Unable to sleep I got up in order to take a walk around my residence, wanting some fresh air to think. My arm was bothering me so I healed it a little to numb the pain then carried on walking. I didn't even really think about where I was going, letting my feet carry me until I heard a commotion nearby and I realised I'd walked almost all the way to Zuko's place. I heard bursts of fire, seeing the flames brighten the darkness so I immediately rushed over and called for the guards, rushing into the hallways and gesturing for them to follow me and yelling that the Fire Lord was in danger

I still had my arm in a sling but there was a water channel nearby so I pulled some to me with my one hand, rushing down the hallway to see Zuko fighting against an assassin. Another one? Damn it, that's the sixth one since he'd been crowned, not including the one that had come after me. Was it a coincidence that this one appeared just days after the last? Things were getting bad, I'll have to readdress the patrols and add more guards to Zuko's residence.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I whipped out the water and caught hold of the assassin's hand, a girl surprisingly, pulling her back to unsettle her balance before Zuko swept out her feet and together we took her down as the guards appeared behind me. "Fire Lord Zuko! Are you hurt?" Zuko ignored them, poised ready to strike the assassin who was on the ground.

"Convince me not to take your life." He challenged darkly as I breathed a sigh of relief. He's okay, thank goodness.

"Go ahead! My family's been loyal to yours for generations. By getting rid of me, you would simply complete your betrayal!" The girl announced, taking me aback. This wasn't one of the usual Ozai supporters, in fact she seemed like she was just a teenager, maybe a year or so younger than us.

"Your family?" Zuko questioned in confusion, so the girl informed us that her father was the mayor of a place called Yu Dao, one of the very first Fire Nation colonies which Zuko recognised. "Yu Dao, the first of the Fire Nation colonies…"

"Yes, my home!" The girl was suddenly on her feet so I reached out with my good arm to grab her, my dark expression warning her not to get too close to Zuko so she stepped back but still glowered angrily at Zuko as she spoke. "Now you and the Avatar are going to destroy it with your precious Harmony Restoration Movement!" So she wasn't an Ozai supporter, but an anti-harmony movement activist. Just great, this is exactly what we needed right now. I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose, having hoped that I could keep these people a secret from Zuko but I guess it was out now.

"Kayo? You knew there were people against the movement? I thought you said everyone was leaving peacefully." Zuko turned to me, brow furrowing as I straightened up.

"People are leaving peacefully. Those who refuse to leave also do it…peacefully." I chose my words carefully. "You have enough on your plate without worrying about this, I didn't want you to stress more. I've been handling it with the ministers, we agreed it would be aversive to your wellbeing if we gave you more concern about the movement."

"So you kept it from me. You had no right to make that decision!" He yelled, making me jolt slightly. It's been a long time since he's raised his voice at me, I'd forgotten what it was like. Shaking it off, I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You're not sleeping, you barely eat, and that's just with ordinary problems the Fire Lord face. You entrusted the directing of the movement to me, so that's what I've been doing to the best of my ability." Clicking my tongue, I looked at the girl down by my feet before jerking my head towards her. "Lock her up, make sure she doesn't escape. Looks like we'll be paying a visit to your hometown and your father. What's your name?" She pouted and glared away from me but answered all the same.

"Kori." The guards picked her up and took her away, leaving Zuko and I alone. For a moment there was a tense silence between us, still angry that I'd kept him in the dark over the protestors.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"Either when the protestors acquiesced or I came up with a solution so you wouldn't have to worry."

"That's not a decision for you to make! I am the Fire Lord, and I need to know what is happening in my nation and the colonies." He stalked forwards and for a moment, I felt a flash of fear. Zuko had been growing more unstable recently, to the point where I was afraid he'd snap. The lack of sleep was starting to get to him and you could see it in the dark circle under his eye. "The next time I find out you kept something from me, you'll be placed under house arrest and a full investigation launched."

"Zuko, I was just worried…"

"You don't have to worry about me. Apparently, I don't need you. You're just somebody I'm used to having around, but maybe you're right about something. Maybe I can have you replaced just like that." Slicing out his hand to drive his point home, I stared up at Zuko as he towered over me. I wanted to cry. I wanted to run away. In fact, I wanted to leave the Fire Nation altogether, but I stayed still, forcing myself to root myself down so that I didn't act like a coward and faced Zuko head on with every shred of courage I had.

"We'll go to Yu Dao, find out the truth, then deal with the situation accordingly. Goodnight, Fire Lord Zuko." Bowing with the one hand, I then turned and walked away from him slowly, feeling like the world was spinning away underneath my feet. "Guards!" The elite guards were there in a millisecond, fully dressed in uniform as I paused at the alcove which led to Zuko's residence garden. "Protect the Fire Lord, cover all entry points, and find out how that girl got in. If this happens again, there will be court martials involved." With my orders given, the elite guards quickly followed my directives as I then left, ignoring the fact that I could feel Zuko glaring into my back all the way until I was gone from his sight, allowing me to find a quiet place to sob quietly to myself where no one could see me.