Yay. An update. Sorry it took so long. I was on vacation and couldn't write. I actually wrote it all today. This probably has teh most 'romance' in it, but since this is all from a childish perspective it is very subdued. I realize like...NO ONE reads this anymore, but I really just need to finish it so I dont feel like I fail. There are 3 or 4 chapters left. PLEASE REVIEW!

Ty Lee smiled as she slipped on her dress. Today was the day. She had waited patiently for so long. It was all that had been on her mind. Whenever Ryu came over it was all she could talk about. The Golden Dragon Dance.

The silk slid down her skin, a soft sensation. It was a new dress. Azula had taken them shopping earlier for the special occasion. Mai and Ty Lee had gone through the excursion with much excitement. The princess, however, seemed a bit depressed. Ty Lee had felt it best not to delve into her feelings. If anything she would deny the sadness or snap at her.

"Everyone else ready?" She called excitedly as dug her feet into her shoes.

"I am." Mai replied. Azula was in front of the mirror making sure her hairpiece was straight.

"Me too, let's get going." She answered once it was completely centered.

They walked out of the room and down the hall. Ty Lee had never seen her color quite as pink as it was now. It was going to be amazing. She just knew it.

Mai even had a little pink in her color, which was unusual for her. But Azula's color matched her attitude when they were shopping. Blue and sad. Ty Lee was starting to get a bit worried about her. But then again, she was the princess. She could take care of herself.

"So, are you two still not going to tell me who your going with?" She asked, trying to get herself off of the subject. Mai's face grew red.

"Uh…no it's a surprise." She explained, looking away.

"Same here. You'll have to wait and see when we get there." Azula insisted. Ty Lee frowned. She had told them that she was going with Ryu. Who could they be going with that she shouldn't know?

Oh well. It really wasn't any of her business. Besides, they said she would see when they got there. She could wait until then. But then again…maybe she couldn't…

As they walked further down the hall the square where the dance was held seemed to be getting farther and farther away. It was driving her crazy. How much longer could it take for them to get there!? She wanted it to happen now! Did anyone know how long she had been waiting for this night! She sighed. This was a bad cause of overreacting.

Finally they reached the square after what seemed to be ages of walking. The square was full of girls and boys already dancing to the distinct sound of the Sungi Horn. It was lit up much like it had been during the Fire Days Festival, except this time there were no booths set up. Instead, the ground was free of debris in order to make the dancing easier. There were, however, a few tables set up with drinks and some treats. Ty Lee eyed them carefully. They all looked delicious.

Without saying good-bye to her friends, she meandered her way over to one of the tables. She felt a bit guilty about leaving them behind, but this wasn't about them. This was a night for boys and girls, not for friends. She couldn't see Ryu at the moment though. He wouldn't be upset if she got herself something to eat real fast.

It was a hard decision. There was Sata Andagi. Taiyaki. Mochi. Rice Candy. She stopped. On a plate full of Taiyaki was a single wrapped piece of orange rice candy. It obviously didn't belong there. She picked it up carefully and looked at it. It was almost identical to the one that…

"Hey, Stretchy." She felt her braid flipped up again.

"Ryu!" She turned around and hugged him so hard she could almost feel his ribs.

"Woah, someone's excited." He smiled. "Then again, why shouldn't you be? It's a pretty exciting night, if I do say so myself."

"You've gone to the dance before?" She asked.

"Yeah, there was one last year too," He replied, reminding Ty Lee once again of their age difference.

"With whom?" She narrowed her eyes and stepped back.

"What do you mean?"

"Who did you go with last year?"

"Oh…that…" He grew a bit red, "Uh…nobody important. Just some girl I had met briefly when we were supposed to pick our dates."

"Was she pretty?" Her hands were now on her hips.

"Do we really have to talk about this?"

"I think it's important, yes." Ty Lee insisted.

"Girls. I'll never understand you." He sighed dramatically, "Yeah, I guess she was kind of pretty. But she had two left feet and horrible conversation skills, so it wasn't as fun as its going to be tonight."

