Author's Note: Sorry it's been a little while to update, campus was closed so I couldn't use the computer lab. Unfortunately I don't have Internet access at home. I hope everyone had a good New Year's day.

RUROUNI

By: Lady Jaye

Chapter 9: The Saiyan Who Won't Kill

"This is strange," Lo-Pei said to herself. The others stared open eyed at the breach. The Dei-sho had taken the group to the point between universes, a place where no mortals had been before.

"What is strange?" Piccolo asked. The Namek had been studying the hole as well, although he really didn't understand it enough to have an opinion.

"If this had been forced open, there would be signs, traces of violent activity. But this breach bears no sign of such. It's almost as if it willfully opened."

"You make is sound as if this Dei has a will of it's own," Seijuro said. The woman nodded her head.

"Yes, I suppose in a way it does. It's not what you would call sentient, but the Dei is alive. It's not just a mass of controlled energy." Kururin, whose hand had been straying toward the barrier, jumped back.

"It's a..a…alive?" he stammered.

"It won't harm you little one." Kururin felt a flash of irritation at being called little. He sympathized with Yahiko.

"My Lady?" Kenshin asked. The others turned to look at the Saiyan. "Why would the Dei open up? If the Dei has been sabotaged as you say, then who could do this?"

"Any one of the Dei-sho, or even anyone in Yahto with the authority could…." Lo-Pei suddenly narrowed her red eyes at the tall Saiyan. "What are you implying, Hiko Kenshin?"

"Forgive this one, My Lady. I mean no offense. But as ye have said, there are a number of beings in a place of trust that could do this. Many times, in my experience, the enemy is one who lies unexpected in the shadows."

"I refuse to believe that one of my own could betray us," she growled. Sanosuke decided to step in.

"Kenshin's not saying that it's someone from your ranks, he's just saying that it's a possibility. The gods know how many times that corrupt politicians or soldiers have schemed behind the scenes." Lo-Pei stared at Sanosuke and Kenshin before finally saying quietly.

"I assume you are both speaking of your experiences from the Fanel Revolution." She gave a deep sigh. "I refuse to believe that someone in Yahto is a traitor….but you are right. It is a possibility."

Piccolo and Goku eyed the other two thoughtfully. Each couldn't help but wonder at what experiences that Lo-Pei was talking about. Goku finally turned to the Dei-sho.

"Lo-Pei, can you tell if anyone's come through the hole?" She frowned as she stared at the breach.

"I don't believe so, but…LOOK OUT!!" The sudden burst of Ki took everyone by surprise. As the flash of light faded, they could make out nearly three dozen Ki energies gathered near them. A dry voice rasped out.

"None will stand in the way of Gorito and Gorimba."

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Gohan idly tossed a rock in his hand, growing more bored by each passing minute. Trunks stood nearby as he swung his sword in a lazy circle. The Dei-sho had been staring at the breach for nearly three hours already. Everytime one of them tried to speak, they were shushed. It was all Vegeta could do not to rant and rave out of frustration. Tien, for his part, sat cross-legged in meditation to pass the time.

On impulse Gohan threw the rock at Trunks to see if he was paying attention. He wasn't. The rock smacked him in the head.

"OWWW!!! GOHAN!!!" Oops. Trunks picked up a rock and threw it back at the other half-Saiyan, which he barely avoided. Gohan threw his hands up in defense.

"Calm down Trunks! I thought you'd be able to avoid it!"

"AVOID IT! IT'S NOT LIKE I WAS EXPECTING YOU TO CHUCK A ROCK AT ME!!!"

"SHUT UP!! BOTH OF YOU!!" Vegeta had finally found something to express his frustration at.

"HE THREW A ROCK AT ME!!"

"WELL YOU IF YOU HAD BEEN PAYING ATTENTION LIKE A WARRIOR SHOULD, YOU WOULD HAVE AVOIDED IT!!!" Trunks glared at his father before muttering to himself. Tien could only shake his head. As different as Trunks often acted from his father, when their pride took a blow, they both acted very much alike.

Trunks rubbed his head and glared at the sheepish Gohan. Seeing that his friend really was sorry, the half-Saiyan reluctantly forgave him. The two young men were in the middle of discussing the Buu saga when Trunks suddenly interrupted him.

"You have a younger brother?!"

"Yeah, his name's Goten. He's a year younger than you. Actually, the two of you are best friends. You guys are always finding something to get into." Trunks thought about that, feeling more than a little sad at the life he'd never had.

The sudden appearance of the two Dei-sho stopped their conversation.

"What's up?" Trunks asked.

"We must return," Kando said. "Something has come up."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Who the heck are these guys?" Sanosuke asked. "They're pretty ugly. They're not friends of yours, are they Lo-Pei?"

"I can assure you that they are not."

"Good." The half-elf cracked his knuckles. He needed a good fight. Sano cracked a lopsided grin at a tall, scaly skinned creature in the front.

"Hey, I guess you're the leader of this rabble, huh?"

