Chapter 9
Battle In The Fog
As if a mute and blind signal were given, the Samurai suddenly charged towards them emerging from the fog in a great wave. The force was so strong and intense, that the horrified 'Imperial army' could no longer wait for Captain Algren's command, they started firing their guns in fear and pressure.
"Hold your fire!" Algren roared, but it was too late... the soldiers had lost all sense of rationality. They were completely petrified. The Samurai warriors attacked with such intensity it was beyond Katherine's understanding. The horse's hooves pounded the ground without pity, polished metal spears and swords flashed ominously in the silver lighting. The Japanese troops fired again, this time on Algren's order. They quickly began to reload their single shot rifles, most of them started to fumble...some broke down in fright and decided to run away. This was when Katherine realized that she needed to get out of there. She urged her horse into a gallop, riding up towards the big oak trees at the back of the line of soldiers, her conscious shrieking at her to hide, run; anything to get as far away from the place as possible. The troops everywhere tried to escape in blind panic, they were swiftly butchered by the long samurai katanas and weapons. Some where sliced in half, some run over by horses. Katherine closed her eyes, hoping that somehow she'd wake up from the terrifying nightmare. She felt like she was going to be sick! Oh, how she wished to be back in her house in London, safe and sound in her father's arms.
"Sound, fall back!" Algren shouted the retreat at last. "Lieutenant, fall back!" He yelled loudly.
A man sounded the bugle, and the army began to withdraw; and not in a leisurely manner. The soldiers kept running for their lives, swamping Katherine in the process. It was a complete and utter chaos! Katherine's horse suddenly spooked in fright and reared up on its hind legs, knocking her from its back.
Katherine shrieked in terror, landing on the hard ground. Immediately she saw dead bodies that already encircled her. She tried to stand up when she heard cries from the rear of the fleet. It was then they realized that they were completely surrounded. Even though, Algren, Gant and the Japanese officers began to call out orders, all discipline broke down...soon it was every man for himself. The battle was everywhere, and there was no way to avoid it. Kitty quickly threw herself behind the large oak, now unable to distinguish Gant and Algren's voices from the terrible, terrible sounds of battle. Blood was inescapable, wherever she looked, men were collapsing to the ground. Soldiers, she had known somewhat, died in front of her, in cries of sheer pain. In panicking state, she clasped her hands over her ears and sank to the ground, as close to the big tree as possible. She kept searching for Algren and Gant with her eyes. They were both in the middle of a heated war. Gant was firing constantly with his two cavalry revolvers. Algren was already out of ammo, so he quickly drew out his sword in order to defend himself.
Katherine could no longer see the two men she mostly cared about in this battle. Instead, the howls and sight of death, pain, frustration, and even victory; filled the air. Kitty opened her eyes to analyze her surroundings, to see if she was in danger or not. Of course, she was in danger; she was in the heart of a civil battle. Soon, Kitty recognized the Japanese Lieutenant, who was cowardly escaping with some of the soldiers. He had abandoned both Gant and Algren. She couldn't blame him...part of her wished that somehow she'd be able to find a way to run away. Another part however, couldn't leave poor Nathan and Gant alone. Like it or not, she was still with them... in some ways. Bodies continued to land around her, death was everywhere, her pretty aqua colored dress was mixed with dirt and blood. Thankfully, no one had noticed her so far; maybe being a woman did help after all. She pressed herself closer to the tree, trying to become invisible. Her skirt was drenched with mud, and some places were ripped. Why didn't she listen to Algren?! There was no doubt that in his clothes, she would've been able to move more freely. Despite this, Kitty couldn't stand the thought of dying in a soldier's uniform...she was not a man! She was a woman...she was always proud of that...Might as well die in her favorite dress.
A variety of flags gracefully floated through the air as the samurai warriors dashed around the grounds, mounted on their steeds, killing people instantly with a single flick of the sword in their wrists. Katherine remembered General Hasegawa and her father speak of these weapons, katanas, juttes, and yumi. She definitely was no weapon expert. All she knew was that they were lethal in the possession of these men. Each samurai was wearing his own vibrantly colored armor. She hoped that her two friends were doing okay.
