Chapter 30: Staying Strong
Dear Diary,
I honestly can't say how glad am I that I'm able to write in you once more. It's been a hectic week for me. First getting caught kissing the prince by my father, to almost being killed by a maniac lava-bending assassin.
Yeah I know pretty extreme huh?
On the serious side though I am really glad to be back with the crew, even if we are still staying in at the Port of Shindayama.
Poor Zuko, he's still almost out of it. That bash to his nose and that concussion has yet to be fully healed, but at least his uncle's gotten the bleeding and the swelling down, or he would if Zuko would just stop complaining like a child whenever he has the strength to get up.
I don't know how Lord Iroh can find the patience to deal with him. Even my own father would've clocked Shen and I if we kept on leaping about before we'd fully healed. That being said, I'm kinda glad to see Zuko getting so alert and ready at such a fast pace, if only because it means that Kira didn't succeed.
And speaking of success, I am delighted to tell you diary, that apart from a couple of scrapes and bruises, I've otherwise gotten a clean bill of health. I'm even back working in the kitchens, even though Dango keeps trying to lock me out so I can go back to my room and rest from my, to use his words, terrible ordeal.
But I don't want to rest. I want to work. I want to get back to my life before Kira barged in. If I don't then it won't matter that he's dead, he'll still have succeeded in destroying my spirit and I can't let him do that.
No.
I won't let him do that.
Oh hold on a second diary, the roast duck is almost ready.
"Hmmm" Jade smiled as she set her diary aside and opened the door of the oven. The hot hearty smell that issued from it was enough to make her mouth water and her eyes roll.
Now to check on the glaze
Quickly she tossed on some oven mitts and gently tugged the hot tray out a few inches.
Mmmm…perfect it's nice and moist
She smiled as she carefully examined the inside of small cut she'd made in the bird's flesh. It was now so tender that it was falling off the bone.
Hmm…Lord Iroh's gonna love this…now to carve it…
She dusted herself off proudly as she set the cooked bird on the counter, just as the door to the kitchen's creaked open.
Jade whirred around knife raised in her hand ready to aim but a yelp stopped her in her tracks.
"Whoa! Woah! Hold it right there Lucky! It's just me"
"Shen" Jade exhaled in relief as her brother flattened himself, wide eyed, against the kitchen door.
"Goodness Jade" he sighed as she lowered the knife. "I know you're freaking out, but that's a tad extreme isn't it?"
"Even if I had thrown you could've dodged" Jade scowled, turning to begin cutting thin slices into the duck breast. "Spirits Shen don't sneak up on me like that"
"I wasn't sneaking up on you" Shen grumbled as he made to peek over her shoulder at her work. "Damn that smells good"
"Hey Paws off!" Jade snapped as she swatted his sneaky hand away from a precariously hanging piece of roasted duck skin. "This is for Lord Iroh"
"And what about your dear prince? What nice thing are you making for him-OW" Shen winced as a hard elbow met with his ribs.
"Zuko's not my Dear Prince." Jade almost heaved as she forced the ridiculous words out of her mouth, only to blush as she mumbled softly. "He's just a boy who happens to be a prince."
"Yeah, a prince who you kissed in front of father and in front of nearly half the crew"
"Hey that's-I-I-I mean-I" but Jade faltered her cheeks blushing furiously as she failed to bring any retort to her lips.
"Hmph! Very funny Shen" she huffed as her brother began to chuckle loudly at her now very red face.
"Oh relax Lucky, I'm just yanking your chain. Truth be told I'm just glad the royal brat reached you on time"
"Yeah so am I" Jade sighed softly, her face dropping like a stone as she made to focus too intently upon plating up the duck just so that she could not feel the burning in her eyes.
Shen's chuckles subsided at once as he pulled an arm around his little sister.
"Hey…Hey…" he murmured into her crown, gently squeezing her shoulder "Hey… You're home, Kira's gone now."
"It's…it's not that" Jade growled to herself. "I-It's just that…when I was fighting Kira he said-"
"What he said was probably lies supposed to distract you. Common battle tactics" Shen smirked but Jade shook her head.
"No, no they weren't lies. I could feel it; Shen…he…It was him. It was him who murdered mom."
Shen's eyes went wide.
"What?"
"Kira…he-he he was the assassin sent after mom and father all those years ago. A-and then when Zhao found out about me he told Kira where to go and-" Jade shut her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks in spite of herself "He tracked mom down to our camp that day…and then he…he…he bent the earth to make the landslide. That's why mom couldn't save herself, because she was too busy saving me from another Earth-Bender and-"
"Shh, Lucky. Shh, it's okay" Shen murmured gently as he pulled his now sobbing sister into his arms "It's okay. Mom loved you so much and she wouldn't have been able to forgive herself if she hadn't saved you. You were the most important thing to her."
"So were you" Jade mumbled and Shen snorted.
"Well that was a given. First born son and all that"
"Ha-ha very funny" Jade hiccupped, scrubbing hard at her eyes just as the door to the kitchen's opened and a pale face with a scar over the left side poked through
"Jade are you-oh." Zuko's voice fell as he caught sight of the two Shi siblings who both flushed the same shade of red as they broke apart.
