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Chapter 12

"His reflexes are slow." Zhao mussed.

"His form is unstable; you could knock him down with a feather." Kano observed.

"The way he bends suggest he's never had a proper teacher." Zhao replied rubbing his chin.

Zhao and Kano stood on the bleachers of the training arena watching Kazuma and Shima run through basic Fire Bending maneuvers.

"He has no control." Kano commented.

"No technique either." Zhao said crossing his arms.

"His movements are choppy at best." Kano remarked.

"He is as clumsy as an ox." Zhao replied with a sigh as he watched Kazuma trip over his own feet while managing to light his shirt on fire in the process. Shima glanced up at the two as if asking if he should continue the lesson. Zhao nodded his head waving a hand to continue.

"Do you think we should just send him back?" Kano asked.

"I'm not going to lie, it has crossed my mind, but the boy has something in him that makes me hesitate to send him back." Zhao explained. "It's like he has this determination to prove himself and that's something I can sympathize with."

"We could step up his lessons, double his work out." Kano suggested.

"Do that." Zhao replied as he finally walked off the bleachers and back to the ships.

"What is our next move Captain?" Kano asked as the two walked next to each other.

"We are going for a short visit to the Fort." Zhao replied. "Send for Jiro, Shima, and Kazuma this mission should be fairly easy, I trust Kazuma can handle it."

"No doubt he can." Kano replied.

"One question Kano." Zhao said stopping. "I got word that the ex prince was seen along the out skirts of the Earth Kingdom. Can you tell me how he managed to survive the destruction of the Fire Temple when he was tied up?"

Kano didn't hesitate to look Zhao in the eye as he lied through his teeth. "I haven't the faintest idea how he managed to survive."

Zhao held eye contact for a second more before he smiled and continued to walk. "If I find out one of my men set that traitor free there will be hell."

Kano gave a tense smile, as he listened half-hearted to Zhao. If Zhao was to find out Shima was playing both sides, things could get ugly.

………………….

"Magnificent." Zhao praised as he watched the Yuu Yan archers practice down below him.

"The fastest archers the Fire Nation has." The man said with a nod.

"I can see that." Zhao commented his eyes gleaming. "What do you think Jiro?"

Zhao turned his attention to his weapons expert, watching Jiro closely for his reaction. Jiro's face was grave looking as he studied the archers below; Zhao knew he was a man of few words. Sometimes it was aggravating and other times it was a blessing to have at least one person not interject their opinion. Zhao had known that Jiro came from a farm on the very far reaches of the Fire nation were very few people lived and if they did it was in isolation and everyone figure that was the reason for Jiro's quiet personality. Finally Jiro spoke in a soft deep voice that always made Zhao jump a little because one was never sure when Jiro would speak and when he did it always shocked everyone.

"Under the right circumstances these Archers could be valuable to us."

"What would be our best advantage?" Zhao asked.

"Have the archers positioned in the trees along the road way, this gives them a larger range with their arrows, less visibility and more movement." Jiro explained.

"I wouldn't put too much effort into planning the use of the archers Captain. You still have no permission to use them." The soldier replied quickly. "My Lord would like to invite you to dine with him and another couple who has stopped on their way to the Earth Kingdom."

"Tell him I accept." Zhao replied with a nod of his head waiting until the soldier was out of hearing before he turned to Jiro. "I want you to find out were in the area the Avatar was last spotted while I try to negotiate for the use of those archers."

"Yes Captain." Jiro said.

Zhao followed the soldier into the large dining room; he let his eyes roam across the large room and its occupants. After being introduced to the Commander of the fort Zhao didn't waste any time bartering for the use of the Yuu Yan warriors. Zhao pegged the Commander as a stuck up from a rich family who was able to buy his title.

"Captain Zhao you surely do not waste time, getting right to the point but please let us not discuss business or war when we are in the presence of such lovely company." The Commander said smoothly.

