Degrees of Succession

XII

Feeling paranoid
True enemy or false friend?
Anxiety's attacking me, and
My air is getting thin
I'm in trouble for the things
I haven't got to yet
I'm chomping at the bit and my
Palms are getting wet, sweating bullets

Sweating Bullets - Mega Death

July Nineteenth

Takato Matsuki

Takato's rattled mind took a few moments to realise that besides a sudden rush of hot air flying overhead nothing had actually happened since he screwed his eyes shut. Cracking one eye open nervously the young Tamer saw Guilmon standing protectively over him with feral eyes and teeth bared in a low snarl whilst UlTechPinochimon had taken a step back to glance down at the smoke rising from his chest plate which had been hit by a Pyro Sphere. If anything the Mega-level general seemed more annoyed about being dirtied than being hurt by the attack.

Sighing, UlTechPinochimon shook his head before turning away, muttering to himself; "Such a waste."

It was clear as day that Takato and Guilmon were no threat to him. Instead the mechanical marionette turned on his heel and waved one hand carelessly: summoning forth a pair drones from what little remained of the mist. These drones looked much more akin to the classic Pinochimon but made of the same dark steel as the new version, there heavy steps chewing up the already beaten road as they stomped their way over to Takato and Guilmon.

They both stopped at the sound of the sirens which wailed in the distance growing closer, even their master seemed to be distracted for a brief second. That second was all it took for rapier made from a thorny stem of a rose to separate the first drones head from its body before it imploded, taking its comrade with it in the blast.

"Rosemon, it's been too long." UlTechPinochimon said tauntingly as he turned to face the new arrival with a mocking a curtsy. A slender woman as tall as Dukemon would be, dressed in red and black with a helm of rose petals and a billowing white cloak stood protectively over both Takato and Guilmon, guarding them from the second drone who looked to its master for commands. Rosemon… Takato thought with awe as he saw what must have been Mimi and Palmon's Biomerged form raised her rapier and aimed it at their enemy, the light of the sun catching tifaret holding her cloak together.

"Not long enough," Rosemon hissed jabbing the rapier in UlTechPinochimon's direction. "Leave the boy out of this. This fight is between us."

"All of you freeze…! Right now, on the ground!" Not now… Takato thought horrified as a small cluster of police cars had arrived on the scene. The officers had all taken cover behind their cars, weapons drawn and aimed, with shaking hands at the two Megas. UlTechPinochimon didn't seem to care for the sudden arrival of human law enforcement and instead glanced over his shoulder at them, looking back to Rosemon as his mechanical jaws seemed to twist into a savage grin. "I said on the ground!"

"Piedmon did say no prisoners," The general said as he turned again, swinging his hard light hammer upwards and firing a blast of energy from it which rocketed down the already shattered street, sending rubble back into the air as a giant trench was left in the attacks wake. The police officers had no time to react before the cannonball sized blast of energy crashed into the closest patrol car– reducing it to a flaming wreck which flew over head into the building behind it, setting it ablaze as the policeman scattered to the wind in fear.

"Don't run now that we've only just begun to play!" UlTechPinochimon said jeeringly, snapping his fingers before more drones burst from bellow the street and went chasing after the terrified officers whilst their master just laughed. Takato heard himself audibly gulp as the sound of shrieking voices reached them from streets over.

"You bastard…!" Rosemon cussed Lucemon's general as she lunged forward, hoping to catch the other Mega unawares. UlTechPinochimon simply turned out of the stab and instead brought a clenched fist down at the overextended attacker, crashing into the top of Rosemon's head with a sick crack that left Rosemon face down in the rubble amidst the rubble at the feet of a cackling enemy who took his hammer and swung it like a golf club. Another unsettling crack split the air as the shorter Mega rocketed down the street and crashed into the rubble by Takato.

"Your first fight in five years and you think you're on my level?" UlTechPinochimon laughed as he hoisted up his hammer, letting it rest on his shoulder as he strolled towards the downed Rosemon with a jovial skip in his step. All the while Takato and Guilmon, completely forgotten by the others could only stare on in shocked horror as Rosemon struggled to pull herself up onto all fours before the towering frame of their enemy caught her in his shadow.

