A/N: I own nothing that's mentioned.

good-bye

He does not understand why they are called good-bye's.

-

He finds her sitting at the fountain, her brown hair has returned to its braided style, her green dress flows like water around her legs. The lanterns are lit, and the water sparkles; when her brown eyes turn upon him, they sparkle as well. Silently, he walks up to her, and he knows she is not surprised to see him.

"Jin," He starts, and she smiles, and his heart stops for a moment. "My uncle and I, we're-!"

"I know," She says, and his heart pangs. He doesn't want to feel anything for this girl, this Earth Kingdom peasant! He is Zuko, prince of the Fire Nation, and she is no one!

"So...umm..." He struggles for the words; they are lost inside the muddle of his head. "I came to say-!" The words choke him. Why? Why can't he say it? Good-bye. Two syllables. The most powerful two syllables on the face of the earth. He does not understand why they are called good-bye's, for they are anything but good. "I just wanted to say..."

She stands, her skirts rustle lightly. "I-I came to say-!" She places her index finger on his lips, silencing him, and smiles.

"Good-bye, Lee," She whispers, and kisses him lightly on his pursed lips that shiver with the unspoken good-bye, before turning abruptly and walking off into the darkness. Zuko's hand rises to his lips, and he stands in the empty silence for a moment, before stepping in the direction she left.

"Jin!" He calls her, and she turns. "Good-bye."

The words fall from his lips, and she smiles sadly at their meaning, before turning again in the direction of her home, leaving him standing alone by the fountain.

"Good-bye..." He whispers, and turns away and walks away from the fountain. He needs to help his uncle pack; there is so much to do. Silently, he takes one final look at the fountain, and his eyes sparkle along with the water's surface, and he whispers it one more time, for good measure.

"Good-bye."

-

A/N: Another half-hour, half-ass fic from Rosa Le Fay! Yay. Please review, m'dears.