Author's Note: Greetings everyone! I come to you with what was supposed to be the second half of the last chapter, revised of course due to the original draft getting lost in cyberspace.

But that's in the past now. All that matters is that this chapter is up for all of your enjoyment.

I'd like to classify this as a transitional chapter, setting up for something bigger to come. What exactly is that, well you'll just have to figure out!

I thank all of you who've given Reviews, favorites, and positive feedback is what gives me the inspiration to write the way I do! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, have fun reading, tell me your thoughts, and I'll see you all next time!


A Trip to the Market.


To say Zuko had been out of his comfort zone would have been an understatement the second he and Katara stepped foot in the lively port town. Pushing his way through the late day crowd while Katara clung to his arm was something completely different. He felt as if he had been pushed so far out of his comfort zone he had reached somewhere new altogether, and that place was filled with frustration.

The whole idea of his self-imposed seclusion was so that he would never had to be put in a situation where he would be interacting with people on a grander scale than he'd need to. So being pushed about by complete strangers in an attempt to browse the various stalls and stands at the market was something he had never prepared for, and while he had initially felt fear, all he could feel now was just how flustered he had become.

Every few steps or so he'd glance back, catching a worried look from Katara, and feel her grip his arm tighter. She was trying to reassure him, but all Zuko wanted at the moment was some breathing room.

" Hey Lee...We can go back to the Inn and wait for this crowd to die down some if it'll help… "

Zuko grunted. " I'll be fine...Just gotta get a little more space is all… "

Katara knew the second they stepped foot into the market district that she had made a horrible mistake suggesting they go. Unbeknownst to the waterbender, the various and numerous visitors and denizens of the town became highly active as the sun began it's slow descent.

Just her luck. Trying to get Lee to keep his mind off whatever was putting him down, only to drag him into a situation like this. " Smooth move Katara… "

Her stare that had been fixated on the back of Lee's wrapped head slowly fell. She hadn't needed to pay very much attention to where she was going, her arm was still wrapped snugly around Lee's in an embrace that she deemed appropriate enough to bring him comfort. She would just let him act as her eyes while she drifted into thought.

" No need to get yourself down Katara...We just gotta find an emptier part of the market, do some browsing or find something to keep his mind occupied till it's time to return to the Inn...I just wish I could have seen an emptier area! Darn it, why did I have to choose thi- "

The mental rant had been cut short by the feeling of Katara's shoulder brushing roughly against something much larger than her.

" HEY! Watch where you're goin' ya brat! "

Katara quickly turned her head, her eyes widening when she found the owner of the boisterous voice. It was a mountain of a man! Standing easier three heads taller than herself. " I...I Apologize...I wasn't looking where I was going and… "

" I don't care what you were doin'! Nobody bumps up against me! "

He loomed over her like a hurricane cloud over a seaside village. It was at that moment Katara regretted losing her waterskin when Zhao caught her. Without it or any water within a feasible distance, she was little more than a meadow vole compared to the behemoth of a man.

" She said she was sorry, so back off… "

" Who said that?! "

Zuko stepped forward, his visible eye cut in a glare sharper than either of his swords. The flock of ongoers surrounding them grew silent, watching intently for a ruckus to break out. " I did. Now back off already… " He spoke gravely, eyeing the man down without a shred of nervousness or fear.

" And if I don't? What do ya think you're gonna do?! "

Zuko's hand crept towards his swords, grasping hold of their conjoined handles. " Why don't you find out for yourself… "

Breathlessly, Katara watched the exchange, and to her shock it was the larger man who was losing ground in the verbal confrontation. The sweat running down the side of his bald head and the twitch in his hands were dead giveaways to Katara. " H-he's utterly terrified of Lee! "

At that moment Katara could feel the hostility pouring of Lee as he glowered at the much taller man. It was the same feeling she had gotten when he fought the night he rescued her. Had he been wearing his mask at that moment, she doubted the man would have had second thoughts about talking to Lee with the tone he was. " L-Lee… "

She wondered. Was this is what Lee was really like during a hostile encounter? What he was like under that mask? His eyes so full of piercing focus, unblinking, almost as if frozen in that fear-inducing glare.

