AN: Alright, so here is the next chapter and its finally time to introduce my latest character! He is a major character in the sequeal and I hoe you enjoy him as much as I do! Ok, so, yea...enjoy! And please, keep the reviews coming!


It had been about two weeks since the group had successfully busted themselves out of the Boiling Rock and now, they were hiding from their enemies in plain sight.

Katara and Jin had spent much time together, cooking, cleaning, and sparring one another in weapon and hand to hand combat for much of the time. Very little did she train with Aang on his waterbending, seeing how he was clearly at the master level. She had felt as though she owed Jin something for leaving her behind to suffer at Zhao's attentions...and this seemed to be the only way she could fully apologize.

Zuko and Ozai took Aang for most of the time, training him hard in the ways of firebending. They wanted to be sure that he was prepared for anything that Zhao would throw at him. Anything.

The others trained themselves and tried gathering any more information; as well as go over the information that both Zuko and Ozai had given them. They wanted to make sure there was no way that their plans would fail. They couldn't afford failure.


Meanwhile, from the shadows, a young man, round 24 stalked the group, his eyes never leaving two certain people. The Water Tribe siblings. He had been ordered by his superior to watch the two siblings and if necessary, to do whatever it took to keep them safe. For weeks he had watched them, the moment the young Princess had fled the Fire Nation Capital, he had been there. He would not fail his master, nor would he fail Katara and Sokka.

He had almost compromised his cover after following the remaining group members to the Prison, but he had to ensure the safety of Katara and Sokka, no matter the cost.

Finally, after following them to the island, he rented out a room in a nearby inn, making sure that he could survey the group's activities without detection. And today, he noticed that Katara and the young woman that she had spent much time with were heading to the market.

"At least you can get your dang papayas," one of his men grumbled in the background, "I don't understand how you enjoy those things!"

The young man smiled, throwing his cloak around his shoulders, pulling the hood up over his head, "I'll be back later," he stated before disappearing out the door, leaving the four other soldiers at the inn.


Katara and Jin had been running nonstop around the market place, gathering a month's supply of food and other necessities.

"So," Katara began as she reached out for a few fruits from a vendor's stand, "do you want to talk about it at all?" she asked softly, seeing how Jin never really told her how she had managed to be thrown into the Boiling Rock.

Shrugging her shoulders, Jin began to gather other fruits, placing them in her basket, "What's there to say really?"

This was going to be a difficult conversation.

Placing the remaining fruits in her basket, Katara placed her hand on Jin's shoulder as she began to move on to the next vendor.

"I'm sorry."

This took her by surprise, turning around slightly; Jin removed Katara's hand from her, her eyebrow raised slightly, "For what?"

"For leaving you there. I promised that I would take you with me...and I didn't. I understand if you are upset with me," she bowed her head, "please, forgive me."

Smiling, Jin lifted Katara's face to be level with her's once more, "Katara," she encompassed Katara's hands in hers, "I'm not upset with you in the slightest. I'm just happy that you were able to get away safely," her grin grew bigger, "besides, does it look like I've been left behind? If I recall, I'm standing here with you, in a market, away from the palace and that prison...so to be truthful, you didn't leave me behind."

Jin's words lifted Katara's hurting spirit and she found herself pulling Jin into a comforting embrace, "Even so, I just want to apologize to you for not coming sooner."


From a distance the young man remained hidden in the shadows, his ears picking up on the girls' conversation. Katara had grown up so much since he had last seen her...he only wondered how much he had changed in her eyes as well.

With the sun setting, he watched as the two paid the vendors before making their way back to their island resort. With a heavy sigh he left, purchasing a bag full of papayas and returned to the inn. It was so hard for him to stay hidden in the shadows, hiding from his lady and lord, but it was what their father had requested of him and so he was going to obey.


"Oh, I forgot something!" Katara declared, before turning back, "Don't wait for me, I'll be back as soon as I find what I'm looking for!" she called over her shoulder.

Jin nodded, though curious as to what Katara had managed to forget, and continued down the cobble stone path for the island home.

A few days ago, Katara had received a letter from a messenger hawk...which was rather odd. It had come from her father, she'd recognize his scribbling anywhere and it had told her that the next time she was in town; she was to go to the Jasmine Inn. There she would find something waiting for her, something that would aid her during her final journey. She thought it was rather odd how he had discovered her location, but, he was her father and she knew it was better not to question his ways. Also in the letter it had told her to come alone, so that was the reason she had to leave Jin behind.


