.

Balance Factor Chapter 48

Year Seven

Separation

A/N: Last chapter, but epilogue coming!

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Harry stepped into the Forbidden Forest, pulling out the Snitch Dumbledore had given to him. He squeezed it tightly, reading the inscription. I open at the close.

The close. Death. Though to Harry, this wasn't death, but separation. From his body. "I am about to die."

The Snitch broke open. The Resurrection Stone sat in his palm. Harry wondered if he would be able to take the legendary items with him to the Palace. He wondered if they would remain with their magical properties.

He turned it in his palm. Echoes of this vessel's father and mother appeared. Large white wings beat in the air and then Hedwig settled on his shoulder.

"Harry…" Lily Potter said softly. Harry shook his head.

"I am not Harry Potter. Harry Potter was returned to the world of the living, it seems. He was not summoned with you," Harry said gently. Lily shook her head.

"We're with you." She said, though her voice was shaking a little. "It matters not if you're Harry or not. You have his body, his memories."

"I'm sorry I didn't get to know you," James Potter finally said. "You seem like quite an interesting character."

Harry laughed a little. He tucked the stone in his sack with the cloak and closed his eyes. "It's time, isn't it?"

"We'll be with you the entire time," Lily said. Harry nodded, walking through the forest and into a clearing. Hedwig's presence remained on his shoulder, almost a heavy weight, if only because of the memories associated with his owl.

"Do I get tea before I die?" Harry asked clearly. Voldemort's head snapped up and Harry noticed Hagrid in the background, bound with ropes.

"HARRY! WHAT ARE YOU-"

Harry smiled at Voldemort, tilting his head. "I heard about your meeting with the King of Dark. I take it you didn't go back after that. Did you enjoy getting beaten so bad that you were forced to retreat?"

Voldemort's lip twitched. It looked like he was resisting the urge to frown and spout off curses in his direction. "The Boy Who Lived…"

"Misnomer," Harry said mildly. He didn't draw his hazel wand though, because he was prepared to die this time. He would have to retrieve it from his body later. "Just like Lord Voldemort is for you."

"Avada Kedavra," Voldemort screamed. The green light hit his body, plunging him into the Darkness. He felt the water rush past his body, caressing him, carrying him.

Kazuki opened his eyes. He blinked slowly, recognizing the room as his own. But something was different. Instead of white covers, he had black sheets and black covers. He had been tucked into bed. The room was dark, so Kazuki slid out of bed, moved over to the light switch in the center of the room, turning it on.

It looked like his room, but was clearly not. The dresser was on the wrong side of the bed, the door on the opposite side of the room. It was almost an exact reflection of his room in the Light Palace.

Kazuki gave a small jolt when he realized that there was one single difference. There was a picture hanging over the bed. At first, Kazuki thought it was a picture of Shirogane, as the figure had white hair and a black cape. But then he noticed the red eyes and the white coat underneath the cape.

It was of himself. The picture was beautifully painted of him resting in a bed with white sheets and white covers. Kazuki recognized it as his bed in the Light Palace.

Then, this must be his room in the Shadow palace. Now that he double checked, he was also in his shin form, his white hair and black cape brushing the floor as he stood in front of the bed. Kazuki looked around touching the bed and making it gently, as the sheets were a little wrinkled from his awakening. He had no idea he had a room in Shadow Palace. He glanced at the door when he heard voices.

"What's in here?" That voice… Kazuki recognized it though he hadn't heard it in two years. It was Sirius.

"I do not know. Shirogane-sama forbids us from entering. No one has ever seen what's inside, although Shirogane-sama enters it sometimes," another voice said. Kazuki didn't recognize this one, but he was fairly certain it was because it was another shin.

"Really? Hey, maybe he keeps some great treasure inside," Sirius was saying. "OUCH! The door burned me!"

"He wards the room," the voice sighed. "Not even Homurabi-sama has ever entered. No one but Shirogane-sama has."

