Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
Hello everyone. This is ThunderReborn. Here is the newest chapter of Broken Dreams. The Harry Potter Arc will be likely the longest for any arc in this Fanfiction. I do apologize if I portray Queen Elizabeth II, abnormally. There will be a lot of shifts in the language so be aware of the parenthesis.
Hope you enjoy the newly edited chapter.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
Harry Potter is owned by J.K Rowling.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 38:
In Kuoh Town, the sun rose early that morning. In the Kurosaki household, Ichigo was still asleep, surrounded by some of his peerage members. The early sunlight began streaming into the room, hitting Ichigo's face. Reflexively, he attempted to move his arm to block the light, but he couldn't. Ichigo opened his eyes and saw that his body was covered by his peerage members. On his left side was Artoria, with Yuzu behind her. Gilgamesh had claimed Ichigo's leg. On his right side was Moka, with Akasha behind her. Tamamo had claimed Ichigo's other leg, and Elizabeth and Karin were resting on his chest. Moka and Artoria began to stir from Ichigo's movements.
"Good morning, Ichigo," Moka said.
"Morning, Master," Artoria added.
"Good morning, girls," Ichigo replied. Slowly, the others woke up as well. They exchanged greetings before getting out of bed and heading toward the bathroom to get ready for breakfast. Ichigo walked downstairs to find Masaki and Yuzu teaching Medea, Gilgamesh, and Raikou how to cook. They were making omelets. Ichigo quietly grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at the dining table. Sitting there was the pregnant Tearju.
"Good morning, Ichigo-kun," she said.
"Good morning," Ichigo replied, sitting next to her. "How's the baby?"
"She's good. Occasionally wiggling around, but nothing major." Tearju took Ichigo's hand and placed it on her belly. Ichigo could feel the baby moving.
"She's moving," Ichigo said. Tearju smiled as she let go of his hand. Slowly, the rest of the girls came downstairs and joined them at the table.
"Breakfast is ready," Masaki said as the omelets were served. Everyone eagerly grabbed one and dug in. Breakfast was quickly finished. Ichigo glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time to head to the airport. He, Artoria, Medea, Scáthach, and Zealot got ready to leave. They all dressed casually. Artoria wore a black tank top with a matching jacket and jean shorts. Scáthach wore a violet blouse with blue jeans. Zealot remained in her black hooded dress from her summoning. Medea was dressed in a black top with a jean jacket and a long tan skirt. Ichigo hugged everyone before summoning his car. They all piled in, and Ichigo drove off. Soon, he opened a Garganta and drove straight through.
Scene Change: Tokyo
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta into an empty alleyway. He headed toward Narita International Airport, finding a place to park. The group exited the car, and Ichigo sent it back to his mindscape. They entered the airport, checked in, and went through security before finding their gate and sitting down.
"According to our tickets, our flight is in an hour. If you want, you can walk around and explore the airport, but be back before it's time to board," Ichigo said.
"Sure," Artoria replied, standing up.
"Might as well look around to see what books they have," Scáthach added.
"I saw a few bookstores around here," Medea commented.
"I'll stay with my God," Zealot said. Ichigo pulled out a book and began reading. Forty minutes later, Artoria, Scáthach, and Medea returned. Artoria was hugging a giant white dog plushie, Scáthach was working on a sudoku puzzle, and Medea was reading a chemistry book.
"Hello, Ichigo," Artoria greeted, setting her plushie on an unoccupied seat. Scáthach and Medea looked up.
"Hello, everyone. It looks like everyone found something here," Ichigo remarked.
"Okay," Ichigo said, turning to Artoria. "So... does your dog plushie have a name?"
"Yes, he does," Artoria replied. "Meet Cavall II, named after my favorite dog."
"Hello, Cavall II," Ichigo greeted.
"Before we board... we need to figure out the seating situation," Ichigo said. "Someone will need to sit with Zealot, or she might accidentally kill the unfortunate soul who ends up sitting by her."
"I'll do it," Medea volunteered.
"Thank you," Ichigo said. "One person will have to sit by themselves because of the odd number."
"I got it," Scáthach volunteered.
"Great," Ichigo said, turning to Artoria. "Guess that leaves you sitting next to me."
"Indeed," Artoria replied.
"Attention all passengers, flight 555 departing from Tokyo to London. Please have your passports and boarding passes ready," a flight attendant announced.
"Looks like it's time to board," Ichigo said. The group nodded and got in line. Ichigo sighed as he noticed the nervous stares from the nearby flight attendants.
"Should I deal with them?" Artoria asked.
"Don't bother. I'm used to it," Ichigo replied as he presented his boarding pass and passport. The flight attendant scanned them and then returned them to Ichigo.
"Thank you. Have a good flight." Ichigo nodded, took his passport and boarding pass, and entered the plane, sitting down in first class. Artoria, Medea, Zealot, and Scáthach soon followed, sitting down.
"Any issues?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Artoria replied. "Though one of the flight attendants commented on how cute Cavall II was." They all settled in as more passengers boarded. Ichigo ignored the stares from others. Artoria, Scáthach, and Medea began exploring the seatback TV. Ichigo turned to see Zealot staring at the black screen in front of her, unfocused.
"Zealot, what are you doing?"
"Zealot is watching all the rats that dare glare at his holiness," Zealot replied.
"Please don't kill them."
"If his Holiness requests it, then Zealot shall not slaughter these rats."
Soon, all the other passengers boarded, and the flight attendants demonstrated the standard safety procedures. Afterward, the plane began to move and accelerate. Ichigo noticed Scáthach and Medea were slightly nervous. As the plane ascended into the air, heading toward London, Ichigo looked around at the group. Artoria was watching a cooking show. Scáthach was listening to classical music while working on her sudoku. Medea was watching a documentary about inventors. Zealot was still staring at the screen.
"Zealot, if you're going to continue to stare like that, please make it look like you're sleeping."
"As his Holiness requested," Zealot replied, closing her eyes. Ichigo sighed, closing his own eyes to take a nap.
Time Skip: Five Hours Later
Ichigo felt someone gently shaking his body. Slowly, he rubbed his eyes and saw that it was Medea who had woken him up.
"Yes, Medea?"
"I'm sorry for waking you up, Ichigo, but can I go to the Trainer?" she asked.
"Very well," Ichigo said, taking out the Trainer. He swapped Medea with a gigai which was positioned as though she was still asleep. Ichigo pointed the Trainer at her and sent her into it. He noticed Scáthach was still sound asleep, and Zealot appeared to be resting too, though Ichigo knew Zealot was wide awake, silently watching over them. Ichigo glanced over at Artoria, who was hugging Cavall II. He cracked a small smile before closing his eyes again and falling back to sleep.
Time Skip: Seven Hours Later
(English will be used from this point on.)
