Why Can't I
I want to thank everyone who's commented on this story. I was very skeptical about doing this considering how long in time I have to cover.
Again if you have any questions, comments, or requests don't hesitate to leave a comment or E mail me! Thanks again for reading!
NOTICE: I just would like to say that if you're a DBZ fan and you haven't watched the original Dragon Ball yet you SHOULD! It's hysterical and just as adventure packed as DBZ.
Chapter 36: Life Changing Experience.
A few months passed since Rikku had proclaimed victorious over Piccolo. Since then Rikku made a home with Chichi and the Ox King. Due to a terrible tragedy with fire mountain the castle had once again gone up in flames causing it to crumble down. With some quick work on Rikku and Chichi's part the fire was extinguished and the entire kingdom worked on the rebuilding of the castle and town itself.
"Hey Ox King!" Rikku called out holding a mountain of bricks in her arms. "Where do you want these?"
"Just put them right here in the central courtyard. Is Chichi close by?"
"She said she was going to tag along with the recovery committee." Rikku dropped the bricks down and let out a soft sigh or relief. "Whew that was getting a bit heavy."
"You sure have grown strong Rikku. I'm amazed at how much you've surpassed myself and Master Roshi." Ox King took a seat as he went over his checklist for the rebuild. "With your help all the repairs have been surprisingly quick."
"Which reminds me… Why did you stay behind in the first place?" Rikku stretched out her back and arms. "You had the chance to escape the castle with Chichi and I. However you chose to stay behind."
"There was something I've been saving for a very special occasion. I wanted to protect it at all costs."
"Oh?" Rikku suddenly intrigued walked over to him. "What's that?"
Ox king stood and brushed off his pants with his clip board. "Come with me. I'll show yah." Ox King lead her to the storage units. After the fire was put out everything that had been salvaged from the castle was put inside, Opening the doors Ox King walked in and opened a chest. Inside was a beautiful white dress decorated with diamonds and silk. "Wow! That's a fancy dress."
"It's a wedding dress Rikku. Chichi's mother wore this on our wedding day and I've been saving it for the day I see my little girl do the same."
"Huh?" Rikku looked confused. "What's a wedding?"
"I shouldn't be surprised since you lost Gohan so early in your life. A wedding is a ceremony that links a man and a woman together until death do they part."
"Binds them together? Can't you just use rope or something?"
"Not that kind of bond." Ox King laughed. "Wedding, marriage, love, it's all a special sort of bond that links hearts sometimes even souls."
"Oh kinda like boyfriends and girlfriends."
"Yes, in a sense. When a man proclaims love for you it is often a sign that they want to marry you. However you have return the feelings in order to complete the bond."
Rikku sighed. Love, just when she thought she had a hold of what it was it skipped her grasp She had the basic knowledge of friendship, kinship, and affection but love was in a whole category of its own.
"Don't worry Rikku. You will understand one day. When you find someone very special you will know the difference."
Rikku pondered Ox King's words as she walked about the village. The castle had burned but the village had few causalities from the flames. All around Rikku watched the happy faces of the villagers. Men worked in the fields while the women watched children play as they cooked lunch for their families. Rikku had seen many families like this in her travels. Maybe this was what the Ox king meant. Maybe what she really wanted now was a family of her own. How did one go about having children anyway? Was this marriage a part of it?
"Rikku!" She heard Chichi's voice and turned. Chichi smiled as she ran up to her.. However when she got close enough she found tears on Rikku's cheeks. "What's wrong Rikku?"
"Huh?" Rikku brushed her cheek and gasped quickly wiping them away. "Sorry not sure why I did that."
"You need a break." Chichi smiled and grabbed her hand. "Come on. You have visitors."
"Huh?"
"Bulma! Yamcha!" Rikku laughed and ran to them embracing them both in a hug. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Don't you remember? You said you would come to the city to celebrate your victory."
"Oh yeah I guess I forgot. Good thing you came and reminded me." Rikku smiled and looked to Ox King and Chichi. "You don't mind do you?"
"Not at all you deserve a little break. In fact Chichi why don't you join them. Have a good time."
It took little negotiation to get Chichi to come along. Chichi had always had a fancy to see the city in all it's glory. She also had wanted to see the shops and scenery displayed. So they set out, Rikku and Chichi riding Nimbus alongside Bulma and Yamcha who took their plane capsule.
The familiar scenes around Rikku flew by and woodlands gave into streets and buildings as West city came into view. Capsule Corps remained at the center of the busy metropolis large and bulk with people swimming in and out of the adjoining buildings. The inside was just as busy as the out. Robots and guests weaved around them with the party already in full swing.
