Shuriken16: Yeah we're kinda hyper focusing on Kai atm, things will start opening up as this arc nears it's end...

Lord Killen King: Glad you're enjoying it! Always nice to hear that I might be inspiring others to make their own hyper indulgent FF stories XD

. . .

Sakura

Moments Earlier

. . .

The crashes she heard through the walls told her things were starting without her, whether that was a good thing or bad she couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain, Sakura wasn't going to let this be the end. She wouldn't allow these monsters that manipulated her and her family get away with these plans, regardless of the cost she would set this right. And while she was no fighter, she could perhaps sever their benefactor, if she could just get through to him.

"Ah, I see you remember the old emergency passages." Her father was facing away from her as she entered the room, staring out through the back windows. Watching as the dark clouds began to form over their once venerable house, circulating above the old shrine. "Do you not understand that I am doing this for you?" He questioned, looking back at her with sunken eyes. "So you can carry on our name without the total dissolution of our house?!

Sakura's impending words were lost at that suggestion, "What are you talking about? The dissolution of our house began when you fell for the lies of these monsters!"

"No, it began when we formed that damned pact," He scoffed, shaking his head as he turned fully to face her. "To join our two houses, the house of Tanaka and Sarata, would mean the assimilation of one, completely into the control of the side that held the title, head of house."

Her eyes widened at the realization, "So because I'm to be the bride, you think our family name would simply fade into History? Because I wouldn't the Head of our conjoined House?" She scoffed at the pettiness of it all.

"That is exactly what will happen!" He barked back at her, "You stupid, impudent girl," Shaking his head as he shuddered. "Our noble house, consumed by one that does not even have the dignity to reside on the land of our Ancestors? Unacceptable!"

She clenched her fists tightly around the twin sheathes. "Then why not object? Why not renegotiate the pact? Did you truly not trust the Sarata Family to address these concerns!?" Or was this all just stubborn pride? And some misguided sense of Nationalism...

"They cannot be trusted!" He slashed a hand through the air between them, his voice becoming more frantic. "And if we backed out of the deal it would be the end of our family's reputation!" He exclaimed, as if this were some kind of sound reasoning. "But once we open the gates to the Divine, our Legacy will be those who heralded a true God into this world! And shared those gifts will of mankind!"

This went far beyond simple manipulation, it was like somebody had thrown gas on the fire of his fears. Stoking his insecurities and reservations, filling his head with false promises and delusions of grandeur. Sakura was horrified by her father's words, and found herself stepping back towards the doors. "So that's it? You'd sacrifice everything for your damned Legacy?" Though the question was not truly aimed at him, as she already knew the answer.

But before he could respond, they heard a cry from the great hall on the floor below. "STOP!"

"Kotemon?" Sakura recognized in an instant, turning and racing out the door to see what was going on.

"Sakura! Wait!" The older man called after her, "You can't stop it! Our new lord is coming!" The ramblings of a madman following her as she went.

. . .

Kotemon

. . .

Standing before Kuzuhamon, the rookie digimon put his thoughts in order quickly. Though, to say he was speaking from the mind was wrong, as the conflict creating this knot in his stomach seemed to originate in the heart. It only grew tighter as he looked up past Kuzuhamon, to see Sakura appearing on the floor above, watching from the railing.

"I came here to help my frie- No, I came to help my human family." The small armored digimon explained, "Not because I had any idea there was some Digital Deity on a power trip trying to invade, but because they were having trouble with some... Human problems," He shrugged his shoulders. "I won't pretend to understand everything that goes on with humans, and it seems like everything that goes on in Kai's personal life is complicated." Kotemon laughed lightly, already feeling Kai's glare.

Kuzuhamon narrowed her eyes sharply at him when he laughed. "If you're trying to stall-"

"I'm getting there, just bare with me." Kotemon assured, holding up his oversized sleeves, "I was always confused by this whole joining families thing between Sakura and Kai," He continued, "Whenever they both talk about it, it's like listening to them describe being stuck in a cage." Kuzuhamon's body tensed up a bit, "They've got this dream of being free to make their own choices, getting out of the cage, but somebody else has the key." He shook his head, "My point, is that it took Kai awhile to really open up to me or anyone about how he was really feeling... But it sounds like Sakura trusted you enough to do the same."

