A Purpose Within the Heart Chapter One: Tournament

Much of the peaceful years are spent with family for the saviors of Earth. This year is no exception. But there is one of Earth's warriors that didn't have family and didn't have a purpose so every year he enters the World Martial Arts Competition. Yamcha is a warrior, but he feels like an old weak man compared to his friends he once fought along sides as equals. Yamcha has been trying to find a purpose in his life for many years.

The World Martial Arts Competition is like breathing for Yamcha, it's become so natural. Every year, new faces but no one even near to his power. That makes Yamcha feel good, since every year when his friends gather he feels the opposite. He has been the champion five years running and he expects this year to be no different.

Yamcha surveys his competition, looks like a bunch of muscle bound idiots again this year. A few try to intimidate him but he doesn't pay them no mind. They aren't as hostile as previous years, and he quickly figures out why.

A group of the guys are off in one corner surrounding someone else. Yamcha thinks to himself whether he should go help the poor sap or not. Five against one is definitely not fair odds, he decides. And he approaches the group.

Yamcha pushes his way through the gathering and ends up stumbling into the one he's trying to help. Boing, he bounces off something very soft and lands back into one of the muscle guys, who grabs Yamcha by the shoulder.

"Hey, pretty boy, get lost from here." The muscle man says to Yamcha.

Once Yamcha's head stops spinning, he sees what all the commotion is about. The person they are cornering is a woman. Yamcha's mouth gapes as he notices just what he bounced off of….. very bountiful in the chest she is.

The woman is tall, more so than Yamcha. Her fiery red hair is tied up in a bun and she is wearing a teal gi. She is disinterested in the group and just leans against the wall, her emerald eyes transfixed on the ceiling.

Yamcha quickly looks her over, trying not to be too obvious and mentally notes her measurements, 40-26-36. Yamcha knocks the muscles man's hand off his shoulder like it was a piece of dust and approaches the woman. Her eyes quickly snap to meet his almost like a primal warning not to get closer. Yamcha extends his hand and she just stares at it.

"Hey, are you in the competition? I'm"

She interrupts him and in a sharp voice. "I know who you are and you will lose today."

Yamcha sweatdrops, she's very straightforward, isn't she? "Who are"

She ignores him and pushes her way to the enterance as the names; Keira Connor and Gregor Svetson were called to the ring. Yamcha rushes over to watch the fight but by the time he got there, it was over. The announcer was in the middle of the ring declaring Keira the winner of the match. She walks by Yamcha and just as he was going to say something to her, the announcer calls him to the ring.

The two of them make quick work of their opponents and end up in the finals facing off together. Keira has a smug smirk on her face and Yamcha is actually worried; he doesn't want to fight a girl.

Yamcha turns to the announcer, "I can't fight a girl."

The announcer's eyes widen and he scrambles off stage as a punch from Keira flew. Yamcha barely was able to dodge it as he spins to face her.

Keira gets into a low fighting stance, "I'll admit you're quicker than the others, but you still won't win."

Yamcha raises an eyebrow. Who taught this woman how to fight like that? Sure, he was caught off guard, but he still has a suspicion that she maybe as strong as he was when he was her age. He'll have to work harder than usual to not look bad.

As if she knows what he was thinking, she goes onto the offense, throwing punches so rapid no normal eye can see them and even Yamcha's trained eye can barely view them. Yamcha backs up quickly parrying her attacks and feels his feet on the edge of the ring. He keeps parrying her attacks and then knowing he cannot keep on the defense he powers up his glowing aura causing her to fall backwards in surprise.

He never wanted to use his power against an opponent here, but this is how he makes his living, he can't just give up, he'll look bad. He definitely never wanted to use his power against a woman, and definitely not one of such perfection as Keira.

She stands quickly. Preparing for his offense.

Yamcha hears a familiar voice from the stands, his friend Tien, "Yamcha, what are you thinking?"

Yamcha looks in Keira's eyes and seeing her primal hunger to fight, he attacks. His blows are blocked but with each forceful blow she is pushed back closer to the edge. When her heels near the edge, she knows it is time for something and something big. She takes one of his blows into the shoulder but then she puts all her weight to the opposite side and with a forceful and strong roundhouse kick she brings him towards the edge of the ring.

Keira knows it will only take one blow to ring-out him and she shoulder slams him with the same shoulder he just hit moments before. Yamcha falls back, shocked by the sheer strength of one human woman. He feels the grass underneath him and knows he has lost.

Keira falls to her knees gasping for breath; she never had to exert so much energy on an opponent. She feels such pain in her shoulder, pain she has never experienced. The announcer declares her the winner.

Yamcha lays on the ground still in shock from the whole thing. 'A woman just beat me….. just brutalized me for the world to see. At my full power no less. I….. think I'm in love.'

Tien rushes over worried for his friend with Chiaotzu and Puar in tow. They all surround him and look down at him with concern evident on their faces.

Tien kneels and says quietly, "What were you thinking? Using all your power on another. You're lucky she's so skilled or you could've hurt her."

"Hurt her? Hurt her?" Puar flies around Tien. "She could've hurt him."

Yamcha keeps staring up until he sees Keira's face over him. Her red hair now loose to the wind, she smiles softly and extends her hand. "Do you need help?" She says sweetly.

He takes her hand and stands up. This sweet creature cannot be the same that was threatening to beat him moments before.

Puar flies around Keira, "How could you hurt my Yamcha? Why I oughta" Yamcha grabs Puar by the face and pulls her to him.

Yamcha lowers his head to Keira, "Congratulations."

"You fought very well, I probably would have never won, if I didn't know you always leave such an opening. You're very powerful." Keira bows in return, "It was an honor to fight someone stronger than myself, Yamcha."

Tien sees the way Yamcha is looking at Keira and takes the hint to gather up the others and leave the two alone. Puar makes a big fuss.

Yamcha takes Keira's arm and escorts her into the training area. She winces when he takes her arm.

"What is it, Yamcha?" Keira asks as then enter the complex.

"Dinner tonight?" Yamcha blushes, a little and laughs nervously.

She looks at him confused. "Like a date?"

Yamcha nods fearing words would fail him at this moment.

"I don't know about you, but I'm pretty beat up, and not looking very good to go out on a date."

Yamcha notices the bruises he left on her arms and shoulders from his punches and sees they are welting up. Yamcha frowns, fearing rejection.

"But….. if you really want a date, you can come to my place and we'll order in." Keira writes down her number. "Call me later and I'll give you directions."

"Uh," Yamcha takes her number and blushes profusely. "Thanks."

"Are you always this articulate around women?" Keira laughs, "Hopefully you'll loosen up later. See ya." She waves as she walks away.

Yamcha stands there a few moments, stunned by the turn of events. Then he pumps his fist and throws it into the air, in victory.