Bleach – The Heart of the Matter
By Tayla Drago
It's time...today for a brand-new day to happen back in the World of the Living. Why is that…? Ichigo leaves early from his home to meet up near the park with the others to hope his family will be all right for Kon and Rukia to join with him; for Orihime, Chad, and Uryu to leave to see his father again before taking off. Same with Hayame to hope for her parents will be fine to see them again later. For them to all meet up with Urahara, Yoruichi 'in her cat form', Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba…it would seem to have everyone was there to wait for their ride to get the Belmont Village next to be their real training. For the sun to slowly rise to be morning real soon. So this was it, huh? So much to be going on next. For things to start off as Yoruichi tells Urahara about everyone's arrivals…
"It seems we're good to go now, Urahara, whenever you're ready." she said.
"Alright, now the first we need to do is…Roll call!"
The others had weird look on their faces to be confused for Ichigo gets mad a Urahara again over nothing.
"You're kidding me, right?!" he said in anger. "So stupid!"
"You're the one being stupid right now, Ichigo, just settle down." Uryu corrects Ichigo.
"No kidding…" same with Hayame to be hugging her boyfriend Uryu in his arms.
For Ichigo wanted to train to see Sonia in the Soul Society in the month while training and living for a while at the Belmont Village.
"Come on…"
Urahara laughs to move his fan to cool Ichigo off to get to the roll call over and done with.
"The sooner we do this, the better for our ride to be here in a few minutes. I promise. So, let's begin." Urahara calls out everyone's names one at a time to check off the list. "Now then, I now Ichigo's here to mark him in." he teases Ichigo to continue. "Now then…Rukia."
For one person to be called, the other response back from Urahara.
"Here."
"Renji."
"Yo!"
"Orihime."
"Here, and here!"
"Chad."
"Present."
"Hayame."
"I'm here."
"Uryu."
"Present."
"Kon, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba."
All four of the Modsouls answer together to say it at once.
"We're all here!"
"I know that Yoruichi's here as well…" Urahara continues again. "Jinta."
"Here!"
"Ururu."
"Present."
"And…Tessai."
"Here as well, and we're all counted for."
Urahara claps with joy to be all set to go 'as everyone else were pack up for a month of two', for him to show them the boat and one more person to be join them.
"And finally, to be join up are two men. One is coming right now. Known other than…George Thomas! AKA the Master Liberian himself." said Urahara to moving aside.
And appearing in front of everyone else being the Master Liberian to make his return to help the others out by stopping Dracula for good. For Yoruichi told him on what happened a few days again who agrees to aid them after Dracula has gone long enough to come to an end, even if he must step in to battle once again.
"Rukia. Renji. Yoruichi. Ichigo. Long time no see, my friends. And some brand new ones." said George. "I was told on what has happened to Sonia to be in the Soul Society right now to Alucard's betrayal to also have Richard under Dracula's spell. Not good…Anyways, I brought someone to bring up from the park of Karakura Town to get us to the Belmont Village, who should arrive right…" he sees the Ferryman arriving. "Now. Ah, perfect timing."
And from the boat rows in the lakes for the Ferryman himself to appears to make room for everyone to get in there and place their things in the far back. For this man look old to have some powers to be friends with the Master Liberian to guide people from hidden places; from back then of this man to also bring others back from hell below where no human has never gone before.
The Ferryman is a character (or multiple characters) in the Castlevania series. His role in the games is simple: he awaits for transporting the player across a river (seeing as swimming isn't an option). Sometimes he requires specific items, but nevertheless, he will take the player where the player needs to go.
The origin story - The Ferryman is most likely based on the Greek mythological character, Charon. Charon was the ferryman of Hades, who carried the souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron, which divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. A coin to pay Charon for passage, usually an obolus or danake, was sometimes placed in or on the mouth of a dead person. Some authors say that those who could not pay the fee or those whose bodies were left unhurried, had to wander the shores for one hundred years. This payment characteristic is similar to those versions of the Ferryman in Castlevania where the protagonist must present him with a special item in order to obtain passage on his boat.
In the 5th and 4th centuries BC, Charon is often depicted as a rough, unkempt Athenian seaman dressed in reddish-brown, holding his ferryman's pole in his right hand and using his left hand to receive the deceased. Other Latin authors also describe Charon as an old man clad in foul garb, with haggard cheeks and an unkempt beard, a fierce ferryman who guides his craft with a long pole.
In the 14th century, Dante Alighieri described Charon in his Divine Comedy as having eyes of fire. Elsewhere, Charon appears as a mean-spirited and gaunt old man or as a winged demon wielding a double hammer, although Michelangelo's interpretation, influenced by Dante's depiction in the Inferno, shows him with an oar over his shoulder, ready to beat those who delay. In modern times, Charon is commonly depicted as a living skeleton in a cowl, much like the Grim Reaper.
The Ferryman appears in Rondo of Blood as a minor character, transporting the hero across bodies of water in two occasions. He does not ask for Richter or Maria to give him anything in return, and, in fact, will supply them with items if they speak to him after he has transported them.
The Ferryman also appears in Symphony of the Night as well, but in two forms. The first form he appears in - that is, the first the player can see - is his Rondo of Blood incarnation, which is considered to be a cameo appearance. To see this, the player must go to the Outer Wall and descend to the lowest possible point, then go to the telescope. This will make Alucard look through it and see the Ferryman from Rondo of Blood rowing on the river.
