The Blue Werewolf

Part II: The True Hearted

C/By: Kenjaje

Edited by: raVen

Chapter 5: Without The Moon

October 29: 10:12 PM: Tower Bedroom

"I should have guessed he'd read us scary stories." Lilo said, emerging from the closet, dressed for sleeping. "But the way he read them didn't sound scary at all—his voice was more entertaining." She giggled, sitting on her bed. Stitch gave a word of agreement from his side of the room.

The thunderstorm still shook the skies as violently as ever, and the power had yet to be brought back. Nani came home to the two of them, with Bo, sitting at the kitchen table, reading by the light of a kerosene lamp. And when Nani told them it was time for bed, to her surprise Lilo didn't give a fuss.

"All this boredom's making me sleepy anyway," she had reasoned. "So," she spoke presently, "I guess you won't go tonight, since it's so cloudy you can't even seen the moon at all." Stitch said something but Lilo couldn't hear. "Hey, what's wrong? You've been quiet lately; and not just because you're hiding your being an alien from Bo." She pointed out.

"Stitch just thinking." He explained softly, under the sound of a thunderclap.

"You do too much of that and you'll end up being a nerd or something." Lilo warned sarcastically. "Thinking about what?"

"Naguta." He replied, his feet thumping against the floor. She watched his silhouette walk to the window and look out.

"What's up? You see something?"

"Naga, sky all black."

"Of course it is, it's a storm, and the clouds are blocking the moon."

"Doesn't matter." He told her in a whisper, as if he didn't really want her to hear. She tilted her head.

"What doesn't matter?" A flicker of lightning lit his face as he stood gazing outside. He turned and went to the center of the room, where it was a bit darker. Lilo slid off her bed and went over to him. "Hey, why so quiet?" She reached out, put her hand on his shoulder, and drew it back with a gasp. "You're transformed?"

Another flicker lit the whole room, to reveal Stitch's body, greatly changed: his arms were shorter, and his hands—which looked more like his feet—touched the ground, his tail was much longer than the short stubby one he had just a few seconds ago, his ears were a lot shorter and less dramatically curved, and his face and eyes were narrow, with his nose a bit smaller, and it sat against the top of his elongated snout.

"Eh." Was his reply.

"H-how," she questioned, "the only way someone can turn into a werewolf is by the full moon, and you already break that rule by transforming when it's at least half; now you don't even need it?" Her voice sounded harsh to him, and he backed away.

"Stitch…not know." He told her, his voice echoing shame. "Found out in…July." He struggled to speak, as his larynx was less capable of forming words, much less his snout was difficult to use, however he spoke a great deal better now than when he first began to try. Lilo sighed, but Stitch couldn't tell in what way.

"I guess this means you are going?" She asked softly.

"Eh, is better if go."

"Can I at least ask to come?"

"Soka," he answered, "but Stitch want to go alone, oketaka?" Lilo put a hand on his shoulder again.

"Oketaka." She agreed, and went to her bed. He followed and stayed until she was snug, then bid her goodnight before he went down the elevator. The room was eerily silent after he left. "Why didn't you tell me you could transform like that before?" She said aloud, after he had long since left the house.

"Are you afraid I'll slip up and mention it to someone or something?" She accused, "…Or is it because you don't want me to worry?" She asked softly. She opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, "You don't want to get me involved; you don't want me to be afraid of you because you're a werewolf?" She turned aggressively, her sheets flustering with her. "What is it?" She almost yelled. "If anything, not knowing why is what's scaring me…"

The kitchen was in a green shadow during the first few moments of light in the sky before the sun actually rose in early morning. That moment that seems like neither night nor day, nor even twilight. And especially on such a gloomy morning, where the rain had poured down off and on all night long, and could still pour even now.

In the next room, the front door rustled; the flap at the bottom lifted as Stitch put his head through, followed by the rest of his drenched body. He stood on the matt and shook himself dry, keeping quiet. He shook his head with sleepiness, his eyes dry and cloudy. His mind began to wander as he went toward the stairs.

