Disclaimer: I, Risette, do not own A:TLA. All rights are to their respective owners: Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. R & R!
Auther's Note: Thanks to the people who reviewed! I thought I added this, so I did now. I can't wait to get the canon-world myself because there's gonna be a lot of changes!
"Huh?" Confused, Yua blinked several times.
He didn't turn to face her or anything, "If you're bored and want to take your mind off Azula then you can watch me train. You've never used bending in combat form, right?"
How did he know? Yua watched as he slowly turned to face her. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I just figured you'll be bored until noon."
It did sound interesting and to see bending in the form of combat did excite her. It was forbidden in the tribe to allow her to watch it be used in combat. It was out of fear that she would use it to kill and a priestess was not allowed to kill a human unless that human was a danger to mankind. Even so, if the Fire Lord was a danger to mankind, she was still not allowed to slay him.
"Mm!" She nodded fervently, "I would like to see your training."
Zuko didn't expect that to be her answer. In fact, he was completely surprised. Whenever he asked Mai if she wanted to watch, she would always tell him that she was tired of it. He didn't think much of it because he was sure Azula trained before them and so she probably was tired of it, especially during school.
"What are you standing there for?" Yua asked, "Regretting asking me? Look, if you're scared you're going to be too busy trying to impress me then—"
A deadpan expression fell on his face and she tried to hold back her laugh. Her words were intentional and she was beginning to wonder if Zuko was starting to catch on to her behavior. Probably not. He was stupid when it came to women and their feelings, "Impress you? Why would I want to impress you?"
"I'm a woman after all. Why would you want to look like a failure in front of me?" With an eyebrow arched, she watched as his expression shift quickly.
"Failure?!" He was getting amped up as she expected, "Tch!"
He stomped off and Yua followed. This only meant he would try his best to look his best in front of her. Men were really easy, especially Zuko. He always had something to prove, which entertained her. She could make anything he did seem like it was for her, which was dangerous but entertaining.
The Priestess followed him to the training arena, watching him go to the changing room as she sat down in the stands. Her hands were folded in her lap as the Firebending instructor looked surprised by her presence. He bowed immediately upon eye contact and she offered a small smile and a nod of acknowledgement.
"High Priestess?" her eyes looked away from the arena and towards Iroh, who was just getting there himself. "What brings you here?"
"Prince Zuko asked if I wanted to see Firebending in combat form. I'm sure you know I am not allowed to learn." Yua did not add that she was also not allowed to watch, but it wasn't like they would know that anyway.
Iroh was surprised but smiled, "Ah, I see." He merely said as he then took a seat next to her.
"High Priestess Yua!"
Just when she thought they wouldn't be able to find her. Both her and Iroh looked to their right to see the trail of her servants running in and going up to the stairs of the stands and towards her. "O-Oh! General Iroh!" All of them said in surprise before bowing in an unison.
"Did High Priestess sneak away from you?" His voice was playful, a smile still in bloom on his face.
All them looked rather embarrassed but nodded truthfully. "I'm a handful to be honest." Yua smiled as Iroh nodded. "I was in the garden, like I promised, but I was invited here."
"In the garden?" Hye Mi questioned, "We didn't see you there at all!"
That was right. She separated from them and found that pond, but it wasn't her fault that they weren't keeping a close watch on her.
"You just suddenly disappeared." Alia said as Seo, Nuo, and Bao sat in front of her, Alia sat beside her, and Hye Mi as well Eri sat behind her.
"Surrounded by beautiful women," Iroh complimented, "if I knew it were that simple then I would watch my nephew train more often."
The girls burst into a giggling fit while Yua was amused by their behavior. Prince Zuko then climbed up the stage of the arena, shirtless and wearing black, loose pants. There were no shoes on his feet, it was as if he was not allowed to have any restrictions.
His instructor, a tan man man with his brown hair in his topknot wore the same. And Alia was already entranced with the handsome looking instructor. "Why do you come to watch Prince Zuko train, General Iroh?" asked the priestess.
"I help decipher what ways are easier for Prince Zuko to learn. He always asks for my advice and I want to tell him from what I have observed." Iroh's answer made sense and Yua nodded understandingly.
"You know…" Hye Mi mumbled, "Prince Zuko is really, really good looking. In fact, he's too good looking."
The skepticism in her voice drew Yua's attention, the other servants, and even Iroh's. "What are you talking about, Hye Mi?" Seo, confused, asked Hye Mi.
The girl hummed, rubbing her chin before closing her eyes for a few minutes. "You know what they say, whenever a guy is too good looking, he either has a bad temper or a lot of baggage."
Iroh and Yua briefly looked at one another and then away, trying to withhold their laughs. They were nearly about to burst as the servants looked at them. "High Priestess," concerned, Alia noticed Yua's puffed up cheeks as she tried to keep her laugh in, "are you okay?"
