Three days after Naruto left; Hokage tower, Konoha

Tsunade sighed as she finished off another bottle. She felt...tired now. Like she really was her age. She could only blame it on one thing. Naruto was no longer there saying how much he wanted her job. She sighed, at least she knew he was alive and alright.

She had gotten a private message from the new Kazekage saying that he believed Naruto had faked his death. More over, Hinata had gone to find him. Tsunade had been really worried when she went missing but that message put her mind at ease. But only on that matter. She had more to spare now.

Sasuke was not being cooperative. He had repeatedly tried to leave Konoha but the detachment of ANBU that were to 'protect' him made sure he stayed this time. Then there was her apprentice, Sakura. She didn't know what to make of herself anymore. With Sasuke leaving and Naruto 'dying' after bringing him back to a thankless village, she no longer had the same footholds. Hiashi was breathing down her neck to bring his daughter back. He didn't know where she was, just a few choice details she let him have.

And finally Gaara... There was more to the letter he sent. And it wasn't exactly the best of news. First it contained both his and Hinata's express wish for the fact that Naruto had faked his death to be kept from everyone in the village but a very select few. Second, while he did not know where exactly Naruto was, he refused to tell her anything that might lead to the discovery of where he was.

Finally, he put Konoha on notice. For driving out his first true friend, the truce between their villages was teetering on the breaking point. While he did not wish for open war, both of them knew there was other ways to hurt Konoha. Taking away customers is only the beginning. Banning Konoha goods and merchants would put a huge hurt on them. And it would only take them a few days at the most to find new suppliers. Konoha would take longer to find new buyers, much longer. Not to mention the produce they bought... Could they find a new buyer before those went bad?

Tsunade would much prefer open war-fare if the lives were not lost over political war-fare. Had Suna taken that route in the first place, they would likely have crippled Konoha, economically, in little more than five years. Especially if they got their allies to help.

Upon hearing from the Kazekage, Kumo had decided to strengthen their alliance with Suna over Konoha. Even now, she burned to find out just what did Gaara tell the Raikage that made this happen. Not that the Hyuuga Clan cared much. They were still more than a little sore over that incident.

Hiashi had finished with Shizune and had gone home, if the sound of his stomping was any sign. Tsunade had told him that she had offered Hinata an S rank mission to find out more about the demon that killed Naruto and she had accepted. Apparently, she had not felt inclined to tell him about it. Probably because it might take as little as a month to even longer than three years. Or so Tsunade had told him. Of course, she had paid him Hinata's pay. But Hiashi saw it as it was, compensation money. He saw that he wasn't likely to see his daughter again.

Shizune stepped into the office, "What did I say about drinking... before the... It already is done. Tsunade-sama, what is wrong?"

"Must you even ask? I miss him and I want him back. Even paperwork is better than thinking about him. To think so much hatred is here to force him to leave all that he cares for."

"...It was his decision. I am kind of surprised he did not make it sooner, if the stories of his treatment are even half true."

Tsunade dropped her head even more. "If I had been here, I could have prevented that."

Shizune frowned. "If? If my aunt had a beard, she would be my uncle. What good does 'if' do? All we can do is move forward. Maybe Naruto will come back on his own and bring Hinata with him. Maybe a team will find him and bring them back. Or maybe we will never see him again.

"But, no matter the outcome, we should feel lucky that we met him. And be happy that where he is, he has a chance to be happy now."

Tsunade looked up from her desk. "When the hell did you get that wise?"

"Funny, I thought I learned it from you, Jiriaya, and Naruto."

Tsunade sighed. "I'm done here today. Let's head home."

—oo000oo—

Three years later, Village Hidden in the Rain

—oo000oo—

"So, we can finally get back to it, eh?" Diedara asked.

"Looks like," Sasori said to his partner. "...Itachi, what has you so quiet? Problems with the Nine Tails?"

"...He died." You could have heard a pin drop on grass in that silence.

Diedara cleared his throat. "Well, if you are going to drop your bad news, so am I. Isonade is no longer of this world as well."

"Well, that is not good," came the hopeful new member, Tobi. "Two of the Bijuu dead? How ever are we going complete our plans then?"

