Rurouni Methos, Chapter Two
Disclaimer: Do I really have to write this every time? I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, Methos, or the world of Highlander.
Author's Note, including a brief description of Methos, at the bottom (and reviewer responses! I have reviewers!!!).
---
Methos had decided to stay here for a while, but how best to start? His own practice was always preferable, but that took more time and a lot more money than he had on hand. Perhaps a doctor in town was in need of assistance, even for just a little while? Yes, that was the best way to get started. He plotted out a plausible background while he waited for the waitress – wasn't her name Tae, and she owned the store? – to return.
"Are you all finished sir?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you. The meal was excellent," he complimented. Always best to ingratiate yourself before asking a question.
"Why, thank you." Her smile became wider as he promptly paid. He had to bite back a grin at the woman's practicality.
"Um, Miss Tae, I believe you said your name was?"
"Yes, sir. Is there something else I can help you with?"
"I hope so. Are there any physicians in town who could use an assistant?"
She eyed him a little more warily, taking in his traveling clothes. He had expected as much. Wanderers usually took on manual labor jobs; a displaced doctor was a bit strange, a displaced Westerner even stranger. Methos always found that the best lies were the ones closest to the truth. "I'm studying Japanese medicine so that I can write a book about it for the university back home."
Her face softened a bit. "Well, I don't know for sure, but you might ask Dr. Genzai. Megumi's visiting family and maybe he could use some help, just until she gets back, you understand."
"I understand. Thank you Miss Tae. My name is Brian Carter. I hope I will be returning to your lovely establishment again." Tae smiled and said he would be welcome, as a good restaurant owner does to all those who pay for their food and cause no trouble. He obtained directions to the doctor's before leaving.
He hadn't missed that the doctor's assistant was a woman. In that way at least Japan had advanced past the Western countries, those fools who thought a woman wasn't good for any more than tending house and raising children. Methos had known many a housewife who knew exactly how to tend small wounds and minor illnesses without the interference of a fussy doctor, particularly in places and times like America's West where doctors were few and far between. He'd been in America quite some time before the wanderlust hit him again, urging him not to just move to a new town as he had to do at least every thirty years or so (the downside of not aging), but to seek out a whole new people. It had been some time since he'd been in this part of the world, and he wanted to see what changes the war had brought. What he'd told Tae was also true, sort of – medicine was a pastime of his that resurfaced more often than not, and he was always studying it. There was no university back home, but anything he learned would be carefully written in one of his journals, and later just as carefully hidden away in one of the hiding spots where he left them. Some of them, both journals themselves and locations, had not held up so well over the centuries, but he preserved these bits of his life as carefully as possible.
Methos had begun keeping his journals as soon as writing materials allowed it, though ever since he'd left the Horsemen he'd done everything he could to build up his memory so that he wouldn't lose any more of his life to time. After he tore himself away from the slaughter and destruction that was the Horsemen, he had come to realize that he didn't remember much of his life before that. His age was something of a guess, and his name rather suspect. Still he clung to the name Methos, having no other, and underneath all of the false names he'd used over the years he was Methos. Even if his journals were the only ones who remembered him that way.
Brian Carter shouldered his pack and headed down the street to Dr. Genzai's.
---
Stupid rooster-head, thought Kaoru as she dragged a scowling Sano down the street. Neglecting his hand just because Megumi isn't in town. Wish she'd give up chasing after Kenshin and Sano would start working a little harder to get her attention. Unless, of course, Kenshin didn't want her to stop chasing after him....
Stop it, Kaoru. Kenshin had never shown any signs of caring for Megumi as more than a dear friend. While Kaoru had to admit that, she also couldn't convince herself that Kenshin showed any signs of greater feelings for her either. There had been moments when she'd wondered, thought maybe, just maybe, particularly after the Enishi business, but life had returned to normal and he had shown no signs of wanting to be anything more than her friend, her protector, and her housekeeper.
"Hey Missy, wake up. MISSY!"
"What?" yelled Kaoru. "We're going to Dr. Genzai's and don't you argue with me!"
"Uh, you passed it." Sano jerked a thumb at the building he was standing in front of, some twenty paces behind her. Kaoru fought the urge to hit him as she walked back – until he snickered.
She whacked him on the head. "Don't laugh at me you stupid Roosterhead. All I'm trying to do is help a freeloader until a certain Foxlady returns and takes charge of her puppy dog again."
"I am not her puppy dog!" Sano squealed but Kaoru had already entered the building.