"I might not be on your level but that won't stop me from fighting!" Rosemon retorted weakly as pulled herself upright, glaring up from her position on her knees at the evil Digimon.

"You Tamers really need to learn to just give up. But still," UlTechPinochimon hissed as he bent down and grabbed the Biomerged Mega by the throat and hoisted her into the air, legs flailing helplessly beneath her, "if you're that desperate to play with me I might as well indulge you. Just try not to break too quickly. I want to enjoy this."

With another gleeful, mechanical chuckle UlTechPinochimon tossed Rosemon into the air then swung his hammer like a bat. Like a batter stepping up the plate Lucemon's right hand Digimon sent the already beaten and bloody Mega crashing down the street before chasing after her.

"I might not be able to chop you into firewood any more but I can still reduce you to scrap," Rosemon declared as she struggled to stand, only to be backhanded by a smack from her enemy as she finally stood up. Takato watched Rosemon stumble before she lunged forward again – this time into a feint as when her enemy made to take a lazy swing she ducked under the blow before stabbing upwards. UlTechPinochimon seemed shocked that he'd fallen for such a cheap feint and tried to back step the attack but the tip of the rapier caught his chest before a whip of thrones swung in from out of view and caught him around the neck. "Bow."

Yanking with all her might Rosemon managed to stagger her enemy, who dropped to one knee as his hard light hammer fell out of his grasp. In the same moment Rosemon pulled her rapier back as it glowed an eerie dark blue before she thrust the tip into the centre of UlTechPinochimon's chest before a storm of black rose petals, all charged with electricity burst from the tip and rushed the Demon General, exploding on contact as they shocked the mechanical marionette before throwing him into the air.

"You would do well to not take me lightly," Rosemon sneered before panting heavily as the smoking UlTechPinochimon rose up from the dirt – the colour of his interior flickering as it slowly faded to a dark, furious red colour.

"I'll make you suffer for this," the general hissed as he held up his right hand, his hammer flying into his grasp as he rounded on Rosemon – voicing deepening with anger. "Play things which do not behave will be harshly punished."

Takato had decided this was his moment to remind everyone of his presence as Growlmon, whose evolution had gone unnoticed by either side charged past Mimi and Palmon's Mega-level form and swung the charged blade on his right elbow up into the chin of UlTechPinochimon and launching him back into the air before slamming him back down to earth with his tail.

"Good hustle, Growlmon!" Takato cheered as his Partner tried to keep up the assault as he tried to incinerate the puppet with a breath of fire.

"Why must they always struggle," UlTechPinochimon hissed as he returned to his feet amidst the chaos and delivered a sharp uppercut to Growlmon's jaw that threw him back towards his Tamer. Maybe I spoke to soon, the goggle wearing Tamer though as despite all the hits the puppet had just taken he looked no worse for wear accept for the fact he was now covered in dirt.

What do we have to do to beat these guys? Takato thought as Growlmon lumbered back to his feet and made to charge down the puppet once more, only to have Rosemon stop him.

"This isn't a fight you should be weighing into, Takato." Rosemon said over her shoulder. "You and Growlmon need to get out of here and find out where those other Digimon that came through are going and stop them from erecting another one of those spires."

"No stay," UlTechPinochimon hissed as bright red chain of light burst out of the ground a few feet from Takato before diving him. It was a mad scramble to avoid being impaled by the chains, but the attack had fulfilled its intended purpose. Rosemon had turned to try and help him alongside Growlmon only for more chains to spring up from the ground and bury themselves in the Mega's back.

The bastardised fairy tale only laughed on seeing his plan had worked – Rosemon swinging her sword upright at a flick of his finger, catching Growlmon off-guard and hitting him with a blow strong enough to stagger him before the follow up had him flying down the street, reverting back into Guilmon. Takato could only rush to his battered Partner's side, dropping to his knees as UlTechPinochimon advanced on him like Jason Voorhees.

