This chapter is pretty short, but I wrote it really quickly to surprise you guys for Independence Day!
Remember, I own nothing but my little firebending healer. :)
Zuko slept soundly during the night and woke with a start before sunrise. He looked down at the head on his chest. An arm was wrapped up next to the head; the hand was curled slightly. Black hair tickled the skin on his arms and he moved, but the young concubine did not stir. He took in a deep breath and looked at the skimpy clothes that she wore. The piece of fabric around her middle that was supposed to be a dress now rested on her hip. He could see most of her milky skin—her long, smooth legs entranced him the most. The pink, exposed lingerie made him blush. Her cleavage was still visible and she twitched. Her hand fully clenched itself and she opened her eyes. Those glorious golden irises met his own. He froze but quickly shoved her away and stood off of the bed.
Koori had rolled over the side of the bed. She landed on the floor with her knees and hands. She stood quickly as Zuko walked into his bathroom. He threw his shirt on the ground in his room before he shut the door.
Koori watched the door close and she pulled her hair behind her neck—the brilliant black bun had been ruined during the night. She held her hair back for a moment and paused. Thinking that she looked too decent, she ruffled her hair and tore off the left strap of her dress. Koori looked around and found Zuko's cologne. She spritzed it on herself and grabbed the shirt from his bedroom floor. She put it on.
The red shirt fell to her mid-thigh and she sighed. The door to the bathroom opened and Zuko exited. He froze for a moment before walking into his closet.
"Prince Zuko," Koori whispered. She was not sure if he was listening, but she wanted to leave the awkwardness of his room. Zuko stood in his closet. His head was leaning against the mahogany pillar in the middle of the large room. He wanted to hear Koori's voice, but he could not talk to her. "Prince Zuko, I need you to do me a favor. Just this once, I beg of you."
Zuko walked to the doorway of his closet and stared at the young girl before him. She was wearing the dirty shirt that he had just thrown on the ground—she also reeked of his cologne. His gaze softened once he realized that she was preparing to lie about her previous night. "Koori?" he asked.
She looked up, but then immediately looked down again. "Please," she searched for the right words, "please request me every night."
She turned on her heel quickly and her bare feet pounded as she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She left without hearing his answer. "Okay," he whispered to himself.
-!-
Koori ran down the halls until she reached her bedroom. She hurried inside and threw herself to the floor.
"Interesting evening?" Zhao asked.
Koori reached up for her pillow and threw it at him to make herself feel better. The pillow collided with the desk. The music box popped open and the chimes started to play, but Koori found the sounds to be annoying and she did nothing when Zhao slammed the box shut.
"Master, I need to get out of here," Koori whispered.
Zhao tutted. "What about the prophesy? Lady Li and Lo would be quiet disappointed in you after I bragged about you all of these years."
Koori groaned and turned herself around on the floor. Her stomach gurgled and Zhao smiled. "What do I have to do again?" she asked.
"Oh, what was it," Zhao said with a quirky smile. "Show the prince who he is really meant to be?"
Koori rolled her eyes. "I do not think that 'showing the prince who is really meant to be' is possible. He will hardly acknowledge me, let alone talk to me."
Zhao's chains rattled as he sat beside his young concubine. He pulled his knees against his chest and cupped Koori's chin. "You failed the spirits the last time. Imagine what they will do to you if you fail them once more. Besides, you caught his heart once, you can do it again."
Koori shook her head and the door opened. Ai sauntered in and grabbed her hand. "Koori, sweetheart, the Head Mistress is very pleased with you, but…" The young girl bit her lip and looked to the left. The shadow of the Head Mistress loomed in the doorway and Ai rushed into a bow.
The ugly, old woman rushed into the room and grabbed Koori by the hand. "What have you done!" she screamed. Ai sprinted out of the room as the old woman grabbed her hair and threw her. The Head Mistress then grabbed Koori's hand and drug her out of the room. Koori trailed behind the highly perfumed woman. She was confused and dazed. The other concubines stuck their noses up as the pair sprinted by. The Head Mistress threw Koori into her office—she landed on the stone floor. The old woman rushed behind her desk and smiled at the young concubine. Her entire demeanor changed. "Koori, Koori, Koori," she whispered. "You have definitely proven yourself. How was your evening?"
Koori struggled to get herself situated. "It was pleasant," Koori whispered curtly.
"Good, you will be having many more pleasant evenings with the prince because he has requested your company for every night." The Head Mistress clapped her hands together and started to write on the piece of parchment in front of her. After a few minutes of scribbling, the woman looked up and gave the young girl a dirty look. "You can leave now."
Koori stood, took a deep bow and ran out of the door quickly. She had duties to attend to, but first, she would change her clothes. Koori looked for Ai and waved her down. "A change of clothes?" Ai asked.
Koori nodded and Ai took her to a closet. In this room, Koori's eyes were graced with some of the most beautiful fabrics she had ever seen. Kimonos, lingerie and accessories lined the walls. Ai presented a pink-collared kimono to the concubine. Koori took it, took off Zuko's shirt and the shreds of fabric that were her dress from the previous night. Ai helped her dress in a dazed silence.
She walked out of the Harem Wing and into the Royal Garden. She picked a few flowers—mostly red, yellow and pink panda lilies. She arranged them nicely, but the other ladies were still in the process of picking their assortment. Koori placed her arrangement in a golden vase and walked into the palace slowly.
Koori looked down at her sloppy gait—the Head Mistress would be furious if she saw her walking like that. She pushed her chest up, held her hands in front of her chest and kept her chin high. This would be the first time that she would walk the palace halls and she did not want to disappoint the Head Mistress. She didn't know where she would walk to, but the sound of her feet hitting the stone floors soothed her. She closed her eyes as she walked and let her senses control where she was going. Koori knew that she was bound to get lost, but she didn't care, she just wanted to walk.
"Koori," Zhao said. There was a hint of panic in his voice and Koori opened her eyes. Admiral Akira stood before her, a large smile was plastered onto his bearded face.
Oh, Agni! Whatever shall happen next! Please tell me if you like where this is going, because I have quite a few surprises for this book.
