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Shaz Vertici

Zaho Shan

Zaho scrambled in the down stairs kitchen, which was in the back of the store, he darted left to right as he tried to prepare a feast. A furry of curse words escaped him as he tried to prepare a perfect meal. One minute zaho was placing something into an oven and the next minute he was using a whisk on a creamy concoction.

"Dam, dam , dam, I need more sea slug." He announced as he threw a pan of what looked to be a turkey pig into the oven. Suddenly a slender man with a refined look entered the kitchen. The man stared at Zaho without mentioning a word. At the time Zaho was so caught up with his cooking; that he did not even notice the man.

"Well I must admit, this must be a special lady for you to go threw all of this trouble."

"Oh man wait til you meet her Shaz, she pretty classy and hot too." Zaho shivered a bit, he could not help but remember that she was a fire bender with a short fuse.

Shaz placed his right elbow into the palm of his left hand and his fingers, from his right hand, below his lips. Which was a posture that Shaz often took. The room's lighting caused his glasses to shine menacingly. He stared at Zaho and spoke in a rather unpleasant tone.

"All this effort, yet you can pay off your debt?" The constant reminder of Zaho's outrageous debt caused Zaho to shiver once more.

"Hey, buddy come on we are pals right, there is no need to bring up such things when my guest arrive right,... right Shaz?"

Shaz remained in his posture with out mentioning a word. His eyes darted to the table, where Zaho was preparing his meal, he saw various exotic dishes prepared. "I see see you also helped yourself to some of the store's goods." The look Zaho received from Shaz was sharper than any dagger.

Zaho held a dumbfound look on his face, "Yeah about that, I have to have a good first impression correct? how about you just add it to my tab and we can call it even." To Zaho's surprise Shaz had already retried a small notebook from his breast pocket. It looked as if Shaz was leaving himself a reminder of Zaho's expensives.

"Look Zaho, I wont get in your way while your lady friend is around. After all I never seen you so worked up, but just try to keep the cost down ok." shaz soon left the kitchen without waiting for a response from Zaho.

Shaz Vertici

As Kazura entered the shop a tiny bell chimed overhead. Within an instant Shaz made his way to the front of the store, where Kazura awaited. He soon stood beside the counter, but he remained quite. He knew it was to late for a customer, so he determined that this girl was Zaho's date. He looked over Kazura, even though her body was covered he easily spotted out that her shoes were well crafted and very expensive. Though he showed no signs of it; Shaz was captivated by her face alone. She was quite fetching, in his opinion, he could not help but wounder how Zaho managed to pick her up.

Shaz walked lightly towards the women, his footsteps ever so silent. He did not wish to sneak up on the woman but he was very light footed. He soon stood a few inches behind the woman. He examined a piece that she was looking at.

"Fifteen century ming dynasty, my father had to fend of against twenty water bending pirates to get his hands on that piece. Or so I have been told, yet I feel the truth has been wildly exaggerated. However the piece is authentic that I can assure you. I am sorry I have failed to introduce myself, I am Shaz Vertici, owner of the Royal Lotus." Shaz placed one hand behind his back and lightly bowed out of respect. When he arose he made sure that his eyes remained on the woman's eyes as he did not want to offend her. "I take it you are Zaho's date for the evening? May I take your coat."

He held a tranquil expression upon his face, he was not trying to make a superb first impression. But being a young business; molded Shaz into a man that most people found charming and respectful.

Shaz Vertici

Shaz took the young woman's coat and made his way to the closet. He opened the door and placed her coat upon a hanger. He gently set the coat into the closet making sure not damage or wrinkle the file material. Shaz was accustom to fine items everyday it it was easy for if to see that the woman's coat was of the highest quality.

His head may have been in the closet but he still addressed the young woman. " My apologies I did not mean to frighten you miss and Shaz is fine there is no need to be so formal with me.Mr.Vertici is my father, as for me im just a man trying to run an honest business." he said followed with a pleasing smile.

