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.
Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for me to update. Midterms and schoolwork have kept me really busy. Hopefully I'll have the next chapters up sooner. In the meantime enjoy this update!
Chapter 10: Stay Down Videl! Gohan's Confession.
The Supreme Kai, Piccolo mulled that title in his head after being left alone. He knew of the four Kais, and the Grand Kai that oversees their actions, but he had always suspected that there was an even higher power… The Supreme Kai. Why would he be here, and why was he so interested in Rikku?
"Piccolo?" Rikku walked up having left Goten with Trunks and Gohan to watch Videl's fight. "You okay? Did that Shin guy say anything odd?" At his dazed expression she grinned. "He's not giving you a hard time is he? I bet if I told him you were once guardian of Earth he'd show more respect."
"No!" Piccolo held up his hands panicking. "Don't tell him that!"
Rikku blinked confused by Piccolo's embarrassed and troubled expression as he walked off to a dark corner as if to hide. How odd and very unlike Piccolo. He must have changed in her absence. She shrugged and walked back to the venue to watch. "How's she doing guys?"
"She's kicking butt!" Goten exclaimed punching the air. "Yeah give it to him Videl!"
"Just look at her go. I give the guy two more minutes tops." Gohan assured completely confident of his girl- err friend's strength.
Rikku watched her earlier weight lifting from the words. She smiled when Spopovich took a hard fall onto the concrete. It returned when the hulking form rose as if never being hit. Rikku's eyes narrowed. "Something's not right." She murmured to herself.
"Spopovich is up again! No matter how hard Videl tries he just won't stay down! Yes, this is hand to hand combat at its best!" The announcer cheered to the crowd.
Yeah, he wouldn't stay down, and that's what worried Rikku. The man looked like he was running on some sort of drug high, his body not feeling any pain, or registering any hit. It was as if he wasn't even controlling his body. Vegeta even began taking notice of the oddity. They shared concerned glances, Rikku nodding once in a silent agreement of the situation. Vegeta turned full faced to the fight steadying his uneasy son by resting a hand on his head. Trunks looked at him oddly and stopped Goten from celebrating anymore. Goten, confused looked to his parents and noticed their dead serious faces. Something was wrong, and both of them knew it.
No matter how many times Videl slammed her opponent down he would just rise up again, laughing and drooling blood from his mouth. The sickening sight made Rikku's stomach roll.
"What's going on?" Gohan spoke aloud not understanding why Spopovich was out.
"She should quite the match, right now." Rikku stated walking next to her son. Krillen, who too had been watching looked back confused. "Something's not right with her opponent."
"Huh, but why," Krillen asked. "Videl has the upper hand."
"Yeah, mom, Krillen's right."
Rikku said nothing and studied Spopovich with cool calculating eyes. She had been in many battles on various levels of danger. She sensed the foreboding aura around Spopovich and wished Videl would take heed and forfeit. Her dark fears rang to life as Spopovich slapped Videl making her sail across the stadium floor. Gohan was utterly shocked.
Whispers and murmurs of concern filled the audience and voices began to shout urging her up to her feet. Videl stood wiping the blood from her lip. Spopovich walking right to her. She jumped to action meeting his sprint she became caught off guard when his foot suddenly shot up and kicked her all the energy she spent sprinting pushed right back at her and sending her out of the ring, she looked down and concentrated letting her energy suspend and letting her float before her body could touch the outside.
"Yeah, that a girl. You know I taught her that trick." Gohan bragged feeling mighty proud of his student.
"She should have stayed down. She would have been better off if she had landed out of the ring." Rikku narrowed her gaze. "Just look at him, there should be no way for him to withstand all of Videl's attacks and still be standing."
"How does he do it then? What's his secret?"
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out."
Goten leaned into Trunks. "Do you think that bald guy is cheating?"
"I think so, why else would dad and your mom be all serious. Come on let's go tell the announcer guy." Trunks yanked Goten over but was quickly stopped by Vegeta.
"Just where do the two of you think you're going?" He yanked them up by their shirts.
"Ack, but dad we were just…"
"You let them be. This is that girl's fight not yours. If she wants to press the matter she'll take it up with the judges. In the meantime just grit your teeth and bear it." He dropped them both landing with a thud. "Got it?"
"Yes sir," they answer in sync. They shot up when the crowd roared together. Their eyes shot up to the battle and they gasped seeing Spopovich's head snapped backwards. Rikku bent down in an effort to cover their eyes, but it was too late.