The second incarnation in this game appears in the Underground Caverns, where he will ferry Alucard over damaging bodies of water after he obtains the Merman Statue and until he obtains the Holy Symbol, which allows him to swim without being damaged.
The second place where he can be found is in Stage 4'. To find him, the player must first make their way through the first screen of the level. Once on the second screen, the player must jump over a log and ride it downstream across the river until they reach a cavern. Here, the Ferryman will be waiting for them and take them just a couple of oar-rows forward to reach the next ledge. If the hero steps back onto his boat, the Ferryman will gladly present them with a full HP restoring item. If the hero climbs back onto his boat a second time, an increasingly bothered Ferryman will award them a Key instead. Yet, if the hero gets greedy and dares to step back onto his boat a third time, the Ferryman, now very upset, will throw an invisibility Potion at them to take them off his back. Any further attempts to step onto his boat will award the same results from there on.
The Ferryman, now more cheerful than ever, can be found in a flooded area of the Underground Caverns. Stepping onto his boat prompts him to say: "I'll take you to a place which might be interesting for you. Hehehehe!", and start rowing, leading his master, Alucard, across the uneven terrain of the cavern, dropping the ferry down ledges and using a special elevator to reach higher ground again, until they finally reach to the other side. Alucard will not find much opposition while traveling with the Ferryman, other than a few annoying bats. He must be careful of not falling off the boat, though, or he will take heavy damage from the water while being overwhelmed by the myriad of creatures that dwell underwater, all this while desperately attempting to catch up with the boat and climb back to safety. Alucard will have to ask for the Ferryman's services a second time in this location once he has finished his business on the dead end part of the cavern.
The Ferryman can be encountered a second time and in a much more important role, as he will now lead Alucard to a secret room where a very important item can be found: the Holy Symbol, which will allow him to breathe and sustain himself while underwater. However, this time around the Ferryman won't appear in his intended location unless Alucard summons him by having acquired the Merman Statue beforehand. Now, in a much more serious mood, the Ferryman will say: "I'll take you to meet your destiny...", and begin the voyage. Again, Alucard will have to defend against a swarm of bats while the Ferryman opens a gate midway through their journey, which will allow them access to the other side. This gate would have prevented the player from proceeding further if they had attempted to make it to the other side without the aid of the Ferryman.
"Greeting to all of you, friends of the Belmont family of Richard and Sonia. I'm the Ferryman, but my real name is Furio Amen, and I'm here to assort you all to the Belmont Village." he said to explain the rules next. "Please remain seated always, place your things behind the back of the boat, and relax to leave the rowing to me, I shall row you all to your destinations. Enjoy the boat ride to be there in fifteen to twenty minutes."
"All aboard, everyone!" Urahara was being goofy again.
For Urahara to say that for everyone to get on the boat with their things in to be all set to go.
"We're sitting down already…!" said Ichigo.
That they all were for George to get on board last and for Furio to row away.
"Whenever you're ready, Furio, row that boat of yours."
"Good…Now, it's time we take off from Karakura Town and to Belmont Village we go." said the Ferryman.
And rowing the boat he goes…As Furio rows away for Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Hayame, Kon, Ririn, Kurodo, Noba, Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, and George to see Karakura Town one more time until they left the park to be seeing the lake that takes them somewhere further away from home.
It was a nice ride as everyone hopes to see everyone again real soon. From Hayame's Mother and Father hope for the best, Ryuken to know that his son was doing things differently to hope that he's a worthy Quincy, Karin and Yuzu to worry about their bother as Isshin knows about his son will come back; for Tatsuki to see Orihime to wish her the best of luck for both her and Keigo hope for the best that Sonia was still alive somewhere 'to them' their other friends will be fine too. As well as Lippie, his other kind, and the other demons to be friendly back in their world, Mizuiro, Chizuru, Michiru, Ryo, and Mahana to worry while of course…Don Kanonji to do his best to protect Karakura Town with Karin to aid him and Lippie with his other good demons. Hey, seems fair there, right? With all of this to happen to hope for the best for our heroes to do the rest now to finally begin.
A nice water boat ride this was to see the sun rising, the animals roaming around the lake waters, plants to pop out, to going through a tunnel to get dark until they got out to a whole new area to be in, and such to be out of Karakura Town in seconds. Magic done by the Ferryman's doing. For them to be there in the village-like type of neighborhood to believe in monsters and such, for they've arrive to the Belmont Village. At long last. And what a view it was for them to be seeing all of this, and the villagers to see the new heroes/visitors to arrive at long last. Nice place they have there.
"Wow! Look at this, you guys!" Orihime was amazed. "Is like we're in a different world just like from a fairy tale."
"It does." said Chad.
"It's like a regular town of Ichigo's." surprised Renji.
"It has things like they do in the area." same with Rukia. "But more with the old times to live in the woods with magic, I can feel it all around the place."
"I think it's lovely in a cool way." said Hayame. "Isn't it, Uryu?"
Uryu was blushing for him and Hayame to be hugging each other to say the same thing, while adjusting his glasses.
"It does, Hayame, I agree."
"Really? Let me see."
As Kon was trying to have a better look at the view, Jinta and Ururu look at each other try pushing him off the boat as they count together to do it.
"One…Two…Three!" the two said at the same time.
And splash! Down goes Kon to get soak in the lake to look like he was drowning, but he wasn't. Trying to swim back to shore, only for Ririn, Kurodo and Noba to grab some long sticks to do something for the little Modsoul. I think he's been torcher too much, huh?
