Soldier

A/N: Yes, Sirius and Remus are a little OOC. Be patient, it will be explained. Since Harry has returned to England, he will now be speaking English for the most part. Harry's speaking mind to mind with Muramasa is in the language of the soul which is, in our opinion, neither English or Japanese.

Also we are not too sure about the scene at the end of this chapter. We know it was risky but it so fits Harry's nature.

Chapter 10: Interlude 1

The month of August had been a trying time for Albus Dumbledore and those that belonged to his Order of the Phoenix.

Harry Potter, the lad he had insisted everyone stay away from so he 'might grieve', but must still be protected, had vanished. No one knew where he had gone.

The old headmaster was very disappointed in Mundungus for leaving his post the night that Harry disappeared. What was even more mysterious was the report of two missing dementors and their ashy residue found in a park near Harry's home.

The goblins seemed to know what was going on, but none of his spies could get anything out of them. It was disheartening to learn that Molly Weasley had been dipping into the boy's trust fund and had been caught. Thankfully, he had refrained from that temptation; no matter how much the 'greater good' could've used the money. If he'd done so and it had been found out, well, no justification would've excused the fact he had stolen from a minor orphan.

Albus found out even the Dursleys had been hit by the goblin audit! It saddened him that none of the funds they had been given for Harry's upkeep had gone to his needs. He'd known Harry would spend ten lonely, hard years with them, but he just thought it would be because there would be no magic in his life. He'd known Petunia was a bitter woman, but to have taken that bitterness out on a small boy. . .? It was unconscionable!

'Where could the lad be?' the aged wizard pondered. 'Hogwarts is starting soon. He has to be here, he has a destiny to fulfill!'

"Headmaster! Albus?" came a sudden call from his fireplace.

Albus turned to see a face amid the green flames. "Ahh Arthur, what can I do for you today?"

"Harry wrote to Sirius. He said He would be at the goblins two days before the first to finalize his inheritance. He wanted Sirius to meet him there. Then he wants to get his supplies."

"I see." He smiled. Things were finally looking up. While two days before the start of school wasn't much time to deal with Harry's rebellion, he should thank Merlin for small favors.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Sirius scowled as he stood behind what he thought was a friend reporting his private correspondence to the old fool.

"Oh hi Sirius," the balding red-haired wizard said, nervously as he came out of the fireplace.

"Arthur, I didn't tell you so that you could blab to Dumbledore. Harry's MY godson, and not some pawn in the old man's schemes!"

"But we were all worried, especially Albus. Molly insisted. . .," Arthur Weasley tried to justify his actions. He lowered his eyes as Sirius continued to glare at him.

"I think it's time for you and your family to leave. You have betrayed me and mine for the last time and are no longer welcome in this house!"

"You . . . you don't mean that?!"

"That information was private and Harry asked that we didn't tell Albus. Why did you tell him?"

"But . . . he wanted to be told. . . " Arthur sputtered.

"Don't you think I don't know that? Molly and your brood have broken the code of Hospitality and Guest Right time and time again, and I'm getting tired of it," Sirius continued to glare at the hen-pecked man.

"She thinks she can order me around in my own house! She refuses to acknowledge me as head of house Black and Master of this dwelling. Your youngest son has no manners, eats like a pig and is rude to just about everyone here. Granted, I hate this place, but when things got too dangerous for you to live at the Burrow I allowed you to come and live here," Sirius snarled, turning to leave. "You have one hour. I want you and your family gone!"

Molly, of course, pitched a screaming fit. Sirius, however, remained firm. The other members of the Order watched the drama unfold but no one could go against the ancient codes of Hospitality and the Rights given to guests by the Head of a House.

They all knew that the Weasleys were guilty of that breach of etiquette since they first stepped into Grimmauld Place, and had wondered when Sirius Black would snap. No matter that the wizard in question hated his mother's home and was a fugitive on the run; he allowed everyone to come and go with few rules or restrictions.

Sirius knew he had failed his godson on so many levels, and he refused to allow Albus Dumbledore to have any more say in Harry's life.

The letter had been delivered at breakfast. Everyone wanted to know where Harry disappeared to, and how he was. Parts of the letter had been read aloud to those around the breakfast table. Other parts had been under privacy spells, and were meant for Sirius' eyes only.

Sirius was happy to know that his godson had found peace away from those insufferable muggles! He remembered Petunia all too well. She was the most disagreeable woman he had ever met. He was glad that Harry escaped her and her disgusting family for a month. He just wished he knew where Harry had gone.

The goblins were keeping him informed—up to a point. Thanks to the barmy old coot the old marauder was constantly watched so sneaking out to Gringotts had been difficult, but not impossible.

