throw the stars in the sky

chapter ii — lullabies don't work when you're screaming.

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(from Ichi;;)

"What?" Zuko shouts angrily, standing up abruptly. I cower next to him, and something shifts in his voice — it quiets down as he repeats the question. "What?"

The man who announced this fact seems to shrink, but answers nevertheless. "Zhao's ship has pulled up next to us. He has requested an audience with you."

Zuko glowers and I have never — in the short time I have known him — seen him so angry. "Zuko," I begin, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to—"

I am cut off by a man in Fire Nation garb walking through the door. "Ah, Prince Zuko." His voice is cocky — obnoxiously so —, and he smirks at my existence, "I was beginning to think I wasn't going to be graced with your presence. That would be such a shame." His smirk grows wider as he sees Zuko's furious face. "And who is this lovely creature at your side? With those blue eyes, one would think a piece of Water Tribe filth is traveling with you."

Zuko spits out his words. "Zhao. I'd like to introduce you to our honored guest, Lady Ichi." I am surprised that he addresses me so, but say nothing. "If we are to talk military tactics, I would be glad to, but Ichi will not join us."

"Oh, I see. Such a fragile thing cannot be exposed to such things, am I right? But I would love to be a little more acquainted with this esteemed guest of yours."

Zuko growls. "Uncle, please show Ichi to her room, and return immediately. We will have a council."

I speak up for the first time. "I am not going to—" Zukoshakes his head, and I turn on my heel, Iroh behind me.

The door slams as I stride towards my room. "Ichi," Iroh says behind me. "If you wish, I will leave the door open enough so that you can hear the going ons in there."

I stop, contemplating. "No," I decide. "If Zuko doesn't want me to be there, I will not be there."

I almost miss the smile on Iroh's face as I walk away.

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(from Zuko;;)

As soon as Ichi is out of the door, I slam my hands down on the table.

I don't understand why I'm so worried about her. She's merely a prisoner.

"Spit it out, Zhao. What the hell do you want?" That cocky smile makes its way back onto Zhao's face.

I hate him I hate him I hate him I hate him I —

"Why, Your Highness, I am merely here to check up on you."

I growl. "I am no child. I don't have to be babysat."

"That is not Fire Lord Ozai's opinion. And, seeing you with that girl of yours — how much are you paying her?"

"Ichi is an esteemed guest," I hiss. "She has nothing to do with this whole situation of mine. And I am not paying her. For anything."

Zhao smirks. "Well, if she isn't yours, per say — how would you mind if I borrow her?"

I explode. "YOU—"

Uncle walks in. "Is there a problem, Prince Zuko?"

Zhao is looking smug. My reaction has obviously amused him. I will not be a source of amusement.

"Nothing, Uncle. I was hasty. Now, let us get on to the topic…"

My thoughts are focused during the meeting, but as soon as Zhao boards his own ship and sails away, my mind drift to Ichi.

Why do I care so much?

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(from Ichi;;)

It is around midnight when I wake up. There is the sound of the door opening, and I wonder who it is. "Iroh?" I whisper, bewildered when I see Zuko drop down on the bed, discarding his armor beforehand.

He must have mistaken my room for his own, I realize. He looks so tired.

I leave it be, and go back to sleep.

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(from Zuko;;)

I wake up to a blinding light.

That's strange, I think. I usually have the curtains closed.

My pillow smells like snow. But — my pillow isn't brown. What is this?

It is only now that I realize I am not in my room, and that my pillow is most definitely not a pillow.

"What the—"

This position is not one that would make Zhao believe that there really isn't anything going on between Ichi and I. It seems that I had accidentally stumbled into her room last night and laid down on her bed.

Somehow we ended up entangled in multiple ways. My face is buried in her loose hair, and my arms are wrapped tightly around her waist. And our legs — well, it's hard to know whether one leg is hers or mine.

My slight exclamation wakes Ichi up. "Hm..?" She seems comfortable. She registers our situation. "Uhm. How...uh...interesting." Her face rivals the colors of my robes.

It strikes me that she isn't ugly. At all.

"Good morning, Miss Ichi—" My Uncle bursts into the room, and is — surprisingly — not very flustered. "Ohoho!" He chuckles. "You finally bring a girl on the ship, Zuko—"

I correct him hastily. "I imprisoned her. You made her part of our ship."

"—Ah, minor detail. But either way, a girl is brought onto the ship and you suddenly develop hormones! I don't think I've seen you this red ever before — not even around Mai!"

Ichi smiles. "Well, however embarrassing this may be, you are quite adorable when you're that color. I assume that this is the only time I'll ever see you look like this."

I scowl. "That, at least, is true."

Iroh laughs, wholeheartedly. "Ah, there you go. All scowls again. No surprise, I must say."

I glower. Uncle seems to get the point, and leaves the room.

"Zuko?" Ichi asks. I glare down at her, and she barely flinches. "Can you let go now?"

Oh. "Uh, sure."

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(from Ichi;;)

I am on deck with Iroh, watching Zuko practice firebending. It's actually terribly boring, I think to myself, to watch someone else practice bending. It's much more thrilling being in battle.

"Prince Zuko!" Someone shouts. "The Avatar!" This, of course, catches my attention. I fly up from the barrel I am sitting on and watch as Zuko pauses midstance and immediately starts asking questions a mile a minute.

"He's rather talkative when it comes to Aan — er, the Avatar." I remark dryly, cursing myself for the slip up. It's hardly necessary for them to know I have made contact with Aang.

Iroh chuckles. "Indeed, young Ichi. Indeed." He doesn't notice my mistake, and for that I am grateful.

"Uncle! Get the soldiers together. The Avatar is flying towards Kyoshi! Ichi, get back to your room. I am not letting you out here. You'll likely try to help the Avatar."

"Oh, how sweet," I comment sarcastically, "you know me so well." Zuko takes the time out of his frantic orders to roll his eyes at me, and I smile sweetly.

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(from Zuko;;)

"I really don't have time for this, Ichi!" I snap at her. "Get below deck now. You are my prisoner, not some spoiled little child, and you will do as I say if you value your life!"

"Oh, how childish. Resorting to empty threats. I feel there is no need for me to get below deck. It's not like you'd let me get away." Ichi taunts.

"They're not empty." I growl, and something in her eyes comes up. Betrayal? Guilt? Is she sad? "No matter. If you continue to disobey me, I will not hesitate to kill you. I will reiterate — you are my prisoner." I really don't understand why she looks that way. It's almost as if she thought...as if she thought that we were friends? I have only known her for a few days — how could she think that?

"Fine." She mutters. "If that's how it is, I'll leave now."

"Thank you!" I exclaim, exasperated. I don't watch her go — I have better things to do.

I barely hear the whisper of, "Stupid!" as she leaves, but it's still there.