Thank you to the following; JadiexGurl, thegirlbehindthescrawledletter, Haquikah, AnimeBear, DreamyFlower, M.T Mystery Twins, supersplash, Turquoise Waffles, Beautiful dreaming warrior, Hikari Yang, DayDreamer1212, Castiel's Saving Grace, Spectre8 and chriistiina.
REPLY'S
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I'M BACK! WOOHOO! yay i'm so excited, thank you to everyone who reviewed with kind words, all of you have helped me so much, and as a treat this chapter is 14 pages long! what the hell, i didn't even know until i looked at the pages, but again, thank you to everyone who has supported me through the whole story, you guys are what keeps me going, i don't know what i would do without you guys! OH AND THERE IS A BIG BIG BIG SURPRISE IN THIS CHAPTER WITH ZUKO AND KAI ;) DON'T READ AHEAD AND RUIN IT! HEHEHE I'M SO DEVIOUS, YOU'LL ALL LOVE AND HATE ME AT THE SAME TIME!
I'M BACK BITCHES! XOXO GOSSIP GOAT
Chapter 20: Love and Hate.
"Arrest him!" a guard yelled as all heads spun towards Zuko, he visibly gulped as he felt at least three guards jump him. They pinned him down to the ground as his arms were forcefully shoved behind his back, he grimaced in pain as they stood him up. One guard held him as they cuffed his hands as they started to lead him away, he heard a faint whisper in his ear, "don't worry, I'll figure it out."
He knew it was Sokka as he began to lead him away. He glanced behind him one last time as he saw the door to Kai's cell being slammed shut.
KAI P.O.V
The door slammed shut behind the man as I was left in darkness, not complete darkness as I had a light and a window high above that I couldn't even reach even if I stood on my toes. My wrist ached from where the guard had held it and my ribs ached something awful. I didn't mean to get the other guard in trouble, I was just in pain and he did leave the bucket of water in here anyway, so it was his own fault really. I couldn't understand why they were so violent about a stupid bucket of water in my cell?
It was a few hours later I think when the door opened by itself, I sat up from my bed as I watched other people dressed like me walk past the door. I followed them out as they all went downstairs and started talking in little groups, I followed them down and stood off to the side, I didn't know anyone. I felt like an outsider, I looked around the area as I spotted guards on all the balconies looking at everyone. There was a bench nearby and I sat down on it. I saw as a few prisoners had mops in their hands as they were mopping the floor. I watched them for a few minutes before a guard came over to me.
I looked up at them, I thought it was a man by their size but it could have been a woman for all I knew.
"The warden wants to see you." The man said. I looked at him odd, "who's a…warden?" I asked him. The guard growled and grabbed me by my arm and squeezed. I cried out in pain as he began to drag me behind him.
"Hey!" I heard a voice call out as the guard stopped, I tried to peer over his shoulder and see what was happening, and then all I could hear was shouting and running footsteps. The guard swiveled round and started dragging me painfully again. we went up a few flights of stairs and entered into an office. I was decorated in red and gold rugs and drapes, at the back of the room was a large desk with a chubby man sitting behind it, he had a gold crown on his head. His mouth was wide and his beady brown eyes narrowed when he saw me.
"Prisoner W-113, as requested, sir." The guard threw me forwards as I stumbled over my feet, I didn't fall over thankfully but I winced and hugged my stomach, I'd forgotten how sore and bruised my ribs were.
"Thank you, lieutenant, dismissed." The guard behind me bowed and left the room, when the door shut behind him the man behind the desk who I guessed was this warden stood up. He walked around his desk and came up to me. "Do you know why you are here?" he asked.
I shrugged my shoulders, "you sent for me, didn't you?" I said softly. The warden chuckled darkly. "Yes, but do you know why you are here, in this prison?" he rephrased his question. I searched my brain. But, I had no idea; I couldn't remember what I was even doing here. I shook my head as the Warden clasped his hands behind his back.
"You are a spy." He said softly, I gasped. "What?"
"You are a spy for the Fire Lord, during your time here you got into a fight with one of the prisoners and I had no choice but to torture you for punishment, if I hadn't the other guards and prisoners would have been suspicious. But during your punishment, some, complications happened."
The Warden circled me as he spoke, "you lost your memory, though none of the other guards know of your status I believe you can be the perfect spy. I have a job for you."
He ended up in front of me again as he looked into my eyes.
He seemed to be telling the truth, maybe I was a spy for the Fire Lord, but what was a spy doing here?
"Why was I here?"
"You task was to blend with the prisoners, overhear their conversations and report back to me, a prisoner saw you eavesdropping and fought you, you fought back, and here we are."
I nodded my head, "What's the job?" I said with a determination. The Warden smirked at me, "I need you to watch a prisoner, he goes by the name of Zuko."
My eyes widened, "that's the fake guard!"
The Warden nodded, "yes, he was a spy from another country and was trying to break some fellow prisoners out but we stopped him, or you did. But I'm afraid he might try again, it is your job to watch him and report back to me at the end of each day."
I nodded and bowed my head, "of course, Warden."
