Alright then here is the next chapter of Officer Kitsune I hope everyone likes it
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Augmented speech (machines/gods/demon)"
Signs
Little computer
Seina was staring at the screen in front of him intently until Neju popped up from behind his chair with a smile as she gave him the peace sign. Smiling Seina glanced at her.
"Washu-sama is simply amazing!" Kiriko muttered as she worked the controls. "This latest ship of hers is incredible!" she praised as the excitement poured forth from her words. "With this ship, we have nothing to…" the sight of Amane's scowling face gave her pause for thought. "What's wrong?"
Amane glanced up as Kiriko walked over. "Are you done with the diagnostic checks already?" Kiriko asked. Ryoko, curious glanced over as well as Amane gave her answer.
"That's not it." Amane muttered with folded arms. "I could swear I've seen that Neju girl somewhere before…" Amane muttered trying to recall all of the events she's been to.
Ryoko decided to add in her own input as Naruto could be seen tinkering with something near the back. "I'm under the impression she's the daughter of a really important family, so perhaps you've seen her at a party before?" she wondered placing a hand to her cheek.
"Maybe…" Amane muttered
"Don't you start prying into her affairs now." Kiriko pleaded worried that Amane might do something invasive. There was a beeping noise from the system as Kiriko rushed over to her seat and checked it out. "W-what…?" she muttered in shock as the others walked over to see what was wrong.
"What's the matter?" Seina asked worried.
"What is it?" Ryoko asked as she approached Kiriko's back. "Did we pick up a distress signal?"
"No…Headquarters just sent us our orders…This can't be right…" she muttered looking closer into the screen. "It is up to the captain to decide what course to take."
"What's the big deal? Isn't that how it always is?" Amane asked raising an eyebrow.
Kiriko continued "You are absolutely not to attack, even in the event of a pirate encounter." Naruto fell flat on his face drawing everyone's attention.
"We get a ship that has a combat mode and we're not allowed to use it?" he asked weakly from the ground "That sucks…"
Seina staggered as if struck. "T-they can't be serious…!" he shouted in disbelief.
Neju grabbed onto Seina's arm and pulled it close to her body as she stared at the three other women on the ship "How come you old ladies have such scary looks on your faces?" she asked innocently. A red arrow reading "Obaa-chan" stabbed into Kiriko and the others.
"I'll have you know, Neju…!" Amane began as a vein bulged on her forehead.
"Let it go!" Kiriko shouted as she tried to calm Amane down. "She's only…" Ryoko added in trying to stop Amane.
"I-I'm sorry…" Amane apologized seeing Neju looking away from them.
"This isn't my first time being a decoy…" Neju muttered sadly as she avoided looking at everyone.
Naruto sighed as he went back to tinkering with whatever he had been doing earlier. "Just tell me when you guys need me to do something." He stated sitting down.
"I'll be all right; you don't need too worry about me…" Neju announced smiling
"Y-you mean you've…?" Kiriko muttered staring at Neju with an expression of pity.
"Neju-chan…" Seina muttered as his eyes widened "B-but you're even younger than my little sister…" he muttered sadly. Naruto looked up at the group before rolling his eyes.
"Drama queens." He muttered to himself before going back to work on his little project.
"You have a younger sister on Earth?" Neju asked still holding onto Seina's arm.
"Y-yeah." Seina nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"She's so lucky to have you for an Onii-chan!" Neju cheered hugging his arm a little tighter. "Onii-chan…" Neju muttered resting her head against his arm
Naruto merely shook his head as he continued to work. "What are you working on anyways Naruto?" Ryoko asked walking over.
Naruto glanced at her before holding his project out for her to see. "Sword…" he muttered as she examined it. "I was able to copy Ryoko's method of fighting while on Earth, but now I can't so I need to make a medium with which I can harness the energy for weapons." He explained as she handed it back to him.
"You know the mechanics?" she asked in surprise "That wasn't covered in the academy."
"It's in my nature to learn interesting things" Naruto replied cryptically.
