Book Two

Chapter Sixteen: Tales of Ba Sing Se

The Tale of Zuko

After what happened with Jet, Zuko had gotten even more paranoid than he already was. He walked towards the back of the shop where his uncle was stacking things on a shelf behind the counter.

"Uncle, we have a problem," He hissed quietly. "One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now, but there's a girl over there at the corner table. She knows we're Fire Nation."

"You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot," Iroh agreed before giving him a sly smile. "Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you."

Zuko started in surprise. "What?"

"Thank you for the tea." It was the girl coming to pay for her tea.

Zuko took the coins from her, his head ducked slightly as he turned to place them on the counter behind him.

"What's your name?" The girl asked sweetly and Zuko tensed.

"My name's Lee," Zuko replied slowly as he looked at her. "My uncle and I just moved here."

"Hi Lee, my name's Jin," Jin replied before blushing. "Thank you and…well, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime."

Zuko just stared in surprise.

Iroh seeing his nephew's hesitancy stepped up beside him. "He'd love to!"

"Great!" Jin exclaimed happily. "I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown."

Iroh thew an arm over Zuko's shoulder and his nephew glared at him. He shrugged him off and went back to serving tea. Iroh sighed slightly as he watched his scarred nephew slam a cup of tea down in front of a surprised costumer. Hopefully this date would make him realize his feelings for a certain waterbender.

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Zuko stepped out of the tea shop his hair slicked back. He walked out into the middle of the street, looking around for Jin.

"Hey," She said behind him." Well, look at you, you look so cute."

She ruffles his hair.

Zuko began trying to fix his hair with a pout. "It took my uncle ten minutes to do my hair."

Jin grabbed his arm and dragged him away towards a restaurant in the town square. They ordered their food and it was delivered quickly.

"So, how do you like the city so far?" Jin asked curiously as she took a sip of her tea.

"It's okay," Zuko replied dully as he stopped poking at the meatballs on his plate.

"What do you like to do for fun?"

"Nothing," Zuko muttered.

He stared at his food for a moment thinking about the last time he had dinner with a pretty girl. Whoa, where did that come from? Since when did he think Xena was pretty?

A waiter approached the table and bent down slightly to address Zuko, "Excuse me, sir. Would you and your girlfriend care for dessert?"

"She's not my girlfriend," Zuko barked loudly, slamming his fist against the tabletop, causing people to look at him in confusion and curiosity.

The waiter left and Zuko sighed before turning back to Jin. He blinked in surprise at the sight of her practically inhaling her noodles.

"You have…quite an appetite for a girl," He commented awkwardly and mentally face palmed.

"Um…thanks?" Jin replied awkwardly. "So, Lee, where were you, and uncle living before you came here?"

"Um…" Zuko faltered slightly. "Well, we've been traveling around for a long time."

"Oh. Why were you traveling so much?" Jin asked, resting her elbows on the table.

"We were…uh, part of a traveling circus," Zuko responded after a brief mental scramble for a lie.

"Really? What did you do? Wait, lemme guess!" She said and then pointed at him after a moment. "You juggled!"

Zuko looked at her as he folded his arms on the table. "Yes, I juggled."

"I've always wanted to learn how to juggle," Jin remarked and she pushed a few objects into Zuko's hands. "Can you show me something?"

He took them and tried to juggle them, but ended up dropping all of them and getting food on his face and hair.

He wiped his face as he gave her an explanation, "I haven't practiced for a while."

"It's alright," Jin said and then stood up. "Hey, I want to show you one of my favorite places in the city."

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"I'm so excited for you to see the Firelight Fountain," Jin stated happily as she led Zuko down a dark street. "The lamps make the water sparkle and reflect in the pool in the most beautiful way."

She led him into an open area with a large fountain. Paper lanterns floated in the water and light posts surrounded the area.

Jin pouted slightly. "Aw, I can't believe it! They aren't lit."

Zuko looked down at her and then glanced around the area to make sure no one else was around. "Close your eyes and don't peek."

