The Highest Bidder
Chapter Thirty: I'll Be Here When You Get Back
I brought Zuko back to the ship by forming a large black disc from the slickness of the meteorite bear balls, and carrying him on it like a gurney. Before I left the abbey, I asked the sisters to look after June until the toxins wore off; they at first declined, but I changed their minds when I mended their broken village with the help of my invisible construction workers. The shingles were put back to their original places; and the big spill retracted from the cobblestone courtyard and separated itself equally into the open bottles of perfume. After I did my one good deed for the day, they bided me a charming farewell, and I was on my way.
Carrying Zuko on a metal disc was extremely mind-degrading; by the time we arrived at the ship, I thought my head was going to fall off my shoulders.
I suppose it's as painful as staring at the sky for so long and then you suddenly look down; that familiar crick in your neck makes bending down to observe something a bit impossible. Well, that's sort of how I felt when I got to the ship, except imagine carrying a body on your shoulders while you gaze up at the cloudless sky.
By the time I arrived on the ship, the Shirshu's toxins had worn off, and Zuko and Iroh walked up the plank with little effort on their part. I reached the foredeck and sat down with nothing more than a few words to say, exhausted.
"Well," I said tiredly, lying down, "that was a waste of time."
"We'd have gotten the Avatar if that beast hadn't nicked me," said Zuko. He turned to Iroh, who looked like he was reminiscing. "I'm going to bed."
"You're not going to come to music night?" asked Iroh.
Zuko sighed in exasperation,
"Every night is music night."
I looked at Iroh from my comfortable spot on the deck and gestured understandably,
"He is right, General. I mean, every other night has been music night. I'm sure that Zuko will come to the next one."
Iroh smiled at me as I lowered my head to enjoy the hard metal under my back. Zuko seemed to accept my statement as a "go ahead" to going back to his chambers to sleep off the day that had lasted him. It had been another one of those "nearly had the avatar" days, and at the end of them, there was always an air on the ship that seemed…deflated.
I empathized with him. I mean, I had my butt thumped by a Water Tribe girl; and all she had to do was smack me in the face with a water whip. It's actually pretty easy to take me down if you know how to distract me. Aside from the ALL POWERS OF THE MIND AND ABILITIES TO CONTROL PEOPLE, I actually do have quite a few weaknesses…such as being the victim of a simple splash like the water whip. Trivia time: for those who didn't know, Katara was actually trying to practice the Water Whip when she was on shore (also when she was being captured by pirates and, shortly after, Zuko). As you now know, she perfected it…on me.
Even if I wanted to ask Zuko to stay aboard for music night, he was in such a foul mood that any attempt to persuade him would have left us squabbling like usual. Knowing my limits, I let the broody prince retreat to his quarters where there was a good chance that he was sitting in the dark.
Lt. Jee and his crewmates settled around a few lit candles; Iroh poured each shipmate a cup of Jasmine tea, and he handed me a bottle of something that I didn't recognize. I sniffed it, and it was a cross between something tasty and something quite foul. I wrinkled my nose and looked into it questionably.
"Just take a sip or two," said Iroh, gesturing for me to sit down beside him. "It's actually a favorite in a Fire Nation brewery."
I took his word for it and took a brave gulp.
"Holy Oasis," I muttered cheerfully, "this stuff is delicious."
I drained a few more gulps in; Iroh laughed and gently pulled the bottle out of my hand.
"You don't want to drink too much at one time," he said, smiling. "However, it relaxes the muscles and gives one a feeling of being completely relaxed. You're really not supposed to take any of it until you're about my age," he chuckled, "but considering the circumstances, I think it's necessary."
He held up the bottle.
"It's a subtle wine, fire whiskey."
"Well," I snorted, "I would never have guessed that it was made in the Fire Nation."
He caught my sarcasm and chuckled.
"It is music night," he said. "Any suggestions?"
"I still think 'Four Seasons' is my favorite," I sighed, lying on the deck. "I'm getting a bit fuzzy-brained. That's not bad, is it?"
He looked down at me.
"My, perhaps you took more than what I thought you did. Seems that you're a bit tipsy."
"Ah, I'm sure I'll be peachy-keen," I said dismissively. "You should sing tonight. You have a nice voice."
"Why don't you sing with me?" suggested Iroh.
I shrugged my shoulders and sat up slowly. I rose to my feet and staggered in my step.
"Lt. Jee," I said, "why don't you start off?"
Lt. Jee nibbled his fingers on a beautiful, brass string instrument. He played a simple staccato tune. A second man, the helmsman, accompanied him with drums. General Iroh nodded his head to the sweet tune of the beginning of my favorite song. He indicated me to sing first, so I obligated.
"Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Four seasons,
Four loves.
Four seasons,
Four loves."
Two other shipmates paired off and took the other as his dancing partner. Iroh sang the chorus again as the shipmates danced to the slow beat,
"Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Four seasons,
Four loves.
Four seasons,
Four loves."
