Newt's POV

When he woke the first thing he noticed was that the pain was gone. Someone had healed him. There was no way his magic could have healed him before something decided to make him a meal.

The next thing that Newt noticed was that he was laying on something soft. It wasn't the forest floor and it wasn't the bed he once slept on when he was still a human child. Definitely a human-made bed but of lower quality than

A gentle warm hand ran through his fur. The touch was so light it could have been that of a ghost. Not expecting it Newt tried to scramble away. Only to fall off of the bed he was laying on.

Warm hands caught him before he hit the ground. A chuckle escaped the one holding him.

"I'm not going to hurt you little one," came a warm voice. It was familiar he knew it could only be one person. The man that had been staying here.

It explained the warmth that he felt. This man was warm to him despite Newt not trusting him. His mind began to put the dots together. This man healed him despite having no reason to. Leaving him to die would have been easier.

The man continued, "I know you are a human little one. A wizard to be exact. Now that you are awake and healed I will return you to your human form."

That had Newt struggling to get out of the man's hands. The man gripped him gently but firmly. There was no escaping the ironclad grip.

His warm voice tried to soothe Newt, "It's okay. This won't hurt. You cannot stay in this form forever. If you try it will change your physical appearance."

Newt flinched a dark wood wand was pointed at him. The warm man said as magic washed over him, "Animalis e converso."

His body began to grow and length. It didn't hurt but neither was it comfortable.

When the magic stopped a red-haired boy lay in the man's arms. His clothes that he had been wearing when he changed into his animagus form. The pants barely reached halfway down his calf when they were full length. It wasn't tight by any means. His weight had increased very little if at all in the last two years.

Newt threw himself away from the man. His little niji friend jumped from the man into his arm. It rubbed its head against the side of his neck. Newt leaned slightly into the comfort.

Even though he wasn't really a niji this one accepted him for who he was. He didn't want to be human. That only brought pain and suffering.

"You're just a child," came the man's surprised voice, "I thought you were just a wizard who was stuck in his animagus form. What's your name?"

Newt opened his mouth then closed it again. Speaking only brought pain. He wouldn't say anything and hope that this man didn't beat him.

"Can you hear me?"

Newt nodded. Realization flashed through the light blue eyes. The man raised a hand and Newt flinched away.

The man lowered his hand looking at Newt sadly. He said gently, "My name is Karoku. I will not hurt you."

Karoku... there was a gentleness about this man. Newt wanted to believe him but at the same time experience told him not to. Maybe with time.

Karoku's POV

A year passed since he met the boy known as Newt. In the year that they shared the house, he had come to realize that Newt couldn't or wouldn't speak.

Karoku taught him sign language patiently. For weeks every movement he made caused the poor boy to flinch. He wouldn't even eat without the little niji checking it.

Someone had been very unkind to Newt. If Karoku ever found them they would find out the true meaning of pain. He was part of a research lab and learned how to cause if needed.

The little niji he ended up naming Nai. Testing the little one's blood came back showing that its DNA was moldable. If he was careful he could use magic and science together. Nai could become human.

A year later and he had the potion ready. Newt had helped him make it with an air of curiosity. Karoku answered all his reluctant questions. Teach Newt sign language had been good practice for him.

Karoku found that Newt had a talent for creatures. He had gone looking for the young boy when he disappeared in the afternoon. At the time Karoku wanted to know if he wanted to help with a potion.

He found Newt by one of the trees playing with bowtuckles. The creatures loved him in a way Karoku hadn't seen before. Instead of working on the potion he spent over an hour watching Newt. The gentle look on the boy's face was refreshing. He had never seen such a happy look on the boy's face before.

Karoku was drawn from his thoughts when his alarm went off. He went over to the bubbling blood-red potion. Carefully he put rat spleens in and stirred counterclockwise. It went blood red to a maroon color.

With expert precision, he began to fill vials. If his calculations were right one vial would be enough for Nai.

A tug on his shirt caused him to turn around. Newt signed: Karoku, are you okay?:

Karoku smiled gently as he replied, "I'm okay, Newt. Today is the big day. With this potion, Nai will become human. Are you excited?"

Newt nodded his head. Green eyes sparkled with excitement. Nai was his first friend and even being together there was still loneliness about him. That was what made Karoku want to try to make him human.

Along with teaching Newt sign language, he was teaching the young boy to read. His interest in learning was apparent at the very beginning. Newt wanted to learn all he could and being mute wasn't going to stop him.

A tug on his pants alerted him to Nai's arrival. It was the moment of truth. Either the potion would work or it wouldn't. There was no definitive way to test it without one of the other nijis. Unsurprisingly they all returned to their normal lives once there was more than one human.

Picking up Nai with one hand he held out the vial and explained, "Nai, in this vial is a potion that will make you like us. Make it so that you look human. Newt here wants a friend that is the same size as him. However, it's up to you if you want to do this."

Like most creatures, nijis were extremely intelligent. Most understood human speech and Nai was no different.

For a long moment, the small niji considered him. Then ever so slightly it nodded.

A/N translations.

1. Animal reverse.