Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of its characters. I own Koima.
Chapter 29
Rumors on the ship….
"I am terribly sorry or your loss, General." Zhao lied sincerely, "Two lives lost over an incident, how tragic for the FireLord to lose his only son." But Zhao smiled, "A good thing that Earth bending girl was killed in the blast also, no waste there. I'm sure she would've killed you both in a far more terrible way." He smirked, "Still…what a horrible accident."
General Iroh shook his head, "This was no accident, Admiral. There was reason behind this act." Zhao felt his heart stop. Did this dull General know it was him? He felt under the table for his sword he kept hidden. Maybe he could kill him before his secret got out. Zhao managed to keep his composure, but every nerve inside him was tight as a bowstring, ready to snap at any moment, "Reason? Do you know who was behind this, General?" He felt the hilt's metal designs, his fingers gripping it, ready to strike.
General Iroh nodded, "Yes. Pirates." Zhao's hand fell away from the sword. He poured himself more tea, silently thanking Agni for the man's stupidity, "Pirates?" Zhao pretended to be shocked, "What do you mean 'Pirates'?"
Iroh explained, "We had a brush-in with a crew of pirates not long ago. My belief is that they sought for revenge."
Zhao hid a smile behind his cup, pleased that the suspicion was off him. He had killed two birds with one stone, getting both of them out of his way though he had preferred that Bird would be back in his cage. Oh well, now he could get a new one…. Maybe that Water tribe girl he'd seen traveling with the Avatar? She's a spunky little Bitch…she would do nicely.
Iroh coughed, bringing Zhao back to the present, "I have decided to join your fleet to the North Pole, that is, if the position is still available?"
Zhao nodded, "Of course, General." He stood up and Iroh did also, they bowed to one another, "I am pleased that you decided to come along. I bid you good evening."
Iroh left the room and loitered down the hall where two soldiers stood to attention. One was abnormally short, the armor slightly too big. Iroh made sure the cost was clear except for the two soldiers before speaking to them.
"Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." He said in a hushed whisper, "Once we get to the North Pole the Avatar will be yours." The bigger of the two removed his faceplate, it was Zuko. (Amy Note/ GASP! Who would've thunk it?) "Thank you, Uncle." He said quietly.
"And you, Koi? How are you holding up?" Iroh asked the short one. She removed the faceplate and smiled nervously, "Okay, I guess." That brought up a problem: her voice.
"Don't talk, Koi. Your voice will easily will give you away." Iroh said.
"But I can change my voice."
Uncle frowned, this was news to him, "Show me."
Immediately, Koi's voice changed to a deeper pitch, "This better?"
Zuko was as surprised as Uncle, "When did you learn to do that?" He asked.
"I've always been able to." Said the deeper pitched Koi. She shrugged.
Uncle had to draw this meeting to an end, "Keep secret, both of you. And look after each other, I won't be able to. Good luck."
Koima replaced her faceplate, so did Zuko.
;Koima;
'Oh dear Agni, this is horrible. I'm on Master's ship.' But this was the only way. Another soldier was coming our way and Uncle had to leave. Zuko glanced at me from the corner of his eye, "Just pretend you have nothing to hide, but I'll protect you…little brother." He winked. I understood what he was saying, that was going to be the way we could tell it was each another.
"Big brother." I had to smile.
"Hey you two!"
We turned. A Commander, it looked like, came at us, "What are you two doing here? Where are your allotted positions?" He demanded sharply in a clipped manner. I froze, not knowing any military lingo that could help us out of this one, but luckily Zuko did.
"We were patrolling the halls, Commander, for any stragglers that were not at their appointed posts." He replied as equally sharp. The Commander's eyes studied us closely, "Who are you? Name and Rank."
Zuko stood fast, his body rigid as he stood to attention, "Private Suoh, Sir!"
The Commander turned to me. I mirrored Zuko's actions, thinking quickly, "Private Ryu." Than I added a quick, "Sir!" (Amy Note/ both names are Japanese for "Dragon." If they have similar names, it will be more plausible that they are brothers.)
The Commander stepped aside, "From the late Prince Zuko's ship, eh? Very well. Dismissed!" I followed Zuko away from the stern Commander, trying to keep up with his fast pace.
"What now?" I asked, my voice still deep.
"We keep this act up until we reach the North Pole."
"And after?"
Zuko stopped and was silent. "Suoh?" I nudged him. He shook his head, "I haven't thought that far." He admitted.
"Then we will cross that bridge when we arrive." I tried to make light of it. He nodded and we continued to….to….well, where ever Zuko was going.
Another soldier passed us….Jin! Zuko must've known what I was going to do because he jabbed me in the side, stopping me. Jin looked grim, the very opposite of his cheerful demeanor. He walked pass without so much as even glancing at us. 'What was wrong with him?' I wondered, looking back over my shoulder at him.
Zuko nudged me again sharply, "Hey." He hissed, "No. We can't let anyone know we're alive. No one!"
"But…it's J-"
"No, Koi."
But he's my friend…..He thinks we're dead, everyone does. It felt wrong that we were playing dead. Zuko took me by the shoulders, forcing me to look him in the eyes. He made sure he made his point clear, "Don't let anyone know. Do you understand?" He asked slowly. I could see he was scared also. He would be in danger of being killed along with me. He had everything to lose when I had only my life.
I nodded.
:;:;:Zuko:;:;:
"—Didn't you hear? Both of 'em are dead! Blown ta bits! That's why the Dragon Gen'ral's 'ere. Since Prince Zuko an' that Earthbend'r girl that the Adm'ral is obsessed about. The Gen'ral joined up with the Adm'ral."
