It's surprising how quickly a conversation dealing with the possible end of all life in two dimensions can make you feel drained.

Well... not really.

But, that's over and done with now. Monster Makers, and Yamaki, alerted to the threat that the D-Reaper posed, all prepared for it. For a certain value of prepared, anyway.

They won't- shouldn't get taken off guard when the D-Reaper comes.

Hopefully, that will actually count for something.

I... wasn't entirely sure if I could actually kill it by myself, which was why I had alerted them. If there was anybody who could actually do anything about the D-Reaper, it was the Monster Makers. And Yamaki.

Really... really need to get in contact with Shibumi at some point. But, to do that, I would have to go into the Digital World, and then track down his consciousness.

Not the easiest thing to do, since I'd never actually met the man, and thus had no idea what his Heart or Soul was like. Nor did I know exactly where he was, beyond that whole mansion/library thing.

Remarkably unhelpful, really. And also not something I was going to be devoting any time to, what with Vikaralamon coming up soon.

Assuming the order stayed the same anyway. It had been doing so fairly solidly so far, and that was great for me, but if there was an unexpected change...

Hmm.

Well, I couldn't call any change 'unexpected', as I'd already fucked up the timeline by killing Makuramon. That could very easily provoke a change...

I guess I'll be finding out soon enough.

I looked up.

And then down.

You know, it never really struck me until this very moment, but the rat Deva bio-emerges in the sewers.

How did I not see that?

I just... completely fucking missed it.

I shook my head, slightly.

God damn it.

Now... do I kill him now or wait until Leomon Bio-emerges?

I watched his Heart as he skittered through the sewers, probably attempting to find a way out.

Kumbhiramon... wasn't a particularly strong Digimon, all things considered. He had the clone trick, but he was still weak enough that a Champion Level could beat him fairly easily.

And all things considered, after all of the spars that I had with Naruto and Sasuke, Kumbhiramon's particular brand of clone tricks wasn't actually that impressive.

May as well wait. Keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't do anything...

Unfortunate.

Hot damn, Leomon had style.

It's certainly a hell of a way to make an entrance- causing the water underneath Kumbhiramon to spout upwards with enough force to launch him clear over Jeri, then appearing out of the rainbow that the water spout caused.

Jeri stared up at him with a star-struck look in her eyes, watching as Leomon slowly emerged from the rainbow.

His eyes snapped open as he full emerged, still standing on top of the rainbow.

But that doesn't make sense, you say?

Fuck you, he's Leomon.

"You should get out of my way!" Kumbhiramon shouted at him.

"You should pick on someone your own size." Leomon declared, Paul St Peter voice in full effect. "A true warrior battles those who are strong. Only a coward fights defenceless little girls."

"You shall pay for your impertinence, warrior!" Kumbhiramon stated, his high-pitched and squeaking voice making the threat more than a little amusing.

He was just... He was just so hard to take seriously.

He turned to the side slight, jumping up at Leomon, the pestle on his back pointed at him.

Leomon crouched, tensing, his hand coming to rest on the handle of his blade.

With a surprisingly guttural roar, Leomon leapt forward, drawing his sword in a single swift movement and slashing at Kumbhiramon.

Sword met pestle, and Kumbhiramon was promptly launched backwards, Leomon's raw strength enough to send him flying over the trees, and into the rest of the park.

Leomon landed on the ground, staring after Kumbhiramon.

"My hero!" Jeri squealed. She ran forwards, her hands clasped together. "Uh, mister Leomon, sir?"

"What is it kid?" Leomon asked, turning around, sheathing his sword.

"You're my... partner~"

And so it begins.

It was, to some minor extent, absolutely hilarious watching Leomon run away from Jeri. Even more funny was the fact that Jeri was somehow keeping up with him, trailing very closely behind him, despite the fact that Leomon was both a Champion Level and more than twice Jeri's size.

It would probably be even better, if it wasn't for the fact that this was all just a tragedy in the making.

"So, is Leomon actually her partner?" Takato asked.

"Despite Jeri's insistence, no." I said. "They could become partners, but they are currently not."

"Oh." Takato leaned back a little as Leomon came flying past, Jeri still trailing after him.

"IT'S DESTINY, LEOMON!" Jeri called.

If anything, that just made Leomon run even harder.

It didn't help.

"Should we... do something?"

"Jeri's got it in her head that she and Leomon are partners. It... will not be easy dissuading her gently."

The only reason that I hadn't intervened already; I didn't know how to break the news to her in a way that wouldn't leave her crying.

And I was running out of time. Kumbhiramon was coming closer, and he would attack very, very soon.

Leomon made a sharp turn to the left, still trying and failing to get away from Jeri.

A spike of malevolence from Kumbhiramon promptly informed me that I was out of time.

A second later, Jeri screamed, running back the way she came.

"Jeri!" Takato shouted.

Leomon and Kumbhiramon flew out an instant later, pestle and sword locked together.

Leomon grunted, and shoved forwards, sending Kumbhiramon back a little.

Kumbhiramon landed opposite of Leomon.

"Who or what is that?" Takato asked.

The two of them began circling, their eyes narrowed and locked on the other's form.

Henry and Terriermon came to a stop next to Takato and Guilmon, staring at Leomon and Kumbhiramon.

"That, Takato, is the Deva Kumbhiramon."