CHAPTER 6

Zuko:

I was humiliated. I was angry. The Avatar and his friends had bested me again. But the girl with the Avatar looked strangely familiar. Heading back to the ship, I remembered the South Pole, how Kiara had asked if she could say goodbye. She'd run to two people: a boy and a girl. That's when it clicked. A brother and sister, she'd said. They were traveling with the Avatar.

How would Kiara take that? If she knew that I was chasing her family to capture the Avatar and regain my honor?

What does it matter? She's a servant, given to me as a present by my grandfather before he died. Why had I been nice to her when we were younger? I shouldn't have been. Now she thinks that she can speak to me however she wants.

But she jumped in front of me at the Agni Kai against my father. She got most of the burn when it should have been me. If she hadn't done that, my whole face would probably be scarred. But she did. And now, most of her right shoulder and the right side of her back is scarred. By my father. And she'd said that I was acting like him. Never before had anyone told me that.

Was it true? Had I sunken so low to act like my father so that I could gain his approval?

"Uncle!" I shouted, dismounting the rhino I was riding. Uncle was waiting on deck for me, a smile on his face as usual.

"How did it go?" he questioned. He placed a hand on my shoulder and guided me inside. "By the look on your face, I'd say not well?"

"How do you think it went?" I said angrily. "I was made a fool of." He looked at me. "But I have to talk to you about something."

Uncle nodded and led me into a room, the dining room. It was only the two of us. "What is it, Zuko?" he asked.

"It's about Kiara. She told me that I was acting like Father." Uncle nodded. "I-I hit her. I've never hit anyone before, but I hit her. And I don't know why. We used to be best friends, but then Father banished me. Do you think I've changed?"

"It doesn't matter what I think, Prince Zuko. What matters is if you think you've changed. Do you?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I might have."

Kiara:

"Kiara," Zuko's voice called. I heard the door close as he entered the room. I stayed where I was, not moving, pretending to be asleep. "Kiara, are you awake?" he asked. I remembered the last time he asked me that, in the South Pole.

I could hear him changing clothes behind me. Then he got into bed, and I could feel the heat radiating from his bare back. He didn't say anything else, and he sighed. I think he was turned the opposite way, not looking at me. I wasn't going to look to find out. I heard him whisper something, but I couldn't make it out. I was already half asleep, thoughts overrunning my mind, making me dream strange things.

But I woke up sweating and nearly burning a little while later. I sat up, taking deep breaths, not wanting to wake the sleeping teenage boy next to me. He's grumpy when he first wakes up, more than usual. Not a morning person. I slowly and quietly got out of the bed, going to the door. Hopefully, it wouldn't creak when I opened it to go outside. I just needed some fresh air. So I opened the door as much as I needed to, then slipped out. Luckily, it didn't creak.

I headed for the spotting deck, the night air surrounding me. It's hard to believe that this is how I've lived for the past two years. Traveling, chasing, hunting. Arguing with Zuko about the way he runs things. I let out a quiet, bitter laugh as I sat down, my legs hanging over the edge of the deck. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting the calming wind caress my face.

"Trouble sleeping?" a familiar wise man asked.

I got up quickly, bowing to him. "I-I'm sorry, General Iroh. I woke up suddenly," I said.

"It's fine, Kiara." He laughed, then looked out to sea. "How is that burn?" he asked. I gave him a questioning look, and he pointed to my left wrist, where Zuko's handprint was burned into my skin. "Let me see it, Kiara."

I sighed, walking to stand in front of him. He took my wrist in his hands, a touch so gentle. "It doesn't hurt as bad, General Iroh."

"Just call me Iroh. I am no longer a general." I nodded. He continued to examine the mark. "Zuko told me what happened when he got back from Kyoshi Island."

"If it's not too bold to ask... What did he say?"

Iroh looked up at me, his face turning to one of sadness. "He's under a lot of stress right now. He said he didn't even realize he was creating heat. The way he looked when he got back said it all. He regrets it, Kiara. He regrets hitting you yesterday. He said he hurt you, after you told him you trusted him." He paused. "Let's get this wrapped up."

I nodded and he led me to the medical ward, making me sit on the table while he gathered the necessary supplies. He continued telling me what Zuko had said and how he had acted. "Don't let my nephew know that I told you this," Iroh said when he finished the story. My wrist was bandaged tightly, a healing cream on the burn. Iroh had also applied some to my face, saying it would help the swelling go down. Zuko must have been somewhat heated when he slapped me. "Now, I believe it's time we both get to bed." I nodded, smiling. "Sadly, the burn will leave a faint scar, but not enough to notice from a distance. Do not stress your wrist too much in your work."

"Thank you, Iroh." Then I smiled. "It feels a little weird calling you that now."

"You'll get used to it," he told me. He smiled and gave me a hug. I hugged him back. "Goodnight, Kiara."

"Goodnight, Iroh." We released and headed our separate ways. I went back to Zuko's quarters, slipping in through the crack that was still there. Lucky for me, Zuko hadn't woken up. I tiptoed back to the bed and got under the covers quietly. After hearing the story Iroh told me, I mentally forgave the banished prince, snuggling closer to him. As if by instinct, he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close to his bare chest.