(EDIT: I am not throwing shade at Bleach in this opening note, please do not confuse loving jabs with pointed critique)
Well, here goes nothing. Caught up on Jujutsu Kaisen recently(Manga included) and while I was reading/watching it, I kept thinking about how interesting it would be to throw Ichigo in that world. Specifically, if he and the rest of his central friend group were born into JJK instead of Bleach. The power system of Cursed Energy is so much more even and simple than the pie chart that is Bleach's, meaning characters really don't need to be 'special' in order to stay relevant in strength. Add to that a brutal and unpredictable level of plot-armor induced survival, and all in all you get a much more engaging story. (Doesn't mean this will be a super dark fic, just that it will be less safe. I will only kill characters if they genuinely need to die for the sake of the story.)
So, here's my general rulebook(spoilers?):
1. Shinigami and Reiatsu do not exist. Just take the characters of Bleach and plop them into JJK's world from birth, with no carryovers excluding thematics.
2. Yuji and his crew are still around and obviously play their parts, I don't want to just swap out the main casts since the interaction between these characters is half the point of this story.
3. Ichigo will be the center point of focus, since I find his personality and motivations to conflict well thematically with JJK's darker tone. Like I said before, less plot armor= better story.
4. My approach to Bleach villains is still undecided. I may include them, I may not. This also goes for Shinigami characters like Rukia, Renji, etc. For now, it's just Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, and Tatsuki. The rest of the Kurosaki's, too.
Moving on, let's talk about Ichigo and how I'm going to handle his powers. Again, spoiler warning for those who'd prefer going in blind.
In short, his Quincy/Shinigami/Fullbring side isn't there. I couldn't possibly explain away his mary-sue batman tool-kit(not a serious critique, it's fine in Bleach but not in JJK's rules) of powers within the established rules of Cursed Energy, so I elected to cut out the fat and keep the most character-fitting portion. I mean, if we look at the ability-set of his Hollow powers, it actually lines up with the possibilities of CE almost perfectly. He'll also be getting something... else, but we'll get there when we get there. Let's just say I'm taking a little inspiration from Protector's Pride, a very popular Bleach fanfic. If you haven't read it, LEAVE! NOW! GO READ IT, SO GOOD!
(Oh, and I am aware that Yuji directly references Bleach in JJK. Let's just call that a meta joke from Gege-sama and be done with it. I'm not here to over-rationalize XD)
-Cursed to Protect-
Chapter 1: Best of Friends
The streets were quiet to most. Just people, going through the motions of everyday life. Some sprinting earnestly, some apathetically toiling in their duties. Others simply walking, casually enjoying the warm, early summer air.
But, removed from the bustling of the modern era, detached from the mortal plane of perception, a battle for these people's lives was taking place.
Ichigo Kurosaki dove right as a monstrous being slammed its palm into the pavement, rubble propelling into the air as the ground splintered and caved from the sheer weight.
In retaliation, the boy darted in before leaping skyward. Now face to face with the hideous creature, its oversized maw wafting a fowl miasma in his nostrils, he reared back a fist, though he wasn't nearly close enough to land a punch.
Work, damn it!
A triumphant smile split his face when, as his fist came to the full extent of its reach, a crimson, splotchy blur erased the beast's head in a split-instant.
As his school shoes clacked against the road, breathing roughly from fatigue, a clapping rang out in the enclosed alleyway of a street.
"Clean kill, Ichigo! That's five exorcisms in a single day, you should be proud!" The man praised, floating auspiciously down from an adjacent rooftop. The half grin, half smirk on his face seeming even wider beneath his blindfold. Ichigo scowled; fists clenched in distrust.
"Who the hell are you? You've been watching me?" He growled, put off when the man merely tipped his head back in a chuckle.
"Satoru Gojo, world's greatest Jujutsu Sorcerer, at your service!" Juju-what's-it-now? Ichigo's scowl deepened even further.
"Cut the crap. Why are you following me!?" Finally, the smirk on the guy's face flattened. He took a few steps forward, to which Ichigo backstepped in caution.