"Tell me," the puppet gave a low growl of triumph as he bent down so his face was only inches from Takato's. The events of the previous day had been terrifying, but this was something else. Takato could make out every contour of the puppet Digimon's face as his eyes slowly faded back to a light orange.

"Tell me," He repeated in a hiss as Takato scrambled back a step, "how do you think precious little Mimi will react when I release her mind only for her to find your butchered corpse lying at her feet? I can only imagine what her descent into madness will look like as she realises I made her gut you like a little pig. The hysterical sobbing that will ensue!"

The puppet crowed victoriously as he once again caught Takato in his loaming shadow: "The look of anguish and self loathing as she comes to terms with how she killed you without batting an eye," he practically shuddered with glee at the thought, "and as she cries over your mangled body I'll take my hammer and smash her pretty little skull in. It'll be a beautiful sight to behold. A truly glorious play date, don't you think?" Takato could only look upwards at those mad, glowing orange eyes, unable to move or speak as his mind slowly came to accept the fact he was about to die.

UlTechPinochimon half turned away, flicking one wrist and wagging a few fingers as chains jingled and Rosemon, who hadn't moved during the entire monologue suddenly advanced. There was no hint of recognition or resistance as she raised her rapier to strike, no signs of a struggle to break free from the mad machines control.

"Pinochimon…!" Takato's head snapped upwards, as did everyone else's another voice came from up above before a silver bullet crashed into the mechanical monstrosity.

UlTechPinochimon cried out in shock meanwhile, blasted back across the upturned street. Takato was again cast into shadow, but the figure which now stood over him was towering individual adorned in glimmering silver-white and midnight blue plate armour, helm full obscuring the new arrivals face. Scrolls of parchment and seals with golden engravings dotted the armour with the loincloth inscribed with the language of the ancient Digital World. What really caught Takato's eye though was the ten wings of burning gold fire that flickered and crackled in the mid-afternoon sun and a large crown-like halo that hovered above the Digimon's head.

"Seraphimon..." Takato murmured as he stared up a Digimon he knew rather well, he own a Seraphimon Digimon Card and it had long ago be his favourite even if it looked a little different than the angelic presences before him.

Meanwhile, UlTechPinochimon hoisted himself upright, brandishing his gigantic hammer as Seraphimon knelt to one knee. "Takeru…!" the puppet hissed and Takato was taken aback out how genuinely angry Lucemon's general now seemed. "You should not have interfered…" the angelic Digimon replied by placing his hand on the pavement, a circle of pale gold light appearing underfoot as the hilt of a weapon emerged from the ground.

Grabbing the hilt of the weapon, the angel rose back to both feet as it lifted the massive great sword and pointed toward the Circle member as the blade burst into white hot holy fire. Excalibur. "Release Rosemon you bastardised fairy tale," Seraphimon demeaned, ignoring UlTechPinochimon's words completely as he gestured back to once again motionless Rosemon.

"Make me," UlTechPinochimon said barely above a whisper before the tension was cut as Seraphinmon looked over his shoulder at the boy behind him.

"Takato," Seraphimon said breaking Takato out of his stupor. "Get up and go find the Digimon Pinochimon brought with him! Stop them from erecting that second spire at all costs – whatever the Demon Lords are planning those things are the key. I'll free Rosemon and together we'll deal with this Terminator reject." Takato could only look to his Partner, Guilmon would be in no state to fight any time soon after a hit like that but what choice did he have? Shakily he stood up and nodded.

"Got it coach…!" He had to find Rika. There was no way Rika hadn't be altered to UlTechPinochimon's arrival and if he could locate her then maybe the pair of them together could deal with this spire thing before it could become an issue.

There was just one slightly flaw in his plan, he realised as he and Guilmon both hobbled away from the warzone that had once been his elementary school. Where the hell was he supposed to even start looking at a time like this? Did he even have time? None of that mattered though as he rounded another corner to find the street was empty but for one other person: a boy round about Takato's own age, dressed in a hoodie and jeans stared him down.

"Takato Matsuki, my name's Daisuke and I think it's about time you and I have a long over due talk."

