Ash [Prince Zuko - Book Two]

❃Chapter Twenty Two❃

The soft snores coming from Zasai really annoyed Asake. He was asleep in the middle of the day, curled up in the small canoe, taking most of the room. Daza paddled their way toward the mysterious island, his gaze locked on the horizon. Asake sat there, as silent as a meadow vole, barely keeping any food or water down.

Her mind wandered beyond the little canoe, beyond the crystal blue surrounding her, and she somehow landed on Zuko and Iroh. Her heart sped up a little when she thought about the fact that Iroh would be worried about her. He said it was alright if she left, but she left in such an erratic way, leaping through her bedroom window to her doom.

Was he looking for her? Or did he have to deal with Zuko and his anger and pain?

Zuko's face appeared in her mind's eye, and she ducked her head, hating how her cheeks grew warm. He wore a blank look on his face, but his amber eyes were filled with concern. That was the last thing she saw when she launched herself through the window. She didn't want to see him, didn't want to hear that final cry out, but he was fast.

Why did he fight with her right before that? Why did he corner her like a wild animal and tell her about all of her bad deeds? Why couldn't he just leave her alone, forget about everything, and start over? Asake trailed her fingers in the warm water, narrowing her eyes. He was in pain, so he took it out on her. It didn't help that she kept things from him.

If only Asake told the truth. She closed her eyes and cursed herself. She wanted to do things her way, to not bother them at all, and that was what drove them away.

"What are you thinking about?" Daza asked quietly. Asake turned around, facing him. Zasai's sleeping form beside him angered her, but she stomped down the emotion. "Are you okay?"

Asake shook her head, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. She averted her gaze, looking at the stars in the sky, innumerable and beautiful. She wished she could be up in the stars, watching the tiny, little humans in their everyday life. But she was a fallen star, and it was time for her to soar.

"You're thinking about Prince Zuko, aren't you?" Asake's head whipped over to Daza, and she saw a sheepish look on his face. "You're still the same girl that you were on the ship. Everything you did there was for him." She shook her head quickly. "You remained loyal to him even when I wasn't. Your loyalties run deep, and that's commendable."

She nodded slowly, feeling that loyalty burst to life. She was loyal to Zuko first and foremost because he was her prince, and also because he was just a boy who got hurt.

"You know, when I first met my fiancée, I couldn't stand her. I thought she was too perfect and too loyal to other things than our cause," he said softly. He paused rowing for a second, his eyes growing dreamy. "But then I got to know her better. She held so much emotion and pain, and yet, she still wanted the best for people. I grew to love her, and she loves me back. Watching her become the woman she is today really inspires me to be the best I can be."

Asake stared at Daza, seeing another side to him. On the ship, he never mentioned an ex-best friend or a fiancée, but here he was, more of an open book than ever.

"Love is patient, and it waits. Feelings may come and go, but mutual respect and wanting the best for the other person is the key to any sort of relationship, whether it be a romantic or platonic one." This time, Daza looked over at Zasai, his eyebrows furrowing. "Zasai was my best friend, but we weren't good for each other. I'm hoping he finds someone who can teach him patience and love."

Asake rolled her eyes. Zasai would never learn patience and love if it bit him. Daza must have noticed her look because he laughed, shaking his head. He said, "Give him a chance. He's under a lot of pressure." Asake pursed her lips, looking away. "We only have one more day of traveling. I hope you feel better. Get some rest now. You'll need your energy."