Not much to say other than enjoy and heads up for a surprise
"Okay; let's take a look." Sakura said starring a small boy; she felt his forehead "High fever; heavy cough suggesting inflammation-has he shown these kind of symptoms before?"
"Yes he has." The women replied
"Having trouble breathing from time to time?" Sakura asked
"Yes but never this severe before."
Nodding Sakura went to her clip board and started jotting something down "I believe this is asthma; it's a chronic disease where airways are inflamed making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs."
"Is there a cure?"
Sakura shook her head "No but it is something that can be managed just fine; lots of people have asthma and live with it their whole lives with little hassle."
Moving to the medicine cabinet Sakura brought back a back of herbs "Here" she handed it to the boy "Just inhale these every time you feel your chest tighten; it'll help."
"Thank you" the mother said
"I'd recommend making sure he doesn't over excite himself too much; that can result in what's called an asthma attack. You should also make sure that he never goes outside when his hair is wet too."
The mother nodded as Sakura petted the boys head and smiled.
After that she was off to tend to more patient's "Yuki; I could really use some help here."
"Of course," Yuki said rushing over to assist Sakura. The girl had some basic medical training-none as advanced as Sakura and the pinkette had also noted that this world was not as advanced as her own.
Sakura went over to a man who had a sprained ankle; nothing too serious and nothing she couldn't fix with a little medical jutsu. She attentively touched his ankle with a steady glowing chakra hand.
Not long after she removed her hand
"T-Thank you"
Giving a kind smile in return Sakura nodded "It's my job."
After running around all day dealing with patient after patient; from doing checkups for children; examinations for pregnant women; curing injuries it was quite exhausting and to top it off...
'I still have my clone running around here somewhere.'
Sakura had sent her clone-in disguise of course for the past few days to go and investigate and search for Aapa; so far nothing. Every time the clone vanished; the information that that clone had gathered or anything she had experienced Sakura will know. However she hasn't found anything out-even though this was a poor part of the city there wasn't a lot of big criminal activity going around; a few muggings here and there but nothing too serious. She was starting to doubt there even was a black market. With the Dai Li running the city that was a possibility to consider.
"You were amazing today Sakura" said Yuki as the pinkette splashed some water over her face.
"The days not over yet; we're completely out of medicine. I'll have to make some more." Sakura said cracking her stiff shoulders.
After the medical centre closed; Sakura had begun tending to the herb garden in the back room; there wasn't much there right now but she had given Hina a list of recommended herbs to get. She's only been working here a week and she was this busy already.
"Oh yes." Yuki said "Those herbs you wanted mom already ordered; I'll be getting them tonight so you can worry about making more medicine tomorrow night."
Sakura stopped in thought for a minute "I could go get them now."
"But it's quite a distance and there are too many boxes for me to carry without a-
"I'll get them." Sakura said placing her hands on Yuki's shoulders to stop the girl from going hysterical; she reminded Sakura of Hinata.
"But it's really late-
"Hey I'll be fine; we can't go a day without medicine in the medical centre." Sakura insisted.
Hina appeared from behind the curtain that acted as the only barrier between this room and the front.
"You are right Sakura dear but it is dangerous out on these streets at night."
Sakura grinned "Oh I think I can handle it. Besides it's not that late."
Hina looked a bit worried but held out a key to her "Very well; here are the keys to the clinic. When you're finished making the medicine; don't forget to lock up."
Sakura nodded "Of course."
Later on; Sakura had gone to the store that sold all of these herbs and special plants for different purposes. Somewhere medical herbs; others were spices and tea. The entire store smelt strongly of overwhelming spices and herbs. Yuki was not joking when she said there were a lot of boxes...five to be exact. But it wasn't anything she couldn't carry.
Sakura walked down the street a block away from the herbs store. The five boxes weren't really the problem so much as her line of sight that was blocked.
'I hope Katara doesn't yell at me for being late from work again.' Sakura thought
She had been working overtime a few times since she started; there were just so many sick people in this district. It was honestly sad.
Sakura sighed-she just felt her shadow clone vanish and as the same night before. No information. She might have to think up a new tactic.
'It hasn't even been that long and this city is already driving me nuts.' Sakura thought with a heavy sigh.
CRASH
Sakura stumbled back; her mind was so far off in thought that she hadn't even realised someone was taking the same turn she was around the corner and they ended up bumping into each other. Sakura heard the boxes falling around her and sighed.
"Hey why don't you watch where you're going?" she heard a husky voice
"I could say the same thing to you jerk," Sakura shot back rubbing her head "Couldn't you see me carrying the damn boxes?"