I turned and left the room, I went back down all of the stairs and back into the main area. I saw some prisoners still mopping the floor, a girl caught my attention; she had short red hair and violet eyes. Wait, I knew that girl, what was her name? Suki, that was it! I rushed over to her.
"Suki!" I called out, Suki lifted her head, when she spotted me her mouth dropped and she let the mop go.
"Kai, Spirits, you're out of solitary confinement!" I nodded my head and smiled at her. "Yeah, finally." Suki seemed to be uncomfortable, like she was hiding something from me. "Are you ok?" I asked her, Suki looked at me again but averted her eyes after a few seconds. "Uh, yeah."
I looked around for a few seconds; I needed to tell Suki who I was. She was the only person I could trust in this place. I grabbed her hand quickly and pulled her behind the nearby stairs.
"Kai, what are you doing?" she asked softly, I hushed her as I pulled her to the back. "I have to tell you something but you have to promise not to repeat it to anyone, ever, ok?"
Suki nodded her head after a few seconds, I looked around again, making sure no one was lingering by.
"I was called to the Wardens office a few minutes ago. Suki, he told me who I really am." I saw Suki's eyes widen drastically.
"I'm a spy Suki; I'm a spy for the Fire Nation."
ZUKO P.O.V
"You sure?" Zuko asked Sokka breathlessly as they huddled in the cooler. Sokka had just informed him of what Suki had told him about what Kai had told her. "That's what Suki said, the Warden has brainwashed her or something, she thinks that she's part of the Fire Nation and a spy no less." Zuko groaned and shivered a little in the tiny cooler.
"Zuko, I know you don't want to hear this but, there's no way we can get her now. If she believes she's Fire Nation and we try and ask her to escape with us, she'll tell the warden. And by the looks of it, she'll be fine here."
Zuko's head snapped to his companion, "I can't leave her!" he hissed angrily.
"You don't have a choice. Zuko, the girl you knew is gone. Let's just go." Zuko sighed again. It seemed he didn't have a choice, he'd have to leave her, Sokka was right, if they tried to take her she'd just tell the Warden, and that would risk not only himself, but Sokka, Suki and that Chit Sang.
"Alright." Zuko said softly as they both left the cooler, Sokka strapped the cuffs to his wrists as he led him back to his little cell. Once he was back Sokka undid the cuffs and left him, telling him to meet him outside once the lights go out. Zuko wondered over to his cot and sat down, holding his head in his hands. He couldn't believe that he has to leave Kai here, to let her believe that she wasn't Fire Nation. Couldn't he convince her? He could try couldn't he? Maybe if he just found her and explained her past to her, she'd basically told him everything that had happened to her when she was little…
Agni, he knew how he could convince her! He jumped up from his cot and raced out the door, now the only thing he had to do was find the girl. He gripped the balcony outside his cell as he scanned down below him; he was looking for a flash of black hair and tanned skin. He groaned in annoyance when he couldn't see her. He pushed off the balcony, he had to try the quad next, he rushed out the doors and into the quad and mentally cursed. There were so many people out here, he went to the nearby boulders that were on the ground and stood on them, he stood on tiptoes as he turned around in circles trying to spot her. He was becoming increasingly frustrated when he spotted her finally. She was over in the corner of the quad, by herself sitting cross-legged on the ground. Zuko jumped down off the rocks as he started pushing past people to get to her. He was halfway to her when the alarm sounded. Zuko stopped and tried to peer over the numerous heads that obscured his vision. He could see her stand up and walk towards her side of the quad doors. Zuko cursed again as he started running again. now he was rushing, he was pushing people out of the way, not apologizing as he tried to reach her. He jumped up on his toes just as he spotted her entering the door.
"No, Hana!" he yelled as he pushed past a man who yelled out in protest. He reached the gates, "Hana!" he yelled, he should have heard her and turned but she kept walking. Wait, was he calling her Hana? Zuko slapped his forehead; she doesn't go by Hana anymore, does she?
"Kai!" Zuko yelled.
She stopped. She turned around, her eyes scanning the crowds of people for someone who had called her name. Zuko tried waving his arms, trying to get her attention but she shrugged her shoulders and walked back into her block.
Zuko growled and almost firebended in annoyance but he restrained himself.
"Hey you, get moving!" Zuko looked up and saw that a guard was talking to him, he shrugged off his frustration as he began shuffling towards his block on the opposite side.
He had been so close, so close to convincing her that she was Water Nation and not Fire. He had been so close to having her leave this place, but he had failed, again.
Once he got back to his cell he fell onto his bed and dragged his hands down his face. His food came around a few hours later, he greedily ate it and then waited patiently for the sun to go down. It was around nine at night when the alarm went off for all prisoners to return to their cells. Ten minutes later all the cell doors slammed shut and the lights flickered off. Zuko was cast into darkness, he sat up from his cot and walked to the door. Sokka had told him that he had somehow overridden the system and that his door would shut but not lock. Time to test that. Zuko gripped the cool metal handle and gave it a tug, miraculously the door slip open soundlessly. He slipped out and shut the door behind him. Keeping to the shadows Zuko made his was over to the stairs and quickly ascended them. When he came to the designated door Sokka was already waiting for him.
