"Akira! Where are you?" Akira's eyes widened as she pushed Zuko back towards the servants' hallway.
"Go! I can stay out of trouble easy enough but you should probably disappear before anybody catches you." Zuko gave her a grateful smile and made his way down the servants' hall. As he turned the corner he leaned against the wall and waited until he heard Akira's older brother's voice again. Slowly he crept back down to the entrance and listened to the conversation.
"Akira! Seriously! Where are you?" Ryu's voice echoed around the courtyard.
"Ryu! Come look at the cute little turtle-ducks! The littlest one keeps getting really close to me, but then swims back to his mom really fast. It's so cute!" Akira's voice replied, with a little higher pitch than normal.
"Ugh! Akira! Do you have any idea how much trouble I'm in because you decided to sit here and play with the turtle-ducks? Mom was convinced that you had been abducted or something. Now come on! We have to unpack." Ryu lectured with an impatient tone.
"Fine… Bye Zuko!" Akira's innocent voice drifted over to Zuko. He smacked his forehead. What the hell! How can you just blow my secret after telling me to get out of here? Stupid girl. He cursed her in his mind.
"Who's Zuko?" Ryu's suspicious and threatening voice hung in the air, filling Zuko with dread. He tensed up and waited for Ryu to storm over at any moment to beat him into pieces.
"He's the baby turtle-duck, duh!" Akira explained with a convincing voice. Zuko slumped against the wall with a sigh of relief. Okay, Akira's smarter than I thought… He shook his head, breathing out a silent laugh at Akira's cleverness.
"You named it?!" Ryu exclaimed with a voice crack that happened to accidently slip in causing Ryu to self consciously clear his throat. This caused Zuko to double over in a fit of silent laughter. HA! So much for being intimidating.
"Of course I did. Now are we going to go unpack or not?" Akira shot back, with a hint of amusement hidden in her voice. Ryu let out a frustrated sigh and slid open the garden door violently.
"Are you coming?!" He growled in a deep menacing tone.
"Yes Ryu!" Akira quickly responded, realizing that he was done joking around. She ran across the garden and out into the hall. She quickly spun around and slid the door closed with a click and obediently followed her sibling down the hall and to their new home.
After Zuko heard the door close with a soft click he walked down the hall and back up to his room. Once he reached the safety of his room, he slipped out of the sword case and threw it on the huge couch in the corner by the bookshelves. Zuko untied the rope that was still dangling out his window and coiled it around his arm. Snatching up the sword case on his way by, Zuko stepped into the closet and buried both items in the toy chest. He peeled his shirt off and fingered the bottom edge that was torn and missing a little bit. The already fraying fabric felt soft and delicate under his finger tips. With a sigh he hung it up in the back corner, secretly hoping the maids wouldn't find it and replace it. Zuko paused for a moment letting images of Akira's eyes consume his mind; they burned with emotion but from passion, not from hate. Her eyes were perhaps the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Zuko shook his head, attempting to make sense of the feeling that flowed through him when he remembered her face. It wasn't love or something like that. I mean, yeah she's pretty but I'm not in love with her. It's more like… like… Zuko racked his brain to find a suitable word for the emotion that he was feeling. Fascination. That's it! Fascination… Suddenly a knock sounded on his door breaking his trance.
"I thought that I ordered everyone to leave me alone!" He shouted angrily. The knock sounded again a little more persistent this time. Zuko strode over to the door snarling curses under his breath at the sorry person who was on the other side of the door. He threw open the door and found Mai standing there with a surprised look on her face.
"Oh… hey. Sorry. I thought you were one of the maids." Zuko greeted his friend as she walked in.
"Yeah, um… I needed some help with the homework and Azula and Ty Lee didn't have a clue, so they told me to go ask you and um…" Mai trailed off with a red face.
"Okay. What do you need help with?" Zuko asked. "Is it too hot in here or something 'cause your face is really red…"
"What! No… it's just… never mind…" Mai said as she quickly drew her eyes away from his bare chest. Zuko saw her eyes flick back to his well muscled frame for a second and then she returned her gaze to his face. He let a smirk slowly form on his lips.
