The next morning, Leiko woke up and got dressed. She put on a pair of black pants and a red tunic with stitched up sides. Putting her hair into a ponytail she marched out of her room with Tila on her shoulder as usual and entered the mess hall. The crew was in there having breakfast, which was only some bread, tea and strips of meat. She introduced them all to Tila and took a seat next to Zuko and in front of Iroh. Iroh passed her some tea and a plate of food.

"So Zuko," she started, "We have a lot of catching up to do. Now tell me about all your exciting adventures out at sea." She said with her chin resting on her hand. He didn't even look at her.

"I'm not interested." He stated. Leiko blinked in disbelief and turned to face her food.

"Are you okay? I mean, we used to talk all the time."

"Back when we were little and best friends." He replied.

"But…we're still friends. We're just older." She countered.

"That was the past. Things have changed." And with that he stood up and left. Leiko just sat there and watched as he walked away.

"I'm worried about him." She admitted to his uncle.

"Do not fret, Leiko. He is probably just a bit overwhelmed to see you."

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course I do. Why, when we first set sail, he used to talk about how much he missed you."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. He was worried he'd never see you again. And when he came back and challenged your father in the Agni Kai, he could not see you because you were training."

"No wonder Father sent me away to practice. He didn't want me to see Zuko."

"Exactly. He will come around sooner or later."

"Do you think he's upset about me attacking him? I would be upset too, you know."

"Maybe, but give him some time. Try to be patient."

"It's been two years since I've last seen him, and the main reason I decided to stay on the ship is because I've missed him. He was my best friend."

"I know it must be hard…" and he was interrupted when a warning bell went off. The men looked around and sprang up into action! Leiko turned to Iroh, "Prince Zuko has spotted the avatar!" Leiko followed Iroh up to the deck where the men readied the catapults. She crossed her arms as they set the ammo on fire to shoot at the giant flying bison. She ran over to Zuko and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around while holding his viewer and snapped at her.

"What?"

"What does the avatar look like?" she asked.

"He's a small, bald monk with a blue arrow on his head." He told her. She took the viewer and looked up at the giant bison.

"He's not there." She said.

"What?" he was surprised.

"There's a water bending boy on there, nobody else."

"It's the avatar's friend. But where is he?"

"He might be on that island over there." She pointed ahead to a pinch sized piece of land in the distance. Zuko nodded and raised his hand to tell his men to stop.

"To the island!" he shouted and Leiko could feel the engines in the boat rev and push to the island. She put her hands behind her back and smiled. "You must think you're so smart."

"Actually, I do." She said and she pulled out her slingshot and a marble. And she aimed and let go, hitting a bird and watching as it fell into the water. "I used to do that all the time. I just wanted to see if I remembered how to do it." Zuko just looked at her and then turned back ahead. She looked away and sighed…it was hopeless.

Upon reaching the island, the men left the ship on rhino back. Leiko jumped off the ship with all her weapons and in a new set of fire bending armor that matched Zuko's. She pulled out her spear and walked next to the soldiers. She preferred to be on foot, she believed it made a person less vulnerable. The real reason she was with the men was because she wanted to watch Zuko, she really had no interest in capturing the avatar. She understood the importance, and was loyal to her nation, but she had more important things on her mind.

There was utmost silence for most of the journey. Leiko wanted so badly to talk to Zuko, but he showed no interest in her. It seemed too wrong, they had been so close, and now nothing! The slingshot didn't remind him any little bit that she knew of, and probably nothing would! She just stayed on her toes and kept her guard up as they pressed on. Zuko didn't look away from the path or speak, but the other men mumbled something to each other every once in a while. Leiko grew impatient and jumped up into a tree. She climbed up it until she reached the top and looked out all over the island. Unfortunately for Zuko, she spotted the flying bison leaving, and this time with more than one person on it. She licked her finger and put it into the wind. "Damn it! Should have known! We're up wind." And she jumped down, landing on the back of Zuko's rhino. "Zuko, the avatar has just left the island." She informed him.

"What?" he asked aggravated.

"We were up wind of them the whole time. They discovered out presence and left."

"Where are they headed?"

"Straight ahead, eastward." She told him.

"Back to the ship!" Zuko shouted to everyone and they all turned around and went back to the ship. Leiko was growing bored, again. She decided to stir up some trouble for fun.

"Zuko, do you remember when you ate that rotten melon?" she spoke from beside him as she was walking, "Your friend dared you. He found it in the garbage and dared you to eat it for a silver piece. You ate it and were sick for at least a week." And she began to giggle.

"You dwell too much on the past." He told her.

"It's not dwelling, it's remembering the old days. It's how you hold the memories from years ago that make a person. If you let the bad memories veil the good ones, then you'll be eaten up inside." There was a long moment of silence that lasted at least a few minutes. Leiko wasn't satisfied with such a small conversation and decided to pick it back up. "That's what happened to you isn't it?" Zuko looked down at her.

"What about you? I know you have terrible memories of your past." He mentioned to make them seem equal.

"I do," she admitted, "But I hold onto the fond recollections to keep me going." There was more silence and Leiko now knew that Zuko had no interest in talking anymore. They reached the ship when Zuko surprisingly spoke up again.

"But I would think you didn't have any." And he got off his rhino and held the reins. He looked at her as she turned to face him.

"I had you." She replied, and then she boarded the ship. Zuko just watched from behind as she stepped on and went out of sight. His eyes softened as he felt a twinge of guilt and boarded with his rhino.