It was now only a week away from when Saiyans would arrive. Kami watched proudly as the others trained. Chi-Chi and Yajirobe were sword fighting. Krillin, Tien and Yamcha were in a tough three way fight. Chiaotzu was practicing Ki blasts and techniques Kami personally taught him. Chi-Chi was also wearing a suit Bulma had made for her to get her closer to the others power. She successfully beat him in the duel.
"Yay miss Chi-Chi!" Chiaotzu cheered and hugged her. She giggled and spun him around as they hugged. The two had gotten close during their training as the little pale boy had reminded her of Gohan. In fact the two had trained together almost as much as Chiaotzu had with his best friend Tien while at the Lookout. Chiaotzu helped her with her ki blasts while she helped him figure out unique ways to use his mental powers.
"Team up against Tien?" She asked as Tien won the bout.
Chiaotzu nodded smiling. "Let's use a combo." He smiled. Chi-Chi giggled. She'd also helped the fighters put together combos, Chiaotzu had one with each of them, but his best one was with Krillin. She'd also gotten the Banshō fan out of storage and had practiced with it. She smiled and went to do a spar with him and Tien but they all felt something approach.
They all suddenly looked in the air sensing two large ki's. One was unmistakably Piccolo, the other unrecognizable except to Chi-Chi. "Gohan!" She cheered and the two embraced in a tight hug. The others stared a Piccolo afraid. He just looked annoyed watching Gohan and his mom.
"I didn't bring him here to get babied...he needs to feel and see what a fight really is." Piccolo said.
"Wait...you want to train with us?" Tien asked in disbelief.
"Pah... none of you hold a candle to me, this is for the kid." Piccolo said as he landed.
He and Kami glared at each other. "This is a place for heroes...but there is wisdom in your words...you both can train here." Kami said slowly.
"I didn't need permission...now...let's go, one at a time and then all of you versus me." Piccolo chuckled. "Who is first?" Piccolo sneered.
"Me." Chi-Chi said as the others hesitated, sensing Piccolo's strength greater then their own.
"Don't make me laugh woman, even the boy would be a better challenge." He chuckled. Chi-Chi didn't reply but hugged Gohan again and did a fancy flurry with her sword as she powered up. "Hmm not too bad." Piccolo conceded feeling her strength. Her strength was almost double what Raditz was.
"Be careful, both of you." Gohan said. "This is for taking him from me." She roared and charged piccolo, giving it all she had. A flurry of slashes, punches and kicks. Piccolo only fought defensively to measure her up. He liked what he saw and she got a few grunts from him. "Woohoo, go mommy." Gohan said excitedly. Everyone gasped when she cut off his hand after a particularly strong chain of attacks. Her eyes widened with fear, fearing retribution. Piccolo just smirked and yelled as it grew back.
"My turn." He grinned darkly and charged at her. She managed to block his first few attacks, but he soon gained the advantage. Kami tilted his head watching Piccolo. While he was easily beating her, Kami could tell his other half was holding back considerably, though he couldn't understand why. "Mommy?" Gohan shouted as Piccolo slammed her into the white tiles of the lookout and then pinned her. He smirked, his face inches from hers. Chi-Chi shivered at his closeness, and blushed lightly too as her armor left her somewhat exposed at places.
"What happened to that ferocity?" Piccolo asked smartly.
"Right here." Chi-Chi hissed and head butted him to get free. She kicked him back and then channeling ki into her sword she rapidly fired slashes of ki at him with each flurry of her sword. Piccolo was lost in a haze of smoke. Gohan actually looked worried about his teacher as Chi-Chi panted on the ground. The others were stunned. However two glaring, and glowing eyes became visible in the smoke. They zapped Chi-Chi and caused her to fall on the ground. Piccolo emerged from the smoke, looking a little scuffed up, though only his clothes were damaged. Kami tapped his staff on the ground.
"Enough. Next fighter." Kami said as Gohan flew to his mother. She was scuffed up and bruised but miraculously didn't have a single broken bone, just her pride. Chiaotzu levitated her and brought her to get healed. Krillin challenged Piccolo, followed by Yamcha, and then Tien. Like Chi-Chi he gave them an opportunity to give him their best shot, but then he unleashed on them, not holding back like he did for her. Each of the three warriors went down in quick succession. Though Piccolo was panting some and did look tired by the end.
"Well you all aren't completely useless, but you're still no match for me." Piccolo said with his usual smirk.
"Hey! You're not done yet." Chiaotzu said. He and Chi-Chi got back in time to see Tien get slapped into the ground.
"If you think you have what it takes." Piccolo said. Chiaotzu nodded and floated up near him and got ready. Piccolo got ready as well and then... nothing. Piccolo waited for Chiaotzu to make the first move like the others had but he didn't. "Come on attack me!" Piccolo commanded, getting annoyed. Chiaotzu just stared back blankly. Piccolo roared and charged at him.
"Double Dodon Ray." Chiaotzu said and had the two yellow rays he fired collide in front of Piccolo. Temporarily blinded by the smoke piccolo charged through the smoke and grabbed him.
"Got you." Piccolo smirked. Chiaotzu slowly shook his head and pointed at another Chiaotzu which threw his arms down, slamming Piccolo with an up rooted tree he moved telekinetically. The other Chiaotzu then fired a series of blasts at piccolo. He knocked them all away but then both Chiaotzus moved their arms down sending the dodon rays back at him at the same time. Piccolo growled and released an explosion around himself to counter it.
