Disclaimer: Check out previous chapters for this – Thank you!

"Random Subject Prompts"

Chapter 035: Newt Scamander

Movie: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Prompt: Rain/Umbrella

Chapter Warning(s):

Author's Note:

KH*NS*KH*NS

Newt rolled his sleeves down after taking care of his magical charges. Most times, the work and physical labor helped tire him enough to get a restful night's sleep, but tonight had him a little more edgy than usual. There was something, like static electricity, in the air that had his senses tingling. Or maybe it was the anticipation of finally arriving in New York. Whatever the case, he was restless and wide awake.

Knowing he wouldn't be retiring to bed soon, he decided to visit the ship's deck and get some fresh air rather than stay cooped up in his assigned room. Hearing the ocean's waves crashing and flowing against the ship soothed his mind and body. Hopefully the same could be said tonight.

Grabbing his coat and an umbrella, Newt silently made his way above deck. At that time of night, he only came across one or two crew members, so nodded in acknowledgement then continued walking without a word.

The moment he pushed the door open to the outside, a light rain slapped him in the face and the temperature dropped an easy ten-degrees. Newt didn't seem to notice, though his shoulders relaxed at the chill in the air and the salt in the breeze. He breathed in deeply, eyes closing in contentment.

Slowly, blue eyes opened. It was then the traveling wizard noticed that he wasn't alone. Standing as still as a statue near the railing, a young woman gazed out at the sea almost as if in a trance. The wind threaded through raven-black hair, and rustled the black coat she wore for warmth and protection. From what Newt could make out in the dark and through the rain, her facial features were near-angelic, her skin was pale and smooth, and she stood nearly a head shorter than he. What was most fascinating, he figured, were her eyes. The light was dim, so appeared violet in color but he guessed it had to be closer to amethyst. It was truly remarkable.

Suddenly realizing that he was staring, Newt snapped his eyes away from the unknown female, cheeks heating with embarrassment. He knew he could be socially awkward, but staring was unbecoming. He was a gentleman, first and foremost.

She's standing in the rain… without an umbrella…

Newt's gaze swiftly went from the umbrella in his hand to the young woman, back and forth, trying to come to a decision. His hand clenched around the object in his grasp, proof of his raging thoughts and emotions. Would it be weird to offer shelter from the rain? Did he just walk up to her and offer the umbrella? Would that seem creepy? What if she just wanted to be left alone?

Why was this so bloody difficult? It wasn't like he was asking her out to tea and biscuits. Although that would be lovely, he concluded, but shook his head in the next second to clear his thoughts. He hadn't even spoken to her yet, and he was already planning their first outing. Perhaps he was spending too much time with his magical creatures… They did, after all, rely only on their instincts.

But they may have a point.

Newt took a deep breath, braced himself for rejection, then walked over to the raven haired beauty that was able to twist his insides into knots without even looking at him.

"E-Excuse me, Miss…?" He popped the umbrella open and, with his gaze pointedly looking to the far right, held it over her head to block the rain from further soaking her hair and clothes.

She seemed to snap out of her daze at the sound of his voice. Turning to look at him, she smiled prettily when she noticed that he was sharing his umbrella with her. "Oh, thank you," she said, gesturing above. "That was very kind of you, Mister…?"

"Ah," he began awkwardly, clearing his throat. "Ah, Newt. Newt Scamander." His eyes cautiously looked up, wanting to see her reaction.

"Mr. Newt Scamander," she repeated, his name rolling off her tongue in an enticing manner. Her voice had an Asian accent, he unconsciously notated, filing away the piece of information for later.

"And your name, if I may ask?"

"Kagome. Kagome Higurashi," she answered, smiling brightly.

He continued to hold the umbrella, not wishing to lose whatever contact he had with Kagome. It was the strangest thing, but Newt felt he was in exactly the right place with the right person. He'd never felt that way before, not with anyone. It was… intriguing… and deserved further analysis.

"Is this your first time to New York?" he asked.

The raven haired beauty nodded, smiling gently. "Yes," she answered, "My home is actually in Japan. I'm… coming here for a personal reason."

Newt cocked his head to the side, curious. "You've come a long way then, Ms. Kagome." When she nodded in agreement, he then asked, "If you don't mind my asking… What's your personal reason?"

The way she nibbled her bottom lip proved she was debating whether to answer him or not. Finally, she responded, "My companion is waiting for me on the other side."

"Ah, your-your husband?" If he didn't feel awkward before, he certainly did now. He knew his cheeks were starting to resemble tomatoes, his pale skin not helping his situation.

Kagome shifted on her feet the slightest bit, an action that didn't go unnoticed. "No," she whispered, "not my husband." Her hands fidgeted, her fingertips picking at the edges of her clothing. Her unique amethyst eyes would no longer look directly at him.

