Sitting in the school cafeteria Owen sat and stared at the tray of "food" in front of him. Three hundred and fifty some years and he's never… He realized that they had to make it acceptable to as many pallets as possible and make sure it was nutritious as well. But honestly he thought they were living in an age where things that were supposed to be good for you were good tasting as well. Then again considering some of these things at this particular high school it shouldn't have been a surprise that they haven't caught up that area either. It was a nice enough school, but the computers were a couple of generations out of date and the textbooks were printed in the nineties. But some of the teachers he's talked to were creative and found ways around these particular roadblocks. And of course they kids were bright and eager, which honestly surprised him especially the eager part.
Then again there were others like Princess and the group she hung around. Now they were what he thought the majority of his classes were going to be like. Being the daughter of the school principle, a sad fact he was able to confirm with the other staff, she thought she basically ran the place. And according to the others she pretty much did. In fact all of her teachers couldn't wait until she graduated so they would get her out of their hair. He wished Natalya was around because he really, really wanted to introduce Princess to her. It might fix the problem, or add to it if she took it too far
Speaking of the problem he was soon aware of the Principle hovering by him. Jennings was a nice enough guy, going bald, pencil mustache, apparently had a nervous tick that popped up every so often. But during the first few minutes of their interview Owen had him peg as a pushover. And according to the grapevine his daughter pretty much has him wrapped around her little finger, hence the whole running the school thing. He was also a somewhat passive personality, meaning while Owen could see he wanted to say something to him he was taking his time building up the resolve. He took pity on the man and started the conversation for him, "Is there something I can do for you Principle Jennings?"
"Ah yes," he said in that meek voice of his. Listening to him he realized maybe it was better if Natalya wasn't around, lord only knew what she'd do to this poor man if they ever met. "I wanted to talk to you about that scar on your neck. You said you got it shaving."
"And I did," he answered. He should have done more to Harris than just scar him back. Coming up with a believable cover story for something this size was a pain.
"Yet you told one of your classes on the first day you got it running with scissors?"
And he knew exactly where he got that bit of information. Ignoring Princess and her group he simply said, "I was asked a stupid question so I gave a stupid answer, just as simple as that."
"And you encourage your students to refer you by your first name."
"I said I'd answer to it if it was said, not exactly encouraging."
"Mr. McDonald, there is a standard I want my teachers to adhere to. And it's not very professional to let your students call you by your first name."
Owen wanted to laugh, only because he choose now to show a backbone. "And several teachers around here let their students address them by their first name. Don't believe me ask your wood shop teacher over here he's the one who told me."
"That's right," the older man said as he passed them. "I even herd your daughter call you Randolph in the hall during the middle of school day."
"That's not the same thing," he said getting flustered.
"Still not very professional," Owen countered. "So unless you want to give me an extra chair so I can assign your daughter's book bag a seat I wouldn't believe all the rumors coming out of my classroom."
The fact he sputtered for something to say told him he was right about where he was getting this information from, if not the actual reason.
"Uh-oh", the wood teacher said. Owen and Jennings looked over to see Princess stick out her leg just in time to trip the new girl Janet. While the shop teacher looked over at the Principle who just looked the other way Owen went over there with his hand in his pocket and told her, "I suggest you help her up and apologize."
"It's not my fault she's a klutz," she said in a dismissive way. Right now Owen went back to wishing Natalya was here.
"And I saw otherwise," Owen said standing her ground.
"And how about I get you in trouble and tell my Daddy you just sexually harassed me. Now go away and mind your own business."
Owen looked around as the shop teacher and Jennings joined the situation. "Did you just hear that?"
Jennings was about to say something when Princess started to stare him down. Owen and the shop teacher both silently begged him to hold his ground and be the school authority figure. But that backbone he was showing just evaporated and he meekly replied, "No I didn't hear a thing."
"Oh well you're in luck," he said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "My girlfriend told me it might be in my best interest to record any conversation I have with troubled students." Rewinding it a bit he up the volume and hit play.
"And how about I get you in trouble and tell my Daddy you just sexually harassed me."
"I love this age we live in," Owen said, mainly to the shop teacher who grinned to himself.
"You better hope something doesn't happen top that phone," Princess told him, not even hiding the threat in that statement.
"And how about I get you in trouble and tell my Daddy you just sexually harassed me." Everybody looked at Owen who was as confused as the rest of them. Then Janet got to her feet and hit something on her phone and everybody heard Princess again.
"It felt like a good idea to me too," she said. Princess grabbed her bag and walked off in a huff with Jennings and her group of friends right behind her. Owen gave into temptation and waved goodbye, yeah Natalya was rubbing off on him alright. Janet grabbed her things off the floor and said "Thank you."
"Just watch were other people feet are from now on," he said with a slight smile. "And we got that test next week so make sure to study." She smiled and went on her way.
The shop teacher leaned in and whispered, "Better careful McAllister, you're going to get in it deep if you step in the middle of that particular family."
"It wouldn't be the worst family problem I'd have in all my years," he said with a knowing grin. The shop teacher smiled back.
"You told me that problem, if I was you I would stay as far away from trouble as possible." Owen just shrugged. "So why did you get involved just now."