Her grip tightened on her staff, "Your point?"

"I don't think that kind of trust can be built on a lie," Kotemon replied simply, "Some part of you, however small, really was her friend that wanted to help her break free of the cage, isn't that right?" He suggested, though the accusation sounded more like a friendly suggestion. "You liked pretending to be human."

Kuzuhamon's cheeks flushed a little bit, a sense of shame and embarrassment blossoming in her chest as he saw through her. "None of that matters now, Kazuchimon is coming."

"Yeah, that's true." Kotemon nodded, "Things suddenly went from really complicated to really simple... We beat the bad Digimon and everyone's happy..." His eyes turned to his own weapon. "I'm going to fight for them, and I'm going to win." A simple declaration, the tiny Digimon's words filled with sincerity. "But I don't think you're a bad Digimon... And Sakura saw you as a friend once, so I'd prefer not to fight you if I can."

Kuzuhamon released a short, laughing scoff. "Was that an attempt at a threat?" She questioned, "I must say your skills of intimidation could use some work," Before she twirled her staff around, slamming the bottom end into the floor. "It's a touching sentiment, but what you want is irrelevant, what must happen is what was always meant to... You have your duty to these humans, and I have mine to my Lord, so lets stop all this pointless talk and finish this!"

"Where have I heard that before..." Kotemon internally sighed and tightened his grip on his own weapon. "Yeah, I guess there's no avoiding it at this point, but I don't want to destroy you... And you still never answered my question from before," He added, bracing himself. "Is this what your sister would have wanted for you? What about her wish for you to find a better world?"

Kuzuhamon grit her teeth, "Quiet!" Aiming her staff at him, "You'll die for mentioning her again!"

In an instant, Kai's hand was on his digivice. "Kotemon!" She was going to attack.

It was now or never! "Kai!"

Digivolution

"Kotemon Digivolve to!" Armor shattering as he grew in size, matching Kuzuhamon's height in an instant and surpassing it quickly. The blue skinned, masked warrior emerging from the light a second later wielding those sharpened wooden swords. "Yasyamon!"

Her eyes widened in surprise, "A-A digivolution!?" She exclaimed, taken completely off guard.

"Twin Strike!" Stabbing forward with his blades, she raised her staff just in time to block. The force however, was more than she expected and Kuzuhamon was sliding on her heels backwards. In that moment, Yasyamon shot Kai a glance through his mask, urgency in his eyes.

Kai understood in an instant, "Madison, take Tsukaimon and get to the shrine," He ordered, looking to them both. "Once you're outside, digivolve and destroy the entire thing before they can open a gateway!"

Madison blinked in surprise, still processing Kotemon's speech. "Eh? O-Oh! Right!" She nodded, realizing that was probably a good idea. About to start moving when something urged her to stop, looking back at Kai. "Be careful, both of you."

The worry in her voice surprised him, but Kai gave her a firm nod. "We'll be right behind you."

Kuzuhamon clenched her teeth as she saw Madison and Tsu making a run for the door that would lead outside. "No! I won't let you!" Her staff erupted in light, a barrier expanding from it and pushing back Yasyamon.

The champion level wincing as he was blown back, struggling to keep his footing. "Damn, she's strong! Definitely higher than Champion, if only I could digivolve!" Cursing his weakness in the human world. His eyes widened as he saw her staff unleashing a bolt of purple flame shaped like a fox aiming right for Madison. "Not so fast!" Pivoting his feet, Yasyamon dashed between them, outreaching one of his gauntlet guarded arms.

The impact burned away his gauntlet in an instant, leaving his left arm unprotected, but Madison and Tsukaimon cleared the exit safely. Kuzuhamon clicked her tongue in annoyance, "You've only made things worse on them, at least I would have destroyed them quickly... Ravemon will not be so kind."

Yasyamon re-entered his fighting stance, glaring daggers at her through mask. "Well Ravemon is in for a nasty surprise if he mistakes them for easy prey." A smirk crossing his lips, "You're lucky I stopped you from fighting her, because Tsu is the strongest Digimon I know!"

