I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu. The story though is just a work of fiction. For all spelling and grammar mistakes I apologize in advance.
Legends
XV
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It was a beautiful dawn.
The sky was a hue of dark blue and black and the sun was about to climb the cloudless sky. The sea was dark, calm and foggy and the mist of morning dew was evaporating slowly into thin air. There was a lush soothing scent in the air as nature prepared itself for another day in the land of the Gods.
And it was a day that would forever change Japan.
A peasant was busy preparing tea. He has been thinking about the land that he has been farming for almost a year now. And he was hoping that the Aoyoma clan would allow him to extend the borders of his farm after drafting as a warrior to defend the village. He sighed and looked down. He studied the blunt sword he was given as his weapon. And he grunted his disgust. He mumbled for the first time that fateful morning his conviction that he was not a murdering bastard who takes advantage of the weak but a peaceful farmer who prays nothing more than an abundant harvest.
The peasant touched the clay bowl and judged whether the water was hot enough for his tea leaves. He looked around and snorted as he observed his fellow 'warriors' sleeping like dirty mongrels of the high mountains. They were not warriors. They were all peasants forced or bribed to take up arms against an enemy they have not seen before. For him it would have been easier to fight fellow Japanese. At least there was honor dying in the hands of a foe you know well.
He looked up and stared at the ragged line of ground holes that has been dug a few paces away from the sandy shore. Each dugout has three to four poorly armed drafted warriors, sleeping and snoring. He shrugged the thought that they were supposed to be the foremost defensive line of the whole samurai army defending the village.
Even though they were ill-equipped, ill-trained and wholly unprepared for war, the peasant has nothing to worry for they were led by a number of very capable samurais. And they were not just any shogunate or imperial samurais. He felt extreme pride knowing that they were all led by Aoyoma samurais.
The peasant touched the clay bowl again and this time he nodded in approval. He smiled as he opened a cloth he produced underneath his garment. He found the tea leaves on the high mountains months before he started to farm his land. And the tea it made was the best he has ever tasted.
There was a loud snore.
The peasant looked around and laughed to himself. The sun would come out soon and the samurais would start waking them up. And for him it was the most unpleasant experience. Being kicked like a dog was not something he looked forward to in a fresh morning like today.
Then there was a faint noise.
The peasant cocked his head up.
It was very faint but it sounded like an echo coming from the sea. So the peasant scanned the sea rubbing his sleepy eyes all the while. It was still foggy and dark.
He yawned then stretched himself, relished the gratifying feeling.
He really needed that tea.
Then he heard a screeching noise.
The peasant looked up again. But this time his sleepiness was replaced by alarm. He fervently searched for the source of the screeching noise that grew louder and louder.
Then a round object came shooting furiously from the sky right and into one of the dugouts.
A tremendous explosion rocked the beach.
The peasant stared open-mouthed; his body froze with astonishment.
As the cloud of dirt and sand parted, the dugout where the object from the sky landed became wider. There were black marks around it and black smoke lingered from the explosion. The dugout's occupants were nowhere to be found. It was empty except for traces of blood… and body parts.
The peasant trembled.
The peasant shivered violently.
Then the loud unnatural silence that followed was broken by several screeching noises that seemed to echo one after another.
Seeing cruel death for the first time after years of blissful ignorance toiling his land in the mountains, the peasant broke and began screaming like a madman, "THE MONGOLS ARE COMING!"
And his scream was cut short when his dugout exploded.
---
The Mongolians invasion of Japan mainland has begun.
---
The Mongolians anchored their gigantic ships well away from land and began catapulting numerous gunpowder covered shell bombs into the shore. These shells, aptly named "heaven-shaking devices" or chien-t'ienlie, were made with twice the amount of gunpowder that produced visible devastating results.
During the destruction of the beach, the Mongolians prepared their boats for a surprise massive land invasion. They intend to overrun the defenders and drive them back inland where they could annihilate them piece by piece. The boats were filled with heavily armed warriors and wild horses eager to start the battle.
The fury of the Mongols will soon be realised.
---
The samurais made a decision.
They decided to retreat inland to prevent further bloodshed. They were completely unmatched. The Mongolian bombs were something they were completely unprepared for. Catching the shaken defenders by surprise it decimated almost half of the defending force. And the defenders didn't have the weapon to fight back because the Mongolian ships were well out of arrow range. All they could do was watch helplessly as their comrades killed one after another as terrible screeching noises filled the air and the ground exploded in every direction. They could do nothing.
The defenders retreated.
---
"All the villagers has been evacuated my lady,"
Tsuruko turned towards the swordswoman dressed in heavy armour. Tsuruko smiled, "Thank you very much Ryoma-chan. I suppose you should go to your post now,"
The swordswoman bowed and left without a word.
And when she was absolutely sure she was alone, Tsuruko bowed and sighed.
She felt so fragile. The loneliness was choking her and her vulnerability was overwhelming.
