A.N.: This is Red!..nevermind let's get on with the story... now it's Leah and I wanted to tell Deamon Fire that the japanese word for tiger is tora...

Disclaimer: Refer to previous chapter.

Chapter 4: The Explanations

:Red's POV:

After the ship was out of sight, I began to relax and take inventory. In the middle of the madness, Faithful had taken shelter inside of Appa's saddle. Sokka was tending to a pair of torn pants and Katara was whispering heatedly to Aang. Then, I noticed Leah was not with us! In outrage, I leaped to my feet and screamed at the sky. Everyone aboard Appa, including Faithful, turned to stare at me.

"My friend was left behind," I paced back and forth, muttering to myself.

"And you just noticed this?" Sokka looked up at me in disbelief.

"Well, I...thought...see...uh...nevermind," I sighed, "She can take care of herself."

'I hope.'

:Leah's POV:

"Who are you?" Uncle asked politely.

At the same time Zuko demanded, "Where is the Avatar going?"

"Uh..," I paused, "My name is Leah and I dunno."

"You were with the Avatar, so you know where he's going!" Zuko said as if he knew I was hiding something.

"No I don't," I denied, "In fact I just met him, so I really have no clue."

"You're lying," Zuko glared at me.

"No I am not," I glared right back at him and my eyes flashed angrily.

"Prince Zuko, the girl has just been in a battle. Let her rest, and interrogate her later," Uncle then turned to me, "Would you like a cup of ginseng tea? It is my favorite."

:Red's POV:

I had fallen asleep on the way to the Southern Air Temple, but when I awoke Katara was standing over me, holding a set of water tribe clothing. I rubbed my eyes tiredly and sat up, my hair a rats nest. Katara laughed and threw her load into my lap.

"I'll fix your hair when you're done dressing," she told me and ushered the boys to look away.

"Thanks," I muttered and stood up. As fast as I could, I put on the warm clothes and folded my old ones. Katara took those from me and placed them into a bag. Then the only thing I had on that was mine was my necklace and my undergarments.

"All done," I sang our and I spun around in a circle, "How do I look?"

"Uh..." the boys glanced at each other and didn't say a word.

"Great!" Katara intervened and rushed towards me to comb my hair with her fingers.

"That feels better," I said, "And the clothes are warmer too."

"Almost there," Aang called from Appa's head.

'Leah..' I thought to myself while my eyes filled with worry. 'I hope you're alright, and if Zuko harms one hair on your head, he will die.'

:Leah's POV:

I was now sitting with Uncle Iroh, enjoying a nice cup of ginseng tea.

"Thank you for before," I said quietly.

"You're welcome," Uncle Iroh nodded at me, "My nephew doesn't know how to control his temper sometimes."

"I know...I mean I noticed," I corrected myself.

But Uncle Iroh had caught me, "What do you mean you know?"

"Uh...nonya?" I said avoidantly.

Uncle Iroh took this as a sign that I'd rather not talk about it, "Would you like me to show you to your room?"

"Yes please," I replied as I gulped down the remains of my tea.

:Red's POV:

It was hard to keep my knowledge of the Avatar world to myself. I pondered my predicament from a ledge above the air ball field where Aang and Sokka were playing. I hid my laughter behind my right hand and Faithful meowed from my left shoulder beside my ear when Sokka flew backwards into the snow, again.

:Leah's POV:

Uncle Iroh stopped infront of a door that looked no different than the rest.

"I take it this is it?" I commented without any real interest.

"Stop looking so bored," Uncle said ads he opened the door.

The room was lowly lit and had steel walls on every side. There was one fire nation tapestry hanging on the east wall, and altogether it looked very depressing.

"Can you give me some paint?" I asked with a disappointed sigh.

"When we stop at the next port," Uncle agreed, "But I don't see why, this is a perfectly good room."

"Says you," I grumbled.

"What's got you in a bad mood all of a sudden?" Uncle asked, "In fact at the moment, there is an uncanny resemblance between you and my nephew.

This snapped me out of it, "Nu uh!"

Uncle Iroh laughed at how childish I sounded, "Sure...now how old are you Miss. Leah?"

I rolled my; eyes good naturedly, "I am fifteen...sixteen in October."

