Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. 100 years have past and the avatar is nowhere to be seen.


They had spent the last three years on the sea looking for the avatar. Most of the people on the boat were convinced that the avatar was dead. That he never reincarnated. Many were talking about jumping ship and going back to the Fire Nation. That they shouldn't have to be punished for Zuko's actions. They thought they were being secretive when they spoke, but Kimiko heard everything.

And her heart hurt because of it.

Kimiko woke up to a freezing room. Sitting up slowly she rubbed her face. Kimiko could never get use to the way her hands felt against her skin. She pulled them away and examined them in the light. Over the last three years, they had turned into a soft pink with wrinkles. If it wasn't for Azumi's healing ability her hands would be a lot worse.

Since that day Zuko kept his distance and if he talked to her it was always in a harsh tone. It hurt Kimiko. She missed the days where the two of them would sit and talk about anything under the trees.

Kimiko sighed as she got up. Walking to her closet, her mind wandered.

What would her life be like if she couldn't bend?

Would her punishment had been different?

Would she have been killed for having a crush on Zuko?

Kimiko shook her head as she put on her red pants and black boots. She shouldn't think those thoughts. Kimiko was lucky to be alive. Every day she thanked the spirits for that. She grabbed her matching red shirt and slide it on. Now she prayed that the spirits would bring Zuko peace.

Kimiko walked out the door and grabbed her black coat with fur over the hood. Slinging it over her shoulder, she walked onto the deck.

Zuko stood there, looking at the ocean. It had been three years since his father had banished him from the Fire Nation to look for the avatar. With each passing day, he had become more and more consumed with finding him. That was all he saw. Nothing else mattered expect finding the avatar. It broke Kimiko's heart to see the carefree boy she knew turn into this man.

Zuko turned his head toward her, hiding his scar. "What do you want?" he asked. Kimiko walked up beside him but kept her distance. He was taller than her now. She remembered always teasing him about being shorter than her. He would buff up his chest and say 'One day I'll be taller and you'll have to stand on your tiptoes to even see me'.

Kimiko smiled at the memory. "Good morning Prince Zuko. Iroh has requested me with the task of being with you today." Kimiko looked at him and smiled.

He looked away. "There is no need for that." he said softly.

"I can't go against Iroh's orders." Kimiko said continuing to look at Zuko. Zuko turned backed and looked at her. The boy she remembered had vanished. Kimiko turned her head to the ocean.

They both watched as the waves rolled by. Kimiko had always loved the water, especially the waves. There was something powerful about even the smallest wave. Azumi said that it was because they remind Kimiko of herself.

"So this is the south pole." Kimiko said looking at the icebergs. Zuko nodded, "It was rumored that the avatar was last seen flying here. Isn't this where you are from?" Zuko asked. Kimiko shook her head. "Azumi said I was born in the Northern Water Tribe."

Zuko turned to look at her. Kimiko had grown up. She kept her long brown hair braided. But there were still some curls that would escape. Zuko always wanted to reach out and tuck them in like when they were kids. But he had to remember to keep his distance. His father was watching even now.

His eyes fell on hers. They were as blue as the ocean. Zuko could see himself floating in them.

Zuko would never admit it out loud, but he missed Kimiko. Even though she was right in front of him. He wanted to reach out and pull her in his arms. Tell her that he was sorry and ask for her forgiveness. To let her know that he didn't hate her it was just that the day her hands were burned he promised himself he would never let her be hurt by him again.

He looked down and saw she was wearing gloves. He wanted to reach out and kiss her hands. Zuko put his hands behind his back.

"Why did you leave?" he asked. "Azumi never really told me why. She would just say my fate was decided before I was born."

"I know the feeling." Kimiko looked at him. She looked into his golden eyes that shined brighter than any fire could ever produce. Kimiko finally came to terms that she loved Zuko. Well, loved him as she could. Growing up she had always had a crush on him but knew that it would never develop into anything more. After her hands were burned and he stopped talking to her, she thought her heart would stop doing crazy leaps, but it never did. You cannot stop love is what Azumi told her.

She wanted to fill in the space between them, but she knew he wouldn't want that. They turned and looked at the ocean. Kimiko reached up to her neck and touched the necklace that Zuko had given her.


Iroh and Azumi watched from the top of the ship as Zuko and Kimiko talked. "My, you can tell there is something there." Iroh said. Azumi looked down at Kimiko.

"Too bad fate has been against them." she said studying her daughter. These last few years on the boat Kimiko had begun asking more questions about her heritage. It hurt Azumi that she couldn't tell Kimiko the truth. So, she only gave her small details. But, how much longer would that satisfy Kimiko?

"You can always change your fate." Iroh said turning toward Azumi. She smiled at the older man. Iroh was wise beyond his years.

