Thank you to the following; Tala3wolf, QueenofOpinion, Queen CM Punk151, AnimeLover1999, Demonpie17 and LilShorty0594.
REPLY'S
C (guest) : Yeah, not sure of Hana killing was a good idea too...Haha i love writing their make out scene's, it was very awkward as my mum came in and was like 'whatcha writing?' i have never closed down word so fast in my life haha. Yes, Zuzu said i love you! were you expecting Hana to say it first? i know i was haha. Hope you had enough sleep for this chapter!
Guest (Emily) : Aw thank you! Yes Kai is with Zuko, though Katara and Aang may not end up together, but they probably will haha.
Guest: Well she might, it's not talked about much, but the sequel could be about Zuko trying to move on, you never know!
Demonpie17: Aw thank you! As for your question, Hana is losing her mind because of the mental strain La's Spirit is having inside of her body, as a Spirit is never meant to inhabit a human's body, once she get's older and starts using his powers more it causing more stress, which in turn makes her black out and go on those psychotic episode's that we have seen. Hope that answer's your question! If not feel free to message me and i'll go into more depth about everything!
Atlafan1286: Yeah, La is so sexy and yet i want to punch him, haha. I can imagine him doing more than freaking out if he found out, but we shall see very soon...but not in this chapter sadly...
Turtleduck98: Holy Shit, your review made me laugh so fricking much. I am sorry i make you afraid of this story, but on the other side i'm not, he...he. Haha i'm sure Hana will gladly give you back Jaycee's line, after he's stopped being a stupid firebender, which will probably be never *grins wickedly*. Now when i read that you put Hana turned into Jesus i could not stop crying for about ten minutes because it is so true and i was thinking the exact same thing when i wrote it! Thank you so much for your support! I'm glad you enjoy my writing so much, i didnt really care if Hana came off as a Mary Sue, because the story isnt titled The Last Airbender, its The Lost Princess, so it's going to be Mary sue, and if people hate that then they can go suck on a fireball haha and yes she has flaws and mood swings so she's not really a mary sue but she is, ugh it's confusing! Yay you got a drawing tablet, lol same here honey! haha, WHAT HAPPENED?! omg i love your remark about the closed doors haha, i guess his mind was on other things ;) I'm sort of glad you dont know what the sequel's about, it's makes it so much better haha. SHE HOOKS UP WITH LA! you had me literally on the floor crying with laughter because it was so funny my mum walks in and she's like 'get off the floor, what are you doing?' just the mental image makes me laugh. I love to plot twist, it's my favorite thing to do mwhaha. ohhhh what is your playlist. Jesus i had a song i wanted to share with you but now i've forgotten it dammnnnnnn.
Chapter 25: Yon Rha.
My throat tightened and I was unable to speak, did Zuko just say what I think he said, he couldn't have, Zuko doesn't do love! I always thought that I'd have to force the fool to tell me that, but here he is, just blurting it out. And here I am, staring at him like a complete fool with my mouth open. I was rendered speechless; I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Zuko had just told me he loved me. I mean, I'd said it to him once, in the tombs under Ba Sing Se, but that was out of spite and back then I only meant it as a friend way.
I realized I would have to say something soon, I could see Zuko's expression falter when I didn't reply right away. I took a deep breath and grabbed Zuko's hand, it was rough, calloused and big, but it fit mine perfectly.
"Zuko, thank you." I spoke softly, I met his gaze, I knew he was waiting for me to say it back but when I tried, I couldn't. It wasn't because I didn't love him, I did! But I knew that if I told him, it would be so much harder on him when I told him about Yon Rha, and when I died. Basically telling each other that we loved one another would kill us both. I sighed heavily, Zuko's face faltered even more, I placed one of my hand upon his cheek as I smiled softly at him, I could see in his eyes that he wished that I would say those three words. "Zuko, I care for you, more than you know. But right now, the timing isn't right, I've got so much going on right now that I'm not sure if I can say it without fully meaning it." I know it sounded like I was rejecting him, but I wasn't! his face didn't convey any emotion so I tried to elaborate more, "You are my world Zuko, and I would die without you, but things have happened recently that have changed me, but not how I feel about you, but I feel like that I don't deserve to be loved." He seemed to finally get what I was saying, he brought his hands to my face, wiping tears away that I didn't know I had shed, "Nothing that you could ever do could make me stop loving you, and when you are ready, you can tell me everything, I will not judge as I have done horrible things in the past." I looked away, again I thought that yes, Zuko had done horrible things, but he's never taken someone's life away. "It couldn't have been that bad, Hana? You didn't kill someone did you!" he let out a loud laugh as I physically stiffened. He couldn't know! No, he was laughing, if he actually knew I doubt he'd be laughing.
