Chapter 10

"Ahh! See, Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your mental well being," said Iroh who was taking a sip of tea.

Iroh, Zuko, were sitting quietly in one of the cabins on the ship drinking tea. Hotaru came in with another pot and sat it on the small table.

"You know you no longer have to serve us Miss Hotaru," said Iroh.

"Yeah but I feel more comfortable helping out the cook and the other servants here."

As Zuko raises the cup to drink, a shock causes the tea to splash all over his face! He wiped it away and got up from the table. He went up deck to see what was going on and he saw a woman with dark hair riding a huge monster!

"Get Back! We're looking for a stowaway!" yelled the woman.

"There are no stowaways on my ship," said Zuko.

The monster tore away a piece of deck plating and hurled it away. It stuck its head into the gaping hole. When the monster came back up everyone saw a man laying still.

"He's paralyzed," said Zuko as Iroh and Hotaru got up deck.

"Only temporarily," said the woman. "The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money."

"But how did you find him on my ship?" asked Zuko.

"My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away," she said while petting it and then hopping back on it's saddle.

"Well, I'm impressed," said Iroh who was admiring the woman as she rode off. "Very impressed."

While Iroh was all lovey-dovey Zuko and I looked at each other and gave a huge sigh. After that I went below deck.

Zuko's POV

I watched as Hotaru swayed her hips from side to side as she went below deck. Her long straight hair danced as she walked away. Her curves were perfect. I felt like I could have jumped her right then and there. No, no, no, no!!! Stop thinking that this instant! She is just a friend! You shouldn't have these thoughts about Hotaru! She is just a friend! Your childhood buddy!

When the thoughts about Hotaru were completely gone, my mind drifted on back to the woman and her shirshu. I then looked to the damage on my ship.

"Uncle, we need to go find that woman. She owes us for the damage."

Hotaru's POV

I stayed below deck for the longest time. Zuko and Uncle said that they had to go out for awhile and I didn't want Zuko to worry about me the way he has been so I actually listened and stayed at the ship. Boy was I bored. I hated being cooped up all the time. I had lived on my own for years out in the woods so I was used to the fresh air. I decided to go up deck for a little bit and when I did I realized that it was night time.

I went up deck and I felt bored so got off the ship and still felt bored. Before I knew it I was asking questions around town about where Zuko and Uncle went and I started following their trail. When the sun began to rise I came upon a nice village by a volcano. I walked around for a bit till I came upon a little girl wearing a pink kimono and huge braids.

"You seem lost," she said.

"Well I am looking for someone and I don't really know where to go right now."

"Come, I'll take you to see Aunt Wu. She'll help you. She's a fortune teller here."

"Really? I've never met a fortune teller before," I said being a little skeptical.

"Her predictions always come true. Come on I'll take you to her. I'm her assistant, Meng."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hotaru."

She took my hand and took me all the way to the Aunt Wu's place.

"Aunt Wu will be with you shortly. Just sit and make yourself comfortable," said Meng.

I sat on a pillow eating the food that was laid out. After a few minutes passed by an old woman entered the room. I immediately stood up to introduce myself.

"Hi I'm Hotaru. I was wondering if you could help me."

"Yes please follow me to the other room."

I followed her to a back room and sat down.

"It is such an honor to meet the child of Priestess Kagome."

"You knew my mother!" I said.

"Oh yes. She was a remarkable woman. I remember I met her once on her journeys with that demon friend of hers, Inuyasha, his name was. I see he turned out to be your father in the end."

"Uh yeah, he is my father. Miss, I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for some friends of mine."

"You're referring to a young boy with a scar on his face and that handsome old man he was with, right?"

"Yes!" I said while slightly laughing. It seemed pretty cute that this lady found Uncle attractive. "I was wondering if you could maybe tell me which way they were heading."

"Yes, they were heading towards the abbey with a young woman just passed the woods."

"Thank you!" I said while standing up to leave.

"The young man with the scar, he's a powerful bender, but that's not the reason you seek him out."

"Excuse me?"

"You seek him because of your bond with each other. Know this, many challenges will come between you both. Your relationship will get more complicated because of what both of you believe in, but your friendship and love for each other will always prevail."

"Um, okay…thanks again for the help," I said just before leaving.

What Aunt Wu said kind of freaked me out. Maybe she really can predict things. I tried to push all of that aside in my head and continued looking for Zuko and Uncle. I heard a loud boom so I looked up to see that abbey that Aunt Wu was talking about, not far from where I was.

I ran to my destination to find Zuko and Uncle motionless on the ground, with that woman lying on top of him.

"Oh my god! Are you guys alright?" I asked running to them.

"Hotaru?! What are you doing here?" yelled Zuko.

"I got bored and without even realizing it I started looking for you. Okay let me help you guys out now okay."

I pulled the woman, June, off of Uncle and he got up like there was no problem. While he was taking care of June I went to go help Zuko. While I was helping Zuko get up I got really close to him, and I began to blush. Iroh noticed how I was struggling with Zuko so once he handed June over to the sisters he helped me with Zuko, and we went on our way back to the ship.

