A/N: Thank you all for reviewing! I really appreciate it. Yet again, there is no writer's block, although I did have some trouble writing this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Harry Potter.
Escape from Reality
Chapter 4: Amber Eyed Lycanthrope
Tsunade pursed her lips as she flipped through the medical reports in her hand, and her gaze flickered once again to Konoha's newest visitor.
Nothing like this had ever happened before. Of course stray injured civilians and (rarely ever) ninjas would turn up in the Land of Fire, but someone turning up actually inside the village boundaries without being detected at all was just… impossible. Konoha was not some idiot village that allowed strangers in their borders.
The blonde Hokage looked at the man on the hospital bed again. She'd have to keep an eye on him. For all she knew, he could be a spy from another hidden village. She would be damned if she'd ever let something happen to the village now that everything had finally calmed down.
This village has already been through so much. Tsunade thought as her eyes softened. She always felt the strain of being Hokage. It was a duty to protect the entire village and make decisions that would benefit the village. It often felt like being the Hokage was to be the parent of a village full of overgrown children.
She knew she'd never have it any other way though.
Tsunade dropped the charts on a nearby table and reached out to grip the stick that their guest had held when the man was brought in. After she had Ibiki do many extensive examinations, Ibiki and his associates had concluded the item as completely harmless. There wasn't anything strictly dangerous about it. Although, he had said the stick felt unusual when he had channeled chakra through it…
Then there were those strange clothes. She had never seen those types of clothing before, even back when she had been on the road gambling from village to village. Where they supposed to be some kind of yutaka or bathrobe? She was certain that wherever the stranger was from, it was definitely farther away from anywhere she had visited or heard about.
He's completely harmless, and he's definitely no shinobi. What ninja carries around only a stick? Tsunade observed. The man didn't even have a hita'ate on him.
Yet, her instincts just screamed 'Danger! Danger!' to her when she looked at the man, and as a shinobi herself, had learned to always trust her instincts. Despite the facts, she couldn't shake off the feeling that this man was, without a doubt, dangerous.
But, then again, so are we.
"Iruka?"
Iruka straightened his posture from his slouch on the wall and uncrossed his arms so they fell to his sides.
"Hokage-sama?" He greeted, politely.
Tsunade scrutinized the school teacher when she finally saw him clearly in the bright light of the hospital.
He didn't look healthy. Bags under his eyes pointed to lack of sleep, and his frail body looked like it lacked proper nutrition.
"Well, he's still unconscious, and his vitals are alright."
Iruka nodded slowly as he digested the information and turned to look through the small window framed in the wall designed to view patients.
"From what I've checked, he's just unconscious from exhaustion. There's not an injury on him except for old, healed and faded scars.
"That's… good." Iruka mumbled as he stared at the pale man lying limp under the white sheets.
Tsunade sighed and pinned the teacher with stern glare. "I want you to go home, Iruka-kun. You look dead."
Iruka shook his head tiredly, his brown unbound locks swinging weakly with the movement. "I'm fine, Tsunade-sama." The line seemed to feel overused on his tongue.
Tsunade snorted at the obvious lie. "You've been here all night watching him."
"But Hokage-sama—" Iruka began, but was cut off.
"Go home, Iruka! This is an order from your Hokage!"
"But I can't!" Iruka said boldly. The brunette chewed on his bottom lip and looked away. "Not with him here…" He mumbled that in a low whisper.
The Godaime frowned. "What do you—"
"Tsunade-sama!" A nurse cried from the room Tsunade had just exited. "The patient! He's waking up!"
Tsunade gave Iruka a look that promised that she'd get her answers, before she went into the hospital room with Iruka trailing quickly behind her.
They were met by a pair of alert amber eyes.
Remus groaned despite himself. His legs hurt, his back hurt, his head hurt… everything hurt.
What hit me…?
Memories of his earlier adventure un-fogged and he groaned in dismay.
Of course, Death Eaters… a goose chase… crazy Dumbledore. It all came flooding back.
And the full moon was just about a week ago. No wonder he felt so crappy.
Remus rubbed his face and groaned again. The wizard wrinkled his nose when he sniffed the air. The thick anesthetic and purely unholy smell just screamed 'hospital'.
Prolly St. Mungos… Remus thought airily.
Reluctantly, Remus opened his eyes, and to his expectations, his eyes dilated and when they were assaulted by the bloody lights.
"Merlin, turn off the bloody lights…" He moaned as he blinked rapidly. The werewolf expected to be scolded for his language in a 'modest place' where 'the mentally and physically injured are treated', by a healer, but strangely didn't hear the scoldings.
Remus turned his head away and slowly peered up when the lights didn't go away and grumbled as he did. He froze when he fully registered whom his visitors though.
Is it Halloween in St. Mungo's today?