Ryoko blinked in surprise "Alright…" she mumbled unsurely.
"Don't worry about it!" Naruto called after her with a smile "You get used to odd things!"
Ryoko tilted her head to the side before rejoining the others. "I want to sleep in your room, Onii-chan!" Neju called out smiling up at Seina.
Seina chuckled "I share a room with Naruto though." He pointed out expecting her to change her mind.
"I don't care Naruto-nii-chan won't do anything weird to me!" Neju called out shaking her head. "You'll let me sleep with you, won't you?" She persisted causing Seina to rub the back of his head.
"What do you think Naruto?" he asked as Naruto looked up at him
"Hey don't bring me into this." Naruto muttered seeing less than thrilled faces on the other women in the ship. "Take it up with them." He pointed at the others before going back to work.
Amane nodded her head as she appeared at Seina's side "We've already prepared a room just for you, Neju-chan!" she stated urgently waving her hand. "You're old enough that you sleep by yourself, right?" she asked folding her hands.
"But what if I have a bad dream?" Neju asked holding Seina's arm closer to her chest.
"I-I guess there's no talking you out of it…" Seina muttered as all of the girls' mouths opened in shock as Neju clung onto Seina's arm like a lifeline. "I guess it's alright if you sleep in the same room as us." Seina muttered glancing around the room.
"Really?" Neju asked excitedly.
"W-wait a minute…" Ryoko protested as Kiriko had a look that said she didn't know what to do. "You're welcome to stay with me!" Ryoko offered holding her arms out in explanation.
"Yeah! You'll sleep much better if you snuggle up with her!" Amane shouted pumping her fists into the air happily
"No! I want to be with my Onii-chan!" Neju shouted holding Seina tightly as he rubbed the back of his head unsure of what to do as a vein popped out on Ryoko's and Amane's heads.
"I-I think we're stuck…" Seina muttered still rubbing his head.
Naruto glanced up and shrugged his shoulders as Kiriko turned to him to ask if he was okay with the decision. "I don't really care where she sleeps." He replied when asked. "As long as I'm able to sleep well I'm okay with it."
Amane scowled as she clenched her fists "That hussy! Waltzin' in here and putting the moves on him like that…!" She grounded out
Kiriko calmly gripped Amane's shoulders to prevent her from attacking the green haired girl "Come on, Neju-chan's still a child, you know…" she pointed out
Amane paused sensing something off about Kiriko "What are you straining yourself for, Kiriko?" she asked as Ryoko blinked in confusion.
Kiriko smiled as her face tinged a little pink "I-I'm not straining myself…!" she denied as she closed her eyes. Her voice suddenly dipped as Neju went for a full body embrace.
"Yes you are." Amane pointed out as Kiriko's hair started to wave around wildly in her anger as three veins popped out on her head. Ryoko placed a finger on her lip in wonder as she turned her head to stare at Kiriko.
"Kiriko-san. You're easier to read than you look…" she muttered in surprise
His decision made Seina led Neju into the wall in order to show her the room she could stay in. "You can use this room as if it were your own." Seina said as he gestured to a modest room with a small doll in the middle.
"I don't get the same room as you Onii-chan?" she asked looking up at him sadly.
"No." he replied before continuing "Only when it's bedtime…" Neju pouted as she stared at him angrily.
Naruto set his work down and walked over when he noticed Ryoko and the others using NB's things in order to watch Seina interact with Neju. "He's just laughing it up in there…" Amane muttered as she watched them while on her knees.
Ryoko bent slightly at the waist asked "What do you suppose they're talking about?"
"Knock it off you two! You should be ashamed of yourselves!" Kiriko scolded as Naruto came up behind her.
"Then why don't you go back to the bridge, Kiriko?" Amane asked looking over her shoulder before freezing.
"It's my responsibility to make sure that nothing bad happens to Seina-kun!" Kiriko shouted as her hair started waving around on its own again.
Amane and Ryoko tried to subtly gesture at Kiriko to stop. Kiriko blinked in confusion seeing them behave like that. "What are you two doing?" she asked perplexed.
