Reign of Ice

Chapter 3: Reign of the Ice Maiden

(A/N: Well, I must say I'm very pleased with how this story has been accepted by people. Among the many reviews I've already received, I noticed that some people seem more observant; people have noticed the absence of Momo in Tōshirō's life. The answer to this question is that Momo has not yet featured for a specific reason, but were I to tell you that reason I would probably ruin the plot catastrophically, and I cannot have that, can I? Therefore I simply ask you to trust me with the way this story is going to run and see where I take it.)

(A/N 2: At the same time however, I notice how unobservant some of you seem to be. Most of the reviews I've received have questioned why Tōshirō did not immediately return to Flourish & Blotts to get the books Dumbledore would not allow him to have. On the contrary; he did. I actually pointed out that he went back to get them. How did nobody notice that?)

It was a normal day in the Soul Society. Or at least, normal for practically everybody except those of the First Division, who found themselves being crushed onto the floor by their Captain's fiery reiatsu. The loud voice that echoed down from his office balcony a half-second later wasn't much less obvious, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST HIM?"

Dumbledore frowned, raising his hands as he tried to placate the infuriated Head Captain, "It couldn't be helped, I was summoned away for an emergency Wizengamot meeting. I told him to remain in the Alley, but evidently he disobeyed my instructions. When I returned to the Alley to collect him he was nowhere to be seen. I assumed that one of your Captains or Lieutenants had gone to collect him."

Yamamoto scowled, "You should have taken him with you."

Dumbledore frowned, "I tried. He refused. I do not believe he trusts me."

Yamamoto's eyes opened a crack, "He doesn't? Hmm, I will have words with him when he returns. For now however…" he whistled.

Chōjirō Sasakibe appeared in the doorway, "Yes, Yamamoto-sotaichō?"

Yamamoto looked over at him, "Go to the Twelfth Division and tell them to get their trackers in the World of the Living on the task of finding Tōshirō Hitsugaya."

Dumbledore opened his mouth, but was forestalled by Yamamoto, "No Albus, you are not permitted to retrieve him when we locate him. I am confident that Tōshirō is fully capable of looking after himself, but that still doesn't mean you should have left him there. I will send one of my lieutenants to collect Tōshirō."

-RoI-

Hermione rolled over in bed and blinked up at the ceiling. A few seconds passed in which she thought over the events of the previous day when she had been first exposed to the magical world, before the memory of meeting Tōshirō came back to her and she actually hurdled out of bed.

Moving quickly and quietly along the corridor towards Tōshirō's room, she slowly opened the door and peeked inside. The bed was so neatly made it appeared to have not been slept in; the only signs he had been there was his shrunken trunk on the bedside table, and the small snowy owl perched on the dresser.

Stepping over to the open window, she looked out of it… and spotted Tōshirō sitting cross-legged under the Japanese cherry blossom at the other end of the garden. His eyes were closed, and the sword he had been carrying the previous day was stuck into the ground in front of him. His ice dragon familiar was coiled around the weapon, its head swaying in front of him like a charmed snake.

-RoI-

Tōshirō was currently looking around his mindscape for Hyōrinmaru.

"Greetings," said a soft feminine voice behind him.

Tōshirō turned to find a figure wearing a baggy blue-green kimono with white strips along the edges, held shut with a brown obi that hung down their back in a long fringe. Underneath the mysterious person wore a moss-green turtleneck sweater and what seemed to be a matching knee-length skirt. Light grey sandals completed the ensemble. Long black bangs hung down either side of the figure's head, framing a white mask with four wavy lines on the forehead, slanted eye-slits and two curving red strips over where their mouth would be. At the back of the figure's head, just visible, it appeared the person's hair was pulled up into a bun covered by a white cloth.

"And you are?" muttered Tōshirō, unconsciously settling into a ready stance and raising his Zanpakutō.

