Yay! First chapter of part two!! Come on guys, review more : ( I must know what you think of this!
So, let me begin part two… : ) Now, I do have to warn you. Part two is when things get very violent. Very disturbing almost. A bit more risqué. I mean, it's not like I'm going to give you a lemon, but definitely violence and stuff. So just…be prepared for some pretty intense stuff. There's been no wedding yet by the way lol.
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The wind blew through his hair, hair that was now thick and long enough to cover the tips of his ears. It was shaggy and wild, much like Kaori's, although nothing could be as wild as her hair. But after two years, the thought of running his hands through that soft hair could still make him smile.
And what a two years it had been. From the very start, the people had been cautious, not quite believing the story they heard. Some of the council members had been furious- claiming that Zuko was going to run away after a month, tired of the life that an island had to offer. Others held up a hand, saying that they should wait and see what happened- if he left, then they could certainly bring Tonu back into the picture.
And yet, two years had gone by and he still remained. He had learned what each building on the island was- from the market places to the big building, which he soon figured out was the palace, that he had first stayed in. The people were comfortable seeing him around as who he truly was- the Prince of the Fire Nation. Aliruko, especially, seemed to accept him now whole heartedly, eager to assist him if he ever needed something.
He had his own room now in the palace, close to the room that he had originally stayed in. It had been nice to see- Kaori had come into the room and frowned, then returned with shells that she had put on the table next to the bed. Then she had come in with some ink and drawn symbols and paintings on one of the walls. Figures of people dancing, trees blowing in the wind, and of course, the symbol of air, which she had drawn next to the fire symbol. When he saw that, she had simply laughed and winked at him, dabbing him with ink on his nose.
It had taken a week to get that ink out of his skin, to her immense joy.
Zuko had taken to notice everything that he had missed during his two weeks on the island. He noticed how the people regarded Kaori, that she was indeed royalty to them. At some points, she could be completely serious, sitting in a council meeting and offering her words with a wisdom beyond her years- although then she would spot him and flash him a face, sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes.
During the two years, the village had grown by a striking two hundred people, leaving them with five hundred people total. The war had driven off many people, left many people homeless, and Misfit Island welcomed all of them.
And yet, in all of this, Zuko kept waiting for it. He kept waiting for the moment when he would look around and wonder what he was doing here; waiting for the moment he would want to return to his quest to capture the avatar. He kept waiting and waiting and yet it never came. Each morning he would wake up and look out his window to see Kaori in the garden, practicing her air bending. He would watch her move, smoothly and strongly, her movements flowing into one another and her hair whipping around her. Seeing her would drive away any desire to leave. He couldn't.
At the moment, he stood on a balcony that connected to a large feasting hall in the palace. He stared out at the night sky, feeling the wind against his face. He could hear the festivities inside the hall; everyone was celebrating, after all, their princess was twenty today.
"Zuko!"
He turned around, a small smile on his lips, as he watched Kaori dance to him, one arm behind her back. She wrapped her free arm around his neck and pressed her lips against his, managing to stop his breath like she always could. He closed his eyes, applying pressure against her own lips.
It had taken so long, but he could return her affection. It was hard at some points, but after allowing himself to slowly open up to her, it had become easier. He had been so afraid to feel anything for her, but she had always remained there for him. Sometimes they wouldn't speak, just stare out at the ocean. And other times, they would talk. She would tell him about her parents, how her mother had had a freckle on her cheek and how she could hear her father laugh when he was not even inside the palace.
And he would tell her softly about his mother and how one night she came into his room, spoke to him, and then he never saw her again. He told her that he still thought that memory was a dream…that he couldn't believe it.
And when he spoke of his scar and the memories around it, she would cup his face in her hands and kiss his scar, trace it's lines until he believed that she didn't see it anymore.
After two years, he knew that what he had wanted to find out, what the feeling was that had been building up inside his chest, was something he had been without for the longest time. This feeling; this indescribable love that she had introduced him to. And he did, he did love her. He wasn't quite the romantic type; he couldn't confess his undying love for her, but he did tell her after a year and a half had gone by. She had her head against his shoulder and he had whispered it to her, and to his surprise- although he shouldn't have been- she had told him she felt the same.
And now, now he watched this beautiful girl pull her lips from his and smile at him widely, her eyes bright. "I was looking for you!" she said with a laugh.
Zuko shrugged slightly. "I…I don't think I'll ever quite get used to these big events," he admitted, nodding towards the commotion inside.
Kaori nodded, grinning, and removed her arm from behind her back, revealing a bottle she had been holding. "Then you can celebrate with me here. It's not every day I turn twenty!"
Zuko raised an eyebrow at the bottle. "Where did you get that?" he asked, smiling at bit at her.
Kaori looked at him innocently. "I'm a princess, Zuko, don't question me."
With a laugh, she took his hand, pulling him back inside and down a hallway, leaving the music and dancing behind them.
