Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last Airbender. I own Koima.

Warning for those who do not enjoy unpleasant things, Hence the title. Read at your own risk.

Chapter 5

Ways to kill a Bird…

That night, the Blue Spirit visited Zhao's fortress again. This time, he knew what was in the letter from what Koima had told him, he wanted to find out what Zhao was going to do with his newfound power, which he knew would only lead to death and destruction. Zuko entered the fortress the same way he had before, by the Rhino carts. The sun had just set over the fortress, the shadows lengthening as the sun set lower on the horizon, giving Zuko enough cover to slip in through the gates. Zuko had told his Uncle that he had some business to attend to on land, which was no lie. Iroh didn't question him, why should he? But he did ask for Zuko to pick up some tealeaves on his way back.

Zuko slipped into the sewage drains and went into the tower, slipping past the ignorant guards as they laughed and joked with one another about obscene subjects that had Zuko wishing he were deaf. He hid in the shadows of the stairs and as quiet as a snake, he climbed them with no noise at all. He went back into Zhao's room with no trouble. He saw that the room was a mess; papers littered the floor and half eaten food laid rotting on the nightstand. Zuko guessed that since Zhao didn't have Koima cleaning for him anymore, Zhao had not bothered to clean his quarters. Zuko wrinkled his nose in disgust at Zhao's laziness.

Zuko looked for a hiding spot then settled for the bed, he hid under the bed to see what he could pick up from Zhao's talk. What was he going to do to get the Avatar? Since he had a higher rank position and more things were accessible to him now then when he had been a Commander. When Zuko had asked Koima what Zhao was going to do, she replied that he often talked about Archers.

(Flash Back)

Koima was propped up on the bed, awake from her nap and she and Zuko were talking alone. Zuko had to be sure not to mention Zhao's name, or Koima would go unstable again. She was willingly telling him all that she knew about Zhao's plans with for the Avatar.

"Archers?" Zuko question. What could Zhao want with marksmen?

"Yes. Yu-Yan Archers. He said it would be faster to use them to catch the Avatar. Their aim with the bow is unwavering and they almost always hit their mark. He said that the General would not give them to him though. But now since he's an Admiral, his request had been fulfilled." Koima would only say 'he', but Zuko knew whom she was talking about.

'They've probably have captured the Avatar by now!' Zuko thought angrily, how could he compete with archers? Zuko wanted to kill someone, but he held his emotions in. He changed to a different subject, one that he had been thinking about all day.

"Koi, do you remember how you got on my ship?" Zuko asked, wondering if Koima remembered the 'Blue Spirit.'

Koima thought for a moment then shook her head, "No, the last thing I remember though is a man in a black suit and blue mask, standing outside my cage with two broad swords raised over his head. I think he brought me here." She remembered more then Zuko wanted her to, but that cannot be helped.

Zuko shrugged, "I don't know if he did or not or why he did it. But as I said before, I won't tell anyone about this." He said, hoping that Koima would also agree to keep it a secret.

She nodded and relief flooded through Zuko, "I won't either."

(End Flash Back)

Zuko was pulled out of his thoughts by the slam of the bedroom door. It was Zhao, Zuko could see a pair of metal boots walk around, stepping on papers and kicking aside an odd assortment of trash. Zhao paced around the room, muttering under his breath in high bad temper, "Where are they! They should have been back hours ago with the Avatar!" Zhao grumbled.

Zuko listened with growing despair; Zhao had a whole score of Yu-Yan archers under his command, all of them out looking for the Avatar. The highest trained archers in all the four nations, their precision was flawless, always achieving their mark by whatever means necessary.

There was a loud metallic 'Clang!' That almost made Zuko jump. Zhao had thrown an armor plate at the metal cage that Zuko had found Koima in.

"Bitch!" Zhao snapped, "When I find you you'll wish you've never been born! I will find you! I don't know how you got out or how you escaped, but no matter what, I will get you!"

Zuko promised that he would not allow Zhao to even come near Koi, and now, that promise was renewed by the anger Zuko had for Zhao. How could a man hurt a woman so badly? It made Zuko sick with fury.

