Wow! I have not updated in FOREVER! As such, I am awarding you with TWO very long chapters.
My new goal is to complete this story by the the start of next semester. I spent all day yesterday writting and I have two long chapters to show for it. Of course, I wrote chapter 17 BEFORE I wrote chapter 16 because chapter 17 was just soooo much fun to write. Well, this is the chapter that leads up to the more fun one, which will be posted momentarily.
Zhao stared back at her and shook his head. He flew away and Koori watched, helplessly. She wanted to call out to him, beg him to remain by her side, but she would wake Zuko up with her pleads. She whimpered; he would be back, she mused. He would be by her side for as long as she would live.
Koori turned to Zuko's bed. He was sleeping peacefully. The young healer grabbed her clothes and quickly dressed. She did not want to spend another moment in the same room with the Fire Prince. She looked at him once last time, sighed and walked out of his room. She carefully navigated the hallways and found the exit to the small palace. She walked down the massive staircase slowly, fearful that she may catch the attention of the royal guard or a commoner.
"Who are you?" a shrill voice asked.
Koori turned her attention to the pale woman to her left. She had been walking up the stairs and her dark clothes seemed to hide her from the night. "Excuse me?" Koori asked. She had been taken aback by the young woman.
"So you're the girl that Azula told me about," the woman croaked out. The tone of her voice made her sound hurt and rejected. "You've been spending too much time with my boyfriend. I don't like it."
Koori squinted in the dark. She could barely see the girl in front of her. Suddenly, she saw something glint in the moonlight. A knife was drawn and Koori found herself on the ground with the woman pressed against her. "What are you—" Koori struggled to say as the knife pressed close against her throat.
"Leave him alone. You're tearing us apart," the girl stuttered. She pulled her face close to the young firebender and Koori could clearly see the face of Zuko's girlfriend.
"Yes, Lady Mai," Koori struggled to say.
"Good," Mai whispered. She got off of Koori and continued up the stairs. Mai turned back around and watched Koori hastily stand. "Where is Zuko?" she asked timidly.
Koori looked back at the enraged Lady. "He is sleeping in his old bedroom." Koori brushed herself off and noticed that Mai hadn't moved. She looked back up to Zuko's girlfriend.
"Did you…" Mai struggled to say.
Koori squinted and she could see Mai turn her head and blush with embarrassment. Koori caught on to Mai's suggestion. She wanted to know if they had just slept together. "No. Never, Lady Mai," Koori whispered.
Mai's head turned once more. She nodded at the concubine and walked up a couple of steps. Mai quickly turned back around to watch the girl who still had yet to move. Koori's head was down and she was staring at the next step, waiting for another question. She knew that more would come.
"What do you do together, then?" Mai asked.
Koori looked up, gave a small smile, and whispered, "He likes to talk, Lady Mai." Koori's feet moved under her and she quickly descended the stairs. She didn't want to turn and look at the young Lady who was now entering the Royal Family's mansion. When Koori's feet hit the warm sand, she relaxed and continued to walk to the mansion that was holding the Fire Nation's Royal Harem.
She stopped at the disintegrating doorway of the mansion she was to stay in. She looked up at the empty windows and glared at them. She continued around the side of the mansion until she found her window. She climbed the tree to the side of it and managed to jump through the window without looking down. She landed ungracefully on the floor and pulled her body off of the dirty carpet. She took off her clothes and pulled on a silk nightgown. She shuddered and closed the window and pulled the blinds. She wanted to sit in the darkness and clear her mind.
!
Mai opened the door to Zuko's room and entered quickly and silently. She had spent most of her years trying to impress her mother and father with her peculiar skills. She crept slowly through his room and inspected it in the dark. A large pile of sheets, clothes and all sorts of mismatched fabric was clumped in the middle of the floor, behind a large couch. Zuko moved in his sleep and she walked toward him.
He sat up groggily, felt the empty sheets around him and then rubbed his eyes. "Koori, what are you doing?" he asked the darkness.
"She left, Zuko," Mai barked.
