It's pretty damn cold out tonight. Everyone, even the little demon (yes, he's been demoted form the Devil to a demon. Is that good or bad?) , is asleep. I've been gazing at these stars for awhile now. I wonder where they come from. Or where they are going? Do stars even die? Are they born? Have they always been there? Do they have a purpose? Does anyone have a purpose? Do I?

What is it about stars and the night sky that makes you question everything you know? It's like-something deep inside of you knows that there is something waiting, waiting for you to discover it. I wonder what it is. Is it God? I wonder what it's like to be God. Does he like it? Does he even know that we exist? I wonder if He even cares about what happens to the rest of the world. Who is G--

"What are you doing out here?"

Good Gods! I nearly jumped out of my skin! AH! It's that demon boy. Great. What could he want?

"I could ask you the same thing…"

"Do you always mumble to yourself?"

I was mumbling? How embarrassing! He must think I'm some kind of crazy person!

"Well, do you always aimlessly wander around and interrogate people in the dead of night?"

Zuko is glaring at me; even in the darkness I can see it clearly. He sighs, irritated, and makes his way over to the railing.

"You never give me a straight answer…" he says, head bowed over the rail. He looks tired. Like a soldier whose seen too many battles.

"What do you mean?" I ask quietly, walking over to stand by him. He doesn't move to look at me, so I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. Either he trusts me enough now, or he just doesn't care anymore.

"You always answer my questions with more questions,"

"I really don't mean to. It's just my natural reaction, I guess,"

"I know. It's just really…"

"Really what? Annoying?"
"Yes,"

I laugh a little. At least he's honest. He's looking at me now and I can see his scar in the moonlight. How can he live with himself? Does he feel ugly all the time? I hope I'm not staring. He's giving me an odd look.

"Anyway…what are you doing out here all by your lonesome? Looking for some company?"

"No,"

"Oh…Alright then, I'll be going…back to where I was…before…alright…" I turn around and walk back to where I was laying. I have to admit, I feel a little disappointed. After this morning, I thought that perhaps we might actually get along, be friends even. I guess he still hates me. Well, that's alright, I guess…

"What are you saying?" he calls over.

"I wasn't saying anything!"

"Yes you were!"

I was saying something? Mumbling again?

"What are you saying now!"

"Nothing!"

He walks towards me and stands over where I am laying. His body is silhouetted against the moonbeams.

"It was nothing really, Prince Zuko,"

"Oh…"

Well, this is certainly an awkward silence. He's just staring at me, I can tell. It's like he's trying to figure me out just by looking. To tell you the truth, I'm beginning to feel a little violated. I'm sure that's not his intent…but still.

"Can I help you?" I ask sardonically.

"What are you doing out here?"

I'm about to answer his question, but rethink it. At least he's showing some sort of an interest in conversation. Maybe I'll answer him straight.

"Well, I was just laying here, stargazing and thinking."

"Stargazing?"

"Yeah, stargazing."

"Hm…"

"Have you ever stargazed, Prince Zuko?"

"No. It seemed stupid to me,"

"Oh…"

More silence.

"Would…would you-uh-like to…?"

"Like to what?"

Agni, he's a curt little bugger.

"Would you like to stargaze with me?"

A long silence. I hope he's not thinking that I'm stupid or a simpleton or something. But then again, he already thinks I'm crazy.

"Alright." He sits down next to me, adjusts his armor a little, and lies down. His hands are stretched behind his head and for once, he's not frowning. His face looks at peace. This was certainly unexpected. "What are we looking for?"

"Oh, nothing really. Just looking,"

"Alright,"

He's quiet now, just looking at the sky. The side of his face that I can see is the unmarred one. He would be so handsome if he didn't have that scar. Seeing him like this now, the scar doesn't disgust me so much anymore. It saddens me, really. I don't even know how he got it. Would he want to talk about it?

