A/N I'm baaack! Muahahaha! I'm very happy because people seem to like my story, so I've decided to reward you guys with the 3rd chappy! Yay! Aren't you just bursting with joy now? I would like to thank pcttgirl23, equinelover101, and ATLAAN for giving me wonderful reviews! I makes me feel soooo happy! Oh - and just for your info, Zuko is 18 and Admiral Damien is 16. Duh. And in this story, I also wanted to show that Zuko does have a soft side, and that he can give love. It is possible for him to do those things, so he may seem a little out-of-character to you. Just warnin ya so that ya may be prepared for what you're about to read.

Disclaimer Of course I don't own Avatar! If I did, it would probably be like this or Zutara...But I do own Pyra, Admiral Damien, and the hot sauce which I am currently drinking...

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"Actually, ZuZu, you should remember me," Admiral Damien said in a voice which sounded very much like a girl's voice. The young Admiral's smirk grew.

'No! It can't be! It's not possible! She's dead! But only one other person, besides Azula, ever called me ZuZu...'

"Pyra?" Prince Zuko spoke in disbelief.

"Hmm-hmm!" the young Admiral nodded enthusiastically. "Kinda weird to hear that name, now. I haven't been called that in four years - since your exhile!"

"But you're dead!" the Prince sputtered. "I got word of your death a few days after it happened! They said that a stray komodo rhino attacked you!"

"But they never found the body, now did they?"

"There was blood! And shreds from your clothing!"

"Easily explained, but here's the long story shortened down a little...I caught some lizards for the blood, and tore my clothes because I didn't need them anymore since I was changing identities. I faked my own death, in other words...They don't let girls into the Army, and it's not like I could just go up and give them my real name, while also looking like the 'spirit' of a supposedly dead girl...So, I changed my name to Damien and dressed like a boy. With the dirt on my face and me wearing armor, they couldn't tell the difference because they're just idiots like that. Once I was in, I moved steadily up in ranks for my various skills and abilities...And can you keep your voice down? It's not like I want any of my soldiers finding out what I've managed to keep a secret for four years. Now, do you have any place where we could go that's more private so that we can catch up on things?"

The bewildered Zuko just stood silent for a minute, trying to process all of the information that he was just given, and studying the face and overall new look of his old friend that he hadn't seen in five long years.

Suddenly, a long-forgotten grin broke out over his face and he swung his arm around his old friend's shoulders in a buddy-like manner that hopefully wouldn't be too suspicious if any of the soldiers saw.

"Of course, Admiral Damien! We can go to my ship to discuss these matters. Plus, there's someone there that I'm sure would love to meet the famous young Admiral!"

Prince Zuko started leading "Admiral Damien", now known as his old friend, Pyra, toward a small ship a little ways down the dock.

'Great Agni, she has certainly changed! I'm sure that under the armor and heavy tales of her exploits, she still has a piece of the girl I remember. But how could she have let me think that she had died? The news of my precious PyPy's death coming only a few days after my banishment! I certainly haven't been the same since...'

'O, Great Agni above! I've found him! For five years I've kept hearing his promise and oath to me, and for five years I've thought that it would never be answered! I gave up hope! How could I? I should have never given up faith that my great ZuZu would one day return to me! Never! I wonder who he's taking me to meet

Zuko guided Pyra up the platform to the small upper deck of his ship, and headed toward the door thatled to the lower stories of the ship.

'Let's see...Uncle is probably in his room drinking tea, now...'

"So, ZuZu, who do you want me to meet with?"

"You'll see in just a moment, PyPy...He hasn't changed much in the last five years, I think...Except for gaining more weight...You should still be able to recognize him..."

"Whatever you say...Geeze, your elusiveness to answer my questions certainly hasn't changed, has it?"

Zuko chuckled. "I guess not!...It still hasn't completely sunk in that you're still alive, Pyra...Why didn't you try to send a letter - some sort of message or sign at least - that you were st-"

Pyra stopped him in the deserted hallway, turning him toward her and gathering his hands into hers, squeezing them gently and reassuringly.

