Chapter 7
Book 1: Water: Chapter 13
Once we were out of the storm, I went down to Zuko's room. I needed some answers, and there was something I wanted to tell him. I knocked on his door.
"Come in."
I opened it then closed it, leaning on the metal.
"Zuko? May I talk to you?"
Zuko looked at me from where he was sitting. It appeared to me that he was working on being peaceful.
"What is it?" He asked.
I rubbed the back of my ankle. This was going to be hard.
"You can sit down you know, you don't need my permission."
I blinked. He motioned to the pillow beside him. I blushed slightly in embarrassment and sat down. He turned to me.
"Now, what is it?"
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Not go after my brother?"
"I saw the look on your face. You looked terrified. I thought it would be better to get him if we all weren't in danger."
I blinked. I didn't know that I looked that scared, but why would Zuko care that I was terrified?
"I even saw the way you looked when he came out of the water."
Zuko looked away.
"I was a bit scared myself."
"Why?"
"Because I thought you were going to faint and get sick, but you didn't so I guess it's alright now."
I bit my lip.
"Iroh told me and the crew how you got your scar."
I clenched my hands together.
"That was horrible how you had to face your father. But now I guess you can regain your honor now."
"What do you mean?"
"You can take me to the Firelord. I am the Avatar too, you know."
"I can't!"
"Why not?"
"Because... Because my father already knows that you're working for the Fire Nation, why should he arrest you?"
"Just say I betrayed the Fire Nation by destroying a ship or something."
Zuko gripped my arms, getting a little too close to my face.
"I can't do that."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"I don't want to see you get taken away..."
I blinked.
"Zuko?"
He looked back at me.
"I don't know why, but I just can't see you do that. I don't want you to do that for me. I want you to stay here... with me..."
I blinked again.
"Zuko..." I said in a soft voice.
I reached out a hand and touched his scar. It still felt raw and warm to the touch. Zuko put his hand on mine and closed his eyes, leaning into my hand. Then he opened his eyes slightly.
"Naomei..."
I loved the way he said my name...
"What is it, Zuko?"
"Would you hate me if I did something stupid right now?"
I smiled slightly.
"No mater what you do, I will never hate you."
He reached out his hand slowly and cupped my chin, pulling it up slightly. I don't know why, but my heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest. When his lips touched mine, I swear it did. His lips were soft, unlike the rest of him; hard and calloused. When he pulled away, I felt myself pull against his shirt and our lips came together again.
Then there was a knock on the door and we shot apart. We straightened ourselves out before he opened the door to find Fire Nation Soldiers that were not a part of our crew.
"What do you want?" Zuko growled.
"The hunt for the Avatar has become a top priority, anyone who has information must report to Admiral Zhao."
I raised my eyebrows.
"My father has been promoted?"
The soldiers looked at me.
"You're Admiral Zhao's daughter?"
I nodded, getting a little confused now.
"Why?"
"Nothing, it just surprised us to see you on the sea and not getting married."
Zuko's eyes widened and so did mine. Then they narrowed in anger.
"Get of his ship. Now."
"Y-Yes Miss Naomei!"
They quickly fled my sight and I sighed.
"I'm in shit now, aren't I?"
"You were supposed to get married?" Zuko asked, sounding only a little bit mad.
"Yeah, Zhao wanted me to get married to a noble and raise a great family that would live in a new Fire Nation. That was another reason I quickly agreed to come with you. The guy he wanted me to marry was... weird. He was way too sweet, and just between you and me, he was pretty wimpy."
We both laughed. I looked at Zuko.
"You got any steam you need to let go? I do."
He nodded.
"Let's go practice."
We were practicing for about an hour when Iroh came up.
"Is everything okay?" He asked us both. "It's been almost an hour and you haven't given the men an order."
"I don't care what they do." Zuko snapped, sounding very angry.
"Don't give up hope yet. You can still find the Avatar before Zhao."
"How, uncle? With Zhao's vast resources, it's just a matter of time before he finds the Avatar."
He looked towards the sea.
"My honor. My throne, my country. I'm about to lose them all."
I put a hand on Zuko's shoulder and he looked at me.
"Did you forget that you still have me and Iroh? And besides, I can find my brother way before they can, remember?"
Zuko smiled. I really like it when he smiles, he should do it more often.
"I'll always be here by your side, remember that."
He nodded.
"Thank you, Naomei."
I sat on the deck and closed my eyes, but as soon as that happened, I saw my brother's spirit in front of me.
"Naomei! I need you help! I was captured by the Fire Nation!"
I gasped.
"Zhao caught you didn't he? Don't worry, big brother, I know exactly where you are."
