Shuichon watched with horrified shock as the dark green cocoon of evolution became darker in colour, growing until it became at least a head taller than the skyscrapers of the Okubo district before the shield finally shattered into a million pieces.

"DARKSAGEGARGOMON!"

If Megidramon was supposed to be the embodiment of man's darkest desires, DarkSageGargomon appeared to be a demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell. Dark green, shaggy long hair fell over its blood-red eyes and fell longer than its ears, its body wrapped in seemingly decaying bandages like a mummy from a cliché horror movie, hunched over slightly. A bullet strap was hooked over its shoulder and around its stomach like its regular BlackGargomon form and in its hands were two machete-looking guns. It suddenly cried out like a feral dragon, bearing sharp fang-like teeth, startling Shuichon as she stared up at it, her eyes widening still as black demonic angel wings ripped their way from its back, leaving the bandages bloody and torn. It was smaller than Megidramon, more lithe and gangly, but it looked as though it could swallow the very planet whole…

The half-Chinese girl fell onto her backside as she stared up at the personification of Jenrya's hate and pain and anger…and wondered if she should start praying.

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The Dark Guardians
Chapter VIII
Written by Takato Metallium
Disclaimer: I disclaim all rights to Digimon Tamers. It belongs to Akiyoshi Hongo and other such people. I only own the fic, the idea, some Digimon you haven't seen before and not much else.
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Ruki was running.

The redhead was pushing through the crowds, nearly stumbling over her own two feet as she tried to get to the Okubo district, Renamon flitting overhead just barely in her sight. Behind her Juri ran with Elecmon in her arms, backed up by Hirokazu and Kenta with their own Digimon.

Mayumi had rung her cell phone in the middle of a Tamers meeting, pleading with them to go help her son apparently set Takato straight. After hearing what had gone on under their noses, the four Tamers had seen no reason to back down.

Ruki shivered as she heard the piercing dragon-like battle cry, looking up just in time to see a dark green flash of light attack Megidramon head-on, realizing Jenrya was already there and had probably been so for a few minutes. When the green flash pulled back and hovered just beyond Megidramon's touch, however, her mouth dropped in horror.

"Is that…is that BlackTerriermon?" Kenta whispered as he and the others finally caught up with the shocked girl. Juri tried to find information on her D-Ark, but all she got in return was a screen of fuzz, and nobody could tell if Hirokazu was shaking in excitement or fear.

Ruki swallowed deeply, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the others over her shoulder. "Let's go." The other three teens hesitantly nodded in agreement and they began moving again.

Juri shrieked as a building was knocked down in front of them, holding Elecmon so tightly that he felt as though he might choke. The group stared, watching Megidramon struggle to get up as the smaller dark Digimon shot round after round at the snake-like one.

"Renamon!" Instantly her fox-like partner was at her side, head tilted down inquisitively at her Tamer before her wise eyes returned to watch the bloodshed. "I want you to find Jenrya! And if Shuichon, Ai and Makoto are in there, get them out quickly!"

"As you wish." Renamon disappeared just as Megidramon's tail caught hold of the unknown Digimon's waist, flinging it in the other direction to make it crash into another building before it let out its own war cry and flew after it.

"Why?" Juri whispered, sinking to her knees with tears in her eyes as she watched the battle. "Why does it have to be this way? Why didn't we stay six years ago? None of this would be happening…"

Ruki didn't have an answer for her girlfriend.

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Jenrya was only just able to dodge the next attack from Takato, feeling himself beginning to slow down. DarkSageGargomon was drawing on his pain and hate like there was no tomorrow, attacking Megidramon furiously and draining his strength. He knew it was a dangerous card to play – BlackTerriermon had never dark-evolved to Ultimate before – and he didn't know what kind of effect it would have on his partner's psyche, but he trusted BlackTerriermon to pull through for him like never before.

"You don't have enough darkness in your soul," Takato's Nobody purred in his ear as he was gutted like a fish, blood spilling from his mouth. He hunched over, clutching his stomach in pain until a sharp kick to his chin sent him flying backwards. "That's why DarkSageGargomon will never be as complete as Megidramon. That's why you're feeling so weak, so why don't you just surrender." He stood over the dark guardian, contempt written on his face before he smirked. "I'll put in a good word for you with Kagemon…then you'll never escape the darkness."

The bluenet smirked a little, blood dribbling down his chin before he wiped it away with the back of his hand, eyes dark. "I'm going to tear your body apart," he snarled, teeth bared like a feral animal. "And then I'm going to set the real Takato free."

