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Hear Our Prayer	By : Starsoul Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 3130 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Welcome To My Life
- 2-Falling Again
- 1
- 2
Hello! Thank you for all the reviews!!

And Happy New Year!!! (hope you all had a Merry Christmas…)

Disclaimer: Don’t own A:TLA.

Warning: Abuse and violence.

&

Chapter Two: Falling Again

He panted, trying to catch his breath as he ducked another swipe to his head.

Their invisible foe once again disappeared into the shadows, waiting, waiting, like a venomous snake to rise up and strike again.

He heard Zula stifle a gasp as she crashed to the floor, a hand automatically rising to her cheek.

There was a cold chuckle behind her as Zuko felt the air shift. He knew their attacker had just jumped up, readying a swift kick at her. Without a second thought, he quickly leapt in front of his sister, anticipating where the attack would fall.

A choked gasp flew from his lips as he crashed hard onto the floor from the force of the kick. He had managed to block it, but the force was still enough to make him loose his balance.

But before Zuko could even recover from the sudden shock, a swift kick to his chest sent him sprawled back down onto the ground. Groaning, then yelping in pain as a foot was placed onto his stomach, shoving into him cruelly.

“What have I told you about shielding others?”

Cold eyes glared down at him as the foot kept on shoving down on his stomach.

Zula pushed herself up into a half-sitting position, watching what was happening with tears streaming down her face but she dared not intervene. She tried once and almost suffered a broken rib because of it. Zuko on the other hand…he could barely move for days afterwards. She dared not risk that again.

Zuko bit his lip as he felt bile rise up in his throat as a result from the pressure. It hurt to breathe. He raised his hands to try to shove off the foot, but it was all in vain.

“Well?”

Their father demanded an answer but Zuko couldn’t give one. He gritted his teeth as he tried to keep from crying. ‘Please…let it be over soon…’ he prayed silently. ‘Dad…please stop…anyone…’

“Shielding others will only bring you ten-times the pain.” Ozai hissed, finally taking his foot off of his son’s stomach.

Zuko gasped as he greedily filled his lungs with air, his eyes closed as he pushed the oncoming darkness that threatened to engulf him, away again.

A painful nudge to the ribs made him open his eyes though and stare into the merciless gaze of his father’s. Zuko couldn’t help but shiver a bit at the cold-hearted smirk on Ozai’s face as he stared down onto him, making him feel insignificant.

“Get up.”

Zuko wanted to comply, he really did, but his muscles seemed to have turned to rubber. They had been at it since dawn, and he was so tired…

“I said, get up.”

Ozai snarled at him, but when he saw that Zuko wasn’t going to comply, he readied a sharp kick to the ribs.

Zuko saw this and closed his eyes, tensing, when suddenly someone cleared his throat.

Ozai whirled around, his eyes resting on Iroh, who was standing in the doorway of the room. The smirk on Ozai’s face disappeared as he angrily stalked over to his brother, his eyes narrowing with rage. “What right do you have of disturbing MY training session?”

Iroh stood calmly, his face betraying no emotion. “None, brother. It is just—“

Both Zuko and Zula flinched as their father raised a hand and hit Iroh across the face, hard.

Iroh, however, only turned his head slowly back to look at Ozai again. “It is nine o’clock, brother. And it is Mond--.” Iroh went silent when Ozai raised a hand again, silently threatening him but did not hit him again.

“I am aware what day it is.” Ozai snapped venomously, towering easily above his brother as if proving to the other who was the stronger. Then he whirled around, his eyes resting on his children. His eyes narrowed a little as he saw that Zula was now kneeling beside her brother, gently coaxing him to a sitting position, but he let it go.

“Training is over. You know the routine. You have ten minutes.”

With that, he shoved Iroh aside as he disappeared down the hallway and up the stairs.

Iroh waited for a second before rushing over to his niece and nephew.

“Are you both all right?” He asked as he knelt down beside them, checking them both quickly.

Zuko nodded, managing a sitting position. He held his stomach gingerly as he focused on his breathing. He felt Iroh’s hand on his back, gently supporting him.

“Are you two okay?” Zuko asked them when his breathing was finally under control.

Zula sniffled, her eyes brimming with new tears threatening to pour down her face. “You didn’t have to do that!!!” She snapped, blinking rapidly.

Zuko shot her a lopsided grin. “I did. That’s a part all elder bro’s do. It’s part of the job description.”

Zula shook her head, fighting back a tiny smile as she and Iroh helped Zuko stand.