"Alright, let's go." He whispered as he pulled a key out from his pocket and unlocked the door. It opened up into another staircase; Sokka locked the door behind them as they went down. At the bottom was another door, Sokka pulled out another key and unlocked it and they both slipped out into the night.
The heat from the water around the prison made them break out into a sweat immediately as they both kept to the shadows.
"I already got Suki out, when I went to go get the other guy he was gone, he must be here already."
Zuko nodded as they reached the cooler which had its bolts taken out of it already. They wiggled the metal until it finally came loose, Sokka and Zuko both braced themselves as they rolled the cooler down to the bottom of the hill. They spot Suki and Chit Sang as they rush up the hill to help them. When they reach the bottom they all let go of the cooler as Sokka and Zuko finally notice the two extra people that were present.
"Took you guys long enough. This here's my girl and my best buddy. They're coming too." The girl waved as the guy crossed his arms. Sokka looked annoyed as he agreed, "Fine, everybody in the cooler. Let's go." They turn the cooler on its side so that the hole was facing upwards. Sokka walks over to a nearby rocks and lifts it up, underneath is his water tribe clothes. Sokka senses someone next to him as he looks at Zuko.
"Are you sure you want to go? You're the one who said you wanted to redeem yourself. Redeem your honor. Rescuing your dad is your chance."
Suki appears next to Sokka, "Your dad?" she says in surprise. "If I had just cut my losses at the invasion, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe sometimes it's just better to call it quits before you fail." Sokka says in desperation to them both. Zuko shakes his head, "No it's not. Look Sokka, you're going to fail a lot before things work out."
Sokka gives Zuko a look, "That's supposed to make me feel better?" he asked as he starts to walk away. Zuko follows him, "Even though you'll probably fail over and over again." Sokka stops walking and turns to Zuko.
"Seriously, not helping." Zuko grabs Sokka's shoulder and makes him look at him, "you have to try every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you might fail."
"Hey, if you two are done cuddling, can we get a move on?" Chit Sang remarks from over by the cooler.
Sokka sighs and drops his bag on the floor, "no, I'm staying," he looks at Zuko and Suki, "You guys go," he places his hands on Suki's shoulders, "you've been here too long."
Suki grabs Sokka's hand, staring into his azure eyes, "I'm not leaving without you Sokka."
Zuko walks up and places a hand on Sokka's shoulder, "I'm staying too."
"Not me, I'm out. Let's roll baby." Chit Sang exclaims as he pushed the cooler into the water and jumps in. Sokka, Suki and Zuko all watch as the cooler drifts out on the water. "We gave up our only chance of escaping. I hope we haven't just made a huge mistake." Sokka says softly as Suki places a hand on his cheek. Sokka looks down at her lovingly. The three make their way up the hill and onto a small rock strip that gave them a clear view of any gondolas that would enter the prison. Zuko sat down, it was still a while till dawn, when the guard said that the new prisoners were coming so he tried to come up with a plan to convince Kai who she really was. Maybe if he managed to convince her, she could play the part of her spy persona and sneak into the warden's chambers and hopefully find something that could help them get out of the volcano.
They all sat in silence for the rest of the night, Zuko was pretty sure that the girl, Suki had fallen asleep. Once they could spot the sun's rays peaking over the top of the volcano they woke her up and kept a watchful eye out. A few minutes later a loud scream echoed all around them. They could hear yelling from above them as a bell sounded.
"The plan failed! They're caught." Sokka said as they watched as a giant harpoon impaled the cooler and dragged them back to shore.
Another sound caught their attention; they could hear the gondola start up. "The gondolas moving." Zuko and Suki both looked over to the gondola as all three of them carefully watched as it slowly moved to the platform. "If my dad's not there, we risked everything for nothing."
"We had to." Suki said reassuringly.
"Come on, come on." Sokka grumbled to himself as the gondola reached the platform and the first person stepped out. He was a big, burly man with shaggy long hair, a long beard, a nose ring and a tattoo.
"Is that him?" Zuko asked Sokka. Sokka gives Zuko a look, "my dad doesn't have a nose ring," he mumbled as they watched five more people walk out.
"Where is he?" Sokka said in desperation as he held his hands together. One more man stepped out, he was shirtless and had a topknot, Sokka held his breath as no one else followed the man out of the gondola.
"That's it? Than can't be it." Sokka says in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Sokka." Suki says sadly.
Sokka begins to turn away with Suki, "Wait!" Zuko calls out as Sokka spins around as a man walks out, he was a dark skinned man, with brown hair cropped to his shoulders, two braids hung by his face and he hand matching azure eyes to Sokka.
"Dad," Sokka whispers in relief as Suki hugs him.
KAI P.O.V
I was wondering the halls of the prison block; it wasn't my block but the other one on the opposite end of the compound. All of the cell doors were open and I was peering in them to try and find the fake guard again, warden had said his name was Zuko. I was on the third level and outside of cell 58 when I peered in and found him lying on his cot with one hand covering his face. I knocked on the metal door as he threw his arm off his face and sat up.
