A/N: Twenty fifth chapter is up! The most I have ever made for a single story by a long shot!

And my favourite character's replacement still has to appear yet! Still unsure of a good name that isn't Akatsuki…

xxx

Digimon, Hurricane Chronicles

Chapter Twenty Five: Thomas vs Tai! The Senkai Technique!

xxx

Tai's clones burst forth; four bodies in addition to his own facing Thomas down, reaching in synch for a kunai each, holding the knives tentatively.

One T'rin near Mikoto filled her with hope with his surprised outburst, "Hey, that's an O'rin level technique… this fight might be good if he can make solid clones like this."

Shadow clones, Thomas tightened his posture, "I see, even to the Shuhengan, all of the clones have a real chikara system… still, there is only one real body in the end. If you're gonna come, come."

"Stop acting so tough," all five snapped back with a smirk, broadening their grips on the kunai.

Yoshi looked down from the stands in a black Chinese style dress for the occasion, her made up features smiling sweetly, That little kid should quit while he can; Thomas's defence is too great for an eleven year old to break through.

All of the clones and the real body began to charge directly at Thomas, kunai thrust forth, the doppelgangers wording a word to complete a sentence.

"-STOP-"

"-ACTING-"

"-SO-"

"-TOUGH!-"

Thomas shrugged into his fighting stance, treating the oncoming five enemies like cumbersome insects. He placed his palms onto the napes of the two foremost clones, pushing them back and springing forward in a pike frontal flip, slamming his heel into the back of another clone's skull, dispersing him into smoke.

With his Shuhengan's peripheral sight, he spotted two approaching from each side of him as he landed, throwing fists for a pincer attack. In response, he springboarded off of the earth, twisting rapidly in the air and outstretching his legs, one catching a clone's chin and the other in the back of his head, both being sublimated and dispelling the technique.

The final Tai clone and the original charged abruptly, each armed with a kunai still, and springing off with force, pulling the knife down with the weight and momentum they had.

Thomas twisted, turning his back on them, much to the surprise of many before he snatched their wrists holding the hilt, spreading them out with his arms and hoisting his elbows up into their chins as they came down, the real Tai rolling back and his final clone dissipated into a burst of smoke.

Thomas snarled, cocking a calm smirk at Tai as he ditched the stance, straightening up, "I've heard rumours about a ridiculously overzealous boy who recently became a K'rin, stating he'd be the Senksha, regardless of his talentless fate… he has stupid brown hair and is called Taichi. I believe you're that boy, right?"

Tai scowled nervously as he got to his feet, Is this the Shuhengan? It's like he can see all my clones at once, even behind him!

"Well, it's impossible with that; even an O'rin level technique isn't enough to become Senksha, so what were you thinking? Destiny is unchangeable, just like the fact that you're weaker than me. Senkshas are decided at birth, naturally having great genius afforded, or a renowned Bloodline Trait or natural brimming talent." His face surprisingly saddened, "The only fate that is certain for us all from birth is pain and death…"

Mikoto's father felt a dark void in the pit of his stomach, He still bears a deep grudge for Relena… and he has every right to be enraged for what happened to her.

Tai took a hefty gulp of air, re-forging the clone seal, Still have a lot of chikara… that water walk training was worth it! I would have run out a long time ago if I stayed as I was! "Shadow Body Splitting!"

Thomas's face darkened at the cumbersome group of ten Tai's that formed in an instant, "Idiot… you may have had me for a second with the solid clones, but I know your attack pattern now. Give me some credit…"

"Well, your little speech was getting on my nerves; sounds like you've already given up on a better life!" Tai besmirched from his group.

"YOU-!"

Sora was unimpressed, a demure but critical expression on her face, "That idiot… he's just making Thomas mad and wasting chikara. That's just about the only Genina he has, so unless he's learned something good, it's over."

Mimi beside her nodded. But she still thought that as a teammate, Sora should support him instead of critiquing his every twitch.

oOo

Outside the arena on the highest branch of a nearby tree that towered beside the bowl building, Kurata knelt over a body he had just pierced with several kunai; a DATS member, stealing his cloak and animal mask, "Make it an interesting match for when I get in, Tai… we have a very interesting role to play soon."

oOo

"OOHH!" all ten roared as they charged like an infantry regiment, only their line of spears were a crowded row of kunai, Thomas staring them all down as they approached.

The blonde felt a sudden mixture of rage and distress for Tai's proclamation and his little sister's fate, dodging the first five clones attacks with agile dodges, sidesteps and ducks, his Shuhengan fully primed and looking at the chikara systems of them all.

As one of Tai's clones had his kick blocked by Thomas's nonchalant palm and pushed back with some force, he thought desperately, We can't land a hit on this guy! He's too fast!

