Disclaimer:I don't own Avatar, and the curse used in the story is influenced by a movie called "Ladyhawke". Only the basic idea of it though.

A/N: Hey guys. Well here's chapter 10. I'm really proud of this chapter, so I hope you like it. Before we get started, I'd like to thank the Taang fans on Distant Horizons for letting me use the Bei Fong idea. This chapter is dedicated to all of you guys. Hope you like it. And as Taiyo would say "Viva la Taang". (Hopefully I got that right).

Live for Love

Chapter 10

A Missed Hit

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Azula was angry. Although, the people around her would consider that an understatement after the first dozen fireballs and insults thrown their way. She couldn't believe how incompetent these idiots were. They couldn't even stop two earthbending brats from getting away. She conveniently forgot that she was also there, and one of those "earthbending brats" was the Avatar. The morons should've been able to keep order while she was busy elsewhere.

Seeing his Dai Li agents too scared to approach her, Long Feng thought it was an opportune time to give her some information that might calm her. He didn't need any more injuries. Moving cautiously, he approached the irritated princess.

"Highness, I have some information that may interest you," he began.

Turning angrily towards him, Azula snapped, "Well, what is it?"

Seeing that she wouldn't be shooting fireballs at him for at least five seconds, Long Feng continued, "The blind earthbender who travels with the Avatar…she is a member of the Bei Fong family."

Narrowing her eyes, Azula hissed, "And why would that interest me?"

"The Bei Fong family is highly respected and have much power. If you would…declare them traitors, the girl would most likely come running to save them."

Azula looked thoughtful for a moment, then her eyes gleamed evilly, "You may still have some use yet."

Before Long Feng could answer, a soldier burst into the room. Seeing the princess's expression at being interrupted, the soldier quivered.

"P-Princess, the Avatar's bison has been spotted heading south."

Her eyes shrank to slits, "The Avatar let his bison be seen?"

"Y-Yes, Highness."

"I didn't think he would be so careless," Long Feng said, voice filled with disdain at the apparent unthinking action.

"He wouldn't," Azula said, "He's trying to distract me from something."

Azula strode over to a map that was hanging on the wall. She studied it carefully. Spotting something, she asked, "Isn't that the mountain range the Northern Air Temple is in?"

Long Feng, having moved in front of the map as well, answered, "Yes, Highness."

Azula's eyes lit with understanding, as a plan began to form in her mind. She smirked as the pieces fell into place.

"He wants me to follow him," she whispered.

Long Feng and the soldier looked at her curiously.

Speaking louder, she continued, "He's trying to lead me away from the people who escaped," her grin turned more evil, if that was possible, as she continued, "I never did like doing what people expect."

Snapping her attention to Long Feng, she said, "Send the Dai Li south after the Avatar," turning to the soldier, she said, "Send out a message to all of the Earth Kingdom. Tell them the Bei Fongs are now an enemy of the state."

The soldier scurried away as Long Feng asked, "And what do you plan to do, Highness?"

She chuckled as she said, "We are going to follow the refugees. Inform Ty Lee that she will accompany us and send word to the war balloons."

Her expression would have frightened even the bravest of people, as she finished, "It's time to take out that eyesore of a temple."

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Her village had been quiet and peaceful since Lee left. The Fire Nation seemed to have lessened attacks on the part of the Earth Kingdom her village was located. She guessed they were focusing their attention on Ba Sing Se now. Word traveled slowly to her part of the world.

Lee. The boy who stole her father's ostrich-horse. She wasn't sure what she would do or say if she ever saw him again. All she knew was that it would take more than an apology for her to forgive him. If he was even willing to give said apology. He had taken her and her mother's kindness and thrown it back in their faces. She wasn't sure she would ever forgive him.

Her days now consisted again of healing people who needed it. She couldn't help but feel something was missing. Like she should be doing more.

"Song. Come quickly. I need your help."

"Coming," she said, as she hurried over.

As she arrived, she saw rebel earthbenders dragging something behind them. As she looked, she saw that that "something" was a "someone" on a makeshift stretcher. It was a boy with long, brown hair. He seemed to have many injuries on his unconscious form.

A highly worried, almost frantic, old man pleaded, "Please help my son. Please help Haru."

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Xia had been traveling all night. Needless to say, she was exhausted. They had made the decision to travel night and day to cut the time needed to make it to Ba Sing Se. They each would rest when they weren't in human form and walk when they were. It was almost the dusk of the morning and her time to rest. She wasn't sure how much farther she could make it. Resting in non-human form wasn't as good as resting when they were actually in their bodies.

"Hey, Sunshine, how much farther is it to Ba Sing Se?" she asked, tiredly.

'How should I know? It's your country.'

She smirked, "So, you're not going to tell me not to call you "Sunshine"?"

'No matter how many times I tell you, you'll still call me that, so why would I bother?'

She giggled, "Wow, Sunshine, you're finally learning something."

She felt his irritation as she trounced through the trees around her. She would be perfectly happy never seeing a tree again with all the leaves and twigs that had decided she might make a fine tree.

As she walked, she didn't pay much attention, so when the fireball came towards her all she could do was shield herself with her arms and close her eyes.

Through her eyelids, she saw bright lights. Opening her eyes, slowly and cautiously, she looked around. She noticed a group of people with shocked expressions. Looking down, she noticed she didn't have a single burn.

"How did you do that?" she asked, mystified.

The group around her grew confused and looked as if she had three eyes and a horn growing out of her head, as Shai Ming answered, 'I have no idea…I just didn't want it to hit you.'

Blushing, she said, "Oh, that's ni-," she paused, then narrowed her eyes, "so wait a minute. Every other time someone tried to burn me to a crisp you didn't care!?"

'Uh…'

The group looked even more confused as the girl in blue struck the firebender's shoulder and shouted, "You just shot fire at an insane person!"

A boy, also in blue, groaned, groaned, "If Karma really does run everything, we're so doomed."

"And now look what you did. They think I'm crazy!"

'Now you know how I feel. Besides, it's not like you tried to ever help me.'

"You know how I feel about earthbending," she said, indignantly.

The morning dusk slowly settled in as Shai Ming took human form. Dusk was the only time they were human at the same time.

As they continued their "discussion", the young boy with arrow tattoos said, "I think it's a bit more complicated than that," as all of their jaws dropped.

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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter. Please tell me what you think.