Chapter 10

Suki, Sokka, Ty Lee, and Zuko had been at sea for 4 hours, in which Suki had been spending kneeling over the side of the boat. Ty Lee had decided to come along, after Zuko had made it clear that he wanted all the help he could get.

Eventually, Sokka came up behind Suki, concerned.

"You sure you okay? I thought you didn't get sea sick." He said.

She turned to him, and straightened herself up as much as she could,"Me too.. I usually don't.. I don't know what it is." As soon as she spoke, she immediately hurled around and kneeled over the ship again, horribly sick. Sokka sighed, and went back to the captain's quarters, where Zuko was planning what he would say to get Azula to talk.

"Have any ideas?" Sokka asked.

Zuko shook his head,"No... We are almost there, but I just hope it isn't visitors day." He slumped into his chair.

"Yeah.. It would be hard to find her... Hey, how do people even visit when it's on a secluded island 4 hours from the Fire Nation?" Sokka asked.

"The institution sends boats back and forth picking families up.. " Zuko explained.

Sokka sat down across from him,"That would be a sucky job." He said.

Zuko nodded in agreement. A moment later Ty Lee came running in, a huge grin on her face, but when she saw Sokka it disappeared. "Oh. Hi." She sputtered, nervous.

Sokka propped an eyebrow,"Hi..?" He said.

There was a long silence, but Zuko broke it when he saw the island coming closer. "There it is." He said speaking to the crew as well as Sokka and Ty Lee.

They eventually reached the shore, and Suki was more than happy.

"I don't think it's visitors day. The boats are all in the dock." Sokka said, pointing towards the huge boats in a line.

Zuko nodded, then looked towards the institution. Sokka's eyes widened when he noticed it's size.

"Whoah.. It's huge! I thought it would be a puny little building run by old people or something..." Sokka trailed off.

"Those kind of institutions are for mentally disabled, these are for the downright insane." Zuko said, starting up the hill to the building Azula was kept in.

Sokka slowly trailed after him, helping Suki keep up. She was obviously sick. "Hey, Zuko." Sokka called.

He turned around.

"I think me and Suki are just going to stay here. She's really sick." Sokka said, pulling them both to a stop. Zuko nodded, then looked to Ty Lee.

Ty Lee stared at him,"Uh.. I'll just keep them company." She said avoiding the awkwardness of her and Zuko working alone.

Zuko sighed and nodded, and started back towards the institution. Thoughts of his girlfriend roamed his mind. So much that it almost hurt. He ran his fingers through his hair, and drew a deep breath. He managed to clear his mind the rest of the way there, but as soon as he opened the door thoughts of her soared free once again. He groaned.

"Can I help you?" One of the nurses asked him. Her eyes widened when she realized who he was.

Zuko almost forgot where he was for a moment. He nodded," Can I visit Azula's room?" He asked in a frightening voice.

The nurse bit her lip,"Sure. Follow me." She said nervously and hurried towards Azula's room. The guards gave him odd looks as Zuko passed them. Eventually they reached her door. The nurse smiled politely and stood by the door, invited him in. He entered and closed the door behind him, so him and Azula were alone. She was much, much different than the last time he had seen her. He gulped, realizing she was completely back to health. She was sitting on her bed, glaring at him. Then, her glare turned into a sly smile,"Hello Zuzu." She said in a small voice.

He glared back at her,"Where is she?" He almost yelled.

Azula's smile disappeared,"Not even a hello? How typical of you." She said dryly.

Zuko ignored her,"I know what you've been up to."

She rolled her eyes,"Then tell me, because I don't." She hid her smile.

Zuko didn't catch it. "Stop lying! I know you've somehow taken her. Tell me how you did it." He continued.

She sighed,"Zuko, why in the world would I want to take away your precious Mai?" Azula asked with her smile gleaming with confidence. She noticed Zuko cringe at her name.

"Well if you didn't, how did you know who I was talking about?" He challenged.

Her smile faltered a bit,"Because, she is the only one you care about so much that you would actually come to pay a visit."

There was a silence, but Azula broke it with a small giggle.

"Well, I might as well tell you. Since, it's utterly impossible for you to find her." Azula started, and Zuko listened intently.

"I didn't do anything. It was somebody I hired." She began, as Zuko remembered the words being said earlier.

"It's all part of my plan, you see. I can't tell you my plan, but I will tell you what happened to her." She continued, and Zuko waited for her to finish.