The figure reached up and removed their mask, revealing a clear-skinned face with deep brown eyes; a girl. On her forehead, she wore a black headband with a metal plate, engraved with the same odd symbol comprising four wavy lines. She smiled at Tōshirō and bowed, "I am Hyōrinmaru, but you may call me Haku if you so wish."

-RoI-

Hermione walked back downstairs and headed down the garden to where Tōshirō was sitting. When she reached him, she crouched down in front of him and experimentally waved a hand in front of his face. Hyōrinmaru turned to look her in the eyes, and she withdrew her hand.

-RoI-

"So…" said Tōshirō slowly, "How are we going to get you back to your world? You said you had precious people back there."

Haku shook her head, "No, I died back there, and that's how I ended up back here."

Tōshirō thought for a second, "I knew that Zanpakutō had their own manifestations of the wielder's soul, but I didn't realize they were actually humans once."

Haku shook her head again, "It doesn't happen much. It was something I learnt after I died in my own time; only the purest of souls become Zanpakutō spirits. The rest either go to the Soul Society or become Hollows and go to Hueco Mundo. To be honest, I was rather startled when I ended up here."

Tōshirō, sitting opposite her in the snow, leaned across and took her hand, "It's ok, Haku-chan. Now tell me what your world was like!"

Haku smiled, "We used a form of energy which was comprised of a combination of physical energy, now called chi, and what Shinigami now call reiryoku. We called that combination chakra."

"Chakra…" mumbled Tōshirō, rolling the unfamiliar word around his tongue, "Interesting… can I learn to use chakra?"

Haku shook her head, "I don't know how you would even go about training your body up enough to get your levels of physical energy to a level where they can equal your spiritual energy, considering you are but a spirit now thanks to the destruction of your physical body the day you were first brought to the Soul Society, through a Senkaimon with no Reishi converter. Your silver hair was not the only side effect, Tōshirō-kun"

Tōshirō's eyes widened, "How did you know about that? I was only a baby!"

Haku smiled, "I've always been here, Tōshirō-kun." She reached forwards and set her hand on his chest over his heart, "I've always been here, in your heart, seeing what you see, hearing what you hear and feeling what you feel."

When Tōshirō did not respond, she continued, "You have so much spiritual energy and you're so unused to controlling it that I am in a permanent Shikai state. You might be able to adapt my Hyōton jutsu, that's what we used back then, so that you can create them with your control over ice and snow. You see back in my time I had what is known as a kekkei genkai, or bloodline limit. These bloodline limits usually granted the user some specific ability, like my ability to manipulate ice."

Tōshirō nodded, "So I am incapable of using chakra. Isn't there another way I could learn to use these jutsu?"

Haku thought for a second, "You might be able to create them using the ice manipulation granted to you by me as your Zanpakutō… Give it a try."

She waved one hand, forming a large pool of water in the snow beside them, "Try to create a load of ice needles from that and fire them off in that direction."

Tōshirō closed his eyes and focussed on manipulating his reiryoku to do what was asked of him. "This is harder than I thought it'd be…" he muttered.

Haku smiled, "Considering you are utilizing a different medium to what I always used back when I was still alive, I don't doubt that you are having moderate amounts of difficulty."

Suddenly she turned her head slightly and closed her eyes, "You may want to depart from your meditation now. Your young friend is trying to get your attention."

Tōshirō nodded and made to stand, but Haku caught his arm, "When you go to your new school, you will spend the days learning to manipulate spiritual energy the way they do. During the nights, you will come into your mindscape and learn with me. Is that clear?"

Tōshirō nodded again and Haku let go of his sleeve, allowing him to depart from his mindscape.

-RoI-

Tōshirō opened his eyes to find Hermione sitting in front of him with a plate of bacon sandwiches. She smiled when she saw that he had returned to full consciousness, "Mum made these for us."

Tōshirō nodded and took one of the sandwiches. As he took a bite, Hermione asked, "So why were you meditating?"

Tōshirō swallowed his mouthful and said, "I like to start the day with some meditation; it clears my head, allows me to organize my thoughts for the day ahead."

