A/N: Sorrry! Chapter three had some significant errors and now that I'ma stuck in bed, I've taken the opportunity to adress them. But first things first: To all those who were affected by hurricane Sandy...my condolences. My grandparents live in Jersey and they too are without power. To all those who have lost loved ones...I am so sorry. My family used to live in New Jersey, and my prayers go with you and yours. Don't let this beat you. You're stronger than this. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. And with that...

...onto the revised chapter three!

This is why we can't have nice things."

~Tali.

Excursion

Our favorite blond was in the Cargo Hold of the Rayya. After helping Rael on the Aleri out with some Geth parts and other experiments, he'd come down here to work on his modified Kodiak and, having done so, opted to test the limits of biotics. Many Quarians knew he had become a great mechanic over the years and helped fix up a lot of their ships. Still his ship, his 'baby' if you want to go that far, was his main project.

He called it the Black Nova. However, he had modified the Kodiak so much that it didn't look like the original Kodiak any more. The Thruster like attachments were gone, replaced by wheel like attachments. Hell that fused with the ship when not in use, giving it a sleeker look. These wheels could act like real wheels and hover thrusters in need be. It had become a versatile ship that he use on land, water, low altitudes near the ground or up in the sky.

Added to that, the weapon systems were badass as well. He'd combined Rael's tech in his arm and some Turian weaponry to really amp up the guns...that were hidden as well. Finally a prototype weapon was instead on the ship that he had always wanted to try. Fins would rise up from the hull on all four sides and vibrate at high speeds. They would allow him to crash into most enemy ships and then pass through it like it was nothing and completely destroy the enemy ship.

Currently, the blond was punching a reinforced punching bag. He had also modified part of the Cargo Bay to work as a gym for him. As long as he stayed out of the way, he was golden. He also had his trench coat and red shirt off. He was pretty sweaty from training and many female quarians would stutter and quickly leave because they would usually embarrass themselves when they saw him like that, especially Tali.

As he punched the poor bag, his mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about his ship and his biotic skills. Ok…I know I am powerful for a biotic, mostly due to my red biotics. Still, I am not as strong as an Asari. Their powers are pretty cool, I'll have to ask Liselle or Aria the next time I see them. Still, my Constructs, Rasengan, and the Red Hole are good….although very destructive.

The Red Hole attack was something had had developed after seeing a black hole in action. He would start it like a normal Rasengan attack but he would throw it at a large group of enemies. It would then expand into what looked like a fairly large Singularity attack, catching all within its field and then quickly sucking them all into the small ball. It had to be painful. Still, that attack, some mentioned that they felt Dark Energy when it is used. He would have to look into that.

Then there is Black Nova. I know I could do more to it than I already have. Could I…could I combine it temporarily with other small ships to make a large battle ship. Bah…I'll have to ask Han'Gerrel about that. Besides…are there even any quarians who would want to work with me for that? I know there are a few aliens who would.

Finally, another thought came to him. He would need parts and other abandoned ships for that. He would have to consult his information network about that. Over the years, he had acquired contacts on Omega and various other planets during his travels. They would tell him about important intel and black/criminal world activities. In a way, he had created Jiriaya's Spy Network.

Still, when I ask any of them about Jack, they get this nervous look on their face and move to a different subject. It...it is like they don't want me to find her. Actually some of the quarians are like that. Must be trying to protect me or something, but I can handle myself. After all, I managed to find her once already, I can do it again.

It was at this point that another presence made itself known. It was a familiar red suited Quarian by the name of Kal'Reegar. He and Naruto had become good friends over the years, even though Reegar still insists on calling him Sir. Hell he calls Tali ma'am. Way to formal, but Naruto was determined to break him of that. After all, it was Reegar that taught Naruto how to use normal guns better…and oddly enough, a rocket launcher. Still, Naruto's aim was not that great with guns.

"Sir! Admiral Rael wishes to speak to you and Tali." Reegar stated.

Sighing, he didn't want to get into their usual argument about the name, so he nodded and asked, "What for?" He asked, knowing if Rael wanted BOTH of them, it had to be serious. Another reason to not waste time with their silly arguments.

