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 19: Friendly Rivals

Tien felt the cool water drizzle down his back. In all his frustration he had broken the crates trying to drown out the voice inside his head. Turtle hermit Roshi has disguised himself as Jackie Chun. He wanted to know why... And why had he kept it from his students? Tien didn't see the man as a liar… too stupid to do that. That still didn't mean he would believe the drivel he had spilled about making him one of his pupils and teaching him about good will and decency.

The voices in his head echoed over and over and he grunted in pain holding his head. "Curse you! You gave me a victory but you took my resolve! I want it back!"

"With that aside we move on to the final match of the semi finals." The announcer sprung to life anxious to get the next fight underway. "It's always fun to watch teammates duke it out and with these two it's bound to be a colossal fight! They're both pupils of the turtle hermit school and will be pulling out all the stops to see who will battle Tien Shinhan in the final match for World Champion!"

"This is it!" Rikku said stretching out her legs and pumping her arms. "Aren't you excited Krillen?"

"Yeah, sure," Krillen said uneasily watching her warm up. She was already deep and serious. He could tell she wanted to win as much as he did. "Rikku."

"Hmm? What is it Krillen?" She looked up at her teammate and friend her wide black eyes shooting straight into his soul. It made him want to melt.

"Promise me when this starts you'll fight me as if I were your enemy and not your friend. I want you to hold nothing back!"

Rikku paused blinking in confusion. Krillen's face had changed showing his determination and inner strength. She admired him for that and shot him a smile. "You bet, and I expect no less from you."

Krillen returned the smile and bumped fists with her, a sign of their friendship. "Let's do our best."

The crowd roared to life when the pair of them walked out into the ring ready to rumble. Their friends cheering with the crowd switching voices and sides not sure who to root for between the two of them. Rikku put a hand to her heart to calm it and closed her eyes. She was always so excited whenever she got into an interesting battle.. This would be the first time she would fight her best friend in the ring, and she was determined to come out the victor.

Krillen had his back to Rikku clenching and relaxing his fists. He thought of the past three years training to and past his limits, the hundred mile swims, the 10 kilo shells and weights, the constant testing of his will and endurance.. All of it was for this moment… the moment where he would prove himself a champion… and to fight Rikku as an equal or successor.

"Alright Krillen she's no longer your crush.. You will face her and see your opponent not your friend. Yes!" Whirling around he crouched into a defensive position. "I can do this!"

Drums beat in sync with their hearts; ratatat, ratatat! Faster, and faster, building up the suspense to the ring of the gong.

"I knew this day would come," Roshi sighed to himself as he put away his costume and fitted his hat on his head. His cane was fisted in his left hand while his right gripped for the handle of his suitcase. "Still, it feels like I'm saying goodbye to an old friend."

The grass rustled behind him making him sigh again. "So long Jackie Chun. I'll miss you." He turned facing the figure in the bushes behind him.

Tien growled under his breath stepping forward. "Tell me… Why did you disguise yourself?" Every word was a heathen spat.. Tien grew angrier and angrier the more he thought about his prideless victory. "Why did you create the elaborate charade only to quit before the end? I don't understand!"

"I know you want answers Tien. However the only real information I could give you is some advice." He spoke low putting his belongings down and stretching his arms out and behind his back. "Don't put so much importance on this tournament Tien. It is only a checkpoint to show your progress, a chance for you to test your strength against other fighters."

The elder man turned to his junior. "Giving the title 'World's Greatest' is dangerous and does nothing but feed ones ego. That is why I decided my students will enter the tournament but never win."

Picking up his belongings he turned back away. "I created Jackie Chun to stop them from winning and assure their defeat."

"Not anymore thanks to Master Shen. It was a good thing Chun retired while he still had a choice."

"Yes, it was time for Jackie Chun to step down but it wasn't Shen that forced me on that decision. It was you. You're going to take Jackie Chun's place."

"What?" Tien's proud filled smirk turned to a look of shock.

The crowd began to uproar signaling the action had begun. Krillen was the first to attack charging in with fierce determination lighting in his eyes. The blur of attacks stunned the audience. The two teammates matching blow for blow, their techniques nearly the same. Rikku's face turned from playful to serious in a blink of an eye as Krillen fought harder, faster than he ever had before.

"So," Tien recomposed himself his ears catching the sounds of the fight. "You quit because you thought I would take your place? Is that it?"

