As Zuko woke up again he was struck by the silence and lack of people in the room. He was used to always being the first to wake up and shake the others awake.
But the room was still empty. And it was unsettling.
It made it easy for Zuko to get up quick though, and in lack of anyone else in here. Most noticeable two girls, he could change clothes in here just fine.
At least outside of the room people were already buzzing around and quickly Zuko found his uncle at his right place.
The tea table. Of course.
Zuko walked over to him with his heart banging loudly. "Good morning Uncle." he said and Iroh smiled as he turned to him.
"Good morning Zuko. You had quite the late night last night didn't you?" Iroh asked offering Zuko a cup of tea.
Zuko nodded. "Urhm Uncle. Have you seen Toph?" he asked.
Iroh looked up. "No." he said. "None of you had made it home when I went to bed. You were merely running late. She is not back?"
"No." Zuko said. "She wasn't home when I came last night. And she wasn't there by morning either."
"Oh." Iroh said. "Perhaps she's still with her parents."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah… That's kind of what I was hoping." he admitted. "Still I… I better go check." he said. "Just to make sure."
Iroh nodded. "Of course."
Just then Zhau-Li came. "Good morning My Prince. General Iroh." he bowed for each of them.
Zuko swallowed.
"What's wrong?" Zhau-Li asked.
"Toph didn't make it home last night." Zuko admitted.
"Oh." Zhau-Li blinked.
"I need to go make sure she's okay." Zuko said.
"The Kyoshi warriors are supposed to arrive this morning." Zhau-Li pointed out. "King Kuei had hoped you would greet them with him."
Zuko sighed. "Could you go give him my deepest apologies?" he asked. "I'll try to see if I can make it. But I really need to go check on Toph first."
"Of course sir. He'll understand." Zhau-Li assured.
"Do you need me to come with you?" Iroh asked Zuko.
"No… no." Zuko shook his head. "It's probably nothing. I'm probably worrying over nothing at all. And the Generals needs your advice to move forward. There's no reason for more than one person to go."
"Very well." Iroh replied.
"I'm going to go find the address they gave us." Zuko said. "It gotta be in our room. Katara had it." he sighed as he headed right back to his own room to look for the piece of paper.
Thankfully the paper was easy to find. Katara had fortunately not taken it with her by mistake as it was laying on top of the drawers next to the left bed. Reading the paper Zuko quickly memorized the address.
Of course it seemed to be at the other end of the upper ring. But at least it still was the upper ring he supposed.
Toph was going to be laughing at him when he showed up and she was just eating breakfast with her parents, wasn't she?
Still! Zuko would not have her have that laugh for long. If Katara wasn't around to scold her then fine! Zuko would do it.
Heading back to the living room Zuko quickly grabbed a stuffed bun to stuff in his mouth, quickly thanking Tien for the food with a bow and headed out.
Seriously what was the deal!? Toph was the one who had acted all upset about them separating the other day! And played all innocent making Zuko feel bad for her. She better have a good reason for this!
As Zuko walked across the streets he really started to work himself up, and angrily chewed on his bun. Devouring the whole thing and then sucked his fingers in a not very princely manner.
Did Toph even know Zukos current position? His dealings with Kuei now could impact the future peace of the world! Toph!
It took way to long for Zukos liking, and maybe he should just have hailed an Ostrich carriage but finally he was there.
A massive house, just as big as the one given to them by Long Feng. Gardens, fountains. Basically a mansion in its own right.
Zuko huffed as he walked up the door steps and knocked on the door.
There was no reply.
Zuko knocked again. "Hello." he asked. "Mr and Mrs Beifong. I need to talk to you." he said. Still there was no answer.
Zuko frowned as he grabbed for the door handle… Locked. Then he looked up and he jumped down the stairs to move to the window and have a peak inside.
The insides looked empty… Very empty. It made Zukos eyes narrow and he grabbed a drainage pipe to clearly crawl all the way up to the balcony where he looked inside and still saw absolutely nothing in there.
A bit of furniture, but all covered in white sheets to keep them dust free.
Was this the right house? Zuko pulled the paper with the address from his pocket and looked at it.
Yes… This should be right.
Zuko jumped down again to land in front of the front door and looked at it then he knocked. "Hello." he called. "Anyone in there?" he asked. "Listen! If no one opens this door I am going to kick it in!" he warned.
Still there was no reply.
Zuko frowned deeply as he took a step back. "All right I did warn you." he said and then he took a deep breath. Collecting his energy his fire, used his body to make a forceful kicked and true enough. Kicked the door right open.
Zuko took a deep breath as he looked in. The house looking dark due to most of the curtains being pulled and Zuko stepped in as he looked around.
The house was indeed empty but… It hadn't been long since someone had been here. Zuko crouched down to look at the floor where tracks had been made in the dust.
There were marks on the floor to, a big square mark. But there was no telling if that was new or old.
Zuko moved towards what looked like a bed room but found it unused. The beds like other furniture was covered up and touching the white sheets those were indeed dusty.
A cold feeling entered Zukos stomach. Something was wrong here… Something was really really wrong. "Toph." he called out. "TOPH!" he shouted any pretences of being angry thrown aside.
He tried to look around for signs of earth bending but found nothing. There wasn't any signs of a struggle. He headed outside again to check the name plate of the house only to be confirmed this residence did in fact belong to the Beifongs.
Wow… Toph's parents had to be super rich.
