Burning Bright

by WhiskyFlower

Zuko discovers that there is more to Jin than he once thought. R and R. Flames accepted!

4. Part IV

Burning Bright

Part IV

Zuko spent most of the night reading the books he bought. So far, he only managed to finish the Tale of Yan Niao and Zhan Shi. He had to admit that he did have a lot of difficulty reading the book. Although there was only the slightest difference between the strokes of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom characters each stroke meant different things to each nation. After thirty minutes of fruitless reading, he had to go to the marketplace to buy a dictionary. He became nervous out of fear from arousing suspicion but it was quickly abated after he realized that no one seemed to really care that he had just bought a dictionary for Earth Kingdom and Fire nation characters in the middle of the night.

As Zuko was making his way back home he noted that not everyone in here seemed to know that a war was going on beyond the walls. It was as if everyone merely wished to forget all the bad things that were happening outside the wall. Zuko shook his head and growled. This was another reason why this stupid city was so wretched. It was full of lies. He paused in mid-step.

But then wasn't he full of lies too? Wasn't he just like everyone else in the city? Liars pretending that nothing was wrong. In frustration, Zuko slammed his fist against the table, nearly setting the dictionary he just bought ablaze. He stopped himself and quickly put the fire out. He should learn to control his temper.

He decided to think no more about it and settled on reading the book.

Zuko started re-reading the book with the dictionary propped up against his pillow. Every so often, he would stop to search for something in the dictionary. It was long and tedious work but he discovered that what Jin had said was right. The book was really good and although the author had made a somewhat slow progression towards the climax it made it all the more dramatic. It was probably past mid night before Zuko finished reading the book. He decided that he could finish the rest of the books on some other nights.

Zuko put all the books away, blew the candle that lit his room up and lay down on his cot again. Jin said she would show him her secret practicing grounds tomorrow. Zuko wondered if he should involve himself in something so risky and sketchy when he already carried plenty of suspicious secrets with him. He shouldn't risk his and his uncle's life any further by involving himself in something so shifty. Zuko exhaled loudly. But he wanted this. This was the first time wherein he actually showed any interest towards anything here in Ba Sing Se. Maybe, he wanted to be a part of this because he wants something interesting to happen. Maybe he wanted a break from all this monotony. He shrugged and stared at the small Fire Nation flag hanging on his drawer.

He was beginning to feel afraid. He was afraid because the fire that drove him to come home was slowly waning. He was beginning to feel as if the Fire Nation was nothing more than a memory. He was starting to believe that Ba Sing Se is his home. And that was what Zuko was most afraid. Setting down roots in the city. Zuko clutched his sheets. He will never allow that to happen. He will never allow himself to tolerate this pathetic life in Ba Sing Se. He breathed in and out after realizing that he was starting to lose his cool again.

He will be going home.

Nothing will get in the way of that.

Somehow there was just something wrong with that statement.

For some reason he couldn't quite believe what he just told himself.

---

The first rays of dawn penetrated through Zuko's ratty and tattered curtains bathing his room in a warm yellow glow. He placed his hand over his face in an attempt to shield himself from the bright beams. From inside his bedroom, he could hear Iroh cheerfully singing another song. Zuko groaned. Another miserable day of work and mundanity. It won't be long before Iroh would come banging in his door, yelling at him to wake up so they could open the teashop. Pao entrusted them with the job of opening the teashop so they had to wake up earlier than most people.

Zuko lay still on his bed, the pillow pressed firmly down his head as he waited for his uncle to rouse him. He frowned in confusion after realizing that thirty minutes had gone by and his uncle had still not come to his room to stir him. He decided that perhaps the old man was still angry about their little spat last night and he was choosing the silent treatment as Zuko's punishment. He cocked his ear to listen closer. From outside he could hear Iroh cheerfully singing but the odd thing was he could hear another voice mixed in with his uncle's. Soon after the singing died down he could hear his uncle talk again. That was odd. It was as if Iroh was talking with someone else.

Zuko shrugged his shoulders and threw the pillow and covers back. He made a few stretches before putting a shirt on and scrambling outside. He might as well wake up by himself lest he awaken Pao's wrath by coming to the shop late.

Zuko partially opened the door, obscuring a fraction of their living room. Iroh was cooking rice over a miniscule iron pot, whistling cheerfully as he stirred the sticky substance. It seemed as if the memory of last night's little spat between them was already forgotten. Zuko liked that about his uncle. Whenever they had a misunderstanding or an argument, it wouldn't hold on for too long mostly because his uncle was very kind and forgiving.

"Good morning uncle," Zuko yawned as he stretched his arms.

"Good morning to you too, nephew. Aren't you going to greet our guest?" Iroh said. His uncle put the fire out completely with a stone cap and set the pot aside. He then reached out to the cupboard where he started juggling three bowls in his hands. Three bowls? Why would he need three bowls? There were only two of them. And why didn't his uncle just firebend to put the fire out? Nobody was in here but them? Right? Right?

Zuko pushed the sliding doors wider and was more than shocked to find Jin cheerfully squatting on their living room.

"No, thank you Mushi. I already ate," Jin said waving a hand.

Zuko's eyes bulged bigger when he saw what Jin was wearing. She was wearing something that was similar to what the Dai Li usually wore although it was sleeveless and it completely exposed her smooth and flat belly. On her hands were a set of fingerless gloves and her hair was woven into two braids.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko demanded after recovering from his initial shock. Jin looked up at him and gave him a small smile while Iroh looked extremely scandalized.

"Zuko!" He stomped his way over to Zuko and chastised him in a low voice, "Stop being rude to our guest!"

Then he turned towards Jin and said in an apologetic tone, "I apologize for my nephew's rude behavior. Li is not a morning person."

Jin laughed lightly and said in a dismissive tone, "I don't mind at all Mushi." Jin waved him a hello before motioning him to sit next to her. Zuko absentmindedly squatted next to her and watched with an aura of surrealism and utter weirdness as Iroh conversationally chatted with Jin. He handed Zuko a bowl and poured some rice porridge into it. He was not used to anything as mundane as this.

Zuko looked out the window and saw that the morning had barely begun. The sky was still a faint orange and the streets were still quiet and empty.

"What are you wearing?" Zuko asked before he could stop himself. From beside him, Iroh started nudging Zuko meaningfully. Jin raised a brow.

"Yes, my nephew is right. I do notice that you are dressed quite differently from your usual garb," Iroh commented.

Jin laughed and said, "Li will teach me how to use the swords today. I felt that I needed something much more comfortable than what I usually wore."

"Well….you look very attractive. I think my nephew very much agrees," Iroh chuckled. He then elbowed Zuko and said in a sing-song voice, "Right Li…."

Zuko suddenly felt hot and he could feel a blush creeping. He looked away in an attempt to hide away from his uncle's teasing laughs and Jin's bemused expression.

While the outfit proved to be very practical in the activity they were about to partake during that day it was also very….distracting. Zuko tried several times to pry his eyes away from Jin but he could not help being drawn back to her. She was always drawn back to his line of vision. What she was wearing was completely different from that ragged and loose dress that she always sported. This outfit, in Zuko's opinion, suited her more.

It showed off her slender but curvaceous figure, highlighting her flat belly and toned legs. Not that Zuko cared about that or anything. What he just meant was that it showed off her figure much more than that loose and baggy robe. But that didn't mean that he was staring or paying attention to it …..

"Li!"

Zuko's attention snapped back to focus. He could see his uncle snickering behind his bowl of rice. Jin was staring at him with a bemused and somewhat annoyed expression.

"What?"

"Were you staring?"

"No!"

"It's rude to stare you know," Jin said teasingly.

"I wasn't staring!"

"Yes you were."

"Just tell me what you wanted to say to me!"

"I was telling you that we have to stop by the forge on our way back here so I can make my own set of swords," Jin said sounding slightly peevish.

"Pao would not like me skipping another day of work. You know….I think you're on top of his hate list," Zuko said folding his arms.

"I don't think so. Try telling him where twenty-five percent of his sales would be without all the tea I bought."

"Don't you have some flowers to sell or something?"

"I'm taking a day-off," Jin dismissively said.

"Well, I'm not," Zuko frowned as he started mixing his rice porridge with his chopsticks.

"That's exactly why I chose to meet up with you here instead of at the teashop. Honestly, you're so dense sometimes," Jin said rolling her eyes. Iroh laughed quietly in his place.

"You really should stop trying to get me fired," Zuko muttered. He spooned some of the rice porridge his uncle gave him and nearly gagged. It tasted too salty and it was much too sticky for Zuko's tastes. He studied his uncle's face and discovered that Iroh was not too pleased with his own cooking. He kept on wincing and making weird faces whenever he ate a spoonful. He looked over at Jin who was trying to stifle her giggles.

"I'll take care of Pao. You really should get out more often nephew. So far you haven't done anything but work since we came to Ba Sing Se," Iroh said hastily after seeing Zuko's reluctance to skip work. He winced after taking another bite from his rice porridge. It tasted awful. Perhaps he shouldn't have pretended that it was he who cooked the dinner last night. He was a very lousy cook, he had to admit that. He was just lucky that Jin didn't eat any of his rice porridge.

