Unbroken Spirit II (Zuko x OC) (Book 2)

Chapter 2

Nakota:

After our escape, we were now fugitives living in the forest. Not that it was really bad for me, but for Zuko and Iroh, I'd have to disagree. I mean, I wasn't really much of a survivalist but I did learn a few skills at a young age. Though, Zuko and Iroh weren't use to being independent, especially since they were naturally born into royalty.

So today, I sent Zuko to go and search for food while I went and fetched some water. For Iroh...I had no job for him actually. As I was coming back to our spot with buckets of water, I saw Zuko who fell out of a bush which resulted in me shaking head. I placed the buckets down and approached him.

"I didn't find anything to eat. I can't live like this." Zuko threw his hands in the air out of frustration. "I wasn't meant to be a fugitive. This is impossible!" He had grown his hair out into a buzzcut, which I thought suited him better.

"Quit being a baby and stop throwing your little fits." I smacked his arm and put my hands on my hips.

"I'm not a baby!" He turned to me. "And don't call me that." He pointed in anger, making me do my best to contain my smile, this was so amusing.

"Well stop acting like one then!" I stated and crossed my arms. Our bickering was then cut short when we heard Iroh sniffing something.

"Uncle, what are you doing?" Zuko asked as we turned to face him.

"You're looking at the rare White Dragon Bush." We walked closer and saw him observing a pretty flower. "It's leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking."

"Wow, I've got to try that tea some day." I muttered causing Zuko to glance at me.

"It's either that, or it's the White Jade Bush, which is poisonous." He said afterwards which made me quickly change my mind.

"We need food, not tea." Zuko pointed out. "I'm going fishing." He said and walked away.

"Wait! I'm coming too." I ran but paused to look at Iroh. "Don't do anything until we get back." I told him and ran off with Zuko.

~

"Look, you have to do it a certain way." I demonstrated when I saw Zuko struggling. "The key is patience." I did as I was saying and caught a fish. "Ha! You see? Now you try."

Zuko tried to copy the same exact moves as me but ended up throwing the stick down in anger after multiple times. I laughed and went towards him. I slowly touched his arms from behind him which made him tense under my touch. "You have to hold the stick like this. Then you wait and continue waiting until...now!" He poked through the water and caught one like I did.

"Wow, I did it." Zuko mumbled in shock. He then turned to look at me and smiled in victory while I smiled proudly. "Thank you." I didn't realize how close our faces were until I cleared my throat and stepped back.

"Hooray we did it!" I cheered, trying to calm my blush that was rising more by the minute. "I think this is enough, let's go." I said and picked up my fish, walking fast with Zuko following.

When we both got back to Iroh, he seemed to acknowledge our presence but didn't turn around. "Zuko, Kota, remember that plant I thought might be tea?"

We turned to look at each other, wide-eyed. "You didn't." I asked, pleading for the answer to be no.

"I did, and it wasn't." He turned around which made Zuko and I gasp and jump back, dropping our fish. Iroh's face was red, swollen and full of rashes. "When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing."

"Oh gosh, this is bad." I groaned into my hands.

"But look what I found!" I looked up again to see him holding some berries. "These are Pakui berries. Known to cure the poison of the White Jade Plant! That or Makaola berries, that cause blindness."