"Couldn't you see me carrying the boxes?" the guy asked at the same time
They stopped and each opened their eyes to look at the stranger they had bumped into.
Emerald met gold.
It had been a few weeks since he had come to the city; his frustrations were building the more time he spent within the walls of the city he thought as nothing more than a prison. To have become a refugee from the war that his own people had started; to have lost so much and still keep losing more? What kind of cruel joke was fate trying to play on him? Was there a silver lining to any of this? He thought not.
That was the belief of the banished prince of the fire nation; destined to chase the avatar until the end of time.
That was Zuko.
He and his uncle Iroh had arrived in Ba Sing Se not too long ago; after being named traitors to the Fire Nation. His own sister marking him as such.
Now here he was on the ground with a bunch of herb boxes scattered around him because his uncle had to get them jobs in a tea shop for which he had to go out at night and get more supplies for the store.
Sometimes he really hated his life-actually that was all the time.
And now he was starring at some girl with oddly coloured pink hair.
Sakura looked at the boy she had bumped into; he appeared more or less around her age maybe older. He had jet black hair; pale skin and a scar on the side of his face running along from the top half of his cheek from his eye; eyebrow to his ear.
'Must've been some burn' Sakura thought
But what really caught Sakura's attention were his brilliant gold eyes; that just stood out. She had never seen any of the civilians before with that kind of eye colour and the only other person she calls having that kind of eye colour was the girl that had tried Fire bending her into oblivion on top of a giant drill that almost killed her.
Zuko stood up and dusted his clothes off; he then noticed all of the boxes around and realised they weren't all his.
"Suppose we both couldn't see where we were going." He said offering his hand to Sakura as the polite thing to do.
Sakura hesitated for a moment before taking it; allowing him to lift her up from the ground.
"Yeah; sorry about calling you a jerk; I didn't realise you were also carrying herbs."
"Speaking of which," Zuko looked down at the boxes "Whose is whose?"
'I'm carrying medical herbs in my boxes so it should be marked that." Sakura said as she started checking the labels on the boxes. She began tossing the box one after the other on top of each other as she balanced it with one hand.
"Aren't those boxes heavy?" Zuko couldn't help observe
"Not for me." Sakura replied cheekily
Zuko gathered up his boxes and started heading down the corner he was going before he bumped into Sakura.
Sakura followed after; well not really followed she just happened to be going in the same direction.
"What are those for?" Sakura asked
"Tea" Zuko replied calmly
"Oh..." Sakura murmured "You work at that tea shop I've heard so much about. According to my co-workers they make the best tea there."
"My uncle makes it." he said still not changing his tone. She guessed he didn't really like talking about it for whatever reason. So she decided to just drop the subject.
"Sorry; I'm just trying to make conversation here to lighten the awkward silence." She told him honestly
"Are you following me?" he asked suddenly
Sakura frowned at him "No; this just happens to be the fastest way back to the medical centre."
She's had to deal with cocky jerks in the past before in her world; she was not going to put up with more stoic bastards in this one!
Sakura took a turn off without looking back at the guy; full intent of getting back to the medical centre and finishing her medicine so that she could get home and sleep away her frustrations.
'And to think I had planned on having such a great day.'
As she shuffled through the streets; it was starting to get a bit windy and her hair was blowing all around in her face. She adjusted the boxes on her. Then she stopped when she heard movement behind her. Turning around she saw four guys cutting her off on four corners surrounding her.
'Oh I really don't have time for this' Sakura thought looking around her.
"Hello there little lady." One of them said
"She's a pretty little thing."
Sakura looked around; taking in each of them. She was well aware that there were thugs in this part of the earth kingdom.
"What's in the boxes?" the fourth guy asked holding up his sword.
"Herbs" Sakura replied calmly with a sense of casualty in behaviour "Hey where did you get that sword?"
'Seriously?' a voice inside her head whispered
She was running out of weapons and it's not like this place was Konoha with a supply weapon store around every corner.
"Enough; just drop the boxes and any cash you have on you and you won't get hurt"
Sakura gave him a blank stare "No thank you; besides what would you guys need with a box of herbs."
"The black market seems to be short on linctuses resources and we heard that there was a new physician in town."
Sakura smirked "Well unfortunately for you guys; you picked the wrong person to mug."
She got ready looking for each corner at the guys to determine who was going to lunge first but just as the first guy made his move towards her a stone came flying out of nowhere hitting him and sending him to the ground.
The thieves started looking around.
"Ganging up on a helpless girl; very cowardly."