"Sometimes I just can't believe you used to work in a circus. Circus people are supposed to be fun!" Jin grumbled.

Iroh looked at Jin with a quizzical expression on his face. From beside Jin, Zuko froze and made wild gestures without her knowing to stop Iroh from saying anything more.

"What circus—''

"Ha! What circus? Uncle have you forgotten already! The circus. The circus where we used to work in," Zuko said edgily through gritted teeth. In his seat, a look of realization dawned on Iroh's face. He looked like he was on the edge of bursting out into laughter. He clenched his stomach with his right hand in an effort to keep his giggles down.

"Of course! The circus! Where we used to work in!" Iroh said in between giggles.

"My uncle has a very short memory and attention span. I guess that just comes with the old age," Zuko said half-apologetically and half-mockingly. He was glad that he had a chance to take a jab at his usually teasing uncle.

Iroh wrinkled his nose in annoyance. Then suddenly his face melded into one of amusement. Zuko involuntarily shuddered in his seat. He knew what was coming. No doubt about it his uncle was plotting a new way to embarrass him even further.

Jin looked at Iroh in confusion. Iroh then grabbed Jin's hand and pulled her closer as he told her in a conspiratorial tone, "Did you know that my nephew used to be a clown in that circus? He was known as Mr. Poopsy Cuddly Bear Fluffykins!"

Zuko could barely contain his embarrassment and temper. What was it with his uncle and his insatiable need to embarrass him?

"So not only was he a juggler but he was also a clown named Mr. Poopsy Cuddly Bear Fluffykins?"

"Juggler….?"

"Don't listen to him! He is a dirty old, man who has nothing left to do but to spread lies and ruin my reputation!" Zuko burst out, slamming his chopsticks violently against his bowl causing a few rice grains to splatter everywhere. A few rice grains clung onto Jin's bangs. Jin snickered as she flicked them away from her hair.

Iroh completely ignored him and continued his lie about the clown ballooning it into something ten times more embarrassing.

"He used to wear this wonderful glove-like costume that had a tutu and his sleeves were full of heart candies so he could—''

"Uncle!"

Jin was choking with laughter while Iroh looked pleased with himself. Zuko shot Iroh a murderous glare and moved a finger across his neck signaling that he was dead meat. Iroh merely laughed louder.

Jin finally toned her laughter down. She said in a voice choked with mirth, "So are we going or not?"

Zuko unfolded his arms and said, "Pao will not like this."

"You worry too much," Jin commented.

"And with good reason," Zuko grumbled mostly to himself as he started making way back into his bedroom. Jin raised a brow and called, "Hey! Where are you going?"

"Where do you think? To get my swords. We can't practice without them," Zuko called back. Then in a much lighter voice he added, "Honestly, you're so dense sometimes."

He heard Jin laugh from outside.

Zuko closed the door behind him and took his swords from the table. He had removed them from the living room wall after last night. From there, he could hear his uncle and Jin talking about something. Zuko shook his head. It was amazing how socializing seemed to come so easily for his uncle. It was as if Iroh always had something to say. Zuko scowled in frustration. He sometimes still had trouble talking and relating to other people. He spent too much of his life in the palace and around the world chasing the Avatar that his social skills were not in their best condition.

He chuckled after realizing that he will be skipping work again. Although Iroh seems more pleased than outraged, he knew that Pao would probably not share the same sentiments. Zuko shrugged. Sneaking around Ba Sing Se in an attempt to secretly undermine the Dai Li was so much more fun than working in that boring teashop with Pao yelling at them from behind all day. Zuko looked down at his clothes and he thought that he probably would not be able to move as much in them.

He went to his room to change into looser trousers and a more comfortable shirt. He took his black shoes off (they were in horrible condition enough) and changed into a pair of ratty slippers, slung his Dual Dao swords on his back before going back outside. Iroh looked happy that Zuko didn't really mean what he had said last night and that he was starting to behave like a normal teenager—skipping work in favor for time with peers.

"So where will you two be practicing?" Iroh asked good-naturedly.

Zuko froze for a minute. Iroh didn't really know that Jin was a bender and from what Jin had told him, the place was supposed to be super secret. Jin however was quick on her feet and was swift enough to reply in a bright but mysterious tone, "Oh….it's a secret."

"Now where is your loyalty young lady? After all those times of me brewing you good tea you still don't trust me enough to tell where you two will be going!" Iroh said in a mock chastising tone. Then in a more suggestive tone he added, "I wonder why the two of you are so adamant in keeping it secret…."

"We're going to be practicing in one of the alleyways!" Zuko burst out in frustration. There was just no end to his uncle's teasing.

Jin seemed satisfied with Zuko's answer and she nodded in agreement. Zuko looked down and noticed for the first time that she was barefoot and that she had no shoes on. Clamped tightly in her right hand was the earthbending scroll Shu had given to her.

Iroh led them outside. The streets were still quiet and empty. Not one stall had opened.

"I'm just curious as to what excuse I will use to prevent any bloodshed in the teashop," Iroh said as he closed the door behind them.

"You could say that Li is dying out of a life-threatening sickness," Jin suggested jokingly. Iroh chuckled and shook his head, "I think to fool Pao I might need to be a little more creative. He is not as stupid as he seems."

"I don't think so uncle. Pao's head is filled with money and air. As long as you assure him that he'll be getting a truckload of cash then there won't really be a problem," Zuko muttered as he checked his swords.

"I won't keep you two waiting. The Spirits know that my nephew is getting extremely excited," Iroh said teasingly shooting a look at Zuko.

Zuko stomped his foot and growled, "Uncle!"

"All right! All right! I won't say anything anymore!" Iroh said holding his hands up. Jin gave a mid-bow and Zuko grudgingly followed suit in an attempt to avoid suspicion. They both bid Iroh goodbye one last time before disappearing around the corner.

---

The morning was barely stirring. Above them the sky was slowly melting into the color blue. More people were venturing outside and shops and stalls started to open although the streets were still relatively quiet. Zuko turned to look at Jin who looked slightly jittery. She kept moving her gaze from side to side and she was emitting an aura of tension.

"We came out later than I expected us to," Jin said after moments of silence.

"What are you talking about? This is like the crack of dawn!"

"Exactly why it's the ideal time for us to go there! There are little people out and about in the streets so we are unlikely to raise suspicion," Jin murmured. Then in a more annoyed tone she said, "Although since we came out later….some people are already setting their shops up so they can see us."

Zuko looked around and realized that what Jin was saying was true. Some people stopped in their tracks so stare at the two of them.

"Well…I'm not the one parading around in an outfit that screams 'Earthbender'!"

"Shut up! You know you look pretty suspicious yourself," Jin sniffed.

"If we get caught, I'll be sure to be pointing a finger at you," Zuko shot back.

"I'm not the one who was being so annoyingly stubborn about seeing my practice grounds," Jin retorted.

"Relax. And you say I'm the one wound up tight."

"I'm not the one flashing their double swords for everyone to see."

"They're called Dual Dao."

"Just follow me!" Jin sighed.

Jin grabbed Zuko's sleeve and pulled him into another dark alleyway. In a wordless motion, she beckoned him to keep up with her as she lithely ran across the twisting pathways of Ba Sing Se. They spoke very little as they moved silently about dim alleyways and Zuko amused himself by watching Jin's feet move. He was so fascinated by them; they were small but they were so lithe and quick that he sometimes couldn't keep his pace up with her.

"So…..um why aren't you wearing any shoes?" Zuko asked, finally breaking the silence. This struck to him as odd and unusual. He himself could barely stand going around this dirt-infested city in his cheap and lousy shoes. He could only imagine parading around the city barefoot.

"I'm an earthbender remember. I like to train barefoot. I feel that it increases my connection with the earth and my power."

Zuko nodded in understanding. That was very similar to Firebenders. Back when he was in the Royal Court he would train with his chest bared out to allow as much heat to radiate through his body. Zuko frowned. Thinking about the Fire Nation and his home drew a thick and unhappy feeling back in his heart.

"Will your brothers be there?" Zuko asked just so he could discard the depressing feeling that had just settled in his chest.

"Not today. Maybe tomorrow," Jin said as she shook her head.

"Why?" Zuko asked curiously.

"Someone puked all over Ge Jiang yesterday. I'm guessing that he's too much of in a bad mood to practice. He Shen has to deliver a Swallow-Donkey to someone in the middle ring."

"Your brother is a delivery boy?"

"Well….that depends on his mood. My brothers don't have regular jobs."

"What!"

From what Zuko saw, a job was scarcity—even something to the point of rarity—in the Lower Ring. Many were unemployed and still looking for jobs. He was very surprised to see Jin being so dismissive about something as important as a job.

"They're not the most hardworking people in town so they're not exactly a boss's dream come true. They take a few odd jobs here and there whenever the bills start pouring in."

"Aren't they worried?"

"Worried about what?"

"Most people are still struggling to find employment in the city to support themselves," Zuko pointed out.

Jin merely laughed and shrugged, "Try telling that to them. They're not as concerned as everyone else. I guess it's because they know they're talented than most people so finding jobs isn't as hard for them."