Before Zuko stopped laughing and could see my guilty facial expression the door opened and a familiar face poked her head in. I smiled at Suki as she stepped further in, she was already dressed for the day, I noticed I was still in the same clothes I had probably been in for a week. "So, I was thinking of going down to the town, you haven't been out there yet, and I doubt you want to stay here with him," she jerked her thumb to Zuko as I laughed, Zuko rolled his eyes, "I'm coming too," he said. I nudged him in the ribs, "You can't come you idiot, you'll be recognized, Suki and I will be just fine. Besides, I need a girls day out!" I said, my mood lightening slightly, Zuko looked down at me with a rough glare, before I could say anything Suki intervened, "Zuko, jeez she's just going into town, it's not like she's going to war! We'll look around the markets; maybe buy some new clothes…"
"Who cares about how I smell, let's go get clothes!" I practically pounced on Suki, yanking her arm so we go could to these markets when I was pulled back by the scruff of my shirt. I yelped as I hit Zuko, my breath left me as I looked up at him, "You may not care what you wear but in case you haven't noticed, your shirt is green, you need something red." I looked down, and sure enough I was wearing the green shirt I had been in for days.
Suki took me to her room and gave me a pair of three quarter length pants that were a deep red, she then found my crop top that I got from Azula. After Suki nagged and nagged she made me go take a bath so I could get all the crazy off me, well, she didn't say it like that, she didn't say that at all actually but I thought it. After I was all squeaky clean I slipped the fresh clothes on and plaited my hair down my back. Everyone was out in the courtyard eating breakfast. Katara handed me a bowl as I took it cautiously, thinking that it might blow up, but she just gave me a smile and went back to talking with Aang. I took my seat next to Suki as she told me that I looked and smelt better. I punched her in the arm as she laughed; I took a few bites and set the bowl down. My appetite still hadn't returned from the Boiling Rock, and then being out for a week didn't help either. I sat with my arms crossed on the steps as I tuned in and out of conversations. Soon everyone had finished eating and Suki was finally ready to go into the town. Before we left though Zuko pulled me behind one of the pillars, "Your appetite still hasn't come back." He stated, of course he would have noticed that I didn't eat all of the food, "It'll come back," I said reassuringly. He still didn't look convinced, I reached up and wrapped my hands around his neck and brought his face down, our lips met in a slow and gentle kiss, when I pulled away I smiled at him, "I'll see you later," I said softly. I released the hold I had of him as I turned, but before I could take another step Zuko's warm finger wrapped around my wrist and pulled me back, his hands went to my face as he kissed me passionately. He pulled back as I gasped for air in shock, "Just…be careful, I won't lose you again." he said with his eyes dark, full of raw emotion. It was then a thought flashed through my mind, I'd never even thought about it before until now, but, I would be dying in less than a week, and never having the opportunity to be with Zuko in that kind of way made me sad.
Sex was something neither of us had brought up, I don't know why, I guess with the comet going on, everything was just so scrambled that finding the time and freaking privacy to do…uh…it. Maybe Zuko thought that after the comet had passed and everything was back to normal we would take the next step in our relationship. Though, after the comet, I would be dead.
"Are you coming?" Suki's voice rung through the courtyard as I was jolted from my thoughts, a blush went searing across my face as I turned from Zuko, "Y-yeah!" I stuttered as I rushed after the copper haired girl. When I met up with her we headed for the markets, before we left the comfort of the mansion I turned, Zuko was leaning on a pillar with his arms crossed. Turning back to Suki we started chatting cheerfully about what we were going to do today. I don't think I have had a girl's day, in well, ever.
We reached the market as Suki dragged me to all of these different stores; we were examining small trinkets, jewelry and exquisite clothing for at least an hour before we both brought ice lolls and sat on a beautiful fountain outcropping. The sun was bearing down on our exposed skin, it had been ages since I had felt this type of heat, the Boiling Rock excluded. Suki was talking about Sokka, no surprise, when my mind wondered to what I had been thinking about earlier today. "Suki." I said suddenly, she stopped talking and blinked at me, "Yeah?" she said slowly, like she thought I was about to go crazy again. I sighed; Suki was my best friend, and a girl, who had a boyfriend. Granted that boyfriend was Sokka but he was a boy none the less, and she was a girl.