Piccolo limped slightly as he came out of the smoke. "Nice tricks, good to see someone using brains over brawn." He said to Chiaotzu who had went back to being just one. The others cheered Chiaotzu on, so far the only one to really hurt Piccolo. They went at it again. Chiaotzu managed to use a few more tricks to land a few more good hits but eventually Piccolo put him down too, though not as roughly as the others. He more or less let Chiaotzu tire himself out and put him down with one hit. Tien caught Chiaotzu as he fell and the others praised him for lasting so long. "He could really be something with proper training." Piccolo said.
"My turn?" Gohan asked excitedly.
"Sure kid, show them what I've taught you." Piccolo said and got ready. To Kami's surprise Piccolo didn't hold back when he fought Gohan, though he didn't take every single opening. Gohan was giving it his all too. Chi-Chi looked away every time Gohan was hit. Eventually the fight finished as Piccolo let Gohan tap out exhausted. "Good job kid." Piccolo said and fixed his own shoulder that had gotten dislocated in the fight with a grunt.
"Thanks, sorry if I hurt you Mister Piccolo." Gohan said as his mom picked him up.
"You can't hurt me so easily." He replied. "Go ahead and rest." He added. Chi-Chi took him to rest and made a big meal for him and the others.
Piccolo slumped down to recover after they had left. He didn't want to show the others just how close their combined efforts came to beating him. "You're gaining in strength rapidly." Kami noted.
"And you're still old and feeble." He retorted.
Kami chuckled. "Fair enough...so tell me why the special treatment for Chi-Chi? She's the only one you held back on, granted you put Gohan and Chiaotzu down gently once the fight was over." Kami asked.
"I was measuring each of them and then put each in their place. I don't know what you think you saw you crazy old coot." Piccolo replied getting up.
"You know I don't buy that...was it because you didn't want to upset Gohan?" Kami asked.
Piccolo growled and clenched his fists. "I'd kill all of them, if I didn't think they'd be useful against what's coming." He growled and stormed away to meditate. Kami chuckled knowing just how much of a lie that was, the others maybe if they got in the way, but not Gohan or Chi-Chi.
The next day Piccolo trained with Gohan and spent a little time with Chiaotzu, to improve his techniques. Piccolo also made sure Gohan had a fight with each of the other fighters. Chi-Chi refused to take her eyes off Gohan in case he got hurt, but did give him advice in each fight. With each battle Gohan seemed to get stronger. Again Chi-Chi made a big meal for everyone with Mr Popo's help. Gohan smiled grabbing her hand after they had finished cooking. "Come sit beside me and Mister Piccolo." He said excitedly and practically dragged her to a seat. On the other side was Piccolo drinking a glass of water.
Chi-Chi stared at Piccolo. For years she had hated him, he was her husband's greatest enemy and rival, and yet here they were training together, with her son sitting happily between them. "Gohan?" Piccolo asked alarmed as he got choked on something. Gohan coughed and then smiled.
"Just went down the wrong way, I'm fine." He said and continued eating. It all happened so quickly ChiChi didn't have time to react. She looked at Piccolo and tilted her head seeing that Gohan getting choked really did scare him.
"What is it woman?" Piccolo asked, catching her stare.
"Nothing." She mumbled and checked on Gohan further. "Momm." Gohan pouted getting embarrassed as she fussed over him. The rest of the warriors chuckled at the exchange and continued eating.
Soon it was nightfall. The warriors thanked Chi-Chi and Mr. Popo for another great meal and they went to rest. Chi-Chi tucked an exhausted Gohan into bed. She hated the fact that'd he'd have to fight, but if these two brutish aliens come after him, he'd have no choice. Besides Goku, he might be their best chance. While there was no doubt Piccolo was the strongest fighter on the Lookout, they had all felt the massive power her little boy was hiding behind his gentle ways. Tear drops began to fall on Gohan's covers. "Goku...please come back to us, to protect our son." She whimpered. She then froze feeling anothers presence.
"Goku will return, he always does... besides my pupil has you and I to watch his back." Piccolo said calmly, though with a smug look.
Chi-Chi almost growled hearing her son be called his pupil, but after rubbing away her tears she turned to face him, but she blinked in disbelief, the way he was looking at Gohan...like a parent would. "Why'd you come in?" She asked.
"Uhh." Piccolo said trying to think of a reason, not about to admit he had planned on meditating outside Gohan's door for the night to watch over him.
"You were coming to check on him." She smirked, the idea of the gruff Piccolo having a soft spot for her son surprisingly amusing to her.
Piccolo glared at her. "I only wanted to ensure he was resting...you should get some too." He said finally coming up with something.
"Sure." She replied and rolled her eyes, returning her attention to Gohan.
Piccolo huffed and left to go meditate elsewhere. However he just made a circle and came to a stop under a window outside Gohan's room. He began to meditate.
Chi-Chi giggled softly, able to track Piccolo's movements, sensing his energy. She got in the other bed in the room. She didn't realize how thoroughly exhausted she was until her body rested in the bed. "Goodnight my son...goodnight Piccolo." She added to tease him. Just as sleep took her she could have sworn she heard someone say back "Goodnight Chi-Chi.".