Summary: Once her quest ended, Kagome's sealed in the Tree of Ages for eons, possessing a different element of bending that only she was known to have mastered. Once Aang is freed from the ice, she finally reawakens. Kagome sets out to find the Avatar to fulfill her task. Butting heads with a hot-headed prince wasn't wise, sure, but falling in love with him was worse! Too bad she did both.

Pairing: Kagome x Zuko.

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks written in bulk Italics.
Lacks canonicity.

Prologue

A group of men from the Fire Nation's army rested underneath a large tree. It offered generous shade and served as a nice resting place during the hottest part of the day. They spoke among each other, only to go silent when an odd aura seemed to appear out of nowhere. They rose to their feet as it grew heavier and heavier.

Without a word or reason, the bark of the massive tree's trunk began to split seamlessly down the middle. The men that had gathered below it for reprieve from the sunny day scurried back, prepped and posed to attack should something come forth from it. It was silent, the only sound being that of the wood splintering apart.

Soon enough, a pink light burst through the crack in the tree and the massive trunk finally split open wholly. Once it had, a woman with porcelain skin tumbled from the tree's center. The moment her feet touched the ground, she fell to her knees, bracing herself on her palms as she fell into a seated position.

Long locks of raven hair cascaded over her shoulders. They pooled on the ground around her, covering her otherwise nude body. That silence remained for a few seconds before she finally let out a quiet noise- a hum of confusion.

She settled on her knees, a soft whine falling from her lips as she lifted a hand to rub the side of her head. As she looked down, Kagome was able to notice that her body was entirely bare. Blue eyes adjusted to being open, but they widened the moment she looked up. They landed on a weapon aimed directly at her, and she let out a startled yelp.

The group of men in front of her were all prepared to attack her the moment she moved, and Kagome automatically moved her arms so they covered her chest. When she did, the scar on her hip became visible in a moment's glance. The pink glow in the center of blue eyes was such a damning giveaway, just as that scar was.

To most who heard the story, she was often treated as a myth. The Scared Guardian. She was made out to be a gentle and kind ally, but she was also made out as a powerful foe and destructive force to her enemies. Bearing knowledge of the four bending elements, as well as a style that only she had mastered.

The story told of how she was sealed within the Tree of Ages, but the reasons for why had gotten lost to time. After enough time went by, she was counted as a myth, but it would seem that there was some truth to that old tale. If even a little bit could be proved, then who knew how much of it was really true.

"Don't move!"

The harsh voice stole her attention, and she turned annoyed eyes up to the group of men. They hadn't lowered their weapons, despite her lack of movement.

Her eyes narrowed, that glow becoming sharper. To her ire, her abilities had yet to stir from the stasis they'd been placed in the moment she got sealed within the tree, and that meant that she, regrettably, didn't have much of a fighting chance to get away on her own. Not yet, at least. If she bided her time, then maybe…

"From this moment on, you are a prisoner of the Fire Nation!"

Her eyes widened as she heard those words. Her annoyance rose as she bolted onto her feet, no trace of fear in her eyes. "Excuse you?" she stamped her foot, her hands curled into fists at her side. Her hair covered her body from view, the long locks falling to her ankles.

His weapon aimed for her was snatched by her in a steel-tight grip, her hair lifting as a heavy, powerful aura boiled up around her. The moment she touched it, it was enveloped in lethal, searing hot, blue flames. It burned to cinders rapidly. When his was destroyed, the other men circled her, and she let out an annoyed growl.

She couldn't take all of them on, not now. Not in her current state. She bit her lip hard enough it drew blood.

She felt the handcuffs get fixed to her hands, and she let out a low growl.

"Damnit."

She was escorted between the men. There was at least one on every side of her, leaving her no opportunity to try and flee. Irritation rested on her face, clear as day, as she listened to them speak.

What a thing to wake up to. Annoyance bubbled up inside of her as she reluctantly moved. They hadn't even given her anything to wear! Talk about rude!

One of them asked her a question, but she entirely ignored him, not even bothering to register the words he'd just said. She turned her nose up when he looked at her. Just wait… Once her abilities were finally fully woken up, she'd given them a piece of her mind! She'd make sure to make them regret their spur-of-the-moment decision!

A familiar aura brushed along her senses, and her eyes opened in a faint show of astonishment. She didn't let her surprise shift her expression any, but she did watch the sky. A second later, a smile bloomed across her face.

