Hey everybody I've finally been able to finish this chapter, I hope you enjoy it.
I DO NOT OWN AVATAR OR NARUTO.
"Well what should we do now?" Sakura asked
After getting Appa back and escaping the Dai Li; the gang realised that there was still a few matters left untied. Like the earth king and informing him about the information they had on the fire nation not to mention Long Feng and the Dai Li agents. They weren't out of the woods yet but the real dilemma right now was the decision as to whether or not they wanted to tell the earth king anything or just leave
Sakura was petting Appa with Aang trying to get the huge bison use to her since she had only arrived in the group after his disappearance but he seemed rather friendly-according to Aang after he gave her the affectionate lick that had her jumping in the lake.
"I say we go to the earth king now and tell him our plan." Sokka said "We're on a roll here."
"Yeah; down a hill of trouble." Sakura commented turning around to face him
"Sakura's right" said Katara "One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much a roll."
Toph raised her hand "I still say we should leave this place."
"We can build on it; if we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens we need the earth kings support."
"What makes you think we'll get it?" asked Toph who was sitting on the ground "I don't know if you noticed but things don't usually go so smoothly for our little gang."
"I know but I've got a good feeling about this." Sokka said positively "This time will be different."
"Sokka Long Feng is in control of the city; his conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful I think we should just keep moving and get away from this awful place."
"I'm with sweetness" said Toph "I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se and I can't even see!"
Sakura sighed as she sat on top of Appa's head "I get that you would want to leave believe me I really do but we have to consider the fact that we're not the only one's involved in this situation anymore. Katara; we have to talk to the earth king to tell him or all of this would amount to nothing. Think about everything we've been through do you really want to stop here?"
Katara's face softened.
"She's right" Aang said going to them "Now that we've got Appa back there's nothing stopping us from telling the earth king the truth; about the conspiracy and the war."
Sokka threw his arms over Sakura and Aang "See they're with me; and it's three against two! We win! We have to try at least."
Katara looked like she was in thought placing her hand on her chin "Well I guess if the earth king knew the truth things could change."
Toph stood up with a frown "I don't like the new positive Sokka-LONG FENG BRAINWASHED YOU DIDN'T HE?"
Just then they spotted boats sailing on the river and concluded that it might be the Dai Li going to warn the earth king about them.
"We have to move now" Sakura said
On Appa the group sailed through the sky; Sakura enjoyed the feeling of the wind in her hair and she told Aang she could see why they would miss it. However Appa didn't have his saddle and Toph was very on edge because of it.
"CAN WE PLEASE BUY A NEW SADDLE RIDING BARE BACK IS TERRIFYING."
Sakura giggled and placed her arm over Toph in a comforting manner; she knew the tomboyish girl wasn't into that sort of thing but right now she wasn't complaining about having someone to grab her in case she slipped.
They saw the earth king's palace come into sight. Sokka told them that the earth kings chambers would most likely be in the centre.
"We have to be careful; Long Feng's probably already warned the earth king that we're coming." Katara said
"Why would you assume that; if you ask me I think we're gonna sail right-
Before Sokka could complete his sentence something came flying right at the group-a huge boulder with more coming at them.
"WHAT WERE YOU SAYING SOKKA" Sakura screamed angrily as she and Aang deflected the boulders with his bending.
As they started coming down Aang cleared the way of the soldiers that were gathered in the front.
"Yeah we're not making a very good impression." Sakura said wincing
They started running through the large area towards the palace but more guards came towards them. As they aimed their rocks at them; Aang; Sakura and Toph were in the front stopping the rocks while Katara used her water to create a whip that knocked them out of the way-while apologising of course.
They managed to make their way through all of the hundreds of guards and into the large palace.
"Now comes the hard part." Sakura panted
They were surrounded by more guards as they came to cross paths. Toph quickly immobilised them.
"Toph which way to the earth king?" asked Sokka
"How should I know; I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se!"
They started to search the palace while fending off the earth kings men but by far there was no sign of him. After all of the commotion they were looking at the large amount of damage they had done. Rubble lying around them.