"I want to ask you something," I licked my ice loll again as Suki finished hers and chucked the stick in a nearby bin, when she turned back I could feel my cheeks redden, I no longer wanted my ice loll as I threw it in the bin, "Have you and Sokka…done it?" I asked slowly. It was a few seconds before Suki's face changed, her face went beet red then she laughed, "What brought this on?" she asked through giggles, then she stopped laughing suddenly and stared at me with wide eyes, "Oh my Agni! You and Zuko haven't had sex yet!" I quickly clamped my hands over her mouth, "Shh! You want to say that any louder?" I hissed, under my hand Suki was giggling like there was no tomorrow. I took my hands away, "Seriously Suki? I need help!"
"It's not that hard, Kai." Suki then burst into another round of giggles, realizing that she had said 'hard'. I rolled my eyes at the girl and waited for her to stop laughing, my eyebrows were raised as I waited for her to stop, after a few minutes she calmed down, "Ok, sorry, you were saying?" she said seriously, I rolled my eyes again but took another deep breath, "Well, as you've seen, Zuko and I aren't exactly innocent, but he hasn't even brought it up! Does that mean he doesn't want to do it with me, or he's afraid that I won't be good…Agni, what if I'm terrible and he breaks up with me over it! Maybe Zuko's been with hundreds of girls and he knows that I won't measure up!" Suki laughed again and this time I hit her shoulder hard, she didn't seem to care and continued laughing, "You're not being helpful, you know that!" Suki wiped her eyes from the tears that had begun forming as she slapped her knee, "It's just too cute, you getting so worked up about this, and really, I doubt Zuko has been with hundreds of girls." Then a thought flashed through my brain, "He was with Katara while I was gone!" I cried out in horror, Suki shook her head, "Yeah but they were never together, he was so worried about you that he paid no mind to her." I narrowed my eyes, I had to get to the bottom of this, maybe Katara and Zuko had done it and she had been so good that Zuko was afraid that nothing would compare with her.
"I know that look! Don't do anything you're going to regret, I'm telling you know that Katara and Zuko have never been together in that way." I nodded quickly, looking away from Suki, it was then I noticed that there were quite a few soldiers around. They were walking slowly and some were casting glances in our direction. All the while Suki had been talking into my ear, "—have you even tried talking to him yet?" she finished as I slowly looked to her, "Suki, don't cause a scene, I have a feeling something back is about to happen. If you haven't noticed, there a quite a few guards—don't look—and I have a bad feeling that they're here for me. I need you to laugh, look like nothing is wrong." Suki nodded and with a smile she laughed, I laughed with her, "Now, after I finish, stand up and say 'Nice to meet you' then leave, don't look back, don't run, just get back to the house and tell everyone what's happened."
"But what is happening?" she asked, a slight quiver in her voice. I hugged her as a friendly gesture and whispered into her ear, "I'm about to get arrested."
Suki pulled away as she stood; "It was nice meeting you!" she called and waved with a smile on her face. I watched her walk perfectly calm away from the town, when she reached the boarders of the sand she took off running. Shadows stepped in front of me as I looked up at five soldiers. I gave them a smug look as I spun around, my legs splashed into the water as I ran through the fountain. I heard yelling as the soldiers jumped into the fountain but some ran around. When I reached the end I jumped off and landed with a thud on the ground. People started screaming when they saw I was being chased by guards. I took off down an alleyway, boxes were scatted along the sides as I pulled them down, I turned to see the soldiers trip over them, one of them started using Firebending to burn them up. I grinned, this reminded me of old times when I used to annoy the thugs in my hometown and beat them up. I came to the end of the alley and stopped, there was a high wall blocked my exit. I heard yells as I saw the five soldiers start laughing when they thought they had caught me. A crate to my left caught my attention as I grabbed it and ducked under a fireball, I placed the crate down and stood on it, as I gripped the wall and jumped they destroyed the crate. I turned round to smile at them, "Bye!" I called cheerfully as I jumped down off the wall. I was on the outskirts of town, they would either have to run around the whole town or try and get over that wall. Right now I needed to hide and get back to the mansion. I started running into the long grass when I screamed as something hit my legs and I hit the grass face first. I groaned and looked back at my legs, weights attached to strings locked my ankles together, I tried to undo them as I saw a soldier run up to me, he must have been circling the town. He produced a weird gun thing as he shot it at me, I yelped as a giant rope net tied me down, I tried with great frustration to get free but I couldn't. The other guards joined as I glared at them all, "What are you doing?" I cried. The one who had fired the net bent down and tossed me over his shoulder, "You're under arrest for the murder of Yon Rha."
