Do not own Bleach or Harry Potter.
A/N; Sorry for the long delay, everything life threw at me managed to keep me busy for awhile but in between everything, and plotting just what direction this story is going, I've finally decided on three things. First, I will concentrate on the important situation taking place within the world of Harry Potter, and at the same time alter them accordingly to match Ichigo's harsh reality as well as add some variety. Does this mean some things will not happen like in the books? YES! Does this mean Ichigo will be super powerful? Sort of… Ichigo will have a definite edge over the majority of wizarding people simply because spirit energy (in my book) is a much more complex form of energy (hey everyone has it, but only SOME people are able to use it alive... So there will be no Hermione or Ron or anyone else 'learning' to use Kidou or spirit energy, sorry but this story is about Ichigo being Harry-not Ron or Hermione so I'm sorry if anyone wanted that. Secondly, I got a LOT of reviews saying I should send Ichigo somewhere else other than Gryffindor, and frankly I have reasons for why I am going to send Ichigo to a certain house (its a secret!). And lastly, whenever it's someone else's point of view Ichigo will be called Harry.
A SPECIAL TREAT FOR GOING OVER FIFTY REVIEWS-BOTH PARTS OF CHAPTER 3! THANK YOU REVIEWERS!
Summary: Ichigo defeated Aizen in the final battle of the Arrancar War, but being in Aizen's tender care for a year, has left Ichigo feeling less than confident, so when his secret is revealed he makes a run for it, and in the process ends up in the dead one year old body of Harry Potter… (Bleach x Harry Potter Crossover)
Warning: Mentions of abuse, Dursley torture, and violence as well as cursing. You have been warned.
Please Read: I have not caught a beta-reader for this story, so keep that information in mind. Updates are based on how much free time I can devote to this story so sometimes the updates will be slow but be assured they will come. Reviews help (hint, hint).
(x.x)
Chapter 3
Number 4 Privet Drive, July 16
(x.x)
The arrival of the Dursley's earned Ichigo a glare and a trip to his cupboard. He wasn't surprised and went anyway; glad for a chance to think that didn't include watching Dudley eat (the experience was disgusting at best).
"What are you thinking about, mister?" The girl asked floating close to Ichigo's face. Her expression was curious, but her tone was unsure, as if she wasn't positive if she should be intruding in Ichigo's thoughts.
Ichigo looked at her, and went into his cupboard lying down on his bed. 'I'm trying to figure out how you can pass on." He said. He was silent about the fact that this whole situation was his fault. The small girl didn't need to know that.
She nodded, smiling. "Okay." She floated over to the cupboard door. "I'm going to explore for a bit, okay?"
Ichigo nodded, and watched her go through the door vanishing. He was glad for the extra alone time; he needed to think about their current circumstances and how he was going to fix this mess.
It had been the first time he'd seen a ghost while in this body, and he was apprehensive. As far as he could tell the emotions from before still lingered, and the fear of being found out by shinigami remained deeply rooted in his mind.
He was not over the torture, and pain, and being in the same area as a shinigami sent panic through him. Granted he could probably take on any shinigami they sent after him, it was better for him to stay missing and presumed dead.
Ichigo sighed, and turned on his side. He didn't feel very hungry thinking about the food he stole away and instead turned facing the wall. He let his eyes close, tired, and pushing his problems to the back of his mind.
No doubt Petunia would wake him up tomorrow, so he needed a good night's sleep if he wanted to deal with anymore of the Dursley's crap.
Darkness overcame him as he fell into a deep sleep…
(0o0)
Number 4 Privet Drive, the Following Day, July 17
The nest day, was the same as any other day that Ichigo woke to the screeching of Petunia ordering to dress quickly. She banged on the cupboard door, easily expressing her displeasure at Ichigo's laziness.
Ichigo dressed quickly (wanting nothing more than to get the torture over with) and walked out of his cupboard. He made it to the stove and popped in some toast, while tossing some bacon into a pan. He was careful, though and watching the food diligently, making sure not to burn anything lest he hear Petunia screech at him.
Vernon entered the kitchen, and plopped himself down at the kitchen table, and opening his newspaper. He didn't even looking up as Ichigo set the food in front of him, and instead turned a page in his newspaper.
There was silence for a second before they heard the click of the mail slot and the usual flop of letters on the door mat.
"Get the mail, Dudley," said Vernon from behind his newspaper.
Ichigo sighed, and got up anyway. If he waited for Dudley, nothing would ever get done, so he might as well do it for the pig and stop Vernon from throwing a fit.
He went to the door, and on the mat were three letters. Ichigo looked through them, and his frown deepened as he read the last letter:
Mr. Harry Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
Number 4 Privet Drive
Little Whining, Surrey
The letter was thick and made of parchment paper that was yellowing on the sides. There was no stamp anywhere on the letter as far as Ichigo could see. He walked back to the kitchen carrying all three letters, placing the two for Vernon in front of the beefy man and returning to his seat, and slowly began to open the yellow envelope.
Vernon laid his newspaper down and ripped open one of his letter, snorting in disgust as he complained about 'god-forsaken-basterd-trying-to-steal-his-money', before he continued on to the second letter.
Dudley watched all this with his beady eyes and glanced over at his cousin. "Dad, look! The freak's got something!" He said making hand motions that sent the fat on his arms up and down in a gruesome matter.
Vernon looked up and his eyes went wide when he saw the unusual letter Ichigo was currently reading through. "Boy," He yelled leaning forward to try and snatch the letter from his nephew's hands.
