Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Chapter 4: Plastic Smile

After staying at the Western Air Temple for a while Zuko became used to the twists and turns of the hall ways. He knew where almost everything was and had very few surprises. The ex-prince made his way to Katara's room with a sense of foreboding.

When he reached her room he stopped outside the closed door and sighed. He wasn't in the mood for another accusation from her. He wondered if she would ever understand how much he regretted what he had done. However if they were going to defeat the Fire Lord they would all need to trust each other.

Before he could knock on Katara's door he heard something that made him drop his fist. Was she crying? He slowly eased open the door to see Katara hunched over on the edge of her bed crying into her hands. He had seen her cry once before and just like back then he felt compelled to say something comforting. Unfortunately all he could think of was.

"Why are you crying?"

Her body went rigid at the sound of his voice and she looked up at Zuko with angry, tear stained eyes.

"Like you care." She pushed the words through her clenched teeth before turning her back to the young firebender. This was obviously Zuko's cue to leave. Instead he took a deep breath and stood his ground.

"Look, I do care, but no matter how many times I apologize you still treat me the same. I understand I betrayed you, but I'm trying to make things better and like it or not we won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord unless we all trust each other." Zuko needed all his self control not to shout this at the mistrusting waterbender. He thought he had done a fairly good job keeping his voice steady and reasoning, but Katara didn't seem to want to be reasonable.

"Listen to me Zuko," She growled as she turned to face him. "I will never trust you again."

With that she stormed out of her room leaving a disgruntled Zuko standing in her doorway.

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The sun's rays were barely over the hills when my eyes slid open. Lying on my side I watched the sun rise through puffy eyes. Like most firebenders I rise with the sun.

I had slept badly that night. Nightmares haunted my sleep and, like many nights to come, I had cried myself to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about the man whose life I had destroyed as well as his happy family. When the sun had cloaked my room in light I eased myself out of bed and walked to my wardrobe.

I caught my reflection in the mirror and stared at my face. I looked horrible. My hair was a mess and my normally gold eyes were red and puffy. I sighed and quickly dressed then went to the restroom. I splashed water on my face and rhythmically brushed my hair. I was glad my glasses covered my puffy eyes rather well.

I pasted a fake smile on my face and turned around, ready to face what would be a very long day.

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After breakfast I went to speak to my parents. I thought that if I could convince them to move back to our old town than maybe they'd be safe. However I couldn't tell them the truth, because the guards seemed to be everywhere. I had to make it seem like I was home sick.

"Where did this come from Kimi?" my mother asked. "We've been here already for about two years! We've settled down quite nicely and your sister has made some great friends. This is probably just a faze. You'll get over it in no time."

"Did something happen Kimi? You get in a fight with a friend or something?" Dad asked.

"No, I just miss our old house and my old friends." That was stretching it. My parents looked confused. I didn't have any friends at home. I was always the town freak. It just shows how people react to something slightly different.

I sighed. I could tell I wouldn't get anywhere today. I'd have to think of another approach.

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My assignment last night wasn't my last one. Azula constantly asked me to take care of people who threatened the nation. My nightmares got worse. They visited me every night now and I got very little sleep. After a while I stopped crying myself to sleep. I didn't think I had any more tears left.

I became very good at acting. The plastered smile became my mask. The servants and guards looked at me differently, almost fearfully. Rumors had a way of spreading quickly throughout the palace. They never seemed to reach my family however. This was a small miracle.

Zuko left the palace along with his uncle Iro. Azula told me he spoke against the Fire Lord during a war meeting. I caught a glimpse of him before he left. A bandage covered his left eye and his demeanor was angrier then before. I looked up at a portrait of Ozi. Was there nothing he wouldn't do for power?

Firebending became my escape. Practicing and emerging myself in improving kept my mind off what I had become. The years went by and bending increased rapidly as well as the intensity of my assignments. When I mastered bending lightning, Azula asked me to teach her as well. I wished I could accidentally loose control and… but I knew I couldn't so I begrudgingly helped Azula learn how to bend lightning.

Azula was annoyed that I was better than her, but she couldn't do anything about it so she just found more and more assignments for me. People say that air makes flames stronger. Being the daughter of a firebender and an airbender my bending was naturally enhanced. Of coarse I couldn't tell people that. I still kept the Air Nomads secret.

Zuko came back and then left again to join the avatar. I wished I had the freedom to join them as well. If I knew my parents were safe I would join them in a heart beat; anything to get rid of Ozi.

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My seventeenth birthday was coming up in a week. There was to be a big fancy party to commemorate the day of my birth. I sat on my bed making the flames on my open palms grow and shrink with my breathing. The sun had just risen and was flooding light through my opened window.

The sound of a quite rapping brought me back to consciousness. Who would want to see me this early? My assignments were usually at night. I opened the door and in its place stood an older but surprisingly fit looking man. His hair was mostly white with a little gray and was pulled up in a top knot. He had a short beard and glasses that were falling down his small nose.

"Hello Kimi," He said. My confusion must have showed on my face because he also added. "Don't you remember me?" I looked at his wrinkled face for a few minuets trying to find him in my memory, then I remembered.

A long time ago when I was twelve I had seen this man playing Pai Shō with Azula's and Zuko's uncle. I was intrested in the game and he had taught me how to play. When I turned thirteen I hadn't had any time to play anymore and I hadn't seen him since.

"Yeah, I remember. It's been so long. How are you?" There it was, my plastic smile fell into place with ease. He came in and I closed the door behind him.

"I have a present for you," He said. He fished in his pocket and pulled out a Pai Shō tile. On the tile was a picture of a white lotus. As he handed it to me he whispered, "I'm going to help you save your family."

A/N: Yay another chapter! Don't worry there is a reason why Katara was crying, I'm not just random. I'll try to update more. Please review!