"Well, it's not often I stumble onto talent like yours! Not to mention, you've kinda been sniping exorcisms out from under us, and the higher-ups are getting all sorts of pissy over it!" Several questions suddenly sprinted through Ichigo's mind, but he quickly decided on one in particular.
"Higher-ups? 'Us'? So I'm not the only guy who can see these things?" 'Gojo' cracked a wide grin at that.
"Not by a loooong shot, man. In fact, there's a whole organization dead-set on doing what you're doing right now." All of those other thoughts melted away.
"How do I join?" The Sorcerer's grin fell away, replaced by a curious expression.
"Eager, huh?"
Ichigo just glared at him expectantly.
"Okay, okay! Got any family you need to talk to first?" The boy mulled it over for a moment.
"We meet back here tomorrow morning. That work?" Gojo's smile returned with a vengeance.
"Oh, no need. I can just track your Cursed Energy, it's rather distinct. Speaking of, I'd be super interested in where you got your powers. Reminds me of Yuta, actually."
"Who?"
"You'll meet him eventually. He's a Sorcerer, like me. Anyway, I'll be seeing you tomorrow!" And then the bastard completely vanished. There one instant, gone the next, and Ichigo knew he never blinked.
At once, he began to stomp his way back out of the alleyway, a single conflicting thought forcing its way through his head.
A whole organization, huh? All doing what I've been doing?
His fists clenched tight.
Then where the hell were they?
"Probably off doing 'more important' shit."
"Shut up."
"Ah, come on! You know I'm right."
"I don't care. Shut. Up."
"Then what're you gonna do when he comes back?"
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, he made a concerted effort to not speak his reply.
I thought I told you to shut it.
"How about you try and make me? Oh, wait! You can't!"
That forsaken, warbling laughter bounced around in his mind, already he could feel a migraine setting in.
Know what? Fine. Once we're back home, you're gonna put your money where your mouth is.
"What money?"
Nothing could stop the groan which tore its way out of him.
For the last time, leave me be. You'll have plenty of time to screw around tonight.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Finally, the voice retreated into silence.
"Actually, one more thing." He growled in frustration.
"Make sure blindfold doesn't go anywhere near them. I don't fuckin' like the guy." There was no amusement, no passive chuckling.
Yeah. Me neither.
Later...
When he walked through the front door the Kurosaki household, Ichigo wasn't surprised when the first thing he saw was his father's foot flying directly at his face.
"REEEFLEEEX CHEEECK!" The orange-haired boy slipped the kick and drove his palm into his father's exposed hip, sending the idiot right into the floor.
"Not much of a surprise when you scream like that." He jabbed, earned a pouting look from the man as he picked himself up.
"Aw, come on, Ichigo! Don't tell me you didn't flinch at least a little!"
"Dinner's ready, dumb-dumbs!" Yuzu's feathery voice called from the kitchen. Ichigo left their father to his ridiculous melodrama, his stomach aching for some food.
Always good to be home.
"Heh!"
...
"Reflex check!" A ghastly white fist cracked across his jaw in a vicious backhand, sending him tumbling along the disorienting, tilted surface of a skyscraper. As he picked himself up, the inverted mirror of himself was cackling heartily.
"Shut the hell up!"
And still it laughed. He dashed forward; a fist cocked back to return the favor, but all he got in exchange was a knee to the sternum, which, again, sent him tumbling across the side of the building.
This time, though, it was waiting for him, and sent him skyward with a ruthless rising kick.
But Ichigo was ready. He wrenched his body around to face it as it leapt up to continue the juggle, managing to land a left hook which slammed all of his opponent's momentum right back into the source. His double rocketed back into the tower's surface like a speeding bullet, smashing straight through a window and vanishing into the interior.
"That... worked?" He huffed, cradling the side of his waist that had taken that last blow, floating there, waiting.
