Yeah, it's been a while. Sorry. Disclaimers; yeah I don't own the avatarverse but I do get to claim the gypsies in this story. And Kari.


Interrogations Part II

The door burst open violently causing me to jump and drop my fire cracker. My head whipped around and there, stood in the doorway, was Prince Zuko glaring steadfastly at me.

"What," he spat, "is she doing here?"

I blinked at him. He hadn't changed one bit. Clad in Fire nation robes and light amour, his head was hairless bar for the dark ponytail at the back of his head. His skin was pale like most high class citizens and on the left side of his face was the large purply red patch of burned skin. How he got the scar I don't know, probably got injured during a training practice of something. It didn't do much to improve his looks, not that it matters. Whenever I've seen him, his face was always twisted into some fearsome scowl, his golden eyes burning just like fire.

"Ahh Zuko." Iroh looked round at his nephew happily, not seeming to notice the most obvious anger radiating from him. I subtly slipped a chopstick into my hand and hide it under the table on my lap. Just in case. "I'm glad you could join us. Please forgive us for starting without you, the food just looked too tempting."

Iroh gazed down at the food, his mouth watering at the edges. He then took a large bite out of the fish. "Humuhmuhm," he said through a mouthful of food. He swallowed heavily. "Delicious."

"Uncle," Zuko's voice was forced in a calmness that gave me goose bumps up my back. My hands clenched more tightly on the chopstick. "Why is she in my room?"

'His room?' I looked around the room again. The large bed, the fire nation emblems, the desk covered with candles and maps, the decorative dual dao swords on the wall. His room. I have to say, I was a little surprised. Where were the skulls? Where were all the horrible grotesque vases and statues that matched his personality? I mean, the room looked normal. Not particularly my taste, the room would have looked better with rotting fish guts hanging from the walls instead of all the fire nation merchandise but still, not what I expected from Zuko.

Iroh looked confused. "You asked me to ask her some questions..."

"I asked you interrogate her not bring her up here and have a dinner with her! She's our prisoner not our guest!" Zuko yelled in a mixture of anger and exasperation.

"I'm in charge of her, Zuko," said Iroh calmly. "Not you. And I will treat her as I see fit. And, my method has worked has it not? I already have all the information I need"

Zuko looked at his Uncle surprised. "You have?" He came and joined us at the table, sitting down opposite me. "Like what?"

"Ermm, I'm still here you know. There need to act as I'm not." I said slowly.

Zuko's head whipped round to look at me. "Silence." He spat. "You will speak when spoken too, you got that? Ga'minian scum."

I blushed angrily and glared at him. Darkly, I imagine what it would be like to poke out one of those smarmy golden eyes of his. Very satisfying, my mind decided and my grip on the chopstick tightened even more. 'Okay, my imagination is starting to worry me.'

"Zuko," Iroh reprimanded with a sigh. "Do not use that sort of language, you are higher and better than that."

Zuko shot me a dirty look, and for a second our two angry glares catch each other, and I am left glowering directly into his golden eyes. His deep, shining, regal eyes with light brown flecks around the pupils. The same eyes as his father. The same father who burned down Ga'mi. Disgusted, I quickly looked away and down at my food, no longer hungry. Dully I noticed my fire cracker on the floor,I bent to pick it up to put it on the table.

"So what do you know?" Zuko asked above me, and I remerged to see him helping himself to a bit of fish and rice, Iroh was sipping a cup of tea thoughtfully.

"Well," Iroh put down his tea and looked over at me. "Her name is Rin, She's agreed to let us milk her White-Sea-Panther and she is the Red Archer. That's about it." 'Because that's top secret information which was tortured out of me. Well done Iroh.'

Zuko slammed down his bowl and cried, "I knew you were the Red Archer."He brandished his chopsticks at me and I wondered vaguely if I should bring mine up to parry his. "I wasn't sure at first, all things considered, but then both your mask and bow are exactly the same as the one he uses and when I came to think of it, you're about the same build ." He gestured towards my shoulders, which were broad and slightly built up like a boys.

