Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. I've said this 23 times now so hopefully everyone now knows.

Author's notes: Ah yes I'm dribbling this out a bit but hang in there all is soon to be revealed. Please read and review.

"Double quotations indicate conversations."

'Single quotations in italics indicate thoughts.'
:: indicate telepathic conversations::

Glossary :

Ohayo: Good morning

Baka: Idiot

Kuso: (Generally) damn or shit.

Hai: Yes

Iie: No

Demo: But

Otousan: Father

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

Sensei: Teacher

Gomen: Sorry

Ten: Heaven

Ken: (a) Sword, not necessarily a Japanese one.

Saishuu: The last

Wakizashi: The short sword carried by the samurai along with a katana. Together they are referred to as Daisho.

Haori: The outer garment of a samurai that resembles a thigh length coat

There was the sound of hooves ringing far off like distant thunder. Hooves on dry earth, galloping on the dry rainless up land, far, far away. Leaving her cold and alone. Were they retreating and leaving her behind? She didn't know. All was dark, and she was cold and alone.

"Wake up Cassie." Kioshi's voice gentle but insistent rose out of the dark. The dark that filled every corner, leaving her blind.

"It's time to wake up, there are things you have to do."

Maya's eyes snapped open, then immediately squeezed shut against the light pouring in through the window. Slowly her awareness grew to the smooth, soft sheets beneath her. To the steady ringing in her head, to the dull pain in her back, and to the discomfort that rapidly turned to pain with each uncomfortable breath. Tentatively she ran her hands across her ribcage, and found it firmly bandaged. She tried to piece together the events of the previous day.

Her memory extended only to a series of jagged images, of the light glinting on well sharpened blades, and of Ben's mocking voice. The last clear memory she had was of the sickening sensation of her hand groping inside Ben's body. All else was darkness. 'Then what…?' All thoughts of the blank space in her memory subsided in a rush. 'Oh Kami! The memory drive!' Frantic, she sat up. Only to be firmly chastised by the enraged screaming of her body and the ringing in her head. Hand across her ribs she gasped, her breathing rapid and shallow, her hair falling in her face. She stared at her bandaged hand, thankfully not her sword hand. Slowly Maya came to realise just how bad things were. She'd vaguely been aware during the fight how badly hurt she was but adrenalin had blocked much of the pain. Without it, she felt everything in screeching harmony. She cursed mentally. Pig headily determined she dragged herself up by slow painful degrees.

The ice cold water flowing over her head and face cleared her mind. She drew her head out from under the tap and regarded herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still the same, flinty and hard gazing back at her in cool detachment, despite the dark rings beneath them. A livid bruise high on her cheek bone showed up starkly against her unusually pale face. Droplets of water dripped down onto her skin from the tangled strands of water darkened hair. Slowly, painfully she dragged on some clothing and shivering pulled a robe around herself.

Maya hesitated at the top of the stairs. Socrates' fur brushed against her bare ankles. That small amount of activity had already taken her an hour and now her heart thudded within her chest in a rapid staccato beat. Shock waves of pain filled her each time she moved. She gazed down the stairs at her feet knowing that they would cause her still further pain. Unfortunately she had no choice the stairs were between her and where she needed to be. Somewhere below she heard the muted rise and fall of several voices. Tentatively she placed one foot down on the lower step. Only to have a rapid spear of pain tear through her body. Maya gritted her teeth and gripped the banister for dear life her body shaking at the fresh onslaught.

"Aren't you meant to be in bed?" Yamcha smiled at her uncertainly. He took in the trembling, pale figure in front of him so different from the swift, sure swordswoman of the day before, and wondered how she'd made it this far. Maya didn't take her eyes off the stairs. She shook her head a little and resolutely brought her other foot down on to the step, gritting her teeth against the sharp pain that ran up her spine. Yamcha pressed his palm over the small white hand clutching the banister so tightly that the bones in her knuckles stood out in stark relief. Maya recoiled at the contact, eyes wide.

