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 23: Ultra Divine Power!
The ice made Rikku's teeth chatter. Cold weather had been the one thing she had trouble with. She was able to withstand the heat of the desert and the wet wash of a storm but the shivering cold was one of which she wished her body would respond to bearing. A faint mumbling caught her ears and she smiled walking and finding Yajirobe sitting in the middle of the path.
"Yajirobe! You decided to come after all."
"Not exactly, I didn't have much of a choice. I sorta fell in."
"Oh I see, well at least you're here now."
"Fah, I'm going back. I'm freezing my butt off."
"Aww why can't you stay I could use the company."
She followed him as he continued down the path looking for the nearest exit. However as they continued the path began to change and when Rikku turned back to show him back to the pot he path had been blocked by a wall of ice crosses.
Yajirobe kicked them in frustration incidentally knocking over a knight that had been frozen stiff in place. Yajirobe jumped back as the ice around them now began to give way to cracks.
"What did you do?"
"Me? I didn't do anything!"
The ice folded and morphed in front of their eyes an increasing cold wind suddenly surrounding them as the ice took the form of a large blizzard monster.
"Why is he fighting us!" The roar of the monster caused her to glare. "Were you sent here by darkness!"
The wind increased a blizzard swirling around them like a vortex threatening to lift them from the ground or freeze them in place.
"Time to make some ice cubes!" Yajirobe shouted rushing forward, sword in hand. He sliced away at the monster cutting his body in half. However the monster reformed once again making Yajirobe stutter in shock. Rikku tried her hand at it beating it with her fists and legs until it fell over. However like the mountain it was it stood up and stood firm now bowing to anything.
"Oh great! What now?"
"I've got one idea." Rikku said cupping her hands together. "Ka, Me, Ha, Me….HA!" The blast of blue light stroke the monster blowing it to bits and pieces at her feet. With a grin she turned to Yajirobe. "Now to find a way…. Huh?" Even the Kamehameha didn't face the creature. The shards of ice swirled and reformed and the monster roared to life once again.
"That's it! Good bye!" Yajirobe made a dash and thinking of no other way than to run Rikku soon joined him in running for their lives. A quick slip sent them both hurdling down into a tobogganing run down the ice slope. Like a water slide the ice provided them with a quick roller coaster like ride through the maze both companions gasping and shouting in fright of the perilous drive.
Their bodies hurdling and bouncing along the path were then sent through an ice wall before tumbling down into a pit of darkness.
Darkness.. The cold ice path had given way to damp catacombes of a large cavern of darkness. When Rikku awakened she looked around confused on where they had landed. "Where are we?"
She quickly woke up Yajirobe. The two of them assessing what to do. Since it looked like they wouldn't be able to find the ice path anytime soon Riku suggested in finding the water where Yajirobe disagreed and turned his nose. "You go on and do what you want. I'm finding my way back home!"
The cavern path had only one direction which they both took. Rikku squinted her eyes amongst the dark jumping from boulder to boulder while Yajirobe kept faithful to the path ahead of him. The path began to split and Yajirobe turned to Rikku. "This is where we say goodbye."
"Okay, tell master Korin I'll find the Ultra Divine Water no matter what. Goodbye!" RUshing ahead down her path Rikku disappeared into the dark. Yajirobe watched her disappear a scowl lining his face.
"Goodbye yourself fool."
As Rikku continued down her path she could feel eyes watching her. Her senses on full alert she turned a corner and waited listening for any sound of movement. The sounds of footsteps coming down the hall made her frown and she crouched down ready to attack whoever was following her. As the figure crossed her path she launched a fist forward but much to her surprise it was caught and an all too familiar face smiled down at her.
"Master Roshi!"
The turtle hermit stared down behind his glasses smiling mischievously at her. "In the flesh Rikku."
"I thought you were dead!"
"Beauty never dies, heh, heh." Rikku could feel his voice off a bit but ignored it too happy to see her old master again. "What brings you down here?"
"Oh I almost forgot. I'm looking for the Ultra Divine Water so I can drink it and become strong enough to defeat Piccolo. Have you seen it Master?"
"I have seen many things. Follow me."
Rikku followed all grin. "I can always count on you master." Master Roshi smiled quickly walking down the icy smooth path. Rikku skated behind him watching her step. "You're moving so fast master!" She paused when he stopped and gawked when the Kame House seemed to appear out of no where. "Huh? What the?"
"Come inside Rikku."
Not wanting to disrespect her master she followed him inside, Kame house hadn't changed a bit since she'd last seen it. The smells of sunscreen and Master Roshi's cologne wafting to her nose making her remember the good times she held here. When she turned to the living room she gasped seeing her friends crowded around the table. Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, Turtle and Launch all looked back at her with wide smiles and monotone laughter.
Unable to refuse a chance of seeing her friends and a good meal Rikku gathered with them laughing happily. "What are you all doing down here anyway."
"Master Roshi convinced us this was the best place to hide from King Piccolo." Bulma answered her. Her voice seemed different… out of tone.
"Oh Rikku you have to stay with us here." Puar insisted in the same tone.
"I would love to but I still have to find the Ultra Divine Water so I can defeat King Piccolo."
A small round of silence was soon followed by snide laughter. Yamcha began to tease. "That is the dumbest idea I've ever heard."
