Author's Note: So I realize it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I have my reasons with the primary one being a sudden surge in my stress levels. I realize that these are troubling times and I've felt my fair share of problems brought about by everything going on. But even with the world falling apart i found it within myself to keep writing, just not at the pace I was accustomed too.

This chapter was initially supposed to be twice as long, but rather than burn myself out from writing it all at once, I opted to writing a separate chapter. Probably better for multiple reasons.

Anyway I decided to do something a little different this time around. I thought I'd ask you all a question regarding the main ( And obvious ) pairing of the story. For most good romances, a good build up is required, but at the same time, spontaneous ( spontaneous referring to the growth of the relationship, not two characters just suddenly deciding to get together ) can also be beneficial to writing a decent romance. So I'd like to take a sort of a poll I guess you could call it.

With the big question being: When would you, the readers, like to see the flowers of romance bloom? Should it be sooner, not right away but not like ten chapters later. Or should it be drawn out a little more, give some more build to the budding romance.

I'll leave all with that for now, I can't wait to see your responses! Until next time, I'll see you all then!


Fortune's By the Fire


Going from town to town had quickly become a regular part of Zuko's life early into his career as a vigilante. Big, small, rich, poor, it didn't matter to Zuko what type of place he went, so long as he was needed, he would go. However, no matter how well traveled Zuko was, there would always be places he'd never been too, and this place, Makapu Village, was one of them.

But that didn't mean Zuko was completely unknowledgeable outside of the places he'd been. Word travels far and wide in the Earth Kingdom; people coming from all ends of the continent to pass on information, news, rumors and the such. So he'd heard many things in his travels, and the name 'Aunt Wu' had been one he'd heard occasionally, but nothing more than that.

So to find out that this is where the name originated from intrigued Zuko, perhaps more than it really should have. After all, the idea of being able to see into the future was a bit far fetched even for someone who'd seen his fair share of oddities in the world. But then again, the spirits had a habit of proving Zuko wrong, so on the off chance that there was even the slightest bit of truth behind this Aunt Wu, Zuko would keep his judgments to himself.

Katara on the other hand, was just as, if not more elated upon walking into the village, than when they were on their way. She'd kept her arms wrapped tightly around Yuki, not too tight to hurt the kit, but not too loose that he could find any comfort in her 'embrace'.

The village itself was none too special, larger than the previous one, but smaller in comparison to the trading port. What did stand out however was the massive stone structures that towered over the southern end of the village, resting against what Katara could only assume was a mountain.

Everyone they passed looked relatively happy, far happier than most other places. It was like they were oblivious to anything going on in the world around them, as if they'd been given the best news of their lives and nothing could bring their attitudes down.

Each person greeted them, whether it be a friendly wave or a great big 'WELCOME!' It had been more than enough to put Zuko off.

" Well...This is...Unsettling… " He murmured aloud.

" Skreh… " It seemed that in terms of being around people, Amka was in the same boat as Zuko, perhaps the only thing they had in common in Zuko's book.

Yuki and Katara however, being the shining beams of sunlight they were, returned each and every greeting they received. " I know you don't like being around so many people Z-Lee...But everyone here seems nice enough, maybe just for once you can let your guard down? "

Utter silence…

Of course Katara should have realized that Zuko never took his guard down, even when they were enjoying a nice warm meal. His posture practically screamed 'expect the unexpected' and in a way she found it cute, but in another way it was worrying. " Oookay...Can you at least try and relax a little, for me? " She made sure to add the 'for me' at the end because Katara had picked up on the fact that Zuko rarely, if at all, did anything for himself.

It was saddening to Katara that someone with so much love and compassion in their heart, was unable to express it towards themselves.

A loud drawn out sigh was the sign that Katara's request had been accepted. " I'll try...But I won't like it… "

" Lee….. "

Another sigh. " Alright...Alright...I'll try my best to not dislike it… "

Katara shook her head, but smiled. It was certainly better than nothing, especially considering their location. After learning that it was the idea of being seen and turned in by others, was what Zuko feared, Katara had begun making a mental shopping list of potential disguises for him. His Blue Spirit mask was out of the question; Even in a festival it would have been a bad idea. And his bandages could only take so much wear and tear before they started falling apart.

Then it hit her. They were in a town, and towns had markets. She'd described her thoughts as a 'shopping list' of sorts, so why not take advantage of the timing of the situation. " Oooooh Leeeee… " Katara called his alias, her eyes slyly glancing towards some of the small market stands.

" Katara...I know that look in your eye… " The look he was speaking of was the very same one she'd gotten when they reached the port town. It wasn't that shopping was a bad thing, on the contrary, Zuko had often found that purchasing small, minute items, something to act as a distraction, was therapeutic in a way. But with so little in terms of funds to their names, reckless spending was the last thing they needed.

Thankfully though, the ensuing 'argument' was put on hold by the abrupt surge of people pouring into the town's center. Gathering around what was essentially the village's largest building. Everyone wore some degree of eagerness, from joy-filled smiles to ecstatic grins; if Zuko had been unsettled by their cheerful demeanor before, he was straight up disturbed now.

" ...Any idea what's going on? " Katara leaned towards him, asking while eyeing the building the townsfolk surrounded.