"Good...very good," Uncle murmured, forgetting I was there.

"What are you up to?" I arched an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"Nothing," he replied as he quickly left the room with some excuse about his roast duck being ready.

'Right about now we should be coming into port at the place that 'Commander' Zhao is residing,' I thought to myself and the ship slowly came to a hault.

There was a knock at my door," Come on! We've reached port!"

I sighed and opened the door to find Zuko glaring at me as if he wised I wasn't there, which he probably did. He grabbed my arm and started to drag me out the door.

I pulled my arm back, "Hey! I can walk just fine!"

He sent me another glare, but refused to say anything.

:Jess's POV:

"Sokka!" I called down to him by laying face down over the ledge.

"Yes?" he mumbled before he pulled his head out of the snow. When he did, he looked up at me with his gorgeous blue eyes.

"Will you walk around the Air Temple with me?" Before he could see me blush I looked away, pretending to be extremely interested in a rock.

Before he could answer, Faithful meowed and pounced on top of Sokka's head, pawing at his right ear.

"Oh dear!" I quickly slid off the edge of the ledge and dropped, with a huff, into the snow beside Sokka, "Faithful you naughty kitty, you shouldn't do that."

Carefully, I grasped Faithful around the stomach and pulled her off Sokka's shoulder.

"Sorry about that," I said, "She doesn't normally do that," I petted Faithful as I spoke, secretly thanking her for letting me sit so close to Sokka.

"No problem," he sheepishly grinned, "the cats in my village are ten times bigger than yours."

I could see fear in his eyes and I stood to walk away, my eyes downcast. When I looked up again I saw my companions standing in a circle, talking in hushed whispers.

'They fear me...' I thought and my necklace began to glow a light blue as if it was representing the sadness that clouded my heart. I clutched the frail moon and star charm with shock, but I decided to think on the strange phenomenon later.

"I can't stay with them, but I need a way down this mountain, Faithful," I muttered quietly to my pet, "So the next time we stop, I'll run away."

My eyes filled with determination and I started to make a plan; the whole time wishing it didn't have to be this way.

(A.N.: Needed some drama...)

:Leah's POV:

Commander Zhao was now talking to Zuko and Iroh. I was standing behind them, trying to keep myself from saying something to Zhao.

"What happened to your ship?" Zhao asked Iroh and Zuko.

They quickly made up some lame excuse, and it was so obvious that they were lying.

Zhao seemed to notice me, "My, my...who is this charming young lady?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him my best glare, "That's none of your business Monkey-man."

Iroh's hand covered his mouth and the turned him laughter into a cough. Zuko looked at me in disbelief, but I just smirked and stood my ground.

"Do you know who you're talking to?" Zhao demanded.

"Yeah, a lying, cheating, son-of-a-bitch," I replied.

If we'd been in one of those cheesy cartoons, steam would have been pouring from his ears.

Much to my surprise, Zhao just gritted his teeth and shot me another glare before turning back to Zuko, "You and Iroh follow me. We have something to discuss."

"What about me?" I asked with false sweetness.

"Stay here," Zhao commanded.

I glared at him, "I don't take orders form you, you evil Monkey-man."

"Miss. Leah, please stay here," Uncle Iroh requested.

I smiled at him, "Only if you agree to stop calling me Miss. Leah. My name is Leah."

Uncle nodded and followed Zuko and Zhao below deck.

My necklace started to glow with a soft blue light, reminding me that the only person who I really knew in this world was miles away. I sighed and cradled my head in my hands; this was the first chance I'd had to really be homesick.

:Jess's POV:

Long after I decided to run away, Aang went into the Avatar state after seeing Monk Miatsu's bones. I blame the lemur, now called Momo, for causing all the trouble, but, alas, lemurs aren't the smartest of creatures.

I, myself, thought seeing Sokka chase Momo for food was hilarious.

Now, it is night and the others are sleeping atop Appa's back, but I can't sleep. In complete silence, I surrepstiously pack a bag full of necessities like food and clothing. From what I can remember from the t.v. series, my next stop is Kyoshi Island. During the inevitable battle between Aang and Zuko, I plan to sneak upon his ship to see Leah. The only hole in my plan is the "how" I do this task.

