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 11: World Martial Arts Tournament: Yamcha and Rikku take the ring!
The second fight began almost immediately after Krillen's victory. Rikku and Krillen wished Yamcha luck but were unnerved by the familiar presence in Jackie Chun's company. The match began and neither man moved examining their opponents. Yamcha started the action releasing a flurry of kicks and punches
"Yamcha releases a thunderous attack but Jackie Chun seems to have the upper hand in speed! What an incredible bout!"
Rikku could hardly believe her eyes as she watched Yamcha's fight from the safety of the wall. She knew Yamcha to be one the most powerful fighters she had ever come across and yet this old man was dodging his techniques as if Yamcha was punching in slow motion.
"Incredible, Krillen are you watching this?"
"I'm watching it but I don't believe it. If this old guy can dodge every punch of Yamcha's I think we're in trouble." From the sound of Yamcha's grunt both young fighters turn their eyes back to the action and gasp .Yamcha had been taken by surprise. He had tried to use his wolf fang fist attack but for the first time it had failed against an opponent. Jackie did nothing but dodge his body moving as agile as any young person Rikku knew. She suddenly had an admiration of a fighter with that kind of skill.
"Now," Jackie spoke to his opponent after centering himself. "Allow me to escort you out of the ring." In a flash of blue light Jackie's hands thrust outward the aftershock causing Yamcha's body to fly up and out of the ring.
Gasps of shock and utter confusion filled around the arena. The battle had been short but affective. Yamcha was dazed staring at Jackie as if he had two heads.
"Did you like the breeze? Quite refreshing wasn't it young man?"
"Wow, it seems Jackie Chun had this fight under his belt the whole time! What an amazing fighter!"
"Oh he lost," Rikku pouted jumping down from the wall. She tried to talk to Yamcha but Krillen put his hand on her shoulder.
"I think we better leave him alone for now Rikku."
Rikku nodded in agreement and got into place to watch the next fight. Nam and Ram Fan were two competitors who had never been in the fighting scene before. Rikku could tell Nam was anxious and nervous but down right determined to win no matter what. His eyes deep and serious and his aura dripping with tension.
"I don't know if I want to watch this battle Krillen. That guy seems like he's not having any fun at all."
"You're right about that," Jackie Chun approached them as Nam and Ram Fan stepped into the ring. "Nam is in a position where he won't allow himself to lose."
"How do you know that." She looked up at the experienced fighter awing in curiosity.
"A trade secret my dear. Now come, this is a fight you will not want to miss for if you advance youw ll be facing one of them. It's best to watch and find out how their technique early on."
What technique? Rikku thought later on watching the battle take place. Nam would ready an attack but then suddenly hold back. She wondered what kind of spell or technique Ram Fan was using to make Nam act so funny.
"Why is he backing away from her? Doesn't he want to win? And why did Ram Fan take off her clothes?"
"It's complicated Rikku, I don't think we're supposed to understand just yet."
Lucky for Nam he found a way to work around Ram Fan's feminine tricks. Closing his eyes he used his other senses to feel for her presence and then attacked leaping out of the way just in time to avoid her next assault. Then with quick precision flew down and stun her with a blow to the back of the next knocking her unconscious and giving him the win.
"Wow, that was interesting how did he know where to find her without using his eyes?" Krillen asked as the announcer and Jackie Chun rush to Ram Fan's half naked body to make sure she was still alive.
"I'm not sure," Rikku said replaying the scene in her mind. "I think he listened for her movements but that must have taken great concentration to hear over the sound of the audience.
"And now folks we move on to our final battle of the first round. The winner of this fight will go on to face Nam in the second round. Please give it up for Rikku and Giran."
"Hey that's me!" Rikku smiled turning to Krillen who gave her a fist pump for encouragement. Monster Beast Giran pushed past her rudely making his way to the middle of the ring. Clouds formed overhead thunder rolling as Giran let out a fierce growl to the skies. Rikku regained her composure and rushed out. She was filled withs uch adrenaline at the sight of all the people.
"Wow, hey everyone my name's Rikku!"