"Kai," he whispered softly as he stood up, I stepped into his room, the warden had asked me to spy on him, see if he was doing anything suspicious, he didn't seem like the type though.
"Hi," I said timidly as I went and sat on his bed, Zuko lowered himself back on the bed as he just stared at me.
"Do you…know me?" I asked after a minute of silence. I had been meaning to ask that question, when he was posing as a guard, how did he know my name? Why did he help me?
"Yes, I do, Kai." I looked into his golden eyes, they were a bright amber color that shone like fire in the dimly lit room, his black hair was nearly covering his eyes and he had a scar that marred the one side of his face. It reminded me of the giant scar I had found on my own back, I had no idea how I got the scar, only that it covered one whole side of my back and shoulder. Another scar caught my attention; it was a tiny silver line on his neck, I reached out with my hand and gently touched the line with my finger. As soon as I touched it I had a flashback;
I screamed as I turned the water into icicles and thrust my hands forwards, Zuko's eyes widened as he dodged most, one scraped across his neck, drawing blood.
I pulled back and gasped, Zuko grabbed my wrist lightly, stopping me from getting up from the bed. "What do you remember?" he asked, I looked into his eyes again; he was already staring at me.
"I attacked you, I did that." I pointed with my other hand to his neck, Zuko shook his head, "it doesn't matter," he said quickly, trying to dismiss the topic, I let my jaw hang loose.
"How can it not matter? I attacked you and hurt you!"
"I forgave you a long time ago."
I looked away and pulled my wrist from his grip, I stood up and went to exit the room but his voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"I know about your scar."
I held my breath as I turned my head back to him, he was standing up, his hands were by his side. "The scar that's on your back, it covers the left side and your shoulder, I know that when you were eight years old the colonel of the Rough Rhino's gave you that scar because you tried to defend your mother. I know that when you were one years old you were kidnapped from the Northern Water Tribe and taken to the Earth Kingdom. Your adoptive parents were Gansu and Sela; you had a little brother called Lee and an older one called Sen Su. I know that you are the princess of the Northern Water Tribe; you have a little sister who is the Moon Spirit Yue. I know that you love dango sweets but hate tomatoes with a passion; you had an ostrich-horse called Lou for half your life. And I know that you were convinced you are a Fire Nation spy."
My eyes bugged out of my head, how did he know these things about me, how did he know I hate tomatoes?
"How do you know all that?" I asked him, fully turning to see him. "Because you are my best friend, the warden had you tortured when you came here, so much that you repressed all of your memories, he's convinced you that you are Fire Nation, but look at you, you look nothing like them!" I was true, I had dark skin and bright blue eyes, the people of the Fire Nation had pale skin and golden eyes.
"But why did I attack you?" I asked in a strained voice, Zuko sighed, "because I did something terrible and I hurt you, badly. I abused your trust and friendship and you hated me for that. I kept things from you—"
"Stop!" I yelled, Zuko looked taken aback, "I don't deserve to remember anything, if I hurt you then I don't deserve to remember who I was."
"Yes you do!"
"Why?" I countered.
"Because you saved my life, and it is time I returned the favor," Zuko took one step to me. "And how can you return the favor?" I asked sarcastically.
Zuko glanced at me, then he took three longs strides, his two large hands reached out and gripped my face and he brought his head down and his lips met mine.
It was if my head exploded, every single memory that I have ever had came rushing back into me.
The loose tile i was leaning on slipped under me as i fell off the side of the roof. I screamed as i fell to the floor in a heap. I heard dad sigh, "And this is my daughter, Hana."
I sat up and rubbed my head while smiling weakly. "Nice to meet you."
##
"M-my name is..." he trailed off. I laughed, "What, are you named after a girl?" i teased.
"No!" he shouted getting angry, which caused me to laugh even harder. "My name is Zuko." He mumbled, i grinned. "Well Zuko, it is a pleasure to meet you. Now, off to bed you go. You have to finish this roof before you go!" i giggled as Zuko pulled a face.
##
"You've had a bad dream." Zuko stated and jolted me from my thoughts, "How'd you know?" i asked, looking away from his gaze.
"Your eyes are bloodshot and you have bags under your eyes." He stated as if he was examining the weather. I rubbed at my arms, "Do you...er, want to talk...about it?" he questioned uneasily. I started laughing, he gave me a weird look as if i had just grown another head, "sorry!" I apologized as i caught my breath. "It's just that you don't seem the type to ask people how they are feeling." Zuko looked at me with a glare, "I'm not. I was just being considerate." He growled.
##
"You okay? I saw the hit that you took." A voice said, I looked up and moved my clothes back onto my shoulder. "Fine. It was just a scratch." I said as I smiled weakly as Zuko gave me a funny look.
##
We passed a stall with an elderly man who was waving us over, I tugged on Zuko's arm, "Zuko! Can we please play that game?" I asked, pouting my lips. He rolled his eyes as he let me drag him over to the stall. The old man greeted us and grinned a toothless smile, "Well hello there, care to play?"
