Chapter 16: Shopping Trip
About a week later, iroh exclaimed excitedly that they were going to stop in the next harbor in the earth kingdom to get more food and supplies for the trip...
" Sure..." Prince Zuko said, " I suppose the crew could use some time to relax..."
" Perfect! And I can go shopping!" Iroh said excitedly, " Perhaps you and miss Katara could join me! I'm sure she would appreciate a new wardrobe! Unless of course, you'd rather keep letting her wear your clothes!"
" Um... I think that's a great idea..." Prince Zuko said blushing, " Um... I think I'll talk to Katara and see what she thinks about going shopping uncle..."
" Wonderful!" Iroh said happily, " I'll inform the crew!"
Prince Zuko rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile as he walked away...
' uncle is always something else..." Zuko thought, smiling to himself.
When he got to his room, he knocked on the door out respect, and waited for her soft voice to give him the ok before opening the door and stepping inside... Once again, he was struck breathless at how beautiful she looked... Earlier that morning, prince Zuko had left her a black silk nightshirt and belt, having no clue how damn good she'd look in that color!
' I gotta get it together...' Zuko thought mentally slapping himself, ' But damn, she's really really good looking in my clothes!'
" Hey..." Prince Zuko said.
" Hey..." Katara said blushing, " What's up?"
" We're going to pull into a port in the earth kingdom to restock food and supplies... Would you like to go shopping with uncle and me?"
" Oh! Yes, that would be wonderful..." Katara said blushing, " I um... I could use some female products..."
" Female products?" Zuko asked stupidly.
Katara's face flamed brilliant crimson.
" Yeah... My uh... Underwrappings were destroyed before you first found me..." Katara said blushing fiercely.
" Right... Well uh, when we go shopping I'll give you some money to buy whatever you need..."
Prince Zuko said trying his best not to blush as a very provocative image of her popped into his head, " You really look pretty today..."
Katara blushed and looked away... She had chosen a pretty dark red lip paint and had painted her lips, enhancing her natural beauty once again... She had her long auburn hair brushed down her back until it shone like polished redwood, Zuko's mother's hair comb worn proudly in her hair above her ear... Her hair reached just above the middle of her back... She was truly breathtaking...
" Thank you..." Katara said shyly.
" Huh?" Prince Zuko asked, snapping out of his daze.
" Thanks for the compliment..." Katara said smiling sheepishly, " You look handsome too..."
Prince Zuko grinned and led her to the door, his hand firmly on her arm to help keep her balance... Despite both having fun dancing a week ago, Katara hadn't yet regained complete mobility in her legs, they were still pretty weak because of the many weeks she'd spent in bed, unable to move... She did walk with a jeweled silver cane with a silver snow leopard bear carved at the top of it, one uncle had actually bought the first year away from home, as it were... Katara was entranced when uncle had given it to her earlier that day... A blush coming to mind at what he'd said he'd settle for as payment coming to mind...
Earlier conversation with uncle.
" Uncle! This is far too beautiful for someone like me!" Katara exclaimed when she saw the beautiful treasure, " I can't except this! It's too expensive!"
" Nonsense my dear, and besides, if you really wish to pay me back for it, I can honestly tell you that there is only one way!" Iroh said grinning.
" Oh anything!" Katara exclaimed happily, " What would you like in return?"
" Lots of grandchildren!" Iroh said laughing, " I'm not getting any younger,you know?! And prince Zuko is already quite fond of you! I'm sure it wouldn't take too much persuading on your part!"
Iroh laughed as Katara's face flamed brilliant blood red as he left her room to leave her to think on it...
End earlier conversation...
Katara blushed as prince Zuko guided her up on deck, where the crew was bustling to get ready to go ashore... Thankfully, the nightshirt Katara wore as her dress was long enough to pool just above her feet, the sleeves were short on prince Zuko, but on her they flowed just past her elbows, almost looking like a pair of butterfly wings as she walked... The black silk flowed elegantly around her as she walked, drawing alot of attention from the Younger crew members, much to prince Zuko's irritation... Lee was unusually chatty as he started walking on Katara's other side, piling on the compliments...
" Wow!" Lee said happily, " You really look pretty Katara! If you ever want a boyfriend, I'm free!"
" Katara is 15!" Zuko exclaimed angrily, " You just turned thiteen Lee! She isn't interested in younger men, or any for that matter! Have you forgotten about what happened to her?!"
Lee paled visibly as he remembered the horrible details of why she'd ended up on thier ship, brutally violated, poisoned, and left for dead in the very ocean she loved... Lee bowed his head in embarrassment and shame... How could he possibly have forgotten?!
" Forgive me..." Lee said, his enthusiasm gone, " I'm sorry, my lady... That was very uncalled for and rude..."
" It's alright... But Prince Zuko is right... I'm not ready to have a boyfriend, but I'd love to have you as a friend..." Katara said smiling warmly.
" Oh! Of course! I'd be happy to be your friend!" Lee said grinning happily.
Katara smiled as the three of them left the ship and headed into town... It wasn't a very long walk from the docks before the town came into veiw, the many street vendors yelling there wares as the trio walked by...
" So, where would you like to go first?" Zuko asked.
Katara blushed as her eyes caught sight of a lady in her fifties selling underclothes... Something that Katara desperately needed... Katara blushed and cleared her throat in an attempt to get Zuko's attention without letting the younger boy know the embarrassing item she needed... Zuko blushed when he saw where Katara was looking, before clearing his throat...
" Lee..." Zuko said sternly, " Go find my uncle and make sure he doesn't buy out the entire town... Katara and I will continue to shop on our own..."
Lee jumped at Prince Zuko's angry tone and quickly disappeared into the sea of people as both Katara and prince Zuko sighed a breath of relief...
