[Team Three] Into the Darkness

[kira-shadow.livejournal.com]

I don't know whether any of you are familiar with the Garo universe or not but I quite enjoy it and for some reason this AU would not leave me alone lol.

If you'd like to know about it, check out the Garo Wiki.

For those familiar with the franchise, this fic is written in somewhat of a "Makai Retsuden" style.




Affection might lead to love.

Love might lead you to the light. Or it might lead you into the darkness.

The good must overpower the evil. Some might think that way but it is wrong to do so. What there must always be, is a balance between light and darkness. One must not be stronger than the other or the scales will tip and chaos will break out.

With the birth of strong Horrors, strong Makai Knights will rise up to face them. But with the birth of strong Makai Knights will also come stronger Horrors to face them. Sometimes those Horrors are not born from the Inga in the Makai. Sometimes those Horrors are born from Humans. And sometimes, those Horrors are born from Makai Knights and Priests themselves.

This is the tragic story of two, whose lights were swallowed by the darkness in order to bring back the balance to the system.



The faces of the Watchdog members were hidden but their voices could be heard loud and clear. “We entrust you with the North-Eastern Territory around Raivu City. Rise now, Iwamoto Hikaru, Makai Knight. Go and fulfill your duties.”

Iwamoto bowed one last time before he set off. He bade his peers and everyone else who was still around goodbye and then went on his way towards his own territory. He had completed his training and had become a full fledged Makai Knight. It still seemed strange to him, as training had not seemed like it would ever end but here he was.

When he reached the gates, his master saw him off. “Take this route to go North. It will lead you through the Seiran Valley. You should pick up some useful things while you’re there. The Madogu from Seiran are the best.”

“Okay. And, thank you, Master.”

“May the light guide you, young Makai Knight.”

Iwamoto travelled through the night - Horrors were more likely to attack in the dark - and then rested during the day. It did not take him longer than two days to reach the forest surrounding Seiran Valley. Once he got through it, he would reach his goal. The forest however, was known to be one of the trickier parts of the route. Maybe this was his master’s last test. Or maybe it was his first test as a Makai Knight. Many others of his kind had passed through this forest.

Some had seen light again, others had not.

When the night drew closer again, Iwamoto happened across a group of travellers. The forest was known to humans as being haunted and dangerous but some still found their way in, whether it be people who sought ‘adventure’ or merchants foolish enough to think that it would be a shortcut leading to wherever they were headed.

This group looked like they would fit into the second category.

“Oh, young lad! Would you be so kind as to help us old folks out? We seem to have gotten a little lost,” one of the men called out to Iwamoto.

Not one to abandon people in need, Iwamoto walked over to the group. He was getting a bit of a bad vibe from them but then again he got that with other humans as well. Inga could be particularly strong around humans in certain professions after all.

It wouldn’t hurt to make sure though, so he pulled out his lighter. He flicked it open and held it under the cigarette that was dangling from one of the men’s mouths.

Nothing. But then he noticed that the flame from his lighter seemed to be nothing but a regular flame. So this wasn’t helping him really. The man had tensed for a moment upon having a lighter so close to his face - and eyes - but now happily let Iwamoto light his cigarette for him. “Ah, you surprised me there, lad. But thanks, how thoughtful.”

Cursing inwardly, Iwamoto asked the group where they were headed.

He couldn’t do anything if these really were normal humans. So even though he did not really want to get involved, he had already gotten into this so there was no way out.

“Well, we could start with the fact that we’re a little hungry. Or famished even.”

A new voice called out to them from somewhere above them suddenly, “Well, it’s too bad that you won’t be getting a last supper then. Your journey ends here.”

Looking up, Iwamoto was just in time to see the tip of a brush appear behind some of the thick foliage. Flames burst out of the brush and the eyes of the group of people in front of Iwamoto started to glow in a poisonous green. Horrors. Well, that was all he needed to know.

With a swift move, Iwamoto had drawn his blade and with another rotation of his body the Horrors were no longer there. All but one that is. It shed its human disguise and turned into its true, monstrous form. In it, the Horror grew a few more arms and hands and picked up the weapons of its fallen brethren. Iwamoto had to fall back into a defensive stance, fighting off the attacks coming at him from different sides.

“Stay still for a moment!” A voice shouted and the next moment, Iwamoto felt someone step on his back and shoulder and leap over him. A flash of light hit the Horror and froze it in place.

“Now!”

Iwamoto sunk his sword into the Horror’s body and it disappeared with a screech. It vanished just in time for him to see a person landing behind the spot where it used to be.

