Hehehe. I'm so evil...


~ The Painted Lady~

(Or, Tough Days)

Ryuu POV

"Excuse me, Your Highness."

Zuko stormed past, pinching his nose. The hall was hardly wide enough for two people to pass - yet Zuko pushed past, using his shoulder to knock me out of his way. I grunted on impact. Zuko didn't take any notice as I massaged the spot he had hurt. Huffing, I made my way down the corridor to the adjoining courtyard.

Rangi was sat washing a tunic, which had wine stains on. In my hands I carried bundles of Zuko's dirty clothes. Rangi smiled briefly at my entrance. I returned the favour as I squatted by her side. She too another bar of Soapwort and Willow and began scrubbing the wine spot again.

"I just spoke to the Prince, " The elderly lady smirked, "Seems he's going on vacation and has requested that I allow you to attend - as an acting servant, of course."

I shook my head, "Please don't make me go. I can't possibly go. I- uh... have an allergy to vacations? "

Rangi cackled and pointed a finger at me, "I told him I wouldn't let you go..."

"Thank-" I started.

"...without a swimsuit. "

I wanted to protest or scream but instead, I just sighed, "Really? You said that to him?"

It had been a week and I should've learnt that Rangi is two things: A Prankster and a Matchmaker. Both of which were aimed at me. So far, she had set up a trip wire on my bedroom floor (I shared with nine other maids more experienced with Rangi, so they avoided it. I got a bucket of ice cold water square on my head); 'accidentally ' spilt water which made me fall into Zuko and put itchy-ivy leaves in my bed.

Despite her very advanced age, Rangi was the best and, so far, only unpunished Prankster in the whole of the royal palace. No one except a few maids knew she set any of the pranks. I huffed and moved to wash the clothes in my hands.

Someone came in the courtyard behind us. The footfalls came closer until the stood right behind us. Glancing back, I gulped - Azula. She had her hands clasped behind her back. She, too, along with Rangi's pranks and Zuko in general, had been making my life hell. She had it out for me.

"I've heard about the invitation. I know Zuzu has a foolish liking for you," She kicked my back, "But if you mess up in the slightest, I will not hesitate to send you to Boiling Rock and see to your punishment myself. I know the Warden, he'll do as I say. So you better too."

I stay on the cobblestones of the courtyard until Azula had gone completely. Sitting up, I touched my nose. Minor nosebleed caused by Azula kicking my and my face meeting stone. Wiping it away, I carried on with my work wordlessly. Rangi tutted.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine."

I scuffed the ground with my hand, "I hope so."

Rangi pouted and rung the tunic out. She slung it on a pile of other wet clothes and took a pair of blood red trousers from my pile. I smiled gratefully and carried on with my own work. We washed the clothes until both our backs ached. My fingers sore and throat dreadfully dry from dehydration - a result of sitting in the exposed sun for to long.

The elderly lady helped me up and told me the directions to the pond, which I could dump the dirty water in. Taking up the vast tub, I stumbled and slouched my way towards the next courtyard... or do I thought. I was terrible with directions, so got lost several times.

The Palace didn't help. It was disorienting and mahusive!

"Lost?" Zuko's voice called from behind. I grimmaced and carefully turned around.

"No. No, I'm not lost. Just ... err..looking... with a tub of ...dirty water... Fine, I'm lost."

"I got a hint because you're in the portrait room... With a tub of water."

I turned my nose up and raised my sarcasm, "Oh, really? Didn't notice."

The Prince giggled and paced up to me. I flinched as he put one hand on my shoulder and began leading me away from the portrait room. He led me through a maze on interconnecting and interweaving halls and rooms until we got to the pond - we accomplished it with no talking; well, until we arrived at the destination.

"So, Chamberlain maid told me you would be delighted to come. She also requested I provide you a bikini-"

"She said what-now?!"

Zuko raised his brow, "That's my reaction. Never thought you were the sort."

I stared him straight in the eye, muscles giving out under the wieght of the tub, "For which? Vacation or Bikini?"

Thinking for a bit, he shrugged, "Both, actually."

He took the other end of the tub - which was big enough to bathe in - and helped pour it into the pond. A family of Turtle Ducks splashed about and whacked angrily as a tsunami headed their way. Zuko chuckled as one Turtle Duckling began surfing of a leaf.

"Ty Lee will lend you one," Zuko stated abruptly - he let go of the tub. He was now flushed red in the face. I didn't answer as I struggled against the new lighter, yet still incredibly heavy, weight of the tub. I grunted and waddled away as Mai graced our presence.

