Chapter 4

A/N: Thanks so much for reviewing! It's good to know that someone's reading this and enjoying it. Plus, I'm glad to know that I'm doing a good job. I didn't really expect it! If you have any ideas, drop a review! Thanks!

The horn sounded just too early for Anna.

She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before… Being worried about her father, herself, and her new acquaintances took up too much of the time. She yawned and stretched, rolling over and almost hitting the tree beside her tent. After a few of what might be her last moments of rest, she climbed out of her tent and pulled her hair back with a tie that she had borrowed from a soldier.

It could have just as well been midnight. Anna had no idea how long it was before sunrise; but she knew she wouldn't mind sleeping until then. The trees looked even more ghostly in the dark; casting long and twisted shadows with whatever light was there. No one else seemed to notice, however, since they were all busy packing what little they had brought besides military weapons.

It took Anna a matter of five minutes to gather all of her things; just her diary and one of her coats to keep her warm. She hadn't brought anything else; it was actually more than they were supposed to bring, but she didn't think she would get in trouble.

"Need help?" Anna looked over her shoulder to see Algren already untying her tent ropes, somehow easily undoing the complicated knots that Grant had made for her. "Have a good night?"

"It was long." She answered, looking over the tent at Algren. He nodded.

He spoke as if he was a philosopher. "A long march. And then a battle. A new enemy, but the same feeling I have every battle-- men will die here, today, and will I be one of them?" He said aloud, as if reciting. "It's the same thing every time; narrowly escaping death. Barely winning. This will be a hard fight."

Anna didn't say anything else as fear began to set deep within her somewhere; and she couldn't help but think that something terribly wrong may happen.

…

The soldiers had wound up a steep mountain pass; but Anna couldn't think of anything but death. Dying; she wasn't ready… But she knew it wouldn't wait for her to be ready. What if it just came out of nowhere? With no warning, with nothing for her to leave behind but what she had done so far. It was then that she realized that's how death was; like a test to see how successful your life really was.

They finally stopped at another mountain clearing, a thick fog surrounding them like a silver veil falling over the old and beautiful trees. Thick leaves of a deep green were a low roof above them; the trees tightly together besides the opening they had halted within. A few large oaks dotted the inside of their cage; a walled pen that men would probably die in that day. Algren broke her hypnotic state.

"Miss Harper- ask the General how the samurai plan to attack."

Anna glanced at Algren, translating the request to General Hasegawa. The General nodded and explained their tactics to her.

"He says they will come straight on, push forward and keep attacking…" She paused, looking up to Algren. "He says there is no samurai word for retreat." Anna could feel a cold rush through her body as she said so, and there was another break for a moment as the General seemed to perk up. He spoke almost silently to Anna; who fearfully relayed the information to Algren. Her voice almost cracked as she barely whispered the words.

"He says they're coming."

…

Colonel Bagley's voice caused Anna to jump in fright. The flight of a bird, or a twitch of a squirrel's tail; anything that might signal some kind of assault made her almost spin around in terror. No one seemed to be amused this time; as long as Bagley was now around. Anna hadn't quite figured out why yet, but she had hunch that it had something to do with his personality. "Captain, have you stationed soldiers to guard the supplies?"

Algren looked confused at his inquiry, but only turned his head slightly to answer. The supply train was at the very back of the fleet, away from danger. "Yes."

"Who is overseeing them?"

"No one."

Algren's face immediately tensed for a moment, adjusting his weight in the saddle. He knew where this was heading.

"Mr. Graham, will you accompany me to the supply train? We don't want it to be the subject of a surprise attack." Bagley turned his horse, as Graham happily complied. They were gone within mere seconds; heading towards the supply train like this was something like procedure and not a cowardly act. Algren and Bagley both knew that a surprise hit on the supply train was very unlikely.

"I'm going to kill him." Algren muttered as Grant cursed under his breath.

"A waste of good ammo." Grant responded to his remark, his words the last sounds that faded into an eerie silence. Slowly he began to check his two revolvers, the small clicking of the chambers sounding like thunder ringing off the wall of fog before them.

Minutes later a weightless snow began to fall, only a few small snowflakes falling slower than Anna had ever seen. The tiny fairies floated to the ground and disappeared, only to be replaced by another delicate ice flower. It was a mesmerizing dance that seemed to have been coordinated from the beginning of time. If Anna wasn't so fearful for her life then she would have been encased in another one of Japan's ancient beauties.

