Bleach – The Heart of the Matter

By Tayla Drago

From Ikkaku, Yumichika, Sajin, Soi Fon, Omaeda, and Rangiku all have their Belmont powers so far to help Sonia beat Dracula's monsters – the same with Uryu, Hayame, Chad, Orihime, Renji, Rukia, Ichigo, and Kon 'so far' also having some powers and hopefully the others will too. Not bad for them to get something like these special abilities as Sonia can fight back from Flash Steps, Kido water skills, and fighting to withstand the pain from Dracula's curse; while also waiting to unlock her Zanpakto to have the strange egg to still be taken care of. As Sonia and Ukitake to see each other for them to finally admit their feeling s for one another since Sonia was done with Alucard 'and since he didn't love her back to betray the team'; for her to move on to stop the curse, Dracula, and save her step-brother Richard Belmont from the curse. Good for her…as the two were staring at each other to move up to have another sweet moment together.

"Hey, Jushiro." she said.

"Oh, Sonia. Hello." he smiled to be happy to see Sonia. "What brings you back here? Is Lieutenant Matsumoto doing well? I know Toshiro got a bit mad for skipping her paper work again, but she gets back to it, she really means well. It was still nice of her to take you to places to cheer you up yesterday, you know? Good to have a friend like her."

"Yeah, she is…Look, Jushiro, there's something I need to tell you. (Just say it already, Sonia, come on!)" Sonia tries to admit her feelings to Ukitake the best she could. "Listen, I've been scared at first after losing Alucard for betraying me, my brother who I still needs to saved, Maria, Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, and everyone else from both worlds. I once liked him, but he didn't to use all of us, and for me to be making new friends and having you with me…Jushiro, I'm-!"

Before Sonia could say it to Ukitake, he says it first to her surprise he was the one to fall for her first to slowly happen to grow a lot more to love each other.

"I'm in love with you, Sonia Belmont…! Or Yamamoto! Sorry." Ukitake laughs a little. "It doesn't matter what last name I can call you, right? Still, I meant what I said there."

And now they feel strongly towards each other in the name of love to make Sonia happy to hear the news.

"Jushiro…How did you know I was going to say that?" asked Sonia.

"You were going to same thing too? Now that's funny for me to think about it and you then showed up." Ukitake smiled. "But I am serious about you. And you are in love with me too?"

Of course, Sonia does say it to Ukitake anyways.

"Yes, yes! I am in love with you, Jushiro!" Sonia runs up to Ukitake's arm to be held. "(He's a nice man to say those sweet things to me.) There, I finally said it. (And it felt great.)"

For Ukitake couldn't help on how sweet, strong, and pretty looking Sonia was to be blushing and to go up to hug her to feel adored by her beauty. It's cute to see him look so friendly and sweet to his new lover.

"Aw, you're so cute, Sonia! I can't help but to hug you and never let you go!"

"Ah, Jushiro…?" Sonia was confused for Ukitake to be liking it a lot. "You're a sweet person. I guess we're a couple now?"

"I think we are, yes." said Ukitake. "And I know what comes next-!"

Not again…! Ukitake felt ill to almost falling down, for Sonia to catch him to be healed again from her powers for there's no illness to be happening to him ever again.

"Jushiro! Hold on, I got you! (Good thing my skills for healing Ukitake's illness comes in handy.)"

Seems to be working again as Retsu said it was for the first time it happened, Ukitake kept on holding Sonia without letting go.

"Thank you, Sonia. Again for helping me out like this, here's what comes next." he said.

"Oh, right." she smiles to kiss Ukitake. "(From our love and for me to move on at long last, I know what I must do to stop Dracula and save Richard from the curse, so it won't hurt me either. Ichigo, I know I'll be seeing you and the others real soon. For I'm in love with Rukia's captain from Squad Thirteen now. Wait until I tell them all about it.)"

Yep, finally the two kissed on the lips for Sonia finally finds true love. And so, does Ukitake right back. So cute! For Momo, Rangiku, Hisagi, Izuru, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Yachiru heard the news 'to the three men who were heartbroken to still care for Sonia a lot' after both Kiyone and Sentaro told them for seeing the scene…it was nice to talk about it, huh? I know Izuru liked her to still be friends, but for Ikkaku and Yumichika won't give up to still love Sonia 'for they will'. Unaware of lieutenant from Squad 12 Nemu was watching on the two and then heads back to headquarters to report to her father/creator/captain there of Research and Development himself Mayuri Kurosutchi. What does he want with Sonia?

"Master Mayuri, I've learned and watched on Head Captain Yamamoto's niece." Nemu said to be bowing to Mayuri. "What shall we do next?"

For Mayuri to see how Sonia was doing since she came to the Soul Society was the easy part for him to answer.

"Good work, Nemu." Mayuri smiles creepy-like. "In that case, I have something in mind to have a word with the girl next for me to join with you. Get Akon, Hiyosu, Kuna, and Rin on standby for me to learn more about Head Captain Yamamoto's niece tomorrow morning. And to ask some questions too while we're at it."

As the other four other members in the group gets to it to study on Sonia and Dracula to his demons a lot more, seems like both Nemu and Mayuri will be paying Sonia a little visit the next day. Oh, boy…. Has he not learned anything after hurting and killing Uryu's grandfather/teacher? Oh, besides the four members for Akon's a normal human with horns on his head, Hiyosu has green skin like an alien to be yellow later 'for some strange reason'; Kuna with chains around her head to be the girl with glasses, and Rin just a normal looking little boy with smarts and loves sweets a lot. Just so you all know who they were to try explaining it quickly…Anyways, the next today has come for the sun to rise and for another training for Sonia to do for today; besides having her egg to be doing well and for Ukitake to leave a cute letter to Sonia for her to read 'he had to go to a meeting today', to wish his new lover to have a nice day. Well, it was nice of him you know to make Sonia happy.

