Thank you My Silver Wound and Yuuki Okami for reviewing! Thanks for catching that mistake as well, Yuuki Okami. I'm not very knowledgeable with daggers. And yes, they know each other well enough to speak with looks and expressions.

Basically, I'm screwing my homework over as this is a lot more fun. Also, I'm taking a break from it though I should get going…ah well.

Disclaimer: You know what. Just look at the last eleven chapters for one. I'm tired of typing them all the time.

Chapter 10 – Fukuzei

It had been one day and Zuko still didn't trust the strange newcomer.

It wasn't the demon's appearance that set him off. It was the strange feeling Zuko got whenever he was near. Hoshi and Nezu had also gotten the same feeling and voiced concerns, when the demon was away and out of earshot, with Sorano.

Who waved them off.

"It's okay, guys. Trust me."

The demons fell silent when she said that. Something about it had the demons nodding and treating the new demon with politeness, even if it was forced. They still didn't trust the strange creature.

Sorano had explained to the Firebender one time that the human brain controlled certain aspects of a personality. One side of the brain dealt with what was often referred to as the sixth sense. Demons had larger brains and so their sixth sense was stronger in a sense. The entire explanation had only confused Zuko worse but now, watching these three as they watched the newcomer, he understood it. The bad vibe he was getting from the demon had to be a flea to what the crew was getting.

He watched though as Hoshi did his job of steering while Nezu flipped through the pages of the book, looking very pale. The battle demon looked down towards the compass and blinked in surprise. He grinned widely and then laughed. "Zuko!"

The loud cry startled the two and the battle demon suddenly grabbed the Firebender's arm. He dragged the human to his feet and, still laughing, hugged him. Zuko swore he heard something crack. "We found him! Zuko, we found him!"

"Let him go! You're gonna crush him!" Ookami called out and Zuko was very thankful for that.

While the Firebender caught his breath again and rubbed his sore ribs, Sorano examined her now pulsing spell, smiling. "Keep heading towards the port. I'm sure your uncle has been waiting for you there."

Zuko relaxed, seeing the island now. He was almost to the ship that had been his home for two years.

While this small celebration was going on, Sorano could feel the strange electricity in the air. It scared her but she didn't show it. This was supposed to be happy. Besides, they could get rid of the demon as well. And then their lives would get on like they used to.

She hoped.

Sorano called out commands from the bow as Hoshi steered the ship carefully around the other boats. Zuko was searching for his uncle's ship and it should be easy seeing as no other Fire Navy ships were here.

He frowned, not finding the small warship. The Firebender was beginning to wonder if her spell had worked.

"That it?"

Zuko looked up, and his heart warmed immediately. His uncle's ship was docked a hundred feet away and the old man himself was on deck, watching the ship. He smiled and, despite his upbringing, waving to his uncle.

"Right by thirteen degrees, let's dock for the night, Hoshi."

"Aye, Sorano," the demon called out.

The ship cooperated and the docking was easy. They had pulled up right besides the steel ship, hidden by the larger ship. Zuko moved restlessly around as Nezu scaled up the mast, furling the sails while Hoshi cut the engine and Ookami tied the ship securely to the dock.

"Well hello!"

The sound of his uncle's voice made him smile slightly. He had missed his uncle's amusing behavior. Though, with a crew like this, they had acted enough like his uncle to keep him company.

"General Iroh!" the witch called out, surprised herself at this revelation. "What a surprise! I do believe that this belongs to you though," she said, jerking her thumb at the Firebender. Zuko glared at her but dismissed it as his uncle chuckled.

"I'm retired now, Sorano. But yes, he does look a little familiar," he mused, rubbing his chin. He grinned as Zuko frowned and glared at him.

The witch laughed and tapped the floorboards a few times. A ramp suddenly erupted from the floor and rested against the larger ship. Iroh quickly stepped down and, before Zuko could react, hugged his nephew. His ribs still ached from Hoshi's hug but he didn't stop the old man.

"Prince Zuko, you do not know how much I have missed you," he said, smiling widely.

"I'll pay you to take him," the witch joked, earning a glare from the teen.

"Miss Sorano, you have not changed one bit since I last saw you," Iroh said, smiling again.

"And you're still the same confusing man I've never figured out," she teased, laughing with the Firebender.

"Ah, what has it been? Five years?" the retired general asked, smiling still.

"I believe so, Iroh," Sorano confirmed, smiling.