Zuko sucked in a breath in pain, before forcing a grin on his face. “C’mon. We’re wasting time.” He shook off his uncle and sister feeling strong enough to walk. “We now have only seven minutes left to fix breakfast…” He added as he limped out the door and turned left, heading towards the tiny kitchen.

Zula started to follow him, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at Iroh, who was smiling kindly at her. “It is okay…” He whispered to her.

Zula smiled a little in return and followed her brother silently.

&

They were busy working in the kitchen; Zula was busy washing dishes and Zuko was busy preparing lunch when their father stalked in.

Zuko quickly looked up. “Dad.” He acknowledged.

Ozai snarled at him, before holding up three bulging envelopes. “Take these to Officer Zhao.” He thrust the envelopes to Zuko, who quickly caught them and nodded. “Yes, Dad.”

“And tell Officer Jeong-Jeong I will be personally inspect his department tomorrow. And it better be better than last time or he’ll be looking at no pay for the next three months!” He hissed.

Zuko flinched. Their father usually meant what he said.

“Afterwards, do what you want. I don’t want you anywhere near the goddamned house until after midnight, you both hear?!”

Both nodded quickly before respectfully bowing their heads as their father left the kitchen.

Zula turned back to the dishes. “So, what’s in them?” She asked, making sure to keep her voice low.

Zuko fingered the sealed envelopes, knowing better than to open them. “Most likely some more ‘stuff’.”

Zula sighed. “I hate running those ‘errands’. It makes me feel so dirty.”

“I know, sis. I know. But what can we do?” Zuko murmured, more to himself than to her. He turned off the stove and covered the soup he was making, before trudging off towards the stairs with his head down.

Zula sighed as she put the last plate away and followed him up but turned left towards her room.

Her room was small, and like all the rest, had no windows. There was a small bed with some warm blankets on it, and a closet near it, but that was all. Her schoolbooks from last year were scattered on the floor beside the bed. Dully she wondered whether she’d be lucky enough to return again.

Sighing, she grabbed a long-sleeved shirt, this one a mix of light orange and yellow and the pants she always wore. Slipping off her home-clothes, which consisted of nothing more than torn pants and a torn shirt, and slipped the new ones on.

Then, she knelt down beside her bed and took out a small mirror. It had a thin, delicate, black frame with small blue glass shards embedded in it. It had been their mother’s and her greatest possession.

Zula studied her reflection a little bit, taking note of a growing bruise on her left cheek, just below the eye. Sighing, she reached under the bed once again and drew out some of her mascara. Carefully she placed the mirror in her lap and began applying her make-up as she always did.

Meanwhile, Zuko had slipped on his usual pants. This time, though, he took out a long-sleeved maroon shirt, rolling up the sleeves a tiny bit. Just enough to hide the scars and bruises, but still revealing enough to show a thin black dragon tattoo on his right hand. He had gotten it when he was only ten, but he was still proud of it. Ozai almost killed him when he saw the tattoo, but it only made Zuko all the more proud of it. Maybe it was because it showed that he could make his own choices…

He then quickly slipped on a jacket with the arms torn off of it. It had a red fire emblem on the back of it. He glanced around his room, which was almost the same as Zula’s, with the exception that he had a tiny mirror lying on top of his schoolbooks. He grabbed that and glanced at his reflection briefly; just to make sure that no bruises were showing. There were none.

Grabbing the envelopes that lay on his bed, he dropped the mirror on top of the books again and quickly strode outside, stopping in front of his sister’s room. “Zula? You ready?”

“Yeah.” She answered quietly, stepping outside. “Let’s go.”

&

The trip to Zhao’s office wasn’t difficult. He was the officer and head of the entire police department. Everything went through him first before it went to Ozai.

The two teens entered the huge police building that was located in the center of the entire city. It was about three stories high and was as big as almost an entire football field.

“Hello. We’d like to see Officer Zhao please.” Zuko said to the lady who sat at the front desk. She nodded immediately when she saw who he was.

“Of course, Mr. Zhi. Right this way.” And she quickly led them down a series of hallways to the elevators and took them to the very top. She led them down another set of hallways before stopping in front of a pair of huge doors, tightly shut. She knocked and waited.

“What is it?!” An annoyed voice boomed from the inside.

The lady sighed. “Mr. and Ms. Zhi wish to speak with you, Officer Zhao.”

The door immediately opened at that. A tall man with side-burns stood before them in a dark blue officer uniform. He had a smirk on his face. “Thank you, Shi.” The lady immediately bowed and left.

