Chapter 25: Sniffing out the Rats

Good morning diary!

And what a great morning it is too! Ah! The sun is shining and we're at port so most of the crew is out eating breakfast while Dango and I kick back and take a break for once.

Even as I sit here now with you and my cup of tea here on the deck the sky looks so blue and bright and-

"Jade"

"hmm?" Jade looked up from her diary and blinked up into the familiar calm face of a man with sharp brown eyes and black hair streaked with grey.

"Oh hey Father, what's up?" Jade smiled as Ruishi made to sit down beside her.

He smirked as he caught sight of the battered book in her hands quickly be shut and slipped back into her rucksack and out of sight.

"You don't have to hide from me Jade. I already know what's going on between you and the prince"

Jade all but spat out the tea she had just taken a sip of, much to her father's growing amusement. When she spoke she was half choking and spluttering.

"h-how-who told you?"

"You did just now" Ruishi quirked a brow, his smirk falling away as his daughter sighed heavily.

"And let me guess, you don't want me to go ahead with it?"

"Yes"

There was a very deafening pause as father and daughter both locked gazes, green meeting brown firmly in the middle, both speaking more than any words spoken aloud.

It wasn't until the silence had stretched on for a full minute that Ruishi spoke, his voice cold as ice.

"Jade…I'm worried…that Zuko…he's not, he's not like your average kind of boy."

"Yeah so?" Jade clipped.

"So..." Ruishi coughed glancing around to check the deck "he's a prince…And he's-"

But what Zuko was, Jade never found out, for at that precise moment something clanged heavily.

She wheeled around gasping along with her father as she saw a massive shape claw its way up the port side of the deck.

It appeared to be a large hairy mole like creature, with an odd star-shaped pink nose and big claws on its feet. Upon its back a woman sat astride a saddle. She was very beautiful and fine featured, with long black hair tied half back in a top knot whilst the rest of it flowed freely about her shoulders, making her pale skin and red lips pop as they snarled a command.

"Move aside boys!"

She cracked the reins of her beastly steed which was quick to growl before beginning to sniff urgently at the deck floor, close to where Jade stood rooted to the spot with her father, who took up a fighting stance.

"Jade go get Lord Iroh"

"But father-"

"Jade go now!" he hissed, just as many other guards, including her brother, made to join him taking up a fighting stance, as they faced the dangerous stranger and her pet.

Jade did not need telling twice.

In two shakes of a turtle-duck's tail she was running down below deck, towards the royal quarters and-

"Ow!" she cried out loudly as she crashed into what felt like a hard wall, only it had a pair of strong arms that held her steady.

"Hey what are you-Jade?"

Head still reeling from the sudden impact Jade looked up to blink into the scarred face of Prince Zuko. His eyes were wide with surprise as the kitchen maid made to grab his hand and drag him up back the way she came.

"Jade what the-"

"just get a move on! I'll explain when we get on deck!" Jade hissed as she all but heaved him up the stairs.

Zuko rolled his eyes and quickly sped up his pace, the sounds of crashing and odd snarling hitting his ears as he ascended first onto the deck, just in time to hear the strange beast riding woman's snarl.

"Get back! We're after a stowaway"

"There are no stowaways on my ship!" Zuko growled, only to jump back as the woman's large steed chomped down hard into the metal deck and tore it out as if it were nothing more than a paper door.

Jade squeaked as she felt the prince tug her down to avoid the chunk of metal as it was flung aside.

What the hell is that thing?

Her eyes widened as something green and tanned came scurrying out of the hole in the deck.

It was a man thin and slightly malnourished, and wearing rags. In short no-one she knew was part of the crew. He yelled loudly as he caught sight of the creature that had sniffed him out, his pitch raising as it's long prehensile red tongue lashed out and thrashed his side.

With a heavy thud he landed to the floor, unmoving but still awake, his fearful eyes darting about pleadingly to the soldiers that were watching him with shock.

"He's paralysed" Zuko breathed as he and Jade both took a step closer.

There was a thump as the woman on the giant beast hopped down to the ground to pick up the man. She was surprisingly strong for her lithe build and smirked at the awe the rest of the surprised crew aimed her way.

