Connecting My Heart with Yours
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers: RiD/Robots in Disguise 2001 (Car Robots). Only the respective company does. This special event takes place after the final episode of Transformers: Robots in Disguise/RiD (2001). Koji (Yuki) x T-Ai (Ai-chan) pairing. Read & Review and please, no flames! Enjoy!
One week has gone by, since Optimus Prime and Magnus have defeated Galvatron by merging as Omega Prime for one last time. Afterwards, they've gathered up all of the Decepticons and Predacons with Fortress Maximus while being sent to the Asteroid Prison Colony. Except for the Shark Predacon known as Sky-Byte.
Whereas Koji, he felt very saddened to see his Autobot friends going back home to Planet Cybertron after a lengthy battle against Galvatron by sending out energies from all over the Earth and revitalize Fortress Maximus.
By doing so, it sent out the energy to reenergize the Matrix within Omega Prime after getting pummelled by Galvatron deep within the Earth's core.
Of course, he also had help from his holographic girlfriend, T-Ai, short for Tactical Artificial Intelligence and the daughter of the Teletran-1 computer program. When he first met her, he felt a warm sensation within him and developed an attraction towards her. Much to his dismay, however, she's only a hologram and not a physical entity like him.
During his time with the Autobots, he felt awfully worried about her, when she was trapped within the O-Parts sphere and merging it with the Orb of Sigma at the Sahara Desert. At first glance, he felt upset that she was gone from him and didn't tell her how he felt towards her. Luckily, Optimus was able to reboot the base computer system within her programming and made it out in one piece.
Shifting into the present day, it was evening and Koji is in his bedroom sulking about not seeing Optimus and the Autobots anymore. However, he wasn't reflecting on them. It was about a very certain female: T-Ai.
Just then, he heard a knock from his bedroom door.
"May I come in?"
"Y-Yeah."
As the door opened, his father, Dr. Kenneth Onishi walked inside and comforted his son on the bed. "What's wrong, Koji? You haven't been yourself lately." That's when he noticed tears coming from his son's dark brown eyes. He soon realized that he's missing his important Autobot friend. "I see. It's Optimus Prime, isn't it?"
"It's not him, Dad." He continued through his watery tears. "It's T-Ai."
"T-Ai?" By recalling the time she was trapped within the O-Parts from a long while back, he soon discovers that his son has feelings towards her; regardless of their differences. "Is that the reason why you kept coming home from school and not talk to me or my wife about it?"
Koji wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm really sorry, Dad. But since it's been one week, I don't even have her contact address." As the tears flowed down from his cheeks, he nestled his head onto his father's chest. "Why couldn't she stay here with us?"
"Listen, son. They had to complete their mission by not just finding me, but also locating Fortress Maximus." He glanced at his son's saddened expression and Koji cried once more. "We don't decide anyone's fate but our own. Besides, it's late for you. Get some rest. Tomorrow might be a better experience for you."
Before he goes back to his bedroom, Koji called out to him. "Dad?"
"Yes, son?"
He smiled weakly at his father. "Thanks for cheering me up and goodnight."
"You too" told Dr. Onishi and closed the door behind him.
Although getting supported by his father and climbing onto his bed hovering his desk, he could still feel a small hole left inside his heart relating to his special friend. A small tear strolled down on his cheeks. "T-Ai."
Now with his son already tucked into bed, Dr. Onishi went into his office and decided to help out his son as much as possible. His wife, Kiko soon joined in and was left puzzled about Koji's miserable behaviour.
"Dear, any idea why Koji is feeling left out?"
"I already spoke with him and I believe what the problem is." He plugged in his cell phone next to the computer. Once it was turned on, an automated voice message was notified to him.
"You Got Mail."
He raised his eyebrow in question. "Huh? Now, who would be emailing me at this time of night?"
She cautioned about the possibility of a virus. "It might be a scam or worse."
"There's only one way to find out." He moved the arrow of the computer mouse and clicked it. When it was opened, it showed: 'Video Meeting' from a username called, 'OP84'. To his surprise, he noticed an Autobot symbol next to it and as he clicked 'Confirm', it popped up an on-screen video showing a very familiar titan figure staring back at him.
"Hello, Dr. Onishi. It's been a very long time."
"Optimus!" says Dr. Onishi with delight.
But as for Kiko, she felt frightened to see a robotic figure greeting them and fell down to the floor in shock.
"Relax, honey. There's nothing to worry about" he informed her.
"A-Are you sure and who is that?" cried Kiko in a panic. "It's just like from what happened at your press conference, when a large metallic hand busted through the building and it was on live television."