Ichigo felt someone gently nudge his arm. He slowly opened his eyes to see a small shadow beside him.
"The flight attendants began to wake up the other rats, so Zealot decided to wake his Holiness from his slumber instead of allowing those rats to touch his Holiness," Zealot explained.
"I see… thank you, Zealot."
"Zealot exists to serve his Holiness." Ichigo gently woke up Artoria and Scáthach, then switched Medea with her gigai clone. Soon, the plane began to descend, and Ichigo could see that Artoria, Scáthach, and Medea were trying to hide their nervousness. The plane landed shortly afterward.
"Good afternoon, welcome to London. The local time is 2:00 p.m. The weather forecast is sunny with a temperature of 23C (approximately 73F)," the pilot announced. The plane came to a stop, and the doors opened. Everyone stood up, grabbed their belongings, and exited the plane. As soon as they entered the airport, Ichigo noticed something different about Artoria and Scáthach.
"We'll explain later," Artoria said before Ichigo could comment. The group spent the next twenty minutes going through customs. Afterward, Medea requested to return to the Trainer to continue her experiments, and Zealot asked to enter Ichigo's shadow to keep watch. They found an empty area, and Medea was sent back to the Trainer while Zealot quickly entered Ichigo's shadow. When they exited Heathrow Airport, Ichigo called a taxi. The cab pulled over in front of them, and Ichigo opened the door for everyone to get in.
Once they were all inside, the taxi driver turned to face them.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Where can I take you?" the driver asked.
"Good afternoon. Can you take us to Hotel 41?" Ichigo asked.
The taxi driver stared at Ichigo for a moment.
"Sure…" he said and drove off from Heathrow. They stared out the windows, taking in the view of various monuments and Victorian-era architecture. After a while, the taxi driver stopped the car and turned around.
"This is your stop. Your total is 85 pounds. How would you like to pay?" he asked.
"Card," Ichigo replied, handing him his credit card. The driver swiped it and handed it back.
"Thank you. Have a good holiday," the driver said. They all entered Hotel 41, clearly a very fancy place. Ichigo noticed some of the employees' nervous glances but chose to ignore them as he approached the front desk.
"Good afternoon, sir and madam... How can I help you?" the hotel receptionist greeted.
"I have a reservation under the name Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo said, presenting his passport (1).
The receptionist took it, typed in his name, and nodded.
"Oh, I do have a reservation under that name." She returned his passport and handed him three key cards. "Here are your key cards. You're in room number 241."
"Thank you," Ichigo said, taking the key cards. "Have a good day."
They made their way to their room, which turned out to be the most luxurious in the hotel.
"Before you girls go crazy, we need to secure the room," Ichigo said. He began casting various privacy and protection kidō around the room, ensuring no one could eavesdrop or enter.
"The room is now secured," Ichigo said, sitting down on the couch. Artoria and Scáthach followed, sitting next to him, while Zealot left Ichigo's shadow and stood by the side.
"I noticed that both of you suddenly got stronger when we stepped foot in London. Care to explain what happened?" Ichigo asked.
"It's something that remained from when we were still servants," Scáthach began. "It's called the Cultural Sphere. Based on the land our legend originated from and how well our legend is known, it can give us a boost in power."
"As you know, my legend originated from here," Artoria said.
"While mine was in Ireland," Scáthach added.
"Because of this, both of us gained a boost in power," Artoria continued. "However, my boost was significantly greater than Scáthach's."
"I did notice that," Ichigo commented.
"My boost was smaller than Artoria's because I was too far away from Ireland, but my legend is still well-known here, so the Cultural Sphere decided to give me a little boost," Scáthach explained.
"There are a few reasons for my significant boost in power," Artoria began. "The first is that I'm in my home country, Britannia. The second is that my legend is well-known to everyone." Ichigo nodded, remembering Scáthach's explanation. "The last reason is because of my Kingship."
"Your Kingship?" Ichigo asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Artoria replied. "When Camelot was built, Myrddin and I connected the leylines to Camelot with a spell. This spell allows all beings in Britain to obey my authority."
"How long does the spell last?"
"As long as Camelot still stands, I am still King," Artoria said.
"Wait. How does that work with the other Kings and Queens of Britain?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm not sure," Artoria said, her brow furrowing.
"I believe the magic made it so they rule in your stead," Scáthach theorized.
"We should try it out," Artoria suggested, standing up.
"Is that a good idea?" Ichigo questioned.
"You could go in disguise," Scáthach suggested.
"No," Artoria replied firmly. "It will be fine." She seemed to radiate a subtle force, attempting to make Ichigo and Scáthach agree with her.
"Artoria, stop it," Ichigo ordered. Immediately, the pressure stopped.
"What was I doing?" Artoria asked, looking confused.
"When you gave that command, something resonated from you, trying to force us to agree with you," Ichigo explained.
"I see," Artoria replied, clearly understanding now.
"We should try this with other British citizens to see if you can command them," Scáthach suggested.
"Try the guards at Buckingham Palace. That's where Queen Elizabeth II lives," Ichigo added.
"Let's go," Artoria said. Zealot returned to Ichigo's shadow, and they left their room, heading back down to the lobby. A quick question to the staff, and they were soon on their way to Buckingham Palace. As they got closer, they spotted a few guards stationed outside the palace.
"Good afternoon," Ichigo greeted.
"Good afternoon. How can I help you three?" the guard replied.
"Good afternoon, guard. I wish to see Queen Elizabeth II," Artoria said. Ichigo and Scáthach could feel something resonating from her, this time directed at the guards. The guards initially seemed ready to deny her request, but something compelled them to obey.
"Very well. Allow me to escort you to Her Majesty," the guard replied. They followed the guard toward the palace, unaware of the ward they had crossed.
Scene Change: Queen Elizabeth II's Office
Queen Elizabeth II was sitting at her desk, working on various papers when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she replied.
The door opened, and an older man stood there.
"What is it, Michael?"
"Your Majesty, a few people are requesting to meet you."
"Oh. I thought I didn't have anyone scheduled to meet me today."
"You are right, Your Majesty. However, the front guard is currently escorting them in."
Suddenly, Queen Elizabeth gasped, as though she had been shocked by electricity. Michael heard her gasp and hurried over.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?"
"I'm... fine," she replied, calming herself. She turned to Michael. "Let the chefs know that I would like tea and fresh biscuits brought for me and my guests immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Michael replied, bowing before leaving. As soon as the door closed, Queen Elizabeth stood up and began pacing around her office, deep in thought.
"How is it possible? According to the wards, one of the guests is Artoria Pendragon." She thought. "The royal line should have ended. Is it possible the wards were wrong? Impossible. I don't recall a time when the wards were wrong." She heard another knock on the door. Quickly, she sat back down and composed herself.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, and the guard entered.
