Chapter 3: Wrestling with my thoughts
Zuko didn't know what to make of the girl who had smashed into him. Anyone else he would have labeled a runaway or an incredibly dull person but she was staring at him as if she had seen a ghost.
She looked…familiar.
With a jolt he realized why; she was fire nation. Almost all of the subjects would be able to recognize him with this scar, which had to be why she was staring at him. He didn't know how she was able to hide her nationality, though. Her eyes and hair where black as night, but her skin was a pale, almost glowing color, how could she not be?
He was too caught up in the discovery to figure out the other reason she seemed familiar.
But he did notice the gathering crowd. They had to get out of here, fast. The people where used to him as Lee, the sullen nephew of the famous tea maker, Mushi, but the crowd might start wondering about the girl. Why she looked so different, and why he was hanging around with her.
He could not afford to raise suspicion right now.
Without thinking he grabbed the girl by the forearm and hoisted her to her feet. Her eyes showed brief panic but her body was limp, as if in shock. And so she had no protest to being pulled into the nearest empty alley.
Zuko hadn't wanted to come to the lower ring. His uncle Iroh had said it was absolutely necessary; he was looking for a particular artesian with a knack for Feng Shui. Why he couldn't use a professional from the upper ring? Zuko didn't know, but apparently this guy was the only one Iroh wanted.
Much to Zuko's irritation his uncle was in no hurry. He was currently studying a display of carpets completely unrelated to the reason they had come down in the first place. So he hadn't felt guilty wandering away.
Now as he pulled this girl into the corner he wished he'd just stayed with Iroh, looking at hideous overpriced rugs.
Zuko didn't recognize Mai, which was fine with her. Now that they where in the dark shadows of the alleyway, she finally could finally restore some semblance of pride. After all this time she had imagined their first meeting to be…well she expected it to go better than this.
Oh, how the years had changed him. He was now dressed in Earth Kingdom clothes, nice Earth Kingdom clothes, but Earth Kingdom clothes none the less. He had also traded his ponytail for a shaggy, unkempt hairstyle which barely concealed those golden eyes.
He had removed all traces of Fire Nation from him. Not that she cared about the Fire Nation, the whole political game seemed foolish and boring.
But HE had cared. The Fire Nation had once been his reason for breathing. Now here he was, he had completely turned his back on what had once been everything to him.
Uh oh, maybe she WAS becoming a politician.
But her traitorous mind was still pulled toward him. And that little part was disappointed he had no idea who she was. It must have been a habit from when we where little and I followed him like a sick puppy she thought rashly.
"I know your Fire Nation!" he blurted at her.
Aren't we tactful. "And how would you know that unless you yourself where Fire Nation?" she asked with that cool, collected manner which was her trademark.
While he stumbled for a response she decided to go in for the kill. "It's time to cut the games Zuzu," she said using Azula's favorite nickname for him as a child. I wonder if he remembers it.
"Do Not Call Me ZuZu!" he fairly screamed at her.
Oh yeah, he remembers it.
But just as he was about to say more, something sharp connected with the back of her head. And everything went black.