Chapter 35: Waiting in the Wings

Dear Diary,

Time passes slowly on this ship. Especially when you're bedridden for most of the day.

My Father, brother and some of the crew come to visit regularly as does Lord Iroh.

I both love and hate those moments he comes to see me.

I love them because he always tries to lift my spirits and is always so kind and understanding, I hate them because every time he does visit, he's always accompanied by a guard called Lee.

Strong, and silent as a grave and a decent firebender from what I've heard.

Lord Iroh says he chose the guard himself from Zhao's ship and that he is completely trustworthy, but I wouldn't trust any man of my uncle's even if the Dragon of the West trusted him.

But what really irks me about him is just how he keeps watch on me every time he's with us. It's like being watched by a hungry viper-bat. I mean I can't really see his face beneath the metal plating of his mask but still…

Anyways, at least I only see him for short periods of time.

A bit like father.

Ever since the ship left port, my father has been so busy fulfilling his duties as Commander in helping my dear uncle, the "oh-so-honourable" Admiral Zhao, Lord Iroh and the other Captains formulate a plan for the Invasion of the North Pole.

He tries not to show it but I can tell his new duties are positively eating him up from the inside. My father may be a great warrior and Fire Bender but at heart he truly hates this war and everything it stands for. It breaks my heart sometimes to watch him struggle with his toil and not be able to do anything to help him.

At least, not be able to help him till I can finally get out of this bed. I checked with Chan just yesterday and he says that in a few days I can start wandering around on my own outside my room for a little bit, as long as I don't over stress myself. If I can achieve that then I should be up and running by the time we reach the Northern Water Tribe.

Just in time for the invasion…which I still have no idea how to stop.

Oh, yes Diary, I'm still rearing to go to stop the fire nation and help the Avatar win the war.

Is it crazy?

Yes

Is it impossible?

Well I won't know unless I try.

If there's one thing this bedrest has been good for it has been for having the time to sit and think of a plan.

So far, I have not come up with much. At present, I still think my best bet is to wait it out and recover as fast as I can, and then once we're close enough to the Water Tribe, I escape this ship and warn them early of Zhao's plans.

I just have two very big problems. One, how on earth do I get off a big ship with hundreds of guards?

And two, how do I get my hands onto Zhao's plans? And what, for that matter, are his plans in the first place?

I could ask my father, but I'm afraid he'd instantly know what I was trying to do and would probably take every precaution to protect me and keep me secured in the ship. The same could be said for Lord Iroh, who I know for a fact also does not like the invasion.

I was thinking about letting my brother in on my plan. He's currently following my father and uncle around the ship, both as a guard but also because Zhao wants to keep an eye on him, and to keep him away from me.

For all the crap, he's pulled, Zhao is no fool. He knows that by keeping me isolated and in the dark he has me at his mercy, especially since I don't have the surety of my father, my brother, my crew or even of Zuko to…

The brush over the page stilled, the tip trembling slightly as a drop hovered over the paper.

But Jade did not seem to notice. All she could focus on was the last two words she had just written.

Ever since she'd awoken from that horrible explosion, she could not bear to say or even write the prince's name anywhere. Every time she even thought about him her chest got terribly tight, her breath constricted in her chest and her eyes burned.

"Damn it Jade" she hissed to herself as she scrubbed her eyes, quickly putting her brush into the inkpot before it could drip everywhere.

And not a moment too soon.

Rat-tat-tat!

"Come in" she mumbled only to blink as a guard walked in and not just any guard.

"Lieutenant Lee. What does my uncle want now?" she smiled, but only with her mouth. Her green eyes were as cold as icebergs.

Lee however kept his usual composure as he gave a short bow, his helmeted head dipping slightly as he addressed her in his usual but still very odd low and stiff tones.

"Forgive me…my lady but General Iroh sent me to fetch you. Says he wishes to see you on deck"

Jade didn't even bother to hide the rolling of her eyes as she set her diary and her writing instruments securely in her satchel, only to pause worriedly.

"Are…are you okay?" Lee's strained voice was gentle as he took a step towards her. "Is there something wrong"

"No" Jade muttered softly. "Just…Chan said I shouldn't be moving about so much till a few days till my wounds are-"

"I know." Lee blurted out, but then quickly coughed over the top of it "That's why the General told me to fetch you a chair…one with wheels" he added lamely.