"He mentioned something about your pilgrimage…I'm not sure to be honest." Reegar replied.

"Right, thanks Reegar." Naruto replied as he stopped his punching and went put on his shirt and trench coat. "Argh!" Naruto growled as a jolt of pain; a veritable lance of light and agony, crawled up his arm, forcing him to hold the metal appendage tightly.

"Sir!" Reegar asked with concern.

Naruto waved himoff.

"It is nothing Kal…just those sensations from the past. I felt an intense burn, but I'm arlight now."Naruto said once the pain had gone down. He flexed the fingers of that hand in a vain attempt to banish the phantom pain, but to no avail. It languished, lingering there, in the corner of his mind, awaiting any kind of response from his mechanical arm. Remarkably, the fingers responded, opening and closing as they should.

It's gotten better over the years." he lied.

"Alright, but be careful Naruto. Tali would freak if something really did happen to you." Reegar replied.

"Thanks." Naruto replied before his eyes widened at the mention of his name. "Wait, what?"

"Nothing sir. Just that Tali would freak if something happened to you." Reegar said with some mirth in his voice.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, he swore Kal was smirking under that bucket on his head. Smug little… "Yeah, you're 'prolly right. Wouldn't want to worry her too much."

Reegar nodded. "Right sir, after all, even I can see you're important to her."

Naruto's face went red at that. He'd gained a healthy crush of his own on the Quarian girl in years past. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if Kal meant she merely saw him as a brother figure….after all, they'd pretty much grew up together, so he wasn't going to delude himself. "R-Right. So, how is Veetor doing?" he asked, quickly changing the subject, making his friend laugh.

"Pilgrimage?" Naruto blinked, some minutes later. He knew what those words meant but even so he was surprised. Over the years, with all he'd done for the quarian fleet, he had come to believe, rather, he thought he was exempt from making a forray into the galaxy. After all, he'd brought back the Raya's drive core only a few months ago! Didn't that count for anything? Apparently not. He realized this the instant he saw Rael usher Tali into the cramped cabin. She moved to stand beside him, fidgeting.

"Tali?" Naruto struggled to conceal his surprise. "What're you-

"Every member of the fleet has to make their own journey sooner or later." Rael continued, studiously ignoring the arching of the blonde's eyebrows. "Unfortunately, due to all the recent geth incursions and what-not, they've become a great deal more dangerous as of late." He indicated his daughter with the wave of a three-fingered hand. "Which is precisely why the two of you will be making your pilgrimage together."

Wait a damned minute! The two of them? On pilgrimage? Together? The word made his heart slam against his chest. Hard.

"Eh?" Naruto stuttered out. This was the best! He was going with Tali. Now he didn't mind going out of the fleet for an extended amount of time. Besides, he knew the other reason for him being sent out with Tali. Rael wanted to make sure she was safe. He could do that. Naruto just smiled radiatantly. Maybe…he could find out whether Tali liked him as more than a brother figure….maybe.

Even hidden behind her mask, the radiant smile upon Tali's face lit the entire room.

It outshined Naruto's!

Naruto was back in the Rayya's Cargo Hold, waiting for Tali. To be precise, he was waiting for her to pack her things. Thankfully, she used his idea of using the Omni-Tool to store everything. Ah, speak of the devil! Tali happened to walk in at that very moment, just as Naruto finished playing a game on his own Omni-Tool.

Soon, Tali walked in as well. Casting an apprasing glance for her companion, she noted:

"I see you're ready."

"Yeah, I'm used to travelling on my own. This is a welcome change." Naruto replied with a smile. "So...you ready to leave this place for a while?" He cast a glance about. This had been her home for far longer than him. Hell, the Migrant Fleet was Tali's home. She'd never so much as left this ship before!

"Yeah, I should be fine." Tali replied, a bit unsure.

Naruto picked up on this.

"Hey, don't worry." He laid a comforting hand on her wirst. "I got your back in this. I will make sure nothing bad happens to you." Tali just stood there in shook before a smile graced her lips, just visible beyond the filter of her mask. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Naruto just chuckled at that.