Zhao turned to look at the two children before him. “Come in, come in.” He stepped aside, letting them in.

Zuko made sure no emotion showed on his face as he stepped inside, followed closely by Zula. Zhao was a foul, evil and power-hungry man and both of them hated him passionately. Worse, Zhao was a known harasser, his victims mostly teens with lots of money. He didn’t care what sex they were, as long as they had money. And sadly, both teens got their own fair share of harassment.

Zhao quickly shut the door behind them and turned to face them. “And what do the children of Lord Ozai want from me?”

Zuko snarled at him. “Here. Dad told us to give these to you.” He held out the envelopes for Zhao to take.

“Ah yes. My ‘assignments’.” Zhao whispered, taking the envelopes but making sure to ‘accidentally’ brush his hand against Zuko’s. Zuko shot him a glare but said nothing as Zhao shot him a smirk and began looking over each envelope to see that they had not been opened. “Did he say anything else?”

“No.” Zuko said grasping his sister’s hand. “Now if you please, we have to go. We have other errands to run.”

“Of course.” Zhao answered, bowing to them as they opened the door and walked calmly down the hall, feeling Zhao’s eyes watching them.

When they finally rounded the corner, Zula stopped and leaned onto the wall. “Ugh. I hate him.”

“You’re telling me?” Zuko snapped, trying to wipe his hand that Zhao touched in his shirt. “Someone seriously needs to fire him.”

Zula snorted. “Like that would happen. He only takes orders from Dad.”

Zuko shook his head in disgust. “Let’s get outta here.”

“Lets.”

&

Kun was sitting at his new desk, filling out some papers on this and that while trying very hard to ignore the chattering of the other officers, when he noticed the two Zhi children walk into the room.

Immediately the chatter died down then resumed as the Zhi children made their way over to Jeong-Jeong who nodded and showed them to his office.

Kun watched the shut door for a few seconds before turning back to his work. However, he found he could not concentrate.

‘There is much more going on around here than you realize, Officer.’

‘Tell me, what do you think of abuse?’

‘Don’t tell anyone what we have told you…’

Something was wrong with those children, that was a no brainer. It was obvious that they were hiding something…or some things. But what?

‘After all, life is just another masquerade…’

What did that mean?

&

Kun was walking down the dark sidewalk, heading towards home, an occasional car rushing down the empty street. He found it easier to walk than to drive, since the mornings were usually filled with traffic jams and accidents and such. Walking avoided those. Plus he needed the exercise.

As he walked on down the pavement, he caught sight of a dark restaurant in the distance with some tables still outside. He could make out two shapes sitting there in the dim light of a street lamp. He frowned as he neared, recognizing the two Zhi children. It was well past eight…what were they still doing out here?

The girl had her face resting on top of her arms, which were folded on top of the table. Her eyes were closed, indicating that she was asleep. The boy was sitting in the seat with his head tilted back and staring blankly at the dim stars overhead. He stifled a yawn.

Kun stopped, looking at them. The boy clearly hadn’t noticed he was there, probably too lost in thought. Kun cleared his throat softly, but the sound was enough to wake the girl and make the boy jump a little and look wildly around before catching sight of him.

“Oh…hi.” He said as the girl sat up, rubbing her eyes. She flashed a smile at him, still looking a little dazed.

Kun nodded apologetically to them. “What are you two doing out here so late?”

Zuko shrugged. “We got locked out of our house.”

Kun raised an eyebrow. “What about your father? Is he not home? Or your mother?”

“Dad’s in a meeting and can’t make it home.” Zuko lied easily. “Uncle Iroh’s with him and Mom’s not home.” He said softly, but Kun caught it.

“Why not?”

Zuko stiffened. “I prefer you keep out of our life, Officer.” He answered coldly before yawning. “Sorry. Don’t mean to be rude...”

“It is all right.” Kun replied. “Have you had dinner yet?”

“No.” Zula answered for her brother. “We left our money at home so we couldn’t buy anything…”

Again, Kun sensed a lie, but left it alone. “Would you like to eat at my place? I’m sure Gran-Gran wouldn’t mind.”

The teens exchanged glances. “We don’t want to be a bother…” Zula started, but Kun waved her off.

“Don’t worry. It won’t be a bother at all…”

“Thank you!” Zula exclaimed, both of them looking a lot brighter.

“Don’t mention it.” Kun replied, smiling.

&

Katara was watching her two brothers as they furiously tried to beat the other in a racing game on the play-station.

