Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

Well, have a house. Working on furnishing it.

But that will take awhile.

Oh well, at least now I have basic cooking supplies.

Trust me, a meal made of a can of sardines and what passes for

cheese in this country is not that appealing.

Chapter Three

As the immortal trio made their way back to civilization, they talked. Well, to be honest Methos did most of the talking. Trying to convince his new students that they were in the process of making a terrible mistake. He was less than successful.

The pair would have none of it. Kenshin especially being unwilling to deceive his friends. The ancient seriously toyed with the idea of temporarily killing the both of them for quite some time before discarding the notion. Mostly due to the fact they were on foot. Methos knew he couldn't carry both of his companions. Even as slight as the redhead was. Plus, he currently lacked the resources to smuggle two men (corpses) out of the country.

There was nothing for it, Methos thought to himself. He would just have to accompany his charges home, and prepare a plan to pull them all out of the fire. Burning was a nasty way to die. It would be a harsh lesson for the pair, but one they needed to learn.

Their discourse was interrupted briefly when Saitou paused at one of the police way stations. Dropping off his latest, not to mention heavily edited, report to be conveyed to his superiors. Well he couldn't exactly explain he had been killed by a incendiary device which triggered his latent immortality now could he? Though technically it had been the collapse of the building that had ultimately done him in.

None of the junior officers had quite worked up the nerve to ask why he was covered in blood. Something the undercover agent found pathetic. They wouldn't have lasted a week during the height of the revolution. He quickly shrugged it off though. Either they would ship up or ship out, and the wolf didn't really care which.

While the subject of the pairs' friends and family cropped up again and again, other topics were discussed as well. All of them relating some way to immortality. Other people might be content to shove a sword into a fledgling immortal's hand, teach them to use it, and send them on their way; however Methos was not one of them.

The ancient wasn't about to go through all the hassle of teaching a student just so they could lose their head within the first century. Sword skills might help one to survive the Game, but they didn't teach one to live. Besides, there were more important things. Especially as Methos was aware both his new charges at least knew the basics, and probably quite a bit more. They were too comfortable wearing those blades for it to be otherwise. Right now Kenshin and Hajime (as they had given their names) were in no immediate danger.

The ancient hadn't encountered a single member of his kind, hostile or otherwise, since his arrival in Japan, present company not included. In the event that he did, as the pairs' teacher Methos was not only able, but obligated to accept challenges on their behalves.

The current subject was The Rules of the Game. Hey, just because Methos didn't believe the Prize existed was no reason to ignore the code the vast majority of Immortals lived by. For one, those who disregarded it also forfeited its protections. Such people tended not to live very long.

A faint frown crossed Kenshin's face as he considered the older man's words. There was just one problem so far as he was concerned. "But?" he questioned. "How do you identify what ground is holy?"

The redhead couldn't help but recall the group of missionaries that had arrived in Tokyo the month before. They seemed to spend more time arguing with each other than trying to convert people. Something he could not understand at all. They all worshiped the same God. What did the little details matter? Did their Lord actually care whether or not instruments accompanied the chorus.

Methos chuckled a bit darkly. "Don't worry about it," he told them half closing his eyes. "The sensation is unmistakable. Only a complete idiot could disregard it." He made a mental note to take the pair to visit a temple at some point, so they could experience it for themselves.

A pair of amber eyes narrowed, catching the implication. "I take it you knew such an idiot," Saitou said dryly, lighting up a cigarette. At least that was one upside to this whole affair, his wife would stop hiding his smokes. Tokio might seem all sweetness and light on the surface, but she had a ruthless streak to match his own. One of the reasons he had married her. And ever since the lady doctor had begun to insist smoking was bad for him she had been determined that he quit.

"It's a rumor really," the ancient said nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. "Once upon a time some young fool decided that only ground dedicated to his own religion could possibly be holy." Visions of the disaster danced behind his ever changing eyes. "The volcanic eruption the quickening set off was said to have buried an entire city in lava and ash."

"But you know better," it didn't particularly matter who spoke. "You know it isn't just a rumor."

Methos' lips twisted. "I wasn't there myself." Only half true, he hadn't been within the city limits. Something he was exceedingly grateful for. "But I know someone who was."

Rebecca had been damn lucky not to have been entombed alive. Sometimes Methos wondered if that was what had happened to the silly chit who had set the thing off in the first place. He couldn't muster up that much sympathy if that were the case. Especially as Kedar had been his friend as well. He could only assume surprise had been the primary motivator behind the other's death. That and a refusal to fight on holy ground.

As it was though, Rebecca's glorious copper lockes had been completely burned off. She had also been unconscious for two days after she collapsed, a combination of both physical and mental stress. He had, in fact, been on the verge of resorting to conventional medicine when she awakened. He wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if the other ancient still had nightmares about her ordeal.

Kenshin and Saitou were silent, sober in the face of such horrific news. Even if it had happened long before they had drawn their first breaths. An entire city, woman and children. All of them wiped out in an instant due to one man's action.

"At least one good thing came of it," Methos offered at last. "None of us, not even the Kurgan would ever dare to take a head on holy ground."

"Who is the Kurgan?" Saitou asked, eager to gleam any piece of information that would help him survive the new world he was now a part of. After all, knowledge was power.

"A nightmare," came the reply. "With luck you will never meet him."

The wolf merely nodded thoughtfully, filing away the piece of trivia for future contemplation. It made sense. People were people, no matter how long they lived. They came in black, white, and every imaginable shade of gray in between.

Saitou could feel Battousai watching him out of the corner of his eye. He ignored the sensation. Slay Evil Instantly, those were the words he lived, and would always live by. That his life suddenly had the potential to be so much longer didn't change that.

Make no mistake, Hajime Saitou was no fool. He wasn't about to rush off in search of a monster with centuries more experience than himself. Especially without a plan. Someday though . . .

In truth, the kill would end up going to a man called Conner Macleod. Not for lack of trying on the younger Immortal's part however. If anyone had witnessed the battle, Saitou would have held the honor of being the sole person to ever force the Kurgan into retreat.

"You seem quite unconcerned for someone who shares the world with such men that you do," Kenshin commented. He knew the other was carrying at least one knife. Probably more even though he couldn't see them. But, there wasn't room for anything larger than a dirk to be concealed.

Saitou merely grunted in agreement. Wondering if their new teacher specialized in unarmed combat. There were a few people who possessed the skills to meet any obstacle without fear. Not many though.

Methos on the other hand smirked. "Who says I am unarmed?" With a slightly dramatic flourish, he pulled the six and a half foot broadsword from under his coat. Smirking even harder as his students stopped dead in their tracks. "There's a knack to it," he told them, secreting the blade from view once more. "I'll teach you if you like."

Kenshin definitely liked. Especially as even though he knew it was there, the ex-hitokiri couldn't for the life of him see where the sword had gone to.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

Big thank you to everyone who reviewed this story

Honestly wasn't expecting that big of a response

It was a pleasant surprise

Also, for those who are wondering

No, Saitou won't be a headhunter in the traditional sense

He is going to stay in Law Enforcement

Occasionally though, he will take on special projects

Like when Conner came looking for Slan Quince