It was nearly evening and Jin finished up the last of the delicious meal Shiro had baked for her. It had seemed like years since her last decent meal, and she could help gulping food down greedily from him, but fortunately, he did not seem to mind. In fact, he seemed almost overjoyed to have company for a change, which made her feel sad that she'd have to leave him. She made a mental note that she'd return to visit him as often as she could.
"You seem to be recovering your strenght very quickly," commented Shiro after a long pause filled with only the sounds of Jin eating and drinking almost greedily. She smiled, her stomach filling up and she leaned back into the pillow. "Soon you'll be on your way I suppose..." he added, a hint of sadness in his tone.
"My family is probably worried sick," she said softly. "And there's someone who's been waiting on me for too long," she added, thinking of Zuko. "But I promise I'll be back to visit. You've been so kind to me I couldn't possibly just leave forever." The man smiled warmly and nodded.
"You'll always be welcomed here, Jin," he said softly. "It's the least I can do to repay you..." Her eyes widened and she dropped her chopsticks on the tray, too full to eat another bite.
"Repay me?" she asked. He was beaming at her but it only made her more confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I know who you are," he said softly. "You're Jin, the young lady who led the revolt against the Dai Li and the Fire Nation. You helped to free all those prisoners from the Earth King's dungeons." His smile was glowing. "You brought hope back into this city. Offering you shelter and food is the least I could do to repay you for that."
"I... I..." she stuttered, completely at a loss for words. He stood up slowly and took her tray, knowing she was finished and turned to leave.
"You need rest," he said as he stepped through the door. "And I have a feeling you'll be able leave tomorrow morning and return to your family... and the young man waiting for you."
"How did you...?" she exclaimed, even more confused now.
"I was young once. I know how to recognize when someone's in love or not," he said, winking at her. "Whoever the young man is... he must be very lucky to have won your heart." With that he left her and she smiled, her cheeks turning red. Soon, very soon, she'd be home, and she'd see her mother, father, and Koji. And somehow, she wasn't sure how, but somehow she'd find Zuko again, and they'd be married... eternally tied to each other. She smiled, tears filling her eyes. It was close enough she could practically touch it, and somewhere inside her she could feel her lover was smiling too, wherever he was.
----
The brothel was not far and Zuko could see it in the distance. Even from where they stood they could tell it was a mess. Broken windows, the house itself decaying with age, and even the plants surrounding it seemed to be in poor condition, or perhaps it was only his mind trying to see only the worst. Nothing could be redeemable about a place like this. Azula's words were still ringing in his memory. If she had been truthful then Jin was not here and was completely out of harm's way.
Standing outside of the brothel were four women dressed in ratty, but still risque, clothing, talking to each other and giggling. They looked around and moved with a sort of arrogance to them, but none of them looked very wealthy. Zuko frowned when he looked at them, but a part of him was relieved that not one of them was Jin.
"Prostitutes," muttered Katara to Aang who looked like he was about to ask anyway. "Lovely, huh?" she added sarcastically.
"Don't be so quick to judge," said Suki suddenly. "We already know women have been sold into brothels like this against their will, and others usually offer themselves because they have nothing and are desperate. We have no idea what their story is." She gestured to the women and Katara nodded almost apologetically.
"So Jin's here?" asked Sokka.
"No," answered Zuko, and they looked at him in surprise.
"Then why are we here?" asked Toph, sounding a little cranky.
"Because we might find something, a clue as to where she went. Maybe someone here knows."
"I hope so," muttered Katara. "And at least she's not here. This place looks awful." Zuko nodded and looked at the women.
"Let's go talk to them," he said softly. "They may know something." He proceeded to head in their direction and, almost hesitantly, the rest followed.
The woman closest noticed them first and turned to Zuko, a glint in her eyes telling him she had chosen her target. She approached him, a certain sway in her step, and even though she looked like she hadn't had a proper bath in days, there was still something sexual about her -he knew Jin would rip him limb from limb if she knew he'd thought that-.
"What service can I do you?" she asked, a playful smile on her face.
"I'm looking for someone," he said, making sure his tone and face were enough to tell her he didn't want what she was offering. But the look in her eyes did not leave and she took a step closer.
"Are you now?" She reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder and stroked her finger teasingly. "Well then, I'd say you've found someone." Before he could say anything another stepped up, this time aiming for Sokka.