Sokka then spotted a large door.
"Now that's am impressive door, that's gotta go somewhere"
Sokka rushed forth and attempted to kick it down and failed when Sakura came up behind him.
"Allow me."
Sakura kicked down the door with ease; it flew off its hinges and landed on the floor with a loud thud.
"Oops."
There they found themselves in what appeared to be the throne room; gold and green decorated the area; and in the middle surrounded by guards was a man finely dressed; he had dark eyes and wore glasses; the bear from the party was also there-the only assumption that could of been made was that this was the earth king Kuei.
Long Feng then appeared as well and so did the Dai li.
"We need to talk to you." Aang said weapon ready
"They're here to over throw you" Long Feng told the king pointing to the group accusingly
"No we're not we're on your side!" Sokka insisted
"You have to believe us." Katara begged
"You invade my palace; lay waste to all my guards; break down my fancy door and you expect me to trust you?"
Sakura let out a nervous laugh
"He has a point." Toph told them
"If you're on my side then drop your weapons and stand down." Kuei ordered
Everyone did as they were told in hopes to prove their word to be true but the minute they did the Dai Li restrained them with earth handcuffs. Though it was nothing they couldn't break out of however they chose to remain passive for the time being.
"Detain the assailants." Long Feng ordered
The Dai Li soon surrounded the group enclosing them.
"But we dropped our weapons; we're your allies" said Sokka
"Make sure the avatar and his friends never see the light of day again" said Long Feng however he hadn't realised his mistake in revealing this fact.
"The avatar? You're the avatar?" asked the king looking at Sokka
"No he is" Sokka said gesturing to Aang who waved his free hands as he earth bent the shackles.
"Over here."
"What does it matter your highness? They're enemies of the state." Said Long Feng
The earth king looked hesitant "Perhaps you're right."
Then his pet bear went up to Aang and gave him an affectionate lick on his face.
"Though Bosco seems to like him; I'll hear what he has to say."
Sakura sighed in relief, there may yet be hope.
Aang stepped forward and started explaining "Well sir there's a war going on right now for the past one hundred years in fact the Dai Li's kept it a secret from you; it's a conspiracy to control the city and you"
The earth king looked at him in disbelief "A secret war? That's crazy"
"Completely" agreed Long Feng which only made Sakura want to break out of the shackles and send him flying into next week but for the sake of her friends and their case she would hold back...for now.
"Long Feng didn't want us telling you about the war so he stole our sky bison to blackmail us and blackmail is the least of his crimes he brainwashed our friend!"
"All lies." Long Feng said "I've never even seen a sky bison your majesty; frankly I thought they were extinct."
The earth king sat back on the throne "Your claim is difficult to believe even from an avatar."
Long Feng went to whisper to the king "These hooligans are part of an anarchy cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them you're playing right into your own destruction."
The earth king looked at them "I have to trust my advisor."
"Your advisor is playing you!" Sakura snapped "We can prove his lying"
"We can?" asked Sokka
Sakura gave him a look and then he got it "That's right! Long Feng says he's never seen a sky bison before right? As him to lift his robe,"
"What? I am not disrobing" said Long Feng
Aang smirked and blew a gust of wind that lifted his robe and showed the mark; he tried to cover up taht it was a birth mark but then they compared the mark on his foot with the mark on his leg and it showed they matched.
"Well that proves it" said Kuei
The group cheered, that was one point for them.
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory" stated the earth king.
"Aww." They all moaned slouching
"But I suppose these are matters worth looking into."
"We're cool with that." Sakura said while everyone else agreed
They decided to first show the earth king where all of the Dai Li's brainwashing took place; under Lake Laogai. They took the train there to which they discovered the earth king had never travelled by before even within his own city.
"So this is what a train is like. I didn't think it would be this public" he observed looking around at all the passengers starring at him and his guards surrounding him. He looked out of the window where Aang was flying with Aapa "Now that's the way to travel."
"So you've never been outside the upper ring before?" asked Katara
"I've never been outside the palace."
Sakura snickered "Now there's a shocker; though it explains a lot."
