Avatar the Last Airbender

by sportie07

Story starts with Aang Energybending Ozai, and what happens afterwards. Aang learns that he has to leave if he is to get this Demon out of him. Things don't always go as planned for the Avatar, as he learns of a Rebellion forming. KatAang and others too.

25. Plans Emerging

Hey Avatards! Just to let everyone know this is my One Year Anniversary with all of you! Technically it was the first of July, but I'm SO excited that I've made it this far! And thank you to all of my fans who were with me in my rough beginnings! We have come a long ways! :D

Hope that everyone's summer is going well so far! Thanks agianfor your MANY reviews that you guys posted last chapter ;) Kudos! You guys keep me inspired! So this chapter took me some time to do; I went up to Washington State for two weeks, and then I spent a few days looking at a University I might be heading to, so sorry again for the wait. Well this chapter is about 42 pages, I believe, so take your time and enjoy it!

I don't own anything of A:TLA, I'll leave that stuff up to the pro's ;) Also, for a heads up, if you see the word SAKE in the beginning please pronounce it SA:KI, it will make a whole lot more sense lol. I apologize ahead of time for ANY misspelled words, pronunciations, grammar, or repeats of words; I'm not a editor, just the author. (Recap of last chapter) Aang and Katara have some problems to deal with in their "physical area's", Aang has also learned of Zuko's mother, King Bumi plays a trick of death on Aang when they left Jet's home in the forest, and then we ended with an underground tournament that was a fortnight away once they landed in the Earth Kingdom. ENJOY...

For the past week the Gang had been training even harder than normal; everyday they would wake up at the crack of dawn and practice against one another, eat and then train some more. Even Bumi was willing to help them all in these areas as well, in which Toph enjoyed fighting against one of the absolute best Earthbenders. Aang had been watching them all very closely while analyzing their stances and the way they prepare themselves for a certain attack. However, even with the distractions of this underground tournament he still couldn't get over what was going on with Katara and him. When they were around the group they would get along with each other, but once the two of them were alone they didn't say much. He obviously needed to talk to her and yet he wasn't too sure on how to explain his so called "actions". Now he had to seek the advice of the only companions that could help him in this area…

The boys had made themselves scarce from the girls, so that they could get some guy time for a few hours. They were all getting on each others nerves since the gang seemed to be arguing at one another for small errors, especially with the two loudest ones in the group; Sokka and Toph. To make matters even worse the Southern Warrior decided to ask if their "time of the month" was going on right now and that only seemed to ignite their fury within them. After that all of the boys ran as fast as they possibly could from the frightening women. However, Sokka ended up getting kicked in the air by, Toph and sending him screaming into a tree where his pants were caught in the limbs. For a few seconds he just hung there upside down, yelling at the blind girl; but he fell onto his head with a loud "oof" once he hit the grass. He quickly grabbed his pants and with great haste joined up with the guys, in which Sokka gave them an ear full of bro's having each other's backs, but they told him that if it was against four girls then he was lucky to still be alive after the stunt he pulled. They decided to head into town to get a few drinks to perhaps waste some time, and maybe even relax during this time

The tavern they walked into reminded Aang of the one where he ended up meeting June for the first time and paying her to take off for a week, which she gladly took the money from him. However, this place seemed to be a little bit more clean; not a bunch of guys hitting each other, gambling, arm wrestling, or just plain men who didn't know how to bathe. When they entered in there was only the owner and two more others who were playing pai sho; a game that the Fire Lord still didn't quite understand, but his Uncle loved it none the less. The boys found a stone table for them all to sit in, while Zuko ordered Sokka and him two jiu, some sake for the two youngsters and some bread to munch on as well as crispy pork.

The Water Tribe Warrior raised his cup to his friends, "bottoms up." He took the biggest gulp he could muster with the jiu and slammed wooden cup it back onto the table. Tears welled up in his eyes while feeling the affects of the drink; it was like he had paper cut that went all the way from his throat to his stomach and then decided to swallow Sozin's Comet afterwards.

Zuko took the next drink, obviously more atoned to it than the older one next to him. Teo sniffed at his sake, "what is this?"

"Just drink it all at once," Sokka demanded of him while he made the motion to order another round for the table, and decided to go for some pork.

The youngest shrugged and swallowed the drink within the first gulp, like he was told to. To him it tasted very fruity, but he could feel the lukewarm liquid as the strong taste of alcohol flowed to the bottom. He began to cough a lot in which he quickly grabbed a handful of bread to stuff into his mouth, now choking onto the food.

Sokka and Zuko had already taken another drink and were ready to order more. Aang had never seen the boys drink before, he wasn't too sure if he really should do it either. The Airbender had two drinks just sitting there in front of him, afraid that he might not be able to have it. The Fire Lord looked at him and saw that he hadn't taken a single sip.

"You better at least act like you drink," Zuko whispered to his friend. Seeing that he didn't seem too into the whole idea of it, he figured he could provide a way out for him. Aang nodded at him and decided to bend the drink out of it very carefully, almost like a little river flowing out of the cup towards him and onto the ground.

"So I got a question for you Aangy boy!" Katara's brother slurred a little, but still seemed to be in control. "If we find these 'stalkers' what are we gonna do then? They always seem to be ten steps ahead of us."

The bald monk looked at his empty cup and took a drink out of it, making the same face that Teo did. He breathed out heavily as if it was really burning through him, "when I have the answer I will get back to you on that. We still have a week to plan this all out."

"I think what he is trying to ask is, are you going to do whatever it takes to win this tournament?" Teo translated for him and then put the next drink up.

"This isn't about winning guys. I only want to know what they look like and possibly talk to one of them."

Zuko shook his head, "so what are you going to ask? Hi I'm the Avatar and I was wondering if we could have a polite conversation on the whereabouts of your rebellion, oh and on another note can I offer you some calming tea?"

The grey eyed boy sighed, "look I don't know what I am going to do. It's going to be tough enough to get in there without someone recognizing us, and it may be even harder to get out. We need to look at every scenario first before we go to battle."

Sokka grabbed a few more fried pork's and stuffed them into his mouth, "seriously why can't you just give the whole avatar thing a whirl? It would make things simpler."

"Just give me time, okay? You have trusted me this far and I hope I won't fail you again in that area, but we have to be careful. These are not just ordinary firebenders; these are skilled people who will kill us out of spite or even for their own game, and I don't want to risk too much."

"Do you have a plan at all?" Teo hiccupped.

"I have an idea, but you guys aren't going to like it."

"Well tell us airhead!" Sokka blurted out. Luckily the two men playing pai sho didn't seem to show any care.

"How about I tell you all when your sober and can stand on your own two feet?"

"Whatever. It better be one hell of a plan then once I'm intoxicated…sober!" He corrected himself, and was starting to feel a bit woozy.

Aang didn't say anything else to them on the idea. He had already devised a plan and yet he knew they wouldn't go for it, but Bumi had agreed with him on it as well. With his oldest friend on his side they might just listen to him. But for now, until he found a better one he couldn't tell them until he and the King of Omashu looked from every point.

"Hey guys," Aang got their attention. "What can you tell me about relationships?"

Sokka spit the drink out into the Monks face, leaving a spray of jiu on his face. It started to sting in his that made him tear up, but he quickly bended it off of him and waited to hear what they had to say. "I am not drunk enough to talk about you and my sister…or rather I don't want that image in my mind—oh spirits! It's in my mind!"

The scarred young man took another drink and whispered to the warrior next to him, "you told me you were going to have the talk with him?" Aang raised up an eyebrow in confusion to all of them, but Teo seemed to be in the loop of the conversation.

"..." Sokka had to think about the answer, "are you kidding? I'm still waiting for someone to have the talk with me."

The Fire Lord combed through his hair with irritation, "well I don't know how to explain it either! I had a dad who hated me, burned my face, and then banished me to show just how much he loved me!"

"Well I had a dad who left me when I was fourteen and became more occupied by the war than having to worry about his son finding a girl in the Water Tribe that would just so happen to be his age!" The pony tailed boy said with a lot of heavy sarcasm.

"But don't you guys, you know, do it with your girls?"

Zuko and Sokka took another two drinks before answering him, even Teo kept his mouth shut. The Inventor knew what to say, but it seemed odd for him to tell this to another guy. His dad gave him the "talk" before and it wasn't a pretty thing to listen to in the first place, but now seeing Aang ask at an older age, he was happy that he knew. Still he couldn't help but show pity for the Monk.

"Well I'm married, so that gives me the right to. Yes."

Sokka burped, "and I'm engaged. We both have good reasons to do it."

Zuko snorted, "you two weren't engaged the night before Katara and I went looking for her mother's killer. What was your excuse then, oh genius one?"

"Shut up you idiot!" Then the older boy pointed a finger at Aang like he was about to accuse him of something or worse threaten him. "…wait what was the question you asked again?"

The Airbender didn't know if he should ask it again, "nothing! Absolutely nothing."

"Are you sure?" his words slurred out horribly, the Monk might as well be trying to talk to a chimp right now. "'cause I coulda sworn you had asked a questions 'bout sleeping with a drink while Katara saw it…?"

"Ugh, Sokka how much have you had to drink tonight?" Aang asked, a little happy that he didn't quite ask the right question.

He shrugged, "maybe if you pull my finger we can find out!"

Zuko took his drink away that he was about to gulp down, "okay no more drinks for water tribe members." They hadn't realized how many small wooden cups were there until the oldest of them counted; he had only taken about six, not including the one he just took away from him.

Teo wasn't feeling too good either, "hey is my stomach supposed to feel all warm?"

"As long as you don't feel it coming down your leg, you're fine." The Fire Lord assured him and downed the cup that he took from Sokka.

The crazy Water Warrior stood up and took an empty cup into his hand, and decided to make a toast or at least attempt one. "To us! Our bro's before our hoes and…to peace on earth—an all of that lunar goodness crap!" He raised the cup higher than his head and drank the empty cup. The boy tilted his head back too far and then he fell to the floor hard, which he quickly curled up into a ball and began sucking on his thumb like a three year old.

The Fire Bender rolled his eyes, "shoulda known he couldn't handle that many drinks. I say we head back before he wakes up, or might end up having to deal with a more obnoxious Sokka." He took one last gulp and then he and Aang slung his shoulders over theirs and started to walk back. Teo paid the man off and decided to stay in the town a little bit longer, maybe get a few more things of supplies. The boys made sure he wasn't too wasted, which he wasn't, and then said their goodbyes.

They were only half way up to the top of the stair when Zuko asked, "you having trouble in Katara Paradise?"

Aang looked over to his right with Sokka dragging his feet, "ugh nope. Not at all. Why would you ask a question?"

The older man chuckled, "well there is the awkward silence you and Katara have around one another, then there's the tension whenever we are around, or how about the fact we haven't seen you two drool over each other, sleep in the same tent, ask a stupid question on relationships while having a drink, or—"

"Okay, okay you've made your point." Aang interrupted him, not wanting an entire summary of the past week or tonight for that matter. "It's just that I don't know what to say."

Zuko made him stop on the footsteps so that they could catch their breath; carrying Sokka was like carrying a two hundred pound curly tailed guerilla. He didn't look like he would be that heavy, but when you are just dragging a drunken person around for about thirty minutes you can change your mind certain things.

"You need to be more specific, without the details?" His friend added, not really wanting to know everything and yet willing to give him an ear.

