Disclaimer: Bryke owns Avatar: the last Airbender.

Hi, my lovely, awesome reviewers! Thanks so much for reviewing and reading! My school starts September 2 (no!) and it's going to be hectic but since I'm gonna update Friday, and probably twice next week, I can finish this story before that date! After all, i finish writing it and having it beta-ed a month ago.

-Emiko Ishida

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo OZAI'S POV xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"Ozai, listen, I need to talk to you," Ursa told me, running towards where I stood. It was a typical day in the Fire Nation, sunny and hot, and because of that her face was red, and she was perspiring.

"Yes?" I replied.

She stopped her heavy breathing and swallowed.

"You know your 'cousin'?" she asked. Her hair was a little wet from the sweat. She straightened up and took a deep breath, I came to the conclusion that she ran to school to tell me this.

"Yes." I replied.

She was hesitant at first, but then continued, "When I went home that time when Mina and I went to the spa with your aunt. . . I was walking home and I saw this one kid who looked exactly liked Hiro! Though, I'm pretty sure he was homeless."

I shook my head at her. "You think too much," I replied and walked away.

She was right though. I just didn't believe her at that time.

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That sunny day started to match the mood, rainy and gray. I didn't speak to Ursa after her theory. "Hey, what do you think of this?" Ursa asked, holding a piece of paper out to me. She was smiling, with her hair neatly tucked behind her ears. I took the letter from her as she sat down on her knees next to my desk. Apparently she wasn't mad at me anymore.

"What's this?" I asked her, unfolding the letter.

"I'm going to send it to Principal Zhang, maybe we can get something done about Kwam," she replied, sighing at the thought of our teacher.

I nodded.

"Cause when someone calls you a bitch, you suspend them, not give them no recess," she replied. I knew she was referring to the scene Phobos put on. Apparently, Kwam's hearing is very good.

"I heard that Juan is planning a revolt," I told her.

She just raised her eyebrows and gave a nod, signaling it was a good idea to her. Juan (and most of the other students) were sitting in a circle, talking loudly and giggling.

"What are they doing?" Ursa asked after a moment, gazing at them with me.

"Some game called Truth or Dare," I answered, shrugging.

"Oh," Ursa squeaked, turning the opposite way.

I turned back seconds later and slid the letter back to her.

"I asked Azulon if I could get homeschooled next year and he said yes," I said to her, trying to break the silence.

"Really? That's good," she replied, resting her chin in her palm.

I couldn't tell if she was saddened by my statement, because she usually talks in that tone of voice. And then silence, once again, fell like fog between us.

"All of my teachers were strict in The Company's school system. Sometimes we even feared for our life," she said, taking her arm off her cheek and crossed them against her chest.

"Hey! Do you peoples want to play Truth or Dare?" Mina asked, jogging up to us and squatting down with a grin on her face. Is 'peoples' even a word?

"Um. . ." I began.

"Okay," Ursa answered, and my eyes widened.

Mina ran back over to the group, and gestured frantically for us to join. Ursa and got up and I followed her to the noisy group of kids.

"Do you know how to play Truth or Dare?" she asked me, a hint of fear in her voice.

"No," I hesitantly answered.

"Me neither."

Ursa sat next Mina and I joined Phobos. In the center of the circle was a brush.

"Okay, Juan's turn!" Mina said cheerfully.

What is Juan going to do with the brush? Play some type of dart game? But just them, Juan spun the brush and it landed on me.

A resounding chorus of 'oh' came from the rest of the circle. I have to admit, I was kind of frightened.

"Prince Ozai," Juan began, using my title, "Don't kill me! I dare you to kiss Ursa on the hand."

He then proceeded to stand up and run out of the room. The door was shut loudly, and all was quiet for a minute. Moments later he peaked through the small window, looking at us.

I just sighed and held out my hand, waiting for her hand to follow with Juan's dare. She did so, and I kissed it.