Katara frowned and scolded "Sakura."
The pinkette rolled her eyes "I'm just saying; where I come from our leader actually bothers to listen and help his people."
"That sounds rather odd." Kuei said though taking much offense to the statement.
Sakura crossed her arms over her chest "It's not; they know their people on a personal level; they work hard to ensure that they protect the lands they rule; they will sacrifice themselves for the sake of it and many of them have. When they die everyone mourns and it is genuine because they have lost someone dear to their hearts; it's as if you've lost a family member. Here all I've seen is royalty that hasn't given its regular citizens a second thought. You've never tried to get to know your people. You haven't tried to better their lives and only listen to the words of those who are announced to be at the same social standings of your own. Not of the words of those who truly need it; the ones suffering while you rule."
The earth king frowned "Now that is-
"When was the last time you've bothered to actually listen to your subjects and hear them?" Sakura asked cutting him off "They are the ones with their eyes wide open to the truth but too afraid thanks to the Dai Li. You were either too ignorant or lazy to think about your people."
Katara and Sokka winced before looking at each other. Sakura had openly expressed her discontent for the cities methods. The separation of the walls and the inequality that had clearly been shown to them when they had first arrived.
"Okay Sakura that's enough." Sokka said "We're trying to get him to hear us out here and you're not helping."
Sakura frowned "It's better to hear the truth now so that he will open his eyes."
They arrived at Lake Laogai to show the earth king the secret headquarters of the Dai Li but when Toph revealed the once secret passage way it was gone. Obviously the Dai Li had gotten there before them and this was not looking good for them as seen when Kuei had a frown on his face.
"What the-that's okay still have my positive attitude." Sokka said
"Tell that to your face," Sakura muttered
"The Dai Li must've known we were coming and destroyed the evidence." Katara said
The earth king scoffed "That seems awfully convenient."
Sakura glared back at him, she didn't care if he was royalty. He was working on her last nerve.
"Hey if anything this proves the conspiracy exists even more!" Sokka said nodding to himself
"Long Feng was right; this was a waste of time. If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to the palace."
With that he turned away and began leaving with his many guards but when Sakura slammed her foot into the ground creating a crater he froze.
"Listen here, do you think we would have anything to gain by coming all the way to this lake saying there was a secret headquarters when there actually wasn't one making us look like fools?"
"Well there isn't one is there?" Kuei pointed out
Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep breath and then something occurred to her, she turned back to everyone "The wall!"
It clicked instantly as they recalled the giant drill that was most likely still stuck in there.
"Oh yeah!" Aang said rushing over to the king "If you come with us to the outer wall, we can prove to you that the secret war is real."
"No earth king has ever been to the outer wall. I don't have any more time for this nonsense."
Sokka quickly cut in remembering something that the earth king had said when they were one the train "If you come with us...this time you can ride on Aapa."
Taking the bait the gang along with the earth king were holding on for dear life as they rode the sky bison feeling the strong wind blowing against them; because of the size there were only two guards with them as well.
"First time flying?" asked Toph, she was the only one lying down while she held on
"It's both thrilling and terrifying." Kuei said
"Yeah I hate it too." Toph told him
He then looked down "I have to be honest; part of me is hoping that what you're telling me about this war isn't true."
"I wish it wasn't." Aang said honestly
Finally they reached the outer wall and to their relief and joy the drill was still there, surrounded by a wall of earth surrounding it but still very obvious.
"What is that?"
Sokka stared at the contraption with a hard glare "It's a drill, a giant drill made by the Fire Nation to break through your walls."
Sakura leaned to the back on Appa starring at the sky "Now who's the fool?"
They landed on the outer wall to get a closer look; the earth king looked down at it and bowed his head in shame "I can't believe I never knew."
Then Long Feng and two Dai Li agents appeared on the wall as well "I can' explain this, this is nothing more than a construction project." Long Feng claimed, lying swiftly
Sakura scoffed and crossed her arms "They say those backed into a corner will take desperate moves in order to escape but I didn't expect a pathetic excuse like that to come from you."