Kazuki felt a rush of warmth flow through him. The room was neat, clean, not the least bit dusty. Shirogane had obviously taken very good care of the room, even if Kazuki had not visited the Shadow World. He had no idea Shirogane had done something like this for him.

"Whoa, he must have something important inside then," Sirius said. "By the way, Kou is in the Light Palace now, isn't he?"

"Watching over the balance, as we're doing," the voice replied. "With the Kings gone, it's up to us to do something if something goes wrong."

Kazuki moved back onto the bed, placing his head on it and closing his eyes. Yes. That was how the world worked, wasn't it? And he, the Balancer, was expected to keep the balance at equilibrium.

Shirogane cared. He had a strange way of showing it, but he cared. He had finally called Kazuki his son, despite the circumstances of a war going on and Homurabi being right there. Kazuki was grateful for that. He wondered if it was because of Akira, or if it was because of Ryuuko's death.

Perhaps it was time to head back. Kazuki stood up and placed his hand on the door. The door rippled at his touch, as if it was made of water. He closed his eyes, walking through the portal he had created, back to the Human World. He had business to conclude.

He was lying on the grass, face up. He kept his eyes closed, waiting for his chance to appear from his human vessel, condensing his Factor so he'd be able to separate. Voldemort was leering at the crowd, mocking them about Harry trying to escape. Judging by the voices, Harry was back at Hogwarts.

Harry heard Draco's voice, loud and clear over the crowd of Order members and defenders of Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione were screaming too, but with grief rather than protest.

"You're a fool, Voldemort."

Harry heard Lucius and Narcissia gasp as Draco stepped forward. His footsteps were clear and calm. Harry knew that Draco didn't believe he was dead.

"Avada Kerdavra!" Voldemort screamed, pointing his wand at Draco. Draco stood there, bracing himself, the screams of his parents drowned out by the rushing of green light. The killing curse shattered before it touched him.

A white barrier shimmered around Draco. Draco pulled out the handkerchief Harry had given him in his sixth year and spoke again. "You never noticed, did you Voldemort. That Harry Potter was something more. That he had something no one else had. Power that no one else dreamed of." He stepped aside, revealing the five Kings, three Light, two Dark. Shisui lowered his hand, looking relieved the barrier he threw up had worked.

"What is this?!" Voldemort screamed in fury. "King of Dark is here?! Why are you not fighting the King of Light?"

Shirogane merely slid an arm around Ryuuko and another one around Akira, sighing into their shoulders. He looked content at where he was, calmed by his two counterparts, relaxing. Homurabi stood in front of Shisui, his eyes narrowed on Voldemort.

"You would never understand," Ryuuko said coolly. His voice was as cold as ice and his eyes were blazing with hate. "Never understand what you have done to yourself, to us, and to my son." He glanced at Harry at Voldemort's feet.

Kazuki pulled himself out of Harry's body, landing on the soft grass. A bright light shone around him as he separated from the corpse and he landed, taking a deep breath of fresh air. It had been years since he had breathed out of his human vessel. He was pleasantly surprised to find it refreshing.

"Your son?!" Voldemort roared, pointing his wand at Ryuuko.

"Our son," Shirogane said, his sapphire eyes narrowed. He looked approvingly at Kazuki as Kazuki turned to them. His sapphire eyes and pale face could be seen through the night, almost glowing in his rei form. His white cape was sitting on his shoulders and his black coat was protecting his body from the wind.

"Fathers," he said calmly. He bent down to Harry Potter's body and removed both the extendable sack and his wand, looking at Voldemort when he stood. "Voldemort. Or, should I say, Tom Riddle?"

"You dare-?!" Voldemort looked furious, pointing his wand at Kazuki. Kazuki laughed, his voice clear.

"You never realized the one you've been pursuing was not Harry Potter, did you?" Kazuki asked, cutting Voldemort off. The crowd went deathly silent, watching Kazuki rise and hold out his hand for his spear.

It was almost second nature. His spear glinted in the morning light, the sky a shade of navy blue.

"I'll end it once and for all," Kazuki said, holding his spear.

