Thank you My Silver Wound for reviewing!

Sorry for the delay. School's got me working…and I just got a DS so I'm having fun. This chapter's got action scenes, one reason why it's longer than usual.

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Look at Chapter 1 for more information.

Chapter 11 – Agni Kai

Sorano slept the entire day away in her quarters. Zuko waved it off as her recovering enough energy to fight even if he really didn't think she could win. If push came to shove, he would challenge the admiral for their freedom. He just kept telling himself that it was because he owed some sort of debt to her.

True to his word, he woke her two hours before dusk to get ready.

Which involved him flipping her mattress over, knocking her to the floor, and her cursing him out.

She moved around her trashed workroom, collecting several ingredients and mixing them together in a bowl before eating it. Her face screwed up in disgust as she did, coughing up a storm. He was about to ask what it was when his uncle walked in, smiling widely.

"You will need to dress properly for the duel, Miss Sorano," he said, handing her a pile of clothes.

"Wait, are those my pants?" Zuko sputtered, managing to glance at the pile. "And why do you have a female Agni Kai shirt?

"Well, yours were the only ones that looked like they would fit," his uncle replied, smirking and conveniently forgetting his other question. Zuko frowned and shook his head, exiting the room with his uncle behind him.

Fifteen minutes later, Zuko let out an impatient growl. "What is taking you so long?"

"Just a minute already!" she called through the door.

"Why do you have a female Agni Kai shirt anyways?" he asked his uncle again.

"I found it."

That was probably the best answer he was going to get and let the matter drop.

The door opened and Zuko turned to give her a glare but ended up staring at her. The pants fit; he was sure of that but the black sleeveless shirt looked a little small. Well, maybe too small.

He understood why it had taken her so long now. The shirt was skin tight and left a good three inches of skin revealed. She looked uncomfortable, hell, she had to be uncomfortable in it.

"Hm, a little small, don't you agree, Prince Zuko?" Iroh mused.

She glared at them both and folded her arms across her chest, more to keep the teen from staring than to show her frustration. "I really wish I was a guy now," she muttered. "I don't even have the right ingredients to stretch this out."

Iroh chuckled and nodded. "I understand but still, I do not believe you will fight without the shirt."

Zuko's face immediately went scarlet at that comment and he turned away, biting his lip to keep himself from saying anything stupid.

A soldier suddenly appeared, announcing that Zhao's escort had arrived.

"It's now or never," she mumbled, following the two Firebenders.

She sighed softly, kneeling down in the dirt. Damn, she had really done it now. Iroh and Zuko stood in front of her, the old man giving her tips and Zuko looking away to where Zhao knelt. He gazed down at her, telling her good luck before he backed away.

The witch took in a deep breath and let it out as the gong sounded. She stood, the strange cloth slipping from her shoulders as she stood and faced the admiral. He gave her a cocky smirk and she snorted, feeling the heat coursing through her.

'Now or never.'

Sorano moved out of the way as he threw a stream of fire at her. Her response was a punch, letting out a breath and making it look like she was Firebending. Her fire, though, was coming from her breath as the mixture she had eaten had been a special concoction of Dragon's Oak flowers and several combustible materials. By holding her arm level with her mouth, the sorceress produced an impressive fraud. The only problem was she couldn't kick unless she managed by some miracle to bend and flex in a strange position.

Zhao blocked, his foot sliding across the ground and sending a wall of fire at her. The sorceress however jumped up and flipped, propelling herself over the wall and right into Zhao's space. He leapt backwards, once again blocking a blast of fire.

Grunting, she swung her arm and breathed the fire out, making the flames arch and speed towards their target. He effortlessly blocked and started to go offensive, forcing her back. She had a big disadvantage here. Zhao was used to fighting and had years of practice on her. His stances were fluid, forming an exotic dance.

Her stances and techniques, however, looked like a fish flopping on land. Sloppy with a sense of desperation in it.