" I won't say it again...Back off and walk away, she already apologized, so be a decent person and beat it… "

The man audibly gulped, hands trembling as he stepped away from the bandaged teenager. " Y-you're lucky my crew ain't with me...O-or you'd be in for it! "

" Bring them then...It won't matter to me. "

" I-I…I will you punk! D-don't you dare think I won't! You'll regret this! "

They watched wordlessly as the large man quickly turned away, dashing off through the crowds far faster than either of them could have imagined he could. " Muscleheaded Moron… "

And then it was done. Katara could no longer feel the air of intimidation that had shrouded over Lee. It would seem that with or without the mask on, Lee was still the blue spirit, and to everyone but herself it would stay that way for now. " Thank you Lee...I'm sorry for causing that… "

He glanced back at her, raising his brow. " Why are you apologizing...That jerk was the one who started it. "

They resumed their stroll through the crowded street, only now it had seemed so quiet. People stepped stepped away as Lee approached. Had they all witnessed the "confrontation"? And if so, did these people fear Lee?

It just didn't make sense to Katara. Sure Lee might look intimidating when he's deathstaring someone down, but that didn't make him a bad person. " Well...At least I know you're a good person Lee. "

" Ignore them… "

Her eyes widened. He hadn't even been looking at her and could still seemingly read her mind. " H-how did you know I was… "

" You got quiet...If them being quiet wasn't bothering you, then you would've just said something. "

For someone who's field of vision was almost constantly cut off by the limited area of his masks eyeholes, and possibly even his scar, Lee was incredibly observant, more so than Katara had previously thought. " Sorry...It's just that...You're not scary...To me at least, so why do they fear you just cause of that little spat with that jerk? "

" People will often fear what they do not understand. And what they do not understand, is more often than not something they perceive by appearance. It is this twisted perception that often fills a person with fear...Perhaps it is the same reason the Fire Nation uses the uniforms they do...Striking fear in the heart of an opponent by using their own perceptions against them… "

Zuko's hand had absent-mindedly drifted towards the edge of his face as they walked, his fingers, hovering close to the bandages that concealed his disfigurement. " They don't know me...You do...Somewhat. "

" So? What does that have to do with it? "

" They don't know me, so they fear me based off what they can see...Nothing more, nothing less. " Zuko grew quiet, inclining his head as they managed to finally push their way out of the crowded section of the market.

Katara's mind momentarily raced, filling her head with images of Lee walking into a village without his mask, without the bandages. The thought of people staring at his scar, judging him based off of it alone, it angered her, but saddened her at the same time. She knew that they wouldn't have known better, but also knew that Lee didn't deserve that treatment because of something he couldn't control.

Now that they had escaped the droves of staring individuals, Katara could finally return her focus to her original intention for suggesting the trip to the market. And not a moment too soon, as occupying Lee's mind seemed more important than ever after that.

Thankfully the stalls that had attracted the lesser amounts of attention seemed leagues more interesting than the ones set up by produce and supply merchants. Such varieties in their inventories, each item having its own degree of uniqueness. " Hey...Hey Lee, why don't we have a look around here...You might find something that catches your…Eye. "

So, that was Katara's game. Zuko gave a fleeting smile under his wraps. When they first stepped out of the Inn, she had stated her reason for wanting to go out of her own curiosity. Considering he had been in one of his "moments" when she brought the idea of going out up, it should have been obvious as to her true reasoning.

" You know, if you wanted to keep me distracted...All you had to do was say "hey let's go for a walk " A little fresh air always seems to clear my mind. "

Katara froze in her steps. She had been figured out, not that she had actually intended on it being a secret, but in her mind she felt that if she didn't tell Lee she was helping then it would work out better in the end.

" I just sorta figured that doing something else would keep your mind off of whatever was eating away at you… "

" Thank you Katara, most people would have just let someone like me soak in their melancholy...But you genuinely care. Thank you ."

Katara's mouth opened, but no words came out, and by the time she had found something to say, Lee had already stepped away and towards one of the stands. " You're so kind Lee...You've helped so many people. You don't deserve this kind of treatment… "

It hadn't mattered what she spoke, Lee was already out of earshot, his attention caught by a glass case containing who-knows what. A dismal sigh left her lips, but she forced herself to smile. " At least he's keeping himself occupied. "

The lone eye of Zuko peered through the transparent sheet of glass that made up the lid of a container. Within said container, rested an assortment of trinkets, baubles, and smaller antiques, some of which were labeled as coming from other nations. An old Air Nomad statuette of a six legged bison, a whale bone hair piece from the Northern Water Tribe, a clay figurine from the Earth Kingdom and the last thing to catch his eye, an aged comb that hailed from the Fire Nation.