She quirked an eyebrow at the suggestion, leveling her staff with him as she formed more of those flaming fox spirits. "I hope you're right..." Before tightening her grip on the staff, "You both should have stayed in your cells!" Firing them off at him.

Yasyamon charged, dashing back and forth to evade the blasts as he crossed the distance. "Sorry! But it isn't in our nature to turn our backs on those who need help!"

Something was wrong, she could feel it. "What am I doing!?" Her attacks were off mark, sloppy, he easily dodged them with his agile movements. Perhaps she was simply out of practice? Having masqueraded as a human for so long, had it effected her control? Or was it something deeper? She tried to step back, "No, he's too fast! At this distance-" Her eyes landing on his wooden blades. "I can't dodge!"

But before the blade could strike, Yasyamon turned it away and instead slammed his gauntlet guarded fist into her gut. The blow sending her sliding back until she slammed into the wall, knocking the wind right out of her sails. "You seem unfocused." He pointed out.

Kuzuhamon breathed in deep to try and regain her composure, glaring daggers at him. "Your skill is hidden by your low level, I won't make the mistake of underestimating you again!"

. . .

Madison

. . .

"Alright so which way was the shrine?" Madison thought out loud as they made it outside. Realizing they were exiting out a different door than they'd entered through. "Oh well, we'll have a better view from above." Holding up her Digivice as Tsu jumped out of her arms, "Ready?"

She nodded, a determined look on her face. "Let's do it!"

Digivolution

Her body erupting in a mixture of light that concealed a well of darkness. "Tsukaimon digivolve to!" The orb of light growing massive, as elongated arms and tattered wings sprouted from within, before finally the shell burst and out emerged the massive dark dragon. "Hrrngh! Devidramon!"

Immediately casting a shadow over the front of the house, looking down at Madison who had long since lost any sense of fear seeing this form. Extending one of her large clawed hands for her to climb into. Madison did just that, jumping up into her palm as thunder rumbled overhead, sparks of emerald lightning cracking across the black clouds.

"We're running out of time," Madison said as Devidramon placed her onto her shoulder. From higher up, she could see the shrine beyond the servants house. "That way! Hurry!" Tightening her grip as Devidramon spread her wings and took flight, unleashing a gust of wind through the nearby trees. As they flew, Madison's eyes turned to the city beyond the expansive property, watching as lights flickered in the buildings and sirens went off through the streets. "What's going on out there?"

"Hrrngh... Whatever it is," Devidramon growled out, as began passing over the servant house. "We're going to stop it!"

"I'm sorry but didn't anyone tell you?" The voice from above made Madison tense up, looking to the sky above to see Ravemon flying overhead. "This is a No Fly Zone!" Before he flipped overhead, slamming his feet into Devidramon's back, knocking her from the sky in an instant with incredible force.

"Tsu!" Madison cried, hanging on for dear life as they smashed right into the servants house, sending wood and dust flying in all directions as they collapsed the center of the two story building. Madison lost her grip on impact, and was thrown from Devidramon's shoulders. Sent tumbling through more falling debris.

Devidramon cringed in pain as she began pushing herself up, all four eyes searching for her partner. "M-Maddie?" She growled out, spotting her laid across the splintered flooring of what was once a beautiful home.

She hissed in pain while pushing herself up, still processing exactly what had happened. "Ngh! S-So this one has puns now huh?"

Ravemon landed in front of the young girl, smirking in amusement. "Still alive after that? Mm, you humans might be more durable than I thought." He chuckled before flashing a few sharp feathers between his fingers. "Lets see how you handle this."

Madison felt a moment of fear, before feeling her Digivice burning in her hands, a familiar sensation that made her smirk right back at him. "Bad idea."

Ravemon quirked an eyebrow, "I'm sorry?" Looking at her in confusion, before the dust surrounding Devidramon was suddenly blown away with a wave of darkness erupting through the ruined house. His eyes widened as LadyDevimon lunged from the darkness, her crimson claw extended. He only just managed to guard against her deadly talons with his steel wing. "Ngh! W-What the hell?"