Thomas felt something snap inside him, forging seals at rapid speed as he twisted from a spin kick he had delivered, all of the Tai clones reflexively retracting as he slammed his palm to the earth, "Summoning Technique!" I'll end this quickly with 'that'!

Tai blanched among the throngs of himself, dotted around the rising smoke, the crowd cheering, His partner, eh? What use could his partner be? He was dodging me to begin with and had no trouble with the clones…

-Unfortunately for Mikoto, this match was over the second Thomas assaulted her Nexus Points. With no chikara flow, she can't perform her Hazard Touch palm thrusts, summon her partner or perform the eye technique of the Shuhengan. It is over for her.

"I get it!" he realized as Thomas came into sight, his partner Gaomon beside him.

Gaomon was a dog Digimon with blue fur and white around his chest, two large red boxing gloves on the bipedal hound's fists, his large yellow eyes shadowed by his large, flowing red headband.

"Gaomon," Thomas beckoned without looking down at him, "we'll use the Senkai technique to finish this quick!"

"Sir, yes sir!" the faithful dog obliged with a husky accent, tapping Thomas's leg quickly and standing still as his partner performed the seals of Tiger, Dragon, Rat, Dragon and Monkey, Gaomon suddenly flaring a bright blue, several blue 'zeros' around him like Marcus's DNA charge, the being breaking down into this code and fusing into Thomas.

The Shuhengan user's eyes suddenly quelled, but his eye technique was still active, as the pupil and iris were pure. The veins had receeded for some reason, and faint blue markings around the eyes extending down like blue teardrops to the bottom of his chin.

Mikoto's father seemed to freeze in his seat beside Minami, "Senkai!" One of the ultimate powers of the Shuhengan is fusing with one's own partner Digimon, increasing bodily functions such as power, speed… and unlocking 'that' Norstien hidden ability… even I, the head of the clan, cannot hope to achieve it, but has this mere boy from the branch family…?

"W-what did that guy just do?" one of the clones turned to another, asking, only to see a suddenly flicker of surprise on the other's face, turning back to find Thomas right before him, those marked Shuhengan eyes piercing him like the palm that expelled chikara through his body, destroying the clone.

Thomas had travelled five good metres in the blink of an eye with a new height of speed.

The blonde sneered as he twisted on the ground, scanning the clones surrounding him and noticing an oditty, acting on it by charging trhough a blockade of three clones to one stood behind them, thrusting his index and middle fingers of his right hand into the left chest cavity.

This Tai did not erupt into smoke, but his compatriot doppelgangers did with vacant expressions; this clone gagged up a heavy cascaded pool of blood beneath him, Thomas standing up straight.

"I told you it was meaningless…," he pointed out, his pure eyes burning with a restrained rage at the staggering, hunched over being before him, "You're the real body. You stood out by not engaging me for fear of me shutting off your Nexus Points."

Tai chided, "And I told you to stop acting so high and mighty…" he got in before vanishing with a poof of smoke.

The blonde looked over his shoulder, finding two bodies above him, fists coiled, He got me! He predicted that I would use my ability to spot the most chikara in a clone onslaught, and distributed a bigger portion to one clone to confuse me, even telling it to step back!

"YOU THINK I'D MISS OUT ON HITTING YOU MYSELF?"

Davis shot up from his seat, "DECK HIM, TAI!"

Yoshi, Thomas's partner, was very worried, curling in her seat, Thomas!

Tai shot down with his fist, a loud smack sounding, but neither Thomas nor Tai moving an inch while the clone worked his way around behind the blonde.

Tai furrowed his brows, noticing how a light blue hue that flickered like a flame shielded Thomas by interjecting at the point of contact, stopping Tai while Thomas smirked very darkly, his blue marking making it more apparent.

"Fool," Thomas stung like a viper with his voice, the blue hue flame becoming larger, twirling around his body. It was now clear that it was DNA charge chikara he had used, the boy wasting no time and twisting at several RPMs, creating a shockwave that repelled Tai and his clone, the rough landing making the doppelganger burst into plume smoke.

Tai's back skated along the ground, the boy looking back at Thomas as he stopped, a spherical dent in the earth beneath him, What was that? The eye technique Satsuma-sensei talked about?

The blonde sneered down at him, "You thought you had won?"

The disgust on his face said yes.

Mikoto's father, Sengoku Norstien, blinked, Did I just see that? That mere branch family K'rin is capable of performing Senkai: Hariken?

Sora was aghast, "Tai should have definitely hit him! I heard him hit something!"

