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 21: Tien's Conclusion and World Champion Declared!
Chiaotsu looked down at Rikku who seemed frozen on the ground as his master liked. Tien showing some sort of twisted face which led him to believe Tien knew something was amiss.
Yamcha too sensed the problem and knew exactly what was going on. When Bulma question Rikku's state he answered. "She doesn't have a choice but to lie there. Chiaotsu is using some sort of mental telepathy to control Rikku's body."
Launch growled hearing this. "Is that a fact?"
Tien looked to Chiaotsu clenching his fists and his mind speaking to him. "Chiaotsu is this your doing?" Chiaotsu tensed giving Tien his answer. "How dare you! This is my battle! I did not ask nor do I require your assistance in this endeavor."
"Chiaotsu was acting on my orders." Shin spat back mentally. "Since you cannot complete your own. Every breath that child makes is an insult to our house. Or did you forget the duty you have to avenge Tao's murder!"
"I have not forgotten." Tien said to his master then cut off looking down at the child. However, he had this gut wrenching guilt at the idea of false play. He owed her a fair fight didn't he? She killed Tao and for that he couldn't forgive. However as he stared at the child he questioned his belief in Tao. The dirty ways of a murderer and a cheater was something he had been questioning since the beginning. He had walked the path for so long he had forgotten exactly why. It was now staring at this helpless girl that he knew exactly why he couldn't go through with it.
"Tien Shinhan!" Shin shouted
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Tien's sudden outburst shocking the audience that hadn't been apart of the mental conversation. Rikku got to her feet the pain vanishing and she looked at Tien her eyes hot and angry.
"It looks like Rikku has recovered and bounced back on her feet!"
"It's my turn now!" Rikku runs forward to attack however the voice of her teacher stops her in her tracks.
"Rikku stop!" Both fighters glance at Roshi momentarily before glancing at each other. Shen grunted in anger at Tien's sudden rebellion.
"You will do as I command! I am your master Tien!"
"I have done as you ask." Tien murmured barely over a whisper. "I've defeated your enemies and defended the honor of our school." He clenches his fists. "The success of this match relies on my strength alone I do not need assistance!"
"Then prove it to me! Kill her at once!"
"NO! I won't kill Rikku."
Rikku's eyes widen and murmurs begin to surround them curious about the conversation in question.
"If I kill this girl then I will lose the match."
Shen growled. "Forget about the stupid match! You are a murderer as my brother was or have you forsaken your destiny?"
"You're wrong My Master." Tien glanced at Roshi who smiled at him. "I'm no killer."
Rikku smiled as well patting him on the wrist. This caused Shin to grow even angrier. "You insolent buffoon! You Coward! How dare you dishonor me!"
The announcer tried to interfere in the argument only to be reprimanded by Shin. "All that you are has sprung from my generosity! If you will not obey me you shall suffer the same fate of this child. Chiaotsu paralyze them both."
Chiaotsu froze in place beside his master. "I'm… I'm sorry master I will do anything that you ask. Except I will not hurt Tien Shinhan." The little one cried suddenly as he was picked up from his shirt staring into the furious red frames of his master's sunglasses.
"SO the deceit spreads throughout the ranks. Than you too shall pay!"
"No, Chiaotsu!" Tien stepped forward ready to leave the ring to protect his young friend.
"Get back!" Roshi shouted his hands balling up to release his Kamehameha.. Launching it between the fighters it absorbs Shin sending him flying out into the distance until he was just a mere speck in the sky.
"M-Master Shen."
"Do not fear Tien. He may be sore for awhile but he won't perish. Heh, Heh, now that that's settled there will be plenty of time to discuss these matters. Now let's get back to the fight!"
Rikku nodded her head in agreement holding out her hand in truce. "Sorry I thought you were cheating."
"I have forsaken my master." Tien said when his hand returned. "All I have left is this fight." Tien clenched his fists staring seriously into Rikku's young energetic eyes. "Let me make this clear. This is no longer about our schools or revenge. I fight for one purpose only. To win."
With pasts behind them the fight continued. In the next series of kicks and punches most of them were Rikku plowing her limbs into Tien's body. The man allowing her to make up for what Chiaotsu had her lose. Now that they were even Tien was focused and ready to pull out his next card. The man stood his aura glowing in an aura that Rikku had never seen before. From his shoulders sprouted four new arms and Rikku found herself biting off more than she can chew.
With four arms attacking her and only two arms to block him it seemed Tien had Rikku on the run. When Rikku made a bold attack Tien merely grabbed her arms and legs leaving her unable to punch or move. If it hadn't been for her tail she would have been in a very uncomfortable predicament.