"Zuko" Jade squeaked. "Hi"
"Uh…hi…is this a-I-I mean" Zuko coughed then shook his head. "I-I'm sorry. I'll come back later"
He turned to leave but Jade quickly caught his hand.
"No! It's okay." She blushed even deeper as Shen failed to stifle a snigger.
Had he not been so nervous, Zuko would have smirked with amusement at the dirty look the youngest Shi gave her older brother a dirty glare which was met by two surrendering hands.
"Alright! Alright I get the message. Just keep it child friendly in here alright or else father will throw a heart atta-whoa! Spirits!" Shen cried out as Jade all but grabbed Zuko by the scruff of his silk tunic and pulled him down to crash her lips against his.
Zuko blinked completely stunned as a mullet as he felt her tongue push into his mouth quite forcibly, the action making Shen recoil faster than a snake from a mongoose as he spluttered:
"Uh-I-Uh…I'll just give you guys a moment then" and with that the older boy all but ran, red faced from the kitchens slamming the door shut behind him with a loud clang.
As soon as the door was closed, Jade broke her lips away from the prince her face split into a wide smile as she giggled.
"Ha! Did you see the look on his-mph" she squeaked as a rough pair of lips smashed over hers.
"Hark who's talking" Zuko grinned against her lips as her wide green eyes stared up at him for a split second, before fluttering shut as he deepened his embrace.
"…oh…" Jade blushed as they broke apart, feeling her ears burn as she registered the closeness of their bodies.
It was so…intimate.
The mere thought of the word made her already red face turn magenta but she couldn't find it in herself to pull away, not that would do much as Zuko's strong hands held her close to him.
"All this just to tease your brother?" he smirked as she avoided his eye shyly, though he could feel her fingers curling into his tunic.
"Just a little bit" she admitted softly, her breath ghosting over his chin as she chanced a peek up at him. "Sorry…I didn't mean to-"
But she was stopped from pulling away by the hand that cupped her cheek.
"Does it hurt?" Zuko murmured as he ghosted his thumb over the now dry scar that streaked over her cheek.
"No…not anymore." Jade shook her head, leaning softly into his touch in spite of her nerves, only to blink as she saw his teeth clench and his gaze harden.
"I should have chucked him overboard as soon as we left Pohuai" the young prince growled, amber eyes blazing with sudden heat "I should have never let him on the ship."
"You couldn't have known. None of us could've known" Jade added quietly her fingers stroking the fine golden embroidery that traced over his dark tunic collar. "I'm just glad we both got out there alive"
"Hmmm" Zuko nodded, though shame and guilt still coursed through him as he kept her close.
Jade meanwhile was staring at his nose. The bleeding had stopped but it was still looking quite bruised, and even slightly crooked at the tip.
She could only imagine just how bad some of the other bruises looked on her.
"How's Ji?" she mumbled as she leaned into him, doing her best to squash the terrible tremor that slid up her spine as the images of blood flashed over her mind.
"He's alright" Zuko murmured into her hair. "Chan's keeping him stable in the infirmary. The wound's not as deep as we thought, it's just the burn around it that's painful."
Jade winced as each word cut into her, but she swallowed her nerves hard as she asked:
"Will he be back to normal or-"
"Uncle says he'll be fine as long as he doesn't tear the stitches for another couple of weeks" Zuko cut across her firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument or fear as he leaned back to look her in the face. "he wants to see you. But you'll have to go tomorrow, Chan's just given him a sleeping draught to help him rest"
"oh…good…" Jade nodded but then noticed the uncomfortable grimace flash over the prince's face "Zuko? What's wrong?"
Zuko's scarred brow twitched.
"Zhao's coming aboard"
In spite of the warmth of the kitchens and Zuko's arms around her, Jade felt as if she had been drenched in a bucket of ice cold water.
She stared at Zuko, her green eyes wide and…
"When?" She gulped, fists clenching tight into the prince's tunic.
"Any time now." Zuko growled. "He just sent me a message half an hour ago. He wanted you to go to his ship, but your father told his messenger that you were still too shaken up from the entire ordeal. So he's coming here instead to take your account of what happened."
"How very kind of him" Jade snorted, or at least she tried to through her trembling voice, which made Zuko's eyes burn as he held her back by her shoulders and look her directly in the eye.
"Jade whatever happens. Do not tell him about the Avatar. Do not even tell him that you saw him there or that he was even remotely close to that mountain."
"What?" Jade blinked in confusion.
"Jade trust me" He scowled darkly at the floor, lips curling as he all but spat the words out of his snarling mouth. "It's bad enough that he wants you dead to clear his bloodline's reputation. But if he hears that the Avatar helped you, who knows what he would do to you. You could be…you could be…"
Jade in astonishment as the prince shook his head out, as though the mere thoughts in his head were too unbearable to even think about.
Then before she could even opened her mouth she felt him take her hand and slip something cool and hard inside her palm. Something very familiar and green.
"Zuko…" She breathed, her heart hammering in her chest as she examined her lucky green pendant.