Rika Makino

It was no secret that where Digimon went, chaos was likely to follow in their wake. Even after the events of the day before however, chaos like what lay before her was something Rika wasn't entirely prepared for. She and Renamon had made the dash from Sora's apartment in the direction of the latest arrival, although they hadn't even made it half way there when, before they could dash across the street, a loud tearing noise had cut the air.

What follow was the screeching of a bus horn and squeal of rubber on road as the copper haired Tamer skidded to a halt just in time to see a bus at the t-section further down the road crash into a towering figure of chains and fire. The front end of the bus had buckled and melted around the towering SkullMeramon as its back wheels had lifted from the ground as shrieking screams cut through the ringing of shattering glass.

The public transport blossomed into flame as the rear came toppling back to earth, metal buckling as the middle of the bus gave in and both ends of the bus bounced into the air once more before it toppled sideways as other oncoming vehicles served and screamed to a halt to avoid impact.

"What just happened…?" Rika asked, unsure of who would answer as SkullMeramon turned away from the downed bus and set his sights on Tamer and Partner.

"That SkullMeramon just… appeared." Renamon hissed as she threw one paw out in front of Rika, gently forcing her to take a step back as she stepped in between her Tamer and the Wild One. "The successful Biomergance of two highly powerful Mega-level Digimon in such a short span of time is clearly having a negative effect on the barriers separating the Digital World from the human one. In the end SkullMeramon didn't even Biomerge, at least not in the same way we understand it."

"We don't have time to deal with small fries like this," Rika hissed as she clenched her fists at her side, a slight hint of panic creeping into her voice though as the thought of Takato facing whatever had come through alone – whether she'd forgiven his past transgressions didn't matter because right now they were all each other had in this fight. Before she could full take control of the situation though, the sound of sirens and screams sounded off as the flaming bus crackled and hissed and sudden stench invaded her senses and the redhead found herself struggling not to be violently ill as she dropped to one knee, gagging as burning flesh punctuated the air.

"Rika!" Renamon cried in shock as she looked over her shoulder for a brief moment – which was all it took for SkullMeramon to backhand across the street and stand tall over the human girl who clutched her stomach, sweating profusely as heat rolled off the chained form of the Ultimate-level Digimon. "Stay away from her!" the kitsune barked in order as she scrambled to her feet and dashed back across the street.

As fast as the fox was, it wasn't fast enough to stop SkullMeramon bending down and grabbing Rika around the throat and hoisting her upright. If she could have screamed in pain or panic as she hung their limply, Rika most certainly would have but it was all she could do at that moment to breath as it felt like her insides were beginning to cook and her skin crack and dry as all the moisture in her body evaporated.

"Please…" SkullMeramon rasped as his entire form suddenly began to glitch and crack as his voice rumbled like muffled static, "Please, you have to save the rest. You're the only ones who can. The carnage has begun. It's too late for me but the Digital–"

Even with a light head and blurred vision, Rika managed to see what happened next as Renamon wrapped her paws around her waist and yanked her back. A creature crashed down atop of SkillMeramon, who shattered in a cloud of flickering, red corrupted data as the attacker left a crater in their wake. Standing up, the assailant revealed itself to be a bird-like create with red and white fur with several noticeable feathers, metallic breast plate and cat-like ears protruding from beneath a helm and visor.

"Silphymon," Renamon hissed as she cradled Rika's spluttering body against her soft fur. The truth was that all Rika saw was a massive blur of red and white, her throat still burning as sweat soaked her clothes and her entire body shook with a force as her teeth started to chatter, suddenly freezing as the cool air assaulted her skin.

The Beast Man Digimon folded his arms over his chest, smirking for a brief moment as he looked down on his prey with obvious glee. Silently he sided stepped just as Rika began to regain some semblance of vision to see a girl had arrived on the scene. This must be his Tamer… the redhead thought as Renamon carefully pulled her to her shaky feet.