"Your Majesty, your guests," he said, saluting her.
"Let them in," she replied. The guard lowered his salute and stepped aside to allow Ichigo, Scáthach, and Artoria to enter.
"Please, have a seat," Queen Elizabeth said, gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk. Ichigo, Artoria, and Scáthach sat down.
"Do you still need me, Your Majesty?" the guard asked.
"No. You may resume your duties."
"Long live the Queen," the guard said as he saluted again before leaving. Just before he could close the door, Michael arrived with tea and biscuits.
"Ah, Michael. Come in," Queen Elizabeth said.
Michael nodded, entering the room and setting the tray of tea and biscuits on the table. He poured a cup for each guest and placed the plate of biscuits in front of them.
"You are excused," Queen Elizabeth said. Michael nodded and left, leaving the four of them alone.
"So, who are you?" Queen Elizabeth asked.
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo introduced himself.
"I am Scáthach," Scáthach added.
"I am Artoria Pendragon," Artoria said.
"I see... to think a descendant from that royal line still exists."
"You're wrong," Artoria replied, shaking her head.
"Oh?"
"I'm not a descendant of the royal line. I am the line."
"Wait... that would mean..." Queen Elizabeth said, her eyes widening.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself," Artoria said with authority. "I am Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights and Once and Future King of Britannia." Her declaration resonated with the magic in the air, and Queen Elizabeth could feel it as the wards around Buckingham Palace briefly flared up before calming.
"King Arthur was a woman disguised as a man?" Queen Elizabeth asked, stunned.
"Yes. Myrddin and I agreed that many of the knights would listen to my orders if they perceived me as a male," Artoria explained.
"How are both of you able to be here? Both of you should be dead."
"Oh, you've heard of me?" Scáthach asked.
"When I was younger, I read the Ulster Cycle," Queen Elizabeth replied.
"I see," Scáthach said.
"Do you know how vast our world is?" Artoria asked.
"I'm aware of the existence of wizards, witches, and magi," Queen Elizabeth replied.
"This will be easier then," Scáthach said. She and Artoria took turns explaining the Holy Grail War to Queen Elizabeth. Ichigo noticed that some details were purposely left out.
"Interesting..." Queen Elizabeth said thoughtfully. "Anyways... why did you want to meet me?" she asked, changing the subject.
"I was curious," Artoria said. "I wanted to see what would happen if I ordered my citizens to do something. Would they follow my command or not?" She paused. "Based on the guards' reaction, it seems they would follow my command without question. May I try it on you?"
"Hm..." Queen Elizabeth thought for a moment.
"We shouldn't," she thought. "If they discover that Artoria could control me, think of the danger it could pose to me and the country." But then she thought, "However, the person who will command me is also a King and an honorable knight who fought for Britain." She sighed as she made her decision.
"Very well. You can try it. However, it must be a simple order, and it must not endanger myself or Britain."
"Sure," Artoria said, finishing her cup of tea and setting it down in front of Queen Elizabeth. "Fill my cup with more tea," Artoria ordered.
Queen Elizabeth had been taught since childhood that the simple act of serving someone else tea was inappropriate for someone of her status. But despite this, she found herself pouring a cup for Artoria.
"Thank you," Artoria said as she took the tea and drank it. Queen Elizabeth set the pot of tea back down.
"Based on that action, we can agree that Artoria can command Queen Elizabeth," Ichigo concluded.
"Indeed," Queen Elizabeth replied. "What are your intentions with this knowledge?"
"Nothing. I was simply curious to see if it would work," Ichigo answered.
"With that done, what are your plans now?" Queen Elizabeth asked.
"Just exploring the country," Ichigo replied.
"I see." Then, a clock in Queen Elizabeth's office chimed. "It appears it's supper time. Do you wish to join me for dinner?"
"No th—" Artoria began, but then her stomach let out a loud growl. She immediately turned red, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"I guess we accept your offer," Ichigo replied, trying to ease the situation.
"Very well," Queen Elizabeth said, pressing a button on her desk.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" a voice spoke from a speaker.
Queen Elizabeth pressed the button again. "Michael, inform the chef that I will have three others with me for supper."
"Very well. Will you be eating in the formal dining hall or the informal one?"
"We will be eating in my informal one."
"Very well. Is there anything else?"
"No." She turned back to face her guests. "I guess we shall go for supper." Everyone stood up, and Ichigo walked over to the door and opened it.
"Thank you, Ichigo," Artoria and Scáthach said as they passed him. Ichigo closed the door behind them, and they all followed Queen Elizabeth down the hall. As they got closer, two butlers appeared and opened the door for them. Inside, they saw a small table set for eight.
Queen Elizabeth took her seat at the head of the table, while Artoria sat to her left and Scáthach to her right. Ichigo took the seat beside Artoria.
"Before we eat, let us pray," Queen Elizabeth said, lowering her head, as did the servants. Ichigo, Artoria, and Scáthach remained still. "Amen," Queen Elizabeth said, and everyone raised their heads. The butlers began to serve the meal.
"Tonight, for dinner, we have Beef Wellington served with a light salad," Michael announced as the other butlers placed the dishes down. Everyone began to eat.
"After dinner, what will you do?" Queen Elizabeth asked.
"We'll likely head back to our hotel room," Ichigo said.
Dinner finished soon after. Queen Elizabeth returned to her room, and her guards escorted the group out. They walked back to Hotel 41, quickly entered, and returned to their room. After a quick shower, they went to bed.
Time Skip: Two Hours Later
While Ichigo was sound asleep, an unknown presence entered his mindscape. Instantly, everyone within Ichigo's mindscape sensed the intrusion and rushed to confront the invader. They were met by a woman in a black dress with a black veil, and a black raven with red eyes perched on her shoulder.
"Who are you?" Yhwach demanded.
"I am here to see Ichigo Kurosaki," the woman replied.
The others exchanged looks, and Kyōka nodded before vanishing. A few moments later, Kyōka returned with Ichigo.
"I am Ichigo Kurosaki. Who are you?" Ichigo asked.
"I am Morrígan, a Celtic Goddess associated with Time, Fate, Death, War, Blood, and Darkness," she introduced herself.
"I see... let's sit down," Ichigo said, conjuring a large table. Everyone took a seat, with Morrígan sitting across from them.
"Are you here to renew the old contract with the Emperor of Hell?" Ichigo asked.
"Unfortunately, I am not qualified to sign the contract or grant you the necessary blessing for the Death Quest," Morrígan answered.
"You know about that?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I do," Morrígan replied.
"So... what are you doing here?" Ichigo asked.
"I need your help," Morrígan said.
"Explain," Ichigo urged.
"Ankou is the person you would talk to, to sign the contract with Hell and give his blessing for the Death Quest," Morrígan explained.
"Where is he?" Ichigo asked.