"This is no rabble, elf! None shall stand in the way of Gorito and Gorimba!"

"Yeah, yeah, where have I heard that before?"

"You insolent…"

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Goku couldn't help remarking wryly.

"Are you guys sure he's not a Saiyan?"

"Hey!" Sano yelled at him, "Can't you see I'm busy?" The half-elf turned back to attackers.

"Which one of you hotshots is Gorito and Gorimba? I only see one of you uglies claiming to be a leader."

"I'm Gorito you insolent elf!" The creature rasped. "Isn't that right Gorimba?" Then the leader's voice deepened and lost the rasp.

"You dare to challenge the might of Gorimba, you bloody insect?!" Sanosuke glared at him in annoyance.

"Kenshin don't tell me that this guy has split personalities."

"Very well, this one won't."

"Smart ass."

Kururin stared at Radditz and Sanosuke. They were surrounded by a bunch of scary looking guys with high power levels….and they were joking? They must be insane. Hold on, one of them was a Saiyan and the other one acted like one. Of course they were insane.

Lo-Pei decided to take control of the situation.

"None of you shall pass this point. Leave us or feel my wrath." The rabble started to laugh in strange hissing voices.

"Move aside woman, or my men will have some entertainment. They haven't seen a woman of any species for quite some time."

Piccolo moved to intervene, but Lo-Pei was a Dei-sho for a reason. Her red irises glowed as a pale hand grasped the weapon on her back.

"Then death be upon you!" she growled. Swiftly, she was among them, swinging her strange weapon. The Dei-sho clove two of the reptiles with a single swipe of her ax. The rest of the attackers, including the strange Gorito Gorimba, began powering up. Goku felt surprised at how much their energies jumped up, but they were still lower than his. They were certainly lower than the now enraged Lo-Pei. In the matter of mere moments she had killed nearly half of their number.

"Threaten me?! I am one of the Dei-sho!!" She swung her ax at the throat of the now wounded "leaders", only to have a blade block it.

"Then as one of the Dei-sho, you should recognize the sanctity of all life, that you should." Kenshin stood between her and the wounded creature.

"Out of my way Saiyan," her voice grew as cold as ice. Piccolo felt the beginnings of a cold sweat on the back of his neck. He hadn't seen or even felt Radditz move. The Namek also had no sense of teleportation being involved. Goku walked over to the two, feeling a little nervous.

"He's right Lo-Pei, you don't need to kill them." She turned her bright red eyes on him in a glare, but Goku stood his ground. "They've had enough," he said.

The creature began to laugh hysterically as the remaining group suddenly attacked them. However, the ever eager Sanosuke was there first. The half-elf took great pleasure in knocking out the remaining fighters.

Gorito Gorimba's eyes took on a crazed look as he lunged at the Saiyan in front of him. Kenshin struck the nerve on the side of his neck with the handle of his Sakabatou, stunning the creature. The Saiyan glared down at him before sheathing his sword and turning to a now calmer Dei-sho.

"What he and the others did was unacceptable. But regardless of their deeds or intention, death should not be dealt out so easily. Even as one of the Dei-sho, are you really one who can choose death or life for other beings?"

The Dei-sho met his eyes and held them for a moment.

"They deserve death," she growled.

"Perhaps. But not now. Please, no more blood today." Lo-Pei looked from Radditz, to Goku, and to Seijuro, who had joined his apprentice. She gripped her weapon for a moment before finally restrapping it to her back.

"Very well, no more blood today. Although I am surprised to hear this from the infamous Battousai." She watched as Kenshin's eyes narrowed.

"This one is no longer Battousai," he replied. "This one is rurouni, a wanderer of Gaea." The two of them stood in stone silence as Goku, Piccolo, and Kururin uneasily watched the exchange. Seijuro and Sanosuke each stood on one side of the Saiyan. The Dei-sho finally nodded.

"No, I suppose not. Come, we must take these….creatures to Lord Koenma."

"What about Risha, Kando, and the others?" Goku asked.

"We will meet them at Thain's Mountain as planned."

As they gathered up the attackers, Kururin couldn't help asking Sanosuke.

"What did Lo-Pei mean when she called Radditz the Battousai?" Piccolo turned to eye the half-elf for his reply. Sanosuke looked down at the short human before picking up three of the bodies.

"That's Kenshin's business. He'll tell you later if he wants to." The half-elf turned to join the Saiyan. Kururin opened his mouth and then closed it. What did Battousai mean? Piccolo stared after Radditz as Lo-Pei's voice came to mind.

"Very well, no more blood today. Although I am surprised to hear this from the infamous Battousai." The Namek also recalled the argument between Radditz and Vegeta that morning.

"That's nonsense! A sword is meant to kill people!"

"This one will not argue with that. I know much better than ye might think about the truth of that statement. However, I will not use my sword to kill, that I will not." What else had Radditz said? That's right, Piccolo thought, he had said something else to Trunks.

"I once used the sword that kills, but now I only use the sword that protects people, that I do."

What had Radditz done?