"(Thanks, Jushiro, I'll have a good day if you are. I'm glad I've found someone to love me back…)" Sonia said to sound happy to get cleaned up and such to see someone standing outside of her room. "(Huh? Another Soul Reaper?)" she goes to check it out. "Hello? Who's out there? Another one I know of? You need anything or something…? Is there anyone out there?"

Nemu then shows herself to bow to Sonia in her surprise to see someone else to come for a visit.

"Greetings, Lady Yamamoto. I'm the Lieutenant from Squad Twelve of the Research and Developments, Nemu Kurosutchi. I've heard so much about you."

"Ah…Hi, Nemu, it's nice to meet you too." Sonia acts nice around Nemu to be a bit strange. "(Smile, Sonia, just keep smiling…) So Nemu, what brings you here? Are you part of my training or something? Or do you wish to say hi?"

As Sonia asked Nemu to move away to make way for someone else to join with the girls.

"Here she is, sir." said Nemu.

And this is when he comes in to freak Sonia out from his appearances again 'after meeting with him the first time', to examine her up close.

"(Ah! The Captain from Squad Twelve?!)" scared Sonia. "You again?!"

What a freaky way for Mayuri to examine on Sonia to look at her face, looks, from front, behind, touching her skin, hands, and such to make notes on his little note book paper to write down on his favorite pen.

"Head Captain Yamamoto's niece, Sonia. We meet again I see." he said while still writing things down. "My, my, I see you've already met with my lieutenant, creation, and sort of daughter who was handmade here name Nemu Kurotsuchi. And you already know who I am since you've arrived to the Soul Society, correct?"

"You're Captain of Squad Twelve, Mayuri Kurosutchi…Wait!" Sonia realize something else. "Huh?! That girl…Nemu there…She! Is! Your! Daughter?! (Mind blown!)" she stares in shock to see Nemu was Mayuri's daughter.

Mayuri repeats on what he said about Nemu to Sonia again.

"Lieutenant, creation, and sort of daughter. Got it? She's a Gigai I made with a special Modsoul to serve me. Don't you get it? Now then…"

Nemu moves up closer to Sonia for Mayuri to moves up to her from the front.

"What do you want with me?!"

"Please stay still, Lady Sonia." Nemu said to her.

This doesn't look good on what might happen to Sonia from the way Nemu and Mayuri were both pinning her down.

"Nothing at all, I just need part of you to have for my research to study upon." Mayuri said with a freaky smirk on his face to then pull something out from his robe. "Now, Nemu, make yourself useful and keep her still."

What will Sonia now? She might be cut open like a frog from Mayuri himself! How can she escape from him and Nemu's grasps?!

"(To study upon me…?)" Sonia then headbutts Nemu with her head to hit her face and kicks Mayuri back to make her escape on foot. "No! You two aren't going to cut me up! Stay back!"

Looks like it's a chase now for Sonia to use her Flash Steps moves to run away from Mayuri as fast as she could. With Mayuri hitting Nemu on the head to get Sonia on foot for her to follow.

"Idiot! I told you to hold her, didn't I?!"

"I'm sorry, Captain…" she said. "Do you want me to go after her?"

Mayuri places his hand out to do it on his own while giving Nemu an order…

"Allow me to take the lead. You just watch my back. I'm going after her. This is going to be fun! My...My...!" Mayuri moves in fast as well after Sonia.

Run, Sonia! Run! For the chase begins for Sonia to try out running Mayuri all over the place of the Soul Society where the Soul Reapers live in, as Nemu follows her captain from behind 'for she can use the Flash Steps moves'. For the chase to be crazy as Yachiru to see Sonia running away from Mayuri and Nemu; while both her and Kenpachi to be passing by in the court yard to see what was going on.

"Hey! Look, Kenny, it's Sonny, my best friend!" Yachiru waves to Sonia to be running by. "Hi, Sonny! Playing tag with Scary Man and Lady Friend right now?"

Kenpachi sees this going on as he was lost while having Yachiru ride on his shoulders like she always does.

"Head Captain's niece outrunning Kurotsuchi and his lieutenant?" he questions himself. "Looks like this Sonia girl might be in danger. Is that what's going on, Yachiru?"

She sees it carefully next to Kenpachi to see and hear for herself.

"Ah…I think Scary Man's up to no good again to hurt Sonny. I don't like it. Kenny, we better keep an eye on them in case they hurt my best friend."

"But how strong is this one?" he asked.

"I've seen Sonny train and she's becoming stronger so far…"

Once Yachiru said it and for Kenpachi to feel out Sonia's Spiritual Pressure from using her Flash Steps, Kenpachi then felt something more than Yachiru having a friend, how strong she was becoming, and how she looks like to the Captain of Squad Ten up close. For Kenpachi to be smiling, he thinks by following Sonia to keep an eye on her would do him some wonders of fun.

"Why not…?" Kenpachi starts to run to follow from behind. "Hold on, Yachiru, we'll go save your friend. I think I like her more than just fighting with this one…"

Yachiru holds on to Kenpachi to be happy to help her friend.

"Yeah, Kenny! Thank you! Now mush!" Yachiru said with joy.