Despite herself, Jade couldn't help but feel a stab of sympathy (in addition to the pain in her side) as she watched the masked guard quickly fumble about for words as he hurriedly pulled in said wooden wheelchair into the room, mumbling and cursing to himself all the while.

She couldn't make out what he said, but he seemed to be chastising himself softly.

"First tour of duty huh?" she muttered softly as Lee wheeled the chair next to her bed.

He nodded silently apparently too embarrassed to answer as he held out his hands to her.

Jade hesitated.

She still wasn't sure about Lee. Even though she couldn't see his eyes from under the helmet, something about the way he looked at her in that intense way. Like he knew her and was waiting for her to recognise him.

But if he knew her then why wouldn't he take off that damn mask?

With a soft sigh, she gingerly sat on the side of her bed, slipping on a pair of slender fitted boots and a thick dark red shawl that was laid out over the foot of it.

As she did so, Lee wheeled the chair over to her, carefully positioning it close to her as she tried to gingerly pick herself up onto her feet, only to stumble slightly as her side throbbed.

"I'm alright" she hissed as he quickly caught her, trying hard not to think about how gentle and warm his arms were wrapped around her.

It feels like him…but it's not…it can't be…

Her eyes dropped to the ground as she let herself be carefully seated back in the chair, mildly noticing the carefully positioned cushions that pressed into her behind and back as she melted into them.

Their softness and silk…

"Let's go" she hissed, her hands gripping the arms of the chair hard as Lee came up behind and began to push on the chair.

Their goings were slow and silent, but Jade could feel Lee's glances down at her even as he brought her up towards the deck.

As they got closer Jade could hear laughing, merrymaking and music.

"What's going on?" She looked back at Lee but he was already pushing her out of the dim corridor and out onto the deck and into bright light.

Jade blinked as her eyes adjusted, and quickly noticed many groups of officers spread out over the large battle ship deck, all of them surrounding various small tables or even a large lantern for warmth and light. Amidst all the groups, three cooks were stirring pots of hot soup or gravy (she couldn't tell) and some of their juniors went about serving tea.

The busiest of these younger trainees already had his hands full serving out cups to a large group close at hand, the leader of whom Jade recognized as Lord Iroh, who beamed upon catching sight of her.

"Ah, Jade there you are. We were beginning to worry about you. Please Lee wheel her over here"

"It's wonderful to see you again Lord Iroh. You as well sirs" she bowed her head respectfully to hide her gulp as she recognized several very high ranking Commanders and Captains all turn to look at her in keen interest.

Some of them seemed genuinely respectful and considerate as they made way for Lee to wheel her into place beside the Great Dragon of the West. Some seemed haughty at the prospect of having a young woman of no military rank in their presence and the others…well…they were a bit too excited to see a woman in their presence at all.

Either way, for once, Jade was glad to feel Lee's presence hover around the back of her chair as Lord Iroh quickly reset the large pai-sho board.

"It is such a relief to see you so alert and spirited" the older lord murmured softly as the other lords set about rearranging the piles of their own tiles. "Your dear uncle was going to come visit you tonight, but I figured you might prefer a game of pai-sho to being locked in your room having to deal with visitors. Ah yes Dan, would you please fetch Lady Jade some Tea"

"Thank you" Jade murmured as she accepted her cup, her brain whirring all the while as she observed the other men before her as they settled themselves down for another round.

Dear Diary.

Remember what I said before of not knowing what Zhao's battle plans were.

Well I kinda figured out how to get to them.

So basically, it all started while I was upstairs on deck a few hours ago. I was sitting with Lord Iroh and some of the top brass as they played Pai-Sho, when surprise surprise, Zhao and my father decide to join us.

And boy was Zhao peeved. Even though he couldn't speak it out loud I knew things were not going according to plan tonight. Apparently, he wanted to corner me in my room to have another little "heart-to-heart", translation he wanted to take the opportunity to dig in the death of…

Of…

Let's just say he just wanted to gloat over what happened and take whatever opportunity he could to continue to make my life a living hell.

But back onto what happened.

So, Zhao failed to get me alone for the evening and instead wound up losing several rounds of Pai-sho against Lord Iroh and my father. I swear, if Pai-sho was a sport he and my father would both be its champions.

