Hi everybody!

Thank you so much for the reviews. :) They make me feel much better.
This chapter is not particularly long, but a little piece of Akari's past is revealed. So go ahead and read!
Please review if you have the time, tell your friends, all that good stuff. ;D

Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA. *tear*

Love you all and please enjoy.

~Rehyou

Not My Cup of Tea

Time seemed to fly. It didn't at first. It took Akari a few days to recover after Kyoshi Island. Once her body felt back to its usual dull aches, Akari's mind couldn't handle it. She was flat-out bored. Besides, she was determined not to be shamed once more by her weaknesses—especially in front of Zuko. So she took to exercising. The small cell made it hard for her to perform any fire bending forms, so she mostly stuck with fitness. She would do pushups, sit ups, use the cell's wall to do chin ups—anything to keep her doing something. Akari wasn't going to lie. The workouts killed. They made her shoulder and back burn like something crazy. She thought maybe exercise would make the constant dull ache throughout her body fade; that maybe she just needed to be stronger. But it didn't work. It was like her body was constantly operating on empty; no matter what she did it wouldn't refuel.

Akari had asked Iroh about it when he had walked in on one of her fitness sessions. He seemed just as perplexed as she did. To her dismay, he even relayed the situation to Zuko. The young prince was puzzled as well. In the end, Iroh decided that she needed some kind of "extreme release" where her body would realize that it could stop barely surviving and just rest; that there was no danger. Akari didn't think her body was that smart.

Either way, Zuko relentlessly continued his search—earning admiration from Akari in the process. They crossed the Avatar's path once or twice. Each time Akari managed to assist the Avatar in escape in some way or another. Fall was getting a little chillier; the first signs of winter became apparent. Eventually, the Avatar leads them back to the Fire Nation…

Tonight was the night of the solstice. Early in the morning, Zuko had decided to run the blockade (an idea she fully supported). His uncle had been frustrated with his nephew's choice. She had heard him pleading with Zuko, trying to get him to turn his ship around. Iroh's warning fell on deaf ears. Frustrated, Iroh decided to spend the day with her. Despite her best efforts, she found herself trusting the cheery old man.

"That foolish boy," Iroh had walked into the room, grumbling. "Run the blockade of the very nation that banished you?" He continued his small rant, dragging a chair over by her cell, and collapsing in it. Akari just watched him, quiet amused.

He quieted down, folding his hands across his stomach. Suddenly he turned to her. "You agree with him don't you?" It sounded more like a statement than a question.

"Yes," Akari said thoughtfully.

In response Iroh groaned and threw his hands into the air. "Why, might I ask?" He said incredulously, eyes peering curiously at her.

Akari folded her arms across her chest. "Because it's something I would do," she said simply. Iroh opened his mouth to protest, but Akari stopped him, holding up her hands in surrender. "I know it is irrational. I realize it is stupid. I am sure it is most likely a trap. And he knows all of those things too. If the Avatar is something he wants, a goal I strongly disapprove of by the way, he has to work to get it. Life has never handed me all my wishes on a silver platter. Maybe it's the same way with him. Which is why, whenever opportunity presents itself, I chase after it, no matter how reckless it may be. That is why Zuko is doing what he is doing now."

Iroh considered her words for a long while. Akari felt self-conscience about her little speech, but there was a grain of truth in her words—even she could see that. After a few minutes—or was it hours? She couldn't tell—Iroh pushed himself up with a huff, declared he was going to get them tea and they were going to talk all day.

And they did just that. They talked of many things, some light, some political, some more personal. She shied away from most topics about family, content with listening to Iroh talk about his own son and even a bit about his niece and nephew. They could have been old friends sharing tea and stories if it weren't for the bars separating them.

Then a quiet silence that settled over them. Iroh sipped his tea, sighing contentedly. Akari looked out the small window, letting the soft sun bathe her face. The sun was almost beginning to set, making the world glow. She absentmindedly messaged her scarred shoulder, her torn shirt had recently been replaced with a new one, watching the dust flitter in the sun's light. She didn't feel Iroh's gaze study her.