With no real answer, all Zuko could do was shrug. " Unless they're gonna burn it to the ground, and just look really excited about it...I got nothing. " He saw how Katara turned to him, looking with the same scolding gaze a mother would give a child who'd just acted up. " What? "

" That's not funny Zu...Lee! "

Zuko blinked. " What's not funny? " He had been completely serious with what he'd said, having seen similar occurrences take place in his past travels.

It took Katara a decent second to realize that Zuko was in fact, not joking; Zuko never had been one for joking around. 'Always the serious one' She'd thought in the past. So the knowledge that he'd actually witnessed such a thing filled her with a sort of sadness, one that only came from realizing how far some places in the world have actually fallen.

Before Katara could say another word on the matter, one of the villagers had stepped towards them, having overheard Katara's question. " It's that time of day is what's going on. " She said cheerfully.

" That time of day..? "

The villager nodded. " The time for Aunt Wu's daily cloud reading. It's like a fortune telling but for the whole village...Aunt Wu is so amazing...And there she is! "

Stepping from the doors of the rather ornate building, was an older woman, around the same age as Biyu was. It was easy to tell that for someone who lived in such a small village, that she lived for the higher things in life. Her outfit was an excellent source of proof; yellow in color, almost gold, made of silk most likely, not to mention the gold hairpiece she sported in what was an older, but still traditional hairstyle.

She carried a hefty looking book in his right hand, and standing to her side was a girl with the strangest hairstyle that Zuko had ever seen.

Zuko's eyes settled back on the old woman, giving a half scowl all while pondering her validity. " So she's an old lady...Who has the ability to see people's futures… " His eyes darted to Katara, who had joined in on the villager's enthusiastic watching. " And Katara thinks she's the real deal...Without even having proof… " He paused, not even caring to listen as the woman started on about the clouds, being too preoccupied with thinking of how to approach the situation without upsetting Katara.

Just as Zuko was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, Katara wrapped her arm around his, smiling brightly. " Did you hear all that Zuko?! " She made sure to 'whisper' due to the fact that she was too excited to try and call him by the faux name. His silence was enough to tell her that he had in fact, not heard what Katara had. " Of course you didn't… "

" S-sorry… " Zuko apologized. " Just...Sorta spaced out… " It wasn't a complete lie. He'd told Katara shortly after they started their travels that he was prone to blanking out every now and then, a side effect of having a mind blanketed in a perpetual fog.

A small sigh escaped Katara. " It's alright, nothing to get upset over. It's just that Aunt Wu was saying that the clouds said today was an excellent day to discover something new! So maybe while we're here you might remember something. "

Katara always seemed to speak with a hopeful smile when it pertained to his memories, one he desperately wished he could return. But rather than dwelling on the fact that he himself could not have Katara's optimism, decided to try and make light on the moment. " The clouds told her that? Huh… " He looked up, bringing Katara's curious gaze with him. " Well I'm no fortune teller or anything...But the clouds are speaking to me too, and they say it's gonna rain sometime soon. "

" Skreh… " Amka, being covered in feathers that tended to get heavy when wet, didn't exactly like the idea of rain.

Seeing the unease in the ostrich horses' eyes, Katara stepped over to her and started stroking her beak in a calming fashion. " That's very funny Zuko...It's alright if you don't believe her, but I for one do. "

" Hey now...I never said I didn't believe her… " He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. " I just…Need to see her...Gift...Firsthand is all… "

That seemed to bring an even brighter smile to Katara's face. " Well if that's the case, then you won't mind if we take a little stroll on over to have our fortunes read, will you? "

" No...I don't mind at all. " Was what Zuko said, but this belied what he was actually thinking at that moment. " ...I get the feeling that I don't have much of a say in it at the moment… "

She smiled.

That was the reaction Zuko wanted. He'd always wanted to see Katara smile, no matter what he had to go along with the keep it maintained.

That included indulging in things as questionable as fortune tellers.

" Just let me find a stable we can put Amka up in...You can't exactly leave a monster like this out in public...Who knows what kind of havoc she could ca- "

" Skreh! " Amka cried out, thrusting her beak towards Zuko who jumped away from her assault in a rather comical fashion.

" Stop doing that! "

" Yip! "

Katara stepped between the two, holding Yuki in her arms. " Yuki's right, you two need to calm down. " Handing Yuki to Zuko, she took Amka's reins and started walking, leaving Zuko standing there. " Don't you listen to him, Amka, he's just not used to having such a pretty girl like yourself around. " The affectionate coo that came from the large bird was enough to tell Katara that she'd calmed Amka down.

While Zuko wanted to follow Katara just out of sheer habit, he figured it would be better for his health if he avoided their ostrich horse for now. His eyes drifted down to the kit in his arms, finding Yuki looking back at him, almost in an accusatory manner. " Oh come on, don't you look at me like that. You know she started it. "


By the time Katara had returned, Zuko had managed to get himself pulled into a staring contest with their serval kit, one that humorously ended in him losing each time. It had certainly been a sight for Katara to find the bandaged teen sitting at a table with their small animal, fuming over the fact he lost another game.

Being caught by Katara had only served to worsen the feeling of embarrassment that losing to an infant animal brought with it. She'd teased him, telling him "how cute he looked when he's bonding with Yuki. " And while it may have not been teasing to most people, to Zuko, that's exactly what it was.