“I think you dropped your lighter.” The shorter male, as it turned out, got up from his crouching position again and handed the small silver item back to Iwamoto. “You should consider getting a new one, though. This one’s not very reliable. But I guess that’s one of the reasons you might have come all the way out here to Seiran Valley.”

“It is one of the reasons, yes,” Iwamoto replied and looked at the Makai Priest in front of him. “I owe you one, Makai Priest. Please tell me your name, so I can remember?”

“Do not worry about it. It’s a priest’s duty to support the Makai Knights.” Then he looked up, “But the name’s Sakuma. Sakuma Daisuke. What’s yours?”

“Iwamoto Hikaru.”

And that had been how Iwamoto and Sakuma had met.

Sakuma had been out on an errand and on his way home to Seiran Valley when he had happened upon Iwamoto and the group of Horrors. He had heard from other priests and knights that a group of rogue Horrors had been prowling around the edge of the forest recently, looking for easy prey or maybe just ‘a snack’. Or if they got lucky, a bigger feast.

He himself hadn’t felt particularly scared of them. Sakuma knew the forest better than most and could either escape in the event of a fight or find a way around the Horrors to get help.

Speaking of help, though.

“Sit down and hold still for a moment? You got hurt,” Sakuma pulled something out of his bag - bandages and disinfectant, essentials. He inspected the wound on Iwamoto’s arm. “It’s only a shallow cut. And it wasn’t made by any part of the Horror itself. Just a weapon.”

“Thank you,” Iwamoto held still and let Sakuma clean and bandage him up.

Once that was done, the two of them set off toward Seiran Valley together.

They asked each other questions along the way - Iwamoto asked about people and places in Seiran Valley, where could he get Madogu and the like and Sakuma asked Iwamoto where he was from and what he would be doing after leaving the valley again.

When they reached the village, they went separate ways but their paths crossed again soon.

After getting some sleep and rest, Iwamoto sought out the priest Sakuma had recommended him for new gear and was talking to the old man about some of the things he would need. They were in the middle of a conversation when a bright light appeared in the grey skies.

“That’s a distress signal,” the old man looked up. “If my eyes do not fool me, that must be young Miyata and his knight partner. For them not to be able to handle it, it must be a large number.”

“I’m going,” Sakuma was running towards the village gates.

Another priest called after him, “What will you be able to do? If those two cannot handle it?”

“Well more than if I just sit here and wait.”

Iwamoto brushed past the old man and went over to Sakuma. “Let’s go.”

The two of them took off running. Iwamoto followed Sakuma, who set a fast pace and jumped through the underwood at breakneck speed but also with seemingly familiar precision. There was no hesitation in the other’s movements. On top of it, Sakuma was not using the Madou Compass to guide them.

“You seem to know where we’re going.”

“I know this forest better than anyone else. But I will pull it out once we get closer to see how many enemies we will have to face and which side we should approach from,” Sakuma said.

Nodding, Iwamoto acknowledged the other’s plan. “I’ll keep up with you then.”

It did not take too long until Sakuma slowed down and activated the compass. It lit up with a few smaller, green dots. “Beasts. And one, maybe two full fledged Horrors. A gate must have opened in one of the villages on this side of the forest. This number is not normal.”

“But it’s not an impossible one,” Iwamoto fell into step with Sakuma. “Back me up?”

“Of course.”

After jumping into the fight to support the Makai Priest and Knight pair, they found out why the two had been unable to fight off the attack by themselves. The priest’s brush seemed to be losing its power and the spells created with it would misfire or not hold at all.

But the two knights, with some of Sakuma’s support, made short work of things.

“I guess it’s about time you came to Seiran Valley,” Sakuma offered his hand to help his fellow priest up. “That brush is in bad need of fixing. You’re in luck, though. We just got a Spirit Beast Pelt, so your brush should be back to its former strength in no time.”

“Thanks, Sakuma,” the priest, Miyata, smiled. Then he looked at Iwamoto. “You didn’t tell me y-”

“Because I don’t. That’s Iwamoto. He’s just passing through Seiran Valley,” Sakuma cut Miyata off before the other could finish. “Things have not changed for me.”

A few feet away, Iwamoto had exchanged customary greetings with Miyata’s Makai Knight partner, Tamamori. They had trained together for a shorter period of time. And then Tamamori had made quite a name for himself ever since he had become a full fledged knight. He was a bit of a legend among trainees - in good ways and bad.

“Raivu City?” Tamamori hummed, “I guess they want to put you to work. I hear it’s quite busy.”