"I don't know what happened. One minute I'm helping her with laundry and the next thing I know I am trying to take her swim top off against a tree."

"I said no details! Just the general idea please…I might vomit if I hear the reality of it and have that image my mind for the rest of my life."

Aang nodded, "sorry. All I can say is that I wanted to do it and normally I have better control of myself, but it was like another half of me knew what to do. It was like I was being guided through my…"

"Instincts?"

The stressed out fourteen year old agreed to the right context, "exactly. She told me to stop, and I didn't hear her, then she said it again and I finally stopped. I didn't know what to say so I just walked away from it…what can I say to Katara that won't hurt her?"

Suddenly, they heard the sound of what seemed like noodle soup hitting the stairs. It turned out that Sokka was vomiting all over himself; even his breakfast was in that same pile. "I—don't—feel—so good…" and just like that he was back to sleeping again, only difference was that he was sleeping on something that smelt horrific and acidic.

The boys scooted higher up the stairs to catch some fresh air before Zuko could answer his question for him. "Walking away from it before you two could talk about it was bad enough, and from what I can tell you must've hurt her pretty bad."

"Okay, I know I hurt her…now what do I say?" Aang questioned again, wanting the right answers.

"Look every relationship is different. You and Katara always seem to be in touch with your feelings so maybe you should lead with that? But you better get ready for a fight from hell with her. I would suspect that all of that anger built up inside of her is about to explode once you open that bottle up for discussion."

"Well I would like to avoid that for all intents and purpose\."

He snorted with distort, "good luck with that! If there is one thing I can tell you form being married, it's that women want to talk about everything; so get ready for that between now and the distant future."

Aang seemed a bit surprised, "Mai actually talks to you?"

Zuko gave him a chuckle, "she's still a woman, Aang. Not a wall. But I do have a question for you though?"

"Which is?"

"Why haven't you two—ya know? I mean you both seem to be already at that level and yet this is the first encounter of it almost happening."

The Monk could feel his cheeks burning hot now, not sure how to explain to his friend. A very strong part of him wanted to so desperately; while another wanted to keep the tradition that he had come to know. When he was living in the Southern Air Temple, he was too young to have been asked if he would accept the honor to remain pure for the rest of his life as a Monk, which he had known a number of elders like that. He even knew a man who took a vow of silence, which he always questioned if he could ever do that. Those who took the oath would only do it to conceive more Airbenders into the world, but not many would do it for marriage or love. Not that they did believe in those things, but the genders were always separated so that young generations could concentrate on their gifts as well as listening to lessons given to them by their guardians.

"Mostly it's because of me…I just want to keep the same customs in that of my people. If Katara hadn't stopped me, I don't know what would've happened." He said with even more shame than the last time he thought about it, and he felt like he didn't deserve the Waterbender.

Zuko shrugged and then got up from his seat, "look all I know is that when you and Katara don't get along there is a lot of strain you put on the Gang. So, my advice to you is that you talk to her anyways and knuckle under."

The troubled Avatar looked up at him, "and what if it comes back? What did you do to stop yourself?"

"I am not having this conversation about my sexual life with you, no offense, but Sokka would kill me if he knew I was having this talk."

Aang quickly got up and grabbed hold of his bicep, "please man. I need to know how to prevent the idea at least."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

The older man rubbed Aang's grip off his arm, "because it's all us guys think about. Consider it a black spot in even the purest of men; we think about it constantly in our minds and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Get used to it." Zuko looked up at the distressed tall Airbender and could see that he only made things worse, and needed to fix it so that this torturing chat could end quickly. "Okay, look if you really want to keep it in your pants then think of something horrific that would make you stop."

Again Aang showed him a confused face, "like what?"

The Fire Lord let out a breath of air that blew into his hair, "well for me, when Mai and I were with each other more, I would visualize my father burning me in the face. Now it's your turn."

The tattooed boy pondered for a few seconds, "grapefruit."

Zuko gave him a strange look, "grapefruit? Really?"

Aang shrugged and raised his palms to the dark sky now, "yea it's really sour and makes me shiver at the taste."

He rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, "whatever makes your glider fly. Now will you end this discussion and help me get drunky over here into his room. My headache just grew into a migraine after what we just talked about, and I'm ready to crash and never ever wake up."

The Avatar could tell that he was tired of answering his questions, even though he had more, but saw that he was getting on his nerves pretty easily now and decided to keep his mouth shut. And thanks to Sokka's decision of drink, the idea was shot down after for, Aang he looked at the water warrior covered in his own vomit; a site that the Monk would never forget. The boys helped drag him back into his room as quietly as they could, but Sokka awoke before they were even close to where Suki was.

"Did youuuu guys know that I was tha one who made the rangboomer?" He slurred again, worse than before, and was now switching words.

"Shh! Shut up Sokka," Zuko warned him.

"…now every-one is callin' it the boomerang. Which has yours name in it, Aang! We shud start callin' ya Boomer Aang! Right?"

The Fire Lord looked at the blood shot blue eyes and was ready to punch his lights out any second. "That's great Sokka," he said with an irritated sarcastic tone.

"Oh! Did I mention that I love you guys? I know that I don't say much about it, but I do! I Wuv you guys!"

"Would you still love me if I strangled you to death right now," the older boy mumbled beside Aang who couldn't help but smile at him. Luckily a servant came and helped Zuko with the crazy man they were dragging all throughout the city. They were released from the burden around their shoulders, and what a relief it truly was for the both of them.

The Fire Lord removed some wet stranded hair on his head, and eyed that Aang hadn't shaved his head since they got here. He had a brush cut now, but you could still see some of his sky blue arrow on his head. The Airbender was obviously growing it to hide it since they were about to embark on enemy territory, but what threw him off the most was that he also had facial hair. It wasn't like he could grow a full fledge beard or anything like that, but it was just a shadowy look. It made him look to be about his age, eighteen. And with his height he could easily be twenty one, but those grey eyes made the age of his youth show.

"I'm going to bed now," the Firebender said rubbing his eyes from all that had happened tonight. "Please don't disturb me."

Aang nodded as he quickly walked away from him with his feet clicking behind him on the stone floor. He could still see that Zuko was still a little bit sore at him, especially since just a few days ago he found out that his mother was alive and well. Ever since he told him of the news, he had been drinking a little bit more than he normally would, but never got to the point where Sokka was tonight. The Monk wasn't too sure how he would've reacted either if he found out that an Airbender was still alive somewhere and one of his companions knew about it. Today was actually the first encounter they had as friends, and it was nice to seek advice from him once again like he used to. The Fire Lord said he forgave him from withholding this information from him after he talked with Mai about it; somehow his wife made him see the light and for that he was eternally grateful to her. The Avatar thought that he had learned his lesson after he pulled the same stunt with Katara and Sokka's father, but apparently he was very wrong. His friends deserved so much more from him and yet he seemed to always betray them somehow, and he wished he could take it all back. One of his greatest fears is losing a companion, and now all he wanted was for the Firebender to find his mother, but he refused to do so…

OooooOooooOoooo

The Airbender knew that he needed to tell him today. It had only been a day and a half since he found out about Zuko's mother, and it was eating at him like crazy. But he had barely had any time to actually sit down with anyone and talk; he and Bumi had been trying to make a plan for everyone's safety and yet get the knowledge that they all wanted to seek. He also had been meaning to talk to Katara as well, but Toph suggested that they start their training today; just to be well prepared. After all of the meeting with the Generals, the preparations, and getting a few hours of sleep, he was always exhausted; however, he desperately needed to tell his friend on the whereabouts' of his long lost parent.

Aang had asked the oldest in the gang to talk with him once they had eaten. His friend could sense that something was obviously bugging him, and agreed to talk once everyone had left. The Monk didn't say much while everybody else seemed to chat away at this underground tournament. Toph seemed pretty excited about, saying it was her type of territory. And if anything should happen she would easily be the first one to know about it, which seemed to relieve everyone a little bit. Once they finished eating the Fire Lord and Aang headed into Bumi's throne room; a very enormous place that made you feel significantly small.

His friend turned to face him after making it about half way into the stone room, "what is that you wanted to talk about?"

Aang put his hands into his pocket as he tried to figure out the correct way to say what was on his mind. He breathed out heavily, "Zuko, do you remember showing me that picture of you and your family?"

He nodded, "yeah. It was just a few days ago before we came here."

"Exactly. I guess I was just curious at how the search on finding your mom has been going?"

The older boy just stood there for a few minutes, as if whatever was about to come out of his mouth would somehow hurt him. "Everyone says I should give up. Finding one person in the entire world, who might have an alias now for her own safety, just seems too impossible. Mai continues to support me though, which I am grateful to have such an amazing wife to help me since I began this crazy notion to find her…I don't want to stop, because I truly believe that she's alive somewhere."

"How do you know that, if you haven't seen her since you were young?" Aang asked, wondering if perhaps he already knew his secret.

Zuko gave him a crooked smile, "I can't explain it. I guess it's just that strong connection that you have with someone close to your heart. Even though some have told me that she could be dead, I refuse to believe it. I haven't felt that a piece of me break away yet, and that gives me strength to look for her."

For some reason Aang envied the way he so desperately wanted to find his mother, Ursa. The Avatar never knew his parents, which had never bothered him before since Monk Gyatso had become his legal guardian as well as a permanent father figure in his life. He didn't know what it was like to have a mom in his life, but Ursa showed him what it could've been like. She cared for him like he was his own, was very kind and gentle like any mother would be with her own children. He now understood the sacrifice she had to make for her only son, because his friend had told Katara and him about it before. It's a sad part in Zuko's life, but he understood why she did it; and that's what drove him to find her. His father was of no help either in finding her either. He denied knowing where she was. It wasn't easy to see past his lies, but since Aang took his firebending away the young man could detect it now.

The Monk ran his left hand over his prickly hair, "Zuko there's something I need to tell you…about your mother I mean."

He gave him a confused look, "okay?"

Aang gulped, not sure if he should just come out and say it. "What if—what if I was to tell you that I had met your mom, before?"

The Fire Lords heart suddenly dropped as he realized that it was very possible for him to have met her in the Spirit World, and the feeling was starting to make him nauseated and the fear kept rising every second that flew by. Just the thought of her soul with the Spirits made him want to run to a corner and cry like a little boy would when he couldn't find his mother in a market.

He then whispered, "how?"

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, and they were right; Aang could tell that his friend was ready to burst into tears as his world would soon come crumbling around him very soon, which he wasn't too sure why though. He had kind of figured that this would be good news and it seemed to have the opposite effect on him.

"Remember the night I ran away from you guys, after my…incident?"

How could anyone forget that night? It was something that was forever permanently implanted in his mind; a recollection that would never be forgotten. But he tried not to show the fear of that night, "of course I do. Don't think we could forget about losing the Avatar."

Aang moved his head up and down while seeing that that wasn't the only reason Zuko recalled it, "yes. Well after flying over the ocean with Appa, Momo, and I stumbled upon a single lady. And she helped us."

Maybe this woman had somehow known her, and could finally give him the closure that he so longed for. "She knew my mother?"

The Monk clenched his jaws, "I guess you could say that they are one in the same person…"

He said could feel his heart beat race like the Sun Warriors drums as moisture began to fill his eyes, "are you saying tha—that you found her? You found my mother?"

The Avatar gave him a small grin of confirmation, "since you showed me the picture and mentioned her name I have no doubt it is her."

