Normal POV

Music Night

Zuko sat hunched over on his bed. He stared down at his feet, thoughts running like rivers through his head.

Could she have been right? Did I really mean everything I said to her? Is she really like Fei...my sister? Will I ever regain my throne?

He shook his head and pulled on a burgundy shirt, heading down to the mess hall. By some string of random luck, Uncle had convinced him to attend music night. Something about a surprise for him. He hated surprises. And yet, he was intrigued.
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Yumi pulled the length of her black hair into a high ponytail, holding it there with thick, red ribbon. She had tried matching the red to the color of her blouse and it had actually worked. She donned a dark red blouse with sleeves that frilled at her wrists, a pair of black pants and small black slippers that stuck tightly to her feet. It had taken her hours to think of something to sing. In the end, she just made something up. Hopefully, the men liked it. Hopefully he liked it.

"Why am I thinking of him at a time like this? We aren't even speaking to one another," she made her way to the mess hall as instructed.

Iroh smiled as he caught sight of the two teens entering the room, unknowingly side by side. That is, until they noticed one another. With out even a nod, they split to separate sides of the room.
"So what is this surprise Uncle?" Zuko raised an eyebrow, taking a chair beside him.

"Good things come to those who wait," Iroh laughed.

The young Prince scowled, gaze shifting momentarily to Yumi who just happened to be happily chatting away with one of the guards. He turned to his Uncle.

"Uncle, go tell that girl that there is no flirting on MY ship," he narrowed his eyes.

Iroh laughed and pushed himself up, making his way towards the two. He tapped Yumi on the shoulder and she spun around abruptly.

"Yes?"

"Prince Zuko wishes that you would not flirt with other men. He would rather the flirting be done with him," the General smiled politely.

Yumi shook her head and fell back into a nearby chair, digging her fingers into her calves.

"You've got to be kidding," she looked up into the eyes of the old man before her.

"I would never do such a thing," he gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

The young bender stood and made her way across the room, the guard following her like a lost puppy. She came to a halt in front of the Prince and he met her by standing.

"Did you really mean what you said?"

"Do I look like I was joking?"

"Well, I'm sorry to say but I don't feel the same way," she turned her back to him.

"What?" he raised an eyebrow angrily.

"To me you're just an arrogant Prince with no concern for anyone but himself," she sighed.

"Turn around," he hissed.

"I though that I made myself perfectly clear when I said that I do NOT take orders from a banished Prince!"

Zuko grabbed her shoulder and spun her, smacking her across the face, and clear across the floor. Yumi stood, brushing herself off.

"So, this is why you've never had a girlfriend," she laughed.

"What. Did. You. Just. Say!" Zuko's temper flared.

"Well, if you've treated every girl that you've ever liked the same way you treat me, I can see why you're alone," she brushed a lock of hair out of her line of sight.

"Who said I like you?" he looked around the room angrily.

"You sent General Iroh over to tell me that! You didn't want me to 'flirt' with anyone else but you!"

"I did no such thing! I asked him to tell you not to flirt on MY ship!"

"You lying little coward!"

The crew gasped as flames surrounded the Prince's hands.

"Ag-ni-ki. You and me. On the deck at sunrise," he glared.

"So, you finally want to finish this little game of cat and mouse?" she laughed, crossing her arms over her stomach.

"Shut your mouth or I'll end you here and now!"

"And the winner gets what?"

"Control...power. The loser has no privileges whatsoever on this ship without the other's consent. Agreed?" he smirked.

"Agreed," she headed back to the other side of the room.

"Prince Zuko, are you sure this is wise? You haven't forgotten what happened during your last ag-ni-ki have you?"

"I will never forget Uncle," Zuko's fingers lightly brushed the scar over his left eye.

"Alright. I can not change your mind once it has been set in stone. I wish you the best of luck," the General sighed.

"Thank you Uncle."

"Now, I believe we came down here for music night! Who wants to play the sungi horn?" the old man laughed.

"I will not play that thing," Zuko muttered.

"Well, I believe Miss Yumi was supposed to grace us with a song tonight. Are you ready then?" he turned his gaze to the girl across the room.