The result of using the bow; you need strong back and arm muscles, so naturally after five years of archery, my torso wasn't exactly slim and delicate, but buff and very muscular. My shoulders had become out of proportion to the rest of my body, so it used to be easy to pass as a boy and I often would when I travelled around with Peche. But then womanhood came, bringing me the genetic gypsy curves like a salt shaker. Or it would. At the moment I was still in the transition, leaving my torso obviously female while my hips were still rather skinny. Whenever I went out as the Red Archer, I would usually bind my chest, which is why the Earth Kingdomers continued to think me a boy. Plus I worked at night, and dressed in black, so I could easily blend into my surroundings, so it would be harder for people to notice the obviously bulge on my chest.

Being a Gypsy left me naturally small as a result of not a lot of food as a child. Travelling round in the troupe, we usually had to scavenge for food if we did not earn enough money to buy some, and sometimes we would steal crops from the farmer's field. When I became Peches apprentice, I had it much better than other children my age. Peche was an excellent hunter and he would always bring home meat for the table. He taught me how to hunt, which plants were edible and which were to be used in healing. Peches wife Maerin was an excellent cook so I always had food to eat, which was good, seeing as I needed my energy for all the work Peche put me through.

He had only ever trained boys, but never in archery, still, he seemed content to put me through all the hard manual labour he had done with the boys to make me strong enough to fight. When it became clear that I was not the right sort for strong, hand to hand combat, he decided to teach me archery. I was agile and quick and we soon came up with a fighting style that suited my small body. Still, even without all the immense bodly training, the bow has hardened my back muscles and toned my front, leaving me fit and stronger than I look.

"What do you mean 'all things considered'?" I asked now, ignoring the 'speak when spoken to rule'.

"Well, you're a girl. And a gypsy." He rolled his eyes as if it was obvious. And I thought it was impossible to hate this guy even more. I was wrong.

I sighed and looked down at my food. "That's one of the brilliant things about you fire nation idiots." I said lightly, picking at my fish lightly. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes and was satisfied with the look on his face. Even Iroh looked slightly surprised with his eyebrows raised.

"What's brilliant about us?" He asked.

"Well, it's just you're all so stupid. You think you're better than everyone else, so it never occurs to you that there is someone out there who can kick your ass. You underestimate people. And that has always been your greatest weakness. You'd be surprised what we gypsies can do. "

Zuko scoffed and rolled his eyes again. "Hardly. Gypsies are dirty thieving sons of whores who have nothing better to do than reap off the rewards of others. You can't even bend."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "It's true we gypsies do not have an element to bend. Unless of course we marry someone belonging to an element and choose to live as gypsies, in which case our offspring could very well bend their parents natural element. And yes, there are gypsies who are thieves and sons of whores, but it's not just us. Fire Nation and Earth kingdom both have their share of harlots and cheats. You talk like you're better than me, well Zuko, I'm not the one who has to blackmail people to get what I want, and as for fighting techniques and style, well," I smirked at him, "that scar on your stomach should be proof enough that I don't need fire to beat you in a fight. Oh, and as for the 'girls not being warriors' you obviously haven't been to Kyoshi Island. And I pity you when you do."

I continued to smirk as Zuko slammed down his food for a second time and jumped to his feet. I knew I had hit home with that one. Iroh remained on the floor, looking thoughtful.

"Listen, you stupid Ga'minian tramp! That was one time! The arrow wasn't even that deep and I was distracted at the time. I could have easily burned your arrow to ashes if I had seen it, so don't get into your head that you,re better than me. And anyway you're not a warrior, you're a coward. Where's the honour in hiding behind a bow metres away from your opponent?"