Jin stopped just as they moved around a corner. They had come to a halt in front of a very gloomy and eerie square. Two run-down buildings stood opposite to each other at the side. A crumbly, wooden fence circled a portion of the square where a strange looking boulder stood in the very middle of it. Jin jumped over the fence and motioned Zuko to join her. Zuko followed her and together they made their way towards the boulder.

The boulder looked odd and misshapen but Zuko felt as if it was not a mere solid aggregate of minerals. It was something much more….important.

He shifted his gaze to where Jin was. She was rubbing her hands together and she was staring at the rock with great concentration. She handed him her earthbending scroll. Then in one swift motion she crossed her arms, moved them against each other before making a pushing motion. The Boulder moved backwards to reveal a large hole.

Jin smiled to herself. She teetered at the edge of the hole before jumping in. Zuko could barely take a hold of his interlacing feelings of shock and anxiousness. He felt a little afraid after seeing Jin jump into the hole without a second's thought. He frantically gripped the edges of the hole and called, "Are you okay?"

"Drop my scroll!" Jin's voice faintly echoed.

"What?"

"I said drop my scroll!" Jin called in a louder voice.

Zuko reluctantly dropped the earthbending scroll.

"Um….what do I do?" Zuko asked after a few moments of silence.

"I thought that it was kind of obvious. You jump in," Jin yelled impatiently.

"I am not jumping into a dark hole!"

"Why not? Scared?"

Yes, Zuko felt slightly scared. He never mentioned it to anyone else but he hated closed and stuffy places. It made him feel dizzy.

His pride got the better of him, however.

"No!" he shouted back hotly.

"Then hurry up! Someone might walk in!"

Zuko groaned, squeezed his eyes shut and after taking a deep breath he plunged into the hole. The drop towards the bottom felt longer than he expected. As soon as he felt the soft thud of the ground, he opened his eyes and was mildly surprised to discover that what lay at the bottom was much more spacious than he anticipated. In front of them stretched a crude tunnel bordered by crystal lamps. Zuko looked at Jin in curiosity.

Jin earthbended the boulder back in its place. Zuko watched as the hole started closing up, the light fading away until it finally closed completely.

"What is this place?" he asked as they entered the tunnel.

Jin smiled and said, "This used to be a coal mine. That explains why there are crystal lamps."

"What happened to it?" Zuko asked looking around. It looked forlorn and abandoned. A few broken carts lay in their way, their handles seething with rotten wood. Zuko and Jin gingerly sidestepped them.

"It just ran out of coal," Jin shrugged. After a few seconds she added, "People stopped coming here after the coal became scarce. It was soon forgotten."

"How'd you find a place like this?"

"He Shen found it. He was supposed to fix one of the two buildings you saw up there…"

"Yeah," Zuko nodded and prompted her to continue.

"He was messing around as usual when he accidentally earthbent that boulder away. I think you can guess how he figured out the rest…."

"You practice in here? But won't anyone notice from above?"

"We're so deep underground, Li! And I don't know if you've noticed but not a single person lives up there," Jin said pointing her finger upwards.

"This isn't such a good hiding place."

"That is a matter of opinion. And from my experience your opinions are always shoddy."

"I'm serious! It won't take the Dai Li much effort to open up your stupid hole—''

"So what if they get in here? This is pretty much like a maze. This tunnel branches out to everywhere. If they do get in, it's going to take them a long time to find me and by then I would have noticed—''

"This is like a maze? You could get lost in here! You might never find your way out and you'll be down here, your screams buried by layers and layers of earth—''

"I've been practicing here for months so getting lost is not really a problem—''

"And what if an earthquake happens and this all collapses on our heads? Can you imagine—''

"If that happens I can always earthbend myself out of here—''

"We shouldn't even be here! You should never be here in the first place. It's too dangerous for someone like you. I suggest we should go back up right now and never come back!"

"Stop hyperventilating!"

"I'm not!" Zuko argued.

"Li, everything is all right. I think you'll find that this coal mine is very interesting. It was once part of the Old Ba Sing Se," Jin said as she patted Zuko's arm. She looked completely unaffected by Zuko's heated rant and as always she continued to smile.

"The Old Ba Sing Se?" Zuko momentarily forgot his previous rant. He looked at Jin with interest.

"Before the big metropolis that we know of today, it was a small underground city carved by Earthbenders," Jin explained as they entered another tunnel to their right. She then added in a low voice, "My brothers say that this coal mine even leads to the Crystal Catacombs. I've never explored much of it though."

"I wouldn't like living here," Zuko commented.

"Why not?"

"I love the earth as much as the next person…" Zuko squirmed a little bit from that lie. "But I wouldn't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life."

Zuko shuddered to think of what would happen if he was in this situation. He would probably never see the sun or feel the power that would course through his body once the sun's rays hit him. Jin merely smiled and gestured him forward. Zuko did as she instructed and was awed by what he saw.

Laid out in front of him was an open area that stretched out for miles and miles. The Crystal lamps were hung in a more tasteful manner and it was obvious that the Earthbenders who made this place had made greater effort than the ones who made the tunnel. The rock pillars were smooth and beautifully shaped. A small stream ran in one corner making mud puddles.

Jin breathed in deeply.

"I don't know about you. But I could live in here forever."

---

Jin spent the first few minutes doing some stretches and meditating. Zuko positioned himself on top of a rock and watched as Jin squatted on the ground, her eyes closed and her fists balled up and placed against each other. Jin told Zuko that she'll try to master a few moves before asking him to teach her the swords first. After meditating Jin opened the scroll and started practicing.

Zuko saw Jin earthbend a couple of times but he had never seen her earthbend on a scale such as this. She had a different style to her bending; it wasn't the hard and firm moves he had often seen earthbenders do. Instead she looked like she was dancing. Zuko watched her somersault into the air, landing lightly on the ground creating ripples on the earth as she sent a low kick. She levitated rocks the size of Komodo Rhinos before separating them into millions of smaller pieces, sending them in all directions. Zuko had to duck down to avoid being hit. Jin did a few more moves before taking a short break. She headed over towards the stream, stooped down and drank a handful.

Zuko understood why Jin was so confident in her abilities that she felt no reason to fear the Dai Li. What he had just seen was something extremely spectacular. She proved to be a lot stronger than she looked. Zuko started feeling a newfound respect for her.

Jin started practicing again although she seemed to be having some trouble with this next move. She levitated an average-sized rock and sent it pummeling on the ground. Zuko felt a slight tremor. He looked at Jin who was starting to look frustrated. Beads of sweat rolled of her forehead and she was breathing in a labored manner. Zuko walked towards her and tried to avoid the debris that were falling off the rock she was levitating.

"What are you doing?"

She sent the rock crashing to the ground. Zuko felt the tremors again. It was still weak.

"I'm trying to make an earth bomb," Jin said breathlessly.

"Not much of a bomb," Zuko commented as Jin sent another rock crashing to the ground.

Jin ignored him and did the move again. The tremors the rock sent was still very weak.

"Why won't it work!" Jin cried in frustration. She threw her hands up in surrender and stomped towards the stream. She started splashing her face and drinking bigger gulps of water. Zuko stopped down to pick the scroll up. He opened it and examined it. The move didn't seem to look as complicated as Jin made it sound.

"It looks simple enough," Zuko said as he put the scroll back down. Jin didn't answer him. Zuko made his way towards her.

"I think you're doing it right. You just need more power and strength into your earthbending," Zuko said as he sat down next to her. Jin eyed him disbelievingly.

"You don't earthbend."

"What's the point you're trying to get across?"

"How would you know about stuff like these?"

"I've had a fair experience with earthbenders," Zuko shrugged.

"So you want me to put all my training into the hands of a crabby teamaker who uses double swords?"

"Dual Dao," Zuko corrected.

Jin ignored him and looked at him squarely in the eye, "I'm doing exactly what is written on the scroll."

"I didn't say that you're doing it wrong. I'm just saying that maybe you need more power in your bending."

Jin sat there in silence with her hand against her chin. It looked as if she was deep in thought in whether she should listen to Zuko or not. After what seemed like hours Jin stood up and nodded to Zuko. She beckoned him to follow her to the center.

Jin moved her arms in a circular motion, breathing in and out, until she finally halted into a stance. She looked at Zuko and nodded at him.

"Tell me what to do."

Zuko stepped back, slightly shocked. He expected her to follow his advice, not to demand that he teach her. Zuko once again felt dumb for creating such a foolish blunder. He was Firebender! How was he supposed to know about Earthbending? He examined Jin's face and saw that she was deadly serious about what she said. Panicking slightly, he scratched his head. Didn't his uncle teach him something about this? That although each race had a different style of bending, they are all ultimately similar. It was something like that. Zuko scowled internally. He should listen to his uncle more.

"Um…."

"How can I make my form stronger?" Jin asked. Zuko grabbed the scroll and looked at it again before looking at Jin. He moved towards her and adjusted her arm position.

"Your wrist needs to be leveled with your elbow," Zuko instructed as he grabbed her wrists and moved them slightly.

He moved backwards and forced Jin to stand up straighter.

"Stop slouching. You need to look and feel confident. You're smart, a great bender, strong, determined and you're pretty—''

"Aw, thanks!"

