Welcome my friends. Important AN at the bottom, please read.

My Real Mama

Zuko kept his vow. A distance grew between Kunai and Sokka, despite the friendly overtones of their relationship. Only then did Zuko begin to notice the differences in their spproach to sdapting with the group. He made sure to stay isolated when possible, only spoke when necessary, avoided conflict and in that regard, avoid Katara. Kunai took a different approach. She went on multiple exploring missions, practiced airbending with Aang on many occasions and engaged in some very un-ladylike activities with Toph. Yet, Zuko noticed, that Kunai kept her distance from Katara.

Kunai was sitting in an empty courtyard. She needed some time to relax and a bit of waterbending and self -pampering would help alleviate pent up stress. She undid her hair from the thick braid it had been in and let it fall over her shoulders in a sea of black. Smiling softly she brought a snake of water to it. Starting at the front of her hair she engulfed a lock separating it into three small strands before braiding it into a thin tight and glistening new braid. She moved the snake through her hair methodically until her whole head was covered in tiny braids, unaware of the ocean blue eyes watching her.

"How'd you learn to do that?" Katara stepped forward, standing awkwardly, embarrassed to reveal her observation. Kunai jumped slightly and turned to her, surprised Katara was actually talking to her.

"I... I always used waterbending to wash my hair and I just kinda figured it out playing around. It makes things a lot simpler."

Katara nodded, a small smile playing on her face. She had to admit she was impressed.

"That's really cool."

Kunai smiled in appreciation."Thanks. You're really good too."

"Thanks. I trained with Master Pakku in the Northern Water Tribe and then this woman named Hama." There was sadness in her voice when she mentioned the despicable old woman and Kunai couldn't help but inquire. Katara explained to Kunai what Hama had done and when the subject of blood bending came up, Kunai's interests were peaked.

"Bloodbending?! I didn't even know that was possible! That's... That's amazing!"

"No it's not! It's evil, to reach inside someone and take control of them." she stated firmly, still not deterring the older girl.

"But think what you could do with healing or in battle! Hama was crazy but come on! You could do so much good!" Kunai continued smiling, watching the gears turn in the young waterbenders head. She had to agree that yes, the healing capabilities were probably endless but suggesting anything other than that was ok… It was just wrong.

"That doesn't change the fact that-"

"Why can't you just take someone else's view into consideration? Or it just the fact it's me saying it!?" Kunai could feel herself slipping. She didn't care.

Katara scoffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"That you've had a problem with me from day one!"

Katara rolled her eyes, laughing humorlessly.

"Are you surprised?! It's kinda hard to trust you when you've been all buddy-buddy with the prince of the Fire Nation!"

Kunai almost laughed. Almost.

"That's all? You still don't trust him after all this time?"

"It's only been a few weeks and no I don't! You don't know what he did to us! I heard you in the caves and you didn't know a thing!" Katara was screaming at the top of her lungs, weight falling off her shoulders as she let loose everything she'd been holding back. Just because everyone else was so happy to have him didn't mean she had to be. He'd put them through hell, nearly destroyed her village, chased them all over the world! His sister had almost killed Aang and it was his crazy evil family's fault they were even in this mess. He didn't deserve trust.

"He told me everything! I got taken prisoner by Azula and given to him as a homecoming present and I still managed to trust him." Kunai dropped her head in her hands, massaging her temples.

"Look . . . He's been through a lot, but he's changed." Her voice became tender and soft. Zuko didn't need to be spoken for but she also knew he would not be speaking for himself anytime soon. Katara sucked in her bottom lip, her facade fading as the older girl walked past her.

"I'm not saying you need to be his friend. Just give him a chance."

Slowly, but surely everyone began to notice a change in Katara's attitude. She didn't storm from the room when Zuko entered. She spoke politely when he addressed her. Her hatred turned to simple animosity and dulled to the point where she no longer felt the need to remind him that no, she did not trust him at every occasion. As for her and Kunai, the relationship between them began to grow into somewhat of a friendship. Though Katara didn't completely trust the older girl, the found they both had something to offer each other. Katara, despite having an older brother, was always the mother, the mature one in the group and it was refreshing to have someone she could go to for advice, someone who didn't depend on her. Kunai, on the other hand, was always the baby and with Katara, she felt like she really had something to offer.

