Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or its characters

Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking

Summary: Iroh takes in the Ba Sing Se's army general's daughter after the death of her father. She replaces the child he has lost. She is raised in the Fire Nation palace and endures the 100 year war with Zuko and Iroh. Zuko x OC

Author's Note: Soooooooo, I got a few requests about an OC Earthbender and Zuko and such. Decided I wanted to try it, but this will be my last time writing fics from the whole ATLA storyline.

Chapter 10:

The Jade and the Dragon

"How much longer did he think I said he needed time? He's going too far, especially with Min Ki!" Daiyu groaned as she and Iroh had walked alongside each other. "I'm really starting to worry." She had looked up at him, "After seeing the little boy treat him like that in that village, I'm not really sure if Zuko-" She was interrupted. "Zuko did learn something, quite a few things. We have to be patient." He had said they were in mountain's area, filled with rocks and trees. Daiyu sighed heavily, before feeling a shift. She quickly turned around had shoved her fist forward, breaking the rock that was rumbling towards them in small, tiny ones. Iroh looked in shock, "That's some strength." He had said as Daiyu chuckled. "Strength and Earthbending. Sifu Taolan taught me." She said confidently. "Who are you?!" A childish voice had broken through the air. Daiyu and Iroh looked around and then up ahead to see a short girl standing on a large rock.

"Travelers that were minding their own business before you tried to kill us!" Daiyu replied as the girl, appeared rather shocked. "Oh, I didn't know. It's just… I've been in some trouble so…" Daiyu smiled. "It's fine." She had said. Iroh then cleared his throat, "How about we all discuss this over some fresh, hot tea?" He asked. "That sounds kind of good." The young girl said, jumping down towards them. Iroh and Daiyu had made a campfire on a rock ledge, the teapot that Iroh had gotten from Zuko days before being used. Up close, Daiyu could tell that the girl was blind but her clothes seemed quite expensive. So why was she out here by herself? Iroh them poured the three of them a cup of tea, Daiyu had took hers and he had offered the blind child a cup, but she doesn't take it immediately. "Here is your tea. You seemed a little too young to be traveling alone." Iroh said to her. The young girl then took the cup, "You seem a little too old."

Daiyu smiled as Iroh laughed, "Perhaps I am." He then said. "I know what you're thinking. I look like I can't handle being by myself." Daiyu arched a brow, "I wasn't thinking that." Iroh replied. "You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea." The girl noted. "It's call being polite." Daiyu had said, "He made the tea, he serves the tea. He only poured your cup to be courteous not out of pity." She said as the girl nodded and then took a sip of her cup. "People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me. But I can take care of myself by myself." Iroh then smiled, "You sound like my nephew." He had a point there. She definitely sounded like Zuko, "Always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you. Not that I love you; I just met you."

Both the child and Daiyu laughed. "So, where is your nephew?" She asked. "We've been tracking him." Daiyu answered. "I told him to go out on his own and think. He's a bit lost and he's gone through a very rough change and he doesn't know how to handle them or won't even try to interpret them. He's…" Iroh and the blind girl next to them had faced her, listening intently. "He's trying to figure out who he is, or more like I told him to figure out who he is by giving him space. I know I said for him to leave and think, but…" The girl then spoke, "But you're following him." Daiyu looked down at her tea, "Because if he needs me, well us, we'll be there. I want him to know that we'll always be there for him." The girl smiled. "He's quite lucky, even if he doesn't know it." She then stood, "Thank you for the conversation and tea." Daiyu and Iroh had looked up at her, "Our please. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights." She shook her head, "No… The things you said. It helped me."

Iroh had looked at Daiyu, "No problem." The jade-eyed girl replied, sipping her tea. The child had picked up her bag and began to leave, but she stopped and turned to look at them. "Maybe you should tell him that you need him too." Daiyu froze as Iroh sipped his tea, the girl leaving. It's true, when did she ever tell Zuko that she needed him? Iroh had looked at Daiyu, "She has a point." The girl looked away, "I know." And with that, she stood. "Let's go." Iroh had poured water on the fire and cleaned everything up.

