Woohoo! Christmas is soon! Thanks to the break I can write more. Thing was, I was on vacation and wanted to put this up before I left but it wasn't finished. So now it is and is up! Yay!

Thanks to My Silver Wound for reviewing! Don't worry, Nezu has a much bigger part in the next few chapters (which can also be a bad thing).

Yes! After this chapter we finally see some Avatar!

Disclaimer: Check the others.

Chapter 17 – Fushi

Sorano watched the battle demon, smiling at his antics. The large group was gathered in the mess area, the four demon kids were watching him in awe as he told the promised stories. Well, all but the small, white haired twin named Ronin. He looked almost mad, glaring at his brothers and sister. She was still trying to understand why though.

Zuko sat down on a chair next to her, raising an eyebrow at the sleeping rat demon curled up in her lap. She just smiled, patting Nezu as he shifted slightly.

"It's past his bedtime," the witch whispered, scratching behind a round ear. He let out a slight purring noise that had Zuko blinking in surprise. He hadn't really noticed it but the rat demon did have incredibly childish features.

"How old is he?" he found himself asking.

"I don't know," she mumbled. "Probably a little older than those twins." She smiled as he snuggled in closer to her. "He's an incredible sweetheart though."

For some strange reason, they had come back to the ship to find part of the huge gash filled in already. The ship itself had pulled in close to the ice, the little demon watching them from the upper deck of the Houou. Nezu and she had managed to make sure they didn't spring any leaks until they got into the next port. He had helped, disappearing and reappearing with tools or spare parts.

It went quiet and Zuko turned around to find the large wolf demon, hand in hand with his mate. Hoshi just grinned, finding ways to pick at this until Ookami nearly killed him from embarrassment.

Mika's eyes lit up and Ookami actually felt the strange humor radiating off his children. He cleared his throat and turned to glare at the battle demon.

"What?" he asked, fangs bared.

"Dad," the girl began, looking at her brother.

"We didn't know you were bested by a kid," he finished, grinning widely.

"Hoshi!" the wolf roared, growling.

The battle demon laughed loudly, taking the cushion thrown at him lightly. He smiled to himself as Ookami held his head in his hand while Takara struggled not to laugh.

"It couldn't have been that bad," she soothed, her voice soft.

"Yeah, Wolfie. At least you could say she was a powerful witch," Sorano put in.

"You're not helping," he grumbled.

Suddenly, Ronin stood up, glaring at the wolf demon. He stormed out; seemingly mad at the world and everything in it.

Takara sighed and made to follow out after him but Ookami grabbed her arm, holding her back.

"Maybe I should talk to him," he said, following after the hybrid.

"I should put Nezu to bed," Sorano said to clear the silence, lifting the demon up. He groaned and wrapped his arms around her neck, curling up tighter. She shook her head and carried him out, making sure to shift her balance to keep from falling down the stairs.

The witch bumped open his door, ducking her head for the low ceiling. She laid him down on his little bed, tucking him in as he whined. "Good night, sweetheart," she whispered, brushing back his brown hair.

Sorano didn't understand why but she felt drawn to the small demon, as though she shouldn't leave him alone. She took in a breath and closed the door behind her, forcing the feeling away.

Ookami stepped out onto the deck, finding the young demon standing not too far away. He moved to stand right next to his son, leaning on the railing and gazing up at the half moon. His son continued to stare off into the miles of water and ice.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly, turning his eyes to the larger wolf.

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you since you've been born," the wolf whispered, head hanging as the boy's critical eyes followed him. "I've tried to find you, I swear. It hasn't been easy."

"You could've tried harder!" he yelled, body tensing. The gold eyes darken to deep amber and Ookami could feel his dagger trembling at his side. "You had thirty years to find us! And you didn't!" His yells turned into screams, his own power spiraling out of control. The dagger from Ookami's side flew through the air, embedding into the ship. "You've never cared! You didn't care about us! You heartless bastard!"

Surprised, he let the child rant and vent his anger, gently brushing the huge shield of power to keep it under control. Several knives and daggers had appeared, some from hidden areas on the ship and kitchen and a couple from the child himself.

The small demon fell to his knees, panting heavily as his energy faded. His father knelt down, laying a hand on his shoulder, only to have it brushed off. Ookami sighed softly and just watched as the boy caught his breath. Then, something wet hit the deck, a stronger smell of salt reaching his sensitive nose. His breathing wasn't any better and he let himself smile.

"Ronin," he whispered, again having his hand brushed off. "Ronin, listen."

"I don't wanna!" he cried, teeth gritted. "I don't wanna listen to you!"

He grabbed his son, holding tightly even as the boy struggled. "Ronin, it's okay. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you. I promise I'll be here more, I promise."