Pain looked at them. "What exactly happened?"

"...I do not know," Itachi said.

"I kept watch on the little brat and saw what happened," Zetsu said. "Damn that was one hell of a surprise! Just wait till you hear what happened, Itachi!" "We should tell the whole thing, not just the exciting parts." "Fuck that! Everyone here wants to know how the Kyuubi died! And I am tired of not telling it!" "...Fine, do whatever you want."

The black side of Zetsu laughed in triumph. "You're fucked up little brother shoved his fist right through his chest! The Kyuubi-brat was dying when all of a sudden, the seal on his stomach faded and these fox ears and tails sprouted from him! The look on both of their faces was priceless! The Kyuubi was crying for a lost friend even as he slammed the other brat into the canyon wall! The look on your brother's face at seeing him still alive was even better!"

"Skipping how much he enjoyed that," the white half said. "He went back to his village, bringing everyone on his team back, hurt but alive. And..."

"The people of his village showed they are more fucked up than even me!" The dark half laughed while the other side sighed. "They called him a demon and threw rocks at him. He must have had enough because he tore off his head band and threw it into the shoulder of one of the ninja that was there, nearly taking it off!"

"He retrieved his things from his home and left Konoha. We tried to follow him as fast as we could but his speed was to much for even us. We found him fighting in the canyon against some sort of demon. And..."

"The stupid bastards from Konoha showed up just in time to see him get blown up! Nothing was left but a tail! And even that didn't last long, it burned up and disappeared!"

"For the love of Kami, will you stop interrupting me!"

"Don't forget to tell them the best part! Don't forget about Iso..."

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" The other members were growing tired of this display and were about ready to kill him. "Anyway. I waited to see if the brat just did it to get away from the village. And what I saw was quite interesting. This involves you, Diedara. Isonade showed up with the One Tailed and a Hyuuga woman. What my counterpart was referring to is when the Three Tails brought the woman to his face. Words were exchanged and...

"He made her the Three Tails! She grew three shark tail fins! That means the brat became the Nine Tails!"

"What more, after a few minutes needed for her to regain consciousness, she looked at the exact spot that the Nine Tails disappeared at and dove into it. She too disappeared."

"So they didn't die, the are just in a location we haven't been able to find."

"Correct," both sides of Zetsu said. "I tried to follow but I could not open it. So I believe this means that only a Bijuu can open it."

"...Let's just use the location jutsu to find them. It may not be perfect but a general location is better than nothing," Hidan said, annoyed. He wanted to kill something so badly right now.

They all nodded and a table came up in front of them. Carved into the wood was a world map. All of them flashed through the same hand signs and pressed their hands to the table. Seven bright flashes appeared on it. Only seven.

"What the hell!?" both Kisame and Diedara yelled.

"Where the fuck are they!?"

"It seems Naruto did not just want to leave his village," Konan said. "But leave this world as well. And the Three Tails followed him. They are as good as dead unless we can figure out what had happened and how to find them."

Kakuzu frowned, "We cannot complete it until we can get them. And to even put the One Tail in without completing the sequence..."

"Will destroy it," Pain finished. "...We have no choice, until we can find them, the One Tails and Two Tails will be left alone. Itachi, Kisame, Diedara, Sasori... and Tobi, find them. Do what you have to."

"Not that I would hope for such a thing," Tobi said as they walked away, "but if one of you die, can I have your spot."

"One more word, and I will kill you," Diedara warned.

"How, by explosion?"

He glared at the masked ninja. "No, by art." BOOM!

—oo000oo—

Present time; Earth, Masaki Shine

—oo000oo—

Naruto yawned the next morning as he stood up and dressed. He was pulling his shirt down and tying the cloak in place when his nose caught the most wonderful scent in the world, next to Hinata-chan's. "RAMEN!" A small, contained tornado ripped through that house, tossing objects as well as people out of the way as it moved to the kitchen and the cook. One moment, Sasami was stirring the noodles, the next, she had been pulled into a spine popping hug by two arms and nine furry tails. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Good morning, Naruto-san," she somehow squeaked out with no air in her lungs.

