Then they found another headless body the next town over while he was still under surveillance. Since he never left town he lost his police tail soon after. He was slightly torn about it though. While he was sad another immortal had died, he was partially grateful to the person who did it.
But one good thing had happen in the interim. Thanks to his little "talk" with Principle Jennings Princess was suddenly transferred out if his class. He tried not to act overly happy on the outside, but inside... the victory dance was in full swing. Of course he quickly found out who's class she was transferred to when a teacher who was usually pretty friendly with him started shooting him dirty looks. "Better you than me pal," he said under his breath.
And of course since the major source of conflict was removed his class went a lot smoother. Outside of the occasional debate. He was fine with debates if they occurred naturally as part of the lesson plan he was using, in fact he kind of encouraged it a bit, just to try to get them to open up about new ideas and a different way of looking at things. Without Princess around they were pretty manageable when with the class she would basically take over and out right shout down the other person trying to make a today for instance a simple comment about men and woman a few hundred years ago got one going. "But it's not right," a female student said. "Men and women are equal."
"They are now," ,Owen told her, "well more or less."
"But not back then," Jenny pointed out. "Woman were raised to be subservient."
"And that's not right either," argued the first one. "Nobody should be raised to think they're below anybody."
"And I agree with you," Owen said. "And I'd like to think that's true today even though various news sources tell me other wise." Owen quickly held up a hand because he knew that statement was going to open up a whole new can of worms and derail the class in a big way. "But I keep telling you, you can't judge what was standard back then to what's standard now."
"But why not?", one of the male students asked. "People are people right? No matter what the age."
"Yes and no," Owen told him. "Look some things are always going to stay the same, humans will make war, create new thing, have the need to procreate, to find somebody to love. And some things like ideas will change and what is considered normal will change but those take a lot longer to take hold sometimes. Look at it from the reverse angle. Somehow somebody from back then somehow comes into today. Ignoring all the technological changes that's going to blow their minds, just how they see men and women today. What do you think this person is going to think."
"Well if it's a woman probably it's about time," one of them joked.
"You sure about that?", Owen challenged. "First of all have you seen how of some of you are dressed? You'll be called a bunch of godless heathens right off the bat. Faster if they can see into Jackson's mind." And that got the laugh he was looking for. "Second of all are you sure this woman is waiting for, or fighting for equality between the sexes. It's highly possible, and probably more than likely she's perfectly fine with how things are in her time."
"Why would she be okay with it?", a third person asked.
"Because it the social norm for her," Owen told them. "Like I said it takes a while for social change to happen and despite what a lot of you think a lot of people don't like to rock the boat. Things like women's right took a long time to gain traction because those thoughts rocked the boat and made people who liked thing just the way they were very nervous."
"But change does happen," Jenny spoke up again.
"Right," Owen agreed. "Change has to start somewhere. In small groups, in back room, a single person being brave enough to speak an idea considered radical. But sometimes it's on a smaller scale."
"What can be smaller than a single person speaking?", Jenny asked him.
"Well," Owen began started trying to hide a knowing smirk with a hand, "sometimes one can be a little subversive. Do a little thing here and there that can get around that little social norm he doesn't agree with."
~1765~
"I hate this," Owen said in English as he and Naoto walked into town with Himiko a few steps behind them. He and Himiko had been married for a little over a year now and he had been living in this land for slightly longer. He got used to the looks the some of the villagers were giving him, you couldn't be immortal and have a thin skin, he learned that lesson real fast. But there was one thing he hadn't and didn't want to get used to. Looking back at his wife he looked at his brother-in-law, "I hate that she feels she has to walk back there."
Responding in English as well Naoto told him, "It is our way Little Immortal." Owen had been living here for almost two years, married his sister and was pretty much a brother to him... yet he still referred to him as Little Immortal. It still annoyed him, but he learned fast enough not to show it.
"Your way is inane," Owen shot back.
"And I'm sure I would find a few things in your home country that would irritate me," he calmly responded. "Perhaps not as much as this does you but still. Besides I hear the women where you are from are placed in a secondary role as well."
