Jin tripped on another root and fell, scrapinng her knees even more than they already were. Cursing and brushing dirt out of the raw crevaces, she got to her feet and pressed on. The bread Kiri had given her had already been devoured in a matter of minutes and not she wished she had preserved it. She had assumed at the time that she would be out of the woods faster than this, but now, realizing she was even more lost than before, she was beginning to seriously doubt it.
Zuko had probably written to her by now and that annoying bird would be making a rucous outside her window. If her parents found it and the letter. She would have to tell them before something like that happened. Once she was home she needed to tell them. If she waited any longer they'd no doubt react worse than she knew they already were going to. She could only pray that they would hear about the battle in Omashu and how the Firelord had helped restore that city to what it was. If they knew that then they would trust him... she hoped.
When she passed a familiar spot for the third time she realized her parent's were the least of her worries at the moment.
She turned around frustrated and picked a different direction, hoping this time she would have more luck. With every step she took, she had a bad feeling she was only getting herself even more lost.
----
"We heard fighting but saw nothing." Katara sighed, staring at the elderly woman who was trying to hold back her young grandson. "We were all warned to stay indoors at night and avoid the streets at all costs.
"So when someone out here gets attacked they're just left to fend for themselves even if their helpless?!" snapped Zuko frustrated.
"Zuko!" scolded Katara and he stomped away. She turned to the old woman apologetically. "Are you certain you saw nothing else? Where they might have gone?" The woman shook her head. Katara sighed again and nodded. "Thanks anyway." The door closed and she turned to Zuko who wouldn't even look at her. As wrong as she knew he was for how he had reacted, she understood. This was nearly the tenth home they'd visited and they story was very much identical to all the others. Zuko's hope was wearing thin and she knew it.
"No body saw anything," said Aang, looking around for a house nearby that they hadn't already visited.
"Or if they do they're too afraid to speak up," said Katara. "The Dai Li still has so much power over them just from fear."
"If we don't find someone with any guts soon, it'll be too late," growled Zuko.
"We're all worried, Zuko, but shouting at people isn't going to help things," said Katara. "You need to control yourself." He gave her a dangerous look.
"When the one you love's life is in danger, then you'll have the right to say that!" Katara opened her mouth to object but her brother's voice stopped her.
"Hey guys, this may be awful timing, but check this out! The circus is in town!" he called, carrying over a poster to show them.
"Great," said Toph. "Maybe we can find a clown to laugh our way through the Dai Li while trapees artists swoop down for the rescue."
"Now really isn't the best time, Sokka," said Katara, ignoring Toph's sarcasm. Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Just thought you guys might be interested in who the main act is, but if not-" he said, rolling up the posted as if to toss it away.
"The main act?" asked Aang. "What's so important about that?"
"No no!" said Sokka. "You guys shot down the idea too soon. I'll just go throw it in the trash where it be-" A small blast of fire hit his backside and he fell with a cry, tossing the rolled up poster in the air in time for Zuko to catch it.
"Get over yourself," he muttered, and unrolled it to see what Sokka had been talking about. His eyes widened and everyone stepped closer, curious as to what the big deal was.
"What is it?" asked Katara.
"The main act is Ty Lee!" he said holding out the poster for them to see. Everyone gathered around to read off the name... everyone except for Toph who couldn't have read it even if she wanted to, and Sokka who was too busy smiling in a gloating manner.
"This is perfect!" said Katara. "She'll know where Mai is!"
"Wow, one of them was in a freak show," said Toph. "Who'd have thought?"
"See? I'm capable of good ideas," said Sokka, preparing himself for a gigantic thankyou from all of them.
"We'd better hurry over to wherever they've set up the tents," said Katara,
rolling up the poster and stowing it away.
"Hopefully Ty Lee won't pose as a problem," said Zuko as the rest of them turned and began to leave. Sokka stood there completely forgotten and gritted his teeth, slapping his forehead.
"YOU'RE WELCOME!" he shouted to them, but none of them responded and he groaned. "Why do I bother"
----
Jin saw a light and the forest coming to an end. She smiled, feeling hope again and she ran for the edge, throwing branches out of her way. When she finally got out she was standing in the city near the shops, and people seemed to go on, not noticing her at all.
"Guys, I think it's this way," said a familiar voice, and she looked over. Katara! That could only mean the rest of them, including Zuko, were not too far away. Her heart began pounding with excitement. Zuko was near! She could feel tears coming to her eyes. It had been far too long and now he was within reach!
She began to run to Katara, ready to call out her name when a pair of hands came down on her shoulders. "Gotcha!" said a gruff voice and Jin felt herself get yanked back and behind a kart, out of sight from Katara. She opened her mouth to scream, but her captor threw his hand over her mouth and soon a gag was tied in its place. She fought violently, scratching at the man like a wild animal, but soon she felt stone come around, encasing her wrists and ankles and she fell, unable to move, let alone escape.
She was not surprised when she finally was able to see her captor and it was one of the Dai Li. That meant Long Feng was not far, and probably neither was that girl with the darts. Jin turned her head as she was dragged back into the woods and felt her heart break. Not too far away she could see the rest of the group following Katara, and among them was Zuko. Tears fell down her face. She had been so close and now she couldn't even scream. She wriggled around, wishing it would do some good, but the earthbender was so strong it was pointless.