"I couldn't risk anything being intercepted. Plus, I had no idea where you were...I felt so alone...You were my only friend, Zuko, and I couldn't stand the thought of your banishment. I was young and afraid. The night before you were to leave the Fire Nation, I tried to sneak out of my house so that I could stowaway on your ship - it obviously didn't work. Father caught me and beat me for it. I finally got the perfect chance to escape a few days later when Father asked me to fetch water. That's when I decided to stage my death. Please forgive me, Zuko...I just couldn't risk being found out..."

Gradually, while she was talking, Pyra's head had gone down to hide the shame, embarrassment, and tears, that shown themselves clearly in her eyes.

Zuko - who had noticed this - gently lifted her chin up so that they could look eachother in the eyes once more. He tenderly cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"Don't cry, now, Pyra. You know that I always hated it when you cried..." he spoke soothingly.

"How can I not, Zuko, when I haven't seen you in five years? When I thought I would never see you again?"

"You make a good point, I must admit," the Prince chuckled, trying to make light of the situation and get Pyra to laugh as well - in which he succeeded.

He continued, "We now know that we're both alive and well - for the most part at least." Zuko rolled his eyes. "Come, Pyra. Dry your eyes. There is still someone that you must meet! I'm sure this will cheer you up!"

"But how can I be any happier than I am now, seeing your different, but yet familiar face? There may be a few changes, but I can still tell that you're my same, caring Zuko from five years ago."

"Just follow me, and I bet that you'll find a reason to be happier."

"You bet? What do you bet, ZuZu?" Pyra responded in a childish voice that Zuko remembered from long ago. Reminding him of the old bets that they used to make with eachother, and what the price usually was...He let a small smirk grace his lips.

"Hmm...What could I bet that would interest you in coming with me?"

Remembering their old games as well, Pyra struck a thoughtful pose and mimicked, "Hmm...Frankly, I don't know!" She laughed.

They both looked at eachother at the same time with the same understanding that they were now playing what they had so often played as children.

Suddenly, Pyra dashed off down the hallway, saying over her shoulder in a childish, sing-songy voice that Zuko had longed to hear for five long years: "You can't catch me! Nya-nya!"

Pyra made a face at him before turning a corner, Zuko running after her. "You shall never escape from me, Pyra! I always catch you in the end!" Zuko laughed.

As he rounded the corner, Zuko stopped running and cautiously took a few steps forward. "Pyyyraaaa...Come out, come out, wherever your little pyronic Admiral's head is hiding...You know you want to..." he finished with a small laugh.

Then, without any warning, Pyra pounced on her unsuspecting victim from behind!

"Now tell me...Is it truly you who catches me, or me that catches you?"

"Well...It used to be me that caught you, but apparently now the tables have turned. You've gotten better..."

"Four years of training going from a common soldier to an Admiral can do that to a person, I guess..."

"In any case, it looks like I've lost the bet...So you know what that means!"

Pyra mock-struggled to getaway from Zuko's hold as he laughed softly.

"You seem to struggle a little less than I remember, PyPy...Is that on purpose?"

Pyra laughed. "Maybe, maybe not. Now, come on. Are you ever gonna let me meet this mysterious person, or not? Hmm?"

Before Pyra knew what Zuko was thinking, he had kissed her lightly on the cheek, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her down the hallway.

"Now we can meet him, Pyra. We'll be there in a moment..."

Pyra, trying to hide the small blush that faintly tinted her cheeks, just replied, "Oh really? And yet you still won't tell me who it is, will you, Zuko?"

Zuko looked back at her and grinned. "Nope, not a chance."

They came to a stop outside of one of the metal doors in the hallway and Zuko shoved it open.

A "pleasantly plump" seemingly middle-aged man with gray hair sat at a low table in the room. When he looked up to see who was at the door, he grinned widely and set his cup of ginseng tea down.

"Why, Prince Zuko! Who is your friend? Come in, Come in! Make yourselfs comfy! Would either of you like a cup of tea? It's ginseng. My favorite!"

Zuko made a face at the offer, but Pyra was seemingly in a state of shock.

"...Uncle?..."

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A/N Muahahaha! That is where I am leaving off on this chappy! I just love leaving off on questions! It really leaves you wondering! lol Anyways...Don't forget to click on that little review button on the bottom of your page and let me know what you think! Hopefully, you all like it so far! I'll try to make the next chappy even longer for ya! Seeya later!