"I could ask the same thing." Naruto stated from behind her.
Spinning around while hiding her own peeping instrument Kiriko chuckled nervously. "Naruto what are you doing here?" she asked nervously seeing Naruto, arms folded tapping his right foot while his left foot kept NB pinned underneath it he was also staring at them with a raised eyebrow.
"I came over to see what you were doing…I'm rather disappointed in you three." He muttered as he unfolded his arms.
"What's going on Naruto?" Seina asked as he and Neju exited the room.
Naruto smiled as the others hid their items behind their backs. "Oh nothing much." He responded vaguely with a wave of the hand. "Is she settled in yet?" he asked pointing at Neju.
"They were just getting ready to watch you two get it on!" NB screamed managing to get out from underneath Naruto's foot.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Naruto and the women shouted punching NB into the ceiling. Seina and Neju tilted their heads to the side not understanding what was happening. Suddenly the alarm blared as everyone rushed to their stations.
"Damn it!" Naruto swore as everyone braced themselves as an explosion rocked the ship, a shot having bounced off the shield rather violently. "Why won't they let us engage?" he asked himself as he monitored the enemy ships.
Amane grimaced "I can't believe they gave us a new ship but won't let us attack!"
Kiriko grimaced as well "There's nothing we can do about it, those were Seto-sama's orders!"
Naruto winced as he ran interference lessening the amount of shots making contact. "Those orders suck ass!" he shouted as another tremor hit.
""Naruto watch your mouth!" Ryoko shouted glancing at Neju who was calmly holding a hand over her mouth in order to refrain from speaking. "Enemy ships off the stern! Distance at 80 and closing!"
Amane glanced at Seina "We're in big trouble if we don't get some distance between us soon!" she announced looking for orders.
Seina narrowed his eyes as he monitored everything "Let's go to combat speed 1!" he shouted
"Roger increasing energy output!" Kiriko shouted back as Naruto looked over his shoulders.
"They're charging a particle-cannon!" he shouted out
Kiriko ignored it as she read the energy levels "30…35…40! As she spoke the crystal in the center turned red and began to crack. Everyone gasped in worry
"Damn that old hag! She gave is a crappy piece of junk!" Amane swore jumping to her feet.
"What are you talking about?" Kiriko shouted in response. "This is Professor Washu's very latest ship!" she glanced at Naruto "You saw how it responded to him right?"
Ryoko glanced at Seina. "Maybe it's…" she muttered drawing everyone's attention as Seina pointed at himself in disbelief.
"M-my fault…?" he asked weakly as his faced read horror.
"Anyway, we need to get these pirates off of our tail!" Amane shouted as another beam hit their shields.
"Yeah, right! Like we have any way of doing that!" Kiriko shouted out loud as Naruto swore their almost ready!"
"This is not the time to argue!" Amane shouted back as they all typed furiously at their stations.
"Distance 60! Off our stern! They're now close enough to capture the ship!" Ryoko warned not taking her eyes off the screen for a second.
"Please don't shatter!" Kiriko begged as she glanced at the glowing red crystal. The crystal's cracks extended and after each crack someone would wince. Suddenly a bright light engulfed the bridge as the crystal shattered.
When the light died down Naruto couldn't believe his eyes. "No way…!" he muttered in awe. "Cabbit…" he whispered softly to himself
The creature tilted its head as it stared at Seina. "Miyaa?" Suddenly it let out a loud cry as the jewel on its head glowed. There was a sudden increase in pressure on the occupants of the bridge as the ship suddenly accelerated thanks to the little cabbit.
"Whoa!" Naruto yelled as he was knocked off his feet.
Once the pressure lessened signifying that they had slowed down Naruto took the time to put a bell collar on their newest companion which was now being held in Neju's arms. "Amazing! This is the same type of ship as Ryo-ohki!" Kiriko stated as everyone gathered around.
