Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Harry Potter belong to their respective authors/owners.
A/N: Previously, many months before, foxelemental inspired an idea to help with Just A Riddle Away. Unfortunately I can't completely remember but still, a thank you! This isn't a JacobKagome, but there's still a werewolf! ;)
The other stories are all in progress, just not enough to submit.
Marked
The Wolf had pinpointed her, so all Remus had to do was mark.
.mMm.
Silly, silly man…He was free again! Free to roam, to explore, to run…
…to fight, battle and kill
…to taste, howl and…
Mark.
…
Mr. Remus Lupin's head was heavy, fogged with memories that weren't quite his. The man rolled over again, swinging his arm out such that it hit a well placed pillow. Still in a moment of haziness, his mind didn't take in the softness of the pillow under his arm, or the comfy surface of a mattress, or the unfamiliar ceiling…
His thoughts were more centered on past memories, painful yet pleasant at the same time; memories of the Marauders.
He sighed and closed his eyes to mediate a bit, to get his bearings before another boring day of boring work. He'd have to recheck that stock list again today, since his mind might have been a little unreliable yesterday with the routine headache. That always happened near the full moon…
Wait…full moon. Full. Moon.
Mild mannered Moony swore.
Remus jumped from the comfortable mattress, hands furiously searching for a wand that might not be there. There was only a few pant pockets to check, the shirt having undergone its routine shredding, and to his horror…no wand. Eyes darted around warily to take in the unknown environment, he even unconsciously held his breathe from the anxiety he was feeling. It appeared to be a living room; the lack of furniture, save for the mattress, would've made the room seem spacious and cold if not for the scattered colourful pictures stuck on the walls. Children's handiwork…his face paled at the possibility of himself being responsible for any death or injury.
How could he be so stupid? Mr. Lupin, the studious one, the supposedly intelligent one…Merlin! How could he forget?
He had curiously and selfishly wanted to delay a transformation, since he couldn't afford the potion, so had traveled to another country. The werewolf transformation was triggered by the full moon, but the occurrence of that depended on location. Given that this was a different country, the full moon's appearance would land on different dates. Logical, perfectly logical, unfortunately the new environment, culture, work and people had pushed that important bit of logic to the side and now someone else had to pay for his idiocy.
…
He shamefully fell to his knees with a 'thump'. Guilt came promptly and readily that Remus didn't realise that the room was rather clean for a battleground of a wild werewolf, or that the door had quietly opened and that there were soft footsteps approaching.
What Remus Lupin did notice, so distinctly that he stopped in self-hate for a moment, was a presence of peace…calm…and Mine. Moony lifted his head to see the concerned face of a young His. He physically shook his head in hopes of ridding the Wolf self, carefully noting that the Wolf's influence was stronger than usual. Normally it was only subconscious urges, hardly to the point of interfering with his thoughts.
While Remus was thinking, the stranger was checking him. She ran small hands over his face and body, hovering above unless there were a few scars, which she gently traced over with light fingers.
"Are you in pain?" The voice was as tender as her touch and soothing…very soothing…
He took a breath and cracked an eye open. Black hair, blue eyes, exposed throat… Remus shook his head again. Upon noticing the building worry in the kind stranger, he quietly replied, "No. I'm just a bit disorientated."
She nodded, but still looked a little unconvinced, "Well, be sure to tell me in case I missed anything. I brought you back here last night and healed you."
Moony stiffened, "You mean…you know that…"
She reached out to squeeze his hands, hands that were clawed only hours ago, but her smile was warm, "Relax. I'm not going to judge you." He smiled weakly back.
…m…
Kagome Higurashi, like himself, was a recent resident in this city. She had settled in a month before Remus, but her busy schedule left her with little time to fully unpack, which was why the current room was so bare. Fortunate for Remus, but he had to wonder how she managed to move or direct his werewolf body up five flights of stairs to her apartment and into this particular room without any signs of damage especially since he had yet to see her with a wand.
"A lot of caution to avoid the neighbours, but otherwise you were quite cooperative." Then she grinned; innocently yet with a hint of mischief, but above all, honestly.
…m…
With his above average sense of smell, it wasn't difficult to persuade Remus to stay for breakfast. The wonderful aroma had drifted and stirred up his appetite long before she invited him. When they came to the dining/living room, he was greeted with the sight of a common home-cooked breakfast in Japan, consisting of a variety of choices. He was relieved that he was hungrier than usual (meaning that there were no unknown midnight snacks) and gladly had seconds, which made his host grin.
"Delicious!" Remus thought to share, "I wouldn't be surprised if you're a chef."
Kagome laughed, "Just for myself," Mine, mine! She gave him another grin, "but it's always nice to hear that your work is appreciated."
"Well, I'll be sure to compliment you cooking every time then!" Remus paused when his words soaked in and hurriedly try to correct himself, "What I meant was…"
She shook her head, "That'd be lovely. It'd be nice to eat with someone once in a while. Though, if you're planning to stay beyond the next moon, I can help you out."
