The day following Aiori's birthday, the ship landed onto the edge of an earth bending tribe. Aiori was especially excited to walk around and explore. Zuko followed her as Iroh and the rest of the crew restocked on supplies again. Aiori was walking in front of Zuko, browsing amongst the merchants when another young man walked up to her.

"Well, this must be my lucky day. Look what the ocean has brought to harbor." He said. He had a gap in his front teeth, but other than that he seemed okay. His hair was a light brown and his skin was pale. He was a bit taller than she was, and he was dressed in a tunic and loose fitted pants. "I've heard of beautiful mermaids coming up from the sea, sprouting legs and walking on shore, but I have never seen one as beautiful and exotic as you." He said with a gentleman's bow.

"Exotic?" Aiori looked at him funny with a hand resting on her chest.

"Why yes my dear. You are truly a wonder." He said and he stood back up. He walked over to a merchant and picked up a daisy and handed it to her with a big cocky grin. "For you."

"Um…thanks, I guess, but…" she started, but he shushed her.

"Please my fair lady, just let me admire your beauty." He tried to coo her. "May I interest you in some fine foods and a beautiful view of the sunset?"

"Hey," Prince Zuko walked over with a glare on his face, "Back off!" and he folded his arms.

"Who are you to stop me?"

"She's taken!" Zuko growled and took her hand in his. "Now go!" The boy scoffed and walked off. "And don't let me see you gawking at her again!" Zuko finished. Aiori laughed and walked away hand in hand with Zuko. Aiori looked up at Zuko and decided to have some fun and cause a bit of trouble.

"So…I'm taken, huh? By whom?" she asked with a sly grin and he had an embarrassed frown appear on his face. He blushed.

"I was just trying to help you out back there."

"He wasn't bothering me." She commented.

"Well…he could have been dangerous. You never know."

"Dangerous? Who are you to call someone dangerous?"

"I'm just saying you should be careful."

"So, why did you protect me?"

"Because you're my responsibility."

"Oh really, not because you have special feelings for me?" she countered. He didn't answer. "I get it, so all those pretty words and kisses were just for experimental reasons right?" he just walked ahead. "You know Zuko, as comforting as it is, holding in your feelings is bad for you." She crossed her arms. "I'm going to check out the jewelry and then practice some water bending. I'll see you later."

"Do you want me to come along? You know, just in case that jerk shows up again?"

"No, I think I'm fine. After all, I am a warrior."

"You don't want to practice fire bending?" he asked her with his hand on the back of his head.

"No, I'm good." And she walked off. He sighed and looked around. He cursed at himself for not being honest.

Zuko was walking along the edge of the shore, kicking pebbles out of his way. Aiori's words still buzzed in his head. His uncle walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. "We're getting ready to leave, have you seen Aiori? I thought she would be with you." He said.

"No, she's somewhere in the forest."

"Maybe she's water bending, go look for her." And Prince Zuko walked off and advanced onto the land. He looked around the shops and didn't find her. He wondered if she was with that jerk who had made a pass at her. He wanted to know if she way okay, because even though he refused to admit it, he really did want to protect her from everything. His Uncle once told him that when you felt that way about a girl it meant that you really loved her. He didn't think that way, but it passed his mind a couple of times.

The forest was deep and dark, like the one he had fought Zhao in to save Aiori and get the medicine she needed. There were drops of water that dripped from the leaves. It seemed like a place Aiori would like to wonder around in. He pushed his way through the leaves and bushes until he came up to a large pond. The water looked crystal clear and cold. He saw ripples in the water and bent down on one knee and scooped up some water and drank from his hand. But he was startled when Aiori popped out of the water just a foot in front of him! He jumped and fell back. She just laughed at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked him as she pulled some of her wet hair behind her ear.

"I was looking for you." He answered and held out his hand. "We're taking off soon, so come on out."

"I don't want to." She complained, "I've wanted to take a cool, relaxing dip for such a long time, and then I found this pond. Join me."

"No thanks." He replied.

"Why not?"

"Fire benders don't like to swim."

"Do you even know how to swim?"

"Of course I do."

"Than show me." She said with a grin and swam backwards. He grunted.

"I'll pass."

"Oh, c'mon!" she motioned for him to come in, "I'm only in my skivvies." She hinted in a seductive tone. He lifted his eyebrow and gave a curious look her way. "You know you want to see. I mean, you being so curious and all." She teased him.

"I dunno," he tried to fight the temptation.

"What's the matter…I thought you liked me." She grinned.

She watched with a big smile of satisfaction as he took off his armor, shirt and shoes and jumped in. He had a very muscular torso and she wanted so badly to touch him. He swam towards her and began to tread in front of her. "That's better." She told him as she went up close to him. Their noses almost touched and Zuko wrapped his arms around her.

"Told you I could swim." He said and she splashed him. Then she went under water and swam around him. She let her hand stretch out and gently caressed his stomach. He gasped as she came back up to the surface and kissed his lips. He returned the favor, now letting his hands roam on her. It was pure magic between them. Aiori ran her index finger up and down his hard abs and backed away from the kiss, but Zuko wasn't done with her. He pulled her back in and kissed her fiercely, letting his hands continue to roam on her body until they reached her back. "May I?" and she nodded against his lips. They kissed again and Zuko undid the lace that was wrapped around her breasts, letting it slip off and expose them. He was excited and moved his hands up to that very spot as he eyed them. Aiori put her hands on top of his and guided them onto her breasts, letting him message them and causing her to moan. This made him ancy, and he could feel the tension rising in his member. He held his breath from being nervous, but let his hands do the rest. They moved down to her hips as he leaned in and kissed her on her shoulder. He could feel her hard tips brushing against his chest and slipped off her underpants. She back up and pulled herseld on top of a rock as he ran his tongue down her body, just brushing over one of her hard tips and making her moan again. He loved the feeling of that pink tip in his mouth and climbed up next to her and continued his work. She reached down and ran her hand over the growing bulge in his pants.

"You're hard." she whispered to him, but he didn't answer. His mouth was occuied with another activity at the moment. She gladly removed his bottoms and stared delightfully at what she saw. "Oh...my..." she couldn't find the words. Lust ran through her and got worse as Zuko lifted his lips to her neck and began to suck on a tender spot. She was now going crazy! She reached down andbegan to play with him, making him moan loudly from her neck. "You like that?" and she began to move her hand faster. He moaned louder, in shorter bursts as her hand didn't slow down. "You like me don't you, Zuko?" she teased him and he just grunted. "Don't you?"

"Yes..." he replied in a moan.

"Say it," she teased him more, "Say it!"

"I like you."

"How much?" her hand quickened.

"A lot!" he was choked up.

"Do you care about me?"

"Yes...!"

"Tell me."

"I care about you."

"Do you like what I'm doing?"

"Oh God, yes!" and she grinned when she heard him sigh heavily. Her now sticky hand slowed down now that he was spent. She kissed him as he was still trying to catch his breath. They were both on top of that rock without any clothes on, and she liked it. Something about the daring and the adventure was exciting!

"I think it's time you showed me." she hinted to him and spread her legs. "I'm all yours."