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. So to relieve some suspense here's what you have to look forward to in the near future …
All three DB tournaments
Brief mention of Red Ribbon Army
Rikku's life after the final DB tournament
Character intros of…
King Piccolo/ Junior
Tien Shin Han & Chiaotsu
Kami & Mr. Popo
And much more!
Again if you have any questions, comments, or requests don't hesitate to leave a comment or E mail me! Thanks again for reading!
Chapter 10: World Martial Arts Tournament: Elimination and Utter stink!
Fighters from all across the globe gathered around inside the elimination room. As Rikku listened to the announcements made by the Tournament Committee she was surprised to find out that there were 137 competitors lined up for a chance at the title of World Martial Arts Master. Krillen's confidence took a deep dive and she could tell he was either nervous and excited from the way he twitched and rocked on his heels.
"So many competitors," Krillen complained looking around and up at his competition. "Golly half of these guys have knee caps taller than I am."
"Exciting isn't it Krillen?"
"Yeah sure whatever you say." He did his best to calm his nerves. He was shocked at how calm Rikku was being about the whole situation. Did she know something he didn't? He turned his attention as the committee began explaining the rules. The competitors were to draw lots to split them into four different blocks. The Top two fighters from each block would move on to the semi final rounds where they then move to the large arena to fight in front of a live audience.
"Hey I just thought of something. What if we have to fight each other?"
"There's nothing we can do about that," Yamcha explained getting in line to draw lots. "We just have to hope for the best."
Hoping turned out to be good luck. After drawing lots Krillen and Rikku were put into block three but in different halves. Hopefully the two of them would make it to the finals. "Thank goodness, I didn't want to have to go up against you Rikku."
"Me neither," Yamcha said smiling at his paper marked with a large 35. "I'm in Block two so this means none of us will fight each other into the Semi Finals."
"How come no body wants to fight me?" Rikku pouted thinking that she had done something wrong."
"It's nothing personal Rikku. I just don't want to fight you with as little limitations as possible. The arena for the semi finals is much bigger so I won't have to hold back."
"Oh I get it now. This is great I can't wait!"
"Number seventy and Number Sixty- Nine please come forth into the ring!" Rikku jolted turning her attention to the referee.
"Hey Seventy is my number. It must be my turn!" Climbing up on the ring Rikku began to stretch smiling back at Krillen when he shouted words of encouragement.
"Hey who brought their daughter to the ring?"
"That's no bodies daughter that's a recruit fighter from the powder puff girls. Aww she's so cute."
"Oh boy," Krillen looked around grunting and holding back his anger. All around him he could hear other fighters making fun of his friend. Frankly it pissed him off. "Alright Rikku don't hold back give that giant everything you've got!"
Bulma watched from the window crossing her fingers as she saw Rikku step up to a giant made of muscle and bone. "It's Rikku's turn, oh I hope she doesn't get hurt by that guy he looks like he's on steroids or something,
"Fighters take your places." Giving the girl a silent prayer the referee stepped out of the ring to give the fighters full wing of it. "You have one minute to take out your opponent. Fighters ready?"
The Giant laugh cracking his knuckles. "I just need one second to crush this pint sized pest."
"And begin!"
Rikku took a deep breath than rushed forward. Before the man could even move she zipped past him skidding to a stop behind him. He hadn't even seen her move. He grabbed air then looked around the area. "What the, where did she go?"
"Here I am?" To show him where she was Rikku tapped her opponent on the heel. This caused the fighter to lose his balance and send him toppling over the edge of the ring.
Laughter sprang all around them. Many making fun of the fact that the Hercules wannabe got beat by a minuscule girl. "What the…" Rikku blinked a few times then looked down at her fingers. Her eyes scrutinized them flexing and feeling the power she had inside. "Wow, I better be careful from now on."
"That was no accident," Yamcha muttered to himself. He had watched the entire fight and what the other fighters lacked to see was the strength in the girl fighter. "She knocked him down with one touch… I wonder if that's one of Master Roshi's techniques."
"Wow Rikku that sure was luck on your part!"
"Not Really Krillen. I think we should be careful. Let's hold back some of our power I don't wanna hurt anybody."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
She wasn't entirely sure what she meant. She knew that Master Roshi's training did something to her and Krillen. Despite only delivering milk bottles, and digging through dirt with big heavy shells on their backs she knew there was a special meaning to it all. And she was right. Krillen and Rikku flew past every single opponent in their block advancing to the semi final rounds. When they could Rikku and Krillen watched Yamcha's fights. He didn't even have to use his wolf fang fist attack until his final bout where he went up against a real wolf like man. It was a close call but Yamcha defeated him. All three advanced to the semifinals!
A brief celebration with Bulma and the others further brought spirits to the three warriors. Rikku bounced happily all the way back into the hall her hair shaking about her face. "We did it! We're in the semifinals!"
"Rikku your hair is all in your face." Krillen commented pulling her bangs up to look in her eyes. "You should cut it or at least tie it back."
"But I don't want to cut it and I don't have anything to tie it back.
"Here you go sweetie." A young woman with curling purple hair walks over a blue rubber band in her hand. "I couldn't help but over hear. You can use this. We girls have to stick together after all." The woman winks and pulls Rikku's hair back into a ponytail. Despite the young woman's tugs and pulls the spikes wouldn't stay down. "What sort of hair spray do you use kid your hair is so soft yes it stays perfectly in place."
"It's natural this way, I don't use hair spray or any of those cosmetics stuff."
