Wizard and Deat Reaper: Hogwarts
Chapter 39's

World's spinning. Vibrating colors. Screaming sounds. Air compacted.

Everything seems to mean to break it. He doesn't understand at all. Just once, can the world not do that to her? Destroying it from the inside…. The fight is exhausting him….

The fight!

Yep! It felt like just a moment ago he was standing in the middle of a battleground. Another assignment the Gotei 13 gave him. He and a number of other shinigami. Protecting the witches at Hogwarts from Arrancars loyal to the traitor Sousuke Aizen. It had never occurred to him that the Arrancars wanted him, using him for revenge on Soul Society!

The impossible will be done by Toushiro Hitsugaya in a place so precious to him.

Instead of sacrificing herself for Aizen, she chose to sacrifice herself for Soul Society.

Is this why...the world turns, the colors whirl, the sounds scream, the air condenses? Will he finally succumb to his death, his second death?

"Witness *****. You think I'm gonna let you die?"

And Toushiro forced himself to open both his eyes.

He was lying in the snow, in his inner world. Stared by the dark blue sky that always waded through the frozen tundra, dropping more snow slowly down to a place he never knew the limits. Slowly, he got up, looking around. His inner world was still the same from the last one he visited. What was different, he had yet to see his zanpakuto figure there. He also felt a strange feeling that he could not explain.

And then Toushiro realized something.

He was sure the battle gave him a pretty fatal wound. However, he saw himself without all those injuries. All he felt was extreme fatigue, which made him sit back in the snow.

"Hyourinmaru," he called out in a whispering voice. There's no answer. Only the smooth sound of the sallju grains fell to the surface. "Hyourinne."

"He won't answer you."

Toushiro's eyes were wide open. He did not recognize that voice. The voice was heavy, a little hoarse, and it sounded as if the speaker was talking from a broken cassette. However, the voice made him shudder. It was a voice he had never heard in his inner world. There is something, someone who enters his inner world. The cause of the strange feelings that run its course.

"Who's there?" toushiro asked cautiously, looking around at her. "You shouldn't be here!"

"Oh, believe me, I'm supposed to be here!" the voice said, cunning was heard in every word.

"This place is mine!" toushiro said, looking around for the origin of the voice. But, he didn't see anyone.

"What did you say?" The voice was heard from his left side, behind him. Toushiro turned straight away. He heard footsteps that broke the sound of snow falling slowly. And he saw it. A boy very similar to him. No. gabe. Whoever has his face. Exactly like himself. Not exactly the same, indeed.

Toushiro stood up, ignoring his entire body cells that were screaming in exhaustion. He faced the newcomer who was standing just three meters in front of him, facing a mirror, with the color reversed.

The figure did not have her white hair, but it was black. Shihakuso and the black hakama that Toushiro wore, became white in the figure. His commander Haori was white in color, black in that figure. And, instead of finding the turquoise iris, looking back at him was a pair of golden yellow eyes, which exuded malice and cruelty. And the figure smiled. Smile without hospitality, more correctly called the cruelest smile he has ever seen owned by that face – maybe Kenpachi Zaraki will welcome this as a dueling challenge.

"Who...you?" toushiro asked in disbelief, with confusion filling his brain.

The smile of the figure turned into a grin. "I? I'm you."

Toushiro looked at the figure in disbelief. She's she? If there was another 'he', it was his zanpakuto spirit!

"What does that mean?! Who're you?!"

"Duh," the figure made a strange, dog-like laugh. "I told you I'm you." The figure sends out his evil grin, "To be precise, your dark side."

Toushiro's eyes widened in surprise. "What-what?!"

"Hougyoku in your body, that thing that makes me real!" The figure showed his weapon; a katana that was exactly the same as Hyourinmaru. The most striking difference, the blade of the sword was not silvery, but rather jet black. Actually, all parts of the katana are deep black. "I am your hollow, Toushiro Hitsugaya. And, Hyourinmaru looks better with this color, right?"