Raising her hand, Yua nodded to silence the girl's concerns or more like to show her it wasn't necessary for her to get worried. Unsure, Alia watched with suspicion as all of them then looked towards the Prince, who had just began training.
It was clear that Zuko's style was aggressive. He attacked first and his forms were rough and "in your face" like. It suited his personality but she could tell that he was lacking some restriction, some order.
However, Yua was still entranced. Maybe it was Firebending itself that entranced her. She could Firebend and she had done it several times, but she wasn't able to use it in the way Zuko was able to. Her fire was used spiritually while his was for attacking and defending. Yua was envious but amazed.
His eyes were intensely looking at the instructor, making sure not to think too much on what he was doing and let his body flow. The instructor had handled Zuko with ease, not even breaking a sweat while at the same time telling Zuko to raise his leg a little higher or to exert less force in certain punches.
The colors that emitted around him from his groans and shouts were a bright, powerful orange and red mixed with the pale yellow of his voice. Her eyes softened, nearly relieved those colors were not the shade of his father's or sister's.
The priestess did like watching him Firebend, letting himself lose himself in his bending while trying to make himself focused. The colors he emitted surrounded him like a giant inferno along with the fire he created. It was beautiful in a sense and she had a hard time removing her eyes from him.
Alia and Seo looked towards her, surprised at how focused she was solely on the prince. A disapproving smile appeared on Seo's face as she lowered her head and stared at her hands that rested on her lap.
"My nephew still has a lot to learn before he catches up with his sister." The boy's uncle commented, breaking Yua out of her thoughts. "But he will be great as you said." A hint of a smile appeared on her face, her red painted lips holding the expression. "He'll be a great Firebending Master."
The training went on for about three hours. Zuko was exhausted, his body glistening with sweat and his hair out of place in certain parts. He pushed his damp hair back, his panting slowing down as a servant handed him a cool towel.
Yua left her seat and walked over to him, much to her servants and Iroh's surprise. "I'm impressed, Prince Zuko."
"Impressed with what? I'm nowhere near the high tier." Even though he was happy to hear her compliment, he couldn't accept it without filling her compliment with faults and self doubt.
Not letting her smile falter, she shrugged her shoulders. "That only means you'll be even better next time. Mastering something takes time. I'm pretty sure I've told you that you were destined for greatness."
A look of thought went across his face, he nodded but then sighed. "And that's why I have to try my hardest to keep it. Destiny can change, you know that."
It was true but that wasn't what she wanted him to believe at that moment. He couldn't take a compliment, at least once. "Anyway," She tried to change the subject, "are you finished or are you going to push yourself some more?"
Curiously, he tilted his head slightly. "What? You want to drag me around the market like last time?"
If he tested her enough, she just might propose that. "No, I'm not interested in that right now or not just today at least." He frowned as she said that, which only made her chuckle.
"High Priestess," Both of them looked towards a servant who bowed respectfully, "Princess Azula requests you."
She wanted to see her already? Looking towards the Prince, who was wearing a skeptical expression still, he had watched as Yua turned towards the servant. Before she could speak, he did instead. "Tell my sister that Yua is busy and she can't see her at the moment." The servant and Yua looked at Zuko in surprise, not sure why he had done that. Not sure himself, he looked at them both and then focused his gaze on Yua. "We're going somewhere, right?"
She knew there had to be another reason why he was helping her avoid Azula, but she wasn't going to question it. The more time she spent away from the princess, the better. "Uh, yeah." She nodded.
The servant nodded, "I shall tell her." He scurried off, leaving them and allowing Yua to sigh in relief.
"Then where are we going?" She asked.
"I'm going to bathe but meet me at the third floor hall in an hour." Nodding, she watched him leave the training area.
- : o : -
The Priestess arrived on time. Well, three minutes early than when he told her to meet him. She made sure to stay out of Azula's sight since she knew the princess wasn't too happy with what the servant reported back. What could she do? What was done was done.
"Yua." Turning around, she faced Zuko who was holding what appeared to be a basket. Tilting her head to the side, she wondered what was in it but he walked forward. "Follow me."
She followed him as they went down the hall. She wanted to ask where they were going but he wasn't going to say anything, she knew that much. Eyeing the basket, she tried to lift open one of the lids, just to have him jerk it away, which made her pout.
He led her all the way to the Royal Gardens, which surprised her. They went deeper into it as the sun immediately warmed itself against her skin. Yua enjoyed nature to the extreme, feeling re-energized and fresh with the soft and lulling breeze that would come and go, caressing her skin or blowing her tresses.