Mina and Phobos screeched in joy and I thought they were going to foam at the mouth. What the hell was the problem? It's a common greeting in the upper class. Odd. Aren't these kids supposed to be upper class?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo URSA'S POV xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxxoxoxoox

"Oh, my Agni!" Shiori yelled and broke into a long squeal.

I had to fight the urge to cover my ears with my hands and yell 'shut up'. Instead, I just smiled meekly. We resided in my room (or office, I didn't know what to call it), it was still raining outside.

"This is so cool!" she squealed again.

I continued smiling. Shiori had to cover her mouth with her hands to keep her hands from shaking.

She quieted down, and instead asked in a dead serious voice, "What did he do next?" Her eyes were sparkling too, I don't understand why this was so interesting to her.

"Nothing, the teacher came in," I responded.

Shiori eyes widened. "While you two were making out?!"

"No! And it was on the cheek!" I protested, standing up from my seat. I didn't want people making a big deal about this!

"Oh, my gosh! This is so awesome!" Shiori squealed again.

"What's so 'awesome'?" a woman asked from the door, a disgusted look on her face. She had long hair, and instead of the usual black uniform, she wore a bright red kimono with yellow dragons decorating the garment. I thought she looked cruel, and she was. Her name was Dongmei Natsu.

Shiori and I fell silent.

"Come on, Shiori. You're late for your lessons," Dongmei said, and gave Shiori a stern look. So what was she to Shiori, her teacher in what?

She then turned around and swiftly left my room. Shiori gave me a apologetic look and followed her teacher. I sighed at the sight and sat down in the large velvet, red chair, that was generously given to me by Izao.

I had received this small room once I was named a lieutenant. All workers ranked one through ten got a place to stay in this building. I liked my room, it was cozy, and had a bed, fireplace, couch, tea table, and a small window.

The only problem: it was Zorandah's old room. The woman's spirit still lingered around here, at least to me.

"Ursa?" Captain Izao's voice asked from behind the door, he gave a knock which caused me to spring up. I ran to the door, swinging it open and bowing.

"Good evening, sir!" I greeted him.

Silence. "That was too formal, wasn't it?" I asked, staring at my feet.

"Yup. Ursa, just relax," he said, and walked past me.

I straightened up and watched the Captain as he set some items down on the table.

"Ursa?" he asked, making no eye contact with me.

"Yes?" I responded quickly.

"Do you know how to play Pai Sho?"

Pai Sho. A board game that was as old as time. I had played it with my dad, but it was confusing and boring to me. So, what should I say to Captain Izao? Most people know how to play it, but not me. He sat down on the couch and took out a black sack. He then opened the sack and laid out its contents on the table. There were wooden circles. "Have a seat," he told me.

I sat down on the floor, crossing my legs and folding my hands on the table. My face was blank.

"Do you know how to play Pai Sho?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Well, I'm going to teach you."

He began to place the wooden tiles on the board. I honestly had better things to do. Like, practice my calligraphy, or studying even! I didn't want to play a game I was bad at.

"There are only ten pieces you can move they belong to you. There is only one that you can move anywhere on the board that belongs to you. The Chrysanthemum," he held a tile with a pink chrysanthemum on it.

"The Lotus Tile," he held up that one as well, "is the most important piece. You have to get to the center circle before you opponent, without getting captured."

Even though I was still a little confused, we kept playing.

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After many games, the winner was Captain Izao. "Did you notice anything about those games, Ursa?" he asked me, as I gazed at the flames.

"Oh, um. . . I lost?" I answered once I turned to look at him, a little ashamed and nervous.

He chuckled and smiled at me. "That's true, but would it make you feel better if I had let you win?"

I looked down at the game board, lost in thought.

"No." I answered quietly.

"How come?" he retorted.

"Because it's cheating." I responded, quietly. It was silent in the small room as we just sat there for a couple of minutes, but it felt longer to me.

"Ursa, you do know that you would be in charge of this division the moment I pass away, right?" he said, breaking the silence and adding more tension.

". . . Right."

"That's why, tomorrow we will leave for Ember Island so I can train you in the way of the sword."