A/N: I am fueled with ideas for this story right now, so hopefully I'll be updating frequently for the next few weeks. Enjoy! Please follow/comment 3

Chapter 5

We had made it on the ferry, and I was exhausted. I finally felt like we could relax a little bit.

I was leaning on the side of the boat, looking at the water when Zuko came up to me. He stood close, and if I had moved even an inch we would be touching.

"Sayuri," Zuko said. "I don't know what made you want to follow us, but I'm glad you're here."

I leaned my head on Zuko, "I'm happy to be here with you."

"Aw!" Iroh exclaimed. "I knew it was only a matter of time! I hate to interrupt you two lovebirds, but I brought us some food!"

Zuko and I jumped away from each other both of us yelling, "you have the wrong idea!"

I was blushing and I couldn't look at Iroh, embarrassed that he saw Zuko and me like that. I grabbed the food, "thank you," I murmured.

Zuko grabbed his bowl of food, taking a sip of the soup and spitting it out.

"I'm so tired of this shit." He yelled, "all we do is eat rotten food and sleep in the dirt."

I took a sip of my own soup, it was bad. Unseasoned, cold, and with a mysterious meat in it.

A boy with brown hair came up to us followed by two more people.

"Aren't we all?" He said, introducing himself to us. "My name's Jet and these are my Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot"

The one he pointed to named Smellerbee said, "hey," while the other boy just nodded his head.

"Here's the deal," Jet said, looking at Zuko. "I hear the captain's eating like a king while the refugees have to feed of his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?"

"What sort of king?" Iroh asked.

"The fat happy kind," Jet said, looking at Iroh who seemed upset. Jet then looked at me. "You can't be happy eating scraps? Your sister here looks super thin." He turned back to Zuko.
"You want to help us "liberate" some food?"

Zuko tossed his food into the water, "I'm in, and she's not my sister."

They began to walk away, heading to the captains quarters I assumed. I hoped they wouldn't get into trouble. Jet seemed cocky, and I worried about the type of things he could get Zuko into. All it takes is one guard who has seen Zuko's wanted poster to figure out who he is, and then he'd be gone.

"He will be okay," Iroh said breaking my thoughts.

"I know, but I still worry."

He smiled warmly at me, and we waiting until Zuko and the others returned.

—

"Here," Jet handed me a pastry that was decorated with flowers all over it. "I thought you would like this, it's pretty like you."

I blushed slightly, Jet was attractive.

"Thank you," I smiled at him.

I shot a quick glance at Zuko who seemed to be a little annoyed, but he always looked annoyed so I tried not to think too much of it.

"So," Jet continued to talk to me. "If you're not his sister, who are you? Cousins?"

"Oh no," I said. "We're not related. Lee and Uncle Mushi helped save me from some fire nation soldiers."

"Fuck the fire nation," Jet said. "They killed my whole family. They destroy everything."

I took a pause, I understood his anger but the whole fire nation as a whole wasn't evil.

"I think it's safe to say we all have trauma from the Fire Nation," I said, choosing my words carefully. "It comes with war."

Jet agreed, and we continued to eat our food in an awkward silence for a moment.

"From what I've heard," Jet broke the silence. "People eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on the giant wall."

Iroh and Jet talked about becoming changed men and hoping for new beginnings behind the wall.

We continued to talk for a long while. We breezed through many topics until we all finally fell asleep for a few hours.

—

When we awoke, we were at the walls. The were massive and Zuko and I walked closer to the edge of the ferry.

"I don't like the way he looks at you." Zuko said in a whisper.

"What do you mean?" I asked, I've felt unwanted gazes on me before and Jet did not look at me that way. He just seemed overly friendly.

"Sayuri I would like —"

"Blaugh!" Iroh walked toward us. "This is the coldest tea in Ba Sing Se not the greatest. What a disgrace!"

I laughed at Iroh and his obsession with tea.

"Hey." Jet also walked up to us. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He motioned to Zuko to follow him, and annoyed and reluctantly Zuko followed.