"It was a part of the ransom note Kira sent" Zuko murmured, bristling as the memory of the note flashed over his mind. "I know I should've given it to your father when I first got it but-"
"No!" Jade blurted out only to turn fire red once more
"No…" she murmured softer. "It's fine…really…uh…C-Could you h-help me with it?" she spluttered as she held up the pendant.
"S-sure" Zuko nodded doing his best to ignore the dragons raging in his gut as she quickly turned her back to him and swept her hair over one shoulder, revealing the length of her neck to him.
The brown of her locks and cream of her skin made the prince's mouth go very dry as he carefully made to loop the black cord around, fingers brushing accidently along her pulse. It fluttered wildly as his fingers grazed her back in their mission to finish tie the cord securely in place, before carefully resting on her shoulders.
But even as they settled there, Zuko could feel her shudders beneath his fingers.
"Sorry" he muttered as he made to retract his hands, but Jade quickly grabbed one and squeezed it softly.
"No…no it's okay…I'm okay" she whispered, more to herself than to him.
"Are you sure" Zuko murmured, his fingers absently stroking her sleeve shoulder.
Jade nodded.
"Zhao might be an evil cad but he's not foolish enough to try anything stupid right after his first plan failed. At the very most he'll try to make me look like a foolish damsel in distress"
"I'm not so sure this time" Zuko frowned "the messengers he sent were terrified when they talked to us. From what they told us he was in a right foul temper about everything."
Jade bit her lip as she turned her head to look at the prince's face. Zuko was perhaps one of the most serious non smiling people she knew (apart from her own father of course). If he was that worried about the situation, Zhao's fury certainly must be something…or was it something else?
"There's more to it isn't there?" Jade's brow furrowed and Zuko almost cursed himself as those green eyes bore straight through his very soul, stripping him of all confidence to lie, or even to stay silent.
Instead he sighed heavily in defeat.
"Zhao's bringing General Shi with him as well to question you"
Jade blinked.
"Pardon"
Zuko blinked now confused himself.
"Uh…General Ryutaro Shi….y'know….your father's father? Your grandfather?"
"oh…OH!" Jade spluttered her eyes widening in absolute shock "Oh him? Oh…oh…"
"Oh what?"
Jade sensed his confusion and gulped as she ran a nervous hand through her hair.
"Sorry…it's just…I've not seen my grandfather or really, any of my father's family for nearly ten years. Not since my great grandfather's funeral. Father doesn't like talking about him much. It's weird really" she admitted with a shrug "I actually have no memory of the guy save that he looked an awful lot like father, but a lot older"
"Well I don't know about what he looks like" Zuko grunted through a clenched jaw "But I've heard he can be quite ruthless. He was always held in highest regard back in the fire nation. Even my Uncle respects him."
"Your uncle respects everyone" Jade snorted "That's why so many people love him so much"
"I know, but this is different" Zuko shook his head "Ryutaro is one of the great masters. His fire-bending skill is legendary, his military skills-"
"Yeah I know. Father told me all about what a brilliant war hero he was" Jade rolled her eyes as she folded her arms as she added with an icy mutter "Too bad his parenting skills were complete garbage"
Zuko's brow rose in surprise. This was certainly not the reaction he was expecting.
Jade was not usually one to disrespect strong fighters, especially those she knew personally. But then he remembered Zhao.
He looked up at her and was astonished to see her looking so tired and worn even as she leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Sorry" Jade mumbled, her voice trembling "It's just, all the crap with Kira and my family history…I just can't bring it in myself to feel any respect for the man who treated my parents like crap and let Zhao become the trash what he is now.
She shuddered and gripped her arms tighter around her body. In that moment Zuko was struck by how small and fragile she looked with her back hunched, like a delicate porcelain figure on the verge of falling to the ground and breaking even as she snivelled.
"My mom was…she was such a good person. Kind, funny and bright. She of all people didn't deserve to…to…why did it have to be her…why didn't I-?"
"Don't say that!"
Zuko hadn't meant to raise his voice, nor for it to sound so stern. But an anger had flared in his gut that was so fierce that it almost burst from him even as he leaned in to be nose to nose with her, his eyes scorching straight through to her soul.
"Zuko-"
"Never say that-any of that- ever again!" he growled over her stutters "Do you hear me? Never. Do you know just how worried all the crew was when they discovered you were gone? They were frantic, even uncle couldn't keep them calm. They refused to rest till they found you. They refused to eat till they found you. And if Kira had escaped I'm sure they wouldn't have hesitated to hunt him down themselves. You fed them every day. You cared for them, listened to them, you did what you could to make them happy, to make them laugh. They never cared how you looked, or what you wore, or who your parents were, or what kind of bender you were. They just wanted you back …I just wanted you back…"
"b-but why Zuko? Why? Why would you jeopardise your entire mission to capture the Avatar all for…well…me…" she whispered as his hand gently closed her fingers around her pendant, and squeezed them tight as he murmured:
"Because if the Avatar dies he'll just be reborn into another life. If you die…" and at this Zuko gulped hard to swallow down the horrible waver in his voice "you…you won't come back."
Without thinking he reached for her, just as Jade turned back round to face him.
She gasped as her face was pressed into the shoulder of the dark tunic, her lips squashing and sliding against the contour of his strong muscles underneath the material, which shifted as he tightened his embrace.