"And concentrate! Bending requires your complete attention and focus. Little things mustn't distract you," Zuko continued. He was taking tidbits of what he learned in his Firebending training. After a few seconds he demanded, "And what's it to you that I think you look pretty!"

"Sorry. Sometimes I feel as if you are so wrapped up in your anger and frustration that you become utterly devoid of human emotions."

"Do you want me to help you or not?"

"Fine! Anything else O Great One?" Jin asked sarcastically.

"Yeah. Your stance is way off. Widen it," Zuko ordered.

"My stance is fine."

"No, it's not."

Zuko used his right foot, to push Jin's left foot farther.

"You can easily be knocked down by your opponent," Zuko muttered as he continued to move it. He stepped back and looked satisfied. He nodded at Jin.

Jin began to move her arms but was quickly stopped by Zuko.

"Wait!"

"What now?" Jin asked exasperated.

"Go back to your stance."

Jin grudgingly did as she was told.

"I wouldn't have broken it if you hadn't interrupted me," Jin muttered.

"Take a deep breath before you do it."

"What?"

"It helps. Trust me. Breathe in and out, clear your mind and when you bend always keep your breath steady," Zuko said. This was a firebending technique that he learned from his uncle. He figured that it wouldn't hurt to teach Jin.

He backed away from her as he realized that Jin started bending. She moved slower than she first did. It was so silent in the coal mine that Zuko could hear Jin's steady breathing.

Breathe In and Out. In and Out. In and Out.

In. Out. Jin made a sideways motion before turning her hands upward.

In. Out. A good chunk of the ground below them broke free.

In. Out. Jin made a pushing motion causing the dismembered piece of rock to float.

This part was the trickiest. She needed to funnel all her strength and energy into this move so the rock would be able to make a strong impact once it hits the ground.

Breath In and Out.

In and Out.

In. Out.

In. Out. Jin took one last breath before moving her arms downward in one quick motion. The rock fell on the ground with such a force that it made wrinkles on the ground and caused the pillars to rattle. This was no small tremor. It felt like a massive earthquake. Zuko tried to hold his ground but was thrown back because the ground shook so hard.

Dust gathered all around them. The shaking didn't stop for at least a minute. Finally when the smoke cleared, Zuko looked up. Jin's face was glistening with sweat, she looked tired and weak but a happy and satisfied smile was etched across her face. She ran towards Zuko and held her hand out. Zuko took it and stood up.

"So…..are you glad that you placed your training in the hands of a crabby teamaker?" Zuko asked his face looking smug but happy.

Jin raised a brow before saying, "Hmm….is there something you're not telling me Li?"

Zuko started panicking. Is she on to him? Was she suspicious of him being a Firebender? His fears were quickly put to rest after Jin said, "Are you sure you're not a secret bender too?"

Zuko laughed and said slyly, "Maybe….."

"You should have a career as an Earthbending Teacher."

Zuko shrugged and said with a hint of humor, "I love tea too much."

---

Jin insisted that Zuko teach her how to use the Dual Dao swords afterwards. Before they started Zuko told her to meditate and to do the breathing exercises he taught her so he could have time to look for a suitable substitute for the Dual Dao swords. He was at a good distance when he found another broken cart tucked away at a corner. The grounds and wall of this area felt crumblier, more shovels were strewn across the ground and a good deal of dirt piles were scattered everywhere. Zuko deduced that this particular area probably had more coal than the rest. Zuko scoured the area some more and found two good-sized twigs that were about the same size. He picked them up and decided that they would do.

He walked back to where Jin was and was slightly annoyed to find her playing with the mud instead of meditating like he asked her to. Jin sat on top of a rock her hands moving in fluid motions as she shaped the mud into the different shapes and sizes. First, she bent the mud into a fish and then she started making a weird hybrid of a man and an emu horse.

"What are you doing?" Zuko demanded.

Jin ignored him and instead she bent the mud into the shape of a bird.

"I told you to meditate!" Zuko stomped his foot for added effect.

"I was getting bored."

"That's not the point. It's supposed to prepare you for the long and strenuous training we are about to do."

"What's that supposed to be?" Jin asked. She gestured towards the two sticks Zuko was holding.

"It's your swords," Zuko said as he tossed them towards her. Jin caught them and she started twirling them around both her hands.

Zuko motioned her to go forward and together they made their way towards the center. Jin stood in front of Zuko, her gaze steely and determined.

"We could start out slow."

"Whatever you say Sifu Grumpy."

"Don't call me that!"

"That was a sign of my respect towards my teacher."

"Ugh! You are so annoying sometimes!"

"How so?"

"I don't know….you just say things!"

"It's called having fun, Li. Seesh! Where have you been all your life? In a hole?"

"Yes."

There was silence. Jin stared at him blankly.

"You were supposed to laugh," Zuko sheepishly informed her.

"That was a joke? Sorry, I wasn't aware."

"Never mind! I don't expect people like you to understand my sense of humor!"

"You have one?" Jin pretended to look surprised.

"Ugh!"

"We need to work on your 'sense of humor'—'' Jin made quotation marks in the air. "But I'm glad you're trying to be funny. Finally, you're doing something normal people do."

"Let's just start!"

Jin nodded and prompted him to continue. Zuko made his first stance and said, "Follow me. This is the beginning stance."

Jin followed him. She moved her arms wider and held her sticks at an elbow length.

"Hold your swords firmer."

"They're sticks."

"Fine! Hold your pretend swords firmer."

Jin nodded and followed his instruction.

"Your knees should be bent."

"It's already bent."

"The bend it some more."

"Fine! And stop talking to me that way!"

"You're the one who asked me to teach you."

"On how to use your double swords—''

"Dual Dao!"

"—not be the supreme king of all jerks!"

"Ugh. Please bend your knees more."

"Yes, sir," Jin respectfully said. She bent her knees more and nodded at Zuko to give her more instructions. She then added in a light voice, "See? It doesn't hurt to be polite."

"Eyes always forward, not downward."

"Got it," Jin looked forward and made eye contact with him. This made Zuko squirm a little. They never held eye contact with each other for this long.

Jin's eyes were big, almond shaped and for the first time he noticed that they looked hazel-ish instead of just plain green. They had a soft and happy twinkle to them but her eyes also held a deeper, darker and more determined undercurrent.

"Okay…" Zuko breathed. How should he do this? He had never sparred with a girl before. He was a little afraid. As a prince, he had always been taught to be a gentleman to women even when he was in a heated and dangerous battle with them.

"Um…"

"Li."

"Yeah?"

"Before you teach me, promise me something."

"Um….maybe?"

"Don't treat me like a girl."

"But you are a girl."

"Reall?" Jin sarcastically said.

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

Jin took a deep breath. She looked at Zuko squarely in the eye and said evenly, "I don't want you treat me any differently when we fight just because I'm a girl. Be real with me."

"Okay," Zuko said in defeat.

First, they started with the basics. Zuko taught her how to defend herself using the swords. For the first few minutes they got into an argument since Zuko wouldn't push Jin down.

"You said my stance is weak!"

"It is weak!"

"Then prove it! Show me what would happen if I keep this stance up!"

"You'll be knocked down."

"Then knock me down!"

"I can't!" It came out a bit louder than Zuko meant. He looked at Jin with a pleading look in his eye. Jin's eyes softened but she still looked determined.

"Li….I can handle it," she said softly but her gaze was persistent. Zuko sighed and decided that he'll just do what she says. It seemed as if Jin was stubborn and determined enough to get what she wants. He weaved his hands through the swords, swept his foot towards her right foot and pushed her shoulders. Zuko was a little surprised to see that Jin held her stance. She wobbled a little bit and lost some of her footing but she was still standing firmly on the ground.

"I guess my stance is not so weak after all," Jin smugly said.

"I guess not," Zuko grudgingly admitted. He hated being wrong.

"But you still lost your footing so your opponent has an advantage over you. You shouldn't be so complacent," he quickly added.

"You're just made because I proved you wrong."

"I am not!" Zuko hotly said.

"Okay…okay…..what's next?"

Zuko guessed that it probably took them a total of two hours to finish their practice. Jin was intelligent and a quick study. She managed to successfully ward off Zuko's attacks for thirty minutes. By the end of the first hour she managed to hit Zuko's side (although Zuko kept insisting that he allowed her to). During the next hour they full-on sparred with Zuko using sticks as well to be fair. Zuko found her to be an enjoyable sparring partner.

Her body was toned and athletic but not very muscular; she still retained her feminine shape. Zuko noticed that she was quick, lithe and her movements were very smooth and calculated—a stark contrast to Zuko's heated and impulsive fighting style. He did observe however, that strength was not her area of foray but her speed and lightness more than made up for her lack of power and strength. Jin never won but she was proud to say that she only fell down once and that she had almost beaten Zuko at the last turn.

Jin sighed and flopped down on the ground her arms and legs stretched. Zuko perched on top of another boulder. He started playing with his swords.

"That was so cool!"

"You don't seem new to this," Zuko commented as he jumped off from the rock and squatted next to her.

"I don't think you've noticed but I'm not that good when it comes to power and strength…."

"Yeah," Zuko nodded prompting Jin to continue.

"I don't know. Earthbending is all about power and strength so I guess I'm a little on the slow side," Jin shrugged. Her eyes looked slightly sad.