Zuko shook his head. That wasn't the point! "Hey!" he called to one of the neighbours who wide-eyed looked up. "Has anyone been in this hours the last twenty four hours?" he asked. "Have you seen a little girl! She's twelve. This high. Milky eyes." he gestured.
The man blinked at Zuko. "There were… Two rather strange men in the house." he admitted. "I was afraid they might be burglars. But they didn't seem to be taking anything and." he glanced behind Zuko. "They weren't the ones kicking in the door." he commented dryly. "Do I need to call for the Dai-Li?"
"NO!" Zuko shouted. "I'm not a burglar! My friend didn't come home last night. She was supposed to go here for a visit. But she never came back. The girl."
"I'm sorry sir. I haven't seen any such girl." The man admitted. "And those two strange men left yesterday with their big metal cage thing. Looks like they might have been transporting an animal."
"Metal… Cage?" Zukos eyes widened. Chains were not enough to contain an earth bender, you needed a cage. And it needed to be made of either wood or metal. "Where did they go?" he asked. "Which way?"
"Erhm… Down the street." The man said. "That was yesterday though."
Zuko hissed. He was such an idiot! He shouldn't have gone to sleep last night! The moment he realized Toph wasn't there he should have gone checked! Now these strange men had just gotten ten more hours to get away!
And Zuko turned on his heels as he ran. Trying to come up with ways he could track two strange men with a metal cage… In this city. In this massive city.
Dammit!
Zhau-Li didn't really know what it was about these Kyoshi warriors… But they creeped him out.
Especially the leader in front. Her name was Suki right?
There were only three of them. But Zhau-Li was already convinced that the stories were true, that these were fearsome warriors.
Kuie was smiling. "Welcome Kyoshi warriors." he said. "I thank you for your aid."
"It is our honour to serve." The girl in front bowed… The way she said it though. It felt wrong somehow.
Still Zhau-Li stood straight. "Honored warriors." he said. "I extent an apology from the Avatar and from Prince Zuko. Both regrets they can't be here to greet you. The Avatar having gone to get spiritual training. And Prince Zuko is searching for a friend in the city."
"Prince Zuko is here?" The front Kyoshi warrior asked.
Zhau-Li nodded. "Yes. I am sure he looks forward to see you ones he return. He said he would greet you when time permitted."
The Kyoshi warrior glanced down. "You say he is searching for a friend. Is he alone?" she asked.
"I assure you. The Prince is more than capable of protecting himself." Zhau-Li informed. "He is the Avatars fire bending teacher after all."
The Warrior smiled. "Yes of course. Prince Zuko is a dear friend of ours though. Perhaps we should go help him." she suggested. "A friend of Prince Zukos is a friend of ours."
Zhau-Li halted. He didn't know what it was about these three women. Especially this one in front but it didn't feel right and at least he cleared his throat. "I am quite sure Prince Zuko is more than capable of handling it." he said and the front Kyoshi warrior frowned annoyed.
Azula sighed a bit annoyed as she and her friends exited the throne room to retrieve to a hall way.
"Do you think that guy knows?" Ty Lee blinked looking over her should.
"No." Azula said. "Still this is a moment we cannot allow to pass by us. If Zuzu is alone, then it is time to strike before he goes back to uncle. Mai. Go figure out where he is. Then send me a bird when you found him. Keep an eye on him at a distance."
Mai sighed deeply. "Why me?" she asked.
"Aww. There's no need to complain." Azula smirked. "You always had a soft spot for little Zuzu. I know you did."
"That was a long time ago." Mai replied.
"So you even admit it." Azula smirked and Mai annoyed turned her head away.
"Personally I never knew what you were seeing in little mommas boy." Azula commented. "It probably shouldn't have been that surprising that he turned out a traitor."
Mai stood still. Her face stone hard and Azula smiled amused.
"You will go." Azula snapped a finger. "I myself am having a date." she said.
"Uuuh." Ty Lee cheered.
"That Long Feng. The King asked we should interrogate him. I say why not heed to the kings wishes?" Azula asked. "I hear Long Feng was the man who build the Dai Li and appointed every single commander in that group. Now correct me if I am wrong… But considering he build it and promoted everyone who is part of the Dai Li. Who would the Dai Li actually be loyal to? Him or a King who plans to disband them?"
"Me! Me! Me!" Ty Lee jumped up and down holding up a hand.
"Yes yes. You may speak." Azula sighed.
"It's Long Feng isn't it?" Ty Lee said.
"Well. For now." Azula smirked. "He has proven himself to be weak. It only took a twelve year old airbender and a banished Prince to dethrone him. Perhaps it's time for a change in leadership. Someone not quite as weak."
"Underhanded as always Azula." Mai commented.
"Why thank you." Azula bowed her head at her and then looked up. And annoyed look on her face.. "What are you still doing here?" she asked. "Go on your little date why don't you? Zuzu wont be waiting forever."
Mai groaned annoyed. But finally turned around to take a few steps.
"It's a shame about his face isn't it?" Azula asked. "Such a pretty little face it was. Why don't you try to smooch him now?" she asked. "I heard that when girls kiss's toads they suddenly turn into a handsome Princes! Oh what am I saying?" she asked. "There's no Prince left in that shell. The only way he will ever set foot back in the fire nation would be in chains. He is a traitor and there is not an ounce of honour left in his sad bones. You understand?"
Mai stood with her back to Azula and a lowered head. Then her head raised. "Yes." she simply said. "I understand." she she kept walking forward with a straight back and her face looking like it was carved in marble stone.