Ok here it is, the next chapter!

Thanks to arizony who really lighted my day by the reviews he gave! Thanks man!


New friends

As soon as the sun reached over the walls and lit the city, I walked out to buy stuff and explore a bit. Things were cheap here as most of the items were produced within the city limits and there was hardly any cargo shipping. No wonder the city had eluded General Iroh; the whole prospect of a siege lay in the possibility of people giving up the fight because they ran out of water of food. But with mostly everything produced in the city, from bread to armor and weapons, this city truly was unconquerable. Fascinated I took in my surroundings, the market with its countless things and various foods and the craftsmen selling their stuff. After a while I spotted a shop where clothes were sold and I entered it. An old woman sat behind the counter sewing, she only looked up quickly as I entered and told me to call for her if I needed assistance. I watched the tunics (all mostly green, how obvious) and trousers and shoes, it was long since I had leisure to buy clothing that was really to my liking. Last time I simply took what Song gave me, for the clothes I had bought at the harbor had been battered and torn. Now I could pick what I liked. I set my eyes to a dark green robe with matching trousers when the old woman joined me.

"Can I help you dear?" she asked kindly and smiled up at me. I'm not that tall, but this woman was puny next to me, barely reaching my shoulder.

"Well, I like this robe; do you think I could try it on?" I asked back, drawn in by her kindness. Her voice kind of reminded me of my mother.

"Oh, sure dear. Let me show you where you can change." With that she took the robe and led me to a corner in the back of the shop, secluded by a heavy curtain from viewers.

The robe fit me nicely, it consisted of a tight tunic in a very dark green, almost black; a pair of trousers in the same color and an outer robe of a lighter shade, brimmed with white, stylized waves. I walked out and looked at myself in the mirror, turning around and looking down my body fascinated. I really looked great in this. Seeing my smile, the lady brought me a dark green coat for me to try on along with it.

Grinning I looked at myself. Now I looked ready for meeting anyone, even Zuko. My burns were all covered up and only my face was shown.

"It's perfect. How much do you want for it?" I asked the woman eagerly. Now that I had found a nice new robe, I didn't want to change into my old clothes again.

"It's twelve copper pieces for all, dear. And if I may say so, it really suits you. Do you want to purchase it?" she inquired to know, looking pleased at my appearance. Eagerly I nodded, folding up my old stuff and counting the money down.

As I left the shop, wearing new clothing, I headed for some supplies merchant, spending a good deal on essential food like meat and rice. I even bought some spices. Grinning over my 'oh-so-girly' way to spend money, I brought my bags to my new home and started stashing them away. It wasn't nearly midday yet and I didn't feel like staying in my new home all day, so I ventured out again, but left my money at home. I wasn't going to spend any more precious coins on other things, I had what I needed. I walked at leisure through the streets, heading towards the middle ring. There were a lot of people on the streets, but I always looked to get out of the way. It may be that I am a woman, but I am far from gullible. Even though I had no money on me, someone could try and steal something from me, and I didn't want that kind of trouble.

The day passed with me looking at the streets and shops and all the wonders of Ba Sing Se and as the evening drew nearer I headed back towards my new home. When I was just one corner from my apartment, I ran into a huge mass of flesh, grunting slightly as I hit it. Surprised I staggered two steps back and grabbed a nearby wall to prevent myself from falling. Grimly I looked at the human obstacle in my way and briefly wondered if that man wanted to rob me. Well, if he tried, I would give him a run for his money.

Yet instead I heard a rumbling and somewhat caring voice from the man.

"I'm sorry; I didn't see you coming down that way. I should pay more attention to my surroundings." He said and I looked further up to meet his gaze. Realizing I had just bumped into the Earth Kingdom guard from the train station, I smiled quickly to cover my surprise.

"No, it is me who has to apologize. I wasn't really paying attention either."

"Say, aren't you that young woman from yesterday? The one who boarded the train in search for her friend? Qin Lo isn't it?" he asked, pleased that he recognized me.

"Qin La, but yes, it is me." I answered and backed away a pace. I was standing much to close to this huge man for my liking. He seemed to sense my discomfort and made a small step backwards and looked down at me. He certainly wasn't a cruel person, his eyes told me that. He seemed generally pleased with the fact he had bumped into me and wanted to stay out of my comfort zone. And it looked like he wanted to talk to me, just talk, like that one sailor I had knocked out back at the harbor.

"My name is Chen. What are you doing here? The night is closing in and a woman of your age shouldn't be wandering the streets at night alone, especially not here." He said and bowed courteously to me. A bow which I returned. Chen, how fitting. It meant 'true man', a thing which he seemed to be. If there is one thing I have to admit, is that I learned to see through peoples eyes into their souls. Most men I had met were evil, cruel beings, not the least bit drawn back by the pain of a very young woman, but some, like this man, were kind souls.

