"You will when the war ends. The Avatar will defeat the Fire Lord and bring peace to the world," I said, as though it were obvious. Zuko looked at me as though I had wounded him. Then I remembered. "I am sorry. I had forgotten…"

"I know that's what everyone wants. I've gotten used to hearing it outside of the Fire Nation." Thunder rumbled in the distance. The smell of rain was denser now.

"I will probably not see you for some time, if ever again," I said.

"Why?"

"Believe me, if we ever meet again, it will not be by chance." I had to leave it at that. I did not want to think of what would happen if I ever saw him again. I turned to leave.

"Wait," he said quietly. I froze. "I have never seen your face, Z."

"That is the rule rather than the exception."

"I want to see the face of my rescuer. Then you can leave." Even without holding a position of power, Zuko would command people. I removed the mask from my face, feeling my hair fall to shoulder length. I turned back to face the small fire, finding Iroh gone. I sat by the fire, feeling its warmth reach my face. Zuko stared at me, half surprised. I suddenly felt embarrassed.

"What?"

"Nothing." I tucked a lock of wavy hair behind my ear, staring into the dancing flames. My mind began to wander, thinking of Koda. I missed him so much, and it had only been five days. How was I supposed to get through a lifetime without him?

"Are you okay?" Zuko asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You seem…very sad all of a sudden." I felt a raindrop land on my nose and quickly brushed it off. At first Zuko thought I was crying, but when more drops of water fell, he realized it was the rain. The fire was quickly extinguished as the rain intensified. I stayed where I was, letting the rain seep into my hair and straighten it. Zuko took shelter under some nearby trees, and I slowly got up to join him.

As much as I liked the rain, I did not enjoy being cold. I created a gust of air to dry both of us off. This startled Zuko, but he was grateful all the same. He held a flame in one hand to help ward off the cold.

"Thanks," I said, teeth beginning to chatter. As many powers as the darkness held, it could not stop the spread of cold weather. Ironically enough it was the one thing I needed.

I sneezed, blowing myself back a few feet. 'Great,' I thought. 'I'm getting sick.'

"We should find shelter. The rain is worsening," I said, glancing up at the cloud-covered violet sky. Zuko nodded in agreement and followed me to the cave. I used Airbending to keep the water away. Iroh was already there; no doubt he had heard the coming of the rain and come here. A small fire was already blazing just inside the mouth of the cave.

"I thought you'd come here," he said warmly. I sneezed again, a wave of chills washing through me. I lay down at the back of the cave once again. It was much warmer there, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

By the next morning I was sick. I awoke covered with a warm blanket, feeling sleepy and not wanting to get up. The rain continued to fall against a background of thick gray clouds and deep green trees. I reluctantly sat up and rubbed my eyes, sneezing again.

"Lie down and don't move," Zuko said, walking over to me with a steaming bowl in one hand. I obeyed and lay back down, finding a pillow beneath my head.

"Why-"

"You've already helped me. Now it's my turn to help you." He handed me the bowl, full of hot soup, and told me to drink it. It tasted of many different forest herbs, some of the same ones I had given to Katara to help her sleep. I took it gratefully, feeling a light dizziness overwhelm me before I slipped back into unconsciousness.

A full week passed before I was able to stand without collapsing from exhaustion. It drizzled rain or was cloudy every day, as though the sky was crying. The entire time I did not receive a mission from the Order, though I was not complaining about the vacation.

I escaped into the forest that night, eager to feel cool night air and see the moon. The clouds cleared away briefly, just enough for me to see the crescent moon. It almost looked like a smile.

When I returned both Zuko and Iroh were still asleep. I crawled back under the blanket, suddenly weak with a fever. Apparently I wasn't well enough to leave just yet.

Three days later I was healthy again, and I could not thank Zuko and Iroh enough for their help.

"It was the least we could do after everything you've done for us," Iroh said with a smile. I nodded and bowed to them, showing that I had to leave. My mask was again secured to my face, and I felt more like the ninja I really was.

"Thank you. Maybe I will see you again." As I disappeared into the forest, a single question came to me, one that had not truly bothered me until now.

Was Azula really dead?

If Azula was alive, she would at least be wounded and in need of care. An injury like that would not heal overnight. If I were lucky, her impatience would prevent her from resting until fully healed. This would make my job easier.

I set out that night under a clear, dark sky. There was a new moon, with no light to hinder my search. Ironic for most, but it made sense to me.

Though I did not know Azula that well, I knew she would not return to the Fire Nation until she was successful. No doubt she would command her crew to continue looking for Zuko, Iroh, and the Avatar. To find them she would need information. And information came easily in the city of Ba Sing Se. It made sense for her to head there first. It was a long journey from my current location, but hopefully it would not take much more than a few days.

There were traces of a large army headed towards the city. Hopefully it was Azula's. I followed them all the way to Ba Sing Se. Sure enough, she was at the head of the army, walking less and less the further they went. Eventually they had to stop altogether. No one complained. No one dared to. They camped several miles outside of the city, and I hid nearby to catch any conversation.

The princess was speaking to the commander, trying to choose a single strategy if they were to attack.

"The city has been under-defended for some time now. I say we attack now, while their armies are at war." Azula shook her head, wincing at the pain.

"No, Commander. The plan will require cunning and strategy if this is to succeed. A full frontal assault is not the way." She tried to take a deep breath, but again could not. Apparently I had done more damage than I thought.

"With all due respect, Princess, perhaps we should rest for a few days more until you are healed." She gave the commander a look so fierce that it made him visibly cringe.

"And with all due respect to you, Commander," she said sourly, "It would be in your best interests to not try and order me around."

"It's just a friendly suggestion," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for only ninjas- and Azula- to hear.

"Friendly suggestions don't win wars."