A/N: aww i actually like this chapter.. hehe

DISCLAIMER: i DON'T OWN AVATAR! YOU HEAR ME DEMONS?


Chapter 5

Love Means Death

Kohana sat against a tree on a large branch. She started humming a lullaby over and over again. She closed her eyes and sang the words to the song. A cool breeze grazed her cheek as she continued sing.

Meanwhile at the Tree House:

After speaking with Long Shot about a surprise attack on a small fire army, he rushed to tell Kohana, for he couldn't do it without her help.

"Hey Kohana," Jet stepped into the room, "I wanted to tell you-" he stopped. The room was empty. He looked around until he found a piece of paper sticking half way out from under a pillow. It was a poem that he recognized, but couldn't remember what the name was. It read:

"Little water baby,

Look into my eyes,

What you want the most,

Hides behind the lies.

Little water baby,

In my arms you sway,

What you want the most,

Is not too far away.

To Kasui and Tanryoku

From Mom"

Jet looked back at the doorway and put the paper back where he found it. He leapt through the trees until he heard quiet singing. He slowly followed the voice and found Kohana silently crying and singing at the same time. She was singing the same words that were in the poem. He sat next to her on the branch and she ceased to sing.

"I know that lullaby from somewhere, but I can't remember what it's called," she wiped the tears from her face.

"It's a common water tribe song. I don't know if it even has a name," she looked ahead of her into the deep forest. They both gazed forward for a while and Jet put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She leaned against him in comfort and ease when suddenly, there was a huge explosion about a mile from where they were sitting. Kohana stood up in alarm, but Jet laughed and said:

"Hah, don't worry, Long Shot and The Duke are just testing the blasting jelly," a few seconds later, there came a whistle that reiterated three times. Jet's eyes widened in horror as he too leapt to him feet.

"No…" he looked forward, sheer terror consuming her face. Kohana shot her head the side so she was facing Jet.

"What's wrong?" she felt her voice tremble.

"They're in trouble! C'mon!" the two jumped down off the tree and ran through the forest, hoping that that route would help them get to the explosion faster. They kept running until they reached the lake, and to their horror, they saw Long Shot and The Duke drowning. Kohana dove into the water with Jet close behind. They swam out and reached the two, but as they did, they heard a low vibrating horn that could come from only one ship. Looking up, a giant fire navy ship headed towards them from around a corner, thus exposing their hiding spot behind a thick grove a trees that were growing into the water. Kohana grabbed The Duke as Jet swam over them with Long Shot.

"Hang on!" Kohana motioned Jet to hold onto her. When he did, she slapped the water with the heel of her hands, sending them backwards onto the shore and knocking the ship over into the water (As seen in episode 4). Long Shot began coughing violently, still slightly aspirating on lake water. Jet helped him choke it up, but The Duke remained unconscious. Kohana looked down on the small boy and leaned him over her lap so he was lying flat. Jet ran to her side.

"Is he breathing?" Jet looked from the Duke to Kohana.

"No…" she said, "Hold on. I can help him." She took a deep breath in through her nose and out her mouth. Letting her hand hover a few inches from the boy's chest, she slowly pulled her hand up over his throat and then over his mouth. She tipped his head back, pinched the air and lifted her hand up, bringing the water out of his lung (also seen in episode 4). He coughed and slowly opened his eyes. Kohana felt tears well up in her eyes and she sat him up, holding him close to her. Jet embraced the two and Long Shot joined (Awwww!).

"Thank you…" The Duke snuggled into Kohana's arms when the little group hug dispersed. Jet picked him up and carried him back through the forest.

"Are you ok?" Kohana put her hand on Long Shot's shoulder, "You look like you just saw a spirit…" She looked at him and he stopped walking.

"They asked where you were…" He looked at her, scared, "I told them I didn't know you but they didn't believe me. How… How did they know you?" she was silent.

"They said that if we told them where you were, they wouldn't hurt us. When we didn't tell, they shot fire at the barrels of blasting jelly and the explosion sent us into the water… I think they knew you would help us when you heard the explosion and my warning call…" he stared at her.

"I… I don't know how they knew my name," she said untruthfully. Jet stopped. The Duke began to squirm in his arms and reached out for Kohana.

"I guess he wants you to hold him… Duke, we can't hold you like this for much longer. You're almost ten," The Duke frowned and Jet handed him to Kohana. The Duke had lost his mother when he was very young, so he couldn't remember what it was like to have one. But with Kohana there, he was reminded. Kohana was responsible, mature and protective like a mother. So the Duke convinced himself that she could be his. She was warm and he felt comforted in her arms. He hugged her neck and slowly drifted off to sleep. Finally, he had a mother again.

Long Shot ran to Jet's side and started whispering something to him. Oh no… Kohana thought. He must be telling Jet about those soldiers that were looking for me… What if he kicks me out because I'm what's causing the fire nation to get so close to the tree house?... Jet looked at her, then back to Long Shot and said something in return.

When they reached the tree house, Kohana laid the Duke in his room and went out to see that Jet was waiting for her. No. She thought. He's gonna get rid of me...

"Kohana," Jet started and she gulped, "Long Shot told me that the soldiers were looking for you and-" He was cut off by Kohana.

"Okay, I'll leave…" she turned around but he grabbed her arm.

"No, I don't want you to leave. What I was going to say was that maybe this could work to our advantage," she furrowed her brow at him, "we can lure them straight into a trap."

"I think it would be better for everyone if I just left," she looked down. He was holding her hands. She blushed and finished, "The Duke and Long Shot could have died today because of me," she pulled her hands away a backed up a little.

"That wasn't your fault. It was the fire nation's," he stepped toward her, but she just stepped back.

"No. Before, I was scared of leaving. Now I know that it's what I have to do." she turned around and began to walk away, but Jet spun her back into his arms and leaned into her with a kiss. Wow. Kohana returned the kiss but suddenly pulled away when she remembered the threat… (Yeah! Another flashback! WOOOOO!)

He was juggling the fire balls in his hands.

"Tada!" he looked at her. She was glaring at the ground, "So my humor doesn't amuse you, eh?"

"Nothing about you does!" she slapped him with a strip of water, but he hit her with a fire blast in return.

"I've tried to be your friend," he shook the water from his face, "but now you've lost that privilege." He kicked her and she fell over, moaning in pain.

"I saw that boy you were talking to… I remember being twelve… That's when you want to start meeting people," he grinned nastily at her, "You like him, don't you?" her glare turned into a worried look. He laughed, bent down and said in her ear:

"You shouldn't have hit me. Don't bother with him. Because now, I'm going to kill anybody you love." He laughed and walked away.

"No… That didn't just happen… I can't!"

"Kohana, please… I don't see why we can't be-"

"Because he'll kill you!" she dropped to her knees and began to sob.

He backed up.

"W-What?" he looked at her, slightly nervous.

"The fire bender. The one who killed my mother and kidnapped me. He threatened to kill anyone I… Anyone I loved… I can't let that happed to you." He bent down next to her and grinned.

"You… Love me?" He smiled. She blushed so noticeably that Jet received his answer. He put his finger under her chin and moved her head so she was facing him. Again, he slowly leaned in to kiss her, but this time, Kohana couldn't pull herself away. She liked him so much and wanted to be with him. When he finally pulled away he said:

"… I love you too," he then he kissed her again.