They had then began to leave, riding the war ostrich. "Something doesn't feel right, does it?" She had asked Iroh, who had nodded her head. "I've been that heavy feeling for a while. You don't think he's in trouble do you?" He asked her as Daiyu looked ahead, "I have a feeling he might be." She then tapped her leg on the side of the war ostrich to signal for it to go faster. It began speeding ahead, Iroh looking uneasy of how fast they were going. "Don't you think this is too fast?" Daiyu looked over her shoulder at him, "If Zuko is in danger then we need to hurry." He looked at her and then at the desert town ahead where debris and moving around was going on. "Well, I have a good guess of where he might be." He had said as Daiyu noticed it too. When the ostrich horse made it there, Daiyu signaled for Iroh to look for Zuko. She had seen Azula who threw herself to Aang, who jumped out of the way. Not too far, the short girl that they had tea earlier with appeared.

She was one of the new members of the Avatar group, which seemed to be quite befitting of her. Everyone had then joined up, all of them closing in on Azula. "Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done." Slowly and cautiously, she raised her hands in surrender, "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor." Daiyu inhaled deeply but before they could counter her attack, which they had expected, she had aimed at Iroh with a blast of blue fire going straight for his chest. Daiyu's eyes widened as she followed it, Iroh spinning and falling towards the ground. Both Zuko and Daiyu were mortified, the girl screaming as she ran over to him and everyone else combing elements together to attack Azula, who had managed to escape from the explosion. Daiyu had kneeled over Iroh, her hands shaking and hovering over his wound. Zuko kneeled next to her, his fist clenched and his jaw set in anger.

"I-Iroh…" Daiyu stuttered her eyes looking to see if he would make any sounds or movement. He groaned softly, which helped chip in some relief but she was still worried. "Get away from us!" She heard Zuko scream to the Avatar and his group. The waterbender, Katara as Daiyu remember, had placed one hand over heart and the other outstretched towards them, "I can help!" That's right, she could waterbend. It would be easier and more safer than some raggedy bandages or whatever they would have to use. Before Zuko sent them away, she grabbed his wrist and he had looked at her. Her eyes stared at him, signaling for him to quit his actions. "Please, Katara." Daiyu had said as she looked up at the blue-eyed girl. Katara nodded and went on the opposite direction, kneeling beside the wounded older man. She had bend some water from her canteen and placed it over Iroh's wound, the water and her hands glowing as she performed her healing techniques.

"Why do you trust them?" She heard him muffle, "For all we know-" Daiyu quickly stared at him, "Shut up." She bluntly said, the Prince surprised by her words. "Just shut up!" She screamed at him. Even though it wasn't Zuko's fault, she was scared and she was hurt. She also knew that next time she and Azula faced each other, she was seeking revenge. Katara had then looked at Daiyu, seeing her as the more reasonable one to speak to. "He'll be fine and it won't scar since I healed it immediately. He might need some rest and will feel sore, but he's safe. This wasn't life endangering as it could've been without proper care." She explained as Daiyu nodded her head. "Thank you, Katara." The waterbender continued on for a few minutes before stopping, standing. She and the group had left, Daiyu helping Iroh to his feet and then dragging him towards the ostrich horse which she helped him on and laid him down on it. "Where's Min Ki?" She asked him, Zuko pointing at the post where he had tied him. Daiyu began to walk in that direction and saw the Cat deer, standing patiently. He was surprised by her and was more than happy to see her, nuzzling his face against her cheek. She had stroked his head and then untied him. "Get on." She told Zuko. "What about you?" He asked her as she looked at him.

Wasn't he angry by how she acted? She thought for sure he was going to hate her, but yet he was concerned about her? "I'll be fine. I need to walk." She said, "But you need to rest your legs as well." Daiyu had led the ostrich to walk alongside Zuko and Min Ki. They remained silent. They had found a desert shack which seemed quite raggedy, but it was worth it. It was large and had two bedrooms even though they were small. Zuko had helped Daiyu get Iroh in a room, preparing a bed and making sure that it was clean and comfortable at least. They had looked down at the unconscious Iroh, Daiyu's hands on her head as she tried to keep herself calm. She could've lost him today, she could've lost another person. She was tired of losing people, especially people she had loved. "Daiyu, you need rest." Zuko tried to persuade her, she looked up at him and shook her head. "Not until he wakes up and I know he's okay." She had said, as Zuko grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. "You can't let Uncle see you like this." He had argued, but she shook her head. "I need to see him awake before I go to sleep." She put her foot down.