Zuko stiffened at the sound of Mai's voice. He cleared his throat. "Mai?" he asked.
"Who else would it be, you big jerk?"
"Mai, what are you doing here?" he asked slowly.
"I was following my boyfriend after we had just made up after a fight. I wanted to see if you wanted to spend some time with me tonight. I guess that you had other plans, though." Mai walked up to him. Small tears formed in her eyes. "What do you do together, Zuko? What do you get out of her that you don't from me?"
Zuko's lips closed tightly. He reached for her hands. "We don't do anything, Mai. We just talk."
She seemed to be more upset by this. "Talk, Zuko? You just talk?" She stood from the bed and threw a knife at the wall to calm herself down. "We can talk, Zuko. You don't need her."
Zuko watched Mai pace the room. "What do want me to say, Mai?"
Tears ran down Mai's face. She was really upset. "Tell me that you won't see her again. Tell me that you have never been intimate with her," Mai screamed.
Zuko shook his head. "No," he whispered.
Mai held another knife in her palm. Her hands were shaking violently. She threw this one at the window which shattered into small shards on the deck. "No to what, Zuko?"
"I won't stop seeing her. Mai, one day you will understand why, but I can't tell you today."
Mai seemed to accept this. "And?" she asked.
Zuko had forgotten about the second question. He thought about how close he and Koori had been mere hours ago and shook his head. "No, Mai. We have never done anything like that."
She still didn't seem happy, but she nodded and relaxed a little. Zuko patted the empty spot next to him. Mai sat down and he wrapped his arms around her.
!
Koori woke up the next morning feeling groggy and disheartened. Suddenly, a pounding came from her door. She got out of her warm sheets and turned the knob. A young servant girl was pulling her brown hair behind her back and she seemed exasperated. "The Fire Lord has demanded the return of his entire harem. We will be leaving on the next boat at eleven," she muttered.
The girl turned before Koori could give her thanks. Koori closed the door quickly and stared at the trunk that she had never bothered to unpack. She folded the clothes that she threw on the floor the previous night and placed them delicately into the trunk. She rummaged through the bottom of it to find a nice kimono and pulled it out. Koori admired the craftsmanship on the kimono. It was a fine black silk with breathtaking pale blue dragons spitting fire on the edges. She took off her silk pajamas and placed them into her trunk.
"What a nice view," Zhao said with a small smirk.
Koori turned to the sound of his voice and blushed. She quickly pulled on the black kimono and kneeled beside the spirit. "Where have you been, Master?" she whispered.
Zhao frowned. "I have been around. There is no need to ask any more questions, Koori."
Koori stood, grabbed the top of her trunk and closed it tightly. She grabbed the edge and started to pull it to the door.
"Not even going to brush your hair for your new squeeze?" Zhao asked with a slight chuckle.
Koori stopped moving, dropped the trunk and opened it carefully. She took out of couple of morning necessities. A hairbrush, mirror, necklace, and some makeup filled her arms. She placed them all at her bedside table and pulled her brush through her ebony hair. She pulled it out of her face and Zhao sat next to her. She could feel his frozen hand on her shoulder. She could feel him attempt to grasp the black locks as she applied a small amount of lipstick. She smeared her lips together and grabbed the blue butterfly necklace. She clasped it around her neck.
"Your hair is too long. You should cut it soon, Koori," Zhao whispered.
Koori smiled at him. He liked her hair a little past her shoulders; it had grown dramatically since he had become a spirit. He reached for her hair but his hand glided through it. He frowned. All he wanted to do was touch her, feel her warm skin against his own, and hold her tightly in his arms like he once did.
Koori stood and grabbed the hairbrush and other morning supplies. She placed them delicately back into her trunk and latched it securely. She pulled her trunk to her door and dragged it haphazardly down the hall. She put it in the middle of the lobby in front of the entrance to the mansion. Other cases suddenly emerged and women stood huffing and complaining about moving their own bags. Koori exited the mansion to get one last morning by the beach. Zhao followed her eagerly. He wanted to spend time with her before they returned to the palace.
