A/N: Here's the next chapter. Please don't hate on me for this, it's necessary for the story...

But if people do start hating on me I will stop this fic. I don't write to get abuse. Not that I'm assuming I'll get any flames, but just in case.

Digimon Tamers: Quantum Displacement Theory and Other Big Words

Chapter 36

I woke with Kiara, a sensation I will never forget nor want to replace. She was wrapped around me as usual but already showing signs of waking up herself. Sure enough those deep blue eyes gazed into my own, conveying emotions that mere words couldn't hope to describe.

"Morning Axel."

"Mmm." My turn, see how she likes it.

"Excuse me?"

"Mmm?"

She raised a brow at my antics. "You feeling alright today?" Then it seemed to click. "Oh ha ha Axel. Knock it off."

I smiled. "You had that coming."

She shoved me playfully and pouted. "It's my trick though, not yours."

"Tough." I winked at her, causing her to look at me in a strange, wanting way. "What?"

"Your wink is strangely arousing."

I faltered there. What did she just say? "Huh?"

She winked back. "Got you."

I snorted before getting out of bed. Kiara followed to make breakfast, kissing me before I went in the shower. Breakfast was done in the usual manner, except Kiara decided to slap my butt when she got behind me. I sent her a quizzical look that she purposely avoided seeing, looking anywhere except at me. I shrugged it off and went to get my gear. No sooner had I picked up my deck and digivice did it go off, signalling another digimon coming over.

"Already? These guys don't quit."

Kiara appeared beside me, serious mode active. "Time to go?"

I nodded, game face on. "Time to go. Let's do this."

Again we met the other tamers, keeping back in case HYPNOS was involved again, and entered the field as one. We didn't need to bother worrying about a fake field as the digimon was clearly visible. I sighed to myself, just what I needed.

A Deva. Majiramon. The sodding dragon Deva.

It saw us as we separated to throw it off, standing together was just asking for trouble. Speaking of trouble...

"Kiara. Go!"

Kiara bounded off as I focused on digivolving her, no upgrades this time. I had to learn my lesson sooner or later, may as well be today.

"Activating digivolution." Yes, thank you miss digivice lady voice thing, I knew that already.

Kiara, now in her Taomon form, joined the other digimon who were also in their next forms. Only champions at the moment, but I spy with my little eye a blue card in Rika's hand...

"Uh, Axel? What does this card do?"

I rolled my eyes. "Swipe it Rika and find out."

She did. "Matrix digivolution." Again with the voice. I was getting sick of being told the obvious. Where's the damned mute button...

"Kyuubimon Matrix Digivolve to..." Yes yes, we know already. Kiara beat you to it. "... Taomon!"

Two ultimates, that should even the playing field. I hope.

I watched as Kiara took position beside Taomon as they both produced their oversized brushes together. They nodded to each other before drawing their glyphs in front of them.

"Talisman of Light!"

Dismay gripped me as I watched the double attack do no visible damage. These Devas were tougher than I remembered, much tougher. But that wasn't to say that it had no effect, I just couldn't see one from here. Majiramon turned to the duo of robed foxes and bellowed.

"Flaming Arrowheads!"

I couldn't count them all, but a crap ton of things flew at both Taomon and Kiara. They split in different directions to avoid them, Kiara sustaining mild hits. I watched with concern as she rejoined Taomon for another attack. But Majiramon was ready for them.

"Flaming Arrowheads!"

Again they dodged, both missing all the projectiles this time. Each time they tried to attack in unison the Deva simply stopped them by attacking first. Kiara seemed to understand and went to the opposite side of Majiramon as Taomon attacked again.

"Talisman of Light!"

Kiara called her attack from the other side, both hitting the Deva and again having no visual effect. Majiramon lashed out as Taomon this time, she escaped with a few minor hits too.

I just watched like the others as all four digimon, Growlmon and Gargomon both valiantly trying to pitch in, fourth the Deva. Even by normal standards the dragon was stronger than most of them, with the increase in power they seemed to have it made them tougher still. As a result Taomon went down from a lucky swipe from Majiramon, de-digivolving to Renamon when she laid still. She got up again but couldn't resume her ultimate form yet, rejoining Rika while she recovered. I just hoped we could take it down quickly.

Gargomon was next to fall, a tail swipe flattening him into Terriermon as Henry recovered him and backed off. Growlmon was knocked aside over and over but kept coming whereas Kiara had become Majiramon's main focus. She was having a very hard time finding an opportunity to attack.

I didn't know what to do. Her standard ultimate form took too long to charge her attacks so I could upgrade her like last time. She could slash with that spear at any time but her own attacks would be blocked from her. Either I left her as she was, hoping for a chance to strike, or I modified her again and risked reducing her hitting power. Either way posed a problem with lengthening the fight to dangerous amounts of time with the risk of Kiara getting hurt as well. Takato looked hopelessly at me from across the field, he was equally clueless.

