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 20: WMAT: Finals! Rikku Vs. Tien

The crowds gathered around the arena bringing all sorts of excitement and anticipation over the finals of the World Martial Arts Tournament. Each of the finalists preparing themselves for the task at hand.

Rikku stood in a t shirt of Bulma's waiting for her uniform to get cleaned all the while watching her Master do his own morning exercises.

"And up, and up, and up, and up you're doing great!" The alluring feminine voice rings from the TV mixed in with Roshi's perverted laughter. His eyes were barely a foot away from the TV.

"That doesn't look like much fun Master."

"Oh trust me Rikku it's lots of fun wooo yes up and up!"

Cars honking outside caught hers and Krillen's attention. Krillen let out a low whistle seeing all the people. "See that Rikku. They've come from all over to see you fight. Don't let them down."

Rikku smiled giving a peace sign. "I promise to do my best."

Tien too was mentally preparing himself for the tournament. He locked himself away from his master and his friend Chiaotsu wanting pure concentration. He knew he could not underestimate Rikku, he had seen too much of her strength to assume victory. It would take everything he had in order to win.

Floating above the floor a troubled aura glowed around him showing his tension. He refused to listen to any voice but his own. Nothing mattered but this fight, and he would resume any negative thoughts of himself after he had pulverized Rikku in the ring.

"It's time."

With Oolong and Puar's help the gang got front row seats to the ring. Everyone crowded around them ready for action. Launch blonde and fiery gulped down the last drop of her soda before crushing the can in her hand. "Somebody better get this fight started or I will."

Her tension wasn't the only lingering around them. Roshi and Shen seemed to have a mental argument. Bulma could feel her stomach tying in knots. She really hoped Rikku would win this time. After everything the girl had been through she was sure to win. However the look on Shen's face and the fact that even Jackie Chun stepped down from the fight lead her to believe this may be an even more gruesome battle.

Behind the ring Krillen joined Rikku as she warmed up the two of them discussing their previous match wanting to learn each other's techniques. "So you use your speed as a weapon. That's ingenious how did you ever come up with that idea?"

"You learn a lot of things when you go out into the world. I can't tell you how many strong fighters I met on my journey it was a lot of fun."

"Hey Rikku?" Rikku glanced up. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Well uh," Krillen swallowed hard his face turning red as he got closer. "I want to wish you good luck."

Rikku smiled and stood up straight her eyes meeting with his making him even more nervous. "Thanks."

"Well uh… " Damn it Krillen! He yelled at himself mentally. Just do it! "Here's something for good luck." Before Rikku could react Krillen placed a gentle kiss to her cheek making her blush and she looked at him wide eyed.

"What was that?"

"It was a kiss. Don't tell me you don't know what a kiss is."

"No, I mean I heard Bulma talk about it but I never knew what it was."

"Yeah well, that's just a small kiss to the cheek. People who are all really lovey dovey like Bulma and Yamcha kiss on the lips. That was just a friendly kiss. For luck as I explained." Krillen wiped his brow liking that his description came out clean.

Rikku smiled and laughed. "I see. Thanks Krillen." Returning the gesture Rikku leaned in and kissed his cheek before walking back into the large hall to continue her warm ups. Krillen checked his nose for bleeding as he practically melted on the floor. "Eh heheh don't mention it."

The announcer looked around at the crowd grinning at the increase in audience compared to last year. Things were looking up in his raise department. "Alright folks are you ready to get the show on the road?" The loud screams and cheers was like music to his ears and it pumped his adrenaline. "We began with 182 fighters from across the globe and have narrowed it down to two finalists! One of these fighters will go on to become the next world champion and walk away with 500,000 Zeni!"

Roars of applauds and cheers rang out making him grin. "Without further ado let's bring out our fighters! First up is Tien Shinhan!"The announcer turned to see the tall bald warrior step up to his side. "This skilled performer has become the fighter to watch during the tournament. He is the prized Pupil of the Crane Hermit school and his abilities equal if not surpass that of his master. We've already seen his magnificent strength displayed as he left Yamcha with a broken leg and forced Jackie Chun out of the Semi finals!"

Tien kept eye contact with his master. He didn't have to read the man's thoughts to know his master was looking forward to seeing Rikku hit the dirt bleeding to a near death.

"The Next fighter up is Rikku!" Rikku grinned hearing her name but paused hearing Krillen.

"Rikku no matter what you cannot lose to Tien!" Rikku smiled and nodded giving him a peace sign before walking into the ring. She loved hearing the applause that followed her name. She had gained some fans after her battle with Jackie Chun in the previous tournament and appreciated that they came all the way back to see her.