"Ah! Help me! Help me! I'm drowning here! Ririn! Kurodo! Noba! Don't you three just sit there, help me back on the boat!" Kon begged of the other three Modsouls.
But…Kon was getting whack by the three like some piñata repeatedly for Jinta to be laughing and Ururu was clapping.
"You're on the shallow end of the lake, stupid!" said Ririn.
"And so, this serves you right." and Kurodo.
With a couple of hits for Furio to lift Kon back up to be dried off after that for Noba aids him afterwards.
"Okay, you two. He's got the message." Noba said.
Kon was happy to get dried off too much by Tessai's doing next to make his day bad so far.
"I got this!" he said while cleaning. "Jinta. Ururu. Next time, you two learn your place."
"AAAAAH! I rather have a pretty girl dry me off instead of a man!"
Feeling ashamed and cleaned off now for Kon for Ririn and Kurodo to laugh at him, the boat comes to the harbor side to make a stop to arrive at their destinations at long last. For Furio and George get off first to get the things out for everyone to get off the boat next, one at a time.
"We've arrived." he said. "I'm glad to aid you all for I will join in battle to the Soul Society once your training's complete as I will aid the others to row my boat them from one place to another. Thank you for riding the Ferryman's boat, now please get up carefully to exit out to the Belmont Village you go." Furio bows to everyone. "George, I leave the rest to you now."
With Ferryman shaking hands with the Master Liberian to part ways, he aids the others to follow him to walk to the path and in to the village on foot now.
"Thank you, old friend, we'll be seeing you again." said George to tell the others on what to do next. "Now then, this way please, everyone. To the village. Just follow me to the path and don't part from each other." the Master Liberian leads the others for them to follow him, follow the leader 'I guess'.
"I'm going, hold your horses…!" Ichigo complain.
For Orihime looked happy to gently push Ichigo from behind to get going.
"Come on, Ichigo! We got to get a move on. I want to see the place in person." she said with joy.
"Orihime, don't push. I can walk."
For them to leave, Uryu and Hayame to hold each other, Jinta and Ururu to run up, Tessai, Urahara, and Yoruichi walked together, Chad follows, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba got going, and Renji tries to hold Rukia's hand.
"Ah…Shall we go, Rukia?" he asks her.
"Huh?" Rukia sees him to catch up to the others. "Good thinking, Renji, let's get going."
Keep trying, dude. Orihime's doing the same thing with Ichigo. For Renji to try his hardest, while Kon runs up to catch up to her and everyone else.
"Aaah! Hold me, Rukia! Orihime! Hayame! Come on…! Wait for me, ladies! Don't leave me like this!"
"(What was that all about?)" question Renji to follow the rest. "(Keep on trying, Renji. Soon enough, it'll happen like Sonia said it will for me.)"
And off they went up the path for George to lead them all the way to the village 'to look like a normal neighborhood thing of houses and other things of an everyday thing to do shopping from person to shipping wise. Well protected to have some type of barrier around their village to keep Dracula and his demons out; for their arrival for other things were farm animals, dogs, cats, hard working men, women 'for most', and lots of children to stare at the others to be strangers to them. But some to see them as friends to Sonia and Richard, if only if Alucard didn't betray them…At the welcoming gate opens to close once they all entered, for the Mayor 'with blonde hair, glasses, and black clothing welcomes them all' for George told them what has happened lately to have some hope left.
"Greetings, Master Liberian. Greetings to all of you, friends of Sonia and Richard Belmont. We thank you for aiding us all to stop Dracula and his hellish demons." said the Mayor. "For I'm the Mayor of this village, the Belmont Village that is. Within a month to be training to go into this Soul Society to fight the rest from there will do wonders for all of us real soon, so become stronger for all of us to save Richard. As for Alucard who betrayed us all, do stop him soon."
"One thing at a time, Mayor Sir." said George to shake hands with him. "We'll do our very best, even for both me and Furio too."
They seem to know each other very well to be happy to meet in person again.
"But of course, so feel free to make yourselves at home. Shelter, food, bathing, fresh clothes, and our needs will be there for all of you. Any friend to Sonia's and an enemy of Dracula's, is a friend of ours. Also, your secrets on your powers stays between all of us."
"Great, way to let us trust you all after saying something special…" Ichigo gets hit in the head by Rukia. "Hey! Rukia!"
"Ichigo, show some respect." Rukia yells at Ichigo. "I mean, really."
I think for the people at this village are all trust worthy, scared from Dracula but good people to be warriors to spell makers too. Soon enough, this is where Sonia, Richard, Maria, and former Alucard's master and protector of the Belmont Village Master Keigo Shu appears to see the other heroes of Karakura Town to greet them next to help them in training of their Belmont powers next for the next month. Cool!
"At last you all have arrived to our village. I welcome you all, friends of Sonia Belmont…Or rather, Yamamoto. A proud half Belmont and Soul Reaper, truly amazing." said Shu to greet each Team Ichigo one at a time. "Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo. Soul Reapers, both Rukia and Renji. Six Princess, Orihime, Strong Right Arm, Chad. Last Quincy, Uryu. Harpy half breed, Hayame. The four mighty Modsouls, Kon, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba. Former Captains from Squad Two and Twelve, Yoruichi and Urahara. Former Kido master, Tessai. Young trainees, Jinta and Ururu. And the Master Liberian, George. All of your help will mean wonders to stop Dracula and ending his curse for good if we all work together." he said to lead them on a tour. "Come, I wish to show all of you around before each of you can settle down to train a little at a time for today."
