Towa no Mirai [Eternal Future] (3/3) PG-13
Mina-Clare Moseley (clare@DAYMEN.COM)
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:05:46 -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 picked up one of the photos on the mantel. Rose was with two young
people, a muscular young man and a girl wearing entirely too much eye
makeup, and an older gentleman. She ran her fingers over the picture. It
was obvious Rose was close to them. It had been so long since Misao had
people like that she cared for.
Yui was the last one. Misao had loved her sister dearly. She had not
returned home after the confrontation with Shinta. Shinta had not gone
after Yui. The youngest Hino had not dishonoured him. He had no interested
in her. Misao had watched from afar as Yui grew old. She married Seiya, the
man who had pursued her. They had lived happily for many years, having
several children. Yui had died only thirty years ago. She could still
remember playing in the garden with her. They were both so young, so
innocent. At that time, Misao had no idea how much bloodshed would dominate
her long life.
She set the picture down as Rose came in. "Miss Rosalyn.... Where is Sensei?"
"He...." Rose sighed. "He's gone. He went out the back. I'm so sorry,
Misao. This has nothing to do with you."
"I know. Sensei believes it is all for one. That we must protect ourselves.
I should not have come here." Misao pointed to the picture. "Who are these
people?"
"My children," Rose responded. "That's Douglas, Greta and Micky. It was
taken a few years ago." She smiled sadly. "Micky died a few weeks ago."
"I am so sorry, Miss Rosalyn." Misao took in a deep breath. "You have a
family. You have people who care for you. Yet I deliver you into the hands
of Shinta."
"You did what you thought was right."
"I did what I thought would keep me alive. There was no honour in my actions."
"Your Sensei taught me a very long time ago honour is overrated." She
became alert to the presence of another immortal. She pulled out her sword.
"No," Misao held out her hand, halting Rose. "It is Shinta. I must fight him."
"I can face him."
"NO. It is my fight." Misao pulled out her sword, walking outside, proud
and strong. Rose followed her out.
Shinta was laughing, already in fighting stance. "It was not you I came
for, Misao. It was that bastard doctor who trained you."
"He's not here. You'll have to settle for me." Misao said. Shinta shook his
head, pushing her aside. "What about the lovely Miss Rosalyn? Are you ready
to die, dear woman?"
Rose pulled her sword, jumping over the rail of the porch. She landed on
the driveway in a crouch. She looked up at Shinta, eyes burning with a
fiery passion. "I don't die easily. Even by our standards."
Shinta swung his sword at Rose, she ducked beneath the blade, contorting
her form to avoid his slashes. He laughed. "You're good, Miss Rosalyn." She
swung her blade, meeting his. "But your sword is heavy. You cannot get in
as many hits as I can."
Rose reached behind her beneath her jacket. She felt the gilded blade of
her dagger. She wrapped her fingers around it, pulling it from the leather
sheaf. She thrust the blade forward, burying it in Shinta's stomach.
"Well played, Miss Rosalyn," Shinta laughed, running his fingers over the
wound. He licked the rich blood from each digit. She prepared to give the
final strike. Shinta was faster, running the blade over Rose's neck. She
dropped her dagger, her hand reflectively covering the wound.
"You'll live," Shinta growled as Rose fell to the ground. She panted,
feeling the blood spill over her hands. "At least, you WOULD...."
The blade began to fall. Rose rolled out of the way, holding her blade up.
"Miss Rosalyn, RUN!" Misao begged.
She wouldn't be able to beat Shinta. The wound in her neck throbbed, pain
coursing through her entire body. She scrambled off the pavement, racing to
her car. She hesitated, looking to Misao. She had her sword out, ready to
face Shinta.
"JUST GO!" she yelled. "Find Doc and LEAVE!" She turned to Shinta. "There
was no honour in that." Misao leapt at Shinta.
Shinta deflected her move, slashing through her chest. "I find honour to be
an abstract these days."
