One Tin Soldier

Chapter 17: Name of Heaven

Darkness had fallen, and Harry's day still wasn't over. He still had one more piece of business to do before he could seek the comfort of his bed.

He was still upset, and angry, that the headmaster dared try to invade his mind. Thank Merlin for Muramasa. Although he had to wonder – how many years and how many times had the headmaster read his mind, and why?

Harry snorted. He'd bet he could figure out why; Albus Dumbledore was a master manipulator who claimed everything he did was for the so called 'greater good'. Look how he'd forced him into that thrice-damned tournament kept him ignorant of his heritage, and how he'd kept Harry isolated from his so called friends this past summer.

Muramasa agreed.

"Don't worry Harry. That old fool will never invade your mind again as long as I am with you," came the calm assurance of the Zanpakuto spirit.

"I'm glad I have you, Muramasa. You've been the light to my darkness these past few weeks."

"I too am glad." The warmth in his reply soothed Harry's lonely soul.

~~

The Forbidden Forest was called 'forbidden' for a reason, but that didn't stop Harry from entering. Sirius and Remus were waiting for him in the clearing he had described to them earlier, just inside the forest not far from the castle.

"So how did the meeting go after I left?" Harry asked as he stepped into the clearing.

"About what you might predict," Remus said. "I'll show you when you come to Grimmauld Place. Although, many of them were wondering what you did to Molly. It was pretty impressive.

"Several were disgusted with Albus for trying Legilimency on you. Many others are still following Albus' lead on claiming you are going dark. Molly was very vocal about it."

"Harry what was that spell?" asked Sirius.

Harry shrugged. "It's one of my sensei's favorite spells," Harry replied, sidestepping the question adroitly. "He's pretty powerful in his own right." He looked over the clearing before continuing. "I could care less what those in that office think of me."

Then he sighed, rubbing his hands over his tired face. "I can't wait until this is over and I am free to be myself again. I hate all this acting. It just isn't me."

"I can imagine," Remus commented as he too looked around the clearing.

Sirius, who had been setting perimeter alert wards, came back over to the pair. "Think it's big enough pup?"

"Should be," Harry agreed as he stepped just inside the wards. "Most of it will happen in the air anyways. Why don't you call Kreacher? He has the right to see this," Harry mused with a slight smile.

"Harry, what do you have planned?" Remus asked as Sirius called the ancient elf.

The old house elf appeared. "Disgraced master calls Kreacher?"

"We're waiting for one more person," Harry said. "He should be arriving any minute now. You might want to do a translation spell as we will be speaking in Japanese. Kreacher, stay close."

"Already done," Remus told him. They'd cast the spell before Harry had entered the clearing.

"So when will your cousin appear?" Sirius asked.

Suddenly a mist arose high over the trees as glowing Japanese shoji doors appeared and slid open. Through a blinding white light, two black butterflies fluttered out as two figures followed them.

"Konbanwa Ichigo-kun, konbanwa Shinji-sensei," Harry greeted with a slight bow.

Remus and Sirius listened quietly; glad they could understand the Japanese being spoken. Mimicking Harry, both bowed respectfully.