Zuko didn't know what to say, so many questions were going through his mind like a whirl wind of a tornado, and suddenly he began to cry. Aang had never once seen his friend show his emotions like this, it was so un-Zuko. He was never one for showing his true colors to the world, in which probably presumed from his past. Then out of nowhere the Fire Lord comes to him and gives him the biggest hug that he had ever received from the older man before. In a way it was odd and yet a nice embrace. The bald headed boy could literally feel the glee flowing out of him as he hugged him even tighter and finally let go, with his arms on the Airbenders shoulders.

"She's alive! I can't believe that you found here!" he yelled with such cheer in his tone, a side that Aang would never forget. "How is she? Is she well? How did you even find her? Does she miss me? Where is she living now?"

The Monk laughed a little, "she struggles with finances, but she has a kind spirit. Ursa lives in the Earth Kingdom, hidden very well I might add. She works hard, and misses you every day." He proclaimed, recalling the way Ursa talked about her children; especially, her baby boy.

"I can't believe it! After all of this time in searching for her, you of all people find the one person that I have been missing in my life!" he was still yelling at him and then gave him another embrace yet again. If Aang knew that this would've been his reaction, he would've never feared to tell him. Then he felt the man's body stiffen as the sense of Zuko's anger began to show once he let go of him and took a few steps back.

The Fire Lord quickly let go of him, "wait. How long have you known of this?"

Aang decided to be honest for once, "I've known since the day you showed me the picture. And also when you told me her name…"

Now the cheerful child turned into the raging firebender that he recalled a long time ago. "You knew? You knew all this time and you didn't tell me!"

The tattooed boy took one step back, "I didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid of losing you on this team…"

"So you thought that if you kept this from me that it would keep me from leaving to find the one person, in my life, that I have been looking for since I became Fire Lord?" His voice echoed off of the walls, without knowledge of the fire burning in his hands. He then walked towards Aang and shoved him once, then again, and again, until he had the Monks back pinned to the wall with one hand fisting his clothes.

Aang knew the consequences of keeping this from him, and he was only getting what he deserved. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry? You better have a hell of a lot more to say than that my friend, or should I even call you that!"

He gulped in fear, "I know what I did was wrong, Zuko. I'm so so sorry for betraying your trust and putting our friendship on the line. I don't know why I didn't say something sooner…"

The Fire Lord pulled him off of the wall for a second and then slammed him up against the stone harder this time, and put his elbow into the young boys' throat. Not choking him, but not letting him breathe too easily either. He knew Aang could easily do something to prevent him from doing this, but he obviously wasn't going to interfere this time. Zuko wanted nothing more than to beat him up so badly, that it would make all of the past Avatar's feel his wrath, but a stronger side of told him not to. He was no longer that person who held hate in his heart or revenge, but through the help of his Uncle he could be more humble and in better control of him temper. His breathing started to come a little bit slower with each breath, until he had finally calmed himself and released the Airbender from his choke. He started coughing once his knees hit the ground, wondering why he had stopped so easily.

Aang looked up at the merciful Fire Lord, "I know what I did was wrong. I don't expect you to ever forgive me, and I wish I could take it all back. But now the only thing I want you to do is find her. I'll tell you whatever you want; I'll give you the exact coordinate to where I last saw your mother. I want you to leave tonight and find her; you deserve that in the least."

Zuko looked down at him and desperately wanted to know where she was so that he could go after her; talk about their lives without each other, had she married again, if so did he have another brother or sister, how had she survived, why didn't she try to contact him, does she know that he is the new Fire Lord and that she can finally come home? So many unanswered questioned poured into his mind, and he so desperately wanted to grab his things and embark on this new joyful journey…but he wasn't going to leave all that they had been working towards. This tournament could be the breaking point that they need to save this world, and he wouldn't want to bring his mother into a place where she could not be safe. She had made the ultimate sacrifice in saving his life, and he was going to repay her for it. Even though he would never forgive Aang, he was still his best friend and wasn't planning on going anywhere until this was all done.

The Firebender held out his hand towards the Monk in which he hesitated for a second, and then finally latched onto his forearm as he helped him stand. He could see the confusion on Aang's face once he released his grasp, "you answered the most important question for me tonight; you told me that my mother is alive. And that's all I've ever wanted to know in my search for her."

"…then I suppose this is goodbye then. I hope you find her," he said with such sorrow in his voice. This is why Aang didn't want to tell him, but no matter what it was the right thing to do.

Zuko folded his arms, "I'm staying Aang."

"I don't understand, why?"

"I have my reasons, but I know you need my help. Just don't expect me to forgive you so easily. This was a dumb move on your end none the less; however, you given me something no one has in a long time. Hope. This is why you're not on the floor right now groveling in pain."

Aang didn't know whether to smile at his stay, or question his motive for not going after his mom. "But isn't that enough to leave and find her?"

Zuko shook his head, "my priority is to my people and my friends as well. Someday I will find her, and hopefully by then our world will finally have long lasting peace." He then beckoned him with his head and walked away from Aang, excited and yet afraid. Another reason he didn't want to go find, Ursa is that he was scared that she would no longer want him, that she had a better life and didn't need her past to follow in her shadow. It's not unheard of for things like that to happen, and he wished on the Spirits that if he did find her she would accept the son with a mark on his face, that his father so kindly gave to him. Would she truly let him back into her life?

OooooOooooOoooo

Aang felt weary after helping Zuko with Sokka and was ready to go to bed for once, but there was one more person he needed to deal with. This thing with Katara and he had gone on long enough and it was time for him to tell her what happened, no matter how embarrassing it could very well possibly be. The night was late and there was a chance that his girlfriend was asleep, but this needed to happen tonight; one way or another. He didn't want another thing to be in the way of their relationship, if he still had one with her. She didn't seem to hold a grudge against him since she still talked to him; however, she definitely did want to speak to him when they were alone for even a few minutes.

It didn't take long for the Air Nomad to find her room; it was after all right next to his. He still felt the need to protect her, and he figured the safest way to do that is to at least live on the other side of the same wall as her. He inhaled and kicked the stone door up very quietly just in case she was still asleep. Aang walked in and let the door fall down slowly and walked towards the bed where he found a girl in a peaceful nights rest. The bed was about the size of a twin bed, with cushions to help them not remember that they were sleeping on a pile of rocks. The temperature in the room was pretty warm which was why Katara had a very light see-through green sheet covering her entire body, and it only made him stress even more on waking her. The color itself went very beautifully with her soft skin tone, but what really drove him crazy was that she was sleeping in her swimsuit once again.

He could hear the thudding of his own heart, and became afraid that it might wake her from the slumber that she was in. It had seemed like forever since he had seen her asleep; Aang was still being mystified by the artistry that the spirits did upon on her. It almost made it seemed unfair that any spirit would let her walk among them on the earth without jealousy of longing for her to return to where she belongs; such a pity indeed. The Monk sat down on the bed next to her, still deciding on if he should wake her up or not. A smile crept onto his face when he saw her grin a little bit and then gently disappears back into her dreams. She would always do that when he came in next to her, and it he too when she was there; it was just another thing that their love gave to each other. He then removed a small strand of hair on her face, and gracefully tucked it behind her ear so that it wouldn't bother her in the night. He loved doing things like that. It's the little affairs that made everything more passionate between them; the kisses on the nose, the long embracive hugs, starring into each other's eyes, their hands twirling in one another's, or just having her lay on his chest while she listened to him laugh. Those were the small highlights in his life with her; the sweet intimate cheesy stuff that most guys aren't weren't in to.

Aang reached over and rubbed the back of his right hand against the silkiness of her cheek; feeling the electrifying shock up his arm, and causing the dark skinned girl moan at the familiar touch. He froze in place as she stretched her body on the soft bed and rubbed her eyes a little, and then those blue eyes in the moon opened up to him. The poor Monk was now completely under her enchantment, and all he could do in her presence was sit on that bed; too afraid to move. Katara was surprised by him being there next to her, and she wasn't too sure if this was some kind of a dream or not. The girl scooted herself up in a slow and tiring manner until she wrapped her arms around her own legs, and made a small yawn. It seemed to have made the fourteen year old boy grin at her, but she didn't return the favor while she sat in her bed. The Waterbender see that he was trying to thinking of something clever to say due to the intense tightening of his jaws, and the way his eyes were scattering around everywhere in the room.

"Is there a reason you are in my room?"

The Air Nomad began playing with the thin piece of sheet by his finger tips, amazed at the material and time it would take to make it so sheer and thin. His grey spheres looked up at her, "I think we should talk…"

She rubbed her left eye to rub away the little crust forming, "what time is it?"

"It's very late. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't wait another day."

"This can't wait till tomorrow?" She asked a little irritated by him waking her up, but she probably needed to hear what he had to say anyways. Katara hoped that it would be worth it; otherwise she was going to make him regret.

He shook his head, "no it can't. I'm tired of waiting and trying to figure out the right thing to say to you."

Suddenly a strangle smell crept into her nose, "why do I smell the mixture of drinks and vomit?"

Aang's eyes got a little big at the realization that he forgot to change shirts before he came in, other things had occupied his mind for those few minutes of making it to her room. He gave it a quick smell and realized she was right. He got off of the bed and un-wrapped it off from his body, to which she quickly looked away from him. The Airbender knew he should go get something else to wear, but decided against it since there was just no point; he was here and it was time. The tattooed boy decided to keep his distance by taking a few steps back and leaning up against the cold stoned wall behind him, and then folded his arms.

He made a sucking noise on his teeth before he put his words in order, "yea about that—we, the boys and I, kinda went for a few dozen of drinks?"

She rolled her eyes at him in vexation, "a typical guy answer to every problem they have."

"You're the one that suggested that the sexes take a breather from each other. We just followed, Zuko and then Sokka had a few too many. We dragged him here for about a mile, so cut me some slack. It's been a long week and an even longer day."

"Did you have any?" She questioned, wondering if he had really gone off to the deep end.

"No," he spoke with a flat tone. "Look I'm sorry about the smell, and the boy's night out. Now will you please let me say what I need to say, so that we can both sleep?"

Katara let out a breath of air and the settled herself into a more comfortable position, "speak then."

Aang scratched the shadow that he was growing on his face and folded his arm back into hit original spot. "I came to talk about what happened at the river." He answered, for which was his reasoning for barging in on her sleep, and then she gave him a quick nod in acknowledgement. "You need to understand that what happened was not a normal thing for me, it was something that I didn't quite understand."

"And yet it seemed like you knew exactly what you were doing though?" The Waterbender spoke firmly, not convinced in the least bit.

He sighed, "honestly I didn't know. It all happened so fast, I don't even know how to describe it."

"Try then."

"It…it was like you were calling to me somehow? I had seen you in that swimsuit of yours plenty of times, but it was like I was looking at you differently for the first time. I remember having strange thoughts of you, things that I wouldn't dare think about. And even the way the water dripped off of your skin, it was like you were trying to torture me for even gazing at you. Then to make matters even worse I realized that your bottoms were shorter on your thighs, and I couldn't stop looking at your chest as you breathed. My body began to heat, heart pounding in my ear, hands shaking, and knees began to wobble even. One thing leads to another, and suddenly I'm doing things I have never done before with you; it was like…" he paused for a moment to try and find the right word that Zuko had said.

"Your instincts took over?" she finished for him and understanding what he meant. It happened to her on the night when she and Aang were finally back together, and he seemed to have resisted her so easily which always made her mad. It was nice to know that he was human after all, least in the physical area of their relationship.

