Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. If I did, things would be different.
Author's notes:
"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.
Buruma clenched her fingers into a tight fist. Her eyes widened and her face paled. Under the harsh unshielded fluorescent light, her fair complexion became a stark frame for her intense blue eyes. Maya half turned away continued to spoon sugar into three cups. She seemed outwardly calm, completely undisturbed. From where she stood the faint tremor in her fingers was invisible to all but herself. Buruma's jaw hung open 'surely she's joking' but some how she knew that Maya was not. Her voice had been too calm, too full of irony, and bitter frustration for the statement to be a joke. Buruma exhaled slowly, she felt rather strange, guilty even. 'I don't know why it's not as if I did any thing. It seemed such an innocuous question.' The strange flowing script interspersed with precise Japanese characters hovered in her mind. Buruma never had much difficulty picking up new things but for once, she wished she had. She found herself staring at Maya's long, multi coloured plait, fascinated and at the same time a little repulsed.
Her shock and doubt began to fade, only to be replaced by a spark of indignant anger. They had never spoken much, Maya and herself. Part of Buruma resented Maya. Especially now the older woman had given Buruma's pride a good shake, which she didn't like. 'How dare she talk to me like that! Still I'll let it go. This time.' Maya seemed much troubled by her past but unwilling, almost frightened of revealing it. Buruma looked at her more carefully. Maya's body language had changed. The bright merciless light emphasised the sharp contours of her frame. The older woman no longer stood up at full height her shoulders had dropped a little. The bitter spark of anger and violence that had burnt from Maya before was no longer noticeable. 'Is that because it's gone or is she just in more control now?'
When the older woman glanced back at her Buruma dropped her eyes. She still couldn't quite face Maya, and did not see that there was no malice or anger left in Maya's quiet brown eyes. Only the faintest whisper of something else. To be perfectly honest Buruma didn't understand the older woman. She had gotten use to Maya being placid and quiet. It was rather a shock to find that the older woman had claws. The blue haired woman shivered inside, Maya made her nervous. Almost intimidated her 'it's almost as if she knows what you're thinking.' When Buruma glanced up Maya had turned away, but the odd sensation remained. She glanced at Kuririn out of the corner of one, unsure of what she'd see.
The monk met Buruma's eyes and blinked. He hadn't the faintest idea what just happened. Apart from the statement, that Maya had another name, something which everyone suspected anyway, and the earlier scuffle. 'Maya put Buruma in her place a bit too brutally I admit but . . .' The bitter animosity between the two women had abruptly evaporated. How and why, Kami only knew. Gohan sat on one of the timber stools and shrugged when Kuririn looked at him. The youngest member of the Son family had gown up knowing Maya's other name with out ever being told. He'd seen it some where, it wasn't news to him. Maya watched something outside through the window above the sink. She poured the boiled water into the mugs and glanced out the window. Kuririn tried to see what had got her attention. The smooth lawn was very dark, he couldn't see anything much a few dark shapes, and the half lit stable yard. He wondered if Maya was ignoring them on purpose, it seemed the most likely explanation.
Maya poured milk into Gohan's chocolate, and tried to work out if the approaching person was going to Kame house or coming to her. It was still to far away for her to be sure. Her eyes closed, as she attempted to focus her mind. It was useless her conscience stabbed. 'I really was unnecessarily nasty to Buruma. She's not that bad really, she means well.' Still she gritted her teeth she didn't like Buruma. The woman always came across as a self absorbed brat. True Buruma was a very intelligent woman but she lacked certain sensitivity when dealing with other people. 'She's not the only one. I behaved like a bitch myself.'
Maya sighed inwardly and pushed the tangle of loose wispy hair out of her face. 'It isn't, as if I have an excuse, really I should have kept my mouth shut. The senshi and their immediate friends and families have been more than patient. I've said as little as possible about the past. After all, it's no one else's business. Still . . . They rarely ask, though at times they must have been curious.' Agitated she pushed it to the back of her mind. Maya shoved her plait back over her shoulder and presented the mug of chocolate to Gohan. He smiled and thanked her politely. Maya smiled back and him and completed the exchange with equal politeness. Inwardly she sighed distracted she wasn't in the mood to deal with twenty questions and she was dreading more. She was still tired, bone tired. A sharp cold pit had opened up in her stomach. Now that her mood had cooled, her bitterness and malice had faded. She didn't take much notice of Kuririn's scrutiny when she handed him his tea.
Kuririn looked at Maya critically there was a faint amount of tension in her jaw and a dark gleam of anxiety in her eyes. Kuririn relaxed, he concluded that she would not lose her temper. The quick flicker of dark anxiety in her confirmed this. The soft vague purr of an air car's engine reached Kuririn's ears. Followed by a loud repetitive thud, accompanied by the muffled rattle of steel on steel and Kamikaze's deep throbbing bellow. Maya stood up and contemplated chastising the horse, when a strong baritone beat her to it. The stallion fell silent and his head disappeared back inside the box. Maya looked up past Kuririn out the sliding glass door at the neat line of canine heads.