Guess it was spying time for both Kenpachi and Yachiru to watch over Sonia just in case Mayuri and Nemu might do something bad to her. I hope they'll jump in case she becomes a test subject! As the chase continues on poor Sonia to keep out running Mayuri 'who just won't stop' until he and Nemu catches her; from running from below the buildings, underground, in the waters, on top, on almost in midair without any stop for Sonia to try hiding to random places to finally found somewhere to hide in time from the danger. Close call there. Trying to stay still in corner spot of the walls in to one another until everything was all clear…Only for Shaft 'back at Dracula's lair' gives the mind controlled Richard Belmont a command to use the dark powers to go to the Soul Society to bring Sonia back to his boss alive, gather lots of souls, and blood for power. While bringing another monster to stop Sonia's friends, what will it be this time?

"Richard, you're next to complete with the task for our lord." Shaft said while moving his hands near his crystal ball. "You remember what it was now, correct?"

Poor Richard Belmont…For him to still be cursed to bow to Shaft to listen in and Dracula too on the orders he was given since both Deku and Succubus were taking five 'for the time being'.

"I do, Shaft Sir." Richard repeats the orders to him. "Find Sonia to bring back to Lord Dracula to marry her while at the same time gather the souls and blood to have power for us to rule over everything, as well as send in one of our monsters to cause some trouble at a place call the Soul Society. Correct?"

"Very good…Choose well now. Get to it."

"Sir." he takes off from a magical portal.

Now Richard 'under Dracula's curse' takes a shot at it, also…why is Shaft looking at his crystal ball to see the World of the Living? And Ichigo…? I don't like the looks of that at all. Back at the Soul Society, for Sonia to peek around the spots to make sure neither Mayuri or Nemu weren't around to try sneaking away. Trying to make a move, until…a long mechanical arm grabs hold of Sonia's foot to make her trip and fall to get trapped now…Crap! Mayuri has caught up to her now with no way out to be pin down, this is bad!

"(Oh, no! I've been caught!)" Sonia tries breaking free but she had trouble to. "Help me! Someone! Anyone!"

Mayuri moves up closely towards Sonia again to do what needs to be done for him.

"Now I got you. It was a nice chase, but it ends here, my dear. I'll go easy on you since your kind of cute." Mayuri tries pull something out of his robes. "This won't hurt a bit…"

"Don't cut me open!" Sonia screamed in terror to see something else to be shock about instead. "Don't kill-! Wait, huh…?"

Instead, Mayuri use some alcohol to rub the germs off Sonia's arm to get some blood test from her in seconds, to put a bandage on it, then clipping some of her nails, cutting of her hair off a little, getting some saliva with a q-tip, and such to have in his bag while taking notes once he was all done.

"Now hold still…I'm almost done…these things are hard to do, also you need a blood test. Orders from your uncle and Captain Unohana." Mayuri was finally done. "And…done. There, that wasn't so bad, now was it? This is all I needed for me to study upon you, Niece Belmont. You don't mind if I call you by your little nick name, right?"

To Sonia surprise for she had thought she would be a test subject to get killed, but Mayuri didn't.

"Huh…? You mean you're not going to open me up and take out my body parts…? What the hell?!"

Mayuri stares at Sonia to question about his line of work to be saying this next.

"Wait…do you mean you've thought I was going to kill you or something?" he then laughs to find this whole thing to be fun for him to be his brand-new self today than he ever was from before. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Niece Belmont, but it was funny to have the chase. Forgive me to not be so reasonable at first. Oh, man…! This is so fun laughing from a dumb misunderstanding, I haven't laughed in ages until today. Thanks for making me laugh. And for the record, I use to do experimental cutting on others, but after doing something a while back cause me a lot to overthink my evil ways. I did it at one time, but I can still study upon other living species, but to kill. Unless they're bad to try to kill us, you get what I'm saying?"

Seems like Sonia is getting the whole thing to still be confused on how Mayuri works a lot to then asks him this next question.

"Okay! Okay! I get it. You're a changed man…! I guess. You don't have to rub it in." she said. "But you could've ask for me to let you have some of those things."

"But where would be the fun in that if I couldn't chase you?"

"Seriously…?" Sonia asks Mayuri the next question about changing in to a sort of change man. "Well answer me this, Dude Mayuri, I wish to call you that by the way. So, tell me what made you in to a changed man?"

Nemu then appears to have someone else from Squad Twelve Soul Reaper member to run back to headquarters to look upon Sonia's study to keep either her or Mayuri posted later. But for now, she does answer Sonia's question about the even for a changed Mayuri 'just a little' from a madman and into a researcher on bad villains today, who can still be crazy from here to there.

"Report back to neither one of us later…" she said to the other member to answer Sonia's question next. "You see, Lady Sonia, Master Mayuri and the others found an old Quincy who was killed by a Hollow for him to study upon it; for Rukia to almost got executed for her friends of the last Quincy name Uryu Ishida and as Ichigo's friend with Orihime Inoue for a human with powers for us to run into. Uryu fought against my captain to be twisted a while ago to get defeated in then end to heal up for him to wear make-up a lot due to his skin condition to be a spirit appears of a human from under all of it. After the whole Bount battle who invaded the Soul Society, he has changed from worse, to almost feeling better to fight for justice." said Nemu to hand shake with Sonia. "So now you know. Also, please forgive the two of us from the mistake for my Captain only wanted to have some fun. I hope both you and I can still be friends, being a Gigai solider to still have human feelings and such to also be a healer." Nemu then heals up Sonia's cut. "And you're all set."

