Katara decided to not show Sokka and Aang the mysterious mask. She didn't know exactly why, but she did know that this was one small way to get revenge. If they just would've taken her along on their nightly outings, she just could have shown them the mask and recounted the story of how she was saved, and how she chased her savior down alleys until all she could find was his mask. It would have made them gasp in wonder, and they would ask her to tell it again, but she would refuse. She walked down the halls of the earth building and into her room. She lay down on her soft bed and closed her eyes, her arms wrapped around the mask. Her last thought before she fell asleep was how he had held her, like he loved and cared for her safety, rather than being a nice guy who would've done that for anyone…

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Zuko was furious. That mask was important for his mission.

"Just buy another one Prince Zuko," Uncle had said as Zuko told him why he had returned and why he was not eating hard bread and cold mush in a jail cell.

"Uncle," Zuko began patiently, "If I buy another one, then my identity as the Blue Spirit will be ruined. I need that mask because…" Zuko held his breath for five seconds, then released it, "…..because if I don't, I won't be recognized as the criminal from the poster!" Zuko burst the last part out. His Uncle was considered the most brilliant man in the fire nation, and yet around Zuko he seemed like a crazy old man, who was only interested in food, tea, and younger woman.

"Zuko!" Iroh called out.

Zuko awoke quickly.

"I know," Zuko said. He hated it when he seemed like Uncle's pupil. He wasn't to be bossed around anymore.

Iroh sighed.

"I was saying that you need to either steal the mask back," at this Zuko's eyes lit up, "Or get another mask, and commit a small crime," Zuko noticed how his Uncle emphasized 'small'.

Zuko thought about it. He wouldn't admit it, but the mask brought back memories. Iroh's own son, Lu Ten, Zuko's cousin, had given it to him when Zuko was a boy. It was sentimental, and important. He knew that if he told Iroh, Iroh would get in that emotional fatherly act that his own father never had.

"I am going to get that mask back," Zuko said suddenly.

"Alright then!" Iroh said slapping his knee, "First thing tomorrow morn-."

"No, I am getting it tonight."

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Katara woke up and looked around. Someone was in her room. She could feel a presence lurking somewhere.

"Momo?" she whispered into the dark. The lemur had been known to look after her when she was sleeping. He and Appa were always there for her. She liked them better than stars. She strained her eyes.

"Momo?" she whispered harshly.

Two big round eye opened from her table. She sighed. She got up and lit a candle. Sure enough, there he was, standing on her table, eating leechee nuts.

"Momo you scared me! Are Sokka and Aang home?" Momo stared up at her.

"I didn't expect you to know…" Katara said tiredly and she sat to practice some water bending. When she first arrived, the king asked them if there was anything that they might need. Aang had blushed and said honestly, "Money." Sokka had drooled and said "Food!" and Katara asked for a bowl of fresh spring water every day, to be set on a table in the middle of her room. The king did not question this. He sent a maid to do Katara's bidding, and on the first day, it was delivered along with her wake-up call. The maid sat in wonder as Katara bended the water out of the bowl, and practiced. Then and there, Katara told the maid that she didn't have to clean her room everyday, because all she needed was water and she would be happy.
A scream from Momo awoke Katara from her day dreaming. The water had drifted over to her candle, and before she could move it, there was a soft hiss and they were enveloped in darkness.

"Oh well," Katara said.

"I was going to sleep anyway." She gently let the water slip back into the bowl and then she stumbled back to her bed. This time, she couldn't fall asleep. Thoughts of the blue mask swam around in her mind. If only she knew who he was. She knew it was a man. His stride and run had told her. And even though she knew woman could do anything men could, she knew he was a man because of his muscles. They were tensed and ready, but also gentle. Maybe he had left his mask for her, knowing that she would find it. Maybe….

Another sound. A shuffling of a boot.

"Sokka, Aang?"

"Sorry Katara," Aang said, as he lit the candle.

"Thought you were asleep," he said sheepishly.

"I was," Katara lied. She loved him like a brother, but he really annoyed her sometimes. She had been reliving the moment when he had caught her…

"So what have you been up to?" Aang asked, completely forgetting the hurtful remark just thrown at him.

"Aang, I'm kinda tired. Do you mind-."