Sirius was very disappointed with the Weasleys. He thought they cared for Harry. After the first week he'd found that the youngest male Weasley was a food hog, caring only about his stomach and how much he could stuff into it, and he was extremely jealous of Harry.

The youngest Weasley, and the only daughter in over a century, had been groomed by Molly to marry his Godson. If he had anything to say about it it wasn't going to happen. Harry didn't even know the chit that well!

Then there was Harry's other friend, Hermione Granger. That girl needed to pull her head out of books and see the world for what it really was. He knew his godson would not like the fact that the girl had been swayed to Dumbledore's side, he only wondered what she'd been promised for her obedience.

Once the Weasleys were gone, dragging Miss Granger with them, Sirius sent a note to the goblins hoping that Harry would get it in time. Harry wouldn't be happy if Albus showed up at Gringotts for their meeting.

The Meeting of the Order of Phoenix that night got a little heated. Albus had been informed that the Weasleys were no longer welcomed at Grimmauld Place.

"Sorry, Albus," Sirius said. "I was getting tired of being ordered around in my own house."

"But you need to forgive, my boy," Albus insisted.

"I am forgiving. I'm allowing you to use my house, aren't I?" Sirius snarled, slamming a fist on the table. "I allowed them to abuse my hospitality all summer. Well, this time, they went too far."

"But, they are supporters of the Light and we need them," the old wizard argued, giving him a disappointed look.

"You might need them, however they had no right to go behind my back and share my private correspondence with an outsider!" Sirius glared back.

Remus spoke up. "Aren't you being a little harsh, Padfoot? We're all worried about Harry. Albus only wants to help."

Sirius shot a betrayed look at his best friend and threw up his hands. "You know what? Everyone out! I won't allow you to continue to imprison Harry like you have me. Out! You too Moony!"

"But. . . "

"OUT!" Sirius started to pull his wand. "I mean it, Moony. I'm tired of being a prisoner in my own house. At least Harry managed to escape his prison and I'm glad for that!"

"Harry wasn't in prison! He was safe under blood wards," Moony argued.

"When there were people making sure he stayed put, in a place he didn't want to be, it was a prison! Tell me I'm wrong. He was a boy without guidance and we left him hanging without support. Those muggles don't care. They never did!"

"Now, Sirius. . . " came Albus.

"Get out! You and your Order have broken the Code of Hospitality and Guest Right in my house for the last time! I, Sirius Orion Black, revoke my permission to all members of the Order of the Phoenix to use my home for their meetings!"

The house wards shuddered. They had no choice but to leave as the ancient wards forced them out.

0o0o0o0o0o0

That night, after everyone left, the old marauder sat at the kitchen table nursing a cup of tea, waiting. Before him was the letter that caused all the stir. Thankfully, Albus hadn't got his hands on it, although he had tried.

Suddenly the floo activated and Remus Lupin stepped out. "Padfoot?"

"In here, Moony. So how did it go?"

"As we knew it would. They bought it, hook, line and sinker," came Remus' amused voice, quoting a muggle catch phrase as he plopped down beside his friend. It was one of many that Lily had taught them during their last year at Hogwarts.

Sirius grinned. "So welcome back to the House of Black. I've already set the wards to keep everyone else out but you and Harry. That letter was sheer genius. Harry knew what would happen if he wrote asking me not to tell Albus about his plans. Pass wording certain parts was brilliant." He waved the letter around. For the first time all summer his godson was not only safe but happy. "So, did the old codger recruit you to spy on me?"

"You know very well he did." Moony waved his wand over the tea kettle to reheat the water. "So when are you meeting Harry?"

"Right after breakfast," Sirius informed him. "You coming?"

"You couldn't keep me away. In fact, Albus' counting on it."

Both men laughed. Their godchild was their marauder legacy after all.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Hermione sighed as she listened to Ron rant about how it wasn't fair to have been kicked out. She'd been dragged away with the Weasleys when Sirius had kicked them all out. She definitely had to go and look up the code of hospitality and guest right to see what just happened.

She chewed on her bottom lip as she sat thinking, ignoring the fuming red-head. She was now sure she had made a mistake when she'd listened to the headmaster and not written to Harry like she'd promised.

Hermione was sure the Professor was making a mistake in not getting Harry the counseling that he so desperately needed. Isolation wasn't the answer, if anything it would just intensify the problems. Harry needed his friends around him now more than ever.

Now she was stuck with the Weasleys all summer. She really missed her parents. Maybe, since she was no longer at Grimmauld Place, she could go and stay with them for the last of the summer?