"Only a fool would take on King Piccolo. Plus if you stay here you will have Perpetual existence."
"Perpep.. What?"
"It means you'll live forever."
Rikku continued to listen to her friend's ideas and suggestions about staying here. They were living in a fantasy and it made her angry. "I think you all should be ashamed of yourselves. You're acting like a bunch of cowards!"
"HOw can you say such things you your friends Rikku?"
Angry and accusing faces surrounded it making her temper rise. She quickly stood. "I've had enough." She left feeling the eyes of her Master on her. As she walked out of Jame house Roshi followed her his face distorted with mixed emotions.
"Rikku. If you insist on searching for the water I have no choice but to kill you."
Rikku gasped as Roshi shouted rocks crumbling around him and then began to float, shouting again the rocks launch towards her and Rikku had to quickly dodge out of the way. "Give up Rikku you don't stand a chance!"
"Never!" Her eyes hard and focused she launched through the storm of boulders punching her way through to her Master's body.
"The water is sacred it is not meant for humans! Your presence here defiles it!"
"None of this is real! You're not Roshi!"
Boulders continued to launch around her catching her off guard here and there however she stayed firm and on her toes.
"Real enough for you Rikku?"
"Real or not I've had enough!"
She wanted the image in front of her to disappear. He was not Roshi! Everything about him screamed darkness and false sense. She crouched down grunting then commenced attacking the false Roshi. Their moves were matched as were their strengths The fake Roshi smirking down at her with pure confidence. Rikku moved to push him back but then fell to her stomach as Yajirobe landed on her out of no where. The two of them rolled down and over the cliff Rikku barely managing to catch herself on the ledge and grabbing Yajirobe's foot.
She clenched her teeth her grip straining to hold on. She glanced up seeing the fake Roshi. "Please," she asked. "Let Yajirobe go. Your fight is with me."
"Heh, heh," Roshi chuckled then slammed his foot on Rikku's hand making her grunt in pain her grip in Yajirobe loosening. "Why don't you let him go?"
"Nobody let go!" Yajirobe pleaded staring down at the pit of darkness below them.
"Save yourself Rikku. Let him go and you'll have enough strength to pull yourself up."
"Grrr." She growled like a dog her grip on Yajirobe tightening. "I will not let go!"
Roshi frowned and began to kick Rikku's face making her wriggle in her hold. She continued to hold on refusing to let her friend fall.
"No! I will not let go!"
Her body tensed and began to ache but she remained determined her eyes staring up at Roshi with great willpower and fierce strength. A glow emitted in the imposter's eyes and Rikku felt a jolt of pain in her arm and hand where she clenched Yajirobe's ankle. She clenched down on Yajirobe bowing her head grunting in pain. Her ears rang with Yajirobe's cries for help.
Rikku was now bleeding all over, and her face was bruised from Roshi's assault. Roshi looked down at her impressed by her will power and strength. His image began to fade and he left the two of them on the cliff.
Rikku cracked an eye open looking for him but finding no one. Yajirobe noticed her still movement and glanced up. The ground began to shake and he shouted in fear. "What's going on?"
"pull together!" Even as she said it the rock in her hand crumbled and both she and Yajirobe cried in shock and fear and waited for the fall.
"It's all your fault Rikku! You killed me and on an empty stomach too…. Wait." Looking around both of them realized they were no longer dangling or falling. Instead they laid on flat rock surface. Across from them was a pool of dark ooze which began to glow and take form of a face. Rikku growled and crouched down.
"Who are you? Show your true face!"
"I am darkness." the dismal voice responded making Rikku's face lighten. "You have proven yourself worthy."
"Rikku!" Yajirobe shouted suddenly turning her head towards the far right of them. She spotted a table where a teapot and cup rested untouched.
"Is this the Ultra Divine Water?"
"The sacred liquid is very dangerous." Darkness replied watching her study the teapot. "You must be physically and mentally strong to overcome the effects of it. For the ill-suited it means certain death."
"It will make me stronger though. Won't it?"
"It is uncertain." Darkness replied truthfully. "Only those who hold special powers within them will change. Those who have nothing will die."
"Hey Darkness," Yajirobe called his attention. "How many have drank this water?"
"Thirteen."
"and how many have survived? Like six or something?"
"None have survived."
Yajirobe choked on his spit then quickly stood angry "That's not fair how he hell are we supposed to stand a chance on odds like that. If none survived then it's just poison!"
"I have to try Yajirobe." Rikku looked up catching Yajirobe off guard.
"Rikku this is suicide let's go."
"No, too many lives are at risk. I have to do this." She poured the liquid into the cup. It didn't look like water at allthe liquid was a dirty purple color and smelled vile.
"Let me taste a lil." Yajirobe stuck his finger inside and licked immediately clenched his throat falling to the ground wriggling. Riku watched him shocked. Thankfuly he only had a drop and he got to his feet wheezing in raspy breaths.
"I'm telling you. It's poison."
"and I'm telling you I have no other choice." She looks down at the water and took a deep breath before gulping the water down. Rikku shook clenching the cup in her hand looking like she was gonna throw up. Her palms slid open and the cup shattered at her feet as she gave out an ear piercing scream of agony.
Will drinking the water change Rikku's power and if so will it be enough to stop King Piccolo? Find out next time in the next chapter… "Crime, Containment, and clouds"