Disclaimer- I do not own Digimon, and that's the truth. Can you handle the truth? I hope so, cuz otherwise those lawyers will get me…

A/N- Once again, sorry for the wait. I am a terrible person I know… I must give a big shout out to Pareathe for making me get back on track for this story- I had GINORMOUS (my own word) writer's block and still do to some extent. So go read her excellent stories. And this is- well it's not so good, I need a beta- who wants to beta for me? *Looks pleadingly at the audience* It doesn't take much time given how much of this I churn out… ENJOY!

Rejoining

Jyou stretched and waited for his back to pop- there it went. He sighed and then began to do his morning stretches, an Assassin needed to stay limber if they were to do their jobs. Then he took out the pendant that classified him as Hand. He hung gently about his neck and paced over to window of his room. The palace was full of dignitaries staying for the King's birthday, he'd faithfully delivered the diamonds and emeralds from his uncle's mines.

He smiled and absently wondered where Sora was and how she was doing. Maybe he should go check on her…

"Hmm…" Mimi murmured as she awoke, and then paused. There was someone in bed with her, not unusual in and of itself, but-

"Ah." She sighed, it was Sora, that delightful girl she'd met last night. Mimi shook out her hair and gently slid out of the bed, wincing as her feet touched the cold floor and find a pair of slippers before padding over to her window and pushing the shudders back.

Outside the city was coated in morning dew, and glistened in the sun. It was fantastic. She ran a hand over the sill of the window, feeling the grain of the cold stone beneath her fingers, slipping them gently against it's hard granite surface. A soft "hmm" behind her told her that Sora was awakening. She smiled and floated over to where her- beloved? She had only known the girl for a little while. And yet- and yet. There was something intangible about Sora that made Mimi feel more right than she ever had in her life.

It was one thing to enjoy tales of love at first sight, but faced with it Mimi doubted it. How could you fall in love at first sight? Love was the bond of friendship before all else. In order to be in love you needed to be friends with that person, be it platonic or sexual. Friendship was the key, love was merely deeper friendship. She had no friendship with this girl, but as she watched Sora slowly open her eyes and gaze at Mimi with a beautiful smile of contentment, she couldn't help but add "yet" onto that statement.

After all, she had a feeling they would make fine friends…

"This, you expect me to believe this?" Yamato asked incredulously. "I do not know what either of you have ingested of recent and make no doubt that I am thankful for my rescue from those bandits who almost certainly would have dealt me harm but- what the fuck?" He suddenly swore and Jun yawned.

"This is all well and good but I'm tired. Let's turn in." Tk looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Around them the trees loomed, not threateningly but merely there, collosals of nature that they were, this was one of the stranger sights they had seen.

"I'll go see if there' s town around here." Tk said and let the light surround him. Wings of purest silver came forth from his back and he shot up into the air. Yamato stared at him.

"What is he?" Jun smiled.

"The Avatar."

"What?" The man asked, his voice low and dangerous. It was the sound of jungle cats stalking prey mixed with the cruelty of an insane torcherer. His eyes glowed red with a hint of pupil, he was an elegant man, clearly an aristocrat, and clearly a vampire as he licked the blood from his lips.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" Piedmon asked wearily. The vampire shook his head. "Good."

"Now, what do we do?" The vampire asked. Beside them both, sitting at the table between them and with eyes glowing in dark amusement.

"We kill each and every one of them we cannot turn Myotismon." Kari purred and Piedmon laughed, he had control of her so complete she was insane, but indeed Kari was at times far more lucid than any of them. So lucid in fact, she became extremely dangerous, but only to her enemies. Piedmon was not such an enemy.

"Oh, is there anyone else from this other world you spoke of?" Myotismon asked as he dropped the young girl to the ground he'd been feeding on. A pity he'd needed to raze that village, but they'd staked a member of his court, and that just couldn't go unpunished.

"I think that there are two more who could assist us, but they were mere buffoons in the other world, whether they could be of greater assistance is questionable." Piedmon said as he rolled the wine glass in between his fingers. A sudden quick rapping heralded the arrival of Piedmon's sages, they were all uniformed older men with glasses and a peculiar stance that suggested they were used to holding old books and writing in dark places.

"Yes, do please sit down." Piedmon said, suddenly courteous. Kari rolled her eyes and began to stare off into space, these men bored her so. They were old and stodgy and almost- dusty, she detested them.

"Ah yes Piedmon." Said their leader, Piedmon grimaced slightly but let it pass, they were very valuable to him and he could tolerate a few infractions as such.

"We have in fact discovered quite a few references to guardians, great beings of immense power that help along their realms." The man readjusted his glasses and peared at a piece of crinkling parchment in his hands.

"It is written in a bizarre dialect of old Faelk mind you, and it says that- I paraphrase of course- there are two "colosses" of power and they watch over the realm, although it is used in a way to imply guard and observe. It says that one is weaker than the other, however implying power wise and not intelligence, and that it makes up for it through balance. By balance a sort of cosmic scale of equilibrium, it's quite fascinating."

