See Part One for Disclaimers

Part Two

June 1996 Hawaii

The petite woman snuggled closer to the lean length of the man she was living with.  She loved the feel and the smell of him.  She loved his curly dark hair, and the way his eyes lit up with he smiled at her.  She loved a lot of things about him, not the least of which was his ability to take her in his stride.  She leaned up and kissed his relaxed mouth.  The arm nearest her slid around her waist and pulled her tight against him, his mouth becoming much less relaxed as he kissed her back.

She chuckled deep down in her throat.  "Good morning, sleepy head."

He cracked an eye open and raised an eyebrow.  "Sleepy head?" His gaze strayed to a nearby clock.  "It's just after seven."

"So, I've been watching you sleep for half an hour."

"And I've been waiting for you to stop watching.  It's unnerving."

"Oh.  Is it?  Indeed?" She wrapped her arms around him and smiled down into his eyes.  "Well, how about watching you awake?  Or, busy?" She nuzzled his jaw line, nibbling along the clean edge of it and trailing kisses across his cheek to his mouth.

They spent a long lazy hour exploring each other, pleasing each other, and enjoying being with each other.  The interlude ended with a knock at the door.  She laughed.  "Let me guess ..."

With a rueful smile, he got up, wrapping a black silk kimono around his lean form, covering the black dragon tattoo on his back.  "Ski."

He was right.  The stocky, graying private investigator was practically bouncing.  "Jonathan," he greeted his younger friend, actually remembering to take off his shoes before entering the house.  "I've got a good lead this time."  He nodded to Kesh as she came out of the bedroom wearing a loose t-shirt and nothing else.

She smiled at them and went into the kitchen to start breakfast.  She could hear Ski telling Jonathan that he had a solid lead on a boy who could very well be the son he sought.  She hoped the boy was his son, he deserved to find the boy, to have a chance at having a family.  Unfortunately, children were not something Immortals could engender or provide for their companions.  Sometimes she regretted that, but to have children who were not immortal, that could be even more painful than being barren.

She swiftly prepared what she knew her companion would appreciate and brought it out to the table on the back patio.  She took a quick look at the picture Ski had handed Jonathan.  The boy in the photo was fine featured, pale skinned and only vaguely oriental looking.  As a combination of the genetics of Jonathan and his lost love, he was just about perfect.  He was standing with a small Polynesian looking woman.  The writing on the back identified the child as Eric Momola, the woman as AnnaLea Momola.  The picture was at least two years old.

"Where?"

Ski told him.  Not too far away.  They would have to contact the mother, the official father was dead in a surfing accident four years earlier.  But the boy was the right age, born while the mother and father were in Japan, the then younger man stationed there for a two year tour of military duty.  And the birthmark was identical to the one Aki had described.

Kesh watched the emotions cross his mobile face.  He was hopeful, nervous, scared and about as on edge as he ever got.  Kesh wondered if there was anything she could do to help.  She had a feeling there wasn't.  This was something he would have to do on his own, with his old friend's help.  If the boy was truly his son, it would open an entire new chapter in his life.  Her dark eyes watched and wondered if there was a place for an Immortal in that life.

Well, if there wasn't, it wasn't the first time she'd had to make it on her own.  For now, she was enjoying reclaiming some of the things she'd forgotten about during her years on the streets and on the move.  One of those things was her love of silk.  Maybe she'd go shopping today.

At Honolulu International Airport, a 747 landed.  The passengers debarked into the usual "welcome to Hawaii" tourist greetings.  Artificial leis of exotic flowers were thrown over the heads of the new comers.  Among them were Duncan MacLeod, Gary Windom and Adam Pierce.

Adam rolled his eyes at the profusion of greetings, but that didn't stop him from a couple of quick hugs for the nearest charming young Hawaiian greeters.  Friendly people.  He glanced at his friend and the young man they were accompanying.  He still didn't understand exactly why they were helping an Immortal who didn't resonate, but Duncan was right, the island was very, very pleasant.

"Ok, we're here," Adam said.  "Now what?"

"Hotel," Duncan said succinctly.  He was worried about the third member of their group.  The man was drawing inward the closer they got to the presumably Immortal woman he sought.  Duncan didn't think this was good.  He was probably right.





Kesh brought breakfast out to the patio, setting a tray down on the table and carefully not intruding on the two men as she ate.  Jonathan looked at the tray and cocked an eyebrow at her.  There was plenty for two.  She smiled at him and tossed a pair of chopsticks over.

"You heard?"

She nodded.  "Anything I can do to help?"

"No.  But we'll be gone a couple of days.  Think you can keep yourself amused?"

"Geee -- I dunno.  What will I do for two whole days?" She broke off with a bright smile.  "Yes, I think I can manage.  I need clothes, for one thing.  Any recommendations?"

Ski frowned at her.  He thought she looked fine.  Then it dawned on him, that most women didn't have only two sets of clothes, the one's drying and the one's they were wearing.  Good thing she was Jonathan's girl and not his.

