parallel lines

chapter ix

"What's the meaning of this mutiny? No one told you to change course."

"Actually, someone did."

Iroh, who was sure enough that his nephew came inside since it wasn't that hard to miss when he is all loud and angry, moved a Pai Sho tile in front of the other player who soon resumed the game for Natsuko, who is now drinking tea beside uncle and pouring cups for each of the people who was immersed in the game. It was her first time seeing this strategy, especially with Iroh being at a disadvantage since the White Lotus tile wasn't aiding him in the game.

"You change our course for a stupid lotus tile?"

"No, Prince Zuko, Natsuko was the one to tell the captain for me."

She perked up at the sound of her name called out and timidly looked at the very furious prince especially that she was getting in the way of capturing the Avatar, she would like to reunite with her other half and it was Zuko who was her best option in doing so. It hasn't been a day since she saw Aang and she was taken by Zuko once again, thankfully she knew that Aang believed her as an ally or else the next time they'll see each other he might just fight her as well.

Natsuko also promised Aang that they would practice airbending after the winter solstice too.

"If it's important to Uncle, then it's important to me too." she replied and saw him breath deep through his nose and let out a burst of fire through his mouth, causing the room to fog up in the smoke of his flames, "I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew."

The day went on with the tile on mind, Natsuko was meditating in her room peacefully unlike Zuko who tried meditating but ultimately breathed out of frustration and the flames from his room went on a frenzy, it was a challenge to get on with but she still managed to talk to her other halves in her mind. Before she could even contact one, she felt the ship dock and a knock rapping at her door, "Young summer child, join us in the marketplace."

Fairly enough, Iroh persuaded Zuko to bring her along with them because, "Prince Zuko, you should treat our guest. I know she'll like the markets."

"She is not my guest!" of course Zuko would retort, he still didn't want to acknowledge the girl he is still housing, or rather shipping? boating?, as his guest and not just a prisoner anymore. He was still willing to go on and about with his reasonings but would ultimately keep his mouth shut when Natsuko showed up at the deck, her eyes admiring the view of so many things people would sell and so many people who doesn't want to kill her, "You look like it's your first time seeing a marketplace, young summer child."

"It's bigger than I thought." she browsed what her eyes could see once she got down of the ship, Iroh already spotted what seemed to be far from a Pai Sho tile with many of Zuko's men trailing behind him, leaving Zuko who would rather continue on finding the Avatar and Natsuko who would rather not be lost and continue staying with Zuko as he continues finding the Avatar, "You also buy things here?"

It was different from what she would see in the past places she has been in, it was an array of possibly stolen but definitely not paid right goods from across the four nations, her previous statement of seeing people who wouldn't like to kill her was retracted once she saw the glares she has been receiving while they walked around. Maybe it was her, maybe it was the person beside her, but all in all it wasn't a good feeling to be watched.

She stopped, which made Zuko stop, when she saw 2 masks that resembled dragons or at least what she remember of it, it seemed oddly familiar to her even if it must've been her first time seeing it up close. Zuko looked at the masks as well and was also taken in awe by its familiarity, he remembered masks of it, 4 of them, displayed somewhere but hidden at the same time, it never left his home even after 3 years, "You know that?"