"Hey there, handsome," she said with a grin. "What brings you out here? You look like you could use some rest..." Sokka stared at her as if he was unsure what to do with her and Suki stepped up, getting right into her face.
"You lay one finger on my boyfriend and I swear I'll-" Sokka pulled her back before she could finish that and laughed nervously.
"I'm broke anyway!" he said nervously and placed a hand around Suki's waist, partially to show she was his and partially to hold her back.
"Ooo," sighed the lady, pouting. "What a pity."
"What about you, young man?" said a third who was now strutting her way towards Aang. "A little young aren't you? Or are you older than you look?"
"Back off!" warned Katara. "He's the avatar and he's not interested!"
"The avatar!" the three gasped, all turning to him in interest, and when Aang realized he was being ganged up on, not knowing what else to do, he pointed to Zuko and blurted out, "He's the Firelord!"
Zuko shot him a dangerous look and the three then turned to him, closing in on him. "The Firelord!" they said as one. "I'll bet you're rich..." the first sighed. "I'll bet you're powerful..."
Zuko, giving Aang another nasty look, drew out his broadswords and ignited them, holding them crossed in front of him and their heat caused the women to jump back with a shout of surprise. "Enough!" he growled at them. "We're looking for someone who was brought here yesterday. Have any of you seen a new girl around here?"
"She's about my height," said Katara, approaching them. "Dark brown hair, tan skin, and brown eyes."
"Any of you seen her?" asked Zuko. The three stared at him distrustfully, all of them looking somewhat offended by him and it became aparent they weren't planning on answering him. "Please," he begged. "I've been searching for her for so long."
"We haven't seen anyone," said one of the three. "There were no new girls."
"C'mon," said Sokka. "You've had to have seen someone. We know she was sold to this brothel."
They just gave him the same disgusted look and didn't answer.
"She left two nights ago," said a voice. They all turned and the fourth woman who, until this time, had not moved from her spot, nor shown any interest in them. She now walked with them, not carrying the same arrogant air as the other three, and she seemed to be more bitter than them.
"You know who we're talking about?" asked Katara, and the woman nodded.
"She was brought in all bruised up, but they still bought her. Never left her room. She slept on the floor practically her entire stay, which wasn't long."
A question was burning in Zuko's mind though he was afraid to ask. "She... she didn't... they didn't make her..."
"No," said the woman. "Her face was so battered they wouldn't have gotten a decent profit off her until she healed."
"You speak of her as if she were an object," said Zuko disgustedly.
"Look at where you are!" snapped the woman. "Here women are nothing but objects for rent. Men buy us, use us, then return us to get passed on to the next man. We were dehumanized the moment we were forced to set foot in that door." She pointed to the door of the rundown house, and for the first time, Zuko felt pity for her as well as the other three.
"I don't suppose you know where she went?" asked Zuko after a moment of silence.
"She snuck out the back door and headed that way," she said, pointing beyond the house. "I saw her through my window. She looked so weak I doubt she got very far."
Zuko nodded and looked at her for a few minutes. She was not like the others, that was apparent. Rather than already surrendering her soul to this horrible place, she was still clinging on to that ast inch, unlike the other three, who were already beginning to eye him greedily. "What's your name?" he asked her.
"Julianne," she answered.
"Come with us," he said, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise. "There's no need to stay in this place. Come with us and be free of it."
"I can't do that," she said. "Unlike you, I can't afford to just leave and have my own life."
"I'll give you whatever money you want," said Zuko.
"I don't want your pity," she said darkly. "And I don't want your money." Zuko frowned, knowing pursuing it was useless and nodded.
"I wish you luck then," he said. "And thank you for your help." She nodded and he turned to leave but she spoke up.
"That girl... you love her that much...?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"Then she's very lucky there's someone like you in this world. I hope you find her."
"I will," he answered. "I will find her"
----
It was growing late in the afternoon, and Mai sat by a campfire they'd built, wondering what had become of Zuko. Had he finally given up and headed home, or did he commit suicide to be rejoined with his lover? Either way, she didn't care, at least she tried to convince herself she didn't.
The bracelet remained on her wrist, untouched, and she stared at it, knowing it was pathetic to keep it on any longer. As she reached to singe the threads and remove it, one of the earthbenders sitting near her suddenly jumped up and cried, "Someone's coming!" She got to her feet, drawing a few darts to fire, but lowered her hands when Long Feng stepped into view.
