Hey guys, sorry for not updating sooner. I had writer's block, forgot about it, or was just too lazy to write. So yeah. I hope you enjoy this chapter and yeah. The beginning is a little light hearted for the story but all in all it works out, and that's all that matters. Also thank you Alabaster who was the lone reviewer for reviewing. Also thank you for pestering me constantly. :D
So enjoy, read, review and all. :D
Disclaimed!
It was morning and the small group made it to a small clearing in the dense forest. The group surveyed the surrounding area before deciding it was a safe place to rest. They plopped down into the dirt welcoming the short break from walking.
"Ugh finally, I'm so sick of walking I could puke." Sen exclaimed as she fell by a tree.
"Please don't, for all our sakes." Shin said sarcastically. "Well isn't this an interesting change in events, Xiang kept his mouth shut all night and listened to Lee who surprisingly has some pretty god leadership skills, if I do say so myself." He added. Chang nodded in agreement.
Zuko sighed and looked over to Xiang who has been quiet since the base was conquered.
"Well what do you suppose we do Mr. Leader?" Chang asked Zuko.
"Since when was I appointed the leader?" Zuko asked back.
"You were the one who decided we go this way and led the way to this spot in which you found, and decided it'd be best to look and see if there was any dangers around." Chang pointed out.
"You guys chose to listen." Zuko replied.
"Those were good ideas though." Sen said.
Zuko nodded and looked to Xiang. "Do you have any ideas on what to do now?" Xiang just shrugged dumbly. "I'll take that as a no."
"Hey I forgot to mention that there is a village nearby. It doesn't look like there are many soldiers there. They're mainly a police force it looks like. Maybe we can snag something to eat there." Shin said.
"Or maybe just some clothes all together." Sen mentioned. Everyone just looked at her. "What?"
"That's a good idea. We could blend in more." Zuko said.
"What would we do with our clothes then?" Shin asked.
"Keep them if we need them." Zuko stated.
"Well that's all fine and dandy but I don't think we can carry Earth Kingdom armor around." Chang said as he flicked Xiang's breast plate. Xiang sat there unresponsive.
"Hide it somewhere I guess." Zuko said as he shrugged.
"Well we all know who is gonna go in and buy some clothes then. I nominate Lee." Chang said.
"What?" Zuko asked surprised.
"Why not, your clothes are dark and could pass for a cloak or something. You also brought some money that you could probably exchange. You know more about the Fire Nation then all of us so there we go." Chang explained. Everyone nodded in agreement. Zuko sighed.
"Well I don't know what all of you like, sorry." Zuko stated.
"Sure you do, except maybe Xiang." Shin said. "As long as it works and isn't completely hideous, it'll do."
"For once I agree with Shin." Xiang spoke. Everyone looked to him. "I'm around his size." He pointed to Chang.
Zuko nodded and sighed. He started off into the forest followed by the voices of everyone's fair wells and good lucks.
Zuko wandered into the forest carefully so no soldiers could see him. He didn't get the point of sneaking around when he was going to go into a village full of soldiers and people alike. He found a larger clearing that housed the village. He figured it was of decent size and that the people have been here for a while. He could see what looked like open plains on one part of town. He looked to see where everything was before going into the village itself.
The layout was of a typical Fire Nation town anywhere else. It had an open market, recruiting center, town square and anything else that a village of any conquering nation would need to survive in conquered territory. He glanced and decided to wait for the area to clear of people. He looked again to see a small child looking directly at him with wide eyes, and Zuko's eyes widened in the fear of being suspected of doing something out of the ordinary, even though he actually was. The child started to tug at his mother's clothes and started to point in his direction. The woman turned and saw Zuko before he could get out of sight. Zuko cursed under his breath.
The woman started to motion for him to come to her. Zuko sighed as he started to walk forward. He was stopped by the tugging of his hair caught in a pine tree next to him. He looked away from the town in embarrassment and started to untangle his hair from the tree as he mumbled and cursed to himself. He glanced at the woman who was walking towards him laughing softly. Zuko's face grew red from humiliation and anger, soon his hair was untangled.
