Chapter 33

Beyond the Point of No Return

June 20th, 2:00 P.M.

Ichigo wiped the tears from her eyes as she landed outside Pan's house.  She absentmindedly looked over her shoulder as she opened the front door and looked to the sky where she could feel Roshi approaching rapidly.  'Roshi has gained on me.  I need to hurry, I cannot allow him to stop me from doing this.'

Stepping inside, her nose was assaulted by the still fresh scent of varnish.  The wood floor had been repaired and any sign of the damage she had done was gone.  'I wonder how long it will be before any record of my presence here is totally wiped clear?'  She questioned herself as she walked up the stairs.

Roshi had been ordered to fix the hardwood floor himself.  He had found a way to sneak some construction droids in and program them to fix the floor.  Since his mother didn't know how the floor had been fixed, only that it had been fixed, he had gotten away with it.

The scent of the varnish burned her nose as the knowledge that Roshi hadn't really taken responsibility and carried out the stipulations of his punishment burned her sense of honor.

'Roshi's family has become so good at covering for themselves that it has become second nature to them.  They rule this world with the invisible hand that has in large become invisible to themselves.  Roshi is naive.  He believes that just because he pictures good in any situation, that there is good to be found in any situation.  The world is not all happy endings and he cannot see this.'

Ichigo grimaced.  'His family is much the same way.  They cannot accept the world as being anything but a utopia and therefore they cover up or hide the truth from not only the people, but themselves.'

'Roshi has accepted more responsibility than the rest, but without their support his actions are futile.  I have killed far too many innocent people I cannot allow more to die because of my presence here and because of their own inability to exit their safe little cocoons.'

 Ichigo quickly stepped out of her gi as she sensed Roshi and two other people approaching the house.  'They will be here within a minute.' She thought to herself as she quickly grabbed her armor, and stuffed her braid through it so as to not get it caught in the armor.  She then pulled her breast plate on.  After stretching a bit to loosen the fit, she grabbed her cape.  'I've gained some muscle mass these past few weeks, my armor no longer fits as well as it used to.'  She realized as she clipped the cape on.

Ichigo walked up to the three-panel mirror and looked at herself.  "I am Ichigo Kudamono.  I have forgotten myself and hidden from my destiny for far too long here.  It is about time I remembered.  It is my duty to return home."

Ichigo turned around to walk out the door.  She was almost out of the room when her billowing cape caught a stack of Pan's Diaries and knocked them off the dresser where Ichigo had put them.

Ichigo turned around and knelt by the books.  "I am sorry I didn't get to finish reading your diaries, Son Pan.  Like many things on this world I miss-judged you greatly.  If only your descendants had seen or at least believed in the words you have written, then perhaps things would not have to end this way."  She said as she picked the diaries up and moved to reshelf them.

As she did, a single page fell out of one of them.  It slowly fluttered to the floor and slid under the bed.

Ichigo had half a mind to just leave it there, but she crawled over and reached under the bed to retrieve the paper.  It was yellowed and brittle with age but there was clearly readable handwriting covering it.  Ichigo stood and looked at the handwriting which was far different then Pan's.

April 19, 894

To all who may one day read this,

I am not Son Pan.  Son Pan was my Grandmother.  I am Bulma Son-Briefs, commonly known as Bulma Jr.  The reason I am putting this in the end of the last of my grandmother's diaries is complicated.

I loved my grandmother.  She was an anchor and a shield and a connection to a past long gone.  I remember in my youth so many years ago how she would tell my brother and I such great tales of the deeds of Goku, and Vegeta, and the rest of the Z-Senshi.  I sadly, I have to admit that for many of those years, I thought of her stories as just that; tales told by a loving grandmother to her grandkids.

Grandma died two years ago today.  Oh Dende, how I miss her.  Right now I am sitting at her desk in her room.  This was her sanctuary, her home for most of my life.  For most of my life she was my crazy old grandmother.  For most of my life she was a woman who had many a kind word, but few words to be taken seriously.  Now as I sit in this room and scrape the dust from the shelves I realize just how wrong I was.

