Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ.

Author's notes: Well here I am again chapter 13. This chapter is a little gory, so you've been warned! And don't forget to read and review.

"Double quotations indicate conversations."

'Single quotations in italics indicate thoughts.'

Glossary :

Ohayo: Good morning

Baka: Idiot

Kuso: (Generally) damn or shit.

Hai: Yes

Otousan: Father

Katana: literally a Japanese sword, generally refers to the typical samurai sword.

Dust filled her lungs it choked out sight and sound. The stench of burnt flesh, blood and stale sweat filled her nostrils with every breath. They threatened to transport her to another time and place, a world were such things were common place. Between a rock and a hard place 'the harder I try to avoid situations like this the deeper I get drawn into them. As for this dust, how can it just blow up out of nowhere?' Maya squinted though the grit tried to watch the tall man's approach. Her hands were stiff and sticky with the combination of drying blood and sweat. Wisps of gritty hair stuck to her damp face. The fragile gusts of wind were too weak to send the dust and stench on their way. So, it hung in the air an earthy curtain between death and salvation.

A sudden fierce gust of wind forced the dust and grit away. Some unknown, unseen force drove the wind before it. From the depths of the dust induced gloom, Kintoun came into view. In silent haste it bore Gokou to the battle ground. As Kintoun passed, it drove the dust back to the earth. The cloud swept very close to Nappa and Maya, it cleaved a path in the air between them. Gokou drew Kintoun close enough for her to feel the little cloud's cold vapour against her face. 'Is Gokou mad or just reckless.' Maya was more startled than angry. Son Gokou's arrival caused Nappa and indeed everyone to stop dead in their tracks. Maya though relieved at the monetary distraction continued to tremble. She never took her eyes from Nappa. Gokou walked across to where Gohan and Kuririn stood next to Piccolo's body. The wind picked up again, throwing fine particles of dust into the air. Gokou crouched down next to Piccolo's scorched body, lifted the limp wrist and checked his pulse.

"He's dead Otousan." Gohan hung his head, his words were soft and troubled.

Gokou's eyes flickered with anger as he looked at the bodies of his fallen friends.

Maya watched Gokou out of the corner of her eye. She watched as Gokou checked Piccolo's pulse despite Gohan assertion that he was not alive. A dull, cold lump settled in the pit of her stomach, she didn't like the cold, violent anger in Gokou's eyes. In the lull created by Gokou's arrival Nappa took the opportunity and attacked.

Maya shifted her weight and was ready, when Nappa launched himself at her. She moved lightly out of his way, and drew her bloodied sword blade across Nappa's exposed fore arm. She had expected Nappa's attack and her aim was steady. Maya used all her strength and drove the blade deep into Nappa's flesh. The steel gleamed beneath its bloody shroud and the razor edge remained sharp. The sword passed smoothly through Nappa's arm and left a neat slice that bleed freely in its wake.

Maya managed to dodge Nappa's initial retaliation and the savage swipe at her head that followed. The dry air and dust made it hard to breathe. She tried to watch everyone at once, painfully aware of the more powerful Saiya-jin above them. 'I hope that Gokou's watching Vegeta, the last thing I need is him stepping in.' Maya backed off a little and waited for an opportunity. She tried to conserve her dwindling energy and stayed just out of Nappa's reach. Took several deep breaths, pushed the hair out of her eyes and watched. At last, her chance came Nappa left a portion of his hip largely unguarded. Maya moved silently, swiftly and forced her way in under his arm with her shoulder. She used her size to her advantage, dug the rounded end of the sword's hilt it to the top of his unarmoured thigh. The rapid movement of bones and muscles was punctuated by ragged breathing. Feet scrapped at the crumbly clay searched for an advantage, for purchase. Maya tried to knock Nappa off balance. 'He'll do less damage once he's down. It's not as if he hasn't done enough already.' She had started to falter. She knew it was only a matter of time before she made a mistake.