"Well it isn't every day that I see a stranger lurking in the bushes only to get his hair tangled in a tree." The woman laughed. "What brings you here oh mysterious one?"
"I need to buy stuff." Zuko bluntly stated.
"Well where I'm from it isn't necessary to lurk in trees, and I'm from this very town." She said. "So, what are you called?"
"I'm Lee, and I need to be going." Zuko tried to side step around the woman who only blocked him.
"Lee. That's a common name anywhere, and you are definitely uncommon." She said. She studied Zuko who was only getting more uncomfortable by the minute. "I'm Mizu."
"It's nice to meet you, now if you excuse me…" Zuko tried to pass Mizu who only blocked his way.
"Would you like to join me and my son Kai for breakfast?" Mizu smiled a cat like smile.
Zuko gulped at the growing awkwardness of the situation. "Don't you, uh, have a husband or something?"
"Sadly those Water Tribe barbarians took him from me and this world and recently to." Mizu said, her smile fading just a bit.
"Sorry." Zuko said. He tried to step around Mizu again but was blocked, again.
"You never answered my question," Mizu paused. "Lee is it?" Zuko nodded.
"I have to get stuff for some people that I'm meeting up with." Zuko said
"That can wait, you know." Mizu said as she grabbed Zuko by the wrist and started to lead him into the town. He sighed, hoping he can get out of this awkward and growing situation.
He was led to the open market past groups of people who quickly shot a glance in his direction. He was feeling more awkward and equally confused by the minute. If he would have had it his way, he would be done by now, and his group would move on to the next town. Mizu stopped in front of a fruit stand.
"Here Lee, watch Kai for me." She ordered.
Zuko stood there with Kai holding on to his cloak as Mizu talked with what Zuko assumed were her friends. They looked to him and giggled behind their hands or if they had one, their fans. Zuko sighed. He knew it was futile to try and escape now that he had to watch a kid. On the upper hand Zuko thought, these people might know where some cheap clothes were. Mizu grabbed a basket of fruit from one of the other women and thrust it into Zuko's hands.
"Be a gentleman and hold this, will you?" Mizu said with a smile.
Zuko concluded that he was being sucked into the corrupted world of shopping women every moment he was standing there. He gulped as he again looked for any way to escape. He heard laughter from the women as he looked frantically around. Soon he was grabbed my Mizu and led to another part of the market as more baskets and boxes were thrust into his hands. This continued until what Zuko assumed was lunch. After stopping to everyone of the woman's house to drop them and their stuff off Mizu led him to her house for lunch.
Mizu paraded Zuko around the village all the way to her house to his dismay. He felt more like a captured animal then a person now more then ever. Soon they entered her house and Mizu went into the other room with Kai. Zuko debated to himself about leaving but thought against it, fearing that would bring him more attention then he already had.
Zuko sighed as she walked into the room without Kai and started to take things out of cupboards to cook. She motioned him to go to where she was standing. He sighed and reluctantly obeyed.
"Could you get that please?" Mizu asked. She pointed to some spices on the highest shelf in a three foot radius. Zuko grabbed the spices and put them on the counter. He began to walk back to his spot in the corner. Mizu grabbed his cloak. "So you're just going leave me all alone are you?"
"I'm going to stay in that corner incase you were wondering." Zuko said bluntly. He immediately gave up because he wasn't in the mood to argue. He leaned against the counter and started to stare at the adjacent wall.
Soon the meal was finished and she began to set the table. Zuko jumped in shock as Kai grabbed his cloak and watched. Zuko stared out the window assuming that his friends were thinking up of an elaborate rescue mission that would start a brawl of some sort. Even though the idea didn't please him, it would be better then to stay where he was like a trapped animal.