And suddenly Newt knew why the lovely young woman was headed to New York. It was quite common, unfortunately, though a closely kept secret amongst those involved. In this day and age, it wasn't unusual to see show girls or establishments that catered to certain individuals with specific needs.

She was someone's mistress.

His expression was frozen, stunned beyond belief. He knew, because Kagome quietly said, "I hope you don't think less of me, Mr. Scamander."

Newt snapped out of his stupor. "No, no," he quickly replied. "Never less of you, Ms. Kagome. I am just… surprised." It was true. The last thing he expected was to find out that the raven haired beauty lived as someone's mistress. She seemed destined – for lack of better term – for something more. Even he could see that she could be infinitely special. So he told her exactly that, in his own awkward, introverted way.

Kagome laughed, her eyes shining but once more looking at him. Inwardly, he could admit to liking this expression on her face more than her previous one. "Thank you," she gratefully said, "That was very sweet of you to say." She paused, contemplative, before offering, "Would you be interested in a cup of tea, Mr. Scamander? The dining cabin should still be serving light refreshments."

A small, crooked smile curved his lips. "Yes. Yes, that sounds lovely." It didn't matter that she technically belonged to another man. He had enough respect for the female race to know she was her own person, and only went where she wanted to. And he really wanted to get to know Kagome Higurashi. She was intriguing, warm, and mysterious.

KH*NS*KH*NS

It may have been a day or two since going their separate ways, but Kagome couldn't help thinking about Newt Scamander. He was an interesting man, and his aura… She'd come across ones with similar auras before, but his was uniquely his own. It was a swirl of colors and emotions; all warmth, intelligence, and peaceful. His magic was mostly centered around animals, she could tell, and his specialty was the same. His magic was powerful and he would be quite formidable. Newt didn't actually admit to being a wizard but, then again, wizards and non-magical beings were not allowed to marry, let alone interact. Kagome may not have been classified as a 'witch' but she knew magic all too well. She was after all born with her own special skill set.

Opening the front door to the spacious apartment, the raven haired beauty stepped inside before nudging the door shut with a foot. In her arms, she carried a brown package filled with groceries. She didn't know what it was, but she got the feeling she was going to be housing some guests very soon.

Suddenly, she froze. Her senses were tingling, alerting her to the fact that she wasn't alone in the living space.

Carefully, she scanned every corner that she could see until she stopped on a side table. The presence wasn't threatening. In fact, the creature was frightened and confused, obviously lost and unable to find his way home. Kagome's heart melted.

"It's alright now," she soothed. "You can show yourself. I won't harm you."

An ape-like creature with silver, silky fur appeared as if by magic. He stared at her with black, doleful eyes, and she could feel her expression becoming even softer.

She smiled, not wishing to scare the unknown creature even more. "Hello, my name is Kagome. Would you like to stay here while we wait for your keeper to pick you up? He must be worried about you."

The Demiguise seemed to understand what she said, because it nodded shyly.

"Excellent." She cocked her head to the side, like a curious kitten. "Do you like tea?"

KH*NS*KH*NS

"I know where we could go to hide out," Newt had said to his small group, knowing he was about to get into even more trouble but not caring. They were in desperate need of support, and he could only think about her. He had regretted parting ways at the dock but he was proud of himself for getting her address beforehand. He never thought he would see Kagome again, and here he was running back to her for help and shelter.

He was about to implode her world, yet he was determined to protect her. He was in fact confident that he could. He'd hide her away in his expandable suitcase with his magical creatures if that was his last resort.

Without giving further explanation, Newt guided his small group of allies to the complex that housed the raven haired beauty he'd befriended on the boat. Rain had started to fall from the dark sky by the time they arrived, but he chose to ignore it.

Knocking, he waited patiently for the occupant to answer the summons.

"Where are we, Newt?" Jacob Kowalski inquired, wondering if this was a secret base for wizards. As a non-magical being, everything had been so thrilling and exciting – not to mention frightening. It made him question reality and his own sanity, but he couldn't argue what his eyes had seen and what he had experienced so far since accidentally running into Newt and unknowingly switching their suitcases.

In a distracted voice, Newt answered, "A friend's place." A crooked smile unconsciously appeared on his facial features.

Queenie Goldstein's head tilted to the side curiously, her eyes focused on the male wizard. Warm affection filled her chest, the emotion Newt was currently feeling, and she smiled. "You must really like her," she commented, though it came out as more of a statement.

The way his cheeks flushed was more than an answer, but before he could actually voice a response, the door opened. The group of four looked up at the occupant.

Kagome smiled upon spotting Newt, her aura positively glowing. "Good evening, Mr. Scamander," she greeted, then nodded a welcome to the other three. "I see you have some guests with you. Hello."

"Ms. Kagome," Newt greeted back, tipping his head in a gentlemanly gesture.