"A long time ago, three wizards created a ritual to seal Ankou away. When I learned of this, I investigated the ritual. It was designed to drain much of Ankou's energy and transfer it into three artifacts. To perform the counter-ritual, a descendant of the three wizards must have physical ownership of all three artifacts and perform the counter-ritual to free Ankou," Morrígan explained.
"So we need to find the three artifacts and a descendant of the three wizards?" Ichigo asked.
"Don't worry. You'll find the artifacts," Morrígan assured. "And you'll meet the descendant."
"Oh?" Ichigo asked, intrigued.
"Originally, I intended for him to retrieve all three artifacts and perform the counter-ritual. However, that foolish mortal decided to take my prophecy into his own hands," Morrígan said.
"Who?" Ichigo asked.
"Albus Dumbledore," Morrígan replied.
"What happened?" Ichigo asked.
"You're aware of what a prophecy is?" Morrígan asked.
"I am, but how does a prophecy relate to us?" Ichigo asked.
"If you didn't know, Gods and Goddesses can influence the mortal realm by using prophecies. I created a prophecy for that descendant to fulfill. When Albus Dumbledore heard it, he decided to interpret it in his own way, derailing my plans. His actions prevented the descendant from performing the ritual, causing far more death and destruction than I intended," Morrígan explained.
"So... you want me to go back in time to prevent Albus Dumbledore from misinterpreting your prophecy and derailing your plans?" Ichigo asked.
"Not exactly," Morrígan said. "A single God can only send someone back a total of seven years."
"That would send me back to 2000," Ichigo said, quickly calculating.
"It's not enough. However, if she agrees, then..." Morrígan trailed off.
"She?" Ichigo said. Suddenly, a golden Senkaimon appeared, and the doors opened to reveal Amaterasu.
"Amaterasu-sama?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
"Hello, Ichigo-kun," Amaterasu greeted him before turning her gaze to Morrígan.
"So... do you agree to help me with my plan?" Morrígan asked.
Amaterasu sighed. "I will help you... but only when Ichigo knows exactly what he needs to do there," she said.
"You're sending me back to 1993?" Ichigo asked, quickly realizing the math didn't add up.
"Actually, to 1994," Morrígan corrected him.
"So... what are you planning for me to do?" Ichigo asked.
"You will be sent back to 1994 in Japan, where you will hand the Amaterasu of that time this folder," Amaterasu said, handing him a folder. "This will explain the situation to her. You will introduce yourself with a different name. Under no circumstances will you reveal your real name or the fact that you're from the future."
"But I did that in the past, though..." Ichigo admitted.
"There was no issue when you revealed that information to Genryusai and his family, because you didn't exist at that time," Amaterasu explained.
"But in 1994, I existed," Ichigo said, remembering his birthdate, July 15, 1989 (2).
"Correct," Amaterasu replied.
"You will then go to Britain and write a letter to Albus Dumbledore, expressing your interest in learning about the European style of magic and requesting to stay at Hogwarts for the year," Morrígan explained.
"Wait... I'm staying there for a year?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
"Correct," Morrígan confirmed.
"So, I'm going to spend an entire year of my life there?" Ichigo repeated, incredulously.
"Pretty much," Morrígan replied with a shrug.
"This isn't fair at all," Ichigo muttered, his frustration clear.
"I am aware it's not," Amaterasu acknowledged. "However, when you return, both of us will grant you a reward."
Morrígan turned to Amaterasu. "This wasn't part of the deal," she said, annoyed.
"It isn't, but technically, you'll owe him a debt since he has to spend a year of his life in the past to fix your mistake," Amaterasu explained.
"Her mistake?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You see," Amaterasu began, "Morrígan was angry at Ankou at the time, so she decided to punish him by giving those wizards the knowledge to create the ritual that trapped Ankou."
"I see…" Ichigo said, understanding now. Morrígan, however, scowled at Amaterasu for revealing this secret.
"Fine," Morrígan said begrudgingly. "When you're done, we both will grant you a reward."
"Can I bring any of the servants along?" Ichigo asked.
"You can bring one of them," Morrígan said.
"Okay then. How will I have access to money?" Ichigo asked.
"My past self will give you the money," Morrígan replied. "Just return the amount borrowed when you return."
"Got it. How will this happen?" Ichigo asked.
"When you wake up, there will be a raven and a kitsune in your room. When you're ready, let them know," Morrígan instructed. "While being teleported away, alter your identity so that anyone you meet in the past doesn't know you in the present."
"Do you have any more questions, Ichigo-kun?" Amaterasu asked.
"Why was I chosen for this? I'm pretty sure both of you have other servants who could do this mission," Ichigo said.
"We do have other servants who could handle this," Amaterasu said. "But you were chosen because you are a Defier of Fate."
"A Defier of Fate?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"In many religions, there are those associated with the concept of Fate and Destiny," Amaterasu explained. Ichigo nodded as he listened. "We don't have a god or goddess directly associated with Fate or Destiny, so we have many who write the fate and destiny of people in Japan. Tite Kubo was the one in charge of your fate and destiny." Amaterasu paused, letting Ichigo absorb the information.
"So, everything that happened in my life was written like a story by this person I've never met?" Ichigo asked, still processing.
"Yes, until your battle with Aizen," Amaterasu said. "Tite Kubo intended for you to lose your powers at the end of that battle."
"But I didn't," Ichigo said, recalling the events.
"No, you didn't. Kyōka Suigetsu and Hōgyoku began to change your fate. Tite Kubo noticed this and tried to fix it, but it was too late. Your powers were able to overcome his attempts to alter it."
"So why do you need a Defier of Fate?" Ichigo asked, still unclear.
"I'm getting there," Amaterasu said. "A Defier of Fate is someone who can change the fate of those around them. For example, Rias and her peerage—they're not supposed to be this strong, at least not this soon. Another example is the Gotei 14."
"I see..." Ichigo muttered, beginning to understand.
"Anyway, we want you to change the fate of Harry Potter," Morrígan said, getting straight to the point.
"I assume that's the descendant's name?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct," Morrígan confirmed.
"Very well," Ichigo said, feeling a sense of clarity as he, Morrígan, and Amaterasu left his mindscape.
Scene Change: Hotel Room
Ichigo woke up to find Artoria and Scáthach curled up, hugging his chest and arms while they slept. As he shifted, he noticed Zealot lying at his feet, her eyes wide open and staring at him.
"My God. What has disturbed you from your slumber?" Zealot asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I'll explain it right now," Ichigo said, gently shaking his arms to wake both Artoria and Scáthach.
"Ichigo, what's going on?" Artoria asked groggily.
"I need to talk to everyone here," Ichigo said, his tone serious. The others nodded, and Zealot turned on the lights. Ichigo then explained everything Morrígan and Amaterasu had told him.