"Only temporarily. The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money"

Zuko's eyes narrowed.

"But how did you find him on my ship?"

"My Shirshu can smell a rat a continent away" the woman snorted as she and her new bounty hopped back on her steed which growled loudly before rearing into the air.

"Well I'm impressed" Lord Iroh smiled at the impressive sight.

Jade however winced a little at the volume, but her intrigue kept her watching as the shirshu rode off the side of the ship and landed on the docks before dashing away swiftly into the town.

"Very impressed" Lord Iroh stroked his beard as he eyed the swiftly disappearing form of the woman's curvy back.

Seriously? Now Uncle?

Zuko quirked an eyebrow at his uncle, but for once didn't comment, though that may have been because he was distracted by Jade who was rolling her eyes at her brother Shen.

Like the old general (and many other men aboard the ship) he was smirking appreciatively at the spot where the woman disappeared.

Oh for heavens sake!

"Hey!" Zuko snarled the sound jolting more than half the male crew out of their stupor as they stood to attention. "all of you snap out of it and get this ship repaired as fast as possible. That's an order!"

The last word was such a harsh bark that Jade almost winced again at the tones.

"Damn, where did you learn to yell like that?" she grunted more to herself than to anyone else but still Zuko heard it with his sharp ears.

Ignoring the knowing smirks and sniggers from the older crewmen behind his back he quickly turned to face her, his face softening a little as he caught sight of her slightly dishevelled state.

"You okay?"

Jade blinked. The question had been so soft she wasn't sure if she had heard correctly.

"Uh…yeah I'm okay" she blushed and coughed a little as she caught sight of her father's piercing gaze through the corner of her eye.

Zuko caught sight of it too and bit his lip.

Ever since he and Jade had kissed it was always awkward being around the older lieutenant, who seemed to be sparing him a sharp stern stare for a moment before returning to his duties.

"I'm sorry" Jade mumbled softly as the prince made to open his mouth. "He means well, it's just that he's overprotective sometimes."

"I know" Zuko muttered through gritted teeth. Not that he liked the idea a lot.

But no what was he thinking? She had a close knit family; he couldn't expect them to give her up just like that.

He was wrenched from his thoughts by Jade as she quietly reached up to gently pat his shoulder.

"I should probably go down to the kitchens' Dango might want me for the lunch service"

"Right" Zuko nodded, but even as she tried to walk past him he held onto her hand and stopped her.

"You'll come up later with the tea right?"

"for one or for two?" she mumbled, her eyes not quite meeting the slightly smouldering gaze that fixed onto her face.

"for one"

Jade paused, her cheeks flushing as she tried to stop herself from smiling.

"very well your highness"

In spite of his attempt to remain stern, the corners of Zuko's mouth quirked upwards as he let her go, his gaze fixing itself on her back as she dashed down below deck.

It was quiet when Jade approached the door to Prince Zuko's private rooms, but still she couldn't help but shudder as she glanced over her shoulder.

She didn't know why, but she felt like a pair of eyes were watching her closely from nearby.

No…that's just stupid

She shook her head to herself as she raised a hand to knock at the metal.

There was no response.

Odd…

Jade quirked a brow as she made to knock again.

Again there was no hint of a response.

"Zuko?" she hissed at the door as she gingerly made to pull it open. Quietly she poked her head through, her brow furrowing as she saw the lush interior space devoid of life and-

"Jade?" a voice hissed suddenly in her ear.

Jade squeaked and spun around in alarm, just in time for her chin to collide with a familiar solid darkly clad chest.

"Careful" Zuko hissed, his cheeks flushing a little as he felt her breath brush against his neck.

"You startled me" Jade snapped back quietly, though she too was quick to blush at their rather intimate distance.

"sorry" Zuko mumbled though she could tell that he wasn't by the small glimmer in his golden eyes as he made to quickly usher her inside his room.

"Why didn't you just come in?" he growled softly as he shut the door behind his back.