Maya failed to avoid Nappa's large callused hand as it closed around her upper arm. He drew her up to his face and roared obscenities at her. Maya regarded Nappa with a mixture of mild disgust, restrained anger and stubbornness his yelling did nothing to rattle her. Her eyes now more gold than brown glittered with suppressed anger. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath rattled in her throat. Quite calmly she brought the sword up gripped it in her hand and hurled it forcefully into his foot. The sword gleamed as half of it stuck out of his foot like a spear. Nappa's grip loosened for a moment and Maya wriggled free. She dropped lightly on to the ground below. Locked her hands around the sword and drew it from Nappa's foot. Then wheeled and sprinted after a few strides she took to the air.

They tore around the sky Maya trying to distance Nappa enough to get her breath back. It was a game of cat and mouse she had no hope of wining. Her chest burned, her arm was numb where Nappa had restrained her. Finally she turned knowing she would never wear Nappa down. He was a seasoned warrior, physically stronger than she was. Several times Nappa's hand closed on air before he got hold of Maya again.

Maya's expression remained unchanged, still quietly angry. As the Saiya-jin held her arm again, Maya glared into his black murderous eyes. Her breathing had steadied. She was calm. She remained calm, detached as she brought her free hand up and punched him. Maya drove her fist into his face putting all her remaining strength behind the blow.

Her fist connected with the bridge of Nappa's nose the force of which made his eyes smart. She ground her knuckles into his facial bones, with an almost vindictive anger. 'Unmitigated bastard.' The Saiya-jin roared thunderously into Maya's calm unmoved face. The large angry man shook her roughly. Her body jerked about gracelessly, her largely unplaited hair slashed at her face and her sword slipped from her bloody fingers. Nappa transferred his grip from Maya's arm to the back of her waist. He clutched a handful of clothing and the belt from which her scabbard hung. Maya watched helpless as Nappa's fist came towards her. Her large glossy eyes gazed at him with emotionless calm. The impact seemed some how remote even when the Saiya-jin's fist disappeared into her abdomen. Her body collapsed around Nappa's fist. The Saiya-jin's hand crushed what ribs remained undamaged remorselessly before hurling her body away.

Yajarobe's feet hit the ground in a rapid tattoo. He could sense the rise and fall of the warriors' ki and travelled towards them. The samurai could move surprisingly quickly and silently when the mood was upon him. His only desire was to get to the battle ground though he didn't know how much help he would be. He could sense Maya's ki, it had risen then levelled out, and now it was falling. Several times, he had sensed the same thing and each time the ki had faded completely. Yajarobe's brows knitted, he frowned. 'Gokou should have arrived at the battle by now,' yet Gokou's ki remained unchanged. 'Just how much worse can things get.' Piccolo's ki had disappeared which left the unsettling notion that Piccolo and therefore Kami had died. Korin would stand in as guardian of the earth for the time being. But the real problem was that no one could be revived. 'With out Kami there are no dragon balls, not that they'd be much help right now. Then there's Maya if she dies it might be impossible to revive her at all, even with the dragon balls.' Yajarobe sighed annoyed at his own ignorance and ran with more urgency. He hoped Gokou got there in time.

Gokou sprang into the air and caught Maya's limp body moments before it collided with a rock face. Her eyes were glassy exhausted and pained. Gokou put her down carefully. He noted Maya's greyish parlour, and the startlingly bright blood that flowed from several large gashes. She was pale, paler than he had ever seen her, partly from exhaustion and shock. Gokou glared over at the two men, his jaw set.

"Hey, Maya." His voice was worried, her ki had fallen farther than he liked.

"Hai, Gokou." Maya was tired and desperate, but her voice stayed soft and steady. More than anything she wished that the fight were over was. 'All our efforts so far have been in vain. Enough people have died at the hands of the Saiya-jin.' Maya sighed even her anger had evaporated. Exhaustion was rapidly approaching her body had had enough. She was finished it was up to Gokou and Kuririn now.