Ichigo dodged the poor attempt to take his letter and leaned back in his chair ignoring the amount of noise he was making. The sudden noise attracted Petunia's attention, as she walked back into the kitchen, and she glared getting ready to yell at the 'thing' when a certain letter caught her attention.
Her eyes went wide and she leaped forward. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, as fear and panic filled her eyes. Her worst fears were coming true.
"Put that letter down." She hissed at Ichigo. She waved her hand trying to jerk the letter from the substitute shinigami's hand but failed when Ichigo moved away from the table, and away from his annoying relatives.
Both adult screamed, making so much noise and trying to dislodge the letter from Ichigo's grasp, that Ichigo moved the letter between him and his 'family'. They continued to try to get the letter away from him, but by this time Ichigo was done reading the first page.
His eyes narrowed. "Pathetic." He said slowly approaching the edge of the table.
Tension filled the small kitchen until Ichigo folded the letter and placed it neatly back into the envelope. "It was just a prank." He said out loud walking away from the table and towards the trash can.
Petunia and Vernon blinked, and they stared at their nephew, unable to believe that the strange child had written off that 'freakishness' as a prank. On one hand they were very happy to not actually have the freak become a wizard and torture them with 'that', but still a prank…?
The two shared a long look at each other confused by the display, that neither noticed Ichigo walked passed them. They were too caught up in their own thoughts that chores and other work to be done were wiped clear from their minds.
Ichigo on the other hand, ignored his relatives completely walking out of the kitchen thinking about the non-existence of magic.
After all there was no way something this strange could be real….
(0o0)
Dursley Kitchen, Present Day
Immediately after Ichigo left the kitchen, Petunia persuaded Dudley to go to his room using the promises of toys later on. He went obediently and both Petunia and Vernon waited until the loud 'slam' of the first bedroom door sounded before they turned to each other, confused, and thoughtful at the current situation.
"The…boy didn't believe it was real," said Petunia, still in shock. "He didn't care." Her voice was quivering a little, sounding strained and hollow. She crossed her arms trying to steady herself, and think logically and what they should do.
Vernon stood up from his place at the table walking to the trash can. He easily picked out the envelope made of parchment and walked back to the table muttering nonsense. "Watching—spying-might be following us, "He paused for a second before hastily adding another comment."—could know about that," He continued, placing the letter in front of Petunia and pointing out the 'Cupboard under the Stairs' written neatly above the address.
Petunia went paler. "But what should we do? Should we sent it back, or—?
Vernon paced intently, thinking over this problem with an unusually high amount of concentration he used for big money business deals. "No," He said firmly. "We'll ignore it. If they don't get an answer they'll just give up…that's what we'll do. And if nothing has been done about the boy since we've took him in then, they don't know…"
"But, they won't give up—." Petunia insisted.
Vernon cut across her. "They will, or…" His voice weakens and he thought for a second before finishing. "…I'll make them." He took back the letter from Petunia and tossed it back in the bin, before heading out of the room. It was almost time for him to go to work.
Petunia watched him go unsure…
Later that evening when Vernon got back from work, Vernon visited Ichigo in his cupboard. He didn't actually try to squeeze himself into the small space and instead opened the cupboard door and roughly got Ichigo's attention.
Luckily, Ichigo escaped any damage as he easily dodged the meaty fist. He looked up at his 'Uncle' unafraid with angry in his eyes. He was nearly taken back with he saw held within Vernon's eyes. Fear -more than anything clouded Vernon's eyes… Ichigo blinked wondering what exactly pissed off his 'Uncle' off…
"You, boy," Vernon stated after a moment; he gritted his teeth and sent spit flying everywhere.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything (though he did lean to right side to avoid the spit).
"You are going to move into Dudley's second bedroom, and you will move quickly." Said Vernon grabbing Ichigo's arm (there wasn't enough room in the cupboard to dodge efficiently) and pulling him up, while making sure to do it as roughly as possible. Ichigo didn't take this punishment lightly and sent out another small amount of reiatsu quickly deterring Vernon from continuing his harsh treatment. Ichigo's arm was released and the fat giant quickly left the cupboard entrance.
The Dursley's home had five bedrooms; one for Vernon and Petunia, one for visitor's (usually Marge and her dog Ripper) one where Dudley slept, and left all his trash in, and one where all the excess garbage that didn't in his first bedroom, and one storage room.
Regardless, it took Ichigo several trips upstairs to completely organize and clean Dudley's second bedroom. He found various toys, and broken gadgets scattered throughout the room. One example was the month-old camera that Dudley received on his birthday laying discard near one of the farthest corners. Other shelves were full of books that looked new and they were the only things in the room that appeared as if they'd never been touched. ('Like Dudley could even read,' Ichigo thought.)
Ichigo moved the broken articles of toys and other objects to the trashcan, and took everything usable and placed them aside while fixing up the room as best as he could. Inside the small closet were several outfits of clothes once belonging to Dudley, but were decent enough that Ichigo could wear instead of the sad excuses of clothes he was currently wearing.
He smiled slightly and was about to start putting away clothes when a loud whining came from downstairs, "I don't want him near me…I need that rooms…throw him out…he's useless…" Dudley whined (probably) using every trick possible to remove Ichigo from his precious second bedroom.
Ichigo glared at the door, thoroughly pissed out at the grief that Dudley was insulting him. 'Who's the useless one, again?' Ichigo though hanging up his clothes while moving some more junk out of the closet.
