Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA I only own Hirona.

Chapter 7

Iroh was getting worried about Zuko. He had been meditating in his room for two days now, without food or water. It was impossible to tell if he slept. He had just sat there, eyes closed, and not even news of the Avatar woke him up. Iroh decided enough was enough. He went into Zuko's room and roughly shook his shoulder. "Prince Zuko!" He shouted. "Snap out of it! You are going to make yourself ill!" Zuko didn't move. Iroh shook him harder. He still didn't move. Time for a new strategy, he decided.

Hirona was pacing her room impatiently. She needed something to do. She had tried to do some Tai Chi, but it didn't relax her as much as it normally did. There was a knock at her door. "Come in!" She called eagerly. Even if it were just some servant with a pitiful excuse for a meal, she would be glad of a little conversation. Iroh appeared at the door. "Yes, General?" She asked. Iroh had given up trying to stop her calling him General, it never worked. "Is there something you wanted?" Please say yes!

"Yes, Miss Hirona. I am worried about my nephew,"

"Why? What's wrong with him?"

"He has been meditating for too long. It is bad for his health,"

"How long is too long?"

"Two days,"

"This is without food or water?" Hirona asked incredulously. She could barely meditate for five minutes without her mind wandering. She knew she was supposed to focus on her breathing, but it never worked. Tai Chi gave her more to concentrate on. "I'm afraid so, Miss Hirona,"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because we need your help,"

"Me? Why me?"

"Please, Miss Hirona. I am worried about him. He could kill himself if he carries on for much longer,"

"Sorry. Of course I will help you," She was led to Zuko's room. She peered curiously inside the door. It was a sad, dark room, with the only light coming from the meditation candles lit in the corner. Zuko sat with his legs crossed, shoulders thrown back proudly, and his shirt off, Hirona couldn't help noticing. "What do I do?" She asked Iroh.

"Just talk to him. Try anything!" Iroh replied, shoving her into the room and closing the door.

"Zuko?" Hirona asked, cautiously making her way over to him. "Zuko?" She tried again, but there was no response. She gently laid a hand on his bare shoulder. Suddenly his hand snapped up, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into his lap. His other hand went to her throat. He stared angrily down at her. Hirona gasped for air, and Zuko seemed to come to his senses, and released her neck. "What are you doing?" He snapped. "Don't you know it's dangerous to wake people during meditation?"

"I do now!" Hirona snapped back, rubbing her throat. "Let me up, please," He released her arm, and she sat up out of his lap.

"What's so urgent?"

"You were killing yourself,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you have any idea how long you've been meditating?"

"A couple of hours maybe. What the hell does it matter?"

"You were like that for two days Zuko!"

"I-," Zuko's frown changed to an expression of surprise. "What?"

"You have been meditating for two days, Zuko," Zuko opened his mouth, and then closed it again.

"I had no idea…"

"Can you stand?" Hirona asked him.

"Of course I can stand! Don't be ridiculous!" He hissed. Hirona got to her feet, and Zuko tried to do the same, but stumbled. Hirona grabbed him stop him from falling. He shook her off angrily. He didn't need help to stand, especially not from a girl. "Are you sure you're okay?" Hirona said, watching him lean against a wall. The metal was cool on his warm back. He sighed. It wasn't often that he welcomed the cold, but his back was sore, and it came as relief. "Yeah," He muttered. "Yeah, I'm fine,"

"Good. I was worried about you," Hirona mentally kicked herself for saying that. What would that sound like to the banished prince? Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Were you?"

"Yes, well, when your uncle told me you hadn't eaten or drank for two days, I was bound to worry right?"

"Why?"

"I- er-," Hirona wished Zuko didn't have to make things so awkward. He never normally wanted to talk about feelings, and he picked an awful place to start. "I don't know," She admitted. "Why are you so interested?"

"I just wonder what goes on in your head sometimes,"

"I wonder the same about you," Zuko stared thoughtfully at the girl in front of him.

"Don't you hate me?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Just answer it, please,"

"Well, sometimes I think I hate you, but then, I don't…" Zuko made his way towards Hirona as she began to cry. Now he had begun to walk, it was easier. He held her against his bare chest. "Don't cry…" He whispered, surprisingly soothingly. She looked up into his amber eyes, and they leaned into each other, their lips brushing. Slowly, it progressed into a full kiss. Suddenly Hirona pulled back, looking scared. "I'm sorry Zuko, I- I can't," Zuko watched open-mouthed as she ran out of the door. What was that?

Hirona locked herself in her room. She paced up and down, barely noticing the tears pouring down her cheeks. What had she been thinking? She was in love with Flint- wasn't she? No, of course she was in love with Flint. He had come to rescue her. But, she had hesitated… No, she couldn't be in love with Zuko, she just couldn't be! He was her enemy, son of the fire lord! He was trying to capture the Avatar, to make it so the fire nation reigned supreme! She couldn't allow that, she just couldn't. She threw herself on the bed and cursed the cruelty of fate.

Zuko made his slow, tired way to his uncle. A look of pure relief spread across Iroh's face as soon as he saw his nephew upright and mobile. "Prince Zuko! You are awake! Sit down; you need some food and water. I knew Hirona would be able to wake you!" The prince winced at Hirona's name. He still didn't understand what had happened between them. She had kissed him back- so why did she pull away and run? "Uncle," He began, unsure if he was making the right decision. "Can I talk to you?"

"Interesting," Iroh said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He had spent the past few minutes listening to his usually proud nephew confessing his feelings for Hirona, and explaining what happened between them. "Well Zuko, think how you would feel in her position," Zuko groaned inwardly. Empathy was not one of his strong points. "You are a prisoner on your enemy's ship, and you find yourself falling for them, even though you already have a partner," Zuko's face scrunched up in disgust. When Iroh had said 'You are a prisoner on your enemy's ship' he had thought of Zhao. Now images of him making out with Zhao had infiltrated his imagination. He pushed these twisted thoughts away, and thought of Hirona again. His expression softened. "I suggest you speak to Hirona," Iroh said serenely, pretending he hadn't noticed Zuko's face. He could only imagine what he must have been thinking, and he fought to hold back laughter. "Thank you uncle. I will," Zuko got up and left the room.

There was no answer at Hirona's door, so Zuko went in. He found Hirona asleep on her bed, so he turned to leave, but the squeak of a floorboard woke her up. "What…?" she asked blearily. "Zuko?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were okay,"

"Well, now you know I'm fine,"

"But you're not,"

"I'm FINE, Zuko,"

"What bothers you so much?" Hirona gave up trying to get Zuko to leave.

"Everything,"

"Everything?" She didn't answer.

"Why don't you just ask what you really want to know?"

"Why did you run?"

"I was confused. I'm still confused,"

"Why?"

"Don't you get it? You're a fire nation prince! I'm an earth kingdom peasant. You're trying to capture the Avatar, and it's my sworn duty to protect him! I'm your prisoner! We can't- it just won't work. We're too different,"

"That isn't the problem," Zuko growled. Hirona bit her lip nervously. "Tell me? Please?"

"I thought I was in love with someone else. But now…"

Haha! I love cliffhangers! Okay, so maybe it's not much of a cliffhanger, but it's close enough. I really, really don't know what's going to happen next. If anyone has any good ideas, please let me know! I'm getting desperate! Until I find inspiration, Miss SJB. (That's me)