Perhaps age has something to do with my feelings.  I am nearing fifty now.  I have grandchildren of my own.  Perhaps, but I doubt it.

I think that now that she is gone, I finally realize what it is I and my siblings and cousins have lost.  Goku was a hero, Mr. Satan was a man who is even today revered for his deeds, faulty as they may have been, but Grandma Pan was a Dreamer, a Believer, and most important, she was one who Remembered.

Ten years ago, she came to me with a question.  She wanted to know if there would be a way to make a digital memory bank to save all of the journals and diaries that she had found while restoring this house.  I didn't think much of her idea at the time, but I worked on it some.  I didn't realize the value of what she sought to do.  I had never read my Great-Grandfather's journals.  While Grandma had given me many diaries as gifts, I seldom even tried to keep one.

Now I wish I had.  Grandma wrote as if she were writing to a love.  First to Trunks as she had a childhood crush on him, then to her Grandfather Goku, and finally to My Grandfather Ubuu.  The last letter in her diary did not change that pattern.  It was however written to more then just one person.  I have taken her words to heart.  Later today I will gather my brother and my cousins and all of our children and give them my latest project.  Pan's dream; The dream of Memory.

May we never forget the price other's have paid to give us the life we now live.  May we never forget the lost loved ones.  May we never forget ourselves.

Bulma Son-Briefs

Ichigo read the entry again.  'But I am afraid they have forgotten.  Whoever you were, Bulma, they have forgotten.'

Ichigo couldn't help it, she opened the last page to read the last entry Pan ever wrote.

April 18, 892

To my children; To the ones I will leave behind.

To a casual observer it may seem odd that I am dedicating this entry which I feel will be my last to my children.  My children died long ago now.

While Gohan Jr. was my child, he was not my only child.  All of you are my children.  I claim you all.  I have seen the best in you, and I have seen the worst in you.  I wish I could share with you now all my insights, but I fear I have not the time.  I can share with you what I have written in these diaries however.  They are my heart and my soul poured out on the pages.  They are my hopes and my dreams.  They are yours to learn from.  They are yours to remember.  Most of us have but one life to live.  In that life we can achieve only that which we allow ourselves to achieve.  I was given far more then most on my path in life.  My Mother and Father loved each other greatly.  My Grandfather was a hero, and my other Grandfather would do anything for me.  My family and my friends were great people.  In greatness they found all that they could ever need and shared it with the world.  My Grandfather Goku once told me that anything is possible if my heart is in it.  He was right.  Therefore, my heart goes out to you all now.

I do not see myself as having that greatness.  I am nothing compared to my father or my grandfather.  All I can do is remember.  I remember.

This is my hope and dream for you all.  Remember who I was, but more importantly remember who you are.  Remember your sisters and your brothers.  Remember your friends and your enemies.  Remember the hard times as well as the good. Never forget that while you may not know your place in this world, someone out there cares, or you wouldn't be where you are.  Never forget the path your life takes.  For each life is a gift.  And each choice you make changes not only your life, but all lives you may touch.  Everyone counts.  Every action counts, every frown, every smile, every injury, every hug, every tear, every kiss.   

Remember that I love you.

Son Pan

Ichigo slowly closed the diary.  Several tears splattered on the cover as she looked down and wiped her eyes.  'Damn it!'  She screamed to herself.  'Just when I thought I had things somewhat figured out I have to think of new possibilities.'

After putting the diary back, Ichigo glanced around the room at all the pictures of Pan.  She was never alone in any of them.  Friends or family surrounded her regardless of age or location.  She was never alone.

One of the larger pictures showed a twenty something year old Pan hugging her father on her wedding day.  While Ichigo didn't recognize the picture for what it was she could see the joy and love there.