“I prefer being busy to not doing anything,” Iwamoto shrugged. “What about you? You two still haven’t settled down anywhere?”

Tamamori shrugged, “I like being free. And…” He looked ahead and when he was sure that Miyata would not hear what he was going to say, continued, “And as long as I have Miyata by my side, I don’t really care. As long as he’s with me, nothing really matters.”

“You have a strong bond?” Iwamoto raised an eyebrow.

“When you find someone like that for yourself, you’ll understand,” Tamamori said cryptically. “It gives you strength you did not know you possessed.”

They reached the valley again where they were promptly taken care off. Once the cleansing rituals were done, Miyata and Tamamori were taken in for a physical check. Sakuma stayed by Miyata’s side. Iwamoto noticed that the other seemed different than around the other people in the valley he had seen Sakuma interact with.

Iwamoto noticed that his eyes kept following Sakuma whenever he was around the other. They would just be drawn towards the short Makai Priest without him thinking about it.

So when the time of his departure came, he decided to approach Sakuma.

“Would you like to come with me? Leave the valley and travel to a different place?”

“I’ll...Give me some time to think about it.”

“I leave at dusk.”

He was packing things in his guest room when he heard the door open. Another Makai Priest, one he had seen and briefly interacted with during his stay, appeared.

“Why would you choose Sakuma? He’s not the brightest crayon in the box. You should consult a more knowledgeable Makai Priest. Someone as stupid as him will just get you killed.”

“I do not need someone who merely knows the theory. I need someone who will be able to fight alongside me in a battle. Against real Horrors.” Iwamoto gave the other a blank look. “Look at your hands. You have never left this village, nor have you ever seen real Horrors, not to mention fought one. There is no blood on your hands. You should reconsider your priorities if you ever want a Makai Knight coming to consult you.”

Indeed Sakuma fought differently than most Makai Priests. While most priests preferred to stand back and fight using their magic from a distance, Sakuma jumped right into the fray. Using both his magic and natural agility, he would find more effective ways to restrain a Horror so that Iwamoto could land a finishing blow. He had noticed that in the few fights they had been in together. And it was something Iwamoto thought he would come to appreciate even more.

“You don’t know anything about him!” The other priest stormed off.

Sighing, Iwamoto pulled the strings of his travel pack tight and put it onto the table. Some people. He could simply not understand some people.

The sun started to descend and Iwamoto got ready to leave. He glanced towards Sakuma’s hut one last time and made his way over to the gates. He was stopped on the way.

“Priest Miyata.”

“Iwamoto,” Miyata greeted him. “You’ll be off?”

“Yeah. I have gotten what I came for and I should now make my way towards my designated area. I should not dwell here any longer.” Iwamoto replied.

“There’s something I’d like to tell you before you leave. About Sakuma,” Miyata looked at Iwamoto, eyes knowing. Iwamoto wondered why the other was bringing up Sakuma, as it looked like the other had declined his request but he humored the priest.

“Okay?”

It turned out that Miyata wanted to tell him more about Sakuma’s past. “Sakuma’s older brother was a Makai Knight in training. His younger brother was doing Makai Priest training with him. Their parents were a well respected Makai Knight and Makai Priest. They had settled down at the edge of the human civilization, watching over a town that was along one of the roads that leads from Homuro Village to Seiran Valley.” The priest looked off into the distance, probably towards where said town was located. Or had been. Depending on where this story would go.

“One day, a rich traveller came to the inn in the town along with his beautiful ‘wife’. They had an Inga Gate with them. The traveller told the people that his wife was a magician and could make wishes come true and that was why he had gotten so rich after having been a poor farmer. Of course the people of the town became very interested in that story,” Miyata sighed softly. “Sakuma’s father warned the villagers about the couple, saying they were shady and they should leave the village but the villagers were too charmed by the stories. They turned on the Sakuma family. And lured them into a trap made of Inga Stained Artefacts.”

Iwamoto didn’t need to listen to the rest of the story to know where it was going but he kept listening anyway as Miyata continued, “All of them were killed. Except Sakuma, who had been on a secret errand to Homuro Village. He came back to his home to see all of his family dead and the town infested with Horrors. The Horrors told him what had happened to try and make him fall and become one of them but he used his apprentice’s Madou Brush to send for help and then single handedly led the Horrors on a wild goose chase into the woods where a group of Makai Knights and Priests from Homuro Village made short work of them. They offered to train him as a Makai Knight, since he had shown potential but he declined, instead taking up training in Seiran Valley and specializing in tool making.”

