Hey everyone! I'm back, did you miss me? I think that week off did me some good, I got a pretty good grade on my Geometry test so I guess it payed off. I enjoyed writing those 2 oneshots, so I hope you guys enjoyed them too! Ok, so anyways, back to the story.

Ok, I'm warning you guys right now before anyone tries to make a map of the Earth Kingdom by using my story as a reference...don't.

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"North? Are you sure?" she asked me.

"This is his writing, right? I think he's trying to help you out. He knew you were bound to come back eventually, so I think he wanted to give you a push in the right direction…literally." I explained to her.

She smiled at me. "Ok, so all we have to do is go north?"

I rolled my eyes. "That's the idea."

"Well then, let's go!"

I scrunched my nose at her hastiness. "Not yet."

"Well, why not?" We need to go before they get too far!"

I closed my eyes and breathed out slowly. "They are already two weeks ahead of us, its not going to make much difference if we leave now or not."

"So what are we going to do then, just sit here and let them get further?" she stared at me accusingly.

"Katara, I'm not new at this kind of thing. You need to trust me on this. Now, Katara, will you listen to me and do what I say?"

Katara seemed to think to herself for a minute, so I waited patiently for her reply, half expecting for her to yell at me that I don't deserve her trust, which I don't.

Katara looked at me for a long time and finally she answered. "Yes."

My breath seemed to whoosh out of me in relief. "Thank you." I said actually meaning it.

"So what are we going to do then, oh wise one?" she asked haughtily.

I rolled my eyes. "Ok, first we need to get supplies. All we have is my weapons, a dagger that I luckily am never without, the clothes on our backs, and the 100 silver coins I won back in town. We need to stock up on supplies unless you're planning on dying out here."

"Ok."

"While you were here, did you hear any mention of a nearby town?" I asked her, in hopes of a positive answer.

"She thought for a bit. "I think I remember Aang saying something about a town a few miles that way." She pointed to the north.

"Ok then, that's where were going then. Help me check over to see if they left anything behind that we could use." I told her and started looking myself before she could object. She limped around the camp site and started searching. All that we found was an apple and some of her brother's socks that I immediately burned because of the putrid smell they left off. I felt better as they turned to ash slowly in front of my eyes.

"Can we go now?" Katara asked impatiently after we had finished searching.

"Yeah, let's go." I gathered my things and set off after Katara whom was already ahead of me.

Her impatience astounded me. Before a few weeks ago, I had always thought that she was a calm, levelheaded person. But now that I had gotten to know her to some degree, I'd have to say that I was wrong. She is impatient, and had a huge attitude. Maybe I thought she was different because whenever I had fought her in the past, she had fought with a calm determination, not with her emotions. I realize now that a young scared girl is all she is.

We walked in silence in the beginning. I could have talked, I suppose, but I just didn't bother. Although I wish I could say the same for Katara.

Throughout the whole trip, she kept me busy with stories of her and her family, and her friends. Stories of her and her brother as a child. Old stories her father used to tell her. All of these stories made me miss my mother, and all of the experiences I had with her. I wondered if she was out there somewhere, looking for me, thinking of me. I got rid of those thoughts immediately; I didn't want to think about such things right now.

She seemed to be strangely open to me in telling me all of this. I was secretly glad that she was starting to finally let her guard down a little; it shows that I'm gaining some of her trust. Which is good if I am going to be traveling with her for a while. I did notice, though, that she never mentioned the avatar. It seemed to be taboo to her. I couldn't blame her really; I would probably do the same had I been in her position.

After traveling about the approximated distance, the town was still nowhere to be seen.

"Zuko?" Katara asked me.

"What?" I asked sharply, already a little irritated that we hadn't reached the town yet.

"I think we might be lost."

I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What?!" I yelled at her.

"I'm sorry; I must have gotten turned around somewhere."

"You think?" I asked sarcastically.

"Don't yell like that. It was an accident!"

"Well, accident or not, were still lost."

"What are we going to do now Zuko?"

I grabbed her forearm and pulled her further through the trees. "Just follow me."

I walked further through the forest and started searching the trees and rocks for any moss. At last I spotted some and I sighed in relief. It pointed to my right, and I dragged her along.

After a few minutes of walking, I finally started to hear the sound of life. Voices talking happily, the shrieking laughter of children, adults laughing at their own private jokes. All of this reminded me of my old home, and made me miss Iroh even more.

Katara gave me a look of gratitude and smiled at me in thanks.

I didn't return the gesture, but for some reason, her smile made me feel like there were butterflies in my stomach. But that's probable just because I was hungry…

"Ok, we need to get some food first, and then we'll buy what ever else we need." I told her and walked into toward the sounds.

"I can do that, in my group that was always my job." She offered.

"No, I'll do it."

"Let me, I need to feel useful. You've been doing all of the work, so let me help out a bit."

I relented and handed over the money, "Don't bother getting meat, I can hunt for us." She nodded and we walked out of the trees and into the light. "Meet me over here when you're done."

"Ok." She walked off towards the big crowd of people where the town's market is sure to be.

I sighed and leaned up against the wall of the nearest building, letting my hair fall across me face and hide my scar.

People walked past me like I wasn't even there, which was just what I wanted. It would be horrible if anyone recognized me for what I am, the banished prince of the firenation, and a traitor to my own country.

