Tears and Thoughts

AN: I hope this ends up as a long one! Please review! PLEEASE!

Kushai and the others

"Kushai, are you ok?" Katara questioned Kushai, concern lingering in her eyes.

"I'm fine…thanks for saving me," Kushai smiled halfheartedly, saving her? If that was saving her then what was betraying? What she had just done to Prince Zuko….that was what she called betraying…

"It's ok, we have more room on Appa for another person," Katara beamed kindly.

"So, what is your name?" Katara scooted over by Kushai.

"I'm Kushai, you are?" Kushai quickly pushed a tear away from her cheek. The last one she had cried when she was saved in fact.

"I'm Katara, the annoying one over there is Sokka, and THAT is Aang," Katara pointed at Aang as if he was royalty. That was the Avatar? He was just a goofy kid, right?

Aang was playing with Momo, a game Kushai didn't quite understand….Was it take pebble, take it back and throw….or was it 'give me that pebble, it's mine!'?

"Aang, is he….?" Kushai trailed off, in case this was wrong to bring up.

"He's the Avatar," Katara announced proudly.

"I'd never thought he'd be so….,"

"Young?" Katara smiled, "He is 12, but technically he is 112," Katara explained.

Kushai's eye twitched, ok….he is 12 but technically he is 112….I got it! Ok, I'm so lost….

"He was in an iceberg for 100 years!" Katara 'unclouded' her point.

"Oh, ok…." Kushai once again began her brain storming.

"And that guy over there, is he your brother?" Kushai asked, noticing the similarities between them. Because of their looks, not their brains!

"Yeah, he's my dumb brother," Katara laughed.

"HEY!" Sokka shouted at his sister.

"Ok, what kind of bender are you?" Kushai asked the boy curiously.

"You mean those people who do magic tricks. I'm not," Sokka's voice cracked again, and he struggled to control it.

"It's not magic! It is waterbending!" Kushai and Katara replied at the same time, causing Sokka to back up a step or two.

"Oh great, another Katara, just what we need," Sokka mumbled rather to himself than to the rest. But Kushai heard, and giggled softly.

Sokka glanced at her, Kushai was smiling, a real smile. Not one of those forced smiles that he had seen a while ago.

"How long were you at that ship?" Sokka interrupted Kushai, causing her to stop giggling immediately. The same look appeared on her face, the sad, angry look that she had had when she was rescued.

"About a week," Kushai snapped, and turned a little to the left. A tender spot, Sokka realized.

"Hmm…you didn't by any chance hear Zuko's plans to capture Aang did you?" Katara joined the conversations. Sokka was rolling his eyes, she didn't like Aang? Yea right….

"No…" Kushai fought her tears. Don't cry Kushai, don't cry….it's ok….it'll be alright….OK! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD STOP CRYING! The girl shouted mentally at herself as she felt something wet on her cheek. Oh great….

Kushai picked up a stream of water and splashed herself in the face.

Sokka and Katara stared at her puzzled. Even Aang's attention was brought to her now.

"Umm, my face was feeling a little wet…I MEAN dirty, ah, I mean dry!" Kushai slapped her face in frustration. Put yourself together! I know you're sad and tired, but seriously! Splash yourself in the face because your face is feeling too wet!

"Um…ok, well, I guess you are a little like Aang too…." Sokka concluded.

"Well, actually, that's good! He is the Avatar after all!" Kushai sat up proudly.

"Trust me, that isn't good…"Sokka looked disgusted at her.

"Don't take his advice, he doesn't know what he's saying," Katara poked his brother, laughing at Sokka's reflexes.

A cracked shout….his voice still cracked, it was hilarious! For one second it'd sound normal, then the next it would sound like a 7 year old girl!

"His voice still cracks!" Kushai burst out laughing.

"'high pitch' it does….'low pitch' not!" Sokka growled at himself. Why did his voice always crack when people brought that up!

"I can tell…."Kushai smiled. But then, yet again….she frowned….'Prince Zuko'….

Prince Zuko

"Are there any reported news on the Avatar?" Prince Zuko walked up on deck where his Uncle was peacefully drinking his tea.

His Uncle sighed, "Prince Zuko, you need to rest your eyes, all you have been doing is working to find the Avatar. I'm sure Kushai is fine, they'll take-"

"LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!" Prince Zuko shouted furiously. Anger raged through his body, he didn't care about Kushai….no he didn't…

"You don't need to hide your feelings nephew," Uncle Iroh continued.

"I don't care for the girl Uncle. All I want is my honor, and the key to that is capturing the Avatar!" Prince Zuko growled. He didn't care for this girl, He didn't need her, and he never liked her. Why would he anyways? She was just a liar, heartbreaker, stupid girl. But deep in his heart, he knew this wasn't how he felt. But anger towards her was true, or was it the need for her? The need to hold her, the need for her kindness maybe?

She had broken his heart, did he really want that?

"Ok, but get some rest. If you want to be in good shape, I suggest you hit the hay," Uncle Iroh took another sip of his tea, and left.

Prince Zuko made sure his Uncle was out of sight and walked over to the railing. Memories ran through him, good memories for once.

"Is the sun really that scary?"

Huh? Oh, no, I'm just…."

