Ryoko sat on the floor, hearing the scraping of tiles against the table. Another sleepless night led to her sitting with Iroh in his game of Pai Sho. "Are you paying attention, Ryoko?" Iroh asks calmly. She blinks rapidly before nodding.

"Yes, Iroh. Thank you for letting me play." He gives her a smile as he continues to play the game with the two other members of the crew. The game confused her but it was interesting how Iroh played. He was thoughtful and intelligent, she never realized how much wisdom he held. She watched as he moved his pieces and then paused, a smile on his face.

"Let us change course toward the port, it seems I am missing a lotus tile." Ryoko's looks at Iroh quizzically. He was up to something, but she couldn't tell what.

"With all respect, are you trying to anger him today?" she asks the man. This was just the thing that would make her see him and Iroh seemed to know it. The ship starts to turn around from Iroh's orders and she sighs putting her hands over her face. "I see what you're trying to do." This would be a long day. 

"You must speak with my nephew soon, Ryoko."

She heard the loud footsteps of the prince as he made his way over to the helmsman. "What is the meaning of this mutiny? No one told you to change course." 

"Actually someone did," Iroh says from the table. Ryoko managed to not make eye contact with Zuko and kept her eyes on the game, the intricate pieces being her focus. She moved one of her pieces forward as the crew members stared at the table anxiously. "I assure you it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko." The crew members nervously make their turns, making it Iroh's turn. He rubbed his beard, trying to make a decision on what move to make. 

"Is it something to do with the Avatar?" Ryoko turned to Iroh for him to make his turn, ignoring the questions about the Avatar.

"Even more urgent." He's really trying to drive his nephew crazy, Ryoko thinks. "It seems I- I've lost my lotus tile." He makes his move, his piece going across the table. Ryoko breathes in deeply, trying to figure out her next move while ignoring the inevitable argument. "I am teaching Ryoko, and I fear I cannot go on without my lotus tile." Ryoko still had not looked up from the table and moved a piece, looking to Iroh who smiled in response. 

"Lotus tile?"

"For my Pai Sho game. Most people think the lotus tile insignificant. But it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ."

Zuko clenched his fists. "You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile? How could you let him try that?!" 

Ryoko paused in the silence and then looked up to see him staring at her. She felt this was the first time since they were on the boat leaving the crescent shaped island that he actually spoke directly to her. He barely spoke to her and she barely spoke to him, barely even looked at him. She turns her vision back to the table and calmly decides on her next move.

"He's a retired general, I think he could do as he wants," she replies quietly making another move without looking at him. Pai Sho seemed like a complex game that would take her thoughts away from everything. She had avoided anything to do with the temple, including Zuko and firebending. If she avoided them then she could pretend the day didn't happen. It sent chills down Ryoko's spine whenever she thought of the events that took place. Seeing the Avatar and bending fire towards those she should be on the same side of. She couldn't trust herself anymore. Even thinking about after getting off the island, the kiss, it was overlapped by the overwhelming feeling of guilt. 

Zuko's goal was to capture the Avatar, Ryoko tried to keep her mind off of the kiss knowing it was a sudden move most likely random so she wouldn't feel bad.

Ignoring her problems wasn't something she wanted to do but she gave herself no choice. Instead she spent time with Iroh, playing Pai Sho and discovering her own new strategies to not depend on the fire that betrayed her that evening.

She remembered as a girl, her father hauling a sword around. The sword was elegant, with a golden hilt shaped as a dragon. Ever since she saw it she had been desiring that sword. The light steel with its engraving astonished her. She had pictured earning that sword as she got older, but when the time came she realized what a stupid dream that was to earn a sword and respect from her father. He had wanted to give it to a warrior son, not his daughter. 

Nevertheless, she still wanted to stray from her bending and depend on something else. Perhaps she would learn to use a sword again as she did years ago, before she depended on her firebending. 

"See, you, like most people, underestimate its value. Ryoko understands the significance. Just give me ten minutes to check the merchants at this port of call." He sticks his finger in the air with a hopeful look on his face. "Hopefully, they'll have the lotus tile in stock and I can get on with my life." Zuko breathed heavily before letting out steam and fire from his mouth, surrounding the room. Ryoko rolled her eyes as Iroh smiles. "I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew." 