"Hoshi!" the old man said, shaking hands with the demon. "And Ookami!" Iroh seemed to be having a time remembering these demons. Something Zuko needed to know.

"Uncle, you've met them?" he asked, watching in amazement as he nodded.

"Yes! Oh, it was a terrible year that one. I had been at sea for so long and my men were all sick. We pulled up right along side her in a port and she gave us assistance if we did not capture her, of course. She is wonderful at potions," he explained, grinning widely.

"Iroh, come on," the witch said modestly, smiling at the old man.

There was a strange hissing sound and the witch turned to give an even gaze at the demon. "We're at port. You may leave." Her tone suggested that he had no other option but to leave. He bowed and slunk off, exiting the boat.

The demon smirked to himself. His job was almost done.

The group stayed up until almost midnight talking, several stories being about Zuko's journey on the ship. Most of them were embarrassing as well.

Sorano lied in bed, her mind still working. She hated nights like these. It would take her hours to go to sleep and even then, she woke up at dawn, leaving her strangely drained. Sighing, she rolled on her stomach and tried to get comfortable.

She could hear Hoshi's snoring through the walls which reminded her to get the silencer charm working again. Hell, she could do it right now. She'd never sleep with the battle demon making that big of a racket.

Grunting, she forced herself out of bed and stretched. Sorano began gathering a few ingredients and her chalk.

There was something moving upstairs.

She frowned, walking to the wall. The witch laid her hand on the wall, using her powers to search the ship. A gasp left her and she withdrew her hand, backing off.

"Oh no," she mumbled, backing off.

Sorano ran out of her room, knocking down Hoshi's door. The demon sat up with a start, looking sleepily at her. She grabbed him, not saying a word and shoved him into her room. Immediately, Ookami poked his head out of his room to see what was happening but ended up sprawled on the floor by the other demon. Nezu joined them in a split second, shaking his head from the suddenness of this.

"What?" the wolf asked but the door shut and locked.

"Sorano?" Hoshi called out, trying to rip the door off its hinges. "Let us out!" Ookami grabbed the demon's shoulder and he was surprised at how pale the wolf was. "What is it?"

"Firebenders."

Zuko started awake around three in the morning. It never ceased to amaze him how, even on his own ship, the witch managed to wake him up in the middle of the night. He tugged on a shirt and raced out of his room, heading for the hatch. The Firebender made it out to find most of his crew on deck as well as his uncle. "What is going on?" he demanded.

"Nothing for you to be concerned about, Prince Zuko. It is in my hands."

He glared at the admiral and stalked up to him, wishing he could wipe that smirk off his ugly face. "It is my concern, Admiral. Whatever you are doing could put my crew into danger." It took all of his willpower to speak evenly and calmly.

"We caught her! We caught the witch!"

Zuko's blood ran cold. He turned, staring at the witch's ship. He hadn't noticed either because of how dark it was or his sleep fogged mind that her ship was swarming with Firebenders. About six guards exited the hatch, something between them. Zuko stared as two guards held her up, both grinning widely at their capture.

"Excellent!" Zhao called out, grinning. "Now go for the demons."

"What is the meaning of this?" Zuko roared, glaring at Zhao.

"She is a traitor and will be tried as such, Prince Zuko. Though it will not be in the same light as yours," he said, smirking. "Bring her up here!" he ordered the men.

The six guards basically dragged her up the ramp, dropping her in front of Admiral Zhao. She forced herself to her knees and fell backwards, sitting on the cold steel. If she had looked ragged before, it was nothing compared to now.

Lines were etched on her face, making her look several years older. Dark shadows were under her eyes which were dark with exhaustion. She had the strangest grins on her face and it looked like she had no idea what was going on at the moment. A few cuts and minor burns adorned her arms and face while several bruises were making themselves known.

Then he noticed the wards. He hadn't realized that the strips of paper with the strange ancient writing were still being used today for anything. And these had to be strong to block her powers. The back of her hands were burned from the wards as well as her neck. Two more wrapped around her ankles, keeping her powers at bay.

Zuko gritted his teeth as his temper flared. "No one gave you orders for this!" he hissed, watching the sorceress as she gazed at him with a funny look.

"Ah, but I have orders from the Fire Lord to capture any and all traitors." The smirk returned as he pinned Zuko with a wicked gaze. "You are very lucky that you yourself are not arrested."

Smoke billowed down when he snorted, trying to keep his anger under control. "How did you know she was here?" He was careful with his words.