"How much is mine, Sasami-chan!?"

"I... I...need air..." Naruto let her go and kept bouncing from one leg to the other. "The whole pot is for you..." Naruto about jumped in the air from joy, grabbed a fork, and was going to eat it straight from the pot. "After I finish it, Naruto! It isn't done cooking and the soup isn't finished."

Naruto groaned as he hung his head and all of his tails went limp. He went and sat down at the table. His mind went to what happened yesterday. Both him destroying that ship and what Jilar said to him. 'I was paid handsomely to get the host of Tsunami...'

'Is Sasami a Jinchuuriki as well,' Naruto wondered. He wanted to ask Sasami but couldn't; she was only a child, what if she didn't know? Then she might see herself as a demon as well... He chuckled at that. 'But then, her two Guardians were demons and she takes it rather well. Maybe I'll just start with who Tsunami is. But I'll ask Ayeka.'

—oo000oo—

Hinata had smelled ramen before and thought it smelled and tasted good. But she was by no means as big of a lover for it as Naruto. So she had no idea why her stomach suddenly said she had to have it NOW! That morning, a second tornado ran through the Masaki house. She stopped at the table just as Sasami set the pot down for them. Smiling like a lunatic, she grabbed a bowl and the ladle and helped herself. When Naruto accidentally growled at her for touching his food, she growled back. Before they both slapped a hand over their mouths.

"Gomen, Hinata-chan," Naruto said. "I don't know what came over me."

"I-I'm s-sorry, N-Naruto-kun, I d-didn't mean... But I-I just h-had to h-have some."

Naruto grinned. "So ramen isn't the food of the gods, it is the food of the demons." He gave a quick laugh before he started eating again. He laughed so hard soup almost came out his nose when he saw Hinata had abandoned all manners and was shoveling food into her mouth. It quickly became a contest to eat faster between the two so they could have the most.

Tenchi was standing mid-step, still in the position he was in when he fist saw them. "...Are they even tasting it?"

"I wonder what that smell is," Ryoko said, walking in. "Mind if I try some?" Her reply was growls and fur standing on end.

"Ryoko, don't go near them, I'm not sure if it is safe," Tenchi told her. "I think I saw one of them eat their chopsticks before grabbing a spare." At that point, Hinata bit through hers again and grabbed someone else's. But they didn't see her spit out the stick in her mouth.

Sasami was staring wide eyed at them. They were normally the most controlled people she knew but this... She grinned happily to see her two Guardians loved her cooking that much.

Both finished their bowl and reached for the pot. There was only enough left for one more bowl. They glared death at each other before standing up. "Let's take this outside," Naruto said.

Water spiraled around Hinata as she walked out. "That bowl is mine!"

"Winner eats it," Naruto said. "Grand Fireball no Jutsu!"

"Water Dragon no Jutsu!"

The two attacks hit each other, fighting for dominance. The fire was being put out by the water, the water was being boiled away by the fire. Steam covered the area and Naruto used his tails to blow it away. What he found was Hinata was no longer there. "...Oh no she didn't!" He ran back inside and saw Hinata crying as she looked at Ayeka set down an empty bowl that smelled of Ramen.

"I don't know what that was but it was very good, Sasami."

"Thank you, neesan, but that was for Naruto-san and Hinata-san."

"Oh?" She looked at the two and saw them crying over their lost ramen. "I didn't know. But you shouldn't have left it alone on the table."

Straightening up, they nodded before looking away from each other. 'Next time, the last bowl is MINE!' they both shouted in their heads.

—oo000oo—

"Lady Ayeka, may I ask you a question about Juria," Naruto said.

"Of course, Lord Naruto."

"...What is Tsunami?"

"How did you here that? Tsunami is the protective Dieti of our planet. She has been very kind to us and gave us the most beautiful planet in the universe... Although earth is her rival. Does that satisfy your question?"

"It does... But what does she have to do with Sasami?"

"She gave the Royal Jurian Family their powers. Sasami hasn't awoken hers yet but in time, Tsunami will give her her abilities."

Naruto nodded. 'Maybe I miss understood him.' "By the way, have you ever heard of the term 'Jinchuuriki'?"