He frowned, shoving her into a defensive stance as he relentlessly attacked her. Most females started off with kicks as the legs were the most powerful area of women. Zhao shrugged it off as he stepped close enough to knock her down. His hand shot out, hitting her right below her collarbone. As her body registered the hit, he kicked her legs out from under her and let her fall.

Gritting her teeth, she hit the ground and had to immediately move out of the way to escape the ball of fire aimed at her head. She had been forced into a corner though and the only way out was to either go above or under him. Sorano knew he was expecting her to go over as was indicated by his smug look. Smirking, she dove for the ground as he punched at her and rolled between his spread legs. She jumped to her feet and went to just kick him square in the back when he dodged to the side.

Admiral Zhao frowned as she tricked him. She was going to pay, one way or the other. He made to corner her again but missed his chance as she retreated back to the center. Growling, he let fire blasts follow her and growled louder when she evaded them as well.

She could only see one way out of this and even that was going to be an iffy move. He moved in though and she once again found herself on her back with him over her. Ah well.

He had her pinned now. Zhao was going to finish her when she suddenly shifted and he moved to block her escape.

And found something wrapped around his waist. Surprised, he found himself trapped with her legs holding him still. She suddenly rolled backward, using the momentum of the move to throw him over her.

His face met the ground with a wonderful thud and she stood, immediately moving to where he lied on the ground, a fist aimed at his head.

A silent recognition passed between them and she let herself relax. She smirked at him and turned around, believing that she had won.

"Sorano!"

The witch blinked in surprise and barely felt the heat behind her. Something slammed hard into her back, making her scream and jump, trying to put out the fire that had assaulted her. Waves of pain washed over her as she managed to beat out the fire and glare at Zhao. Cheating bastard.

He started with an offensive attack that made her dizzy. She managed to dodge the stream of fire but the pain in her back was making it hard to concentrate. Her vision was also blurry and she suddenly lost all sight in her right eye. She swore under her breath, blinking and trying to regain her sight.

It would be a miracle now if she could win.

"A cheap shot!" Iroh called out, glaring at the admiral. He shook his fist and started to yell encouragements to the witch who couldn't do anything but dodge at this point.

The three demons had been allowed to view the match and were giving her their own praises and advice. Hoshi was yelling up a storm at Zhao that had Zuko raising his eyebrows. He himself was trying very hard to not "accidentally" let out a ball of fire to distract the pompous bastard to help her out.

She was on the ground again, whimpering. Sorano had landed on her back and Zuko was glad she couldn't see it for herself. The burn, a huge bright red stain on her back, had spread to cover her shoulder blades and down her spine, stopping at the belt. It had to be painful for her to move her arms at all. He was surprised the shirt was still on her as the entire back had been turned into ashes.

Zuko smiled at her next move though as she caught Zhao across his ugly face with her foot, throwing him off balance. She jumped to her feet and suddenly swung her fist, decking him in the face with fire licking at his flesh.

Off balance, Zhao was defenseless. The prince cheered silently as she hit him hard in the stomach, using a blast of fire to knock him down. Once again, she stood over him, fist out to use a finishing blow.

"I've won," she said, loud enough for the entire area to hear. "If you even attack me unfairly again, I will not pause to kill you."

It was either the malice in her voice or the look she was giving him with her one good eye that had the admiral nodding. She backed off, this time, her eye never leaving his form as he frowned, spitting at her feet.

"Release the prisoners," he commanded.

The two stared each other down before she turned and walked towards where Zuko and Iroh were waiting, both looking extremely relieved. The demons immediately ran out as soon as they were free, being mindful of the large burn adorning her back as they hugged her. She leaned on Ookami as her body began to feel the pain again.

Before any of them could say a word, soldiers approached the wolf demon, stopping him.

"What is it? We've been released!" the demon growled, eyeing the guards.