"Lunch is ready you two." Mizu's voice broke Zuko's concentration on the window. She led Kai to his spot across the table. Mizu then led Zuko to his spot which was to the left of her.
"Your kid is lonely." Zuko said bluntly as he pointed across the table to Kai.
"Oh don't worry about him." Mizu said dismissively. She reached to touch Zuko's scar. Zuko blocked her hand with his arm. Mizu pouted and began to eat.
Zuko made sure no one would touch his scar before he began to eat his own food. He finished his food quickly so he could get out of this village even quicker. Before he could dismiss himself, Mizu put more food on his plate. He sighed and began to eat once again. This time he decided he would eat slower so he wouldn't get fattened up, soon after the meal was done and Zuko started towards the door.
"I just gave you a home cooked meal and you are going to just walk out?" Mizu questioned? Zuko opened his mouth to speak. "Clean up and watch Kai while I change." She ordered. Mizu walked out of the room.
Zuko sighed. He began to clean up after everyone rather quickly so he could try to sneak out. Soon all the dishes were washed and he began to think of an escape plan. Soon Mizu walked into the room again holding two different outfits. Zuko gave her a confused look.
"Which one looks better? This dress," She held out a short length dress. "Or this one?" She then held out the second one on the right which was longer. Zuko pointed to the longer one, not really caring one way or the other what she wore. "Hmm you're right, oh and could you help by giving Kai a bath?" She asked.
"He's your kid, not mine." Zuko stated and crossed his arms to show that he wasn't moving.
A sly smile crossed Mizu's face. "Oh but Lee-kins, I made you dinner and gave you a tour of the village. It'd only be polite to return the favor." She then turned on her heel and exited the room.
Zuko's mouth was agape. 'All these years I thought Zuzu was the worst possible nickname. I was wrong, and I bet Sokka somewhere in the Spirit World is laughing.' He thought to himself. He turned to Kai. "Can't you bathe yourself?" He asked and pointed a figure at him. Kai shook his head no. Zuko could only sigh.
Kai led Zuko to a pond in the back where he assumed was the bathtub for the family. It was secluded enough. He sighed in disbelief at all the events that have taken place. Soon Kai and Zuko were back in the house. Zuko heard Mizu's voice call for her son. Zuko took the opportunity to head for the door. To Zuko's dismay Kai came back holding two necklaces and motioned for him to pick one. Zuko sighed and pointed to the one on the right. If Iroh taught him one good thing about women, it was to always pick the item on the right if you could care less. Kai ran back into the back room of the house and quickly ran back to Zuko. Zuko sighed and decided that he had to find a way to preoccupy Kai before Mizu came back, or else he would never escape. An idea entered his mind and he smiled.
Zuko kneeled down to Kai's eyelevel and smiled. "So Kai, do you like hide and seek?" Zuko asked kindly. Kai nodded his head vigorously. "Can you count to lets say, one hundred?" Kai shook his head no. "Can you count to ten?" Kai nodded yes. Zuko smiled. "Can you count to ten, ten times?" Kai nodded again. "Ok good. Do you want to count and then come find me?" Kai nodded his head. "Ok. Count to ten, ten times with your eyes closed and put your head down on the table, and when you're done try to find me." Kai nodded and began to count at the table. Zuko felt a small feeling of guilt for tricking the small child but he couldn't find another way. He whispered sorry and snuck quietly out the door and shut it without a sound.
As the door closed Zuko quietly tip toed backwards away from the house, after he was of a reasonable distance away which to him was about four and a half feet, he turned on his heel and dashed away from the house and towards the market as if Agni himself was after him with the intent of executing him on site. He ran into the clothing and textile area of the market and quickly looked through the selection of what they had to offer for his small and after this ordeal, seemingly normal group. He grabbed clothes for them and himself and left the painfully obvious Earth Kingdom currency on the counter. He booked it through the village, clothing in tow, into the forgiving and welcoming forest. Zuko dodged, ducked, jumped and dashed back into the clearing where the group was waiting. He plopped down under the tree where Sen was before he left.
