WHAT?! Just how many reviews and faves did I get in one day? WOAH! Just wow! And you, Aquarose, you get this… AMAZINGLY GOOD VIRTUAL CHOCOLAT-CHIP COOKIE! Happy? And Vicky Lexi Bennet of course gets a nice warm hug because she's (I suppose you're a she because… ya know… VICKY) just an awesome reviewer! Well, I suppose we should get on with the story. :3

Disclaimer: Duh… Do I look like a genius to you? NO! Then why do you think I own ATLA?

I was lying on my stomage, my hands were tied behind my back and my brown hair clouded my vision. I looked up and saw trees move past me slowly and a foot next to my left ear. The slowly rocking of the rhino I apparently was lying on made me seasick.

Struggling with the ropes around my wrists I screamed, "Where are you taking me?" The person behind me on the rhino grabbed me by the back of my vest and pulled me up and sitting in front of him in one swift movement, "I am taking you to my ship." I recognized the voice.

"Why prince Zuko, you sure are kinky." If he was going to take me, I should try to annoy him, right? Woah, since when had he been this big? I noticed he was tall, but my head didn't even get past his chest!

I heard him grumble and his arms on either side of me held the rein a little tighter, "Shut up, you filthy peasant." I grinned at how easy it was to irritate him, "Wooooh! You sure like talking dirty!" I smirked as I heard Zuko's soldiers behind us chuckle.

I struggled with the rope. It sure was some quality rope, thick and strong. It was kind of- wait… My… "MY SWORD!" I yelled. Zuko nearly toppled of off the rhino at the loud sound. He sighed, "I have it here. Just don't yell." I groaned and slumped back in the saddle, not realizing I was sitting in Zuko's lap.

The ship wasn't as big as the other firenation ships I have seen, but it was still pretty darn big. I couldn't help but stare as we walked inside. An old man whom also was firenation stood there waiting for us. He pulled up an eyebrow as his gaze fell on me, "Prince Zuko, if you wanted to impress the young lady you shouldn't have tied her up like that." I like this old geezer.

Zuko grumbled and jumped of the rhino, and for the first time I could see his face clearly. He was pale, beautifully pale. Honey brown eyes bore into mine and his pink pouty lips mesmerized me to no end. On the left side of his face a huge burn I hadn't really noticed until now painted the skin red. His hands reached out for me, grabbed me by my sides and swiftly pulled me off the rhino.

"Just what are you staring at?" Zuko's voice ripped me out of my daze. I jumped slightly at the angry tone. My heart was still beating loudly and my cheeks were a bright red, "It's not like I stared at you. I was just staring." Zuko grumbled and tapped his foot impatiently to the ground, "You!" he yelled at the soldiers, "You bring her to my quarters."

I noticed the soldiers' smile being a little to… excited… "On second thought, I'll bring her there myself." Zuko muttered. He grabbed my shoulder and let me through a few halls. I tripped a few times, until Zuko had to untie the rope so I could grab something instead of crashing to the floor.

He opened a door which looked just like the others. "This is your room? I would've thought you had something more fancy. You being a prince and all." I said as I darted inside. It was just a plain room with a matrass on the ground, a closet against the wall, a few candles in the corner and firenation flags on the walls.

Zuko closed the door behind him and turned around, "Where is the avatar heading next?" Woah, straight to business. "I don't know." I answered. Zuko's honey brown eyes flared with anger. He shot a small ball of fire toward me, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW?!" With that he left me, all alone in his room. The loud click of the door being locked echoing through my head.

I have no idea how long it has been. A long time probably. I had settled on the matrass in the middle of the room, the cover pulled over my ears. I felt horrible, you want to know why? Because the ship started to move a little while ago. I thought that Zuko would let me go when he realized I was of no use and this was all a diversion plan of mine so Aang could get away safely. But nooooooooooooo, that bratty prince had to take me with him to some unknown destination to capture Aang.

I ignored the clicking of the door and the incoming footsteps. Well, I ignored it until a certain someone pulled the cover of off me. "Just WHAT are you doing in my bed?" I ignored Zuko and just pulled the cover out of his hands. I immediately got janked up by the thing closest to him, which was my hair. Ouch.

I yelped as he grabbed me by the arm, "I am asking you only once. Where is the avatar?" I stared him in the eyes, "Alright, he is-" I quickly let my knees buckle causing me to fall on my back. I placed my hands on either side of my head and pushed while kicking my feet into Zuko's chest. I landed crouched down on top of him and didn't waste any time. As I bolted out of the door I heard Zuko get up.

Racing down the halls I tried to remember the way back. Of course, my sense of direction is completely zero. I randomly burst into a room hoping it was the exit. It was not.