She only hoped Harry would forgive her when he returns.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry stepped off the plane at London Heathrow International back in England once more. There were only two and half days left before he was due to return to Hogwarts.

It had been a fun, but grueling month, and it had been the best time of his life. He had made great friends and mentors, people who finally had his best interests at heart. He was going to miss Yuzu's cooking though, and Isshin's craziness . . . well maybe not that so much.

He was going to miss Ichigo the most. The tall orange-haired teen had become more than just a cousin in that short amount of time. Harry wondered if the feeling he had was more what having a big brother was like.

He made it through customs, and collecting his bags, headed out of airport terminal towards a waiting limo. 'The goblins had come through once again', he thought with a grin. A quick letter to them about his needs and itinerary and they had it all arranged. Everything – including all the travel accommodations. They had even booked a luxury hotel suite reasonably near the Leaky.

Harry was very disappointed that neither Ichigo, nor any of his new friends, could come with him; but it was probably for the best. He didn't want anyone from the Wizarding World to know about his distant relatives. Although Urahara and the Visored could handle themselves around magic they just wouldn't fit in. Plus, he needed a safe haven for the future, and Japan was it. No, it was better that the two worlds didn't meet.

With an adjustment to the scarf around his throat he entered the limo, allowing the driver to take his bags to be placed in the boot. He spent the ride to the hotel with his eyes closed in meditation.

A nobleman, according to Byakuya, was calm and composed; to become flustered or excited was unbecoming of someone of rank. The two weeks of training with the noble lord had been interesting. The man could give Lucius Malfoy lessons on how a nobleman should comport himself.

Harry couldn't believe that yesterday at the goodbye party, Byakuya Kuchiki adopted him into his clan! It was the highlight of the party for Harry, no one was expecting the stiff, noble captain to do that.

The leader of the Kuchiki clan had formally given Harry a silvery green scarf and a pair of metal hair clips called 'kenseikan'.

"I am pleased with your training," he told Harry the day before he had to leave. "You will bring honor back to the Kuchiki clan. Honor that the previous owner of the zanpakuto you now wield took from us. Wear these with pride."

Harry hadn't asked for the honor, he had been afraid to. Even Ichigo was floored by the offer. "I am most humbly honored, Kuchiki-sama, and accept with great joy," he said with a bow, speaking Japanese. "I will strive to add to the clans' honor, Byakuya-sama."

Muramasa purred in the back of his mind. He too had been pleased.

"I can not make you my heir, but all males of the clan wear these as a sign of being a part of our noble house. It is only right that you be adopted into my clan, as my nephew." Byakuya informed him as he helped him with the scarf and hair clips. Harry needed the help with his messy, untamed hair.

'Very good, Harry,' came Muramasa's voice, bringing Harry back to the present. 'Remember your training.'

'Thanks Muramasa, I'm just nervous about tomorrow. I am sure the old fool will start something.' Harry no longer had any respect for the Headmaster and had adopted the Kuchiki mannerisms.

'Let him.' the amused spirit chuckled.

'I wonder what the Visoreds thought of our little surprise?' Harry commented with a chuckle.

As a parting gift the day before, Harry asked Muramasa to free all of the spirits of the hollowified Shinigami. Muramasa had told him that the zanpakutos were still upset with their wielders about sealing them away. Harry had been told by Shinji, the defacto leader of the small group, that unsealing them was dangerous.

Harry and Muramasa disagreed. They felt that the Visoreds' zanpakutos were getting the raw end of the deal. So in an attempt to deal with the problem, Harry asked Muramasa to release them with the understanding that he wasn't controlling them in any way.

Harry had asked his zanpakuto not to influence the spirits in any way, but only tell them that here was their chance to talk to their wielders face to face. Once they had, the spirits should fade back into their sword forms. Yes, it was dangerous, but all of the Visoreds were either captains, or vice-captain level, in training and strength.

At least it won't be like it was in the Soul Society with the rogue Sword Beasts that had run wild after slaying their wielders. He wouldn't want anyone to come after him for that deadly a prank.

Hachigen and Tessai were Kido masters. They should be able to keep everything under control. Plus Hachigen had already come to terms with his zanpakuto during Harry's training.

Too bad Harry wasn't going to be around to watch the fun. He hoped either Urahara or Yoruichi were taking videos.

His cell went off. Harry chuckled when he saw it was Ichigo. "Mushi mushi. . ."

0o0o0o0o0o0

To the person that chewed me out for not posting in the summary that there will be no pairings. Uh, I thought using brackets in the character lists denotes pairings? Am I wrong? Just because it isn't a love or sexual pairing, doesn't mean it isn't a pairing. Oh well, to each their own.

Until next time. – GenkaiFan and The Frau