Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of it's characters. I own Koima.

Chapter 23

"Playing with her heart"

"So that's where my old mask went."

'Oh fuck' "Uncle, I—"

Uncle held up his hand, silencing him, "No. I don't want to hear it." He watched Zuko critically, "You know she'll find out eventually."

Zuko had always worried about that happening, but he would always shake that thought out of his head dismissing it and that he would think more on that at a later date…but now since Iroh had brought it up…..what would happen when…if Koima ever found out that it was him behind the mask the whole time?

Uncle got up from his chair and took the mask from Zuko's hands. He looked it over, running his fingers over the black eye slits and the white-painted fangs before setting it down on the side table. "Don't break her heart." Uncle breathed with a tired sigh, "She's already been through enough pain, more than anyone could stand. She's not as weak as we think she is, but she is strong in some ways in which we have not come to realize yet. You're playing with her heart; a dangerous game that you both could end up losing and both hearts will be broken. I know you care about her, Prince Zuko, and I'm glad you do. But this is not the right course of action you should take. I won't tell Koi anything…I'll wait for you to tell her when you think you're ready." Uncle Iroh bowed slightly, "Goodnight, Prince Zuko." The old man walked out of the prince's room, closing the door behind him.

Prince Zuko sat down heavily on his bed, the mask in his hands. He sighed as he stared at the mask and it grinned it's permanent fangy grin up at him. It seemed to mock him, grinning despite the sadness in Zuko's heart, it was like it was saying 'Haha, what are you going to do now? She wants to see me. Not you. What are you going to do, oh High Prince of the Firenation? You've fallen in love with her, only to end up causing her to hate you forever for what you did.'

Zuko closed his eyes, "What am I going to do?" He asked himself. No answer came to him.

'She'll hate me if I tell her. She'll hate me when she finds out…' Zuko could already imagine Koima slamming herself in her room, yelling that she hated him and would rather be in Zhao's fortress than with him: A lying bastard, that fooled her.

Zuko would die if he heard her say those three words: I hate you! Zuko could still feel Koi's lips on his own…the sweet, seductive flavor of them, the soft compassion that he will savor locked away in his memories to relive whenever he desired.

"I'm sorry." Zuko whispered….his fingers went limp and the mask fell down from between them. It fell to the ground…and crashed…… Zuko opened his eyes. One eye-slit of the mask that was still intact stared back up at him accusingly, the rest of the mask was a jumble of broken pieces of ivory and pottery: Too many pieces to put back together. It was done.

:;:;:Koima;:;:;:

"That's a beautiful necklace, Koi." Icharu held up the crystal on the ribbon, admiring it with a glow of amazement in his eyes, "So this was why you were gone all yesterday and last night? Huh- Never have Col dress our wounds again, he did more harm than good. The dressing on my ear was so tight it made me go deaf!" Icharu shouted the last few words aloud dramatically, holding a cupped hand to his bandaged ear. We all laughed.

I went to Konan and was cleaning the dressing on his arm, "Well I'm sorry you guys. I won't be gone long next time." I said with a smile. Icharu handed me my necklace back, "You had said that you would be back by dinner. You were gone a lot longer than that."

I swallowed and forced a smile, "I was delayed, but I got back before it was too late." I said as I pretended to be very absorbed into my work of bandaging the side of Homeru's head. A patch or his red hair was missing, burned away by the blast and the skin was covered in horrific burns…he couldn't even feel anything if I tapped my finger on it. It made me feel ill that all the feeling had gone out of it.

Lt. Ji came in holding his head and groaning, muttering occasional curses. I didn't have to ask him to know what the matter was, it was a daily problem. I got up from Homeru's bed and went over to my bag of supplies.

"Can't stay away from that rum can you, lieutenant?" I sighed and made him an Asprina drink. Ji grinned crookedly at me, "Nope! But it's worth seeing you so you can take care of me!" His words were slurred: He was still obviously very drunk. I played along, "I'm flattered, but I'm sure your wife wouldn't appreciate you saying things like that." When sober, Lt. Ji would tell us that he has the most wild, stubborn wife in the whole Firenation. If his wife fought in the war against the Earth nation, we would win…hands down.

"Aw, she ain't here!"

This wasn't going anywhere. I handed the drink to the lieutenant, "Drink this and go lie down." He did without question and stumbled out of the infirmary in an attempt to get back to his room. I never want to be like that. Drinking inhibits your way of thinking straight and leaves you vulnerable to anything. I have never been allowed to drink, Mama had always forbid it. I haven't even tasted alcohol before….

:Time Gap:

When I saw Zuko later that day I noticed that he looked exhausted, he had bags under his eyes and he hadn't given any of the men orders all day. He leaned against the railing of the ship, looking out lazily at the AnYun port.

"Hello." I stepped up beside him. Zuko jumped, "Huh!" Then he saw it was me and he relaxed, "Oh…" He swallowed, "Hello Koi." I looked at him oddly, "Did I startle you? You were zoning out there." I said with a small smile. Zuko tried to stifle a yawn, but it was too hard, "-YAWN- Uh. Yes, you startled me…I'm a bit tired. Sleeping did nothing for me last night. I didn't sleep at all." Zuko yawned again.

"Would you like a cup of Chamomile tea to help you sleep tonight?" I offered, "Personally, I don't like the taste, but it will help."

Zuko shook his head wearily, "Thanks, but it won't help. Don't worry about it, I'll manage." He looked back at my neck, "Nice necklace." He observed from beneath heavy eyelids. My hand went up to the crystal and touched the cool glossiness of it, "Thank you, thank you for the money to buy it."

"You earned it. You left the ship very quickly yesterday evening. Care to explain?"

I told him about Hatus and Akiro, explaining what had happened with the necklace but not about the thief in the market or the man in the mask.

"Uncle did say that he found you on deck late last night, surely it didn't take you that long to get back?" I froze, "Um,. I got lost and was sidetracked." Well, part of that was true, after running away from the thief I was lost.

;Zuko;

'So she doesn't want to tell me what happened.' Zuko was oddly disappointed that Koima wouldn't confide in him about last nights events with the thief. It's her business anyway, not his, so he shouldn't pry. He would look suspicious if he did.

"Koima!" They heard Uncle's voice. They both turned, the jolly old man beckoned the girl, "Come with me missy, the stores are calling our names! Let's go shopping since we're going to be here for awhile."

Koima smiled, "Alright." She smiled at Zuko, "I'll see you later. Bye." She ran off to Uncle. Zuko's smile faded as he watched her go. He slumped against the railing, only it holding him up, 'Every time she and I talk we get interrupted!' Zuko clenched his fists, 'Dammit!'


Next chapter takes place a few days after this. I'm not grounded anymore. I got my report card and I passed Biology. I got a 87 on my Exam! Boo-yah! The new Avatar episode was so sad for Zuko! He cried! Sadness!

But YES! Uncle isn't dead. Wasn't I right? Haha!

I went on another date yesterday with Brandon. We went to see X-Men. It was awesome! Beyond belief!

Talk to ya later. Don't forget to review! Next chapter…big chapter. Don't miss it!