I also jumped to my feet now, standing glaring at him. "Oh I'm sorry my Lord," I spat at him, "for not being a fire bender. How ironic,being talked to about honour by a banished prince who brought nothing but disappointment and shame to his nation? Who couldn't even defeat a poor cowardly gypsy girl who is obviously not warrior enough for him, yet still managed to injure him enough to make him cry with pain. And I hate to break it to you, Sire, but that argument is weak. Where's the honour when you hide behind fire eh? Where's the pride in getting a bunch of your Uncle's old war pals to do your dirty work? Where's the honour in scaring and threatening and blackmailing people to get what you want. I am a gypsy and proud of it! I don't care how low on the ranks we are, because either way, a gypsy is ten times better than a failed, spoilt, bullying, stupid, banished, idiot prince like you!"

Zuko stared at me in shock like I had just slapped him. And I felt like I just had. I wish I had. I couldn't believe I had lost my cool like that. I was trying to play the injured gypsy girl, see if I could play off that, not shout and yell and infuriate my captives. Peche always taught me I was better than 'barstool brawling' as he liked to call it. Yet I had just said all those things to Zuko with hardly any goading. I mean, I've heard worse things than he just said and haven't even batted an eye. 'What's wrong with me? Maybe it's I got a bit too much sea water in my system?'

"You say you're better than me," Zuko said slowly, after a while. Every syllable seemed to be engrained with loathing. "That I'm a horrible being, yet judging by what you just said, it seems we might be on the same level."

He looked at me darkly as I realised he had a point. I open my mouth to say something but he quickly cut me off. Good thing to, cause I might have ended up apologising to him.

"I should have you thrown back overboard. White Sea Panther and all. But now you are here you will remain here as the ships slave girl, you will keep your mouth shut and be useful, and in return we will give you food to eat and a bed to sleep in. If you object to any order, or make a pain of yourself, you find yourself back in that ocean okay?"

I nodded mutely, unsure of what to say. Honestly, I couldn't have planned it better. Now when Zuko finds the avatar I will be right alongside him. Not quite sure what to do when the avatar is found but I'd cross that bridge when it came.

"You think you know everything," Zuko carried on after my nod. "So I'm going to assume that you know why I'm out here. So I'm telling you now that I will do whatever I can to find the avatar and return home. And when I do, my father will restore my honour back to me and I will take my rightful place beside him. And you will be imprisoned as a war criminal and your pet will be given as a gift to my family. But before then, you will do everything you can to help me find the avatar. They say that Ga'minian's know the land and it's people better than anyone else, so tell Red Archer, what have you heard about the location of the Avatar?"

"Isn't the avatar dead?" I said going back to the first thing I say when someone mentions him. Force of habit I'm afraid. It's a good conversation starter to getting some information about the guy anyway. Not that any information has actually led to finding him.

Zuko advanced on me. "You and I both know the avatar is very much alive."

"Why should I care about the avatar?" I said, going onto the argument that my people have used for generations. "Your precious little bender is there to bring peace to the four nations. Not five. We Gypsies have no business worshipping the ground he walks on, trust me."

Zuko frowned but bought my answer. Still sitting at the table, Iroh rubbed at his goatee looking even more thoughtful. 'At least he doesn't seem to hate me' I thought feebly.

"Who taught you to fight like you do?" His sudden change of topic caught me off guard and I blinked at him stupidly. "With the bow." He elaborated.

'Ahh question I don't have to lie to' "Easy. A Gypsy." I smiled at him, my confidence coming back. "Surprised ? I can assure you he's a much better warrior than I am."

Iroh frowned. "I thought all the Gypsy warriors were imprisoned after Ga'mi burned."

'All the ones that survived at least' I muttered darkly, my face scowling again. Subconsciously I tugged at my left arm, fiddling with my bracer. Iroh noticed and sent me a sharp look, becoming even more thoughtful.

