Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. It's owned by various people and companies but most certainly not by me. I'm borrowing the settings and characters for my own evil purposes. However Maya is mine!

Author's notes: I decided to try some thing a bit different. You're all probably wondering what's gotten in to me. Then again maybe not. I decided I wasn't really happy with the quality of the chapters the last three in particular. So a revision was in order I'm not sure that there's much improvement. But, there was one part that got edited out originally, I can't think what got in to me because it will matter later! If you wouldn't mind re-reading and reviewing I'd be pleased. Please!

"Double quotations indicate conversations."

'Single quotations in italics indicate thoughts.'

Glossary :

Ohayo: Good morning

Baka: Idiot

Three years ago.

'Have you ever heard the phrase, it's always darkest before the dawn. Well I grew up on little gems like that. I always thought they were a load of bull shit, but you know I'm beginning to come round to their way of thinking.'

It was a little after dawn, still dark, still cold. Silent and still, the slowly wakening world began its daily cycle. The grass and leaves were still encased in frost from the night before. When the sunlight shines over the distant horizon each crystal encased blade of grass will gleam together in a sea of seemingly endless silver. The silence was broken, not by birds but by the sound of steady footfalls. A motley pack of canines appeared at a bend in the shadows of the trees, running hard up the steeply rising track. Steam rose from their noses and unfurled tongues like small white clouds dragon's fire. Some distance behind a flash of honey gold heralded Maya's approach.

The horses snorted plumes of silver, as they lined up against the fence like excited spectators at a running met. They called out to each other in the dark. The gloom and mist had changed the inoffensive dogs in wolfish phantoms. The dogs passed as swiftly as fleeting shadows. Maya hot on their heels.

The early morning run had become something of a tradition. One that the four footed furries loved. Only Socrates opted out he preferred to stay in his favourite place on Maya's electric blanket. To set out before dawn, had it's own rewards. The air was still cold, so cold that each outward breath appeared as a soft white cold in the dark. 'Every thing' Maya mused 'appears to be moving very fast as if you are in along tunnel. Of course it's just the lack of light that makes it appear that way. Dogs can see much better in the dark than humans so I guess I don't have any thing to worry about.' As the path proceeded up in to the mountain you would suddenly come across a sharp bend barely visible in the slowly diminishing gloom. It took a good forty minutes to complete the step ascent. The return trip was even more rewarding, as below the sun would have bathed the valley and it's residents in pale gold light.

Maya finally reached the house, the tired dogs trailed along behind. Maya slowed to a walk, the old, faded black T- shirt stuck to her back. Sweat beaded on her arms and her flushed face. She noticed Gokou and his family, Gokou siting in the grass and his wife and son on the steps. Maya smiled at them as she pushed the soft strands of loose hair off her sweaty face. The dogs swirled around her feet with impatient dignity.

"Hi!" Maya called in breathless accents as she pushed the dogs out of her way. Almost immediately Gohan ran up and latched on to her legs a huge grin plastered on his face. Maya hugged him back. 'Just how can I resist.'

" Hello Maya -san." Gohan said looking up at her.

"Hi Gohan." Maya with her voice still somewhat shaky responded, ruffling his hair.

"Are you sure you don't mind watching him?" Chichi looked more than a little doubtful. ' Do I mind? Who are you trying to kid Chichi?' Maya smiled a bit as she disentangled her self from Gohan grasp.

"It's okay Chichi we'll be fine." Maya sat down heavily, on the grass.

"Well okay but you're not to get dirty, Gohan! You're going to Kame house with Gokou this after noon." Gokou spent most of the conversation grinning at Maya in the most ridiculous fashion. 'You baka Gokou' It was all Maya could do to keep a straight face. She focused on Chichi's words and averted her gaze from Gokou's smiling face.

"Gohan will be fine, Chichi. I'll make sure he's clean when you get back."

" Hmmm. Well he'd better be. Okay we had better go now. Goodbye." Chichi said in a rush. Gokou lifted his hand still grinning.

"Bye." Before he could do anything else Chichi started to walk away.

"Bye." Maya and Gohan responded in unison.

"Come on, Gokou!" Chichi grabbed Gokou 's arm and dragged him away. When Chichi and Gokou where out of earshot, Maya laid back on the tiles and laughed. Gohan stared at her and wondered if she'd gone mad.