He waited until she had covered her eyes with her hands before taking a few steps forward. He closed his own eyes and inhaled deeply; opening his eyes a moment later he quickly began lighting the candles without damaging them. Once all the candles were lit, Zuko straightened and turned to look at Jin.

"Okay, now you can look."

Jin lowered her hands and gasped as she sees what he had done. "Oh, wow! What happened? How did they get lit? What did you do?"

Zuko just smiled and turned back to the fountain. He started slightly when Jin's hand slid into his. Jin leaned forward to kiss him but Zuko quickly held a slip of paper up between their faces.

"I've brought you something," He explained when Jin looked at him in surprise; "It's a coupon for a free cup of tea."

Jin smiled slightly. "Lee, this is so sweet."

Zuko shrugged slightly and took a few steps back. "Don't thank me, it was my uncle's idea. He thinks you're our most valuable customer."

"Your uncle is a good teacher," Jin commented offhandedly as she walked towards him. "I have something for you too. Now it's your turn to close your eyes."

The scarred teen hesitated a moment before closing his eyes. Jin kissed him lightly and Zuko leaned forward when she pulled back slightly. He jerked back immediately as he thought about the kiss that Xena had given him so long ago. He turned and walked away from her.

"What's wrong?" Jin asked in confusion.

"It's complicated," Zuko replied pausing briefly. "I have to go. I'm sorry."

He left her by the fountain as he ran back to the apartment that he shared with his uncle. Iroh was trimming a plant when he came in.

"How was your night, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked nonchalantly.

Zuko didn't respond as he walked into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He leaned his head against the door for a few minutes before sliding it open slightly.

"It was nice," He muttered before closing the door.

He sat on his bed and looked at the bracelet on his wrist. Why couldn't he stop thinking about her?

The Tale of Xena

Xena watched as everyone gets ready for the day. Today is her sixteenth birthday but none of them know. She taps her leg nervously and Toph turns to me.

"Why are you so fidgety today?"

"She's probably thinking about her new boyfriend, " Sokka answers before Xena can say anything, refering to the young nobleman that had joined their group after hearing their story.

She scowls at him in annoyance. "Era isn't my boyfriend."

"Could've fooled me."

She sighed in irritation and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sokka, shut up."

"Xena, is something wrong?" Katara asks, ignoring her brother.

"No it's nothing. I just didn't sleep well."

That parts true enough. Katara doesn't argue with her. A little while later Aang goes to look for Appa, Katara and Sokka went to buy some supplies, and Toph … actually I'm not sure where Toph went. Momo had stayed with her today.

"Happy Birthday to me," She mumbles before leaving to wander the city.

Momo leaves her at one point and Xena heads to the zoo that Aang had made yesterday. Most of the animals are hybrids but a rare few aren't. One draws her attention in particular. Several people are busy interrogating the zookeeper about it but he doesn't know the name for it.

"It's called a horse," She says, causing a few people to look at her.

There is no risk of them recognizing her because she had covered her tattoo up.

"Excuse me," The zookeeper says in surprise.

"It's called a horse," She repeats.

It's actually a fire horse but she doesn't think it's a good idea to tell him that. The horse had been grazing but it stops when it sees her. Fire horses are extremely dangerous and they only let firebenders ride them. This one is black with blue streaks through its tail and mane. Its eyes are the same gold as Zuko's.

"Where did you get her?" She asks, looking towards him.

The man shrugged. "Someone sold it to me, not sure where he got it though."

"They're extremely rare," She says in explanation of why she'd asked.

The horse takes a step towards her.

"Why don't you come by later?" The zookeeper suggest, noticing the interaction.

"No problem."

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Momo finds her at the Firelight Fountain. He drops a moon peach in her lap before perching on her shoulder, tail wrapping around her upper arm. She smile and scratch his ears.

"Thank you."

He chirps in response and leans his head into her hand. She take a bite out of the no doubt stolen peach, smiling as she realizes that this a birthday present in a way. After finishing the peach, she leaves the fountain and goes back to wandering the city with Momo on her shoulder. At one point she runs into Sokka, who hurriedly stuffs something into his shirt. She decides not to ask.