Speaking of my father he seemed far more tense tonight then I've ever seen him. There's only one reason I can think of him getting that spooked and that's if he's seen something that is beyond terrifying. I still don't have a clue as to what he saw, but I bet it has something to do with what Zhao is plotting.

Anyways, whilst all this was going on I decided to get back in touch with my acting skills I learned whilst part of my home village's theatre troop. Whilst I am a little rusty, I think I was able to pull off the fake "dozing from boredom in my wheelchair" off (though that may have been because I was actually beginning to get bored to sleep already).

It's amazing what old men will let slip when they think a young girl is sweet, helpless, blissfully naive and vacant.

I think I even fooled Lord Iroh for a moment. My father on the other hand…well…what can I say he's my father and he of all people know when I'm faking it. But to his credit he's so far not talked to me about it.

Personally, from what I saw tonight, I think he wants to tell me and my brother what is going on, but can't because his hands are tied.

But they won't be for long.

So far what I've heard is that the fleet is fast approaching the North Pole and should be in position in roughly two and a half weeks. From the way, it sounds they'll be using the catapults to first bring down what I think might be a great wall of ice that protects the Water Tribe people from the sea outside.

I can only guess that once the wall is dealt with the ships will send troops down into the Water Tribe to fight the water benders.

And that is the part where I think Zhao's secret plan comes in because whenever that topic came up he smirked. It wasn't a smirk to cover up something, it was an actual "ha! I know something you don't that will totally win this fight for me" smirk.

Well, he can smirk all he likes now, because once I get his plans he is gonna wish he had never launched this invasion at all!

But for now, I think I'm going to hit the hay.

I might have been acting before, but now I really am exhausted, and I'll need my strength if I'm going to start my plan…which I won't tell you till I've sorted tomorrow out.

G'night Diary.

When Jade woke up the next morning she felt strangely woozy.

At first, she wondered if it was just the pain of her injury, or if it was the gravity of her situation suddenly coming down on her like mountain load of bricks.

She eventually figured that it was a mixture of both.

And so, she did what she always did when feeling nervous about a new task, she made tea. Or rather she brewed the tea supplies brought to her quarters by Lee.

She couldn't tell what it was but something about him felt…different today.

Perhaps it was the gentle way he had handled her last night, or perhaps the stubborn way he had stayed by her side nearly all the night when Zhao was there, but she felt far more relaxed around him, and he around her.

They had reached a silent but respectable agreement about where they stood in regards for one another. Now Jade could only hope he wouldn't be too suspicious when she had to go implementing her plan behind his back.

She was already beginning to prepare for step one with her tea serving, even if her guard was not aware of it.

After a careful pleading with Lord Iroh and her father, Jade had managed to persuade them to send a small tea set up to her rooms along with a fresh blend of herbs fit for serving Jasmine tea. She had told them it would help her relax and take her mind off things whilst she rested.

What she hadn't told them was that it just so happened to be a favourite of the visitor she had arranged to meet her, who, if she was not mistaken, had just knocked on her door.

"Come in. Ah, good morning Chan" she called, her smile widening as Chan the doctor poked his head through the door.

"Good morning my lady" Chan rolled his eyes as he spat out the title with disdain "I do believe you officially summoned me. Oh, and your guard Lee is here too what a surprise"

Lee seemed to bristle where he stood beside the door as the older man smirked derisively in his direction, but Jade just ignored the exchange as she made to pour two cups of tea.

"I'm sorry for all the pomp and ceremony Chan" her smile softened sympathetically as the old doctor took a seat opposite her waving her off.

"I know, I know. You're trying to keep the hog monkey off your back like the rest of us. Now what was it that you wanted to see me about."

"Well…" Jade began then noticed Lee watching her from the corner of her eye.

Spirits I hope this works.

She bit her lip nervously as she motioned for the doctor to lean in so she could mutter.

"um…I was wondering…if I could talk to you about…well you know how all the stuff from the ship got moved"

"Yes?" Chan frowned in puzzlement and Jade blushed red.

"Well I was wondering-since I can't go around the ship on my own yet- if you could um… help get me some…uh ladies things"

"Ah…I see" Chan leaned back with a calm nod. "of course, I can, and is there anything you need in particular?"