"No, I am afraid not."

"...My thanks for you time, Lady Ayeka."

—oo000oo—

"Naruto-san, may I ask something of you and Hinata-san," Tenchi's grandfather said.

"Of course," Naruto replied.

"I have a friend that runs a shrine a week's travel from here. I would like you two to go and check up on him."

"I don't mind but I will not leave Sasami-chan behind unprotected."

"Then take her with you," Katsuhito told him.

"But what about everyone there."

"Naruto, we survived before Sasami and Hinata started cooking for us. We can do it for the day or two it take you three to get there, the day there, and the return trip."

"But won't he..." Naruto glanced at his tails. He could put a genjutsu to cover them up on himself. But he didn't want to. He had grown proud of them in his time that he had them.

"Naruto, he is a priest of his shrine, an old one like myself. He will take it in good stride. Besides, his shrine is dedicated to Kami's messengers."

"If you are sure then I am," Naruto told him with a grin. He left his office and went looking for Hinata and Sasami. Naruto found them in a field. Sasami was picking flowers while Hinata stood a protective watch. "Hey you two, how does a vacation sound?"

Sasami jumped up. "That sounds great Naruto-san! But I would rather explore this planet first."

Hinata smiled a little. "Sasami-chan, w-we view vacations as l-leaving the area, n-not the world. W-Where to, N-Naruto-kun?"

"Another shrine a week away. Katsuhito asked me to check up on his friend over there. And I thought this would be an excellent time to see our new home a little." He walked over and picked up Sasami and put her on his shoulders. "I'm going to jump home so we can get some supplies. Ready?"

Sasami nodded, wrapping her hands around his forehead. She felt his forehead protector under her arm. Unlike Hinata-san's, it did not have a symbol on it. Just the metal plate. The next moment, Naruto jumped into the air. "WHOA!"

—oo000oo—

By that evening, Naruto and Hinata stopped their ninja run and set down atop of a peak of one of the low lying mountains of the area. Sasami stood on her feet all of two seconds before stumbling. "That was very fun..." she said, a little dizzy.

The next day, found the three in a very good move. "Tell everybody I'm on my way. New friends and new places to see. With blue skies ahead, yes I'm on my way, and there's no place I'd rather be," the Kyuubi was singing to keep the high spirits up. "Tell everybody I'm on my way. And I'm loving every step I take. With the sun beating down, yes, I'm on my way. And I can't keep this smile off my face."

—oo000oo—

Naruto, Hinata, and Sasami arrived to find the shrine was throwing a celebration. The two smiled at their good luck. Everywhere there were people in costumes. They walked out into the street and sent Sasami down.

Naruto walked down and noticed some many things that made him wonder. The best of it was that no one was glaring at him. He almost tripped when he felt something soft and furry rub his legs. Looking down, he smiled when he saw a fox kit looking up at him. "Now what are you doing here?"

"This celebration welcomes foxes, Lord," the kit said, very politely. "I am surprised that you decided to visit as well."

Naruto picked the little girl up and showed her to Sasami. "Cute, no?"

"She is precious! My I pet her?" The kit nodded and found herself being cuddled. "What is her name?"

"...Rire," Naruto supplied, scratching her ears. "The temple is just up the road, we can go there and then enjoy the fair.

Naruto's head came over the top step on the stairs and his jaw dropped. It was a temple dedicated to nine tail foxes. "Hinata-chan, you will not believe this." She giggled when she saw it.

Spying a priest, she went over to him. "E-Excuse me, sir, m-may I ask you a q-question?"

"You may. ...You are supposed to be...Isonade of water, are you not?"

Hinata froze for a moment then realized he was talking about her 'costume'. "Y-Yes. I-Is high p-priest Yahiko h-here?"

"Yes. He is in his study right now. I am afraid he is sad that we must close the shrine down."

Naruto perked his ears at those words. "Why must you?"

"Not enough people coming here, young one. More over, it appears that the temple's guardian spirit has left. For no foxes has been seen in this area in some time." The two Bijuu looked at the kit still being held by Sasami. "...I stand corrected. May I ask why you three are here?"

