Konnichiwa, minna-sama!

It's been quite a while and for that I apologize! *bows* But here comes the 8th chapter of Devil's Snare, which should've been the last... though it somehow didn't work out! :) Look forward to at least one more! :)

Again, my sincere thanks goes to Evil-Peach, who proofread this for me!

Enjoy and please, leave reviews! Feedback is important! Without it, this would've never seen the light of day! :)


The world exploded in a flash of blinding light. The bright column, bound with three sets of chains, reaching high into grey, ominous skies seemed to have been sucked right into the swirling whirlpool of storm clouds as if it were a giant mouth, and barely a heartbeat later all the energy was released back at once, hitting the ground with such a force, even the trees and what remains of the once bustling Rukongai district of Inuzuri were swept away, torn from the parched ground.

Cloud of dust, earth and rubble rose into the air, obscuring the vision and filling lungs to the point, where breathing became almost impossible. They all felt themselves being hoisted up and scattered unceremoniously all around the place, with no way of knowing where was up and where was down. The air around them charged with spiritual pressure of such density, it resembled an ocean crushing down on their bodies as they sank into its depth, having no control over the current carrying them back and forth, preventing them from making it back to the surface.

It disappeared as quickly as it had come and gravitation -once again taking control over the chaos- claimed them and they fell hard onto the ground with a sickening crunch of bones breaking. The kidou barrier above their heads dispersed, re-forming into many small pockets, trapping the Shinigami and humans alike within bright golden cages pulsing with energy.

Only one of them remained standing.

Or more like suspended in midair, great wings spread wide, obscuring the golden orb of sun, now once more shining brightly within the perfect, pale-blue sky, when the storm clouds disappeared. Pitch-black feathers seemed to consume its light, swathing their owner in shimmering garments weaved of complete, impenetrable darkness.

Folding his wings, his feet slowly touched the ground as if he weighed nothing; long hair -like liquid obsidian streaked with rubies, where the cones of gold managed to get through- flowing round his slender waist, caressed by a non-existent breeze.

"Free at last!" raising his arms, Amatsu Mikaboshi took a lungful of fresh air, though soaked with blood and the smell of burnt flesh. "It's been far too long."

Fathomless, onyx eyes -rimmed by the slightest, deep shade of crimson- ran up and down his new form, scrutinizing every inch of it and finding it most satisfactory. After all, he wouldn't expect anything less of Abarai Renji's well-trained body.

"Not long enough." the low growl of pain and rage made him turn around lazily; sly smile on his face -still very much resembling Renji's, in spite of the lack of tribal tattoos- widened as his gaze fell upon the two remaining guardians, panting heavily only few feet from him, barely able to stand.

He laughed at the sight and the soft sound carried death in its wake. "Resilient as always, I shouldn't be surprised." though clearly walking towards them, he seemed to be floating inches above the ground, darkness swirling around his ankles with each step.

Grimmjow gritted his teeth. "Stay where you are!" he spoke again, fighting hard against his weakness.

"Or what?" Mikaboshi's voice folded like velvet as he humored them, his smile now gentle, yet mocking. "You'll seal me again?" his eyes darted between the Oni, occupying the teal-haired espada's body and Arisawa Tatsuki's hollow guardian. "You're hardly in any position to threaten me. Look at you both; it's a miracle you're still standing."

"Don't... underestimate us." the human high-school girl breathed out, single visible inked eye narrowed, burning with frustration under the crumbling white mask.

The Old God let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "I do not wish to fight you, however if you insist, I shall indulge you."

And even as he said that, Inuzuri suddenly melted into complete void and he found himself surrounded by human-shaped shadows, dancing, holding hands. Black eyebrows raised as he overlooked the little forms, reminding him of children, and sure enough, children's voices soon filled his ears.

"Kagome, Kagome, kago no naka no tori wa, itsu itsu deyaru?" they chanted and he suddenly felt just a little bit dizzy and disoriented.

He recognized this enthralling song. It was the Oni's strongest special ability, meant to blunt his opponent's senses and enable him to strike from stealth, while they focus on the dancing apparitions.