"Ryo-ohki? The one who rescued us the other day?" Seina asked for clarification. Naruto held out a hand palm down towards the little one who hopped out of Neju's arms and ran up to sit on his shoulder. Scratching her, for it undoubtedly was a her, under the chin he smiled.
"Yeah, amongst Tenchi's group we call them cabbits since they look like a cross between a rabbit and a cat." He explained as the little Cabbit let out a happy "miyaa." Naruto glanced around "In a manner of speaking Washu considers them her children since she's their creator."
Amane placed her hands on her hip "So this animal acts as the ship's energy generator and computer?" she asked incredulously.
"Then that means that the sudden energy output just now was her energy…" Ryoko muttered in awe. "Amazing…"
Neju giggled seeing the cabbit sitting so comfortably on Naruto's shoulder. "The image doesn't fit." She giggled out loud covering her mouth. Curious the others glanced over at the pair having been spacing out in their thoughts. Soon the other women were also giggling as the image of Naruto pampering the little Cabbit filled their minds.
"What?" Naruto asked honestly confused. "It's weird for me to care for the this little one?" he asked as he lowered his hand much to the protest of the little Cabbit.
Seina chuckled "well it just doesn't fit the image we all had…tough guy doesn't like cute fuzzy things." He explained earning him a glare from Naruto.
"Hello…" Naruto waved his hand. "I am fuzzy…" he muttered as he undid the illusion again displaying his tails and ears to the galaxy. "I'm a fox you know." He stated as his ears twitched.
"That explains his transformation earlier." Kiriko muttered looking away as she held a hand to her chin.
Neju giggled as the little Cabbit caught sight of Naruto's tails waving around and jumped down to try and get them. "Cute." She muttered closing her eyes in mirth. The others glanced over and smiled seeing the Cabbit trying to catch Naruto's tails which he kept just out of reach.
"Playful little one isn't she?" Naruto asked with a smile on his face as he watched the little one chase his tails around. Neju squatted down near Naruto and made small noises to call the little one over which it happily did unable to catch its prize.
"It's inconvenient for her to not have a name." she muttered petting the Cabbit on the head. "You giver her one, Onii-chan." Neju said looking at Seina.
"M-me?" Seina asked in surprise.
"Well, you are the ship's captain." Neju pointed out with a smile.
"I guess you have a point there…" he muttered trying to think of a good name. "Let's see…" he muttered holding onto the cabbit who snuggled into his chest. "How about Fuku, from the word Koufuku?" he asked raising a finger.
"Fuku-chan?" Neju asked rolling the word around in her mouth. "That's so cute!" she decided enthusiastically. The cabbit seemed to like it as well as she smiled and waved a paw around energetically.
"Wouldn't the Kou from Koufuku be prettier?" Kiriko asked pointing out the differences.
"Like Sachi-chan or something…" Amane added in.
"But Kou also shows up in the word Fukou." Seina explained looking away. "Fuku, on the other hand, doesn't really have any ominous connotations." He muttered sounding sad.
The women blinked as they all muttered Seina's name in surprise. Neju and Fuku who didn't truly understand tilted their heads to the side. When lunch came around Naruto decided to whip up something good as he vanished into the pantry. "Alright guys I'll be done I a bit so set the table up!" he called out from the kitchen getting nods of agreement from the others.
Once everything was done and everyone was ready they said their prayers before eating, while Naruto cleaned up in the kitchen. "Onii-chan! Say ah!" Neju said enthusiastically holding up a spoon for Seina.
"Ah!" Seina played along smiling as he took a bite of the food.
"Is it good?" Neju asked as the three older girls sat at a separate table as an aura of darkness surrounded them. Coming out to join the group, carrying his own dish, Naruto nearly took a step back in surprise seeing such a gloomy aura around.
"It sure is!" Seina muttered smiling at Neju. "Naruto's cooking is really good." He stated casually as he waved in thanks at Naruto.
"Ah, I see…" he muttered looking back and forth between the two tables. "Really now…" he muttered scratching his head in bewilderment.
