86 Chapter 86

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Light shone from the fireplace inside the house I had rented near beach for myself, after all, soon after our mission and arrival to the fire nation, Azula had taken us here to enjoy after she had finished the required paperwork after our trip, this was her way of treating us, and mentally abuse Zuko, and while most of the group was in fact enjoying this little get away, I was not, I couldn't, not at all, not with knowing the fact that soon my relationship with Azula would change permanently for the better or for the worse.

"What can I do…" I muttered, sitting on the bed, taking in the air in the room that smelled of ash and dust, showing whoever owned the apartment hadn't cleaned, but it was okay, it was giving me the privacy I wanted to try and formulate my thoughts.

Maybe, I just had to do it… the more I delayed this… the more likely things were going to work against me, I had waited long enough, besides she is coming to me right now… right now it was the best time to do so.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

I gripped the end of my bed, before reluctantly standing up and opening the door, "Azula," I welcomed, as she smiled walking inside the house.

"I still don't understand why would you rent a place like this… is so, plebeian," Azula chuckled.

"Azula… we need to talk," As soon as those words left my mouth, fear, anger and anxiety flared within her, and I panicked, I wasn't ready to talk about this… not yet, "I was wondering what activities did you have planned for tomorrow,"

This was for the best, I told myself over and over again inside my head as if those words were a chant meant to make me feel better, I just needed more time to find a way to avoid destroying… damaging her more than she already is, I wasn't that bad of a person… I was just looking out for her… excuses, but they were the ones that kept me from ending it all.

"Well, I wanted to try Volleyball," Azula said, relief being the most prominent emotion within her right now.

"That would be lovely," I smiled, as I motioned her to follow me out of the house, "Let's go and see the others,"

"Very well," Azula nodded, taking my hand.

As we walked through the hot sand of the beach, I could feel my doubts shaking and my moral compasses going haywire within me, but I silenced them with pure sheer will.

The walk itself was uneventful, nothing worthy of attention, not that I had much of it right now anyway, "Azulaaa, Akiraaaa over here," Ty Lee waved at us as we approached, snapping me out of my long reviere.

As always the duo of full lovers glared at me, with Mai being more of a pleading glare, and with Zuko being more of a challenging glare, "Let's just fight prince, I am getting tired of your constant glares… so let's just do it," I sighed, "I won't kill you… so don't worry,"

"Guys we are on vacation… can we try to get a—" Ty Lee oddly enough was once again trying to be the voice of reason, but Zuko cut her off.

"I accept this challenge," Zuko nodded, feeling overly confident in his skills, I could tell, it was quite obnoxious feeling his emotions .

"Very well," I yawned, and for some reason this made him angry, "The rules are simple… first one to make to surrender, die or knockout loses,"

"I thought you didn't want to resort to killing during this fight?" Zuko inquired, and I shook my head in answer, "Or perhaps you think you stand a chance against me if you go with the intent to kill?"

I yawned as I chuckled in amusement, "No, that rule about the killing or not killing is for you, so that you make this more interesting, it will still be sad and pathetic but at least you will feel a small sense of accomplishment from going all out... like a moth flying to the sun, it feels happy a few seconds before dying,"

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Our duel started with Zuko shooting a wild barrage of fire balls at me, and instead of dodging the upcoming attack, I rolled my eyes at him, and with a bored and a single hand I blowed the candles he was throwing at me, "You will need to go a bit higher prince Zuko…" I smiled making a gesture to tell him it was time for him to go all out.

Zuko at this growled and sprinted at me ready to kill me, I could see it in his eyes, dashing towards me trying to bring the fight to my location, but all he did once he managed to close the distance gap between us was throw fire into the nothingness, for none of his attacks were even close to hit me.

"Alright, this is getting boring," I chuckled, as I continued to dodge each of his futile attempts to attack me, little by little enraging him, "Kick to your left side," I announced, kicking him with my right leg to the ground, "I even told you where to look," I pouted.

"You think a single kick will take me down?!," Zuko snarled, jumping to his feet angry, "Don't feel proud of knocking me down once… it would be embarrassing if you did… seeing as your defeat is unavoidable,"

I laughed at that, "Oh, Prince... I have to admit, I am proud you, Not of your strength, that's sad. But of disillusion. It takes a big man to do what you are doing. Sticking to your bravado to the bitter end, even when the gap in our skill is massively big, you still believe you have a chance, and that is something to be proud of," I sighed.

"All this… this unhinged pride you feel, I will soon rectify this… you have tainted and insulted my honor long enough… I will—" Zuko said, but before he continued with his monologue I stopped him.

"Alright… stop your monologue." I chuckled, "Let's just end this, alright? I understand you want to brag and in a way odd way show your girl how much to a man are, but time is of essence and while there's absolutely nothing I'd rather do than stand here and listen to you bluster at me until the end of times, I actually have some shit to do later, Volleyball perhaps," I smiled, "So he is the deal… go all out… against me, bring forth the strongest fire you can muster,"

"If you insist!" Zuko growled, firing his strongest attack at me, and needless to say it was quite the disappointment, with little to no effort I effortlessly disarmed his attack with a single hand bringing down the big fire ball into nothingness, leaving the little prince, Zuko in shock, Azula pleased, and Mai and Ty Lee worried.

A minute passed after that, and Zuko has yet to say something… he was simply staring at me, "You know, if I had a watch, I'd be looking at my wrist really condescendingly right now…" I chuckled, "Who am I kidding I'm enjoying this too much,"

"I will not be humiliated!" Zuko said snapping out of his comatose state, trying to change his approach from a bending match to hand to hand combat, a very big mistake… for as soon as he got within my range I rendered him unconscious with a quick lightning fast jab to his jaw, "Prince… you have no need to have someone humiliating you… you are exceptional at doing so,"