* * *

Bulma wearily collapsed on her sleeping bag, feeling nearly drugged at the incredible sensation that sinking into the down material gave her.

She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling of the tent. The material was flimsy; she could see right through it. Into the sky and beyond.

The breeze had oddly enough turned warm again. It blew over the ocean and brought her smells of wet sand and seashells. She tried not to think about the fact that her parents were at the other end of the Island. Any other time it would have bothered her to be so close. Now they seemed terribly far away.

She noticed that the tent flap was still open. It was light enough to see most of the surroundings but she didn’t want to see any of them. Hurriedly she shut the tent and curled up on her sleeping bag.

Vegeta entered her thoughts. After they had ate their wild boar, which she had to admit was quite tasty, Vegeta had insisted that he did not need any sleeping chambers, and that a tree or the ground would do just fine. She shook her head and laughed to herself. He was so stubborn.

You wish he were here right now, don’t you?
She pushed the thought away. It bothered her because it was true. All through supper they had both caught each other’s glances and both looked away when they did. It was so typically Harlequin she wanted to gag. The moonlit Island. The shy glances through the flames of a roaring fire. The awkward clumsy contact.

But it felt…good.

She couldn’t have feelings for Vegeta. It wasn’t possible. She hated the man…didn’t she? He never gave her anything but trouble. He cursed at her and insulted her at every turn. He ordered her around like a slave. He treated her friends horribly, and what’s more, he had tried to destroy all of them years ago. It was unfathomable. He was a walking breathing Enigma that she hated because she wanted to unlock his secrets more than she wanted anything else. He was such a challenge and he lived with her. She had the opportunity to solve his puzzle any time of the day, but she couldn’t because it couldn’t be done. Vegeta had a wall in front of him that was eight miles thick and 50 stories high. It couldn’t be climbed and it couldn’t be destroyed.

So why did he eat away at her mind like this?
Bulma rolled over and pursed her lips. She was deep in thought now. She never was one to give up on anything. Determination was her strong point, but when it came to Vegeta she deflated like a balloon. She had but to look into his scowling black depths and her resolve shattered. Just like that.

She was beginning to wonder if dragging him along had been such a good idea. But wasn’t it what she wanted? They had actually laughed and had fun in the three hours they had spent walking through the forest, didn’t that prove something? Vegeta’s scowl had actually softened and a ghost of a smile had drifted across his features. It gave her hope that somewhere inside there was something worth struggling for. Something that she could see haunting him during moments only she had seen him in. Something that was clawing up through him, begging to be free, waiting for the one who could accept him enough to let it out.

Was she that person?

It was crazy. Vegeta was Vegeta. Stubborn and reclusive and ruthless right to the dying end. But it drove her insane to think of that thing inside him that wanted release and the possibility that she could release it.

Bulma sat up. That was it. She wasn’t going to get any sleep if she didn’t talk to him. It was settled. She crawled forward and reached for the tent flap but faltered.

What am I doing? She paused, her outstretched fingers waiting to open the tent. What am I even going to say? Hi! What’s up Vegeta? Just thought I’d come looking for you in the middle of the night in my underwear. Couldn’t stop thinking about you, y’know?

She groaned. She would look like an idiot. And he would laugh. In her face, like he always did. She looked down at herself. And she was only wearing a baggy oversized T-shirt that hung down past her knees. Yaumcha had left it at her house years ago. It sported the logo of some sports team she knew nothing about.

It would do.

She threw open the tent and began searching for the reason for her lack of sleep. It did not take her long to find him.

The two bumped into each other as Bulma rounded a sharp corner. She let out a surprised grunt as she felt the air rush from her lungs at an alarming speed. Vegeta stood and blinked, recovering much faster than her. He brushed off his chest as if paranoid about contacting any horrible female disease.

Bulma pointed a finger at him as her other hand massaged her throat. She seemed pinched for air. "Vegeta!" she squeaked, trying to catch her breath. It felt like she had been smacked in the midsection with a piece of mountain. "What the hell is your problem? Aren’t your finely tuned Sayajin senses good enough to anticipate me?"

He smirked, seemingly amused about something. She took a final breath and rotated her shoulders. Her arms hung at her sides. Seeming fully recovered, she spread her hands palm up and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He nodded toward her. "Nice undies."

She looked down at the faded T-shirt. "Thanks." She said, annoyed. "They aren’t undies, Vegeta. It’s a fucking T-shirt. Now, I know you know that much."

He shrugged. "What are you doing?"

Bulma opened her mouth, her anger fresh in her, eager for a retort. She found she had none. She tugged self consciously on the bottom of her shirt and frowned. "I lost something."

Vegeta did not look convinced. "What did you loose?"

"My…lip…balm…" her voice sounded strained.

She straightened at a sudden idea. "Would you help me find it?"

Vegeta pushed past her and continued on his way. She spun around and grabbed his arm before he had a chance to get away completely. "Wait!"

He bristled visibly. "Why are you searching for stupid female necessities at midnight, woman? Don’t you have anything else to do?"