"Why does it feel as though we only meet when it's raining?"

It was a rhetoric question and they both knew it. Still, it made him smile. "We need your help," he said.

She opened the front door a bit wider, not hesitating to assist them. "Of course." She gestured for them to enter her home. "I believe I also found something that belongs to you as well." The Demiguise stared at the newcomers, casually eating some carrots she'd provided. "He's been wonderful company but I think he's ready to return home."

Tina Goldstein observed everything with a critical eye, her lips starting to thin with suspicion and a hint of disapproval. "Are you a witch?" she asked in a straightforward manner. If the Asian beauty was, she was definitely new to the states. Not to say Tina knew every single witch and wizard, but she felt she would have heard about this particular one.

Kagome smiled gently. "No, not a witch," she answered. "But I have my own special abilities I can use to assist you."

"You do?" Newt interrupted, once again shocked and stunned by her answer. He had a feeling this particular young woman would never cease to amaze him.

She nodded. "We have a lot to talk about, you and I. Would you all care for a cup of tea? That would be perfect for this type of weather."

KH*NS*KH*NS

From a small shelter that protected them from the potion disguised as rainfall to erase the New Yorkers' memories, Kagome and Newt watched as Frank continued to fly around the buildings. The Thunderbird seemed pleased to finally be free and spread his wings despite not being home in Arizona. It was a true joy to watch such a majestic creature find its freedom, and the two were relieved that everything was over and they were alive.

The fight had been brutal, and both sides had lost members. However, a powerful criminal had been captured and taken into custody in the end. He'd been disguised for the longest time, presumed dead or hiding underground. Good had won over evil – the only result anyone could hope for.

But there were regrets. Queenie would have to say goodbye to Jacob despite the two falling in love. It was illegal for Jacob to know anything about the wizarding world. He wouldn't even remember befriending Newt. The non-magical male had been a good friend and ally; everyone would be sad to see him leave, to live a life without the memory of their time together.

And Kagome knew her time was up as well. But she smiled sweetly for Newt's sake, one hand reaching down to link with his. "I guess this is goodbye, Newt Scamander."

"Yes, it would seem so," he responded in a soft, melancholy tone. He squeezed her hand, wishing things could be different. But rules were rules.

"Don't be so sad," she gently reproached. "We've been through a lot, haven't we? At least one of us will remember it." Her priestess powers may help to eventually bring the memories back, but she didn't dare voice her thoughts. In the past, anyone who tried to tamper with her mind had failed. She had always been able to bring herself back. But what if this time was different? She didn't want to give Newt false hope.

With that, she released his hand and stepped away from the shelter. She closed her eyes, tilting her face up, expecting the rain to drench her, washing away the wonderful memories she'd made in just a few short days.

But nothing happened.

Slowly, cautiously, Kagome reopened her eyes. Her gaze was met by a seemingly invisible barrier covering her head, acting like an umbrella against the rainfall. It was reminiscent of a very special first meeting.

"I want both of us to remember everything, Kagome," Newt said, catching her attention. When she turned, she saw that his wand was acting as the handle for the makeshift umbrella protecting her. He wore a shy, crooked smile. "Why don't you… come to Europe with me?"

"Europe?" Her amethyst eyes widened at the offer, obviously surprised. "But what about—"

"Leave him. You deserve better." His cheeks heated at the bold statement. He'd never said something like that before. He rather liked it. What he didn't like, however, was thinking about Kagome with another man. He couldn't be good enough for her if he wasn't willing to marry her. At least that's what Newt thought. He'd been right when he had first thought she was infinitely special, was destined for something more brilliant.

Kagome lightly laughed, tears of happiness starting to cloud her vision. "That's not what I was going to say. I was going to ask about the potion to erase my memories…" She pointed upward, to the sky, to add emphasis.

Newt shrugged, becoming his awkward, adorable self again. "We will just… bend the rules," he replied. His school record was more than enough proof that he was used to doing that. And it wasn't as if Kagome was completely without magic. She was just not properly trained as a witch. She could be the exception to the rule.

"Bend the rules?" she scoffed. "I think you mean we'll be breaking them." She bit her bottom lip. After everything she'd been through with this man, she didn't think she could go back to her life as a mistress. She'd felt a connection with Newt since meeting him on the boat to New York. That connection wasn't something easily ignored. "What would I do in Europe?"

"Whatever you wanted, I suppose," he answered. "But… I would like assistance with completing my book… If you're willing, of course."

The smile that appeared on her face was tender. "I'd love to."

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, and added this series of prompts to their favorites list~! You guys are rock stars! (:

I hope everyone liked this chapter! Please leave me a review at the bottom ;)

XOXO

~Celestial Law

RIP Stan Lee

December 28, 1922 - November 12, 2018

You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten