A/N: Hey everyone. So with this chapter, our little short story passes the 10k word mark, Yay! I am really excited about this chapter, I hope you guys enjoy it. Feel free to review the story so far. I do enjoy reading what other readers and writers think.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Avatar, the last airbender.

Previous chapter:

How he wishes he could time bend and just go back to moments before he decided to listen to whatever the stupid voice in his head said.

"Why did I do that!? I'm so stupid! Argh!" The vacation went from great to mortifying in a matter of moments. He just couldn't stay there anymore, lest it become more embarrassing.

Airbending is all about evade and avoid and that's just what he is doing now. He lets out a groan of frustration as pictures of what happened at the inn invade his thoughts, driving him to take off and go back to Air temple island to get Appa, but the running didn't stop there. Now Appa, Momo and himself were making their way to where ever, deeper into the earth kingdom.

Running seems like all he has been doing lately.

#######################################################

#######################################################

Chapter: 6

The Earth Kingdom is a large and vast land. It is filled with different towns, villages and cities. The end of the war has benefited each of the four nations in unique ways but none more so than the Earth Kingdom. The Water Tribes have found unity and the strengthening of the Southern Water Tribe, spearheaded by Master Pakku, Former Chief Hakoda, current Chief Sokka and Ambassador Katara. The result was a total transformation and continuous modernization of the way both tribes were living. There was some resistance to many of those changes by the older and more stiff generation but soon they also saw the benefit of change. The Air Nation saw a resurgance of its culture as more people chose to become acolytes and walk that path. The Air temples were restored and the building of Air Temple Island was almost complete. Aang was not only busy with helping other nations find their way in the new era but now he was also responsible for the rebuilding of his own nation. The Firenation had the most trouble with change. It made sense though, people are more reluctant to let go of a position of power for a future of uncertainty and change.

The Earth Kingdom though, were a totally different story than their counterparts. They took to change like ducks to water. The people took their new freedom and went to work on improving their lives, using the large amount of land. Productivity and trade with other nations increased and they improved their technology to catch up to the firenation...

This is where Azula now foud herself. A crowded Earth Kingdom town. After her escape from the royal beach house in Ember island, she wasted no time in trying to find a way off the island. She knew the soldiers were regrouping and that it would take quite a while for them to do so but she took no chances and set out to find a boat or ship to escape in. She couldn't go back into the Capital yet, not only were they looking to capture her but she also felt she wasnt ready to reclaim her throne yet. The battles she had won so far were always closer than they should have been and her movements werent as fluid and sharp as she wanted them to be. To take on the Firelord and whatever forces he commands and allied himself with would take a lot more than she had at the moment. As much as she hated to admit it, to take whats rightfully hers back would take more than one person. Hence her presence in this Earth. Kingdom town. After escaping she had to stow away on a boat, fully dressed in her disguise.

#######################################################

The streets are dark but vibrant with life. Since the war ended and Fire Nation soldiers retreated back to the Fire Nation, Night life has grown exponentially in previously colonized towns, villages and cities in the Earth Kingdom. The streets are buzzing with excited youths looking for a good time, inebriated elders and random strangers going about their nightly business.

He landed here just a few minutes ago, checked in, fed Appa and Momo then took a stroll around the town, sightseeing. He has never been here before and he finds that both exciting and surprising considering how much travelling he has dne before and after the war. It wasn't a new town either, from what he heard from the inn keeper, this is one of the older towns in this region of the Earth Kingdom. Guãng zhèng, the 'town of lights' sure was accurate. As he came here he saw numerous lanterns of different shapes, sizes and colors on the streets. The view from they sky was amazing.

He walks slower, savouring the feel of the cool night air in his face, the night lights provided by the lanterns, the sounds of life and freedom around him.

Its all so enticing and he almost wishes he could let all his inner turmoil go, let loose and have reckless fun. Almost. In truth, all of this just reminded him more of all that has recently happened in his Katara has hurt more than he imagined and he often finds himself thinking 'what ifs' and things he could've have done to save the relationship. He misses her, more than he's missed her during the lonely months of their long distance relationship but thats not all.

He feels angry at himself for the things that he did and nearly did in Yenshi.

He just has a lot on his mind.

Soon he enters a quiet area in town. All the stores are closed and its so quiet. He keeps walking, determined to clear his mind or walk until he is too tired to be bombarded with all these negative feelings.

His attention is diverted when he hears sounds of a fight nearby. He keeps walking dismissing it as another drunken scuffle. That is until he hears the sound of a man scream in agony and another in anger

"Why you little whore! " The man shouts. The remark is followed by a woman's scream and just like that he knows it's not another drunken exchange, its something serious. From where he is standing, he slams his foot down and reads the seismic vibrations. It definitely isn't an exchange between drunkards.

'What a way to cap my evening' He sighs before breaking out in a sprint into the alley, rushing to help someone he doesn't know. He is still the avatar after all.

#######################################################

Elsewhere, not too far from Guãng Zhèn, two men are up near a camp fire while the rest of their comrades are asleep in nearby tents.

" I have failed." The young man says. It's barely a whisper but his companion has excellent hearing for his age.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, a good soldier knows how to take the victories with the loses." The older offers, consoling the young man who tmakes himself too serious in his opinion.

"But all those men, their families. How do I-"

"Those men knew the risks, they gave their lives fighting valiantly for their country's cause. The princess must be stopped, we cannot give up now, lest their deaths be in vain." He intersects. He knows this route of self blame and it's not a pretty one. He would try and help the young man see that it's not his fault and shield him from as much as possible. It is what the Fire Lord asked of him after all.

"Zuko won't be happy to hear this, He keeps putting his faith in me and I keep screwing up. I'm an embarrassment to him."

"Nonsense! You-"

"Don't think I don't hear how the other generals speak of me, Hong. I know what is being said about me."

"One so young should not give up so easily, especially one with royal blood in their veins. People will talk, they will criticize and attempt to tear you down but they never win if you don't let them." The older man offers.

Shun just sits there, staring at the fire, letting Hong's words sink in. He wants to believe them but he can't help feeling like Hong is saying what he needs to hear.

"Tomorrow is another day, we will find her and bring her back. I've sent an update to the Capitol already, We should get a response tomorrow evening. For now, let's rest and resume the search tomorrow." Hong finishes as he stands up and walks towards his tent. Leaving the young man with his thoughts.

#######################################################

Firebenders rise with the sun but sometimes he rises before the sun. He doesn't know why or how, it just happens. He puts it down to an avatar thing but sometimes it's not, sometimes it's a human thing. This is one of those times.

He can't remember all that happened yesterday but he does remember consuming a lot of alcohol. He remembers how out of character he was last night and how he said things he would probably never say in a sober state. Somethings he can't remember yet like how he got back into his room but the day is long and he is sure he will know all by the end of the day. If he doesn't remember it all by sun down someone is sure to tell him. Speaking of which, he remembers having some company with him last night, maybe she helped him get back in his room

He sleeps on the left side of his bed, on his side, facing the exit to the balcony. The door is curtained with a see through veil that allows the moon light to shine through and its beautiful. He remains in that position with his thiughts, waiting for the first rays to penetrate that veil soon. His thoughts are cut of when he feels a weight shift on the bed behind him and he slowly whips his head around to see a girl sleeping next to him. He cant see her face because she has her back to him and a huge part of him is very greatful for that because if she was awake and facing him, she would see the shock on his face.

Who is she and what was she doing in his bed. Before anymore questions bombard him, a resonance of memories about the previous night make their way into his brain.

Shock turns into sadness and frustration as he remembers. This is the girl who kept him company and helped him get back to his room. This is the girl-

He pauses his thoughts as another memories makes its way onto him and with held breath he slowly lifts the covers to peek beneath them.

Oh no. So they did, his brain wasnt lying. They are both very naked and some marks on his shoulder and back have come to his attention.

What saddens him the most as he looks at her still sleeping form is that through all these memories, he cant really recall her face. What a horrible person he is. She was a nice person last night-sort of- and they had fun, he is pretty sure of it but to do something like this.

He couldn't even stomach it, literally. His stomach is protesting something and he feels he is going to blow chunks any minute so he gets out of bed quickly but quietly, puts on his clothes and makes a dash for the balcony. As soon as he slides the door open the night air greets him and begins to calm his stomach. The sun is still a couple of hours away and there is no way he can go back to sleepnow, let alone face the girl he slept with but cant remember.

Shame sets in and he runs his fingers through his short hair. Avatars dont do what he did. After he left Ty Lee in that town he never thought about the events leading to his cowardly actions of leaving. The situations are so similar, its sickening. He is disgusted at himself.

Yes, he was vulnerable. Yes, he needed someone there to distract him from his heartache, someone to talk to but Avatars do not do what he did and he feels like crossed a line.

He is greatful that Ty Lee and him never went this far and that there was a slither of self control in him at that time but still.

He sits on the balcony floor as he positions himself to meditate, hoping to find the rest of the answers about last night's events and some guidance.

In truth, he knows he is looking for a way out of this guilt and regret, hoping to find something that makes what he has done okay.

And that makes him feel even more guilty.