"Don't say his name! She's mine!" toushiro Guram.

Hollow laughed again. "Don't be greedy, he's mine, I'm you, you're me. Didn't I tell you that? Oh, one second," the Hollow grinned. "If you think sharing is bad, just give it to me."

Toushiro unsheathed his zanpakuto, growling furiously, "No will."

"Che'" The hollow clicked his tongue impatiently. "You're stubborn."

"Get out of this place!"

"Where is it, boy," said the Hollow unconcerned. "I was created here, and I will stay here. It's impossible for us to kill each other, because we're both dead. Ah, you should be thanking me, I used my abilities to save your miserable life."

"Then you think I'd rather die!"

"You want it, but you don't think I know you didn't mean it at all?" said the sly Hollow. "Who is that girl, Momo Hinamori? You realize you're dead no one's protecting her, eh? So I know you don't want your death at all, even if you're ready to die. Huh, you son of a bitch *****."

Kid *****?! She was?! Everyone knows he is a genius!

"If it's actually annoying enough that you're here, but I can't let you die…. You die, then I die too…. I can't take over a dead body, you know. At least, if you live, I can take it from you in my own way…."

"That's not gonna happen!"

"Just wait, boy," grinned the hollow, also drawing out his sword. "Let's see who has the right to rule this place. You, or me."

Toushiro pressed his hands together on the hilt of Hyourinmaru. If that battle hollow wants, he'll give it. This place is his. He won't hand it over to anyone else. Just him and Hyourinmaru.

"You're right," sizzled Toushiro. Damnit damnit! How can he have a hollow?! "there is only one king in the sky."

Genjiro Shitara did not expect this 'case' to be so complicated. Aizen's treason case seems to have competitors of the level of complexity he faces and Centra 46 now. Toushiro Hitsugaya, the Commander of the 10th Division of Gotei 13, is hollowified and is set to become the Vizard. And, the Arrancar's Second Hougyoku was inside his body. And, he was the reincarnation of the Heaven Guard. The death sentence that has been drafted by Centra 46 went awry because of this last piece of information. Plus, the Gotei 13 protects the boy. They tried to convince him that the boy was 'still controllable', that Centra 46 should not commit the same mistake as Centra 46 a hundred years ago who had disposed of a number of its commanders and lieutenants to the Human World due to almost similar cases.

He had no choice but to wait, according to Shunsui Kyouraku's advice. Waiting to make sure that Toushiro Hitsugaya will not lose his mind.

Damnit. The protection of the late Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto against the Vizards who were readmitted after Winter War was still passed on by Shunsui Kyouraku. This makes the chances of Toushiro Hitsugaya's escape greater than expected. All shinigami could have considered the laws enforced by Centra 46 to be lame and cruel. But that's the price to pay to keep the whole world in balance.

Genjiro Shitara sighed.

Yep. This whole thing is really complicated.

Meanwhile, the Gotei 13 instantly devised a plan to help the young commander. Some shinigami were prepared to return to Soul Society a few hours later. The returning Shinigami were Commander Soi Fon, Commander Muguruma, Lieutenant Kira, and Lieutenant Hisagi.

Commander Soi Fon is given a mission to lead the hunt for the rebel Arrancar that still exists in Karakura City. Lieutenant Kira and Lieutenant Hisagi are assigned to help protect the Seiretei with the shinigami there. Commander Muguruma received a special request from Commander Hirako, to notify Commander Hitsugaya's condition to the other Vizards.

"If we're going to help Hitsugaya, we need to make sure that he'll have our support, and we'll make sure that we can train him to control the hollow within him," so said Shinji Hirako.