Long Feng glared at Sakura "Shut your mouth girl! You will not poison the earth king's mind with your lies; this is a construction project nothing more."
"Then why is there a Fire Nation insignia on your construction project?" Katara asked placing her hand on her hips.
"Well it's imported of course; you know you can't trust domestic machinery." Long Feng said casually but a glance at the group and he could tell that everything was beginning to unravel.
"Surely you don't believe these children instead of your most loyal attendant?" Long Feng asked placing a hand on his chest
Kuei looked at the group who stared back at him with honest eyes, even Sakura. He frowned turning back to Long Feng "Dai Li arrest Long Feng; I want him to stand trial for crimes against the earth kingdom."
The Dai Li did as ordered but Sakura caught the glance between them before they shackled Long Feng and started dragging him away.
"You can't do this to me; you all need me more than you know!"
Sokka cheered raising his arms up in the air "Looks like Long Feng is long gone!"
"Hell yeah!" said Sakura high fiving Sokka
They returned to the palace; the sun had already set and they were now back in the throne room standing before Kuei.
"I want to thank you young heroes for opening my eyes" said the earth king "All this time from what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools and that makes me the king of fools." He covered his face "We're at war...with the fire nation."
"That's why we're here" said Sokka "We may have found a way to stop this war but we need your help."
Aang spoke then "We don't have much time, there's a commit coming this summer it's energy will give the fire benders unbelievable power; they'll be unstoppable."
"But there is hope." Sokka began "Before the commit comes we have a window of opportunity; a solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be entirely blocked out by the moon and the fire benders will be helpless."
"What are you suggesting Sokka?" the king asked
"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation. The day of black sun."
"I don't know that would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se we're completely vulnerable" Kuei attempted to reason.
"And what do you call yourself now?" Sakura asked stepping closer "Wasn't the drill evidence enough that the Fire Nation will go through any means to bring down your city? If we hadn't stopped that drill you would've found out about this war in a very harsh manner. Now you have a chance to counter them before you are overpowered and you still hesitate to take it? The rest of the world's been doing their part in this war isn't time you-as a leader did yours?"
Sakura had heard more about the war from everyone; the earth kingdoms and water tribes banned together against the Fire Nation; the air nomads had been wiped out by them already in order to keep the avatar from interfering with the war but somehow Aang had managed to escape that fate.
Kuei looked like he was in thought before he nodded "Very well; you have my support."
Everyone broke out in grins and came in for a group hug before someone walked in; a man dressed in green armour with a goatee. He bowed to the king walking past the group.
"You majesty, I apologise for the interruption."
King Kuei introduced him "This is general How, he's the leader of the council of five; my highest ranking generals."
"We searched Long Feng's office; I think we've found something that will interest everybody."
They moved to the earth king's office where the general presented a chest to them; he explained that there were secret files on everyone in Ba Sing Se including the gang. Sakura concluded that this was one of the methods the Dai Li used to stay in control of the city.
Toph was the first one to get a scroll on her. Katara read it out to her "It's a letter from your mom; she's here in the city and she wants to see you."
Toph gaped in disbelief "Long Feng intercepted our letters from home? That's just sad."
Sakura recalled the story about Toph having a very sheltered life because of her parents thinking she was too fragile and weak to do anything on account of her being blind. They even hid her from the world so much so that not a lot of people knew her parents had a daughter. Now that's what Sakura would call a child kept in cotton wool. It was no wonder she ran away at the chance to go on an adventure.
Then it was Aang's turn, the general explained that the scroll handed to him was attached to Aapa when the Dai LI captured it.
Aang gratefully took it and started reading "It's from the Eastern Air Temple."
Sakura didn't bother asking if there was a letter for her because who the heck was she going to receive a letter from? Katara and Sokka on the other hand...
"Is there a letter for me and Sokka?"
"No but there is an intelligence report that you might be interested in."
Katara read the scroll "A small fleet of water tribe ships,"
"What?" asked Sokka excited "That could be dad!"
"Protecting the mouth Chameleon Bay...lead by Hakoda! It is dad!"
