Ruki44: Hey this is written on the request of Whispering Kataclysm who wanted to have a story idea revolving around what would happen if Takato and Guilmon died if they were bio-merged. (He's also going to write one of his own, so keep your eyes out for his ok?) Of course, I've been writing mostly everything as of late in the POV of Ruki, so I changed it to their POV. Besides, Takato got killed off in the last two-shot.

Ruki: You have been nothing but morbid lately.

Ruki44: I know right? Anyways, where is the others?

Ruki: Tetra is out harassing her ancestor for about the origination of the country known as Hyrule and the Master Sword. You know with Skyward Sword coming out soon and all.

Ruki44: Oh sweet baby Jesus yes. November 20. I will be stalking Gamestop and eating a sub at 9:30 a.m.

Ruki: Doesn't Gamestop open at 10 a.m.?

Ruki44: Yeah, but I want to be there early just in case you know? Plus Zelda is worth it.

Ruki: ...Right. Anyways Rukia and Hinata are getting the crap beat out of them in their respective mangas.

Ruki44: Seems about right. Anyways this is short again, so I don't own anything! Everything belongs to their respective owners.

For the Life of Another

When they decided to rescue Juri (and save the rest of the world while they were at it) from the hands of the D-Reaper, she knew exactly the danger they were getting into.

They were risking everything. They were the last hope. Nobody but them could defeat this monster. And even though it was five against one, the odds were still heavily against them. Even the Digimon Sovereigns had trouble holding the monster at bay, and they barely could fight evenly with the protectors of the Digital World. Yet they were expected to stand up and defeat what they could not?

They were being sent into death's embrace. She knew this.

Jenyra knew this.

Ryou knew this.

Beelzemon knew this.

Takato didn't.

Or at least he indicated he didn't understand the entire situation. As far as she could tell, he had the notion they would simply destroy whatever got in their way, as per usual. Except it wasn't like the usual. This thing was programmed to kill everything that went past its evolutionary boundaries.

The evolution of Digimon and humans according to the D-Reaper went far beyond those bounds. Therefore, they must be eliminated. We must be eliminated. It left a dry taste in her mouth.

It was acting as their judge and jury. Their executioner. And she would be damned if she let it have its way.

Takato didn't seem to consider the implications of the D-Reaper's mentality. That there was a good possibility that one or all of them could die. He was going to rescue Juri and beat up the D-Reaper for using her as a puppet. That was all there was to it. And then they would all live happily (for the most part) ever after.

The end.

It was so simplistic. It was so straightforward. It was so Takato.

He looked for the best in everything, and he didn't give up. How else would he make friends with somebody like her? She knew she wasn't the easiest person to befriend, let alone get along with. Yet even though she was more or less a bitch towards him in the beginning, he was still kind to her. Although when he yelled at her, she had to admit she was thrown for a loop. She wasn't exactly used to direct confrontation that didn't involve physical violence. (She never considered the arguments with her mother as confrontations as much as their daily conversation.)

And in the end, that made all the difference. Because of his unrelenting kindness she could be who she is now. And for that she was thankful. The past few months had been the best time in her life ever since her father had left them so many years ago.

So, she forgave him for not understanding the danger he was leading them into. She wanted to have his unwavering conviction that everything would be ok.

Everyone else felt the same way. That's why they never told Takato of the possibility of one of them dying. Anyways, it would just give him a distraction. Instead of keeping his mind on what needed to be done, he would be worrying about everybody else.

And that simply could not do.

Everyone knew what they were getting into, but they all signed up regardless. They were fighting because they wanted to, not out of some obligation.

So when she moved in the way of an oncoming attack to protect Takato despite having given up her powers to Ryou, it was her own choice.

She didn't regret it even as her vision went blurry and the intense pain which racked her entire body was like swords forcefully being shoved into her as she died slowly.

Dukemon's face was contorted in a look of shock and grief as she slowly began to disappear into data.

Gathering the strength to grin (although it looked more of a grimace), she attempted to urge him on. To do what he had to do.

"Gogglehead," she choked. "You better win or I am going to come back and haunt your ass."

She never was good in the motivation department.

"Sakuyamon," he cried, his voice cracking as he reached his hand towards her. "No, don't go. Don't leave us. Don't leave me."

The last thing she heard as she disappeared completely was the anguished howl of Gallantmon, no Takato, call her name.

Ruki!

In the darkness she felt herself smile. Renamon was content too. Even though they had died, they had died on their terms. They didn't regret it.

They didn't regret it for one moment.

Ruki: Depressing.

Ruki44: I know.

Ruki: I died.

Ruki44: I know.

Ruki: I'm mad at you.

Ruki44: You're always mad at me. Nothing new. Anyways, I originally was going to write an epilogue to "One Last Time." It's in the works, so sometime in the distant future if you see a chapter called "And the World Continues to Turn," you will know I finally uploaded it. Then for Halloween I wanted to do something with zombies. Because nothing is more romantic then zombie guts. Of course as you can see that didn't happen. I literally have 6 sentences (and a partial 7th) completed.

Ruki: So if you were going by the length of how much you write as of lately for these things, almost half way done.

Ruki44: You are HILARIOUS. Anyways, I promise the next chapter I won't kill anybody off! Or have it overtly depressing. I'll even go for a holiday one-shot! Those are cheery! Or whatever The Reaper55 asks for as per our agreement of the bet I lost. (I had said his college's food would go down in deliciousness towards mid-October. He said the quality of the food would stay the same. Whoever lost would write a one-shot on whatever the winner wanted.)

Anyways, I would like to thank everybody who reviews and reads this. Please continue to review. I would appreciate some constructive criticism, but ego boosts will be gladly accepted :D