Iroh took my hand in a silent suggestion to dance; I accepted wordlessly. He smiled as a father would to his daughter during a small friendly waltz. The song slowly swayed to the second verse, which I had to sing in a low vibrato (and apparently, this was the thing that I was known for on the ship, according to Iroh at a later date),
"When leaves shall fall, I'll follow,
Where the blossoms grow are some.
And we shall go with the seasons,
Come whatever may come."
A beat.
"Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Four seasons, for four days of endless love,
Four seasons,
Four loves."
Iroh stopped dancing, and the music was cut almost abruptly. I turned to see that a visitor had arrived on our ship without invitation; however, it wasn't unlike what I did to him. In front of us with a small smile playing annoyingly on his lips, Admiral Zhao approached all of us with his hands held behind his back.
"Well," he drawled, approaching me personally, "what my soldiers tell is true after all. You do sing lovely."
"What do you want?" I said; I honestly didn't even try to hide my contempt.
General Iroh put a hand on my shoulder disapprovingly and said with a patient tone,
"Now, Mura, don't be rude to our guest. Admiral Zhao, it's quite an…unexpected…surprise to see you here. What is the occasion?"
"Actually, it's quite an occasion that I would like for you, General Iroh, and Commander Mura to be part of; it's happening soon." Zhao said. He smiled widely as his eyes met mine. "I wouldn't want you to miss any of it."
"Why, then," I asked distastefully, "do I get the feeling that I would like to miss it?"
"It's that mind of yours that I admire, Commander," he said, pointing at my head. "Actually, I need to run this by Prince Zuko. I'm recruiting every crew available to run a siege to the North Pole."
How I felt about this news was evident, for Zhao looked at me with a devious smirk.
"I see, Mura, that you feel just as spiritually connected to the other nations as General Iroh. There's no doubt in my mind that would lead me to believe that you think every nation has its place in the world."
"It's true," I said grudgingly. "To wipe out a whole civilization—it's completely barbaric."
"It's been done before, and nothing has happened to us," said Zhao flatly. "It's what the world needs, and it's what the Fire Lord has ordered for me to do. Unlike you, dear Mura, I won't disobey him."
I felt my face burn resentfully.
"Wiping out the Air Nomads did nothing for the rest of the world," I retorted irritably. "You think killing every Water Tribe sister and brother is going to help the Fire Nation? Is that how the Fire Lord will make everyone bow to him? If he thinks those people are going to let him rule the world so willingly, Fire Lord Ozai is a fool."
"Hm," Zhao sighed, frowning, "you sound just like Zuko."
"Because it's true, and you know it," I remarked hotly.
Iroh pulled me away from Zhao with his hands in front me.
"Mura, please, control your temper."
"Prince Zuko," said Zhao impatiently. "Where is he?"
"Where do you think?" I snapped.
He ignored my pretense, turned on his heel, and strode down into the quarter deck. Iroh led me down calmly. Iroh peeked into Zuko's room cautiously. I heard Zuko's voice say,
"For the last time, I'm not playing the Tsungi horn!"
Iroh stepped into the chamber; I followed him inside. Zuko looked at me with some interest; it seemed that I was very bad at hiding disappointment.
"It's about our plans," specified Iroh calmly. "There's a bit of a problem."
Zhao entered the room behind us. He spared no introduction,
"I'm taking your crew."
Zuko was on his feet in a flash of a second.
"What?"
Zhao explained further,
"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole."
"Uncle, is that true?" said Zuko, turning to face Iroh.
Iroh nodded.
"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone. Even the cook!"
Zuko glanced at me, confused.
"Of course," said Zhao when he noticed Zuko's gaze, "your loyal dog refuses to come with me."
I frowned.
Seriously, if ever you were going to convince somebody to come with you on a cruise, who would ever call said somebody a dog? I mean, really, would you go with him after that? At any rate, Zuko seemed a bit relieved to know that I hadn't succumbed to Zhao's…charming…serenade; however, this was only a small happy measure in a yard of bad news.
Zhao continued as if he had never insulted me,
"Sorry that you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again."
Zuko charged at him in anger; but Iroh prevented him from tackling Zhao.
"You know," I said, unable to restrain myself, "the last time you caught the Avatar, an entire fortress allowed him to escape."
Zhao glanced over his shoulder to leer in my direction.
"An entire fortress let the Avatar escape, along with a masked man," I continued irritably, "and you underestimated him. What makes you think that an entire armada can keep him locked up like a bag of gold?"
Zuko never minded my remark. His eyes fell upon the curved broadswords that were mantled on the wall—the same used by the Blue Spirit when he freed the Avatar on the day that I mentioned. Zhao took one off the wall. I glanced at Zuko furtively, whose eyes dilated and his mouth fell open, clearly understanding the danger he was in. Zuko recovered his momentary shock to a look of apathy. Zhao practiced with the sword that he removed from the wall.
"I," began Zhao, "didn't know that you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko."