Yoshi articulated in her thoughts, her face to filled with elation to move, That's Thomas's ultimate weapon! The Norstien clan is powerful with natural Shuhengan, but every generation or so, a child or two are born with greater ocular power and can use an ancient power of those eyes; fusing with their partners to heighten strength, speed, sense and logical thinking in battle, as well as allowing Thomas the use of the Hariken, a Tekina by which you release heavy chikara through the pores of your skin and spin like a top, creating that blast. Even an O'rin struggles with releasing from a few pores, but Thomas is so skilled, he can release through all at once, increasing the effectiveness. Even Marcus is thrown by it. It's the ultimate defence, maybe stronger than Keenan's shield of sand!

Minami seemed thrown, "F-Father… that's…"

Sengoku took a lengthy pause, "It's the sacred technique only found once or twice a generation… it is usually in the main family due to the blood being thickest…," You truly were robbed of your place my brother… your offspring is leagues ahead of my own…

Yoshi was still sniggering, Everyone seems shocked at a K'rin Tamer having such power… yet Thomas is only just warming up!

"I'm bored by this… I'm going to seal all of your Nexus Points at once," Thomas snarled, crouching down, his legs outstretched forward and backward, bending his torso and holding his left palm like a scale before him, the other raised in the air, upturned, "Norstien Discipline Art, Divine Rupture Fist."

Sengoku seemed further irked in his seat, Even the hidden technique only the head of the clan, I, should know? How could he have managed to master the two arts on his own?

Thomas flitted in before Tai's eyes, the big haired K'rin half way through a reeling back pace before he was struck by Thomas's index and middle fingers with such speed that he appeared to have eight arms, discharging chikara destructively through Tai's body, striking all of his Nexus Points in a flashy display of speed.

Tai was repulsed by Thomas's final strike, a palm blow to his stomach, sending him soaring through the air and earning a loud and painful crash onto the earth, his body writhing and twitching uncontrollably as he struggled to stand, failing.

Davis, Mikoto, Sora and Mimi all blinked rapidly, as one second Tai stood, the next he was coughing droplets of blood on the ground.

The proctor took a pace forward, This match is over.

Ever the elitist, Sengoku grovelled in his seat like a defeated dog, I cannot believe it… I had high hopes for Minami, and even hopes for Mikoto but this branch family member has clearly obtained the sublime abilities of the Norstien clan bloodline… Franz… the head household was for you…

Thomas walked across to Tai, standing before his bloodied face propped on the dirt, "I have struck all three hundred and eighty two Nexus Points in such a way that chikara is fragmented. Even though I showed mercy, it is a true testament of how tough you are… there aren't many that can survive such an internal assault. But that's probably tour will to see your dream come true… how arrogant. This is but an illusion, you fool."

Mimi slapped her forehead, "What a fool! I was sure he could win for a second!"

Sora sweatdropped, Tai…!

Davis watched with remorse at the bloodied mouth of Tai, knowing it was not a great enough indicator of his pain. What got his attention was Mikoto coughing densely and heavily, small globules of crimson staining her hands, Tai…

Damn it…, Tai cursed, the crimson stain beneath his mouth thick with a large surface area as he went to stand again, finding strength in the memory of Mikoto doing the same at his cheering, although the audience was deathly silent as he got to his feet, slightly hunch backed and covering his stomach with his right arm.

Thomas slanted his head, his eyes still pure and marked, This guy… impossible… he cannot stand with the internal damage! How is he doing this? His expression was demure, completely juxtaposed to his inner thoughts on the matter.

"Tai! Stop-!" Mikoto cried, a lump rising in her throat. The lump eventually rose to her mouth, the girl covering her mouth in time to catch the large cough of blood before blacking out onto Davis, the boy looking side to side for aid, the audience to entranced to care.

"I'll look at her," a strange, brisk voice came, emanating from a looming, hooded figure beside Davis, a cheap artistry version of a cat mask on his face, "I'm a friend, I mean you no harm in helping."

Back down in the arena, Tai staggered on his feet, bobbing from side to side, but remaining sturdy like a tree in the midst of a powerful wind, swaying.

The blonde sighed, "Why do you not just surrender? It will be easier on your body. Besides, I bear no significant grudge with you-,"

"SHUT UP! I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU!"

He fell silent for a moment after his opponent's outburst, "What could you possibly mean?"

"W-why… if you are really this strong… why did you mentally attack Mikoto, a gentle girl who never meant anyone harm, and only gave her best against you?"

Thomas's left eye quivered at the question, "You have no business even going there." His voice seemed disturbed, outraged even.

"I don't care about this main family - branch family stuff in the slightest!" Tai snapped sharply, "But overconfident know-it-alls like you who decide people like Mikoto and me are losers… you all reaaly PISS ME OFF."