"You don't have to rub it in, Nemu…My, my..." Mayuri said to feel embarrassed about his dark past.

Ha! How can we all forget about the fight for Uryu stopped Mayuri to almost killing him? Awesome! Well, he's 'sort of' a changed man to help to be on our side to stop the Bounts later and still an ally to be a very good thing. I hate to get on his bad side and such to still studying on the bad creatures. Still, we know little about Mayuri to be like one of those mad scientists just like Victor Frankenstein.

"Ah, thanks." said Sonia. "So that's why you changed. (I guess Uryu whooped Dude Mayuri's ass a while back, but…I rather keep the last part to myself. Yeah…)" she changes the subject next. "Nemu. Dude Mayuri. It's nice to meet with you two for helping me get rid of the curse, hopefully. But what are the Research and Development thing? I mean, what are you, Dude Mayuri? Really."

A good question there, Sonia, who or what was Mayuri and what Squad Twelve was all about.

"A very good question to ask there…First answer, the Soul Reapers' Research and Development Institute - 10 years ago, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute was conceptualized and created by first being Kisuke Urahara, then the newly-promoted captain of the 12th Division, who intended for it to be attached to the 12th Division. The institute is behind the development of many of the technologies that aid the Shinigami, and is currently headed by myself after that to take over. It was founded by Kisuke Urahara, during the time when he and the Visored were captains and lieutenants. The SRDI has close ties with the 12th Division of the Gotei 13 and both presidents of the institute have also served as captains of that division. Our mission…The main function of the S.R.D.I. is to research and develop new technology and spiritual tools. They have invented countless items. Throughout the day and night, experiments are conducted at the Reinō Spiritual Ability Research Facility to develop new spiritual tools and instruments. The department brings together the Soul Society's top technicians, who were recruited by myself. And the second function of the S.R.D.I. is to measure spiritual waves and oversee communications. The Spiritual Wave Measurement Lab closely monitors the world of the living to ensure spiritual stability. The Communications Research Section oversees transmissions between the Human world and Soul Society, carrying out the other important function of the institute. If an incident occurs, things become hectic, but otherwise, it is usually slow." Mayuri pauses to answer the second part for Sonia next. "And who I am really…Little is known about the early history of myself but I was a loner a while back, except that 110 years ago, he was the only prisoner in the Maggot's Nest who was considered dangerous enough to necessitate confinement in a small prison cell, chained to the wall by his ankle. I would, however, one day be visited by Kisuke Urahara who was seeking my genius to become vice-president in the newly thought-of Shinigami Research and Development Institute, a request that would automatically get him out of there. At first, I did refuse, until Kisuke began teasing me with the fact that he had nothing to tinker with down there and that, as vice-president, I would inherit everything should something happen to Urahara. Let just say that I was a poor creature to be lost, hurt, and such to survive from my clever work."

Some odd way to learn a little about Mayuri on what he could remember and learn a lot more about what Squad Twelve is all about. Makes sense…And Nemu…?

"I see… (Weird!)" Sonia asks Nemu last about Nemu's history. "So, you're Dude Mayuri's creation to still be a lieutenant-like daughter thing, huh Nemu?"

She explains everything to remember in every word next for Sonia to learn all about Nemu.

"I was the artificially created 'daughter' of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He used a combination of Gigai and Gikon technologies to bring her into existence. For I was created as the seventh incarnation of the Nemuri Project, which aimed to create new souls from 'Konpaku cells'. When I was a child, I've told Akon that Mayuri did not call me by the original designation that he had given me, surprising him. Akon expressed that maybe I should ask Mayuri, but I stated that I've already determined that he would not answer me. After berating me for asking him when he clearly does not know, Akon theorized that Mayuri was embarrassed about his feelings and relayed what he had said about the Nemuri Project before clarifying that Mayuri would be embarrassed if I realized that I was growing up day by day is like living in a dream for him. I one day asked him if Mayuri would return to calling me by my original designation if I remained ignorant, but Akon claimed that remaining in such state would be impossible as I was Mayuri's masterpiece and would obviously evolve." she said to be bowing to Sonia. "So now you know about my Captain and me, Lady Sonia."

So now Sonia knows everything. And I mean everything, between from Mayuri, Nemu, and what Squad Twelve's all about. Makes sense there to confuse her a little a first to slowly get the rest. Seeing they can be crazy and twisted, but they mean well to do what needs to be done for her understandings to get them both.

"I see…Now I see why you, Nemu, is related to Dude Mayuri." Then she thought about something else to ask them next. "Now what? You got what you want from me. Is there anything else you two want next?"

Mayuri claps to be pleased for Sonia to see him acting weird again to say this part next to do a favor from one thing to another, sounds odd.

"Ah, well…I wish to aid you. By studying your work with Nemu's help to find a cure for you from Dracula's curse. However, I also wish to have something in return while me and my other members back at the Research and Developments to do just as I say." he said to tilt his head weird-like. "I wish to collect more data on Dracula's monsters. parts, blood, DNA, hairs, souls, and so on! You know, those kind of stuff! And to wish to know a lot about Count Dracula himself, the rarest and first of the Bounts. That I don't have yet. So for any monster to appear again, I wish to get and I shall have you under protection from Dracula's other goons in return from curing you."

"In any way we can help you out." said Nemu to explain the sort note about it.

Mayuri and Nemu with the other members from Squad Twelve can save Sonia form Dracula's curse, and in return she needs to give them parts from the demons that Dracula sends out and the King of all Vampires? Is that what they're asking of Sonia? Seems like it…So, what's her responses from all of this? She does want to get better as soon as possible to be suffering a lot from all of it.

