Well hey there everyone!

I know it's been a while, and I'm so sorry for that! I've been going through some tough times - I've had a pretty rough falling out with someone i considered my absolute BEST friend, as well as the usual college stuff: school, extracurriculars, lack of sleep, the whole nine yards. I'm keeping my chin up the best I can, and I hope that you all enjoy this update!

If you have any comments/questions, or if you just want to put a much needed smile on my face...

PLEASE REVIEW! =)

Chapter 12: Misunderstandings

She didn't understand. But that wasn't a new position to be in, not for her anyway. No one ever bothered to explain, and so she was left to wonder why everyone hated her. After twenty years, it didn't seem like anything would ever change in that regard. No matter how she tried to befriend them, the others just turned their backs, hissing insults under their breath if she was lucky.

Most of them didn't even speak to her, preferring to pretend like she didn't exist; when they did acknowledge her presence their glances were always heavy with disgust and hatred. She wished she knew why, she wished she could understand the heavy weight on her shoulders whenever she looked at the others.

As if her body knew what she had done, and was trying to remind her.

She had been alone for so long, but it didn't make it any easier. It was familiar, but it still bit at her every second of every day. The others like her, her kin of sorts, even they shunned her. They were of the same roots as she was, and yet she was treated like a parasite.

And so she watched the others interact, watched them and yearned for that same sense of purpose. They knew their places, they knew what they had to do, and all the while she became more and more lost.

She was currently running from a pair of particularly malicious water spirits, their faces twisted and angry at her for walking too close to them. She was crying, but that only made them double their efforts to catch her.

A dark tree rose out of the sky, and she raced toward it, noticing that her attackers slowed and stopped, glaring at her before disappearing into the mist. Relief was so strong that she didn't think to wonder why they didn't follow her.

The tree was twisted and old, a large dark hole marking an entrance of sorts. She didn't even think twice, she dove into the hole and slid down the slippery passageway. She reached the bottom and curled up against the nearest wall, burying her head in her arms, pulling her knees up against her chest. Her sobs filled the interior of the tree, but it didn't echo like she expected it to. Instead, the darkness seemed to swallow up the sound of her cries.

"This is the elusive demon-spirit I've heard so much about? I have to say, from the rumors, I expected something a little more…demonic," a deep, ancient voice rasped from above her, and she didn't dare look up, afraid of more hatred, of more pain.

She scrambled to her feet, pressing her body against the wall of the cavern. She stared up at what she assumed was her newest tormenter, only to frown. He wasn't like the other spirits she had encountered…no…he was older, and the very space he took up seemed to hum with energy.

His face was concealed by a pristine white Noh mask with neutral features and fire-red lips. The spirit's centipede-like body constantly undulated and shifted, creating a fluid, rippling form.

"Who are you?" she asked, her curiosity overpowering her fear. The spirit leaned down so that the mask was inches from her face. There was a tickle of power, a chill that went right down her spine and radiated through her skin. Something was being decided, and it was then that she felt the urge to run. But at the same time, it was the first time since her creation that a spirit had not scorned her, the first time she had been met with anything but pure and unadulterated abhorrence. Besides, where would she run to? To the other spirits, to their disdain and indifference?

The spirit moved back slightly, and the energy lessened somewhat. A decision had been made, she could feel it.

"I am Koh. Do not fear me, for I am not like the others. In fact, I think that I will spare you. What is your name, little demon?"

She stared up at the spirit, and smiled for the first time in many, many years.

Dakota awoke with her heart racing and her entire body burning with adrenaline. Gasping, she hastily pushed herself up into a sitting position. She then frowned, because there was no reason to be afraid, even though her mind was still frantically recalling the feeling of being chased and then found by someone named Koh. Who was Koh? The name seemed awfully familiar.

The pale-haired Firebender huffed, pulling her knees up and leaning her elbows on them as she thought about her dream. The details were fading the longer she was awake, but she distinctly remembered that she had been in the Spirit World, but not as Dakota, but as someone else. It almost felt like a memory, but that was impossible.

It was still dark outside, the campfire burned down to glowing embers, and the forms of Zuko, Kiki and Iroh were nearby. The air was cool, and Dakota was soon shivering slightly. She burrowed into her blankets, and stared up at the bright stars. The sky was slowly getting lighter; if she had to guess, she'd say that it was an hour or so before dawn.

She wasn't sure what to make of the dream, but it felt an awful lot like the vision she had just before getting poisoned by the white jade flower. The vision of falling into existence, feeling the bright lights below her and opening her eyes to death.

Dakota closed her eyes, trying to fall back asleep.

"What is your name, little demon?"

She tossed her covers off, and neatly folded them up before moving to relight the campfire. Kiki's parents had given them a metal pan to cook eggs on – the pig-chickens on the farm laid normal eggs, much to Dakota's surprise – and so she went to get the pan as well as the small sack of eggs.

