Okay, so here I am once more. Sorry I haven't posted in a while... Thank you all for not responding and for that one person who has (thank you for the kind reviews) but I would appreciate it if you could wait till the end of the story. It makes things much less complicated; trust me :)

So, here I go!

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Previously...

Zuko let out a menacing laugh that echoed amongst the trees. "A theif? No doubt about that. No, her name..." he looked over at Sinu who was staring at him in horror. Would he really do it? Yes. He would... "...is Sinu,"

"Sinu?" Sokka repeated. This time he looked over at Sinu instead.

Sinu averted his gaze. She couldn't look at him.

"Yes, Sinu. Or, I should say, Princess Sinu of a Fire Nation tribe who is soon to be my bride,"

Sokka took a step backwards, staring at her in shock.

"You're...bethrothed...to him?"

Sinu closed her eyes and bent her head downwards. It was time to tell. It was time to tell everything.

"Yes...it's true. My name is Princess Sinu," she looked up at Sokka. "And I am royalty in the Fire Nation."

Present...

Sokka's breath staggered and he took an involuntary step backwards. Sinu looked away from him. His eyes...they were full of pain and confusion. Aang was staring at her with his eyes wide. Sinu felt her shoulders shake as the tears swelled up in her eyes. Sokka looked at her as if it was just a big lie. As if it was just something they were doing to fool him.

"Kaori...tell him who you are..." he said softly, his voice broken.

Sinu shook her head quickly, her hair flying out around her shoulders. "No, Sokka he's right! I am who he says," she muttered.

"No!" Sokka exclamed. "That's not true,"

"Yes it is!" Sinu yelled. "My name is not Kaori, I am not a theif, and I am not just a poor innocent Fire Nation girl!"

She lowered her voice though and tried to calm her breathing. She didn't like Sokka's expression... It was all starting to sink in. All she wanted right now was to go over to him and wrap her arms around his waist. For him to pull her into his safe grip...keep her there forever...make everything all better...

But that wasn't possible. Sokka took another step backwards, but this time of his own free will. "I can't...I won't..." he stammered.

"Please, Sokka," Sinu begged. "Please, believe me when I say that the feelings I felt towards you were real!"

"You lied to me..."

"I didn't want to!"

"You lied to me!"

"I didn't have a choice!" Her voice was strained now, coming out broken and pleading. "Please, Sokka!"

She went over to him and tried to take his hand but he merely pushed her away. "You're on his side!" he said, glancing at Prince Zuko, who was looking very smug. "You were with him all along,"

"No!" Sinu said loudly. "No, Sokka don't believe that!"

"Sorry to break up this moment," Zuko said harshly, yet at the same time happily. "-but I'm in a hurry." He threw Katara on the ground and the guards that were still able to stand grabbed Sinu by the arms. She struggeled to get out of their grips, but couldn't. She wasn't strong enough.

"Sokka!" she cried, "Sokka, don't let him take me away! Please,"

He stared at her, malice in his eyes, and went over to Katara, pulling her up gently. "Please..." Sinu said more quietly this time, her voice desperate.

Zuko just snickered and turned to leave. The guards followed his lead and Sinu let out a yell. She struggeled harder and turned her head to look at them.

"Please!" she yelled at them. "Please, don't let them take me!"

But Sokka had already turned around, making his way to find Appa. Aang and Katara watched him go. This wasn't their place to interfer... Sinu was a threat... A Fire Nation royalty... How could they trust her? Slowly, they followed Sokka's lead, and left with him. Sinu watched them go, the hope falling from her eyes. She let out an enraged yell and struggeled against the grip of the guards. This couldn't be happening! This shouldn't be happening! She wanted to be free, and she had been. But now... Now things were going straight back to the way they were.

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Sinu didn't look up when there was a knock on the door. She just sat there on the small cot that had a Fire Nation symbol on it. Slowly, the door creaked open. Sinu let out an angry roar like cry and shot a short stream of fire at the newcomer. He ducked and let out a deep laugh. It was Uncle; Sinu recognized him as General Iroh, old and retired. She turned her head back to the wall, not wanting to look at anyone. She room bobbed and swayed as the ship went over waves.

"I brought you some tea," Uncle said softly.

Sinu didn't respond. She didn't want to and didn't have to. Uncle walked over to a small table and sat the tray down. The tea josteled inside the cups but it didn't spill. Then, Uncle sat himself down into a chair and took one of the cups.

"It's no use starving yourself. My nephew wants to go home so badly, that he'll shove the food right down your throat," Uncle said honestly. He took a sip of tea and grimaced. "It's very hot.." he muttered to himself, placing the cup down.

Sinu, with as much control that she had, walked over to the table and sat down. She picked up a cup and sipped it, grimacing herself as it burned her tounge.

"There now, that's not so bad," Uncle said with a smile.

