CHAPTER 1: GOLD

Something's definitely not right!

Zuko could barely suppress an angry growl when the thought entered his mind. Uncle always had a mind of his own, but now that they had reached Ba-Sing-Se, he seemed to be a little too much at ease. Didn't he understand that this would probably be a major setback in finding the Avatar? This was no time to be thinking about tea shops and having "lady friends" over! And now, after all the time they had already wasted in moving into the middle ring of the city for his stupid dream of a tea shop, he wanted to go strolling around at night as well? It was infuriating, to say the least.

The sound of the door opening sent him sprawling to sit up and march into the kitchen. This was the third night in a row that his uncle had decided to go out, and it was getting on his last nerve. Sure, Zuko had been out once with a girl, but it wasn't like he chose it! Everybody was forcing him into things that he could care less about. All he wanted was to get more news on the Avatar and get on his way, back to the country he always knew he belonged in. And he was going to do it soon, damn it. No more wasting time in this god forsaken city of Earth peasants!

With his spirits reinvigorated, he tromped over to the kitchen, swinging the door open only to catch a sight he never, in a million years, would have chanced to happen. Iroh was humming as he put a kettle up to boil while a girl sat behind him on a stool, watching him with a tilt of her head. No offense to his uncle, but this girl was not attractive. At all. Her hair, although a pretty shade of reddish-brown, was jagged and sitting just at the nape of her neck. Her body was a little stocky, the width of her shoulders not at all dainty like most of the women he'd seen before. Her dress was decent, for a peasant.. Wait a second! He had to resist to face palm at the drifting of his thoughts. This is no time to be wasting my thoughts on someone like her! What the hell was she doing here? She.. She isn't a prostitute is she? God, when Uncle had said 'lady friends' he couldn't have been insinuating for himself, could he?

"Just what.." He grumbled, shooting a heavy glance in Iroh's direction. "Is going on here?"

The girl turned around, and Zuko felt his breath catch in his throat. Forget about what he had said before about her being extremely plain. Her face, though a little large, was a interesting shape and paleness that he though only those from the Fire Nation could be complexioned with. Her eyes were wide almonds, sucking him into their rich amber color. She smirked at him, the light dancing across her face. Pretty was the first word that shot across his mind. Pretty?! He was almost flabbergasted at his own consciousness. Oh spirits, she's trouble, I can just feel it.

"Ah, Lee," Iroh motioned to the girl with a smile. "This is Kei."

"I could care less about who she is!" He yelled, pointing a finger in between the two of them. "What is she doing here? She better not be a street walker or another girl you want to set me up with!"

His uncle sent him a questioning glance, before turning to Kei apologetically. "You must excuse my nephew. He sometimes has an unbridled tongue on him. Kei and I got into a little bit of a collision earlier when I was taking my stroll. She was injured, so I brought her here to tend to it."

"It's really nothing." Kei turned back to Iroh after gazing at Zuko for one moment longer than necessary. "Just a little scratch won't harm me. I'll be on my way, if it's causing you so much trouble."

The tea kettle whistled, seeming to answer the question for her. Iroh poured some of the boiling water into a bowl, dipping a cloth in it gently. Zuko watched as he bent down to examine her leg, placing the damp cloth on an oozing gash. His lips twitched, wondering how she could push off something that looked painful, at least for a woman. She sat silently until he was done, almost seeming like she was off in another world.

"There." Iroh said, placing the bowl away. "It seems that it will heal very quickly. Though I am still very sorry for knocking you over."

"Please," she placed her hand on his shoulder warmly. "Don't keep apologizing. We were both at fault."

The older man grinned, looking at the kettle. "It seems there is still enough hot water for some tea. Could I oblige you to stay and share a cup with Lee and myself?"

She shrugged, glancing over at Zuko before answering. "If you'll have me."

The young prince's frown seemed to grow. First, she was in here saying that she was intruding, and now she was fine with having a cup of tea? Women. You could never exactly tell what they were really thinking. If growing up with Azula and her crazy friends were any indicators, he knew to keep a weary eye on them at all time. Why his uncle was always flirting with them and sending them off in a fit of giggles at his unexpected friendliness, was an even bigger question.