Koori sat in the sand away from the rising water. "The Fire Lord is holding a large party to thank his generals for their compliance at the meeting," Zhao whispered. "Do you know what you are going to do about Akira?" he asked slowly.
Koori turned to look at him. "No," she muttered.
!
Koori watched the Fire Lord's palace slowly come into view. She frowned when she saw the Head Mistress walk out and hold her hands high, waving desperately and happily to her harem. The carriage that Koori and her harem-members were riding in stopped at the back entrance to the palace. The Head Mistress greeted them all whole-heartedly and most of the ladies started to tell the Head Mistress their heartaches about carrying their own bags and being placed in a dilapidating mansion. The Head Mistress nodded unhappily at their complaints and hugged each of them. She stopped when she saw Koori.
"Ladies," the Head Mistress said with a slight smile, "I must speak with Koori alone, okay?"
The ladies nodded and the Head Mistress carefully grabbed Koori's arm. She guided the young concubine into the palace. They stopped at the entrance to Koori's room. The Head Mistress opened it hastily and shut the door quickly behind them.
"The Fire Lord has decided to throw a small party and he has decided to invite a select few members of his harem." The Head Mistress smiled and pulled a flowing blue dress from Koori's closet. Koori was reminded of the Water Tribe when she saw it. "This party happens to be themed for the four nations. The Fire Lord has decided that his special blue butterfly should be the queen of the Northern Water Tribe. As such, he has his designers make this especially for you, Koori. What do you think?"
Koori continued to stare at the blue dress. She smiled for the Head Mistress. "It looks beautiful. Please give the Fire Lord my thanks." Koori bowed to the Head Mistress and the chunky lady grinned.
"I will be sure to tell the Fire Lord your acceptance and your thanks. Please be sure that you head over to the baths immediately. We need to get you scrubbed and ready for the party. You will also be learning a small dance that is relevant to the Water Tribe. You need to be ready and dressed by seven."
The Head Mistress left and Zhao appeared. "Pretty," he sarcastically remarked.
Koori held the dress against her frame. "We can use this party to our advantage, Master," Koori said. Zhao looked at her; he seemed interested to hear what she had to say. "If I could somehow leave the party for a couple of minutes, I could quickly run to the message tower and send the Avatar a hawk."
Koori quickly sat down at her desk and scribbled a note out. Zhao hissed. "You shouldn't be so obvious, Koori," he tatted. Koori looked at him with questioning eyes. "You need to use a system. If your hawk gets taken down, think about the panic that will ensue. You need to create a system that somebody could use to protect yourself. I recommend using two hawks. Send the key to the code in one hawk and send the actual message secretly."
Koori smiled and set the scribbled-on parchment on fire. She grabbed another piece of parchment and burned several holes in it. She placed the holes onto another piece of parchment and wrote out her note. Zhao smiled at her system. To fill in the empty spots, she wrote gibberish. Nobody would be able to decode her note without the key.
Koori folded up the notes separately and tied them shut with hair ribbons. She hid them in a fold between the fabric of the blue dress that she was to wear in the evening. She put the dress back into the closet and slowly stepped out of her room. Zhao followed her to her bath and watched the servants undress her and then bathe her. The old Admiral could find some sort of enjoyment in watching his slave being bathed by a couple of sniveling servant girls. He waited until they exited and let her soak.
Koori sat amongst the bubbles and watched as Zhao got into his usual spot. "I think that you are doing something stupid by going up to that tower tonight. You are putting yourself in unnecessary danger by warning the Avatar."
"I could potentially save a lot of lives," she countered. Zhao chuckled.
"All of these lives are for the cause. They volunteered to give up their lives. Both sides did."
Koori shook her head. "There is no cause anymore. This war has shifted from its original intent."
Zhao laughed louder this time. "The original intent was pure domination. It never changed."