Sengoku and Minami retained their silence through pursed, chewed lips.

The blonde appeared completely besmirched, his face contorting in on itself before a sudden cool breeze blew against it, wiping it away and leaving a calm smile, "Fine… if you want to know my quarrel with Mikoto and her father, I'll tell you the fate of the Norstien Branch Family."

Mikoto was laid on the walkway above the bleachers and throngs of fans, Davis and the DATS beside her, knelt.

The DATS member placed his hand on the centre of her chest, his palm suddenly coming alight with a faint green light, Mikoto grunting at the touch.

"W-what?" Davis began.

"Do not worry. I am a doctor- a medical Tamer."

Thomas straightened up, sealing his eyes, the blue markings on the eyelids also, "For centuries… the Norstien clan has had a special Genina they have used on the members of the branch family; a cursed sealing technique of sorts."

"Sealing Genina?" Tai simplified, the audience hushed.

"The technique is placed on branch house members of the clan at birth," he pointed to the area his heart would be located, "it confines the heart of the bearer, meaning that the can never be even close to 'free'. Dreams are worthless to those that bear this seal."

Sengoku turned his head away ashamedly.

"On my chest is a marking of a bird with chains surrounding it like a prison. I never understood what true pain it brought upon me and my fellows until that day when I was eight, six years ago… the Tamer general of the Hidden Storm's military came to the Terra Village to sign an allegiance treaty, and on that same day, the main heir of the Norstiens turned five years old, meaning we could not attend the war ending event. It was Lady Mikoto's fifth birthday."

Thomas's view diverged up instinctively to Sengoku, the pair of pure eyes meeting for a fleeting moment before he turned back.

"My father, Franz Norstien, was slated to be the head of the clan as he was twins with Lord Sengoku… however, he was born lesser into the branch family by mere seconds, decided by fate. He abandoned me and my sister one day, and the next we found him dumped on our doorstep by the main family, dead. We were ignorant of the coup degas he attempted, but still, we were tortured into our 'place' with the seal… I grew cold, distant… yet Relena kept her smile… even after what they did to her!"

oOo

"It's called tag, Thomas! You have to chase me!" Relena crooned with a sour pout. She was a very small girl of five back then, wearing a black and white trimmed kimono that allowed her long, blonde hair to flourish behind her.

Thomas was an average sized eight year old, his blonde hair rather spiky compared to the present, "But Relena!" he panted, the two in the middle of a flower infested field, playing tag, "You're the fastest in our clan! I can't catch you!"

She smiled gently back at him, stopping, "Well, of course I have to be fast! I want to be a professional runner!"

"That's a faulty dream!" he contradicted inbetween breaths, "There's no such thing! Besides, Mom always wanted you to be a shop owner!"

"And daddy always said he would never die!" she sourly rebuked, instantly regretting it. Although it was months past, the burning from their torture still panged with Thomas as a sore subject.

For her sake, as her face had fallen, he said, "Hey, c'mon! Why don't we go home and see Lady Mikoto? It's her birthday, and you're her friend after all!"

She looked up, throwing her signature smile his way, "Yeah! That parade in the village is too stuffy anyway!"

…

By the time they had gotten there, the main household was in a frenzy, many servants and member of the household darting through the corridors in an uproar. Making their way over to Mikoto's room, Thomas and Relena became silent as sound passed through the paper doors, several presences obviously in the room.

"-Is Lady Mikoto alright?-"

"-She just ate her meal and become deathly ill!-"

"-I bet it was those Storm bastards! They've wanted the Shuhengan for years, why not steal them from the heir of the main household?-"

"-Stealing her eyes after poisoning her? Those bastards!-"

"-Wait, if we accuse without basis-!-"

"-Without basis? Lord Sengoku killed that Tamer general outside, Lady Mikoto slung under his arm after she ate the poisoned meal!-"

Thomas and his little sister froze in the corridor at these voices, all filled with spite and rage rather than concern. Their young spines tingled and shuddered as their belts wear gripped at, the pair lifted by a member of the household in each hand, sliding the door open and getting everyone's attention.

"These two were eavesdropping, my lord."

Sengoku looked back with narrowed eyes, his nostrils flared like a bulls. Behind him was a futon, Mikoto laid in it, her face dark crimson from fever, "Franz's children… my nephew and niece… take Thomas away, I have something I must discuss with Relena."

"Wait!" Thomas called out as the door slid closed, Relena inside. He was carried out and tossed in the dirt, the servant watching him like a hawk as he tried to get back in.

oOo

Thomas went on, "The seal also acts not only as a self-destruct button and torture device… it will seal away the Shuhengan of the branch family member after death, therefor protecting its secrets as they die in defence of the very household that spite them…"

"What happened to Relena…?" Tai gingerly asked, his heavy breathing gone.

