3-29-06

Wuz up? And once again, I am back. I am happyto be updating again. I really need Britt to write one of these...you haven't met her yet...except for our friends. Well, I am here to show you chappie 2 of 20. Yes, I am on page 13 of chappie 19 and ther will be one more chappie in this Act before Act 2. It will be very explosive. And since we are going over easy stuff in Algebra right now, that means that I can write then. . I have been working really hard and as soon as I am done with this Act, I will probably write the Elegy for Act 2 then work on my SW story alot more until I have typed till chappie 10 or so. So I'll rotate the stories then. Well, I'll stop this unusually short AN and get to the story. Sure...enjoy...and please review. I would really love you if you did.

Scene 2: The Interrogation Begins

Lau's POV

"Grr…" I mumbled as I flopped over on my side. I had to wake up. It was around 8: something in the morning-the usual time I woke up. I reluctantly sat up. I sat on my mat, looking apathetically gazing at my armor. My armor wasn't like anyone else's, as I was the only noble on board and everyone had different cuts. It was black, compared to the dark red of the other armor; mine was jet black with gold trim. The stomach plate was just as long as the others though, with no difference. On the shoulder plates, my family's insignia was present, stamped in gold on the metal. My family's insignia was our surname and the symbol of the torch. On the floor were my leg and arm bracers which were also black, but with gold around the edges. Sitting on top of the armor was my helmets. I had one, which was cut in the style of a noble's and one cut in the style of a normal soldier. The one in cut of the normal soldier had an interchangeable face plate, used when I need to keep my identity a secret. I rarely wore my helmets, but I did on occasion. My leg armor was lighter than the rest of it, offering light protection. I fit the appearance of a man more than one of a woman. The crew always made fun of me because of that. But it made no difference to me.

I rolled to my side and stood up. I rubbed my eyes as I walked to my chest and opened it. I slid out of my red sleeping-yukata and took out a fresh bind. I quickly and silently bound my chest, flattening it. I folded my yukata and took out a pair of pants and a shirt. I slipped them on, clothing myself. I placed the yukata in the chest and I closed it, walking to my dresser. From on top of it, I grabbed two strips of cloth. I pushed up my sleeves and revealed my wrists wrapped in cloth. The cloths went from my wrist to my elbow. I slowly unwound my right wrist and dropped the cloth to the floor. I quickly wrapped it again, covering my light colored skin below. I pulled my sleeve down covering the wrap. I grabbed a bracer from the floor and clamped it around my lower arm. I then slowly reached for the wrap on my left wrist. I hesitantly unwound the cloth, allowing it fall to the floor, gathering in a heap on the ground. I looked at my wrist in silence. I gazed vacantly at it, looking at the discolored, light pink slashes up my arm. I winced and looked away as I quickly wrapped it back up and I slipped down my sleeve and put on a bracer. I also put on my calve braces and slipped on my shoes and I ran out of my room, only to quickly grab my sash and tie it in a knot around my waist. I was late.

"Lau, where have you been? Were you even in your room? I knocked on it at 7:50 and you wouldn't answer." Zuko exclaimed as soon as I walked into the galley. Couldn't he at least give me the peace of silence?

"Wow Zuko, you impress me. You actually knocked. I didn't know you offered that service." I teased him as I sat down at the table with him and Iroh. He just gave me a curt look and didn't respond.

"I learned to knock in the morning. After that one time I came in and your yukata was open at the bust, I have learned to knock." He said, almost blushing. Yeah, a while ago, he came in to tell me something, but I had my yukata not all the way closed because I was about to bind my chest, he saw almost everything. I wasn't too embarrassed, but I knew he was.

"I, like normal people, was asleep. I, unlike you, need sleep to not be grumpy. Do you not get any sleep?" I asked him in more of a sour mood. I was slowly starting the day off wrong. But, I would get over it and get into a better mood. This was the time that I hated having opposite characteristics. And I also hated not being a morning person.

"Very funny Lau, shut up." Zuko stated shortly, giving me a snarl as he talked. I looked to Iroh for a moment, who was enjoying his tea-figured.

"If you two are done arguing I have an announcement to…announce." Iroh cut in, shutting us both up. I sighed, knowing that it was going to be about something irrelevant-like always. Zuko grumbled, not even wanting to know what he was going to say. "I have decided to post pone Music Night, which was originally scheduled for tonight, until we get back on sea." I exhaled sharply. Good, there would be no Music Night soon. But, I knew its return would be eminent.

"That's too bad, Uncle." Zuko responded with false sympathy. I was surprised. Normally by then, he would have asked me to-

"Zeilau, why don't you come this time when we have Music Night? Even Zuko comes. He may not participate, but he at least comes. You should-you might enjoy yourself." Iroh persuaded but to no avail. His talking didn't have too much influence on me though. I had already explained myself numerous times-too many actually.

"No, you can just enjoy yourselves without me. You know what performing means to me-I'm not fully recovered yet. And I don't plan on being around music more than just by myself. I perform for myself alone-no one else." I stated firmly, not wanting a rebuttal from either one of them. I was getting frustrated with him for asking me.

Everyone then grew into an awkward silence, knowing that music was very touchy for me. We continued our meal until it was about 9:00. We stood up and left the servants to their jobs. I walked solemnly out of the galley. I closed the door behind me and we stopped in the hallway.

"Zuko, Iroh, I guess I'll see you later. Good luck." I said, bidding farewell. I watched them as they walked further into the hall towards the exit of the ship. I had a bad feeling about this palce. I didn't like it, but I didn't say anything to anyone – I was strong. And besides, Zuko would think I was a coward. I took one last glance down the hall and I walked away, heading for the hull of the ship. We, the crew and personnel, stayed there during our free time as we had nothing else to do and for the simple fact that Zuko didn't go down there too much. I didn't go there usually as I was normally busy with something else or just not wanting any company.