"Dr. Genzai!" she called.
"Back here Kaoru!" She followed the sound of his voice to the back of the building, where he was drinking tea with a young man. At least, he appeared young; Kaoru didn't know very many Westerners so she wasn't sure how to guess his age. The swordswoman noted his thin but strong build and the fluid movements of his arms; she suspected he knew how to use a sword, but could sense no violence in his immediate nature. She wasn't nearly as good at reading ki as Kenshin, but she wasn't assistant master of the Kamiya-Kasshin style for nothing. The girl noted the soft brown hair, friendly eyes, and pleasant smile.
"Kaoru, this is Dr. Brian Carter. He might be helping me out a bit while Megumi's gone. Dr. Carter, this is Kaoru Kamiya, assistant master of the Kamiya-Kasshin dojo, and that behind her is Sanosuke Sagara."
Kaoru watched Sanosuke stiffen in the presence of the other man. So often he was just a whiny freeloader, sometimes she forgot his history as a fighter-for-hire. He'd become generally distrusting of other men, though she was grateful that he was not so brash as to act on it until there was reason. She stepped forward to address the doctor. "What brings you to Tokyo, Dr. Carter?"
"I'm studying Japanese medicine to write a book about it for the university back home. I've spent a bit of time in some villages already, and Dr. Genzai has agreed to take me on if I can prove that I really do know something about medicine."
"That's wonderful!" She leaned back and jerked Sano forward. "This roosterhead needs his hand checked and rebandaged."
"Excellent!" agreed Dr. Genzai. Sano appeared ready to protest, but Dr. Genzai held up a hand. "Not to worry Sanosuke, I'll be watching Dr. Carter the entire time."
Dr. Genzai led them to his workroom where Dr. Carter took a look at Sano's hand. He identified the original injury, how it had been treated, and made a tentative suggestion as to what the next course of action should be. Dr. Genzai amended the treatment, but pronounced him fully competent, but Sano still looked all-too-happy to snatch his hand out of the doctor's. Kaoru at first thought it was just because it wasn't Megumi, but then he burst out, "So why exactly does a doctor have calluses that belong to a swordsman?"
Dr. Carter didn't even pause as he continued preparing the new bandage. "I studied fencing at school, and when I came here I was fascinated by your swordsmanship as well as your medicine. I spent some time studying with an old man in one of the villages."
"Oh? Then perhaps you would like to come by the dojo sometime for a lesson!" exclaimed Kaoru. It was a little unusual to have such an old student, but a new student was still a new student. What if he wrote about her too? Would people in the West read about the Rose of Tokyo? She could barely contain her excitement. "Are you going to write about all of this too?"
"I don't know yet, but maybe. I would be delighted to come to your dojo, if Dr. Genzai will allow me to sometime," he responded deferentially.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Kaoru is always looking after my granddaughters," the old doctor said with a grin. "In fact, they're over there right now!"
"They're helping Kenshin with the laundry," said Kaoru.
He chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure those two are a big help." Just then another patient came in, so Dr. Genzai went to help them. Dr. Carter finished up with Sano, then said good-bye and went to help Dr. Genzai.
Kaoru allowed her delight to run free now that they were outside. "Just think, Sano! I could be in a book that will be read by millions of Westerners! I'll be famous! And the dojo will be famous, and my father's style, and-"
"Kaoru, I don't trust that guy," Sano broke in.
"Stop being silly Sano, he told you why he had the calluses. I've heard of Western swordfighting, maybe he'll show me some of it. You're just upset because someone other than Megumi took care of your hand."
"Hmph. Am not. Old Fox-Lady can stay away for as long as she likes." He shoved his hands deep in his pockets and was quiet the rest of the way back to the dojo while Kaoru kept talking about how exciting this was.
---
Methos sighed as he settled down on the futon. Dr. Genzai had graciously allowed him to stay with him until he found something more appropriate.
How had he gotten himself into this mess? One minute he just wanted a settled place to stay for a little while, the next minute he was introduced to friends of the red-haired man. He was sure there would be trouble. No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, trouble had a way of following him.
And agreeing to stop by the girl's dojo! How stupid could he be? He'd have to be very careful in hiding his skills; no medical student knew how to fight as well as he did. Methos kept his skills sharp, because as with trouble, Immortals could cross his path even if he avoided their's. He hadn't expected anyone to notice his hands that closely. The brown-haired man, Sano, was observant, for all that he looked like a fool, especially with that flying hair of his. What was it the girl had called him? "Rooster-head." It fit.
