Ok this is a long one. I am so happy. All of my reviewers liked it so far! Yay cookies to all! This chapter is or maybe kind of a downer. .Be warned lots of anger possible cussing. Don't own nadda.
Aang woke up first and smiled up at the rising sun. It was earlier then he normally woke up so he got to see the radiant pink and purple turn to blue. He stretched and looked over to where the siblings were supposed to be. Sokka was there but Katara wasn't. Aang rolled his eyes. She had been really taken by a water pouch at the village she must have wanted to get a headstart. He walked over and looked down at Sokka. He nugded him with his foot and waited. Nothing. He squatted down next to him and shook his shoulder. Still nothing. Aamg sighed and turned around to Appa.
"Hey buddy. Wake up Sokka." The large bison groaned and lumbered over to the sleeping teen. He opened his mouth wide and exhaled on Sokka. Sokka sat straight up hacking trying to cover his nose.
"I'm UP." Sokka groweld expecting his sister, as he turned and looked at the bald headed monk.
"Where's Katara?" Aang shrugged.
"I think she went to the market already." Sokka rolled his eyes. It wasn't the first time she had run off before fixing them breakfast. They got up and around and headed to the market to find Katara.
What does he want with me! I hate him so much! Katara's mind screamed. She had curled up in the corner of the cell holding her wrists. They were red and blisters were forming in the shape of his hands. I just had to take a bath! I couldn't stand smelling so bad. I just had to go off by my self. And just get my self captured by a bunch of low-level sniveling Fire Nation troops. Katara felt her eyes brun as the tears again threatened to overwhelm her. She heard foot steps coming outside of the cell door and she tried to scoot as far back into the wall, hoping that she could disappear. No such luck.
The door flung open and the demon entered. Zuko looked down at the girl in pure disgust.He couldn't believe he was going to trust his son's life to the hands of this...peasant. Not that he had any other choice. He had ordered the men to work through the night to patch the hole and get as far away from mainland as possible. He knew the avatar always traveled with the girl and her brother. He knew they wouldn't be far off and he cursed his luck as he had them right under his nose and he had to run from them. The boat had left right before dawn.
He looked down at her and shook his head. He grabbed her by the wrist causing her to wince in pain.
"Come on." He ordered. She furrowed her brows and locked her knees.
"I WILL NOT!" He turned and glared at her letting his hand become warmer and warmer around her already burnt wrist.
"Do you want your wrists to heal?" He threatened resulting inthe stopping of her squirming. In turn he turned his heat back down and drug her to a different part of the ship. He opened the door and through her in.
She wrapped her arms around herself as she looked around. It was a room decorated lightly. A small table with a two chairs, one being occupied by Zuko's uncle. She believed his name was Iroh. His back was to her. Zuko drug her over to the man, not daring to let go of her after shutting, lest she try to hit him with something.
Zuko's felt his teeth clench as his uncle had fallen asleep, baby in hand. Of course he him self was tired. Both him and his uncle had run theirselves ragged trying to keep his son from crying.
He turned and looked at Katara.
"This is what I needed you for."He said with a different tone in his voice. He let go of her hand and took the baby from his still sleeping uncle. He held it out to her and looked at her reading her expressions. Her fear melted into to facination the as suddenly as it had come it was replace by a look of utter repulsion. She grabbed the baby from his arms and held it close to her chest taking several steps back.
"You're more of a monster then I though!" She yelled tears streaming down her face. Her yelling woke Iroh who jumped to his feet. Zuko's face was hard and he wave his uncle to keep silent. The girl was clearly not finished.
"You're murderers! All of you! All the Fire-nation can bring is pain!What did you do! Grow a heart! You decided you couldn't leave a baby after you stole it's parents lives? YOU WILL PAY ONE DAY!" She yelled. The baby woke with the last statement and began to scream.
Zuko pushed back the urge to rip his son from this wretchs hands. He decided it best to play along. She wouldn't never believe him.
"I need you to take care of him till I find a suitable home." He said trying his best to remain calm. She just shot him a dirty look. He couldn't take it any more and left with a huge slam. Iroh shook his head and walked over to the girl. She glared at him.
"Get away from us." She said pulling the baby in closer and turning her side to the old man.
"I'm not going to hurt you miss.The baby's parents were not killed by us. We merely took the child after it was given to one of our men." The old general sort of lied. Katara didn't want to believe it. Zuko had no heart. But something in the old man's eyes lead her to believe that if what he said was true then it was his idea not that arrogant prince.