"You pushed the Maddie button." The human girl herself said simply as she pushed herself up.

"The what!?" Ravemon exclaimed, unable to resist her surge of strength that had him sliding back on his heels.

LadyDevimon's wings spread behind her, their shadow unleashing a swarm of bats. "You shouldn't have done that." She said with an almost cruel amusement, watching as Ravemon was forced to retreat, slashing away at the swarm as they attempted to bite his armored body.

Ravemon grit his teeth as the swarm threatened to consume him, "So you think you're scary?" He scoffed, pivoting his feet before he began to spin in place. "Dark Tornado!" Whipping up a whirlwind with his black wings, shredding what remained of the bats before he came to a stop. "You may be a Mon of the night as well, but I am an acolyte of the Shadows!" He declared dramatically, "You can't hope to match my proficiency in darkness!"

Both Madison and LadyDevimon looked at one another, blinking in surprise before Madison sighed, "Oh boy, you getting Mephistomon flashbacks too?"

To which Tsu simply scoffed, revealing her fangs with an amused sneer, "No, at least that bastard had the strength to back up his bravado... This one? I'm not so sure." Crouching low, preparing to attack again. "Let's find out..."

Ravemon swallowed nervously, the look in her crimson eyes suddenly sent a shiver down his spine. "What the hell is this?" He wondered, his guard up in full. "I ambushed them... But suddenly I feel like the prey here!?"

. . .

Kai

. . .

Since the battle began, Kai had moved to the edges of the room to avoid getting drawn into it. Though, as he watched Yasyamon dashing around to evade those bolts of fox fire he to worry just how long this could go on for. They seemed to be in a stalemate, and based on that enormous crash they heard outside he had to assume Madison had either completed her objective or was having trouble as well.

"This is bad," He thought, clenching his fists. "Every second we waste brings them closer to opening up a Gateway!"

"Kai!" He turned his head to see Sakura racing towards him.

"Sakura!" He didn't realize she'd gotten away as well, "You're alright, where is your father?"

"Sitting in his office," She scoffed, "Waiting for his 'God' to arrive." Before looking towards the ongoing fight, "I heard what Kotemon said..."

Kai nodded, "Yeah... I guess the little guy is better at reading us humans than I thought."

"I thought he was strong before," She replied, watching as Yasyamon ran along the wall to evade more incoming fox fires that splashed harmlessly against the building. "Not physically, but in the strength of his convictions..." She stated, a faint hope still lingering in her heart. "He wants peace, he doesn't want to hurt anyone he thinks might be saved."

Kai smiled faintly, "Yeah... He's got a brave heart." Before thinking about what he'd said at the end of that speech, "And Kuzuhamon... He must see that she's conflicted."

Sakura nodded, her hands tightening into fists. "Yeah..." Watching the digimon that had masqueraded as her friend. "We spent so much time together, she was the only person here I could rely on." Her hands starting to tremble, "She wants to save me... But... But maybe-"

The ground began to shake before the thought could be finished, causing her stumble and leaning against Kai for support. "Hang on!"

The fight between Yasyamon and Kuzuhamon halted as both held their footing, lights shined in through the windows of the hall. "That can't be good..." The champion digimon muttered.

"It's time," Kuzuhamon said solemnly, "Kazuchimon has come, and with his host you've no chance of victory, surrender!"

"Not a chance." Yasyamon replied sharply.

"There's still time," Kai added, "We closed the door on Dragomon, we can do the same here if we hurry!" Clenching his digivice tightly, "We need to help Madison!"

The dark warrior priestess scoffed, "You're not going anywhere, just give up while you still can!" She leveled her staff with Yasyamon, forming more of those flaming purple foxes. But before she could fire them off, her eyes widened as Sakura ran between them. "Wh-What are you doing? This fight is between digimon!"

"Kai, go help Madison." Sakura ordered.

He looked at her like she was crazy, "What!?"

"I'll handle Kuzuhamon." She added firmly, her eyes locking onto the female digimon. "GO! While we still have a chance to stop this!"

