Kitare didn't come back until the sun was ready to set. Grace had taken a nap on the couch after Mai had left for a while. She sat up when she heard the soft thud of glass on a muffled surface. It was about dinner, and the dinner table was being set. Before she could wonder if Mai was back yet, or even Kitare, he walked into the room.
"Good, you're awake. Mai invited us to dinner." He smiled.
Mai came up behind him, "Not like I had a choice." Mai looked at her for a moment, "Fix your hair."
Grace put her hand up to the side of her head, and it was ruffled from sleeping on it.
Kitare walked around the couch to her. "Here." He ran his fingers through her hair and smoothed it behind her ear.
Grace felt her face flush, "Thanks."
The two of them went to the dining room and sat across from Mai, and Zuko Grace wasn't used to seeing yet. Even if she had seen him a couple times, she didn't think she'd get used to it. Although she noticed he had his hair pulled up like official royalty, and he smiled when he looked at Mai. She was happy he was happy, Grace always seemed to root for the ones that seemed like they wouldn't go good. She was still hoping he changed, if anytime, now was it. Then she wondered if he'd heard about the eclipse, she couldn't remember. Then she remembered Mai knew, so he must. She noticed no one was talking, it was just the four of them at the table. She thought too soon.
"So Zuko, how was your day?" Kitare asked, a sarcastic tone in his voice.
Zuko didn't even look up from his plate, but Mai looked at Kitare with a glare. "None of your business." He took a bite of his fish with a deliberate casual pause before he spoke, "Are you still playing messenger boy for my sister?"
Kitare smirked, "So good to be back isn't it?" He said looking over at the Prince.
Zuko looked over at him, "Great." He said. Grace could barely tell if he was trying to play along with Kitare.
She could see Mai looking back and forth between the two and Grace was doing the same.
Before Grace and Kitare left, Grace walked up to Mai and whispered, "Do they always do that?"
Mai almost smirked, "Actually, this was rather good for them."
She rolled her eyes a bit and went to follow Kitare, "Bye."
"Kitare?" She asked as they walked back to the Palace.
"Hmm?" He asked when she didn't say more.
She was really nervous now. "The thought of staying in a room in the palace scares me. You have no idea."
It was dark, but she heard him give a short grunt and the Fire Nation soldier probably had a smirk on his face. "I think I do." He didn't even look over.
"I'll think of something."
They were close to the gates now. "Zuko and you, have you always argued like that?"
"Yeah. It's a long story."
She looked over at him, "A guy thing huh?"
He looked at her sideways, "A guy thing? Yeah, something like that if I know what you are meaning."
She gave a short laugh. Then stopped when the gates opened and a shadowed figure stood down the hall. Grace knew who it was.
"Kitare, dinner with Zuzu and Mai go well?"
He nodded to her, "Yes. Evening stroll Azula?"
She gave that devious smile that had no warmth, "You know me. Taking Grace to her room?" She said, glancing at her.
She tried to not jump at her stare.
"Yes. I will report to you in the morning."
Azula looked back. "Good." And she kept walking. Kitare and Grace moving out of her way.
Kitare started walking again once she was past. They didn't talk as they walked down the bright lit walls, casting shadows. They reached a long hall, and Kitare stopped at one of the doors.
"Where's your room?" She said as she looked down the hall.
He opened the door, "In another wing. Azula made sure our rooms were far apart."
She felt the fear get bigger as the thought of being in her room alone sunk in more. "Kitare…"
"Don't worry. Azula has no reason to come after you." He looked behind her across the hall when a guard went by.
He looked back to her, "You have everything you need." He touched her collar where the necklace lay. And left.
Grace entered the large room, a queen sized bed across the room, a vanity across the far wall, and then a fire nation banner across the other on the left. After taking the room in, she walked over to the bed and saw a deep red night dress that looked like silk. She sat on the bed and looked around again, seeing a door to the right wall. Picking up the dress she walked to the door and opened it to see a small bathroom, wash bowl sitting on the dark wooden table, and a beautiful bath tub across from it. Then she realized she hadn't taken a shower since she got here, or in this case a bath.
The room was dark, there were no windows, but she had blown out the candles before she had gotten into bed after her bath. It was so comfortable, she had to admit, the one she had on the ship was really comfortable, but this was all silk, and really soft. But her ease and comfort was short when she remembered where she was. The dark seemed to close in, and she felt like there was someone there.
She took the stone in her hand, and relief came over here. You have everything you need. He had said. She almost smiled. Soon falling asleep.
Grace woke a few hours after she had fallen asleep. She heard a creak. She held her breath and almost looked over, but kept herself where she was. A shiver went over her; fear taking place, her hands shaking. She moved the stone whistle to her lips, and blew. The soft, smooth sound filled the room, over the still darkness. There was a creak again, and she thought she saw the door move from the side of her eyes.
The thought of Azula in her room made her hug her covers for comfort, even though she knew the princess could do the worst to her without even a struggle. There was no sound after that.
It seemed like more than an hour went by before she fell asleep. It didn't take long for her to wake up again though when she heard a noise right by the bed.
Sitting straight up she looked to see Kitare in the vanity chair, his finger to his lips. "It's me. It's alright."
She crawled across the bed and hugged him, "I thought it was her." She almost heard her voice crack from the held up fear. "How did you know?"
She couldn't see well in the dark, but this close she could see him smile. "I told you it worked."
She smiled back at him, she looked at his lips, then back to him, not sure if he minded. She looked him in the eye and kissed him. He held her waist for a moment, then brought his hands to her now red cheeks. "Whatever happens when the eclipse comes, know that I care for you. In the short time I've known you I feel more connected to you than anyone else I've ever met."
Grace smiled, not sure what she should say to him, "K." She said softly, looking into his darkened eyes.
He held her away from him for a moment, "You should get sleep it's going to be a long day tomorrow," with one more look, he dropped his hands.
She got back into the covers and lay down. He didn't move from his spot, just propped his feet onto the bed.
Grace smiled to herself and went back to sleep.