Unconsciously, Zuko found his eye drawn to the old bronze comb. His gaze running over it repeatedly, taking in every last scuff and rust mark on it. It had to have been at least eighty years old, but for one reason or another, he couldn't pry his eye away from it, as if he had seen one just like it at one point in his forgotten life.

And suddenly, his mind was flooded with images for the first time in a year. Images of a place he had no recollection of, a long hallway, filled with paintings, statues, and glass cases containing brazen and golden pieces of various shapes and sizes, one such piece being a comb, not too dissimilar from the one he had just been looking at.

" You know Zuko, my mother used to have a comb just like that. She told me it was an heirloom from her mother, a gift from my grandfather. "

A wave of disappointment washed over Zuko. He could see himself looking up towards his mother, making out the shape of her body, the beautifully crafted red robes she adorned, but her face, he still couldn't see her face.

" I remember her telling me she would pass it down the day I married...I suppose the never expected what had actually happened to take place...Oh, I'm sorry sweetie, I was just getting caught up in my memories...It happens the more you grow up. "

Zuko smiled a genuine smile under his bandages. His mother had no idea just how right she was, especially in his case.

" Lee? "

Zuko's shoulders went stiff, his smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, and he felt his breath hitch, all from Katara's unanticipated touch. He had drowned everything out and the sudden contact had yanked him from his thoughts like a fish reeled from the water. He turned to Katara, finding her wearing an expression full of concern.

" Lee. Are you alright? You just spaced out for a moment… "

" Yeah...Yeah I'm fine. Just, thought I remembered something was all. It's nothing. "

Her concern grew as he turned back to the display case. He was most certainly not fine, and she hadn't need to listen for that voice crack to tell. Something deep inside just seemed to tell her " He's not alright. He's hurting on the inside. " And the thought hurt her, but she couldn't just say that, could she?

As Katara was buried deep by the mountain of worry she had built up, Zuko had managed to push the matter to the back of his mind, and refocus on the variety of items laid out before him. His hand, slowly reaching out, hovering over what appeared to be a necklace, fashioned from a leather strip, smoothed bone, and a faded gemstone that was seafoam blue in color. Something about the piece of aged jewelry gravitated Zuko towards it.

" Ah, I see you got quite the eye for purchases lad, no pun intended, of course. " The older jubilant stand owner gave a broadened grin as he eyed the bandaged youth. " That there's a one of a kind. "

" One of a kind you say? "

" Aye, I do say. My grandpappy passed that down to me, said he bought if off some Water Tribe fella from the south who was fleein' his homeland, needed some coin to make the trip up north. Course my grandpappy never could sell it, not many people out this way are too interested in trinkets like this one. "

Zuko eyed the piece intently, glancing back at Katara momentarily. " It's really from the Southern Water Tribe? "

The owner nodded. " My grandpappy were many things, but a liar he weren't. Swear on my honor that it's the real deal, and since you've taken such an interest in this old thing, I'll give you a special offer. Five silver pieces, and it's yours, I'll even throw in that old comb you were eyein' before your lass pulled you away. "

Why was Zuko even contemplating this offer. They hadn't a need for such trivial and unimportant things such as these, and money was in limited supply, but something deep within him was calling out for him to accept the man's deal. Without another word, Zuko reached into his back, grabbing his makeshift coin purse, and extracting from it, the five silver Earth Kingdom coins, putting them down in front of the merchant.

" Deal. "

" It's been a pleasure doin' business with you lad. "

" You know Zuko, I myself am known to occasionally peruse through various stalls and stands when passing through a market. "

Zuko groaned on the inside as he scooped up his purchases. Had this impulsive buy he made been influenced by the memory of Iroh? Or was it just the market itself that took hold of Zuko, pulling him in until he made a purchase. Oh well, what's done is done, and Zuko wouldn't go back on it now.

Katara had remained in the spot Lee had left her, still mulling over the great concern she had for him. Too lost in her own thoughts of Lee to notice the boy in question making his way to her side, hand grasping some unseen object.

A sly smirk formed on Zuko's unseen face. He had caught Katara tangled in thoughts, just as she had done to him. It was time to see how she liked being startled back to reality. As silently as possible, Zuko crept to Katara's side, taking a quick peek at her face, just to make sure she was zoned out.