"Um…" Jade gulped her eyes flickering to Lee who seemed to be standing a little straighter and stiffer where he stood. "I'm sorry Lee but if you don't mind um…prefer talking to Doctor Chan alone um…about this uh…stuff…"

"What? Oh-oh of course" Lee spluttered and though she couldn't' see his face Jade could practically feel her guard's ears burn hot as he quickly slid out her room door and shut it tight behind him.

"Well played miss Shi"

"huh?" Jade blinked as she turned back to see Chan smirking as he sipped on his tea.

"Faking the need for ladies products to get some privacy from your keeper. A clever move"

"But I'm not faking" Jade gulped not liking the smug expression on her doctor's face "I actually do need ladies stuff"

And that was in fact true. Once she had become alert enough to stay awake for several hours of the day she had done all the calculations necessary for when her next monthly cycle would be. If her calculations were correct then they would be due to start in the next two weeks.

Right in time for the invasion.

Never before had she been so thankful for being born a woman.

Right it's now or never…

Sucking in a deep breath she pushed a sheet of paper before the doctor with a list of all her necessary supplies, ending with:

"ingredients for a sleeping draft?" Chan's jaw stiffened as he scanned the document and then the young girl's face.

"Yeah…I know I can usually deal with cramps at night but seeing as I've got this" she pointed to her injured side. "I just…it's going to be pretty stressful what with the invasion and I'll need all the rest I can get"

Crap…he's not going to buy it

She looked down to her lap, unable to face him for fear he would see straight through her if he saw the guilty look in her eye.

And indeed, Chan was scrutinizing her more sternly then usual.

Then suddenly he sighed.

"Jade…I know why you want really want this"

"You-you do?" Jade spluttered eyes wide.

"Yes" Chan looked up at her and his eyes were sympathetic. "and I understand. Losing someone you care about deeply does hurt a lot, and yes it takes a lot out of you. But no matter how much of medicine you try to take it will not bring the prince back, nor will it make you happy. But talking about it will help. It might not solve the problem at once or make it go away like magic, but let me just tell you from experience that talking to someone and admitting what you feel can help. Now I will give you a supply of the sleeping draft but only if you promise me that you'll use it responsibly and talk to someone about how you feel. It doesn't have to be me and you don't have to do it today. But when you're ready to talk, talk and let all your pain out"

"Of-of course sir…I-I promise" Jade felt the lump in her throat shift, but where it had once been a lump of fear, it was now a lump of woe that threatened to engulf her whole throat as a knock came at the door.

"Yes, what is it?" she called, gulping down a hoarse croak as Lee poked his head through the door.

"Captain Yao is requesting a medic up on deck. There has been a training accident."

"Those buffoons," Chan shook his head as he stood to his feet. "How any of them even got into the navy with such clumsy firebending is beyond my reckoning. Why, in my day if we lacked such control we'd have been shoved overboard by our commanding officer"

"Then forgive me if I'm glad those days are behind us" Jade snorted as she sneakily dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve.

"You won't have to worry about that my dear" Chan rolled his eyes as he stretched his arms above his head. "I don't care what rank he is but that uncle of yours will not lay a finger on you anymore, especially since he lacks the balls to take on both your father and the dragon of the west, because believe me I don't think either of them would hesitate to hand his behind to the firelord himself on a silver platter if he so much as looked at you funny ever again"

"How is my father by the way? I didn't get to talk to him last night." Jade stood up and Chan's eyes softened as he took in her worried face.

"He's alright. A little sleep deprived but he seems to be in fine nick. If you ask me though I think he's doing a bit better, then when he was aboard the prince's ship. Seems as if battle planning is right up his alley, a lot more so then Zhao's if rumour is to be believed" he added with a small smirk.

"I'm sure it is" Jade muttered darkly.

"Listen Jade," the doctor put a hand on her shoulder sympathetic "I'm not saying your father is like Zhao. I know just as well as you that he despises war. But at the same time, he is a great thinker and a great strategist and even if he doesn't like the violence he still does enjoy the-"

"I know" Jade sighed rubbing her temple "it's just…with everything that's happened-"

"You miss him. It's alright my dear," Chan squeezed her shoulder gently "I'm sure he misses you too. As does your brother. Just hang tight for a bit, they'll see you soon"

"You're right" Jade managed a smile, but even she could tell that it probably looked like she had toothache, as the doctor quietly excused himself and left the room.

