"Has anyone of you seen her yet?" Zuko raised a question before his guards in the middle of the courtyard where Ozai's funeral was being held. It's been two long decades since he last saw him, but now there he is. All seemed very tragic for the grown man but he tried to be as cold as possible, refuting all the feelings he had felt since he heard the news. Although it was no doubt that this surprised him, he wasn't supposed to mourn his death because there was nothing good to grieve about anyway.

Shortly, he took a few steps to the southernmost pillar, where a young teenager stood calmly beside the entrance with her arms crossed and head slightly tilted downwards. "Do you have any idea where could she possibly be?"

"I'm not sure, probably in the Earth Kingdom. She once visited 2 years ago, she was lucky to see father alive. Before then, I thought she had no plans of coming back."

"Why... why did she leave?"

"We had no clue... Everything was fine. We were happy and we can manage things just fine... I really don't know what made her leave... Sometimes, I'm guilty... Maybe it's because of me." She took a short pause, blinked and sighed before she continued.

"Well, she took care of me since I turned seven. I was lucky to have her, but it never crossed my mind that she'd suddenly leave one day... without any words." With that, she turned her head away, the emotions were becoming too evident beneath her eyes.

"Do you think she has any idea about this?"

"I guess... The news must've spread already..."

- 105 AG -

"So, of all places, you're now choosing to settle here? Aren't you afraid that we might get recognized?"

Silently, the faint, underfed-looking man took a razor from the desk and shaved his head alongside his facial hair. "Do I still look the same now?"

"No. Not at all. Of course, you look already different without having to shave your head. I just feel skeptical about why you chose this location... Can... can I?" The young lady asked for permission before she took the razor and also decided to cut her hair slightly above her shoulders. She added, "So... how did you get to know this place? It seems that no one's living here..."

"An old friend of mine helped."

"Really? She knows you're going to escape? I highly doubt it, this was barely a part of my plan. When I got there, you were even hesitant."

"Then why did you do it?"

She sighed deeply and sat on the edge of a dusty furniture. "After I abducted those children, I don't even see the point of continuing any further... Look, I still trust you but this may be the dumbest thing I've done... So do what you want and I'll follow."

"I've ran out of interest a long time ago."

"How is that long? You've been locked in prison for only three years... given up too soon?"

Ozai grunted and showed a slight hint of irritation. Azula seemed to notice it and apologized quickly.

"Look, I know I was being too aggressive with the questions. I apologize. Though I just can't seem to accept that you always shut me out..." she stood without eyeing him and before she could even leave, Ozai spoke.

"I'm not mad... I'm confused... just like you."

Azula's face softened and she slightly frowned. She didn't know what else to say so she continued to go downstairs to avoid the tension.

-/-

"Take care."

"I don't even know why I had to do this."

"Only for the mean time..."

She grabbed her things and rolled her eyes, "Yeah right..."

The young lady stepped out of the door and walked her way to campus. It was another gloomy day in town and it has always been since they came seven months ago. The clouds looked so heavy as if it's ready to pour down in a split second, so it did. Lucky for her, she wasn't that yet far enough.

"Azula! Your raincoat!" He ran through the heavy rainfall amidst breakfast and put the coat over her head.

"I'm good. You should go back in."

After that, she continued walking and Ozai stood right in the middle as he looked over his daughter until her silhouette faded.

He thought that maybe things could work better that way, unlike before. He admitted to himself that he was weak and pathetic, realizing what Ursa slapped into his face. Though his reasons were way more than that. He never anticipated that he would come to think of this, not even a slim chance. But maybe, just maybe, he could win this time differently. After months of being freed, he had completely given up what was left behind. And now for the very least, he tries his best to fix the mess he had started.

-/-

"What have you been doing all day?"

"Looking for a job... I actually found one in the docks, pays off well enough for a whole month."

"Oh..." She fell expressionless and proceeded to drop her things on the couch.

Azula just couldn't seem to internalize it yet. She helped her father escape but instead, he chose this path for the both of them. She thought he had it all planned out to retake everything they had lost on a different approach, but he refused without a second thought. Was this even the man who raised her?

He was her last resort but all she got was nothing compared to her real expectations. Maybe she just wasn't used to this or more likely, she doesn't want this at all.

"I don't get why you're doing this."

"What? Living like a normal person? Believe it or not, this is quite what I wanted before our father molded me into what I've become. I couldn't thank you enough for freeing me. Besides, I've been thinking about this for a very long time. It's time to move on from the past, Azula."

She couldn't take it anymore, maybe he was just playing with her mind. She walked past him and locked herself inside her bedroom.