Thomas flickered with an emotion not seen in a while; sadness, "Lady Mikoto… she had been poisoned by the General of the Storm Military, and the matter was dropped because of the war needing an end. But she had been given a deathly toxic substance that nulls nerves and kills from the inside slowly. When we were caught eavesdropping, she had lost the feeling in her legs. The greatest doctor in the Norstien clan had an untested substance to combat it, but they didn't want to lose their heir!" he scowled darkly, "They used a transfer surgical Genina and transplanted all of the damage and toxin into Relena by using her mark as a catalyst! My sister is now wheelchair bound and unable to speak because they denied her that medicine after having the audacity to steal her one dream from her; a five year old!"

Tai looked him dead in the eye, "Listen, I'm sure that Relena wouldn't want you to have hurt Mikoto! You said it yourself! They were cousins and friends!"

"Quiet, her fate had been decided! I have to believe that, or else I admit the world is cruel to those gentle and kind… those who mean no harm, and only enjoyed running, so very… very deeply… they took it from her to save Mikoto's body. If that isn't destiny's intervention, then what is? Your destiny is also simple and precise; you will lose to me right here."

"As if! I'm just taking this in stride!" his voice was spliced with pain and anger, the boy twitching and clasping his arms around his ribs, "If you're so angry about your sister… why not try and find some way to cure her? Why try and kill Mikoto?"

Thomas practically ignored Tai, re-opening his eyes, "That is none of your concern. You could never understand the rage I feel toward those that spited us and stole her happiness away."

To affirm his anger, Thomas used his form's power boost to flash before Tai, tapping him in the meeting point of his ribcage, the chikara burst slamming him away like a hammer.

Turning his back to Tai, Thomas began to pace away, "Goddamn loser…"

"I… dare you… to stay and say that to my face," the all too familiar voice echoed meekly behind him, Tai already back to his feet, but the trembling and quakes at his knees said it all, "Running away from another problem?"

"How dare you! An ignorant rat like you…"

-Relena, do you want something to eat?

-…

-Please… just a nod… anything… you haven't eaten in two days!

-…

-Those jerks… how could they do this to you?! They crippled a five year old that enjoyed running… don't they have hearts? First it was father, then mother died with a broken heart, but this…! They silenced a little girl with such a gentle voice… I hate them all!

"YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT A BURDEN IS PLACED ON MY SHOULDERS!" Thomas roared, stomping his foot forth in rage, "WE'RE BRANDED BY A SYMBOL THAT THREATENS TO KILL US AT THEIR WHIM! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, KNOWING YOU'VE BEEN HATED AND TREATED LIKE A SLAVE SINCE BIRTH!"

The proctor walked inbetween them, making sure an unnecessary killing blow wasn't given, He has just said that to the one kid in this village that has it far worse than him… at least he's listened to and known by his family, Tai has none. He's the child that shouldn't be, but is.

Tai leered forward, his face plastered with a cheesy smile, laced with blood streaming down his chin, "Yeah… I know what that's like alright…" So does Keenan…, "If anything, you're the one without a clue. So what if we're hated? Rise above it."

Thomas used his Shuhengan to analyse the K'rin's semi opened eyes, seeing no deceit of any kind, his brows arching, This guy…

"Stop acting all superior because of your sister being your source of anger… at least you have a family member… and by the way, what the hell is up with you attacking Mikoto mentally like that? I thought you said the role of the branch family was defend, not beat the main family to a bloodied pulp like you did!"

Up on the walkway behind the bleachers, the DATS member was finally bearing fruit, his glowing palm returning life to Mikoto's paled face, "She'll be alright now…"

"Thank goodness," Davis patted him on the shoulder, inhaling deeply through his nose, Wait… this scent… I've smelt it somewhere before…, "Hey, do I know you? You've got a strange scent…"

The DATS responded by tapping Davis with his palm, the boy passing out on the spot, his body making no great sound above the small cheers for 'MORE'.

Thomas snickered, "All of your Nexus Points have been pressed, and you cannot focus enough chikara to force them open again. It's over. You won't be using techniques for days, so how do you plan to fight me? Summoning your partner requires energy too, energy you no longer have access to."

"Shut up deciding things behind that Shuhengan and your little merger with that dog of yours!" Tai snarled back, coughing up a plethora of blood globules, his insides on fire, "I will defeat you! I made a solemn promise!"

Thomas raised both hands like scales, shaking his head sarcastically. Placing hands on hips, he decided to see the great change that would accomplish this feat.

