Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, but I do own my characters...so please don't use them without asking.

A/N: Here's chapter 2 guys. I would like to add someone to my thank you list. Empryeal Maiden thanks so much for helping me.

Live for Love

Chapter Two

The Journey North

The refugees of Ba Sing Se slowly traveled north, hoping the mountains would hold a safe haven from the Fire nation.

Katara looked around sadly. Everyone around her seemed slouched in defeat. Not only had the people lost their homes, some had also lost family and friends, not knowing whether they were captured or dead.

Hearing a loud groan, Katara turned to her left. Patting a tired Appa, she looked up to the small girl in his saddle. The girl hadn't spoken since they had been asked to protect her. Momo had taken an immediate liking to her and had curled into her lap in an effort to try and comfort her.

Looking in front of her, she saw Aang with his eyes cast down. She had thought he would be back to his old self with Appa being back with them, but he hadn't had time to be cheerful. The ominous sound of disaster had cut any celebration short as they were forced to flee.

Hating to see her usually high-spirited friend upset, Katara decided to try speaking to him.

"Aang…"

Looking back, Aang slowly focused on her, "Oh…Hey, Katara."

Sighing, she walked up to him, "Don't worry, Aang. I'm sure we can still defeat the Fire Lord."

"Yeah, Twinkle-Toes. I can't recognize you if you drag your feet." Toph smirked.

"And besides, I mean, with me to strategize, how could we possibly lose?" joked Sokka.

Letting a small grin pass over their faces at Sokka's usual cockiness, they all felt a little better.

Looking around at the other people traveling with them though, Katara didn't think a few inspirational words and wise cracks would lift their spirits. When they had helped Haru and his father, Tyro, Ba Sing Se had still stood. With it taken by the Fire Nation, she didn't think anything short of a miracle would lift the Earth Kingdom's spirits now. Maybe if the Earth King…

Movement, out of the corner of her eye, distracted Katara from her thoughts.

Noticing her detached look, Sokka asked, " What's wrong, Katara?"

Shaking her head, Katara turned towards them, "Nothing. What were you saying?"

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Smellerbee slid to the ground in exhaustion. It seemed as if they had been walking forever.

She groaned, "When are we gonna get there? Do these people even know where we're going?"

Longshot took a seat beside her, as she looked around. Jet and Le—Zuko sat across from her. She didn't understand why Jet let him travel with them. When she and Longshot had asked for his help to save Jet, they hadn't known who he really was. She supposed Jet felt like he owed the Fire Prince.

Looking around her, she saw the people of Ba Sing Se. They all held a sadness in their eyes like they had lost all hope. Moving around with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

"So, are you going to tell us why you're hiding from Katara?" she heard Jet ask the question that had been lingering in all their minds.

"….We're not exactly on the best of terms," Zuko said, as he glanced to the side.

Smellerbee could tell that he wasn't telling them something. She had seen Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph and had been about to call out to them, when Zuko had pulled them all in another direction with an anxious look on his face. She had noticed Katara look in their direction as they hid.

"What do you mean by…" Jet began suspiciously.

Jet was cut off as the order to begin moving again came. The conversation seemingly forgotten, they joined the rest of the refugees in the long trek north.

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In the martial-lawed town, the late afternoon sun was the last signal before the curfew. Shoppers rushed around the bazaar trying to fit in last minute purchases. Stalls all along the main street were preparing to close, while still trying to make at least one last sale.

A young man walked slowly into town. His black hair pulled back, and his brown eyes scanning the stalls.

"You do realize that this place is occupied by the Fire Nation, right, Sunshine?"

Sighing, angrily, he said quietly, "Yes, Xia. You've only mentioned that five times in the last five minutes."

"Just making sure. You can be a little slow sometimes, Sunshine."

His eyes twitching, he said, "How many times do I have to tell you my name is Shai Ming?"

Hearing her laughter only made him more irritated. Deciding to ignore her, he stomped to the first vendor. The clerk seeing his angry face decided to let him take his time.

"Well you know how to make a good impression don't ya, Sunshine?"

