Chapter 4

I watched as Zuko prepared to fight Gow in order to save Lee. I admired him for it, and they deserved it.

"Tell ya what," Gow began. "We can make an exchange, your woman for the boy."

I rolled my eyes at the proposition.

"No," Zuko replied simply, preparing himself for the fight.

"Well then, that's a shame." How motioned for his men to attack. "I'll kill you and take your bitch."

Zuko slightly twitched at the harsh words Gow used, but was mostly unaffected.

The fight began between the men and Zuko. Zuko effortlessly beat them, he didn't even have to use his swords and I was impressed.

The fight was getting intense, and before I knew it Zuko had began to fire bend. Declaring he was the prince of the fire nation. The villagers went into an uproar, claiming they knew exactly who he was and that he didn't belong here.

He began to walk to me, and a small group of men stepped between us.

"Move," he said, preparing to push them out of the way.

They hesitated a moment, but stepped aside. I began to walk to him, and an older woman grabbed my arm. "He's fire nation, why are you going with him?"

I was about to answer when a man yelled, "'cause she ain't nothin' but a Fire Nation whore!"

I winced at the words, but got to Zuko quickly. He grabbed me by my waist, and we got on the ostrich horse and rode off.

"Thank you," I whispered as I leaned my body against Zuko's.

He didn't say anything in return, just sighed out a breath of relief. Like he had been holding it in for hours. Did he think I was mad at him?

"Wait here," Zuko said, while hiding me inside a building.

"What, why?" I tried to argue.

He looked at me for a moment, "please, I need you to be safe."

I nodded my head, the urgency in his voice made me realize he was actually worried for my safety.

He left, and I waited.

Something bad was going to happen, I could feel it in my saw fur on the way here, and it made me worry. I knew he was chasing after the Avatar, but I had hoped that maybe being forced into hiding he wouldn't still try to appease the Firelord. What would he do if he did catch the avatar? Would he abandon me? I'd be left alone again.

My heart started to beat faster, anxiety taking over my thoughts. The fur, Zuko had explained, belonged to the Avatars bison. He dropped me off to follow it, probably because I'd get in the way—but what if he did catch the Avatar right now. I wouldn't be welcomed in the Fire Nation, and even if he did try to take me with him, I'd be forced into a life of servitude. I doubted that anything that had happened between us would mean anything if I was taken with him.

Would I even want to go?

I didn't know.

He was beginning to mean a lot to me. Both Zuko and Iroh.

"Sayuri! Help!" Zuko's frantic voice broke my thoughts and I rushed outside of the small hut to see Iroh passed out the ostrich horse.

"How did this happen?" I asked after Iroh had been bandaged and I was sure he'd be okay.

"Azula happened."

"And Azula is?" I raised an eyebrow.

"My sister." He said simply and then changed the subject. "How long till he'll be better?"

I pursed my lips together, I had to go collect herbs in order to help his wound heal better. We got lucky I had bandages and a few herbs to make into an ointment to initially clean the wound, but I needed more.

"He should wake up in a few days, I need to go to collect herbs and I need to buy some bandages." I said, trying to think of where the best place to begin looking for the herbs would be.

A few days later, Iroh had finally woken up. He decided to teach Zuko how to redirect lightning which was something he had learned from studying water benders. I found this interesting because generally other benders don't learn from people that bended other elements.

However, Iroh used to be a war general. He was studying the enemy. Thinking about it that way, it made sense.

Now, of course, Iroh was just a tea loving old man who was extremely wise and I knew I could rely on for any type of advice. Zuko admired him tremendously, and Iroh would generally do anything to ensure his nephews happiness. They were a unique duo, and it warmed my heart to see the love they shared with each other.

"Sayuri," Iroh called to me.

"Yes uncle?" I said, trying to get in the habit of calling him that to sell the story that we are a family like Zuko had told me.

He paused for a moment before beaming at me and saying, "can you collect some food for us while I finish teaching Zuko here?"

"Of course," I said, getting up from the ground to hunt down some food.

I came back with the gathered food, cooked it, and we ate. Zuko was especially moody, and left in the thunderstorm angrily. I stayed with Iroh, who shared his concern for Zuko. I listened, and felt comfortable enough to express my own worries.

"Uncle," I said, "what would happen if Zuko does capture the Avatar? Obviously, he'd be welcomed home, but what would happen to me?" I paused and watched as he thought about the question himself.

"Should I make plans to find something permanent?"

"Right now," he began. "I think the best move for us would be to go to Ba Sing Se, no one will look for us there and with any luck we can live peacefully there. Of course, we want you to stay with us."