Optimus knew what Dr. Onishi's wife was referring to. It was the day that Megatron invaded Planet Earth and abducted her husband by extracting information from inside his mind about the location of Fortress Maximus. "That was Megatron, miss and I assure you, I mean no harm. Allow me to introduce myself; I'm Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and a very good friend to your son, Koji."
"Oh, my! And, you're from another planet, I presume?" she wondered.
He nodded. "That's right. I'm from Planet Cybertron."
Kiko made a sigh relief. "I'm glad. Still, what's this all about?"
The Autobot leader asked. "First off, how is Koji been feeling lately?"
Dr. Onishi responded. "Not well, I'm afraid. Ever since you and the Autobots went back home, he's been feeling awfully upset and it's not about you."
"Who might that be?" wondered Optimus. Then, it hit him. The fire truck Autobot soon realizes that Koji is missing his favourite companion. "I get it. It's T-Ai."
He nodded his head in agreement and pressed forward. "My thoughts exactly. When she left with you after the Predacons and Decepticons were defeated, along with Galvatron, part of him left with it. Since then, he's been coming home after school and refusing to tell us right up until this very moment. I have no doubt that she means everything to him and his future wouldn't be so bright, if our time comes one day."
"I understand your concern, Dr. Onishi. In fact, T-Ai has been feeling the same way" told Optimus.
"What?!" cried Dr. Onishi and Kiko in unison.
Optimus explained to them. "During her prep work back on Planet Cybertron, I too have noticed her unusual behaviour. When I started questioning her, she was also thinking about Koji. Even though that she's a hologram and Teletran-1's daughter, she also has human emotions within her programming. Therefore, I'm making preparations for her to join with you and Koji on your home planet."
The Onishi family were both smiling with joy and relief to hear from Optimus that Koji's crush is willing to stay with their son.
"That's wonderful, Optimus!"
"Koji will be so happy to see her again." But then, Kiko paused and traced back about T-Ai. "Hold on. Let me make things clear: our son is infatuated with T-Ai, because she's a hologram? Why would he develop a connection towards her? It's so bizarre."
"It might sound very odd to you but the bottom line is, they both miss each other and as of this moment, T-Ai has resigned her duties by becoming human like you two" informed Optimus.
"Impressive. So, when do we expect her to show up?" thought Dr. Onishi.
"In less than 48 hours from now. Also, you mustn't let Koji know about her arrival and please send him my regards" says the Autobot leader to Koji's mother and father.
"We must certainly will."
"And thank you for calling us on such a long notice. Take care of yourself, Optimus."
By nodding his robotic head, he concludes his video meeting with the Onishi family. "The same goes for all of you. So long." And with that, the onscreen video was closed and Dr. Onishi's computer was resumed back to its original screen.
He turns to his wife about T-Ai's homecoming, while lifting Koji's spirits. "I'm very certain that this will satisfy Koji greatly."
"Yes, it should. I wonder, how Koji's friends will react to see her?" she said curiously.
The next day, Koji is on his way to school and spotted his colleagues, Jenny and Karl in the distance.
Both of them greeted him with smiles on their faces.
"Good morning, Koji."
"Good morning."
Unfortunately, he walks past them and waved back in a somber tone. "Hi."
Jenny noticed the same complexion from Koji and it's just like from last week. She looked worried. "He's not his usual self."
Regardless of his miserable behaviour, he maintained his focus in class and managed to pull through his school grades without fail. During his lunch break and outside of the school grounds, he leaned back against the wall and looked up at the sky with his hands in his pockets.
He recalled the happy times he's had with the Autobots, while his father was abducted by Megatron. And yet, he sees an image of a young female dressed in her maroon uniform with an Autobot cap and a bright smile on her cute face in his mind. Seconds later, it faded away and his brown eyes were filled with sadness as the calm wind blew away. As soon as he heard the bell rang, he hung his head down and went back inside.
Karl asked Jenny about Koji feeling very upset. "What's up with him? He's been like this for nearly a week. Does it have to do with..." Much to his dismay, he couldn't remember the names of Koji's robotic friends and scratched his head.
"The Autobots? Probably. However..." She narrowed her eyes. "Something tells me that it's not them he's thinking about."
"Who else could it be?" thought Karl raising his eyebrow.
Unable to clarify an answer, Jenny shrugged her shoulders and went back inside their respective classrooms.
Meanwhile, Kiko Onishi was busy sweeping and dusting inside the house such as the Kitchen, dining room, living room and finally, the bedrooms. Later on, the doorbell rang and she went over to see who was standing at the front door by putting her eye in the peephole. It was her husband, Kenneth Onishi and by opening the door, he walked inside and greeted him.
