A/N I do not own Digimon and I never will so don't sue me. It wouldn't be very nice. Well, thanks to my reviewers. You guys are awesome and I luv you!

Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter and whether you do or don't, drop me a review. I'd really like to know how I'm doing.

On with the show…

Ch.2 More Than Just A Card Game

Ren Matsumoto sighed heavily as she slid her backpack over her shoulder and picked up her binder. It was 3:30 in the morning and she had just finished her homework. Her eyes felt heavy and her skin greasy as she tiptoed quietly to her closet to deposit her books. Thank the lord tomorrow was a Saturday. She had been working, for the most part unsuccessfully, on her homework since she had gotten home, but she couldn't seem to focus. The image of the girl beat and burnt was at the front of her mind.

A digimon did that and they could do it to anyone else if they wanted to. They could do it to us, to children in the park, to our families. This isn't a game anymore. We aren't dealing with harmless street battles. Ok, they weren't harmless, but at least the digimon were the only ones getting attacked then. But now…everything has been kicked up a notch. And the way that girl was just left there, she was meant to die.

Ren shuddered involuntarily as she opened her dresser drawer and removed her pajama bottoms. She slid out of her day clothes and into the pajamas watching Floramon sleep in the mirror. The rookie digimon was stretched across her patchwork armchair as she had been for the last few hours. At least one of them wouldn't be tired in the morning.

Ren bunched her hair up on top of her head and secured it before sliding under her covers. While she may not have school in the morning she did have a competition at ten. Ren was a member of her school's Speech and Debate team and as such most of her Saturday's were devoted to the academic sport. It was the one thing aside from being a tamer that Ren was serious about. The young tamer sighed and turned off her light before rolling over to face her trophy shelf. She was used to winning and as such she had the trophies to prove it. The shelf had fourteen trophies on it and two more were in the mail. The plaques on them had been incorrect. Ren always put an immense amount of work into her passion; she would spend days on one case perfecting it. It generally calmed her, but her case for tomorrow had been a nightmare; she had prepared her case for the next day in only four hours across the last two weeks. The digimon attacks had been throwing her schedule out of whack and she had become so backed up on projects and homework that she had to spend hours a night just to pull a D. Her parents weren't pleased and forbid her to work on her case before her work was done. She had begrudgingly been compliant the fist few days, but as the competition drew closer she had chosen working in the dark by flashlight over sleep.

Her case was about what the city could do to combat the recent acts of vandalism that were vexing police and destroying the city. She had made up some stuff about upping police patrols and starting a neighborhood watch, after all, how could she argue that the city needed to find some hidden portal to a digital world and close it so the digimon would stop emerging and reeking havoc? Perhaps at her next tournament they would debate the sudden increase in muggings.

HHH

Braden Ono was couldn't sleep. Not because he wasn't tired, he was completely exhausted, but because he had a feeling, a feeling something bad was going to happen tonight. He'd had the feeling since midnight and he couldn't shake it. It was a burning sensation in his stomach and a pressure in his heart that caused his breathing to come erratically and his hair to stand on end. The male tamer currently sat on his balcony railing with his head against a pole and one leg dangling off the side while he counted stars.

Leormon was curled up on his bench, but he too was not asleep. He was awake and watching, but not the starts as his tamer was, rather his tamer who was watching the stars. Braden was agitated and Leormon knew from experience that when something agitated Braden it generally boded ill for everyone.

Braden suddenly slid off the rail causing Leormon to snap into a standing position. The sky had clouded in the distance. "Is it a digital field, Leormon?"

"Definitely, and whatever digimon is in it is extremely powerful. I can feel its energy from here."

"I thought you would. I think I can feel it too." The tamer squinted in the darkness his eyes focused on the digital field. "I think it's what I've been feeling all night."

"Do you wish to go to it?"

The tamer seemed startled by the question. "Of course! We can't just let it run amuck. Why would you even need to ask?"

"Because you are hesitant."

Braden forced a smile. "Only because something tells me this isn't like any digimon we've faced before." He walked into his room and remerged moments later with his deck in one hand and his digivice in the other. "But the unfamiliar is no reason to hesitate. Let's go kick some digimon butt!"

HHHHH

Caley Barbour woke with a start at the sound of Kitmon's hissing. "What is it, girl?" she whispered rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"A really big digital field."

Caley's eyes grew wide as she completely awoke. "How big are we talking?" she asked throwing the covers off and slipping on her robe and slippers.