Realization hit me with the force of a boulder. I immediately started running toward the market stalls to find Katara. I had to find her before too many people saw her. The blue that Katara was wearing would be too easily recognizable and remembered. If Kanjou ever came here in the search of us, anyone that saw her would be sure to remember seeing a dark-skinned lady wearing blue.

I needed to find her, and we needed disguises as quickly as possible.

Finally, I saw her. And I was right, her outfit made her stick out like a sore thumb. "Katara!" I yelled to her.

She turned around and saw me just as I reached her. "What's wrong? I'm not done shopping."

I snatched the money out of her hand and spoke. "We need to get now clothes before we do anything else."

"Why, I like these."

"But they you are too recognizable."

She looked down at herself and frowned. "Is that how you always found us? Because of out clothes?"

"Yeah, all I had to do was ask around for anyone who saw any teenagers in blue, and they always did because if you look around, everyone is wearing green."

She looked around and frowned. "I feel bad though…you just got me this new outfit…"

"I don't care about that, c'mon, let's go."

I spotted a clothing shop and started walking towards it; she followed me as we came into the store.

It was a modest sized shop, not too big, but not claustrophobic either. There were lots of racks lined up against the walls with clothes hanging from them.

A lady suddenly appeared out of nowhere and addressed us.

"Hello, welcome to my shop. I am Lou Min, can I help you with anything?" she asked.

She wore small round spectacles and her graying hair was done up in a tight bun. I could see that she must have been pretty when she was younger, but her beauty had been replaced by wrinkles.

"Yes," Katara spoke up, jarring me out of my thoughts. "I need to find a new dress. Preferably, one that doesn't cost too much."

She looked at us from behind her spectacles.

"You are travelers, are you not?" she asked.

"We are." I answered warily.

She nodded to Katara. "That is a nice dress you have there, I would be willing to trade you a dress for it. And since you are travelers, this might be the best option; you won't have as much to carry around."

Katara looked at her dress wistfully and then at me. I nodded in encouragement and she sighed. "Fine." She said a little begrudgingly.

Lou Min smiled and took Katara by the hand, leading her further into the store.

I sat down on the nearest thing that I saw, which happened to be a box, and waited for them.

"Hello?" someone asked from behind me.

I jumped in surprise and turned around slowly to make sure my hair stayed in front of my face. Standing there was a little girl of about twelve. She had on ragged clothes which were torn at the bottoms. Dirt was smudged on her face and as she looked into my eyes I saw a certain sadness in them.

She looked at me sheepishly and walked over to me, making sure not to go into the store. "Sir? Can you spare a copper? I want to eat tonight, but my brother and I don't have any food."

A pang of sadness went through me. "You don't have any food?"

"No sir." She told me with tears welling up in her eyes.

I stood up and looked around for Katara, she was examining a green dress at the far end of the store. "Katara!" I called out to her and she looked up from her inspection. "I'm going to be right back, don't leave the store!"

She looked like she was about to object, but I left before she could utter a single word.

I motioned for the little girl to follow and she did, trailing slowly behind me.

"Where are your parents?" I asked her.

She looked down at her feet. "They were killed by some Fire Nation soldiers…"

Another pang went through me, but this time it was one of anger and disappointment. Anger at the men who killed this young girl's parents and left them, and disappointment at my nation, for allowing these things to happen.

"Where is your brother?" I asked her.

"He's hiding over there." She pointed over to one of the stalls, and I saw a little head duck out of sight.

"If you get him, I'll buy food for you both."

"Really? Thank you sir!" she turned around and ran over to her brother.

I waited patiently for her to come back, unaware that Katara was watching me the whole time.

She returned quickly with a boy that was clearly younger than her, but he was in the same condition as she was, ripped clothes, and dirty faces.

"Pick anything you want." I told them, pointing toward the food stalls.

They smiled brilliantly at me and grabbed my arm, pulling me to a meat stall. I smiled as they picked out the things that they wanted to eat, and laughed when they fought over the bread. Eventually, they finished picking, and I paid for all of their food.

We sat down, and I watched them eat happily. It seemed like they forgot all of their misfortunes, and sorrows. Maybe that's why I liked kids so much; they don't hate, and they don't dwell on their sadness.

They finished eating and thanked me profusely for the food and my kindness. The little boy even went so far as to give me a huge hug. But I wondered to myself if they would do the same if they knew who I really was and that it was my nation that killed their parents.

I knelt down and gave the little girl a hug, and as I did so I whispered into her ear: "I'm going to make sure that what happened to you will never happen to anyone else ever again."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you…"

I stood up, smiled, and headed back to the store, and as I did so, I saw Katara at the door watching me. She gave me a strange smile as I neared her.

I saw that she was already wearing her new green Earth Kingdom dress. It was much like the last one, but without so much detail.

"Now that you're done in there, we need to get food and a few supplies and then leave quickly, we don't want to stay in this town for too long." I told her.

She smiled again and we set off toward the market.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

Awww, we all secretely know that Zuko loves kids.

Ok, so next chapter will be really important in developing their relationship. But, gosh...I've been waiting this whole story for when I plan to write in chapter 11, and now I finally can!

p.s.- If you love Zutara as much as me, then you should listen the the song When the day met the Night by Panic at the Disco, I typically don't like these guys, but the song is totally awesome...who knew Panic at the Disco were Zutarians?

And I obviously got my lazy butt up and gave these chapters titles that aren't just numbers.