I clasped my hands together and nodded quickly as Zuko rubbed the back of his head, the old man looked from Zuko to me. "Ah, the first date I see." He winked at Zuko as I laughed out loud as Zuko yelled, "This is not a date!"
##
"Your girlfriend here could show you a few tips on how to throw," the old man said with a smirk. Zuko looked shocked as he spun around to face the old man, "she's not my girlfriend!" I giggled and faked a shocked voice, "Oh, Zuko darling. Why would you say something like that!"
##
Suddenly the lanterns around the clearing went out as I laughed as the first firework went off. I gasped and clapped my hands together as it shot into the sky and burst. The loud bang resonated through my ears as it dissolved into a soft blue, then another went off. And another. Many different fireworks went off, all different colors. I could feel my mouth open as I gazed up at them. All of them making loud bangs and lighting up the night sky, this was the best night of my entire life!
##
Suddenly I let out a sneeze which me, "What's wrong? Who's there? Is there an enemy? Azula?"
##
"Zuko can you stop ignoring me and explain what these are! You have said that Azula name twice now and i don't even know who they are!" i yelled as i reached out for his shoulder and spun him around. He glared at me as he sighed finally and shrugged off my hand.
##
"He's a control freak, everything has to go his way. If not, then it's like attack of the whiney Zuko!" I yelled exasperated to Lou, who was sitting quietly as his eyes trailed after me as I paced backwards and forwards.
##
I opened my eyes and gazed into familiar liquid gold, "Zuko." I said softly. I clambered off him and brushed myself off. "What are you doing here?" he yelled. "Helping you!" I yelled back with my arms crossed. I heard someone clear their throat and we both saw Iroh standing there with an eyebrow raised.
##
He Firebended. I ducked down as the blazing hot fire went over my head. My eyes started watering up as I watched his back hunch. Zuko was a Firebender.
##
"You're not just a Firebender are you." Zuko turned to look at me. "You're the Prince of the Fire Nation too."
##
I felt his hand on my shoulder and I looked over to him, "Hana, I promise that I will help you find your family. You have my word." He grinned slightly and I beamed, he was actually going to help me look for my family. "What's that smell?" he asked after a minute. "Oh Agni!" I yelled as I jumped up and rushed over to the cooking pot, taking it off the heat I grabbed the spoon and started to stir it.
##
"You know Zuko?"
"What, Hana?"
"I think we can be friends." This time, Zuko started laughing by himself, followed by a grunt as he was punched in the arm. "Don't mock my friendship."
##
I saw Zuko turn to Iroh with an angry look on his face, "What turmoil?" he asked, frustrated and enraged. I snorted, "That's ironic." I narrowly missed a fireball to the head…
##
"You jumped in the water for m-me, d-didn't y-you." She stated, it wasn't a question and Zuko knew that. "Yes, Hana I did. Now go to sleep otherwise I'll throw you back in the water." Zuko warned. Hana laughed, though her voice was raspy and strained, "No you wouldn't, you l-love me." Hana sighed, half asleep.
##
"You should take your own advice, Mr I-can-do-it-myself." I mocked.
##
Zuko rolled his eyes, "You know you're mean when you nearly die." Zuko said, raising his one eyebrow. "It's a gift."
##
"You don't remember me, do you?" I said clearly. He didn't even flinch, but he made a flame in his hand. "You attacked a village 8 years ago." Mongke just smirked, "I burnt down many villages 8 years ago, little girl."
"You didn't burn it down! You terrorized the people, and you burnt a little girl!" I yelled, my throat tightening. I saw his eyes widen in recognition, "and let me guess, that poor little girl was you."
##
"What did you do…to get that scar?" I asked softly, I believed that he hadn't heard me but he answered me. "I spoke out of line in a war meeting, my father then challenged me to an Agni Kai, and…I lost." He finished softly.
##
I shook my head in anger, "No, your Uncle knows I am from the Northern Water Tribe, he knows who I am and I am sick of being lied to!" I threw my hands out and the next thing I knew, I felt a surge of raw power inside of me and Zuko was flying backwards, he yelped as he hit the side railings of the ship and collapsed to the floor. My arms dropped to my side and became stiff, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened. Zuko groaned as he looked up at me with wide eyes. My eyes dropped to my hands as I tried to speak but nothing came out.
##
"Jet?" I asked, Jet smirked at me as he strode forward. "Hi," he said as he reached me, "I wasn't sure if it was you, so I just waited. I hope that's not weird?" he asked uncertainly. "A little…" I said jokingly, "I'm kidding, it's fine, I was just surprised to run into you."
##
"Oh-uh, maybe we should—"
"Hana?" I sprung away from Jet, my head shooting to the side so fast I heard something crack.
He was standing there, with his fists clenched and a scowl on his face. "Zuko," I whispered.
##
"Zuko, get off me you fatso! I will explain everything later but right now I need to get home before Kanan murders me!" I yelled as I finally pushed him off me, he yelped as he cracked his head on the stairs.
