A/N:

Mother tongue isn't English. Inform me about any major mistakes if there is, what lazy bastard I am. As always I hope they wont distract your reading experience.

"Thoughts"

"Zangetsu"

"Hollow"

War after the war: Chapter 5

"What do you mean that there is new captain assigned to 5th squad?!" Rukia demanded from the Urahara. Renji , Toshiro, Matsumoto and Rukia had been doing some field work in the world of living and they hadn't heard about this new turn of events.

Shinigami had heard that Ichigo was assigned to some other job when they asked him to come along. But that was few weeks ago.

And now, first thing they hear after coming back, is that there is new captain for 5th squad.

"Ah, relax Rukia-chan!" Urahara gasped when girl just tightened her grip from the collar. "RELAX? YOU SAY THAT WE NEED TO RELAX WHEN WE HEAR NEWS LIKE THIS!?"

"Rukia you are chocking him." Toshiro noted and Rukia's eyes widened. Shopkeepers face was already blue.

"Oh… Right." she let go.

"Gah! Ah… haah…" Urahara gasped some air: "Well… some grip you have in there? Frightening…" he cut off when Rukia threw him furious glare.

"Ah! But yeah! Kurosaki-san! He is still doing his job, and it seems that it takes longer than we thought so he was assigned somewhere else!" Urahara hid his face behind the familiar fan.

"What? Soul Society sends him to work and then give his position to someone else! That's…!" Renji frowned but Toshiro cut him off:

"You said that he was assigned to somewhere else? So he didn't get demotion?" other Shinigami silenced and turned to look at him.

Toshiro just glared Urahara. He figured out that most likely it was like it seemed to be. There were some other soul reaper branches, Soul Society was only one of them. But now the question was:

"Where?" he asked with icy tone: "Where did they assign him?"

Urahara grinned gleefully.

"So this war is still in this situation." Ichigo said nodding. Sirius just told him what they did right now in the guild.

"It's more like… Chess match."

Sirius raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean?"

"Both sides are taking careful steps, not wanting to be eaten first, but they are waiting best spot to start attack."

Sirius thought it a second. Then he laughed: "Yeah that's right! You put it in the nutshell." Ichigo chuckled and then asked seriously: "So Harry's hearing is tomorrow?" Sirius nodded. They stood in the library's silence. Only some books were murmuring.

"After that you all leave to Hogwarts." Sirius sighed and Ichigo turned to him. He could see sadness and bitterness in the man's black eyes. He knew why.

"Don't worry. Even if you feel futile, you are an important part of the guild. You are important to Harry."

Sirius turned to Ichigo and raised his eyebrows again. The orange-head put his hand on the man's shoulder:

"Don't do anything stupid. I know that it sounds awful. And I know that you think that I am just applying here", Ichigo added when Sirius narrowed his eyes.

"It's hard to be patient in the situation like this, when everything is ready, but nothing is happening. And when others seem to come and go, but you are stuck here." Ichigo's scowl drop once again when he took a deep breath.

"But trust me. They are not doing much either. What I have heard, this chess match will mean nothing when the real battles start."

Sirius and Ichigo stared each other for a while. Then black haired man chuckled: "I always forget that you are same age as me."

Ichigo lifted his eyebrow.

"You look same age as Harry, but sometimes you feel like father. But thank you. I think that I needed that."

Ichigo's lips curled up and he let go of the shoulder. Then he walked away leaving black haired man alone. Sirius stood there few minutes in the silence. Then he turned to look at empty doorway and realized that it was the first time he saw the orange-haired soul reaper smiling.

"Well, Kurosaki-taicho left willingly, so there is nothing I can do."

Renji and Rukia went to ask directly from the head captain Yamamoto about Ichigo.

"What? Willingly? Why would he do that? Sir?" Renji asked.

"They were direct orders from the top, and there was some family matters involved, so I think that he didn't have any other opinions." Yamamoto sighed. It wasn't like he wanted to give one of his strongest (if not strongest) captain for them.

"Family? So he isn't far away?" Rukia's face lit up. Urahara didn't tell them that where Ichigo was, but they thought that he was somewhere far, like in the China or something.

"Hmm?" Yamamoto turned to look at her: "He's in the England right now."

Renji's and Rukia's eyes widened.

"He's where?"

"Great news! Really, I was sure that they can't kick you out with that." Ichigo patted Harry's head. "When you need to defend yourself, there's no need for excuses."

