Author: THIS IS IMPORTANT NOTICE! Well there is a like a little story to this chapter but yeah. It's like a one shot feature in this story. Ok. But anyway! Help, whahhahaa (cries tears of sadness) I've been in this like weird little slump thingy, where I can't focus on just one story so I'm practically bouncing from one thing to another like a jumping bean. Well I'm just not as enthusiastic about writing this story. I can't decide what to go on with it. Maybe this is what I get for not thinking a story full on through, and just winging it. But also I was hoping that some of the new episodes might help me get myself pumped up. But Then whamm! Everytime I've missed an episode, I think so far I missed any new episodes except the first few of the new season. So oy! I'm sad, (crying). So if you guys have any inspiring ideas of words, or anything that might help me write please email me or just like review me of whatever. I wonder if my email is available. Hmm….well it's fruitpeach2034 at gmail dot com. Actually I wrote the next chapter (laughs nervously) But It's a blooosh.

Author again: Oh yeah, like I said I wrote like this little oneshot thingy, it's kind of ok, but I just didn't want to give you an authors note all of the sudden so I wanted to give you guys something to read other than this at least. REMEMBER! The sky is a pancake waiting to be flatten.

Disclaimer: I don't own avatar.

Black cat: Zuko

white cat: Sokka

Yellow cat: Aang

blue cat: Katara

Green cat: toph

Well May I should just say their names, well anyway onward!

The morning's crisp cries of the black bird echoed through the damp streets of the alley. The droplets of rain leftover from the night storm dripped slowly off the low hanging telephone wire. Clashes of stuttering humans emerged as the sun arose from the eastern skies. It's rays gracing the soiled ground that was once so pure and untouched by those of greed, and evil. The ground of which the humans rule, and act as if they do so right to deserve this once pure land. They of which think they are superior beings of this world. But unknowing to these naïve humans, a greater power, sees them from above. A world that is within the realm of humans. The world…..of the spirits. (Oooo)

"Such sickening fools…look at all of them. Disgusting." grumbled the lord of the fire realm. The young dark haired lord sat perched on top of the window. He glanced down at the humans through the spying glass. It sickened him how humans used his realm's gift as if it was some mockery. His gift of fire was flaunted around as if it held no importance. Taking advantage of this flame. How dare they? Did they hold no respect? Of course not, humans had forgotten his existence. "I should just take back that gift."

"Now, now lord Zuko. As the new lord you shouldn't do something so rash. Think of what the people of this realm would think of you." An elderly man said as he stroked his grey beard. His short beard was just like him. Short, plump and old. Iroh shook his head slightly at the young lord. Nearly two hundred years of age yet he still acted with a temper. Though his nephew was still extremely young, he was mature, but often hard headed about the little things.

"Who cares what they think!" Zuko snapped. He wasn't very happy today. Then again he was never one to be happy. But today he was extremely edgy. Which was very unpleasing to his royal court and palace servants. No one really knew why the prince was so irritated, though many had their creative thought as to why the new lord was so uptight. Many thought it was because today was the Anniversary of his father's death, while others thought it was because of the forest fire incident. The forest fire was started by some idiotic human, and it nearly whipped out the entire Mao Forest of the west. The Mistress of earth was not at all happy with him, and took her annoying anger out on the temperamental lord. But some members of the palace held their doubts to that being the reason. They assumed that the lord just missed his very odd lover.

The Young lord's lover was looked down upon by the members of the high royal court. They saw the lover as a pitiful waste of flesh and held manners that were poor as a servant. They couldn't possible figure out why a man like their lord would waste his time with this lover. How could this lover be pleasing at all, especially since the Lord's lover was after all a man... He did not hold very much feminine beauty in their eyes. An odd hair cute and dark skin contributed to a slightly exotic look, but none the less he did not meet their standards as worthy or decent. For heaven's sake! How was it possible for such a treasured lord to fall for this boy! How? They couldn't understand it! Not one bit!

But…no one is supposed to understand love, are they? Isn't love a mystery that should be kept hidden forever. A mystery that should be left unsolved like many things. But many humans do not understand. Their curiosity brings the best yet the worst of their selves. It brings out greed and a sense of ignorance. How many times have humans thought that they were doing something so right was actually the worst thing that they could have done. We as humans have destroyed countless numbers of our own selves, yet at war we call those murderers heroes. Are they not the same as those in jail? Through our little existence we have destroyed what took millions of years to create in less thenthree thousand years. Is this why we look for those superior and call upon them as our calling? As an excuse to do with our own selfish needs? (o.o)

"Zuko, have some tea." Iroh said to his nephew. He hoped that this tea brought by the Young Air master would help Zuko through this small fit of his. Iroh heard all the small idol chatter of the palace members. Some of it was true, but many were just concoctions of creative minds. But one thing he knew was true; his nephew was missing that one someone. The lord's uncle sighed at the annoyed look his nephew was giving him at the moment. He shook his head. "Zuko, I know you miss him but you have many duties and no time to be moping around."