##
"I don't want you to do anything, Zuko. All I wanted was for you to understand and to help me get through this. Finding out all of this…and, living in Ba Sing Se. It's all too much. I have to go, if you want to find me and talk, I'll be at my home. Goodbye." I turned my back on him, I could feel my eyes tearing up, I would've thought he might have taken it better than that but, it's Zuko. You can't really expect anything from him, other than getting fire thrown at your face.
##
"Hana, just…don't blame yourself." He stroked my cheek again and wiped away a tear. "Hana, just one last thing. I'd like to, relive the memory of the fountain again." I felt my heart speed up; he wanted me to kiss him?
##
"What do you mean? He's going to die?" I asked, my voice rising. Iroh cast his eyes downwards, "I'm not sure, my belief is that in Zuko's mind, he is trying to decide which path to take, and if he gives up on deciding, then we shall both lose him, forever."
##
"There is one person who Prince Zuko cares for, more than myself or his own life." I was now intrigued as I held his gaze. "It is you, Hana."
##
"Alright, whatever it takes."
##
"Zuko!" I screeched, both the Fire Lord and Zuko looked at me for a split second, without realizing I could feel the tears spilling down my cheeks. "You have to fight!" I cried, I gripped the fire bars, waiting for the intense burn but it never came. Zuko looked at me with a blank expression and lowered his head. "Fight back, Zuko!" I screamed at him as I watched Ozai use his leg to kick Zuko, he rolled onto his back and groaned in pain.
##
"Zuko you have to go back. Fight, what you did under the lake was the right thing. You are a good person; you always have been and always will be. Your uncle knows this, I know this. Your father knows that, why do you think that he gave you this?" I reached up a caressed his scarred face, his good eye shut and then opened; I saw tears in his eyes. "You cared for the people even though your father didn't, and someday, you will make an excellent Fire Lord."
##
"Because…I" I took a shaky breath, the pain from my back becoming unbearable. I stared into his eye, "because I love you."
##
"Is what she said true? Am I royal?" I demanded. My gaze hardened as Iroh took a step towards me. "Yes, Hana. You are part of the Northern Water tribe's royal family."
##
"You knew too?"
##
"The right time! The right time, Zuko, would have been to tell me as soon as you found out! I've told you everything about me, my healing, how I'm connected to the Water Spirit. You know everything about me! I trusted you,"
##
I broke away from Zuko, my head was pounding as his hands were still encasing my face. "Zuko?" I asked as Zuko stared and me even more intently. "Do you remember?" he asked cautiously.
I could feel the tear brimming to my eyes, how could I have been so mean to him, how could I have betrayed him like that, I was the worst person in the entire universe! Without thinking I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tight, all the pain I felt over the past months came bursting out like a dam, his arms wrapped round my waist as he held me as I cried into his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry" I sobbed into his shoulder as he rubbed soothing circles on my back, "Shh," he said softly as one hand left my back and held the back of my head. He stroked my hair as I continued sobbing until my throat was dry and raw. I pulled back, "I'm sorry about everything," I hiccupped as Zuko shook his head, "I should be apologizing, I was the one who kept everything from you, if I hadn't this wouldn't have happened."
This, the Boiling Rock, me getting tortured, losing my mind and then Zuko is helping me remember by kissing me.
Whoa, hold up, rewind and freeze, Zuko kissed me.
I pushed him away roughly, "What's wrong?" Zuko said, his hands out in a pleading gesture.
"You kissed me!" I hissed at him. Zuko quirked an eyebrow.
"You-uh I can't- kiss-what!?"
Zuko tried to grab my shoulders but I swatted them away, "You can't just go around kissing people! Are you nuts?" I glared at him as he started laughing, I crossed my arms.
"That's the Hana I know." He chuckled. My eyes widened as I turned away from him. "I go by Kai now." I said quietly, Zuko stopped laughing.
"Ok, Kai, I know that what happened was horrible, but we're going to get you out of here, I promise." I turned to look back at him, I can't believe he kissed me, and I actually liked it.
My stomach started doing flips just thinking about it.
"When?" I asked desperately, I didn't want to stay in this place anymore then I had too.
"Today, I'll find you, I promise." Zuko then reached for me and kissed me on the forehead. He pulled back as a voice sounded throughout the compound. "All prisoners back to their cells."
I took one last look at him before I turned and left the cell.
He kissed me on the forehead? Like a stupid child! I gritted my teeth as I made my way back to my own block.
A hand grabbed my arm and spun me around, I was looking into the face of the warden. Oh no, I had all my memories back, I had to act like I was still his little puppy.
"Warden," I said casually as he released my arm. "Follow me," he said gruffly as he began walking towards his own block, were all the guards stay. He led me through the corridors and I knew where we were going, to his office. No doubt he had seen me come out of Zuko's cell and wanted to question me. When we got to his office he opened the door and let me enter first. Which was odd, when I walked in the door slammed shut behind me. Ok, what was going on?