Neju delightedly accepted a spoonful of food from Seina before giving the victory sign to Ryoko and the others as Fuku happily ate her own food at a rapid pace. Seeing the gesture Amane clutched her glass tightly while Ryoko remained impartial in expression and Kiriko tried to smile.
"She's just a kid! Don't get mad!" Kiriko shouted in a strained voice as she reached over to restrain Amane. Unknown to her, her own hair was betraying her anger.
"Kiriko-san, you're doing it again." Ryoko pointed out calmly. Then came bathing time as Neju offered to wash Seina's back.
"You have such a big back, Onii-chan…" she muttered as she scrubbed his back for him.
"D-do I really?" Seina asked scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Naruto glanced down at the girls in front of him having just changed into a bathing suit after cleaning up the dishes from the meal.
"You three…" he muttered as they stared at the two angrily
"What?" Ryoko shouted seeing the actions "I still haven't had a chance to wash his back…!" Amane looked about ready to kill something while Kiriko's hair was now completely waving around defying gravity.
"SHE'S STILL A KID…!" Kiriko shouted in attempt to calm down everyone including herself even though a vein was already popping out on her forehead.
"How dare she do something like this as a little girl?" Amane shouted raising her fist. A sudden coughing forced the girls to calm down as they turned to face Naruto who had folded his arms over his chest. "I was much cuter as a kid." Amane muttered with a pout.
"When you were a kid right?" Kiriko asked as an image floated by of Amane as a child. "You've grown up so much Amane-san." Ryoko stated looking impressed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Amane asked glaring at Ryoko. Naruto just palmed his face. When they were done with the baths Seina, with Naruto's help laid out three futon, on for himself and one for Neju, and one for Fuku. Naruto was sleeping on a nearby bed.
"I wish things could stay exactly like this." Neju muttered looking up at the ceiling.
"Y-yeah." Seina muttered also looking up at the ceiling as he laid in between Fuku and Neju.
"You know what?" Neju asked turning to face Seina. "When I grow up I want to be your wife." She stated causing Naruto, who had been drinking water, to spit his drink out in shock. Seina quickly turned away from Neju in embarrassment "Eh…?" he muttered surprised. "What's wrong, Onii-chan?" she asked before looking at the coughing Naruto. "Naruto-Nii-chan?" she asked confused.
"It's nothing…just swallowed the wrong way." He muttered pounding his own chest.
"T-that's the first time a girl's ever said that to me…" Seina muttered embarrassedly.
Neju giggled "Can I get a little closer to you?" she asked as Naruto noticed a few peeping tools poking in.
"Sure." Seina muttered seeing nothing wrong with Neju being a little closer to him. Naruto sweat dropped as one of NB's peeper things, bigger than his head, appeared at the doorway.
"Why that little!" Amane swore in her own sleep wear. "And there's nothing we can do about it…!" she clenched her fist in anger as Ryoko and Kiriko also watched angrily. By the way Kiriko was the one with the big peeping tool.
"Luckily for us, neither can Seina-sama!" Ryoko muttered trying to stay positive.
"Well, duh!" Kiriko muttered harshly glancing at Ryoko. Naruto glanced back at the two on the futons noting that they were both in Seina's as Neju cuddled up to him while Seina chuckled nervously. "He sees her as a younger sister figure!"
"So once she gets back home…" Amane and Ryoko began starting to get excited.
"But what if by some remote chance…!" Kiriko muttered in horror.
It was morning and Neju was running down the halls in a swimsuit. "Yay!" she shouted out holding onto her inner tube and pulling Seina, also in an inner tube along with her. Seina smiled seeing her enthusiasm as they entered one of the walls and appeared on a beach.
"Is this really the inside of a spaceship?" he asked with a sweat drop forming on the back of his head as he scratched his head.
Naruto came in behind him. "Welcome to Washu's creation…" he muttered looking around "She adds the weirdest things."
"What's the matter, Onii-chan?" Neju called out as Fuku held onto the inner tube. "Come in!" she smiled up at them as she played in the water in her pink one piece.