Tai held a stern outlook, but in truth, he was conflicted, He's right though… I can't feel any chikara! I should've stopped gauging him earlier and called Agumon… we'd have come up with something for that stupid merger… merger… Oh!

-First, do you realize that you have a special type of chikara? Do you recall when it ever appeared?

-Well, there were these times where I felt like my power and chikara increased a lot, but… my memory seems fuzzy, I can't really remember much else… But if I had to describe it, I'd say that my normal chikara felt blue, but back then it felt red, if you know what I mean.

Tai felt injured, but humbled by his recollection, It's so obvious… I've had the power to reawaken my chikara the whole time! I just need Lucifermon's power! He shut his eyes as if in meditation, clapping his hands into the Ram seal and focusing, I know that you've been paying attention all this time… why not make it interesting? GIVE ME YOUR STRENGTH!

The proctor chided as Thomas turned to him, "Listen, proctor. I'm going to go for the killing blow this time, and if you wish to stop me, halt this match and declare me the victor now. He'll achieve nothing with that hand seal."

Tai begged to differ, bending his legs and focusing, his roar of concentration becoming apparent, "AAAAHHHHHHH!" I can't lose here, not to him!

-YOUR ASS IS MINE!

"Why bother any longer?" the blonde murderously snorted, a false smirk on his face, "All of your Nexus Points have been pressured; no matter how loud you roar, you can't reopen them."

I must beat him! "RRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

-I used to think you were a bit of a quiet weirdo… but now I know the real you. A person who cares about others the way you do, I really like that in a person! Remember to come watch me kick Thomas's ass! I promised to win for you!

-Tai, I know how it feels; he is a merciless piece of work, that much is true. But he is also one of the elites, and is best saved to taste a loss in a match. It could be you or me, but either way, as long as he experiences defeat, that is fine.

The arrogant blonde decided to croon, seeing as Tai had no chance anymore, "Let me ask one thing of you; why do you care so much about the fact that destiny is decided from birth?"

"BECAUSE PEOPLE CALLED ME A FAILURE… I'LL CHANGE THAT!" he howled back, Thomas feeling a dark chill in his spine and activating the Shuhengan again.

S-sir? What's happening to him? Gaomon's voice echoed inside Thomas's head, the source of his greater tactical thinking, This chill… it's the same type of feeling I get when I Digivolve! But a human can't do that! Especially with energy this terrifying and cold!

"HHHAAAAAAAAAA!" the roaring howl became sharper, and the dust and small pebbles loitered around them began to hover into the air seemingly in retreat of Tai, the boy's body expelling a red, flickering flame from his body like steam, eventually twisting from his feet and shooting up from him in the form of nine faint, red tails.

Tai's body was definitely evolving, a voice in his head echoing his state of evolution, Devil Trigger Mode!

Thomas flinched at the steam that irradiated from Tai's cuts, grazes and bruises, all of them disappearing in the haze from his body, Impossible… he's healing? How can he even have chikara flowing like that? They're pushing all his Points open, one by one!

He fell back a pace, sweating heavily as his scanning eyes caught the energy burning through his chikara system twisting, forming an ephereal head; the mask of Lucifermon, it's piercing red eye taking his overconfidence away in an instant.

"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The blonde pulled back another step, his once demure exterior frightened and confused, What is he?

Sengoku investigated with his vein erupted Shuhengan also, freezing in place on his seat, This chikara… it's mixed in with 'that' energy!

"This can't be happening! No way, what is that?" Yoshi quizzically inquired to anyone, but all were to entranced; most frozen at the feel of 'that' power again.

The DATS member that had knocked Davis and Mikoto out and sent them to the medical room looked through his mask at the twirling mass of energy.

Well, it's been a while since I've felt this…, the Kukisha leered forward in his seat, the dust and air repelled around Tai's feet forming circles of dirt blasting away from his feet.

It's the power of the Nine Tailed Digital Demon, Lucifermon! Hyoko realized, uneasy in his seat, But when did that boy manage to tap willingly into its strength?

Keenan looked down from the veranda like waiting area, his usual vacant face worn, but his eyes twitching and fully opened in suspense of the hissing crimson energy, recognizing the type of source instantly, He's…

Devil Trigger Tai looked up, his eyes natural and brown and his canine teeth still normal, but the energy seemed to twist and turn around him at his command, his face darkened with intent, "Let's see how well I can control this…" Unbelievable… I feel stronger than I did before with this power!

"Impossible!" Thomas barked, covering his eyes from the wind and standing woodenly at the faint tremor at the earth beneath him.

"RRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Tai howled, a red sheen outlining his body and clothes, and a red steam like energy billowing from the sheen, a crimson shroud blowing in the faint wind like smoke, Tai stood firm and rejuvenated, "Here I come!"

