Yumi's feet dangled from her perch on the barrel as she watched Zuko spar with another Fire Bender. Her hardened body moved with grace and strength. The young woman found her mind drifting back to two nights prior. The way his chapped lips caressed her own lingered in her mind as she subconsciously brought her fingers to her mouth.
She jolted back into the real world when Zuko flew back into her legs. Yumi brought her hands to his shoulders. He growled and shrugged her off. "Enough training," he barked at the crew member he had been sparring with.
Yumi slid off the barrel to stand next to her prince. "You alright, Prince Zuko?" she asked softly.
"Of course I am," he snapped.
Yumi bit the inside of her cheek and stepped away from him. "Sorry," she said softly.
Zuko sighed and brought his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to go meditate," he said, leaving her alone.
Yumi frowned as she watched him go wishing she knew why he was in such a sour temperament.
"He's been in a terrible mood since the skirmish with the pirates," a familiar voice said behind her. "Worse than usual."
Yumi turned around to see Chen. She offered him a small smile. "I guess a little," she said. The truth was, she had noticed it as well. She wondered if she was the reason behind it… they hadn't really spoken since that night.
Chen began to rub the back of his neck. "Care for some tea?" We can get some in the mess hall."
"Sure," Yumi answered with fake cheer, letting Chen lead her out of the sun.
When they arrived in the crowded mess, Yumi was relieved to see Iroh standing there, also helping himself to a cup of tea. "Lady Yumi," he called to her. She hurried over to him, Chen following at a slower pace. The general handed them each a cup of tea. "Would you two care to join me for a walk while we enjoy?" he asked.
"I would love to," Yumi replied.
She glanced at Chen who said, "You two go ahead. I've been standing all day and it's time for me to sit down." He turned abruptly, leaving Yumi and Iroh alone.
The old general grinned and led her to the door, holding it open for her. "Will you tell me another story?" the young woman asked with pleading eyes.
Iroh let out a hearty laugh. "What kind of story would you like to hear?" he asked.
Yumi bit the inside of her cheek before answering."A love story," she answered.
Iroh chuckled again. "Alright, I will tell you the folktale, Love Amongst Dragons. It's very well known in the Fire Nation. So much in fact, there is a play about it."
Yumi walked along side of him and listened to him tell the story. It was truly loving and deep. She couldn't believe that a country that was thought to be so horrible could make something so beautiful. When Iroh got tired of walking, he stopped along the edge of the ship. Yumi leaned her back against the rail and closed her eyes, tilting her head to the sun as he continued his story.
When he finished, Yumi's smile had spread across her whole face. "I hope I find love that strong some day. You say this is a play?" she asked/ "I would love to see it some say."
Iroh chuckled softly. Yumi opened her eyes to smile at him. "Did you go to plays often in the Fire Nation?"
"Often enough," he answered. "My sister-in-law was the real theater buff of the family."
Yumi raised her eyebrows. "Zuko's mother?" she asked softly.
"Yes, lady Ursa," Iroh answered, his aura growing sad. "Your nose is turning red," he changed the subject.
Yumi frowned and brought her hand up to her nose. "Again? That's what I get for trying to enjoy the nice weather."
"There's a storm coming," Iroh commented. "A big one."
"You're crazy Uncle," Yumi heard her prince say. She turned around to see Zuko stalking toward them and wondering how much of their conversation he had heard. "There isn't a cloud in sight," Zuko continued.
"It's coming from the north. I suggest that we head southwest," Iroh continued. Yumi squinted to the north and didn't see anything.
"We know the Avatar is going north so that's where we'll go as well," the prince ordered.
"Prince Zuko, please, consider the safety of the crew," his uncle insisted.
"The safety of the crew doesn't matter," Zuko snapped.
Yumi's eyes flicked to a crew member walking across the deck. The lieutenant had paused when he heard the prince's words, glaring at them. Yumi tilted her head forward and watched as Zuko marched up to him, stopping only when he was right in Jee's face.
