Towa no Mirai [Eternal Future] (1/3) PG-13
Mina-Clare Moseley (clare@DAYMEN.COM)
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:03:50 -0500
The Methos Chronicles: Towa no Mirai [Eternal Future]
By Mina-Clare Moseley
Synopsis: Episode 3 of "The Methos Chronicles". Methos must decide between
self-preservation and saving a friend when a mutual enemy comes to Oxford.
Rating: PG-13. Heavy language.
Archive: Seventh Dimension and anyone else who wants it.
Author's Notes: This is Episode 3 in the 13 episode season.
For more information on the Methos Chronicles series check out:
http://straykitty.com/deargirl/methos/fanfiction/chronicles
Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis-Panzer Entertainment. This is
non-profit fan fiction.
Note: I apologize for the lateness of Episode 3. I was hoping to have this
out weeks ago. However, I struggled more with this one than I did with 1 or
2. Then my email went down. Big thanks to Susan for beta-ing ep 3 not once,
but TWICE. Also thanks to Daymen for supplying me with a new email.
On that note, clare@daymen.com is my new email address. If you wish to
contact me, do it here.
On the story, **..... ** denotes Japanese speech.
****
Misao's breath was ragged as she raced down parking lot. Her usually
impeccable hair had fallen from its braid, black tresses blurring her
vision.
She hadn't thought Shinta would be able to follow her. He did not know
where his former teacher resided. She could quietly get on a plane and head
west. Tokyo was a dense city. He wouldn't be able to track her that easily.
She had underestimated him. Yuuki Shinta would hunt her down until one of
them was dead.
Misao fell to the ground, body wracked with sobs. She was infinitely tired.
She hid between two cars, hoping to be hidden enough to get the drop on
Shinta.
For so many years she had hidden from him. Oh God, WHY couldn't she have
STAYED hidden?
The buzz pierced her senses, filling every part of her being. It called out
to her, RUN! RUN, MISAO!
Metal on metal shrieked in Misao's ears as Shinta ran his katana over a car
hood. Instead of going with her first instinct and covering her ears, Misao
reached for her sword.
"Misao...." she heard him taunt, his voice powerful and commanding. "Come
out where I can see you."
She stood up, holding her blade out before her. "Shinta.... Onegai....
Iie...." Her voice was nearly inaudible as she gasped for breath.
"You beg me to stop? How could I, Misao? You're unclean, unworthy. You need
to be cleansed." Shinta shook his head. "You refuse me. Instead, you run to
those Westerners. They are the ones who dishonoured me!"
Misao looked at the car beside her. She took a deep breath, steeling her
emotions. She raised her sword, shattering the window. Alarms broke through
the calm night air. She opened the door, getting into the driver's seat.
Tearing at the wires, she hotwired the car. She shook her head. "You
dishonoured yourself."
Peeling out of the parking space, she raced out of the parking lot.
*****
He is immortal.
Born 5,000 years ago, the details of his birth have been lost to the ages.
He will only fall with the strike of a sword and the loss of his head.
He has been a healer....
A scholar....
A killer....
He is Methos.
The Methos Chronicles
Episode 3-- Towa no Mirai [Eternal Future]
Written by Mina-Clare Moseley
*****
A yawn escaped Methos as he stretched out. Rubbing his eyes, he pushed the
term papers aside. "I'm exhausted. I'm going to head off to bed."
Rose looked up from her place on the couch. "Goodnight."
Rising from his seat, Methos strode over to her. He knelt on the floor and
took the journal from her lap. "So, are you staying over?"
"I was thinking about it," she replied brusquely, taking back the journal.
"Is that okay?"
"Hmm...." Methos wrapped his arms around Rose's waist, flashing her a
devilish smile. He lifted her off the couch. "A beautiful woman wants to
sleep with to me? Why would I turn that down?"
Rose laughed softly, drawing comfort from Methos' hold. "Next to you, not
WITH you." She felt her confidence rising as Methos drew her into the
bedroom. "You haven't done the dinner and a movie thing yet."