"Where have you been Lee, we were worried about you!" Sen's screeching voice met Zuko's ears.
"You're not his mom, Sen." Shin said. "So, did you bring any food back, we're starving!"
Zuko paused for a minute to process the question. Soon the realization that food was also on the list hit him like an airship in the back of the head would. Zuko cussed loudly at the obvious realization.
"So I'll take that as a no." Shin said. Zuko sent him one of his signature death glares.
"Did you eat anything then oh great leader?" Xiang asked, his voice seeping in sarcasm.
Zuko gave a nervous smile. "You know, there's this really funny story. Yeah…" Zuko rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Xiang gave a war cry and lunged at Zuko. Chang jumped in the way.
"Hold it there Xiang; I'm sure Lee has a very good reason for eating and not getting us any." Chang said in Zuko's defense.
"Well it doesn't matter now; we can always go back into town in our new clothes and grab something. Lee, where's that new Fire Nation money that you got exchanged for the normal stuff?" Sen asked.
Zuko paused for minute. "Uh… Oops?"
"You paid for our stuff with Earth Kingdom money, didn't you?" Sen asked in a deadpan tone.
"We should change and get going, right about now." Zuko said.
"You're an idiot today, you know that."
"If only you knew what had happened."
"What did happen then?"
"If I told you, you would never believe me."
"Can we just get moving now?" Xiang asked in an annoyed voice.
Zuko nodded and went into the trees to change. Everyone followed suit and did the same in their own little areas. Soon after everyone regrouped in the clearing and after Xiang hid his armor in a place which he deemed secret.
"Not bad Lee, not bad at all." Chang said as he looked around at everyone. "Even though you still have your cloak but hey whatever works and doesn't get us killed."
"Yeah did it take you this long to pick out our clothes? The quality is top notch." Sen said excitedly.
"I feel like a dirty traitor." Xiang stated. He poked, prodded, pulled and tugged at his new Fire Nation style garment.
Shin and Chang just shrugged uncaringly at their clothes. Everyone looked at each other, trying to get used to seeing their comrades in Fire Nation clothing. Xiang made a face of disgust as he looked at him and everyone around him. Zuko just shrugged it off like he would a bad memory. Sen twirled around while watching the new fabric fall around her.
"So Xiang, how do I look?" Sen asked while twirling around. Chang and Shin rolled their eyes while Xiang just shrugged. Zuko shuddered at the memories of the day's earlier events.
"What was that for?" Sen screamed angrily at Zuko. Zuko jumped at Sen's sudden yet expected outburst.
"Stop flirting Sen, it's not good for your self esteem to get rejected." Chang said with a laugh.
"Oh that's it!" Sen screamed at Chang which started a large argument between the siblings.
"Whoa, whoa, guys make love not war okay." Shin stated. He braced himself for the screaming that Sen soon gave him.
"Tell that to the Phoenix King." Xiang said sarcastically while tugging at his collar. Zuko chuckled at the reply. "Well looks like scar-boy does have a sense of humor." Zuko rolled his eyes.
"Oh Lee, there you are!" A voice in the bushes broke up the arguments of the group. They all turned to the direction of the voice.
Zuko's eyes widened at the sound of Mizu's voice coming from the bushes. Zuko leaned over to Xiang. "She can smell fear…" Xiang shot him a confused look.
"Oh Lee we were so worried about you. We thought that you vanished from our lives forever." Mizu said with exaggerated hand gestures.
Zuko sighed as she started to explain to the rest of the group of their day together in a way it sounded like she's known him for years. Zuko sobbed to himself inwardly because he knew he would be questioned later.
"So do you know of any good and cheap places to eat? We're starving." Sen asked.
Soon Mizu and Sen began to talk about plans for eating out and how to pay for the expenses.
Shin looked to Zuko with pity. "I feel for you…" Zuko nodded his thanks.
"While we're talking about food, get that money exchanged." Xiang whispered to Zuko.