"What? Never seen a guy without a shirt or somethin'." He teased. A wave of satisfaction washed over him when her face deepened a whole shade darker.
"You know that's not true! Come on Zuko, we go to the beach all time." She shot back only to find that it had little effect on the mocking smirk stuck to Zuko's face.
"Oh. Well, in that case it shouldn't bother you a bit." He finished, as his little smirk turned into a smug grin. He walked over to his desk and grabbed the homework sheet that they had been assigned on Friday. When he returned, Mai's complexion still hadn't returned to normal.
"Hey… you know I was just kidding right? I can go put a shirt on if you really want me too… It's just that it is kind of hot in here." Zuko said with a concerned look on his face.
"No, that's okay. Like you said, it's just really warm out." She said with confidence returning to her voice. "July's always a killer, even at night." Mai gestured to the open window. The Fire nation was always warm, especially in the middle of summer. Other than the almost daily storms that winter brought and the extreme dry heat in the summer there wasn't much of a change of climate from season to season.
"Okay, cool. So, what did you need help with?"
Zuko helped Mai with her homework for a little bit and then they talked for a while longer until a servant came from Mai's house to escort her home. Zuko flopped down on his bed, exhausted, and fell into a deep sleep.
A maid tapped on Zuko's door with delicate knocks at first, but it gradually amounted to a loud rap. The young prince let a moan escape from his lips and buried his head under his pillow, wishing for another hour of sleep.
"Prince Zuko? Prince Zuko… It's time to wake up. Your father wants you ready for breakfast in fifteen minutes!"Her obnoxiously shrill voice seemed to echo through the room rousing Zuko to a somewhat conscious state. "Prince Zuko! Come on now… I was sent to get you out of bed and that's what I intend to do… did you hear me? It's past dawn already! See!" She had drawn back the curtains that surrounded Zuko's bed and a ray of bright light shone right in Zuko's face.
"Oh how I would love to shove a fireball down your ridiculously annoying throat right now." He grumbled as he groggily sat up and looked around the room.
"Now Prince Zuko… that wouldn't be very nice. It also would be a very savage and violent way of solving your problems…" The maid lectured oblivious to the murderous glare the young prince was shooting at her.
"Mph! Because ya' know, I couldn't possibly kill you with a single ball of fire right now…" Zuko muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh! I need you to try this outfit today and see what you think of it. You are growing faster than a baby mouse-finch, and need some new clothes that actually fit you."The maid continued on, ignoring the sleep-deprived boy. Zuko let out a dramatic sigh and grabbed the silky garments from the bothersome maid. He stepped into the bathroom to change and shut the door with a little more force than normal. Running through his morning routine; he brushed his teeth, and combed out his hair and tied it up in his classic ponytail. Zuko pulled the silk shirt over his torso and realized that he never changed pants the night before. Suddenly all of the memories from the last night hit him like a tidal wave. He took a sharp breath and then stared at his reflection for a moment, regaining the control of his mind. Suddenly very excited at the prospect of starting a new day, Zuko quickly finished getting dressed and ran out of the bathroom. He pushed past the surprised maid, knocking the pile of clean sheets she held from her hands. Once he made it to the hall he stopped for a moment and inhaled deeply. He followed the smell of freshly cooked food all the way to the kitchen and stopped outside the door. After taking another moment to regulate his breathing back to normal he casually stepped in the kitchen and looked around. The cook, Kotaro, looked up from the pile of fruit he was chopping up.
"Your family will be eating in the dining hall this morning Prince Zuko."
"Oh, okay. Do you know why? I mean, we always just grab something from the kitchen in the morning." Zuko asked.
"Yes, I know. But your father wishes to have a family conference of some sort and that would probably include you, so I would stop asking questions and just going along with what your father says." Kotaro advised good naturedly.
"Right." Zuko agreed, then shouted over his shoulder as he dashed back down the hall; "Bye Kotaro! See you later!" He rounded the corner and narrowly missed running head-on into the same maid who had woken him this morning. She is just bound and determined to ruin my morning, isn't she? He finally reached the dining room and slipped in hoping to go unnoticed.
