CH 19

At the Rainbow Sorority, everyone was gathered to watch their favorite show, 'girl talk'. Nancy sat between Ellen and Carol, two of her best buds.

The panel of six hostesses showed as the beginning music began. The Hispanic woman in the middle waved to the audience.

"Welcome to girl talk!" She happily announced. "Today we'd like to start with a mystery. That mystery being a young college woman by the name of Kanae Kikumura. From the things we've heard, she should be a prime candidate for woman of the year! This woman is studying to be a doctor, a noble profession. She also already has a long list of lives she saved. In one case, diving head first into freezing water to save a family who's van was in the river and were in danger of freezing and drowning! To her own peril, she dove in swam to them and got them all out. There are many other things she has done."

Another woman said, "Like going to a bad accident and ripping open the bus to pull people out and directly saving six lives by the police and hospital reports we found."

The blonde said, "Saving the life of a man who was caught under a tree when it fell! He was crushed in half, but she managed to get him out from under that tree, and with the help of paramedics, healed him up enough to move him and ensured he got to the hospital to have surgery. By normal accounts, he should have died, but Kanae managed to save him."

"Why she's a mystery," a black woman said, "Is because where she goes to school, everyone knows her, but we went to talk to her and we couldn't find her! Even the people we talked to, told us all about her, except where we could locate her at."

A red head at the end said, "Everyone we talked to had a high opinion of Kanae, some calling her an angel, and a heroine."

"Besides saving lives, she also challenged college procedures to make them more fair for all students," a bubbly brown haired woman said. "It's like she speaks and the college listens! To get any college to change their policies is tough, but Kanae did it TWICE!"

"What we know of Kanae is through TV spots and official reports," the Hispanic woman said. "The most surprising in my mind was when she was asked by the police to dissolve a hostage crisis that happened during a robbery attempt. After a policeman got shot attempting to negotiate, she went inside, got three of the four gunmen to give up and got every hostage out of the building unhurt."

The black woman said, "We found out at least partially why Kanae seemed to be avoiding us. Apparently, the police captain came on TV and praised and thanked her for making sure every hostage got out of that building unhurt, and a mob came to protest, demanding she be jailed for one of the gunman's death even though that man had shot himself! When she went inside, she had no gun or any protection at all. We think Kanae is afraid to be seen on TV again due to that."

"They are right," Nancy grumbled.

"I think that's sad," the blonde announced. "Here is someone bravely doing their best for their school and the community, and you get jerks who had to try to show her as a bad guy! I mean come on, what's up with some people?"

The red head let out a snort. "I bet if Superman was real, there would be people trying to stomp him down too."

"Spiderman would be arrested for littering," the blonde grumbled, which brought a round of laughter from the audience.

The Hispanic woman pointed at the camera and said, "If any of you out there in TV land know or see Kanae Kikumura, tell her that SHE is what women should be striving to be, and let her know we are on HER SIDE!"

That brought a hearty round of applause from the audience before the commercials began.

"Now for the fifteen minutes of commercials," Ellen grumbled and got up.

"I timed them. Last time it was only twelve." Carol said.

"They forgot one," Nancy said with a crooked grin. She got up to get a drink.

A knock came at the door. Already close to it, Nancy said, "I'll get it." She answered the door to see another reporter. This one was from ABC in New York. "Yes?" she asked in a huff.

"Hi! I'm James Wilson from ABC," he said brightly. "Can you tell me where I could find Kanae Kikumura?"

Nancy shook her head. "Sorry, you people should leave Kanae alone."

"So you know her?" he asked.

"Bye," Nancy said and shut the door.

"Is there anyone here I can talk to?" he yelled through the door.

"Who was that?" Tina asked.

"A reporter looking for Kanae, again," Nancy said in a huff and went to the kitchen.

.

Around 9 PM, Kanae got a call.

"Kanae."

"Hey hon, it's mom. Hear yer gettin popular."

"Aye, I think every news agency on the planet is chasin me round."

"Happens hon. Best thing ta do is pick a good one an talk ta'em. One nay politically biased is best."

Kanae snorted. "Seems like they all are."

"Aye, it does. Maybe wait an talk ta the local station here? I'm sure they'll give ya a fair interview."

"I'm hopin I kin wait'em out and they'll stop buggin me."

"Good luck wit that."

"How ya doin, Mom? An Grandpa, he doin OK?"

"He's all right. Amanda is hangin round the house more. Caught'er huggin him once. Think she's doin her best to console'im. How's school treatin ya?"

