Lost and Confused

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laugh and the wind howling above in amused agreement.

The Sea has a new Child, the breeze cooed.

No, replied the ocean that is vast and deep and encompassing. Just a returning one.

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Within Karé's Thick Jungle—Holding the Flightless Moa's and the Large Kawekaweau's

"Are these even birds?" You questioned as you poked one of the birds that got knocked out. The bird seeming to be around ten feet tall birds and have no wings, similar to ostriches but instead of black and white fluffy feathers, they were tan and looked more wiry. They were not pleasant to touch and beak's are more pointed and sharp, perfect to defend themselves. "What kind of bird doesn't have wings?" You thought out loud, before making a note they look easier to ride with no flapping wings getting in the way.

At your feet were five knocked out moa's, their eyes white from fright. You don't quite understand what happened. One moment you got caught off guard and got chased by these towering birds and dodging their pecks and sharp taloned feet. But when you had enough and remembered the villagers need meat and you should probably help with that and not just look for Zuko, you stopped and turned around. Your expression turning set as you touched Karasu's hilt, staring at the moa's who came charging at you. Only for them to blink and come to a complete stop that you sure have them whiplash. Their eyes turning nervous as they continued to stare at you and bowed their heads, making your head tilt, only making your expression look more dangerous by making your gaze shadowed due to your cap. Their shudders clear before they knocked out.

Frankly, you're not sure what happened but you'll take it!

You heard foliage being rustled by you, making you turn in the direction. You heard what sounded like smacks and squawks, and headed towards it. Being mindful of the grass and sticks on the ground and maintains silence, hidden behind a bush to see what was happening.

Oh, it's Zuko! You realize, watching how the cook knocked out the moa's quite skillfully by chopping the back of their necks. Dodging their pecks and stomps of their talons with jumps over their heads, even grabbing one's neck with one hand and chopping it with the other as he fell back onto the ground. You also spotted a large gecko seeming to want to join in on the branches with the attacks. It being at least four feet long and it's long tongue whipping out it's mouth to try to land on Zuko. It kept missing by hitting the mao's though, making the mao's frustrated due to the growing ticks you could see from here and insulted squawks. Huh...he knows how to fight?

You observed Zuko's fight a little longer until he knocked out all the moa's, although the large gecko was trying to get him, Zuko didn't seem to pay any mind to it since it kept missing.

You came out from behind the bushes, purposefully making noise as Zuko's blank gaze landed on your bewildered yet smiling face.

"You know how to fight and cook? And using just your hands too," you pointed at Zuko's bandages hands, looking a little more worn than before due to the fighting. "I didn't think cooks liked using their hands or something. Something about protecting them. Which makes sense. Wouldn't be a very good swordsman if I can't have both my hands, would I?" You joked, but Zuko still kept his eyes neutral, lips straight.

As you were speaking, the four foot gecko on the tree behind you tried to aim at you with its tongue. Whipping it out and landing on your boot.

You made a face, shaking the tongue off and the gecko's tongue snapped back within its mouth.

"You shouldn't let the kawekaweau's tongue touch you," Zuko toned, your gaze raising along with a brow at him as he moved the moa's bodies all atop each other. "They're covered with a deadly toxin and can kill you in a mere few hours."

"What?!" You stared at your combat boots, looking a little worried before turning a scowling face towards the calm cherry haired man. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier?!"

"I thought you were fast enough to dodge," the man replied flatly, his eyes up at you before nonchalantly turning back to his task. "It seems not."

Your brows furrowed deeply, insulted.

What's up with this guy?

"It seemed to be missing you fine enough. Why did it get me?"

Zuko didn't seem to want to deign you an answer. The noise within the dark hard to see jungle outside of insects being him moving around the moa's and putting them in what appears to be a large towering wooden backpack to fit them all.

...

"Are you not going to answer...?!"

"Hands are not only meant to make." You blinked, thrown momentarily by the subject change only to notice he was answering your first question. His gaze was focused at his task, tightening the moa's with rope, bandaged muscles flexing with the movement. "True cooks hunt their dishes. And hands are also meant to protect. What is a cook if you can not protect what you make?"

