Shinju aimed the apple on the desk and shot the arrow. It got home and the apple was split into two parts. She put her bow down and sat down on the floor, heaving a sigh "This is boring."
"Do something fun, then." Zuko said. He was lying on his bed.
"Fine then." Shinju said as she did a headstand.
Zuko heaved a sigh "You're a weird person, did you know that?"
Shinju nodded "Yeah."
"By the way, I've never seen you meditating."
"I don't meditate. I think it's boring." Shinju said "I calm myself by sleeping. Or doing this."
"You really are a weird person." Zuko said as she sat normally on the floor. Then, Iroh entered the room.
"For the last time, I'm not playing the tsungi horn!" Zuko snapped.
"No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." Iroh said as Zhao and Taichi entered. Zuko and Shinju jumped to their feet.
"I'm taking your crew." Zhao said.
Zuko was shocked, so was Shinju "WHAT?!" they yelled at the same time.
"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." Zhao said. Shinju clenched her fist.
Zuko turned to Iroh "Uncle, is that true?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone... Even the cook." Iroh said.
"Sorry, you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again."
"Zhao, what kind of jerk you are?" Shinju said.
"Oh, I've totally forgot you." Zhao said with an annoying grin on his face "The Banished Prince with the Deported Girl. A great couple of losers."
"I would watch my steps if I were you," she said, her voice as cold as her eyes "You know what I'm capable of, or have you forgot the things your finest assassin did?"
"Oh, I remember them very well. How I caught the little traitor..."
Shinju clenched her teeth "You didn't caught me! If I was treated fairly, I would have kicked your ass we both know that!" she said as she took out the dagger from its scabbard which hung from her pants "Everyone knows how strong the Shadow Ghost is. I've duelled with Azula and I was beating her till your little soldiers came and made me outnumbered. But now, there is no Azula to save your ass. I can sneak in your ship and in your room without making anyone notice. I have done that before, too many times."
"I am a General, I have armies under my command!" Zhao yelled.
Shinju didn't give a hoot "The men I've killed had armies under their control, too, Zhao." she said as she showed him the dagger in a treating way. And she shot an angry glance to Taichi.
"I thought that you'd want to know that you're an enemy of the Fire Nation since your attack to Admiral Taichi." Zhao said.
Shinju laughed "He is an admiral? The Fire Lord doesn't know his business." she said as she got out of the room. Then, Zhao noticed the pair of swords on the wall. His face filled with anger as he recognized the blades. He took one off the wall.
Zuko's eyes were wide and his mouth was open, clearly recognizing the danger he is in. Zhao began practicing with the sword he has removed from the wall "I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." Zhao said.
Zuko shook himself "I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative."
"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?" Zhao asked as he turned to Iroh.
"Just rumours. I don't think he is real." Iroh said. Oh, he is standing right in front of you, Uncle. Zuko thought.
"He's real, all right." Zhao said and handed the broadsword to Iroh "He's a criminal and an enemy of the Fire Nation, just like Lady Shinju. But I have a feeling justice will catch up with him soon." Zhao moved to exit the cabin "General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands... If you change your mind."
***
"There are plenty of things that you haven't told me, aren't there?" Zuko asked as Shinju entered his room. She was spending her time mostly in Zuko's room recently.
"Yes, there are. But they are mostly connected to one thing that I don't feel ready to tell anyone." she said as she sat down on the floor.
"So you've met Azula?" Zuko changed the subject.
"Yeah, unfortunately. And I duelled her. It was nice, I mean seeing the lightning touch each other..." Shinju said as she closed her eyes "Then, the soldiers came. Even I am not fast enough to fight that much firebender and one of them was Azula."
"Sometimes you remind me of Azula. When you're angry."
She grimaced "That's not nice."
"I can imagine that." Zuko said and took a deep breath "Well, my last chance to capture the Avatar is gone."
"I don't think Zhao can capture him." Shinju said "I know him well, I was under his command when I was in the army and the very first thing I learnt is he is really impatience. And he doesn't think the consequences of his actions. Sooner or later, that will be his death. But I wish to be the one to kill him."
When did I become that bloodthirsty? When did the human life lost its worth in my eyes?
I have changed badly. Really, really badly. But I'm happy this way.
I kill without hesitation. Does this mean that I've lost my humanity?
No, it doesn't. If I had lost it, I wouldn't have been there with him.
Actually, he affects me. He softens me. That's annoying, though.
Her thoughts went as Iroh got in "The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels."
"Good riddance to those traitors." Zuko said bitterly.
"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head. I mean both of you." Iroh offered.
Shinju yawned "I'm in no mood to walk but I'd like to sit under the trees." she said as she stood up.
"What about you, Prince Zuko? Don't you want to get some fresh air?" Iroh asked as he looked at Zuko. Still, no response "Or just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy."
They both got off the ship, Shinju holding her black back in her arms. Iroh looked at her with questioning eyes "Why are you taking that bag with you?"
She hugged the bag "This old thing holds my babies and I don't feel comfortable when I leave them behind." she said and then turned to Iroh "Uncle, am I a bad person?"
Iroh frowned "Why would you be?"
"It's because I think human life means nothing to me anymore." she said as she looked away "I wanted to be an assassin but I've never thought I'd become like this... Sometimes I feel like a machine that's programmed to do nothing but kill."
Iroh smiled at her warmly "I don't think you're bad, Shinju. I just think that you're a good person who lived bad things." he said as he put his hand on her shoulder in a fatherly way "And I think that you'll find the meaning of the human life again."
She hugged him "Thank you, Uncle." she said and stepped back, heading into the forest. She sat somewhere that she could see the ship. But before she could close her eyes and relax, she heard a loud boom. She leaped up but a flame fell into her as she saw the ship has exploded.
"No, Zuko!" she shouted as she jumped to her feet and ran to the ship. Oh my God, please don't let him die. Spirits, please save him. She was running as fast as she could but someone grabbed her. Her bag fell but she didn't noticed that, she was struggling against the one who was holding her. But before she could kick him/her, he/she hit her from her head. She fell down as her whole world went black...
A short one but the next chapter will be much longer I promise :D
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Winged lemur kisses :*