"I've been waiting for you for a long time. Well, someone like you. The point being that there's a whole new generation of fighters coming up and I'm just too old." Roshi traced the ground with the tip of his cane.

"I need a replacement, and you fit the bill nicely. Besides the world could use a few new heroes."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no hero."

"You're still rough around the edges to be sure but you hold promise Tien. I sense it in you. That's why I offered my guidance. You're not ignorant which is a plus but you're issues such as the killing thing. "

Tien tensed looking at Roshi's back his head whirling with many different voices. "You know that, of course. That's why you're questioning your path. It's what brought you here to me now."

"No you're wrong! I wanna be a killer!" Tien ensured his voice trembling. "I… I like it."

"It's getting late." Roshi said simply looking at the sun. "I'd like to enjoy the sunset so if you have anymore questions speak them now."

"You're full of it! What could you possibly teach me? How to quit? How to run away? It's bologna! You talk of goodness and truth like it's the path to enlighten! All it really is, is a choice. I've made mine! What you call evil I call a good time!" Tien laughed watching as the old man began to walk away. "I'm a killer like Tao!"

"Ah yes," Roshi stopped turning with a smile. "Mercenary Tao was a killer in fact a lot of folks consider him the best. However your skills are mediocre compared to his. You'll never measure up to his level because you have a conscience."

Tien stuttered backing up with wide furious eyes.

"Don't take my word on it. If you want to prove me wrong do it. Go get em Killer."

"I will." Tien seethed between his teeth. "You'll see."

"Whoa Rikku that attack from behind was great I almost didn't sense you." Krillen complimented adjusting his footing as he stared his opponent down.

"Thanks, the way you dodged me was great. I'm glad to see you've mastered the after image."

Chuckling Krillen launched into his next attack knocking Rikku back against the wall. Rikku gasped retaliating by shooting her body high into the air. Krillen launched after her the two now exchanging combat in the air.

Tien returned to watch the fight only to find them sky bound. He was amazed.. He didn't know the turtle students could possess such skill.

Rikku shot herself into the sun blinding Krillen but as he ducked his head the shine off his head returns the blind. "Ah that's bright!" This gave Krillen his chance to attack. He twirled around kicking Rikku down straight for the Earth.

"Ha I did it! Even Rikku should be knocked out by that fall for ten seconds."

Krillen was wrong. Though the hit did made Rikku's ears ring she recovered flipping right side up and landing on her feet hard.

Tien stuttered in shock. How had she composed herself so quickly? The fight continued the pupils bouncing techniques back and forth all the while complimenting each other on their progress.

"Ha ha you looked funny what kind of technique was that?"

"I don't know I just made it up. Cool huh?"

Shen groaned. "For goodness sake I've seen more action on a playground. Where's the real fight?"

Bulma growled looking at Shen with malice eyes. "Oh be quiet you wouldn't know a good fight if it bit you in the ass!"

"Insolent girl I train my fighters to fight not to chat like sissies!"

Rikku sprinted forward chanting. "Ka.. Me…Ha…Me." Krillen gasped getting prepared t o counter attack her Kamehameha but at the last minute she jumped in the air pointing her blast the opposite way. "HA!" Using the beam as a jet she shot herself straight at Krillen the extra boost of speed getting him off guard. She punched him sending him flying ahead of her. When he landed she winded him by landing straight on top of him her knees in his gut."

"Ooh" Roshi groaned watching the fight posted atop his cane. "That hurt."

The crowd was stunned at the array of technique used in Rikku's swift movement. Even Tien stood deeply impressed. Krillen laid on the ground not moving and Rikku pouted looking to the announcer. "Aren't you supposed to start counting?"

"What uh oh yes… 1, 2, 3, 4,"

Krillen wheezed out a breath hearing the countdown and two seconds past before he caught his second wind and jumped to his feet. "Krillen is up! The match will continue!"

And it did each of them bringing out fierce aggression and persistence. For awhile it looked too evenly matched "Alright Rikku!" Krillen yelled pumped up and ready for the next charge. "get ready! " Krillen shot forward his head down and he bolted his fist forward in a punch. Rikku quickly dodged but didn't take into effect at her increased breast size and Krillen's punch brushed them making her jolt, blush, then scream!

Krillen fell over at the sound and the rest of the audience looked in shock as Rikku backed up two spaces holding her chest. "What the hell did you do? What kind of technique is that?"