Kunai woke up in the middle of the night to find she was very much alone in bed. She'd retired early, not really up to chatting over tea and had expected Zuko to return.

Feeling oddly suspicious, she stood up and stretched her back with a dull pop before walking down the halls silently into the courtyard. Hush voices murmured in the distance and her suspicions sharpened.

"The Boiling Rock is the highest security prison in the Fire Nation and you thought you could fly in on a giant bison unnoticed." Zuko was scoping.

"Ok fine, not my brightest idea. What do you have in mind genius?"

"We take my war balloon. It'll fit three easy." Kunai furrowed her brow. She suddenly gasped in realization. They were staging a breakout at the Boiling Rock no less. She stepped out of her hiding place.

"If you guys want to make it out alive, you'll need someone with experience."

Zuko and Sokka both jumped at her presence.

"You're not going with us. It's too dangerous." Zuko said, not overly surprised at her eavesdropping.

"And what do you mean experience?" Sokka asked incredulously.

"I helped a couple friends breakout about a year ago. I've got experience."

Zuko narrowed his eyes at her before sighing and dropping his head.

"Fine."

Sokka glared at him, squawking and sputtering angrily.

"This was only supposed to be me! What you wanna invite everyone else in the world too!?"

Zuko rolled his eyes.

"At least she can help us over the lake."

Sokka groaned and smacked his forehead, grumbling defeated as he stalked off to the war balloon. Kunai smiled apologetically at Zuko.

"You know I won't hold you back."

Zuko nodded with a sigh. "Yeah... I know."

"Shit! Shit! Shit, SHIT, shit!" Kunai's frantic whispers would have been comical if they weren't currently trying to maneuver their war balloon over a boiling lake. Kunai was bending a small wave beneath them of whatever water she could cool but it was becoming increasingly hard to keep the water below boiling point. As they approached the shore she bent the water away from them, lowering the water levels several feet just long enough for them to safely crash against the shore. Kunai stumbled out of the destroyed balloon and collapsed with a groan. The wave of water she'd pushed away rushed back to the shore, lapping over the war balloon and pulling it into the water.

"Our balloon!" Zuko exclaimed.

"It was broken anyway. Would you rather be boiling to death?" Kunai asked dryly .

Zuko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Well what now?"

Sokka pursed his lips and tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"That's a good question..."

Zuko clenched his fists. "You mean you don't have a plan?!"

Sokka shrugged.

"Hey you're the one who said you didn't always have to think things through." Zuko smacked his forehead. Much to his surprise and slight annoyance, Kunai laughed.

"You guys are hopeless. It's simple. One of us goes in as a guard, finds your dad and gets the others. Then whoever's playing guard claims he's got orders to escort the prisoners to somewhere else and we're out!" The boys stared at her blankly, thinking over her plan for flaws.

"That... actually makes sense." Sokka said.

"I'll go in as the guard and-"

"No!" Zuko spoke up rather quickly, surprising himself.

"Kunai should go. They separate the female prisoners from the male and she'll have no backup. As a guard, no one will mess with her."

Kunai began to protest when she realized he was right. She was well aware of the risks associated with being a lone prisoner.

They worked out the last details of their plan as the scaled the cliff side up to the prison, pressed against the wall to avoid detection.

"I'll see you guys in three hours." Kunai whispered, a wicked grin on her face a she ran off from them.

"Hey Zuko?" Sokka whispered as the two snuck off.

"Yeah?"

"You do realize she's not gonna die right."

Zuko turned, both glaring and blushing at the younger boy's knowing smirk.

"Shut up."

Zuko hated everything. They'd left Kunai to her own devices, expecting her to come back and retrieve them after three hours, Chief Hakoda already secured. Then it would be an easy trip to the gondola and they were out. Their plan was flawless and was should've been completed…

Yesterday.

It had been a full night since they'd seen Kunai and to top it all off, Zuko was stuck in this cell with Sokka who's been jabbering on none stop about his Dad.

So yeah, Zuko hated everything.