"So this Capsule Corps? It's so huge." Chichi said in wonderment.
"Yeah, bigger and busier than I remember." Rikku agreed.
Bulma laughed. "Well I did invite everyone I could get my hands on. I'd be surprised if the whole city wasn't attending." Bulma looked down to her. "You're a hero again Rikku. Everyone wants to be your friend."
"Well I can't get enough of those." Rikku laughed.
"The two of you follow me. If you're gonna party you need more suitable clothes."
Chichi squealed as she spun in her blue and silver dress. The patterns were Chinese styled and hugged her body from shoulder to hips. "It's beautiful Bulma. What wonderful clothes you have."
"Thanks Chichi glad to see someone approves." Bulma said pouting at the whimpering Rikku. Rikku too wore a beautiful dress; the silky material a midnight blue that lead to black in a shimmer across her body. The skirt fell to her knees with slits to her thighs and hugged every curve from her hip to her chest.
"I'm not used to wearing this kind of stuff Bulma. Not to mention this lace stuff is itchy." She complained scratching at the lace of the sleeves.
"Don't touch." Bulma pulled out a brush and ran it through Rikku's hair. "As soft as it is this hair doesn't want to change. You've had the same hair style for over ten years. Even after I styled it the one time it grew back pretty quickly."
"You're not gonna cut it, are you?"
"No way I've been thinking about it for awhile Rikku and I came to the conclusion that you have all this lovely hair and I'd hate to waste it, so, I'm just gonna style it for you."
"Style? You mean- OW OW OW STOP PULLING OW HEY, NO, IS THAT- OOOOOW THAT BURNS BULMA!"
"It's a curling iron remember, AND STAY STILL OR I'LL NEVER GET YOUR HAIR DONE!"
Chichi couldn't help but stare. Bulma had been at Rikku for almost an hour and the end results were spectacular. "Oh my Rikku you look so… "
"Stupid?" Rikku guessed. Her spikes had been turned to curls by the merciless curling iron and the pounds of moose and gel Bulma had applies to her locks. She had been allowed to keep it loose and flowy so it would frame Rikku's angelic face in almost a sultry flow. Bulma had also done Rikku's make up almost similar as she had before. With smoky eyes, and a red lip Rikku was sure to be a smash at the party.
"No way Kid. I wouldn't be surprised if the men were all over you tonight." Bulma insisted putting the last touches on her own hair and make up.
"Why would I want that? Bulma your rituals and life style aren't exactly my way of life you know."
"I know but t wouldn't hurt to have a little change here and there. Doing this once in awhile could be fun."
"If you say so but I doubt I'll have fun."
Thirty minutes later Rikku was eating her words. The entire Brief's garden had been decorated World Martial Arts style with orange banners showing off he name and title of champion. The moment she entered the room people flocked around her congratulating her. Everyone had shown up, Roshi, Krillen, Tien, Chiaotsu, Launch, and even the announcer from the tournament himself showed.
She took this as an opportunity to see her friends and had nearly forgotten she had the dress on before Oolong opened his mouth. "By the way Rikku you sure look good in that dress. Maybe you should wear one more often."
"No way Oolong. There's no way I could train with all this stuff on."
"Train? Why train you're already the champ. No one would dare mess with you."
"Piccolo would. I have to watch myself. One day he will come back for a rematch and I have to be ready for him." Rikku clenched her fist grinning at the thought of a rematch. A hand on her shoulder turned her attention and she looked to see the face of a stranger. Tall and rugged he had a full head of black hair styled in a side swept bang and straight locks.
"Hi, you're the guest of honor aren't you?"
"Who me?"
"Rikku right?" The man took her hand kissing it. Rikku's face felt heated from the contact and she looked up into the man's eyes. He towered over her in a six foot two form compared to her five four. The eyes that she looked into held a look of mystery and gave a feeling she had never felt before. That feeling made her stomach twist and her face flush. "My name is Hittori."
Krillen sat at the bar frowning as he watched Rikku and Hattori chat up. From the bits and pieces of the conversation he heard Hattori too had a knowledge of martial arts and was praising Rikku's techniques. Apparently he had been a fan of hers since her first appearance in the tournament. "What a kiss up."
"You poor sap you're jealous." Yamcha teased.
"I am not." Krillen admitted. It wasn't that he was jealous of Hattori. Something about the man just made him uneasy. The more Rikku became closer the more he got the feeling something bad was gonna happen. "I gave up on her months ago."
