The Avatar had given a speech to the resistance members about "Living to fight another day". It was decided that everyone would flee the city using pentapox, though Lee had not understood how that was meant to help anything. The next morning, he finally understood why the waterbender had been so amused by his confusion. Buckets of purple pentapi had been collected from the sewers and were used to make the civilians and resistance fighters look as if they had a skin disease. Combined with an old man's coaching on how to act ill, the group were transformed into an army of plague carriers, all of whom moaned and stumbled as they walked while looking as if they were about to die on the spot. It was a genius plan, for not even the Fire Nation had the power to combat an epidemic. The governor would be forced to let them go or risk his people succumbing to the "sickness" as well.

Lee folded his arms and watched the spectacle of the Omashu residents practising to be ill. He'd declined the offer of having the waterbender—Katara, he reminded himself—put pentapus marks on him. He didn't need to pretend to be one of the living dead to slip past the soldiers, and he had no desire to remove his mask if he could help it. He had not forgotten Qiao's advice. Besides, he wasn't planning on joining the great exodus to escape the city. He had come to Omashu to find information about the path of the ancient ways, and that was what he was going to do. First, however, he needed to discover the location of the Omashu Library.

He noticed Yan walking past holding a bucket of pentapi in his arms. "Wait," Lee said, pushing away from the wall.

Yan threw an impatient glance his way. "What is it? Can't you see I'm in a hurry?"

"Can you tell me where to find the library? It's important."

"You're wasting your time, kid. The Omashu Library has always been part of the palace, and that was razed to the ground when the Fire Nation first took over the city." He took a firmer grip on the bucket, stopping a pentapus from escaping. "I'm sorry, but whatever information you were hoping to find is gone."

Something cold settled in the pit of Lee's stomach. Dimly, he was aware of Yan walking away, but everything seemed so insignificant and fuzzy to him in that moment. All he could think was that it had all been for nothing. No one had seemed to know about the path of the ancient ways, and now he had discovered that the library and all of its contents had been destroyed. It was so frustrating, so hopeless. He had been certain that Omashu would give him the answers he sought, but all he had found was another dead end.

"Everything okay?"

Lee turned and saw the Avatar frowning up at him. The orange turban was once again wrapped around Aang's head, yet Lee noticed there were no pentapus marks on his face or neck.

"You're not joining the others," Lee observed.

"I see you aren't either."

Lee's jaw tightened and he looked towards the city centre, staring at the space where the palace used to be and where the governor's house now gleamed in red and black. "It doesn't matter now," he said bitterly. "The knowledge I was searching for no longer exists."

Aang hesitated. "You know, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Yan. If it's information you want, I know someone who might be able to help."

"Who?"

"King Bumi. He can be a little crazy sometimes, but he knows a lot, especially about the Earth Kingdom." Aang gave a shy smile. "I'm going to go look for him now. You could come with me if you like."

A crease formed on Lee's brow. There was something familiar about that grin. Something that whispered of a clearing and a boy hugging his knees to his chest as he talked about the past.

"If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends?"

Lee let out a small breath. Just like that the memory was gone, retreating back behind the walls of his mind that he could never breach. His head lightly throbbed from the effort of trying to piece together his broken past, but he ignored the pain and stared at Aang with a new intensity. The Avatar had said that they had known each other, had hugged him and greeted him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Was it really possible that they had been friends?

"Alright," Lee said quietly. "I'll come with you."

Aang's grin widened. "Great! With the two of us searching, we should be able to find Bumi in no time."

Lee nodded. A commotion from the left had both boys turning to look at the assembled group of residents, all of whom were now suitably spotted and ready to begin the march for escape.

"Okay, everyone!" Sokka called, taking the lead. "Into sick formation!"

With much groaning and shuffling, the residents formed a pack and started making the slow trek for the gates. Lee and Aang exchanged a glance of silent agreement and headed in the opposite direction.

"Aang!" Katara exclaimed, running towards them. "What are you doing? Aren't you coming with us?"

Aang shook his head. "I'm not leaving until I find Bumi."

Momo leapt onto Aang's shoulder and chittered, grabbing his mouth.

"Sorry, Momo," Aang said, picking up the lemur and handing him back to Katara. "I'll feed you later."

Momo's ears drooped. Katara glanced up at Lee and he could see the undisguised worry in her eyes.

"You've always been there to help Aang in the past," she said, meeting his gaze through the slits of his mask. "Please protect him now."