I failed, Kunai thought bitterly as she slumped on her knees, staring up at several angry guards through swollen eyes.

"Well well well. How the mighty have fallen." one guard teased, tipping her head back. She snapped at his finger and he laughed, giving her a firm smack and knocking her over.

"Can't believe the Great Dragon got right under our noses." one of the female guards laughed.

"Hey Chin, you want us to leave, maybe you can get your fill of her?"

The voices all began to blur together in her head, her bruised ribs and aching bruises clouding her thoughts.

"I wouldn't fuck this trash if my life depended on it."

"Come on man. Gotta admit she's cute."

"Yeah. But that doesn't change the fact she killed my brother."

That caught Kunai's attention; she spat out a mouthful of blood and a tooth that had been jarred loose the night before.

"You're brother...was Ching Ra?" she whispered. He growled and grabbed her up by the hair. She barely registered the pain in her dazed state

"What gives you the right to use that name?!"

Kunai simply smirked, sadness and anger muting the pain as she spoke out of pride.

"Your brother... killed mine. Slit his throat while looking into the eyes... of a thirteen-year-old girl. I wish I could say... it was me who killed him... but it wasn't."

He tossed her the ground hard.

"Everyone out!" he barked, working at his belt. "I think I will get my fair share of this one."

Kunai looked up at him through swollen eyes and terror shot through her. She scuffled back against the wall as the others left and he advanced on her. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Please... Please don't do this!" she begged, her whole body beginning to quake.

"You little slut..." As he crouched in front of her a loud shriek pierced the air. Old rusting metal scraped together throughout the prison. Yard time she thought in the deepest relief. The guard growled angrily before moving to the quivering girl, reluctantly unfastening her chains.

"We've still got business to take care of." His voice was dark, reminiscent of pain. Unlike that voice that voice that rang in her dreams, it lacked coldness and detachment. His anger was controlling him, not his own mind yet it terrified her all the same. With all the strength she could muster she pushed herself to her feet, rolling her bruised and bloody wrists. I've got to find Zuko and Sokka, she thought. She stumbled, barely catching herself on the second level railing. Hell, they need to find me.

Their initial search for Kunai was fruitless. The two boys searched for hours. They examined every soldier to no avail. They asked everyone they met if they'd seen a dark skinned teenage girl with tattoos and every once in a while they mentioned Hakoda and still there was no sign of either. As the evening approached and time was beginning to wear thin they wondered what exactly had happened to her. Just as they were about to declare their resources exhausted, Sokka tapped Zuko on the shoulder.

"Zuko I-"

"Did you see her?"

"Yes but-"

Zuko grabbed the younger teen by the shoulders.

"Where is she?!"

"Zuko she's not-"

"You said you saw her!"

Sokka groaned and grabbed Zuko, shaking him hard. "I'm trying to tell you! Just shut up and look!" He pointed through the crowd where a small female figure lay slumped against a wall, her tattered prison grab hanging around her in bloody ribbons. Without a word, Zuko shot through the crowd, barreling through anyone who got in his way.

"Kunai!" he gasped as he approached her, Sokka trailing not far behind him. Both boys gasped when she looked up, revealing her bruised and beaten face. She smirked, almost sarcastically, revealing blood-coated teeth. Zuko rushed to her side, examining her all over while he let out a barrage of questions.

"Who did this? What happened? Where were you?"

She groaned out several protests yet he only responded when she raised her voice.

"You're burning me!"

He yanked his hands away to find his temperature had spiked out of control.

"Argh! I'm sorry! What happened!?" Kunai chuckled darkly.

"A few guard had a grudge against the Great Dragon." Her smiled dropped, the dark eyes of the guard who'd come so close... the eyes filled with hatred, burning like a coal in the back of her mind.

"Look I'm fine! Missing tooth, couple bruised ribs. Find me some water and some cover and I'll be fine."

Sokka nodded, running off to find some water.

"Kunai... are you sure you're ok?" His eyes were wide, his lips pulled back in a saddened grimace.

"We need to leave here today. There's a guard..."

Zuko narrowed his eyes and scowled. "What did he do to you?" he demanded in a low growl.

