Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of its characters. I own Koima.

Chapter 7

Don't need to

After sleeping the morning away, Prince Zuko came out of his room for the first time that day. At least he had delayed Zhao from getting the Avatar, prolonging his own time to capture the Avatar himself. He thought back to what he had heard in Zhao's room; what Zhao had in store for Koima, Uncle, and his sister Zula. He shuddered in disgust.

Zuko went to the infirmary to check on Koima since he couldn't see her last night. She was up and about, walking around and looking at anything that she found interesting…which was everything. Zuko stayed quiet, remaining unnoticed. He watched her with growing amusement. She picked up the medic bottles and read their labels aloud.

"Laburnum…used to bring down fevers." She said from memory. Zuko was taken aback; she knew her medical supplies and what they are used for. He followed her with his eyes as she went around, talking to herself, "Nightshade, for making someone go into a deep sleep. Cortizon, used for itches. Asprina, used to relieve headaches. Tylena, used to relieve all pains. Peptos used for upset stomach…Aloe?… um." She paused on this one, not sure what it is used for.

"Used for burns." Zuko supplied the answer. Koima whirled around, accidentally knocking the bottle off the table. She shot her hand out and caught it a slit-second before it shattered on the floor.

"Sorry!" She said, replacing the bottle on the table, "I-I was just bored."

Zuko waved his hand, "It's alright." He assured her. He almost laughed at her panic, "No harm done. You know a lot about medicine?"

Koima shook her head, "No…only a little. The medicine itself and what it is used for. Nothing much." She replied quickly.

"You know a lot more then I do on medicine." Zuko admitted. He took a bottle off the table and read it, then threw it to her, "Tell me about this one."

Koima caught the bottle skillfully and looked at it, "Neosporik." She read aloud. Then looked up at Zuko, "Mostly used for disinfecting wounds…. is that right?"

Zuko shrugged, "You tell me."

Koima nodded, "I think that's right. My mother used this on all my cuts and scratches I got. They never got infected when I used this."

Zuko had a ghost of a smile on his face, 'She's smart.' He thought, pleased.

"What do you like?" He asked, it came out wrong from what he wanted to ask.

Koima frowned, puzzled by his question, "Excuse me?"

Zuko corrected himself, "What would you like to do when you grow up?"

Koima smiled, her eyes twinkling in the firelight. She looked more beautiful when she smiled, the ever present look of defeat vanishing and Zuko felt his heart quicken, she could melt the coldest man's heart with just a smile.

Koima picked up the Neosporik and tapped the glass, "I've always wanted to be in the healing arts ever since I was young." She said, "When I was eleven, I found a monkey that was hurt. It had gotten in a fight with a wild Hog Monkey was my guess; it was all cut up and his back leg was broken. I took it home and my mother helped me to take care of it. That's when I became interested in healing. Once the monkey was healed, he didn't want to leave. So I kept him and named him Mochi."

"Where is he now?" Zuko asked, then immediately regretted it.

Koima wiped away a small tear, "He was killed along with my village. I don't want to talk about it if that's okay."

Zuko nodded, "Of course." He changed the subject, "Maybe you can work here if you would like? Col is the only doctor here and I'm sure he would be glad to have some help. You seem to have a good knowledge of medicines, would you like that?"

Koima looked undecided, "You talk as if I'm staying here."

Zuko felt a pang of panic squeeze his chest. Did she want to leave? Does she not like it here? What would happen is she was found by Zhao's army since she's not on the ship, protected? Zuko didn't want to think about it. Zuko thought quickly.

"You don't have anywhere else to go apparently. And you are safe here on the ship. Do you want to leave?"
Koima shook her head vigorously, "No! I don't want to leave! Yes I would like to help Col. I'm sorry if I offended you." She apologized.

"You didn't offend me. I'll tell Col of the new arrangements. Are you feeling better?"
Koima nodded, "Yes, very much."

Zuko had brought Koima some new clothes and food. When Koi tried them on, the clothes were humungous on her skinny frame. Her pants had to be belted around her waist with a piece of rope. Zuko looked at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. She looked like a child wearing her father's clothes.

"We'll have to get you some proper clothes when we stop off at the next port." Zuko said.

"Where were you last night?" Koi asked curiously, then she added quickly, "But it's none of my business!" She said, "I'm sorry."

Zuko shook his head, "No need to apologize. But I was out; I had business to take care of. You don't need to apologize for everything you do you know," He told her, " You don't do anything wrong."

Koima's eyes were downcast, "That's not what Master says."

Zuko took Koima by the shoulders making her look up at him, "Stop calling him that!" He told her, "He's not your master anymore. He will never be again. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore; we are miles away from him. He can't get to you here; you'll never see him again if I can help it." Zuko released her shoulders, seeing that she was wincing in pain. He had been squeezing hard, protective of her for while he was telling her, Zhao's plans for Koi was repeating themselves in his head.

"I'm sorry.." He said, stepping away from her. He felt angry with himself; he had hurt her while he was suppose to be protecting her.

"It's okay, I'm not hurt." Koima said quickly, "You didn't do anything to hurt me. But are you all right? You looked like you were remembering something…. horrible." she whispered.

Zuko looked at Koi, she looked so fragile…like she would break if he touched her again…Zuko shook those thoughts out of his head, "You don't need to worry about him." Zuko sighed, "Uncle and I will protect you."

"Is that why the man in the blue mask brought me here?" Koi asked, "Because he knew that you were the one person who could beat…the Admiral?" She had refrained from saying Master, he noticed. But it was still painful for her to say anything close to his name.

"Maybe…" Zuko said.

Koima looked out the porthole window, "I hope I'll be able to see him again." She said, speaking about the man in the blue mask. Zuko raised an eyebrow, this was getting interesting, "Why is that?"

Koi turned to look at him, "So I can thank him for saving me. I am eternally in his debt. I wonder why he was there in the first place? I heard him saying something before I saw him though, he was saying, "Dammit! Where is it!"' Koi laughed, "I wonder what he was looking for anyway. If I were awake longer enough, I would have told him if I knew. I hope to find out who he is, but I just hope to see him again." She said hopefully.

'You will get your wish' Zuko promised.

At that moment Col came in, "Hello Koi, Prince Zuko." He bowed to Zuko. Zuko was able to look away from Koi and talk to Col about Koima working as his assistant. Col was overjoyed by the news. Koi was happy, Zuko's heart relaxed, he watched as Col taught Koima how to wrap wounds with bandages.

'She seems so happy.' Zuko thought as Koima laughed when Col accidentally tied his fingers to her arm, 'I hope she will always be this happy.'


Chapter 7 completed. Would like some reviews! I would like to thank everyone for the nice reviews I received on the last chapter. THANK YOU! That's all I have to say I guess. My muse 'Patrick' has been bugging me with all sorts of ideas with this story, I locked him in the closet to shut him up, but the little midget keeps banging on the door during the night…so I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Me going to take a nap….Zzzzzzz.