Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuke and others. Highlander belongs to... someone who's not me, and that includes Methos (unfortunately, sniff, sniff).
Stats: This story is a crossover, Methos from Highlander wandering through the world of the Kenshingumi. It is set roughly after the Jinchuu arc, although I have never actually read that arc (just read a lot of other fanfics related to it), so please take it with a grain of salt; it's also somewhat AU as I've kept Sano around and Megumi is supposed to return, and of course there's a 5,000 year old man wandering through. Standard pairings apply, with a bit of Methos/Kaoru/Kenshin for fun. The PG-13 rating is for language that I will probably use. I don't anticipate anything even limey, although I reserve the right to change my mind! (at which point you will be appropriately warned) Personal author's note at end.
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"What're you talking about, busu?"
"Show some respect Yahiko-CHAN."
"Hey Tae, I need some more sake!"
Sano has an incredible tolerance for sake, Kenshin thought as he happily munched on his rice. Life was good. The dojo was slowly but surely increasing in prosperity, Sano had recently returned from a short stint in China, all of his friends were well and happy and here, and no one was trying to kill anyone. Life was quiet and steady. Well, relatively quiet.
Oh no. NonononononoNO. Kenshin felt a presence walking into the Akabeko. After a moment's panicked reaction to the strength of the presence, he realized it was... odd. Not threatening, but wary, and very, very old.
His curiosity piqued, he wished he could look around but could come up with no decent excuse to get up. Satisfied at least that this person hadn't come for him, he turned his attention back to the food before Yahiko ate it all.
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Methos walked into the restaurant. He was tired and hungry, and his funds were starting to dwindle. Nothing to worry about yet, but he liked to make sure he took care of it before it reached that point.
"Welcome to the Akabeko," said a pretty woman in an apron. "I'm Tae, the owner. Please come this way."
"Thank you," he said, kneeling at the low table. There was something strange here, an unusual presence. Not an Immortal, or he never would've set foot in the place, but an unusually strong mortal. The presences around it were stronger than most as well, but this one was different. If he'd had any curiosity left after almost 5,000 years it might have been aroused, but he'd managed to do away with all but an academic sort of curiosity, maybe a couple centuries after he'd gotten rid of guilt. He'd been in strong presences before. More often than not they brought trouble and trouble was definitely something he avoided. So he set his bundle on the floor beside him and began eating.
His wrapped sword was within easy reach. Sometimes trouble didn't avoid him.
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Kaoru glanced at Kenshin. "Is everything all right, Kenshin?"
"Oro? Everything is fine Miss Kaoru, that it is," he said with a rurouni smile. He'd been puzzling over the strange ki again; he'd have to be more careful about getting distracted. Miss Kaoru didn't look convinced. "Please, Miss Kaoru, everything is fine. Do not worry about sessha."
He saw the spark in her eyes and knew that dropping his name for himself had distracted her. She hated it, and he loved her for hating it.
Love. Damnit he meant to stop using that word in connection with her. He tried to focus on the conversation.
"Dr. Genzai is just so busy these days," Kaoru was saying.
"'Course he is, he's used to having Megumi around to help out," Yahiko said, with his gift for blunt obviousness.
Kenshin watched Sano for any evidence of a reaction, but he was absorbed in his food. It wasn't as though Megumi was gone for good, she'd only gone to Aizu for a short visit – a tentative first reunion with her family. Although Kenshin hoped it was going well, he also hoped for Sano's sake that she wouldn't be gone too long. Feeling a little mischievous, he asked, "How's your hand, Sano?"
Sano looked at him suspiciously. "Whaddya mean?"
He smiled innocently, sweetly. "I just meant it looks like your bandage is a little old from the last time you hurt it, that's all."
"Uh-huh." Sano wasn't fooled. "Like Jou-chan said, the doc's been busy lately, doesn't need me takin' up his time with stupid stuff."
Kenshin nodded, his point made.
"Come on Yahiko, it's time to get back to work. You have to scrub the dojo after your lesson today."
"Aw, Kaoru."
"No whining Yahiko. Let's go."
As they walked out of the restaurant, Kenshin's eyes couldn't help but wander to his left. He saw a Westerner with short brown hair dressed in a simple white shirt that showed signs of road-wear. The face was rather worn itself, but not old. The stranger's eyes met his and he smiled slightly, a mischievous turn of the mouth that seemed mixed with the ancient quality of his eyes. Kenshin felt that he was looking at a man who had seen heaven and hell- and lived to tell about it. Then they were past him and Kenshin had to fight the urge to turn his head, wondering what mysteries this man held who could still smile.
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Methos watched them go, wondering what had overcome him. He'd been surprised at the man's appearance. A slight build, even for the Japanese, but the red hair was truly strange. And those violet eyes, something very striking about those. Although, he had to admit, it may have just been the pink gi that had brought forth a smile.
He hadn't failed to notice the sword hung at the man's waist, unusual in a time when swords were supposed to be outlawed. He thought of the man's companions: a tall man in rumpled clothes with unruly hair, a boy of maybe thirteen years carrying a bokken, a pretty girl with a bright smile, and two little girls. A mixed group, to be sure, but he'd seen stranger.
He chuckled to himself. When he thought about it, most of the strong people he knew kept "strange" company. He remembered a holy man whose best friend was a prostitute he never slept with....
"Can I get you anything, sir?" squeaked a small voice.
Methos looked up from his musings and smiled gently. "No, thank you, I'm all right."
He turned his attention to more practical matters. Where could he find a job? He had enough skills that it shouldn't prove too difficult to find something that didn't involve menial labor. It wasn't so long ago that'd he been a doctor in America, and during his journeys he'd picked up on some of the Japanese techniques. He liked being a doctor. It might be tricky to get started in a big city like this, but it was worth looking into. He'd been wandering for a while, it would be nice to settle down for a bit. Establishing himself was always a nuisance, of course, but the benefits of a clean and comfortable home were worth it.
Methos thought of his bed of rocks last night. The decision was made.
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Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction that I have attempted to publish. I have bits of Aoshi/Kaoru and Saitou/Kaoru floating around, but as Kenshin/Kaoru is my favorite I always wanted to write a story about them first. Unfortunately I could never think of a decent idea that wasn't too close to something already written (or started and never finished, SO annoying). I am very nervous as fanfiction is a very different sort of writing than original fiction, in my opinion. Also, I'm not sure how much a Highlander/Rurouni Kenshin crossover will appeal. Please review and let me know what you think of it so far. Thank you!