I stood staring out at the ocean when Iroh walked up behind me.
"What do you want?" I asked him.
"I have to deliver news to Zuko. Would you like to accompany me?" he asked me. I turned to look at him with a look.
"Why would I?" I asked him.
"Bad news is always delivered better with a beautiful woman by your side," he told me and I laughed lightly at him.
"I don't think me being at your side is going to help you," I said before looking outward again. "I'm fairly certain that your nephew hates me anyway."
"You'd be surprised by Zuko," Iroh told me. "There's more to him than what you've seen." I sighed before turning back to him.
"What's the harm I guess." I moved to his side and we walked together to Zuko's room. Iroh opened the door and I saw Zuko meditating in front of four white candles.
"The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar," Zuko told us in a dangerous voice.
"Well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset," Iroh said.
"Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure that I can take it," Zuko told him calmly and at that point, I was ready to bolt.
"Okay, then..." Iroh took a deep breath. "We have no idea where he is."
"WHAT?!" The four candles flared to the ceiling with Zuko's wrath as he quickly stood and turned to face us, his anger clear as day on his face. Iroh turned away from the flames and blocked me from the flames. As the flames subsided, Iroh pulled a fan out of his robes.
"You really should open a window in here," Iroh told him fanning himself off.
"Or get anger management control," I said and Zuko turned his fury on me.
"Give me the map!" Zuko snatched the map his uncle had in his hands and opened it and unrolled it. He began to study the circles which were confirmed areas where the Avatar had been seen.
"There have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down," Iroh said.
"How am I gonna find him, Uncle?" Zuko asked. "He is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering."
"Or he's a twelve-year-old kid who still needs to learn Waterbending," I reminded him. "Which means you know his ending destination."
"The North Pole," Zuko said and I looked down at his map.
"Another thing to keep in mind is that he's a kid. Kids like to play."
I watched as Zuko's ship grew closer to Kyoshi Island and took a deep breath.
"Chinatsu," I turned to look at Zuko, chains in hand. I scoffed and shook my head. "You're coming with us to find the Avatar."
"No, I'm not going to witness you ruining the lives of the people on this island," I told him and he glared at me. "Just wait until he leaves and let one island live in peace from the Fire Nation. Please." Two of his men surrounded me and grabbed my arms so he could place the manacles on me. He pulled me with him by the chains and placed me on one of the war rhinos before getting on it himself.
"I'm not leaving you on my ship alone," he said before the prow was let down. Zuko led the charge of rhinos out of the hull before calling back to his men. "I want the Avatar alive." Zuko led the Rhinos into the village and I looked around hopeful. The streets were deserted and I couldn't stop a small smile. "Come out, Avatar! You can't hide from me forever!" When no one came out he turned to his men behind us. "Find him." Zuko's men spread out and began to search the village.
"You could just leave," I said. "You've no clue if he's even here anymore."
"Oh, he's here," Zuko said quietly before quickly turning his rhino and hitting a warrior with its tail. As she hit the ground, Zuko aimed a fire blast at her but another warrior stepped between her comrade and us, deflecting the fireball with her fan. Zuko grabbed me and fell off the rhino so we wouldn't be hit by the blast.
"You okay?" Zuko asked quietly glaring at the pair from his prone position. I looked at him confused before looking at the pair to see them joined by another warrior. They approached us cautiously, but Zuko still surprised them by spinning around on his hands shooting fire bolts out of his feet above my head at the approaching warriors. He knocked them all to the ground and pulled himself to his feet placing himself between them and me. Was he protecting me? Why? Surely his men told him I was more than capable of protecting myself with my own Firebending, didn't they? "Nice try, Avatar! But these little girls can't save you."
"Hey! Over here!" I turned and saw Aang standing at the other end of the street.
"Finally!" Zuko turned to Aang and they stared at each other for a moment. Zuko let loose three consecutive fireballs and I ran for one of the buildings so I wouldn't get hurt. I turned in time to see Aang use his staff to fly towards Zuko, but Zuko knocked it out of his hand with a fire blast. Aang lept away and picked up two discarded fans. Zuko ran at him full force and Aang used the fans to throw an enormous gust of air. The air knocked Zuko through the wall of a building and Aang dropped the fans and picked up his staff. He used his staff to fly away from the village and I ran to help Zuko up.
"Are you okay?" I asked glancing him over. Zuko looked in the air and I turned to see the flying bison flying away from the island.
"Back to the ship! Don't lose sight of them!" Zuko ordered before grabbing my arm and getting me back on his rhino. We made our way to the ship as quickly as the animals could before a stream of water went above our heads and managed to drench us at the same time. I turned and saw smoke coming from the village and smiled. They would have to do major repairs, but the people would be safe from the fires caused by the fighting.
Once we were back on the ship, Iroh was waiting for us with towels. I took one with a small smile before placing it on my head. I looked over to see Zuko talking with his men, most likely about chasing the Avatar and his friends, and I couldn't help but wonder about the events that led up to this point. First, I woke up alone when I should have been guarded by those who would prepare me for this day. Then, I was found by Zuko instead of Aang like I thought I would be. Was this supposed to be how they wanted it?
"Chinatsu?" I looked at Iroh, who was watching me with his own thoughtful gaze, and I looked back at the horizon.
"I'm fine," I told him before Zuko walked back to us. He grabbed my hand and unlocked my manacles. "Thank you."
"Next time, you'll stay with us without them." With that said, he walked away from us and back to the bridge with me staring at him.
"You were right," I told Iroh still staring at the young prince. "There is more to him than what I saw before."