This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

House: Hufflepuff

Year: 4

Category: Standard

Prompt: [Creature] Kappa (Japanese)

Word Count: 1211

Au-Canon. Fantastic Beast Era.

Newt Scamander/ Jacob Black

[Note: Some material has been referenced from Pottermore or Google but inaccuracies could appear as I am not a native to the country, and have never been there. No offense intended to any of the native people of the country mentioned.]

Warning: Intentional self-harm.

Veggie Warfare

Newt and Jacob were in Newt's room in the Japanese hotel, preparing for their trip to the Akan National Park. Jacob watched in amazement as he saw Newt packing a collection of odd objects into his backpack that they would be taking on the expedition.

They had a discussion with a local witch in the area that mentioned the strange water-vampires. Even the local people had not been able to document any written information about this strange creature. The people of Japan still kept legends alive mostly through oral tradition. Legend says that this creature lives in the lakes in Japan, staying in shallow water and attacking anyone unlucky enough to cross its path.

There were rumours that the water-vampire had been seen in the Kussharo Lake located in the Akan National Park, which had lost lots of its tourist activity because of this strange creature. Many Muggles had been killed by it, and Newt was not sure how the local people approached the cover-up to the other Muggles that lived in the area.

"This lake is called a caldera lake," Newt explained as they walked the streets of Japan. "It was created by a volcanic crater. This also means that the lake is acidic; so it is not the ideal environment for most aquatic animals." Jacob nodded in response.

"It appears the animal had started out living off the blood of fish; and has now evolved to crave human blood." Jacob went deathly white, blood going cold.

"You mean we're looking for something that can kill us and drain every drop of our blood?" he asked in horror, attracting some attention from passers-by on the street.

"Shhh…" Newt said. "You will be perfectly fine."

Jacob was shaken. He only came back to himself when they reached a local market. This market sold anything one could imagine. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish. He saw his friend inspecting the cucumbers; seemingly weighting something up in his mind.

"Errr… Is this really the time to be doing grocery shopping?" Jacob asked, obviously nervous.

Instead of responding, he decided on one long thin cucumber, and one short fat one. He also grabbed a couple of apples, oranges, and pears and put them into his backpack along with the cucumbers. He paid the fair to the lady at the market and they carried on walking.

"You really are the quiet one in this friendship," Jacob said, contemplating. This had Newt to give him a small responding smile. He was lucky to have a friend like Jacob, Newt thought to himself. He could have backed out at any point, yet here he was, facing unknown dangers with him.

Newt was confident they would find the creature, and a little anxious they may get killed. That is why he was doing all he can to be prepared.

They reached the Akan National Park and sat down just inside the entrance to the park on a bench. Newt pulled out a small carving knife, the blade was engraved with a salamander outline. When Jacob asked about the special blade, Newt mentioned that it was a family heirloom that had been left to him by his grandfather.

He carved something into both cucumbers before showing the one to Jacob.

"I'll rather have an orange." Jacob laughed. Then he saw his name Jacob Kowalski carved into the smaller fat cucumber. Before he could ask, Newt decided to explain.

"It is told that the creature won't attack if you throw a cucumber at it bearing your name."

Jacob wanted to laugh. "You're serious?"

Newt nodded; showing Jacob his own cucumber. Newton Scamander.

"So, if this thing attacks us, we throw our magical cucumbers and it doesn't kill us?" Jacob asked.

"Basically," Newt responded. "I will hold them for now, keeping them in the enchanted backpack. I just wanted you to know what to do in case the thing attacks."

"You probably mean when," Jacob muttered.

As they walked closer to the near abandoned area where Lake Kussharo was said to be home to this strange creature, Newt felt his excitement building. Nobody had ever documented this creature; it had not even been given a proper name among the local Magical community.

He would be the first non-local to see it. Jacob sat down under the tree, so he left the backpack with him while he rested. He took his cucumber and knife and walked to the very edge of the lake.

He bent down and purposefully cut a slit sideways across his wrist, wincing as it cut the skin. "What the hell, Newt?" Jacob exclaimed from his spot under the tree.

"I am trying to summon the creature," he gently explained, holding his wrist over the water. Newt left a trail of blood droplets at the river's edge, and then healed up his wrist again magically.

What happened next was so fast it was like a movie played in fast forward. Newt had to re-watch this episode multiple times in his pensive after the fact.

The creature appeared out of the lake, jumping at Newt as it smelled the fresh human blood,. It grabbed at Newt with his webbed fingers and tried to pull him into the water. The creature had features like a monkey, but was covered in scales. Newt just managed to toss the cucumber at it; hitting it against the head.

"Jacob!" Newt cried out as the creature turned his attention to the other male on the bank under the tree.

The creature leaped from the water, rushing towards Jacob frantically. In panic, Jacob couldn't find his cucumber, and started tossing things out of the bag, randomly searching for the cucumber. He threw anything his hands landed on, including oranges, pears, as well as a water bottle, before his hands felt the smooth edges of the cucumber in his chubby hand. He missed the creature by a mile, but it had the desired effect. The creature stopped.

If creatures could show annoyance, Newt was sure this one did. It had been stopped twice from tasting blood from a victim. He moved back towards the water and licked at the few drops of blood on the ground before diving back into the lake.

More research was needed, but Newt noticed it had kept his head upright. It appeared that bowing its head may weaken it in some way, causing the water in his head to spill out; which was its source of power. It was all just speculation at this point; but somehow he thought there must be more to the way the creature carries itself.

"I will be back," he said to the disappearing creature, watching it sink down below the surface; leaving only bubbles as proof that it had been there. The creature had not reacted, but there was no need.

Newt made a few follow up trips to Lake Kussharo; naming the creature a Kappa. He spent ages carefully documenting it. After a while, the Kappa seemed to recognise him. It seemed to sigh, if magical creatures could be said to sigh. He knew this man always came prepared.

So the man and beast reached an impasse of sorts, although Jacob never went to the lake with Newt again, stating, "Once was quite enough; thank you very much."