Chapter 6:

Disgraceful

Misa sat there completely bored having tuned out Zhao's plans about how to conquer the rest of the nations. She was sitting next to Zuko and apparently he was very interested in what he had to say since he was actually paying attention. "And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war." Misa sighed and continued to around the tent for any distractions; Iroh was looking at the weapons that were there.

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zuko said. 'Ah so he is listening.' Misa thought to herself while looking at her fingernails still completely bored out of her mind. Zhao sat down next to him staring into his face. "Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue." he said scolding him, "So, how is your search for the Avatar going?" This question caught them off guard, her eyes widen slightly and Iroh tipped over the stand of weapons.

"My fault entirely." Iroh said embarrassed and walked to the left. After a few seconds Misa turned
towards Zhao and spoke for Zuko, "We haven't had any luck in finding him." The commander smiled at Misa, "Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago along with the rest of the airbenders." He then averted his eyes to Zuko narrowing them slightly. "Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive."

This made Zuko mad, "No. Nothing." he said averting his eyes to look at anyone but him. Zhao rose from where he was sitting and stood in front of him and Misa, "Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce," he began as he leaned right into Zuko's personal bubble, "of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you've found."

Misa rolled her eyes and stood, making Zhao look at her. She stood right in front of him almost nose to nose. "He said that he didn't find anything." She had no idea what got into her but she felt confident and couldn't just sit there while Zhao accused Zuko of something (that was true… but he didn't need to know that). "Like you said the Avatar is probably long gone. Come on Zuko, Uncle Iroh; we are leaving."

Zhao smirked, he loved how feisty she was. She was exactly the women that Zhao wanted and craved for. As they tried to exit they were blocked by the guards spears. "Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape." Misa resisted the urge to facepalm herself, right after her beautiful dramatic exit.

"Now, remind me…" she could feel Zhao right behind her and Zuko. "...how exactly was your ship damaged?" Zuko groaned and looked down, while Misa stood rigid as Zhao tentatively put a hand on her shoulder.

"So, a twelve-year-old boy bested you and your firebenders?" Zhao mocked while pacing in front of Zuko, "You're more pathetic than I thought." Guards stood at standby behind Misa and Zuko. "I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again." Zuko said trying to defend himself. Zhao stopped pacing, and stood with his back towards them. "No, it will not, because you won't have a second chance." Misa sat there in disbelief, he couldn't do that. It was Zuko's job to find the Avatar, not his. She wasn't the only one who was alarmed, "Commander Zhao, We've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I…"

But Zhao didn't let him finish, as he turned letting flames erupt from his hand as he turned towards him. "And you failed!" This made Misa jump and grab on to Zuko's arm. Zhao towered over the young firebender with a smirk on his face. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in two teenager's hands. He's mine now."

This was the last straw for both Zuko and Misa. They both launched themselves at him but Zuko was unsuccessful since the guards grabbed him; but Misa kicked a blast of flame that Zhao blocked with luck. Misa smirked as she saw Zhao stumble, he stepped towards Misa with his fist clenched but he scowled before putting his fist down.

"Keep them here." he said angrily and left. "Agh!" Zuko growled and kicked the table in frustration making it break into pieces. "More tea please." said Iroh, apparently he was the only one who was happy, as always.

"I can't stand that man!" Zuko said in frustration, the guards let them roam around the tent since they placed themselves in every corner staring at them. "What ever at least I got a shot at him." Misa said also very annoyed by the fact that they were being held captive. "I mean, who does he think he is!?" Zuko continued to rant for another 10 minutes while Misa only nodded and hummed in response while drinking from her cup of tea; she knew that anything she said would be ignored. "My search party is ready." Zhao said as he entered the tent, interrupting Zuko's rant. He only glared back with all his might.

"Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go." Zhao continued, clearly paying no attention to his glare. "Why? Are you worried I'm gonna try and stop you?" Zuko growled, but Zhao only laughed whole heartedly, "You? Stop me? Impossible." Misa gave a low growl which made Zhao smirk slightly, but it widened as Zuko stood defiantly. "Don't underestimate me, Zhao," spitting his name as if it tasting foul, "I will capture the Avatar before you."

"Prince Zuko, that's enough!" Iroh said sternly as he stood to able to prove his point. "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you…" Zhao paused looking straight into Zuko's eyes,"You're just a banished prince! No home. No allies. You're own father doesn't want you."

The sound of shattering glass caused everyone to turn their heads; Misa had forgotten about the about the tea cup in her hand and after hearing Zhao's words it slipped in anger. "Shut up,"she began with a glare on her face, "Zuko might not have a fleet of army ships or maybe his not welcome home yet, but he's more of a man than you'll ever be." He only smirked and let his eyes roam around her body. Misa tried her hardest not to flinch beneath his stare, but it was getting difficult. He finally turned his head towards Zuko again with a snort. "If your father wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar; but in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zuko tried his hardest not to break.