"I was just on my way back to my lodgings. Seemingly I forgot about time as I was exploring the city." I explained and caught the amused gleam in his eyes. I knew what he would be asking next.

"Do you want me to escort you home? That way no one will bother you." He asked, eagerly waiting for a response on my part.

A first I wanted to deny, but something made me yield to his desire. It was such a simple wish after all, it couldn't go unfulfilled.

"It would be nice to have company on the walk." I announced and walked next to him. Strangely, despite everything men had done to me I felt no fear next to him.

We walked in silence, which gave me time to ponder on that. I was still wary about him and prepared for anything he might try, but I wasn't riddled with crippling fear. It was strange to me, to feel at ease next to a man that huge and filled with raw strength. But his appearance calmed me, I still can't say why. Maybe I just felt he was no threat to me, that he held a woman's life as dearly as his own.

At length we reached the building where I had my lodging in and I heard Chen chuckle lightly. It wasn't a mean chuckle, it was filled with merriment and joy.

"What is it? What do you find so funny?" I asked, but couldn't stop the smile from my lips emerge to my eyes.

"My own lodgings are not far away. Barely a few steps." He answered still laughing his booming laugh at the irony of things. Yet I didn't fall into that laughter. The prospect of someone who knew me living so near filled me with something I can only describe as dread. He knew where I lived! Even more, he lived nearby!

He stopped laughing as he saw my furrowed brow and my gaze aiming at the ground. Somehow he seemed to understand that I was distrusting of men in general.

"I do not know what has happened in your life that you were obliged to seek refuge in Ba Sing Se, but I can tell you that I mean you no harm. I merely thought to get you to your home safely. Now as I have done that, I bid you goodnight, Qin La." He bowed, but I couldn't miss the spark of pity in his eyes and I felt guilty for it.

"Thank you, Chen. It was nice walking with you. Maybe we chance to see each other again." I said, though I hoped I hadn't gotten too far with this. After all, it could still be that he played me and only waited for the opportune moment to strike. But the grateful smile he showed made me feel at ease again. Something in him reminded me of Zuko, somehow. I cannot explain it.

"If you would like, I have the day off tomorrow. I could show you around the city. Or even have a cup of tea with you." He replied hopefully and I hesitated yet again. Was this the invitation for a date? And if it was, should I accept it? The only times when I had been with members of the other gender alone, it was clear what they wanted. I had no knowing of dating and such. Still, it was worth a try. And perhaps he could help me in my search for Zuko and the Avatar. He was working at the train station anyway, he saw all the newcomers who came to the city walking the path I had trodden.

"That would be nice, I think. Having a guide often helps finding the right way." I answered him, tossing in a bit of my old mentors' wisdom to assure me. His face brightened immediately and he bowed again to me.

"Then I will await you here tomorrow morning. After the sun has risen over the walls."

I nodded and we parted with courteous words. I waited until he had disappeared round the next corner, before I went inside and made my dinner. While I ate, I couldn't stop myself from forming a smile on my lips.

This would make my search a lot easier.


The next day came without any troubles in my sleep. Again thanks to Song, who had had the liberty of putting some tea leaves amidst my traveling gear that allowed me to sleep without dreams for the night. I woke shortly after dawn, preparing myself for the day with fixing my breakfast and taking another approving look into my mirror. I looked still much the same as the day before, only a slight pink blush was on my cheeks. Was I really exited to meet Chen? Agni above, my mother would have a fit if she still cared if I went outside with an Earth Kingdom guard without any protection. Of course, thinking about my parents still hurt, but I believed they were in the care of the gods now, where they surely are happier than they were before.

Strapping my sword around my belly (as always) I grabbed my cloak and took one final look at the full sized mirror. The cloak hid the sword perfectly which was good, because I wasn't going anywhere without it anymore. Smiling slightly, I exited the room and stepped out on the streets. The sun only barely touched the trim of the walls, but Chen already was waiting for me. Though I had made no extra effort on myself, he looked as if I was a blissful spirit to him, which made me blush even more. No man had ever looked at me like that.

The day went quickly by as he escorted me through the city, showed me the best places to eat or to get tea, and showed me to the university of the great Earth Kingdom capital. We lightly talked as if we had known each other for years and slowly my distrust against him vanished. I was still wary though, I told him nothing of whom I was looking for or why or where I had come from for that matter and he seemed content with that. As the day waned on, we steered towards the restaurant district, for we both felt slightly hungry after our exploration of the city. While we walked, he told me of his work, how he had gotten to the job of guarding the fugitives from threat. I have to admit, it was pretty fascinating to listen though. He was he first Earthbender I had leisure to talk to and it surprised me how calm he was. Nothing ever seemed to get him angry. Not even when a child bumped into his legs and smeared something looking like snot on his trousers, he merely reached down, set the kid to its feet again and with a calm warning to be more careful next time, sent it on its way again.

It was nice to have him around, his temper matched mine and I think that was why we connected so easily.

