Zhao's Heart {Romance & Redemption }{Pg-13}

[Ming Ue]

A/N: Hey this was an idea I came up with while I was working on Jiāng lái: The Future and reading The Good Earth. I hope you enjoy it even though its kinda lame. It takes place right after Yue’s Death throughout the next two books.
__________________________________________________________________

Somewhere something is calling for you
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart
Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see ~ Two Worlds by Phil Collins
__________________________________________________________________

Zhao’s Heart
Chapter One: A Second Chance

La’s fury was still raging as he pulled the Admiral to his death. The current was sharp tearing the man’s skin and clothing mercilessly. La could feel Zhao’s lungs giving up as the Water flooded his mouth.

“La,” a soft voice called out to him. Princess Yue appeared before him, his new Tui. La shed his fish-like form and took the form of a Water Tribe man. His eyes met with Yue’s.

“Don’t worry my darling, once this monster is dead we can return to our rightful place in the Spirit Oasis,” he comforted Yue.

“No,” Yue said touching La’s shoulder gently. “His death will not correct any of the mistakes that have been made.”

“I know that!” La responded sharply. “But he deserves it none the less.”

“I am the one whose life he stole if it is anyone right to exact vengeance it is mine,” Yue told him strictly. “I have chosen to give him a second chance.”

La looked at Yue coldly for a moment before turning to Zhao’s half-dead form. The man wouldn’t last an hour unless someone found him. All he had to do was let him go, but he didn’t have to save him.

With a flick of his wrist the Admiral was released him La’s hold and slowly floated up towards the surface. With a small smile Yue held out her hand for La.

“Thank you,” she whispered.
__________________________________________________________________

While the Fire Nation invasion was leaving on the higher-up part of the Northern Water Tribe, the Lotus District was alive and well. There was an old saying that not even the end of days could slow down the hot stop. The end of days had yet to come, but that didn’t stop the people from living like it was. The Budding Flower, the biggest burlesque club in the area, was crowded, as usual.

“Madam Hisa is insane,” Kiku, an acrobat, groaned as she rubbed her sore feet. “I honestly don’t see why the acrobats need to work overtime, just because soldiers will be coming. We are packed every night.”

A young woman named Uzume laughed and handed Kiku an ice bucket for her feet.

“Thanks,” Kiku said as she placed her sore feet into the ice. “You’re lucky you get to go home, Leg.”

“That’s what happens when you aren’t born special,” Uzume said as she put on her anorak. Giving her co-worker a quick embrace she headed for the door. “See you tomorrow, Kiku.”

“Only if I survive!” Kiku yelled as the door closed.

Shaking her head Uzume began to walk towards her hut. It was getting a little bit warmer, since morning was only a few hours away and the moon was no longer the blood red it was before. The image of that frightened her. It felt like an omen of death, even though it was normal again something in the back of her mind told everything was far from normal.

As she walked Uzume caught a glimpse of something floating in this distance. Her pace started to pick up as she almost ran down the bock. The figure got larger as she approached until she could cleary see and unconscious man floating head down in the water.

“Spirits,” Uzume gasped as she made her way to the edge. The first thing she noticed was the man’s armor. “Fire Nation,” she gasped.

Biting her lip Uzume knew that by saving him, it could be considered an act of treason. Yet, there was no way her conscious would allow her to leave him for dead. With that she dived into the water. Even she, a native, was taken back at just how cold the water is. If the man hadn’t already died from hypothermia she would be shocked.

Wrapping her arms around his body and unlashed the armor from his body. Uzume looped her arms under his armpits and pulled him towards the land.

Mentally she cursed the family for never teaching her to use her Waterbending to do anything else but heal.

Once on land Uzume laid him down flat and placed her hand on his throat. Her hand glowed as she used her healing to clear his lungs. A low heat radiated from him, so his chance survival had increased. She needed to get him to her hut.

“Alright you,” she whispered, “let’s get you somewhere warm.”