He wasn't sure how he was doing that, it just sort of came to him as he'd grown into his powers. He simply couldn't afford to fall, so whatever this thing was responded to that need. 'White', as he'd elected to dub the being, went out of its way to leave him out of the loop. 'You're missing the point!' It'd shout back, like that was supposed to clear it up at all.
There was a low, sudden boom, and then it was just there, fist closing in on his nose as it let out a feral shriek.
His head snapped to the side, slipping the strike and firing off an explosive uppercut only to grab a fistful of bleached hair in the same motion, keeping it in place for a brutal elbow-strike that sent it right back to the ground. As it fell, he smirked.
Think that just because you've got all the fancy tricks, it's a free win? Like hell!
"Wait till I get back up there, you ungrateful shit!" It roared, catapulting up from below with its teeth bared in utter fury. This time, Ichigo elected to fall to meet it halfway. But, before he could even prepare, another boom sounded out, and suddenly a foot was spearing his back from above, driving him face-first into a window himself, through desks, drywall, and right out the other side, White laughing like a maniac the whole way.
He woke up in an exhausted sweat, breaths coming roughly and with great effort, nearly falling out of the bed from his cross-legged position.
"Damn it!" He hissed.
"What was that about it not being a free win?"
"Screw off! I had you dead to rights until you started teleporting!"
"Not teleporting, dumbass."
"Ugh." With a groan, Ichigo flopped back onto his bed.
...
"Wait, so you're just making yourself faster?"
"Oh, you finally grew another brain cell?" And with that, he tuned the bastard out and rolled over to get some real sleep.
That morning...
Don't overthink it. It's not complicated, just go!
...
Hovering above his house in the early morning hours, Ichigo found himself at an impasse. For nearly twenty minutes, he'd been up here, willing himself to suddenly blur forward, to no avail. Grinding his teeth, he floated back towards his window.
"Yo!" He paused, turned back to see that blindfolded bastard just suddenly there, and then continued inside.
Creep.
That sentiment only inflated when he looked up as he entered to see the same man, casually flipping through some manga.
"Y'know, it's not very nice to ignore people, Ichigo-san."
"I thought I-"
"So!" Gojo continued on. "First things first, does your family know what you've been doing?"
This f-
"The hell's your problem, Blindfold?" The warbling voice of his physically manifested inversion caused Ichigo to balk.
Gojo didn't seem to be fazed.
"You're his Curse, then?"
"Fuck's that!?" This put a grin back on the man's face.
"What you are. I mean, you're not exactly run-of-the-mill, but that's probably for the best. Any normal one would've killed your entire family by now." He dropped that so casually Ichigo nearly missed it. "Say, where did you come from, anyway?"
"Ichigo!" White hissed. "Lemme thrash this dirtbag." Gojo's head tipped to one side at that.
"It can fight?" He questioned, to which Ichigo merely shrugged.
"If it can, I'm not gonna let it." On cue, White suddenly dissolved into empty air, spewing an unintelligable wave of obscenities as it did. Gojo's previously unfaltering, lazy grin vanished as well, lips parting slightly in a small look surprise.
"Did you do that?" He asked, but Ichigo had already started walking out the door.
"Riiight. I'll meet you on the sidewalk." Ichigo deflected the question, making his way down the hall.
"So... 'Jujutsu', huh?" His father mused, expression flat and unreadable, at the table. "Always figured you weren't the only one. And you said there's a whole group for it?"
"Haven't been there yet, I only ran into the guy yesterday."
"I can only assume this means you're dropping out?" Ichigo couldn't stop himself from shooting Isshin a confused look.
"You're not trying to talk me out of it?" His father let out a long breath, eyes uncharacteristically soft.
"I would. But I also think she would want you to go."
...
"I'll call the principal. Make sure you pack what you need." The boy wasn't sure what to say.
"I-I, uhm..." He stumbled a moment, before finally landing on, "Thanks, dad."
Isshin gave him a lop-sided smirk. "What, did you expect me be an ass about it?" The man stood and began to pace over to the sink, pouring himself some coffee.