I sighed and answered the question like I was reciting from a passage. "At the age of ten years old every gypsy, Sea or Land, will go before the Elders, the morning after the Ethę's to have their future trade or profession bestowed upon them. They then get the rest of the day with their family to say goodbye and pack their things before moving off with their new master the next day. They then get five years apprenticeship and then one extra year practise before going before the Elders again, the afternoon after their sixteenth Ethę's, and being made officially adults. The girls are then expected to find and marry a husband and bear him at least one child before the age of 21. Any single woman after that age who has not been married brings dishonour to her family."

"That still doesn't answer my question..."

"Ga'mi burned when I was twelve!" I snapped. "Three years ago, 96 ASC- Year of the dragon! That still gave me two years to study under my master. And two years was all I needed." There was no need to let on that Peche hadn't been capture and had carried on training me for two more years. No need at all. If Iroh was content to think that all the remaining gypsy warriors were behind bars, then I wasn't going to be the one to set him straight.

Iroh nodded thoughtfully. "What was his name?" He asked, "The Gypsy who trained you?"

I pinched the bridge of nose suddenly feeling exhausted. Talk of Ga'mi always had that effect on me. That and nearly dying just three days earlier. "Why does it matter?"

"Just curious. The man must have done a good job to get you at the level you are now in only two years. Quite an achievement."

I half smiled at the compliment. In actual fact, my skill with the bow didn't really improve much till after Ga'mi when I travelled around with Peche for another two years before we split. What happened in my home town had given me a new determination to be better, for when the next time came. It was that determination that improved my skill to the level it is today.

"Peche," I said eventually. "His name's Peche."

"That's a weird name," Zuko commented. "Yet again, he is a Gypsy."

I glared at him. "It means dignified one in our language. You don't speak it, so of course the name would sound foreign to you."

Zuko looked unimpressed with my tone and expect he was about to say so but Iroh interrupted him. "What does Rin mean then?"

"Rin simply means Maiden," I told him. "Which explains why it's so common amongst girls. Usually though, the word 'rin' is just one half of our name, added on at the end."

"Is that the case with you?" Iroh took a sip of tea, his face instantly become relaxed. Idly I wondered how we could go from insulting each other to talking about names in matter of minutes. Zuko looked like he was having the same thoughts, as he kept shooting looks at his Uncle who was plainly ignoring him.

"No, I'm just Rin." I don't know why but it made me blush, like I was embarrassed to have such a simple name. Not even something exotic like Qwaerin or Ringo. Just Rin.

Iroh opened his mouth to ask another question but Zuko banged his fist on the table. He was obviously out of patience. "Enough! Who cares about names?" His patience had obviously worn thin with our small talk. In fact all the polite talk had made me a little nervous.

"Now, now Prince Zuko, you should not be so quick to cut people down. It is always good to learn about other cultures. And very interesting." He smiled pleasantly at me, and I stared gormlessly back, unsure of what to do. As I think I've mentioned earlier, Fire Nation Generals treating me nicely, is a form of etiquette I had never experienced before.

"Yeah? Well I can think of more interesting things." He said angrily, which is to say he spoke like he normally would. "Like why a gypsy girl with an 'interesting, cultural name' was out in the middle of the Southern Ocean! On a creature that not even supposed to exist!"

I rolled my eyes. "Just because White Sea Panthers tend not to show themselves to humans does not mean they don't exist."

"Then how come you've got one?"

I shrugged. "Because I saved her life. Loyal ever since."

"And why were you in that ocean?" 'Okay, now lie.'

"Fishing." I said immediately without thinking. 'That was a terrible lie.' Iroh and Zuko raised their eyebrows at me, not believing for a second. 'Okay, now go along with it.' "See, there's been a shortage of fish down at the markets and Gypsies don't really get high priorities so I thought I'd try for some catch and I kind of fell asleep and then the boat drifted and I got lost." I finished lamely, after saying everything in a rush.

Zuko snorted. "You're a terrible liar."

"You're a terrible person." I shot back quickly, and Zuko glared at me. 'Your maturity levels are sky high, Rin. Sky high.'