"So... you're being sent to the past to correct Morrígan's mistake, and you're allowed to bring one of us with you," Scáthach summarized.
"Correct," Ichigo confirmed as he pulled out a laptop.
"What are you doing, Ichigo?" Artoria asked, curious.
"If we're going to 1994, we might as well use that to our advantage," Ichigo said, already focused on his research.
"How?" Scáthach asked, leaning in.
"I'm looking up the business history for companies that started from 1994 to now. With this information, I'll figure out when to invest and when to sell," Ichigo explained as he continued to work.
"So, who will go with Ichigo?" Artoria asked after a pause.
"I think Artoria should go," Scáthach suggested.
"Me? I can only use Excalibur, Avalon, and Rhongomyniad. You have your Runic Spells for different scenarios," Artoria countered.
"While it's true that my Runic magic is more versatile, you are much stronger than me, and your authority as King is something I can't replicate," Scáthach admitted.
Ichigo nodded at their points before turning to Zealot. "What about you? What do you think?"
"Zealot agrees that Artoria would be more suited to protect his Holiness on his journey to the past," Zealot replied.
"Well, that's settled then," Ichigo said. "Artoria will go with me to the past."
"Very well," Artoria replied casually, though deep down, she was excited. She'd get to spend more time with Ichigo than with the rest of the servants. Ichigo smiled as he sensed her hidden happiness.
Suddenly, they heard a tapping sound at the window. Zealot walked over and opened it, allowing a raven and a kitsune to fly inside. Zealot closed the window behind them. Ichigo and Artoria approached the kitsune and raven.
"Ichigo," Artoria said. "Remember to change your physical appearance."
"Right," Ichigo replied, his chocolate brown eyes shifting to aqua green. His long orange hair shortened and turned black.
"For now, call me Kaien Shiba," Ichigo said.
"Very well, Kaien," Artoria replied.
"We're ready to go now," Ichig said. The kitsune raised its head and let out a loud howl. The raven soared above them, cawing loudly. The kitsune's lower body began to combust into orange-red flames, which began to surround Ichigo and Artoria. The raven's black feathers descended toward them. Slowly, the orange-red flames and black feathers mixed, obscuring Ichigo and Artoria from the rest of the room. A blast of orange-red and black energy erupted, temporarily blinding everyone. When the energy died down, Ichigo and Artoria were gone.
Scene Change: Ichigo and Artoria
(Japanese will be used from this point on.)
Kaien and Artoria found themselves encased in a sphere of orange-red flames and black feathers. Though they couldn't see outside, they could tell they were slowly moving back in time.
Soon, the sphere opened, revealing them to be in front of a traditional Japanese shrine. Amaterasu stood before them.
"Welcome, strangers, to 1994," she greeted.
"Hello, Amaterasu-sama," Kaien replied with a short bow, with Artoria following suit. Kaien handed her the folder he had been carrying. Amaterasu took it and looked through the contents. Kaien and Artoria stood quietly, waiting. After a moment, Amaterasu closed the folder and handed it back to Kaien.
"So, what names will you two use for your duration here?" Amaterasu asked, summoning a sheet of paper.
"Shiba Kaien," Kaien replied.
"Shiba Artoria," Artoria said.
"Very well," Amaterasu wrote down their names. "Here is the place you two will be staying until I finish what I need to do." She handed them a sheet of paper with an address on it.
"Um… Amaterasu-sama, will you be providing us with some money?" Kaien asked.
"That's right," Amaterasu raised her hand, and two pouches appeared before them. Kaien and Artoria took the pouches. "Just stick your hand into the pouch and think about the amount you need. The required amount will appear in your hand." They opened the pouches, stuck their hands inside, and each pulled out a few thousand yen.
"Anything else?" Amaterasu asked.
Kaien and Artoria shook their heads.
"The exit is that way." She gestured to a nearby door, which glowed with a golden light and opened. Kaien and Artoria walked out of the shrine. "He seems like a nice guy… and much stronger than those other families. He would bear me a strong great-grandchild with her," Amaterasu thought to herself as the doors closed behind them.
Scene Change: Evening in Kyoto
Kaien and Artoria walked out of the shrine and saw the locals dressed in yukatas.
"It looks like the Gion Matsuri is going on right now," Kaien said.
"The Gion Matsuri?"
"It's Kyoto's biggest annual festival, where people wear colorful yukatas and indulge in street food and beer," Kaien explained. "Let's get to our hotel room first before enjoying the festival."
"Sure." They walked around and soon found their hotel. After checking in, they entered their room. Kaien quickly cast a privacy kidō around the room to secure it and prevent eavesdropping.
"Looks like I need to change my clothes," Artoria said as she snapped her fingers. Her casual clothes transformed into a black and purple yukata decorated with sakura blossoms. Kaien nodded and snapped his fingers as well, changing his casual clothes into a black and royal blue yukata adorned with white stars. With that, they set out to explore the festival.
Kaien watched as Artoria went from booth to booth, ordering various street foods. At some point, he lost sight of her.
"Where did she go?" Kaien thought as he started looking for her. As he walked around, he heard someone crying. Kaien turned to see a girl sitting on a bench, surrounded by liquor bottles, tears streaming down her face. Kaien approached cautiously. The girl had long, dark blue hair, held in place with several clips, and wore a light pink yukata.
"Um… are you alright?" Kaien asked. The crying girl turned her head toward him.
"Her eyes are also dark blue," Kaien thought.
"Sorry, am I in your way?" she asked.
"No, no. I heard you crying and decided to see what was going on."
"Oh," she replied. Kaien sat down next to her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently. The girl stared at him for a moment before nodding.
"Sure," she said. "My family planned to arrange a marriage for me to pay off an old family debt. When I met him, I was immediately disgusted. The man—no, the pig—was obese and smelled. I waited until they left and told my family that I refused to marry him. They kicked me out of the house." She sniffled.
"I see…" Kaien murmured. The girl grabbed her unfinished bottle and took a swig.
She turned to Kaien and handed him the bottle. "Drink with me."
Kaien sighed but took the bottle and drank from it. "Damn, this is some strong liquor," he thought.
"Hey… I know we just met, but can I crash at your place for the night?" the girl asked, her words slightly slurred.
"I don't know… you are a stranger," Kaien replied.
"Well… the name's Maizono Sayaka… I guess we're not strangers anymore."
"Shiba Kaien," he replied.
"So… can I stay at your place for the night?" Sayaka asked again.
"Sure," Kaien said, helping the intoxicated Sayaka up. They drunkenly walked back to his hotel room. Once inside, before Kaien could process what happened, Sayaka kissed him, and everything after that became a blur.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Kaien opened his eyes, blinking against the bright light streaming through the open window. He quickly shut them again.
