Zuko darted through the thick growth and trees of the forest. His leather bound feet landing on the earth without a single sound. It had been quite easy to escape the firenation palace. He only hoped it wouldnt cause a comotion because of his sudden leaving. Though he left his uncle with clear intructions on what to do, he couldnt help but worry about the outcome if someone were to discover the true reason of his absence. No mater what, Zuko knew that there would always be those in the firenation who would continue to believe in the old ways, his fathers ways, and he was limited on what he was able to do about it. Rebellion fights still broke out now and then, but were noticably decrecing. He just hoped this wouldnt become an excuse for them to start rebeling again.

A sudden rustling to his left caught Zuko's attention. Thinking quickly, he darted behind a series of overgrown shrubs. He remained hidden behind the shrubs and listened quietly as the footsteps slowly came closer. Zuko watched as a couple of drunks walked up to where he was hiding, and sighed in relief. At least they werent military of any kind. One of the drunks was a chubby man while the other drunk was stick thin. Both looked to be middle age, and not in the best of health. The closer they got, the more Zuko could make out of their conversation.
"Y-y-you kn-now what!" The chubby man said to the other man.
"Wh-what!?"
"I think the new firelord is just the beee-best! So handfson"
"Wha?! Are y-you in yar right minds?! He'd too young! Ha-hasnt gotst enuff hairs on his chests"
"W-what are ye alking bout? He does. Seen them ya see" Zuko sat there half bemused and half amazed. Hairs on his chest?! They were talking about him and about him having a hairy chest no less! He didnt have a hairy chest! How could this drunk have seen him with a hairy chest!? The converstaion was ridiculous in his opinion, and held no value on whether he deserved the throne or not.
"Wha? You haff?"
"Yup. He bents ova one ti-time and therb they bwe. Or was its hisb head?" Zuko sweat dropped.
"You fool'd! Your always twoob drunks to telb"
"Y-y-uou Cantb talk!"
The two drunks continued walking in the opposite direction from where they came from, mumbling and stumbling the whole way.
As soon as the drunks had made it far enough away from Zuko for him to remain unseen, he quickly darted from behind the folige. He doubted he would have been seen anyway by the drunks, even if he had been balancing on a ball with a monkey on his head, but remained cautious nevertheless. Adjusting his blue spirit mask quickly, he began running once more into the night.

Zuko searched between the houses of a small villiage which resided a fair way from the outskirts of the fire nation. Quickly running through the villiage, keeping to the shadows, he came to a small inn. Still hidden by the shadows, Zuko quickly removed his mask and put on a set of average garments. Letting his hair fall over his scarred eye, he walked into the inn with his travelling bag on his back. The inn was busy. A couple of drunks were singing near the door, while their female companions laughed at their tasteless singing and bad jokes. The rest of the inn was more of a bar than an actual inn, though it looked a lot calmer than any of the bar's Zuko had come across. No one seemed to take much notice to his entrance, and continued to talk amongst themselves. Those who did look over towards him, lost interest quickly and turned back to their previous activities. To anyone, he seemed to look like an average travelor, and this was what Zuko wanted. He didnt want to cause any unwanted attention due to why he was here in the first place.
He walked through the crowded groups of people who were gathered around the small tables. Most of the people seemed to be either playing cards, eating, or drinking. Though Zuko had seen worser places, the lack of hygiene and the amount of grime which covered most of the dishware, appauled him greatly.

