love is blind By El Shaddai

This part of the story takes place during "the guru/crossroads of destiny" but is mostly flash backs to the last week.

Zuko woke up early that morning, he wear nothing but a small pair of shorts, and walked over to the mirror in his room. Zuko had been staying in the barracks for over a weak know and was glad they gave him a privet room. Zuko's eyes darted back and forth over his body in the mirror, stopping on a different scare every now and then; Zuko's mind began to wander back to how he got all these scares. Zuko remembered raiding all kinds of places with the city watch, he had been to every post in the city fore or even five post day. Every scare on him was from one of his men who made a mistake Zuko remembered pushing them out of the way or stepping in front of them, each time he would get hurt and each time he would just sear the wound and keep going. Zuko had been training in the day because the raids wear at night sins now one in the barracks new him as Zuko he even began training without his mask ,or even his shirt, Zuko's skin had become dark and hard like leather his muscles had grown to the point where most men looked scrawny next to him.

Zuko looked from the mirror to the bed where a foot and an arm stuck out from under the covers which began to move until a face came out too. "Good morning Zuko" Huan's voice was soft like velvet as she spoke "what's on your mind?"

"Just life" Zuko answered. He had started seeing Huan a few days ago but last night he told her the truth. Zuko was so happy when not only did she believe him but she said she loved him no matter who he was. They kissed passionately, before doing other things that I will not be mentioning. Huan sat up in the bed, holding the blanket over her naked body, and started rubbing her eyes before getting up picking up her cloths and walking to the bathroom to get dressed. Zuko looked back to the mirror and to his face. Zuko had a scare on his left cheek and another on his chin but what really made him look so different was the dark hard skin it made him look like he was a worrier that had been in countless battles. "I don't even look like Zuko any more" Zuko said out loud, his mind wandering back two days to when he last saw Iroh.

"Iroh I need your help" Zuko said to Iroh.

"What is it son?" Iroh answered.

"I've been thinking" Zuko began "I don't know much about fire bending, just what Zuko taught me, so I was wondering if you could teach me"

"I would be honored" Iroh said

"How are you?" Huan's voice woke Zuko from his day dream.

"I'm fine" Zuko said, Huan put her left hand on Zuko's cheek than she put her right hand on his chest.

"Don't lie to me Zuko" Huan said softly "what is bothering you?". Zuko put his hands on her hips, which her shirt did not cove, her skin was ruff but against his it felt soft.

"Today is a big day, that all" Zuko answered

"Why?" Huan asked.

"I'm going to leave two guards at the door" Zuko told her "promise me no matter what happens you won't leave this room."

"But why?" Huan asked.

"Just promise me" Zuko insisted.

"Ok I promise" Huan answered.

Zuko put on his pants and belt but left his shirt and shoes. Zuko picked up his hammers and put them in their holsters one on each hip.

"Be careful ok" Huan said to Zuko. Zuko smiled.

"What did I ever do to disserve you?" Zuko asked Huan just smiled and kissed him. Zuko walked out the door. "What does she see in me?" Zuko thought

"Love is blind kid" Obsidia answered.

Later on that day

Zuko was walking to another trial/hanging his mind began to wander back to him and Iroh training he remembered how easy shooting lightning came to him even though things like that use to be so hard. He remembered learning how to redirect lightning which was a little bit harder without any way to really practice. Then Zuko walked up and saw the sign "the jasmine dragon: opening day" and remembered what today really was.

Next chapter: "rise of the king"