"You have indeed intended to help the midget commander, yes" grimmjow Jeagerjaques grinned, after the Shinigami who had been sent back Seireitei disappeared with Senkaimon. "Just leave him to me, he'll make me a hollow"

"Whisper, Cat!" gertak Shinji's. "Don't remember Ichigo who just realized he had hollow power almost cut off your head?! Still good at just giving you that!" Shinji pointed at the scar on Grimmjow's chest. The former Sexta Espada growled. "Hollow Hitsugaya could be stronger than that because he is still new and out of control! Want to die again?"

"Who do you call a cat?!" grimmjow.

"You," said Shinji and Ichigo simultaneously.

Ichigo grinned happily at the look of the Grimmjow who had to refrain from challenging anyone to fight as long as he was in Hogwarts territory. It's hardly like him, obeying anyone and not dueling.

Grimmjow directs his blue eyes at Ichigo, who slicks back at him. He could see anger and grudges flaring up there.

"Hold yourself or I'll break your leg" said Ulquiorra flatly.

"Fuck you, Ulquiorra!" Grimmjow glares furiously at Ichigo and Shinji. "Not a cat! I'm the Panther! PANTHER-H!"

"I know, I know. Panther, also known as Panthera pardus, is a big cat" Ichigo said, holding his laugh half-dead, "that means you're still a family cat, ****!"

Grimmjow's hand instantly floated into his zanpakuto hilt, his expression wrathful beyond measure. Beside him, Ulquiorra just stared at him flatly, but it could be said that the pale one looked fed up with the insignificant argument in front of him.

"Have they always been?" hermione asked worriedly, looking at the blue-haired former Espada who seemed to have been filled with a strong dueling aura. However, no shinigami seem interested in stopping it.

"Oh, if you meet them, you want to cut off each other's heads" said Renji indifferently, unaware of Hermione's shudder. Of course Rukia directly poked her ribs. "Well! What the hell?"

"Be careful when you speak, Renji," said Rukia. The girl looked at Hermione kindly, "Don't worry, they won't mess around here. Grimmjow is indeed a hot head, but if Ulquiorra were here, everything would be fine."

"Is the vampire really stronger than the Grimmjow?" ron asked, looking half-amused half-scared.

Rukia nodded, smiling faintly. "Did he look so much like a vampire?"

The witches nodded. Yoruichi grunts amusedly.

"Fortunately, this one creature is one of the most insensitive creatures in the world. He won't feel a thing, so if he wants to be treated like anything, he won't care at all. The boy was haughty not to play, and if he spoke, not to play sharp even with a toneless voice." Yoruichi shook his head. "I don't know what to feel sorry for or because she doesn't feel anything."

"I-I don't think it's like that either" Orihime said slowly. Ulquiorra-kun, he changed, Orihime added inwardly. He knows it's true.

In the past, while in Las Noches, Ulquiorra was the only Espada who was most often beside him. Although silence was more dominant among them, he was quite familiar with the figure of the former Cuatro Espada. Every time he was nearby, he almost always felt an aura present to him; a voidness. An emptiness that hides suffering and sadness almost perfectly. A haughty void, covering up his wild strength and instincts.

But this time, the aura Ulquiorra Cifer possessed was different from the one he had last seen. The void was still encompassing him, still radiating on both of his emerald irises. But the dense aura called darkness was not as heavy as before. There was something, and he did not know what it was, that showed as if a burden on the fallen soul had been lifted from him.

Judging by Orihime, Ulquiorra stayed away from Grimmjow which still did not receive the cat. The pale young man moved silently leaving the crowd of the Front Hall, down the corridor. Orihime slowly also left the place, following Ulquiorra.

"Where are you going, Inoue-san?" ask Rukia.

"Just a second! I'll be back later!"

Ignoring the surrounding Hogwarts disciples, Orihime rushed past them. Ulquiorra turned at the end of the corridor. Orihime did not know this castle well, but he knew enough that the corridor Ulqiorra was heading for was the corridor to the West Tower.

Orihime was convinced that Ulquiorra knew that he was following her. Perhaps that was why he stopped in the middle of a deserted corridor.