Zuko nodded as he silently slipped into the brush and headed for town. He again snuck through the trees and other vegetation nearest to the village. He sighed and casually walked into the village square to get the money exchanged. He walked into the building which had a desk in the back with a portly man with a large moustache sitting behind it. Zuko ran miles of excuses on why he wanted the money exchanged and how he came across Earth Kingdom currency in the first place through his head while he stood behind a well built man. The man in front of him was arguing over what seemed to be a bill that he paid or something of that nature. The man in front of him was dismissed to the side by the portly one behind the desk and Zuko was motioned at to come closer. Zuko glanced at the previous man who was waiting impatiently to talk with the man behind the desk; he looked at the portly man in front of him again.
"How may I help you?" The portly man grunted.
Zuko dug out the small bag of copper, silver and gold pieces that he selected to get exchanged earlier and handed it to the man behind the desk. "I need these exchanged for useable money."
The portly man opened the small bag and poured its contents of coins onto his oak desk and began to count slowly. He counted out fifty copper pieces, fifteen silver pieces and five gold pieces and placed them in neat stacks upon his desk. Zuko gulped when the portly man raised his gaze slowly to meet Zuko's.
"How did you come across this much Earth Kingdom currency?" He asked curiously.
"Oh c'mon, I was here way before this guy! Just give him his money so I can finish screaming at you in peace!" The other man demanded. Zuko shot him an apologetic look and turned his gaze to the man behind the desk.
"Well… My cousin Lu…" Zuko stopped himself before he finished his cousin's name and looked nervously at the portly man. He motioned for Zuko to consider.
"Yes your cousin Lu what?" He again motioned for Zuko to continue.
"Well my cousin, Lu… He was I mean is fighting in the war… So he sent me some Earth Kingdom money as souvenirs… He sent it gradually to me over the years…" Zuko stammered.
The portly man looked at Zuko for a few minutes more and began to count the money again and looked to see if it was authentic. Zuko rolled his eyes and sighed loudly hoping to hint at the man that he was in a hurry. The portly man shot him a glare and was moving at a slower pace and inspecting every coin. Zuko began to pace back and forth in front of the desk. Finally the portly man took each stack neatly off his desk and exchanged it for some Fire Nation money. Zuko quickly counted and brushed it into his sack and hurriedly rushed back into the clearing of the forest. Zuko sighed with relief when he reunited with his small group and when Mizu was no where in sight.
"You should thank me for getting crazy lady off your back." Sen demanded. Zuko looked at her with a confused expression. "I told her that you had a fiancé in the mainland. She looked disappointed and cheated but boy, that expression was priceless." Sen showed a triumphant grin.
"Yeah and she called me ugly! She just doesn't know something wonderful when she sees it." Shin exclaimed. "So, you get the money?"
"Yeah and thanks, there's this old fat guy who questioned me about it but I did it. We should get supplies and start heading west before it gets to dark."
"What about food?" Xiang questioned.
"What else do you think I mean when I say supplies?" Zuko asked. "We need that and some sleeping bags and we're good."
"Sorry to burst your bubble Lee, but its fall and it's gonna get cold. We should at least stay in a hotel when the weather gets bad." Chang said.
"I know, but I said that today because we lost a lot of ground because of crazy stalker lady." Zuko snapped back.
"We should stop bickering like children and gets some food and start walking before it gets to dark." Xiang ordered. He began to walk in the direction of the village and everyone began to follow.
Again for the third time Zuko, now with the rest of his group wandered into the village and made their way into the market place. They grabbed fruits, vegetables, dried meat and other odds and ends to last them for a few days of travel. The small group wandered into a part of the market that sold camping supplies. Xiang ordered them to grab some fishing poles and extra bags so they wouldn't have to buy as much food with the small sum of money that they possessed. They wandered through the market in search of other supplies that they would need for a long trip. Zuko felt a raindrop on his head and he looked up to the cloudy sky. He heard thunder in the distance and finally noticed the smell of rain. Soon everyone else knew about the storm as well.