He closed the closet door and went over to his new cleaned bed lying down as he waited for the conclusion of the fight going on downstairs. He wasn't disappointed.
"AND WHAT IF HE DOES SOMETHING FREAKISH TO ME?" Dudley yelled this time louder, and more forceful than before.
Ichigo smirked at that comment, and moved off his bed to resume his work. 'If Dudley only knew…he inherited his 'freakish' behavior from his parents.' Ichigo thought throwing some more junk into pile to be binned. Compared to Vernon and the rest of the family, Ichigo was the most normal person in the house…ironically.
(0o0)
Soul Society, Seireitei July 17
Karin glared as her lieutenant brought another stack of paperwork to her. Every day it was the same, just as she was almost done with the paperwork from the previous day, more of the torture was delivered, it was never ending. She took the papers thrown haphazardly from the corner of her desk (her subordinate still wasn't used to Karin's glares) and added it to her current stack barely taking note of the slightly shorter number of papers.
She sighed.
She was tired of watching Yuzu cry at night for their older brother, and she was tired of their father always looking at the fourth chair whenever they sat down at dinner longingly. It was downright annoying and actually made him seem less stupid that it was driving her crazy. The balance that once existed in their family was gone and every conversation was uncomfortable and distant at best.
Then there were their captain's duties, Yuzu was always busy at the Fourth Division working on some new training exercise, or paperwork, or clean up duties, the list was endless, and neither Karin's nor Isshin's duties left them much leeway in searching for their lost family member, but that didn't mean they didn't conduct a search every weekend.
"Excuse me?" A voice said interrupting her thoughts.
Karin glared at the door. "What?" She asked rather irritated. If it was someone important, they wouldn't bother knocking, and even if it was another captain they knew better than to ask her to change her attitude. She may only have attained her Bankai recently, but she could mop the floor (or put up a good fight) with any of the other captains. Seeing as the visitor asked for permission, it was likely a lower officer.
The sliding doors opened, and sure enough it was Maya Oka, the shy eighth seat of the Fifth Division.
Karin resisted the urge to glare at her 'guest'. (Maya was likely to faint if she so much as looked at her wrong.) Using every ounce of control she had she schooled her face into a believable bored expression. "Well?" Karin asked again after a minute of waiting for the fifth seat to say something. Karin did have paperwork, and other things to do.
Maya gulped and quickly handed Karin a letter folded over with a seal.
Karin leaned her face on her hand and took the letter looking over it for the name of the sender. There was none. She gives very little notice to Maya's bowing and quick departure from her office as Karin went ahead and broke the seal on the letter opening.
(0o0)
Dursley Household, Evening Present Day
The arguing between Dudley and his parents continued late into the evening and Ichigo was forced to use his pillow to block out the horrible screeching emitting from the mouths of the 'normal' residents of Privet Drive. It was frustrating but eventually Ichigo was spared the noise as the sky darkened and night settled in on the street.
Ichigo yawned and removed the pillow from on top of his head, and stretch out on his new and comfortable (compared to the cupboard) bed. Yesterday he had been up here using the computer (that was still in one corner of the room) to search for information on his hometown and today he was sleeping in an actual bedroom. The reasons for this action were unclear to the substitute shinigami, but he knew better then to complain, besides the satisfaction of getting one over Dudley made him smirk.
He turned over and sleeps overcome him.
Dursley Household, July 18
The next morning at the kitchen table was quieter than usual. Dudley was in absolute shock. He'd done everything from screaming his bloody head off, to pretending to be sick, to crying, everything to remove his cousin from his second bedroom but nothing worked. Ichigo was watching over the rest of the table while eating plenty of food to make up for the past few days when his diet had been less than pristine. Vernon and Petunia kept looking at each other confused, as if waiting for some mysterious answer to appear and give them the reason to make everything clearer.
Whatever the reason Ichigo shrugged off the silence of his family members and continued eating, he was slightly happy to finally be eating a complete meal, when suddenly they heard the click of the mail slot and a set of letters flapped onto the doormat destroying the silence in the Dursley kitchen. Strangely enough, Vernon who seemed to be trying to be nice to Ichigo, made Dudley go and get the mail. They heard his pounding footsteps, and five minutes later the youngest Dursley entered the kitchen once more dropping the letters right between his father and Ichigo.
The tension that had been at the table previously returned tenfold and Vernon watched as Ichigo paid no mind to the small stack of letter bearing his (fake) name. If anything Ichigo appeared to be annoyed at the letters as now in green ink the words 'The Smallest Bedroom' were written over their address. Vernon's eyes narrowed and he swapped the letters up and tore them into pieces before Ichigo's eyes—if the hero of the Arrancar Way had been paying attention that is.
Ichigo merely munched on some more bacon he stole from Dudley's plate ignoring all the strange drama happening right in front of him. So far he managed to get rid of all the junk from his new bedroom and was more than looking forward to finishing and finally having a good decent place to call his own.
His eyes narrowed as he continued to feel the staring eyes of his 'Aunt', and his 'Uncle' upon him, it was really starting to annoy him.
"What?" He bit out finally losing his patience at all the staring being done in his direction.
Petunia and Vernon looked away quickly, saying nothing, and Ichigo got up from the table placing his empty plate into the sink and walking out of the room, confused.
Did he miss something?
Dursley Household, July 19
The alarm clock work up the inhabitants of number four at six o'clock the nest morning Ichigo turned over in his bed barely paying any attention to the annoying sound, as somewhere in another room Dudley knocked over his alarm clock off his bedside table and unto the floor breaking it.
