Chapter 46: Power Struggles

A few weeks went by and Raditz began to grow accustomed to the quiet life on Earth in the little house. He spent most of his time hunting or training. It was a little lonely at times; him being so used to constant companionship of his fellow saiyans.

Occasionally Gohan would come up to train with his uncle after his schoolwork was done, which was in general only an hour or so before he had to go back home. According to him the other days he'd train with his dad or at times Piccolo but not everyday. Nappa would also come, but instead to challenge him apparently being brought back because of him was a little sore on his saiyan pride. But their bouts were short and far between considering Raditz would beat him rather badly.

This particular day he was lazily fishing after a long day of training, Chichi had given him several training gis and undershirts not unlike his brother's. His was a dark blue and the undershirt was light gray, it lay at his side airing out from the day's training, the fish bones laid at his other. His gentle sunshine was overcast by a shadow.

He opened his eyes with an annoyed grumble, "Green man?" he recognized the intruder.

"Hmph, you ready now?" Piccolo stood over him crossed arms.

"Heh!" Raditz got up and stared him down, "I'm always ready for a little payback!"

He responded by swiftly discarding both cape and turban, "Hmph, we'll see about that!"

Piccolo smirked and held up two fingers charging up ki and fired his special beam cannon much like before. Raditz eyes grew wide a moment, "No you don' t!" He flew up quickly avoiding it completely, he appeared next to Piccolo and kicked through his afterimage, "You've gotten better green man, but you're still not match!"

Meanwhile,

Mint landed by the Son house in her training gi, she knocked on the door biting her lower lip with an excited smile. Chichi opened the door, broom and dustpan in hand, "Mint! What brings you out here?" she sang happily. "Oh, I'm just here to see how I stack up against a super saiyan!" She enthusiastically shadow boxed getting ready. A sly smile crept up Chichi's face, "You mean hitting on him, right?"

Mint fell over with a black swirl over her head. She got up and crossed her arms in a pout, "Well I was gonna offer to baby-sit Gohan so you and Goku could go out but maaaaaaaaaaaaybe not! Hmph!"

A cunning look crossed her eyes, "Alright then, I'll just tell Raddy-poo you're not interested!"

Mint stammered a little trying to think of a response then sighed in defeat, "You win…"

Chichi giggled, "I always do!" Mint giggled with her, "Yeah…POOR GOKU! So um…where's Raditz?"

"Oh you mean Raaaaddy, he's up where Goku lived with his grandpa, you remember?"

"More or less."

"Well when you get back from your… eh-hem 'training secession.'…"Chichi said sarcastically which made Mint blush, Chichi calmed her down with a light touch on the shoulder, "Just kidding Mint! Well, I'll be out with Goku, I guess you can call over a pizza or two-hundred if you don't want to cook."

Mint took this opportunity for revenge, she got a thermometer and an icepack from the hammer space. She quickly put them in their respective places, "Pizza? Chichi are you feeling well? You should lay down."

Chichi blushed and grumbled, she spat out the thermometer and it disappeared into the hammer space again, "I'm fine." "Well if you're sure." Chichi growled then giggled, Mint joined in. Chichi mused, "Well truth is I KNOW you'd just order pizza or something and play video games with him every time you baby-sit him anyway." Mint turned chibi with a big smile and flashed her a peace-sign, "Guilty as charged!" "Yeah…well, good luck with the long-haired stud!" Mint nodded, waved and flew off saying, "Good luck with the wide-eyed sweetie!"

Piccolo swooped down chopping at Raditz, he skillfully dodged to the side and uppercuted him right on the chin. Piccolo flew up and back and Raditz pursued him. The Namekian stretched his arm and latched onto his opponent. "Whoa! What the?!" Piccolo retracted his arm which brought the two warriors together, "Here I come!"

They clashed; Piccolo giving a strong blow to Raditz cheek, he in turn received a harsh blow to his gut sending Piccolo to the ground. Raditz loomed over his fallen Namek holding his cheek, "Heh, I been waiting to show this to you!" He held his hand over his head and fired at his rival. He jumped out of the way just in time to see the sizable explosion and creator it made, "What power!"

"Easily distracted green man ?!" Raditz shouted bringing his fists on Piccolo's dome. He fell down and regained himself just to block a roundhouse aimed at his sternum. Raditz smirked, "Now you see me…" he disappeared, "Now you don't!" he said appearing behind him. Piccolo turned in subject to Raditz' fierce and merciless assault. The Namekian did his best to dodge or block but the saiyan was too much for him. In a split second, Piccolo shot a small ki bolt at the base of Raditz' neck. The smoke plume and pain allowed Piccolo to hit him away and escape. Raditz pursued him again, his opponent readied himself, they each formed a large ki ball and fired, Raditz shouted, "Get ready for some fireworks!"

A brilliant light was seen from all over when the two energies collided that could be seen from far away. Both warriors fell in opposite directions.

Mint glanced over seeing the light right before she knocked on the door, she smiled, "I guess Raddy and Piccolo finally got their rematch! I guess he'd be too tired to go with me after THAT. Oh well I'll just leave him a note." She tapped it on his front door, "Hope he sees it soon!"

The two warriors laid side by side, both burnt up from the last clash, lazily fishing in the old river. "You know…" Raditz broke the silence, "I coulda killed you but I don't think Gohan would have appreciated that." Piccolo chuckled, "Yeah right, I just didn't use my full power against his uncle!" "Right, and did you see me become a super saiyan? You should be grateful you aren't Tapenade right now!" Piccolo chuckled a little, "So it's agreed, we stop fighting for the sake of the boy." Raditz nodded with a small smile, "well we could still have a…FRIENDLY bout every once in a while." he said with a evil gleam in his eyes. "Gladly!" Piccolo said with the same evil gleam then flew off with his cloak and turban. Raditz smirked then yawned, "Ugh…I'm beat!" he flew over to his humble abode. He saw the note, it said, "Hey Raddy, I came over to see if we could train together soon. Well peace, call me!" and it had a little stick figure Mint who stood one foot on a stick figure Raditz with a big thumbs up. He chuckled to himself, "Hhaha, she want so concur ME? How absurd…though it would be interesting to see her try." He pocketed the note and went inside.

Mint paid the pizza man, "Man, I'm glad Chichi is footing the bill!" she turned to Gohan, "So what'll it be first? Destctocan-man 3: The new beginning or Super Sword Swingers eleven?"

He hopped up and down, "Oh oh! I can't choose! Auntie Mint you pick!"

AN: For anyone who doesn't know Tapenade is a green mushy paste