With his whole face twitching now, Shai Ming paid for their supplies then stormed down the street. Glancing around the once bustling bazaar, Shai Ming looked for anything else they would need. A small group of people caught his attention. A few of the Fire Nation soldiers who were on patrol telling them to break it up. He heard Xia's sigh. As they traveled, they had seen many scenes such as that. They always seemed to sadden her. Deciding she'd be happier camping outside, he headed towards the exit of the town.

"Sunshine, don't forget to take the bag off before nightfall."

Already annoyed, he said rather loudly, "I know. You don't have to remind me about everything!"

"Easy there. You'll attract attention. You're trying to hide from the Fire Nation, remember?"

Glancing around, he saw a few people staring. Embarrassed, he glanced down, his face red, and moved quicker through the town.

"Sunshine, one of the soldiers is watching you…."

Glancing back, Shai Ming saw that she was telling the truth. A look of recognition passed over the soldier's face. Panicking, Shai Ming picked up his pace. Hearing the sound of fast footsteps, he broke out into a run.

"Oh this is a great way to show him you're not guilty."

Angry, he snapped, "And whose fault is it that he noticed me?"

"I didn't tell you to lose your temper."

Turning the corner, he shouted, "Would you just help me find some place to hide already!?"

Hearing her sigh, she said, "Hold on. I don't know this town very well."

"Oh that's just perfect."

Glancing back, he saw that two more joined the soldier. Looking around franticly, he searched for a place to hide until nightfall. Considering they didn't know about her, it would be easier for her to leave.

"Ok. We're close to a cliff face. Just try to lose them for a minute and hide there."

"How is a cliff face supposed to help?" he said, exasperated.

"Would you trust me for once? There's bound to be something that you can hide behind long enough for us to switch places."

Ducking a fire blast, he decided to take her word for it. Now all he had to do was lose them.

"Well this'll be easy…," he said, sarcastically.

"Just don't use firebending. The people here might be more willing to help if they don't know you're a firebender."

Glancing back again, he saw that she was right. The townspeople moved away for him, but when the soldiers came through, they forced the soldiers to go around. Grinning, he glanced at the awnings above the stalls.

"That might actually work. It'll put you ahead of them a bit more. Just go over the right side. It's closer to where you want to go."

Deciding not to argue with her this time, he found a few barrels that would make it easier to jump up. Not slowing down, he jumped onto the barrels, then the awning, and finally jumped over to the other side. Seeing this, the soldiers were forced to turn around as it was becoming increasingly harder for them to get through the people in the bazaar.

Shai Ming took advantage of their delay and searched for a place to hide. Looking forward, he noticed an old man motioning him over. He ran towards him. When he got there, he was directed to a niche in the cliff. Crawling into the cramped hole, he took deep breaths to calm his fast-beating heart.

"See? That wasn't so hard now was it?"

"Easy for you to say. You weren't being chased around town," he said, between breathing.

"Well it is your own fault you know. I did warn you that this town wasn't safe. Maybe next time you'll actually listen to me."

Turning around, he saw her. Her green eyes held laughter, and her brown hair was in its usual looped ponytail. Looking outside, he noticed that the day had slowly faded and had turned into dusk.

"So where are we heading after here, anyway?" she said, changing the subject.

"Well, the last we heard, he was headed toward Ba Sing Se, so I guess we should start there," he said.

"Okay, I'll head east at nightfall then," she nodded, "Oh and don't forget to take the bag off."

Looking beside him, he noticed he still had it on. Lifting it over his head, he put it in front of him.

"There. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," she grinned.

Looking back outside, he saw that dusk was coming to an end.

"See ya in the morning, Sunshine," she grinned.

"How many times do I have to tell you my name is Shai Ming."

Laughing, she crawled out of the little niche. Green eyes glancing around alert, she turned east. Shaking off the uneasiness, Xia heads toward Ba Sing Se.

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End of chapter 2

ok so here's the name meanings

Shai Ming--sunshine

Xia--rosy clouds(sunrise or sunset)

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