Hey people! Another new idea that hit me square in the face and knocked me out of my bed in the dead of night. Well I'll see where this will get me. Let me know what you think. I hope you like it. going by the story line from episode 4-6 in this chapter
Disclaimer: Sadly enough I do not own avatar and I do not make any money off of this or any other story I wrote; if I did make money of it there would be at least ten new chapters uploaded each week, but since you don't see my stories finish with a month's time I do not make money off of it. I do own me isn't that wonderful? No? Oh well it's something and I'm all mine. LOL!
NOTE: Pure amber can be recognised by a fossilized bug that is within it. If there's a fossilized insect in your amber you can be sure you've got pure amber. (my dad's a fossil and rock fan! He knows and I asked him specifically!)
"speak"
'think'
/memory/
Chapter 3, The Warriors of Kyoshi
Several days passed with no sign of the avatar and Zuko was stomping around stressedly as they had lost all track of the avatar who seemed to go north in an incomprehensible pattern that made no sense. Yao had completely recovered now and was back to work. Liu and I were tending to Ling and Col who had been involved in an engine room incident and had gotten badly hurt. When I was done Col said I could take the day off we'd dock soon at Kyoshi to look for the Avatar who was seen there. I went on deck and enjoyed the view. When we reached the coast line I saw something near the rocks. I gasped when I realized it was Katara the girl that travelled with the avatar.
"Zuko look over there it's-" I started but he interrupted me immediately.
"Not now Shula." he said angrily.
"But it's the-" I tried again.
"I'm busy whatever it is you'll have to show me later." Zuko bit at me.
"But Zuko it's important I just saw the Av-" I didn't get any further.
"I said not now!" Zuko yelled slapping me in the face. Shocked my right hand went up to my cheek as my left curled into a fight I glared at Zuko angrily and before I knew what I did I slammed my fist into his stomach. He gasped in shock and doubled over. I glared at him angrily.
"Never ever hurt me." I spat out at him before turning and running below deck to my room.
I looked in the small mirror that Iroh had bought for me a while back and saw the red mark that Zuko's hand had left on my cheek. It stung. I dried my tears and got up again. I went to the infirmary to make a compress on which I put some arnica to make sure my cheek wouldn't bruise. Then I snuck back to my room and stayed there the rest of the day. Some time after I got the compress Iroh came to my room.
"Zuko has left the ship he won't be back until later. I heard you knocked the wind out of him earlier. What happened, Kimmy?" Iroh asked. I was surprised no reprimands no harsh words just 'what happened?'. Back home I would have been yelled at for even thinking of hitting someone but Iroh just sat next to me and asked me what had happened; he wasn't angry or disappointed. He seemed a little surprised though. I sighed and told the man about what I saw between the rocks near the shore and how Zuko wouldn't listen and when I kept trying he had hit me in the face. Iroh then asked to see my cheek and I removed the compress. My cheek was still red and it stung but it wouldn't become a bruise or swell much thanks to my good care. I then returned the compress and told Iroh of how I hit Zuko in the stomach and told him never to hurt me. Iroh started to laugh. I thought he would've told me that I shouldn't have done that or something but he just laughed and told me that if Zuko ever tried to hit me again to remind him of what happened today. Iroh said he had to go and would talk with Zuko about his behaviour when Zuko returned. Before leaving he told me he'd bring my dinner to my room tonight
At dinnertime there is a knock on the door and expecting it to be uncle Iroh or one of the men with my food I tell the person to enter. Much to my surprise it is Zuko who walks in and puts down the plate of food. I look away immediately and wait for him to leave, but he doesn't. After a while of silence I turn to him my eyes set in a mixture of hurt, pain and anger. I notice Zuko stares at my cheek. He sits down next to me and removes the compress before I can do anything. My cheek is still red from where he hit me, I can feel Zuko's fingers trace the outlines of the mark. I pulled away grabbing the compress from Zuko as I did so and returning it to my cheek. My anger slowly dissipates and is replaced by confusion. I silently wait for Zuko to make the next move by either leaving or finally talking.