Miyata smiled. “We became friends here.” His smile was fond. “He’s different from most other Makai Priests. He’s crazy, reckless and not the best when it comes to all of the theory and spells but his heart is in the right place. So please, take care of him.”

“Huh?”

Iwamoto did not get the opportunity to ask Miyata about that as the priest disappeared then and left Iwamoto standing there in confusion.

After a moment he got moving again. And as he reached the edge of the village, his eyes fell onto a figure waiting there by the gate, a travel pack slung over his shoulder.

“Raivu City, is it? I’ll show you the shortest route there,” Sakuma fell into step with Iwamoto.

“You’ll just show me the way?” Iwamoto asked, voice carrying a hint of amusement.

“We’ll see about more than that.” Sakuma replied.

And that is how they set off, quietly and almost unseen.

The trip to Raivu took another two days. And the closer they got to the city, the more unwelcome guest found their ways to wherever Iwamoto and Sakuma were resting.

“I can see why they wanted someone here,” Sakuma wiped some sweat from his forehead after another battle. “This looks like it might be more than enough work for more than one knight.”

Iwamoto commented, “You fight almost like one, so that works out?”

“I’m not fit to be a Makai Knight. Somewhere deep inside, there are all these emotions that might come out at the wrong moment. A Makai Knight cannot have such a weakness.” Sakuma twirled his brush. “I would not trust myself with a sword.”

“Don’t have to have a sword to be a knight,” Iwamoto replied.

Sakuma looked up at him and then smiled.

“You’re a weird one.”

“That’s rich, coming from you?”

This kind of playful banter between them would persist for a long time. It would not change even when their relationship started to change.

It wasn’t uncommon for the strong partnership between a Makai Knight and Priest to turn into more than that. Love was permissible as long as it stayed within the Knight’s control over his emotions. Love could strengthen a knight but it was a two-edged sword.

It all started during one particularly tricky mission. It required for Iwamoto himself to be coated in magic. So Sakuma decided that the most effective way to do so was to draw the incantations that would usually go on the talismans, directly onto Iwamoto’s skin. Iwamoto dutifully strippd, so that Sakuma could ‘plan’ and then held still when Sakuma took out his brush and started drawing. The intricate lines did not stay on his body for too long. After glowing shortly as the incantation was completed, they disappeared, seeped into Iwamoto’s skin and permeated his very being. The last lines were drawn onto Iwamoto’s chest.

Suddenly Iwamoto noticed that something was off but he was too late, Sakuma had already set down his brush again and was looking at his handiwork.

“What do you mean by this, Sakuma? This is-”

“You realized? I guess I’m not good at being sneaky,” Sakuma laughed sheepishly but then turned serious again. “I am not letting you go into this alone. I cannot physically be here but I will be your shield as you wield the sword.”

Iwamoto grabbed Sakuma by the collar, “This could kill you!”

“Well, then don’t let it kill me?” Sakuma held Iwamoto’s gaze.

“Idiot,” Iwamoto let go and then shrugged his clothes back on. “You better still be alive when I come back.” He grabbed his sword and then set off to complete the mission.

Sakuma looked after his retreating back and then settled down, ready to start meditating and channeling his energy into the protective incantations he had just written onto Iwamoto.

Destroying a giant Horror from within had been a risky gamble but one they had been willing to take. It was a close call but Iwamoto managed to complete this mission successfully as well. Once he had made sure that the Horror was well and truly gone, he dashed back to their hideout, hoping that things had not gone wrong on this end either.

He found Sakuma collapsed on the floor and knelt down to cradle the other’s form in his arms.

To his relief, Sakuma was still breathing, still alive.

“You really are a stupid priest.”

“Ah, welcome home,” Sakuma laughed weakly and opened his eyes slowly.

“Idiot,” Iwamoto whispered again and then leaned down to press their lips together as if wanting to share his own energy with the other, to share his own life with Sakuma.

Sakuma returned the kiss, slowly at first but then a little bit more firm later as he did regain some of his strength. Not enough to walk or anything but Iwamoto did not have a problem moving him around or anything after all, so that was not a problem.

That’s how things started between them.

Their feelings for each other helped them as they continued to free Raivu City from its Horror infestation. Gradually, light came back to it and new Horrors stayed away after hearing about the new fortifications of the protections around the city.

The two of them received acknowledgement and praise from the Watchdog. But that was unfortunately not the only attention their received.

While weaker, new Horrors stayed clear of Raivu City, another kind of Horror seemed to be attracted to it, attracted to them. A bright light always came with its darkness after all. And a light too bright would have to be dimmed in order to restore balance.