"Who said I missed him!" Zuko with an irritated voice. He was annoyed at how his uncle shot straight into things. Especially he was right this time. "I don't miss him! And if I did, why would I miss someone that left me…." Zuko looked away from his uncle.

"Hmm…" Iroh sipped his tea. He really couldn't blame his nephew for acting this way. It was true Zuko's lover had left a few weeks ago, but not without a reason. " Sok----" Iroh stopped himself for saying the boy's name. Zuko through his anger forbid anyone to ever say that name again. "It's not as if he left without a reason Zuko. He left because he was ill. Even his sister told us that he wouldn't be cured if he stayed here. Zu--" Iroh didn't get the chance to finish.

"Uncle…leave. I wish to be alone." The young lord's tone was serious and deep.

Iroh nodded and left the room to leave his nephew alone.

Zuko let out a sigh once he was sure that his uncle was far from hearing distance. The young lad rubbed his tired eyes to ease the stinging pain of tiredness. It wasn't as if Zuko was angered that his lover left to get better, how could he be angered by such a shallow reason? But he was angered by the fact that it had been weeks and not one sign of contact from him. No word from him what so ever. Other then from the small letters his sister sent each week by winged bat carrier, there was nothing from him. Had Zuko done something that would make his lover not wish to return to him? He knew he had a tendency to push people away, but he had thought his lover had understood that. Zuko couldn't deny that he didn't miss him, he missed him too much to comprehend. His mind was cluttered with thoughts of his lover. For days all he could do was think about him, worrying if he was alright, or if his lover had taken a turn for the worse. What had been wrong with him? Was it some deadly disease? What was it, that was so horrible to make him go back home.

"Sokka….."

Weeks prior

A horrible gagging sound echoed the dark halls of the red clad palace. The dark skinned lover was hunched over the porcelain bowl (Toilet), empting any contents left from his stomach. The boy was oddly pale for his dark complexion, his brown locks hung loosely over his face. He groaned as he slowly flushed away his vomit. The young boy flinched as he a felt a warm hand on the small of his back. He turned her head to see his lover hovering over him.

"You alright?" Zuko asked worried about his small framed lover.

"Yeah...I'm fine." Sokka replied with a weak voice, as he wiped off any remains of vomit from her mouth.

"…Hmm…" Zuko didn't believe him. "You're lying; this is the eighth time this week that you've been sick." His voice was stern, but he made up for it by gently brushing away the loose locks of hair from his lover's face. He was worried about his lover. In the past weeks he had been acting quite peculiar. First off he was very distant, and often dodged any of Zuko's touches. It was as though he didn't feel comfortable with Zuko any more. Even in bed, was Sokka distant. He would move himself closer to the edge of the bed, and wouldn't let Zuko near him. Then there was the constant vomiting, during odd times of the day. Mostly he became sick in the morning, quite early in the morning to everyone's discomfort. "We should call for the doctor. At least that way we could at least know how to help you feel better…"

"No…I'm fine really." Sokka said plastering on a weak smile. He wanted to reassure Zuko that he was fine, but so far the smile wasn't helping. "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just probably the stomach flu…I'm fine..." Sokka didn't think he convinced the Fire Lord. The look that his lover I really like the word lover gave him was one of worry and a bit of irritation. Sokka sighed, as he placed his slender arms around the taller man's waist. "Really I'm fine…"

Zuko sighed, caving in. "Fine…but if this happens again there will be no argument about whether you'll see a doctor or not."

"….Alright…." The smaller man replied as he slowly shifted himself away from his lover, but still keeping a solid hand attached to his sleeve. He tugged on the sleeve, motioning his lover to move. "I want to go back to bed. I'm tired…"

Zuko nodded, as he followed Sokka back to their bedroom.

When finally the Sun arose, so did Zuko. His blinked several times, his eyes adjusting to the new level of light. He turned his head to see his lover curled up against his chest, still sleeping. Zuko took the time to further study Sokka. The boy was pale, and had probably lost a great deal of weight by now. He looked as if he hadn't eaten nor slept well for weeks. A sigh escaped between the fire lord's lips. Why did Sokka have to be so stubborn about seeing a doctor? Many people around the palace had already suggested that the boy go see a doctor, but he still refused. Telling people his excuses, that he was fine, and would probably get better soon. Zuko had it right in his mind that he should just go and ask the doctor to come to palace anyway, and then he'd nail Sokka to the bed if he had to. But the plan was too far on the idiotic side, anyway there was something that Sokka just didn't want him to find out. He was positive of it.

Zuko gently moved his lover away from him so he could get up. It would do Sokka good for him to get some rest. Zuko dressed, washed, and anything else people did in the morning and left. not the best sentence but oh well

Silence, the halls were silent during the early parts of the morning. Zuko enjoyed a silent moment every now and then. It was a rare thing, silence, almost as rare as the time Zuko and Sokka spent together. Because of both their duties they could not spend as much of time as they would like with one another. Zuko with his duties ruling the fire realm, and having to watch the human usage of the gift given to them. Sokka had in many people's minds an unusually duty. He was one of few that looked over human inventions, and human inventors. To say the least it had been a much easier job when the humans were young and innocence still fresh, now it was hard enough to try and change the inventors' minds from creating weapons. To say the least both had their hands full. Zuko's moment of silence abruptly came to an end, by a wave of familiar voices.

