Chapter 19

"We're here," I said stopping at a small one level house. Joan's eyes widened. "Is something wrong?"

"Huh, what? Err, no, I just never thought you would have owned a place like this."

"Why, is it to small," I inquired.

"No, I pictured it to be smaller."

"Wait till you see inside," I said smiling. Then found the knob and pushed the door open.

"Don't you lock the door?"

"No, the Dieco won't steal from me. Nor anyone else. There isn't any crime, there aren't taxes, and there isn't anything to worry about in the inner ring. That is unless Lokimon has spies and supporters here."

"Oh now I feel much better," Joan retorted. As I step inside of my home I chucked. She came inside and looked around. "Wow," she said putting down my armor.

I saw her eyeing a painting that had the waist up of a jet black wolf like human with a silver breast plate. "Do you know who that is, Joan," I asked putting my arms around her. Joan who was standing in front of me jerked to look back at me and then relaxed some. She shook her head in a 'no'. "That Joan is Porthawosmon, my wife."

"Do you miss her?"

"Greatly, I must admit, she was part of the reason that I wanted to get back here quickly. That and Lokimon."

"I bet Biyomon will find her."

"I don't doubt it," I smiled. "We shan't worry about that right now. Your friend Lisa is hurt and Lokimon is sill on the loose."

"Lisa will be fine," Joan moved out of my grasp. "I'm worried what will happen if Lokimon and his forces can get to my planet, to Earth."

"It won't happen, I can assured you. He may camp to the west, but our city and Earth will be safe." Was that true? I questioned myself. For how much longer? In the past year an a half to two years he and his forces had grown stronger. One of his men almost killed me today if it weren't for Joan. "Excuse me; I need to get out of this armor." I told her and headed to my room.

As I got out of my armor I heard Joan moving around the house. Her shoes clapped against the wooden floor. I found one of the sabers that my wife had given me. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I gave it to Joan.

She looked at me funny as I walked into the study. My wife is a Sovereignty and works closely with the Krupkeras, so she has taken an interest in literature. "D'Artagnan, shouldn't you be wearing..."

"I know," I said putting a hand in the air, "I know. You humans have certain parts you wish to keep private. Yet we Dieco, Sovereignties, and Krupkeras don't have those parts. Well, that is not right, the more human like of our kind do, but not me. Renamon either wears the armor or not. Now why am I making an example out of her?" Joan smiled and pulled off her shoes and socks. On Earth she went barefoot most of the time.

"So how old is this house?"

"Only as old as this city. That is after it was rebuilt. That was more then nine years ago. Then the world lay in ruins. The Chosen had come back and were awarded for their help with Chaos even with their disobeying of the Sovereign. A long with that Lopmon gained a position on the Council because they saw no need for the Deva's. I won't tell you what happened to them, for you wouldn't understand.

"Renamon got to keep her position as a Sovereignty. While the others were made Sovereignties or got the highest metal for a Dieco to receive. They now live scattered around the kingdom. No two are in same city at the same time."

"Where were you and your wife that whole time," she asked.

"On the run," I said not very proud of it. "We left this area and tried to help many refuges that lost their homes like us to the fighting. Yet what you don't know is that war had already broken out on the borders. Many Dieco and Sovereignties let by Lokimon held skirmishes. That was a year before Renamon left. She stayed there for a half a year before I heard of anyone else going through the portal. Unauthorized too. At that time the Sovereign and the Deva's were spread out around the kingdom. Only a few months after many of the Dieco went though the portal with out permission, the Chosen came and stopped all but one of the Deva's. After that they left and soon their partners came back and Chaos was no more."

I then sighed and held the saber grip towards Joan. "I... I can't take this."

"Joan, I have many swords. I just want you to take this one. Let's just say I'm paying you back for all you have done for me so far. And, for everything you will do."

"D'Artagnan," I gave her a soft look, "fine." She took the saber and got up. I smirked as she slashed the air. "Handle's nice, grip is good." She grinned and turned to me, "Thanks."

"No need," I teased "I'm thanking you." Joan turned and looked deep into my eyes and I looked into hers.

I felt a uncomfortable wave of sadness fall upon me. She was so far away from home. This was another world, this wasn't Earth. This was my home. Sure I was worried when I came to her planet. But I had something in my mind; I had what I needed to survive. Now without me she could die here. This world is alien to her.

What was I to do? Her best friend was lying in a hospital bed. The safe arms of her Mom or Dad were not just thousands of miles away from Japan, but a portal too. She protected me on Earth; I guess I had to protect her here.

"It... it's getting late. I need to get a place for you to sleep ready. If you don't mind the floor..."

"No, that's fine, I'm sure it won't be any more uncomfortable then the chair you had." Her mouth not even coming close to even the slightest smirk.

"I'm sure if I get plenty of quilts and blankets," she gave me a soft look as if to say I shouldn't worry. "Then again, I have what you would call a queen sized bed. It would be better for your back if you slept there. I could always sleep on the floor."

"No, its fine, I'll be fine. You don't... I don't... neither of us need to sleep on the floor." This was the time I wished we had installed the guest bedroom Pothawos and I talked about. She really didn't want to impose, but there was no other chooses.

"You can get a bath if you want while I tend to the rest of the house." She nodded and followed my finger to my room and the bed room.

I went into the study and searched for some story scrolls that might help us. Yet if they knew why we were here for what reason didn't the Sovereign tell us. I shook my head and head back to the bed room.

Joan was already laying in the bed, the only covered her up to her waist. She still wore the white T-shirt that said 'Daddy's Little Goon' and had a male hockey player on it that was missing a few teeth. I did see her shoes and socks on the floor. So I inquired that she still wore her blue jeans as well.

"You still awake," I asked quietly.

"Barely," she replied. I set the scrolls down and crawled into the bed. I pulled the covers over me.

As an after thought I gave her a sight hug. "I love you Joan, as I would love a daughter if Digimon could have any children. You know I don't want to see you get hurt. I don't want to see you end up like Lisa did."

"She's not dead," then as an after thought, "yet. All humans will die someday. As will some Digimon. You may need to live millions or even billions of years after I die."

"You could always live on this planet. You have become a data stream. You won't age; you could die from other things, but with me around..."

"D'Artagnan."

"Yes," I answered.

"Go to sleep."

"Yes Joan, g'night."

"Good night," she said tired. Long into the night I tossed and turned. Then stared into the darkness. Things drifted into my mind. Things that have haunted me for almost two years. Would I ever see Porthawos again?

*Authors Note: The past two chapters have nothing to do with the overall plot, but you need to have something showing the relationship of the characters. The next chapter is the last in part one. I'm putting that up next week along with the disclaimer for part two.*