"Zuko I-" she began to say, but she felt her heart all but jam in her chest, like a little bird thundering against the bars of its cage as she struggled to find the right words.
But no reply she thought could even do justice to the declaration almost shouted in those golden amber eyes that looked down at her with warmth and…and…
"Zuko…I don't know what to say" she admitted softly, so quietly in fact that the prince had to strain his ears to hear it.
"Then don't say anything." He gripped her hands tight in his as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Just stay."
With me…
Though the words were not spoken aloud, they rang through the empty kitchen as loudly as Dango's meal gong in the mess hall.
Jade felt her eyes burn and sting as she nodded quietly. She couldn't help it. Never before had anyone looked at her that way, or even spoken to her that way.
She'd had many boys try to ask her out before in her village (not that she understood why, she wasn't exactly the most popular girl of her age) and in later years' men at the different ports had tried to charm their way into her skirts (again for reasons she couldn't fathom), but none of them had ever talked to her as passionately like this.
This wasn't a man just trying to sweet talk her for her body's virtue…this was Prince Zuko, one of the most awkward, gruff, brutally honest people she'd ever met. He was a young man who could not even lie to save his own skin, or even hold back his temper at the worst of times.
And yet the way the prince looked at her…. So fierce and yet tender….
She wasn't sure when she had pressed her lips against his. All she knew was that one minute she was standing on her own two feet, and the next she had been pushed back against the kitchen door as a pair of lips slid from her gasping mouth and pressed themselves against her neck right over her pulse.
She couldn't help the small whine as a pair of teeth gently nipped at the tender skin there just as a pair of rough hands gripped her waist, one of them trailing up slowly to rest on the bottom of her ribcage.
Zuko grunted as he felt one of her smaller hands grip at his chest tight, her nails almost piercing his tunic as he brought his mouth back to hers in a careful press before pulling back. However, he made no move to detangle himself from her, instead leaning his forehead against hers again as he inhaled deeply.
Jade tried to open her mouth to speak, but again the words seemed stuck in her throat again. Zuko seeing her confusion, couldn't help the small snigger that escaped him.
"You're catching flies-ow" he winced as he felt her free hand slap his chest, her other one gripping her jade pendant tight and close to her as she mumbled.
"Don't push your luck princess"
Zuko chuckled, and though it was a deep husky sound that made her knees almost wobble, Jade was struck by how youthful and bright his eyes were. For the smallest moment it was as if the scar had never existed, and she could see him as whole and pure as the day he had been born as he smiled that rare smile.
And wow did it suit him.
"Zuko I-"
RAT-TAT-TAT!
The wrapping on the door behind her back was so loud that both Jade and Zuko jumped where they stood. But nothing could compare to the horror that came when a voice barked through the door.
"By the order of Admiral Zhao, would Lady Shi please open this door."
Jade swore silently as Zuko at once broke away from her his eyes wide with panic.
"Quick tidy up" he hissed but already Jade was settling her ruffled robes and hair. The only thing she could not settle was her blushing cheeks and bruised lips, both of which sung to the prince even as he spared her one last heated glance.
Temptation wrapped in innocence.
Too bad someone wanted to take it all from him.
Too bad that someone had just walked through the kitchen door.
"Ah, Prince Zuko. I'm surprised to see you here"
"Why? This is my ship after all" Zuko clipped as he caught Admiral Zhao's cold brown eyes glare at him from his bowing position.
But it was the figures that walked behind Zhao that held Jade's attention.
The first was Lord Iroh, who was standing behind a figure she had not seen in a long time, but she knew at first sight.
He was an old man, with long white hair tied back in a top knot and a long beard that draped majestically over the front of his army uniform. His face was pale and wizened but still very familiar to the young kitchen maid, much like her father was to her. And yet his eyes, his brown amber eyes, coldly assessing the prince's form as he made to bow.
"Your highness."
"Lord Ryutaro" Zuko quickly bowed as he caught his uncle's stern eye behind the old lord's back. "Welcome aboard. I trust your journey was comfortable"
"As comfortable as can be given the circumstances" Ryutaro straightened up, sparing Jade a cold calculating glance that made her insides crawl.
That stare…so much like her fathers and yet it held none of his warmth.
"It's an honour to meet you again Sir" she bowed low to her elder who merely stared at her with those searching stony eyes.
"It has certainly been a while since I last saw you. The passage of time has been kind to you. It's a pity we must meet because of such a troubling disturbance."
His tone was light and casual, but Zuko could feel the disdain thickening in the air about him, like a pungent odour. And boy did it disgust him.
This man had not seen his granddaughter in over ten years. His granddaughter, who had almost been killed by an assassin sent by the smug bastard that stood beside him smirking in victory. And he called that a mere troubling disturbance.
He was glad his uncle was present or else he might have exploded then and there.
"Yes the whole affair has been quite a nasty shock for all of us. Poor Jade especially. It was nothing short of a miracle that Prince Zuko found her when he did."
"Indeed that is true. Thank you Prince Zuko" Ryutaro bowed but Zuko was quick to notice that the movement was far brisker and more reluctant than the first bow given.
