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 29: WMAT: Rematch- Tien Vs. Rikku

The crowd roared to life in anticipation of the battle that would take place. After the results of last year everyone was thrilled to see this particular match take place. It was the rematch of last years champion Tien Shinhan Vs. Rikku who had barely lost the title due to an unfortunate mishap. The Announcer ate up the drama as well as the excitement from the crowd. He lived for moments like. "It looks like our fighters are already up and ready to battle. We all witnessed the fantastic display of their powers last years. Tien Shinhan walking away the victor but both fighters have been training hard for three years. You can expect three times the power, three times the danger, and three times the excitement!"

Both Rikku and Tien stood side by side staring at the ring and their rowdy fans. "I assume this is going to be intense." Rikku questioned Tien glancing his way.

"Of course." As if a bell had gone off both fighters shot to the air spun forward and then landed in their relative fighting positions. The crowd screamed with electrifying excitement.

"Do your best Rikku!" Chichi cheered with the utmost enthusiasm. Krillen and Yamcha on either side of her anxiously awaiting for the outcome of their fight. Chichi turned to both. "Just how strong is this Tien?"

"He's exceptionally strong. Out of all of us he has the best chance of beating Rikku."

Junior snorted at Yamcha's comment and walked to his original spot to float above the wall for a bird's eye view of the battle. "Unlike these dullards I'm not so easily impressed."

Hiro, Kami in disguise, smirked secretly behind him. "Those dullards," he thought, "might just surprise you."

Back in the ring Rikku and Tien hadn't broken their stare. Tien's face was lit with excitement. "I've been looking forward to this battle for three years Rikku. To be honest it really didn't feel like I won last time."

Rikku gave a soft laugh simply shrugging at his comment. The announcer called forth for the battle to begin and Rikku immediately sprung into action. Faking a punch she shot her knee up but was expertly blocked by Tien's. Tien pushed her back and let loose a fiery wave of punches all of which Rikku slid away effortlessly from. Rikku then shot to the air with Tien quickly behind. In a burst of speed Tien caught up to her and they exchanged punches in mid air. The flurry so fast that the Announcer could barely make out their movements even from his telescope.

Even as they fell they continued to fight their eyes locking in each other's movements. As the ground got closer and closer they slowly broke apart to their opposite sides of the ring. When they touched down they immediately burst forward again but as they did so their bodies seemed to disappear from sight.

Everyone could hear the vicious blows and grunts of their battle. Krillen's eyes danced about trying to catch any sign of their movement but no go. Chichi felt dizzy beside him her eyes trying to catch up with her ears. "Is this a normal occurrence around here?"

When both opponents finally reappeared they locked hands and battled for strength in hold. Though Rikku was clearly smaller than the towering Tien Shinhan she matched him in physical strength.

Launch, currently blonde, watched the struggle between them. Despite her acknowledgement and respect for Rikku's strength as a woman her affection and love for Tien Shinhan won over. Firing her pistol in the air she rooted for him and smacked her hand against the brick wall. "Take her down Tien Shinhan!"

Rikku watched the struggle in Tien's face. His teeth gritting and his eyes ablaze. It made her smirk. She pulled him forward catching him off guard then kicked him in the stomach sending him flying in the air. "Whoopsie Daisy!" As she got to her feet she was surprised to find Tien had composed himself and was back in the ring ready to strike her down.

Rikku thought quickly and jumped over him. When she landed Tien used his own speed to appear behind her but was foiled in his attack by disappearing from his sight. Tien searched around before finally spotting her on the opposite side of the ring. "About time you found me did you get lost?"

Tien smiled as he panted hard. Rikku merely smiled her breathing calm and her body unaffected by the tussle. Master Roshi noticed this immediately. "One of them is clearly coming up short. Tien Shinhan needs to come up with something better than his usual tactics in order to defeat Rikku. She seems to have learned to control her breathing and energy. She's conserving enough to stay one step ahead of Tien Shinhan. Such power."

Roshi wasn't the only one who was witnessing Rikku's strength. Junior watched with keen interest. It was clear to him that she was much stronger and wiser than she had been when she face King Piccolo. Junior didn't feel any worry. To him if this scuffle was the best Rikku could do he was certain he would pick her apart.