"What… what happened last night?" Kaien thought, groaning. "This reminds me of the time when Moka and I got drunk from that strawberry cheesecake."
He slowly opened his eyes and sat up, realizing he was back in his hotel room. The warmth of the nearby pillow was unmistakable. "Someone was sleeping here with me…" Kaien thought, his memory of the previous night slowly returning. He let out a loud groan. "This is the second time I've had drunken sex."
"Wait… why was I affected by the alcohol? Shouldn't my body be able to process it faster?" Kaien wondered, confusion creeping in.
"Kaien we need to talk," Kyōka's voice echoed in his mind.
"Very well," Kaien replied as he entered his mindscape.
Scene Change: Kaien's Mindscape
Kaien opened his eyes to see everyone sitting around him.
"What's going on?" Kaien asked.
"Someone was messing with your body," Kyōka said.
"Was it Sayaka?" Kaien guessed.
"Indirectly," Yhwach replied.
"It was a combination of things," Hōgyoku added.
"The sake Sayaka was drinking is known as Kaibutsu Sake [Monstrous Sake, a type of sake designed for drinkers with high alcohol tolerance, like Kyōraku," Katen explained. "He drank some when he was stationed in Kyoto a long time ago."
"Normally, your body would have forced itself to evolve to overcome the Kaibutsu Sake, but someone suppressed that ability," Kyōka said, glaring at Zangetsu and Yhwach. Kaien looked at the two of them.
"You two?"
"I admit... I knew it was wrong, but something was forcing me to do it," Yhwach admitted. Zangetsu nodded.
Kaien sighed. "Okay, then… what were the ramifications of what I did?"
"You're not going to like this," Kyōka said as she pulled out a tablet. She tapped on it for a few seconds before showing Kaien a memory. Kaien recognized it as the scene from Rukia's and Renji's wedding. There, he saw himself, in his Tatsuya disguise, and Yasaka in hers. Kaien's eyes widened in sudden realization.
"Wait… the Sayaka I just slept with is actually a younger version of Yasaka."
"To make matters worse," Shirayuki said, taking the tablet from Kyōka and tapping the screen. She turned it toward Kaien and played the recording. It was when Yasaka and Kunou were introducing themselves.
"Hi! I'm Kunou, the next in line after my Kaa-san. I'm ten years old."
"Wait, Kunou, you're ten years old? You look like a six-year-old," Ichigo commented.
"Ichigo, the reason Kunou looks like that is because of Kitsune genetics. We age at a slower rate, which also means we're pregnant for a longer amount of time," Yasaka explained. Shirayuki stopped the video.
"Based on the math, it does line up," Shirayuki said. Kaien covered his face and let out a loud groan.
"Both of my children were conceived when I was drunk."
"The best part is that you have a year to think about how you're going to tell them the truth," Zangetsu commented.
Kaien sighed and stood up, about to yell at Zangetsu when Yhwach interrupted him.
"Artoria just entered the room." Kaien nodded and left the mindscape.
"Thanks for the save," Zangetsu said.
"You do know he'll get you back for that," Kyōka said.
Scene Change: Hotel Room
Ichigo opened his eyes and heard the hotel room door slam open. He sat up and saw Artoria walking in with a giant bottle of sake in her hand.
"I'm back!" she said, and Ichigo let out a sigh of relief as his headache disappeared.
"Where were you?" Ichigo asked.
"I was enjoying myself," she replied.
"Did you cause any trouble?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Artoria said.
"Very well," Ichigo said as he got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He stopped when he noticed another folder in the room. He picked it up and opened it.
"What is that?" Artoria asked.
"It appears Amaterasu-sama finished making our documents," Ichigo said, handing her a stack of papers. Artoria took them and began reading.
"So, I'm your adopted younger sister, who is also a witch," Artoria said after skimming the papers.
"Yes," Ichigo replied. "Now we need to go to London and get in contact with Albus Dumbledore."
"Could we get breakfast before that?" Artoria asked, as her stomach let out a hungry roar. Ichigo stared at the embarrassed Artoria. He chuckled at the Tyrannical King of Knights' embarrassment.
"After I take a shower," Ichigo said as he went to the bathroom to change. A few minutes later, Ichigo walked out, and they grabbed their things and left the room. They headed to a small family restaurant for breakfast. Afterward, they purchased tickets to Shisō, Hyōgo.
Scene Change: Shisō, Hyōgo
After a three-hour train ride, Ichigo, once again going under the alias Kaien, and Artoria arrived in Hyōgo. They took a taxi to Dino House, where they entered the curry house and slipped to the back. Kaien used his finger to open the passageway to Banzai Bazaar. After a few questions with the locals, they arrived at a shop that sold International Portkeys—objects enchanted to instantly transport anyone touching them to a specific location. With the right paperwork, they were sold an International Portkey to London.
"Is this your first time using a Portkey?" the shopkeeper asked.
"It is," Kaien replied.
"Many people who have used a Portkey would agree the experience can be considered uncomfortable, if not downright unpleasant," the shopkeeper said, presenting a small Union Jack flag. "The portkey will activate in a minute. Make sure all travelers are holding on to it, and continue to hold on to it during the journey." Artoria and Kaien grabbed the flag. "When the portkey glows white, it will activate. You'll feel a hook attaching itself to your belly button and pulling you away."
Suddenly, the portkey began to glow, and they were gone.
Scene Change: London
(English will be used from this point on)
Kaien and Artoria stumbled as they arrived, nearly falling before someone grabbed them.
"I gotcha," someone said. Kaien and Artoria looked up to see a man dressed in a red robe who had caught them before they fell.
"Thank you," Kaien replied.
"No problem. We occasionally get inexperienced Portkey users," the man said. "Can I see your paperwork?" Kaien pulled out the necessary documents and presented them to the man.
"Reason for your visit?" the man asked.
"Vacation," Kaien replied. The man looked at the documents before returning them to Kaien.
"Everything seems to be in order. Have a nice day," the man said.
"Thank you," Kaien replied. They left the shop and found themselves in a semi-crowded cobblestone alley filled with restaurants, shops, and other sights.
"Where should we go?" Artoria asked.
"Let's get some robes," Kaien said.
"Fine," Artoria replied. They spotted Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and entered the store. Inside, they saw a wide variety of robes and accessories displayed.
"Welcome. Welcome," someone called out. They turned to see a grown adult walking toward them.
"Welcome to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. I am Madam Malkin. How can I help you?" she said.
"Hello, Madam," Kaien greeted. "We both need some robes."
"Okay, then," Madam Malkin replied. "Follow me." They followed her toward a mirror.
"Who will go first?"
"I will," Artoria said. Madam Malkin tapped a box with her wand, and several tape measures flew out, beginning to take her measurements. Madam Malkin moved from one measure to another, writing down the numbers. Once finished, she tapped the tape measures with her wand, causing them to return to the box. She repeated this process with the remaining measures. After the final one, Artoria was allowed to step down. Madam Malkin turned to Kaien.