"Rika Makino – how very disappointing." The girl who now stood over said in a snide, condescending tone as she looked down on Rika as though she was dirt. She was probably a good few inches taller than the grounded girl, slimmer and more lean with well trained muscle in comparison to Rika's own awkward curves with sharp, dark purple eyes, ivory skin and dark waist length dark hair that fell over her shoulder and twisting into ringlets near the ends. Dressed in a strapless white, frilled edge summer dress-top and frayed shorts of her own with dress sandals and a large sun hat with a bow tied around it. No of that mattered though, given all Rika had eyes for was the D-arc peaking out from under the frilled ends of her dress-top, clipped to the waist band of her shorts.

"Just who the hell are you?" Rika asked throatily, voice cracking slightly as her neck still burnt white hot in pain and pulsed a nasty red colour, the top of her large hoodie burnt and ruined, smoke still rising off the cotton. Wincing, she tried to stand, Renamon quickly offering her support.

"My name is Inoue. Miyako Inoue of the Olympians," the girl introduced herself with a a polite bow that was probably meant to be more of a mocking gesture than anything else. Straightening up, she looked over her shoulder for the briefest moments, making eye contact with Silphymon who nodded in reply. "And I'm here to make sure you stay out of our business with the Targeting Spire. Challenge me and I'll be forced to dispose of you. Dumb fox and all."

Hirokazu Shioda

When the bell had wrung earlier to signal the start of home-room Kazu had not be surprised to see that only maybe two thirds of the class had actually shown up for school. He'd honestly considered ditching himself, seeing as Miss Asaji would've probably though his parents had decided to make him stay home as she seemed to think that was the case all that days absentees. Instead he'd foolishly gone into class in hopes that Takato might show up.

No such luck.

The morning had dragged one and Kazu was more than grateful when the lunch period finally rolled around. He left the classroom, lunch in hand and head for the roof as he and Takato would usually do one nice days like the one outside but the truth was the young man just wanted to be left alone to try and sort out his thoughts.

The previous evening had been a strange ordeal to say the least; what from his talk with Takato to the long story his cousin had told them about the truth behind Digimon. To think I thought it was the coolest thing every at first when I found out my childhood heroes were real… truth being told now he wasn't even sure he could ever watch the show again after everything he had heard the night before. It was harder than he could have imagined, Kazu mused as he let his head fall back slightly to rest against the cool surface of the stone wall behind him, disregarding everything he'd thought of as fact for so many years, to find out he'd known almost nothing of reality.

It was hard enough, trying to live in his brother's shadow at home but now he had to live with the fact his heroes were real and he'd never measure up to them – to Takato and Rika who seemed to destined for something even greater than the first generation Tamers. He wouldn't deny that a part of him had held out hope that he might be one of the Tamers included in the prophecy (whatever it was) that the older Tamers had talked about. It would have been his chance to prove for once and all to his father– to himself– the he was actually worth something.

When he'd gotten home late last night to his worried mother and furious father it became clear so after when he was banished to his room, grounded because of his skipping curfew again, when he ripped open the old shoebox he hid under his bed which had his old Digivice that whatever this prophecy was he was not a part of it.

Even now, despite the rumble of his stomach, Kazu didn't eat as he instead stared at the old and faded D-Arc in his hand. It was as dead as the day Guardromon had left him five years ago. It was beyond frustrating. Just once–just once – he had thought maybe he might have a chance to prove himself worthy of holding the title Tamer, to stand up and show the world he was his friend's equal and not his shadow.

Destiny looked to knock him back down on his ass. Again.

Kazu hated the fact he felt jealous of Takato. After all the pair of them had been through over the years he still wanted the acknowledgment of others to have their respect for his own capabilities and not because of who his friends or family were. He had Takato's respect but he hadn't earned it the way he should have: truthfully he didn't think it was enough either and it bothered him. He wanted others to look at him and see someone they could count on but the truth was he could barely get over his own jealousy to be a real best friend and support the young man who was closer to him than his own brother.

Shaking his head, Kazu weakly threw the old Digivice across the roof, skidding and skipping across the stonework before he pulled his beanie's brim down over his eyes in frustration. I want to help so bad, but I want it to mean something… his father was right, he really was nothing more than a glory hound.