The old man continued to talk and Piedmon listened along with Myotismon. Kari meanwhile stared aimlessly at the wall, the dancing frescoes covering it were exquisite… Her fingers touched the ever so smooth grain of the wood that her chair was made of. It felt silky and hard, not rough at all.

She then looked at her hands, so white and soft, creamy and delicate, and she smiled. These were the hands that dealt out life and death with ease, such power was as delightful as it was intoxicating…

"There it is!" Ken shouted jubilantly and beside him Miyako squealed in delight.

"Oh Ken, it's gonna be so much fun!" Beside Ken his father and mother smiled tolerantly, Miyako definitely had her feminine side…

Larek glistened in the mid-afternoon sun. It was a beautiful ancient city and the great palace rose up above the clutter and bustle of everyday life to oversee the city like a great eagle surveying its domain.

The entourage moved forward and was soon at the city gate reserved for visiting nobility, it led onto a street that bypassed all the nastier portions of the city. Daisuke tried to seem as inconspicuous as possible, but it was difficult as he seemed to be the center of scrutinous eyes, harsh glaring eyes that said they knew what he was, pathetic and-

"Hey Dais." Ken murmured into his ear startling the young man. Miyako caught Daisuke's eyes to remind him of what he could and couldn't say. "You want to go to the bazaar later today with Miya and I?" Daisuke looked at the knight who nodded warily, after all if they lost the boy no harm done right?

"The Fa'Taelas are arriving today." Mimi remarked as she fluttered her fan gently against her chest. Every inch of her dress screamed of wealth and power, each curl of her hair spoke of work and the copper plaits woven into it made her body as artistic as her clothing. Jyou appraised her silently and no longer wondered why Sora wouldn't want the beautiful girl.

"Then shall we go meet them?" Jyou asked softly. Unlike Mimi or even Sora who had pulled out her best dress druid robes for the occasion Jyou wore a simple jerkin and trousers that were easy to maneuver in. He carried no weapon, unlike all the other nobles and knights at court, after all he was an Assassin, as was proudly proclaimed by how he acted and dressed. No one else would be so arrogant as to walk without a weapon in such a violent realm as Larek.

"Yes, let's." Sora said simply. Mimi flashed her fingers nimbly at Jyou.

"Any gossip about the Fa'Taelas my dear Jyou?" Mim asked through the sign language. Jyou pretended to be watching something else for practice as he signed her back.

"Only that one of their prize wyvern studs had to be killed because he ate a trainer." Mimi nodded imperceptibly and asked again. This time Jyou grinned and Sora turned around.

"Both of you are being far to quiet- damn it Mimi you know that funny hand language too don't you?" Sora accused and Mimi fluttered her eye-lashes vapidly, fooling neither Sora or Jyou.

"Now Sora dear- how could you say such a thing?" Jyou chuckled.

"You are a horrible person Mimi." Sora chided gently and Mimi giggled.

"I know…"

"I do so hate this." Ken muttered and Daisuke couldn't help but think the boy sounded very childish. He quickly suppressed that thought, if you thought such things you might say them, and if you said them… Daisuke was an expert at not saying things. And it would not do to piss of the son of a powerful Duke that so far had taken pity on him.

"Oh be quiet Ken- you're the son of a duke- you should be used to this by now." Miyako hissed out of the corner of her mouth. Ken nodded and sighed wearily. Daisuke really didn't see how anyone could mind being dressed in clothes so fine he could imagine them and pampered by seemingly endless lines of servants. Daisuke noticed one high-born girl flashing a speculative glance at Ken and suddenly he felt as if the room was a little too hot and he became angry.

He wondered at this and then looked at Ken who was surveying the crowd. Although he probably didn't know and would deny it, Ken was exuding an arrogant calm that could only come from nobility that was truly powerful. The three wandered around for a little bit and then Miyako wandered off to find the bathroom, her hair had come undone.

And then quite suddenly a flock of young ladies descended on Ken and began to interrogate him, leaving Daisuke quite suddenly bereft of any contact. He quietly slipped away, trying to blend into the crowd but it was difficult. This wasa group of people that moved differently than any he had ever been in before. Daisuke had the odd feeling he was interrupting a dance he couldn't see, and in many ways he was.

Suddenly he was knocked over onto his back by a young belligerent man. The young man turned to Daisuke and sneered.

"Watch where you're going child." The man said, his lip curling in distaste. Daisuke noticed absently that the man was surrounded by a group of other young arrogant noblemen and nights.

"Shouldn't you be down with the other servants boy?" Inquired another mockingly and Daisuke flushed as they laughed at the poor sally.

"Oh look at him, he's flushing- I bet he's ashamed. Too bad he's a coward and we're his betters." Said another and they all smiled. Daisuke trembled with barely contained rage until quite suddenly someone put a hand on his shoulder. He tensed but although the grip was firm it was comforting in a fashion. He noticed that the young men were glowering at his protector. Daisuke turned his head and inclined it slightly to look at the tall youth behind him.