ZUKO P.O.V
Zuko was sitting in the courtyard; he had been training with Aang for the whole time since Hana had left, trying to get his worrying mind off the fact that anything could happen. He was no doubt sad over what had happened this morning, he didn't regret saying 'I love you' to her, it was the fact that he wanted to wait until the right moment to tell her, but it seemed as if his temper and non-subtlety got the best of him. The other thing that shocked him was that she didn't say it back, he wasn't hurt…ok, maybe he was, but only a little, Hana hadn't said that she didn't love him, she just wasn't ready to say them because she had stuff going on in her head that she wasn't ready to tell him. He'd hoped she would tell him soon, because Hana being stressed made him stressed, and Zuko was always stressed. He didn't know how much stress he could take before he exploded, boy, that was a lot of stress. And to make matters worse, the little minx had him wrapped around her little finger, he had been completely sure something might have happened last night but then he ruined it by getting all possessive and hot-headed, like he always did. Maybe Hana wasn't ready for that next step, it was a big commitment, then he remembered all the times Sokka had walked in on them while they had been doing compromising things, his face reddened as he thought about being in that way with Hana and then someone walking in. Sokka walked out into the courtyard with a bowl of fruit and Zuko wanted nothing more to go and kick the guy in the head.
Running footsteps made him look towards the entrance of the courtyard, Zuko was over there in a heartbeat when Suki had returned without Hana, Sokka noticed also as he ran over as well.
"Where is she?" Zuko barked as Suki got her breath back, "Soldiers…surrounded her…no idea."
Out of fear and anger Zuko grabbed Suki's arm hard, she winced but didn't try to get out of his grip, she knew he was scared because of Kai, "What do you mean soldiers?" he all but growled. Zuko felt a twisting sensation in his gut, the fear of losing Hana again was at the forefront of his mind. "Zuko," Sokka said calmly, his head snapped to his as Sokka placed a hand on his arm, "let go of her, you're hurting her." Zuko realized that he had been gripping Suki hard as he let go of her like he had been burnt. "I'm not sure, one minute we were talking, the next she's telling me to go because soldiers were surrounding us."
Zuko rubbed his face, he started to walk towards the beach, he had to get her, damned if he had to break in the jail and drag her back himself so he could yell at her and demand that she tell him what was going on. A hand on his shirt stopped him, "Sokka, let go of me, I need to go get her!"
"Zuko, you're being rash, you can't go breaking into jail cells! One: people will recognize you and two: we've got no idea why they took her."
"He's got a point, Zuko. Maybe there was a mistake and she's being released right now." Suki said reassuringly. Zuko didn't seem convinced, "I have a feeling this is what Hana was trying to tell me about last night."
Suki and Sokka gave him confused looks, "What do you mean? She knew that she was going to get arrested, then why did she come into town with me?" Suki asked him, she didn't like to show it, but she was gradually becoming more worried about her best friend. "It was something she said last night, and this morning. Last night she was worried that she was going to hurt me, and this morning she was trying to push me away, she was saying something about how she's changed because of something that happened recently and she needs time to deal with it."
Sokka stroked his chin in deep thought, "The only thing that's happened recently was coming here, I doubt being on Ember Island has changed her, maybe Suki whacking her on the head mentally damaged her," Sokka received a swift punch to the head as he yelped. They started bickering as Zuko realized something, "Guys, shut up. The thing that changed! Katara and Hana hated each other remember, Katara tried to kill her, and then they go on their little trip and they come back best friends—"
"Excuse me, I'm her best friend!" Suki interjected, Zuko just kept on talking, "don't you think that's odd?" they both quieted as they thought it over, what he said was true, no one had questioned it because Hana had been unconscious for a week and hadn't been interacting with the girl. Suki was the one to break the silence, "Something happened on that trip between them, and neither one of them will say, and it must have been serious for Kai to have been arrested."
"Well, it seems that we have to give my sister a roughing up and beat the answers out of her!" Sokka yelled, raising his fists in the air, Suki scoffed as she shoved him, he stumbled over his feet as she growled at him, "or, we could just ask her." She rolled her eyes as Sokka pouted. They hadn't realized but Zuko had already left and was going on his own mission to find the Waterbender.