#######################################################

Firebenders rise with the sun but she wishes she wasn't a firebender at the moment so that she can sleep in. Agni's assertions are great and all but this bed Is so comfortable that she doesn't want to leav-

Wait a minute. A bed?

She never checked into an inn last night. How did she make it on a bed?

Was she captured? Her heartbeat quickened as thought of the possibility and what she could do. What if her captors were in this room with her, watching her?

She stilled, forcing herself to be calm, eyes still shut. She would have to take a look at the room to know anything and make a plan but she would have to do it without being noticed if there really was someone else in the room with her.

She cracked one eye open and took in as much of her surroundings as possible before shutting it again and taking in the information.

It didn't look like a prison cell, dungeon or asylum. It looked a regular room in an inn but how did she get here. Last night she was out in the town and then...

Yes, then she met those group of perverted men who tried their luck with her. They ambushed her in one of the alley ways and very well nearly succeded. She had underestimated their strength and tried to take all four of them on. They had underestimated her as well and now have the scars to prove it but after discovering she was firebender, they stepped it up. She gathered that they were former Earth Kingdom militants by the way the moved and Agni were they good. She's the Princess of the Fire Nation and rightful air to the throne but she wasnt at her best. She was exhausted from travelling and really hungry. Once they turned up the stakes, she had no chance. She fought as hard as she could but she didnt have the stamina and soon found herself knocked down to the ground. They bent and morphed the ground to hold her down. She couldnt move her arms or legs and she had little energy left.

Azula doesnt usually allow fear to menifest in her heart but at that moment, with four men all all looking down on her with malicious smiles on their faces, fear was impossible to ignore.

Thats when he showed up out of the blue and rescued her. How annoying. She wasnt some damsel in distress waiting for a knight and shining armor to arrive and deliver her out despair.

She would've found a way to get out of it and make sure they felt the pain they intented for her ten fold.

What?

She really would have. maybe.

He took care of them pretty quickly, Earth bending the ground to swallow all of them before knocking them out with a rock to the head.

He then broke the shackles that held her helped her up...or tried to, she never allowed him to. She wasnt some weakling that needed help. She needed no one, never did and never will.

She was ready to give him a scathing tongue lashing but the words died in her mouth at his words.

"You're really strong" He said with what looked like a sincere smile. Was he mocking her!? No, She couldnt see his face well as the lamp in the alley way wasnt bright and his back was toward the moon but she saw enough to know he was earnestly smiling. A goofy, infuriating smile but an earnest one that reminded her of someone.

Nevermind. Needless to say she stood up, dusted herself off, looked him right in the eye with her strongest scowl yet and proceeded to tear him apart with insults before finishing off by calling him an idiot and walking away. While she gave him her tirade she noticed him flinch a bit and it made her feel a little happy inside but then his face reset back into that annoying smile and it made her even angrier. Idiot.

She decided to not waste anymore of her precious time on the Earth peasant and go find something to eat and a place to stay the for the night.

Thats about all she remembers but she definitely knows she did not check into an inn last night, so where was she?

Deciding to stop being cowardly and frustrated because she couldnt come up with a plan, she opened both eyes and sat up in the bed.

Empty.

The sun was still making its way up and it's orange rays were flooding in the room from the windows, bathing her room in the lovely light and color.

As she looked around more a weird sense of familiarity started to creep up even if she was absolutely positive she never saw this room before now. Maybe she saw it last night and forgot or something.

She also had a weird dream about him., that didnt sit well with her.

Never mind that too. She had a throne to reclaim. She got out of bed, put her clothes on without any questions, collected her belongings along with whatever looked useful and proceeded to get out the room.

She practiced a little caution when she got out of the room. She did not want to be seen or run into whoever provided her with shelter for the night. Things would be easier and less awkward if everyone pretended she wasn't there. Ever.

The hallway was empty and she silently thanked Agni for that as she walked towards the stairs. From the beginning of the staircase she could just about make out what she assumed was the front desk in a room that looked like a lobby. She couldn't see if there was a person at the desk from her angle of sight but she assumed there was.

Shit.

She would have to find another way out. She was just about to turn back towards the room she was in when she heard clicking noises, like the ones you hear when a door is being unlocked or opened.

Shit. What if it was him? What if she had somehow missed him in the room? What if it was someone else who would recognize who she was and draw attention to her?

Without thinking she moved forward down the staircase. She would take the risk with the inn keeper than face her would-be hero.

Ignoring the voice in her head laughing at her and calling her a coward she paused a little in the middle of the staircase and took in the room. It was the lobby. The inn keeper was at the front desk and right now he was speaking to two men who looked like Fire Nation militants.

