I had a really good time today with the person I least expected to have it with. Yeah, Zuko. Well, I guess it's Lee now. When I went to the tea shop this morning, he seemed to be waiting for me. I guess he wasn't working today because he left with me to help look for Appa. He said he owed me for saving Iroh's life, and I wasn't going to say anything, but we had worked out last night that we were even. I needed the help.
The others followed a lead from Jet. Yeah, he found us yesterday. I wasn't exactly the most enthusiastic about it, so I told them I had a little bit of information from someone in the lower ring that I wanted to follow up. It wasn't exactly a lie. Iroh had told me about seeing Appa one night when they were on the ferry. Aang tried to come with me, but I convinced him I could handle it.
Well, Zuko and I searched all over the lower rings with me passing out flyers. We came upon a couple people who'd seen him just a couple days ago in the sky, but he landed too far away for them to see. Well, at least we know for sure he's in the city. Around midday, we stopped for lunch. The surprising thing was, Zuko just kind of.. opened up to me a little. I didn't ask him to, he always seemed kind of closed off to me, but he did. Told me about his uncomfortable date last night and everything. That part was kind of funny.
An older man gave us menus and said something to Zuko that I couldn't hear. Apparently he knew him or something. Hard to believe, I know. I never pictured Zuko as a people person. What was harder to believe was that hint of a smile at that man's comment. Maybe he's changing for the better. Maybe, just maybe, he would agree to being Aang's firebending teacher. I'll hold off that question for another day, when I get to know him a little better.
Later, we ended up checking the stables Jet had told us about, just in case the others missed something. I was surprised Zuko came with me seeing as the place was in the upper ring. It wasn't unwanted company though. I felt as if I could trust him somehow, that he wouldn't let anything happen to me. He could be a good friend, I think. All we found in the stable was a bit of fur.
Some guy working in there told us there was a group of people looking for him earlier and they said something about Lake Laogai. I wasn't sure where it was at, but Zuko led the way as if he knew. Maybe he was tracking them, I'm not sure. Anyway, we got there and split up. I ended up walking in on a battle between my friends, Jet, and Long Feng. I jumped in immediately, but Long Feng disappeared, as well as Aang and Jet.
I followed Toph and Sokka and, for some reason, it was then that I noticed Smellerbee and Longshot were there too. When we went through another door, we saw Aang knelt over Jet on the ground. He was dying, but there was nothing I could do. When we got out of there, Appa helped us fight off Long Feng again. I had a feeling Zuko had something to do with his release and silently thanked him for it. When Appa threw Long Feng into the lake, we took off. I looked back just in time to see Zuko jumping up out of the hole. I'll go back to my little tea shop tomorrow and thank him properly.
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Journal-
I had a really good time today with the person I least expected to have it with. Katara was a lot more comfortable to be around than Jin was, probably because I actually know her and we have a history. It's not exactly the best history, but.. well, I'm not really sure how to explain it. I was just abnormally comfortable around her. And she didn't eat like a bullpig when we had lunch. Because I felt comfortable, I coudn't help myself when I started telling her a little about me and my life since we'd last seen each other.
The man that served us was the same man that served Jin and I the night before. He leaned down to my ear and said "Quite the ladies man, huh?". I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile. Even with the horrid scar, I could get dates. Katara told me it made me look rugged, like a fighter, and girls like men who can fight because they know they'll be safe. That made me feel better because I think she's starting to trust me a little. Maybe I'm starting to trust her too.
After we ate, we went to the stables in the upper ring to check on a lead she'd gotten yesterday. Some old guy was in there sweeping up leftover fur from the bison. It smelled horrible, but I had to withstand it until we heard him say something about them going to Lake Laogai. I immediately grabbed her hand and walked out, then tried to track them. I remembered seeing a lake on a map that was inside the upper ring somewhere. I took a chance and that's where we went.
I could tell her friends had already been there, judging by the opening in the little platform in the lake. We went down in the hole and split up. I didn't want to, I'm assuming it was because of what she said earlier about feeling safe around me, but we had to in order to cover more ground. I thought I heard fighting sounds coming from her direction and was about to head over that way when I heard a loud noise from behind a door in front of me.
When I opened the door, I wasn't all that surprised to see the bison in there chained to the floor. He growled and tried to back away, but the chains held him in place. I held my hands up so he would know I wouldn't hurt him, then cut through the chains with my swords. He licked me. I had giant bison drool all over me and my bangs were standing straight up. It was disgusting.
He made his own way out of the underground facility, so I looked for Katara to make sure she was alright. When I couldn't find her, I climbed back out of the hole just in time to see them fly away. I'm pretty sure I saw her look back at me. I could tell she wanted to come back for me, but I couldn't blame her for not. That pathetic excuse for a warrior she traveled with would jump all over her, then me. I just made my own way back home.
Oh yeah, I did have that talk with Uncle last night. He told me what happened while he was traveling on his own and about what happened in the oasis during the siege. Now I don't feel so in the dark, but I wish I'd known all this sooner. I should probably find a better place to put this thing or my uncle will find it. He tends to clean my room for me sometimes without my permission. I think I do a good job keeping it clean. Anyway, it's been a long day so I'm done writing. I have a long day of serving tea tomorrow. I wonder if she'll be there..
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Gah, that episode last night was disappointing, but Zuko has a good reason for doing what he did. He and Iroh have it all worked out, trust me. Oh, and I finally have a deviantART account. Link is in my profile! R&R!
Jenn