Shu has a very good point there to have everything for him to show them – bathing house, laundry room, boys to girls houses to stay in like a cabin, kitchen room, gym areas from outside and inside, gaming to movie room with TV of other channels, library room, and lots of different shopping areas. Lots of things they have done, you know? For Shu to show and tell all about it to finally getting settle in for a while…As Urahara, Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu set up shop 'to make some money' while still in training. Yoruichi explore a bit more to be in her cat form, Chad checks out the gaming room, Renji and Rukia to find their rooms, George talks to Shu alone, as Hayame and Uryu sat down for a bit at the park of the place, as Orihime takes Ichigo to go on a date type to walk around the village for a bit.
"Okay, everyone!" said Urahara while working. "Let's take five and…get back to the real stuff in a bit. You heard Shu and the Mayor, make yourselves at home. While I get some money!"
Show off…As Renji 'tries to spend some time with Rukia', Orihime takes Ichigo on a tour. So far, so good for them.
"Give me a break-!" Orihime calms Ichigo down once she holds his hand.
"Come on, Ichigo, let's have a look around the place together. Let's settle in and relax before we can train." she said. "(This my chance to have Ichigo to myself! What joy!)"
"Huh? (Damn, Orihime, your hands are so soft…)" he hides his feelings towards Orihime. "I guess so. But let me walk this time."
I guess with this part to be going on for Ririn see three couples having so far for others even for Ichigo to be liking Orihime a lot more than a friend to him.
"Grr…! Serious?! First Rukia and now Orihime?!"
Kurodo and Noba try to calm their friend down.
"Ah…"
Kurodo does it for Noba to say something first, or tries to.
"Take it easy, Ririn. I don't think you and Ichigo wouldn't work out." he said. "I'm just saying-!"
Ririn got mad to kick Kurodo down and Noba to get karate chop to the head by her. She was jealous over nothing!
"No!" she said in anger to feel ashamed. "I never said I like Ichigo like that…! I just…"
"Then you should know the difference between loving someone and being friends with them already!" Kon tells Ririn the truth. "Look at me! I have to get any girl until one of them loves me back in no time." Kon moves away from both Ririn's karate chopping and kicking just in time. "Hey! Grow up already, will ya?!"
Well, seems Ririn was heartbroken now to make her cry without admitting to the other three.
"You three boys will never understand on how I feel…I hate you all!"
Poor little Modsoul girl…seems like Ririn was hurt, and then she runs off in to the woods of the Belmont Village a bit further from the barrier for Hayame to see what was going on to go find Ririn on her own, to hug Uryu to be back for him later.
"(Well, this isn't good…) Uryu, I need to do something. I'll be back later." Hayame said to her boyfriend. "I promise! I need to help out a friend."
Uryu allows it that has something to do with the four Modsouls…
"If you say so."
Something tells me he walks around the village to tell Ichigo about this soon enough. As Kurodo and Noba felt bad to go find Ririn from the path she ran off to and try to cheer her up, Kon does the same thing for Hayame to follow her. Oh, boy…Unaware there were two following them. Huh…? As Kurodo and Noba heard something to make them lose track and to lose directions on where Ririn went to and go somewhere else instead, but Kon kept going the right way as the same with Hayame to catch up to the little guy to go to the right path.
"Kon! Hey, Kon! Wait up! I'm coming too!" she said. "Why are you going after Ririn?"
"Huh? Hayame?" Kon was confused but he was happy at the same time. "What are you doing…? Not that I don't mind you coming along to keep me company."
Hayame just stay aside Kon so he wouldn't do anything perverted to her breasts, legs, or look under her skirt.
"Save your flattery for later. I saw Ririn running off to be upset and then Kurodo and Noba have both gone missing. So I wanted to help, I wish to tag along if that's all right with you."
"Fine with me, let's go!" Kon leads Hayame to follow him to find Ririn. "And just so you know, Ririn's not my type! I'm just helping out a friend because Ririn needs to get over her crush on Ichigo which sadly it'll never happen. Sad, but its true."
Hayame understood to show Kon cares for everyone.
"Right. (Don't worry, Kon, you are caring besides a bit of a pervert yourself.)" she said only to herself to keep in mind.
Searching for Ririn to be spying on the two on top of every single tree she goes on to and such to see how Hayame and Kon try to find her. Confused on why they were trying to help her out, for them to be hearing something to sound odd…Lost in the woods for the two, they soon see some animals to approach at some type of light up ahead to be a kind-hearted feeling to go to that direction for Ririn to follow Kon and Hayame since they headed to that direction. So where was Kurodo and Noba at right now?
"Look, Noba! I think I see her, up on a tree!" Kurodo calls up to Ririn. "Hello?! Ririn? Are you up there?"
Noba sees something else than just Ririn.
"I don't think that's her." he said.
"But it must be, she's coming down right now."
"She can fly?" surprised Noba.
For them to see the other male Modsouls' view of the two to see something else instead to let out a big scream…Oh, boy. As for the noise for Ririn to hear her from the direction she was following both Hayame and Kon were going 'to think if Kurodo and Noba would be all right', to then sees it was a girl who looked upset while sitting near the lake with some animal friends of hers to be kind hearted. At least not too cheesy for her to be a princess like Snow White of Sleepy Beauty; Maria Renard was there to fight very well but after what she has heard of Richard to be under Dracula's spell, Alucard betraying them all, and Sonia was a Soul Reaper to be training, what was there for her to do now? Just standing alone with the animals, Hayame and Kon hide near a rock to see who it was to their surprise, same with Ririn to overhear everything.
