Chapter 9:
"It's just a robe." Zuko said as I released him.
"I know, but you've done alot of things for me." I said quietly.
"Well, here you go, I'll wait outside for a moment so you can change." he said as he handed a black robe with red ties and neck line.
He walked out to the hallway and I stood in the middle of the room holding the robe and wondering how I'd managed this. I pulled off my skirt and top and pulled on the robe. It fit suprisingly well, especially for something of a teenage boys. I was quite happy with it coming down to my knees, and it closed just below my collarbone.
I walked to the door after I had put my other clothes in a saddle bag. I put my hand on the door and was about to open it when I heard Zuko talking to someone.
"Are you planning on kissing her or not? I mean come on. She totally likes you. And I can't get near her unless you soften her up first." came one voice.
"You can't get near her period. And she doesn't like me. Ok? So stop asking me to help you. Because I won't." came the second voice.
"Fine. Then she's mine. Go and tell her to come to my room if you don't like her."
"No! She's not going to be your toy. And I never said I don't like her, just that she doesn't like me."
"Actually, I do like you." I said as I opened the door and looked at Zuko.
"Don't make me laugh. You don't like him. You like me. You're just playing hard to get." said Jaren from my doorway.
"You are so annoying! Now I've told you before, come near me and I'll slit your throat." I said impatiently.
I walked back into Zuko's room before he could say anything more. I heard Zuko walk in behind me, and Jaren apparently tried to pursue, for Wolf and Lad got up and were growling menacingly at him.
I sat down on the bed and watched as Ealorr walked up to me with my cloak in his mouth, how he managed to get it out of my saddle bag I'll never know. Zuko took off his shirt (O.o questions self, why can't I be Akina?) and laid down on one side of the bed. I pulled my cloak over me and curled up on the other side. Ealorr laid down next to the bed and I put my hand out to stroke his neck.
I curled up a little tighter and closed my eyes. Soon I had fallen into a deep sleep entered only by dreams flitting through my subconscious.
I woke up with a clear head. That was a first. I sat up a little, I must have had a restless night, another first, for I wasn't where I had curled up earlier. I was still curled up a bit, but I had fallen on the floor, and was now curled up next to Ealorr. I found what had awoken me though. Ealorr was snorting at me and pushing my hair around with his muzzle.
I sat up more and my cloak slid off my shoulders. The robe had stayed in place, and my dagger was slung around my neck. I must have forgotten to remove it last night I thought to myself. I stood up and looked around. Zuko must have already woken up. The room was empty. I walked over to the door. I pushed it hard, but I couldn't get it to close. I didn't trust myself to change before anyone came by, so I pulled my cloak around me and walked up to breakfast.
Jaren looked up as I walked in. I held my cloak tighter around me. I sat down, but Zuko wasn't across from me. He wasn't there at all as far as I could tell. I ate quickly and walked up to the deck. As I got up past the last stair I saw Zuko standing at the place I usually stood.
I took a step closer and tripped on something.
As usual not a sound escaped me as I fell. My cloak came loose as I stuck my hands out to stop myself. I landed on the floor with a very light thud, my cloak coming undone and landing beside me. I stood and brushed myself off, pulled my cloak around me again, and looked at what I had tripped over. I couldn't see anything on the ground so I looked around the deck. Then I saw it.
"Jaren you idiot! Why'd you trip me?" I said before I could control my anger. I felt my arm heat up and flames licked my wrists. As he stared stunned at my outburst the flames intwined themselves through my hair.
"I-I-I didn't mean to." he answered fear in his voice. This lie only brought more flames through my arm. The antidote only worked to keep the demon poison from spreading, but where it already hit, there is no cure. I remembered this as Avari hissed in my ear to calm down.
I walked back down below to where Lad and Wolf were trotting by. They stopped by me and sat looking up at my hidden face. I walked past them and they followed. I walked down to Zuko's room and entered. I turned and pulled the door with my right arm, it closed this time. I pulled on my black top and knee length skirt. The things on top of the saddle bag. I didn't bother with my sash, cloak or hat. I pulled my quiver and bow over my shoulder and tied my knife around my waist.
I walked up to the deck once more to find Jaren's ship pulled up once more to Zuko's. Jaren walked up to his own ship with his guards carrying his things. As soon as he was on his own ship it set off, away from us.
"Finally" I said under my breath. I headed down to my room to see how much he had destroyed. When I walked in I found it to be quite the way I left it, except the bed was a mess, and the bag I had forgotten was open and my things had been rifled through. "I'm gonna have to burn those" I said without as much joke as I had used with Ealorr.