"Not in my household," Owen told him. "I remember my Father getting a lot of flack for that growing up but my Mother was considered an equal in his eyes. And I thought of Deborah the same way."
"Unfortunately you are in the minority in that way of thinking Little Immortal."
"I don't need to be reminded of that," he spat. The older immortal. Remembering the old barkeep that pushed him and Deborah together he had to smile a bit, "Although I do know of at least one occasion where the situation was reversed."
"Really?", Himiko said from the back. Naoto looked back but Owen spoke up before he could say anything.
"Oh yes, she ran that bar with an iron fist. At least the money part of it."
"She sounds like a very strong willed woman." Naoto commented.
"That is one way of putting it," Owen agreed. "The barkeep held his own though, don't get me wrong," he recalled a particular fight that involved him and three others, with none of those three were on his side, "it depended on the situation."
"They sound like a very interesting couple," Himiko said.
Smirking he turned back toward the town eyeing some of the stalls lining the streets. He knew a few of these people since he helped the fishermen out at sea, it was a great ice breaker once they found out it was a trade he picked up from his Father. Taking the small bag he used to carry the money he had with him off his belt he gave it to Himiko, "Why don't you find us something for dinner tonight. There's has to be something you want for a change."
"Of course," she said excitedly. "I won't be long."
"Find us something good," he told her, giving her a light swat as she passed. Looking over at Naoto looking somewhat victorious, "She's not behind us any more, is she?"
He didn't looked all that impressed as they continued walking, "Some would say you spoil her Owen." He looked over at the older immortal, he only used his name when he wanted to talk about something somewhat serious.
"What would you say?"
He didn't answer for a few moments, thinking over his answer, "I would say you are trying to keep your promise in that you will always make sure she is happy."
"I do try my best. And you didn't answer my question."
Both of them stopped and looked at each other. Naoto broke the silence, "Personally, I would say you are a little. Although I still consider her to be my little sister I realize she is now your wife, it is not my place to tell you how to run your marriage."
"Do you mind telling that to some of the wives around here," he joked.
"I am not a miracle worker," Naoto joked in return, knowing something about the religion where Owen was from.
"Some monk you are."
There was some screaming in Japanese that caught their attention. Owen immediately tried to locate his wife and felt a cold chill down go down his spine as he spotted her. On the ground she tried to scoot back as a crowd tried to hold back a man holding a cleaver. Naoto and Owen was there in the next instant, he went to shield his wife, hand on the grip of his sword. Naoto positioned himself so the end of his walking stick was right under the aggressor's chin. Very calmly in Japanese he asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"She was born under a bad sign!," he shouted. "Our crops will be ruined! Our live stock will die! She will be this village's undoing! We must do something before that happens!" Owen looked over the crowd, seeing some who looked like they were agreeing with this lunatic. He was fully prepared to fight their way out if there if it came to that.
"And I have heard that all her life," Naoto told him, just as calm as before. "And yet your crops have thrived, your live stock still lives, the village is still standing." Lowering the end of the stick slightly he continued, "Perhaps you have read those signs wrong all those years ago." Something told Owen this was one of the group who tried to end Himiko's life when she was a little girl. This man was very lucky Naoto was here because that was the only reason he was staying his hand. He tried to go after Himiko again once the others grip lessened a bit. Naoto had the stick back in place and Owen started to draw his long sword. "And you are as thick headed as you were back then I see."
He looked back between both of them before finally stepping back, "One day I will catch the demon spawn by herself."
"If that day ever happens I'll know exactly who to go to," Owen told him with a dangerous glint in his eyes. The crowd split to let him out and Owen immediately turned to help Himiko to her feet. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine," she answered. "He just... startled me." Owen was about to say she looked a lot more than just startled. Then he felt the grip on his arm and turned toward Naoto. The look on his face made Owen look back at her. Yes she was scared, but she was also trying to look calm. Then Owen realized he was the one shaking, in anger. She was trying to keep him from going after her attacker. Strong will in women came out in various ways it seems.
