Zuko marched down the halls of the ship. His faceplate put in place so no one would be able to see who he really was. He hadn't eaten, again, and his stomach gave a loud grumble but he ignored it.

He didn't understand why the guards were needed to walk through the halls all day long. If there were any stowaways, (Besides him, Ryoko, and Iroh.) They would have been found by now.

He let out a sigh of agitation but continued to walk steadily through the halls. He had thought the position he was in on his own ship was boring! This was ten time's worse!

One thing that was beginning to seem odd was that usually by now he would have seen Ryoko at least five times already, but he hadn't seen her at all that day. In fact, the last time he had seen her was the day before when Iroh had suggested they come down to the kitchens and get something to eat.

He dismissed it, and unknowingly let his feet walk him to the galley. He stopped at the door way and his stomach gave another low grumble.

Two of the soldiers, that were just leaving, had heard it and burst out laughing.

Zuko had to try his best not to attach them. Instead of going in and getting something, as most normal people would, he instead just continued walking. He would have to wait until his shift was over.

Mean while

"I will ask you again! Were. Are. They?" he spat at her again as if Ryoko was a two-year-old.

"Like I have said before I have never even met Prince Zuko or General Iroh," Ryoko lied easily and calmly, though inside she was screaming every rude and unkind word none to mankind.

Ryoko was now standing in the center of a large, dark, cold room, her hands held tightly in shackles behind her back. There were several seats around the room and parts of the crew were sitting, listening to the interrogation and even joining in, taking turns with her.

The soldier glared at her hard for a moment until out of no wore he came down, and hit her hard in the face sending her a few steps back.

"You lie, wench!"

Back to Zuko

He sighed once again and turned a corner, at the end of the hall were two of the maids. As Zuko passed her heard snippets of there conversation.

"-Apparently she's no giving them a single word-" "-soon they'll be getting out the whip-" "I would've just told them were they are by now-"

Zuko gave the girls an odd look as he passed. Who were they talking about? Told who were who was? He just shrugged. Crazy woman, gossiping for entertainment, cant really blame them though.

His boots maid a soft clink with every step he took echoing through the large halls, suddenly his pace began to slow until he was standing dead still.

The things that he had just over heard the young maids say, added to the fact that he hadn't seen Ryoko all day began to click in his mind. He turned on his heel and began walking much faster then before until he was almost at a run, heading back down to the kitchens were his uncle was.

Back to Ryoko

Ryoko regained her posture and looked up at the man. "I do not know any thing, but even if I did, I would not tell you," she said, her anger getting the best of her.

This time another man from the crew stood up, pulling something from his belt as he did so.

The maids had been right; they were going to use the whip on her. Ryoko stared wide-eyed as the mad unraveled the long leather rope.

"Now again, were are the exiled prince and general," He said with a smirk, hitting the grip of the whip against his hands.

"I can't say," she said quietly. The man stared at her for a moment but grinned. "Fine then," he said walking closer to her. "Its five lashes then,"

Two of the men sprang to there fight and grabbed Ryoko, forcing her against the wall, though she was fighting against them. The other man lifted the whip high above his head and brought it down with a horrible crack on her back.

Ryoko let out a horrible, high-pitched, blood-curtailing scream.

Zuko

Zuko pushed two men out of his way, arousing several loud angry yells but ignoring them all the same.

He burst through the doors to the galley, getting him several stares but ignoring them all as he sped towards the kitchens. As soon as he entered and saw his uncle was alone he tore of his helmet and faceplate. "Uncle, I think something may have happened to Ryoko"

A/N- BUM BUM BUUUUUUM! I've said it before and I'll say it again, Zuko gets every one in trouble! He just can't help it! Well, I can't wait for the next show to come out, though I doubt any of you can wait either. So any ways yep, the next chapter should be up…sometime within this week…hopefully. Bights nails. By schedule had gotten so busy! I have ballet, every morning before school, and every afternoon after, art class, every Monday after ballet, vocal, on Tuesdays, velocity training on Wednesdays, and on top of all that, all the freaking homework these teachers give me! I miss elementary school…But I will keep writing! This will not defeat me!