"The last thing I said to my father was that I loved him and that I would be back.  He sent me away to protect me, but also in hope for both me and our people.  I failed to find the Super Saiyans, but I found their descendants.  I found people who have more then I ever dreamed of.  I would have never dreamed of the power Roshi has.  I could never have thought that a family that had so much, could forget so much as well.  I have to return home.  I have no choice in that matter."

Ichigo picked up another picture that had Trunks, Gohan, Goten, Ubuu, Pan, Marron, and Bra all laughing about something.  The Saiyan men were all Super Saiyans and the entire group was covered in food as though they had just had a food fight.  "However, even though, I disrespect Roshi's family for turning their backs on what they had, can I turn my back on my father's hopes as easily?  Every moment I am here, my friends suffer.  Many of them are probably dead by now.  From what Roshi and his cousins have told me I don't stand a chance against even one Changeling.  I have to go home, but to do so now is to give up on all hope."

Ichigo looked up into the mirror and saw the redness of her eyes.  "This is not the time for tears.  I cannot lose hope just because things seem to be against me.  Roshi's family may have forgotten their past, but he and his cousins, and his father seem to remember.  They may not have the support of their entire family, but then as my father reminded me many times, the right thing to do is seldom the easy thing to do.  That is the reason so few are born to lead. 

I cannot allow my presence here on this world to lead the Changelings to it.  Too many innocent people have died already because of me.  Likewise, I cannot abandon my own people when there is a chance at saving them by working with those I have found here."

Ichigo closed her eyes and cleared her thoughts.  Breathing deeply she came to a peace of mind, which she would have been unable to achieve had she never came to Earth.

"I will let Roshi choose for me.  It is not my place to choose the fate of this world.  If I stay, everyone here may die.  If I leave, I might be choosing death for my people.  Pan's Grandfather was right, if our hearts are in it, we cannot fail.  I have no choice.  Roshi does.  I do not know why he has chosen to help me so far, I fear I will never understand him." She sucked on her lip for a moment.  "But if he does not have a good reason for helping, then in the end his help will mean doom for him and this world.  I cannot let that happen."  She said as she put down the last picture.  Glancing around the room one last time she convinced herself that she had made the right choice.

"Perhaps his belief in the impossible will save us all."  Ichigo said to herself as she walked down the stairs of the house.

"Get away from that door!"  Ichigo heard Roshi yell as she approached the door.

Ichigo closed her eyes for a moment and sensed the ki of the three people standing on the other side of the door.  'Only Roshi is a threat.  He is aggravated and not keeping his ki down as well.  The other two... are not familiar to me.  They might be two of Roshi's cousins, but they don't seem to have the same... feel as Roshi or his cousins do.'

"What?"  A female voice asked, as Ichigo threw open the door and marched out.

The look on Roshi's face was priceless.  He quickly glanced from the brown haired girl at Ichigo's feet to Ichigo's eyes and back to the girl again.

'She's the girl who waved at Roshi yesterday before that bastard tried to grope me... and that one over there is the furry fox like girl that kept glaring at me yesterday while the officers were questioning Roshi and I.  Neither one has the power of new born child.  Yet they must be friends of Roshi the way the furred one is glaring at both him and me, and the way he keeps looking to the one at my feet.'  Ichigo thought as she assessed the situation.

"Ichigo don't do this.  Don't go.  It isn't worth it."  Roshi pleaded as he took a step in her direction.

The girl at Ichigo's feet gasped sounding hurt.

Ichigo forced herself to glare into Roshi's eyes.  'I need to know if he has the heart to fight the Changelings.  I need to test him.  If he can answer for himself and stop me I will not go, otherwise my duty is clear.'  Ichigo thought as she clenched her fist and felt her knuckles pop.  "Not worth it?  Not worth it?  How dare you tell me that.  You don't have the right.  You've never had to make a hard choice in your life.  If you really believe that what I am doing is in vain then I really have misjudged you.  Don't you dare tell me what is or is not worth it!"   Ichigo yelled as she drove a hooking Ki punch right into Roshi's left cheek.

