Hey guys,

I promised a chappy a day and this is one I intend to keep so please review each. I would like an opinion on them.

Book 1: Water

Episode 11: How He Thinks

*Flashback(Zuko's POV)*

The sun is unbearable on the upper deck. It's a cloudless sky and the sun bears its unending heat unto us. Unable to stand a second more I have to go to my quarters. I am just about to enter when I hear Uncle talking to I guess that girl, Kya?

"His mind is-is," I hear him mutter.

Just as I enter through the doorway, he dashes out in a hurry. A wave of worry crushes me and a feeling of wanting to ask squeezes me. I look to to the girl and I feel the tightness grow, but I don't bother to pay attention to it.
My thoughts shift as I study the girl avatar more carefully. She's the other half to the whole I need. This 5'10, tan skinned, blue eyed, black haired, water tribe peasant is part of the key to return my honor and to my father.
I as I study her I notice she has rubbed her wrists raw in the cuffs and the blood trickles down her arms. The fresh blood covers over more blood that had been there for a longish time. I can't stand the sight of it and go to her.

"If you try anything, I won't hesitate to burn you."

It's an empty threat for I can see clearly that she is emaciated, barely ever enough energy to keep her head up. As I try to help her stand, it's evident she will not be able to stand for long. This doesn't help seeing as I have half my strength due to sleep deprivation.
She is heavier than she looks and it seems she doesn't even want to try to use her legs. It only takes moments before I collapse from her weight. I fall straight on the ground next to her and see she hit her head and knocked herself unconscious. I put my arm around her waist so I can get a better grip then pick her up carefully.
With her knocked out it made it easier to get her to the bathroom. I grasp the knob of the sink, twisting till water spurts out of the nozzle at a little more than a trickle.
I prop her against the wall so I may examine her wrists a little better. Her tan skin is disrupted by the an abrupt redness of rubbed away skin. Blood still comes out of her wrists as I examine them.
I turn to grab a cloth but see an empty space. Instead I put my arms around her again and stand her in front of the water.
I look over her a bit surprised to see her full height. She's pretty tall for a girl. Her head ends at my nose. I look over her shoulder to see what I am doing.
Suddenly a delicate waft of something sweet hits me causing me to want to take another breath. It's a nice relief from smelling Uncle's sweaty sandals. A shiver runs down my spine even imagining it.
Her scent has a distinct sweetness of something I have never breathed in before. The feeling of wanting to bury my face in her hair grows as I stand behind her washing away the blood.
As I touch her I notice her hands are soft and delicate, as are her arms. The feeling of wanting her to touch me with these hands is overwhelming. I shake my head as if to get these thoughts out of my head. I soon go back to washing away her blood.
The red water swirls down the drain as I bandage her wrists. After I finish, I lay her on my bed as I wash the cuffs. I place her, carefully, back in her restraints after cleaning.
I realize how thin and pale Kya, I think, looks. How many days have gone by since she was fed or given water? I take a stroll to the kitchen, taking water and some bread back with me.
I walk back into the room, expecting to see a disgruntled girl but instead I get a quiet one. I feel a bit of disappointment but push it aside. I put the bread and water down just as it hits me.
I realize just how tired I really am. My eyes flutter, starting to close as I stand next to my bed. I gaze up at the ceiling then my knees buckle and I almost smack into the floor.
I catch myself just before this happens though. I have no other choice but to take off my armor and go to take a nap. I leave on only my pants and crawl under the covers. As soon as I hit the pillow my eyes start bringing the blackness.
I open my eyes to and reach up to my face. For some reason it feels normal unlike most of my life. I see a mirror in a corner and walk to see what's wrong with my face. I look into it to see no scar which scares me a bit. Then I notice, in the mirror, that my father is stands just behind me. I turn quickly and call out his name.

"FATHER, FATHER."

I jolt myself awake and find myself back in my quarters in my ship, which can only mean, back to reality. I feel sweat pour down my face and chest. I, using my firebending, set some candles aflame and sit up in my bed. I stand up and start my pacing back and forth. I look to Kya's direction and see she's awake.

"You just woke up," I ask, hoping my loss of composure.

"No, I have been awake."

"So you heard..."

She nods, making my heart sink into my stomach. I think about it then remember that I have a bribe.

"Forget what just happened."

I show her the bread and water then watch as her eye light up. She nods eagerly to me as it registers in her mind.
Next thing I know we were kissing. It's not like the time I 'accidentally' kissed her. This one is meant to happen. My lips tingle as I draw away. I look deeply into her sweet, cool eyes.
Her eyes are as blue and as vast as the ocean. Her hair falls neatly on her shoulders as she starts to lean more closely. I follow her actions and draw closer too.
Our lips meet more passionately this time. I try something more this time around. I slowly let my tongue lick the bottom of her lip. I am surprised when her mouth responds by opening. I let tongue snake into her mouth. But then she suddenly pulls back, her blues eyes wide in, what seems like, panic.

"What's wrong?"

She gives me an excuse that seems to just annoy me. Before I can retort I hear soft footsteps and stand up in time to see a soldier walk through my door.

*Later*

I walk up to the deck to find the sun shining as brightly as yesterday. I feel the heat from the kiss gradually disappear.

"Sir," a soldier says, coming up from behind me.

I turn to him to face him and he bows to me.

"Yes, get on with it."

"Your uncle, General Iroh, has gone upon the island already. I think he went to the natural rock spring," he reports to me.

"Fine I will go get him. I want to leave this place."