Ichigo did the same, feeling a bit drowsy still, himself.
The instant he came close, Isshin whirled around and fired off a punch. Ichigo switched gears in a flash, dipping low before lunging in and underneath his father's guard, stopping his retaliatory uppercut just short of Isshin's chin.
...
The man's head tilted back, a hearty laugh bursting from his chest. When the mirth ebbed off, he met his son's gaze with a strong, confident smile.
"Hmph. Yeah, you'll be fine." And just like that, he turned back to his drink, staring wistfully out the kitchen window. Only then did Ichigo allow his scowl to slip.
"I guess I'm heading out, then. Blindfold said they had everything I'd need already." He turned to leave, but before he made it to the door, he heard his father call out from the kitchen.
"YOU BETTER KICK SOME ASS OVER THERE, YOU HEAR ME!?" At that, he looked over his shoulder and shouted back through bared teeth.
"GOD DAMN RIGHT I WILL!"
Outside...
"All wrapped up, I assume?" Naturally, Gojo was waiting.
"Yep. Now, where the hell are we going?" Kurosaki shot back, earning a wider grin.
"No directions until you've been accepted, I'm afraid. For today, we warp!"
Two things happened at once, then. First, he saw the Sorcerer vanish while feeling a palm land on his shoulder, and then they were somewhere completely different.
"Welcome to Jujutsu High, Ichigo-san."
It was definitely... different from Karakura. More traditional. Honestly, it looked a lot less... congested.
They were in a rather open courtyard, and for a moment he wondered why.
"Alright, let's see what you're made of, then I'll run you over to Yaga and see what he thinks of you. Sound fun?" Gojo offered.
"Sounds like high school all over again." The boy deadpanned, earning an amused chuckle. He continued, "I'm gonna go out on a wild guess here and say 'see what you're made of' means I've gotta fight you?" Gojo smirked at that.
"Ouch!" He mocked, visibly flinching in emphasis. "Soooo close, but nope! I've got another newbie I wanna test, just so happens we scouted both of you yesterday." And just like that, the man disappeared.
When he hadn't returned after a couple minutes, Ichigo began to distract himself by taking in the scenery.
Honestly, he wanted to know how old this place was. It was like every manmade structure in sight was kept just on the verge of being reclaimed by nature, yet somehow it didn't feel intrusive.
Unfortunatly, the sound of footsteps interrupted his appreciation. He turned back to face Gojo, expecting to also see some guy with a-
"Uryu?!" He exclaimed, the raven-haired boy next to Gojo regarding him with wide, yet somehow demeaning eyes. "The hell are you doing here?!"
"Isn't it obvious, you numbskull?" He sniped, readjusting his glasses. "Frankly, I should be the one asking you that, Kurosaki. Since when were you involved with Jujutsu?"
"Define 'involved'." Ichigo quipped, to which the Ishida simply rolled his eyes. Pinched the bridge of his nose, too, the asshole.
"You know what? I don't care. This must be the universe's way of ensuring I never escape your madness."
"Oh for god's sake, I pull the fire alarm once and suddenly I'm-"
"Ho!" Gojo's energetic shout cut their little spat short. "As funny as this is, and trust me, I think I could listen to you two go at it all day based on the last thirty seconds alone, I'm kinda on the clock to get you guys to old man Yaga." He explained, teleporting a few yards back. "So, that said, have at it!"
An excuse to slug Ishida? Ichigo wouldn't pass that up to save his life. He cracked a smirk as he brought his hands up. "Come on then, Mr. Stitch, I'll go easy if you want."
Uryu slid a foot back, raised a single hand, and suddenly a spectral bow burst into existence, an arrow of light already nocked and ready to fire. His expression still flat, he prodded, "Honestly, I'll be impressed if you can even dodge, Strawberry."
Then, the two burst into motion.
-End-
Not much for an ending note, just glad to be back in the saddle (sorta)
Hope you enjoyed, reviews are appreciated, but never mandatory XD
Buh-Bye!