"Well there, welcome home," rolled a deep voice, very softly, so that only he could hear. "Been gone all night?" It asked. Stitch blinked, peering into the kitchen. He saw, in the green shade at the table, the face of the new resident.

"Eh." He said. Then, as if his brain had just slapped him across the face, his eyes widened and he quickly began to cover up his response with a series of low barks.

"Hey, be quiet!" Bo's voice rolled in a whisper, "Everyone's asleep." Stitch's ears stood rigid. The man spoke as though he knew he understood. Either that or the man was confirming that Stitch could understand. There was something about Bo that caught Stitch's attention—something he couldn't place but knew was there, which made Stitch believe that the man was observant and highly aware of things—so to throw off any thoughts Bo had on his mind, Stitch continued to bark, until a set of angry footsteps treaded their way to the head of the stairs.

"Stitch!" Nani whispered, "What are you doing? I'm trying to sleep!" She picked him up furiously. "I've got a big day at work today, and I'd like to go there feeling happy and well rested, so whatever it is, it can wait, understand me? Tell me you understand me!" She glared, waiting for him to say "yes". He blinked, and nudged his head to the right. Nani looked into the kitchen to see Bo, idly sipping a mug of coffee, watching. With a nervous laugh Nani dawned a grin and cheerful sparkle in her eye, half setting-half dropping Stitch on the staircase.

"I get so used to him causing trouble, I talk to him like I do to Lilo; sometimes I get the two confused." She said with a shrug. Bo's face remained motionless, but his eyes looked to the left as he sipped his mug again. Nani sighed.

"Yet another person thinks I'm crazy because I'm talking to an alien", she thought as she took Stitch's hand. When they were in the hallway, out of view, she spoke quietly. "I know you may not like him, but you've got to behave around him, ok? Please…do it for me? How many times do I ask you to do something?" She begged. Stitch looked to the side, almost unable to look at her pleading.

"Ok Nani, Stitch be good." He told her. She thanked him and rubbed his forehead, and stood up to go back to bed.

"Ask Lilo to do the same thing, ok? If she wants to know why he's staying, let her know it's because we're in a money-pinch, otherwise I'll tell her later."

"Stitch tell, Nani sleep." She turned around, and then looked back, giving him the eyebrow.

"Whatever bit you to make you so behaved, remind me to thank it, and to tell it to bite Lilo." She joked, going into her room. Stitch sighed.

"Oketaka." He said, turning to the elevator. His ears picked up Bo's movements; he was at the bottom of the stairs. Stitch dashed, and let the elevator take him up. The sunlight was just barely creeping into the windowsills of the room when he arrived. He looked at the clock, but his eyes were too clouded to read it. He headed for his objective, and lied down upon it, closing his eyes and drifting off immediately.

"Hm…Stitch?" Lilo stirred, lifting her head. She moved her hair out of her eyes, and slid out of bed. "Hey Stitch, are you awake?" She asked softly, in case he wasn't.

"Uh huh." He replied, though he clearly wasn't truly.

"Can I…tell you something?" She moved a chair next to his bed to sit on it, and lean over to his ear.

"Suga." He said, less awake than before. Lilo sighed nervously; a bit glad his eyes were closed. She turned a little bit, to face his mouth, and his breathing.

"Well…I was just thinking, last night," she began, and paused, "…I was really wondering why…you didn't tell me about your transforming without the moon. At first…I thought it was because you were keeping secrets from me because I was annoying you, and making you feel bad because you're…" she trailed, then continued.

"And then I wondered…if it was because you didn't really trust me. Or if it was because you were afraid, or you thought I would be afraid, or something like that—and anyway," she continued quickly, grabbing his hand, "I don't really want to ask, but it's just…I'd like you to answer. You don't have to be afraid of telling me; even if it's something I might not like…I'll understand. But why didn't you tell me?"

She held what was left of her breath, awaiting his answer. But all she saw was the calm, steady breathing of his lips; he was asleep. She let out her breath with a stagger, shaking her head with nervousness. Letting go of his hand, she slowly went back to her bed.