As the young man made his way back to the room, the four others that were assigned to accompany him, sat there around a small table, gambling and playing cards.

Without looking to see who it was, one handed out a small scroll with the young man's initials written across it, "This came for you while you were gone. It's from Chief Hakoda."

Without hesitation, the young man snatched the scroll away from the soldier, unraveling it to read what his new orders were.

The scroll read:

Wait in the Inn's lobby, there you will meet a youth who will help you in your task.

Hakoda

Sighing he rolled the scroll back up, looking over at the four men that were with him.

'Does he think I am unable to protect them alone?' he thought to himself.

"I'm going out," that's all he said before throwing his hood over his head once more, slamming the door behind him as he went.

The others looked at one another, "I wonder what that was all about?"


Katara had wondered around for what seemed like an eternity, asking anyone that she came across if she was headed in the right direction of the Jasmine Inn. She wondered what her father could have left for her and wondered why of all places would he send her to an inn. If he knew of her location, why not just send a messenger hawk there?

But once again, she was not one to argue with her father. He had his reasons and she was not going to begin to question them. He had never let her down before, so why would he start now?


The young man had made it down in the inn's lobby, he looked around but saw that no one was there and decided to sit in the far corner of the room, watching from a hidden position for his 'youth' to enter. If he sensed any form of danger, he would not make his presence known.

Several moments passed before someone had walked in, it was a young man...alas he was not who Hakoda had meant. He was just occupying a room for the next two nights.

Strumming his fingers over the wooden table that he leaned against, the young man halted as he heard the door open, his eyes glued to the back of a young woman who had just entered.

Narrowing his eyes he clenched his fists, cursing silently, 'I thought she wasn't to know I was here?!'

His breath hitched as she looked around the lobby, her eyes resting firmly on him...but wait, she couldn't see who he was, he still hand his hood thrown over his head...as if he couldn't scream suspicious already. He moaned as she approached.

"It's a beautiful evening, wouldn't you say so?" she asked.

The young man simply nodded, humming his response.

"I was told that I'd find you here," she whispered softly, "you have something from my father?" she questioned. Obviously she hadn't gathered his identity just yet.

Taking a deep breath, he reached across the table, his hand cupping her face, drawing her closer to him, their eyes now meeting for the first time, "I'm here to help you, my lady."

Her eyes grew wider at each passing moment, her mouth ran dry and her voice quivered as she whispered his name, "S-seiran?"

She watched as a grin appeared just below the shadow marking of his hood, "SEIRAN!" she yelled, pulling him towards her, enveloping him in her arms.

"Oh Seiran! You don't know how much I've missed you," she breathed out, choking back blissful sobs.

The young man smiled, pushing his hood back off his head, then wrapping his arms around her, "And I've missed you my lady."

Pulling herself away from him, she took in his appearance. His white hair ran down slightly past his shoulders, his blue eyes were dark and mysterious as ever, but narrowed more now by maturity and his face…his slender, fairly tan face was absolutely beautiful. He hand high cheek bones, his eyes were catlike, much like Zuko's and his lips were divine. They weren't too thin, nor were they too plump. They were just right in between. His hair was pulled back halfway, into ha half wolf tail and his watertribe uniform began to stand out from underneath his cloak.

Her eyes widened, pulling him closer to her, "Seiran, do you realize where you are?" she asked cautiously, her eyes roaming around the lobby.

He nodded, "I do my lady."

Sighing heavily she stood, holding out her hand for him to accept, "Come on, we need to get you into some different clothing," and without further instruction, his calloused, firm hand slid into hers, his practically engulfed hers, but she didn't mind. She suddenly enjoyed the feel of his hand, the touch of his flesh against hers and once more, she felt completely and utterly protected.

"Very well my lady," he whispered, following her as she dragged him out of the inn.


Their walk home had been filled with conversation, mainly on Katara's behalf. She spoke to him of her time away from the poles, her time spent in the Fire Nation and how she had come to grow ever closer to the young Prince Zuko.

Seiran had been diligent; he listened well and only spoke here and there, allowing Katara to speak most of the time. He had missed her so much that it was quite refreshing to hear her voice once more.

After noting that he had hardly spoken since they had been reunited, Katara sighed, halting in her walking, causing Seiran to do the same.

