-Prologue-
The sun was just rising over the horizon, signaling the start of another day for the city of Omashu. Sayuri, a fifteen year old girl who was a refugee of the war, was just waking up. Rubbing the sleep from her hazel-colored eyes and brushing a hand through her semi-long, sepia brown hair, Sayuri stumbled from the alley that she had used to sleep in. She felt that the sooner she got to Ba Sing Se, the sooner she could return to a somewhat normal life. Sayuri had been traveling to Ba Sing Se alone, it wasn't like anyone would want to travel with her anyways.

Sayuri, who'd been on her own since her mother had died, found that living on her own was more relaxing than keeping other people around. It left less chance for the other travelers to call her a half-breed bitch. That was the main reason for the pilgramage to the earth kingdom capitol in the first place; to escape the name calling and get a fresh start. Where the other citizens would see just another orphaned child, not a fire-bender, earth-bender misfit who didn't belong anywhere.

-Chapter 1-
Mid-morning in the city of Omashu was just like mid-morning in any other city. Men ran off to work, women did their shopping, and children played in the streets or practiced their bending techniques. Noone seemed to notice the teenage girl who just walked down the streets and kept to herself. Noone ever did, so she silently slipped out of the city walls; traveling to the next city before leaving that one as well.

The days Sayuri spent traveling were starting to take their toll on her. Days without food and nights without sleep were slowly draining her life away. One day, the traveling finally drained Sayuri of the last bit of energy that she had. Her legs gave out and and she fell to the hard, dirty, road; giving up on her life as she faded into a dark void that sat somewhere between the physical realm and the spiritual realm.

***Sometime later***
"Hey, are you alright, Young lady?" a voice called into the darkness. It was deep, and filled with concern.

"Uncle, she's clearly still passed out. Just because she moved does not mean she's awake," another more aggitated voice, which was slightly less deeper than the first voice, spoke.
Sayuri's eyes opened slowly. Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead. She looked to her side weakly to see two men sitting beside a fire. One was fat and elderly looking with a grey beard and a receding hairline. The other looked to be about Sayuri's age -no more than a year older at the least- with black hair and a massive scar over the left side of his face. Sayuri could see that the two men were having a heated discussion, but she couldn't hear what it was that they were talking about.

The elderly man looked over at Sayuri as she slowly sat up. Her muscles ached from the complete lack of nurishment that her body recieved.

"Hello, my name is Mushi and this is my nephew, lee" the old man greeted politely. "would you care for some tea?" Sayuri wasn't much one to drink tea, and was about to refuse the heated beverage but then thought about when the last time she'd had anything to drink -which was very recently- and ended up accepting the small cup that had been already poured for her.

"Thank you, sir, I'm Sayuri, by the way."

"You are welcome. May I ask you something, Young Lady?" The man asked curiously. Sayuri nodded as she sipped on the tea. "How did you end up collapsed in the middle of the road?"
"I was traveling to Ba Sing Se. I guess I must not have been feeling too well and i just collapsed." She smiled nervously at the two men while twirling a peice of her sepia colored hair around her fingers, hoping that they would buy her story.

"Oh, that just so happens to be the place where my nephew and I were heading. Maybe you could travel with us." "That's okay, I would just be a burden to you both." Sayuri said humbly. She didn't want them to find out what she was. Sayuri was afraid that they would treat her differently once they found out.

"Oh that's nonsence," Mushi exclaimed, "Traveling with a young lady such as yourself, Sayuri, is never a burden."
"A-alright then," Sayuri said a little nervously, "I guess I'll travel with you guys then."

"Would you like anything to eat, Sayuri?" Mushi asked. She went to decline but then her stomach growled loudly. "I will take that as a yes," and within the few minutes following the incedent Sayuri was given some food that had been cooking on the fire. She ate quickly, earning an odd look from Lee.

"What?" Sayuri asked innocently after she chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth.
"I've never seen a girl, eat as fast as you did." He stated bluntly.

"Oh... sorry" Sayuri looked down at the ground as if it had just become more interesting than the conversation at hand. They sat in akward silence for a few minutes before Sayuri tried to start a new conversation. "So what did you and your uncle do before you guys decided to go to Ba Sign Se.?"
"We... er..." Lee tried to think of a lie to tell her. He couldn't think of anything to say no matter how hard he tried though. "We traveled..." He said after a while.

"That's nice, I suppose" Sayuri commented. She didn't ask Lee any more about his past after that last question. She felt that there was something that he didn't want her to know about. Sayuri could respect that. After all, everyone's got secrets that they'd want to keep to themselves.

A/N: this is my first story that I've ever written for A:TLA so please be nice if you decide to review. I dont own A:TLA only Sayuri. and one more thing incase any body is wondering : Sayuri's father was a member of the fire nation army and her mother was a normal earth kingdom woman who could earthbend. I know my logic makes no sense as to why her parents could love each other but here's the twist -if you can call it that-... they didnt! Sayuri's the product of her mother's rape.