"Well, well, well. Look who finally woke up! I'm glad to see that you got some extra beauty sleep Zuzu." Azula taunted as all the servants turned to stare at him. Ozai's stare was especially hard and unforgiving. Zuko's cheeks burned a tinge of pink and lowered his eyes as he slipped into a seat across the table from Azula.
"Zuko, why are you late? You kept us waiting." Firelord Ozai asked in a disapproving tone.
"I'm sorry father, but I didn't know that we were eating here instead of the kitchen. It won't happen again." Zuko apologized respectfully.
"It better not. Well, now that you're finally here I would like to discuss General Keigo's family."
"I told you! I don't want anything to do with them!" Azula shouted angrily.
"Azula, General Keigo's family are not peasants you know. They grew up in a very rich community and are here as our guests. I want you to welcome them into your life with open arms; with no complaints. Understand?" Ozai stated in a serious tone.
"Yes father." Azula responded in a deadly voice. She raised her chin defiantly and glared at her father; surrendering to his decision, but not without a fight.
"So… when are they coming?" Zuko interrupted the silence.
"Actually they have already arrived. They checked in last night and in a few minutes they will be coming to eat breakfast with us." Ozai answered, glad that one of his children was interested in the family.
"Sir, General Keigo and his family have arrived." A servant reported to the Firelord.
"Good. Send them in please." Ozai ordered. A minute later the doors opened and the man that Zuko saw last night limped into the room. His wife was close by his side, keeping a steady hand on his arm.
"Keigo!" Firelord Ozai exclaimed with an almost playful tone that echoed in Zuko's head. Wow. They must be really good friends. I haven't heard Dad this happy since… well in a long time. "It's been a long time…" The Firelord walked up to his old friend and pulled him into a hug.
"It has… too long. It's good to see you." Keigo said in a deep, warm voice. Ozai, this is my family, my beautiful wife, Mayumi." The women smiled and dipped her head respectfully to the Firelord. "My son Ryu." Ryu's dark eyes sparkled with excitement as he bowed to the Firelord and gave a smile, showing off a perfect row of white teeth. And my daughter, Akira. Keigo said as he pulled his daughter to his side and gave her a comforting squeeze with his right arm. "It's an honor to meet you Firelord Ozai." She said in a sweet, polite voice as she bowed. Ozai dipped his head in return.
"I am looking forward to getting to know you all during breakfast." He walked over and stood with his hands on the back of Zuko's chair. "This is my son Zuko." Zuko smiled and nodded to the family but kept his eyes fixed on Akira. Ozai walked around the end of the table and his hands rested on Azula's shoulders. "And my daughter, Azula. Now, please. Take a seat." Ozai said as he sat at the head of the table in a chair that was specially designed for the Firelord. The family walked over to the table and General Keigo took a seat by Ozai and Mayumi sat on the other side of him, across from her husband. She gave Azula, who was sitting beside her, a friendly nod and Azula returned it with an innocent and sweet smile. Akira quickly slid in by Zuko, who was next to Keigo and across from Azula, and left Ryu to sit at the other head of the table, opposite from the Firelord. At first he looked unsure, as if he wasn't supposed to sit in such a powerful position, but when Ozai nodded for him to take a seat he grinned again and quickly sat down. Azula gave him a smile and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and propped her chin up on her hands.
"So, what's your name again?" She asked in a flirty voice.
"Uh, Ryu." Responded, surprised at the sudden interest that the princess had taken in him. Suddenly realizing that she was flirting with him, he leaned back in his chair and flipped the hair out of his eyes. "And your name?" He asked in a deep voice that Zuko swore was almost a full octave lower. Azula giggled and showed off her own row of pearly whites.
