Author's Note: word or phrase emphasis

Spirit talking or mindscape scenes

Matsuki Serai stares at the door that had been just been slammed in her face by one Kanbara Yuriko. The twelve year old is stunned by this. Yuriko didn't want her near her eldest son. The crimson eyed girl just turns on her heel and leaves. She wouldn't cause problems for Takuya, the only friend she had. They had just clicked the first day she had started going to Shibuya Elementary. Even back then Takuya had taken no one's shit, but he never escalated things on school grounds. The twelve year old curses as her nails lengthen briefly. The children of the Tamers that had biomerged with their digimon partners all received DNA from said digimon partners as well, a side effect of biomerging that Shibumi and Janyu were still trying to explain.

Kanbara Takuya gets up from his seat and turns to face his mother. He'd tried so hard to keep his darker impulses in check, " Who the hell do you think you are to turn away one of my closest friends! "

Yuriko pales, that look was back, the one that told her Takuya was seriously contemplating his different options when it came to killing someone. Shinya wisely keeps his mouth shut and backs away. Takuya was not someone you pissed off ever. " You are way too close to that female, Takuya! "

Takuya chuckles darkly, his relationship with Serai was none of her damn business, " Be grateful I love Shinya too much to take his mother from him, Kaa-san. "

The twelve year old pulls on his black fingerless gloves with orange cuffs, his black short sleeved jacket which had orange, red, and yellow flames on it, under that he had on an orange t-shirt with a red hazard symbol on it, a gift from Serai. He also had a dragon earring in his left ear. He wore black cargo shorts along with black sneakers, which happened to be steel toed. On his head he had a black leather hat along with black strapped rectangular shaped goggles. After that he heads to his room and straps on his knives, then he sighs before grabbing his spiked wrist bands and snapping them on as well.

He returns to the sight of his mother, " I stopped street fighting for you, Kaa-san, but mess with Serai, well, you just don't do that. Shin, you'll find your present under my end table. "

Takuya grabs his black and red cell phone before heading out the door. He could just barely see Serai off to his right. The chocolate haired twelve year old sprints after her, " Serai, wait! "

He can see her pause before she continues on her way. Takuya swore hotly under his breath, she wouldn't want to cause problems for him. He catches up to her and grabs her arm, " Serai, you know damn well I have never given a damn about what my mother wants. I only stay for Shinya and my father. "

" You have both parents, Takuya, don't throw that away. "

" Ever think that I can start my own family. Dammit, Serai, you are mine. "

Serai almost shudders at the possessive tone he used, " Dammit, why must you go alpha on me? "

Takuya smirks, he knew exactly how that affected her, and he knew the truth about Serai, she'd told him three years ago after he'd had to stop her from tearing apart one of his subordinates. Takuya may not have been street fighting recently but he was still the head of his gang. His entire crew knew that Serai and Shinya, along with his father and soccer team were to be protected. He didn't give a damn about anyone else. His mother thought he was already sexually active but Takuya still had that bit of innocence.

Of course, he did have a certain scar on his left shoulder and Serai had one to match, " Have you forgotten, I chose to let you mark me, to be yours, Serai. I happen to like the fact that you don't just roll over and let me have the final say. "

That was when both of their cell phones went off. Even as Takuya looks at his phone he takes the opportunity to look over what his intended was wearing. She had on a light blue hoody over a brown t-shirt, with tan cargo shorts and generic sneakers. Though she did wear a pair on round goggles on a yellow strap around her neck, they had been her father's. Takuya knew how much losing her father had hurt her. She lived with her paternal grandparents and they still ran a bakery only now it was a chain and one Wong Suzie and Katou Jeri were running the one in Shinjuku.

Both phones speak the same message, " Do you wish to start? "

Both twelve year olds click on yes, Takuya was bored and Serai, well, she needed an adventure. Serai and Takuya end up, later on, sharing an elevator with a boy wearing a long sleeved dark blue jacket with yellow stripes going down the sleeves, a yellow t-shirt on under that, gray capris and white high tops with white socks. He also had his black hair back in a ponytail and held back by a navy blue bandana with gray tiger stripes. The boy with them takes in Takuya's appearance and scoffs.