"Exactly," he agreed with her precise choice of word. He had been dreading this conversation for quite some time, and the Avatar figured that this would be so embarrassing to tell her about it; however, she seemed to show interest while she sat there.

"But why did you walk away from it after I stopped you?" Katara questioned his past motives, still hung over it.

Aang swallowed down his saliva to help his dry throat, feeling the embarrassment coming on now. "When you first asked me to stop, I didn't hear you. I kept on pursuing, because my head was so wrapped around finding the tie that would release the cloth from your skin. Then you screamed to stop and it was like my ears worked again for the first time, and once I saw what I had almost done to you I freaked. I wanted to take it all back."

He saw the hurt look on her face and then she asked, "why?"

The Monk pushed himself from the wall and began to pace in front of her for a few minutes while he tried to think of the right way to say it. He thought that he was ready to finally confess it all, but now he wasn't sure anymore. And then he finally stopped in front of another stone, and looked the small cracks that reminded him of the roots in a leaf that when lifted to the sun you can see all its secrets; no lies on the inside.

The tattooed Airbender put his hands in his pockets and spoke without looking at her; a habit that he needed to break when he needed to talk to the young teen. "Because I wanted something more from you that day at the river...I wanted it all. And if you hadn't stopped me, I would've regretted my actions. Katara I don't want us to be like everyone else. You are too much of a diamond in the rough for me to treat you like any other guy would've in my place. I would never want to dishonor you in that way, and it's something I promised myself as a Monk; if I ever found real true love I would wait till we were married. Which I must say is easier said than done…"

He wasn't aware that the girl had gotten herself out of bed and was standing behind him until those hands of hers sent a shiver on his spine. She made him turn, "what do you mean it's easier said than done?"

Aang rubbed the sore muscles that connect to the right side of his neck, realizing the closeness between them. Grapefruit, grapefruit, grapefruit, he repeated in his mind over and over again. "It, ugh, just means that…well I think about it—a lot more now. Not just when I'm around you, but also when I'm far away. And I never knew it would be this difficult to not think about you in that—well for a lack of a better word, physical sense. I'm just discovering this other side that apparently every guy deals with, and I don't want you to disapprove of me."

The grey eyed bald teen was expecting her to slap him in the face, yell at him, or even tell him that he was a freak for thinking like this. Instead, all he got a shy smile from her and it seemed to bewilder him even more. She shook her head at him as she tried so desperately to hold back her laugh from the young man she was still in love with. Katara couldn't believe that he would think that she doesn't know what goes on through a man's head; she had plenty of years with Sokka to figure that question out, and she knew what they all wanted. But with, Aang it was like he just found out he had a disease and thought he that she would just flee from him. Now it was her turn to tell him the truth on what women think about in this type of area. The girl took his hand and led him to the bed where they both sat side by side on the large cushion.

The dark skinned girl took a handful of her hair and moved it all to the right side of her face so that it wouldn't get in the way while talking to him. "Aang, it wasn't about what you did with me, it's how you responded to it. You just walked away and that's what hurt me the most."

"I know and I'm so sorry-"

Her lips curled up a little, "just let me finish before you say anything, okay?" She asked rhetorically and continued, "if you think I am going to judge you for having these thought, then I would be considered a hypocrite then. These kinds of situations are going to happen in any relationship and it's not always going to be easy to resist. At the river I knew that you wanted to keep going, and I did too, but then again I wanted you to keep your practices alive. I stopped you, because I too respect what you want. Trust me when I tell you this, it wasn't easy for me to just say deny that from you."

He looked at her in a baffled face, "really? Did you actually…want me to do it?"

Katara felt her cheeks burn in the medium sized room once he asked her that question. She gave him a crooked grin, "if we're to be honest with each other then, yes. I kinda did." His eyes grew bigger and showed the soon to be wrinkles on his forehead once he raised up both eyebrows. "Hey you're definitely not the only one in this relationship that wonders about it!" She bellowed out while punching him in the arm, "girls still want it, but not like most boys do."

The Airbender chuckled a bit, "sorry you just caught me off guard I guess. I mean I kind of already had that idea about you, but now that I know, it's just nice understanding that I'm not the only one that is struggling."

"Ha, well are definitely not alone."

A smile came back on his face as he looked at her, seeing how adorable she was when she was a little flustered. "For what it is worth now, thank you for stopping me. It really did mean a lot to someone like me."

She moved her head up and down while a grin that grew on her face once she took hold of his right hand in hers, "I know it does. And I respect you for staying so strong to your beliefs."

"But why does it have to be so hard in denying when I am around you?" He questioned her as their hands played around one another's finger tips.

"I don't know, but is there anything I can do to try and make it a little bit easier for you?"

The Avatar thought about it and then shook his head, "not really. I might as well get used to it, 'cause no matter what you wear that day I'll always want you. I would rather struggle than to deny you at all."

She leaned in closer to him, "I'd prefer that too. I've missed sleeping next to you."

Now he couldn't help, but show his teeth when he his lips rose and whispered, "so does this mean I am forgiven?"

The Waterbender giggled quietly, "for now at least." Then she leaned in and gave him a sweet tender kiss on his lips, feeling the roughness on his face. "I'm still trying to get used to you having facial hair on your face."

He gave her his favorite laugh that reminded her so much when he was younger, "sorry. It was Bumi's idea to make me look a little different, and I know it seems silly now. I think I'm going to shave it off tomorrow anyways."

Katara shook her head, "I kinda like it on you. The scruffy side looks good on you."

"Oh really?"

"Definitely," she toyed with him; hinting that she wanted to him to kiss her again.

He just looked at her with love in those stormy eyes of his as he placed his right hand on her cloud like cheek and said, "wow…"

"What, what is it?"

Aang let out a warm breath of air from his nose, "you are just so ravishing in the moon light, Katara. Anyone would think that after almost three years of being around you, I would not be surprised by anything that you throw at me. But you always manage it somehow, someway with me."

She gave him an amused look, "careful Avatar. You're about to put me in the mood."

He laughed and brought his hand away from her perfect face, "that's all it takes with you is words?"

The Waterbender bit down on her lower lip, "no, it's the way you say it. You make it always make it seem like I am the only girl you see in this world, and it's not just every once in a while, but constantly. Even when things aren't good with us I always notice you watching me, like you're afraid that something is about to jump out and take me far away from you.

The young boy didn't know what to say to her, but decided to get up from the bed before she would see past his mask. It wasn't easy to keep secrets from her and telling her that everything was fine. He still hadn't told her about his premonition and how he would kill her by his own hands as the world around him would be drenched in blood while it burned to ash. He desperately needed to tell her and yet his heart wouldn't allow this action; it would be like the final seal that would end his happiness. His back was towards her now, and she could easily see the stress he had been taking on.

Aang rubbed his face with his right hand, forgetting about the prickly hair, and then placed his palms on his hips and faced her with a joking look, "I just want you to be safe. I figured that was in the boyfriend handbook or something."

He was lying to her. Most people would have a tell, but Aang didn't and that's what always gave him away. "I can take of myself, you know that."

"No, I do. I just can't help it though."

"Why?"

The Monk shrugged, "guess it just comes with the territory. I want all of you to be safe."

Katara scooted back into the middle of the bed, "I understand that. But we've been through everything together; I don't think anything could surprise us right now." Whatever part of that sentence she said made Aang change his footing position enough to try and hide how he felt. "Unless, there is something?" She suggested, feeling like she just plucked a nerve

He licked the top of his teeth, "no. Not that I can think of."

She didn't say anything for a few minutes, letting the silence make him feel a bit on the edge. "Okay, I believe you."

The Avatar nodded and gave a quick smile before he said, "alright. Well, ugh, I suppose I'll let you get some sleep." He started walking towards the door, until a sweet beautiful angel voice stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Aang turned, "I'm going to let you sleep?"

"No," she giggled and rolled her eyes at him. "I mean why aren't you sleeping with me tonight?"

"I guess—I wasn't sure if you wanted me too…since ya know…."

"Are you thinking about it right now?" The girl in the white swimsuit asked curiously.

He gave her a devilish smile, "I think about it more than I should. And I'm trying not to at this point, but you're making it very difficult."

"Well my philosophy is to become better at something, you need to practice."

Aang cocked his head to the left, "would that work in this situation?"

"Only one way to find out," she revealed to him with an invitational wink.

He chuckled, "I like the way you think." The Monk walked towards her and gingerly kissed her; which soon turned quickly into a much more passionate lip lock and moans from both of them. They missed this part in their relationship so much, it was nice to pretend that past her door there were worlds of problems to deal with and they had the opportunity to ignore it for a night alone. After hours of fooling around, they eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. With Katara's head resting on his lower chest and his strong biceps enclosed around her, things between them were back to where they were meant to be...if not even better.

OooooOooooOoooo

More and more hard core training came back to the gang for the next three days, only this time things seemed a little bit more different. They were starting to understand this was no joking matter or the fact that they would possibly get killed just trying to sneak into this tourney.

Zuko was in and out of those days, constantly thinking about his mom. "What does she look like, does she miss me, how did she survive for so long, does she ever regret leaving him alone with his father, did she know that she could come home, was she ill, would she still call him son, why didn't she take him with her?" Everyday another question would lead to an even more delirious one; just this morning he wondered if he wasn't born, would she be happier? And if she was happier would it be with his father? To anyone these questions would be stupid, but to a boy that hadn't seen his mother in eight years it seemed plausible. Even Katara and Sokka sympathized with him and telling him that they still asked questions about their deceased parent; it is something that a child never seems to lose.

The Air Nomad had noticed the blank looks on his face since he told him of, Ursa being alive, and it seemed like that was all he could think of right now; that scared him the most. What they were about to do, they all needed to have complete and utter focus right now with their lives, as well as others, hanging in the balance. And now the Firebender didn't pay any attention when they were talking to him directly; he didn't eat too much, always seemed to be interested in having a few drinks before he went to bed, or he just keep to himself. It was sad to see Zuko falling back when he had worked so hard not to fall into this pit again; but he seemed to not care about it anymore.

Aang walked over to the place Mai was sitting; she sat up with good posture on the stone wall that went up to his waist, where she continued to draw some schematics for Teo to take a look at; most likely a new gadget for her daggers. He leaned his staff against the rocks while they both sat there in silence for a little bit as the two of them watched everyone practice on each other; Zuko against Katara, which showed to result in a lot of steam, Toph vs. Suki and Sokka, Teo was flying around and dropping his small hand bombs onto targets that seemed to have a bigger explosive than what most would think, while Jet sat there with guards on both sides of him. The Monk didn't like this idea of him getting outdoors time, but Katara insisted that he at least get some fresh air since he had been cooped up in a seven foot floor walk up with no windows. He eventually succumbed to her suggestion, and only requested that he would stay quiet for the rest of the day while they went to work.

Mai wasn't too sure why the Avatar was sitting next to her. They really didn't talk too much, but he didn't ignore her either. Every day he would ask about how her day was, if she was well, and if there was anything he could do for her. It was strange how easily he had accepted her into their gang, especially since she was the one who was willing to kill him and his friends; she helped in capturing Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors as well and almost hurting Appa. Aang and the others held absolutely no grudge against her; they knew just how manipulative Azula could be, as well as terrifying. Instead they all just opened their arms to her, ready to embrace her as part of their family. Even though she kept to herself the plain girl was happy to finally fit in somewhere in this world; Zuko helped a lot in that area more than anyone else.