Shaz shut the closet door and made his way to the counter, he leaned his back along the counter. " I am no fool madam, I can tell you have a fine eye for rare and high quality goods. Also you are more than welcomed to stop on bye. It would be a delight to talk with someone, who could appreciate the quality, origin, and the rarity of my pieces." He spoke with passion, which showed his dedication to his trade.

Shaz knew he heard Zaho mention the woman's name once before. However he also heard him mention other women names. He decided it was best not assume her name was Kazura, he wanted to avoid any future conflict if possible. " I assume your nose alerted you to the wondrous aroma coming from our kitchen. Well that would be Zaho, he is trying his best to impress you. I am sure he will be joining you shortly. Would you care for a hot beverage while you wait?"

Shaz marveled at the woman's attire but did not stare like a monkey. He adjusted his glasses, which caused his glasses to shine in the light. His mind began to process this woman's background and personality, but he could still not figure out why she would be bothered with Zaho. Although a thousand thoughts filled his head, he held back seeing how no matter what he said would come off as negative against Zaho.

Shaz Vertici

Shaz was not particular fond of being called Mr. Vertici, as it made him feel old, but he did not wish to argue with the women. He decided to just accept the title that the women deemed. He did not anticipate the woman to stand along side him. He felt a bit uncomfortable, after all he built a distance for a reason, but he did a splendid job at hiding his true emotions, as he was a custom of doing.

Once Kazura complimented on Shaz's passion toward his trade; he turned to face her. Due to her being shorter than him he was forced to look earthwards. Shaz was taken by surprise as his gaze shifted towards the women. Shaz may have been looking down towards the women, however her womanly assets made their presence known. He quickly turned his head away as a slight cherry red filled his cheeks.

"Ah.." He coughed and regained his composure. "Well thank you, I take my job seriously."

His head still avoided the woman's embrace but he did not wish to be rude. He stared at the ceiling and addressed the young fire bender. "The quality of his cooking may be below your standards, but it is better than the usual slop that he would prepare. Along with the shop's upkeep I manage the cooking between the three of us. It may also be in your best interest to avoid his cooking as I know that he used sea slug."

Shaz was forced to look at the young women, once she mentioned early Fire Nation pieces. " Early Fire Nation pieces?" He once again took in usual poster by placing his right elbow into his left palm. He mumbled a few words under his breath as if he was having a conversation with himself. "Yes,I believe that I might be able to acquire a few pieces. Unfortunately acquiring such pieces may take much longer than I would hope for. But I can bet my life that their authenticity will be true." Without realizing he was coming off a bit more serious than he would have liked.

Kazura's mention of her qipao made Shaz avert his eyes once again. His face was painted red once more. Her movements, gestures, and slight giggles did not help matters. "Well your father sounds like a wise man. Their is an old saying less is more. It is hard for the common man to view your true beauty when your assets are ... so gen-ero-us." He took a slight breath and returned to his regular composure. It was as if his persona changed, he was once again able to look the women in the eye without any problem.

"Then again the common man is to taken up in their pursuit of lust to appropriate natural beauty." his glasses gleamed as he spoke. He did not seem to be surprised when Kazura asked about Zaho. It was a long story but Shaz did not directly answer her question for some reason.

"Zaho has a natural charm that attracts people towards him." His tone was different from before. And he answer came off very sharp as if he was not going to add any more detail to the matter. "If you will excuse me." Shaz excused himself and walked into the kitchen.

Shaz had felt uncomfortable around the woman. She seemed to be a nice person and she was well mannered but Shaz wanted to grow some distance between him and herself. As a shop keep Shaz comes in contact with people everyday but he always has a bit of an uneasy feeling around others, which he does well at hiding. Sure her assets made him feel a bit embarrassed but that was not the source of his nervousness. What truly made Shaz so uneasy was the fact that he could sense that the women was a skilled and powerful bender.