"Onna."

Orihime was a little perplexed hearing that. The call that Ulquiorra always used as long as he was in Las Noches. Slowly, Orihime approached the tall former Quatro Espada, hoping Ulquiorra would stop calling him that.

"That's. Ulquiorra-kun…."

"Why are you following me?" his tan was flat, without turning around to look at the girl behind him.

Orihime played her finger nervously "A-ano. e-eto…"

Ulquiorra turned around, slightly making Orihime surprised. "You're still doing it."

"Er... uh? What's?"

Ulquiorra just stared at him. The pale young man closed his eyes, and then opened them. "You haven't changed much, onna."

For the next few seconds, the few seconds that seemed to be years, were only silent between the human and the Arrancar. Orihime had many questions, but his tongue felt stiff to utter a single voice. He kept a lot of stories, but his brain somehow didn't want to think.

Are you all right?

Ulquiorra's eyes answered him, what's with that question?

I just want to know... Do you live well?

Ulquiorra's eyes answered him again, what can you expect from the answer of a hollow, an Arrancar, a Vasto Lorde?

Many things. Many things, Ulquiorra-kun.

Orihime moved closer to Ulquiorra. His trembling hands extended to that pale face. Ulquiorra was silent, not understanding why the girl in front of her was looking at her with teary eyes. And the girl's wiggly fingers touched her pale skin. Orihime felt it, the smooth skin of a marble, storing strength as hard as a coral.

"It's real. You're really alive.

"Onna," said Ulquiorra. "You-you"

"Thank God." Orihime pulled his hand, lowering his face. He did not want to show tears in front of the former Quatro Espada. His former patron in the kingdom of hollows. "Thank God…"

Ulquiorra looked at the girl not understanding. Orihime's shoulders trembled in a sob that he failed to hide. Wh why? Why is the girl crying? Crying for her?

"Onna, raise your face" said Ulquiorra flatly.

Orihime. "I-I don't want you to see me…"

"But you came to me" said Ulquiorra. "Why are you crying?"

Orihime. "I-i'm happy…. I'm glad to see you back…"

Ulquiorra's eyes widened. He, an Arrancar, and Orihime, a human. And the man is happy because he is back?

Suddenly Ulquiorra was struck by consciousness. Is correct. He should have died. His battle with Ichigo Kurosaki in Las Noches ended in his defeat. Ichigo did not finish him off at the time. His time and strength were weakened which consumed him. And now, it's back. The Hougyoku-making experiments conducted at Hueco Mundo impacted the rest of his reishi and reiryoku in that place, reviving him. Rekindled it through his deepest desires. His deepest desire to meet the girl, Orihime Inoue. The first man to give him a great understanding of feelings. Over life. Meaning of the heart. And that was all the reason why he wanted to see her again. Although she is a hollow and the girl is a human, she does not care. Although maybe the girl's shinigami friends won't let her easily get close to the girl, she doesn't care.

And the girl, came to him. Even crying for him.

"A-I'm glad.I met you again.I haven't said thanks to you…"

No, onna. I'm the one who should thank you.

"Gear me, onna."

There was something in Ulquiorra's voice that made her look up. Plea. Ulquiorra never pleaded. He's too proud for that.

Tears were still streaming down his cheeks, and the pale young man wiped them away, shocking Orihime.

"Norachi-kun?" whispered.

"Thank you."

Orihime's eyes were wide. And those emerald eyes also emitted the same thing as the owner said. He knows it like that. Those words were first heard by the most heartless former Espada he knew.

No. gabe. He was no longer a heartless Arrancar.

And then, Orihime noticed it. It made him feel that the one burden borne by the soul of the young man in front of him was lifted. He knew what the burden was.

"I understand now" said Ulquiorra, "what is heart. I thank you for that, Onna. And thank you, you set me free."