Jonathan recommended a couple of places at the nearest mall.  He thought she would probably manage quite well once she got there.  He didn't know of a woman who wouldn't.  He knew a moment's concern recalling that she'd been traveling light for several decades.  He wished he could go with her, to help, to just be there for her if necessary.  Yet he knew he needed to check out the new lead as well.  And the lead was far more ephemeral than his relationship with Kesh.

He watched her eat, her gaze straying to the horizon outside.  He wondered what thoughts, what memories traveled behind her eyes.  He might have been surprised to find that she was wondering much what he was, whether bringing a son into the house would change their relationship.  And when it did, whether it would be for better or worse.

Neither of them suspected that it was not the elusive son for whom he searched that would change the parameters of their relationship.





Gary finally told Duncan and Methos who was also looking for Kesh.  At least, that was his take on the ancient ninja who had been headed for Hawaii.

"A ninja?"

"A  ninja?" Methos echoed.  "Wonderful.  MacLeod, it's your problem," he told the younger Immortal and headed for the hotel bar.

"Is he always like that?"

"Yes," Duncan answered with a laugh.  "Tell me about the ninja."

Gary did.  He knew the man was old, maybe older than Duncan, not nearly the age of Methos.  He belonged to a clan of ninja assassins who were supposed to be defunct.

"Supposed to be?"

"Yeah.  Historically speaking, the Black Dragons were disbanded the beginning of the nineteenth century, long after most of the other ninja clans were supposed to have been disbanded.  How do you disband a clan?"

"You don't.  They hide, they die, they move on, but they don't disband."

"Well, this one's still active and he's here in the islands.  And everything I've seen indicates that Kesh is here, too.  OK, it's a little flimsy, but she's the oldest one of you I know about.  I can't see him looking for someone worth less ---"

"He might not be looking for an Immortal at all, he might be fulfilling a contract."

Gary looked appalled at the thought.  "To borrow from the young of today, Euwww."

Duncan grinned.  Well, he was keeping his sense of humor.  That was a good sign.  He hoped.  "So, any leads on the lady?"

"Big Kahuna's."



Kesh put the last of her bags in the back of the little vehicle she'd rented.  She'd been to three shops and had spent more than she'd spent on herself in a very long time.  She wondered where Ski and Jonathan were, then chided herself for acting like a love sick teenager.  She smiled at the thought.  Her stomach made noises about it being past noon and not having been fed for a while.  She stopped at Big Kahuna's for a bite to eat.

Duncan and Methos were aware of the arrival of the Immortal before Kesh came through the front door.  Kesh was aware of the presence of an Immortal of curious strength as she walked in.  She scanned the room, missing Duncan's presence as he was sitting with his back to her.  But she saw Methos.  Her eyes widened in recognition.

"Miss Kesh," BK greeted her, knowing that she was Jonathan Raven's current lady.

She smiled at him, gave him her order and walked over to the table where Methos sat ignoring the approach of an Immortal.  "So, what  are you calling yourself these days?" she asked softly.

His startled look turned to one of pleasure as he stood up and accepted her hug of greeting.  She addressed him softly in Roman Latin, asking the question again and telling him he was looking good for a man his age.  They both grinned.

"Pierce.  Adam Pierce."

"Adam -- It has been a very long time."

"Yes.  It has."  He looked into her dark eyes and felt the centuries turn back.

Kesh had been small and brown and difficult when they first met.  As one of the dreaded Four Horsemen of legend, he was used to even Immortal women running from him.  He had no qualms about taking the head of a female Immortal.  But Kesh had stood there, her head tilted to one side like a foolish brown bird, and nearly dared him to take a swing at her.

"What's the matter?  Lost your nerve?"

"No.  Have you?"

"Not that I'm aware of.  Mind you, I can think of quite a number of things I prefer to taking heads."  She gave him the once over.  "Not a bad head, of course, but I stopped collecting ages ago.  Got tired of all the extraneous memories."

He regarded her curiously.  "And just what else might you have in mind?

"The usual."

"I have slaves."

"Older than you?  More experienced than you?  Once dedicated to pleasing or just stuck with doing so since they were luckless enough to be taken by you?"

"There's a difference?"  His answer was insolent.

She shrugged her golden brown shoulders.  "Interested enough to find out?"

"I can always take your head later, I suppose."

"Oh, no.  This is a once only sort of an offer.  You either do, or you don't, now."

"Then, I suppose I do."

He never did challenge her to fight.

He still thought of her fondly, when he thought of her at all.  Facing her now, he recalled the warmth of their short liason.  A slight clearing of the throat brought him back to the present.  He looked around.  Duncan had his eyebrows raised slightly and Gary was looking as though he was seeing a ghost or someone he hadn't thought to see quite so soon.

"Ah -- Duncan MacLeod and -- Gary Windam."

Kesh had turned to greet her friend's companions.  Duncan she had heard of and was offering a friendly smile and her hand to him when she caught sight of Gary.  The color drained out of her face as her eyes met his.  The world spun far more swiftly than normal and the light went out.  For one of the few times in her very long life, Kesh fainted.