Misao rose to her feet, staggering. She held her sword out. "If honour is
not important, why do you still seek us out?"
"Revenge is a concept I still understand quite well." He raised his sword,
bringing it down against Misao's neck. He hissed as the Quickening took
over.
****
Methos threw his bag into the back of his car. He yawned, rubbing his eyes.
He needed to get out of town tonight. If there was even the slightest
chance Shinta could find him.... Well, he wouldn't be around long enough to
consider that.
He felt the prickle of another immortal, looking around. Rose walked
through the parking lot, a bloodied hand covering her neck.
"Rosa," Methos sighed in relief, "Did you come to your senses? Are you
coming with me?"
Rose moved the hand from her throat. Methos recoiled. "Oh, Rose...." He
touched the wound. "Who did this? Shinta?"
She nodded.
"You'll recover. You should get it covered so it doesn't get infected. You
don't want you talking like Kalas."
"Misao is dead," Rose croaked.
He considered this for a moment. "I was able to get Professor Haley to fill
in for me. Convince the university I had pneumonia. Highly contagious. I'm
heading to Vegas. I've been meaning to go for a few years. I've got some
spare change on me. Thought I might try my hand at craps. You can come with
me and recover."
Rose slammed Methos' trunk closed, leaning against it. "Did you hear me,
Old Man? Misao is dead. Shinta killed her."
"I heard you. I just don't see how this changes my plans at all." He opened
the passenger side door. "Are you getting in?"
She stood her ground. "Shinta came and I let him beat me. I let her fight
him, even though I knew she wasn't strong enough. I got Misao killed."
Methos clenched his jaw. "No, Misao got Misao killed. If she wasn't strong
enough, that was her fault."
"You don't feel anything?" Rose felt her stomach wretch at the thought.
"One of your friends just got whacked and you don't even care?"
"Misao was a student. I taught her all I could. She should have been ready
for this. If she wasn't, then there's nothing I can do." Methos shut the
car door. "What would you have me do, Rosalyn? Break down in tears? Go
after Shinta in a vengeful rage? She was someone I taught and that was it."
"Someone you taught? Well, I'm glad to know how you feel about your
students." Rose turned, walking away.
"Hey, wait!" Methos followed her. "Let me take a look at your neck. It
needs to be treated, or you'll end up with a scar.
"Forget it!"
"What is this about, Rosalyn?" Methos demanded.
She whirled back. "You said you saw something in her! Something special!
Did that mean nothing? You taught her for a year and you can't even flinch
at her death?"
"No, stop.... This isn't about Misao and me.... this is about you and me,
isn't it?"
"No it's not," Rose muttered, "Because there is no you and me."
"You think I wouldn't care if you got killed. You think I'd turn my back on
you if you needed my help."
"It does fit your modus operandis."
"Wait a sec--" The buzz filled their senses. Methos whirled around, pulling
his sword. Shinta leapt from the top of a car, sword clashing against
Methos'.
The old immortal yelled ferally. "I was THAT CLOSE to getting out."
Shinta's tongue darted out, wetting his lips. "Well, well, well.... So Miss
Rosalyn couldn't stay away from her Sensei. Those women feel the need to
dishonour us by learning the art of the sword,yet they continue to hide
behind us."
"You've seen the changes in this world.... Yet you still think it's all
about your honour. You had to kill Misao just because your fucking pride
was hurt."
Shinta darted out of the way of Methos' sword. "I swore to protect her. But
that wasn't enough! I was going to love her, honour her, treat her as a
proper woman!"
Methos reached for his dagger. Shinta smiled, grabbing Methos' hand. "Miss
Rosalyn gave your secret away already."
"I always have a few more up my sleeve." Methos flipped Shinta over his
back, the samurai landing hard on the pavement. Bones cracked in the
impact, leaving the younger immortal immobilized.
Shaking his head, Methos brought his sword down. "I hope honour was worth
it. I find it rarely is."
