Chapter 23: Are We Not Friends?

Dear Diary,

I know it's early in the morning but I really need to vent a little, or else I might have a heart attack.

So dig this, Lord Iroh came to ask me for the keys to the pantry so he could cook breakfast. Considering the near bout of food poisoning the crew all had the last time he touched a cooking pan, I, being the idiot I am, offered to cook for not just him, but for a new crew mate as well.

His name is Kira. Fairly average in height but very, very strong. Brown hair, brown eyes. He doesn't seem to look that old, but I has it a guess he's probably in his late twenties early thirties, but apart from that I can't really tell much else about him seeing as he hides his mouth with a damned black mask, which he refuses to take off in front of anyone, not to mention he's missing half of his right hand and a fair few scars over whatever skin is left of it.

I know I probably should not be so judgemental, but if you were to see this guy in reality alarm bells would go off in your head too.

I don't know what it is diary, I really don't. I talked to him for a few minutes and he seems to be nice, polite and sincere, but there was something in the way he looked at me that felt…oddly familiar. Almost like I've seen him before but a really, really long time ago. Which is just insane, because I would definitely remember meeting a guy like him.

But that's not what bothers me the most. No…it's the fact that he, Kira, said he came from close by the Pohuai stronghold…where my uncle Zhao is currently sitting and scheming as he tries to imprison the Avatar and possibly the prince as well.

And while we're on that note, it's almost late morning, and Zuko's not back yet. Not a moody yell, order or even complaint. Nope no one's seen hide nor hair of him all night. Nada-zip-no word of him.

Lord Iroh's beginning to get suspicious as are the crew, though I personally think they are enjoying a small break from his yelling (what with the serious hangover they all have).

Even so…I hope he's gotten out alright. He seemed very nervous when I last saw him, and it usually takes a lot to scare him. Not that I blame him. My uncle's proven to be quite a dangerous adversary to piss off, and I shudder to think of what might happen to Zuko if he's caught.

I guess, all I can do is sit and wait and hope for the best.

Not that it's going to be easy…

Darkness…there was darkness before his eyes. And his body was heavy as it lay on something rough and solid.

His head was pounding so hard that it felt like a drummer were smashing it as part of his solo act.

What…what happened?

Prince Zuko's amber eyes slid open.

Bright yellow sunlight was shining softly above him, streaming in thing beams through small openings of a great big forest canopy above him. As he twisted his sore neck, he saw that he was laying on a bed of leaves beneath a very tall tree with large buttress roots.

On one of these, a twelve year old boy sat, in tattered yellow and orange monks clothes, his head shaven and tattooed with a blue arrow on top.

He seemed to have felt Zuko's stirring rather than looking, for when he spoke his words were as sombre as his face.

"You know what the worst part of being born over a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together-" Aang snorted softly, more to himself than to Zuko, a very small wistful smile flashing briefly as he turned towards Zuko.

"-He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends, too?"

Aang knew it was a long shot by any stretch. When they first met, Zuko clearly had shown he had no interest in helping him for his own sake, and it was laughable to think he'd change so fast when he was already so set in his ways.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, the young Avatar could not forget the face of the girl that had spoken to him.

"I can't tell you his name. but you can trust him. He's a bit of a jerk at first but deep down he's good and kind…and he's saved my life more times than I can count."

She had been so sincere when she'd said that, but still Aang could not fathom how she could see such a thing in the angry prince, who had just sat up abruptly. As he did so, his hand punched wildly so that fire blasted at the young Avatar who jumped out of the way, his mind still dwelling on his thoughts.

If someone nice like her can like him, then maybe he really is good inside.

And indeed even as he swiftly jumped away, hidden in the tall forest branches, the Fire prince only stood and watched quietly, his eyes falling to his feet.

He was tired. Far too tired to give chase to the disappearing boy.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed softly to himself.