" Hey Katara. "

Like a squirrel toad, Katara shot up, jumping away from Lee out of pure shock. " L-LEE! D-don't do that! "

But her "request" fell on deafened ears. Ears deafened by the spirited laugh that came from Zuko's mouth. Too preoccupied with his reaction to Katara's frightened bounce, Zuko, with his lone eye shut, failed to take notice of the "puddle" hovering over his head, not until it was too late.

SPLASH!

In what had been a literal blink of an eye, the disguised teen had been completely drenched in some rather muddy water. It was Katara's turn to laugh, and laugh she did, so much so that she was hunched over, arms wrapped tight around her abdomen, pointing at the soaked form of Zuko.

" OK…Maybe I did deserve that. "

" O-Oh you bet your mask you did...Y-you should have seen the look on your face when I dropped that water on you! "

The sight of Katara laughing so merrily filled Zuko with a foreign warmth, and he cracked a smile as a result. " Yeah...I definitely deserved it. And I think you deserve this Katara. " Extending his hand out, offering out the hand which was still clenched shut, Zuko looked on at Katara, who had halted her laughter to investigate what he was offering her.

" Wow Lee, I've always wanted my very own hand. " She gave him a playful smile.

Zuko rolled his eye. " It's what's in the hand Katara...I'd hate to see you during a birthday. " Slowly, and purposefully, Zuko's grip over the necklace lessened at a snail's pace, just to build up anticipation.

When Katara's cerulean orbs fell upon the piece of Water Tribe,she could have sworn the breath had been sucked from her body. Every last sound around her had been drowned out, leaving her in a veil of silence that only her heartbeat permeated.

Settled in Lee's hands, and the source of Katara's current state, a finely aged necklace, Southern Water Tribe in origin, that much was obvious to Katara. Instinctually, Katara's fingers ascended to her barren neck, desperately grasping at the necklace that had once rested there. This one, though several decades in age, and beginning to wear away by the treatment of time, was not too dissimilar to the that had once belonged to her mother.

" ...Lee… "

Her eyes, still rested on the piece of jewelry, slowly rose to meet Lee's gaze. He had been staring at her, no doubt watching her emotions rise to the surface of her glistening eyes. Reading people so effortlessly was a gift that Lee possessed, a gift that Katara so desperately wished he lacked at this moment. It wouldn't have mattered, the tears building up at the bottom of her eyes would have been a dead giveaway regardless.

Wordlessly, Katara lifted the necklace from Lee's hands, move it to her neck, and tying it securely. With the strap wrapped around her neck, Katara's hands returned to where they had once been, this time grasping the necklace's charm.

Zuko had remained silent, by choice of course, as he'd quickly come to realize that Katara needed a moment to process everything. But he had wanted to speak, wanted to call out her name as he watched the tears welling in her eyes.

That changed in a flash though. Suddenly the desire to call out Katara's name and comfort her faded, all at the sight of the wide smile she was sporting. The sudden force of Katara's body hitting against his as her arms encircled his torso was nearly enough to knock the swordsman off his feet, just nearly. And the feeling of her warmth melding into his was enough to bring a bright blush beneath

" H-Hey, Katara! What's gotten into you?! Is it the necklace...! "

Katara's grip was like that of a vice, holding him tightly in the embrace of gratitude. " Yes...Yes it's the necklace...Well not this one, I mean...It's not that I don't like it or anything, cause I do! It's just that...Oh this is hard to explain… " She sighed.

" Try me. I kind of run the market on " hard explanations " You know, what with the whole amnesiac, masked, vigilante swordsman thing I got going on. "

He was right, and Katara knew it. If anyone knew anything about loss, it would be the person who's lost everything, memory included. Another sigh escaped the waterbender's lips. " This necklace...I think it's a very sweet gift, it's something from my tribe and that means a lot to me...It's just that...It reminds me of the necklace that...That I used to wear, it was my mother's and it's the last thing I have of her...The last thing left after she… "

Zuko refused to let her finish. He could feel the pain pouring off her as she forced each last word out, so to put a stop to the aching words, Zuko returned the girls embrace. " It's alright...I understand, really I do. "

" It doesn't feel alright...I lost it a week or so back...We were running away from the Fire Nation then… "

" Ah. I see not much has changed in that time. " It was his attempt at trying to lighten the mood, a poor one, but an attempt no less. " Sorry… "

But rather than reprimand him, or give him a scolding look, Katara answered his attempt with a smile. " Yeah...I guess it hasn't. "

Though had she accepted the humor with stride, Zuko could see it in Katara's eyes, just how much the absence of the necklace was eating away inside her. Just as the absence of his memories had been doing the same to him, only there was a major difference between the two circumstances. Zuko's memories had to come back on their own at their own pace, and he had already accepted this, but Katara's necklace could be found and retrieved with enough time and effort.

