Book 1: Freshmen

Chapter 10: The Golden Dragon Dance

The day of the dance there were no classes, breakfast and lunch was held outside. The professors were helping to decorate the Dining Hall. The students were anxious to see the Hall and what was sure to be the amazing work that might have been done on it.

While other students were talking about their dates and what might happen after; the gang was more on the topic of the clothes and makeup.

"So I was thinking ..." Mokka said as she stood behind Aiyoku and held her hair in her hands. "We do a bun with this … and we can crimp this stuff here. Or at least make it wavy." Mokka sat next to Aiyoku. "You have such beautiful blue eyes and they stand out with your dark skin and hair. But with the dress you got it will only hide those eyes … so we should use some different color eyeshadow even."

"You could use grays or even silver … oh, how about gold to match the scrolls." Yue suggested.

"I don't think Zuko would care what her hair and makeup looks like." Don snickered.

"Yeah, did you see the way he was looking at her in that dress. Trust me he won't be looking anywhere else but the dress." Shu chimed in, he and Don started to laugh.

Aiyoku snapped her head in their direction and glared until they stopped. "Zuko isn't that kind of guy."

"I'm not what kind of guy?" came Zuko's voice.

"N-nothing. Where've you been?" Aiyoku said.

Mokka continued to mess with Aiyoku's hair. Aiyoku slapped her hand way from her hair and pulled it back into it's usual half ponytail.

"I was talking with my father." Zuko said sitting where Mokka had sat, next to Aiyoku.

"Does he have a problem?" Aiyoku asked.

Zuko was silent for a moment. His eyes shifted from the table to Aiyoku twice.

"Zuko?"

"What? Oh no, it's nothing like that." Zuko shook his head.

Mokka leaned over to Aiyoku and whispered, "We'll talk more in the Common Room."

The Shuǐ Common Room was too crowded for the gang and nobody wanted to walk up all those flights of stairs to the Kōngqì Common Room.

"We can't go to the Dìqiú Common Room, he might be there." Aiyoku snarled.

"How about the library." Zuko advised.

"That is a wonderful idea Zuko, you genius you." Aiyoku exclaimed in joy.

The gang walked to the library and sat at a round table. They talked about the dance.

"Me and Mokka might leave a little early and head to the … Ugh." Shu grunted as Mokka's fist dug into his stomach. "I think you broke a rib there Mokka."

"Good, they don't need to hear about that stuff." Mokka said in a hushed tone.

"I'm going to go get a book I was eying the other day." Aiyoku said. She got up and started to walk when she was stopped by Zuko.

"Can we talk?" Zuko asked.

"Sure just follow me. We can talk on the way." Aiyoku said as she walked on.

As the two walked through the bookshelves Zuko spoke. "My father is unhappy with me hanging out with you and your friends. He wants me to stay away from you guys. I told him I hasn't going to do that."

"So you stood up to your dad. I thought you didn't want trouble with him?" Aiyoku said scanning book titles.

"Yeah, but I have my grandfather on my side he's the reason I went against my father in the first place, well my uncle too." Zuko said looking at some books on the table.

"Your uncle?"

"You probably have seen him. He helps take care of the grounds here and he even own a tea shop in Omashu. He's a nice man. I owe him a lot." Zuko said smiling to himself as he flipped through a book.

"I think I've seen him before. I'll keep an eye out for him now." Aiyoku said seeing Zuko's smile made her smile a bit.

Aiyoku walked off to check another row of books while Zuko helped her look at some other shelves. As she scanned the books she heard a thud. She looked to see what it was when she heard it again. She peeked around the shelf.

It was a couple making out in the middle of the school library. The girls hands were pinned above her head. The boy had one of his hands up the girls' shirt. Aiyoku looked away and she felt her face turn red. She was about to walk away when she heard something else.

"Jet … stop."

Aiyoku froze. Was that boy Jet? Could he really be so quick to be with someone else after they broke up?

"Some one will see." She gasped.

"I'm not going to do much, babe." he chuckled.

It defiantly was Jet, Aiyoku could never forget his voice. Before she knew it tears fell down her cheeks as she listened to her ex-boyfriend make out with that Dìqiú girl.

As she closed her eyes unable to move from that spot, she felt cold and was shaking, she suddenly felt arms wrap around her. She soon felt warm and calm.

"It's okay Aiyoku. Come on." Whispered Zuko's voice as he pulled her from that spot and walked her toward her friends. "Don't let him ruin your night, we have a dance to go to."

