I felt the tears come before I fully realized the magnitude of her words. The next thing I knew I had sunk down to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. The only thought running through my mind was He's dead, and you killed him, Z. It took a minute or so before I could compose myself.

"I loved him, you know," I said bitterly in a voice more hoarse than Cyra's. The tears continued falling.
"I know, Z. I wish there was something I could do to help." I shook my head miserably.

"It's all my fault."
"Z, don't start that. You didn't kill him."

"But he was trying to help me! If I hadn't been so hesitant to do my job, none of this would ever have happened. I killed him. I killed him and I'll never forgive myself for it." I burst into tears once again. Then Cyra said something I didn't expect.

"He told me to give you this." I looked at her outstretched hand. Her palm was mostly covered in black cloth, but in its center rested a sparkling red and silver object.

Koda's ring.

I gingerly took it, sliding it next to the one on my own finger. The two rings could have been duplicates of each other, blood red rubies glittering in the moon's crystalline light. Together they formed a beautiful heart; separately, two crimson tears. To me they would be separate forever.

"Cyra, when did he give you this?"

"A few minutes ago."
"And you watched him die?" She took a deep breath.

"I could not have interfered, Z. You know that. Otherwise I would be dead, too." I knew it. I just didn't want to believe it.

"Where is he?" She paused.
"Follow me." Cyra leapt through the treetops with the catlike nimbleness she had become infamous for. It was almost difficult for me to follow her.

A few minutes later we reached a new section of the forest. Many of the trees were charred, some still crackling with embers and low blue flames. Koda had definitely put up a fight, but the Order always won out in the end.

"There." I looked, almost wishing I hadn't. Koda lay in the center of the fiery aftermath, still as stone and equally as silent. His lifeless amber eyes stared into space. I saw three short throwing knives still embedded in his chest. Just like my dream. What a horrible way to die. I cautiously approached his body, my eyes threatening to spill over with tears at any moment.

"Cyra, stay here," I said abruptly, turning to go. "I need you to guard him."

"Why? Where are you going?" I stared at the night sky in the distance, hoping to catch a glimpse of white.

"I have to find the Avatar."

When I caught up with Aang, Appa was flying low to the ground. All were asleep except for the Airbender, who stared blankly into space. I leapt from a treetop onto Appa, startling Aang out of an almost zombie-like state.

"Who are you? What do you want?" he asked sleepily, not recognizing my voice at first. I removed my black mask, shuddering as I spoke.

"I need your help." Aang understood almost instantly and asked which way to fly. I pointed him in the right direction, somewhat surprised that he asked no questions. Katara and Sokka remained asleep. He gently landed on the ground minutes later, leaping lithely from Appa's back and following me. Cyra was still there, as I expected she would be. She tensed at Aang's arrival, but said nothing. Aang saw Koda's body, and a look of horror crossed his face.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"This is why I need your help."
"But I can't bring people back to life."

"I know. But you are a link to the spirit world. I just want to talk to him. Please help me," I said pleadingly. Aang sat on the ground to meditate, holding one of my hands.

It is a strange feeling, being transported to the Spirit World. Your mind and body separate, and you feel so light it's almost like drifting off into space. But I remained on the ground with silver moonlight penetrating my form. I saw Cyra stand protectively near my body. I noted that Aang was tinged blue, as I must have been as well, and that my Airbending was useless here. But that meant nothing when I saw a blue-shaded figure leaning against a tree.

"Hello, Z."

"Koda!" I ran toward him, embracing him immediately. He returned the hug gratefully, then pulled away and smiled.
"I didn't think I would ever see you again," he said, tears coming to his eyes. My smile vanished.

"This is all my fault. I knew something bad would happen, but I let you go anyway. I'm sorry, Koda. I'm so sorry." He shook his head.
"No, Z. I chose my death. I challenged their authority. How stupid of me. But it doesn't matter now."

"Koda, what happened?" His face turned grim.
"It was violent." I looked straight into his eyes, finding that my power to see memories was still intact. He was right.

Koda entered the clearing with his eyes closed. He could sense that the leaders of the Order were nearby, as he had requested their presence. He felt nervous inside, but showed none of it on his face. Instead He opened his eyes, seeing three ninjas in front of him. He bowed deeply to show honor, then began speaking. As he had said, he reported that Z had been injured during her last mission and asked him to take over for her. The elders questioned why he had not said anything before, and he said it was because he felt it was not necessary, as the task was to be carried out swiftly and cleanly.

He said Zuko was an innocent person, that he did not deserve to die. The elders did not believe this. The leader began the fight, with Koda firing blasts of blue flame every chance he got, sometimes setting fire to nearby trees. The other two ninjas, Waterbenders, quickly helped douse these. It was silently understood that a duel now existed between the leader and Koda, and that they were to take no part in it.

Finally the leader threw a short knife that shot into Koda's heart. He staggered backwards, dropping to one knee in pain, and gasped for air. The leader quickly hurled two more knives at Koda, making him fall forward completely.

"Come. He will die soon. We must return," he said apathetically, turning and disappearing into the night. Not a second later Cyra arrived, propping Koda up against a tree. She knew he would die.

"Cyra?" he choked out, air leaving his lungs more quickly than it entered. She nodded. Koda pulled the glittering ring off his finger, dropping it into her waiting palm as though it had been a ten-ton weight.

"Give it…to Z. Tell her…I love her…" His voice cracked and weakened, and Cyra said a silent prayer over his body. She slowly let him down to the ground, then raced off to find Z.

The tears began falling again. Koda hugged me tightly, willing me to stop crying. I felt horrible, sick, and guilty. Koda pulled me away from his shoulder and kissed me. Strange as it was being in the Spirit World, there were some things about him that would never change.

"Promise me that you won't worry about me, Z. I'll be alright," he said finally. I nodded, unable to speak. As much as I wanted to stay here with him forever, I knew he wouldn't let me. If things had been reversed, I wouldn't let him stay, either.

"I promise." He smiled, stepping back and away from me. It felt awkward, but right at the same time. I would see him again, after all, even if it wouldn't be for some time. Aang grabbed my hand and went back to meditation. I felt my mind and body rejoining each other, heaviness bringing me back to the normal world.

"Goodbye, Koda," I whispered quietly.

"Goodbye, Z," he said for the last time.