"How was work today, dear?" she asked.
"It went well. Still, I haven't made any recent discoveries since Fortress Maximus was around." He looked at the clock. It was close to 4pm. "Koji should be coming home from school right about now. But with what's been happening lately, it's most likely that he'll be taking a shortcut and giving himself some space."
"It's that girl of his" said Kiko.
"Affirmative." By folding his arms, he cogitated. "He shouldn't put himself so down after Omega Prime's victory over Galvatron." Then, his cell phone began to vibrate and by flipping the cover, the screen was turned on to reveal Optimus Prime. "Dr. Onishi, I have good news for you."
"Go ahead. Me and my wife are listening" he said.
Optimus replied. "As you may know, T-Ai is already on her way down to Earth inside a stasis pod and will be landing near the shopping centre in one hour."
A flash of vigour came from Dr. Onishi's eyes. "I know that area! That's the same place, where Sky-Byte brought me there by accident."
"Sky-Byte? Another one of Koji's friends?" asked Kiko.
He nodded. "That's right. But unlike Optimus, he's a Predacon and despite their differences, Koji also became good friends with him." He checked his wristwatch and realizes that it's almost drawing near. "We'd better get there fast, before the media or anyone else finds it. Come on!"
Without a moment to lose, they quickly hitch a ride on a Taxi and veered off towards the downtown area of Metro City.
Elsewhere, Koji is on the pier next to the lighthouse and sitting on the edge of the bridge. He hears the calls of seagulls flying over the sea and the roar of the ocean waves slamming into the jagged rocks. He let out a deep sigh and by picking up one of the loose rocks, he threw it into the ocean and skipped a few beats until it hit the bottom of the ocean. He hung his head down and buried his face between his legs. "This is so boring. Can this day get any worse?" He throws another rock onto the ocean and instead of skipping the water, it let out a loud thud and a very familiar voice.
"Ouch! That hurt!"
"Huh?" Koji stood himself up and around the same time, the mysterious figure transformed into his robot mode by splashing out of the water and landed on the other side of the dock.
"Sky-Byte, Terrorize!"
Koji's eyes lit up with surprise. "Sky-Byte!" He ran up to him. "What are you doing out here? I thought, you were captured by Fortress Maximus and taken back to Planet Cybertron."
The shark Predacon shyly responded. "Well, it's kind of a long story. What about you?"
"I...needed some time alone after Optimus and the Autobots went home after Galvatron was defeated." He continued with a sorrow expression. "I wasn't thinking about Optimus. Moreover, it's about someone...special. Since then, I've been feeling very lonely."
"Surely, you don't mean me" told Sky-Byte by pointing at himself.
"You see, the truth is..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the last remaining Predacon halted him. "Hold it. I sensed something coming down from the sky." As both he and Koji looked up, he analyzed the oncoming object with his optic sensors and much to his disbelief, it just so happens to be a stasis pod with someone inside. "Blistering barnacles! It's a stasis pod and it's heading towards...the city!"
"What?" Realizing that it might be an Autobot, Decepticon, Predacon or even a Maximal, he makes a startling request. "Can you take me over there, please?"
Sky-Byte's face was filled with embarrassment. "Huh? Is your mind full of Energon Cubes or what? Why would you even bother?"
"I'm not asking, I'm telling and my mind isn't made out of Energon Cubes! Please, for my sake" he said to the Shark Predacon.
"Oh, alright. Beast Mode!" he transformed into his shark mode. He offered Koji to ride onto his robotic fin. "Hop on, Koji."
"You bet!" As soon as he got on Sky-Byte's back and clutching onto his fin, Sky-Byte soars into the downtown area.
Now in the middle of the shopping centre, Kenneth and Kiko Onishi have been standing near the train station for the last thirty minutes.
"Optimus said that our visitor should be here by now."
"Perhaps, it went off-course and landed somewhere else."
Dr. Onishi shook his head in denial. "No way. I trust Optimus and the Autobots thoroughly. The moment our son sees his best friend settling down with us, the hole in his heart will be forever gone."
"Out of curiosity, how did Optimus converted a hologram into a human? It's highly unlikely for that to happen" says Kiko.
"In Metro City, no. But back on Planet Cybertron, anything can happen" he told her.
Suddenly, one of the citizens spotted something in the air above.
"Hey! What is that thing?"
Both Kenneth and Kiko overheard it and as they looked way up, the oncoming object was heading down really fast. They immediately took shelter from a long distance away, just as it made a huge impact onto the city streets with a huge bang and shook up the place.
