She looked at him as he paced across the deck. "Are you ok?"

He didn't answer, but kept pacing. He was driving her nuts. For the past week, Zuko ignored the young woman and the closer they got to the fire nation, the more he distanced himself from her, not telling her of how the wedding would work.

She sighed, then left the room to find Iroh and ask him about this. It was starting to grow annoying.

"Iroh?" She went into his room, but didn't find him.

"Hiya!" Startled, she fell on her back and looked up to see her cousin.

"You shouldn't be here." Bit whispered as she dragged herself off of the floor. "You should be running. They want to capture you and you're just making it easy for them." She glared at him, but then her face softened.

"I want to make sure they don't hurt you Bit. You're the only blood related family member that I have left." Aang looked down shamefully.

"That's fine and all, dear cousin, except for the fact that they want to kill you." Her eyes watered slightly. "I need to find Iroh."

With that, she left the room after letting a few tears slip down her cheeks. She found the uncle, but he was talking to Zuko. She sighed and leaned her back against the ship.

Katara walked up. "What's wrong?" Ever since she realized that Bit didn't like Aang, she's been a lot friendlier.

"Nothing." Bit looked down at the robe she was wearing, tracing the embroidered fire patterns with her fingers.

She gave Bit a knowing look and dragged her into the empty dining room. "Is it Zuko?"

Bit's head snapped up. "How?"

"It's obvious. You're love-struck with the bastard. You've been down ever since he didn't answer your question to marry him." That was Katara's simple answer.

Bit looked down and fell to her knees. Once she looked up, Katara was gone. 'Wise one she is.'

Bit walked up to the deck to see the boat approaching Fire Nation. She shrugged when she saw thousands of people waiting. They were waiting for Zuko anyway.

Zuko walked up to her and tied her hands together. "Why are you doing that?"

His response was, "Stupid girl, I pretended. You're a prisoner so I can be honored and wanted by my father." He glared and her and tied the knots tighter.

"I can't honestly believe you felt nothing." She whispered, her head turning down as he tied her feet as well.

"I didn't and I never will. Oh, and I let the avatar go. He's not as good as you are to get my father's respect." He winced as he felt her touch his scar and slapped her. "Never touch me again."

She felt the bruise already forming as she was dropped down the ladder and heard bones break as she hit the ground. Her eyes widened in pain. She saw him climb down the ladder looking calm.

He picked her up by the hair and showed the crowd. "This is the avatar's cousin. There's your proof father." He looked at his dad sitting on the carriage in the back.

As his father nodded, he dragged her with him to the carriage. She felt the father squinting at her. 'Please don't let him recognize me.' She prayed to gods he wouldn't.

He didn't. "Throw her in the cage Zuko." His deep voice came out.

As Zuko did as his father told him to, Bit had to bite her lip at the pain that Zuko was causing her. Her robe was so ripped and tattered that it barely covered anything.

She whispered apologies to the skies as she was taken back to the castle. There, the guards were free to beat the living soul out of her. They did. Bit could see her blood seeping on the floor and closed her eyes. The sight was too horrible.

"Bit!" A girl of fourteen walked into the prisoner chambers. She laughed as she saw Bit's head snap up, but when she saw the blood and bruises, her smile faded.

"Mizu?" she looked exasperated and confused.

"The one and only." The young fire bender walked up to Bit, "My brother is a jerk for doing this to you just to regain honor and pride."

Mizu began untying Bit cautious of the wounds. She helped Bit to her room. "Judging the way my brother acts, he doesn't remember you." She looked at the girl two years older than her.

"I know. I know." Bit tried to look fine, but Mizu noticed the sadness. "I just wish he had." She looked down with a faraway sad look in her eyes.

Flashback

Bit was thirteen when she was invited to her first ball. She was going to the fire nation. She had a beautiful simple gray dress.

As she walked into the ballroom, an eleven-year-old girl lunged at her. "Hi, I'm Mizu! Who are you? Are you going to date my brother! He's free!"

"I don't know your brother. By the way, I'm Bit." She breathed in deeply for the air she lost.

"He's this way," The young girl dragged Bit up to the fifteen year old prince. "This is my brother Zuko." She looked so proud to have an older brother.

"Brat." He nudged his sister and looked at Bit. "Want to dance?" He was so sincere and nice about. As they danced, he told her about the match he had with General Zhao and how he wanted her to come. She agreed.

When it came time for the match, she took a seat in the front. Half an hour later, Zuko ran outside after he lost. She followed him. "Are you ok?"

"Go away!" he yelled out and tried to run. She stopped him with a hug.

"Goodbye banned prince," she whispered with sadness in her voice.

Three minutes later, Mizu came out of the bushes. "All according to plan Bit."

End Flashback

Sorry it took so long to update. I had to take care of my family and didn't get any time to myself. Next chapter in a week, I PROMISE. I know Zuko pretending is bad, but he's so driven to get his honor back and……..ya. I love him so much! My favorite character! Sorry again.

Thanks for you're patience. I was banned for a week