For a moment he thought Ken had grown but quickly realized this was a totally different person. This young man although he did have blue hair had a different face than Ken and his eye weren't that same striking purple blue that Daisuke loved looking at.

"Why don't you go play elsewhere children." It was not a request, but a command. The leader who had "bumped" Daisuke stiffened at the insult but the youth on Daisuke's shoulder merely raised an eyebrow.

"Or would you care to challenge me to a duel?" The blue-haired man inclined his head to one side. "I'd promise only to use one hand." He said softly and the young man drew back in rage but one of his friends but a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"I shall not forget this Jyou Fa'Talis." The young man said threateningly and Jyou grinned.

"I should hope you don't Koren of Gratha." Jyou returned and then turned his back on the group, gently but forcefully leading Daisuke away from them.

"So Daisuke- for a street urchin you sure do know how to pick the right enemies." Jyou remarked casually and Daisuke stared at him. Was this man a mage? And then it hit him, the remark about dueling, the casual way in which he stood but with no weapons. He was an Assasin… His eyes went wide as he stared at Jyou.

"Everyone seems to have that same reaction." Jyou remarked absently.

"Well you have to admit Jyou, when you're job is to kill people for a living you become almost as undesirable as a tax collector." A young woman said as she sidled on up to him. She wore the simple robes of a mage and Daisuke wondered what kind.

"Sora- I don't just kill people, we're really trained to be everything Daisuke, from spies to horse groomers." Jyou remarked to him. "The game is all about politics- you can hire an Assassin to help with your finances if you so desire, killing people is going out of style lately and to be blunt it does narrow the cliente."

"Well when you put it like that it all sounds so reasonable Jyou." Yet another young woman said, this one bedecked in jewels and her long hair tumbling beautifully down her back, said and Jyou laughed merrily.

"Oh Mimi- I don't know what I used to laugh at without you- aside from the stupidity of people I guess. Daisuke this is Mimi and this is Sora, Sora and Mimi- this is Daisuke." Jyou introduced them and for a second Daisuke could almost forget that he was surrounded by some of the most powerful people in Larek. Suddenly the doors opened and in came a face that everyone knew, unless you lived under a rock.

Or rather not his face, but his hair. The hair of Ser Takya was as famous as his deeds. The great mute knight as he was known strode forward through the crowd and knelt before the king and queen who nodded cordially and he rose. He went over to prince Jalkin and bowed at the waist for the prince who smiled and embraced him.

The whole courtroom then turned away from the prince and his knight friend, many of them missing the entrance of a young man with a slight aura of shyness around him and a boy that stood next to him. Jyou didn't miss them though, Jyou didn't miss much-

So it came as a big surprise to Jyou when Ken appeared out of nowhere with an irritated expression on his face. Jyou actually nearly had a heat attack, not that he let a drop of his surprise show on his face.

"There you are Daisuke- I worried you got lost after that gaggle ambushed me." He said wearily and Daisuke smiled nervously. Ken suddenly noticed the others standing there.

"Mimi?" He asked incredulously and Mimi smiled.

"Why Ken- I didn't think that you'd remember." She teased and Ken laughed.

"Well it has been- what? 10 years or so since I saw you last? And who are your friends that rescued Dais?" Daisuke flushed at Ken's pet-name for him. Mimi introduced Jyou and Sora and Ken smiled at each of them before starting in on catching up with Mimi.

"Ser Takya ?" Miyako said, the name becoming a question. Tai turned to see a young beautiful purple haired girl with a warrior's stance and wearing a sword slung low on her hip.

"I'm Miyako, Serra Fa'Taela." She introduced herself and Tai nodded while smiling.

"So Ser Takya-" She stopped as he shook his head and spelled out Tai in the air. He had to do it a couple times before Miyako got it. She blushed and nodded, the great Ser Takya wanted to be on a first name basis with her. Tia wheezed a little chuckle and Miyako grinned suddenly. Suddenly Tai looked over and saw Mimi. Miyako turned and saw Ken. They both turned to excuse themselves and then realized they'd been looking at the same group. Tai got an impish look in his eyes and offered her his arm. Miyako took it, still smiling, and they set out for the other group.

Mimi had noticed Tai and another girl coming towards them, but she had also seen the look that had crossed Koushiro's face at Tai basically abandoning him, and she knew that she would have to give Tai some lessons in love manners. So she of course set off to grab Koushiro and that young boy that he and Tai had obviously acquired somewhere along the line.

"They're together." Jun suddenly whispered and Yamato looked at her oddly. Tk however merely nodded in satisfaction.

"Excellent, soon this will be over."

Although more untruthful words had been spoken, these ranked high up on the list.

A/N- Blech- that was difficult to get out, but with some new feedback I may be galvanized to work some more on this. It may sound shallow, hell it may be shallow but I really do have more incentive if I know that people like my story- hell if people don't like it at least they're reading it! So review and review and then try it again!