[Earth on Fire] Zuko x OC

Chapter 6: The Blue Spirit

Where in the world was my flute?

I looked under the bed, behind the cabinets, even behind the Fire Nation insignia, but that blasted instrument was nowhere to be found! I huffed in frustration, placing my hands on my hips. Music Night was starting any minute now, and Iroh and I had been practicing a great duet of The Badgermole's Battle.

Checking under the bed one last time, I stood and sighed. Maybe I had accidentally left it somewhere? Exiting my room, I looked down the hall and saw Prince Zuko's door slam shut. Perhaps he had seen my flute. We hadn't fought in a few days, so hopefully he would be amable about me asking. I walked down the hall and knocked on is door.

"Who is it?" A panicked voice came from within. I frowned.

"Kioni."

"Oh, uh..." There was a rustling and the clang of what sounded like swords and Zuko opened the door a crack. "What do you want?" I stared at him for a second. His ponytail was askew and he was dressed in all black.

"Um... what are you wearing?" I asked suspiciously.

"... training outfit," he answered quickly, avoiding my eyes. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah... have you seen my flute lately?" I asked.

"Nope, ask Uncle," he replied hastily before slamming the door in my face. I blinked and then crossed my arms. So much for amable.

"I can't find my flute anywhere," I announced as I came up on deck. "Whoa, what's that?" I pointed upwards to a huge tower in the distance.

"Colonel Shinu's base," Iroh said, staring at it as well. "Home of the Yu Yan arches, the most legendary archers in the world. They say the Yu Yan can pin a fly to a tree a hundred yards away without killing it."

"Zhao's there." I jumped as I saw Zuko emerge on deck, dressed in his usual uniform. "He's probably trying to recruit them."

"How do you know?" I asked him. He looked uncomfortable for a moment.

"I saw his ship in the dock as we passed," he said finally. Something about his expression told me he wasn't telling the truth.

"Well, hopefully we don't run into him," Iroh said. "We don't want any trouble."

__________

Unfortunately, we did end up with trouble. The next day, we were sailing in the waters near the island with Shinu's base on it. Zuko and Jee were strategy planning while Iroh and I played Pai Sho in the corner. Actually, I had just arrived, so Iroh was playing Pai Sho while I waited for one of the other crew members to lose so I could sub in.

"We haven't been able to pick up the Avatar's trail since the storm," Jee said, looking at a map. He and Zuko had gotten on pretty well after the storm. The same thing couldn't really been said for Zuko and I. I don't quite remember what happened, but I know that I must have apologized to Zuko, because he treated me with much less rage for a few days after, although he seemed rather careful when talking to me. "But if we continue heading northeast..." Jee cut off as a huge shadow passed over the ship.

"What do they want?" Zuko wondered.

"Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Sho!" Iroh said hopefully.

"Hey, I'm subbing in next!" I insisted. As it turned out, the soldiers did not, in fact, want a sporting game of Pai Sho. They came bearing posters with Aang's face on them. I shrunk behind Iroh slightly, not wanting to be spotted.

"The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance," the soldier announced while Zuko watched, unimpressed. "All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao."