Disclaimer: Not mine

Okay people, help me out and describe Loki's outfit for me. Some sort of sleeveless coat over a top, pants and boots. But how is it properly described? Same for the Babylon 5 independent and ranger uniforms.

Chapter 9

Yuzu watched their new classmate curiously, it was obvious from his accent that he was a foreigner but he was also cute. She was wary of new students though, after Ichigo's rather exciting years around her age. Things had been settled now for several years though, Shinigami came and went, often stopping by to introduce themselves or to talk if they were their friends. Rukia and Renji were the most frequent visitiors.

Harry felt eyes on him and glanced over at to see a girl with light brown hair in pigtails staring. Seeing him catch her she blushed in embarrassment and looked away. She peeked back and he smiled before turning his attention to the front as class began.

Yuzu was very embarrassed that she'd been caught staring but at least he didn't seem to mind. She wished Karin was in the same class at times, but this was not one of them.

She was glad when school finished and she could head home with Karin but was shocked to find the new boy walking the same direction. She kept her head down and was relieved when he turned the corner. She quickly went inside the house that was built onto the family clinic, but she knew Karin was curious. At least Ichigo was off at University so wasn't around to tease her about a crush. Which this wasn't.

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Harry opened the parchment envelope and grinned as he read the short missive. Finally, Tom Riddle was no more. All of his Horcruxes had been found and destroyed, at a modest fee, by the goblins. They had dropped the fee when they discovered they were harbouring one of the objects themselves. He would hate to have been those vault holders.

They also passed on another letter from the wizarding world, though this one was not the usual. Most had been pleas from the government to return, or from the Headmaster of Hogwarts insisting he returned for his own protection. This one was from Sirius Black. He had honestly been wondering when the man would try to contact him, he'd been free for several years now after all. It was a plea to meet, at a location and time of Harry's choosing. He would have to think on it.

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Albus stared out over the grounds, so much had changed and all because of Harry Potter. How had he learnt of the magical world and known enough to pass his exams with such high marks? It just wasn't possible!

He had had everything prepared for Harry's first year, the perfect trap for Tom and test for Harry and it had all been for nothing. In the end, all it had done was alert Tom to the fact he knew he was still around and destroyed a young life. Hermione Granger, a young Ravenclaw, had shown so much promise, such a brilliant mind. If only she hadn't been so sensitive she wouldn't have been alone in a seldom used bathroom when the troll was let into the castle. It had been Minerva and Severus who found the child, what remained of her. Trolls were highly magic resistant and yet they had destroyed it in their rage at seeing her.

Quirell had made an attempt on the stone and had died, spending his magic as he sat before the mirror of Erised, trying to get to the fake stone. He had kept the real one in his quarters, he had so many uses for such an item after all.

Since then there had been nothing. It was as if Tom had simply given up and vanished… or died. But that was impossible. As long as young Harry lived Tom could not die. He had to find the blasted boy.

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Harry sat on the school roof, eating his lunch and enjoying the view. So far, Karakura appeared a very quiet town. The people were friendly enough although in six months as a student he hadn't made any close friends, not like Nick. The twins were nice enough, Yuzu and Karin could not be more different and yet it was obvious they were very close. He fooled around with some of the guys on the soccer field occasionally but he was more focused on Kendo and Karate for school clubs. Outside of school he kept up with Aikido and had even taken up archery to ensure his aim. He was too young to go anywhere he could keep up his shooting so archery was the best option. The kendo club was good but he missed having someone to spar against who used a similar type of blade, like Adam; he used a one-handed sword as well but longer than Excalibur by close to ten centimetres. He really wanted to test out the gun Heimdall had sent but it would raise to many questions to use on Earth. He could technically create a safe space in his house, but something about the town had him wary of using that much magic on the place.

The company was going well at least. The meetings with the government were done and he had permission to open a branch. He'd begun advertising for employees and had received some promising resumes. But he was still stumped on who to watch over everything when he left. It would take a special person, someone who could be accepted into the Celerites Auallonia.

"Hello, Potter-san." A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked up, smiling as he saw Yuzu.

"Hello, Kurosaki-san." He returned her greeting. He shifted over to give her room and she sat beside him. "You can call me Harry if you want, all this formality…. it's a bit much for a poor Brit sometimes." He admitted and she laughed.

"I guess it would seem very formal compared to Western culture." She admitted, looking out at the view of the town. "May I ask, why you came to Japan?"

"A few reasons. I've lived in America since I was eight and wanted to see more of the world, I already spoke Japanese to an extent so it made more sense to come here than say Russia. I also wanted to open a branch of Eques Industries here and it's easier to deal with that in person." He shrugged as he finished his lunch.

Yuzu blinked in surprise. "A company?"

"My Father left the company to me when he died as well as emancipating me, which is why I have the freedom to travel to another country for school. Though, we planned to move here for at least a year together."

"I am so sorry." She whispered. "Our Mother died many years ago." She offered.

"So, you live with your Father?"

"And our older brother Ichigo, he is almost finished University." She smiled proudly.

"That's good. What is he studying?"

"Law, it is a very hard course and he is always busy. But he still makes time for us."

"Sounds like a good big brother."

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Harry looked around at his mindscape and was very happy with what he saw, the flowers were all in good condition, the trees strong and green with new growth. A lake had formed, ringed with Lilies and the sky was soft blue with fluffy white clouds, very different to the first time he had seen it.