Maria Renard is a character in the Castlevania series. She is a young vampire huntress and a distant relative of the Belmont Clan. She is only twelve years old at the time she makes her first appearance in the series, yet she has already mastered the use of magic spells, animal spirits for familiars, and the four celestial beasts.
In 1796, Richter vanished under the light of a full moon. Maria immediately set out to find her guardian and friend with no idea of where to start. After a year of searching, in 1797, Dracula's Castle reappeared as if to show her the way. While she set out to Dracula's Castle once again, unbeknownst to her, Alucard, the dhampir son of Dracula who had put himself under an eternal sleep after defeating his father with Richter's ancestor, Trevor Belmont, three hundred years earlier, was mysteriously awoken from his slumber. Alucard also set out to the castle with the intent of destroying it and preventing Dracula's revival.
Maria and Alucard would meet several times while pursuing their separate goals. Maria was surprised to find another "human" in the castle, but when Alucard introduced himself at her request and explained what his goal was, she decided to trust him and both went their separate ways.
Maria had trouble getting around the castle after that, as its very form seemed different than the last time she was there. When she met up with Alucard again, she asked him about it and he explained that the castle itself was a creature of chaos and that it could take many forms. With this in mind, she continued her search.
She later witnessed a battle between Alucard and a Hippogryph and was very impressed by the strength he had shown during the battle. She decided to ask Alucard to help her find Richter, or at least let her know if he ran across him. Alucard agreed, although she did not like what he had to say about him once he did encounter him. He had told her that he was in league with Dracula and claimed to be the lord of the castle. Maria was relieved that Richter was indeed alive and in the castle, but couldn't believe what Alucard had said about him, so she left in a hurry to find out for herself. She eventually found out that what Alucard was saying was the truth, but she knew he was being controlled somehow. She was not confident in her own ability to face and defeat Richter, however, and she decided to test Alucard's strength to determine if he was up to the task. Alucard was able to defeat her and she entrusted saving Richter to him. She pleaded for him not to harm Richter, but both agreed he had to be stopped, so she gave him the Holy Glasses to enable him to see through evil illusions.
Alucard faced off against Richter in the Castle Keep, but was now able to see the mysterious orbs that allowed the dark priest, Shaft, to control Richter, and in the middle of their battle, he destroyed them, thus releasing Richter from his spell. While Alucard chased Shaft into an inverted castle in order to prevent Dracula's resurrection, Maria helped the wounded Richter escape from the castle. They went to a ridge a safe distance from the castle and waited for Alucard to finish his task. As they watched the castle crumble in the aftermath of Alucard's victory, Alucard met up with them at that ridge in order to bid them farewell. He told them that his blood was cursed and that the world would be better off to be rid of him, and he departed to return to his deep slumber. This was unacceptable to Maria, who had developed a strong affection toward Alucard and could not imagine him not being a part of her life. After Richter assured her that it was fine, she set out to convince him to stay.
"Ooo…! Another beautiful woman-!" Hayame pulls Kon away in time with her leg to keep quiet.
"Kon, stay quiet. You're not supposed to go up to a stranger like her. She looks upset, we don't want to make it worse." she said to have a better look. "Just who is she anyways?"
"I want to know where Ririn is. I hope she doesn't scare that lady over there." Kon said. "Okay, Hayame. Answer me this, what is someone like her doing out of the village?"
Just as the two kept on spying, only to hear someone talking to them to be Maria's voice.
"Please come out. There's no use hiding from me."
Panicking at first for Hayame and Kon, only to see Maria wasn't going to do anything to them to come out of hiding for Ririn to fall on top of Kon to save her from the landing there 'since the tree branch broke'.
"Ririn, there you are." surprised Hayame. "You're okay."
"Get off!" Kon pushes Ririn off him. "Were you in that tree this whole time?!"
Ririn acts tough in front of everyone else.
"So, what if I was?! Huh?! None of your business! Why did you two followed me?!" she asked.
Hayame says something first before Kon can to move him aside.
"We were worried about you, Ririn. For me and Kon was too." Hayame explains. "I don't know if Ichigo's right for you. He and Orihime are kind of…dating. And Rukia of course sees Ichigo as a friend/brother and sister type of thing. That's all. And he has you as a friend. Love can hurt sometimes, but life goes on when you find someone better in the future. Maybe for you Kurodo, Noba, and Kon will too one day."
"Really…?" surprised Ririn to hide her feelings too. "Ah…I get it, I guess. For me, Kurodo, and Noba that is, it does make sense. But for Kon, forget it." Ririn hears Kon mumble something about her to get angry a little to overhear. "Come again, pervert?"
"I mean-!" he changes the subject. "…I guess when you put it that way, yes. But running away won't solve any problems."
Soon Maria speaks up to say something about running away to solve your problems 'speaking of which'…Besides Ririn feeling a bit better, it was Maria's turn now. You know, because of her friends and one betrayal from Alucard? Yeah, that.
"What's the point of not solving problems if it just happens to ruin everything?! I'm scared about Sonia's safety to almost losing her, Alucard has betray us all, Dracula and his army are trying to beat us to ruling this planet, and…that monster has Richard Belmont under his curse to fight against us to be the love of my life-!" Maria covers her mouth too late in shame. "Oh, no…I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have spoken."
