by Jamie L. Word
"Koji's Reward"
Koji descended to the place where the space ships were parked, and he saw his ship, the Earthlings' ship, a different Namek ship, and a few other remaining ships, obviously belonging to the fighters who didn't survive their matches in the tournament. As Koji landed on the ground near to Kien and Yuen, he reverted back to his normal form, voluntarily dropping out of his Super Saiyan form. He turned to Kien and Yuen.
"So, you two survived after all," Koji commented as the duo approached him incredulous at his performance.
"I don't sense Xarlok anymore!" Yuen said in amazement. "Did you destroy him?"
"Do you see a body anywhere?" Koji answered with a question of his own, a slight smile forming on his face.
"You won!" Kien exclaimed in astonishment as he regarded the battered and weary Saiyan. "You beat Xarlok! But he was stronger! How?"
"I am a Saiyan," Koji almost arrogantly explained with a cocky grin on his face. "I am not just a Saiyan though. I am a Super Saiyan!"
Koji looked around for a few moments as if scanning the area for something in specific.
"What of the Earthlings?" Koji inquired with real concern over the status of the missing pair.
"What about us?" came the angry response from behind, prompting Koji and the others to turn and see Yuko standing in front of Yoshio.
"You-you're alright," Koji muttered aloud as he acknowledged the presense of the Earthlings. "Good. I'm glad."
Everyone was taken by surprise at Koji's comments concerning the status of the two human fighters.
"Huh?" Yuko muttered, a bit bewildered by his sudden sense of concern for the well-being of herself and her brother. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying that I am well pleased that the two of you were not killed," Koji replied as he smiled slightly. "Despite all your shortcomings and limitations, you truly have warrior hearts beating within you."
"Thanks," Yoshio said, scratching his bald head as if unsure of how to take that last statement. "I think."
"You arrogant, cocky, self-centered, one-track minded, conceited, obnoxious, bull-headed egomaniac!" Yuko began to scream angrilly before suddenly reverting to her softhearted cooing with the final statements. "You love me! You really love me!"
"Are all Earth women so strange as you?" Koji inquired as he looked at her with a perplexed facial expression, trying to figure her out.
"Well, I hate long good-byes," Yuen said with a knowing smile as he drew the attention of the others to him, "so I bid you all farewell. It was nice meeting you all. Perhaps we will meet again."
Yuen put two fingers to his forehead and concentrated, using his instant transmission technique to depart the planet. Kien then smiled momentarily as he turned his attention back to the others.
"I suppose it's time for me to leave as well," Kien said as he drew the attention of the others to himself. "Take care, my friends. Maybe we'll cross paths again one day."
They all bade the Namek farewell, and he entered his space ship. Moments later, that Namek's ship departed the planet, leaving only Koji and the two humans on the planet.
"Well, I guess that just leaves us then," Yoshio proclaimed, stating the obvious as only he could do.
"When I first met you, I thought you to be a coward," Koji said to Yoshio with a sense of gentleness in his voice. "In the battle with Xarlok's minions, you have shown great courage and the heart of a true warrior in the effort to rescue your sister. I will shake your hand and call you friend, Yoshio. You are a warrior with heart and honor."
"Thanks!" Yoshio said, a bit surprised as he shook Koji's hand. "I thought you were just an arrogant jerk when we first met, but you went all-out to avenge my sister when Xarlok nearly killed her. I still think you're arrogant, but I know now just what a great and honorable warrior you are, Koji. It would be my pleasure and priveledge to shake your hand."
With that out of the way, Koji turned to Yuko, and Yoshio watched with a happy smile on his face. Koji's rugged and hard exterior seemed to melt away as a soft smile parted the mighty Saiyan's lips. Yuko likewise broke into a smile of joy.
"When I first met you, I thought you were insane, or possibly infected with some disease of the mind," Koji told her softly. "Then I saw you fight the Arcosian minion of Xarlok, and I saw your fiery heart, the heart of a warrior. I couldn't let you be killed by that filthy Changeling or his minions. It would be a shame for such a precious gem as you to be lost from this universe."
"I ... I don't know what to say," Yuko muttered in stunned, swooned disbelief. "I mean, I thought you were wonderful from the moment I saw you, and then you told me to get lost, which really made me mad! Then I wanted to kick your butt for being so mean to me and my brother! Now I'm just confused and wondering what to think of anything at all anymore!
I saw you smile at me while I was kicking Zheng's butt out there, and it kind of excited me - almost as much as when you took me out into the hall during that intermission with such a take-charge style! I think more highly of you than I've thought of anyone outside my family, Koji. I don't want to say good-bye. You can travel with us if you want to. What do you say?"
Koji merely smiled a broad smile in reply, and the two humans could only smile in return. The day had come to a close, and they were all alive and safe. Somehow, all was right in the universe.