"We were asked by Katsuhito of the Masaki shrine to visit his friend to see how he was doing."

"Oh! That is good news! Maybe you can convince him that selling to that company is not the best answer! Although, I am afraid that maybe even Kyuubi no Yoko would be needed to show people that these shrines are still used by the ancient spirits..."

Naruto couldn't help but grin at that. This was to all the foxes that grew nine tails, right!? He would not stand for it to be closed. He winked at the others before walking away. A few moments later, a fox's yip was heard behind them. The priest spun around and his jaw almost hit the ground. "I don't believe it..." There before them, a nine tailed fox was walking up to the temple. It gave another cry, one that almost sounded like a laugh, and a squeal.

The priest couldn't even move as it walked up to the door and scratched at it to be let it. The door opened and the head priest poked his head out. "Yes...? Tai, who knocked?" He looked around at all the staring visitors and his apprentice. Who only pointed down.

At another cry from the fox, he looked down. "Great Kami..." He opened the door to get a better look at the creature, it slipped inside. He followed it and so did everyone else. The fox was curled up on the coin box, twitching all nine of it's tails like a person strumming their fingers.

"Mommy, is that a real fox," a little girl asked her mom. A really bold child went up and pet the fox. The fox leaned his head against it, giving a satisfied laugh like cry.

Tai went up to Yahiko. "Sir, want does this mean? If a nine tails itself wants to settle here..."

"That would be the greatest blessing this shrine would have received in years... But too many wheels are moving already. This is the last celebration of this shrine." The fox gave a disapproving snarl, something that sounded like the combination of a cat's hiss and a growl.

"Maybe relocate the shrine then," someone offered.

"Such a suitable location would be hard to find," Yahiko replied.

The boy was still petting the fox. "Dad, can we keep him?" The fox gave a yip, an obvious no.

Hinata was having trouble not to smile. She looked around at the people gathered and saw someone was recording this. Oh, the trouble Naruto was going to cause.

Rire gave a yip from Sasami's arms and jumped down. She ran up and started to try and catch the twitching tails. The older fox just watched, twitching at the right moment to make her miss. Finally, she let the kit get a tail. She tried to trash around a bit and was able to pull a clump of fur off. The nine tails stood up, picked the kit up in his jaws, and ran from the temple. The children tried to follow it. Outside, they were heard saying, "Where did they go?"

"...This obviously that the temple is still in favor with the great foxes," the elder priest said. "I cannot let it be destroyed..."

"Like I offered before, maybe relocate it if you cannot keep the land," the man that said it came up. "I am Harakara of the Harakara industries. And I would like to sponsor the move if you cannot," Mr. Harakara said to them. "Where would you like it moved?"

"I...don't know," Yahiko said. "Some place where people will still come to pray. But where the touch of the present isn't as strong."

"I might know of a place," Naruto said, already back with his friends. "Mr. Yahiko, I am Uzumaki Naruto, a friend of Katsuhito. He asked me to check up on you while I was visiting. Maybe you can set your shrine in the same area. I know that there are plenty of foxes there." He does because they seemed to flock to him.

"...Good old Katsuhito, always one step ahead. I will call him and find out tonight. I will tell him you delivered your message. Enjoy your time at the festival."

—oo000oo—

Yahiko couldn't help but smile. A person that was there and saw the whole thing had taken that piece of fur and sent it to a lab, saying it had to be fake or something. But he knew it was no fake. That fox was as real as the one that just walked into his room...

"Again?!" The fox nodded and jumped up on his desk. It was grinning at him. Before being covered in fire and turning into the boy from that after noon.

"Hello, Yahiko-san."

Yahiko wasn't sure but he thought he was going to pass out. "How... What... Who... Why..."

"All that is needed now is where and when," Naruto said with a grin. "What do you think, Hinata-chan?"

"I think we are going to give him a heart attack," Hinata said from the window, her cloths wet, and a tail rubbing her nose. "Forgive the water, please."

"Now, in order. I am not human," Naruto said. "What and why this is going on is exactly what we said. I am a nine tailed fox. Thee nine tailed fox, Kyuubi no Yoko. And Hinata is better known as the Three Tailed Shark, Isonade."