After a few moments of silence, the door opened and women entered the room carrying towels and a small silken robe. Koori stepped out of the bath and the servants dried her off quickly. Ai stood in the corner, directing the women carefully. Koori looked to her friend and smiled, Ai turned and Koori could see the bruise that encased the left side of her face. The concubine's face paled and Ai shook her head and put her hand up to her face to hide the bruise.
The Head Mistress entered the room while the girls were putting on Koori's makeup. She nodded at the blue and purple eye shadow. When she looked at Koori's eyes, however, she hissed. "Can we do anything about her irises? Blue and gold don't really go together in the Water Tribe."
Koori's servants paused and altered her makeup to include a couple of golden flecks. They would make the blue and gold melt together until she shown like a pure royal member of the Water Tribe. The Head Mistress smiled when they were done. "Oh," she whispered, "she looks lovely."
Koori's hair was next. They braided it down her back and pinned it around her head to represent a crown. Slivers of gold, silver and blue flower petals were pinned into her hair. The Head Mistress smiled when the servants were finished. "Beautiful," she whispered. The Head Mistress left and brought in the dress. "Make her bindings and lingerie white. I will be back when she is finished."
Zhao was leaning against the wall close to the door when the servants took off Koori's robe and started to bind her breasts. He stood straight up when the dress was firmly in place. Koori looked at Zhao for approval and he was too stunned to say anything. The blue hue of her dress reminded him of the ocean. He studied the dress carefully. Earlier when it was on the hanger did not do it justice. On Koori, it was the most beautiful piece of fabric around. The dress was backless; he could see down to the middle of her back. The straps were thick and wrapped neatly around her shoulders. The front was low-cut. He could see some cleavage, but it was a respectable amount. All around the dress were sparkles and somebody had taken the time to embroider beautiful purple snowflakes around the bottom hem. Each snowflake was different and he could count thirteen full snowflakes.
The Head Mistress reentered the room and smiled. She clapped her hands together and stared at Ai. "She looks lovely. The men will swoon over her." Ai stood before Koori and held out the blue butterfly necklace. She wrapped her arms around Koori's neck and clasped it.
"You look wonderful, Koori," Ai whispered.
Koori nodded and the Head Mistress dragged the concubine out of her room. Zhao followed closely. The chubby woman stood before Koori and another young woman was hauled before the two. Koori stared at her tan skin and black hair. The woman was about her age and was definitely from the Water Tribe. The girl's eyes lit up when she saw the concubine in her nation's regalia.
"What's your name, girl?" the Head Mistress barked.
The girl mumbled something unintelligible and the Head Mistress struck her. The girl fell to the floor and Koori moved forward. "Head Mistress," Koori whispered. The woman turned to stare at the concubine. "Is this the woman I am to be learning a dance from?"
The Head Mistress nodded quickly. "She was stolen from the Northern Water Tribe during the raid."
Zhao grunted. "It wasn't a raid, you crazy bitch."
Koori ignored the comment from the haughty spirit and smiled softly at the girl. "Dearest Head Mistress, may I learn this move by myself? I am sure that this girl means no harm to me and she will teach me appropriately," Koori pleaded.
The Head Mistress smiled. "Just knock if you need me, sweetheart," the Head Mistress chuckled. The Head Mistress gave the Water Tribe girl a threatening state. She left the room quickly and Koori kneeled to the Water Tribe girl once the door closed.
"Hello," Koori said with another soft smile, "My name is Koori, what is yours?" Koori extended her hand to help the young girl up. The girl stared at it and timidly took it. Koori helped her up but she still didn't seem like she wanted to say anything. "The Head Mistress has informed me that you are going to teach me a small dance for the party tonight."
The girl nodded and averted her eyes. "My name is Tula."
"That is a very pretty name, Tula," Koori whispered. "Could you begin teaching me, I was never really good at dancing and may need a lot of practice before the party. We do have two hours so that should be plenty of time to teach me."
Tula nodded and placed her hands inches in front of her face with her elbows bent. She did a small turn and shifted her hips slightly. She stopped and instructed Koori to mimic her movements. Koori tried and giggled. The Water Tribe girl stared at her awkwardly and redid the beginning of the dance. Koori had to ask her several times if she was doing it right and many times, the girl had to reinstruct the concubine.