"Go to bed." He placed both hands on her shoulders, gripping them tightly. "You're a mess." He had said as she tried to keep herself from tearing up. "What if Katara's healing ability didn't work? What if Uncle isn't going to make it? I-I…" He had never seen her panic like this. The always calm and stoic Daiyu, was chipping away and he was seeing the mask coming off. She was so powerless, susceptible… It was because Iroh had meant so much to her that she was afraid of losing him. Losing him would be like losing her father all over again. "He's going to be fine. You wanted me to believe in Katara, right? Now it's time you start believing in Uncle." She gazed up at him and pushed her face into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her as she began to cry. His eyes had looked towards his sleeping Uncle, wondering if he had said the right choice of words to Daiyu. If things had gone left, what were they going to do? How were they going to continue on without him? Both of them would be a wreck.

She moved back, her eyes red and puffy. Zuko had solicitously placed his hands on her cheeks and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. It was in that moment that he knew Daiyu could not be strong for him and so he had to be strong for her like he had always tried to be. Her eyes seemed so crestfallen, and it caused a sting in his heart. She had sat down, her pupils staring at Iroh. Her petite left hand had slowly went towards Iroh's face, her hand brushing against his cheek in a tender manner. Zuko had knelt beside her, and she had rested her hand on his shoulder. Her crying and her worrying was making her tiresome even though she was trying to fight the idea of going to sleep just to be awake when Iroh was. Zuko had pulled an extra blanket and wrapped it around them. "Go to sleep." He calmly said as she nodded her head, not bothering to fight him or her sleep anymore.

Morning had came and there was still no movement from Iroh. Daiyu had woken up to see Iroh's still unconscious state and Zuko's sleeping one. Her eyes went from her father figure and to the boy beside her, wondering how much he was worrying. The least she could do was find them something to eat. She had made a notion to move, but felt a tight hand clasped around her wrist. She looked down in surprise to see that it was Zuko. "What are you doing?" He asked her, his eyes still closed. Was he awake this whole time or was he just an extremely light sleeper and she hadn't known? "I'm going to make us something to eat." She had said. "I'm going to help you." He had said as she had nodded and let him follow her in the kitchen. "He didn't wake up at all, did he?" She had asked as he stood and walked with her towards the kitchen. "No, he didn't." Daiyu sighed and then looked around the broken down shack's kitchen, trying to find something to eat and let alone something to cook with.

"Daiyu," He called her name as she turned to look at him. "Do you even know how to cook?" She looked at him with wide eyes. Did she know how to cook? Well, she never had to cook before for all her life and so… she never actually tried it. "Uh…" She laughed nervously, Zuko giving her a deadpanned expression. "I mean I could always try, right?" She asked as he shook her head. "How about we just hunt for something outside and just let it cook over a fire. I don't need you poisoning us." The girl glared at him. "How do you know? I might be really good at it!" She had placed her hands on her hips, "Or you might be terrible and we all die in here." She watched as he had gone towards the door, looking back at her. "Are you coming or what?" She had walked her way over and followed him outside. "Shouldn't one of us stay behind in case he wakes up?" Zuko had looked at her, "If you want to then you can."

Even though she wanted to stay by Iroh's side, she was worried about Zuko going out in this foreign territory on his own and what if Azula had showed up? Daiyu had frowned, growing more and more concerned. She had then went over to Min Ki. "Hey boy, if you see Azula you come and get me right?" She asked the Cat deer, which licked her hands as she tried to pet it. She wasn't sure if it had understood what she said but she was pretty sure that if trouble was afoot he would come alert her or that's what she wanted to believe. She had followed Zuko down the rocky hill with ease, when they had made it towards flat lands, the sound of a river could be heard. "So, we're going to eat some fish?" She asked him. "Not much of a choice." Zuko had replied as they gone over there. "Then maybe Min Ki should've came with us." Daiyu had said as she had bent her knees, her hand dipping in the cold water.

"I can fish!" She grinned at Zuko's hurt ego. "You mean like that puny one you caught last time? I'm pretty sure that's not going to feed Iroh or let alone yourself or me." He glared at her from the corner of her eyes while she feigned ignorance.