"Wait…You can cure me?!" shock Sonia. "But only if I allow you to get things from Dracula and his monsters…? (Dude Mayuri must be out of his mind!)"

Seems like it for Sonia to say her answer to Mayuri and Nemu for her to change back somehow, but will she say yes to get curse-free? Nemu asks Sonia again in a friendly kind of way to give them an answer.

"What will it be, Lady Sonia?"

Well, things get from bad to worse as the mind controlled Richard Belmont to arrive in the Soul Society to see Sonia as his target, while getting some blood and souls to collect along the way. By doing so to have dark magic 'for something was inside of him' to transport another demon to make a move by opening a portal from the powers given by Shaft himself. Not good!

"Target sighted. Now then, bring the Belmont Girl back alive and the rest to die. Starting with those two who are in my way." he summons the demon. "Time to spread the darkness out, Malphas!"

And here it was for Sonia was about to say her answers to both Mayuri and Nemu…

"(I might as well tell them…)" she tries to say it. "In that case-!" Sonia stops to sense danger to come. "Huh?! (I sense another demon!)"

In the Castlevania series, Malphas first appeared in Symphony of the Night and was called Karasuman (crow man) in the American version, likely to avoid religious controversy (note that Biphron, Ukoback, and Legion also had different names, although Beelzebub remained unchanged). He is the boss of the Clock Tower and fights in the same room where Richter faced Shaft Ghost in Rondo of Blood. Several Malphas appear as regular enemies later in Death Wing's Lair.

Malphas fights in three ways. After unfolding his wings on the ground, he will draw the essences of many demon crows inside him and unleash them in a massive wave. His second attack consists in taking flight and releasing a multitude of razor-sharp feathers in a spreading manner. Malphas can also fire energy spheres, although this attack is not seen as often. However, he is slow to attack and easy to knock off balance.

Malphas is described in the Ars Goetia as a mighty 'Great Prince of Hell', commanding forty legions of demons and being second in command under Satan. He appears as a raven, but if requested, will instead resemble a man with a hoarse voice. Malphas specializes in the construction of houses, high towers and strongholds, throws down the buildings of enemies, can destroy enemies' desires or thoughts (and/or make them known to the conjurer) and all what they have done, bestows good familiars, and can bring quickly artificers together from all places of the world. Malphas accepts willingly and kindly any sacrifice offered to him, but then he will allegedly attempt to deceive his conjurer, so he must be treated carefully. This character may also be partially based on the Japanese legendary creatures known as the karasu-tengu (crow tengu). Tengu were in some parts revered as Shinto gods, other times depicted as demons, or simply as supernatural beings traditionally portrayed with both human and avian characteristics. The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks, but this feature has often been humanized as an unnaturally long nose. He loves power and hearing himself talk annoying-like.

"Malphas is in the house!" he said laughing to be seeing his targets. "Alright! By Lord Dracula's orders, Malphas will kill to get the Belmont Girl afterwards…Two targets sighted…Malphas is taking off!"

Coming in fast to try attacking Nemu and Mayuri for Sonia had to drop the subject 'for now', to warn them of the danger from behind.

"(It's a Karasuman!) Dude Mayuri! Nemu! Get down!"

As Malphas comes out of the shadows to strike Mayuri to the chest to be bleeding to death to catch him by surprise to be down for the count, and more crows of his to attack Nemu to peck her to be surrounded. Sonia tries to avoid the rest of it only for some arrow-like feathers to shoot out to almost shooting her down by Malphas' doing and also trapping her.

"There you are, Belmont Girl! Stick around why don't ya? Malphas has some unfinished business to deal with these two losers first."

Sonia fires some water gun blast to destroy the feathers to rush to Mayuri's side to heal him up and stop the bleeding.

"No!" she dodges the rest of the feathers. "Dude Mayuri-!" Sonia sees more crows to attack only to be saved by someone. "Nemu?"

She tries using her hand-drill like attack to stop an army of crows as much as she could no matter how hurt she was.

"Please, Lady Sonia! Save my Captain! Hurry! I'll hold this demon off! I will protect you!" she said while still attacking.

Nemu was serious for Sonia to use a bubble to carry Mayuri's body somewhere safe during the fight, looks like Nemu must deal with Malphas alone for a bit. As Sonia tries to heal up Mayuri to stop the bleeding, but wasn't breathing to use CPR to press his chest to get some air to then tries punching his heart a lot, until Mayuri started to cough up to be breathing again. To his surprise, for someone like Sonia who just saved his life.

"Huh? What? Who goes there?" he was lost to see a fight to be going on to remember of him almost getting stabbed to death. "Niece Belmont…? You saved me? But why? Don't get me wrong, but I'm a bit confused right now to almost dying…"

No kidding! Mayuri didn't think he was almost killed! A close call there if Sonia didn't save him in time.

"Yeah, I know. I just did because…well, I know you're a good guy okay? And Nemu wanted it too." she said to be ready for battle. "Look, Dude Mayuri, we'll talk later! We need to fight! I'll help out Nemu to take out Malphas, while you cover us from behind. You're still hurt."

"Duck." Mayuri said to Sonia out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

To her confusion, shadow-like shadows pop out to grab hold of Sonia by the hair for Mayuri to use his ear to have a sword come out to cut some of them down. And his mechanical arm again to make a bomb to blow the rest up into bits 'and using some bottles to melt some from a type of chemical acid'. Wow, now he just saved Sonia!

