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 13
Ichigo walked through long hallways. It was the very same building where he had met Voldemort first time. He's not really supposed to know the location of this place, but the Shinigami didn't care. Voldemort would get other head ache from figuring out how he had found them. A smirk leered on his face. It was great to mess with someone who resembled someway his old enemy, Master of scheming, Aizen.
"I'm here." Ichigo announced, stepping through double-doors: "I guess that you wanted to discuss about something?"
Heads around the table turned slowly around, stopping to Ichigo. Snake-like man was sitting in his regular spot holding his fingers together.
"I see that we have been honored by your presence." Voldemort stood up, hiding well his amusement.
At the same time other group arrived to St. Mungo. They stood in the front of Arthur's room, waiting for access to get inside.
"Erm, excuse me."
Wizards and Shinigami turned to look at woman with white clothing. She had short brown hair and confused look on her face: "I don't think that you can all go to visit Mr. Weasley at the same time. He needs to rest and there are other patients too."
Hitsugaya scratched his neck: "I figured out that much. Come on, Matsumoto. We are not needed in there, it is best that family will go." white haired Captain walked away with blond woman giggling behind him, examining everything she could touch.
Rukia and Renji glanced each other. It was true that they didn't know Mr. Weasley, and they could greet him later. Shrugging red-haired lieutenant lolled on the sofa: "Rukia, we can stay here."
Rukia turned her violet eyes to Molly: "Yeah, we wait here! Don't worry about us. You can take your time with him." she smiled.
"Thank you…" Molly returned the smile and turned around: "Okay kids, go! We are blocking the corridor."
Shinigami watched their backs when orange-headed family disappeared behind the door.
"I really would like to stay here… and get away from here soon." Renji muttered under his breath and flexed numb arms. He got lifted eyebrow from Rukia.
"…This place is too similar with Captain Kurotsuchi's barracks."
The raven haired Shinigami sweat dropped, but agreed with him.
"What happened to your shoulder?" Voldemort widened his slit eyes. Ichigo's cloak was still covered with blood, and he thought it was good that he didn't put official Captain's clothes to the sparring session. Ichigo's lieutenant wouldn't approve if he had messed up his uniform.
"Nothing." Ichigo took white cloak off and disposed it with a flick of finger. Fabric burned with without leaving anything behind. "I do not need that anymore."
He examined his black shirt and it had huge rip. Sighing Ichigo reached his hand out and summoned Spiritual Government's uniform. He couldn't run around with ripped clothes, could he?
While pulling original black coat on, Voldemort noticed two white swords and the number above them. He leaned his head to see: "What is meaning of those swords and number? It doesn't look like normal wizard's robe either."
Ichigo glared at him. Fixing the collar Shinigami turned around: "Well… Let's say that I belong in some kind of military."
They all could see black sword hanging from Ichigo's waist, and when people leered it from the back seats, Shinigami realized what they were looking at.
"Right. I totally forgot that this cloak doesn't hide Zangetsu same way like a wizard's robe." It was so easy to hide long blade in the folds of robe.
Mentally cursing himself, Ichigo stepped forwards: "And it's not really your business in any way." he lifted his head and glared at Voldemort: "You had something to tell me. I don't have whole day." Shinigami leaned at the table.
Few Death Eaters shivered. "Fearless like ever?" They all thought in unison.
Voldemort narrowed his eyes at the arrogant attitude.
"Well well, the fact is that I wanted to talk about our deal. Preparations are ready."
Ichigo lifted eyebrows but then smirked. This smirk was the same which scared Death Eaters most. It really didn't show happiness, but excitement.
"Good. So what's your plan?"
It was already evening when people got back from the hospital. Molly decided to do something simple for supper since they all were exhausted from the trip.
Ichigo hadn't arrived yet since he wanted to think in peace for a while. He sat on a big branch of oak tree. It was rather cold outside, but it didn't bother him. Ichigo ran a hand through his orange hair, scowling like always.
"This is starting to get risky, Ichigo. Do you understand that it is very difficult to try to do this without exposion?"
Ichigo sighed while stroking Zangetsu's blade subconsciously: "I know that. The security level is pretty high at Hogwarts. I thought that they would have some kind of other plan."
"Che. That would have been easy if your Shinigami friends wouldn't be there."
"True. But it doesn't matter if they find out. It's just that they never wouldn't think that I use such cheap ways for this matter."
"You don't need to do this, you know. There is always other ways."
Ichigo groaned and leaped down from the tree.
"But this is the most practical way." he said out loud, disappearing to the shadows.