"Oh, that was easy. Hebi is a very loyal servant of mine."

The Firebender wanted to rip that smirk off, nearly lunging at the pompous bastard. Iroh stopped him, holding him back. "Prince Zuko, please calm down."

"Yeah, Zuko. Your temper's flaring!"

He gazed at the witch, watching her eyes focus for a moment. Zuko wanted to wring the admiral's neck.

"You seen Zhao?" she continued. Zuko had to assume something had been knocked out of place in her head. "I want to kick his fat ass myself."

"Oh really," he said, his smirk growing wider.

"Yeah," Sorano said, grinning like a fool. "I call Agni Kai!"

Zhao's eyebrows rose at this and he laughed. "Well now, it seems she's called a Firebender's duel."

"Yeah!" she called. Her entire manner spoke that she had no idea what she was talking about. Sorano's eyes, however, were focused completely. "If I win, we go free!" she chirped.

Laughing, the admiral grinned at this luck. "And if I win, you and your crew come quietly."

"Deal!" She grinned widely. "Agni Kai at dusk. And I get to stay here until then!"

His eye twitched and he opened his mouth to protest but Iroh stepped in.

"Admiral Zhao, in order for Miss Sorano to be well prepared for the Agni Kai, she needs to rest and your ship is not the place to rest." Iroh smirked at his own logic, even as Zhao frowned deeply.

Even if he could hold her captive until the Agni Kai, he would most likely be fought by the retired general himself. And that was a fight even Zhao knew he couldn't win. Admiral Zhao snorted and turned to the witch. "Agni Kai at dusk. My men will escort you to where it will be held. If you run, we will make sure you are hunted down."

She nodded, still grinning. "Besides, your men won't get my crew. That spell's invincible right now."

The Firebender scowled and suddenly hit her, the armor on his forearm striking her temple. Her eyes rolled back as her body fell in a slump. Zhao snorted and marched off the ship, grinning as the nameless soldiers escorted three demons into his sight. "Oh, and make sure to tell the witch that her crew is mine until she wins."

Zuko let a ball of fire hit the spot besides the Firebender, fuming at this. He knew he couldn't release them even if he tried and gave the three demons a look that said to trust him.

Surprisingly, the demons gave him a nod, showing just how much they had come to accept him. The three went quietly, a hope in their minds.

One Zuko wasn't sure if he could fulfill.

Sorano let the medic tend to the large bruise on her face as she sat on the infirmary bed. She would've just drunk a potion but it appeared that several of her pre-made ones had been smashed. From her demons or the soldiers though, she wasn't sure. Besides, she didn't think she could walk up the many flights of stairs without falling flat on her face several times.

She looked up when Zuko walked in, looking tired as he gazed at her. The witch smiled slightly and yawned.

"What were you thinking?" he asked, resisting the urge to hit her upside the head.

"Easy," she mumbled, her eyes half-lidded. "Zhao's a cocky bastard. He won't know what hit him."

"But you don't even know Firebending!" he exclaimed, glaring as she chuckled.

"I'm a witch. You don't think I can't fake Firebending?"

It hadn't occurred to him that her plan was that. It was true. Zhao wasn't that bright when it came to witches it looked like. Though there was a stitch in her plan. "The wards?"

She looked at her hands, wincing at the white strips of paper. Sorano suddenly smiled and looked up at him. "Just burn them off." The witch held her hand out, wincing as the ward stung her.

He blinked in surprise but laid his palm over the ward, sending a blast of fire to the strip of magic paper. She winced at the heat but grinned when the ward burst into flames and disintegrated. Zuko took her other hand and did the same, making sure to control the flames from burning her. His hand moved to the ward around her neck, hesitating slightly.

Zuko could easily kill her from this point yet she trusted him to do this. He made sure to keep the flames under his absolute control as the paper started to burn. Frowning, Zuko let his hand fall as the ward crumbled into a pile of ashes.

The witch rubbed her neck, easing the skin that had been burned by the ward. She watched as the Firebender knelt to take care of the ones on her ankles. Sorano had to wonder if all Fire Navy personnel were this cautious. The two on her hands had been enough.

With the wards now a pile of ash, she let out a sigh and tucked her legs under her on the bed. "I really hate wards." Smiling, Sorano gazed around the room and noticed the medic was no where to be seen. She had to be really tired to not notice his leave. "By the way, how does an Agni Kai work?"

Zuko's head fell into his hand. This wasn't turning out to be a good day after all.