A/N: Hey, so for those of you who saw the Author's Note I posted yesterday, I just want to apologize right off the bat for the faulty deviantart link I posted. Apparently when you save the link of another website in the Doc Manager on , it immediately erases it. Weird, huh? Anyway, I'm going to repost the link below, only with spaces so that none of the letters get erased. Just put it into the search engine and my profile should pop up. Yayness!

Again, I'm going to warn you guys that I only have Julie's picture up for now. But the other OC's are going to be up soon (when I get around to posting them; some of the characters I need to redesign, like Kuba, because for some reason in the original sketch I managed to mess up his chin. Soooooo...yeah. Stuff to do). Also, don't forget that other readers are making Happy Endings fanart of their own; I plan on announcing it when it's done, so you can give the talented artists the credit they deserve.

Anyway, here's the link: http : / / distant-m00n . deviantart . com / Just take out the spaces when you search it, k?

Without further ado, part two of Yoshi's "Mommy Issues."

"Mommy Issues, Part II"

Zuko completed the final motions of his basic Firebending sets and came out of his stance. Catching his breaths, he turned slowly and bowed to his Uncle, as was the customary response towards one's sifu (at least, in the Fire Nation). The sun was about to reach its zenith, and he could feel the almost-loving touch of the sun on his bare back and shoulders. He took another deep breath, letting his chi warm him from within.

Lately, though…his inner fire had felt sick and weak.

It was physically taxing on him just to complete the basic sets, but Zuko shook it off as sleep-deprivation. And it was all thanks to that hideous beast Julie insisted on having around. Just thinking about the eelhound caused his mood to take a swift nosedive.

I swear by the Spirits, once I've dealt with Zhao, I'm going to mail that little monster to the farthest corner of the Earth Kingdom…or maybe I'll sell him to a circus, he mused darkly. Because either way, he was not going to keep Yoshi around longer than necessary.

He would have rather not had the thing around at all, but even Zuko had to acknowledge that this was all just another condition to the pact he made with the Unagi; the one that was keeping Julie alive. So, for the moment, he would just have to learn to deal.

Wonderful.

"I'm going to bathe," he told Iroh in a clipped voice. "Let me know if we run into the Avatar or Zhao. Otherwise, no disturbances."

His uncle inclined his head agreeably. "Very well, nephew. And enjoy your bath."

He breathed out sharply through his nose. "I'm not doing it for enjoyment, Uncle. I'm doing it because I smell worse than the underbelly of a cow-pig…spirits! Don't you think I have better things to do with my time than to waste it on something that wasn't absolutely necessary?"

It was a rather pointless rant, but one that got Iroh's attention. He eyed Zuko more alertly, something that caused his aggravation to spike.

"You seem more tense than usual, Prince Zuko. Are you feeling all right?"

Zuko gritted his teeth. "I'd feel better if we were actually on course for a change…or better yet, if I didn't find my sleep compromised by that stupid animal…night after night…after night…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, holding back his temper. "No, I feel fine, Uncle! Just fine!"

"You know, you don't have to be so freaking sarcastic, Zu. That's my job."

They both turned and saw Julie emerge from below deck. She was dressed in light sparring clothes and had her hair (which was starting to get longer now) tied back into a stubby ponytail. Zuko felt his stomach twisting in annoyance to see the fresh scowl on her face, knowing that she had heard him call Yoshi a "stupid animal." And obviously, she wasn't happy about it.

"You know," she said, folding her arms. "Maybe if you bothered to keep your door locked, maybe he wouldn't be getting into your room every night. Ever think of that, dumb-butt?"

Zuko glared at her. "I lock that door every night. It doesn't do a damn thing. Somehow it keeps getting in and waking me up."

"Well, maybe if you played with him for a bit during the day he'd stop pestering you at night. He's a puppy. They're affection starved no matter how much you pet them…"

"That thing," he snapped. "Isn't a puppy. It's a monster."

Julie's jaw tightened in anger. She huffed and stomped over to the railing, turning her back on Zuko and staring murderously at the ocean. "You're such a heartless bastard," she muttered in a low voice, one that he wasn't meant to hear.

