Team Avatar did a really bad job of sneaking around as they were following Zuko towards the shop they had been at a day earlier.

They had actually agreed to meet at the city gate, but by the end they all wanted to see this. So they were all tailing behind Zuko and tried to act totally casual when he turned around to look at them with slightly narrowed eyes.

Finally Zuko exhaled and just continued his walk with the others following and then he walked into the store, the others following behind.

The old lady was easy to find, she was sweeping the floor at the left side of the room and Zuko walked towards them. "Urhm… Hi." he awkwardly held up a hand.

The old lady looked up then her face broadened in a smile. "Why if it isn't that handsome young man from yesterday."

Zuko blushed as he glanced down. "Yeah, erhm. Katara, the girl I was with yesterday. She's right there by the way." he pointed right at Katara proving their insanely bad job at tailing Zuko. "She told me about the discount you gave… For the salve I mean." he said.

The old lady looked up with questioning eyes.

"And I just wanted to thank you." Zuko said making one hand into a fist putting it on his flat hand and bowed in a traditional fire nation greeting. Then stood up. "You were right, that's a really good salve. My scar has been kind of dry and annoyed recently and it feels so much better already."

The old woman smiled a kind smile. "Who-ever decided to burn such a handsome face should really be ashamed of themselves." she said. "I am just glad I was able to help such a kind man. That's what we need to do you know. Help each other out. Sometimes just a little bit of kindness can go a long way."

"Heh, my uncle would often say things like that." Zuko admitted. "Now I wish I were better at listening to him."

The woman looked sadly at Zuko.

"Oh! No!" Zuko exclaimed holding up his hands. "He's not dead! He's just somewhere else at the moment. I am not really sure where he is, but he said he was going to meet up with me!"

"Oh thank Agni." The lady sighed deeply. "Sorry, these days you just always end up assuming the worst."

Zuko halted and he lowered his hands. "Everybody lost someone." he commented.

"Yes." The lady sighed deeply.

"If it's not to much to ask." Zuko hesitated. "You don't have to answer… I was just wondering. Who did you loose?" he asked.

The lady looked up at Zuko. "My son." she said. "He was drafted into the fire nation army. He didn't mind though, he was very proud that he got to serve his country. A year after I got the letter, he was killed."

"I… I'm sorry." Zuko swallowed.

"You remind me of him." The lady admitted. "A young proud soldier. Ready to lay down his life for what he believe is right."

Zuko halted, he swallowed. "Do you think it's right though? This war?" he asked. "You're fire nation yourself right? If your son was drafted."

"I was." The lady admitted. "I used to live there, after my son died I just… I couldn't bear being in that empty house. So I came here, hoping I could be of use somehow. And as for the war? If I am to be honest.." she closed her eyes. "I don't know… It has been going on for longer than I have been alive. And I don't know what it's for." she admitted. "I don't know…" she swallowed as her eyes watered. "Why my son had to die."

Zuko swallowed. Regretting severally that he had asked, he didn't really know what to do here. He wanted to tell her that her son hadn't died for nothing. That it had been honourable to serve the fire nation like that. That the firelord really cared and it was going to be okay… But he couldn't lie.

So instead Zuko gently put his arms around the woman and offered her a light hug, allowing her to cry on his chest. For a few minutes, they stood and finally the lady stepped back drying her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me." She asked.

"No. It was the least I could do." Zuko said. "Can I ask. What's your name?"

The lady glanced up. "Tanyi." she said. "And you?" she asked.

"I'm…" Zuko halted. "Lee." he finally said.

"Really?" Tanyi asked. "Somehow that doesn't quite suite you."

Zuko lifted his one good eyebrow.

Tanyi though just smiled her warm smile and Zuko relaxed, smiling back at her.

Just then the door slammed open and Zuko looked up to see fire nation soldiers standing right there. Without even thinking Zuko shovelled Tanyi behind himself and stood in a defensive stand.

"By order of General Shi-Shang!" The soldier yelled. "All food available will be confiscated and relocated to the fire nation army!"

"You can't do that!" Zuko exclaimed as he stepped forward earning the attention of all the fire nation soldiers, only for Zuko to feel Tanyi grab his arm.

"No." Tanyi whispered. "It's just rice and vegetables. It's not worth getting into trouble for."

"But." Zuko looked down at her. "Then what are you going to eat?"

"I'll manage." Tanyi said. "Somehow." as the small shop now flooded with soldiers and they took everything. Bread, rice, wheat, fruit, meat, vegetables.

"Why are they doing this?" Zuko asked horrified.

"An army still needs to eat." Tanyi spoke sadly. "Twice as many drafted soldiers means twice as many mouths to feed but not any more food being produced."

"Hey! Lee!" Suddenly Sokka was there grabbing Zukos other arm. "We gotta get out of here before they notice you! Or you know 'Anzo'" he referred to Aangs fake name.

"Where is he? And the others?" Zuko asked.

"Gone out the back. Which is where we should go as well." Sokka stated.

Tanyi nodded. "Get out of here." she asked. "Go."

Zuko swallowed then turned to Tanyi. "I… I'm sorry about all of this. I'll try to make it right. Somehow."

Tanyi looked concerned at Zuko. "It's not like this is your fault young man. And how could you even.." she halted. "Just be safe." she asked. "Please."

Zuko halted then nodded. "Just, hold on." he asked. "Listen." Zuko leaned forward so he could whisper in Tanyis ear. "The Avatar doesn't want to destroy the fire nation, he wants to save it." he said. "He is working to save everybody who lives in this world. So don't give up. Okay?"

Zuko retrieved and Tanyi wide-eyed looked at Zuko with shocked eyes.

Zuko offered her a last nod. "Stay safe." he asked and finally allowed Sokka to pull him away towards the backdoor where they finally escaped out the building.