The Universal Villain

"Really?" Sitting on the floor with his cane next to him, Urahara listened to Yoruichi as she told him the events of what happened in the Soul Society. "It's worse then I thought." As Yoruichi finished talking, Urahara looked as though he was in deep thought when Yoruichi spoke up. "But why? Why would he take Rukia?"

Hearing her, Urahara looked up as he seemed hesitant to say something. "I think I know why but I can't tell you I'm sorry." Yoruichi wore a confused face as she spoke again. "What do you mean?" Standing up, Urahara looked down at Yoruichi "Its nothing... For now, we need to figure out a way to find Rukia before its too late."

Walking away, Urahara left the room, leaving Yoruichi sitting there, pondering what he meant. She, Ichigo, and the others managed to leave the Soul Society undetected. However, now that they were here, they still had no way to find Rukia. Yoruichi told the others to take a break and relax for a while she talked with Urahara, but now she was even more confused.

Urahara made his way to the underground training area while pondering to himself. 'It can't be. The only ones who know the Hogyoku is sealed within Rukia would be myself and Aizen. Could it be the two of them are working together.' Putting his hand on his chin Urahara was now in the underground training area where things looked different.

'No, let's think about this logically. If he wanted the Hogyoku, he could have taken in while he was in the Soul Society. So that leaves us with three probabilities. One, he wanted to go somewhere safe to remove the Hogyoku from Rukia's body. Two, he still needs to make preparations to remove it. Or Three, he doesn't know how to remove the Hogyoku from Rukia whatsoever.'

Thinking over the three probabilities, the changes in the training area under his shop became more evident as large square chunks of the ground wholly gone leaving smooth holes in the field. 'We can only hope he hasn't figured out a way to remove the Hogyoku besides.' Pointing his cane at the ground in front of him, the tip of his cane began to glow as a formation began to imprint itself on the ground.

An image flashed through Urahara's head of the time Shen managed to escape his barrier. 'If his ability is truly able to cross through dimensions as he said, then It doesn't matter if we find Rukia or not. The moment we get close, he can escape in an instant.' Thinking that the outline on the floor began to change as it rose to become a complete square.

With the outline of the square being brighter than its walls, it seemed to be a simple barrier, however, after a few seconds, the formation began to morph and bend as the entire square began to lose its shape. 'Not again!' Urahara could be seen sweating as the square began to warp more and more before it completely collapsed.

The moment the square formation collapsed, it seemed to fold in on itself getting smaller and smaller, eventually becoming nothing. All that was left in front of Urahara was an empty space in the ground. 'It's still too power-consuming.'

Ever since Shen spoke to him, he had been trying to find a way to counteract his teleportation power, creating a barrier that isolated the space and time within it that would be able to trap Shen, however. 'It requires too much power to keep stable no matter how much I change it.' Urahara's Reitsu is comparable to a captain's. Still, even he can't maintain the formation before it collapses in on itself.

With that in mind, Urahara couldn't figure out how Shen was able to use a technique like that in an instant with no preparation. 'Something like that should require way too much power to use in battle. Its almost as if his powers don't follow the same laws as ours, but the question is why.'

Meanwhile, within the Soul Society, a messenger was making a report. "We have received no response from the Scout Team you sent out. Adding to my report, all Soul Reapers sent to check on them have yet to return." Standing in front of him was Aizen and Gin. Gin, as usual, was smiling while Aizen's face looked more solemn than usual as he waved the messenger away.

Seeing he was relived, the messenger bowed one more time before disappearing. "I don't think I've ever seen you so silent, Lord Aizen." Looking at Aizen, who was still silent, Gin's smile turned darker. "So, what do we do now?" Looking at Aizen, who remained still for another minute. "The next step is obvious. I underestimated him, but I won't make the same mistake twice."

Aizen smiled as he looked at Gin. "We will be leaving the Soul Society and heading to Hueco Mundo tonight. Our plans have been delayed long enough, and Gin." Just as Gin was about to move, he stopped. "Yes, Lord Aizen?" Looking, Gin, Aizen's glasses reflected the light in the room, blocking his eyes. "When we arrive, bring Ulquiorra to me. I have a special task for him."

Without replying, Gin's eyes seemed to open slightly as his sharp eyes stared at Aizen for a moment he disappeared from the room without making a sound. As the smile on Aizen's face remained, he thought to himself. 'Now then, I wonder how he's reacting to this.'

Back inside the inner world of Zabimaru, a flash was flying in the air as Ki blast rained down on the ground below. That streak was, of course, Shen, who stopped firing as he scanned the field below. With the Sharingan still activated, his eyes bounced back and forth. "Found ya!" Saying that out loud, a red Reiatsu Bomb shot into the sky at Shen.

Reacting, Shen coated his limbs, hitting the attack with the back of his arm deflecting into the distance. Dozens of Reiatsu bombs flew from the ground as Shen began deflecting them one by one in the air sending them flying behind him as explosions littered the ground.

Deflecting all of the attacks, Shen opens his arms wide as hundreds of small balls of Ki shoot out of him before stopping. This continued for a few seconds as the entire sky began to fill up with tiny crimson dots. "This game of hiding and seek ends now!" Moving both arms, Shen pointed down at the ground the small orbs began to fly down to the earth like stars.

As they hit the ground, a smoke cloud was created as it grew bigger and bigger the more of Shen's orbs hit the ground eventually the cloud of dust became so big that Shen couldn't even see the floor anymore.

Descending down, Shen was enveloped by the thick dust covering the floor. Landing on the ground, Shen couldn't see anything as he looked around. "This is annoying." Standing there, Shen clenched his fist as his Ki exploded outwards, blowing away all of the dust covering the area. "That's better."