Kuririn who had watched everything with a growing sense of impending doom felt a new and powerful respect for the small determined woman. He had never really thought much of her had never seen her fight but for the first time any of them had. Unlike Gokou, he did not trust her, nor did he particularly like her, 'she's the hardest woman I've ever met. She's stubborn, and most of the time I don't have the faintest idea what she's going to do.' Now Kuririn was beginning to realise how trust worthy an ally Maya could be.

She moaned softly, she felt rather like she'd been though a mincing machine. She lay on the ground for a while as she watched Gokou and Nappa fight. A bitter sort of pleasure filled her as the cocky Saiya-jin's expression changed from complete confidence to frantic fear. Maya pulled herself up; her lungs and chest ached. It was difficult to breathe the sharp metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Pain seared in every vein. Maya coughed, her ribs screamed in defiance at the pressure place on them. She knelt on the hard ground her long hair hung about her face in half matted tangles, only the gold disc and cross were unblemished. As Maya coughed, blood evacuated her body. The sound of Nappa as he begged for Vegeta's help filled her ears.

White light filled the air around her; heat and searing pain enveloped her. The earth seemed to shake. Maya's body slithered into a motionless heap, surrounded by a small pool of blood. Earth and rock rained from the sky. The air was filled with a solitary shout. Gokou watched Vegeta, surprised, and disgusted. It was time for Gohan and Kuririn to leave. A grieved he told them to leave.

Yajarobe watched as Gokou and Vegeta moved away. He dropped down next to pile of rock that hid Maya from view. Yajarobe could sense the slow, dull life force emanating from her despite being half covered in earth and rock. He dug some of the rock away until he could see her face and arms. She was almost completely covered in earth except for the thin bands of skin washed clean by the steady trickle of blood. Yajarobe watched the fight carefully as he crouched down next to Maya. He noted that Gokou winning and drew Maya out from under the rocks by her arm pits. The air had cooled considerably, it was still dusty, but the fight had lost none of its heat. No one seemed to notice him as he lifted her and disappeared to the relative cover behind the rocks.

Maya hadn't the faintest idea what had happened. A blast or the back wash of a blast that was the only conclusion she could come to. A strong blast judging by the amount of pain she was in. She had a vague memory of a momentary brightness followed by nothing. It was unnerving to be unable to recall anything, 'I've been knocked out I supposed but for how long?' As Maya tried to sit up the world shifted about unpleasantly, so she stopped and tried to lay still. A gentle hand steadied her as she shivered. The cold air had chilled her to the bone. Maya opened her eyes, and tried to ignore the rising crescendo of pain, from her ribs and left arm. Her eyes came to rest on an out stretched hand containing a sensu bean. She looked up, confused into Yajarobe's frowning face. Maya took the sensu doubtfully. When she looked up Yajarobe was gone. She broke the bean in two and put half away for safe keeping.

Yajarobe watched as Vegeta's body expanded and changed. The Saiya-jin's clothing seemed to expand with him. In less than a minute he had become a giant ape in this form Vegeta proceeded to attack Gokou with increased vigour. Yajarobe could barely believe his eyes, in this new form Vegeta had the upper hand. Out of Vegeta's line of sight Kuririn and Gohan landed.

Kuririn's Kienzan sliced through the air bright and lethal but just missed. Yajarobe watched, gathered his courage, and drew his katana. He knew he had to try and remove Vegeta's tail at the first opportunity. Vegeta's distraction was short lived. He could hardly ignore the fact that Yajarobe had sliced off his tail. Murderous he retaliated. Vegeta attacked the closest people Kuririn and Yajarobe made sure it was them. Intensely aggressive and angry Vegeta did a surprising amount of damage. Yajarobe was largely a swordsman although he had improved his martial arts. He was still more vulnerable without his katana than with it. Normally relatively phlegmatic, Yajarobe now found himself swinging somewhere between desperation and anger. His intense emotions surprised him. Yajarobe was not unfeeling but generally tried to distance himself from people. Something he had learnt in the deep dark recesses of his past. He was unaccustomed to such intense feelings.