Lee gave a slight nod. "I will."

"I can take care of myself, you know," Aang complained, looking somehow disgruntled yet at the same time pleased that she was showing so much concern for him.

"I know," she said, "but I'll just feel better if the Blue Spirit is keeping an eye on you too." Her lips curved. "You have to admit that you do have a habit of getting yourself into dangerous situations."

Aang rubbed the back of his neck and gave a sheepish grin. It seemed that even he couldn't argue with that.

"We need to go," Lee stated flatly, turning his back on them. "It'll be easier to find King Bumi while the Fire Nation soldiers are distracted."

"You're right," Aang agreed.

Saying his last goodbyes to Katara, Aang then used airbending to propel Lee, along with himself, to the rooftops. Lee landed in a half-crouch and got to his feet to survey their surroundings. Not far below, he could see the residents of Omashu moving in a swarm of brown and green, filling up the narrow streets. Shouts of plague echoed throughout the city as the watchmen became aware of the situation. It would not be long before the alarm was sounded.

"They'll be keeping Bumi somewhere where he can't earthbend," Aang said, coming to stand beside Lee. "Got any ideas?"

Lee shook his head. "I don't think I came to Omashu very often. Your guess is as good as mine."

A slight crease formed on Aang's brow. "Right," he said slowly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to take our chances then." He flashed Lee an ear-splitting grin. "Think you can keep up?"

Lee rolled his eyes. "Just get moving, Avatar."

"Yes, sir!"

Aang bounded ahead, seeming to float rather than jump from one rooftop to the next. Lee followed with much less grace, but his strength and agility made up for his inability to bend the air currents into carrying him across the gaps. The Blue Spirit had made his home in the shadows. Jumping over rooftops had never been a problem for him, just as he had no trouble keeping pace now.

"It's just like old times, huh?" Aang said with a laugh as they ran side by side.

"Yeah," Lee said with a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Just like old times."

Except he had no memory of those times. He was a walking blank: a boy whose slate of identity had been wiped clean with a careless hand, leaving only blurred splotches of the truth. But here was someone who had known him, someone who could tell him about the past if he was willing to trust him.

Frowning, Lee slowed to a walk. "Hey, Aang," he said, testing out the Avatar's name on his tongue for the first time.

Aang stopped in his tracks. "Yeah?"

Lee opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. "Nothing," he said, walking ahead. "It's nothing. Let's just keep searching."

Aang didn't move. "You know, you've been acting kind of weird ever since you joined us yesterday. Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Why would you think it isn't?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe because you almost died!" Aang took a step towards him. "I know things haven't always been easy between us, but you're here now and you're actually helping me again, so I'm guessing something must have happened to change your mind about a few things."

Lee sighed and looked the other way. "That's the problem. I don't remember what happened."

"What?"

"One day I woke up in a healer's house," Lee confided, knowing he could no longer keep the truth to himself. "I didn't know who I was or where I had come from. The girl who had been helping to take care of me said I hadn't spoken a word for two days. I wouldn't even move unless someone made me." He turned to meet Aang's horrified gaze. "Shock, the healer called it. Apparently, my body and mind had suffered too much pain at once. I was as good as dead, but somehow I snapped out of it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to regain my memories."

"But you're better now, right?" Aang exclaimed, looking rather pale. "I mean, you remember me."

Lee shook his head. "I've managed to piece together some things, but most of it is just fragments. The only thing I know for certain is that I'm the Blue Spirit." His voice took on a wistful tone. "I don't even know my real name. I've just been calling myself Lee because that's what Fei and her family took to calling me during the time I couldn't speak."

Aang stared down at his hands, mesmerised by the way his thumbs circled each other. "So you don't remember anything about me or the time we spent together."

"I remember a clearing of trees and a boy talking about the world he used to know." Lee's mouth curved into a half-smile, though it was covered by the permanent grin etched onto his mask. "I also remember an offer of friendship."

Aang let out a small breath. "That's it, huh?" His voice sounded oddly shaky, as if he was trying not to laugh. Or cry.

"That's it."

For a moment, Aang was silent. Round and round went his thumbs, becoming more frantic with every second. Finally, he dropped his hands to his sides and raised his head. His cheeks were pale, but his expression was determined. "I can't tell you who you are," he said, not quite meeting Lee's eyes, "but I can tell you this. You saved my life once, even though we weren't allies at the time and it would have been easier for you to just let me die. I'll never forget that." Their eyes met. "You're a good person, Lee. No matter what anyone else tells you, I hope you'll remember that."