"Dinner and a movie? You've changed, Rosa," Methos commented as he peeled
off his clothes, climbing into bed. He nestled into the pillow. "I remember
when all I had to do was quote a poet and you were writhing in my sheets."
Rose shook her head, sitting on the edge of the bed. Methos covered her
hand with his, sitting up. "Serious now, Rosalyn.... You've been here
almost every day since the funeral. Are you afraid to go home?"
"I'm not afraid." She laid down, curling against Methos. She rested her
head on his chest, feeling his arm cradle her close. "It's just so....
Cold, empty. I have this huge manor and there's NO ONE there. When I'm
here, I feel comfortable." she smiled. "Safe."
"You're welcome here, Rose. I want you to know that." He dusted a kiss over
Rose's forehead. "There's not many people I make that offer to. It's nice
to know you're here. But I do think you need to go home. If for nothing
else but to check you mail. I promise there's nothing there that's going to
get you in any trouble."
Laughing softly, Rose closed her eyes. "You do know I'll probably get
challenged or something, just so fate can prove you wrong."
"Have a little more faith in me."
****
Methos strode down the hallway of the university, books clutched to his
chest. He coughed, his throat left dry from his last lecture. He didn't
know how long he was going to be able to put up with this life. Between
lectures, a secretary who didn't know how to use the copy machine and
lovesick college girls.... Methos preferred being a student.
Erin rose from her desk when Robert came in as she always did. She looked
less frazzled than usual, smiling as "Professor Roberts" approached her
desk. "I have your messages for you, Professor."
"I assume by your smile you have all of them?"
"Yes. I have an urgent one for you. It's from Roberta Morgan."
Methos took the message from Erin. "Roberta Morgan? I don't remember a
Roberta Morgan in any of my classes."
"It's a personal message."
"Roberta Mor-- Oh. OH!" He read over the message, then looked at his watch.
"Okay, I need you to copy the reports on my desk. Take any phone messages,
I have to leave campus for a while."
"Professor Roberts, is everything okay?"
"I really hope so."
****
Methos raced up the path to Rose's house. He panted, pounding on the door.
"Roberta! Let me in! It's Benjamin!"
The door opened slowly. Rose clutched a sword in her hand. She relaxed when
she saw who it was. "I'm so glad it's you, Doc."
Methos breathed a sigh of relief. "You said there was trouble.... Are you
okay?"
"Relatively speaking."
He pulled away from Rose as he felt the second buzz. His eyes widened. The
slight woman drew her lip up between her teeth.
"Misao."
****
1907-- Japan
The carriage traveled down the road through the countryside, carrying the
young couple. Rose looked outside, sighing as the scenery went by. "Oh Doc,
this is wonderful! Thank you."
Methos smiled, leaning back in his seat. He had put this trip together to
cheer Rose up after her latest foster child had been put back with his
family. She had become attached to him and had hoped to adopt him. "Well,
it's been a while since we've been on vacation together. In fact, I don't
remember the last time."
Rose rolled her eyes. "I remember it. You took me to meet your friend, Byron."
"Oh, of course." Methos cleared his throat. "I really didn't think you
would dislike him so much."
"It's not your fault he was a sexiest, masochistic wretch."
"At least you gave him a chance."
The buzz of an immortal tickled through both Methos and Rose. "**Driver,
stop!**" Rose commanded. The carriage pulled to hard stop in front of a
small home.
"Are you insane?" Methos hissed. "You feel like getting into a challenge?"
"Come on, Doc.... You felt that. It's such an immature buzz, it might was
well be from a pre-immie."
"Fine. Are you insane? You feel like getting a STUDENT?"
Rose stepped out of the carriage. "Are you coming with me?"
"Rosalyn." Methos followed after her. "You do remember what happened the
last time you got a student?"
"Then I'll train this one differently."