"Uncle don't." I said noticing him getting ready to heat up his tea with some fire bending.

"It'll be okay," Iroh said, heating it up against my protest.

"You already announced how cold the tea was," I said.

Zuko walked back and I shook my head at him, while his eyes widened at the realization that Iroh had heated up his tea. He glanced at Jet to see if he noticed, and I was unsure if he did.

Zuko smacked the tea out of Irohs hand. Scolding him for making such a stupid move for a wise man.

I hoped that no one noticed.

—

We were placed in the lower part of the Walls. We were assigned a home, which was an apartment on the top floor. We were over a flower shop so before we made our way up, Iroh decided to purchase some flowers.

"I just want our place to look nice." He said smiling at me.

I nodded my head and we purchased some beautiful orange flowers.

"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not." Iroh said, as he opened the door to our new living space.

It was a simple 2 bedroom apartment. There was nothing exciting about it and it was quite plain. Of course, I wasn't expecting a grand home. I made note of the tiny kitchen beside an open room and walked down the hall to one of the two bedrooms.

"Uncle and I will take this room," Zuko said as I walked into the room with two beds. "You can have the other one?"

"Are you sure Uncle? You could have your own room. I don't mind sharing." I said.

"Of course!" Iroh responded, surprised at my offer. "A young lady shouldn't share a room with a man."

"Right," I said, how silly of me.

"Now let's go." Iroh said, "I found us jobs."

—

The tea shop was practically empty. I was unsure how the owner could afford to hire 3 new employees and still make an income himself.

I was assigned to take orders and work in the kitchen, making baked goods in the morning and working until the mid afternoon.

Iroh took over making the tea, especially once he realized the tea here was awful.

Zuko also took orders but he was bad at it, so they mainly had him cleaning up once people left and taking care of any other messes.

It was an easy job, and I had even gotten some tips from serving the customers.

—

I was already home when Iroh and Zuko arrived, I had dinner made and ready to eat which they were happy for.

"Would you like a pot of tea?" Iroh asked.

"We've been working in a tea shop all day!" Zuko yelled from his room. "I'm sick of tea!"

"Sick of tea?" Iroh yelled back. "That's like being sick of breathing!"

I giggled at their banter, "I would like some tea please."

"Of course" he smiled at me. "Have either of you seen the spark rocks to heat up the water?"

"They were just on the counter?" I said, unsure where they could have gone as I just cooked dinner.

"No worries," Iroh said a moment later. "I borrowed our neighbors. Such kind people."

Iroh made the tea and he and I enjoyed a cup. I poured another cup and went to take it to Zuko. It was a different tea from the tea shop, one to help us relax and if anyone needed to relax it was Zuko.

"Here," I said, holding out the tea cup for Zuko to grab.

"I don't want any."

"It'll help you relax." I said annoyed that he has had a foul attitude all day.

"Close the door." He said.

I did.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Sayuri, I—" he paused. "I, ugh, never mind."

"No what?" I said.

"It's nothing, forget it."

"Okay?" I said, leaving the room and rolling my eyes.

What was with him lately? Things have been so strange ever since we came back from traveling on our own. He always acts like he has something important to tell me and then stops the minute he's able to. There's this strange feeling between us, and I hate that he won't say whatever needs to be said to stop it.

I know we have had some sort of flirtation going on, and maybe he just wanted to express nothing was going to move forward between us. Ugh. What was I thinking? He definitely only viewed me as a friend which was why it was so hard to say something, he didn't want to possibly hurt my feelings.

—

Work today was dragging. I woke up early to go and help make the bread, muffins, and other pastries that was to be made today. It wasn't hard work but it was definitely time consuming, and the older woman who worked with me didn't like to talk so it dragged until the tea shop actually opened.

The bell rang signifying our first customer. Iroh and Zuko didn't start their shift until later in the morning, so I had to go out and greet the customer.

"Good morning!" I said, turning the corner. "Oh, hi Jet!" I smiled at him.

He didn't smile back and quickly sat down.

Oh spirits, it was going to be one of those days.

I walked over to him, "what can I get you?"

