"Wait here while I get my father." 'Kozu' ordered.
He disappeared into the ship leaving Aang, Socca and Katara standing outside.
Zuko headed straight for his Uncle's room, determined to get his plan underway. When he opened the door, he discovered his Uncle lying in bed, fast asleep. He strode over to him and shook him gently, nothing.
He shook him again, harder this time and Iroh grunted, "I'm awake. I'm awake."
He opened his eyes slowly and looked at his nephew. Tears formed in his eyes as he saw that his nephew looked as he had done two years ago. He rose instantly and hugged him. Zuko patted his back, then pushed his Uncle off. Iroh was still staring at him, wonder spread across his face.
"Am I dreaming?" He asked himself.
"No, Uncle. I found a miracle cure on shore, and I used it. Seems to have worked. There's some left, for your feet. Use it, then put on a disguise. The Avatar is here."
Iroh shot up, much more alert now, and took the bottle from Zuko. He drank a droplet, then looked at his feet. They returned to their normal size and colour. He could move on them again. Then he looked more seriously at Zuko,
"How did you manage to capture the Avatar?"
"I didn't. He doesn't know it's me because he can't recognise me. I said that I had left the Fire Nation. I told him my name was 'Kozu'. I also said that you were my father. The Avatar thinks that you will teach him Firebending, which is why he came. So I need you to put on a disguise. That way he won't know it's you. I'll lead him into a false sense of security, then get him when he's not expecting it. I just need the charade to continue for a bit longer. So tell all of the crew the plan, and tell them to stay in their quarters, except the cook and the helmsman."
Iroh took in everything he was told and proceeded to tell the crew. Then he searched for some kind of disguise. Zuko, meanwhile, had headed back to the Avatar.
"Sorry about this," he said to them, "My father just woke up. He may be quite some time I'm afraid, but he said he will teach you all that he knows."
Aang beamed at 'Kozu', then turned to his friends and they chatted animatedly amongst one another. He motioned for 'Kozu' to join them, but he just stared back with a blank face.
"Come on. We won't bite." Aang begged, looking at 'Kozu' with an expectant face.
Zuko made his way over to them, still keeping his distance. Katara looked at him, but she still couldn't understand why she saw him as Prince Zuko, when he clearly wasn't.
"Kozu," he looked at her, "I was wondering something." She wasn't really looking at him, just absentmindedly gazing in a direction.
"What?" He asked, expecting to be bombarded with another question that would cause him to shout.
"Why do Firebenders all have fierce tempers?" Zuko twitched slightly. The girl had a point.
"I'm not sure." He looked at her, curious about why she would ask such a question.
"Well, most Firebenders I've seen get angry really quickly, but you just flared up when I mentioned Zhao. You must really hate him."
She stopped looking around and walked off, deep in thought. Zuko was also deep in thought, but stopped thinking about such trivial matters like the girl, when the Avatar spoke to him,
"Hey, sorry about the questions, but she really doesn't seem to trust you. I do though. It's your face, it seems so innocent and truthful, like mine! So, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Aang. This is Socca," he said, indicating to the buffoon sat on the floor. "And this is Katara. She isn't usually this crazy, but she could just be jumpy. We haven't been attacked by the Fire Nation for a week now."
Zuko continued looking at the Avatar, thinking about what he had said.
Innocent…My face? Innocent like him? Hardly.
Zuko found himself slowly gazing at the girl. She was leaning on the edge of the ship, swirling the water in the sea. Zuko stopped looking at her and decided to concentrate in thinking of the next phase of the plan.
He had barely even begun, when his Uncle emerged from the ship, wearing a long robe. A hood was covering the majority of his face, and he had a fake wig on underneath the hood. He looked as crazy as he sounded when he greeted them all,
"Hello there young ones. Nice day isn't it? Oh, where are my manners, my name is…Hori. I see you're all very hungry, so lets have some noodles and Ging Seng tea, shall we?" Iroh grinned his big grin, whilst Zuko slapped a hand to his head.
Oh Uncle…
Aang grinned back at the old man. Socca's stomach answered for him. Katara smiled politely and nodded.
"So, Kozu, this is your father? He seems nice." Said Aang.
He walked up to the old man and they went into the ship. Socca followed swiftly, drool hanging from his mouth. Katara walked towards Zuko.
"I can't put my finger on it, but something seems familiar about this whole place. Your father seems sensible. You sure are lucky to have him." She smiled weakly at him, then went inside the ship. Zuko stood there slightly bewildered by what he had just witnessed.
This could actually work, he thought. He strode inside and headed for the dining area.
15 minutes later…
Socca burped. He had consumed the food as soon as it touched the table. By the time everyone else had begun, he had had two helpings.
Katara glared at her brother, "Socca, sometimes you're so disgusting!"
"Look, Katara. Just because you can't enjoy a good meal when you see one, doesn't mean you have to take it out on my table manners." Her eyes narrowed even more.
Aang suppressed a laugh. Iroh chuckled. Zuko stared at the oaf in disgust.
What table manners!
"Thanks for the food. It was great." Aang announced.
"You're welcome." Iroh smiled back at Aang.
"When can I start learning to Firebend?" Aang asked. Iroh looked at Zuko for an answer. Zuko nodded slowly and Iroh told the young monk,
"We can start right away. But only small things to begin with, okay?" Aang jumped up for joy and headed outside, with Iroh following behind. Katara stood up and went to see what Aang's training would be like. Socca didn't move. He stared at 'Kozu'.
"Are you any good at fighting?" He asked him, curiously.
Zuko blinked. What was this fool getting at? "I can fight just fine. Why?"
"Well, I was just hoping I could spar with you. I mean, Aang gets to learn Firebending, so I thought that I could improve my fighting while I was here."
"No. You'd be burnt to a crisp." He said flatly.
"Yeah, but not if you fought fair. You know, without Firebending. That way, I'd stand a chance." Zuko considered the moron's offer.
This could make for an entertaining skirmish, he thought
"Alright. I accept your challenge. But I won't go easy on you."
Socca grinned.