A/N: Wow...my longest chappie yet on my newER computer. The new one broke. My luck...Enjoy!
By the time the shore grew nearer to the Fire Nation ship, Prince Zuko could almost easily hit the archery target. He had practiced through the day, losing track of the time, or who he was spending that time with. Kaida had kept him company all day, with the occasional visit from his uncle. He finally turned and watched the tall green trees and sandy banks surrounding their destination, which was supposedly Earthbender free. The thought of setting up camp in an area where they wouldn't have to worry about any Earth Kingdom troops bursting in into the early hours of the morning was something for the crew to look forward to.
Zuko watched Uncle Iroh make his way over with an expected grin. "We are near Heilong City. I suggest you stop playing around, Prince Zuko." His grin widened at his nephew's stiff glare.
As Zuko passed by Lieutenant Gi as he made his way to get a better view, the man returned a hateful frown. The prince mirrored the look, assuming he hadn't forgotten the little event earlier that morning. The ship gave a small, yet violent lurch as it entered the beginnings of the harbor.
"I did mention earlier this harbor does have choppy waters. No one's quite sure why." Kaida said from behind him, noticing the prince was startled by the strong current. He kept his gaze on the city, which was becoming more and more visible with each wave.
The elegant pagoda-style homes, smooth stone roads, and lively villagers weren't exactly what Prince Zuko expected from Heilong City. He looked around as the troop made their way through the town, seeing people all around dressed in the colors of Fire Nation. Red and gold were strung throughout the city, making it seem more real they were in Fire Nation than Earth Kingdom. The townsfolk looked at them as though it was an everyday thing to see Firebending soldiers march along the street.
Lieutenant Gi called out to make camp in an opening near the edge of the woods. The men hastily left their straight marching lines to pitch tents, start campfires, and begin dinner. Uncle Iroh walked over to Kaida with a smile, he looked pleased with the city.
"Miss Kaida, how is it these people live so similarly to Fire Nation?" He asked her with curiosity threading his airy voice.
"It is because this town is part of Fire Nation itself. This town was founded here long before the war, at a time when Earthbenders and Firebenders got along." She replied quietly.
He nodded in understanding and looked around the new area of town they had come across. It was a quieter place than the streets by the harbor. Down by the water, the roads were bursting with commerce and chatter among the villagers and fisherman. But the atmosphere was different in this direction. Many private homes were here, and a few scattered shops. "How do you know about this place?"
"I lived here with my grandfather for a couple years after…well, when I was a little older." She looked to the ground then back at him. "If you would like, the house is nearby, you may stay there. I know how much you dislike the tents," she grinned, "This area is visible from the back."
"That would be wonderful, Miss Kaida." He beamed and called out for his nephew to follow them. They began to make their way to the part of town nearest the woods.
"My grandfather is one of the only people who lived this close to the Anlin Forest in this city," Kaida mentioned to Iroh, and a disinterested Zuko, as she pushed open the doors to a sweeping pagoda-style home resting on a small hill. It was surrounded by an unattended garden and a small pond filled with huge, golden-colored fish. Those fish were keeping a curious black cat occupied as they walked by.
The room opened up to a crimson sitting room with a polished (yet dusty) black walnut floor. She motioned them to enter the quiet house, nervously smiling to Zuko, who glared in return.
Kaida gave them a small tour of the two story home, stopping to pull Iroh along as he discovered the tea stores in the kitchen. It had grown well into the evening as Iroh finally did return to that area to make himself his usual drink before bed.
Uncle Iroh took a long sip of his tea as he watched the small camp from the windows of the kitchen. The soldiers below had started a bit of a mini music night, telling jokes and singing like drunken men. Iroh chuckled as his nephew rolled his eyes in disgust.
"Uncle, how can they act so…idiotically at a time like this? What if something happened? Like if Earth Kingdom troops found us. Or Zhao! What if he found us here? Can he?" Zuko was letting every question that had pent up in his brain all day flood his uncle for advice and answers. His concerned frown was harsh in the clouding evening light.
Iroh looked from the sky to his nephew's trouble gaze. "Maybe it's best not to worry. After all, I still find it interesting how these people have managed to continue living here. Besides, I am going to bed. Perhaps you should find someone else to question, Zuko. I think Kaida went out to read over…there." Iroh pointed to an area around the side of the house, back where there were small trees covering the pond in back. Uncle Iroh smiled to his nephew, bade him goodnight, and went inside.
Prince Zuko sighed out loud and walked inside with a stormy expression that had a great likeness as the clouds that were beginning to gather off coast.
Kaida looked up from the stone bench she had settled upon to see angry clouds blocking the last of the sunset and stars. She held her place in her book and turned to the lantern hanging from its hook and stand nearest to her. Several of these lined the garden area especially around the pond, she tried lighting the one hanging by the tree she sat under. After several tries, the lantern stubbornly refused to light. Kaida sighed and turned to put down her book, and heard someone clear their throat behind her. She jumped a little and turned around sending her loose braid whipping around her shoulders.
"Why do you insist on reading that thing when you've already read it so many times?" Zuko looked down at the startled girl, moving his hand away from the lantern wick and closing the little glass door to keep the wind out.
"Because I'm trying to find things that are missing to me. Like, when the comet will actually arrive, or how to keep it from being used for a bad advantage against other nations or-"
"I get the picture," he said flatly, "Look, can I uh…sit here?" He motioned to the spot next to her on the bench.