"Yeah we know who you are you big ham!" Bulma called out with affection. She couldn't wait to see how much stronger Rikku had gotten from training with the old man.
Rikku face her opponent stretching a bit before falling into a defensive position. Her eyes hot black coals as they studied her opponent. Giran watched with as much precision a dark chuckle in his throat.
Thunder clashed in the sky and rain poured down. The audience ran for cover from the weather but the two fighters remained locked in a stare down. Even as the match was postponed Rikku and Giran stayed locked on him in the same position.
"You two were so intense," Krillen later commented when they all gathered in the café. "It's like you two were locked in a trance."
"I'm actually a little relieved that the fight got postponed. I've got a bad feeling from that Giran guy Rikku. I don't think he deals from a straight deck. Keep your guard up."
"You mean he cheats?" that was the best explanation she could muster from Yamcha's advice. Luckily it was dead on.
"Yeah I heard it from some of the other competitors during the elimination rounds. My suggetsion is to watch him carefully during your match and to expect the unexpected."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"You'll figure it out. Just be careful. It's not always the strongest who win in a fight."
Oolong snorted into his pint glancing at Rikku. "Speak for yourself bucko. My girl here is going to take that monster down. Aren't yah kid?"
"I'm definitely going to try Oolong."
"Hey isn't that Roshi over there?" Bulma commented looking over at Jackie Chun. Yamcha and Rikku turned their heads to that table.
"No but it sure looks like him huh? That's Jackie, you know the one who beat your boyfriend."
"Oh shut up about that Rikku. Although you're right there is a great resemblance. I bet Roshi is probably just as strong considering what he did to fire mountain three years ago."
A rumbling catches Rikku's ears and she turned her head to the bar door. Giran stepped through decked out in a raincoat and hat. She watched him walk across to the bar ordering a glass of milk. Some snickering next to him erupted and Rikku recognized the men as some people from Krillen's old school.
"What a shame that the tournament finals come down to a couple of kids, an old geezer, a beggar and a monster beast. These fights must be rigged I could beat them all easily."
Rikku continued to watch as Giran's tail came up and around fast knocking all the men to their knees. All four regained composure steamed and ready to fight.
"Alright you big goon you're asking for it!"
"Bar tender pour me another glass of milk." Giran's rumbled voice ordered and as the glass was poured Giran moved into actioon taking down all four guys before the milk had even finished pouring.
"Oh wow," Rikku commented smiling big. Maybe this fight was gonna be mor interesting than she first thought.
"Hey what's he doing?" Yamcha rose to his feet quickly as Giran made ready to squash one of the students under his large feet. "Knock it off. They got the message."
"Says who?" Giran whirled around Yamcha barely dodging his punch.
Bulma writhed in her seat suddenly anxious and afraid for her boyfriend. Rikku was already on her feet and ready to assist if need be. Giran looked determined to take out Yamcha. The monster beast had a irrational temper to match his quick brutal moves.
"Hey wait I'm the one that's supposed to be fighting him in the tournament!" She pulled on Yamcha's arm but quickly let go when Giran attacked them both. Giran's fists flew and her body twisted and turned in the air to dodge every blow.
"What the… how did you do that Kid?"
"He, he, it's a secret."
"NOt bad kid, this is gonna be fun." bothf ighters moved into positions like before ready to rip and end the fight right there in the bar.
"Stop! Don't you two realize if you fight here you'll both be breaking the rules and disqualify yourselves in the tournament?"
"Shut up gramps!" Giran snarled turning to Jackie Chun. "I don't give a damn about the rules."
"Don't you care about the prize money? If you beat Rikku here you'll get nothing but if you beat her in the ring you're well on your way to becoming rich."
"Oh well," Giran paused seriously thinking about it. "Yeah money's good. Okay kid you got lucky. We'll settle this in the ring."
"Yeah, but I'm not gonna lose!"
The rain passed after a few hours and the tournament was back on track. All fighters were allowed back into the temple to begin mental preparation for the fight.
"Alright Rikku," Krillen grabbed her shoulder looking her dead in the eye. "There's no way you can lose to this guy. We have to go to the end together. Promise?"
