Bleach – The Heart of the Matter

By Tayla Drago

A battle to be going on in a bowling/arcade/restaurant for many lives were in grave danger, even the B-Last Band members and crew people for Alucard to fight through the Lillie's vines to try draining them. Same with Urahara, Tessai, Yoruichi, Jinta, Ururu, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba to do the same back outside; along with Sonia, Hayame, and Kon 'in Ichigo's body' to stop the rest back inside the building. So many vines of this deadly flower monster who works for Dracula! As for the other six saving the lives into hiding to face against Dracula's six powerful monster armies now 'well seven once since Urahara beaten Executioner' for these matches I'll try to make them a bit short, okay? There almost like the boss fights in Castlevania Legends from the Game Boy game.

No worries about Hayame, she will be fine to rush to Uryu's side in case anyone of you are wondering about her for she was on her way up now…Also, hey! Urahara did it! With the plant demon destroyed by team work thanks to him, Yoruichi, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba have all done it with their team work to go inside which means the Lillie's of Doom was destroyed from the power core to the other vines will soon die out too; with the other lives that were saved to have their energies back to be sleeping now. Alright! And one more monster left for Uryu to stop – Uryu Ishida vs. Joker. Battling in the hallways of the building up top of the roof entrance, this Quincy keeps his guard up from anything for this monster to have some fun 'like Joker was acting like a little kid'.

Death once again appears in his usual cloak, and armed with his big and nasty scythe! Once that someone enters his domain, the ropes will pull themselves up, and the floor closes. So that person should try not to be hit by the big scythe or the small sickles that home. Using the Ice Soul and whipping away are a good strategy and Fire Soul. I call him 'Joker' in this version...

"Oh, goodie…how nice of you to get the weak humans away for us to play, boy. You have such wonderful powers, I can sense it when I was flying all the way up here."

For Joker to be laughing like a mad-man type of way, Uryu thinks he was dealing with something of a powerful monster behind any made up type of creature, well it was related almost…

"You work for Dracula, don't you?" he asked to get his Quincy type of Belmont powers of bow, arrow, and light saber-like sword to be ready. "What are you? Death himself? The Grim Reaper?"

"Ha! I wish! But good guess there." Joker said then while laughing. "I'm Death's student type of creation to aid him a bit to have some of his powers but a bit different to do things my way. I go by the Joker. I wish to play with you while I carry out Lord Dracula's task to kill anyone who stands in our way. Do you wish to fight or let me murder innocent bystanders? Your call…"

So that's what Joker is to be a creation of both Death and Dracula to have some powers like his teacher has, just in a teenager type of way to still kill without showing any mercy, to be cutting a bird down with his scythe type of weapon to die in seconds, his weapon was sharp. He flies up in the air for Uryu fires a warning shot near his outfit to rip a bit. Damn! Too close there to almost lose his head!

"Then I say you're on, you bag of bones. But we shall take this battle outside where no one else will get killed, just you and me. I've been dying to do more of the Belmont's Quincy powers to put to the test again after so much training I've been doing." Uryu leads the way to go outside of the building roof top to prepare for battle.

Joker flies to follow Uryu as well to be ready to fight 'unaware that Hayame was on her way in the same area' and so were both Orihime and Renji. Let see how the last Quincy 'while borrowing the powers of Sonia's and the other type of powers from his kind' gets put to the test besides the Puppet Master battle he and Hayame had fought with.

"Fighting outside, huh? Okay, why not? This is going to be fun…" firing some little scythes in the air at Uryu and on fire to cut and burn that Joker meant business to kill. "I can also do all of these skills beside moving really fast, cutting, hacking, slashing, fly, and those things to cut and burn you up! Now then, boy, let's dance!"

Uryu gives it his all from the Belmont powers to win this battle.

"(For what I have from within and on what Sonia has given me, I have to make this battle count on how much I have until the war's over…) Then I'll allow me to lead!"

