AN: this is actually a revision. for some reason this story got back in my head; odd considering Nick's only airing 3 toons now and i haven't seen the movie yet.

don't expect rapid updates either. i'm working on multis in two other fandoms that take alot of my time. this will probably be worked on when the dreaded writer's block hits. -_-

"We must have better robes Nephew. We have our own teashop now, and in the upper ring. We must look respectable," Uncle said as they waited for the manager.

"At least I don't have to clear tables anymore," he grumbled as the overdone woman walked up to them.

She smiled bigger than anyone he'd ever seen as Uncle presented the seal of their boss - the guy still owned everything they were buying - then she started calling every worker she had out. He just ignored it all as they showed off the newest styles, barely hearing Uncle's comments, not answering him. Until he saw it.

A dragonfly done with the same precise stitches.

After a quick glance at all the girls attending to them, he barely caught Uncle's smile as he followed them into the back. "Zhi!" he called out, ignoring the pleas and demands to leave the workroom. Not even stopping as they started grabbing at him, trying to push him out, "Zhi! Are you here? Zhi!" he practically yelled.

Too-much-make-up was in his face, scowling, "You have no right to go storming in and disturbing my-"

"Where is she? I know she works here, so where is Zhi?" he demanded, cutting her off as he stepped closer, glaring down at her.

"I-I have no idea who you're talking about young man," the shopkeeper backed away, her hands shaking as she tried adjusting her dress, "I don't know any 'Zhi'."

Uncle was suddenly holding him back as he growled lowly. "You must forgive my nephew," he smiled as he let go of him. Beckoning one of the girls forward, "She is his childhood friend. They had just become sweethearts not long before the Fire Nation raided our village. They were separated in the attack and he has been looking for her ever since." Uncle paused, taking the jacket from the girl, "Zhi was very talented with her needle. This detail does look remarkably similar to her handiwork."

He found he'd pulled the moneybag out as Uncle told them their 'story'. The workers were all dabbing at their eyes until the head seamstress saw his bag. "That looks like Chyou's work," she whispered as everyone, even the other customers, were suddenly comparing pieces.

"Chyou…" he started, dejected.

Uncle sighed, putting a hand on this shoulder, "Just like her… Could you please tell us where this Chyou is? She may have seen our Zhi."

"Of course," the manager sniffed, "Chyou has spent days at Magistrate of Education's home repairing an heirloom tapestry."

He barely turned to Uncle as the head seamstress spoke, "She usually doesn't come back until just before we lock up. Even then she stays for a few hours working on her orders."

"Chyou is highly requested," too-much-make-up was puffing up with pride.

He was so close to smacking her.

A hand on his shoulder again turned him to the doorway. "Let us go find this Chyou, Nephew. There is still hope. We may find her yet."

The entire shop full of people wished him luck as Uncle practically pushed him outside.

[~~~~~~~]

He hoped it was her.

He shouldn't have let his hunt for the Avatar take over.

It took every trick Uncle had taught him - twists, turns, backtracks and even moving through all three rings before he lost the Dai Li.

He didn't want to lead Azula to her.

Even if it wasn't…

That day just kept repeating in his mind. The hope, the shock.

Uncle's story.

It seemed so farfetched then. But it explained his actions… and his reaction. Even though it was barely a couple of hours, it felt like they'd known each other for years.

A crash snapped him out of his thoughts. Jumping to the next rooftop, he froze at the sight. A young girl was crawling away from some tipped crates. That long black hair was coming free of the barrettes on each side, but somehow he just knew. She was trying to lever herself up the wall, flinching when she moved her left arm. As she tried to step forward and almost tumbled again, he jumped down just in time to catch her. Cringing, she stepped back only to fall into his arms again.

"Zh- Chyou…" he barely caught himself as he helped her to her feet.

She only hung her head lower, "Thank you, Prince Zuko, for helping me. I don't know how to repay you," he voice wavered.