They found her out on the balcony, she was practicing with a ball of water, she heard their footsteps, she stopped and turned. "Hey guys," she said cheerfully. Zuko walked right up to her, "what happened on the trip you and Hana took?" he said, quick and straight to the point. Katara visibly balked as she spoke, "wha-what do you mean? Nothing happened!" she defended. Everyone could see on her face that she was hiding something. "Katara this isn't the time to hide whatever it is that you and Kai did on your trip. She was arrested in the town." Suki yelled at her, Katara's mouth dropped open as she stuttered, trying to get her words out. She sighed and hung her head, after a few seconds she looked up at the small group, "fine, I'll talk, but only to Zuko, I don't think Kai would want anyone else knowing this." Suki and Sokka both nodded, they clasped hands and walked out of the balcony area. Katara walked around Zuko and shut the door, she sighed while looking at the door, she turned and met Zuko's golden and hard gaze.
Zuko was holding his breath, this is not how he wanted to find out, he wanted his Hana to tell him, but this was the only way to help her. "Zuko, you have to understand, I didn't see what happened, I only heard. But, Kai was acting strange ever since we left the Southern Raiders' ship, she was cold and she couldn't wait to find Yon Rha. I didn't think anything of it, but when we found him, and we fought, I couldn't kill him, so I turned my back. Kai was furious, she said that he was the man who had killed my mother and that revenge is the only way to stop the heartache, but I realized that even if I ended that man's life, it wouldn't dull the pain, it would still be there. I started walking away, and then I heard him scream, I ran back but it was too late. She was standing there, on the edge of the cliff, with her own icicle weapon in her hand, and Yon Rha was gone. I screamed at her to turn around and tell me where he was, but she didn't listen, it was like she was a completely different person. When she did turn, she had blood on her, a lot of blood, she pointed down the cliff and I walked over. Yon Rha was at the bottom, he had blood on him too, but he was dead…" Katara finished her story as Zuko stared at her wide eyed; he could not believe what he was hearing. Hana…killing a man.
"I didn't know what to do, so we ran, but someone must have seen us or just her. Zuko I'm so sorry, this is my entire fault, if I'd just not taken her with me this wouldn't have happened—"
"Stop, it's not your fault, it's not Hana's either. It's that damned Spirit inside of her," he growled, his fists clenched tightly, he cursed that Water Spirit, it was his entire fault this was happening to Hana. This is what Hana wanted to tell him, that she had killed a man? It made sense, all the crying and pushing him away, he understand, but he wasn't angry, no, not at all, he was scared. He knew that if the soldiers had arrested her for killing that man, she would suffer a fate worse than death…she could go back to the Boiling Rock.
HANA P.O.V
I sat curled up in a tight ball in the corner of the cell, my hands were chained together, so were my ankles and then a long chain ran from my hands to my ankles. My hair was dirty and matted and stuck to my face. I didn't even want to look at my face right now, when they had thrown me in here, already chained, I had tripped over and face planted the floor, it was muddy and it was in my eyes, it was a mission to wipe my face, but once I did I huddled up in the corner and it is where I have stayed for the past day. I was wondering why none of the group had come to get me, but then I realized that they must have found out that I killed Yon Rha and didn't deserve to be saved. It made my heart clench, Zuko had found out about Yon Rha before I could tell him, and now he probably hates me. He probably doesn't want anything to do with me and wishes that he'd never met me. Same with the gang, they all hate me now I bet, Aang especially, he is such a nice, sweet and innocent child. But then a bone chilling thought popped into my head, I wouldn't be there for the comet, I was either going to be put to death or be whisked away to the Boiling Rock again. But then I wouldn't be able to save Zuko.
Yes, save him.
I remember La telling me, when he had first appeared to me. Telling me who he was and what I had to do. He told me that I would have to sacrifice my life for Zuko's.
"Kai, time is running out, I need you to listen very carefully. There will come a time when your powers will have to be used. But after…"
"After?" I pressed him, La made eye contact with me.
"You'll die."
I gasped and stepped back, holding a hand to my chest in shock. "What do you mean?" I asked him, my voice breaking.
La sighed heavily as he stepped closer to me, his gently placed his hands on my shoulders, "I know this is a heavy task I am giving you, but it is for the survival of this world, you must understand that the world cannot heal after the war unless there is a leader."
"Aang is the leader, I have to die for him?" I asked, ok, dying for the Avatar, that didn't sound too bad. But La shook his head, who else was a leader…oh.
"Zuko." I breathed and shut my eyes, when I opened them La was still staring at me. "Your destiny is to give your life for the future Fire Lords, if Zuko dies, there will be no one to lead the Fire Nation, to change their ways. The Fire Nation will be uncontrollable, they will destroy everything, and the Avatar will die trying to protect everyone. The world will fall into darkness and an everlasting war, children will die, there will be nothing left. You see why Zuko must survive?"