Sakura rolled her eyes when she heard the familiar voice 'Oh boy-Wait did he just call me helpless!'
"Hey I'm not helpless!"
"You're surrounded by four guys while carrying a box of herbs; I think you are." Zuko shot back
Clenching her fists Sakura let out a dissatisfied growl
"Fine then; well deal with you first boy." the one thief said before they moved away from Sakura and to Zuko-who had nothing on him to defend himself.
'Is that idiot trying to get himself killed?'
As the first man lunged at Zuko; his sword grasped and pointing towards the onyx haired boy with intent to kill; even though it became clear to Sakura from his stance that he was not trained in the ways of the sword as a proper martial artist.
She wasn't the only one who figured this out either.
Zuko manoeuvred his body away at the last minute avoiding the sword; he grabbed hold of the hilt of the sword and twisted his body consequentially flipping the man over as well. He held up the sword taking a proper fighting stance as the other three began to charge at him.
Zuko held up against them all; even with only one sword against three.
Sakura continued watching the fight commence. It was a little intriguing to say the least; she wondered where he learned those moves?
Avoiding another hit Zuko attacked the other thief; when he tried to throw his sword at Zuko's leg's the Fire Nation prince leaped into the air.
'Not bad.' Sakura thought watching as he landed behind the guy and gave him a swift kick. Then he went on to fighting the others. Sakura yawned as she watched for was while; those guys were persistent that was for sure.
"You doing okay over there?" called Sakura
Zuko was currently fending off one of the men while the other came up behind him; Sakura decided that she should do something before he got hurt.
When Zuko broke apart from the men they all began charging at him from all angles. But before they reached Zuko Sakura stepped in. She threw kunai knives at two of the men in front of Zuko pinning them to the wall and the other two she broke out some tai-jutsu. Sending both of them flying back.
"What was that about helpless?" Sakura asked hands on her hips
Zuko seemed to snap out of his trance wondering what the heck just happened; he watched as she moved back to her boxes.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Sakura asked "Stalking me?"
"As if" Zuko responded dropping the sword on the ground; he pointed to the boxes he had been carrying "You mixed up one of the boxes."
Sakura flushed "Oops."
"Yeah..." Zuko trailed
As they went to swap the boxes one of the guys that was lying on the ground had stood up and began coming at them with his sword. Sakura went to immobilise him when he was close enough but then Zuko grabbed her and pulled her to his chest spinning her around; she heard him grunt in pain and turned to see that the man had managed to hit Zuko's side.
Sakura quickly moved out of his arms before she went to the man and gave him a powerful punch that sent him into the air and straight into the fountain.
Turning back; she went over to Zuko placing her hand on his shoulder as he slumped over holding the side of his stomach.
Sakura turned around and bent on her knees "Quickly get on my back; I'll treat you at the clinic."
"I'm fine" Zuko wheezed
"YOU ARE NOT FINE AND I AM NOT ARGUING WITH YOU ABOUT THIS; GET ON." That was the first time that Sakura's temper had snapped in a while. She had done her best to control herself since she had entered the city for the sake of Aang and everyone else but now she had lost all patience.
Sakura took Zuko to the medical clinic; she went to cleaning the wound. Zuko would hiss when she dabbed the cloth that was coated with herbal water which made his flesh burn but it would stop any infection.
"That hurts" he said
"Stop whining" Sakura said looking up at him "You're going to get an infection of we don't clean it!"
Deciding that it was pointless to fight this girl Zuko decided to remain quite; grit his teeth and allow her to finish.
"What's your name?" Sakura asked suddenly as she continued to concentrate on the wound.
"Why should I tell you?" he asked impassively
Sakura glared at him "Because I asked and I'm nursing your wound-I might just make a slip if you don't tell me your name."
He glared back at her "Isn't it against a physicians conduct to harm the patient intentionally?"
Sakura shrugged "Technically yes but I'm actually off duty."
'This insufferable!' Zuko strained
"Lee" he said quickly with annoyance still clear in his eyes "My names Lee."
That was at least the name on the fake passport he had; when he and his uncle had started on the run they had managed to get fake identities. No one could know his real name because they may realise that they were Fire Nation-after all their names weren't common in earth kingdom territory.
Sakura held back a laugh; the mention of that name reminded her of the Lee back in Konoha.
"I'm Sakura." she said
"Like you hair?" he asked imperviously
Sakura pulled a face "Yes like my hair and it's natural before you even ask."
"I wasn't going to." Zuko said honestly-though he was thinking about it. In his travels around the world he has never come across anyone with a hair colour as unique as that; yet it seemed to suit the girl. Her pale complexion and bright green eyes went well with her hair. It was complimenting.