"I wasn't kidding," Koori laughed. "I was never good at dancing."
"That's because I never took you out for a good night on the town. Dancing is just like bending. Just watch and move, watch and move," Zhao said. He returned to picking at his fingernails when he saw the Water Tribe girl open her mouth.
"Are you a bender, Miss Koori?" the Water Tribe girl asked.
Koori shook her head. "No, but I wish that I could do something as lovely as waterbend. I have heard that it is a beautiful art. The women in your region are skilled in healing, correct?"
The girl blushed. "Yes, we are."
Koori smiled. "Are you a bender?"
The girl gave a weak nod. "I am a healer."
"How did you get to be here?" Koori asked hesitantly. She knew that the walls had ears and she guessed that the girl knew as well.
"I was captured before the fighting began and was brought to the palace immediately afterword. Once the Fire Lord got word that I could heal, he sent me to the infirmary to heal his injured troops. It has been nice to practice my skills."
Koori nodded and the lesson continued. Near the end, Koori had to entire dance memorized. It was a very appropriate dance for a young Water Tribe woman. "Where did you learn this dance, Tula?"
Tula blushed. "It's actually a waterbending lesson that I illegally learned."
"Illegally?" Koori questioned.
"Women cannot learn anything other than healing in the Northern Water Tribe. I learned this from my brother after watching him for hours. I thought that it was pretty."
Koori nodded. She remembered how much Katara had fought against the waterbending stigma and how she had succeeded. While she was there, beside the war, the girl who had fought against Master Pakku was all they could talk about.
"It is very pretty, Tula. And I think that I have mastered it, what do you say?" Koori completed the entire dance without a flaw and the girl smiled.
"Yes, Miss Koori, I believe that you could become a master waterbender any day now."
"Thank you, Tula," Koori whispered.
Koori extended her hand to Tula and she took it. They shook hands and the door opened suddenly, revealing the Head Mistress. "Are you ready to show me what you have learned?" she asked. Koori nodded and did the dance again. At the end, she dipped low and extended her hands to her left. The Head Mistress clapped. "Wonderful, wonderful," she whispered. She glared at the Water Tribe girl. "I believe that Dr. Agra needs you. Run to him, girl." Tula sprinted out of the room quickly and Koori and the Head Mistress followed soon after.
Koori met three other girls wearing their respective grabs. The girl wearing the Fire Nation regalia was wearing a small tube top and dark crimson leggings. The leggings were partially covered by a gorgeous red skirt which was cut significantly down the sides. The Earth Kingdom woman was wearing their traditional styled kimono. It was tight against her frame and the fabric was a light green with several shades of brown throughout it. The girl in Air Nomad clothes seemed to be the most uncomfortable. She was dressed like a sexy monk girl. The yellow, brown, and orange fabric of her dress was too tight against her skin and it only had one strap across her left shoulder. A lot of cleavage was showing and she did as much as she could to pull her dress up.
"Lyn, stop worrying about the strap on that dress for Agni's sake. The men will swoon over how pretty you look. There is no need to worry," the Head Mistress barked.
The girl in the Air Nomad attire stopped fixing herself and they got into the appropriate order; Fire, Air, Water, Earth. The Head Mistress and a couple of guards led them to the room where many generals and other people had congregated. The Head Mistress leaned against Koori. "All of the people here are very high ranking. You won't see anybody below the rank of Commander tonight. Be sure to make a lot of nice friends; they may end up calling on you tonight or giving you gifts in the future if you are polite and socialize. This party is to show them a good time. Be sure to do it, Koori."
Koori nodded but she knew that she would be leaving the party early to attend to the letters in the fold of her dress. She put her hand on the fold to feel the stiff parchment. She smiled to herself and looked at the people around her. Men were staring at them hungrily. Their looks were probably because the Fire Lord had sent his entire harem away for a couple of days so they could focus on the advancement against the Earth Kingdom.
