No one moved. Lee could feel the other people in the market watching him, feel their stunned gazes crawling all over his skin, but the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins and he couldn't bring himself to care what they thought in that moment. There were four unconscious firebenders at his feet and it was he who had brought them down, he who had dodged and deflected their attacks like it was the most natural thing in the world. Because it had been. Because he knew that he had done this before.

He stared at the swords in his hands, feeling a sense of kinship with the twin blades. Yes, this was right. This was him. Even now, he could still hear the song of steel ringing in his ears, whispering of past battles and the deadly dance he had performed over and over with nothing but two swords and the shadows to protect him.

I am the Blue Spirit.

Lee could have laughed with relief. It was as if a piece of the puzzle had at last fallen into place and now he could see the beginnings of the final image. He finally had something onto which he could hold. He had an identity that was concrete and, even better, it was all his. True, the fact that he had been a masked warrior hiding behind an alias did unsettle him for the implications that went with needing such secrecy, but it was something. He was no longer Lee the unknown; he was Lee the Blue Spirit.

Footsteps sounded from behind him. He whirled around and brought his swords up to attack, only to pause when he saw Fei staring at him with wide brown eyes. What little colour left in her cheeks drained away and she swallowed as her gaze flickered from him to the blood-stained metal pressing against her neck. Slowly, he lowered the blades from her throat.

"Lee?"

Her voice was small. Nervous.

Wordlessly, he brought the dao swords together to form one weapon and walked past her, knowing that she would follow if she still wanted anything to do with him. It was obvious that he had shaken her. The townspeople who had been standing in the market square hurried to move out of his way, but he could also hear their murmurs echoing around him like a swarm of buzzard-wasps. So much for good intentions.

Gritting his teeth, he ignored the sounds of their curiosity and distrust and stopped in front of the blacksmith's workshop. The smithy paled behind the mass of dark hair that obscured most of his face, his eyes widening.

"Sorry for the blood," Lee said flatly, placing the dual blades on the counter.

He turned to leave, not wanting to linger in the market with so many people scrutinising him. The smell of fear, however awed, was pungent in his nostrils, and he knew that wariness wasn't being directed towards the incapacitated firebenders. Besides, the longer he stayed, the more likely it was that someone would figure out he was the same boy who had been walking with Fei. Nothing good could come from that. It was best just to go.

"Wait!"

Lee glanced over his shoulder at the blacksmith, his head tilted slightly in question. Some of the ruddiness had returned to the man's face and his mouth was set with determination. The blacksmith grabbed the scabbard that had been hanging on the display wall and then pushed it, along with the broadswords, towards Lee. "Keep them," he said. "I know you'll put these blades to better use than any customer who could afford to purchase them from my shop, sword master."

Lee's eyes widened a fraction. He bowed in thanks and accepted the swords, which he cleaned, sheathed and slung over his shoulder. He could not reject such a gift, not when he knew how much he needed the weapons. He turned to find Fei hovering at his elbow, looking pale but resolved.

"Lee," she said again, squaring her shoulders in a way that told him he was about to be bombarded with a lot of questions.

"Not here," he hissed, grabbing her by the arm and leading her away from the group of listening traders and shoppers.

She squeaked and tried to slip free of his grip. Lee stopped and glared at her through the slits of his mask. He pulled her closer so that no one else would be able to hear his words.

"Look, do you want your answers or not?" he growled in her ear.

"Yes, but—"

"Then meet me back at your house. We'll talk then."

She glanced up at him. "Why can't we just walk back together?"

"Because anyone who cared to pay attention would remember that you had come to the market with a boy and will easily be able to put the two together if they see me leaving with you." He cast a wary glance around the marketplace. "Just talking to you now is putting us both at risk. Damn it. I should have thought of this sooner."

He froze as he caught sight of the trader who had sold him the mask and for a moment they just stared at each other. Lee's stomach twisted with unease. The trader had seen his face, had seen him buy the mask. What should he do now?

The old man did not break eye contact and simply nodded. A breath escaped Lee's lips. It seemed as if the trader was saying that he would keep the secret. Lee would have liked to have got concrete proof, but there wasn't time for that now. There were too many people, too many ears listening. He had to get out of here, not just for his own protection, but for every person who knew what he looked like under the mask. The old fear was returning, reminding him that he had been found half-dead and stranded in this town for a reason.

Fei gripped his wrist. "Lee, just tell me—"

"At the house," he said firmly.

