Its OK you readers are shy about reviewing and giving your opinions, because I love writing this story and will continue. Enjoy!!!!

Chapter 10

"Letter for you Commander." Kazuma announced as he ran up to Zhao waving a letter in his hand.

Zhao turned to watch the boy. There were several scratches on his arm and one deep one across his cheek.

"What happened to you boy? You get in a fight?" Zhao asked a he took the letter and began to open it eyes still on Kazuma.

"Well yes and no." Kazuma began.

"It's either one or the other boy stop playing mind games." Zhao snarled as he unfolded the letter.

"I got in a disagreement with the messenger Hawk." Kazuma finally said.

Zhao looked up from his letter and frowned at the boy and was about to say something more until he noticed the red tail twitching behind Kazuma's booted foot.

"Could you at least attempt to keep that creature under control?" Zhao requested as he began to read the letter again.

A hissing noise brought Zhao's head up again; he narrowed his eyes at the boy in front of him.

"What was that?" Zhao ordered.

"Nothing Commander." Kazuma said quickly as he tried to shuffle backwards.

Another hiss broke the silence once more. Zhao looked down at Kazuma's boots to see the fox poke his head around a boot, its fur was bristled up, and its little white teeth gleamed at him.

"Is that creature hissing at me?" Zhao asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Seeker didn't mean anything by it, he just gets defensive." Kazuma tried to explain.

"20 laps." Zhao said simply.

"But I didn't do anything." Kazuma whined.

"A real man doesn't whine, a real man takes on the responsibility of a pet and takes the punishment when said pet misbehaves. I suggest you start running." Zhao ordered.

Kazuma sighed as he took off at a light jog, the fox right on his heels.

"So did the fur ball chew up your gloves also?" Kano asked as he walked up behind Zhao.

"No it had a fight with one of your messenger Hawks, Kazuma took most of the attack." Zhao replied as he scanned the letter.

"Good news?" Kano asked.

"It is indeed." Zhao replied with a smile. "I have been promoted Captain by order of the Fire Lord."

"Congratulations Captain Zhao." Kano said with a small nod of his head. "Jiro get the drinks, we have something to celebrate."

A short moment later Jiro, Kano, Shima, and newly appointed Captain Zhao raised their glasses to toast to their next conquest.

"You sure you don't want me to have the cook make you a Long Island Ice Tea?" Shima said with a smile.

Zhao threw a glare at the man before downing the rest of his drink in one swallow.

"We have work to do men, with the promotion comes more responsibility, power, and more freedom." Zhao explained. "We have been chosen to manage the blockade cutting off all water travel between the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe Nations. No longer will they use the Fire Nations waters as a quick route for their trading."

"That's the spirit, let's bully them into submission." Shima said with a shout.

Zhao cleared his voice and looked at Shima in disapproval. "It's not bullying when we are protecting our interests."

"Of course not." Shima agreed with a wicked smile. "It's just persuasive reasoning."

"Exactly." Zhao said with a smile.

"To Captain Zhao." Jiro toasted raising his glass.

"To Captain Zhao." Everyone cheered.

Zhao surveyed his men and spotted Kazuma grinning at him among his men the little fur ball perched on his shoulder.

"I know for a fact Kazuma that you are not finished with your laps." Zhao addressed the boy.

"I have five more Captain." Kazuma lied smoothly.

"I believe you have thirteen more to do." Zhao replied.

Kazuma's jaw dropped as he stared as Zhao. "I didn't see you watching me."

"I have eyes everywhere Kazuma, remember that before you try lying to me again."

Sighing in frustration Kazuma stalked off to the track once more to complete his running.

"Don't you think you're being a bit tough on him?" Kano asked.

"Tough would be having Jiro kill the furry monster. Now that would be tough." Zhao replied.

"I'd do it too." Jiro said with a rare smile. "The little monster ruined my seal skin boots, the best pair I had."

"A seeker fox can be valuable if trained correctly." Kano mentioned.

"I know. That's why I want you Shima to work with Kazuma and his fox, see if you can explain to the boy the importance of using his fox's skill to his advantage." Zhao ordered.

…………..

Kazuma stood in the middle of the training arena watching Shima who was walking in large slow circles around Kazuma and Seeker. Kazuma tried not to show his unease of the man. Shima was different than the rest of the crew, he could out drink, out talk, and outwit the crew and most of the Natives combined. Kazuma admired him for his quick thinking and smooth tongue which on numerous occasions had gotten Kazuma out of deep trouble with Captain Zhao. Shima's brown hair was in a smooth top knot different from his regular shaggy look, his short goatee trimmed neatly, he wore a simple red tunic over his black pants complete with red gloves covering his hands. He finally stopped in front of the pair.

"I didn't give you that seeker fox just so you could spoil it and let it get away with misbehavior Kazuma." Shima began.

"You didn't give me the pet Shima that Lady did." Kazuma argued.

In a blink of an eye Kazuma found himself suspended in the air, Shima had him by the back of his shirt collar. There was a loud snarl followed by a blur of red, Kazuma blinked in shock as he saw Seeker dangling from Shima's elbow, Seeker had bit Shima.

"Seeker no, down." Kazuma ordered frantically.

Shima smiled as he stared at the fox hanging from his elbow then turned his attention on Kazuma.

"You need to learn not to talk back to your superiors, I have a genuine fondness of you boy and I would hate to see Captain Zhao ship you back to the Fire Nation before you can prove your worth."

With slow movements Shima lowered Kazuma and gently removed the fox from his clothing. Shima held the fox in his hands and stared at it for a long moment making Kazuma worry.

"Quick reflexes used with a little more power and placed in the right position will be a deadly force." Shima said as he set the fox down.

Seeker twitched his tail and trotted over to Kazuma sitting down by his feet.

"I wouldn't have allowed you to keep the fox if I didn't think you couldn't handle the responsibility. The good news is Seeker is already loyal to you, ready to protect you at a moment's notice, which will make it easier for you to train him." Shima said.

"Yes sir." Kazuma said with a nod of his head.

"A seeker fox can live up to 20 years if taken care of, they are active creatures that can reach speeds up to 25 mph, they can hear a mouse squeak 40 yards away, and last but not least of all they are inquisitive creatures that love to solve puzzles and play." Shima finished with a grin.

"I thought Seeker was just a dumb old fox." Kazuma said in confusion.

Seeker gave a small yip of protest as if he understood what Kazuma had just said.

"Now look what you did you pissed him off." Shima said with a scowl. "Will you ever learn to think before you speak?"

"That's all well and good." Kazuma said with a yawn. "But how do I use those skills?"

"Kazuma go sit on the bleachers over on the other end of the training arena, your going to sit there and call for Seeker and you will not leave until he comes to you." Shima ordered.

"That's easy." Kazuma said with a smile as he started across to the bleachers.

"Did I forget to mention you will call Seeker with your mind and body language, not with your voice?" Shima said.

"That's going to take forever." Kazuma whined. "I could be there all day."

"I suggest you get started and don't even try to cheat, all I have to do is ask Seeker." Shima said with a grin as he walked away.