Aang then chuckled.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"You called me 'big brother', you haven't done that in a long time, Naomei."
I looked away.
"Sorry, got caught up in the moment, but don't worry, Aang, I'm coming to get you."
I snapped open my eyes and looked at Zuko. But before I said anything, I made sure that no one was there.
"Zuko, Aang's been captured by Zhao, and I know where he is."
Zuko nodded.
"We go tonight."
When I got to where my father was staying at, it was about midnight. I went into the tall building and asked a guard where Admiral Zhao was. He told me that he was talking to the soldiers outside and I went to the balcony where he was. My father saw me and smiled.
"I want to show you all, my daughter Naomei! She was only 12 when I took her in. You all have heard stories about her. She could be the greatest Firebender in all the Fire Nation! Now she will be your leader in the battle of Ba Sing Sei!"
I blinked.
"What?"
He turned to me.
"I'm sorry I was so harsh on you before. I want to make it up to you by giving you leadership of these men."
I bowed.
"I would love to, but I must refuse. All I want is revenge on the Avatar."
My father grinned evilly.
"Well, I have him here if you want."
I looked at him with surprise.
"Really?" He nodded.
"I'll get a guard to escort you down."
I nodded and a guard came up to me and lead me down to one of the lower levels. Once we were there, we saw some of the guards hanging on the ceiling on chains and I took that as my cue. I grabbed my escort's arm and twisted it before grabbing another chain and tying it around him and let him hang with the others.
Then I gagged him, making one of my famous knots that not even my father could untie. I ran to the huge door that was on my left and saw it open where I saw someone with a blue mask on. He beckoned me and I nodded. Aang saw me and he jumped on me.
"Naomei! You're here!"
I nodded.
"I couldn't leave my little brother, I told you I'd come save you."
"But who's that?" Aang asked pointing to the masked man. "He's a friend of mine." I said.
"Oh, okay."
As we left the building I saw the rope and we ran for it, but as Aang was climbing, the siren came on and a guard cut the rope.
"Crap!"
I turned to the masked man.
"Plan B! And quick!"
He nodded and as we ran towards the door, the man grabbed me around the waist and pulled me against his body with his sword at my throat. I pretended to struggle as the guards hesitated in attacking. Zhao came down in front of us. The sword at my throat poked at my skin, but didn't break it.
It was if as he was saying 'If you don't let us go, I'll kill her'. I looked at my father fearfully and pleadingly.
'Please take the bait, please take the bait...'
"Open the gate." Zhao ordered.
"Admiral, what are you doing?" A higher ranked officer asked him.
"Let them out, now!"
The gates opened and we walked backwards with Aang sticking close to me. We walked backwards over the bridge with the masked man looking back a few times. I kept my eye on the prison. Suddenly an arrow whizzed by me and struck the masked man, sending him flying and knocking him out.
I saw that the mask had moved ever so slightly, but it was enough. I saw Aang look at the man and he used Airbending to make a cover. He then went back to the guy and pulled off the mask, when he saw the face he gasped and tried to run. I grabbed his arm.
"Aang! We can't leave him! We have to get him to safety!"
He looked at me like I was crazy, but nodded.
It was about morning when Zuko woke up. He looked around and spotted me and Aang.
"You know what the worst part is about being born over 100 years ago is?" Aang asked. "I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I always used to hang out with my friend Kouzon."
He smiled.
"The two of us, we used to get into so much trouble together."
I chuckled.
"Yeah, and I had to bail my big brother and his friend out of trouble all the time."
Then we both became sad.
"He was one of the best friends I ever had."
"Yeah, and he was from the Fire Nation." I added.
"Yep, just like you." Aang said, turning to Zuko.
"If we knew each other back then, do you think we could've been friends too?"
I looked at Aang.
"You should go now, I'll see you soon, little brother."
Aang nodded and jumped into the trees and jumped away from our sights. I turned to Zuko but he looked away and got up.
"Let's head back to the ship." I nodded and once we got back, Iroh spotted us immediately.
"Where were you, Prince Zuko and Naomei? You missed Music Night! The Lieutenant sang a stirring love song."
"I'm going to bed." Zuko said. "No disturbances."
I sighed and sat down with Iroh, looking at the ruby monkey he bought from the pirates. Iroh looked at me.
"You look very tired, are you alright?"
I nodded. Then I started humming my tune again.
"What is that song you are humming, Miss Naomei?"
I looked up at Iroh.
"It's a song that my mother sung to me when I was little. She told me that it was passed down from mother to daughter for many generations. I hum it when I'm bending, it helps me concentrate."
He nodded.
"Maybe you should sing it to the crew sometime."
I smiled slightly.
"Maybe."
