Chapter 4: Everything Inbetween
Amaya woke up the next day wondering why she was sweating. As soon as she opened her eyes, she got her answer. The sun was glaring down at her entire body, which was sprawled on the floor directly in front of a large window. She was beginning to wonder where the heck she was and why she was sleeping on the floor when last night's occurrences came creeping back to her. Still daring not to believe it she stood up and sure enough, the despicable prat of a prince was asleep on the huge bed. He was on his back with his arms and legs slightly out to the sides. Obviously Zuko had fallen asleep in a state of exhaustion. Amaya walked up next to the bed and observed him closely. Zuko's eyes were lightly shut, so lightly that it seemed the faintest breeze would lift them. His breaths were slow and his chest rose ever so slightly with each intake of air. He looks so… peaceful, almost… cute. Lord, what am I thinking? It's the heat, it's been messing with my head. That's right, I should go take a bath and then get something to eat. She thought to herself as she hurried out of the room.
Zuko watched her leave. Right after the door had shut behind her, he sat up and stretched. His dreams had woken him up again. And yet again, they were vague semblances of the childhood that seemed so far away. Indeterminate little things of trivial importance but nagged at his mind, night after night, as if they weighed something more than what they appeared to be.
Normally he would have thought more about it, but he had other issues on his mind. Amaya, he had fallen asleep to the image of her face lit by the stars, and he had woken up to her across the room looking at him. He would have, should have sat up and demanded what she was staring at. But at that moment she had chosen to walk over and look at him with an expression he could only label as thoughtful. Zuko had watched her through almost closed eyes, forcing his breathing and facial expression to be that of a sleeping person. And finally, she turned around and left. He couldn't help but wonder what it was about her that seemed so familiar and yet so alien to him. Sick of thinking, Zuko got up and off the bed to take a bath and change.
By the time he got to the breakfast table, Iroh and Amaya were already there. His Uncle was dressed in his usual attire and drinking tea. And Amaya was sitting with her hand on her lap, gazing out the window. As Zuko sat down across from her, she pushed a bowl of strawberries towards him.
" Eat. You'll need the energy." Said Amaya crisply. Her ribbons danced around her dark hair from the movement.
" What're you, my nanny?" Zuko retorted as he pushed the bowl back towards her. " I'll eat what I want."
Amaya, however, was staring pointedly at his uncle. Iroh shrugged and continued to sip his tea. She rolled her eyes in return, and continued to stare out the window.
" Do you do anything but stare outside?" Zuko sneered.
Amaya gave him a death glare, stood up, and left without a word. A few seconds later, she had come back again. She picked up a glass of water, hurled the contents at Zuko, and then stomped off in the opposite direction.
The short awkward silence in which Zuko was paralyzed with shock was cut short by Iroh's cackle. The soggy prince turned and fumed, causing the water to promptly turn into steam.
Iroh choked on his tea.
" Enough. Stop laughing Uncle." Zuko glared furiously at his chortling uncle.
" Ah," Iroh sighed, finally calm, " She has a fiery spirit, isn't it refreshing?"
" It's more of a nuisance." Zuko sat back and crossed his arms. " Which brings me to what I wanted to ask you last night, why are you forcing her on me uncle? Why her? What makes her so special?"
" You two seemed in a very interesting situation yesterday." Iroh said, pouring himself more tea.
" Situation?"
" Well, out of all the girls that were around you, the only one that actually seemed to catch your interest was her. You two seemed to be quite taken by each other. In fact, I do remember quite accurately that I had to drag you away from staring at her."
" So Uncle, if I stared at the Unagi long enough, you would force me to live with it too?" said Zuko sardonically.
" You must admit though, she is quite the beauty." Iroh smirked.
" What good is beauty when you're a vapid smart-mouth?"
" I see you're not going to change your opinion too soon. Well, you'd best get something to eat, we'll start training again in an hour."
" I want her out, Uncle!" Zuko irritably snapped.
" Training, Zuko!" said Iroh in a sing-song voice.
Meanwhile:
Amaya whipped past the villagers in a huff. Oh yes, former general Iroh, I'll try to be nice to your insolent swine of a nephew! Really? He can be obnoxious and rude? I NEVER would have thought. These thoughts ran through her as she continued to fume. Not caring about what will happen later, she ran past the huts to the only place she could think of- the beach.
Five hours later:
Left, right, dodge, kick, and… spin? OOF! Zuko's last minute reservations had caused him to flail about awkwardly and land heavily on his bottom.
" Zuko, you are not concentrating, find your center of balance." Iroh criticized.
" Unh." Zuko grunted as he stood up, wiping dust off his butt.
" Tell you what, nephew, since your head is obviously elsewhere, would you mind fetching Amaya? The servants can't seem to find her anywhere."
" I mind." Muttered Zuko. " If she really wants to go, then let her. Not that it matters to me."
" She's coming with us to the palace Zuko, now go and find her." Iroh spoke, this time sternly.
" Fine." Said Zuko through gritted teeth. Arguing with his uncle was impossible. He might as well just grab the stupid wench and bring her back.
He looked throughout the tower they were staying in, he looked around the village, in the gardens, but she was nowhere to be found. Dammit, where'd that wretched girl go? Agh. I don't have time for this.