He released her on the words and sprinted in the opposite direction, purposely pushing through the crowd to draw their attention away from Fei. The gasps and shouts told him that his plan was working. He didn't let the noise distract him. Instead, he increased his speed and jumped onto the wooden crate near the tavern, using the momentum to propel his body upwards. His fingers closed on the rim of the roof and he flipped up with one hand, landing in a half-crouch on the tiles. A twinge passed through his right shoulder. Lee ignored the pain and shot back to his feet, making a running leap for the neighbouring building.

Don't let anyone follow, his mind chanted. The Blue Spirit comes like a shadow and will leave like a shadow. He always makes a clean escape.

Lee's jaw clenched as he made the next jump, letting instinct take over to guide his feet. The townspeople's shouts and exclamations reverberated around him, but they were nothing to him in that moment. He was alive with the pounding of his heart and the familiar exhilaration that surged through him with every gravity-defying leap. No one could catch him up here. He was as swift and silent as the shadows. He was the Blue Spirit.

But he was also a boy with a scar on his face. It was that which had him increasing his speed, determined to make the market goers believe that he had left the town for good. Because someone had caught him once. The knowledge pulsed in every painful throb of his mind, hissing of danger. Someone had hurt him, could even now be hunting him. He would not, could not, let Fei and her family get caught up in that too.

He had to warn them. He had to run.

oOo

The sun was setting when Lee arrived back at the house, tired but otherwise unharmed. After leaving the town and bundling the mask and swords in his outer-robe, it had been easy enough for him to circuit back around to meet up with Fei at her home, though it had taken much longer. Of course, he knew that his ruse was not foolproof, but it would at least buy him some time.

"You came back!" Fei exclaimed, standing up from where she'd been sitting on the doorstep and taking an impulsive step towards him.

Lee raised his good eyebrow. "You thought I wouldn't?"

She had the grace to blush. "I don't know. After everything that happened, I guess I just"—the colour darkened on her cheeks and she lowered her gaze—"well, I guess I just don't really know what to think of you anymore."

"Right." His jaw tightened. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not the weak little nobody you thought I was."

"No!" She gripped his arm, stopping him from walking away. "That's not what I meant. I just—you just surprised me, that's all." A smile curved her lips. "I spent two days feeding you soup because you could barely lift your own spoon. I wasn't exactly expecting you to turn out to be some master swordsman who can take down four firebenders by himself."

Some of the anger faded from his eyes. "It was a mistake to attack those soldiers." He averted his face. "I've just made things worse for everyone."

"Why would you say that? Sure, it was scary to watch, but what you did was amazing!"

"No, it was reckless and stupid." He placed the bundle down and sat on the step, placing his head in his hands. "I don't know who I am, Fei. I don't know what I've been running from or how I got injured. That should have been enough to make me cautious, but seeing those men burn that stall just felt so wrong. I ... I couldn't stand there and watch it happen."

"So, what's the problem?"

He lifted his hands away to meet her gaze. "You asked me earlier why I bought that mask."

She nodded.

"It's because I used to wear one just like that. I was the Blue Spirit."

"Who?"

"The Blue Spirit," he repeated. "It's a character from a popular theatre show. I must have taken on the alias to protect my real identity, but don't you see? I just blew my cover in the worst way possible. The trader who sold me the mask knows what I look like. Maybe there are some other people in the market who will be able to figure out the connection as well, and then there's you and your family."

She planted her hands on her hips. "Hey, my family and I are not blabbermouths! Just what are you accusing us of?"

"I'm not accusing you of anything! I'm trying to tell you that you're in danger now because of me!"

Fei's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

Lee sighed and ran a hand through the short, uneven strands of hair that covered his head. "Think about it, Fei. I took down four firebenders. You can't tell me they were the only ones occupying the town. More will come, and they will want to know who I am. All it would take is for one person to give a hint, just a hint, that the Blue Spirit is the same boy who's been staying with your family and then the Fire Nation soldiers will come here to investigate. You and I both know what that would mean."

Her cheeks paled, but she held her head high. "Well, then you can just drive them away again with your swords."

Lee shook his head. "I can't stay here. It will only make things worse. At least if I'm gone they can't punish you for harbouring the Blue Spirit if the truth gets out."

"You're just going to leave?" she asked in a small voice. "Just like that?"

"I have to." He stared at the bundle where the mask and swords lay hidden. "I'll admit that maybe at first I wasn't sure if I wanted to remember my past, but now I know I have to find out the truth. I have to know how I got like this."