Here we go then! Once Uryu enters Joker's domain, the ropes will pull themselves up, and the floor closes. I just hope Uryu does not get hit by the big sickle or the small sickles to be were homing in on him during the fight. So many of them to come flying out for Uryu uses his arrows to destroy them and have his light saber to block Joker's other scythe to use to try cutting him down, this monster was fast! From a swinging type of sword fighting to shooting things at each other; even though Uryu couldn't fly like Joker was to pop up all over him from above, to still be a lot faster to move and such to have some of his clothes burned up to at least not get deep fried. Still, he couldn't keep this up for long. Firing another shot at Joker to finish the fight the best Uryu can try to do.

"Swinging and shooting me, just like me. Oooo…! What fun!" said the crazy Joker.

"You should duck, or not." Uryu uses his light-saber to stab Joker from behind to shoot out a few more arrows at Joker's body many times. "Because I've won!"

Almost…except Joker moves fast to use another fire throwing scythe to hit Uryu in the leg hard to be too late moving away in time, only more when Joker appears again to use his other scythe to cut him down to be bleeding. Lucky to use the Belmont Quincy powers to stop it before it gets worse. Hayame sensing out Uryu, flies quickly to the top while Joker uses his staff to pick Uryu up to the edge of the roof top.

"Oops, looks like you made a mistake. I've won and not you. And because of it, I wish to see you fall down like this rock while I cut and slice until you bleed out dry!" Joker throws a rock down to be a long fall. "That's what your brains will be like when it's crushed like a tomato! Now, do you have any last words before you go bye-bye?" he laughs insane like to push Uryu to the edge of the building.

"No-!" he couldn't get out. "(No…I can't lose…not like this!)"

Not good…Can Hayame get to her friend in time? Will Uryu live to not die in this type of Quincy way the way his grandfather did when he was young? Man, that was sad back then...

As a child, Uryū mostly interacted and trained with his grandfather, Sōken Ishida. His father, Ryūken Ishida, was less than enthusiastic about being a Quincy, claiming that it was not a profitable occupation. They do not appear to be on very good terms as a result, given Uryū's casual use of his father's given name. Sōken understands Ryūken's reasoning, since being a Quincy is more about justice than material rewards, and Ryūken has a family to support. Sōken told Uryū that he would someday understand his father's motives, but thus far this is not the case. This was compounded as Uryū would watch Ryūken dissect Kanae's dead body, and he begged his father to stop. That day, he decided he would never become a doctor.

At a fairly young age, Uryū's grandfather was killed by Hollows right in front of him, and Uryū was unable to do a thing to protect him. This is one of the reasons why he hates the Shinigami, who did not come to rescue Sōken in time. After entering the Soul Society, he discovers that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had bribed certain Shinigami into not protecting the Quincy that they had been assigned to protect so that he could take their Souls for research at the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. He also learns that Sōken died screaming out Uryū's name while being dissected by Mayuri causing Uryū to transfer his pent-up anger towards the captain.

I'm glad Mayuri changed afterwards when Uryu was able to kick his ass, but he won't do it anymore if he's killed by Joker next!

"It's been fun, but it's time we end this game once I drop you, cut you up some more, and then see you crush to your doom. So…" Joker drops Uryu off the edge. "Down you go!"

Uryu's only thought to think about before dying was Ichigo, Orihime, his grandfather, Renji, Rukia, Chad, Sonia, and Hayame a lot more to have feelings to also call out her name one more time.

"(Hayame…)"

Uryu was falling, no! With Joker laughing to go down there and finish the job, something good happens through the winds…It was a bird, a plane, a leaf, no wait…it was Hayame in her harpy form to fly in to high speed! She makes it to fly down for Uryu to be rescued!

"Uryu!"

Well the strong winds from Hayame's wings to make when flying does push Joker away to catch Uryu to be carrying him to fly back up to finish the battle together…odd way to be thinking about something to suddenly have someone be there in person, Uryu's love for Hayame to come true for him. How romantic! Surprise the Joker to see Hayame would show up in the end, to be right again on that part the way this monster wanted it to be.

"No way! I knew she would show up for my fun…but it was getting to the good part. How odd though..." he said to himself.