You blinked once more, furrowed brows relaxing as understanding went through you, your head tilting at the man who's eyes seem to gleam each time he does or speaks about what he clearly loves.

Not quite a dead fish than.

It's not like Lucci turned out to be one either, you added as an afterthought before pointing your attention back to the man and his bandages from his arms to his forehead. Weird though. He seems to be prideful but he hides the tattoos.

Zuko, seeming to sense your gaze and where it was, turned his deep red eyes towards you.

"A cook, will also learn on his own. I don't need help. Not from anyone. Much less ancestors. Even more so when they aren't worth honoring."

Ah. So it's like that, is it?

"Idiot. You think I don't know you're strong on your own? Nothing is wrong with accepting help sometimes. So don't think you're weak cause of it. You idiot."

Your lips turned down.

"Your dad told me a bit about the two you have on your arm. You don't like both Raiona and Kokiri?"

Zuko's red gaze turned cutting as they flicked towards you. Your expression maintaining the same. You're used to piercing dark gazes by now anyways.

You didn't think he was going to answer as he put on the large towering wooden backpack, moa's still knocked out within it as Zuko stood—the twenty foot tall backpack dwarfing him to a hilarious degree. It didn't stop his set chin and stoic gaze.

"Why would you care? You're a deserter aren't you?"

You stilled. Karasu at your hip seeming to glint.

"We barely get News Coo's here, but when we do, I am the sole one that bothers to read it. What do you want from my family?"

You shook yourself, turning defensive.

"I don't know exactly what the newspapers are saying, but know I actually want to help. You guys...do you have any idea what the World Government would do if they found out about your tattoos...?" You questioned, swiping your arm out as Zuko's brow's furrowed a pinch. "The connection to the Void Century—don't you guys know what happened to Ohara for trying to figure it out? Imagine an actual connection!"

The cherry haired man's red brows furrowed fully.

"Ohara...?"

"You don't know—you haven't heard about Ohara?! It was everywhere!"

Zuko's expression seemed troubled as he turned his gaze to the side, lifting up his bandaged right arm and staring at it.

"So he truly wasn't paranoid after all..." he muttered, too low for you to understand making you arch a brow before he looked up at you. Demanding an explanation from you about Ohara with a simple "Explain". You doing so since this was more important than his attitude. Also adding onto your theory that the pirates may not even be pirates or just hired from the government. Once you were finished, Zuko's skin seemed to pale and his eyes wider than you've ever seen on him. Him than shaking his head. "We don't receive many News Coos here. If my father found out..." Zuko seemed to be struggling to get out more, his bandaged hands clenching at his sides. "But those must be pirates. They have to be. They were proclaiming about being Allies of a Yonko. They had the signature."

At least they know what a Yonko is.

You were going to ask once more on which one, but stopped. Noticing in the distance there was heavy smoke miles out where you came from, the bonfire on the cliff. Your brows furrowed, you pointing in the direction.

"Does the bonfire actually get that big?"

Zuko followed your finger, his form than tensing.

"No." And just like that, he bolted, backpack on all on him and you barely got past the word for him to wait. Having to follow after him.

"What?! What's going on?!"

"Pirates," Zuko spat out darkly, making you blink before you cursed to yourself as they dashed in between trees and branches. Impressive he is going in this fast pace. "They're here. Only explanation. I...Azu, Aiko, my father—it seems Raiona really wasn't paranoid. Perhaps we should've listened more and not follow Kokiri's way too strictly."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"What I use to disguise my tattoos, it's not just to not display them. I can't hear them. I refused to after what I found out about them—being the first to have both Raiona and Kokiri, I heard both."

"Okay," you said, stretching out the word with an arched brow. "So Kokiri did some bad things too I take it? Based on what your dad said, they didn't seem to like each other much..."

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"Ouch!" A small body landed harshly on the ground, rose hair splayed on the grass, small chest huffing with breaths with a stick a few inches away from tanned hands. A hearty laugh was heard. The boy making a face as he got up with embarrassment shining in sunset eyes. "Don't laugh at me! You're always stronger than me!"