She sat next to him and clasped his forearm. "But, Lee, don't you think it would be more dangerous to leave when your memory still hasn't returned? What if you run into the people who hurt you and you don't even know it?"

He shifted away from her touch. "That's why I have to go. Try to understand, I don't know if I was running because I'm the Blue Spirit and got injured or if there is something about my real identity that somehow put me in danger. If I stay here, I might never know what really happened, but if I leave I have a chance of discovering the truth."

"But—"

"I don't want to live my life in fear, Fei. I'd rather die trying to regain my memories than spend every day wondering if someone is going to recognise me, yet not even knowing why I should be afraid, let alone if it's the mask or the face underneath that should be my main concern."

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "I can see now why you held onto that dagger."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You really don't give up without a fight, do you?"

An image flickered in his mind of a woman with amber eyes and long, dark hair. Suddenly, he could hear the words—her words—echoing in his mind once again:

"Because that's who you are. Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard."

Lee closed his eyes, conscious of the way his heart clenched with a pain he did not understand. "No," he said softly. "I don't think I do."

They were both silent for a moment. Fei tucked her legs up against her chest and rested her chin on her knees, staring out into the distance. He couldn't help but note that she looked unhappy.

"I guess you'll be leaving soon then, huh?" she observed, still not looking at him.

"It's better this way. The longer I stay here, the more dangerous it will be for everyone."

"Where will you go?"

Lee thought for a moment. "I'm going to try find what I was looking for."

"Huh?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the scrap of parchment. "This isn't my handwriting; I know because I checked. Someone must have written this message for me, which means that I was searching for something before I lost my memories. Maybe if I follow the path of the ancient ways like the note says, I'll be able to discover something or someone to help me."

"You know what it means?"

"No, but that doesn't mean I can't try. There has to be information about the path of the ancient ways somewhere. At least it would be a start."

She exhaled in a loud puff of breath and stood up. "Come on then."

He looked at her questioningly.

Fei's toothy grin came into play. "You didn't think you'd be able to leave without saying goodbye to Gran and Mum, did you? Besides, they might have some advice for where you should go next."

His brow furrowed. "You think so?"

"Don't know, but there's only one way to find out."

Lee nodded and gathered up the bundle containing his Blue Spirit disguise, then followed her inside the house to where Fei's mother and Qiao were preparing some kind of herbal concoction. It didn't take long for the teens to explain the situation. While both women were stunned to discover that their guest had managed to defeat four firebenders with a pair of dao swords, Lee was relieved to note that there was no fear in their eyes. He would never admit it aloud, but it bothered him how wary most of the townspeople had become after the fight. He had only been trying to help, but instead they had thrown it back in his face and acted like he was going to attack them next. It was nice to know that Fei's family still trusted him.

"So, you're planning on leaving us, boy," Qiao said, folding her arms.

Lee nodded. "I think it's for the best."

"Well, I always knew you were different, but I never expected you'd turn out to be some masked vigilante."

"To be fair," Fei's mother pointed out, "I don't think he did either."

Lee rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. Anyway, I—"

"We wanted to know if you had any idea where he could begin his search," Fei interrupted. "He thinks if he learns more about the path of the ancient ways that he might be able to find something to help him regain his memories."

Lee narrowed his eyes. "I was just about to say that."

Qiao tapped a gnarled finger to her chin. "Well, I don't know about any ancient ways, but it couldn't hurt to try your luck at Omashu. The city is not far from here and I've heard they have a library filled with scrolls about the Earth Kingdom and its history. Either way, Omashu is a big place and sees many travellers come and go. Even if you don't find the information you need, there's a chance you might run into someone who will be able to help you regain your memories."

"I guess it's worth a shot," Lee agreed. "I have to begin somewhere, and Omashu is as good as any other place."

"You just be careful while you're out there searching," Fei's mother said in a grim voice. "The Fire Nation isn't going to forget what you've done, and you admitted yourself that you're uncertain whether it's this Blue Spirit alias of yours that originally put you in danger or if it was something about your real identity. That's a lot of risks you're taking, Lee."

He lowered his gaze to the floor, knowing this to be true. He also knew, however, that he had no choice.

Qiao placed a hand on his shoulder. "If you want my advice, you'd do well to keep that mask on while you're travelling. Better to have people chasing a shadow than to track your real self, especially with that scar of yours."