But the door didn't close.

"Ja-L-Lady Jade" Lee shook his head slightly.

"yes?" Jade blinked at him, hoping against hope that she didn't look too stiff.

There was silence as Lee seemed to stare at her. Jade could almost imagine his mouth behind his metal mask opening and shutting as he searched for something to say.

But then the moment passed and he was quickly straightening up and coughing in his usual rigid manner:

"Nevermind. It's nothing"

"okay" Jade nodded, turning her back on him and bending down to pick up the tea set, only to cry out in pain as her side throbbed.

"AH! Spirits" she wheezed clutching at her side as her legs buckled beneath her.

At once she felt warm hands grab at her and hoist her up before she hit the ground.

"What were you thinking?" a familiar gruff voice hissed in her ear, but she was so distracted by the pain that she barely heard it as she was pressed back down into her bed.

It did little to relieve her of the sharp piercing pain in her sides but it was preferable to lying on the floor.

"I'm sorry" she grunted as she felt the wall of armour and heat move away.

"just lie back and relax" Lee grunted as he smoothed away some stray strands of brown from her face with his thumb.

It was then Jade noticed that his masked face was far closer than it was normally.

She could even faintly see his amber eyes glinting from within the two eyeholes.

Such a familiar shade.

But it couldn't be…

But nonetheless, her hand reached up, fingers trembling as they grazed the skull shaped mask…

Lee's breath hitched as he heard her skin slide over the smooth metal, her green eyes wide and gazing up into his own as she just about managed to-

"Jade! Jade!?"

The door banged open and both Lee and Jade jumped back, just in time as Shen Shi strode in, looking very irate.

"You, Lee-Wong or whatever your name is, leave us. Go to Lord Iroh or whoever you report to when you're not stalking my sister. OUT!" the elder Shi sibling barked.

Lee did not need telling twice and was out of the door before Jade could blink.

"You know you didn't have to be so rude" she muttered as her brother shut the door.

"Wanted to be sure of the privacy" Shen scowled as he dragged up a chair towards her bedside.

"You alright? Chan said you wanted to see him"

"I just wanted to talk about getting some ladies products sent up before my monthly's begin" Jade rolled her eyes and was pleased when her brother's face flashed scarlet.

Yeah…sometimes she really loved being a girl.

There were hushed hisses and frantic whispers as several of the young lieutenants and privates slid out of the way of the figure in their midst.

He was tall, strongly built with a very pronounced limp. How anyone would have let the man continue serving was beyond him.

But he didn't care for any of their commentary, not when he was so close to his target.

A tall man with greying black brown hair and bright fierce eyes.

He was walking away towards an empty corridor…

"oof!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," a voice coughed as both the stalker and his intervener bounced back off one another and straightened up, the former scowling darkly from under his skull shaped metal mask.

"Not at all the fault was mine Lord Iroh, I apologise"

"Oh, there is no need for that" the old lord chuckled as the tall soldier bowed, only to frown thoughtfully.

"You seem familiar…have we met before?"

"No sir. But your great reputation precedes you" the man said politely, barely forcing a chuckle onto his hidden snarl as the old lord before him grinned and patted his belly jovially.

"Yes, it does, quite a fair bit too I must admit! But it's nothing a bit of bedrest will not cure."

"Of course. Good night sir" the man bowed and quickly stood to the side to let Lord Iroh pass. But even as he took a step away, the old lord smirked.

"Good night…Kira"

The figure stiffened, his hand flying to his belt where a knife was holstered but at that very moment someone burst forth from a room.

"General Iroh, urgent news from the Captain's you're needed up on the helm"

"Looks like my rest must wait" Iroh sighed as he made to follow the young soldier away from Kira, who's lip curled as he pulled away his metal mask.

"Oh, don't you worry Lord Iroh you will be resting soon enough…and so will all your little favourites"

"I couldn't agree more"

Kira wheeled around knife held high only to stop short.

"You!"

Dear Diary,

So, today's meeting with Doctor Chan went well.

I now have the sleeping draft.

Now I just must wait for two weeks before I can use it, because if the next part of my plan has got to work then I've gotta be in some fit state to use it.