" I don't know how much it'll mean, but...Katara, I'm going to find your mother's necklace. I don't care how, but I will...Consider it my way of saying thank you...For being my friend, and in the meantime...You could uh, wear that one...If you want to I mean. "

Katara's already tight embrace only grew tighter as Lee spoke. In all honesty Katara should have been curious, yes she and Lee were already in a budding friendship, and she felt as if she could trust him with her safety in the short time they had traveled, but what reasoning did he have to assist her with a matter so personal. And yet, that supposed curiosity was absent within her, she had simply accepted his words as a promise, one he had full intentions of fulfilling.

" Thank you Lee...For everything. " Leaning closer, Katara pressed her lips against Lee's bandaged cheek. It was a chaste kiss, one meant for gratitude and nothing more, still, it felt nice, feeling Lee's warmth against her lips. The only thing nicer than that, the stunned look in Lee's eye.

Speechless. Zuko was absolutely speechless upon feeling the peck against his wrapped cheek, turning his already flushed cheeks and even darker shade of red. Thankfully the bandages that cloaked his face concealed any and all signs of his blood red cheeks.

" Oh and Lee? "

Zuko's astonishment had led him to fail in noticing that Katara had pulled away from him, and had started on without him. His eye moved in the direction her voice had came from, widening when they laid upon Katara, who was standing in the open path, one eye shut, tongue sticking out, and Zuko's coin purse dangling tauntingly between her fingers.

" Thanks for letting me pick what we by next! "

And she was off. Dashing away from the befuddled swordsman, laughing as she went.

" K-Katara! That's all the money we have! Get back here! "

The merchants and various customers that witnessed the duo sprint off together couldn't hold their smiles from what they perceived as young love in a world so devoid of such heartwarming things.


As it turned out, Katara's purloining of Lee's coin purse had merely been a ploy to get Zuko, as well as herself off the very depressing topics they had previously been focused on. And it had been successful, both she and Lee were now in the midst of surveying and stands they passed by.

Whether they actually bought anything or not hadn't seemed to matter at that moment, as the two travelers just seemed to be enjoying the moment, and to them that was all that mattered.

Currently the two were standing next to a cart covered in decorative festival masks of diverse shapes and sizes.

" Hey Lee check me out! " Katara grabbed a rather familiar, blue theater mask, placing it on her face. " I'm the Blue Spirit, Fire Nation beware! " She spoke with an exaggerated gruffness before bursting out into a fit of giggles.

A roll of his eye was Zuko's reaction. " Hah hah, very funny… " I do not sound like that… " He grumbled with a pout.

" Oh come on Lee it's just a joke, besides...You kinda do when you're all serious. "

Well that was enough playing around with masks for Zuko, grabbing Katara's wrist, he proceeded to guide her away from the mask cart. " Let's get moving, we're losing daylight and I really don't feel like spending the rest of said daylight getting teased. "

" Don't be like that Lee. It's just harmless fun, me and Sokka do it all the time. " Katara smiled, reminiscing over the playful spats she and Sokka would get into before letting their laughter run rampant.

At the same time, Zuko was focusing on just how foreign this "fun" was to him. The few moments of free time that Zuko had back in the forest had generally been filled with exercise or getting a little travel time. Nothing recreational ever seemed to have come up, not unless he counted practicing with his swords as "recreational". Against his better judgement, Zuko searched the recesses of what memory he had, looking for something Iroh said that could help him understand "fun".

It was safe to say that he had found what he was looking for with little effort. And to his surprise, it was a fairly recent memory, one from just before Iroh's disappearance..

" You know Zuko, it never hurts to relax every now and then. Your whole life could pass you by and you'd never notice if you keep so busy. You're still young, and a little fun and relaxation can be a world of good for a growing body. "

Right, now Zuko remembered. That had been shortly after he took up the mantle of "Blue Spirit" full time, pushing everything aside, including his desire to reclaim his memories. Iroh had told him he was pushing himself too hard, and he would regret it later in life for failing to find proper time to "kick his feet up". Of course being as stubborn as he was at fourteen, Zuko just pushed the older man's wisdom to the furthest corner of his mind and resumed his training.