Voldemort laughed, his hand trembling. Bellatrix rushed forward, but Kazuki raised his spear and decapitated her in one swift move, before she even had a chance to wipe the gleeful grin off her face. Kazuki raised the spear and pointed it towards Voldemort, Bellatrix's head rolling to a halt by his feet.

"Would you like me to show you just how powerless you are?" Kazuki asked. His eyes flickered to Shisui and threw up a black barrier around them, cutting them off from the rest of the crowd so it was just Voldemort and himself. The barrier flickered and then vanished from sight, though Kazuki knew it was still in effect.

"I have obtained the greatest wand in all of-" Voldemort started, but he did not strike. His eyes were narrowed at Kazuki's form, gazing to Harry Potter's corpse and then back.

"And yet, it is through the mercy of others you can use your power. Of muggles, of witches, of wizards," Kazuki said coolly. "It is through all humans you can use your magic. You kill them, and you rip yourself apart." He smiled. "No matter. You shall see soon enough. Why don't you try casting your magic here, Riddle? Then you might understand."

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort screamed.

Nothing happened. There was neither flash of green light nor any sign that the spell worked at all. Kazuki gazed at him coolly. Voldemort spun, trying to disapparate, but he didn't vanish.

"What is this?! What magic is this?!" Voldemort screamed, his eyes very wide. A look of panic was suddenly on his face, his wand trembling in his hand.

"Disregarding the fact that the Elder Wand does not belong to you," Kazuki said, his gaze flat, "the magic you perform requires certain elements to be present. In this space of zero, this area where only pure beings can enter and leave, you cannot perform magic. This is not protection barrier, it is purifying barrier." He tilted his head up, looking at Voldemort. "Your soul is eroding here. The only ones able to survive being in this barrier for long periods of time are my Fathers and myself."

Voldemort screamed, trying to leave the barrier. He hit the edge of it but was trapped inside, Death Eaters firing spells at the barrier in attempt to free their master. The spells hit the barrier, dissolving into dust. Kazuki raised his spear.

"I'll make this as painless as possible," he said softly, his voice turning gentle. "You poor, poor soul." He looked at Voldemort sadly as Voldemort screamed curses and hexes at him. The wand was like a twig at this point. "I will free your tormented soul. Perhaps, in time, you'll find peace."

Kazuki plunged his spear into Voldemort's weakened and flickering Factor. Only an eighth of what it should have been, Voldemort's Factor had weakened to a considerable state, though his magical core was still intact. Instead of blood, black and white bubbles exploded out of Voldemort's body. Voldemort gasped, hands grabbing at the sharp blade, trying to pull it out of his body, but only cutting his fingers and palms.

"I am Balancer, Riddle," Kazuki said softly, though he might as well have been shouting as his voice carried across the grounds. "Balancer of Light and Dark. Your death will feed the Balance, as it should have done so the first time you tore your soul apart."

Voldemort gasped, but blood bubbled out of his mouth. Riddle's Factor was being drained, absorbed by his spear, feeding into his spear's existence. Riddle let out a final gasp, but was then still. Kazuki tore the spear out of Voldemort's still body, looking at the crowd of Death Eaters. Most of them had disapparated when Kazuki plunged the spear into Voldemort's body, seeing as their master was soon to die.

Kazuki bent down and retrieved the Elder Wand, slipping that into his sack as well. Master of Death was the title, as Kazuki recalled. He moved to his human body, dispelling the barrier.

There was a roar of approval and the crowd trampled across the grounds, trying to reach him, touch him, see him, and admire the man who had ended it at long last. Kazuki knelt on the ground, held his hand out, and touched the cooling body of Harry Potter, watching it disintegrate into dust. It was an existence that never should have been extended, as Harry Potter had died years before.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"Harry… Your body…?" Hermione whispered, looking shocked. The crowd fell silent, all around Kazuki, staring at the vanishing body of Harry Potter. Kazuki tilted his head.

"Everything is as it should be, Hermione. Harry Potter's body was never meant to live this long and the separation destroyed it," Kazuki said gently. "I told you before, didn't I? My name has been, and always will be, Kazuki."