Takuya just smirks as he leans against the elevator wall with Serai cradled in his arms. That punk would respect him soon enough. Takuya took no shit from anyone, never had. His father understood this and also understood that Takuya was fully capable of defending himself. His mother couldn't grasp that fact and seemed to think that she needed to save him. That was why Takuya treasured Serai, she accepted him for who he happened to be. Serai didn't want to change him like every other damn girl that was interested in him.

Once they reach their stop Takuya just casually strolls over to a train and Serai was right there with him. The train he'd chosen was empty and then it starts to move, " Well, at least we get to spend some time together. "

Serai was quite content to curl up next to him, and Takuya lets himself relax. He could fully be himself with Serai, he didn't even have to keep up the pretenses that he did with his gang. Takuya runs the fingers of his left hand through her short and wavy light brown hair, feeling her relax further into him. Takuya was the only one other than her grandmother and her 'Aunt' Jeri allowed to touch her hair. " Taku-chan, how did you leave things with your mother? "

Takuya sighs, " She should count herself grateful I love Shinya, because I won't take his mother away from him. Serai, you know what I get like when people try to get between us or hurt you. "

Serai knew all right, " Hopefully she'll understand one day soon. "

" She'd better, because I can just live on the streets. I've done it before when I needed to get away and cool down. " Takuya states.

" Don't do anything to get yourself thrown in jail, okay. "

" Serai, I will never do anything illegal, as much as my blood sings while I'm in battle, as much as I enjoy spilling the blood of those whom oppose me, I will not stoop that far. It's hard sometimes, I'll admit it, and you can understand that, what with being part digimon. "

" True, I can understand that, the battle lust and blood lust you feel. However, you also lust for my safety and happiness above all else, which is why you never cross a line that you've set for yourself. " Serai says as Takuya pulls her onto his lap, needing her closer. Takuya breathes in her scent and feels himself relax further. He had truly missed his time with Serai. This was why he had hardly ever gone home to begin with, his home was with Serai and nowhere else. Still, he stayed for his little brother.

The chocolate haired male sighs in contentment, he had his intended safe in his arms again, where she belonged. Of course, he knew damn well she could and would protect herself. He would never shield her when she didn't need it and he would never insult her by pulling away from her because she might end up in danger from his enemies. Hell, they had all learned that messing with Kanbara Takuya's girl generally got you beaten to within an inch of your life. Serai allows his scent to fill her nostrils, it truly had been too long since they'd been able to just be together.

The train jolts just then, sending them tumbling to the floor, Takuya landing on top of her in a very awkward position. Takuya curses as he can feel his blood rush south before shrugging and kissing his intended mate. Yes, mate in this case, what with Serai being part Guilmon. Neither noticed the forms flash over them nor hear their phones go off or see them transform, as the instant his mouth had closed over hers Serai's arms had wound around him and pulled his hat and goggles off so she could run her fingers through his silky chocolate locks. Takuya's hands were far from idle, slipping under her shirt and hoody before running up her sides. She arches into his touch, not even minding the spikes he wore, though he was careful to keep them from hurting her too much.

Takuya gasps when she yanks on his hair, not expecting the jolt of pleasure that had given him. Her smirk told him that she had noticed and would put that knowledge to use one day. As the pair continue to make out they fail to realize that they had entered an entirely new world, nor did they hear the shouting of the Trailmon they were riding, too caught up in each other. Neither had gone past moderate making out with each other as Takuya knew neither one of them was ready to escalate things like that, well, all right, technically they had reached second base. Takuya had been out of his mind worried about Serai at the time and when she appeared he just about jumped her. The fact that Serai hadn't slapped him for that told him that she'd been just as worried about him.