So because of Zuko's little bonding moment, the walk to Aunt' Wu's residence had been a quiet one.

" Come on Z-Lee, why can't you just admit it was cute. "

Well, mostly quiet. Katara had made attempt after attempt to lure Zuko into conversation, to no avail. Apparently a little teasing was all it took to clam him up, if only for a little bit.

At least that's what it looked like on the outside, inside Zuko's mind was another story. He'd tuned Katara's attempts at conversing out, choosing to focus on the dream that had set them off in the direction of this little town. " That thing...It sounded like me...It moved like me...And...And it talked like it knew me… "

" That's because it does know you…That's because it is you... "

It was a voice from deep within, one that called out to him, one he chose to ignore or he would have. Just as Zuko was about to shove the voice back into the depths, the feeling of tugging on his sleeve reeled him in from his thoughts. Shaking his head, Zuko turned to whoever was doing the tugging, finding Katara standing in front of a rather ornate door.

" We're here, hey come on, don't go dazing off before we can get our fortunes told! "

" I don't really have much control over that and you know it… " Zuko muttered, rubbing his head in hopes to soothe the coming headache.

But Katara didn't hear Zuko's hushed gripe, she'd been too busy knocking on the door with more than a little enthusiasm. There was no initial response to the vigorous knocking, leaving a brief moment of silence that threatened to dash Katara's hopes of getting her fortune read.

" Katara… " Zuko said, reaching out to Katara in hopes of consoling her should her hopes be dashed.

That was when the door swung open, revealing the same girl that had stood next to Aunt Wu during the cloud reading. With tan skin, wild pigtails, and a noticeable tooth gap that gave the girl her own unique, youthful appearance. " Hello? How may I help...You are sooo pretty! "

The girl's eyes practically twinkled as she stared at what could only be described as Katara's natural beauty. It wasn't something Zuko was unfamiliar with, he'd learned in his travels that women often display blatant envy when met with another woman who was arguably more attractive. And while Zuko would never admit it out loud, he could understand why the girl would have that gleam of envy, Katara was an incredibly attractive girl.

But when envy was present, so too was what he could only describe as innate hatred. Not the type that would drive someone to kill another person, usually, but the type that could drive one to do something questionable should specific circumstances crop up.

Thankfully now wasn't one of those circumstances.

Despite the clear envy in the younger girl's eyes that stemmed from her inferior appearance, she kept a hospitable attitude as Katara eagerly asked if they could see Aunt Wu. The girl, named Meng, ironic in Zuko's opinion, glanced back at him, before almost immediately darting away. She was looking for something else to envy Katara over, and found nothing besides fear when glancing upon the bandaged swordsman.

" O-of course I can take you to Aunt Wu… " She spoke, less hesitant to keep the two of them waiting. Sometimes being intimidating had its perks.

They'd been led into an open room, one that was furnished rather traditionally. " Please...Wait right here while Aunt Wu prepares to see you.. " She said before making a hasty retreat.

" She's such a sweet girl. " Katara beamed, oblivious to the negativity hidden behind the girl's sweet words.

Zuko, not one to start an argument over something trivial as a little girl, decided not to way in on the subject. Instead he'd find something else to talk about, it's what he usually did to avoid less-than-savory conversations.

" ...This Aunt Wu lady seems really well off...This place is the size of a mansion… "

" These people love her. " That much was evident. Just from what he'd seen with the cloud reading he could tell that they practically worshipped the ground she walked on. " It's only right that they give back to her for all the good she's done. "

While Katara hadn't spoken with any secondary connotation, her words struck something inside Zuko. These people gave back to this woman because of how she filled their lives with joy and happiness on a regular basis. She showed them what they wanted to see in hopes that their lives would go on as if the world around them wasn't falling apart. Meanwhile Zuko was constantly out there, actively trying to hold that world together, and all he'd ever received was scorn and propaganda-laced falsities that depicted him as some kind of demon.

" ...Must be nice… " He muttered quietly.

But apparently he hadn't been quiet enough. Katara's gaze was on him now, and it held a combination of pity, and pure sorrow. She'd always thought he deserved so much more for everything he did; how many non-benders could say they'd single-handedly saved entire villages before, could say that they'd faced down the Fire Nation with nothing but two swords and a mask. None to her knowledge.

And yet even with all these kindnesses under his belt, the world held so much disdain for the Blue Spirit, which means it inadvertently did the same for Zuko.

" ...Zuko… " She reached her hand towards him, taking his into hers. He held a distant look in his eye, the same one he wears when trying to get away from reality. Her mouth opened to speak, but stopped when she saw his eye dart towards the same door Meng had gone through, causing Katara to follow his gaze.

