Soldier

A/N: We are not Japanese. We are two little old ladies from the Mid West. So we may pop a few Japanese terms into the story from time to time and pray real hard that we did it right.

Terms will be explained in the story but some will be listed as referenced below, along with a small rant.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed. Flames are not.

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Chapter 3: Written Long Ago

Ichigo whirled around to the kid. "You can see me?" he asked in Japanese.

"Huh? Can you like, uh . . . speak English?" the kid asked while pointing a stick at him.

"Sorry," Ichigo switched to heavily accented English. Thankfully, he had been taking English as a second language since primary school. His accent was a bit thick, but he could be understood.

The kid asked. "Why shouldn't I see you?"

Ichigo rested Zangetsu casually on his shoulder and sighed. This reminded him when he first met Rukia. "Spirit energy. So who are you, kid?"

"Harry Potter." The messy-haired kid was watching him closely for some reason.

So! This must be the kid his old man wanted to meet. According to the file the old man made him read on the plane, this kid was supposed to be the savior of the Wizarding World. How Goat Face found out that tidbit Ichigo didn't want to know. He suspected Geta Boshi.*

Just as the 'Substitute Soul Reaper' was about to introduce himself, he felt it. A pulse. Muramasa spoke in his mind.

"Can you not feel it, Kurosaki Ichigo?" the soft spoken spirit said in his mind. "He looks and feels like Kuga. He might be the one I'm waiting for."

"Are you sure?" he asked silently.

"Tell him what a zanpakuto is, and why he needs learn my name. Give him the choice."

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Harry couldn't believe it! This bloke had the ability to destroy dementors! And what did he mean, could Harry see him?

When he said his name, he waited for the orange-haired man's reaction. There was some but at least he didn't look at the scar.

Harry frowned. "So, what's going on? Who are you, and how did you destroy those dementors?"

"Kurosaki, er gomen. Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo said as he stepped closer with his sword still resting on his shoulder. Harry eyed the huge weapon with caution, but decided to lower his wand, for now.

They went over to a park bench. Harry watched as the taller teen re-wrapped his sword and placed it back on his back.

"My English fair," Ichigo said. "I did study in school but. . ."

Harry listened as Ichigo told him his story – how he, at age 15, was attacked by a hollow and how he became a living Soul Reaper Representative. He explained how a hollow was created, and why it was important to purify them before they do too much damage. Then he went on to explain what a zanpakuto was.

Harry asked a few questions for clarification, but the story sounded as strange as when Hagrid told him he was a wizard.

"I never regret it," Ichigo told him. "Zangetsu is my zanpakuto, born of my soul. He is more than my partner. He is my everything." Ichigo looked over his shoulder to his zanpakuto fondly.

Harry listened and wished he had someone, or something, like that. It had been his deepest wish to have someone there for him, for Harry, not the-boy-who-lived, not the saviour, a wish that had yet to be fulfilled.

"Wait, Kurosaki? As in Masaki Kurosaki?" Harry asked, starting to connect the dots.

"She was my mom. She died when I was nine," Ichigo said sadly. "She was killed by a hollow. It was my fault that she died."

"I understand. My parents died because of me too," Harry said, with a wistful look on his face. "I was 15 months old when they were murdered. They died to stop the nut-case from killing me."

Ichigo pulled out a second zanpakuto. "Some time ago, I had to fight against a rogue soul reaper. This was his zanpakuto. Normally, a zanpakuto dies when his master dies but his soul reaper rejected him and only saw him as a weapon, a tool. A zanpakuto is much, much more. I don't know where I would be without Zangetsu. I promised this guy. . . " Ichigo held up the sheathed katana. ". . . that I would find him a better master if he just held on. He has temporarily bonded with me. He needs a permanent bond or he'll fade away."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"He wants you. He told me you have his former master's eyes."

Harry thought for a moment, then asked. "What must I do?"

"Take him, you should have enough spirit pressure to hear him," Ichigo told him. "I know his name but I can't tell you. You must gain his trust to learn his name. Only then will he show you his abilities."

Harry took the sword and the moment his hands wrapped around the sheath, it disappeared. "Wh . . . what?"

"Relax, it's a zanpakuto. He has melded to your soul. He will show you how to commune with him, if you let him," Ichigo informed him.

Harry closed his eyes as he could feel something happening. It was as if an emptiness deep within him was being filled. It felt warm and comfortable. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing after all.

"One more thing," Ichigo said as he stood. "Don't tell my old man about what happened. He doesn't know what I do. So keep it a secret."

Harry nodded. Then gasped as Ichigo leaped up into the air and disappeared into the night sky.

Harry walked back to his relative's house. Their guests should have left by now. Maybe he could get some sleep tonight without any nightmares.

As he walked up the darkened street he was met by a tall orange-haired figure wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt. "Oi!"

Harry blinked. "Ich. . Ichigo?"

"Ah. This is me in my human body. You met me in my spirit form," he told Harry as he fell in step.

"I see. Look, my relatives. . ."

"The old man's with them. He came because of your letter."

"You . . .you think he'll let me come and stay with you?"

"Ah. You need train with katana. . . Just, he cannot know. . ."

Harry looked up at the taller teen. "I understand. It's not my secret to tell."

