Disclaimer: This is a test of your local "I don't own squat" (IDOS) Warning System. If I really did own something, you would hear the following siren: "WHOOHOO! I'VE FINALLY BEEN PUBLISHED! YIPEEEE!". But this is not the case. Masako Moonshade still does not own anything. This is a test. You may now return to your regularly scheduled program.

AN: This one's dedicated to those six wonderful people who actually reviewed the last chapter (I love you very much), and especially to Khi and Rashaka, who've been really great.

AN2: And tomorrow is...dundundun! The last day of school. And even though I'll have to take a time out to take care of all the things I didn't do during the school year (revise the Black Skies Saga, sleep, eat, bathe properly, breathe, clean my room, etc.) I'll have a lot more time on my hands to write.

XI

Everything was perfect. Flawless. It stared him in the eyes, taunting him, mocking him.

He couldn't stand it.

Because if everything was so incredibly perfect, why was he so frustrated?

He was going home, wasn't he? Tsune would take care of the Avatar, Azula would learn her place, and...and he was finding it harder and harder to focus on the spoils of his imminent victory. And even harder to be interested in Tsune's syrupy defense of her way, her methods, and her revenge.

And yet he couldn't bring himself to blame the Spirit, either. He had asked for her help, after all. And as twisted and sick as she could be, she was trying to help him.

Katara leaned closer to him, shattering his thoughts. He could feel her subtle warmth against his side, oddly different from the heat of the small bonfire before them.

"I'm amazed you can stand it, Kuzon," she said softly. "Being alone all the time like this, I mean."

"I'm not, though," he replied, with the voice that wasn't his. "You're here with me." Whether through instinct or instruction, he wrapped his arm around Katara's shoulders, keeping her close.

"That's not what I mean," she murmured, entranced by the dancing flames.

"I know," he assured her, a slight laugh on his voice. "But that's all that matters."

She laughed lightly, resting her head on his shoulder, staring into the heart of the fire. "You're sweet, Kuzon..."

Zuko decided that he was really starting to hate that name. His free hand clenched, the center of his palm growing painfully hot. Suddenly aware of himself, he allowed the infant flames gathering in his hands to dissipate.

"Are you all right?" she murmured.

"Hm?"

"You seem...really tense..."

He offered her a half smile. "Not really. It just feels like that because you're half asleep. The sun set hours ago."

"Are you sure?" she yawned. "The fire's still pretty strong." 'Kuzon' allowed himself a chiding laugh.

"Watch," he instructed, raising his free hand as though to warm it against the flames. The fire blazed, erupting into a shower of sparks, then curled into small spirals of white and gold, before they all erupted into another hail of sparks. The bonfire continued the steady pulse for only a few more cycles of rise and fall before Zuko felt Katara's breath steady into the peaceful rhythm of sleep. He shifted his gaze between the glowing embers and her still face.

My name isn't Kuzon, he considered telling her. Call me Zuko. Just Zuko. Would she hear the words spoken into her dreams?

Would it make a difference?

Was kissing me so terrible? he wanted to ask. The real me, I mean.

Completely spent, one of the embers collapsed in a heap of crackling sparks, and he nearly jumped, suddenly back in his right mind.

What was I thinking just now? he asked himself, a flush coming to his face. How had his mind wandered in the haze between the waking world and dreams? And then, Did I say any of that out loud? He could already predict what Tsune would say if she had heard his thoughts (and of course she would, because she had a nasty habit of seeing everything he didn't want her to see): How cute, dear! Getting jealous of your alter ego...

Again, he found himself shocked into awareness. Jealous? Of all words, of all emotions, why had jealousy entered his mind? And why should he be jealous of Kuzon?

Even if...anything like that...why bother? He was the one getting close to Katara. He was the one holding her, smiling at her. The actions were all his, after all, regardless of what name they were credited to...

And yet, this thought made his blood boil. Perhaps literally, because Katara stirred, and he struggled to cool his anger and quell his inner fire, lest he wake her. She settled back into placid sleep, and he offered the night air a miserable sigh.

"Something wrong, dear?" Tsune crooned. He started, though not enough to shake the dreaming girl. Keeping a guarding hand on her shoulder, Zuko glared at the apparently Fire Nation girl who was now poking at the dying embers with a stick. Tsune met the scowl with a cheerful smile.

"Yes," he said, making sure to keep his voice low. "She's asleep. Help me get her into her bed." The Spirit's face twisted into a smirk, though this was deflated by another burning glare.

"I don't think I will," she shrugged, prodding the embers again.

"Why not?" he asked.

The Spirit batted her eyes innocently. "What if she wakes up? She'll see me and ruin everything. Thinking you're with another woman, dear."

"And then you'll turn into a wolfbat or something and she'll just think she's dreaming again. She's already half asleep."

