Disclaimer and Notes..: I don't own Avatar and just to give a little information this is when Zuko betrayed his Uncle. I'll be writing about the rest of the characters in later chapters. Anyway this is only for 3 days when Gen. Shanshan made his proposal to both of them. Both of them however had to much to lose not to refuse seeing as was a gifted warlord and was climbing the war ladder of the firenation with alarming speed. Enjoy
"Fire Princess Azula, you're brother is waiting for your reply." A tiny voice came from a bowed figure of a maid.
"All right, tell Zuko I'll be there."
The woman stood up, bowed low and went out quietly. Azula was standing next to the window. The light contrasting elegantly at her slim figure. She sipped a little water from her cup, put on a coat and followed her servant.
"Prince Zuko, she'll be there."
"All right that's good to know, not like she'll say no anyway right?" He said, smiling at the young maid.
"No sir, I believe not. Have a good outing sir." She bowed low and went silently out.
Zuko relaxed, he honestly thought Azula would refuse. But anyway, as he put on a beautiful hand sewn jacket, what have I got to lose? It's just a day of hunting afterall. Not like if you don't manage to shoot one tiny deer you'll lose face forever. Or would you..? He smiled slightly and thought. Yes you would lose face. He opened his desk, felt around for that secret compartment. It was made by the manufacturer himself. One of the kinks of knowing the conservative and traditional Tou You Pou is this as he finally found that tiny compartment. He pressed it gently and out popped a slim long case. He opened it slowly and slowly looked at the contents. The marvelous machine gun was lying at the decorated silk. The silk was decorated by colorful images of the jungle. He took out the gun and slowly savored the glory of having it.
The shotgun, made from the finest copper and steel to ensure perfect precision and ensuring you won't miss. He touched it gingerly, just as the bookcase a.k.a the hidden door opened.
"Hello Zuko, heard from certain babble mouths that you, Azula and General Shanshan would hunt out in the mountains of Apo." Came a voice from a slim and pale figure.
"May! How nice to see you. hmm, we are I suppose." He grinned at her stupidly and showed her the gun.
May didn't take it but looked at it with mild interest.
"I suppose, it would do. But to be honest Zuko, why would you do this? It's so..asinine."
"Ah well in the words of General Shanshan, to help build up to whatever shaky foundation of relationship that me and Azula have." He exhaled slowly and continued "Besides aren't you and Ty going to have a tea party or something like that..?"
"It's a small get together party of old comrades!!." She said testily, eyes flashing.
"All right then." Zuko smiled foolishly again and looked at the slim shotgun. "But anyway May, me and my second uncle used to hunt the Miyalalas. We camped at night, trekked the jungle and waited for the perfect prey to come." Zuko became curiously silent at this point as he dwelled on youth. "Well that was only once, when he came over to visit us in the Summer Palace. It was only for four days with me and his sons then off we went to Ember Islands. But it was simply the best." Zuko sighed and stayed silent. May decided to keep quiet as the memory of hunting with a very distant and not so crazy uncle was relaxing. But then..
"Zuko well? Are you ready?" A voice came sharply off the entrance door. Zuko looked up and smiled at his sister. She was wearing a respectable hunting outfit.
"Has there ever been a time when I was not ready?" He smiled gently but his eyes froze.
Azula smiled genially too, she was completely relaxed, she took a look at Zuko's study room and her dark clever eyes fell on May.
"Azula nice to see you." May said cordially. May looked completely emotionless and still. She took a glance at Zuko and said "Well I better go. Have fun Zuko." She nodded brusquely at Azula, took one step at Zuko, kissing him at the cheek and went silently off.
Zuko smiled slightly still holding the shotgun.
"Ah, May take care." He said to her, just before she closed the door. She paused, looked again at Zuko and went off.
After that Zuko looked back at Azula who took a seat at one of the armchairs. She looked very pretty indeed, her riding ensamble was very rich and vivid. She glanced at Zuko who said
"I haven't dressed yet. Did you hear from Li ShanShan yet?"
"Oh he's ready to take off, he's in the stables. I must say I am looking forward to this. Are you?" She replied softly. The whole time she was replying never taking off her eyes at him.
"Yeah I am..." Zuko sighed and closed his eyes. He nodded at the door that lead to his closet.
"Just a minute. By the way do you know where Father is?"
"Oh I guess he's off at his study, organizing and planning the affairs of the Fire dynasty. Why do you care anyway?"
Zuko stared at her for a moment and replied quite testily. "Oh I don't know it's just that the whole time I've been back I've seen nothing of him but the day of him announcing my dignity and honor back. It just seems a little..-"
"Whoa there, Father is a very busy man of course, what do you expect? Him to be here and cuddle and joke around? Do you honestly expect that?" She replied without change of expression.
Zuko looked at her hopelessly and exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. "I don't know Azula..I just felt that maybe..maybe..I don't know."
Azula looked at him with amusement. She seemed on the verge of saying something but held back. Zuko didn't see her expression but went wordlessly to his closet.
Azula breathed deeply and closed her eyes counting one to ten. A very useful technique for getting your thoughts together and of course your spirit. What she really wanted to say is that Father is trying to mold Zuko back into the principles of becoming a great Firelord. The ability to hold back your emotions, to do the best thing for your country, not really caring if it's the right way to do it. As long as it gets it done. She exhaled out and the last one..hmm funny I seem to forgotten. Nevermind, not important. I suppose the reason Father is intentionally avoiding us is because he doesen't know how to act like a Father. A real father, she mused. Never not even once in her short life of fourteen years did her father ever say anything encouraging, hug or kiss us. Not Mother, or God-forbid Uncle, Zuko...
She looked broodingly at her brothers study. Very spacious, in line of the latest fashion..I suppose if you're royal and all you have to be on top. Even the most superficial things. She closed her eyes silently and thought of the day she had planned. First go riding up the mountains with Gen. S. Zuko and me would be riding the new purebred horses..and what else.
She opened her eyes suddennly and smiled I better get one. Or else.
The door that lead to the closet opened quietly. She glanced at the destined Fire Lord. Right now he's looking high and mighty with the dyed leather jacket and boots. Top notch everything..
"Let's go then." She nodded at him and bit back a genuine smile.
Zuko followed her slowly out the door.
"Have a good outing Prince Zuko, Princess Azula." Came the voices of various members of the staff. Azula barely heard them but Zuko nodded to each one.
When they finally reached the stable Gen. Shanshan was there to meet them.
"Prince Zuko, Princess Azula." Doing a small bow. "An honor to have you two as company." The tall broad man said as they admired the stable.
The stable was a large spacious thing. Smelling faintly of hay and horses, it had great architecture, Azula noted subconsiously as she looked carefully around.
"May I introduce you to Juniour and Marifoy?" He pointed gently at the biggest horses at the stable. "And once again it is an honor."
"Nonsense General, you are afterall the best man for the job of guiding us up." Azula replied cordially.
"I must say it would be quite an adventure won't it?" She continued. She glanced at her companions who stood motionlessly. She sighed and opened the gate, patting the dark horse as she went in.
"Who's this?" She asked at Gen. Shanshan.
"That's Marifoy, I must say she's very subservient and timid. You won't have a tough time riding her. But Junior on the other hand.." He left his words leaving no doubt about what he thought about Junior..
"Then it that case, I want Junior. I like a bit of challenge you see." She said mischeviously. She smirked at Zuko who just shrugged.
"Let's go!"
And with that Zuko and Li Shanshan rode their horses with their bags and rode off.