I know two weeks is cutting it short to the invasion but I don't really have much of a choice. Until I am physically able to move about as freely as I want I'm a sitting turtle-duck. Literally.

On another note, I nearly managed to unmask Lee today. And I mean nearly because my stupid brother crashed into the room like a bull-pig in the china store and totally ruined my opportunity.

I can only hope he's not going to ruin my plans in two weeks, because then I probably will kill him, or at least I will punch him hard in the face.

Because if I don't find out what Zhao is up to and stop it before it gets going…then everything we know will be gone.

Not that I have much left to lose.

…

The room was dark as the shadow of a helmeted guard quietly poked into it.

As he caught sight of the gently sleeping girl in the bed he sighed softly in relief and quietly slipped in, quietly shutting the door behind him without a sound.

With footsteps like a cat, he quietly slunk over to the girl's bed, seating himself beside her as she sucked in a deep sigh, before oozing back into the mattress.

As she did so, a few drops of salt trickled from beneath her closed eyelids.

"Z-Zuko" she mumbled and the figure paused, his hand hovering over her face. "I'm…I'm so sorry…so…sorry"

Then with that the girl's body on the bed suddenly stilled, the only sound of life the deep and even breaths she inhaled slowly in the night air.

With a shaking hand, the figure raised a hand to the metal mask of his helmet and slid it off, the amber eyes behind it softening as Prince Zuko lowered his scarred face towards her forehead.

"Don't be"

The two weeks passed slowly for Jade and in all that time she had managed to make a remarkable improvement.

She was now able to walk around the ship without aid, though her brother or someone else usually hovered around her just in case.

Needless to say, this made pulling off her plan very difficult.

Barely anyone left her alone and even then, it was only when she slept and by spirits she was sleeping harder then she'd ever slept before. And this was without any sleeping draft in her system when she shut her eyes.

She knew that she was putting so much energy into trying to figure out Zhao's full battle plans that she was tiring herself out, but honestly. Just how horrific was this scheme her uncle was concocting that it had to be kept absolutely secret.

Even her father and Lord-no-General Iroh didn't have a clue and that was saying something as both of them were now considered to be the Admiral's confidants.

As she was getting no news from any of the officers around her, Jade began hanging around the helm where the ship captain was giving out orders, or hovering around the Admiral's battle room to "greet" her father after a long day's bickering and needling at strategy, all the while pricking her ears for any of the leftover grumbles about the meeting.

But even then, she couldn't afford to stay around long for fear of Zhao noticing what she was up to. If he even caught one whiff of her snooping around like this she'd be overboard faster than a flea jumping between dogs.

And that water overboard was almost frozen over.

Literally their ship and their fleet often had to break through sheets of ice, sometimes perform quick tacks or jibes to avoid hitting icebergs, especially at night.

Jade often found herself wondering who in their right mind would want to live in such frigid and harsh conditions. Then she remembered where they were sailing to.

Well it makes sense…water can be made into ice and vice versa. Must be a heaven for a water bender…and a hell for me…

She groaned softly to herself as she leaned back in her bed.

It was night-time, the night just before the invasion. And boy was she feeling the jitters.

One night…

She gulped to herself.

One night to get the information and get off this ship and then I hop off with the soldiers and follow Zhao to peril…yeah…I can totally do this.

She looked back down into her diary and shut it tight.

"I must be insane."

Rat-tat-tat!

"Come in" a voice called.

Jade bit her lip as she pushed the large ornate door open.

Beyond it, was a large room, covered in red hangings and tapestries. On one side was a large luxurious bed, the other a desk and in the middle a small table littered with papers and drinking cups.

On either side of these papers sat her father and Zhao both of them looking grim as they poured over a map.

"So?" her Ruishi quirked a brow.

"you were right" Zhao muttered irritably as he marked a place on the map. "the ships should enter from the left here, our scouting ships reported a blind spot on the watchtowers there."

"I know. But still it won't be much use once we get into firing range. The fumes of our ships will merge with the snow and cause it to go black with soot."

"Once our ships are in range, the poor water tribe peasants will be too worried about defending their own walls to be worrying about sooty snow" Zhao snorted but Ruishi just sighed.