"Champion at least."

Caley paused. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Well, then I guess I'll need both my decks for this one." She slid open the drawer to her night stand and removed two digimon decks and her digivice. Turning quickly towards her window she slid the objects into her robe pocket before reaching for the window seal. She pushed up allowing the warm night air to infiltrate her bedroom. Caley stepped through and onto the ledge of her apartment complex avoiding looking at the ground as she reached for a tree branch. She had snuck out so many times that the ritual was almost second nature.

Five minutes later her slippers touched the grass beside Kitmon. "Ok, girl, lead the way." Kitmon gave a brief nod and sprinted into the darkness with Caley on her trail.

HHHHH

Braden Ono slid his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on his face as he and Leormon neared the digital field. It was in Shinjuku Park and from what Braden could tell it was near their hideout. He held his digivice out ahead of him as a digital fog enveloped him and Leormon. "Ready, Leormon?"

"Absolutely," the lion cub replied. "But where is this thing?" The tamer and digimon slid to a stop and looked around for the source of the field, but where met only with trees.

"Leormon, I've got a bad-" Braden froze as he heard a twig snap to his left. Leormon heard it too and turned towards the noise poised for attack.

"Stop! Don't attack! It's me, Caley!" a voice called and not a minute late the blonde digidestined emerged from the bushes her green sunglasses reflecting data. "So who're we dealing with?"

"I don't know. I can't find them, but I can feel them. They're strong. Way strong."

"Yeah, Kitmon pegged them as a champion at least." Both teens' heads snapped up at the sound of a cackle.

"Well, well, well, Leormon and Kitmon, rookie levels. I certainly hope you don't plan to attack me with them."

Caley made a fist and glared in the direction of the voice. "You better believe we'll fight you. Now show yourself!"

"Ha! Giving me orders, how very, very stupid. You foolish child I've dealt with your kind before and now with my new powers I'll have no trouble crushing you." There was another cackle. "Hell Contract!"

Caley and Braden jumped out of the way just in time to see a wave of dark energy blast a hole in the previous position. Leormon growled and lunged at the attacker. "Leo Claw!"

"Touch of Evil!" The cub digimon was blasted back into a tree as Kitmon leapt to the plate.

"Claw Slash!" The digimon spun forming an x with her claws which speed towards the attacker.

"Child's play," the digimon laughed and Caley and Braden looked on in horror as Kitmon's attack faded into nothing. "Touch of Evil!" Kitmon too was blasted back. "Honestly, digidestined, do you think you can conquer Devimon, champion of evil?"

Braden heard Caley gasp beside him as his own stomach twisted in fear. Devimon was a fallen angel virus type and amazingly powerful! There was no way their digimon would stand a chance unless they digivolved and without a prompt card that wasn't very likely. Braden gritted his teeth. He didn't have a digivolution prompt card and he didn't even have to ask Caley to know she didn't.

"This is bad. This is very bad."

"Yeah, so I caught on," Caley replied nervously. "Let me see what I have in my deck." She fanned her cards out instantly and removed one from the center. "Kitmon, get ready to attack! "Digi Modify, Hyper Wing activate!" Kitmon stood as two wings appeared on her back. "Now fly up there and blast that baddie!"

"On it." The digimon took off into the air aiming for their formidable foe. "Claw Slash!"

"Hell Contract," Devimon responded with little concern. Kitmon was again blasted back and slammed into the ground with a sickening crunch.

"Kitmon!" her tamer yelled. "Oh dear lord. I have amazing cards, but nothing for this!"

"I don't have anything either. We need help." Caley nodded. "Take my cards and see what you can do. I'll find the nearest pay phone and call Cole."

"Cole? Why Cole?" the girl moaned.

"Because like it or not we need a Digivolution Prompt Card and he has plenty of them."

The girl wrinkled her nose and nodded. "Just hurry before I change my mind and decide the world isn't worth swallowing my pride for the Digimon King."

Braden smiled quickly. "Will do. Just keep Devimon busy and Leormon help her out."

It was the female tamers turn to smile. "My pleasure. Kitmon, let's add some defensive power."

HHHHH

Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring! Braden growled in frustration as the phone reached its fifth ring. He knew he had the number right so why wasn't Cole picking up his cell phone? Come on Cole we need your help now. I don't know how long Caley can keep the fallen angel busy. The phone reached its eighth ring and he slammed it on the receiver. "Dammit!" I've only got enough change left for one more call.

