Why Can't We?: The conclusion of the Rikku/Goku Universe. It's been 7 years since Gohan and Vegeta defeated Cell, and 7 years since Rikku's demise had been finalized. She's lived in other world with King Kai, training and making new friends. However, the comforts of death couldn't take away the homesickness and she gets a longing to see her home once again. Meanwhile on Earth things have progressed and the Z fighters prepare themselves for the upcoming Tournament not expecting that their 7 years of peace is about to uprooted.
Chapter 4:Preliminary Round, Feelings Resurface
"Hey Goten," Trunks poked his brother and looked back at Rikku. "Your mom's kinda hot. Are you sure you're related?"
"That's not funny Trunks." Goten frowned at his brother, but took a glance back at his mother anyway.
"Just speaking truthfully." Trunks looked back ahead. "She doesn't look all that tough. I bet dad could take her."
"Dad said she's the strongest woman in the universe."
"Look around Goten, just how many tough women are there?" Trunks rolled his shoulders and took the hit to the shoulder.
"You just wait Trunks, my mom's gonna kick butt in the tournament!" Goten pumped his fists. "Just like I'm gonna kick yours."
"Ha, dream on!"
"Hey Vegeta!" Rikku rushed up to meet him. "You've barely said two words to me since I got here. I was expecting a big welcome for you." She had caught up with Krillen, Chichi and their families, but now she wanted to talk to the center of her own. She had spent the past seven years thinking of her Saiyan Prince and she had hoped he had done the same.
"Just waiting for the right moment, Karat." The group walked into fighter center, the paparazzi flashing their cameras in their direction and he yanked her to her toes giving her a full blown kiss that sent her mind back into space.
She had thought with time her heart would grow weary and forget the feelings she had for this man. Being dead really put into perspective that you couldn't always be with the ones you cared most for, you could think about them, dream about them, but they weren't always within arms reach. Forget about him? No, now that she had a taste of him again, there was no way she would left go of these feelings.
"I can't believe I'm getting stuck in the junior division fighting a bunch of little kids." Trunks complained as he and Goten walked down to the tournament halls. He had kissed his mother goodbye, much to his disagreement, and shouldered his pack ready to dress and kick little kids buts until he and Goten were put into the ring together. Clearly his only challenge was his brother.
He turned his head to see his father fastening his gi into place. He wanted to put his skills to the test and show his father what he really could do. How could he do that when his only challenge was the kid he had been fighting against all his life?
He walked out side by side with his father. He spotted Goten and his mother laughing about some secret joke. When Rikku turned to face him she gave him a smile that just seemed to flow so natural. He wondered if some people were just born to be mothers. She had the job down pat. She hadn't been around for 7 years and yet she made Goten feel right and comfortable the first time meeting.
"We're ready. Sorry it took so long."
"That's okay guys. Goten and I were just having some playtime." She stood and Goten naturally fit his hand into Rikku's. she clenched it gently. "Let's go."
The prelim arena was huge, far bigger than Rikku remembered of her child hood. Fighters packed into the vicinity chatting or flexing their muscles ready to duke it out for the chance to whip themselves amongst the contenders. Rikku did, however, see a familiar face. "Rikku! Oh my goodness it is you! How have you been?" The announcer had aged and bald out but he looked overjoyed to see her. She too had a sense of familiarity and joy as she took the man's hand to shake it.
"It's great to see you."
"How long has it been. I was beginning to think I'd never see you again." He said looking to Krillen and Piccolo as well. "You guys haven't come to compete in ages." He looked her up and down. The announcer had a wisp of nostalgia at the familiar smile and powerful yet sleek physique. She looked fabulous. He'd known all along that Mr. Satan was full of himself. The moment he saw the blonde beauty fighting Cell he knew that there was no way Mr. Satan had defeated Cell. It had to be her, or one of her friends. They'd always been top of the pack and the best fighters he'd ever seen in his career.
Gohan and Goten watched as their mother was praised. Gohan was thrilled and tickled pink to see that at least one person outside the z fighters knew how special his mother was.
When the Preliminaries started Goten and Trunks were taken to the opposite arena to ready themselves for the Junior Division, and the rest of the lot were greeted by new rules. Instead of one on one battles the Preliminaries were to be tested out by a punching machine. The top 16 scorers would go on to compete, and since Satan was already drafted that left 15 spots on the draw.
"Punching Machine, huh? Well that's new."
"Incredible," the judge who was in charge of the ballots read off the number from Mr. Satan's punch. "Mr. Satan has just scored 137 points!"
"I hope one of you can at least get into the 100s so we can have a decent match!" Satan declared as he strut inside proud of himself."
"Looks like we're gonna have to hold back our strength guys. We don't want to cause a ruckus." Rikku suggested sighing. "I miss the old way with preliminary rounds. It was a lot more fun."
"Times change, Rikku." Krillen sympathized. "Think of it this way, at least now we don't have to worry about fighting each other until the actual bouts."
"True." She agreed drawing a number. She was glad that the majority of them were early to punch. She wanted to get her qualifying round over with and rush to see the junior division. She couldn't wait to see Goten and Trunks in action.
"774!" Rikku heard the judge shout and turned her attention to Eighteen. The crowd gawked wondering if the machine was bungled. Rikku had to laugh, oh gods if only they knew. "203 points…" giving up they scored the number. Krillen was next scoring 197, then herself hitting it just right to make it 186, and then Piccolo with 210.
