Authors Note: Fighting will finally begin next chapter. ;)

I hadn't caught any sign of him, I sighed as I left the kitchen. I wasn't ready to give in; I could be determined when I wanted to be. I was set on finding him and figuring out what his problem was. He was nowhere in the dining hall, so maybe he went back to the room. I'll just take one last look at the pond and head back to see if he's there, otherwise-

"There he is…" I murmured, peering through the window that overlooked the pond. Zuko was standing there with the mother and the small girl from earlier. They were feeding the turtle-ducks; the duckling from earlier waddled up to Zuko without fear, letting him stroke it's head. I found a smile coming to my face; he'd returned to give his food to the little girl. Why hadn't he just let me give up some of my food? I was used to going without.

"Thank you, young man." The mother grabbed hold of her daughters hand before leaving Zuko by the pond alone. He stared wistfully into the water, not making a move to return to the hotel. I decided to take it upon myself to make the poor boy feel as embarrassed as possible.

"Oh, Zuko, who knew you had such a soft, loving heart." I held my hand over my heart as I walked closer to him; he blushed, glaring at me before turning away.

"Don't speak of this to anyone." I sighed, dropping arms to my side before I stood beside him and stared at our reflections in the water. The night sky was being lit up by the beautiful fireflies, dancing to a silent song as crickets chirped. It was a relaxing scene.

"Don't worry, Zuko, I won't tell anyone of the side of you people would actually like. I'm sure they'd prefer the broody, jerk side that you show." I kneeled down, placing my hand in the water; ripples broke our perfect reflection in the water. "Why didn't you just let me give up my food for them?"

"I told you, you need it more than them, and they need it more than me."

"I didn't know you actually had a kind heart; you do hide it well. No offense."

"Everything you have yet said to me has been offensive, why start saying 'no offense' now?"

"Good point!" I offered him a grin, rubbing my wet hand on my outfit. "But I don't do it purposely; I've just grown up being honest." He shook his head. "But I've wanted to ask you a question since I met you…" I glanced over at the scar that took up nearly the entire right half of his face. "Where did you get that scar?" He froze for a second, his eyes averting from my gaze.

"…my father." He finally muttered out. "It's the reason I'm hunting the Avatar; to regain my honor that I lost the day my father gave me this scar." Talk about being angsty, Zuko suddenly got quiet and his eyes squinted; he looked as if he were in pain.

"Does it still hurt?" I hadn't noticed that I'd raised my hand to touch the scar until Zuko stiffened under my touch. His eyes wouldn't meet mine, but he didn't pull away from my touch. Rumors had passed, even if I hadn't understood completely, his shame was known to many. "You're only hunting the Avatar to regain your honor… So does that mean, if you still had your honor, you wouldn't be hunting him down?" Zuko didn't have an answer for me, after a few silent moments I gave up and began to walk into the house.

"What would you have done if you lost your honor and you were shamed in front of your family?" He asked, still facing away from me. It took me a second to think; I wasn't really one to care about honor or family heritage. If I loved myself the way I was, then why should I care about what others believed? My whole life I've lived voicing my opinion, but then again, I was a lowly peasant, not a prince like Zuko. Not anyone who mattered, who had a huge title to accept soon.

"I can't really speak for you, 'cause we're pretty different, Zuko. I think I would want to regain my honor, but I wouldn't do it be condemning another human being. I'd find another way to redeem myself." I stopped a bit my lip; why had I just recited what I knew what he wanted to hear. "But what I would really do is not care. If I had at least one person in the world who believed in me, I don't think it'd matter. I'd be upset, of course, but I wouldn't hurt someone else ever. That part was true. I believe the Avatar is the only one who can stop your father's reign, he's the only hope we have…"

"Why… do you travel with me, when you know I want to capture the Avatar?"

"Because I'm a fool." I sighed, placing my hand on the handle to the door. "I really believe that you can do the right thing Zuko. You can't do what others want you to do; you need to do what you want. And if that's capture the Avatar, I suppose I'll help. I'll always hope for a change of heart though…" I whispered the last part, but I had reason to believe he heard it.

I turned back to look at him; he was facing me this time, a different look in his eyes than what I've seen before. I couldn't read it though; I was already confused as it was. I had actually lied at first before telling him how I really felt. Why did he have such a weird hold on me? I should've told him right then and there that I didn't support his cause of capturing the Avatar, but I couldn't bring myself to do it due to one thought.

I don't want him to hate me.

"From what I've seen though, no matter how corny it sounds, I think that… whatever your heart says it what you should do."

I headed back to the room without him; he was too caught up in his thoughts afterwards to notice I had left. I hope he'd return for some sleep soon, though, he needed it just as much as I did. I was the one fighting tomorrow evening and it seemed like I was more relaxed than he was! Zuko was so hard to read at times; he really frustrated me.

Iroh sent me a questioning look when I entered the room alone; I shrugged my shoulders as I fell back onto my bed.

"He's out there thinking." I frowned up at the ceiling. "Has this always been the reason he's been hunting the Avatar? To regain the honor he lost?"

"Yes." Iroh replied, his eyes scanning me before he spoke again. "My brother was harsh on him; he had spoken his mind and had been punished for it. He knows the difference between right and wrong; he's forced to follow the wrong things."

"No offense but your brother's a big jerk. How are you and him even related?" Iroh chuckled.

"I was always the kinder between the two of us; I had no desire to take the title of Fire Lord from his hands. I, however, learned many things from experience in my life. I have a request of you." I raised an eyebrow. A request of me? He seemed pretty capable of doing many things, why would he need little ol' me?

"What can I do for you?" I owed him a great deal, he's attempted to keep my anger in check, along with Zuko's, and he may be the only reason I haven't become a roast duck myself.

"You're the only one who can break Zuko from the shell he's formed around himself. I believe you are the only person who can make him 'feel' something other than anger. Around you he feels more carefree; your attitude is much like his when he was younger, a bit feistier, but still alike. He sees his younger self in you, and that's why he's taken a liking to your personality. You challenge him. And that's why I want you to challenge yourself; can you make him smile?"

Of course! I thought with a grin. I could make anyone smile; it was only a matter of time before I did the same for Zuko. I mean, I couldn't help the fact my antics could cause many people to smile, some may think I'm full of myself, but as I've stated before, I couldn't care less. I did what I wanted; I said what I thought.

"I take on your challenge, Uncle!" He smiled as he lay back in his bed. "I will go against all odds and make the former Prince Zuko smile! Even if it kills him!" I had grown fond of the older man; he was something like I had imagined my father to be. Kind and wise. I wondered if Zuko realized how lucky he was that he had someone like Iroh; I doubted he did at this point in time; he was too busy being an angsty teenager. Everyone was the way they were for a reason though.

I sighed, glancing at Zuko's empty bed. I hope he comes back soon, who knows what kind of trouble he could get into out there, alone. I snuggled into the soft bed, content with my surroundings for the night. I fell asleep quickly.

I still didn't understand why I had gone alone with this plot to keep the Avatar safe secretly, however I didn't bother lingering on it too long. Everything happens for a reason…

Right?