"Yeah, understanding. Just what I was going for," Ryoko whispers. She gets up from her seat with a huff and nods to one of the crew members. "You can take my place." She walks out without another word, trying her best to stay out of the way. She glances back at Zuko, seeing the hurt look in his eyes as she leaves the smokey room. 

---

The port was filled with merchants and suspicious men around them. Iroh had convinced Ryoko to come along though she denied wanting to come. "I've checked all the shops on this pier. Not a lotus tile in the entire market place." Ryoko groans out as she looks around. Zuko stood on the other side of Iroh with his arms crossed against him. 

"It's good to know this trip was a complete waste of time for everyone!" 

"Quiet the contrary. I always say the only thing better than finding something you are looking for is finding something you weren't looking for at a great bargain," Iroh says as multiple soldiers walk by with bought items. Ryoko shakes her head at the older man.

"You bought a sungi horn?" Zuko asks, seeing the last man walk by with one.

"For music night on the ship. Now if only we had woodwinds." 

"As if I couldn't sleep enough." Ryoko mutters before telling Iroh, "If I'm at the marketplace I might as well find some use of it, I need a sword."

Iroh turns to the girl with joy that she was starting to go along with it. "See, find what you are looking for." Zuko scoffed, his arms still crossed, looking away from the two with an irritated expression.

"Why do you need a sword?" Ryoko scowls at the boy while Iroh walks away with curiosity over everything around him.

"Why do you need to be so angry and cryptic with everything?" She turns away in frustration not allowing him to answer and follows the retired general towards a large wooden ship, leaving him alone. Zuko lets out a low frustrated yell, stomping off towards them. He must have been annoyed that she helped the Avatar after all, Ryoko thought to herself. She wouldn't be surprised, he had been more agitated lately over small things when wanting to search for the Avatar. Most noticed the change after coming back from the island. 

"Oh, this place looks promising," Iroh tells the two as he points to the ship, avoiding their tense emotions and the way they looked away from each other. They follow him on board without argument, heading below deck. Iroh looks around, amazed by everything that occupied the ship.

 "Oh, that is handsome!" Ryoko looks and sees the small statue with rubies embedded in it. She raises a brow at how unappealing it really was while Iroh admired it. "Wouldn't it look magnificent in the galley?" 

Ryoko turned away, already tired of being near the two. She knew Iroh meant well by having her come, but she could not help but feel the tension in the air now. Ryoko looks around, her hands clasped behind her back. Below her, a barrel sat with swords in it. She picked up each one and then grabbed one that got her interest. It was slender and sleek, a shiny silver, perfect for her at least for now.  

"You like it?" she hears. Ryoko turns to see one of the men from the ship with a grin on his face. She doesn't smile back, but keeps the deadpan expression on her face. 

"How much?"

"For you, 100 silver pieces. That is a bargain for a nice young lady." She grips the sword tightly, feeling her palm mold to it. She swings the sword around through the atmosphere, cutting through the air, her eyes never leaving it. It had been so long since her hands held a sword instead of fire. It would be good enough, it was simple enough. She looked up at the man.

"50." The pirate laughs in his spot while she squints. "This is barely adequate and it's a ridiculous price, pirate. This is a deal for you." She steps closer, her fingertips tracing over the sharp edges of the sword. The pirate stays silent in thought before he smirks. 

"50 it is." 

Ryoko smiles lightly with eyes that did not match and drops a pile of coins into his hands. She walks away to the two men, a sword now in her hands. Zuko crossed his arms as he saw his two companions both with their desired objects, though he was empty handed. He knew he would continue to be until he got what he wanted, whether it be the Avatar or somebody else. He had to push down his emotions for the girl beside him, wait until he could return home with the Avatar.

Ryoko stood next to Iroh who looked at the statue thoughtfully. "Are you still thinking about buying that hideous thing?" 

"Ryoko, this is not hideous," Iroh gasps out, putting a hand to his chest in offense. Ryoko did not pay attention to the men talking but Zuko then turns away from her and Iroh, facing the pirates.