Unlike Ichigo and Dudley, Petunia raised wiping sleep from her eyes as she dragged her bony body out of bed and to the restroom. She had only opened the door when a flood of letters addressed to 'Mr. Harry Potter' buried her. Vernon meanwhile turned in his sleep ignorant of his wife's situation.
Five minutes passed before Petunia had unearthed herself from most of the letters, and she screamed her displeasure for the entire household to hear.
"AAAAAAARRRRRGGHH!"
Ichigo leaped up into the air; the screeching of his dear aunt having given him a pounding headache as his sensitive ears went into overdrive at the tone deaf noise.
Lights clicked on in three of the bedrooms and every member of number fourth rushed (or looked in Vernon's case) to Petunia and the massive pile of letter burying her. Vernon, who had been lying comfortable in his king, sized bed rolled out of his bed and waddled to his wife trying to unearth her from the pile of crushing parchment papers. It was surprising for Vernon to move so fast, and to think coherently enough to even identify the situation enough to try and help Petunia from her troubles. He shouted at Ichigo, demanding that he move his 'freakish behind' by help them bring a trash can from the kitchen up. Ichigo glared and shuffled off downstairs and by the time he got back Petunia, Vernon and Dudley were having a serious conversation involving the very person who just walked in.
"Dudley will make sure none of those letters makes it to the freak's hands. I can tell he's planning something." Vernon said seriously. His face was scrunched up making his head resemble a pig, before he turned to Petunia and gave her the exact demand as he did Dudley as if she were stupid enough to forget what he said only seconds ago.
Ichigo didn't say anything and stood in the doorway, curious and a little annoyed at the conversation taking place so early in the morning about his presumed abnormal abilities. 'Maybe whatever was bothering the idiots had something to do with the 'magic' letters I'm getting?' Ichigo thought.
Whatever the case Ichigo listen in—wondering when one of the Dursley's would finally figure out he was in the room, and could every single word they were saying.
"Are you sure that's necessary Vernon?" Petunia asked placing her hands on her lap. "The thing said it was a prank—"
"So…he's faking it. He's one of their kinds, and being the son of them only proves he's abnormal." Vernon said sternly, his eyes hard.
Petunia nodded agreeing yet she didn't seem convinced.
Her eyes traveled the room thinking until finally her eyes landed on Ichigo casually standing in the doorway looking amused, and very annoyed. Her temper flared and within seconds she started yelling insults shoving Ichigo back into his bedroom with a few scarps of breakfast.
It was strange and for the rest of the day no one bothered Ichigo to do any of his chores—they simply left him alone. For the first time in a long while Ichigo was able to spend his day in relative ease as downstairs the Dursley's were freaking out, trying and failing to understand how much the freak had heard.
All in all another day another day was spent in absolute confusion as the three Dursley's pondered (or in Dudley's case watched TV) how abnormal their life had turned.
Dursley Household, July 20
On Friday over two hundred letters found themselves in random places throughout the house. As they couldn't go through the mail shot (Vernon had nailed it shut after the first day) they had been pushed under the door, in a couple of vases, slotted through the sides of windows, behind every trash can, and a good few entered from the small window in the downstairs bathroom.
Vernon ripped apart each and every one of them before burning them in the Living Room fireplace. After he finished he took out a hammer and nails and boarded up every crack in the house, and even going so far as to set up a mail box in town for all future letters. Vernon was determined in his work, but jumped at small noises as Ichigo found out surprising him.
For the rest of the day Ichigo found good reasons to give his adoring Uncle some scares.
Dursley Household, July 21
On Saturday, the situation went from bad from worst. Four hundred letters entered into the house and were gathered in front of the bedrooms door trapping each person within their bedrooms. Ichigo managed to escape his room after an hour, and slowly made himself a huge breakfast, smirking when the sounds of Dudley and the older Dursley's met his ears.
Prank or not, Ichigo had the happiest and revenge filled week because of the letters, and was more than happy to let the charade continue. So what if the neighbors were confused or annoyed? Ichigo didn't care.
Around noon the Dursley's finally managed to dig their way out from their rooms where surprising more letters was piled on the sofas and on the TV making Dudley complains twice as much. Vernon turned purple, outraged at the amount of trouble those freaks were causing and set out once more making furious phone calls to the post office as well as anyone else. Petunia shredded the letters using her food processor and burned them
When the afternoon came around all the Dursley's were angry and tired and slipped into their beds, unknowingly completing the one chore to be done and leaving a certain shinigami free reign of the house.
Still, even while Ichigo was enjoying himself, he wondered what the prankster wanted so badly.
Dursley Household, July 22
Sunday morning dawned early, and Vernon sat at the breakfast table looking irritable and frustrated but happy.
"No letters on Sunday, the post is off," He reminded them cheerfully as Ichigo took a seat at the table. Vernon picked up a few slices of toast and spread some butter. It was a creepy display and Ichigo hurried through his breakfast.
Silence held the table as neither Petunia nor Dudley made any effort to start a conversation, and everyone ate quietly maintaining the peace in the uncomfortable quiet. Ichigo finished his food and was getting ready to leave when a blur flew past him and smacked into Vernon's face.
The happy atmosphere at the table vanished, and as hundreds of letters came pelting into the kitchen from the hallway. The Dursley's ducked under the table (a tight fit as Dudley took up half the space from under the table from himself), and Ichigo moved leaning near the wall to the door—the only area untouched by the dozens of letters flying everywhere.