I walked onto the deck in the hull, observing the men in their leisure time. Some were playing a card game, others were playing pikaria, and some were just plain talking and laughing with each other. Soon, not too long after, some one noticed me and the room grew quiet, and everyone turned to me. I remained silent, just looking at them.

"Alright," I addressed them. "I won't be giving any orders, but the only order for you, is to stay here on this ship. If I find out that anyone of you have set one foot off this ship before consulting me will have to answer this in the normal fashion." I said, only to receive apathetic looks from the men. "You will face me in the steps the rules clearly state."

"We will have to face you? That's all?" Lieutenant Ji scoffed to the man next to him. A few people laughed with him – at me. "I think we can handle that." I didn't say anything back, but I stormed down the stairs down to the floor of the hull. I walked up to where Ji was seated at. I looked at him with no expression: he did the same to me. I hated when people questioned or taunted me – I couldn't stand it. It was from experiences as a child – things that happened to me during my childhood that scarred me for life. I then reached out and viciously grabbed his short hair, pulling his head back, his chin to my face.

"I will not stand for that, Ji. I am your superior officer for the moment, and come to think of it, for my life I am your superior. You will listen to me with no questions asked." I hissed fiercely at him, speaking through my barred teeth. When he threw his barred teeth back at me, I just threw his head to the side, letting go of his hair. "Let that be a reminder to everyone not to oppose me." All the men were speechless. I had never acted in that way nor did I ever think I would. But it felt good. But the crew was too quiet to be afraid or in shock of me. I turned around to see what they were in shock of – ten men. One was the commanding officer as he was in the front.

"Rumor is, is that Zuko has caught the Avatar." The man said slowly, too casually for comfort. He was up to something and I wanted to know what it was. I decided to play his game – a dangerous game.

"That's the rumor, but I wouldn't know. Even if he did, what's it to you?" I asked, playing along, when I knew that I really shouldn't. I didn't know what I was getting myself, and everyone into.

"I was just curious. Why wouldn't you know? Aren't you his right hand man? You have been near Zuko a lot." He stated, looking at his nails. How did he know that I was around Zuko? Was he a stalker? Had he been watching us?

"Yes, I am his right hand man, but how would you know that without watching us closely? And if you're just curious, why do you have ten men with you?" I asked stepping closer to him, adding pressure, making him take a few steps back on instinct.

"It is posted about. There is a warning stating the prince's banishment and the terms of it. And, it also stated that no one is to aid him, his crew, or his side men. You were listed as one of them, next to General Iroh." He said egotistic. I raised an eyebrow. I didn't know that. So did that mean that every one in the Fire Nation knew about my helping Zuko? "My men were just with me so I took them along with me. But back to the point – did Zuko capture the Avatar?" I almost scoffed in inconceivable belief. Did he seriously think that we would just tell him like that?

"I am not to share that information. I am not saying yes or no. You have no reason for the information so I will not disclose it to you." I said, picking up the defense. I was taking my own back since no one would – Zuko would have, but he wasn't there.

"You will tell me the answer. Either that or face the consequences." He said, taking a defensive pose, of what looked like he was ready to fight me.

"Let me guess…you'll fight me." I said, taunting him. He wouldn't stand a chance fighting against me, but he didn't know that. I saw his topknot and knew he was a Master, he probably noticed that I didn't wear a topknot because I never liked them, so my topknot was near my neck, making it a lowknot. "It will take a lot to get through me." He took a few steps to me, but I stood my ground – I didn't move an inch. He reached for my head and before I could move, he, like I had done to Ji, grabbed my knot pulling my head back. He pulled my hair farther back, causing my scalp to throb from the pressure.

"For the last time – did Zuko capture the Avatar?" He said right in front of my face. He started to dig his nails into my scalp but I wasn't sure if it was intentional or not.

"Like I said-" I gritted out between my teeth only to be interrupted by a crewman.

"Yes! Yes he did!" A younger crewman exclaimed. I looked towards him with an icy gaze. I endured all of that just for him to spill the beans!

"Elaborate!" He yelled, ordering my men. How dare he order my men!

"Prince Zuko had apprehended the Avatar but somehow the Avatar managed to escape him. He left and we are still looking for him." The crewman spilt his guts, stepping forward towards the man. Now, I was really mad. How could he betray Zuko like that? In an instant, I raised my foot slowly and using all my body weight, I stomped it down on his foot, standing on my foot. He instantly stepped back in pain, pulling out the ribbon keeping my hair back. My hair fell past my shoulders as he stumbled back.

"A woman? You're a – woman?" He stuttered, almost as if he was astonished. It really shouldn't have been too big of a thing as women were allowed into the navy and army, but we weren't allowed any too high of a position. We couldn't get past Lieutenant.

"Yeah, I am. Now get off my ship! Now!" I said, calmly but sternly. He looked at me queerly, but ordered his men to fall out. As he walked away, he let my ribbon he was holding slowly fall to the floor. I just watched him coldly as he left. I walked to my ribbon and slowly bent down to pick it up, but I just put it inside of my armor, leaving my hair down.

"You are to leave me be. If anything is so important as to bother me, someone better be dying or dead. If anyone sets a foot off this ship, you are a dead man and the vultures will eat well tonight. As you were." I said coldly as I walked away from them, not wanting to see them. I was going to my room – to be alone for awhile.

Well, you got to see the other side of Lau. And I'm not going to give away too many spoilers, but all I'll say is that you will see that side of her again-sometime... Well, I hope ya'll liked it and now, I will sign off and let you be.

-Rika and Meow

Preview:Scene 3: A Plea and a Warning