Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Wow, guys, I got like 20 reviews on the last chapter in less than a day! You are all the best! Thank you and I caught up a little on my day off! ;) Well, now to end the minor cliffhanger. Enjoy…
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Chapter Twenty-Nine: Emotions
She sat in the room with all steel walls and no windows. She had her wrists stuck to the arms of the metal chair she was forced to sit in, one metal bar over each wrist. There was a guard on either side of her.
"Hello, Mai." Azula said as she entered the room. Mai glared at her. "Leave, now." She told the guards. "So, you thought you were clever, did you?" Azula began to circle Mai. "I know you too well."
"Apparently not." Mai said, she kept her eyes forward.
"How so?" Azula kept a stern face, not even a little smirk.
"You thought I feared you so much that I'd just stand by and watch you kill him. That I wouldn't do anything about it? You were wrong, Azula." Mai still didn't look at her.
"No, you were wrong, you should've been an innocent bystander, but no, Mai needed to save her little boyfriend, I mean, ex-boyfriend. You know the one who's with the water-peasant." Azula let out a little smirk, and then turned her lips flat. She was disgusted with the girl.
"I was wrong? Look at what you've become, a little stone cold, psychopathic BITCH!" Mai yelled.
"What did you call me?" Azula asked through gritted teeth.
"I don't think I stuttered." Mai still didn't look her in the eye; she knew what was coming. She felt the stinging sensation of Azula's heated hand whack her across the face.
"Obviously, you were wrong. You're my prisoner! I could throw you overboard right now!" She yelled in response.
"Then do it. I don't care anymore. Zuko's gone, you're crazy, Ty Lee is the only one I have left to care about." Mai said bluntly. She wouldn't whimper in pain, she wouldn't give Azula the pleasure. It was burning up, though. Azula made sure her hand was hot before she hit her.
"Very well." Azula calmed herself. "Send her to her cell. I'll speak with her again tomorrow." Azula told the guards that waited outside as she left.
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Mai was thrown back in her cell. There weren't even any bars, just four metal walls with a metal door. The door had a small hole cut out in the top; it was like a window to the hallway with bars. She sobbed and held her cheek. She wanted to just die. Tomorrow would just be worse.
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In the middle of the night, Jee was woken up by the sounds of someone entering the hallway. He looked up, but it was dark, so he listened. He heard the sound of the keys jingle until they hit what sounds like a lock. He then saw a figure approach him. The figure put his hand over his lips to signal to be quiet, Jee nodded. The man took the binding away from Jee's mouth.
"Wh-what's your name?" Jee whispered.
"My name isn't important; I'm here to free you. Azula has gone crazy with power; I just want this war to be over." The man said. Jee figured he was around 20 by the sound of his voice. Jee also didn't completely trust him, but it was better than the others risking their lives. He nodded and the man unlocked his shackles. "We haven't set out yet." The man said. "So we can easily go to the deck, the princess in interrogating someone." Jee wondered who, but just nodded.
When they got to the moonlight, Jee's injuries were visible. He had several minor burn marks on his arms, he had many bruises, and something had happened o his leg to give him a slight limp. The man assumed it was from Azula and maybe a few guards who wanted to have fun. They reached the deck, and there were only three guards. The man fought them off, it didn't even seem like they were trying. Jee was curious, but this man was his last hope. They jumped off the boat and went in search of the others.
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Zuko woke up at sunrise. He had Katara in his arms and slowly began to squeeze them tighter around her waist. So much had happened last night. He told her he loved her. Everyone ended up finding out, though. That's why he didn't like saying his emotions, but it ended up OK. He saw Toph stand up.
"Where are you going?" Zuko asked quietly.
"To find Twinkle Toes, he isn't back yet." She said; she was serious. He nodded to her as she left.
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Toph found Aang asleep. He was curled up in a ball.
"Twinkle Toes." Toph whispered as she lightly shook his shoulder.
"What?" Aang sat up and rubbed his eyes, realizing he fell asleep without returning. He felt bad.
"Are you alright? You want to talk about it?" She asked as she sat near her friend.
"Well, look what happened last time I confided in a 'friend'." Aang frowned.
"Don't worry, Twinkle Toes, I'm not in love with Katara." Toph smiled, Aang's frown just deepened. "Look, I might be the best one you can talk to. I know what it's like to have your heart ripped out." Toph faced the ground and frowned as she finished.
"It's just…she means so much to me. And her and Zuko?" Aang asked.
"Look, it's not going to be easy, but you need to let her go…" Toph said, almost in a whisper.
"Did you let Sokka go?" Aang looked to her.
"I'm in the process. It's hard because he's there everyday." She was still frowning.
"You're a good friend, Toph." Aang smiled.
"Yeah, I know." She smirked. They sat in silence a little longer.
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Katara woke up to a tight hold on her waist. She looked over her shoulder and saw Zuko. His eyes were closed, but she knew he was awake.