"No need to thank me Lord Ryutaro" Zuko grunted, doing his best to keep the growl of anger down in his gut and not in his throat "I was doing what needed to be done. Jade is a valued member of my crew. One who is loyal and caring to all of us. It would've been a dishonour not to have helped her when that assassin tried to kidnap her"
There was a very sticky pause in which no one moved or said a word.
Jade felt her cheeks heat up as she tried to digest the prince's words in her head. Though they may have been formal in their address, they had been genuine and true.
Both her Grandfather and Uncle saw this too though their responses were very different.
Zhao looked furious, murderous even as he stared at the prince and it didn't take a genius to work out that Zuko had just been replaced her on top of his kill list.
Her grandfather on the other hand was simply silent and staring, eyes slightly wide in surprise. He had obviously not expected such a brazen response, even one coming from Prince Zuko of all people.
However, just as quick as he was to surprise, so too was he quickest to recover.
"An assassin? This was not mentioned in the reports before" he added eyeing Zhao who was quickly trying to school his face into something more serious and subdued.
But it was Iroh who answered for him.
"Yes. An assassin. He called himself Kira the Golem-"
"Of the East" Ryutaro finished, a biting edge in his voice as he turned his eyes to his granddaughter. "Yes I have heard of him. The bastard son of a Fire Nation deserter and an Earth Kingdom wench, trained as an assassin since youth. He was quite well known for his high kill count, though I find it hard to believe one so dangerous would ever hunt one so young"
"And yet he was hunting me" Jade mumbled, feeling rage bubble in her gut as she remembered the words at the cliff, burning in her mind like hot flames "Like he hunted my mother"
"Your mother?" Ryutaro quirked a brow and Jade's lips curled, her green eyes flashing as she glanced quickly at Zhao, who was glaring heatedly down on her.
"Yes. My mother. But that's not even the most interesting thing Grandfather. You see, when I was cornered and fleeing for my life, this Golem said something very interesting. He said that someone in my own family had hired him-"
"Insolent child how dare you!" Zhao snarled, forgetting his composure as he stormed to tower over her. "This is your grandfather. You will show him your respect?"
"Oh respect? You mean like the kind of respect he shows my mother and father or my brother? The very same respect you have for those you consider beneath you?" Jade growled as she stood her ground against the older man, her eyes flashing bright and hard with a green flame even as her uncle raised his hand above his head.
"Oh I'll show you respect girl-I'll-"
But what Zhao would do they'd never found out for a blast of fire burst out in front of him. A blast of fire sent by the prince who had leapt in front of Jade before the older admiral could even lay a finger on her
"Don't you dare touch her"
"Why you-" Zhao fumed but as he stepped forwards a hand grabbed his shoulder.
It was Ryutaro and his eyes were even colder than ever.
"Zhao. Stand down. Is this any way to treat royalty?"
"But father this-" Zhao began only to fall silent at once at the deadly gleam in his own father's eye.
It was a gleam that even had Zuko quickly reel in his own flames from his hands, though his glare remained even as the old lord turned to address the prince carefully.
"Forgive my son your highness. He is a…passionate man, and sometimes he forgets himself" Ryutaro glared sidelong at Zhao who at once wavered and stepped back to stand dutifully behind his elder.
Zuko however was not so easily placated.
"I know. I've experienced his lapses in control one to many times. And so has your granddaughter for that matter."
"Zuko" he could hear his uncle groan softly behind Ryutaro's back, but both prince and old lord ignored him, the latter raising his eyebrows as he glanced to Jade who was standing stock still in shock behind the prince's protective back.
"I see… granddaughter" the word left Ryutaro's mouth with much reluctance "Is this true? Has my son shown you any animosity in recent months?"
"If you call threatening me with blackmail, physically trying to strike me whenever he has a temper tantrum, leaving me and the prince to die at the volcano at Crescent island, and having an assassin openly admit he was hired by him to kill me. Then yes. I guess my uncle has shown me great animosity, grandfather"
If Lord Iroh thought Zuko looked fuming it was nothing compared to the thunderous gleam that flashed over Jade's bright green eyes even as she stepped forwards, holding herself tall and proud as she held her Grandfather's gaze.
It was difficult to tell who was currently holding the most contempt.
Indeed, Zuko gulped as he watched the two Shi's. Lord Ryutaro might have been a great war general with much experience in leading legions, but Jade was about as stubborn as a belligerent rhino when her temper was pushed. And boy had it been pushed a lot in recent days.
It was Ryutaro who broke the silence, and when he spoke his voice was cold and icy.
"Those are some severe accusations child"
"I wouldn't make them unless they were true" Jade spat, not even caring for how disrespectful her tone was. "Though I must admit you've done a very good job at covering up my uncle's mistakes. But then again, having another son disgrace you would be tantamount to social suicide back at the royal court. And we all know how value your image more than your pathetic parenting skills. I'm just impressed that my father was able to turn out so good in spite of them"
Now Lord Iroh really did face palm.
This girl she could be just as reckless as his nephew sometimes.
Zuko meanwhile didn't know whether to be impressed by Jade's sudden boldness, or terrified at how stiff Lord Ryutaro's face had gone in his surprise as he growled.