They came across a pond, which Zuko stopped at and sat down at the tree that was close to it. Yua, surprised, looked at him and then at the area. It was rather intimate since it was just the two of them, but what could she say? Sitting next to the basket, which separated them, she watched as he pulled out small loaves of bread. He handed her one, "Here."
Looking at it, she rose a brow as to wonder if he thought she could eat all of it. The Prince got himself to his feet and took a few steps towards the lake, breaking piece of the bread and tossing them towards the three, little turtle-ducks that swam along the water's surface.
It was a sight to see.
Prince Zuko feeding turtle-ducks; animals she never saw before but heard about through conversation. She never imagined him being fond of animals, especially ones like these. Standing on her feet, she had done the same, watching them pick up the small, chew-able pieces.
"Never took you as an animal lover." She commented as he looked at her from the corner of his eyes.
"It's not that I love them but it's something that distracts me." For some reason, she was thinking that answer was entirely true. He wasn't thinking of the turtle-ducks, he just fed them just to feed them.
It wasn't like he was going to admit that it was something his mother did to her or that he did grow fond of feeding them over time. "Prince Zuko: the tour guide and animal lover. Yep, pretty sure I didn't know I was signing up to meet a prince as peculiar as you."
It didn't seem right to get angry over what she said, especially now that he was sensing that she was getting a kick out of it. He kept his eyes focused on the turtle-ducks until the small loaf of bread was gone. "But this place, it kind of reminds me of home." She said, feeling nostalgic as she soaked in the beautiful scenery before her. "There are a lot of trees, medicinal herbs and flowers, and ponds and lakes."
He could see her eyes were glossing over, solely remembering her home. She looked sad for the most part, which was normal. She probably felt homesick since she came here. "Did you know your parents?"
"No." Her reply was soft spoken, her eyelids lowering halfway. "All I have left of them is my name… That's it but even that was taken." His brows knitted together, confused as she looked up at him, reading his face. "Yua isn't my real name. It's a name the Head Shaman gave me when I completed my training. Usually, Head Priestess training was finished at sixteen, where we get a new name but I learned quicker than most."
"If you don't mind… me asking…" Zuko cleared his throat, feeling rather nervous to be asking a personal question, "Do you still remember it?"
"You mean my real name?" The corners of her lips tugged upwards, a small smile now appearing. "Of course I know it!" Haughtily, she stood and held her head up high. "My name is Kali."
"Kali." He repeated softly, making sure to remember.
"Pretty, huh?" Her eyes focused on the prince, who kept himself fixated with the pond. "So, you're just going to ignore what I said and feed the turtle-ducks? You're terrible with girls, you know?"
For a few minutes, the prince stood silent as if ignoring her words. Biting down on her lip, she rolled her eyes and walked away from the pond area. "It's not that I don't think its pretty. I think it's…pretty but—"
He noticed that she was already gone. Zuko fully turned and walked around, "Yua?" He called out her name, searching for her but he hadn't seen any trace of her.
His ears then picked up on muffled speaking, which he knew only belonged to her since they were the only ones in the Royal Garden. Zuko quickly followed the sound of the voice, "Ah, such a cute bunny!"
The prince arched a brow, seeing the priestess holding up a bunny-rabbit. It had black fur with a white patch of fur on it's belly and around it's eyes. Even the tip of his ears, paws, and toes had white. "You're picking up random animals?"
The priestess looked over her shoulder as he approached her before focusing back on the rabbit, smiling from ear-to-ear as it's floppy-ears were laid down. It twitched its nose, "What? It was cute and it doesn't seem ill…"
'It doesn't seem ill… Who does she think she is? A veterinarian?' Zuko's face was deadpanned as he stood beside her and she held the animal close, "Put it back."
"Why? Its letting me hold it." She argued back, not ready to part with the bunny.
She was stubborn and childish for certain, which made him pinch the bridge of his nose. "Its probably scared because some random, human girl picked it up while it was minding its own business. Leave it alone."
"But I don't want to." She would not relent, he was getting more and more apparent of that. "I think I might want to keep it."
"If you think my father is going to allow you to bring that filthy thing in the palace, you're dead wrong." Yua's eyes narrowed, a frown growing deep on her face. If she had told the Fire Lord she wanted it, she was sure he would let her keep it. Sure, he might be annoyed with the idea but… No, he was right. That was just pushing things.
Looking at the rabbit and then back at the boy beside her, she placed the rabbit down unwillingly and watched it hopped off. "Hmph!" She turned her back towards him, folding her arms.
"What are you mad at me for?!" He shouted his puzzlement of her frustrations.
"Azula," Zuko's eyes widened upon the familiar voice, "do you think they're here? Why would they be in the Royal Garden?"
'Ty Lee!' Pulling Yua's arm, her eyes widened in confusion as he pressed her close and pulled her towards the tree, hiding behind it with her pressed to his form. Her heart began to quicken in pace as her face was pressed against his chest, her eyes immediately looking up at him in confusion.