"Rin." Iroh said warning me as smoke started to billow slightly out of Zuko's nose. He reminded me of an angry Rhino-bull.

"Fine!" I let out an exasperated sigh. "I got caught by Dainee's down off the south coast, I was unprepared alright!" I cried defensively as Iroh and Zuko looked confused. "They took me down the Sali current, where to I never found out." I began to pace. "Kari and I managed to escape and I hijacked a boat. We got caught in the wrong currents and ended here by the South Pole. Then that stupid storm hit us with ice bergs and the boat didn't stand a chance! Kari and I were in that water for nearly half the night I reckon. She was alright though, she's got that heat generating fur, if it weren't for her I would have frozen within minutes. But if it wasn't for your passing ship, we both would have eventually died. Thank you." I bowed low to them in gratitude.

"You are most welcome my child." Iroh said standing up and approaching me. It seemed he had bought the story easily, and wasn't suspicious one bit. It was pretty convincing, if I do say so myself. "But I'm afraid I do not understand one part of it. What's a Danny?"

I laughed slightly at his failure of copying the pronunciation. "Dainee." I corrected, stretching the word out long. "Is gypsy slang for someone for sells other people as a trade."

"You mean a slave trader?" Zuko asked.

"Yes, exactly." I said pointing to him, while Iroh next to me looked disturbed.

"I wasn't even aware they existed anymore." Iroh said distressed. "I suppose it explains the brand."

My hand automatically reached to cover my left wrist over my bracer. I hadn't even thought about my mark, I guess I got lucky it fits with the story. "Yeah," I nodded, my voice going soft. "They did that."

Zuko frowned at me as if something was wrong. He opened his mouth but Iroh cut him off.

"Enough questions for today Zuko. We've found out what we wanted, and anyway, the food's now gone cold." Iroh put a hand on my shoulder and started guiding me towards the door. "It is getting late Prince Zuko. I suggest you start thinking about retiring for the night. I will sort Rin out with the things she needs. Cookie will come and collect the dishes."

Zuko seemed to think about objecting but gave up on the idea, instead going towards the table of maps and scrolls and sitting down by it. "Fine," he said indifferently. "I was tired anyway."

I was just about to walk through the door when I quickly remembered. "My bag!" I cried and hurried back to the table where I'd left it. Shouldering it, I felt like something was missing before realising it was my bow. Iroh had said I wouldn't get it back for 'safety' reasons. Meaning they didn't want me armed. I'd have to work to convince them to left me have it again, but for now I guess I'd just have to go without her.

Iroh took me out the room, bidding goodnight to Zuko who firmly ignored us. Iroh sighed and started down the dark tunnel like corridors of the ship with me following behind. He hummed softly to himself as he walked, stroking his beard thoughtfully. I sighed heavily, breaking him out of his trance and he looked down at me. Age had obviously shrunk the Ex General, but even so, he still has a few inches on me.

"What is it, my child?" He asked, opening a barrel door leading through to a corridor exactly the same as the last one.

"Are you always this thoughtful, or it because I'm here?" We came to a stop outside a door.

Iroh smiled crookedly. "So you noticed?" He opened the door and it swung outwards revealing a small storage cupboard, a hammock hanging down, taking up all the room. "Here is where you will be sleeping. There's no need for the cell anymore. I trust you not to wonder the ship or do something stupid." He gave me a shrewd look which I returned with my best poker face. This seemed to amuse Iroh and as his eyes crinkled happily at me. I found it hard to believe that this was the man who led the legendary six hundred day siege of Ba Sing Se. "Good night Rin."

He turned to leave and I called after him. "But you haven't answered my question."

Iroh stopped and cocked his head. "I am thoughtful, Rin, because you have given me a lot to think about."

And then he was out of the room, and the door swung shut behind him. It would have been pitch black if not for the candle in the corner. The room was tiny and cramped, the dark grey metal walls making it seem even darker. I felt extremely tired, despite the fact I had only been awake for a little while, and the dark hammock looked really invited. I sighed and collapsed onto the hammock, which broke and I fell to the floor. It was going to be a long night.