"You looked pretty good to me," Zuko said. That was the truth. He wasn't just saying that to make her feel better. She was actually a really good bender.

"I'm a late bloomer. When my brothers were only a year old, they could crush rocks and fling them all over the place. I was three before my bending abilities became prominent. By then people thought I couldn't bend," Jin continued. Her voice still sounded happy but Zuko noticed that it was tinged with sadness.

"Yeah, I know how you feel," Zuko murmured his eyes casting downwards. He unbelievably found himself relating with her something which he first thought was impossible. Azula was a prodigy. She wasn't even a year old when she ignited her first flame. By the time she was eight, she was just one step away from becoming a master while Zuko still struggled with some of the more advanced moves.

"That's why I'm pretty good with weapons. I couldn't keep my pace with my brothers so I had to focus my energy on other things," Jin said. She started earthbending a small rock, making it go round and round in circles.

"Why did you say that I wouldn't like both of your brothers?" Zuko asked. He felt like he really needed to veer away from this particular area of conversation.

"Huh?"

"You once told me that I wouldn't like both of them. I get that Ge Jiang is a jerk but He Shen sounds like a nice enough guy," Zuko said. He was genuinely curious. He found it surprising to find someone else's life interesting. He usually just thought about himself and his home so he spent most of his life being self-absorbed in his own sorrows and disappointments.

"Oh! That!" Jin started giggling in her place.

"What?"

"Shen is a nut! He always wanted to be a poet and a bard so he would suddenly start breaking out into a song! You don't seem like a music person so I assumed….." Jin said in between her giggles.

"As long as he doesn't make me sing with him," Zuko shrugged. He then smiled and started laughing with her.

"What's she like?"

"Who?"

"Your sister," Jin said. She rolled over from her back to her front before propping her elbows up and resting her hands on her chin. She looked at Zuko with a curious expression on her face. Zuko clenched his jaw and balled his fists. He hated Azula and any mention of her would immediately propel him back to his bad mood

"I already told you what she's like," Zuko said evenly. He tried to keep his voice from bursting into anger.

"You only told me about the bad parts."

"Those are the only parts."

"She can't be that bad. Is she pretty?"

"I guess so….."

"Of course she would be pretty! You're very handsome so I'm thinking that being good looking runs in the family," Jin smiled. Zuko blushed and tried to look away to hide it.

"Can she bend?"

Zuko froze. He was unsure with how to go about this. He knew that whether his answer was yes or no, it would still be a lie coming out from his lips. Zuko clenched his jaw. He didn't want to keep lying to her. He chose the closest answer to the truth.

"Yes, she could bend."

Jin's eyes flashed and Zuko could detect a look of sympathy hidden beneath her pupils.

"I guess that's why you know so much about earthbending. Is she any good?"

"She was a prodigy," Zuko shortly said. Sensing that Zuko wanted to stop talking about it Jin started babbling about swords and knives. However in the middle of a long explanation about long swords Zuko interrupted her.

"My dad liked her better because of it," Zuko said, his voice barely above a whisper. Jin stopped, sat up, hugged her knees and looked at him her eyes prodding him to continue.

Zuko wasn't sure what made him say that. He was revealing too much of his life as it is. He started feeling frustrated. What was wrong with him? Jin let that conversation go. Why did he have to re-ignite it? Maybe it was because he just wanted to tell someone how crummy he was feeling. Maybe he did want to let some of his pent-up frustration out.

"But it's all right. I'm okay with that," Zuko hastily said.

He didn't want to have anyone's sympathy. He did not want to hear the pity talk which he knew was coming. He quickly diverted the subject towards her.

"What's your parents like? I mean, don't they get mad that your brothers don't have proper work?" Zuko asked.

Jin suddenly looked sad. She started playing with her bangs,

"They're not here."

"What? What's the supposed to mean?"

"They're not here. They don't live here in Ba Sing Se," Jin said her voice sounding slightly impatient.

"You live here alone? With only your brothers!" Zuko could barely contain his voice.

"Yeah," Jin shrugged.

"What happened to them?"

"Huh?"

"I mean where are they? Where are your parents?" Zuko was almost afraid to ask the question. He briefly considered just letting it go but he quickly decided against it. His curiosity was getting the better of him.

Jin didn't look at him or speak to him for a long time. She looked away and she kept staring at the dark, stone wall. Zuko was afraid that he had offended her.

"You don't have to—''

"She passed way."

"What?"

"My mom….passed away," Jin said. She sounded as if she wasn't trying to make it as a big deal but Zuko could hear the sorrowful undercurrent hidden beneath her voice.

"No," Jin suddenly said before Zuko could offer his apologies.

"She didn't pass away…" Jin started squirming. It looked as if she was having some sort of internal struggle. She took a deep breath and finally regained her eye contact with Zuko.

"She's dead," she said flatly.

Zuko saw that she kept up her calm façade and straight face but he noticed that her fists had balled up.

"I'm sorry," Zuko said. The feeling of guilt was slowly creeping up to his chest.

"It's not your fault," Jin quickly said. But it was his fault. He knew all too well how her mom died. He knew well enough that the Fire Nation was the cause of her mother's death. Zuko hated the Fire Nation for a brief millisecond but he immediately regretted it. To think like that was so treasonous. He shouldn't be so traitorous to his own country—and over a girl no less.

"My mom died too," Zuko said quietly. Jin froze and looked at him, her eyes laden with a heavy mixture of pity and understanding.

"I'm sorry," Jin finally said.

"It's not your fault," Zuko muttered. He did want to talk about this anymore. He was eager stop this particular topic from going any further.

"How about your dad?" Zuko asked cautiously. He felt afraid that her answer would be that he had died too.

Jin's eyes darkened for a second.

"He's gone off to war," Jin said in a faraway voice. She looked away into the distance.

They sat there in complete silence for a few more moments. Jin suddenly looked at Zuko and asked, "What about your parents?"

"Hm?"

"How come you live with your uncle? I mean your dad is still alive right?"

"Yeah….he and I aren't in speaking terms," Zuko mumbled. Jin decided not to push it.

"How long have you been in Ba Sing Se?" Zuko asked.

"Five months."

"Five months!"

"What?"

"I expected it to be longer."

"You just love making assumptions don't you?"

"Where did you live before you came here?"

Jin paused. The rock she was bending had turned into the shape of a leaf. She started at it with a glazed look in her eyes before saying in a mysterious voice, "Far, far away."

"Where's far, far away?"

"I don't want to think about it."

"Why?"

Jin sighed. She discarded the rock and stared at Zuko, her eyes gleaming with passion.

"People come here in Ba Sing Se to start over. To have a second chance at life. Once you go through those walls you leave everything you used to have behind!"

Zuko suddenly felt angry. That would mean that he had left the Fire Nation, his heritage, his honor behind. He couldn't stop the rush of passion and ager that colored his voice, "That's stupid! You can't just forget your past!"

Jin looked at him blankly. That was one of things that annoyed Zuko. He was annoyed at how Jin never seemed to be fazed by anything. Whenever he had any of his temperamental outbursts she would only smile making Zuko feel guilty.

Jin looked away from him and said in a sad voice, "There are just some things not worth remembering."

---

One of the tunnels led directly into one of the alleyways of Ba Sing Se which was conveniently only a few feet away from the marketplace. Before they went back out into the open Jin bought a pair of shoes from a random vendor passing their way and she tied her hair into a ponytail. She took the fingerless gloves out and wiped the sweat off her brow. Zuko guessed that's she was trying to look less obvious. Jin dragged Zuko to a small but cozy looking noodle shop hidden behind rows and rows of stalls and carts. As soon as they entered the shop, a small and slight man immediately handed them a bowl each before gesturing them towards a long table. The table held at least sixteen different plates filled with meats, vegetables, different kinds of noodles and some poultry. At the end of the table was a clay pot. Steam was slowly escaping its cover.

"What are we going to do?" Zuko asked cluelessly as he followed Jin to the table.

"You make your own noodles! You can pick anything from this table all for a great fee of twenty silver coins!" Jin said excitedly.

Zuko raised his good brow as he watched Jin pile food into her owl. She took eight slices of the beef, five from the pork, seven from the duck fillet, nine slices of fish, and three spoonfuls from each vegetable before dumping every kind of noodle into her bowl. When she reached the end of the table, her bowl was filled to the brim. Zuko wasn't sure how she could pour some of the soup into her bowl without spilling some of its contents. Zuko had almost forgotten how big Jin's appetite was. Zuko started filling up his own bowl. He only took a few slices from the beef, pork and duck fillet, he didn't add any vegetables to his bowl and he decided to only get the Misua noodle. After pouring the hot soup into his bowl he followed Jin into a table by the window.

Jin was already wolfing down most of her noodles.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Jin asked after realizing that Zuko had not touched his bowl.

"Oh! Right! Yeah..eat," Zuko sheepishly said. He looked down and started eating his food.

"What?"

"What?"

"You were staring again."

"Sorry….it's just that…..you eat more than most girls," Zuko muttered, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment. From the times he spent with Azula and her kooky friends he understood that girls were extremely concerned about their weight. Ty Lee ate like a rabbit, taking only small, miniscule bites of her meal while Mai never ate at all.

