Chapter Three:
7 am before everyone on the ship heard Helena's loud scream once more. Zuko running to her faster than everyone else. He burst in without any proper invitation to enter. He saw her on her knees, her head hung low and her red hair over her face. A tall, muscular man stood before her on Zuko's bed. Zuko could see this man was what was making her cry. Angry. This made Zuko glare at the man and make a ball of fire. He threatend this guy.
"You hurt her in any way and I'll kill you!" He threatend. He man let out a hardy laugh as Helena cried. The man just looked at her.
"Did you find the Avatar?" the man asked her, she shook her head.
No..not yet.." She sadly told him. Holding in her cries and forcing herself to speak clearly.
"Remember the deal. You find him and I-"
"I know I know!" She snapped. She didnt want to hear it again. The man laughed again,
"Tell your friend there that if you dont find the avatar, he really will have a reason to kill someone." With that, the man left in a puff of smoke. After making sure the man was gone, Zuko got rid of his fire ball and ran over to Helena. He hugged her tightly. Not saying a word. He couldnt say anything, for all he was happy for was that she wasnt harmed. Although, she clung onto his shirt really tight. Mostly, in fear.
Zuko hated to see her like this. He was pretty embarrised to have everyone on the ship stairing at them.But he cared so little what they thought. At least now he did. He didnt know who that man was or what Helena had to do with him, but he was just glad she wasnt hurt. He cared so deeply about her.
"Im sorry.." She managed to tell him between her cries.
"You dont have to be. You have nothing to be sorry for." He told her, softly. Everyone knew this was serious, so they did not tease them. Mostly, they left them alone. Helena was just glad to have someone to hold onto this time. She had no one to cling onto and cry. Zuko hated to see her cry, or be in pain.
"Yes I do Zuko...I dont have my own heart." She told him in tears. The way she frazed that to him, he didnt understand. She pulled herself away from him, long enough for him to see the fear and betrayle in her eyes. "I can't stay here anymore. You can keep my crew. I just-" her bottom lip qwiverd as she walked out of his room, leaving him sitting there, still in a daze, she had quickly gotten out of the ship and onto the deck. She performed some water bending moves and was able to get herself to walk on the water. It was a very hard move. But she was able to use it to get far enough from the ship that she would be able to let the tears flow freely, but as they fell, they became part of her teqhnique.
He sat there in a daze. She was gone and he couldnt get her back. His uncle approched him cautiously. She had gotten 6 miles away from the ship before Zuko snapped out of his daze. He demanded to his uncle to find that damned Avatar.
Aang and the others were riding on Appa. They had spotted Zuko's ship and began going faster. But Appa was tired. All he was able to do was fall onto the sea and sleep.
"Lazy bum." Aang complained as the ship drew closer. They all panicked. Not knowing what to do. Once the ship was close enough, Zuko used a fishing net thing to bring Appa and everyone abord. Once Aang got a look at Zuko. He could see he wasnt going to kill him.
"Avatar." Zuko snapped. "I ask for help."
"Help?" Aang blinked. Zuko nodded.
"Yes. I need your bison to help me find someone." Zuko said bitterly. He hated asking help from someone who he was trying to catch. But Helena was much more important to him then some fight with his dad.
"Um okay. But you know. I have a name. Aang." He told Zuko. Hating that he kept calling him 'Avatar'
"Fine Aang. Just help me look!" Zuko snapped.
"Okay okay, Whats her name?"
"Helena."
"A girl! Wow!" Aang teased. But then he could see he hurt Zuko's feelings. Woh, never thought he would have to worry about that. "Sorry. Okay. I'll help. Appa! Yip Yip!" With that, the lazy bum of a bison slowly stood on his four feet and yawned. "You lazy bum! come on! We have to help our arch enime find his girlfriend!"
"She isnt my girlfriend!" He snapped. Zuko walked over to Sokka and gave him a look. "If you find her. If you touch her in any way Im going to use your square head for a marshmellow."
"Look man. I dont plan to-" Sokka said, but he could see that Zuko was serious. He had to be serious to ask help of someone he was trying to catch.
"One more thing. Bring her back here right when you find her. Uncle. Stay here. Im going with them. Stop the ship and dont move it untill I return with Helena." Zuko said, and without an invatation, he joined them on Appa and when they took off, Aang brought up a question.
"Zuko. Who is Helena?"
"A pretty girl." Zuko mumbled to himself.
"huh?"
"Oh um. Someone I met last night. Collision." Zuko told him. Aang left Katara in charge of steering Appa. Aang crawled over to Zuko.
"You like her dont cha?"
Zuko blushed. "I-I dont know what your talking about."
"Helena. You like her. Is she pretty?" Aang asked. "Sokka is looking on the other side and Katara isnt paying attintion. C'mon. Tell me about her."
"Well. Yeah. She's beautiful." Zuko told him. "And smart, and a great-" He was about to say water-bender but he promised her that he wouldnt.
"A great what?" Aang aked. Zuko had to think of a lie fast.
"Person." Zuko added. That was true actually. As far as he knew anyway. He just had to cover up for his almost blabbing stunt.
"Do you like her?" Aang asked him. Zuko shifted his gaze around Appa as he looked for her.
"Yeah.." He mumbled. He did really like her. Hell, he loved her.He couldnt explain how he felt about her without going on and on. Then the others would hear him and tease him.
