It was now dusk in Ba Sing Se, with the grayish sky pulling stars overhead and casting the city into a peaceful ambiance.

Few people walked outside, strolling along the cobblestone streets and fountains without a care in the world. Which many of them didn't have. It was the Upper Ring, full of noblemen and noblewomen, and noble children already being taught society ways.

"So sad," Iroh said as he watched a young girl run up to the clear water fountain. She leaned over the edge, eyes wide as she marveled at the paper lanterns and in-bloom lotuses floating on the surface. Her mother was already pulling her back, telling her to be careful.

"A good lesson," Iroh said to himself, stirring his tea slowly. A small smile crept onto his face as he watched the small family disappear, the walls of his tea shop blocking his view. Iroh generally liked people watching, it was a usually calm activity.

Lower rings or Upper rings, Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom, anywhere he went it was fascinating for him to watch people. And he had learned a lot about it; people were usually the same, all having goals they strived towards and people they cared for. Even the simplest of errands could tell him a story, about what said person was doing in the present. If only one looked well enough, they could see a small story in the movements of people.

Iroh has spent a lot of time doing this over the years, even since he was young.

Pulling out the stirring spoon, he set it on one of the rich napkins and turned his attention to the tea. Hot and steaming jasmine tea, with half a pinch of sugar, which had been added last. First rule to tasting tea was to always taste it in its natural form; then you could add whatever you wanted.

His slippers patted upon the wooden floor as he took himself and his hot tea outside. The mild temperature of the night set upon him, kissing his skin underneath the thick night clothes. His smile only grew more peaceful.

"Who would have thought," he said only to himself, "that a once young warlord bent on control would come to lead such a peaceful life?"

The question lingered in the air, never to be answered.

The colors of night deepened, and soon Iroh's tea was finished, leaving a lingering taste on the tongue. Just as tea should, Iroh knew. Even without the tea, he stayed and watched until the night had fully fallen and the stars were as bright as the street lanterns.

That was when the real action began in the city.

Partygoers mainly, but also a lot of high class thieves. Those that craved violence, walking amongst those that craved the energy of the nightlife. In the distance, many large houses were aglow with light, the silhouettes of people swarming like moths to a candle.

"Not so different, ourselves and nature," Iroh mused before turned to walk back into his shop.

"Are you going to spend forever talking like a soothsayer, Uncle?" a voice behind him said.

Iroh spun around quickly, seeing his nephew walking up to him. Overjoyed to see him, Iroh rushed down the steps, gathering Zuko in his arms and squeezing him tightly.

"Zuko," he said happily, "what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the Earth Kingdom Palace?"

Zuko only shook his head and smiled.

"I just wanted to see you more."

Tears stung at the corner of Iroh's eyes, but he didn't let them spill over. He had decided he was getting too old to cry. "It makes me so happy to hear that."

Footsteps were walking up behind the two of them, and Mai came into sight, the lantern light bouncing off her pale skin. Much like Zuko, she was wearing casual Earth Kingdom clothes, so better not to stand out. Not everyone had completely forgiven the Fire Nation, and even those that had still harbored wariness towards them.

Mai stood back a little bit, stalking towards the shadows.

"Well—uh—we both "We to come see you," Zuko said awkwardly.

"Even better!"

Iroh ushered them both into his shop, asking them if they wanted tea while he brewed tea for them. Jasmine, the most popular cup, was set away brewing in the pot for the both of them, the herbs setting out on the counter uncared-for.

The three of them sat together at a table near the back, by a window where lantern light filtered in, adding to the light inside. It felt all so warm and cozy, and a comfortableness that was so rare within the world settled upon the three of them while they talked.

When Iroh felt that the conversation was coming to an end, he felt the need to end on a rather sore note. He had been brewing over it the entire time, and finally felt the need to say it. "Zuko," he began, "all this time, I have been so happy. So happy. This is probably the happiest I have been in all the years of my life…"

"Thanks nice to hear you say, Uncle."

"But I am not finished. In all my years, seeing you happy is what also has made me happy. I would not be able to live this life now, if you were still struggling…"

Zuko's expression sobered a little, knowing where the last bits of the conversation was heading. He glanced over at Mai, and saw her dimly staring into almost cold, half empty cup of tea. Swirling around the liquid and pointedly not making eye contact.

"Zuko, I know you do not want to hear this, but I am happy that you have turned over a new leaf. Really Zuko, this is what I have spent my entire life trying to accomplish—even if…I did not know it."

A long silence followed.

None of them knew what to say next.

As the minutes continued to eat away at the night, Iroh finally had to send them on their way.

Too much time had passed, and Iroh knew that he had to be in bed by know, catching up on some well-needed sleep. Yawning the entire time, he stacked the chairs up on the table, lightly swept over the floor, and began to lock up. With the lantern lights turning off, the flames having died out in the small candles, the black of the night was settling in heavily.

In the corner of his eye, he saw it, a flashing of the smallest hint of white in the dark. He turned, readying himself. Thieves were still common in the Upper Ring, and Iroh was determined not to let this one get the better of him. Still, he could not have prepared himself for what he saw next.

It was the mask of the Blue Spirit.

The shock of it hit him full force. He clutched his hand to his chest, staggering back.

"No. You can't be Zuko," he said, as if the words would make it true. The masked figure turned to look at him, crouching back in the shadows, terrified that it had been caught.

Then they were gone.

Isuke ran into the darkest alleyway that she could find, crouching down low and hugging her knees to her chest. Two years. It had been two years she had been planning for this, figuring out every odd and end and tracking and mapping. Two years of training on her part, of wishing and hoping for the rescue, and someone had seen her.

Even worse, he had seemed to her. She hugged her knees to her chest, breathing hard and letting dry sobs escape her throat. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, only making them worse as they dried and cracked.

What was she to do now?

She couldn't go back to the Outer Ring now, for she had come too far. It had taken far too much time to get into the Inner Ring. Besides, to make a trip back to the Outer Ring would take weeks. Maybe a month. If she were traveling freely, it would have taken a few hours and maybe a day. But traveling unseen, at night, while making sure no one saw her? Weeks.

Isuke knew she had to stay.

Isuke had to stay, for how else was she supposed to save them?

Drying her tears, she hid her mask in black covers, swaddled protectively, and pulled on the heavy, richly decorated coat she had stolen. Without fear, but keeping her head down the entire time, she walked away from the alleyway, form the whole scene.

This is not the end, she told herself. This is not the end. I will find them.