Day Two
"Do you ever shut up?" asked Zuko. Ryko had tried asking different things today, the subject of firebending had gone well and long, but Zuko soon tried of the small bender's chatter. "Don't you have some waterbending you can do?"
Ryko started to fool with the ocean a little, then muttered, "Sorry if I kinda got on your nerves, I didn't mean to. I was just glad to have someone older to talk to I guess."
Zuko glanced over, "Yeah, I remember what you said about your brother, but it can't be that bad."
Ryko hung his head, "He's hated me since day one. I can tell he doesn't like me, but I dunno why!"
"Maybe he wanted a sister," Zuko joked dryly, but Ryko seemed to shrink at this, and the kid was small to begin with. "I didn't mean that seriously, I was being sarcastic."
"At least you're nicer than him," mumbled Ryko.
----
Iroh had been steering the ship for awhile, when he glanced at Ryko and Zuko. The little boy was leaning against the firebender, but Zuko was twisting restlessly. Zuko was dreaming about the day his mother had died, eight years ago, and it was supposed to be happy day...
Zuko never knew much; just that he was supposed to have a new sibling. He hoped it was better than Zula, maybe a boy. But something had gone wrong, so wrong. He had been told by Zula that their mother had died, and the child was born dead. And he would never get over it...
"Zuko!" Wake up!" yelled Ryko, "Wake up!"
Zuko's eyes shot open. Iroh and Ryko were kneeling over him, and his gray outfit was drenched with cold sweat. Ryko quietly, amazing for him to be quiet, bended the water off Zuko, and Iroh helped him sit up.
"It was a nightmare uncle! I'm fine," Zuko persisted.
"Are you sure?" asked Ryko. Zuko glanced at him, "Why do you care?"
"You're a nice guy!" said Ryko. Zuko muttered, "And you're a weird kid."
Suddenly, a spike of ice cut through the raft. Ryko yelled, "I didn't do it!"
"I did," said a voice. Zuko glanced around, and decided to risk a flame. They were surrounded by water-tribe boats. An old man with white hair said, "What are you doing here, firebenders?"
"We're taking this kid home," Zuko said dryly. Ryko blinked and yelled, "Hi Master Pakku!"
"You know this guy?" asked Zuko.
----
Apparently, the entire northern tribe was to listen to why Zuko and Iroh had decided to bring Ryko back home. Needless to say, Iroh was doing the talking.
"So we decided to bring him back," the retired general finished.
A boy with a messy brown ponytail who looked about sixteen stood and snapped, "Oh, right! What's your real reason?"
"The chief glared at him, "While you may not be my potential son-in-law anymore, I expect more form you Han!"
Zuko blinked. So this was Ryko's brother!
-----
Sorry, I called Han Vakoi in earlier chapers beacuse I forgot his name!