I stood in a room similar to Zuko's but a lot more… royal-ish… huge bed and all. In the middle of the room stood the old geezer from before.

The man smiled at me, "Ah, I was wondering when I got to see you." I stared at the man as he introduced himself, "My name is Iroh, I am Zuko's uncle and former general of the firenation." I groaned, if the old geezer had a temper anything like Zuko's I was going to jump of off this boat and swim all the way back.

"Would you care for a nice cup of tea?" Iroh smiled at me. I stared at the small table in the middle of the room containing a small platter with two teacups and a small kettle. "Yes sir, I certainly do." I said, I wasn't going to get of this darned ship anyway. I would just have to wait and see what faith had in store for me.

I giggled at the story Iroh just told me. Apparently Zuko used to be a bit of a prankster when he was younger. He had made a newborn monkeycrow walk in on an important meeting of some sorts in which all of the firenation royals had to attend to. Of course the small monkeycrow started to climb people and pull off wigs and that kind of stuff. I think I inhaled tea twice since Iroh started telling the story.

"Uncle! She escaped!" Zuko slammed the door open in a fit of fury, "Uncle, are you not liste- Uncle?" He stared at Iroh and then at me. Then his beautiful eyes lit with fire once again. Was he never going to calm down?

"Zuko, relax. It's not healthy to worry so much over a petty peasant." I muttered. Iroh stood up, "Nephew," he said ruefully, "you still have so much to learn. You never speak like that to a lady." Zuko eyed his uncle for a second, before giving me a hateful look and spat, "Come with me, peasant." Iroh shook his head at his nephew's antics and pushed me towards the door, "Out you go then!" he practically yelled joyfully.

I mumbled a thanks for the tea and walked next to Zuko back to his quarters. "Do you fear me?" The question startled me. I gazed at him, "Of course not. Why would I be afraid of a 15 year old boy?!" I asked. He gave me a hateful glance, "I am 16, and you should be afraid." He said, but I didn't miss the slightly relieved look in his eyes.

We rounded a corner, when two male firebender soldiers whom came from the opposite direction did the same. Conclusion: one painful collision with my face and a chestplate and an even pain fuller collision with Zuko's elbow in my stomage as I practically climbed him. I always am a little tense. Oh maybe I should get off of Zuko… yeah, that would be a good idea.

As I slowly climbed down I avoided Zuko's eyes and walked forward. He followed me a second later and we walked in silence for the rest of the way.

When we finally reached Zuko's room I quickly ran inside and snuggled up with his blankets once more, a yawn escaping me. I heard Zuko groan, "Get off the bed." I shook my head, "No. you could've just brought me to the brig you know." I heard Zuko walk through the room after he closed the door. I heard some things shift and then, "You are a girl. No warrior. You wouldn't survive the brig."

WHAT?! I jumped up from the matrass and scowled at him, "I am very strong! I bet I can defeat you in a proper fight!" A blush formed on my cheeks when I noticed Zuko was taking of his armor. He didn't notice or care me looking at him, and it took me a while to realize he had answered me rather tiredly, "We already had a proper fight remember? Now get off the bed, I want to sleep."

I walked over to Zuko and stared him in the eye, which actually didn't look very threatening from his perspective because of my height, "No, I don't remember." With a quick push he made me trip backwards over the mattress and onto the cold and very hard metal floor.

Zuko dropped himself on the mattress and with a flick of his wrist the candles in the corner of the room died, leaving the room dark and… well… just very dark… "You sleep there." He said harshly. I muttered to myself, "Can I at least get a blanket or something?" I wined. I heard Zuko shift but he didn't say nor do anything. I groaned and listened if I could hear Zuko fall asleep.

After about thirty minutes of listening and shivering I finally realized Zuko was sound asleep, "Zuko?" I whispered. I didn't want to wake the beast now, did I? When there was no reply I crawled closer on hands and knees. I slowly sat up next to him and tried to see something in the darkness. I was lucky. A thin ray of moonlight made its way through the thin opening these firebenders called a window and made Zuko's pale white face lit up and glow.

I admired him for a second. Did he know how he looked? Probably. He must've had tons of girls by now. Hell, he was probably still in a relationship right now! Wait… what am I thinking? He's the enemy! He's the prince of the enemy! Oh yeah, right. There's a reason for me sitting here, huh?

Zuko stirred in his sleep and opened his pink pouting lips slightly, letting out a moan. I jumped and hid behind the mattress. No further noises were made by the sleeping beauty whatsoever, so I decided to make my move.

As I leaned over the prince I softly took a hold of his blankets. My cold fingers brushed his skin, which felt like it was on fire. Is he starting to get a fever? Nah. He's a firebender, duh. I gripped the sheets tighter and slowly pulled them off of his body in one swift movement. I smirked as Zuko didn't react.