Siphoning some of the shroud's power to his feet, Tai twitched, his body completely vanishing with uncanny speed, the dirt where he stood indented from the sudden jet-like take off.

Even the Shuhengan couldn't trace such speed; it was equal to Marcus in the fifth state!

Thomas's blue marked face trembled, his Shuhengan shooting from side to side in search, finally finding him flitting back in view, shuriken in both hands that he threw with a flashy cross chop.

Too fast! Thomas realized, twisting on the spot and expelling chikara from his finger-tips, creating the sphere of energy, "Senkai: Hariken!"

The shuriken bouncing off as if they had hit a wall, Thomas skilfully grabbed them all in mid-air, stopping his rotation with six shuriken caught, placing three in each arch of his fingers.

"Take this!" he roared up at his opponent, who used the tree technique to cling to the wall, all six shuriken thrown and closing in on him, on hitting the wall as an afterimage faded from sight, He's so fast he distorts colours I can see?

Tai phased back in before Thomas's face, his fist barely managing to clip the elder K'rin's collar, demonstrating his threat by tearing it to shreds with his raw strength. Responding, Thomas drew a kunai and leapt a pace back, Tai mimicking him.

The two met eyes for a moment, Tai's overbearingly confident and powerful eyes and Thomas's Shuhengan surrounded by teardrop blue markings from using Senkai.

Throwing their kunai at each other as they skated along the ground, the two blades clashed, twirling in the air as they leapt for them, snapping their palm around the hilts and sliding opposite each other again, the crowd howling with elation at the battle.

"Didn't you call me a loser earlier?" Devil Trigger Tai haughtily spited within his shroud, piercing his caramel eyes through Thomas's rickety frame, the blonde dropping a bead of sweat, "Well, let's see your fancy close combat help you now…"

Tai angrily recalled as he charged head on, a large trail of dirt erecting behind him.

- Well, it's impossible with that; even an O'rin level technique isn't enough to become Senksha, so what were you thinking? Destiny is unchangeable, just like the fact that you're weaker than me. Senkshas are decided at birth, naturally having great genius afforded, or a renowned Bloodline Trait or natural brimming talent. The only fate that is certain for us all from birth is pain and death…

"I don't care about the Norstien clan and their hatred of each other! WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS PROVING THAT DESTINY IS SHAPED!" Tai roared, drawing feet away from Thomas.

Gaomon echoed logically in his head, Sir, use the Hariken now!

"Oh no!" Thomas snapped, twisting and expelling enough chikara in time to temporarily freeze any advancement, his eyes clashing with Tai's vengeful ones, "SENKAI: HARIKEN!"

"WHEN I BECOME SENKSHA, I'LL CHANGE THE NORSTIEN CLAN FOR GOOD!" Tai vowed severely as a blast erupted from the nexus of the energy confliction, a large mushroom of dust circulating in the arena below the stands.

Practically everyone apart from Keenan and the Kukisha stiffened and felt their sweat pour down their faces as the dust slowly rose, the proctor becoming visible again with a rabid cough.

The proctor looked as the dust rose with a fever breeze, revealing a large crater in the earth, two addition crashing craters feet away from both sides where Tai and Thomas were surely repelled to.

There was a feign crumbling at the rim of one of the craters, the whole audience lurching forward to get a better look, Sora and Mimi hopeful that it was Tai with the turnabout victory of… well, of all history!

But that thought quickly fell along with their jaws as Gaomon pulled himself up out of the crater, slapping his hand around like a vice, everyone craning over as Thomas was helped out.

Yoshi exhaled in relief while Thomas tromped over to the other crater with Gaomon in tow, The Hariken is a technique that twists the energy blasted out to maximise damage and give the ultimate defence. It pushes even chikara back, so I guess Tai got the worst damage. Her eyes pinpointed at the blonde, his body covered with grazes and dirt, and his breath heavy, Although, this is the first time anyone has pushed Thomas so far in his Senkai… to actually force him to defuse is impressive.

"Loser… I told you…"

Gaomon straightened up, pointing to the right, "SIR!" he released before his body reduced to smoke.

I ran out of time? Thomas realized as he twisted to find another Tai on the far side of the arena beside the shadow of one of the provided trees. Looking back into the crater with disbelief, the body erupted into smoke, revealing itself as a clone.

"Fire Form, Nova Blast!" Tai called with a Tiger seal, lurching forward and regurgitating a small blast of fire that forged a small but mighty ball at Thomas.

The blonde barely managed to sidestep the ball, surprised as it burn out before colliding into the wall, through the embers leaping Tai, his fist coiled, I can't dodge like this!