For Uryu to see Hayame who just saved his life, he didn't think this was really happening to him. Well, it was…

"Hayame?!" he was shock.

"Good, I made it. You almost had me worried there." Hayame said while smiling. "Also, you look bad."

"Am I…dreaming…?"

For Uryu to pinch himself, it was real for even Hayame to pinch his cheeks next to make his entire face to blush.

"Nope, it's really me who saved your life. Look, we can beat this guy together since Sonia and everyone else has beaten all the other monsters and the one trying to kill us inside of the building itself. We're winning, Uryu, so please let me help you win this battle as a proud Quincy you are and one of the last ones left."

And once Hayame said those kind words to Uryu, he understood to give this last fight a good one to beat Joker now, but as a team to worry about his friends getting hurt to 'sometimes' fight in his own battles, his friends were protecting him more to understanding things up close. Cool! This gives him another chance of winning again.

"(I never knew these feeling before for friendship, my pride, and someone who cares about who I am and to keep me going.)" he powers up a bit more to join with Hayame. "Yes, Hayame, let's do it!"

And up they go and back on top of the roof for Joker was ready for them to finish this battle, well he will sure regret on what's coming to him next! As Uryu had enough power to still fight, so did Hayame after stopping the other vines on her way up. They can do this.

"Well now, this is touching. In any case…I will finish you two off right here and now! And don't think that stopping the others, I won't go down that easily." said Joker. "But you, the more fun, the better."

For Hayame fires some feather to stop the other fire scythes around Joker, they won't be backing down from this fight now.

"Maybe against one of us, but not the two of us together. Let's go!"

Looks like both Uryu and Hayame have a plan to use…as Hayame stopped the other flying attack from gusts of winds to throw out arrows to try clawing at Joker while blocking from his other large scythe in time from swinging it a lot; allowing for Uryu to fire some from behind to weaken the monster to get hurt a lot to still be standing, only to dodge Uryu to throw out his light-saber for Hayame to catch it and then use both of their spiritual pressures from one end to another to stab Joker right through the skull to break and that type of attack weakens him. And with Hayame kicking the monster down to be pinning him down, Uryu grabs on to his weapon.

"It worked!" Uryu was pleased. "Nice play there, Hayame."

"It was all in a day's work, Uryu." she said back. "We've won!"

Seems like Joker couldn't get out of this mess even when he wasn't hurt from getting stabbed, just trapped. But with his skull damaged, for this was one of the two of Joker's weaknesses.

"What…What just happened?" Joker was shock. "I thought beating you two would be easy, but it wasn't! I've loss! So did the other losers to come so close for us to destroy you all! Anyone who gets in Lord Dracula's way will die! Don't you see that?"

Oh yeah, they were already aware of it all…

"We are, we just thought of slowing you down for both Hayame and I to be using our brains before striking the enemy would be useful and it was. You were just foolish to think you've won. But I remember one weakness in a sub-student type of Death, was one to get killed by his own weapon to the skull. So, let's test this little theory out, shall we?"

Seems like Uryu was going to use Joker's weapon on him to finish the job off for good as Hayame holds Joker down.

"Do it, Uryu!"

Joker was scared to be begging for mercy now, he was done for no matter how much he is pleading for help.

"Oh, no…! No! No! We can't lose…! Don't do it please! DON'T!"

"Good-bye!" Uryu swings it to cut Joker down.

And with one slash, Joker's skull was cut in two and his body was gone to fade away like a dying light bulb for both Uryu and Hayame to see all of this until the very end…Yes! Dracula's tough armies of six were no more! And the plant one was all gone too, vines and the monster itself! For everyone to do so well and every innocent bystanders have all got out to aid the others, it was all over. Well...not before Uryu could finally say something to Hayame he had trouble saying it tonight, but now he can.

"Alright!" Hayame cheered with joy. "We did it, Uryu! We did-!"

Looks like Hayame was hugging Uryu for the two to be blushing at each other.

"Ah, Hayame…?"

"Sorry!" she stops. "You're a nice guy, Uryu, it's just…I get so happy to be doing-!"