" Um... Thank you..." Katara said awkwardly, " Will it be alright if I go look at her stuff myself?"
" Well..." Prince Zuko said, unsure, " Are you sure you're feeling well enough to be on your own?"
" I have the cane uncle gave to me, I'll be ok for a few minutes..." Katara said smiling, " I won't be too long, I promise."
Prince Zuko nodded and watched as she carefully made her way over to the lady.
" Ah, how lovely! My name is Ashira!" Ashira exclaimed, " How can I help you, my dear?"
" Hello..." Katara said hesitantly, " My name is Katara... Um... I well..."
Katara blushed and looked around nervously, very uncomfortable with having to buy such personal things... Her hips and chest had grown out quite a bit since she first came to be in prince Zuko's protective custody, it was quite obvious what she needed... Ashira looked at the young lady with quiet understanding and gently led her to the privacy of the indoor shop she had, which was actually a large wooden wagon that had alot more on display inside. There were underwrappings of every color and a lot of beautiful dresses in what looked to be in her size... Katara was speechless as she stepped inside, unaware of the fact that Ashira had followed behind.
" So, my dear, see anything you like?" Ashira asked.
" It's all so beautiful!" Katara exclaimed happily, " But they are so fine, do you not have a more casual style dress?"
" Why, these are casual, my dear!" Ashira exclaimed, " Just look at my dress!"
Katara stopped and took a moment to really look at the dress Ashira was wearing... It was a deep forest green silk with gold leaves bordering the sleeves and base of the dress, a Jade pendant hanging around her neck...
" But how are people able to afford these?! Surely they must be quite expensive to make!" Katara said worriedly.
" We accept whatever kind of money a person has, silver, copper or gold... We aren't picky my dear..." Ashira said smiling, " We has fire nation colonies here, and the families are paid quite well by the army, so we make plenty of money to purchase the fine silks and satins I use in my designs..."
" Wow... You make them yourself?" Katara asked in amazement.
" Oh yes, I've gotten quite fast at it too!" Ashira said happily, " I make them all by hand..."
" They are really beautiful, but I don't want to buy you out!" Katara said quickly, " I'll just take a few pairs of white underwrappings please?"
" Nonsense! I insist you pick out what ever dresses catch your eye as well! Believe me, my dear, this isn't even a full third of my inventory! And I make new ones every day!"
Katara nodded speechlessly as she continued to browse the dresses in her size... She picked out a beautiful silver gown with bell sleeves and deep teal blue butterflies embroidered on it, as well as a pretty light blue dress with blue lace bell sleeves and lavender lilies on it... Prince Zuko had given her a full bag of gold coins to spend for her shopping, but she didn't want to spend all his money... The third dress she bought was a beautiful gold dress with a dark blue dragon embroidered on it's side, the sleeves a shimmering see through light gold...
" I have jewelry and tiaras to match each dress too my dear, no extra charge for you..." Ashira said sweetly.
" Oh... It's not necessary, you really don't have to..." Katara said blushing.
" Oh nonsense!" Ashira said winking, " Your traveling with the prince after all... May as well feel like a princess!"
" Oh, believe me, he and his entire crew already treat me like a princess!" Katara said blushing, " Honestly, I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for him..."
Ashira gasped a look of worry clear on her face... Ashira had long white hair and pretty light green eyes... But unlike most other old ladies, Ashira had flawlessly smooth skin... She was a very beautiful lady...
" What do you mean?!" Ashira asked in concern, " Did someone hurt you?!"
" I'd rather not talk about it... Could I possibly go somewhere and try my dress on?" Katara asked, changing the subject.
" Of course..." Ashira said in understanding, " My home is just around the corner, come with me..."
" Let me just let Zuko know where I'll be..." Katara said blushing, before rushing off...
Prince Zuko was still across the street where she'd left him, his anxious eyes worriedly searching for where she'd disappeared to... The wagon door opened across the street and prince Zuko sighed in relief as Katara appeared and quickly rushed across the street to him, empty handed.
" Sorry if I worried you!" Katara exclaimed, out of breath, her legs shaking with the strain of walking so long, " She had a lot more things for sale in her wagon... That's where I was..."
" Did you not like anything?" Prince Zuko asked.
" Oh no! That's the problem!" Katara exclaimed, " Everything was so beautiful! But I felt out of place buying too much from her, her designs we're so lovely and looked like something only royalty should wear!"
" That's exactly the reason you should buy as much as you want..." Zuko said, a bit irritated, "You are a daughter of the chief of your tribe in the south Pole, according to your brother..."
" So what?!" Katara said defensively.
Katara was starting to remember bits and pieces of traveling with the Avatar and her brother now, but she wasn't ready to see them again... Not yet... She really liked how kind prince Zuko was to her... She knew they were once enemies, but that was in the past... She could honestly consider him a friend now, as much as he's done for her...
" Uncle told me that in the North Pole, the cheif, his wife and any children they have is basically considered the royal family..." Prince Zuko said, " So by all means, you should be considered a princess..."
" And what makes you so sure?" Katara asked curiously.
" Your too beautiful to be just a regular villager... " Prince Zuko said softly, unconsciously placing his arm around her waist...
Katara blushed as prince Zuko closed in on her, her face flaming as she tried to think of a logical reason to push him away... But all she could think of was the fact that a handsome prince was about to give her her very first kiss...
" Your too late, your highness..." A deep masculine voice hissed hatefully from behind them, "I already gave Katara her first kiss long ago! Not that she'd ever kiss someone as ugly as you any way!"
Prince Zuko and Katara both whirled around to see a tall boy with messy brown hair and hard brown eyes glittering with hate staring at them... A piece of straw between his teeth...
" Jet..." Katara whispered softly...