"Your turn." Kaien stood still as she repeated the process. It was slightly amusing watching Madam Malkin struggle to reach his measurements, considering she was 12 cm (5 inches) shorter than him. After a few attempts, she successfully recorded all of Kaien's measurements. They returned to the front counter.
"Now that we have your measurements, what color would you like your robes to be?"
"I'd like seven black robes, each with a different color for the inner layer," Kaien stated.
"Sure. What colors do you want?"
"Crimson or dark red, white with a hint of blue, gold, violet, green, sky-blue, and black."
Madam Malkin quickly wrote them down. She turned to Artoria.
"And you, dear?"
"I'd like four black robes. Two with silver on the inside and red stitching, and the other two with gold and silver stitching."
"Would you like the standard robe charms included?"
"What charms do you offer?"
"We have water-repellent charms, enlargement charms, impervious charms, and insect-repellent charms."
"We'll take all of those," Kaien confirmed.
"Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
Kaien shook his head. "That's all for today."
"The total will be 210 galleons," Madam Malkin said. Kaien handed over the galleons.
"Your robes should be ready tomorrow," she said, handing them a receipt. With that, they left Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"We should find a bookstore to learn more about London and its history," Kaien suggested.
"Good idea," Artoria replied. They soon found a bookstore called Flourish and Blotts. As they entered, they were greeted by towering 5-meter (16.4 ft) bookshelves, each packed with books. While exploring, they accidentally collided with a girl carrying a large stack of books, causing her to drop them.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said as she knelt down to pick up the books.
"No, it's my fault," Kaien said, kneeling down to help. He took a closer look at the girl. She appeared to be around fourteen, with light skin, bright brown eyes, and a mass of bushy brown hair. "These are a lot of books. Do you need help carrying them to the front desk?"
"Um, sure," she replied. They walked to the front desk.
"Back again, Ms. Granger… with even more books this time," the cashier said. Ms. Granger blushed slightly as the cashier rang up her purchase.
"Your total is 157 galleons, 10 sickles, and 7 knuts."
Her face drained of color. "Um... I think I don't have enough." She pulled out a small bag and began counting her galleons.
"Don't worry about it," Kaien said quickly, pulling out four small stacks of galleons, one stack of sickles, and one stack of knuts. He placed them on the table. The cashier counted the coins quickly.
"Thank you for your business," the cashier said as he put the money away. Kaien picked up one of the stacks and handed it to the girl.
"I... I can't take them. You paid for them," she protested.
"What about this," Kaien said, pointing to Artoria, "my sister and I are new to Magical Britain. You could pay us back by answering some questions for us."
"Um... that would work," she agreed. "Let's go to the Leaky Cauldron to get some lunch while we talk."
"Sure. Lead the way, Ms. Granger."
"Please, call me Hermione," the girl said.
"Then allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kaien Shiba, and this is my stepsister, Artoria Shiba."
"Hello," Artoria said quietly. They all walked through a brick wall and entered a dimly lit pub. Hermione, Kaien, and Artoria sat at a table and ordered lunch.
"So, where are you from?" Hermione asked.
"We're from Japan," Kaien replied.
"Oh. Did you attend Mahoutokoro School of Magic?" she asked.
"No. I was homeschooled because of a unique case with my magic," Kaien explained.
"I see... why come here?"
"I've always been curious about how wizards and witches from other countries live. From what I've read, all wizards and witches attend Hogwarts for their studies. I assume you're a student there?"
"Oh, I am. We all live in a giant medieval castle. According to A History of Magic, Hogwarts was established sometime in the 10th century."
"I see… I was thinking of staying at Hogwarts for a few months. Do you know if that's possible?"
"I'm not sure. I think you'd need to write to Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore about that," Hermione said.
"How would I deliver that letter?"
"In Diagon Alley, there's a store called the Owl Post Office. You can rent an owl to deliver your letter," she explained.
"I see," Kaien nodded. He continued asking Hermione about Hogwarts. She told him about the classes offered, and the Hogwarts houses, and gave a brief description of each of the professors. Kaien was explaining Japanese Talismans and their origins in the Chinese magic system when someone called out to Hermione.
"Hermione!"
Hermione turned to see an older woman walking toward them. She had dark brown hair, green eyes, and pale skin.
"Mum," Hermione said.
"Hello, Hermione," the woman greeted. "Who is your friend? Is he from school?"
"No, Mum," Hermione said.
"Hello, Mrs. Granger. My name is Kaien Shiba. I'm new to Magical London, and Hermione was kind enough to help answer a few of my questions," Kaien said.
"I see," Mrs. Granger replied. "Anyways… we need to get going."
"Okay, Mum," Hermione said.
"Hermione," Kaien called out. She turned to look at him. "Thank you for the information."
"N-no problem," she stammered, quickly turning away. Kaien cracked a small smile as he watched her blush. Hermione and her mother swiftly left the pub.
"So, where to now?" Artoria asked.
"We'll go back to the bookstore and buy more books," Kaien suggested.
"Very well." Kaien and Artoria stood up and returned to Flourish and Blotts, where they purchased several history books that Hermione had recommended. They also bought books on Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Runes, and Alchemy. After quickly paying for the books, they left the shop and stopped at the Owl Post Office to send a letter to Professor McGonagall.
They entered the shop and were greeted by a young woman.
"What can I help you with?" she asked.
"Just sending this letter," Kaien replied.
"5 sickle," she said. Kaien handed over the sickles, and she placed them in a bag. "Letter?"
Kaien handed her the letter. She walked over to a simple barn owl, tied the letter to its leg, and watched as the owl flew off.
After leaving Diagon Alley, they found a nearby hotel and purchased a room for the week. Kaien quickly cast the necessary privacy spells around their hotel room. Once the room was secure, Kyōka, Hōgyoku, and Mysteria appeared, bringing the books they had purchased. Artoria took a nap while Ichigo joined them to read.
Scene Change: Hogwarts
It was late evening when the barn owl finally arrived at Hogwarts. It flew toward an office window and landed, gently pecking at the glass. The window opened, allowing the owl to enter. It was greeted by a tall, severe-looking woman in emerald green robes.
"Is this for me?" she asked. The barn owl nodded and extended its leg. The woman carefully untied the letter from the owl, which then flew off. She looked at the letter—an ordinary muggle envelope with her name, Minerva McGonagall, written on the front.
