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 28: WMAT: Anonymous Friendship, Hiro Revealed.

Rikku watched calmly as Tien held an unconscious Mercenary Tao over one shoulder and dropped him over at Master Shen's feet. The battle had been one tight turn over the other for Tao but Tien had barely broken a sweat. The only wound Rikku could see was the deep pain in Tien's eyes. He had been loyal to the Crane house for so long. It had been his way of life, and all that he lived for. Now he had broken every tie that had held him there. "Nicely done Tien."

"Thanks." He put simply walking past all his friends. Krillen continued to praise him but Yamcha quickly put a hand to Krillen's shoulder stopping him.

"That's enough Krillen. I think he needs to be alone for a little while."

"It's my turn next! I'm so excited!" Rikku said stretching out in the pathway. "This is gonna be some match. If she fights as well as she yells I'm in trouble."

Anonymous walked from inside the preliminary hall and to Rikku's side. Rikku stood and smiled at her.

"Good luck to you."

"I won't need any. You traitor!" Rikku blinked at her harsh words and followed her out to the ring.

"It's time to get the second match started! We have Rikku who as you remember from the last tournament nearly won the title. Her opponent, whose name is being withheld per request, has proved her worth in the preliminary rounds by defeating her opponents with grace and agility. I have to say that both these women have proven they can hold their own against the boys."

Anonymous growled staring Rikku down with such pain and anger in her eyes. "So long as I live I will never forgive you!"

"Excuse me, but I think you have me mistaken with someone else."

"Don't be stupid you are Rikku aren't you?"

Krillen and Yamcha watched from the tournament wall both wondering who the mysterious woman was. "Poor Rikku just who is that girl?"

"I don't know, but she looks furious."

The drums rat-a-tat in Rikku's ears and she bent down to a defensive position feeling Anonymous' fury.

"You may now begin!"

Anonymous shot forward shouting out. Her fighting style swift and agile impressing Rikku. She dodged easily enough but was taken aback by the woman's aggression. As she blocked and dodged Rikku tried to put the woman's face through her memory. "Have we ever met before?" Rikku managed to back away far enough having Anonymous run to her and give her time to answer.

"You really know how to lay on the tar don't you!" Anonymous spat charging full force. "Of course we've met before!" She launched into attacks again giving Rikku little time to attack back. "Are you that dense?" Rikku blinked and let out a few confused gasps as anonymous came close to smacking her face or kicking her down. "Or did I mean that little to you!"

Krillen listened in on Anonymous' rants and a light bulb went off. "So that's it. Rikku and that girl must have been good friend's once."

"Excuse me," Rikku broke in her mind still whirling. "Can you please tell me your name. So I can remember." Anonymous just growled.

"Have you forgotten our promise as well!"

"Promise? Did I promise you something?" Rikku shot to the air Anonymous right behind her.

"That's right! Let me jog your memory!" Anonymous shot up higher flipping forward once before launching into another blur of attacks. Rikku's memory began reeling again through her memories of all the friends she had made during her travels. Faces, voices, anything to spark but nothing came in register. They both landed and Rikku held up her hand.

"Please, I know you're angry, but tell me what I promised you."

"You're serious. You really can't remember!" Anonymous' eyes began to tear. However they were hidden behind fury. "Fine! I'll tell you the promise you broke! We said we would always be best friends! We even said we would get a house together, find boyfriends, and never forget one another!"

Rikku paused the promise registering and she jolted. "Chichi?"

In the audience Oolong, Bulma, Puar, and Master Roshi all flipped out. It WAS Chichi. The Ox King's daughter had grown as Rikku had, beautiful, and sprightly, but with a swift temper.

"Chichi," a smile brightened on Rikku's face and she launched forward catching Chichi off guard as Rikku pulled her into a hug. "Wow it really is you. I didn't even recognize you. You've changed so much!"

Chichi was flustered looking around at the crowd as she was hugged fiercely by Rikku. "So… you didn't forget?"

"No of course I didn't forget you. I just didn't recognize you. You should have told me your name sooner. I feel so bad now could you ever forgive me?"

Chichi blinked as Rikku let go and gave her a heartwarming smile and pleading eyes. Chichi too had had a hard time recognizing Rikku right away. If it hadn't been for her hair she probably wouldn't have recognized her either. "Yes." Chichi smiled and hugged her again. "Of course!"

The announcer and audience looked around dumbfounded. "Well this is a peculiar twist. Anonymous err Chichi and Rikku have embraced. I guess they must be friends. However this is a martial arts tournament so can we please get on with the fight."