Again, it's been a while. Sorry. So did you like what I made you wait for? Probably didn't live up to the suspense of waiting but yeah, sorry. Excuse? None. Except for losing four pages and completely forgetting what I wrote. Seriously. What you just read above is completely different form the origninal chapter 3, I hope you like this one though cause the original got lost in space...

Right explanations;

Peche means dignified one. I can tell you now that piece of information is completely irrelevant to the story. And is made up by moi and probably isn't true.

Rin means maiden again, made up by moi, I think in Japanese it means cold? But still, I'm not sure and in this text it means maiden.

Ga'minian, you've this insult used more in this story now by Zuko so you should see how it works. The word alone is insulting, especially to someone isn't a Gypsy. Usually put together with 'scum' or 'whore' though some people can become a little more creative.

Dainee. Pronounced; Day-nee. Simples. Iroh pronounces it 'Dar-nee'. Means Slave trader in gypsy 'slang'. The full word is Dainanda. Pronounced; Day-narn-da. The word is abbreviated to Dainee. The word itself has no connection to our world beyond sounding cool in my head. So no latin influence.

We also got to see a bit of culture when Rin explains how she got her professions. So gonna quick recap; ON every child's tenth Ethęs, they will go before the elders to get a profession for their life. Now they do get a say, they will tell the elders what they wanna do if they know what they want then the elders will take that into consideration, so it's not all dictatorship, like it sounds. They then get six years, five to train and study, and one for practice before becoming an adult.

When Rin was ten, she got the profession Warrior, which was rare for a girl. Though she is fact an Archer, it still classes as Warrior. Now what Rin didn't know at the time was she was actually classes as 'savior'. The Elders knew that she would one day help the avatar and bring peace to her people, so instead of giving her the profession she wanted, they instead sent her to train with Peche. Rin stayed in Ga'mi to do this for two years, before it burned and then traveled around for two more years. So she is now in her fifth year of training, but Peche had bumped her up to sixth and final stage of training a year early. It was only then that she was told what she must do, so only then did she start looking for the avatar, which is why she's had a year on her own.

Dates and Times

The dates used in this story ('96 ASC- Year of the dragon) I got of the avatar wiki page. I'm not going to explain how it works so if you wanna know just go google it. The page is called; 'History of the World of Avatar'

Basically the year this story is set is late 99 ASC-Year of the Ram. Then the story will carry on untill the next summer when Sozin's comet is in 100 ASC-Year of the Monkey. (The new year starts after winter, and despite Gypsies celebrating new year in the summer, they stick to the same dates and timeline as the rest of the world to save confusion.)

Rin was born the same year as Sokka, Suki, Mai and Princess Yue, 84 ASC-Year of the Dragon, which means in this story she's fifteen. Dragon pops up a lot actually, and as the dragon is the Fire Nations national Animal even though they hunt them down and kill them, I thought it was quite fitting seeing as this is a Zuko romance fanfic. All coincidence by the way. So is the fact Ga'mi burned during the year of the dragon. I'm just lucky it all works.

If I haven't explained something, or haven't explained it well or you just want to rant at me for taking so long to update or you have a question or you just wanna say Hi then please Pm me or review, I don't mind. And thank you to the people who like or Favorited this story, your the best.

Also, I'm thinking about using my writing as my skill in DofE, in which case this story might be involved. So having come back for what Im writing is very important and I would love if you could help me out by reviewing saying what you think, if you liked it, whether my writing skills have improved or decreased in your opinion, anything really. Where I could improve (cause I do want to get better.)

If any of you have any requests for stuff you want to happen or say, then please just ask and I'll consider cause if you like this story then it's just as much yours as it is mine. Cause I do write it and have complete control over what happens, but I like the idea of you guys having a say, how ever small it is.

Okay I've said enough. Till next time