Somewhere in Soul Society

'So, Mayuri's down for the count, eh? I knew he couldn't be counted on for anything.' the silver haired man sneered. 'Weaklings like him are the reason why Soul Society has fallen to the way it is today.'

He paced the room as he bit his fingernails nervously. 'But where has that idiot detective gone to…?'

Soul Society

'ISHIDA! RENJI!' Rukia cried from above, rushing down to their aid.

Their blood splattered clothes were ripped, but both men managed a smile as they struggled to their feet. Rukia supported both the men. Mayuri lay a few feet away, unmoving.

'So he was behind it all.' Rukia mused, hobbling over to downed captain. 'The leather shoes,' she pointed at Mayuri's shoes, 'there's a small cut here.'

Ishida adjusted his glasses with a finger. 'It's too convenient. It seems like Mayuri was just a scapegoat. There's someone else behind this whole matter.'

'That's right! Didn't that Kudo kid say that someone else was involved in this whole thing?' Renji asked. 'Mayuri definitely had an accomplice in this matter.'

'First things first. Let's get Captain Mayuri locked up first. Then we gotta go help Shinichi. He's down there in the building.' Rukia launched herself upwards. Renji stared daggers at her.

'Some of us need actual time to recover, y'know.' he muttered.

Somewhere in Soul Society

'Okay, maybe I should have followed that orange haired kid...' Kaito Kid sighed heavily. 'I didn't know this place was so huge.' He surveyed the empty landscape around him, aside from a few shinigamis scurrying around.

'Oh well, let's go. That kid needs me.'

Soul Society

"SHINICHI! Where are you?!' Rukia yelled out into the empty building. Renji and Ishida landed beside her.

'He's obviously tied up and can't shout back, you dummy.' Renji scowled. That scowl was wiped out by a carefully aimed slipper to his face. Ishida jumped back from shock.

'Instead of making smartass quips, can't you help me find him?' Rukia scanned the area, looking for Shinichi's reiatsu. She sensed a faint wisp of Shinichi, but couldn't pin point its exact location.

Renji's head suddenly snapped up. 'Rukia…something else's here.'

Rukia leapt back just in time as a cero ripped through the ground where she was standing. Out of the shadows, several Menos Grande glided towards the three. Their mouths opened wide as they prepared another cero.

'How did hollows get into Soul Society?!' Renji cried as he leapt back from the attack. He readied his zanpakutō for the attack.

'Beats me,' Ishida replied, his light bow appearing, 'but I think we're gonna have another fight on our hands here.'

'GETSUGA TENSHŌ!' the black crescent-shaped slash cut through the Menos Grande like paper. With a blink, the orange blur slashed through another two more of the gigantic hollows, dispatching them with ease. Ichigo stepped lightly down in front of the tensed-up Ishida and Renji.

'Didja miss me?' Ichigo asked, cheekily grinning back at the two gawking faces.

'We could have handled them ourselves, Kurosaki.' Renji mumbled.

'It doesn't matter now, Renji!' Rukia cried, 'We need to inform the captains of this. Soul Society has been breached.'

'Is no one going to compliment me on that brilliant kill?'

'NO!' all three of them yelled simultaneously. Ichigo pouted.

'Alright alright. Let's go save Soul Society again.'

Somewhere in Soul Society

Shinichi groaned as he opened his eyes. He tried to move his arms but found himself unable to move his body at all. His eyes darted around the room he was located in, surveying it.

'Rotting shelves, signs of moisture and humidity. I must be somewhere underground. A sewer perhaps. Some paper with faded wordings…can't really make it out…is that a flower insignia…? Maybe I'm in one of the bunkers below one of the Gotei 13?' he paused, trying to process everything.

'I'm convinced that he's the one behind all this. That unmistakable flash of silver hair, the zanpakutō he used to commit the crime, and even the way he used and framed that clown captain. But why would he do it…?'

'I see you're awake, detective,' a voice spoke out from the shadows. Shinichi's eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the location of the voice.

'Who's there!?'

'I think you've probably figured out who I am already. I have to applaud you, you're pretty sharp for a human.'

'Why can't I move..? I don't seem to be tied down by anything.'

'The power of hado spells. Humans like you are incredibly susceptible to spells like these. You won't be able to easily break out of this one.'

'You won't escape. I already know who you are. And soon, all the other captains will too. You'll be caught.'

'You're wrong, detective. I'm going to rule Soul Society. I defeated a captain with a single blow of my blade. I can do it again and again and again until I am the true ruler of Soul Society.'

'Your plan won't work. Ichigo and everyone else will find me, and when that happens, you'll definitely be the one losing.'

'I'm counting on it.' The voice moved closer to Shinichi. A figure stepped out from the shadows. His silver hair glinted off the light. 'Sure, go ahead and tell them that I did it.' His grin widened. 'But, who's going to believe a kid?'

Shinichi gasped in shock. He couldn't believe it.

'It's…you?!'

Author's Note: 7 years later, I decided to snap out of this funk and update this story. Now I know how it feels to be those mangaka who take forever to update a new chapter. I do have the ending in mind already, and it shouldn't take long to complete this story.

Thanks for staying so long for this story. Appreciate the reviews too. It helps a lot to keep the story in check. =)