Lee touched a hand to his left cheek. She was probably right. His scar was large and far too memorable. There was no saying who might recognise the description of his face, and that was something he didn't want to risk when he still knew so little about the boy with the scar. Much better to stick to the Blue Spirit.

"I understand," he said.

"Good."

Fei's mother smiled sadly at him. "I suppose you'll need supplies for your journey."

Lee's face warmed. He'd seen for himself that the family was not affluent. "No, really," he said awkwardly. "I'll be fine. I'm sure I can—"

"Please," she interjected. "I'll feel much more secure knowing that you didn't leave my home destitute."

Swallowing his pride, he bowed and placed his right fist just below his left hand, which he kept open and pointed upward. "Thank you."

As he straightened to his full height, he saw Qiao giving him an odd look, but the old woman said nothing. Lee dismissed the matter and instead focussed on helping Fei's mother pack some provisions for him. Food, money and a flask of water were tucked inside the bag, then she led him into the other room where she and her daughter slept.

"We're lucky my husband's clothes fit you so well," she said, placing a clean set of garments inside the bag. "You can keep the boots I lent you, but I'm afraid we don't have any others to spare. You'll have to make those ones last."

Lee shifted uncomfortably. He'd been told that Fei's father had gone to fight in the war; however, it had been five years since the family had last heard anything. It seemed wrong to take the soldier's clothes now, but Lee knew that he didn't have much of a choice. His own clothes had been torn and bloody and he hadn't even been wearing any footwear.

"The one pair will do fine," he said. "I mean to travel light, anyway. But, uh, thank you."

A smile flittered across her face. "You're not used to accepting things from people, are you?"

He shrugged. Maybe.

"Well, I guess that's a good sign," she continued. "Means you can take care of yourself." She handed him the bag. "Either way, I hope this will help to make your journey easier."

Lee took the pack and slung it over his shoulder. He was careful not to let it obstruct the access he had to his swords, which he'd also strapped to his back. Mumbling another thank you, he turned to leave.

"Lee."

He paused. "Yes?"

"Be safe."

The corners of his mouth lifted. "I will."

He left the room and picked up the blue mask from the table in the living area, then said his goodbyes to Qiao and Fei. It was time to go. As he exited the house, he was conscious of footsteps following him. The light tread told him it was Fei.

"What is it?" he asked.

She kept her gaze fixed on the ground. Moments passed. His brow furrowed and he was just about to tell her to say something when she suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around his middle. His eyes widened and he stiffened from his head to his toes. Fei was hugging him. For some reason, all he could think was that her hair was tickling his chin and she smelt like the herbs used in her mother's medicine: a hint of astragalus, salvia and tang-keui.

"I'm going to miss you, Lee."

Her voice got swallowed up in his tunic. He stood there with his arms held awkwardly away from her, not sure how to respond. Eventually, she pulled back and raised her face to meet his gaze. His heart thudded against his ribs. There was something in her eyes that whispered of more than friendship and casual conversations, something that made him conscious of the fact he was a boy and she was a rather cute girl. His breathing sped up. It would be easy to lean in, to close the distance between them as he knew she wanted him to do. Yet even as his gaze dropped to her lips, he realised that he could not do it.

The Blue Spirit always makes a clean escape.

Lee stepped back and placed the mask over his face. "Goodbye, Fei."

He was gone on the words, fading into the shadows of the night. He knew that a door was closing, separating him from the girl with the toothy smile and the life that could have been, but he did not mourn the loss. Lee was not and could never be an ordinary Earth Kingdom boy. He was the Blue Spirit, and somewhere out there was the other half of himself: the half who had been watched over by a woman with amber eyes and dark hair; the half who had received a pearl-handled dagger with engravings on either side as a gift. Now, with only a Pai Sho tile and a scrap of parchment to direct him, he had to find that boy.

Lee exhaled deeply as he ran, guided by the silver light of the moon. It was time to begin his search.

oOo

It was quiet in the room. Candles flickered, but the two men paid no heed to the dimming of the lights. Their attention was fixed on the board between them where a lotus flower began to form as they placed each new tile on the squares. When both players had run out of tiles, they looked up at each other with newfound respect.

"Welcome, brother," the man in the green tunic said, clasping his hands together on the table. "The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

General Iroh's mouth quirked into a smile. "I'm counting on it. There is much that needs to be done. You might have heard that I've started the call, but I'm going to need your help to get the news to the rest of the Order."

The man's eyes widened. "Then you must be General Iroh, the Grand Lotus."

