We all very quickly fell into a routine. In the morning we would have breakfast together, then we'd go to work at the tea shop, work during the day then come home for dinner, and once everyone was asleep, I would sneak out in order to go dancing. I'd already gotten pretty famous in just a few days. People would gather and wait for me in my spot where I'd emerge as if out of thin air and dance for everyone in order to earn extra money. It helped a lot as we were able to use it to buy things like decent quality meat, salt and other things that we needed but couldn't afford on such small wages.

Whilst dancing I always kept my face covered, but soon I began to be approached by both men and women who managed certain different venues, wanting me to come and dance for them. I said no straight off, no matter how much money they offered me because I didn't trust them. Some I knew from reputation, and more than half of them were shady. I wanted no part in that kind of business, knowing full well if I stepped my foot in it, I'd be sucked in and never allowed to leave again. No, I'd wait until I was able to get to the middle or upper rings, where they had prestigious schools of dance where I could earn real money without the worries of any other conditions being added.

The dance halls of Ba Sing Se were famous, and ever since I'd heard about them I'd longed to dance there. I couldn't believe that I actually stood a chance of getting there, since it had always been nothing more than a fantasy before. They were said to be prestigious, accepting only the best dancers from across the Earth Kingdom to dance on a real stage for rich upper class society members, protected by top quality guards so that no one could force them into uncomfortable or dangerous situations, wearing only the finest costumes and dancing elaborate routines which I couldn't even begin to imagine in my head. I wanted to go there, just once if I could, and I was going to make myself become known, because if I went to the upper rings, then Zuko and Iroh could come with me.

From what I'd heard, the wage of a dancer from one of the more famous dance halls was more than enough to support a large family, so the three of us would be more than comfortable. Since they'd done so much for me these past few months, almost an entire year, this was the least I could do. Only problem was, Zuko was beginning to suspect me of being up to something. He'd question where all the extra money was coming from, as sometimes I'd bring in more than twenty gold coins a night and add it to our money collection I kept locked away in a box and hidden from view, but once or twice he'd seen me putting money in.

So when I got in that evening, creeping through the door and locking it behind me, I should have known that Zuko would be up waiting for me. "So, you have been sneaking out at night." I squeaked timidly and dropped everything, causing my coin purse to drop to the floor where a treasure trove of coins scattered out and rolled along the floor as I froze, seeing Zuko sitting on a floor cushion with his arms folded, glaring at me. "Where did you go?"

"I've…been performing outside. Just to earn a little extra, that's all."

"Where exactly." Groaning inwardly, I had a feeling he wasn't going to give up anytime soon. I tried dodging the answer as much as I could, picking up the coins and quickly putting everything away as I pulled off the headscarf to reveal the dancing outfit I'd made for myself, complete with ornate embroidery and patterns, however when Zuko saw my exposed midriff and the low cut of the top, he quickly averted his eyes and blushed slightly. "What are you wearing?! It looks ridiculous. Put something else on before you catch a cold." Unable to help it, I giggled lightly.

"You're so funny Zuko, you're embarrassed at my dance costume? You're so prude." With an irritated snap, Zuko ordered me to get changed so I waved my hand in dismissal, sauntering into my room. "Sure, sure, whatever you want." I changed into something warmer and more decent, satisfying his request before I started to make myself some tea as Zuko began to interrogate me again as to where exactly I'd been going until finally, I just came out with it and told him where, since I knew if I didn't tell him he'd just try and follow me tomorrow night.

"What? Why would you go there? That's the place where…" He coughed and cleared his throat out of embarrassment, ears going a little pink. "Anyway, don't go back there. It's not safe for you to go alone."

"Its fine, I don't actually go into the district I just stick to the border and there's always guards patrolling around at night. If something happened I'd just call for help, and nothing's happened so far." I told him with my easy going attitude, something I knew Zuko found exceedingly irritating since he preferred rigid structure, order and direction. We really were fire and water.

"That's not the point. You shouldn't have to put yourself at risk like this. What if someone decided to kidnap you? Or follow you home? What if something bad happened and I wasn't there to protect you?" He demanded, making me look up quickly in surprise at his choice of words. It wasn't like him to get so worked up over something like this in this way. He wasn't angry, in fact, he just seemed worried. Good think I never told him about Jet, he'd hit the roof.

"I know I'm not great in a fight, but I can take care of myself to some extent. I'm not helpless, I know how to escape people if they try and catch me. Besides I've been careful. I never come directly home, I make sure that I'm not being followed before I come back. Sure I've had someone try and steal the money I earned once or twice but they never succeeded. You don't have to worry Zuko, I'm doing something I love and earning money from it. It's a win-win situation." He folded his arms grumpily as I poured the both of us some tea out of habit.

"I still don't like it."

"Well, you don't have to like it. If you want me to stop then you can forget about having meat on the table again for a while. Or things like salt, fruit and flour to make dumplings and noodles. Oh, and we'll also have to cut down on things like soap, coal and kindling, because that stuff is expensive. Do you really want to walk around smelling terrible all the time? You'd have to resort to using the left over tea water to wash away the smell." I poked at his cheek playfully as he sipped some of his tea, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance but otherwise not reacting.

"I don't like you putting yourself at risk for our sake. We can go without these things Kayo, so long as it means you don't get hurt." For a prince who was used to having everything, I was kind of surprise that Zuko would be willing to give up all those things just for my sake. It left me speechless for a few moments, my hand drawing back from poking his cheek to stare at him blankly as he lowered his cup then reached out towards me until his hand had grasped onto mine. "My uncle thinks the world of you, he'd be upset if you got hurt somehow, and I don't want to see him like that. You should look after yourself more, put your own safety first above other's needs."

"So you're saying if I got hurt, you wouldn't be upset at all? Not even worried?" I tested, feeling the warmth of his fingers wrapped around my hand as his eyes settled on me. Huh, they seemed to be a little brighter than usual, a golden tint residing in them that I hadn't noticed before. His eyes were actually rather beautiful. Had they always looked like that?

"I'd worry." Zuko admitted flatly, unable to meet my gaze as he let go of my hand. "You're so annoyingly persistent, I've gotten used to having you around. It would feel strange if you weren't here anymore." Smiling warmly, I took back the hand that Zuko had let go and gave his fingers a light squeeze as he blinked then looked at me, staring at me as I spoke.

"I'm not going anywhere Zuko. You're stuck with me. Probably for the rest of your life, so you better get used to it." After a while, Zuko's expression softened as well, even smiling a little before he hummed with a light snort.

"You're so annoying."