"because I just managed to get up here" Jade pouted as she set the small tray of tea on his low table. "Dango wanted me to stay behind to help make the small snacks for those on night duty tonight"

"Oh…right" Zuko nodded, horribly aware of the awkward silence that had begun to stretch between them.

He wasn't sure why…but he felt oddly nervous as they both stood there in his room, both of them fidgeting for something to say.

He wondered, randomly what his uncle would say in this kind of awkward situation. Then he remembered that the older lord would have probably never allowed this kind of awkwardness to start in the first place and would have them both sitting down and drinking tea.

"Um…sit…I-I mean" Zuko gulped as she blinked in confusion. "Would you like to sit down…here-uh…with me? Or…or not with me…I-I mean not next to me but in this room with me or-uh…that is if you want to…"

Oh spirits of fire please kill me now!

He groaned in his head as he felt the heat in his chest flare up to his ears as he saw her cheeks flush red.

His heart beat raced as he saw her give a tiny nod, her eyes sticking to the ground as she made to sit down at the low table.

She bit her lip as Zuko cautiously sit down at the same side of the table, but positioned so that he was facing her at a close proximity, his hot breath fanning her face as she leaned in to serve the tea.

His eyes flickered down to watch her hands work. No matter how many times he saw her serve he could not get over how small and delicate they looked, almost like they were made of the finest most fragile porcelain, and yet they were also hard and tough…

Eventually Jade spoke and her voice was timid.

"So…um…that bounty hunter woman…did you figure out what happened to her?"

"No" Zuko grumbled, though inwardly he was relieved at the change of tack.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Jade mumbled.

"Find her…track her down" Zuko muttered "Her creature did a number on my ship after all"

"And find a stowaway we didn't' notice sneaking on" Jade smiled knowingly, much to his chagrin.

"Yeah…that too…"

"So you're going to hire her?"

Zuko nodded quietly as he took a cup of tea from her.

"If we can find her…if what our scouts say is true then there might be a chance she'll be at the village nearby."

"Probably at a tavern" Jade nodded quietly. "My father says most bounty hunters usually spend a lot of their money on drinks and relaxation because they're mostly nomadic"

"Yeah, uncle says the same thing too." And then before he could stop himself he blurted out "Come with me?"

"Huh?" Jade blinked.

Zuko's cheeks flushed darkly, inwardly cursing himself as his mouth motored on without even consulting his brain.

"Come with me when we go on shore…that is…if you want to come…" he trailed off, eyes darting to the ground so that he missed the way Jade's cheeks burned pink.

When she spoke her voice was small, like the shy smile that was creeping up her face

"YES! Of-of course I want to come, I-I mean" she added quickly "If it means I get to stay on my natural element, I'm all for it! It's not every day I get to go on land and-and-"

Zuko snorted loudly into his cup.

"So…that's a yes then Lucky? Ow" he winced when her hand slapped his shoulder hard.

"Don't push your luck Princess"

Dear Diary,

I'm just quickly writing in you before I pack you in my travelling bag. Yes I said travelling bag…actually it's just my market duffel but I digress.

The real question you're probably wondering is WHY I'm even having to pack that bag when I've already gone to market yesterday afternoon. Well…I'm going to the mainland with Zuko.

Not as a date-NO!

No definitely not a date, but he has invited me to come along with him and his uncle to look for the bounty hunter woman and possibly the Avatar.

Needless to say I've accepted the offer. After all it's not every day that I get to go for so long on land…or get a chance to get away from my father.

I know, I know diary I sound like a whiny kid but seriously, it's really beginning to bug me just how much my father tries to keep me on this ship. Is it really so bad of me to have a life of my own outside of this ship?

Is my being an earthbender so shameful that I have to keep being locked up in the bottom of this ship?

Wait a second, I think that's my brother at the door.

Later diary, I'll write in you as soon as I can.

"Move out of my way peasant! Step aside filth!"

"He means no offence! I'm sure you all bathe regularly"

Jade cringed and quickly clung on tight to the robes of General Iroh, as she and him both followed the angry storming figure of the Prince, who was wading through a sea of very angry shouting faces.

