Chapter 7

Later that day, I woke up to the sound of the clatter of dishes and other noises outside. It must be time for dinner. 'How could I have overslept?' I thought. I moved to get up but found that my arms and legs were terribly sore and I was soaking wet. Memories of what had happened flooded through my mind. I immediately sat up and opened my eyes to find myself in my room and on my bed. My body protested outrageously in agony of the uncomfortable position I was in. I groaned and winced as I turned so I sat on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands. My head was aching and I began to massage it.

"I felt the same way when I first woke up." I looked up to see Zuko sitting in a chair across the room with two plates of smoked salmon in his hands. The last time I had seen him a shark had had him.

"What happened?" I asked, accepting the plate he held out to me. As soon as the steam reached my nose, my stomach let out a huge growl and I stuffed my mouth as he told me what had gone on under the waves. By the end of it I was staring at him.

"You saved my life," I said softly, "three times by the sound of it … Thank you."

He nodded slowly. "You're welcome." We sat staring at each either for a long time. Then, with a final nod, he stood up and made as though to leave the room, wincing slightly from his soreness. Once he got to the door, however, he said "Genshu."

"What?"

"Genshu. That was the technique you were using."

I smiled very weakly and nodded. He left the room. I sat staring at the door, thinking, 'I owe him, both of them.' I owe them everything; my life, my services, and the truth. I would gladly give them the former two, but I couldn't … not yet … but I have to … no, it's too soon … He SAVED YOUR LIFE THREE TIMES! But I didn't know if I could even handle the truth. I had denied it for so long.

I stood up, unable to forget my soreness. I had made my decision. I walked stiffly out of the door and onto the deck. My arrival was met by silence and stares. I sat between Airo and his nephew, and as people began chattering again, I whispered to both of them that I needed to the two of them in my room after the meal. They both nodded, and as the dishes were being cleared away and the crew returned to their activities, I led the two of them to my room, preparing myself for what I was about to do.

As he followed Nari, he glanced at his uncle, knowing that they were both wondering the same thing. Would they finally hear her whole story? Over the past couple weeks she'd been giving out bits and pieces, but they weren't able to string them all together.

They entered her room and watched as she rummaged around in her bedroll and pulled out the picture Zuko had seen that first day. It was the picture of her family. She came over and sat on her bed and motioned for them to sit in two of the chairs in the room. They sat, never once taking their eyes off of her.

"I owe you – both of you – everything I can give … and … well … the least I can give you is … the truth." They were staring at her now; hardly even daring to breathe for fear that she'd change her mind. She held out the picture for them to see. "This is my family" – Airo took the picture – "from when I was eight years old. I was the second child and eldest girl of nine kids. My brothers and sister and I were all fire-benders like our father. -" her eyes grew dark as she spoke of her father, "-My mother wasn't a bender, but she had a different gift. She was a seer; she had visions … prophecies … of the future.

"One of her visions ended up being what destroyed our entire village. We were all at dinner one day when she had it. She announced it in that misty voice she always had when one hit her. Everyone fell silent, shocked at what she said. Our father didn't say a word. In fact, he acted as though he hadn't heard it at all. But it was a trick. The next day, he was gone when we all woke up, and only a day later, he returned … with a full army following him with orders to kill everyone in the village. He had even been promoted to the rank of a general for his information. One of my little brothers came back from the stream saying that he and his twin had encountered an army, and that … and that they had killed his twin. As soon as he said this, I watched as my little brother was consumed by flames … he died almost instantly from the shock of it.

"I watched as one by one, my family and my neighbors caught on fire, along with buildings and carts and animals … all burned black to the ground. And then I saw my father come through the trees, aiming at my little sister. I ran to her, but it was too late. I heard her screams as I watched my mother die in trying to save me. I didn't know what to do … so I ran. I ran until I got to the river. I thought I was safe there, but soon three soldiers surrounded me. I would have died then if it weren't for my eldest brother, Natsu, he was twelve, and already one of the warriors of our village. He shot a huge blast at them which distracted them long enough for him to grab me and send us both into the river. That was the last time I ever saw him, as I was thrown onto the shore about ten miles downstream. I walked for two more miles before seeing his sash floating in the water, and I knew that I'd lost him, too. My father knew that I was still alive because one of his scouts saw me washed ashore.