Zuko peered from the side of the tree, only just a little so he couldn't be seen. He had seen his sister, Ty Lee, and Mai walking together. "My brother comes here a lot, doesn't he, Mai?"
Mai looked towards the princess with a mixed expression. Zuko couldn't read it but he could tell that Mai wasn't pleased by his sister's actions, "Yeah, he does. He comes here to think."
His sister nodded, "Useless things, I say. My brother doesn't have the brain capacity to think of any intelligent thoughts since he is my brother after all. All the genius went to me unfortunately for him, but fortunate for me."
Offended by her words, he gritted his teeth as he tried to remain unseen and silent. Yua finally picked up what was going on, but she tried to focus on the warmth of Zuko's body and the smell of smoke and ash that was his body odor that filled her nostrils.
She hoped due to their closeness that he couldn't hear her fast, beating heart. Her hands remained at her sides and grabbed onto the soft fabric of her pants. "We should go to the pavilion. They won't find us there."
Speaking felt un-doable for Yua, who kept her eyes focused on him as he grabbed her arm and lead her towards the bushes that were shaped as walls. They ran for quite a while until they reached the center, she had seen what felt like a medium sized gazebo. It was red, black-roofed, with gold tiles around the ends of it.
Zuko walked up the two steps, standing inside and letting out a sigh of relief. Yua walked up to him, her hands folded as she kept her head down. "Thanks… for that."
Silence befell them again and looked up as he looked up towards the sky, which was still blue and the clouds were sparse. "Hey, Prince Zuko…" He glanced towards her, giving her his full attention. "Let's play a game."
"What game?" He inquired, interested suddenly.
"Let's play house!" Her voice was teasing and the suddenly interested look on his face slowly shifted to annoyance. "You'll be Pa and I'll be Ma."
Sighing, he shook his head. "Aren't you too old to be playing games like that, Yua?"
"You're never too old to play house." Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout, "C'mon! I bet you played this many times before."
"Not willingly." He admitted, muttering his reply.
"And you were always Pa, right?" She asked, pointing at him as she was curious to what role he played.
His eyes looked away, a tint of red on his face. "Not all the time. Sometimes Azula liked playing the father role."
Why did that not surprise her? Her hand clasped over her mouth, trying to muffle any sounds of a laugh. "Then you were her son?"
"Yeah…" Yua already figured that Ty Lee played the mother role while Zuko and Mai played the children. "Then when you were Pa, Mai was Ma?"
His discomfort was becoming more apparent but she egged on anyway. "Does it matter? It was a long time ago."
"But you enjoyed being her husband, didn't you?"
He could tell she wasn't going to let up. "I-I don't know. I guess…"
Her playful smile faltered some, "I figured…"
"Anyway, now isn't the time for games." He sat down on one of the gazebo's steps and sighed. "We should stay here for a few minutes. She'll be gone soon."
Yua sat next to him, resting her hands on her lap. There was a lot on her mind, especially how strangely flustered she felt being close to the prince. She lapped it to being the fact that he was the closest thing of a teen male since her days of her tribe. They kept all males away from her, forbidding her of contact to ensure that she would not fall in love with nobody they didn't desire her to. Now she wasn't under their watchful eye, she found that her heart was going to what it wanted to regardless... even though she wasn't helping the feelings that were started to grow. At least it was destined to be unrequited, his heart was moving towards someone else.
With a sigh, she looked at the tree from a distance that was covered by white apricots. They were beautiful when they swayed in the wind and when the petals felt, floating onto the wind and letting it carry itself away. Those petals had control of their own future while she was groomed into a future she couldn't help but be born into. It was strange to envious of them, but she was more certainly was. "Yua."
His voice broke the silence and it startled her somewhat. She was so distracted by the sight of nature and her own thoughts that she forgot the prince was sitting beside her. Yua's hand rested on her chest to calm her calming heart as she let out a sigh, "Y-Yes?"
Turning towards her left, she looked towards him onto to meet his amber pupils. Her face grew warm, getting bashful under his stare while he remained collected as if there was no use in getting riled up by common eye contact. "Are you ready to leave?"
"N-No! Let's stay here for a few more minutes." She smiled as she looked back towards the tree, watching the branches move gently with the wind. Purposely, she rested her head on his left shoulder, and she could feel him jump slightly from her actions. She made no intention of moving and she was glad to not hear a protest.
"I'm glad we're friends, Prince Zuko."
Her words surprised him as he glanced down at her, unable to see her face. She had an odd time to start feeling sentimental but he didn't question it.
"Me too."