" Aunt Wu will see one of you now… "

Without hesitating, Katara sprung up, taking one quick step, only stopping to look back at Zuko. She'd completely forgotten to ask if it was fine if she could go first, or even if he would be alright. " Z...L...Lee...Do you mind if… "

He nodded, giving a half-hearted smile form beneath his bandages. " Go on ahead...I'll wait out here with Yuki… "

She accepted his answer, albeit reluctantly, following Meng through the sliding door, leading her to a larger, ornately decorated chamber. Stepping inside she saw Aunt Wu preparing a cup of tea, only to look up at her with a smile. " Please, take a seat. "

And Katara did just that, and with childlike wonder, her eyes drawn to the fire sitting in the center of the room before rising to meet Aunt Wu's. " I'm so excited to meet you, Aunt Wu! You see we met someone on the way into the village, and they told us about your gift and I wanted to see it first hand for myself! There's so many things I've been wanting to know! "

The blue-eyed girl's enthusiasm brought a tender smile to the fortune-teller's face, it warmed her heart that so many others could come to her for a little light in their life. " Alright now, try to calm yourself now, miss Katara. "

Katara's breath hitched, and her eyes widened. " H-how did you… "

" An interesting pair of travelers paid us a visit not too long before you showed up. One of them was a stubborn oaf that bears quite the resemblance to you, and happened to let your name slip. Someone you know? " The older woman mused.

Soaking in what she was hearing, Katara's eyes fell to the fire once more. " ..Sokka...My brother… " Looking up once more, she saw what looked to be sympathy in the woman's eyes. " He was here..? "

Aunt Wu nodded. " He was. He and the Avatar saved our little village from an erupting volcano. Of course. " She stopped momentarily, a faint smile gracing her aged face. " Ah yes, the young Avatar. He asked a few questions pertaining to a girl, asking about her safety and such. I'm to assume he has no reason to be worried? "

" ...No...I'm fine. " She did her best to smile, still mulling over the fact that they'd just missed them by a mere few days.

The older woman took Katara's hands into her own, turning them so that her palms were upright, carefully looking them over, still smiling. " And I'm to assume the gentleman with the bandages is the reason you're confident with your safety? " The question seemed to have caught Katara off guard; fortune teller or not, she'd only just met the woman, so the fact she knew of Zuko startled her. " Easy now, dear. I know everyone in this village, so when someone new attends one of my cloud readings, they tend to stick out, especially someone as unique as that. "

" Y-yeah...Lee is...He's special...But I worry about him...I-In fact, he's one of the reasons I wanted to meet you! "

" Oh? Then please, tell me Katara, what can I do to help you. " Aunt Wu said with a kind smile.

This was it, an opportunity to help Zuko in some way, or at least, that's what it was in Katara's eyes. If Aunt Wu's gift was real, then perhaps she could shine some light on how Katara could help him regain his memories. All she had to do now was find a way to word his situation without giving too much away; Zuko feared that even the slightest slip that pertained to either of them could lead the Fire Nation their way, and so she would respect his wish for reticence.

" Well...Lee is...He… " She stopped, and swallowed hard, trying to find her words. " ...He suffers from amnesia...When I first met him, he remembered so little...But ever since we started traveling, he's regained bits and pieces...Small tidbits of memories here and there...But… " Pausing once more, Katara found her eyes glued to the fire, thinking back on the nights Zuko had spent tossing and turning, racked with nightmares, nightmares born from memories.

" ...But...No matter how much he remembers...It's as if it's only making things worse for him...Like the more he remembers is hurting him… " Lifting her head, she met Aunt Wu's attentive stare with pleading eyes. " ...So...So I want to know...Will we ever...Will we ever find a way to cure him of his affliction...Will we ever free him from the nightmares...And if so..How...Can...Can you show me, Aunt Wu? "

The elderly woman remained silent for a good deal of time, her eyes moving down to Katara's hands, slowly running her thumb across the light brown skin of her palm. The silence worried Katara, it made her think that there truly was no answer, so to hear the woman's voice with not even a warning, caused Katara to jump.

" ...So much kindness in one heart. So much love for an injured soul… " She spoke somberly, shutting her eyes as she continued running her thumb across Katara's hand. " This...Lee...The world has mistreated him, hasn't it? " The Water Tribe girl nodded. " ...A soul so damaged can rarely ever heal. " She could feel the girl stiffen solely through her hands, no doubt filled with more fear, fear that would soon fade. " ...But...For those with strong hearts, and someone to care for them...Recovery is possible. "

The fortune teller opened her eyes, smiling warmly at the younger girl. " Continue to travel with Lee, and he shall recover before your very eyes...The process may be arduous, and he may want to give in at times...But you will be steadfast in guiding him down the path of recovery, I can see it. "

Almost instantly, Katara's face lit up. She could've sworn tears pricked at the corners of her eye, threatening to fall into the fire below. " Y-you really mean it...I'll...I can help Lee..? "

She nodded, continuing to smile at the beaming girl. " You can. In fact I believe you are the only one who can. "

With a newfound resolve in her heart, Katara shot to her feet, a grin brimming with zeal spread across her face. " Thank you so much, Aunt Wu! I'll do my best for Lee's sake! " She spun on her heels, ready to rush out of the room, when she felt a soft, but firm hand grab her wrist.

" One moment please, Katara. " Aunt Wu said, releasing the girl's wrist. " I would like you to send Lee in, I'm quite intrigued about this young man that you're so worried about. "

" O-of course… " Katara said hesitantly, knowing that Zuko wouldn't exactly be all that happy. Whether he believed or not wasn't the issue, it was the fact that Zuko disliked directly speaking to someone unless absolutely necessary, with herself being the obvious exclusion.