I nodded, not asking anything further. I knew that he had no idea what would happen, and that I would likely be left behind. My heart ached at the idea. In this short amount of time, I felt that these two would do anything to protect me. They were my new family, and I know they felt the same way. Leaving me behind would be to protect me.

"Zuko would likely fight for you to join him." Iroh explained further, "I'm not sure if my brother would accept his request, but he would try."

I blushed at Irohs words, Zuko would fight for me?

Maybe he was just telling me what he thought I wanted to hear.

Zuko didn't arrive until really early in the morning, completely soaked. He stripped his clothes of remaining in only his underwear. He settled down next to me, his eyes were red and puffy and I realized he had been crying.

I sat up and moved to sit beside him. I leaned my body against his. He didn't say anything, but he let his head fall on top of mine. He let out a sigh, and relaxed against me.

"Your uncle says Ba Sing Se is the next move," I whispered.

He didn't say anything for a few moments, "you're coming with us, right?"

"Of course." I said, thinking of the questions that were in my head earlier. Even if Zuko fought for me to go with him to the Fire Nation, would I even go?

I would be betraying my country and my people. I don't know if I could live with the guilt that could possibly develop. I was even unsure if I could support his mission to capture the Avatar.

As Iroh finally awoke he explained his plan to us, and mentioned how we would need to find a way for safe passage into Ba Sing Se. I agreed, and was looking forward to living a somewhat normal life. In Ba Sing Se, they provided refugees with homes and offered safety from the Fire Nation.

I found it ironic that Iroh would be returning to the place he had once infiltrated, and wondered if he was full of thoughts of his almost success and the loss of his son.

The desert stretched out before us, a seemingly endless sea of sand dunes under the scorching sun. Zuko, Iroh, and I had embarked on a challenging journey to obtain passports that would grant us entry into the Earth Kingdom's impenetrable city, Ba Sing Se.

We began our travel. The ostrich horse couldn't handle all 3 of us, so Zuko found another one for me to ride since Iroh couldn't ride alone with his wound.

We were riding for a few hours, stopping once to let the Ostrich horses eat and drink some water. After a while, Iroh began to moan in pain, although they seemed very theatrical. I looked at Zuko concerned. He let out a loud sigh.

"Maybe we should make camp." He said matter of factly.

"No, please, don't stop just for me!" Iroh responded, letting out more groans of pain. Zuko stopped his Ostrich horse and I stopped mine.

We hopped off our ostriches and Zuko immediately became defensive of something, stepping in front of me and getting in a stance ready to fight.

"What now?" Iroh asked, seeming confused.

I was confused as well. What was happening?

Out of nowhere, a group of men on rhinos began to surround us.

Zuko was ready to fight, but Iroh seemed happy? He put his hand on Zukos shoulder indicating that things were okay, but I still felt uneasy.

"Colonel Mongke!" Iroh exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise!"

He knew them, but of course he did. These were Fire Nation soldiers, but they seemed to be different than just regular soldiers. More ruthless. More important. More dangerous.

"If you're surprised we're here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps." The solider Iroh called Mongke replied.

"You know these guys?" Zuko asked, still making sure I was safely behind him.

" Sure." Iroh began, "Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist. They are also a very capable singing group."

I knew this wasn't going to go well. Iroh and Zuko had hefty bounties on their heads, and if they couldn't fight off all these men, then I would likely be killed in the process.

"We're not here to give a concert. We're here to apprehend fugitives!" Mongke yelled.

"Would you like some tea first? I'd love some. How about you, Kahchi? I make you as a jasmine man. Am I right?"

I looked at Zuko, he was still ready to fight but he had motioned for me to move behind the ostrich horses. I immediately dove behind them as the soilder Mongke raised his fist ready to shoot fire at us.

"Enough stalling! Round 'em up!" He yelled, and immediately the fight began.

I watched as the chaos ensued around us.

A man with a ball and chain swung at Iroh, but he skillfully kicked it away. The chain wrapped around the leg of another mans rhino, causing it to panic. Iroh deftly dodged two fire blasts and then struck the rhino's rear, making it bolt away, dragging the man that had the ball and chain behind. Iroh waved goodbye with a smirk as they disappeared into the distance. I found myself amazed at Irohs skillful fighting. He was wounded but still masterfully was able to handle these soldiers.

Another adversary, aimed a lit arrow at Zuko. Quick on his feet, Zuko knocked the arrow aside and responded with a fiery blast, burning a hole in the archers bow, causing him to be surprised.