"If you're so determined at least let me help you." Maya looked up at him, her eyes wide and dark with pain. Yamcha hesitated for a moment before sweeping her up into his arms. He felt faintly surprised at her weight, Maya was smaller than Buruma and leaner but she was mostly muscle. Yamcha ignored the trembling he could feel quite clearly as her held Maya against his chest. She was very tense and decidedly uneasy. He felt the hard press of metal as Maya pulled the robe, rather like the heavy outer garment of a swordsman around herself. She had no strength to fight back and Yamcha felt it was better to just ignore the sword he could feel concealed beneath her clothes. He was well aware even as carried her carefully down the stairs that it was only her current weakness allowing him in such close proximity. Normally there was a very definite bubble of personal space around Maya which only Gokou and Gohan dared to cross. Yamcha smiled faintly at Ranshi as he stepped into the open space where the kitchen and lounge merged and placed Maya down on a chair.

"Arigatou." They all stared at her unnerving Maya still further. She hid her nervousness and pain as best she could. Grateful for the wakizashi at her side.

"I can't believe you're awake. The doctor said you'd be out for a few days at least. You bled so much." Chichi's eyes were wide with amazement, her voice however held a distinct note of disapproval. Maya gazed back at her curiously, feeling oddly out of touch and drained.

"The components" Her voice was hoarse but steady.

"Buruma's got them, demo Maya you should rest. You could have died. You have several deep wounds and you bleed so much." Chichi looked at Maya anxiously. If it had been Gokou she'd have bullied him back to bed but there was something steady and resolute in Maya's eyes that made her resist the urge. She pushed a stand of black hair away from her face, she was sure that Maya was too hurt to be up and about but what could she do about it.

"I'll get her." Ranshi smiled at Maya and nodded before she ducked out the door.

"It doesn't matter, the components, I need them. The others will come." There were footsteps loud on the timber and a moment later half the senshi burst into the kitchen. Gokou stared at her anxiously for a moment before grinning.

"You're okay!" He sounded relieved but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm awake, anyway." Maya smiled up at him clearly weary. Gohan wriggled his way through the senshi and ran up to her. Eyes wide, grinning that typical Son smile.

"Maya-san." She smiled at him and ruffled his hair. She looked up at Buruma.

"You have the components?"

"Hai, but I can't see what use they'll be." Buruma help them out to her, two small boxes of glittering metal. Maya ran her fingers over them thoughtfully. Gohan peered at her intently.

"All you need is the right key, right Maya-san?" Maya looked at Gohan thoughtfully, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles.

"Shall I get it Maya-san? The metal case?" She nodded and her eyes twinkled faintly. Gohan sprang away and ran up the stairs.

"Metal case? What are you up to woman!" Vegeta lent forward fingers fisted, scowling. His whole body radiating aggression. It flowed over Maya, around her, she reacted instantly, her pain forgotten. There was a sharp ring of steel and he found the tip of the short sword against his lower abdomen. The others took a cautious step back as Maya stood up. She felt so very tired, yet she steeled herself against the pain and exhaustion and the weapon stayed steady in her grip.

The blade pressed against Vegeta's skin just firmly enough. Not firmly enough to cut, just shy of that but the threat was clear. Her eyes flashed brightly, seeming darker than ever against the bloodless white of her face. Maya's eyes burnt into Vegeta's, they held an unfathomable promise. Vegeta stared back at her scowling, the momentary vision of Nappa with a sword imbedded in his belly filling his vision. He knew full well that May wasn't at all intimidated by him. That his show of aggression only served to annoy her. In her eyes he read the sure unswerving promise that she would not stand for his over bearing bullying. Despite her obvious exhaustion and pain her sword hand held the wakizashi firm and steady against his lower belly. A mere flick of her wrist would see his intestines christening the floor. He realised in an odd distant way that he wanted to back down, that all his strength was nothing. He could kill her but he'd be torn to pieces by the senshi. Even at that moment he could feel their eyes. Then there was Maya herself, the saiya-jin prince knew from what he'd seen that this tiny, ageless, proud little woman had more experience in battle than he did and possibly more than any of the men in the room. She most certainly wouldn't hesitate if he pushed her. It rankled at his pride but he exhaled and dropped his eyes. He stood up and dropped his fist and put his shoulders back still scowling. Maya regarded him with that same steady glaze, blade still firm against the blue cloth of his suit. Slowly she stepped back, sheathed the wakizashi and sat down. Vegeta stalked out of the house with a cursory hmph. Followed by the curious gaze of everyone in the room.