As if she could read the Water Tribe girls mind, Aunt Wu gave a knowing smile. " Don't worry. If I can put up with your brother's skepticism, I can stand this young man's just as easily. " Seeing Katara let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave the room. " Oh and Katara. There wouldn't happen to be any other fortunes you'd like told, like any pertaining to love perhaps? "

Katara froze in her stride.


Quiet. Everything had become incredibly quiet since Katara had stepped foot behind the sliding door. It wasn't as if Zuko didn't appreciate silence, in fact it was one of his many favorite past-times; There wasn't anything more peaceful than enjoying the peace and quiet that came with a summer's night, add in the ambiance of nature and the crackling of a campfire, and you'd have found Zuko's ideal way to pass time.

This silence however was that of the awkward kind, mostly due to the fact that he was being eyed down by a little girl. The gap-toothed, pig-tailed girl had started eyeing him the second he walked in, eyeing him as if he were some sort of criminal.

" Just ignore her Zuko… " He had told himself.

But ignoring someone who was staring at you was a nearly impossible task when you'd practically trained yourself to tell when you were being watched. It was a sort of loud silence, the kind he'd tended to avoid, and yet there would always be situations that were unavoidable.

To try and cope with his less than comfortable situation, Zuko had put his attention on Yuki, who up until then, had kept himself occupied with batting at the pillow tassels.

It must've been so nice to be Yuki at the moment. No amnesia, no worrying thoughts, no responsibilities, and not a single care in the world. All that mattered to the kit right now was the clump of decorative string being passed back and forth between his paws.

Still, the sight of the young animal acting so carefree brought an obscured smile to Zuko's face. " You're really something you know Yuki...The whole world is falling apart around you, and all you care about is getting some playtime in. " He silently mused, relocating his hand from his lap to Yuki's back softly stroking him. " ...I won't ever let anyone take that carefree attitude away...I promise… "

The sound of wood scratching against wood as the sliding door opened stopped Zuko from delving any deeper into his thoughts. Gazing up, he saw Katara, whose own eyes were practically glued to the floor, a healthy shade of red spread across her face.

" Ka-tara..? " There was only a hint of confusion in Zuko's voice, with him being unsure as to why his companion was so red in the face.

Hearing Zuko's voice, Katara's eyes widened, her head shot up which she promptly shook in hopes of ridding herself of the blush. " Oh uh...h-hi...Z-L-Lee…"

He stood himself up, making his way over to her, head cocked curiously. " Is uh...Something the matter… " Getting a particularly mischievous idea, Zuko grinned, ready to take advantage of the situation. " The old lady told you something naughty didn't she…? "

Now that got Katara's eyes really wide, her blush returning even greater. Grabbing Zuko by the back of the head, and practically headbutting to bring him within whispering distance, was Katara's idea of a response. " ...Z..Zuko! " She hissed under her breath.

Zuko had to admit, while humor may have not been his forte for the most part, he did have some comedic knowledge. He could thank Iroh for that.

However, Zuko was certain that no memory at that particular moment. It was hard to think when you were really from pain, grasping at your forehead, that was something he could vouch for. " Ah...OWW! K-Katara...Don't you know it's not good to give an amnesia victim a concussion… "

He could also thank Iroh for just how bad his comedic abilities were.

Katara huffed, crossing her arms and glancing away, ignoring the light throbbing from her sore forehead. She'd admit, hitting Zuko's head with her own hadn't been a smart idea, not only did she run a slim, but potential risk of worsening his condition, but it also really hurt. " ...W-well I'm sorry...Now, if you're ready to stop acting childish… " She turned her head just enough to see his lone eye. " ...Aunt Wu said she'd like to talk with you… "

He blinked. " With me? " She nodded.

That was certainly interesting. Sure Zuko had his own intentions of seeing the fortune teller, they were less than enthusiastic when compared to Katara's, but he had them nonetheless. It was enough for an unusual feeling to start forming in the pit of his stomach, one he hadn't felt since he first met Iroh.

Stepping past Katara, and putting his hand on the sliding door, Zuko glanced back at Katara, if only briefly. " ...Hey...You take Yuki and go have a look around town… "

" A-are you sure? " The sudden request almost had Katara concerned. Zuko disliked being alone, especially with strangers, so for him to request that she leave him on his own, if only for a little bit, was mildly disconcerting.

" ...Yeah… " His tone of voice suddenly shifted, going from the playful Zuko that had just been present, to the serious Zuko that Katara was already so accustomed to. " ...I have a feeling this'll take a little longer than yours...So go and check the town out...Browse the market...I'll be fine… " He threw his coin purse over his shoulder, and right into Katara's open hands.

She opened her mouth to reply, but he'd already gone through the door by then. All she could do was sigh, going back to the sitting area, scooping Yuki into her arms, before finally leaving the building.


Gut feelings weren't something that Zuko got often, but when they did hit him, they hit hard. As if they were proverbial warning signs from the spirits he believed to taunt him so much. Zuko first received one when he awoke on that beach three years ago, being as wary of Iroh as he was about any stranger now.

But something deep down had told him to approach the jovial old man, that he wouldn't regret it. It was half right at least, he didn't regret meeting Iroh, but he had regretted growing attached to him.