"How are things with you, Mai?" Aang asked after some time of just watching her draw from the corner of his eye.

"I'm fine. Thanks." She said with a mellow toned voice and continued drawing.

"What are you drawing?"

The older woman gave him a small shrug, "just an idea for a hiding my weapons better and possibly being able to kick a knife out of my boot in case of an emergency."

It was definitely an intriguing idea, "oh, very clever. Sounds like you know how to keep yourself safe."

She nodded, "always be prepared when you are at war. Can never be too careful."

Aang agreed with her, "how have things with you and Zuko been?"

Her sketching stopped, "do you mean before or after you told him that his mother was alive?" She questioned him, and seeing that he was getting curious about her husband. Mai went back to drawing, "how would you feel if after so many years you believed your mom was dead, and then a supposed friend withholds that information for almost two days, instead of telling him right away?"

The Monk breathed out some hot air, aware that that was the first time he had heard Zuko's wife say so much, and even with some frustrated emotion showing. "Okay, I deserve that. And I truly am sorry about that, and I hope he will forgive me someday…as well as you too."

The girl stopped drawing again and finally looked at him, amazed at how different he looked. Aang was no longer a fourteen year old boy; he looked like a grown Avatar, which the small facial hair seemed to help him age a little. Bags were still under his eyes that were filled with fatigue from his own drills that he did with the others as well as on his own time. The Airbender was a good kid that was in a world of tough decisions to deal with as an Avatar; it was especially too much responsibility for a twelve year old, let alone a fourteen year old who still had time to be just a kid. And now that Ozai's own spirit was inside of him, she wondered how he is able to keep the good inside of him without losing it all. After living across from Zuko since they were young, she didn't know how anyone would be able to stay true to themselves and her husband was full proof of that theory; though, Aang had those moments when he would lose himself for a second and show them what he was capable of, the girl could see that he was strong and hoped that he would continue to stay that way.

"Sorry, Aang, I know you didn't mean to. Zuko told me everything and I don't think he's mad at you anymore. More than anything he is just confused."

"About what?" He questioned, feeling a light breeze blow against his hot skin once the cloud covered the bright and yellow sphere in the sky.

Mai set the drawing faced down on the ground, so that it wouldn't blow away into the small breeze. "He questions his loyalty." Still the Avatar was confused, "a part of him wants to stay here and help you find this enemy that he too seeks. And the other half of him longs to find his lost mother."

"Did he tell you that I told him that he could leave?" He asked trying to cover his bases in representing the option to his friend.

The woman combed through her hair, "it's not that easy for Zuko to just drop his duties as the Fire Lord just so that he can find, Ursa. He knows that the lives of his people are far more important at this moment, and also helping you find the rebellion weighs a lot on the issue too."

"I never thought of it like that before; I can't imagine what is going on through his head right now. Is that why he's starting to have a few sips before he sleeps?"

"I'm sure that's a big part of it. Zuko doesn't always tell me everything, but then again neither do I."

Aang then wrapped his arms around his legs in a relaxing manner, "but I thought in marriages you are supposed to be completely honest with one another?"

She gave him a regaling soft chuckle, "marriage is never what you think it is. It's a lot of work to be honest with each other, but most of the time we know what we are thinking; guess that's what they mean when you hear the saying, you become one with your other half."

The Airbender thought about that for a second and how in sync he and Katara were; there were times it freaked him out, and other times it saved him. He reached his right hand into his pocket to feel the cloth of his girlfriend's betrothal necklace, and imagined her wearing it around her dark neck; making the colors of their bending symbols jump out. And if people looked closely they would see the inscription that said "love is brightest in the dark." It's something that helped bring them together, even if he kind of did screw up in lying to her about not wanting to kiss her; worst idea ever.

"Can I ask you something personally?" Aang inquired which she gave him a small nod of approval. "Do you think I shouldn't have told him? I mean I knew it was the right thing to do, but it seems like I made things more complicated for him now."

Mai was a little caught off guard by his question, because she too had kind of wondered that as well. She was so happy to learn of, Ursa being alive and yet it seemed like it was a burden that the man she loved was carrying it on his back. Zuko blamed himself a lot for her leaving, even though it was completely his father's doing that put his mom in that situation in the first place, causing all hell to break loose. But the blame was always put on him; Azula mockingly reminded him of it every waking day to make things worse. He learned not too long ago of his mother needing to commit treason in order for him to live, and that seemed to break his heart even more. Since he became the new Fire Lord his obsession to find her grew even more, and Mai was always there to support him in not giving up on her. She loved her husband very deeply and wanted him to be happy while living the life of marriage, something they both cherished with one another. Zuko deserved so much more and yet it seemed like the universe wouldn't allow it; even with Aang's good news, he still couldn't have what he wanted. She tried to tell him that he could send his most loyal soldiers to find her and bring her back to the palace, but he wouldn't allow it. He wanted his men to locate her exact placement, however, in the end he wanted to be the one knocking on her door and seeing her face to face.

"…Aang sometimes the truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded. We live in a world where our faith, our beliefs, can be so strong that we build ourselves around it. The truth isn't good enough for Zuko, because he has grasped onto lies; lies that were given to him by his father and Azula. He's built that wall around his mom's death, and now those walls are crashing down."

Now the Airbender seemed even more baffled, "but wouldn't that give him more hope? Hope of finding her?"

Mai gave him a humble grin, "it does indeed. But the hope of rebuilding that mother and son relationship frightens him more than anything. He's afraid that she won't have him."

"How could Zuko think like that?" Aang questioned in his mind, "But I told him that she loves and misses him deeply! Wouldn't that tell him that everything is going to be, okay?"

"It's not that simple with him when you speak words. You need to understand that after the way he was raised it makes him question even his closest of friends. He has trust issues, but he is working hard on them and doing better; however, this is a touchy issue. Zuko just needs time to sort things out, that's all."

The bald headed boy's eyes fell to the ground and then back up to Zuko, who was now helping Katara with a stance in order to block one of his fire moves. He wished that he could give him his memories for even a few seconds so he could gaze upon, Ursa; the woman who raised him for ten years, the longing to have him back in her arms, the sacrifice she made for his life, and see the tired eyes from the tears she would shed every night. The Fire Lord was a very strong and courageous young man, but even the most immortal of men have weaknesses; it's what helped them be reminded that they were still human and vulnerable. Aang understood that, because he went through the same thing when he had his first encounter with Guru Pathik. He told him that he needed to let go of Katara in order to achieve the Avatar State, but the Monk couldn't do that; the women he loved so desperately was his weakness and also his strength. When he finally did go into the Avatar State he never realized that he could be hurt, neither did Katara, until Azula shot lightning right through him. The scar she left him was a reminder that he could be hurt, not only physically as a full known Avatar, but emotionally and spiritually; Aang became too afraid to ever try it again after that. There were days when he wondered if he had listened to the Guru, and let go of the one person he cherished above his own life, would things have been different that day?

"I hope he finds what he is looking for then," the young boy proclaimed once he looked back at the woman to his right.

Mai grabbed her drawings again and started to doodle, "so do I. He needs to understand what happened that night more than anything so he can move on with his life, but no matter where he goes I'll always follow him."

Aang smiled at the love she was portraying for him; a love that would never be taken away from them without a fight. The young teen was so happy that they had married and regretted that he couldn't have been there to see her become his wife, but at the same time he didn't regret what was needed to be done at the time. He looked back out to the gang to watch them continue with their workouts until something caught the corner of his eye. He turned to look and see Mai holding onto the top of her nose with her thumb and index finger, groaning a little bit in small amounts of pain.

The Air Nomad placed a hand on the top part of her back and rubbed it, "you okay? You look like you might be getting sick or something?"

The quiet girl shook her head with her fingers still on the highest part of her nose, "no I'm fine. I think it's just a rather small migraine right now."

Aang understood how those were, everyday he had one and sometimes it would be so terrible that he had to ask Katara for help. "If you would like I can get you some water?"

Mai took a few seconds to recover before she said, "please. Water would be great right now."

He gave her a quick smile and ran off into the palace behind them, asking for a cool refreshment to give to the plain girl while he went into his pack to get dried leaf's called Feverfew. They are perennial plants that belong to the daisy family, a trick that the Guru taught him about. Aang placed it in the cup that the Earthbending servant gave him, and sprinkled some of the dry leafs in there and he stirred it by using waterbending. He handed the cup to her and she slowly drank it, giving him a sour looking face on the first sip.

"I know it kind of taste awful, but it'll help with the migraine. Trust me."

She nodded and took some more drinks very slowly until she downed it all, wishing the effects would hurry. "Thank you, Aang. That was very sweet of you to do for me."

The Monk spoke, "no worries. I like helping people, even if it is just a cup of water."

The married woman saw him wink at her and causing the effects of a grin to shine back at him. She then went back to her drawing as if nothing happened, and Aang decided that he had had a long enough break. He grabbed his staff and went flying up with Teo, where they soared through the skies; trying to teach each other new tricks to try. That was the first long encounter that she and Aang ever had, and she had to admit to why she understood Katara taking a fond interest in him. It was pretty easy for anyone to take a liking to the Avatar; he was very sweet, probably worried a little too much, mature for his age, and of course a kind spirit. She never really understood why the Waterbender would take an interest in someone two years younger than her, but after talking with him she realized there is so much more to him than meets the eye.

Now it was Zuko's turn to take a break for once, where he sat down next to his wife and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He then leaned his lower half on the stone while the sun beat down on his skin, and listening to the sound of Mai drawing. His mind was traveling elsewhere for a long while, still thinking about the one person he missed the most. Some more longing hours passed by, and the Gang became very fatigue with the heat of the sun gripping weariness. They quickly went into the palace and were amazed at how much a shadow from a building can instantly make you feel so much cooler. Dinner was already set for them; all types of fruits and veggies for Aang, rice, domburi, kare raisu, soba, udon, ramen, gyoza, egg custard, and plenty of meat just for Sokka. Once their bellies were filled up, they were ready to hear the plan that Bumi and the Avatar had come up with during this tournament.

The young boy took a sip of his tea, "so…Bumi and I have come to an agreement. We both know that each and every one of you are amazing fighters, both bending and non, but—we think it would be in the best interest of the group if I am the only one that actually enters into this match."

Toph gave a loud burp, "no way airhead! We've been training our butts off, and now you're telling us that we can't even fight?"

"Toph's right," Zuko agreed. "We know it's a risk, but we each want to take it."

Suki spoke now, "besides we would have a better chance at surviving if we are strong in numbers."

Aang put his arms on the table and made a canopy with his hands, "and what if we were to face off against one another? What then?"

"Then we face each other," Sokka said while stuffing another piece of muscle into his mouth. "Winner takes all!"

The Earthbender complied with what the boy across from her said, "and this'll help prove who the better fighter is once and for all!" Everyone started to nod their heads in agreement with some cheer, wanting the Monk to hear what they had to say.

"You guys don't get it do you?" He asked them and getting their full attention. "This isn't like the tourney's your used to, Toph, where the losers walk away and winners get prize money. Bumi said that no one ever comes out of that place, which means they are taken against their will or worse, killed. If we face off with one another there is a chance we may never find each other; we could forever lose this gang."