But he heard it, and he also caught the distinct hurt-tone that lurked beneath her disdain. For a moment, he felt very uncomfortable. He wanted more than anything than to say that he didn't care what she thought of him, but it was becoming increasingly apparent how badly he wanted her to like him. After all, it was never easy to be disliked by someone…least of all by someone who was supposed to be your friend.

Zuko had learned a long time ago that being hated was something you never got used to.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Be that way. See if I care."

Julie glanced up and gave him a toxic look. "You don't have to tell me twice."

Fuming, he turned his back on her and stormed off. That stupid, stubborn, ungrateful, blind-as-hell peasant…! By the Spirits, it was a wonder she could get through an entire day unscathed, especially given the alarming number of random shenanigans that seemed to erupt within a ten foot radius of the girl. If it wasn't with that stupid eelhound, it was with Bo-Fen and that intolerably smug bastard, Shen-Long.

This led Zuko to an even darker mood as he contemplated all of the horrible things he wanted to do to that guy. Not just because he didn't like him…oh, no. That wasn't it at all. Zuko just didn't like him because he was insubordinate as hell…not to mention his tendency to distract the peasant from whatever it was she was supposed to be doing.

And then that stupid Yoshi would come ambling over and Julie would cuddle him, and they would be all-smiles. And then Shen-Long would reach over and start petting the damn animal, and he'd be entirely too close to her…it was inappropriate! Jee should do something about that. It wasn't Zuko's job to keep an eye on Julie…but since the Lieutenant wasn't about to start reigning in his men, he would have no choice but to hover.

It was his job, dammit. He wasn't overstepping his bounds, was he?

"I ought to let it eat them both," he growled under his breath. "Then she'd learn. Agni…"

He retreated into his room, muttering darkly as he shut the door behind him.

Zuko made a point of keeping his room tidy. Considering that his life amounted to an unpredictable series of ups and downs (mostly downs), and that the world itself was a churning sea of chaos stewing beneath the flames of war, it was a small comfort to know that his socks were where they always were when he needed them—folded and put away in his top drawer.

So, why the hell were his clothes strewn all over the place?

He took a calming breath and counted to ten like his uncle had taught him. Relax, he mentally coached himself. This is nothing major. No one on this ship is stupid enough to steal from me…and we're in the middle of the ocean, so it's not like they can hide if they did take something. I'll just clean this up and…

A noticeable lump beneath his bedcovers twitched a little. It was right beneath where most of the clothes were messily piled, right next to his pillow.

"…"

That's it. He was done. That little fucker was dead.

Yoshi felt especially clever for making extra sheets to hide himself in. Granted, it had taken him a while to figure out where humans kept the soft, colorful things they used to clothe themselves; but he was especially motivated at the prospect of Julie's smiling face and a big, wriggling fishy-fish for dinner. If they were really moving, he liked to bite the heads off first.

Fish brains are squishy. He hoped that Julie wouldn't keep them for herself. Even though it was deeply ingrained that life-givers got the choice meats for their feedings, he also knew that his mother ate strange things…human food, even. Once, he even caught her chewing on a piece of toast…and toast didn't move at all!

How can anyone eat something that isn't moving around? I don't understand…

Not understanding tended to make Yoshi sad. And when Yoshi felt sad, he had to go chase something, because then he would be thinking about something else…like chasing things! And how nice it was to feel them squirming to get free! And tummy rubs!

And when I slay the evil buttfaced-mother-stealer-human, I will drag his corpse to mother and we shall feed on his liver. I wonder what human liver tastes like. Hmmm…maybe liver moves when you eat it. I hope so.

And for the next hour or so, he happily envisioned Julie burying her face into Zuko's open ribcage and lapping up his intestines. Oh, the praises he would get!

"You did a good job," said Julie-mother, who was looking quite tall and suddenly had a fabulous tail very much like his own. "You can have all the squishy bits, Yoshi. Because you are my offspring and you are wonderful, and bad-assery and praises!"

Because that's totally the way his mother spoke. The eelhound happened to be a very good listener.

Yoshi barked happily. "YAY! Even the colon?"

Julie smiled fondly. "Especially the colon."

"YAY!"

The baby reptile was about to tuck into the twitching, bleeding carcass of Prince Zuko when suddenly the fat, round uncle human popped up wearing a turtleduck beak. OH! He wasn't really human after all. Then it was okay not to kill this one.