"Relax,"

"That time….in the water…"

"Oh….my mom….she died that way…."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I'm just a bit sensitive when it comes to my mom,"

"But I shouldn't be complaining, you haven't seen your family in 2 years,"

"My father never really cared. I lost my mom at the age of 6, somebody killed her to get revenge against my father,"

"Your father is dead wrong, if he can't appreciate you….then, he probably doesn't know how to love,"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do. You are doing the work an adult would normally struggle with, plus you have a good heart, I know you do. At first…."

Then there was that kiss…..

Prince Zuko shook his head, if he had ever felt so much love it had been then. Kushai was just like her mom, calm, beautiful, smart, funny, and something he had always valued. Loving….

"I thought there was good in you, but I was wrong!"

"Get on Appa, quick!"

"I will! Good bye!"

Prince Zuko trembled, playing that moment over and over, He didn't want to, but it seemed as if he was looking for a clue. To that she still cared about him, only a little bit. And then it hit him, that time she looked at him before she mounted the creature….she had looked so surprised at Prince Zuko, like she regretted her words. Realizing the pain she had caused him. If this was true, then lord….please let her be ok…..please let her return…to me…

Prince Zuko watched the waves, it seemed he was at the beginning again. Up and down….up down….but this time there was not interruption from his Uncle, and no Kushai to care for…

Kushai on Appa

"Katara, have you ever loved someone?" Kushai's voice sliced through the silence, causing Katara to jump a little. All of a sudden, Katara gripped for something, something around her neck, panic in her eyes. But whatever it was she gripped for wasn't there.

"Aang, Sokka! We forgot to get our stuff back!" Katara shook vigorously, a tear making its way down her cheek. Kushai wanted to slap herself for whatever she had done, and swipe that tear away! They were pain in a liquid form, causing pain. But actually, once you had cried, they caused you a little happiness. Maybe they weren't so bad?

Sokka interrupted her insane thoughts, "My boomerang!"

"My necklace," Katara once again gripped for the thing, which she disappointedly couldn't find. She cried several tears.

"I'm sorry, I guess this was the wrong time to ask," Kushai apologized, feeling Katara's emotions.

"It's not your fault, we forgot after all," Katara recovered a little, but the tears were still making streaks down her face. She definitely needed more comfort than Kushai did, so Kushai decided to take action. More like talking quietly and soothing…

"Katara, please stop crying. I hate to see my rescuer upset," Kushai hugged Katara comfortingly. Kushai pulled away, smiling at Katara kindly.

"Do you want to tell me what this is about, sometimes it helps," Kushai questioned the girl. Since when did she become a physiatrist? Oh well, it didn't matter, as long as she could help…

"Prince Zuko has my necklace…….it belonged to my mom…she was killed in a fire nation raid.." Katara sniffled, and let one more tear down her cheek. But then she smiled at Kushai.

"See, sometimes it helps. And one way or the other we'll get your necklace back," Kushai leaned against the saddle. She felt much better now, having helped Katara and everything…

"HEY! What about my boomerang?" Sokka made Kushai jump out of the saddle.

"Oh yeah,…um….good luck with that!" Kushai teased and chuckled at Sokka's enraged face.

"I'm just joking, we'll get that too," She smiled warmly at Sokka, realizing exactly what this looked like she stopped and turned over on her side to get some sleep. Some sleep that would correct her insane brain hopefully!

10 hours later….

"Kushai, I don't mean to wake you up but eh….WAKE UP!" Sokka yelled at Kushai who groaned loudly.

"Fine…" Kushai frowned. But wasn't Sokka the lazy one?

"Wait a minute, something is up, Katara said you were the lazy one?" Kushai raised an eybrow at Sokka.

"Not anymore, you beat Sokka by 3 hours!" Katara added in amazement.

"Well last night I only got 3 hourse of sleep because of Prince Zuko, uh I mean…um, I just got 3 hours of sleep, and I was insane!" Kushai mentally slapped herself. Go Kushai…you still don't have you brain back! How much sleep do I need?

"Prince Zuko?" Sokka made a sneaky face, mocking and sneaky.

"No, I mean…uh," Kushai frustratedly hit the saddle, she'd lost this one. By major points!

"So, what was the truth?" Sokka grinned evilly.

"I had to share a bed with him because my room had a gas leak that would kill me if I slept there, and I didn't want to sleep with Uncle Iroh because-"

"Ok ok, back up!" Katara sorted out her wild thoughts,

"You slept with Zuko?" Came Aang's voice.

"Hm..this seems like news," Kushai mumbled. Yeah, I guess they were thinking of all the crazy possibilities.

"Did he…" Katara was cautious about this question.

"HECK NO!" Kushai exclaimed, she knew that had been coming…but seriously!

"He snored!" Kushai pointed out.

"Oh…hehe…ok," Sokka looked relieved. Why would he look relieved, Kushai wondered. It didn't matter any to him did it?

"Well, we need to stop and get more supplies," Aang interrupted hoping to change the subject.

"Oh you're right," Katara checked a bag for food, nothing but mere crumbs.

"Ok, get ready for landing!" Aang shouted to the three. He started pulling on Appa's reins so he'd land but somebody quickly stopped him.

"Maybe we should find land first?" Kushai smiled at the younger boy.

"Oh..oops," Aang stopped pulling on the reins and smiled innocently.

"Well, let's start looking," Kushai turned over to the side of Appa and stared at the ocean……..This could take a while………….

AN: PLEASE REVIEW!