They were in, as you would have guessed it, a tavern, filled to the brim with a lot of rowdy patrons, most of whom were crowded around one of the small tables in the centre of the room.

At this table sat a burly looking man arm wrestling with the beautiful pale skinned, dark haired bounty hunter Jade had seen that morning.

It was to her that the prince stormed up to with a scowl.

"We need to talk"

The bounty hunter turned to look at him coldly, her arm not wavering even as her muscly opponent opposite her began to sweat and shake from the effort.

"Well if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy, Tiny Mouse and Uncle Lazy" she drawled as Lord Iroh chuckled heartily.

Jade meanwhile scowled as she looked down on herself.

She wasn't usually the kind of girl to care about how she looked, but she certainly wasn't a mouse!

She opened her mouth to say so only to jump as the Bounty Hunter's hand suddenly slammed down the brute's arm before her, much to the delight of the other tavern patrons. With a loud chorus of cheers they all began to throw a whole heap of copper coins at the woman, who quickly began to heap them into a pile before herself, much to Zuko's annoyance.

"Your beast trashed my ship"

The woman smirked.

"I'd love to help you out but I'm a bit short on money. Drinks on me!" she yelled out to the tavern at large, to many a loud cheer.

But even as she made to take a hearty swig of her drink beside her, the Prince grabbed her wrist hard his lips barely moving as he quietly snarled.

"Money isn't what I had in mind"

The Bounty hunter looked at him, her smirk falling slightly as she caught sight of the narrowed golden eyes that were fixed on her face. Then she caught sight of his armour.

"Give me five minutes." She sighed heavily "I'll meet you outside"

Zuko nodded, relieved to hear the business like tone in her voice as he backed away from the table.

So far so good…

He frowned to himself doing his best to ignore the sneers and jeers sent his way as he glanced over at Jade, who was desperately trying to make herself look as small as possible as several drunken men leered licentiously her way.

Not that he could blame them. Apart from the bounty hunter at the table, Jade was the only other female present in the tavern and unlike the other woman, she certainly looked more timorous especially in her more femininely cut red tunic and pants.

She flushed especially pink with embarrassment as one brutish looking man made to cat call to her.

"Hey Cutie! How 'bout you ditch Scar-face and grab a taste of a real man"

Unable to control the hot burning in his stomach Zuko strode over to her and quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, glaring daggers at the men as he dragged her out to the door where his uncle was waiting for them.

"Thanks" she mumbled shakily as the stepped out into the empty clearing before the tavern.

Zuko just nodded gruffly, his cheeks flushing a little as his uncle flashed him and Jade a very warm knowing smirk.

The silence was quick to break when the Bounty Hunter woman strode out her hands on her hips as she made her way to stand beside her Shirshu mount seated by one of the tavern's open windows.

"Alright Pouty, spit it out! What's this job you want done?" She narrowed her eyes at Zuko who quickly brought out something from his pocket.

"I need you to find someone"

He held up his hand and Jade was astonished to see the blue water tribe necklace dangling in the prince's grip.

The Bounty Hunter snorted with a small smirk.

"Pff! What happened? Your girlfriend run off on you?" but even as she said this her eyes travelled to Jade who was still standing close by his side "Let me guess little mousy here chased her off?"

Though she knew the insinuations were absolute nonsense, Jade's stomach burned hotly. Kitchen maid or not, she still had her pride.

"Excuse me, I know I'm not exactly the prettiest girl around but I know I don't need to chase off other girls to get a guy" she snapped, tossing back her hair haughtily. The other woman just smirked derisively.

"Sure you don't mouse, sure-"

"Enough!" Zuko snapped irritably, his hand clamping over Jade's mouth, stifling her incoming retort "It's not the girl I'm after, it's the bald monk she's travelling with"

"Whatever you say" The bounty hunter droned, her tone bored as she leaned back against her steed's fur.

"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for" Zuko hissed but the woman just shook her head and turned her back on him.

"tch! Forget it-"

"Plus we'll pay your weight in gold!" Lord Iroh piped in.

The woman stilled in her spot eyes narrowed as she strode back round to face the older man, her lips curling upwards as she muttered.

