Note from me: YEAH! Finally! 10 chapters! xD Though I only know of one person that's read this, and FF.net's updating is gettin' slow, I've never even finished ONE chapter of a fic before. But TEN! XD; Have fun reading, please review, flames are allowed, and as stated before I'm writing a movie-fic after this chapter. Meaning this story won't be updated until I'm done. It shouldn't take long, though. Enjoy the chapter!

Episode 10: Ace's Obsession

It had been a good month since the events of the shooting. Everything had been cleared up with the police, and not much action had occured since then. A few fights here and there that Ruki and Duke handled - they didn't want Ryan to fight until they felt he was fully-recovered. Shiuchon stayed with him. As for his dad and grandma, no one knows. When his dad ran that day, he ran across state it seemed. When his grandma found out, she left as well. Ryan was left with no legal guardian and if no one claimed him within a week, he'd be put it a boy's home. Shiuchon begged her mom unti she had no room left to beg, and Ms. Lee took Ryan in. For around three weeks he learned to call her 'mom', and Shiuchon became his new little sister. Shiuchon loves hanging around him. Ryan and Ruki, too, spent a lot of quiet time together as friends - not ally Tamers - lately as well. Just, you know, talking or playing games. Duke was also in that time here and there, and he got to know his fellow Tamers a lot better.

Finally, Ryan can go back to battle whenever he feels ready - which Kumamon is glad for. He awoke one day to the sunlight pouring into the living room and the sound of bird chirping outside. He sat up slowly and stretched. After a good yawn, he stood up front the couch he was sleeping on. Shiuchon stumbled into the room slowly, rubbing her eyes, and yawned.

"Oha you, Ryan-saan..." she mumbled. Ryan smiled a little.

"Hey, Shiuchon... Sleep good?"

"Kinda..." she yawned She plopped down on the couch and layed back, Lopmon asleep on her head.

"That's good... Hey, I'm gonna head out to Ruki's for a minute. There's a few things I wanna ask her. Is that alright with you?"

"Sure, just be back by dinner... Cooking... Sushi...." Shiuchon mumbled, drifting to sleep. Ryan smiled a little at her and picked up Kumamon.

"Come on, buddy, let's go." He then walked out of the house and into the street, where the upper-day sunlight was beginning to shine freely. He stopped at a red light crossing to wait for the cars to go by and set Kumamon down.

"Hey, Ryan..." Kumamon began. "Can I ask ya something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Do you um... Do you think Renamon'd ever fall for me?" Ryan sweatdropped.

"Uuuh..." he said thoughtfully. Then, the light turned red and the cars stopped. "Maybe," he finally concluded, and began walking again. Kumamon rushed up to meet him.

"Hey, seriously!"

"Yeah, if you just be yourself."

"Ya think?! Wow...!" Ryan laughed under his breath.

(She's a little tall for him... But he'll be fine.) Ryan nodded and the two kept walking, Kumamon ranting on about Renamon.

Speaking of Renamon, she was outside Ruki's house, laying back on the grass to watch the clouds. She didn't even see old Ace sneak by... Ace peeked over the window ledge in Ruki's room to see that she wasn't in it. He then climbed in through the open wind and landed on one knee. He stood up straight and looked around, sniffing lightly.

"Wow... Smells like heaven..." he whispered blissfully.

"Ruki?" he heard a voice call down the hall. He winced at it... he knew it. It was that meddling Ryan... He scowled at the door where the sound came from for a moment, then looked around.

(Need a place to hide... Hm...)

"Be there in a minute!" Ruki called back. Her voice came from just outside the door. Just as the door opened, he dove under her bed. [A/N: Remember, this is in America. Here, she has a bed on wheels instead of the floor.] She opened her closet and looked around, then finally found her hoodie-type shirt that she usually wore over the black t-shirt, which she was wearing now. Ace peeked out from under the bed as she put it on.