"I'm not going anywhere." She whispered as she rolled over to face him. She kissed the tip of his nose.
"I know." He said as he opened his eyes and kissed her. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and she lightly moaned out of pleasure.
"Hey! I gave you my blessing, not the right to suck her face off in front of me!" Sokka yelled as he sat up. Katara pulled away from Zuko and rolled her eyes. Zuko slowly stood up. Jin had Lee cradled in her arms and Iroh was sprawled out, snoring. He almost never overslept, so Zuko let him.
"Sokka, he wasn't sucking my face off." Katara yawned as she sat up.
"The last thing I ever want to wake up to is my sister moaning again, go it?" Sokka pointed his finger at her.
"Don't wake up next time." Zuko said as he stretched.
"Zuko…" Katara glared at him.
"What? I'm not going to kiss you because of your ignorant brother?" Zuko asked. He was smiling, though. Today seemed like a good day.
"I am not arrogant and you are not to make my sister moan." Sokka said as he faced him.
"I said ignorant you moron. And she chose to moan." Zuko smirked.
"Guys!" Katara said. She was embarrassed her brother heard her, but looked to see them just smiling at each other. It seemed like a today would be a good day.
"We're back!" Toph said as she and Aang walked over to them.
"There goes the neighborhood." Sokka joked. Good thing that Aang didn't wake up to the same thing as me. He thought to himself.
"Morning." Jin said as she stretched her arms over her head. Lee followed her suit. They all sat around and waited for Iroh, once he was up, they were leaving.
"Ginseng!" Iroh yelled as he shot up.
"Uncle?" Zuko asked. "Are you…alright? Don't tell me you dream about tea." He sighed.
"I just had the worst dream, Nephew." Iroh said as he adjusted to the light.
"What was it?" Katara asked.
"Well, the beginning was simple, but in the end, there was no ginseng tea in the world!" He yelled.
"Iroh…?" Toph asked.
"Sorry, I forgot. You people do not appreciate tea." Iroh said as he stood up and dusted the dirt off his clothes.
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The sun was up, and Jee saw his rescuer's face. He was right, he was a young man. No older than 20.
"So, you travel with the Avatar, correct?" The man asked.
"Yes." Jee answered.
"They wouldn't go too far without you, right?" He asked.
"I don't think so. They wouldn't leave anyone behind."
"Then we should stop and clean your wounds. If they get infected, you could die." The man said; Jee nodded. They stopped by a river. Jee removed his shirt and revealed even more burn marks. He began to rub water on them, wincing as he did. The man sat on a rock. Jee got a better look at him. He had hair that wasn't much longer than Zuko's, it was tied back, though. He had no facial hair and deep golden eyes. They were cold and emotionless, like Azula's. It irked him, but he needed to depend on someone until he found the others. He hoped he did soon.
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At sunrise, the two guards brought Mai to be interrogated; she didn't even struggle this time.
"Mai." Azula acknowledged her as the guards bowed and left.
"Azula." Mai said coldly.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you so upset last night." Azula was mocking her now.
"Then you are forgiven." Mai said, that would get to Azula more than anything, she could feel the harsh glare.
"Good. You should be." She went back to her charming little self.
"Azula, I have a serious question for you. I want an honest answer. This question has no disrespect meant in it." Mai asked; she now looked the girl in the eye.
"Then ask." Azula heard herself say. She had great interest in the question; she just didn't let it show. Well, not too much, anyway.
"Could you really find it in yourself to kill Zuko? The one person you truly have left? I'm not your friend anymore, and Ty Lee will abandon you soon enough. Your father is only using you, your mother is dead, and your uncle is disgusted with the monster you've become." Mai said. She waited for the slap, but it never came. She looked up and saw Azula staring forward, to a wall.
"He's not all I have left. I could easily kill him." She said, still not looking her in the eye. She was whispering.
"You know he is!" Mai yelled.
"Shut up!" Azula yelled as tears rolled down her cheeks. Thank god her crew wasn't there to see her like this. Nobody was. Well, nobody that meant anything to her. Did she still want Mai to be her friend? Of course not! "How do you think I feel, Mai? You have a family that loves and cares about you in Omashu! No matter how much of a little fucking bitch you are to them, they accept you! My father sets standards, he never says he loves me; my mother was banished, not killed. The last thing she thought of me as was a monster when she left. Do you know how much that hurt? And Zuko was the golden child in her eyes!" She bent her body over as she yelled. Her face was inches from Mai's. "She and Uncle never cared for me; I was too much like my father. It's too late to change now; I'm already expected to be like Ozai, what the hell am I supposed to do?" She realized her voice was yelling and cracking at the same time. The tears stopped running down her cheeks, but she didn't wipe them away. She stood up straight again and looked at what was once her friend.