"Good. I decided to be a doctor, seems the people at the hospital's pushin me that way too. I git called when they git a patient they can't treat. They pay me good fer comin too."

"Ya got a talent lass, keep it sharp."

"Mom, kin I ask ya why yer calling now? It's gotta be early morning there, like three."

"Just couldn't sleep Figured ya'd be up, so I just wanted ta check up on ya."

"Ya still upset bout others dyin?"

"It's somethin I gotta come ta terms wit. It was just a shock. I knew Mom was slowly gittin worse. Never dawned on me she might slip on the stairs. I'm think'er mind hands was givin out too. She shoulda been able to catch'erself fore she fell."

"Yeah. But hey, she didn suffer. We kin be thankful fer that."

"Tiny thankful, but I suppose yer right."

"Mom, wish I was home ta be wit ya."

"I know lass, but ya got more important things ta do. We all wanna be there at yer graduation."

"This year! Then I go ta school fer me specialty. That'll be another couple years o'schoolin. That's gonna be hard ta pick."

"So graduatin this year, ya kin put MD on yer name?"

"Aye! But I'll just be like a general MD, won't be able ta do much more than say, a family physician. Findin out what's wrong wit someone and sendin'em to a specialist if they are really sick wit somethin."

"That ain't nothin lass. Yer the first one in the family ever ta git a college degree, an in medicine yet. We're all real proud of ya lass."

Kanae grinned. "Thanks Mom. I'll make sure I git home after graduation. Still thinkin bout me specialty. There's many ta chose from. Doan know yet if I kin pick more than one."

"Ye'll find out. So, how's things with Randy? Got weddin plans yet?"

Kanae chuckled. "Aye, we do. Right after we're finished with college. We plan on submittin ta the same hospitals. Everyone starts as interns, but if we kin werk in the same hospital, that'll be best. Nay babies till we git settled."

"Yer thinkin an planin, that's a good thing."

.

Kaede was walking back to her room and noticed Duncan sitting on the stairs looking down. "Kanae, Dad's up an it looks like he could use a bit'o company. Talk ta ya later, Lass."

"K, Mom, bye."

Kaede lifted herself up and drifted down to sit by her Father. "Heavy thoughts?" she asked.

He cast her a weak smile. "We've had a real nice time here." he said thoughtfully. "Inari loved this place. Somehow, it ain't the same without'er."

Kaede eyed him. "What ya sayin?"

"I need to go away for a while. Fore I go, I want you and Kouta to figure out who's gonna run the businesses here fer me."

"Yer talkin more than a week'er two."

He nodded. "Gotta clear me head. Not sure where yet. I'll let ya know when I do."

Kaede nodded. "I kin understand that. But doan ya dare fergit bout us."

He offered her a quick smile. "Nay happenin." He looked up and said, "I made a mistake, thinking we'd all be here for a long time. I shouldda known better."

Putting an arm around him, Kaede jerked him close. "Ain't yer fault Dad. I was thinkin the same. But things change, doan they?"

"Always do, and we go on," he said softly.

"Yer still coming ta Kanae's graduation, ain't ya?"

"Wouldn't miss it fer the world," he assured her.

Kaede got up. "Well, tis gittin time ta make sure we got hot water and I should git breakfast started. Wanna help?"

"Aye," he said and got up with her.

.

In the morning, Kanae and Randy got up to start their morning routine. They cleaned up, had breakfast and got themselves ready for the school day.

Kanae's phone rang.

"Kanae," she answered, thinking it might be her mother again.

"Hi Kanae, it's Mr. Gilbert with an offer for an all-expense paid trip to sunny California for you this summer!"

"Ughh," Kanae groaned. "California? Really?"

"Yes," he said brightly. "It shouldn't take more than a week or so, and it will be well worth your while."

"Yer killin me here," Kanae grumbled.

"You get a chance to hunt down bad guys in the sun and fun. Maybe spend a few days on the beach? I wouldn't call if it wasn't important."

Kanae huffed and glanced at Randy. "It's gotta be over the summer?" she asked.

"Doesn't have to be, I was thinking you want to work around your school schedule." he said. "You could go this week if you want."

"Nay, I gotta make me classes. When do I get the info?"

"We're collecting up all we can. I expect we might find more, and will keep looking right up until you graduate this year." he said firmly.

"That makes me feel so much better. Kin ya give me a heads-up on what it's about?"

"A quick down and dirty. There's a big human trafficking ring that's running through California that deals in prostitution, the slave trade and of course drugs. Finding the king pins is turning out to be tough. We suspect they are either celebrities or high ranking officials. We know there's at least five major players. All are well protected. Details are hard to come by."