"Thought you'd abandon me, did you?" he growled, but they were too distracted by the ugly burns on his face, which didn't appear to have been treated at all.
"What happened to you?" asked Mai apathetically.
"I ran into your boyfriend," he said, eyes dark. Mai's expression changed and she darted over to him.
"Zuko attacked you?" she asked. "You didn't kill him, did you?" She didn't know why she asked. It wasn't as if she cared... did she?
"I should have! That brat nearly burned me to death trying to find out where we sold that girl-"
Mai bit her lip so hard it began to bleed. "You told him?!" she cried.
"I had no other choice!" he said defensively. "He would have killed me!"
"So he knows she's alive then," she muttered, lowering her head. "And he's gone to find her."
"If I ever see that brat again..." growled Long Feng menacingly. "I don't care if he's the Firelord. I'll kill him! I swear I'll kill him!"
Mai was gritting her teeth. After all that had happened, Zuko was not giving up! The only thing that would stop him from going after that girl was death. She looked Long Feng in the eyes and grinned. "Then what are we waiting for?" she asked.
----
Zuko lead a search of all the houses where Jullianne had pointed them, but had no luck. They covered as much ground as they could before exhaustion took over, and finally checked into an inn to get some rest. It was nearly sunset, but he felt frustrated from getting tired. Jin was so close he could practically taste her, and yet he hadn't found her or anyone who had seen her. All that remained was three more houses and then a farm house. Katara had suggested at one point that perhaps Jin had left all ready, but Zuko refused to believe that. He could feel her near and if she was gone he would have known.
When he finally got to his room, despite his frustration and determination, he was asleep before his head even hit the pillow, and he remained undisturbed for hours.
In a farm house not too far away, a young woman settled down deeper into her bed and drifted off to sleep as well.
----
She was standing in nothingness, no floors, ceilings or walls, just white. She knew she was dreaming, but was disappointed that it appeared to be a very dull dream. "Jin!" She spun around, and Azula came running to her. "Jin! Quick! Zuko's asleep!" Jin raised an eyebrow.
"So?" she asked.
"Do you want to see him?" asked Azula, hands on her hips. She appeared to be a little perturbed that Jin hadn't understood right away, but Jin broke out into a smile and her heart began to pound.
"Yes!" she cried. "Yes I would!" Azula held out her hand to Jin.
"Well then hurry," she said. "Come with me. I'm not sure how much time you'll have before one of you wakes up." Jin took her hand eagerly and Azula said quickly, "Think of a place. Any place you'd like to meet him in." Jin thought for a moment, then remembered a place where she'd been happy with him and focused hard on it. A part of her had expected to hear a loud crack or a pop or feel some overwhelming sensation that they were traveling through space and time, but she didn't. Instead Azula simply told her to open her eyes and they were standing there.
The room was dark and dusty, spiderwebs were filling the corners and it looked as though no one had set foot in the place for years. Jin frowned as she looked around, and found Azula had already gone off to fetch Zuko. Taking a moment, she walked around the place, looking at everything solemnly as if it were some sort of memorial set up in someone's memory.
"Jin..." called a voice, and she turned, her heart pounding even heavier, her breathing heavy. She knew that voice.
"Zuko!" she cried and ran right into his arms. He held her close, clinging tightly as if to make sure she was really there. When he was certain he kissed her passionately, reaching behind her head to pull out her ponytail and let her hair fall free. His fingers entangled themselves in her curls and she moaned against his mouth, a sound of resentment that she had to withdraw for breath.
"Oh Jin..." he breathed. "I'm so sorry... I never should have let you out of my sight!"
"I'm all right... now," she said softly. "Azula's been-"
"I know, she told me," he said softly. He looked around for the first time, trying to figure out where they were, then turne to Jin.
"This place..." he said. "Is it...?"
"Yes," she answered. "It's the place we used to be to happy in, remember?" He nodded and frowned when he looked around, the same sadness on his face that had been on hers moments ago.
"The Jasmine Dragon sure has changed a lot"
----
(A/N: Allo my freaky darlings. I wrote this chapter at work while my boss snapped photos of me non-stop. She was trying to set the flash just right on her new camera. I tried to clear up as many typos as I could, but please take into account I was half blind by that point from all the incessant flashing. Well, R&R!)