Molly poured hot water for Shinigami from silvery pot. She needed to take it in the use as well since there were more people nowadays. Fortunately they found it from the Black's bequest when they cleaned up places.
She was wondering that should she do some sandwiches for orange-haired Shinigami, but soon enough they heard a knock from the door.
"Yo, I'm back", Ichigo walked to the kitchen: "How's Arthur?"
"Ah, Ichigo!" Molly smiled: "We are eating supper, please sit down. I make some tea." Ichigo nodded but stayed up.
"And Arthur is lively as always. I am sure that he will get home soon!"
"That's good to hear", he smiled, crossing arms.
"Oi Ichigo. What are you wearing?" Rukia blinked from the table: "Where is Captain's cloak?"
"What? I burned it. It was ripped and bloody." Ichigo showed his back to his friends: "This is official uniform of Spiritual Government."
"Right. I totally forgot that you are not our Captain anymore." Renji stabbed a potato with fork: "I wonder who they will promote to fifth squad."
Ichigo's eyes widened: "They still haven't promoted anyone?"
"Nah, Central 46 is slow as always. They never decide anything this major in one year." Matsumoto chuckled.
"I see…" Ichigo sank in his thoughts. He had forgotten that he probably could call Daniel to help him. His lieutenant was loyal and he wouldn't question what he was doing.
Others gaped at orange-head who stared in the nothingness. Molly gave him a cup of tea but there wasn't any kind of marks of life in his eyes.
"Ichigo?" Harry stood up and waved his hand in the front of Shinigami: "Ichigo!"
"Huh?" Ichigo startled when he snapped out of his thoughts: "Why are you yelling?" he confusedly looked around the room and others laughed at him.
Next day's situation gave Ichigo something else to think about. Severus came to visit 12 Grimmauld Place.
Shinigami sat in the kitchen with professor Snape and Sirius. He could feel how heavy atmosphere was. Severus and Sirius didn't even look at each other. Sighing he stood up and made some tea for everyone.
When he put mugs to table, door opened, revealing Harry: "Uh…" he stepped inside, notifying his presence.
Severus turned his face to him: "Sit down, Potter."
"Hey," Sirius said loudly, bobbing with his chair: "It would be nicer if you wouldn't boss around in here, Snape. This is my house you know."
Snape's face turned red, while Harry sat next to Sirius and Ichigo tried to push tea cups imperceptibly closer to three wizards.
"I was supposed to meet you alone, Potter." Snape said and familiar mocking smile appeared: "But Black…"
Ichigo lifted other eyebrow. What was he then? Pile of dirt obviously.
"I am boy's godfather", Sirius said with louder voice. Snape in other hand, talked quieter and quieter but you could hear how pissed off he was: "I am here because Dumbledore's orders. But you can stay here, Black. I know that you like to pretend being… involved in."
"What that was supposed to mean?" Sirius let his chair to slam loudly back to four legs.
"Only that you surely feel yourself… Ah, frustrated, when you can't do anything useful." Snape emphasized word carefully: "For the guild."
Sirius narrowed his eyes, getting same shade of red on his face as Snape couple minutes ago. Severus smiled a triumphal smile when he turned back to Harry: "Headmaster sent me to tell you, that he hopes that you will study Occlumency in next term."
"What?" Harry was puzzled. Severus smirked even wider: "Occlumency, Potter. Mind's magical defense against attacks from the outside... pretty unknown, but very useful magic."
Ichigo could see how blood escaped from Harry's face, and his small reiatsu pulsed weirdly: "Why do I need to learn that Occly- thing?" he huffed.
"Because the Head Master thinks that it is a good idea. You get private lessons once a week, but you can't tell anybody about it, especially not Dolores Umbridge. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do," Harry nodded: "Who will be teaching me?"
Snape lifted his eyebrow: "I will", he said.
"Why Dumbledore won't teach Harry?" Sirius asked offensively: "Why you?"
"Maybe because the Headmaster have rights to give displeasing tasks to other people", Snape said softly: "I can swear that I didn't apply for this job", he stood up: "I will be waiting for you six o'clock in Monday evening, Potter."
"If someone asks, you are getting remedial instruction from potions. Anyone, who has seen you in my class, can't deny that you wouldn't need it."
He turned around but Sirius improved his posture: "Wait a minute."
Severus turned back mocking look etched on his face: "I have to keep hurry, Black. Like you, I don't have much free time."
"So I go straight to the point", Sirius stood up. He was taller than Severus, thought they both didn't reach Ichigo's height.
"If I hear that you have used Occlumency classes for you own profit, when you want to bully Harry, you regret it."