"Strange. All the letters for the muggle-borns have already been taken care of," she thought, walking over to her desk. She placed the letter down and cast several spells on it to ensure it wasn't a trap. After confirming it was safe, she opened it and began to read:
"To Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, my name is Kaien Shiba, and I wish to request permission for my sister and me to stay at Hogwarts for a year. I am aware this is an unusual request. We are recent graduates from Mahoutokoro School of Magic, and I wish to learn more about the Western magic that Hogwarts teaches. I have included a copy of our grades, translated into English, from Mahoutokoro. I hope we can reach an arrangement that will satisfy both parties. Sincerely, Kaien Shiba."
Professor McGonagall finished reading the letter and glanced at the attached grades. Based on their performance, she deduced that both of them were a hardworking individual, particularly skilled in combat-related magic. She took the letter and grades and made her way to Headmaster Dumbledore's office.
Stopping in front of a gargoyle statue, she said, "Lemon drops." The gargoyle moved, revealing a spiral staircase. She ascended the stairs and knocked on the wooden door at the top.
"Come in, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore called from inside. She entered, finding him sitting at his desk, reviewing some paperwork.
"What can I do for you, Minerva?"
"I have a letter I'd like you to read," she said, handing it to him. He took it and read through it while Professor McGonagall waited.
"Mmm… The Japanese Ministry of Magic is always a private group. They rarely interfere with matters beyond their own country. This could be an opportunity to open communication with them," Dumbledore mused.
"I would allow them to stay at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall interjected, but Dumbledore held up a hand to stop her.
"The final decision will be made by you when you meet him," he said.
"Very well," she said, leaving his office. She returned to her own office and wrote a reply letter.
She made her way to the Owlery, where an owl flew down to her. She tied the letter to its leg, and the owl soon flew away.
Scene Change: The Next Morning, Shiba's Hotel Room
Ichigo, Kyōka, Mysteria, and Hōgyoku spent the rest of the night reading through the books they had purchased. Some of the information proved fascinating. Kyōka came across a chapter on Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse. It described it as a blindingly intense green bolt of light that instantly killed the target. After reading about the spell, they couldn't help but wonder how it 'kills'. Did it destroy the spirit, similar to Quincy attacks, or did it simply sever the spirit's connection to the body?
Ichigo found books on Runes, similar to those Scáthach had begun to teach them. However, none of the books described using Runes the way Scáthach did.
While reading about Transfiguration and Conjuring, Ichigo pondered the Law of Conservation of Mass (3). If someone transfigured a rock into a lion, would the air around the rock be used in addition to the rock to form the lion? Conversely, when transforming the lion back into a rock, would the extra mass turn into air? (4)
Ichigo was in the bathroom when Kyōka called out to him.
"Ichigo, there's an owl outside the window," Kyōka said.
Ichigo walked out to see a barn owl perched outside the window with a letter tied to its leg.
"Stand by," Ichigo instructed, opening the window. The owl raised its leg, and Ichigo untied the letter. The owl lowered its leg and flew away.
"Is that a reply from Hogwarts?" Hōgyoku asked.
"It is," Ichigo replied, opening the letter and reading it aloud.
"Dear Kaien Shiba, after discussing the matter with Headmaster Dumbledore, we have decided that I should meet with both of you for a short meeting to further explain your reasons for staying at Hogwarts this year. I will be at the Leaky Cauldron around lunchtime. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress."
"Hm… looks like we're going to have an interview with her," Ichigo said, glancing at Artoria, who was still asleep. He gently shook her.
"Uhhh…" she groaned as she woke up. "It's too early," she muttered.
"If you don't wake up, you're going to miss breakfast." Artoria's eyes opened as she slowly got up and went to the bathroom. Ichigo turned to Kyōka, Mysteria, and Hōgyoku. "Are you three going to stay here?" he asked. They nodded.
"When you go to Diagon Alley, can you pick up these ingredients from the Apothecary?" Mysteria asked, handing Ichigo a list. Ichigo glanced at the list.
"I'll try," he replied. Artoria walked out of the bathroom, now dressed in her casual clothes. Ichigo and Artoria made their way downstairs to grab breakfast. The hotel was serving a full English breakfast, which included bacon, fried eggs, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, and grilled tomatoes. Ichigo had to keep an eye on Artoria, or she would've taken the trays of food for herself. After breakfast, they went back to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to pick up their robes.
They entered the store and immediately saw Madam Malkin standing at the counter.
"Welcome back, you two," she said as she bent down and pulled out two packages. "Got your order right here." Ichigo and Artoria took the packages from Madam Malkin.
"There's a changing room in the back," she said. Ichigo and Artoria headed to the changing room. A few minutes later, they walked out, dressed in their new robes.
"How do you like them?" Madam Malkin asked.
"It's fine," Artoria said.
"It's a little too baggy for me," Kaien commented.
"Huh?" Madam Malkin said, walking over to Kaien and examining the robes. "Despite what you believe, these robes are correctly made."
"You mean they're supposed to be this baggy?" Kaien asked.
"You're acting as if this is the first time you've put on wizard robes."
"It is," Kaien replied.
"Oh," Madam Malkin said. "With that solved, any more questions?"
Kaien and Artoria shook their heads and left the shop. They headed to the Apothecary to pick up the ingredients and equipment Mysteria had requested. Afterward, Artoria noticed a snow-white, multi-storied marble building on her right. On top of the building, a sign read Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
"What's that?" she asked.
"That's Gringotts Wizarding Bank. It's a bank owned and run by goblins," Kaien explained.
"Oh? How did the wizards convince the goblins to do that?" Artoria asked.
"According to the history books, after a series of wars and treaties between goblins and wizards, the goblins were granted a few rights and restrictions. One of those rights was to manage the bank," Kaien replied.
"In return, Gringotts is the only magical bank," Kyōka chimed in.
"Thank you," Kaien said.
"You're welcome. Also, goblins have their own form of magical skills and abilities."
"Hm. Let's see what this bank has to offer," Artoria suggested.
"Sure," Kaien agreed. They soon arrived at a set of white stairs leading up to burnished bronze doors, flanked by a goblin in a uniform of scarlet and gold. They walked up the stairs.
"Good morning," Kaien greeted.
The goblin responded with a grunt. Kaien could sense Artoria's anger at the disrespect.
"Artoria, calm down," Kaien said.
Artoria let out a small growl but managed to calm herself. They entered the bank and were greeted by a vast marble hall, with long counters stretching along its length and several closed doors. As they walked down the hall, they were suddenly stopped by two goblin sentries, dressed in armor and carrying spears.
Kaien turned to one of the sentries.
"Is there a problem?" Kaien asked.
"There is," one of the goblin sentries grunted.
Author's notes:
Japanese IDs don't have their name spelled out in English but their passport does.
Ichigo is currently 18 and the year is 2007. 2007-18=1989.
The Law of Conservation of Mass is a physic term that states that matter cannot be created or destroyed.
I am not the first one to think about this. This theory was discussed in another fanfiction, a Harry X Hermione one. If anyone knows the name, please comment below.