"Haven't you and Matsuki gotten into enough trouble for getting caught sneaking up here already, Shioda?" The sultry voice of one Mirei Mikagura asked and Kazu could feel himself cease up a little. Scrambling to his feet he adjusted his hat and offered a quick bow to the girl in front of him.

"Class President," he stammered slightly as he straightened up. The young woman before him was a bombshell; soft, fair skin and short purple hair which (apparently) was completely natural with matching eyes that hide behind a pair of hexagonal lens. Her figure was stunning with curves in all the right places, something the school's standard girl's uniform of long, puffy sleeved button up blouse and black dress that accentuated her large bust drove home. The girl was quiet possible the most attractive in the entire school and Kazu had it bad for her.

"You dropped this," Mirei said with a slight small as she held out his D-Arc to him. Kazu quickly made to take it, but upon realising just how sweaty his had become in the last minute or two he tried to dry them off by quickly wiping them off the legs of his pants before taking back what was offered.

"Thanks," Could this day get any worse? Kazu thought realising that now he had his D-Arc back the Class President hadn't made a move to leave or instruct him to do so either. He was stuck with nothing to say. Just don't speak and your chance of humiliating yourself might go down slightly.

"You seem a little off this morning, oddly quiet, Shioda. Is something the matter?" Mirei asked and he hoped that he wasn't just imaging the slight concern in her voice and she was asking because she cared and not because, as Class President, she felt obligated to.

"Guess I'm just a little distracted with everything that happened yesterday, is all. Feeling kind of insignificant," he said before he could stop himself. Mirei just raise an eyebrow in reply before walking past him a moment later and Kazu finally managed to let go of the breath he hadn't realised he was holding onto. At least it was a truthful response for the most part he thought as he turned around to see the Class President sit herself down next to where he had been a few moments earlier.

"I'm sure we all have days like that," Mirei said casually, pointed looking at him as if to tell him to sit himself back down. Taking the hint Kazu scrambled forward and sat himself down next to the girl he'd been crushing on since he started high school. "I also think it's okay to feel that way."

"You do?" Kazu asked, jerking around to look at Mirei and almost toppling sideways into the girl in question. He was able to catch himself by throwing a hand up to wall and another out in front of himself, landing between Mirei's outstretched legs. The Class President just smirked at him as he quickly shuffled back, muttering a soft "Sorry," as he did so.

"I do," Mirei confirmed, nodding, "what I think is truly important is that you don't let those feelings rule you, that you can set aside your pride and make sure your friends can rely on regardless of your own emotional state or feelings on days like those and remember that they'll come days when they do the same for you. No matter how good you get at something they'll always be someone to come along and best you; it's important that you treasure your time at the top but never lose sight of the fact they'll come a time when you need to work your way back up there eventually. No king rules forever, or so the old saying goes."

"That seemed oddly precise…" Kazu murmured and Mirei chuckled, throaty and deep and it made the hairs on the back of his neck go up.

"Truthfully, your inferiority complex when it comes to your brother isn't as a big a secret as you'd like to think."

"Takato told you, didn't he?" Kazu said, demanding as his eyes narrowed a little.

"After the debacle at the start of the year with the graffiti," Kazu went red as one of his less stellar moment was brought up, by the girl he'd secretly been trying to impress, of all people, "I confronted Matsuki and did my best to coax an answer out of him. You're much smarter than you pretend Shioda and yet you insist on getting yourself into needless trouble in attempt to gain attention. I'm sure if you stopped and actually applied yourself you might get better results."

"It's too late now," Kazu whispered and Mirei sighed, shaking her head.

"It doesn't mean you have to make the damage any worse than it already is." She said, more softly and Kazu wasn't sure but it sound like she was doing her best to encourage him to better himself. "Matsuki doesn't care for your faults or sort-comings in the same way you don't seem to care for his. Don't let yourself be bogged down by your negatives and don't let anyone who doesn't respect you tell you that you're a fool, or stupid or not worthy of the time of day."

"I'd do anything for him, y'know? Takato, I mean," Kazu said quietly and Mirei nodded her approval.