The summer afternoon sun shone on the old castle of Hogwarts.in one of its deserted corridors, but rained down by its light, a human and an Arrancar spoke without words. Understand without words.

Rangiku and Momo repeatedly ask, no, to beg Isshin and Madam Pomfrey to be allowed to see Toushiro in person. For hours they did that, leaving Ichigo, Renji, and Rukia unbearable and 'helpful' to convince them that it was okay to let the two closest to the 10th Division Commander visit him. Finally, although Madam Pomfrey clearly objected, Isshin's agreement made her 'forced' to allow the two to enter, with the record of hiding their reiatsu perfectly.

"Shiro-chan," whispered the sad Momo. He sadly approached the petite commander who was still closing his eyes. He knew this was not the first time he had seen his little friend get hurt. But Toushiro could always hide it and say everything was fine. Toushiro always hid it, not wanting to make Momo worry too much about her.

But Momo Hinamori always worried about Toushiro. Always was. Ever since she was together in Junrinan, it was painful for her to see her Shiro-chan being shunned by the others. It was painful to see her loneliness. It is sad to leave Toushiro to go to Shinou, practice being a shinigami. But, at that time he had to leave, because that way he could be stronger and protect her, especially protecting the white hair from her loneliness.

Time changed it a little. He pursues something other than being strong for Toushiro. He wanted to be stronger for someone he admired, someone he now ashamed of as he once admired. He even hurt Toushiro for trusting that person. He makes Toushiro burdened by all his naivety. Toushiro who always protected him, made him remember that he should also protect the petite commander.

Momo sobbed, holding Toushiro's pale, frozen hand in her hand. Toushiro was always there for her. Toushiro, who he always hurt, was always by his side. But, he felt that he was not always beside Toushiro whenever the white hair was injured, or lonely, or alone.

What has he done?

"Momo," whispered Rangiku, patting the girl's shoulder gently.

"R-Rangiku-san," isak Momo. "H-Hitsugaya-kun.he…."

"We have to believe he's going to be okay" Rangiku said. Those are also words that are meant for himself. "Taicho always acts like he's strong in front of you, because that will strengthen you. Be strong, for Taicho."

"I-I tried," whispered Momo trembling, tightening her grip on that pale hand, as if hoping for strength. "B-but I've never been as strong as Hitsugaya-kun. A-I was never there for him. t-but he.. he was always a-there for me. What I-have done to him…"

Rangiku smiled tremblingly. "But you are the reason why Taicho wants to become stronger."

"I-I'm not valuable enough for her" isak Momo.

"You are very valuable to him" said Rangiku. "Listen, Momo, you know Taicho is not a person who can express feelings directly. He chose to be quiet and keep it to himself. Baka," added Rangiku, sighing. "In addition, you both have different elements. He is ice, and you are fire. Everyone knows ice and fire shouldn't be together."

"Rangiku-san?"

My people stared into those brown eyes. Confusion is seen there. Rangiku shook his head, slightly irritated.

"The two of you are equally insensitive" he said softly.

"What are you talking about, Rangiku-san?" ask Momo confused.

Rangiku sighed again. Of course, his Commander and 5th Division Lieutenant were still too young! And, revealing that now, where is the fun? Let them interpret that feeling for themselves!

"I can't say much, actually. You and Taicho have to figure it out for yourself. Obviously, even though fire and ice cannot fuse together, it does not mean they cannot be together. You're the only fire that can melt the ice in her heart, and she can be the ice that cools the fire in you."

Momo was still staring at Rangiku. My grandmother smiled at him.

"I believe you, Momo. Taicho has always wanted to protect you, and I believe the only one who can protect him is you…."

"I-I don't know…"

"I am indeed his lieutenant, and my duty is to protect his back as he confronts the enemy in front of him. But I can't protect her from all directions. All you can do is you."

"S-like you said earlier, I-I'm just an excuse.the reason why Hitsugaya-kun wants to be stronger…."

