"Your friends don't even really like you anyways!" Zuko could remember shouting at her. "Mai's just bored and Ty Lee just feels sorry for you! No one likes you! You're annoying and mean! You hurt people and you don't even really care. You're just a little monster!"

But in that moment, he saw something in his little sister's eyes he had never seen before. Her tiny jaw set as she turned to run away. Zuko started to storm back in to the castle, already regretting what he had said. Azula had been annoying him all day. At least since his mother had made him play with her in the garden. He hadn't been too happy about this assignment but what Mother said, went. He paused half way to the doorway and sighed. He had gone too far. It didn't matter how awful Azula was to him. He shouldn't have said that. He turned to look for her but she was hidden from sight. He ran forward, looking for her. He listened for giggling or shifting. Part of him expected crying.

But nothing.

Ursa made her way in to the courtyard, seeing Zuko standing there helpless.

"What's wrong Zuko?"

"It's Azula! She was here a second ago but now she's gone!"

"You're sure she's not hiding?"

"I'd have heard her or something by now!"

"We'll split up and look for her."

The two of them started to look through the coutyard. Guards quickly joined in the search. Zuko made his way toward the pond. Below he could see what looked like strands of ink swirling about.

"Azula! Mom! I found her!" He quickly reached down to take one of his sister's tiny hands. His boots sunk in to the thick mud at the edge of the pond. He pulled as hard as he could. As he was tugging, he could see her pale face turned to the surface of the water. Her amber eyes caught the sunlight and for just a moment he thought he saw sadness...

"Zuko..." Katara's voice came from behind him. Her long dark hair was loose about her shoulders. Her hand came up to lightly rest on his shoulder. "We've been searching for days. She isn't here."

"No. We have to keep looking. I can't just give up on her!" Zuko stepped forward toward the shore. He scanned the surface of the water. His clothes were tattered and his skin was covered in grime. His lips were cracked by the salty sea air and he could feel the sunburn on his cheeks and shoulders. He could hear Katara take a deep breath behind him.

"Zuko...I hate to be the one to say this but..." Katara started. Zuko held up his hand.

"Katara, don't." Zuko answered, walking forward in to the water once again. He looked ahead. Aang was slowing to a halt, landing on top of a rock peeking up from the water. Toph was laying back on the beach, the tops of her feet sunburned. Looking behind him, he could see the dark circles under Katara's eyes.

They had all been searching for days without any sleep. They had been combing the shore, the surrounding water, and everything around them looking for a girl that had once tried to kill each of them. He knew they weren't doing it for her. They were doing it for him.

"Tell...Everyone to come in. If she made it...she's not here anymore." Zuko gave a heavy sigh, his eyes looking to the water. He could almost see those amber eyes glowing up at him with that strange, sad look to them. His hands came up to his temples. There was a sinking feeling in his gut...One he wasn't ready to discuss with anyone.

"Zuko..are you okay?" Katara asked. There was more than a touch of concern in her voice. "If you want to-"

"No. I'll take the war balloon back. You guys go on ahead. I need some time to myself."

"If you're sure..."

"I am." He heard Katara start to walk away. "Katara?"

"Yes?" He heard her voice become hopeful.

"Thanks for trying...Tell the others I appreciate it..."