It was obvious that they were going to have a lot of discussing now, so the earth king and general left them alone in the room to discuss amongst themselves what they were going to do next.
"There's a man living at the Eastern Air temple, he says he's a guru."
"What's a guru?" Sokka asked Aang
"A spiritual expert," Aang told him "He wants to help me take the next step in the avatar journey. He says he can teach me to control the avatar state."
Sakura smiled "That's great Aang."
Then Aang's eyes lit up like he's suddenly been struck with an idea "Yeah and he might be able to help you too!"
"Huh?" The pinkette looked at him confused, she was not expecting that
Aang shrugged "Well you wanted to find answers on how to get home right? A spiritual expert may be able to help."
Sakura raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms "Aang are you suggesting that it may have been something spiritual that brought me here?"
"It's possible," Aang said "I've been thinking about this, the avatar's the bridge between this world and the spirit world. So what was the bridge between this world and your world? What exactly brought you here?"
Katara seemed to be in thought now "It is a possibility; why not Sakura?"
Looking down at her hands Sakura muttered "I don't know..."
"What do you have to lose?" pointed Sokka "Just asking can't hurt."
"Yeah, you've been so busy helping us out that you haven't taken the time to search for answers." Toph said "This guru might be able to tell you how to get home."
Her heart fluttered in joy; to think that there was hope of her returning back home. It was true that she hadn't had much time to think about finding a way to return home, she was more focused on helping Aang and everyone else achieve their goals but now that they were achieved...
'Guess I'm leaving the city after all.'
"This is amazing..." Sakura muttered "I can't believe I might actually find a way to return home."
Katara looked down at the scroll in her hands "And I can't believe I know where our dad is now."
"I know what you mean," Toph said "My mom's in the city and from her letter it sounds like she finally understands me."
"This is all such big news, where do we even start?" asked Sokka
Katara looked down "I hate to say it but we have to split up."
Aang stood up from the carpet and looked at Katara shocked "Split up? We just found Appa and got the family back together, now you want us to separate?"
"You have to meet this guru Aang, if we're gonna invade the Fire Nation you need to be ready." Katara pointed out
Aang nodded "Well if I'm going to the Eastern Air temple, Appa and I can drop you off at Chameleon Bay to see your dad."
Sokka had a solemn expression on his face as he spoke "Someone has to stay with the earth king and plan for the invasion. I guess that's me."
Katara stopped him "No Sokka, I know how badly you wanna help dad, you go to Chameleon Bay. I'll stay here with the king."
Sokka had tears of joy in his eyes as he pranced up to Katara "You-are-the-nicest-sister-ever"
He gave her a kiss on her cheek when Katara pushed him back "Easy there big brother; though you're right I am."
"I guess we should get ready for tomorrow then," Aang said standing up as well followed by Toph and Sakura.
"We should probably stay at the palace since someone created a giant hole in the wall at our place." Sakura pointed out before everyone turned to Toph who simply grinned.
"I'm so glad I can't see your expressions."
Later that night after the rest of the gang decided to rest up for their journey tomorrow, Sakura went down to the lower ring of Ba Sing Se; since she was going to be leaving first thing in the morning there would be any time for her other than now.
'I at least want to say goodbye, just in case'
She came up to an old building and stood in front of one of the many apartment doors giving it a slight tap. Though it was late she could see that there was still light shining through the window. The door opened to a tired looking Iroh-known to Sakura as Mushi who was rubbing his eyes.
"Oh Sakura dear what brings you here so late?" he asked politely
Sakura bowed her head "I'm so sorry for coming here at this time of night but I was hoping to see Lee."
Iroh nodded "I'm actually glad you came, you see recently my nephew's fallen very ill."
Gasping in shock and worry Sakura asked "What, what happened? Is he alright? Does he-
"Slow down, he's currently resting and you're more than welcome to see him. I don't believe this illness in contagious but perhaps you could take a look at him?"
Nodding Sakura quickly stepped into the small apartment; she observed that there were a few boxes standing in the corner.