He felt like he'd been slapped, "Chyou, why…?"

She only pulled away, trying to turn to the door, her ankle making her wobble, "Easy," he held her up, not letting go as he helped her inside.

Following the moonlight, she led them to the main table, moving a few fabric skeins to reach the lamp. As she absently dug for the flint, he took the opportunity and lit the wick, making her jump. He just watched as she started walking across the room, using the table as support. Grabbing a stool from the closest dummy, he rolled it over, stopping right behind her, "Zhi," she froze, "Please, let me help you."

Shaking her head, she let him lightly push her into the chair, "It's nothing really; I'll be alright."

"You're limping, holding your side," he started around her, "and you won't look at me." His voice got softer as he reached for her chin. "Zhi please…"

"It's not my side, I… hurt my shoulder when I got away," she still wouldn't look up, "I tripped a few shops from here."

"Zhi," he tried again, kneeling before her.

She barely moved and he jerked his hand back. The right side of her mouth, half her cheek was swollen, the bruise looked like it was growing darker in the lamplight. She raised her hand, dabbing at it. "They don't like it when I fight back."

He couldn't help staring as she slowly removed her shoe, gingerly checking over her ankle. "They said some… I panicked and kicked there." She bit her lip as she pulled out a basket of scraps.

Her words snapped him out of it. "How… how can you be so calm about this?" he stopped as she flinched, "I saw how much you were shaking. You flinched when I caught you the first time. How can you act like it didn't happen?"

Pulling a makeshift bandage from the basket, she jumped as he snatched it out of her hand. He tried to keep his eyes on hers, but she couldn't as she whispered, "It's not the first time."

"What!" he snapped onto his knees, "You don't-"

She turned back to him, "No, but they've threatened a lot. Especially the ones I've gotten away from." Snatching back the bandage, she quickly wrapped it up, slipping her shoe back on before rolling the chair away, toward the left back corner. He could only watch as she wormed a large travel bag out from behind some piles of fabric. Rolling back towards the door she stopped, standing and trying to reach behind the large spools of thread. Before he knew it, he found himself pulling out a large moneybag.

She bowed her head again as he handed it to her, "Thank you again Prince Zuko."

Hearing his title from those lips brought a sharp pain to his chest, "You didn't call me that before."

"You weren't before." She hobbled back to the table, "It wasn't his place to say anything, but… Iroh told me all about it."

She snuffed the lamp out. "Sure most, even you, see it as a sign of dishonor, your banishment. But to me," she turned to find he'd hung his head, turned away, "to me it shows that your people, your family means more to you than your pride, your position." She didn't need to finish as she started back outside, surprised he stepped up and helped her out.

Locking the door behind them, she slipped the key into the broken wall sconce. Turning around, she jumped at finding him about two steps away. Blinking away her surprise, she started digging in her bag.

"Zhi…"

She peeked through her bangs, still digging.

He closed the distance between them, getting her to stop. "Where are you…"

She pulled a white rag from her bag. "I finally found the grandfather I told you about," holding it open, he gasped softly at the battered embroidered flower, "The lotus opens wi-" she cut off at the pinch to his eyes. Not sure what to do, she stepped back, ready to slip away.

Only to stopped as his left hand caught her elbow, his right cupping her cheek. "Zhi please…" he whispered.

She was almost undone by the pleading in his eyes. "I-I can't," she covered his hand with hers, "It's not safe here."

Realizing what she meant he nodded once, resting his forehead against hers. She slipped her hand away, pressing it over his heart, making him smile weakly as he remembered their other good-bye. Raising his head, his hand still on her cheek getting her to look up, he smiled a little truer as she squeezed her eyes closed. He kissed her quickly but softly, hoping she understood, realized he did.

Her hand went from his chest to her lips and she nodded as his gaze fell. She smiled as he pulled away, stepping back.

He stood there and watched as her hand trailed along the wall, jumping onto the roof as she rounded the corner onto the main street.