"For my sake, I hope it's poisoned," Sinu muttered.

"No, my nephew would not poison you. He needs you alive so that he can return to his throne."

"He can't honestly believe that all his problems will be gone once he marries me,"

"He believes a lot of things..."

Sinu took another sip of the tea. It was cooler now, and sweet to the taste.

"He's a really nice guy though," Uncle said, emphasizing the wood nice. "I mean, he's a little rough around the edges but a really nice guy,"

Sinu let out a quiet laugh. "Sure, nice,"

"You are a princess, dear girl, and it is your duty to marry a prince... Why are you so uneager to fulfill your destiny?" Uncle asked, taking a sip of his tea; pleased to find that his too had cooled.

Sinu was quiet, her mind wandering. Uncle thought for a moment then spoke.

"Could it be that your heart belongs to someone else?"

"It's to late...he already gave it back to me."

"And..."

"I don't want it,"

"It was that boy, wasn't it? The one you were yelling at?"

Sinu nodded slowly. Sokka... She missed him... But he would never want to see her again. Maybe that was for the better.

"You cannot run away from duty, Princess Sinu. No matter how hard you run," Uncle said. His own fist clenched at his lie. He didn' like telling lies to this girl, but Zuko wanted to get home. His first duty was to the Fire Lord, then to his nephew. This girl would have to come after that.

Uncle stood up and gave her a reassuring smile. "It will all be alright. Prince Zuko really is a charming fellow,"

Sinu watched the door close behind him before she swiped the tea off the table, her anger rising. A charming fellow? Sure, a charming fellow would lock a girl in a room and tell her she couldn't leave. A charming fellow would take away all her hopes and dreams... The cups broke as they hit the ground and Sinu kicked the table. She could feel the tears mustering up in her eyes and she threw herself on the bed and wept.

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"Uncle, we only have two more days, then we reach the shores of the Fire Nation capital," Zuko said. He couldn't help but not hide his eagerness. Home... It sounded so good... He wanted to be home again. Things would return to normal.

Uncle stood beside him, watching the oceans roll and go by. He nodded his head in agreement but his mind was elsewhere.

"Prince Zuko, I have an idea," he said suddenly, as if he had just come up with the idea. He had been thinking about it ever since his chat with Sinu.

"What's that?" Zuko said turning to face his Uncle.

"Why don't you unlock the princess's door? Let her roam around a bit. After all, when you're married to her, do you expect to keep her locked up?" Uncle asked.

"Absolutely not! I will not unlock that door! She could escape,"

"She won't Zuko, we're in the middle of the ocean,"

"I can't take any chances,"

"Prince Zuko, where does she have to go?"

Zuko was caught on this one. She had gotten into a fight with that other guy... She didn't have anywhere to go at all. He set his jaw and turned away from his Uncle, heading in the direction of Sinu's room. "Fine, but at any sign of rebellion, she goes back in,"

Uncle smiled, secretly pleased with himself.

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Sinu hugged her pillow closer to her body, taking in the warmth of the covers. She was so cold... This whole room was cold... And it was confined, so very confined. Sometimes it felt like she couldn't breathe. All of a sudden the door flew open and Sinu sat up, startled.

"I'm unlocking your door," Prince Zuko said harshly. "But don't try to escape,"

Sinu glared at him, wondering what his intentions were. Prince Zuko gladly returned the glare, though his was more stern than anything. After a moment, he looked away form her and let out a frusterated groan. "You're free to come out now," he said quickly.

"I will come out when I want to!" Sinu exclaimed.

She picked up the pillow and threw it at Zuko, which he burnt to a crisp. Sinu let out an angry yell and stood up, throwing a fireball at his face. Zuko quickly averted it just as Sinu threw a punch to his stomach, her fist laced in fire. Zuko blocked her hand and swung his leg around to try and trip her. Sinu jumped up and doged his foot and sent her own kick towards his side. Zuko dodged by moving down quickly and then, as she swung her leg, he quickly grabbed it and swung her to the ground. He put his arms on her shoulders and pinned down.

"Do not try to anger me," Zuko hissed, his threat in the air.

Sinu glared at him with anger and struggeled to get out from under his grip. She was staring into his eyes though and for a moment, was caught up in the color... It was amber... An amazing color... Warm.. yet strangely hard... Rough with black around the edges. Her breath quieted as she stared at his eyes. Zuko watched her curiously as her expression became calm. What on earth was she staring at? But he couldn't help but be filled with curiosity at her look. He hadn't seen a look like this before. In an instant, he released her, backing up slowly. That look was a new one, untouched. Sinu stood up and ran out the door, her heart feeling like it was going to burst. She ran until she found a small corner, then hide herself in it.

The tears came easier this time.

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Yes, I have decided for a little twist... The awsome...no, I won't say it. You'll just have to see.

-Emma