"That's it!" Vernon yelled standing up and hitting his head on the table. He had apparently forgotten he was under the table. Petunia and Dudley shared a confused look and got to their feet watching as the trail of letters started to decrease turning into a giant pile blocking the doorway. "I want everyone out of the kitchen and packed in ten minutes—."
Ichigo smirked and motioned in the direction of the letters. "It'll take more than ten minutes to get through that pile, even if you and Dudley were in shape." Ichigo said casually. He turned his back to them and started back to the table. He wasn't going to cooperate with the Dursley's.
The angry in Vernon's eyes increased and he moved stomping over to Ichigo. "I did not ask for your cheek boy." He hissed, spitting in Ichigo's face.
Ichigo wiped the spit off his face and glared. "Like I care what you want." He said turning and cleaning off one of the chairs, sitting himself down. "The only reason I even bother to listen to anything that comes from your mouth is because it keeps Petunia from screeching." Ichigo added as he crossed his arms looking dangerous.
Neither Dursley paid any mind to the danger sighs going off, as Petunia glared and moved over to stand in front of her nephew. "I am your aunt and you will address me as so." She demanded screeching once more.
The pressure was building up slowing but steady, and surprisingly enough Dudley was quiet working on plowing through the letters in a rush. There was no doubt that he only cared for his television shows, and food.
Ichigo glared, absolutely disgusted and fed up with Vernon and Petunia's high and mighty attitudes. "Biologically, we are related, but you treat me like servant, so frankly you two are not even worth being called aunt and uncle." He said standing and pushing away some of the letters, not really caring if he buried his cousin along with the rest of his miserable relatives.
He was alert though and glared harshly at Petunia and Vernon daring them to as much as look at him wrong. He meant what he said, and at this point enough was enough. He was not going to deal with them, not now, not ever.
For the moment, neither Petunia nor Vernon said anything, feeling the intense pressure Ichigo was radiating, and let their fear control their actions as they moved back trying to put as much space between them and the 'freak', totally disregarding that they left their beloved 'Dudleykins' near the danger known as Harry Potter.
Ten minutes of mind grueling work, and Ichigo finally succeed in gathering all of the letters into several trash bags before watching as Petunia and Vernon sped forth grabbing Dudley, and running up stairs in an unusual display of speed as the three relatives of Ichigo's hulled themselves up their rooms doing whatever.
Ichigo could care less about what they were doing and set out to put up the breakfast dishes before making his way upstairs to continue his work making his room actually look like a bedroom instead of a prison cell.
He worked hard, and several hours later he was surprised when none of his relatives had bothered him as he glanced at the clock on the wall (he stole it from Dudley's room), slightly surprised to learn he'd been working for five hours straight and that it was a quarter after three o'clock, but he wasn't disappointed with what he had accomplished.
In the five hours of non-Dursley interaction, he'd managed to completely rearrange the furniture, dust out the room, fix the bedside table, organize the books, add a second book shelf (took one from the attic), and set up the computer getting rid of all the crap Dudley download onto at some point.
Walking out into the hallway he was mildly surprised to hear nothing or see Petunia and Vernon, it was a Sunday, and Vernon didn't not have work on weekends. So even if by some chance he did go out, Petunia still should have been home…
Ichigo walked into the kitchen and a single sheet of paper with a few pounds lying on it caught his attention, and slowly the pieces started to come together. He moved forward, and moving aside the bills, he picked up the sheet.
We have decided to go vacationing for the rest of the summer, and will not be taking you with us. Against my better judgment ("What judgment?" Ichigo muttered under his breath.) Petunia and myself have left some money for food, and will not be returning into a week into the school year….
Destroy the house and you will pay boy…
Ichigo blinked and crumpled the paper, throwing it neatly into the trashcan, and scanning the amount of money left behind—he was not stunned to see less than sixty pounds, and mentally did the math knowing it not nearly enough money to feed a person for almost two months, even with the small amount of food in the fridge.
Ichigo shrugged, and pocketed the money, not at all phased, thinking back to the huge stash of money he kept hidden under a loose floor board in his room.
Even with the Dursley's trying to mess him up, he still succeed in making them fail, and looking back at the trash can, Ichigo smirked.
The Dursley's were way out of their league if they thought they could put one over on him…
Dursley Household, July 30
The next eight days passed in relative ease as Ichigo moved into a lazy routine of eating when he felt like it, watching TV, and cleaning only before he went to bed. It was relaxing time, and Ichigo had began to learn more about his hometown when he got on the computer for a few minutes here and there, between talking a little to his ghostly companion who had yet to leave.
Once or twice, a shinigami passed nearby, and although Ichigo tried his best to lead her in the direction of them, the small little girl was unable to make it in time to do anything besides following Ichigo at the end of each day.
Whatever the case, neither Ichigo or the small girl were bothered by these results took each day as it came ready and willing to go forward to find a shinigami (though Ichigo did make it known that when they finally caught up with a shinigami he would not be present, something the small ghost did not understand but agreed to anyway)…
Regardless, life was changing, and it was only later on that Ichigo know how much…
(o0o)
Soul Society, Seireitei July 30
Little more than a week had passed since Karin had received that letter, and with each passing day her temperament was becoming so bad even people used to her glares were avoiding her very presence.