"Are you going somewhere?" she asked
"Oh just to the upper ring," Iroh told her, he explained that he had been offered his own tea shop recently and that they were going to move to the upper ring so that he could run it. After giving her congratulations, Sakura went to see Zuko.
There he was, lying under a blanket, covered in sweat, breathing heavily and looking like he was enduring a rather uncomfortable sleep. There was water and clothes beside him. Sakura filled with worry immediately went to inspect him. There were no signs of poison, and it seemed his uncle was right when he said it didn't appear to be a normal illness. While he had a bad fever and appeared sick, she couldn't detect any real abnormalities when she examined him with her chakra.
"What exactly is going on? As far as I can tell there's nothing physically wrong with him." Sakura said out loud, placing her hand on Zuko's forehead she began pumping chakra to relieve any kind of discomfort he may be feeling, though he still didn't wake up.
Iroh came in with a tray and two cups of tea before sitting down near Sakura. "A lot has happened to my nephew, he has had to endure a great struggle within him but recently-a critical decision seems to have pushed him over the edge."
"What do you mean?" asked Sakura; she continued to work on Zuko "Are you saying he's like this because of a decision he made?"
"It was not just any decision." Iroh told her carefully "Although I'm afraid I can't specify, I'm sure you've realised that he has been through so much and has created an image for himself in order to cope."
Sakura impatiently pulled on his arm dragging him through the city "Come on."
Zuko looked around; they were all the way on the outside of the inner wall. Now the only barrier between them and nomads land was the outer wall of Ba Sing Se.
"Are we even supposed to be here?" he asked her
Sakura giggled "I don't know."
"What?"
"Come on"
"Where are we going anyway?" he asked her in an annoyed voice
Sakura pouted "It's too stuffy inside those walls all the time. This is much better."
She gestured to the wide open fields between the inner and outer wall.
"Yes but if we get caught-
"We won't"
She dragged him along until they reached a large area of grass with a big pond and then he spotted the picnic blanket and basket sitting near the edge of the water.
"You planned this." He said
"Big time." Sakura grinned dragging him down towards their destination
The two sat in silence; Zuko was having one of those days where he didn't want to be bothered by anyone. Yet Sakura insisted on showing up and pulling him out on his one day off to this place.
"Why are we here?" he asked in that same agitated tone.
"You're the one always complaining that it's cramped in the city." Sakura stated as she took a bite out of a piece of fruit.
"When I said that I didn't think you were going to drag me out here as a result." Zuko snapped
Sakura smiled at him; he didn't know why she always did that whenever he was just full of attitude with her she wouldn't be deterred.
"I figured it was a call for help." Sakura said
"It wasn't-
"Oooh look" Sakura called moving closer towards the water "What are those?"
Zuko saw the creatures swimming towards him and narrowed his eyes "Turtle ducks..."
Sakura smiled "Cool; I've never seen them before!"
Sometimes he swore this girl was a freaking novice by the way she reacted to almost every little thing.
The pinkette started breaking apart her piece of bread and threw it towards the ducks. She watched as they ate it.
"Wanna feed em to?" Sakura asked holding up a piece of bread
Zuko turned his head sharply "No"
"Are you sure; it's really-
"I SAID NO ALRIGHT; WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?" he snapped slapping the piece of bread out of her hand making it land on the mud.
Sakura looked at the piece of bread with slightly wide eyes.
Zuko realised only seconds later what he had done and made an attempt to apologise but before he could get a word out Sakura spoke.
She turned to him with a smile "That's okay. You wanna go back now?"
He stared at her slightly shocked; he knew for a fact that this girl had a huge temper yet over the time they've been spending together she seemed to have become more...passive? At least towards him.
"I...
"Come on" Sakura said grasping his hand in hers and walking their way back to the wall. The smile never leaving her face.
"Why do you always do that?" Zuko asked
She looked up at him "Huh?"
"You're always doing that." He said "Whenever I get angry; you just smile and shake it off."
Sakura smiled wider "How are you feeling?"