But it won't work on him.

"Yoake no ban ni, tsuru to kame ga subetta. Ushiro no shoumen dare?" the voices ceased the very moment the children-like shadows swooped down upon him.

Metal clanged against metal as Grimmjow appeared among them, out of nowhere, bringing Pantera down to connect with the tip of Tengu's staff, materializing in Mikaboshi's hands. It swished through the air as if it was nothing but an illusion, and that was all it took to wriggle the sword out of the already exhausted Sexta's hand, throwing it over their heads, its tip sinking deep into the ground some ten feet away.

"You'll have to do better than this." Mikaboshi hissed with grim satisfaction, gripping the Oni by the neck and hoisting him up with inhuman strength, tossing him away to where the rest of them lay motionless, caged by the dispersed remainders of the kidou barrier.

He realized he had been fooled the moment the earth trembled beneath his feet, poisonous vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around his body and binding his limbs. He uttered a curse under his breath, berating himself for being stupid, and that was when he heard a low hiss followed by quick, slithering movement, and turned around just in time to see Arisawa Tatsuki jumping high into the air at such speed, he could only watch her descend upon him, fangs, adorning her hollow mask bared and glittering with deadly poison.

Perhaps he overestimated his own abilities; after all he had just awakened, it will take time for his powers to fully return. With this in mind, Mikaboshi wriggled one great black wing free, wrapping it around himself as if it were a shield to protect him from the worst of the attack...

... and then there was a slash, followed by a yelp of surprise and pain and Arisawa rolled through the air, thrown off balance, missing him by inches and skid to a halt right next to Grimmjow's unmoving form.

Amatsu Mikaboshi's onyx eyes narrowed as he watched -now free again- a pool of blood blossoming on the parched ground beneath her fallen body. He could feel familiar reiatsu oozing from the wound in her abdomen and needn't have bothered turning about to recognize its owner.

"You do enjoy theatrical appearances, do you," he scrutinized the tall, slender man, casually standing by a cluster of what might have once been trees; black eyes met chocolate ones sparkling with interest, reflected in the mildly amused mirth adorning his handsome face. "Aizen Sousuke?"

The former 5th Division Captain did not respond immediately, single loose strand of otherwise perfectly groomed brown hair brushed against his cheek as he walked almost lazily forward, emerald hilt of his faithful Kyouka Suigetsu peeking out through the folds of his snow-shite haori with each step. Behind his back, two other men stood, each carrying a limp body - Ulquiorra with Orihime in his arms and Ichimaru Gin, unloading unconscious heap of what could only be Kurotsuchi Mayuri.

Aizen watched his body hit the ground with a thud and for a brief moment, his gaze lingered on his silver-haired subordinate, whose face-splitting grin was firmly in place, eyes seemingly shut tight. "On the contrary, I've been watching the situation for quite some time." his velvety voice reverberated through the silent battlefield, as sinister as always, when he turned back to face Mikaboshi once more, not giving anything away. "It's been most illuminating."

The atmosphere between them seemed to thicken considerably and Aizen's smile hadn't vanished even though the man himself came to a halt, keeping reasonable distance from the black-winged god.

"Whatever might have happened, to the 12th Division Captain, I wonder?" chocolate eyes pierced their onyx counterparts without even a hint of any emotion, let alone the fear Mikaboshi's been used to.

And it made him laugh. "That circus freak dabbled in what he shouldn't have. So I made him run a few errands for me." Amatsu gestured towards the barrier pockets. "He proved quite useful."

"Indeed." the former Captain inclined his head as if considering something. "Gin." he said simply without sparing a look for his lieutenant.

Ichimaru, however, understood perfectly, outstretching his hand very slowly, thin, long forefinger pinching the air to his left. Gaping, black mouth opened where he touched - the Garganta, way back to Hueco Mundo. He stepped aside, making a way for Aizen, who turned around and walked towards it without a word.