She giggled as Aang jumped up, throwing his hands into the air crying out in victory.

Sokka stuck his tongue out at him. “No fair! You cheated!!”

“Did not!” Aang grinned.

“Did too!! I could beat you with one hand behind my back!!!”

“Really? So how come I beat you nine times in a row already?”

Sokka flushed. “Pure luck!!!”

“Wanna go again?” Aang asked, sitting down, readying his remote.

“Bring it!”

And the challenge was on again, or would have been, had they not heard the front door opening.

“DAD!!!”

Three pairs of voices cried simultaneously as all three of them jumped up and ran to the door. They stopped, though, when they caught sight of two people with their father. Immediately, they quieted and straightened a bit, looking serious as they realized that they had guests.

“Hello!” Katara greeted happily, waving a little.

The boy flashed her a smile and nodded, while the girl bowed her head a little. “Hi.”

Kun hung up his coat. “Where’s Gran-Gran?”

“In the kitchen making dinner.” Aang answered happily.

Kun nodded his thanks and turned to the Zhi children. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable.”

Both kids nodded. “Thank you.”

Kun smiled and disappeared down the hall, heading towards the kitchen.

Katara hesitated a little, before shyly asking the girl if she wanted to see her room.

Zula glanced at her brother before smiling and nodding. Katara smiled as she grabbed Zula’s wrist and dragged her to the stairs.

Zuko watched his sister disappear before realizing that the little bald-headed kid was watching him. “What?” He asked, looking at the younger kid.

Aang grinned. “Do you know how to play Racers?”

Zuko cocked his head. “The video game?” Aang nodded. “Nope.”

“I’ll teach you!!!” Aang cried, dragging Zuko off towards the living room. Sokka trailed behind them silently, not really sure of the situation.

&

Katara and Zula sat on the Katara’s bed, in the bedroom. The walls were white and there was a big window facing the garden in the back. The room was very bright.

Boxes of all sizes were scattered across the room, some lying on the desk placed under the window, while others were placed on the shelves of the bookshelf leaning against the wall.

“Wow…” Zula said, looking around. “This is even bigger than my room…”

“Really?” Katara asked, before giggling. “You should see my brother’s though. It’s even bigger than mine.”

Zula smiled a little. Then her eyes caught sight of a picture propped up on the desk. On it was a man with an arm around a woman. She was holding a baby and in front of them stood a small boy. “Is that your family?”

Katara looked over to the picture, her eyes lingering a little. “Yeah.”

“Is the woman your mother?”

Katara nodded once, her eyes sad. Zula noticed the sudden change in character.

“What happened?”

Katara sighed. “She was very sick. She was in the hospital for a very long time before she passed away.”

“I’m sorry.”

Katara shot her a half-hearted smile. “It’s okay. I was really small when it happened though, so I don’t remember much. But it still hurts.”

“I know.” Zula replied faintly, her brown eyes distant as she stared at the picture.

They were silent for a few minutes, then Katara glanced at Zula, a smile on her face. “So, what boy bands do you like?”

&

It took a few tries before Zuko finally got the hang of the video game. Then, he proceeded to beat both of the boys at every match. Finally, Sokka threw down his control. “I give up!” He declared, lying back onto the carpet.

Aang snickered, but the snicker quickly disappeared as his car turned over on the screen and slid out of bounds, allowing Zuko to win. “No fair!”

Zuko snickered. “Not my fault I’m better than you.”

Aang shot him a glare as they started a rematch.

Sokka watched them race dully, before his eyes caught on the black dragon tattoo on Zuko’s arm. He sat up. “Whoa. Awesome tattoo.”

“What? Oh. Thanks.” Zuko replied, glancing at Sokka then at his arm. The distraction was enough for Aang to win the match.

“YEAH!!!” Aang cried, declaring victory.

Zuko scrunched up his nose. “Now, that wasn’t fair.”

Aang stuck his tongue out at him. “Not my fault I’m better than you!” He taunted.

Zuko fixed a glare at him, causing the other to double over laughing. Sokka just rolled his eyes. Little brothers. They were so immature.

“So, where’dya get the tattoo?”

Zuko shrugged. “At a little tattoo parlor downtown. I can show you if you want.”

Sokka shook his head. “Nah thanks. Dad’ll freak. You’re lucky though. Your dad probably lets you do anything…”

Zuko forced a smile. “Yeah…he does…” He lied faintly, avoiding eye contact.

