Chapter Eleven

Admiral Zhao walked briskly into the room, he glanced around the seemingly empty room with an annoyed look on his face, and he appeared to be looking for something. He glanced at the broken statue that had fallen as Zuko had run past it. Zhao grinned and bent down to pick up a few pieces, he let the pieces slip out of his fingers and instead of checking out the room more, he walked out the door. Yumi let out her breath when Zhao had shut the door behind him, although Zuko had his shoulders raised as if he was still tensed up. He took his arms down and leaned on the wall next to Yumi. She turned her head.

" Prince Zuko…?" She asked, her tone quiet and insecure. He didn't look at her, but closed his eyes and sighed out of frustration.

" What is he up to?" Zuko finally said, balling his hands into fists.

" The Admiral?"

" Of course, who else would I be talking about?" Zuko growled.

" Um, sorry." Zuko ignored her apology and went to stand in the middle of the room, he crossed his arms and it appeared he was thinking.

" Maybe you shouldn't stand near the door, in case Zhao comes back in." Yumi warned, Zuko stared at her, Yumi fidgeted with the sleeves of her robes. " Or maybe not…"

" No, I was just wondering when you became perceptive." Zuko said, a blank expression on his face, Yumi looked taken aback for a moment.

" You make it sound as if I wasn't."

" Yes, like I said, perceptive…" Zuko answered, trying fiercely to hide a small smile. At that moment, crashes were heard from outside the door, Zuko quickly ran to the door and opened it a crack to peer out. Yumi followed and looked over his shoulder. The bounty hunters that Yumi saw before were ripping open doors and taking random things from inside; Zuko wondered why none of the men had stopped them and where was Uncle?

" Stay here, I'll be back." Zuko turned around to tell Yumi. She was confused, but she nodded anyway. She took and step back and watched Zuko step out of the door, he left it open a crack, probably knowing that she would open it if he closed it and watch. Zuko turned the corner and followed the hunters down the hall. Yumi couldn't hear the conversation, but she heard muffled shouts and could smell smoke from Zukos' firebending. She wanted to run out of the room and help him, in case he needed it. Those bounty hunters looked strong and she was oddly scared for Zukos' safety. She looked around and then ran out of the room. She tripped over her robes as she turned the corner and witnessed Zuko fighting three bounty hunters, they were apparently firebenders because as they heard the clunk of Yumi falling over her robes, one shot was fired at Yumi.

" No!" Zuko yelled, as he threw a short staff that was on the ground, fallen from a hunter, at Yumi, it hit her in the head and she fell over. Luckily the fire went over her head and missed burning her to a crisp.

" My gods! You could have killed me, Prince Zuko!" Yumi yelled, clutching her forehead. Zuko shook his head, " That's a welt. Are you happy, I now have a welt on my head!" She replied angrily.

" You will die if you don't get out of here, get off the ship right now!" Zuko shouted, dodging a punch from a hunter, and slamming a foot into his chest.

" What? I'm not leaving!"

" Yes you are, get out of here!" Zuko replied.

" I won't!" Yumi said, standing up.

" Aw, how cute. A lover's quarrel." A female bounty hunter mused from a squatting position; she stood up quickly, and grinned at Zuko.

" Be quiet, you fool." Zuko said through clenched teeth.

" I see, so you're protective of this pathetic girl, are you?" She cooed, strutting past Zuko and up to Yumi. All the other hunters had run off, licking their wounds and such, it appeared that this one was the strongest and she wasn't intimidated by Zuko. The woman got in Yumi's face, she had to bend down because Yumi was only about, 5"3'.

" You look familiar sweetie. Got a name?" She asked, Zuko muttered something from behind her, she turned. " Oh, I'm not going to hurt her. Keep your pants on." She chuckled.

" Like I'd tell you, ugly." Yumi said aloud, when she noticed that she had, she clasped her hands over her mouth and made a little squeaking noise.

" You stupid little mosquito! How dare you call me ugly…" She raised her hand to slap her, but as she brought it down, a banging sound was heard from where Zuko was. Yumi opened her eyes and looked forward, she had fell onto the floor to avoid the slap that she was about to get, but she wasn't looking at the sleek legs of the bounty huntress, but ones that were, well, they weren't sleek.

" Why do you have to be so stubborn? Why do you insist on staying with me?" Zuko asked her, she didn't reply. Though, why she did want to be near Prince Zuko? When he didn't get an answer, although he didn't really expect one, knowing Yumi. He turned back to the huntress.

" Your friends have left you, do you plan to take me on all by yourself?" He asked. The huntress laughed.

" No, of course not. Even if you are a banished prince, I wouldn't dream to take you on by myself." She took a step back.

" Ah, then you're not as stupid as I thought you were."

" Shut up! The only reason I'm not pummeling you into a bloody pulp is because I was ordered not to." She grinned.

" What are you talking about, who ordered you?" Zuko demanded. Yumi looked up.

" I don't understand, what's happening…?" She asked, Zuko turned to look, raising an eyebrow, he was about to speak, but a shrill cackling sounded from in front of the two.

" She really is an idiot!" She pointed and laughed at Yumi.

" Would you just get out of here before you succumb to a large amount of pain." Zuko said, his voice low. Abruptly she ran around the corner, leaving Zuko and Yumi confused in the hallway.

" W-where'd she go?" Yumi said, barely heard. Zuko didn't answer but ran around the corner. " Hey now! Don't go running off!" She said, getting up and following Zuko.