Both curse when they're tossed out onto the dirt, along with Takuya's discarded hat and goggles. Takuya groans, that had been a good make out session too. They rarely got to have one of those, " Welcome to the digital world, ya wanna get home then you need to find the spirits. "

Serai blinks, " Well, damn, I didn't even notice us coming here. Goes to show that you can distract me very well, Taku-chan. "

" Wait, so this is actually the Digital World? " Takuya asks.

" I smell digimon. " Was the response she gave him.

Takuya had met Gigimon and the other partners after they'd marked each other. The only one of the Tamer kids he'd met was Ricky, Ryo and Rika's son whom was part Cyberdramon. Ricky had sized him up and then basically told him that if he ever intentionally hurt her he'd hunt him down. Ricky wasn't stupid enough to believe they'd never fight or upset each other. Nor that Takuya would never hurt her, especially if he got hurt himself. No, Ricky was a realist.

" Well, at least you aren't bread obsessed. "

" Cinnamon roll obsessed. " Serai states.

Takuya blinks, " This explains why your eyes glaze over whenever you smell cinnamon rolls, right? "

" Pretty much, now, as much as I would like to stay like this, we need to get moving. "

Takuya curses under his breath, " Why can we never get a good, long, uninterrupted make out session? "

Serai smiles, " If we can cover enough ground I might consider picking up where we left off, Taku-chan. "

Takuya was on his feet with his hat and goggles back on his head in a minute and holding his hand out to his girlfriend. Serai rolls her eyes and lets him pull her up. Her cell phone falling out of her hoody pocket, her eyes widen as she takes in its new appearance, " Taku-chan, I think we're the new digidestined now. That was what the SMS message was about. "

Takuya looks at his own cell phone, " Well, I guess we better get to saving the world, huh? "

Serai looks at her brown and burnt orange digivice, " Taku-chan, Digiworld gives you true friends, lifelong friends. "

" I have you. "

" You need more than just me, Taku-chan, and truthfully, I need more friends I can actually trust to have my back. The Tamers kids are mostly like family, as you know from meeting Ricky. " Serai points out.

Takuya winces, " Ya know, Ricky is someone I actually respect. "

" Only because he can actually kick your ass but not try and kill you. " Serai states.

Takuya sighs, " Must you kick my ego when it's down? "

Serai skips ahead of him and Takuya's eyes automatically track down to watch her hips sway as she walks in front of him, temporarily short circuiting his ability to think, " Taku-chan, you can ogle later. "

Takuya shakes himself and follows his girlfriend. Damn, she had the ability to leave him a quivering mass of hormones. She reveled in it as well, which was rather annoying at times. The damn tease. Oh, how he wanted to just slam her against the nearest hard surface sometimes and just ravish her. However, he would not do that until they were at least seventeen. Though he got the feeling the Tamers would be understanding if they did get frisky before then, along with her grandparents. His mother would kill him if he became a father before he was married by the legal system, though he honestly couldn't care less about that.

He would never be a dead beat dad. Besides, he'd told his mother he'd stop street fighting, he never said anything about stopping his underground fighting career. Though to be fair she didn't know about that. Takuya already had more than enough money to support a family and he'd only get more over the years. The rush of adrenaline he got when fighting, he needed it, it was a different kind of rush when he was with Serai but no less potent. Fighting was in his blood, it made him feel alive in ways that only soccer and Serai could. His mother, well, she tried to make him be someone he wasn't. She had allowed him to play soccer only because it seemed to help channel his excess energy.

What she failed to understand was that Takuya was not a gentle person by nature, unless Serai or Shinya were the ones with him. They brought out his softer nature, his gentler side. Takuya loved his little brother and Serai was a different story altogether. Takuya could still remember his first playground fight, the rush he'd gotten from making the other kid bleed for making one of the girls cry. Takuya couldn't stand bullies. His gang actually went around stopping bullying. It was why the cops left them alone, they didn't break any laws and they helped stop a lot of muggings and rape attempts. Hell, the entire gang were CI's. Naturally his mother didn't know this either.

