Takato: How could you do this to Ruki?!

Oh, very easily. Everyone has a dark side and I simply used your "death" to exploit hers. (Vegeta smirk ™) Evil, aren't I?

Takato: Evil? You're-you're horrible!

If you think so now, wait to the end of the chapter. I'm sure many a Rukato fan will be after my blood.

Takato: You better not hurt Ruki anymore, or I'll…

You'll do nothing. Just sit back and hold on. I hope that everyone is in character and that you enjoy the chapter.

Ruinations

Hekatemon watched the humans, the two holding on to each other, not realizing that they hadn't separated, the one partnered to the red dinosaur digimon, he who Hekatemon had wounded, not maimed. And finally, his eyes lingered hatefully upon Makino Ruki. She, whom he had hunted, tormented and who he planned to kill.

But instead, she had become some type of demon. Combining with her digimon, she had beaten and battered Hekatemon, leaving him writhing in agony. He knew that he wouldn't survive, and the thought infuriated him.

My life. Will be terminated. He thought furiously. But, not yet.

As he felt the destruction of his final emissary and saw the bits of his data float into the room, he smiled. He would die, but he would take that whom Makino Ruki cared most about, to oblivion with him.

Using the residual data of his digimon enforcers, he conjured a jagged icicle that resembled a lance and positioned it behind the human.

"Takato…" Ruki spoke, still slightly unbelieving that he was standing in front of her. She knew that he wasn't dead, but that he could be before her, reminding her that he cared for her.

And when a slightly scraped Justimon entered the room behind her looking more injured than usual. Inside her sphere, Ruki couldn't help smirking slightly. It looks like the Legendary Tamer finally got his butt whipped.

She planned upon saying what she thought, until she glanced behind Takato and saw, glimmering with pale light, a sharp blade of ice aimed directly at his back. And as Justimon de-evolved to Ryou and Cyberdramon, she was only half listening when he said something half-jokingly about the situation.

She saw Takato smile, as the icy lance remained disclosed to her eyes-only.

"Now that Ryou's here, everything is going to be okay." He said firmly. "We're together again, as a team and there's no one who can hurt us."

You're wrong Takato. Ruki thought angrily. Hekatemon is planning to kill you, but I won't let him! Kuzuhamon turned to face the decrepit, frozen digimon, staring into his flaming red eyes.

We could end this now. Renamon stated calmly.

One Womb Mandala, and he's finished. Ruki agreed.

Renamon sighed lightly. But it wouldn't save Takato. We're being tested. Either we destroy Hekatemon, leading to Takato's death or we…

Or we save Takato and let Hekatemon live a little longer. Ruki finished for her.

Jenrya watched Kuzuhamon, uncertainly. Something's wrong, he thought anxiously. But what could it be?

Ruki closed her eyes. I said that our battle with D-Reaper would be our last fight. Looks like I was wrong. I'm sorry Renamon.

There is no need for an apology. We are partners and more importantly friends. I told you that I would fight by your side, no matter what the consequence. And I meant it. Whether you live or die, I will always remain with you.

Opening her eyes, Ruki smiled sadly. Thanks. This is for you Takato.

"Ruki? Ruki can you hear me?" Takato asked fearfully.

"Sorry gogglehead." The part of Kuzuhamon that was Ruki answered, smiling slightly. "We still have some unfinished business."

And as the data-formed lance completely materialized and began to fly, Kuzuhamon forcefully shoved Takato away from her, launching him backwards into Guilmon and sending them both sprawling.

And then, it happened. As the frozen gateway that detained Rapidmon and Beelzebumon shattered, allowing the Perferct and Ultimate digimon access to the auditorium, a bright light flashed where Takato had been standing, blinding everyone to the sight, but not the sound of Kuzuhamon's sacrifice.

From within, both Ruki and Renamon let out twin screams of agony as Hekatemon's weapon tore through Kuzuhamon's body. It was like nothing either of them had experienced before, neither at the power mad hands of Beelzebumon, nor the life loathing tentacles of

D-Reaper. It took only seconds, for the lance to piece through Kuzuhamon's armor, travel through her side and vanish, but for Ruki and Renamon, it was an eternity. An endless amount of mind-numbing pain.

When the light finally cleared, a horrifying sight greeted the Tamers and their partners. No longer able to stand, Kuzuhamon had been forced to her knees, shuddering violently and clutching a hole through her side, as if to cease the flow of data that continued to escape from it.

No, this can't be happening! Takato thought astonished. I was so close to losing Ruki before, I can't lose her now, not like this! He painfully got to his feet and ran near Kuzuhamon, feelings of anger, fear and helplessness burning within him.

"Ruki!" Ryou cried out, ignoring the residual pain that he felt from his and Cyberdramon's battle with Metal Garurumon and running towards Kuzuhamon, standing close to Takato.

Jenrya could feel Juri shaking in his arms, as together they stared in horror at the mortally injured Kuzuhamon. When Rapidmon landed behind them, instead of a comical or witty quip, the cyborg digimon remained silent, shocked to see, not only Sakuyamon's dark alter ego, but how terribly she was injured.

Beelzebumon wasn't watching Kuzuhamon, his full attention was focused upon Hekatemon, who, after seeing the glorious twist fate had given him, began to laugh and cackle triumphantly, his body shaking with the force of his glee.

"Ruki, Renamon," Takato whispered drawing close to Kuzuhamon with Guilmon by his side.

Kuzuhamon gritted her teeth and for a moment, Takato could have sworn he saw tears flow down her cheeks. "Takato, I…"

"You can't give up!" He cut her off excitedly. "You have to fight this! You and Renamon are the strongest people that I know, you can beat this!"

Ryou watched Takato, his usual hubris absent, with sorrow in its place. Being four years older  than the slightly naïve Tamer and spending enough time with a warrior as fierce as Cyberdramon, he knew that there was no amount of pleading that could make Ruki survive. And as he heard the insane laughter of Hekatemon, he felt anger rise inside his heart.

This has gone far enough. Jenrya thought furiously as he watched Takato. Hirokazu and now Ruki, this madness has to end!

From within Kuzuhamon, Ruki felt…nothing. And when she noticed an almost transparent flow of ice crawl up her body, she knew why.

With a final large intake of breath, Kuzuhamon collapsed on her side, her staff clattering as it hit the ground. And as her eyes finally closed, her body, instead of exploding into bits of data, turned completely to ice.

Where the wrathful embodiment of vengeance had once stood, only a frozen statue remained.

Takato stared at the frozen digimon, tears flowing down his face. "Ruki!" He shouted, as though saying her name could make the vision before him disappear. But it was to no avail. For a few brief moments, the only sounds in the auditorium were the sounds of Takato screaming Ruki's name and Hekatemon laughing…only laughing…

Chapter 10-May It Be: The Tamers have suffered a great loss at the hands of Hekatemon. But the frigid digimon is about to find out the meaning of true pain, delivered by a Holy Knight, a weapons laden cyborg, a metallic defender and a Demon Lord. The wheel of fate has finally turned.