I need to get out of here…

He paused mid step, and bit his lip as he looked through the forest. Thankfully the Avatar had laid him to rest on a well trodden path, one side of which clearly led to the western coast.

With all the weariness of a beaten bedraggled soldier returning from battle he all but dragged his feet down the path, not stopping till he reached a small sandy beach.

The sun was high above his head by the time he'd reached, but he was so tired that time didn't seem to matter, as long as he could get to his home eventual-

He stopped mid step and stared out at the shimmering blue waters before him.

But for once his mind didn't focus on the beauty of the scene, but rather the small black dot of a boat that sailed up and down around the now busy harbour.

"Home huh?"

"Miss Shi-"

"Gah!" Jade Shi squeaked as she spun around from the stove she was manning.

There standing in the doorway of the kitchens was a tall tanned skinned man decked out in fire nation armour but with a mask over his mouth and nose.

Nonetheless his brown eyes and tone were soft and apologetic as he made to mumble to her:

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to startle you"

"No-no it's ok. It wasn't that bad." Jade quickly gulped, doing her best to smile as the man's three fingered right hand made to scratch a little at his head.

"Even so. I'm sorry Miss Shi-"

"Jade" Jade snorted "It's Jade. And don't worry about it. Besides, it's almost time for the lunch service so I should've been more attentive in any case"

Though she couldn't see the man's mouth, she could tell by the twinkle in his eye that he was smiling with faint amusement and…was that admiration?

"Don't worry, you're attentive enough. Indeed you are far more disciplined and hardworking than most girls your age"

"Yeah well…when you work on a ship with such a small crew, everyone has to know how to pull their own weight" Jade coughed, her cheeks flushing a little bit as she made to switch off the stove and dry her hands on her apron.

"So, Kira how are you finding your new duties?"

"Well…they're alright" the man, Kira, shrugged "I mean, most of the time I just walk around deck with the other guards…though they aren't a very talkative bunch"

"Oh they're just-"

But before Jade could finish, a loud shout came up from a door at the other end of the kitchen.

"JADE! LUNCH STARTS IN AN HOUR! WILL YOU START GETTING THE VEGETABLE'S PREPPED WHILE I GO TO THE GALLEY TO GET THE MEAT!"

"SURE THING DANGO!" she yelled back shaking her head as she turned back to smile at her new crewmate, who smiled at her from under the mask.

"I guess we'll talk later then?"

"Probably" Jade nodded but then added quickly "don't worry the crew. Just keep working hard and they'll come round in time"

"I'll keep that in mind Miss Shi-I-I mean Jade" he added when she quirked a brow at him.

He's just the new guy, nothing more, nothing less.

She pursed her lips as she watched Kira slip quietly out the door, his footsteps more silent than a cats.

Ok…well that was weird…

She gulped to herself as she turned to grab a large carrot and start chopping it with a knife. And indeed, try though she might to see common sense, she could not help but shudder as she remembered the way he'd just been standing there when she'd first seen him.

Had he just arrived quietly or had he been standing there the whole time…watching her closel-

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the door to the kitchen loudly click open.

By the spirits doesn't anyone on this ship know how to knock?!

She spun around, mouth open ready to snap waspishly at the newcomer, only to stop dead in her tracks.

"Zuko?"

And indeed it was the prince, no longer in the black suit and blue mask, but in his usual dark armour and scowl.

"Hey…" he mumbled, eyes fixed half on the floor as he ran a hand over his shaved head where a large black bruise was had blossomed magnificently. "Got anything to eat?"

"Not yet… I'm just prepping now" Jade bit her lip as she quietly stepped towards him. "But I can get you something cold for that bruise"

"I'm fine" Zuko snapped, swatting her hand away irritably, "Chan's already seen it"

Jade rolled her eyes.

"Fine, be that way. But don't get all grumpy with me when you get a splitting headache"

"I already have a headache" Zuko grumbled "and I don't get grumpy"

"Uh-huh and I'm a water-bender" Jade snorted, though she smirked a little at the disgruntled grimace that flashed over the young prince's face.

