Disclaimer: I don't own avatar.
Chapter 8
Night Visitor
"My own room? Are you serious? Yes! Of course I would like my own room!" I couldn't believe it; Uncle Iroh is moving me out of the infirmary into a spare room. Uncle Iroh led me through the ship halls, "You need your own room missy. You've been living in that infirmary for over a week now. You need some privacy. I already have a room ready for you Koi, I hope that it will be to your liking." He led me to a door and opened it.
I gazed in silent wonder at the sight of the magnificent room. The room was big and beautifully decorated. A big bed was in the corner with a think red blanket draped over it, a rug on the floor and a fire tapestry on the wall, overhanging the bed. Furniture was well made and was antique. UI turned to Uncle Iroh, "Thank you so much! This is too good to be true! I can't possibly thank you enough!" I gave him a big hug, 'Thank you so much!"
Iroh hugged me back, "It was Prince Zuko's idea too. Make sure to give him a hug too when he gets back." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Where did he go?" I was wondering why I hadn't seen Prince Zuko all day.
"He and half of the troop went on a report of an Avatar sighting. I do not know when he will be back."
"I'm already back."
We turned to see Prince Zuko leaning against the doorway of my new room.
"It was a false report." Zuko sighed, "Made by some freak with a foaming mouth. But the Avatar should not be too far away." He looked at me and then glanced around the room, "Do you like your new sleeping arrangements?"
I nodded, "Yes, very much! Thank you!" I ran and gave him a hug.
; Zuko;
'She's hugging me!' Zuko looked at his uncle, who was trying very hard not to laugh, 'UNCLE!' But he could not feel mad with his uncle. He patted Koima's head lightly.
"You're welcome Koi." He said as Koi let go of him.
"Music night tonight!" Uncle Iroh announced jovially, "Would you like to participate, Koi? Can you sing?"
Koi froze, "No!" she said quickly, then more casually she said, "No.I can't sing."
Zuko frowned; Koi had looked like she had seen a ghost…
Uncle Iroh gave another option, as if oblivious to Koima's first reaction to Music night, "Can you play an instrument, a Sungi Horn perhaps?" He added with a little smile. They had no Sungi players on the ship, Iroh having to play it whenever it wasn't his turn. It would be a nice change if some else knew how to play it.
Again Koima shook her head, "No…I can't do anything."
"Then you can watch the performances with me and Prince Zuko. It is very amusing to see what the men can come up with for Music night. Isn't it, Prince Zuko?"
Zuko snapped his head up, "Huh? Oh…yeah. I guess." He hadn't heard a word his uncle had said. Zuko watched Koima…she was lying about singing, Zuko could pick up. She looked frightened…. Zuko had seen her this way before; whenever he forgot and actually said, "Zhao" She had that look right now. Koima's eyes met his, she looked away quickly, avoiding eye contact. Zuko frowned, he wouldn't bring it up right now.
When they arrived at port, Uncle insisted that they needed new instruments and new clothes that would fit Koi. And Uncle's worst nightmare came true…they were out of tea, they needed to restock immediately before Iroh went into withdrawal. Uncle Iroh had given Koima a taste of each tea he had in stock to see which tea she liked the best.
It was entertaining to watch Koi trying all the types of tea. Her face would turn red whenever she tasted one that she did not like and would turn to one of delight when she liked a flavor. After much laughter and tasting, she found one she liked the best: Green Tea with a hint of tangerine. Zuko didn't say anything because that tea was also his favorite, but he would never let his uncle know it.
Zuko decided he would visit Koi tonight…not as himself, but as the 'Blue Spirit.'
: Time Gap:
"Come now Prince Zuko, play the Sungi horn please?" His uncle begged him. It was halfway through music night and Zuko's uncle had been bugging him all night to play the Sungi horn.
"No Uncle! I will not play the damn Sungi horn. Stop asking!"
Iroh gave up reluctantly and music night went on without a hitch.
Koi sat beside Zuko, clapping at all the performances. Prince Zuko clapped also, but not much. After the last performance the men retires to their beds to sleep off the effect of the rum and wine they had consumed during the music night acts. There were going to be a lot of men in the infirmary tomorrow with hangovers, luckily there was a lot of Asprina in stock.
"Goodnight Koi, aren't you going to bed?" His uncle asked Koima. Koi shook her head, "No sir, is it alright if I stay out here for awhile. It's been a long time since I've been outside under the stars." Koi looked up at the starry night sky.
Uncle Iroh nodded, "Yes, of course you may Koi. But do not stay out to long, Good night." Koi gave Iroh a hug, "goodnight uncle Iroh."
Zuko went to his room quietly and waited. He had his mask and outfit out. He was going to grant Koima's wish of seeing the 'Blue Spirit' again.
'I should give her something…' Zuko thought, wanting to make Koima happy. He thought and came up with something. There was a knock on Zuko's door. Zuko hastily hid his outfit before calling out, "Who is it?"
Uncle Iroh came in, "Just saying goodnight nephew."
Zuko nodded to his elder, "Goodnight Uncle."