Yajarobe stared at Maya. 'What is she doing with a wakizashi?' His blood chilled the way she held it firm and steady and with complete familiarity. He thought feverishly of the broad sword that he'd lain on the heavy wooden chest at the end of Maya's bed. He didn't recall seeing a wakizashi. Or a katana, for that matter, for surely no one would posses the short sword of the Daisho, without the long sword, the katana. He fingered the hilt of his own katana at the thought. How could she posses such a thing. Even if her swordsmanship was clearly of samurai origin. How could she posses just the wakizashi. It made no sense. Foot steps sounded on the stairs behind him. Gohan appeared clutching a heavy metal brief case and the senshi dispersed.

Her hands ran over the keyboard, and the archaic laptop ground to life. With one of the components connected to it by a limp grey cable the black screen filled with line after line of green type. Buruma lent close, her eyebrows drawn together as she tried to make sense of the rapidly scrolling code. Maya said nothing, but now and then her fingers flicked across the keyboard as she typed in a string of code. Mostly Maya just sat quietly. Chichi and Ranshi drifted into the kitchen to make lunch. Leaving just Buruma and Yajarobe with Maya. Yajarobe gazed at Maya hoping to draw her attention. All the while listening to the disjointed fragments of conversation that came his way.

Tien leant against the veranda, the sun warm on his face. Ranchi's voice comfortably close, wafting through the open kitchen window and all around him. He remembered, the day before, the moments before that last fatal blow. Maya's breath harsh and heavy, her long brightly coloured hair bannered out on the wind. The dry soil, slick and deeply red. The oddly neurotic light in the eyes of her opponent. It was then that Yajarobe had appeared, seemingly out of no where. Tien hadn't dragged his eyes away from the battle being strangely mesmerised by the way the light had hit their blades. Maya standing so still and so steady as if she could wait forever. The broad blade of her sword gleaming beneath it's sheen of blood. Then they had charged the large man's razor like blades glinting, at his top, and Maya a few gears below. You'd have thought she was exhausted but then at the last possible moment she changed course abruptly and smoothly. It was only the slightest change in direction, a mere shift to one side, and then she accelerated. The sword imbedded itself in his side. Blood hit the earth. You knew then and there it was over, he was mortally wounded and Maya was exhausted. Exhausted, Tien watching her stand had known then that she too was walking the fine line between this word and the next. Walking it with unsteady steps. Tien frowned, behind him he could hear Chichi and Ranshi talking in soft muted voices.

Maya had killed him, he remembered that. Killed him in a cool, detached, calculating manner as if it was an every day occurrence. Tien, an assassin himself knew that behaviour, it was the evidence that many lives had fallen beneath her blood drenched sword. The odd thing was she had killed him and then removed two pieces of metal from his body. Then came the blast Maya had detonated, the blast that had completely disintegrated the body had momentarily blinded everyone. Tien recalled being shocked that she still had enough strength left for such a blast. She couldn't stand, even before the blast but after it she had just knelt on the bloody ground in the ashes, bleeding. Before finally passing out. No one had moved to help her then but Yajarobe.

Just as later Yajarobe had in true samurai form refused to allow the doctor to remove her to a hospital. No one had dared ask why. At that moment they were forcibly reminded of what Yajarobe was, a strong, proud, honourable samurai, they tended to forget that last bit. When Yajarobe said no he meant it. The doctor had stayed until the contents of a few bags of blood had dripped steadily into her veins. Finally leaving with a single comment, 'she should be dead.' The senshi too had stayed, there were far too many unanswered questions for them to leave.

