hanataro seated next to Ukitake. Shunsui was standing leading the meeting. About twenty others were also seated in this circle. Including the orange haired Ranger who had rescued them.
"Bring forth the ring, Hanataro," instructed Kyoraku.
Hanataro took a deep breath and stood up. All eyes were on him. He carefully placed the golden ring on the table in the center of the circle.
Whispers rang through the circle. The red haired man spoke quietly.
"So it is true." He stood up. Gaining everyone's attention. "I had a dream. In it, I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. And a voice called out. 'Your doom is near at hand. Isshin's bane has been found'"
As he spoke he walked towards the ring. His finger's almost grazing it. But before he could touch the golden ring a hand grabbed his wrist. "Renji." Shunsui's voice was cold and his expression stern. "Sit down, Abarai Renji."
The red haired man glared at the Elf Lord. "It is a gift. A gift from the hands of Mordor. Why not use the Ring? My father the steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. You lands are kept safe thanks to us. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him!"
"You can not use it," The ranger spoke. His arms crossed his eyes on the red haired man. "None of us can. The ring answers to only Aizen. It has no other master."
"Oh?" Renji sneered at him. "And what would a Ranger know of this?"
"Tsk," a dark skinned woman with violet hair scoffed at Renji. "He is no mere Ranger. He is Ichigo. Kurosaki Ichigo. You owe him your allegiance."
The red haired man's eyes went wide. "Ichigo? Kurosaki? Isshin's heir?" he starred at the man shocked.
The woman smiled. "An heir to the throne of Gondor." Her yellow eyes watched the other man carefully.
The orange haired Ranger looked at the woman. "Enough, Yoruichi,"
"Heh," she huffed, leaning back in her chair.
Renji still starred at Ichigo before regaining his senses at last. "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." he took his seat again.
Ukitake cleared his throat trying to clear up the tension. "Regardless. Ichigo-kun is right. We cannot use it."
Shunsui nodded. "We have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed."
A woman with blank green eyes starred at the ring intently. "Then what are we waiting for?" her voice held no emotion in it.
"Unfortunately Nemu Kurotsuchi , the ring cannot be destroyed by any tool we here we possess. It was made in the fires of Mount Doom only there can it be unmade." the Elf Lord sighed. "It must be taken back into Mordor and cast into the fiery chasms from whence it came. And one of you must do this."
There was a heavy silence at these words.
Renji came to his senses first. "Fool, are you mad? One does not just walk into Mordor! There is evil there that does not sleep. Lord Aizen sits at the top of his tower and watches. His dark brown eyes see everything. It is a barren wasteland full of fire and ash and dust. The very air was a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men can you do this. It is a fools errand."
"Are you deaf?" the woman with the violet hair asked. She smiled all the same. "The ring is evil. It has to be destroyed!"
The girl with the blank green eyes spoke again. "And I suppose you think you're the one to do it, Elf?"
Yoruichi scowled at her.
"And if ya all fail? What happens when Aizen takes back what is his?!" Renji roared.
"Mayuri-sama will not be pleased if the ring falls into the hands of the Elves,"
The room erupted in loud roars and arguments. Everyone save for a few were bickering with each other.
Hanataro's eyes stayed locked onto the ring. Not really on the ring but of the man that only he could see standing behind the ring. The dark brown eyes and hair. The mocking smile. The fighting was what he wanted.
Ukitake stood up now. " Do you not understand? When we argue amongst ourselves, Aizen's power grows."
The smile on those evil lips grew as Ukitake burst into a fit of coughs.
This man. This Aizen. He had to be stopped.
So gathering all the courage he had and then some. "I will take it!" he cried. "I will take the ring to Mordor."
The fighting ceased. Aizen faded away. And all eyes turned to him.
Hana bit his lip. "Though," he spoke quietly no longer able to make eye contact with everyone. "I do not know the way,"
His dear friend smiled at him. The wizard walked to his side. "I will help you bear this burden, Yamada Hanataro, as long as it is your's to bear." He placed his hand on the young boy's shoulder, taking a place behind the younger one.
The orange haired man had a smirk on his face. "Oi, Hanataro." he stood up and the crowd parted for him. "Be it by my life or death, I'll protect you. You have my sword." He nodded to Hana also standing behind him.
The violet haired woman stepped forward. "Well, I know I can't let Ichigo go on an adventure with out me. Well little Hana, if you're up for it, then I'll join you. You have my speed."
The other woman with the green eyes stepped forward next. "You will also have my help. My knowledge will help guide you." She took her place next to the dark skinned woman.
The red haired man stepped foreword next. "You carry the fate of us all, little kid." he sighed. "If this is the will of the council then Gondor will see it done. You have me as well."
Hana smiled. He had four great companions. Strong ones by the look of it.
"OI!" called a familiar voice. "Hana isn't going anywhere with out me!" Hiyori leapt into the circle of chairs. "I'm a good fighter. I'll protect him better then any of you old folks will,"
"Trust a Visord to make a scene." sighed Shunsui.
"Tsk," huffed the small blonde. "Well I am going and no one is going to stop me."
"Us too!" cried a high pitch voice. Flying into the circle much like Hiyori did. "We're not getting left behind." Yachiru cried.
Hitsugaya was right behind her. Never quite able to stop her from making a scene.
Shunsui eyed the group. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Nine companions. Just like the nine riders." he sighed thoughtfully. "Very well. You shall be the fellowship of the ring. Yachiru cheered happily. "Where are we going?"
Yoruichi smiled her crooked smile at the Ichigo. "This is going to be fun, eh Ichigo?"
A/N
Before anyone can bombard me about Legolas and Gimili's part being a girl I need to explain. There are only three girl parts in Lord of the Rings. Arwin, Gladriel, and Eoywin. (ignore the very misspelled names.) Give or take a few minor roles. Well. Bleach does not have just three girls. And having to only pick three of the awesome characters that were provided just didn't seem fair. Now while there are plenty of male characters in Bleach to pick from I didn't want to have to pick people like Iba and Omada. Really? No one wants to read about them. Do you? No I don't think so. In before Ishida for Legolas. I have a place for the Quincy and it's not in the main cast. In my opinion I don't have an all-star cast for the Fellowship. I'm not a main character fan. So characters like Ichigo and Renji are not my favs to write about. Plus Hana? But I love Yoruichi and Toshiro. They will balance everything out. Just no hurt feelings over female picks for the Lord of the Rings cast. Please.