Lee's eyes narrowed. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"

"I—" Aang swallowed and tried again. "It's complicated. Let's just say I think it'll be safer for everyone if you keep that mask on."

"I think I understand."

Aang blinked in surprise. "You do?"

"Qiao told me the same thing just before I left the town to come here. She said it was better to have people chase a shadow than my real self."

"And what do you believe?"

"I don't think I have much of a choice. There are a lot of things I don't know about myself. Until I know who I really am, I can't take the risk of being recognised as anyone but the Blue Spirit, even by those I want to trust." His voice softened. "I've put enough people in danger."

Aang opened his mouth to respond when a loud clanging had them both looking towards the watchtowers.

"Looks like the alarm has been sounded," Lee observed. "Your friends must have made it to the main plaza. We'd better hurry."

He dashed ahead, but Aang remained where he was.

"What's wrong?" Lee asked.

Aang let out a small breath. "Nothing. I just hope Katara and Sokka are alright, that's all."

"I'm sure they're fine. Now hurry, otherwise we'll be the ones in trouble."

"Right. Sorry."

Lee rolled his eyes. Somehow, he got the feeling that he was often frustrated with this kid. He didn't know why the thought made him think of frozen frogs.

"Hey," Aang said, pointing to the alley below them. "I think I see someone I recognise."

"Who?"

"Flopsie!"

"Who?" Lee repeated, wondering if he had misheard the boy.

Aang merely grinned. "Come on, I think we just found our ticket to King Bumi."

oOo

There were bonfires everywhere. Katara thought the scene would have been quite beautiful, especially with the way the moon and the stars lit up the sky in a brilliant display of silver, but Aang and the Blue Spirit had still not returned. She was worried. It had been hours since she had said goodbye to the two and she hated to think that something might have happened to them. What if they had been caught trying to leave the city? What if one of them was hurt or—

But no. The Blue Spirit could heal so even if one of them did get injured, they would be okay. Besides, the Blue Spirit had said that he would keep an eye on Aang, and she knew Aang was no pushover either. She had to trust that they would both return to her safely.

"I know they will," she murmured.

"Huh?"

Katara glanced to the side to see Sokka quirking an eyebrow at her. "Just thinking aloud," she explained.

Sokka rubbed his chin and looked out into the distance to where Omashu lay behind the cover of the mountains. "I don't like that Aang went with that Blue Spirit guy," he said after a moment. "We don't know anything about him. We don't even know if we can trust him."

"Sokka, he saved Aang's life. I'm sure he's not about to turn around and try to have Aang killed."

"Yeah, and Jet helped us to fight off those Fire Nation soldiers as well. Remember what happened with him?"

Katara stared at her brother with an unimpressed expression.

"Look," he said, holding his hands up in an appeasing gesture, "all I'm saying is that we've been wrong about people's intentions before. Who's to say that this Blue Spirit guy doesn't have his own agenda as well?"

Katara folded her arms. "His intentions looked pretty clear to me when he stopped that Fire Nation girl from stabbing me in the back."

"And I'm grateful to him for that, but think about it, Katara. What do we really know about this guy?"

Katara closed her fingers around her necklace and watched the flames dance before her in flickers of orange and red. "I know that he's a healer and a waterbender. I know that he risked his life to save Aang and that he's wanted by the Fire Nation. I know that he helped us last night and has continued to help us since then." She shrugged. "Seems like a lot of good reasons to trust him, don't you think?"

"Well, I don't like him," Sokka said mulishly. "He doesn't even talk to us—just stands in the shadows and stares at everyone. It's creepy, and that mask of his is creepy too."

"He's probably just shy. Aang said that the Blue Spirit prefers to work alone. I guess he's not used to being around so many people. He certainly looked uncomfortable when I was talking to him last night."

She didn't mention that she had been surprised at the familiarity of his voice when he had first responded aloud to her. That for a moment, just a tiny moment, she had felt doubt and fear because only one person had spoken to her in such a raspy tone.

"I'll save you from the pirates."

Katara shook her head, brushing aside the memory as easily as a cobweb. The Blue Spirit had nothing in common with the temperamental prince she had helped to heal in the North Pole. At least not where it mattered. Their voices might be similar, but the Blue Spirit was composed and quiet, if a little abrupt at times. Zuko was loud and had exploded at every little thing. There could not have been two more different people. As such, she did not find it difficult to dismiss her brother's suspicions.