"Kazuki," Ryuuko said. The crowd parted for the Direct King of Light and Kazuki stood up again, looking at him. "Your admirers would like to celebrate. But before then… We need a few minutes of privacy." He smiled at the crowd. "Please head back into the castle."

Kazuki nodded a little. Hermione, Ron, and Draco stayed, but Kazuki jerked his head towards the castle.

"Royal things I need to finish," he said, nodding at them. "I'll be there soon. Go on ahead without me and tell them the story, won't you?"

They looked hesitant to leave, but backed away, moving back to the castle. Kazuki turned to the Kings.

"That was awesome!" Akira said, clapping him on the shoulder. Shisui smiled pleasantly and Kazuki looked at Akira.

"Thank you, Akira-nii," he said, running a hand through his long black hair. "Shisui?"

Shisui stepped up, Homurabi right next to him. "What is it, Kazuki? It's been such a long time since I've seen you…" there was a relieved smile on his face, his eyes shining in the streaks of morning light. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Thank you, Shisui," Kazuki said softly, keenly aware that, even though most of the crowd had gone back to the castle, they were still watching them. "I have something for you, Shisui." He turned back to Ryuuko and spoke. "Are you ready, Ryuuko?"

"As ever," Ryuuko said calmly. Kazuki took a deep breath and placed his hand on Ryuuko's chest, trying to draw out the Light he had placed inside him. The inshi.

"No!"

Shirogane's sword was out, pointing straight at Kazuki's throat. Kazuki remained unfazed and Ryuuko caught the blade in his hand, stopping him from cutting off his son's head.

"Stop it, Shirogane," Ryuuko said quietly. "It's alright."

"No it is not!" Shirogane looked furious, hurt, and torn. Between his son and his counterpart, he could see that both of them knew about this, but didn't tell him. "No it is not! I will not risk losing you again, Ryuuko!"

"You have Akira, Shirogane," Ryuuko reminded, feeling his Light pull away from his body and onto Kazuki's hand. Homurabi gave a start as he realized what Kazuki was doing. Ryuuko continued. "You have Kazuki. Leave the dead be, Shirogane."

"What? What's going on?!" Akira asked. "Why does Shirogane suddenly want to kill you, Kazuki?"

"Ryuuko!" Shirogane could feel painful tears well up in his eyes, his hand on his katana trembling. Homurabi answered for Akira.

"He's going to remove the Light Factor from Ryuuko and place it in Shisui," Homurabi said, his eyes wide. "I had no idea this child, Kazuki, the Balancer… Could it be he lent a part of his Light to Ryuuko so Ryuuko could materialize?"

"What? But… Ryuuko would…" Akira said, alarmed.

"Vanish, yes," Homurabi said. Shisui walked forward, placing a hand on Kazuki's wrist.

"I do not require his Light, Kazuki," Shisui said calmly. Kazuki smiled weakly at him.

"I know you don't. But Ryuuko wishes you to have it. That way, the balance between Light and Dark will be restored. Two Light Kings, Two Dark…" Kazuki said softly.

"Is there any other way?" Shisui asked. Kazuki hesitated.

"We'd need a third Dark King," he said slowly. "That would be the only other way. But seeing as there are none available…"

"Sirius Black!" Shirogane said sharply.

There was a silence. Kazuki had stopped the Light transfer, staring at Shirogane like he had gone completely mad.

"He would have no counterpart, Shirogane," Ryuuko said calmly, shaking his head. "That, alone, would drive him to the brink of madness." He placed a comforting hand on Kazuki's shoulder and released his other hand from Shirogane's blade. Shirogane lowered his blade.

"But-"

"My presence in the Shadow World should suffice, shouldn't it?" Kazuki asked. Ryuuko gave a small start, his eyes wide, whipping around to stare at Kazuki. "True, I am not a King. But I am something of a Prince." He released the Light he had gathered back into Ryuuko's body, the Light in his hand fading. "You kept me in the Light Palace for a reason other than for my own safety, did you not?"