"Alright then, let's go!" Naruto said cheerfully.

"Wait, I thought we had transport." Tali replied, a bit confused.

"Nope, we got my ride." Naruto replied with a smirk. Tali nodded and got in the Black Nova with him. This was a new experience for her. She never got to ride with him before and she felt that this was going to be great.

As the ship left, Kal'Reegar walked onto the scene. "Wonder how long it will take them to get together."

"So, have any place in mind that you want to go to?" Naruto asked as he sat lazily in his captain's chair.

"Hmm." Tali replied thoughtfully. "I've been curious about the Geth ever since you came to us. I want to track some Geth down and see what they know."

Naruto stared at his cover right arm for a moment in deep thought. He wondered if his words got through to the rest of the Geth. Of course, it was just them in the pod and he really didn't see their ship while inside the pod. "Yeah, that would be a good idea. I'll see if I can get a hold of any of my contacts and see if we can find a few Geth."

"Thank you." Tali replied happily, making the blond smile.

Naruto sat snoozing in his chair. Something he usually did if he had to go on long trips. Of course this time, he had to go with Tali, someone he had a major on. Suddenly he felt something on his lap and he woke up. Opening his eyes, he sat there shocked that Tali was on his lap and but the way her eyes shone through her helmet, he could tell she was smiling.

"Wha-" he managed to say before he was cut off.

"Shh. Just enjoy it." She said softly as she took one of his hands and placed it on one of her breasts. Naruto couldn't believe his luck and seeing that Tali was initiating this, he reached for the other breast and began to rub them both, make her groan in pleasure. She then lookd down at him and said, "We're here, wake up." That certainly made Naruto blink stupidly.

Opening his eyes truly this time, he saw that Tali was leaning over him as he reclined in his chair. "Yeah, we made it to the uncharted planet that the Geth transmission that we picked up said where it would be."

"R-right." Naruto replied, his face a shade of red, making the Quarian girl get confused by his actions. Shaking off his embarrassment, he pressed a few buttons and nodded. However, the scanners did pick up life within the geth group on the uncharted planet that they found them on. Bringing it up on the scene, he found it was a famous Spectre. "What is someone like Saren doing with them?" He asked himself aloud.

"I don't know, let's check." Tali suggested.

"Alright, but the ship traveling with the Geth is putting me on edge. Let's be careful." Naruto said as he saw a strange looking ship in the distance with a few geth ships.

They stealthy made their way down onto the planet with ease. Landing, they got out and scouted the terrain. It was a rocky planet with not much atmosphere. So Naruto's hood was up and it formed a quarian helmet. In fact, he looked pretty badass.

Tali looked at the other way because it gave a hot and mysterious look to her and she was blushing….not that he could see.

Silently, they made their way to the landing site of the Geth. As soon as they got there, there were only a few standing Geth. "Damn, we're too late. Saren is gone." Naruto growled.

"It is not a total loss." Tali replied, "Came wait till one of them is separated from the rest and see what it's memory core has it."

"Good thinking Tali." Naruto replied happily as he watched the Geth go about their business. Finally, one did break off, but only a few feet. Behind their rocky hiding place, Naruto growled in annoyance. "This is going to be harder than we thought. " He then kicked a small rock, and that caught the Geth's attention.

Smirking, his hand shifted into a cylindrical like device that could rotate. "Be ready to scan this thing."

"Right."

Naruto smirked as he stealthily made his way behind the Geth. He light up his Ionic Beam and with a bored look, sliced off its head. Thankfully he managed to catch both the head and body before they made a crashing noise, alerting the other Geth. "Ok, scan it before the memory core goes kaput." Tali nodded and did just that before the memory core fired itself. "Ok, let's go before…" That was all Naruto managed to say before he noticed a few Geth behind her. "Oh…crap!"

Naruto acted quickly because it seemed that Tali couldn't see behind her head. He jumped towards the quarian and took her in his arms before he jumped away. While in the air, he sent a Singularity into the middle of the group of Geth. That sent them all floating in the air until Naruto and Tali were a safe distance away and then sent a Warp attack right into the middle of the Singularity, making it exploded, destroying the Geth in the process.