Kiki was the first to wake up. The little girl moved to Dakota's side, her sleepy eyes watching the flames with an avid curiosity. Dakota smiled, and reached over to rub the girl's back.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, and Kiki nodded absently, her head finding Dakota's shoulder. Dakota noticed how eagerly the girl looked at the flames, and hesitated for a moment or two before lifting her free hand and creating a small handful of fire. It hovered just above her palm, almost like a miniature sun.

Kiki gasped, her eyes widening.

"It's so pretty!" the girl exclaimed, but her lips quickly turned in a frown. "My bending is so ugly."

Dakota let the fire die out in her hand, and leaned down to meet Kiki's eye. "Kiki, as 'pretty' as Firebending is at times, it's still dangerous. Just like Waterbending and Earthbending and Airbending. It's all about how you use it."

"But Mama said…she said…"

Kiki trailed off, twisting her fingers around each other and scuffing her foot against the ground beneath her. Dakota didn't reply, continuing to rub the girl's back as the food cooked. She didn't know what to say; she was new to the concept of bending as well, but Kiki couldn't know that.

Dakota heard footsteps, and turned to see Zuko walking over to the campfire, his golden eyes taking in Kiki before acknowledging Dakota. They stared at each other, and Zuko jerked his head meaningfully toward the river on the other side of camp. Dakota understood; he wanted to talk to her away from Kiki and Iroh. It was strange, Dakota would later notice, how easily she could read Zuko's gestures and looks. At the present moment, she didn't give it a passing thought, and set Kiki with the task of separating the cooked eggs into four bowls before grabbing the water flasks and following Zuko to the river.

Dakota hadn't spoken to Zuko since that last night in Lee and Kiki's house. She couldn't think of what to say. She had no way of knowing why he had snapped at her, and the way he ignored her for the next day and a half made it clear he didn't want to talk about it. Dakota had gone over what happened, and the only conclusion she could come to was that Zuko didn't like Dakota asking how he felt, didn't like her showing open concern for him. The thought stung, but if that was how Zuko felt…she'd have to hide her concern better.

They reached the river, and Zuko wordlessly reached for one of the flasks, and the two began to replenish their water supply. It was quiet for the first minute or so, and Dakota let herself be distracted by the shimmering water – the early morning light sent rays of orange and cream-pink across the surface of the river.

"I…" Zuko began, and paused in his filling of the water flasks. Dakota paused as well, turning so that she could focus solely on the person beside her. Zuko was scowling deeply, his brow furrowed, and with a huff he sat back, putting the flask down with a huff. Dakota resisted the urge to laugh – Zuko was hilarious when he was frustrated, though she'd never dare say it aloud.

"Zuko, I'm sorry," Dakota said quietly; even though it hurt to say sorry for caring too much, she felt compelled to say it. "I was just worried about you, but if you don't like me constantly checking in, I wont–"

"That's not what it was," Zuko interjected curtly, and Dakota looked over at him, unable to contain the bright spark of happiness at his words. Had she been mistaken? Was there a legitimate explanation for Zuko shutting her out?

"I…I just…I didn't like feeling like I couldn't…" Zuko stumbled and fumbled, growing more and more uncomfortable. Dakota smiled, because the fact that Zuko was trying so hard to articulate his feelings was impossibly generous of him.

"You don't have to…" she began, but the words died on her lips, because Zuko had conjured a bit of fire. He held it out to her, not meeting her eye but staring determinedly at his lap.

Dakota felt the pang in her chest, because even though they had bonded in this way four times already, it was still such a jarring realization: Zuko trusted her.

Her stomach lurched with butterflies, and she let out a sigh, pushing aside the fluttery feelings. Zuko was her friend; that was all, even if Dakota had admitted to maybe feeling something more. There was no way he could feel the same. She was just Dakota, the weird girl who fell out of the sky and shared his uncle's love for tea and reading. Not to mention they were on the run from the Fire Nation – there was no time for anything but friendship.

Dakota called fire to her hands, and moved closer so that their fire intermingled. She gasped at the rush of a foreign set of emotions flooding her consciousness, and it took her a second to begin to separate them from her own.

Frustration, guilt. A horrible sense of void, of lack. Feeling constricted and compressed, like the entire world was bearing down on him. Anger at being seen as weak…feeling weak.

Dakota pulled away, coming back to herself.

Zuko was looking at her, now, and his face was smooth. But in his eyes were all of the emotions his lack of expression hid from sight. Dakota was already close to him, and she could smell the smoke on his skin, the smell that was distinctly him. She stood abruptly, angry with herself for being so smitten. Zuko was confused, his shoulders tense with wariness at her unexpected reaction to their fire-sharing. Dakota hastily recovered, smiling at him and letting her hand rest on his shoulder.

"You're one of the strongest people I know, Zuko."

It was the truth.

And with that, she picked up two of the four water flasks and walked back to where Kiki and an awakened Iroh were sitting. She heard Zuko get to his feet, and she knew that he was following her. Iroh turned to greet them, handing Dakota her bowl of eggs and turning to do the same for Zuko.