Hermione nodded, taking a sandwich of her own, "You know, since you taught me a little Japanese yesterday, why don't I teach you some English today?"

Tōshirō grinned and reached up to his neck for the amulet Dumbledore had handed him just after they left for Diagon Alley, which he had said was imbued with a Language Charm so Tōshirō could understand and speak English fluently. Deftly untying the knot, he tossed it onto the grass beside him

As they each took another sandwich, Hermione began to teach.

-RoI-

"Alright, I'm coming!" said Dan Granger exasperatedly as the doorbell rang repeatedly.

Opening it, he came face-to-face with two rather odd people. A tall woman, easily taller than Dan, who had curly silver hair with two small braids hanging down on the right side, and a strawberry-blonde with the biggest pair of breasts he had ever seen in his life.

The taller woman smiled and spoke in slightly accented English, "Hello, my name is Isane Kotetsu and this is my colleague Rangiku Matsumoto, is Tōshirō Hitsugaya here?"

Dan seemed to snap out of the shock at seeing Rangiku's bountiful chest and nodded, "Yes, he is. Am I to understand then, that you are his guardians?"

Isane smiled, "As close to it as you can get. Rangiku-san and I are representatives of the school that young Tōshirō attended back in Japan."

Dan nodded, "Would you like to come in? I will go fetch Tōshirō."

The two women followed Dan through the house to the back garden, whereupon he called, "Tōshirō! There's someone here to see you!"

Tōshirō looked up and beamed when he saw who it was, "Isane-nee-san! Rangiku-nee-san!"

Leaping up, he ran across and hugged both of them. Dan blushed a little when he realized that the boy was almost exactly the right height for his head to fit into the gap between Rangiku's breasts.

"Lucky little bastard," he thought, before he suddenly started to sweat.

In the house, Emma suddenly had a feeling she should call her husband in from the garden for a little chat.

Tōshirō stepped back towards Hermione and said, "Hermione, I want you to meet my nee-chans, Isane and Rangiku!"

Hermione chuckled, "Tōshirō, you forgot to put your Language Charm back on, I can't understand what you're saying."

Tōshirō simply held out a hand, so Hermione threw the amulet to him. After tying it back around his neck he said, "Hermione, I'd like you to meet my nee-sans, Isane Kotetsu and Rangiku Matsumoto! Isane-nee-san, Rangiku-nee-san, I'd like you to meet my new friend, Hermione Granger."

Hermione stood up and walked over to shake hands, "A pleasure."

Isane smiled as she shook hands with Hermione, while Rangiku gave the boy beside them a look, "Starting a little early aren't you, Tōshirō-kun?"

Tōshirō went vivid pink, as did Hermione. Struggling to speak through his sudden embarrassment, Tōshirō shouted, "Wha- Rangiku-nee-san! We're not… I mean… I couldn't…"

Neither woman was fooled by the silver-haired boy's denials. Whether they realized it or not, Tōshirō and Hermione already sort of liked each other, even if their brains hadn't worked it out yet.

"Anyway," said Isane, in an attempt to defuse the awkward moment, "You're to return now Tōshirō-kun."

Tōshirō nodded, "Was everyone worried when I didn't come back?"

Isane nodded before replying in Japanese, "Yes. Dumbledore-san was in big trouble with Yamamoto-sotaichō for leaving you alone, even though he knew you can look after yourself."

Tōshirō replied in kind, "Serves him right. That guy seemed a little too controlling for my tastes, and not the "concerned-guardian" sort of controlling either."

Isane frowned, "How do you mean?"

Tōshirō took a moment to remember, "He wouldn't let me buy a couple of basic books on runes and Arithmancy, claimed they were too advanced. Same with about six other books. He kept calling me Harry for some reason, and insisted on my following his views on tolerance and compassion even against people who are actively trying to hurt me when my only real job at Hogwarts is to fend off the Hollows."

Isane frowned, "That's mildly concerning. Do you want to talk to Yamamoto-sotaichō about it?"