"Honestly, Sokka, I think you're just being paranoid. You didn't want to trust Aang when we first met him either and he's the Avatar! I don't think the Blue Spirit is trying to trick us. In fact, I—"

She broke off as she caught sight of two figures walking towards the camp, one of whom stood out for the blue mask covering his face. Behind them was a large creature with big, floppy ears.

"Is that Flopsie?" Sokka asked, following the direction of her gaze and standing up to get a better look.

"I don't know, but that's definitely Aang and the Blue Spirit. Come on!"

They ran to greet their friend, who just sighed and allowed his shoulders to droop a little more.

"We looked everywhere," Aang said miserably. "No Bumi."

Katara pulled him into a hug, trying to give him comfort where words could not. Sokka did the same for Flopsie, who was looking just as dispirited and making pining noises for his master.

"They can't make a king disappear," the Blue Spirit said with just the slightest hint of frustration. "If they're keeping him somewhere within the city, we will find him. I've already offered to go back later tonight to see what information I can find in the governor's home. If that fails, I'll try the soldiers' barracks."

"Don't you think that's dangerous?" Katara asked, releasing Aang to stare at him.

"I'm good at sneaking," he said with a shrug. "I'll be fine."

"But—"

"Don't worry, Katara," Aang said with a reassuring smile. "He knows what he's doing. I even said I'd go with him, but he told me I'd just get in the way."

"That's because you wouldn't know stealth even if it hit you in the head," the Blue Spirit said bluntly. "To be honest, I expected more from an airbender."

Sokka placed a hand over his mouth, clearly trying not to laugh. Even Katara had to repress a grin.

"Hey, it's not like we got caught!" Aang defended, looking a bit red around the ears. "And I'll have you know that the monks always told me I was very light on my feet."

"Just not so good at keeping your mouth shut," his tormentor responded.

Aang was about to make a retort when Yan interrupted them by clearing his throat. Katara noticed that the Blue Spirit alone was not surprised to see the older man. Perhaps he had heard the resistance leader coming. She wouldn't put it past him; the masked warrior always seemed to be on alert despite his relatively calm disposition.

"We've got a problem," Yan said by way of greeting. "We just did a head count."

"Oh, no!" Katara exclaimed. "Did someone get left behind?"

"No." Yan gestured to the right. "We have an extra."

All four turned to look to where he had pointed. A group of Omashu residents sat huddled around a fire, but it was the winged lemur that caught her eye. Or, rather, the black-tufted baby who was clinging to the lemur's neck and who was being dragged around in circles as a terrified Momo tried to escape from its clutches.

"How did a baby get all the way out here?" Sokka asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Momo screeched and flapped his wings, levitating himself and the baby several metres from the ground. As he passed over the group, the baby lost its grip and fell straight for the Blue Spirit, who reached out and caught the giggling bundle easily. Apparently, falling was not a new experience to the little boy.

"Well, I guess that tells us how the baby got here," Aang commented. "Momo must have carried him out of the city by accident." He narrowed his eyes at the lemur, who had perched himself on Sokka's head. "You were stealing food again, weren't you?"

Momo chittered something that might have been a declaration of his innocence.

"Sorry, buddy," Sokka said, reaching up to scratch the lemur behind the ears, "but I don't think anyone is buying that."

Katara laughed and glanced back at the Blue Spirit, who was now fending off the baby's attempts to grab his mask. "I think he likes you," she teased.

"That's cute," Yan said in a tone that suggested he thought quite the opposite, "but you're missing the point. This is a Fire Nation child, and not just any one at that."

"What do you mean?" Katara asked, stepping forward to get a closer look at the baby.

"Look at his clothes," the Blue Spirit said softly. "They've been made with the finest silk. Whoever this child belongs to, it has to be someone important."

Yan folded his arms. "Exactly, and eventually his parents are going to notice that their pride and joy is missing."

"You think they'll come after us?" Aang asked.

"I don't know, but either way the rest of us will be leaving tomorrow morning. It's too risky for us to stay in the mountain ranges with Omashu so close."

"I'd avoid the northern exit if I were you," the Blue Spirit said, capturing both of the baby's hands with one of his own to stop the relentless assault on his mask. "The last time I passed through that way there was a Fire Nation blockade set up."