"Well we are supposed to be the authority figures around here. And we were all the new kid at some point weren't we?" And his mind went back to a time he was just that.
~1763~
It took Owen a long time to find anybody who would take him to this particular island off the main one of Japan. He told himself it was because it was the middle of winter, but the real reason was he barely spoke the language. Finlay told him that was going to be a problem at first but assured he'd pick it up in no time. Of course the older Immortal never told he'd have a hard time finding anybody to practice with. And those who did know English apparently never heard a proper Irish brogue in their life. Fortunately he knew the Japanese word for monk so a few of the more helpful local, meaning those who didn't immediately scowl at or ignore the foreigner, pointed him in the right direction.
Walking the path it wasn't long before he felt the buzz. He looked around, still trying to calm his reactions and not seem so obvious. The only other people he saw were two figures coming in the opposite direction. One had plain robes, a wide hat and a walking stick, the other was shorter and had robs going over his or her head. The one with the stick gently pushed the other one behind him. Not wanting to make an enemy his first day on the island he held up his hands in a non threatening manor and took a step back, "My name is Owen McAllister and I don't want any trouble. I'm looking for a monk named Naoto."
The taller one looked at him with his head cocked to the side a bit and in near perfect English asked, "And why are you looking for Naoto?"
"My teacher convinced me to learn under him for a bit. He said he had a special strike I should try and learn."
"And who is this teacher?"
"His name is Finlay. I know you might not have heard of him but…"
"I have heard of him." He started walking toward him, "Tell me," before he knew that walking stick smacked him in the head, it was so fast Owen barely registered it and the force was enough to make him stumble back a bit, "was that the strike he was speaking of?" There was almost an amused glint in his eyes.
"Why you…" Owen reached for his sword, again this man was faster as he pulled a sword out of the walking stick and held the point right at his neck.
"Patience Little Immortal. It is not wise to challenge those who are stronger than you without proper preparation."
This guy was getting on his nerves fast and let it show, "Little Immortal?"
"You act like a little child in this angry state," was all he said. "But your journey is over, I am the Naoto Finlay spoke of." Cocking his head to the side again he asked, "Did he tell you of my other skill?"
"You mean those so called 'unbeatable' moves?"
Now he looked genuinely curious, "You don't believe they work?"
"I'm sure they work but they seem like to much of a liability to me. Like it would be too easy to rely on them and not work on anything else." Naoto looked satisfied as he nodded his head and took the sword away from his neck.
"I may have to rethink my opinion of your current maturity level," he said as he put the sword back into the walking stick. "I will attempt to teach you my special strike, and other things if you so wish. Although be warned, many have tried but so far very few of actually succeeded"
"After I said I don't believe in unbeatable moves?", Owen asked in confusion.
"Although I do create them out of boredom," he explained, "I feel like you do and rarely use them. If you felt you needed to learn them then I would have sent you on your way for you would be wasting both of our valuable time and energy. Perhaps this is why Finlay sent you here." He turned to the person behind him, "Himiko go and make sure the hut behind our home is suitable. We don't want our guest to repeatedly freeze to death while he stay with us."
"At once Brother," and that voice was unmistakably female. She looked up to see Owen and he saw a young girl who's features were only marred by a scar on the left side of her face that ran under her chin. She lowered her head again as she went off but Owen kept looking at her, almost amazed at how beautiful she looked.
Realizing he was staring and Naoto was watching he tried to recover and asked, "Brother?"
"A long story," he said, almost amused, "perhaps one we will share with you as you stay. Now come we have much to discuss. I like to know all I can about those who want to train with me.
~Now~
"I guess we all were," the shop teacher agreed as Owen came back to the present in his mind. "But still be careful, she may not take your head but she may make you wish she did when she's done."
"Thanks for the concern but I think I can take care of myself, better get back to my lunch. God this food probably worse cold." If it wasn't for the fact the round trip to his favorite restaurant in Chicago would have been three hours he would have been so tempted.
Around that time in Chicago a car chase was going down in the middle of the streets of downtown. The driver wearing ski mask leading the chase didn't seem to care about the people he was running off the road to avoid the police that were behind him. Seeing a trap being set right in front of him he took it to the sidewalk to avoid it adding vehicular assault and homicide to the charges currently against him. A quick glance in his rearview showed that at least one of the cop cars decided to follow him on the sidewalk, now this guy he appreciated. Going back on the streets he was able to avoid any more traps and pitted a police car that was trying to that to him as he made his way to his destination. The parking garage came up fast and he crashed through the gate and quickly made his way to the top with his followers in tow.
Not even slowing down once he got to the top he aimed the grill of the car toward the wall and locked the steering wheel in place. Bracing for impact he grabbed the briefcase beside him with one hand and the door handle with the other. The moment the car crashed through the small barrier and was in freefall and opened the door and jumped out. The car crashed into the building across from the garage and he plummeted toward the street. Landing in a heap he laid there for several critical seconds before breathing in hard and getting up quick. Taking off the mask to reveal his handsome features he opened the case and checked the contents. The bag of jewel he just "acquired" didn't even rattle in the case he designed for it. Putting the bag inside his jacket and ditching the bag he worked his way toward a crowd and deftly melted in as some people tried to see what that crash was.