Methos smiled as he thought of the pretty girl, then kicked himself for it. He had a history of being attracted to spirited women, and she had an openness that made her instantly appealing. But Kaoru Kamiya didn't strike him as the type of woman interested in something short-term, and he was already itching to leave Tokyo. Methos thought briefly of leaving immediately, but he liked the old man and his granddaughters. He wanted to stay, but he would stay just until this Megumi woman returned.
But a man as old as he was doesn't lie to himself very well, and Methos was forced to admit that he wanted to meet the red-haired man as well.
I suppose I haven't gotten rid of my curiosity after all....
---
Author's Note: That's it for today, kids. In case anyone noticed, I did switch from using "fanfiction Japanese" to all English. As I started writing Methos's dialogue, I decided it was strange enough that an English-speaking man was speaking translated Japanese, and that it might be simpler if I kept as much of it in English as possible. There are things that don't translate well at all (I don't like 'missy' much instead of 'jou-chan') but all except the most untranslatable phrases will be kept (oh, and sessha, because "this unworthy one" is just awkward).
Reviews aren't required, but highly enjoyed and appreciated, so please do so!
A brief background of Methos and Highlander for those gracious enough to read this fic without being familiar with the crossover material (for those of you not interested or who don't need it, reviewer responses are after this):
Highlander is a set of movies and a television series about people called Immortals. Immortals cannot die except when their head is cut from their body; if this is done by another Immortal, the living Immortal absorbs the other's energy. They are all in something called the Game, which means that they will fight each other until only a few are left and the Gathering takes place. The one remaining Immortal will take the Prize, but no one knows what that is. They can sense each other within a certain proximity (thus it is impossible for one Immortal to completely sneak up on another), and they are not allowed to battle on holy ground. It is generally accepted that duels also take place one-on-one and without causing the other to "die" first (if an Immortal receives what would be a mortal wound, he or she essentially passes out for a little while). Immortals don't come from any particular place or time in history, and they can't have children. They live their lives as normal humans (growing up) until they suffer a violent death (includes violent death); if this never happens, they may lead normal lives, grow old, and die. The notions of "reading ki" etc. aren't in Highlander and aren't really in Rurouni Kenshin either, but I like them so I'm using them.
The movies were originally about Connor Macleod (Christopher Lambert) who was born in the Highlands of Scotland in the 15th century (I think, it's been a little while). The TV series was about Duncan Macleod (Adrian Paul), his kinsman and another Immortal born roughly 100 years later. Methos (Peter Wingfield) was introduced in the TV series. He is the oldest living Immortal, but he is also something of a myth; with few exceptions, even in duels (which he usually avoids if he can) he always identifies himself with the name he's currently using, which helps cut down on those Immortals who would come after him in order to kill such a powerful old Immortal. Around the Bronze Age, he was one of a group of Immortals called the Four Horsemen (like the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Revelations 6:8) who basically stole, raped, and slaughtered as the pleased. We're not sure exactly when or why he changed and became a good guy, but at some point he did (unless they told us and I missed it – horrors!); it seems reasonable that it was shortly after the Horsemen. Although he is now one of the "good guys," he's also cynical, sarcastic, and pessimistic/realistic, playing a sort of Merlin to Duncan's hopelessly good Arthur.
That's probably more than enough, and if anything else comes up I'll explain it at the beginning of the chapter.
Reviewer Responses:
legolasestelstar: My first reviewer, thank you! Yes, it will definitely be Kenshin and Kaoru together in the end, and very low-key between Methos and Kaoru. I don't know exactly what your definition of pathetic is, but I certainly hope I don't do anything to make these guys seem pathetic!!! I've never read that HP fic, but then again I'm not big on the Draco/Hermione pairing (Ron and Hermione all the way!). I might have to check it out though just to see Methos in Slytherin! (I'd put him in Ravenclaw :) Thanks so much and I hope to hear from you again!
Razvanor: Thank you. I never imagined people who weren't familiar with Highlander would be interested in my story. I hope you found this installment as interesting as the last - any comments or suggestions are welcome.
A-chan: How could anyone ever forget Methos? :) I'm so glad you're excited about this story! I hope you enjoyed this installment. Thank you!
PraiseDivineMercy: I hope my not-so-little summary helped jog your Methos memory. Thank you for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed this update. (I just read your "Aku Soku Zan" and now I want to have Saitou show up just long enough to smirk, hehehe, but unfortunately this is supposed to be a relatively serious story....)