"We should get to an inn or something. It looks like it's gonna pour by what I can tell." Chang said. Everyone nodded in agreement as they began their search for a cheap inn to stay the night.
After an hour or so of wandering throughout the village they came across a suitable inn to stay in. Everyone was in disbelief that there was only one room open and that there would be long arguments on who could have the bed. Zuko sighed and began to rub his head, preparing for another headache. They walked up the narrow staircase and to their door which over looked the main area of the inn. Xiang opened the door and everyone made their way inside. As soon as they entered the room Sen pushed past everyone to get to the bed to claim. Her argument was that she was a fragile lady and that she needed the extra comfort that only a bed could provide. Zuko just groaned at the oncoming argument that was starting to arise. Zuko decided it was best to leave when he heard Sen use the words bed and Xiang in the same sentence and with that he turned on his heel and exited the noisy room.
Zuko closed the door silently behind him and leaned on the rail overlooking the sitting area and began to think of what to do next. When he first started this self proclaimed mission of his, it was to protect Sen and Chang and eventually Shin from getting hurt from being forced to join the army and fight. Now that the battalion that they were assigned to was wiped out, and that Xiang was with them he didn't know what to do. He thought that hiding out in conquered Fire Nation territory would be a safe bet if they kept moving and didn't stay in the same spot for long. Zuko wasn't worried about himself but he was worried about the others. He had experience with hiding out in enemy territory, even if anywhere he went was technically enemy territory. Zuko considered taking them to Ba Sing Se to stay with his uncle but pushed the thought out of his mind. He didn't want to bother Iroh more then he already has.
Zuko looked down to the sitting area again and decided that it would be more comfortable to sit then to stand anymore. He heard the arguing get louder in his room and decided that it would be a good idea to get away from the door as quick as possible. Zuko wandered down the narrow staircase and found a comfortable spot to sit where he could see his room and the front door. Zuko stared into the fireplace and began to think of their options. He thought of trying to convince the group to go to the Fire Nation and stay in his summer home like he and his old group of friends did, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Zuko glanced to the main door when he heard voices through the patter of rain. He couldn't make out what they were saying so he decided to focus on the fireplace while eavesdropping on the voices. He heard the door open and glanced at the person who entered.
The man who entered appeared to be a soldier by the looks of his clothes. Zuko studied the man to see if he was more of a threat then the obvious Fire Nation soldier. The soldier was tall and had darker skin and slightly lighter hair then the average Fire Nation person would have. Something about the soldier seemed eerily familiar to Zuko. The soldier reminded him of someone he knew personality wise and of someone he knew on their own. He heard the soldier talk to the clerk and even the voice seemed familiar to Zuko. Zuko looked to the fire to think it over; he then glanced quickly at the soldier again. At first the soldier seemed like he would have came from a small fishing village on a smaller island or even a colonist by the skin tone and manners wise, but everything else seemed like typical soldier. Zuko wanted to get a good look at the man's face but he waited until by some chance that he would turn towards him.
Zuko looked absent mindedly to a wall by the soldier so he could see him with his peripheral vision and so he could listen in. The conversation consisted mainly of small talk about the weather and the war and other uninteresting things. He heard the soldier ask if he could wait out the rain and take a seat, and heard the clerk giving him permission to do so. On reflex Zuko turned his gaze to the fire and heard the soldier walk towards the area where he was sitting. Zuko scratched the back of his neck out of nervousness which moved some of his hair that exposed his scar slightly.
"Zuko, is that you?" Zuko jumped at the hoarse whisper and slowly turned his head to the person who knew his name.
Zuko looked the person in the face and for an instant the feelings of familiarity came upon him. When Zuko met the icy blue gaze of the soldier who addressed him, the identity of the soldier hit him like a ton of bricks. Zuko's mouth widened slightly as he stared the man in the face.
"Hakoda?"