"Don't." he stops her. "It's fine, Hayame, in fact I've been wanting to ask you if you wish to go out with me than for us to be more than just friends or study partners."

Once Hayame heard Uryu says all of this to her, she was surprised…

"You mean…you and me to be dating?"

Uryu was too shy to admit it, but he does care a lot for Hayame to say it to her the best he could in words.

"Well, uh…you could say that…" Uryu had trouble talking. "I guess…"

"Then yes."

Once Hayame said her answers, Uryu heard this girl to be real to his ears.

"Wait, seriously?"

"I do, Uryu. I liked you since you saved my life to know about your secrets and everyone else's to have powers too like all of you do. And saving the world…" said Hayame to be blushing. "I do like you a lot if you still like me while we're still fighting against evil and all."

From there, looks like both Uryu and Hayame were a couple now for this Quincy couldn't be anymore happier than he already was, what a good thing to happen for those two, huh?

"(I knew from my pride as a Quincy, aiding my friends to sometimes despising Soul Reapers or Ichigo, I also am fighting for Hayame even more…the woman I'm in love with.)" Uryu smiled. "Hayame, thank you."

The two then hugged it out to begin their ever-loving relationship of love to slowly grow together for Uryu and Hayame.

"Oh, Uryu, you're so cute when you blush and I like it." she places her hands on Uryu's face.

Soon the two hear Renji and Orihime calling out to them to join back and the others from downstairs, in case any more monsters come or Dracula himself to be ready for him next.

"Uryu! Hayame! There you two are!"

"Come over here and let me heal you both ans then to go meet back down with Ichigo!"

Well, you heard them, you two, get going!

"We should go get healed up so we can be ready for anything else next time or so." Uryu holds Hayame's hand. "Let's stay together, okay?"

"(I think I'm going to like Japan with my new friends to be with and the man I'm in love with.)" she does the same for Uryu's hand to hold on to. "Okay, Uryu, I'll stay with you for now on and forever."

Good to know, huh? For Uryu to learn on what's right and wrong the easy or hard way something, he learns it through friendship and love in the end – to also love Hayame now to start a whole new life of love. For Uryu and Hayame get treated for Orihime to feel a bit better now and so was Renji, the four rush back downstairs to help out the others…As Alucard leaves the room to be covered in blood for some strange reason; another thing comes up from behind Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba to be in big trouble from the look on their faces to show up out of nowhere…with a chainsaw! As well as the lights going out for someone else to appear out of nowhere for Sonia to see it be real along with Kon, Ichigo, Rukia, and Chad. But who was it? For the other four to come rushing back to see it as well, so much was going on at the worse time. And as for the spy will soon show his face real soon, Dracula soon appears for the bats to aid their master to disappearing right away, for him to be ready to strike at his enemies now. Oh, no…! It was finally happening.

"So much for my plants to grow…But at least the female Belmont's still breathing. Good, like my spy reported to me. And so has my other soldiers to make their way here. With the others weak and the rest to fall, the time has come to strike now and take a woman to soon become my bride. And then this world will soon be all mine at long last." he laughs to make his way into the building. "Team Belmont, prepare to die by the King of Darkness's hands, me! Count Dracula!"

From some of the monsters – Skeletons, Undead Bulls, Tree Monsters, Stone Dragons, Dark Crows, Fairy Fighter, Fire Demons, Electric Spirits, Floating Dead Ghosts, Ice Mick, Knights, Pixie, Puppet Master and his Doll Zombies, Were Leopard, Water Lizards, Earth Lizards, Fire Lizards, Lizard Man, Nukes, Mutated Lizards, Poison Lizards, Hawks, Harpies, Maiden Harpy, Queen Brown Back Spider, Lady Spiders, Black Widows, Unborn Beast, Lillis of Doom, Daku, Executioner, Creature Bat, Death Dragon, Flying Wolf, Medusa, Minotaur, Joker, and Dracula to be seen so far. All of this for the fight to happen, what will occur next? I guess we'll soon find out if Ichigo and the others can hold up in this next battle to be ready for, with any luck! Yeah! I sure hope so!