"I did warn you, Niece Belmont, now we're even." he said to get out his Zanpakto. "My, my. Look. Both you and Nemu can cover me, but I want to fight. This bird-boy has caught my interest and I wish to do some test on his body once I stop him for you, we'll get back to our deal in a bit. Plus, you can't fully fight, yet. I'm going in."

"Ah…Right!" Sonia backs Mayuri up by using her water Kido attacks to fight with instead.

It would seem like Mayuri can still fight to cut down the other shadows to aid Nemu to beat up the other crows to try drilling Malphas to avoid the attacks to try cutting her down with his feathers. Lots of it! For Sonia to stop the rest of the shadows and Nemu to beat the crap out of Malphas, only for Mayuri to activate his Zanpakto to be in its Shikai form. Oh, here we go…

"Tear him up! Ashisogi Jizo's (Leg-Cutting Jizo!)"

One slash from Mayuri's sword makes poison to come out of it, for Nemu beat up Malphas a bit to almost got hurt, to kicking him back from the poison gas next.

"Ah, what's wrong? Running away from Malphas, honey?" the demon mocks her to then see some poison gas. "What is this stuff? Gas?"

"Nemu, you idiot! I got this! Aid Niece Belmont first and then come back here!" Mayuri has given his lieutenant an order. "You know what you must do once you see my Zanpakto!"

"Yes, Captain."

For Nemu to remember her orders to push Malphas to get poison for her to run away to aid Sonia to give her something to inject with from cleaning, needle to stick in her skin, and healing up by her doing down in seconds, like a robot type of nurse. Wow, she's good.

"Ouch! Nemu!" Sonia complains to rub her arm. "What was that for? To forceful there…"

"Do forgive me, Lady Sonia, but it was Master Mayuri's orders." Nemu explains. "With his Zanpakto releases deadly poison gas to slowly kill the enemy who breaths in it. I've injected you with an antidote to be unaffected like the two of us and the other Soul Reapers have to. Now, you'll live. Let's continue with the battle."

Nemu stays out of Mayuri's way to stay behind him to stop Malphas as she stops his other attack and Sonia as well from behind to come flying out. So that's what his plan is for the other two girls to do, clever.

"So you'll stop the crows who get summoned while I stop the arrows and other shadow attacks?!" Sonia asks Nemu about the plan.

For Nemu to stop them again to all go down in seconds for the demon crows that Malphas made, I think it'll work out from water attacks and material art moves.

"Yes. Please do. My Captain and I have got you covered."

Sonia goes along with it to stop the feathers to come flying and then using her Kido bubbles to trap all the feathers in.

"I'm on it!" she said to continue battling. "(Whatever you do, Nemu and Dude Mayuri, don't you two get killed. Not like this.)"

And so, it begins for Malphas to comes out of the gas to still be fine and attacking to Mayuri's surprise and Nemu's to still have some fight from this demon 'while Richard was watching from afar' to continue the job.

"Oh, cough! Cough! You almost got Malphas there! But Malphas has been through worse to survive a poison gas like yours!" said Malphas. "It would seem I have to stop you two first to get to Belmont Girl to let me shadows dance on your graves…fine with me!" he summons more shadows, feathers, and crows to help him out. "Malphas won't hold anything back to the likes of you two Soul Reapers to be dead in seconds!"

Well, it would seems like Mayuri had a chance to fight again against Malphas after almost killing him, so it was payback time while getting his specimen. While Nemu coves her captain and Sonia too from behind.

"You don't say, bird man?" Mayuri mocks the demon. "Good…Then neither will I for me to study upon you once you're dead by my hand. So, I won't let you hurt Niece Belmont. Also, for Nemu, she can be useless but still faithful to serve me to always have my back. Also, my Zanpakto…" he slashes to turn some small things to start melting from the poison. "Anyone who isn't injected with a serum by me, will kill you from breathing it in seconds. Now, let's play."

"You want to play with Malphas?" the demon questions Mayuri to power up by crushing the pillars of the buildings. "Fine! Malphas will play with you and the girl too."

And here comes the fight! Sonia uses her water Kido moves to stop the feathers as much as she could keep on flying out to be turn into dust in seconds; to see how good Nemu and Mayuri were both doing to stop Malphas from playing dirty in battle; as Nemu was moving so fast to stop the crows many more times, as Mayuri cuts down the rest of the shadow powers from the demon bird. Too strong for them to fight in midair with in the poison smoke to have the demon killed to likely for the shadows was protecting him. So Malphas was playing dirty again! From the sword to try pulling away from Mayuri's hands to try trapping him a shadow ball to make Sonia worry about him again…

"No! Dude Mayuri-!"

"Wait, Lady Sonia." But Nemu stops her. "It'll be fine."

But Sonia was confused.

"What do you mean he will be fine?" Sonia asked.

As Nemu pointed out for Malphas was winning to be happy about it, something was moving within the ball of shadows to his surprise.

"Just watch."

And it happens…Mayuri uses his bomb type of moves to blow up the shadows to free himself for Malphas didn't care to keep on clawing the captain to death, for Sonia to be happy to see him alive and well, for Nemu to run up to kick Mayuri his Zanpakto again to shield another shadow attack the second time.

"Nice one, Nemu!" Sonia cheered. "(Wow! Not bad.)"

"Captain!" Nemu calls out to Mayuri for her body to glow up.

And not just her, so was Mayuri's too as something was going to happen to cancel out the shadow attacks, feathers, and crows to fade away in one big flash to keep this demon to fight on to see something happen for even Mayuri's Zanpakto to change.

