Yeah edits! Silent Jee, edited (for the most part) and back in action!

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Chapter 3: Secret Revealed

"Back up, Boys," He heard over the growls and threats of the pirates. They turned towards Toshiro, who stood behind them with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "The lad's a guest," he told them, the smirk as clear as day. The men backed away from Zuko, who just saw his life pass before his eyes. He was just minutes away from having his throat slit and blood spilled. He grabbed his throat at the thought, and marched over to Toshiro, who was now playing with his hat, again.

"What was that?" He asked in rage. Toshiro looked up to him, his eyes like a child when in trouble, then let his smirk return. "You didn't scream," he said.

"Wha…"

"You would have let them kill you without a sound. That takes guts, boy. I like that. You'll do well here until we find your uncle." Toshiro turned on his heel once more, and made his way up to ship's helm. He began to give commands to the crew members. They raised anchor and by early afternoon the ship was sailing towards the horizon. Zuko didn't speak to the Captain until dinner. He, Toshiro, and the crewmen met in the galley to eat. It was now obvious to Zuko why Toshiro needed the money. The food was only rum, bread, and some fish. The men treated this as a gift. Zuko thought otherwise. He was happy for the food, but it seemed he still was upset about not only the earlier incident on deck, but he missed the food he ate before he was on the run from the Fire nation.

The men toasted to the return of their captain, and ate their meals. Zuko listened to the stories some of the men told. Some of them spoke of sea monsters, while other told about mermaids. Zuko knew the stories couldn't have been true, but they still seemed to interest him.

One man told of a story about a previous ship he had sailed on. He explained that the ship had sailed to a part of the ocean where mermaids swam. He said that they had hypnotized the men on board. He spoke of the mermaids as demons disguised as angels. He told them about one with long blue hair that matched her eyes and tail. She had pale skin that resembled the stars and the blue that covered her reminded him of the midnight sky. He said if it wasn't for a deaf man on board, he wouldn't have lived to tell the tale.

After dinner, Zuko stayed in the galley for a while. He knew it was the only place even remotely quiet. He needed to think.

Crash!

That didn't last long. Zuko ran to the kitchen to see where the noise came from. He didn't see anything, until a pile of dishes began to move. From under the dishes came a young boy. He stood up, not noticing Zuko, and brushed himself off before picking up the dishes. The boy was younger than Zuko; he had black hair pulled back in a short ponytail. His skin was slightly darker than Toshiro's, but his eyes were the same blue color. Zuko walked over and helped the boy pick up the plates and cups, and put them in a tub of water.

When the boy realized his assistance he smiled, afterwards he introduced himself. "My name is Akria. I'm the cabin boy." He told this information very proudly. Zuko couldn't help but let out a slight laugh. He knew that he wouldn't have been anywhere as proud as the boy was if he were a cabin boy. "You must be the captain's guest, Zuko, am I right?"

Zuko nodded and told the boy of his and Toshiro's deal to find his Uncle.

"Wow!" Akira seemed to be amazed at the story. He told his own story, seeming to think it wasn't better, "I joined Captain Toshiro's crew last year. The captain liked my determination."

"Determination for what?" Zuko asked.

"I'm looking for my big brother! He left me and my mum three years ago. My mum died, and now my brother is all I have left. He left so he could find a job trading stuff between the nations. I know he's on a ship, but I don't know which one. Captain Toshiro said that I could join the crew so I can find him."

Zuko looked at the boy. Akira had a large smile across his face. His brother? Zuko thought.

"It's strange," Akira said, "The Captain doesn't allow many guests or travelers on the ship. There hasn't been any since I joined the crew. Well, 'cept for you."

That is strange; Zuko's mind began to ponder the thought. "Oh, I have to get back to work. It was nice meeting you Mr. Zuko!" Akira said as he ran off. Zuko watched him leave, then he too, noticed the time. It was dark, late. He remembered Toshiro mentioning to him earlier that there was an empty bunk below deck. He walked down the set of old rotting steps to find most of the men hanging in hammocks. The ones that weren't were sitting in a corner gambling and talking. Zuko climbed into a hammock, and lay down.

He looked back over to the men in the corner. Two men where silently fighting over if one of the other men had cheated. Zuko slowly started to close his eyes. The slight noise of the men and the rocking ship made it hard, but he was too tired to fight against sleep. He ignored the men, and fell asleep with the help of the slight rocking of the ship against he waves. He thought back to his uncle, his last words echoing in his head. 'Don't go.'

He was behind bars. Zuko was back at the prison. The guards where coming in. They walked through the door, and the room fell quiet. Walking past all the cells, they stopped in front of Zuko. It's time, boy. They opened the cell, and carried Zuko down to the gallows. He stood with his hands tied in front of him, and a noose around his neck. There was a slight crowd, mostly of officers and guards, but one face caught Zuko's eye. A large face surrounded by gray hair. Zuko's eye's widened as he recognized the face. "Uncle!" He yelled, but it was too late. The executor pulled a lever, causing the floor, and Zuko, to drop.

Zuko popped up from his horrible nightmare. His face and body all covered in cold sweat. He put his hand over his eyes, and put his feet on the ground. He lifted his head when he noticed water seeping onto his feet. He looked down to find an inch of water one the floor. In slight panic, he looked around to see that he was alone. He put on his boots, and ran up to the main deck.

It was a storm. Zuko saw a group of men struggling as they tried to close the sails. He ran to help them, and afterwards followed the men to their next job. On the way, he stopped. The lightning and thunder was so loud and bright, he slightly flinched when it hit. He was distracted by the sky; he didn't notice the sea. A gigantic wave hit the side of the old ship, knocking Zuko and others to the ground. Zuko pushed himself up off the ground soon enough to see a body fall from a higher deck. He jumped to catch them, and they both fell to the ground. Zuko looked at the body it was… a girl? This was odd. In the dark, Zuko could just make out the curves and hair of the girl. She had just brought herself up when they heard a crew member shout, "Captain, are you alright?!"

"Don't worry about me, you blokes! Keep your eyes on the sea!" The girl yelled with a slight screech.

What? Zuko questioned. He watched the girl in amazement as she quickly stood up and ran to the helm. She used all her strength to stop the spinning wheel and push it in the opposite direction. He watched in silence as she commanded the men on the ship. Without a word, the men listened to her. What's going on, and where's Toshiro, Zuko asked himself as he looked around the ship for the strange captain.

In time, the storm blew over, with still no sign of the captain. The sun had risen and the crew rejoiced. The crew crowded around the girl. Zuko fought through, curious about her. When he made it to the center, he was shocked. The girl couldn't have been any older than he was. Her long, wet hair reached down to her waist, and reminded him of gold when first removed from a mine; brown, with dirt and mud, and yet when in the light hits it correctly it shined with its golden core. In the wet clothes, her curves were definite. She caught herself as she fell over from a pat on the back from one of the men.

She used the back of her wrist to push her hair out of her face and wipe her forehead. Her blue eyes looked like ice, and… blood. The upper part of her left eye was red. Zuko silently gasped. It wasn't possible, this girl, she couldn't be, could she? Zuko walked over to her, and glared at her. She looked up with and innocent, yet, deceiving look of her own. "Toshiro?" He questioned. The girl's eyes widened at the statement. She looked at her clothes, and ran her hand over her head. "Uh-oh," she said in girlish tone, "Ah, yes, Zuko," she said trying to seem innocent. Zuko stared down at her. The men surrounding them began to whisper to each other. This girl, was Toshiro?

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