"Finding the Avatar is more important than any individual's safety," Zuko hissed.
Yumi bit her lip, shocked that her prince would say such a thing. She glanced at Iroh's disappointed face. Zuko stormed off, leaving the three of them alone. "He didn't mean that," Iroh insisted.
Lieutenant Jee huffed in response and turned to walk away Iroh sighed and looked at Yumi sadly. She glanced at him before making her way to the wooden target and shooting it angrily with arrows.
The sky looked dark and angry. Yumi frowned as she watched to storm clouds roll in. Chen stood behind her, having come to watch her train and spend some time with her. He took a step up to her when he saw her expression. "You don't like storms?" he asked gently.
She glanced back at him. "I just miss the sun when it's not out," the young woman explained.
"We should get to the front of the ship and start tying things down," he said. Yumi nodded wordlessly and led them forward. Zuko was leaning against the metal rail, scowling at the sky. Iroh stood near him with a group of crew members. Yumi and Chen joined them.
"Looks like your uncle was right," Jee sneered. Yumi narrowed her eyes at him
"Lucky guess," Iroh said sheepishly.
Zuko twitched. "You need to learn respect, Lieutenant, or I will teach it to you."
Jee scoffed at him. "Respect! What would you know about respect? From the way you talk to everyone around here from your hard-working crew, to your esteemed uncle, to your little friend shows you know nothing about respect." Yumi stiffened from his words. Jee continued, "But what else should I expect from a spoiled prince."
Zuko had enough. He whirled around arms out in a fighting stance. Jee copied him and they slammed their forearms together. Yumi flinched when metal scraped metal. Smoke started to come off Zuko's hand. Iroh came between them swiftly.
"That's enough," he ordered. "We're all just tired from being at sea for so long. I'm sure everyone will feel better after a nice bowl of noodles."
Jee growled but went below deck for lunch. The other crew members that were around followed him. Chen look back at Yumi but she waved her hand to signal for him to go on without her.
Zuko turned back around to stare at the ocean. "I don't need your help keeping order on my ship," he told his uncle angrily.
Iroh sighed and turned around to go get his noodles. Yumi walked up to her prince timidly, feeling a similar fear to him from the first time she had been brought on his ship. "Hey," she said softly.
Zuko glanced at her, his expression in a deep scowl. "What?" he demanded.
Yumi sighed and looked down. "Never mind Prince Zuko," she said and turned to go.
The young man watched her braid whisp around in the wind and then disappear into the dark below deck. Zuko turned his head in frustration, his flames shooting high. The cloud above began to drizzle light rain drops over him, quickly becoming heavier and heavier until it was a downpour. Zuko stalked out of the rain and to his room; he needed to meditate.
Yumi sat across from Iroh in the mess room and stirred her lo mien with her chopsticks, her mind still on her prince.
Iroh raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you alright Yumi?" he asked.
The young woman glanced up at him. "I'm fine Iroh."
"You don't seem it," he persisted.
Yumi scowled, "It's Prince Zuko!" she admitted in a frustrated tone. "We…we…"
"Yes?" the general prodded.
"We kissed," she said very quietly, eyes at her food and a dark blush on her face. "That night when we were walking back to the ship after the skirmish with the pirates… and ever since then he's had a different air about him."
Iroh hid his surprise, but he was pleasantly shocked that his nephew and Yumi had kissed. He could see their blossoming feelings for each other and knew it was only a matter of time." The general also knew Zuko was fighting his feelings, refusing to let himself feel that way for Yumi.
Standing up from the table, he walked over to Yumi and pulled out her chair. "Walk with me," he suggested. The young woman stood up gracefully and slid her bowl to a crew member on the other end of the table. He eagerly accepted and waved her his thanks. She offered him a small smile.