"What is this? Some light show to scare Malphas or something?"

"Oh, no. Not that one or to my lieutenant…" Mayuri said to have his Zanpakto go from Shikai to Bankai form next. "This power of the two of us are getting, I like this."

Sonia knows both Nemu and Mayuri are getting Belmont powers next to say her answers to them quickly.

"(Another one for them, huh? In that case…Dude Mayuri might be my only way to get free from this curse.)" she yells to Mayuri. "Dude Mayuri! You can help me out! Free me from this curse! And I'll give you enough demon parts to study on and maybe Dracula's too! Please!"

Nemu nodded a yes to Mayuri there to get a 'OK' from Sonia to make him happy to do so. It's a deal! And now, it was time for Mayuri to power up his weapon first…

"Good to know, Niece Belmont. Now we can really get serious from these two new power ups, one for me and the other for Nemu."

"What the hell does that mean?" Malphas was lost.

"This…Bankai! Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo (Divine Leg-Cutting Jizo!)" Mayuri releases his Bankai form.

The baby's head on the guard opens its mouth as it produces a giant creature with the body of a caterpillar in a red cape, with a grotesque golden baby's head and arms, and a silver halo hovering around its head. Near the back of the halo are 4 bells, 2 on each side. While in this form, his Zanpakutō returns to its sealed state. It emits its own red Reiatsu upon release. In this state, the creature seems to follow Mayuri's verbal commands. While using his Bankai, Mayuri's Reiatsu turns red. Mayuri achieved Bankai with the fifth Nemuri he created, which he used to modify his Zanpakutō.

For it to comes charging at Malphas to be push back to have trouble using all his shadow skills to try stopping it, but couldn't. Nemu then joins with her captain to power up to their Belmont powers.

"Captain, shall we?" she asked.

"Then let's do it." Mayuri goes first. "Captain of Squad Twelve and member of the Research and Developments, Mayuri Kurosutchi."

Nemu goes next to do the same…

"Lieutenant of Squad Twelve and member of the Research and Developments, Nemu Kurosutchi."

And then they say it together to have the Belmont powers from within them both. From Nemu power up from all over her body, and Mayuri with the lower body part of a centipede type from his Bankai form, as a type of double power. Gross! Oh, well...Anyways, they say the last line together.

"Powers from within! Activate!"

Cool looks, for the most parts. For Richard to worry now and Sonia to be amazed, for Malphas was in it. Nemu goes in to kicking and punching the demon first as he was tries to dodge the rest.

"Come at Malphas! Both of you!" he said while he kept on fighting.

You think he can, Nemu was fast to hit Malphas at last to the fast for Mayuri's Ashisogi Jizo fires another poison gas blast to trap the demon and Mayuri himself to use his dagger from his head to cut him at the wing. Nice one! With the big creature resting and Mayuri to try squeezing the bird demon, to have him now right where Mayuri wanted Malphas to be.

"You were saying about taking the both of us on?" Mayuri questions Malphas.

"Try holding Malphas long enough to fight back-!" trying to summon more shadow power to not be working for Malphas was out of juice. "Huh? No! What? What's wrong with Malphas powers?! What did you two do?!"

Starting to cough up blood for the poison to take affect within Malphas to not be protected anymore, it would seem Nemu and Mayuri has done it.

"Looks like from our powers, my Bankai to attack, Nemu to use her moves, and myself too…it was the only way to devour your powers to then give you the poison to spread throughout your entire body to be unable to fight back now. Allowing me to finish the job, while taking something from you too as I'll be researching your kind very well, Mr. Karasuman." Mayuri uses his long shape legs to stab Malphas to death and finishes the job.

"No! Malphas can't lose…! Not like this! Have mercy!" the demon begged for his life.

But in seconds, Mayuri stabs Malphas a lot to be bleed out blood as the captain places his Zanpakto back after using it.

"No. Mercy is for the week, just like you are." he said.

From melting from poison on Malphas, to bleed out to death, and he was getting destroyed to be dead now with his claw to be cut off in good shape for him to have only.

"MALPHAS IS DEFEATED! SO UNCOOL!"

And it was melted to turn to nothing but a strange liquid now. Richard failed the mission to return until next time to get the job done – from capturing Sonia to bring back to Dracula, while getting the blood and souls too. But as orders from Shaft to tell Dracula wants him back at his lair.

"Oh, well then. Better luck next time, Belmont Girl, this is only the beginning for me to strike back." Richard goes into the portal to escape.

With another monster stopped and both Mayuri and Nemu have their Belmont powers to go away 'until next time', they've done well today to have new powers up to like Sonia a lot. Now helping them out, to have something to study upon for Sonia to soon have a cure from the vampire's curse to get rid of soon. As Nemu gets another member of Squad Twelve to bring back to study upon Malphas' hand.

"Mission complete, Master Mayuri." Nemu said to also gives her thanks to Sonia. "And you, Lady Sonia, these Belmont powers are very skillful for us to use in the future again while we can research on other demons. Can we still be friends?"

Sonia and Nemu shake hands on it to see she was well for a Gigai solider who was handmade.

"Of course, Nemu, I hope to hang out with you a lot more than just studying on my work." Sonia said to then thanking Mayuri next. "Ah…So Dude Mayuri, again thanks for the save and aiding me for freeing me from the curse-! Huh?"

Soon Sonia sees herself glowing up to have herself getting hurt from the curse to affect her body again, it stops slowly to relive the pain in seconds for Nemu to inject something in time than not feeling ill from the poison attack.