Algren began to speak to Anna quietly once more, his eyes not moving from the direction he believed his enemies to be coming from. "Miss Harper, do you see that tree behind you?" He asked; confusing Anna as to how he could have any idea it was there. She turned slightly and bobbed her head. "Stay close to that tree."

"That- tree…" Anna turned back around. "But Captain, Bagley ordered me to-"

"Do you seriously believe that I care what Bagley says?" Algren interrupted her, barely squinting his eyes to try and focus on an image he thought he saw in the fog. It disappeared, proving itself to be an optical illusion that he had developed from not looking away from the silver mist.

Anna was reluctant to leave, for a reason she didn't know. "Captain…"

"That's an order Miss Harper," Algren finally turned his eyes away from their station to give her a serious and somewhat dangerous look. "An order."

Anna glanced at the glistening blanket and back to Algren, then nodding in respect. She slowly backed up a few feet, her final destination beside the tree that she had tied Grant's horse to. It nudged her shoulder gently, then stomped its hoof. Even the animals seemed to feel the anxiety that was continuously building.

Suddenly there was a noise; one that Anna found vaguely familiar as if it was embedded into the back of her mind from experience. She realized it was the sound of horses. A fixed solid rumble could be heard beyond the wall of vision, becoming louder and louder as it came in their direction. Scores of steeds, galloping like a storm through the sky. Soldiers were literally shaking with fear; and Anna shared the same problem. Her arms and knees were trembling as she reached out one hand to rest on the tree and steady herself.

The sound stopped.

The stillness was shattered by a whispering that at first Anna didn't understand. After a few moments she realizes it is the close to voiceless soldiers, saying prayers in to their known and even unknown gods. Another voice eased itself into the mix.

"Sergeant Grant, order them into staggered firing position." Algren spoke, rising slightly onto his toes in the stirrups. It may be a quick attack; or not. All he knew was that he was about to have another adrenaline rush that comes with each battle. Grant repeated the phrase, holding one of his revolvers up to a firing state.

"Staggered firing position!" Anna shakily translated, unsure like the first time she ever tried, if the soldiers in the back could hear and understand her. She was now clinging to the tree with one arm, somehow able to still stand through the quivering she was involuntarily going through. The soldiers slowly prepared to fire, the first row sinking into a kneeling position and the second standing behind them. Anna didn't know how to stand the agonizing tension.

Anna didn't know who saw it first; her or Algren; but a figure slowly formed in the fog. It looked like some kind of ancient beast- on horseback and gliding like a ghost. He wore an intricate, horned helmet and flowing samurai armor. No colors were present, and all Anna could see was the haunting silhouette in the fog, like something from a terrible nightmare. Slowly another appeared, and then another, until unimaginable numbers stood in front of them. Anna, and the Imperial Army, were terrified.

The soldiers stood petrified, gawking at the samurai or dropping to their knees and praying. One fainted from the overwhelming pressure. Grant orders them to hold the line; seconds later Anna translated it with difficulty. She didn't think they heard her, but it didn't matter much. They didn't care for much of any kind of orders, especially ones given by a woman. They held their positions.

As if a mute and blind signal were gave, the army started to charge with such intensity beyond Anna's understanding. The horses' hooves pounded the ground without pity, and the men let out battle cries that chilled the blood. Polished metal spears and swords flashed ominously in the silver lighting.

Algren roared for them to fire.

Anna screamed the translation and pulled herself against the tree, her conscious shrieking at her to hide, run; anything to get as far away from this place as possible. Soldiers everywhere were fumbling with their guns, some panicking and running away. It was complete and utter chaos.

Algren tried once more to command the soldiers to hold the line, but it was too late. The Samurai attack with such power that Anna knew she would be haunted for the rest of her life; even if her life only last a few more minutes. Those soldiers who tried to flee were run through with a spear or cut in half with a sword. Those who tried to reload their guns clumsily were showered with a swarm of samurai arrows.

It was then that Algren began to command the retreat. A man sounded the bugle, and the army began to withdraw; and not in a leisurely manner. Anna sighed, already scarred from the bodies that already encircled her. She began to stand when she heard cries from the rear of the fleet; and it was then that they realized they were surrounded. Algren and Grant began to try and call orders, but it was no use. Soon it was every man for himself.