Zhao was taken aback by that statement and glanced around the room at the other occupancies. A few soldiers, another man in elegant clothing, probably a lord and on his arm…Lee Anna who was staring right at him with her large green eyes that seemed to always look right into him. His chest tightened, his palms felt clammy and his breath quickened. It was quite amazing how well Zhao could hide his emotions, for he casually turned his attention back to the Commander with a bland smile.

"Why Zhao, do you not see that we have the pleasure of having Lady Lee Anna company for tonight. I believe you know her." The Commander said with a smile.

"Ah yes I do believe she is the older sister of my wife." Zhao mussed. "You say she is present."

"Yes standing over yonder." The Commanders said with a wave of his wine glass.

Zhao let his eyes rest on Lee Anna once more; she was still staring at him in confused surprise. He let a small smile tug his lips up, what a tangled web we have found ourselves in, Zhao thought.

"Your wife, does she hold the same beauty as her older sister?" The Commander asked.

"My wife?" Zhao repeated the question as he tried to form words to describe his little wife. "Ty Lee is everything one could ever want in a wife. Her grace, pose, and quiet beauty outshine every woman I have ever known."

"Lucky man Captain, it is rare to find a woman like that, congratulations." The Commander said good naturally. "Come let us sit down for dinner."

Zhao followed one of the serving attendants to his chair after sitting down and accepting another glass of wine he turned to the person sitting next to him. His eyes widened when he saw that his companion was none other than Lee Anna. The coincidence was too much and Zhao just smiled shaking his head.

"I don't know why you're smiling Captain." Lee Anna snapped. "This is not a funny situation."

"Ah Lee Anna if you would only take a moment to reflect on our history together you would find this very funny." Zhao replied lowly.

"Are you following me?" Lee Anna whispered back.

"You think mighty high of yourself if you think I would take the time and effort to pursue a married woman." Zhao replied with another lazy smile.

"Maybe you have grown tired of your child like wife and crave the touch of a woman." Lee Anna purred in a very low voice.

Zhao threw a glare at Lee Anna. "You will not discuss my wife is such a matter."

"My sweet, who is this distinguished man you are conspiring with?"

Zhao raised his eyes to meet a pair of dark gold ones, on closer inspection Zhao noticed the gentleman was extremely over dressed in finery, almost out doing his own wife. The Lord had a long nose, thin lips that were slightly turned up in a sneer, and dark black hair neatly tied up in a top knot. This was a man of much wealth and influence, a man who didn't have to dirty his elegantly manicured hands in the ugly business of war.

"My Lord Kiro Kimura may I introduce the husband of my youngest sister, Captain Zhao." Lee Anna introduced.

Recognition dawned on Kiro's face as he looked at Zhao with a determined sneer.

"Captain Zhao, a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Sadly I have heard little too none about you."

Zhao leaned back in his chair and smiled. So this was the man that had taken Lee Anna away from him, a man who had nothing to fight with but his words and money. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Lee Anna's jaw tighten and her hand go white as she clutched her wine glass.

"I would be shocked indeed if you had heard of me." Zhao replied. "Not many Lords take an interest in the battles that occur on the front line, no offence."

Kiro's jaw grew tight and his eyes narrowed, what Zhao had just said was an offence for it implied that Kiro knew little to nothing about the war that was going on.

"Captain Zhao, you are very much mistaken." Lee Anna stressed the words. "My husband takes an active interest in the war. We are in the process of setting up a concentration camp on the out skirts of the Earth Kingdom."

"What a note worthy endeavor." Zhao said sarcastically. "I raise my glass to your good fortune."

"How is my sister doing?" Lee Anna asked changing the subject. "Last I heard you had difficulty locating her."

Zhao hid his irritation behind a tight smile.

"How unfortunate Captain to have a wife that will not follow orders." Kiro mussed as he took a sip of his wine.