"That reason is what has kept him alive to this day. You protect her, Momo, in a unique way that no one else can. You protected her, became a fire in her heart to never give up."

The pale hand in Momo's grasp turned around to hold her.

Momo looked at the hand in surprise, then looked at Toushiro's face. The face was cringing, as if in pain.

"S-Shiro-chan?" whispered Momo scared.

"Taicho?" call Rangiku worried.

Slowly, both eyes opened. The pair of tired turquoise irises stared at them. Toushiro's lips moved, trembling, "Hi. namori…"

"What's that?"

Hermione stared at a lion puppet standing tall in great astonishment. He, Harry, and Ron decide to visit the hospital to avoid having dinner in the Great Hall, and are slightly surprised by the strange doll's presence which is now angry at Ichigo. Yep. Be angry. Although the doll is angry in the unmistakable Japanese language, anyone who hears a high, irregular, and emotional tone will know that the doll is angry.

Ichigo himself seemed indifferent under the nagging of the doll. And, the orange hair no longer wears its shihakuso, or carries both of its zanpakuto. Instead, he was now dressed like a Muggle; a grey t-shirt under a black shirt and dark blue jeans, with black boots.

"The name is Kon," Rukia explained. "He is a mod soul or often referred to as an artificial spirit. Usually he and other soul mods are used to fill the shinigami gigai when the shinigami are on duty. You know, shinigami can't be seen by ordinary people. If they leave the gigai carelessly, it could be severe. Humans can think that the gigai is a real body. To avoid any suspicions, we used soul mods. Usually the form is concentrated in a pill-like form. And that Kon is usually used Ichigo to replace it." Rukia smiled faintly. "As long as he goes on this mission to Hogwarts, Kon disguises himself as him."

"Dad! Pretty British girl!" Kon shouted enthusiastically as he looked around, dropping his gaze on Ginny. The doll immediately took a swing to jump on the youngest Weasley. But, he loses quickly to Ichigo who snatches at his neck in a quick-but-lazy motion.

"Not so fast, Perverted Brain." He lifted Kon who thrashed. "Take care of your behavior or you'll wear Marie Antoniette's dress again. Hear that?"

"NO WAY! Not with that disgusting dress!" protest Kon. "And this is abroad! Can't I have a little fun? You don't think you're tired of pretending you're ten this month?! Hell, pretty jaim with Karakura girls. And especially those eyebrows! I don't know how you can hold your frown! I do it every day and it's tiring, Orange Head!"

"seen? I told you to take off your grumbling look, Ichigo," Kept Reji.

"But it's as possible as telling her to dye her hair black" commented Rukia.

"Then, Nee-saaaaan!"

Kon leapt nimbly towards Rukia. Unfortunately, he never reached the Kuchiki girl, rather Rukia reached him first. The girl kicked Kon right in the face, and stepped on him to the floor with a flat look.

"Not changed either" Renji commented, while Kon let out a strange muffled voice that they could not understand his words.

"Taste that, Kon! And then again, you're not going to run into trouble here!"

"Ichigo! You're mean!

"You made me wear my favorite boot; the sole was as hard as iron. Wanna try?!"

"Mr Kurosaki! Keep your voice down!" hiss Madam Pomfrey fierce.

"Sorry, madam," Ichigo said softly, taking Kon to his feet and squeezing it with annoyance; Kon who immediately floundered did not accept.

Before anyone could say anything more, the door of the room next to the office of Madam Pomfrey slammed open. Rangiku walked out of the room with a tense expression. Of course this made the witches and shinigami who were in the hospital ward look at him anxiously.

"Rangiku-san, what is that?"

"D-he's up!" rangiku said, his voice trembling. "Taicho wake! D-Where is Commander Shi-Shiba? O-orehime?"

"I'm going to find Inoue" said Renji, darting out of the hospital, while Madam Pomfrey rushed into the room.