It has been four days since the Mongols ransacked the Iki Island. And the Aoyoma clan have amassed less than a hundred peasants to be added on the main defence battalion. A group of horsemen arrived yesterday but they only amounted to fifty armed samurais. And there were only twenty Aoyoma samurais who could fully practise the secret sword arts technique. All in all they have only less than seven hundred warriors to defend the village against thousands of ruthless and battle-hardened Mongolians supported with advanced weaponry.
Tsuruko sighed and composed herself.
She reached out for her sword and armour. This was not the time to be weak she told herself. This was the time to fight. Years of training and centuries of swordsmanship were at stake at this day of battle. The honour of Aoyoma clan would prevail.
We just have to hold long enough… help is on its way… Tsuruko thought as she donned her armour.
---
It took the Mongolians half of the morning to finally put all of the warriors, horses and land artillery on shore. Other Mongolian ships were still on their way and some have stayed on the smaller islands.
The Mongolian invasion boats were preceded by a number of scouts who started burning the closest trees and houses creating a ring like barrier against any Japanese who might decide to attack them.
Fortunately for the Mongolians the Japanese kept themselves busy preparing to 'defend' their village.
There was a wide plain surrounded by high hills before the village proper. The Mongolians would have to cross it as the beach was surrounded by thick forest trees making it unsuitable both for their horses and their land artillery.
The Mongolian generals predicted that the hill would be heavily defended. And so their only course of action was to break through using the bombs and the brutal force of the cavalry. The Mongolians took pride with their wild horsemen that have pushed several kingdoms to its knees.
The catapults were wheeled towards the plains.
---
Amalla has ordered a camp to be erected on the highest hill covered with thick oak trees and stones. The hill has a commanding view of the plains and it was well hidden from sight.
The samurais equipped themselves with bows and arrows and laid low behind the hill rocks waiting for the Mongolians to attack.
---
Hol Don scanned the plains and the hill. He was surrounded by his generals.
He smirked, "The Japanese dogs are entrenched on that hill…"
"I thought so too… we could try to attack them on their flank through that hill," One of the generals pointed to the highest hill on the left where it was surrounded by thick forestry. He could see that his warriors could climb it on foot and they could use the massive rocks that jutted from the ground as cover.
Hol Don shook his head. He does not approve of clever tactics to defeat the enemy. He was a firm believer of head on confrontation as it is his own belief that honour could only be measured through sheer courage and strength and not with devious cunning.
"I want all our bombs concentrated on that hill before us. Give it only a few rounds. Then unleash the heavy cavalry straight through!" Hol Don pointed straight front.
"But sir…"
Hol Don glared at the general and pointed at the hill, "The enemy is right there in front of us. I am not going to look for another way to fight him. I will not attack left or right of him. I will attack right where he is sitting. I will attack him right in his face. He is there and that means I will destroy him there!"
The general bowed quickly, "I apologize, my lord. I will commence the attack in a few moments,"
Hol Don nodded. His eyes a fiery red of battle frenzy, "Good. Destroy them general. KILL THEM ALL!"
---
The catapults began throwing bombs.
The hill was suddenly exploding in every direction. The samurais kept their head low. Clenching their teeth through the horrible ordeal as death whizzed by them a hair's breath away from a terrible painless death that could tear their bodies into pieces.
Most of the exploding ceramic balls passed beyond the hill and into the village proper, causing devastation to the houses and farms as the ball exploded, destroying everything on its path. The air was filled with screeching noises that sent even the bravest of the samurais into their knees praying to Kami that the next explosion would not be anywhere near them.
It was death screaming at them.
But the samurais never wavered. They kept their fears inside them and sat through the explosions without even flinching. No one ran away or flee from the battle. For all they know, the battle has just begun.
And then suddenly the catapults stopped.
A loud silence crept into the plains.
Then the earth trembled.
A loud blood-churning scream echoed through the whole plains.
The Mongolian cavalry was coming.
---
Ryoma shook her head. She was trying to shake the pain away from her ears. A shell exploded a few paces from her which sent her reeling onto her protective rock. She quickly felt her body making sure that everything was still intact – legs, arms, ears… everything. And then she cocked her head up when she heard the scream. It made her skin crawl.
Slowly and cautiously she peered from her rock.
And she froze.
Right before her were thousands and thousands of heavily armoured Mongolians riding huge ferociously snarling similarly armoured horses. They thundered through the plains and towards the hill.
We're all going to die! Ryoma thought as for the first time that day she was truly afraid.
Then she heard an order.
A gentle but strong voice amidst the chaos of the charging enemy.
"ARROWS READY!"
Ryoma looked up and saw their clan leader standing in the middle of the hill wearing her ancient armour with the family crest embedded on its chest. She had her sword raised high in the air with her eyes dancing with battle fury.
Tsuruko looked menacing.
The samurais followed the order, pointed the arrows towards the sky and stretched the strings to the fullest.
And they all waited.
Ryoma looked down again and was alarmed to see the horsemen getting closer and closer.
They're getting closer! Ryoma kept her mouth shut through her fear.