As we drew closer to a small restaurant next to a rich garden or park, and sat down to have a meal, I couldn't stop myself from staring at his posture. He was tall, masculine shoulders pressing against the fabric of his light green tunic and his gaze always was open and friendly. Presently I realized that he had asked me a question and I hadn't yet answered, too caught up in my own observations.

"I'm sorry, what did you ask?"

"I asked if you have any idea where that friend of yours could be in this city. Maybe I could help you find him." He answered, calm and not in the slightest irritated by my lack of response.

"I haven't found him yet, but that isn't surprising considering the size of this city. It will certainly take a while. But I am confident; I'll find him when the time is right." I answered him in the same calm manner I had shown all day. Strange as it was, I truly was calm in Chen's presence.

"What does your friend look like, maybe I could ask around if anyone has seen him lately." He offered smiling, eager to help me. A desire at which I had to smile also.

"Well, if you truly wish to know, I'll tell you. He is my age, a young man often being angry and resentful to others. He is taller than me now I guess and there is a terrible burn mark covering his left eye and that side of his face."

At the mentioning of that scar, Chen drew a sharp breath.

"He had a run-in with a Firebender?" he asked, displaying something I can only describe as pity.

"I guess you could call it that. He didn't attack them, but the man still burned him for refusing to fight." I left out that the man had been his own father, for it would have been just too obvious who I was looking for. After all, most people had heard about the banished prince of the Fire Nation, getting burned by his father whom believed him a weakling.

"He means a lot to you, doesn't he?" Chen asked quietly, not meeting my gaze. He had drawn the wrong conclusion.

"He is dear to me, but not in the way you think. We are siblings at heart. He is my brother and I have to find him. Such is my destiny, to prevent him from making the wrong decision in his life when the time comes for him. I feel nothing more than a sister's love for him." I explained quickly and wondered at the same time what had caused me to say it. Of course it was true, but why had I told Chen that? Was it because of the unveiled pain and sadness in his green eyes? Maybe it truly was. However he seemed to regain his posture and his temper again, holding his emotions under a tight reign.

"I will tell the other guards of him and when someone spots him, I'll tell you." He said, but the pain in his eyes was only veiled. Frowning I nodded, there was something in his gaze I couldn't understand yet. Not only that he behaved differently from everything I believed a man would, there was something else in his eyes, I just couldn't place it yet.

I steered the conversation away from that topic and the rest of the evening was filled with laughter and happiness of me and my newfound friend. Despite my arguing, he insisted on paying the bill by himself, telling me that a true man must know how to make a woman comfortable. Smiling I obeyed him and we proceeded towards my lodging again.

When we reached it, I was surprised, for he bowed low to me, as if I was royalty to him. Don't get me wrong, I am royalty, only Chen didn't know that at the time.

But I saw how pleased he was, how happy he seemed to have been able to spend the day with me, and strangely enough, I felt it also. It had been a nice day, just walking around, forgetting all my sorrows and worries about the future for a day and I told him so, watching as his smile got broader and the gleam in his eyes grew stronger. Half I expected him to lean in and touch me, but he didn't.

"Good Night, Qin La." He said and turned to leave.

"Good night, Chen." I whispered towards his retreating shadow, soon lost among the darkness around me. I quickly proceeded up the stairs and into my room, finding it exactly as I had left it. I poured myself some tea and while I waited for the time to be right to drink it, I sat by the window watching the moon stand in the starlit sky above. Sure, the day had been nice, and that strange gleam in Chen's eyes could not be mistaken, but I had to focus on my errand. Chen liked me, liked me a lot by the looks of it, but I couldn't afford to pull him any closer to me than I already had. Though it hurt me to think it, but right now he was only a pawn to me, someone to give me in-depth news on the arrivals. If anyone, he would be able to tell me when Zuko arrived in Ba Sing Se. Or the Avatar for that matter, though I doubted he would be able to tell me that. The Avatar had a Sky-Bison after all and could just fly over the gigantic wall straight towards the Earth Kingdom palace in the deeps of night and leave again ere the sun rose in the east.

While I drank my tea, I thought of the young Airbender and his oncoming quest of saving the world from destruction. The boy in my vision couldn't be much older than twelve; it was an awesome responsibility to put on the shoulders of one so young. I wondered if he could ever live up to the expectations thrown at him. My visions had been unclear about that, seemingly the Avatar's future was something I couldn't see, because every decision he or his friends made, in every moment of time; were just too unpredictable to see and draw conclusions by. Strange, I almost felt that I was only the chronicler of these events, a figure in shadow, only looking at the future and never touching it, never changing it. I hadn't even been able to change my own fate, how could I assume to change the fate of other people.

It all narrowed down to the one thing I couldn't predict, couldn't see. My own personal decisions.


Ok, I really have a run on this trory right now, I hope it continues to be so fluidly written by me and no new writers block will disturb my work! Anyways, enjoy!