After cleaning the wound Sakura went to actually heal the wound-then she could get the handsome shirtless guy out of her sight. Coating her hand in chakra she began moving it towards his stomach when he grasped her wrist.
"What is going on with your hand?" he asked sound slightly worried.
"It's nothing to worry about; I'm going to heal you now." Sakura said removing her hand and break eye contact with Zuko. She tenderly placed her hand over his wound and began speeding up the cells to heal. She found that her chakra worked much better on people in this world for whatever reason; it may have had something to do with the fact that because they didn't use chakra themselves.
Zuko gasped in amazement as he felt the pain slipping away and his wound physically beginning to close.
'What kind of healing is this?' he wondered; he knew that water benders were able to heal but this wasn't like waterbending. For one she wasn't using water.
Sakura removed her hand; the wound was mostly closed; only a little line of flesh remained. She could just wrap that up.
After doing just that she stood up.
"Alright; you're good to go."
Zuko stood up and put on his robe; he barely felt it anymore.
"Thanks..." Zuko muttered
Sakura waved her hand "No problem although the reason you got hurt is kind of my fault. So thank you-I owe you one."
She smiled at him and Zuko felt his heart skip a beat; it had been so long since anyone has looked at him with such a genuine expression besides his uncle. He didn't think it was possible for anyone to look at him like that anymore.
"You're welcome." he said turning away "Pinkie"
'Oh he didn't...'
"I take it back you are a jerk."
When Zuko left Sakura realised that it had gotten a bit late but she still had to make the medicine for tomorrow. She went to the boxes to finish up. She stayed in the store a good three hours-luckily she was on the last box but when she opened it she realised that these were not the herbs she was supposed to have!
Then it dawned on her why...from tonight's event's Sakura and Zuko had forgotten to switch the boxes back.
Sakura slapped her forehead 'Idiot...'
The next morning when Sakura woke up she was not in a cheerful mood and quite morose. She stomped into the living room where her friends were gathered and ready for the day while she just woke up. Even Toph was ready and that's saying something!
"Sakura are you alright?" Katara asked
Groaning in response Sakura sat down at the table and grabbed a roll and a cup of tea. "Someone's in a mood." Observed Sokka
"I am not!" Sakura snapped as she gulped down her tea; she was SO in a mood. Not only did she waste three hours preparing medicine only to find that she couldn't complete it because the last ingredient had been switched with tea leaves! Now she had to go to that tea shop; see that insufferable guy again and make the switch!
'I really don't want to see him.' She thought
"I can tell you're lying." Toph said as she ate calmly "I can feel the change in your breathing and heart rate. Something happen you want to tell us?"
Sighing Sakura shook her head and stood up "I've got to go to work."
She left carrying the box of tea leaves.
Sakura looked up at the building in front of her; it was slightly smaller than the clinic but when she entered she saw it was just as packed as one. Almost all of the tables were full. Sakura looked around; she really just wanted to get this over with so that she could go on with her life.
She saw an elderly man serving tea; he had long grey hair and a long beard but what Sakura noticed most was how he seemed to give off this positive; calming aura.
And just as with Zuko; Sakura had no clue that he was of Fire Nation.
"Excuse me." Sakura said walking up to him
"How may I help you?" he asked kindly
She held out the box "Um...I was wondering if you could check your supplies for any medicinal herbal plants. There seems to have been a mix up and I really need those for medicine"
"Oh dear," He said "Now I'm starting to understand why my nephew was so late delivering our tea last night."
Sakura gave a nervous chuckle before talking "I'm Sakura."
"Ah; Cherryblossom-the name suits you well. My name is Mushi." Iroh said; he took the box from her and told her to follow him to the back.
"I believe it should be somewhere in storage." He told Sakura "We've had to really stock up."
He was not kidding when Sakura entered the storage room there were several boxes stacked up on each other. She was going to have to sift through all of these?
"Don't worry." Iroh said as if sensing her distress "My nephew should know where he put the boxes last night."
Sakura stiffened; did that mean he was going to-
"Oh nephew could you come over here a minute!?" Iroh called in a sign song voice
Soon Sakura heard footsteps and a familiarly voice "What is it uncl-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
Sakura gave him a deadpan look trying her best to hide her irritation "You forgot to switch the box."
Zuko calmed down "Oh..."
"This nice girl says that there was a mix up of medicine herbs and tea leaves. Could you help her find it?"
"But uncle-
"Wonderful." Iroh said before walking out of the room leaving the two teens alone.