There were four large podiums at the front of the room marked with the elemental symbols. Koori and the rest of the young women took their positions and waited as the crowd died down. Suddenly, sungihorns blasted loudly across the crowd and two large, gold-encrusted doors opened to Koori's left. She watched the Fire Lord enter slowly. His son and daughter followed him side-by-side. The Fire Lord walked behind the women and sat in his throne. He waved his hand and a small tune started to play. The Fire Nation woman took her dancing position and started. Koori held her breath and stiffened. She had never done something like this before. She thought slowly and remembered the strength that she felt when she fought the firebenders while on Zhao's ship. She had displayed such confidence then; she would have to tap into that confidence. The Fire Nation girl's dance ended and applause overcame the crowd. The music changed and the Air Nomad began her dance.
The Air Nomad struggled in her dress and she stopped her performance to readjust the strap. Koori could see the Head Mistress's displeased look through the crowd. Koori stopped breathing when the crowd broke into applause. She was next.
The music changed to resemble the sound of flowing water. Koori closed her eyes when the music started and got into her position. She danced fluidly—much like the water that she was supposed to represent. She opened her eyes and looked at the crowd seductively when the waterbending move hit its fast point. It slowed down quickly and Koori closed her eyes when her dance was about to end. Her last position was bent to her lower left. She did something that wasn't in the dance move, however. She turned her head slightly to look at the Fire Lord. She could see him with his hands in front of his mouth. She could tell from his cheeks that he was smiling smugly at the flock of women in front of him.
The applause that rang out was sudden and she watched the Fire Lord join in as well. She blushed and remained in her final position, as she was instructed to do.
The Earth Kingdom girl's dance was loud and brief. When the girl was done, she could feel the Fire Lord's eyes return to look at her. Koori blushed once more and the girls stood erect at the same time. They stepped down off of their podiums quickly and traditional Fire Nation music started to play.
"I would recommend socializing a bit before leaving," Zhao whispered. "Your dance was very nice, by the way."
Koori smiled gracefully to an Admiral to her right. She bowed slightly to him and he walked casually up to her. "What is your name, young lady?" he asked.
Koori held out her hand and he took it. He gave her knuckles a small peck. "My name is Koori, what is yours?"
The Admiral smiled at the seductive tone in her voice. "Aito," he whispered. "Admiral Aito."
Koori nodded. "How has the Fire Nation Army treated you, Admiral Aito?"
"I have been treated very well. The Army suits me and I am proud to serve wholeheartedly for it. I would rather not talk about myself, let's talk about you. What is your specialty, Koori?"
Koori blushed and she felt Zuko behind her. "I do not have a specialty, Admiral," Koori whispered.
Aito laughed. "It's okay, Koori. You don't have to be modest here."
Koori shook her head and watched a couple of men turn their heads to stare at her. She looked hastily around the room.
"Well," Admiral Aito whispered as he offered his arm to her. She took it hastily to remove herself from the watchful eyes of the other men. "I see that you don't have much jewelry, I can change that, you know."
Koori shook her head. "I have no appetite for sparkly things. I would be content with a home in the middle of nowhere with my own garden, Admiral."
The Admiral laughed and Koori could feel Zhao stare at her closely. She could also tell that he was listening. "No appetite for sparkly things," the Admiral laughed, "what kind of a woman are you?"
Koori had to maintain her girly, amused demeanor. She giggled. "I am an abnormal kind of woman."
They walked around the room and Aito paused to view some people dancing. Two of the other concubines had been asked and Aito looked to the young woman at his side. "Would you care to dance?" he asked.
Koori didn't respond. "The dance on the podium was the first that I have ever done. I fear that I may be no good, Admiral."
"Nonsense," the Admiral scoffed. "It's not hard; let me teach you."
He swung Koori around and put his arm against her back. He held her left hand tightly in his and waltzed them around the room. Koori picked up his steps quickly. She followed the advice that Zhao had given earlier that night. "Just like bending," Koori muttered to herself.
Aito's ears perked. "What did you say?" he asked.
"Something that I was told earlier today. Just gibberish," Koori whispered.