Weeks had passed by and I realized that I was totally accustomed to cleaning up after everyone on the ship. I didn't mind. It gave me a purpose to be there besides trying to rekindle my relationship with Zuko. He was a good friend, but with this whole Avatar business going on it was kind of hard to. He was always focusing on the Avatar that we never really had anytime to just hang out, to just be together.

One night Uncle told me that we were going to have music night held later on. Zuko was sulking around and didn't really seem to mind what was going on up deck so I went to go keep him company.

"Hey Zuko, don't you want to go up deck and hang out for awhile?"

"No, and I already told Uncle that I wasn't going to go up there and play the sumki horn."

"You never have any time for fun."

"Well of course I never have time for fun, I have to find the Avatar to-,"

"Yeah, yeah, restore your honor. Look, sometimes its good to just kick back and take a break every now and then is all."

"You're starting to sound like Uncle now."

I simply smiled at him and sat down. I leaned my back against his bed, lied my head down as well, closed my eyes and started to sing.

"How happy, spring has come over the Sumida,
Rowing up, rowing down in the warm sunbeams,
Drops from the boatmen's oars look like cherry blooms,
How can I describe for you the view o'er the streams?"

I sang it really quiet just because it sounded more peaceful, and relaxing.

"Lo, see the cherry trees that stand in the morning mist,
I hear them speak to me in a tender tone,
In the eve I love to see the waving willows,
They stretch their hands to me strolling alone.

Oh, see the hazy moon rising o'er the banks,
Rows of cherry trees standing o'er the stream,
How I love the cherry blossoms in the moonlight!
How can I describe for you the night like in a dream?"

"What's that?" asked Zuko.

"That was the song I was going to sing tonight," I replied.

"Never new you could sing. I thought you only danced."

"It's not my forte. I like dance way better," I replied while blushing. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What do you like to do?"

"Nothing."

"Awe come on! Everyone likes to do something."

"I firebend."

"Okay, that's something," I said while laughing. We were just having a good time talking. Being friends, that's all, till we were interrupted from a knocking on the door. Uncle came in.

"For the last time, I'm not playing the sumki horn," said Zuko.

"No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem," said Uncle.

I noticed another man was with Uncle as he walked in. It was none other than Zhao.

"I'm taking your crew," he said.

"What?!" yelled Zuko as he turned towards Zhao.

"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole."

"Hotaru, please leave us," said Zuko.

I left not wanting to hear anymore of this conversation. Stupid Zhao. I really hated him right now.

Zuko's POV…

"Uncle, is that true?" I asked.

"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone. Even the cook!" said Uncle.

"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again. Oh and I'll be taking that pretty little friend of yours too. She seems like good fun," said Zhao.

This bastard was really getting to me. As soon as he mentioned Hotaru I jumped to attack him but Uncle held me back. I'd kill him if he dared touch Hotaru.

While Uncle was holding me back I noticed Zhao turn to my swords hanging on the wall.

"I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko," said Zhao.

"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative."

"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?"

"Just rumors. I don't think he's real."

"He's real all right. He's a criminal, an enemy of the Fire Nation," he said while handing one of the swords to Uncle. "But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with him soon. General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind. And I'll let you keep the girl for now," he said while he was leaving.

"Damn him!!!" I screamed.

I immediately left to look for Hotaru. I went straight to her room and found her sitting there on her bed.

"You know, these walls aren't exactly soundproof," she said.

"So you heard what he said about you?"

"Yeah, and he can just kiss my ass because I sure as hell am not leaving with him!!!" she said now standing up.

"He said he was going to leave you here for now, but I won't ever let him take you, understand?!"

"Yeah," she said, now calming down.

Once the ship was cleared I went back to my room and Hotaru went to hers. Uncle came into mine a little while later.

"The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels," said Uncle.

"Good riddance to those traitors."

"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head."

I simply turned away not wanting to talk.

"Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy. Hotaru should still be in her room," said Uncle as he left.

Hotaru's POV…

"Hotaru, I'm about to go out for a walk. Would you like to join me?" asked Uncle as he came into my room.

"Oh no thank you. I'd rather just stay in my room for now. Got a lot on my mind and I just want to be alone for now."

"I understand. Zuko is still here in his room okay," said Uncle as he left.

It wasn't long till I heard noise coming from the top of the ship. I was curious so I left my room to see what it was. As I came out of my room Zuko came out of his as well.

"Uncle? Uncle is that you?" said Zuko.

Once we reached the top deck we saw a pirate light up a trail of gunpowder and jump off the ship. Shocked Zuko and I ran to jump off just as the barrels of blasting jelly exploded! I didn't feel like I made it in time because I felt something hit my head and I completely blanked out before I even hit the water.

Ok I updated. I've had a really large writer's block so yah. Well anyway plz review and don't mind if this sounds crappy.