Meanwhile, Mongke entered the fray, launching fire blasts at Iroh. Iroh, unfazed, deflected each one with practiced ease. While Mongke was occupied, Zuko seized the opportunity. He sprinted toward a rhino, leaping onto its back. With two spinning fire kicks, Zuko sent Colonel Mongke flying.

Iroh wasted no time. He sprinted toward me and the ostiches horses. Without saying anything I immediately got on mine while he mounted the other one and rode toward Zuko, who was now perched on the rhino once controlled by Colonel Mongke. He hopped on the ostrich horse with Iroh, and we rode away as fast as they could run.

"It's nice to see old friends," Iroh mused.

I scoffed, I was terrified for my life and he was calling them friends.

"Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you." Zuko said, echoing my similar thoughts.

"Hmmm…" Iroh said, thinking. "Old friends that don't want to attack me.."

I let out a laugh as we rode to our destination.

After what seemed like an eternity of traveling through the desert, we finally made it to our destination. A sad, ran down village in the middle of the desert.

Iroh had claimed that there were people here who could help us receive passports and any other necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth entry into Ba Sing Se. I kicked myself mentally for not thinking to grab my own paperwork when I left, but I was glad Iroh was able to figure out a way for us to get them.

We made it to a little Oasis, or what used to be an oasis, and found a tavern. Iroh instead that we go here, and so we sat waiting for something.

Zuko looked annoyed, "No one here is going to help us. These people just look like filthy wanderers."

"So do we." Iroh said.

I looked down at my dusty clothes, I felt as though I would forever be covered in dust and selfishly I was sick of it. I hated it in my hair, and on my face, it was annoying and my mind always wandered to my home. I missed my bathtub.

"Let's just hope we can find someone soon," I said, also growing somewhat annoyed the more I thought about the dust.

"Ah" Iroh pointed to something behind Zuko.

I looked at saw an old man sitting at a Pai Sho table.

"I think I found our friend."

"You brought us here to gamble on Pai Sho?" Zuko sounded even more annoyed.

Iroh began walking toward the man and I exchanged a confused look with Zuko.

Letting out a large sigh, I followed behind him.

"May I have this game?" Iroh asked.

Zuko and I sat down beside them as they began to play.

"The guest has the first move," the old man explained.

I watched as Iroh places a piece on the board.

"I see you favor the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways."

I've played Pai Sho before, but I had never heard of this before.

"Those who do can always find a friend."

Zuko and I watch intensely as these men begin to play the game. Although, they play fast. Not even hesitating to thinking of where to place the next piece. I give Zuko a puzzled look, who just shrugs his shoulders at me as they quickly make the shape of a lotus flower on the board.

I drop my jaw in disbelief. Iroh knew what he was doing. This was a code.

"Welcome, brother. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

I let out a quiet laugh, "I love your uncle." I whisper to Zuko.

"What are you old gasbags talking about?" Zuko says, confused.

Iroh smiles at us, "I always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game."

Out of nowhere, these two men walk up to us.

"It's over!" One of the men yell, "you two are coming with me!"

I look at Zuko and Iroh, shocked and scared.

"I knew it!" The old man stood up, pointing at them "You two are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your heads!"

I was taken aback the old man is selling them out!

"I thought you said he would help!" Zuko exclaimed.

"He is," Iroh placed a hand on Zuko shoulders, and smiled at me. "Just watch."

"You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?" The old man continued, speaking loudly for everyone to hear.

"Gold?" The word echoed throughout the tavern. He created a distraction.

The two men that approached us began to fight off others and we make our escape.

Iroh had stepped into a backroom with the old man, and they wouldn't let us in.

For some reason, the air was awkward between Zuko and I.

I wasn't sure if I should say something or if I should wait.

"Sorry," Zuko said as if he could read my mind.

"For what?" I tilted my head, unsure what he was apologizing for.

"Uncle, I don't know what he is doing."

"I'm certain uncle knows exactly what he is doing." I said.

"Listen," he said. "I just want to thank you for helping out all the time. You don't even complain, you just do."

"You don't have to thank me," I said annoyed that he felt the need to say that. "It's what families are supposed to do for each other."

"Family?" He looked confused.

I shrugged my shoulders, "we look out for each other like family. I call your uncle Uncle and we're…" I trailed off. We're we friends? We're we more? Was he just allowing me to stay since I had nowhere else to go? "…friends," I finally said.

"You don't have to sound uncertain about it."

"Its not that, it's just that we've ki—"

Suddenly the door opened and Iroh and the old man stepped out.

"Everything is taken care of," Iroh said. "We have everything needed to head to Ba Sing Se."