The fight continued, each opponent facing off with masterful speed and agility. From the view pointers stand it looked like Tien had a small upper hand with his speed. With every careful move Rikku gave Tien would always squirm away from it. Even as they battled in each other's holds Rikku couldn't managed to keep a hold of her opponent.

Tien too was impressed by Rikku's form. He stood panting softly as they took a breather from their most recent brawl. "Impressive. You were already near perfection three years ago. Now, even that word seems inadequate to describe your talent."

"You should save some of that praise for yourself Tien." Rikku clenched her fist smiling but with eyes narrowed in as if trying to estimate the depths of Tien's power.

"Thank you, but there is one skill I've improved upon that even you can't keep up with. It just so happens to be the most important skill a fighter could have."

Rikku's eyes widen and she stepped a few feet towards him anxious to hear what skill he was referring to.

"And that skill is… the skill of speed!" In a flash Tien rounded the ring then shot to the air. Rikku shot up after him both fighters returning to their air for this particular show of strength.

Rikku searched among the clouds floating in mid air. She listened in for Tien's movements and threw a kick as he appeared behind her. Just as fast Tien disappeared before the hit connected. Rikku's senses continued to work as she tracked him through his hyper speed movements. He was circling her, trying to catch her off guard in order to attack. She followed his movements and when he appeared above her she tried to match him and block but his speed proved too much. His strike nailed her between the shoulder blades and right below the neck. She fell down with incredible speed and landed hard on the ring floor. The hit making her dizzy.

"Rikku!" She heard chichi cry out in worry. Other than getting the breath knocked out of her Rikku felt fine but as the battle continued she tried to think of how she could catch up to Tien without revealing too much of her strength. Then the idea hit her.

"I can tell you're not gonna make this one easy on me."

"Would you really want me to? I doubt it. I hate to state the obvious but we both know I'll win." Tien stated proudly. "I'm not bragging. It's just a fact. You're slower than me."

Rikku grinned. "I appreciate your concern and you're right I'm no where near as fast as I'd like to be at the moment." Rikku began to stretch out her body. She knew if she wanted to win she would have to pull off any handicaps.

"It's time to end this," Tien said crouching back into position. "Ready?"

"Ah wait just one second." Rikku beckoned sliding her arms from the sleeves of her gi. She then proceeded to lift the black shirt from her head. The sight of which made Tien blush beat red, and every man in the audience to get bloody noses.

"W-what are you doing?" Tien asked quickly turning his back to keep his eyes off.

"Before we continue I wanna shed some of these clothes."

"Well, whatever makes you comfortable I guess." Tien peeks over his shoulder catching sight of Rikku trying to remove the black shirt still.

The announcer wiped his brow. "The heat seems to be getting to our competitors. With the way our fighters have been moving it's no wonder that Rikku would hope to remove the extra layers of her clothing."

Bulma hid her face behind her hands. "At least she's wearing a sports bra. Rikku has never known the meaning of modesty. She would run around naked if she could."

"Now that's a sight." Krillen stated his face red. Rikku had barely h=gotten the shirt of her head and was still trying to free her arms from the sleeves. "Rikku struggling to take off a shirt."

"Maybe the heat has gotten to her."

Rikku sighed with relief as she finally managed to slide the thing down and off. The shirt landed with a thud making Tien gasp in awe.

"Hey Rikku. Can I take a look at your shirt?" Rikku slid her orange gi back on and nodded.

"Sure go right ahead."

Tien knelt down picking the piece of clothing up. With a fist full of it he gasped when he lifted it up off the ground. "What is this? This thing weighs a ton. You've been wearing this the entire tournament?"

"Yep," Rikku said removing her wrists guards next. As they thudded to the ground she massaged her wrists and slid to the ground to remove her boots. "Kami told me to. It was part of my training."

"Your wrists guards as well. And your boots?"

Krillen and Yamcha ran to them. "Hey what's the hold up guys." Krillen says kneeling down to pick up her boots. "We'll take care of this stuff."

"Yeah," Yamcha agreed holding out his hand for the shirt. "You two have to keep fighting."

"Whoa what the-" When Krillen Struggled to pick the boots off the ground he finally understood why Tien had been acting so strangely. "What is this?