Yasyamon lowered his weapons slowly, nodding to Kai. "Good luck, Sakura." He said as he turned towards the door. "I promise I'll save everyone!" He assured before starting to run for the door.

Kuzuhamon grit her teeth, "You aren't going anywhere-" But as soon as she tried to fire off her attack at him, Sakura moved between them once more. "Ngh! Stop that! Get out of here!" Watching as Kai and his partner raced out the door.

The young man looked back as he fled, fearing for her safety. "Stay safe..." Before turning his eyes forward, where a great pillar of emerald light reached up into the sky from the shrine. "We are really short handed right now..."

. . .

Madison

. . .

It had begun with a rumbling in the ground, lights shorting out all across the surrounding cityscape, before the shrine itself was torn asunder by some otherworldly power. This pillar of emerald light, it reached up to the black clouds above and sent sparks of green lightning throughout them. The ongoing battle between Ravemon and LadyDevimon grinded to a halt amidst the lightshow.

"Hahaha!" The smug villain cackled, "You see now? You've saved nothing, all your struggles have earned you is an early grave!" Ravemon declared, pointing his blade at her. "You will fall before the lords great Host!"

LadyDevimon narrowed her eyes, realizing things just went from bad to worse. She spread her wings and flew back down towards Madison, landing beside her. "We need to get you somewhere safe."

To which she argued, "I'm not going anywhere." Before a gust of wind rolled over them, emanating from the gateway itself. "Not until we finish this."

Before Ravemon landed between them and the gateway, sneering in amusement. "It's already over!" Blade held firmly in hand, "You just haven't realized it yet."

"I don't think so!" Yasyamon called out, as he arrived by their side, Kai following close behind. "We're stopping this now!"

"Kai!" Madison called out to him, "You made it, does that mean-"

"Sakura is dealing with Kuzuhamon," He answered, "Trying to reach her." Though he still didn't sound very sure about that.

Ravemon clicked his tongue, "Pathetic, she couldn't even stop a weakling like you." Before he began to spread his wings, leaping back onto a standing torii gate at the base of the path that lead to where the shrine used to be. Those shadows began to emerge from the pillar of light behind him, dozens of digimon started to fly from the light on corvid wings. "You'll all perish before our lord Kazuchimon!"

Those on wings were lightly armored, covered head to toe in feathers and wielded twin blades. Their sharp eyes and avian beaks remained silent as they landed across the nearby rooftops, surrounding the two chosen children. While on the ground, a stampede of heavy hooves made the earth tremble, as large centaur like beings charged forward from the gateway. Though rather than having the upper body of a man, they each had the face and horns of a great ox, crimson armor covering their chests. They came to a halt just behind the torii gate, below Ravemon.

"This is bad..." Kai muttered, fear sinking in as he gripped his digivice.

And to add to their fears, the twisting forms of two massive serpents flew from the gateway as well. They were armored in black and crimson, golden horns and armored claws. They looked like dragons straight out of eastern mythos, circling around in the sky above before slowing down, hovering around the ruined servants house, one on each side flanking Madison and Kai.

"You think!?" Madison exclaimed in response, her and Kai now standing back to back.

To top off the arrival of this great host, one final shadow began to emerge from within the gateway. And as he stepped through, the doorway slammed shut behind him, the pillar vanishing. The only emerald light now being that which emanated from his own body. He stood no taller than fifteen feet, onyx colored skin with green lines tracing down what parts of his legs and arms were visible. He wore imposing armor, and behind him raged a blaze of emerald energy, sparking with green lightning while maintaining the appearance of jade fire. His eyes were sharp, and landed on the digimon standing in his way in an instant, his hands rested on the hilt of the two blades strapped to his waist.

"Impudent humans, and your foolish digimon partners!" Ravemon began, spreading his arms wide. "Bow, or die, before our Lord Kazuchimon!"

. . .

? ? ?

. . .

"I'm sorry we can't visit more often."

"We're just working so hard to make sure you get the treatment you need."

"You'll be out of here in no time."

"Love you sweetie!"

"Just hang in there a little longer!"