I didn't say anything for a few minutes, I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that if Zuko died, the world would basically stop working and all hell would break loose. But the fact that I have to die, seemed like nothing compared to everyone surviving. One small death compared to thousands.
"Ok, what do I have to do?" I asked him, La gave me a small smile and bowed with respect. "I thank you, when you pass, you shall have a special place among the spirits." I had no idea what that meant and seeing as La could read my thoughts he probably knew my confusion.
"When the time of the comet comes, you must travel with Prince Zuko at all costs. For he and his sister shall duel for the throne, but, with Zuko's pure and honest heart, he will jump in front of Azula's shot and take the fall for you. This is when you must take his place in the line of fire; do not let him take the hit. This is when you will die and be reborn."
"Reborn? You just said that I have to die?" I was extremely confused, what in Tui's names was he talking about? So I didn't have to die?
"It is a confusing process, Kai. With half of me inside of you I can use that part to give you my life essence and then leave you; you shall be alive but…"
"But?" I asked him, why was there always a but?
"You will know nothing of your life, your memories, you experiences, your feelings, you will never remember them, and there is no way to get them back. You will be an empty shell that must learn everything again, from walking, talking, eating, everything. You see, all of your experiences have been with myself inside of you, we both shared all of your memories and feelings, when I die, I take all of that with me." I could feel tears well up in my eyes, I'd forget everything? Forget how to talk and eat? So it was sacrificing my life, because I'd never be the same me again, I wouldn't know anything, wouldn't know anybody. I wouldn't even remember this conversation, I'd be an empty shell. I would never remember Zuko, never remembering how much I cared about him, I'd forget about Gansu, Sela, Sen Su, Lee, Kanan, Lilly, Lee, their baby, Jet, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, Iroh, Yue, my parents and Zuko. It would all be gone, they would all be strangers to me.
"I am truly sorry, Kai. I wish there was another way, truly I do."
I didn't realize I was crying until I heard my tear drops splash into the water at my feet. "So do I," I whispered softly, I wrapped my arms around myself as I cried harder. I felt strong arms envelope me as I was pulled into a toned body, opened my eyes I saw a gleaming white robe, I shut my eyes again as I let La comfort me, he held me while I cried into his robe, making a damp patch. After a while he started talking, I could feel his chest vibrating under my ear, "There is something else I should warm you about." I pulled away and wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve, I met his gaze, he looked serious again. "You mustn't use your bending anymore, having a Spirit inside of a human body is strenuous, and every time you bend you tap into my powers, it will have devastating effects on your brain."
"What do you mean?" I asked him, La sighed and looked a bit uncomfortable, "There is no easy way to say this, if you continue to bend, you'll start to lose touch of yourself." He said the last part awkwardly but I got the meaning, I sighed again, the good news just keeps on coming, doesn't it?
"Your saying that I'll lose my mind, go crazy?" he nodded stiffly. "Great!" I said sarcastically, "I'll just add that to my list of 'This is the worst year ever!'"
La rolled his eyes and tried to hide it, I saw him and he looked embarrassed, I don't think spirits are supposed to be this casual, come to think of it, aren't spirits supposed to be like, old…and ancient. La looks no older than twenty.
La cleared his throat and I remembered that he can read my stupid thoughts, "Alright, so is that everything you have to tell me?" I asked him, I had now gone into the annoyed stage.
"I guess so," La rubbed the back of his head, he was getting ready to send me back when he stopped, "I should reassure you of something before you go, remember, there is a reason for everything. Always keep that in mind, it will help you when the time comes."
I looked at him with a brow raised, "ok, master." I rolled my eyes when I felt La shove me. I gasped in fake shock as I turned to him, he smirked. He was totally not a normal spirit. I started to believe my words more when he placed the palm of his hand on my forehead. There was a blinding light, and suddenly I was back in the clearing.
"Get up, murderer." A order sounded from outside my cell, I looked up, four guards stood to the door of my cell, I slowly stood, my legs and back aching from staying in that position all night long, I wiped my eyes from the tears I had shed from recalling the memory with La. I heard the clinking of keys as the metal door opened with a deafening creak. Two guards walked in and grabbed my arms roughly; I winced as they dragged me from the cell. They were walking so quickly that my feet were having a hard time keeping up with them so they were basically dragging me. I was so hungry and tired, they hadn't fed me and I was too scared to sleep in there. The one with the keys walked in front, he didn't have a helmet on, his black hair was sleeked back, as if he could feel me staring at him he stopped and turned. I held his gaze as he glared at me, with two long strides he was before me.