"That's probably going to bring more of them over here." Tali stated, a little annoyed.

"Then…we gotta get the hell over of here!" Naruto replied, a bit panicked and Tali agreed with him.

They had very little trouble getting off world, but escape was still an issue. Why? Well there was a large Geth ship in their way "We need to get to the Citadel. It is a safe haven and it would be a good time to check out the info we got. Might be useful if this Saren guy is a traitor." Tali stated.

"Yeah, I'll worry about that after we get away from these Geth." Naruto dead panned. "Ok…not sure if the normal blasters on this thing will be enough to take this thing out. Still needs some calibrations. Hmm, that prototype weapon might do the trick." He said as he pressed a button and fins grew out of the sides of the hull.

"What prototype weapon?" Tali asked, a bit nervous.

"Oh, we'll go right through the Geth ship. I am sure we'll survive." Naruto replied before he put on a thoughtful look. "If it doesn't work, we won't live long enough to regret it."

"WHAT?" Tali screamed, but she didn't get enough time to protest because the fins started to vibrate and they spun. Naruto smirked and Tali clung to him and screamed as they spun right through the Geth ship's engine core, making it exploded and they escaped without a scratch. "Ok, now, let's get to the Citadel." Tali just stared at him like he was insane. "What?"

"Is it always this exciting when you leave the fleet.?"

Naruto put on a thoughtful look and said, "No, there are usually more explosions."

"Ugh, C-sec is a pain in the ass." Naruto growled. As soon as they entered the Citadel, C-ces swooped in because Tali was a Quarian and they didn't trust Quarians. That took hours for the idiots to figure out they were not there for trouble or some other bullshit. Finally, Naruto revealed that he was the Terminus System's Phantom. Of course they didn't believe him at first, but it checked out and they were free to go because Naruto was protecting Tali.

Hell, Naruto almost punched out a Turian that called Tali a suit rat when she was just trying to see the council. He really wanted to punch the guy out. Thankfully for the rude Turian, Tali stopped him. "Still, I can't believe I prefer Omega than this place."

"I know, but please calm yourself, for me. I don't want you getting hurt or in trouble." Tali pleaded with the blond.

"Alright, but I am just protecting you. I won't let anything happen to you." Naruto replied seriously.

"I know." Tali replied softly. That comment made her wonder though. Was he only protecting her because he felt hat he was like a brother figure to her. She hoped now. She wanted him to be more than that. "I know, let's go to these wards. They might have some useful information."

"Works for me." Naruto said with a shrug. Tali was right and if these wards were like clubs, then yeah, useful info was going to be found.

Naruto felt that something was off as they walked down a hallway like passage into the wards and the market place. It wasn't the high flying cabs that occassionally passed by the windows or the annoying Volus peddling black market goods. No…it was feeling of being watched. He knew from his time as a ninja that like tidbit was always bad. The feeling got worse as they made their way down another hallway to a seedy bar called Chora's Den.

Places like that always had good info. You just need to know how to get it. However, that thought was put on hold as he had enough of their stalkers and said, "I know you idiots are there. It is no used trying to hide." Tali seemed to jump when a good number of Turians and Salarians came out of the wood work on both sides.

A turian with a gruesome looking scar across his eyes chuckled. "Well, for a human, your biotics seem a little too advanced. After all, it is not every day that some human could sense someone like me."

Naruto rose an eyebrow at that. "Got something against humans?"

"Feh, your kind has only been in space for a few years and you all walk around like you own the place. Your kind is more of a bully, trying to worm their way up to the council." The Turian sneered.

"Hmm, well, it is not my problem since I don't really care what my kind is doing since I don't intereact with many humans to begin with…unless you count some of the morons in the Blue Suns." Naruto nonchalantly, but he was on edge. With how heavily arms these people were, they came here for a reason. With a quick hand motion, he told Tali to be ready for anything. She subtly nodded as she felt that something was off.

I hope you know what you are doing, Naruto. Tali thought, a bit apprehensive.

"So, now that you know that I just don't care." Naruto drawled, "Care to tell me why you have surrounded us with all this gun power?"