"Azula. So, what was life back in the colonies?" She asked with a pair of cute panda-puppy eyes that made Zuko want to barf. Ryu however loved them and gave her a smile as he explained the basics of life in the colonies. Zuko felt something touch his foot and he looked over to Akira. She sat in the same position as Azula and asked in almost the exact same flirty tone,
"So, what's your name again?" He almost laughed out loud, but controlled himself and leaned back in his chair. Pretending to flip his hair and lowering his voice into a macho manly voice, he replied,
"Zuko, and your name?" Akira giggled and answered,
"Akira. So, what's life like in the palace?" At this point Zuko couldn't keep his straight face any longer and burst out laughing. As he lowered the volume of his laughter so that he didn't attract too much attention, he looked over at Akira who had started laughing as well. After a minute or two they pulled themselves together and looked around to see if anyone had noticed. All of the servants were busy getting breakfast ready and the adults at the other end of the table were listening to Keigo telling a dramatic war story. Zuko glanced over at his sister who had, for once, not noticed the teasing and was giving all her attention to Ryu who was telling some stupid story about how he and his friends had played a prank on some teacher. Zuko looked back at Akira and caught her staring at him.
"What?"
"What?! Oh nothing… Sorry. I just kinda spaced out there for a second." She explained. Zuko couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that she wasn't looking at him, but dismissed the feeling immediately.
"How's your cut, did it split open again?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"Nah, once I got home I told my mom that I must have sliced it on something in the carriage and she cleaned it up. It's all good." She replied as she pulled the neckline of her silk shirt down a little, exposing the small piece of cloth held to her shoulder by a thin strip of a silk bandage that was wrapped around her shoulder. Zuko gave her a quick smile of relief that she was okay and whispered,
"I'm really sorry, Next time I'll be more careful."
Next time? Akira asked with a playful expression. "What makes you think that you'll be pinning me against a wall again anytime soon?"
"Hey, you never know…" Zuko said as his smile turned into a sly grin then he whispered, "Okay, we've never met before…" She nodded in agreement and asked,
"So, what is your favorite kind of food?"
Zuko and Akira continued their small talk through the rest of breakfast, Azula and Ryu hadn't stopped flirting since they first laid their eyes on each other, and the adults at the other end of the table paid little attention to their children. As everybody finished eating, Ozai stood up and dismissed most of the servants with a wave of his hand. He looked to the other end of the table and noticed that the kids were becoming fast friends.
"Azula and Zuko, why don't you take your new friends to school with you today and show them around their future school."
"Oh! That sounds like a brilliant idea Ozai!" Mayumi exclaimed with delight. Zuko raised his eyebrows in surprise. Dad never lets just anybody refer to him without Firelord in front of his name…
"Yeah! Good idea Dad!" Azula added; her voice haloed with pure innocence. Ha. You just want to show off your new boy toy to all your friends. Well, your followers…
"What do you think Zuko?" Ozai asked his son.
"What! Oh… yeah. Sounds good." Zuko mumbled, shocked his father would even stop to consider his opinion. That's weird… usually he just tells me what to do; whether I like it or not.
"Alright… well then, why don't you head out now? You know how Professor Chan hates it when you are late." Ozai said as he glared at his son for giving such an unenthusiastic reaction to his genius plan.
"Yeah, he hates it alright… if you're not in your seat when the bell rings you get to be really good friends with one of his belts." Zuko muttered to Akira as they headed to the door.
"Really? He actually hurts you?" Akira asked as her eyes widened in fright.
"Nah, it only stings for a day or two. You have nothin' to worry about though. He only does it to the guys… the girl's just get a scolding and some insult. You'll see. It's Monday, someone's bound to sleep late." Zuko reassured her. They turned down the hall and suddenly Zuko stopped in his tracks causing Ryu to run into him.
"What the…?! Hey, watch where you're going kid!" Ryu yelled in surprise.
"Ha! Kid?" Zuko snorted. "So a guy two years younger than you is some kid, but a girl four years younger than you is considered good flirting material? Way to think that through cow-hog brain." The older boy cringed for a second at the insult but soon Zuko's words sunk in and Ryu whirled and faced Azula with a shocked face.
"Wait! You're only ten?! You told me that you were thirteen!" He exclaimed with disbelief.
"And my work here is done." Zuko said as he walked away, back down the hall, brushing imaginary dirt off his hands.