It also startled both Sky-Byte and Koji from the sky above as they spotted a large puff of smoke.
"That pod landed right over there."
"How about we take a closer look?"
Sky-Byte countered. "Don't be silly! What if, your father is down there and you ruining the surprise? It might jeopardize his newest discovery."
Koji grunted. "I see your point. In that case, take me home before anyone else sees us."
"If you insist. Hang on."
While Koji holds onto Sky-Byte's robotic fin and elude attention from several on-lookers, back on over at the downtown streets of Metro City, there stood a stasis pod sticking out of the rumble after making a hard landing.
Many on-lookers took several pictures of this wondrous discovery, others just stood idly by. But not for the Onishi family.
By nodding their heads, they realize that it's the pod Optimus Prime had mentioned to them.
Just as he was about to move closer, he mentions to the crowd.
"Stay back, everyone! I'll handle this from here."
"Please trust my husband. He knew that it was coming here."
Upon understanding their pleas, the crowd moved away from the crashing site and allowing the Onishi family to further investigate the stasis pod that has just arrived from Planet Cybertron. Once they took a closer look, Dr. Onishi pressed one of the buttons on the control pad and the hatch was opened; letting out some steam. They both covered their eyes and as soon as it disappeared, it unveiled the individual resting peacefully.
In an instant, their eyes were widened in shock and their mouths opened.
"I don't believe it!"
"Why, that's..."
Meanwhile, Sky-Byte safely dropped off Koji at his two-story home shortly before nightfall. "Okay. Now that you're back here, I really need to get going. Farewell." He was about to head back into the sea until Koji called out to him.
"Wait! Aren't you going to stay here with us?"
"Listen, Koji. Even though your planet is my new home, I simply cannot abide it. I'm sorry, but your family is far more important than me."
Tears reappeared in Koji's brown eyes. "Y-You can't leave! Not after what we've been through."
As the shark Predacon glanced at the young boy's miserable expression and studying it very carefully, he retorted. "I really appreciate your offer, but I can't. I wish you and everyone else the very best in your future endeavours. So long." And with that, he takes off high into the sky until splashing into the ocean from a long distance away.
Filled with disappointment and guilt, Koji went back inside his house and closed the door behind him. Regardless of his shortcoming with Sky-Byte and distancing himself from his childhood friends, Karl and Jenny, he lets out a sigh of disbelief. He makes his way back inside his bedroom and climbed up to his bed. He slowly went to sleep with a shallow heart, just before evening fell.
Unbeknown to Koji, however, his mother and father came back home with their new guest.
"Koji is probably home by now and upstairs in his bedroom sleeping."
"Be sure not to disturb him" she told him with a wink of her eye.
The visitor nodded its head and removed its long boots, before heading upstairs inside Koji's bedroom. As soon as it does, both Kenneth and Kiko Onishi giggled with delight. It slowly turned the knob and let out a small creak. It was dark and saw Koji sleeping in his bed. It smiled briefly and by tiptoeing on the floor, closing the bedroom door, climbed up the bed and slept next to him while pulling the blanket covers and resting on the pillow. Much like Koji, the guest also fell asleep.
Morning came and a warm sunbeam peeked through Koji's ceiling window. He murmured to feel the warm sunlight and as he stretched his arms out, he yawned.
"I'm glad that it's the weekend." He rubbed his eyes and stared at the window. Similar to yesterday, he still feels upset and sighed. "I might as well get dressed." He gets out of bed by climbing down the ladder without even realizing that someone had came into his room last night and slept in.
By changing his pyjamas and into his normal clothing, he heads downstairs to the Kitchen, where his parents are preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Koji" told Dr. Onishi after taking a sip from his coffee mug.
"Did you enjoy your sleep?" asked Kiko with a smile, while making bacon and eggs on the frying pan.
He smiled briefly at them. "I sure did." That's when he noticed something very peculiar by seeing a fourth plate on the dinner table. He blinked his eyes in confusion. "Mom, Dad, there's only three of us. Why is there an extra plate?"
Both Kiko and Kenneth Onishi glanced at each other for a brief moment until they smiled upon seeing the visitor walking behind Koji's back.
"Koji, while you were away, we've brought over a special guest with us."
"It really wanted to see you."
"Me?" Koji pointed at himself and shyly responded with a small hint of redness in embarrassment. "Please don't tell me that you invited Jenny or even Bridget."
"Think again, Koji" says a new voice.
When he recognized it, he gasped in total shock. He slowly turned his head around to see a very familiar person standing right in-front of him. "T-Ai? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me, Koji" she giggled.