"Is that truly your honest opinion girl?"
"What do you think?" Jade narrowed her eyes but startled slightly as she turned her head to look at the pantry door that led to the lower galley.
Just as everyone turned to follow her gaze, the door opened and two figures stepped into the room.
"So you've finally decided to show yourself…Ruishi" Ryutaro rumbled as his son Ruishi strode up to him and Jade, his son Shen hot on his heels.
"You okay Lucky?" the youngest male Shi, whispered to his sister who nodded quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on her father as he turned to Ryutaro.
"Father." he bowed stiffly and his father bowed in return.
"Ruishi… You're punctual as usual"
"I was resting from night duty" Ruishi responded coolly "when I heard you were aboard I came as fast as I could I assure you. How was your journey?"
"It was fine thank you" Ryutaro's eyes narrowed. "Though in hindsight unnecessary. I was sent word an assassin had kidnaped one of my family, and instead I arrive to find the assassin already dealt with and your child as right as rain"
"You can thank prince Zuko for that" Ruishi grunted "If it weren't for his swift and decisive action, Jade wouldn't be here"
"So I've heard" Ryutaro's eyes narrowed as he looked over Zuko's and Jade's still fuming faces before turning to Iroh.
"Lord Iroh, is there perhaps some where more comfortable my sons and I may talk. I do believe this kitchen is getting rather crowded.
"We can use my quarters. I assure you there is more space there and more privacy." Lord Iroh smiled, just as Ruishi turned to his son and daughter.
"Shen, it's close to lunch why don't you take your sister to go eat at port with the rest of the crew. I daresay both of you need the fresh air"
"Of course, thank you father. And perhaps would his royal highness care to join us" Shen coughed as he wrapped an arm around his sister.
"Yes he would thank you private Shi" Iroh coughed with a nod with a pointed glance to his nephew who looked like he wanted to say something, only to have four sets of dangerous eyes pin themselves on him, all of them from the four adults present.
"Lord Ryutaro. Admiral Zhao. Uncle. Lieutenant" Zuko bowed gruffly before following the younger Shi siblings out the door, but not before glancing back and seeing Zhao's glare of fury scorch into Jade's back.
Hey there Diary,
Me again. I'm on a boat headed for the shore with some of the crew for lunch. And why am I going out for lunch just after I cooked it.
Well…my grandfather Ryutaro decided to pop in with my uncle Zhao this morning. Needless to say this was not quite the peaceful morning I had in mind.
I'm just thankful Shen dragged me out of that kitchen before I lashed out and ended up punching those two geezers in the face. I mean come on! Why would I lie about my uncle being a monster? It's not like I have much to gain from his imprisonment save my own personal safety. And my grandfather, ugh if you could even call him that.
The old man may be like father in many ways but he is still just as condescending and as bitter as ever. No wonder father left home when he met mom. I mean if I were him I'd have left that family as soon as I was old enough to walk.
Oh well, at least something good has come out of this whole affair and that is my father and brother both seem to approve of Zuko. I mean I knew that both of them were grateful for him saving me but it seems now my father is finally accepting the nature of our actual…uh…relationship. Which is pretty huge considering how protective father has always been of me.
And speaking of the prince, he too is simmering down a little from talking to my grandfather. Seriously I understand him being angry with Zhao. My uncle hasn't exactly been pleasant with him, but I still don't understand why Zuko would ever stand up to my grandfather when it was so plain he admired him as a master fire-bender.
Agh! I care for him Diary I really do but sometimes the things he says and does really boggles my mind.
And speaking of mind boggling I wonder what he and my brother are talking about so seriously over there.
When Zuko had boarded the small boat prepared for taking them ashore, he was certainly not prepared to have Shen Shi grab him by the elbow and all but drag him to the privacy of the ship's bow, while the ten or so other crew members all swarmed around Jade, flooding her with questions.
"Sorry about this your highness but this talk is long overdue" he hissed just as Zuko suddenly realised what had happened. At the mention of the word talk, the prince's face set into a scowl.
"Talk about what?" he snapped but Shen just rolled his eyes.
"What else but my little sister. I take it you know everything by now"
Zuko stared at the older boy for a moment, then nodded quietly.
"Yes I know"
"Including about our mother?"
"Yes. Jade told me ages ago" Zuko huffed, very much tempted to snarl or bark an order to back off like he usually would. But he kept himself in check.
Though inferior in status, Zuko knew not to push the older Shi sibling's buttons, especially when his little sister was involved.
And the last thing the prince wanted was to get on Jade's bad side when she was in an already foul mood.
He watched carefully as Shen sighed and took a step back from him, back relaxing considerably as he examined Zuko's nervous face.
"Y'know your highness I've seen my little sister through a lot of things-" he muttered glancing back towards said sister as she settled down to sit on the floor of the boat, flipping out her diary onto her lap "-but I gotta say, you're one of the first people I've ever met who's actually managed to drive her nuts"
"I-I-what?" Zuko frowned in confusion and Shen smirked.
"I'm serious. I mean I'm her brother and even I've never driven her up the walls as far as you have. Especially after mom died" Shen added quietly his eyes softening on Jade's face as she bent almost double over a new page.