She fought until she was too far away to see anymore, and her last thought before she was struck on the head was how handsome he looked. "I'm sorry,
Zuko"
----
They found the circus tents, but when they arrived the ringleader would not allow them in. "The performers need this time to rest and practice," he explained. "But you're welcome to visit them after the show tonight." Zuko sighed but nodded, not wanting to argue.
"Now what?" asked Katara. Toph suddenly yawned nearby and Zuko noticed the weary expressions on the other faces.
"There's an inn not too far from here. Let's get some rest." They all nodded in agreement and left with him leading the way. "Hopefully Jin will be able to hold on a little longer," he muttered to himself, but Aang heard him.
"We'll find her, Zuko," he said softly. "I give you my word as the avatar, we will find her and everything will be all right." Zuko gave him a half smile and nodded.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"You helped me get closer to Katara. I owe you," said Aang.
"You owe him?" asked Toph, and Aang got a little embarassed, not realizing someone else was listening in on this conversation.
"There's something you don't hear everyday," commented Sokka and there was scattered giggling. Aang blushed a little, but when he saw Katara didn't seem to have heard a thing he relaxed.
They got to the inn fairly quickly and rented out two rooms, one for the boys and another for the girls. Sokka was out the minute he picked out his bed, and Zuko soon followed, extremely exhausted in spite of his worrying. A part of him knew Jin was still safe and that calmed him enough to allow himself to sleep. Aang, on the other hand, had his mind too busy to sleep.
Katara had been on his mind a lot more lately, and ever since the night he'd finally gotten close to her, she was practically all he'd think about. He'd never had a girlfriend or a real crush before, and now he knew she was special.
Very quietly, so he wouldn't wake anyone, Aang slipped out the window and walked cautiously along the roof to the window that looked into the girl's room. Inside Toph and Suki were sound asleep. Suki lay burried deep beneath the blankets, but Toph lay on top of the sheets, her feet kicked up onto the head board. Katara was not asleep, however, and was brushing out her hair in front of the mirror. Aang couldn't hold back a smile. She looked so pretty with her hair down. Very gently, he tapped on the window and she turned to see him, her look turning from surprised to happy. She pressed a finger to her lips and pointed to the two sleepers. Aang nodded in understanding and she walked over, slowly opening the window.
"What are you doing out there?" she asked.
"I was just wondering if you would... like to sit for a while?" he asked. "If you're not busy that is."
"Oh... I was hoping to sleep actually," she muttered. Aang frowned and nodded. "But, I can stay awake a few more minutes." The frown vanished and he held a hand down to help her out. They sat down, leaning against the wall between the two windows and for a moment they couldn't think of anything to say.
"So, how is Zuko holding up?" she asked him.
"He's still upset, but he went to sleep so fast so he might be doing better"
Katara nodded.
"Must be hard for him. And Jin... I hope she's all right."
"I'm sure she is," said Aang.
"So you owe Zuko big time?" she asked. Aang turned red.
"What?" he asked.
"I over heard you two talking. He's the reason you finally asked me to dance?" She was teasing him and he knew it, but he was still embarassed.
"What can I say? I just needed a nudge... actually it was more like a violent shove, but you get the idea." Katara laughed.
"Either way, I'm glad he did that." Aang smiled and nodded.
"Me too. And for the record, I'd still rather kiss you than die." There was a brief moment of silence before the two broke out laughing.
"Good to know," chuckled Katara.
"Katara... there's something I never told you. When I went to master the avatar state I was supposed to unblock all my shakras by letting go of things like fear, guilt, loss..." His voice trailed a little and she nodded. "And to unblock the final one... I was supposed to let go of attatchments. People I love. And I had to let go of you."
Katara looked as if she didn't know how to respond to this, so Aang continued. "When we fought to protect Ba Sing Se, and I was struck by lightning, I was in the avatar state... and having to let go of you was the hardest thing I've ever done. When I woke up in your arms for the second time in my life... I knew I could never do that again. And it may mean I will never be able to use the avatar state again... but that's okay now. I don't need all that power, so what good is it if I have to lose the ones I love in the process? Zuko's uncle told me that was all overrated. I think I agree with him now."
Katara was still very quiet and Aang was searching for the words to say. "I hope you'll forgive me for letting go in the first place... but I want you to know it won't happen again because I don't want it to. I want to be with you, and if that means losing things like that along the way then I'm okay with that." Katara smiled at him and Aang was a little surprised that she wasn't trying to talk him out of it. "I guess what I'm saying is... I really like you Katara. A lot... and I have for a long time."
She smiled at him and he scooted a little closer. "Thanks, Aang," she said softly and he kissed her cheek gently. She yawned when he pulled back and she hastily covered her mouth. "Sorry. I'm just tired."
"Yeah... me too," he replied. He helped her back through the window and gave her a quick kiss goodbye. After she left he stood there for a moment taking it all in when a voice behind him got his attention.
"You ol' softy!" mocked Zuko from behind and Aang turned bright red and spun around to face him. Zuko quickly withdrew inside and Aang chased after, smiling widely the entire time.