"Oh no, she didn't!" Gohan exclaimed seeing Spopovich fall and Videl go to her knees. Videl's heart was heavy and she had a sickening twist in her gut. She wanted to vomit, she hadn't even hit him that hard. How was it that she managed to snap a man's neck with a kick?
"Well that's it," she heard the announcer like a buzz of bees in her ear. "Videl has clearly defeated her opponent, but she will be disqualified for using excessive force. Those are the rules."
Rikku sighed her heavy chest lifting a little to breathe. It was over, and despite the relief that came with it she felt a pang for the guilt Videl must have been suffering. She looked to the stage seeing deep sadness in the girl's eyes. When those eyes shifted to her opponent they widened and she shot up looking deathly afraid. Rikku turned her own gaze and stood up with both boys still tucked in her grasp wriggling.
"Mom, I can't see! Let go! What's going on?"
"He's… alive."
Not only was he alive but he was up. The man twisting his head back and snapping it in place as you would a puzzle piece. That confirmed it. Something unearthly was controlling Spopovich and Videl was in serious danger. The fight continued, but Videl lost her upper hand.
Even when Videl took flight to take a breather he followed her flying up to continue his assault. She fought hard, not willing to give up against his vicious beats, but her body was weakening and she found it harder and harder to find the strength to fight back. She was tossed about the ring like a rag doll punched, kicked and beaten over and over until she was screaming in pain. All the while Spopovich laughed and drank up her agony like sweet milk.
Gohan was at his wits end. His hair spiked as did his energy and he could no longer feel the tips of his fingers as he clenched his fists so tight he though his gloves might rip open. Videl's screams rang in his ears and he wanted to scream.
Videl, she had become an important part in his life. She was forceful, strong, and justified. She believed in hope, truth, beauty, and above all justice. She had fought alongside and had kept his secret Saiyaman identity. She laughed with him, her smile bright and cheery as his mothers and her presence fun and soothing. Now she was in pain, and crying for help, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Whoa, calm down Gohan." Rikku put her hands on her son's shoulders as the boy fought with his super saiyan strength. His cape and turban already discarded he felt his super saiyan power rising to the surface fighting to be released through his anger. "You're not going out there!"
"You expect me to just stand here and watch!" He looked down at his mother his teeth gritted. He had a familiar sense of déjà vu. He remembered when his mother had stopped him from running to Piccolo when he had been facing 17 and Cell. The two of them waiting helplessly at Kami's lookout sensing their struggle, and their pain. No, he wouldn't go through it again!
He saw Videl's head being slowly crushed against Spopovich's foot and it did it for him. He pushed his mother away sending her flying to the grass and ran to the edge. "VIDEL!"
"That's enough!" A new voice rang through the crowd and over Gohan's cry. "End it now Spopovich!" It was Yamu. He stood at the edge of the ring his arms crossed. "We don't have time for this. End it now!"
With much hesitation Spopovich slid his foot off Videl and kicked her out of the ring letting her land in the grass at Gohan's feet. He crouched down to her cradling her head in his hands. "Videl, are you alright?"
"Shall I call out a stretcher?" The announcer asked kneeling worried beside Gohan and Videl.
"No, I'll take her myself." Gohan's eyes rose and he growled. "Spopovich!" he waited for him to turn before continuing. "Next time, it'll be you and me, and I'll win." He grit his teeth as the man just brushed his threat and flew off with Yamu.
"Hey Krillen," Rikku looked to her old friend. "Do you have any sensu beans?"
"No, I didn't think I'd need them."
"Okay, I'll be right back then." Good ole instant transmission, Rikku put her fingers to her head and disappeared to Korin's tower.
"Hey don't worry Gohan," Krillen said as Gohan walked in with Videl in arm. "Rikku just left to get some sensu beans to fix her up.
Gohan pulled Videl into his arms jogging past the others and straight to the medical wing. She wheezed in his arms breaking his heart. He slowed down his jog just enough to look down at her and press a kiss to her forehead.
"I won't let anything like this happen to you again, Videl."
"Gohan," her hands gently fisted in his gi and she passed out to the sounds of his comforting voice.
"I love you." His words were whispered and he felt the weight on his chest, from denying his feelings, lift. "I'll always protect you."
Okay all together now… 3...2...1... AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
He-he, I had to put that in there. I love the Gohan/Videl pairing! They're so cute together! Anyway another chapter up and another critical point passed. Next up is Gohan and Kibito and the real truth will be revealed.
Stay tuned… "Pure Heart Power!"