Myotis: Hello! This is my first Digimon story, and I have a few things to say. First off, let me say that Digimon is probably my favorite anime, and I've loved the whole Digimon world since it started with the virtual pets. I still have mine, too! Anyway, Tamers is my favorite series. My favorite Tamers are, of course, Takato and Rika. I'm rather fond of their Japanese names, but I feel that I should use the kind a lot of us may be used to. As for how this story is going to be…well, all of the stories I've worked on so far(not a lot at all…) have had romance as the main theme, but I also like elements of adventure, angst, and horror. So, you can expect that. Also, there will be some (attempted) humor, now and then. So anyway, this story takes place 4 years after the end of the Tamers season, after the second movie. So I'm assuming Takato, Rika, Henry, and the others like Jeri, Kenta, and Kazu are around 16. I'll be making a few of my own Digimon, and some special characters. They're mostly enemies, but there you go. Well, time for the disclaimer…

Disclaimer: I do not my any means, although I would love to, own Digimon. I do, however, own the characters that I create for this story, like Ianu and Devamon. If by some freakish miracle that Digimon has characters by the same name, I did not know, and it is one heck of a coincidence.

Digimon Tamers: Life's Pain and Death's Comfort

Chapter One: The Dark Night of Fate

"Whoa! What the…?"

Takato Matsuki fell out of his bed and landed right on his sleeping Digimon partner, Guilmon.

"…Takatomon too heavy…zzz…"

"…Sorry, boy…"

Takato found what had caused him to wake up so abruptly…aside from falling out of bed, I mean. His D-Power was flashing wildly in all colors. A message was on the screen that almost looked as if it was carved into it.

"What's this…? 'Come if you wish, but be prepared'? The sender's name is…Ianu? Never heard of him. What the heck is this about?"

Suddenly, Guilmon's viral side took over and he snapped awake, his eyes dilated. He was staring towards the park through Takato's window. He was growling ferociously.

"G-guilmon? What is it? Is it that powerful?"

"Takatomon, it smells like the Devas…"

Takato thought for a moment that all of this was a dream.

"You can't be serious. I mean, why would they, aside from Antylamon, be here?"

"Don't know! We gotta go see!"

Without waiting for an answer, the reptilian Digimon ran down the stairs, outside, and to the park with Takato barely keeping up. When they got there, they saw a Digimon that they had never encountered before. It looked like a gigantic human the size of a tall building, along with great bird wings and long claws. It had armor all over its body, and the symbols of the Devas were emblazoned on his armor.

"Wh-what is…"

"About time, Gogglehead!"

"What took you, Takato?"

Takato turned to see Rika and Henry looking his way, with Renamon and Terriermon nearby. Rika, for one, seemed quite vexed.

"Look, Gogglehead. When a weird call appears like that on a D-Power, it's bad news that should be dealt with!"

Takato took a moment to overcome his confusion.

"So, you both got it, too? What is that thing?"

Henry pulled his D-Power out and pointed towards the mysterious Digimon.

"Devamon, a Constructgroup Digimon. He has no defined type, and he is comprised of all of the Devas, and thus knows all of their attacks. Oh man…"

Takato swallowed out of worry.

"This…could be bad."

Terriermon suddenly looked in another direction, towards the sky.

"Henry, I think it just got worse! Incoming!"

They looked up to see something rather unexpected. The clouds began to swirl, and from the center of the vortex, a young man began to float downwards. He was of somewhat below average height, and had very pale skin. His hair was a dull silver color, and his eyes were a bright green. He was wearing gray shoes, blue jeans, a black shirt, and a long, white coat with a cross emblazoned on the back. He slowly drifted to the ground, landing gracefully next to Devamon, who stood as still as a statue.

"I suppose I should thank you for coming. It was of utmost importance that you did."

His voice was cold and felt spiteful to hear. But, it also sounded sad. Rika, not liking the looks of him at all, responded before anyone.

"Okay, pretty boy, what's this about? Is that your partner or something?"

The boy just continued to show no expression for what felt like forever. Then he dashed forward to Rika at an amazing speed, stopping with his face an inch away from hers. Despite her 'pretty boy' remark, she didn't notice until just then that he was, in fact, quite handsome. To her own shock, she could feel herself reddening.

"Humans. So foolish. This pathetic mass of trash data could not in five millennia of evolution be enough to be my partner. He sleeps elsewhere. This lowly being is just a…test."

She couldn't stand it anymore.

"O-okay! Just back off already, you freaking bishounen!"

"I shall…consider that a compliment. Very well…"

With that, he dashed back to where he landed.

"I do not believe we have been introduced. I know the lot of you only by status."

Takato stepped forward, who was for reasons somewhat unknown to him, feeling indignant about how close the stranger got to Rika.

"I'm Takato Matsuki! This is Guilmon, my partner!"

Rika was next, still a bit flustered.

"I-I'm Rika Nonaka, and Renamon is my partner…"

Henry stepped up next, starting to understand what may be happening.

"I'm Henry Wong and this is Terriermon. And unless I'm mistaken, you must be…"

"Ianu. Ianu Arukado. It is more of an honor than a pleasure to meet you all…"

"So you're the one! What's going on here, anyway?"

Takato was clearly in a state of…unstable emotions at the moment.

"Very well, if you insist on being impatient. This little golem is a creation of mine. It does not think. It does not feel. It exists only to fight. I brought it with me to see if you live up to your standards. I must go now, for I have business in the Digital World. However, I will be watching how your battle goes. Farewell, destined ones…"

And with that, he left the same way he came, through the clouds. Devamon started to move.

"By ThE wIlL oF mY mAsTeR, I wIlL cRuSh YoU…"

The Tamers sprang into action, Takato leading the charge.

"Let's take this thing down!"

Takato and Henry immediately Biomerged with Guilmon and Terriermon to become Gallantmon and MegaGargomon. Rika, however, was lost in thought about Ianu. She couldn't stop, as if she was under a spell.

He was so close…I've never seen anyone like him. Just one look, any I started blushing. Why? What is it about him? Sure, he's handsome, but so is Takato, and…wait, did I just think that? What the heck am I thinking? But, why can't I get Ianu out of my mind? I just met the guy, and he clearly doesn't care for me or anyone else. Maybe he just scared me. That has to be it…

"RIKA! Snap out of it! He's coming for you! Why haven't you Biomerged yet?"

Takato's yells caused the very confused girl to come out of her dazed state, just as Renamon snatched her up and got her out of the way of Devamon's foot, which nearly stomped her.

"Oh, right. Wait, Renamon…why didn't YOU snap me out of it?"

Renamon just stared back into her eyes.

"You know that we have a link, Rika. I saw what you thought, and as far as I can tell, you had to sort it out. Besides, I did several times. I would have tried slapping had Takato's yelling not worked."

Rika felt embarrassed, guilty, and a bit invaded.

"Oh, sorry…but, just forget what you saw, okay! It's not important."

"…"

"…Did you just chuckle at me, Renamon?"

"…Maybe. But yes, I'll forget it."

"Good. Now let's go!"

The two Biomerged, and joined the others to battle the enemy before them.

Myotis: Well, that's that. I should have the next chapter up in a bit. Please review!

Oh, and I'll be introducing my own personal Digimon/Muse in the next chapter. Thanks for reading!