Kai swam and swam and kept swimming, desperately searching for Zuko. Her body ached, but at that point she didn't care.

"Zuko!" She cried. And then she heard a distant groan. A smile spread on her face as she searched all around the boat for the soure of that noise. And then she found him. It was Zuko. Clinging to a piece of plywood just barely conscious.

"Zuko!" Kai shouted. His eyes just barely opened as he managed to get out another groan. Kai created a large wave and carefully scooped Zuko up in it, carrying him to shore.

When Kai reached the shore Iroh was waiting. He looked as if the sun had come down from the sky and kissed him on his forehead. Immediately he grabbed his nephew as he began to spit up water.

"We must get him to shelter! I know an inn not to far away."

Kai nodded weakly as she walked. Every inch of her body aching and sore, crying out to stop as she took each step. Iroh was carrying Zuko on his back and couldn't afford any more weight. He just doesn't have enough arms. So Kai kept going. With each step the inn came more and more into view until they had finally reached it. Once they arrived as Iroh explained the urgency of the situation Kai could not move another muscle. She groaned as she collapsed to ground and slowly lost consiousness.

...

Kai's eyes shot open, waking from a dreamless sleep. She turned in each direction, scanning the room for Zuko. Another groan was heard and Kai's eyes traveled to the source of the sound to see Zuko lying on a bedon the other side of the room. She immediately got up, ignoring any pain in her body and limped over to Zuko's side. She kneeled beside his bed.

Kai looked at him, immediately overflowing with regret and shame. She should've stayed on the ship and she knew it, she should have made Zuko come with them. her head filled with all things she should and shouldn't have done. Her eyes filled with years threatening to fall at the thought of Zuko dying. Another groan escaped his lips and he tossed and turned in bed.

"Zuko," she whispered.

As his name left her mouth his eyes shot open. He jolted upright only to regret it afterwards; his body ached all over. He turned to see Kai kneeling by the side of his bed with teary eyes, her body slightly trembling. He frowned at the sight of his girlfriend.

"Kai..." He mumbled, his voice strained.

Kai lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as tears of relief and joy fell down her face. He brought his aching arms up and around her waist, planting a kiss on her cheek and burying his face in her neck.

At that moment tears fell uncontrollably as Kai began to weep into his shoulder. "I thought you were dead" she managed to get out in a trembling voice. "I was so terrified and worried..."

Zuko pulled away from her to see her distraught face. He wiped away the tears from her eyes. "I'm here now." He whispered.

Once he said those words again tears fell from her eyes as she began to cry. With one hand holding her head and the other still around her waist he crashed his lips down on her, enveloping her mouth in a hungry kiss. Even as they pulled apart, their faces remained barely inches away. Kai looked up at him and whispered, "Zuko, I love you."

Zuko smiled as he said, "I love you too."

...

Kai and Zuko were sitting in their room of the inn. Iroh look exhausted. Kai took note of the slight bags under his eyes as he cleaned the various cuts on Zuko's face. Kai was busy at work using her waterbending to help heal Zuko faster.

Kai frowned at the sight of him. "Iroh...you look terrible. How long were we out?"

"Three days. You were both unconscious so I had to take care of the both of you." Iroh explained.

"Three days?" Zuko asked with a frown, the soft florescent glow of Kai's waterbending shining in his face.

"But why did I pass out? Nothing happened to me!" Kai asked, surprised.

Zuko's eyes flicked over to his girlfriend and back to Iroh, worried and also curious.

"While you were running around searching Zuko you fell and injured yourself. There were several cuts and bruises on your body and you managed to very slightly injure your ankle in the process. You put so much strain on your body in such a short period of time and with the stress of nearly losing Zuko added to that, your body couldn't handle it." Iroh explained.

Kai frowned. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to be a burden."

Iroh let out a hearty laugh. "Kai! You were the one who found Zuko in the first place. You saved his life."

Zuko looked up at Kai, a small smile on both their faces. He tried to get up, but was immediately brought back down by Iroh and Kai. The water she was using to heal his cuts and bruises, falling onto his lap.