Zuko looked at her too and briefly felt himself smirk as he saw her chewing hard on her lower lip in deep concentration as she scribbled hard.
"It must have been hard" he murmured softly carefully, but Shen just grunted hollowly as he turned to look back at the calm waters before the port.
"Yeah…it was tough for all of us, but I think it hit Jade most of all. Our mom was the only earthbender she knew, her only teacher. When we lost mom…we kinda lost a bit of Jade too. Or so we thought."
And now Shen's smirk widened as he glanced sidelong at the curious prince.
"After you and her began…uh…speaking to one another, I began to see my little sister again. My spirited, strong, curious and rock-headed-stubborn kid sister, bouncing around deck with a spring in her step. Even when Kira came aboard, I wasn't as afraid as I thought I'd be. I mean don't get me wrong, when he kidnapped her I was completely terrified but still, even as we tried our best to search for the two of you part of me was confident that she'd be okay on her own."
"She was great" Zuko blurted out, trying to cough loudly as Shen quirked an amused brow "I-I mean…when Kira had us cornered she fought back really well. Her earth-bending was good a-and her lava bending back at Crescent Island…it was…I've never seen anything like it"
"I don't think any of us have ever seen anything like it" Shen snorted, brown eyes suddenly hard as he leaned in right up close into the prince's face. "Jade's a pretty unique person. And I'm not just saying that because she's my sister. She's got a heart of gold, a heart that sometimes bleeds too much for her own good. Mine, however, is not so soft. You may be the prince of the Fire Nation, but that does not mean I'll go easy on you if you dare hurt her and neither would my father"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from either of you" Zuko growled softly, though whether it was from anger or the fear at having his private bubble invaded, he could not tell and Shen did not give him any further opportunity to ponder it as he leant back and smirked.
"Good. I'm glad you understand."
"Are you two finished yet?" came a new voice from their sides.
Both young men jumped and whirled around to see Jade standing, satchel over her shoulder and her hands on her hips.
"Hi Lucky" Shen coughed as he and Zuko backed away from one another quickly
But Jade just quirked her eyebrow.
"Seriously Shen it's bad enough I got turned off the ship without you two holding me up to get my lunch. Now come on. I'm starving."
"What else is new-ow" Zuko winced as something small and hard hit his shoulder.
"Don't push it princess" Jade hissed, but Zuko saw the small blush and smirk flicker across her face as she darted off the gangplank and onto the small dock the boat had moored at.
"Does she always hit so hard?" Zuko grunted as he rubbed his arm.
Shen rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Your highness if Jade really wanted to hit you hard, you'd be out cold on the floor."
"You look tired Ruishi"
"Weren't you the one who always said that if you aren't tired after your job, you haven't done it properly?"
"Hmm…now I see where your daughter gets her rebellious mouth from. Shame she uses it to spout absurdities."
The glares sent between father and son were enough to scorch the earth as they both calmly sipped at their tea. Both were so engrossed in the exchange that they didn't notice the figures of Zhao and Lord Iroh skulk out on the pretence of interrogating Chan the doctor.
It was only when the door shut behind Zhao's back that Ruishi broke the silence, his voice stiff and cool.
"I raised my daughter never to lie, just as you raised me all those years ago. I can assure you she speaks of no falsehood"
"What people believe is true to themselves is not necessarily the whole truth of the matter" Ryutaro snorted as he took another sip of his cup. "And she is young and at that silly age-"
"Don't compare my daughter to the other silly idle twits for granddaughters you have back in the court" Ruishi clipped, his eyes narrowing coldly "Jade is young and reckless but she has a much sounder head on her shoulders than most of your senior officers under your command. Something you are completely aware of but will hate to admit it because you can't stand the fact that she stood up to you where others would cower."
"I will admit…I wasn't expecting her to stand her ground" Ryutaro's jaw clenched slightly as the memory washed over his mind. "She's surprisingly stubborn"
Ruishi straightened up, a small smirk of pride seeping through the cracks in his usually composed mask as he snorted.
"A trait you once said was the mark of a true Shi Clan warrior. It exists in my son also, though his head is a lot calmer, thanks to his mother"
Now the look of disgust was apparent in the older lord's face.
"Your pride in your half-breeds is most astounding" he scowled "Any normal lord in your position would have left them well alone to fend for themselves, or at least would have left the earth-bender back with her own kind"
"Unlike you Father. I'm not a man to shirk from his parenting responsibilities at the first sign of trouble" Ruishi snapped.
Ryutaro's beard bristled irritably but he was quick to master himself, his brown eyes flashing slightly as he murmured "Yes…and speaking of your daughter's bending I've heard some of your crewmates whispering some very interesting things…it turns out that assassin wasn't the only lava-bender on that cliff. But I guess such abilities would only be natural considering her heritage. A pity they could not be used for the greater good…"
The old lord trailed off watching closely as his son's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, before narrowing dangerously.
"Whatever my daughter's abilities are, they are hers and hers alone to learn, to master and to wield as she sees fit"
"And what if she uses the powers against the Fire Nation?" Ryutaro rumbled "What if she turns on you and her prince to help the avatar?"