"I don't think they're awake yet."

"Yeah, I guess we shouldn't have come so early. Maybe we should come back later."

"I told you we shouldn't have left so early."

"But shouldn't they be up by now?"

"Heh, I bet I know why they're not up yet. It's because they spent all night---"

"It's rude to talk about people like that." Zuko said stepping into the large entrance hall. He met his guests. The long time acquaintances, or should be said friends; the air master Aang, the water heir Katara, and the Earth mistress Toph.

"Ah Zuko, I see you've greeted our guests." The voice of a certain uncle rang as he walked into the entrance hall. "It's good to see you all again."

'' It's good to see you as well Iroh." The young air master replied.

" Yes, it's been awhile." Katara said with a small smile. She glanced at the blind and shorter girl beside her. Toph didn't say anything; her arms were crossed with a slightly pouty expression. Katara gave a small annoyed frown and slightly kicked the girl's leg. "Say something…" Katara muttered softly. It was rude not to even say hello.

Toph twisted her lips. She didn't feel like greeting anyone from the fire realm. She hadn't wanted to come in the first place, but somehow she was persuaded by her those two to come. Why would she even want to come to the realm that caused the destruction of one of her most beloved forest! She accused them for the human's idiotic actions. They knew the consequences of giving such a destroying gift.

A small silence drifted on until it was welcomingly interrupted by a not so new but new face.

"What are you guys doing here..?" A groggily voice asked. Everyone turned their heads to see a very tired looking Sokka. His clothes were over sized and hanging off of him. His hair was waved over his unusually pale and thin face. All had shocked and concerned expression on their faces.

"Sokka!" Katara exclaimed. It shocked her! Or rather horrified her to see her brother look so ill! Katara rushed over to her brother before Zuko could. She hugged her brother before she further examined his face. "Sokka are you alright? Are you sick? Of course you're sick!" Katara continued to fret over her brother though Aang and Toph tried to calm her down a bit. It was long before she turned her head to Zuko. "What did you do to him!" She shouted accusingly.

Zuko gave an expression that one could say was a mix of concern, anger, shock, and disbelief. How dare she accuse him of causing someone he treasured the most to be so ill! But before he could reply his ill lover beat him to the point.

"Katara!" Sokka said as sternly as he could. But his voice was weak, so it sounded like a whisper. "It's not Zuko's fault, it's no one's fault. Okay?" he said as he gripped his sister's shoulder, trying to keep balance. "It's just a stomach flu nothing to worry about."

Zuko sighed, as he walked over to his lover. Softly pushing away the younger girl so that he would be able to help his lover. Zuko wrapped a strong, yet possessive arm around Sokka's thin waist. He would have said that Sokka was lying that instant, at least that way he would have no escape from lying about his health anymore. But after seeing how tired and ill he looked, Zuko thought it best that he not bring it up while Sokka was there. "I'll take you back to bed. You need to get some rest." Seeing his mate nod Zuko led him back to their bedroom. Leaving the others dwindling in their own thoughts.

-It felt like hours for the small group before Zuko was going to meet up with them again. Iroh had led them to a small meeting room, not far from the entrance hall. After a few minutes exchanging idle chatter Iroh excused himself from the group. He said that he some business to attend to himself.

"Iroh had told us that Sokka was sick, but I never thought he would be that sick." Katara said, concern lingering between nearly every syllable.

"Maybe what Sokka said is right. Maybe it's just a stomach flu?" Aang said trying to somehow help his future bride feel better. Though he wasn't feeling all that happy either after seeing Sokka. He was worried as well about his long time friend.

"That's not possible. Remember Iroh told us that Sokka hadn't been acting normal lately." Toph replied. Though she couldn't really see how sick Sokka was, he sounded so weak. She didn't think she ever heard him sound weak before. "Anyway he didn't sound that convincing either."

"Toph's right, if it was just a regular stomach flu then Sokka would have gotten better by now. Something's just not right…" Katara said thinking about any other possible diseases that Sokka could be harboring.

"Your right…something isn't right with him…" The people within the small room turned to the owner of the voice. It was Zuko. He stood against the door frame with his arms crossed with his gaze falling to the floor.

"Zuko can you tell us how long Sokka's been that sick?" Katara asked moving toward Aang. She really didn't want to know, yet at the same time she felt that she had to know.

"I can't say for sure…but it's been about two to three weeks at the least…" Zuko said trying to hide his worried emotions but it failed.

Katara ………

Author: Did I forget to mention this is oneshot part one? (nervous laughter hides evil laughter) Eh heh. But what do you think. And please remember to read the notice! (tears) Alright I know I remember writing a comment about how I love the word lover somewhere in there. But I can't find. Maybe I deleted it. Well anyway this is an edited chapter. I didn't realize that this fanfic archieve had eaten my ( ( sign things. So sorry. .