Ignoring any and all custom those around him had he held her close and kissed her on top of the head before letting her go, "As long as you're fine." Stepping away he gave her a small smile, "You still haven't found us dinner yet." She smiled back.
"Perhaps over here," Naoto said herding them away from the dispersing crowd. "I find the selection is better than right here."
~now~
The end of the school day was usually a welcome time, for the student and the faculty both. Well outside of any end of the day paperwork or trying to get a jump on tomorrow class plan. Ever since the incident from a few weeks ago Owen had been staying a little later than usual. Mainly in case that he did run across another immortal who was looking for a fight there wouldn't be anybody to get in the way. And to avoid any other witnesses, and rumor had it Princess had a back up phone now in case she lost the other one so he couldn't get that lucky twice.
Which was all the more surprising when he saw Jenny sitting on the steps looking at the street. "You waiting for a ride?"
She jumped a little at the sound of his voice, but soon relaxed when she saw it was him. "My mom's a bit late." School let out an hour and a half ago, he was pretty sure this classified as more than a bit late.
"Have you called her yet?" She nodded and kept looking at the street. Owen sat next to her.
She looked a bit worried when he did so, "What are you doing?"
"A body was found not that far from here and they haven't found the killer," he told her. "I'm not letting a student of mine sit alone and not know she's going to be safe when I leave." That worried look turned to a happy one. She rubbed her arms, lifting up a sleeve and revealing a bandage underneath, "What happened to you?"
Jenny quickly pulled the sleeve back down and looked bit self conscious, "I did something stupid." That set off a couple of alarms in Owen's head. But after scaring her off during the foreign language session Owen didn't want to do it again trying to get proof with his suspicions.
Instead he went with something slightly more neutral, "You know I'm here to help if you need to talk about anything. My girlfriend says I'm a half way decent listener. I'll be a great one one she's done with me," he smiled to try to get her to relax a bit. She was still a little tense but she smiled back. He specifically mention the girlfriend so hopefully she wouldn't get the idea he was coming on to her.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said. She saw a car pull just into the parking lot and stop. That worried look soon reappeared on Jenny's face as she began honking the horn. "My mom's here," she quickly gathered her things and went to leave.
"Why isn't she coming over here?", Owen asked, and trying not to sound too suspicious.
"The exercise is good for me," she quickly said. A few hundred years of instincts made Owen put a hand on her to keep her in place. She didn't struggle be she did look at him with a pleading look, "Mr. McDonald she's a very busy woman and she hates to be kept waiting. Please."
Owen kept looking at the car before letting her go. "Remember I'm here for anything you want to talk about." She gave him a quick nod before running at full speed to get to the car. Owen tried to get a good look at her mother but the sun was hitting the windshield and the glare was blocking his view. And going over there and "talk" to her might make things worse for Jenny if he was right. Still he watched her as he got in the car.
Jenny closed the door hoping she would leave this alone. No such luck as the blond haired woman inside immediately gripped her by the face and made Jenny look her in the eyes. "Who in the fuck is that?", she demanded. When she didn't answer right away she tightened her grip.
"Mr. McDonald," she said as quickly as she could, "he's my history teacher."
"What were you doing out there with him?"
"He was worried about my safety after the dead body."
"Sure he was," he let her go with a push that was a little harder than necessary. "All men want the same thing. Didn't I teach you that?!"
"Yes," she answered with a flinch. Then she watch her mother look at her teacher. Jenny got worried as she realized why she was studying him. Please God don't let her sense him.
"You're history teacher huh?", she said evenly. She knew that face, and it belonged to an immortal, she was sure of it. "He's the one isn't he?"
"I wouldn't know," Jenny said, hoping she was too distracted to hear the lie in her voice.
"I told you they want to kill Mommy." She finally placed the face. It was back in Japan, centuries ago. He had a furious look on his face as he fought in a valiant, let futile, effort to save the Japanese slut he was shaking up with. "This one in particular."