-/-/-

They had caught quite a few fish after Zuko had fell in the river several times trying to stab his makeshift spear into the water. Daiyu had to keep blocking the fish from continuing forward by making a wall using earthbending to make it easier for him. When they had made it back to the shack, they had smelled what seemed like a hot batch of tea. "Instinctively, they ran out back to see a campfire and Iroh poking the fire with a stick. "Ah, there you two are." Daiyu had ran over to him, hugging him in which caught him by surprise but he had returned her embrace. "Iroh, you're okay. I was so scared!" She cried as he had gingerly rubbed the back of her head to calm her down. "I'm fine and my chest feels much, much better. I know it wasn't you two who did that." He had said as he looked down, "There isn't even a scar." He pointed out. "It is because Katara, the waterbender of the Avatar's group healed you with her waterbending." Zuko had explained as he had began to place the fish through sticks. Iroh nodded, now understanding. Daiyu had left the hug and nodded as well. "She offered her assistance and I had taken it"

That could've only meant that Zuko wasn't willing. "Either way, I'm fine and I feel very good and starving." He handed her a cup of tea in which she had began to drink. After Zuko had set up putting the fishes around the fire, he began to speak. "So Uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced Firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her." Iroh shook his head, "No, she's crazy and she needs to go down." Both Zuko and Daiyu nodded, agreeing with Iroh's statement. Iroh had stood, grunting. "It's time to resume your training." Daiyu's eyes popped open, "But you can't, you just recovered. You need more time and at least eat." He looked at her and then at the fish. "Okay, maybe I should eat first." He sat back down as she sighed of relief.

When the fish were fully cooked, Iroh took at least four sticks. Two were in each hand as he began munching down, both Zuko and Daiyu smiled. They were both glad that Iroh was back to his usual self. After they finishe eating, Iroh was now focused on Zuko's training. "Lightning is a pure expression of firebending, without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire." Daiyu had took the tea kettle of the fire and poured it into another pot. She then began to pour three cups, "It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind." Daiyu handed a cup to Zuko, "I see. That's why we're drinking tea: To calm the mind." Daiyu held back a laugh as Iroh quickly tried to cover up the fact that they were drinking tea just to be drinking tea. "Oh yeah, good point! I mean, yes."

Iroh then stood and motioned for Zuko to follow, Daiyu watching them both go towards the edge of the hill and looked at the valley with a walled, abandoned city beneath them. "There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy. " Iroh then held up one finger on each hand to stand for the two forms of energy, ying and yang. "Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance and in a moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together." He explained as he brings his hands together to illustrate the point. "You provide release and guidance, creating lightning." Daiyu had stood and walked towards the front of the shack to check on Min Ki. The cat deer was lying down, seemingly content. It's ears had twitched at the sound of her feet and it had looked up.

"Hey Min Ki." She cooed as she knelt down and rubbed the area inbetween its eyes and nose. "You must be hungry, huh? Come on." She had untied him and lead him towards the forest in which the deer protectively stood beside her. "Nobody is out here, Min Ki. I'm fine." She smiled at him, patting the side of its face to show him that she understood his actions and that she was well off. "There's a bush of goji berries." She pointed and it had walked over, sniffing the fruit before eating some of them. She had let out a sigh, relieved at most. Iroh was fine and she was worried sick, but she had hoped that nothing like that had happened again. 'Lu Ten, forgive me for almost letting Uncle slip through my fingers...' She thought. She had tried long and hard not to think about Lu Ten, the thought of not seeing him anymore was already painful and the last time she had seen him, he was dead. Every time the image of him came in her mind, it was the image of his skin ghostly white and his body cold from death. She tried hard to remember his smiling face, but… it always became a face she wished she had never seen.

She tilted her head back and looked up to see the dark clouds forming far away. She then heard what sounded like a horse or- She turned to see that it was Zuko on the ostrich, "Hey, where are you going?" Daiyu asked him. "I'll be back." He had said as he kept galloping. She wasn't sure what to think, but something told her that it wasn't good. She had then saw Iroh going back into the shack from the distance. She had walked back up the hill and went into the shack, "Iroh, what's wrong with Zuko and where is he going?" She asked him as Iroh sighed. "I'm not sure…" He had said, "But I'm worried." Daiyu furrowed her brows and then turned around, "Then I'm going after him." She had looked at Min Ki, patting his side. "We're going to follow Zuko, alright?" She said to him before climbing onto and gently pulling the reigns. The Cat deer began running, going in the same direction that Zuko and his ostrich had went.

