Chapter 2
Kotetsu walked carefully home from the market, his arms full of groceries. By this time most of the hobbits in Bag End had gotten used to him and most stopped to say "hello". Kotetsu of course cheerfully answered back with "good evening"
Why was he out, you might ask? Well for the simple reason of running out of milk. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a vest over it and long brown pants. After the first few days spent at Uncle Bilbo's hobbit hole he had forgone his shoes, and just walked around bare-footed.
He had grown a bit, but hadn't reached his growth spurt yet, making him if not a little taller than his Uncle then the same height. He always was teased for being a lot more shorter than average, but his mother promised him he would have his father's legs, long and lean, but it would take time.
His mother had said it wouldn't happen till he was roughly 16, but Kotetsu was happy now that he was with such kind people, so it didn't bother him as much.
It was dark now and Kotetsu wasn't even half way home when he ran into a Dwarf.
"Excuse me," He said to Kotetsu, "but do you know the way to Bilbo Baggins' home?"
Kotetsu, slightly startled, nodded and gestured for the dwarf to follow him getting enough of what the dwarf asked. They made their way to Bilbo's house in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't a companionable silence either.
When they reached the house Kotetsu was surprised to hear laughter and cheer coming from the house. His uncle wasn't one for hosting parties unless they were planned at least a few weeks before hand. The laughter stopped as soon as Kotetsu knocked on the door. Now, that was strange.
What was even stranger was the one who answered the door. A tall old man with a long white beard, wearing gray clothing stood on the other side of the door and greeted the dwarf. His uncle came scurrying up behind the old man and said, "Kotetsu, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you made it back in one piece, but unfortunately you haven't got enough groceries."
"Eh?" was Kotetsu's reply, "Oji-san, mondai wa nandesu ka?"
His uncle gave him a "What?" look and he tried again, "what…is…trouble?"
The old man and the Dwarf gave him a strange look, before the old man spoke up, "Oh dear, I do believe I haven't the slightest clue what language the boy is speaking."
"You and all of Bag End." replied Bilbo, "He understands major words like the three Wh's, species' names, and some food."
"Speaking of food…" The old man glanced over at the Dwarf called Thorin.
The rest was a blur to Kotetsu, one minute they were standing in the doorway, and then all of a sudden the extra food he had purchased was gone, cooked, and served to this Thorin fellow.
Kotetsu gave his uncle a kicked puppy look, "Tabemono…food" he whimpered. Bilbo merely sighed and patted his head glancing once more at the empty pantry, "Its gone Kotetsu, neither one of us is having dinner tonight."
"-aren't you master Baggins?" A voice came from behind them in the dining room.
"Aren't I what?" Bilbo asked and both of them turned to the room full of dwarfs.
"Why a burglar of course." another said
"Burglar?" Kotetsu asked
"What? No! I've never stolen a thing in my life!" Bilbo cried
"Chigau," Kotetsu said and paused collecting his thoughts, "my…cake…mushrooms"
"Kotetsu, that doesn't count, you were looking the other way and obviously didn't want it." Bilbo defended himself and the dwarfs laughed. The newly named Gandalf and Thorin remaining quiet.
"I like the kid!" One of the dwarfs shouted
"I hate to interrupt, but I agree with the Hobbit. He is too soft and inexperienced, we can't bring him." the old dwarf at the table said
Bilbo nodded, "Besides, I'm the only one who can really understand Kotetsu. I can't just leave him alone."
"Leave?" Kotetsu asked, "Where?"
Gandalf pulled out a map and Bilbo retrieved a candle.
"We are going to the lonely mountain." Gandalf said
"Why?" Kotetsu asked. Curiosity filled his face.
"To fight a big lizard with razor sharp teeth, and sharp claws." One of the Dwarfs replied
"He knows what a dragon is, thank you." Bilbo scolded him
"Sugoi, ryuu da! Oji wa ryuu to tatakau tame ni okotte iru!"
"What?" Bilbo asked
"Uncle…fight Doragon!" Kotetsu exclaimed a look of awe on his face and feeling proud he had successfully used the word "Dragon". (Well mostly, anyway)
"Oh, no no no no no. I am perfectly happy right here in my hobbit hole, thank you very much." Bilbo said a look of panic on his face.
Thorin ordered the old Dwarf to give Bilbo a piece of paper and Bilbo muttered to himself, reading it aloud.
"Incineration…Incineration!" Bilbo exclaimed
"Incineration?" Kotetsu asks and Bilbo points at the stove. Kotetsu's eyes widened upon realizing what he was saying.
"Yeah, you know searing pain, skin burned off bones-" one of the dwarfs closer to Bilbo was cut of.
"Damare, not…helpful!" Kotetsu yells realizing the signs his uncle is giving off.
His uncle stands up and steadies, "Nope" he states and almost hits the ground with a THUD.
Kotetsu catches him and throws one of Bilbo's arms over his shoulders. Kotetsu drags him into the living room and sets him down on his favorite chair.
"Will he be alright, laddy?" the old dwarf asks
"Hai, kare wa tada no ocha ga hitsuyō" Kotetsu says and the dwarf gives him a blank look.
"Tea." he says and the old dwarf nods
It didn't take long for Bilbo to wake and when he did Kotetsu was waiting with his uncle's favorite tea. Kotetsu made himself a spot on the floor next to Bilbo and tuned out most of what Gandalf was saying in favor of some yarn on the floor.
"Gah!" Bilbo let out a shocked cry when all of a sudden a tiger shaped Kotetsu suddenly appeared by his feet, toying with a ball of yarn, "Kotetsu, I thought I told you to warn me before you do that!"
The tiger stopped and its ears fell flat on his head. Bilbo gave him a pat and a sigh escaped his lips. Meanwhile, Gandalf was shocked.
"How in blue-blazes did-? Are you telling me your nephew is part cat?" He asked bewildered.
"He's not my blood nephew and I don't know." Bilbo replied scratching his nephew's head.
"Well blood nephew, no I never guessed, but what do you mean you don't know?"
"I came home one day and he was like this. Not much to tell really."
Kotetsu's voice suddenly sounded in both of the two older males' heads, "Ha ha ha ha, Oji kizetsu!"
"Well now I know there was a spell for such language barriers, but for the life of me I can't remember." Gandalf said, pulling up an aura of calmness at this sudden revelation.
"Can you guarantee I will come back from this…adventure of yours?" Bilbo asked, changing subject, not entirely comfortable with talking about Kotetsu with this wizard.
"No," Gandalf suddenly grew grave, "and if you do, you will not be the same."
Kotetsu changed back, "Sono bōken wa yaku nande wanaidesu ka?"
The two gave him a look and Kotetsu rolled his eyes, "That…is…adventure. Same…not, but…friends…memories…made."
TBC….
Oji-san, mondai wa nanidesu ka? = uncle, what is the matter
Tabemono = food
Chigau = wrong
Hai = yes
Sugoi, a Ryuu! = Wow, a Dragon!
Oji wa doragon to tatakau tame ni okotte iru!" = Uncle is going to fight a dragon!
Damare = be quiet
Hai, kare wa tada no ocha ga hitsuyō = yes, he just needs tea
Oji kizetsu = uncle fainted
Sono bōken wa yaku nande wanaidesu ka? = is that not what adventure is about?
A/N: If I got any Japanese wrong please tell me, there is only so much google translate can do.