Decisions. Love or home?

Morning came as it did every day. Except this time, it was diffrent. Breakfast wasnt sitting on the table for everyone to eat. Instantly, both Zuko and Iroh knew something was wrong with Hilda. But when her sisters walked in, they sat at the table and told them the news.

"Big sister Hilda isnt feeling well today. She says something about a stomach pain. We asked her if it was from the burn on her scars and she told us it wasnt." Ashli told them. Violet sitting beside of the youngest Wormwart orphan. Instantly, Zuko and Iroh walked to Hilda's room to check up on her. She was still sleeping on her cot, in her Jacket of course.Zuko wanted to do something, he really did, but then everyone would find out his feelings for her and taunt him over it.

"Prince Zuko, you stay here with her. Girls. Lets go get Hilda some blankets and soup." With that, they all left except Zuko. Once they wernt in the cell area anymore, Zuko walked over to Hilda and placed his hand on her forehead. It was really warm.

"I think you just have a cold. Luckly, your not throwing up.At least, not now." Zuko said to her as if she was actually awake. He saw a small smile appear on her face.

"good." Hilda whisperd to him. He quickly took his hand off and hid it behind his back. "I wont make a big deal out of It Zuko...you can pretend to care."

"Okay." Zuko told her, releaved that he could take care of her and just tell everyone that he was pretending. "What do we tell anyone who asks?"

"I'll tell them that I forced you. That way. They wont tease you." Hilda told him smiling a bit.

"Okay" He told her, forcing back a smile. "You hungry?"

"Yes..so very." She told him holding her stomach. "I skipped dinner alot."

"I know you did. Uncle is bringing you some soup and some blankets." Zuko told her. Standing beside her bed. Actually, leaning on the wall.

Once Iroh came back with the blankets, he threw them over Hilda and had her sisters set the soup on the end table beside her cot.Zuko acted like he was just standing there and Hilda acted like she was asleep. Iroh said for all of them to just leave Hilda alone, so she can get rest. Zuko was the last one out, as he left, Hilda, in her fake sleep, gave him a smile. He lightly smiled back and walked out, instantly hiding his moment of smiling. Without it being smug. He walked up on deck and kept searching for the avatar.

Hilda's nap lasted a few hours. When she woke, pretty much everyone could hear her strumming the strings on her guitar. They could barly figure out the words, but they were very clear.

"I'm sure that the heart I left behind

still lies hidden in the heart of the deep, deep forest.

Exhausted, without the strength to search

people vanish into the infinite darkness.

If it's so small, I wonder if I can see it even now?

As we live on, we lose a little bit more. Shrouded in falsehoods and lies, we stand frozen to the spot, unable to cry out

The days pass by and change,

without us even realizing how blue the sky really is.

Overcoming that made-up scheme, we live the present,

and our rusted hearts begin to beat again!

If we can find the rhythm of time, we can fly once again

We live our lives

wandering to the ends of the earth.

Believing (in you?), now I begin my journey with you,

in search of the light.

We live our lives

wandering to the ends of the earth.

Closing off

the way back,

we walk on for eternity." Hilda sang as she strummed the strings on her guitar. Zuko enjoyed standing near the hull where her window faced the ocean and lisoning to her music through her window, but looking like he was looking for the Avatar. Hilda's sisters were buisy playing with uncle Iroh and practicing their earth bending. Leaving Zuko able to lison to their sister sing while pretending to act normal. It was because he didnt know how to deal with love, that he pretended as if nothing was wrong. Or should I say... diffrent about himself? When the song ended he really did start looking for the Avatar. He spotted Appa in the sky.

"The Avatar!" Zuko exclaimed. His soldiers did as they usually do when they find the avatar. They readyed that catapult thingie and aimed for Appa. But as they were ready to shoot, Hilda; whom had heard him yell that the Avatar was there; ran to Zuko and told him not to fire anything at Appa. "Why the hell not?"

"Aang is my friend you Jackass!" But it was too late, as they argued, the catapult fired a flaming ball at Appa. Causing the flying bison to crash onto the ship. Though still alive, a bit wouned. Aang, Sokka, and Katara hid behind the bison but found by Zuko.