"So you've told me," Jin said as she ate a slice of fish. She looked completely unfazed by Zuko's comment.

"I like to eat a lot after I've finished training," Jin said. She was already half-way through her bowl while Zuko barely even started.

"Yeah I can see that….."

They continued to eat and talk at the same time. Jin finished her food earlier than Zuko and she ordered a glass of water. Zuko felt weird and happy at the same time. The experience was much too surreal for him. Ever since his banishment he had never experienced something as mundane and as ordinary as eating lunch in a restaurant with a friend. When the waiter came by to ask for the bill Jin started fumbling around her pockets for some change. Zuko however insisted that he pay for everything. They argued about it for ten minutes before finally settling everything. Zuko would pay.

Zuko smiled smugly as they slid out of their booth. He could be as determined and as stubborn as Jin if he wanted to.

They decided to spend the rest of the day looking around the city. Zuko nodded and gestured Jin to go ahead. Jin led the way and for the first time Zuko noticed a something he had not noticed before. On her back was a large bruise—the bruise was an ugly mixture of blue and purple. It's stretched upwards from the right side of her hip and the strange thing was…..it as rimmed with red at the sides. The red part looked strangely like a burn. He involuntarily flinched. A bruise on top of burn? That must be painful.

"What's that?" Zuko asked.

"Huh?" Jin looked back at him.

Zuko pointed at her bruise.

"Oh that? It's just a bruise," Jin said cheerfully. She tried to laugh it off but Zuko could detect another emotion in her voice.

"How did you get that?"

Jin shrugged and said, "I fell off the stairs."

"Really? How come it looks as if you got burned too?"

"Fine! It was an earthbending accident," Jin said with a sense of finality.

"How come it looks like you got burned to?"

"The rocks were on fire," she said flatly. Her voice reverberated with sadness but something about the way she said it made Zuko feel as if it was the end of the discussion. Zuko sensed that it was more than just a regular earthbending accident but he decided not push it. He walked towards her side and together they explored the city of Ba Sing Se.

They stopped by the forge where Jin made prints of his Dual Dao swords. Duan Jie was extremely chatty since his forge was on a slow day. They stayed there for a good thirty minutes before leaving. They spent the rest of day going around Ba Sing Se, looking through different shops and stalls and eating Lemon Tints while sitting on one of the walls. They even stopped by an armory where they had fun playing and looking through some weapons. The manager kicked them out however since they caused such a fuss within the shop.

They sat on a bench in one of the squares where they talked more about literature. Zuko impressed Jin with his newfound knowledge about literature especially about the Tale of Yan Niao and Zhan Shi. Jin treated him to something called Snow Skin which was actually a paper bag filled with assorted beans coated with sugar and cream. It was too sweet for Zuko's taste but Jin seemed to be enjoying it just fine. So as to not offend Jin, Zuko painstakingly gobbled down the beans.

As soon as the sun began to set, Jin suggested that they go home. They walked with each other as far as the marketplace before going on their separate ways. Zuko wanted to walk Jin home but she insisted that she was more than capable of walking home alone. Zuko grudgingly agreed.

As he walked back to his house a wonderful feeling rushed over him.

For that one day Zuko felt like he was Li—a boy who was normal and fairly average.

A boy who was almost happy.

…

The next day Zuko was disappointed to find that Jin wasn't waiting for him in the living room like yesterday. He half-expected that they would be practicing in the coal mines again. He sighed loudly and went about his usual routine. His uncle had bought bread from a nearby shop for their breakfast. The bread was hard and bitter, and Zuko could only force down two mouthfuls of it. After they ate their meager breakfast, Zuko went to the washroom to wash his face, comb his hair and change into a cleaner set of clothes. By the time he went outside, Iroh was already ready. They walked towards the tea shop together with Iroh filling him in about the details of yesterday.

Apparently, Iroh had told Pao that Zuko was sick with the flu and that he had to stay home the whole day since it would prove to be very unsanitary if a sick man was to serve tea. Pao was suspicious about the whole matter but he was human enough not to take any more money out of Zuko's salary. Iroh then proceeded to annoyingly inquire about what he and Jin were doing yesterday. Zuko growled.

"I taught her how to use the swords," Zuko mumbled grumpily. He still hadn't forgotten about Iroh's Mr. Poopsy Cuddly Bear Fluffykins story

"I hope you weren't too hard on her," Iroh commented as they made a turn to the right.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you saw her use them." Zuko couldn't hide the awe that was resonating through his voice.

"Really, now? So not only is the lovely Jin beautiful and intelligent but she is quite a fighter as well. You must be very stupid to let a girl like that get away," Iroh lightly commented.

"Uncle!" Zuko hissed.

They arrived at the teashop. Iroh unlocked the door and together they started doing their regular morning routine. Iroh started brewing some tea in the backroom while Zuko started wiping and cleaning the tables. Pao arrived late in the morning after the first batch of customers arrived. He mostly ignored Zuko, only looking at him to send him a nasty look. It took all of Zuko's self-restraint to not make any comments.

Zuko was slightly disappointed to find out that Jin had not come to the shop yet. He kept on glancing at the door but there was not one trace of her all morning. Finally, lunch time passed and she still had not come to the teashop. Iroh noticed that Zuko's mood seemed to turn sour with each passing minute.

"I'm sure she'll come," Iroh said as he helped Zuko clear a table.

Zuko slammed his fist against the table top and said snippily, "What are you talking about! I don't care if Jin doesn't show up!"

"Who says I was talking about Jin?" Iroh said sending Zuko a devilish look as he scrambled back to the backroom.

Zuko nearly broke the table in frustration.

However, late in the afternoon Jin finally showed up with Duan Jie and Shu tagging along behind her. Jin and Duan Jie both looked hot and sweaty. Zuko guessed that they must have come to the forge. Pao did not look too happy to see Jin but he quickly smoothed his sour expression after realizing that Jin brought two other customers with her.

"Hi Li!" Jin enthusiastically waved her hand. Zuko could not fight back the smile that was creeping on his face. He waved back and made his way towards the table they were sitting at.

"Li! It's very nice to see you today!" Duan Jie greeted happily. Beside him Shu nodded and said, "Hey kid."

"So what do you guys want to have?" Zuko asked. From afar Iroh noticed that Zuko sounded perkier than he did the morning.

"Just some Black tea," Shu said.

"I think I'll take a break from your uncle's concoctions for awhile. I'll have some Jasmine," Jin piped up.

Zuko looked over at Duan Jie and wrinkled his nose slightly. Duan Jie looked extremely excited and he was practically jumping from on his seat.

"What to choose? What to choose?" he muttered. He spoke at such a fast pace that Zuko had trouble understanding.

"I think you should try their green tea," Jin told him.

"But I understand that everything here is delicious," Duan Jie frowned. Shu rolled his eyes and started shaking his head.

"It is."

"Hmm…..I want to make a right choice," Duan Jie said as he rubbed his chin.

Much to Zuko's surprise he ordered every single tea in the menu. He looked at Jin and was a bit shocked to see that it didn't seem to be anything too unusual for her. Instead she nodded and said, "A wise choice."

Pao was absolutely happy at the amount of money that was soon coming and for the first time in weeks, he took it upon himself to smile at Zuko. He then lumbered over towards Jin and her friends with a fake smile plastered on his face. He started talking and complimenting Jin. Jin giggled and shared a look with Zuko. Iroh was extremely flattered and he decided that he should thank the man himself. Duan Jie and Iroh immediately hit it off very well. He left the table to go sit near the counter where he and Iroh happily chatted as he started drinking all his tea. Pao and Shu had wandered off to another section of the shop. Pao was showing off the really ugly paintings he had on his wall to Shu.

Zuko sat with Jin after realizing that she was all alone in the table.

"You've been to the forge?"

"Yeah. I went there to fix the sword that got all bent."

"Did you start working on your Dual Dao swords?" Zuko asked. He really wanted her to say that she was working on it already. He wanted another excuse to go back to the coal mines and skip work.

Jin shook her head and said, "No….I didn't. It looks tricky to make. I understand that it's only one sword but its' halved."

"Yeah, it is. That's why you have to treat it as if it's one. It's either you sue both or nothing. Each sword can't function unless you use them together. I can stop by there sometime. You know…to help you make them…."

"Do you even know how to do metallurgy?"

"I know a few things," Zuko shrugged. That was a complete and utter lie. He had never been or worked in a forge. But he figured if Jin could do it, then he was pretty sure that he'll be able to handle it.

"Will you go back there?"

"Where?"

"You know….there," Zuko said giving Jin a knowing look.

"Oh! Not for a long time. The water bill came up yesterday. It was pretty hefty."

"So you'll sell flowers again?"

"I don't know. All my flowers are still buds. It's all right though. Shen took a painting job somewhere in the middle ring."

"Have you been in the middle ring?"

"Yeah…..a couple of times."

"What's it like?"

"It's much cleaner than the Lower Ring that's for sure."

"I wonder how the Upper Ring looks like."

"It's okay," Jin shrugged.

"What do you mean its okay?"

"There's nothing super spectacular about it. Sometimes I wonder why people are so obsessed with getting there. I guess some want to go because of the university."