I felt a stinging in my mouth and cheek as my head was forced back from the force of his backhand. I tasted blood in my mouth as I leant forwards and spat the blood out of my mouth onto the floor at his feet. I locked eyes with him again, his dark brown orbs held sorrow and anger, his eyes looked strangely familiar.
"I've had worse," I rasped out. He glared again and this time instead of backhanding me he clenched his fist and punched me in the gut. I cried out, memories of the Boiling Rock come rushing back to me as I spit out more blood from my mouth, I can feel myself shaking from fear, not anger as I raise my head to meet his eyes once more. This time I don't say anything as he leans closer, his breath is at my ear as he whispers, "Yon Rha was my uncle."
I gasp in shock as he pulls back, I stare at his brown eyes again, they seemed familiar, Yon Rha must have the same eyes. We start walking again, without my healing, as that is a part of La's powers, I start to feel my mouth aching, and my stomach hurts so much it soon becomes unbearable.
We come to the end of a hallway as the nephew unlocks the door, I close my eyes from the brightness as we go outside.
All I can hear around me is shouts, angry shouts, once my eyes adjust to the brightness I notice that a carriage it at the end of a long line of people. On either side are rows of people, they are all angrily yelling at me. I try and shrink back so that I become invisible. I try and block out their yelling, their curses, but I can't block out the objects that they throw at me. I feel ashamed but I deserve this, I did kill him after all, and this is my punishment. Something hard hits me on the head as I wince, tears well up in my eyes at all of their harsh words, but I keep my head held high, I will not show them weakness. At the end of the crowd is a wooden carriage, I see that it is pulled by two rhino's. The nephew unlocks the back door as the two guards who are holding my arms hoist me up into the carriage, the last guard who was behind us jumps in with me, I am forced to sit on a wood bench as he grabs the chain that connects to two shackles and clips it onto a metal thing on the floor, locking me in place. The door slams as I jump, I can still hear the angry cries as I feel a tear slip down my cheek, I rub it away on the side of my arm as I feel the carriage pull. We start moving, I have no idea where we are going, I could be going to a place where they are going to chop my head off, or they could be taking me to a ship to go back to the Boiling Rock, I didn't want to ask, partly because I was scared of the answer.
"I didn't mean to…kill him." I whispered, I didn't realize the soldier in front of me had a helmet on. His head tilted slightly to the side but he didn't say anything. I sniffled as I looked towards the front, I could hear faint voices, it must be the three up there, chatting idly. And here I am, waiting to know if I'm going to see tomorrow. I look up at the soldier again, "do you know where they're taking me?" he didn't do anything.
We sat in silence, occasionally I would hear laughter coming from the front of the carriage, it made me angry and sad. The soldier across from me didn't speak or move the whole time. I couldn't tell how long it was until we stopped, the carriage halted as my nerves soared sky high. This was it, either I was going to get out of this carriage and I'd be killed, or I'd be put on a boat for the Boiling Rock. I clenched my fists in the shackles as the door was unlocked. The nephew appeared as he tossed the key to the soldier, he stood and leant down and unlocked the chain that had been holding me to the cart.
"Come on girl, we haven't got all day." The nephew spat as I stood, my legs were shaking so bad that I took all my strength to not collapse on the ground. I could see the other two soldiers behind him, waiting for me. And then, behind them I saw a ship. So, I was to go to the Boiling Rock.
Before I reached the nephew I felt a hand on my shoulder, I was pushed back as I tripped and fell onto my back, I cried out in shock as I could hear firebending. I looked up as I saw the soldier attack the other ones. My mouth gaped open like a fish, he took out the two guards, knocking them unconscious. It was then that the soldier and the nephew dueled it out. But the helmeted soldier was far more skilled then him. He kicked him in the head as he fell to the ground with the others, he stared at him for a few seconds then my fight or flight instincts kicked in. I stumbled up and before he could turn and catch me I launched myself out of the carriage. Let me say that it is incredibly hard to run with your hands and feet bound. I think I get at least three feet when I feel hand on my arms and I'm spun around, "No! Don't touch me, let me go, please!" I scream as I try and wiggle out of his grip. Maybe he didn't want me to go to the Boiling Rock and wanted to end it right here and now. I struggled more but he held on tight.
"Hana, it's me." His voice was muffled, I stopped thrashing, I felt tears prick my eyes again; it couldn't be who I thought it was? He reached up and pulled the helmet off, his black shaggy hair came free and hung over his forehead. I had never been more relieved to see my scarred Prince. "Zuko?" it came out like a question, I couldn't believe that he was really here, saving me once again. But not only that, he was here. He must know what I had done, how else would he have found me?