The other boy that stood over him with a training stick, cleared a tear from his face. Dark scarlet hair shining in the sun as he grinned, feral with sunrise eyes glinting.

"Be better than me than, idiot!"

Despite the harsh words, a hand reached down as another reached up, clasping.

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"Not just that," Zuko said, red eyes focused ahead as his lips thinned. "They were brothers."

You blinked, listening as Zuko explained what he learned from the amount of time he got speaking with Raiona and Kokiri. Something you didn't understand he could do since Mayor said earlier it was more instinct than actual talking. Zuko didn't seem to bother with knowing why. Telling the story of how Raiona and Kokiri were of blood, and while Raiona perhaps was too violent—Kokiri had a hand in their country's downfall as well all those years ago.

"We were a kingdom. Once." Zuko said, eyes shadowed behind the bangs across his forehead as you spared him a glance. "Not one as great as others, not Alabasta or Dressrosa—no castles. Just huts. Our Wharenui. But we were a proud people. And Kokiri ruined it with his inability to act."

Your eyes squinted.

Were?

Zuko went on, saying that despite being family, their actions killed each other. And the potential for this country. Adding that he won't follow those who are failures—and who's knowledge he doesn't care to know more of. It made you frown.

"I don't listen to weaklings."

"That's pretty narrow minded you know," Zuko glanced at you, spotting your disapproving frown with a hint of being insulted. "You just cut them off after they told you that? For years? You didn't even hear what else they had to say. You probably didn't even get the full story—"

"I heard enough." Zuko cut you off stoically, turning his gaze back straight. Your lips thinned at the action but you stayed silent. "What would you know? And like I said—I don't need them to teach me anything. I don't need their help."

It's like talking to a brick wall.

Than again, you think, staring back towards the big cloud of smoke by craning your neck as you jumped and dashed at the same pace as Zuko. I would probably be like him if it wasn't for Smoker.

Your eyes than widened, making a noise of shock and realization. Zuko side eyed you.

"I have to get Kuroi ten'nosabaki! Who knows where those fires are!" Zuko's eyes widened, seeing your connection of his father's house before he gave a slow nod. Replying that he will go himself to check on Azu, Aiko and Mayor. And that you seem to care more about a sword than the people you stated to help. You whipped your eyes towards him, narrowed and words biting making Zuko get taken aback. "You don't know how to be a swordsman! So of course you wouldn't understand. A swordsman is nothing without their sword! And I won't become the world's strongest woman without Kuroi ten'nosabaki!"

The worlds strongest woman? Zuko thought to himself, frowning as he stared at your form. You?

It was silent for a few beats. You took a breath, calming yourself before adding.

"Besides, I said I would help. I'll help."

Zuko stared at you, the both of you stopping atop branches of trees. How your hair was wild under you cap due to the speed, your sword on your hip glinting within its scabbard and how even in this darkness, your eyes shined with conviction u set watch your hat that said the word 'MARINE'. When you weren't one anymore.

Strange, Zuko thought, tattoos underneath bandages itching. I could believe you.

Zuko tore his gaze away.

"I still like you." You made a choked noise of shock again at the words, cheeks flushing before you realized what he really meant and letting out an "Oi!". Zuko didn't pay you mind. "Go than. I'll take my leave."

You made a noise of huffed confirmation, the both of you moving to opposite directions. You using Kamisori to move faster now that you don't have to listen to the young looking man. No use in being polite now!

I'm coming Kuroi ten'nosabaki!

When Zuko glanced back, only to see nothing, his eyes widened.

She disappeared? Can someone be that fast?

Zuko shook his head, turning back towards the sky, seeing how the smoke curled in the sky where the bonfire was. How he could see the light of fire that is too high.

His jaw clenched, along with his bandaged fists.

He'll do this on his own. He doesn't need a failed ancient ancestor's help.

When Zuko arrived to where the fires were, huts on fire and children crying with their painted faces being ruined, of screaming and cruel laughter, his already stoic eyes turned cold in anger.

