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Chapter 7

The Dark King

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           Rukan limped his way through the doors to the shelter to find Renamon still holding Yamaki high against the wall. She turned to see Rukan and nodded a bit letting Yamaki down slowly but making sure he couldn't run.

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           The Hisashi leaned against the opposite wall and slid down it slowly into a sitting position and took a deep breath closing his eyes. He sat there for several minutes taking deep breaths making Yamaki and Renamon look at him rather confused. Just as Yamaki opened his mouth to speak Rukan beat him to it, "Yamaki... Why are the digimon coming here?"

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           Yamaki frowned and shook his head, "I don't know."

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           Rukan let out a sigh, as he knew it was a lie, "Renamon kill him."

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           Renamon tightened her grip at the man's throat but knew Rukan didn't really want her to kill him. She wanted to so badly but would not as this man had answers they needed.

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           Yamaki forced out horse words as best he could, "Ok... It's the corruption. The skull virus"

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           Rukan nodded to Renamon and she let the man from hypnos breathe once more. The boy opened his eyes and looked at the man with a frown, "Where did the skull virus come from?"

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           "That's classified." Said Yamaki with a frown.

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           Rukan sighed once again and got to his feet reaching into his jacket to pull out his tonto when the female tamer joined the group. She watched quietly from the stairs wondering what this man knew. She also noticed that Renamon appeared to be perfectly healthy after the chip had struck her.

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           "Yamaki... I don't want to have to kill you. With you die answers but also with you dies a threat. I will kill you if I can't find the answers I want from you. Cooperate or die. It's simple." Said Rukan softly with a frighteningly uncaring voice.

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           Yamaki seemed to be processing this. He knew his chips were useless against these digimon and that Rukan had the capability to take him down where he stood with that blade. It seemed he had no escape without helping them, "I'll start from the beginning and the cards. I'm sure you are familiar with the blue cards. The first to ever find one was a man in my company. He kept this a secret for months while he tried to find a way into the world of the digimon. He was a man of science and wanted to know more about the silicon based life forms."

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           "He found a way into the digital world through our own technology. That's when the rouges started to appear. They caused large amounts of damage but we handled them with the first version of our chips. It wasn't until the green monsters started to show that we had to start using the other chips. It wasn't until we saw Tenshi again that we knew he was behind the rouges and the corruption. Power is like a virus on humanity. It corrupts just as fast as any digital virus. He has claimed dominion over the digital world and now seems to be sending his armies into this one."

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           Rukan frowned and shook his head, "This doesn't make sense. How could Tenshi directly affect the data of another digimon?"

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           "He's a scientist boy... He probably created a device to..." Said Yamaki only to be cut off as Rukan looked him in the eyes.

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           "You know what I think... I think it was your chips that did it. The first version of project X. There was something wrong with it and you ended up having to revise the problem to create version two. He's not invading the world... You declared war on his." Rukan frowned deeply and shook his head, "You sicken me Yamaki. Get out of my face and I swear if I even feel you following me I will not ask questions next time."

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           Renamon let the man go and he didn't take any time to run through the door and out into the night. Rukan made sure he was gone before dropping the Tonto and growling as he clutched his chest and he went to his knees. Renamon was holding her chest as well making the female tamer quirk a brow, "What's going on here? Rukan was the one that got hurt..."

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           Rukan looked up at Renamon and shook his head a bit, "Still don't believe me?"

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           Renamon shook her head a bit, "No. It seems you were right. We need to be more careful."

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           "Renamon hide. I need to head into the shelter and find my mother. I need medical attention. I lost a lot of blood out there." Said Rukan with a bit of a crackle in his voice as he coughed up a puddle of blood. His best guess was when he fell into the sewers he had broken a rib.

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           Renamon shook her head reaching for Rukan's card case. She pulled out an Angemon's blessing card and slashed it through the slot on the D infinity. She was right in her hypothesis. The card healed her and in turn healed Rukan as well. It seemed there was a limited effect on Rukan as well as Renamon with the cards.

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           Rukan howled in agony as a loud crack filled the hall, the sound of his bones snapping back into place and healing faster than the blink of an eye. Then there was silence. Rukan looked himself over and touched his chest softly. It seemed he was completely healed even though his clothing was in tatters.

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           Panting heavily she got to his feet looking at Renamon with a smile, "Looks like we won this one," His face went grim then, "But the real fight is yet to come. We are going to the digital world and stopping Tenshi so nothing like this can ever happen again."

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           "Whoa whoa whoa. I have my own questions here. How did that chip not affect Renamon?" Said the female tamer making Rukan and Rena turn to look at her.

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           "How about a name first." Said Rukan.

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           "Michiko. My name is Michiko." Said the girl softly.

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           "Nice to meet you Michiko. I thank you for your help. We could not have won this battle without your help. Now for your question, the D infinity has made her immune. I think that our Digimon are completely immune to their chips. That's my guess as to why Tenshi hasn't been stopped by hypnos before. They really can't stop him." Replied Rukan.