They made a sharp left and then turned ride, going deeper in the valley. They had seen the ostrich horse standing not too far, but Zuko wasn't anywhere around. Daiyu had climbed down and looked around, her eyes searching for the sixteen-year-old Firebender. "Zuko!" She called him, her eyes searching for him fervently. She had looked up at the mountain, seeing a person at the top of it. "Is that Zuko? Is he crazy?!" She shouted. Daiyu exhaled deeply and stomped her right foot down and a large colmumn of earth shot her up towards the mountain peak and she had contorted her body to the right to halt the column from going any further. She jumped towards the peak, being careful with her footing. Zuko was on his hands his knees, gasping for air. "Zuko, are you alright?" She asked him, her hands on his back. "Why does everything always blow up in my face?!" Her eyes widened at his sudden outburst before softening. "That's not true." She tried to comfort him.

"Sometimes you want things to happen right away, but you have to be patient. Great things happen slowly so you'll be able to appreciate the steps you took to get them to happen. So don't give up before it can happen." He looked up at her, "Even if things don't go well, you'll still have me and Iroh right behind you." She smiled, hoping that it would cheer him up. "I don't need you right behind me!" He sat up, "I told you I don't need you doting on me." Daiyu narrowed her eyes, "I know that and I told you that I won't. But I'm trying to tell you that if you need me, I'm here because I need you too." He was surprised by her words, his shocked expression then softening. "You and Iroh are all I have. You mean so much to me and I don't want you to feel like you're not important to me. You're everything to me…" She lowered her head, "Everything…" She repeated. "I really mean that much to you?" He asked as she looked at despondently. "N-Not just to me." She stuttered, "But to Iroh and I." She had said as she had felt him take her hand, and put something it.

"What's this?" She asked as he removed his hand from hers and looked at the pendant in her hand. It was a jade pendant carved into a dragon. Her eyes lit up as she looked at him in surprise, "When I was alone, I had stumbled upon this one village and there was jeweler." He averted his eyes and scratched his cheek, "I wanted to get you something and he told me the best thing to do was make it… And so, I looked for a jade stone that matched your, uh… eyes and then he helped me but I did all the carving on my own." It had a black brim as It was circular shaped and inside of it was a dragon carved out of jadeite. Softly, she let her fingers touch the carved stone as she felt all the small intricate details that he had done. "He told me that whoever I was making it for must make me happy…" He blushed slightly as Daiyu found herself smiling pretty hard from excitement. It was true, a jade dragon stood for happiness, immortality, procreation, fertility and activity. And the only thing that could balance jade was the dragon.

"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It is also the greatest gift that I was ever given." She had said to him as she had placed it on, and the touched it with a sense of happiness and gratefulness. "I'm… I'm happy that you thought of me and made this for me." Zuko had kept his eyes averted, feeling flushed. "It's… It's nothing." Daiyu couldn't help but laugh, which caused him to give her a rather embarrassed yet heated glare. "What's so funny?" He asked her as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "It's nothing. It's just I never seen you so… humble and sheepish. It's cute." She teased. "What? I am not being sheepish! Stop making fun of me!" He yelled as she placed both hands on her stomach, laughing at his frustration. "I-It's time to go anyway." He stood as he carefully made his way down the peak, Daiyu soon following after him and laughing the entire way down.

After a few long, traveling days they had found themselves at a bar due to Iroh's plan of meeting with an old friend. Zuko and Daiyu weren't sure about this old friend, but did they have to doubt Iroh? It wasn't like he would get them in a sticky situation or make their situation any worse. Inside the bar, Daiyu and Zuko were having a cup of watermelon juice while Iroh was conversing with two men at a Pai Sho table. "I hope he didn't bring us here just to gamble at Pai Sho." Zuko had said as Daiyu looked at him, still drinking out of her straw. "I don't think so. I think Iroh is up to something." She had replied, watching the man as he had and the Pai Sho player had began placing tiles on the board. "Or maybe he is gambling…" She began to doubt him herself. Zuko sighed his irritation, Daiyu frowning and then looking back at her juice. "At least we had a decent meal; I was getting kind of tired of fish." She tried to deter the conversation, to distract him. "Yeah, even though we're looking and eating like filthy wanderers."