Thankfully in the time since then his eyes had opened just a little more to the world around him, and thanks to Katara, they were opening a little more each day.

" Hey Lee, check that out! " Katara's excitement was visible as she ran ahead, pointing at a rather peculiar boat. Fire Nation in original, but lacking any of the banners or regalia that most wooden merchant ships tended to adorn. " It almost looks like the boats we have back in the Water Tribe, only it's a little slimmer. "

" Not all Fire Nation ships are hulking masses of metal. They typically save those for military usage, wooden ones like these are generally put into use for merchants and people carrying cargo. "

" So you're saying this boat is like a big market stall? " Katara's eyes widened slightly with mild amazement. A floating store sounded so silly, but at the same time it was something that Katara wanted to see, now that she thought about it.

" That's right little miss! This fine ship is the only floating boutique where you can find bargains like you've never seen before! "

The unexpected voice from behind her made Katara jump towards Lee, it was starting to become a habit. Quickly swiveling around to see the boutique's barker, a tall, thin man with a thin mustache, bright pink lips, a green headband, and large hoop earrings.

" What a weird looking guy… " Both teens thought in unison.

" So you're telling me you're a merchant? "

" Me? No. The captain is the real owner of our "establishment" but I wouldn't exactly refer to him as a mere merchant. He's more of "high-risk trader" If you catch my drift. " The man winked.

Zuko grimaced. " Yeah...I think I do. "

But the winks true meaning passed Katara by completely, rather she looked on with childlike glee at the idea of checking out this "floating store". " Come on Lee, let's go look around! "

" Yes Lee! " The barker said with such untrustworthy enthusiasm. " You and your lady friend go, browse our wares, you might find something you like! "

" Yeah...Maybe I will. " Zuko mumbled, eyeing the man as he followed Katara into the ship.

Once inside, the duo took immediate notice of the "uniquely decorated interior. Full of varying items, trinkets, baubles, and curios from all over the world, some of which even Zuko had little clues to their origin. Well he had one clue as to where any of it originated from, and he didn't exactly like it. But he wouldn't say anything, not yet, Katara seemed to be having fun looking around the ship's interior, like a child in a sweet shop.

He would let her figure it out on her own, in the meantime, Zuko would keep his eyes peeled for the "captain" and owner of this "establishment" .

" Look at all this stuff Lee, it's all so interesting. " Katara's eyes did several sweeps through assortment of items strewn about the ship. Then she saw it. The insignia of the water tribe, jutting out from a shelf holding a variety of scrolls. " Hey Lee...Check this out… "

Zuko turned to Katara, skimming his eyes over the scroll in her hands. The scroll itself was finely aged, kept in impeccable condition, and seemed to depict waterbending. " This scroll is from the Water Tribe… " Stolen no doubt.

And thankfully, Katara picked up on it. Cutting her eyes in a sickened glare. This scroll belonged to her people, but here it sat in a strange ship, full of strange objects. " This doesn't belong here… "

" You're right. It doesn't " A hand came from above Katara, slipping the scroll from her hands, and rolling it up. Standing before them was no doubt the Captain. Dressed in a long garb and tunic, with a hat befitting a pirate atop his head. " You see this scroll belongs to a buyer further north. It was our next destination after "added" a few more items to our stock. "

Just as Zuko had gone to respond, a noise reached his ear, a small, weak noise, but noise nonetheless. Turning his back to Katara who had a few choice words for the "proprietor", and stepping towards the back of the room, where the sound had come from.

Zuko could hear it much clearer now. Whimpering. The pleading cry of an animal of some kind, hidden under a cloth tarp.

" That scroll doesn't belong to you! "

" Maybe not at first, but it does now! Just as everything on this ship belongs to me. "

" You mean like this? " Zuko said with a raised voice, yanking the tarp from a cage, revealing an animal, small in size, sharing the features of an arctic fox, and serval cat, small kit face, rounded kitten ears, it's slender spotted white body wrapped in a fluffy tail. No older than infancy, and here it was locked in a cage, nestled in the back of a pirate's ship.