Tōshirō nodded, "I intended to. By the way, mind showing me how to open a Senkaimon? I can't open them on my own."

Isane smiled, "You're going to have to open one on the way back anyway; neither of us can access our Zanpakutō while in our gigai."

Tōshirō smirked, "How convenient."

Isane nodded, before speaking in English, "Indeed. Why don't you fetch your new stuff and say your goodbyes then?"

Tōshirō nodded and ran into the house to get his things as Isane turned to Dan and bowed, "I thank you on behalf of my associates for looking after Tōshirō for the night."

Dan opened his mouth but Hermione cut him off, "Never mind, it was a pleasure to make a new friend."

Isane smiled, "Yes, it's nice to know that Tōshirō is going to have a friend at Hogwarts. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Hermione-san."

-RoI-

Tōshirō returned a few minutes later with a tiny trunk in his hand and his new snowy owl sitting on his shoulder.

Rangiku blinked, "Where'd you get the bird?"

Tōshirō smiled, "I bought her yesterday. Isn't she beautiful?"

Isane sighed, reverting to Japanese, "Tōshirō-kun, you can't bring your owl back to Seireitei. Remember what happened when we brought you through the day you arrived in Seireitei, your real body was destroyed by the Dangai and left you a soul. I'm not even sure how your owl's physiology would react, and even if it did survive as just a soul I'm not sure Kurotsuchi-taichō can make gigai for owls."

Tōshirō's face fell. Isane turned to Hermione and switched over to English, "Hermione-san, I apologize but we must ask another favour of you. Tōshirō cannot take his owl back to Japan with him, so is it alright if it stays with you?"

"She," said Tōshirō, "Her name is Tsuki." (Moon)

Hermione smiled, "Of course. I can understand laws of animal transport."

Tōshirō walked over to her with Tsuki on his shoulder and got her to move to Hermione's shoulder, "Sorry Tsuki-chan, but I can't take you with me to Japan. You'll have to stay with Hermione until we go to Hogwarts, alright?"

Rangiku scratched her chin, "We could ask Yamamoto-sotaichō if he can order one of the Kidō Corps to place the same Kidō on her that we place on the Jigokuchō so that they may pass from the Seireitei into the World of the Living."

Isane paled, "Rangiku-san, you just said that in English!"

Tōshirō turned to look at Hermione, who looked curious, and decided to head her off, "The Kidō Corps is one of the divisions of the school I went to in Japan, Kidō is the branch of magic taught there. Yamamoto-sotaichō is the headmaster there. Jigokuchō are the Hell Butterflies, how we communicate between campuses in Japan. The Seireitei is the main campus, and the World of the Living is a nickname given to one of our other campuses."

Rangiku blinked, "Wow, he really can think on his feet can't he?"

Hermione thought for a second, "I guess that makes sense. Well, I'll be happy to look after Tsuki for you."

Tōshirō smiled, "Thanks, Hermione."

-RoI-

Once Tōshirō and Hermione had got all of Tsuki's stuff set up in Hermione's room, Tōshirō said his goodbyes and left with Isane and Rangiku.

Once they were sheltered in a deserted alley and Rangiku had placed a Kidō barrier across the entrance to deter any passers-by, Tōshirō drew his Zanpakutō and said, "So how do we do this?"

Isane smiled, "Hold your Zanpakutō out in front of you and picture the Senkaimon in your mind. Then push your Zanpakutō forwards like you're putting a key in a lock."

Tōshirō obeyed, closing his eyes and pushing his Zanpakutō forwards. Isane and Rangiku noted that the tip was slowly disappearing. "Alright," said Isane slowly, "Now turn your Zanpakutō ninety degrees counter-clockwise and say, "Unlock". That will open the Senkaimon."

Tōshirō, still with his eyes shut, twisted his Zanpakutō and commanded, "Open!"

The Senkaimon appeared as Tōshirō withdrew his Zanpakutō, and the three Shinigami entered, the doors closing behind them.

