Summary: Here it is folks, a crossover between Rurouni Kenshin and Lord of the Rings. In this Kenshin & company defend middle earth and at the same time help a certain hobbit destroy the ring of power.

Prologue: One ring to rule them all.

In the wilderness of 19th century Japan, there lived a wanderer with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. This is a remembrance of his experience during the revolution, which was a chaotic period for Japan. Now it was the 2nd year of the new Meiji Government. And because of his own painful experiences in battle… he turned from killer to wanderer and has made a vow… that he will never kill again.

As darkness fell into the woods, the wanderer started to make a fire to cook his dinner. Suddenly…

A small gust of wind took him by surprise. Amidst the wind, he hears the enchanting voice of a woman speaking in a strange bewitching, but soft language…

"I amar prestar aen… " The voice whispered out a short phrase, and then spoke it in the wanderer's native tongue: "The world is changed…"

The voice whispered again in the strange language, "Han mathon ne nen… ", and spoke the translation in the language the wanderer understood: "I feel it in the water…"

Then again: "Han mathon ne chae… I feel it in the earth…"

And again: "A han noston ned gwilith… I smell it in the air…"

Afterwards, the wanderer hears the voice of an old man, "much that once was, is lost. For none now live, who remember it."

The old man appeared from the darkness of the woods, cloaked in brown rags and carried a staff and greeted the wanderer, "good evening to you, young man. Would you care to share your dinner with an old man? I would ever be so grateful to talk to a fellow wanderer such as yourself."

"Certainly sir, that I will", said the wanderer.

The wanderer cooked two fish. He gave one of the fish to the old man.

"Mmm, this is good fish, young man, thank you," said the old man, enjoying his fish.

"You're welcome, and I'm glad you are enjoying your food. Speaking of which, before you came out of nowhere, I heard a strange language that I never heard of before. The way you were speaking, it seemed that you understood what the voice was saying, that you were."

"Hmm, indeed I do, young man… indeed I do. And judging by your scars, external and internal, that you have been in a great battle, am I right?"

The wanderer was surprised at how he figured out his own past. "Before you ask," added the old man, "I have my senses young man, so naturally, I know of you very well."

The wanderer decided to humor the old man, "yes sir, I have. And now, in this time of peace, I have made a vow that I will never kill again. The sword you see before you is a reverse-blade sword that can't be used to kill, which is why I carry it with me."

"I see, then if you know so well about battle wanderer… I shall tell you a tale of a greater battle than that of your revolution. It spans throughout time in a faraway land. For this battle takes place in its past, present… and also the future."

"Very well… tell me this great tale you speak of," implored the wanderer.

The old man began:

The wanderer spoke in the middle of the tale, "and has he destroyed the ring?"

"Unfortunately… no young man, for the ring can only be destroyed in the fires of where it was forged, Mount Doom", the old man continued the tale:

…The hearts of men, like Isildur… are easily corrupted. And so the ring of power… has a will of its own.

While Isildur kept the ring for himself and bringing it to his homeland of Gondor, he and his company were ambushed by orcs… all were killed in the attack. Isildur puts on the Ring to make himself invisible, and tried to swim away in the Anduin River, but alas…

…The ring slipped off and it sank slowly... to the bottom of the river. So thus…

…Isildur was killed by the orcs as well.

The ring betrayed Isildur… to his death. And some things, that should not have been forgotten, were lost…

…History became legend, legend became myth, and for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came… it ensnared a new bearer…

The ring came to a pathetic creature called Gollum, who took the ring deep into the tunnels of the misty mountains, and there… it consumed him, calling the ring his 'precious'…

He coveted the ring, yearned for it…

…The ring brought to Gollum… unnatural long life. For 500 years, it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave, it waited…

…Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the east, whispers of a nameless fear, and the ring of power perceived. Its time had now come…

…The ring abandoned Gollum, as it fell deeper within the tunnels of the mountains…

But something happened then, the ring did not intend…

…It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable, a Hobbit, whom in your eyes would be no more than a child's height. His name was Bilbo Baggins of the shire. When Gollum was calling out for the whereabouts of the ring… Bilbo kept it for himself…

…For the time soon come…

…When Hobbits…

…Will shape the fortunes of all…

The old man stopped there and said to the wanderer, "…well young man, it was nice talking to you, I must take my leave of you."

"Wait sir," said the wanderer, "what happens next, as far as I know, you haven't finished telling the tale. You just left off with Bilbo taking the ring for himself. Do you know the end of this story?"

"Don't worry young man… you will find out when you yourself will experience this story."

This remark surprised the wanderer. "Sir… how will I experience this tale?"

"You will know when fate allows it so. Farewell, Kenshin Himura, or should I call you… Battousai." Kenshin was taken aback to the fact that the old man knew who he was.

The old man began walking towards the woods.

"Sir, how did you know who I am? …Who are you?" inquired Kenshin.

"I told you, young man… I have my senses. Like you yourself, I go by many names. Call me Radagast."

Kenshin started to go after Radagast but lost sight of him. Another small gust of wind overtook him and heard the old man's voice amidst the wind:

After a few moments… the wind stopped. And so…

Kenshin Himura, the wanderer, shall always remember his encounter with Radagast in his heart, as he will prepare himself for this future battle, the War of the Ring of Power. How he will experience it will be a mystery, but it is a question that only the future can answer…