Prologue

Okay, this really IS about Ozai, but this sets up the story.

(P.S You might not get this if you haven't read the first chapter of my story 'Out of the ash')

"Riteki?" Bato calls from behind me. Damn. I thought he was asleep. I dig my nails into my palms.

"Yes, Bato?" I'd finally learned how to say his name right.

"Where are you going?" He asks. I sigh into the Fire Nation's hot summer air. We moved there after I told Bato his homeland's weather reminded me of the prison. Might as well tell him what I'm up to. I'm a terrible liar.

"I need to go to the capitol prison." I say, turning around to face him from my post beneath the doorframe. "Here's the kicker: It's for Ozai. There's something I need to thank him for." I wait for him to start yelling, but he just walks over to me and closes the space between us. Face emotionless.

"What could you possibly have to thank him for?" He looks down at me. I don't look back up at him. For some reason my neck hurts too much to look up.

"You may come with me if you question my motives." I say this to his chest because I still refuse to look up. He's going to. I know he will. He worries.

"Alright, but... It can't wait until tomorrow? It's getting late."

TIME SKIIIIIPPP!

The day is already hot. It must be hell in the prison at high noon. I dare to touch the metal door, Bato following not far behind. I wipe the sweat off my fore head, and make way towards where Ozai's cell is supposed to be. The guards give us weird looks, but say nothing.

"Riteki..." Bato says from some where behind me. I don't turn around.

"Aye?"

"Be careful." I will. It's not like I need to be at this point in time. He's behind bars. Without bending. I'll be fine. I open the door and close it before Bato has a chance to try to follow me. I hear the swishing of clothes on stone as the occupant turns to face his visitor.

"Who are you?" Comes the dark throaty voice that is all too familiar. Right cell. Perfect.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't recognize me." I try to mimic the high pitched voice that I had before I was freed.

"Oh, I remember you," Even through the darkness, though I cannot see yet, I feel him smirk. "You're that girl Quinne used as a whore. You should think about going into such a field, because Tuin Li said that-"

"Shut up." I say equally as dark as the first word he spoke was. "I have something to tell you."

He scoots up to the bars. "Go on."

"For your entire reign my people have suffered. Was it not our children that fought for food, fresh water, survival? Of course it was. Your rash decisions have most definitely taught us one thing, never take anything for granted, for it can be taken away at any moment. You know this well. And for such lessons I thank you.

"We really aren't that different in more ways than one. You and I. Your nation, my clan. We laugh, when we are happy. We cry. When we are sad. Now pay attention to this one, heed my words. Because this- this one really get me and this one applies to you. Sometimes we act. Out of revenge." I reach down and pull the knife Bato gave me for what we were pretty sure was my birthday out of my pocket. I had sharpened it down to a tenth of a hair. It could cut through any thing. I throw it, and it hits it's mark. I leave.

"How'd it go?" Bato asks, following me down the hallway.

"I think he got the point."