"Not really…" she said softly. "Actually, I was just lonely." Her hand dropped from where it was on his arm. "I thought maybe you’d be awake and we could…"

He rubbed the spot where her hand had been and she noticed the way his eyes softened just a hint. "Thought we could what…?" his voice was uneasy. He suspected something of her.

Bulma blushed when she realized what he was thinking. "No! Vegeta…I don’t mean…" she tried to laugh it off but her voice died in her throat. "I mean…I thought we could…hang out."

Vegeta turned to her. His body was perfectly silhouetted against the moonlight. He folded his arms and glared. "Hang out? Does this ‘hang out’ have a purpose to it?"

She made an exasperated sound. "No, Vegeta. Hanging out means exactly what it says. We just…talk…or go for a walk…or something!" she threw up her arms in a helpless gesture. "Never mind! I thought maybe you’d want to be civilized and work with me. I’m attempting to make conversation with you and you’re just-

"If this ‘hanging out’ serves any sort of importance at all, then I suppose I can oblige." He cut her off. She looked at him in surprise. "Really?"

He looked disgruntled. "Yes."

She grinned and hooked an arm through his. "I knew my charms would work on you." He stared at the spot where their bodies connected and frowned.

She tugged on his arm and led him forward. "We could go swimming."

"Swimming?"

"Yeah," she gazed up at him. "You know…people get in the water and splash around for a while?"

He shrugged. "Do you have to be touching me?"

"Is it bothering you?"

"Yes. Very."

She slid her arm from his and pouted. "Well? Do you want to go swimming?"

"Is that what hanging out is?"

"For fucks sake, Vegeta! Just get in the water!" she took off running across the sand toward the ocean. He stood and watched her go, not knowing what to do. She stopped at the waters edge and waved at him. "Come on!"

He scowled. Why am I letting her do this to me? She does have nice underwear, however. Wait…oh Kami!

He watched her as she slowly walked forward into the waters depths. Within moments the water was up to her waist, sloshing around her in tiny waves that sent the bottom of her T-shirt rippling across the surface. She smiled. "It’s really warm." She sounded slightly surprised. "I thought it would be…" her voice trailed off when she noticed Vegeta stepping out of his pants.

"Vegeta!" she cried. She wanted to turn around. Really, she did. But she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him. He held his shirt in his hands and glared at her, genuinely confused. "What, woman?"

She finally tore her eyes from him and turned, trying to hide the terrible heat that was seeping into her face. "You might have warned me first!"

"Warned you about what?"

"That you were going to be completely and entirely naked!" she hollered.

She heard him chuckle sadistically behind her. Only until she heard the splashing of water nearing her did she turn around. He was shaking his head vigorously. Water droplets slid down his nose and chin and dripped quietly into the waves. His hair regained its gravity defying posture within seconds and she shook her head. "Honestly. Don’t you think there’s a reason as to why humans wear clothes?"

"It is a stupid custom." He said bluntly. "I never wore clothes if I had no need to on Vegetasei. They only get in the way. There is nothing to be ashamed about. There’s nothing to hide."

That’s what you think. Bulma tried to wipe the image of his below the belt miracle from her memory. She could not, and was not to terribly disappointed about it.

As if sensing her discomfort and loving it Vegeta started laughing in that cruel manner of his. Bulma’s guard flew up and she tensed, worry sinking rapidly into her veins.

"What’s so damn funny?" she cried. Vegeta stopped laughing and smirked at her. "You. Is this what your reason for embar-

"DON’T!" Bulma grabbed him by the shoulders before he could rise out of the water. She glared up at him with a scowl to rival his own. "I don’t need to see that, really I don’t, Vegeta."

He sighed. "You humans are so strange."

"No, you Sayajins are the ones on crack." She fired back at him. "Look, could we just swim? Or are you going to continue to parade around naked and threaten me with your manly visage?"

He turned and began walking back to shore. "Fine!" Bulma called after him, taking it as the affirmative. He surfaced out of the water, the moonlight reflecting sadistically nicely on his backside. He caught her look and smirked.

"Take a picture, woman. It lasts longer."

Bulma screamed and cursed at him as he laughed and walked to where he had thrown his clothes. He picked them up and held Bulma’s gaze with his own as he slid into his pants. "You’re the one who wanted to go swimming." He reminded her as she caught up to him. She pulled her hair out of her eyes and continued pouting at him. "Yeah, but it’s not like I was hoping to catch a glimpse of you naked."

Bulma resisted the urge to burst into peals of hysterical laughter. Why was she being so immature? It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen a man naked before. Although, Vegeta certainly made Yamchau look like a cancer patient.

Vegeta had plopped down on the beach, not bothering to put his shirt back on. Bulma sat down beside him and they both stared out at the water, thinking whatever thoughts a human and a Sayajin would think.

"Vegeta…" Bulma began cautiously.

"Hn?"

"Are you really that mad that I dragged you along?"

He snorted and didn’t look at her, but she watched his reaction carefully and saw what she thought to be a tiny hint of happiness in his eyes. She grinned.

"I would have much rather stayed at home and continued my training, if that’s what you’re asking." He said with a grunt.