"Right!" Seina called out as he and Naruto made their way over. As they played Naruto tapped his ear activating a little device he had set up in the bridge to listen in on the conversation the girls were no doubt having.
"I hate her, I hate her, I hate her!" Amane growled as she watched the trio have fun. Suddenly Kiriko stopped growling as she zoomed in on the necklace Neju was wearing.
"There's no need to worry, Kiriko-san. Your chest is much larger than…" NB began popping his face into view. He was knocked out of the way by Kiriko who simply closed her eyes.
"Kiriko! Let's do it!" Amane shouted turning to face her temporary ally. "This is our chance to show off what makes adults different than children!" Ryoko and Amane suddenly stripped off their work uniforms displaying their daring bikinis that emphasized their curves.
"That's right!" Ryoko agreed posing for some unseen Camera. "Seina-sama will stop dead in his tracks!"
Kiriko paused realizing what she was looking at. "That girl…she isn't a child!"
Amane and Ryoko paused as their clothes suddenly tidied themselves up. "What do you mean?" Amane asked turning to face Kiriko who was looking at the screens.
"Look!" Kiriko pointed out the necklace. "That insignia on the necklace she's wearing! That's the Melmas' emblem!"
"Melmas?" Amane asked sounding confused. "AH!" Amane shouted realizing what that meant.
"High Priestess Neju Na Melmas?" Ryoko shouted as well knowing the name.
"Now I remember!" Amane muttered looking away. "I thought I had seen her somewhere before…" she bit her nail in anger.
"She's probably just a body double, but even so, she's definitely much older than she looks!" Kiriko muttered
"Who is she to call us Obaa-chan when she's way older than we are?" Amane asked angrily glaring at the screen.
"I wish I could live in a castle like this!" Neju stated enthusiastically adding the finishing touches to the sand castle she and Naruto had built. "Together with you, Onii-chan!"
Suddenly a geyser of water erupted near them revealing Kiriko, Amane, and Ryoko in their bikinis. Oh, Seina-sama…" Ryoko began posing for the boy as Kiriko pressed her fingers together as her face reddened in embarrassment.
"Fancy meeting you here…" Amane continued pushing her breasts together.
"You three…are really trying way too hard." Naruto pointed out calmly unaffected by their beauty.
"Um…uh…hello…" Kiriko managed to say weakly as she avoided eye contact.
Seina, entranced by Kiriko's beauty could only mutter "H-hello…" in response.
"I wonder if you're still too young to have giant breasts like these Neju-chan." Amane asked trying to attack Neju's lack of breasts.
"I hear drinking milk is a good way to help them grow…" Ryoko added in trying to make Neju jealous.
Standing up quickly Neju turned away surprising Seina. "You Obaa-chan sure are trying hard." She muttered walking away.
While Ryoko and Amane growled Kiriko raised her hand "Um, just so you know, I tried to talk them out of this…"
"You're the Obaa-chan!" Amane shouted as three fishing hooks came flying in and hooked onto their bikini tops before pulling them off giving Seina a major nosebleed.
"Seina…!" Naruto shouted as he checked on the boy as the girls covered their chests with their hands.
Onii-chan! Are you all right?" Neju screamed as she knelt next to him as Naruto did what he could to keep Seina conscious.
"What the hell…?" Ryoko screamed looking around for her top. "Who took our swimsuits?"
"Say something!" Neju screamed out in worry for the unlucky boy. "Are you feeling ill because you saw something you shouldn't have?" Neju asked kneeling down above Seina's head. "Say something!"
Seina merely stared off into space his face as red as a tomato. Naruto glanced p and saw NB with a fishing line as he reeled in the swimsuits. "Yahoo! I caught me a big ol' haul!"
Naruto picked up a shovel and tossed it with all his might splitting NB's face destroying his memory drive. "Give those back!" The women shouted as they ran over.
"That was funny." Neju commented as Seina lay there with a towel over his eyes courtesy of Naruto who sat beside her.
"Funny?" Seina asked sitting up "This is what I have to put up with everyday." He muttered tiredly. Naruto chuckled.
