A Match of Ice and Fire

chapter 14: Zuko

5 minutes ago.

"This is madness..." Iroh starts "...Zuko, and you know it!"

I give iroh an incredious look. Princess Kaya is late. Agian. "Enlighten me uncle..."

He shakes his head. Kaya's coming. Finally. storming down the stairs, even from this distance, there is no mistaking her  thunderous presence.

"What has gotten into you? First your catching lightening for her as a party trick and now this!?  You told me you didn't even like this princess!"

"I don't!" I object. Chieftan Arnook stops Kaya in the middle of stairs. I can't make out what there saying.

"Then why are you going through with this!?"

I don't know! "You were the one who told me to give her a secound chance!"
Irohs contryness is impossible sometimes.

"Yes, well, that was before for the princess challenged you to an Angi Kai!" We both look up the stairs at the impending    princess. "She's clearly completely deranged..."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you this entire time!!!" I slap my face. Hard. Any pain better than trying to talk to my uncle at the moment.

"Okay, I admit, I'm sorry did not believe you about her before." My uncle begins to placate. "But you still have time to back out of this Zuko..."

"What!? Are you crazy?" Princess Kaya is almost at the bottum of the stairs. "I'm Firelord. If I resign now I'll look like a coward." I pull off my over robes, ready to fight.

"And if you lose?"

I scoff. "I won't lose."

"I'd advise caution." My uncles brow is deeper than usual... "Master Katara warned you not to over exert yourself. Need I remind You, Newphew, you still healing from your last Angi Kai..."

irohs glaze falls warily to the faint scar of Aluza's lightning strike still cutting across my abdomen. It twinged last night when I caught the lightning. That small moment of weakness had nearly cost me my life.

"I appreciate the concern," I say softening my voice, "I really do, uncle. All of your concerns, Katara and the rest of gang included." I rest my hand on my uncles shoulder. "But my fight with Azula was over two years ago. I'm stronger now. Besides," I add moving to starting positions, "this won't be a fight." I'm not going to risk hurting the chieftains niece, no matter how deranged she is, I'm sure Arnook wouldn't take kindly to me burning her. "I'll just give her a little nudge out of the ring." Just enough to bruise Kaya's ego "...and once I win. I'll call off the engagement on my own terms..."

I trail off as the princess passes by me. She ditches her furrs, exposing her tanned mid drift. At the base of her back wrapping around to her front of her abdomen I a catch a glimpse of long thin silver scars extending down Kaya's spine. Whatever caused the marks, I don't have time to dwell it. A tight band of fabric hold her breasts alongside a pair loose fitting trousers. Clearly, its an outfit designed for combat bending, which doesn't make any sense,  If Kaya's Northern Watertribe she's forbinden from learning how to figh,  unless...

All my thoughs are derailed when the princesses piercing ocean eyes meet mine. Its a look that could cut through glaciers. Strange,  for a secound I swore I glimpsed somthing else in those eyes. Her face tinged a fraction of a shade pink, but then she was gone.

I wirled round to catch another glance at the princess' curious expression but Kaya never turns back not even when she reaches the far side of the courtyard. Chief Arnook hovers over her for a few more secounds and then Princess Kaya Arnook took a knee, waiting for me to do the same.

"Zuko?" Iroh has already reach the other side. "Is something wrong?"

No. I shake my head. Nothing...

Joining my uncle, I go to one knee as Iroh falls into the roll that has suited our relationship so well for all these years. My mentor. "Remember your-"

"Basics?"

"And don't forget to-"

"-stay my balance, don't let them break my root, and if in doubt always come back to the breath of fire?" After eighteen years of practise, I think I finally got it.

"I can see, I'm no longer needed," iroh huffs, "but I was going to say-"

"-Keep a clear head?"

Iroh smiles "-Stay safe."

He pats me on the back, before strolling off to the spector stand. "Good luck!"

I can't help but smirk. Luck is the last thing i need. Even as the gong sounds, I know this match will be over before it's even begun.