It made me sad to see him this way. I watched as his face relaxed into a fitful sleep again as his coughing subsided. "I'm sorry, Zuko..." I grabbed his hand that felt as though he was holding a fire ball in it and pressed it into my other hand. I l...
It was only a week before Zuko and I visited Iroh's cell again.
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Zuko passed a packet of food through the bars from his kneeling position. "I brought you some komodo-chicken. I know you don't care for it, but I figure it beats prison food. Azul made it so you know it's good." Iroh, stayed sitting down silently, his back to his us. "I admit it. I have everything I always wanted, but it's not at all how I thought it would be. The truth is, I need your advice." Zuko clenched the bars. "I think the Avatar is still alive. I know he's out there. I'm losing my mind." When no response came from Iroh, Zuko grew desperate. "Please, Uncle, I'm so confused! I need your help." Iroh was motionless. Zuko stood, enraged. "Forget it! I'll solve this myself! Waste away in here for all I care!" He turned and opened the door. He glanced back and my face told him I wanted to stay for a moment before he slammed the door.
Iroh turned and I saw the tear trails on his face. "I did not know you did not go with him. Have you made a decision?"
"Yes..." I stepped closer to the bars and laid my head against the cold metal. "I've decide to stay with Zuko."
"Are you sure? That is a rather difficult path."
"Yes. I can't leave him or else I'd be leaving a peace of myself too. I believe he can change...I know he can."
"That is your choice to make but you must realize the consequences of your actions."
"I know." I touched the scar around my eye. "Zuko is not the same as when I first joined you and I'm not the same either. Thank you for talking with me. I know that the choice I have made will probably cause this to be our last talk." I took a step back from the iron bars. "I hope we can be friends again someday, Iroh, but for now, this is farewell." I turned and left without another word, knowing the next time we came I'd receive the same teaching silence Iroh gave to Zuko.
Only a few days later, Ty Lee, Azula, Mai, Zuko, and I were sent off to Ember Island for the weekend. I kept near Zuko - our rooms even being side by side - at all times as even his father, that evil man, had ordered me to be his personal guard.
Ty Lee was certainly fine with our little trip. "I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island! It's gonna be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing." Ty Lee rested her hands behind her head and closed her eyes with a satisfied smile.
"I'm still working, Ty Lee. I don't get your vacation." I stared at the boards of the deck.
"You can still do nothing with us for a little bit," Ty Lee smiled.
Zuko and Mai were sitting on cushions under the red canopy that I stood guard beside. "Doing nothing is a waste of time." Zuko stood up. "We're being sent away on a forced vacation." Zuko walked over to the balustrade and lean on it to stare out to sea. "I feel like a child."
"Lighten up. So dad wants to meet with his advisors alone... without anyone else around." Azula joined him in his sulking. "Don't take it personally."
Ty Lee gestured at Azula. "Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?"