"True…every day they're trying something new to get his attention." Naruto explained with a sly smile on his face.
"But this is the first time I've had this much fun." Neju muttered with a smile.
"Neju-chan." Seina muttered looking over at her. "Come visit again sometime. Any time you want to."
She nodded her head with smile on her face. "After all, I am going to be your wife someday!" she shouted out loud causing Naruto to smile as he played with Fuku who was chasing his tails again. Neju closed in to kiss Seina only to be stopped as she was lifted up by Amane.
"And what do you think you're doing?" she asked holding Neju as if she were a child…though she did look like one so it was okay…sort of…
"WAH Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" Neju cried out as she wiggled around in Amane's arms.
"He is not your Onii-chan!" Amane shouted carrying Neju away as the others followed her. Naruto and Seina tilted their heads as they watched them leave.
"What were you thinking?" Amane asked as she set Neju down near a tree. "Even though you're just a body double, the High Priestess is supposed to maintain her purity, so how can you act that way in front of other people?" Amane questioned as Neju folded her hands behind her back.
"Let me be frank. Keep you hands off of Seina." Neju stated with a wicked smile
"W-what?" Amane asked glaring at Neju.
"Haven't you taken your joke a little too far, Neju-sama?" Kiriko asked angrily
"What are you talking about?" Neju asked honestly.
"You…!" Kiriko began before being interrupted. Suddenly something was forcing the girls to stay still as the area around them darkened.
"I can't have you telling any of this to him." Neju stated staring at each woman in turn.
"What…?" Ryoko muttered in shock "You're really…?"
"The real High Priestess…?" Amane asked in shock.
"You're not to say a word of this to him about this until our trip is over." Neju continued ignoring their comments. "Of course that means Naruto as well. You know that I can control people's collective consciousnesses." She casually mentioned as she stared at them "Manipulating your minds would be no trouble for me at all." She explained as the threat hung in the air.
"Isn't that forbidden?" Kiriko asked worriedly
"Don't be so worried." Neju calmed her "I have a legitimate reason for doing this. But this is our little secret for now, okay?" she asked with a smile.
"What's the matter?" Seina asked as he an Naruto walked into view. "What did you guys suddenly run off for?" Seina asked again as the women collapsed.
"I told them that you and I are friends and that they were getting in the way!" Neju explained calmly as she turned to face Seina. Naruto raised an eyebrow not fully believing her but said nothing nonetheless.
Suddenly an alarm blared causing all of the adult looking members of the crew to run off "You stay here Neju-chan! Let's go Fuku!" Seina called out as they ran to the bridge.
"We're taking damage! strengthening shields!" Ryoko announced as she worked while in her swimsuit.
"Shake them off!" Seina ordered as Naruto guided Fuku in ship controlling.
"Come on girl…" Naruto muttered in his fox form as Fuku sat on his head.
"Our energy output won't go up!" Kiriko announced worriedly. Another shot slammed against the shield causing Fuku to wince. Sending a single beam back at the ship who managed to hit them and destroying the attacker.
"One of the leading enemy ships has taken damage and been destroyed!" Ryoko announced as Naruto tried to calm Fuku down.
"Come on Fuku calm down we can get through this." He urged as a tail came up and wrapped itself around her in order to provide comfort.
"Come on we're not supposed to attack!" Amane scolded causing Fuku to turn towards her.
Naruto nodded his head causing Fuku to look down towards him. "Fuku stay strong we were asked not to attack anyone." He explained to the young Cabbit who nodded its head before jumping into the center and activating its jewel. "Let's go little one!" he shouted as Fuku Miyaaed in response.
"What's going on?" Seina asked as the crystals above them started to glow. It didn't take them much longer after that to arrive at the station.
Fuku turned back to Naruto and happily jumped onto his head. "Nice work little one." He muttered as Fuku seemed to complain about being called little. "Ah, ah." Naruto responded seemingly able to understand her as a fox. "When you get bigger maybe I'll stop."