"Huh?" was his turn to ask
"You always look so frustrated and upset because you're holding back all of your feelings all the time; it's not fair." Sakura murmured softly "If you do that all the time eventually you'll end up exploding. I think it's better for you to just let them out."
Let them out?
How could he do that?
He wanted to let out his anger for sure but that usually came with a result of firebending which he couldn't do.
Then it hit him "Wait so did you bring me here just so that I would yell at you?"
Sakura giggled "Well you don't seem to like making a scene in public but holding in your anger isn't exactly a good thing either. So I brought you out here for you to let out your frustrations. Maybe kick a few rocks and such."
Zuko stared at her shocked while she continued to smile "I don't mind if you yell at me because you're upset about something else. After all you'll feel a lot better."
"And you just don't care what I say?" Zuko asked
"Words in rage usually aren't true and I don't care if you yell at me when you're like this because I know how difficult it can be to have to hold things in all the time." Sakura said calmly as she started swaying their intertwined hands. "Besides I took you out here so that you would be able to get your frustrations out; you feel better now right?"
Zuko squeezed her hand; this girl was really something else he couldn't help thinking.
"Yeah..."
"Though next time when you feed turtle ducks can you try giving the bread to them a little more gentler?" she giggled
Sakura could see for a while now, that this boy had a scar that ran far deeper than the one on his face. He seemed to struggle with everything even when he thought he didn't show it. He looked at the world like it was against him, what could've possibly happened to make him feel that way was a question Sakura never got an answer to.
Zuko's eyes fluttered open and he was stunned to see a pink blur in front of him; in an instant he knew who it was.
"Sakura..."
Removing her hands Sakura sighed wiping the sweat from her forehead before smiling down at Zuko "Hey, how are you feeling?"
Zuko groaned trying to sit up, Iroh and Sakura immediately told him not to but he ignored them until he was upright, the blanket fell from his chest forcing Sakura not to stare. She quickly grabbed the cup of tea that was offered to her earlier and took a large sip; she felt like she was coming down with a fever.
"I've been better," he replied
Iroh stood up "I'm going to leave you kids to chat for a bit,"
"Thank you," Sakura said watching as the kind old man left.
Turning back to Zuko she saw him starring at her causing her to blush "What?"
"I thought I was hallucinating you being here," he explained calmly before glancing at the window and saw that it was night "What are you doing here this time of night?"
"I...I wanted to see you because I need to tell you something," she started slowly
Zuko narrowed his eyes, slight worry visible "What is it?"
"Well, something's happened and I'm not going to be here for a little while." Sakura started starring at her hands nervously "I-I'm leaving the city with a friend and I'm not too sure how long I'm going to be gone for. I'm leaving first thing in the morning."
Zuko felt something inside of him twist painfully but he did his best not to show any emotions.
"You're leaving?"
Sakura nodded before reaching out and taking one of Zuko's hands in both of hers; he didn't look her in the eye though. There was always something about the way Sakura looked at him that stirred something within him, he couldn't place whether it was understanding or pity but he didn't quite like it. It was as if he made her tread on egg shells around him.
"Yes, I didn't want to just leave without saying anything so..."
Sakura wasn't sure what else to say other than that. It wasn't as if she was expecting anything from him by telling him this but she did feel that it wouldn't be right of her to just pick up and vanish without a trace leaving him wondering where she was.
"When are you coming back?" Zuko asked suddenly snapping her out of her thoughts.
"I'm not sure," Sakura said "My friends all have something they need to do so we're splitting up for the time being but we defiantly have to return at some point."
Zuko clutched her hand tightly "So, you'll be back?"
"Yes,"
Suddenly Zuko broke out into a coughing fit which caused him to let go of Sakura's hand, while she went to hand him some water after that she gently pushed him back down and covered him with the blanket.
"You need to rest okay?" Sakura said rubbing his head soothingly before standing up "I need to go-
Zuko caught her wrist before she was all the way up and pulled her down enveloping her in a warm hug. "Bye, I'll see you soon."
With a bright smile she returned the embrace nodding her head "Yeah..."
There you have it, hope you liked it and are looking forward to the next chapter where everything will begin to unravel.
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