READ AND REVIEW! Or Zuko gets it.

Disclaimer: I don't own avatar but I kidnapped Zuko. He's mine all mine Muahahaha

Zuko: Help me she's crazy

Me: Muahahahahaha

Zuko: Help! save me from this crazy girl!

phone rings

Me: Hold on I'll be right back

Zuko: Take your time

(3min later)

Me: Hey Zuko where did you go?

New disclaimer: I don't own avatar but I did kidnap Zuko but he ran away sob


Shopping with Iroh

A yawn escaped Araic's mouth; her eyelids fluttered like butterflies as the morning rays pierced them like a kid with a pin. Pinning them shut. She moaned slightly as she shifted, trying to find at least a semi-comfortable sleeping position.

"This must be the must uncomfy bed in the history of beds" She moaned.

Straining her eyes against the blinding light she glimpsed at the surroundings. Everything looked so big, as if she had shrunk, as if her bed had sunk into a quicksand floor. It took her brain a few moments to realise that she was in fact sleeping on the floor on a lumpy mattress.

"Ohhh." She thought, "That explains the view and the ache in my back"

Her muscles groaned as she pulled herself out the basic bed.

Zuko towered over her his face as stormy as usual. A draught invaded the room blowing his ink black hair like branched of a willow tree in a gale.

"We're going to be landing soon. I suggest you change and come down to breakfast," He said in the cold monotone mask.

Araic nodded. Slowly getting up and smoothing the creases in the dress. It hung limply off her body, ripped in parts.

"Here" Zuko threw a bundle of cloth at her "bathrooms in there. Don't take to long"

And with that Zuko stomped off to get some breakfast.

Araic examined the bundle of clothes. There was a long-sleeved, crimson dress with an embroided golden fire-lily design and the fire-nation emblem embroided on the ends of the sleeves.

"Probably worth over 3000 gold pieces." She murmured

There was a sash-thingy as well. It was a smoky black embroided with more fire-lilies and flames.

She took the bundle into the bathroom and ran a quick bath.

--------------X------------------

She tied the sash tightly around her waist and gave her messy hair a quick brush.

There was a bang on the door, shaking the door so much it nearly came off its hinges.

"Hurry up! We're going ashore! Unless you want to swim! Move it peasant!" (((Guess who))) shouted at the door.

Araic rolled her eyes and opened the door. Avoiding the punch that Zuko threw at the door in the exact moment she opened it.

"Serves you right for taking so fucking long. We're never going to capture the little bastard at this rate." Zuko grumbled and marched off, bashing into Iroh. " Watch where you're going old geezer!"

"Is he always like this in the mornings?" Araic asked Iroh.

"Mornings? My dear, he's like this all day." Iroh chortled.

---------XxX-----------

"Can't this boat go any faster?" Zuko demanded as they pulled up slowly into the dock.

The boat ached slowly forward and then the continuous puff of steam stopped. Zuko leapt off the ship and disappeared into the market crowd.

"Right lets get that hand of yours sorted out and then we can go SHOPPING!" Iroh beamed

"What for?"

"Who cares I always say 'It's not finding something that you were looking for, it's finding something you weren't, at a great price." Iroh beamed. Then turned to lieutenant Ji "Now I want you to take a few men to get supplies and I want the rest of the crew to search for Mirrac. When you find him send me a message on one of the small hawks."

The market was bustling with people of many different shapes and sizes. A few of them gave Araic a good stare when they seen her scar. Iroh noticed this and bought her a purple hat that flopped to one side. Completely covering her left eye. A fat merchant tried to sell Iroh a new set of Pai Sho pieces but he noticed there were know white lily tiles and refused to buy them. ((((that's a bit OOC isn't it. I mean Iroh NOT buying something…maybe he's ill?)))

Finally after wading through the sea of buyers and sellers they got to a small shop. A display of bottles and potted plants stared out from the windows. The blue paint was peeling from the windows. Iroh pushed open the rickety door. A light tinkle of chimes announced their arrival.

The room was quiet apart from the silent trickle of water from a tap in another room. Iroh seated himself on one of the bamboo chairs. The room had an over powering scent of plants. Thousands of different scents rolled into one. The fresh pine, clean mint, sweet panda lilies and other plants she could not even pronounce their names never mind remember. She wandered round the waiting room touching the leaves of a potted palm with her good hand.

"Ahhh. Can I help you good sir? Have you got a back problem?" The voice belonged to a tall woman. Her silvery hair was scooped into a high bun that seemed so tight that it stretched her brown skin. Her huge, blue eyes glistened with intelligence. She was clad in a sea of blues that swished like waves whenever she moved.

Iroh bellowed. "No not me this time Madam Lin. She's broken her hand and has a cut eye."

"I see. Please come in here" Madam Lin ushered Araic into the next room.

There was an artificial waterfall in the room, which flowed into a pond in the centre of the room. A few giant fish swam around in the pond. The room was painted a sky blue. As Madam Lin shut the door the bustling market noise was cut off and the only noise present was the calming trickle of water and the swish of Madam Lin's clothes.

