Alright, so a little quick at the beginning, but a lot of plot development at the end. Hope this wasn't totally sudden! But I had to do it to get the plot bunny hoppin'!

{BURNING WATER}

Waking to the Fire Nation at the Northern Water Tribe's doorstep was not the most pleasant way to start off the morning. But instead of going with Katara, Yue, and Aang to the Spirit Oasis, I chose to stay and fight. Seeing Aang's power was amazing. I finally understood why he was such a threat to the Fire Nation. And poor General Zhao; I always hated him.

I really think we left the Northern Water Tribe too quickly. It was my safe haven, but Master Pakku deemed Katara able to teach Aang well. So that meant it was time for them to leave. Time for me to leave.

The general at the Earth Kingdom military base was absolutely insane! I was scared to death for Katara. But at least none of the general's soldiers were able to lay a hand, or rock, on me.

Now I sat quietly next to Appa. One of the female nomads was braiding flowers into my chocolate locks. I had changed clothes again, this outfit more appealing than the bulky furs. It was a halter top that showed my midriff, and some simple loose capris. Sokka was complaining again about which route to take, considering our last road was cut off.

"Just go through the cave Sokka! What are you, a big sissy-baby?" I taunted.

He jumped to his feet, dashing over to confront me.

"I am not! If you're so clever then you find a way to get to Omashu!" he shouted.

"I just said that we should just go through the cave-tunnel thingy." I said drily.

Aang and Katara laughed, and since the lady had finished, I hopped off of Appa. It'd been like this between me and Sokka since we met, and he saved my life.

"Let's get walking!" I clapped my hands over my head and started into the darkness.

Everyone followed a bit slower, but quickly hurried into the cave as Fire Nation soldiers appeared on our heels.

"Damn, they just don't give up!" I laughed.

But my smile quickly disappeared as we were engulfed in darkness. I was not expecting them to block the entrance to the tunnel.

"Guess we don't have much of a choice now do we?" Katara said as Sokka grumbled to the front of the crowd.

He inspected the map grasped in his hands and led the way.

{BURNING WATER}

"Are we there yet?" I groaned, several hours later.

"No!" Sokka shouted.

I sighed, loudly just to annoy Sokka. It would have gotten a great reaction out of him, if I hadn't been knocked to the ground by the shaking earth.

"What is that?" Katara shouted over the rumbling.

Rocks dropped heavily with thump to the ground, as we dodged out of the way. Sokka quickly grabbed me by the waist and pulled me out of the way. I was out the minute we hit the ground.

{BURNING WATER}

"Can you see it?" I asked.

"No." I pulled him farther up the hill.

It was a magical sight, the tall grass mixed with the wildflowers that touched the perfect blue sky.

"How about now?"

"No." He replied flatly.

I tugged harder to reach the top of the hill. I didn't realize that I'd tripped until I felt the sharp pain in my knee. As I pulled it up to inspect it, I could see the scarlet drops pricking my skin.

"The amazing bi-bender of the Fire Nation can take down an army, but cries at a scraped knee?" Zuko joked.

He grasped my chin and lifted my face, wiping away a tear with his other hand. I blinked at him.

"Come on." He kneeled down, and I linked my arms around his neck.

He stood, lifting me from the ground, and pulled me securely to his back. I tried not to pay attention to the way he held onto my thighs.

"We're here."

I peek around Zuko's head to see that we had indeed reached the height of it. He set me down on a soft patch of grass, and reached for the bottom of his shirt, ripping off a shred. He wrapped it gently around my knee, and it makes me wonder why he is never this gentle to me around the palace.

"Thanks."

It was quiet for a moment.

"I told you its pretty." I whispered.

He didn't reply. Instead he plucked a tiny white flower from the grass and placed it softly in my hair.

"Zuko…" I didn't get a chance to finish as he placed his lips tenderly on mine.

I was never much for his delicateness. He touched me as if I would break, or disappear in the next second. I responded with a much more passionate kiss, pushing him backwards in the grass. Until I remembered my painful knee. I rolled onto my back next to him, laughing.

"I swear, there's no one like you." He murmured.

I scooted closer to him and placed my hand on his chest, giggling.

"Zuko, I've been told that all my life. Can't you be a little more original?"

He smiled, one of the few times. One of the times I got to see, because it was for me. He kissed me again and I laid my head on his chest.

I'm going to miss you.

"Hikari, wake up." Sokka's soft voice invaded my dreaming, and I woke with a start.

"What happened?"

"The cave roof collapsed, we were separated from everyone else."

"Oh, ok." I guess being around grass again instead of ice had triggered the memory.

I had not dreamed of Zuko since I'd left, and I didn't plan on it. The reminder of leaving him made my heart squeeze.

"Ummm, Hikari?"

"Mmmm?"

"Can you get off me? I think we need to get out of this tunnel."

I opened my eyes to be face-to-face with Sokka.

"Whoa!" I pushed myself away quickly, the intimacy of the situation scaring me.

"Relax." Sokka stood and brush himself off, being careful not to light himself on fire with the torch. He then helped me to my feet.

"So how do we get out?" I asked.

"I'm not sure."

We wandered around for what seemed hours, but I imagine it was only about half an hour.

"This is hopeless." I said, deflated.

"No it's not, I'm sure we'll make it out." Sokka reassured me with a pat to the back.

I was burning up, so I reached back, pulling my hair up and holding it off my neck. Sokka was busy concentrating on the map, but looked up curiously, inspecting me up and down.

"What?" I gasped.

The heat was beginning to be a little much for me. I paid little attention to the clatter and rustling as Sokka's map fell to the ground. The next thing I felt was his lips on my neck, his hands knotting in my hair. His butterfly kisses moved up my neck and along my jaw line. He planted a hungry kiss on my lips, and I felt like melting into his arms.

He let out a startled cry as I pushed him away.

"What the hell?" I screamed.

Though I was just as much at fault, I directed my anger at him.

"What's wrong with you? Do you think you can just waltz over and kiss any girl?"

"You're not just any girl."