"And then the Avatar will show up and find us out. There's no point in trying to deceive him if something like that happens. And somehow, I doubt that a fight just now would end favorably for," she flashed a devilish grin, "your precious Katara."

Zuko's eyes flickered. "What?"

But his question went unanswered—Tsune had already vanished into the night. He shot another glance at Katara, then resigned himself.

There would be no getting out of it.

"Time for bed," he said, carefully maneuvering his grip on her shoulders as he stood. She groaned, not yet conscious, but he managed to pull her to her feet, guiding her away from the glow of the embers, back to the cottage. As she walked, still drunk and dazed with sleep, she stumbled, and he found himself holding her tighter, supporting all of her weight. Slowly, she regained her ground and continued, murmuring an unaware 'sorry...'.

Guiding her into the house was easier, if only because there were no treacherous roots or crannies to capture their feet. Going was slow, and Zuko found himself wondering.

She doesn't act much like a warrior. More like the Avatar's mother than anything else. I'm willing to bet that she didn't even know to fight before she got her hands on that Waterbending scroll. No wonder it was so easy to sneak up on her back then.

She's clever, though. Few people can gain so much skill in such a short time.

Hasn't she figured it out yet?

No, another part of himself ( the one that sounded suspiciously like Tsune) assured him. Uncle and I were the first people to see Tsune in centuries...or something like that. And besides the Heibai and Tui and La, she hasn't seen many Spirits. There's no reason anything like this should even cross her mind.

Evidently, it hasn't.

And why does she have to be so trusting? What kind of a warrior does she expect to be, if she just falls asleep in the arms of complete strangers?

She didn't though. Not until now. And she thinks she's known me for weeks. Plenty of time to learn to trust someone. And start to like them.

And have those feelings be returned! he could picture Tsune crowing. Flustered by his own musings, he finally managed to find a loophole.

Of course they are, he assured the imaginary Spirit. Kuzon feels the same way about her. That's a part of his character. So of course I should act like I have feelings for her. Because I wouldn't be able to play a convincing Kuzon otherwise.

You're a terrible actor, the imaginary Tsune reminded him.

And I'm getting better. I have to get better. I—

"...Kuzon?" Katara murmured sleepily.

"I'm right here," he whispered in her ear, easing open the door of her room.

"Good..." Her head drooped. Zuko nearly had to carry her the rest of the way to her bed before he could pull the blanket over her.

I don't really like her. Kuzon likes her. I don't really like her. Kuzon likes her. I don't really...

He forced himself not to linger any longer than necessary in the room.

"Good night, Kuzon..."

"Good night, Katara."

Once again, he felt himself grow jealous of his other self.

Tsune fled into the room and left her feline form behind.

"That boy never gives up, does he?" she asked, her composure shaken for a moment.

"Zuko?" Iroh asked. "Or Aang?" She looked up sharply, suddenly aware that she was not alone. Then she shook her head with a shrug, regaining her calm.

"Either one, I suppose," she said. "But if the Avatar comes looking for me, tell him I've gone hunting or something, will you? He barely gives me a moment's peace!" She sat down heavily next to Iroh. "So what are you doing?"

"Meditating," the old general replied calmly. The afternoon wind whispered through the window, disturbing the candles in front of him.

"You need to lock the doors when you do that," the Spirit said, jamming the door shut. "Katara knows you both are Firebenders, but the other two don't. And it'll only complicate things if they want to leave before this is finished."

"Or," Iroh said thoughtfully. "She could pass the message on. Aang is supposed to find a Firebending teacher, as well."

"That would only make him more dangerous," the Spirit said. "If you teach him too much, then there's no telling how much more powerful he could become."

"Then I won't teach him much. Just meditation and such things. But nothing that he can fight with."

"Don't underestimate the Avatar's creativity. He can make the most simple toy into a lethal weapon. And besides," Tsune sniffed disdainfully. "Even if Zuko is being protected by Katara, you're not. The Avatar could very well go after you without realizing it. Especially if he figures out who you really are."

"Is that concern I hear in your voice?" Iroh asked mildly.

Tsune shrugged again. "No, that's just your imagination. But you need to be careful anyway. Zuko can afford to get too close."

"He probably needs it," Iroh agreed.

"But you don't and you can't," she put a hand on Iroh's head. "Besides, somebody's got to keep me company while I'm hiding from the Avatar."

Iroh only smiled.

AN: (Grh...I don't like putting these on the end...) Backstory behind this chapter: no, Katara would not have been aware of any of that. My own little siblings fall asleep on the couch all the time, and, though they're too heavy to carry upstairs to thier bedrooms anymore, it's not at all difficult to get them on thier feet and walk them the entire way. No, they're not more than halfway concious, no, they usually have no recollection of the event. Without another hand to guide them and keep them going, it wouldn't work. You can try it on your own siblings, if you wish (though I take no responsibility).

Just to weed that little detail out of the reviews.