"Make it your weight then we got a deal"

"Haha! You got it" Iroh chuckled loudly much to his nephew's and his servant's exasperation, which was quick to turn into surprise as the Bounty Hunter snatched the blue necklace from Zuko's hand.

"Get on!" she shouted as she rounded on her Shirshu, who looked up hopefully, eagerly sniffing at her hand with it's odd pink nose.

"Come on" Zuko murmured to Jade who hesitated as she approached the beasts saddle.

She'd ridden on Rhino's loads of times so she wasn't that afraid of the height, but unlike a rhino this beast had more teeth and certainly more intelligence…and a poisonous tongue to boot.

She gulped as she hoisted herself up behind Lord Iroh, who had taken the initiative to get a seat closest to the beautiful bounty hunter woman as she made to mount up at the front reins.

"HEY Mouse! Scar-face! Hurry up! I haven't got all day!" She snapped waspishly as Zuko quickly jumped on at the back.

Jade couldn't help but shiver a little as she felt his warm hands swiftly secure themselves on her waist, nor could she help the small blush creep up her face as she felt his chest against her back.

She gulped as he frowned down on her from over her shoulder

"What?"

"N-nothing" she mumbled, but already she could feel the heat creep up to her ears. Quickly she turned away, hoping against hope that he couldn't see her blush, not noticing that his cheeks were a little pink too, as his hands held her ever so slightly closer.

"Father"

Ruishi Shi wasn't one to be startled easily, and so it was with a calm blank face that he turned to face Shen as he walked up across the ship deck towards him.

"You should be sleeping" he murmured as his son came close enough to him.

"I was about to" Shen muttered, his eyes darting about nervously as he leaned in. "But I need to talk to you first"

"What happened?" Ruishi stiffened, eyes narrowing even more as his son muttered one word.

"Kira"

"I see…" Ruishi muttered folding his arms. "and what was he up to this time?"

"I saw him a while ago" Shen bristled uncomfortably. "I was about to call out to him to say goodnight before he started his duty, but he seemed off so I just followed quietly. He went to the kitchens…"

"And?" Ruishi prompted, as his son shifted on his feet under his stern gaze.

"Well…at first I thought he was going to grab some leftovers from Dango. But Dango wasn't in so the door was locked. So he uh…picked the lock and went inside."

"What did he do then?" Ruishi raised his eyebrows, though he had a nasty feeling about where this was going and sure enough:

"I saw him looking through Jade's apron. He looked at it for a good fifteen minutes before leaving the kitchens"

"When was this?"

"Only a couple of hours ago, just before Jade left with the prince. I haven't seen him since"

To say that Ruishi's face was as hard as stone was an understatement. His gaze could have literally burnt holes into a ton of iron it was that intense.

"Father?" Shen gulped, but was silenced as his father held up a hand to silence him. Finally after a moment of deep thought he growled softly:

"Shen, listen to me very carefully. Go to your sister's room and check everything is in place. Turn the whole room over if you have to"

"Right" Shen nodded but was quick to blurt out "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to check around the ship. Then I'll come down to meet you." Ruishi clipped over the top of his son's small stammer, before promptly straightening up and dashing down below deck.

As soon as he was out of sight, Shen sighed heavily up at the sky.

"Wherever you are Lucky…Stay safe"

The dark of the night surrounded the Shirshu and it's passengers, cloaking them all in darkness until the moonlight finally came out from behind a cloud, illuminating the valley they were riding through.

Lord Iroh sighed softly through his nose as he watched the magnificent natural view slip by fast by his vision as the great beast continued to run, never once tiring in it's pursuit of its quarry as it's owner spurred it on.

He had to hand it to the woman, (who's name he found out was June), she really knew how to track her bounty well.

If he weren't such a hot-head, Prince Zuko could learn a thing or two.

The old Lord looked behind, just in time to feel someone small press into his back.

Hmm…how sweet

He smirked on Jade as she leaned further into him, her face snuggling into his shoulder close to Zuko's, who was clinging onto her from behind tightly, his face buried in the crook of her neck as he held her close.