What ever emotion drove him, he was sure that it was not anger. If it had been, he'd have take Vegeta's head off. As it was Yajarobe 's katana sliced into the back of Vegeta's armour cracked it and lacerated the muscle beneath. It stunned Vegeta but barely. A scuffle ensued, at some point Yajarobe lost his sword. Panic quickened his actions, but before Yajarobe really lost his nerve, Gohan transformed. Even Vegeta was aware that this was the end. His defeat wasn't far away.

Maya crouched down over the two fallen warriors. She reached out with a trembling hand and pushed the damp hair away from Gohan's sweaty forehead. She ran her hand down his back and was relieved to find that the small boy was mostly unharmed. He and Vegeta were for the moment unconscious. Maya was tense but she lifted Gohan off Vegeta carefully. Gohan was very heavy for his size; training had made his bones and muscles very dense and strong. Maya lifted Gohan's weight on to her right arm and shoulder, his legs dangled against he thigh. Vegeta's eyes flickered open.

Before he could really see anything, the Saiya-jin prince was aware of the cold, hard edge of a sharp steel blade against his throat. He gazed up at Maya aware of he vulnerability of his position. Part of Maya raged at Vegeta, at his arrogance and ruthlessness. Her frustration welled inside of her, 'he's a vindictive little bastard with no respect for life. He deserves no better for himself. But killing him will change nothing,' she had enough blood on her hands. Vegeta… What could she do with him?

He watched her seeking some sign of weakness, all he could find was a deep sadness in her strange ageless eyes. Maya tried to think what to do, in truth they had reached a stale mate neither had a great deal of strength or energy left. She could kill him if she had to but she had no desire to add to the blood shed. Enough people had died, enough. Maya sighed, 'if I allow him to live. Vegeta will in all probability only continue, in his endless destruction it is all he knows'. The Saiya-jin twitched a little her sword had left a livid red mark on his larynx. Maya would not kill him and Vegeta knew it. She was tired to try to continue fighting.

Maya stood she did her best to hide her growing stiffness. She was faintly nauseous from the pain of her injuries. At that, moment Kuririn pushed past her. He grabbed Vegeta and flung him against a rock. The little monk was more angry than Maya had ever seen him. Kuririn held Yajarobe's sword at Vegeta's throat.

Gohan's weight had become more of a burden every second. She turned stiff and tired and walked across the ground that separated her from Gokou. Her steps were tentative and careful, mindful of the pain that any jarring caused. It no longer mattered that she was difficult and moody that she found it difficult to trust anyone, all that mattered was that they were alive. Maya held Gohan firmly against her ribs. She had no option but to tolerate the sharp, mind numbing pain as her broken ribs grated against each other. The trembling had increased to a sort of palsy that she was unable to control. Her body had begun the long backslid into shock.

Maya crouched down beside Gokou, she moved Gohan's weight to a more comfortable position as she did so. Gokou was a mess his complexion was greyish from pain, blood loss and shear complete exhaustion. A fresh ripple of anger coursed through her. The utter, utter waste of it all. Maya swayed from the effort of staying up right. She ran her eyes over Gokou's injuries. He was just a collection of broken bones, contusions, and wounds. He was lucky to be alive as painful as that maybe. Maya trailed a finger lightly over a livid mark on Gokou's cheek. His dark pain filled eyes opened and gazed up at her, he made a feeble attempt to smile. Maya was tired. She could not find the words to tell him to lie still. When she spoke, it was with the strange lilting tongue that only she understood. Gokou did not understand the words, but the tone of her voice was reassuring. He closed his eyes and rested.

(2002)