(So young... So graceful... So... CLOSE TO STEPPING ON MY HAND!) He snapped into reality to pull his hand back quickly before she stepped on it as she walked across the room. She put her hair up into a high ponytail, stretched out from the stiffness four hours of video games gave her, and walked out of the room. Ace peeked out from under the bed. "...?"

Down the hall, Ryan was looking in the door, waiting for some sort of being to come into view. Then Ruki walked around the corner and smirked at him.

"What, thought I was naked or something?" Ryan gulped quickly.

"N-no...! I was just-"

"I know, I know, waiting for me. I'm just messin' with you," she said, laughing slightly.

"Yeah... I knew that..." he said with a slight nervous laugh. She patted his head as she walked past him to her yard. [A/N: Remember? These two've become really close friends in the past month. Therefore, Ruki's not quite as firey with him as she is others.]

"Hey, don't worry. I was a lot worse when I was younger." Ryan turned around and watched her walk along the walk towards the street. Finally, when she was a few yars away from him, she turned. "You coming, or are you just gonna stare at my backside all day?" she joked. Ryan blushed.

"C-coming!" He and Kumamon ran up to her, and she turned and continued walking. "You were just playing with me there, too, right?"

"Of course! Lighten up, Ry!" she laughed. "I know you don't 'like' me or anything."

"Good," he stated without hesitation. She snickered to herself. As Ruki, Ryan, and Kumamon all turned and followed the sidewalk, Ace came out the door silently and watched them.

"...... That kid... I'll get him this time..."

Down the sidewalk, Ryan and Kumamon were still following Ruki. "So uh... Where exactly are we going?" Ryan asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Just takin' a walk," she replied. "Why?"

"Well, uh... I just wanted to ask you about your D-Plug." She looked down at it after his remark.

"My D-Plug? What about it?"

"How it healed my shoulder last month... What happened out there?"

"I never told you?" Ruki asked, a little surprised at herself. "Renamon reached her Perfect level for the first time in a few years."

"Perfect level? Renamon can go to the PERFECT level?!" Kumamon exclaimed, getting into the conversation now. Ruki smirked a little.

"Oh, that's nothing. We used to be able to 'fuse' into the Ultimate level."

"Woow..! I knew she was awesome! Er, I mean..!" Kumamon caught himself a little late. Ruki laughed.

"What was that?!" she taunted.

"You didn't know? Kumamon loves Renamon," Ryan informed, laughing a little. Ruki started cracking up.

"Kumamon and Renamon?!"

"Heehee..!" Kumamon blushed and laughed, very nervously.

"Man, you really kill me sometimes, Kumamon..." she sighed, slowly calming her laughter. Ryan smiled a little at all the laughter and all. He couldn't help it.

Suddenly, to their surprise, Ace leaped out of the bushes and into their path. Ruki stopped and got in a semi-fighting stance.

"You... I know you!"

"My name's Ace. Ace McCloud, Ruki. Please don't call me 'you'..."

"What do YOU care?!" she snapped.

"I've got a confession to make... ... I need you. I've been following you because I need you here with me. If you come with me, I'll make you the queen of Dejitaru Sekai, I promise you..." Ace's voice sounded calm and soothing to Ruki. She began to lose her tense nature, and Ryan quickly saw that Ace was using his Digimon side to hypnotize her.

"Not while I'm here!" Ryan burst out, and moved in front of Ruki in a boxing-type stance. This snapped her out of her deepening trance. "No friend of mine's going anywhere with some gothic Gijinka!'

"You... You, I KNEW you'd get in my way..." Ace scowled. He held his gloved hand up. "Eat this..!"

"Ryan, look out!" Ruki shouted suddenly, and dove on him just before the fireball flew. Kumamon immediately jumped into battle as Ryan and Ruki stood up.

"Thanks, Ruki... That's three I owe ya now," Ryan reminded. Ruki smiled a little.

"Don't worry about it. Just help Kumamon." Ryan nodded. "Kumamon!" Kumamon landed, doing little or no damage to Ace so far. He looked back at his partner.