"HOLD EVERYBODY! MAKE ALL ARROWS COUNT! SHOOT THE HORSES FIRST!" Tsuruko shouted through the trampling noise as the Mongolian cavalry thundered their way cleanly through the plains unhindered screaming with blood lust.
Then Tsuruko slashed her sword down and screamed, "FIRE!"
Hundreds of arrows flew into air.
And then it descended onto the cavalry.
Several men and horses screamed in pain as most crumpled and rolled into the ground causing other horses to stumble upon them. A cascading wave carried through the whole trampling horde but only a third of them were affected. The Mongolians jumped their way through and continued their charge towards the hill.
There's still too many of them! Ryoma thought and then she heard scuffling noise close to her.
She turned towards the noise and gasped as she saw Aoyoma samurais rushing towards the charging Mongolian cavalry. And leading them was Tsuruko with her sword held high above her head.
Ryoma knew what she needed to do.
She unsheathed her sword and charged downhill towards the trampling cavalry screaming all the while.
"AIR-SPLITTING SWORD!"
"ROCK-SPLITTING SWORD!"
One by one the Aoyoma samurais unleashed their devastating secret sword arts technique that sent hundreds and hundreds of men and horses into the air. Explosions after explosions echoed through out the plains as the heat of the cavalry's charge quickly melted as series of powerful waves bore through them from every direction. The ground shook as clouds of dust rose into the air one after another.
The samurais and drafted peasants that were left on the hill watched with utter astonishment as the power of the Aoyoma clan destroyed the Mongolian cavalry.
They raised their swords and cheered.
---
A Mongolian general stood wide eyed as he stared at the retreating heavy cavalry. He muttered his astonishment, "What in the world is that?"
Hol Don stepped next to the general smiled, "The secret sword arts… just as lady Yuki has foretold,"
"Huh? You knew about this my lord?" the general turned and kept his growing anger inside him.
Hol Don leered, "Of course. Lady Yuki made me aware of it,"
"Then why the charge?"
"I need to see it for myself. Now I understand why the Japanese dogs feared these ladies. The secret sword art is powerful and very effective. They almost annihilated my heavy cavalry… too bad," Hol Don looked away.
The general fought hard to control his temper but he has to ask, "Then… what are you planning to do about this my lord?"
Hol Don turned and raised an eyebrow, "I will attack of course…"
"But you have seen their power! How can you attack again with that threat before us?"
Hol Don pointed to the plains, "Look… they're all women. Impressive as they are they are still human. They are tired… and they cannot outrun a horse…"
"You mean…"
"Yes… the light cavalry. I am sending the light cavalry and kill them all!"
---
Amalla was the first to see the danger.
Tsuruko and other Aoyoma samurais found themselves in the middle of the plains as they cut through the mass of heavy cavalry. The charge collapsed but that sent the samurais to their knees with complete exhaustion unable to move any further.
That was when another charge was called by the Mongolian army but this time it was not the same horsemen. These horsemen were lightly dressed and the horses were lightly protected. The danger became imminent when the riders began drawing their bows and arrows.
They were the Mongolian light cavalry.
And there were thousands of them.
Amalla shouted the order for arrows but the samurais refused to follow as they fear that they might shoot the Aoyomas by mistake in the melee. In simple words, Tsuruko and the others were trapped.
And when it seemed that all hope was lost a group of horsemen charged downhill.
The fifty imperial horsemen charged with fury as they raced to reach the Aoyomas before the Mongolian light cavalry.
And fortunately they reached the Aoyomas first with the Mongolian horsemen just a few paces away.
The imperial horsemen quickly divided themselves. One half carried the samurais and retreated while the other half clashed with the Mongolian light cavalry with swords.
Then the quick clash became a race for survival as the Mongolian cavalry quickly annihilated the imperial horsemen who resisted their attack and now was on the heel of the retreating imperial horsemen carrying the Aoyomas.
Amalla watched helplessly as the chase became futile.
The Mongolians started shooting and killed one imperial horseman after another.
"BANZAI!" A thousand years.
The raging scream that rang through out the plains caught the Mongolian cavalry's attention.
And they all gaped… because right beside them were thousands of samurai horsemen charging directly into their exposed flanks with swords unsheathed and arrows ready to fire.
Amalla smiled and whispered, "Baka…"
Leading the newly arrived samurai horsemen was Kentaro Sakata screaming his battle cry.
The shogunate cavalry has arrived.
Hei there guys and gals! I apologize for the delay! I tried to make this chapter as accurate as possible, although I made the liberty to change the settings to make it much more exciting than the real thing. How does it feel like to have Hina cast in the midst of battle? Weird, isn't it? I felt it too. This is just the first part of the Mongolian invasion. And of course everything will be revealed soon as there are only a few chapters left. I apologize again for the clumsy writing style at this kind of scene. I am not sure if I did it right or if it is satisfactory. Just let me know what you think.
And once again I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to those kind enough to leave a note. Because of you it felt like I am doing a good job. I just hope that you stick long enough to see what happens next… especially with a far greater threat is about to happen!
Catch u all later! Cheers!
nivremous