"That ought to do it." She grinned and looked at Vegeta. "You're up." She pat his back. He grunted and pushed her off heading straight for the machine.
"Stand aside." He tells the judges. When they backed away he let the machine have it crushing it to pieces with one blow. Rikku smacked a hand to her forehead.
"Oh brother, do you always have to show off?" She frowns when he walked back to her looking damn proud of himself. He laughed and took her chin.
"Only to you Karat." He let his hand slowly slide. "Just showing what you've been missing in other world. That was just a taste."
"Oh really," she cocked an eyebrow. Putting her hands on her hips she pouted. "Like I really miss your arrogance." When he continued to smile smugly she shook her head and laughed it off. "Come on, the junior division is starting. We better head over there!"
Rikku lead the way out. She spotted Gohan talking with a teenage girl about the same age. Ah, so this must be Videl. She had heard from chichi that Gohan had gotten himself a girlfriend. "Hello there." She saw surprise register on the girl's face. She grinned and looked up at her son. "So this is the girl I keep hearing about. Introduce her to me will yah?"
"Oh right," Gohan blushed glancing down at Videl. "This here is a friend of mine. Videl Satan."
Krillen snickered beside Rikku. "Come on, Gohan. Don't you mean girlfriend?" He chuckled again watching the boy blush and continue to deny it. Rikku extended her hand to wave at the girl.
"Well we better go, we don't want to miss Trunks and Goten fight. It was a great pleasure meeting you Videl." She walked off her body brushing Vegeta's as they talked in debate over who would come out on top in the junior division.
"You know them?" Videl asked when the group had left.
"Uh yeah," Gohan rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "The black haired woman… that's my mom."
"What? No way, that was your mother?" Now that she thought about it Gohan did say his mother would be back for the tournament. "She's so pretty. Is she really just back from the dead?"
"Yeah, didn't you see the halo floating above her head?"
"Gosh… you must get super strength or something in the afterlife. I mean she and the others all scored in the 200s and they barely tapped the machine."
"Yeah, it's a long story, believe me."
In the main ring the Junior Division was gaining way. Chichi, Bulma and the non fighters had taken their seats in the audience making sure to have grabbed some good seats. There were already some catfights over who would take the Junior Prize, Goten or Trunks, but it was quickly dissolved by the mediators Yamcha and 17.
Mr. Satan appeared to the crowd eating up their praise and cheers. Chichi sighed in aggravation. "Ugh, what a goof. It's all his fault you know. Our families could be filthy rich too if those cameras hadn't gone out."
"Now, before we begin the competition we've put together a special show for you. I know you're gonna love it." the announcer claimed as a blimp flew overhead. "Seven years ago the world was left hanging in suspense after the live display of the Cell Games had been brutally interrupted." Grinning with possibilities the announcer continued. "Behind me is a screen that will now show you a completed historical re-enactment of what transpired that day!"
Chichi's head shot up in surprise. "What?" Bulma too scooted to the edge of her seat watching in suspense.
"Oh, this ought to be good." Bulma grinned and rubbed her hands together. When the Waves on Rocks caption shot across the screen she heard a voice she thought she would never hear again."
"What a bunch of bologna. Hey, babe, hold my seat I'm gonna go have a cigarette."
"What, but Hittori, don't you want to see how Mr. Satan beat Cell?"
"What's there to see. He saved us and that's all I need to know."
"No way," Bulma whispered and jabbed her rib into Chichi. "Look, Chichi, it's him. It's Hittori."
"What?" Snapping her attention away from the screen Chichi looked down and spotted the familiar face. "My gosh, you're right."
"The sleaze ball! After all these years he's finally made an appearance."
"What should we do? What if Rikku sees him?"
"I wouldn't worry." Bulma crossed her arms scowling in his direction. "Knowing her Rikku will either make friends or she'll cry and Vegeta will beat the crap out of him. Either way, it works out just fine." Her eyes go back to the screen and she begins to laugh at the seriously fake dialogue.
Why did he keep coming back, Hittori thought lighting a cigarette. It wasn't as if he was ever gonna find anyone as perfect as Rikku. That night, where he had violated and taken away that virgin girl's innocence he had craved for her. She hadn't ratted him out, nor had she even tried to blame him. He doubted she even knew what he had really done. What sort of mind frame was she in? He had gotten plenty of threatening phone calls, and nasty letters from her friends, but nothing from her, not even an "I hate you."
"I wonder where she is now."
"Well, it was ridiculous and untrue, but it kept me entertained." The familiar voice and following laughter hit his gut like a ton of lead. His eyes dart to the side where he saw her. She hadn't changed a bit except she had grown all the more attractive. Her eyes still that deep husky brown color, her hair, all that tangle and thick softness that his hands had buried in while she slept left his fingers itch to touch, and her full soft lips parted as she laughed and spoke to the people around her. He had finally found her again. "Rikku."
Rikku's eyes widened and her head snapped to the side. Her heart lodged into her throat as Hittori strolled up naturally to her. He had cut his hair, all that black hair that had seemed to stream for miles had been cut into a spike crop, but those eyes, frighteningly sharp and admiring, she would never forget those eyes. "Hittori."
DUN, DUN, DUN! Aren't I evil? It's been awhile since I posted and now I give you a cliffy. That's school for you, it always interferes with the better stuff in life. Anyway so a ghost from Rikku's past has appeared… What will happen? Find out in the next thrilling chapter. "Smooth Talker, Baby Walker"