BAMMMM!!!!   Roshi was thrown several hundred meters and ended up in a tree.

"ROSHI!"  Mariah yelled as she got up and started to run towards Roshi.

Ichigo let the girl run past her.  'She does not know what or who she is dealing with.  I can sense the fear coming from her.  This is new to her which means she doesn't know how powerful Roshi actually is.  That attack was all flash, but it didn't even phase him.'  Ichigo focused her mind and built up an impressive blue aura.  "Don't even think about stopping me." 

Ichigo looked at Mariah who was sobbing as she helped Roshi stand back up to Kit who was just looking at the scene with her mouth hanging open in a state of shock.

'He does not trust them so they do not know who he really is.  Even if he is only a hybrid, the girl sobbing at his side would never be worthy of a warrior like Roshi.  In the end she would only stifle him.'

"You two care about him don't you?"  She demanded in a haughty tone.  "Don't bother wasting your time with him.  He is a traitor born of traitors.  In the end he will only betray you and bring you pain."

She caught the glare of anger from Roshi as she leapt into the air and flew away.  The aura blast and sonic boom that followed knocked both of the girls down, but Ichigo didn't care.  'Let them be afraid and let Roshi be angry.  Now, more than ever, I am certain that I need to leave.  Roshi doesn't have the heart to fight, and this world is not ready for the destruction that the Changelings would bring.'

* * *

'I'm going to kill her.'  Roshi thought to himself as he flew after Ichigo.  'I am going to beat that haughty look right off of her stupid face and then I am going to kill her.'

Roshi popped several knuckles as he balled his fists.  'She is impossible to work with.  If I didn't have my conscience to deal with I think I would just let the bitch go.  I could go back to Mariah and explain everything to her.  I could make things right again.'

Roshi thought about the look Mariah had in her eyes as he had flown away.  She had the look of fear.  But more then that, pain, hurt, worry, and betrayal were also present.  'I've hurt Mariah without ever intending to do so.  I have already betrayed her once by not telling her about myself.  Am I betraying her again by not being there for her?'

'No!  I cannot worry about hurt feelings.  Lives are at stake here.  How could I live with myself if I turned my back on what I know is right for the easy route?  If Mariah cannot accept that, then I don't know if she is really the right girl for me.'

Roshi's mind once again wondered to Mariah's hurtful look and Kit's fear.  'Kit was terrified.  But then, she has not spent her entire life living on the Earth.  Who knows what she may have heard or seen while living in space.  She knows that I am not strong enough to beat a Changeling right now.'

"What is one life worth?"  Roshi said to himself.  'That is what I asked my relatives today.  But I cannot even answer it myself.  I cannot just let Ichigo kill herself, but... can I risk my friends and family if I fail?'

"Fate bit real hard, Kit."  Roshi spoke aloud even though Kit was almost half a planet away by the time he said the words.  "Regardless of the choice I make now, people will die.  The Changelings are coming.  Whether Ichigo is here or goes away, the Changelings are coming.  There is no choice.  I cannot let her go, and I cannot fail when the Changelings come.  There is no other choice and Fate can be damned if it thinks there is."

* * *

Ichigo had thought that Roshi wasn't going to follow her.  For several minutes she flew on without anyone following her.  Then she felt Roshi's power spike and he started chasing her.

'So, he still thinks he can stop me?'  Ichigo sadly shook her head.  'He has chosen a course of action and is now stubbornly staying with it... I cannot let him stop me.' Ichigo thought as she shot over the wreckage of her ship.

Upon seeing the wreckage of her ship she reached up to her collar and absentmindedly felt the notch in her armor where her mother's pendant would clip into place.  Her mind played over the words she had read in Pan's Diary.  "I can't leave without my mother's pendant."  She said to herself as she pulled an immelman and turned around to fly back to the wreckage.