But when Katherine decided turn her attention back to the battle, she saw a samurai with a crimson armor spear Gant ruthlessly. She gasped, unable to scream as she clung to the big oak. The Scottish Sergeant kept struggling. "Gant!" Algren shouted right across from her. The samurai got off his horse, went up to Gant, and stabbed him with his sword, killing him instantly. Katherine bit her lip hard, and looked away from the terrible scene, unable to see the man, who had become her friend in this strange country, killed so violently by some barbarian in a red armor. Tears started to leak from her sea green eyes. If only this were a nightmare...she would wake up and never take anything for granted again.
Deathly nausea began to set into Katherine; and she peered around the tree to try and escape the images that would be etched into her mind for eternity. As she did so, she witnessed a samurai in a black armor, and with enormous horns on his helmet, collide into Algren; somehow managing to stay mounted as Algren...Nathan and his horse were knocked to the ground. Kitty wanted to scream, but somehow managed to pull herself together. No, no! Not Algren! She wouldn't be able to cope with his death...he was the only one that was left with her...he was the one that gave her hope...that feeling of security. As long as he was alive, she knew that she'd be able to survive. Besides, she had come to care for him. She still couldn't believe that poor Gant was dead. Another samurai rushed towards Algren, charging with a balanced spear and aiming for his target. Kitty clenched her eyes closed, opening them second later just in time to see Algren flip the rider onto the ground and kill him with his own spear.
A flesh of golden yellow blew past her, causing her to lay down prostrate on the ground so that she wouldn't be noticed. Again, Kitty tried her best to stay hidden behind the big oak tree. But she was starting to realize that it would be a difficult job now...the yellow samurai continued to shoot fatal arrows, each one killing its target with an ease. Her eyes nervously followed him, as he sped around towards the other side of the tree; where the battle was fiercer and actually taking place. Katherine wished that she could get out of the place by some kind of miracle. She couldn't take it any longer.
The rest of the army was being cut down easily; those who were still trying to escape were haunted like prey. Soon though, the sounds of the battle started to disappear by every kill; and all she could hear were a group on the other side of her alcove. Cautiously, she barely peeked around the trunk, to see Algren fighting of a collection of samurai. He was surrounded and outnumbered by a dozen to one; but kept fighting heroically. Katherine admired him so much for that...if only she could help him somehow. If only...
As Kitty stared frantically at the fierce Algren; praying and hoping that he would survive...she noticed a couple of samurai riding up to where Nathan was fighting off the enemies single handedly. The one in the middle was wearing a much more ornate armor than the rest of them; his helmet was larger, and he was wearing a mask. Katherine wasn't sure yet, but he did look like the leader of the warriors. The samurai stopped his horse, dismounted, slowly took off his mask and gazed at the passionately fighting Algren with much interest.
Algren threw himself at one samurai, killing him before his shoulder was ripped by another samurai's lance. He growled and snapped it off, leaving part of the blade buried in his chest. As they began to close in on him, poor Nathan widened it by spinning around the lance, a tattered battle-flag with tiger insignia still dangling from the end. A white tiger was against a blue background; that was blowing in the wind with the same fervor of line that Algren had. It seemed almost magical; and Katherine spotted that the masked samurai, who she thought was a leader, had noticed it too and stared at Algren.
There was silence, except for Nathan's grunts as he spun around time and time again.
Suddenly, Kitty heard a crack from behind her. She turned in fright, only to see a yellow armored samurai advancing towards her slowly, as if he were amazed to see her. He had his bow and arrow aimed at her. Katherine froze, as her thoughts began to race. She swallowed hard as fear took over once more. Unconsciously, she pressed against the large tree, hoping that somehow that would protect her.