Braden groaned and bounced on his toes frantically before again picking up the phone and dialing. Please pick up, please pick up, please…yes! Braden almost laughed in relief as he heard the phone click.

HHHHH

Sage Akiyama sat down at the dinner table completely silent. He knew it was better to just sit silently then accidentally prompt the lecture he knew his mother had spent the afternoon perfecting. If Sage didn't know any better he would say she liked making people feel like dirt. That is why he was surprised when his mother and father sat down and immediately began talking about their days.

Sage glanced up at his father first who was laughing about Mr. Kazu Shioda from work. Sage didn't understand why, but Mr. Shioda thought his father was the best thing in the world and would often ask to borrow strange things in order to talk to him at work. His mother didn't know how his father could put up with him.

Sage glanced back down at the rice and chicken before him. Perhaps, Grandma didn't tell them. There's no way Mom would listen to another Kazu story before lecturing me. "Sage?" But why wouldn't his grandmother tell on him? He had been a complete butt. "Sage?" It was so unlike her. She loved telling on him even if she didn't mean too. The woman couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it. "Sage Akiyama, are you there?" Sage jumped as his mother's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Y-Yes, mother," he stammered not looking up from his plate.

"Buddy," that was his father, "is something wrong?"

He could feel two sets of eyes on him. Yeah, I got an attitude with grandma and found some girl with the crap beat out of her all in one day. Oh, and I've got a digimon. You know that game you won't let me play? Yeah, it's real. "No," Sage responded before taking a healthy sized bite of rice. "I just couldn't decide if I wanted to eat the rice first, the chicken, or both." He procured a sickeningly broad grin.

His mother snorted. "It's a good thing you don't have to decide the meaning of life. We'd be here forever." She turned to his father and smirked. "He takes after you in that department."

"I don't think so. He most definitely takes after you, Rika. I've always been instantly decisive. You, however…" he trailed off with a teasing smile.

"You'd better take that back Akiyama before I get you with this rice." She held up a wad of rice threateningly.

"I don't think so, Mrs. Akiyama." He reached down and grabbed some of his rice. "If you did I'd have to get you back."

"Uh, Mom? Dad? You aren't really going to? Whaaaa!" Sage yelped as the rice went flying and both his parents reached for more ignoring the white grains in there hair and on their clothes.

"Well, pretty boy. Think we should share?"

"Of course. Sharing is always nice." His parents smirked as they turned towards Sage.

Sage grimaced and covered his face with his hands not a moment too soon as he was splattered with dinner. "You guys!" He lowered his hands slightly. "So if I throw back will I be grounded?"

"You can bet on it," his mother responded casually as she flicked some chicken his way.

"What! But that's not fair!"

"All's fair in love and war, Buddy. You'll find that out eventually."

HHHHH

Sage emerged from the shower an hour later sufficiently rid of rice grains and plopped down on the couch. It was time for some TV. He flipped through several channels eventually ending up on a horror flick. As he watched his thoughts drifted back to the girl and to Cole.

He didn't know why, but that girl gave him some bad vibrations. Something wasn't right about her and he just couldn't figure it out. She had been so close to their hideout almost as if she had been heading for it which was rather unnerving as they worked hard to keep the location a secret. And Cole, he still wasn't comfortable with Cole taking care of the girl. The guy didn't even take care of himself; he left that to his numerous servants. Perhaps he should call. Sage yawned widely. Yeah, he'd call in a few minutes. He just needed to shut his eyes for a moment.

RING! RING! RING! Sage snapped awake in his position on the couch at the sound of the telephone. He groaned and shoved the blanket off himself. He must have fallen asleep longer than he thought. The TV had been turned out and all but one light dimmed. He glanced at the clock, 3:30am. Who in the world would be calling now? He heard his parent's door open and someone entered the hallway. No doubt to answer the phone.

There was a click and Sage heard his father's voice. "Hello, Akiyama residence. Do you know what time it is?" There was a pause. "I'm sorry, but you can't speak to Sage. It's after 3:00am and he's asleep."

Sage's eyes grew wide as he registered the call was for him. He scrambled to his feet intent on reaching the phone before his dad chose to hang up. "Dad, Dad I'm not asleep." He called entering the hall. His dad was standing there in his pajama bottoms looking rather annoyed.

"Yes, but it is still 3:00am and you shouldn't have your friends calling at such an ungodly hour."