__________________________________________________________________


Yeah, this sucks, but I promise it’ll get better next chapter when Zhao awakens as his disgruntled, angry self.

[Ming Ue]

A/N: I’ve been doing a lot of work on this chapter. Hopefully it makes up for the first one. Enjoy.
_______________________________________

No good deed goes unpunished
All helpful urges should be circumvented
No good deed goes unpunished
Sure, I meant well -
Well, look at what well-meant did ~ No Good Dead from Wicked
_______________________________________

Zhao’s Heart
Chapter Two: Awakening

Zhao felt light, as if he was floating in an abyss that seemed to stretch on for miles. Looking around the Admiral wondered what this darkness was.

Am I dead? He asked himself as he took a step forward. When he moved the room seemed break apart. The footing gave way and Zhao found himself spiraling downwards. His lungs wanted release, the pressure of a screaming building until it was almost painful.

A blinding light surrounded him and finally he was able to scream.
_______________________________________

Zhao shot up quickly as his lungs gasped for air, as he did a sharp pain when through his throat. Stopping he took in small sips of air until the soreness slowly decreased into a slight throbbing sensation.

Sitting up he noticed that he was lying on floor mat, undressed except for his ripped pants. Looking down at his body Zhao noticed that he wasn’t visible injured, but the aches in his muscles told him otherwise. The sight of animal skins, blue machetes and spears unnerved him. It was obviously Water Tribe décor.

So I’m still in this ice box, he thought with annoyance. It wasn’t a prison, however, or else he would have been tied up and guards would be around.

Running his hand through his loose hair Zhao wondered how he even was alive.

I could have sworn that thing was dragging me to my death. How did I escape its grasp? The last thing I remember was that traitor Zuko trying to help me, the memory of that made Zhao clenched his fists in frustration. Idiot, how dare he try to turn me into a weakling?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Sliding off the mat quietly he made a stance and readied his fists for attack. A shadow approached the doorway and as soon as Zhao saw a blue anorak he released an onslaught of fireballs.

Uzume felt the fire before she could see it and quickly ducked back into the hallway, the heat of the flame just grazing her cheek.

“dang it!” she yelled, against the wall she pulled out the machete she kept inside her anorak.

“Where am I?” she heard Zhao call out but before she could say anything more fire came through the doorway.

Zhao didn’t stop his assault as he followed the shadow into the hallway. Uzume quickly got to her feet, swiping at the flames as they closer to her.

Pausing for a moment the former admiral saw that it was only a woman. “Peasant, I will only say it one more time, tell me where I am,” he ordered.

“Does it make sense to ask me questions while throwing fireballs at me you imbecile?” Uzume yelled as she fought the urge to attack him. She knew that even if she tried he would be faster.

Zhao glared at her coldly and clenched his fists tighter. “I didn’t ask you for dialogue. I asked you a simply question,” he told her as he raised his hands higher. “Answer of the next blast hits your face.”

Uzume looked at the Fire Nation man with pure disgust. I am risking my neck for treason for this monster, she thought. This is why people should ignore their conscious.

“You’re in the Water Tribe, the Lotus district, to be specific.” Uzume told him. “I saved you from drowning and brought you here. You’re welcome.”

“What happened with the invasion?” he asked urgently.

That at least, had to have succeeded! Even if he had died at least he would have died with honor and his name permanently implanted in the books of Fire Nation history.

Uzume could see the hint of worry in his eyes and couldn’t hold back the tone of condescending tone as she answered, “Unfortunately, the great Fire Nation navy was defeated. Its big news all over the area, the last ship left this morning.”

For a moment Zhao was silent as the knowledge of his crushing defeat washed over him. Every military accomplishment he had was now null and void. This loss overrode every victory. He was a failure just like that old fool Iroh and that false prince, Zuko.

Then there was Fire Lord Ozai. After all Ozai had already put up with his past failures at the hand of the Avatar. This had been his final chance and it was gone. So was his honor.

“Everything I’ve done,” he hissed as the blood rushed to his head in anger. “Every sacrifice wasted.”