'It has to be here someplace, the ship blew up, but it didn't vaporize the living quarters area of the ship, so my personal stuff shouldn't be damaged.' Ichigo thought to herself as she poked around in the wreckage.

She could sense Roshi approaching so she put down a torn section of bulkhead she had picked up and turned to face him.  "Go away, I know what I am doing is right, you can't stop me."

"I don't have to.  You know that leaving is wrong, Ichigo.  And if you want to claim that it is right you are only lying to yourself."

Ichigo turned on him and glared.  "Lying to myself?  Lying to myself?!  You have got to be joking.  If anyone has been lying, it is you.  You don't have any idea what you are up against.  Your family didn't tell the truth about what I did on Monday because they fear a backlash from the people.  What are you going to tell them when the Changelings show up?  What about your friends?  It's obvious that they don't know anything about you.  Are you going to just keep lying or will the truth catch you some day?"  She yelled into his face.

Roshi glared back at her and literally growled as he spoke.  "There is a difference between protecting people from things they don't understand and hiding from your problems out of fear.  Is that what you want to do now?  Just run away?  That doesn't seem very Saiyan of you.  To just run away and give up I mean.  Since when did Saiyans decided to go quietly into the night?"  He spat at her.

"You think I'm leaving because I'm afraid?!  I'm not afraid of anything!  No, I'm leaving because I accept the truth.  My presence here has caused this world to be in danger.  If I go away there is nothing that says I won't be able to beat the Changelings.  I have to try.  I have to believe that I can because otherwise I would be just letting the Changelings destroy not only MY world but your world too.  I'm not cowering in fear like your friends were just a little bit ago, I am making the only choice I can because unlike you I realize that there are more lives than just mine to think about!"

"Oh that is it, Bitch!  You've gone to far this time!"  Roshi yelled at her as he took two steps in her direction.

'Whoa hit a nerve. I never expected him to get so mad.' Ichigo thought to herself as she jumped back away from him.  She had to admit that she was a bit frightened of him at the moment.  The look in his eyes was positively murderous.

"You have no right bringing up my friends.  I can forgive you for the things you have done earlier because you did not know any better, but the way you acted around my friends is unforgivable!  You insulted them and me and I cannot forgive you for that.  And the fact that you try to claim a moral argument after you have forced me to choose between them and you makes me sick.  What you did today hurt my friends and the fact that I was forced to follow you hurt them even worse.  If you ever force me to choose between them and you again you will never forget it."  Roshi threatened.

"Get over yourself!  Do you think I don't have friends who are dieing back home while I argue with a self-dilusional egomaniac?  Don't you dare complain about making choices to me!  Do you think I would be here if I had a choice?  I was sent away by my father and it was MY DUTY to leave home.  It was my DUTY to abandon my friends to die in the hopes that I could find the Super Saiyans.  Well, look around you Roshi, the world isn't a Utopia.  People get hurt and they die.  The Changelings have no doubt killed just about everyone I have ever known by now.  And you dare to blame me for forcing you to choose to follow me!?!  Why did you follow me?  Why, Roshi?"  She yelled as she jabbed him in the chest with her index finger.  "Why do you want me to stay?  You get angry over having to leave your friends who you are not even honest enough with to let into your life, but expect me to stay when I know that I can't.  WHY?  For all we know I am the last of my people alive.  If you can't even stand leaving your friends because you want me to stay do you really want me to stay?  Are you willing to let your friends die just because you kept me here?  Well, are you?  Are you actually willing to make the hard choices?  Is keeping me here worth dieing for?  Is it worth your friends' possible death?"  Ichigo asked as she looked deep into Roshi's eyes.

Roshi looked away and then looked down at his feet.

Ichigo walked up and grabbed him by the shoulders.  "Roshi, look into my eyes and tell me.  Am I worth the possibility of your world's death?"