Remus smiled gratefully at Kagome. Perhaps he could experience the joys of having a home for a longer period of time. He easily ignored the pleased Yess…
…m…
Within days, Remus Lupin and Kagome Higurashi's lives fell into routine. She was a grade one substitute teacher with a work schedule similar to Remus's. When she exited her apartment and passed his floor, he was just leaving too. They greeted each other and went on their separate ways, only to encounter one another at a busy intersection near the subway. Well to be truthful, if it wasn't for Remus's heightened senses, he would have missed her. Within a certain range, his focus just seemed to zero in on her. The same went for their way back from work until the consecutive days led Kagome to suggest that they walk together to and from home.
After a while, Kagome asked if Remus wanted that home-cooked meal one Thursday night. For everything she had done, Remus wanted to repay her and so took her out that Friday night. By Saturday, neighbours and perhaps the whole apartment thought that they were dating.
Remus, the gentleman, had to politely deny that claim while calmly ignoring the irritated Lies!Lies!. A few elderly women had thought that they had been a couple for quite some time already. One had even merrily hinted that he marry Kagome so that they could save rent in the long-term. Remus couldn't help blushing.
…m…
The next full moon was one of his most relaxed. Although Remus had taken up Kagome's offer to help out with the werewolf issue, he was very reluctant to let her watch the actual transformation. However, without her help, Moony would probably make quite a ruckus (and it still amazed him how much he easily he came to wholeheartedly trust Kagome). It was a lucky coincidence that Kagome had been passing Moony in the park a month ago and people probably rationalized that the noise was being made by dogs or something.
…m…
Everything was going well the following morning. Moony was feeling considerably more relaxed than his previous day-after experiences; in fact, the only problem seemed to be how to explain his over-night presence to the matchmaking ladies. That was until Remus noticed a square bandage on the junction of Kagome's neck. It wasn't there last night and he could never really remember his activities as a werewolf…
Kagome must have noticed his silence and odd expression because she asked, "Something wrong?"
"Where, how…did you get that?" Remus stared pointedly at the bandage.
Her hand flew to instinctively cover said place and…blushed, "Just, just something from yesterday." She didn't provide any more information but her reaction couldn't possibly be from something horrible like being contaminated by lycanthropy. However, he felt something inside twist.
…m…
The following day was Sunday and Remus had asked Kagome out to lunch. It was a lovely sunny day, he wanted to thank her and he didn't want to stay around the apartment complex for too long…the elder ladies were sniggering at him. His logical self pointed out that he was only running away from the evitable and taking Kagome out for lunch would only increase the gossiping, while something in the back of his mind chuckled wildly but smugly.
Kagome wore a blue summer dress that contrasted against her lightly tanned skin and seemed to make her eyes even friendlier. The bandage was still there but he didn't take mull over it. Remus loved her eyes as much as he dreaded the moon. While the pale chunk of space cheese transformed him into a werewolf, her eyes were like the bright, peaceful sky that warmed him whenever she looked his way. Now that he thought about it, ever since he had met Kagome, the moon probably wasn't his greatest fear anymore. In fact, he didn't feel dread and fear towards the moon as much as he used to…
Remus looked up in time to thank the waiter for the menu. He really shouldn't be drifting off right now, not when he could enjoy Kagome's company instead. He glanced across to see his date, no, very good, caring and kind friend smile as she ordered her meal. Glancing discreetly, he took in her smile a little longer and felt a tug at his own lips. It was almost as if the curve of her smile held his own portion of happiness and as someone with lycanthropy, he was possessive of what he considered his. No, actually, well…Remus Lupin would still have wanted Kagome Higurashi's smile even if he wasn't infected. Watching, her lips opened wider as she let out a laugh. A little startled, 'focus Remus', he shifted his attention to the waiter. Kagome had obviously finished ordering but this guy was still standing there, talking to Kagome. Remus didn't care about his lack of order compared to how this stranger just kept chatting. To His!
Moony wasn't even fazed when he heard the rumbling growl in his mind. He was busy restraining himself, busy keeping his fingers occupied with twisting the napkin so his wouldn't twist something else. It was taking his full concentration, so he didn't realize that he had clenched his teeth or that his eyes were burning from the lack of blinking. Then that, that man had reached out casually to touch Kagome's hand! Mine!Mine!
Smash. The next instant his glass had fallen on the floor, broken, just like the contact between the two across from him.
"Guess that needs cleaning up," the waiter said.
'It does, so go away.'
But the waiter, 'a bad waiter at that', continued, "Wouldn't want you to cut yourself." He smiled charmingly at Kagome.
'If he doesn't stop soon…'
"Yes, thank you. Before you go, you haven't taken his order yet," Kagome replied, turning her gaze back to Remus. While that did soothe Moony somewhat, he wasn't fully calm.
"Right, what do you want?"
'Rude, but since you asked…I want you to go away, far, far away and don't come near Kagome.' "The special will do," Moony responded in a clipped tone.
.A/N: Marked - part 1/2.
The Wolf, my interpretation, is slightly influenced by writing Tom Riddle Jr... XP
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P.S. The same goes, if you're interested in this pairing I'll add more after Marked is done.
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Appreciate everyone reading this and whether you liked or hated this, please tell me!
Airily