The Admiral continued to dance but somebody tapped on his shoulder. Aito stopped and turned. Koori's face flushed when she saw Akira.
"May I steal your lovely partner, Aito?" Akira asked.
"Of course, Akira," Aito said with a grim smile.
Akira wrapped his arm around Koori's back and Koori placed her hand onto his shoulder. He kept a steady grip on her left hand and Koori winced and he seemed to crush her fingers together.
"Your outfit is," he pulled closer to her ear, "appropriate."
Koori shivered. "I think that you have taken up enough of my time, Admiral," Koori hissed. She attempted to get out of his grasp but his grip was solid. "Let me go or I will scream," she threatened.
Akira dropped his strict grip on her and walked away. Koori stood in the middle of the dance floor, ashamed. Another figure approached her and she looked up to see Zuko. He held out his hands for her. Koori took his offer desperately. He waltzed her around the room delicately.
"Where did you go last night?" he asked. "When I woke up, Mai started to yell at me. She didn't scare you off, did she?"
Koori shook her head. "Oh no, I was already leaving when I saw her."
Zuko stopped to twirl her and she twisted awkwardly around his hand. "You are really bad at this," he muttered.
Koori bit her bottom lip and looked up. Zuko was suddenly turned on by the erotic look of her face. He was happy that his suit was made of steel. "I know that I am not good at this sort of thing, please don't do anything too obvious to show it off."
"I mean lying, Koori," he whispered against her ear.
Koori watched as somebody else tapped Zuko's shoulder. Zuko turned to look at his father and quickly offered Koori's hand to him. Koori bowed deeply before taking his hand. He gave a curt smile.
"It is nice to see you getting acclimated, Koori," the Fire Lord whispered.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
"You know," he whispered, "you and my son are getting uncomfortably close, I fear." Koori stopped breathing. "I cannot put my finger on which woman it is, but you or Mai is making him much happier since the last time that I saw him." Koori started to breathe again. He pulled the concubine closer to himself and started to whisper in her left ear. "I just want to make it clear that Zuko's best interest is in Mai, not you. Do you understand, Koori?"
Koori nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."
"Good. Please continue to have fun at my gala. You gave a very erotic performance for my audience." He broke away from her once the dance changed. Koori took this opportunity to get off of the dance floor and find a door. She found one in the corner of the room hidden in the dark. She looked back at her fellow concubines socializing or dancing and opened the door quickly. She left without anybody noticing; she would be back before anybody could notice as well.
Zhao was quickly at her side. "The tower is over here," he whispered. He walked in front of her and ushered for her to run alongside him. Koori quickened her pace and Zhao led the way. He stopped at a large spiral staircase. "It's up here."
Koori started to sprint up the staircase. She pulled up the hem of her dress to make it easier. Zhao stopped and ordered for the concubine to quiet. "I want to be sure that there aren't any guards," he whispered. Koori nodded. He flew up the stairs and came back down momentarily. "There is nobody up there. You are a very lucky woman tonight, Koori."
Koori continued to sprint up the stairs. She found herself at the top quickly and pulled the letters out of her pocket. She reached for a hawk quickly and rolled the letter up tightly. She stuffed it into its pouch and looked at Zhao.
"What do I say to it?" she asked. She had never thought of this situation before.
"Describe the Avatar to him. He will understand," Zhao said with a slight smirk. The animal jumped at the sound of Zhao's voice.
Koori paused to stare at the bird. "It's a young boy with a blue arrow on his forehead. He will be around a large white bison with a brown arrow and a tan boy and girl. Please fly fast and strong." Koori watched as the bird took off swiftly.
She waited a few minutes in case the tower was being watched. She grabbed another bird and repeated herself. She begged the bird for a quick flight.
"And here I thought that you just wanted to leave the party because of me," Akira laughed. He entered the observation deck. His yellow eyes caught sight of the bird and he reached for it.
I feel like I rushed this chapter just a little bit. Please let me know if you felt the same. Also, don't forget about the next chapter.