"Where's Katara?"

"Umm, somewhere," He answered nervously.

She frowns slightly and Momo chitters at him.

"Okay," She draws slowly, giving him a confused look.

He points behind him and takes a step back.

"I gotta go," He says before practically running away from her.

Momo and her exchange glances and the lemur chitters. She sighs, shaking her head before going back to wandering. The rest of the day passes quickly and she heads back to the zoo. It's empty except for the animals and the zookeeper, who is standing next to the horse's pen. The horse snorts softly when it sees her. The zookeeper turns to look at her, his eyes widening when he sees Momo.

"I didn't realize you were friends with the Avatar," He says in surprise.

She shrugs in response.

"Most don't. Now what was it that you wanted to talk about."

"Ah yes," He says, turning to look at the horse. "Well, you see I was planning on selling this … horse. She's not like the other animals and charges anyone that gets to close. I figured since you knew its name maybe you would like to have it."

"Even if I did want her, I have nothing to give you and nowhere to put her."

"Since you're a friend of the Avatar and he made this zoo for me I won't charge you for her and I may just know someone who will be willingly to hold onto her for you until you're ready."

"Who?" She asks curiously.

"That's confidential," He says and then turns to her. "So do you want her?"

The horse nudges her shoulder before she can respond. She turns her head and looks into its gold eyes.

"Yeah I do."

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"Not the worst birthday I've had," She tells Momo, walking up the steps to the house.

He chitters at her as she opens the door. She barely steps in before everyone else rushes forward.

"Happy Birthday!"

She stops for a second in surprise and then smile as she notices the decorations around the house.

"Definitely not the worst."

"Stop talking to yourself and join us," Toph said.

"How did you know?" She asks curiously.

"Monk Gyatso told me," Aang said happily.

Sokka smiled and held something out to her. "I was the only one that got you a present."

"But I made the cake," Katara declared.

Xena took the present from Sokka and started to open it but stopped, narrowing her eyes up at him. "If this is something girly I will hurt you."

"Then I have nothing to worry about."

She nods before finally opening it. It's a long knife perfectly balanced for throwing or fighting hand to hand. She grins and smile before looking up at Sokka.

"Best Birthday ever."

The Tale of Mist

Mist had seen Zuko's date and the Guardian's birthday. In her opinion there was way too much happiness going on, especially since she rarely had any for herself. Sighing, she headed towards the tea shop that Zuko worked at. Most of her time was spent watching Zuko or watching the Avatar. She still wasn't sure if she was going to tell Azula about Zuko being in the city. She wasn't afraid of Azula per se, but if she wanted to keep the Princess's trust she might just have to tell her. She crouched on a rooftop across from the tea shop and idly pulled her knife. It had a medium sized leaf shaped blade with a white hilt wrapped in gold wire. The guard was made of black metal shaped like wings with a red fire symbol stamped in the middle. There was a ruby on the hilt. The most noticeable thing about the knife though was the name inscribed on the blade, "Suzume". Mist tightened her grip on the handle thoughtfully. The knife used to be her mother's before she died. It as well as her locket was the only thing that Mist had left of her mother.

Mist was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice him until it was too late. He clapped a hand over her mouth and caught her wrist with his other hand so that she couldn't slash at him with the knife. He pulled her backwards away from the edge of the roof. Mist jerked her elbow back into his abdomen and twisted sharply, spinning away from him and dropping the knife into her opposite hand since he still had a hold of her wrist. She froze when she realized who it was.

"Shin," She whispered in surprise.

The silent archer smirked and released her wrist.

"Hello Zera." He tilted his head to the side, eyes flicking from her face to her hair. "What did you do to your hair?"

"Temporary dye," She answers before sheathing her knife.

Mist looked back at the tea shop, checking to see if anyone had notice the near silent disturbance.

"Longshot," An unfamiliar voice called out behind her. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

Mist turned around. The speaker was a girl that looked more like a boy wearing red leather armor with red stripes on her face.