She looked down, sparing him the humiliation of her knowing his genuine happiness. "Ok." She said. She picked up a seashell and began picking clumps of wet sand out of it. "Whatever you say."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow and looked over at her out of the corner of his eye. Look at her. So tiny and weak. But with a mind and a temper to rival my own. Does she even know she does this to me?

He watched her picking the sand away from the shell and almost allowed himself a smile. But Kami…she is beautiful.

As if sensing his compliment Bulma looked up at him. He looked away almost instantly. She could not deny that she was having one of the best times of her life. They weren’t fighting, they were shouting. They were simply sitting together…almost like…friends.

"Vegeta?" she pulled her knees up to her chest. "Have you ever been in love?"

"What?" his face darkened. "What kind of fucking question is that?"

"I mean…" she paused and wondered how to phrase it. "Maybe you haven’t loved before…but I refuse to believe that you’ve never been with a woman, human or not."

Vegeta wasn’t sure how to take her question. He had never loved. He had no use for the word. It only made one weak, and in the world where he had grown up, one could not afford to be weak. He scowled. Suddenly he wanted to leave.

"No. I have never been with a woman. Why does it matter?" he said bluntly, giving her a straight out honest statement. Fuck beating around the bush with stupid bullshit. He didn’t like the conversation, but he didn’t want to avoid it.

Bulma was truly startled. "You’re serious?"

"Yes!" he said angrily. "What? Is it such an impossible thing for your tiny female brain to comprehend?"

"No!" she snapped. "I was just curious! Is there a reason why you haven’t? I mean, are you-

"If you had seen the women on Vegetasei, you wouldn’t have wanted to go near them either." He interrupted with bitter intent. "They were sickly and diseased. There only purpose for being alive was to spread their legs for the Sayajin Soldiers." He smirked, but not with any humor. "Being the Prince, I couldn’t afford to put myself in danger of catching whatever putrid ailment they had. I was the future. I couldn’t taint myself by giving it up to the Galaxies most festering scabs."

Bulma was shocked to hear of such a thing. She had imagined the Sayajin women to be strangely beautiful and alluring in their own furry, manly way. To hear that Vegeta, even being the Prince, was spared such a sacred thing as sharing love through physical touch made her feel almost sorry for him. She swallowed and shifted around in the sand to face him. "I’m…sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you…"

"No." he snapped. "You’re right. For once." His glare had become deadly. The type of glare that spoke of a thousand different ways to hurt somebody.

"Well…it’s not like I knew or anything!" Bulma said suddenly. Why was he so mad about this? It wasn’t that big of a deal! She began slamming her heel into the sand, forming a deep hole. "You don’t have to snap at me!"

Vegeta leaned back on his palms and shook his head. The sky was growing darker and darker. Bulma supposed it must be nearing 1:00 in the morning. She briefly wondered if she would be able to find her way back to the tent. Before she could think another thought she heard Vegetas annoyed voice.

"Right. Don’t snap at you? How many times have I had to listen to you snap at that weakling boyfriend of yours in the hallway at four o’clock in the morning?"

Bulma shook her head in a warning. "Don’t even go there, Vegeta. I mean it."

"People are trying to sleep and you stand outside yelling at him about one or another of his latest screws, of which he has the tact to go into great detail about, and you yell and rage but you take it. Aut you can go into the details of my private life, but then tell me not to delve into yours?" he shot back. "That’s unfair."

Bulma rounded on him so quickly it nearly surprised him. "UNFAIR!?" she screamed into his face, not caring who or what heard her. "You don’t fucking know about unfair, you pompous piece of royal shit!"

Vegeta stared at the fat tears rolling down her crimson face and suddenly felt like dying inside. Why, he did not know. Her blue eyes held so much pain in that moment. An ache tore at him and remained unidentified as she continued to stare defiantly into his stone cold, unfeeling face. Tears blurred her vision but still she glared and refused to back down although the pain in her heart was overwhelming her.

"Let me tell you something about unfair, Vegeta." She said through clenched teeth. "It’s unfair when your only love of 15 years, your only fucking reason for wanting to roll out of bed every morning, decides to stick his meat into some five cent whore!" her voice wavered as she shook with sobs of the past and waited for him, dared him to say something. Anything.

"No, Bulma." Vegeta said with a low voice. "It’s unfair when the other side of the story denies it and shoves it down inside and continues to take that same used man over and over again while she tries to smile and pretend its all peachy fucking keen."

Bulmas big blue eyes blinked slowly as if trying to fathom what had just been said. Vegeta looked away; he couldn’t look at her anymore. His body seemed to tremble with the words he had just spoken to her, the same words he had wanted to tell her so many times before. But for what reason? To save her from any more pain? Or to satisfy the cruelty that never stopped begging inside of him? He didn’t know. A deep wounded noise rose from the back of her throat and he closed his eyes as her hand hit the side of his face with more anger and force than she had ever hit anything in her life. Then she got up, stumbled for a moment on unsteady legs, and took of running. Vegeta sat with his eyes still closed and listened to her hiccuping sobs fade into the distance. His cheek throbbed but he ignored it.

It would pass.