He approached the owner of the inn lifting his head to look the man in the eyes. The man in front of him was very stocky. His balding head and tired features stood out making Zuko assume him to be in his late fifties.
"Ahhhh fi- i mean um....Jiro!" The man stuttered, quickly stopping himself from bowing. Great, Zuko thought miserably. Uncle, are you as wise as I once thought you were? I hope he was right in confinding in this man. He just hoped he wasnt making a mistake in trusting his uncle faith in this man. Then another thought hit him and he scolded himself for not noticing earlier. Jiro? The name his uncle had given the man to call him? Jiro was japanese for second son. Zuko couldnt help but feel a wave of affection for his ageing uncle. He certainly thought of his uncle as a father, and Iroh had spared no moment in telling Zuko he thought of him as a son as much as his eldest who had passed on.
"Uhhhh Jiro?" Zuko snapped from his thoughts and once more focussed his attention on the man in front of him.
"I would like to rent a room for the night"
"A-a-ah of c-course. Your uncle sent word ahead that you would be arriving tonight. F-follow me please" Zuko inclined his head to the innkeeper before following him through the crowd towards the stairs, keeping his eyes down as to avoid eye contact.
As Zuko continued to follow the aging inn keeper, he listened in on the various conversations circulating around the room, as well as keeping an eye out for any sudden actions of hostility towards him. There could be a spy who worked for the person who took Katara, and if it was Azula like he and his uncle had thought, there would most definently be someone who was going to come after him, if there wasnt already. Though, so far it seemed like no one had yet to suspect him of being the firelord.
"Ummm Mr Jiro? We're here"
Zuko looked into the room when the innkeeper opened the door for him. It was a small room with a single bed up against the wall. As Zuko walked further into the room he noticed a door on the opposite side to where the bed sat, which Zuko thought would lead to a bathroom. There was nothing special in particular about the room. Nor was there any furniture of any value, if it held a price at all, and was very scarce. The dark drapes hung almost saddly, and overall everything was covered in a thin layer of dust.
Zuko walked through the door and put his travelling bag down before turning back to the inn keeper.
"Well here's your key. If there is anything else you need, please dont hesitate to ask" He did a quick and awkward bow, before scurrying out the door quickly.
Zuko sighed locking the door behind the man.
Moving over to the bed, he quickly kicked off his boots and lay down. The mattress was a little on the hard and lumpy side, but it didnt really bother him. He still remembered how it was before the Avatar had defeated his father, and he had been crowned firelord. He wouldnt find much of a problem living in such conditions as he now knew what to expect. Plus. Being royally pampered wasnt as great as everyone thought. Sometimes a little normalicy was needed, not that he was saying living in forest and shrubs, could exactly be considered normal.
Sighing once more, he lay down on the bed and covered himself with the brown, coarse blanket. As he drifted between sleeping and awake, he thought of the journey ahead and what the outcomes would come from it. He most of all thought of the mysterious maiden he had danced with at the ball. Slowly he driffted into a peacefull sleep, his thoughts consumed with her.

o.O

In a cold dark cell, a sleepy Katara smiled. She had a plan to escape. All she needed was the perfect moment and she could accomplish her freedom. But for the time being she had to wait and be patient.
Falling back on her small prison bed, she thought of what had happened so far. Though she wasnt in the most convenient positions at the moment, she couldnt help but smile. For some reason just knowing that it was Zuko, who's arms she'd been dancing so happily in before being kidnapped, gave her a sense of hope. If she knew Zuko as well as she thought she did, she knew he would be the first to come for her. Even though he didnt know it was her, it was his honourable nature.
Katara reached for her cheek and gently touched it. She was sure she was blushing now. He was so gentle. She had surprisingly felt incredibly content his arms. They were close friends of course and she had never really considered him as much more than a friend, she had Aang who loved her. Sure she loved Aang, but not as he loved her. It felt more like a family relationship between siblings. And this Katara felt guilty for. Aang and her, had tried a relationship after the war, when she thought she loved him back. But she soon realised it was wrong and asked Aang if they could stay friends for the moment. Aang of course had just smiled sadly and released his hold on her. It was not in his nature to fight. But Zuko... His words. His voice. His eyes. Everything seemed right. Who would have believed this was the same Zuko who was once so intent on the capture of the Avatar. The same Zuko, tied he to a tree. She honestly had never stopped teasing him about that. Katara smiled to herself. Its funny how people change for others and never really listen to their own opinions. All it took, was for Zuko to see this himself. Deciding for himself what he wanted. Katara rested her head on her arms drifting into a deep sleep. Her mind in deep thought on how she was going to get out of this situation she'd landed herself in.

o.O

Azula sat and waited impaitently in her room, tapping her metal shoes hard against the metal floor. The sound of hurried footsteps from outside the door to her office got louder until they stopped outside her door. The sound of someones knuckles, rapped on the door hurriedly.
"Enter..." Azula said as if she didnt have a care in the world.
The door creaked open and Tylee and Mai quickly rushed in bowing before the ex princess.
"Yes Princess?" They asked in sync.
"It seems my fool of a brother is on a search for the water witch. Now, this is where you will prove yourselves..."

o.O

ITS A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!! XD

I updated!! Lol its been 10ish or so minths since i last updated this fanfic! Lol sorry its taken so long. I just havent been able to get back into it ^^;

Well what made me decide to suddenly start writing? I was going through some old papers and found my folder with all the notes i made about what i'd written and idea's and plans for this story etc, and well just felt like writing :)

I think i'll make some changes from the ideas of where this story is heading, than from when i first started writing. But the fic will still have the same basic story line ^^

Hopefully i can get another chapter up soon, but it may be until after exams which end in 3 weeks. But then i have roughly 4 months holidays before starting year 12. College is stressful ^^

I do not own avatar.....