"Right, thank you Zuko." Aiyoku sniffed.

"Here a found the book you were looking for. Can I ask what is it about?" Zuko said handing her the book.

"It a nice little romantic story it's kinda like Beauty and the Beast. I often think about that kind of stuff." Aiyoku smiled.

"There's a smile." Zuko commented.

"Why is it when I'm crying you can always can me smile." Aiyoku chuckled.

"I'm just that good." Zuko smirked.

"Okay, Yue, can you hand me that clip?" Mokka asked.

Mokka was holding Aiyoku's hair in place. Yue handed Mokka a long jeweled hair clip. Which she attached to Aiyoku's hair. Aiyoku's hair, like Mokka had envisioned, was in a bun with the front hanging down in waves.

Yue helped with the make up. She put light pink lipstick on Aiyoku and gold and silver eyeshadow on her. As well as some blush for her dark skin.

"You look wonderful!" Mokka exclaimed dancing for joy around Aiyoku.

Mokka had put her hair in a low ponytail with some sparkle spray for her hair. She had pink and light purple eyeshadow and a reddish-brown lipstick.

"You look nice too."Yue said as she put her high heeled sandals on.

Yue was wearing a light lavender china dress. Her hair was up in a ponytail unlike any other ponytail. She had light blue and purple eyeshadow and red lipstick.

"We all look nice. Can we go now? The guys are waiting." Aiyoku said with an exasperated sigh.

The boys were waiting in the Shuǐ Common Room. Shu was wearing a three piece suit with a green tie. It was a requirement for the dance that all the boys wear suits. Don wore the same with a blue tie

Don had not asked anyone to the dance. But he wanted to go anyway to watch the others and hope to find someone.

Yue's date was waiting as well. His name was Haru Yǒngqì. He had long dark hair and darker skin. His hair was tied back and he too wore a suit with a green tie.

Zuko was waiting as well. He had on a suit with a red tie. Zuko could feel his hands shake and his heart race at the thought of finally going with Aiyoku.

"Man, how long does it take for a girl to get dressed." Don sighed.

"You're talking about three girls and one of them is Mokka. Dude, it'll take some time." Shu sighed with a smile.

"They won't take that long." Haru said. "If they want to be on time."

"Even being fashionably late won't take this long." Don huffed.

"Oh calm down." Came a voice from the stairs. "We're here." The girls emerged one at a time.

"Wow, Mokka … you look amazing." Shu said. Mokka blushed at his words. Shu wrapped his arm around her waist.

After Mokka, Yue came down the stairs.

"You look great, Yue." Haru said as Yue approached him. "Thank you, Haru." Yue smiled.

Then Aiyoku came down.

Zuko stared at her for awhile. His mouth went dry and he felt a cold chill run down his spine. When their eyes met all words were gone from Zuko's mind. He just couldn't come up with any words to say to Aiyoku.

"Well … What do you think, Zuko?" Aiyoku said with a small smile and blush.

Zuko couldn't help his eyes from traveling down Aiyoku's figure and up again. But when Aiyoku spoke Zuko's eyes snapped to hers. He opened his mouth to spoke but nothing came out.

"He's speechless. That is so cute." Mokka said with a giggle.

Zuko started to blush so brightly that even his red scar looked pale. Aiyoku saw that and smiled.

"No words are better then any." Aiyoku said as she hooked her arm around his.

"Y-you look beautiful, Aiyoku." Zuko finally said.

"I think we should get you some water. You seem dry." Aiyoku laughed.

The group walked down to the Dining Hall. As they approached they could hear music and people talking, laughing and having fun.

After they walked in they were awe struck by the look of the Hall. There were small round tables covered with striped tablecloth. The colors of the cloth were the House colors red, green, blue, and white. A spell was cast making a gold dragon fly around the ceiling. There was music being piped in from somewhere. Confetti in the shapes of the four elements were scattered all over the floor.

The lights were the most amazing. There was the normal lights that were always on during the evening when the sun was down. But there was also orbs of light that drifted around the Hall. And when the lights were off the orbs glowed brightly.

On the dance floor were students dancing and jumping around. Some students were sitting and eating while talking to others. The professors were sitting at their usual table simply watching the fun that was taking place in the Hall.

"Oh, I know this music!" Mokka exclaimed. "Who knew the professors had a finger on what's hot in our generation."

"They probably just asked some kids about music tips."Aiyoku shrugged.

"Every party needs a pooper that we invited you ..." Mokka sang.