While almost everyone was busy watching the American officer fight off the warriors, the samurai in a golden armor had spotted a flesh of blue and aqua behind the large oaks. At first he didn't think much of it, but when he noticed that it had moved, that's when he decided to go up close and inspect it. Besides, he hadn't seen such vibrant colors from the soldiers. Most of them were wearing dark blue, or grey clothes. However, complete shock and puzzlement took over him, once he noticed that it was a young woman...and not just any woman; a Westerner. What on earth was she doing in battle?
Katherine was quite frankly terrified when she realized that she had been discovered. She was freaking out! Her whole body was trembling and shaking. It was over...she had seen what the yellow samurai did to his enemies; he easily killed them with his fatal arrows. Although, he looked pretty young...about Katherine's age, maybe even younger. But that didn't matter, he was a killing machine! A barbarian who would not spare anyone, not even her. At least that's what Kitty thought.
For some reason, the yellow samurai did not move. He couldn't decide on what to do. This was a shocking sight for him. A young, Westerner woman participating in battle? It was almost surreal!
Katherine noticed from the corner of her eye a revolver lying in the grass. Just then, an idea formed in her mind...well, most likely a reckless plan. She knew that she was dead either way, so might as well die trying to survive; just like Algren was trying his best to hold his ground even though, it was useless. Rapidly, she reached forward and grasped the small gun, quickly aiming it at the samurai in the yellow armor, who didn't seem surprised with her behavior at all. It was then, Kitty realized that the revolver was out of ammo. Apparently, the samurai in front of her knew it all along, hence why he had an amused smirk on his face. Kitty had a feeling that he was probably making fun of her stupid 'feminine' outbursts. But what she couldn't understand was that the yellow samurai was not making any unwanted advances towards her, let alone trying to kill her. Instead, he lowered his bow, kept gazing at her, just like the masked samurai was staring at Algren, and was studying her. His calm state made Katherine feel at ease for a little bit; at least, her life was not at risk for now.
Before anything else could happen, there was a harsh bark from another samurai. "Nobutada!" He called the yellow samurai by his name, walking up close to him in a hurry. Kitty jumped, only to see the black samurai, who had crushed into Algren with his horse earlier, march towards them. By far, he was the scariest of them all. His helmet was simply horrifying. The samurai in the black armor at first, did not know what the younger samurai had discovered. However, as soon as he saw Katherine, his eyes widened so much that they were ready to pop.
"A woman!" He spat in disgust and pure shock. Unlike the yellow samurai, this one did not shy away from making an advance towards Katherine. She was abruptly picked up by her shoulders and thrown into the clearing, sliding a few feet on the ground and just a small distance away from Algren's circle of samurai. He did this in one swift motion, and Katherine let out a blood curling scream as it was done so. Everything seemed to stop; her hair that had been in a braided bun now fell as the rain showers. "A woman!" The black samurai exclaimed again with his deep voice. Nothing could be heard; each samurai turned their attention to them, to see if what he had said was true. After a few moments, no one moved. "Why is there a woman in the army!?" The black samurai with his hair pulled back into a loosen top knot continued angrily, withdrawing his long and lethal sword. Katherine gasped, tears running through the new dirt on the sides of her face.
"I'll kill her!" He declared, raising his weapon. "What a disgrace!"
Katherine continued to sob; praying in her mind for her to somehow, by some miracle, get out of this disaster. She quickly glanced at Algren, who grew fatigued, had stopped his attack, and knelt on the ground in exhaustion. He was breathing heavily, grunted, growled in agony,and had absolutely no more strength to continue fighting. Just then, the samurai in the crimson red armor, came forward. Kitty recognized him as Gant's killer! He also had a mask on his face. "He's mine!" He announced, drawing his katana. The samurai sliced threw Algren's spear and kicked him to the ground. He stepped forward to stand over Algren, turning his sword...ready to run the American through.
Katherine lowered her head. It was over...Nathan was about to be killed and so was she. She glared back at the black samurai who was ready strike her with his weapon. She and Algren were both dying together. That was it! She shut her eyes tight...hoping that the pain would be quick and minimal. She was ready to meet her mother.
At least her father was safe!