"We ran into that too," Sokka said. "There were a lot of fireballs. Though I have to admit, if I had known what was waiting for me in the Secret Love Tunnel, I think I might have just risked the fireballs."

Katara clenched her hands into fists. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She pointed a finger at the baby. "What are we supposed to do about him?"

"We could always get Momo to fly him back to the city," Aang suggested.

"Are you kidding?" she exclaimed. "The last time I tried to get Momo to fetch me some water, he brought me a dead mouse and a crown, not to mention all the other junk he found. I think it's safe to say that using the lemur transportation service is not an option."

The Blue Spirit held the baby away from him, tilting his head from side to side as he examined the little boy. "It's too bad we don't know who his parents are. I could have just dropped him off at their house when I returned to the city later."

"Well, we don't know," Katara responded, "and I'm still not sure if going back is such a good idea. Besides, how would you have found the right house?"

He shrugged.

"My point exactly."

The Blue Spirit leaned over and whispered something in Aang's ear. Katara watched as Aang chuckled and nodded.

"Oh, you have no idea," Aang commented.

"No idea about what?" Katara demanded suspiciously. "What are you two talking about?"

Sokka grinned. "I think I know. Blue Face over there has just noticed how bossy you can—argh!" He glared at his sister, who had just hit him on the head (and sent Momo screeching for a new perch). "What was that for? They're the ones who said it!"

"Is this true, Aang?" she asked, rounding on him. "Do you really think I'm bossy?"

Aang blushed. "I only meant that you can be a bit, uh, forceful with your—"

"Oh, forget it!" she snapped, then stomped over to where the Blue Spirit was standing and snatched the baby from his hands. "Do what you want, but I won't let you drag this child into it. He's just a baby."

"A Fire Nation baby," Yan reminded her, "and one who is currently putting all of us in danger."

Katara narrowed her eyes, daring the resistance leader to take the baby from her. Yan did not dare. Instead, he muttered something about checking on the other residents before moving to one of the campfires down the mountain path. Satisfied, Katara returned her attention to the boy in her arms. "Don't worry," she cooed, enfolding him in a hug. "I won't let them hurt you."

Sokka rolled his eyes. "She acts like we're going to put him on a spit and roast him."

Katara glared at her brother. "I heard that!"

"Hey, it was just an observation." He held up his hands. "You have to admit that you are being a little unreasonable right now."

"I admit to nothing of the sort." She wrinkled her nose. "Though I do think our new friend might have soiled his nappy. Sokka, can you grab my pack? I have some clean rags in there."

"I'll do it!" Aang cried, and shot off towards Appa in a blur of orange. A few seconds later he had returned and was dropping the bag at her feet.

"Thanks," she said with a smile. Carefully, she placed the baby down on his back and then pulled off his pants and the soiled cloth that had been tied at his waist to stop anything from leaking.

Sokka scrunched his nose. "Ugh, I think this is my cue to leave."

"Coward," his sister taunted.

"A warrior knows when to fight and when to retreat," Sokka said with all the dignity of a great chief. Then he clamped a hand over his nose and mouth. "This is a time to retreat!"

Katara pursed her lips as she watched her brother flee to another campfire. "What about you two?" she asked, turning to look at Aang and the Blue Spirit. "Are you going to run as well?"

Aang paused mid-step from where he had been trying to creep away. "Uh, of course not," he said, straightening to his full height and laughing nervously. Then he paled. "Why? Do you need any help?"

She couldn't stop the smile that came to her lips. "Some more water would be nice. I need to clean him before I can replace the nappy."

"Right."

Aang shot off again to look for water. It suddenly got very quiet around the campfire. Only the crackling of the fire and the baby's happy gurgles could be heard. Katara picked up the boy and held him out from her so that he couldn't wriggle away; those stumpy legs of his were surprisingly mobile and were apt to take their owner off without warning. Sighing, she stared at the masked warrior who was standing not far from her, looking as still and silent as a human statue. "I'm not really bossy, you know," she said a little defensively.

The Blue Spirit turned to look down at her, his mask glinting with the reddish glow of the campfire. Instead of saying anything, he just nodded as if to say that he understood. The lack of a verbal response made it feel like he wasn't convinced.

"Really, I'm not," she insisted. "I just—"

"You're just worried and want to make sure everyone is okay," he finished for her. "I get it."

