SMST: My So-Called Immortal Life – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, HL and other properties belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Part 1

"From the dawn of time we came, moving silently through the centuries. Living secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering, when the few who remain battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you…until now."

- Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobo Remirez, circa 16th century.

In the early part of the 21st century, a titanic battle amongst the so-called "True Immortals" will be waged. Legends have it, that a Highlander will battle the Guardian of the Source…of the power of the True Immortals. Later, the battle will be seen as the turning point of both Humankind…and True Immortal-kind. Had this Highlander fail to defeat the Guardian, the Darknesss would have "consume" all of Earth.

Still, the time for battle was years away, and the thoughts of one unlikely immortal was as far removed from thinking of that "grand picture" as possible…

1985: Paris, France.

"…Okay, now stretch!" Usagi says in French, as she led an aerobics class in the heart of Paris, France. "And one! And two! And three-!"

"You know, I never thought I see the day that Usagi would be in her element," says a man with a Scottish accent, as he and his friend watched the aerobics class while working—with weights—in the main area of the gym.

The man turns to the other young-looking man.

"Don't you agree, Ranma?"

Ranma, who was doing some curls, looks over to give his friend "the Look".

"What?"

"Duncan, she happens to be MY wife, you know," Ranma says, as he continues to do curls. Although his strength was "legendary", Ranma wears a special set of bracers in order to create the equivalent resistance he needs to sustain a proper "workout".

"Wait a minute," Duncan says, as he sets his weights down. "I thought you and the Bunny were divorced."

"No, we're 'separated'. We still care about each other, but there are…certain issues to work out."

"Oh, like you and…Amanda?"

"Oh, please," says Ranma with a smirk. "You and I BOTH know Amanda doesn't count, Duncan-"

"So, how was my workout, boys?" Usagi says, as she swept back her '80s hair.

"You certainly know how to stay fit, Bunny," Duncan says.

"Well, when I do leave this place at the end of the day, I certainly hope to leave a lasting impression…right, Ranma?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ranma replied. "So, everyone still on for tonight?"

"Well, I am," Usagi says. "I can't wait until I meet Duncan's new girlfriend."

"Bunny, we're just friends."

"Sure you are…"

"Okay, we ARE starting to get close, but that was long after we met."

"Just how long, Duncan?"

"Try six years."

"Wow," Ranma says. "That's awfully slow."

"Well, when we first met, she had a boyfriend, as unreliable as he was, and there were the trust issues."

"In other words, this person you're seeing is a lot of work," Usagi replied.

"And how…but it's worth it."

"So her name is Tess-something?" Ranma asked, as he towels himself off.

"Her name is Tess NOEL. She's an artist who does tours on the Rhine."

"Does she, um, know about you?" Usagi asked.

"No, she doesn't."

"Well, if you two ever get serious, you have to tell her about your 'other life'," Ranma says.

"I will…when the time is RIGHT."

The next day…

Usagi yawns, as her plane approaches LaGuardia International Airport on the Concorde.

"You okay, Miss?" asked a black man that was sitting next to her.

"Just a little tired, that's all," Usagi says, as she stretches her limbs. "Had a late night get-together that ran a little too long."

"Ah," the man says.

Usagi looks over at the man. He appeared to be wearing clothes befitting of a religious man of Islamic leanings. In particular, Usagi could see that the man possessed quite a bit of power…

"Say, if I may ask…what is YOUR name, Mister…?"

"You noticed," the man says. "I am called 'Sunda Kastagir'. I am a wondering traveler who seeks to understand the wisdom of God."

"And I am Usagi Tsukino…and I seek to wear the latest fashion."

Instead of scoffing, Sunda merely smiles.

"Mister Kastagir?" Usagi asked.

"It is not ever day that one can meet such a gentle, yet jovial soul in these trying times."

"Well, I can appreciate that at least."

And then, Usagi brings out a business card from her purse.

"I'll be in town for a week or so. I have a townhouse near Central Park. If you ever want to have more conversations about…philosophies over a dinner, you can reach me at this number."

Sunda takes the card, and looks at it.

"I'll keep that in mind," Sunda says with a smile.

Later…

Waiting at LaGuardia was a woman in her mid-forties. She was still attractive, but her strength was based upon her sharp wit and mind…

"Usagi!" the woman called out, as she raises her hand.

As Usagi enters the main terminal, she sees the woman.

"Rachel!" Usagi called out. She then ran to hug her old friend.

"Oh, it's good to see you."

"I'm glad that you came, Usagi," Rachel says. "Um, where is Ranma? I thought he was going to be here with you."

"He…couldn't make it," Usagi says. "He had to go see…a Doctor."

The doctor in question was "The Doctor", who was an enigmatic being known as a "Time Lord"…

"Well, I'm dreadfully sorry," says Rachel. "But I am glad that you are here."

"Oh?"

A few hours later, Usagi enters the police station where the person she was visiting was being held for questioning. The bustling of people disturbed her, as did the smell…

With quiet resignation, Usagi goes to the main desk.

"Excuse me?" Usagi began to ask. "May I talk to the person who is in charge of holding Russell Nash for questioning?"

The desk sergeant looks up from his work.

"Who wants to know, sweet cheeks?" the policeman scoffed.

Usagi tilts her head slightly, and places her briefcase on the counter.