"The university? As in the Ba Sing Se University?"

"Yeah. But I don't really like that place. The professors are way too stuck up. Except for Neimu, maybe."

"I'm curious about something….."

"Hmm?"

"I mean….not to offend you or anything but how can you read?"

"Just because I live in the Lower Ring does not mean that I'm stupid!"

"That's not what I meant!"

"How about you? How does a juggler—slash—Mr. Poopsy Cuddly Bear Fluffykins learn to read in a circus?"

Zuko blushed and replied heatedly, "My uncle taught me!"

"Your uncle is a very wise man."

"I know," Zuko said. He looked away. He was ashamed to admit it but sometimes he always took his uncle's advice for granted.

"He's also a very good and kind person. You should do more to show your appreciation towards him."

"How?"

"I don't know. Surprise him. Buy him a rice cake or let him have the day off."

Zuko nodded. He really shouldn't take his uncle for granted.

"And this was given to me by a customer who really loved my tea….." They turned to look at Pao who was monopolizing the conversation with Shu. Shu looked bored out of his mind and he looked as if he was itching to escape.

"So….do you think that I'm still on Pao's hate list?" Jin slyly asked

Zuko grinned and said, "Yeah, you're still on his list."

Jin frowned.

"But you moved three places down."

---

They didn't return to the coal mine for days. Instead they continued to look around the city. Jin insisted that they not go back there for some time even though Zuko really wanted to. She said that it made her feel weird and jumpy. Zuko grudgingly consented.

Exploring Ba Sing Se wasn't as bad as Zuko made it sound. So as not to provoke Pao's wrath they often went around Ba Sing Se during Zuko's day off and during his lunch breaks and whenever the shop closed. Zuko now ate lunch with Jin. They often ate at a bench that sat just a few feet away from their teashop. Sometimes Zuko helped Jin sell her flowers but he discovered that he was not very good at it. He always looked grumpy and easily lost his temper with the customers.

Zuko secretly liked going around the city with Jin. He now knew how to navigate his way through the road network of Ba Sing Se. He met a lot of Jin's friends; they were mostly vendors and old people. He noticed that she didn't seem to know anyone her own age—except maybe for the boys that continually tried to flirt with her.

Zuko thought that they were all stupid. They were dumb yoyos who only liked Jin because she was just another pretty girl that was single. They don't care about the fact that she makes weapons nicely, or that she was so smart or that she was so stubborn and determined and she always held her ground. None of them cared about that but him. He liked Jin as a friend not only because she was good-looking. He liked that she seemed to take everything in stride that she would only smile whenever Zuko made a temperamental outburst. He liked that she was kind, and smart and patient. All they cared about was how she looked like. Zuko eloquently pointed this out to Jin. Jin merely laughed and teased him that he was jealous.

He was absolutely not jealous. He liked her only as a friend. She could date any boy she wants. He was just telling her to be cautious because he cared about her and he didn't want her to get hurt,

"I'm not jealous!" Zuko retorted for the last time.

If he wasn't jealous than what was this weird feeling he felt in his gut?

---

After about three weeks from their little escapade in the coal mines, Jin came back to their house one early morning to tell him that they were going back to the coal mines. Zuko tried to be completely apathetic about the whole matter but he was boiling with excitement in the inside. Finally, something interesting. Going around and around in Ba Sing Se was fun but he missed the exhilaration he felt while he was in the coal mine. Jin was wearing the same outfit she had worn when they went there.

In her hand she was holding a ball.

"What's that?" Zuko asked as they bid Iroh goodbye. Iroh looked exceptionally pleased that Zuko was behaving more and more like a teenager. He didn't mind that Zuko was about to skip another day of work again. In fact he encouraged it.

"It's a soccer ball," Jin said as she tossed it up and down.

"What's that for?"

"We'll be playing earth soccer."

"What?"

"It's like soccer. Only you use your bending to guide the ball."

"I think you've forgotten that I can't bend."

"I won't be playing it with you, obviously."

"Then who will you be playing it with?"

"My brother."

"Which one?"

"Shen."

"He Shen?"

"Yes! He Shen!"

"You mean he'll be there?"

"Yes! He wanted to meet you!"

Zuko suddenly started moving at an edgy pace. He was nervous. What if Jin's brother didn't like him? What if he thought he was a loser? What if he knew about their disastrous date and he has know permanently marked Zuko as a socially inept loser who can't be accounted for anything? What if Zuko started acting like a complete idiot around her brother? What if he made a bad impression?

Why did he even care?

"Where is he?" He started looking around

"He's already in the coal mine," Jin said as she earthbent the boulder away. She dropped the bowl before jumping in. Zuko rocked his heels back and forth at the edge of the hole. He tried to keep his nervousness at bay but he was failing miserably. He took a deep breath before plunging after Jin.

"What's wrong with you?" Jin asked as they journeyed through the tunnel.

"What if he doesn't like me?"

"Who? He Shen? Shen likes everyone," Jin said easily.

"But not everyone likes me."

"Stop exaggerating!"

"It's true!"

"Li….I already told Shen so much about you."

"What! What kinds of things did you tell him?"

"They were all good. Believe me," Jin said rolling her eyes.

"Did you tell him about our date?"

"Maybe…."

"Jin!"

"Relax! He thought it was funny!"

They were now nearing towards the open area. As they drew nearer Zuko could hear the faint sound of someone singing accompanied with the distinct sound of liuqin.

You will never tie me down

I'm a free spirit, free to roam around

Got no master, got no home

I'm just happy being all alone

Zuko froze and grabbed Jin's arm.

"Someone's in there," he whispered urgently.

Jin merely smiled and pulled him forward.

"That is my brother…..He Shen."

---

He Shen was quite a character. He was tall towering over Zuko by a good five inches. He had a strong but handsome face with very pronounced and masculine features such as a hard jaw, a brilliantly sculpted nose and a lean but muscular body. He had long floppy hair that was tied into a topknot although a good portion of it still covered his face. A liuqin was always slung around his back.

"Jin!" he cried once he saw Jin. His voice sounded husky.

To Zukos' shock he suddenly stood up on the rock he was sitting, grabbed his liuqin and started playing it while singing at the top of his voice.

She's got the smile of the sun

But she's a little devil, that one

But don't take make any assumption

She'll cause a mighty disruption

She's young and she's my little sister

But be careful of her miss and mister

She'll put you in a situation

Get you in altercations

Cause she's Jin and she's my sisttttteeeeerrrr!

Shen continued to howl in the silence, his hands strumming the liuqin like crazy. He swung his head back and forth like a rock star.

"What was that?" Zuko asked, his jaw dropping.

"Don't mind him. He's like that," Jin said as they walked towards him.

"Like what?"

"He likes to break into songs all of the sudden," Jin said as she shook her brothers leg. She then shrugged, "It's his thing."

"Jin!" He Shen cried as he stopped playing his liuqin. He jumped down and enveloped her in a bear hug. He then turned to look at Zuko.

"And who might this dude be?"

"He's Li. He's the guy I was telling you about." Jin pushed Zuko forward. Zuko awkwardly held his hand out.

"Um…Hi?"

"Li….your name is Li huh?" He Shen said his eyes looking sideways. Zuko looked at him cluelessly. Suddenly He Shen took his liuqin out and he started singing another song.

Li! Li! Li! His name is Li!

He likes to boogie

"I do not!" Zuko couldn't help protesting.

He's dating my baby sister can't you see?

"I'm not!" Zuko said stomping his foot.

And he's anggrrryyyyyy!

He belted out the last tune loudly again.

Zuko grumpily crossed his arms. He Shen flicked the hair that was now covering his face away and held his hand out to Zuko.

"Pleasure to meet you man," He Shen said. Zuko warily shook it.

"So are you dating my sister?"

"We're just friends."

"But…..you came here. Friends don't bring other friends into super secret practicing grounds."

"Well we're just friends," Zuko flatly said.

He She suddenly started strumming his guitar again.

They're just friends

Not anything else

They're just friends

So don't pretend or assume

Or else he'll—

"Um…shall we start?" Jin asked interrupting her brother.

For the next few hours he watched He Shen and Jin play Earth Soccer. Despite the fact that her brother was a total nut job, he was an extremely good bender. He watched in awe as he sent an earth wave towards Jin to block the ball. It was amazing. Zuko wondered if he could ever play something like this with his sister.

He shuddered.

Probably not.

Azula will probably barbecue him before the game even began.

They invited him to play but he declined after realizing that it wasn't a very fair game with them earthbending the ball in all directions. They chatted for some time. He Shen often interrupted their conversations by bursting out into a song. He Shen was carefree and fun-loving. He reminded him of Jin in so many things. After a few more games of soccer (this time Zuko joined since both Jin and He Shen swore to no bending) they left.

He Shen led the way out while singing another song.

"So…..what do you think of him?" Jin asked as they walked together. She was trying to stifle her giggles.

"He's crazy….like his sister!"

"Oh shut up!" Jin said lightly slapping him in the arm.

Zuko ignored her and instead made a song composition of his own.

We're in a dark deep tunnel in the middle of nowhere

I bet we're never getting out of here

Jin's trying to kill me by getting us lost

"You're a terrible singer," Jin frowned interrupting him.

