Chapter 14: The Hunt Draws to an End

After the incident in the Fire Nation prison Zhao had ordered the Fire Nation's highest ranking officers for a special session on the Avatar's whereabouts.

Inside the war tent...

" He's heading North for The Northern water Tribe. The Avatar needs to master Water Bending, he's looking for a teacher."

" We have known this for weeks Zhao. We know, so let's go after him now!", Itsuki demanded.

" This isn't some small Earth village we can merely march into. The Northern Water Tribe is a great nation, the entire tundra is a treacherous fortress. We'll need a massive invasion fleet if we are too succed."

" We'll pull all the Fire Nation's non-essential resources and converge their efforts to this attack. We will have only one shot at this. The Avatar isn't at full strength yet, so if we are to win this battle it must have the Avatar's death as a result.", Itsuki explained to the other commanding officers.

" He's right, we need to make this victory against the Water Tribe our finest hour and when it's over the Fire Nation will win this war by the time Sozin's comet returns!", Zhao said.

" We'll see Kazuko pay for his crimes!", Itsuki cheered.

The commanding officers aside from Zhao were confused by Itsuki's statement. Zhao escorted Itsuki out of the tent and treated it like it was nothing more than a mistake but he knew better.

" I thought that the Avatar was called by another name?", Zhao said confronting the problem directly.

" He was...I was just mistaken. I haven't been sleeping well...and...this is a new era for your people...I'm just distracted.", Itsuki said lying to Zhao.

" If you say so. Bu if you are not up to it I do not need, your presence there."

"NO! I can handle it. I just need some rest and I'll be fine.", Itsuki reassured.

"Good. I should return soon. I need to make a visit to an old friend.", Zhao said.

Itsuki returned to Zhao's flagship and went back to sleep. For a while his nightmares were becoming more intense and his paranoia was starting to resurface. As evident by earlier. He shut his eyes and tried to just empty his mind and focus on sleep.

For a solid hour or so, he was in a peaceful sleep but soon his memories of the past were overwhelming him.

" Never again will you threaten my friends!"

" Your time has come..."

" You were my brother!"

" I CAN"T COME BACK FROM THIS!"

Gasping for air Itsuki lunged at his bed sheets and awoke more disturbed than ever. He placed his hand over his head and felt a burning sensation on his forehead like a fever.

" This is becoming to much of a problem for me o simply place it aside. After that night on Zuko's ship...I've starting to slip back into madness. I played this role before..or was it that I truly had become insane? Grrr I need to focus! The Avatar is in my sights, patience is all I need and soon he'll be in my grasp again. Just have to focus on that fact and the nightmares will end and everything will be calm again.", he said to himself.

While Itsuki had his own problems there was still the fact that Zuko was the Blue Spirit, the theif who freed the Avatar right from under his grasp. He wasn't sure if he should turn him in or stay silent. Because while he wanted to receive pay back for his treachery against him for leaving him to die he had moved passed it.

But maybe he wouldn't have to say a thing since he might be found out soon? But then someone knocked on his door interrupting Itsuki's train of thought. He got up and opened the door to see it was Zhao himself.

" I know who freed the Avatar, Prince Zuko.", he said.

Itsuki was beyond surprised, Zhao managed to figure it out so soon? Or maybe he suspected but had no proof? Why now? Why come to him?

" What makes you suspect him?"

" I found a pair of swords that were identical to the Blue Spirit's. They were inside Prince Zuko's ship hanging by his quarters. And he's the only one who would have any reason to free the Avatar.", Zhao explained.

" Why tell me?"

" Because I think you already knew it was him, and you didn't feel the need to tell me. You weren't keeping the truth from me to keep him from being discovered?"

" I did figure it out. Right after they escaped, but it wasn't for that reason Zhao. But if I was to be honest, it WAS Zuko. I was merely too focused on capturing he Avatar again that it slipped my mind."

" Yes well as slippery as your mind is, especially now, you're going to have to be more attentive to detail if you don't want me to condemn you. Because if I'm not mistaken I heard about your "episode" after our skirmish after the Fire Sage temple."

" How did-"

" Because I had asked one of the crew after I had recruited them for our massive invasion. Your little slip up had me curious so I asked if you had any...problems with your health. Your mental health."

" I have it under control! The Avatar will be captured by the time the battle ends, and after that I'll be fine. The pressure of having myself thrown into this unfamiliar enviroment is just taking its toll on me. That's all, so do not concern yourself with my personal affairs Zhao! I'm warning you, stay out of my business and we'll have what we want and never have to cross paths again.", Itsuki threatened.

" Very well, but there is something you need to do if I'm tohave my faith in you renewed. I want you to kill Prince Zuko."

" Assassinate the son of the very man whom I'm trying to earn my favor for? Have you los your mind?"

" He's an enemy of the Fire Nation. So make an example out of him.", Zhao ordered leaving Itsuki to his thoughts.

The very next day...

Itsuki returned to the war tent to find Zhoa and Iroh of all people inside. When Iroh turned to see Itsuki alive and with a blank expression on his face he subtly hid his fear from him trying to keep a level head.

" General Iroh, surprised to see me alive?", Itsuki mocked knowing why he was speechless at the sight of him.

" Indeed, but grateful is a more accurate word I would use.''

" Thank you for your concern, I had to take care of some things last night and I hoped Zhao had convinced you to joining in our invasion of the Water Tribe."

" Indeed I did, we were just about to make a toast to our coming victory. You just made it in time to join us."

" Well then, To the Avatar's capture!" Itsuki toasted.

" To The Fire Nation!", Iroh said.

" And to victory!", Zhao ended.

Soon after Iroh, Zhao, and Itsuki boarded the flagship ready to leave for the invasion. But Iroh quietly met up with a fire nation solider.

" Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing."

" You didn't have to do this.", Zuko said removing his disguise.

" No nephew of mine is going to stowaway on a ship without some backup."

" Thank you Uncle."

" Stay hidden ti'll we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours. Good luck. And be careful of Itsuki."

" He's still alive?", Zuko asked worried.

" I think he tried to kill you. But stay away from the bridge, he's bound to disover you if he notices anything strange."

" I'll keep a low profile Uncle. Thank you.", Zuko said putting back on his mask and continued hiding in plain sight.

Up on the bridge Itsuki and Zhao looked over the horizon anticipating their attack.

" In just a few short days, we'll make history. They will not be able to stop us now.", Zhao said.