Zuko scanned the silent blue waters with his hawk like eyes. It was a nice day. Not too hot, not too cold, a bit breezy, but other than that, it was lovely. He could hear Tylee's giggles, Mai's groans of annoyance, and Azula's eyes. It was funny. Zuko felt like he could hear Azula's eyes, he knew of course this made no sense, but it was true. He knew some how she was looking at him. It wasn't so much that he could feel her eyes on him, but for some reason it just felt like he could hear her eyes. Almost as if they were speaking to him. But what they were saying, Zuko didn't know.

The Prince was once again in his armor. It was slightly in better condition then his old armor, and clearly much more expensive. But, standing there on the ship, a ship so similar to the one he stood on for 3 years, wearing armor so similar to the one he wore for 3 years, watching the waters he watched for 3 years, it was totally different to him. He didn't quite understand. All these things around him, the things he had longed for when he was in Ba Sing Se, weren't the same. To Zuko, they all felt brand new. There were two different meanings to "brand new". The first meaning is something longed for that puts a smile on ones face. The second meaning was like a brand new pair of shoes, they took a while to break in and for the first few weeks they murdered your feet. To Zuko, everything around him was like a new pair of shoes. Uncomfortable, strange. Zuko found himself thinking about Ba Sing Se, and that pitiful tea shop. He felt his body fill with warmth and comfort. The smell of tea, the annoying, yet polite customers, his Uncle's constant encouragement and smiles. All those things he dreaded. And now he cared for them. Zuko didn't understand. This ship. This life, were he was now, he was what he wanted. Isn't it? Zuko turned around and gazed at the ships main deck. Even though he was standing on it, Zuko felt like he was miles away.

"Isn't it wonderful, brother?"

Zuko jolted to his left to find Azula standing there. Her arms were crossed, she had that sharp look in her eye and a smug smile on.

"What is?"

"Why you coming home, of course. Father will be so pleased." Azula's tone was bitter sweet.

"Oh, yeah." Zuko's tone was soft and revealed that his mind was elsewhere.

Azula raised an eyebrow.

"You don't regret coming with me, do you brother?"

"No!" Zuko almost shouted his answer. He narrowed his eyes and turned his face away from Azula. Had he answered too quickly? Did Azula suspect something? What was she getting at? Damn her.

Azula just smirked and nodded. Without even saying a parting word, she turned around walked to the other end of the ship.

Zuko leaned on the side of the ship and sighed. He didn't want to think about Uncle, or his choices anymore. He was getting a headache. But, somehow those thoughts managed to slither back into his head. Uncle…why didn't he come? Why did Uncle have to chose that path and hurt him like this?! Uncle had betrayed him! Zuko felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Guilt? Yes, guilt. He had felt this before. Zuko pondered for a moment. "Uncle has betray me." Zuko thought and felt another sharp pain in his stomach. Why was he feeling guilty for what Iroh did? Zuko grumbled and tightened his grip on the rail.

In the distance…there was…something. Zuko squinted. It was in the sky, just a dot like thing. A cloud? No it was moving too fast to be a cloud.

Of course. The Avatar. And that flying…thing of his. But to Zuko's surprise, he didn't yell out to Azula or any one else that he had spotted the Avatar. No…he kept his mouth shut. Almost as if he no longer had control over it. Zuko stood there, with no expression on his face, just staring at that figure in the sky. "The Avatar…"