"Tch, you're not as dumb as you look, human." The Turian replied, a little respect gain for this human and only this human. "We are here for the quarian. She has something…..that Saren wants back."

Yeah, if that didn't set off any warning bells, Tali didn't know what else did. It seemed that those Geth working for Saren were more craft that she thought and this Saren guy was more trouble than he was worth. She subtly reached for her shotgun, just in case.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "So…I assume he was wants her dead?"

"Yeah…she knows too much." Turian replied as he checked his pistol, hoping that would deter the blond.

"And if I say piss off?" Naruto replied, getting ready to throw up a barrier. He knew they weren't much, but he could at least knock these fools of their feet with it.

"I say…die!" The turian ordered and all the people under his group opened fire.

'Typical...

Naruto grunted to himself as the barrier absorbed all the fire, the bullets rippling harmlessly against the crimson wall. Before the squad could hope to recover, from the shock, he blasted the barrier outward, stunning them for a few seconds. The lead Turian could not believe what he was seeing. This human was the Crimson Biotic that was often talked about in the Terminus Systems! He knew he was in trouble, but he had a job to do. Fisk did not tolerate failure...

Tali nodded to the blond and they opened fire back on the gang that had trapped them. She was thankful to have learned how to use a shotgun; no sooner had they taken cover than, she was about to knock out a few that were behind her. Looking towards the blond for a moment, she saw he was doing a good job himself. Throwing his biotics around like a pro would and occasionally firing off a few rounds from his own pistol. It was an amazing sigh that distacted her for a few seconds…something she would have not done.

The lead Turian saw that the young quarian was awestruck by the human and he smirked. He really didn't know or carewhat their relationship was, but an opportunity had presented itself and he was going to finish the job one way or another. He took aim and fired. Naruto bristled, his senses screaming as the high-velocity projectile tore past his ear...past him.

Talis had a glimpse of the black whisp of the bullet whipping through the air toward her as she flung herself asiide, followed immediately by the shock of a blow slamming into her shoulder and neck. Icey pain pervaded her suit, stabbing into her right arm. A pained yelp fled from her suit's vocalizer.

The blond saw this and all he saw was red. "Tali!" he rushed over to the girl and saw that the bullet hit her in her arm and she already looked to be sick. Her heavy panting a clear sign.

"So…what is she to you? A friend? I guess it doesn't really matter now since you both will be dead soon." The Turian taunted, raising his rifle. "Now...die!"

"Dead…?" Naruto growled. "Funny you should mention that." The blond stood woodenly, not taking enough care. Sparks spat between his fingers, digging deep, bloody furrows against his fists. His anger, barely under control before was producing the most surprising an effect on his biotics. In a way, it worked almost like Kyuubi's influence on the red chakra. Scarlet biotic energy flared all around in a fiery blaze, his equally crimson eyes boring into the alien who'd dared take the shot.

"Because you're all about to die."

All in all, it scared the living shit out of the Turian and his group of minions.

It was safe to say they were screwed. The blond stood over Tali as he picked up her shotgun. Glancing behind him, he saw the idiots trying to sneak up on him. With a simple flick of his wrist, he sent out a throw and slammed them against the wall. He would deal with them later. No, his real attention and anger lay with the main group and their leader who dared to shoot the girl for whom he'd come to care.

"You were right." He said in a deadly voice. "My biotics are vastly different from the normal human. Now, allow me to show you something that is new to biotic users. I call it…the red hole." He sent out a ball of energy that expanded in the middle of the group, who looked at it and him oddly, thinking it was only a larger singularity. They were soon proven wrong. Abruptly the 'singularity' bulged, drawing them in with the inexorable pull of gravity itself. Boots scrabbled agains the floor, fingers clutched at guardrails, but to no avail. As one they were sucked into the deadly crimson tide, a veritable black hole that shrank with each passing second. A low chuckle fled the blonde's lips as they began to scream; squealing like prey chased from their den. His prey.

