Nothing could explain how furious she was. In fact, her father dealt with her rage better than he would've expected. When she came back home, which he didn't gather she would within the past three days, she looked as if she was on a warpath. He watched as she opened the door so fiercely, slamming it behind her and startling even the guards at the doors. Her eyes were red from what he assumed was due to her crying. Maybe it was because that she was mixed nation that it wasn't so odd that in her anger, heat emanating off her body and filled her aura and the whole atmosphere of the room. Her anger radiated off her like waves of sunlight, imitating the sun as if the giant star was within the room.

He wanted to talk to her, to help her, but he couldn't find the slightest clue as to what could calm her temper. Instead, the Swordmaster merely watched as she paced around the living room with her fingers combing through her hair every now and then and a giant storm in her eyes.

Piandao, at that moment, saw so much in Mienna in her that for a second, he thought he was seeing a much younger version of the woman he loved very much alive before him. He gave a small smile, his eyes softening as she finally turned to look at him; noticing his presence. She had not spoken a word to him, remaining quiet in her anger. "Ruyi." He called her name calmly, letting it breeze past her like a gentle wind.

Her lips parted to speak and he leaned forward in anticipation for what she had to say, but instead he had seen her eyes brimming with fresh, hot tears.

From the short time he knew his daughter, there was one thing he knew for sure. Despite how young she was, she bore the pride that was as resilient as a man's. Everything that was thrown at her, her little shoulders had tried to carry. Not once had he seen her so vulnerable, so weak, because she didn't want anyone, not even her own father, to see her in such a state. His daughter was also very much like himself; he hated to admit that. That pride of hers would get in the way one day, just as it had for him.

Among that reflection of Mienna was a young Piandao, who chose duty over love. Who was too young and so hurt by his parents actions, that he had closed himself off until the warm touches of woman of wading water had drowned him in her love. If she hadn't doused the fire that consumed him, Piandao would probably be in this palace alone with nothing but calligraphy and swordplay to get through the day.

He wouldn't hear the rambunctious ramblings of this girl of twelve. Although it was rare, the most pleasing sound of all was the sound of her laughter echoing through this place. And to have think he would've never heard such a thing saddened him.

But back to the present, Piandao very much knew that Ruyi was shocked at the display of welling tears in her eyes. Her hands quickly went to her face, rubbing her eyes to wipe them away, but they poured down anyway. He had not known how to approach her, to comfort her, but Ruyi made the task difficult for herself in the process. Instead of showing sadness, she settled for what she knew best, fury. "Zuko is an idiot!" Her voice roared throughout the castle, startling him from such a loud, angry declaration.

How could one person switch from sadness to anger so quickly astonished him. She truly was fire and water.

Her arms were thrown up in exasperation, her eyes ablaze. "I said I would go with him but he… But he tells me that "He didn't want to drag me down with him". What is that supposed to mean? I'm his friend! I'm his best friend!" Pounding her fist against her chest to prove her point, she shook her head furiously. "It doesn't make any sense!"

Flashback

Awaiting his answer was making her anxious. Her declaration of undying loyalty, of a devotion to help him get himself back on track had spilled from her lips just mere seconds ago. She could've sworn that she would've been greeted with a thanks or words of gratitude but instead she was given… silence. Silence? For what? His lone eye just stared at her with a whirlpool of emotions she couldn't read. Why just a stare and not an answer? How long was he going to make her wait? Whatever the case may be, she was sure that he was going to say yes.

"No." He finally spoke and his answer did more than shock her, it had hurt her. Her eyes were wide in confusion, her azure eyes swirling with sadness at his reply. No? Why no? What the hell did he mean by no?!

"No?!" Ruyi repeated, trying her best not to raise her voice but she couldn't hold herself back. The girl never could.

Zuko had shook his head rather slowly, his eyes gazing out the window beside his bed. "No." He said once more, very calmly too. She could be shocked by this state of calm that she never seen Zuko be in before, but she was too overwhelmed by the rejection of her sincere and heartfelt proposal.

"Why?! You want to look for the Avatar by yourself?!" The Waterbender questioned, not leaving until she received her answers. She demanded answers and she was bent on getting them.

Of course, Zuko wasn't going to expect that she would take his answer with a grain of salt. Ruyi wasn't the type, especially when she wasn't given a valid reason. How could he tell her without upsetting her? Even as he sat in this bed, wanting to scream from the pain of his eye and the ordeal he went through, he was trying his best to calm her down.

His hands gathered the blankets in his hand, his head hanging as he couldn't quite look at her expression. So, he figured best way for her to move on from this was to… "I don't want you to."