It was a dangerous time, as Karin moved from her desk and made her way to her office door ready to move forward…
FLASHBACK- July 17
Karin leaned her face on her hand and took the letter looking over it for the name of the sender. There was none. She gives very little notice to Maya's bowing and quick departure from her office as Karin went ahead and broke the seal on the letter opening.
Karin-san,
I have come across some…troubling information about Kurosaki Ichigo-san's disappearance and ask that you as well as the rest of your family meet me thirteen days from today at my shop to talk.
Do not let Abarai-kun, nor Rukia-san have any knowledge about this meeting…this information is sensitive, and unsettling.
Urahara Kisuke.
The bored expression was gone from Karin's face as she read the letter, both surprised and shocked about the words contained within. A part of her was starting to hope that Urahara's extensive (and crazy) information network had finally uncovered Ichigo location, but Karin quickly pushed those thoughts in to the back of her mind before they could take root.
She didn't need to be let down again…but still…
'Information about Ichigo…' Karin thought running her hands over the folds of the letter where Ichigo's name was written neatly in Kanji. 'Another chance…' Karin folded the letter and placed ii into the pocket of her captain's coat.
Yes, she had a chance to find her brother, and she'd even betray Rukia-san's trust, and that of Abarai if it meant finding her brother… because she had too—for everyone's sake.
FLASHBACK END
Outside her office, both her father, and her twin sister were waiting against the walls, and both looked up when Karin moved forward walking passed them.
It was time.
(o0o)
The lights flickered on and off as the rain outside pounded against the electric poles. It was a quarter past eleven and silence reigned throughout the Dursley Household as Ichigo tossed and turned on his bed.
Usually he was easily able to sleep no matter what, but on nights that it rained, his always had problems keeping his nightmares away. Keeping his memories of that time away…and he'd never succeed in holding them off…
The huge puddles of blood mixed in the sand, and Ichigo tighten the ragged cloak around his shoulders, trying to gather more warmth as he ran. He didn't want to think anymore, didn't want to see that expression on the face of his friends—he couldn't.
He was hurt too much to survive, to go through that fear in their eyes.
So he moved running, trying to get away because even if his friends hadn't moved, Kurotsuchi Mayuri had. The twelfth division was coming, a zanpakutou within his hands a hungry in his eyes, wanting nothing more than to open up his chest and experiment on him—like Aizen did.
Noises overwhelm him, as everyone present says something different and the words merge together causing a headache compared to the infinite silence he had
He couldn't stop—
"Ashisogi Jizō," The scientist whispered unsheathing his sword.
Mayuri moves close cutting and slashing at him as pain courses all through his wounded side, but the scientist is faster, unwounded unlike him. He's wounds burn and numb up, and he's struggling with everything imaginable to get away.
Blood is everywhere and his former friends and acquiesces are moving closer, too close. The world starts closing in on Ichigo and the noise turns silent as everything becomes too much—he jumps back.
The fear is too powerful, and his reiatsu too chaotic…
Ichigo jumped up in his bed.
"Shit," He whispered as the shaking started again.
He hated his memories…
Ichigo glanced at the clock—two minutes to noon. Somehow, he'd made through the night with only one nightmare, and had slept in. It was a small blessing that Ichigo enjoyed now that he was now having to deal with the useless Dursley's for a while... Ichigo moved off his bed and dressed slowing taking in the quiet that had became the normal for the substitute shinigami since the departure of the Dursley's-
BANG!
Ichigo's eyes narrowed and he moved into a guard position, moving swiftly… The last thing he needed was for it to be some sort of intruder or something…
BANG!
(End of Chapter 3 Part 1)
(0o0)
A/n: Sorry again, here the last part of chapter 3 since I know so many of you wanted to finally see this story get some action. But be warned I had to use many of Hagrid's lines from the first book because I'm terrible at his dialogue.
(0o0)
Chapter 3 Part 2
Dursley Household, July 31
BOOM.
They sound was deafening, and Ichigo raced forward to the door. The wooden frame was hit with such force that it was shaking uncontrollably and likely would give any moment. Ichigo readied himself knowing full well that whoever was at the door was not someone he knew, since the Dursley's could simply let them in...
SMASH!
The door fell with a heavy 'clank', and silence descended on number four, as Ichigo finally saw who was in the door way. A man taller than the door frame stepped in his shaggy hair brushing the ceiling as his thick boots made loud noises on the floor. His coat was another equally large article as inside the various pockets Ichigo could makes out some strange 'clicking'.
The Defender of Aizen hadn't moved an inch from his stance and stared at the man in front him, apprehensive.
"Who are you?" Ichigo asked eyes narrowed slightly.
The giant blinked and moved forward again, he bent down, picked up the door and carefully fitted it back into place. He smiled pleased and took one of Ichigo's hand shaking him, and almost moving the substitute shinigami from the floor in a mixed up hand shake.
"Oh I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." The now named Hagrid said warmly. His eyes fell on the hallway scenery, taking in the small house surrounding. Ichigo saw the glances from Hagrid and moved back to allow Hagrid entrance into the Dursley's Living Room.
"We'll talk in here." Ichigo said motioning for the giant to enter the sitting area, before moving off to get the man some refreshments. Despite his cool nature Ichigo did have manners, (though the extents of them were force feed into him by the Dursley's). He was quick thought, and only a few minutes passed before Ichigo reentered the Living Room, to see his...'guest' sitting on one of the Dursley's prized sofas, which appeared to be sagging under the weight of Hagrid.