It was at this moment that Lord Iroh really wished there was some way he could just quickly paint a picture of the two of them just then and there.

For the past couple of years he had never seen the two teens looking so calm and so peaceful. They were always so afraid, so angry, so busy with trying to grow up and seem mature, that they almost forgot to enjoy whatever little time of innocence they had left to them.

Ah … I never thought I'd see that again…

Iroh's smirk softened sadly as he caught sight of the tiniest of warm smiles gracing his nephew's face as he gripped Jade ever so slightly tighter to him.

If only it could stay this way just a bit longer…

Lieutenant Ji was not a late night person. In fact he was not a morning person either, so it came as no surprise to Lieutenant Ruishi that he received a full on drowsy scowl and a wide grumbling yawn as his colleague opened the door of his room to him.

"Ruishi you damned cat-owl, do you even know the concept of a good night's sleep?"

"This is urgent Ji" Ruishi frowned "It's about that Kira"

"What about him?" Ji's scowl darkened as he bristled under his colleagues stern glower.

"You were on duty with him today. When did you last see him?"

"Not since…ugh…when-when" Ji shook his head out to clear it "when Lord Iroh, Prince Zuko and Jade left. That was the last I saw. Why?"

"Just checking" Ruishi clipped, but Ji could see the fire burning in his colleague's eye.

"He's after Jade isn't he?"

"How did-"

"Ruishi, I'm not blind. I've seen him following her around, poking his nose into her business when he thinks no one's looking."

"Then you'll know why he's doing it" Ruishi ground his teeth.

"No, but if I could make a guess I'd say it was your brother who had-"

"Hey Ruishi there you are! I was just looking for you" a voice piped up suddenly

Both Ji and Ruishi froze, eyes swivelling quickly to the side as the tall massive form of Kira came striding down the corridor, eyes crinkled as he smiled from under his mask.

"Oh" he paused as he caught sight of Ji standing in the doorway dressed only in his sleeping gear and a scowl. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, you weren't." Ruishi clipped "I was just updating Ji on the status of the ship before he settled in for the night. Now what is it that you wanted to see me about."

"Oh I was just coming back to report on my scouting mission." Kira said pleasantly eyes crinkling even more. "Lord Iroh said I should report to you as soon as I got back. He said to inform you that he and his nephew have found the bounty hunter and will be travelling with her to find the avatar"

"Did he now?" Ruishi quirked a brow "and my daughter"

"Has gone with them" Kira coughed quickly "She seemed fine I guess"

"She's a tough girl Kira" Ji snorted eyes narrowing as he pointedly caught Ruishi's eye "she can look after herself just fine on her own"

"She sure can" Ruishi glowered back briefly before turning back to Kira and barking. "If that is all you have to do, I suggest you head to bed. You're needed up bright and early for duty tomorrow morning. If you want something to eat I suggest you go into town. Dango doesn't like late night visitors messing up his workstation, unless you're especially keen to clean the dishes as punishment"

There was a split second where Ruishi thought he saw a spark of shock flicker over the brown eyes of the man before him. But in a split second it was gone and replaced once more by a smile as he bowed low.

"Of course sir. Thank you for the advice"

He was quick to leave after that, much to the relief of both his superior lieutenants.

As soon as he was out of sight Ji groaned heavily.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank the spirits that Jade's with that Prince tonight"

"Goodnight Ji" Ruishi clipped turning his back, though inwardly he could not help but agree with the other lieutenant.

Whether he liked it or not, it would seem that the safest spot for his daughter was at this Prince's side…and not by his.

"Oh Lien" He sighed softly as he reached an empty corridor and slumped into the wall, rubbing his face with his hands.

"If only you could be here…you'd know what to do…wouldn't you?"

Hi guys, sorry for the long wait. Certain family issues have come up that have been preventing me from writing much in the past two weeks and any stuff i have uploaded has been stuff i've written before two weeks ago and just briefly had time to edit in my spare. but hopefully now i can get back to writing more now that my schedule is less hectic.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and i hope to hear from you all soon in your reviews :)