It's been so long since I've updated this thing! I was trying really hard there for a while, but nothing was coming. And now, I just sit down and actually write and it all comes pouring out! -smacks self in head- Am I dumb or what? But anyway, sorry for the wait and I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. I know I said I was going to write it from the POV of the boy, but I think I'm going to do that later. So it's Aneko again. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last Airbender. However, if I did, I would buy all of my devoted readers cookies.
I was just sneaking back into my room when a voice rang out behind me.

"Young lady, you are in so much trouble."

I turned slowly. "Hi Mom…"

She was just barely controlling her temper. That was bad. Mom never let her emotions show and now they were playing all over her face.

"Don't you 'hi Mom' me Aneko!" she hissed. "What you did was disgraceful! I don't even know how I'm going to look the Fire Lord in the face after what you said to him! Not to mention that your cousin is in the infirmary!"

"Oh come on Mom!" I shouted. "I didn't even hit Mamoru hard enough to break his nose! Aunt Katara can fix it!" Even as I was saying the words, I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

She was trembling now, and I knew very well that she wanted to punch my lights out. "How dare you speak to me that way? It's bad enough that you committed an act of treason Aneko!"

My mouth dropped open. I hadn't even thought about that. "T-treason?"

"Yes!" Mother screamed. "Treason! Which is punishable by DEATH!" Her face was deep red now, and her fists were clenching and unclenching at her sides. "You'd better get down on your knees and thank Agni that the Fire Lord is your uncle, because if he wasn't, you'd be swinging by your neck tomorrow morning!"

It was hard to breath. "M-mom, I-,"

"What Aneko?" she asked, rubbing her temples. "What could you possibly say that would explain what you did?"

I stared at my feet. "They were talking about Dad."

Her head jerked up. "What did you say?"

I rubbed my arm and continued to look at the floor. "They were talking about Dad. My father. They said…"

I couldn't continue. The words died in my throat.

Mom reached out and pulled me close. "I know sweetheart. It's not easy. But you shouldn't have exploded on your cousin. It's not his fault."

"I know Mom," I said quietly. "I'm going to go see him in a minute and apologize."

"And what about your uncle?"

It was a simple question. But that didn't mean I knew how to answer it.

"Aneko." Mom held me at arm's length. "You need to apologize to him. Formally if need be, but I think he'll accept- Aneko, is that… blood on your tunic?"

I whirled around. Sure enough, there was a patch of red near my hip. One of the boy's cuts must have opened when I moved him to the other room.

"Ummmm… Yeah… I, uh, fell and, uh, cut my leg in the bathroom…"

She wasn't fooled. "Show me."

How was I supposed to answer that? "Actually, Mom…"

She crossed her arms. "What Aneko?"

"It's, uh, that, you know… time of month?"

There was a long pause.

"…Oh. Well then." Mom looked as uncomfortable as I was pretending to be. "Uh, I have to go talk to Ty Lee about that dinner…"

She turned to leave as quickly as she could, but right before she opened the door, she turned back to me.

"I expect you to apologize to The Fire Lord before sundown tomorrow. Do you understand me?"

I nodded. "Yes Mom. I'm sorry."

She smiled briefly. "I know." Then she left.

Ten minutes later I'd changed out of my first set of clothes into another, plainer ensemble and was digging through my perfume and makeup chest looking for a large jar of salve Aunt Toph had given me last year when I got a black eye. When he'd asked me, I'd told Mamoru I'd been sparring with his godmother Suki, but I'd actually poked myself with an eye shadow applicator.

I found it near the bottom, under an old scarf. Pulling it out, I judged it to be about three-fourths full. That would do, but I needed some bandages.

There were bandages in the infirmary! I could go there, apologize to Mamoru, get some bandages, then go take care of the boy!

I ran out of the room, and down the hall. I should have noticed the two guards trailing me at a respectful distance, but I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I completely missed it. If only…

I skidded into the infirmary, tripped over a stuffed animal on the floor, and almost fell flat on my face. Steadying myself against a table, I heard a quiet giggle. Mamoru, who was sitting near one of the big windows overlooking the pond, smiled hesitantly.

"H-hi Aniek…" he said, getting up slowly. "Listen, I'm really sorry about-,"

I raised a hand. "No Mamoru. It was my fault. I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me. Could you forgive me?"

He nodded. "Of course. I wasn't even mad at you in the first place."

We hugged, and he went back to sit at the window seat.

I picked up the animal I had tripped over and pretended to search for its proper place. However, I was truly looking for the cabinet where the bandages were kept. I finally found it, and quickly shoved a roll in my pocket before exchanging a rushed good-bye with Mamoru and hurrying out of the room.

I ran as quickly as I could to the old nursery, heart pounding. How long had I been away? Was there still time to help him?

I reached the door and pulled it open. The boy was right where I left him, curled up on a couch. He was so still, me heart stopped for a moment. But then his eyes flickered open.

"You…came back?" he asked softly.

"Of cour-!" I started, but the new look in his eyes made me pause. They had gone wide, wide with fear.

I whirled around. Standing in the doorway were two guards. And they weren't happy. Not at all.

Before either of us could move, one of the guards had leapt over to the boy and pinned his arms behind his back. A gasp of pain burst from his mouth.

The other guard strode into the room." Princess Aneko, please vacate the area immediately. This boy is a dangerous fugitive."

I stared at him. "What are you talking about? He can't even walk!"

"We'll see about that," the first guard said, yanking the boy to his feet.

Before I could move, they were shoving him out the door and into the hallway. But they couldn't stop him from relaying the message he'd been sent to bring.

"Aneko! Your father needs you!"

Sorry for the cliffy. I hate it when people do that to me, but I couldn't think of any other way to end it. Forgive me:) Also, if anyone has any (polite and relevant) suggestions for any of the future chapters, please feel free to send a PM or write a review.

Aya15