AN: Come away with me on the silly inner-workings of my mind. I've actually been toying around with this idea for a long time. Close to distraction, really and I've started with the first few chapters. Please be gentle, and I'd like to know if it's worth continuing. Yes, I'm also still working on At Long Last, but the plot bunnies have been running away.

CP

The Waters Edge

AU: A prince of a lost empire tries to make it in a foreign world looking for another of his kind. His mission, to bring back the hidden soldier, kill the new king and gain his throne. Yet there lies a temptation at the shore, will he give up the sea and stay on land?

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Chapter 1

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He groaned as his body shook, water dripping off his shifting frame. Most of his life was spent swimming, a long scaled tail where legs were now. He rolled over in the sand, his wet body picking up the gritty particles and dispersing it over his skin as he took big gulps of air. Having lungs took some getting used to. Shifting to his elbows he lolled over to his side and choked up water, each gasp of dry air making his body shudder. Already he missed the sea, the rich cool water shifting about his form while he dined on fish.

Grunting, he tried to stand on unsteady legs, his form not yet ready to hold the weight. Without the buoyancy of water, he fell to his knees repeatedly; his naked form stuttering up the beach like a baby giraffe being born. Relief settled in at the sight of a cave near by, at least he'd be out of the elements while he pondered what to do next. He'd learned about another sent to shore as a last hope for the clan. The prince needed to find him or whatever was left of Vegetasai would be doomed.

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He found humans were extremely careless. A pair of shorts were found just off shore and he scooped them up without hesitation. At least he had some type of clothing to go ashore with. The sun blinded his sensitive eyes, a new world of color different to the blue hues of the sea. He found it extremely off-putting, yet the explosion of different hues amazed him. After a few moments his eyes adjusted and he found himself lost, not to mention he couldn't yet speak. A frown marred his features. How was he to get anything accomplished without speech?

He continued walking down the boarded road lined with shops, catching his reflection in the window panes. It was a jarring experience to say the least. His black hair still stood tall and proud, he figured the gravity would've pushed it flat. He was toned and muscular, and the only key that would set him apart form the humans was covered by the pants he wore. The small fin on his lower back felt strange in this form, yet it was the only piece that wouldn't shift with the rest of himself. The other part was the pendant of Triton that hung around his neck, but the humans wouldn't give the heirloom a passing glance. All around he smelled food, but with no money he was forced to go back towards the ocean. It was just as well, he didn't know what human food would do to him.

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Bulma sulked under her umbrella, book tossed to the side, and her now ex-boyfriend nowhere to be found. He'd taken off with the waitress from their lunch date. She felt angry, bitter, and the tears she'd shed when he looked at her in surprise made her feel like a sorry waste of space. What did that blonde bitch have that she didn't? She took off her hat and began the process of removing the braids from her long blue hair.

So what if she wasn't like other girls, he shouldn't want her to change. She had a great body, beautiful hair and eyes.

"She's more of a lady, B. She actually wants to go out, wear nice clothes. You walk around in overalls all the time working with your dad. You don't wear makeup, you don't dress nice. The only time you really look good is when we go to the beach."

It occurred to her then that he just wanted eye-candy. She wouldn't be the doting girlfriend. She wouldn't act stupid just so he could feel superior. Bulma blew out a breath and looked around the beach. It was pretty quiet for a sunny Saturday afternoon. Then again, it was summer and a lot of people were probably vacationing elsewhere. Not that she could blame them.

She honestly felt like calling on her old friend Goku. He loved the beach and his sunny mood would always brighten her day, but since he'd married Chi-Chi and they had their first child he'd been around the water less and less. It seemed to make him depressed.

Bulma scanned the beach again, looking for anything entertaining when she spotted a well-built man standing waist deep in water pulling out a huge fish with his bare hands. He looked so at home as another wave crashed into him. He stood still as a statue, seemingly unaffected by the tide. The finely toned man started walking back to the shore with his catch, the green shorts he wore hanging low on his hips as he got a safe distance away from the ocean before plopping down right in the sand.

She watched as he brought the fish up to his face and smelled it before pinching his teeth against the top of a scale and sliding his mouth down the side. Bulma was in awe of this strange man, it felt like she was hypnotized by him and could not look away. She watched as he cleaned his catch with only his mouth and hands for tools. Finally she shook her self free of his mystical hold and stood up. Walking over to him, she looked down at him and tapped him on the shoulder.

He jumped to his feet, his eyes wide as he clutched his food to his chest.

"I'm not going to steal it." She smiled. "I just wondered if you were going to cook it first or if you'd like some help."

The man tilted his head to the side with a look of frustration on his face that she couldn't place. The expression was as strange as the flaming style of his hair that never seemed to topple.

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He looked at this strange human female with a combination of shock and confusion. She was beautiful, lithe with hair the color of the sea. His shoulder was still warm from the touch of her small hand. The prince could barely understand her words, let alone her tone. Her stance and smell was non-threatening, however, so he decided to take a chance and step forward, he needed information and there was only one way he could get it at the moment. She backed up a step and spoke again. Her voice was beautiful even if he couldn't understand her words.

He tilted his head again and lifted the pendant from his neck to introduce himself the only way he knew how. The pendant had a nack for knowing the language of the humans.

"Vegeta?"

He nodded. His name was the only thing he could understand. Growing tired of the strange noises this creature was emitting he moved forward once again and touched his forehead to hers, the motion so quick she couldn't back away. The connection had been formed and he sighed in relief. Finally, her language made since to him, everything made sense. He saw flashes of her life, her childhood, her parents. The touch was brief, but it helped him more than she knew.

"Hello, Bulma." He spoke with a smirk. Vegeta was delighted that the language barrier was finally broken. Speaking Mer above water was highly undignified and garbled.

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Her eyes widened. His voice was low, gravily, sexy. He seemed to come off the pages of a romance novel. The way he said her name caused her to shiver with repressed need. Bulma felt ashamed of herself then. She'd been with Yamcha for over five years and he'd never gave her feelings like this.

"Tell me, woman." He spoke again, his tone carrying a regal flare. "Where might I acquire more fish?"

"That depends, do you want it cooked or raw?" What was she doing? It was if she felt compelled to help him, and what was with the weird forehead touch earlier? She also hadn't even told him her name yet! "And how did you know my name?"

He just waved the questions aside. "I would like raw fish."

"Well there's a sushi bar down the street."

"I see." He sighed. "I'm afraid I have no money."

"Did you get robbed?" She found herself asking and then she covered her mouth. "Sorry, it's not my business."

He just shrugged. "All I have to my name are these shorts and the pendant around my neck."

"Well, let's get you fed." She shrugged. The least she could do for the lost man was feed him if nothing else. This sudden urge to help him felt unnatural, yet not uncomfortable. "Possibly get you some clothes. Some restaurants won't serve you if you don't have a shirt or shoes."

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Vegeta sniffed in disdain, he hated the itchiness of the shorts. Human clothes, bah. He struggled to keep his senses about him the further away from the ocean they got. This was madness. All he wanted to do was get a meal and start his search for Kakarot. It was going to be a long journey.