"Darling, I know you like adopting strays, but this is different." Methos
wrapped an arm around her waist. "Why don't we go back to the inn? It will
be more fun. And safer."
Rose brushed Methos aside, hiding behind a cherry tree, peering into the
garden at the side of the home. There were two young girls, both wearing
silk kimonos. They were obviously of breeding, with the poise and grooming
of geishas. One was in her early teens; the other was reaching full
womanhood. They were with a man. He dressed like a warrior, sword at his
hip, defying current Japanese law.
"Who do you think it is? The samurai or one of the girls?" Rose asked,
turning her head to look at her companion.
"I'm not part of this," Methos snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I really don't want to know. I haven't had a student in years, Rosa. I
don't plan on starting now.
The samurai raised his head, sensing something odd. He pulled his sword,
eyes narrowing to slits.
"He senses us and isn't happy about it," Rose backed away from the tree. "I
think we're in trouble, Methos."
"We?" Methos laughed. "This was your--"
The samurai leapt in the air, bringing his sword in a downward slash. A
branch of the tree was severed neatly, blossoms fluttering around the
towering swordsman. Reflex served the two immortals well, their swords out
before they had time to think.
"**What do you want?**" The samurai demanded. "**I am Yuuki Shinta. This
home is under my protection.**"
"**We mean you no harm,**" Rose stuttered out, "**We have come to teach.**"
"**Our home has no use for Western ways,**" Shinta snapped, lowering his
sword hesitantly.
"**They are not Western ways.... Let me try to explain....**"
Methos strolled towards the garden, Rose's flustered explanation fading as
he moved away. He smiled at the eldest girl. She bowed her head, cheeks
flushing pink.
"**What is your name?**" Methos asked quietly.
"**Misao. Hino Misao.**" she replied softly, not letting her eyes meet
Methos. "**You are friends of Shinta.**"
Methos shook his head, raising Misao's chin so she looked into his eyes.
"**You felt something strange when I approached.**"
"**There was a fluttering in my stomach. It felt like bells were ringing in
my head.**"
Shaking his head, Methos turned to Rose and Shinta. "Rose, you're wasting
your time. That's the wrong one."
Misao looked confused as this stranger spoke a foreign language to his
companion. "**Why are you here?**"
"**I would like you to meet me at the inn. It is about the injury you
received. The sword wound.**"
"**My injury?**" Misao's eyes grew wide with shock. "**How did you know?**"
"**7:00. Come alone.**" He sighed, glancing at Shinta. "**And I mean ALONE.
Don't worry, Misao. I'm a doctor. I can help you.**"
****
Methos tossed his coat onto the futon, staring down Rose. She bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. How was I to know Shinta wasn't the immortal."
"You're 905 years old, Rosalyn. You should be able to recognize buzzes now.
If you can't, I'm really shocked you've lived this long." He shook his head
fiercely. "Shinta's a pre-immortal. Misao is the immortal. I don't like
this. It's not good to have a pre-immortal and a new immortal in the same
place."
"Well, what are we suppose to do? Take off? Leave Misao and Shinta on their
own? That's not how it works."
"Can you clear out tonight? Misao is coming by."
"How can you be sure she's going to show?"
"I scared her," Methos replied. "I knew she had been injured by a sword."
"How did you know?"
"I guessed." Methos sat on the futon, crossing his legs and closing his
eyes. "I can take care of Misao."
"I thought you didn't want a student."
"She intrigues me." He took in a deep breath. "She's got a certain something."
"Oh really." Rose cleared her throat, clenching her jaw. "Are you sure
about this? I mean, taking a student is a big responsibility. And she lives
here in Japan."
"I can handle it," Methos opened his eyes, glancing at Rose. She had her
arms crossed tightly across her chest and took deep, calming breaths. He
chuckled softly.
"You expect me to clear out while you convince this beautiful, young,
virgin immortal you need to train her?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
"I know how you convince beautiful, young, virgin immortals to let you
train them."
****
TO BE CONTINUED....