The Quickening took over his body, lightning surging through his core.
Methos panted, feeling the bile rise in his throat as the Quickening
subsided. Slowly he rose to his feet. "Rose?" He looked around.
She was gone.
****
Rose stretched, sitting down at the kitchen table. She rubbed her neck,
feeling the faint scar there. She would always be marred by that small
mark, neck wound rarely healed perfectly. "Doug.... I'm glad you called.
I'm doing fine. Things are going okay. I'm going to try getting back to
work soon. No, I still remember all those languages. I've known these
languages for hundreds of years. A few weeks away from translating isn't
going make a difference. How's what's her name doing... Yes, Nancy, that's
it. I'm glad. Doc? He's.... Doc." Rose shook her head. "Don't worry,
sweetie. Things are fine. I promise you. Doc and I have these spells. I'm
sure...." She perked up, looking around. "He's right here."
She bit her lip. "Doug, I'm going to have to call you back." Not looking
away from Methos, she hung up the phone.
"We need to talk," Methos said. One of his hands was behind his back "I let
myself in."
"I noticed." Rose crossed her arms. "What are you doing here?"
Methos moved his hand in front of him, producing a red rose. He handed it Rose.
"What is this for?"
"I've given you roses for years." Methos moved closer. "I wanted to talk to
you. Why did you leave when I was fighting Shinta?"
"I led him to you. Shinta followed me to your place. Exactly the way he
followed Misao."
"You're not Misao." He ran his hand over her face, tracing her features. "I
meant what I said before. Misao was a student. I trained her for a year and
never saw her after that. A few years after training her, I didn't remember
her. It didn't come back to me until I saw her."
"I was your student."
"You were never just my student. You are my friend, my companion, my
lover...." Methos took her hand. "Even if I didn't see you for decades,
I've never forgotten you. Your look, your smell...." He growled softly.
"Your touch."
He ran his hand to her hair, brushing his fingers through the locks. "There
are probably five people in this whole world who I would not turn my back
on. People who I would put my head on the line to save. The people who if
they weren't around anymore, there would be something horrible wrong with
my life. A huge hole that couldn't be filled."
"Stop this," Rose said firmly, pushing Methos' hand away. "You're being
silly." She got up, walking away from the table.
Methos followed close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He
pulled her close to him. "Guess what, Rosalyn," he murmured, "You're one of
those people. If you were to die, I would lose a very important piece of
me."
"You shouldn't have to protect me."
"I'm not." Methos casually ran a finger over the scar on Rose's neck. "I'm
protecting my life."
He let go of Rose, striding to the door. "Well, I'll see you later, Rosa.
Watch yourself."
He left the house, leaving Rose dumbfounded.
****
April 27, 2001
Dear Em,
I think you have the right idea, not taking on students. I've had way too
many problems with these kids turning up.
Misao was a sweet girl. I really did see something in her. There was a
hidden strength that was being quashed by the environment she was in. I
have always loved strong women.
Yet I couldn't bring myself to risk my life for her. I hadn't seen her in
nearly a century. It's a one-on-one game in our world.... She needed to
finish it herself. Even if it meant her death.
I only know of one surviving student. I know that student will never look
for my assistance.
And she's the only one I'll offer it to.
~The Old Man
****
aoki sora yo, hateshinaki sora
hikari ga, soko ni aru kagiri
atsuku tsuyoku, ore-tachi wa ikite-yuku
ai wo kazashi mamoritai
...towa no mirai
--Towa no Mirai, Mori Yukinosuke
Oh blue sky, unending sky
Light is out there, limitless.
Passionately, strongly, we will live on.
I want to protect love, for it to flourish.
...the eternal future
--Eternal Future, Mori Yukinosuke (Translated by Takayama Miyuki)
****
Next time on "The Methos Chronicles": Words
Methos will pray for beheading when he is tormented by a lovesick royal, an
young Hugh Fitzcairn and some misplaced poetry.