A very short interlude about how Iroh is coping with the disappearance of his nephew. The Pai Sho (don't know if that is the actual name. I got it from Distant Horizon Avatar site) game is the one we see Iroh playing very frequently.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. I own my characters and only that.

Makuai

He was worried.

No, that was an understatement. He was extremely worried.

Iroh had already lost two games of Pai Sho, much to the amazement of the crew. He was unbeatable. But they also understood why he, of all people, would lose.

His nephew hadn't been seen for five days. There had been no sign of him at the island where he should have been. Iroh had ordered the crew to search the entire island but they had found nothing. No ship they had found had seen the prince at all and several seemed to rejoice in the news.

The retired general struggled to keep his mind off the inevitable. His nephew could be dead but he refused to think that way. Zuko was a survivor.

The helmsman had steered straight to a port with plenty of shopping to get the man's mind off his nephew for a while. Shopping had always cheered the older man up.

Ironically, it was the same port that Admiral Zhao had stopped in to figure out the best way to capture the witch. He had sailed north to find the Avatar away from the Earth Kingdom port he had last seen the damned witch.

"Admiral Zhao," the older man greeted, faking a smile for the officer. "Is all well?"

"No," the man snarled, his gaze hardening. "It is none of your concern though." Then he smirked, his face fading from anger to almost a cruel joke. "But maybe it is. I seem to recall seeing our mighty prince on the same ship with a traitorous witch and a crew of demons. But I am sure you know all about this," he said, smirking cruelly.

"My nephew is alive?" Iroh asked, barely containing his joy. A grin crossed his features.

This was not the reaction the admiral wanted.

"He maybe dead by now. Demons are known to feed on humans," Zhao growled, frowning at the man's glee.

"I do not doubt that, Admiral Zhao, but there is a chance that Prince Zuko is alive!" Iroh nearly shouted, his grin wider than ever. His nephew's luck!

"Trust me, he has probably been turned into a frog for the witch's pleasure by now," the man snarled.

"Tell me, Admiral Zhao, but did this sorceress happen to be of the Fire Nation and with a very strange ship?" the retired general asked, still grinning.

He glared at the older man but answered him. "Yes, she did."

"Wonderful!" the man exclaimed, his grin getting wider if that was possible. "I know this sorceress by reputation," Iroh said carefully. "I am sure she would not do anything to him."

The admiral snarled, barely controlling his anger. "I am departing now," he growled. "Good luck with your search."

Iroh watched as the ship departed. He waited until he was certain Zhao was looking at him before grinning and waving at the leaving ship. The blast of fire that shot into the air made him happier than ever.

When the crew asked him why he was in such high spirits, he merely waved them off and said they should take the day off. They took their fortune gratefully and left, leaving the old man to his thoughts.

His nephew was alive! He still couldn't believe the prince's luck. Sorano was an excellent sorceress who had a hard time leaving anything in pain. She had saved his nephew and he knew as long as the prince didn't do anything stupid or insensitive, he would be safe until she managed to get him back.

"With luck, Prince Zuko, you'll find something else you've been looking for."