Date: Thu, 25 Aug 1994 18:57:11 -0500 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Wayland DeGreen Subject: 1000 years part 4 of 5 ------------------------------------------------------------- 'ONE THOUSAND YEARS' A Short Story by Russ Krook III (c) 1994 Part 4 of 5 Please send comments to Wayland@vax1.bemidji.msus.edu ------------------------------------------------------------- The room was silent as the two men looked each other over. The American slid his hand into his coat. "I am Tamamatsu Asuka." The words were a statement, a threat and a warning all rolled into one. In the distance, Asuka heard the boom of thunder, as though the elements themselves had chosen this moment to make themselves known. The American smiled. A knowing, familiar smile. ~I am Conner MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod,~ again he smiled, ~And I've come for you.~ Both men moved. Asuka's hand came up holding the katana. MacLeod's hand came up holding a slim cherry colored bottle. A slight puff of dust from the weapon's saya settled around Asuka as he watched the Gaijin. The man smiled and set the bottle on the conference table. ~Care for a drink?~ He smiled again, a smile devoid of malice or danger. Asuka's blade glimmered in the bright florescent lights. "I don't drink with those who've come for my head." he growled at the stranger. MacLeod laughed, ~I never said I came for your head, I said I came for you. Put up your sword, brother... * * * ...`Put up your sword, brother, it has been a long day Ramirez sheathed his katana and wiped a fist across his damp brow. The two Immortals had been training all afternoon in the blazing heat and Asuka's muscles ached from the exertion. The sun was setting in the western sky, giving the horizon a warm glow. Evening was always a time of relaxation, reflection... and stories. In the year since Asuka had first met Ramirez his skill as a swordsman had grown greatly, as had his lessons in what it was to be immortal. He learned the rules that every Immortal knew as well as his or her own name, and the names of those who might, in time, seek out Asuka's head. `What are you thinking, brother?' Asuka sheathed his katana and looked to his sensei. "How long will I live?" The swordmaster looked at Asuka a moment and smiled. `That, my young pupil, will be determined by how well you have learned!' Ramirez' attack was swift and sure, but easily blocked as Asuka only pulled his katana partly fr its saya, and then returned it to its resting spot at his belt. Ramirez smiled warmly. `You see Asuka, never let down your guard, and never take your own skill for granted. The day you think that you cannot be beaten, will be the day that you lose your head.' He paused for a moment, glancing at the tsuba of Asuka's sword, `And if your head comes away from your shoulders, the game is over.' Asuka felt alone yet again; never being able to trust another person as long as he lived would be far too painful to bear, even for a Samuri. Ramirez cleared his throat and Asuka looked up. `Your Tsuba,' he said, pointing to the younger man's sword, `is a good sign.' The youth looked to the weapon and back to the swordmaster. "What do you mean?" `The people in a fishing village, several leagues from here, believe that the symbol of the crane means a thousand years of life.' The grey haired swordsman smiled at the memory, `I don't believe they had Immortals in mind when they told me, but I'd take it as a good sign.' One thousand years of life, Asuka thought, that means in the year nineteen-hundred and eighty five, I will die. The notion that anyone would live for a thousand years was too silly to even think about. He smiled and followed his sensei back down the sandy path to their small hut near the sea, where he would politely demand... * * * ~...and we'll have a drink.~ Asuka sheathed the blade and wiped the dust from his hands, and the sword, on a linen handkerchief. The stranger smiled and poured saki into the teacups that Yoshi had provided earlier. Although it was definitely Japanese, Asuka had never acquired the taste for saki that everyone else had. Tea was his preferred drink, as it only increased his awareness, and didn't slow down his reflexes. ~That's a fine sword you have there, may I see it?~ Asuka didn't want to hand the weapon to MacLeod, whom he did not know, but to deny him would have been both a breach of etiquette, and a dishonor. Even if he was an Immortal. MacLeod looked the weapon over with an expert eye. ~This is the third of this style I have seen in over 400 years.~ Asuka was startled. Was it possible that this Gaijin knew Ramirez? "Who else has a sword like this one?" MacLeod Turned the weapon over and his eyes grew wide. ~Ramirez, had a sword like this...~ Asuka grabbed MacLeod by the lapels of his jacket, "What do you mean he `had' one?" This time it was MacLeod who looked startled. ~You didn't know?~ Asuka released the Immortal and turned away, snatching one of the cups of saki and pouring the liquid down his throat. He couldn't face the truth that his master, his surrogate father, could be... ~Ramirez was slain in the year 1542, by an immortal known as Kurgan.~ The teacup in Asuka's hand shattered, sending porcelain shards lancing into his palm. Never had it hurt as much as now. He'd lost his mortal father, Dosan, to old age. He'd watched each of Yoshi's grandchildren and great-grandchildren be born, grow old and die. He'd seen children burned by the nuclear fires that blossomed over Nagasaki. But the pain he felt then paled by the news he'd just heard. Not only had Ramirez died, but Asuka had never known. "How... could this have... happened?" The foreigner stepped close to Asuka, a pained frown on his face. ~It has been said that the Kurgan is the strongest of the Immortals.~ Asuka pushed him back, "Get away from me MacLeod, I don't want to know you." MacLeod held the katana out to Asuka, ~You made this for him, didn't you?~ Asuka looked at the Immortal, holding what would have been Ramirez' gift in his hand, and nodded. ~Ramirez lived a long life, and would have been proud of the man you've become." "What do you know? This April I will become a thousand years old. A thousand years! I will be half of Ramirez' age and he was twice the swordsman that I'll ever be. Or ever was." He turned away from the foreigner, looking out the windows of the conference room to the sea beyond. "Why are you here Highlander? After all this time, why have you now come to me?" MacLeod set the katana back on the smooth surface of the table and stepped beside the Samuri. He handed Asuka a white handkerchief, which the warrior reluctantly accepted, and wrapped it around his bleeding hand. ~I bring you warning. The time of the Gathering is upon us and the wolves are coming out of the shadows to strike.~ He paused, looking out at the surf pounding on the shore, ~The Kurgan is hunting down all of Ramirez' students, and my sources have told me that he is here, in Japan. And he's looking for you.~ Ramirez' killer was now hunting for the prodigal son, eh? Well, Asuka sneered, I'll make sure he doesn't go to too much trouble. "Is there a number where you can be reached?" MacLeod opened his billfold and slid a small parchment colored business card onto the table. ~I wish you luck. And if... When you defeat him, contact me.~ ~And Asuka?~ He turned to the voice at the door. The Highlander grinned back at him, ~Just because there can be only one, it doesn't have to be him.~ * * * End of part 4. To be concluded... ------------------------------------------------------------ =========================================================================