I walk down the gangplank, in search of the rock spring so we may leave this Earth territory.

I have to dodge some trees but soon I find Uncle's clothing on a stump. I go forward some more to see him in a bubbling spring. I wave the mist away just as he notices me.

"Ahh nephew, come on in. I heated the water myself. It is relaxing from traveling so much," Uncle say, snorting out more steam to warm the spring.

Once again, I smack the mist away from my face.

"Uncle we have to fucking go," I yell, unable to comprehend how he is a master firebender.

"Fine," he says, standing to reveal his decision to not wear undergarments in the spring.

I raise my hand and turn away before the image is burned into my eyes.

"Fine, you can stay a bit longer but be back at the ship in an hour. I am leaving with or without you."

He knows it's an empty threat, but his head went up and down all the same. I left him to his priorities and let my legs trek back to my ship.

*An Hour Later*

I wait upon the deck for Uncle's return but I see no sign of did not feel right about this. I find myself running to the spring just to see the spring gone and replaced with crumbled earth shards. I knew I should have made him come back with me. I let my legs fly back to the ship and go straight to my room. I quickly take my key out and unlock Kya. I tie her to my armor without having time to think this through. I don't need anyone going after her while I'm gone.
I run back to the dirt road then notice ostrich horse, the favored pack animal of the earth kingdom, tracks on the ground. It is fresh so I know it has to be the benders who took Uncle. We have been walking for a long time and then all of sudden I feel the impact of my butt against ground.

"Why did you..."

I look back to see her holding a sandal. I snatch it from her and after taking one whiff of death, I know it s Uncle.

"That's Uncle," I manage to say, just before I went into a fit of coughs.

I feel renewed knowing Uncle was leaving a trail for me. I keep on walking with renewed vigor. Suddenly I hear voices coming from near by. I take cover in a bush only to notice a crater on the other side, which house the people who's talking I hear. I see Uncle in the middle of the group. He kneels on the ground with his hands on a slab of rock, above his hand is another giant rock. Without thinking I jump into the group.

*A Little While After*

Uncle, Kya and I walk back to the ship along the dirt road. I feel the stare of someone and look at Kya. She stares intently at me for whatever reason. I scowl remembering what she did that morning.
Soon we are back at the ship. I drag Kya back to the room so I can put her back in the cuffs. I feel the urge of sleep engulf me. I strip off everything except my pants. As soon as I hit the pillow I felt the darkness embrace me.

*Next Day*

It feels like it has only been minutes because I awake to the knock of Uncle waking me. I take a glance at Kya and see she is still asleep. I don my armor and stand in the doorway of my room. I watch as a soldier walks down the hallway.

"Soldier, come here."

He hurries over to me then give me a salute.

"Guard her," I command, thrusting my thumb in Kya's direction.

His head bobs up and down then stands right next to the door. I walk down the hall and make it to the upper deck. As I stand there, I gaze up to the sky. It is as boring as ever, not knowing where the damn avatar was. Suddenly in the distance I spot a dark dot in the distance. I take out my telescope and focus on the dot to see the flying bison carrying the avatar and the water tribe peasants. I command my crew quickly so I can ready the catapults. Finally they're ready and aiming to finally hit my target.

*Later*

(Sorry this just review to you guys)

I had the avatar within my grasp and he breaks away in seconds. I watch as my prize shoots through the door just as it closes. I shoot fire into the locks along with the other sages but nothing happens.

"Roku doesn't want us in there," one sage says.

"Well, well Zuko. Lost the avatar, why am I not surprised?"

I do not need to turn to know who it is. Zhao's soldier twist my arms behind my back and turn me to face the general.

"Nice attempt to fool me with your smoke screen," he says, smirking at me.

I don't reply in fear he will further think I am a child.
Since I don't say anything he has me tied to a column far from where he ties the Water Tribe peasants. Zhao then postions his soldiers in front of the thick steel and iron door. I glance over my shoulder to look at Kya who I had placed in a dark corner. I am incredibly lucky he doesn't not seen her. Her eyes are closed and I swear I could see a faint glow in them.
I stand back against the column and find myself glance at her every now and then. Finally her eyes fluter open and examine the surroundings.
Suddenly the ground shakes and my eyes dart back to the shrine door. As soon as it open, Zhao's soldiers blast fire inside. The avatar's friends scream but I keep quiet.
I notice the soldier's flames gather and seem to stick in a sphere shape. I watch as the ball suddenly parts in the middle, to reveal Avatar Roku. He takes the flames he gathered from Zhao's soldiers and shoots it back tenfold. As the soldiers fall on their butts, the chains binding me melt like butter.
I take off and go straight to Kya in the corner. I I flip her over my shoulder and run out of the crumbling temple. I don't stop running till I am at the boat. I get out into the ocean and then look back to see Roku's temple crumble inward.
After watching this horrid sight, I glance to Kya. She sits on the spot I put her, her hair surprisingly wavy, pooling on the floor around her. Her oceans for eyes look down as if to examine the ground. She lifts her head up as I return my gaze to the ocean.
We get back to the ship, both our energies drained. I walk straight back to my quarters, lock Kya back up then to go right to sleep. I watch her sleeping form and feel myself go into a peaceful slumber.
I do not know this feeling converging on me all of a sudden, but the warmth it brings soothes me into a peaceful slumber.

I hope this explains Zuko's feeling clearly. Thanks to you guys who joined.

I always encourage you guys to give me pm or review.

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Love, Yours Truly,

Kya~Avatar