"And so the assassins started coming, and each one bore my father's personal insignia. Two years later, when I was ten, I had already learned many fighting techniques and was much stronger. That was the year I found Aibō. He was only a chick and orphaned. I took care of him and he became my companion, hence the name 'Aibō,' meaning 'partner.' The same continued, day after day, year after year, until we met."

There was a long silence, and then Zuko asked the obvious question.

"What was the prophecy?"

Nari closed her eyes and said "'The Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war, but when it seems that all is lost, six heroes shall arise; the Avatar and his two friends, a decommissioned general, a man who has been betrayed, and the child of a Fire Navy soldier and the one given this prophecy. Together, these six shall conquer the Fire Nation and return the world to its former peace, ending the war forevermore.'" She opened her eyes and said "Aang is the Avatar; the water-bender and her brother who travel with him are the two friends; Airo is the decommissioned general; Zuko is the man who was betrayed; and I am the child of the Fire Navy soldier and the prophet."

Silence.

"I owed you the truth and there it is. But I still owe you so much more. Both of you have given me more than I've ever had. Airo, you're like the loving and caring father I never had and always wanted. Zuko, you're the first friend I've ever had in my entire life, even before the raid. At least, I don't know if you consider us friends, but I know that I always will." Her face had taken on that look one gets when unsuccessfully trying to suppress tears. Zuko had never heard such a sad story. She got up and left the room.

"General Kotaro," snarled his uncle.

"What?"

"General Kotaro is her father, and his former wife Asami was her mother."

"KOTARO!" exclaimed Zuko in astonishment. He was one of the most famous generals of the Fire Nation for wiping out a rebellious village. But now he could see that there was no rebellion, and was not a hero, but a coward … a murderous coward.

"You need to go talk to her," said Airo.

"I know," replied Zuko, and he went onto the deck.

I didn't care anymore, I just didn't care. I let the tears that I had suppressed … that I never let through for all these years flow silently down my face into the water. It was dark now and the crew was in bed. I prayed that Airo and Zuko would be, too. No such luck.

I heard the creak of the iron door and quickly dried my face, only to have it wet again. I soon gave up the attempt. Zuko came and stood before the railing next to me. We stood in silence for a long time. I refused to look at him. Finally, he spoke.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am. I never imagined that … you just seemed so alive and …"

"I refused to believe what happened. I wouldn't face reality until now," I interrupted, "and don't forget what I said about pity."

"I haven't, but try to see it my way. It's hard not to feel pity when you hear a story like that."

"Then maybe I shouldn't have told it."

"But I'm glad you did."

"And why is that?" We were facing each other now.

"Because," he said slowly, "I do consider myself your friend. I always will."

I couldn't help it. I couldn't hold it in anymore. The sobs came and I didn't even try to stop them. I threw myself at him. He stood there, not knowing what to do. Then he patted my back awkwardly, and eventually returned the hug.

Chapter 8

The next morning I was eating my breakfast with the crew. My soreness was nearly gone, but I had a terrible cold. Something kept pulling my thoughts away from all that though.

"Has anyone seen Aibō? I haven't seen him for three days." There was a flurry of shaking heads and dispersed "no"s and "I haven't, sorry"s. I sighed inwardly and looked at the sky as though I was expecting him to be diving toward me with a lizard in his beak. It was a beautiful day and there was a flock of gulls flying by, but no Aibō. I began to worry. The last time he had been gone this long he had been caught in a hunter's trap, and had broken his wing before I was able to cut him loose.

Airo must have seen the anxiety on my face, because he said "I'm sure he's fine."

"No," I said, "he would never stay away this long unless … ah … ah … ACHOO! Excuse me … unless there was a very good reason."

"What, do you want us to look for him?" asked the warrior who had given Aibō his breakfast the past week, Dayu.

"Until we receive word of where he's headed" (everyone knew who "he" was) "we've got nothing better to do. Besides, we're right near a big market and you guys can stock up while I look for him."

"It's still a few days off," said Zuko.

"I know. I can wait until then."

"Well, it sounds like a good plan to me," said Airo, We were originally going to make a stop there anyway."

I sighed with relief. "Thank you."

