Music Night
Chimes rang through the air, causing Zuko and Katara to look back in surprise. Iroh stood behind the two with chimes and a silly grin on his face. They were still at the North Pole. Aang was taking an extra day so just go over everything with Tallulah. He would be leaving tomorrow morning, which meant that she would be leaving too. She had only just mastered a few advanced moves. Tallulah had been pleased with the progress Katara had made. The water shaman had told the young woman that she would be given several scrolls over the more advanced moves. Of course, Katara needed to copy herself so she would start to memories the forms faster.
"Ah, Katara! Perhaps you will join us for music night!" Katara looked back at Zuko, wondering that question herself. The crew, while still cautious around her, had begun to take a liking to her. And she had heard music night echoing through the halls while Zuko meditated. He never took part in music night. She knew that it wasn't because he thought it beneath him. It just seemed like he was bothered with the idea. For some reason he would ignore music night and spend the time meditating for the entire night, even long after the soldiers went to bed. Zuko's voice snapped her back from her day dream.
". . . . if the shaman Tallulah says that Katara doesn't need to practice tonight . . . then I suppose we will join you for music night." Iroh looked at Zuko, surprised. A smile crept onto Iroh's face after a moment.
"I look forward to the two of you joining in." Iroh turned his attention over to Katara. "Tell me Katara, would you like to perform anything?" Katara blushed ad shook her head. She was too shy to do anything of that sort. The old general seemed slightly disappointed but said nothing before turning and walking away.
- - - - -
Ceres ran her finger along the crystal dagger with a slightly smile tugging at her lips. Currently she was staring out at the ocean. Her dress was red once more and she had a yin yang on her back and on her chest. One of her black lace covered hands held a closed fan. Footsteps alerted her to another presence joining her at the railing.
"Where did you get that?" Not even bothering to turn and look at Zhao, Ceres closed her eyes and replied evenly.
"Admiral Zhao, I had no idea that you were interested in jewelry." The smug remark caused Zhao to narrow his eyes as he glared at her.
"Demon, you answer me." Ceres turned away from the blue water and held her hand above the dagger. Currents of electricity appeared briefly as she waved her hand over the dagger. "What did you do?" His voice carried a serious and grave note to it.
"Summonings can bring out the worst in people, or so I heard."
"Ceres-"
"Hush, you ignorant man." Her eyes flickered over his shoulder towards a soldier nearby. Luckily, the soldier was out of earshot. Zhao lowered his voice when he spoke again to the demonic presence in front of him.
"What did you summon, demon?" Ceres sighed and shrugged her shoulders. She lifted up her other hand and flickered her wrist, opening up the fan to reveal a solid black laced face. She held the fan in front of her face, showing nothing below her eyes, and batted her emerald eyes.
"Why, whatever to you mean, kind sir?"
"Dammit Ceres!" He hissed quietly. "You will tell me what you summoned!" Ceres began to fan herself with a cruel smirk on her lips.
"That, Admiral, is my concern. Do not worry over such matters. I will give you that crown. And you will not have to do anything other than be a hero to the Fire Nation." With that said, Ceres slipped away and back to her room. 'I will enjoy killing that fool when the time comes.'
- - - - -
Katara sighed before putting down the quill she was using. Zuko was over in the cover, trying not to freeze to death. And Iroh . . . well, he was sipping tea as usual.
"Tallulah . . . ." The old shaman looked over at Katara with a warm smile. ". . . . do you think I know enough to skip practice tonight?" The woman raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Why, whatever for child?" Katara looked down with a blush.
"Well . . . I wanted to join in on music night . . . ." Tallulah frowned deeply down at Katara.
"Katara . . . the creatures you want to spend time with are from the Fire Nation." The young waterbender fought back a scowl towards Tallulah.
"I know that but . . . . it should be fun."
"Fun?" The woman scoffed. "I doubt it."
"Shaman Tallulah . . . they're people, just like us." Tallulah narrowed her eyes at Katara.
"People who murder and pillage!" Zuko and Iroh looked up at this outburst. The two exchanged a glance before they stared down at the tea in front of them. They both knew exactly what Tallulah was talking about with Katara. It wasn't hard to figure out. Tallulah did not take notice of her raised voice and continued. "They are vile filth! They can not be trusted!" The water shaman narrowed her eyes as Zuko and Iroh exchanged a worried glance. "But you are a foolish little girl with some crush!" Katara stared at Tallulah in confusion when the older woman hissed this, low enough to avoid the two firebenders from hearing this, even though she did not care if they heard or not.
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about indeed!" Tallulah snapped. "Fire and water will never mix." Tallulah stormed out of the room quickly. Katara looked after the woman confused. An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Iroh motioned for Zuko to go over to Katara, earning a strange look to be thrown back to Iroh. Iroh glared at Zuko and motioned for Zuko to go to Katara with a jerk of his head.