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           "So you plan on going into the other world and stopping him there, in his own kingdom?" Said Michiko

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           "Well. Yes." Replied the boy.

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           "Heh. You're more reckless and crazy than I thought."

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           Rukan shrugged at the girl's reply and looked up at Renamon for a moment, "You stay here. I have to check on my mother."

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           Renamon nodded and leaned against the wall as Rukan ran deeper into the shelter.

           The shelter itself was like a large maze with rooms for storage of different supplies all over. It took Rukan a while to find the survivors deep in the structure. He looked them over as he quickly spotted his mother, "Okaa-san!"

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           She quickly looked up from her camera to see Rukan with surprise, "Rukan!? What are you doing here! It's dangerous!"

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           He shook his head a bit and ran to her quickly, "Mom what happened? What did the men in black suits do?"

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           "Rukan why are you here? You should be at home."

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           "Mom I don't have time to explain. What did they do?"

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           His mother sighed and looked down at her camera, "They took all the film. We couldn't broadcast live either. We were shoved into this shelter and told nothing of what was going on outside. Some of the reporters in here have been talking about monsters."

           Rukan nodded and knew that his secret was safe. Renamon and he had not been spotted by anyone on camera. They were still relatively safe.

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           "Thanks mom. I'm going home now. You do your job and cover the results of the storm. I'll explain to you what really happened one day." Said Rukan running back the way he came quickly before his mother could ask.

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           Renamon sat down against the wall idly watching the girl before speaking, "How did you find Shademon?"

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           Michiko shrugged, "The same way Rukan found you I guess. The blue card hidden behind the normal card."

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           "Ahh. Have you noticed any strange link between you can Shademon? When he gets hurt do you hurt?" said Renamon.

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           Michiko shook her head, "No... Nothing like that has ever happened before. Though Shademon has only been with me for a few weeks."

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           Renamon nodded a bit, "Ahh. Rukan and I have been together for three months."

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           Michiko nodded and giggled a bit but didn't reply.

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           Renamon lifted a brow curiously, "What's so funny?"

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           "Oh... It's nothing. You two just remind me of something," said the girl.

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           "Of what?" Replied the digimon.

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           Michiko giggled a bit, "It's a bit silly... Lovers. You two risk your lives together. You show compassion towards each other on a level that normal friends just don't. You really care."

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           Renamon bit her lip and looked away quickly knowing that the blush was returning to her cheeks. She didn't reply this time.

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           Michiko's eyes went wide, "Whoa... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to point it out if it was a secret or anything."

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           Renamon shook her head, "No... It's ok. It's just..."

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           "You haven't told him have you?"

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           Renamon nodded and turned back to look at Michiko.

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           "Ahh. Do you think he knows?"

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           The digimon nodded slowly and looked at the ground, "I just can't tell him. I can't let this get in the way of what we have to do now. So I wait until finally we have the peace we have been fighting so hard for. Then I can tell him..."

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           Michiko nodded a bit and smiled, "That's really sweet. I hope things work out for you two."

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           Renamon nodded a bit and sighed, "Me to. It's torture keeping these feelings inside of me. A horrible secret."

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           "What's a horrible secret?" Said Rukan as he rounded the corner looking curious.

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Renamon looked up quickly and shook her head, "Nothing Rukan. Girl talk."

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He nodded and walked the rest of the way up to the two, "Well we're safe. The media didn't get anything on the digimon. Hypnos made sure of it. We should head home and get some rest. We have to start finding a way to break through to the digital world tomorrow."

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           "Hey Rukan. Here's my number should you actually find a way into the other world I'm coming with." Said Michiko as she handed him a slip of paper with her number on it.

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           "Thanks. I will do that. I guess I'll be seeing you around Michiko. Keep safe." Said Rukan with a smile.

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           The young girl nodded and headed out of the shelter into the night while Rukan turned to look at Renamon, "Well I guess it's time to go home and explain things to Takeshi..."

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           Renamon took a deep breath and nodded, "Ya... That's going to be interesting. Especially when you tell him you need his help with inter-dimensional travel."

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           Rukan chuckled a bit and shrugged, "Lets try and give it to him in a way that won't leave him damaged for the rest of his life."

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           Renamon held Rukan close to herself as Rukan wrapped his arms around her pressing his cheek against her chest and closing his eyes. It was moments like this that made the secret he kept inside not as painful. Renamon stood there for a few moments thinking about telling the boy how she felt as she had a few days ago, only this time not to fall on deaf ears.

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           Rukan noticed the hesitation and looked up at Renamon curiously. She just nodded and shifted them both into Rukan's room to find Takeshi waiting for them. The boy jumped but remained fairly strait faced sitting in the computer chair.

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           "You have a lot of explaining to do Rukan." Said Taka with a frown.