Sakuma frowned when he received the message from the Watchdog.

“What does it say?” Iwamoto asked.

“It says to be careful. That ‘Jinga’ is on the move.” Sakuma replied.

“Jinga?”

“Did you hear about him?” Sakuma asked. “I...I thought it was just a legend.”

“Same,” Iwamoto admitted. “But I guess it’s not.”

Jinga was an existence feared by the Makai Priests and Knights alike. He was a creature of legend. A Makai Knight who had turned into a Horror but not just any Horror, a Horror who did not devour humans but instead cannibalized his own kind. And one who did not simply live off the darkness of human hearts, did not simply live for his own sake. But always sought out something bigger. He - and his partner Amiri - posed an active threat to the Makai Knights.

Facing Jinga meant certain death. Unless one possessed the power of the Golden Knight, Garo.

“He wouldn’t find anything to eat here,” Sakuma muttered. “So I wonder whether he’d come.”

“Well, it won’t hurt to be alert.” Iwamoto decided.

And then Jinga did come to Raivu. And with him, a horde of Horrors. The latter was not a problem for Iwamoto and Sakuma. They fought their way through until they eventually reached Jinga and Amiri themselves. Jinga applauded them mockingly for their achievement.

“It’s been a while since someone as entertaining as you appeared in front of me, Makai Knight. Let us both have some more fun to celebrate this glorious occasion then,” he taunted and blocked one of Iwamoto’s strikes with his sword. “I have decided that I like you.”

“The feeling is not mutual,” Iwamoto growled and then moved in for another blow.

Close to Jinga and Iwamoto, Amiri and Sakuma were fighting as well.

“You’re a pesky little priest. Why don’t you stay still and fire your spells like all the others?”

Sakuma stuck out his tongue. “I take that as a compliment, my lady.”

“Insolent. But I do not hate that,” Amiri huffed and hurled another spell at Sakuma.

As the fights continued, Iwamoto and Sakuma moved closer to each other again to combine their attacks if necessary. They were holding their ground but it was only a matter of time until they would lose it.

“At least you’ll be with me.” Sakuma whispered softly. “And at least they won’t eat us.”

“Don’t give up just yet. We’ll at least deal them some damage before we, well, go.”

“Okay.”

Jinga suddenly appeared in front of them, sword drawn and smirking.

“Look at that. So accepting of your fate already. Are you not scared of death?”

It was Sakuma who blocked him this time instead of Iwamoto.

“I’m not scared as long as Hikaru is with me.”

“Love, is it now?” Jinga raised an eyebrow.

“What? Does that make you feel sick or something?” Sakuma asked.

Jinga smirked again, “Not at all. Love is a wonderful thing after all. Love is the reason for people to fall into the darkness. Just watch!” He darted past Sakuma towards Iwamoto.

“Hikaru!!” Sakuma chanced course and dashed after Jinga.

Iwamoto had watched the exchange, all the while trying to look out for Amiri - not having forgotten that they were facing two enemies - and something about it had felt off to him. When he saw something appearing in Jinga’s non-sword hand it dawned on him.

“Sakuma, they don’t want to kill us they want to-” the rest of Iwamoto’s warning was cut off when he felt a sharp pain in his back and then darkness started to take a hold of him. He could only watch as Jinga turned around abruptly and sunk an Inga stained dagger into Sakuma’s chest.

“Hi...ka...ru…” Sakuma reached out and grabbed hold of Iwamoto’s hand as he was being taken over up by the Inga injected into him.

Iwamoto in turn, held onto Sakuma’s hand as the darkness of the Inga seeped into him. They managed to hold onto each other even as they were swallowed up completely.

“Let’s make this a little experiment. How will such strong Makai Knight and Priest souls like yours react to being turned into the Horrors that you so detest?” Amiri laughed.

When they re-emerged, their hair had turned silver and their skin pale and their eyes glowed icy blue instead of the regular Horrors’ poisonous green. Their heavier Makai attire had melted away and turned into sleeker, lighter black clothing that was more form fitting, maybe slightly more revealing and also more modern, although it still retained some semblance of their former clothes. That appearance lasted for a few moments but then gave way to their former appearances again. The surge of energy causing the transformation knocked them out.

“I think we got ourselves something really interesting, Jinga,” Amiri chuckled darkly and nudged the limp forms of Iwamoto and Sakuma with her foot. “Some brand new toys. Shall we try them out right away?”

“I don’t see why not.” Jinga smirked. “Let us see who survives. The Horror or Human inside.”




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