As his anger rose so did the flames that he has already created. Uzume felt the heat whipping against her skin dangerously.

Now she was getting nervous, her home was made of ice and if this hog-monkey couldn’t control himself, then it was going to become a puddle.

Clenching the machete she turned it over to the handle dull side. Zhao was to busy steaming in his own anger that he didn’t notice Uzume behind him. Taking the opportunity she struck Zhao, hard, in the back of the head.

He out a low grunt before falling into unconsciousness and collapsed onto the floor. The flames and raging heat died instantly.

Uzume wiped the sweat from her brow and leaned against the wall gasping for air.

“I think…I’m gonna need some rope.”
_______________________________________

It was the second time today that Zhao had awoken from blackness, although this time it was different. His entire body was bound with a thick black cord. The only thing he could move was his head.

A shirt was stuffed in his mouth so he couldn’t even breathe fire to release himself, unless he didn’t mind burning his throat. Looking to the side he saw the brat who was responsible for his current condition.

The woman sat cross legged on the floor reading a scroll. Her dark blue eyes flickered in his direction. Rolling up the scroll Uzume walked over and placed her foot on Zhao’s chest.

“Nice to see you awake,” she said with a condescending smirk.

Zhao growled and tried to curse at her but Uzume simple examined her nails.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you,” she mouthed. “But this will give me a chance to talk to you.”

Collecting her blue robe Uzume sat down on her “captives” stomach. Zhao gave out a growl of hatred as his golden eyes bored into her blue ones.

“Now,” she started, “since I am very doubtful of your ability to hear I will remind you that I saved your annoying self from drowning. Although, I have to say I have been regretting it for the past few hours. But, now that you are here it’s very vital that you understand that both of our lives are on the line. If I am caught harboring a Fire Nation soldier I’ll be hanged for treason and you will be tortured until you die. So if we both want to survive you need to control your temper understand?”

Zhao just glared at the woman and nodded slowly. All he wanted was her for to release him so he could ring her neck.

Uzume placed her hand on the shirt and pulled it out of Zhao’s mouth. “There now you may dialogue.”

Taking a deep breath Zhao used his Fire Breath and blasted it right into Uzume’s face. The woman ducked and slammed the shirt back into his mouth.

“We are in a house made of ICE! Do you think it’s smart to be blasting fire all around the blasted place?” she yelled pushing the shirt deeper into his mouth almost choking the man.

Hearing him gag she pulled the shirt out.

“You stupid peasant!” Zhao yelled his face red with anger. “Once I get out of here I will burn your pathetic home to the ground.”

“And then what genius?” Uzume taunted. “How are you going to survive?

The fallen admiral had no answer for that, because there was none. He couldn’t survive out here. He has no allies, no power, nothing. All he had was this stupid peasant girl.

Seeing the look of realization on his face Uzume smiled. “Now, it looks like your finally getting it.”

Picking up her machete she cut the rope that bound him. There were a few marks on his flesh from it, but nothing to serious. Zhao rose slowly propping himself up with one foot and rubbing his wrist.

Uzume dropped a blue anorak and matching pants in front of him. “There you go new clothes. Hopefully they fit.” With that Uzume walked out of the room with the satisfaction of knowing she got the last laugh.

Picking up the anorak Zhao snarled at the color. He refused to accept this. There has to be something he could do to return to favor with Fire Lord Ozai.

Maybe if I keep my eyes open, an opportunity will make itself known. After all I'm living with the enemy,, Zhao thought as he reluctantly put on the anorak.

“Hey hog-monkey hurry up in there, I don’t have all day!”

“I don’t take orders from you peasant child,” Zhao yelled as he slipped out of his ripped pants and into the blue ones.

From the other room Uzume rolled her eyes in annoyance. This was going to be much more difficult than she had thought.

“Well if push comes to shove, I’ll just knock him out again and throw him back in the river.”

[PA]

This is my first time reading a Zhao story too. I really like it so far. Keep up the good work!