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Chapter Five:
Zuko dreaded his return journey to the Fire Nation. With no uncle awaiting him there, and the threat of assassins, and all the news Kanon would have for him of what happened while he was gone, he could see nothing to look forward to. He couldn't stop regretting having to leave Toph behind. He felt better with her around.
Zuko was about to step onto the cart that was to take him away. Toph stood beside him, not looking very cheerful herself, though that might have had something to do with the early hour.
"Try not to be too unbearable on the way back. Consider your driver." She was teasing him, yet, he didn't feel like laughing at the moment.
He nodded, and started to climb onto the cart when he stopped, one foot off the ground.
"Should I expect you in the near future?"
"Don't know." She shrugged.
Zuko got into the cart, resigned. Suddenly, Toph reached out a hand and punched his leg, since she couldn't reach his arm.
"Take care of yourself," She said, her voice softer. "And thanks for coming."
"It was nice."
The cart began to move, and Zuko watched Toph as he drove away. She stood unmovingly, and Zuko didn't stop watching her until he was too far away to see her.
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Zuko didn't know exactly how many days had passed since his return to the Fire Nation. They all blurred together. He spent day and night surrounded by guards, as he discussed policies and international affairs. He missed Toph. He tried not to think about it, to push it aside, but it could not be denied that he continuously wished for her company. He wanted to have a reason to laugh.
Every time someone was drinking tea, too, he thought of his uncle. That stung like the bites of a thousand horsebees.
"You're highness…" Kanon appeared in the doorway, and Zuko looked up from the piles of paper he had been pouring over.
"Hi." He said, rubbing his eyes.
"Perhaps you should rest, your highness."
"I am fine. I need to respond to these letters from the earth kingdom."
"I can attend to them, your highness."
Zuko shook his head. "I want to send out a search party for my uncle. Tell them to search tea shops. I'll give you a note that they can deliver to him if they find him. Start nearby. Then search Ba Sing Se and the rest of the earth kingdom."
"Your highness, this plan may not be wise. You shouldn't send any soldiers away at a time like this."
"I've made up my mind."
"You're uncle left of his own will."
"And, now, I will ask him to return."
"I understand." Kanon left, looking like he had just been told to eat pickled fish-lion.
Zuko wrinkled his nose,he hated pickled fish-lion.
Why did people eat fish-lion, anyway?
He was getting distracted, and Zuko looked back down at his work. If Toph had been here, they would have laughed about that.
He rubbed his eyes. He felt like he was thinking about Toph all the time these days. Whenever he saw rocks he thought of Toph. That was not a good sign.
He let his mind go back to his uncle. He didn't know whether or not to be hopeful about the old man's return. Zuko wanted to believe that soon he would be able to sit and talk with Iroh over tea, but he had a sickening fear that he might not see his Uncle any time soon, if ever again.
He pushed aside the papers he had been inspecting. His mind could not focus on it at all. One moment he was thinking about Toph, the next he was thinking about Iroh. He got to his feet, suddenly wanting to go outside. He found a balcony, and stood for a moment, staring out at the Palace city. All of those people that he could see worked for him. From the window he could not see into the greater city beyond, outside the palace gates. It seemed wrong.
That's when he made up his mind. I'm going out there.
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The cloak he wore fell over his face just enough to shadow the scar that identified him. Anyone in the fire nation who saw his face would know who he was. He couldn't afford to let that happen.
He exited without the guards noticing, he was used to slipping by places unnoticed from his years searching for Aang. He didn't want the guards stopping him now and insisting on going with him.
It would be far better to go out alone. The market was open and people were busier than ever, shopping in the fire light. It was almost festive, and Zuko smiled. It was refreshing. He took a deep breath and smelled fried food. His stomach growled. He purchased some and went on his way, thinking briefly how much Toph would have liked the food.
People shopped and talked and bartered, and Zuko watched. There was a man selling portraits, and Zuko went closer to have a look.
There, in the back, was a painting entitled "Heroes" with a mildly accurate painting featuring a bald boy, with an arrow on his head. With him, were two water tribe people, one young man and one young woman, there was an earth kingdom lady, and a scarred young fire nation man. He smiled to recognize himself with his friends. He kept his head down.
"Do you sell a lot of those?" He pointed at the portrait.
The man chuckled. "I suppose. Some people love it, some do not."
"How much?"
"Ten copper pieces."
Zuko reached into his pocket, and then stopped. He almost hadn't thought of it, but he said, "How long did it take you to paint that one?" He thought it was Aang and Katara rubbing off on him.
"Oh…" The man frowned, thinking, "four hours, perhaps."
"Ten copper pieces for four hours?"
"It's a generous price!" The man was becoming defensive.
"Too generous! You could sell it for five gold pieces, at the least!"
The man was surprised. "Not if I want to sell it."
"I'll give you ten for it."
The man nodded, and Zuko passed him ten gold coins.
"Sir!" The man was stunned.
"I like it."
"Thank you!"
"Don't mention it."
The man wrapped up the portrait and handed it to Zuko, who took it and nodded.
"Your art is impressive."
Zuko wondered around the market. He saw poor and wealthy merchants. He saw busy streets and quiet ones. He kept his face covered by the hood, and no one else recognized him. It wasn't until the market was quieting and people were going to sleep that Zuko returned to the palace.
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"Any word of Uncle?" Zuko asked Kanon, a week later as they sat down to eat a meal.
"None yet, I'm afraid, your highness."
Zuko's shoulders sagged. He looked down at his plate of food and stabbed his fork into a cooked potato. How had he let this happen again? Losing his uncle over an argument?
A soldier ran into the room, "Your highness, and Kanon, the Jade Dragon has been spotted again!"
Zuko and Kanon jumped to their feet.
"I will take care of this, not to worry." Kanon hurried out of the room, and Zuko was left in confusion and fear. He slammed down his fist on the table.
He followed them out of the room, determined to hear more of what was happening.
It wasn't an hour later, however, when Kanon had returned.
"He vanished." Kanon said, "but we will find him soon."
It wasn't until later that Zuko finally returned to his room to get as much sleep as he could.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a hooded figure outside his room, waiting threateningly to attack him as he dozed off. But each time he checked, there was no one there.
Author's Note: Thanks for your time, guys! I hope you like this chapter. A lot of editing needs to be done to the next chapters, maybe even adding a chapter, so please forgive me if updates take a bit. That also means if you have questions about the story and characters etc. feel free to ask them, they might be able to be addressed in the upcoming chapters.