"Sounds complex. Am I doin this alone?"

"No. I'll steer you to the agents involved. I'll tell you more just before you're ready to go."

"OK, fine! I just want all you kin git fore I head off there."

"Will do!" he assured her and hung up.

Kanae put her phone away with a snap of, "Fuckin GREAT!"

"Trouble in California?" Randy asked, eyeing her as he stood by the door.

"Aye, tell ya bout it later," Kanae said with a sigh.

"What's this about California?" Tracy asked.

Shit, Tracy heard her too. Kanae shook her head. "Just another offer from reporters," she offered.

"Cool! Maybe we can get a free vacation out of it?" Tracy asked hopefully.

"I'll let ya know," Kanae said, trying to keep an even voice.

Randy drove them to the north entrance, it was a little out of the way, but he ducked many reporters doing this. He got parked and they got to the medical building without being stopped by a reporter.

Today the first class was about specialties. There were a lot of specialties. One whole group was surgical doctors. The list of specialties there was long, everything from brain surgeons and everything down the body to foot surgeons. Semi tied to these were disease specific doctors who became experts at treating diseases, including the surgical aspects of that disease. There were also reconstruction 'specialists' who deals with everything form fixing someone's face so they looked better to changing a person's sex.

After the brief introduction to all the specialties, they were assigned to study the basics of what each specialty consisted of. There was even Emergency rooms specialists. Although all doctors would be required to spend time in the emergency room, each hospital had an emergency room specialist on staff to help categorize and direct the other doctors by patient priority and each doctor's specialty as much as possible.

At lunchtime, Nancy found them and ate with them, as did Tracy and a few of Nancy's friends. Nancy told Kanae all about how badly the show 'Girl talk' wanted Kanae to come on stage for a live interview.

"That call you got this morning!" Tracy said with a wide grin. "Kanae, you have a chance to be on national TV!"

Kanae shook her head. "Doan wanna be."

"This is the chance of a lifetime!" Nancy pleaded. "You could be famous!"

"Doan wanna be famous," Kanae replied evenly. "Got too much attention on me already."

Nancy thought for a moment, then said, "Oh, yeah."

"Guys?" Randy offered, "Kanae isn't thrilled about being popular. She'd rather keep a low profile."

"Why?" Tracy asked.

"Hiding a skeleton in your closet?" Ellen asked with a grin.

Kanae smirked at that. Before she thought, she said, "Nay a skeleton. More like a whole graveyard." Sight after she said it, she scolded herself. SHIT! She shouldn't have said that!

Nancy only faked a chuckle. Everyone else thought it was hilarious.

"Yeah, soon we'll need another closet," Randy offered with a chuckle.

"Maybe a whole room?" Tracy teased.

"Ain't old enough yet." Kanae said vacantly.

"Are you gonna be like your grandfather and your mother?" Nancy asked.

"Huh?" Kanae asked, looking at her.

Realizing she may have crossed the line, Nancy said, "Nothing, forget about it."

This was one lunch Kanae was happy to get finished and on to their afternoon class. She knew she was on the verge of saying way too much to too many people.

This class was on the brain. Sections of the brain and what they took care of, both function and mentally within the brain. Also the fact that there were still mysteries to the brain, how it worked and what the human brain could really do.

One boy raised his hand and asked, "How is telekinesis possible?"

The professor grinned and said, "No one knows. There have been instances where some have claimed to have that power, but it has been weak demonstrations, many, if not all of them were faked. Like stage magic."

"What about when Miss Kikumura pulled that cancer out of that man's head, right here in class." the boy asked.

The professor looked and found Kanae. "How about it, Miss Kikumura? I heard about that also. How did you do it?"

Kanae swore every eye in the room was on her. She thought for a moment, then said, "If I speak what I know or go against what any professor says, I'll end up having ta see the Dean again. I ain't saying nothin. I was warned if I do, I'll be kicked out."

"For speaking?" the professor asked in disbelief.

"Go ask'im yerself."

The professor went on with the class. At the end of class, the professor asked, "Miss Kikumura, I'd like to see you for a moment."

"I'll wait," Randy told her.

Kanae got up with a huff and left out the side door following the professor. They got to his office. He shut the door and asked, "Why did the Dean warn you to keep quiet in class?"

"I disagreed with a professor, and others did too. He complained to the dean I started a riot in the classroom. If it happened again, I was out of this college. If ya wanna know more, ye'll have ta ask'im yerself."