"This pint sized warrior serves the Turtle Hermit Master Roshi, who coincidentally is the archrival of Crane Hermit Master Shen. Other than the fact she came in second at the last tournament, her list of achievements would leave even the most skilled fighters green with envy. Her most recent is that of her one punch defeat of world renowned fighter Pamput, and her unique disappearing technique she used to remove Krillen from the ring in the previous match."

Rikku's eyes turned to her friend all smiling and rooting her on. She gave a large grin her heart swelling with pride and appreciation for her friend's support.

Roshi abandoned the hostile crowd and hopped over the wall to take a spot next to Krillen alongside the crumbled wall. "Pay close attention." He told Krillen as the two competitors lined up ready to battle. "You may never see another fight like this."

Drums rang in rkku's ears giving her heart a steady rhythm to beat to. Her eyes staring up at Tien with valor and fortitude. He returned it with a look of malice and pride.

The announcer stepped out of the ring feeling the enormous tension. "Fighters ready?" Silence spread upon the area signaling their start. "The World Martial Arts Finals will now BEGIN!"

Rikku took a deep breath sliding into formation and Tien matching her stance with a defensive. After a brief and uttr wait of silence she launched forward aiming a swft punch to his face which he blocked but she used his arm spiraling her tail around it and swhilrling around catching him off guard. It sent him flying and she followed as he took to the sky. She shot up with a familiar flying kick move, a big miustake as Tien launched a fierce Dodon ray straight at her defenseless body.

She fell through the stone floor creating a small crater. However her buried body didn't stay there for long. Kicking up rocks and gravel she emerged smiling and shot herself forward again. Thinking quickly she tried the same technique she had used on Krillen usin her spee dto vanish to the naked eye However Tien's eye was faster and he caught her off guard smacking her hard into the wall then letting out a flurry of punches. "Feel the wrath of Tien Shinhan!"

Rikku couldn't put up a defense her body blockaded into the wall forcing he rto take ever stinging punch straight on.

Roshi winced watching his beloved pupil in such a state. "I've never seen punches like that. It's like a machine gun." And it felt like them. Rikku felt her body stinging all over her breath wheezing in every chance she could. Finally the pain stopped and she was tossed to the floor. Her body red all over from Tien's assault. She could hear the whimpers of her friends in the crowd as she was picked up by her belt and held up above the ground.

"Um is he about to do what I think he's gonna do?" Chiaotsu asked his master.

"Well It is his favorite technique." shen answered chuckling to himself.

Rikku didn't care so much for the technique. Tien shooting her up in the air and shouting, "Volleyball Technique." Bouncing her around like a ball he set her up for a spike shooting her high up in the air before spiking her down to the ground. Her head ached from the impact and she stayed down letting it focus. She could hear Tien's soft laughter which was good. She blinked a few times before jumping to her feet seemingly unharmed.

"What?" Tien shouted looking at her in disbelief. "No way!"

"Nothing short of Miraculous Rikku is up on her feet and seems to be unfazed by the brutal lashing she had just received."

Rikku grinned rubbing some dirt off her cheek. "That was interesting but I don't think I liked being the ball."

"Heh," Tien smirked. "I have to admit you're resilient.. Stupid and naïve but resilient."

Rikku took it as a compliment and merely grinned. "You're not very nice but you're strong. I think it's safe to say I can use my full strength against you."

"Let me guess you were holding back out of concern for my safety."

"Something like that," Rikku bent forward warming her body up a little. "You see whenever I fight I have to hold myself back so I don't get carried away. I call it my battle strength."

"The goal here is for you to die. How it happens I really don't care. So you have fun with your battle strength and I'll fight as I have been fighting. The kind of fighting that had you on the ground before."

Rikku laughed a little and went into her stance once again. "You can try."

The second round commenced Rikku gaining the upper hand now with a sudden increase of power. Her blows stinging like fists of Hades Tien feeling every blow with such incredible newly discovered power. She sent him flying across the ring then made a dash and leap surpassing him then kicked her feet up shooting him in the air. Tien flailed helplessly in the air stunned. Rikku began to end the battle surging up her Kamehameha powers… but as she watched Tien she stopped and smiled.

"In a bizarre shift in strategy Rikku has stopped her Kamehameha wave giving Tien time to recover. This may be the turning point of the battle!"

Rikku laughed a little when Tien finally found his grons and looked at Rikku his lip bloody and his body shaking.

"That's what I call battle strength."

Tien looked up seeing the child smiling and proud of herself. What was this invigorating feeling? He felt tingly all over his body shaking with such a rush that he began to laugh. My god he was enjoying himself! Incredible! "Thank you! That was the most exhilarating rush!. I've never felt so alive! It feels wonderful!"