"Axel, upgrade me again. I can't get a hit like this."

Kiara's thoughts came to me, confirming my decision. I grabbed the same two cards and slashed them, one after the other.

"Digi-modify! Heavy Armour Activate!" One... "Digi-modify! Orphanimon's Holy Spear Activate!" And two. I just hoped I made the right choice.

Kiara, now in armour and hefting that golden spear again, swung her weapon at a slightly startled Majiramon. But again she failed to make a mark. Over and over she swung and slashed, areas of the Deva remaining unmarked where injuries should have been caused. I watched with growing dismay as the fight sat at a stalemate. At least now Kiara had more protection.

Guilmon had just gone out, a fluke encounter with Majiramon's tail again. Now it was up to Kiara.

I watched her shift her grip on the spear, holding it like a javelin, before it suddenly began to glow. Was this the power she spoke of before?

"Holy Spear!"

Kiara threw the spear, she actually threw it, at Majiramon. Jumping after it she grabbed it again and pushed with added momentum. I could see our victory finally approaching. Soon the spear would embed itself in the Deva and Kiara would finish it there and then. Renamon was recovered now and watching on. Rika had managed to find a second blue card and was watching on standby. Henry stood clutching Terriermon, who had woken, as both watched Kiara descend on the Deva. Even Takato and Guilmon were watching now. All eyes were on Kiara and her glowing spear, a magnificent sight to behold.

The spear missed. Kiara missed. Majiramon dodged. He dodged and savagely swung an arm out, smashing Kiara from the weapon and into the ground. I heard her grunt as she hit the floor, her weapon out of reach as its glow faded. She began to rise to retrieve her spear, but was stopped by the Deva slamming his arm down again. She was pinned.

"Kiara!"

All I could do was call her name. No cards or thoughts could change her situation. Rika swiped her card as Renamon charged forwards, Taomon taking her place as she rushed to intervene. Majiramon simply picked Kiara up in his claws and swiped Taomon away with his other arm. Kiara was squeezed slightly, her armour fading as she de-digivolved in his grip. The sudden change in her size allowed her to slip through his claws and free fall, Taomon catching her before she hit the floor.

Majiramon though saw this too and swiped at them both, separating them and sending them both to the ground. Taomon rose instantly as Rika swiped a Hyper Chip card, Kiara tried to pull herself away.

"Flaming Arrowheads!"

Oh god! Not now...

I watched as that same attack closed in on Kiara, her prone form unable to dodge. She rolled as far as she could in the time she had but was still hit by some of the attack, too much for my liking. I felt more than heard her scream in pain.

Taomon got inside Majiramon's guard and managed to let off her most powerful attack to his flank while he was occupied with Kiara. He too howled in pain as she pressed her advantage, hammering away with her attacks until he finally fell.

I though was too preoccupied to care about the Deva. I had rushed to Kiara as soon as possible. I held her as she shook violently, her body covered in injuries.

"Axel..."

"Shh, I'm here Kiara. We're going to be alright now."

She smiled lovingly again me, her outline becoming less defined. My heart felt like a dagger had pierced it, white hot pain flaring deep within me.

"I love you Axel..."

"No! Don't you do this to me Kiara! You stay with me! We're going to get through this, stay with me!" Tears formed in my eyes as I spoke, I didn't believe my own words anymore.

"There's not a single moment I regretted Axel... I wouldn't change a thing if I had the chance, I'd do it all again with you..."

Despair clutched me with its icy grip. Her form began to disperse in my arms. "Don't leave me Kiara! We can survive this together! Stay with me! As your tamer I order you to stay with me!"

It was futile. Her own tears flowed as mine increased. My heart pounding with impending sorrow. There wasn't a card in my deck that could help me now.

"Never forget Axel... Never forget that I will always love you..."

Her paw cupped my cheek and pulled me to her. "I love you too Kiara. Don't leave me, please..."

We shared a kiss, my heart breaking with every second. I watched as pieces of her body floated away into nothingness, each piece making a hole in my heart. She smiled once more, those eyes locked with mine as her head was the last to go.

I watched with absolute despair as Kiara's data dispersed around me. For all my worth and tactics, Kiara was gone. My grief crashed down on me as I sank forwards onto my hands. I had lost her.

Kiara...

My friend...

My love...

My life...

Gone. Ripped from me by powers that I couldn't hope to match, let alone defeat. I was alone, outcast into a hell that rapidly pulled me in. Dreams were shattered, hopes were crushed, memories forever tainted by my grief. Every night we shared together, every victory digimon or otherwise, all marred by my loss.

I couldn't go on, not without her. She was all I had, all I knew and all I had ever wanted. A hole was left within me, a hole that could never be fixed. All I had was the pain in my heart to remind me of her, the memories in my mind of what can never be anymore. I couldn't do it, couldn't go on without her. It was too much.

I leaned forwards and screamed.