He frowned at her. "What does that have to do with how you pulled cancer out of a man's head?"

"To quote the dean, professors know more an I'm just a student. Ya said Telekinetic power is weak or faked. I ain't allowed ta disagree." Kanae stated.

"You can disagree with that?" he asked, eyeing her closely.

Kanae thought how to answer. Instead, she lifted her books up in the air, rearranged them, them let them settle back down in her arms. She then opened his door. As he gaped at her, she said, "Yer the professor so you must be right." She then walked out as he stared.

Kanae found Randy still in his seat. They left together for their elective classes. Looking out the front before they left the building, Kanae saw a woman with a press badge and a cameraman.

"Reporter," she grumbled and faded back in the exit crowd. Randy went with her to the service entrance. He peeked out first. "It' s clear," he said.

Going around the building, Kanae didn't see a way to cross the open ground over to the athletics building without that reporter spotting her. The only way possible was a rooftop to rooftop jump over the reporter's head.

"Randy, lad, go ahead, I gotta take the high road."

"Want me to carry your books?"

"Nay, I got'em."

.

Professor Stiller was in his office, sitting and looking out the window. Kikumura didn't challenge his opinion. She showed him. First with floating her books in the air, then she opened his door from the middle of the room! That was much more than bending a spoon or making a card move. He could see no way she could perform such a trick that fast with no preparation and no one had been in the hallway to open the door for her. It was hard to believe, but she'd proven telekinesis was real.

As he pondered how that could be, he noted motion in the sky. He saw Kikumura fly to land on the athletics building roof. "Unbelievable!" he gasped out.

.

Kanae was glad she had ballet today. Concentrating on her moves in the dance, she was able to clear her mind of irritations and just dance. They practiced a routine together as a class. There were a couple mistake that were giggled at. It was a fun class.

The next day in her 'brain functions' class, Professor Stiller came in and announced, "I do have a correction from yesterday's class when I said telekinesis was most likely faked. There are a very few people that do have that ability. How they can perform such an amazing feat is unknown to modern science. It is one of the mysteries of the brain."

Kanae was happy he said that. She took that as his apology.

.

One of the things Nancy learned in her soul searching was meditation in a quiet setting helped one keep their center. Graveyards were quiet especially at night. She found a good spot in a local graveyard and sat down against a tree to clear her thoughts and connect with her inner self. The only trouble she had was keeping from falling asleep.

"So how is the ultimate boy scout?"

Her eyes snapped open, she knew that voice! If Kanae was right, that was Methos!

"Hey old man, just decided it was time to wander again."

She knew that voice too, that was Duncan McLeod!

"Ah yes, I heard about Inari. Loosing a loved one is never easy. You know, I haven't heard of any big heists in a while. I take it you got Amanda to stop stealing?"

Duncan snorted. "Wasn't me. Kaede found Amanda led some bad guys up to my cabin when she was running from them. Not happy with her, after Kaede Buried the bad guys, she buried Amanda. Left her there for a day before she went back and dug her up."

Methos snorted. "I bet that put a damper on Amanda's attitude."

"It did make Amanda reconsider her life's choices. It also let Amanda know in no uncertain terms that Kaede was no longer young and innocent. She was shocked Kaede could do that to someone, especially her. Kaede lectured her after she dug her up and Amanda actually listened."

Nancy noted the voices were sounding closer. She sat very still, not wanting to be seen.

"I imagine so. That had to be a bit terrifying."

Duncan chuckled, "Amanda complained to me about it. She got mad when I thought it was funny. She'd come to make investments with me, she swore she was done stealing. Time will tell."

"An honest Amanda, what is this world coming to?" Methos asked. They both chuckled. "Came by to see Kanae before you lose yourself in the world?"

"Haven't decided yet. I look at the kids, and I see Inari. I made a big mistake, I was ready to live a long time with Inari and our kids. I should have known better."

"Inari was mortal. Mortals die eventually, McLeod. When they do, it hurts, there's nothing you can do about that. Why do you think Connor stays away from relationships with them? Why do you think I do? You remember Alexa don't you? I knew she had terminal cancer, I just wanted her to have a few happy years before she died. Silly me, I fell in love with her and it tore me apart when she died, and I knew it was coming."

Nancy could see their shadows now as they got closer. Methos waved an arm. "Why don't you just stay with Amanda? Now that Kaede calmed her down, you two should be getting along better, and with Kaede stopping the fighting between immortals, she should be there with you for a very long time. You've been going on and off with her for what, a couple centuries now?"