The battle was soon everywhere, and there was no way to avoid it. Anna threw herself behind the tree, now unable to distinguish Algren and Grants voices from the terrible, terrible sounds of battle. Blood was inescapable; it was on her clothes, she could taste it; it burned her skin. It was anywhere she looked, and everywhere bodies were collapsing to the ground. Men, soldiers she had known somewhat, died in front of her in cries of sheer pain. In a panicking state she clasped her hands over her ears and sank to the ground, as close to the large tree as humanly possible.

Grant's horse was still tied to the tree next to her, although it was obvious it wouldn't be for long. He was shielding her from one side as he bucked and reared in horror, and Anna dreaded the moment that he broke his bounds or fell lifeless to the ground beside of her. He was all that was keeping her hidden; keeping her safe. She wasn't ready for this.

The howls- of pain, death, frustration, even victory; filled the air. They caused Anna to open her eyes and try to analyze her surroundings, if she was in danger or not. Of course she was in danger; she was in the heart of a civil battle, but she hadn't been noticed so far. Bodies continued to land around her, men falling with cries of excruciating pain. The worst, though, were the men who fell without making noise as they tried to; but each soldier fell a little to close for comfort. She pressed herself as close to the tree as possible, trying to become invisible. No one had noticed her so far; and now maybe being a woman wasn't such a bad thing…

Each samurai wore his own vibrantly colored armor. A variety of flags gracefully floated through the air as some samurai dashed around the grounds, killing people instantly with a single flick of the swords in their wrists. Anna had heard the General speak of these weapons; katanas, juttes, and yumi; but she wasn't a weapons expert. All she knew was that they were fatal in the possession of these men.

Deathly nausea began to set into Anna; and she peered around the tree to try and escaped the images that would be etched into her mind for eternity. As she did so she witness a samurai in black armor collide into Algren; somehow managing to stay mounted as Algren and his horse were knocked to the ground. She gasped, unable to scream as she clung to the tree. Another samurai came towards him, charging with a balanced spear and aiming for his target. Anna clenched her eyes closed, opening them seconds later just in time to see Algren flip the rider onto the ground and kill him with his own spear.

Through this battle Anna noticed an unmoving figure; that at first she suspected was already dead. He was still mounted on his horse, and was wearing a black mask along with a horned helmet He had been the first samurai she had seen; and she studied him now as he stared at the passionately fighting Algren.

A flash of yellow blew past Anna, causing her to whip around in time to see the samurai pierce Grant's horse with an arrow. The horse screamed in even worse terror; snapping his leather tying and trying to escape. He was promptly killed by a spear in his chest, knocking the horse to the ground alongside the tree. The yellow samurai continued to shoot fatal arrows, each one killing its target with 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. She watched two of his arrows, as if in slow motion, hit Grant in the chest and knock him to the ground. It felt as if those arrows hit her too; the feeling of a lion tearing through her heart instantly sank her back into her original position.

The rest of the army was cut down easily; those who were still trying to escape were hunted like prey. Soon though, the sounds of the battle eased away 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 off a collection of samurai. He was surrounded and outnumbered by a dozen to one; but still fighting heroically.

Algren threw himself at one samurai, killing him before his shoulder is ripped by another samurai's lance. He growled and snapped the lance off, leaving part of the blade buried in his chest. Another samurai cuts his side, and yet another slices his forehead in such a way that blood began to run down his face and into his eyes. Anna thought she would faint from all the blood; but she had to survive. He had to survive.

As the circle began to close on him, Algren widened it by spinning around with the lance, a flag still hanging off the end of it. A white tiger was against a blue background on a ragged battle flag; that was blowing in the wind with the same fervor of life that Algren had. It seemed almost magical; and Anna observed that the masked samurai noticed this too.

There was silence, except for Algren's grunts as he spun around time and time again.

It was then that Anna noticed her diary; flung on the ground beside the dead horse and opened to a random page. She had to get it; it was her father, everything she had. Her father. He was in the danger of a battle, and she had to save him…

Without another thought, she began crawling towards the small book. The samurai, unless dead, were beyond the other side of the tree; interest in Algren keeping their eyes glued to his style of combat. Or so she thought.

A victorious but small smile appeared across Anna's face as she grasped the book in one hand. At least she would protect something. Yet, as soon as it was securely in her grasp…

"Katsumoto."

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. This was all done in one swift motion, and Anna let out a blood curling scream as it was done so. Everything seemed to stop; her hair that was pulled back now fell down as simply as the snow that had stopped falling some time earlier.

It was the black samurai, with his hair pulled back into a loosening top knot. As soon as he saw her his look of victory and accomplishment turned into surprise and disgust. "A woman."