"Yeah, I'll do my best Krillen." Going with instinct Rku leaned in and kissed Krillen's cheek making him blush. Rikku then skipped to the center ring where Giran was there waiting for her.
"There she is folks. Sorry for the little delay but certain circumstances had prevented her from hearing the first announcement."
"I was taking a nap." Sh emsiled speaking honest and causing half the audience to laugh and fall down.
"Let the last quarter final match begin!"
Rikku put on her serious face. Giran's actions last night making her even more determined to beat him than before. She stretched out her muscles and calmed her breathing ready to take him on.
"Hey kid," Giran called catching her attention. He held out his fist for her. "Come here I have something to show you.
"Hmm?" Curiosity getting the better of her Rikku walked over her eyes on Giran's fist. "What is it?"
"It's a secret, do you want to see?"
"A secret, oh yeah sure come on show me!" The moment Rikku got close enough Giran whirled around smacking Rikku with his tail and senidng her flying into the wall. She cried out as her body broke off part of the bricks. She fell face down not moving.
"Oh no Rikku!" Krillen watched shaking with fear and nger from seeing his friend collapsed on the ground. The medical doctors whirled in ready to take her to the hospital but much to their surprise and Krillen's delight Rikku jumped up holding her cheek groaning.
"I don't know what you were going to show me but now I don't want to see it." Snarling a little Rikku shot forward catching Giran off guard she punched him in the stomach the tough skin giving way to her surprising strength. She flipped around over his head and making a grab for his tail. She screamed out pulling and whirling his body around before launching him into the air. It looked as if he would be out of bounds.
"Incredible! In a fury of a attacks Rikku has sent Giran flying out of the ring. It looks like this match is over fo- Oh! What's this? Giran has produced a pair of wings and is now flying back to the ring!"
"Haha nice try kid. That kind of trick won't work on me."
"Well if I can't knock you out of the ring I'll just have to take you down!"
Giran let out a short ha of laughter. As Rikku moves to attack Giran shouts a blue whirlwind surrounding around her body and materializing into some sort of gummy substances. "Hey what is this? I can't move!"
"How do you like it kid? That's my merry go round gum. Struggle all you want it's damn near unbreakable. And since I'm the only one who can take it off you you're stuck right where I want you." Giran's laugher rnag in her ears as she was picked up and held high above his head. She grunted and wriggled to get free but to no avail.
"Wait whata re you doing?"
"What do you think I'm gonna throw you out of the ring like you did me." WIth a laugh of confidence Giran launched her out. Rikku screamed her mind whirling trying to think of a way.
"Oh wait… Flying Nimbus hurry come to me!" Rikku could see the ground and shut her eyes tightly waiting for impact. The familiar whistle of her cloud gave her a deep relief and she felt the soft substance catch her and fly her back to the ring. "Whew nice save nimbus I owe you one." She saw Giran's shocked face and jumped from her cloud the gum still around her limbs.
"Hi did you miss me?"
"Hey, isn't that cheating?" Giran protested pointing at Rikku and her nimbus cloud. "That's an outside tool!"
"Look who's talking you ugly beast what do you call this stuff you tied me up with."
"That's different, the merry go round gum is from inside my body so it isn't considered an outside tool."
The announcer looked to the judges. After a brief discussion the judges ruled in favor of Rikku.
"What how is that fair?" Giran protested.
"The judges ruled the cloud as a natural resource because of it's organic material however the judges forbid Rikku to use the cloud again.
"What? Why?" Rikku gasped looking at Giran who was ready to throw her out again. The gum still wouldn't break so she was once against caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Ready for another ride kid? This time it's a one way trip!"
Rikku wriggled as she was picked up again and she shut her eyes coming up blank for an idea. She felt Giran's hard grip pull back and then launch forward.
"Hey!" Giran called out. "What the-"
Hehe I'm so evil! I love cliff hangers! Suspense is killing isn't it? What will Rikku do to avoid getting thrown from the ring? What is Giran's problem? Find out in the next chapter " World Martial Arts Tournament: To Tell a Tail!"