"Wow Rikku is using her tail as an extra limb! I don't know about you folks but the attacking coming from that furry appendage sound like they hurt. It looks like Tien has no choice but to free her!"
Which he did. With no more arms to block the tail Tien freed her to think of another way to bind her down.
"Your tail packs quite a sting Rikku." Tien complimented wiping some blood from his cheek.
"Hmm since I can't be four arms. I'll try eight."
Tien looked shocked at what Rikku was about to attempt. Was it possible for her to duplicate his technique?
Rikku sure looked like she was gonna try. Crouching down Rikku clenched her eyes shut grunting in pain as the same illustrious aura surrounded her. Though not as glamorous eight arms suddenly appeared on her body. However her copy cat trick didn't last long. After a barrage of hits Rikku's body returned to normal and she resumed her regular technique.
"You look tired Rikku."
"Yeah ,but I'm feeling great."
The fatigue on both fighters was immense but neither giving into the heat or pressure. Rikku could feel the sweat dripping from both her forehead and neckline where Bulma had tied her hair back. Luckily she managed to talk Bulma out of putting makeup on her otherwise the blush and gunk would have been dripping onto the arena.
Tien launched forward ready to fold Rikku up in his arms for a crush hold .However she managed to duck under him and kick in his legs sending him crumbling to the ground. Rikku jumped on his back grabbing both his ankle and pulling his legs toward his shoulders. The searing agony from the hold had Tien clenching two of his fists while the others gripped around hr throat trying to suffocate her long enough for hr to release. However the pain become unbearable and he is forced to let go and sink back into his shoulders.
"I can help Tien!" Chiaotsu raised his finger ready to help his friend but Tien denied his help wanting no more interference from him or anyone else.
"This is my battle!" Tien pushed up using his legs like a sling shot and shooting Rikku forward and into the brick wall. The rubble around Rikku gave way as she pushed through ready for another round.
"You were destined to fail. I cannot be defeated Rikku. I've come too far to let you defeat me. When the time comes… avoid it."
Rikku stared at him curiously wondering what he meant by that. All around her Rikku heard voices, "The Tri Beam Cannon," "No Tien it's madness!" Both her Master and Chiaotsu begging Tien to stop what he was about to perform. She had a feeling this was dangerous work they were dealing with and she made herself fully alert and ready for anything.
Roshi had a grave look in his eyes. Krillen turned to his master wondering what was wrong. "The Tri Beam cannon, a terrible technique with such awesome power that it rivals even the Kamehameha wave. To flirt with it's power would be playing with annihilation. Even if you manage to survive it every use of it shortens the life of it's user."
Tien nodded his head and rose to the clouds his body limber and steady. His mind was focused on one thing only: To successfully use the Tri Beam Cannon and defeat Rikku once and for all. He folded his hands in a triangle bearing down around the platform. His spirit energy waving around him like a fierce power and then filling his hands. He saw Rikku staring up and waiting. Good.
"Tri Beam… HA!" The explosive energy shot from his hands in a devastating blow. To the spectators around her it had appeared that the energy swallowed up Rikku but the blinding light that followed at impact left those around scattering for dear life screaming in terror at the awesome power.
When the light cleared the audience looked around befuddled. Krillen wiped his eyes looking for Rikku but found nothing but a deep hole in the ground. "WAH! WHERE'S THE PLATFORM!"
"I was wrong to judge my wave against this. There's no comparison."
Bulma wailed holding onto Yamcha fearing the worse for her young friend. Yamcha himself not so much distraught as he was confused. He looked for her.. It didn't feel like she was gone… she had to be somewhere.
"Master," Krillen cried looking over the wall and down into the deep hole. "She's not down there I don't see her."
"Where is she?" Tien questioned. "If she's not below then… She's up!" Looking above him and in the distance he spotted her. Her clothes tattered and burned but she was alive and well looking down at the scene below. Tien shot up meeting up level with her. When he sees her dumbfounded expression he smiled and gave a heart filled laugh.
"You made it."
"Wow, thanks for warning me. I don't think there would have been anyway for me to have dodged that without knowing."
"Like I said I want to defeat you, not kill you. This seemed the best way. Since there's no longer a stage to land on whoever touches ground first loses. However I have learned the art of sky dancing. I can stand up here for hours."
She looked down her mind obviously reeling with her options. She wouldn't go down.. Not like this. Not without giving it everything she had. "I haven't lost yet. There's still one option I have left."