"What's the matter my lady?" he asked, obviously he was concerned and that's what worried her.

Resting her hand out onto his broad shoulder, she inched closer, "Seiran please," she spoke softly, "do me a favor."

Nodding he replied, "Anything for you my lady."

Sighing once more, she took a deep breath before continuing, "Seiran, you've always been there, ever since I was very little and I've always seen you as an older brother," she looked up at him, "please stop calling me, 'My Lady,' and just call me Katara…or sister…or something to that nature. I can't help but feel that every time you never call me by my name, that you're distancing yourself from me."

This took the young man by surprise, but he smiled, understanding where she was coming from, "I'm sorry. I've just grown accustom to saying it, that I forget sometimes that you are my little sister," he sighed softly, pulling her into his arms, "I'm just filled with an array of emotions that it's too hard to think straight," he gently kissed the top of her forehead, "forgive me?"

Katara snickered, "Of course I forgive you! Now come on!" she snatched hold of his hand, "Sokka will be so excited to see you!"

He laughed as she pulled him quickly down the cobble stone path, his cloak flailing in the wind, "Katara!"


Once they got closer to the residence, Seiran came to a halt, practically throwing Katara backwards, "What? What is it?" she asked, looking around to see if there was something that she overlooked.

Seiran's eyes were glued to three figures down in the courtyard, bending fire and right away she knew that he was probably distressed, especially with her being around…firebenders.

"That's Aang," she pointed towards the young bald kid, "with the blue arrowed tattoos over his body, he's the Avatar," she mumbled, and then continued, "the older man is the true Fire Lord, Ozai and the young man at his side is his son," she sighed contently, as if she were on a cloud, this caught Seiran's attention, "Prince Zuko."

With one brow raised, Seiran examined Katara's facial features…she looked…dazed and utterly love struck by the young Prince. Looking back down towards the courtyard, Seiran's eyes narrowed slightly as he grumbled to himself.

"They're Aang's firebending masters, but," Katara began pulling him once more, "I'll tell you more later. First I'm going to introduce you, then we'll sit with Sokka and talk," she seemed extremely happy right now, "just like old times!"


Ozai and Zuko stood next to one another, watching as Aang performed his bending. They were extremely impressed with how well he was picking the techniques up…but then again, you've been the Avatar once, you've been the Avatar a million times over…so he should be a natural at bending, it's just the first steps that are always the hardest.

Zuko had been watching a pair of people who seemed to be approaching the estate. He had seen them come to a halt just before actually entering the property and he already knew who one of the figures was…but the other, he had no clue. He watched as Katara and the mysterious man were linked by the hands…this made his blood churn and boil, he wanted to slit the guy's throat already and he hadn't even been introduced to him yet.

Sighing Zuko turned his attention back towards his pupil, muttering something under his breath as he noticed Katara and the man nearing, "Alright, that's enough for today," Ozai declared, seeing how they had a newly arriving guest and his and Zuko's pupil looked as if he were to keel over.

"Thank you Master Ozai, Master Zuko," Aang stated, bowing to the both of them before walking towards the fountains.


As they neared the home, Seiran's nerves were on edge, his heart was racing and his palms were becoming sweaty…he was just surprised Katara hadn't said anything yet, for she surly would have noticed.

He saw that the two benders dismissed their pupil and were waiting patiently for them.

'Great,' he mumbled to himself.

"Everyone is going to love you," she whispered softly, pulling him through the hall of the garden towards the courtyard.

"Hey Katara!" Aang was the first to greet them, he was still wiping his chest and face off as he approached them, "Uh…whose this?" he asked softly, now truly noticing the handsome young man at Katara's side.

"Everyone this is—S" Katara was cut off by a sudden outburst by Sokka.

"SEIRAN!" everyone turned to see Sokka bolt from his place at Suki's side, tackling the young man that once stood beside Katara, who was now at the moment smooshed between the ground and Sokka, "It's good to see you!" Sokka yelled, pulling Seiran to his feet.

Laughing at how much he missed his younger brother, Seiran rubbed Sokka's head in a joking manly manner, "I've missed you to little brother." Sokka grumbled as he tried prying Seiran's hand from his head…alas without victory.


Zuko and Ozai stared at the trio, just as everyone else. But there was something different about this young man…something that struck them familiar…could it be?

"Impossible," Ozai muttered aloud, but only soft enough for his son to hear him.


Ooooh wats this????