Ty Lee nodded. She really hadn't cared that much about what his previous date had been like. She liked to tease him the way he did her, and she rarely had opportunities like that to do so. And she also liked hearing him talk about how much he liked to be with her…and only her.

Suddenly, there was the sound of trill trumpets. Both Ty Lee's and Ryu's attentions were immeadiately taken by it. The crowd of people had dispersed to one side, leaving an opening where the square begins. A boy was walking into the square with some people behind him. Ty Lee recognized him instantly.

"It's Zuko!" She cried in realization. Ryu scrunched his face up.

"The prince?"

"He's not as bad as his sister," She explained. He sighed in relief.

She hadn't seen Zuko in a long time. He had grown so much older. He almost looked like man instead of a boy. But his embarrassment at his treatment was obvious. He looked away as everyone's eyes fell on him.

He continued through the crowd and finally stopped at a certain spot. It was too densely populated in that area and Ty Lee couldn't see well enough to know why he stopped. Everyone began murmuring at once.

"What's happening? I can't see." She asked Ryu. He leaned on his toes and peered over.

"He's with your friend. What's her name…Mai?" Ryu reported.

Ah. So he was her date. It all made sense now. Why she was so squeamish. So they still liked each other? They were still cute together, she knew that. Ty Lee wondered how Mai had asked him to come…

"I should've known." Ty Lee said aloud.

"Hey, I know this song." Ryu mused as the Sungi horn started again, "Want to dance?"

He held out his hand, beckoning her. She gulped and nodded.

Although Ty Lee had been looking forward to this night for a week, she had been dreading it for this very reason. She couldn't dance. Or at least…she thought she couldn't. She had never really danced formally in any occasion. But something in her stomach told her that if she danced, she would fail. And she didn't want to fail in front of Ryu.

Nevertheless, she laid her hand in his, and they walked out to the middle of the square. He stepped first, taking what Mai called 'the lead' in the dance. Ty Lee nervously stepped in accordance. She kept her eyes on his feet, making sure to copy them accurately. At one point she was staring too intently and she accidently stepped on his left foot.

"Oh…Oh…I'm so sorry!!" She apologized frantically.

"It's fine. You're new to this, aren't you?" She nodded. He tightened his grip on her hands. "Just keep following me. Let the music lead you. Your heart."

She breathed in and listened to the music. It was a slow and pretty melody. She could hear the words clearly.

"Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall: Four Seasons. Four loves, Four Seasons…"

Without realizing it, she danced through the whole song without looking at Ryu's feet.

"What is it?" Before she could inquire further, he leaned over. Her eyes widened as his lips met hers.

Ty Lee had never been kissed before. In many ways it was just like dancing. You generally let the man lead. You followed the music playing in your head. You followed your heart. And yet in many ways it was different. It was different from anything she had experienced. It was like heaven on earth.

He drew back slowly.

"I've been drafted into the army."

And heaven was destroyed.

"W-What!?" She exclaimed.

"I'm of age. I was drafted. I'm…I'm leaving tomorrow."

This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not when everything was going so perfectly. He couldn't leave her like Kei. He couldn't!

"Why?" Her eyes were brimming with tears.

"It's a draft. I can't escape it."

"But I…I'll miss you!" She couldn't live without him.

"Hey, stop crying now. I'll be fine, you know it. Remember what Kei says…" He prompted.

"Never…Never stop smiling..."

"Exactly. Now, come on. Do you want to dance again?"

She was about to respectfully decline when there was an uproar to her right. She turned and saw Azula. Her face was red and tears were spilling out.

"That's it!!" She screamed, "If no one will dance with me then fine! I'll make sure no one else here will ever dance again."

Ty Lee didn't know how the perfect night could've gotten any worse.

Poor Ryu. This is kinda why he's not in the show :D And Azula banning dances is based off of the episode 'The Headband' since dancing isn't allowed in the Fire Nation then. I decided to give a reason.

XD Sorry Aya. This is Maiko at times :D It gets worse in the next two chapters.