"So you've come to say hello and now you're leaving again?" Mikaboshi's smile reflected in the tone of his voice, though he were most serious, conscious it could be fatal mistake, perhaps even for him, to underestimate this dangerous man.

Aizen stopped just before stepping through the Garganta, turning his head. "Of course not, you are coming as well." he said with unbelievable self-confidence. "However, it would be most unwise to use force to make you do so. I simply hope, there will be no need to resort to such measures."

Mikaboshi folded his hands on his chest, not moving from his spot. "And why would I want to follow you? You have nothing to offer me in return."

"On the contrary." the former 5th Division Captain now faced the Old God fully, his features knowing and composed. "I believe I can offer you much. Your brother on a silver plate, among other things."

The winged demon frowned, all amusement now gone.

"No one stands on the top of the world, as you may well know. Not you, not me, not even him." fingers danced on the hilt of Kyouka Suigetsu. "But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on, I will be sitting on it." brown eyes gleamed with the first hint of emotion yet - ambition. "However, to achieve that, I will need your services. And for you to have your revenge, you will need mine. It is as simple as that."

Mikaboshi's frown deepened still. How much did this Shinigami know? How much could he know?

"Please do not look so surprised. After all, it were due to my intervention the Guardians failed their duty seventy years ago. You owe me your freedom and I am offering you much more still. Only a fool would turn it down." Aizen motioned to his two subordinates and they followed his through, Inoue safely held by Ulquiorra, Kurotsuchi discarded in the dust to be left behind.

Amatsu Mikaboshi considered it carefully. He remembered what happened during the last Ritual of Banishment and though they were small, the mistakes caused his prison to weaken that much more quickly, enabling him to take over one of the current guardians, disguising himself as a Tengu to see if this world would truly be worthy of his presence, and found himself intrigued by the lives and fates of the people and Shinigami he came to know through their interactions, as well as Renji's feelings and memories. Countless millennia of solitude within the depths of hell blunted his ability to feel anything, and now, that he once again tasted what it was like, hatred for those who had betrayed him and sealed him away burned within his heart as brightly as the flames of love Renji held for the people around him. And it helped Mikaboshi think, reflect on the past and carefully plan the course of his actions.

"Wait." his voice resonated through the quiet, and it made the three men stop in their tracks.

Aizen didn't even bother to hide the self-satisfied mirth that spread over his face at that moment; his intuition never failed.

Mikaboshi returned the smile. "You are most interesting Shinigami, Aizen Sousuke." he walked round the cages, looking for one in particular. "I am no spirit you can bend to your will, however, bear that in mind." he found the motionless body of Kuchiki Byakuya and crouched beside the edge of the barrier that separated them.

This was the person Abarai Renji held most dear and despite all his powers, Mikaboshi realized he were just a spirit like any other, swayed and stirred by the desires of his host. He reached to one of his wings, yanking a single feather out, placing it into Byakuya's hand. He could feel Renji struggling against his domination, though his endeavors had ceased the moment he laid eyes on the raven-haired noble. Mikaboshi sent a thought to the red-head, apologizing and got up again, turning towards where his new allies were patiently waiting for him.

If Aizen wondered what that was all about, he's neither shown it, nor attempted to ask questions.

"It would be a disappointment, if you were." he said only.

Chuckle left Amatsu Mikaboshi's curled lips and he left all behind, following the former 5th Division captain and his lackeys into the gaping depths of Garganta, which closed behind them. His last look, however, fell on Byakuya clutching one of his black feathers in pale, graceful hand. He hoped the Kuchiki will keep it when he comes round.

It will be important.


Kagome Kagome - Japanese children's game; one child is chosen as the Oni and sits blindfolded, the other children join hands and walk around the Oni, whila chanting the song of the game. When the song stops, the Oni speaks aloud the name of the person behind them, and if they are correct, the person will exchange places with the Oni.

Translation - words of Kagome Kagome varies, but I used the version from Tactics, which means:

'Kagome Kagome crouch little bird inside your cage, when oh when will he get out?

Up before the light of dawn.

Crane and turtle slipped and fell, who is behind you can you tell?'