Zuko let out a low grumble "I put the boxes somewhere here; come on pinkie."
Sakura felt her vein throb "Don't call me pinkie."
They started rummaging around the boxes but after five minutes with still no luck of finding them. Sakura groaned in annoyance. She was already late for work; the medicine wasn't finished and Hina and Yuki would be wondering where she was by now.
"How could you forget where you put the boxes? You only had them last night!" Sakura complained as she continued checking the labels.
Truth be told Zuko actually just tossed the boxes randomly into the storage room; he wasn't sure where they were but there was no way he was going to admit that and humiliate himself. His pride would not allow it.
"Well if you hadn't gotten the boxes mixed up in the first place then we wouldn't be searching!" Zuko pointed out.
"It was dark; I don't have night vision!"
The room fell silent again; they kept searching. Then Sakura looked up and noticed the box with the medical clinics tag.
"There it is!" Sakura pointed up at the pile of boxes. It was right on top. Zuko must've thrown it higher than he thought. Sakura started climbing up the other boxes to reach it.
"Are you crazy? Get down." Zuko said watching as she climbed up without an ounce of fear.
"Relax, I've got it." Sakura said reaching for the box and pulling it out but just as she did one of the boxes that were uneven to the rest slipped out of position and the entire row that Sakura was standing on came crashing down.
"Look out!" Zuko said as the boxes started crashing around him.
THUD
"ACK"
Sakura groaned as she sat up; she looked at her hand and sighed in relief when she saw the box was undamaged. Then she heard a moaning under her and saw that she had landed right on top of Zuko.
"You okay?" she asked calmly
"Do I look okay?" Zuko asked still groaning "I told you not to do that."
"Hey I got the box at least." Sakura said holding it up with a cheeky grin
"That's great now can you get off of me? You're not as light as you look."
Sakura's cheeks puffed out angrily; she was seriously going to kick this guys-
The door opened and Iroh came in "What was that noise?"
He stopped when he saw the two teens and the position they were in "Didn't mean to intrude."
With that he walked back out leaving the two starring in shock-did he seriously think that they-Sakura slapped her forehead. Now she was never going to be able to walk pass this part of town again.
"Are you going to get off any time soon?" Zuko asked equally embarrassed.
Squeaking Sakura jumped off "Sorry."
Standing up he dusted off his clothes and left the room "If you're done here; you can leave."
Zuko rushed out doing his best to hide the blush that had crept onto his face 'Calm down, calm down.'
Sakura sighed-well that was officially one of the most embarrassing moments in her life and she was a natural cluts from childhood. Standing up and feeling slightly depressed Sakura walked out of the storage room. She saw 'Lee' and his uncle behind the counter and a girl talking to them. She had brown hair in two pigtails braid sand brown eyes; she wore a green robe that Sakura had seen most girls in this city wear.
From what Sakura could see and the way the girl was looking at Zuko; she guessed that she was just about to ask him out.
'Good luck with that.' Sakura thought rolling her eyes.
"Hi Lee; my names Jin. Thank you and...well I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime?"
"I-I can't." he said quickly
"Why not?" the girl Jin asked
"Well it's because I...I'm already going out with someone else." he said and Sakura could tell that was an obvious lie. Plus she wasn't sure who would be able to stand that guys attitude. No matter how handsome he was. She already fell for one handsome jackass and had to find out the hard way that that was not the best combination.
"Oh..." Jen said then her eyes fell on Sakura "Is that her?"
Sakura tensed; oh hell no. Sakura was going to set that girl straight before-
"Yes." Zuko said quickly
"This is news to me." Iroh said with a slight smile
'ME TOO' Sakura mentally screamed
"W-Wha-
Sakura was too shocked to even form words.
"We're going out this afternoon." He said
'Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttt' Sakura thought
"Oh okay." Jin said slightly downward "Thanks for the tea."
Iroh walked over to Sakura who was still in too much shock to say anything. "Well my dear I had no clue that you and my nephew were an item."
'Yeah NEITHER DID I' Sakura wanted to shout.
Zuko realising the dilemma put his arm around Sakura's shoulder "Uncle; she didn't want anyone to know yet-she's a bit shy. I'm going to have a word with her quickly."
Zuko took Sakura to the back of the store where they were free from sharp ears and witnesses because Sakura was considering killing Zuko.
"What the hell was that about?" Sakura hissed flaying her arms around "Going out? Why?"
Zuko shushed her "Listen; my uncle would've made me go out with that girl if I didn't say something."
Sakura rolled her eyes "Couldn't you have said something else? Like oh I don't know 'I'm not interested?'"