It had just occurred to him. Because he was the Balancer, perhaps… he could use his abilities to balance out Ryuuko's existence. He wasn't positive it would work, but he certainly didn't want Ryuuko to disappear.

"True…" Ryuuko said slowly, hesitating. "It was because Shisui was taking too much time choosing his Children…"

"My presence balanced the instability for a long while, did it not? But with my presence in the Shadow World… And the vast amount of Children between Homurabi and Shirogane… It should be enough," Kazuki said softly. He looked up at Shirogane and then at Homurabi. "In addition, I do not require a counterpart. I, in a sense, am both elements at once."

"Sounds like something we could try!" Akira said, grinning widely. "Alright then. Where's the food? I'm starved!"

Kazuki laughed, watching Akira run back over to the castle. He turned to Shisui and placed his hand on the Light King's arm. "Shisui… I do hope you've been well."

"Very, thank you," Shisui said calmly, smiling at Kazuki. Kazuki reached up and pat Shisui on the head, making Shisui laugh a little at the childish behavior. Then Kazuki turned to Homurabi.

And promptly gave him a quick kick in the face that sent him crashing into the stone wall of the castle.

"Kazuki!" Both Ryuuko and Shisui gave him disapproving looks, though Ryuuko's was softened a little. Shisui hurried over to see if Homurabi was alright, but Kazuki gave a 'humph'.

"What the hell was that for you little brat?!" Homurabi snarled, pulling himself out of the rubble, not expecting such a sudden act from someone that looked remarkably like the calm and collected Ryuuko. Students were staring at Homurabi as he had made a rather large hole in the castle. "I'm going to kill you!" But he remained slumped over, as Shisui was fussing over him.

"That was for murdering Ryuuko," Kazuki said. "I sure as hell felt it, even if I didn't see it. Be glad I didn't decapitate you instead for it." He gave him a glare of deepest loathing, but then his glare eased. "But I suppose I can forgive you since you protected the students here from getting killed when you arrived."

"You did?" Ryuuko asked, looking pleased. "Well done, Homurabi!"

"I just hate it when adults pick on kids weaker than themselves," Homurabi said, looking grumpy. Shisui's eyes softened and he hugged Homurabi.

"Thank you." He said to his counterpart. Homurabi sneered a little, but Kazuki could tell that he was really pleased.

-0-

The celebration lasted all day. Kazuki joined in, sitting at a table with Ron, Hermione, and Draco, as well as the Five Kings. Lucius and Narcissia stood behind, unsure if they were allowed to join until Kazuki beckoned them over.

Their losses were unsurprisingly few. Shisui's barrier had done its job quite well. Members of the Order of the Phoenix were all alive, thanks to the King's help. Akira had protected the West, Ryuuko the South, Homurabi the North, and Shirogane the East. Cleanup after Voldemort's death was laughingly simple, as it only required disposing of those who remained to fight and any magical creatures that resisted. Lupin and Tonks left the celebration early to return to their child.

"Remember your promise?" Draco asked, grinning, stuffing his face with turkey. Kazuki smiled at him.

"Of course. To take your family out to eat with my family when it was all over," Kazuki said. "Ron, Hermione, you're welcome to join as well. We'll have a feast. Has to be magical area though, or muggles will be very confused about who you're eating with." He turned to greet another group of people who wanted to shake his hand.

Shirogane was more subdued from the exchange that had taken place on the grounds. His eyes would flick to Akira and then Ryuuko and then back to Akira, as if unsure what to say. Akira finally got fed up with it and thrust a bottle of Firewhisky in front of his face.

"Here!" Akira said, scowling. "Say what you want to say."

"Akira-kun," Shirogane said softly, surprised. He took the bottle and blinked at the black haired man. Akira crossed his arms and frowned.

"You don't want Ryuuko to leave, right? To be honest, I am kind of attached to him too. Though I liked it better when he was a midget," Akira said, watching people shower Kazuki with praise and thanks.