"I'm sure he would say the same. You're some he can count on, Shioda and don't let anyone tell you differently." With that the Class President stood up and dusted herself off lightly before heading back towards the stairway door.

"Class President,"

"Yes, Shioda?"

"You really think Takato relies on me?"

"Yes," Mirei smiled slightly, "I'm also certain he isn't the only one. Don't let your doubt and insecurities drag you down Shioda, use them as the path to better yourself, if not for you own sake then for those that rely on you and believe you can be more than you're letting yourself be. Now, I won't report you for breaching the rules this time seeing as lunch is about to end anyway."

"Thank, Class President," Kazu said with a nod as he felt is heart lift a little and Mirei just smiled back at him before returning his nod and departing from the roof. "For everything," the former Tamer added as he looked at the old D-Arc in had one last time before the bell rang to signal the end of the lunch period.

Frowning in determination he clenched his Digivice tighter, swearing to himself that this time he wouldn't let himself be–

Before Kazu could finish the thought though he heard Mirei scream as she was thrown back through the door onto the roof and the former Tamer spun to see a large teen maybe a year or two older than himself loomed over the Class President.

"Who the hell are you?" Kazu roared as he dashed out from the cover of the shade to put himself between the strange and Mirei. In retrospect, it was a pretty stupid decision even by his normal standards: he'd been so quick to react that he failed to really that this young man was only slightly taller than him, but had enough muscle on him to make Kazu look like a stick figure in comparison. Dressed in dark jeans and a matching fur lined, sleeveless jacket he also wore a white tank with pair of blue tinted aviator sunglasses with a pair of dog tags hanging around his neck.

"Hirokazu Shioda," the older teen spoke in such a deep voice Kazu had to spend a moment wondering it was possible for someone to sound so naturally deep. This guy knows who I am, "You're coming with me,"

"Like hell I am, Conan," Kazu shot back, resisting the urge to snigger at his own, in his opinion, clever quip. The other guy clearly found it amusing too seeing as he laughed, shaking his head for a moment, at which point the former Tamer realised it was his refusal that was funny, not his one liner.

"I don't think you have much choice in the matter," as if to prove his point, the giant form of a giant mechanical lion crashed down on top of the roof behind the strange, crushing the stairwell exit and leaving them with nowhere to go. Adorned shinning gold and black plate and retractable wheels with sharpened claws and a wrecking ball for a tail that seemed to cause the sun to flick in and out of focus as it swished back and forth as the beast causal stalked around to stand over Mirei.

LoaderLiomon, Kazu recognised the Digimon as he swore under his breath, this guy must be one of the Olympians Takato mentioned last night. "You won't hurt the girl if I come quietly, right?"

"Of course I won't," the other teen agreed, nodding his head, "you have my word I won't hurt her. Best behave though; I can't promise my friends won't do anything should you get any ideas about doing anything funny." Kazu wanted to scream, the guy was taunting him because like or not he knew when he no choice in the matter and with one last look over his shoulder to make sure Mirei was okay, clearly terrified but okay, he turned and nodded.

Before he could agree though, a screech rang out from his D-Arc before he was cast into shadow as a form over head came crashing down onto the roof. Rusted and dented, and bulky as ever with fists raised and at the ready, Guardramon shield Kazu from view. "Halt, villain! Unhand this fair maiden at once, lest I be forced to take action against you."

All-the-while Kazu's Digivice grew hot, flashing white before the teen dropped it in panic and surprise as it's form suddenly began to shift and change. When it clattered against the stone roof, flopping onto its face. The shape was unmistakable though, his D-Arc had since reformed into the same type of model that Takato and Rika now had. "What the hell...?"

"Kazu!" Guardramon spoke, shifting so as to look over his shoulder best he could, "I have returned, as promised! Now let us engage this battle head on - together!" Kazu blinked, nodding dumbly when the large mechanical robot Digimon gave him a thumbs up. Time to throw down, he thought as he scooped up the Digivice at his feet.

"Hope you're read to throw down, Conan,"

"Bring it on, Shioda. Bring it on,"