"I'll heal your hand first. OK" She smiled and sat on a mat beside the pool. "sit here child and place your hand in the pool"

"In the water? Won't that loosen the bandages?"

"Yes but when you leave you won't need them." She said gently

"Um. Ok then"

Araic dropped her hand in the pool of water, startling the fish that swam away to the other end. She gasped as the cold water pierced her hands. The soaking bandages scratched her hand and began to come loose. Madam Lin placed her hand on Araic's. Suddenly her hand began to glow. Araic feel the water freeze. It got cold, so terrible cold that it burned. So horribly cold that she couldn't feel her hand. Suddenly a shake took her body.

"Don't move" She said her eyes closed

Araic tried to stop moving. Then the freezing heat stopped and the water returned to normal. The fish returned, tugging at Araic's bandage. Madam Lin lifted her hand out of the water, wiping it on her blue dress.

Araic gingerly lifted her hand out and pulled the bandage off. Her hand was healed. She stared at it, clenching her fingers into a fist then letting them go.

"How…?"

"I'm a waterbender it's one of my skills"

Araic nodded.

"Now let me see your eye."

Araic took off her floppy purple hat.

"I'm sorry there's nothing I can do."

"wha-what do you mean you can't heal it. I thought you could heal anything."

"I can, but if I can't heal that" she pointed a long ringed finger at her eye, "because it's against the law"

"why?"

"It's the mark of a criminal I'm not allowed to heal criminals. I shouldn't even have healed your hand" a tinge of worry in her voice.

"But I didn't do anything wrong. I got it from helping the…" Araic cried

"it doesn't matter what you did. You could be a petty thief or a murderer. No one cares what you did but who you are and you are a criminal." She said harshly "Now get out of my shop. NOW!"

"I…I…" Araic's eyes welled up, a lump formed in her throat. She shakily got up and walked into the waiting room

"So how'd it go" Iroh asked hopefully

Araic looked tearfully at him

"ohh I see. Wait her hold on"

Araic sat down shakily on the bamboo chair. She could the muffled voices from the room.

Iroh returned. His brow was creased but he put on his cheesy smile.

"Lets go to a makeup shop and get you some…what is it called again"

A voice from the pool room shouted out "CONCEALER!"

"Em ok." Araic muttered

---------xXx-------------

(((3 hours and several shops later))))

"Right we've done all the shops on that side how about getting some nice plants for your room" Iroh said as he handed one of the crew a bundle of items and ordered the man, his arms brimming with random items, to leave the stuff in Iroh's room.

Araic's legs' felt like lead. She trudged along behind Iroh like an old dog. So that's why Zuko ran off as soon as we docked. I can see why. Araic liked shopping as much as the next person but every one had their limits. So far the past three hours had lead her through every clothes, shoes, games, music, art and…actually there were very few shops they'd missed.

The shop Iroh was shepherding her into one that looked more like a jungle than a plant shop. The windows of the shop were choked full of plants. Jagged spines conflicted with round soft leaves. Dazzling little flowers intertwined with giant sunflowers. The creaky sign that swung above the door read "The rainforest". Ivy trailed down from it. It was like the plants had conquered the shop and were moving on to their next target…the world!

Iroh opened the door and they were almost knocked over by a tsunami of aroma. Araic's eyes where like dinner plates as she tried to see every plant at once. She walked over to one potted plant that had two huge blue flowers in bloom and one closed bud that would join the others in a day or so. She touched the waxy bud, it was smooth under her fingers. Suddenly it burst open, releasing a puff of sweet perfume. It was a few shades lighter than the two.

"Ahhh. I see you have discovered the moonflower, an excellent specimen to study. Funny, I've never seen one that light before." The words came from a crippled, old lady. Her silver hair was swept back into a tight bun but several strands had escaped. Her eyes were framed with several wrinkles and she leaned on an oak walking stick.

"Welcome to my shop. I have every plant in the Earth kingdom and a few that are not in the Earth Kingdom. How may help you"

"I'm just looking for some plants for my room"

"I see what is the colour-scheme?"

"I haven't decided yet…probably a fresh green colour"

The old woman vanished behind a giant palm tree. She returned with a potted plant. Its buds were close. It was called the "sea rose".

………...…………

Araic could see her room in her head.

As you walk in you notice a huge wooden wardrobe to the left a vine is climbing up the light green wall beside it. Creeping up its light blue flowers' sparkling out and a gust of a blueberry like scent hits you.

You notice that the floor is made up of at least a 2 inches of soil but there is a thin stone path guiding you in. It branches off like the vine. One branch leads the wardrobe and another leads to the bed in the top left corner. A small weeping willow bends ver the bed on the left, it's sandwiched between the bed and the wall. It branches droop over the bed like an umbrella. To the right of the bed, perched up against the wall is her spear. It stood like a tree in the bed of blue flowers. A mixture of sea roses and moon flowers. The spear is stands beside the window. Where Araic can see the rolling waves.

A vine sprouts from the ground beside the window. Its flowers are white with green flecks. They have a fresh aroma, like newly fallen snow.