"This is..."

"A little much, I know. Move your temple to the area I suggested. I would very much like to visit it again."

"Of, of course, Kyuubi-sama! It shall be done!"

Naruto smiled his thanks. One of those things that few people didn't know about him was that he hated the past being forgotten. Not things like what a person did. Everyone deserved a chance to start over. He meant things like the shrines dedicated to Gods even though few people came to them anymore.

"By the way, I saw a large crowd making their way here. Apparently, word about a Nine Tailed Fox visiting one of it's shrines that was being closed down." There was a knock at the door. "Come in, Sasami-chan."

The blue haired child from this afternoon walked in, carrying the sleeping fox kit. "Naruto-san, Hinata-san...I'm getting kind of tired. And...there are people...visiting for the evening...prayer."

"Hmm. Hinata-chan, think they want to see another nine tails?" He grinned mischievously. "They seem to have forgotten that foxes are also pranksters..."

Yahiko blanched. His grandfather had told him stories of the trouble a fox could do when he was mad or in a very happy mood. They could be malicious or good natured. But they always were very troublesome. And to have it here, now, during the festival, would ruin the reputation of the shrine.

"Please, Lord Kitsune, don't do anything rash nor harmful," he said with a bow on his knees. "They are here to give thanks to you and all other foxes, don't hurt them."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Did I honestly sound that serious? I was just planning to change into a fox and run around the room while they try, and fail, to get pictures and such. Maybe steal someone's dinner if they brought it. Nothing but a nuisance. Hinata-chan wouldn't let me do anything really fun." the two stuck their tongues out at each other.

The priest couldn't believe this, they were acting like children! "I have to say, I expected something else from two of the great Bijuu."

"They are great, aren't they," Sasami said excitedly. "And they swore to be my Guardians!"

He looked at them. "She will only live for a hundred years max," Hinata said to him. "We will live until eternity. She honored us so we will honor her then."

"But a human child living with..."

"Not that kind of guardian. We haven't adopted her," Naruto said. "...She is of forgotten royal blood. This is Princess Juria Sasami of the Juria clan. Though the clan has died, she and her sister are still princesses, at least to use." Naruto was always good at creating a lie on the spot. This priest had absorbed enough for one day.

The two Bijuu stood up and walked over to Sasami. Naruto put her up on his shoulders and started walking to the door. "Wait, Lord and Lady...I must ask. Is Kami real?"

They looked at him and let out a sigh. Not of annoyance but content. "Have we met her, no. Does she exist, I believe she does," Naruto said.

"In our lives, we have seen much that defies even our explanation. But us, we can see the plan that formed them. Just not the result yet," Hinata finished. "We will see you soon, Yahiko-san."

They walked out, leaving a stunned priest. "...She? Kami is a woman?"

The three walked into the night. With Naruto and Hinata singing Sasami to sleep. "Even those who are gone are with us as we go on. Your jouney has only begun. Tears of pain, tears of joy. One thing nothing can destroy is our pride deep inside, we are one.

"We are one you and I, we are like the endless sky. One family under the sun. All the wisdom to lead, all the courage that you need. You will find when you see we are one."

—oo000oo—

"So...Jilar not only failed to capture her, he got himself killed and his ship destroyed... Perhaps I over estimated him. Wouldn't you say so, Washu?" The statue did not reply. "Hmm. No, the Kitsune was not destroyed, it was taken down to the planet. Sensors read that the ship is flooded and is running a dianostic on every available system. Now I wonder who did that? ...Could it be... Your duaghters are not down there, could they? And with a full blown Dreadnought, the trouble they caused before will be nothing."

The man pushed his glasses up further on his nose as a laugh escaped his lips. A red dot appeared on his monitor. "Oh, look Washu... A Galactic Police Officer is heading to the same planet. This 'E-arth'. Registration... Isn't that a surprise. It appears it is Kuramitsu Mihishi. Your great, great, mortal granduaghter. Looks like everone is showing up on this planet. Might as well make my appearance as well."

