Author: Sinistra

Rating: PG - 13

Warning: Violence

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with DBZ.

Authors Note: VERY a/u B/V get together. Based in the old times in Japan (If you've watched Rurouni Kenshin you'll know all about it and that it's real ^^) Vegeta and Goku are the leaders of The Taimou Clan. No ki or flying abilities will be used in this story – but I promise you that I'll make it up :). Also just to let you all know I don't know much about Japan's history so if anything's a misplace could you please let me know. Also I have no idea if Japan has forests . Now on with the fic.

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Living by the Sword Prologue

In the forests of Kyoto, under the moon's light man's blood was being shed. The two enemies clashed as men were killed, swords were broken and cries of death, war and pain were heard during the night. Two figures moved swiftly among the commotion killing anyone who got in their way of the opposition. They had very little injuries on them and with their size and build they were not a very easy duo to fight. Their dark eyes and hair was great camouflage against the night sky and darkened surroundings. The opposition were no match for who they were fighting.

Against the darkness you would see the Taimou Clan move easily throughout the commotion. Bloody swords will go swiftly into ones body and come out just as swift, awaiting for the next unlucky soul. Suddenly a yell of pain was heard from the Taimou Clan. Everyone stopped momentarily to see who had been killed or hurt. With the Taimou Clan's defences down at that point the opposition took this as their advantage and attacked them. The most swifter figures that killed the most were the first to get injured as they were the strongest. The other's of the Taimou Clan was next to suffer in wounds. But the opposition didn't count on the quick skills the Taimou Clan possessed. Soon the Taimou Clan had everything under control. Underneath the night sky the shadows of the trees will make the colour of blood a lot darker, lifeless bodies lay in their own pool of blood and the Taimou Clan would retreat back to the comfort of their home.

***

Two figures ran towards the door of the Karigoya and burst through, moments later two other figures approached supporting another figure. The noise of the door opening and slamming brought the only living females their out of their bed chambers on the higher levels. One of the women gasped at the sight of the man that was being supported.

"Juunanagou," she cried and ran over to her brother to take him from his human crutches. Releasing out a small grunt of pain, Juuhachigou laid her brother on the mat near the main fire. Cursing slightly at the state of his bloody form she turned to Chichi.

"Chichi, get me some warm water, some cloths and my tools," she ordered. Chichi nodded and ran outside to fill up a bucket of water. She'll heat it over the fire when she came back in. Juuhachigou rounded on the men standing their. She saw that all of them had injuries on them but not as bad as her brothers. Chichi came back in a carefully supported the bucket over the fire on the metal railing to warm it up. Running away again to grab some cloths and Juuhachigou's tools. Juuhachigou sighed.

"What happened to my brother?" she demanded more than asked. A short man with flaming black hair grunted.

"We were all separated in the battle," he stated simply, "only your dim-witted brother can tell us what happened," he growled and turned around to go up the staircase. Juuhachigou growled and uttered a moron directed at the man known as Vegeta. Another short man, but was even shorter walked up to Juuhachigou and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be alright," Kuririn said, his black hair was slightly covered in blood but he didn't mind he exited the room along with another one of his companions who had two scars on his face. Only one man was left in the room, in Chichi and Juuhachigou's opinion he was the innocent one out of them all.

"Aren't you going to go to Goku?" she snarled. Goku shook his head and grabbed the nearest lamp.

"I wish to stay up with you and Chichi to make sure your brother will be alright," he said as he held the lamp high over Juunanagou's bloody body. Juuhachigou nodded her thanks as she took the bucket from the fire and as Chichi came back into the room. Grabbing the top cloth she wrapped it around her hair to make sure it didn't get into her eyes. Gulping at the result of her brother's wound she grabbed the seam where the tear was and ripped it so she could see the wound clearly. Sighing she dabbed another cloth into the warm water and started wiping away the blood.

Hours past as Juuhachigou worked tirelessly on her brothers wounds. In all total he had 10 stiches, his wound hadn't been as deep as she had thought. Occasionally Kuririn, Yamcha and Vegeta would return to check up on the progress but eventually they stopped coming, obviously welcoming sleep. But Kuririn had told Goku to rest for a while. Glancing over at Goku she couldn't help but smile as her friend, Chichi, had fallen asleep against the man. Goku's head had dropped and was resting on the top of her head. Turning back to the task at hand she finished up wiping away more blood that had seeped through the delicate work. Checking that all of her brother's stiches were well in place and not loose she sighed, which grabbed Kuririn's attention. Taking the cloth out of her hair, her blonde hair fell back above her shoulders. Falling back with a small thump onto her bottom ^^ she sighed as a small smile tugged at her lips.

"He'll be fine now," she said tiredly, "he just needs some rest," the last few words was a whisper as she, herself, succumbed to the sleep world. Kuririn smiled down at her. Placing the lamp down he walked over the other side of the room where some blankets lay. Grabbing tow he placed one over Goku and Chichi and one over Juuhachigou. Tucking a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear, Kuririn smiled at her. Yes he had admitted long ago his attraction for the girl and he would protect her with his life. Blowing, out what was left of the lamp, he left for his room.