The visitor came into view, under the light. His hair rough and floppy fell just short of a pair of deep set dark eyes. It was of course Yajarobe. The dogs left their dishes and circled him. They greeted him with soft whines and fawned at his feet. The dogs gazed at him with soft adoring eyes. With their up turn muzzles they sniffed the bundle Yajarobe held half tucked under his arm. The dogs pushed forward and poked at Yajarobe's ample frame. A sea of raised muzzles and waging tails impeded Yajarobe's passage. Maya slid the door open and spoke, just one word in her native tongue. The dogs instantly fell silent and crouched around her feet wagging their tails. Her relief at Yajarobe's intrusion was intense. Though, she wondered at his arrival. He had been by at least once a day since the fight against the Saiya-jins, but never before so late. He had been hurt in the fight they all had. Her eyes trailed over him as shade anxiously, 'he doesn't seem hurt just very tired. He really needs to rest.'
Maya peered at Yajarobe curiously only to have the small dirty bundle thrust into her hands. The bundle whimpered and quivered. Maya peeled back the towel curious. T two sad brown eyes gazed curiously back at her, between a pair of small ears with half bent tips, and a tiny dry black nose. A tiny muddle of different breeds with huge paws. The head of a beagle, the ears of a Doberman and the soft hair of a golden retriever. So obviously very thin and dirty although he was still half cocooned in Yajarobe's ancient car towel. Maya glanced back up at Yajarobe. 'The poor little thing he's far too small to be away from his mother.'
Maya held the pup against her body. She was so bothered she almost missed the faint nervous, glitter in the back of Yajarobe's dark eyes. Almost. Her eyes narrowed, and gleamed. A familiar surge or irritation and aggression filled her. She curbed her feelings with a great deal of difficulty. Maya's eyes ran over him. He looked very tired and pale, dark smudges had come up under his eyes. She doubted that he had anything to eat this evening. Still she wondered.
"What exactly are you up to?" Her voice was soft faintly cautious. Yajarobe frowned, from under his thick unruly fringe. He opened his mouth to respond and then abruptly, shut it. He had seen Buruma, Kuririn and Gohan though the open door. He changed tactics. 'I had better not tell her in front of everyone, not with the mood she's been in lately.'
"Nothing, I found the pup just wandering around. Thought you might be able to do something for it." His tone was sullen, moody but his face faintly flushed. Maya regarded him her eyes wary, but filled with warmth. 'There is defiantly something he's not telling me. Hmm well, I guess he'll tell me when he's ready.' A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Hmm, well I guess you'd better come in. Since you're here." She turned around and stepped back through the door. Yajarobe froze. The tension in the room was palpable. On the threshold Maya paused and swung around.
"Well." A note of irritation crept in to her voice. Yajarobe reddened a little more, and hurriedly, followed her inside.
The kitchen was quiet. Yajarobe glanced over at Buruma and Kuririn, he briefly acknowledged them. A thin cold knot settled in his stomach. The silence was ominous. Maya's whole being burnt with nervous agitation. Every movement was abrupt, she seemed anxious, and tired. The samurai's frown deepened. 'Of everyone, Gokou and I know Maya best, not that we know a great deal about her. She doesn't say much never did. Korin told us not to interfere, I guess he knows what he's doing.' Yajarobe often wondered about her, about her past, especially of late. Still the tension in the room bothered him. He wondered if Maya had finally snapped. Not that he doubted her basic kindness. But he had seen for him self how scathing she could be, when she was in the right state of mind.
Yajarobe followed Maya as she carried the small dog in to the laundry. He felt distinctly uncomfortable as six pairs of eyes followed his passage across the room. Silently he slipped into the laundry behind her and closed the door. When she fixed an old towel over the washing machine Yajarobe noticed the faint tremor in her usually steady hands. It was only slight, barely noticeable. He moved a little closer. Adrenalin pumped in his veins. He never quite knew how she'd react. 'Generally Maya's steady and reliable, but she hasn't been herself lately. Her reactions are always pretty quick. Still…' Maya sensed his movement toward her. She felt trapped with Yajarobe between her and the shut door. 'I'd never get past him.' Anger sparked in her blood, fear and nervousness mingled. She looked up at Yajarobe, with one hand supporting the little dog.
Maya's eyes glittered with a thinly veiled hostility. Yet over all that Yajarobe could sense her fear and nervousness, her face was pale under it's slight flush. Greyish, in fact. Her hair was far paler than it had been. Constant exposure to the sun had seen to that. It hid to some degree the colour of her skin. The samurai gazed at her doubtfully there was something, something he could not quite see. His hand reached out to touch her, by some will of it's own. Maya was uncertain as to how to deal with the situation.