Zuko stopped in mid-stride and listened to the discussion of the men gathered around their food. So, his death and Koi's had become the main topic for discussion? Zuko could hardly blame them. Hearing that the Fire Lords only son was blown up along with an Earth bender was interesting news. It had never happened before. (Duh!)
One of Zuko's old crew was agreeing with the man, "Yes, but four others were also killed in the blast. Icharu, Homeru, Konan, and my mate Nihoku… That 'Earth Bender girl' that you spoke of was the one taking care of them. Her name was Koima-"
"Who cares what her name was?" One of Zhao's crew spat, "She's dead! One less Earth bender to deal with. Huh, Good riddance."
Zuko clenched his fists. He saw that the others of his crew had the same reaction, if not more open; they glared at the man with rage-filled eyes, "Don't you dare say that about her." One growled, "You didn't know her at all, so keep your comments to yourself!"
Another one of Zhao's crew laughed at the man, "Ohhh, did we make you mad? Was she your girlfriend?" He teased.
"No she was not." The soldier said, "She was no ones girlfriend."
"That don't mean that you weren't fucking her!" The horrible man smirked, "One woman on a ship full of men? Don't play innocent, I'm willing to bet one if not all of you had a good tumble with the little whore." Zuko was grateful that Koi had cleaning duty out on deck. He didn't want her to hear this, he didn't want to hear it. It took all of his will power not to tear the man's head off with his bear hands. Damn them all to Hell, he wanted to break all their necks!
"Shut up you Bastard! We would never!"
"She was not a whore!"
"You have no right to make such an accusation! Say one more word about Koima and I will kill you where you stand, no matter what the consequences will be! You're as stupid as you are ugly, none of us would ever even think those things about her. Keep your mean sick thoughts to yourself you son of a whoring bitch!" Zuko recognized the speaker as Jin, the only man other than him and Uncle that was close to Koima. He was red with fury as he yelled at Zhao's men. The others backed him up on it. Zhao's men looked at each other and were quiet, cowed by the fierce words of the others.
Jin sat glaring at the main speaker of Zhao's group. He was boiling mad by the cruel words they had said about his little Geisha. He had been devastated by the news of what had happened to her. He had liked her a lot, he had loved her like a sister, maybe even more. He couldn't believe that she had been taken away so quickly. Jin knew his friends felt the same way about the little fish. Koima had always smiled at everyone, making them feel instantly better and more cheerful with just a smile and a kind word…. And now she was gone…
Jin stood up, "I'm leaving. It's agony to be with men like you." He spat and left the holding, walking past a soldier that stood in the doorway. He needed to blow off some steam, he needed to clear his head….he needed Koima.
'Damn pirates…I'll kill every last one of them to pay for her death!' Jin vowed. He went down the hall and noticed that another soldier had come up and was now walking beside him. The soldier had the face plate on, so he didn't know who it was.
"Did you mean what you said?" The soldier beside him asked, not looking at him as they walked. Jin was confused by what the man was asking nut he nodded, "Yes. I would've killed them all. What? Are you going to turn me in for threatening them?" He asked sharply, instantly on guard.
"No." The man stated, "You are an honorable man. Why did you stand up for her? What is she to you?"
"She is-was my friend. A good friend. I could not allow them to talk so horribly about her-" The man grabbed his shoulder and led him down a dark corridor, "Hey!"
"SHHH!" The man motioned. He checked to make sure they were alone before speaking, "Be quiet. You are the only one we can trust. Keep your mouth shut or I will kill you." He threatened.
"Trust me? What?"
"Koima is alive." Jin froze, his eyes grew wide. The man now had his full attention Alive!
"She's al-!" The man covered Jin's mouth, "Shuttup!" He hissed. Jin nodded and in a whisper he asked, "She is? Where is she?"
The man spoke quick and quietly, "She is alive. We both trust you to keep the secret. If we're found out we will be killed, but Koi will go through worse before she dies."
"Who are you?" Jin whispered.
The man took off his face mask and Jin stared in wide fascination. The man's face was scratched up and burned, but the scar was unmistakable: "Prince Zuko." Prince Zuko replaced the mask, "Koima is disguised as well, aboard the ship. I can't do this alone. You're the only one that is closest to Koi besides Iroh and I. Can you keep this to yourself? Or will I have to kill you to keep you silent?"
"I can keep it. But why a secret? Everyone thinks the pirates killed you both?"
"They tried. But Zhao hired them to kill us. He wanted Koima, and he wanted me out of his way for the Avatar." Jin took this information in. "How is she? She's not hurt is she?"
"She's a bit battered like me, but alive. I'll need your help." Prince Zuko said almost reluctantly. He was asking for another man's help….of the things he did for Koi's protection.
"May I see her?" Jin said anxiously.
Prince Zuko shook his head, "Not now. But she is called 'Ryu' and I am 'Suoh.' Can you remember?"
Jin nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Good. Don't tell a soul." Zuko said before he left. Jin stood in the dark corridor, too happy for words. She was alive.
Sorry it took me awhile. I've been very busy. Last Friday 7-7-06. Was me and Brandon's two month anniversary. We went to see Click. The next night I went to go see Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest. It's a great movie, my sis cried. There is a HORRIBLE CLIFFHANGER at the end. Just a warning.
I can't wait for the Avatar Movie! I'm so excited! (squeal) It airs on the 17!
Hey yall. I started writing another STORY! For Avatar. It's great! I will post it soon. It's called. "Silent but Speaking" It will be in the Teen Section for starters. It's an OC, but a very good one, I'm not sure if it will be Romantic…… The rating is (Drama, Supernatural) You'll see why!
Today is my little brother's 8th birthday. We're going to WaterVille USA! YES!
Don't forget to review! I want the same amount I got for the last chapter or more! Same threat applies! Amy!