"Gimme a boost!"

"You got it..." Ryan hit the button, and the area turned silver. "Command: Evolution!" His voice echoed, and upon his command, Kumamon was turned to a data grid.

"Kumamon, shinka! Grizzmon!" Grizzmon emerged from the light and ran at Ace. "Now I'm bringin' you DOWN!!"

"Not so fast, Bubba..." Ace stated calmly, and held his hand out at Grizzmon. He suddenly froze where he was. "Blood Stream!" A whip made of a crimson red light came out of the glove, and was whipped across Grizzmon's side, throwing him down.

"Aagh...! He can use Perfect level techniques TOO?! This is gonna be rough..." Grizzmon mumbled, and got up to his feet. "Maul Attack!" Grizzmon suddenly launched himself at Ace. Ace, however, jumped over him and landed behind.

"Maul Attack!!" Ace called, echoing Grizzmon's technique. He set on fire and flung himself into Grizzmon, throwing him down.

"Shoot, Grizzmon!"

"This looks ba-aad..." Ruki said, stating the obvious out of excess sarcasm. Grizzmon slowly got to his feet and turned.

"I'm fine.." he panted. "Just need a few seconds..."

"We don't have a few seconds, bro'! You've gotta do this NOW!" Ryan ordered. "Now come on!"

"I... can... if I rest..." Grizzmon was losing his strength.

"One more blow, and he's out..." Ruki sighed. "This looks even worse now..."

"Blood Stream!" Ace's Perfect level attack flew again.

"Grizzmon!!" Ryan called, and ran in the way of the attack. It nailed him in the chest, causing him to close his eyes tightly, and he glowed brightly with silver light.

"Whoa...!" Ruki's eyes widened at the omnious light. She backed up a few steps.

"Ryan..." a soft voice echoed in Ryan's mind. "You have awakened the courage we talked about... Well done, Tamer." Ryan's eyes shot open, just like Ruki's last time, and Grizzmon began to roar with energy as the light shined from him.

"Upgrade Evolution!!" Ryan's voice echoed with a tone of pure adrenaline rush. Every thought of fear that had eve befallen his heart turned into pure strength and was made physical by silver flames, which now engulfed the area - and Grizzmon.

"Grizzmon, shinka...!" The flames around Grizzmon suddenly scattered, along with pieces of his body. When they were reignited, Grizzmon emerged at his Perfect level. "... Mihiramon!" [A/N: I know, his real evolution is GrappLeomon. But I don't think GrappLeomon's fitting for a family of Grizzmon. Since he goes from bear to bear/tiger hybrid, I figured I'd make a tiger his nevel level.] The growling Mihiramon glared at Ace with the eyes of a hunter. Ryan soon fell out of his trance and took a deep breath.

"... Grizzmon..."

"No," he bellowed. "MIHIRAMON..." Right after his sentece, he roared and jumped at Ace. "Samurai Tiger Tail!" he called as he passed Ace, his tail swinging around with lightning speed. Ace cried out in pain each time he was struck. Finally, Mihiramon landed on the oter side of Ace as he fell to his knees.

"You..! You...!! I'll destroy you someday! You wait..." Suddenly, he unexpectedly got to his feet and darted off, out of sight. Ryan took a step forward.

"Hey, you...! Get back here!" Ruki put her hand gently on Ryan's shoulder, and he looked back with an innocently confused expression.

"Let him go... You did all you had to," she assured. He slowly nodded.

"Ryan," the voice came again. He looked up in front of him.

"Huh?" A bright silver light appeared in the sky, then took the shape of Gyaramon as it landed.

"You are almost like my friend," Gyaramon said with a tint of pride in his voice. "I've been watching you since you were little, seeing if you could handle maybe doing this in the future. It looks to me like... You're doing just fine. Keep up the good work." Ruki and Ryan both smiled a little, and Gyaramon faded into the sunlight.