- : o : -
Yua and Zuko left the garden after an hour of hiding at the gazebo without so much of a word spoken to one another. It wasn't out of awkwardness, but content. She was glad that they could have time where silence didn't have to be filled with words and that they could be comfortable with each other's presence, at least that's how Yua felt. She went to her room, deciding to give him space even though he seemed to hesitate when she mentioned it.
Her servants were already in her room, surprised to see her when she arrived. It was an hour before dinner, which the Fire Lord will be attending to. "Where have you been, Yua?" Seo questioned, "You always wonder off…"
"I was with Prince Zuko." She admitted to them, skipping inside the room. "I wasn't doing anything wrong…"
"When you say it like that…" Hye Mi's eyes narrowed some, "you sound suspicious."
Sighing, Yua rolled her eyes as she sat at the vanity and turned the chair towards them. "You guys sound doubtful. What? Worried I'm not going to do what I'm supposed to? 'Cause I am."
Nuo and Bao as well as Seo and Eri looked at one another before looking back the priestess, who seemed more interested in looking at her hands then at them. "Are you alright, Yua? You seem kind of distant." Alia asked, worried.
"I'm perfectly fine." It didn't sound reassuring but they thought it would be best to drop the subject before Yua grew argumentative.
"You smell like outside. I'll take you to the spa." Hye Mi mentioned, grabbing Yua's hands and taking her out of the room and into the hall. "I'll take care of her." She informed the other servants, who were surprised by Hye Mi's sudden actions.
Not only were they surprised, Yua was as well. "Hye Mi, what's your—"
"You're really falling for him, aren't you?" Hye Mi turned around towards the priestess, her bold, blue eyes meeting Yua's sunlight-colored ones.
Her lips pressed together before she parted them to speak, "Hye Mi, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Hye Mi could smell the denial reeking off the girl in front of her. Unlike the rest of the servants, Yua and herself knew each other much longer. "Kali, you know I know you better than anyone else."
"I know you do, Hye Mi… So believe me when I say…" Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked down. "…When I say that I don't."
"You're seriously going to lie when you barely got that sentence out?" Hye Mi sighed, placing her hand on the girl's shoulders. "You know, I've always supported you and I love how you follow your heart but you cannot follow it this time." The girl's words struck her, hard, but she knew that it was the truth. "Your heart is destructive sometimes and you let your emotions override your logic. You know what has to be done, so don't mess it up."
It was hard to argue against her because she knew that everything Hye Mi was saying was right. Her heart was destructive. It was like an inheritance from one High Priestess to the next. They always thought and acted with their hearts. "You're right…"
Alia hated the defeated look on Yua's face, watching her eyes look to the floor. "C'mon, let's get you a nice bath."
Walking alongside each other, Yua brought up small conversation to let Hye Mi know that she was not upset. She was glad that Hye Mi cared enough to continue to put her foot down.
After the bath and getting dressed for dinner in her usual priestess attire, Yua walked alone to dinner. Zuko, Iroh, and Azula were already there but the Fire Lord did not arrive yet, which relieved her. "Good evening, High Priestess." Iroh greeted and she gave a smile.
"Good evening to you as well." She replied as she took the seat beside Azula, which was daring and surprised Zuko as well as Iroh.
Azula was surprised herself but it wasn't evident on her face. "Well…" Azula merely said, "did you do something wrong, brother?"
"He didn't do anything wrong." Yua answered for him, "I just did not feel like going around the table." This was an effort to handle and stop her affections for the prince and to prove that she did not feel an ounce of fear to Azula.
Before conversation could continue about the new seating, the Fire Lord had arrived which made them all stand. They bowed respectfully towards him, waiting for him to take his seat before they sat down. "Good evening, Fire Lord Ozai."
"Good evening, High Priestess." He replied in kind but then noticed the odd seating himself but did not say anything.
Giving him a gracious smile, her eyes then looked down to her empty plate. She did not want to speak much at this dinner but something told her that she would.
The appetizer today was two flaky, triangular pastries that were stuffed with vegetables and meat. It tasted good too, and she found herself more in love with Fire Nation traditional foods than the foods she ate in her tribe.
"High Priestess," Her eyes looked up from her food and up towards Iroh, "I heard you bought some pomegranates. We should have pomegranate tea together."
"I would love that!" She said excitedly before taking a bite of the pastry.
Ozai's eyes shifted towards her, "You like pomegranates."
"Yes, they are my favorite fruit." She answered with a smile, making sure she did not leave any hostility in her tone.
The Fire Lord mused over this new fact as Zuko glanced at her, but she still remained focused on his uncle. "I was hoping the chefs, on their spare time, could make me some foods with pomegranate based sauce but it must've slipped my mind today."
"I'm glad I reminded you." His smile lifted her spirits some.