He spotted a few pirates messing with a family, a mother and her two children. No Karé warrior in sight able to defend them, too busy fighting the others.

Zuko cracked his knuckles, stepping up towards the pirates. The family turning teary eyes towards him, hope rising. One of the three pirates turned, a sneer already ready on his face as his peripheral vision spots the young looking tall cherry haired man.

"What do we have here?"

The pirates barely got the words out, before a bandaged fist met his face. The pirate's teeth being knocked out, Zuko's arm still up, red eyes flashing threateningly towards the other pirates, the punched pirate on the floor.

"I really," Zuko cracked his fists again, raising one up as he faced the two pirates who raised their swords up, "love this."

The two pirates blanched.

It's a psychopath!

Zuko handled the two pirates, taking a cut to his arm and grass to his abdomen to his irritation. Not saying anything when the family thanked him, only telling them to go far away from here and hide. They're stronger for just being regular pirates, but he has to save energy. He can't already have this amount of trouble with the grunts.

He looked down at his bandages on his arms, lips pressing.

He heard cries closer to where the bonfire originally was, his eyes widening than narrowing at the sound as he dashed forward to go towards it.

Aiko! Azu!

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Karé Island—a few miles out from the fires. Close to the Wharenui and Mayor's House.

"Why are you getting in my way?!" You say each word with a dodge, missing the darting poisonous tongue that is desperate to catch you. Your hand tight around Karasu, flashing in annoyance at the large eight foot long and five foot tall red and tan colored kawekaweau before you, large gecko like eyes trained on you as it brought its tongue back in its mouth. "This is crazy...how is a thing like you in the East Blue like this? You're like an animal that could be in the Grand Line with how fast you are."

You were on your way to the Mayor's house that was client to the Wharenui, you taking note that some of the other huts and houses that were nearby appeared ransacked and slightly burned. Your nose itching at the scent of smoke and burnt wood. Only for this huge freaking gecko to come out of nowhere and start attacking you just when you were heading to the direction of the Mayor's house.

You were astounded at its speed, faster than any East Blue animal should be. You having to keep your eye on it's poisonous tongue that Zuko told you about. You took out Karasu to use to threaten the kawekaweau with, but it seemed undeterred. Looking determined to stop you. Whether using its tongue or flicking it's tail towards you as well to whack you away.

The only reason stopping you from slashing it is those determined eyes in this odd looking animal. And how it seemed to get angrier when you would step closer to a destroyed hut.

"I'm not going to do anything," you say, one hand on Karasu and your arm splaying out towards the burnt huts before pointing behind the large reptilian animal. "I didn't do this. I'm trying to help. I have to check on Mayor's house. You saw those pirates right...?! I need to grab my buster sword so I can help the others." The kawekaweau did not move. It did not blink. Just kept its eyes on you. You made a noise of frustration, hand rubbing your face. "Why am I talking to you...? You seem like a brick wall like Zuko." The animal's eyes narrowed at you, making an odd gurgling sound at the back of its throat. You raised your head, brow arching. "You know Zuko? Come to think of it...one of your buddies kept missing him but somehow landed a hit on me. Do you guys like him or something?"

The kawekaweau didn't answer. Cause of course it couldn't. Only kept its reptilian large protruding eyes on the side of its head on you, before looking up at your cap. Clear suspicion and anger as it looked at it.

Your brows furrowed deeply.

Why is it looking at your hat like that?

The kawekaweau than whipped it's tail at you, the width of it being of it being two doors, you widening your eyes and leaping over it. You feeling a tug on your head, feeling air on top. You whipped your arm out, face scowling as you grabbed onto your hat that was connected to the kawekaweau's tongue still. The kawekaweau tense and claws sinking onto the ground, eyes flashing as it tugged. Your face twisted more as you held the back of your cap.

"What are you doing?! Don't you know what this is?!" The kawekaweau tugged, but you tugged back harder as you raged. "This is my treasure! You can't have it! Especially your dirty shitty filled tongue that's just gross!

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