That was nice. This one knew how to give tummy rubs. That meant that he couldn't have been human. Humans were mean, stupid creatures who called Yoshi a bad dog and chased him. They were always yelling and stomping around, scaring away all the bestest prey, like the elephantrats. And Zuko was the worst human of all because he was taking mother away from him.

Surely, everyone would be glad when Yoshi slayed him. Even the uncle, who looked as though he had something to say about all of this.

"You have defeated my nephew in mortal combat, little one. Many praises for you, and also…" and the uncle not-human began to lapse into a metaphor-riddled anecdote about tea, and Yoshi stopped paying attention.

Shen-Long was suddenly kneeling and petting him. "I am completely uninterested in mating with your mother because it turns out I am the female of my species. How convenient since I have a fish in my pocket."

Yoshi looked up sharply. "FISH? I wants a fish!"

Bo-Fen ambled over and took in the scene. "Sup?" she said to the eelhound. Then she noticed Zuko. "Huh."

She glanced around at the other humans, particularly at Shen-Long (who had a bow in his long hair and much longer eyelashes) and Jee (who had suddenly appeared on her left, sporting a mustache and beard that hung into his belt); and smiled.

"Shen-Long's boobs are bigger than that, you know," she pointed out.

Yoshi cocked his head to the side. "Really?"

Unnoticed by everyone else, the soldier's shirt became a bit tighter as the material strained against a pair of rapidly swelling mammary glands. He/She shot Bo-Fen a frantic look, but she only gave him a critical glance. "A little bigger. I think she can still breathe under her armor."

"Bo-Fen!" he…erm…she hissed. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"You should have paid me back the ten copper you borrowed last week, Shen. Sorry…sister."

And then the dream ended. Because Zuko had ripped the blankets off of his bed, grabbed Yoshi by the scruff of his neck, and held him up at eye-level. The eelhound gave a bark of dismay and tried to run. It took him about ten seconds to realize that there was no ground under his feet, and that he legs were flailing uselessly. But he kept trying for another five seconds…just to be sure.

Humans were tricky like that.

"You better have a good reason for being in my bed," he growled. "Or I'm skinning you."

No! Momma! The butthead is trying to EAT me! The wonderful ME!

Zuko eyed the reptile for a moment. It was actually kind of pathetic to watch; not that it changed his feelings for the eelhound any, but it did make him reconsider his original plan of flambéing the little bastard alive. Well, that and Julie's accusation that he was a "heartless bastard."

Killing a puppy, even a demonic puppy like Yoshi, would probably fall under the "heartless bastard" category. So he decided to take a civil approach.
After all, he knew that the Unagi was capable of compromising. It was the whole reason he was stuck with Yoshi in the first place.

So instead of setting him on fire, Zuko took a deep breath to calm his temper. "Is there any reason at all you keep coming in my room?" he asked tiredly.

Yoshi strained and whimpered. I don't like this. I wanna get down! Put me down, human! You're a bad human! I hate humans because they're all bad and take things away from me!

The Fire Prince frowned. "You don't hate humans, you hate me."

You call me a bad dog and you say mean things…and you don't give me tummy rubs. So that means you're human and I HATE you. So I'm gonna eat your face and give mother your spleen as an offering. She will be pleased.

He closed his eyes for a beat. He took another steadying breath. "I call you a bad dog because you come into my room and attack me in my sleep."

You're the one who tried to take momma away! Yoshi made a sad puppy noise and drooped. You want momma to leave me all alone and call me a bad dog, too. And then you're going to breed with her and replace me with your offspring. And then I won't be special and bad-ass anymore. And THEN I won't get any more fish, or hugs, or fish, or tummy-rubs…or fish!

Zuko stared at him. And then he stared some more. "What…the hell?"

It was almost as if that thing wanted him to feel sorry for it. The eelhound looked so forlorn and depressed that it actually made him feel bad about himself for a minute or two. But then, Zuko remembered that this wasn't a puppy, it was the Unagi. It didn't want Julie's love. It wanted her to be vulnerable in case it needed another human-Energybending-puppet.

He couldn't forget how frightened Julie had been the last time she had been possessed by the Unagi. The look on her face…the terror making her voice quaver as she begged him to let go of her and run…

Julie didn't deserve to suffer that much. She was annoying sometimes, but she was special…and brave. And Zuko wanted to protect her from this manipulative creature if he could.