"Of course sir," she said with a surprised look, hastily scooting over allowing him more room. She closed her book and let it rest in her lap, turning her attention to the pond in front of her, giving a random glance at the prince ever so often. She couldn't help but stare longer each time, feeling her cheeks grow hot for reasons she couldn't be sure of.
Prince Zuko looked down to the center of the town, where a large black stone dragon statue stood, wings stretched to the heavens. There was a ring of fire circling the base of it now, and a large group of people gathered about it. Shops nearby the statue and commotion were bustling with activity. There was a group of dancers dressed in red weaving their way around the statue in an intricate pattern. The mass of townsfolk seemed to be focusing on them for the moment, some swaying to the intense music that drifted faintly to where Zuko sat.
"Neat huh? They used to have things like this all the time while I lived here," Kaida said with a distant look. "My grandfather even got me to dance with those girls down there. Of course, I was the shortest one there, so dancing was easier than avoiding being stepped on." She smiled, keeping that far away look in her eye as she watched the crowd clap as the music came to an end. The clouds overhead were growing darker as the day came to an end.
Zuko felt a strange, anxious feeling in his stomach. He felt awkward sitting next to Kaida, but didn't really want to get up. Somehow, their conversation had strayed to tea after a long while.
"Ugh, I don't even see how he can stand so much tea!" Zuko said gesturing with great exaggeration. He had been complaining about his uncle's tea obsession, rather humorously now. Kaida laughed softly as he mimicked his uncle again. "Honestly, you don't like ginseng too, do you? He said you did."
"Not really, I prefer white tea. Ginseng is a bit too bitter for me. Actually, when he asked, I kinda hesitated a moment. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing to say no or not. He took my silence as a yes apparently." She smiled and returned her gaze to the pond. Dragonflies had become numerous among the plants and water. Every few minutes or so a new one would fly about and hover until it found a place to land and rest its wings.
Zuko felt that strange feeling rush up to his chest in a wave. As he opened his mouth to say something to her, he suddenly felt a soft, itchy feeling on his nose. Kaida looked over and laughed harder than at his impressions he had been doing. Prince Zuko went cross-eyed and noticed a pair of wings stretching out on his face.
"Hey! Off!" He shouted to the dragonfly, who had bravely used his nose as a perch for a few glorious seconds. Zuko could have sworn the bug was laughing at him by the sound of the humming rushing past his ear as it fly away to a still flower. He absently wrung the edge of his deep red vest and couldn't help but notice something on her left forearm.
Prince Zuko also took to notice she was wearing a black, short sleeved shirt and pants instead of her uniform. He really hadn't seen her wear anything else for a while. Then again, it had been a while since he had worn his own outfit that he now sat fiddling with the hem. He squinted in the dim light and noticed the shape of a dragon gracefully curving along the start of her wrist halfway to her elbow.
"What is that?" The question was asked without him being able to stop it. He noticed her look up and follow his gaze to the mark.
"Oh, just a birthmark…" She returned to watching the dragonflies flutter weightlessly over the plants and water.
There was a sudden, loud plunk coming from the pond water. The surface was broken by a series of ripples and little waves. The noise was followed by a couple more and Zuko's surprised yelp as he felt something hit his nose again, thinking it was a dragonfly until he failed to see wings. He looked up at the angry sky and felt a large drop splash on his forehead.
It was like that enraged look he gave the sky made it mad enough to unleash a downpour and a swift roll of thunder. The rain came down hard and fast, putting out the lit lantern in a couple drops. Zuko jumped up, hesitated, and turned to offer Kaida his hand.
For a moment she looked at him in slight surprise, but placed her hand in his without a second thought. She pulled the little book close to her chest as he pulled her along through the rain. They reached the doors and raced inside, drenched and dripping all over the wood floor. They both watched the rain fall heavier just as the door closed behind them in the wind. Zuko looked down and noticed he still held Kaida's hand, letting go quickly with a faint blush. He was glad for the dark room, so she wouldn't notice.
Kaida placed her nearly untouched book on the table nearby, keeping it from getting worse by holding it. She listened to another crash of thunder leak its sound into the otherwise quiet house.
Prince Zuko felt a yawn rise in his throat, for he had long since lost track of time. It must have been late judging by the darkness of the house and how tired he felt. He motioned to go upstairs, "It's getting late."
"You're right," Kaida agreed, "Goodnight then Prince Zuko." She said with a pleasant smile before walking to the stairs.
"…Goodnight." He could make out his exact feelings were, they were all new to him. He did, however, recognize sleepiness. He trudged up to his temporary room and pulled on dry clothes, wrung out his clothes, and slipped under the sheets of his bed.
Zuko stared at the ceiling, watching the dramatic shadows the flashes of lightning made when they seeped into the closed windows of the room. He lay in confusion, sorting out his thoughts and feelings to the rhythm of thunder. He thought until his eyes failed to stay open and finally welcomed sleep.
I finally extend a thanks to all my reviewers, which I should have done many chapters ago, SORRY! Anyways, A GREAT BIG FIRE NATION THANKS TO:
(in order by dates...) SailorNeo, starlightz1112, niwrem(my biggest reviewer to date! yay for u!), AkiraJade, hetfan7708, shlalu, TitanKardinal(BFF!), crazyloverofboys, Hiko-chan, kuramafan58, Serpent Knight Wing Weaver, and a couple of anonymous reviews too! Thanks a bunch everyone! More thanks later too!