What!? How?

How had they tracked her down? She had to get out. She had to go back to their room. She ignored the 'their room' part as she tried to quickly but quietly make her way back up the stairs but her luck deserted her as she stepped on a creaky step and drew attention to where she was standing.

For a while everyone kept quiet as they stared at each other, her in horror and them in amazement that the person they were persuing would just show up right as they were asking the inn keeper if he had seen someone of her description.

That didnt last though as she broke out of the daze and made a dash back to their room-dammit!- with the soldiers in chase.

#######################################################

The sun was up and he felt the rays hit his skin and a new strength along with them. He slowly opened his eyes and took in the sight and sounds of the city awakening. He didn't want to go back inside yet because of what awaite him there.

More memories of the previous night had come to him during his meditation and with them a whole lot more shame. Although some parts where still missing, he got the gist of what happened. He had come to this town, found this place, checked in then went out again, roaming the town, seeing the sights on offer and attempting to forget everything that had happened during the past few days. He went to a tavern to drown his sorrows and met a girl there...atleast he thinks thats how and where he met her. They hit it off and later came back to his room where they...

He shook his head, trying to expel the drunken images and sounds from his head. How shameful of him, he still couldnt remember her name or face but he remembered the feel of her silky hair, the smell of Jasmine, alcohol and something else he couldnt remember right away, the feel of her nails on his back...

He was broken out of his stupor as he heard some shifting and a door slam. She must have awoken to find the bed empty.

She must be scared.

Confused.

Feel cheap and used.

What a jerk he is.

He took a few breaths then stood up and stretched. He then walked back in the room and stopped in his tracks as he lifted the veil at the door.

There she was. Awake. There. At the door. Her back to him.

She hadnt notice him yet. What should he do? Would she recognize him.

While he was caught in his thoughts, his eyes started roaming, travelling on every part exposed to him, her hair, shoulders, back...

No, he stopped himself going any further but he couldnt deny she was very attractive. Her Earth King clothes were form fitting and exposed just the right amount of skin.

Which made this even worse as she probably some innocent maiden he defiled.

His eyes soon started roaming again. Her back was still to him and she looked pre occupied with something. While he watched her, images of last night flashed in his mind and her name was right there on his tongue.

Her name, he remembered her name. It didn't make him less ashamed of his actions or make it better but at least he could remember her name.

He was so happy and relieved that he atleast knew her name that he didnt hear himself say it out loud.

Zaila...

He saw her shoulders tense at the sound of him calling out to her, head shooting up before her arms falling limp to her sides before her hands formed fists. She never turned around to face him and he wasn't sure if he was relieved or saddened by that.

After some awkward silence she finally said something.

"K-Kuzon, W-what are you doing here?" She spoke out, her voice sounded small and barely audible.

Oh right! He had given her his fake name and he was wearing his head band last night. Where was his head band anyway? Without it it was plain to see who he was. Would she be happy if she knew who he really was? Would things be better?

She looked preoccupied with her thoughts again as he watched her hold her head in her hands. Was she okay?

"I thought you left" She didn't need to say anymore for him to understand. She was just as confused and ashamed as he was. He also detected something else in her voice. Fear? Nervousness?

She said nothing else so he answered her, "I was on the balcony, outside. Are you okay?" He asked as he took a step forward, she didn't look so well from his angle.

"Yes, Im quite alright, just a little headache." She replied quickly. She still had her back to him and he was starting to feel concerned.

"Let me see, Maybe I can heal it" He said, really worried about her and feeling a little guilty. Healing her headache would a way to apologize, he hoped.

She snorted at his offer, " What can you do? You're just an Earth bender." She said as she turned around to face him. He was taken aback by the venom in her voice as she said that but he let kept calm. She must have been feeling any number of emotions because of this situation right now. He looked down in shame before he could catch a glimpse of her face.

He decided to tell her who he was. He didnt know why but he decided to fight his air nomadic nature then and there. Running is what got in tis mess, enough was enough. Someone had to take control. He lifted his eyes to meet hers as he went on to explain. "Well actually I can bend more than just Earth, Im actually the A-"

"..."

His words died in his mouth and his jaw dropped as he finally saw her face.

It was beautiful, exquisite, vulnerable and bare. All her emotions painted in one beautiful expression of shock and recognition on her canvas worthy face.

Only problem was that it wasnt Zaila.

"Azula?"

"Avatar?"

#######################################################

A/N: Woah. ..Okay so here's the seventh chapter after all the rewriting and editing. Forgive my many spelling and grammatical errors please. Leave a review if you want. I take all criticism and opinions seriously and I value them. Things just got interesting, right? hehe