After a long night of rest, Iroh was right. I did feel better. My condition only improved after a long bath and the chance to wash my hair and enjoy the heat of the water, then eating a large breakfast where I just couldn't stop eating I was so hungry and everything tasted so delicious. "It's good to see you eating with your old appetite. Eat as much as you like, there is always more." Iroh said to me, giving me more helpings as I sniffed and rubbed my eyes.

"You're so good to me Uncle Iroh, I don't deserve it."

"Of course you do, little Kayo, because I say you do. I think of you as one of my own, and I shall always treat you as such." He said to me, rubbing my head as he sat next to me. "My Lu Ten would have loved a little sister like you. I wish there were a way for you to meet one another."

"Perhaps there is. Who knows what happens to our spirits after death? I'd like to meet your son too one day, he must be very proud of his father." I smiled to Iroh as I lay my head down upon his shoulder to rest for a while, taking a break from eating. "I love you too, Iroh."

"It was a blessed day when we came upon you in the middle of the ocean, little Kayo." We stayed like that for a while until it was time for Iroh to open his shop, so I put on my old uniform which he had kept for sentimental value and joined him. There was a certain peacefulness to a simple way of life such as this. I was kept busy enough that my thoughts did not stray but not so much that it became exhausting. It was pleasant and familiar, and in my mind I was beginning to think I might just stay here in the Earth Kingdom.

If I went back to the South Pole, it would be too quiet and I'd get trapped in my own thoughts of all I'd left behind but this, this was perfect. I began to feel like myself again, healing more in the space of a day than I would have managed in a hundred without Iroh there to offer me subtle advice in ambiguous proverbs he had tucked away. It was the best day I'd spent in over a year, and as the time came to close, I couldn't help but smile peacefully to myself as the quiet lull of the evening followed the bustling business of the day. "Thank you for your help today little Kayo, it is most appreciated. This time of the week is always the busiest."

"That's because your tea is the best in all of Ba Sing Se. Everyone wants to try it." I responded lightly, beginning to collect up the cups when I heard the whoosh of air and looked out the doors to see Katara and Aang land, looking panicked as they rushed inside.

"Kayo! It's bad, it's really bad, it's terrible!" Aang yelled as he threw up his arms, barely able to get the words out. "Everybody's gone crazy, there's no peace in this at all!"

"Sweetie, you're not making any sense. Let me." Katara told him, lightly touching his shoulder so that he would move back. "King Kuei has decided not to meet with Zuko, instead he plans on using his military to force the Fire Nation citizens to leave Yu Dao and all the other colonies that are refusing to leave. Kayo, we need your help. Will you come with us to try and talk to Zuko once more? We can't let this escalate into another war, otherwise everything we've worked for over the past year will be gone."

"Zuko has always listened to you in the past, maybe this time if all three of us try to convince him, he'll listen." Aang agreed as I gripped onto the edge of the table for support, feeling the crushing weight of pressure return. Why couldn't the world resolve it's own problems? This didn't have to have anything to do with me, I could just stay here with Iroh and ignore it all. I could lead a good life, a simple life. I could find myself a decent guy to marry and start my own family, or I could continue travelling and set down my own roots when I found somewhere peaceful and solitary. I didn't have to do this. I can always say no. "Kayo?"

"I'm not going." I decided, my fingers digging into the wooden table as both Aang and Katara gaped at me. No. I can't ignore this, not when I know that I can help, when there are so many people like me, born of two nations, who were about to lose their homes because a few people couldn't damn well learn to just get along nicely. "I'm staying here, and I'll go talk to the Earth King. I'll do my best to calm him down and advise him, whilst you go and warn Yu Dao of what's coming. I'll keep King Kuei from doing anything too drastic, but be aware he may still move his troops as a precautionary measure." Both of them sighing, my friends smiled to me as I straightened up and drew up my shoulders, looking at them with resolve and decisiveness. "Just promise me that no matter what happens, don't follow up on your promise to Zuko."

"But if he's going to start a war, I may not have a choice…"

"There is always another way, Aang. Killing Zuko won't solve anything, as another person would just be elected Fire Lord and they may be an even worse choice. Zuko is lost and confused, but once he finally finds inner peace, he will be the best Fire Lord my nation has ever seen. He needs you, Aang, not as the Avatar, but as a friend, to help guide the way. Find. Another. Way." That was my one and only request, because despite it all, it wasn't easy to kill off feelings that had been allowed to develop over two years. I needed time for that, but right now, I still cared about Zuko and didn't want him to die.

"I promise. I'll find a way." Aang vowed so I allowed myself to relax a little, going over to them both in order to embrace them.

"Good luck." Sending them off with a smile, I then turned to Zuko, allowing the façade to fall away since I wasn't afraid to be myself around him. Already I felt exhausted, but when Iroh offered to go with me, I shook my head. "No, I think King Kuei might get nervous if you came with me. He might thing we were ganging up on him. One girl alone is non-threatening, and I get along well with Bosco. I'll do what I can. I just hope it's enough."

"You are very strong, Kayo, but do not wear yourself down to the bone. Rest more tonight as it is too late to do anything now, and go to see the king in the morning." Agreeing that this was a good idea, I helped close up the shop before I walked home with Iroh, my arm linked through his and already planning out my entire strategy and thinking of alternative ways for everyone to live together in harmony. Perhaps this world really has changed too much to go back, so that leaves going forward instead. Let's just hope I can think of something before it's too late.