-RoI-

Tōshirō breathed in the smells of the Soul Society and smiled. Even though he had been there only the previous day, it felt like ages since he had last seen the Seireitei.

"There's a lot you need to do during the next month, Tōshirō-kun," said Isane suddenly, "Unohana-taichō wants to give you a check-up before you go to Hogwarts, Soifon-taichō requested your assistance with one of the Onmitsukidō's training exercises, and Yamamoto-sotaichō wished to speak with you as soon as you returned home about your visit to the World of the Living."

Tōshirō raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Guess I'll go see him at once then. Catch you later Isane-nee-chan, Rangiku-nee-chan!" He vanished in a Shunpō.

Rangiku tapped her cheek thoughtfully, "He really picked that up quickly didn't he?"

Isane smiled, "That he did. Now I have to be going. See you later, Rangiku-san."

-RoI-

Tōshirō's Shunpō carried him all the way to the First Division's barracks, and he walked into the main building on foot. No sense in making a scene when it wasn't necessary, after all. Opening Yamamoto's study door, he poked his head around the polished wood, "You wanted me, jiji?"

Yamamoto turned from where he had been standing on the balcony overlooking the Seireitei, "Ah, you have returned, Tōshirō."

Tōshirō nodded, cracking his neck as he dropped into a chair and frowned, "Yeah. I was lucky; I managed to make a friend and find somewhere to sleep all at once."

Yamamoto moved over to his chair and sat down, "Tell me the story of your day."

Tōshirō allowed Hyōrinmaru to slide into his lap and began scratching his ears as he began to speak. When he was finished, Yamamoto looked vaguely concerned, "This reporter you mentioned; how much did you tell her?"

Tōshirō smiled, "I gave nothing away. I told her that I attended a school in Japan, where they taught me to use a sword. Hyōrinmaru was my familiar, and I had returned to Britain to be taught at Hogwarts. Even if she tries to research said "school", she won't come up with anything."

Yamamoto nodded, "Very well. You did excellently under the circumstances. What I am concerned about is what is Albus playing at? The way he is acting, it appears he is trying to exert some form of control over you."

Tōshirō shrugged, "I don't know why. He seems convinced I'm somebody I'm not; he insisted on calling me "Harry" instead of my real name which is Tōshirō. I was actually glad when he left because it meant I actually got to do what I wanted to do."

Yamamoto frowned, "You said that he was refusing to allow you to buy basic books. May I see these books, so that I may judge the decision for myself?"

Tōshirō nodded and took out his trunk. Yamamoto watched curiously as the boy first enlarged the trunk, then unlocked it and began rummaging, finally emerging with a small stack of books, which he placed on Yamamoto's desk.

Yamamoto picked up the Runes book which sat on top and flipped through it, "Hmm, it seems Albus' concerns were unfounded. I can't see why he wouldn't allow you to buy this."

Tōshirō shrugged, taking the books back and repacking them into his trunk, "I got the impression that he wasn't so much making sure I wasn't meddling with anything too advanced for me, more trying to limit what I know for some reason."

Yamamoto toyed with his beard, "Hmm, this bears extra thought. For now however, you have other things that need to be done before you leave for Hogwarts."

Tōshirō nodded, shrinking his trunk and pocketing it again, "Yeah, Isane-nee-chan told me a couple of them. Auntie Soifon wanted me to help her with the Onmitsukidō training exercises and Auntie Retsu wanted to give me a check-up."

Yamamoto nodded, "Indeed. You may go, Tōshirō."

Tōshirō nodded and stood up, but a couple more things occurred to him and he turned back, "By the way, I bought an owl while I was in Diagon Alley, but she can't come to Soul Society. Isane-nee-chan suggested I ask you if one of the Kidō Corps can place the same Kidō on her we place on the Jigokuchō so she can come here. I don't think it's fair to expect my friend to look after her all the time."