"Oh, that's heartbreaking", Severus mocked: "But haven't you noticed that the boy resembles his father?"
"Yes I have", Sirius said proudly. Snape smiled: "Then you understand that he is so arrogant that criticism simply doesn't affect him." he said.
Both of the wizards pulled their wands out and pointed them to each other. Ichigo facepalmed. This couldn't be true. What had happened between them?
"Sirius!" Harry yelled but he didn't hear.
Ichigo ran his hand through his hair when both men mocked each other venomously: "Hey calm down." they still didn't move an inch: "Sirius?" Ichigo said with louder voice: "Severus?"
Nothing happened.
"Is this how Toshiro feels when I fight with Renji?" Ichigo wondered. He started to get annoyed. Mocking continued and it only got ruder and ruder along the way.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Ichigo snapped when Snape's wand accidentally burst out some sparkles. One of them hit Ichigo straight to the eye.
Both wizards froze and turned to Shinigami who held a hand on his eye. They had forgotten that he was with them too.
"This…" Ichigo closed his eyes, frowning, and smiled: "Do you understand that you are fighting over fifteen years old boy?" he said with icy tone, opening eyes: "He is not a kid anymore."
You actually could see a tick mark on his temple.
Sirius opened his mouth to respond, but Ichigo cut him: "And he has his own will to defend himself. I don't mean that you can bully him, Severus." Shinigami noted him too.
"But…" Ichigo lowered his head: "The most important thing is…"
"Do. Not. Hurt. Innocent. Bystanders. While. Fighting!" Ichigo growled and let out unintentionally some reiatsu, forcing all three wizards to the ground.
Kitchen's door opened and whole Weasley's family, soul reapers and Hermione stepped inside. Mr. Weasley came through first proudly: "Cured!" he announced to everyone: "Totally cured!"
He and others stopped in their tracks when they saw Harry, Severus and Sirius on the ground and very pissed Ichigo scowling.
"What is going on in here?" smile dropped from Arthur's face. Rukia just frowned: "Ichigo, don't kill them."
Orange headed Shinigami dropped his spiritual pressure so they could stand up.
"Che." Ichigo walked through the people and disappeared to hallway. They heard how the front door was smacked shut.
Severus wiped off dust from his robe while Sirius leaned to chair to keep his balance and Harry sat on one.
"Six o'clock in Monday evening, Potter." Snape said and walked after Ichigo, still wobbling a bit.
"What happened in here?" Mr. Weasley asked again.
"Nothing, Arthur", Sirius sat down too, huffing like he would have run a long way just couple minutes ago: "We just had a friendly conversation with Severus and Ichigo didn't approve that." he smiled.
"What the hell is wrong with that idiot? I know that he is short-tempered but this…" Toshiro crossed his arms: "Why is he so stressed out?"
Rukia frowned worriedly and Matsumoto patted her to shoulder. She knew that Rukia's and Ichigo's relationship have been always a bit complicated. Or not so complicated, they both just were too dense. But in the situations like this you could see clearly how worried Rukia was, or other way around. Renji narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I snap from matter like that?" Ichigo walked around dark streets rubbing his temples.
"I don't know, Kingy, but I guess that you are just so stressed about this whole shit."
"I agree with Shiro", Zangetsu said: "You are driving yourself straight to the nervous breakdown if you keep going like this."
"How's that? I guess that everything has been solved already. I know what I am going to do."
"But one part of you isn't still sure is it right. That's why you are feeling like this, and your inner world has been consumed by clouds and mist."
"Mist? Since when there has been mist in my inner world?" Ichigo lifted a mental eyebrow.
"You are trying to not to think about matters coming ahead, so you are subconsciously trying to hide them."
"Hey! I asked many times that why here's mist and you didn't bother to answer to me!" Shiro growled at Zangetsu.
"Really?" Ichigo said out loud, realizing what he did and closed his mouth: "Sorry about that."
"Just remember what I have said to you Ichigo. Keep going forward."
"Yeah", Shiro cut his Zanpakuto: "When you have decided something, just do it." he advised against his usual way of behavior. The Hollow seemed to be pissed about the mist.
"Right. I will remember that and I try to get that mist off." Ichigo blinked few times, trying to identify buildings around him. He had walked a long way without noticing and he has never been in this part of town before.
"Oh well." Ichigo shrugged and kept walking.
Next day it was time to leave to Hogwarts once again. When their convoy arrived, Harry asked: "Where is Ichigo? I haven't seen him since yesterday."
"Nah, don't worry about that." Matsumoto smiled: "He probably goes with his own way there since he is not here!"
