SAVIOR IN THE DARK

BLEACH x GARO crossover


Ichigo copes with the lingering echoes of lost hope, carrying within him the memories of a broken man drifting between worlds in search of his heart.


Kuchiki Rukia has Rekka's bullheaded stubborness and Rin's spunk tempered by Jabi's wisdom; an unholy mix of the three Makai Priestess that grates and amuses him in equal measures.

He eyes the contraption the smug Shinigami had in store for him, wondering not for the first time where she gets her supply of odd gadgets and gizmos. Makai Priests and Knights rely more on the mystical and arcane arts, Madou Tools passed down and refined by each generation's craftsmen. He thought Soul Society would be the same, considering how clueless Rukia had been when it comes to the simplest modern conveniences.

As flashy as Kouga had been, homeschooled by Gonza in the safety of Saejima territory, he isn't stupid or clueless about modern technology. His trademark white coat had protective spells woven into the fabric, allowing him to slip past a curious passerby's gaze with misdirection.

Horrors evolved with the advancement of humanity; it's only fitting the Knights tasked with cutting them down to know enough to be prepared for all sorts of new monsters to be born. An unprepared warrior is a dead one.

The sudden burst of pain effectively brought him out from his musings. "Pay attention!" Rukia barked, chastising his lack of situational awareness. Muttering curses under his breath, Ichigo glanced at the offending ball that left an imprint on his face. He squints at the indistinguishable doodle.

"Hit the Heads, avoid the Hands, come on now chop chop!" The annoying midget claps for good measure. He sighs, adjusts his stance and plays along with her whims for the moment.

Ten minutes into the exercise, he still can't differentiate which is which. Or divine why exactly his mentor thinks it'll be a great replacement for good ol fashioned training.

"You suck at this" Ichigo accuses, forgoing tact. As creative and coercive his new mentor is, mouthing off quick alibis while dragging him out of his body to hunt Hollows, she doesn't have an ounce of talent for drawing.

'Or teaching' a voice inside Ichigo's mind snarks, making him blink. He tries to probe it more but it remained unresponsive. He files the incident at later perusal.


The sight of Inoue Orihime's broken body overlays itself with his mother's. He staggers back, faintly hearing her spirit form's chipper greeting. Ichigo's gaze focuses on the chain still connected to her body, confirming for himself that he isn't too late. That he hadn't failed a loved one, not again.

'Kaoru...'

With practised ease in ignoring the lingering sentiment that came from the ghost of a dead Knight, Ichigo swings his newly acquired Zanpakutou at the Hollow. His sword just as unwieldy as Garo Ken when blessed by Gouten the Golden Steed.

Sora's monstrous form slinks away, swatting his clumsy attempts; the ones the Hollow didn't dodge, its scales made quick work in rendering useless.

Ichigo bit back a cry of pain when his arm unconsciously blocks the spray of acid aimed at his face. He isn't prepared to be tossed out of the window the next second, sliding in mid-air as he catches himself just in time. He doesn't question the phenomena, distracted by more pressing matters.

'Inoue's in danger!' The fierce warning catches his attention and he fumbled, his mentor pulling him back with a quick tug.

"Concentrate, Ichigo! What has gotten into you?"

The petite Shinigami berates him while he cradles his aching head with the uninfected hand. His arm felt like it was on fire, the acid corroding his Shihakusho.

He shakes away the bitter sting, zeroes in just in time to see Sora's clawed hands grabbing Orihime and sees red.

A fierce roar rings out into the quiet night.


The chilling primal sound can be heard from a distance where a tall figure resides, balanced on a telephone pole with a book in hand. The moonlight serving as a light source as he reads through a passage, slim fingers placing a bookmark in between. Snapping the book shut, he gazes out towards the horizon.

"My oh my, he's as reckless as ever when a certain someone is concerned." The man comments to himself, chuckling. Then with a flash of green light, he disappeared.

.

.

.


"When you are lost, consult your blade and ask 'who is it I must protect?'; Therein lies the answer to everything"

- GARO: The Carved Seal of Flames


A/N: This was the result of me binge watching the original GARO series (the live action that inspired the MAPPA anime) and falling in love with the world building, character development and plot. There's a lot of similar themes that Keita Amemiya's GARO franchise share with BLEACH so I absolutely recommend it for BLEACH fans.

I originally intended for a different person to be Ichigo's past life but eventually settled for the classic and iconic Golden Knight that inspired sequels and spin-offs. The man with the title of GARO, Kouga Saejima!