Mist raised an eyebrow at Shun and tilted her head towards the girl in a silent question. "Who's this?"

Apparently the other girl was wondering the same thing about Mist. "Who are you?"

"Child of Mist," She answered. "And you?"

"Smellerbee," The girl answered warily while Mist noticed that the girl didn't have a problem with her name.

"Maybe we should have this conversation somewhere else," Shun interrupted.

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Mist disliked Smellerbee immediately. The girl acted like she knew Shun better than Mist did. She could've told her things that would've made her hate Shun immediately but she withheld for her old friend's sake. Shun was more than happy to let the girls interrogate each other especially since Mist was lying the whole entire time. It wasn't until Mist touched the hilt of her knife that he interfered.

He tapped the table to get both girls' attention before speaking aloud, "How long are you staying in Ba Sing Se?"

Mist had started slightly when he tapped the table. "A few more weeks before I go back to helping the war."

"I didn't realize gypsies were helping in the war," Smellerbee said in surprise.

"You'd be surprise by how many are?" Mist said, telling the truth for the first time in that conversation.

Shun looked at her for a few seconds in surprise. She was different. He remembered her as a depressed child that was very suicidal; now she was a strong willed thief that could lie effortlessly. It didn't take him long to figure out why. Mist had joined the war; she was helping the Fire Nation. He stood up and looked out the window, ignoring the confused look on the two girls faces faces.

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Mist sighed as she watched the Avatar's house. It was nighttime and the moon was full which is why the Avatar, his Guardian, and his waterbending teacher were playing, using the water from the pond in the garden. Honestly she would have joined them but it probably would have ended badly. Mist hated to admit it but the Guardian was definitely the better warrior. She also knew Mist was there but assumed she was one of the Dai Li agents sent to watch them. The three benders suddenly started a water war. It wasn't surprising that the first one out was the Avatar but it was surprising when the Guardian was beat by the other waterbender. The girl was definitely used to fighting with swords and not bending. Mist left as soon as they went to bed so she could get some sleep herself.

She didn't expect Shun to be there when she woke up. It scared her that he had found her apartment. He was sitting by the window, looking across the street at Zuko and Iroh's apartment. She sat up, pulling the sheet up with her since she was only in her bindings.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk with you, see how you've been doing."

"And you had to sneak into my apartment to do that?" She snaps.

"It's not like I saw anything I shouldn't or haven't seen before," He said nonchalantly.

She blushes and wraps the sheet around herself before heading into the bathroom to get dressed.

"You're a jerk," She calls through the door.

He doesn't respond. Sighing, she shakes her head and steps back into the bedroom. He looks up when she enters.

"Let's take a walk and you can tell me everything."

She nods agreement but stays silent for ten minutes as they walk. Taking a shaky breath she begins, lying or leaving out the parts that would reveal her loyalty to the Fire Nation. She even tells him about her gang but lies about why she left them, all the while feeling guilty. He asks a few questions occasionally but seems more than happy to listen to her. As she talks she gets more confident that he believes her lies. It's not until she's done that she realizes where they ended up, the Firelight Fountain. She steps closer and looks down into the water at her reflection. She can't help wondering when she stopped trusting Shun. He apparently has the same thoughts because he speaks out loud for the fourth time that day.

"When did you stop trusting me?" He asks.

She closes her eyes, sadly. She thinks for a few seconds before reopening them. Sitting on the side of the fountain, she pulls her sleeve up. "Probably around the time I did this."

A long jagged scar runs down her forearm, easy to tell that it had been a very deep wound. Shun gapes in surprise.

"Zera," His voice is pained.

Mist just bows her head.

"I have to go," She says, rising quickly.

Shun steps forward to stop her but she's already running away. He sighs, realizing that he'll probably never see her again because she definitely won't return to her apartment now.

Another chapter done. I hope you enjoyed this. I'll give cyber cookies to anyone that can figure out the hints that I've given in this chapter there's three or four of them.