"You're laughing at me again, aren't you?" Zuko pouted sourly in her face.

"No…I'm just…just relieved I guess" she bit her lip as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You were gone a long time…"

Zuko's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Was she saying what he thought she was saying?

"You…you were worried?"

"uh…well…a little bit yeah …" Jade's green eyes flickered down to her toes "I-I mean, because the crew was asking a lot of questions and when you didn't come back this morning and I was running out of excuses and…

She trailed off, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as she mentally cursed herself.

Great Jade, now you sound like an absolute idiot!

"but you're back now so…that's all…all good I guess…" She quickly coughed as she made to turn away from him.

However even as she reached out for the kitchen counter, a large hand caught hers deftly and a voice murmured:

"I heard what Zhao said to you."

Zuko's voice was rough and harsh as he spat out the admiral's name, so much so that Jade couldn't bear to look at him directly even as he continued to hiss.

"But whatever that was all about, he shouldn't have threatened you. He talks big but deep down he's a selfish coward who's just afraid of being upstaged by anyone. Besides how can he find out what you're up to when there's an entire sea between you two?"

"I-I know" Jade mumbled her eyes firmly set upon the hand that held hers "but considering the hell he and his family have put my father through…I…I can't take any chances of someone finding out I'm…I'm…different"

"But I know you're different, and so do most of the crew?" Zuko quirked a brow and was faintly amused to see her cheeks flush pink as she snapped.

"That's not the same! You guys are all…weird in your own ways. You understand! Others…" she gulped down a hard lump in her throat "Others don't…either people look at me and see pampered fire nation brat, or they just see me as less than the troublesome mud beneath their shoes, mud that would be better off locked away or-or-"

"Chucked out?" Zuko cut her off softly, his voice strained and strangely hoarse. Jade looked up in surprise to see the Prince's own eyes averted to his toes, frustration and shame swirling in the depths of his golden amber eyes.

"Sorry" She murmured, but Zuko shook his head quietly before making to look her in the eye, his own face set in a determined glare.

"Listen Jade, I don't care what anyone else says; I won't let that Zhao take you. As long as you are here on this ship, with my crew and with me, he will not touch you. If he does then he's a dead man walking"

"Zuko" Jade shook her head with a sigh as she tried to step back from him. "You can't possibly expect he'll give up the chase just like that. Not when his reputation's at stake-"

"I don't care" Zuko snapped tugging her around and away from the kitchen counter so that she was now close to the door "He's not going to take you!"

"And who are you to tell him to stop!" Jade snapped back, horribly aware that she was backed up completely against the wall as Zuko made to snarl down at her.

"I am Prince of the Fire Nation-"

"And you honestly think it will matter to Zhao?!" Jade steamrolled her hands clenching by her sides as she felt said prince's hot breath fan her face. "He already left you to die once; in your own nation might I add. Doesn't that tell you that he won't care what comes in his way when he's after what he wants?"

"So you're telling me that you want me to hand you over to him on a silver platter? Is that it?" Zuko growled and was faintly pleased to see the kitchen maid before him stutter a little.

"N-no! I didn't mean that-"

"Then what did you mean?"

"Nothing. I meant nothing" Jade frantically tried to reach for the door handle but Zuko's hand was quick to pull at both her hands and pin them sharply to the door behind her as he hissed.

"That. Is absolute garbage!"

"Get off-" Jade struggled, her body thrashing wildly as Zuko leaned in to look her dead in the eye.

"not until you explain to me why you're being so stubborn."

"Let me go-"

"I don't like Zhao any more than you do! So why don't you let me help you?"

"Zuko-"

"Why?"

"No-I can't-"

"WHY?"

"Because…because- ARGH! WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH?! IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE FRIENDS!" Jade roared into the prince's face, her flashing green eyes meeting his own golden amber ones which blazed hotly as he opened his mouth again…only for it to shut just as fast.