"No, because..."

"I don't care.  I don't want you to explain.  You were honest and that is more then you have been with a lot of people."  Ichigo said as she cut him off.

"But you don't..."

"Roshi, please, you don't need to explain.  You were kind to me when I only expected hatred.  For that, I will always remember you.  Please, look through the wreckage of my ship.  There should be things with which you can remember me in it."  She said looking directly into his eyes.

"But..."  Roshi started as Ichigo brought her knee up.  The look in Roshi's eyes was that of man who was looking death in the eyes and watching it come.  He jumped back.  He jumped back fast enough to catch her knee in his hands and stop it.  But not fast enough to avoid her booted foot, which she snap kicked right into his groin.

Roshi doubled forward and Ichigo smacked him in the top the head.  He slumped unceremoniously to the ground unconscious.

Ichigo felt tears starting to well in her eyes, but she forced them away.  "I am sorry I had to do that Roshi, but it was the only way I could keep you from following me.  Farewell and Good Bye."

* * *

Ichigo flew slowly towards Banana's ship.  She was surprised to admit it but she liked the Earth.  It was a pleasant world that reminded quite a lot of Saiya.  The gravity was not so much, and the sky's were bluer, but overall it was a clean world.  It felt safe.  It felt like home should feel.

'I have no choice. I have no choice. I have no choice. I have no choice. I have no choice. I have no choice.  I am not running away, I am saving people.  I am not running away to die.  I am not giving up.  I have no choice.  I am not running away.  I am not giving up.'  She repeated over and over again in her mind as a mantra against her thoughts.

When she got to the ship, she noticed that the hatch had been left open, but she did not think about it.  Rushing to the bridge she planned to get the ship off the ground before her will to leave collapsed.  "I have my duty."  She reminded herself once again.

As she ran into the bridge, she realized that she was not alone.  Someone was sitting in the command chair with his or her back turned.  Ichigo stopped so fast, that she almost fell over.

"This is my ship please leave now or you are going to be going on a very long trip."  She demanded as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at the back of the chair.

"Oh no, I don't think so."  A male voice said as the chair slowly turned to face her.

'What the heck is he doing here?  How did he get here without me sensing him?'  Ichigo realized in shock that she still couldn't really sense him.  Only the sounds of his breathing and the slight smell of his sweat had alerted her to the fact that she wasn't alone in the ship.  Ichigo's mouth dropped open.  "You... You're Roshi's father."  She said in shock.

Son Goshu stood up and walked around the small bridge of the ship.  "Yes, I am."  He said looking directly into her eyes in a way that seemed to pierce her very soul.

'This man is dangerous.'  Ichigo shivered.  "What are you doing here?  And don't tell me you came to stop me.  Roshi doesn't even believe in my cause anymore.  You don't even know me."

"Oh no, I am not here to stop you.  I saw what happened to Roshi when he did that."  Goshu said still looking directly into her eyes.

'That is so unnerving.  I wish he would stop looking at me.'  Ichigo tried to glare back at him.  "What so now you are here to what?  Get revenge?  Or to make me feel bad?  If you are not here to stop me, why are you here?"

Goshu grabbed a circular device about the size of a small plate out of a pocket in his gi.  "I can't force you to do anything.  I came here to ask you to watch this.  I also came to ask you to watch it and then make a choice."

"What choice?"  Ichigo said peering at him through half closed eyes.

"Whether or not you want to trust Roshi and stay, or whether you will get into this seat here and leave today."  He said simply while never loosing eye contact.  "Roshi would have with good intentions tried to keep you here.  I realize that such an attempt would only be futile.  You need to make up your own mind and do so willingly."

"I've already made my choice.  Roshi doesn't know what he is getting this planet involved with.  He doesn't have the heart to fight.  If I stay it will only mean his and probably everyone else on this world's death."  Ichigo said back.