"Enough." Ruishi barked loudly eyes flashing amber in the dim light of the room "How my daughter wishes to use her powers is up to her. I cannot control her abilities no more than you or I can control the waning and waxing of the moon. The choice is hers and hers alone, and she must learn to bear the consequences for them"
"And in spite of your passionate statement you still believe me to be a negligent parent?" Ryutaro sneered.
"I am teaching my children how to take responsibility for their own actions as normal human beings. You are just letting your megalomaniac son run amok and then patching up his mess after him like a common janitor. Of the two of us who do you think has maintained more of their dignity?"
If looks could kill the look Ryutaro gave his son would have slaughtered thousands in its wake.
But Ruishi was spared the angry outburst by the re-opening of the door and Lord Iroh's head poking through politely.
"Lord Ryutaro, your soldiers have arrived and are awaiting your instructions."
"Tell them I shall be with them in a second Lord Iroh. My old bones are still creaking a little" Ryutaro groaned as he steadily but stiffly stood to his feet, only to stumble a little as he misplaced his foot.
At once without thinking Ruishi balked forwards, grabbing his father by the elbows and holding him steady, worry replacing his anger.
"Are you alright?" he asked but already his father was swatting him away with a hiss.
"I'm fine boy. I have walked fine on my own for nearly seventy years, a little stumble won't drag me down"
He straightened up, dusting off his uniform as he curtly turned to walk towards the door.
But before he could reach for the handle to open it wider, Ruishi called to him.
"Father wait"
"What boy?" Ryutaro stopped and scowled back to his son who was frowning in confusion.
"Why did you really come? You hold so much contempt for my family and the life I've made for myself. So why would you come?"
Ryutaro paused, and for the first time since their reunion down in the kitchens, his eyes flickered down towards the ground, wells of hurt filling them.
But then it was gone and Ruishi was once more staring into an ice cold glare full of contempt.
"Because when I came, I thought I would see my son again. But I was wrong. Now I only see a stranger has replaced him."
And with that he stormed out the door leaving Ruishi to stand alone in the dark room, face stricken as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Dear Diary,
Yes it's me again for the third time in one day (must be a new record). I've just come back from lunch with the crew and Zuko. It was actually kinda nice.
Poor Zuko seemed a little out of his depth, hanging out with the crew outside of the ship. He tried to stay behind in a corner while we all socialized but I managed to bring him out of his shell a little bit when we all started to walk back towards the ship.
Who knew the prince of the Fire Nation was such a shy guy?
Though that may have something to do with Shen. I have no idea what he and my brother were talking about earlier today but Zuko seems to be warier of him than he did before. I hope to the spirits that Shen didn't give him the protective big brother threat or else I'll really clock him one. Zuko's already awkward enough with others, the last thing he needs is my family breathing down his neck
Speaking of family, I haven't seen father since we returned and my uncle and grandfather left. I hope he's okay. Last time we had contact with that half of the family, my father holed himself up in his room for two days straight.
That's it diary I'm going to go find him before—
A sharp knocking made Jade almost jump out of her bed with a squeak.
Spirits girl get a hold on yourself
She cursed mentally whilst she physically bleated:
"Who is it?"
"It's me" a hoarse voice murmured and Jade's eyes widened.
Without even pausing to think she yanked open her door and almost fell flat on her back as her father's body all but fell into her.
"Father what the hell-" she began but then she caught a whiff of something strong from his mouth.
"Father have you been drinking?!" she almost shrieked, pure anger filling her as she all but dragged him to her bed and pushed him back to lie on it.
Ruishi however didn't notice her plight. He just kept murmuring his mouth never ceasing in its movements.
"All my fault…I'm so sorry…all my fault…I'm so sorry"
Over and over, repeatedly, never stopping, never silencing, but Jade never paid it any heed.
She'd heard those words before, memorized them from countless hours of listening. When she had first heard them she'd been a child, scared of her own imaginary demons of the night.
Now she was older, she felt nothing but irritation and sympathy.
Spirits I hope no one else saw this…father would never be able to face the crew if they knew.
She silently prayed in her head…but as usual the universe never seemed to answer any of her prayers.
"Jade?"
So much for hoping.
And TADAA! new chapter is up and a go.
Thanks to everyone for waiting so patiently, it's all been great to hear from you. heads up though i won't be able to submit stuff for the next few weeks as work and assignments both keep piling up, hence why this chapter is so long. also, some of you are wondering at why the chapter order suddenly looks different and that's because i took out the lava bending theory chapter, as it will be explored later on ;)
So Zuko and Jade make further progress in their relationship and Shen finally gets to have the "protective big brother talk" with said prince...and poor Ruishi is stuck with Jade's grandfather Ryutaro.
He's a bit of a complicated man. On the one hand he's a powerful aristocrat riddled with bigotry and prejudice and begrudgingly is forced to accept his grandchildren's existence, whilst on the other hand he admires spirit and people with enough balls to challenge him, which kinda means he both admires and hates Jade quite a bit. I personally like to think that he still loves his son Ruishi in his own way but their relationship is very much, uh, strained (and i'm being very euphemistic when i say that)
Anyways i hope you enjoyed and keep reviewing for more.