"I hope to hear your story someday," Iroh announced.

Wincing slightly, Akari whirled her head around to look at him. She was so close to snapping, ready to let a few choice words fly at him. But his face was so serene and earnest that it surprised her.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope you never do."

Iroh just chuckled in reply. They were quiet for a few more moments, but she watched him. She saw the questions forming on his lips before he ever uttered them. Akari sighed, preoccupying her mind with the dancing dust once more. She bit her lip in anticipation.

"Akari," Iroh began. Being formally addressed caught her off guard. She blinked at him. "You might not want to answer, but I heard you have a scar."

"That's not a question," Akari interrupted, already not liking how this change in topic was going. Zuko was going to get it if he was blabbering about this to everyone on the ship. To think she had been beginning to trust him! She hadn't pegged him as a blabber mouth.

"That wasn't my question," Iroh chuckled, patience filling his voice. "Not many people are so unfortunate to be scarred in such a way. Out of curiosity, I was wondering who it was that burned you?" Akari was expecting this question. She also had a pretty good idea about his motives.

"He put you up to this didn't he? I can't believe—" Akari was cut off.

"No! No. It is simply to satisfy my curiosity, I promise. You are quite the mystery," Iroh smiled, his eyes searching hers as if the answer to her 'mystery' was in there somewhere.

Akari's confidence faltered. A small part of her wanted to tell him. Hadn't she spent the whole day talking to him? Hadn't he told her of his dead son? He had given her no reason to distrust him, and quite a few reasons to give him a bit of hers. She felt her resolve slipping from her grasp as she took a deep breath. "I don't take promises lightly," Akari started, her tone solemn. "And I do have my reasons for not telling him. Despite what he, and possibly you, think, I am not just withholding the information to be difficult. I think if he knew…I just don't think it would help him in any way."

"I promise I won't tell," Iroh said. Akari read his expression. All of his features were serious, his mouth a tight line. She supposed he hadn't suspected she was protecting Zuko by not telling him. Akari bit her lip, bouncing her hands that were now shackled in front of her to make the chains jingle. She listened to their music, felt the leather chord around her neck, saw the dust flicker across her vision, and uttered the name of the man she hated almost as much as she hated herself.

"Fire Lord Ozai."

Just then Zuko barged in. "Uncle! I have a plan to trick Zhao! I—what is going on?" Zuko noticed the expression in his uncle's eyes. Iroh looked quickly to Zuko, then back to her. The old man's eyes frightened her. They were so mixed with emotion; she found them to be unreadable.

"Uncle," Zuko repeated slowly, "what is going on?" Akari could tell he was struggling to stay in control. He didn't like being left in the dark. Apparently General Iroh could sense it too.

Iroh stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving her. Akari bowed her head. Though she was looking at her hands, Akari could feel his gaze pounding down on her. "Nothing nephew. Come, tell me about this plan of yours," Iroh said, attempting to sound interested as he exited. He wasn't a very convincing actor.

Zuko lingered. His hand was on the door. It seemed like half of him was trying to leave, the other begging him to stay. She lifted up her head and met his gaze. His eyes were melted honey, flashing as they searching hers.

"Akari…" Zuko said slowly. She thought she heard a hint of concern in his voice. Akari just shook her head in response, breaking his stare and leaning back against the metal wall. She closed her eyes, offering him no other answer. The prince left a few moments later.

That had been earlier in the day. Now Akari could see the sun setting in the window. It lit the world on fire. The memories of her past were rushing into her. They were always there, gnawing at the back of her consciousness. Now they were front and center. She wrestled with them until the fiery sky faded and left blackness littered with stars. Akari decided that was all fire left; an endless abyss of black. The negative thoughts were beginning to depress her. She tried to shove them away as she closed her eyes, her body now begging for sleep. Of course it had to torment her for a few hours before deciding it was tired. Her thoughts flickered to the Avatar. Somehow, she had this feeling he would be alright. Then she allowed herself to drift into sleep.