"What do you wnat from me?" She said falling to the floor looking at the baby who's screams had hushed to a mere whimper.
"Just take care of Riyo. You will be treated kindly while you do. And I ask you not as ageneral but as an old man wishing the best on his nephew, allow Zuko to watch you with the baby. How you handle him at least. You will be guarded round the clock but he want's to learn to take care of him hisself. Perhaps you teaching him to care for the child, he will let you go in turn." the old man said rather lagging on from lack of sleep. She gave a softnod and wiped her face. Iroh sighed and walked out headed to his room for much needed sleep.
Katara looked down at the small baby. She smiled and uncovered him a little so she could see him.
"So the monster named you Riyo. Well I guess it works." She touched the baby's cheek softly. He was a pretty baby, but very thin as if his mother hadn't eaten well enough before she had him. He had a head full of silky jet black hair. And his eyes were still that newborn cerulean blue, not yet changing to the life long pigment. Riyo seemed to look up at her, but she knew he couldn't see her. He was still to young for his vision to be clear. He again started to whimper about to lead into a cry. She stood up and walked over to the table where she had seen Iroh set the bottle. She shook it a little and gave it to him.
"I guess we're in this together."
Zuko listened outside the door. Monster. The word haunted him. He heard her start to hum as she walked back and forth in the room. He knew she would jump to that conclusion but who wouldn't after his reputation. He frowned deeper when he heard her start talking.
" I know something that used to call me down. My mother used to sing me this same lullaby." Zuko listened harder as he heard her voice softly began. He voice was very soothing, almost angelic. It wasn't till the second time around that he caught the lyrics.
Baby on an Iceberg, Floating in the sea. My sweet little child. Sleeping sweet just for me. Baby on an Iceberg. Peaceful as can be. One day return from where you came. Back to the ocean blue sea.
"AHH YOU GO AWAY!" The vender yelled at Aang stepping in front of his cart. Aang looked at him funny.
"I just want to ask you a question."
"NO ! Everytime I meet up with you MY CABBAGES ARE RUINED!" He said trying to push Aang away. It was then Sokka came running up to them and ( I just had to do it) slipped in a puddle slidding into Aang and the Vender causeing an avalanche of cabbages. Sokka got up and grabbed Aang.
"I couldn't find her." Sokka said as they walked away from the vender who was now crying ans screaming something about giving up.Aang shook his head.
"Me neither." The continued walking until a beautiful girl stopped them. She had long brown hair and green eyes. Clearly Earth Kindom born.
"Hey there handsome." She said in a sultry voice. She walked over and put her hand on Sokka's chest.
"You looking for something." Sokka's face turned bright red and he shook his head. Aang started to say something when an older lady with red hair walked up another girl at her side. The other girl had black hair and a deadness in her eyes.
"Justzi, I told you to take Malana with you! She has to earn her keep to!" The brown hair girl turned and frowned.
"She'll run off all of my customers with her piss poor attitidute, Reisha." the balck haired girl looked up at Aang and Sokka and frowned. She torn from the madams grasp and took off back towards the brothel. Justzi shook her head looking back as Sokka.
"Don't mind her, she's mad because she got blew off by a prince." Sokka shook his head.
"Look lady. I know what you are and I'm not interested." He said putting his hands up. Aang was quiet for a moment then a thought hit him.
"We're not near a tribe or a kingdom, who was the prince?" He asked hoping not to hear the answer he thought it was going to be. The girl didn't seem to mind answering.
"Oh real go get er. Gorgeous golden eyes, milky skin, and this incredible air of dominance to him." Aang shuddered at the descriptionitbeing all to similar but at the same time opposite of the discription he would give.Sokka realized who she might be discribing.
"Did he have a scar?" Sokka as his throat tightening. She nodded.
"Yeah, he did. It made him all the more desireable, though." Sokka felt vomit start to collect in his throat at the thought of that arrogant Prince Zuko being desireable. Aang grabbed Sokka's arm and began running back to camp. Justzi scoffed.
"Dammit, and he was cute too."
Aang was pulling Sokka along then suddenly it felt more like he was dragging him. He turned around and Sokka had went dead weight.
"Sokka?" He ask kneeling down next to him. He rolled him over on his back and fell back ashe looked at him. Sokka's eyes were rolled back in his head, which was damp with sweat, and a lathery foamy substance started to escape the corner of Sokka's mouth. Aang caught his breaht and crawled back over to his friend.
Alrighty that's it for now.