Now Kon and Hayame sees the problem with Maria to try reasoning with her, and hear some type of roaring kind of sound. Could it be from something flying at Kurodo and Noba to make a run for it from back in the forest and screaming for their lives. Well, the three here a little bit of both. Anyways, you two…talk some sense in to Maria already!
"But wait!"
"Don't say that!"
"But it's true!" Maria talks back. "I was going to fight in this war to finally ending the curse, but we all just fight and die! All of us! So what's the point-?!" she was then smacked by Ririn.
"Calm down!"
Surprising both Kon and Hayame to say something to Ririn at the same time…
"Ririn-!" the two were shocked.
"Wait, Kon! Hayame!" she stops them. "I got this." Ririn talks to Maria while grabbing some water to place a cloth to clean her face with some animals helping her out. "Listen, you're Maria Renard, right? Sonia and Alucard-! I mean both her and Richard's best friend?"
Seems like she has heard all about Ichigo's friends from her master to know they were real to see 'some of them' up close right now.
"Yes. Yes, I am, Maria Renard, the youngest daughter of the Renard Sisters. And you must be Sonia's friends she's been training for the war, correct?"
"That we are. Ririn, of the Bount hunter Modsouls, that's me. And that's Hayame Yoko the Harpy and Kon another Modsoul fighter…and a pervert." she said laughing at Kon. "Look, Maria, there's nothing to feel ashamed about anything. We will save Richard and you'll have him to love and to see Sonia again, and not to mention getting back at Alucard after what he has done to all of us. He has the nerve to work for his so call father, that traitor! Is like how I was with Ichigo, but…I know he has found someone else to love, and for me to make sure it stays the way it is; and for me to be with someone else one day! I got friends to be good or stupid ones to care for me to see that running away doesn't help and neither should you, Maria. Your animal friends seem to know that too, look around you."
That's true. Maria does have some fighting powers to control the skills of an animal and a friend to be by her side. To see she still has Sonia, Howey 'wherever he was right now', and Richard to soon be saved and to admit her feelings to him once he's freed. She must stop hiding from her fears, to fight back. No more running away. Seeing herself in a reflection of a lake, Maria knows what to do now.
"Wait…You're right, Ririn, I understand now…" Maria then stops to hear Kurodo and Noba's screams to come running with the strange noise to be someone familiar to her. "Howey!"
"Howey?" both Kon and Hayame were both confused.
As Kurodo and Noba both trip in the bushes to fear the creature to be after them, only that Maria knows who it was. An Snow Owl. It was Howey, a powerful type of demon-like owl and a friend/pet to Maria as her partner with powers. It would seem he wasn't after the two Modsouls, he was just trying to find Maria on which he did to be happy to see Maria again.
"Oh, Howey? There you are." Maria hugs her friend. "Were you worried about me to try finding me with those two friends of Ririn's helping you out? Such a good bird you are."
Aw…touching moment for a friend of a human and animal are as best friends. Nice to see, only…to hear a monster-like sound to fear Howey to be on guard and wasn't him this time or the other animals 'for they hide in fear from the strange sound'.
"So this is Howey the Owl you have there, Maria." Hayame said to hear a strange noise. "Hold on, that wasn't him making that weird noise?"
"No." answered Maria. "He just makes bird sounds only."
"And those screams weren't coming from both Kurodo and Noba." Kon pointed out.
Yep, it can't be them either. Then who could it be…?
"If it wasn't those two or Howey, then who is it?" question Ririn to see something appear within the skies to roar louder. "Ah…you guys…?"
Out of the skies appears one of Dracula's monsters to send out to kill Sonia's friends while collecting lots of souls and blood. For one being Renon, the Devil. You know like the boss from Castlevania 64…He sounds like a mad-goat with a dark deeper voice to roar.
Renon, an enterprising demon with gentlemanly manners, had a unique take on the 1844. Historically, individuals from all walks of life have found their way into Dracula's stronghold. Their reasons were disparate: some were lost, others kidnapped, and even a few explored the castle's depths to confront Dracula. No matter their objective, those people needed supplies. Picking up one of these scrolls would summon Renon with a briefcase of goods at the ready. Renon resorted to mercantilism as 'it is shameful for a demon to be working, one needs gold even in Hell these days', suggesting that Renon was willing to sacrifice his commitment to one of the Seven Deadly Sins, sloth, to make a living. A goat-like devil with armor, a spear, armor on, and floating in the air with no legs looks freaky and was ready to kill, he stabbed and burned a lot of cows so far to throw them on the ground, gross!
Renon is a demon salesman from Konami's Castlevania video game series. He appears as a non-playable character in Castlevania (N64) and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness, both of which were published on the Nintendo 64 in the late nineties.
Renon, an enterprising demon with gentlemanly manners, had a unique take on the 1844 reappearance of Castlevania. Historically, individuals from all walks of life have found their way into Dracula's stronghold. Their reasons were disparate: some were lost, others kidnapped, and even a few explored the castle's depths to confront Dracula. No matter their objective, those people needed supplies. While the odd Roast Beef found in broken pillars was enough to satisfy the most resourceful adventurer, Renon guessed that there might be a niche market he could exploit. Thus, he distributed several contracts throughout the castle and its grounds. Picking up one of these scrolls would summon Renon with a briefcase of goods at the ready. Renon resorted to mercantilism as "it is shameful for a demon to be working, one needs gold even in Hell these days", suggesting that Renon was willing to sacrifice his commitment to one of the Seven Deadly Sins, sloth, in order to make a living.