"We have our times together," Duncan replied. He then grumbled, "Every time she gets in trouble."

"You are the Boyscout."

Nancy froze in place, they were close now. Almost beside her. She then saw them stop and look at her.

Methos said, "Well, well, if is isn't the girl who can't be a watcher, watching us."

"Nancy?" Duncan asked.

In a quivering, meek voice Nancy offered, "I … won't tell anyone. I didn't hear a thing."

"What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" Duncan asked.

"I just came here to meditate, it's quiet. I had no idea anyone would be around," she offered meekly. "You're not going to hurt me, are you?"

"For meditating?" Methos asked. To Duncan he said, "She really is a skittish one."

Duncan offered her a quick smile. "Sorry to have bothered you." He and Methos walked on.

Nancy tried to calm her thumping heart. Taking deep breaths, she managed to get it slowed down. Never had she imagined her romantic hero not only knew Methos the murderer, but they talked like they were friends!

Instead of meditating, Nancy sat and thought about the things she learned and was told about them both. Methos called Duncan the ultimate boy scout. A do-gooder. Yes, Kanae had said immortals grow up. Kaede had stopped Amanda from stealing, Kanae was dong her best at saving lives. Apparently Duncan had gotten Methos to stop killing. In their own ways, that whole family were heros, doing their best for others.

Nancy got up, limping a bit from sitting so long. Seeing the men walking away, she hurried towards them. There was something she had to say.

Both men stopped and turned when she came running up behind them.

"Duncan?" she asked in a pleading tone. "Please, go see Kanae before you go. I know she'll be highly upset if you just disappear! At least if she knows you're going, she won't worry so much. If she doesn't know, she just might come looking for you."

Duncan offered her a smile. "All right, to keep Kanae from worrying, I'll go see her, OK?"

Nancy nodded. "Yes, thank you."

"I take it you are done meditating?" Methos asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, I … I completely lost my concentration."

"Then, have a nice night," Methos said.

Eyeing her, Duncan asked, "Want me to walk you back to your, wherever you're staying?"

Nancy shrugged nervously. "If you wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not."

"Then I'll see you later," Methos said. "And McLeod, don't lose your perspective on things."

"Right, see you later."

Nancy felt a bit better walking along beside her romantic hero. For a while they just walked. She finally had to ask, "Duncan, can it get lonely sometimes being immortal?"

"Sometimes."

"This is the first time you've ever had a family?"

He frowned. "It's not. But it ends up the same."

"That has to be hard."

"It is. Brutally hard at times." He then glanced at her. "I take it you're trying to understand?"

She offered, "I just can't fathom having my heart broken again and again, and not going insane."

Duncan only nodded.

Nancy watched him. "I'm sorry if I'm making you feel worse."

"I only hope you never have to experience something like that," he offered.

"Me too. Right now, I think I have the best life possible. I mean I'm learning and I have good friends. It's like my life is perfect. Well, except for Kanae."

"What about Kanae?" he asked.

Nancy beamed him a smile. "Kanae herself is great. I love her. She's nice to her friends, fun to be around and she works hard to help others." Her face then dropped. "But knowing she has to do … the things she does to help keep innocent people safe from the bad guys. That makes me feel real sad for her. I really wish she didn't have to do that."

"I feel the same," Duncan admitted. "I know why Kaede and Kanae do what they do. I do wish they would just turn a blind eye to the world, but they care about people. They want to see justice, even if that means they have to go kill the bad guys that the law can't touch. It's what gives them purpose. Everyone needs to have a purpose."

Nancy clasped his hand. "I know, it just makes me want to cry knowing Kanae has to do things like that."

"Yeah I know what you mean. You know, you're not going to change her." Duncan said firmly.

"I know." Nancy pointed, "Our Sorority house is right there."

Duncan walked up to the sidewalk. Nancy then got in front of him and held his shoulders. "This may be inappropriate, but I will regret it forever if I don't do this." She then glopped into him and gave him a firm hug.

Duncan hugged her back. "Have a good night, Nancy." he said and stroked her back.

Nancy pulled back with tears in her eyes. "You have a good night too, Duncan McLeod. Please know you will always be loved." She then walked quickly up the walkway into the house.

Tina, one of their housemates came in the room as Nancy hugged herself in joy. "Nancy, who was that guy?"

Beaming a teary smile, Nancy said, "It's incredible, I got to walk and talk with and hug Duncan McLeod!"

"From the book?"

"Yes! And I think I'm going to go cry for the next week!"