Yamamoto scratched his chin, "Hmm, yes it sounds feasible. I'll send a message to the Kidō Corps to get one of their members to accompany you to the World of the Living on the day of your departure for Hogwarts. He can place the Kidō and then return here. Was there anything else?"

Tōshirō nodded, "Yes, is it possible to manifest a Zanpakutō spirit in the physical world in some way? Because I just met mine and she seems very nice, plus she offered to teach me some unique techniques she used when she was still alive which have to do with ice manipulation."

Yamamoto blinked, "What do you mean "when she was still alive"? Zanpakutō spirits aren't human souls."

Tōshirō shook his head, "Normally they aren't. From what she told me, there are three different things that can happen to a soul. One, they become a Hollow and go to Hueco Mundo. Two, Konsō is performed and they come to the Soul Society. Third, if the soul is especially pure, they have a chance to become a Zanpakutō spirit. That's what happened to Haku-chan!"

Yamamoto thought about it. In truth, they had never thought about where Zanpakutō spirits came from, they just assumed that they were part of the wielder's soul. It had never occurred to anybody that they might be souls on their own.

After a moment he shook his head, "I'm afraid there isn't any such way yet, but I will have Kurotsuchi-taichō look into it."

Tōshirō nodded, "Fine. I'll see you later then jiji." He left the room.

-RoI-

One week later.

"MOVE IT; MOVE IT; MOVE IT! THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN STOLEN!"

A team of Onmitsukidō sprang across the roofs of the Seireitei after a small hooded figure carrying a box, while behind them their superior sighed and shook her head in disappointment.

Soifon had assigned a team of Onmitsukidō to guard a box of candy in the Second Division barracks while Tōshirō Hitsugaya attempted to break in and steal it. It should've been easy to stop the boy; they were after all trained professionals and he was eleven. All the same however, the exercise didn't quite end the way Soifon had hoped it would. Tōshirō had snuck in, stolen the box and got out again without being detected, and the Onmitsukidō had only realized the package was gone when one of their number sneezed and jogged the table it should have been resting on.

Now Tōshirō bounded from rooftop to rooftop with the box of candy held tightly in his hands. Now to execute the second part of the test; fighting an opponent with special abilities.

Twisting in mid-jump so that he was facing his pursuers, he brought up one hand and shouted, "Sensatsu Suishō!" (Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death)

A haze of icy mist formed between Tōshirō and his pursuers, before coalescing into a swarm of needles which then shot towards the Onmitsukidō.

Two raised their hands and balls of red fire collided with the needles, blasting a path through the storm of sharp objects. Tōshirō smirked, "Too slow!" and disappeared in a Shunpō.

-RoI-

They gathered back at the Second Division, where Soifon stood in front of her subordinates that had been chasing Tōshirō with a very displeased expression. Her tapping foot didn't help in the slightest.

"So," she said, and the team that had unsuccessfully attempted to apprehend him quailed where they stood, "Not only did you fail the exercise, but you failed it so monumentally I am surprised any of you have made it this far as Onmitsukidō. Tōshirō not only managed to infiltrate the HQ without being detected by any of you, but he managed to steal the package without any of you suspecting a thing. It was only a fluke you actually realized it was gone! About the only thing you did right during the whole exercise was using Hadō to counter his attack, even if it was just a distraction so that he could escape using Shunpō!"

While this remonstration was going on, Tōshirō was sitting in Retsu Unohana's office, being subjected to a medical check-up. The black-haired female was currently examining a sheet of paper, "You seem fine. You're alright to leave now, Tōshirō-kun."

Tōshirō nodded and pulled his kosode back over his head before retying his obi around his waist. As he turned to leave, he noticed a small boy sitting behind the door, also wearing a shihakusho and with a Zanpakutō lying on the ground at his side.

"Auntie Retsu, who's he?" he asked, looking around at the dark-haired captain.

Unohana smiled, "Tōshirō-kun, I'd like to introduce you to my adopted son, Dastan. Dastan-kun, this is Tōshirō Hitsugaya."