With his mouth opened dry and his eyes widened in pure shock, he turns back to his parents. They both nodded their heads in agreement and soon realizes that the guest was actually T-Ai. He also remembered something from earlier in the day with the Predacon, Sky-Byte. The stasis pod that he saw coming down from the sky and landing in the middle of downtown. "Does this mean..."
She interjected by clasping her hands with his. "I'm no longer a hologram. I'm human."
Koji's face was starting to turn red upon feeling T-Ai's warm hands. "I-I can feel you." Then, as his heartbeat began to race rapidly like Team Bullet Train, he asked her. "Wait a minute! What are you trying to tell me?"
T-Ai's eyes sparkled and smiled greatly, while revealing her reason. "I came back here to be with you...Koji Onishi."
Now that he realizes that she has returned from Planet Cybertron after becoming human and to stay at his side, tears were shown in his brown eyes. "T-Ai..."
Much like Koji, she too had tears in her deep blue eyes for the first time. "Koji..."
As their tears flowed down on their cheeks, they threw their arms around their necks and embraced while they both smiled.
During this heartfelt moment, Kiko and Kenneth felt very relieved to see their son reunited with his best friend.
"How touching" she said after wiping a tear from her eye.
"I couldn't agree more."
Right after that, the Onishi family and T-Ai went over to the Metro City National Park.
Filled with confusion and curiosity, Koji asked his parents. "Hey, guys. Why are we out here?"
His father smiled and pointed high at the tree. "Take a look."
Once T-Ai and his son both veered at his direction, they saw a heart carving with an arrow and two names inscribed on it.
"Kenneth & Kiko?"
Koji gasped upon recognizing it. "Hey, that's you two!"
Dr. Onishi laughed and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder. "I carved that back when we were in Grade 9. Remember the old times, honey?"
Kiko also smiled. "Yes, it was, dear."
That's when he gives Koji the carving tools to him. "Now, it's your turn, son."
"You really mean it?" says Koji with huge sparkle in his brown eyes.
"Of course. You and your girlfriend are truly meant for each other" citied Kiko smiling.
As a result of her kind gesture, both Koji and T-Ai's faces turned very red and steam coming from out of their ears.
"Oh, gosh."
"Goodness, me."
Both Kenneth and Kiko laughed at their embarrassed reactions of being a cute couple.
By glancing at the carving tools and then at T-Ai, she nods her head in agreement. With his heart fully repaired with happiness and joy, he makes a new carving on the new tree that his parents did, back in their younger days. After several minutes, it was finished and showed a new heart with an arrow on it, and inscribed it read 'Koji and T-Ai'.
After giving the carving tools back to his father, he walked up to T-Ai and clasped her soft hands. "I'm so glad that you came back. I'd thought that I would never see you again."
"Me too. But since that we're in such a beautiful place, I think I should remove this." She placed her hands on her cap and then, she removed it with ease and let out a slight gasp.
The Onishi family felt very shocked to see T-Ai's hair finally unveiled after wearing her Autobot cap for so many years. It was short, dark brown hair that reaches her neck and forehead and earrings on both ears with the Autobot insignia.
"How do I look now, Koji?" she asked him with her dark blue eyes shining like diamonds.
He was beyond speechless and covered his nose as it began to bleed, due to her adorable and beautiful appearance. "Y-You look...fabulous, T-Ai."
She giggled. "Koji, I have something very important to tell you." As he placed her Autobot cap onto the grassy fields, she clasped her hands with his once more and laid out her confession. "From the very beginning, I was a hologram and you were a physical entity. Throughout my Cybertronian life, I've never met anyone special and important as you. Back when you were worried about me trapped inside the O-Parts and working together to reactivate Fortress Maximus, I'm truly humbled. Koji Onishi..."
"Y-Yes, T-Ai?" he wondered, while his heartbeat began racing again like Skid-Z.
Then, she revealed those words to him after being away for such a long time. "I love you."
At that very moment, Koji could feel his heart and soul singing with pure delight and joy. "Oh, T-Ai. I love you too."
Upon looking into each other's eyes, their lips have met in a very blissful feeling. Koji threw his arms around T-Ai's lower waist, while she threw hers around Koji's neck. They both moaned in pure ecstasy as both Kenneth and Kiko Onishi witness their son embracing his girlfriend under the bright sunshine.
"Well, it's about time."
"I'm so proud of him."
From this day forward, Koji and T-Ai remain inseparable. By doing so, the hole in Koji's heart was forever closed and is looking forward to a happier future with his favourite girl.