A few dozen meters away from Shen Zabimaru was standing there as the dust flowed over them. The two of them stared at one another for a good while however, it wasn't long before energy began to build up in their body. The ground under the two of them began to give way as the fight was starting to reach its climax.

Making the first move, Shen bent down before launching himself forward. Seeing Shen's Zabimaru followed suit and began running at Shen. As the two got closer to each other, Zabimaru jumped into the air, raising their fist above their head. Pulling their arm forward, they threw a punch straight at Shen who followed there lead, throwing a blow of his own, when the two of there fist collided an invisible force expanded outwards with them at the center.

Pushing with even more force, the two of them broke apart with Zabimaru landing back on the ground and Shen being pushed back. Not stopping for a breath, the two of them went at each other again with Zabimaru snakehead striking out at Shen as Zabimaru threw another punch at Shen.

Shen reacted quickly, dodging Zabimaru's attack before grabbing Zabimaru's snakehead by the top and bottom of its jaw. Looking into its mouth, Shen was pushed back as the snake tail continued to extend. Trying to hold it back, Shen saw a red light begin to gather in its mouth growing brighter and brighter.

Staring into its mouth were Reiatsu began to gather as Shen revealed a devilish smirk. He began applying more strength to his arms, and instead of focusing on holding the snakehead off, he began to close its mouth forcefully as its Reiatsu continued to gather. As the Reaitsu bomb began to enter its final stages, Shen suddenly let go of the snake's bottom mouth, flipping himself on top of is head.

"You know its rude to eat with your mouth open." Standing on top of the Snakes mouth, Shen raised his leg before slamming down on the Snakeshead, slamming it into the ground as well as closing its mouth. In that instant, Shen jumped off the head as a red light began to peer through the gaps of its mouth.

After another moment and a flash of light, an explosion appeared engulfing the snakehead. "Well, at least one of you is down for the count." Shen's eyes looked back at the crater for a moment before his eyes turned back the main body of Zabimaru, who stared at the hole as though it was waiting for something to happen.

"Trust me. He won't be getting back up, not this time." As if answering a question, Shen spoke to Zabimaru. Hearing Shen, the main body of Zabimaru turned there head back slowly as their eyes turned bloodshot red. Raising their fist, they raised both of there arms over Shen's head before slamming down, causing the ground to shift.

"Mad, are we?" Standing on top of one of Zabimaru's arms Shen smiled before speaking. "You're getting weaker. Your speed and strength have been decreasing since you took the Zero Hand head-on." Shen hopped up into the air staring straight at Zabimaru as he twisted his body. His leg hit the side of Zabimaru's head.

Zabimaru's entire head moved to one side from the force put behind that kick, causing them almost to lose their balance if not for them catching themselves. "Your breath is getting rougher." Speaking again, Shen pulled back his arm before punching Zabimaru straight in there face, which caused Zabimaru to fly back, landing on there back.

"If I had to guess your not used to holding your Bankai this long, or maybe its easier to say you never used Bankai before since Renji hadn't learned it yet." Looking at Zabimaru's state as they tried to get back up off there back, Shen sighed to himself, disabling his Haki and Ki covering his arms.

"I guess that's it, huh? Well, I do have to thank you. I guess, after all, if it weren't for you I wouldn't have gotten two things I've wanted for a very long time. Our constant fighting allowed me to level up my Sharingan finally." Suddenly Shen's eyes began to move as his Sharingan began to spin. It occurred to glow with a bright red light. "Even fighting four captains, it turns out this was the fight that pushed it over the edge. Who would have guessed."

As Shen's Sharingan continued to turn, the three tomoes within it began to stretch, forming a strange pattern. As this transformation was happening, Zabimaru, who was on the ground, began to glow red as the body started to shrink separating in the middle. After another moment, the two blobs of red light began to take the shape of the original spirits of Zabimaru.

The snake half of Zabimaru was covered in bruises with holes covering there body as if they were pierced by something while the Baboon half of Zabimaru was covered in scorch marks along with other injuries.

Looking at the now separated Zanpakuto spirits, Shen's new eyes finally took shape. "Now then..." Closing his eyes, something strange began to happen as sections of the world started to fall out of existence as if they were tangible things. All over the inner world of Zabimaru, the world began to fall out of place.

"What's going on!" Standing there, Renji saw the world began to change around him. Even the floor under his feet began to disappear replaced with an empty void. Opening his eyes, a stream of blood could be seen falling down Shen's cheek.

"Mugen No Ryoiki."

With those three words, the world completely broke apart as if the wall of reality was made of blocks. Everything fell away.

In the next instance, Renji found himself standing on nothing as an empty void covered the sky and ground. "Where am I?" Looking around, Renji's voice echoed as two silhouettes came into his view as he looked further ahead, he froze. "What... What happened." In front of Renji, both spirits of Zabimaru laid on the ground like corpses.

"This is my Mangekyo Sharingan's ability Renji. Mugen No Ryoiki" Shen's voice echoed through the void, causing Renji to look around, trying to find Shen. "You won't be able to find me Renji our time together has finally come to an end." Hearing Shen Renji looked back down at his Zanpakuto spirits with a face full anger on his face.

"If you think I'm going down without a fight, then your wrong!" Holding Zabimaru in hands, Renji yelled into the endless void. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Following Renji's outburst, Shen's sentence was accompanied by a laugh. As Shen's voice began to fade, Renji began to notice the darkness around him began to mold itself.

The sound of clanging could be heard echoing through the cave as Rukiya, who was meditating with her Zanpakuto, opened her eyes looking up at Shen. Seeing Shen was done, Rukiya stood up, grabbing her Zanpakuto and placing it in its sheath. "Are we leaving?" Rukiya asked in her normal emotionless tone.

"Yes... Well, be leaving to the Soul Society."