She glided over to Zuko, kissed him on the lips, before leading him in the opposite direction - Chatting about how her parents let her go with Zuko. I mumbled to myself but quickly changed subject to whistling a tune as Azula passed. She scowled firmly at me before gesturing with her middle finger.

Behind her back, I gave her an Evil Eye.

It gave me an immense sense of satisfaction, despite her not seeing or ever understanding it. You see, The Evil Eye in southern Earth Kingdom is one of the worst gestures. It's literally just glaring at a person, but it can mean all sorts: from 'I hate you' to 'You, your children and your children's children are cursed'. My personal favourite meaning is 'Be eaten by Badgermoles, vomited back up, then eaten again. '

...

Ty Lee was ever so excited as she cartwheeled my way. I stood in the entrance to a disused Tea Room that had been taken over as hangout to the friends of Azula and Zuko. It was draped with black material, to block out the sunlight. I squinted into the darkness and watched Ty Lee acrobaticaly make her way over to me.

"You must be Zuko's maid, I'm so happy to finally meet you!"

She took my bad arm and shook it. I cried out in pain - Ty Lee apologised profusely and took my other arm to shake. I just smiled and played along. Ty Lee had grin plastered on her face as she led (read: dragged) me into the hangout. I was really there just to deliver a message to Mai, from Zuko, but was sort of hijacked along the way by the excitable acrobat.

"Oh, Yay," Mai sighed sarcastically, "More company."

"M'lady Mai, message from-" I tried to speak, but Ty Lee shut me off by pushing me down into a seat.

"What's it like being a maid? Where are you from originally? What's your name? Do you like the colour pink? I like your eyes. So... dreamy. Your aura is positively mixed! Blue; and Black; and Silver; and a tinsy bit of Amber. Amber like Zuko's ey-"

"Ty Lee!" Mai snapped at her friend. The former pinched her nose in exasperation. Ty Lee just pouted and sat down cross-legged infront of me. I smiled nervously and rubbed the small of my neck. Mai scowled at me.

"Why did you come here?"

I turned my head towards her and raised a hand, rolling out the message: "Prince Zuko formally asks you to accompany him to Ember Island as his - his girlfriend. If you wish to agree, meet him in the Turtle Duck courtyard at sunset."

Mai's eyes lit up at this, but her face remained neutral, "Why couldn't he tell me himself? The romantic idiot."

Ty Lee, by now, had taken one of my hands and was painting the nails. I grimmaced.

"Sorry, Lady Ty Lee - Nail polish is against regulation. So is make up or un-approved hair styles or dresses. Sorry."

Ty Lee pouted again and started scrubbing the blood-red polish off. As soon as she had done, I thanked the two girls for thier time and made haste about fleeing. Mai nodded at my exit, by Ty Lee walked on her hands beside me and waved me off with her feet.

...

Zuko was waiting for me. As I trundled into his bedroom with his washed and dried clothes, he stood infront of his bed, smiling widely and with a box in his hands. I groaned and rolled my eyes. Why did I have to do this? I had no choice in the matter, that's why. Zuko's smile fell when he saw my deep carved frown.

"That seems to be your only expression now. I miss your smile."

I scoffed harshly, "Why'd you think I'm frowning? Sorry, sir. That was out of order."

Pushing the small wooden box towards me, he nodded with his head to open it. I took it from him. It was deceptively heavy. Opening the lid on its hinge, I set my jaw. Damned Zuko. Trying to fix his mistakes with gifts.

A golden hair slide to replace the horrible flame one that made me want to cry every time I saw it. Which was morning and evening. The one in the box was golden with a jade Earth Kingdom seal supported by two ebony Badgermoles. I stuttered at its beauty - desperately wanting to touch it, see it it was real. But I bit by tounge and handed it back.

"Sorry. I cannot-"

Zuko clenched his fists around the box, "It's not good enough, that's it. Mabye a silver pectoral necklace? Or ivory-"

I put my hands up and shook my head as he slammed it down on the side, "What you did is something you cannot fix through gifts, but by going back and making the right choices-"

The Prince snarled. He ran both hands through his hair as he marched towards me. I tried not to show fear - inside I was crying and close to peeing myself - unsure of what he was going to do. Last time an angry Firebrender had marched towards me... it hadn't ended well for anyone involved.

"I have my honour back! I have my destiny! What's wrong in your mind to think anything different?!"

Calmly, I turned my head up from my work, "What is your destiny? Anyway, you were honorable in exile. Much more so than you will ever be currently. "

That was not something to say to him. He blew his top and slammed his fist down on the side, making everything on it jump at least about an inch, before marching off towards his date with Mai. I began packing his stuff for Ember Island into a trunk and was tempted to try Rangi's itchy-ivy trick. Mabye not to a Firebending Prince though.