"His lawyer, sergeant. Now, unless I speak with the person handling the Nash case, I will file a brief with the local magistrate, and claim that NYPD's finest is holding my client without cause. Whether or not I'm successful is not as important as the grief you'll get for being obstinate."

The police sergeant sighs.

"Fine, I'll get someone to see you."

"THANK you, officer."

Thirty minutes later, Usagi and a handsome man leave the police station for that area.

"I didn't NEED your help, Usagi," the man says, as he and Usagi walk down the steps.

"I know that, Connor, but since I was going to see you anyway, and since Rachel was concerned about you, it is my obligation as both your friend and LAWYER, albeit part-time, I'm going to help you out."

"Yeah, yeah," Connor says. "Wait, where's Ranma?"

"A mutual friend needed his help, so he couldn't stop by for a visit."

"But I needed his help to assess the latest antiques I got from Japan."

"Um, Connor, you DO have a resource in me, you know."

"Maybe, but Ranma tends to know his weapons better than you do."

"I see…"

Connor hails a taxi with his waving hand.

"So, you got into a fight last night?" Usagi says, as a cab stops in front of the police station.

"Yeah, but let's not talk about it right now," Connor says, as he takes a glance back at the police station, while opening the cab's door.

"Alright, but you owe me an explanation."

"Humph!" Connor says, as he enters the cab before closing it behind him.

"Hey, it's a least you can do, after all those cat-calls I had to go through…in order to get you out of jail."

"Whatever," Connor says. He then turns to the cab driver.

"Greenwich Village."

"You got it, buddy," says the driver, as he pulls out onto the street.

"You know, you should relax," Usagi says.

"Relax, huh?" Connor scoffs. "You've known me for a LONG time. Since when have I relaxed?"

"I guess you got a point there," Usagi says, as her minds wanders back to the day when she first met Connor MacLeod…of the Clan MacLeod…

FLASHBACK!

1536 AD: Glenfinnan, Scotland.

It was a night of merriment, as the Clan MacLeod, resident Scottish clan of Loch Shiel, celebrates one last night of merriment…before they engage in a battle against Clan Fraser over control of the loch (or "lake"). With all things, some aspect of the merriment tends to get out of hand.

CRASH!

"Fight, fight, fight, fight-!" yelled the men, as two women began pulling hair.

"Get a-way from me, ye daft witch!" Usagi says, in a Scottish accent.

"Not until ye promise me to leave mi Connor alone!" says the other girl.

Under the guise of 'Phoebe MacLeod', Usagi has made her home in the Highlands of Scotland for generations now. As far as everyone was concerned, she was some distant cousin that nobody has heard of, but that everyone accepts into the clan nevertheless.

"Fine, ye win! But ye need ta pay for ye insult!"

With that, Usagi punches the girl in the stomach. The blow was enough to loosen the other girl's grip. Usagi then tosses her out of a nearby window.

"Ah-!"

CRASH!

"Ye be gone where the trash needs ta be!" Usagi yells.

"Well, done, cousin," Connor says. "Ye may have earned your clan name just yet!"

"Humph!" Usagi says, as she turns her nose.

"Ah, don't be sore, Phoebe," Connor says. "I was just ridding ye."

Usagi turns to face Connor while snorting her nose.

"Tis be a cold day in Hell before you get into MY bed!"

And with that, Phoebe stomps outside.

"You better apologize, cousin," Angus says, as he takes a sip of his spirits.

"What did I do?"

"Phoebe, no matter where she comes from, is, as far as I'm concerned, a 'MacLeod'."

"Ah," Connor says, as he realizes that he was dismissing her feelings as a woman.

"Aye, ye right, cousin. I better see what she is fine…"

Usagi was outside, looking at the stars.

"Cousin?"

Usagi turns her head, as she sniffs.

"Connor?"

"It be a cold night," Connor says, as he covers Usagi with his cloak.

"Aye, it is…"

"How come ye haven't a husband?" Connor asked.

"Wot?"

"A lass like you should be married…with child."

"Wimmen folk are more than breeders. We be equal to a man."

"Stop with the such nonsense."

"Humph."

"Look, I apologize for not taking ye seriously. Ye be a MacLeod. Ye proved it ta be SO."

Usagi shakes her head. Men of this era were stubborn when it comes to equality of the sexes. Still…

"You know, Connor, we not be first cousins."

"Yah…"

"And tomorrow ye go to battle, right?"

"What ye getting at, woman?"

"Well, it's a nice night to be…comforted."

"My god, woman. Ye be virgin if we do as ye suggest. I want ye to be pure for thy future husband."

Inwardly, Usagi giggles. It's been thousands of years since she was "made" into a woman…though she WAS married when the deed was done.

"Connor, trust me, when I say that there are womanly ways to maintain one's purity. And I want to pay Kenzie back for her insult."

Connor raises an eyebrow.

Later the next day, Usagi was humming a tune while preparing for the harvest. Her hair was in a scarf, as she trudges across the field of wheat with her bushels in hand-

"They've return!" yelled one of the older women.

Usagi looks up, and sniffs the air. Since last night, she has committed Connor's scent to memory…just as the smell of a dying Connor strikes her senses.

"Connor…?" Usagi says, as she drops her basket.

Tbc.