The boat seemed very quiet after everyone was aware of the fact that Aiori was the Princess of Irashimu, and even more so that Prince Zuko wanted to return her home. General Iroh had a hard time trying to detach himself from Aiori. Whenever he thought about her leaving, he just swallowed her in a big hug. The crew was silent most of the time, but when they saw her they would bow their heads and approach her as Princess Aiori. She would nod, and walk off. Zuko spent every late evening up on the deck and watched as the stars came out. His uncle walked up to him one day and stood next to him, without saying a word.

"We're getting close to Irashimu." He said one day.

"I know." And there was no talking for another few minutes.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you didn't want her to leave." And Zuko bowed his head. "You know Prince Zuko… there is still time to change your mind."

"I can't do that to her. I promised her I would take her home." Zuko replied.

"Very well." And he left, and as he did, Aiori ran out to Zuko.

"I'm so excited!" she exclaimed. "We should be there in a few days."

"Yeah, I'm aware of that."

"I just wanted to thank you again Prince Zuko for returning me home." She said gratefully.

"Are you sure you want to leave?" he asked suddenly. She walked up to him and tilted her head.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?' she asked him.

"I don't know. I was just curious." Aiori sighed after he said that and looked at him with a smile.

"You know that day you left me on the island, and I got poisoned…do you remember what you said to me just before I ran off?"

"Yes." He answered solemnly. "It was wrong of me."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I'm a fire bender, the son of the Fire Lord; and you're a princess from a water tribe. We're so different."

"Maybe so." She said and then she leaned on the railing next to him like she had before. "But maybe not." She looked up at him. "We may have different origins, but look at us now. We're closer than when this whole thing began. And we have more in common than you think."

"Like what?"

"Well, we're both descendants from fire benders."

"So?"

"We're also two teenage royals out at sea after being forced away from our homes and the ones we love." She commented. He looked at her, knowing she had a point. "That's definitely something if you ask me." He looked away, "Also, we've grown to care about each other." And with that he looked up surprised. "Don't bother to deny it. I know you and what you've been showing isn't the normal Zuko." And she leaned in a planted a small kiss on his cheek. "And you know what? I like it." And she turned and walked off back into the ship. He stood there for a while, reaching up and touching where her soft lips had left a single kiss on his cheek. She was right, and so was his uncle, he really didn't want her to leave.

Anon, Zuko went to bed, but couldn't sleep. He looked at his ceiling and at the fire bender tarp in his room. What would his father say if he discovered that he had adopted feelings for a water bending princess? For the rest of the night Aiori was especially on his mind. She would be gone soon, and then there would be nothing left for him to do. It was weird, how she worked her way up from scrubbing the deck and doing the dishes to the one and only on his mind. How had she done it? Did she plan it? How was it that his servant Aiori could somehow magically transform into Princess Aiori of Irashimu and slip out of his grasp…like water, and go back home? He rubbed his temples and sighed to himself. He was utterly confused. He knew it was wrong, and he seemed to do so much wrong. He was a disgrace to his father and ever since that horrible day he became a rogue. But he hadn't lost everything, at least not for a few more days.