"Oh no! Go ahead and get some rest. I am just gonna sit with Momo awhile and make sure you aren't bothered anymore," Aang said, sitting in a corner.

"Oh, well alright," Katara said, not in the mood to deal with him. She took off her slippers and crawled into bed. They sat in an awkward silence; or rather it was Katara who was uncomfortable. Aang just sat on his chair staring at her. She tried to ignore him, but it did no good. She would never go to sleep.

"Aang?" she whispered.

"Ya?"

"I can't really go to asleep while someone's-."

"Watching you? Oh! No problem, I will just turn around." Aang turned in his chair and pet Momo. Katara turned around and tried to ignore him again. She tried to dream about the blue masked guy, but she couldn't. All that came up in her mind was Aang's laughing face. He and Momo, just laughing silently, at who knows what. It was so annoying. Katara didn't have to stand for this. It was her room. She sat up in bed.

"Aang, don't interupt me, but I am tired, and I just want my own room. I want to go to sleep knowing no one's watching me or laughing about something that I don't know about. Please, Aang, go to your room!"

He was silent for a moment. Then his mouth quivered and he ran from her room. Momo followed. When the door closed, the candle blew out.

"Great, now I can't go to bed because I have a guilty conscience!" she whispered to no one. She threw herself back and this time, her pillows didn't seem annoying or uncomfortable. They felt soft and welcoming. She closed her eyes and breathed in. In a matter of seconds she was asleep.

The door slammed open and Sokka emerged with his hands on his hips.

"Are you mad at Aang?" he asked. His voice seemed louder than usual.

"No, Sokka, please go away!" Katara said throwing her pillow over her face. She moaned when she heard his steps out the door. She listened carefully, he had walked out of the room, she was sure of it. She lifted the pillow off and screamed. Sokka was not inches from her face.

"Sokka you annoying….little…idiot!" she screamed at him. She wasn't very good at insults.

"You need to go and apologize before we all die of sleep deprivation!" he stormed out and turned down the hallway to his room. Katara thought about what he had said. She got out of bed. She knew she had to, it wasn't a pride issue. It was that she was tired! She could barely make her way down the hall. She stood in front of Aang's door. She knew that she would see a crying, little avatar, and she didn't want to. She made a wish that he would be okay when she walked through the door.

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Zuko climbed up the lattice on the side of the building. He had only found it out of memory, which was lucky for him, because he wouldn't have been able to find anyone to help him anyway. He had first seen it when he was walking by. The roses had failed to grow and attach themselves to the white wood, but they had spread along the bottom of the building, and for no particular reason, Zuko plucked the only one that had made its way up onto the actual wall. He stuck it in his belt and continued climbing. He saw her balcony from where he was. If only she wasn't in her room. For a split second, he pictured her brushing hr long dark hair. Lots of girls had long dark hair. That actual phrase is used way too often. Again, he wished with all his might that she wasn't in her room. She probably was. Zuko thought of his luck in the past. It always seemed he was a bad luck guy. He pictured her talking to the avatar in his room. He climbed on the balcony and from the moonlight he saw that she wasn't in her room. He slid open the doors and stepped inside…

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Katara opened the door and looked around. At first she didn't find him. Then she spotted him in a corner, weeping. She could tell by the way his shoulder's lurched every few seconds. He turned around to see who had come.

"Aang! You're not crying!" Katara rushed over to him and gave him a big hug.

"Why would I be?" Aang asked, obviously confused.

"Well, I was kinda mean to you earlier. And I came in here to apologize," Katara said. Sure she didn't have pride like Sokka's, but she did have pride. And it was hurting right now.

"Aang, my room is for me. I need me privacy, and I can't let you go in there and snoop around while I sleep."

He nodded solemnly.

"I know," he added, "I'm sorry too. I should have respected you for it."

"It's okay."

They talked for a little while. Then she returned back to her room.

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Zuko was in the peasant's room. He hated every bit of it. Not about the room. But about who lived in it. He never pictured himself doing this. Ransacking the avatar's friend's room had not been something he would have wanted. Before he could react, the door opened, and the girl stepped into the room. He stared through the slits in his new black cloth mask. She looked up and her eyes widened.

"What is it with guys and masks?"