Mat-te Kudasai/Wait For Me
Author's Note: This fiction contains legends of the Kitsune and Inuyasha. If anyone finds any major discrepancies, please let me know. Also, I do not speak fluent Japanese, so if I have not stated somethig right, please correct me.
With a small �pop- Remus Lupin apparated in the middle of a small, but familiar, town in the heart of Japan. The sights, sounds, and smells that greeted him brought a sentimental smile to his face and a wistful look to his eye.
Remus had come here long ago while studying the mysterious community of the Kitsune and found that the Kitsune lived peacefully among the Inuyasha. Something about the village of outcasts had made Remus feel both welcome and isolated, as he was the only one who hadn�t been born a half-breed. Nevertheless, he had been accepted and counted in among their numbers.
As he walked down the semi-crowded street towards where he remembered the local tavern to be, he noted the many changes that had taken place over the years. More shops had been constructed along the narrow street and resembled a crude-looking Diagon Alley.
As Lupin�s eyes traveled over the weatherworn buildings, his mind traveled back in time�
It was the middle of winder and the villagers were bustling about preparing for their annual festival. The streets were filled with laughing children and street venders, making it difficult to maneuver through the crowd.
Remus had left Hogwarts two years prior, and had gone on a mission to learn more about the dark arts and defense again. He�d always found more value in seeing something first hand rather than merely reading about it in an outdated text.
Having read about the Kitsune, Remus was already noting the discrepancies in the legends. It was said that the Kitsune retained their tales in human form, but only some of the villagers bore a tail. He made a note of that and continued on his way until unobservant children knocked him into a passerby.
�Sumimasen!/Excuse me!� He said apologetically, automatically reaching out to steady the person he�d bumped.
�Shimpai shinaide kudasai; okagesema de. / Don�t worry; I�m fine.� The elder woman said with an understanding smile.
�Eigo o hanashimas-ka? / Do you speak English?� Remus asked her hopefully, in need of directions to his destination.
�Yes, but not well.� She admitted.
�Wonderful!� Remus exclaimed. �I�m looking for the Kais�/ Seaweed In?�
�Ah! Hai!� The woman pointed down the street, but seeing the sea of people, looked back at Remus. �Maybe I take you.� He readily agreed and followed her as they made their way through the crowd.
�You have come on very busy day,� the woman pointed out. �What brings you here?�
�Research.� Lupin replied with a polite smile. �I�m here to learn more about the Kitsune.�
The woman eyed him warily as they continued, but seemed to assess that he posed no threat to the passive village. �You settle in, meet me at tavern in one hour.�
Remus was taken aback by the woman�s forwardness but bowed to her, accepting the kind offer. �D�mo arigat� gozaimas./Thank you very much.�
The woman returned the bow wordlessly and wandered off.
Remus stood before the tavern where he�d agreed to meet the woman all those years ago, his memory as vivid as the day it had happened. He had made a promise to come back here, but had not expected it to be for the reason that had brought him.
Entering the tavern, Remus took a seat near the back to wait. It was the same table he had agreed to meet the elder woman at, and the only thing that had changed were the faces around him. Like him, they had all aged nearly 18 years, but only he looked the worse for wear.
�One of the benefits of living to be over a thousand,� he mused. As he watched door, his mind once again flashed back to that point in time.
Remus had been busy scribbling notes in a leather-bound book when a slender woman approached him.
�Chot-to sumimasen./Excuse me.� She stated to get his attention. Remus looked up, expecting it to be the elder Kitsune, but blinked in surprise upon seeing the girls� striking appearance. Her long black hair fell in soft wavy layers around her shoulders, framing her porcelain face. �You are waiting for my grandmother?�
�Yes,� Remus told her, then added with a smirk, �or at least I certainly hope so.�
The girl laughed softly, placing a hand over her mouth. �She asked me to give you a message.� She handed a folded piece of paper to him, but as Remus opened it, he frowned. It was written in kanji, a language he had yet to master.
�If I might inconvenience you,� he began politely as she turned to leave. The girl paused and looked at him curiously. �Would you read this to me?�
�Mochiron!/Sure!� She stated pleasantly as she sat across from him. �It says, �I will be late. Wait for me.��
Remus nodded in appreciation and closed his book. �I�m Remus, by the way. Remus Lupin.�
�My name is Kirika Ookido.�
�D�zo yoro shku, Kirika-san?/How do you do, Kirika.�
�Okagesama de, Remus-san./I�m fine, Remus.� She replied with a bright smile, impressed by his Japanese speaking ability. The two sat talking for only a few moments before the elder Kitsune joined them.
�Ij� des, Kirika./That�s all, Kirika.� The elder said in dismissal of her granddaughter.
Kirika bowed respectfully to her grandmother, then to Remus and left the intriguing stranger alone with her grandmother.
The older woman inquired about what information Remus was looking for and finally introduced herself as Ookido-hakase, Professor Ookido.
Remus learned that she taught the Dark Arts at the local school, and that every now and again someone would wander into the village to study the Kitsune or Inuyasha, but their motives were always dark.
For what seemed like hours, Ookido-hakase told Remus about the history of the Kitsune and he filled the pages of his journal with the new information, eager to share his new findings with the rest of the Wizarding world. As the sun began to set, and the festival began, the woman stopped, promising more the next day and beckoned Remus to follow her to the celebration.
There had been fireworks, street dancers, music, food and fun to be had by all, and Remus felt honored to have been invited. He had watched intently as the villagers all began to dance and had been surprised to see Kirika approach him.
�Come. Dance.� She said, offering her hand. He had obliged her, and to the present day had no fonder memory.
To Be Continued...
Main | Fan Fictions