"It's better than being starving, filthy wanders." She tried to lighten the mood but it did nothing but hurt Zuko's pride. She knew that the poor life wasn't doing nothing but chipping away his arrogance. He felt like he was deserving of his high class life and for it to suddenly rip away from it, it wasn't making him feel any less highly of himself or just struck a hard, deep nerve. "Don't worry, soon we'll find the Avatar and we'll be at the castle eating the most delicious delicacies that the Fire Nation has to offer." Her words did some good, he looked at her with a hopeful glaze in his eyes. "You think so?" He asked as she nodded. "I know so." She tried to appear confident to help lift his spirits and it seemed to work, even if it worked just a little.

Iroh then had walked over to them, "It's time for us to go." He had said as he placed each hand on their shoulder. Daiyu and Zuko had looked at each other skeptically and then nodded and stood, leaving their empty glasses. "What were you old gasbags talking about?" Zuko asked, his term to describe doing nothing but making Daiyu roll her eyes. "I always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game." He said as they continued on. Suddenly, the people that were searching for them to arrest them a few days ago had appeared. "It's over! You three fugitives are coming with me!" The man barked. "I knew it! You two are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your head." The man who had played Pai Sho with Iroh had said. Daiyu looked wide eyed, confused by his outburst. "I thought you said he would help?!" Zuko yelled, confused. "He is. Just watch." Iroh whispered confidently. "You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?" Iroh's friend had said which seemed to perk up the ears of the people in the bar.

"Oh boy…" Daiyu mumbled. "Gold?" One mad had said, looking at Iroh's friend. Several of the men pulled out knives and approach the group of the men who tried to arrest them. There was a making of a bar riot, people fighting and people getting kicked away. Earthbenders and sandbenders alike fighting, which had helped the trio and Iroh's friend had lead them out of the building, Daiyu and Zuko riding Min Ki as Iroh and Zuko took the ostrich. They had made it to the small village near the edge of the desert and entered a building. Iroh's companion had made sure no one was watching before shutting the door, which Daiyu had realized that they were in a flower ship. "It is an honor to welcome such a high-ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus. Being a Grand Master, you must know so many secrets." The Order of the White Lotus? Daiyu appeared shocked, amazed and shock that Iroh was the Grandmaster. He had constantly gave her books five years ago, telling her about the organization but to know that he was apart of it was more than shocking.

"Now that you played Pai Sho,are you going to do some flower arranging, or is this club going to offer some real help?" It would appear that Zuko did not know what OWL was. "You must forgive my nephew. He is not an initiate and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts." Iroh apologized on Zuko's behalf, who appeared annoyed. The man had then knocked on a door in the back, a small window in the middle of the door had slid open and a pair of eyes peeked through. "Who knocks at the guarded gate?" The man behind the door asked. "One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries." Iroh said the password as the door opened. Iroh and the Pai Sho man had walked in, Daiyu had held Zuko back. Iroh had turned to face them, "I'm afraid it's members only. Wait out here." He instructed as Zuko frowned and snatched his arm away from Daiyu and crossed his arms across his chest. "Look, don't be so pissy about it." Daiyu had said, annoyed by Zuko's behavior. "Why aren't we members? What's going on? I think you have some idea what this is."

"I do." She nodded, "But it's not important for us to know about it. We need to patient." Zuko rolled his eyes and then leaned over a nearby plant and then sniffed it. "Sniffing plants, Zuko? Really?" She arched a brow as he looked back at her, "I was curious." Was his reply as she sighed and then walked around the shop. "It's a black jade rose!" She grinned excitedly as she looked at the flower that was a deep red, almost black and had shiny leaves on its stem. Zuko had walked over and looked at it, "So, basically it's you as a flower?" He asked her as she looked up at him. "I guess you can say that. Do you think it's pretty?" She asked him, "It's alright." Immediately, her face went deadpanned. "Oh yeah?" She had then said, "Well, that's you over there." She pointed at the Venus flytrap. "You're evil." He frowned at her words, "I'm not evil!" He spat. "Then say that the flower is pretty." She had said with pouty lips, "Say my flower is beautiful."