"Well, now…Enemies to Lord Dracula I see…" he counts. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and lots of animals, more to kill!" Renon uses his spear to throw to the ground to create lightening out of the skies. "By the orders of Lord Dracula himself, I demand you all to die to give your souls and blood to me!"
With one snap of his fingers for lightening to crash down on the seven and the animals to set half the forest on fire 'since they were outside of the barrier from the village' for the animals to flee for their lives. Hayame goes in her Harpy form, with spear of her own, and Belmont powers to take on Renon to stop him in a flight of fighting type of battle.
"(Crap! That devil's going to burn the entire forest down if he keeps this up! I got to stop him!)" she takes flight. "Kon! Ririn! Try to cover me!" she uses her spear to create wind with her wings to stop Renon while using his armor to shield himself. "Hey, goat face! Back off! You got no right to create a forest fire!"
Trying to create more fire of red and blue flames to surround Hayame with to be distracted.
"Sorry, you were saying? I find this to be a little entertainment to me. But if you don't like it then that's fine! Let's spare fight instead for you against me, girlie. Think fast!"
For Renon to use his spear to swing it around to blow Hayame away to throw it like a boomerang to push her aside to almost falling…a hole was made. To save Hayame in time to keep on flying, all thanks to Ririn's doing making an illusion to look like Hayame was flying to her doom, but she didn't. To then have water come at Renon to feel real, it was Ririn's doing again.
"You're up, Kon!" she kicks him in the air.
"Ah! Warn me next time…!" Kon gets his wand out to fire a big one while being thrown like a ball. "Right back at you, goat-man!"
Firing some blasters from the wand to hit Renon in the face a little, to see that the water illusion wasn't real to use his fire flames to try burning Kon a little to miss and Ririn a bit burned for Kon to use some water from the lake from his wand to save her in time, and Kurodo and Noba to be running away to put the fire out in time 'but Hayame uses her wings to create more wind to stop it'. Seeing the danger, Renon was hard to beat to cause more trouble all over the forest and their lives to stop the fire and the demon himself.
"Nice try! But it's going to take more than tricks, wands, and bird power to stop me. And with what? Four lively dolls? Oh, I'm so scared." Renon laughs to have his staff return to his hands. "Come now. I can still fight you all."
As Maria and Howey try grabbing a bucket of water to put the fire out of the forest as fast as they could, it was spreading too fast! The others will be burned alive or killed by Renon's doing if this keeps up. As hope was almost loss…That's when arrows come flying out to hit the water to make an explosion to go off, it was Uryu and his Quincy powers for his light saber does the rest for a whirlwind of waters to stop the rest in time to put the fire out.
"Who did…?" ask Kurodo.
"Is that...?" same with Noba.
Hayame knew who it was to her surprise to fire other shots at Renon to shield himself to block the rest with his flames every second at a time.
"It's Uryu!" Hayame said with joy.
For him to appears to keep on firing at Renon without stopping.
"I thought I sense something outside of the village, I guess I was right. Are you okay, Hayame?" he asked.
Hayame fights Renon again in a staff battle to sword fight-like battle for the demon to use his armor of a shield spell to block Uryu's attacks.
"I am and the rest of us are thanks to you!"
Only…For Ichigo to step in from the strong winds from his staff to jump in from above 'and in his Soul Reaper form' to cut his armor in half for the spell was no more. Nice one!
"Ah! Two more of you?!" shock Renon.
Right on time, Ichigo. Both he and Uryu rush to the scene from the looks of it to even destroy Renon's staff to break it.
"Yeah, there's the two of us now, making nine." he said to point out his Zanpakto at the demon's face. "Having a forest fire to kill my friends and some animals, that's low for your level for a twisted demon if you ask me."
Ririn and Kon cheered with joy to be happy to see both Uryu and Ichigo to arrive at the scene.
"It's Ichigo!" Ririn was happy.
"And Uryu too!" same with Kon.
For the two Modsouls to cover Uryu, Ichigo, and Hayame to fight on against Renon 'while Kurodo and Noba protected the animals and Maria and Howey to be happy to stop the fire', but stopping Renon was the next thing to do.
"Looks like its five against one now, you demon." Hayame said to show her staff. "If Dracula wants us dead, he can come here and do it himself! While you die to deliver a message to your master."
Renon then had some sparks all over the others to make one final move to move up in the air to be flying, to then make one to be on fire to fly around to try burning them to death. Oh, boy…This demon was angry now.
"Why you…! That's it! No one makes a fool out of me! Not unless it's my Lord!" Renon was move around to attack the five for he was way too fast. "Just try to stop me now, enemies to Lord Dracula! Go on! If any of you can! I like to see you try to touch me while I'm on fire!"
Way too fast for Ichigo to almost got burned to duck, same with Uryu to move away for Hayame to fly her boyfriend out of danger and herself; same with Ririn and Kon couldn't attack at him, as Noba and Kurodo were trapped in a circle of fire all over the grounds. Only for Maria and Howey had to do something on what Ririn was saying from earlier – from her love to save Richard, seeing Sonia again, stopping both Alucard and Dracula. She powers up to ask for her animal friends for some help to power up; along with Howey for them to join forces to fight back again. Oh, here we go…
"Howey, let's do it."
