OMFG! Kira-BlackWolf is right! Thank you so much for pointing this out! I accidentally made Haku Haru by mistake during come parts of the last chapter. I am very embarrassed by this mistake. I'm sorry! And the end was SUPPOSED to say and shared a blissful moment, their first kiss. :P So much for that.
breathlesslove: Everyone loves a good fight scene, and there's one with Ling in this one so he learns not to be a jackass. Or at least gets beat up. There's some news in the end of the chapter that may make you happy. Read the chapter first, don't skip!
YamiKitsuneKami/Nilikeye/Affectionate-Sinner: Thank you. I love you all soo much! sobs
Element Girls: I'm glad to see Marie the rational one of the pair. Keep writing and reading, girls! Well, the other way around... you know what I mean!
Of course, the news of Zuko and Kiko's engagement spread quickly throughout the temple. Everywhere they were getting congratulated, but with the aid of others one soul did not hear of their engagement. Ling was left out of the loop considering everyone knew of his feelings towards his childhood friend and took it upon themselves to not speak of it in front of him. Though one day, three days after Zuko's fight with Haku…
Ling was walking through the temple halls looking for Kiko to spend the afternoon with. She had been spending more time with Zuko now and it made him curious as to what was happening between them. The whispers he would hear from the people in the halls did not help matter, especially as they would stop when he would enter sight. More determined than ever Ling walked through the halls to see Kiko and Zuko outside, kissing. Upset by this scene he ran outside, yelling at Zuko. By instinct Zuko stood up and both looked ready to kill one another on the spot when Kiko forced her way between them.
"Ling, Zuko," Kiko said with a sigh. "Will you two stop this? What's the meaning of this Ling?"
"This sorry excuse for a man, let alone prince," growled Ling, "was kissing you."
"I'm well aware of that," Kiko said. "Didn't anyone tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Ling asked, not liking the sound of what was about to be said.
"You didn't tell him?" Zuko asked Kiko, more curious that angry.
"I was kind of hoping someone else would," Kiko whispered in embarrassment. She looked towards and with a deep breath told him something she knew he would hate to hear, "Ling, Zuko proposed to me and I said yes." Ling looked at her for a moment or two, trying to comprehend what was said to him. He looked as though it was something unbelievable.
"Kiko, now wait," Ling said quickly. "Think about who this is. He's a banished prince from the past. Even if you really were in love with this fool, it's not as easy as it may seem. You have a duty here with your family." Zuko had quite enough of what Ling was saying, but before he could step up and speak his mind Kiko stepped in front of him, nearly nose to nose with Ling.
"Wait just one second," Kiko said softly. This brought a frightening reaction from the two men. She seemed to have brought more fear whispering than shouting. "You just claimed I don't truly love Zuko because of the fact he was punished for doing a good thing? And don't I have a duty to myself as well as others? Ling, I believe you are the one being selfish." Zuko couldn't help but grin widely at how Kiko was standing up to Ling and tried hard not laugh at Ling shocked expression.
"Kiko," Ling said, glaring once at Zuko. "Would you not rather marry me? I am a better man than this boy and I can take care of you properly."
"Really?" Kiko said with a smile. Zuko looked down at Kiko with a raised eyebrow and wondered what was going through her head. "If you're such a big man, fight me." She's her father's daughter alright, Zuko thought to himself.
"What?" Ling asked as he watched Kiko take off her outer shirt and handed it to Zuko.
"You heard me," Kiko said. "Fight me and win and I'll marry you, no questions asked. I win and you and your pompous self leave me and Zuko alone." Ling still looked doubtful as Kiko got into a fighting position and Zuko, with a wide smile, stepped backwards.
Ling, finally realizing how serious she was, also went into a fighting stance. Kiko took the first strike as she threw her hand as his face. He parried just the right moment to see flames fly past his face. He returned by punching at her face when she caught his arm, bringing down her other causing a crack that made Zuko wince. Arm broken, Ling cried out in pain before noticing Kiko taking his arm in both hands and swung his entire body, slamming him against a nearby tree. As he landed on the ground Kiko flung her fist at him and stopped just as it was about to touch his face.
"Get up and leave us be," she said as she stood up. Ling sat up nursing his broken arm, watching the two walk away. Zuko stared at Kiko with awe and respect. She saw his look and said, "He made me angry."