No one had really thought of it like that before; they had been focusing on winning and not understanding that there aren't winners and losers this time around. No matter what, they would be taken somewhere where not even that Avatar can possibly locate, or any of the other leaders of the four nations. If they did face off against one another, would they truly go all out in the fight; risking their lives to possibly never see their loves ones and friends again. Aang could tell that they were heeding his words, recalling that this was no game; it was something far worse than they or even he could grasp onto.

"Guys, I have never once doubted your skill levels when it was time to show it. I don't doubt your courage, the extensive teachings in your bending and non-bending abilities, your witty minds, and most importantly the strength of your hearts. But this is not about any of that; this is about finding where this rebellion is located and how we can stop this war that is coming. The only way for us to do that is for them to keep their eyes fixed on me while the rest of you conceal yourselves and gain some insight of their whereabouts."

A beautiful voice caught his attention, "what makes you think that they will talk?"

The Monk shrugged at his girlfriend on the left, "I don't. But maybe, just maybe, we can capture one of them. That's what your jobs will be while I try and figure a way to not get killed."

"What if you lose?" Teo asked nervously, always the one to ask the question everyone was curious about.

Aang sighed heavily and took another drink of his luke warm tea, "I don't have the luxury to lose; I'll have to survive the rounds no matter what."

Zuko then asked, "and if they find out who you are? It's not like you can just walk out of there without a fight, which might require you to choose between my father's spirit and your life; you said it yourself, you can't just go into the Avatar State anymore without consequences to what'll happen to you."

The tattooed Air Nomad had already been thinking about that for several days now, trying to come up with different outlines of escapes, but unless he knew the layout of the underground there probably isn't too much he could do. He could possibly earthbend out of there and yet he had a feeling that they would follow him none the less as well as track his friends. Or what if one of his comrades was captured, what decision would he make then?

He combed through his hair that was a just a smidge longer, "there are probably too many variable of "things to go wrong" to calculate right now. A number of things can happen and I will make the decision on the matters if, and when, it is presented in front of me. Until then I have to think positive that all of this is all going to be okay, and that we will all survive."

"Is there at least a plan B somewhere in that airhead of yours?" Katara's brother addressed, thinking he wouldn't go in there and just wing it out like that without thinking clearly on the details.

"Yeah, there is. If any of you even get the hint of someone following you, I want you to drop what you are doing and run. If anything goes wrong we will make up a rendezvous point and hope that everyone is safe."

"What if something happens to you?" Katara challenged, not sure if she would ever be able to leave him behind; she knew that he wouldn't do that to her.

The young bald boy knew what she was thinking and if he were to be in a jam, the spirits forbid, the last thing he needed to do was worry about the woman he treasured or any of his friends. "No matter what, don't come back for me. Just run."

The Waterbender didn't like this idea one bit and she didn't try to hide the angered face, or that fact that she was squeezing her fists into a ball; ready to punch him in the arrow. But instead she quickly got up and left the table, not wanting to hear another word of this so called "strategy." To her a plan is having a plan B, and if that fails a plan C, and so on. What Aang came up with was a one way ticket for him to get killed, or worse, be captured and never seen again. The thought was too unbearable for her to think right now, but she just couldn't get the idea of losing him out of her head. Katara just couldn't shake the images that flowed of him being shackled up somewhere far and away from her, never knowing if he was dead or alive. She couldn't lose him again, the world wasn't going to take him away from her; not this time. Before she knew it the teenage girl had found herself sitting on the footstep of Bumi's palace where she just starred at the giant rocky city. Of course, it didn't take the one person long to find her whereabouts. He seemed to always manage to locate where she was; sometimes it was a good thing, while others wasn't.

The Monk understood her fury against him, since he decided to pretty much state that his life is pretty much less important than theirs, but he just wanted to protect them all; she would've done the same. Otherwise she wouldn't have walked out on him like that during their small meeting. He inhaled the warm air around him and exhaled it all out before he sat down a step higher up on her, with his thighs near her shoulders so that she didn't feel obligated to look at him. Aang could hint that she wanted to be alone, but he didn't want them to be in another fight when they just barely got over one a few days ago. They were going to fight; it's what people in relationships do and he wasn't going to let him or her regret this one either.

"You know, with our luck we might have a full moon that day. It could come in handy to have you on our side." Aang spoke with some spirit in his tone, but even by looking at her from the back he knew that she was rolling her eyes at him while biting down on her tongue. She wasn't going to talk to him, so he just decided to keep talking out loud to her as is she was.

"What a beautiful night; not a single cloud in the sky with the stars at their highest peak'. It's crazy to think that from a distance, our world looks like those twinkles. Makes you feel significantly small to a universe out there that is so mysterious to us, and yet we get to gaze at its beauty every single day; the waxing gibbous moon, shooting stars, the rise and set of the sun, clouds, and just so many other things that we take for granted. Do you think we will ever understand it all someday?"

He knew it would be a rhetorical question since she obviously didn't answer, but she just gave him a cold sigh. The young Air Nomad chuckled, "yeah I don't think we will ever be able to understand it. It's kind of like questioning love ya know? We feel it whenever we are with people; family, friends, or even someone closer to you than that. But just 'cause we don't see it or understand how it was made, doesn't mean we can't still feel it."

Katara rolled her eyes at him again, "if this is your way of an apology then you should know that it really sucks."

Aang agreed with her, "maybe. But it got you to talk didn't it?"

The Waterbender combed through her free loose hair and spoke with sarcasm, "you always had a way of doing it."

He laughed anyways and then got serious, "look I'm sorry. Okay? I should've told you sooner, but I needed to make sure that this wasn't the only option we could come up with."

The young teenage girl finally turned around with red fire showing on her flawless face, "you just don't get it do you? Every time there is danger you volunteer to do it, any time there is a chance at you being killed, you jump higher than the others raising their hands. Why can't you just for once let someone else try and fix the world, Aang? Just this one time!"

He looked back down at his feet trying to buy himself some time to come up with the right words for her, but she knew he was the Avatar; it was his job to bring the world back to balance. "Katara, you know why I do it. I don't have a choice in this matter. I never did."

"No, you do! Let someone else do this for you. Please, I am begging you!"

The Airbender shook his head, "I can't and I won't. I have to do this."

"Why? Why does it always have to be you?" She pleaded with him to answer as she tried so desperately to not let him see those tears that were ready to fall out of her blue eyes.

Aang looked around the city for a few minutes, until he found himself looking down at his feet again, with no one there to help him. He was surprised that she had remained sane for this long, and for that he was proud in her doing that and yet felt ashamed. The Monk didn't know what it was like to be her; to sit around and wait to hear news of him, or to be at his bed side after a battle and heal him while she prayed for him to wake up. But he did know what it was like to feel that every mission he took on could possibly be the last time to ever see one another. Unfortunately, it is the price to be paid when you are with the Avatar; it's never an easy life and every choice you make will affect those closest to you. The young boy finally opened up his eyes and eventually found her blue spheres starring back at him; those same eyes that had been through so much with him over the past three years since she found him. And that's when it dawned on him; the answer he was looking for.

"Do you remember when you found me in the giant block of ice?" He asked and she quickly recollected that day, "I was gone from the world for a full century. A war broke out during my disappearance and many innocent people were killed; including you're your mother and even Jet's parents. They died, because I was too afraid and confused to take on my destiny. And more importantly it was something I never wanted in my life as a twelve year old boy. I didn't want to save the world 'because I feared that I couldn't do it, I feared that I truly couldn't help anyone."

There was a sudden anger in her voice when she spoke, and quickly stood up so that he had to look up at her. "So that's what this is all about? You feeling guilty over something you couldn't control?"

She was obviously upset with the answer, but he remained calm while he just sat there in front of her; letting the woman block the almost completed moon from his sight. The tattooed teen shook his head, "no. I don't do this out of guilt or the idea that I owe the thousands of people out there something in return. I do it, because I have finally chosen this life as the Avatar and I'm not going to fail the world again; that was a vow I made a long time ago."

Now she couldn't hold her tears back any longer as she sobbed, "and what about the vow you made to me? I've lost you enough times to last me a life time and for once I am telling you, don't do this! Don't be the hero, not this time around."

With drops of water hitting at Katara's feet he quickly stood up and caught her in his arms; trying to escape from his grip she began to hit him hard on the chest, but he just pulled her in even closer until she stopped fighting the stubborn Monk and allowed him to just hold her like a child frightened by the dark. Aang continued to shush her fears away as he swayed her in a slow manner; allowing her to get his one shoulder shirt wet with her tears. With his arms wrapped tightly around the Waterbender, he wasn't going to let go of her until things were settled; even if it took all night just to do it.

"Please…please don't do this. I need you…"

Aang desperately didn't want to deny her request, but he had no choice but to go through with his plans. It was going to be the most risky mission they had ever taken on and it needed to be done by him; he couldn't allow someone else to be captured or killed on his account. He trusted his friends with his life, yet this was something he had to make sure was done right. This could be their only chance to have the upper hand for once and it needed to be done no matter what. He chose to do this so that the woman he loved could have those chances to see the sun rise and set on the ocean, and then look to the envious moon that longed to feed her its power through her bending.

With the Airbenders cheek on top of the girls brown hair and his nostrils being filled with the scent of a flower, he finally said something. "Gyatso once said to me, "Aang, I wanna tell you something. Something you do not yet know, that we Monks have been around long enough to have discovered. The universe will expand, then it will collapse back on itself, and then it will expand again. It will repeat this process forever. What you don't you know is that when the universe expands again, everything will be as it is now. Whatever mistakes you make this time around, you will live through on your next pass. Every mistake you make, you will live through again, and again, forever. So my advice to you is to get it right this time around. Because this time is all you have." Katara, I don't want my mistakes to repeat forever, and I'm trying to heed Monk Gyatso's words that ring in my head every day. I know I've made horrible decisions in the past, and this is the right choice in my path to do. I don't know why it has to be me, but I just have to believe there's a reason; and there is. I have something worth fighting for…to let you, your brother and our friends have a future to live in without fear growing in the distance somewhere."

Katara clung onto him as if the ground from underneath her feet would collapse, and continued to cry against him. She then said into his skin, "I understand why you're doing this, I really do. So why do I feel this way? I'm so confused, and angry, and afraid that I am never going to see you again." She recalled asking that exact question to her father, once upon a time, when all she ever wanted was to have a father there to raise her and let him see her grow up. The girl knew that she was being selfish; wanting to keep the Avatar close to her heart, but it's always so hard to let go of the ones that you would give your life for; she didn't know if she could take being deprived of him again.

Aang kissed her on top of the forehead, "you feel this way, because I feel it too. I know I am never going to be able to convince you that this is a great plan, or get you to stand behind me on this, but it's the only one we have right now and I'm going to do this with or without your permission."

She sniffled and finally looked up at him with eyes red and cheeks wet, "I know you will…but why?"

The Monk then placed both hands on her soft face and wiped away her tears with his thumb, until he got everyone of them. "Because, I'm fighting for moments like these with a girl whom I've had a crush on, that eventually became my best friend, and is now the most important real thing in my life. You wouldn't feel this way if you didn't love me the same way I love you. I'm doing this, 'cause I want it to continue for years to come; to see Zuko and Sokka become fathers, for Toph to get engaged, and that one day you would have that honor with someone too. I want that future with all of my heart and it won't happen if I have to keep looking over my shoulder for the rest of the years…I need you to be brave for me"

The fearful girl didn't stop looking into those grey spheres of his that mixed with the white moon light from above, and she could see that every word that slipped out of his mouth was nothing but the honest truth. It wasn't just about the gang, or her anymore; it was about the world living the same dream he wanted. In the beginning Aang may have never wanted the duties of making tough decisions as the Avatar, but she had to admit that no one else could've ever been as strong and brave as him. She just didn't know if she could ever be like him, she was too afraid that they would no longer be together.