Tai still had a little of the Devil Trigger energy left, focusing it in his fist and throwing a hard punch into Thomas's cheek, sending him crashing down into the earth, bouncing twice before remaining quite still.

I can't move my body…! He learned, his arms and legs twitching but not responding to his commands; he was laid out flat.

The proctor smiled sincerely at Tai as he landed feet away, To think that even with the damage he'd received, he planted a clone were he should have been and retreated, waiting for the time to strike… suits him well, by the looks of it.

Thomas grovelled on the ground, straining himself to look up at Tai, "The Shadow Body Splitting… of course… it is your best Genina besides that one shot inferno, I should've realized…"

"Oh no, I had another trick up my sleeve," Tai contradicted with an evil looking grin as he leant forward, "but forget about that… my best Genina? You said fate was decided and unchangeable, but look at me. I passed my graduation test after many failures at one Genina; the clone techniques. You've gotta stop with that crap about fate and destiny; you're not a loser like I am, so don't cling to such stupid things."

The proctor stepped forth, "THE WINNER IS… TAICHI KAMIYA!"

His voice echoed in the stagnant silence, everyone rendered moot for a brief second before Sora leapt up in her chair with a cheer, Mimi also in disbelief.

The number one K'rin, the hands on gambling favourite, Thomas H. Norstien had been defeated by Taichi Kamiya, the talentless class clown!

A T'rin beside Sora began clapping his fingerless gloved hands together, an ensemble following him in packets until the entire crowd roared with cheering, Yoshi, Sengoku and Minami the only ones stricken with shock.

"-That was incredible!-"

"-Great fight, short stuff!-"

"-You ain't half bad, kiddo!-"

Tai looked up at the stands above; clapping hands, cheers of elation, RESPECT.

He'd never gotten that from them before, and it wasn't just them; foreigners cheered him on too for the spectacle they had just witnessed taking place.

Living it up to the fullest, Tai blow a kiss up to the stands mockingly, before running around the wall below all three stands and the Sha observation tower, the cheers only building up.

For some reason, Keenan was showing emotion as if the cheers were drills in his ears; his face was miffed beyond all description in the shadow of the waiting terrace.

Sora placidly looked down as he went around, Tai's getting stronger and stronger… yet I'm still the same as before. I'm kind of jealous; he can work so hard with everyone against him.

She heard two shrewd old women behind her.

"-I guess he wasn't bad…-"

"-But he wasn't all that great either!-"

Still, it seems you have people still against you; but the fact you would never cave like I would… I'm jealous of you for that, her eyes veered over to Mimi, noticing her hand had been on her shoulder while she had daydreamed, "Oh, no, it's nothing Strawberry!"

Joe groaned against the terrace railing, "C'mon… you mean to say that Tai wasn't lame like me? I thought that I was safe to fail since he'd do the same! How come he isn't one of the Happy Moron Brigade?"

Izzy cocked a brow at him, "Why are you so attached to that label he gave your Squad so long ago?"

Takato wiped his eyes with his fingers, That shroud… it was like my Raiten Taiso, but more powerful and sustained. I need to train to the point that I can use it for several minutes in order to get to Tai's level.

Kazu looked down seriously, his toothy grin gone for the moment, That guy has got some Tekina strength. His punch was as strong as one of my high fives.

Hyoko sweatdropped while feigning an imperial outlook, To master the energy, no matter how small that portion was, is an amazing feat! Did Satsuma or Kudamon teach it to him?

The Kukisha's face was cold behind the veil and hat, So, the child has built up an affinity with Lucifermon. Most interesting.

The proctor pocketed his hands beside Thomas, who was now on a halted stretcher, "Even a trapped bird like you can find freedom from the cage of fate if he keeps pecking his lock, never looking to stay trapped forever. You've lost this time."

Thomas did not rebuke this, the stretcher being taken away to the competitor medical room without much notice taken as the chants of 'TAI' filled the arena, the big haired K'rin heading for the archway to the staircase and onto the terrace above, receiving congratulations from a simpering Joe.

xxx

Next Episode: Match Dilemma! The Sloth and the Siren of Wind!

xxx

A/N: Tai's biggest battle today has been won, but with Matt on second and still nowhere to be found, what'll happen?

Find out next time!

MATCH ONE: TAICHI KAMIYA vs THOMAS NORSTIEN – TAICHI ADVANCES

MATCH TWO: KEENAN vs YAMATO ISHIDA

MATCH THREE: DAIYO vs IZZY IZUMI *ADDITIONAL BATTLE FOR ADVANCER AGAINST TAKATO MATSUKI IN ROUND TWO

MATCH FOUR: JOE KIDO vs TSUKI

MATCH FIVE: RIKA NONAKA vs KAZU SHIODA