"I think the thin air has affected your brain! You're defenseless up here!"
" That last technique took a lot out of you so I guess we're even. Ready?" Rikku said bundling her hands. "Ka… Me… Ha….."
The announcer peered through his binoculars watching the scene unfold. "It looks like Rikku is planning to use her Kamehameha as a last resort!"
"bad move Rikku." Roshi said also following her movements. "There's no guarantee it will work."
"Me!" Rikku smirked on the last and turned her back to Tien. "HA!" Using her blast like a rocket she shot her body forward straight at Tien. Unable to guard Tien is taken by surprise. Her head cracks into his stomach making him gasp for air and descend at a critical rate. Rikku was neck and neck with him as they both go shooting across the air and into the distance.
The announcer sees this and pops out a capsule to follow the action. In his small hover craft he calls to the audience with his portable microphone. "Both fighters are falling neck and neck it's hard to tell who will hit first but it seems Rikku is at a disadvantage."
Rikku heard him her eyes squinting. The ground seemed to come up at a fast pace. Thinking quick she forced a little energy into another wall wave that slowed her descent. Buildings and cars filled Rikku's vision as their descent got closer and closer. At that point it looked like Rikku had won… however at the last second a truck comes barreling into Rikku's flight pattern making her collide with it and fall to the ground right before Tien Shinhan.
"Oh my god! It's over folks! We have a new champion! What can only be described as bad timing Rikku lost her advantage after colliding with a delivery truck. Our new Champion of the world tournament is Tien Shinhan!"
Rikku's head felt achy when she finally came to she was face first in the ground and as she looked up she spotted Krillen with a wide grin. "You look awful Rikku." He laughed a bit walking over to help her up. Tien came to holding his head and looking around dumbfounded at what happened.
Crowds of people surrounded them. People smiling and congratulating Tien on his victory and Rikku's on her amazing effort. Tien looked baffled through the applause and caught sight of Master Roshi.
"Hear that?" Roshi spoke telepathically. "All that noise is for you. So how does it feel to win… the right way?"
"Master I…" He paused hearing Rikku's laughter as she is tossed up and down making her smile and giggle happily. She may have lost but the crowds enthusiasm for her was an incredible feeling. This is why she competed, to see the happy faces of the audience and to feel their support all around her.
Both fighters were risen onto the shoulders of their fans and brought forward. Rikku smiled holding out her hand and Tien took it laughing. The two of them forming a forever friendship.
Later on when the crowds moved away Rikku changed into Krillen's uniform since hers had been tattered by the Tri beam cannon. Krillen back in his suit smiled at her. "It was all bad luck Rikku, you should have won. If only you hadn't been hit by that truck."
"That's alright I sure had fun."
"Rikku," Rikku turned meeting eyes with Tien Shinhan and Chiaotsu as they approached her. "I have something I want to give you." Tien held out a large envelope.
"Tien that's your prize money isn't it?" Krillen asked. "Why do you want her to have it?"
"You should have won today Rikku. I think this rightfully belongs to you."
"Thanks but I don't know what I would do with it anyway."
"There you all are." Bulma's voice greeted Rikku like happy bells and she quickly turned smiling at the rest of her friends. Yamcha and Tien sharing an uncomfortable moment before Yamcha finally made the peace.
"You fought well."
"Thank you, I'm sorry about your leg."
Rikku smiled glad things were working out well. She liked Tien now that he wasn't trying to kill her or avenge Mercenary Tao. She found his techniques interesting and their battle taught her a lot.
"What do you say we all go to dinner. My treat!"
Krillen laughed poking Rikku in the ribs. "Looks like you found a way to spend that zeni after all."
The group gathered in front of the restaurant when Rikku gasped. "I forgot! My power pole and my four star ball! I left it at the tournament hall." Rikku turned to leave but Krillen stopped her.
"Stay here and eat. I'll go get them for you."
"No I should go I'm the one that forgot them." Rikku's stomach rumbled making her blush and Krillen laughed.
"Don't be silly."
"Thanks Krillen. "Rikku smiled leaning in and kissing his cheek. He blushed smiling happily and made a dash.
"I'll be right back!"
Rikku watched him smiling and waving. "Ah.." Her heart suddenly stopped. "Wait Krillen!"
"What is it?" Krillen stopped looking at her laughing. Rikku couldn't explain this feeling she was having. It felt like… if he left… she would never see him again.
"Nothing. Never mind."
No ending comments just a suggestion! Stay tuned for another chapter…
"King Piccolo's Revenge."