"I can't be brave like you, Aang. I'm not strong like you."

The boy carefully bent down and pulled her delicate lips up to his, giving her a sweet benevolent kiss. The he whispered into her ear, "Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. And you, Katara are braver than anyone I have had the pleasure of encountering with; I would know, because you're still with the one person that is a magnet to danger."

He joked with her once he looked back at her and it seemed to bring a smile on her face; now knowing that the fight was over with between them. Aang kissed her on the forehead and then on the nose, "everything's going to be okay. I promise."

Katara then place her forehead on the lower of his chest, due to the extra step he had on her. She then said, "don't make promises you can't keep."

"Trust me, this is one promise I intend to keep." The Monk proclaimed to the girl who stole his heart and giving the girl a small wink to make her feel more at ease. They embraced each other once again, without any hassling this time, until the young couple became tired of standing in each other's arms. The two of them then headed off back into King Bumi's home with a small cheer in their hearts, almost like someone had finally cut off the chains that bounded them both to their fears. They both held hand in hand with one another until they found the way to their room together, aware that everyone in the kingdom was asleep; except for the guards on duty. Aang stomped into the floor, allowing the door to be lifted up for them to enter their own room together.

The dark skinned teen was about to walk in, but then the Airbender pulled her back and pressed her up against the wall. Before she could say anything he kissed her lips with so much passion behind it that it started to make the girl quiver at his mercy; giving her the most addicting drug that anyone could possibly imagine. He stopped for a second and looked at her, but her eyes remained closed with his lips barely grazing hers and feeling the tickle of his face so close. "I love you," he said and didn't allow her to say anything as he picked up right where they left off. Without realizing it, Aang quickly scooped the Katara into his arms and led her into the bedroom where they continued their love for one another behind closed walls. Many smiles, kisses, and laughs were exchanged that night; but they weren't aware of the eyes that had been watching them from a far.

OooooOooooOoooo

"And your sure about this?" a woman with an evil voice asked, still hiding her face in the shadows. She was a thin toned woman that had been through a rough many years and it was taking a toll on her as he sat down in a chair that she forced the earthbenders to make especially for her.

"Yes. I've had my spies repeatedly acknowledge that they plan to be at the tournament, just as you planned it."

The shadow figured woman made her hands into an arrow and pointed it to the sky as she brought it to her lips, "good. Our master will be pleased to hear that all is going according to plan."

The young Firebender nodded in compliance, "forgive me for asking this, but why don't we just capture the Avatar if he is so vulnerable right now?"

"Because timing is everything, Ryuu and we don't know how vulnerable he truly is. This plan will be a test of his strengths and weaknesses, we need to know what makes him tick and I need my most trusted ally there to make sure it is done properly. Especially, since I have become aware that, Jet won't be their either due to his mouth? "

The fighter agreed with her to make it perfectly clear as to the reasons why he won't be there. He then scratched his left glass eye, recalling how he had lost it for a certain punishment and then shown a form of kindness...

When he was first captured into this hell hole, he was beaten, tortured, starved, and at one point left for dead. When he passed the "physical" test, he had been released to start working. He quickly wished that he could go back in that hole, for it seemed like it would be a better place than the outside. Every morning at four all firebenders were sent to the furnace area, or the "boiler room" as they would call it, that was completely surrounded by metal walls, to help heat up the rocks and coal, so that they could help make future weapons and armory for the army that they had never once seen; many time when they came out of that oven they were so soak in sweat that you would literally twist the salt water out of your clothing. When afternoon ever so slowly strolled by, all water and firebenders were chained by their hands and feet; where they would help removed crushed stones that the earthbenders did for them. The officers would then order all of the other slaves to move the rocks from place to place, just so that they could tire them out enough not to attempt to run away. They had a ten minute lunch break to eat half a bowl of rice, rotten tomatoes that made you gag, and barely enough water to heal their dry sore throats. At night they would put them in long lines and make them carry the ones that couldn't make it, to a deep dark ditch that could hold thousands of people; it forever scarred Ryuu. The boy could never get the images of frail elderly men that had their eyes opened to him, women who were beaten to the pulp, or the many many children that couldn't fend for their selves. It was difficult to make friends, because within that next day or the next you would never see them again; either they were shipped off somewhere on an island where they train you to be their soulless soldier, or you get to have the privilege to carry away their cold lifeless bodies away. People envied both those choices, because to them it meant living no longer under their blood sun, where hope is abandoned and memories vanish into the winds of ashes.

It day was still early to Ryuu while working in the boiler room, when he heard a young girl cry for help not even ten yards away. The man that attacked her was twice her size, broad shouldered, a quizzical brow that made your skin crawl. To many of the ones who had been there long enough knew to keep their mouths shut and remain at work, no matter what is going on. Fear is the most powerful thing you can have upon any person, because they will do exactly what you say; even if they tell you to jump off a cliff they would do it. Everyone stopped to look at the new victim that was now being targeted. The Firebender gave a quick glance and went back to work as the pig himself began to beat up on the girl. The black haired boy looked back at her, and saw that she had to be no more that fourteen years; three years younger than he. She locked eyes with him, eyes that pleaded him to help, but looked away in distress. Then the giant picked her up the intimidated girl, like a rag doll, and threw her hard enough onto the ground to knock the breath out of her. The sweaty barbarian began to take off her pants, and then his too as she tried to breathe the air back into her lungs. No one seemed to care about what was taking place, or those that did care were too terrified of the consequences that would come after.

To this day the seventeen year old could still hear that scream of bloody murder for someone to help her until her voice could give out no more. The girl then tried hit him, but he then slapped her in the face to silence so that he could take care of business. Still she fought and screamed, and again he hit her, and kept slapping her harder. The frightened girl blocked one of his blows, for which she paid the ultimate price when he grabbed it and broke it instantly and then knocked her out enough to make her feel what he was about to accomplish. Ryuu couldn't take it anymore as he charged as full speed to the monster that was still on top of the barely conscious girl. He then kicked him as hard as he could in the face; feeling the break of his nose and his teeth sinking into his bare feet. The savage was knocked out on his back, where he remained motionless for a few seconds. Then the other benders around him began to call for their officers, and point towards him; the man who just saved this girls other soldiers saw this and then started to come after him from every side, which he defended bravely against them until an Earthbender clamped his feet to the ground, so as not be able to kick at them, and when he fell to the ground they did the same thing to his hands. And just when they though he was ready to surrender, he did something that he never knew was possible; he breathed fire out of his mouth like dragons breath. The boy was able was able to burn a few more pieces of skin in victory as they shouted words at him that he had already gotten used to, and then one of them knocked him unconscious and started to beat him up so badly that no one would've ever been able to recognize his face. Ryuu would've been happy to die that day, but the woman with the devilish voice told them to stop immediately and bring him up to her. It was rare to see the big boss, but if someone ever did go up there all they would hear for two nights was screaming and then it would be silenced.

The soldiers did as they were told and barricaded his hands with the metal shackles and then threw him hard onto the rocky ground, in front of the woman that is his superior. With Ryuu's right eye completely closed off and his left half shut, he in front of him a small table fit for one person. Instantly his nostrils were filled with the sweet smell of pork, bread sprinkled in cinnamon, and eggs in rice; things that he took for granted when he had things like that. His superior pulled out her knife and cut herself a hunk of juicy meat and then placed it on her table, and then took a small sip of a drink that was obviously brewed to her satisfaction. Then his half opened eye saw the young girl that he had saved chained to the wall, trying to keep herself balance since she still had the broken arm. He had never taken notice before, but realized that she was in fact a Waterbender. It was rare to have a waterbender in the furnace area, but sometimes they used their abilities to make things cooler for them in there so as to not pass out in the boiling room. The frightened young teen had a torn blue outfit that was now stained with sweat and blood from her as well as the man who tried to rape her.

"Do you realize that the punishment for attacking a member of this clan is death?"

Ryuu spit out the blood in his mouth, tasting the rusty texture of his own liquid. With a dry voice he spoke with pride, "yes."

The leader sat there in silence for a few seconds and then stabbed at the piece of pork of her plate, and stuffed it into her mouth with juice spilling out of the sides of her mouth. It made the boys mouth drool at the thought of how wonderful it would taste, but he tried to ignore his hunger as he finally made himself move very slowly off the ground until he sitting on his knees and barely able to hold himself high.

"And yet you defy the law of my people?"

He gave her a mocking chuckle, "I am no longer terrified to die anymore. I attacked that pig out there, because I wanted to! My life it is no longer my own since you took it from me a long time ago. So go ahead and take it."

Ryuu was expecting him to quickly cut off his head, put him in the cooler until they freeze him to death, or to even be crushed under a giant bolder. Instead, the woman just laughed at him and applauded at his actions. "I'm not going to kill you boy! I actually want you to become one of the many captains in the army that I am helping to create. I am in need of a strong and young Firebender right now, and from what I have heard you have the dragon inside of you."

The bruised face man could barely hold his head up with great difficulty, "why would I help someone like you who took everything away from me?"

For some odd reason Ryuu couldn't remember much of his past for some reason; it was like it had all been wiped clean away so that he wouldn't have the opportunity to be happy. But every once in a while he would have a flash of a woman with brown hair and golden eyes laughing as she would twirl him around in her arms, but it always seemed like a silly dream that it could possibly be his own mother when he didn't recall what she even looked like. Then there were times of a girl that was four with the same black soiled as his would come into the picture, where she would have bright red flowered braided into her hair; and he always wanted to call her his little princess as if it was a game they used to play.

"Because," the woman said to bring his mind back to reality. "If you don't, I will kill Aimi; the girl you just saved."

Ryuu looked at the girl whose mouth had been gagged to quiet her moaning, but could see on the cloth the many tears that were wet; they were stains of fear and pain. He didn't know why he tried to save this girl. He had seen plenty of girls younger than her being beaten until they were puking up blood, raped a few feet away from his area of work, yelling at him to help them, and yet he always ignored it even though his heart would break for the other women. The Firebender didn't even know that Aimi was her name, but it was pretty none the less. Even with a black eye, her light brown hair in a tangled mess, the dirt and rips all over clothes, and even with the dry red liquid on her face there was still some beauty in the lost soul that she had become. He breathed heavily in through his nose and then his right side hurt, which he quickly took hold of his side. The hurt man didn't know if his ribs were broken or just bruised, he never heard a pop so he just assumed it was bruised; either way it was horrid pain.

"Why would I care about someone I don't even know?"

She finally removed herself from the table and walked out of the darkness to reveal a huge scar that went from her right cornered eye until it reached the far right side of her jaw. The older woman had two set color of eyes; one gold and the other brown. She was in fact a sight for sore eyes, but his hate for her was too much to even think of her in that manner.

"That is an excellent question indeed, but you seemed to care enough about her when you killed the man who was just having some fun."

His mouth dropped open with surprise in his eyes, "I killed him?"