"You have grown young one, and so this place has grown and healed." Excali'an smiled at his Bearer, blue hair shifting in the breeze; there was even wind now.

"But I still have a long way to go."

"Of course, life is a never-ending lesson." He sat with his legs crossed amongst the flowers and Harry sat opposite him.

"More history?" it seemed history would never end.

"Not tonight. There is just over a year until you graduate. It is time to begin planning."

"I just…" Harry bit his lip.

"You are scared," Excali'an stated softly and Harry winced. For how far his Bearer had come he was still young. Had he pushed him to grow up too fast? He had always been more mature than his classmates. "Fear of the unknown is natural Harry. There is a risk in leaving Earth yes, but you must weigh that risk against what may be gained."

"We need up to date intel on the state of the galaxy," Harry answered and Excali'an nodded. "We have Heimdall's addresses which should be safe." Harry sighed. "You're right, we need to do this. But I need someone to handle the company or else all that work is at risk."

"You will find someone." He was sure of this. "Of the addresses supplied I recognise three but what I know of them is obviously severely out of date. One at the time was colonised by the Furlings however they may no longer be there." They settled in to go over the various address, Excali'an helping him map out where they would be in the night sky. They also began getting serious on the list of supplies he would need, not including the gear Heimdall had sent. Asgardian made clothing with some light armour built in was well known for being nigh-indestructible which would probably end up coming in handy knowing his luck.

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Yuzu laughed as Harry caught her from where she'd missed her kick at the soccer ball, easily setting her back on her feet.

"Okay?" he asked and she grinned.

"Fine. Let's beat Karin!" She laughed and took off, Harry on her heels. Karin was good enough to play professionally, so the two of them were needed to give her a work out.

Harry was enjoying himself, despite his original thoughts he had made friends here. Yuzu and Karin were very different but fun to hang around. Sensing someone watching he glanced around and saw a tall young man watching from the street. He was tall and skinny with spikey, bright orange hair. "Yuzu?" he whispered and she looked at him before glancing over and grinning.

"Ichigo!" she called and waved her arm and Harry blinked, this was the brother? Not what he had expected.

Ichigo waved back, watching his sisters and the stranger run around, kicking the ball. He didn't sense any sort of threat from the younger boy which was good. He must be the foreign student the girls had mentioned a few times this year. The three finished up and walked towards him. "Having fun?" he asked and Yuzu grinned.

"We actually scored a goal!" she cheered and Harry laughed softly.

"I should go." He glanced at the time.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll see you in class Monday." With that he slipped away and headed home.

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Harry sighed at the official missive before grabbing pen and paper to finally respond to the British magical government, not that they would enjoy his response. Or maybe it was the way he planned to deliver it they wouldn't like as he made a note to the goblins to forward the following on to the Editor of the Daily Prophet.

'Dear British Magical World….'

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Sirius stared at the Daily Prophet, not reading, just staring at the headline, until Moony reached over and snagged it off him.

Potter Speaks Out! The truth of his silence!

The headline was a shock, that was true. No wonder Padfoot was frozen. "Want me to read it?" he offered and Sirius nodded. "Dear British Magical World. I am sending this letter in response to the continual disregard for my wishes by the government. I have no wish for any of you to ever contact me again. You threw me away almost seventeen years ago and so I have returned the favour. No one ever thought to so much as check after dumping me with my non-magical relatives. Like sheep you listened and followed one man without a second thought, despite his actions being illegal. Where were you when I lay crying in my cupboard, praying for someone to care? Why did no one come when my Aunt hit me with the frying pan or my Uncle decided it was my fault Dudley was getting bad grades so left me to starve for days on end?" Remus had to stop there for a second, fighting to keep Moony under control.

Sirius closed his eyes, fighting tears. He'd thought he'd been in hell at Azkaban, he'd thought Harry had been safe and as happy as possible with the Longbottom's. He'd seen the court recordings from the Dursley's trials but this was in a way more real, they were Harry's own words.

"I hear the man who caused this is still in charge of children, how can this be? If this was the non-magical world he would have been fired immediately and put on trial. And you wonder why I won't come back? Let me make it clear, unless you manage to grow up and join what little remains of the twentieth century, I will never come back and will ensure any heirs will know why to shun you. I've done my homework, my family died to save you from the so-called 'Dark Lord' and yet nothing has changed since his defeat. My family died for nothing. No more Potter blood will be shed for you. I have passed my OWL and NEWT's and the goblins agree, I am considered an adult. Leave me alone. Harry Potter, Head of the Ancient House of Potter." Remus let the paper hit the table. Head of the Ancient House of Potter, he really was considered an adult then. Why had he listened to Dumbledore? He should have found Harry and protected him. He had failed his friends.

Sirius got up and left the room, heading upstairs to his bedroom. Seven years after taking up his inheritance the house at Grimmauld Place looked nothing like it had during his childhood. He opened the door to what had once been Regulus' room and went inside to lie on the bed. When the house was being renovated he'd had the room made up for a child, ready for when he found Harry and took custody. He looked at the photo beside the bed, seeing Lily and James dancing happily at their wedding and then closed his eyes in grief. If only he had acted differently that day! He had failed his godson, failed his family.

TBC…