"This monk, did he have an arrow on his head?" Ryoko wondered how even when they weren't looking for the Avatar he showed up near their grasp. She pursed her lips before facing the pirates. They had told them about the water tribe girl stealing a scroll from them with the monk.

Ryoko was surprised, she didn't believe the good guys would be up for stealing so easily. She chuckled to herself thinking about how the pirates got swindled by younger people. Yet now it gave them what they needed to find the Avatar and Ryoko could prove herself better than before.

---

It turned to night quickly as they were on their way to find the Avatar near water, due to the scroll being for waterbenders. She clutched the sword's hilt beside her, examining the sharpness to it. She didn't take her eyes off of it even as she already memorized every inch of it.

"Why are you trying to use a sword now?" She looks up to see Zuko standing there, coming in from being outside with the pirate. She kept quiet, exhaling and keeping her eyes still on the blade in front of her. "Are you going to keep ignoring me, Ryoko?" Ryoko gets up with the sword, facing away from him. 

She moved it around, swinging it around her hand, trying to practice and remember her lessons. "Do you not want to bend?" She tried not to let it show that the question affected her. Ryoko kept moving the sword, making jabs, performing the basics that came to mind. Zuko stalked forward, standing close behind her. "Why do you not want to bend?!" She hit the side of the wall suddenly with the sword, the metal clanging from the impact. Zuko flinched, noticing how unhinged she had become ever since the Avatar came into their lives. She turned to face him, staring at his confused eyes. 

"You saw what I did last time," she snaps. "I'm afraid of what will happen next time. You're already mad at me because I helped the Avatar." Her countenance becomes sullen as she slumps down on the bench and looked anywhere but the prince. Her eyes traveled the to floor and she kept them there. Her hand fiddles with the sword, while she tries to keep her head down, staring at her feet. Dark boots come into view on the ground and she looks up with tired eyes.

Zuko looked down at her but admits, "I'm not mad at you."

Ryoko didn't say anything but jumps up, throwing her arms around his neck, surprising him. He had assumed she was mad at him after what he did on the boat, yet here she was holding onto him as if her life depended on it.

She nuzzles her face into his neck. She didn't care if he would respond or not. "I'm sorry I ignored you, I'm just confused. I want to help you capture him and return home even if my father is against us," Ryoko says as if she was trying to remind herself. 

She breathed deeply, her mind and heart were at war with each other and there was no way to stop it. Ryoko wanted to help Zuko capture the Avatar and return home to the fire nation but after facing her father numerous times and seeing how hated the fire nation is in all its "glory", she wasn't so sure. Was rising in ranks with respect worth it at all to her? No, but Zuko was. Power given to her would be a plus. She had to prove herself now so that she wouldn't be ruled by her mind or heart.

"I'm sorry too." He wrapped his arms around her causing her to grip him tighter. He would not say anything of the kiss, it was one time he realizes, but frowns. She had already taken it off her mind, he thought. She wouldn't bring it up, so neither would he. He sighed as she let go, reluctant to let go of her, but he backed away watching as she composed herself. Ryoko grabbed the sword leaning on the bench and nodded before going to retreat outside. "Ryoko." She turns silently. "I trust you to use your bending." She gave a genuine smile before she left his view. The words I trust you struck her. They had known each other for so long, but to hear them when she doubted herself the most was comforting. Her heart beat faster, but she ignored it.

After a few minutes Zuko joined Ryoko and the pirate outside of the boat. They observed the area with watchful eyes. Ryoko's hands were turning a pale white from her grip on the sword. "Ah!" It sounded like a frustrated yell to Ryoko as she meets eyes with Zuko. As they continue they start to hear a voice speak and water moving. They pulled the boats over, docking on the shore close by, letting Zuko and one of the pirates sneak up on the waterbender. 

As they revealed themselves, they had successfully taken Katara hostage. "Tell me where he is, and I won't hurt you or your brother."

Without a second beat, Katara snapped. "Go jump in the river!" 

