Kuzai stared up at the city. It's foreign architecture fascinated her beyond belief. The sweeping, tiled roofs that glistened from the morning rain. Golden beams supporting towers of grandeur. It seemed so much fresher now that she was free. A lifetime of being locked away had raised her into what she was today. A spirit. Requiring individual training to unlock her "full potential" Though in reality she was too much of a pain in normal classes and misbehaved. Now at the age of fifteen, she was of athletic build. Years of fire bending had toned her body. The fire nation choose well. A selection of few of numerous children of the Fire Nation Youth Training Federation were decided that these small toddlers had the "potential." Kuzai scoffed to herself. She didn't think she deserved to be in the selected group. Her fire bending had always been powerful, but not anything special. Teachers scolded her constantly for sometimes losing control of a flame or igniting one in a "safe area." but the heat was in her. The bed of her hand felt hot sometimes. It was the fire inside of her begging to get out, and Kuzai waited for no one. Though she soon raised to the top of her class, the FNYTF's General had decided that she would never go into battle.
"Her appearance is too striking; too recognizable. Anyone would remember her after first glance."
She frowned and pulled the hood on her jacket further forward. It was obsessive. After being trained as a negative, a part of society that is not meant to exist. Just a weapon. She forgot what it was like to be around these people. Seeing mothers and their children. It stung a harsh bitterness in her chest, and a small warmth too. Staring at the ground, Kuzai didn't even see the figure she walked into. It felt like a brick wall. She fell the ground and stared up at the person who knocked her off her feet.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" she spat up at him. This guy had to be sixteen, maybe seventeen with those muscles. His body was fit as well, long hours of training no doubt The scar caught her attention. It was a gruesome shade of red that showed signs of never healing. Kuzai's guess was that it was the product of a fire bending training accident, or a fire nation solider had attacked his village. His hair was as dark as every other resident of this cursed nation.
"Do you know who I am?" he spat right back at her. Kuzai's eyes narrowed. She now knew it was the first of her suspicions regarding his scars. He seemed like a general's son.
"No." she stood back up and brushed the gravel from her clothing. When the hood fell back, his eyes widened.
"Your hair..." he muttered.
It was the reason Kuzai would never fulfill the purpose she was meant for. She spent a lifetime just to be cast aside for one reason. Her hair. A bright golden that was unheard of in all four kingdoms. It defied all scientific reasoning and logic. She hated it. Once it had been decided that she would no longer be of use to them, she cut off the long tresses she had spent so long growing. Even though it now only brushed her jaw line, she still wished it would disappear completely.
Kuzai pulled up her hood quickly and looked down. The boy in front of her continued to attempt to look underneath.
"Stop staring. I'm not a circus freak." she growled at him.
"Don't presume things! I wasn't staring..." Kuzai glared up at the boy.
"You owe me an apology." she stated with hands placed on her hips.
"What?" he said incredulously "You bumped into me!"
"But you were staring at me. I could have you arrested for harassment!" His face grew red.
"What?! You make no sense!" he shouted. "Ugh! Girls!" Kuzai rolled her eyes.
"Guess a General's son doesn't get a lot of social experience, eh?" she scoffed and folded her arms. The boy in front of her's expression turned to one of confusion. He opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it.
"You can make it up to me by buying me a hotel room, rich boy."
"I already said I don't owe you anything!" he shouted. Kuzai could practically see the flame dying to come out of his hands. "I don't even know you're name!"
"Kuzai." she stated "Now you can buy me a room." He shook his head.
"No. You don't understand. I. Don't. Know. You. And I still don't owe you anything!" She rolled her eyes.
"You're so touchy...What's your name anyway?" He thought for a moment.
"...Zuko." he said.
"You have a weird name." said Kuzai. He gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw. She giggled. This Zuko kid was too much fun to agitate. "Well, if you're not buying me a hotel room then I'll be taking my leave. See ya around, Zuko." she gave a mock salute and put up her hood. There was a strange pulling sensation in his chest. Zuko felt like he wasn't ready to leave this sunshine-colored girl yet. His eyes watched her back away, smirking before turning and disappearing into the city.