"What if he is hurt?" Hermione asked worriedly: "The streets aren't safe in the dark."
"Hah, I wish that I could see the day when streets are not safe enough for that idiot. He won't die even if you kill him." Renji snorted.
"Right…"
Next day Harry was nervous about the Snape's lessons. He was sure that it wouldn't go well. He hadn't seen Ichigo, though he heard from others that orange-head had arrived last night.
Soul Reapers had some thinking that how would they get in the Hogwarts, but Dumbledore had taken care of it already. It was said to students that Hogwarts had done co-operation with one Japanese school. The Japanese students had heard lots of Hogwarts and they wanted to experience school they had heard about.
The good thing was that there was a lot different kind of people around the school, so wizards didn't wonder when all of Shinigami started from fifth year. Toshiro and Rukia looked like first-years and Renji and Matsumoto would be old enough to be at their seventh.
"So you all got to Gryffindor?" Ichigo ran a hand through his hair: "Sounds fishy."
"Idiot", Rukia punched him: "Of course it sounds since Dumbledore helped us to get in!"
Ichigo scowled: "Ouch! I know that, midget! I mean… I hope that Dolores won't notice this!" Toshiro narrowed his eyes: "Are you talking about that woman we were supposed to be careful with?"
"Yes!" Ichigo sighed: "She is one clever bitch."
Harry arrived to supper later than others. He shivered and had a cold sweat all over him from the training session in dungeons. Shinigami and wizards looked him worriedly.
"Are you alright?" Renji asked with furrowed eyebrows. Harry didn't say anything since he was afraid that he would throw up if he tried. Fortunately Hermione saved him: "Of course he is not alright. Anybody would be tired after many attacks into mind!"
Harry had told to his friends that what he was doing in those lessons. Soul Reapers understood, it would be horrible to have some uninvited guest in your inner world.
The evening went quietly, and everybody went sleep after homework. Harry's night wasn't as peaceful as he hoped. Ron and Renji woke him up during horrible nightmare. It wasn't a good sign. It took a while before Harry got back to sleep since he was thinking about that dream.
Next morning Soul Reapers and wizards rushed down from Gryffindor Tower to get something to eat. Harry was feeling much better and he felt like he could eat a horse.
Unfortunately they bumped on someone they didn't want to see. A pink woman appeared around the corner, stopping them.
"Ohh…" she chirped like always: "You must be the transfer students whom I have heard of?"
Soul Reapers stood there horrified about the sight in front of them. That pink frog would have scared anyone. Toshiro coughed when he subsided: "Yes, we are. You must be Professor Umbridge, am I right?"
"Yes you are! Wonderful… It is nice to see that you are such good friends!"
"What do you mean?" Rukia asked.
"Since you all got to Gryffindor, you must to share same way of thinking…" she smiled. Shinigami and others paled. She really was cleverer than they thought.
"Oh, there you are, Ichigo!"
Students blinked when they saw Ichigo walking to them, his patented scowl on his face: "Are the students bothering you?" this question caused turning heads to the orange-head. What the hell was he doing?
"No, no…" Umbridge smiled at Ichigo: "I just was greeting the new students."
"Ah, good to hear, I was afraid that they had disturbed you in some way. You know, these rascals can't usually behave." Ichigo let his scowl drop and smiled.
"That is true, unfortunately. Too bad that discipline here was horrible before Ministry got involved. But you see how these rules are starting to work!" Umbridge lifted eyebrows: "Do you want some tea? I would like to discuss about some things in my office."
"I would love to." Ichigo nodded and went after woman who headed her office. When Dolores didn't look at his way, Ichigo turned around to look at dumbfounded Soul Reapers and made a gesture which resembled a lot like throwing up. He smirked and disappeared behind the corner.
"Poor Ichigo." Hermione shook her head when they walked to the Great Hall. Soul Reapers turned to look at her: "What was that all about?"
"Didn't you see?" Hermione frowned: "Umbridge was suspicious about the whole transfer –thing!"
"Ichigo came when he noticed that she was bothering us. So he lured her away." Harry continued: "He has done that before."
Renji narrowed eyes: "Why he was so friendly with her then? 'Are the students bothering you?' screw that!"
Ron laughed: "He is just acting. It is much easier for him to move around if Umbridge thinks that Ichigo is at her side."
"I see…" Toshiro frowned: "That's surprisingly clever from Kurosaki. I have never thought that he could do something like that." Renji, Matsumoto and Rukia turned to him.
"You know his acting and lying skills."