On the right wall, furthest away is a wooden desk., another path leads to it. A potted plant sits on the desk. It's a mint plant. The leaves give out a clean, fresh, minty scent. Ivy is crawling up the leg of the desk. And a vine with huge yellow flowers climbs up the wall behind it. Beside, a bed of fire flowers and red carnations dance beside the fireplace.

The fireplace is huge and the sides are decorated with brass trees and birds. Another vine, this one with huge red and orange flowers crawls up and over the mantle piece. A cushiony chair sits in front of the fire, a green woollen blanket draped over its back. The path branches to the seat as well.

Everywhere else on the floor is a mixture of grass and random flowers. Soft under you're bare feet and give a quiet, background fragrance.

……..……

"Iroh?"

"Yes"

"Can we visit the weapons shop. I was hoping to buy a knew spear."

"Of course. Maybe we'll bump into my nephew"

……))))xXx((((….

Zuko looked at the duelling swords. They were perfect. The sides were sharpened and were engraved with dragons. They shone out from the window begging to be bought.

"There's nothing wrong with your old ones"

"Yeah but they're so SHINY!"

"But look how much they cost!"

I know but you…I mean I… deserve something nice for once. I mean the ones we've already got are practically antiques

They're reliable

Reliable? They're rusting!

Well maybe they wouldn't be if someONE took better care of them

Shut up! Listen kid I'm the good voice in you head and I say "BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY

DON'T DO IT KID

Zuko shook his head dislodging the voices

HEY

HEY WHY DID YOU DO THAT

OHH I think I broke something

Can you break something…I thought we were shapeless

You are I'm more advanced. I learned to take a shape AGES ago

Advanced? Shut it boffin. I can take a shape no problem. WATCH

Congratulation that's the weirdest bunny I've ever seen.

I'm not a bunny I'm a fierce lion. See the mane

Last time I checked lions didn't have cotton-wool tails.

Yeah well they do. What are you supposed to be

I'm an owl

No your not that's a cat

OWL!

CAT!

While his inner demons (a bunny-lion and the owl-cat)or whatever those voices were had an argument of the autonomy of owls and lions Zuko marched in to the shop and bought the swords

Just as he was about to leave the shop he heard a familiar bellowing laugh…Iroh. Zuko eyes grew wide as he hid be hind a stand of spears.

Iroh opened the door and went to look at the armour. Araic made her way over to the stand of shields. Zuko held his breath even the voices had quietened. Araic pulled a spear out and noticed an eye staring out from the space. She was about to scream when a hand shot out.

"shut it peasant I don't want Iroh to find me"

"Araic is everything ok?" Iroh called

"yeah…just found a…lovely spear…that's all."

She had found a lovely spear. It was oak and it the top was a silvery metal, very hard and sharp. It was engraved with little birds and vines. It was beautiful but strong.

Iroh came round the corner. "Ah…have you found a spear you like, Araic. Zuko stop playing behind those spears"

Zuko jumped out. Scowling he said "How did you know I was there" shooting daggers at Araic.

"Most spears don't have pony tails attached."

Zuko scowled.

Iroh bought Araic a different spear this one was made from a black wood with a silver-metal point. It was strong but light, there was a carving of a wolf like dragon at the base. It seemed to fit her best being the child of a wolf. The spear was incredibly long it was two hand-lengths taller than she was. Araic was sure that if she had not been accompanied by the two fire-benders she would have thrown out of every shop. The weird looks were terrible. The people stared, gossiping as she passed, some even crossed the road to avoid her. The guards had stopped them at least 3 times. But every time they did they got a "Do you know who I am. I'm the prince of the fire Nation, heir to the thrown" from the banished prince if he was there or an angry look from Iroh. Either way they left without arresting anyone.

"lets get some tea"

Araic and Zuko followed glumly.

……..

Opposite the teashop was a tiny plot of land. In the centre of the plot of land there was a tiny circus tent. A sign proclaimed it to be 'Madame Jong the fortune-teller' , the letters were huge and painted purple with tiny silver stars. Then in smaller black letters it said 'Sister of the great fortune teller Aunt Woo.'

"Could we go please" Araic asked

"Why, it's a load of shit about who you're going to marry. I have important things to worry about."

"You could ask her about the avatar"

Suddenly there was a piercing whistle. They spun round to find the dark brown messenger hawk swooping down. Iroh caught the bird and unrolled the message attached to its leg.

"I'm afraid my presence is needed else where. Zuko take the young lady to the Fortune-tellers then come straight back to the boat."

"it's a ship" Zuko said

"yes, yes, of course" Iroh said distractedly.

And Araic and Zuko stepped into the dark tent.

WOOOONESSS! I'm finished this chapter. I was going to add what happens in the fortune-tellers tent in this chappie but decided that I'll do it in the next. Then I'll have more time to think about interesting fortunes. Oh something's happening in the next chapter. I'm calling it 'Fortune-tellers and freedom fighters' if you get my drift.

On a more serious note. I get around 80 hits per chapter BUT ONLY A FEW REVIEWS. Hint, hint. The more people that review the quicker these chapters get finished. Hint, hint. Or for those who don't get IT: READ AND REVIEW or I'll get Iroh! Ahem… REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! COUGH, COUGH