The door on to the deck opened a fraction. Buruma stepped out and gazed down the long slope of green. Then back at Tien. Trunks, sitting hunched up against the wall, glanced at his mother out of the corner of his eye. He would have liked to have left, but nothing had gone as planned. About the only good thing about all this was it gave him an opportunity to observe his father for a little while longer. Trunks wasn't sure he liked what he saw. Slowly he was coming to understand how the group worked, and right at the centre of it was Gokou. Like the hub of a wheel from which all the spokes emanate. Gokou had wanted to wait until Maya woke up, so they all stayed. Trunks glanced at the senshi through the curtain of his lavender hair. Gokou, Yamcha, Chaozu and Kuririn lounging around and talking while Tien, Piccolo and his father kept off to themselves. He sighed, he still had no idea who Maya was. All he knew for certain was that they shared the same style of swordsmanship with the obvious difference that her skill far out stripped his. A sharp image of her sword slicing through the steel blade, the speed of it and the cool calculation in her eyes, burnt in his consciousness. The only thing that had triggered any sort of meaningful memory was the black horse. The black horse who when released from his stable had stood on the deep green grass, head up, ears pricked before exploding down the fence line like a dark flame on the grass. Something had jolted in his mind then, but it was just a tantalising flicker of something he couldn't quite remember. There was something about that big black horse who had caused such amusement when Yajarobe had released him. Or at least the amusement had been caused by how Yajarobe released him, cautiously sliding back the heavy wooden door that lead straight out into the paddock as if it contained a viper.

Yajarobe's shaggy hair framed two dark, worried eyes. She was still ice pale, and beneath her eyes were two dark smudges as if she'd rubbed her face with ashy fingers. He smiled at the intent expression on her face, but his eyes again fell to the wakizashi hilt that peeked through the folds of what was undoubtedly a haori. The outer garment of a samurai. He lifted his eyes back to her face.

"Maya.." The tone alone made her look up. She met his serious gaze with calm steady eyes that looked out from a tangle of hair.

"My sensei gave me the wakizashi."

"Sensei.." A ruefully little smile flittered across her face. She lifted the wakizashi in it's saya free from her belt and held it out to him. He brushed his fingers against the hilt. Maya smiled into his eyes. Her sensei's Daisho, passed from father to son for 6 generations until they had reached her hands. In doing so they had broken a long chain of tradition. Those swords.

Great swords made to protect the people of Japan. Bright shining weapons made for the sole purpose of killing. Swords of a warrior's soul. She remembered all this and remembered her sensei's words 'they were made to protect Japan but if the world should fall that shall not matter, in the end they were made to protect people and so they must do so again.' He had been an old man then, but a proud one the last in a long line of brave proud samurai. She was the best student he'd ever had and he had intrusted his most precious and valuable possessions to her, knowing full well that the world might fall. Yajarobe never taking his eyes from her face pushed the hilt down and around towards her lap. He hadn't drawn a wakizashi since before he'd met Gokou he had no wish to do so again. His katana, familiar and long trusted was enough. Yajarobe looked up at her to see if she understood this. Maya knew, her eyes warm and light but oh so serious showed it.

Yajarobe held her gaze for along moment. His heart beat filling his ears. Something voiceless and strong and yet strangely tenuous passed between them. Maya's hair dry and bright framed her face with soft ripples. Those ageless, wise eyes gazed back at him. Two who lived by the sword and could live no other way.

"Was that," He hesitated, still held by that odd current. That odd, almost forgotten current of empathy. Not wishing to break it but unable to leave the question unasked.

"Ten ken." It was hardly a whisper, but it hung in the air between them as rude and abrupt as a shout. The current snapped sharply, and he could feel Maya retreating from him. She dropped her eyes back to the screen.

"Iie, Saishuu ten ken would have walked away."

(2004)