"I'm not," lied Zuko. "They're antiques: just decorative."
Zhao nodded, though I could tell that he didn't believe him.
"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?"
"Just rumors," answered Iroh. "I don't think that he is real."
"Oh," chuckled Zhao dangerously, "he's real. He's a criminal, an enemy of the Fire Nation. But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with him soon."
Zhao turned to General Iroh and handed him the broadsword.
"General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands, if you should change your mind."
And just when I thought this little rendezvous was over, Zhao halted in mid-step and turned to me a wide smile.
"The same goes for you, Commander." His hand grabbed one of mine and he kissed my knuckles with such delicacy that I didn't think him capable. He looked up from my hand to smirk at Zuko.
"Thank you, Admiral," I said, pulling my hand away, "but I don't like the reason why you're preparing a siege on the north. Why would I join you?"
"Is it so bad to consider joining my crew, Mura?" he asked curiously.
"I'd rather be Zuko's dog than your soldier."
"Mura…" Iroh chastised openly; however, the damage was done. Zhao simply walked out of the room without another word. As the door closed, Iroh turned to me.
"Mura, you really shouldn't be so rude to officials who have the ability to arrest you," he reprimanded. "I think it is very inappropriate to how he treats you, but the Fire Nation has certain customs—"
"I'm not going to let some hot-tempered guy call me a dog just so that he can turn around and recruit me for a genocide mission," I said coldly.
Zuko had no words for my actions. He was upset about the disbandment of his ship. For all I knew, he was glad that I said what I said, even if it would bite me in the butt later in life.
With no crew to supervise, Iroh suggested that we go for a walk. Feeling quite in need of a shift in scenery, I accepted his offer. We weren't about to leave Zuko alone in a heap of moodiness, so we both gave our efforts to persuade him to get out of his room. Iroh leaned in.
"The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels."
"Good riddance to those traitors," Zuko snapped.
"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head." Iroh's smile faded as Zuko stayed quiet. "Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark…Whatever makes you happy."
Iroh turned to me, shaking his head sadly. He walked out of the room. I stood beside Zuko, who looked up at me with a softened expression.
"They wouldn't have had a chance to refuse even if they wanted to stay," I said gently.
"You stayed." Zuko muttered.
"I stayed because Zhao let me stay. He can always turn me in for prize money," I retorted with a smile. "You could too, if you wanted."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to know that I am here. We're all you've got now," I said simply. "And your uncle and I are both determined to help you however we can to get you the Avatar. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes," said Zuko, though his voice was hard.
"You know that we care, right?"
"Yes." Zuko said seriously.
"Well," I muttered, "as…long as you know. Anyway, I shouldn't be gone long. Don't stay too mad, hm?" I leaned forward to kiss him; he turned away.
"Just go on your walk. I'll be here when you get back," Zuko said coldly.
"Well," I shrugged dejectedly, "all right. You really should get some sleep. We have quite a way to go if you want to get to the North Pole before Zhao. We will get there before Zhao."
Zuko glanced at me momentarily. His face softened.
Knowing that he actually heard me this time, I smiled at him then I turned to leave his cabin. Iroh and I left the ship at the same time, walking down road casually. Iroh hummed "Four Seasons".
Then, when we were about a mile away, a thunderous explosion erupted behind us.
"ZUKO!"
I'm not sure who screamed loudest, Iroh or me, but when we turned to see where it came from, the huge explosion was the ship bursting into a bonfire. Iroh and I hurled our feet as fast as we could make them.
"Zuko!" I cried out into the flames, "ZUKO! NO!"
The plank from the boat to the shore had been destroyed. I tried to climb into the water to get closer, to see if I could sense any human life form, but Iroh's hands grabbed my arms to stop me.
"Zuko! He's in there! I have to get him!" I heard myself scream, and my tears fell faster than rain. "I have to save him!"
Iroh's hands were thrown away from me, and the familiar torrent of power coursed through me like a heavy adrenaline rush.
"AAAAAH!"
My shrieks were louder than what my mind was saying. It was the most powerful that I had ever felt, and the most destructive anger that I had ever experienced. I rose from the ground that day, levitating in fury…and grief. The broken boat that had been blasted into splinters of wood and metal rose from the ocean, and the fire expelled feverishly. The trees blew from the wind that blasted from me.
And then I blacked out.
The next thing that I remembered, I was in a dark room, and General Iroh was beside me, holding my hand in his. He wasn't crying, though he looked sad. I wondered what made him look so somber, and then I remembered why I was in a room that I didn't remember.
"Mura…Mura, please, don't speak," Iroh said softly.
I felt my stomach churn unpleasantly, as if someone had gutted me a knife, and all I could do was gasp for air and hope for the best. I turned away from Iroh to hide my pain, but it was obvious in appearance; and my turmoil was evident as my silent tears became wails of grief. Iroh didn't try to stop me. He simply rose from his seat by my bed in the infirmary, and closed the door.
I heard it click.
I'll be here when you get back.