Don't waste your time on me

You're already the voice inside my head

I miss you

I miss you, Blink 182

Zuko's eyes spilled over with silent tears as he galloped away from the only source of comfort he had known in the later parts of his life, Iroh. Mingled emotions of betrayal and guilt swarmed inside him, having battles with his conscience and his heart. Iroh's voice still resounded in his head,

In the darkest times hope is what we give to ourselves… that is the meaning of inner strength

I didn't have a choice! It's me or I don't get to go back!

Iroh stuck with you for ages… he didn't have to go with you.

I didn't make him go with me, did I?

He treated you like you were his son even though you don't deserve it

I didn't do anything!

Zuko shook his head slightly as he clenched his fist tightly on the reins of the horse they had named Race.

I've made my decision I left and I can't go back now.

Katara lingered on the back of Appa, staring at the night sky. It had been a few days already since they had left the "crazy town" where Aang had nearly been boiled in steaming hot oil. This was the time of the night she loved most, when the moon came out and she could stare at the beautiful stars. It's peaceful, she reflected. Not like the Fire Nation.

Near her, Sokka and Aang were debating heatedly on the topic of war strategies. A map lay between them with lots of ink on it marking out the places they had already been to. Sokka had been lobbying that they should go to the nearest Earth Kingdom where Aang could learn earth bending and Aang kept insisting that they should stopover at a market to replenish their supplies.

Sokka threw his hands up in the air " Aang I've told you a millionth time that we don't need any more food! Or bison whistles for that matter!"

"I thought you liked eating?" Aang said, employing the use of his famous puppy-dog look.

"Don't try that on me, Aang, it doesn't work." Sokka said indignantly.

"Come on, we have to stop at a market or something. I'm bored."

"We'll ask Katara what she thinks. I bet she'll go with me."

"KATARA!" two loud voices resonated in the air as Katara looked around confused.

"Tell Aang we don't need new supplies!"

"Tell Sokka we have to stop and look around!"

Katara smirked. " I think Aang's right, Sokka. We do need change of environment."

The real reason for her choosing Aang's opinion was mainly because she did it to tease her older, so protective brother. Anyway, I'd like to stop at a market or somewhere. I need to bathe..

"Whew! What a nice place!" Aang exclaimed as Appa landed on a grassy plain. They walked towards a huge, bustling market. Katara paused to look at some finery while Aang was ferociously haggling with a old woman with a cigar in her mouth, a fiery old lady who took to loudly saying, " YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO HAGGLE, EH, DO YOU?"

effectively humiliating Aang and making him argue the more so vociferously.

Meanwhile, Sokka's interest had been piqued at an elderly old man squatting on the floor, holding out a bowl in front of him. Dressed simply, he still had a faint aura of power around him. People passing largely ignored him or stepped on his mat. Normally, Sokka was not one to give away their hard-earned money but he could not help it, he turned up his pockets and dropped a coin into the old man's cup. And he reeled back in absolute shock at the face he saw that turned up at him in gladness.

Zuko dumped his belongings on the ground and tied Race to a tree. He was now faced with an imminent problem- how, how, HOW was he going to get food? The stuff he had stolen were already eaten up by Iroh. Immediately without thinking he picked up his Blue Spirit mask, and placed it over his face. Ignoring the constant pang in his heart, he grabbed his swords and set off, shoving his belongings under a bush.

Zuko flitted through the trees, only stopping until he landed on the roof of a house directly in the middle of a row of houses. Slipping quietly beneath the window, he gracefully landed on a cabinet, his eyes scouring the environment for food that he could steal. Quickly, he grabbed some pie that was in the larder and quickly moved to take some hard biscuits when he heard a noise. Most people would have heard nothing, but Zuko's ears had pricked up and his hand stilled as he listened intently. There it comes again, he thought. The light sound of footsteps.

Just as suddenly, the door of the house was thrown open and Zuko immediately ducked behind a cabinet as a band of Fire Nation soldiers stormed in. A man stood at the head of the troop, a cold man with a harsh face, holding up a torch.

The whole family appeared in front of the Fire Nation soldiers, and Zuko got a good look at all of them. A young teenager girl, her mother, and brother, dressed simply in Earth Kingdom clothes. The mother had a frightened, almost desperate look on her face but her children had a look of weary resignation. The scene tore Zuko's heart.

" Woman, you have not paid us your rent!" a harsh, guttural voice came out from the commander. Instinctively Zuko tensed, poised, at the dark in the kitchen.

" We cannot afford the hefty prices! Please give us more time!" the woman fell to her knees and begged hopelessly.

" More time? You do know what was the bargain we agreed for, didn't we?" this time it was a mocking voice filled with sarcasm that rang through the air.

"No! Don't take my daughter! Please more time……" her voice trailed off, broken by sobs.

"Too bad" the commander smirked. He grabbed the teenager's arm, dragging her off roughly. Zuko knew what they would do to her. In times of war, men became desperate. They would trade money for women, then dump them somewhere, elsewhere, shamed.

The commander turned from the family and the Blue Spirit attacked.