Kunai shook her head. "Nothing... yet. Zuko I-"

"Got it!" Sokka announced excitedly as he joined them, handing her a cup of water. Kunai smiled thankfully at him.

"Cover me ok?"

Sokka nodded and spread himself out in front of her. Zuko kept his eyes locked on her before sighing and coming to Sokka's side. Kunai brought the water around her hand, healing what she could and soothing what she couldn't.

"Ok. I'm good." Kunai said as she discarded the water, a bit more life in her voice. Sokka turned to her and smiled wide.

"I came up with a plan B. I figured something might go wrong. We still escape on the gondola but instead of going undercover we take a hostage!"

Zuko shook his head.

"Even if we get a hostage, the warden will just cut the line."

Sokka only smiled wider.

"Not if the hostage is the warden!"

Kunai began to nod slowly. "That… could actually work."

Zuko gave a small nod of agreement.

"Great! But we've only got 2 hours left out here so we've gotta hurry."

Kunai smiled and stood up, a small groan escaping her as the soreness lingered in her muscles.

"We'll split up and search the yard. Meet back here in an hour?" Sokka nodded, giving a brief thumbs up before running off through the yard. Zuko turned to Kunai, putting a hand firmly on her shoulder, gaining her full attention.

"Maybe we shouldn't split up."

Kunai sighed and lowered her head. She could admit to herself she was terrified of that guard seeking her out for revenge, but if he came too close to her, Zuko would undeniably do something stupid and get himself thrown in the cooler. She smiled weakly and placed her hand on his, gently running her thumb over his knuckles.

"I'm fine, Zuko." she whispered.

Zuko reluctantly nodded. "Kunai…" he started and though unable to find the words, she understood, giving him a reassuring smile as she disappeared into the crowd.

Kunai pushed herself through the crowd. An hour of searching and yet she hadn't come up with anything, not even a lead to where Hakoda might be. She was beginning to doubt if he was even in this prison. She sighed in relief, seeing Zuko and Sokka standing next to a tall man, obviously Water Tribe. As she drew closer, however, she noticed Sokka in an argument with someone, hidden amongst the crowd.

"No! For the last time I don't know anyone named Kunai! Why would I!? And even if I did I wouldn't tell you!"

Kunai wasn't surprised someone was looking for though she wasn't please either. However, when she saw who it was Sokka was talking to she froze completely, locking eyes with the women, the dark black hair, the crystalline blue eyes, the slight traces of graceful aging; all features of someone she believed to be dead.

"Sokka." Zuko rested a hand on Sokka's shoulder, ending his tirade and motioning to the locked gazes of the two women, the elder just as dumbstruck as she gazed at the tattooed girl.

"Kunai…" the woman breathed as if her voice would scare the girl away.

"Luna." Kunai spoke just as softly and with a whimper of emotion, ran into the older woman's arms. Luna held the young girl to her chest, cradling her like a child as she peppered soft kisses on her head, sobbing yet laughing in elated joy of their reunion. Kunai sobbed into her chest, forgetting the three men watching in both awe and confusion.

"My baby… oh my sweet baby. I've spent so long looking for you." Luna whispered as she tilted Kunai's head up, sweeping away a few tears with her thumb. Through her sobs, she chuckled softly.

"Oh just look at you… your father would have been so proud…. And your mother-"

Kunai shook her head at the hastily added latter statement, smiling sadly.

"Don't say that. Gorou explained everything to me when I was ten."

"So you know?" Luna asked, her eyes filled with the purity of a young mother's love. Kunai nodded and in a small voice, innocent as a young child.

"You're my real Momma."

Hey guys. There are some things you need to know.

1: This Chapter is really important. There are things you need to remember, small details that will come up again. Foreshadowing, stuff like that.

2: Chaper 3 will come out very soon.

3: There is a song quote hidden in this chapter. This song, while not used in context, is a song that fits this story perfectly. These next couple chapters will have song quotes that may or may not be used in context. I'll probably put the artists or maybe the relationhip it describes in the ANs so read them please.

4: This Chapter was heavily betaed by the amazing Tonights The Night. Seriously, I didn't even need to show up! This chap would have sucked so bad it would had been deep throating. Odd analogy, I know.

This chapter's artist: Cocorosie.