". . . . I'm sorry she was so rude." The prince and his uncle looked over to see Katara turning back to them. "She was out of line." Iroh smiled kindly at the young waterbender.
"It is quite alright. I suppose I am partly to blame for this. I should not have bothered you with music night. I did not know that this would happen." Katara smiled at the old man, though her smile did not reach her eyes.
"It's alright Iroh. I do want to take part in music night. And there's no way you could have known she would have reacted so harshly."
"Are you sure, Ms. Katara?" Nodding, Katara tugged on her braid.
"Yes, I'm sure Iroh."
- - - - -
Ceres sat on her bed covered with red sheets. Reaching up she pulled the hair pin out of her thick blonde hair and let it fall to her shoulders. Slowly the demon pulled off her gloves and examined her fingers carefully. Humming softly, she watched as her nails grew into claws. A knocking on her door drew her back attention as her claws turned back into nails.
"Who is it!" Her voice was harsher than she intended but Ceres did not care.
"M-milady," It was a servant. "Admiral Z-Zhao wished to t-tall you that w-we'll be going into p-port soon." The servant stuttered out the message. Ceres fought back an angered sigh. Once again they had to stop at port. It caused Ceres to wonder what Zhao was doing. But she would have save that conversation for later.
"Fine! Tell me when we dock!" Ceres picked up her gloves and pulled them back on. The ancient demon reached up and grasped her dagger. "Soon," She hissed as her pupils became slits and her teeth became fangs while her snake tongue flicked the air. "I will find you Katara. It is only a matter of time."
- - - - -
Zuko sat on a crate as music blared around him. He rested his head against his fist with arm propped up on his knee. Though he did not show it, it bothered him. Everything there bothered him. It reminded him of her too much. It reminded him of how she would sing or play an instrument. Or how she would dance. She liked to dance at night with the fires giving her a special glow. Zuko turned his attention away from the painful memories. It was suppose to raise people's spirits, this music night. He should try to forget the past. It did him no good to dwell. The fire prince looked over at the woman who had silently captured his heart, though he would never admit that. To do so would show weakness. And showing weakness was not something he could do. It was what cost him his mother. He would not make that mistake twice.
"Prince Zuko . . ." The young prince turned and looked at his uncle.
"Yes uncle?"
"Perhaps you should ask a certain girl to dance with you."
"I do not dance." Iroh frowned at the curt response.
"Why not? You used to dance with your mother . . . . oh." It was then that Iroh understood. When the prince was young, he would dance with his mother. She would laugh and pick him up or merely lift her dress up slightly so she could keep up with him in the fast pace dance. "But . . . . the young lady is different than others." Zuko threw his uncle a confused look. "Oh come now your highness. I see the look in your eyes when she's near. Don't think that I am a fool. I've been around for awhile. I know what you feel." Zuko looked away from Iroh over to Katara.
"Then you know why I must not let her close."
- - - - -
Katara couldn't help but smile as she clapped along with the music while the soldiers danced. The young waterbender was the only female on board, but the men did not mind dancing by themselves. Yet that did not mean Katara didn't get asked to join in on many occasions. She did accept them all, not wanting to be rude. Each time she enjoyed herself. There were times where she did not know how to dance like the others, and whichever soldier had asked her carefully explained the dance and it took a few tries but she caught on quick. Laughing Katara stomped her feet along with the rest of the crew.
"Aw, I see you are enjoying yourself." The waterbender turned to see the prince's uncle.
"Yes." Katara nodded with a bright smile. "I had no idea music night was this much fun."
"Good. Katara . . . ."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for any trouble I might have caused for asking you to music night."
"It's alright! Really Iroh. I'm happy." Iroh sighed as Katara smiled brightly at him.
"Then do this old man a favor."
"What is it?" Iroh smiled at Katara with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Go ask Prince Zuko to dance! He's too stubborn to ask you." It was then that Iroh felt a dangerous aura behind him. Iroh turned slowly only to see his nephew standing behind his with a death glare aimed towards the old man.
"Uncle," Zuko growled. "perhaps it would be best if you went to bed." The prince forced out the last part, barely keeping his temper in check as Iroh shrugged.
"Perhaps it is time I went to bed. I suggest you do the same." Iroh was bound and determined to make sure those two would get together. All he had to do was wait for the moment when they were off guard and shove them in another broom closet!
- - - - -
Hello! I went shopping for clothes for school today. It is a tradition my mom and I have. It's kinda a girls' day. Anyways, I've been slighly depressed because summer is almost over! Another week and poof! The horrid school comes back. Grr . . . but I guess I can't complain. I've had a good summer. Oh! The kittens are getting real big! One even has it's eyes open! Well, that's all that's been happening lately. So please review. They make me type faster. And sometimes I get ideas. So if you have an idea you can share! Well, R&R! Ja ne!