Iroh led her out of the room into the cold hallway. Yumi could hear the sound of heavy rain on the rood and the wind howling outside now that the commotion of the mess hall was behind them.
"My nephew," Iroh began, "cares for you very much. But there is much toil in his heart. I want the best for him and I selfishly hope that you can find the patience to help him sort through that toil." He brought her through a door that led to a much warmer hallway.
"I'm tired of listening to his orders. I'm tired of hunting his Avatar," a familiar voice complained loudly through the corridor. Yumi felt her ears twitch. She looked down the staircase to see Jee sitting there with three other crew members. "Who does he think he is anyway?"
Yumi opened her mouth to defend her prince but Iroh spoke first. "Do you really want to know?" he said in a grave voice. Yumi turned her head to him curiously as he began to down the staircase. She followed him.
"General Iroh!" Jee gasped, standing up. The other crew member followed. "Lady Yumi!" We were just…"
"It's alright," Iroh cut him off. "May we join you?"
"Of course!" Jee answered. Iroh gestured for Yumi to sit on the crate that was left, but she refused and gracefully tucked her legs underneath her to sit on the floor, leaving the crate for the old man. He smiled and sat down.
"You must understand that my nephew is a complicated young man. He's had a difficult past. When he was only thirteen years old, he went to his first was council meeting. I told him it was not worth it, but he insisted. The general Minro presented his plan. The idea was to use a new battalion on troops as bait for an experienced earthbending unit, sacrificing them. Prince Zuko spoke out against the general's plan, saying that the newer solders loved our nation. He was right you see, but it was not his turn to speak out. After his outburst, the Fire Lord became very angry. He said that speaking out against the general's plan was a complete act of disrespect. There was only one way to resolve this."
"Agni Kai…" Jee said quietly.
"Yes," Iroh answered. "Prince Zuko looked upon the general he had spoke against and declared that he was not afraid. But when the time came, Zuko was surprised to see not the general, but Fire Lord Ozai standing in the arena. You see, even thought it was the general's plan, he did so in the Fire Lord's War Room. Zuko would have to duel his own father. When Prince Zuko realized what had happened, he fell to his knees and pleaded with the Fire Lord, declaring that he would not fight him. The Fire Lord ordered him to get up and fight for his honor. When he refused, Ozai took aim at his face. I looked away." Iroh closed his eyes and turned his head away as he finished. Yumi felt tears in her eyes at the thought of her prince in that pain.
"I always thought his scar was from a training accident," Jee whispered.
"It was no accident. After the Agni Kai, that Fire Lord said Zuko had shown shameful weakness by refusing to fight. He banished the prince, only letting him return when he had the Avatar in custody."
"So that's why he's so obsessed," the Lieutenant commented, stroking his beard. "Capturing the Avatar is his only chance of things going back to normal."
"Things will never return to normal for him, I'm afraid," Iroh answered. "But the important thing is the Avatar gives Zuko hope."
Yumi was biting the inside of her cheek so hard the taste of warm, irony liquid toyed with her taste buds. There was no uncertainty at this point, no guilt in her subconscious about helping her prince. She started into the tiny fire in the center of their circle silently.
Zuko sat in his room, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The young prince was extremely frustrated with his emotions right now. He knew Yumi returned his feelings… at least that's what it seemed like. But the thought of her leaving seemed to loom over his heart. She had no ties to him and could leave at any time. Zuko let out a sigh and brought his hands to his face. This woman was distracting him. The logical part of his mind told him to disregard her and focus on the Avatar and keeping his crew in line.
He was jolted out of his thoughts quite literally when the ship was thrust violently; they had been hit, probably by a bolt of lightning. Zuko jumped up and ran to the deck. He flew up the stairs to find some crew members, his uncle, and Yumi standing awkwardly on the deck, bracing them against the wind. He stopped next to the young woman who turned up to him with frightened eyes.
"Where were we hit?" he demanded.
"I don't know!" Jee yelled over the howling typhoon.