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Kaori pushed the empty bottle on the floor, watching it roll away from her with a laugh. "I don't know where it all went!" she hiccupped, running a hand through her hair. Zuko watched her, sitting on the end of her bed, and grinned a little. He hadn't felt like this in a while- it was a really weird feeling, since he had never drank so much before. Sure, on the ship he had had a few swigs now and then with Uncle or by himself, but never this much. It made things rather fuzzy and yet, he felt very comfortable. Lazy almost, relaxed.
"I mean, one moment, it's there, and the next- poof!- gone!" Kaori was exclaiming, motioning to the bottle like it was a ghost that had appeared before her.
She swung around, pointing to Zuko. "You!" she yelled with a laugh. "It's because of you that all the yummy drink is gone…" She approached him, jabbing her finger in his chest before straddling his lap. "I blame you,"
Zuko chuckled, looking at her with his eyebrows raised. He felt like he weighed a thousand pounds; heavy and fuzzy and spinning, he wasn't even sure what was going on at the moment.
"I really think you had a part in it too," he stated, his hands against her lower back.
Kaori shook her head, the motion amplified by the alcohol she had consumed. It sent butterflies to her head and her stomach. "I don't believe you…" she drawled out, laughing. "I would ne-ver do something like that!"
"I don't even know what you're talking about," Zuko said with a grin, shaking his head slowly at her.
Kaori stared at him, gasping dramatically. "Well! Here, let me show you!"
She leaned forward, pushing her lips against his and he could taste the alcohol on her lips, the sweet berry taste of it. She smiled against his lips, muttering "Recognize that?" He nodded, but did not answer, simply closed his eyes and pulled her closer to him. Kaori made a little sound, parting her lips against his and kissed him deeper.
In a swift movement, Zuko rolled over so that her back was against the bed and he was overtop of her, his lips nipping at her jaw line. He didn't even stop to think of how surprised he was at his actions- he was never this forward with her. Sure, they had exchanged kisses and what not, but he certainly wasn't the most forward guy when it came to intimacies.
Kaori let out a soft little moan, tilting her head back, her eyes closed. Zuko bit over her collar bone, kissing over where he bit gently and he stared down at her, his heart racing. She held onto the back of his neck tightly and his hands slid down her body to grasp the bow in the front of her outfit that held her dress together. Holding onto it, he pulled it slightly, then froze, the slightest bit of reality pushing through the daze that the alcohol had brought on.
"Kaori, wait, maybe we should-" he began, but she leaned up, meeting his lips with hers and kissed him hard. He made a muffled sound of protest then felt her tongue press against his and all thoughts of reality vanished from his mind as his hands pulled the bow on her dress off completely.
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The morning light hit her face and Kaori groaned, a hand coming up to her head. She groaned and turned over onto her back, opening her eyes and then immediately closing them- the light hurt to much and her head…her head was pounding. How much had she had to drink last night? To much, that was for sure. It had been a terrible idea, although the celebrations for her birthday had been fun.
Rubbing her eyes, she noticed movement beside her, and from the corner of her eyes, she watched Zuko sit up on his elbows, grabbing his head in one palm. He groaned painfully, rubbing his temple and looked at her through squinted eyes.
"Kaori…" he murmured and Kaori stared at him. Then she closed her eyes again and chuckled, putting a hand over her eyes.
"Oh god…" she laughed softly, looking at him. "Oh Zuko, look what we've done now,"
Zuko stared at her and put a hand against her cheek slowly, his eyes serious. "What?" Kaori asked him, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you look like that?"
"Are you…are you okay?" he asked quietly, his gold eyes making her smile.
With a smile, she snuggled close to him, nodding. Kissing his cheek, she chuckled. "I'm fine, Zuko, and…I know this wasn't the greatest idea, but it's fine, too." She looked up at him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly. "I'm fine," he said simply.
Kaori rolled over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "I mean, it wasn't planned or the whole…fantasy first time thing, but…" She looked at him with a wide smile. "But I love you. And if I'm going to mess up with anybody then it's going to be with you. I'm not upset."
He stared at her and nodded slowly. How many times had he dreamed of holding her in his arms all night? Of kissing over that smooth skin of hers? Of being with her in the most intimate way and showing her how much he truly did love her? He had dreamed of it, of being with her, holding her…loving her.
She put a hand over his and held it, smiling still. "I'm not ashamed, Zuko. I love you. I want to be with you in every single way,"
Zuko nodded, staring at her, trying to keep any emotion out of his eyes before glancing at the window instead of at her.
Kaori sat up a little, taking his face in her hands and bringing his eyes to meet hers. "Zuko? I love you, this…this wasn't a bad thing…cause you love me too…" He nodded, glancing away and she cupped his face in her hands, looking worried. "Zuko…why do you look like that…please…talk to me…"
After a small moment of silence he looked at her, regret in his eyes, almost a sadness. "I wanted to hold you…I wanted…to show you that I could love you this way…" His eyes looked towards the window again. "I wish…I could remember it.."
A small smile slid over Kaori's lips, relieved that this was what was bothering him. "Zuko…" she whispered, kissing his cheek. "Let me help you remember…" Putting her hands on his shoulders, she pulled him to her, covering his lips with her own.
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I know this chapter doesn't quite seem as important- but it shows how their relationship has progressed and how his years on the island have. You'll see.