"Watch this and see if you still believe that.  I can't tell you whether you are right or wrong, but I can tell you that you need to choose wisely.  The choice you make in the next few minutes will no doubt be the most important choice you have ever made and it will change the entire rest of your life."

"I already made up my mind.  This isn't going to change anything."  Ichigo repeated stubbornly.

Goshu finally blinked.  "Just watch it.  Roshi for whatever reason trusts you.  Because of that trust he believes.  It is the least you can do."  Goshu handed her the device and walked away.

Ichigo looked at it and then carelessly tossed it into a corner.  "Ship prep the engines for start.  I want to be off this rock as soon as possible."  She said as she sat down in the command chair.

"Reactor preheat in progress.  Reactor start up ETA 8 minutes."  The computer responded neutrally.

"If I don't leave the will all die.  I can't let that happen."  Ichigo said to herself.

"Unknown command phrase.  Please restate."  The ship demanded thinking she had spoken to it.

Ichigo closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair.  "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking about the planet."

"This planet is unknown.  No known registry or data."  The computer droned.

"It's named Earth!"  Ichigo snapped at the machine.

"New log, Planet Earth, searching for power-levels"  The computer reported as it started it's routine procedures concerning new worlds.

"Stop.  Power-levels are not necessary.  Delete the log.  I'm never coming back here anyway."  Ichigo blinked away a tear.

'The choice you make in the next few minutes will no doubt be the most important choice you have ever made and it will change the entire rest of your life.'  Ichigo rethought over the words Roshi's father had just left her.  Thinking about him reminded her of her own father and words he had shared time and time again.

"Ichigo, you are not a simple warrior, you are a leader. A warrior cannot be allowed to think of the cost of their actions. A leader Must Not forget the cost of their actions. It is one thing to be prepared to kill. But it is a totally different thing to be prepared to ask or demand thousands of people to die for you. A warrior is lead by their pride. A leader blinded by pride is not fit to lead. Remember, the right thing to do may not be easy, but that does not make it any less right."  Her father had paused and looked at her with a kind smile. 

"There will come a day when you are forced to choose.  There may be several choices but only one of them will be right.  In that moment, in that time, you will decide whether your destiny is to be one of memory, or one which is forgotten.  Never force a choice based on pride or arrogance.  Choose based on what you know in your heart and soul.  I know you will choose the right thing.  It is in your blood." 

"Fusion Reactors online."  The computer reported drawing her out of her memories.  "Lift off in ten, nine, eight..."

"Computer halt liftoff."  Ichigo said quickly as she jumped out of her chair to retrieve the device Goshu had left.

Putting it down on the floor, she activated it.  A hologram of the family meeting Ichigo had left started to play.  Ichigo watched from the point she left to when Roshi took the stage and then to when he left.  As she watched she couldn't help but feel the flush of embarrassment over how she had acted.

"He does believe.  He... He... and then his father... and...  Why didn't he just say so when he caught up to me?"  She asked herself as she shivered a bit.  'Because I didn't let him.'

"Ship, shut the engines down, I'm not going anywhere."  Ichigo said as she turned to leave the ship.  'Roshi said that he was going to go train at the Sanctuary.  I wonder where that is and how I find them.  I need to apologize to him.'  Ichigo thought for a moment before remembering just how she had left Roshi.  'If he lets me.  If he doesn't, he's going to kill me.'

* * *

Ok, sorry for the week's delay at updating. Please review.

This chapter is dedicated to JoSav because she has a fic that is at the very least as good if not better then this one. 

That said, you all need to go read it now as it is an NC-17 fic that will be removed shortly.

http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=789352

This fic is very very good.  Please read it for she deserves more reviews.

I would like to thank Mahonuts and Kitsune Maxwell for editing parts of this fic.

Please go read some of their work.

And finally it has come to my attention that some of you think that my chapters are too long.  I like the longer chapters so please review and tell my your stance.

The Smooster