"That wouldn't work with my uncle." Zuko tried explaining "Look its fine; we'll just go out tonight then he'll stop bothering me with this stuff."
"But I don't want to go out with you!" Sakura snapped
"The feelings mutual." Zuko replied "Look it's just one night and then you and I will never have to see each other again."
"Why should I agree to this anyway?" Sakura asked
"Because you owe me one?" Zuko said with a slight smirk "So I'm gonna collect."
Sakura hissed and learned that you really should've throw around empty gestures because some people might take you up on it.
"Fine...it's a date."
When Sakura got to work her bad mood seemed to escalate; she kept it in check around her patients-not their fault some jerk forced her into a date but behind the scenes Yuki noticed Sakura's foul mood.
"What's wrong?" Yuki asked gently
"Nothing." Sakura said as she washed her hands by the basin
To add onto her terrible mood she had to juggle making the medicine she couldn't complete last night because of the missing ingredients. She was running back and forth which was doing great for her cardio but not for disposition.
"I can tell that's a lie." Yuki said softly "Y-You know you can talk about it."
Sakura smiled when the girl stuttered; she really did remind her of Hinata. "I guess."
Sakura told Yuki about what happened last night with the herbs boxes getting mixed up and the attack and then the forced date.
Yuki giggled "That's so cute."
Sakura gaped at her; that was not the reaction she thought she'd get. "Have you missed the part where I said he's a total jerk?"
"Well some guys are like that but you're still going on a date together."
"It's forced" Sakura exclaimed
Hina walked into the room to see her daughter and Sakura "What are you two up to?"
Yuki smiled and pointed to Sakura "Sakura's got a date tonight."
"Oh really?" Hanna asked with a small smile "Whose the lucky boy?"
Sakura blushed red "J-Just the boy from the tea shop and it's not actually a date."
Oh farewell dignity.
"Oh you mean Li?" asked Hanna "Yes; I know him. His uncle makes the most amazing tea. His nephew is quite a handsome man though the poor dear has a terrible scar."
"Oh yeah now I remember" Yuki said and then looked at Sakura "You're going out with Li? Wow; a lot of girls actually really like him but he's kinda hard to approach."
"So when are you seeing him?" asked Hina
"This afternoon after work."
Hina gasped "Surely you can't mean straight after work; you're at least planning on going home and changing first right?"
"No" Sakura replied honestly; why go through so much effort when it wasn't even a real date?
"Well then not to worry; we'll close up a bit early so we can take a trip to our house and get you ready."
"HUUUUH" Sakura asked
"Well surely you can't expect to go out looking like that." Hina said gesturing to Sakura's attire; she wore her regular red shirt and tight black shorts with her boots.
Sakura grunted and slammed her head on the table 'I should've just kept my mouth shut'
Finally the dreaded hour had arrived when Sakura had to go and meet 'Li' aka Zuko. It had taken about an hour and a half for Hina and Yuki to finish prepping Sakura. They had done up her hair in a small bun but a few strands were still out; of course they would be since her hair was so short. She was also out of her regular ninja get up and in a long light green robe with rose petal embroidery on it curtsey of Yuki's closet.
Because of all the prepping she was late.
Sakura walked over to the tea shop where she saw Zuko waiting; she came up to him and started laughing when she saw his hair that had a spikey edge to it now all neatly gelled but at least he was still in his old comfortable clothes.
"You're late."
Sakura snickered "Sorry."
"What's with the outfit?" he asked
"My employer and her daughter just couldn't resist turning me into their living dress up doll. What's with your hair?"
"My uncle insisted on doing it." Zuko said as he ran a hand through his hair returning it to its former messy locks. "Took him ten minute too."
"Well let's get this over with." Sakura muttered
They went to a restaurant first that was in the centre of town which meant it was extremely lively and there were people all over-more importantly couples. And as if the night couldn't have been anymore awkward for Sakura-the girl that Zuko had turned down for a date was also there; Sakura caught her peering at them from behind a house. It was clear she was following them.
'Why does this world hate me so much?'
"Hey don't look now but guess whose follow us." Sakura said gesturing to behind the house.
"Jin?" Zuko said when he saw the girl peer around.
"Yep; aren't you mister popular?" Sakura teased
"This is going to be harder than I thought." Zuko muttered
"What do you mean?"
"If she's following us then we'll have to make it look like we're a real couple on a real date."
Sakura hit her head softly against the table "No kidding genius."
The two were glaring at each other until the waiter came over and got their order. Jin was still watching the two interact-and it was awkward. They were basically sitting there opposite one another; trying to avoid eye contact. The silence was becoming too much for Sakura so she decided to make a pathetic attempt to break it without throwing any insults at him.