Zaho Shan

Shaz had ignored Kazura's final words as he made his way into the kitchen. He immediately pressed his back against the wall of the kitchen, once he was out of Kazura's sight. He was sweating frantically as if he was ill. Shaz undid the row of buttons, of his collared shirt, around his neck. He took deep breaths as he wheezed and tried to catch his breath.

Zaho appeared shock to see the condition Shaz was in. He looked at him with a face full of concern. "Hey, what wrong? are you alright Shaz?" Without Zaho noticing the liquids in his cooking pots began to boil at an alarming rate. Many of his pots rattled and overflowed, yet there was no fire on the stove to cause such an event. Aside from the pots overflowing the air within the kitchen became very humid.

"s**t!" Zaho mumbled as he quickly ran to Shaz's side. He placed a firm grip of Shaz's slender shoulders. With a tight hold of his friend Zaho shook Shaz. " Hey, snap out of it. Shaz, Shaz." An expression of guilt formed on Zaho's face. It looked as if he was going to regret the next step of action he was going to take. Suddenly Shaz appeared to have calmed down. His breathing returned to normal and he stopped sweating . Once Shaz calmed down the liquids in the pots settled and the humidity in the room returned to normal as well.

"Shaz wha..." Zaho was cut off before he could finish speaking.

"Im sorry I was not prepared for...." He remained silent and stared off in the direction of the room were Kazura had awaited. Shaz adjusted his glasses and placed two of his fingers near his mouth and whistled.

Shaz's whistle may have been faint for human ears but it was loud enough for a certain peacock- hawk. Instantly the peacock-hawk, known as Eve reacted. While displaying a great deal of her true speed the mighty avian like creature raced downstairs. Eve gracefully maneuvered herself, once she was downstairs, making sure to avoid any and all of Shaz's rare pieces. The sudden appearance and speed that Eve moved at might have startled Kazura. Eve circled the room once, before it flew into a small flap built into the kitchen door, which resembled a doggie door. However, before Eve exited the front room she made sure to make a rather close turn near Kazura's face. Even flew very close to the young fire bending beauty, maybe it was a mocking gesture on Eve's part.

Eve immediately landed on Shaz's shoulder when she entered the kitchen. A satisfying hum escaped her beak. A slim smile grew along the side of Shaz's face. He gently stroked his hand on the hawks head. Shaz fixed his collar as he made his way towards back door of the kitchen.

" Were going on a walk."

"Shaz, hold up." A stern look appeared on his face as he crossed his arms.

"I know what your going to ask Zaho, lets just say that a big fish entered this small pond." Without any other words being exchanged Shaz walked out of the shop from the back door. Zaho sighed as Shaz left the shop.

"So Kazura's that strong?" Zaho's serious expression soon vanished as he grabbed a bucket. The bucket was full of ice and an expensive looking bottle of champagne. He quickly grabbed two champagne glasses with free hand. He took a deep breath and then walked out of the kitchen.

Zaho saw a pouting Kazura with a prude look on her face and her hand folded along her chest. The smug expression he usually had soon reappeared as if nothing happened in the kitchen. "You know a breathtaking woman like yourself should not be pouting. You look much prettier when you smile." Zaho's charming words flowed out of his mouth. He took a moment to fully take in the woman's beauty. A light brush of red was hinted across his cheeks. Zaho truly seemed happy to see Kazura's face.

" I am glad that you came, I really wanted to see you again." Zaho walked towards Kazura, placing the champagne and the glasses down on a near by table. Once Zaho reached Kazura, he lightly grasped her chin and smiled. He stared into her eyes. Zaho noticed every little change that Kazura had made from her hair, clothing, and even down to her make up but now was not the time to point out her changes. For the time being Zaho wanted to focus his attention solely on Kazura. " You are so beautiful." He said in a deep voice as he leaned in for a kiss.