Later, we find Jake and Mark in a small hole-in-the-wall church.

The church itself is truly small. With eight pars (the benches in a church), four on each side, with ales in the middle and to the sides, with a few bibles scattered between them the, only other object of interest is the rather sizeable shrine in the back of the church on a raised platform. It was covered in candles, incense burners, books, crosses, charms, pictures, flowers and all kinds of other things. One could almost mistake it for a dump heap, except for the fact that it was organized and well-tended to.

In the dim room with only the shrine's candles lighting it, casting the room into shadow and illuminating it with a soft glow, we find Mark and Jake siting in the back talking.

"I can see why John wanted us to come hear." said Mark "It's a good place to meditate."

"Yeah…not that there is a need." replied the impmon whom he could easily call brother "I mean, we found Rose and BG in a safe room and got them out of there, didn't we? I mean nobody died right….?"

"…."

"Well…okay, let revise that statement." amended Jake "We didn't lose anyone important to us, and that's what matters right?"

"See that's more accurate" replied Mark "but you can feel it to can't you? That odd feeling of regret?"

"….Yeah" Jake replied softly "I don't get what is to regret though. I mean we saved our sisters, we didn't lose any of our friends, and we got rid of one of the biggest problems in the slums. Even though it will cause us trouble in the long run, I don't see what is to regret."

"You regret having to take a life." Replied a soft voice

Startled, both Mark and Jake look up to find a man with semi-formal clothes (an open sports jacket with a white collared shirt, blue jeans, and all-brown tennis shoes), strawberry-blond hair, and hazel eyes, caring a bible and wearing a rosary necklace, the strangest thing was that he was partnered to a Piddomon, a vaccine-type digimon who were generally a rare site in the slums. Since the slums were normally the home to the virus-type digimon.

Mark and Jake stare for a minute before Mark replies "I'm sorry but, who are you?"

"Ah! Sorry, I should probable introduce myself, shouldn't I." replied the man "I'm Nathanael, Nate for short, and I am the priest and caretaker of this church, alongside my partner Marth." The Piddomon, apparently Marth, smiled kindly and nodded before attending to the shrine, leaving Mark and Jake with the now identified pastor.

"So what were you saying?" asked Jake "something' about regret?"

"Yes, I did." replied Nate "I'm thinking that you both are probably feeling some form of regret from killing someone. Am I right?"

"Well yeah, but I don't get it. We killed a bunch of hired goons, and that rat bastard Wever. All we did was get our sisters back and defend ourselves." Jake answered for him and his partner.

"All the same, it not easy to take a life, even in self-defense, however it gets easier over time." Said Nate "But don't go looking for trouble. You should only fight to defend yourself or protect what's precious to you; even then you should not kill unless it's necessary." in a lower, darker tone he said "People who kill without regard for life, do not deserve it, life I mean. Time may numb the pain of killing, but don't ever let yourself become completely different. Lest you lose sight of what is truly important."

"…."

"…."

"…. ….um….I'll admit I didn't expect that kind of reaction from you" mumbled Jake "I thought you would have start spewing stuff about God being a healer and all that...stuff." Mark knew his partner was going to say "bullshit" or "crap" or something along those lines. However, he understood why Jake didn't use "those" words. In addition to darkness and obvious despising in his tone, Nate had clearly been what he had just described to them once, by the pain and experience in his voice.

Mark knew that was enough of a reason to not tick him off, and not because he was, most likely, a capable man.

But rather that he himself had not healed his own wounds.

Nate however, smiled lightly and said "I'm not one of those cross bearing, bible thumping, high headed religious priests." He said that with a mild tone with no form of negative undertone "I'm just a man with his 'mon, and good combat skills; who virtually lost his soul, woke up, lost it all, and was shone and saved by what God truly is." He said that with a grin, moving on he continued "I'm here to help others when they need it the most, in the place where most people need it."

Mark grinned and replied "You are a good man Nate." Standing up and shaking hands with him doing the same with Marth who had returned by then "Thanks for the advice. I can see why John sent us here."

Nate smiled broadly and said "Ah! I should have figured my old friend would send you here!" in cheerful voice.

"You know him?" questioned Jake while Marth and Nate keeled down to shake with him to.

"Yep" replied Nate "Me and him practically grew up together, even as mercenaries. Only deference was he kept fighting for those that needed fighting for. Me, I lost my way 'till he snapped me out of it and I end up ware I am today." Replied Nate with no bitterness in his voice.

"Well, we'll be sure to thank him for you." Replied Jake

"You are welcome here anytime" spoke Marth, in a surprisingly quite, polite, yet firm voice "I speak for both of us when I say: we wish you luck in your endeavors."

"Come here anytime you need anything." Said Nate "Godspeed."

"Thanks" replied Jake "will take you up on both of them."

And thus the two head off into the night, to home, and a future that looked much bright than they ever imagined.

THE END

Well what do you think? Not too bad for a firstfic right? Anyway plz give comments, reviews, flames, anything on your mind really. I NEAD TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING TO DO BETTER!

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Peace on earth to one and all

GamerScarX