"So..."
"Yeah..."
"So did you always live in Ba Sing se?" asked Sakura
"No..." Zuko replied
"Oh" Sakura replied completely gauche
"What about you?" Zuko asked startling Sakura
"Huh?"
"Did you live in Ba Sing for a long time?"
"No" Sakura replied honesty "I actually just came here recently."
"So where are you from?"
'Damn off with a hard one.'
"Um well from a village that's pretty far." Sakura told him
"I see..." Zuko trailed "So where-
"I can't exactly explain it" Sakura replied sheepishly "It's kind of a long story and kind of complicated. Where were you living before you came here?"
"That's...complicated too."
Sakura nodded in understanding "Okay then how about this; it seems that we're both on edge because we've got some things we don't want anyone to know. How about instead of running around in circles we just...pass up on anything we don't want to say and move on to something else? Good?"
"I guess." Zuko responded
"So how long have you been in Ba Sing Se?" Sakura asked
"My uncle and I just moved here as well not too long ago."
"Did you catch the faerie here?" Sakura asked
"Yes; how about you."
"Well; I had to travel through the serpents pass with my friends."
Zuko looked at her in surprise "The serpents pass!?"
Sakura nodded.
"Are you insane or just plain suicidal?"
Sakura couldn't help but laugh "Well-my friends tell me I'm pretty reckless."
"I'll say" Zuko agreed nodding "You took on those thieves but you are unbelievable strong for a girl."
Sakura raised an eyebrow "So you mean I can't be strong if I'm a girl?"
Zuko held up his hand "No! I just-
Sakura started laughing "I know what you meant; thanks. And for someone working in a tea shop you're pretty good with a sword."
"I could say the same for you with those knives." Zuko countered "Where'd you learn to use them?"
Sakura leaned back a small smirk playing on her face "Where I come from a lot of people in my village learn these kinds of things. Let's just leave it at that"
"I see."
"And what about you?"
"What about me?" Zuko asked
"Where'd you learn to wield a sword? There's no way with those moves that you learned those by just playing around with a sword."
Zuko appeared hesitant to answer her question but their conversation was actually going civilly
"I was taught by my uncle." Zuko said that was only half a lie; technically his uncle did teach him but he also had tutors.
"Wow; your uncle?" Sakura asked in disbelief "He just seems so...well"
Zuko chuckled slightly "I know what you mean; my uncle's different now than he was then."
The rest of their meal went on and things started to settle as the environment became more bearable around them. Sakura and Zuko began speaking about a lot of different things.
Sakura started laughing "Wait so your uncle literally did that when you got the chicken pox?"
"It's not funny!" Zuko complained
"Oh it is! I think your uncle slathering you in smelly crushed tea leaves and wrapping you up like a mummy is pretty funny" Sakura giggled "But then again my dad's not that much better on the overreaction talent; he literally followed me and my friends one day when we went out for lunch disguised as a waiter!"
"So you're not here with your parents?" Zuko asked
Sakura shook her head "No; I'm staying with some friends for now."
"Where's your family?"
"Back at the village." Sakura told him truthfully "So what do you like to do for fun?"
"Nothing really." Zuko answered; he hadn't had time for fun ever since he had started hunting the avatar.
Sakura sighed "Oh boy; you're one of those guys huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"The kind who's got purpose," She told him rubbing her head "You don't have time for anything else because you're too busy focusing on the goals you're striving towards; it's actually very noble and also sad."
Zuko looked at her as if waiting for an explanation which she gave.
"You're going through life with one thought in mind but that's not what life is about."
"My life hasn't started until I achieve my goal." Zuko said offhandedly
"Actually I think that's where your life ends." Sakura told him "You may rush through things never making time for anything else because you want to achieve your goal but you never think that there's more to life than just reaching for that goal."
"If the goal is almost impossible to reach; then what can you do but commit one hundred percent of your effort?" asked Zuko
"You could always take time to stop; it's not like that goal will ever slip away. It'll always be there." Sakura said "No matter what you may think; it's your goal and no one can take it away from you."
Zuko fell silent; all this talk about goals reminded him of how he had been hunting the avatar for so long and yet somehow he's now ended up in Ba Sing Se. He was a refugee; what happened to his goal to capturing the avatar? Was that all off the table now since his sister labelled him a traitor?
"Wanna know something though?" Sakura said as she finished her food "Even if it seems like stopping will make you fall short of your goals; you may just be reaching the half way point."
"And if your goals become unattainable?"