Iroh nodded. "But please call me Yingjie. It's not safe for me to use my name in these parts. My brother has branded me a traitor and my niece will stop at nothing to capture me and take me back to the Fire Nation. It is best for everyone if people believe me to be nothing more than a humble Earth Kingdom refugee."

"I understand, Gen—I mean, Yingjie."

"Excellent." Iroh leaned forward. "Now, I have a very important question for you."

"Yes?"

"Do you have any tea?" Iroh gave a mournful sigh. "It's been so long since I've tasted a good cup of ginseng, though I'd be willing to have any flavour at this point. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find the right plants to brew your own while on the run. I thought I could make some with the white dragon bush I found, but, uh"—he gave a belly-rumbling chuckle—"well, that didn't turn out so well."

The man in the green tunic blinked a few times. "Uh, I'm sure we can find you some tea, Gen—Yingjie. Just let me ask Chonglin."

Iroh's eyes twinkled. "Thank you. It will be much appreciated."

The agent stood up and left the room. Several minutes later, he returned with a small, balding man who was carrying a tray with a cup and a steaming pot of tea on top. No doubt the aforementioned Chonglin.

Iroh sniffed the air. "Ah, ginseng," he observed. "My favourite."

Chonglin knelt by the table and poured the tea for him. One sip had the old general sighing in satisfaction. Now that was good tea. When he was halfway through his drink, he cradled the cup in his hand and glanced at the two agents now seated opposite him.

"Perhaps there is something else you can help me with, Chonglin," Iroh mused.

"I will be happy to be of service," Chonglin replied. "It has been a long time since we've had a Grand Lotus stay with us."

Iroh shook his head. "This is something personal, though I admit I had once hoped …" He trailed off with a sigh. "Well, I guess there is no saying what the future will bring."

Chonglin clasped his hands on his lap. "What is it you wish to know, Yingjie?"

"It's about my nephew," Iroh admitted. "We were separated during the siege of the North. I was just wondering if any of the agents who have been tracking the Fire Nation's movements have heard anything about what happened to him."

The two White Lotus members exchanged a glance.

"There have been some rumours," Chonglin said in a grave voice, "but I'm afraid you will not like what they have to say."

Iroh tightened his grip on the tea cup. "Tell me."

"Apparently, Princess Azula found her brother half-dead in the ocean. She was supposed to be taking him back to the Fire Nation, where he would be imprisoned, but something went wrong. There are differing opinions about what happened after that, but the general consensus is still the same." Chonglin shook his head in what might have been regret. "I'm sorry, General Iroh, but your nephew is dead."

The cup slipped from Iroh's fingers, spilling the rest of the tea on the floor. He did not even think to correct the other man for using his proper name. "No," he said in a strained voice. "That's not possible."

"I am sorry," Chonglin repeated.

Iroh stared at his hands, which he dimly realised were trembling. In his mind, he could see the boy with the scar that should have never marred his face—that strong, loyal and loving boy who had tried so hard to meet Ozai's expectations, no matter how impossible.

"I should not have left him," Iroh whispered, closing his eyes.

He had placed the world before his nephew, but for many years now it was Zuko who had meant the world to him. Hearing Chonglin's words was like losing Lu Ten all over again. Iroh wished with all of his heart that he could turn time back and ignore Pakku's warning. If he had a second chance, he would stand by his nephew until the end, regardless of what danger it presented to himself or how it would impact the Order of the White Lotus. But he could not change the past; he could only change the future.

"Are you sure those rumours are true?" Iroh asked, straightening his back. "Is there any physical proof, like a body?"

"The reports were quite explicit, though it was suggested the most likely cause of death was drowning. I don't believe a body was ever found."

Iroh's eyes gleamed. "Then there's still a chance."

The two men exchanged another glance.

Iroh stood up and faced the two White Lotus members with a grim expression. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I will have to leave you much sooner than I thought. Please, continue to spread the news to the rest of the Order outposts that the time has come to prepare for the next phase. We will need all the aid we can get if we are to end this war."

"And what of you?" Chonglin asked. "Where will you go next?"

Iroh looked out the window to where he could see the moon shining in a silver crescent against the night sky. "I'm going to fulfil a promise I made to myself three years ago."

He had sworn when Zuko had first been banished that he would never abandon him, that he would stay and protect his young relative for as long as it was necessary. Today, he had discovered that he had almost failed in his duty, but he would not let such a mistake happen again.

We shall meet again, my nephew.

It didn't matter how long it took. He refused to lose another son.