Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, if I did no doubt I'd live some where red back free. Anyway insert the standard disclaimer here.

Author's notes: So here's chapter 4 not as graphic and eerie I know. Now we're starting to get some where! Please R and R. Thanks to Nekoni for giving me a plug. It's nice to know someone's reading this and likes it.

"Double quotations indicate conversations."

'Single quotations in italics indicate thoughts.'

Glossary :

Ohayo: Good morning

Baka: Idiot

The air whispered its way unimpeded across the glossy white tile made blue by the full moon. It made its way into unexpected places leaving pockets of ice cold air in its wake. Silver edged clouds jostled their way past, Kami's abode as if fighting for a peek of the guardian. Far below mankind slept. Each life was watched, each breath noticed by an ever-vigilant caretaker.

Sleep was elusive, although she lay relaxed, with her eyes closed. Insomnia had been a regular visitor since her early adolescence, fighting did not help. She surrendered, bare feet padded silently against the pale rug drawn to the soft light from out side she leant against the window frame. Vivid hair danced lightly in the faintest breath of wind it swirled its way down her back in the softest of waves. Her eyes held a strange mixture of innocent fascination and shrewd intelligence. They flitted past the photo on the dressing table as if unwilling see it again. A small faded photo of a woman fifteen years or so her junior with a smiling child in her lap and a baby in her arms. She averted her eyes and gazed out at the strange constellations in the wide prussian blue sky. The moon reached its zenith; the sun rose and bloomed, like a glorious red flower on the distant horizon.

Maya stood a short distance from Kami, Korin, Yajarobe, Gokou and a short man with no nose, Kuririn or something. They waited and the three young men talked easily amongst themselves. Maya stood arms folded her long hair plaited, scanning the horizon apparently relaxed. At that point Popo-san appeared and scuttled across the tiles holding a large sword in a shining belted scabbard, engraved with ancient Celtic letters. In the sunlight it was bright, beautiful, strong and very heavy. A weapon designed for the sole purpose of taking life, razor sharp on each twin edge. Popo held it out to Maya whose eyes glinted savagely from under her long coffee coloured lashes. She remained silent, more than a little peeved. Kami gave her a faint apologetic smile which she responded to with a glare of renewed venom. ' Well at least I've got my sword back now, bloody lying bastard.' Maya unhooked the heavy embossed metal belt slid it round her waist and cinched it. Kuririn regarded her with growing distress. 'Yajarobe's going to fight that, she doesn't look like a woman at all, what is she an amazon?' Even Yajarobe was surprised by Maya's steely expression. 'This is all Korin's fault.' He thought sourly. ' he got me into this, bakas they told Maya she had to spar with me, other wise they wouldn't return her sword.' Frustrated he prepared himself for the impeding battle.

The sharp, bright sound of metal on metal filled the air followed by two rapidly moving figures, each dodging, striking or blocking in turn. Yajarobe levelled a well timed punched at Maya's face only to find she was no longer there. Maya appeared at his side, throwing all her momentum and weight in to his well padded hip and shoulder. Only just rocking him off balance. It seemed Yajarobe had the upper hand he was taller, heavier, younger, and very well trained, the antithesis of everything Maya was. For all that Maya had age and experience on her side and an intuitive sense of timing she was holding her own. This time when their swords met she took the opportunity to twist her foot around Yajarobe's calf pulling him off his feet. Effectively giving herself a well earned breather. Yajarobe heaved himself up his expression thunderous sweating and puffing he lifted his sword and the next round began. Maya used her speed, lightness and instinct to wear Yajarobe down while she tried to regain her advantage. Yajarobe was an excellent swordsman unfortunately he didn't much like fighting and it took him some time to get riled enough to fight to the best of his ability. Something that did not happen too often, now however he really was riled. Maya sensing the change stayed out of Yajarobe's reach; eventually she too began to fight with her usual vigour and aggression. The swords clashed again filling the air with the unpleasant screeching of metal on metal.