"Where were you earlier, High Priestess? I found it hard to keep in touch with you." Azula's words made her stiffen, her body becoming rigid upon hearing those words. "I heard you went somewhere with my brother."
All eyes were on her.
Yua did not panic, she kept a stoic face. "Prince Zuko showed me around the palace since I'm still not accustomed to the place. After living in a temple most of my life, it's hard for me to adjust to the Royal Palace."
Zuko was surprised how quickly she figured an answer, wondering if she knew that this conversation would arise. His father seemed to accept it and with skepticism, Azula did as well. "I wouldn't be surprised if the first place he took you was that pond."
Ozai quickly noticed Yua's expression, which softened some. "He did. The Royal Garden is beautiful. But, if anything, I would like to spend more time with Fire Lord Ozai." Zuko's brows knitted together upon her brave declaration. Azula seemed rather unsettled. "As someone I dedicate my life to and will be spending my remaining years with, I'd like to know you better, my liege."
"I couldn't agree more." said Ozai, surprising his children. "When I am free, that is."
"I shall wait patiently." She bowed her head shyly before placing her chopsticks down as she waited for the next course.
Dinner went by quickly and Yua found herself wandering the large halls of the palace. She was not ready to return to her room and Iroh spoke of having tea together tomorrow at noon. Her eyes looked out the large windows of the Fire Nation, the curtains still tied back and revealing the bright moon and night sky. The moon and the million stars that lit up the sky was what was bringing light to the hallway, but it left some areas dark and eerie looking.
"Yua?" Turning around, she saw Zuko's figure exiting the shadows of the hall and now into the light. "What are you still doing awake?"
She could ask him the same, but she didn't. "I felt a bit restless…" She admitted with a small smile, "What about you?"
"Same." He nodded.
It was the first time he saw her in her night clothes and without her circlet. He could've mistaken her for someone else from the way her hair was framing the sides of her face. Her nightgown was nearly to her feet and a shade of scarlet. It was loose fitting and sleeveless with three, gold buttons at the top.
Spending time with him was dangerous and so she turned away from him. "Well, ease your troubled mind?" Yua slapped her hand quietly against her face, embarrassed for saying something so awkward.
"Uh…" He hummed, raising a brow. "You sure you're okay?"
"I-I'm fine!" She immediately said, forcing her words out. "I'm just unable to sleep."
Did her lack of sleep made her act strange? That's what it seemed like she was eluding. Zuko wasn't sure if to leave her alone or to keep speaking to her was the right thing to do. "You're weird."
Her eyes shot wide open, turning around, she glared at him. "Weird?!"
"Yeah," Zuko nodded, "you're weird."
What twelve-year-old girl in her right mind wants to be called weird by someone who realized she had a childish crush on? "S-Shutup!"
"You shutup." He argued back, her hands bawled into fists as she didn't back down.
"Shutup!" She yelled back.
"Wake the whole palace, why don't you." Embarrassed, her hand clamped over her mouth and looked around, hoping she did not wake anyone.
Seeing her reaction caused the prince to smile, which took her by surprise. His smile, it looked and it felt warm, more than she would've like. It was like… "Summer's sunshine." She said her thoughts aloud, her fingers pressed to her lips as she realized her mistake.
"Huh?" His confusion was clear on his face while she looked rather horrified. "What did you say? Something about sunshine?"
It was good he didn't understand what she said and thought or else she would've been terrified. "I said, I can't wait to feel the sunshine tomorrow."
"Oh…" It was an acceptable answer, for now. That relieved her, greatly. "You're going out?"
"Uh, oh, uhm…" Now she had to say more excuses, "I was thinking about going back to the Royal Gardens. I liked it there."
"Then we can—"
"I was going to go there with my servants. I planned ahead." It was a lie but it was what had to be done.
He was disappointed but he kept his face from making it seem so. "Well, you won't be lonely then. Not like I care…"
Yua chuckled but shrugged, "You think I get lonely a lot, huh?"
"That's the way you made it seem when you asked me to be your friend."
"...I am lonely." Her eyes looked towards her right, out towards the window. "My life isn't my own, so it makes it lonely."
"Then make it your own." The way he said it was so simple. "Can't you do what you want and do what you have to at the same time?"
"They both don't coincide with each other." She admitted to him, "What I want and what I can't have…"
His frown deepened as she kept her forced smile. In actuality, she was glad that he cared enough to speak to her about it. She felt like nowadays, he was making himself be more in tune with her feelings while questioning why he bothered at the same time. No wonder why the boy didn't have any friends, he didn't think much about other people in these kind of settings.
"Prince Zuko," A curious glaze spread across his eyes, "can I ask you something?"
"What?"
Fiddling with her thumbs, she looked down at the floor. "If we met, as different people, do you think you would have noticed me? Or, more like, that we would still be friends?"