"Surprise." he said. "I see Nemu has also injected you with a barrier type of anti-curse. It should free you from the pain of Dracula's curse until I make a cure, it will take some time. But it will happen. While I study any demon I come across and such to get what needs to be done besides having this collar around your next." Mayuri was serious about it to be there for Sonia.

Still…Sonia had to ask one thing to Mayuri next.

"If you knew on why I saved your life, why did you save mine?" he asked.

Well, the answer was this…

"I don't know…I guess you reminded me of myself who was lonely once to make a lot of mistakes to make anew to still care. In some strange in sickening way…You're alright with me." said Mayuri to pat Sonia on the head. "Remember our deal. Save some for Nemu to bring in the demon parts while I work on the cure, so keep the collar and the antidote will hold off the curse if it can. But I must warn you. Any attack to happen you must fight back, because if you let this curse take any affect…you will become a full flesh vampire forever with no way out of it, so try not to let it happen to you, not even once! It won't do you any good. Keep on living."

Nemu bows to Sonia again for Mayuri 'surprisingly' made a friend with her to get curse soon. And a lot more friends with Nemu now.

"Yes, please do." she said.

And for that, Sonia says this to the two next to be happy after making some new friends and getting help soon enough.

"Thanks again."

"Good to know. Nemu, let's get going. Come on." he said to take off. "Just do as I say before I change my mind. (I think she'll be fine for what I've learned about Niece Belmont today.)"

With Mayuri and Nemu leaving, Sonia gets how those two are different to have a heart and job to do. While on top from an anther building as both Kenpachi and Yachiru saw the whole thing on what Sonia could do as and to stand up to Squad Twelve members to not be in danger in the first place.

"Wow…" Yachiru was amazed on what she just saw. "Did you see, Kenny? Sonny stood up from both Scary Man and Lady Friend to be good people after all. And from the Dracula guy to send out monsters to have some hope to save her from the curse and change those two lives around. You know, Kenny? What do you think of her?"

For Kenpachi to smile to see Sonia fighting through the curse and can fight with some powers to be powerful to sense out just like Ichigo.

"(Sonia Belmont/Yamamoto who's the Head Captain's only niece, with some powers to fight back this Dracula must be strong. She's going to become stronger just like Ichigo. But furthermore…she's hot!)" Kenpachi said to tell Yachiru to answer the question. "What do I think of her, Yachiru? I'm going to have some fun with Sonia."

What did Kenpachi meant there is to have Yachiru look happy about it? Weird…as Sonia was thinking about some hope left to get cured soon to be her normal self again while also trying to become a Soul Reaper soon enough.

"(Dude Mayuri…Nemu…These guys from Squad Twelve as the Research and Developments are something else. In a good way. From a twisted, but caring after making a mistake once, to learn something from someone to somehow change for the better. And I like it.)"

That's true, Sonia, so true. And as the day was about to end for Sonia to talk to Ichigo from the screens again to say about the upcoming event. For tomorrow early in the morning for him, Rukia, Renji, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Hayame, Kon, Ririn, Kurodo, Noba, Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu to travel all the way to the Belmont Village to meet up with Sonia's master, her villagers, the Mayor, Maria, and Howey as she tells Ichigo all about it for Urahara and Yoruichi to keep in mind to tell the others the same thing. Good to know. Seems to be all set for them to chitchat before heading out to meet up in a month next after their training to then be seeing with each other again besides talking from time to time.

"Sonia, hey. I think I'm ready for what's to come now. You know? Tomorrow morning to be at your adopted home." he said.

"Yeah, I know. It's time, Ichigo." Sonia said to stay strong for her friends. "Just stay strong for all of you, watch yourselves from Dracula or his demons, train well, and…" she thought about Maria's health for Richard to care about him. "I just hope Maria will be helping all of us out. I hope she's pulling through from Alucard's betrayal, Richard who's cursed like me, and who I really am. So much to be going on."

Oh, yeah…From everyone else hearing the news with Sonia, Richard, and Maria's Master Keigo Shu to get the news from bad to worse to be happening. Knowing this, they're going to need all the help Ichigo and the others can get on their side and to aid Sonia with the other Soul Reapers in the Soul Society.

"We'll try our best to talk to her. Also, we heard about your Master Liberian will be joining with us too. Don't know why, I just heard from Yoruichi herself…"

Once Ichigo said to Sonia, this changes everything. Wow! The Master Liberian/George Thomas will also be joining Team Ichigo? Awesome!

"George is coming too?"surprise Sonia to make her smile. "The Master Liberian himself…I think you'll do just fine."

For Ichigo and Sonia to both nodded at one another, for them to do fine from the World of the Living and the Soul Society. They were both good to go, Sonia will do her training to become a Soul Reaper, and her friends to become stronger with Maria's help back where she was raised in to be adopted.

"In any case, Sonia, we'll see each other soon." he said. "Best of luck to you. Don't give up."

"Same here, Ichigo. Tell Renji, Rukia, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Hayame, Kon, and the others I said hi." said Sonia. "(Again, we're going to need all the help we can get to stop Dracula and his goons for good.)"

For the two get it to do so for both Ichigo and Sonia.

"Right!"

For them to say it at the same time, they were all set to go. From love, avoiding the pain, continue to train, making friends, living in a real world, trying to learn more, and such to be more to come. With some strange woman to be wondering around the Soul Society with George to be on a boat with someone with the Ferryman to be rowing his to the destination to get the heroes to stop Dracula and the curse to finally come to an end. Guess we'll be going to Ichigo's part next in the next chapter/episode, so stick around.