Rikku blinked in confusion. "So you like getting beat up?"

Krillen too was at a loss. "What is he a masochist? Why did Rikku stop her wave anyway I mean it was the perfect chance to finish Tien."

"No, it wasn't. Rikku knew Tien would recover and dodge the wave. Had she had gone through with it she would have lost precious energy giving Tien the advantage."

Launch watched the fight grinning her eyes on Tien Shinhan. "Finally we have an interesting battle. Tien is an excellent opponent."

The others looked at her a little shocked. Tien folding up his legs to recooperate and Rikku watched him flexing her toes and hands energized for the next bout. Shin watched very pleased "Tien has that look in his eyes. Rikku won't be able to escape him now."

The battle began again the fighters exchanging blows evenly matched. Rikku had a small advantage with her size. Tien had a hard time getting his hands on her to make any critical blows. To the outsiders just the mere sound of their fighting was enough to make the ordinary man shiver. The cracking blows and punches flew, Rikku moving around Tien's body like a jungle gym. Her body lean and limber and her tail providing the extra limb she needed to get her arms and legs precisely where she wanted to go.

"Look at Rikku, her breathing is calm despite the rough affair. She's learned to control it." Roshi examined standing proud of his young student.

"They're moving so fast it's like a blur."

Rikku's attacks exploded her offensive so powerful it was pushing Tien towards the edge of the ring. However in a swift movements Tien turned the tables sending Rikku in a series of flips and twists to avoid being hit.

The battle of after images began when Rikku phased into ten different versions of herself.

"Fool! I cannot be fooled by mere optical illusions!" Or so Tien claimed, being fooled once by her floating after image, then again by a false attack image. When he launched his attack for the second image Rikku caught him off guard kicking him down all her images disappearing.

"I guess there's a first time for everything."

Tien got to his feet grunting. "Fool you can't be me. To me you're not even a challenge.

"hmm?" Rikku blinked scratching her head. "I dunno it looked to me like you were fighting pretty hard."

Tien growled spreading his hands over her face. "You dare to mock me? Then be prepared to feel my wrath!"

Rikku glared clenching her fists. "Fine! Bring it on!"

"Solar Flare!" Tien shouted. The ring immediately turned into a ball of light the pure white flare causing the audience to scream and cover their eyes. Prepared to take her down as he had her master Tien shot through expecting Rikku to be blinded by the flare. However when he launched his attack he felt Rikku's arms blocking him. The light immediately disappeared relieving the audience and Rikku stood smiling big with a pair of sunglasses on her face.

Using Tien's stunned appearance to her advantage Rikku shot a punch in herself making Tien double over. Roshi looked bamboozled his eyes blinking out of sorts as he notices the miss of his sunglasses. Rikku strolled over smiling and handed them to Roshi. "Thanks master they really came in handy."

Roshi's fingers brushed the lenses before Rikku's head slammed against them breaking them to pieces. Rikku herself gasped and groaned in pain from having her head slammed into the brick stone. Rikku quickly jumped back before Tien could attack again and she clenched her head.

"Ow! That hurt you made my ears ring!"

"This is getting old!"

"You may not like me but I'm not giving up for you or anybody!"

She shoots forward screaming ready to launch another attack Tien's way. She shot in the air her arms posed to punch his face. Suddenly a menacing pain filled her stomach making her freeze in place and giving Tien the advantage. He kicked her down sending her screeching across the ring on her back.

Bulma wailed covering her eyes and clinging the limp Yamcha. Roshi and Krillen examined the scenario wondering why Rikku has suddenly frozen in place when she had the advantage.

"That hurt!"

"Stop whining! Now either fight me or step out of the ring."

"Fine!"

"When you see Tao be sure to tell him I sent you!" Tien said his body launching forward again.

"NO way I don't give up so easily!" Rikku shot forward a fierce battle of fists flying once again. Their battle took to the air and as their bodies became covered in sun Rikku went for the attack again but the same pain piercing feeling filled her stomach making her succumb to his attack once again.

It would seem no matter how many times she recovered from the pain it would overtake her again and again. She knew someone was doing something to her body and it was not fair. She had crumbled to the ground her body trembling from the immense pain from not only the stomach but from the brutal beating she was getting from being left vulnerable. She looked up seeing Tien's face somewhat contorted with emotions as he looked into the audience at his master.

Rikku grabbed his ankle bringing his attention back to her. "You cheated me."

What's going on? Who's at fault for Rikku's dismay? Will she be able to pick herself up and beat Tien? Find out in the next Chapter… "Tien's conclusion and World Champion Declared!"