" Yes. Especially that. "

" Oh really… " Zuko glared. " Even if I offered to pay full price. "

The pirate captain barked with laughter. " Maybe if you were royalty lad. That their serval fox kit is worth more than this whole stinking town. You can only find them in captivity or sanctuaries ever since their home in the air temples became graves, so greedy nobles from all over the world will pay top coin for these little trophy animals. "

" But...It's just a baby! You can't just… " Katara clenched her eyes shut tightly, gritting her teeth. " You can't just take it from its home and family! " She screamed, bringing her fist down with rage. In response to the sudden burst of emotion, the sea beneath the ship became violent, rocking the boat about with sudden viciousness, as if they had been out during a storm.

Zuko needed to stop Katara. He knew that kidnap and slavery wasn't something beneath pirates, and a waterbender wasn't something seen all that often, one with a price on her head no less. " That's enough Katara! " He gripped her wrist, pulling her to face him, and stopping her rampage prematurely. " There's nothing we can do...Let's just go… "

" B-but Lee… "

" Yes, I think it'd be best for the two of ya to shove off. " The captain spoke with a scowl, putting the scroll back in it's shelf, and throwing the tarp back over the cage. " You're not payin' customers, and you've nearly damaged my ship, get outta here before I lose my sense of generosity, You got till I get back to be gone! "

They watched the captain trudge off to another part of the ship, and with him gone, Katara slowly reached for the scroll, planning to sneak it out in her sleeve. At least that had been the plan, one that was cut short by Lee grabbing her other wrist. He slowly shook his head, silently telling her to let it go. She begrudgingly agreed, stomping off the ship with him in tow.

It wasn't fair! Not only did that scroll belong to her people, but she could have used it to learn more about her bending. And then there was that serval fox kit, trapped in the cramped cage. The thought of it, so far away from its home, its family. Its mother. It all boiled inside her, like a kettle over a raging fire. " Why… Why did you stop me Lee...And why didn't you try saving that animal...Why!? "

His head had been lowered, as he glowered at the ground. Even with only one eye visible, his scowl had an intensity to it, an intensity so great that Zuko had to keep his stare on the ground, lest he give others a reason to fear him.

" ...It just wasn't a situation we could handle Katara...There were other pirates hidden all over the ship...We were in the moose lion's den. Listen, I hate it as much as you do...I love animals… " He had always loved animals.

" Remember Zuko, you have to be careful when feeding the turtle ducks. They're beautiful, but fragile creatures when they're that small. "

" Let's just get going...Before I get mad… "

So they went, silently plodding back through the less lively market, and back to the inn. \

Katara had remained quiet the entirety of the trip, not speaking a word to Lee, or even herself. She was just too mad, so mad that not even the kindly innkeeper, Anju could get a word out of her. She had been too, too scared to open her mouth, lest she say something she'd regret.

And what part of her wasn't scared, was too deep in thought. Too busy thinking of ways she could have saved that kit, or grabbed the scroll when no one was looking. But Lee had been right, the situation was just one the two of them couldn't win, conditions considered.

She sighed dejectedly, glancing towards Lee who was standing in front of the shut window. She'd had enough of today, and needed to clear her mind, and she had decided that rest was the only thing capable of that.

" ...Goodnight Lee… "

Zuko had simply kept his eye on the shutters that hid the window. He'd have bored a hole through it, had he the ability. He was waiting, waiting silently, but impatiently. The only thing in his head at that moment, were the frightened eyes of that kit. There were no attempts to dissuade him from his memories of Iroh, no tries to soothe him by his mother's voice. Just those sad, aching eyes, fueling his gradually building resolve.

He'd waited almost an hour to ensure that Katara had soundly dozed off before removing his bandages. Glancing to his left, Zuko saw a mirror, and to his relief, he could only see two things, his silhouette, and oddly enough, his eyes. The golden amber orbs, piercing through the veil of the coming night like the flickering of a candle.

Slowly, his mask rose in his hands, ascending towards his face, concealing it, but never hiding his fire-like eyes. The eyes, so filled with determination, filled with the desire to punish the ones responsible.

He opened the window, stepping up onto the windowsill, and propping himself out the window. There was one last glance he gave Katara, he had told her he'd share the bed with her, keep her safe as she slept, but he couldn't. Not tonight. There was something else he had to tend to something else that required his protection. It was an idea that had cemented itself in his psyche the moment he left that accursed ship, an idea that no amount of persuasion or promises could intervene with.

This was the only chance he'd have. Those pirates would be gone by morning after what had happened. Making it official in Zuko's mind.

Tonight was his best chance to strike.

Tonight was his only chance to save that kit.

Tonight the Blue Spirit would be on the prowl.