He had never killed anyone before in his life, and right when he decides to take action on someone for the first time he kills the man who had an extra foot on him. Not that he would deny the thoughts of killing them; a simple strangle to the throat, burning them to a crisp, choking them, or even just twisting their necks until he heard it pop. The seven foot barbarian had what was coming to him, but taking someone's life made him a murderer; and no one has the right to kill someone. No matter how much they might deserve it.

A wry smile showed up on the leaders face, "don't worry. It was a good death. From what my specialist tell me, he was dead from the first kick in the face; tiny fragments of the bones in his nose went straight into his brain, killing him instantly. And he seemed to have lost four of his front teeth that went into the back of his throat."

Suddenly, Ryuu felt nauseated at the idea that he just took a man's life. Not that he didn't he didn't want to. Especially, since it felt like he had been here with these so called human beings, but he never had the guts to do it consciously. He didn't want any more blood on his hands and all he wanted was to get Aimi to stop screaming in terror. But as he continued to glance her way, it was like now he just wanted to save her.

He surrendered to their leader with his face buried on the floor, and still feeling the effects of pain on his upper right side. "I'll do whatever you want me to do; as long as you give me the girl and your word that no man or woman will lay a finger on her."

An evil laugh chuckled out of her, "we have an extortionist boys!" And then her minions began to laugh with her, "after all of that you still want her for yourself?"

Ryuu didn't want Aimi in that way, but if it meant saving her life he would do just about anything to help her. "Yes," he spoke with fearlessness in what was left of his voice.

"Even as a captain you could have your pick of women…you could even have me." The dark haired woman said with a seductive voice that would make most men weep, but he could see the real demon that she was.

"Those are my terms."

The scary woman thought about it for a second, "very well. Take her to his chamber we will be giving our new captain and get someone to fix that arm of hers." Some guards then unshackled her and dragged her to the place where he would be staying, which he wasn't too sure where that might be.

"Now you must know that murdering one of my men will cost you something else of great value, and since you have denied me the girl, I will take it off of you."

Strong men behind Ryuu grabbed onto his shoulder, and one took a fistful of his hair and pulled him back up to look at their leader. The room was dark, but with candle lights flickering above him he could see blood stain that had been spewed all of over the walls, from many who had come here and knowing that. The woman reached her hand behind her back and pulled out a dagger that was dull enough not to even sharp enough cut through a strand of hair. She held the knife in her hands like it was about to explode any second and then he poked it at his face, and began to drag it to build up the intensity.

"So which shall it be—a tongue? No, I'm going to need you to talk. An ear perhaps? No, I'll need you to listen to me when I give you orders." Then the not so sharp blade came to his left eye, "An eye for an eye? Seems like a good enough gesture for me…what do you think, Commander Juro?" She asked one of her most loyal servants, who did just about anything to please her.

Juro looked almost like the man he had just killed an hour ago, even had the same height and weight it seemed like. "An eye is sufficient for breaking the bones of my brother, but I want another thing as well, Admiral Ren."

Ryuu had never heard of the woman's name before since he had come to this place. Instead the prisoners would just call her a Shinigami; the goddess of death. He could see that if anyone had called her that to her face, then she would take no offense to it. In fact, she would probably help prove their theory and kill them all if she wanted to.

Admiral Ren eyed her commander that wanted revenge on his younger brother, who was just about to be promoted in the same ranking as his twin. Instead she just handed him the knife, "just keep him alive." She said and then went back to her meal that was no cold, and began to eat while being entertained by the men underneath her command.

Ren gave him an amused grin mixed with satanic, "since you forever deprived my brother of his loins, I will show the same courtesy you bestowed upon him. Hold him down," he ordered with vengeance. "This will get messy…"

Ryuu never forgot the feel of that dull dagger scrapping into his eye, causing more pain and blood to spill out than anything he had ever felt, but no words could even remotely describe the suffering that he went through his mind when the Admiral took away his manhood. He had said it was punishment for stopping his brother in the middle of his "fun" and that this would be a reminder for him to look the other way next time. Instead, it was just a reminder of the next man to kill if or when the time ever came.

The young Captain still didn't regret saving Aimi's life those many months ago. She was still sore afraid of any man that came into her room, but she was the one person that he would never, and still hadn't, touch or done anything to make her feel uncomfortable. In a strange way he had fallen in love with her, but he would never do anything to frighten her again; he just wanted to protect her. The Waterbender became the only person that could soothe his pain and anger away whenever she sang of her village in the north; a place he'd like to visit someday.

He looked back at his superior and said, "we already know his weakness mam. It's his friends that he values most above all, and innocent lives."

"And the girl?"

The wounded soldier moved his head up and down in regret to answer, "he would easily give his life for hers…"

"Hmm! Something you both have in common I'd say. Love makes a man weak and we will use it against him when the time is right. But for now let us get to know our enemy even better; I have a feeling that there is more to him on the inside than appears on the outside. And if my spy speaks the truth we could have a valuable member on this team that would wipe out the world instantly; and we would become its rulers."

"What is it that you will have me do then, Admiral Ren?"

"I want you to hold the tournament there personally, and make sure that you throw everything you have at him. I want you to see if you can break him without involving his friends."

Ryuu bowed to him with hate in his heart, "as you wish."

"Oh and one more thing," she said to make him stop in his tracks. "If anything goes wrong, and I find out that you were somehow involved, I promise to kill that girl in her sleep with the same blade my allies used on you. Do you understand, Captain?"

He turned back to acknowledged her threat and made his fist into a ball so tightly, he couldn't feel the circulation coursing through his fingers; feeling the fiery inferno he held back with the greatest of effort. "I understand-" he said through his teeth, wishing he could release his inner dragon at her. He bowed and walked away as fast as he could before he did something he would regret, especially if it involved the life of Aimi. Ryuu continued his fast paced walk towards hi room and diligently shut the medaled door behind him, and placed his hot forehead on the cool frame. His armor was placed in front of his bed, where every piece of plates had a place to rest on. He also had three types of swords resting on a block of wood, a new scroll for the location of the tournament, civilian clothes so that he could blend in, leather patch of money, a bandana to cover up his left glass eye, and some old boots to help him blend in. Ryuu's bed was made to the finest of linen, which he denied to have, but the Admiral insisted it anyways. So instead, he and the fourteen year old girl would switch beds so that she could be comfortable, while he slept on the floor with very little cushion. Once he had finally calmed himself, he went to pack his gear and supplies for the trip ahead.

His quarters weren't that big, but it was enough space to allow Aimi to still be at her comfort. She was surrounded by the many books he gave to her whenever he went away on a mission, and every time he would bring her back a scroll of news in the world or some kind of reading material from a market that he would buy. She had close to a hundred now, and the reason he knew that she liked to read was, because he caught her snooping in his pack and dropped a scroll of history. She feared for her life, but he let the girl know it was okay and handed her the scroll. It was her place of serenity when she wanted to escape this place, and he gladly did anything to make her feel more comfortable.

"Are you going away again?" the little girl's voice asked him, not too frightened of him anymore.

He looked behind him and saw the beautiful girl in the farthest corner to his left, reading with the one little lantern on her side. Ryuu was still too afraid to go near her, for he did not want to scare her again. "For a little bit," he said with a very kind tone that he did only around her.

"Where?"

The Firebender was surprised by her question, most of the time she just asked if he was leaving and that be it. "I have to go into the Earth Kingdom for a while, Aimi. I promise to bring you something; would you like a fairy tale or history?"

"…please don't go. Please don't leave me again."

Ryuu stopped his packing and looked back at the lost girl he saved, and saw that she was now standing against the wall with her arms crossed like she was cold. He desperately wanted to go over and hold in his arms, letting her know that she no longer had to be afraid. The castrated Captain couldn't do anything to her even if he wanted to; he was no longer a man in his sight. But when he was around her he felt like she didn't see him like that with those big ice blue of hers that match well with her ebony hair that was pulled back, and the dark skin tone that made her blue colors pop out even more.

The Firebender sat on the too comfortable bed and placed his arms on his knees and cradled his weight. "You know that I have to. I am one of them now."

"No," she whispered and then walked over to him. She got down on her knees in front of him, "you are not one of them."

His right side of his lip curled and then it disappeared, "but I am. I've done horrible things to help this rebellion and not once have I spoken against them. The only time I feel at peace is when—I am with…you; a saint that keeps me sane enough to live every day."

Aimi looked up at his lost soul and saw that the last words he spoke were the truth. Not that he had ever lied to her in the first place, but hearing those words slip from his mouth gave her hope that she could save him; just as he did for her. She knew he wanted to escape this place just as much as she did, and once she heard rumors of the Avatar looking for them it gave her hope to finally try and escape.

The girl stood up taller on her knees, with her face at the same height as his. Out of all of the men she had ever seen he had the kindest face, which appeared to have very sorrowful tired amber eyes. He had a rugged look that went handsomely with his features, but always kept it trimmed so as not to let the facial hair tame his looks. He was a very tall man compared to her, but nothing like the man who gave her nightmares; and Ryuu would always wake her so that she knew it wasn't happening again. Sometimes she would dream of the Firebender when he was off somewhere, and she always missed him when she saw his face turn towards her.

The Waterbender reached her hands up to his face, but hesitated once he caught what she was attempting to do. He didn't move as he let the young girl decide for herself if she was ready to take the next step, which she gracefully did finally. Aimi loved the feel of his facial hair in her hands for some reason, it was very soothing in a way. To Ryuu this would be reason enough to stay here with this girl and stay in her presence, but he couldn't.

He grabbed her hands to slide them off of his face and then he kissed her palms, "I have to go." Then he got up and put a couple more things in his pack, as she sat on the floor still at his bed. He went for the door and opened it, ready to get out of there, until small arms wrapped around his waist, still begging him not to leave her side yet.

Ryuu sighed and shut the door half way so that he could look at her again, and then he pulled her into his arms just as he always dreamed it would feel. He whispered into her ear, "I will come back to you. And when I do, things are going to change." The Captain gave her a kiss on her forehead and then bolted out the door as fast as his legs could carry him. He had already been devising a plan for her to leave this wretched place so that she could live a real and happy life; with or without him.

Please don't get confused on the Italicized part when I end this story. It's just happening at a different time, and when Ryuu is thinking about his past I change that to regular text so you won't get lost...hope that made sense?

Wooh, so I added a LOT of things and new characters in this chapter! Sorry if the ending was a little too much, but these idea's just kept flowing and I didn't want to stop writing till I was satisfied. On that note, I don't know if there was a whole lotta grammar errors once we met Ryuu; I kinda didn't read over it, because that woul've taken up more time and I was ready to publish this chapter anyways. So we kinda get a look into the life of others witht the Death Stalkers, and I'd love to hear what you guys gotta say.

I also need to say that I stole quotes from THE DARK KNIGHT, as well as K-PAX! I'm sure some of you guys caught it lol. Also, no one hate on Katara! The girl has been through a lot and this is the first time she's finally showing how she feels, so cut her some slack. The woman that talks to Ryuu is the same chick that told Jet what to do for his next mission (just fyi). I will do my VERY best to put up another chapter on by Friday, because Saturday I will be staying at my families lake hour for a week, I'll try and do that. NO GUARANTEES THOUGH!

PLEASE COMMENTS/EMAIL this chapter for me pretty please :) I am always appreciative of the criticism; good or bad. I read them all and if you want to get in contact with me please message me and I'd love to hear what you gotta say. For all of those who sent e-mails I will be sending them back out to you today :) Thanks guys!

Peace and Love Avatarads!