Another wave crashed over the deck. Yumi sucked in a gasp of air and felt the huge wall of water dump on her. As soon as it cleared, Zuko franticly looked at her, his golden orbs worried.
"Look!" Jee shouted.
Zuko followed his finger. "The helmsman!" Both men sprinted to the ladder. Yumi squinted up and gasped when she saw the crew member dangling from the top control room of the ship. Zuko and Jee began to climb up the ladder and Yumi ran to the bottom of it, Iroh close behind her.
"Please be careful," she whispered, the water stinging her face as she stared at her prince. They were almost at the top when the helmsman fell. Zuko reached and caught his arm, gently shifting him to Jee. Yumi released a held breath.
They climbed down the ladder, careful not to slip. Jee handed the helmsman to the medic as Zuko jumped the last three steps to the bottom. Yumi instantly threw her arms around his waist, causing him to take a step back into the ladder. She didn't care who stared at them, all she cared about was that her prince was ok.
Zuko looked down at the top on Yumi's head. She was gripping onto him tightly and had her face buried in his chest. He very slowly slid one hand around her back and one around the back of her head, turning his head up to look around. A few crew members were staring at them, shocked that Zuko would actually hold anyone.
Yumi pulled back so she could look at him. Zuko let the hand on her head drop but kept the one firmly around her back.
"Secure everything you can!" Zuko shouted to his crew over the storm. Yumi whirled around and began to run forward to help, but Zuko grabbed her wrist firmly. "No, not you," he said. The young woman gave him a confused look as he pulled her back to his side.
Iroh came up to them. "Prince Zuko, we have to get this ship to safety!"
He was interrupted by a giant creature plunging out from the ocean. Salt water splashed in Yumi's eyes. She winced and closed them reflexively. "The Avatar!" she heard Zuko yell as he released her and shifted slightly. Rubbing her eyes, she made out the shape of Appa flying above them.
"What do you want us to do sir?" Jee asked.
"Let him go… we need to get this ship to safety," the Fire Nation prince said. Yumi smiled despite the storm raging around them, feeling pride welling up inside her for her prince.
"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm," Iroh ordered.
Zuko nodded. "Then that's what we'll do," he said firmly.
Another huge wave splashed over the deck that Yumi was not ready for. She breathed in a mouthful of ocean water. Her eyes burned and closed and the felt her shoulder slam onto the hard metal of the ship. She braced herself, ready to be washed overboard.
Zuko's eyes widened when he saw his friend fall under the force of the wave. "Yumi!" the strangled cry escaped from his lips as he sprang forward.
The young woman slammed into the rail of the ship. She wrapped her arms around her middle and curled forward. The water settled around her and she scrambled to get up before the next wave came at her.
Zuko rushed forward and grabbed her forearms to pull her into a tight hug. "We need to get away from the edge!" Yumi yelled. Another huge wave crashed over them and she felt her prince's arms tighten.
"Prince Zuko, come on," Yumi pushed away from him after that wave settled though his hands still gripped to her forearms. The young prince blinked twice before the young woman turned and pulled him to a safer place on deck, Zuko never loosening his hold on her arm.
"Yumi!" Iroh shouted over the wind, pointing up at the high tower. Yumi squinted and saw a hunk of metal dangling, threatening to fall on the deck at any time. "Shoot that off the ship," the old general demanded.
The archer yanked her arm out of Zuko's grip and gracefully took aim, making sure to take the wind into consideration. One arrow was all she needed. It hit the piece of metal, detaching it and sending in into the ocean. Iroh nodded in thanks. Zuko watched in awe as she did it. The young woman smirked, clearly proud of herself. Yumi pout her bow away and looked back at her prince.
"Keep heading towards the eyes. We're almost there," Iroh ordered.
Yumi noticed that the storm was only getting worse. She stepped back to Zuko and looked up at him with wide eyes. He continued to stare at the chaos around him. Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around his arm. He glanced down at her and felt a small pang in his stomach from her expression.