He'd left without so much as a word, vanishing in the middle of the night, leaving a fourteen year old Zuko to wake alone. He could still hear the hoarse cries that ripped from the depths of his throat after learning of his abandonment. He could still feel the tears that burned against his cheeks, and he could still feel the anger that welled deep within his heart.

" WHY?! Why did you leave?! Where are you?! " His cries had echoed throughout the forest, and yet, no one but himself heard them.

Zuko's fist shook as he stood behind the door, thinking back to that day. He'd run for what seemed like forever, trying his hardest to follow any tracks that Iroh would have left. Zuko was an excellent tracker, and yet no amount of skill in the world could account for the rain that bathed the forest that day. Any possible tracks had been washed away, leaving nothing but mud and puddles; yet another cruel joke played on Zuko by the spirits.

The last thing he remembered before his body gave out from exhaustion, was reaching the forest's edge, looking out into the horizon beyond, seeing the endless expansion of land that laid beyond his forest, and collapsing. He pounded his fist in the cold hard ground beneath him, hitting the solid earth till his fist bled, and let out a cry that could only be described as being pure anguish.

" I HATE YOU! "

Those had been the last words he'd spoken to Iroh, even if the old man hadn't actually been there to hear him.

Just thinking back to that day shook Zuko to his core. It was the first time he'd ever felt abandoned, but worst of all, it had been the first time he'd ever truly been alone.

" Ah. You must be Lee. "

His eye widened, darting up to find the source of the voice. The "esteemed" Aunt Wu was standing in a doorway, no more than a meter in distance, her arms tucked into the opposite sleeves of her robe, while eyeing him quizzically.

" ...Yeah...And you're Aunt Wu… "

She smiled, nodding her head. " I am. Please, follow me. " She motioned for him to follow, and albeit reluctantly, he obliged. Her eyes followed the bandaged young man, watching as he seated himself in front of the fire. " Before we do anything though, I'd appreciate it if you removed those bandages and told me your real name. "

Zuko's shoulders went rigid, his eyes widened, and his body tensed up. Just barely looking back at the woman, he found her gazing at him with a knowing glare in her eyes. " H-how did you… "

" I can tell a fake name when I hear it. Especially when there's a body to put it with. " She smiled again, seating herself across the fire from him. " Although, it doesn't take foresight to tell that you certainly aren't a Lee, and you aren't in need of those bandages...So please, show me, and tell me who you really are. "

With the utmost hesitation, Zuko's quaking hand reached to his bandages, grasping at the edge of it, before pulling, letting the rest unravel into his lap. Aunt Wu's expression softened when her eyes laid upon his true face, and the sight of such an expression brought forth a sudden surge of anger within Zuko.

" Stop it! " He barked. " Stop looking at me like I need your pity! Cause I don't! " He hated being pitied, it was yet another reason he hid his face. People would see his scar once and immediately start to pity him, as if it would make things better. Katara had been the first person to ever look past it.

Aged brown eyes watched the fire intently, taking notice of the sudden shift in it's behavior at the swordsman's outburst. " You have to understand this...There is a fine line between pity, and sympathy… " She spoke somberly, raising her eyes to meet Zuko's. " The world has hurt you dearly...And i say this, not from looking at the wound on your face...But from looking into your eyes...They carry the haunted gaze that comes only from the harshest of lives, and yet, at the same time they carry the emptiness of someone who has lost everything… "

Her words caused Zuko's anger to dissipate, leaving confusion in its wake. He'd never once seen himself as being "hurt by the world" and yet, the world had never once done anything to try and help him. " ...What do you know about anything...What do you know about me...You're just some old lady who tells people what they want to hear so they'll forget about how awful the world really is… "

If his words offended her, the fortune teller didn't show it. Instead she continued looking at him, as if she were trying to peel away the layers upon layers of walls he'd built around himself over the years. " I know you're a hard headed, poorly tempered boy who takes things at face value. You harbor a deep hatred, not for the person who wronged you, but for yourself, although you refuse to admit it. " She stopped for a moment, watching as his body quivered with building rage. " But I also know that you've felt true kindness, and are capable of giving it back. You've already done so for that girl, Katara. Or at least she believes so. "

" K-Katara… " He murmured weakly.

" Yes. She spoke quite fondly of you… " She felt an amused smile tug at her lips from seeing the surprise on his face. " She wanted to know if there would be a way to cure you of your ailment...If you could ever have your memories back someday...The girl is kind….Too kind for a world so racked with pain and grief. "

" ...She is… " Zuko couldn't help but agree. Katara was the kindest person he'd ever laid his eyes upon. She was like something out of a storybook, or a dream, something too good to exist in a world filled with so much cruelty, and yet she'd somehow found her way into Zuko's life.

" You're not all that wrong, you know… " Aunt Wu admitted from nowhere. " I do tell people what they want to hear...But what they want to hear is exactly what I see...It may not look like it, but everyone in this village has suffered from the war, and while I can't completely rid them of the pain brought from such suffering, I can at least make them forget. "

" ...You find some sort of happier outcome for them...Keep them from focusing on just how terrible their lives are… " She nodded.