"You mean she's going to sing? Aww, I forgot my earplugs," Zuko hissed lightly.

"Ouch that really hurt scarface," she rolled her eyes.

"What did you just call me you little b--," Zuko growled as Uncle put a hand over his mouth.

"There is no need for such harsh language. Espescially at your age," he sighed.

Yumi turned on her heal, heading for the mock stage. One of the crew members brought a chair for her and she thanked him with a kiss on the cheek, glaring at the Prince as she did so. The poor man blushed and left the stage as quickly as he came. The teen pulled away from the hand that silenced him and sat back in his chair.

"Are you ready now?" the ex-general glanced up at her as he took a seat.

She nodded and looked over at the other men who had stayed huddled on the opposite side of the room.

"I apologize for the sound you are about hear. General...Ah... Ex-General Iroh asked me to sing and I agreed. So, this is kind of a warning. If you want to leave, then do it quickly," she smiled happily.

The men shook their heads and chuckled softly. Never had they had a girl with them, let alone perform for them. Zuko shook his head and closed his eyes.

"Wake me up when it's over," he muttered under his breath.

Taking a deep breath, the younger of the two teens began to sing the only song that came to mind. The one she had made up.

moshimo ima subete ga umaku nante ikanai
makesou ni naru toki datte
hitomi wo tojireba kokoro kara
sekai ga miete kuru
Even when it seems that nothing can go right
and you want to just give up,
if you close your eyes,
you can see the world from your heart.

In this world when life can be so tough
You must be strong
Just believe in yourself and don't you fear
So open up your mind and close your eyes
Take another look from the other side
In this world when life can be so tough
You must be strong
Just believe in yourself and don't you fear
So open up your mind and close your eyes
Take another look from the other side

kodoku na yoru demo mayoi osoreru toki mo
ima wa hitori demo kono ashi de doko made mo
aruite ikeru hazu dakara
Even on a lonely night, when you wander afraid,
you may be alone now, but
your feet can take you however far you want to go, so

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara
Look inside yourself kagayaki ga aru kara
Yes, subete shinjite hoshii
You can take another look from the other side
Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,
look inside yourself, there's a shining light there.
Yes, I want you to believe in everything.
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo
Yes, ikiru tsuyosa ga areba
You can take another look from the other side
ai no subete ni deau made...
Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.
Reach into your soul, even if you can't see tomorrow.
Yes, if you have the strength to live,
You can take another look from the other side,
until you find all that is love...

The men stared blankly, listening to the voice that flowed from the lips of the fifteen year old before them. Not a word was spoken for fear of ruining such a pure sound. Zuko's eyes opened, moving up to settle on the girl who'd become the source of his annoyance.

What? That can't be her. I heard that voice back at home but I thought it was just...that girl I'm supposed to call 'sister'. It was her? The voice that lulled me to sleep on those storm-ridden nights? I won't believe it. I need to make that sound stop! She's trying to distract me from the fight in the morning! I'll shut her up personally!

Zuko stood and walked to the side of the little stage, stepping up onto the planks. With a swift movement, he had covered Yumi's mouth with one hand and held both of her wrists with the other, cutting off the sound that had invaded the mind of almost every other occupant of the room. Carefully, he bent down and whispered in her ear.

"I'm NOT waiting until sunrise. We fight now," he whispered.

Yumi glared, nodding her head. Satisfied, he let go of her mouth but kept her wrists locked against one another.
"Let go of me. NOW!" she stood, knocking over the stool.

"Or I could not," he then proceeded to drag her from the mess hall, up the stair case and out onto the deck.

"General Iroh...do you think we should follow them?" a solider asked, finally pulling free from his hazy state.

"No. The two of them need to fight this battle alone. Spectators will just distract them."

"Are you sure that is a wise choice?" another one of the men chimed in.

"Yeah! Won't they kill eachother?" a voice came from the crowd.

"No. They made a deal. They would have never agreed to the terms if they planned on killing one another," Iroh shook his head.

I can only hope that I am right.

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