"I'll be sure to tell them that. Just let me see the phone. I'll take it in my room so you and mom won't be further disturbed."

His father seemed to contemplate this. "Fine, but you've only got ten minutes and then you need to tell Mr. Ono goodbye. Understand?"

"Perfectly." He grabbed the phone from his father and headed for his room. "What's up, Braden?"

"We've got a major emergency at the park. Devimon emerged and he and Caley are locked in battle right now with Kitmon and Leormon." Sage felt his stomach grow cold at the mention of the fallen angel digimon. He was a champion! "There's no way we can beat him, Sage. Not without digivolving, but neither of us have a prompt card. I tried calling Cole, but he didn't pick up. I need you to go to his house and rouse him. He's the only one who can help us right now."

"Yeah, I'll get right on it. I'll just have to sneak past my parents. No problem."

"Just be sure you hurry. I don't know how long we can hold him." With that the phone clicked off leaving Sage to figure out how he was going to get past his now very awake parents.

"Monodramon," he hissed softly. The dinosaur digimon emerged from the shadows of his closet.

"What is it, Sage?"

"We've got to go and fast. There's a Devimon in Shinjuku Park." Sage slid his hand into his pocket to ensure his digivice was still there before walking over to his window. Thank the lord his apartment was on the first floor. He undid the latch quietly and pulled up slowly so as not to make any noise. He knew his parents hadn't fallen back to sleep yet. Sage hardly breathed as the window reached the end of the track and he slid one leg over the ledge and then the other. He dropped the foot and a half to the ground and looked around before motioning for Monodramon to follow. The purple dinosaur digimon plopped down beside him.

"To the park?" it growled.

"No; Cole's house, we need him to use his prompt card." The tamer whispered before taking off in the direction of his fellow tamer's home with Monodramon at his side.

"I need Cole. Cole Suzuki. You know, tall with dark hair. Oh who am I kidding you have no clue what I'm saying," Sage whined fifteen minutes later as he attempted to communicate with Cole's Chinese night maid. It was no use. She didn't speak a lick of Japanese or English and Sage was just wasting time.

He sighed and turned away from the large gated house. "Well, Monodramon, I guess we'll just have to check out how three rookies stand up to a champion," he stated as he began running in the direction of Shinjuku Park. The streets were deserted aside from the homeless, drunks, and druggies so the young tamer didn't bother to hide himself or Monodramon. They'd all believe him to be a hallucination in the morning.

He rounded the corner dodging a hooker as he kept his eyes on the glow of the digital field in the distance. What was he going to do when he got there? Sure, Monodramon was strong, but even he wouldn't be able to stop Devimon without upgrades and Sage didn't have any…Cards! Sage snapped to a stop and took a few steps back staring into the window of the comic and cards store.

There, laid out in the display window were booster packs and starter packs of all types. The bell over the door jingled a beckoning for late night battlers. Sage could see them past the display laying down cards and setting up strategies. Unlike Sage, all of them knew what they were doing.

Sage bit his lip as he reached towards his back pocket and removed his wallet. He knew he had enough money to buy a booster pack. He always did, but what would his parents do if they found out? He'd be dead. No, he'd be worse than dead his mother would make sure of it.

Sage scrunched his eyes shut in frustration as his digimon partner looked up at him in confusion. Why do they have to ban them? This wouldn't be so difficult if they weren't so insistent that I not get them. Sage thought back to his grandmother's reaction earlier that afternoon. She had called the cards dangerous and even though she didn't know it she was right, but being a tamer either way was dangerous. Cards might even make it safer. At least with cards I'll have a chance of surviving this. He looked down at his digimon looking for confirmation that what he was about to do was the right thing.

The dinosaur digimon cocked its head to the side as he looked up at his tamer. "What are you waiting for? You're friends are in danger."

Sage nodded with a grimace as he took a deep breath and readied himself to enter the shop. "Wait out here Monodramon. I've got some digimon cards to buy."

A/N

Well, Caley and Braden seem to have gotten themselves into quite the predicament and poor Sage, whatever will his parents say if they find out? Find out next time in Digimon: Digivolution Saga! Please, drop me a review and let me know your thoughts. And for those of you looking for more of the tamers from the Anime Series don't worry. They'll all make an appearance. In fact, you might just me seeing the digidestined too. But hey, what do I know? I'm only the author.

Well, until next time,

Political Blonde

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