"Try to understand, I need to capture him to restore something I've lost - my honor." He leaned in close behind the tree into Katara's ear. Ryoko felt herself tense up as she looks to the side, ignoring the urge to roll her eyes. "Perhaps in exchange, I can restore something you've lost." He holds up the necklace she had lost to her neck. Katara looks down in surprise at the sight of it in his hands.

"My mother's necklace." Zuko walks away with it dangling in his grasp. "How did you get that?"

"I didn't steal it if that's what you're wondering. Tell me where he is."

"No!"

The pirate's captain moved forward with annoyance as Ryoko clutches the hilt of her sword, prepared to take it out. "Enough of this necklace garbage. You promised the scroll."

Zuko takes the scroll from behind him and holds it over the flames above his hand. "I wonder how much money this is worth." The pirates gasp in fear causing the prince to smirk. "A lot, apparently. Now, you help me find what I want, you'll get this back and everyone goes home happy. Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."

"Fine." The pirates begin to disperse into the woods. Ryoko keeps her eyes on them while they disappear one by one. 

"I don't trust them," she tells Zuko still looking in the direction the pirates went.

"Neither do I. That's why I still have the scroll, until we get the Avatar," he replies at her side. He walks away towards the soldiers leaving Ryoko to her thoughts as well as the glare from the waterbender.

"What?" Ryoko asks.

"You may have Aang believing you'll help us, but I don't believe it for a second," Katara says, venom in her voice. Ryoko clenched her jaw and looked around her, no one was close by. She walked over to the girl, got close to her face.

"Listen to me, you may not believe this, but I don't want to hurt you. Don't make me change my mind." She glared daggers at the tied up girl before turning back to the water. 

"If you're so against hurting us, then why are you still with Zuko?" Ryoko kept quiet, keeping her eyes trained on the water. Katara scoffs making Ryoko turn with a scowl. "That's what I thought." 

"As far as I see, you're the one who's tied up to a tree, while I could go burn that little scroll you were struggling with. Test me and you'll find out." Ryoko says, shaking her head. She's letting them get into her head. 

"You're lying, I don't think you'd really do that." Ryoko chuckles turning with a glare.

"You don't know me and neither does the Avatar. I'll admit you're right about one thing, Aang is wrong."

"Why would you even help us in the temple?" Katara questions the girl, her tone becoming softer. She noticed how defensive Ryoko became as if trying to convince Katara and herself. She was different in the temple as Avatar Roku destroyed it, now she was trying to be hardened like stone, like a soldier. 

Ryoko answers truthfully, thinking back to the temple, "I don't know." She felt as if she had no control over herself, and she hated it. She had more power yet couldn't execute it without feeling like she would destroy so many.

"Aang believes you can change, I only hope for him that he's right." Ryoko turned to the girl and got closer to her once again.

"Stop talking, I'm done with you and the Avatar." 

"Ryoko." The girl turned to see Iroh standing there with a concerned expression while Zuko was by himself facing the water. Ryoko walked away with a huff, glancing back at the girl who stood tied and genuinely confused. 

She approached Zuko and put a hand on his shoulder. He turns with surprise but didn't shake her off. "Is something wrong?" he asks. She shakes her head with a smile to him though she knew she was lying. She just wanted to see his smile.

The hours passed and the sun started to rise when the pirates rolled in with Aang and Sokka. "Nice work," Zuko tells the pirates before walking over with the scroll in hand. Ryoko stood next to Iroh who stood beside Katara. Ryoko avoided Aang's sad eyes by staring at the untrustworthy pirates.

"Aang, this is all my fault," Katara says from the tree. 

"No Katara it isn't."

Iroh speaks up from beside Katara. "Yeah it kinda is."

"Oh, it definitely is," Ryoko says to Iroh. 

Zuko turns his attention back to the pirates. "Give me the boy."

"You give us the scroll."

"You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for a stupid piece of parchment?" Ryoko eyes widen in shock at the loud mouthed boy across the way who sparked the interest of the pirates. 

"Don't listen to him," Zuko yells pointing to them. "He's trying to turn us against each other."

"Your friend is the Avatar?" the captain asks Sokka, facing Aang.

