by Jamie L. Word
"Yukio's Surprise"
In the audience, Yuko and Yoshio were watching the tournament. When Yuko saw Koji, she perked up considerably. Yoshio merely scowled at the sight of the cocky Saiyan warrior, an expression of near-disdain on his face.
"Hey! Look!" Yuko cried excitedly as she hopped up and down in her seat, pointing at Koji. "It's Koji! There he is!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Yoshio muttered with disinterest as he folded his arms in front of his chest in disgust. "Don't you know it's not polite to point? You should really use a different finger for him though!"
"Oh, you're still sore over the incident by the space ships, that's all!" Yuko fussed at Yoshio, prompting the fighter to cover up and protect himself from any attack she might launch in her anger. "Well, get over it! He spared your life after you fired that kamehameha blast at him! You should be thankful, you bum!"
"Oh, I'll be even more thankful if I survive this!" Yoshio thought to himself as he nervously watched her return to dreamily staring at Koji and cheering for the mighty Saiyan. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was in love, ... or in lust, at least!"
"Okay, fighters! This match is officially underway!" the announcer shouted over the crowd's fanfare to the fighters.
With that announcement made, both fighters flew at each other with tremendous speed and began exchanging flurries of hand-to-hand techniques in mid-air! Their defenses were up to successfully fending off each other's attacks, and their speed was incredible! The crowd fell completely silent as everyone gawked in unison at the incredible action between these two fighters! Yoshio was in complete shock, his mouth a-gape as he watched the contest between the Saiyan and the Arcosian incredulously, now thankful that he didn't enter the tournament himself! In the back, many of the fighters were very impressed by what they saw! Only Xarlok seemed relaxed and indifferent to the awe the others were sensing.
"What skill and power!" Kien stated in wonder at the two amazing fighters he beheld. "Unreal!"
"No kidding!" Tao added as he too was entralled in the spectacular clash on the battlefield that had everyone astounded. "They're incredible!"
"Oh, my gosh!" Varkon thought to himself, more than just a bit nervous at what he saw. "And I've got to fight one of them in the semi-finals!"
"Yes, you will, Varkon," the Kanassian thought to himself as he watched the incredible battle. "I know which one, and I still can't believe it!"
"Bah!" Xarlok thought to himself as he watched the fight with a hint of boredom about him. "Neither of these fighters is all that good! It would be child's play for me to stomp them into the ground, both at the same time!"
On the battlefield, both Yukio and Koji continued to fight with incredible intensity and speed, blurring in and out of sight as they fought! Most of the fans found it difficult, if not impossible, to keep up with them, even Yoshio, and Varnok himself found it difficult to follow their movements, but the other fighters seemed to be able to follow them adequately! Both fighters seemed to be equals in every way!
"Isn't this amazing, folks!" the announcer broke the silence of the crowd with his timely interjection. "They're moving so fast, I can't follow their movements! Aren't they incredible fighters?"
The crowd broke its awe-instilled silence and began cheering estatically for the action they're trying desperately to fully catch.
"This Koji is unbelievable!" Yukio thought to himself as he fought hard against his opponent. "I've never met someone quite as strong, as fast, or as skilled as he is! This is going to be one tough battle!"
"There's something oddly familiar about his fighting style!" Koji thought to himself as he battled against his worthy foe. "I'm not sure how or why, but Yukio fights like a Saiyan, and he is as capable a fighter as any Saiyan I've ever met! But how is that possible? Arcosians have never been known for their fighting prowess or their strength! Could it be that this one trained under great Saiyan warriors somewhere and learned to be a great warrior? This is unbelievable! I am a Saiyan royal elite warrior, among the strongest of all the Saiyans alive before the destruction of planet Vegeta! If this Arcosian is just as strong as I am, then why did they hire my people to conquer planets for them? It doesn't make any sense!"