"A goal is never unattainable but there are no rules about not being allowed to make a new goal for yourself." Sakura shrugged
The pinkette hadn't even realised the severe impact her words were having on Zuko.
"What do you do for fun then?"
"A lot of things but I like to look at the stars." Sakura responded
"Look at the stars?"
She nodded "Yeah; it's very nostalgic. Clears your mind and just helps you feel better. In my case I've been doing it a lot recently."
Sakura glanced at one of the tables "Oh..."
"What?"
"She's gone." Sakura said looking around "I can't see her."
Zuko realised that Sakura was gesturing to Jin and she wasn't there anymore.
"I guess that's that." Sakura said standing up "Shouldn't we head back?"
Zuko stood up silently.
Sakura smiled; she had actually ended up enjoying her time with Zuko and became a little less resentful of the guy she literally just met last night. They had touched on many topics over the night; some when it became too personal they stepped back. Sakura noted that Zuko didn't mention any other family members besides his uncle and Sakura decided not to touch that subject. Sakura had to admit he was a lot more pleasant than he first came off as.
"Wait" Sakura stopped "Where are we going? This isn't the way back."
"I know." Zuko said "Just follow me."
'Bossy'
Zuko took her to the far end of the town where there was a wide open space one of the few in the crowded lower ring of the city.
"Okay and the reason we're here is because?" Sakura asked
Zuko pointed up.
Sakura gasped when she saw the clear night sky; there were hundreds of stars shining so brightly that it basically glittered. Sakura couldn't help but be in awe at the sight.
"Oh wow."
"You said that looking at the stars helped clear your mind and make better choices." Zuko said "I wanted to test this for myself."
Sakura lied down on the grass with Zuko following after her. They just stayed there in silence.
"There's something about doing this that always made me feel I don't know...better" Sakura said softly "Though to my friends I may not seem to be having a hard time. I'm really struggling with my situation."
Flashes of her friends from Konoha came to mind.
"Then again I've always struggled" Sakura said making Zuko turn to her "Nothing ever came easy but I always believed that that's what made me strong."
"I know what you mean." Zuko said in a soft tone; he understood exactly what she meant. "To struggle; to suffer; to deal with the pain of being unable to reach your goals; yet...I've never thought that it was possible to change your goals."
Sakura smiled "It's always possible to do that because they are your goals; yet sometimes you feel obligated to do them and you don't even realise that you weren't the one who set those goals. You never really give up on your goals either; not if you create a new one to strive towards."
No longer gazing at the stars the two began to stare at each other; neither one breaking eye contact. The amorous atmosphere had been set around them without realising it as they leaned in towards each other. Eyes gently closing; losing sight of each other only to feel the softness of each other's lips
'Oh boy...'Sakura's mind went blank as she kissed Zuko-someone she barely knew for more than two days; yet someone she felt so strongly connected to. A sense of familiarity with one another unlike anything she has ever felt before.
Zuko and Sakura walked down the streets back to Zuko's apartment; he had wanted to walk Sakura home but then she explained to him that she didn't live in the lower ring and it would've been a waste to have to walk her all the way there.
Finally they reached the apartments.
"So..." Sakura trailed with a small blush on her face.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Zuko asked and Sakura nodded shyly.
Zuko leaned in and kissed her goodnight before walking into the building.
And Sakura was on her way home with her heart feeling a little lighter from a burden she had carried with her in Konoha for almost four years.
When Zuko walked into the apartment he saw that his uncle was still awake.
"How was your evening prince Zuko?"
Zuko paused for a minute as if contemplating if he should reply "It was...nice."
And Zuko planned on having a lot more nice evenings with the pinkette; even if it was just for a little while he would stop walking the path to his goals and destiny and try to see what the world had to offer if he didn't just go in one direction all the time. After all she did say that destiny had a habit of meeting you halfway.
Little did Sakura and Zuko know that they had just tangled the red string of fate by tying theirs together.
When Sakura came home that night she had a huge smile on her face which made her friends a little suspicious but she went to bed without saying a word about what had happened at work.
"Why's she so happy?" asked Toph
"I have no clue but it's scary." Sokka said shivering
Okay I know that I really rushed into this and I was going to split this into two chapters but I thought why not give my readers a treat? I understand that Sakura and Zuko coming together so quickly is surprising and that you may have wanted the relationship to develop but before you review about that I want you all to know that THERE IS A METHOD TO MY MADNESS.
Or in this case a method to my match making
Anyway there's a method. I needed this to happen fast.
Don't forget the plot can only thicken from here on in so look forward to some interesting chapters ahead!