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Disclaimer: I own Hoshi, Sorano, Nezu, Ookami, and the ship. That's about it.

Chapter 3 – Zokumu

Zuko groaned as the sunlight hit him full in the face and rolled over, attempting to hide himself. The sun was unwavering and shone brighter in an almost mocking way. Growling, he tried once again to block the sun but lost.

Finally, he sat up and glared at the sunlight and threw the blankets off the bed. Still growling, he stood on the floor and stretched, rolling his shoulders. He then noticed something was off.

This wasn't his room.

The day before rushed to him and he groaned. That hadn't been some freaky nightmare caused by a fever. Sighing, he found, much to his surprise, a pile of clothes and a basin of water with a note attached to it. The prince picked the note up and frowned slightly.

'Zuko –

You won't be accepted very well in this port, being Firebender and all. These clothes should fit you pretty well. Just don't show up in armor. You won't need it.

The water in the basin is an illusion mixture. Splash it on your face. You're very noticeable with the scar.'

- Sorano

Zuko sighed and picked up the shirt, finding it had to be one of the witch's. She was the only one closest to him in height. It was a nice yellow color with a couple of dragons stitched in the sleeves. He slid it on, finding it was made of a very nice material, almost like silk.

He found the pants to be a pure black and of the same material. He was going to have to ask her what it was.

Now, he stared into the water in the basin. It seemed to be just plain water. The prince was slightly cautious about even touching something magical. His courage flared and he dipped his hands in and rubbed his face.

He didn't feel any different as he wiped the water off with a towel. Zuko thought it might be a dud but he looked up into the mirror and stared.

His scar was gone.

The prince's stomach flipped as he stared at his unmarred reflection. His hand lightly touched the left side of his face but found the scarred skin still there. Zuko watched as he blinked the left eye and found it was fully functional in the mirror.

Suddenly, the note flipped over and he stared at the postscript written on the back.

'It's temporary (about six hours) so be careful. Also, you can't use a lot of it at a time. Has very unpleasant side effects.'

Frowning, he grabbed his boots and fought them on. He then made his way to the window and found they were at port. Then again, he had woken up in the middle of the night when the witch and the demon were fighting to get the ship to dock. It was a sunny town and he found children rushing around and people shopping for wares. His uncle would like it here.

Zuko exited the room and made his way down the hallway. After a few steps though, he knew he was lost. He didn't remember this part at all.

"Bit of spice, some salt," a gruff voice mumbled.

He followed the sound and found what had to be a kitchen. Pots and pans hung from hooks and several ovens were waiting with mouths open. He moved in and stared around at the crowded place. This had to be bigger than the one on his ship.

"Needs a lil' more basil."

Blinking, he stared at the wolf demon as he moved easily about in the kitchen, throwing a pinch of leaves into a pot hovering over a fire. Ookami brushed his bangs out of his face and grabbed what appeared to be some sort of bird and began plucking feathers.

"Gonna stand there all day?" he asked, giving Zuko a glance and went back to plucking.

Zuko moved in a few more feet and looked over at the pot simmering over the fire. It had a wonderful smell and he stared at the demon.

"You missed breakfast," the demon mumbled, finished with his plucking. He pushed his bangs back again and the prince noticed his hair was tied back in a low ponytail. "There are some leftovers over there," he said gruffly, pointing to a plate set out over a very low fire.

He nodded and took the plate, slowly eating while the demon cut the bird into sections. His skill with the large knife surprised the prince to no end. Ookami flipped the knife and caught it by the hilt, replacing it in its sheath.

"I see Sorano's illusion worked," he commented, turning to face the prince. "I prefer the scar."

Snorting, the prince took a bite out some sort of fruit, finding it was extremely sweet. Ookami chuckled as the prince forced it down.

"I've never met a Firebender who liked that yet," he said with a feral grin.

Zuko glared and placed the plate down. "Why are you here? I mean, you could take over this ship if you wanted."

Ookami smiled slightly and picked up another knife and started to trim the fat off the bird. "It's a demon thing. But basically, she saved me and so I repay my debt by being the cook." He started to de-bone the bird and continued. "That's really the only reason any of us are with her. But it could also be that she accepts us and won't kill us on sight."

He slid the meat across the counter and turned to face prince. "I tried to get a job with a restaurant but they had a strict 'no demon' rule. I ended up getting shot at with arrows and chased out of town. Sorano and Hoshi found me and healed me and I ended up staying with them."

"How long ago was that?" Zuko asked.

"About fifteen years ago really." The wolf demon grabbed a jar that held some sort of sauce. He added a couple of spoonfuls of it onto the meat and replaced the lid.

Zuko nodded absentmindedly and leaned against a clear counter space. "I understand what you do and Hoshi and the witch," he said, watching the demon smile slightly at his name for Sorano. "What does the rat demon do?"

He chuckled and smiled. "Nezu's basically Sorano's errand boy. He's out right now picking up supplies and telling people that there's a sorceress in port." He winced slightly. "This ship will be filled to the brim with people wanting all sorts of spells."

"Wait, won't people be scared of a rat demon?"

A clatter of small feet pounded down a flight of stairs and the rat demon appeared through the kitchen door. Or, Zuko supposed it was the rat demon. The large ears had disappeared and were replaced by normal human ones. His long face had shortened slightly and his claws were now regular nails.