Nothing could be heard; each samurai was trying to see if what he said was true. After a few moments, no one moved. "A woman should not be in the army," The samurai spat, withdrawing his long and lethal sword. Anna gasped, tears running through the new dirt on the sides of her face. "I'll kill her." He declared, raising his weapon. "Disgraceful." Anna continued to sob; praying in her mind for her to somehow, by some miracle, get out of this disaster. Just to be home. She would never take anything for granted again, she swore…

"Ujio." The black masked samurai pulled off his mask, calling the black-armored samurai by name. Apparently the masked samurai was highly respected; this could be told by the way samurai were gesturing around him. "Leave her be. She could be of use to us."

"Use?" The black-armored samurai asked as Anna looked to Algren's circle of samurai. Every pair of eyes in that clearing was on the woman soldier. "She has nothing to offer."

A stern expression formed on the masked samurai's face. "She can speak the western language; and ours." The leader spoke forcefully, but obviously used to the black samurai's evidently fiery nature. "And she is close to him." He referred to Algren casually. Before he could continued a groan was heard; and all eyes turned to Algren's circle of samurai once more. A crimson red samurai fell at Algren's, who was trapped on the ground, feet. Dead. Another samurai raised his sword at Algren, but was stopped just in time by a quick and strict command.

"He knows our enemy better than she does, but she is a quick way to him. Did you not see him commanding them? We need them both if we wish to win this war." The man finished explaining firmly, and each samurai stepped down. Anna could still feel the black samurai staring daggers at her, although his weapon was now sheathed. She looked to Algren to see if he was alright… And in bad shape. Their eyes met for a moment, and although Algren didn't know it, she believed they would be safe for the moment.

Another grunt was heard, as Grant stumbled towards this leader, his rifle cocked. A samurai leapt to his master's rescue; fatally cutting Grant's stomach. Blood instantly began to pour from his uniform, and Anna cried out in agony. Grant fell to his knees, trying to hold his insides within him… He fell over. Grant was dead.

Tears once more began to stream down Anna's cheeks. She was pitiful, but didn't care much about holding herself together at the moment. Grant was dead. The one man who reminded her of her father, her good father, and she couldn't protect him. She couldn't save him. Grant was dead.

A painful yell was heard, causing Anna and Algren both to look back over the battlefield. Injured and captured soldiers were being slaughtered with one stroke of a samurai's sword; scouts, like this Ujio had been, finishing off the rest of the army. Ujio finally left her side coldly, making his way over to Algren. He seized the exhausted Algren by his shoulders and pulled him to his feet. Algren, although unable to, tried to weakly pull away. He somehow wriggled out of one of Ujio's grasps before Anna realized that he didn't understand Japanese.

"Captain," She managed in a choky voice, although Algren didn't respond. "Captain! Nathan." The idea came to her as soon as his title didn't work. How she remembered his first name she would never know… Maybe studying really was good for one's mind. He looked over at her wearily. "Nathan, it's alright. We're alright."

The samurai seemed to be intrigued by her voice, the language she spoke. Algren nodded and relaxed somewhat now that he saw she was calm. He was pushed roughly to a horse as Anna calmed slightly more. She didn't know where they were going, she was just thankful to be alive for another second. After a moment she noticed the leader speaking to the yellow samurai beside him, and then nodding. The yellow samurai did so also respectfully, his eyes falling onto her and studying her for a moment. The leader turned promptly, mounting his horse and riding over in some direction… General Hasegawa?

Anna pushed herself up until she was sitting, unable to believe that the General was alive. She instantly didn't believe this was fair- of course, she was glad he was alive. This was a respectable man that had helped them by giving them valuable information; but him living while Grant died? The General and the leader of the samurai exchanged a few words, before the leader bowed his head in agreement with something.

As surprising as the first time, Anna was pulled to her feet; but with less force than Ujio had inflicted. She was facing the yellow samurai, who wore a type of yellow head band over his top knot. It was now, that was face to face with him, that she noticed how attractive he was. But she didn't really care; he was one of them. A samurai; the enemy.

She continued to sob and tears continued to fall. He sighed and turned her around gently, leading her towards the samurai army. A chill ran down her spine at the sight of them, and a knot formed deep in the pits of her stomach. The yellow samurai was holding her up just enough to keep her on her feet as he guided her through the crowd. Well, the way things were looking now, she would need to get used to these people's ways… At least until she could form a plan to escape them.