—oo000oo—

Ryoko looked around and saw that no one was looking. She then went to the lake and stood on the water before dropping down below the surface. There, at the very bottom, shruken to the size of a motorcycle, was the ship 'Kitsune'. "Now let's take a look, shall we? ...Engine, funtioning. Hull integrity, seventy-five percent. ...Expected time for repair with supplies is twenty eight galactic hours. I believe that is more than two days on earth," Ryoko said to herself. "So, scan for aivailable raw materials!" A beam of light filled the water, going into space.

"Scan complete," a computer voice said. "Available materials in system will repair fifty-three percent of damages. Insufficient raw materials to complete repair."

"Ragh! Use the debris and other things in orbit around the planet to do it then!"

"Scanning... Enough refined materials for two hundred, seventy two percent repairs. Begin drawing in materials?" The projection screen created two squares, one said 'Yes' while the other said 'No'. Ryoko pressed 'Yes'. "Drawing in materials now."

—oo000oo—

"Thank you, young lady," the merchant said as his ship started working again.

"Think nothing of it sir," G.P. Officer Mihoshi said to him. "This will be enough to get you back onto trade routes and to be picked up by Galaxy Police Patrols. I have already sent the message that your ship is in needs of repairs and they will take you to headquarters to get them."

"I really am lucky that such a nice woman like you is working in this sector. I guess your supiors wanted to make sure such a nice woman like yourself stayed away from harm yet still be of help." After that, he left.

Mihoshi yawned as she continued her patrol. She knew what this assignment really was. An out of the way post where they could pretend she didn't exist. She had caused so much trouble that she wasn't surprised. Yes, her record said she was an excellent officer. And she was...to an extent. But even she would admit she was a cluts at times. "Is there anything else that needs my attention," she asked her ship A.I. Despite this being just short of banishment, she still like it out here and took it seriously. This quiet little part of the universe was perfect for her.

"I believe not, Mihoshi," the ship replied. "If you would like, I will take over piloting while you catch up on your sleep."

"Thanks, Ryu-domi," Mihoshi said before going to her room. She had just laid her head down when... Her whole ship was rocked like it was hit by an asteroid! "What happened!?" She jumped up, put her clothing back, and ran to the bridge.

"We seem to be caught in some sort of gravity beam," Ryu-domi replied.

"But this is one of the G.P. Newest cruisers! Nothing short of a frigate should be able to hold us here!"

"Running a feed back loop on the beam," the computer said. "...Unknown origin of ship but from the size of the energy core, it is a dreadnought!"

"Where is it," Mihoshi asked as she turned her monitors left and right to find the ship.

"...Coming from the surface of the third planet, Earth. Judging by the beam, it is a repair scanner."

"Why would someone take off the safeties for this!?"

"Checking... There isn't enough raw materials in the system but there is enough debris around the planet. We must have gotten to close."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Okay then, simply hail the ship captain and tell him the situation. I am sure he will let us go then."

"...Lady Mihoshi... The ship is running on automated and has currently shrunken down to avoid detection. More over, the damage to the ship has also damaged the ship's A.I. It has no one at the controls that can perform such an action."

"That is too bad... NANI!? But we are going to die then!"

"Not necessarily. It is possible to abandon ship when it has reached the high needed for the reduction process to take place. The pause will only be five seconds but it will be long enough if timed correctly."

—oo000oo—

The Ryu-domi came down to Earth and settled over a lake. At that instant, a hatch opened and the woman aboard jumped out, holding the core programming for her friend. Tenchi saw the ship stop and the woman jump. He ran to the lake to see if he could help her. But she didn't come back up. He dived into the water and began searching for her. He saw a flash of blond and and swam to it. Wrapping an arm around her chest, he started swimming back to the surface. As he did, more of the micro meteors entered the water. He was grateful that the ship was the only piece that size that came down.

Reaching the shore, he set the woman on the sand. She was wearing a uniform... And she wasn't breathing. Pressing two fingers to her neck, he found a pulse. So he took a deep breath, pinched her nose shut, and breathed into her mouth. When she started coughing, he rolled her onto her side to let the water flow from her right lung at least. "Are you alright," Tenchi asked her.

She nodded a brief yes before passing out. She was asleep but alive.