"Got the flour!" he chirped, placing a large basket on the counter. He gave a grin and took off the cloak around his shoulders. Immediately, his body changed into the demon's real form. He smiled and rushed around, and Zuko finally noticed he was tiny compared to everyone else on the ship. He was about the size of a child. Well, a demon child.

"Nezu, go and watch the deck. Come down and tell us when the people start coming," Ookami barked. The little demon saluted and disappeared.

Sighing, the wolf brushed his hair back with a clawed hand and turned to Zuko. "You're gonna help us."

Zuko started to sputter but Ookami held up a hand. "It's easy. All you have to do is hand me bottles, jars, or leather wrapped things from the shelves. Sorano always pre-makes the most common ones. And once she reappears from her romp in the woods, you can just watch."

Nezu's voice squeaked down the stairs. "They're here!"

Zuko couldn't tell what was stranger: the fact that he was helping the demons run this "store" or that people had actually stayed even with a demon tending to them.

Ookami had the job of greeting people and asking what they needed. He knew what jar was what and how many spaces it was from the frame without looking behind him. Nezu helped with the top spells while Zuko handled the rest.

A little girl had asked for a cure for her mother and the wolf demon, being as gentle as he could be, asked for symptoms and quickly diagnosed the problem. He also gave instructions on it as well.

Luckily, only two people needed to wait for Sorano to return to make a spell or potion.

He saw the witch and the demon as she waved and then she disappeared along with Hoshi. A couple of minutes later, an old woman appeared up the steps, muttering about the stairs on the ship. Her dress was a deep navy and the cloak rolled about her hunched shoulders. Gray hair was tied back in a small ponytail and she brushed a strand away with a slightly knobby hand.

"Madame Phoenix!" Ookami called out as though this was a well rehearsed part of the day. "We have two people here who need special potions."

"All right, all right," she huffed and made her way to the two. After their order of a cure for some pneumonia and a spell to right a boat, she vanished into the hatch. Ookami dealt with a few more customers when Zuko noticed something else.

The people were paying with copper pieces and maybe a small basket of food. It was extremely cheap to what the Royal Wizard wanted when he gave spells. Ookami received each with grace that had to have been learned from years of experience.

Madame Phoenix reappeared with the potion and spell and the two men paid before heading off.

"Madame Phoenix?" Zuko asked in a low whisper.

"Shut up," she bit out. "I'm a wanted person. I have to make sure no one can effectively trace me."

The line of people thinned out by noon when they took turns eating the soup Ookami had prepared earlier. Sorano was thinking of packing up and leaving port after that because the Fire Nation was heading over when a young man ran up in a panic.

"Please, Sorceress!" he cried out, falling to his knees. "I have to fight tomorrow and I will surely lose without your help!"

"Calm down now," she whispered. "Now, what do you need?"

"I need something that we make me win the fight tomorrow! Or else, I will lose everything I have ever loved!" He began to sob uncontrollably.

Ookami attempted to stifle his laugh.

"I am sorry, young man but there is no spell I can make to do that," she said in a low voice.

"Please! You have to!" he cried out, crying still.

She sighed and turned to Ookami. "Fetch me one, please."

The wolf demon disappeared, still hiding his grin. Zuko watched as he climbed up through the hatch and tossed the witch a small bag.

"Now then, young man," she said seriously. "Before the fight, you will hold onto this bag and find the strength inside of you to win. It will give you courage but you will decide the outcome of the match."

He took the bag and hugged the sorceress with a sob. The man gave her a silver piece and ran off, looking a great deal better than before.

"That was a dishonorable thing to do," Zuko commented when she sighed and faced her crew.

"What?" she asked, taking the cloak off and he stared once again at the real witch wearing a green shirt and black pants that were short on her.

"Giving him an edge in the fight with a spell," he growled.

"What?" Sorano asked in confusion. "Oh!" She laughed as well as the wolf demon. "That's what you're upset about?" Chuckling, she turned to Ookami. "What was in that bag?"

"Some feathers that I plucked," he answered with a feral grin.

Zuko stared as the demons and witch laughed.

"It's a simple trick, Zuko," she said, smiling. "We get a lot of that kind of work and so I send one of these clowns to get together some junk to put in a bag and I give it to them, saying it will help them. It usually does as they think they can win and they do."

"It is a trick then," he said with a frown.

"Not really. They believe it will work and it sorta does. They win and I get some money for helping out," she smiled and turned to Hoshi. "Let's go! We got everything!"

Hoshi started the engines and started pulling out to sea again. Nezu disappeared among the sails, adjusting them and sliding about the mast. Ookami disappeared down into the hatch, most likely to finish up dinner.

"As soon as we're out to sea, follow the finding spell. I'll be in the arboretum."

She was about to walk into the hatch when Hoshi let out a slight yell. The witch whirled around, grabbing her hat to keep it on and stared at the ship blocking their path. "Cut the engine!" she yelled, flinging her arm and a large weight fell off over the side.

Zuko grabbed the mast so he didn't fall on his face with the sudden lurching stop. He stared up at the ship and recognized the Fire Navy design with a grimace.

"Hello, witch."

Admiral Zhao stood at the bow, a smirk on his face as he gazed down at the small patchwork ship.