She stared at the screen as the message finished replaying for the dozenth time. Her eyes semi-vacant, as thoughts whirled through her head. "..." Before she reached up, touching her fingers to the floating screen, running them over the sound waves on display. "Hmm..."

While Kuramon sat in her lap, blinking with its one big eye while wondering what she might be doing.

"I'm calling the doctor." She muttered, before a screen appeared in the air beside her, ringing a few times before it finally answered.

"Yes? Hello?"

"Doctor, I want to talk to you."

"Who is-" Before his words hitched, "H-How did you get this number? How are you calling me?"

"I was just listening to the message my parents left me this morning." She continued, ignoring the sudden fear in his voice. "I kept noticing something about it that sounded funny."

"F... Funny how?"

"Like it was synthesized." She answered, narrowing her eyes. "I just finished going through it, along with the other messages they've left me."

"Going through it!?" The doctor questioned in bewilderment, "What do you mean? H-How can you-"

"And I let Kuramon explore the network we're connected to, and track where the messages are coming from." Her hands clenching into fists. "And they all originate from within the hospital! Not any outside sources!"

"N-Now lets just calm down," The doctor stammered, "Just give me a moment and I'll explain-"

"Why are you sending me fake messages!?" She demanded, rising from her seat. "What's really going on here!? WHERE ARE MY PARENTS?!" While Kuramon now sat on her shoulder. "Tell me or I swear I'll use my connection to find every dirty little secret you're keeping from me and post them all over the world!"

"..." He remained silent for a moment, before sighing heavily. "I warned him... And now you're forcing my hand."

To which she quirked an eyebrow, "What?"

"I'm initiating a server lockdown," He stated, as the lights around her room started to change from bright to a deep red. "You can't be allowed to access the web more than you already have, I'm sealing your room in cyber space until we get this sorted out."

"No!" She barked back at him, "You can't do that!" Her heart racing, fears building up as this cage suddenly started to feel smaller and smaller. "What do you want from me!? Why are you keeping me here?!" But the call ended, the doctor giving her no response. "Gaaah!" She screamed out, running towards the wall as it morphed into a door, "You can't keep me here any more!"

Throwing open the door, she was met with a void of swirling data streams. Her current cage was like a bubble floating inside this vast server space, and all around she could see where the exits were shut down. Trapped inside this single, massive space, from here it was a sheer drop into the void. She could see information floating by, data from the hospital itself. They couldn't safely lock her down to just this room, so they had to shut down the entire Hospital's network to keep her from reaching out.

"Where... Where is it?" She muttered, eyes darting between streams of data. Before spotting her name on a passing file, reaching out the data reacted to her and began to fly right into her hands. A single folder that might have all the answers she wanted, without any hesitation she began to flip through it. "No... No this is- It can't..."

Images and notes that revealed to her, greater horrors than even her worst nightmares could have wrought.

She stumbled back from the ledge, her breathing starting to quicken as she began hyper ventilating. She gripped her hands so tightly that it hurt, before she threw her head back and screamed. Her voice rippling through cyber space, while Kuramon shuddered, watching her collapse after her scream. Where she began sobbing on the floor, covering her face as she did so.

The tiny Digimon frowned sadly, "Annika's... Kanashi?" It asked, before it began to look towards the open door. "Annika... Ie ni kaeritaidesu ka?" Her negative emotions, her sorrow and her anger, Kuramon could feel them and it made something stir within the tiny creature. "Watashi wa anata o kaihō shimasu!"

And while the trapped girl laid upon the floor sobbing, Kuramon dove out into the enclosed cyber space with a singular goal in mind.

To free it's friend, no matter the cost...

Some post chapter notes, because I realize google translate is not perfect lol

Annika is our mystery girls name, I didn't realize until too late that adding it to the line will cause translate to get a little funky XD

But a small translation of Kuramon's dialogue (or at least what I'd intended it to be)

"Annika's... Kanashi?" - "Annika's... Sad?"

"Annika... Ie ni kaeritaidesu ka?" - "Annika... Do you want to leave this place?"

"Watashi wa anata o kaihō shimasu!" - I will set you free!"