"You've been released for being traitors but, as new information has just recently come into my hands, you belong with us." Zhao smirked as the demon roared, his ears pinned to his skull. "You still have to serve the rest of your term with us, demon."

Ookami snarled and bared his fangs, looking ready to tear them apart. Hoshi took a stance while Nezu squeaked and disappeared. He wasn't a fighter.

"You know what Zhao?" Sorano said, her face dangerously neutral. "I don't give a damn anymore." She looked tired and pissed off suddenly as she stepped towards the admiral. "I am the captain of my crew and anything that concerns them, concerns me. And being the captain that I am, I am trading myself for Ookami's freedom."

Zhao's eyebrows rose as his smirk grew wider.

"What! You can't be serious Sorano!" Ookami cried out, trying to grab her arm and shake some sense into her. "You can't! You can't!"

All intelligent speech had left the wolf demon and neither Hoshi nor Nezu were saying anything.

"Admiral Zhao, Ookami has been out of the Fire Army for thirty years! He can't still owe service after what happened to him during the Squadron D-1," Iroh argued, watching as the witch turned to give him a smile.

"He has betrayed his nation and, to redeem himself, he must serve the Fire Lord for another ten years." Zhao watched the scene as the demons growled and the prince looked ready to kill him. But Sorano looked like she was in the middle of a boring conversation. He frowned and gazed at the wolf demon.

"Ookami, really, it's okay," she mumbled, reaching up and petting him behind his ears. "Trust me?"

Golden eyes widened and he looked vulnerable as she bowed to him. He opened his mouth to protest once again but she waved him off.

"Quiet, Wolfie. As your captain, I command you to shut your mouth and get your furry ass out of here. Go somewhere nice. You won't have me to give orders anymore." The witch smiled up at him and gave his ear a tug. "Go where you think Takara is. My time is up it seems."

He let out a strange sound and grabbed her, hugging the sorceress hard. Ookami whispered gently before letting her go. Hoshi grabbed her then, giving her a hug as well. Nezu whimpered and brushed against her, hugging her around the middle. She patted his head and then faced her crew. "Don't wait up."

Zuko stepped forward, still numb from what was going on. She couldn't have been thinking clearly. He kept reasoning himself with that. No one, not even her, could sacrifice themselves for one person, demon or otherwise. She never did anything without a plan and he worried on what her plan was now.

She went quietly, letting them place the wards on her and painfully tie her hands behind her back. Sorano gave them one last look with the small smile and shrugged, wincing slightly.

Ookami howled loudly, sending shivers up the humans' spines.

A wolf howl was bad luck.

Zuko stood at the railing of the ship, staring off into the ocean. It was there that he had met the witch and where she seemed to be the most comfortable. He had lost the strange woman on land.

Along with his Agni Kai pants.

Damn.

He was still puzzling her decision when he felt someone come up behind him. Zuko turned and found the three demons, looking slightly lost. Nezu looked to have been crying but he tried to put up a strong front.

"Zuko," the battle demon began, looking at the two behind him. "We want to thank you."

"For what?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"For what we know you're gonna do before the next day," Ookami replied, his eyes a dark gold.

Nezu suddenly handed the teen what looked like a cloak and a jar of cream colored substance. He nodded to the Firebender, giving him a forced toothy smile.

As Zuko picked up the items, the three demons bowed and retreated to their own ship. In about two minute's time, he watched the ship sail off and felt a pang go through him. For some reason, he felt torn between staying with the last member of his family who cared for him and the three misfits.

He then noticed the piece of paper attached to the jar and picked it up idly.

'Zuko –

Be careful. Keep your distance until you feel completely safe. I'm not sure if she's in her right mind state at the moment.

Crew of Misfits'

The prince bit his lip as he read the note again. She did have a plan. And from reading this note, he had a slight idea on what it was. He had figured her exhaustion was a trigger for the demon dwelling inside of her.

And he smirked with the knowledge that he knew something Zhao didn't.