ROSE TYLER, NINJA ASSASSIN

A/N: This story is AU and is set directly after the Doctor leaves the clone and Rose behind in Journey's End. In this story, the metacrisis doesn't affect Donna's mind and she continues to travel with the Doctor.

Chapter One

The room was silent, so very silent. Only the soft wheezing of the TARDIS could be heard. Donna was standing on one side of the console, unsure what to say while the Doctor stood on the other side, utterly dejected and heartbroken, gripping the rim of the console while he stared blankly at the bits and bobs in front of him. Donna's heart went out to her best friend. He had just given up the love of his life and left her with his clone and she felt like she should say something, anything to comfort him, but what was there to say? So she just stood there, silent.

Finally, the silence became too unbearable and she decided to go to her room. She walked softly past the Doctor, heading towards the back door.

"Donna?"

Donna froze at the sound of his voice. She turned around slowly and her heart nearly broke when she saw the Doctor. He was gazing at her with an forlorn look on his face.

"Yeah?" she said.

"Do you think I did the right thing?"

Again, Donna was unsure of what to say. She didn't think he did the right thing since having Rose nearby made him happy, happier than she had ever saw him. But she also knew in his mind the Doctor made a difficult choice and did what he felt he had to do. That was what she told her friend. The Doctor snorted derisively.

"Yeah, had to do what I had to do," he said, shaking his head in disgust. "Sometimes I get so tired of doing what I have to do and giving up my happiness for the sake of the universe."

He sighed and shook his head.

"I can't dwell on that. She's gone forever and there's nothing I can do about it now," he said, putting his hands back on the rim while he stared at the rotor. "I made my bed and now I have to lie in it, as the saying goes."

"Doctor. I…wish there was something I could do."

The Doctor gave her a warm smile.

"You can keep me company and give me your friendship. That's all I ask," he said.

Donna smiled and nodded. The Doctor was about to say something more when suddenly the TARDIS began to vibrate violently. Donna yelled as she was knocked off her feet and fell to the ground. She tried to get up while the Doctor clung to the rim but the shaking was too intense.

"What's going on?" Donna yelled to the Doctor.

"Don't know!" the Doctor said.

"Oh…great!" Donna replied as she tried to hold on to the grate under her.

The TARDIS rattled and shook and for a moment Donna was terrified the TARDIS would shake itself to pieces. Then the shaking stopped and everything calmed down.

"Donna, are you okay?" the Doctor said as he got to his feet.

"Yeah. I think so. I'm just surprised my teeth are still in my bleedin' head," Donna said, getting to her feet. "What happened?"

"Don't know but I'm going to find out," the Doctor said, checking his monitor.

Donna steadied herself and walked towards him. She stopped when she saw the shocked look on his face.

"Let me guess, it's something bad," she said.

"Well, depends on what your definition of "bad" is," the Doctor said.

"Well…how 'bout…space octopus has the TARDIS in its tentacles," Donna said sarcastically.

"No…I like that though, very imaginative," the Doctor said. "No, actually, we've been thrown off course, waaay off course."

"How far off course?" Donna said.

"Well, according to the TARDIS, we are now in Japan in the year 1603."

"Why'd we end up there?" Donna said. "Is there another Jenny here somewhere?"

"I hope not," the Doctor said, glancing at his hand. "But the TARDIS seemed to have landed in his time period for some reason."

"Let me guess, we're going to find out why."

"Wow, you read my mind, that's impressive."

"No. I've traveled with you long enough to know you're far too curious to pass this up."

"That too," the Doctor said. "Besides, you've never been to Japan before. Might be worth a look, eh? Especially Mount Fuji?"

Donna noticed the excitement and the gleam returning to the Doctor's eyes and she realized that a bit of adventure was just the thing to take his mind off of Rose. She nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go see Mount Fuji," she said.

"Molto Bene! I must warn you though, this is the era of the Samurai."

"Is that bad?" Donna said.

"Not as bad as it could be. There was contact with England at this time so we won't be thrown on a fire as white faced demons or something like that."

"Well, thank God for that," Donna said dryly.

"Not to worry, as long as we don't insult a Samurai, we'll keep our heads intact."

"Then I'll be sure to stay away from any Samurai I see," Donna said. "I like having my head firmly on my body."

"Hold on, Donna. Next stop, feudal Japan!" the Doctor said as he prepared to land the TARDIS.

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