"Do you know?" He asked, a crazed look in his eyes.

"Know what?" I said, completely confused about what he was talking about.

"Them." He said, his face growing more angry.

"Them who?" I asked, still lost.

"Your boyfriend and his uncle."

"Oh, uh, he's not my boyfriend but I don't know what you're talking about." I responded.

"They're," he motioned my closer to him and I moved down to hear the secret. "Fire benders."

Oh shit, I knew obviously but I wasn't going to admit that to him.

"Jet, I think you're mistaken. They're not fire benders."

"Yes, they are!" He stood up. "I can protect you from them, who knows what they have planned to do to you."

Jet had lost it. His eyes were full of a 'I won't stop till I prove I'm right' look, and I knew he was going to continue to pester us until he found the proof he was looking for.

"Look," I began. "If you're not going to order anything, you need to leave. I'll get in trouble."

He scoffed but got up and left.

This was going to be bad.

—

I was asked to stay later than what I was normally going to be scheduled because word of Iroh's delicious tea had began to spread and we were becoming packed. I didn't mind, I was getting paid by the hour.

"Anything else for you two?" I asked the couple sitting at the table in front of me.

"What kind of sweets do you recommend?"

"Hm," I thought for a moment. "Well with the flavor tea you chose, I would suggest our plum tarts."

"That sounds delicious!" The girl squealed.

I wrote the order down and took it to Iroh to fulfill the tea order, and I went to grab the tarts.

The teashop's serene ambiance shattered as Jet stormed in, slamming the door wide open. Accusation burned in his eyes as he pointed an accusing finger at Iroh and Zuko, his voice sharp with anger.

"I'm tired of waiting!" Jet declared, his hooked swords unsheathed, poised for combat. The room bristled with tension, and Iroh and Zuko exchanged a tense, uncertain look, grappling with the dire circumstances they found themselves in.

Iroh stood at the back of the teashop, near the entrance, a calm and calculating presence despite the brewing conflict. Jet's accusations were loud and incriminating.

"I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!" Jet insisted, his voice resolute. His accusation hung heavy in the air, and the customers in the teashop began to stir uncomfortably.

A weary customer, resigned to the situation, spoke up in a bleak tone, "He works in a tea shop."

But Jet remained unyielding, his determination unwavering. "He's a firebender! I'm telling you!" he proclaimed, stepping closer to Zuko and Iroh, swords drawn.

Two customers, evidently concerned by the escalating tension, rose to their feet and urged Jet to drop his swords. But Jet paid them no heed, his focus solely on proving his suspicions.

Zuko, with a resolute expression, stepped forward to confront Jet. He took the customer's broadswords and swiftly adopted a fighting stance. In a fluid motion, he used his foot to pull a nearby table in front of him and then kicked it at Jet, who expertly sliced the table in two with his hooked swords and agilely leaped over it.

Landing with grace, Jet swung both of his hook swords at Zuko, who skillfully deflected the attack. Zuko then leaped backward, landing on another table. However, his refuge was short-lived as Jet, with a swift swing of his sword, sliced the table in half, leaving Zuko standing on one precarious half.

Balancing on one foot, Zuko focused his energy and agility. Jet wasted no time, cutting the legs of the half-table Zuko was on. Zuko, quick and nimble, jumped up just in time, landing with both broadswords poised to strike at Jet's feet.

Jet somersaulted away, landing in a crouching position. His determination remained unbroken as he charged forward once more, ready to confront Zuko head-on. In the heart of the teashop, a battle between firebender and rebel was about to unfold, and the outcome would determine the fate of those caught in the crossfire.

The confrontation had escalated beyond what I had anticipated. As the battle unfolded outside the teashop, my heart raced with worry. Zuko, driven to defend himself and protect our secret, tumbled out of the teashop door and onto the street.

I couldn't remain a passive observer any longer. "Lee!" I called out, my voice filled with concern, my eyes locked onto the fierce battle between Jet and Zuko.