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           Rukan nodded a bit letting go of Renamon and shrugging, "I'm a digimon trainer. Renamon is my digimon. I've fought several battles with other digital monsters and recently they have changed and their data corrupted. The chip you have is a digimon destruction program developed by the company Hypnos who is combating the digimon as well as they pour through from the other world. It turns out one of their own is causing the digimon to come through to this world. In Kyoto there was a full-scale invasion that was only stopped because I killed the digimon responsible for the storm. That's when we learned about the first chips causing a corruption in the data of the digimon turning them evil and spreaders of the skull virus. Turns out I'm not alone as well. A girl named Michiko has a Shademon partner but Tenshi, the man from hypnos that caused the digimon to come through, Has a dark type of Renamon."

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           Rukan took a deep breath and nodded, "That's about it."

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           Renamon chuckled a bit and shook her head, "So much for giving it to him in a way that wouldn't damage him."

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           Takeshi shook his head, "This is impossible."

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           Rukan frowned a bit, "No. It's reality. Which is much more frightening than the lie we've been living. Kyoto is in ruins. Countless people have lost their lives and the city burns. Taka you have to help me get into the other world. Renamon and I have to stop this from ever happening again."

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           Takeshi closed his eyes and shook his head, "Rukan I don't know if I can do that. I..."

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           "Takeshi I'm depending on you. I'll get you whatever you need to do it but you need to find a way. I don't know near as much about computers as you do. You're my best chance." Said Rukan cutting his friend off.

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           Takeshi took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright. I'll need all the data on digimon you can get me. I'll have to make something to read Renamon and that watch you have. Your cards will help with that I'm sure so I'll need some of them for study. Don't expect me to have this thing done too fast. This is very complicated."

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           Rukan nodded and smiled, "I'm sure you'll have it done in time. I mean... if you don't we all die."

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           Taka frowned deeply, "Gee. Thanks for the kind reminder Rukan. I'll start work on it tomorrow. I might be able to get the tech club to help me with the programming to make things go along faster. Just tell them it's some sort of new digimon card game accessory."

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           Rukan nodded again, "Good. I think we should go to bed though. I'm exhausted and you have a lot of work ahead of you."

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           The sky was clear that night in Tokyo but still a soft orange glow on the horizon showed the danger ahead. Rukan saw this in every aspect of his life now as he sat next to the koi pond in the quiet night. He let out a long sigh and shook his head as he looked at his reflection in the cool water.

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           Many questions swirled around in the Hisashi's mind this night. How would he ever succeed in bringing down Tenshi and Hypnos? When would there finally be peace? When will he finally tell Renamon what he was feeling in his heart?

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           He tossed a small pebble into the pond and spoke softly, "Grandpa... Ruki... I need your help... I am lost in this life with my heart found in something that isn't even human... I cannot win the battle ahead. I'm not foolish enough to think that I actually have a chance against Tenshi."

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           "My restless nights bring me here calling for you but still I have no answer from the spirits..." said Rukan as he closed his eyes and pulled the blanket tight around himself. He lifted his gaze to the moon in the sky and frowned deeper, "Why can't I have a normal life?! Why did you choose me for all of this?! Why does everything always have to be so complicated? All I ever wanted was to have a normal childhood... Why can't I just be a kid?"

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           Rukan buried his face in his blanket and cried into the soft fabric. It was several minutes before he felt the paw on his back making him look up quickly and wipe his tears away. He saw Renamon there looking concerned as she sat down next to him not speaking.

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           Rukan opened the blanket for a moment to wrap it around her as well getting close to her and closing his eyes enjoying the peaceful moment.

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           "Rukan... did I ever tell you about my family?" said Renamon softly.

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           Rukan shook his head, "No... I didn't know you had one actually."

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           Renamon nodded a bit and looked into the water as Rukan had before, "I had one. The digital world is ruthless... You never know what digimon to trust and what one to avoid. Some will help you while others will only try and destroy you for the precious data you hold..."

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           Rukan nodded slowly and took a deep breath, "What happened?"

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           "It had been years since the family had seen each other. My brother had taken a mate. My sister was leader of a group of nomads that traveled the entire digital world while my parents remained in the same place content in their hovel... I was the youngest and hadn't had any of the exciting adventures the rest of my family had. It was when we were all together that it happened... A powerful digimon stormed the home and I was the only one left alive... I hid myself to afraid to fight... All of them died at the hands of that monster..."

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           Rukan leaned on Renamon a bit more and spoke softly, "It's not your fault. You would have just ended up like them had you fought. You and I are more alike than I thought. I've lost my family and you have lost yours."

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           Renamon nodded slowly and looked to Rukan, "You are all I have left in both worlds Rukan..."

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           Rukan nodded and smiled a bit, "You are the only one I can truly depend on to come to my aid. You are very special to me Rena"

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           Renamon looked deep into Rukan's emerald eyes and smiled warmly at his words breaking the gaze to look up at the moon, "Rukan... I... I love you."

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           Rukan smiled knowing it all along. The words weren't a surprise but a still it felt as if the dam that had been constructed to hold their feelings inside of them had broken and now their hearts could freely beat as one, "I love you to Renamon..."

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           There, silhouetted by the moon, the two lovers slowly turned to look into each other's eyes and leaned close to share their first kiss in the cool winter night.