***

"Cue-ball get out here and help Kakarott and myself cut this blasted wood!" Vegeta's voice ran out through the small area they were in. Almost immediately Kuririn came running out of the Karigoya with a hatchet in his hand. Skidding to a halt in front of Vegeta he scowled.

"I'm not death you know," he huffed, "Besides I was getting dressed,"  Vegeta snorted.

"Obviously you didn't do a very good job," he stated looking at his top. Kuririn looked at him dumbfounded in til he heard Goku chuckle and start cutting wood again. Looking down he found that indeed the top of his gi was back-to-front. Growling he slipped both arms in and turned it around. Vegeta chuckled and returned to cutting wood again. Kuririn joined them. A few minutes past and Kuririn's curiously was getting the better of him.

"Do you happen to know where Yamcha is this morning? I didn't see him in his room nor is he in the study," Kuririn stated. Vegeta and Goku stopped chopping wood and glanced at Kuririn. Vegeta growled and continued with his morning routine. Goku sighed.

"He got word this morning that his mother was sick, he left for Tokyo before sunrise," he said solemnly and returned to chopping word. Kuririn frowned.

" I didn't hear any visitors," he whispered as he to started chopping wood again.

"That's because they went directly to his room," Vegeta snarled, "he woke me up to tell me and I nearly killed him for disturbing my sleep,"  Kuririn frowned. It wasn't like Yamcha to just leave without saying any good-byes'. Shrugging it off he returned to his chores.

A painful groan was heard from near the fireplace. Almost immediately Juuhachigou was beside her brother.

"Juunanagou," she whispered. Another groan came and slowly his eyes opened to reveal blue eyes. Juuhachigou smiled, "welcome back," Juunanagou smiled meekly and coughed slightly.  Grabbing a near by cup, Juuhachigou lifted her brother's head slightly to let him drink. Thanking her Juunanagou sat up slowly. Just then Vegeta, Goku and Kuririn came inside and Chichi came down stairs. Sensing the question to be asked Juunanagou chuckled weakly.

"So I don't have to explain myself more than once I may as well explain it now," he stated. Everyone took the hint and sat around the twins, well mostly everyone. Vegeta chose to lean against the wall, arms folded and usual scowl in place.

~FLASHBACK~

Juunanagou searched for his target in the forest. The moonlight didn't get through due to the thick branches and the bundles of leaves. Growling his frustration he forced himself to relax and try to pin point where his target sneaked off to. A minute past and Juunanagou finally found a shift of wind and tore a miniature knife from inside of his top. Throwing it at the shift of wind there was no scream or thump, though he could make out a figure. Getting back into his stance, sword over his head and ready to fight, Juunanagou spoke.

"I will draw your sword or I will kill you," he snarled. The figure chuckled.

"Like you could kill me," his menacing voice echoed in Juunanagou's head, "Though I will draw my sword, just for the joy of seeing your blood spilt," he charged then, dropping Juunanagou's miniature knife, that he caught, on the ground. Juunanagou ignored the 'threat' of his target and charged, sword ready to strike.

Both opponents exchanged blows, neither of them gaining the upper advantage, suddenly though, Juunanagou saw an opening and struck his sword against his opponent's side. Grunting slightly his opponent pulled back gripping his side. His face was masked well with the shadows of the tree so he couldn't make out who it was. A yell was heard and Juunanagou turned around just in time to see a cloaked figure jump down on him, two swords drawn and he immediately slashed at the unsuspecting member of the Taimou Clan. Juunanagou yelled out in pain as his side and stomach was slashed. The figure spat on him and walked over to his previous opponent. He nodded.

"Good, I see I can trust you after all. Make sure your not found out," he spoke. The cloaked figure nodded and ran off into the shadows. Before Juunanagou's opponent could run he swung his sword up with his remaining energy and made it fly towards the retreating back. Another shrill yell was heard as his body fell limb, swallowed in his own pool of blood. Juunanagou snarled and finally welcomed the unconscious world.

~END FLASHBACK~

Everyone was silent as Juunanagou told his story. No one noticed but Vegeta's teeth were clenched together and he hands were in fists. Next thing you knew he punched the wall. Everyone's attention was directed at him as Vegeta stormed out of the Karigoya. Goku went shortly after him. He found Vegeta standing near the river near by, blood seeping from his clenched fists.

"Shit," Vegeta cursed loudly, "I will kill him," Vegeta snarled with much hatred and force that Goku ever heard in him before. Goku thought that he knew the person who slashed Juunanagou but Vegeta was never the protective type. He thought that Vegeta knew something that no one else did.

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AN: Well that's the first chapter done. Buruma will come in next chapter. Well what does Vegeta know that no one else doesn't or is he surmising he knows?? I don't know, but you'll find out in the next chapter when I get it posted. It wont be for a while though as I have a job interview with Target tomorrow and I have a lot of school work o catch up on due to me being sick, bleh.

 BTW with Juuhachigou I will be calling her Juu most of the time and Juunanagou as Jay. If you're wandering what the Japanese words that I used above mean the translations are below. Please R&R. TTFN

Karigoya = Shack (the house)

Taimou = Ambition