The candles flickered mockingly as Zuko slowly and rhythmically inhaled and exhaled. He was trying his best to clear his mind enough to be able to process the events earlier in the day, though those

attempts were proving to be futile.

He was angry, to say the least. Angry at his Uncle for tricking him, at Umara for her poorly hidden ulterior motives and, most frustratingly, at himself, for being the worst kind of coward. How much weaker could he have possibly made himself look? Putting his hands on a 'defenseless' girl like that. To be fair, she hardly as helpless as she looked, but that certainly wouldnt be the way the story was spun. 'Cowardly Prince Zuko—' The candles flared as the sound of the door creaking open broke what was left of his focus.

"How many times have I told you not to interrupt me when I'm meditating?!" He shouted at the wall in front of him.

"Never, actually," a soft, cavalier voice came from behind him as the door clicked closed. "But I'll make a note for next time!"

Zuko whirled around to see Umara, hands clasped innocently behind her back, staring at him with that cursed blank expression of hers. He stared back at her wordlessly for a few moments, she looked unsettlingly familiar now that she had put her hair up and changed into the clothing Uncle had bought for her. It was enough to twist his stomach into a knot and make him forget him self for a moment.

"Wow, you uh—" Zuko shook his head to collect himself, his voice returning to a low growl. "What do you want, Umara?"

Umara flicked her eyebrows in feigned surprise, "Huh, formal. In that case, Your Majesty I was wondering if I may have a word with you...Unless you're going to beat me up again." she shrugged and glanced pointedly back at the door.

He ground his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Of course she was playing that card.

"I didn't 'beat you up', you fell!" He snapped, only to be met with a satisfied smirk.

She narrowed her eyes at him impishly, "Uh-huh, that's what they all say."

Zuko glowered at the cutesy half smile on her face, the smile that he had loved in a different life time. Perhaps he still would, if it wasn't so obviously a fool's errand. It was a ruse. All of it was, from the moment she'd reached for him in that damn tea house. There had to be a reason.

"Did you come in here just to mock me?!" He hissed with a bit less fervor. Zuko was well aware of himself slowly melting into putty. Resentment and distrust aside, he was still a fourteen year old locked in a room with a girl whom he found very attractive.

"No, that's not the only reason," Umara regarded him thoughtfully for a moment as she pressed her hands together in front of her. "Stand up."

He glared at her for a few more moments before suspiciously rising to his feet.

She purses her lips to one side disapprovingly. "Hmm.. No, that won't do. Move forward a little bit."

"I don't have time for your games!" Zuko roared, the candles behind him flaring along with his temper.

He moved to plant his foot in front of him for emphasis. At the same time, Umara twirled her arms in a fluid motion, ending in a sharp flick. The next thing Zuko knew, he was crashing face first onto the floor, his leg having gone completely numb and lax.

She chortled at his horrified expression, "Okay, now we're even!" She chirped proudly at the sight of him struggling on the floor.

"What did you do to my leg?!" He demanded as he tried unsuccessfully to pull himself back to his feet.

"So, you know chi blocking, right?" Umara began, poorly suppressing more laughter as she flopped onto the floor in front of him. "Well, apparently some people, mostly me, can actually bend chi. Those tattoos on my arm were special stances. I can undo blocks too, but I think it will be more fun to make you wait for it to wear off on its own." She reached forward and playfully pinched his cheeks between her thumb and forefinger. "Also, your Uncle wanted me to tell you that dinner is ready. I'll let him know you'll be a little late."

"Where do you think you're going?! I command you to undo this! Now!" Zuko spat, failing to hide the urgency in his voice as he watched Umara roll herself back to her feet and start toward the door. She paused to roll her eyes at his outburst.

"See you in fifteen minutes, Your Majesty." She bowed theatrically, winking at him as she sauntered out the door.