Ichigo quietly placed the tea set on the medium-sized table directly in-between the two long sofas, and carefully slide the plate of cookies towards his guest allowing the taller of the two to have easier access to the food.
"Thanks for the cup o' tea...Anyway—Harry," Hagrid said looking through one of his coat pockets, he pulled out a smallish cardboard box revealing a green frosting cake with the words 'Happy Birthday Harry' written in black icing.
Ichigo was taken back at the sentiment as it had been almost a decade since anyone had celebrated his birthday(1), and although he knew Hagrid was talking about the birthday of Harry Potter, it was strange to be reminded of the other times when his family sat around the kitchen table waiting for him to blow out the candles.
Ichigo glared at his father. "Blow out the candles? You've seriously lost it old man."
Karin turned back to her television show, trying to something to forget the thirty-minutes of boredom that was going to come at the years old argument between her elder brother and their father.
Isshin pretended to cry, before racing off to the creepy poster of his wife on the Living Room wall. "See Masaki, look how our son treats our family traditions," He said pointing at Ichigo. He continued to wail on...
Ichigo sighed, resisting the urge to send his old man through the nearest window. "For the last time, THIS is not a family tradition, we've only been doing this for five years, when you decided (by yourself) to bake birthday cakes for us instead of going out."
Isshin cried some more. "Oh my dear Masaki, look at him, he's become so rude since he's hit puberty-"
Karin turned back around from the TV. "Finish that sentence and I'll trash that stupid poster." She threatens more than a little tired of the usual grief associated with her dad.
Isshin cried some more. "What'd I do?"
Yuzu sighed. "Honesty dad, it because she's fed up with you... Please stop fighting! And big brother just blow out the candle, and father with stop."
Ichigo glared at the cake but did as she asked—
"Harry?"
Ichigo looked up. "Thanks..."
The giant smiled. "Yer welcome, an' I reckon it's about' time yeh read yer letter-though I can' figur' why yeh didn't get it-"
"I did receive it." Ichigo said pouring himself some more tea. He pointed at one of the trash cans. "I knew it was some prank."
Hagrid stared at him, not quite believing what he was hearing. "Yer letter weren' a prank. Harry-yer a wizard."
(0o0)
Urahara Shoten, July 31
It was a little after midnight when the three Kurosaki Family members finally arrived outside Urahara Shoten and each member was tense. The paperwork and proper approval needed for all of them to go the Living World and taken longer than they had expected (Renji and Rukia had brought several more piles of paperwork in the middle of everything, owing to the fact that huge fight had rendered a few members of their divisions unable to do their own paperwork).
Karin glared at unsurprisingly the pervert himself was standing outside waiting for them.
"Why the letter?" Karin asked as the four seated themselves at the small table.
Urahara expression turned grim.
"The Hyogyoku is still in Ichigo."
(0o0)
Dursley Household, July 31
"That's your story?" Ichigo asked crossing his arms. "You're some sort of grounds keeper from a magical school that my parents went to and now you want me to go?"
Hagrid nodded, smiling.
"That makes absolutely no sense," Ichigo said throwing his tea into the plant next to him. Just because the Dursley's weren't home didn't mean that Petunia didn't put some poison in the tea mix, or something. He'd had plenty of experience with poison his food, after all even to this day Vernon tried repeatedly to send him to his grave...
Still...He couldn't believe the junk that was coming out of Hagrid's mouth and the fact that the older of the two expected him to believe this nonsense about witches and wizards was bull. He'd seen the afterlife, he was half-dead, and he'd saved the world from the most cunning bastard in Soul Society history (those other lame excuses for bad guys didn't count) and now some strange people wanted to ship him off to some crazy school?
Un-freaking-believable.
Hagrid nodded. "O' course, an' yeh be a good'un I'd say once yeh've trained up a bit-"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed half way, looking like a cross between pissed off, and bored. "I don't believe in magic."
Hagrid chuckled, and sipped some more tea. Unlike Rukia, who had been surprised by Ichigo's lack of belief in the undead, Hagrid processed to bore Ichigo with logic stating that 'yes' magic does exist and that Ichigo was one hundred percent a being of this strange race—Ichigo still wasn't convinced.
"Look...Hagrid, I'm not a wizard." Ichigo said, he sighed knowing this conversation was going nowhere...
"Yes, yeh are, an' I ca' prove it," the giant said. "Has th're ever been a time yeh've scared o' angry and som'thing strange happen'd?"
"Well, yes—"
"See yer a wizard...even if yeh don't beli've it."
Ichigo pushed his cup of away. "That still doesn't explain the owls trying to eat the Dursley's (2) He said casually as though it was normal for the flying wildlife to suddenly attack people, but compared to the story Hagrid was trying to feed to him, Ichigo was sure there was some (weird) explanation.
"Gallopin' Gorgons, that reminds me," Hagrid said starting to search his coat pockets once more. From yet another pocket he pulled a rather ruffed owl and a long quill with a roll of parchment attached. With a concentrated look on his face Hagrid quickly wrote out a few sentences that easily were visible though the yellow paper:
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Given Harry his letter, and taking him to buy his supplies in a bit, weather lousy.
Hagrid
Ichigo watched as in seconds Hagrid rolled up the note, and gave it to the owl which was placed in a small pouch on its leg, before it move flying off and through one of the windows Ichigo forgot to close last night (Ichigo made a mental note to make sure all the windows and doors were locked-the last thing he needed was some weirdo to come in...), and Hagrid turned back to eat more of the cookies Ichigo had set out as though this was something normal as answering a cell phone.