"Thats not true!" he retorted, fuming with anger. "You have the scar to prove it." Misa knew that had hit Zuko by the slight flinch he gave, which only Misa noticed. The time his voice was more aggressive, "Maybe you'd like one to match!" His face inches much Zhao, but he showed no sort of discomfort. "Is that a challenge?" Oh no, was all Misa could think, no no no please. "An agni kai, at sunset." No!

"Very well." Zhao smirked, "It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess you uncle and girlfriend will do…" He walked out of the tent, with the guards following behind him. Before either of them could respond a 'she's not my girlfriend' or a 'I'm not his boyfriend', Misa pushed Zuko with her hands. "Are you stupid!?" she screamed, "Zuko, don't do it!"

He just rolled his eyes and pushed her hands off of him, "I'm going to do this whether you like it or not!", he said with annoyance shaking her by the shoulders. Misa stared into his eyes glaring softly, with her lips pressed firmly together making an almost perfect straight line. "I already saw you got hurt once, I'm not looking forward to the second time." With that she pushed past Zuko out of the tent.

He let out a groan in her direction, even though she had already gone. "Prince Zuko, she is right. Have you forgotten the last time you dueled a master?" Iroh asked quietly from where he was. Zuko continued looking toward the direction that Misa had left with determined eyes, "I will never forget."

When they got to the Fire Nation arena, Zuko was ready. Wearing only red pants and for the meantime a red shoulder cover up. If Misa wasn't so nervous for what was about to happen, she would have blushed in the sight of Zuko without a shirt. Not only was she nervous but she also felt bad for not showing support; but she was annoyed at how he had put himself into danger.

"Remember your fire bending basics, Zuko. They can save your life." said Iroh, who was clearly trying to hide his worried state. "I refuse to win." He stood letting his cover up fall to the ground. After many minutes of debating in her head, Misa walked up to Zuko and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Good luck." He stared at her in surprise for the sudden change of heart.

As Zuko felt the small blush creep on to his face he quickly changed back into fight mode, narrowing his eyes. He quickly said 'thanks' and turned to look at Zhao. Iroh only looked at them with his eyebrows raised. She quickly walked to stand next to him, but Iroh was still looking at her making her blush and turn her head away in embarrassment. "W-What?" she tried saying with an annoyed voice but came out in a stutter. Iroh only laughed and shook his head.

Misa really didn't want to watch the agni kai for fear of the last time. Flashes of Zuko on the floor covering his eye popped in her head. She quickly shook her head and stared worriedly at Zuko who was in a firebender stance. "Please win." she said to herself just as Zuko fired the first shot, which passed by Zhao's left. Zuko fires again and again all of them blocked by the commander leaving Zuko out of breath.

"Come on Zuko!" Misa yelled at the same time as Iroh who said, "Basics, Zuko! Break his root!" Both Iroh and Misa were anxious and if they were sitting, they would have been on the edge of their seats. Suddenly Zhao fires back, but Zuko blocks all of them except one. He flew backwards, making Misa let out a gasp.

Just as Zhao sends his final shot, Zuko rolls out of the way and sweeps him off his feet. "Yes!" Misa screamed with a smile on her face her worries slowly vanishing. Zuko began to advance towards Zhao, producing flames from his feet; and now it was Zhao's turn to fall. Zuko ran to give him the final blast, but it never came. Everyone was shocked at Zuko's actions. "Do it!" Zhao yelled at him with anger in his eyes.

Zuko releases a blast of flame but it hits the ground next to Zhao's head. Misa stared at him with wide eyes; she thought he would want for than ever to destroy him after everything he had said. "Thats it?" Zhao began to speak mockingly, even at defeat he still thought he was better, "Your father raised a coward." Zuko only replied in an icy voice, "Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back."

With that he begins walking towards Misa and Iroh. But for Zhao that wasn't how it was supposed to end. He growls as he releases a whip of fire at Zuko, causing Iroh to quickly step in. He releases Zhao's foot after extinguishing the fire, letting him fall to the floor. Zuko growled and tried lunging himself but with no luck since Iroh stops him. "No, Prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory."

Misa scoffed, "How disgraceful Commander Zhao." She began, exagerating the 'commander' part, "I wouldn't have ever expected that from a person from your rank." She said sarcastically, making Zhao scowl at her; this time he looked at her without a single trace of lust (which Misa was grateful for).

"Even in exile my nephew is more honorable than you." Iroh said firmly, earning a surprised glance from Zuko, "Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious." But of course Iroh's rage lasted seconds, for politness alwyas won. As they walked out of the arena, Misa unconciously linked her arm with Zuko's, who didn't push her away, only brought her closer by an inch. "Did you really mean that uncle?" Zuko whispered quietly. Iroh smiled and without looking at him responded, "Of course! I told you Ginseng tea is my favorite." Zuko only rolled his and eyes and Misa laughed all the way to the ship, still interlocking arms with Zuko.

Authors Note:

Hey! It's me, Zare! So I hope you like the chapter and to say sorry for the long wait I wrote a longer chapter! I'm already writing the next one so hopefully I'll finish writing fast :) Thank you for reading and I hope you liked it

~ .okumura