The boy raised his head from his book, revealing black eyes beneath a long fringe of sandy blond hair. "Hello,"

Tōshirō was startled; the boy's mannerisms were more advanced than he had thought they would be for such a young child.

His shock must have shown on his face, because the boy suddenly smiled a gap-toothed grin and said, "My appearance shocks you, doesn't it? Don't worry; everybody reacts like this the first time."

Tōshirō cast Unohana a quizzical look. The woman smiled before explaining, "Dastan-kun's Zanpakutō has a very unique Shikai; anything it cuts will regress in age. Much like Izuru Kira's Zanpakutō Wabisuke increases the weight of whatever it cuts; Dastan-kun's Zanpakutō allows him control of time."

Tōshirō snorted, "Somehow I doubt that."

The child gave a single sweet smile and stood up, drawing his Zanpakutō, "Taiko, Sunadokei," (Regress, Hourglass)

The sword changed only slightly; the guard morphed into a clock face. Dastan smirked before making one quick slash across Tōshirō's chest.

Almost instantly, Tōshirō's muscles locked up.

"What," grunted Tōshirō, struggling against the paralytic effect, "What did you do to me…?"

Dastan smirked, "That is the power of Sunadokei. With one cut, I paralyze my enemy, and then I do this;"

He held up the sword so that Tōshirō could see the clock face before turning back the hour hand an hour.

Tōshirō felt his body shrink as Dastan continued to turn it back. Finally he lay on the floor; a tiny, silver-haired baby with an absolutely indignant expression on his face.

"Turn me back at once!" he ordered.

Dastan bent over him, his voice mocking as he spoke, "Say please…"

Tōshirō's response was a stream of abuse that should never issue from the mouth of a one-year-old child.

Unohana set a hand on her adoptive son's head, "Please release the effect, Dastan-kun. Tōshirō-kun has other things to do before he leaves."

Dastan looked disappointed, but sheathed his Zanpakutō. Tōshirō instantly returned to his former size.

Without another word, he bid Unohana goodbye and left.

-RoI-

Another week later.

"So I guess this is goodbye until at least Christmas," said Tōshirō.

Yamamoto, leaning on his staff, nodded, "Indeed. We'll see you then, Tōshirō.

Tōshirō smiled as he took a few steps past Yamamoto to greet the others.

"Nemu-chan, if Mayuri-teme gives you trouble, remember I'm just a call away on my Denreishinki (Divine Messenger Machine) and I can be in the Senkaimon in five minutes."

The lieutenant of the Twelfth Division nodded and smiled as Tōshirō hugged her before moving on.

"Hanatarō, don't let the Eleventh Division shove you around anymore, alright?"

Squad Four's Seventh Seat nodded as they bumped fists. Tōshirō had more or less taken Hanatarō under his wing when he came across five members of Squad Eleven harassing him. Once they had been driven off by the sudden, unholy pranking spree, Tōshirō had gotten Hanatarō on his feet and started teaching him how to stand up to others.

Now, three years later, Hanatarō had grown a lot more confident and started doing a lot more training with offensive Kidō with the reasoning that if he ever found himself in a combat situation, even if his Zanpakutō wasn't the most battle-oriented one he should at least be able to fire off a basic Hadō.

It proved a very unpleasant surprise for the next gang of Eleventh Division guys to try and pick on his team while they were going about their tasks. No matter how tough you insist you are, having a Hadō #4: Byakurai give you a buzz-cut in passing has a very intimidating effect.

Moving on, Tōshirō smirked at Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa, "Keep training you two, alright?"

The pair grinned, recognizing the hidden message behind the words. In the whole of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Tōshirō was the only person who knew the secrets both kept; namely Ikkaku's Bankai and the true form of Yumichika's Zanpakutō. It had taken a very large quantity of candy from both before Tōshirō promised to stay silent.

After hugging Yachiru goodbye, Tōshirō turned to face the member of the Kidō Corps who was to accompany him to the World of the Living to place the Kidō on Tsuki, "You ready to go?"