She knew it would be only a matter of time before she found her!

A loud roar came from the sky, and the men came to a halt. Kagome smiled at them and giggled. "You probably should've thought this through a tad bit more before you lot decided to commandeer me like this."

The one in the front, most obviously the leader, whirled around and glared at her. Historically, not his wisest move, she figured.

"What are you up to?" he questioned, seeming to accuse her of the noise. Kagome tilted her head to the side in response, eyes widening innocently.

"Oh, I'm not the one behind that," she responded, nothing but sincere honesty in her voice. A second later, without so much as a warning, something swooped down from the sky and swept him up by the back of his collar. As he screamed, Kagome smiled. "That would be her doing," she said at last.

The men with her all glanced up, their focus landing on the massive, saber-toothed cat that had just soard off with their leader. They watched, stunned, as she dropped him into the river they'd been walking beside. He got carried away by the fast-moving current as the cat landed on the ground between Kagome and the rest, her fur bristling.

Although baffled, the men stood their ground. Kagome hummed and arched a brow. She held her tongue when they fell into familiar stances, Kirara eyeing them as she stood directly in front of Kagome.

They attacked, flames and embers alike rushing towards them. Kagome threw a barrier up around her to protect herself. Kirara had no need. The fire wouldn't phase her at all. The fire died down, and she could feel their confusion when neither of them seemed to have been bothered by it.

Their best attempt was their Fire Bending, and Kagome giggled when they were taken aback when none of their attacks had even phased Kirara. She peered out from behind her. Her smile was a taunting one.

"Fire won't work on Kirara," she said. "She's a fire cat. Her element is fire."

As she let her barrier fall, Kagome stepped around Kirara. The steps she took forward were greeted by them taking one back. She came to a halt and hummed in confusion. A few seconds ticked by, and she soon shook her head. The moment she felt it she decided not to dwell on these men any longer.

"Well, I'd say it's been fun, but that'd be a lie," she said, her tone dry. Her full abilities had finally reawakened, and at the perfect moment, too. She suspected it to be due to the jewel inside her, choosing when to finally let them be freed. A small smile remained beaming on her face as she broke the cuffs binding her wrists with a powerful burst of her energy. Once her hands were free, she turned her focus back to the men.

She fell back into a stance imprinted to memory, holding her hands in a specific angle. Water began to spiral up from the river beside them, and with a sharp cry, she slung it towards them with as much force as she could muster. They were knocked back, some slamming against the trees surrounding her.

Kagome sighed and shook her head as she looked them over, waterlogged and motionless.

"You seriously expected me to waste my energy on you bunch of fools?" she snorted. She had seen it in their eyes- they had expected her to use her own style on them. "I just got my full abilities back. Let's face it, you guys are sooo not worth all of that," she said.

She received no response in return, and she smirked. On quiet feet, she made her way to one of the men on the ground. She yanked his cloak from him and promptly tore it. "By the way! I'm taking this," she muttered coldly. A second later, she got to work on finding a way to make her idea work.

She wrapped the bulk of the fabric around her body much like a towel. She tied the corners into a tight knot over her chest. She took the piece she'd torn off in her hands, and once she'd tightened the cloak around her hips, she tied the smaller piece around her as a makeshift belt in order to keep it closed and firm against her frame.

"Not perfect, but… it works, I guess," she hummed softly. Kirara came over to join her, a joyous rumble coming from her. It was as if she was agreeing with her, and Kagome smiled brightly. "Thanks!"

She turned her head up to the sky, watching the clouds for a few long seconds before she ultimately looked away.

"Okay, time to find that person, then," she said. With a soft sigh, she tapped her chin, recalling clearly what Midoriko had instructed her to do. "I should be able to sense them, right?" she questioned herself. As she said that, the jewel inside of her pulsed in response, as if answering her question. She nodded and looked at Kirara. "Well then, we should be on our way, huh, girl?" she asked. Once again, Kirara rumbled in agreement.

Kirara allowed Kagome to mount her back, and a second later she took to the skies. Neither Kagome nor Kirara spared the fallen men a second glance.

Not long after they left, one of the men picked his head up. A second later, he let out a relieved sigh.

C.R: This is a story I've been wanting to do for a while now. So glad I got this chapter finished and ready to post! Chapters will get longer as the story progresses.

Kagome's past will be told in flashbacks and info on that will show up soon!

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Reivew&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~