Nothing went unnoticed, like how she kept pressing on their friendship. Zuko could obviously tell something was bothering her these past few days but not just that, he wondered why she felt so insecure about their friendship. "Well, I don't know. I think I would've noticed you, but I don't know if we would be friends."
His answer was unsatisfactory.
"I mean, I always ask my uncle questions like that." Zuko recalled a few times where he went to Iroh, asking him if situations had been different then how the outcome would be. "But he always told me once the river of fate flows, it all leads to the ocean. So no matter which course you take, it might still lead to the same outcome but the destination might have shortened or lengthened."
She took it into consideration and decided to believe that they met this way by fate and that there was no use thinking if the circumstances were different. She nodded slowly, "He's right."
"But I know," her eyes gazed towards him, "that something is bothering you."
"It's obvious, huh?" A nervous laugh escaped her throat, her hand going to the back of her neck. "You want to help me, don't you? Prince Zuko, you're so kind and generous~"
He hated when she teased but he did grow accustomed to it as of lately. "Isn't that what friends do?"
"It is." She answered, "But it's something I have to take care of on my own."
: : :
A few weeks had gone by and Yua distanced herself from Zuko, all for the sole purpose of acting on her true agenda. Today was one of the free days that the Fire Lord had to himself, which she had spent the majority of time with him. Today, they had sat in the lounge room, jasmine tea sitting on the coffee table. Yua poured him tea from the kettle, making sure that the Fire Lord did not lift a finger and she displayed a catering persona. Instead of a thanks, he gave her a nod in which she placed the kettle down.
"Have you sense any dark spirits in the palace?" His question made her raise a brow, but she kept a rather neutral face. "There have been talks of strange sightings around the nation."
That was strange. Yua's face displayed confusion, "Then why did the Fire Sages and the Head Shaman not notify me?"
"I think they've been dealing with them themselves while you will protect the capital." That sounded right, but something seemed off. It didn't matter if they dealt with them themselves or not, she still should've been given a letter.
"I have not felt any of them here within the capital's vicinity." Her answer was honest, "But even so, I will protect you and the royal family. It is why I am here."
His presence was intimidating, greatly, but she had tried to keep herself composed. Ozai brought the teacup to his lips, taking small and slow sips of the jasmine drink. "How do I deal with spirits? It's nothing something you fight alone, High Priestess. It is something we do together."
"You don't suppose something of Agni's magnitude might happen, do you, my liege?" Yua knew he had every reason to be worried, but to this distinct? Was the problem getting out of hand?
Bringing the teacup to the tea plate, his eyes glanced over to her. "I'm not saying that it will but I want to be prepared. That's not out of the ordinary, is it?"
"No, it is not." She shook her head, "But if it does get to that point then I will need spirit water. A lot of it."
Ozai nodded, "I will need to build an Oasis with spirit water just in case these dark spirits do not let up."
"But if there are dark spirits roaming around then there must be something wrong with the spirit portals. How are they slipping out or is someone forcing them out?" Either way, it smelled like trouble.
His brows creased, "Do you think someone is behind this?"
"…" Yua looked up at him in thought, "I don't want to jump to conclusions but… I think so."
The look on his face was frightening; it was unsettling regarding to whoever was causing this interruption of peace in the Fire Nation while Yua worried about how it might damage the world. However, she knew Ozai cared about his nation more than the world anyway.
"I will look deeper into the matter, if you notice anything then do not be afraid to tell me." She nodded in reply. "Even so, I have other questions to ask you."
"O-Oh?" She picked up the cup of tea, trying to calm her nerves.
"You've taken a liking to my son. I'm apparent to that, but I am not sure of is is how much of a liking you have taken to him." Were her feelings that obvious? Yua tried to control the emotions on her face.
"How much of a liking I have taken to Prince Zuko?" She repeated, "Well…"
- : o : -
"Uncle." Zuko walked into the library, finding the wise-man at a Pai Sho table, seemingly playing by himself.
Iroh lifted his head at the call of his name and looked towards his nephew, giving him a small smile. "Nephew, how are you today? Care for tea and a game of Pai Sho?"
"No. I…" For a second, he hesitated before sitting across from Iroh, "I want to talk to you about something." Nodding his head, he allowed him to continue to speak. "It's about High Priestess Yua."
His uncle's yellow eyes focused on the Pai Sho table, the corner of his lips tugging upwards in a smile. "What about the High Priestess, nephew? Are you feeling lonely?"
"W-What?"
"I've noticed you two haven't been spending time together." His finger picked up one of the round pieces before placing it on a tile.
It was the truth, in a sense. "That's not what I came here to talk about." The frustration in his voice did not cease to let Iroh to continue to smile. "It's just, she's been spending a lot of time with father and so I'm worried that something might be wrong."