Katara was quiet for a moment. "You know, you never did tell me your name."

He shrugged. "I'm the Blue Spirit."

A wry smile curved her lips. "Is that really your name?"

He turned his back to her. For a moment she thought he would never answer and that maybe she had crossed a line or been too pushy.

"Lee," he said softly. "My name is Lee."

Katara's smile widened a fraction. "Lee," she repeated. "I'll remember that."

His swift glance had her once more looking at the demonic grin that covered his face. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, for even his eyes were shadowed to the point of being unrecognisable. Still, the fact that she couldn't see his features didn't bother her as it once might have done. The important thing was that he was here. The important thing was that he was safe. And maybe, just maybe, he would stick around to stay with them this time. She hoped so. It would be nice to have another healer around.

oOo

Lee was just about to resume his search for Bumi when the messenger hawk arrived. The note turned out to be from the Fire Nation governor, who had accused them of kidnapping his son, Tom-Tom. Desperate, the governor had then offered a trade: his son for King Bumi. It was a deal that Lee and the others could not ignore, even if Sokka insisted that there had to be a catch.

"You're just being pessimistic," Katara retorted. "I don't see why the governor wouldn't want to trade King Bumi for his son. Clearly, he just understands the importance of family."

"The message does seem sincere," Lee allowed, "but we should still be cautious. Sokka is right, this could be a trap."

"I don't think so," Aang said quietly. "I'm sure the governor wants his son back just as much as we want Bumi. I have a good feeling about this."

Katara smiled at Lee. "Well, I guess this means you won't have to go back to the city tonight."

"I suppose," he said without enthusiasm.

Waiting until tomorrow to make the trade just meant more hours of hoping that Aang was right and that Bumi would be able to give him the information that he needed. Lee didn't know what he would do if it turned out that the king was just another dead end. Somehow, he didn't think that a Pai Sho tile, a dagger, a scrap of parchment and his own fragmented memories were going to get him very far in discovering the truth about his identity. He needed something more solid. He needed to know about the path of the ancient ways.

Lee repressed a sigh and stared at the flames dancing in a swirl of heat in front of him. It was soothing in a way and he slowly began to relax, letting the fire melt away all his fears and frustrations. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he barely noticed when Aang got up to tend to Appa. Then he caught sight of something blue flashing out of the corner of his eye. He raised his head and stared at the moon-shaped pendant hanging from Katara's throat, which baby Tom-Tom was now trying to grab.

"That necklace," Lee murmured. "Where did you get it?"

"It was my mother's," Katara explained, touching the pale stone. "She died in a Fire Nation raid when I was young. I've worn it ever since."

"I'm sorry," he said, feeling his own heart clench in inexplicable pain at the thought of losing a mother. "I just thought I recognised it, that's all."

Sokka looked up in interest from where he had been sharpening his boomerang. "That's a traditional Water Tribe necklace. The only way you could have seen one is if you've been to the Northern Water Tribe."

Lee said nothing. It wasn't as if he could remember if he'd ever spent time in the North Pole.

Katara shifted closer to Lee. There was a gleam of suppressed excitement in her eyes, as if he had just confirmed something to her. "Aang told us about how you lost your memories when you got hurt. Maybe you recognise the necklace because it's part of your heritage too."

His heart thudded against his ribs. "What are you talking about?"

"Lee, you didn't just save Aang's life. You healed him with bending." A warm smile touched her lips. "Don't you see? You're a waterbender."

"That's not possible," he said flatly. "I'm a non-bender. I've always just used swords."

"Then how did you heal Aang?" she persisted. He noticed that she was still smiling.

Lee shook his head. "I think I would know if I could bend. I've been around plenty of water and none of it wanted to do my bidding."

"Maybe you weren't trying hard enough. Here." She put Tom-Tom down on the ground and then bent the contents of her water skin into a nearby bucket, which she held out to him. "Try to move the water."

Lee stared at the unmoving liquid. He felt no connection with it, nothing to suggest that he could bend it to his will. But if Katara was right, if he really was a waterbender ...

He let out a deep breath and placed his hand over the water, concentrating on just a small section of the transparent surface. Move! he willed in his mind. Move, damn it!

"Keep trying," Katara encouraged when nothing happened, "but don't try to force it. Waterbending is about working with your element: a constant push and pull, like the tides created by the different phases of the moon. Let the energy flow between you and the water. It will reach out to you."