"You forget your history lessons brother; unlike it's sister tribe, the North Pole is still fully occupied by Water Benders and we are fighting on their terrain. They can bend ice and snow itself, a feat which will heighten as the day wears out and as the moon rises higher in their favour."

"Does that fear I smell from you brother?" Zhao sneered "scared we'll fail."

"No actually quite the opposite little brother" Ruishi smirked as he emptied the last of his cup "Why? Are you nervous little brother? Pre-battle jitters playing up on you again"

"That was only one time." Zhao rolled his eyes.

"Fear of mortality is not a sin, contrary to what our father keeps spouting off." Ruishi's smirk softened quietly. "it is that very fear that can push the mortal form to do feats more extraordinary than that of the spirits themselves"

"There you go again, mouthing off like an old history tome. Would it just hurt you to not sound wise like grandfather for once? It's bad enough I had to sit through all those boring lectures of his when I was a boy without you repeating them now" Zhao grumbled, but for the first time since Jade had ever met the man, the scowl on his face was not malicious. He looked fleetingly, like a small boy getting annoyed from being teased.

Scratch that, he looked just like her when Shen tried to hassle her. Irritated but still fond.

She stopped in her tracks, nearly dropping her cargo in her arms (a light but full tea tray) to the floor.

She didn't know whether she should be horrified or amazed. She was truly too stunned to make a sound as she watched her father spare a small chuckle and her uncle's cheeks flush scarlet as he tried to save face and fail miserably.

Then suddenly the moment was slashed to pieces as Zhao looked up and caught sight of her.

It all returned full force.

The hatred, the anger, the loathing.

Jade nearly turned away from his gaze, such was the intensity.

But she stood her ground courageously, a hot fire burning in her gut as she remembered the fire she had once seen in a pair of amber eyes, and the intensity in the voice that had once said that it would never let her come to harm.

Zuko wherever you are…wish me Luck.

Jade sucked in a deep breath and flashed a polite smile.

"Hello uncle, father."

"Jade" Ruishi jumped as he wheeled around, his face splitting into a wide smile of relief, which quickly turned into a frown as he caught sight of the tea tray in her hands.

"I thought you both could use something soothing to cool the nerves before tomorrow" her eyes softened as she beheld her father's tired eyes. "no offence but you both look like you could use your rest. It won't do to have the men see you both so tired in the morning"

"No indeed not" Zhao admitted begrudgingly, keeping his narrowed eyes fixed on his niece as she set the tray down beside them and began to set it up on a clear patch of table.

"It's Ginger-Lemon tea" she explained as she poured them each a cup. "I thought of bringing up some Ginseng but it would've gotten cold by the time I got here. At least this brew can be drunk both hot and cold and still taste delicious"

"Your mother's recipe I presume" Zhao spat as he took his cup, sparing the word mother a fair bit of malice as he always did when addressing the late Lien Shi.

But for once Jade ignored it. Her father on the other hand, hardened his gaze on his brother.

"Yes. And it's always worked wonders for the nerves. Not to mention it is quite nutritious. Thank you Jade" he smiled for his daughter who managed to smile back at him, hoping against hope that he wouldn't see the guilty look in her eye as he took his drink from her and politely sipped at it.

Zhao however ignored both of them completely and drained his cup in two gulps before holding out his cup for more.

Jade acquiesced to pour him another cup though quietly she allowed herself to seethe on the inside.

Ass, treating me just like a common servant. HA! We'll see who's laughing when you've had your fill.

And indeed, she wasn't disappointed.

One empty teapot later, both men were sound asleep, their heads on the table.

Jade bit her lip as carefully she raised a hand in front of both her father's and uncle's faces.

Neither of them stirred.

Now's my chance.

Jade quietly stood up and looked around the room.

It was very messy.

"Crap…this is going to take a while"

Prince Zuko was not known for his patience.

Hence why he thought he should be given a medal for just how patiently he had bided his time over the past few weeks while the Fire Nation's Armada sailed to the North Pole. Hell, he should be given a trophy for the fact that he'd been able to fool Jade into not recognizing him for that long.

Not that he enjoyed pulling the wool over her eyes.

In fact, that was the part he hated most.

Every time they were in the same room, she'd always be just there in front of him. So close to touch…to hold and not let go…

What are you doing Zuko…

He sighed to himself as he leaned outside the door to her bedroom.

