Chapter Word Count: 500||Story Word Count: 5,000||Chapter Count: 10/40

Takeru could believe on some level that the Kaiser controlled Daisuke – he didn't believe for a moment Daisuke knelt before their enemy without some kind of hold involved, even if they didn't know what it was. Did Rings work on humans? As far as he knew, it hadn't ever been tried. But how? When?

That time the Kaiser kidnapped Daisuke...and that strange hickey or bruise or whatever. It could've – had to have been – more than it seemed.

But no matter what the Kaiser had done to Daisuke, one fact remained: they weren't giving up this fight.

At Kaiser's grandiose statement, all of them looked in near unison at their D-3s. The screen showing where the Kaiser's towers now showed, and in the space of a heartbeat, nearly every single square on there turned black as coal.

"What – what did you do?" Miyako stared at the Kaiser, fists clenched and head held high. "We tore down all of those!"

"And I came along behind you and put them back. I've just waited until now to activate them." Kaiser shrugged as if this meant nothing to him. "You can't do anything to stop me. Do you surrender or not?"

"No!" Takeru snapped without a moment of thought. "Even if we have to stay here forever, we're going to stop you!" His lips wrinkled; he wouldn't say it was a smile. "It wouldn't be the first time the Chosen Children lived in the Digital World to stop someone from trying to take it over." He'd thought they wouldn't have to anymore, but if it was the only way, they'd do it.

Kaiser eyed all of them, most of his face still hidden behind his visor, that one hand resting so possessively on Daisuke's head. "I think once you know who and what you're up against, then you may change your mind."

Takeru thought he'd been ready for anything. He thought seeing Daisuke eagerly and gleefully kneeling before the Kaiser would be enough of a shock to immunize him against any others for at least a week.

But when the Kaiser took off his visor and they saw the face of Ichijouji Ken, words dried up in his throat.

That wasn't even the end of the surprises. The Kaiser – Ichijouji – smiled. He seldom had around them before and when he did, they were always thin, tight smiles that showed nothing of his teeth.

Now they saw his teeth and Takeru wished they hadn't. He'd seen teeth like those before and hadn't liked them anymore now than then. From the noises he could hear from Hikari and Tailmon, they weren't enjoying this any more than he.

"Vampire..." Takeru whispered, holding Patamon closer. This shouldn't have been possible. Digital vampires were one thing, but human ones?

Was this a human one? Or a Vamdemon – a different one – in disguise? Or some trick of the Kaiser's to play to their fears?

That last thought vanished, as Kaiser bent down, and sank his fangs into Daisuke's yielding neck.

To Be Continued

Notes: The Chosen just are not having a good day. Surprise after surprise. Not a fun party at all, is it?