During that moment of Koji's contemplation, his concentration on his fight lapsed, and Yukio caught him with a tremendous punch to the face, bruising Koji's cheek and splitting his lip! In the audience, Yuko reacted to it with horror and concern for Koji! Noting his opponent's success, Koji grimaced in anger and hammered Yukio in the face with a thunderous punch, stunning him momentarily! Koji followed that up with a driving knee to the midsection, doubling Yukio over, and then a downward-driving elbow thrust to the back, knocking Yukio to the ground with a thud! Yukio kipped up to his feet and looked up as Koji hovered high above him! Both fighters glared at each other intensely! Koji couldn't tell how much damage he'd inflicted on Yukio because of his facial covering concealing most of his face!
"He is almost as strong as I am, but I have more energy!" Koji thought to himself as he gazed upon the Arcosian. "He's tough, but I can't tell how much damage I'm doing to him because of all of that garb he's wearing!"
"He's definitely got a slight edge over me!" Yukio thought to himself as he gazed up at Koji. "There's got to be a way to get the edge over him!"
The crowd responded to the brutal exchange with frenzied appreciation, and the two fighters observed each other closely as Koji landed on the ground a fair distance away from Yukio.
"I must commend you, Arcosian," Koji called out to his opponent. "You are a great fighter. Your power and skill are rare indeed. You have my respect and admiration. I didn't know Arcosians were such strong fighters."
"You are a mighty warrior in your own right, Saiyan," Yukio replied in kind. "I've never fought someone with your level of strength and skill."
"It's just your good fortune that my tail was lost in battle," Koji then said with a slight smile. "I could've used the moon image technique I learned from my father to transform to the hereditary Oozaru state of my people, and then you wouldn't have stood a chance!"
"You can make a moon image?" the Arcosian inquired with interest and just a hint of skepticism. "Now that I'd like to see. If you show me that, then I'll reveal a great secret to you!"
"Oh?" Koji replied with pricked interest as his eyebrow raised slightly. "Really? I see you're true to your nature, Arcosian: a barterer all the way."
"So, do you take my offer, Saiyan?" Yukio inquired with a hint of interest in his voice and posture.
"Why not," Koji answered, his curiosity getting the better of him. "I don't suppose it would hurt."
Koji held his hand up next to his head as if holding a small ball in it, and an energy sphere formed in his hand. He then tossed the energy sphere skyward, and everyone watched it ascend with curiosity and eagerness. When the energy ball reached a point in the sky where it would be fixed, it almost exploded as it formed the image of a full moon over the arena. Koji turned his attention back to the Arcosian.
"Now for your secret, Arco-huh?!?" Koji's words were cut short by his surprise at the Arcosian's reaction to his moon image technique.
The Arcosian's eyes turned bloodshot red, and his build began growing larger by the second! In moments, his physique was too large for the Arcosian attire he wore, and it began tearing away, revealing the growth of brown fur! His head and facial concealment tore away to reveal wild black hair and the ape-like transformation of his facial features as well as a bruised cheek and a bleeding lip! As the last of his attire tore away, he was left with black, skintight shorts like some Saiyans wore under their armor, and a monkey tail became visible to all who were watching!
"What?!?" Koji gasped with surprise as he watched the 'Arcosian' transforming into the Saiyan Oozaru state right before his disbelieving eyes. "What manner of trickery is this? You're a Saiyan?"
"You catch on fast, Koji!" Yukio roared in mid-transformation as everyone in attendance watching the fight were awed by the sight.
"Then that explains why you fought with the fighting style of a Saiyan and had such skill and power!" Koji exclaimed with realization as he now knew he'd been duped. "You were merely using the Arcosian gimmick as a disguise!"
"Yes!" Yukio roared as the transformation finally concluded, and he was finally a fully transformed giant ape. "Anyone fighting an Arcosian might be inclined to go a little easier on him than if they knew they were actually fighting a Saiyan! My opponents underestimate me as a result, and I can take advantage of the surprise! Clever ruse, don't you agree?"
"Clever indeed!" Koji muttered as he assumed a fighting stance before the transformed Yukio, awaiting the next engagement of the battle.
Yukio roared to the heavens, almost overwhelmed by his own power, and all of the onlookers were quite surprised, except for Xarlok who seemed detached as he observed in stoic silence!