As the owl nodded, the two get to work. As Renon comes at the nine for another fire blast attack to not miss this time.
"Now, all of you burn-! What?" Renon stops from a water spray from the lake to slow him down a little to see that it was Maria's doing. "Wait…How did you do that?"
Yep! Maria has the power to use abilities to any type of animals to fight as her powers and Howey to move fast as her offense moves for long range, and her to do magic and combat skills. So cool! It was there turn to fight now.
"You wish to know? Then allow for Howey and me to show you." she said. "My animal friends, help us stop the demon who works for Dracula. Lend me your strengths!"
And so, they do to cooling off Renon with more water for the others were saved. For Maria was a whale to splash the waters with a tail from every spirit to image it in her head, to moving fast like a cheetah to create sand to blind Renon's eyes long enough for Howey to fly in to moving fast to cut down the demon to fall once his wings were both cut off; for this demon was now in pain for Maria to kick the demon next with some kangaroo moves to pinning Renon down to be heavy as an elephant for his powers to lose the fire to make lightening 'by accident' to come down on him instead. And to be out of his control now since he was socked with water thanks to Uryu, Ichigo, Hayame, and Kon's team work to send the water splashing on Renon's entire body once more. Allowing Maria to glide 'or fly like an eagle' and away from the demon for him to be stroke by his own attack. Owned!
"It's a hit!" Kon, Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba said together.
"What a shocking end for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Lame thing to say before dying, huh? Well, Renon was down to disappear after the battle and Maria and Howey did well, to be back in the game again. Nice! At least the animals and the forest was saved for Noba and Kurodo both passed out to be tired after what they've been through today for the two heroes of the day to aid the two Modsouls 'it was the least they can do'. For Ichigo to see Maria and Howey in person to know who they were from what Sonia told about her friend to the others a while ago.
"Thanks for the save…Ah, Maria and your owl friend, right?" he asked. "I take it that you'll be joining us in battle then?"
That would be a big yes there, Ichigo. Maria and Howey had a long talk to both the Mayor and Shu about her behavior for she was upset, they understand to allow her to fight on for the war to be done. Good to know. Also, the animals will be well protected from the barrier to be bigger there. Dracula will still watch on his enemies…As everyone were all settle at the village to relax, train, and such to meet with Maria hours later and the villagers were happy to see her feeling better now to see Sonia's other friends, their training will soon start in a few minutes to thank Kon and Ririn the most to befriend her and Howey to help the Modsouls as much as he could. What a smart bird.
"I'm glad to welcome you all to my home. I hope my training will be helpful for you two and your friends, Ririn and Kon."
The two smiled to do well today without their bodies to use sometimes.
"It was nothing, Maria." Kon tries acting like a lady's man again. "If there's anything you need, I'm here for you the most."
Ririn making Kon trip to then make it up by shaking and laughing about it, she says something to Maria next to be caring to see that everything was fine for Ichigo to still care for Ririn as a dear friend to him.
"It was nothing really. You reminded me of myself. I guess we both learned something today after fighting against Dracula's monster together too. Right, Kon?" she asks him.
"Yeah, what she said. Glad you're feeling better."
Seems like Kon was happy to have a friend like Ririn, Kurodo, and Noba deep down. Same with Ririn the most.
"Same here." said Ririn. "See, Maria? If I can learn something, then we know you can face with your troubles to not run away from them anymore. You'll see Sonia soon and Richard to rescue too like we promised."
As Maria to smile to see there was hope left, she says this to Ririn with joy.
"Yes."
Looks like all was good for everyone to get ready for some training to do…Ichigo, Chad, Orihime, Rukia, Renji, Kon, Ririn, Noba, Kurodo, Urahara, Yoruichi, Jinta, Ururu, and Tessai for Maria and Howey to join in as Shu will aid them to control the Belmont powers. Soon for George and Furio to join in later on. For some of them to have it…As Uryu and Hayame to see another new friend or two to join with the others, seems there was hope to keep going to for a better tomorrow.
"(I guess you can change a person to show them we never give up on anything. For Maria and Ririn today, I'm glad neither of them loss hope to keep on going for better or for worse. Mom. Dad. Watch me, because I got a life for friends, power, and Uryu for who I love to save this world to not give up on anything.)" she said to herself to look at the birds to be flying by. "(Yeah…This is going to be a fun month of training, and then the war to stop Dracula at the Soul Society. I'll be ready for it with my powers!)"
Uryu gently pulls Hayame's arm to get going to the training grounds to do outside with the others right away and since they were in their gym clothes they've brought with them.
"Hayame, let's go. It's time to do some training." he said. "We'll do more dating you and I afterwards. We only got a month, remember?"
Hayame gets back to reality to do just that along with her boyfriend's side Uryu to get to it.
"Oh, right! Let's go then. (Sonia, we'll see you in a month. We got monsters, a step-brother of yours who needs saving, and the world to be saved real soon.)"
And for that…Team Ichigo with new friends begin their training back in the World of the Living at the Belmont Village. With some of the monsters that Dracula send out to kill, they got their work to be done, as a team of friends, family, or for love. For Furio, Maria, and Howey…we welcome those three to the team as George is now as well. It's about time we get to see Maria Renard at long last and what her powers were to be very useful in battle like her master Shu to have some skills of a Belmont to be a fan of to remember their skills from back then. Lots of it…Animal skills, like Vixen from the DC comics, I wish I had powers like those myself. Now that would be cool.