Yamcha too had to hold the shirt in both hands. "yeesh it's really heavy."

"I don't see how you managed to walk let alone fight in these."

"It wasn't easy." Rikku said rubbing her feet. "Each of those boots weight twenty kilos. My feet have never been so sore." ( 20 Kilos = 44 pounds)

Tien placed the wrist guards on top of the shirt in Yamcha's hand making Yamcha grunt from the strain. "I have to say I'm carrying a hundred kilos." (100 Kilos = 220 pounds. For those who don't do math very well that's 264 pounds of extra weight Rikku was carrying.)

"Did you say a hundred Kilos!" Krillen shouted everyone around him hearing and gasping. Krillen stumbled in Rikku's boots he had tried on not even able to walk in them.

"It took me a long time before I was able to carry that much weight." Rikku said nonchalantly as she stretched. "At first I struggled to even carry a few rocks. It was all worth it though. Now I feel light as a feather." She began to jump and laughed when her body felt nearly weightless. "No lighter than a feather! This is great!" She laughed full belly as she jumped to soaring heights, landed and went into a blur of punches and kicks, she ran about the stadiums kicking her body around with impressive and mind boggling speed.

Yamcha and Krillen quickly took off as they saw Rikku was warm up and ready for action once again.

"Impressive. I've never known you to show off."

"Just a little warm up." Rikku giggled.

"The crowd is expecting greatness from you. Don't disappoint and don't hold anything back. Ready?"

"You bet." Rikku slid into stance. Round two of their battle began. Tien launched forward first throwing his arm down in a might strike. Rikku smirked secretly as she dodged out of the way with a hidden secret and as they exchanged blows for a few short seconds Tien stops their elbows met in a match of strength.

"Rikku I would congratulate your increase speed if it weren't such a shame that all that training went to waste for I am still one step ahead of you."

Rikku began to giggle and she pulled back. "I wouldn't be so sure." she held up a long red cloth belt. "This does belong to you doesn't it?"

"What the-" Tien glanced down. His pants slid down revealing his white boxers. All around them laughter spread throughout the crowd as well as expressions of awe at Rikku's speed. "When did you…" Tien held his pants up completely flustered. "You stole my belt right from under me?"

"Yep." Rikku said laughing proudly for getting the better of her opponent.

Tien thought of when Rikku would have had the opportunity and them recalled when he made his initial attack. There had been a millisecond pause in Rikku's actions when he made the attack and it was there he had allowed his arrogance to blind him. "I see. I made a critical error and allowed myself to be blinded. I have never known anyone who could move as swift as you."

Rikku caressed the belt in both hands listening to Tien's praise. She turned her head giving him a sly mischievous grin.

"Heh," Tien found that amusing. "If you think that alone will save you you're sadly mistaken. Tien Shinhan will fall before no woman." Just as he said it Tien stumbled over his sagging pants and landed on his knees. His blush returned and he quickly snatched away his belt from Rikku's grasp. The laughter was too contagious and Rikku had to join in with a few giggles of her own.

Tien growled and turned when he fastened himself. Despite Rikku increase of speed Tien was determined to win against her no matter how much her speed had increased. He still had one technique he had been saving just for her. It was time he used it.

"Just you wait. I have yet to play my best card."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that? Are you planning on using the Volley Ball technique again? Or the Tri Beam?"

"I want to defeat you. Not blow you into a million pieces." Tien said turning fully towards her. "No, what I have in mind is not as destructive as the Tri Beam but it's enough."

Tien launched into the air Rikku meeting him as they exchanged places on the ring. "Hmm, these eyes have failed." Tien said as they landed. "My biggest mistake was assuming only three would be enough to catch your movement. If Three eyes aren't enough. How about twelve?"

Rikku's eyes widen. "Wha- twelve eyes?" Rikku tried to imagine how he would look with that many eyes and found herself shuddering. "Yeesh."

Tien flexed his body. Rikku sensing his aura as it began to rise and distort as if spreading apart in four different sets. What exactly was he planning?

What indeed. Had enough excitement? Ready to fall out of your seat? Just wait. The action is just beginning. Be sure to stay tuned to the next chapter… "Tien's four faces and Kami's folly."