He nodded and searched within himself, calling upon the energy that flowed through his chi paths. It was strange, for while he could indeed sense some kind of power buried deep inside his body, it was almost as if the pathways that led to that energy had been sealed off. Frustrated, he pushed against the barriers with his consciousness, trying to force a hole for the energy to slip through. The campfire sparked with a new intensity, and he was vaguely aware of Sokka leaning forward to get a better look at the bucket, but not a ripple disturbed the surface of the water.

Come on. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. If I really am a waterbender, then why won't you move?

"What's going on?" Aang asked.

"Katara told Lee that she thinks he's a waterbender," Sokka explained. "Now she's trying to teach him how to bend, as it looks as if he forgot how to do it when he lost his memories. Can't say I'm complaining. I get drenched enough with just the two of you around."

Aang chewed on his bottom lip. "Oh." His gaze flickered to Lee and then off to the side, as if he couldn't bear to look at him. "Well, um, I just remembered that I have to do something so …" He left quickly, not even bothering to finish his explanation.

Sokka exchanged a glance with his sister. "That was weird."

Lee didn't hear what Katara said in response. With one ruthless push he had finally managed to create a hole in the seals blocking his chi. His head faintly pulsed from the effort and the water still had not moved, but for a moment he could feel the warmth and power waiting to be unleashed. He could feel his energy. Then something snapped inside him, like a string pulled too hard. Daggers of pain sliced through the tender shell of his mind and it was as if a vice was closing in on his consciousness. Gasping, he pushed the bucket away from him and placed his head in his hands, trying to ease his sudden dizziness.

"Lee, what's wrong?" Katara asked, hovering anxiously at his side.

"Just give me a moment," he grunted.

Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax. The painful pulsing in his head began to fade, along with the black dots swimming before his eyes. Once he was sure that he wasn't going to faint, he raised his head and looked at them.

"So?" Sokka prompted. "What went wrong?"

Lee shrugged. "I don't know. It's like whatever is stopping me from remembering my past has blocked my chi as well." He shifted his gaze to Katara. "Even if you're right that I'm a waterbender, I don't think I'll be bending any time soon."

She lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Lee. I didn't know it would hurt you like that. I shouldn't have been so pushy."

He dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand. "Forget about it. You were only trying to help. Besides," he tapped the hilts sticking out from the sheath strapped to his back, "I still have my swords."

As long as he had those, it didn't matter if he could bend or not. Though he did have to wonder about one thing: if he really was a waterbender, why did none of his memories as the Blue Spirit involve him using anything but swords to fight? And if he wasn't a bender, what was all that power he had felt buried inside him? He didn't understand, but one day he would, of that he was certain.

At the very least, his journey to Omashu had not been a complete waste. Qiao had told him that he might find someone who knew him in the city, and so he had. He'd found the Avatar. That had to count for something.

"If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends?"

The faintest of smiles tugged at Lee's mouth. Maybe it was fate that they should have met again. He'd always felt an inexplicable connection with the Avatar, and now he knew why. He'd saved the kid's life. Maybe, just maybe, it was Aang who would help Lee to regain his.

oOo

Most of the people gathered around the campfires had already fallen asleep. Aang sat huddled against Appa, hugging his knees to chest as he tried to ignore the fingers of guilt twisting his stomach into knots. He'd lied. He'd lied again and he knew in his heart that what he had done was so wrong, so selfish.

He'd just been so afraid. He'd just wanted his friend back. Somehow, he'd even managed to convince himself that it was fate the boy with the scar should have lost his memories and that it was okay to lie, because it would all work out in the end. It had been upsetting, of course, but then how many times had Aang wished that the two of them could start again, free from those bitter memories of the North Pole? This was his chance to make things right, to fix a past that had gone so horribly wrong. Or at least that was what Aang had told himself. Deep down, he knew that it was fear that kept him silent. He just couldn't bear to see those golden eyes burn with hate. Not again. Not after so many weeks of worry and despair.

So Aang had kept the truth to himself. He had lied. But then he had seen Katara trying to teach "Lee" how to waterbend and he'd just felt sick to his stomach. He should have spoken out then. He hated himself for staying silent.

"I'm sorry, Zuko," Aang whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Because even though he knew it was wrong and selfish, he also knew that it was so much easier to create new strands for his web of lies than to confess what he had done. He was just so afraid.

He just wanted his friend back.