Aiyoku stopped, "You should save that for them." Mokka looked to where Aiyoku was pointing. It was Azula and her two friends, dressed up for the dance.

"Wonder way they're here?" Shu said.

To watch me. Zuko thought. "I have no idea. This isn't something Azula and Mai would do. Ty Lee maybe, but not them." Zuko answered.

Mokka snickered, "Azula is dressed like an evil dictator/queen. Ty Lee looks like a lollipop. And Mai looks like a Gothic Lolita."

"At least they are dress for the occasion" Don chuckled.

"Yeah, either a funeral or the circus." Aiyoku said taking another stab at the Huǒ demons.

Once the gang joined the fun, Mokka and Shu danced with the others; Don went off looking for single girls; and Yue and Haru went to get food first.

Aiyoku took Zuko's hand and pulled him into the crowd of dancing teens. She started to dance and was making Zuko move to dance with her.

"I don't dance Aiyoku." Zuko said. Aiyoku giggled at him.

"Zuko look around you, does anyone here look like they can dance?" Aiyoku said.

Zuko tried but just felt very uncomfortable by the crowd and his beautiful date. She giggled at him when she saw how weird he felt.

"Come on, Zuko. Let's get something to eat." Aiyoku giggled and pulled him to the table where Yue and Haru were eating and talking.

"Hey Yue, Haru, no dancing for you?" Aiyoku asked as she and Zuko sat down.

"More hungry than dancy." Yue said. "Looks like Shu and Mokka are having a great time."

Aiyoku looked at her dancing friends and smiled. "They are having fun."

After a few songs played Mokka and Shu finally joined the others. "Well I'm completely wiped and Mokka here is just getting started." The others laughed.

"I would like your attention, please." Headmaster Roku said as he stood up from his chair. "Will the other students please vacate the dance floor for the Avatar and her date. This is the point when the avatars share a solo dance as honor to them. I shall ask that Professor Yugoda share this dance with me." Roku walked over to Yugoda and she took his hand.

"Grandfather, why is he doing this to me?" Zuko sighed.

Aiyoku pulled Zuko out of his seat, "Come on, it can't be that bad if Roku is going to dance." They cut through the semi-circle of kids.

When they joined the Headmaster and his partner the music began. It was a slow song.

"It's alright, Zuko." Aiyoku said taking Zuko's hands and put then on her hips.

When they started moving to the music Aiyoku saw that Zuko was very wary and looking around the Hall. She took a quick glance around.

From where they were dancing Aiyoku could see Azula and her friends were watching them. Zuko's father, Professor Ozai, was watching; glaring.

"Zuko." Aiyoku whispered she put her hands on either side of his face. "I'm here. They don't matter. It's just us. Like you told me earlier, 'Don't let others ruin your day'."

Zuko looked at Aiyoku then smiled. "Right."

Aiyoku laid her head on his chest as they swayed to the music.

When the song ended the students applauded.

"Now let the dancing resume." Headmaster Roku said as he sat back down.

"I thought you couldn't dance?" Mokka teased when Aiyoku and Zuko sat back down.

"I was just following Aiyoku." Zuko answered.

"I like dancing with you." Aiyoku smiled.

After awhile the rest of the gang was on the floor dancing. While Zuko and Aiyoku sat and watched the others. Even Don had found a girl to dance with.

"Looks more like grinding then dancing." Zuko said under his breathe. Aiyoku giggled at what Zuko said.

"The next time a slow song comes on we're dancing." Aiyoku smiled at Zuko.

"Sure." Zuko didn't want to, but he did like being with Aiyoku, and making her happy was number one for today.

Almost like she planned it, the music changed and slowed. Aiyoku dragged Zuko back on the floor and they danced with the music.

"I'm having a nice time, Zuko. Thank you." Aiyoku said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm glad you are." Zuko smiled.

"And thank you for asking in the first place. We should do this again."

"Again?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah … a date, Zuko, not a dance." Aiyoku sighed.

Aiyoku looked at Zuko and before either at them knew it they were kissing. They stopped dancing lost in the moment.

Aiyoku's hand went from Zuko's chest to the back of his neck. Zuko pulled her closer. When the kiss broke Aiyoku smiled slightly at Zuko. Zuko saw the light blush on her cheeks. He kissed her again.

What they didn't see was the fact that Zuko's family had seen the kiss. Azula and her gang left the Hall after that but Ozai stayed and glared with new hate at the young Avatar, and his son.

Unaware of this, the Avatar and young prince finished dancing, in each others arms.