"You must think I'm stupid, don't you?" he said.

Yoshi looked up and barked in the affirmative. Yup. All humans are stupid. And bad.

Zuko ignored that. "Quit acting so helpless. I know what you really are. You're not an eelhound at all. You're the Unagi. You reincarnated into that form so you could continue terrorizing innocent people…and you're terrible at hiding it. You're a monster…"

The eelhound squirmed and struggled. I'm not a monster or an…an…Una-something! I'm a hunter and mother loves me! And I am her offspring! And you're a butthead and I'm gonna GET you!

"Unagi. You're the Unagi."

I don't know what that is! I want mother! Give her back, human!

Zuko shook his head, disgusted. "Fine. Keep up your act. But don't think I'm going to let you hurt Julie again."

Yoshi felt confused. His mother? When had he ever been a threat to his own mother? He couldn't remember doing anything bad or mean to Julie, but then again, he couldn't even remember what he had for breakfast. And he ate the same thing every day, so that was saying a lot.

Before he could say as much to Zuko, however, the Fire Prince had stalked over to his closet and opened the door. Suddenly, Yoshi found himself momentarily airborne as he was tossed unceremoniously inside. Fortunately, he landed in the hamper of dirty laundry and wasn't hurt. But the fall certainly surprised him, enough so that he couldn't scamper out again before Zuko had shut the door and locked it.

"I promised myself that I would protect her," he said through the crack in the door. "Just remember that."

And then he left the room, presumably so that he could take his bath.

Yoshi lay in the folds of clothes for a thoughtful minute, thinking very hard about what was just said to him. Had the Zuko-human just said that he was…protecting mother? From him? And what were these soft things he was practically buried in? Why was it so dark in here?

Eelhounds had excellent night-vision, so it didn't take long for Yoshi's reptilian eyes to adjust. He found himself in a very confined place with no noticeable way of getting out. There was a thin thread of light pouring through the slit in the door, but it was too small for him to squeeze through. He had tried three and a half times.

The half time had been when he sneezed. And then he started barking because he thought there was another eelhound trapped in the closet with him, and he wanted to establish his territory first.

I don't like it in here. Why did the Zuko-human put me here? Does he really think I'm gonna get momma? But…I love momma…and she loves me. Doesn't she?

Yoshi felt like he was on the brink of something important. And since this was such a tremendously important thought, it wouldn't be good for him to forget it. He had to try very hard to keep the thought in his head, even though it kept floating away like a bubble, and…AAH! Bubbles! Bubbles were EVIL!

Yeah. There wasn't much thinking after that. Only frantic barking.

Zuko spent the rest of the afternoon soaking away his troubles in the bath. He had yelled at his uncle that he wasn't doing this for enjoyment, but even he couldn't deny how soothing was to have the warm water loosen the knots in his back. He breathed a sigh and cleared his mind.

Since he hadn't gotten much sleep at all that week, he ended up falling asleep right in the tub. It wasn't until another hour had passed that he was jerked awake by the sound of a door slamming.

He jerked awake.

"Don't know where…I can't find…"

Julie's voice sounded frantic and tinny from inside his washroom, but Zuko managed to make out a few words. And to his annoyance, Shen-Long was with her. That ingratiating colonist bastard.

"I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Julie. You know Yoshi. He tends to just wander off for a while, but he always comes back…usually by dinner."

"But…dammit, Shen…I keep telling you I looked everywhere! He's just gone!"

Good riddance, Zuko thought. But then he felt something tugging at the back of his mind. Something he had forgotten. Wait a minute…

"Are you sure you looked everywhere?" Shen-Long asked, pausing right outside the washroom door. "You sure you didn't overlook any place?"

Julie let out a quick, angry sniff. "He always comes when I call him…and I did look everywhere, you asshat! Everywhere except…except…" she trailed off and went dead quiet.

Zuko suddenly got a very bad feeling in his stomach. It didn't help when, moments later, the memory of locking the missing eelhound in his closet emerged fresh in his brain. Had Julie already checked there? No, surely not. She wouldn't go in his room. She knew better.

But still…

"That sonofabitch…" Julie growled. "I'm going to fucking kill him!"

Apparently she knew how to put the pieces together.

