Chapter 4: A Fresh Start

Morning had rolled around and both Sirius and Remus were the only ones awake and at the table. Sirius had a cup of coffee he was cradling while Remus had a cup of tea cradled in his own hands. The meeting last night had ended after a lot of yelling and a little bit of common sense. But now Sirius had come to terms with what he had to do. "Byakuya was right last night Mooney. Harry is nothing more than a ghost. Lady Magic would not have changed his name on the tapestry unless she agreed with who and what he had become. It may sting for a bit but I want to get to know who and what my godson has become."

Remus stayed quiet as he mulled over that and sighed. "I agree Padfoot, Byakuya is who Harry has become and even I can see that. For merlins sake he looks nothing like what he used to! But still it was wrong of us to assume he would go back to being the boy we once knew. Something tells me Padfoot that Byakuya is going to put the fear of god into those Death Eaters."

Both men pictured it and chuckled before they looked at one another. "If we are going to do this then we have to commit to it fully and completely. If we live through the war I will be living in Japan just to be as close as I can be to my godson." Sirius said as he took a drink from his coffee.

"I agree. Starting today we will work with him and support him." Remus was very sure that the war wouldn't last very long with Byakuya around. He would help the man the best he could and when it was all over he would join Sirius. At least there he would be accepted despite being a werewolf. It was obvious to them that Byakuya wasn't going to be pushed around or manipulated into doing what Albus wanted. Byakuya was his own man and had no need to cater the demands of the Headmaster.

Both men looked up when Byakuya entered the room. He was dressed in casual clothes but his sword remained on his left hip. He looked better than they felt but this was the perfect time to start fresh. Sirius cleared his throat as soon as Byakuya sat down at the table. "I would like to apologize about last night Byakuya. You are right, Harry is merely a ghost of what had once been. I would like to get to know the man my godson has become now rather than dwell on the past."

Remus smiled and looked at the man as well. "I agree with Sirius. I would like to start anew and get to know who you are now. We both agreed that in for your name to have changed magically on the Black Family Tapestry. It means Lady Magic agreed with who and what you have become. So we are both behind you 100% Byakuya."

Byakuya looked at both men for a moment before nodding. "Then I accept your apology and will extend the same offer." He shifted his cold gaze to the muttering house elf and settled his spiritual powers over the elf. His memories supplied the name with ease. "You Kreacher are to make me a cup of tea and you are not to sabotage nor poison my drink." This elf was in need of a proper master who will rule over him with an iron fist. His attention back on the two men who had given him their full support.

Sirius almost choked with how easily his godson had ordered Kreacher around. And the blasted thing actually listened. Shaking his head he pondered over what to ask then bit the bullet. "So how old are you and what are you?" He was burning with curiosity at it all now that they agreed to start fresh.

"I am a Soul Reaper, we help souls pass on the afterlife. As for how old I am, I am 450 years old." He narrowed his eyes as the elf placed his tea in front of him. Calling forth a kido spell he had created, he checked it to make sure it wasn't tampered with. Once he knew it was safe he cradled the cup in his hands.

Remus was shocked but then he ran through what happened last night. "You know that actually explains why you reacted as you did last night. Your older than all of us and here we were acting like you should still be a teenager." He felt kind of stupid for that but that was in the past. "So do you have any family?" That was bugging him a bit if he had to be honest.

"I have a younger adoptive sister, Rukia." He stopped for a moment as he felt his heart squeeze in pain. "I had a wife, Hisana, she died of an illness." Byakuya didn't mind it, talking about his late wife. But it still hurt to remember the days they had together. His only regret was that he didn't get the chance to tell her how much he had loved her.

Sirius winced at that but smiled softly at his godson. "Rukia is in good hands then if she has a brothed like you. I am sorry about your wife Byakuya but as much as you probably miss her. I bet that she wouldn't want you to dwell on the past either. Look forward towards the future, who knows maybe you will find someone who needs you just as your wife did. Love is worth embracing no matter what anyone thinks." He shifted his eyes to Remus after that and was glad they had worked things out. Best friends they may be but Sirius loved Remus. Not as a lover but as family, they were pack and that meant something to him.

Remus agreed and smiled at his best friend. He knew was going through his head and had to agree with him. "Love comes in many forms but its up to each and every person to either embrace it. Or to reject it out of fear and never knowing what a gift it actually was."

Byakuya nodded and sipped his tea as he let his mind wander. He had gotten up early to patrol and then have something to eat. He was going to head out later and check out the magical alley. He was feeling a bit restless for some reason and he didn't like it at all. You yearn for battle master. Its only right you feel restless. We both know that the enemies minions will make a move soon. He agreed and chose this time to sit and enjoy a cup of tea. He had a feeling he would be kept busy for awhile.

An hour later found the table slowly being filled with hungry faces. Molly was in the kitchen cooking with the aide of a few who knew how to cook. Byakuya sat back and watched the chaos that was around him. It almost felt like hearing the chaos from the eleventh squad that its known for. Kenpachi and him always enjoyed a good spar to work out the lingering aggression. Then again he is one of the few who would rise to Zaraki's baiting habits in his own way.

"So Byakuya, have you been in any wars? Why do you carry a sword?" Nymphadora asked him as she drank her pumpkin juice. Like Remus and Sirius she had accepted him for who and what he was. Sirius had told her in a hushed whisper what he was.

Master should I materialize in front of them? Senbonzakura asked as Byakuya leveled a cool gaze on the witch. Not yet Sen, it isn't the right moment. He wouldn't mind having Senbonzakura physically outside of his Shikai. "I have indeed been in a war. Our wars are much more brutal and destructive than your wizarding ones. As for why I carry a sword, all Soul Reapers have one. They are called Zanpakuto, soul cutters and each one is different. Mine is named Senbonzakura." He ran a finger over the hilt of his sword. Then went back to his observations of those around him.

Once breakfast was served it became an organized chaos. It amused him yet it had also made him disturbed. The boy known as Ronald was inhaling the food with little to no manners. The girl Hermione was trying and failing to make said boy eat normally. The only girl in the Weasley brood kept on giving him weird and creepy looks. He was insanely glad he was too old for her and that she was definitely not someone he would have gotten together with.

When breakfast was over he stood up and walked out of the dining room. He only came down clad in his Soul Reaper outfit. His eyes landed on Sirius Black while all those still at the table fell quiet. "I am headed out to Diagon Alley. Should you be needed I will send you a message." He had to get out of the house and do a bit of patrolling. He was restless and needed a good fight. He didn't give anyone time to react or say anything. Merely opened a personal Senkaimon and left. He couldn't wait for this to all be over and be back in the Seireitei.

I don't want to do too much too soon so here is another chapter. On a side note I made Byakuya older than his canon self because I felt like he needed the extra centuries. I will warn you all now, I will not be putting in the TYBW arc. This is AUish for a reason. I can promise action in the next chapter. Hope you enjoy the story so far!