"You're kidding. Oh you're gonna be a real heart breaker when you grow up. Just like me." She fluffs her own hair giggling and walks away with a wave. "See you in the finals!"
"Whoa," Krillen and Yamcha stared after the young woman. "Hubba, hubba, she must be one of the finalists."
The two boys weren't the only ones giving her looks. Also looking was a graying old man who, to Rikku, looked strangely familiar. He too gathered around with the other finalists. The rest of the finalists consisted of a tall Hindu man, a large dinosaur beast, and…
"Ugh what is that awful smell!"
Yamcha covered his nose looking in the direction of the stench. The tall mammoth man Bacterian slugging his way back into the hall. All around the finalists held their breath and covered their noses unable to stand the stench of him.
"That's Bacterian. He's got Herculean strength but that comes second to the strength of his odor. They say he's never taken a bath. His opponents have to fight one handed in order to plug their nose. He uses it to his advantage and quickly gains the upper hand."
"Ugh I'm gonna pass out!" Rikku covered her face her eyes swirling dizzy from the smell.
Luckily the announcer for the tournament called for the draws. Bacterian ordered to stay in the back downwind to lower the smell. "When I call your name please come up and draw a number to determine the fighting order and opponents. Please be patient as we go through this and stay in an orderly fashion. Once we determine the draw I will then explain the rules of the ring… Now first up is Nam? Am I pronouncing that right?"
"Nam," The Hindu man said simply correcting the pronunciation of the a. Drawing a lot he picked number 5 putting him in the third match. The next person up was the beast known as Giran, one by one the rest of the fighters drew lots… Ram Fan, the woman who had helped Rikku with her hair drew 6 putting her up against Nam. Yamcha drew number 4 putting him in the second fight while Krillen drew unlucky number 2 putting him up against Bacterian. Rikku gave a sympathetic look to her friend as she anxiously awaited her own name to be called.
"No let's see. This name is kind of hard to pronounce.. Ric-co-la?" The announcer looked up rubbing his head. "Come now people, Riccola, please step up. Hmm 5,6,7,8.. We're not missing anybody."
Lending a hand Yamcha came over leaning on his shoulder reading. "Id don't mean to but in but that spells Rikku."
"Oh yes I see it now thank you. Okay is there anyone here named Rikku?"
"Me!" Jumping up Rikku rushed to the box sticking her short arm inside fetching for a number. She pulled 7 putting her up against Giran. This left Jackie Chun, the elderly gentleman who was currently admiring Ram Fan, to be put up against Yamcha in the second fight.
Once the line up was written down the announcer explained the rules and regulations of the fights. After an embarrassing talk about private parts Rikku immediately took the time to eat.
Bulma, Oolong, and Puar had managed to get up to the front getting great ringside seats of all the action that would take place. The announcer called out walking to the center of the ring. "Ladies and Gentleman! The World Martial Arts tournament will now begin. Over a hundred contestants took part in this battle for the ultimate title of the strongest warrior in the world and I can honestly say that these eight fighters are the best of the best! Now let us start off by getting the first two competitors out!"
Rikku patted Krillen hard on the back causing him to stumble forward. "Just keep punching and try not to think of his smell. Don't worry I'm sure you'll win!"
"Yeah, sure." With lumps in his stomach Krillen stepped out his reek of an opponent right behind him.
"Here they are… The fighter in the bright orange suit's name is Krillen. He's one of the youngest competitors we've had but don't let that fool you. This tiny warrior can pack a punch! And Fighting in the soiled brown briefs is the Herculean man Bacterian, whose offensive odor is his greatest weapon."
Krillen glanced around nervously. He was surprised at how many people were already cheering for him. Then again they were probably just hoping to get Bacterian off the stage faster. He heard a loud whisper and he looked around before shooting his head to see Rikku squatting on the wall with a bird's eye view of the action. "I'll be rooting for you back here Krillen. Do your best!"
Krillen smiled and blushed rubbing the back of his head. He was happy to have Rikku on his side it made the nervousness less stomach wrenching.
"And now let the match begin!" The announcer to a safe distance downwind a handkerchief over his nose. "Fighters ready…. Then begin!"
Rikku was on the edge of her seat the entire time. The loud wails and groans of the audience and her friends was like a weight on her heart and she wished there was a way for her to step into the ring and help. Her grip on the wall faltering from the putrid tricks Bacterian laid out on her friend.
"Oh Poor Krillen." She gagged trading hands to plug her nose. "I should have given him some nose plugs…. Wait a minute… nose plugs? Hey Krillen! You can beat him his smell is all in your head! Think about it you don't have a nose!" Krillen's most unique feature suddenly became his greatest weapon. Realizing he couldn't smell a thing Krillen was up on his feet and rushing at Bacterian with a frenzy fury.
"Thanks for the tip Rikku and now for some payback!"
The little bald boy wouldn't succumb to Bacterian's dirty tricks anymore. Like a whirlwind Krillen knocked the giant stinkball onto his back and gave him a taste of his own stink.
"And with that Krillen is the winner!"
Rikku jumped for joy leaping over the wall and embracing the little baldy laughing. "You did it Krillen!"
Blushing madly Krillen played shameless humility enjoying the feel of Rikku's feminine embrace. "Aww shucks it was nothing."
Sorry if you wanted more detail on that battle but that particular fight always gave me the gross outs. Anyway Krillen advances to the next round but will his friends join him? Find out in the next chapter "World Martial Arts Tournament: Yamcha and Rikku take the ring!"