Woah, had those abs always been there? Wait, I am turning in a fangirl! Please, someone, slap me now!

I rolled myself in the blankets and sat in the corner of the room, exhaustion washing over me. I nodded off into Lala-land on the cold iron floor. Before I was completely asleep though, I kicked my green vest and black shirt and pants off. I always slept better in my undergarments.

I was awoken by bright morning light. I yawned and reached out for my sword, I always took it with me to bed. Always. Except tonight. Memories of yesterday came clashing down on me and suddenly I missed the busy little village I used to live in. The lacking of the three other orphans' loud laughing and bickering caused my heart to hurt a little.

Wait, I was lying on a mattress. Yesterday, I fell asleep in the corner of the room. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. There, facing the wall, sat Zuko. He was meditating or something. With every inhale, the flames of the candles in front of him grew bigger. Suddenly he turned his head, "Those scars on your back, where are they from?"

I was taken aback by the sudden question. Memories of my past flooded my mind as I shook my head, "From firenation soldiers." I replied curtly, then I smiled, "Are you the one whom laid me in your bed?" I asked. His reaction was priceless. He groaned, tensed his body and concentrated as hard as he could on the candles.

The door opened slowly. It was Iroh. Zuko didn't even turn to him and said, "The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar." Iroh fidgeted and opened the door all the way, "Well there is news, prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get to upset." Zuko again didn't move as he replied, "Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say, I am sure I can take it." Iroh stroked his beard as I watched the two back and forth. I didn't want to miss a thing. Then Iroh said, "Okay then, we have no idea where he is."

Zuko exploded in a fit of fury, the candles in front of him spew their fire upwards till the point where they touched the ceiling. "What?!" he yelled as he jumped up. His reaction made me giggle, but what Iroh said caused me to laugh out loud, "You really should open a window in here." Zuko didn't pay his uncle nor me much attention as he yanked a paper out of his uncle's hand, "Give me the map!"

As Zuko looked over the map with a very concentrated face Iroh explained, "There have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he's impossible to track down." I rose from the mattress and stood on my tippy toes to see the map. Zuko sounded desperate, "How am I going to find him uncle? He's clearly a master of maneuvering." I stared at the crisscross black dotted line that represented Aang's path. I giggled, "Either that, or he's lost!"

Iroh looked at me and then he smiled knowingly at Zuko. Looking down at myself I realized I was still in my undergarments, and me being in Zuko's bed probably only fueled Iroh's suspicions of me and the hot-headed prince being an item. I grinned, I could have fun with this, "Zuko," I wined, "Can I borrow a shirt of yours? Mine is dirty." I ducked under his arms and popped up inbetween them, blocking his view on the map and placing my hands on his chest. He stared at me and frowned at my weird behavior.

Iroh chuckled, "Ah Zuko, I knew the young lady wasn't in your room just because she's friends with the avatar." The old geezer stroked his beard, "I suspect he's been very gentle with you? I didn't hear any noise at all last night." Zuko pushed me away, "It's not what it looks like uncle! She-" He roared angrily. Suddenly the room turned quiet as I turned around to grab my clothes in the corner. Iroh walked up to me, "Sora, dear, those are some awful scars you have. Mind telling me how you got them?"

I felt cold memories fill my head once again. I stood very still, my hair covering my face as I felt a hot tear move its way down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly and smiled at Iroh, "Where can I find the bathroom?" Zuko took an angry step forward, "Why do you keep avoiding the question?" he yelled at me. Iroh turned at Zuko with anger and authority written on his face, "Zuko, respect her privacy and show her to the bathroom."

Zuko grumbled and grabbed a shirt, he held the door open for me as I finished putting on my dirty clothes. I joined him and he and I walked in silence. But not for long. He held open another door and mumbled, "Here's the bathroom." He then handed me the shirt, "And here's a clean shirt." I smiled a thank you and closed the door.

The bathroom was nothing special. Just a bath and a big ass mirror on the wall. I turned the knob of the faucet and the bath filled with nice hot water. I took of my clothes and looked through the mirror at the scars on my back. There were two of them: the biggest one started at my right hip and ended on my left shoulder blade while the second one was parallel to the first, but a lot smaller. They were both as width as my wrist. I sighed and climbed in the bath. The hot water and steam making me feel at ease and I sighed contently. Maybe one day I'd be back in my village again… Maybe…

Our dear Sora is such a teaser isn't she? Also, is Zuko OOC here? I certainly hope not, because then I'd lose all of you awesome-ass reviewers and readers! Well anyway, I am hoping that this chapter will satisfy you all and that you will except it as an apology for taking so long. Also, I am still trying to decide whether or not I make Sora a bender. What do you think? (No, I am not going to tell you what kind of bender.)

REVIEW PLEASE!