He had promised himself that he would listen to his uncle for once and not act rashly. But if he had to watch her cry herself to sleep one more night because of him he knew he'd go mad.

No…he had to tell her.

But she'd get in danger.

The nagging voice in his head, the one that sounded eerily like his uncle.

But once the invasion is over, she'll still be in danger…even more so once Zhao is finished with using her father…

"No…I've got to do this" he muttered as with a hard grip, he pushed the door open.

It was dark inside, and quiet.

Not the kind of quiet that came with the night.

It was a quiet stillness.

"Jade" he whispered quietly.

There was no answer.

Maybe she's taken a sleeping draft. She doesn't cry when she uses one.

But even as he stepped into the room he knew something was wrong.

"Jade" he spoke slightly louder, igniting a flame in his hand and holding it up to where he knew her bed was.

But all he saw was empty well-made sheets.

"Oh no"

Spirits…how am I going to find anything in here? Even a badger mole would have trouble building a tunnel through these.

Jade groaned as she dug into yet another pile of paper on Zhao's desk.

I couldn't be born a fire-bender could I?

She cursed herself as she saw a candle splutter into darkness, dimming the light around her a considerable degree.

As it did so she couldn't help but notice the silver handle for a half open drawer flicker in the dying light of the three-quarter melted candle before her.

"Hmm…what's this?" she mumbled quietly as with tremulous fingers she prized the rest of the drawer out as quietly as she could.

Behind her, she heard Zhao snore loudly in his sleep.

Thank goodness that sleeping draft is powerful

She exhaled heavily as she carefully slipped her hand inside the wooden container.

It was mostly empty, save for something papery and rough.

Jade pulled it out eagerly only to frown as she saw a very old, very yellow scroll roll out into her lap.

The small strap that had meant to secure it shut, was hanging loosely and at an odd angle, as if it had been shut in a great hurry.

This is some seriously old parchment…even the old maps don't hold a candle to it. Oh, and speaking of candles…

Quickly as she dared, she held the scroll up to the light of the nearly dying light source.

The scroll was filled with very strange characters, some of them barely decipherable as parts of their brush strokes had faded and smeared and stained with time.

All of them save one passage in the middle in which several black strokes had been painted over the original in her uncle's neat hand.

She couldn't recognize much of symbols, they were too archaic even for her classical kanji which her father had drilled into her from a young age.

Only two of them really stood out to each other, both of them side by side.

"Ocean" she breathed tracing the character to the left, her hand quickly flowing to the one next to it.

"Moon…ocean and moon? What does that even-"

"Burning the midnight oil, my lady?"

She gasped as she wheeled around, only to yelp as something large grabbed her from behind.

"HEL-" but she was cut off by a hand around her mouth and a man's voice whispering in her ear.

"What's this miss Jade? Going through your uncle's things? Ooh…such dishonest behaviour for a niece of an Admiral"

A horribly familiar man's voice from a horribly familiar face that stared out at her from the dim reflection in a polished shield right in front of her face.

Brown eyes, brown hair, a malicious smirk.

"Shh" Kira the Golem of the East, hushed her squirming form gleefully, his hand flying up to press the tip of something sharp and silver against her neck. "Shh…I'm not going to kill you just yet my dear. Oh no-no-no. No, your dear uncle still has something in store for you. Something big and wonderful. You won't want to miss it. But first, why don't I take you back to your rooms for a nice quiet lie down. You'll need your strength for tomorrow I daresay"

Jade whimpered behind his hand, the sound pathetic even to her own ears, as she let her captor drag her away out of the room, her eyes fixed on her father's sleeping form as the candle burnt out and he slipped away into darkness.

MUAHAHAHAHA! and that's where i'll leave you...TILL NEXT YEAR!

LOL, but seriously everyone, thank you for all the support over the past year. It's been a wild ride. One with a lot of bumps along the road. Some horrible and sad. But still we all got there in spite of it all, and now we've got a new year ahead of us filled with new chances and opportunities. So let's make the most of it and end the year with a Bang! because by god we've all earned it.

And so for the last time this year...ahem...Hope you guys enjoyed and keep reviewing if you liked!

...oh and i almost forgot the most important thing.

*Gets up to the top of a building and holds up a giant megaphone* HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

FuzzyBeta over and out 3