Maya changed into a t-shirt featuring a metal band that had been long forgotten even on her earth. If the shirt had seen better days then the jeans were past it. Maya reasoned that what Chichi didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Had changed Gohan into something that he could play in without getting dirty. Which was how Gohan got away with playing with the animals. Even in the face of Chichi's expectation.

Son Gohan sat on the back steps talking while Maya brushed Jingy's short glossy black coat. Jingy was a very pretty Welsh pony but underneath those black eyelashes and sweet expression lurked a greedy, food obsessed monster. At 11 hands high Jingy didn't look too formidable but get between her and food and you find out differently. She had a full repertoire of tricks for obtaining her hearts greatest desire and in consequence was a little too well rounded. Jingy got away with what ever she could, even more infuriating she did it all with a smile, a smug little smile at that. Jingy had long perfected the art of looking innocent no matter how guilty she really was.

Gohan rubbed Jingy's black and white nose with his open palm. The mare stood quietly for once enjoying the attention. Taking the opportunity Maya picked up the mare's small round, white hoof and cleared it of debris. Drawing the metal hoof pick from heel to toe. Gohan stopped talking and watched Maya intently.

"Maya-san please can I have a ride?" She regarded him 'Well why not? What's the worst thing that could happen?'

" Okay, just have a sit first." She picked him up carefully putting him up on Jingy's broad back. Gohan buried his hands in Jingy's black mane the typical son smile spread across his face. Maya continued grooming, smoothing the hair over her to white socks and her neat white blaze. After a while Maya stopped brushing the little mare. She watched Gohan sitting up on Jingy's back playing with her long mane. And smiled. It was a strange smile, a little rueful, a little sad but still a smile which where even now pretty rare. Maya pushed her plait over her shoulder and took hold of Jingy's lead rope. 'I wonder whether Tana would have been like this if she'd lived.' Maya sighed and began to lead Gohan about. The black mare walked out being careful not to dislodge her the intent little boy on her back. Gohan had no trouble retaining his balance and was perfectly happy to walk up and down the lawn, until he had to wash and change again.

By the time Chichi and Gokou had returned, Gohan was neat and clean again with no signs of his active morning. Chichi was pleased. Gokou gave Maya a curious look and grinned when she winked at him. Eventually they left and Maya wandered up stairs. The house was actually finished now, all the walls painted and the floors polished. Reaching her bedroom Maya found Socrates on her bed, without thinking she unceremoniously turfed him off. Maya sat down on the bed near her pillow and pushed the heavy blue velvet curtains out of her way. She rifled through the top drawer of her bedside table and pulled out a small silver-framed photo. The once bright colours had faded and the edges had yellowed. 'Strange really I didn't think it would have faded that much.' It was only a small photo four inches square, of a small girl with brown hair in an aqua marine dress, she could not have been more than eight months old. Maya held the frame so tightly that her hand ached. 'Maybe I should put them up. Would that encourage the others' questions?' Maya sighed. She curled up on the blue damask with Socrates her heart troubled. She did not sleep. In the end feeling no better she decided to school Kamikaze for a while. 'That should take my mind off Tana.'

As she approached Kamikaze, he raised his head from the lush grass. He was now a mature stallion and looked it; he had filled out, become fit and muscular. Half way across the paddock Maya paused, she could have sworn that someone had called her. The stallion raised his head and whickered he approached at a steady trot. Kamikaze tossed his head as he came to halt beside Maya. The black horse threw his head up his nostrils flared, ears pricked. Maya took hold of a clump of Kamikaze's mane and proceeded to lead him back to the gate. The wind picked up throwing the stallion's black mane and tail about like water in a tsunami. Maya stopped suddenly a slow burning in her veins, a strange sensation not painful but unnerving. 'There it is again, what the hell is it. Someone's ki?' All morning the sensation had grown a vague feeling of ill ease of approaching malice. Highly tuned as her senses where this knowledge came from somewhere else from some instinct or sensitivity that had no name. Perhaps it came from the fact that she was a woman that she had been a mother and even now was the possessor of a shrewd and distrustful mind. Perhaps not. At any rate such feelings where not new. Often in the past she had known the out come of any event long before it started, there was no logical explanation it just was. Kamikaze raised his head he also felt the approaching trouble.

(2002)

Chapter 9 will take a little while. Please read and review.