I sunk down to my knees in relief, I felt him kneel down as well as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I was so worried." He spoke softly into my ear, I couldn't help myself, I started crying. The very thought of going to the Boiling Rock shook me to my core, I thought I would never see this man again, he was my life, my soul, and I loved him with every inch of my being. He pulled away suddenly and I reached out for him, he was back in a few seconds as he grasped a key in his hands. He unlocked my shackles as they hit the soft ground. My arms instantly went around his neck as I pressed my body into his, his hands pressed against my back, pushing me closer to him so that every inch of our bodies were touching.
"How did you find me?" I asked, he was still gripping me tight, but I didn't dare pull away. He didn't answer for a few seconds and I knew my worst fears had come to life, I pulled back slightly so that I could see his face. He was showing no emotion, and it scared me.
"You know," It wasn't a question, he nodded as I pulled away and stood up, "It's ok if you leave." I mumbled. "What?" he sounded genuinely shocked as he too stood and towered over me. "I understand if you don't want to be with me, if you want nothing to do with me because I was preparing myself for this."
I went to turn away but he grasped my face in his palms, it shocked me as I met his eyes. "Hana, I love you." He spoke so seriously that it brought tear to my eyes again, "I understand why you didn't tell me, I would be hard to tell anyone that, but it wasn't your fault. It was that damn Spirit's, if he wasn't inside of you it never would have happened, I blame him, I hate him Hana, I hate him for what he's doing to you and I will hate him for the rest of my life. But I could never hate you, I love you, and nothing will change that, even if you decide that you don't want me anymore and run off with Sokka, I will still love you." His statement made me giggle slightly, but I frowned, "How can you though? Knowing what I've done?" I mumbled. The next second his lips crashed onto mine with force, if it wasn't for his hands moving around to my back I might have fallen over. His kiss was hungry and passionate and I knew he was trying to prove a point. I responded eagerly, opening my mouth for him as his tongue slipped inside my mouth. I kept my hands down by my side.
He pulled away, my lips were swollen and I guessed I had a cut on my lip because it stung too.
"How else can I show you that I don't care—wait that came out wrong—I do care, but it was. Not. Your. Fault."
Here I was, standing like some snobbish brat, thinking that Zuko wouldn't love me, yet here he is, saying that he will love me even though I have killed someone. It felt wrong for me to not say it back.
"Zuko…" I started. Why was I so nervous saying these three words? "I—"
"Look I see the carriage!"
"Shh! You idiot, they might hear us!" I hear the familiar voice of Sokka and Toph as Zuko and I turn towards the bushes when suddenly five figures jump out from behind the bushes, ready to attack.
Aang, Sokka, Suki, Katara and Toph are all ready for battle, but when they see Zuko and I standing there they lower their guard. Sokka laughs, "Well what do you know, Zuko beat us too it."
Aang rubs the back of his head, "We thought you had gone to the bathroom so we decided to sneak out and come rescue Kai ourselves…but it seems you've got everything under control."
Without realizing it, I burst out laughing, tears spring up to my eyes as Zuko wraps an arm around my waist. Everyone turns and looks at me with bewildered looks. I wipe my eyes, then I freeze. Oh Agni, does everyone one know what I did?
"Katara only told me," Zuko whispers into my ear, but he makes it look like he's just nuzzling my hair. I smile over at him as suddenly Suki is hugging me, "Oh, I was so worried!" she cries as I smile and hug her back.
She suddenly pulls away and makes a face, "Jeez Kai, you stink really bad, maybe we should get you back and bathed." I laugh as I hug Suki as she squeals. Everyone else joins in, then I pull away, Zuko grasps my hand tightly in his as we all make out way back to the mansion. Though I may have escaped the Boiling Rock again, I can't do anything about the impending comet that's coming in five days.
So, uh, what happened? HER DESTINY HAS BEEN REVEALED *GASP* Yeah, it probably wasn't hard to figure out haha, but jeez, what do you guys think Zuko will react like when he finds out, and let me tell you, it'll either be in the next chapter or the one after that. Aww Hana tried to tell hims that she loves him, but as always, Sokka ruins the bloody moment ;)
anyway, come on guys, get me to 200 reviews and i'll reveal the TITLE OF THE SEQUEL AND THE FIRST LINE! Come on people, don't you want to know, i'm dying to tell you guys!
I would like to hear about your reactions from this chapter.
p.s yes i know it was a filler, but i don't want the story to end :(
