Immortal Kenshin

(Chapter One)

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or Highlander.

'…' — Thoughts

"…" — Speech

… -- Flashbacks

-- Scene change

Chapter One: Meetings

Methos was currently walking along the streets of Paris, planning on visiting his friend, Duncan MacLeod. He was not quite sure why, mind you, but Methos had a feeling that he would meet someone else on the way.

Both Methos and Duncan were immortals, Methos being the oldest immortal still alive, five thousand years old to be exact. Duncan was about to hit four hundred, even though neither of them looked to be older than about thirty-five. Immortals can only die when their head is severed from their body. They fight against each other, and then one cuts off the other's head and absorbs their power. But enough of this, there is a story to tell.

Methos sighed running a hand through his shortly cut brown hair, and then shoved both hands into the pockets of the fading blue jeans he was wearing, careful to avoid the sword he had strapped at his waist and hidden under the pale brown trench coat. He was startled when he felt another immortal's presence—for they can sense the approach of their own kind—and started to turn when he heard his name being called, only to have a smaller redheaded immortal leap into his arms.

"Wah- huh?" Methos stuttered. He looked down to his chest where he was met with a familiar shock of blood red hair that was tied into a high pony-tail on the other man's—for the figure was indeed male—head. "Ken- Kenshin?"

The man identified as Kenshin looked up at Methos, reluctantly detaching himself from around Methos' waist, and met shocked and confused brown eyes with his own soft violet, giving a wide smile and an enthusiastic nod. Methos' eyes drifted to the scar lying in plain sight on Kenshin's left cheek.

Methos gulped. 'Yep,' he thought. 'Definitely him. I've only met one person in my entire lifetime with those eyes and that scar. Him and him alone.' He finally took in Kenshin's appearance. He had on a pair of very baggy black gothic pants, a very tight no sleeved leather top that showed off his narrow chest, and a long black leather trench coat that Methos could tell hid his katana. The last time he saw Kenshin, he had been using a sakabato, but Methos had eventually managed to help Kenshin get over his past as the infamous Hitokiri Battousai, which allowed Kenshin to finally wield a true katana without regret or guilt. But as for his appearance, Methos decided that Kenshin was, for lack of a better word, exquisite. Intimidating but beautiful, feminine but masculine all at once.

"Konnichi-wa Methos-dono," Kenshin said, his warm smile never faltering. "How have you been these last two hundred years?"

Methos swallowed hard again and almost blushed when he realized he had been staring at Kenshin for a good two minutes. "I've been well Kenshin-kun, thank you for asking."

Kenshin started to giggle suddenly. He through his head back and flicked some of his bangs out of his eyes, still smiling broadly. "There is no need to be formal with me Methos-dono, that there is not. Just call me what you did all those years back."

"Well, if you say so Ken, I never could deny you anything," Methos shrugged it off casually. He then noticed something odd about Kenshin he had not seen before. It was a steel choker that was actually very thin, but it would still give ample protection if a sword were to hit it instead if Kenshin's bare neck.

He chuckled and asked, "Don't you think that counts as cheating Ken?" Kenshin tilted his head to the side at this. "I mean the collar that you're wearing."

"Ah," Kenshin said, nodding slightly, he continued as he scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well, umm, see…" He trailed off as the two immortals felt yet another presence.

"Methos!"

Said man sighed in exasperation. "Well I sure am popular today, aren't I?" he mumbled lightly. He turned to look behind him to see Duncan running towards them, beginning to draw his sword. Methos silently thanked any power that was up there that the street they were on was completely deserted. 'Hey, wait a second,' Methos thought suddenly. 'If Mac's not coming after me, than what is he…'He then remembered that Kenshin was standing right behind him. 'Oh shit.' "Mac no!" Methos shouted. "Kenshin's a friend! Don't attack him!"

Duncan was next to Kenshin in a flash, his sword drawn and in his fighting stance.

"Oro?" Kenshin said, his eyes going wide. Methos burst out laughing at this old habit of Kenshin's. The other two men looked at him, Duncan dropping his fighting stance and Kenshin looking both shocked and confused at his old friend's antics.

"You still do that Ken?" Methos asked Kenshin, still laughing lightly. "Does anyone that hears it even know what it means anymore?"

Kenshin appeared to go into deep thought for a moment before saying, "I don't think they do, that they do not."

Duncan watched this little exchange suspiciously. He did not trust this 'Ken' guy at all; Methos had never talked about him before… And what was with the whole steel collar thing?

A hand thrusting itself into his line of vision interrupted his thoughts. He started and followed the hand into a leather clad arm, up to a narrow leather clad torso, his eyes finally coming to rest on the smiling face of Kenshin.

Kenshin's smile widened, his eyes closing, as he waited for Duncan to shake his hand in greeting. As Duncan complied, Kenshin spoke. "Konnichi-wa Duncan-san. My name is Himura Kenshin. I am pleased to meat you, that I am."

