Did that last chapter hurt any of you? How many of you are invested in Mylo? Well, for those that are, here comes (anime eye gleam) MORE PAIN! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

PREPARE FOR TROUBLE AND MAKE IT DOUBLE

Chapter 36 – Memories

Iroh remembered.

He remembered a lot of things.

For now, he was remembering when they first met. How he had been evaluating the boy as a potential threat, just as his father had raised him to do with all strangers. He had quickly dismissed that thought, considering how slim and wiry the boy was. As far as pure strength and athleticism, as well as his own Firebending, Iroh knew that if this boy turned out to be hostile then he could most definitely be dealt with. But the boy seemed friendly, and Iroh grew to like him quickly. They were to be roommates, and Iroh considered himself to be lucky to have gotten one he could get along with.

That was his first memory of Mylo. There were many to follow.

Next he remembered their first adventure. Sneaking out of their room that first night, because Iroh had missed dinner. They had stealthily made their way into the kitchen, where they had stolen a couple of cakes. Even then, partners in crime. Little did they know at the time that they would do much, much more sneaking out.

He remembered the joy on Mylo's face when Iroh first offered to teach him Firebending. Little did he know that seeing that face light up that way would soon become one of his favorite things in the world. He remembered how, after several nights of trying, Mylo finally did it. A spark, that amazing, beautiful spark, leapt into the world for just a moment, only to die just as fast. But as short lived as it had been, it was everything Mylo ever wanted. To be a Firebender, like the all of the greatest warriors in their people's history, was his dream. And just when he had thought it was impossible, Iroh had brought that dream to reality. From that moment, they were bonded in a way that couldn't be broken.

He remembered the night that Zarai and his friends attacked them. How they beat Mylo to a pulp, while Iroh was unable to help. He remembered how they had bonded when the bullies left, when Mylo found out about Iroh's secret, that he was actually the Fire Nation Prince. He remembered how Mylo had shared her own deep secret, that she was actually a girl named Nya, taking the place of her brother as a soldier. He remembered how humbled by her he had felt. She had lost family, been through so much, and then sacrificed her own life and well being to protect her brother. Meanwhile Iroh was just a pampered prince who had done little in his life but feel sorry for himself for not fitting in with the rest of his more politically inclined family. He remembered thinking for the first time what it would be like to be with Mylo. To be with Nya.

He remembered when they struck back at Zarai, and what Mylo had done to make sure the bully was done terrorizing them for good. He remembered how hurt and broken she was, not only by what she had suffered, but by what she had made him suffer at her own hand. He remembered how scared she was, thinking that she might be no different than someone like Zarai. He never wanted her to feel that way again. In its own way, it scared him just as much as it had scared her.

And then he remembered their first kiss.

He remembered training with her at the base to become a soldier. He remembered getting closer and closer, day after day. Eventually becoming inseparable. Best friends, in more ways than one. He remembered confessing his feelings one night when they had snuck out of the base in the middle of the night, sitting in a field and looking up at the stars.

"I have something to say," he had said quietly. They had been sitting silently, just laying side by side and gazing at the heavens. They would point out a shooting star if there ever was one, but they hadn't seen one in a little while. At the time, Iroh had thought he was going a bit crazy, when he had conjured the thought out of nowhere that he should tell her how he felt.

"What is it?" Mylo had asked, without looking away from the sky. Iroh couldn't help but follow her body as she breathed in and out. What was wrong with him?

"This may sound stupid, maybe a little crazy. But I just gotta get it out." He had rambled. "I just wanna say that… I like you."

There was a pause. Iroh grew more anxious the longer Mylo took to respond to it. She finally said, "I like you too. You are my best friend after all."

Crap. She had missed his meaning entirely. Or had she? Iroh didn't know. Girls were confusing. "No, I mean I like you. As in, like like. Do you get what I mean?"

There was another pause. Then she just muttered, still without looking away from the stars. "Oh."

Iroh's heart had sank. This had been a mistake. A huge, huge mistake. "I'm so sorry. I just made a fool of myself. I should never had said anything. Just forget it ever-"

"Iroh!" Mylo said, cutting him off.

"Yeah?" he replied, unsure of what to expect.

Moments passed. Long agonizing moments of tension, anticipation, and confusion. Iroh could feel his heart beating, just a slow, steady drum, pounding through his entire being.

For the first time, she turned to look at him. Then she said something so softly that he couldn't make out the words.

"What did you say?" he asked, feeling somehow worse about the situation. Maybe she was embarrassed by him? Or maybe she was just trying to let him down easy. It was killing Iroh that he still didn't know anything. Being in the dark like this was one of the worst things in the world.

"I said…" She answered, barely loud enough to hear, "I said that I like you too." She turned away, staring at the sky once more. But this time it seemed to be less about looking at the sky and more about looking anywhere but at him. Was she blushing?

That was the last thing Iroh expected. Like the idiot he was, he didn't know how to react, so he just ended up asking, "What?"

She sat up and looked him directly in the face. Only inches away. Iroh forgot everything for a moment. Including how to breathe. "I said that I like you. As in like like."

Iroh, again being an idiot, just said, "Huh."

"So now that it's out, now what?" Mylo asked, again looking at the sky. "What now?"

"I don't know." Iroh said. There was a long silence between them, neither knowing what quite to say.

Finally he just asked what had been on his mind so long. "Do you want to… become boyfriend and girlfriend?" This was it. The moment that he had been waiting for, and both eagerly anticipating and dreading more than anything. He had spent weeks just wrestling in his head, over this very moment. And it was finally, FINALLY here. No going back now.

Mylo turned slowly to look at him. She took a deep breath, then said softly, "Thank the spirits you asked. If you hadn't, I would have cracked soon."

Iroh gulped. "Does that mean yes?"

Mylo smiled and scooted over to him. "Of course, dummy." Then she kissed him.

Iroh remembered that clearly. Every detail of that night, every sound, every smell, still held strong in his memory. He would never forget it. It was the best night of his entire life.

The months passed, and their love grew. Iroh remembered many moments. Secret meetings, shared kisses, and any moment that they could spend in each other's company.

Then It was ripped from him by the Earthbender assassins. He was kidnapped, taken away from his love. He had spent weeks at this point just wishing to go back to Mylo, wanting nothing more than to see her again.

Then he did.

Now finally, they were reunited, together again after weeks of fear and longing. Worrying they would never see one another gain. Iroh would always remember finding her again.

He remembered.

And he would never forget seeing the blood pour out of the whole in her throat.

He would never forget her drop to her knees, all strength gone.

He would never forget her scared and shocked look in his eyes.

It would always haunt him.

He would never forget that pure terror, that indescribable torture when that happened.

He would never forget her death.

He would remember.

Always.