Book Three: Fire

Summer, 100 AG, The Year of the Monkey

~ The Awakening ~

Zuko POV

What had I done?

I'd nearly killed Ryuu. I'd betrayed Unlce. I'd lost myself. Clenching the rail, I stared at the passing waves as the shop jolted about. My new Fire Nation clothes were thinner than Earth Kingdom ones, so I shivered under the cold air kicked in my face. I deserved it. Mai emerged on deck, wrapped in a shawl and slid alongside me.

"Aren't you cold?"

I licked my lips and tipped my head to meet Mai's eyes. For three years, I'd longed to see her again. Get back into a romantic relationship with her. Be happy. But when I met Ryuu that changed. I'd just betrayed my love and my Uncle. But I couldn't tell anyone. It was eating me up from the inside.

"I've got a lot on my mind. It's been so long, over three years since I was home. I wonder what's changed. I wonder how I've changed."

Mai yawned, after all, it was late, "I just asked if you were cold, I didn't ask for your whole life story."

She took my face in her gloved hands and drew my closer so her breath fanned my lips. She whispered deliberately before kissing me. Her lips were inviting and tasted of Smoked Sea Slug. A delicacy in the Fire Nation. But it felt off. She didn't have the same... something as Ryuu.

Yes, Mai and I had crushes on each other - since childhood. But we had only been an official couple the week before my Agni Kai. My scar burned at the memory.

I heaved a sigh as Mai slipped back towards her room. Running a finger over my lips, I was suddenly struck with an idea. An idea to save Ryuu from Azula's planned fate for her. Mai's kiss stuck to my lips as I rushed to the coms room. It seemed stupid but it had to work.

...

Third Person POV

The Prision ship swayed viciously in the swell. As it rounded the coast, heading for Boiling Rock, Ryuu was starting to regain consciousness. Vomit rose in her throat as she was carelessly thrown across the cell she shared with five other people. Her hands were tied behind her back - her bicep wound burnt - so she couldn't stop slamming into an iron wall.

Fully awake, Ryuu squeezed her eyes to concentrate on details. It was dark, damp, crampt and uncomfortable. The iron cell somehow smelt of rotting wood and food. The other members of her cell were asleep. They were definitely contrasting to Ryuu.

Muscles apon muscles. Tattoos and broken noses. They looked like hardened criminals. Ryuu rolled to the cell door and stared through food hatch. A guards feet was the view. She bit back vomit as she ship swayed again. She was propelled across the room - hitting her head in the iron wall. Ryuu was knocked out again.

...

"Yeah, that's the one. Agni knows why he wants her."

Ryuu was suddenly aware of being tied to a chair. The room had changed - but the pain was ranked up ten-fold. Her arms were locked through the chair, her back hunched into an uncomfortable n-shape and her skin pricked with sea salt. The voices carried on there conversation regardless of Ryuu moaning in pain.

"You know why!"

The second voice sounded confused: "I still don't understand. Why her? Why not that Kyoshi Warrior? She looks to be prettier."

"Their both pretty. But this girl is a beaut! If you put effort into appearance...The Kyoshi girl is tougher looking. "

"No, no. This girl looks worse. Look at her jaw. Too square for a girl."

Ryuu tugged at her chains. She roared and struggled to get free. Her prosthetic leg sat on a table across the room. Ryuu screamed at the emotionless guards to tell her where she was going, but they clapped something over her mouth. It took five minutes - but she passed out yet again. And passed into consecutive nightmares.

...

The sensation of clean air and solid ground made Ryuu feel safer. Not stale ship air. Yet she still knew she was a prisoner. She had been thrown to the floor, leaving scrapes on her good arm and face. She desperately wanted to cry, but strength was best.

Biting her lip, Ryuu felt someone lift her up and guide her along a track. It was so bright, Ryuu had to squint. Even then, she couldn't see much. Eventually - after seemingly endless walking - Ryuu was pushed to the floor in the shade.

Tiles. Cool tiles. A hand grabbed her hair and pulled her face up. She snarled and tried to hold back tears as a more familiar hand pressed against her scratched cheek. The light was better in this building, so she could figure the outline of the figure. But it wasn't what she expected.

The figure leaned closer and Ryuu restrained a scream. Zuko. He said something to the man holding her hair and he let go. His feet pattered into the distance and Zuko undid the chains restraining Ryuu. She gasped as her arms rushed with blood. Her fingers tingle with the sudden tsunami of rosy blood.

She left her prosthetic leg - but it was put on wrong, so rubbed her leg raw. Ryuu grunted she was pulled to her feet. Zuko led her through a complex of rooms until they arrived at a door. By now, Ryuu could see. The ornate door was painted with '洗手间' = Washroom.

Her lips cracked with salt and wounds rubbed sore with dirt, Ryuu secretly longed for the warmth of cleanliness. But she knew she couldn't get to comfortable. This was the Fire Nation palace.

Zuko opened the door and let Ryuu enter by herself - if cautious that she would fall.

"Here. Get clean and call when you're done."

Ryuu took a couple ragged breaths at the sensation of the Washroom floor, "Why are you doing this?"

The reinstated Prince didn't give a clear answer, "Clothes are on my bed. Don't worry, I'll be far from here..."

He clicked the door locked and his foot falls disappeared through the corridors. The warm bath was too inviting. Ryuu stripped of her ripped red Prison uniform but kept her bindings on, incase of anything, and slipped into the hot bath.

...

Zuko POV

Making her my handservent was the best I could do. Azula complained loudly about it - occasionally firing lightning as warning shots, but Ty Lee managed to calm her. Father didn't really pay any attention to any servants anyhow, so it was perfect. As long as Ryuu behaved.

Mai was waiting by the pond, flicking a stiletto between her fingers. She sent me a sharp look as I approached her. I knew where the conversation was going. She got to her feet and pointed the weapon at my heart.

"Why her? Has something happened between you two?"

I put my hands up defensively, "Mai, She's just a servant. Even in Ba Sing Se, she was just a servant. Nothing happened," Mai clenched her jaw and lowered the weapon as I went on, "Do you want to go on a date tonight. Like old times? "

It was clear she was itching to take up the offer. She sheathed her weapon and took my raised hands in hers. I leaned foward and she met my half way. We kissed and made up. I assured her that she was the only one who had ever been my girlfriend.

That statement was true. Despite kissing and acting like a couple, Ryuu and I had never officially said we were together. So I wasn't telling Mai complete lies. It still hurt though. A nagging thought clung to the back of my mind. Uncle. Oh, Uncle.

I would go see him. When I got the courage. First things first, getting back to normal. Mai and I paraded hand in hand towards the nearest servant. If we were going on a date, we needed the right stuff. The servants could provide us with a blanket and picnic...