Hey peoples! Hmm... does anyone read this story? Either way I'm gonna keep writing. Everyone who reviewed gets a cookie! (passes out cookies) Now if you reveiw this time you get a candy bar!

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The next morning was a dull one. It was gray and raining. Zuko didn't see Kaori at his door. He wondered where she could be. Perhaps she had not enjoyed the kiss as much as he did. He ended up wandering into the village by himself. He was suprised to see so many people up at 4 in the morning. They were running around and shouting to each other as if they were looking for something. There was a sudden tap on his sholder. Zuko turned around thinking it was Kaori but it wasen't. It was Old Lady Missi.

"Have you seen Kaori?" she asked.

"No why did something happen?"

Missi shook her head sadly causing several white hairs to fall out of her bun.

"She wasen't in her bed this morning. No one can find her," Missi said slowly.

"Is that why everyone's up?"

"Yes. Oh that poor girl. Where could she be?"

Missi walked away to a bunch of people. Zuko stood there thinking this over. Why would Kaori be missing? Had something happened to her? He ran off to the beach. She wasen't there. He ran off to the hill. Also not there. Finally he ran out of the village and into the forest around it. Kaori was an exsploror. She never would have gotten lost but this time...who knows.

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"MAMA!"

Her mother fell down. There was blood on her neck. The large men came into the room. Kaori stared up at them. Her mother had only answered the door. One man was large and she would always remember that face. Her father came down the stairs.

"What's going on here?" he asked.

Then he saw his wife on the floor dead; her throat cut.

"What the hell-"

The guards came over and they started to fight. She could see her father's head over some of the guards.

"Kaori run! Run now!" he yelled to her.

Meakly she nodded and ran for the window. She crawled out and landed in the grass. With all her might she started running. The man, the one that was large, laughed and they ran out of the house in persuit of her leaving her father dead on the ground with burn marks.

Kaori ran as fast as she could. As fast as her little legs would carry her. They were after her and she had to get away. Why were they after her though? Was it because of her gift?

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Zuko ran past some bushes. He could see footsteps in the ground. They were leading north. He followed them and saw a peice of white fabric that was caught in a bush. It was a part of Kaori's skirt. He knew she was close.

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Kaori ran to the bridge. She knew that if she ran they would make her leave the small cottage. They would make her leave her home. She ran to the middle of the bridge and looked around. The guards blocked both ways to get out. The only way left was the river below her roaring.

"Come here little girl. We just want to take away your gift. We won't hurt you. You'll never fit in with the other children if you have that gift," the large man said.

Kaori stood there trembling. She shook her head. The large man frowned and the guards ran towards her. Kaori dropped the doll that she was holding. The large man stood in the spot where she was standing and watched the small girl plumet towards the rushing water. He picked up the doll.

"I will find you and we will destroy you," he muttered.

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Zuko finally stopped. He had come to a stop at a bridge. There was a river underneath the bridge. Kaori stood in the middle of the bridge. Her eyes were closed.

"Kaori!" Zuko yelled.

She didn't seem to hear him. She just stood there. He ran towards her but she fell. He didn't know why he did this but he jumped in after her. At first he thought he himself would drown but he went underwater. On the bottem was Kaori laying there, her hair flowing with the river's current. He grabbed her hand and swam towards the surface. It was hard to keep her head above the water. Why had she jumped? Finally he saw a sort of sand island in the middle of the river. (it just happened to be there lol) He laid her down on the sand.

"Please Kaori don't be dead," he muttered.

He opened her mouth and put his lips to hers. He pulled away.

"You can't die! You just can't! I need you here!" he said more loudly this time.

He put his lips to hers again. This time she coughed and spit out water when he pulled away. Her eyes fluttered and she looked up at Zuko.

"Teken...what are you doing in my room?"

"This isen't your room..."

"Then where am I?"

"We're in the middle of a river,"

"Oh Teken I had the worst dream. I must have been sleepwalking."

She put her hand on his chest.

"Your wet to..."

"That's because I jumped in after you,"

"You saved my life,"

She tried to sit up but fell back down.

"Here let me help you," Zuko said.

He helped her sit up and she leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her for warmth.

"What now?" she said softly.

"We wait for help,"

He paused.

"Kaori why were you here at the bridge?"

"I told you. I must have been sleep walking,"

"Some dream,"

"Yeah I know...why did you think I was going to kill myself?"

"For a moment yes I did,"

She laughed gently and put her arm around his neck and leaned back to make it seem like she was falling.

"Oh yes life is just to cruel for me to continue!" she said dramatically. She sat back up in his arms. "But if I did fall again..would you jump in after me?"

"Honestly?"

"Please,"

"Yes,"

She smiled and snuggled closer to him.

"Good,"

About an hour later they heard voices. Some villengers had checked over by the bridge and spotted Zuko and Kaori. They threw a rope out to them and pulled them in. The next day, when they finally said Zuko was okay, he saw Kaori. She was talking to a man. He walked away and her eyes got wide. She fell to her knees. Zuko ran over and got to his knees so he wouldn't look down on her.

"Kaori what is it?"

"My only family left is dead Teken."

"I'm sorry,"

"Why it's not like you were the fire benders who killed her. My cousin at Kyoshi (sorry for spelling) Island. A burning house toppled on her..."

He stared at her. He and his troops had set that island on fire. It was his fault. But that was a month ago. News hits here late.

"She's gone Teken I'm all alone,"

"No your'e not...I'm here,"

She fell foreward and wrapped her arms around him sobbing. Slowly and unsure he wrapped his arms around her.

"To hell with firebenders! To hell with the whole fire nation! she muttered.

Even with her head buried in his sholder he could still hear her. Somehow it felt like she was talking directly to him.

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Okay so next chappie is where we find something out about Kaori. Something else she's been hiding. Here just explains really a backround of her parents. Still don't know what the gift is though. READ MY HINTS! But anyway yeah. Don't worry. Sokka, Aang, and Katara come in later. This is just Zuko on the island for now. You'll see. Trust me!

Emma