I sigh and curl up into a ball, my forehead resting on top of my knees.

'Life isn't fair sometimes' I think to myself as the wind toys with my hair, blowing it into my eyes no matter how many times I push it away.

It was then when it came to me.

I mentally slapped myself and rolled my eyes.

'I am an airbender! I can "push" myself on deck and throw anyone who tries to stop me overboard.'

I grinned and laid my head down to finally rest; my final thought being about Leah and how she might have reacted to seeing Zuko without a shirt on.

:Leah's POV:

It was now sunset and Zhao and Zuko were about to begin their Agni Kai, Uncle Iroh had just come and got me so I could watch the match.

"Oh my god," I murmured when I set eyes on the shirtless Zuko.

Uncle Iroh looked at me strangely, but then followed my gaze. He laughed and my cheeks turned beet red.

Neither Zuko now Zhao noticed what was going on, or if they did they were completely ignoring it.

They began their battle, and at first it appeared that Zhao was going to win. Then the advantage shifted to Zuko, and he won.

"Go on, do it," Zhao said from below Zuko, who was ready to shoot fire in his face.

Zuko had mercy on him and shot the fire, only it hit mere inches away from Zhao's face.

"That's it? Your father raised a coward Prince Zuko," Zhao spat.

"Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back," Zuko turned and began to walk away; Zhao launched an attack at him, but Iroh blocked it. Zuko started to attack, but Uncle Iroh held him back.

"Don't spoil your victory Prince Zuko," he turned to Zhao, "Even in exile my nephew is more honorable than you. Thanks for the tea; it was delicious."

They turned and left; I quickly followed.

Once outside, Zuko asked, "Did you really mean that Uncle?"

"Of course," Uncle replied, "You know ginseng tea is my favorite."

I smiled as I watched all this take place.

"Leah, you didn't look surprised at all when Zhao lost," Uncle Iroh commented.

"That's because I knew Zuko would win," I shrugged, but then clapped my hands over my mouth once I realized what I'd said, "Oh shit."

"That's right, now tell us how you know so much about us," Iroh smiled like the Cheshire cat on Alice in Wonderland.

"Well you see...the thing is...Icomefromadifferentdimensionwhereyouareonatelevisionshow," I finished very quickly.

"What?" Zuko asked.

"Oh come on! Do I have to repeat myself? It would ruin all the fun!" I pouted.

"Or I could tell Zuko about earlier," Uncle Iroh blackmailed.

"About what?" I paused, "Oh you mean when I was ogling his chest? I'm not ashamed of it," I shrugged, "I think he's hot. Big deal."

Zuko's eyes widened, "You were what!"

I turned to face him, "Ogling. Your. Chest."

Uncle Iroh laughed at the expression on his nephew's face, "I don't think Zuko's ever heard anyone say that before."

I snickered, "I don't see why not. If ya'll came to where I'm from, girls would be jumpin' all over him."

"Did you say that you thought I was hot?" Zuko finally asked; the look on his face betraying his supposed calm.

"You're a little behind on the dialogue, but yes I did," I smiled, "I don't know if you use that term the same as I do so it means: dreamy, cute, handsome, and other stuff like that."

Uncle Iroh seemed to realize that I'd digressed form the topic, "Leah, you still have yet to tell us about why you know so much."

I visibly sighed, "If I tell you , you have to promise not to ask questions about it. It would mess up the balance."

"Questions about what?" Iroh asked.

"About what pertains to you guys and the things around here. You can ask me about anything else you want to," I specified after a moment's thought.

Zuko snapped out of his usual quiet, "Go on then."

"Okay, I'm from a different dimension where you are on a t.v. show," I tried to explain.

"Dimension?" Uncle asked.

"T.V. show?" Zuko asked at the same time.

I sighed, "Have you ever wondered if there was a world out there that was similar to yours, but not the same?"

"Yes," Iroh and Zuko said in reply.

"That would be a dimension," I said , glad that they understood that part," Now to t.v.; have you ever seen a play?"

They both nodded.

"It's sorta like that."

"That information will suffice," Iroh said, "Now tel us about your...dimension."

All during this conversation we'd been walking towards the ship, "Looks like we're here, so I'll tell you later."

A.N.: damn..that was long...