Well, I got another chapter done for you guys to read. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA or any of the characters. I only own Kala

Only days later, we were back to searching for Aang and his friends. I'd noticed, however, that Zuko had a habit of disappearing the past few nights. It seemed as though he had been nowhere to be found on the ship while we were in port at a harbor. It was strange, but I decided to leave the matter alone. It was none of my business. Zuko and Lieutenant Ji were looking down at a map, trying to track down where Aang could have gone next.

"We haven't been able to pick up the Airbender's trail since the storm, but if we continue heading northeast," the lieutenant started, but cut himself off when a large shadow darkened the room. A frown crossed my features as we watched another Fire Nation ship slow to a stop beside us. It was one much larger than our own. I was reminded of the day of Zuko's Agni Kai with Zhao and how small our ship looked compared to the others in the harbor.

"What do they want?" Zuko wondered aloud.

"Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Shō," Iroh suggested, rubbing his hands together.

I glanced back at him and figured he must have been winning his match. A few men from the other ship came aboard ours and entered the room we were all gathered in. Zuko crossed his arms over his chest as one of the men opened a scroll. On the parchment was a wanted poster for Aang. My eyes widened slightly and I glanced at Zuko.

"The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance," the messenger said. "All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao."

"Admiral?" I repeated in surprise. He'd been promoted again?!

"Zhao has been promoted?" Iroh asked, moving another tile on the Pai Shō board. "Well, good for him."

"I've got nothing to report to Zhao," Zuko answered, his voice taking on a harsher tone than usual. "Now get off my ship and let us pass."

"Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area," the messenger said. This sparked Zuko's anger further.

"Off my ship!" he yelled. The men turned and left the room.

"Excellent! I take the pot!" Iroh exclaimed as he won his game. "But you're all improving. I'm certain you will win if we play again." I rolled my eyes with a small smile, knowing he was trying to con them into another game. I then turned to look at Zuko as he stared out the window.

"I could always move their ship," I suggested quietly.

"You can barely move a small boat," he retorted.

"It'll take a lot of effort, but I'm half the Avatar." Zuko didn't answer. Instead, he turned away and left the room, his hands clenched into tight fists. I frowned as I stared after him. Iroh looked up from his Pai Shō board to stare into my eyes.

"Come play a friendly game of Pai Shō with me, Kala," he offered. "I'll go easy on you." I smiled softly and nodded, sitting across from him on the board. The tiles were distributed and Iroh went first, placing the White Lotus in the center of the board. "Something is troubling you." I nodded with a sigh and placed my own tile down.

"May I speak honestly with you, Sir?" I asked, glancing pointedly at the three men watching our game.

"Of course. Would you men excuse us? The secrets of a young woman's heart and mind are best left to the one she confides in." The three men left quickly and we were silent for a few moments after, continuing with our game. "I believe they're gone now," Iroh said with a smile.

"Thank you."

"Now, what troubles you, my dear?" I sighed softly.

"It's Zhao. What he's doing isn't right."

"He is chasing after the Avatar, just as Prince Zuko has been for almost three years now."

"It's different," I answered, moving another tile.

"How so?" Iroh asked.

"Zuko's been searching for the Halves because he believes it's the only way it can restore his honor, the only way he can go home. Zhao's doing it simply because he wants to show that he's better. I could see it in the way he spoke back at that Fire Nation harbor. He has all the wrong reasons!"

"If it had been Zhao who discovered what you were before Prince Zuko, what would you have done?"

"I would have killed him before he had the chance to kill me," I answered automatically.

"But you didn't do that to Prince Zuko," Iroh pointed out. I looked down at the Pai Shō board and moved one of my pieces.

"I told you, Iroh, it's different. Zuko's my best friend. I trust him more than anyone else in the world. Somehow, I guess I just knew he wasn't going to kill me." Iroh stared down at the board and appeared to be deep in thought. It must have been over what I'd said because I was far from his level in Pai Shō. He moved another one of his tiles, removing one of my own.

"And if you could do anything at this moment, what would it be?" he asked.

"To get Zhao out of the way so we could continue onto the North Pole." Iroh nodded before smiling.

"It appears I have won." I looked down at the board again, realizing he was right. I chuckled softly and stood.

"Thank you, Iroh. Talking to you really helps."

"My pleasure, Kala," he answered. Some time later, he and I walked onto the deck of the ship, where we found Zuko training, though his movements appeared to be out of anger more than anything. They were swift and random, having no real direction at all.

"Are you alright?" I asked him carefully.

"It's been almost an hour and you haven't given the men an order," Iroh added.

"I don't care what they do!" Zuko yelled.

"Don't give up hope yet. You can still find the Airbender before Zhao."

"How, Uncle? With Zhao's resources, it's just a matter of time before he captures the Airbender!" Behind the anger in Zuko's eyes, I could see sorrow and hopelessness. It was a look I'd seen far too many times in the past. Zuko turned away, his voice dropping. "My honor, my throne, my country. I'm about to lose them all."

That evening, Zuko disappeared again. I'd searched everywhere on the ship I was allowed and asked the crew if he'd been in the areas I was not permitted. No one had seen him. Upon hearing this news from everyone I asked, a frown crossed my lips and I ran up onto the deck. We'd anchored close to land for the night and I stared out onto the landscape before me.

"Zuko, where did you go?" I whispered.

It wasn't until the next morning he showed up again, coming in one of the smaller boat. I looked up at him with tired eyes as he walked briskly past Iroh and me. I had gotten little sleep the night before. It appeared as though Zuko was tired as well, from the look in his eyes.

"Where have you been, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked. "You missed music night. Lieutenant Ji sang a stirring love song."

"I'm going to bed. No disturbances," Zuko answered simply as he walked inside the ship, rubbing the side of his head. Iroh shrugged and began playing the Tsungi Horn, a beautiful melody flowing from the instrument. I frowned as I stared after Zuko. Just what was he hiding?

This was basically supposed to be "The Blue Spirit" episode, but since Kala doesn't know about the Blue Spirit, I had to come up with something else. Please R&R.