Chapter Four:

Disclaimer and all that: I don't own da avatarness. But, as my cat as my witness, I WILL :D (Cat goes to sleep) Note: A few Disney songs will appear :)

Mei Ying woke before dawn and decided she'd pull her own weight around the ship. She grew up around having to do chores, so she figured this place could use a bit of a clean up. By dawn; she had already hung the clothes out to dry. She used her water bending to wash them; and hung them on the railing near the helmsman place. They were back in their rightful rooms; clean, before Zuko got up to train Cong.

When they stopped on an island; Iroh bought Mei Ying and Cong clothes. Zuko and Mei Ying left to search for the avatar while Iroh trained Cong with what Zuko lacked...teaching skills. As Zuko and Mei Ying rode; a razor came and struck Zuko across the face. They both looked up toward the tree tops and witnessed as Jet appeared out of the tree and tried to strike him again. Mei Ying shot water at Jet; the Rhino knocked them to the ground and ran. Mei Ying caught Zuko before he hit the ground and wiped his face with the bottom of her dress. He got to his feet and shot fireballs at Jet; mostly protecting Mei Ying. Before either of them knew what happened, Mei Ying's hands were tied with a rope and pulled to the top of the trees.

"Let her go!" Zuko ordered. His flames couldn't reach the height she was at; but he knew who to take his anger out on.

"We won't hurt her." Jet told him,dodging all his attacks. "Why would we harm such a pretty face? if anything; she'll be my bride!" That was it; that was what set him into a fit of rage. He shot waves of fire contiously at Jet; he wouldn't let anything happen to Mei Ying, let alone have her married to such a self-absorbed punk. "What do you say chickie?" Jet called up to her. "Marry me?"

"Hell no!" All Mei Ying could do was watch Zuko fight for her, and try to scramble for freedom. She swung her legs in all directions; trying to free herself from the freedom fighter's grip. She tried every little thing she could think of; but it was futile. Soon; she saw Zuko struck down onto the ground; and he didn't get back up.She hung there with her eyes wide; and tears coming from them after going through the worst possibility. "Fine Jet.." She had learned his name during the fight. "I'll marry you.."

She didn't know why she agreed to it; she could have gone on without Zuko; but somehow she didn't see a point. She could do the exact same work she did back in her village; and; as the elders said to her; bring shame upon any man who would be foolish enough to marry her; ok not those exact words but somewhere around there. Jet had a ship made from wood which he used to sail from island to island 'ridding it' of the fire nation. She was put in Jet's bedroom where she was to wait. But for what? For a life of marrying someone she didn't love? That sounded like her fate if she stayed back at her water tribe. As much as she wished he hadn't agreed; she knew that fate was unforgettable sometimes.

Zuko opened his eyes a couple of hours later. He held his head and wiped the blood off his cheek. He sat there in a daze for a moment before realizing Mei Ying was gone. He scrambled to his feet and glanced around for her. Damn! He growled irritated. He returned to his uncle and Cong; who had gone through a full day's training. Cong asked him where Mei Ying was.

"I don't know." He answered bitterly. Cong's eyes widened with both fear and anger.

"Why the hell don't you know? She was with you! You were supposed to protect her!"

"Cong." Iroh tried to calm him down. "Getting angry won't bring her here." Cong moved away from Iroh so he couldn't be held back.

"I don't care! I want my sister!" He spun back to Zuko and had fire in his eyes. "Find her!"

"Where do you suppose I look?" He asked sarcastically. "I don't exactly know what to ask."

"Bring me! I have a way to find her!" Zuko agreed; it couldn't hurt to bring her bother along; and at this point he'd go with any ability to find her. They descended the ship and started looking. About half way through their looking Cong started to yell. "Mei Ying! Mei Ying!"

"Oh well I could have done that." Zuko told him irritatingly; that was such an obvious way.

She wiped the tears out of her eyes. She was regretting her choice as her hour of doom drew near; she figured if she ran now; she could escape. But where too? Zuko was dead. She knew Iroh would still let her come aboard but Zuko had been following the avatar; which allowed Mei Ying to see the world. What would they do now?

"Mei Ying!" She heard Cong's voice echo. She jumped from the bed and ran to the window where she saw Cong and Zuko looking for her. She grinned and climbed out one of the windows and ran to them. Zuko and Cong grabbed onto her as soon as she got there; Cong holding the tightest.

"I thought you were dead!" She cried to Zuko. He held tightly onto the only person who really understood his pain.

"Mei Ying!" She looked down at her twelve year old brother. "I thought I lost you!" He hugged onto her waist like a little boy. She laughed and asked him to let go.

"that was cute when you were little; now it just hurts." Cong let go of her and the two laughed.

"I hate to break this up." Zuko said finally. "But if we don't leave soon; they're going to come after you." Mei Ying nodded and the three of them retreated back to the ship where they were welcomed by Iroh.

Mei Ying was greeted in her room by a new dress laying on her bed. Iroh had gotten it for her while she and Zuko were out. It was a long, red, robe which had an obi laying beside the bed. The dress could be worn with, or without the obi; either way worked. He only bought her the obi because he wasn't sure how she'd like wearing it. So she decided to wear it without. She smiled and changed into it before dinner; to show her appreciation for the dress. Her hair was left tied in it's water tribe fashion; but just before she left; she reconsidered..

Zuko and the others waited for Mei Ying to come. When she didn't arrive right away; Cong was asked where she was.

"I'm not her keeper." He answered half bitterly. "She's a girl; girls take forever to get ready. Wether they act like girls or not." They continued waiting for her; no knowing she would be angry with them if they started before she got there. It was a good five minutes before they heard her come in.

She was wearing the long red dress Iroh had bought for her; and her hair hung to her waist; Zuko for the first time looked at her as a woman, and not just someone who had gone thought he same he went through. The dress made her look a lot more feminine than she really was; he had to tell himself not to blush; because they'd see his pale face grow red. But he couldn't help stair at her in amazement. She acted like a man; she fought like a man; and she had a mouth like a man; but the one thing she had as a woman was a body. A beautiful body. He grabbed a cup of tea and drank it so he'd look like he was doing something other than stairing at her.

'bout damn time! I had like..a major block on this story but I think I'm good now. For a while at least. OMG; I updated this story the day after valentines day..which a couple of days later my boyfriend dumped me. one of my friends says they think he's gay; right about now I don't disagree; I think so too but you didn't hear it from me.