"I over heard a man talking to another about how he needed to find one more girl, around the age of 17 for his boss. I also heard that his boss owns a business where they sell young girls to men who will marry them. So, I remembered an old friend, and told him where he could find her. He was so thankful that he payed me, a lot, I might add. Which is good, since I need the money for my plan." Azula explained, smiling. Zuko couldn't believe what he had just heard. His heart felt like it stopped beating. He felt like he wasn't even alive anymore. Like his entire body just disappeared as he heard this. His mind raced with possibilities of what might happen to her. His eyes had shut, and he tried opening them, and realized he was on the floor. He had fallen to his knees at the news. Zuko's hands clenched into fists, and Azula smiled with pleasure.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!?!" He screamed at her. Even Azula was shocked to hear his tone. But, she didn't show it.

"I was just helping a person in need." She explained inocentally, still smiling.

His teeth clenched, and he pounded the floor with his fist.

"And, by the way... You don't look so good. When was the last time you shaved?" She asked, not caring how he was acting.

Zuko ignored her, and jolted back up. He sped back down the hallway, ignoring any strange looks he got. He ran past Ty Lee, who began chasing after him yelling "What happened?"

He stopped to catch his breath in front of Sokka and Suki, who were now exchanging concerned looks. Zuko started running back for the ship.

"Wait, Zuko!" Sokka yelled, following him. Suki and Ty Lee hurried after them.

They both reached the ship, and ran up the sides after him. Zuko hurled himself to his room, and slammed the door, not bothering to lock it. The noise the door made when it slammed should give them all a message that he wanted to be alone. But of course, it was Sokka's bright idea to try talking to him.

He knocked, and invited himself in, closing the door behind him. Zuko turned his back to him, and his fists were still clenched. He tried to fight off tears.

"Zuko, you alright?" Sokka asked, ignoring a different question he was begging to ask.

"I'm fine compared to her!" Zuko yelled. His voice was cracked and shaky, as if he had been crying.

Sokka took note of this,"..Who?" He asked quietly.

Zuko turned around angrily,"Mai!" He screamed, not even caring if it hurt to say her name. He was already in too much pain to feel any different.

Sokka stared at him, and eventually found the courage to ask. "Where is she?" He asked in a whisper.

Zuko was quiet, for a long time. He couldn't say it. He thought he would die if he even had to think it. Sokka waited patiently, and eventually Zuko spoke up, but he could barely even hear him.

''She's..." He started, and reached up to cover his ears so he wouldn't have to hear him say it," She was given to somebody. Somebody who is selling her to a man she's never met, so he can have her and do what ever he wants to her!" He yelled, and removed his hands from his ears.

Sokka blinked, and looked down. He felt bad for asking Zuko. "Sorry." He whispered.

So was Zuko.

There was another knock at the door, and Sokka opened it just a crack to see who it was. It was Suki, and she looked worried.

"Can you come here for a minute?" She whispered. Sokka nodded, and followed her out to the deck. She lead them by her hand, then release him when she got the edge of the ship. She stood there with his back to him, and her head down.
"What is it?" Sokka asked.

Suki remained quiet, and closed her eyes. After a few minutes passed, and she was ready, she slowly turned back around, and face him. They stared at each other.

''I'm pregnant." She whispered, but Sokka heard it perfectly well.
''WHAT?!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

Suki jumped from his scream, she hadn't expected it.

"HOW DID- WHAT DID- BUT I THOUGHT- YOU WEREN'T- I WASN'T- WAIT BUT- WHY DID- IT DOESN'T MAKE - AHG!" He sputtered, confused on this whole thing.

Suki waited, she knew Sokka well enough to know exactly how he would take this. She thought right.

He flew down on the floor of the ship and rubbed his forehead. Then, his eyes sprung open,"I'm the dad right?" He yelled worried.

She frowned,"Of course you are!" She defended.

Sokka felt somewhat relieved,"Okay." He cleared his head. He guessed this was alright. He was of marrying age.. But, he didn't know if he was ready for a kid of his own.

Sokka swallowed,"How do you know?" He asked. He had never really had that much experience with babies. He had seen one in the process of birth, but he barely remembered it since he passed out.

"I'm late. And I've been throwing up. A lot. I wasn't sea sick, since I kept vomiting even after we left the ship..." She trailed off, and they were both lost in thought.

They were interrupted by Ty Lee. She saw them together, and realized Suki must have told him. Suki had told her first about her pregnancy. She stood there silent for a while, then spoke up,"Sokka, what happened to Mai?" She asked curiously.

He was quiet, then shook his head, shaking his thoughts away as well,"She's at a very bad place." Was all he said, and the group was quiet the rest of the night.