"Good morning, how did–"

But Iroh never got to finish his question, because a great ripple of earth – stronger than any earthquake Dakota had ever felt – shook the camp, sending all four benders sprawling across the ground. Dakota and Zuko's breakfast fell harmlessly in the grass, the contents miraculously staying within the confines of the bowls. Before any of them could recover, a figure burst through the brush, small and black haired.

It was a young girl, and instantly Dakota recognized her. The name eluded her – no surprise there, Dakota grumbled to herself – but the pale, sightless eyes and green outfit was definitely familiar. If she had to take a guess, Dakota would say that she was the Earthbender of Aang's group. Why was she away from Aang and the others? Were the others nearby?

"Get away from her, Firebenders!" the girl shouted, her voice lower than Dakota had been expecting, gruff and ringing with authority. Zuko tried to get to his feet, but the girl flicked a wrist, and a thin line of rock looped around Zuko's arms, making him fall back with a pained groan. Iroh tried to speak, but rock surrounded him as well. Kiki was crying, and Dakota tried to reach for her, but the rock pinned her down.

"No, stop!" Dakota cried, trying to break free. Kiki let out a shout, sending a powerful ripple of her own through the earth. It wasn't nearly as controlled as the older Earthbender's quake, but it was enough to make her pause. The blind girl looked in Kiki's direction, head cocking slightly.

"Wait, you're not being kidnapped?" she asked Kiki, who shook her head furiously, scrubbing at her wet cheeks.

"Does it look like we're kidnapping her?" Zuko snarled, doubling his efforts to get free, and the girl scoffed.

"Settle down Sparky, or you might find yourself a little more buried than you'd like to be."

"She's blind," Dakota hissed to Zuko, and the girl's head snapped around, and Dakota found herself staring into blind eyes. There was no focus, and yet Dakota could feel the girl's complete understanding. Dakota saw how solidly her feet were planted, the way her fingers curved downward as if reaching for the earth beneath her, and wondered if the girl used Earthbending to 'see'. Could Earthbending even be used like that?

"Please, let them go…they're my friends!" Kiki begged the girl, who stared at her with sightless eyes for a moment. The earth suddenly released the three Firebenders, and Zuko jumped to his feet, hands ablaze and ready to begin the attack. But Kiki was standing in between him and the newcomer, and upon recieving a warning look from Iroh, the teen reluctantly stood down. Iroh helped Dakota to her feet, and she rubbed her shoulder – it had collided rather harshly with the ground, and would probably bruise.

"Why is an Earthbender travelling with three Firebenders?" the blind girl snapped, and Iroh stepped forward.

"Young Kiki here is traveling to Teral, where she will be staying with a family friend. Her father and mother asked us to accompany her. By tomorrow morning, we will have reachd Teral, and from there we make our way to Ba Sing Se. Rebels of the Fire Nation are not very well received by Fire Nation troops, as you may imagine, and so we hope to live out our time in peace by hiding among the refugees of Ba Sing Se."

The scowling Earthbender stared Iroh down, her feet widening ever so slightly, her brow creasing as she listened…but to what? Dakota frowned as she tried to figure out what the girl was doing, but before she could properly observe, the girl straightened.

Iroh looked the girl over, and smiled widely.

"Would you like to join us for some tea? There are few things more enjoyable than a nice cup of tea; wouldn't you agree?"

The Earthbender shrugged.

"Why not? It's not like I have anywhere else to be."

Iroh beamed, and bustled about to make the tea – ginseng, most likely, as it was Iroh's favorite. Zuko looked furious, but he knew better than to comment; he eyed the blind girl with a mixture of distrust and respect. She had effortlessly immobilized three Firebenders – two of which were incredibly skilled, the other of which could hold her own. Dakota smirked at the comparison. She was no longer a beginner, but she was years away from the skill Zuko possessed, and a lifetime away from Iroh's level of mastery.

Kiki pulled at Dakota's shirt. "Can you show me more Firebending, Coda?" she asked timidly, almost whispering. Dakota looked to Iroh, who nodded.

"Be discreet, but I see no harm in a few small tricks. Stay within sight of camp, please."

"Sounds good," Dakota said quietly, and took Kiki's hand. The blind girl's head did not turn in their direction, but Dakota could feel the girl's focus on her. It was uncanny, how present she was. She didn't need sight to see, and she didn't need words to assert her presence. Dakota wished that she could remember her name!

Kiki paused in their path to the far side of the clearing and reached out for Zuko, who had picked up his and Dakota's bowls of scrambled eggs. Zuko stared down at the little girl, and let out a huff before handing one of the bowls to Dakota. He then allowed Kiki to take his hand. Dakota turned her head to hide her smile, and wondered if Zuko had ever played with kids when he was back in the Fire Nation. Because for all of his awkwardness around children, he attracted children like a magnet.

Kiki grinned toothily, and pulled the two of them along.