"Wait up!" Akira shouted as she ran to catch up with Zuko. "Where are you going?"
"I just realized that I left my school stuff in my room, kind of a necessity in Professor Chang's class. He hates ill prepared students even more than late ones." Zuko explained as he quickened his pace. Once they reached Zuko's room he ducked in and grabbed the pile of scrolls sitting on his desk. He turned back and the two started back down the hall. A loud gong sounded three times in the distance.
"Okay, now we run. That's the warning bell." Zuko said as he started to jog, waiting for Akira to catch up. Once she did, he moved into a sprint and they raced down the hall, out the door, and through the palace gates. Zuko could hear Akira's breathing start to get heavier and she started to slow down.
"Come on! We're almost there!" He told her between breaths. They finally reached the school and Zuko managed to burst through the doors and slip into a seat by the door just as the gong sounded. Akira stood by his desk, winded from their sprint, and looked up at the man standing at the front of the room. She decided that he must be Professor Chan. The older man had white hair and big bushy sideburns. His skin was dark and leathery, as if he had been through a lot in his younger years. His chocolate colored eyes where cold and unfriendly, but had a hint of softness; hidden deep beneath the angry outer layer. His arms were crossed across his chest and as he spoke his voice boomed throught the room, silencing any whispers between students.
"So, Prince Zuko. Slipping into class just in the nick of time, as usual, but… I see you brought a friend this time."
"Yes, sir. This is Akira." Zuko responded, not intimidated whatsoever by Professor Chan's icy glare.
"I see. Well Akira. Maybe you would like to introduce yourself and your brother to the class." Professor Chan suggested.
"Okay, Well… I'm Akira and that is my brother, Ryu." Akira said as she pointed to her brother in the back of the room, sitting with Azula and two other girls. "Our father is General Keigo and he was injured in an attack on a rebelling earth colony. Firelord Ozai and my father know each other very well; so, Firelord Ozai graciously let our family move to the capital while my father recovered. We will be attending school here during our stay and… well that's about it."
"Good. Now if anyone has questions for Akira, please ask them now or at recess." Professor Chan told the students.
"I have a question." a boy said from the middle of the room as he raised his hand. He displayed a cocky grin and Professor Chan rolled his eyes and sighed when he called on him.
"Yes, Tomoya?" Akira looked at Tomoya and decided that he was defiantly one of the cuter boys. His hair was worn like her brother's, the top layer was pulled into a small top-knot and the rest hung loose. It came to his eyebrows and just past his ears. The only difference was; Tomoya had light brown hair instead of dark brown. His eyes were a dark gold, like most of his other classmates, and he had a cute, lopsided grin that was a nice touch to his already good looks. Akira returned his grin and waited for him to ask his question. After a couple seconds of studying each other he finally spoke.
"So… are you single? Or do I have to convince you to dump your boyfriend?" His cocky grin got a little wider as some classmates started to laugh. Akira was taken by surprise but recovered quickly.
"Well. I'm single. But I sure hope you're asking for one of your friends and not yourself… because you got no chance." Akira countered with deadly accuracy. Tomoya's grin disintegrated and his eyes narrowed. A round of "Ohhh"s went around the room and the class turned to Tomoya to see what his reaction would be. He slowly let a grin slip back over his lips and took a breath to speak, when Professor Chan interrupted.
"Alright children! That's enough. If you want to flirt do it on your own time." A few snickers erupted throughout the room, but were silenced with a glare. "Now, Miss Akira. Please take the empty seat over by the window." He continued. Akira and Zuko exchanged a look as she walked to the opposite side of the room and sat down. "The rest of you please take out this weekend's homework." A few groans were released from the kids who forgot to do it, but Zuko barley heard them. The class dragged on for another two hours of Professor Chan lecturing about Firelord Sozin's life, a collection of stories that Zuko knew by heart. Why do I have to sit through this? Sozin was my great grandfather for Agni's sake! I think I know enough about him already... yes, he was the genius who figured out that the comet could be used to wipe all of the worthless airbenders off the face of the earth with one blow. Yes, the comet is now named after him, yes, he was my great grandfather. No duh! Pretty sure I knew that already…
Zuko added his own personal commentary to Professor Chan's final review to keep himself entertained; as the teacher recapped the past two hours. The recess bell finally rang and all of the students from the various classrooms poured out into the main courtyard.