"Sure is. And I bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market than the fancy scroll." Ryoko wasn't sure what kind of plan he had by telling the pirates they had the Avatar in their hands to sell. 

"Shut your mouth, you water tribe peasant."

"Yeah Sokka, you really should shut your mouth," Aang whispers to his friend.

"I'm just saying, it's bad business sense. Just imagine how much the fire lord would pay for the Avatar. You guys would be set for life." The pirates surrounding Sokka smile widely with greed. 

"Keep your scroll. We can buy 100 with the reward we'll get for the kid."

"You'll regret breaking a deal with me." Zuko and two other soldiers kick in the air, letting the fire soar through towards the pirates. One of the pirates run up towards them, avoiding the flames and tossing beads that made the area filled with smoke. He jumped into the smoke with the other soldiers in there. Ryoko coughed with them, she covered her mouth and pulled out the sword on her hip. She listened closely and then she lifted the sword behind her as she heard the swords clash. 

Ryoko pushes away and turns to face the pirate. He smirked as he went to swing. She avoided hits from other people in the smokey area, managing to defend herself from attacks. The pirate then pushes her away making her land outside of the smoke. She stumbles backward and stands in ready position. The pirate yells rushing forward and hitting her sword numerous times. She kept fighting back but saw all the disadvantages. She was not in her element and she knew it, but stayed in the fight until they were locked together.

The sword wasn't working, she thought. She felt the blades get closer to her neck, the cold metal almost reaching her warm throat. She couldn't think about past lessons and try to figure anything out, there was no time. Ryoko lets herself fall to the floor and rolls away. As she gets up she lets out a frustrated yell, throwing the sword to the ground, kicking it out of the way. "You just got rid of your weapon kid, maybe I'll give you a chance to get it back," the pirate says with smugness on him. Ryoko breathes heavily, and then calms herself. She glanced around her and then smirked. The flames ignited in her hands as she whipped her hands away, the flames extending into the shape of whips. The pirates eyes widen and his jaw drops. 

"My turn." The pirate backs up, stumbling over his feet. She strikes at him with the whips, making him move backwards, until he runs away in fear. She jumps back into the smoke, feeling the whip of fire strike the ground and the pirates around her. Each of them started to run away as she let the whips disappear from her palms. 

'Where was the Avatar though?' she wondered. She stood by the soldiers and looked to see the trio on the pirates ship along with their own boat.

"Hey! That's my boat!", she hears Zuko's voice yell. 

"You've got to be kidding me," she mutters. She runs to catch up to the prince and his uncle up to the cliff overseeing a waterfall. 

"My boat!" Ryoko throws her head back in frustration, holding her hands to her head. 

Iroh pants behind the two, his hands on his knees. He then chuckles, "Prince Zuko, Ryoko, you two are really going to get a kick out of this. That lotus tile was in my sleeve the whole time!" Ryoko looks back at the man with wide eyes and a clenched jaw. All this for nothing. He smiled at the two while Zuko growled, snatching the lotus tile from his hand and tossing it into the river below them. "And you two are speaking again. This has been a successful day." 

"Let's just get out of here. We have a long way to go," Ryoko tells the two. She walks ahead of them next to the river, feeling satisfied for now. Ryoko shook her head with a chuckle, she felt stupid for trying to avoid bending because of one incident. Zuko had faith in her, she needed to have faith in herself even if it meant ignoring the pang of guilt when confronting the Avatar.

Ryoko went over to the woods and picked up the sword she had tossed to the side, placing it back in her care. "Are you still going to use it?" She looks to Zuko and smiles sadly.

"I don't think so. I'll wait until I can get something better." Her thought went back to the golden dragon head on the hilt of her father's sword. She'd grow more, and become who she was meant to be. She'd deserve that sword that engraved the words, my future is righteousness. Her father had lived by his own rules and she would live by her own too. Zuko got lost in her eyes as she smiled and her eyes shined with determination. Ryoko was the one who would help him achieve getting the Avatar, that he would never doubt.

---

A/N: these fight scenes kill me but I love writing Zuko x Ryoko <3