One Tin Soldier

Chapter 33: One Tin Soldier

Everyone, including Sirius and Remus, settled themselves in the back room of Urahara's sweet shop. The three Hallows were spread out on the round tea table before them.

Urahara sat cross legged on the floor with his head bowed arms tucked into his sleeves. With his soft spoken voice he explained that the Soul King once had three sons, each powerful in their own right. The sons had fought over who had the right to inherit the throne.

"So he sent all three of them to the Human World, to test them. He wanted to see who was best suited to succeed him," he finished.

"So the story of the Three Brothers' true?" Sirius asked, glancing over at Remus.

"Hai, in a way," came the short answer.

"This is where the English version differs from actual fact. Since the three brothers were travelling the Human World, they were mistaken for wizards. The Soul King gave each son a different gift, one each, suited to their abilities.

"The eldest received an unbeatable weapon, the second son wanted to be able to keep in touch with his wife back in the Soul Society, and the third wanted a cloak that would hide him."

"So my father's cloak is really the Soul King's cloak?" Harry asked, after the story came to an end. Urahara nodded.

"Wait a moment," Ichigo interrupted. "Then Harry is a descendant of the Soul King?"

"So it would seem," Urahara agreed. "I was able to verify it. Now that the three artefacts are in Harry's possession, they will only work for him."

"But I'm still alive!" Harry shouted. "I don't want to die!"

"Maa maa. And for now, you can live," Urahara assured him. "The Soul King has been waiting a long time for his heir. He will wait a little linger."

"Wait, according to the story, the youngest brother died at a ripe old age and passed the cloak to his son and so the cloak has been passed down through the generations," Sirius interjected. "Shouldn't he be the heir to the throne and not Harry?"

"Ah but this is the first time all three artefacts have been reunited as was the original plan. Remember, this was a test for his sons. Not even the Soul King knows what happened to them. He has been searching for them, or their descendants, through the ages."

"Well, I am going to live my life," Harry told everyone. "And he'll just have to wait until I complete my education."

Everyone swore to keep this news secret. If the Soul Society knew about this – they would demand Harry to return to the Seireitei for his protection.

In the end, Harry gave the goblins the Hallows for safe keeping in his vault and forgot about them, for the time being. He just wanted to live his life to the fullest for now. He'd worry about it all later.

~~

It wasn't long after Harry started to live in Karakura Town that he was drawn into being part of the Winter War with that fool Aizen. Thankfully, that rogue Soul Reaper never knew about Harry and had been surprised when Harry took the wind out of his bid for god-hood. The wizard hadn't wanted to get involved but when Aizen came to the town and started his 'Crusade of World Domination' he hadn't counted on Harry James Potter.

When Urahara finally sealed the would-be godling away, Harry stepped in and pulled the little gem from the man's chest.

"I think I'll place it somewhere it won't cause any more problems," he informed the Head Captain, banishing the stone before their eyes. "I know just the place for it."

Harry would never fully trust the Soul Society. They were far too arrogant in his opinion. In too many ways they were clones of the Wizarding World.