Apparently the ship had docked at some point and Zuko couldn't seem to find anyone else on the ship, they must have all gotten off. He still found it odd that Uncle hadn't told him or mentioned that they had docked. He trotted off and looked around. The bounty hunter had disappeared, Zuko was surveying the area when Yumi had stumbled down off the ramp near Zukos' side.

" Sneaky little woman, isn't she?" Zuko asked himself.

" Yes, it's too bad she didn't stay. Maybe we could have had tea." Yumi said, with a solemn expression. Zuko looked as if he would fall over from embarrassment.

" Common sense just eludes you, doesn't it?" He asked.

" What? Did I say something to offend you?" Yumi asked, completely unaware.

" Come on…" Was all he said, waving a hand.

" Right!" She replied, happily.

" Ah, Mayuko. Glad to see you're in one piece." A voice, cloaked in shadows said, a male voice, smooth and silky. The bounty hunter that had just attempted to assault Yumi and Prince Zuko approached the figure.

" Yes, sir. Prince Zuko is more tactical then I would have expected." She bowed low. " I'm sorry I've failed you…" She answered, her long dark locks spilling over her shoulders.

" Of course an amateur would fail. Silly little Mayuko." A female called out from behind a tree. She and the man walked up to her.

" Captain Lao, Miss Celia. I apologize for upsetting you." Mayuko stuttered. Captain Lao smirked down at the girl, five or six years younger then Celia. He was dressed in tall boots and the same dark cloak that concealed the rest of him. Celia narrowed her eyes at Mayuko. She had cut her long hair so it was now shoulder-length. Her gold eyes glinted in anger.

" I knew I should have taken care of the little pests myself." Celia hissed.

" Don't hog all the fun for yourself, Celia, Admiral Zhao hired these bounty hunters to complete the mission of getting rid of Prince Zuko." He grinned at Mayuko, who was trembling. " We shall let them try…for now."

" And if you don't succeed, we'll take your place and earn a great reward for bringing back little Yumi!" Celia added, sticking her tongue out at Mayuko.

" Now, now Celia. No need to be immature."

" Right, sir." Celia replied. Lao turned back to Mayuko.

" Anyway, Mayuko, you and your band of bounty hunters didn't seem to capture Miss Yumi, I assume?"

" No, sir. We did not."

" Ah, well I suppose it's understandable. " Lao said, rather understanding. Celia glanced at the Captain.

" Sir, do you want me to take the girl?" She asked, excitedly. Mayuko spoke up finally.

" Um…I don't mean to interrupt, but…well…" She trailed off.

" Tell us!" Celia shouted.

" Yes, what is it, Mayuko?" Lao added. The girl squirmed around before answering.

" That is…Admiral Zhao, sir, asked my comrades and I to kill them both…" She said, her voice somewhat muted. Celia hit the girl in the head.

" Stupid girl! If they're killed, we'll never get our reward!" She screamed angrily. Right after Celia had said this, an ear splitting scream was heard from below them, near the shore.

Yumi and Zuko were being bombarded by twenty or so people, who knew firebending and they were dressed almost identical to the girl bounty hunter from earlier. They were shooting fire at Zuko and Yumi and in large quantities. Zuko was more experienced then Yumi in battle and he was faster, so he could dodge the attacks, but Yumi was like a baby chick, vulnerable, as her bending was sloppy and not as strong. Zuko was holding off about ten, and Yumi had enough trouble with two. She tripped over a rock while walking backwards to avoid the blasts. One hunter got too close and blasted her shoulder before she could react. Yumi screamed, for her shoulder and upper arm was charred. Zuko did a double take as he heard her scream.

" YUMI, YOU MORON!" He said, out of anger and worry. He kicked a hunter in the side of the head and ran over to Yumi. The two hunters that were fighting with Yumi were incapacitated before you could turn to look. He bent down and shook her shoulders a little more roughly then he should have because Yumi opened one of her closed eyes and narrowed it.

" Th-th-th-," She stuttered, because she was being shaken. " THAT HURTS!" She yelled in Zukos' face, but apparently this was a little too much strain on her and she fell unconscious. Zuko set her down, and stood up.

" You're all fools!" He shouted at the remaining bounty hunters, they looked at him a little taken aback, but started towards him.

Lao, Celia and Mayuko had witnessed this. Mayuko was watching for Laos' reaction while Celia was about ready to run down the hill and take care of Prince Zuko and Yumi herself.

" Let me go, Captain, come on, I wanna go!" Celia whined, fidgeting.

" No."

" What? HOW COME?" She shouted, Mayuko whimpered.

" Like I said, you're not going to have all of the fun, I shall come with you." Lao said, smiling. Celia grinned.

" Well, yes. I should have known that your genius brain would think of that strategy!" She replied, acting as if she knew his plan.

" Actually, I just thought of coming a second ago…" Lao retorted, Celia glared at him.

"…Why do you always do that…?" She growled. He smiled an innocent smile.

" Heck if I know."

With that the two darted down the hill and left Mayuko standing there. She got the hint finally that she was supposed to follow, since she was the apparent leader of the bounty hunters.

" Great, now I can finally get my reward from Fire Lord Ozai!" Celia said, happily.

" Great, now I have to endure Celias' childish games…" Lao sighed and continued down the hill.

Woot woot for completing chapter 11! Rachel