I heard footsteps from a corner as a figure emerged from the darkness, I held in my gasp as the golden eyes narrowed at me. Her black hair was sleek and pinned up in its usual style. She wore her traditional fire nation get up. Her arms were behind her back as she stepped further into the room. I had to play the part, I couldn't give her a reason to suspect that I wasn't her little vegetable anymore.
"Who are you?" I said in a shaky voice.
"I am Princess Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai."
I gasped and quickly fell to the floor, bowing at her feet, as anyone would. Azula chuckled, "rise, my servant." I lifted my head and rose slowly.
"Now, as I understand you lost your memories a few weeks ago?" Azula asked. I nodded my head.
"Well, that's unfortunate, but anyway I've come here to handle a situation that requires my attention and I would like you to help me."
"What would you like me to do?" I asked her.
Azula tilted her head, "Ty Lee, restore her bending." Oh, that's right, before I came here someone had taken my bending from me, now it made sense that Ty Lee had done it, she could block your chi. The girl in pink with the long plait fell to the floor from the roof, no doubt she was back up for Azula if I had attacked her.
Ty Lee walked up to me as she jabbed my forehead and my chest. The wind was knocked out of me as I suddenly felt all of my power rush back to me. It felt good, and I finally felt like myself again.
"Now, before you find out I might as well tell you. You are not a firebender, you are a waterbender but you grew up in the Fire Nation. Hear this, you obey me, use your bending to harm me and I will end you, are we clear."
I nodded quickly, "yes, Princess Azula."
Azula smirked evilly as she nodded to Ty Lee, "go get her changed out of those rags, I can't have one of my weapons wearing those awful things."
"C'mon, Kai, we brought you some really nice clothes!" Ty lee said in a chirpy voice as she dragged me from the room. She took me to another room which had a long mirror with a desk in front of it. Oh god, she was going to dress me up. Ty lee set me down on the chair and took my ratty hair in her hands.
"You have such pretty hair," Ty lee commented as she took a brush to it she pinned it up so that half was up and the other half down. Over the months it had grown ridiculously long and now reached down to my bottom, Ty lee gave me a wipe to clean all the dirt from my face as she finished with my hair. After she handed me some clothes to change into and she left the room.
I took my prison rags off and slipped on the pair of pants, they were a deep red color, baggy and they had elastic around the ankle to keep them from coming up, next I pulled the top on, if you could call it a top. It finished just above my navel, had no sleeves and a high neck line. Two leather arms bands were next as I slipped them on, the pair of shoes or slippers or whatever they were came next as I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a fire nation civilian, but with tanned skin and blue eyes.
Ty lee entered a few seconds later.
"Ooh they fit! C'mon Azula is waiting for us!" I followed Ty lee as she led me out of the room. All of a sudden alarms started blaring from every corner of the compound.
"What's going on?" I asked Ty lee. Ty lee looked around, "I have no idea." She said as we could both hear running footsteps and guards bolting out from various rooms. Another pair of footsteps is heard but they aren't running. Azula comes around the corner, a smirk plastered on her face. "It seems my brother is escaping with the warden."
My heart lurched, he had left without me? He promised he would wait for me.
"Let's go girls." Azula said as we both followed her up the stairs. We started running across the landings, I could feel my heart slowly breaking again, I couldn't believe Zuko would just leave me here.
We emerged onto the upper deck, I remembered this place from when I was first brought here. They had obviously taken a gondola. We ran out to the edge as more guards joined us, I watched as I could see all their heads turn to ours. Zuko I could clearly see.
"Ty lee, let's go. Kai, you stay here." I nodded and watched as Azula took a pair of handcuffs and Ty lee jumped up onto the wire line and began running. Azula used her firebending and jetted up to the wires, she hooked the cuffs around it and then fired away. I watched as her and Ty lee caught up with the gondola.
What could I do, as much as it pained me, I couldn't let them get captured, they had to get out of here alive. I looked around; the guards around me were watching the gondola with weary eyes. I turned back and saw Suki fighting Ty lee, Zuko and Sokka were both fighting Azula. I see one guard use a telescope, "There's the warden, I see him." He exclaimed.
Then a head popped out of the side of the gondola, I recognized it as the warden as he yells, "cut the line!" I gasped as they brought out a giant hacksaw.
I looked around, there was no water.
I slapped my head, ugh, I'm so stupid, this whole prison was surrounded by water.
It had been a long time since I had used my bending, oh well, here goes nothing. I took my stance, glancing over at the gondola as it began to shake, I saw Ty lee and Azula jump off and land on the other gondolas roof.
I concentrated on feeling the water below me, I raised my hands as a giant tidal wave came crashing over them.
"What are you doing?" one guard asked as he spluttered water out of his mouth.
I froze his body to the ground, "saving the jerk who broke my heart." I commented. As the other guards started to run at me, I dodged their firebending attacks, as I used my waterbending to attack them. Most of them were pinned down by ice, when a knife flew past my face, I narrowly dodged it as I looked up and saw Mai, the other sidekick, I had no idea she was here!