"Take them to a cell. Put them in individual ones so they can't form a group plan." Zuko orderd. Hilda fighting with him to not do that to her friend. But it was too late. The soldiers took Aang, Katara, and Sokka to the cells, unsure of where to put Appa, they left him on deck. Momo stayed with Hilda. Hilda walked to the cells and apoligized to them.

"Im sorry..I tried to stop that Jackass but.." Hilda told them, holding onto Momo.

"Hilda. It wasnt your fault. Is Appa okay?" Aang asked her. She nodded.

"Yeah. He'll be okay. I'll take care of him Aang. Dont worry." Hilda told him, coughing. Her cold seemed to be getting worse rather than better. But it was nothing deadly. After a bit more talking with Aang and the others, Hilda walked onto deck and gave Zuko the cold shoulder. Taking care of Appa and Momo.

And of course, this botherd Zuko that she was giving him the cold shoulder. When he tried to piss her off. She just let it slide and didnt respond, it was as if he wasnt even talking to her.

"What the hell are you angry with me for?" Zuko hissed at her. She didnt reply. "Silent treatment huh? Your dumb as a brick, built like a stick, talk like a hick." But alas, his taunting did nothing to provoke her. She was still silent to him, when Iroh came around, she talked to him.

"Iroh, please tell this annoying voice from nowhere to leave me the hell alone." She told Iroh, talking to Zuko through him.

"Um. Prince Zuko-" Iroh began but Zuko interrupted.

"I heard her." Zuko hissed. "Well..." But he couldnt think of an excuse.

"And tell the voice from nowhere that if it wants to talk to me again, it will have to let Aang, Sokka, and Katara go." Hilda told Iroh, he nearly repeted it to Prince Zuko, but Zuko heard her.

"How can I let him go! He is the avatar! My ticket home!" Zuko protested. Hilda didnt talk to Zuko, but through Iroh.

"Tell the Jackass who keeps talking to me to either let the Avatar go, or keep enduring the silent treatment." Hilda told Iroh, again, Iroh almost repeted it to Zuko.

"I heard her!" Zuko hissed. Hilda wasnt even facing Zuko.

"Tell this voice that he has to choose." She told Iroh. He didnt even have to tell Prince Zuko. Zuko was already trying to figure out which one he should choose. His ticket home? Or the girl he loves? Zuko decided to go meditate for a while. While he meditated, he looked apon the two sides of the problem.If I choose Hilda. I can't go home. But, being around Hilda is almost like I am home.She is such a good person, and even though we fight, I still love her. If I do choose the Avatar, Then I can go home, but I get ignored by Hilda..god why can't I ever have both? If I choose Hilda though, everyone will know I love her. But his thoughts were interrupted by Hilda walking into his room and sitting on his mattrace.

"Don't think im breaking the silent treatment with this, but which are you choosing? are you going to let the Avatar go and break the silent treatment? Or are you going to keep him, but lose me?" Hilda asked him. Zuko had to admit it.

"I don't know. If I choose you, I can't go home. But then again, If I dont choose you, I get the silent treatment. So either way. I lose." Zuko told her, pouting.

"I don't know which you will choose, but remember this, If you do get to go home because of Aang, that doesnt mean anyone wants you back." Hilda told him, walking out of his room and into the cells where Aang, Katara and Sokka were. Momo was with Violet and Ashli. It was late at night when Zuko finally made his decision. Hilda was asleep, as was everyone else. Zuko walked to the cells and opend the three cells. Warning them to not speak a word of this. They all three agreed. Once Aang got momo back from Hilda's cell, they got on Appa, whom now was okay, and flew away silently. So that no one would know that they were set free. Hilda had a point..Zuko thought to himself as he walked back to his room. Even if I did bring my father the Avatar..he wouldnt really want me back.

It was morning before anyone knew that the Avatar had been set free. Iroh asked Zuko where the avatar was. Zuko acted as if he was really mad.

"Hilda!" Zuko hissed, he gave her a secret look saying 'take the blame' "Did you let the Avatar out!" Hilda saw that he had chosen her instead of home.

"Okay, you caught me. I did." Hilda told him smugly. "I figured you wernt going to, so I did."

"How could you-?" Zuko hissed. Hilda glared at him.

"Aang is my friend!" With that, Hilda left him standing there. He was in the clear, he had let Aang go without being a traiter. He also got the girl he loved to talk to him agian. It was obvious what he chose...

Love.

Deep forest--Inuyasha