"How do you keep your patients?" Lee Anna questioned with a smirk. "I mean everyone knows you have a very obedient crew that follows your every command. How do you manage a wife who does not?"

"Lee Anna does your memory prove faulty? Do you not recall my patients with Aiko?" Zhao asked.

Lee Anna's face turned white her hand shook as she grasped her glass and tried to swallow some water but ended up coughing and choking on it instead.

"My sweet, are you alright?" Kiro asked in concern.

"Nothing a little pat on the back won't fix." Zhao said slapping Lee Anna on the back good naturally. "Drink slowly Lee Anna don't just gulp it down."

Before any more words could be exchanged the dinner was served and Kiro was indulged in conversation with a man next to him and Zhao found himself deep in conversation about the training set up at the fort. Although he was thoroughly engaged with the subject Zhao watched Lee Anna out of the corner of his eyes, she barely touched her food her face was still white and her hand had the faint tremor to it as she moved the fork.

Sadly Zhao had to miss the after dinner entertainment for Shima showed up with an urgent message. The Commander encouraged Zhao to stay the night and they would continue their discussion on the Yuu Yan archers.

"What is going on? Where's Jiro?" Zhao questioned Shima as they headed for the training arena.

"Jiro is sitting with Kazuma, and Kano is with the rest of the crew on the ship." Shima replied.

"I assume you have located the Avatar then?" Zhao muttered.

"We have located more than the Avatar Captain." Shima replied as he opened the door and let Zhao in first.

Zhao walked through the door way to find Kazuma completely dirty from the top of his once sandy blond hair down to his once red boots. Now he was thickly covered in mud.

"Good god boy what happened to you?" Zhao asked in shock.

"I fell into the swamp." Kazuma said sullenly.

"More like jumped in." Jiro muttered under his breath.

"I saw you jump too." Kauzuma snapped.

"What were you doing in the forest boy; you were supposed to be joining the others on Fire Bending Basics." Zhao asked in irritation. "And you" Zhao stressed turning on Shima. "were to watch him."

"I thought it would be an excellent opportunity for Kazuma to go on a mission, one which was relatively safe." Shima explained with a shrug.

"Damn it Shima I didn't recruit you to make such decisions!" Zhao snapped in anger. "I just got complemented on how well my crew obeys orders, don't prove them otherwise!!"

"Ahh but Captain you didn't see the results of the decision." Shima replied with a smirk.

"I can see it right here covered in mud." Zhao snapped back in aggravation. "I sent Jiro out to locate the Avatar."

"I have located the Avatar." Jiro replied. "He is on the southern back road of this swamp, it appears he is looking for something, but it's Kazuma who spotted…"

"The Blue Spirit." Kazuma interjected excitedly.

"Blue Spirit!" Zhao asked with a raised eyebrow. "Explain to me why I would care about that?"

"He's tracking the Avatar also, the Blue Spirit actually caught me off guard and that's why I fell into the swamp." Kazuma muttered lowly.

Jiro felt he should explain a bit more. "Captain it was Kazuma who spotted the Blue Spirit jumping above in the tree branches following the Avatar's trail."

Zhao glanced at the boy once more, covered in mud and looking at Zhao with such childish hope. At that moment he decided a word of praise was warranted to keep the boys spirits up.

"You should be proud of yourself Kazuma now go clean yourself up and be ready at dawn to join the rest of the soldiers in their training." Zhao turned to Jiro and addressed him. "Jiro show the boy where to get something to eat."

"Yes Captain." Kazuma replied in a strong voice as he followed Jiro.

"Shima wait a moment I want a word." Zhao ordered his voice deadly; he waited for the other two to leave before he began. "I do not tolerate disobedience Shima, you know that, when I give an order I expect it to be carried out. You have no authority to make a decision that is Kano's job not yours. Do I make myself clear?"

"As clear as ice Captain." Shima replied back his face guarded.

"Next time I won't be lenient." Zhao warned as he walked away.