Now that he thought about it, he could see why the boy was worried in that aspect. Yua only sought Ozai and Ozai had been declining many invitations and meetings to spend time with the priestess. One would be uneasy about that, "If something was wrong I am sure your father would make it apparent. They will be spending a lot of time together as long as he is Fire Lord, you know that."
His uncle's words did ease some of his curiosity, "I doubt if something problematic happens, Father is going to tell me…"
Iroh's hand froze above the Pai Sho piece he was about move, sighing slightly. "That is not true and you know it, Prince Zuko. Your father loves you, you have to know that."
"Yeah.." Zuko nodded, trying to build up his confidence when it came to his father and himself, "I should know that but what can I do to prove to him that I'm reliable and that I can live up to his expectations?"
"You study. Study about the war so eventually you can fight alongside him." Iroh recommended, "It will easily gain your father's trust and it will help the soldiers."
His nephew nodded, understand what course of actions that must be done. "I guess that means this is something that I'll have to be doing on my own, right?"
"Yes." Iroh replied with a small smile, "But you should get that one scroll out of the lounge. I believe it is called 'The Art of War'."
Standing, Zuko got to his feet and left the library. He pace was slow as he walked the hall, thinking and wondering how he could approach his father about regards to the war. "After I read that scroll, maybe I'll ask him to join one of the war room meetings."
"Zuzu."
It was obvious he wasn't happy to hear the nickname, especially from who gave it to him. "What, Azula?" Looking up at his his sister, he saw Mai to her left and Ty Lee at her right.
"Where is High Priestess Yua, she still hasn't take Mai's fortune upon request. I've been seeing her at dinner and then she hurries out as soon as Father leaves. Did something happen?" It felt like Azula was paying more attention to Yua than she was with anything else.
Or maybe she knew just a little more than he did. "Yua's been busy with Father."
"Oh?" There was no sense of surprise in his sister's voice or eyes. She already knew. "But why? Is something wrong?"
"Not that I know of." Zuko answered, "Now, if you'll excuse me—"
"Wait just a minute, Zuzu." Azula placed her hand up, "Mai?"
Mai looked at her friend in mild disappointment before looking towards Zuko. "We need to talk."
"Talk?" Zuko repeated, "Talk about what?"
Azula looked to Ty Lee, "We should get going."
"Mhm!" The chipper acrobat waltzed off with the princess, leaving Mai and Zuko alone in the hallway.
"You've been looking stressed lately." The prince was surprised by Mai's concern, her eyes lowering shyly before looking back up at him. "But I guess you're doing fine."
He wasn't all too sure what to say, he was still surprised by her voice of concern. "Thanks… for worrying about me. Is that all you wanted to say?"
"Actually—"
A few paces down, the door of the lounge had opened and the Fire Lord had exited, turning right and away from his son and his most loyal nobleman's daughter. After a few more minutes, Yua exited the room with a rather strange expression.
"Yua!" Zuko called her name, grabbing her attention but as soon as she saw Mai, who was peering at her over his shoulder, she felt awkward.
It would be disrespectful to ignore him, especially since she knew he called her but she didn't want to give Mai even more reasons to hate her, even if she and Mai never knew one another.
Yua bowed instead and turned, heading in the same direction as Ozai. Zuko, confused by her actions, looked to Mai. "We'll have to talk another time."
"Zuko, it can't wait another time." Mai enforced, "I might not be able to say it next time, so—"
"I'm sure whatever it is, it can wait." Zuko then jogged towards Yua, picking up pace when she still had distance on him. "Yua!"
Unwillingly, she stopped walking and turned to look at him. "What is it, Prince Zuko?"
"What have you and my dad been talking about these past few weeks?" Yua's eyes nearly bulged out her sockets, knowing she was not allowed to share information about the dark spirits. They did not have all the facts and so he told her to keep silent until all evidence and information was gathered.
Still, she did not like keeping it a secret from Zuko. "War things." It blurted out of her mouth, much to her disliking.
"War...things? Like, what?" He questioned, wondering if he could use that information when he requested to go to the war room.
"Uhm, like, how he should attack the Earth Kingdom." It was true that the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation army were trying to map out how they were going to conquer the Earth Kingdom, she still told him lies.
Zuko took it into consideration, nodding to himself. "I see."
Relieved that he did not look further into it, she then looked away from him. "Weren't you speaking to Mai? It seemed like an important conversation, you should get back to it."
"Oh, it wasn't anything important." He dismissed it, "But if you're not doing anything later then—"
"I'm sorry but I have more things to attend to later." The disappointment on his face was clear as day but she already told herself that distancing herself from him was the best thing she could do. "See you at dinner, Prince Zuko." With a bow, she hurried her way down the hall, leaving Zuko confused and feeling a sense of loneliness.