Zuko hadn't planned on having her coming to Yoshi's rescue. In fact, once he was done with his bath, he had planned on returning to his room, taking the eelhound out of his closet, and bringing the little beast back to Julie with a smug I-told-you-so. But if she went snooping in his room and happened to check his closet…well…she might jump to the wrong conclusion.

Spirits, how long had he been in the bath, anyway? His hands and feet were all pruney.

Quickly, he climbed out of the tub and almost slipped in his haste to grab his robes and pull them on. He cursed under his breath and undid the latch in the door with clumsy fingers.

Julie and Shen-Long were quite surprised to see Zuko practically explode out of the washroom like that. They hadn't even realized it was being used, hence their lack of discretion in their conversation. Seeing him appear out of no-where, sopping wet and dressed in nothing but a bathrobe, stunned them into silence for about ten seconds.

"What…what's going on out here?" he demanded.

Julie blinked at him, taking in his bedraggled appearance. "Wait…you were in the bath all this time?"

Zuko frowned and averted his gaze a bit to his left. "I…fell asleep…"

She scowled at him. "Oh, really? And I'm sure you have no idea whatsoever as to where the hell my baby eelhound is…well?"

In reply, he simply held up his wrinkled hands. "I'm not lying. I really was asleep in there."

There was an awkward pause as Julie and Shen-Long eyed his pruney fingers. They exchanged glances, as though to say, what kind of idiot falls asleep in the tub…besides old people. It made Zuko tense up, as he was prone to do whenever those two had their private moment of peasant-camaraderie; the kind that involved making light of rich, affluent persons such as himself and their so-called haughty ways.

Zuko didn't think he was haughty. Just annoyed. And considering the fact that he had a massive burn scar covering half of his face, he felt justified in his feelings. He certainly wasn't about to go around explaining his behavior to every prick he happened to meet.

Still…he wished Julie wouldn't laugh at all those wisecracks Shen-Long liked to make at his expense. He didn't really sound so pompous…did he?

"…and I know you took him," she finished dramatically, stabbing Zuko in the shoulder with an accusing finger. He blinked at her, suddenly cognizant of the fact that she had been in full-on rant mode for the past two minutes.

"What?"

She breathed out a frustrated sigh. "Quit playing dumb! I know how much you hate Yoshi! He's just a baby, you dickhead, and I want him back, and I swear to God I'll rip your fucking face off if you don't give him to me!"

At this point, Julie was actually clawing at the front of Zuko's bathrobe and standing much too close to him. He felt a frantic blush cross his face as he took a step back, but she just pursued him, like an angry tigerdillo. She glared formidably at him, as formidably as any fuming teenage girl can be while blinking back very angry tears.

He stared at her, at a loss for words. Before he could stop himself, guilt seeped its way through him. It didn't help that Shen-Long was narrowing his eyes at him…almost as if he could sense the waves of guilt radiating from his body.

"Just how long were you in that bath again, your Highness?"

Zuko glared at him. "Long enough," he snapped. You stupid, colonial bastard. "And I…I haven't seen your stupid eelhound…" he lied, not quite looking at Julie or Shen-Long at this point. "How long has he been missing?"

"Practically all day! And I heard you calling him a stupid animal before! I know how to put two and two together, Zu…!"

He ignored the dubious looks from Shen-Long and focused his attention on the redhead, who was actually on the alarming verge of tears. He put his hands on her shoulders, not as a comforting gesture, but to keep her from getting within claw's reach of his face. "If you want, I'll check my room and see if the monster is hiding in there. I bet you he's gotten into my things again…"

And then, surreptitiously, he would pluck the eelhound out of the closet, dump him into Julie's arms, and pretend that he had caught the mischievous critter under his bed…or somewhere else that was less suspicious than a locked closet. The best part was that Julie would be none the wiser, and it would put that stupid colonist in his place. The nerve of him, giving him these furtive, I-know-you-did-it looks…Spirits, if Julie wasn't so attached to him, he'd have booted him off the ship by now for his constant insubordination.

She blinked at him for a second. "W-wait…really? You're…actually going to help me look for him?"

Shen-Long frowned. "Wonderful."

Julie gave him a look that told him to shut-up, which made Zuko's mood improve by a couple of notches. "I don't mind having you help, but…" she trailed off for a second, shaking her head. "…it's weird. You hate Yoshi. I'd have thought you'd order us not to look for him or something…"

And just like that, his good mood died.