Mai threw a knife at me as I made an icicle and lobbed it at her, she rolled to the side and threw another stiletto at me, it nicked my arm and drew blood. I risked a glance at the gondolas, Zuko's one wasn't moving as I noticed something in the mechanism that was stopping it from going, I looked to Azula as she was glaring at me through narrowed eyes, she was almost here.
I looked back to Mai as I dodged another stiletto.
I would have to use that technique.
Breathing in I concentrated on Mai blood, I could hear and feel it pumping under my fingers and I opened my eyes and glared at her as I raised my arms and brought them down, Mai froze, her eyes going wide as he body convulsed. I used one arm and brought her down to the ground and froze her body with the water with the other. Running to the levers I kicked the thing that was stopping it out of the wheel and it began moving again.
I sensed a fireball and ducked to the ground as Azula's flames went over my head, Azula jumped off the gondola.
"So I see you've regained your memories, what a pity."
I glared at her as glanced at the gondola, it had finally reached the end and I could see everyone running out, a figure who I couldn't make out lingered a few seconds before running off.
Using my distraction Azula lunged for me, she encased her hands in flames as she went to punch my head, I ducked and kicked a leg out, she jumped over it and brought her fist down, I rolled out the way and jumped up. Sensing someone behind me I whirled around and dodged Ty lee attack.
"You're not getting me again pinky." I growled as I looked at both of them. Then, clenching my fists together Azula and Ty lee both stopped as their eyes widened.
"So, you've reconnected with your blood bending, but you must realize there is no way off this island."
I looked down at the ground, "yeah, I know that, but you guys can't see what I'm seeing right now." I grinned as I looked up; a giant zeppelin comes over the volcano. Realizing my concentration was somewhere else, Azula managed to break free and runs at me. With the last of my power I fling Ty lee into a pillar which knocks her out so I didn't have to worry about her. Azula threw fireballs at me as I dodged them, I spun in the air and used a water whip to wrap around her leg from behind her as I trip her up. I look up and see a hatch opening up and I can see Zuko, he has a rope tied around him and Sokka is behind him holding the other end. I look back at Azula as she gets up, she throws another fireball at me as I dodge it and turn my back on her and I ran.
I could hear her footsteps behind me as I reach the ledge of the platform and jump off it. I look up just as Zuko swings by and grabs me by the arm. I grunt in pain, my ribs and everything else in my body still not fully healed. I hoist myself up and wrap my arms around his neck as the zeppelin flies away from the volcano. Zuko wraps his other hand around my waist gripping my tight.
"I thought you'd gone without me," I whispered as the wind whipped my hair around.
"I promised I wouldn't leave without you, didn't i?" he grinned and I smiled at him. As we are pulled up I see Suki as she reaches for me, I hold out my hands as she grips them and pulls me up, when I'm standing up she hugs me.
"I'm glad you're safe, and not with Azula." She chuckles. I laugh, "Sorry, I had to keep up the act."
I feel a hand on my shoulder as I turn and see Sokka, "Not bad, traitor girl."
I laugh and raise an eyebrow, "Traitor girl?" I question, Sokka blushes red, "oh, yeah, sorry, I mean, Kai."
I laugh as I see Zuko in the corner of the room, he was smiling softly at the scene, his eyes locked with mine, he nodded slowly as I smiled at him.
We had docked at the Western Air temple; I had been told that Aang was there, I wonder if he could ever forgive me. As we docked the giant bay doors opened and Sokka and Zuko walk out.
"What are you doing in this thing?" I hear a girly voice who I recognized as Katara say, "What happened to the war balloon?" she continued.
"It kind of got destroyed," I heard Zuko say awkwardly. "Sounds like a crazy fishing trip," I hear a high boy voice, Aang most likely.
"Did you at least get some good meat," Another girl voice sounded but it wasn't Katara, it sounded like the little blind girl, Toph.
"I did. The best meat of all. The meat of friendship and fatherhood."
ZUKO P.O.V
Zuko watched as Chit Sang disembarked from the zeppelin and waves and introduces himself. Suki then walks out with Hakoda, Katara runs up to him and hugs him around the waist. Sokka joins his sister in a hug as Sokka looks back to the zeppelin. Zuko raises his head as he sees Kai standing on the ramp. All heads turn to look at the girl as she looks like she's about to vomit. She slowly walks down the ramp, Zuko can feel the tension emanating from everyone a she reaches the platform.
She looks at everyone and he eyes land on Zuko, his heart reaches out for her, to comfort her as she turns away and walks off to the side.
KAI P.O.V
I walk off, I can't do this, seeing all their angry faces looking at me, once I reach the end of the platform I sit down and hang my legs over the edge. A few seconds later a feel a hand on my shoulder, I expect it to be Zuko when I look over, but I see Aang. He had a small smile on his face, he reached his hand out for me, I grabbed it as he pulled me up.
"I forgave you a long time ago." He said softly as I bent down and hugged the little Avatar.
"Thank you Aang, and for the record. I'm really sorry."
YAY! do you guys love or hate me? ;) ;)
Kai's back, ugh, i hated writing her without memories so i was nice ;) ver very very nice if you catch my drift...