"Well done." Seto greeted them as they got off the ship, Neju holding onto Fuku as Naruto had turned back into a human.
"So there you are you old bat!" Amane shouted as she ran up to get in Seto's face. "How dare you set us up like that?"
"Neju-sama's time as High Priestess is almost over." Seto explained calmly holding a hand up to stop any interruptions. "When her time is up she must appoint the next High Priestess. If something were to happen to her before then," Seto continued as the others walked up the next one would be chosen by majority vote in the High Council. A High Priestess possesses ultimate political authority" Seto explained as the others finally joined Amane. Manipulating one would be the same as gaining control of her territory. Many would like to acquire this power by abducting Neju-sama."
"So you made us act as lures for them?" Kiriko asked in surprise and shock.
"You did a wonderful job!" Seto nodded her head happily
"In exchange, Seto-sama asked me to ascertain Onii-chan's abilities." Neju stated stepping forward.
"I wished to investigate the nature of Seina-dono's ability to attract pirates," Seto began her explanation seeing the confused stare of Seina "and how these abilities differ form her own."
"And if those powers were exactly the same as those of a High Priestess…?" Ryoko asked cautiously.
"Seina-chan would be put under strict observation, and the big shots would put all sorts of restrictions and limitations on him." Kiriko muttered seeing where this was going.
"What? How can you treat people like that?" Amane asked in shock.
"Don't worry." Neju stated walking forward. "Onii-chan's powers are different than mine." At some point Fuku had been passed to Seina who now held her in his arms. "Thank you for everything you've done for me." Neju bowed her head as they saw her off.
"Take care Neju-chan" Seina waved good bye
"You too, Onii-chan." Neju nodded with a smile. Turning around Neju and two attendants started to leave. "Oh yes," Neju muttered turning around "Don't forget our promise, Onii-chan." Seina blinked "When I grow, up you'll let me be your wife. Remember?" She winked as two Oni appeared next to Seina…aka Amane and Kiriko in a very bad mood as Seina's eye began to twitch in terror.
"Oh…Yeah…" Seina muttered chuckling nervously.
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "Really now…it's your fault for promising her anyways." He muttered rubbing his head tiredly.
"As long as we stay away from Melmas there's nothing to worry about." Ryoko muttered in an attempt to clam them down. "Once a High Priestess returns to secular life she's not allowed to leave the planet." She explained.
The Oni masks fell off as Kiriko smiled "Oh, really?" she asked happily. "I'm sure it'll be really lonely, but what are you going to do?" she asked
"Then it's good bye forever to Neju-chan." Amane muttered trying not to sound happy.
"Not quite." Seto disagreed. Turning their heads to look at Seto the group muttered "eh…?" "Neju-sama's powers far surpass those of all previous High Priestesses." Seto explained "As she has been the High Priestess and in center of the political arena for these past several millennia, she undoubtedly knows a great many things. A court lady of the Melmas High Council is in extreme danger the very moment she returns to secular life." Seto explained as she started listing off things "Assassination, imprisonment, exile…"
"Are you saying that some of those people we lured out were assassins?" Kiriko asked as they stared at Seto in surprise.
"As we've destroyed the spirit of would-be assassins and captors all that's left are those who might try to have her banished…" Seto stated as the group turned back to Neju. "She was absolutely delighted when I suggested she enter the academy.
"Then…" the girls didn't look happy.
Neju in English gave them a peace sign and announced "I shall return!" The girls made an odd "Gi!" sound as they backed away before collapsing in defeat.
"W-what's the matter?" Seina asked looking around in surprise. "W-what's wrong?" Seina asked looking around some more. "Neju-chan, Kiriko-san, Amane-san, and Ryoko-san…" he muttered looking at each one in turn. "How come Neju-chan is smiling…?" he asked looking to Naruto for aid. "And how come Kiriko-san and the others are so sad?"
Naruto palmed his face before smacking Seina upside the head. "Idiot…" he muttered causing Seto and her attendants to laugh.
End
Well this one was certainly a long one for me. Hope you enjoyed it.