The three of them sat down, only to have Iroh begin a rant of his favorite types of teas, particularly ginseng and why he claimed it as his top choice. Zuko almost groaned at his predictability, knowing this whole lecture by heart from the years he had spent at sea, listening to the same words leave his uncle's lips with vigor and glee. He glanced over at Kei, and almost fell out of his seat to notice her unmasked enthusiasm. She was listening to every word he said like it was gold falling out of the sky, throwing in her own questions whenever he broke for a sip of the beverage sitting before them. Was she just doing it to pity his uncle? Or was she really enjoying this?

"Can I go now?" Zuko said, resisting the urge to slam his head into the table in sheer boredom.

Kei clicked her tongue, only irking him further. "My, how polite your nephew is. I was starting to believe our youngsters were masking it nowadays."

"Really?" His golden eyes bore into her with molten anger. "You're probably younger than me! And I'm sixteen!"

"I'm twenty-three." She stared at him levelly, only to watch his emotions revert to confusion. "Don't worry, I get it a lot. Your uncle thought the same thing earlier."

Iroh laughed. "It is true. Your face holds a very innocent beauty."

She returned the warmth of his statement with a smile before standing up. "Flattery may get a man far if he admires such beauty reciprocal of its worth." Noticing the glance of the two golden-eyed men, she cleared her throat, coloring slightly at her use of a proverb. "Thank you having me as unexpected company, but I should be going now."

Iroh stood, motioning for Zuko to do the same. "It was a honor to have such a cultured young woman among us for a brief, but enlightening period of the evening. If you ever have feel the need to share another cup of tea with us, feel free to come by here or my tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon."

She bowed, sending a warm smile between the two men. "I will. Good night."

"Lee!" Iroh shot his nephew a look. "A young lady is always walked to the door."

He groaned, getting up in a fluid motion. As much as his uncle irked him, he knew there was very little he could do without him. Moving towards the door with Kei, he opened it hastily for her departure. She nodded towards him, ambling out it at a leisurely pace. Just as he was about to slam the door and fume his way back to his room for some much needed quiet time, she stopped abruptly. He watched her for a moment, his eyebrow raised at her unexpected pause.

"Your name.." Her voice barely reached his ears, but when it did, his blood ran cold in realization. "Isn't Lee, is it? Z-"

His hand shot out and covered her mouth before she could finish her statement. Hissing, he grabbed her arm with his free hand, angry beyond belief. This was not happening. How did this, this peasant, know anything? They had only met for less than a hour. She must be a spy, or something very dangerous. How had his uncle not seen this?!

"How do you know that?!" He snarled, the gaze of his golden eyes heavy and unforgiving.

Her eyes danced with emotions, but none of which he would have expected. There was nothing dark there, hidden within her irises. Only fear, confusion, and a little melancholy. She gave a hesitant shrug, gesturing to his hand on her mouth. He dropped it, only to give her a small cough.

"So it was true.." She muttered, her face turning ashen white as she tried to avoid his gaze.

"You better get to the bottom of this!" He growled, not liking her unclear response. "If you don't-"

"It's alright!" She whispered, trying to shake free of his grasp. "That's all I know about you. Honestly! We all have something to hide here in Ba-Sing-Se. I don't mean you any harm. Do you think if I knew why I knew your name, I'd be sitting here playing guessing games with you?! It doesn't make any sense. It never did."

His eye twitched, watching her silently fume. Zuko had always been a good judge of character and intent, and right now, he knew that Kei was actually telling the truth. Letting her go, he gestured for her departure with a brute swipe of his arm. She glanced at him for a moment longer, her mouth a grim line, before jolting off like a frightened rabbit-squirrel. Pinching the bridge of his nose tightly, he stared out into the darkness before slamming the door and retuning to his room.

Just what I needed. He almost punched the wall in fury. First the Avatar, and now this woman! I don't need anymore on my plate. Stupid Uncle and his kindness to peasants! He brought this whole mess on, and we're are sure as hell going to figure a way out of it.

AN: Just something I happened to write while out sick a while back. Not sure if anyone's up to reading something like this, but I'm hopeful. Please review! I would love the feedback, and the knowledge if there's someone out there who would like this continued. ~E.F.