"My father and I," I start. He turns his head a little to look at me. "We used to do this all the time before he was advanced to a General. He changed then. The war became more important to him. He didn't come home as often. He wanted all of his children, even me his only daughter, to become great warriors. Everything he did, it seemed, was to please your…Ozai." I finish. Whoa! I was going to ask him about his scar, not tell him my life story! Way to go, Tama.

Zuko blinks a few times. Apparently, he's as shocked as I am. He stares at me for a few seconds, before turning his head back to the sky.

"My father expects nothing but the best," he replies shortly. He's glaring at the little bodies in the sky. I wonder what he's thinking?

"What do you mean?" I whisper quietly, looking over at him.

"I…it doesn't really matter,"

"Oh…"

We're silent now. I look over at him from time to time. He looks…sad and angry. Crestfallen and enraged. What could he be thinking about?

"Do you really want to know?"

"Do you really want to tell me?"

He sighs, irritated I can tell, but he looks like he's about to say something. Something that is very difficult to say. He's one of those people that, when poised with something difficult to say, tries to say it many different ways. I tell him to just spit it out. Zuko glares at me.

"My father is the one responsible for this…" he whispers finally, covering his scar with his left hand.

"Your father?"

"Yes, it happened in an Agni Kai,"

"I see…"

"I refused to fight him and he punished me. I had…spoken out when I shouldn't have and he felt that I was challenging him," he takes a shaky breath in, "and I tried to humble myself and apologize…but he wouldn't hear of it. And he…" Zuko's voice cracks. I don't want to hear this anymore. This story is… disgusting. How could one person be so unforgiving? To hurt their own child? He tried to apologize! He must have been humiliated in front of every Fire Nation noble. And his family. Iroh, Zula…Zula. Zula must have been broken-hearted. Everyone said that the siblings were close, nearly inseparable. She must be desolate without Zuko around.

"You don't have to finish if it's too painful," I say, blinking back tears. I can't believe that I'm crying over this. Normally, I don't cry about anything. Things are how they are, but this is different. What could Zuko possibly have said to anger his father so? "But can I ask you one thing, Prince?" He shifts a little, uncomfortable. He nods slowly, but doesn't avert his eyes from the stars. "What did you say?"

Zuko takes a deep breath in and closes his eyes, as if trying to recall everything in perfect detail. He exhales.

"A general wanted to send a new battalion into a battle against an army of Earthbenders. These Earthbenders were experienced and one of the strongest units. The Fire Nation battalion was made completely up of new recruits. Many of them didn't even have a month's training under their belts. The General wanted to use that battalion as a decoy while he led his strongest army behind the Earthbenders. It was genius," he opens his eyes now. There is so much fiery anger within them…"But that sounded so wrong to me. Those soldiers loved our Nation and would gladly die for it. But to send them to their deaths in a complete massacre…why would anyone do that? Did he value life so little?" he questions no one in particular. His eyes are narrowed to mere slits. The air is starting to heat up around him. He hasn't done anything, but the heat is intensifying with every single second that passes.

"That's…that's why you were punished? You were defending your people and you were punished! That's insane! Who would suggest such a thing? Zuko, who was the General? What kind of maniac would do that!" I demand. I'm sitting up now, staring down at him, completely hysterical. I knew that there was corruption in the Fire Nation, but to sacrifice its own people! Zuko gazes at me for awhile, as if he's debating whether he should really tell me or not. He finally looks back at the heavens. He still hasn't answered.

"Zuko!"

"…General Na…"

"What!" I cry, scrambling over myself to stand up and back away from him. Zuko's a bloody liar! How dare he insinuate that my father is the one responsible? My father is an honorable man! He loves this country. He would never do anything to harm it! "You're a liar, Zuko!"

"Why would I lie about something like this!" he shouts, standing up too, and pointing at his ugly scar.