The man said nothing; he just nodded and stepped forwards. Tōshirō grinned and turned to face the Senkaimon, "Then let's go!"

Yamamoto nodded to the two guards on either side of the Senkaimon, who moved forwards and began to open it.

With one last wave, Tōshirō passed through into the Senkaimon, the member of the Kidō Corps following close behind him.

-RoI-

Tōshirō emerged from the Senkaimon outside King's Cross Station and looked around as the Kidō Corps member appeared right behind him.

A second passed before a snowy owl fluttered up behind him and settled on his shoulder with a soft hoot.

"Hey, Tsuki-chan," said Tōshirō, raising a hand to stroke the bird's back, "Where's Hermione?"

"Right behind you," said a voice.

Tōshirō turned around and grinned at the brunette, "Hello Hermione,"

Hermione beamed, "Hello, Tōshirō. Who's this?"

Tōshirō turned to the Kidō Corps member and said, "You know I mentioned the other week that I needed to get that unique Kidō on my owl? Well this is the guy who's going to do it."

Hermione nodded and said, "It's nice to meet you."

The Kidō Corps member said nothing. Tōshirō looked embarrassed, "He doesn't speak English." He toyed with the amulet around his neck for a second, "I'll translate."

He turned to the Kidō Corps member and spoke in Japanese, "She says it's nice to meet you."

The Kidō Corps returned the greeting and then pointed at Tsuki, "Is this the owl I am supposed to place the Kidō on?"

When Tōshirō nodded, the man began to move through slow hand seals and mutter under his breath.

"What is he doing?" asked Hermione.

Tōshirō shrugged, "I would guess he's placing the Kidō on her."

It took a further five minutes, but the Kidō was finally finished and the Kidō Corps member took his leave, walking off around the corner to open a Senkaimon.

Tōshirō and Hermione met Hermione's parents as they were pulling her trunk out of their car and walked into the station. It was then that they ran into a slight problem; namely they didn't know how to get onto the platform. Thankfully both had arrived half an hour early, so they decided to look around for any sign of the platform.

They weren't successful. They met up under one of the large arches between platforms nine and ten, both with worried expressions. "I don't get it," said Tōshirō, running a hand through his hair, "There should at least be a sign or something." He slumped back against the pillar…

…and went straight through the brickwork, hitting the ground on the other side with a thud and jarring his elbow.

Hermione blinked, not quite able to believe that her friend had just leaned against a brick wall and gone straight through it. A second later Tōshirō reappeared through the bricks and grinned, "Found it. Come on!" He caught her arm and pulled her towards the bricks.

Hermione cast her parents a puzzled look before following Tōshirō through the wall, quickly finding herself looking at a scarlet train and a sign saying Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters.

Her parents appeared a minute later with her trunk on a trolley, looking surprised. Her father cast the arch a look and muttered, "I'm fairly certain this is in violation of the laws of physics or something…"

They quickly located an empty compartment and Hermione then headed off the train again to say goodbye to her parents while Tōshirō took advantage of the free moment to have a little nap.

When the train began to move away, Tōshirō and Hermione leaned out of the window to wave goodbye to her parents until the train rounded a bend and they were lost to view.

They were on their way to Hogwarts.

(A/N: Sorry I seem to have dropped off the grid when it comes to updates, but since Kunai finished I've sort of hit a rut. I'm sincerely hoping that that doesn't mean I'm starting to lose my Muse (dear Kami I'm rapping! There's no hope for me!), because it would be so irksome if my stories were to die like that. As such I have no idea when my next update will be, but I hope it will be soon. Until then, this is Leonineus saying GOODNIGHT!)

A/N 2: Oh and the OC Dastan is not actually my creation. He is the creation of a fellow author, one Ace6151, who has given me permission to utilize his OCs in this story and a couple of my others. He's always on the lookout for people who are willing to take his OCs and use them, so if you are an author you might want to drop him a line and ask.)