"I may not like the animal," he said. "And I might not approve of the company you keep, peasant…but that doesn't mean I'd…I mean…I wouldn't do that to you! Spirits, what the hell kind of person do you take me for, anyway?"

This seemed to make Julie feel bad about herself. Her shoulders slumped. "I…I'm sorry…I just…he's never hidden from me before. And he's just a baby, Zuko…he could die, or…or get eaten…"

"He's not going to get eaten," said Shen-Long quickly, noticing that she was working herself up again. "Yoshi is a predator…and those elephantrats are more scared of him than he is of them. He's probably napping somewhere. We'll find him."

"He's right," Zuko added. "I'm sure that he's…what are you two staring at?"

Because now they were full-on gaping at him.

"Since when do you ever agree with anything I say?" Shen-Long demanded suspiciously.

Zuko quickly rallied himself. "Since the first time you decided to say something even remotely logical," he shot back. "Of course the eelhound is somewhere. We're out at sea…where could he possibly go?"

"Why don't you tell us?"

But Julie went stiff and rounded on him. "Shen-Long, what the hell? Zuko's right…he wouldn't do that to me. And he certainly wouldn't do that to a baby animal…even one he didn't like. Right?" she added, looking hopefully up at Zuko.

He felt like a total dick.

"Um…yeah. Obviously."

She nodded, as if that settled everything. "Good. Then let's go look for Yoshi. I'm sure we just…missed him somehow. He's got to be here."

But Zuko could tell that she was just trying to keep her spirits up. She was obviously very worried about the puppy. For Agni's sake…this was getting out of hand.

"I think we should check Prince Zuko's room first," said Shen-Long curtly. "Since it's the only place we haven't checked yet."

The Fire Prince opened his mouth, then shut it again. He couldn't think of any excuse he could give them without giving himself away. So he squared his shoulders and stalked off down the hallway towards where his room was. "I'll go check. I'm not having peasants in my room…Spirits…"

But Julie and Shen-Long followed, much to his chagrin. He felt ridiculous, leading them all the way to his private quarters and dripping bath-water everywhere (he hadn't really had the chance to dry off properly), but he did it all the same. He didn't have much of a choice.

"Let me get dressed first," he said to them hastily as he put his hand on the doorknob. "I'm not looking for that stupid animal dressed in nothing but a bathrobe."

Shen-Long folded his arms and gave him another judging look, but Julie flushed a bright red. She apparently didn't even realize Zuko was dressed in close to nothing…and she had gotten awfully close to him back there, and…her face was a vivid scarlet as she scowled down at her feet.

"W-why didn't you say something earlier, idiot?" she stammered. "Fine, then…but hurry up!"

He felt a little awkward seeing how embarrassed Julie was. But he quickly shook it off and retreated into his bedroom, locking the door behind him.

Breathing a sigh, he ran his hand across his scalp. That stupid Unagi is going to be the death of me. He shook his head again as he crossed the room and fumbled with the latch to his closet door. He was nervous, so it took him a while to get the lock undone. And then, Zuko tore open the door, expecting to see Yoshi whining petulantly up at him and demanding a fish for his troubles.

He stared. And he stared. He rubbed at his good eye with his hand for a few seconds, then looked again. But no matter how many times he looked, the only thing he continued to see was an empty closet.

Yoshi was gone.

A/N: Things certainly didn't turn out the way Zuko planned. Thinking he bought himself an afternoon of peace, he locked Yoshi temporarily in his closet…only now he could be on the brink of topping Julie's permanent shit-list when the eelhound inexplicably vanishes. Will things get out of hand in his renewed search for the eelhound? Will Shen-Long be able to prove Zuko's guilt in the crime? And just where did Yoshi scamper off to, anyway?

I know this was more of a Zuko chapter than a Yoshi chapter, and I apologize. However, it's important to see two sides to every argument, and the same is true in this instance. I can hardly begin to finish this little episode if I don't at least explain Zuko's side of the story. They need an opportunity to understand one another, and this is just the way to do it. Mayhaps will the Fire Prince learn a newfound appreciation for Yoshi when it looks as though he's truly gone for good?

Is he really gone for good?

The only way any of you will find out is if you REVIEW!