It had Zuko wondering, even if the woman was a fraud, or if by the possibility her gift was real, why would she go out of her way to help so many people. What did she have to gain? And then a question struck him, what did he have to gain? Why did he help others, because seeing them happy made him feel better?

Was that really Zuko's answer, or was it some subconscious reason he couldn't even begin to comprehend.

" I can only do so much for the people...You know this feeling yourself. " The fortune teller paused. " You never did tell me your name, young man...I may only be able to do so much...I may be unable to rid you of your ailment, or alleviate you of any deep questions you might have...But I can put you on the right path, show you the road to start on, if you would like. "

" ...Put me...Down the right path...The path to where..? "

There was a good deal of uncertainty within Zuko, a barrier built from doubts that he often hid behind. There'd been a number of times this wall of doubt barred him from performing a task, or helping someone. It was like a veil of sorts, weighing him down and stopping him in his tracks, a veil that for once, he would try looking past.

" ...Zuko...My name is Zuko… "

" ...Zuko… " Aunt Wu mumbled, feeling the name leave her lips. She muttered it at least two more times before finally smiling at the scarred youth. " Yes. That name is certainly more fitting than Lee, wouldn't you agree? "

He said nothing, finding his gaze stuck on the fire, the haunted look in his eyes more evident than ever in the fire's glow. Fire had been used to rob this young man of his innocence, of how he once viewed the world, but most importantly, of who he was. All that remained was what Aun Wu saw sitting before her now, a lost shell, desperately searching for some semblance of the person he once was.

" ...A truly sad life to live...Especially for one with so much love in his heart… "

" Please, Zuko. Allow me to give you a reading. " She reached behind her, grabbing a small bronze bowl and sitting it next to the fire.

Zuko's eyes shifted from the fire, to the bowl, seeing what looked to be bone shards resting in it. " ...What are those..? "

The old fortune teller grasped a large shard of bone between her fingers, lifting it to eye level. " It's called an oracle bone. I'll be using it to find the path you'll be taking. "

Right, magic future seeing bones. Although Zuko wouldn't openly voice his skepticism, he was in too deep to even do so if he wished to. " ...Alright...Do what you have to… "

Aunt Wu nodded silently, wasting no time in dropping the bone shards into the fire. Generally there was a brief period between the bones being placed into the fire and the fortune being revealed to the teller, this was not the usual case though. Almost immediately after being tossed into the minuscule fire beneath, the bones cracked and popped loudly, followed by the flames rising high, splitting into two separate pillars at the flames apex.

Zuko shifted in place uncomfortably, having to find all the restraint within himself to keep from backing away from the flames. There was one thing that Zuko would never admit to anyone, something that no one would ever guess based on how he lived his life.

He was afraid of fire. Not in the sense that fire itself frightened him, rather it was what fire could do. Fire destroyed, it consumed everything in its path, be it foe or the one who made it.

Fire had destroyed the left half of his face…

And yet despite this, Zuko still forced himself to fight fire bender after fire bender, still forced himself to single-handedly face down the most powerful nation in the world. Most would chalk it up to bravery, an attribute that everyone assumed the Blue Spirit had en masse. Others would chalk it up to stupidity, thinking he was just some fool looking to get himself killed in pursuit of glory or thrills.

Zuko however, would attribute it all to fear. It only made sense in his eyes. It is in human nature to try and fight that which you fear the most, fleeing could only take you so far, as all roads eventually come to an end. However, fighting your fears could be just as futile as running from them. " ...That's fine by me… " Zuko would silently muse, because in his eyes, fighting losing battles was what he did best.

From the moment he'd woken up on that beach, to what he could piece together from his memories, Zuko had been fighting uphill battles since he was a boy. And all the fear, doubt, and sadness that dwelled within him, could all be traced back to one element, the element he was staring at with fearful eyes this very moment.

Fire.


There were many things in the world that worried Katara. It was a well known fact even back home. The poles melting and her home being lost forever, the Fire Nation attacking while they slept and dragging her off in the night, and of course her brother seriously hurting himself while proving he's more than enough to replace the men while they were at war. She practically reeked of maternal worry, even though she was little more than a lass herself back home.

Losing your mother tends to force you to grow up rather quickly, leaving you to fill the role that was left empty. This was knowledge that Katara knew all too well.

And just like the pain of loss, concern was something Katara knew better than most. Even when separated she worried for her brother's safety, but at that moment while she silently made her way through the village's marketplace, she could only find herself worrying about one person.

" ...Zuko… " She sighed aloud, her brows furrowing as her thoughts came back to him. Since she'd met the amnesia ridden swordsman, he'd been the primary focus of her wandering thoughts. With the first few thoughts being her trying to figure out the enigma that was "Lee", trying to learn as much as she could about the youth behind the mask. Her perspective of him had shifted dramatically when "Zuko" came into the picture, giving Katara a better view of the broken soul that existed behind the fearful face of the Blue Spirit.

She'd felt genuine concern the moment he'd disclosed the knowledge of his amnesia with her, a concern that would only grow with every day she spent with him. But it was through this concern that she'd come to know him as well as she did, or at least, as well as she thought she did. She'd even gotten so close that she was gradually starting to decipher what each of his 'expressions meant.