"In an hour or so, can you go outside to check if Koi is still out there?" Uncle requested of him, " I have a feeling that she would stay out there all night if she could."
"Sure."
Uncle Iroh nodded and left to go to his own bed. Zuko sighed and pulled out his disguise. He still had an hour or so to kill before he was sure all the men were in bed and that none of them would go on deck while he was up there.
Zuko went into the box that laid underneath his bed, his special box. 'She would love it, I'm sure of it.' Zuko opened the box to a collection of his favorite things from the Firenation…his home: small paintings of family, his first dagger, a little scroll of his first scribbles and everything that he couldn't leave behind at his home. He took out a velvet box. It was small and was made of black velvet… he opened it. Inside was a jade pandalily; the petals stained to a beautiful white and the center a soft purple.
'She will love it.' Zuko thought, hiding everything back under his bed. Zuko sat the jade flower by his outfit and went to his meditation table and lit up the candles with a flick of his wrist. He sat down at the small table and closed his eyes, breathing in and out he began meditation about that night.
:;:;:Koima:;:;:;:
I looked up at the night sky, at the myriad stars that twinkled overhead. I had missed looking up at them so much while in the Admiral's fortress. . I connected stars into my own form of constellations; Avatar Roku and his dragon, Unagi the sea serpent, Platypus bear and her cub, the Komodo Rhino, all kinds of animals I linked up in the sky. I saw a star streak across the sky, disappearing over the horizon out of my sight. I closed my eyes and with the heart of a little child, I made a wish.
'I wish I will be happy, and to see him again, the man in the blue mask…and to never see Admiral again...ever.' I sighed and looked out at the port where we were docked for the night. People were still up, either shopping or walking with one another down the streets.
I watched as a couple walked together, hand in hand, down one of the streets. The girl laughed at some private joke the man had shared with her.
I looked at them sadly until they disappeared around a corner, 'I'll never be like that.' Who would ever love me? I have been abused and tortured, my body would recoil if a man would ever want to be intimate… I would never have children; I have been with Master for so long, I had never conceived. I'm barren. There is no hope for me, I would die childless and un loved…..
A tear fell into the ocean below. I looked down at the reflection in the water. The girl who looked up at me from the water didn't look like me. She was healthier then she had looked more then a week ago. The bruises had faded on her cheeks and her hair was as lack as raven feathers instead of used charcoal. It was me… I looked so different, it was a miracle.
I stared down at my reflection in the water, when all of a sudden, a monster appeared. I thought it was my imagination. I blinked, the blue mask was beside me, it was him! I looked at him beside me, he turned to me, he was so close…
"I-Its you…" I stuttered, still not believing my eyes. He nodded and took my hand in his. He placed something in it and closed my fingers around something cool. He touched my hand to his chest in a sign of affection. He released me and left, running down the gangplank and disappeared behind a building before I could move.
"Wait!" I tried to follow him, but it was no use…he was gone. I had seen him again… but I didn't get to say thank you. How did he find me Does he follow the ship?
I felt something cool in my hand, I remembered that he had given me something. I opened my hand and looked down and gasped. It was a jade flower, a panda lily. It was so beautiful, the petals were so life-like. I even tried to see if I could smell its fragrance, but it held no scent. He had given me a flower, a flower that would never wilt and die… and had sealed it with his heart.
I sat down suddenly week at the knees. I touched the petals softly, the smooth coolness of them sending a faint tingle through my fingers. I don't know how long I sat there, staring at the flower, but I snapped up when I heard footsteps.
I looked up. Zuko looked tired, "It's time to go to bed Koi." He said, yawning. He saw the flower in my hand, "Where'd you get that?"
I looked down at the jade panda lily, contemplating whether I should tell him. I decided that I could tell him, "The man… the one in the blue mask gave it to me."
Prince Zuko raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Did you get to thank him?"
I shook my head sadly, " No… he left before I could."
"Well it makes me worry that some man can come onto the deck of my ship in the dead of night and kidnap you. You need to be more careful."
;Zuko;
Koi looked at the flower, "Yes, I will be more careful."
Zuko could tell that she wasn't paying much attention to him, her mind on the flower. Zuko had to smile "Come on Koi. Aren't you excited on sleeping in your own bed? It's late."
Koi followed Zuko without protest. He led her to her room and she went in, still holding onto the flower like it was a life line.
'She looks at it as it it is a diamond or jewel a lover has given her..' Zuko smiled.
"Goodnight Prince Zuko." Koi said, bowing to him and disappearing into her room.
Zuko went back to his room and slept easy that night.
My turtle is so stupid, a Nunaos. Pipsqueak us trying to eat the bubbles that comes out of the water filter. He's been doing it for ten minutes now….. Tomorrow I am having three of my friends over. Courtney (Perpermint Patti) (Read her stories y'all! They are great! And review please!) Stephanie and Lizzy! My boyfriend is driving over also and we are going to my favorite beach that most of my stories take place on. I'll probably post something tomorrow just for the sake of it so I can show Liz how she can post her stories. Don't forget to review.