Adam caught her as she went limp.  Whatever reaction Gary had expected, this was not it.  He was around the table, helping Methos, before he was aware of moving.  He took her into his arms and looked around for someplace to take her, to lay her down.

BK, noticing the problem, was there in a moment, ushering them into a back room where she could recover at her leisure.  He made certain three men were not a problem and went back out to his customers.

Kesh returned to consciousness to find a worried Methos bending over her.  She blinked at him and gave him a smile.  "I really don't faint all that often," she murmured.  "I just had the oddest experience --"

"I know.  Back from the dead," was his response.

Her eyes widened and she sat up swiftly, looking around.  One good looking dark haired man looking sort of early thirties and one sandy haired, boyish man she had last seen fifty years ago when she relinquished his body to the undertaker.  She stared at him in disbelief.  Her mouth worked, but nothing came out.  Her eyes asked the questions.

"We don't know," Duncan answered her unspoken questions.

She looked at him and blinked.  "You don't?"

"No."

She looked back at Gary.  "It  is you?  But I don't feel anything -- I mean -- you're not --"

"No, apparently I'm not," he agreed in an exasperated tone.

"Sorry.  You've probably been over all that territory with MacLeod and Methos."

"Yes, I have."

"Pissed, I take it."

"Very."

She nodded.  "We could work it out, sword to sword, I suppose."

"Taking my head won't do you any good."

"Nor will taking mine do you any --"

"Might make me feel better about being buried alive and left."

"Would it?"

Their eyes met, his angry, hers soft and lifeless.  "No."  The word was wrung from him, from some depth that still cared tremendously about this immortal.  "Dammit -- you knew."

"I did not.  If I can't sense you now, what makes you think I could tell then?  You died.  You were gone."

"Where the hell did you go?  You left."

"There was nothing there, there was no reason to stay."

Methos and Duncan made the silent communication that now was a good time to leave the two alone and vanished from the room.  There were good drinks and lovely ladies to watch outside while the two inside settled whatever there was to settle.  Methos frowned over this somewhat muddled perspective and ordered a beer.

"There was the foundation."

"It was running fine.  It still is."

"So, you check back on it --"

"From time to time.  I send in donations, and check on the personnel and how the -- the -- they haven't found a cure, yet."  Her face reflected her inability to completely comprehend what had happened to her lover.  "I -- I -- I -- oh, boy.  I really don't have the words -- I never expected to see you again.  You were -- dead."

He searched her face for some sign that she had known, that she had deliberately deserted him, that she had left him to the darkness.  It wasn't there.  The only thing he saw was her wonder, her sorrow.  He reached for her, pulled her into his arms.  For a moment, she hesitated, then she threw her arms around him and returned his hug with a fierceness she had seldom experienced.  They stood there for a very long time just getting used to each other again.

Finally, they drew apart.  Kesh grinned up at him.  "It's been a while," she said softly.  "Oh, hell."

"New boyfriend?"

"Uh -- well -- kinda."

"Kesh --"

She put a finger on his lips.  "I know.  I -- need some time.  This is -- really unexpected."

"I know.  I've spent -- thirty five years looking for you.  Where did you go?"

"I -- I walked."

"What?"

"I -- walked.  I left the cemetery, I walked back to our place, changed clothes and walked out.  I -- There was nothing there for me without you, and you were -- dead."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing.  All the memories were in my head.  All the things -- they were just -- things.  There was no life without you."  She turned away, tears stinging her eyes.  "I was probably lucky I didn't run into another of my kind.  I could have died then and never regretted it.  Even knowing it was coming, it hurt.  The light went with you.  It took -- it took a very long time to find another light."

"The man you're with now?"

She started to nod, then shook her head.  "No.  His cousin.  She sent me here, in a way.  She was a light.  Like you, she was dying.  She was trying to find the man I'm staying with now.  But her passing didn't take the light away.  I think I finally found a way to keep the light with me and let the dark go."

"There's a ninja after you," he changed the subject suddenly.

She looked back around at him, laughter lighting her eyes.  "I don't think so."

"Kesh, this isn't a -- you've already met?"

"Yes."

He relaxed slightly.  "Leave it to you."

"Always.  Now, I think we should rejoin your friends.  How the hell did you take up with Methos?  And don't drink with him.  He can drink just about anyone under the table."

"Including you?"

"Yes.  If I ever gave him a chance to do so, which I won't."

"Smart and pretty.  What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You loved me, without reservation, in spite of what I am."

They eyes met again.  Kesh held her breath for a moment as all the old feelings came flooding back.  How was she going to explain this one to Jonathan?

The best thing to do was make a clean breast of it, immediately.  She ate lunch with her old friend, Gary and Duncan MacLeod.  She told them about Jonathan.  Duncan looked concerned.

"He's not going to take this well," he voiced his opinion his soft Highland lilt.

"No, he's not.  But I don't see any other way to handle this.  I -- I care deeply about Jonathan.  But Gary -- There's no way I can just let this go."

"Well, at least you're not trying to kill each other," came Methos' wry comment.

"Yeah.  There is that."

Continued

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