"I'll remember that," Zuko said with a chuckle. As they walked inside Zuko couldn't help but stop to think a moment about something very important. Kiko noticed this and asked what the matter was. "Ling was right about one thing, where - or should I say - when will we live at?"
"I have thought about that," Kiko said softly. "Father talked to me about it yesterday. He says no matter what I choose I will always be family to him and mother and she is willing to send me or just Aang and the others back. Whatever we choose."
"And I've thought about it," Zuko said with confidence. "If you wish to stay with your family and your home, I'll stay by your side."
"And abandon your father and your throne?" Kiko asked amazed.
"I think I finally realized I was the one abandoned years ago," Zuko sighed. "It just took a few knocks to the head to realize it." Kiko stood there in the hall, thinking about her plans for her future. She felt no pressure and knew her decision would be supported by everyone she loved.
"Home is where I will stay. My family will be around me and I know that I'm welcomed," Kiko said. Zuko smiled softly, but was surprised at what he heard next. "My future husband and uncle as my family, my home on the ship or wherever we may decide, and the crew I know will welcome me with open arms."
"You mean…?" Zuko said, hoping he understood her correctly.
"Let's all return to the past!"
"Finally," Sokka groaned. "I was starting to get sick of all this mushy stuff." It was decided that, that day would be the one to return home. Sokka of course couldn't be happier. Aang and Katara couldn't care anyway, but Katara nagged every once and a while that Aang did need to learn the other elements. Iroh talked with the medicine man and filled several bags of medicines and potions, including the one to keep him active at an old age. With her final goodbyes she hugged her parents, Haku more gently than Chihiro, with him being as stubborn as his wife, he refused to have water healing and was still bandaged from Zuko's fight.
"Sokka," Katara said as she walked to the group as they stood outside.
"I can send you back about the time you left, but I can't be certain it will be the exact time," Chihiro said.
"We'll make do," Iroh said. "It's been a privilege to meet you all."
"We won't forget you," Katara said. Zuko and Kiko, hand in hand, waved to her parents as Chihiro went into Avatar State and began to combine all four elements into one sphere. As they disappeared Haku whispered out loud, "But I'm afraid we will."
Within Kiko's room a loud noise was heard from within the hall. Kiko and Zuko softly landed on her bed, whereas the others piled in the middle of the room as they did the first time the time traveled. A soldier opened the door and looked inside to see a pile of bodies and a couple on the bed.
"Is everything alright? You've been in here for hours," he said. "Kiko you look completely healed!" He ran to her and gave her a hug. With a laugh, Kiko returned the hug and told the soldier to announce to everyone there was a change in plans and that she would be permanently staying. With a shout he ran outside and began to tell everyone.
"It looks like we had better go," Katara said as she stood up, cracking her back along the way.
"We need to be heading to Omashu to help Aang learn earth bending," Sokka explained.
"What better place than the capital city of the Earth Nation?" Iroh said with a smile. "We all wish you safety."
"We all do," Zuko said as he stood in front of Aang. Aang smiled happily, sparkles in his eyes. They shook hands for the first time, causing everyone around them to smile, even Sokka. As they left the ship on Appa's back, Zuko grew serious as he turned to Iroh.
"Uncle, I need you to do me a favor." Kiko and Iroh blinked and looked at each their with curiously. Neither knew what Zuko was cooking in his mind.
A few days later Iroh walked down the grand hall of the Fire Nation palace, home to the Fire Lord. Men and women of the court watched as he approached his brother and bowed lightly.
"Fire Lord Ozai," Iroh spoke up. "My brother and father to Prince Zuko. I come with a message from your banished son, whom you cast away from your home. He to marry in ten days an honorable woman of the Fire Nation. He has come to terms he will never be welcomed within your home again as he has become allies with Avatar Aang. If you wish any contact with him, now is the last time you will have an opportunity. If you do not wish to claim your son, he will forever be, Zuko the Free One."
After I put this new chapter I will put up a new story, Never Again. It will be short, 3-4 chapters long and the chapters won't be as long either, but it's an interesting plot if I do say so myself. Hope you read it and tell me how you like it. Unfortunately, there will not bea happy ending.