"Bulma do you know this Hattori guy?" Yamcha asked . Bulma nodded reapplying her lipstick for the fifth time that night.
"He's a model for a sports company. He uses martial arts to keep his body in shape and according to a magazine I read he holds great respect for those who do it well. He's an amateur at best. Even you could beat him Krillen."
"Hey! What's that suppose to mean?"
Rikku laughed as she and Hattori watched Chichi jump up on the mini stage and start singing loud and proud into a microphone. "Chichi looks like she's having fun."
"Friend of yours?" Hattori asked.
"Yeah, she's a good friend of mine."
"She's cute, but nothing compared to you." Hattori flirted.
"You've said some similar things to me all night. Does make up and fancy dresses really get guys attention?"
"You bet, but I have to say you look even more beautiful when battling in the ring." Hattori pushed some buttons liking how Rikku's cheeks flushed. "You have a sort of pride and confidence in your fighting that makes you deadly in the ring. I thought for sure you would have won the previous two years. They just got lucky."
"No not really," Rikku looked down playing with the ends of her hair. "I wasn't strong enough. Close call or not the end result is still the same. They won, I lost. Luckily the same wasn't said for this year."
"So I heard. Not only World Champion but also savior of the world." Hattori boldly took Rikku's chin in his hand. "Feel proud for you fought well and deserve every bit of glory and reward."
"Reward? Oh the money. I gave it to the ox king. I have no use of it."
"Really? Very admirable indeed. But I was referring to an even better reward." He leaned in Rikku's eyes cautious on his movements. When his lips touched her in a soft kiss her eyes widen.
Krillen wanted to gag when he saw this and he jumped from his chair and walked off. "Nice Party Bulma. I'm out."
Bulma and Yamcha exchanged glances before shrugging. "Jealous."
"What was that for?" Rikku questioned. "I thought friends only do that on the cheeks."
"Forgive me." Hattori pulled back. "I didn't realize it was your first kiss."
"I've had others but only on the cheek. I don't understand why does it feel different?"
This girl, Hattori thought, is pure innocence. I best watch my step from now on. Hattori gave a soft smile. "You look flushed. How about a drink?"
Rikku's stomach rumbled and she whimpered. "Some food would be nice too."
"Wait here I'll be right back." Hattori slipped away from their spot. Rikku fought with her hunger by watching Chichi again who was now sharing the mic with Bulma in a duet that made Rikku's ears ring. "Sorry it took so long." Hattori came back with a plate of hors d'oeuvres and a crystal glass of a golden colored liquid. "Here wet your whistle."
"I dont have a whistle so how about I just drink this?" Rikku reasoned taking the drink then the plate. She gulped the drink down Hattori watching meticulously. The drink stung Rikku's throat and she lifted the glass empty. "What was that? It tasted a little funny."
Hattori sweat dropped. "You're kidding."
"No, why would I kid?" Hattori shook his head.
"Nothing never mind. It was a beer. You know alcohol."
"Oh, no wonder I don't really drink alcohol."
"Could have fooled me with the way you gulped it down like that." He glanced down at the plate and his eyes popped out to see all the hors d' oeuvres were gone. "Where'd the food go?"
"I ate it all. I'm still hungry don't they have anything more solid than that?"
What's with this girl? Hattori thought. Pure, innocent, and can pack it away like a line backer. What a score!
"I'll get you something else to drink but I'm afraid they don't have much else as far as food goes."
Rikku pouted. "Too bad. Bulma should know me better than that."
An hour and a few drinks later Rikku began to feel funny. Her head spun and her body felt a little weak. "Whoa maybe I shouldn't have eaten that last appetizer." She fell into Hattori's arms groaning. Bulma and Chichi who were close by ran up.
"Rikku are you alright?"
"She's fine," Hattori promised. "I thinks he had a little too much to drink. Do you have a spare bedroom I can put her in Bulma?"
"Yeah exit the ballroom and head straight upstairs to the second floor. Just pick one of the empty furnished guest rooms and set her in there."
"Maybe I should go with her." Chichi said walking to follow, but Hattori shook his head picking Rikku up princess style.
"She needs to sleep it off. I'll put her to bed."
When Hattori left the room a secret smile played on his lips. He glanced down at Rikku's flushed and sleeping face. She was completely knocked out of it. "You won't be innocent much longer, Rikku."
I'm so evil. No hints or guesses just tune into the final chapter…
"What love is."