"Raditz, how come girls are so weird?"
Raditz at this point had Goku on his shoulder again, occasionally turning his head to Bulma whining and trailing further and further behind by the minute. The only one keeping pace with the girl was the shapeshifter pig they had found recently.
"She says it's 'cause she's a city person and isn't used to having to rough it out in the wilderness. Afterall, the pig is doing it too." Raditz hummed.
"N-No fair! How come you're carrying Goku! Why don't you be a gentleman and carry the lady for a second, huh!?" Bulma called out.
Raditz rolled his eyes, waiting for the other two to catch up again. "Goku can walk long distances no problem: I just like hanging out with him. Besides, it's good for you to get exercise, apparently."
"Yeah, Raditz gets lonely if I'm not around and it would be funny looking if he rode on my shoulder~!" Goku commented.
Bulma grit her teeth, too frustrated to comment back. An entire capsule pouch gone and not even a handsome boy there who would be willing to give her a hand."I swear, the next time I get a new thing of capsules, you two are sleeping outside…" she panted under her breath
Goku hummed, watching the scenery change from a more jungle environment to that of a desert mountain range. "Do you think Grandpa ever came out this way before?"
Raditz nodded, appreciating the changes in landscaping. "Probably. Gramps went all over when he was younger. By the time he got us, I just think he was happy about where he lived."
"Yeah… when we're done, we'll probably have some chores to do, especially if the monster comes by this month!" Goku chirped.
A sinking feeling in Raditz's gut began to form. His brother still looked so happy, Raditz couldn't bring himself to mention what really happened to their grandfather two years ago. Part of him didn't want Goku to blame himself over something he couldn't control. Another part of Raditz felt guilt, believing that he could have done something to stop their grandfather's passing.
Raditz couldn't dwell on the matter much longer, hearing a collapsing noise from behind them. The teen girl who had been so adamant on finding the dragon balls as soon as possible had passed out on the ground. He rolled his eyes, letting Goku hop down in order to pick up Bulma.
"Here. I'm going to look through her pack to see if she has anything useful to cool her down."
"Why do you get to-" Oolong started, only to get the sharp glare from the elder Son brother.
"Keep talking, and we will be having pork for dinner." He said curtly, only to turn his head to Goku. "Goku, you're in charge of looking for food."
"Alright!" Goku gave a thumbs up, hurrying with Oolong in tow.
Raditz sat Bulma under the shade, looking through her back pack with a sigh. Most of it was little things he didn't find useful. He knew most of her equipment relied on capsules, so her actual stock of items was minimal at best. Raditz resorted to his own little nap sack, getting a waterskin. He splashed water on the teen girls face, her eyes fluttering open.
"Huh…? Are we still outside…?"
"Yeah. Goku and the pig went out to try and find food. You passed out." Raditz handed her the waterskin. "It's not a lot, and we probably want to save it but, water is water."
Bulma took a drink, still wincing at the soreness her legs felt. The city and outdoors were really two different beasts. She handed the water skin back to Raditz, appreciating the stillness of being able to sit down.
"We shouldn't be that far from civilization, hypothetically." Raditz thought aloud.
"We're still too far away by foot… we'd have to hope for some sort of miracle." She whined.
"Bulma, relax. You'll be fine. Goku and I won't let you wither away."
For a moment, Bulma had an appreciation for the older brother again. Despite everything, he was still looking out for anyone. Then she heard a loud growling noise originating from Raditz's stomach.
"...So hungry."
"Didn't you eat earlier!?" Bulma exclaimed.
"I gave Goku half of my snack…" Raditz murmured.
"With you carrying him all day, Goku is problem the only one in top shape! I swear, you might not remember her, but you were probably some sort of mama's boy!"
Raditz rolled his eyes, though something deep inside him figured that it was correct. He didn't know where, for he couldn't even remember anything before waking up and seeing his Grandpa Gohan. Sometimes though, in the deepest part of his mind, he thought he remembered a kind womanly figure. Gentleness in a place where gentleness wasn't usually seen. A gentleness that he probably wasn't meant to mimic, if he wasn't raised by his grandfather.
Bulma laid back on the ground, still exhausted as Raditz did the same. Raditz aimed to close his eyes just for a minute, but quickly that turned into straight up falling asleep.
"This was supposed to be an easy raid;;;"
Yamcha gained a bit of distance between himself and the boy with the monkey tail. He knew the boy was evidently the grandson of the famous martial artist Gohan, but this amount of power coming from someone so small was still a shock.
Goku grinned, twirling his bo staff again. "You know, I know you said you were a bad guy, but this is pretty fun!"
Yamcha changed his stance for another attack. "I have to admit, it's been a long time since I faced a real opponent!"
Goku and the desert bandit clashed, their fight bouncing them across the desert landscape. Yamcha tried to wear down Goku at every turn, but the amount of energy that the young boy had proved to be greater than expected. Finally, with a lucky strike of his Wolf Fang Fist, Goku was thrown crashing through some desert rocks.
The bandit turns to Oolong, holding his hand out for capsules and money. "Be quick with it-" before he was able to finish those words, Goku had ran back with the speed of a torpedo, headbutting himself into the other teen's gut.
"Why you little-" Yamcha gasped
"Come on, don't give up now!" Goku beamed, his tail swishing back and forth from excitement.
Yamcha held his stance again, preparing for another attack. Slowly to the left of him, he noticed two figures sitting up. There was a beautiful girl, about his age, sitting up and staring at him. Yamcha felt his blood turn to ice, freezing in place. Slowly sitting up next to the girl was another teenage boy. While his blood was ice, there was a strong hint of jealousy, looking at the strong teenager.
"P…. Puar!. Help!" Yamcha whispered, having to be saved by his cat companion.
"W-We'll be back for your capsules later!" Yamcha yelled out, his voice cracking as he made some ground.
"Okay, thanks for the fight, Mister~!" Goku called out, waving towards the bandit.
Oolong sighed in relief, sending a quick glare to Goku "Don't encourage him to come back-"
"No, please encourage him~!" Bulma chimed. "Seriously, what's his name~? He's a real hunk~." She sighed happily.
"He was pretty cute, and it was nice of him to play with Goku like that."
Bulma paused, her head turning to Raditz. "Wait, what?"
"... What? And his little dorky stutter was cute too when he was running away~"
"...You're gay?" Bulma gapped as Raditz turned his head to the other teen.
"... Duh?"
Yamcha sat at his base, fuming over the defeat earlier by the hands of a kid, and being too scared to stick around due to the beautiful girl.
"Man, if I could stay around for even a second, I'd show her jerk boyfriend what's good for him."
"Master Yamcha, I know you can do it!" Puar grabbed a blanket for his master, putting it around his shoulders.