Going rigid from his answer, she eyed him as he continued on. "You don't want me to?" Ruyi echoed his words with an over-pour of disbelief. "So, what are you trying to say, Zuko? You don't want me around? You don't want me with you? What, am I annoying or something? Are you angry with me?"

Biting down on his teeth, he breathed in. "Ruyi, I've made up my mind. You're not going."

If it wasn't for her pride, she would've let the tears welling up in her eyes fall. "You still haven't told me why."

"I said that I don't want you to." He looked at her, the expression hard and unchanging. Her heart ached so much that it made her wince as her hand went up to her chest, clutching her shirt. "Why do you have to make everything about you?! What about me?! What about I want?! Look what happened to my face! Look what my father has done to me? And you, you want to worry about your feelings and what you want?!"

Silence had settled in as she shifted her gaze away from him. Her eyes had no strength to look at him and so they settled for the floor. "The past three years of my life was about you and your needs, and what you want. I've never even once thought about myself or what I wanted… I wanted to go to the South and I—"

"Then go!" His finger had pointed to the door, "Leave! Leave right now."

Biting down on her lip, not hard enough to draw blood but certainly close, she nodded. "Fine, I know when I'm not wanted. You don't have to tell me twice."

With a stomp, she had left the Prince's bedroom and slammed the door closed behind her, leaving him in the darkness in the room with the lone light of his window shining down on him.

End Flashback

It was obvious was Zuko's intentions were, but they remained a mystery to Ruyi. Piandao felt grateful for the Prince's decision to not let Ruyi follow him around the world in a chase that might last for the rest of that boy's life. The punishment was terrible, but what was to be expected? Piandao never liked that Ozai. He distrusted him the day he had met him, but his distrust for the royal family had been quite present for a long time. The only one he did managed to like was in fact, Prince Iroh. He also did not approve of the friendship Ruyi had with Zuko, but she was her own person and he knew she had to learn and deal with situations on her own.

Piandao never had his parents to coddle him. They had nothing to do with him when they realized he was a nonbender, and so he had to deal with the world head on without guidance. And even though times were tough, he had managed to pull through, and even though he was here for his daughter, he knew she was capable of making most decisions on her own.

He disapproved her wanting to follow Zuko, but he knew why. That girl felt obligated to that boy for the past three years, holding off her dreams and ambitions for the sake of his own. There were times he wanted to chat, to talk her out of that mindset, but as they days, months, and years had gone by, he could see that resolve of hers faltering. But now, that resolve was as strong as it had ever been but it wasn't out of the kindness of her heart, it was pity. She pitied that boy. She cared for him, that much was true, but it was pity and she did not want to admit that.

Zuko had probably known that too, and that's why he opted for pushing her away because of his hurt and for her own good.

"This is Zuko's problem, Ruyi." He finally spoke, "And he must make these decisions; he put himself in this predicament, and he is the only one who can steer the ship in the right direction."

"Put himself in this predicament?!" Ruyi huffed, angry with her father's words. "What kind of father burns his son's eye?!"

Although she had a point, Zuko should've been more careful with his decisions, in Piandao's eyes. Ozai was not the one who comforted their child for mistakes, Zuko had known that. "The kind of man that our Fire Lord is. He was never once the parent who offered words of wisdom after their child makes a mistakes; he is the one who does not tolerate mistakes."

Her anger died down and her eyes shifted away from her parent. "I know, but…"

"This is Zuko's life, not yours. You need to live your life instead of fixing his." Standing up, he had walked towards the young pre-teen and placed his hands on her small shoulders. "Do what you want. Zuko will live his life, he will not stop his life for you. You must live for you."

His silver eyes widened in surprise as slender arms went around his torso, and a head was buried just a quite a few inches below his chest. His eyes looked down to see this stubborn child embracing him. His eyes closed into a smile as he rubbed the top of her head in slow, affectionate strokes.

"There will never be a day when I am not proud of you, Ruyi." He said, "But please do, what is best for you from now on."

A/N: Holy AGNI THIS IS THE SHORTEST CHAPTER. PLEASE DO NOT BE UPSET. My laptop is acting crazier than Sokka without meat. I had to release this chapter before my laptop just deleted it and I would cry and not feel like writing it again. So please, don't hate me. To make it up to you guys, the next chapter will be the longest I have ever done because this is like... a spoon with a two specks of sugar on it.

Anyway, thank you for the reviews. Huehuehue, someone saw through my plan. I thought it might be too cliche if she went with him, and so I thought a reunion would be best.