"Oh, umm, yeah. Same here, I guess," Duncan said slowly. 'Did he forget that I almost attacked him?'

"Incase you're wondering," Kenshin said, removing his hand from Duncan's. "I have not forgotten your attempt at attacking me, I just feel that we could start anew."

"Ah," Duncan said as he tried to process all that Kenshin had said. He cleared his throat and continued. "Well, I should be getting back to my barge now, umm, do you two want to come?"

Methos nodded with a quick "thanks Mac" and Kenshin bowed slightly. "Sessha would appreciate that very much, that he would."

So there they were, sitting inside of Duncan's barge, trying to catch up with what everyone had been doing. Duncan finally decided that he could trust Kenshin, well, as much as you could trust someone you have only known for about two hours.

Currently, the subject they were on was their love lives. Duncan noted dully that Kenshin had not said anything at all about his relationships with people.

"So Ken," Methos asked lightly. "What ever happened to that one boy you were with? What was his name again… Kanoske?"

Kenshin chuckled darkly and without any humor what so ever. "His name was Sanosuke. As for what happened to him, well I'd think that would be obvious, that it would. He's dead. He was murdered for courting the infamous Battousai." Methos noticed that Kenshin's eyes had started to tear at the mention of his old boyfriend. He then noticed that he had let the secret of Kenshin's homosexuality out.

Duncan frowned in confusion at Kenshin's last statement. "The Battousai? Do you mean the Hitokiri Battousai? The man who the entirety of Japan feared at the time I was there?"

Kenshin nodded, the tears still not escaping his eyes. "Hai, that I do, and that I am. Sano was my best friend at first, but then we developed feelings for each other, and then…" Kenshin trailed off.

There was a loud bang and a flash of light and Kenshin stopped in his tracks. He looked behind him to see Sano, doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach.

"SANO!" Kenshin yelled as he saw Sano fall to the ground. He rushed over to him and fell to his knees beside his koi. "Sano, are you alright? Please, answer me!"

Sano started to cough, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. He could see Kenshin kneeling over him, tears filling his eyes. "K-Kenshin? Koi? Please don't cry, I hate it when you cry. Please?"

Kenshin nodded. Sano then went into another coughing fit, his lifeblood spurting out of his mouth.

"Sano?" Kenshin asked quietly.

"Kenshin, promise me something. Swear to me that you'll move on to someone else. Swear to me that you won't blame yourself for this. Promise me Kenshin!"

Kenshin nodded again. "I-I promise Sano. But you can't die, that you most certainly cannot! I'll sacrifice myself if I have to!"

Sano gave a weak smile, cupping the left side of Kenshin's face and tracing the scar there he said, "Ashiteru Kenshin, my little swordsman. Oh Kami-sama I love you so much."

"I love you too Sanosuke, my brave fighter." Kenshin held Sano's hand that was cupping his cheek tightly, watching as Sano gave his famous grin one last time before his eyes closed and his breath stopped. "Sano? Sano, please don't leave me!" Kenshin released Sano's hand and buried his face in Sano's chest. "SANOSUKE!"

Kenshin's delicate hands curled into fists as he stared at them throughout his explanation. Blood started running down his bare arms when his nails pierced the skin of his palms. Kenshin jumped when Methos covered his hands with his own.

"Don't do this to yourself Ken," Methos said sympathetically. "All of that's in the past now. Don't lose yourself in things you couldn't do anything about."

Kenshin let out a sob and latched himself around Methos' waist, the two of them completely forgetting that Duncan was sitting in a large chair across from their spot on the bed. 'So,' Duncan thought. 'This is what happened to the Hitokiri Battousai. His boyfriend got killed, he met Methos who apparently taught him the rules, and he ran off somewhere. Humph, some story.' He stood and began to make his way towards the door.

"Mac," Duncan turned as he heard Methos call his name. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Joe's," Duncan called over his shoulder. Methos flinched when he heard the front door slam shut.

'I hope he doesn't tell Joe about Kenshin.'

Duncan sat down on a stool at the bar, sighing heavily. Joe, who was behind the bar, walked over to where Duncan sat and asked, "Hey Mac, what's up? I haven't seen you looking this down in ages!"

Mentioned man glared at Joe. He sighed again, preparing to ask what he had come here to ask. "Hey Joe, do you know anything about an immortal named Kenshin Himura?"

Chapter One End

Kitten: Well, that's it for chater one!

Sano: glares...You killed me?

Kenshin: Sano, calm down...don't hurt yourself.

Sano jumps at Kitten in an attempt to kill her

Kitten: Oro!

Kenshin: Hey, that's my line! Jumps at Kitten to help Sano

Kitten: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! runs

R&R please!