Shirogane's lip quirked and he uncapped the bottle before tipping the contents in his mouth. He swallowed heavily, the burn in his throat pleasant, before turning to Ryuuko.

"Ryuuko," Shirogane said clearly. Ryuuko turned, looking at Shirogane, surprised that his counterpart was finally speaking up.

"You're an idiot," Shirogane continued. "That being said, you're my idiot. I'm not letting you go that easily." He frowned, turning away, hiding his face in his bangs. "So don't ever do something like that again. I suffered it once. Don't you dare try to make me suffer it again."

Ryuuko's eyes softened and he placed his hand on Shirogane's shoulder. He pulled Shirogane's head closer to his collar and sighed deeply. "I'm sorry." Ryuuko spoke softly. Shirogane pulled Ryuuko's hand off his shoulder, but didn't move his head away from his shoulder. Ryuuko continued. "I didn't mean to seem like I wanted you to suffer."

"Then don't ever do something like that again. And don't drag Kazuki into your twisted plans," Shirogane said in a low voice, his mouth moving against Ryuuko's shoulder. "You know as well as I do that he'd do anything for you, even if it was killing you because you asked him to." He glanced at his Child, who was eating and sharing stories about what happened on his mission with Draco. Lucius was staring at Shirogane, his eyes very wide and Narcissia was absorbed in Kazuki's tale.

Ryuuko laughed, but didn't reply, as he knew it was true. Shirogane took a deep breath before lifting his head and taking another swing of Firewhisky. He sighed deeply, reaching over the table and placing his hand on Kazuki's head, ruffling his hair.

Kazuki turned to him. "Father?" His sapphire blue eyes were wide; Shirogane noted they looked very much like his own blue eyes as he smiled at him.

"Kazuki, you wanted to meet the shin Children, right?" Shirogane asked.

"Oh? You didn't meet them yet? Well, you know Homurabi right?" Akira asked, glancing at the red-head who was glaring daggers at Kazuki, but being restrained by Shisui. "And you made Sirius, that bastard. Nanaya met you because he tried to kill you, so you know him too-"

The fork clattered on the table halfway to Kazuki's mouth. Mashed potatoes splattered across Kazuki's plate, but Kazuki didn't seem to care.

"That asshole's name is Nanaya?" Kazuki asked, ignoring Ryuuko's disapproving look at his crude language. "Nanaya was the one to try to kill me back in my fifth year when I was trapped in my vessel?"

"Yeah," Akira said, looking strangely at Kazuki. Kazuki let out a gleeful laugh and withdrew his Light, letting his Darkness pour over his body like water.

"I'll be sure to pay him back tenfold for almost killing me then," Kazuki said. Lucius and Narcissia stared at him, recognizing him from their manor.

"You're… The Prince of Dark," Narcissia said, her eyes very wide.

"That's right. And you guessed correctly. I am Shirogane's son," Kazuki said, feeling Shirogane ruffle his hair. "Father, please stop that."

Most of the chatter had stopped and they were listening to Kazuki's conversation. A cry of surprise echoed across the room when Kazuki changed forms, people suspecting that Kazuki was a metamorphmagus or taken polyjuice. Kazuki ignored these to try to bat away Shirogane's hand, his eyes laughing with surprise.

"I've missed you, brat," Shirogane said fondly, sighing. "Now if you could stay out of trouble for the next twenty centuries that would be wonderful."

"I'll try," Kazuki said, watching his father withdraw his hand.

"Potter!"

Kazuki turned to see McGonagall walk up to him, looking at him with a smile on her old tired face. He smiled and shook his head. "I am not Harry Potter anymore, Professor. I am Kazuki. Just Kazuki."

"Awww, I can't call you "The-Boy-Who-Lived" anymore?" Akira asked, grinning, teasing.

"Like I told Voldemort, that's a misnomer," Kazuki said, ignoring the flinches. "Never mind that. Can I help you, Professor?"

"I was wondering what you were planning now that you have completed your mission," McGonagall asked. "We always need a Professor in Defense Against Dark Arts."

Kazuki smiled, closing his eyes. "I'll think about it."