"True enough." Renji nodded: "He is planning to do something. Ichigo would never get along with someone he hates without an alternative reason."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked. He, Ron and Hermione had gotten different picture of him. They never thought that Ichigo could be so…. cunning.
"Oh yes. I have known that Strawberry for years now, and he didn't change when he was here." Renji gave wizards a knowing look.
Harry understood with others that they really hadn't gotten that familiar with Ichigo. Yes, he was a good friend of theirs, but that's it. These Soul Reapers had gone through a war with him. Wizards didn't have their chance yet.
"I understand", Harry nodded: "So… What do you think he is going to do?"
"I am not sure", raven haired Shinigami scratched her chin: "But we will see. Whatever it is, it's driving Ichigo nuts."
They descended to the Great Hall to get some breakfast before long school day (what Renji hated. "I HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE ACADEMY ALREADY DAMMIT").
Harry's nightmare came alive when they heard news.
"MASSIVE BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN. MINISTRY AFRAIDS THAT BLACK IS REGROUPING OLD DEATH EATERS."
"What is Death Eater?" Renji asked, poking a photo of woman. He was fascinated how the pictures actually moved. Under the photo was text, woman's name and his crime. Renji laughed when woman started to scream something and tried to scratch her with his finger.
"You don't know? They are Voldemort's followers." Harry answered and few people shivered around him.
"What a weird name." Matsumoto pouted: "You can't eat death!"
Students around them gaped at Soul Reapers like they would be suicidal and moved away from them. Shinigami didn't notice this.
"I wonder if Ichigo has seen this…" Rukia wondered but was cut by Hitsugaya: "No need to think, there he is."
They turned to look at the doors. Orange-headed figure was easy to spot from the crowd.
"Yo!" Ichigo lifted a hand. He stopped in his tracks, looking at others: "You are not even going to greet me anymore?"
"What the hell Ichigo!" Renji stood up: "You look half-dead. What happened?" orange headed man blinked confusedly.
"Oh…" Ichigo smirked weakly when he grasped the situation: "Nothing much."
He had bags under eyes and his skin was deathly pale. Wizards swore that it had a green tint in it. Orange head flexed his arms, yawning at the same time: "I didn't sleep well. But I am going to get something to eat. I feel like throwing up right now." he walked to the teachers table.
"He looks sick." Hermione watched him worriedly as he walked away.
Ichigo stared his food on plate. His appetite was long gone. He seriously would need some sleep, but there was other things to do. Ichigo noticed that the breakout from the Azkaban was the topic of day. Students leaned to each other holding magazines.
Umbridge had informed him about the escape.
Flashback:
Umbridge passed newspaper to orange headed Shinigami. He took it and read cover.
"Escape from Azkaban?"
"Yes. This is a disaster for Ministry." Dolores sighed overdramatically. Ichigo frowned: "What do you mean? There are often breakouts from prisons. It's not uncommon you know."
"But now we are talking about the Azkaban!" woman breathed and stood up: "While dementors are guarding, events like this are impossible!"
"Ah right…" Ichigo frowned: "What do you think happened?"
"Unfortunately I can't say surely… But I can say that people start talking rubbish again." she waved her finger.
"Hmm?" Ichigo lifted his gaze from table.
"Because the Potter", she emphasized word venomously: "They think that he is talking truth about Dark Lord and dementors are on you-know-who's side again!"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Slowly he stood up: "I see… but there is nothing we can do about it. I will keep closer watch on the boy."
"Thank you. Report me if you hear anything."
Soul Reaper nodded and left the pink office.
Flashback ends:
Ichigo snapped out of his thoughts when he realized that most of the students and teachers were gone already. The Hall was quiet, you could hear students blabbering from the corridors when they waited lessons to start.
He blinked few times and rubbed his tired eyes before leaving to his office.
While Ichigo was snoring in his room, Soul Reapers frustrated in DADA class:
"Oh man!" Renji whispered to Matsumoto: "Why the hell we need to attend to classes?" Matsumoto, who wasn't paying attention to book which they needed to read, shrugged. She leered at Captain Hitsugaya, who obediently read the book.
"Captain will read it for me too!" she chirped quietly back to Renji who groaned.
Rukia sat next to window, thinking everything else but the class. Umbridge didn't pay first any attention to them, but after a while she coughed:
"Hem hem…"
Soul Reapers glanced around confusedly before they realized what had made that sound.
"Please concentrate in reading."
The whole day went with same pattern.
Within next days, new rules had been hanged up on the wall. One of them banned teachers to give any other information apart their subject to students.
"That makes the whole breakout thing even more suspicious." Renji noted and others agreed with him.
Hope you enjoyed.