"I'll kill you Bird." Zhao hissed, getting up and walking to the cage, stroking the metal bars, "But before I kill you, I'll have a little fun, Hmm?" Zuko was sickened by what he heard next. (Warning. mIsSiNsAnE5387 writing scene now)

"Yes….fun. I'll take you first. Then make you beg for more. After we're done with that, I'll tie you up and slowly tattoo my name all over your body, not stopping at the initials, but the whole name. Admiral Zhao. Then we'll have some more fun in your own blood." Zhao started chuckling, making Zuko's skin crawl.

"But why keep you to myself? When I'm through… I'll give you to the men. I'm sure they'll find a use for you. If that doesn't kill you, then burning you alive will. What's more fun then burning up a pathetic little bird? Nothing."

Zuko was thankful that he didn't eat any dinner earlier or he was sure he would've thrown it up hearing Zhao's plans for Koima.

'You sick Bastard!' Zuko thought angrily, 'I promise I will kill you before you even get to see her again. You will die and burn in hell before I let that happen!'

There was a knock on the door, an urgent three raps that stopped Zhao's angered rants.

(Back to me, FyreFlower)

"Sir, come quick!"

Zhao opened the door to see a young soldier, "What is it?"
The soldier panted heavily, "The Avatar! We got 'im! The Archers caught 'im and now their back!"

Zuko's heart fell at these words. All was lost now.

Zhao was pleased, "Lock him up. I'll see to him in a moment."

The soldier saluted smartly, "Yes, sir!" The man left to go carry out the Admirals orders. Zhao chuckled with glee, the Avatar was finally his.

"Haha, caught him before that exiled brat could!" Zhao laughed. Zuko's rage was immeasurable, 'Exiled brat!' Zuko had to mentally restrain himself from jumping out and killing Zhao where he stood. 'Patience' he told himself. He would kill Zhao, but not now. Zhao started fantasizing about the power he would receive for capturing the Avatar, his imagination running on Auto Pilot.

"Maybe Ozai will let me take over the thrown?" Zhao liked this idea, "Fire Lord Zhao, ruler of the world! Haha! I'll have absolute power over everyone and everything. All the Fire Navy fleets under my command, First, I'll make Zuko a slave, belittle him to cleaning after the Komodo Rhino's, clean room with the servants. " Zuko gritted his teeth in anger.

"But what will I do with his sister, Princess Zula…." Zhao mused aloud. Zuko remembered his sister, he didn't like her, but what Zhao said made Zuko ill, "She'll replace Bird. Zula probably won't be as rebellious as Bird was, but she'll do."

Zuko was sick that Koi was a slave for this man for…. Zuko didn't know for how long. No wonder Koi was like she is. She was scared of any man that came into the infirmary besides Zuko, Col, and Iroh. When Lt. Ji came in for a headache, Koima watched him with wary eyes and had not answered him when he asked how she was feeling. She had shied away from him when he got close and had his behind Uncle Iroh. Zuko explained to the Lieutenant that Koi was unused to having men around. That was the best explanation he could give without exposing Koima's past. Lieutenant Ji didn't seem bothered by it, only sympathetic.

"…General Iroh, what do I do with him?" Zhao pondered. He came up with a good plan, "Send him on a suicide mission. I've never liked him anyway."

Zuko became angrier and angrier with every passing second. Finally, Zhao left the room to see to the Avatar. Zuko came out from under the bed. He breathed deeply, trying to control his rage that threatened to explode in a fiery blast. His fists were blazing, smoke drifting from his mouth.

'Your death will be long and painful!' Zuko promised.

Zuko had to 'recapture' the Avatar from Zhao, it's the only way to stop Zhao from becoming more powerful and stopping him from doing what he wanted. Zuko looked out the door, seeing that no one was around, he slipped out quickly, stickling to the shadows, 'Time to find the Avatar.'


My friend helped me with this chapter. She's insane. Please leave a review. What happened after this goes along with Episode thirteen. Everyone knows what happened, so I'm not even going to bother writing and typing it. Hoped you liked. Next chapter is sad, it's with Koima.

When I wrote this story, I poured all my anger, sadness and depression onto it. Writing helps me relieve stress; I take my anger out on Koi I guess you can say…. Who knows? It's better then punching the wall or a metal pole which my boyfriend has a bad habit of doing. The story goes along with the episodes you will soon see. Review please. Make me feel better before I go all Emo. Lol. Kidding. I couldn't go Emo even if I tried. My friend Brianna is Emo though……I got off track didn't I? Oh never mind. Just review please!