When he returned from the war to hear about Ozai being the new Fire Lord he was more concerned about Zuko. He spent his days hanging around him. Iroh would tell Zuko stories of the people he met after Lu Ten's death. Zuko's eyes would shine brightly as he listened. It seemed to be the only thing that made the boy happy after Kimiko's accident.

When Zuko was banished, Iroh had volunteered to go with him. This wasn't his son. It wasn't his responsibility to take care of him. But Iroh told Azumi that there is something inside Zuko. It just needs to be watered and loved for it to blossom.

"How does one change their fate?" Azumi asked looking back at Kimiko. Iroh rubbed his beard. "To change your fate, you must first accept that you are not bound to it."


Zuko and Kimiko stood in silence for a long time watching the ocean when a huge beam went off in the distance.

He turned to Kimiko, "Do you know what this means?" Kimiko looked at the beam. "Zuko, I don't know." He smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever, "My search is over." Kimiko looked back at Zuko, "It could be anything. The avatar hasn't been seen in one hundred years." Zuko looked at the beam too. "It had to come from a powerful source Kimiko. Who else is extremely powerful besides the avatar?"

Kimiko watched as Zuko's face lit up with excitement. She had seen this before and she knew he would just be disappointed in the end. "Zuko, it could be the celestial lights or something. I just don't want to see you get disappointed." He turned and faced her, his anger rising. "It isn't the celestial lights. It is the avatar and I need to capture him." She saw fire forming around his hands and flashbacks appeared of Ozai standing over her.

Kimiko fell on her knees crying and held her hands close to her chest. "Please don't burn them! I am sorry for talking back." Zuko snapped out of his anger and made the fire vanish. Kimiko continued to cry as Azumi and Iroh ran out. Zuko backed up as Azumi wrapped her arms around her daughter. "What did you do?" Iroh asked.

Zuko couldn't think. He kept looking at Kimiko who was crying and mumbling to not burn her hands. His father had done this. His father just didn't scar her hands but her feelings about fire. He turned and ran to his room, not looking back.


Once they got Kimiko in her room, Iroh left to see Zuko. The look on his nephew's face when Kimiko cried was one of hurt. Azumi had told him about Kimiko and Zuko's relationship. The boy cared deeply for Kimiko. He could see it in the way he talked about her. The way he looked at her when she was in the room. His eyes always softened at the sight of her.

Oh, how he wished things would have turned out differently. He knocked on the door. "Come in." Zuko barely said. Iroh opened the door. Zuko was sitting in front of the Fire Nation flag. Candles surrounded him as he closed his eyes. There flames growing ever so slightly. Iroh walked into Zuko's room and stood behind him. "She use to love my fire bending." he whispered. "She would love when I showed her something new I had learn." Zuko looked down.

Iroh sat beside his nephew and put his hand on his shoulder. Zuko looked at Iroh, his scar darker from the fire. "I use to love to watch her water bend. But, I took that away from her." He looked down at his hands. "No you didn't Zuko, your father did when he decided to burn those hands." Zuko clenched his fists. "If I hadn't had a crush on her then she would still be able to bend and she wouldn't be scared of me!" he shouted. The flames on the candles rose higher.

Iroh looked at the Fire Nation flag. "I loved Lu Ten more than my own life. He was my reason for getting up each morning. I know his death wasn't natural. I know he was murdered and I believe it was by your father." Zuko stood up. "How dare you accuse him!"

Iroh slowly stood back up. "What I am saying is your father will destroy a person by hitting their weak points; not physically, but mentally. He will destroy what you love in order to get what he wants."

Zuko glared at his uncle. "Kimiko is not a weakness to me." Iroh looked at Zuko. "The people you love are your greatest weakness Zuko. He knew there was this bond between you two." Iroh looked at the boy in front of him. For the first time since his banishment, Zuko look utterly broken. "He wanted to get you under control before you disrespected our nation. He knew that if he hurt her so severely you would be under his thumb." Iroh said walking closer.

"Why would he do that to her? She had nothing to do with this." Zuko whispered. "Because he knew you would never want her to be hurt again."

Zuko turned his back to his uncle. "Kimiko isn't my weakness!" Zuko yelled louder. "Then why did you look like the world had ended when she fell down and began begging for you to spare her?" Iroh asked.

Zuko shot fire at his uncle screaming. Iroh dodged it and looked at Zuko. Tears were falling down the teens face. "Get out before I hurt you." Zuko said through clenched teeth.

Iroh walked toward the door. He turned around, "The sooner you accept it, the sooner you will be able to protect her." He shut the door as Zuko screamed.


Author's Note:

My tumblr: oboe-wan-kenobie