"What are you doing?! You're still sore!" Iroh said. "You were just in a massive explosion. You should be back on your feet soon! Kai is doing her best to help!"

"I don't have that kind of time!" Zuko exclaimed. He jolted up and moved to get off the bed, but was once again stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Take it easy Prince Zuko."

"Move!" Zuko yelled, shrugging his hand off. "I need to find a way to get to the Avatar."

"Zuko! He's most likely already in the North Pole. Zhao's armada leaves in less than three days!" Iroh near shouted. "We'll figure something out when you're better! You need to rest!"

Kai sighed as she drowned out the sounds of her boyfriend and his uncle arguing. She stood and made her way over to her bed and laid there with her arm placed over her eyes. And then that's when she heard Zuko speak.

"I need to infiltrate Zhao's fleet."

Kai stumbled and fell off the bed she laid on, quickly regaining her composure as Zuko pushed himself up off the bed. He turned to Kai and frowned. "You and Iroh will stay here. I'll acquire a uniform and sneak onto the ship. Once we reach the North Pole, I'll slip away."

"Wait a minute. You want me to stay here..." Kai asked in disbelief.

Zuko nodded. "You two will stay here and when I have captured the Avatar I will come back and get you."

"Zhao extended an invitation for me to join him on his mission. No nephew of mine will stowaway without some backup."

"But, Kai..."

"Will be coming too!" Kai interjected. "Zhao said I could come aboard his ship also! If you think I'm gonna stay here and play housewife while you two are out risking your lives you must have another thing coming."

"Kai you can't-"

"Can't what Zuko? Can't fight?! I may to be a an expert on the art of punching people, but last time I checked I'm a pretty damn good bender. Plus I may not have been there long, but I understand the Water Tribe better than you and I'm a stronger swimmer! So, what reason is there for me to stay?!"

"It's too dangerous Kai!" Zuko shouted. "You could get killed!"

"Never was anything great achieved without danger! I can do this Zuko!" Kai pleaded.

"I said no!"

Kai glared up at Zuko, challeging him. "Then try and stop me."

Zuko glared back at her, and if looks could kill she'd be six feet under. "Do whatever you want. I don't care anymore." He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Iroh looked at Kai with concern. She only gave a weak smile and stood. "I'll be outside." And with that she left.

...

Kai shivered as the cold air blew, sitting on the porch of the Inn. She hugged her knees and watched the moon as she began to sing quietly to herself.

"Upon one summer's morning. I carefully did stray. Down by the walls of wapping. Where I met a sailor gay. Conversing with a young lass. Who seem'd to be in pain. Saying, William when you go I fear you'll ne'er return again. My heart is pierced by Cupid-"

"That's a very beautiful song."

Kai turned, a blush staining her face, to the doorway to see a tall, petite, freckled girl standing there. Her wavy hair was held up in a lose bun and her posture was so perfect she was like a ballerine. No older than herself, the girl took a seat next to her and smiled. "Please, don't stop on my account. It's an interesting song, where is from?" (A/N: it's from pirates of the carribean and it's called my jolly sailor bold)

Kai smiled. "My mother would sing it to me when I was young."

"So, why are you out here all by yourself? Are you alright?" The girl asked with a frown.

Kai nodded. "I just got in a bit of a fight with my boyfriend."

The girl smiled. "He wouldn't happen to have a black ponytail and a scary scar on his face?"

"That's him alright."

The girl gave a small smile. "I know what you mean. My boyfriend and I argue all the time, about the littlest things too. I'm Koi by the way."

Kai smiled. "I'm Kai."

Koi chuckled, "Kai and Koi. Would you like some tea? You look like your freezing."

"Yes please."

"I'll be just a second." Koi said, going back inside the inn.

When Koi returned she was holding two bright red mugs, handing one to Kai. They talked for the longest time. They talked about their boyfriends, the cold weather, Koi even taught Kao some well needed beauty tips. Kai even learned that Koi was a fellow waterbender, however she's never been to the North or South Pole. About halfway into their conversation Zuko came outside, shocked to see his girlfriend sitting outside in the cold.

"I think I'd better go, I've got chores." Koi said. And with that she took both the empty mugs and went inside.