There was silence for a few seconds until Hagrid spoke up once more.
"Where was I?" Hagrid said, refilling his tea cup again.
Ichigo looked out the window. "You were talking about Hogwarts," He casually reminded the giant, ideally wondering if he'd had time to get some more food after Hagrid left.
Hagrid made to stand up. "Well 'nough about that, we need to go if we want to be back before night." The Keeper of Keys grabbed his umbrella, and went through his coat once more trying to find a place for his unsuspecting wand. "Besides-yer know all about Hogwarts all ready-"
"I don't."
Hagrid looked shocked, and turned to look at Ichigo. The later piling the tea ware together as well as taking the refreshment plate to put up.
"Yeh don't?" Hagrid echoed trying to wrap his mind around that statement. Ichigo moved passed him and only a glance from the corn or of his eyes let him catch the other glaring holes into the portraits of the Dursley's lining the Living Room walls. It was amazing the amount of hate the giant was expressing in that one look, and Ichigo entered the kitchen washing and drying the tea ware.
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
The loud sounds gave Ichigo plenty of hint that the Hogwarts' Ground Keeper was indeed following him, and silence reign for several minutes as Ichigo finished up.
"Do you mean ter tell me," Hagrid growled pointing at one of the pictures. "That these muggles didn't tel you anything?"
Ichigo dried his hands on a dish rag by the sink, looking a little in insulted at the question. "About Hogwarts, than nothing, but I'm not an academic reject." He answered. What was it with every person (living or dead) questioning his intelligence? He wasn't mentally incapable, or stupid he's grades showed this...
Hagrid grip on his umbrella grew stronger. "But yeh must know about yer parents," He said. "I mean everyone knows about your family...and you're famous."
Ichigo cursed silently. "Famous, how?"
Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair, glancing at Ichigo with a bewildered stare. "How'd yeh think yer parents died?"
Ichigo looked down, letting his bangs shadow his eyes. "A car crash," He repeated knowing the lie instantly for what it was. He knew there were no cars present during his arrival in England, and after being trapped within this dead body it was impossible to say something as mundane and fatal could have trapped he within this body.
"Well, its best you know before you enter, our world," Hagrid said moving one of the kitchen chairs out from the table and taking a seat, and collecting his thoughts. "It begins with a person called-," Hagrid paused.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "Who?" He pushed wanting to know who was responsible for his predicament.
Hagrid gulped at Ichigo fierce look." All right—Voldemort," Hagrid shuddered. "I won't say it again...Anyway this wizard, about twenty years ago, started gatherin' followers. And he got 'em, different witches and wizards-some afraid of dying, some just wanted some his power, 'cause he was powerful, it was dark days. No one trusted anyone else, some of them had terrible things happen it 'em and others he killed 'em. In horrible ways... but he didn't try at Hogwarts', he was afraid of Dumbledore didn't dare try takin' the castle."
"But yer parents, they were good people, brill'nt witch and wizard... and they fought against You-Know Who," Ichigo glared, and his grip on the table tighten. "All anyone knows is, he turned up in the village where yer family was stayin', an'-an'"
Hagrid went silent, and pulled out a handkerchief blowing his nose. "Sorry..."
Ichigo looked away. "I don't have any money."
Hagrid looked at Ichigo confused, before he understood what the (supposedly) younger was getting at. "Did you think your parents didn't leave you anything?" Hagrid stood up from the table and pushed the chair back into place with slightly more force then necessary as the wooden table shook. "Its' getting late, we've got lots to do still today. Got to get up to town, and get all yer book an' that."
Ichigo nodded walking passed Hagrid, to start getting ready to leave.
As far as the substitute shinigami was concerned, magic could've been these people form of spirit energy, but whatever the case, Ichigo saw this experience as another chance to get one over the Dursley's...
And yet, even if Hagrid wasn't who he pretended to be...Ichigo wasn't worried-he could hold his own in a fight.
(0o0)
A/N: Yes, Ichigo does seem like he was convinced too easily (at least that's the way I see it...) don't worry Ichigo will explain his motives for following our resident half-giant friend in the next chapter, so stay tuned…and on the whole Ichigo's friends abandoning him...they just didn't react fast enough to stop mayuri...
Thanks go to ,yarra,prijcp316 Yin7, Jiuriana-chan, Alien 2012, Exclamated, cupcake123, IchigoKurosakiSotaichou, Son of Kalas, Oriko, Goldenfightergirl, otogii, xxIciclebloomxx, missyJuliette, Karate Girl654, Dark Lord of Ori, Sutala Stormweaver, Goku Koneko Sage, Magdalaen Beller, Lost GryffindorFoundSlytherin, amethyst Ichigo, blackwolfs900, Ribbonseal, Millie M. Banshee, -Jess-Emrys-Black-, Bobboky, MissOrange8587, Arthisa, 2iv3-2if3, Yami-no-Tamashii, BeccaBaby, YastoraRisa, J.T.R., Narlth, Glacarius, Delphine Pryde, Inumaru12, ElementistMagicAkua, Cinder, Lunatic Pandora1, Salamander Hanzo, WickedWitchVictora, HevenSentHellBroken, Ziya Hitsugaya, Mel,yarra, prijcp316, Kitty Serville, Annabelle (Thank you all anonymous reviewers!)
Please READ and REVIEW! I'm already half done with the next chapter-and this time it won't take eight month or so. (Hint, hint)