"Azula…" Mai whispered. She, the perfect princess, just had a major break-down. She told her emotions and let out tears. She watched as Azula pulled out a key and opened the locks that were on Mai's wrists. Mai hugged her friend. They wouldn't be friends after this, she knew, but she just learned this girl was indeed human.
"Go back to your cell; I'll have a guard follow you." Azula said, Mai nodded and left. Azula sat in the chair and sighed. She rested her elbows on her knees and held her head in her hands. What had she just done?
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The group had been traveling at least an hour. Lee was on Zuko's back. Jin was walking with Sokka and Aang with Toph. That left Katara and Iroh. Suddenly, there was a rustling from the bushes. Zuko dropped Lee to his feet and stood to defend him. Then a figure stepped out.
"Jet!" Katara yelled as she wrapped her arms around him. She was happy he was alive.
"Katara!" Jet said as he returned the hug. He looked over her shoulder to view the others. He saw Sokka and Aang, who were giving glares, they still had slight trust issues, then he saw Toph, who smiled and waved, he saw a girl around his age and a little boy, they weren't familiar. Then he looked and saw them.
"You!" He yelled as he gently pushed Katara away. "You're the firebenders!"
"No shit, Sherlock!" Zuko yelled.
"Jet, they're helping us!" Katara said as she jumped in front of Zuko. She could see Jet grabbing his hooked swords.
"Helping you? Katara, he tried to kill me!" Jet yelled as he pointed to Zuko.
"You attacked me, idiot!" Zuko yelled as he grabbed his swords.
"Stop!" Katara yelled, but they went after each other. Zuko easily blocked Jet's swings with his swords.
"Was one defeat not enough for you?" Zuko smirked as the weapons clashed.
"I wasn't defeated." Jet said.
"Nephew, stop!" Iroh said as he pulled them apart with ease.
"Twenty on Zuko!" Toph yelled.
"What we're betting? Ok, ten on Zuko." Sokka said.
"The fight is over you morons!" Katara snapped.
"Fine." Zuko put his swords away.
"Fine." Jet followed Zuko in crossing his arms and looking away.
"Well, my nephew and I are glad to see you again." Iroh said to Jet.
"Half right." Zuko mumbled.
"But our names are Iroh and Zuko." He introduced them.
"Wait, you're traveling with the prince of the Fire Nation? Katara-" Jet was cut off.
"Jet, it's not your problem who I choose to travel with!" Katara yelled; he smiled.
"I missed you." He whispered. Katara slightly blushed, and then Zuko stepped in front of her.
"Back off." He whispered.
"Twenty on Zuko!" Toph yelled again.
"But they aren't fighting!' Sokka yelled.
"Not yet. Think about it, Sparky and Katara's old boyfriend!" Toph smirked.
"True, but he wasn't her boyfriend. Ten on Zuko!" Sokka yelled. They stared at Aang. Jin was holding Lee; she was on the opposite side of Jet and Zuko.
"What?" Aang asked.
"Well…?" Toph urged him.
"Fine, fifteen on…uh…"
"Aang!" Sokka yelled.
"Pick Jet, he needs one fan." Toph smiled.
"Yeah, fifteen on Jet!" Aang yelled. He never really bet before.
"And if I don't?" Jet asked Zuko.
"I'll slit you fucking throat." Zuko said in a dangerously low voice.
"Is that a threat?" Jet asked.
"Stop!" Iroh yelled. "Jet, you can travel with us if you and my nephew can get along."
"I'll get along if he doesn't kill me or the others." Jet said.
"I won't murder him if he stay away from Katara." Zuko said. They both grunted and walked away. Toph sighed.
"What if Katara wants to be near me?" Jet asked.
"Trust me, she doesn't." Zuko responded.
"Our entertainment is gone." She said.
"We don't even have any money, do we?" Aang asked. Toph and Sokka looked at each other, and then nodded 'no'. Aang slapped his forehead.
"I'm not staying long." Jet said, to nobody in particular.
"Good." Zuko said as he sat near Katara. They started a fire; it would be getting dark soon. Katara felt awkward. Was this how Zuko felt with Jin? She was sorry she flipped out. Then she thought about if Zuko flipped out on Jet. That wouldn't end well. She saw him take a seat on her opposite side. She pushed herself closer to Zuko, as he was about to say something, two men stumbled out of the bushes. Everyone looked to see a man that had collapsed on the ground slowly regain his balance.
"Jee!" They yelled. Everyone went to help him up.
"Who's he?" Zuko asked, pointing to the man who stood next to him.
"He saved me from Azula's ship. He wants to help us; he thinks Azula's gone crazy, too." Jee said as he took a seat.
"What's you're name?" Zuko asked the man. He stood face-to-face with him.
"You can call me…" The man began to smirk. "Isamu."
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Well, I'm back! Hip Hip Hooray! But yeah, sorry about the cliffie. I liked this chapter, though. I bring back like every character imaginable! But Jet's temporary! Please review! XD