"So, I see your little girlfriend has already dumped you for someone else." Azula snickered as she passed Zuko's desk. He looked over at Akira and Tomoya, who had apparently gotten over their little "argument" and were now talking and laughing like they had known each other for years.
"She's not my girlfriend. I just met her this morning." Zuko shot back at his little sister as he stood up. Small flames erupted from his fists and came dangerously close to the desk.
"Ooh. Temper, temper. You better watch yourself, if you burn the school down, Dad will be even more ashamed of you." Azula taunted. Zuko grabbed her and whispered close to her face,
"If you EVER, say that again… I will tell EVERYONE that you still sleep with your toy dragon." A shocked look passed over Azula's face, but was quickly replaced with a malicious grin.
"OW! Stop hurting me! I told you, I don't have any extra money for lunch. Zuko! Dad already gave you money! Stop!" Zuko immediately let go of her and looked around. Professor Chan walked over, grabbed Zuko's arm and spun him around.
"Prince Zuko! What is the meaning of this? You know I don't approve of boys picking on girls by using their superior strength as an advantage." He scolded. "Now I want you to apologize to your sister immediately!"
"Sorry Azula." Zuko muttered.
"Good, now I don't want to hear any more hog-monkey business from you or I will be forced to get my belt. Understand?" Professor Chan stated in a matter-of-fact, yet, very intimidating voice.
"Yes sir." Zuko said quickly. Professor Chan nodded then walked back to his desk. Azula gave her brother a smug look and started towards Mai and Ty Lee. Mai caught Zuko's eye and gave him a little smile before she, Azula and Ty Lee went out to recess. Zuko acknowledged her with a nod, then turned and looked back over to Akira. He saw that she and Tomoya were only about a foot away from each other now. He scowled and turned to the door.
Akira looked up to see Zuko disappear around the corner.
"I'll catch you later Tomo." She yelled over her shoulder as she raced across the room after Zuko. "Hey Zuko! Wait up!"Akira shouted at her friend as he walked on to the porch without her. He turned and glared at her but kept walking. "What's your problem?" She asked him once she finally caught up with him.
"Nothing. I just want to be alone." He said, but kept walking with his eyes focused on the tree in the corner of the courtyard.
"Aw, come on Zuko. There has to be something bugging you." Akira pleaded as she followed him across the clearing. "Was it whatever Azula said?" She asked with genuine concern in her eyes. Zuko sat down and leaned against the tree with a sigh. Akira crouched next to him and waited for his response. He looked up and met her gaze with sad eyes.
"Look. It involves a long story that I'll probably share with you some other time, but right now… well it's just not a good time." He tried to say it without any feeling, but cracks of emotion kept breaking through. He looked at his hands with eyes that were glazed over with depressing thoughts; Azula's words shook him to the core. "Dad will be even more ashamed of you."
Everything was different a year ago. Mom was still alive, Azula was semi-nice to me, and Dad wasn't so disappointed in me. Now, Akira's found a better friend and I really don't make a difference to anyone. Maybe Azula's right; maybe I am "just a small bump in everyone's lives".
Akira sat close to him and touched her hand to his. She traced his fingers with her own and then rested her head on his shoulder. He watched her finger trace his hand, floating over his fingers, following all the bumps and curves of the bones and tendons beneath his skin. "You don't have to tell me anything." Akira whispered in a gentle voice.
"Why do you care so much? We only met yesterday you know." Zuko replied softly as he let his head rest on hers.
"Because, it feels like I've known you forever and, well… to be honest, you're the first person I've met that I feel like I can open up to, and just be myself." She explained. She could feel Zuko relax a little and sigh. They sat in silence for a minute more, each lost in their own thoughts, until shouting broke over the normal drone of recess. Zuko stood up and looked around. A circle of kids had formed in the center of the clearing and that only meant one thing; a fight.