Oh no…what have I done? What have I just said?

"Zuko I-" Jade's heart stilled as something warm pressed onto her open lips.

Zuko meanwhile could not concentrate on anything save the warm subtle tang of tea and rice wine and something earthy and spicy that he could taste on her lips. The fire in his gut was so scorching that he was just doing things without thinking anymore.

He had never meant to argue…never meant to back her so far back to the wall, or to yell at her…or to kiss her so fiercely…

He was faintly aware of one of his hands pulling her body closer to his own, the rough worn cotton of her kimono brushing against him as her small hands reached up to grip his loose robe. However instead of pushing him off she gripped hard at the silky material, trying and failing to find a physical anchor to reality and common sense.

Zuko couldn't help but grunt a little as he felt her nails scrape against his solar plexus, his eyes sliding just a little bit open to look at her face as he parted for air.

Her eyes like his, where half lidded, the green pools of colour in them hazy. Her pupils dilated even as he leant in again, this time pulling her flush into him.

Jade winced a little as she felt a hot scorching hand grab hard at her scalp. The grip was so rough that it broke the black hair clip that held the brown locks it in its ponytail. Jade barely felt her brown tresses fall to her shoulders as her head was roughly tugged back, and a pair of lips and teeth bit hard at her bottom lip. She couldn't contain the small whine as suddenly a hot tongue slid into her mouth and straight over hers.

It was such a small sound, and yet it was more than enough to spark something warm and wild in his gut. Something that ignited the blood in Zuko's veins, streaking through all the smallest nooks and crannies of his body until it charged all of it.

He had never bent lightning before but he had heard his uncle speak of it and its effects during his training. The way it had been described to him almost seemed to fit the buzzing feeling he had in him now even as Jade pulled away from him, her own cheeks scarlet as her lips which were glistening, rosy and wonderfully bruised. Best of all was her hair, which was falling messily over her shoulders and her heaving chest as she panted for breath.

Zuko supposed he should not have gripped at it so firmly. But he had to admit, seeing her look so dishevelled and flushed was quite a tempting sight.

A bit too tempting for comfort.

"You're right" he huffed, trying and failing to ignore the way his lips brushed hers as he murmured.

"We aren't friends."

And then before Jade could even open her mouth to speak, he wrenched himself from her and strode out of the room, the kitchen door clanging shut behind him.

Zuko groaned softly to himself as he stormed up onto the deck of his ship, his head throbbing. Though if that was because of the big bruise on his forehead, or his reeling thoughts, or the fact that his uncle was playing the Tsungi horn very loudly, he did not know.

Nor did he care.

You just kissed Jade! You just kissed Jade!

He shut his eyes as he slowed down his pace.

Just what was wrong with him today? First he let the Avatar go and now he was losing his control around the one girl that was remotely interested in him.

He'd be lucky if she'd ever talk to him again after this. Especially considering how badly their first kiss went.

Way to go Zuko, completely screw up your chances with the one girl you might actually like right after letting the Avatar escape! What a great way to start the day…

He didn't even stop to look as his Uncle Lord Iroh, paused in his music to yell out loudly.

"Where have you been prince Zuko? You missed music night!"

"I'm going to bed" Zuko snapped as he stalked away. "No disturbances"

What's his deal?

The old Lord watched closely as his nephew disappeared back down below deck. Once the ponytail had swished out of sight, he just shrugged.

Oh well…he's back and safe and sound and that's what matters…

Little did Lord Iroh know, that he was not the only one thinking that, for down below a certain kitchen maid glanced up from her work to the ceiling, a small smile creeping over her blushing face.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

FINALLY I GOT THERE! they finally had another kiss (about time too as you guys keep telling me), though Zuko seems to be more aware of his feelings than Jade does (then again she's still got a fair bit to go as a character). And speaking of Characters, who's this new Kira guy they have on board and what will Zuko think of him?

Keep R&Ring for more my lovelies and see you next time ;)