"Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places."
Zoi let a deep breath out as she took in her surroundings. This was Ba Sing Se. The city was larger than she had imagined it would be and there were more people than she expected. Although part of her was surprised another part of her was not. The Earth Kingdom was probably the largest of all the nations, so of course more people would live there. She and Jun walked around pretty aimlessly for a good while to better take in city and find an area in which they wanted to live. Zoi and Jun were by no means rich, but they did not come all this way with nothing. Finding an apartment would be a little difficult but not impossible. Zoi was looking at some items a merchant was selling when her brother nudged her arm. She looked up at him and he nodded his head to the right.
"Isn't that the guy from the boat who brought us food?" Jun asked crossing his arms. Zoi searched the crowed and indeed, it was. She tilted her head to the side as she took in the scene before her. Mushi is she remembered correctly looked like he was dancing and maybe singing, while Lee stood beside him with a scowl on his face.
"What is he doing? She asked aloud.
Zoi then began walking toward the pair with Jun close behind. They pushed through the crowed until they came more face to face with their acquaintances.
"Nothin' like a fat man dancing." A man said tossing Mushi a coin.
"What a nice man. Ah Zoi! Zoi's brother! We have not been formally introduced. How are you two getting along?"
Zoi smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Were getting. What a...Whatcha doin' guys?"
"None of your business." Lee said sharply.
"You must excuse my nephew; a life of poverty is not one he has yet gotten used to." Mushi placed a hand on Lee's shoulder but the boys scowl did not leave his face.
"Oh. Well Jun and I were about to go look for an apartment, and maybe some job hunting. Would you two like to join us? Unless your busy with...whatever it is your doing." Zoi said making a circular motion with her hand at the two.
"We'd love to!" Mushi said happily, Lee rolled his eyes.
Jun walked next to Lee a little behind Zoi and Mushi. Mushi was telling Zoi a funny story from his past while Lee walked beside him with a brooding expression.
"So, is that just your face then?" Jun asked glancing at Lee. Lee glared at him. "What?"
Jun shrugged. "All I am saying is that it seems like your face seems to be in a permanent scowl and I am curious if that's a choice or if that's just your face."
"That's just my face." Lee said, his expression not changing.
A light chuckle left Jun. "Seriously kid, what could you possibly be so angry about?"
"I'm not a kid!" Lee argued. "Yeah you are, but that's not the point."
"Your uncle seems happy, or at least he is not having a pity party which is what you seem to be doing." Jun continued.
Lee stopped walking and clenched his fists to his side. "You don't even know me!"
Jun smirked. "I don't have to know you. I know pent up anger when I see it. Trust me when I say I've been there buddy, still am even. I don't know what you're going through, but your uncle seems to be trying to make the best out of a bad situation and I hope you realize that."
Lee shook his head and began walking again, his uncle and Zoi now a few good paces ahead, though neither of them seemed to notice.
"My sister is the same way. She tries to help, tries to keep me cool, but sometimes she just can't get through to me. The difference is that your uncle is older and wiser. He has been around long enough help. Zoi...she's my little sister. She is supposed to be able to lean on me when times get tough but it's always the other way around. We are in this together, yet in the end it comes back to me. My pain, my loss, my anger. I tend to forget about hers and I will continue to do so because that's just who I am now it seems."
Though his face did not show it Jun could tell Lee was taking in the information he was being given.
"Why are you telling me this? I didn't ask for your life story." Lee said harshly.
"Because if my sister continues to run into the two of you, and I am sure she will, she will try and help you. Even if you don't want it, because that's the kind of person she is. A fixer. A helper. She is going to try and help you and your uncle and I can tell just by being around you for the short time I have that you're going to have some type of problem with it."
"We don't need her charity."
Jun smiled. "Yet you will have it anyway."
"...and then he said, 'that's not my wife! That's a badgerfrog!'" Mushi said with a hearty laugh. Zoi chuckled and shook her head. "You're crazy Mushi."
They stopped in front of an apartment building just outside the lower ring. "This looks promising." Zoi said. "What do you think Jun?" When no immediate answer was given Zoi turned around and saw both Jun and Lee were no longer behind them.
Mushi raised an eyebrow. "Where did they go?" It was a moment later Zoi saw the tall figure that was her brother in the distance as well as Lee walking beside him.
"There they are. Come on guys!" Shortly they both made it closer to Zoi and Mushi and Zoi took Jun's arm pulling him inside with her.
Iroh looked at his nephew curiously. "What happened? You were both right behind us."
Zuko shook his head. "Nothing, Jun kept talking to me and we fell behind."
Iroh looked slightly surprised. "Oh, what did you talk about?"
"I didn't talk about anything, he did all the talking. Basically, said Zoi probably is not going to leave us alone."
A small smile formed on Iroh's lips. "Well good. I Zoi is a nice girl, she makes good company."
Zuko glared. "She's a nice girl who is going to end up asking the wrong questions and blowing our cover."
Iroh waved his hand unconcerned. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it nephew. For now, try to enjoy that fact that we have found friends in this troublesome time."
"Finding friends is not on the top of my priorities right now uncle!" Zuko said annoyed. Iroh gave him a shrug. "Maybe it should be."
"So, what do you think?" Zoi asked her brother as they looked around the apartment. Jun took in the place and nodded. It was modest. Not huge in size but comfortable. Better than anything they would find in the lower ring that was for sure.
"I like it, I think it will make a good fit." He said, his sister smiling in agreement.
"I wonder is Mushi and Lee will be able to find anything in this area."
Jun scoffed a little. "Zoi, in case you don't remember, Mushi was dancing and singing for coin in the streets. The best shot they have is in the lower ring."
Zoi sighed and leaned against the wall. "I wish we could do something to help."
"Well unless you want to pay for and give them our apartment, I don't know what much we can do. Something tells me those two are resourceful. I'm sure they will figure it out."
Zoi bit her lip and nodded. Mushi had an addictive personality, she knew some how he would find a way to make things work out for them in the end. "Why did you and Lee fall behind anyway?"
Jun shrugged. "We were talking and he stopped for a moment when I said something he didn't like. Nothing serious."
Zoi crossed her arms and got off the wall. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Lee is an angry guy. In all honesty he kind of reminds me of myself. His uncle is doing his best but whatever Lee has gone through...I just don't want him to take it out on the wrong people...like I did...like I do."
Closing her eyes, Zoi took a deep breath. "Jun, Its okay-"
"No, it's not." Jun said quickly. "It's not Zoi."
She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Just be careful alright. With the stories of understanding. Mushi and Lee, though they have their baggage seem like trust worthy people ut I don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. If they knew..."
"I know Zoi." Jun said quietly. "I know."
"They are probably still waiting for us outside. Come on."
Zoi nodded and followed her brother out of the apartment where their new found friends awaited.