Three days later, my cold was nearly gone and we were pulling in to the docks. There was a lot happening on the ship and even though I was doing my best to help, I didn't know much about ships or how to work them. I was just getting in the way, so I stood at the bow of the ship, watching the wooden docks come closer and closer. I just kept myself from jumping in and swimming to them from impatience.

Zuko came up beside me. "Don't worry, we'll find him." My only response was a nod. I looked at him, but he was looking at the docks. I was looking at the left side of his face, the side with the scar on it. Was it just me or was it much less wrinkled? Then I noticed that he wasn't frowning for once. I told him so and immediately it returned. I closed the subject right then by talking about how my older brother, Natsu, was almost always in a frown, too.

Ever since I had told them the truth, I felt much better talking about the past and I knew that the old proverb was true. "How can you be healed if no one knows you are sick?"

We were finally dropping the anchor and tying ropes to the dock-posts. I ran down the ramp and drank in the smells of the market, enjoying the un-rocking ground I was standing on. For three weeks I'd dealt with the rocking and rolling of the ship and it was blissful to be on solid ground again.

"Where should we start?" asked Zuko from behind me.

"I don't know … maybe – AIBŌ!" At that second, Aibō had come reeling in front of me, then flew off into the market.

"What's he doing?" asked Zuko, running beside me and then calling to some of the other men.

"He wants me to follow him!" We ran into the market, just barely keeping sight of the runaway bird, running and turning and running and turning. At last, he landed … onto someone's arm.

"Aibō!" I called. The man didn't hear me. I ran up to him and tapped his shoulder. "Excuse me, sir, but that's my friend on your arm."

"Sorry," he said (his voice sounded familiar), "he just flew up to me a few days ago, and … Nari!" He had turned around, and we recognized each other immediately.

I screamed in astonishment as he picked me up and spun me around. I was laughing and screaming in complete gaiety. I couldn't believe it. After all these years … And then I saw Zuko. He had his frown on again and … was that? … no, it couldn't be … was that jealousy in his eyes. Oh …

"Zuko, this is my brother, Natsu. I … I can't believe it," I turned to Natsu, "I thought you were … I mean after the raid … I … when I found your sash I assumed … I mean I never even thought that you could have …"

"I assumed the same for you," said Natsu, staring at me as though he were dreaming. "Where have you been all these years?"

"Everywhere, what about you?"

"I pretty much just stayed here. I couldn't bear to leave after …" he looked at Zuko.

"It's okay, he knows," I whispered.

"Oh … well, anyway, I … well I … I buried everyone after I got back. Then, I just stayed in this area until now. I couldn't bear to leave everyone behind." Then he turned to me. "So what have you been doing?"

I stood stock-still. I had completely forgotten … 'how could I possibly have forgotten something like that?' … that this was our neighboring village. We were only about a mile from … home. My real home. The home I had run away from eight years ago.

"Nari? Are you okay?" Zuko had come to stand beside me. I looked at him, seeing the sincere concern on his face. Something tingled inside me when he put his hand on my shoulder. I tried to ignore it while I told him what I had just realized.

"I can't believe, after all these years … I'm home in a place that can no longer be a home. Where have you lived all this time? Here?"

"No, I've been living in a village about five miles away, but I come here every week to trade and meet with old friends."

"Old friends?" 'We have 'old friends'?' "But, they couldn't have been from our village, because they'd be …" I couldn't say it.

"Dead, I know. And they're not. They're from here. I met them when I went into the village every month to get better supplies, remember?"

"Of course, how could I have forgotten that … so anyway, who are your friends?"

"They live right over there, and I'm sure they'd love company for lunch."

Zuko interrupted and said "We're on our way somewhere. We only stopped to find Aibō."

"Zuko! This is my brother who I thought was dead for eight years. I am not just going to leave after thinking I was alone for that long!" I could not believe that he had actually just said that. But then I was sorry I'd yelled at him. He had backed up a few steps and had such a look of shame on his face that I was taken aback. I hadn't known that he could feel shame.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," murmured Zuko, his gaze not meeting mine, "I just need to find Uncle and let him know so the crew won't worry."

Natsu stepped in. "There's enough room for everyone. They definitely won't mind. They believe in that whole 'the more the merrier' thing."

Zuko nodded and ran off before I could apologize for yelling at him. He had actually looked hurt. What was that all about?