"Arigato, Harry-san," Ichigo said, wishing his English was better.

"Uh It's just Harry," Harry looked a bit confused. "What's ari . . gat. . .o? And what's with adding to my name?"

Ichigo gave a slight smile. "San is honorific, like mister or sir. Is not for man, or woman. Arigato means thank you."

"So I should be saying Ichigo-san then?" Harry asked as they continued to walk down the street.

"Ah. You may be addressed as Harry-kun also. Kun is for boys and chan is for girls. Usually. Senpai mean upper-classman. . . or helper."

"So I should be calling you Ichigo-senpai? Or kun?"

"Ichigo-kun is fine, Harry-kun," the teen said with a slight smile which Harry thought made Ichigo more approachable.

Harry smiled back. "Harry-kun. I like that."

As they reached the door to the Dursleys' home it door swung open and . . .

"ICHIGO!" A large heavy figure surged out of the door and straight at the orange-haired teen. Ichigo didn't even flinch as he raised a leg and kicked the figure in the face.

"Jii!"

Harry's eyes grew large as he stepped behind Ichigo to avoid the fight.

"BOY!" came Vernon's voice. "What are you doing back? You were told. . ."

Harry cringed, stepping back closer to Ichigo. He was in for it now.

"Oi!" Ichigo said as he stepped over the prone figure of his father and into the room. "I found him in the park."

Isshin sprang back up and turned to the dark haired teen. "So, this is the missing nephew? The one that sent a letter to my beloved wife Masaki! It is a pleasure to meet you!" The older man's English wasn't as heavily accented as Ichigo's, which Harry was thankful for.

"Boy! You did what!?" screeched Harry's aunt.

Harry shrugged. "I did some research and found that my mother had distant relatives in Japan. I wrote them and asked if I could visit for the summer. Maybe leave this bloody hellhole and finally get away from this prison!"

"But what about that old coot and the protection.. . .?" his aunt sputtered.

"Don't care. The protection's useless anyways now that Voldemort has my blood. I have never called this place home! It's my prison and you're bloody jailers!" Harry turned to face Ichigo. "Sorry to get you involved, but now maybe you can see why I wrote."

Isshin stood behind Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. Harry tried hard not to flinch but couldn't help it. "I think I understand. Ichigo, go help Harry-kun pack."

Ichigo nodded and motioned for Harry to lead the way.

0o0o0o0o00

Isshin knew that Ichigo had gone to deal with the two strange hollows he'd sensed. He wasn't happy with what he felt in this house, there was something very wrong. For one thing, the magical barrier that surrounded it was very weak, and really wasn't that much protection, if you asked him.

Then this so-called family! That obese son of theirs. Isshin shuddered. What a pig, or rather what a fat, obnoxious little whale!

He was now thankful to have brought along legal permission papers for the relatives to sign. He had to get Masaki's cousin out of here. If Kisuke was correct, Harry Potter had a powerful destiny to fulfill and wasn't getting the help he needed. What he had heard agreed with what he had seen here tonight. These 'relatives' don't care for their nephew.

"Now see here!" Vernon started to protest, only to swallow his next few words as Isshin towered over the rotund man.

Gone was the boisterous fool that Isshin liked to portray to his children. Instead, here was the captain of one of the 13 Squads of the Soul Society, not that his children knew about that. Isshin could be imposing when he wanted to be. . . and downright terrifying when needed.

"Gomen, but as a doctor, I am trained to spot child abuse when I see it." He glared at them, straightening to his full and intimidating height. "When a child writes to strangers, and asks if can he come and live with them in a foreign country, that sends signals!

"So I did a little research – and was not pleased with what I found. As a doctor, it is my duty to report abuse and remove the child, or children, from their abusers.

"You've allowed your son to run wild and unchecked. And while you beat down your nephew through physical and mental abuse and starvation, you also abuse your son by your lack of care with his diet and behavior. If your undisciplined, obese son hasn't developed heart problems or diabetes yet, he soon will. I, and the medical community, consider that the most subtle form of abuse." He glared down at the woman.

He looked past her to the wall of family photos. "There are no pictures of your nephew, or any signs that he lives here, but it is listed as his permanent address. Perhaps that should change?"

"YOU Can't!" Petunia screamed. "Don't you think we've tried! The old fool of a headmaster wouldn't allow it!"

Isshin smiled and pulled out legal documents out. "Sign this!"

"What is it?"

"Temporary custody. I had planned on asking Harry-kun to come visit for the rest of the summer and since I plan to take him out of the country, I would need your permission for it," Isshin informed them. "Sign, and I'll keep my son in check, he hates abusers worse than I do."

The Dursleys looked nervously over to the tall orange-haired teen that had reappeared. He was standing there with an angry scowl on his face as he cracked his knuckles.

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A/N: For those that complained about the Dementors being hollows, wait for it. Ichigo thought they were hollows by their spirit pressure. Of course, he was wrong. We will be dealing with the foul beasties later on in the story. Just stay tuned.

*Geta Boshi – Sandal-Hat (or in the English dub: Hat and Clogs)

Gomen – sorry

In Japanese culture, they place the last name before the first. In English: Ichigo Kurosaki, in Japanese it would be Kurosaki Ichigo. Not sure about the comma.