He wasn't in the mood for her childish games and teasing. "It is not that important." He had continued to say with his arms still folded. "Then you're evil just like that flower." He growled, "Fine! You're flower is pretty. Now, can you stop comparing me to that ugly flower?!" Daiyu chuckled, "Prince Zuko of the Flower Nation." He slapped his palm against his head as she went into a giggling fit. "Don't worry, Your Floralness." And then another slap to his forehead, which made her clutch on her stomach and laugh. Even though he was annoyed by her, he had to admit that her high pitch laugh was a good sound to hear during these depressing times. "You're so fun to make fun of Zuko." She said as she wiped a tear. "I'm glad annoying me amuses you so." He said dryly as she smiled. "You know I'm only kidding with you." She had said as he re-folded his arms and looked at her. "I know." He replied as she had looked around the flower shop, looking at more flowers. "I can't wait until we go somewhere so that I can take a bath." She sighed, "my clothes are dirty and I smell like dirt." Zuko had watched as she had sniffed her hair and then stuck her tongue out in repulsion. "Hopefully."

Daiyu had walked over towards a bench and sat down, Zuko then walking over there and sitting next to her. "I'm tired…" She yawned, "All of this running and stuff, I'm tired of it." She had laid her head against the boy's shoulder, his cheeks flushing red as his kept her amber pupils on her form. "As long as we're fugitives, we'll always have to run." He had said as she nodded. "I know but hopefully, Iroh's friend can help us." She said as she yawned again, falling asleep and Zuko doing the same as well. Before he could go deep into his sleep, the door that the members had gone it had opened. Iroh stepped out which put Zuko on the alert, quickly standing and going into a fighting stance and Daiyu falling to her side and hitting her head on the bench. "OW!" She yelped, rubbing the part in which she had hit her head and glowered at the boy in front of her. "What? I was trying to protect you." He said. "And hurt me while doing it!" She snapped. She then stood, her hand over where she hit her head. "So is the meeting over, Iroh?" She asked him. "Everything is taken care of. We're heading to Ba Sing Se." Daiyu immediately felt her heart drop and a lump in her throat. "Ba Sing Se? Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom capital?" Zuko questioned. The man who had helped them, Iroh's friend, then came out and spoke. "The city is filled with refugees. No one will notice two more." Iroh nodded, "We can hide in plain sight right there. And it's the safest place in the world from the Fire Nation. Even I couldn't break through the city." Iroh said as his eyes then shifted to Daiyu, who seemed withdrawn and small.

Another man had walked into the shop. "I have the passports for our guests, but there are two men out on the streets looking them. Iroh and Zuko had walked towards the window, looking through to see the two men from earlier asking had they seen them. Zuko and Iroh had looked at each other questioningly, wondering how they were going to get out of this situation. Iroh's friend had managed to make them slip through a secret door and got them and Min Ki into a wag. Daiyu had tried to instruct the Cat deer to stay low in the wagon while she, Iroh, and Zuko had hid into three large flower pots. They had managed to stay unseen until they had reached the harbor where they were out of the flower pots and then going towards harbor of the ship that would be taken them back to Ba Sing Se. Immediately, Min Ki was taken to the lower deck with the rest of the animal companions and Daiyu had walked grimly on our own.

"Daiyu is acting strange." Zuko had said to Iroh as they were on the ship's deck, Daiyu leaning on the rail and looking out at the water. "She hasn't been in Ba Sing Se since Lu Ten's death as well as her father's. This is the home she was raised in and so she must have some deep feelings and memories of the place." Iroh explained. "I don't know how to comfort her because even I think of Lu Ten and my greatest military disgrace." Iroh looked down as Zuko didn't know how to respond. He began to walk over to Daiyu, who was fiddling with her pendant and rubbing her thumb against the jadeite dragon but he stopped when he noticed someone touching her hair. Daiyu's eyes had widened and she had immediately looked right. "You look a little down." The male had said.

Daiyu had stared at the stranger with tan skin, unruly dark brown hair, and chocolate colored eyes. "What's your name, doll face?" She had looked away from him and back at the ocean. "Harumi." She answered blandly. The boy seemed mildly interested by her distant nature, "I'm Jet."

Since it took me so long to update and I didn't pretty much care for the last chapter, I give you all this. I was going make this long like I did previously, but I'm going to keep it like this.