She drew herself up and made as if to move away. There was no where to go. Suddenly the realisation came to her. There was more to Yajarobe's actions than honour or a solicitous concern for her welfare. The dull truth of the matter made her cold all over. She had no desire to hurt Yajarobe he was a gentle, kind hearted man. More to the point she respected him. Maya felt at a loss, she was fond of Yajarobe. Yajarobe dropped his hand, a faint sigh escaped from his lips.
"Korin wants to see you, that's really why I came." Maya didn't respond to his soft admission but she relaxed imperceptibly. Her single half clenched fist began to unfurl, the bright anger left her eyes. Yajarobe relaxed a little too. 'She trusts me that much at least.' The samurai was surprised to find that he had broken out into a cold sweat. Startled by his own actions, his heart continued to thud up against his ribs.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." His voice was soft, and very gentle. Maya stood barely a foot away from him one hand still resting on top of the washer. Her face flushed. In some strange way they understood each other. They shared a mutual respect, their code of ethics were different, but some how that had never mattered. They always got along well enough, but this was different.
"It's alright, no harm done." Maya drew a nervous breath. She was very tense, it was difficult to think never mind talking. 'What brought that on? He's never done anything like that before.'
"Besides, it's me, upsetting people." Her voice faintly rueful grew softer with each syllable. 'That explains a few things.' Yajarobe watched Maya put her hand out to turn on the tap. He listened a moment and realised that it had gotten very quiet in the kitchen all the sudden.
"Do you think Korin can wait until tomorrow? After the colts go." Yajarobe sighed again and nodded. Not trusting his voice. 'I don't think Korin will mind, thought really I don't feel like doing this again tomorrow.'
"You know you can stay here. Tonight I mean. If you want to it will save you an extra trip." Maya winced 'That didn't come out right. I just hope he doesn't take it the wrong way.' Yajarobe's expression was doubtful, his heart was still pounding, and he was starting to feel ill. Maya shifted uncomfortably. She was nervous, not offended by his silence.
"You don't have to Yajarobe but there's plenty of room. And you do look very tied." Maya spaced her words carefully concentrating. Every ounce of anger, fear, agitation, and anxiety had evaporated. She was her usual calm gentle self again, but very tired. 'Now all I have to do is apologise to Buruma. That's going to be fun.' The small biscuit coloured puppy sat unwatched and forgotten. It paused in it's thorough sniffing of Maya's hand and slowly ran a tentative tongue over it instead. His small fringed tail wagged vigorously in time to his increasingly rapid licks. Maya glanced down at the bony creature and smiled.
"Well?" She dragged her eyes away from the puppy and looked up at Yajarobe. He reddened again and nodded just once in response.
"Good. Well we 'd better clean this little fellow up first."
The little dog's tail never stopped waging even when he was submerged up to his ears in warm water. Yajarobe's strong hands lifted and held him while Maya carefully untangled his matted dirty fur. It hardly needed two of them, but some how neither wanted to leave the relative safety of the small room. Not just yet anyway. They needed some time to come to terms with the slight shift in their friendship. Away from curious eyes. The small puppy proved to be a soft biscuit colour under the profusion of dirt. The dirt seemed to transfer itself from the puppy on to every thing including Maya's hair. The puppy had several small grazes and cuts on his paws and legs. They evidently stung as the small animal paddled madly when ever they were touched. Despite his small size, the pup still managed to get them both thoroughly dirty. Finally when he was much cleaner Maya took the puppy from Yajarobe's capable hands and dried him. Maya analysed the multiple cuts and grazes, which if any thing looked worse now they were clean. She looked back at Yajarobe and tired not to laugh. The samurai's clothes were wet through, along with his hair. Which dripped into his rather unimpressed eyes. Not that she was in much better shape herself. 'Still . . .'
"You had better change. There's some clothes in the trunk at the end of my bed." Maya's told Yajarobe as she fished in the cupboard. She retrieved a tube of rather unpleasant neon green ointment and caught sight of Yajarobe's bemused expression.
"Aren't you going to go get changed?" Yajarobe gazed at Maya a moment longer before departing. 'I don't think I'm ever going to work that woman out. Her mood swings are incredible.'
Yajarobe slipped out of the laundry, and walked towards the stairs. He moved quickly past Buruma and Kuririn, and dropped his eyes as he felt their curious eyes on him. After a brief glance, the two adults' looked over at Maya as she exited the laundry. Still rubbing the puppy's damp coat. Gohan sprang down from his seat. His eyes lit upon the puppy cradled in Maya's arms. A tiny creature thin and bony with a swollen belly. The pup's ears, eyes, and paws looked out of proportion, against his thin bony frame. The small animal's forlorn expression as Maya rubbed the thick cream into its wounds was enough to destroy the lingering tension in the room. A quiet calm descended. That lasted well into the following day.
(2002)