"But I think that they wanted some excuses for that." He thought but didn't say anything. Harry just got out from the hearing and he's free of all charges.

Molly had arranged party for Harry, Ron and Hermione. Two others needed partying too since they had been assigned as new prefects of the Gryffindor.

Ichigo personally didn't like any parties, but sometimes you just needed to endure. There was big hustle which started new headache. He took few drinks and listened Lupin with half-ear.

Then he noticed that Harry left his own party. Moody had showed him something which made him to leave. No one else noticed it. Ichigo frowned and went after him:

"Harry! Wait." young wizard didn't hear and Ichigo stopped in the corridor. "I suppose that it's best to go back. It seems that he wants to be alone for a while." he sighed out loud.

Then he started to hear crying from the upstairs. It sounded desperate, and Ichigo quickly shunpoed towards the sound.

When he arrived, someone lied on the floor, and Mrs. Weasley cried next to body. Black messy hair… Ichigo felt like someone stab his guts… Can't be! Then he noticed that Harry stood next to him. Ichigo stared at living Harry and then corpse.

"Ah, I see." Ichigo stepped forward. He had read about this. It was most probably boggart. Creature which shows your most horrific fears you have.

Before he had time to do anything, Lupin arrived. He stepped in the front of boggart which turned to be shiny silver ball; moon.

"Riddikkulus!" he said calmly and boggart disappeared. Then he leaned to Mrs. Weasley:

"There is nothing to be afraid anymore. It was just a boggart…" he tried to get her to calm down. Ichigo sighed and left. He was bad with crying people. Walking to downstairs he thought that what his friends were doing in the Japan.

Next morning was quiet. Ichigo was packing his own stuff in the trunk. It was time to leave to Hogwarts. Downstairs he heard some hustle when Mrs. Weasley tried to hurry others.

Ichigo had talked with Dumbledore some time ago and they decided to hire him as 'peacekeeper'. First it was meant that Ichigo would buy his own wand and learn magic, but he had refused: "No, it's not necessary to me to learn your techniques. I will mostly keep low profile and keep students in the line." he chuckled at Ron's horrified expression.

Finally when it was time to leave, Sirius decided to tag along. Moody didn't approve it and he wasn't the only one. What if he gets caught?

Harry didn't seem to be bothered about that and Ichigo decided to let it go this time. It was really been a while since that man had been outside.

Ichigo was amused about the fact that their train was old-fashioned steam train. Harry and the others said good-byes to others and Ichigo left to the teachers department. He would go to say hi to them later.

The train left and it started long trip towards the Hogwarts. It would be evening already when they reach the station.

Ichigo walked through the carriages, looking for the group. The departments were full of students so it took a while before he found them.

"Ichigo!" Harry greeted him when he arrived. "Oh hi Harry. And hello for you all too." he half-smiled. There was sitting two other students with him. Other was a bit plump boy with kind face and other was a girl with blond hair and big eyes.

"Where are Hermione and Ron?" Ichigo raised his eyebrows when he noticed that those two were missing.

"In the department reserved for prefects." Harry answered: "I think that they come here soon."

Ichigo just nodded. He had forgotten that. Plump boy leaned forwards and glanced at Ichigo: "Who are you?" then he turned to look at Harry: "Do you know him?"

"He is going to be a new 'peacekeeper', unofficially said." Harry turned to him: "Ichigo is going to help Flinch to keep students at bay."

Ichigo chuckled: "But that name is still undecided. They just needed to come up with something because this was pretty quick hire."

"Why do we need that? Are you like a guard?" Neville tilted his head.

"Yes and no. You could describe it like that if you want." Ichigo scratched his head.

"I thought that Dumbledore would do something like that since he's arisen!" blond girl breathed suddenly. Ichigo startled at that. He had already forgotten girl's existence since she was so quiet.

"So you believe that Harry isn't a liar?" Ichigo asked from them.

"Yeah, Harry would never lie about that!" Neville lifted his chin proudly: "We both believe him completely!"

Ichigo smiled mentally. Harry had good friends, they reminded him about Ishida, Inoue, Chad and the others.

"Good. But I will go back now! I need to ask few things before we arrive!" Ichigo waved and left. Young wizards sat moment in the silence. Then Neville opened his mouth:

"He's member of the staff? How come that he looks as old as us?" he wondered out loud.

"Ichigo just looks young. He's actually over twenty now." Harry answered. Well, he was a lot older than twenty but at least he didn't lie.

Hope you liked.