"Does it hurt?" He asked conversationally, his words darkened, modulated to a maddened glee. "

Their screams soon reached the apex as the pain they were felling slowly crushed them, atom by atom. Literally killing them. Finally, all that was left was a red ball that dissipated afterwards. Naruto turned his head to the others fools that were slowly getting back up and had their guns pointed at him in fear.

"Drop 'em, boys." Naruto cocked the shotgun again for added emphasis, careful to keep himself between Tali and the unforunate gaggle of turians and salarians. "Unless you'd like to end up like your friends?" He knew he'd live to regret it if she took another shot like she had before when they'd first boarded the citadel. He wasn't about to let that happen again. Actually, scratch that. Naruto wanted them to make a move; because he wanted an excuse to tear their freaking heads off!

Normally the crimson biotic was a great deal more placid when it came to firefights. He killed, but only when he had to. Now...he just wanted them dead. All of them. He wanted to tear them limb from limb...eviscerate them piece by bloody piece and dance in their entrails until there was nothing left but blood and broken bones.

"I said drop 'em!"

The remaining mercenaries dropped their weapons, unilaterally raising their hands in surrender. He ordered them to their knees, and they obeyed, still terrified of his previous biotic display. Naruto's eye twitched. As did his trigger finger.

"Not good enough."

He fired three times, pumping the shotgun rapidly and they slumped over.

Dead.

With that, his anger lessened and he kneeled down to Tali.

Oh no. No no no no...

"Tali, speak to me, please tell me you're ok." He said, clearly worried for the girl.

"I'll…I'll be fine." She managed to say. "I just to get to the clinic. I saw it on the way here. Ugh, I am such an idiot to not use my shields."

"Worry about that later, Tali." Naruto replied as he bit back tears. He was not going to lose her! He already lost one person and he was not sure he was ever going to find Jack.

He found the clinic with ease so as he supported Tali to get inside the clinic, he found a human woman inside with red hair. She looked at the two and quickly helped Tali out of his arms. "What happened?" She asked with a strange accent. He had noticed that some people in the Terminus Systems had other strange accents. Seems it was the same over here as well.

"We ran into some trouble near here. Seems some Spectre named Saren doesn't want his secrets getting out." Naruto replied, "She was shot in the arm, can you please help her?"

The red headed doctor had heard some commotion, but around here, people didn't bother to look. Still she saw the honesty in the boy's eyes and the love was well for the girl. Although, by the he was acting, he was protecting her and hadn't really told her yet. It was sweat. "I am Dr. Chloe Michel. I will help in any way I can."

Naruto smiled brightly at the woman and said, "Thank you. Thank you so much!"

"It is no problem. It is my job after all." Dr. Michel replied with a smile before she started patching Tali up.

Meanwhile, Tali watched as Naruto sat in a nearby chair with his head down, so that his hair covered his face. He looked so stressed. So…sad. She knew gunshot wound wasn't that bad, but she had been running a fever in seconds. Soon, she saw drops of water hit the his hands and the ground. He was crying, she surmised. But why? It was not like she was going to die. They had gotten to Dr. Michel in time. "Naruto?" She asked hesitenly. "Why are you crying?"

"Because I failed Tail." Naruto replied before sniffing. "I said I would protect you and you got hurt. I…failed. I knew the risks of going up against a Spectre and then his assassins. I am just so used to fighting alone that I lost track of you and you got hurt because of me."

Tali smiled. "Naruto, I knew the risks as well. Hell, I'm surprised we even made it this far. But we are a ive and I got a little gunshot wound. There is no need to be sad."

"I know, but I hate myself for letting this happen." Naruto replied more tears coming down his face. Dr. Michel just listened on, not interrupting on this touching moment. He felt a confession coming on. "I promised that I would protect you. Not only to you and your father, but to myself was well. You are my most precious person! We have live together on the Flotilla for such a long time that I can't anything happening to you. Because I…"

"Because what Naruto?" Tali replied, her eyes wide as saucers behind the visor of her helmet. Normally she cursed the thrice infernal thing, but today, it was to be a godsend. She didn't want him to see her face. Didn't want him to see the flush filling her cheeks, see the shy, tentative smile tugging at her lips. Was the blond actually confessing that he...loved her? As more than friends? More than the brother sister relationship she had resigned herself? Oh, keela. Her blabber mouth was acting up again. "A-are you saying that you love me? Me? I would understand if you didn't but-"

Naruto poked two fingers against the curved facet of her helmet; an olde gesture between them. The effect was as immediate as it was pleasing.