" Hey, you there." Zuko motioned at a nearby villager. " Have you seen a girl about so high, long hair with ribbons, bit of a temper…"
" Well I don't know sir, more than a few ladies fit into that category in this village, can you describe her face?" The young boy inquired.
" Erm, uh, well I guess she's decent-looking…" Zuko muttered.
" Could you be a bit more descriptive?" the youth asked.
" AGH! She has pale skin, no freckles whatsoever, full lips, and big brown eyes! Now just tell me where she is!" yelled Zuko, his temper flaring out of frustration.
" Just wondering Mister, but are you looking for your wife?"
" SHE. IS. NOT. MY. WIFE. NOW. TELL. ME. WHERE. SHE. IS."
Zuko had grabbed the boy's collar and lifted him clean off the ground. I swear, if he doesn't know where that accursed woman is, I'll burn him alive. The youth's frightened eyes darted back and forth between Zuko's golden ones.
" Y-you m-m-might wanna t-try in that d-direct-tion m-mister." Stammered the boy who raised his left arm and pointed towards the beach.
Zuko roughly dropped him and stomped off in the direction of the shore. He found her standing right in front of the waves. She had her eyes closed and was clearly enjoying the breezes.
" Why the hell are you here? I've been looking all over for you!" He snapped.
" I don't know, I guess I'm just waiting for something." Amaya replied dreamily with her eyes closed.
Zuko blinked. Her words had caught him off guard. He had expected her to spat some insult at him.
" You…ever get that feeling where you're missing something, something really important, but you can't remember what it is?" She continued as she opened her eyes and stared out into the water.
" N-no. I don't know what you mean." Zuko lied.
"Hm, that's too bad…"
" You're insane." Zuko said, shaking his head.
" Excuse me?"
Amaya's eyes snapped out of their half-glazed state and focused on Zuko's. So she's come back to Earth. Zuko thought.
" Look woman, my tea-infatuated Uncle wants me to bring you back. So just shut up and follow me, okay?"
" And if I don't?" She challenged, crossing her arms.
" Trust me, if I had my way, I would leave you here to rot." Zuko growled, " But Uncle insists."
Then in one quick motion he wrapped one arm around her waist and proceeded to drag her across the sands.
" Get your hands off of me!" Amaya screeched, trying to push his arm away, but his grip was solid.
" Don't worry, I'm taking a three-hour bath after this." Zuko smirked.
" You foul impudent dipshit! Put me down now!"
" You're getting on my nerves. I thought I told you to shut up." Zuko remarked, loosening his grip so that she could stand up straight.
" Just cause you TELL me to shut up doesn't mean I will. I don't have to do anything that you say." She hissed.
" Must you retaliate to everything? It's dreadfully annoying."
" Speak for yourself." She wiggled slightly. " You're invading my personal space."
It was then that Zuko realized the physical situation they were actually in. The two of them were standing in the middle of the village, his arm practically crushing her against his chest, and somewhere in their squabbles their faces had gotten extremely close together. And although Amaya was obviously finding it difficult to breathe, the glint in her eyes told Zuko clearly that she cared more about the argument than choking to death.
" I really don't have time to argue with someone as meaningless as you. So shut your trap and come with me." Zuko said scornfully as he released his grip.
" Why?" said Amaya as she took in a deep breath.
" Because," Zuko seized her wrist, " Without you, my Uncle won't let me get on the carriage to the palace." He said through gritted teeth as he led her through the huts.
" Ow…that hurts…" She winced, trying to loosen his hand around her wrist.
" Good. Maybe the pain will keep you quiet."
Later:
" Do I dare ask what happened to you two?" Iroh said, as he observed them.
They stood before him, cheeks flushed and panting slightly. Amaya was rubbing her wrist and glaring at some random piece of grass, obviously determined not to look at the prince. Zuko, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, every now and then glancing at Amaya, whilst still retaining a murderous aura.
" We had to RUN because this wretched woman here was too caught up in her scruples." Zuko said scathingly.
" Caught up in SCRUPLES? You almost broke my arm you half-wit!" Amaya retorted fiercely.
" I wish I did! Then maybe you would learn to keep your mouth shut!"
" You jerk!"
" Wench!"
" I hate to interrupt you two but…" Iroh started.
" What?" They snapped simultaneously.
" The carriage is here." Iroh said placidly, motioning them to enter.
He held the door open and watched thoughtfully as Zuko pushed past Amaya and sat himself in a corner. Amaya followed and sat in the same row, as far away as possible. She then turned her head with a disgruntled look, avoiding all eye contact.
Iroh came in last, shutting the door behind him, and sitting the remaining row across from the two teenagers.
" Sir, are you ready to leave?" The driver whispered through the window beside Iroh's head.
" Yes, we are arriving at the palace at nightfall?"
" Correct sire." The driver nodded. " Sir, may I inquire who that young lady is? Does she belong to Prince Zuko?"
" Not exactly." Iroh replied quietly, looking sidelong at his two companions.
" They seem in quite a fit"
" Let's just call it… a lovers' dispute."
Yep, that's chapter 4. I hope you liked it . Thatnk you for reading and please review my story. I really do appreciate all comments with the exceptions of flames haha. And I promise, the next chapter won't take as long.