Okay, so I'm back. Had a bit of a cold there that I couldn't seem to get over. But now, I am new and refreshed. Sadly, this story is coming to an end. After this story I have about 4 or 5 (I can't remember) to finish and then I'll get to work on the sequel to Forbidden Love. I'll tell you more about that as the finale draws near. I bet you can't wait, lol. OKAY. SO ONWARD WITH THE STORY!

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Zuko stood in the pale room next to Jin. Even Heero was there. Otaki lay in the pale bed with a thin sheet covering her fragile body. It was a room in the palace that Zuko hated. It was basically the doctors office. Horrible and dreary. Kaori had done everything to make it seem brighter. The glass that she had broken was still hanging from the ceiling and every now and then, light would reflect off of it and specks of rainbow would bounce from wall to wall.

"Come on," Zuko said quietly. "We should let her rest,"

Heero said nothing. He stood up and went out the door as silently as a shadow. Jin made a sniffling sound and wiped her nose. She held onto her father's hand as he escorted her out. Then, Zuko went back into the room. He shut the door slowly and sat down next to his pale daughter. He was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"You can open your eyes now," he said softly.

Otaki's eyes lifted halfway. She glanced at him.

"How did you know?" she muttered.

"I used to do the same thing to my Uncle when I thought things were never going to change." Zuko replied. "Besides, doctors say that you would have woken up easily by now. You only lost a little over a normal amount of blood,"

"You should have let me bleed. It would have helped everyone,"

"You can't believe that."

"I do. I do and I don't think I'll ever believe anything else...I'm...different then anyone else here. I can't fit in,"

"Otaki, you've seen things that people can't even begin to imagine. But in many ways, that can make you stronger than anyone else here can dream of."

"But it can also make me weaker,"

"I've got some matters to attend to. When you feel up to it, come downstairs and out of this room." Zuko stood up and smoothed her hair out of her face. If only Kaori were here. She would fix everything.

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"She's stupid and weak. Doesn't know shit about anything,"

"Don't say that!"

"Well, it's a fact. She's useless and fragile. I bet the wind could knock her over,"

"That's not true! She's strong!"

Heero let out a laugh. He was outside with Jin on the training mat. He thrust his arm forward in a swift movement.

"She couldn't hurt a fly. Have you seen the way she recoiles when the villengers pat her back?"

"She's just scared,"

"She's a coward,"

Heero threw a punch into the air then thrust his leg upward, slicing the air. He couldn't firebend, and he couldn't airbend. Jin was showing signs of being an airbender. But he, Heero, relied on pure physical and mental shape.

"Come on Jin, come at me,"

"I don't know..."

"Come on,"

"But-"

"I just need to try out this new stance,"

"Alright..."

Heero took a deep breath and placed his feet apart. He leaned slightly back on his left foot and placed his arms infront of him. Jin stood a ways across from him, her feet together. She also took a deep breath. Then, in one quick movement, she raised her arms and circled them, sending a huge wave of air at Heero. Heero closed his eyes from the force of the air and stumbled backwards. He pounded the ground with his fist angrily.

"I don't get it! I'm supposed to keep my balance! Why doesn't it work?" he exclaimed.

"It's your footing,"

Heero turned around. Otaki stood there, one hand on a tree. She had been watching them silently for a bit now.

"Like you would know," Heero scoffed. Otaki flinched. Her poor brother, he knew nothing. Sure, he could protect himself, but if more than one person came at him, he would never last. Perhaps, just perhaps, teaching would be okay. Just teaching.

Otaki took off the robe she was wearing. Underneath she had on regular training clothes. A short sleeved shirt with leaf print on it and pants that had a rope tied around the waist. "Actually...I would know much more than you,"

She walked over to him slowly and pulled him up off the ground. "Take your stance,"

Heero, staring at her with uncertainty, took the stance he had taken before. Otaki nodded her head with a soft movement.

"There's your problem... Turn your feet so that they face the direction of the force. Now, turn your body inwards on your right foot. Don't lean back on you're left. Tighten your muscles and pull yourself together."

Heero stared at her. This was the most she had ever spoken to him. Her directness...amazed him. He did as she said quickly. Otaki nodded and readjusted his feet a bit. "Now try," She motioned to Jin.

Jin took a deep breath and sent another wave, much larger, towards Heero. Heero could feel his feet sliding back on the mat. "Plant your feet," Otaki said. He could hear her voice over the force of the air. His arms and legs tightened, rooting him to the ground. Then, the air was gone. He was standing. Heero blinked and looked at Otaki.

"I'm...standing... That was amazing.." He stammered.

"That, was only a small move I know. But, while I stand on the mat, and you stand on the mat, you must be prepared for anything,"

"I always am,"

Otaki's eyebrows went up then she leaned back. In an instant, she sprung forward and bent down, swinging her foot in a quick movement so that it hit the back of Heero's ankle. He fell and Otaki's foot was at his chest before he could speak.

"Alright Heero. Show me what you got. I'm going to show you what real fighting is, and you're going to watch very carefually to every single motion I do."

Heero nodded eagerly. She could fight. She could really fight. And for a second, he thought he saw Otaki smile. But perhaps that was just his imagination.

Zuko watched from the palace. This was better. They were all out there, and they weren't yelling. It bothered him a bit though, about Otaki's fighting ability. But from the way she moved, he knew that she was controlling herself. She wanted to help Heero. That much was clear. And it seemed as though she was really enjoying herself.