Krillen jumped up blushing beet red and skittered to the other side of the arena/ 'Dear god, oh dear lord, I touched them! I didn't mean to!' Krillen panted looking down. "I'm sorry it was an accident!"

Bulma glared. "Krillen what did you do to Rikku!"

Tien had a hand on his face having witnessed the entire Endeavour and he fought a blush of his own. "What an idiot. He should watch those wild swings. Especially when fighting a woman."

The announcer looked puzzled having missed exactly what happened. "Well uh I'm not sure what just occurred folks but it seems like Krillen used some form of technique on Rikku and she doesn't look too happy.

Krillen hung his head. 'Damn it Krillen stop mucking about you can do this. All you need is good strategy.'

Rikku composed herself shaking off whatever Krillen did. "I'm okay Krillen don't hold back!"

Krillen turned looking at her. Rikku gave him a smile her tail waving back and forth in the air… wait that was it! "I got it." He smirked flexing his hands. "Rikku! You better prepare yourself!"

Rikku blinked then frowned crouching down but stopped when she saw him preparing a Kamehameha. "Wait Krillen stop! That attack doesn't work on me!"

Krillen ignored her the ball of light forming in his hands. Rikku sighed and stuck out her hand and as the blast was released it met her palm and diluted. When she looked to retort at Krillen he was gone. And before she could react she felt a firm tug on her tail and whirls around gasping to see Krillen grabbing it tightly. "What the-"

Krillen laughed happily. "I did it! He, he! I'm sorry Rikku but everyone knows your tail is your only weakness. I had to do what I had to do to win."

Tien's head shot up at those words. "Her weakness…" heh.. Nice strategy, he though. "How did she manage to get this far with such a debilitating weakness?" The man laughed leaning against the brick wall. "I suppose I should be angry at Krillen for taking Rikku's defeat away from me… but oh well whatever works."

Bulma growled. "Krillen that's not nice! You let go of her tail right now!" Bulma watched Rikku fumble about her legs going wobbly. With a squeeze Rikku fell down face first into the concrete and laid there with her tail still in Krillen's palm. The countdown commenced.

1.….2.…

3.….4.…

5.…6.…

Rikku twitched. Then shot up smiling flipping over Krillen's head giving him a smug smile. "Heh fooled yah!"

Roshi gawked. "What the.. .how did she manage to do that?'

Rikku lifted Krillen up with her tail and slammed him to the ground giggling the entire time. "A little payback for earlier. Now we're even"

"I don't understand. How come you didn't stay down I had a firm grip on your tail."

"I've been working it out. I got tired of people pulling my tail all the time, you, chichi, my grandpa, so I just decided to raise it's strength. Now I don't have to worry about it anymore."

"That's typical," Krillen muttered looking at Rikku scared out of his wits now.

"Go ahead and squeeze it again if you want."

"Incredible," Roshi murmured. "This leaves Krillen in a predicament. How do you fight an opponent without a weakness?"

With every trick in the book. Krillen pulled out all the stops, faking gazes and making cheap shots. He wasn't being nice anymore he wanted to win and he would do anything to earn the title.

This left Rikku a little unnerved since the fun was over she had to end this before Krillen did something he would regret. Smiling at him she waved goodbye then spun around quickly disappearing.

Krillen gasped looking around for her but to his eyes she was completely gone and he was all alone in the ring. "Rikku? Rikku where'd you go?"

Tien was asking the same question his eyes darting around. He could hear a faint sound and followed it his eye finally catching Rikku's form. She was moving so fast that it appeared to the untrained eye that she had disappeared. It was a flawless approach as Rikku got closer and closer to him. Finally she popped up right in front of him sticking her tongue out and punching him four times in the stomach than kicking him out of the ring before he could even comprehend what had happened.

The audience stood breathless having only caught Rikku's disappearing and reappearing act. "hat can only be described as bazaar Rikku has scared her opponent off the platform and out of the ring. Rikku shall be fighting Tien in the Championship round!

Tien smiled having witnessed it all. He had to respect Rikku's talent but nothing would stop him from crushing her and avenging Mercenary Tao. "Tomorrow… You're mine."

Rikku has made it to the finals! Will she survive an encounter with Tien Shinhan? Who will be the next World Champ? Find out next time…. "WMAT Finals: Rikku Vs. Tien!"