He immediately tossed away the thoughts when the wolf part of him growled at him to be more alert. That, and the fact that his mental calendar said Halloween was a good month ago.
Neither of the two wore the standard healer uniform, and from what he saw of his surroundings, he was definitely not in any of the wards of St. Mungo's.
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow when the man snatched the stick and pointed it at them threateningly. She noticed Iruka tense behind her and reach for a kunai and his chakra start to mold. She rolled her eyes and wanted to ask him why he was getting so worked up about a mere twig.
"Where am I? This is not St. Mungo's!" The man continued. "Who are you people!?"
What is he saying? Tsunade frowned. Gibberish, perhaps?
She put her hands up in mock defense when she moved forward and the stick was trained at her. The guy must be off his rocker is he thought a useless stickcould hurt her.
"I'm sure you're wondering where you are." Tsunade began. "You are currently in the Konoha—"
"He can't understand you, Hokage-sama." Iruka said softly. She turned around and saw the weariness in his eyes. "He doesn't speak our language. He speaks English."
Tsunade didn't ask him how he knew this piece of information and opted to look at her patient. Sure enough, the man wore a confused expression on his face.
Remus glanced confusedly at the blonde woman and brunette, and his wand slightly lowered. "I'm afraid I can't understand you." He thought for sure he heard the brunette say 'English' though. Maybe he could understand him.
The wolf inside him told him to trust them for now, but Remus could sense wariness directed at the brunette. Over his years of being a lycanthrope, he learned to always trust his instincts, and if they told him to watch for something, he was sure to obey. Suspicion was something all too used in times like these.
"So he really can't understand us." Tsunade murmured under her breath. The blonde sighed and pointed a finger at herself. "Hokage. Ho-Ka-Ge."
The man caught what she was doing. "Ho-kaa-gay? Hokaagay?" He looked at her with wide eyes.
"Ho-Ka-Ge." Tsunade repeated patiently as if talking to a rather slow child.
"Hoka… Hokage." The man mumbled awkwardly with an ascent and Tsunade nodded approvingly.
The stranger pointed at himself. "Re-Mus Lu-Pin."
"Ree-muss Lew-phen. Lupin… Remis Lupin?" Tsunade's mouth quirked at the strange new name. Not a common name around here. A foreigner maybe?
She made a move to introduce her companion, but stopped short when she noticed Iruka's wide eyes staring at the man.
"Lupin…?" It was a soft whisper, but she still managed to hear it. What really caught her attention was the edge of familiarity that coated the strange name when the teacher had said it. The Godaime frowned when she saw them both stare at each other.
"You know him don't you, Iruka?" It was not a question, but rather a statement.
Iruka sighed, resigned. He had always thought about this happening, but he never expected it to happen this soon (if ever), and in such circumstances too.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"You understood what he said, also." Tsunade watched him intently.
Iruka chewed his bottom lip. "Yes…"
Silence passed through the Godaime's domain in the Hokage Tower. They had long since left the hospital. Their guest, Remus Lupin now introduced, had fallen back into unconsciousness by an exhaustion backlash. Now, Iruka sat slumped in front of the Godaime who was seated at her desk, hands folded neatly before her nose and honey eyes closed.
"I know from your file that the Umino family is not originally from Konoha. I heard Sandaime spoke highly of you and wrote that he gave sanctuary to your family years before the Kyuubi Attack in your file," She regretted saying the accursed event when the chunin frowned at its mention. "But there is no information of where the Uminos originated."
Iruka didn't say anything, even with Tsunade's expectant stare.
"And I have a feeling this Remus Lupin is connected to you, Iruka, and your family." Her eyes opened and looked directly into Iruka's tired brown. "Now's a good time to explain."
The dolphin closed his eyes. Iruka knew he couldn't give away the entire truth of his family's past, and opted to be as vague as possible. He didn't want to see the Hokage's reaction if he told her the whole truth.
"It's hard to explain… but they— my parents and I, w-we didn't come to Konoha from any of the shinobi countries…" He began.
Tsunade listened with apt attention as he explained years in minutes, despite how unbelievable it sounded.
Iruka could feel himself stutter in a few parts. It felt like he couldn't control what he was saying. It was a miracle that Sandaime had understood and accepted him when his parents explained their situation; the whole situation. Sandaime was an understanding man, and saw the best in people, even when knowing the darker parts of their soul. To Iruka, having Sandaime accept and trust him and his family had been a blessing; a miracle.
But the Godaime…?
Iruka ignored the throbbing feeling that twisted in his chest and threatened to suffocate him of air.
The Godaime would probably have him killed if she knew what he was.
Tbc.
I feel the story is unraveling slowly, but hopefully, things will be revealed soon.
So, again, please review. I appreciate any comments or anything I can work on the next chapter. Constructive criticism is helpful, (even if I loath to admit it.) I love all the reviews I get, and they actually help when I write.
The Mildly Inspired
