AN: I want to thank all who have posted reviews of the previous chapters. They made me so happy!

I'm experimenting a bit with formats, so... let me know if you like this format better. And this chapter is much longer than my first chapter, though not quite as long as the prolog, which makes NO sense, but whatever. The muse dictates and I write *helpless shrug*

I will try, emphasis on TRY, to keep a regular updating schedule, but real life happens and I will not be held responsible for a slight delay in my postings.

Thank you again. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. No profit is being made from the writing and publication of the following work of fiction. It is merely for the writer's and readers' enjoyment.

.:Zuko:.

While they walked on shore, searching for a suitable spot for their spar, Zuko glanced down at the skipping child next to him. 'Wonder where she gets all the energy from.'

"Prince Zuko, what will be the rules of engagement?" she asked looking up at him.

Zuko looked to the sky in thought for a moment, "No weapons, non-fatal strikes, and first to surrender loses."

"Define weapon"

Zuko paused and turned towards Chiaki, "What do you mean 'define weapon'?"

"Exactly that, what do you classify as a weapon? I mean, bending is most often used as a weapon, any part of our body a weapon, quite literally anything can be defined as a weapon in one fashion or another. So, define weapon," Chiaki crossed her arms and looked at Zuko pointedly.

Zuko briefly wonder why he felt like he was being scolded.

"An interesting argument Lady Chiaki," Iroh commented, rubbing his beard in thought.

Zuko stared.

"Prince Zuko?" Chiaki jumped, trying to wave a hand in front of Zuko's face, "I don't think it's nice to stare."

Zuko shook his head and glared at Chiaki, "What," he growled, "was that for?"

Chiaki cocked her head to the side, "What was what for?" she blinked, "Oh, jumping and waving in your face?"

Zuko nodded with gritted teeth.

"I wanted you to answer my question and if you kept staring at me like that," she shrugged, "it never would have been answered…or it would have taken a really long time."

Zuko huffed. It didn't seem right to stay anger at her for too long.

"Sooo, back to my question. How are you defining weapon?"

"Bending is allowed," Zuko briefly thought of listing various traditional weapons that weren't allowed, but quickly decided the list was too long.

"Are we allowed to physically touch each other, or can only our bending touch?"

'That was unexpected,' Zuko thought. "Hand-to-hand is allowed, no other weapons, and we fight in what we're wearing now."

"So, a bending and hand-to-hand spar?" Chiaki put her hand on her chin, "I'm cool with that. Wait, one question…" she paused, then asked seriously, "Am I allowed to take my cloak off first?"

.:Iroh:.

Zuko and Chiaki faced off in a hastily drawn ring, Chiaki's cloak neatly folded by Iroh's feet. A few members of the crew were spread around to ensure fair play and to put out any wayward flames. Iroh sipped a cup of tea he had procured from somewhere.

Iroh was watching Chiaki and his nephew closely. He knew there was more to Chiaki then met the eye. She knew much more about Pia Sho then most girls her age. He thought he knew who she was, but then again he could be wrong. She knew the passcodes, so she had to be affiliated with it and decently high up within the hierarchy, since she had the authority to make this deal. She knew who he was by sight alone. Iroh sighed and warmed his tea again.

.:Chiaki:.

Chiaki took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment clearing her mind, and settled into her stance. Across from her, she watched as Prince Zuko did the same. Neither made a move. Both were waiting for the other.

Chiaki's patience lasted longer. Prince Zuko made the first move.

It was clear to Chiaki that Prince Zuko was testing her defenses. The shots were close enough to appear to be threatening, but not require much to dodge. She inwardly scoffed, 'bad choice.' Moving just enough to dodge the initial assault, she did a quick back handspring to avoid a follow-up head shot, kicking off her shoes and sending follow-up stone fragments towards Prince Zuko in the process.

Prince Zuko dodged the wayward footwear and stones. He growled, "I thought I said no weapons?"

Without responding she used her now bare feet, and promptly dropped into a horse stance simultaneously maneuvering her hands in an upside down 'u' and equally as abrupt stood.

Everyone stared.

"You said we would fight in what we wearing." she responded with a smile, "You never said we had to keep everything we started off wearing on during the whole spar," She thought additionally, 'I may have struck second, but I defiantly struck harder and faster.'

.:Iroh:.

'Well,' Iroh thought, 'that was anti-climactic.' He saw Chiaki dust herself off and calmly walk towards his nephew, simultaneously drawing her shoes towards her with earthbending.

Glancing at Zuko while she slipped on her shoes, she calmly spoke, "You know, Prince Zuko," Chiaki paused, "it's a bad idea to underestimate your opponent."

Everyone was silent.

Zuko seemed to be struggling to move.

Chiaki notice, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Prince Zuko. If deadly force was permitted and I wanted to kill you—which for the record, I don't want to—you would long already be dead, pulverized to be exact."

Iroh could have called it in Chiaki's favor at that moment, but he waited. He wanted to hear his nephew's response.

"Fine," Zuko said. Iroh fancied he could hear his nephew's teeth grinding against each other, "I surrender"

Chiaki nodded and looked to Iroh.

Speaking calmly from behind his teacup, Iroh spoke, "Winner, Chiaki"

It was only after this announcement that the crew began to murmur to each other. Iroh heard various comments. All along the lines of, 'did you see that?' 'It was so fast' or 'I've never seen bending like that.'

Chiaki repeated her previous movement in reverse and released his nephew. She stepped back and gave a formal bow, victor to conquered. 'Well, my nephew will have his work cut out for him if he desires to beat such an opponent.' Iroh thought with sip of his tea.