Jet pursued relentlessly, striking at Zuko with both swords. Zuko, though clearly annoyed, met Jet's attacks with skill and determination. The clashing of steel against steel rang in my ears as I watched the fierce exchange.

Jet's sinister grin sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but shout, "Don't listen to him, Lee! He's trying to provoke you!"

Iroh's voice, filled with desperation, pleaded with Jet to reconsider. "Please, son, you're confused! You don't know what you're doing!"

But the battle raged on, and Zuko's and Jet's swords clashed in a blur of motion. Zuko swung at Jet, but Jet deftly stopped Zuko's broadsword with the ends of his hook swords, spinning around and deflecting it aside. Zuko attempted to counterattack, but Jet hooked the ends of his swords together, creating a menacing circular motion that forced Zuko to retreat and defend himself.

As the battle continued, Jet taunted, "Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now." His words were meant to sow doubt and confusion, but Zuko's resolve remained unshaken.

With a swift move, Zuko managed to pin one of Jet's swords to the ground. Jet, clearly frustrated, quickly adapted, fighting with just one sword. Their dance of combat intensified, both combatants now armed with a single weapon.

Jet attempted a spin attack, but Zuko deftly advanced and swung his sword, cutting the straw sticking out of Jet's mouth in half. The momentary distraction allowed Jet to regain his balance, and he leaped backward onto the edge of a well.

From his elevated position, Jet rallied his followers with fervor. "You see that?! The Fire Nation is trying to silence me. It'll never happen!" His words were a rallying cry, a call to arms against perceived injustice.

Jet lunged once more, hooking his sword to the top of the well and launching a flying kick toward Zuko. The tension in the air was palpable as the battle between the two adversaries reached a critical juncture, with consequences that extended beyond the teashop's courtyard.

The battle between Zuko and Jet raged on outside the tea shop, their swords clashing with fierce intensity. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched, a mix of concern and anxiety coursing through me. I couldn't bear to see Zuko and Iroh's secret exposed like this.

Zuko's growl of frustration filled the air as he swung his sword at Jet, who agilely dodged the attack. They moved around each other, locked in a deadly dance of strikes and evasions. I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "Come on, Lee, be careful."

In a swift move, they ended up back-to-back, each attempting to strike the opponent behind them. However, their defenses held strong, and neither could land a blow. The courtyard was a whirlwind of motion, the tension thick with unresolved conflict.

Suddenly, the scene shifted as two Dai Li agents approached the ongoing fight. Their presence was an unexpected twist in the unfolding drama, and I couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"Drop your weapons," one of the agents ordered with an air of authority.

Reluctantly, Zuko and Jet stepped away from each other and lowered their swords. Jet, with a pointed finger, accused, "Arrest them! They're firebenders!"

Iroh, attempting to defuse the situation, chimed in, "This poor boy is confused. We're just simple refugees."

Pao, the tea shop owner, spoke up, pointing at Jet. "This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees!"

A customer, seemingly sympathetic to our cause, added, "It's true, sir. We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city."

Iroh, with a touch of modesty, blushed and chuckled. "Oh, ho, ho. That's very sweet."

The Dai Li agents approached Jet, who looked at them with a mixture of anger and desperation. "Come with us, son," one of the agents insisted.

Jet, however, was not ready to surrender without a fight. He swung his hook sword at the agent, who effortlessly caught the blade with his rock gloves. In a matter of seconds, Jet was disarmed, and both guards pulled his arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using the stones on their rock gloves.

As Jet was dragged away toward a waiting wagon designed for holding captured criminals, he shouted in desperation, "You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!"

The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and the consequences of this encounter were yet to fully unfold. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with worry as I watched it all unfold before my eyes.

—

After Zuko walked over to me, and wrapped his arms around me giving me a tight hug. He let out a large sigh, like he had been holding in it for a long time and was finally relieved that the encounter was over.

"Sayuri," he said in a whisper. "All I could think about was what would happen to you."

I wrapped my arms around him.

"I was worried about you." I said, and he uncharacteristically, possibly fueled by adrenaline, kissed me.

I felt butterflies fill my stomach, was this really happening?