The small demon whimpered, succumbing to his sudden feeling of safety. Ookami cradled his child, rocking him on the deck. An intertwining happened as the two learned about the other, Ookami trying to be the father that his son had missed. The wolf listened to him, not budging when the other twin, Miki, curled up with him as well. The two learned more of their father than their mother could ever tell them on her good days or from their sister's stories.

The half moon in the sky glowed brilliantly, almost looking full once again.

Ookami stood with his family, watching the witch as she grinned. "What is it?" he asked, slightly nervous at her continuous grin.

"Well," she said, "since we've found your family and all and technically, your promise is fulfilled."

"That's true," he replied, watching her as she grinned wider.

"So, I was really hoping that you'd stick around for a while longer with everyone! Besides, we've never had such a good cook," she mumbled, twiddling her fingers.

"I've been your only cook," he said, but the light in his eyes teased her. "My old room won't hold us all."

"Which is why I've taken the liberty of getting one to hold all of you!" she cheered, apparently happy with her idea. Sorano took a step back, revealing the new, unmarked door across the hall from the kitchen. He raised an eyebrow but decided to at least humor her. She opened the door, allowing the six to proceed into the new room.

The witch had outdone herself this time. The first room was like a sitting room, high cave-like walls with several chairs that he recognized from the mess area thrown in. A couple of rugs lied scattered on the floor along with a slight dent in the wall that he recognized for a fireplace.

Immediately the kids ran off, exploring the den-like room. He heard his daughter call out her room and the groans of her brothers soon followed. The twins ran by, securing a much larger room that had been meant for the two to share across the hall.

He moved forward, opening the straight ahead and gasped at the find. A much larger room, complete with a huge pallet for both of them, revealed itself. Takara gasped as she examined the room, almost wondering why anyone would do this much for people she barely knew.

"Sorano," he whispered in awe.

"I know, I know," she grumbled. "I thought a little bribe would work and well, it wouldn't be the same without you, Wolfie."

She was completely taken aback by the hug she was pulled into by the wolf. Even more surprising was when the dog demon also hugged her.

"So?" the witch asked, giving the two a large smile.

"We'll have to think about it," Ookami answered her, smirking when her smile disappeared.

"All right." She yawned widely and waved. "I'm going to bed." Sorano showed herself out, not before catching the slight glint in the two mates' eyes. "Don't keep us up all night though!" she called out, shutting the new door.

Zuko once again woke up to the feeling of something cold on his forehead. "Why do you insist on waking me up?" he growled, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Well, I'm sorry for caring about your well being," she mumbled. Her smile reappeared though as she handed him the burning medicine. "Drink," she prodded.

He glared but grabbed it and swallowed the crap painfully. The Firebender snatched the tea she offered, gulping it down to rid himself of the awful taste.

"Aw, what a good boy," she teased, ducking as he let loose a stream of fire at her.

"You're testing my patience, witch," he growled, lying back on the bed as the room started to spin.

"Come on now. Iroh isn't as bad as you," she teased, dodging the swipe from him. "He actually thanks me." She chuckled when he just frowned and sulked with his back to her.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt a witch that could send him flying into the ocean with a wave of her hand. Or at least he thought she could do that. "Idiot witch and her demons," he growled.

Something happened, Zuko wasn't completely sure what happened himself, but he ended up face first on the floor. Confused and slightly dazed, he instinctively rolled onto his hands and knees.

"You can insult me all you want! But you can't insult the demons behind their backs!"

Ookami's ear twitched and he paused slightly, listening.

"What is it?" Takara asked, watching him as he just chuckled.

"Zuko and Sorano are bonding," he laughed. A loud crash echoed and then the yelling escalated.

"Should we stop them?" she asked, looking perplexed when he shook his head.

"No, she won't kill him and he won't kill her. Or at least I think he won't kill her."

Zuko listened to her muffled yells at him as he sighed. At the moment, he had her pinned by sitting on her back with her head pushed into the pillow. Her arms were firmly restrained with one hand but it didn't help the thrashing she was doing. He wouldn't hold her there long enough for her to die of suffocation, no matter how much that sounded like a good idea. "What was that?"

"Get off of me you insolent, arrogant!"

The Firebender shoved her back into the pillow, cutting her yell off. He waited patiently until she finally calmed down before letting her back up.

"Bastard." She finally bucked him off and brushed her clothes off.

"Yeah, and this bastard is tired. Get out." He reset his bed and fell into it, not caring if she was gone or not.

Her eyes rolled and she mimicked him slightly, ducking at the roar from him to leave. Sorano scurried out as he jumped up and slammed the door shut. Smiling, she found her work done and went back to her own bed to sleep for a long while.