And then the sounds stilled replaced by heavy breathing, as the two fighters stood poised, muscles quivering, swords locked between them. They stayed that way for some time in a silent battle of wills, of strength. Then unexpectedly Yajarobe's stamina began to give way, his sword slipped rapidly down the flat edge, of Maya's. Sensing that it was time to act Maya moved, and in one blurring second she drew her blade, flat edge upper most, under Yajarobe's sword hilt pushing it out of his hands and at the same moment pushed against his left knee with her foot. In a heartbeat everything had changed Yajarobe's sword had gone flying through the air and Yajarobe was on the ground. Maya was calm; in the space of a few seconds she sheathed her sword helped Yajarobe up and caught his sword.

"You're not bad" spluttered Yajarobe, the master of under statement as always. Everyone laughed with the exception of Maya, who regarded Yajarobe with twinkling eyes and a vaguely amused half smile. Yajarobe was not impressed. Kami looked at her pleased 'She's even better than I thought.' He walked towards her smiling.

"I've got to go check on the horses I can't stay Kami-sama." She said firmly.

"Of course go tend your animals but perhaps there will be something for you when you return." Maya regarded him with a calculating gaze, nodded and went to change.

Saffron mouthed the bit and struck off on the left canter with enthusiasm. The little mare liked the shaded clearing in the woods, were the undisturbed leaf litter created a perfectly cushioned surface. She snorted stretching her neck in to a smooth curve before leading off into the half pass, her whole body bent in a uniform curve from nose to tail. Her smooth black legs crossing one in front of the other as she gained ground both forwards and sideways. In the shadows Gokou, Kuririn and the rest of the senshi stood unnoticed, watching the small woman and the little buckskin mare preform the equine equivalent of a kata routine. It was some forty minutes later when Maya let the reins out so Saffron could stretch down her neck and relax.

Puar flittered around Yamcha in a decidedly nervous fashion, her blue tail twitching back and forth.

"You don't know anything about her what if...." Yamcha glanced up at her and smiled.

"Don't worry she's okay." Gokou interrupted one hand behind his head, his lips coiled in to the characteristic Son grin. Puar regarded him sceptically.

"She sure can fight though. You should have seen her with Yajarobe." Kuririn stated his voice rising with excitement.

"SHE beat Yajarobe!"

" Did she! Boy Tien you should have seen her."

" Speaking of seen, Kuririn I think we've been spotted." Puar dryly announced.

Maya ran up the stirrups and undid the short girth, as she ducked under the mare's sweaty neck she heard someone speak near by, quite clearly. Silently she picked up the sticky girth and placed it across the saddle, all the while alert for the faintest sound. She was positive that someone was watching her from some where in the trees. Gently she eased the saddle from Saffron's sweaty back and carefully placed it on the fence rail. It was not until Maya had removed the bridle and had begun to do up the noseband of Saffron's head collar that she heard it again. Someone, someone quite close by was talking, cautiously she glanced around before she honed in on the sound, a group of men, a flying 'Flying!' cat and a small odd looking figure. They were standing in a companionable group under the trees. Maya washed the bit off carefully, pretending not to have noticed the group who now gawked at her openly. Saffron stood with one hip dropped waiting for her drink. Maya emptied the
bucket and lead Saffron down to the stream. Where both proceeded to walk out into the cool, clear water, it was not long before the senshi followed, just as Maya had expected them to.

Maya spoke softly watching, as Saffron dipped her velveteen muzzle in to clear water, with a languid glow in her large gentle eyes. The water silvered where the sun touched it, but it was cool, icy on her bare feet. Maya found a rock to sit on in the middle of the free flowing stream and drew Saffron more fully into the water until all four hooves disappeared. She wondered in an idyll manner what Kami had meant earlier by...

"Hey Maya!" She raised her eyes still somewhat distant. Gokou grinned and Maya smiled back, it was the first time she had smiled in a long time. The rest of the senshi pilled up behind him. Kuririn introduced everyone in quick succession. Puar fascinated Maya her soft blue fur and sweet high-pitched voice. It was strange but then this was a strange place. Maya was polite, a little shy, unaccustomed to large groups of people. Still they seemed all right these young men, polite and cheerful.

Kami waited silent and still, knowing that Maya's natural curiosity would bring her to him.

(2002)