" ….He looked so...Serious… " It was the only way she could describe the deep look that had been in his visible eye before she left. And while Zuko was generally a very serious person, while still possessing the ability to sprinkle in a tad bit of soft-hearted interactions and his idea of humor, he had never appeared as "serious" as he had then. She could only imagine that the 'look' she saw, was the same one he wore when under the guise of the Blue Spirit.

Another sigh escaped her lips as she absently stroked Yuki's soft fur. The kit's head was tilted to the side, one ear laid flat and the other standing. He couldn't understand why his human looked so troubled. Sure the clouds were gradually getting dark, but today had been so peaceful, even if the strange little girl from earlier had bothered his other human.

Katara's blue eyes locked briefly with the young animals, being enough to bring a half-hearted smile to the waterbender's face. " ...I'm fine Yuki, Just thinking about...Someone...Someone I think about a lot… "

" Ooooh! This someone wouldn't happen to be that bandaged guy would it?! "

If Katara hadn't been holding a fox kit in her arms, she;d had instinctively reached for her water skin. Instead she could only jump in place, holding Yuki close to her as she swiveled around to meet the owner of the intrusive voice.

" M-meng..? " It was the strange pig-tail girl from Aunt Wu's house.

" Yup, that's me! " She gave a toothy smile, giving Katara a perfect view of the adorable gap in her teeth. " I saw you skulk off after mister grouch went into Aunt Wu's chamber, and decided to join you. It's not often other girls my age come to the village. "

" ...It isn't? "

The twelve-year old shook her head. " Nope, so I take every opportunity I get to meet other girls, so I can tell when a girl is thinking about a boy. "

The girl's smile turned mischievous, giving Katara a good idea of what she was insinuating, leading to the poor girl's cheeks to turn bright red. " N-No! It's not like that at all between me and Zu….Between me and Lee… "

Meng's eyebrow rose inquisitively. Despite being twelve, she'd learned a good deal about relationships and the people in them. " Are you sure...Because you're doing a really poor job calling him by his fake name… " She noticed Katara wince, coming to the conclusion that "Lee's" real name, just like his face, was kept under wraps for a good reason.

" ...Even so… " Katara started, turning her flustered face away from the younger girl. " ...I doubt he even thinks about stuff like that...Lee...Has amnesia...His memories are his biggest concern...I'm just… "

" You're just a cute girl he travels with! " She cut in. " Listen, don't sell yourself short, I know couples...Even if I've never been part of one myself...And I can see all the signs that you two are the right fit to be in one! "

Just when Katara wasn't sure her cheeks could get any redder, she found herself proven wrong once more. " ..N...Now you're just saying stuff...Besides… "

" Besides nothing! Not many people go for the whole brooding, angry, jerk type...I myself prefer someone with a little less attitude and a lot less hair…. " Meng sighed dreamily, her eyes staring off into space before being brought back to reality. " That's beside the point though...It's obvious that he's your type...Sure he's got a few problems...Maybe more than a few...But I can assure you that you're his type too...Kind, caring...So gorgeous that you make other girls envious just by existing… "

" Uhhh...Thanks? I guess… " Even with the unusual compliment, Katara couldn't help but find herself soaking in the younger girl's words. And the longer those words floated around in her head, the more she could envision it.

Herself standing by the river, her travel clothes discarded, wearing nothing but the wraps she kept beneath. And then there he was, strong, rugged arms wrapped around her waist, his worn and scarred chest deprived of the tunic that generally hid it. His already handsome face made all the more attractive by his scar. Her arms thrown around his neck, soft hands gently stroking against his shoulders.

She could see them embracing so lovingly, their faces closing in, their lips, inches apart.

Steam practically poured from Katara's ears, her face flooded with blush, being so red that it looked like she'd been painted that color. " ...I..I Think I need to...To sit down… "

" You're right. " Meng chimed, taking Katara's hand and leading her to a nearby bench. " A seat does sound nice right about now. "

" Y-yeah… " Katara mumbled shakily.

She glanced over to Meng, regretting the decision almost immediately. The Fortune Teller's assistant was still smiling mischievously, eyeing the Water Tribe girl. " So I guess it's safe to assume I know one of your fortunes. Huh? "

Why that cheeky little-

Katara's train of thought was derailed by the familiarity of scent that the wind had carried towards her nose. It was a vile smile, one that formed a pit in Katara's stomach.

" ...Meng… " It was her turn to sound serious, taking the smaller girl's hand into her own and standing up. " ...I need you to go back to Aunt Wu's...Get Lee, and hurry… "

" What? Go back? Why?! " The little assistant whined.

Katara's teeth ground against each other as the smell became more and more potent, with the pit in her stomach growing larger with the scents potency. " Please Meng...You have to hurry! " Katara ordered once more, placing Yuki into the twelve-year old's arms before grabbing hold of her water skin.

" But why?! What;s got you so up in arms all of a sudden?! "

Water came forth as Katara uncorked the water skin, flowing freely around the bender's hands, her staring intensifying in the direction of the growing smell. " Can you smell it… "

Meng sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling with disgust almost immediately. " Yeah...I do… "

" ...It's smoke… "

Smoke.

Smoke meant Fire, and Fire on such a damp day could only come from one place. The sudden realization hit Katara like a bag of bricks, filling the young water bender with dread.

The Fire Nation was here.