"Your so bloodthirsty when you're like this," the Nobody purred huskily, glee dancing in his own eyes as Jenrya stood up, panting harshly. "Oh, if only I'd known before…"

"Shut UP!" Jenrya threw a punch at the other dark guardian, putting all his weight and strength behind it, but it only barely managed to fling the brunet back several paces into the already crumbling wall of a building. The half-Chinese guardian nearly collapsed afterwards, his legs shaking as a soft gasp left his throat, blood spilling from his lips. "Shut up," he hissed again, one arm slung around his stomach as he hunched over again, watching his opponent easily stand.

"Let's finish this, ne Jen-chan?" Throwing one hand up into the air, the Nobody's smirk darkened. "I'll let Takato know you said 'hello'."

All Jenrya saw was fury…

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Renamon had caught Shuichon's scent some time ago but was having a hard time finding the young girl, as to her left and right buildings crumbled and vicious battle cries roared in her ears. The vixen was slightly afraid of the two powerful monsters raging war above her, but nonetheless she pressed on, flitting from one bit of fallen debris to the next.

"Renamon!" The blonde fox-like Digimon looked up from where she had crouched, seeing Ai wave her over with her unconscious brother on her back and Impmon beside them looking battered and bruised. Ai ran up to her, careful not to bump her twin on the way before coming up to stand before Ruki's partner, Impmon watching overhead all the way in case anything fell on the three of them.

"Where's Shuichon?"

Ai shook her head, gently hefting Makoto on her back and Renamon heard him groan slightly, indicating he was near waking. "She wouldn't leave, no matter how much I begged her to come with us," the girl said sadly. "Renamon, would you…?"

She nodded, glancing down at Impmon. "Are you alright to take them back to the others by yourself?" He smirked, rubbing his nose with his thumb. "I'll be fine. Ya go take care o' Shui, alright?"

"Good luck."

"You too." Impmon turned slightly, looking back the way they came. "I felt an immense blast of digital energy a few minutes ago. I'm not sure what's going on, but…" He turned his eyes back to Renamon. "…Something big's gonna go down. Bigger than this. Y'hear? Anythin' happens to Lopmon and 'er partner…anythin' bad at all…and I'mma gonna blame you for it."

"I'll take your word on that." Renamon flickered and vanished, leaving the two and an unconscious Makoto by themselves.

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Shuichon could barely move as much as her brother could.

The half-Chinese girl was mesmerized by the battle, her eyes glazed as she watched the two fighting Digimon overhead before her gaze flickered to their 'humans'. Lopmon was on her shoulder trying to get her attention, she knew, and she also knew that Ai had left her side with her twin and Impmon five to ten minutes ago.

Her eyes widened as she saw Takato standing over Jenrya, a maniacal grin on his lips and his hand raised over his head, gathering digital energy. "Jen…" Shuichon stood from where she had collapsed, starting to walk before she broke out into a run, Lopmon loosing balance and flying off of her shoulders. "JEN!"

"Let's finish this, ne Jen-chan?" she heard Takato say, silver-crimson eyes narrowing. "I'll tell Takato you said 'hello'."

Shuichon watched her guardians, unsure of what the brunet was saying. Wasn't he Takato? Her eyes widened as she saw Jenrya jump back just in time so Takato's fist hit concrete, landing in a crouch like a cat. He was furious – she could see it in his eyes, whether it was at Takato's words or something else, and she saw him flinch as blood dribbled from his closed mouth.

"Jen…" The half-Chinese girl shook her head, taking another couple of steps closer. "The both of you! Please, stop fighting! There's no reason for you to fight each other!"

Her pleas went unheard, as no sooner had she spoken that Jenrya was launching an attack on Takato, who dodged everything with a smirk. Well, nearly everything; the last blow to his face sent him sprawling onto his back, landing near her by a few feet.

"Shuichon!" Jenrya had finally taken notice of her and she looked up at him, fear deep in her eyes. "Shuichon, get out of here! I don't want to be protecting you while this is happening!"

"I can look after myself! I'm not a child!" she screamed, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. "Why are you two fighting?! There should be no reason for you to fight!"

The bluenet walked up to her, his dark green eyes watching Takato for movement the entire time. "He's a Nobody – a person born from a human soul that dies in the Dejitarusekai. He's been working for Kagemon this entire time, and I never knew!" Jenrya shook his head, finally looking at her properly. "I feel like I've failed somehow…I've failed in my duty as a dark guardian and I've failed you as your older brother…"

"This is rather sickening." The two of them turned to see Takato had stood during their conversation and moved away from them. He smiled darkly, waving teasingly as Megidramon lowered itself to his level, DarkSageGargomon hovering next to Jenrya.. "My report to Lord Kagemon is long overdue, so I'll be taking my leave now. I suppose the next time I see you will be in the Dejitarusekai, ne Jen-chan?"

"Get back here! I'm not done with you!"

It was too late; Takato's Nobody had disappeared in a flash of digital data and so had Megidramon, leaving Jenrya, Shuichon and their Digimon partners alone.

– End of chapter eight –