"Oh right." Rikku pulled away laughing. "I was so happy I almost forgot. You ready?"

"Yeah but are you so sure you can win." Chichi smirks. "I'm not. In fact the way you've been fighting you'll be lucky to even hit me once."

"Right, my turn to attack. Get ready."

Chichi crouched down in a defensive position. "hurry up before I fall asleep."

Rikku too crouched down pulling her fist back and then with a fierce force shot her hand forward, A blowing force pushing chichi catching chichi off guard and sending her back and out of the ring.

"She's your student," the announcer said to Roshi. "What just happened. He clearly did not hit her."

"Rikku is no longer my student but she did something. She stuck her hand out at an incredible speed. The force of which knocked Chichi out of the ring."

Chichi groaned sitting up and holding her head. "What happened?"

"Just give it a sec," Rikku suggested crouching on the edge of the ring. "Sorry that attack was designed to knock you out of the ring. Not knock you out."

"You completely caught me off guard." Chichi said getting to her feet and up on the ring. "Incredible. I didn't think it was possible but you're even stronger than I remember."

"Don't be surprised." Rikku smiled big. "I've only been training like mad for the past three years."

"You're impossible." Chichi rubbed her head pouting but then quickly smiled. "It's good to see you again Rikku. I'm also glad you haven't forgotten me."

Rikku returned the smile and held out her hand. "I could never forget you Chichi. We are best friends. Right?"

Chichi's eyes tear and she hugs Rikku tightly by the arm. When applause erupted Rikku began to blush realizing everyone was watching. "Uh, okay you can let go." Rikku walked trying to push Chichi off but failing.

Everyone including Bulma and the others gathered in the back to get formally introduced to Chichi. "You all must be Rikku's friends. Ah," she looked to Krillen and smiled big nudging Rikku. "Is this your boyfriend? I've seen you hang around him the most."

Rikku blinked and rubbed the back of her head. "Boyfriend? You said that was different from a regular friend right?" She looked to Krillen who was blushing like mad. "Well… He is…um…hmmm…"

"No," Krillen murmured. "No I'm not her boyfriend. We're just good friends. We grew up together." Roshi looked to Krillen whose head was bowed forward hiding his expression. Rikku looked confused and then shrugged not even sure what a boyfriend was.

Chichi nodded understanding but then caught sight of a familiar face. "Hello again Yamcha." She walked up and hugged his arm smiling beautifully. Bulma growling in agitation.

Yamcha tensed his face turning beat red as he remembered meeting Chichi years ago.

~ flashback ~

Yamcha started to draw a blank but then tried something knew going into some smooth moves he had been practicing in the mirror.

"Well let's just say I'm a secret fan of yours. To be perfectly honest I'm in love with you ever since I laid eyes on you I was tormented by your beauty."

"Wow," Chichi blushed. She had no idea she was so admired. "You're in love with me? That's the first time anyone's ever told me that."

~Present~

"I know it's been a long time since we've seen each other but I've never forgotten you."

"Ah well yeah me either but uh. This is a big misunderstanding Chichi. You see I uh."

"Misunderstanding?" Chichi pulled back blinking in confusion. "What do you mean?" she gasped and her eyes go teary. "You found yourself a girlfriend already haven't you? I thought you said you were in love with me!"

All eyes turned on Yamcha who wanted to hang his head in shame. "I do think you're a great and beautiful girl Chichi. However I, I do have a girlfriend." He looks to Bulma. Chichi sniffled and backed away.

"I see, I'm sorry I should have realized it's been too long." She began to wail and she rushed back to Rikku and cried on her chest, Rikku not understanding simply held her and then glared at Yamcha.

Yamcha hung his head in defeat. "Great, either way I would have been dead meat. OW!" Yamcha walked as Bulma pulled him along by the ear and off to the side. "Bulma please don't make this any more difficult that it needs to be. When I met her she was just a little girl I didn't want to be killed yah know owowowowoowow!"

Rikku sighed and then looked to Krillen. "Your opponent is no ordinary fighter Krillen. Take care and don't go overboard."

Krillen, suffering from a little heartache of his own gave a false smiled and a thumbs up. "You bet cha."

Rikku couldn't do much about watching Krillen's fight. She tried her best to catch action here and there but found it difficult when she had chichi crying and clinging to her with her broken heart. She guessed this is what friends were for. However she worried about Krillen. "Come on chichi I wanna see the fight. Can't you let go for a bit?"

Chichi sniffled and nodded wiping her tears. "yes, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be crying but it hurts Rikku. You wouldn't understand you don't have a boyfriend! You've never been in love!"