Kanbara Yuriko just seemed to think that her son was acting out, but Takuya wasn't. The chocolate haired goggle head catches up to his girlfriend and throws an arm around her shoulders, " Have you ever been here before? "

" No, but when I was born a D'Arc with a digi egg on the screen appeared. The Digi Gnomes granted me a partner, a female of the same species of Digimon that my father had created. Of course, dad never told anyone whom my mother happened to be. All they know is he showed up with me after he had gotten an urgent call. When he came back two days later he had me in his arms and a document stating that my mother had signed over all her rights to me. " Serai states.

Serai pulls away then and snarls, every sense coming alive in mere seconds, her finger nails lengthening and sharpening into claws, her eyes turning golden. Ricky had warned Takuya that this could happen if she were to be exposed to digimon that weren't going to leave her be. Takuya carefully backs away, Ricky had assured him that even in that state Serai would never hurt him as the marks they'd given each other just lightly emitted their own personal scents, marking them as taken in digimon and oddly enough demon terms. Though for the Guilmon line it wasn't a mating mark but a courting and engagement mark.

He fully intended to see that mark through as well. Serai was his but he was also hers. Both of them were alphas it's just Serai was content, most of the time to let him take charge. " My, my, what a feral little thing ya are, hun. "

Serai's eyes turn to golden slits even as her nails, now claws lengthen further. " Rock Breaker! "

The nymph like digimon that looked like she was wearing a blue swimsuit barely dodges and her eyes widen as the attack decimates the ground in a twelve foot radius around Serai, a sphere of fire forms in her hands, " Pyro Sphere! "

The nymph is hit by this attack and Serai leaps forward pressing her attack only to get hit by a hammer. The twelve year old female careens back into a tree and she drops, though she manages to roll to her knees, her eyes crimson again. She takes in her opponents and gets to her feet, starting to glow red before slashing her hands across her body. Two arcs of the red energy slam into her opponents only for the one to go underground and pop up behind her. She meets his attack with a Rock Breaker and the resulting collision sends her sailing into the woods where she finds a totem. Instinct has her and her digimon half agreeing, they grab up their new digivice and call out, " SPIRIT! Execute…Spirit Evolution! Maderamon. (AN: See Moon and Miracles Join the Frontier for description). "

Maderamon stares at the three representations of her partner before her and the human looking one that didn't have red skin speaks up, " I am Matsuki Serai, I am part Guilmon and the holder of the Digital Hazard. We all need to come to an agreement, Maderamon. I have left a mark on someone already and right now us three human, digimon, and Hazard are not enough to deal with the threat to our intended mate. "

" There's a delicate balance here and I don't intend to disrupt that. I need all of you to help me save the Digital World. I am Maderamon, Warrior of Wood, well the Human Spirit of Wood at any rate. Besides, I get the feeling your intended will be bonding with my mate so we all win. " Maderamon says.

Maderamon opens her eyes, blood red now, and her plum colored wings take her aloft where she slams into the two that were threatening her intended. Takuya's eyes widen as he takes in this new digimon, his mark pulses briefly and it was then he knew, this new digimon was his intended though how this happened he would have to wait to find out about. The chocolate haired male curses when the ugly gnome comes after him again, " Root Snare! NO ONE MESSES WITH HIM, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, GRUMBLEMON! " Maderamon snaps and viciously tears into the corrupted Earth Warrior.

Ranamon had avoided the boy for a reason, she could smell the mark on him and really did not want to meet the one whom had claimed him. Now, she knew it was an intention mark. His girlfriend was part Guilmon and the Warrior of Wood, not a pretty combination. Ranamon cuts and runs, no need for both of them to get torn apart. Grumblemon just barely manages to escape from Maderamon's righteous fury. A flurry of fractal code surrounds her and she pitches forward, Takuya barely managing to catch her, " Serai, what the hell? "

Serai's digivice lights up and Maderamon explains everything she can to him. Takuya sighs and swings his girlfriend up, he needed to find some place safe for them to camp.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I do own Serai and Maderamon though.