Then, almost instantly, the rain cleared. Yumi turned her face up and saw the glimmer of the sunlight. She let out a content sigh.
Zuko took a step forward and tilted his head down, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry, Uncle," he whispered.
Iroh smiled proudly. "Your apology is accepted," he replied.
Yumi sucked in a deep breath before gently tapping on Zuko's door. The young prince opened it after a few second and looked down at his friend's shivering form. She noticed he had changed into plain ruby pants and a red tunic with a gold band. Yumi dipped a respectful bow. "I was wondering if you would mind drying my hair?" she asked softly, standing up straight.
Zuko fought his lips as they tried to form a smile; he lost. Standing to the side silently, he let her enter his room. Yumi sat at the table, her legs folded underneath her. Zuko gently came up behind her. He pulled fire to his hands then instantly extinguished them to heat them up. Ever so carefully, he gathered her hair over the back of the chair and began to run his long fingers through it.
Yumi sighed contently and tilted her head back. She wanted to bring up to him the story that her uncle had told her… to let him know that she thought it was horrible and she wanted to comfort him. The young woman gathered as much courage as she could and said softly, "Prince Zuko, it's… it's not fair what your father did to you… that's amazing you stood up for those troops."
The prince froze. Yumi bit the inside of her cheek. She turned her head around quickly and little droplets of water whipped onto Zuko's arms and shirt. "My uncle told you?" he asked.
Yumi nodded slowly, wishing his eyes would meet hers. Instead, his hands came and turned her head so he could continue his task.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I just…"
"It's fine," Zuko cut her off. "It's not a secret. I'm the dishonorable, banished prince with the scar."
Yumi sucked in a sharp breath and Zuko pulled his hands away hurriedly. "I'm sorry; I didn't burn you, did I?"
"That's not it," the young woman said. Then she leapt out of her chair and turned around with a single movement, knocking that chair over. She lunged forward, throwing her arms around Zuko's neck and smashing her lips onto his. It was not graceful by any means; her nose was crushed against his and her feet were dangling awkwardly as she hung from his neck.
Zuko froze, his mind blank. Yumi was kissing him. This beautiful woman who had become so dear to him in such a short amount of time was kissing him. All too soon, she pulled away, sliding down him until her feet touched the floor. Her arms dropped to her side and her face was flushed. He noticed how her swollen lips were slightly parted and how rapidly her chest was rising and falling with her breath.
Zuko felt nervous butterflies in his stomach as he brought his hand up to her cheek, gently sliding it back into her damp hair, leaning his head forward. He slid his other hand around her back. The young prince smirked when he heard her breath hitch. "You're beautiful Yumi," he whispered before closing the short gap between their mouths. His lips molded against her own, each of them feeling the sparks of romance in their stomachs. He noticed they were cold and trembled slightly so he pulled back reluctantly and rested his forehead against hers.
"You're still shivering," he said, a small smile dancing on his lips.
Yumi smiled back, too happy to form a response. Zuko closed his eyes for a few second before pulling away from her and picking up the chair. "Sit," he ordered. The young woman complied, moving gracefully.
When the task of drying her hair was complete, Zuko stepped back to give her space. Yumi's shivering had subsided; his kisses had warmed her to the core. She turned around to see him staring at her silently.
"Thank you, Prince Zuko," she said softly.
"Anytime," he answered with a smirk.
"I don't want to go yet," Yumi admitted, her eyes turning to her lap.
Zuko smiled at how cute she looked. He gently reached down her arm and tugged her into a standing position. "Let's go get something to eat," he suggested.
She sighed and followed him out the door. Zuko bit the inside of his cheek, debating whether or not to put his arm around her. Slowing so she would step next to him, he lifted his limb and slid it around her shoulders. Yumi beamed up at him, her eyes glinting.