From afar He Shen raised his hand up in a fist pump.

"Right on brother!"

---

They didn't return to the coal mine for days. He Shen started coming to the teashop with Jin. As he expected he and his uncle Iroh immediately hit it off. Apparently Jin's brother was an avid tea-lover like his uncle. Jin and He Shen seemed to have a good relationship. They always bickered but they were playful spats. Zuko became more and more curious about Jin's other brother.

"Oh no….man you don't want to meet Jiang," He Shen said after Zuko mentioned him.

"Why not?"

"Well he's kind of a major jerk you know?

"He can't be that bad," Zuko said.

He Shen shook his head. He then started singing:

His name is Ge Jiang and his mean

You don't wanna mess with him or getting in between

He'll slice you up real quick

You'll be in trouble, so deep, so thick

So whatever you do, don't you stay

If Ge Jiang starts stomping his way

Jin looked at Zuko and shrugged, "If you really want to meet him, I guess you could come by tomorrow. We're going to help He Shen in his training."

Zuko nodded although he did note that Jin didn't look too happy about it.

---

Jin was right.

Her brother was so infuriating in so many levels.

When they first met, he looked at Zuko with an arrogant and condescending eye. He looked similar to He Shen although he looked handsomer and well-kept. His arms were more muscular; they were strong and laden with thick sinews.

For their practice, they blindfolded He Shen and both of them started attacking him. Jin said that the blindfold was supposed to increase his connection with the earth. At first everything seemed fine. Jin kept throwing earth balls at He Shen and Ge Jiang sent earth waves towards him. The entire battle got too heated however. Instead of attacking He Shen,Jin and Ge Jiang started going against each other.

Ge Jiang earthbent Jin into one of the mud puddles. Jin bent all the mud into spikes and sent them flying towards Ge Jiang. Ge Jiang dodged them easily and he started encasing himself in earth armor. Jin started doing the same.

He Shen seemed to finally realize that something was wrong. He took his blindfold off and went in between them before they could start throwing rocks at each other.

"Stop it!"

"That was uncalled for!" Ge Jiang spat.

"You're the one who pushed me into the mud puddle!" Jin snapped. Zuko never saw Jin that angry.

"All right…..I know you two are disagreeing again but there is a more mature way to solve this. A brother and a sister don't solve their problems by trying to kill each other," He Shen said as he tried to calm both Jin and Ge Jiang down.

Zuko inwardly chuckled. That's exactly how Azula and him solve their problems.

"We need love in the room!" He Shen declared.

And with that he started singing another song about love causing Ge Jiang to storm out of the coal mine.

---

For the next few days Zuko felt a peace overcome him. He didn't want to lose the feeling of tranquility he got whenever he and Jin strolled around the parks, or ate Snow Skins or whenever they eat lunch together. He didn't want to ruin.

For the first time since his banishment, he didn't want to go home.

He wanted to forget the Fire Nation.

He wanted to leave everything he once had behind the wall.

He wanted every single day to be like this.

No war. No Avatar.

He wanted to stay in Ba Sing Se.

---

"Your hair grew longer," Jin commented as she ruffled his hair. They were drinking tea together in the tea shop. Pao had completely given up on reprimanding Zuko for talking with Jin. Whenever Zuko stopped working to talk to her, he would merely sigh and storm into the backroom.

Zuko looked up.

It was true. His hair had grown longer. It was now floppier and his hair reached his eyebrows.

"You should wear a topknot," Jin said.

Zuko shrugged and smiled.

"I like your old one better though?"

"Huh?"

"Your old hairstyle. You looked so much cuter in it."

Zuko frowned.

"Don't worry. You still look cute in this hairstyle though," Jin laughed.

Suddenly the teashop door creaked opened and two men entered inside. Jin looked at them suspiciously. They looked too rich to be in the Lower Ring.

After drinking their fill of tea they nodded to each other and called Iroh to their table.

"So you're the genius behind this incredible brew. The whole city is buzzing about you. I hope Pao pays you well," one of them said. Pao who was previously complaining in the corner noticed this and he immediately zoomed to Iroh's side.

"Good tea is its own reward," Iroh humbly said. Zuko frowned and stood up. He started cleaning other tables to get a closer look into what they were talking about.

"But it doesn't have to be the only reward. How would you like to have your own tea shop?" the other one said.

Zuko froze. He gripped the tray that he was holding tighter.

"My own tea shop? This is a dream come true!" Iroh said. A glazed look ran over his eyes.

Pao, realizing what these people were really up to, chose this timely moment to speak up.

"What's going on here? Are you trying to poach my tea maker?"

"Sorry Pao, that's business for you, am I right?"

"Mushi, if you stay, I will make you Assistant Manager. Wait, Senior Assistant manager."

Zuko rolled his eyes. Pao could be really stupid sometimes.

After seeing Iroh's thoughtful reaction, one of them speedily countered, "I'll provide you with a new apartment in the upper ring. The tea shop is yours to do whatever you want. Complete creative freedom."

"I even get to name the shop?"

"Of course!"

Zuko looked at Jin from the corner of his eye. She was looking at the scene unfolding before her with a strange mix of sadness and amusement.

"Uh, Senior Executive Assistant Manager!" Pao said using his last resort. Iroh however was already too taken with the idea. He thrust the tea pot into Pao's hands. Zuko involuntarily winced.

He then turned to Zuko, pure excitement radiating through his eyes, "Did you hear, nephew? This man wants to give us our own tea shop in the upper ring of the city."

"That's right young man. Your life is about to change for the better."

Zuko could not keep his temper he. He stormed out of the tea shop but not before slamming the tray unto one table and saying in a very sarcastic voice, "I'll try to contain my joy."

He exhaled loudly before leaning against the wall, his eyes glowing anger as he stared at the ground. The only thought that was running through his head was how it will be much more difficult to hang out with Jin and her brothers and Duan Jie and Shu when he was in a different part of the city. They won't be able to go to the coal mines to practice sparring with swords anymore. Zuko sighed. He will miss Duan Jie and his forge, Shu and his books, He Shen and his songs, Pao and the teashop—heck, he will even miss Ge Jiang. He looked away.

He'll miss Jin the most.

"Li?"

He looked up to find Jin. She looked concerned.

"What?"

"Congratulations! I can't believe it! You're moving into the upper ring."

"It's not a big deal."

"Of course it is! I invited your uncle to my house to celebrate."

"You did?" Zuko looked at her in surprise.

"I never got the chance to repay you for the wonderful dinner your uncle made. And since you'll be moving into the upper ring I guess we won't be seeing much of each other. Now's the best time for an invitation…."

"We could still practice in the coal mines."

"No we can't. You'll be busy with your new shop and it's a long train ride from the upper ring to here."

"So? I can make time," Zuko said hardly. Jin frowned at him. He suddenly felt guilty. She was just trying to make him feel better. They continued stand there in silence. Zuko did not speak or talk until he heard the rustling of paper. He looked up to find hundreds of flyers falling down. One of them landed on Jin's head.

Jin took it and read it out loud.

"Searching for a flying sky bison. His name is Appa, he has six legs and weighs ten tons. If you have any information, please contact Avatar Aang in the Upper Ring, 96th District, house #217."

Zuko suddenly froze. Jin stared at him with a confused look in his eye. Suddenly he jumped up and started climbing on the rooftops. Jin stared after him, a worried look in her eyes. She climbed up after him.

"Li!"

Zuko didn't answer her. When Jin arrived at the top she saw that Zuko was looking around.

"Li! What's wrong?" Jin said in an attempt to have an amiable conversation.

"Don't you get it?" Zuko demanded. He took the flyer from her hands and he started shaking it in her face.

"It means the Avatar lost his bison," Jin said. She frowned as she took the flyer back from him.

"It means that the Avatar is here," Zuko murmured. It was as if he was talking to himself.

"Of course he is! He's been here for weeks! Didn't you know?" Jin said. Zuko wasn't looking at her anymore. Instead he kept on looking around. Jin gently touched his arm

Zuko seemed to have come back to reality.

He looked at Jin with a sad but passionate look in his eyes.

"It means the Avatar is here," he said once again.

He had his goals once again. Going back home, getting his honor back, finally receiving his father's love—it was all possible once again.

He suddenly scowled as his hate for Ba Sing Se was re-ignited..

He looked at Jin.

She was just a stupid distraction from his ultimate goal.

He will be going home.

Nothing will get in the way of that.

Zuko still couldn't shake off the feeling that that sounded so wrong.

…

Zuko's reverting to his old ways again (dundudndun).

I am so sorry if this chapter was way too long! I mean, it's the longest update I have ever written. I tried to make it short but I couldn't stop myself. So now you've met Jin's two brothers. I originally wanted He Shen to be a hybrid of Sokka and Iroh but as I continued to write about him, he bubbled into a completely different character.

Again I would like to thank everyone who read this story and special thanks to those who reviewed it.

To SkorpionQueen012 and Alana C. Jones: Thanks for your reviews. It made my day.

To ArrayePl: Thanks for your review and hmm….you might be on to something there…

To Densharr: Thanks for the review and yesss! Finally! Someone who agrees with me about sexism in the Avatar world!

Please keep sending feedback and reviews!