"What are you doing outside in the cold?! I've been looking all over the inn for you!" Zuko took his girlfriend by the arm and pulled her off the ground. "Let's just get inside."

Kai pulled her arm away from Zuko's grasp, and glared daggers at him. "How can you just act as if nothing happened?"

"What am I supposed to do?!" Zuko threw his hands in the air in frustration and turned away.

Kai sighed and chewed on her lip. "Zuko, I love you and when that ship exploded my heart nearly stopped. I was so scared that you would be gone forever. Not only are you are the most important person in the world to me, you're all I've got. How do you expect me to want to stay here in this inn while you're off risking your life on the other side of the world. I want to be able to protect you in anyway that I can, and I can't do it from inside that inn." Tears filled her eyes as she finished her speech. Kai desperately tried to keep them from falling as Zuko turned around. He sighed and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I know." He whispered. "Let's get you inside."

The two reached their bedroom, Kai climbed under covers of her bed and Zuko under his. Kai's gaze shifted between the ceiling and Zuko. She hesitantly got out if the covers and creeped over to Zuko's bed. His eyes turned to her and a smirk spread across his face. He made room for Kai to crawl under the covers next to him and she did, her head rested on his bare chest and his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"Goodnight Zuko."

"Goodnight Kai."

...

Zuko felt his girlfriend stir underneath his arm. He heard a soft groan escape her lips and she began to stretch. She lazily opened her eyes and was greeted by Zuko's soft gaze. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, yawning as Zuko stroked her hair. He too sat up and wrapped an arm around her. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hi." Kai smiled. After a brief silence Kai took in a deep breath before speaking. "So...Uhm can I go to the north pole?" She kept her eyes on her lap as she awaited his answer. When he said nothing she spoke again. "If you really don't want me to go...I'll stay here..."

Zuko placed his hand on her cheek, tueninf her face to him. He placed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. "You can come."

Kai's lip curving into a big grin. She moved so she was sitting in Zuko's lap, facing him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Smirking, he grabbed her hips and gently pulled their bodies together. His lips were warm and smooth as they brushed against hers. Moving his right hand up to the nape of her neck, he seized her lips engulfing her in a passionate kiss sending heat to her cheeks and chills down her spine. The pure ecstasy of their lips molding into each other, overtaking his entire body. Butterflies flew around in her stomach as hwr lips parted to let his tongue explore her mouth. With his other hand he explored her godly curves and thighs. They pulled away from each other, their chests rising and falling as the breathed heavily. A grin creeper onto Kai's face as she nuzzled into his shoulder and the two of them sat there embracing.

The door burst open to reveal Iroh, bright eyed a bushy tailed. "Oh good your awake!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

Zuko and Kai jerked back, Kai nearly falling to the ground. She frantically crawled off his lap in embarrassment as Zuko snapped at his uncle. "Don't you know to knock?!" Zuko snapped.

Iroh chuckled softly. "How are you feeling Prince Zuko?"

"Fine," he grumbled. "We need to figure out how in infiltrate Zhao's ship."

"Iroh and I were invited onto his ship, so it should be fairly easy to get on. We should be able to get you a spare uniform once we're on it."

Zuko frowned. "Are you sure you're alright coming with us?"

Kai nodded. Although Zhao still terrified her, she could protect herself better. He may be physically stronger than her and a bender, but she'll be damned if she doesn't repay all the shit she got from him.

...

HEY GUYS : NEW CHAPTER YAY! JUST CURIOUS IS ANYONE GOING TO OTAKON IN MD! CUZ I'LL BE THERE 8D WHOOO

DONT FORGET TO FOLLOW FAVE AND REVIEW 3 IT MAKES ME PUMPED AND EXCITED TO WRITE

Powerpuff: I incorporated a bit of Kai's healing powers in the beginning 8D

NaturalHippie2102: XD Thank you! I was crying too when I wrote that chapter and I'm the writer!

Qweenashleyfox: Thank you! :) I can't wait to write it! And I can't help how much I looveee writing cliffhangers

Crystalmoon39: Thank you! Hope you weren't disappointed! :)