"I-I… I'm sorry about slapping you. I was frustrated, but I had no right to hit you." he finally said softly. Slowly my confusion made place for surprise and sadness. I turned away trying to keep from crying but it seemed today would not be my day. I made no sound as the tears freely trailed down my cheek. I stepped away from my bed and out of the circle of light that the candles around it made. Quickly I rubbed away the tears feeling stupid for crying again. I took a deep breath and finally found control over my feelings.
"I wanted to help. I-I saw him; the Avatar. He and Katara were hiding behind those rocks. I-I only wanted to help." I said softly as to hide the edge of sadness in my voice and my confusion.
"I know I can be…difficult sometimes but I didn't mean to hurt you and I shouldn't have." Zuko said I could tell he felt ashamed about what happened; most likely because his men saw my retaliation.
"I guess I could forgive you, but I meant what I said. Never ever hurt me. No one has ever been able to lay a hand on me and get away without a scratch." I said. Zuko chuckled lightly.
"…and here they have the biggest market you'll ever see and the most tea shops." Zuko said pointing to a little blip on the map named Yeo it was in the firenation owned part of the earth kingdom. I nodded and listened as Zuko told me about the town. Zuko had been staring at his maps all morning again and I had nothing to do so I went and brought him lunch and I ended up staring at the map also as Zuko showed me all the special places and told me what you could do there.
"Sir! We've reached a firenation rig, it seems like there was a fight of some sort." Yao said. He'd recovered nicely in the past weeks. Zuko nodded and left with Yao;. Yao saluted me with a smile and I returned the gesture. Yao laughed and left also. I got up and went on deck I saw the rig it was huge, the smoke made me cough badly. Suddenly I was patted on the back I looked up once my coughing subsided enough to allow me to do so and found Iroh smiling sympathetically at me.
"Zuko is on the rig, you'd best stay here it's not safe there." he said putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I-I (Wheeze) I-eh (cough, cough) I…" I stumbled to get out an understandable sentence as I breathed heavily still from the smoke. I once again erupted in a coughing-fit.
"Maybe you should go inside." Zuko's voice said from somewhere to my left. My sight became blurry from the smoke and I felt dizzy. I slowly nodded and went back down to the infirmary.
Liu saw how much trouble I had breathing and immediately put Eucalyptus leaves in a bucket of hot boiling water and set it on the bed with me. I put my head above the bucket and breathed slowly and heavily for several minutes before I was finally able to breathe normally again. I thanked Liu for his help and complemented him on learning quickly (I was teaching Liu herbal medicine in my spare time) Iroh and Zuko came to see how I was doing now and insisted I stayed in the infirmary overnight just to be on the safe side. Well Iroh insisted. Zuko simply ordered me to stay put and with that I was once again confined to the infirmary. The rest of the night I quizzed Liu on his herbs.
"What herb can be used to reduce scarring with wounds?" I questioned. Liu stared at the herbs hanging from the wall now and finally picked one out.
"Gotu Kola, you can make a tincture and use ten to twenty millilitres on the wounds and do this three a day." Liu said determinedly. I smiled and nodded.
Zuko POV
I passed the infirmary on my way to my quarters and overheard Shula talking with Liu.
"What herb can be used to reduce scarring with wounds?" Shula questioned. Liu stared at the herbs hanging from the wall now and finally picked one out.
"Gotu Kola, you can make a tincture and use ten to twenty millilitres on the wounds and do this three a day." Liu said determinedly. She smiled and nodded. Liu smiled proudly. He was learning fast which is a good thing after all if Shula ever left or something happened to her we would need him to know these things, as herbs are far easier to get by then other medicine.
Shula yawned and Liu decided that they'd studied enough for that night. He went to his quarters greeting me as he passed. I quickly went to my room and laid down. I held up the necklace that I had found on the rig, it belonged to that water tribe girl Katara. It might become a valuable asset in finding the avatar. I put the necklace away and wondered who had given it to her.
'Maybe one day when I've captured the avatar and father lets me return home, I'll make an engagement necklace for my fiancé too. Well that is when I'm engaged to someone of course. And my necklace will be much better then this thing, I'll make one of pure amber with a flame in it and it'll hang from a crimson sash. It'll be worthy of the fiancé of the future fire-lord. Yes just watch father! I'll return with the avatar you'll see! You'll all see! Then you'll be proud of me, finally.'
Yay four done in one day! I'm on a roll! Don't stop me now! Oh eh REVIEW! Please?