"Love?" A new word Rikku hadn't heard before. "What's love?"

Chichi's tears stopped immediately and she quickly wiped her face and stared at Rikku shocked. "You're serious. You don't know what love is?"

"No one's ever told me."

"Well," Chichi thought for a minute. "Papa told me love is a very complicated feeling. It can make you feel many different emotions…" Before Chichi could finish explaining a loud shout caught their attention. Yamcha was staring up at the sky where the fight had taken up. The girls peek their heads and Rikku gasped.

"Krillen!" Rikku couldn't believe her eyes. All around dark clouds had gathered around the arena from the fighting aura surrounding Piccolo. Krillen stood his body firm but Rikku could see in his eyes he too had fear of what his opponent was capable of. He dangled in the air chanting his Kamehameha and Rikku stepped closer to the ring her own body shaking in fear for her friend's life. As Krillen blasted one image of Piccolo Rikku caught sight of the real one and she shouted.

"Behind you Krillen! It's a trap!"

Before Krillen had a chance to turns around Piccolo slammed his fists down to the back of Krillen's shoulders sending him flying down. He hit the ring hard breaking a tile to dust and then flipped to his belly holding his tailbone.

"Krillen!" Rikku held the urge to go in the ring to interfere. "Are you alright?"

The clouds above dispersed and Krillen remain unmoving on the ring floor. His ears rang and pain shot up and down his back. He looked up seeing Rikku's concerned face. He had pushed himself past him limits and yet still hadn't been able to defeat Junior. He gave a small smile of defeat and managed to sit up.

"That's enough for me. I give up."

Rikku immediately went to his side to help him up. Krillen's legs felt like Jell-O but under Rikku's cautious hold he felt better. "You did a great job Krillen. From what I heard of the guys you held your own. I'm very proud of you."

"Yeah the only thing missing was a win."

Rikku smiled and hugged him to her chest. "You're always a winner to me my friend."

Friend. Krillen remembered all the years he had trained with Rikku at Master Roshi's island. When first meeting her he couldn't believe that she would be his competition and yet she had exceeded him from the start. He had grown fond of her not just as an ally but as a good friend. She was someone who cheered for him on the sidelines, smiled at her even when things looked bad, and had risked her life to bring him back from the dead. Friend, ally, companion, it was all the same. He knew he meant something to Rikku and that was plenty for his heart.

The committee finished the repairs on the ring swiftly in order to get the next match up and going. "You're up next Yamcha. Just better hope he doesn't accidentally trip you out of the ring." Krillen teased.

"Ha, ha very funny. This won't take long." Yamcha said coolly.

Rikku would bet against that. From the start she felt something fishy around Hiro's aura. It was too calm as if he knew he was going to win. Yamcha was a skilled fighter she knew but having watched Hiro's preliminary round against the masked fighter she couldn't help but feel it was all staged.

When the battle began Rikku kept her eyes locked on Hiro's movements. The way he clumsily let himself fall into awkward positions, the way his aura would flare then calm before and after each of his movements. There was no doubt in her mind that Hiro was not who he appeared to be.

Poor Yamcha didn't stand a chance once Hiro got serious. After being found out that he wasn't a novice at all Hiro decided to give Yamcha a free lesson in combat. After every attack he gave Yamcha a few words of advice which just made Yamcha even more eager to defeat him.

Blinded by anger Yamcha pulled out his best technique, the spirit ball. Using his spiritual energy Yamcha created a small ball of light and let it float above his hand. He launched it at Hiro but the man easily dodged. However the ball was no ordinary attack. Yamcha controlled it circling around over hoping to catch Hiro off guard.

Thinking quickly Yamcha sent the ball down unto the ring tiles and then back up right below Hiro. This finally caught him off guard as the ball his him straight in the chin. Yamcha shouted in victory but it was short lived. Hiro immediately shot forward punching Yamcha. This caused Yamcha to stumble back his body failing to steady and eventually he fell back and out of the ring.

"Yamcha has fallen out of the ring! Hiro is the winner!"

Rikku narrowed her eyes. "Something's not right. Hiro he.. He couldn't be." Rikku gasped as she locked onto Hiro's face. She knew she had sensed this spirit before. She had a feeling this spirit would have found his way to the tournament. She watched as Hiro and Yamcha re entered the back and Rikku stared him down.

I know it's you… Kami

Longest chapter yet I think. I guess I got a little carried away :P

Anyway Kami managed to sneak to the tournament. However what's his true purpose in being there? And what about the next match? Who will go onto the finals? Rikku or Tien? Find out next time on… "Rematch: Tien vs. Rikku"