Sokka noticed this, but said nothing as he looked at the tattoo again, but this time, he noticed a faint bruise peeking out from under the rolled up sleeve. But before he could ask, Kun entered the room announcing dinner was ready.

&

Kanna eyed the two guests, noting happily that they were not wearing those hideous clothes that they had worn when they first met. But, to her distaste, the boy had a tattoo on his arm, a dragon curling around his wrist and ending on the back of his hand. She sighed. Youngsters these days.

The table fit for six was loaded with food. It had been quite a task trying to fit all six plates onto it. But they had managed. Now, they were all seated around it, with Kun at the head of the table and the two Zhi children seated between Sokka and Katara.

Zuko and Zula could not help but stare at all the food. They were lucky if they even sat down at the table, let alone eat there. Usually mealtime was whatever they could stuff into their mouths in two minutes. Never had they seen so much food.

“Wow…there’s so much food…” Zula commented before wincing. Zuko had swiftly kicked her in the shins before she could say anymore.

“Really?” Aang asked. “I thought you guys were rich…”

Kun raised an eyebrow, watching the children carefully. They looked flustered.

“We are!” Zuko quickly defended. “We just…usually don’t put out all our food on the table…” He ended quickly.

Kun frowned. Too quickly. But he let it pass…for now.

Dinner went uneventfully after that, although all of them couldn’t help but notice that the Zhi children ate rather fast and rather little.

Kanna glanced at the clock. It was well passed ten. “It’s late. Would you two like to stay for the night?”

Zuko glanced at his sister. “No thanks… Either Dad or Uncle’ll be home by now.” He stood up.

Kun stood as well. “Oh, alright. Were do you live? I could take you—“

“No thank you.” Zula said stiffly. “We’ll be fine, Mr. Jiang. Thank you very much for the dinner. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome.” Kun answered, showing them to the door.

“Will you come over again?” Katara called after them.

Zula hesitated. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Tomorrow?” Aang voiced.

Both siblings exchanged questioning glances. “We don’t know…” Zuko answered. “We’re rather busy…but we’ll try.”

“Oh. Okay. See ya!” Aang called out as they waved goodbye.

&

They were clearing the table when Katara spoke up. “Did anyone think they’re acting a little weird?”

Kun frowned as he dried the dishes. “Yes. There is something off about them.”

Aang looked at them. “They’re nice…but they seem to be a little distant.”

“What do you mean?” Kun asked. Sometimes, it was Aang who picked up the most valuable things about a particular person.

Aang shrugged. “They just seemed to be on guard. Like they know something and don’t want us to find out.”

Sokka was silent through all of this. Now, he spoke up. “Did anyone else notice the bruise?”

Kun froze. “What bruise?”

Sokka shrugged. “It was a really faint one…on his arm, above the tattoo.”

Kun frowned, thinking. There were many possibilities as to why there was a bruise. Gangs, street fights, a fall… But even as he thought those, he still could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong with the picture.

Katara looked from her brother to her father. Should she tell? “I didn’t notice a bruise on Zuko…but…” She hesitated. “I don’t know… but some of Zula’s mascara smeared a little and I could’ve sworn that the skin was dark on her cheek…”

Kun’s stomach clenched as he started to piece things together. He did not like to jump to conclusions, but all of this was very suspicious… He’d have to talk to Jeong-Jeong about this.

&

They were silent as they sat in the alley, out of sight and far from the Jiangs’ home. Neither dared go any nearer to their home.

“It’s eleven o’clock.” Zuko said quietly. Zula sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder and yawned. “I’m so tired…”

Zuko yawned as well and looked up at the sky. They both fell silent again. It lasted for a few minutes, before Zula began to sing quietly.

“I lay, looking at my hands
I search in these lines
I've not the answer
I'm crying and I don't know
watching the sky…”

Zuko smiled quietly as he wrapped his arms around his sister, drawing her closer. He knew that song. Falling Again by Lacuna Coil. It was one of his sister’s favorites.

“I search an answer
I'm free, free to be
I'm not another liar
I just want to be myself...
Myself

And now the beat inside me
is a sort of a cold breeze and I've
never any feeling inside
ruining me...
bring my body
carry it into another world
I know I live...
But like a stone I'm falling down

I pray, looking into the sky
I can feel this rain
right now it's falling on me
fly, I just want to fly
life is all mine
some days I cry alone,
but I know I'm not the only one
I'm here, another day is gone
I don't want to die...?
Please be there when I'll arrive, don't cry...
Please…”

&

Updates coming soon. Starsoul over and out.
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Hear Our Prayer