"Tali."

"Y-Yes?"

"Hush."

"S-Sorry," the quarian sputtered, "its just that I blather when I get nervous and right now I'm very nervous and-oh. I'm blathering again, aren't I?"

Naruto chortled softly. She was just so insufferably cute sometimes! Not a thing like Jack. Thoughts of his lost friend were the furthest thing from his mind, yet he suddenly couldn't help but to wonder; what would she think of this? He had a feeling it'd involve a great deal of blood and a lot of cursing. A mental image entered his mind. Ouch. Wincing mentally, he resolved to force himself onward.

"Yes, Tali. I do love you." Naruto said as he raised his head and she saw a soft smile on his lips and a blush as well. "I have had a crush on you for...well, a very long time now." Despite the quarian's sudden-and all too unexpected-squeak of surprise he continued, "But I thought you might reject me, that's why I never said anything and just treated you as a sister. I…want to be more."

Tali balked.

"You...love me?"

Naruto's left eye twitched.

"Didn't I just say that, baka?"

Doctor Chloe Michel smiled as she finished patching up the quarian's arm and moved out of the girl's way. And just in time too; because the young quarian launched herself at the blond faster than any bullet could ever hope to, her arms wrapping around his neck in a loving hug. Ah, young love. Naruto stiffened only for an instant, then he grabbed her up in his arms and whirled her around-gently!-saying her name over and over as if he wanted to hear it forever.

A moment.

The run of a sandglass.

A sliver of time. How long? She could not have said. But when she emerged from that coccoon of safety where nothing mattered but that she was safe and loved within the circle of arms, doctor Michel was still standing there, bemused arms crossed before her chest. Indeed, the doctor's silence spoke chapters; her calm, slate-grey eyes, entire volumes. Naruto chuckled sheepishly, as he-reluctantly-set her patient down. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Tali in his own exuberance.

"I...I don't know what to say." The quarian was sputtering hopelessly when he finally released her. "I've felt the same way for such a long time now, but I didn't want to be rejected so I treated you like a brother." She made a soft, sniffling sound. "Naruto...you have no idea how happy this makes me." She gushed out, silently wishing she could brush away the tears behind her mask. "I... had no idea you feel the same way." Tali was at loss for words. Stupid. She felt so stupid! If only she'd confessed to him years before then she wouldn't be in this situation now! It had taken a bullet to the arm to make her confess! Nevertheless, she could not deny the tears of joy fluttering behind her mask. "I want to be with you so much!"

Naruto, not knowing what else to say, contented himself to a small smile as he held Tali in his arms.

"Thank you." he whispered.

"No, thank you!" Tali gushed. "Although...

"Although?"

"Perhaps you should've told me sooner?" She teased.

Naruto flushed, the moment shattered.

"How was I supposed to know you felt the same way?!"

Tali giggled, and just like that, she had his heart again.

"I thought I was being pretty obvious...

Dr. Chloe was getting a little anxious now and she cleared her throat, catching their attention. "I really hate to interrupt, but if you really want to get that info out, I suggest you get into contact with the Shadow Broker. Fist is an agent to him…or it….or whatever the Shadow Broker is. If he's after you, then it can't be for anything good."

Naruto groaned.

"Why oh why does he always figure into this...

A/N: Alright time for the author's note. I changed around the "Red-Hole" scene, making it a great deal more painful for the victims in question. Slowly getting crushed piece by piece...that's gonna be a very unpleasant way to go. The NarutoxTali romance scene needed work as well, so I changed that, too. We get to see Shepard and co. next chapter! Now, sadly, I am off to work (thank GOD its friday) so in the immortal words of Atlas...

...would you kindly review this revised chapter? Uzumaki Crossover is writing the bulk of the next chapter, so look forward to an update soon!

R&R! =D