"I know why. It's because you're so upset that you have such a bastard for a father, you want someone to feel as crappy as you do. You're a bloody liar, Zuko, and a cry baby. I wouldn't be surprised if--AH!" I roll out of the way just as a bolt of flames comes right at me. He nearly fried me! What is he thinking!

Zuko glares death at me, fist still extend from the punch and panting quietly. I stand up cautiously, afraid that he may attack again. He blinks and lowers his hand. Zuko stumbles over to the railing and rests his head on the cool metal.

We both are completely still, like statues. Perhaps I've pushed him too far? He hasn't moved in five minutes.

You said something really horrible, Tama…

I know, I know…

Go apologize.

What? Why? He nearly killed me!

Do it…

Alright, alright, I'm going…

I cautiously approach him and stand to his left, the scar side.

"I'm sorry about what I said…I didn't mean to get so hysterical. I was just…shocked and angry." I finished lamely, running a hand through my disheveled hair. He doesn't say anything, but he picks his head up from the rail and stands up straight. "I suppose you're right about my father. I haven't seen him in three years. I was sent away to the military academy and then positioned in Zhao's unit. There's no telling what kind of horrible things he's done. People don't think about it, but for every Fire Nation victory so many people have to loose their lives. That's why I ran, I think. I don't what to be a murderer. I just want…I want to live, ya' know?" I finish. Zuko glances over at me. His mouth twitches a little.

"I know what that's like. I want to live, too…"

"You do?"

"Yes…" he stares down at the ocean.

"Well, come on then. What are we waiting for? Let's run away! We can go anywhere we want to!" I exclaim. I start to turn back to the door to go back to our quarters, tugging on his arm, but I stop, realizing that he's not following.

"I can't. I have something to do."

"Huh?"

"My father, after giving me this scar, said that if I were ever to return home, I would be…" he swallows and I sense fear in him.

"We don't have to go back to the Fire Nation. We could go anywhere we want. Once we explain that we've deserted, then I think they--"

"No, I mean he gave me a task. He said that if I were to ever return home without the avatar…I need to capture the avatar, so that I can return home…so far it's proved impossible," he admits, cradling his head in his hand.

"The Avatar? Bah! I don't believe in any silly Avatars. Or Gods and Goddesses for that matter. Or other such make-believe. You're wasting your time, Prince Zuko. There's no such thing." I say indignantly. He raises an eyebrow at me.

"Haven't you seen the wanted posters?"

"Wanted posters? For who?"

"The Avatar,"

"The apparition has his own wanted poster? That's funny," I chuckle softly.

"He's real. I've seen him. I've spoken with him. He's…an Airbender."

"An Air bending Avatar! Oh, this is rich!"

"You still don't believe?"

"I don't believe in things that I can't see."

"You see Gods and Goddesses,"

"Human interpretations,"

"But…don't you feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"It's this feeling that you get when you know you have to do something. That there's a purpose unfulfilled."

"Like a destiny?"

"Yeah,"

"Nope, don't believe that either,"

"I do,"

"No one's forcing you not to,"

Awkward silence. I hope I haven't insulted him. Maybe someone from the Fire Nation is posing as the Avatar? Maybe his father has set it all up? That seems like the most likely scenario. I yawn and cover my mouth. "I wonder what time it is?" Zuko looks at the sky and then back at me.

"I'm not sure either. We should probably go back to bed now. We'll be arriving at the port early tomorrow."

"True. Alright then, I'm off." I start to walk to the door and I open it. I enter, but then I realize that I don't hear Zuko following me. I look back to find him still gazing up at the heavens.

"Aren't you coming!" I call to him. He waves me off.

"I'll be out here a little while longer…you go ahead and leave." I take a step towards him, but stop. Maybe…maybe I'll respect his wishes…

"Alright. Goodnight," I say before stepping into the hall. Zuko doesn't respond. I close the door behind me and walk towards my room, the cold and the darkness being my only companions.

I wish he had come with me…