Whew! 18 chapters! Hope you're all still reading. I have a sequel planned for this story, and I guarantee it'll be good. Please remember to review!

{BURNING WATER}

It was strange when I dreamed like this: watching myself go through memories I don't quite remember.

"Momma, Momma!" A younger me yelled, not more than four. My mother, a beautiful woman of twenty five, sat in the field of bright fire lilies. No wonder I love these flowers so much. I ran to my mother, and she embraced me like it would be the last time. It was always that way, never knowing when she was going to lose her only baby.

"What is it sweetie?" She asked. I sighed, the sound of her voice similar to that of ringing bells. Her curly chocolate hair fell to her waist, and her blue eyes smiled. Where are you?

"Momma, Momma!" I heard myself cry, now five. My mother reached for me, but the soldiers held her back. The lady in black carried me away. It was that day that I began my training. That day they began molding my mind and body to be a ruthless, emotionless weapon. That day that I last saw my mother.

These dreams never ended the right way. I always wanted to step in and pull the crying child version of me from the lady in black, and hand her back to my mother. But that wasn't possible. It would never be possible.

I sat up abruptly, causing Zuko to stir next to me. His golden eyes fluttered open, watching me carefully. I felt a hand on my arm, persuading me to slip back into bed, into unconsciousness. I leaned forward, placing my head in my hands. I could never sleep after dreams like that.

Zuko's hand attempted again to settle me back into sleep, but I brushed him away. He sat up then, turning my face in his hands to look into his golden eyes. They flickered with worry.

"I'm fine." I assured him, but the words felt dry and unconvincing in my mouth. He raised his eyebrows and I couldn't help but start giggling.

"I see so much more of you when you let out your emotions. What has the Avatar done to you, to get you to be this way?" Zuko asked once I had calmed my laughter.

"I'm sure more of it has to do with being outside of the Fire Nation palace than Aang's doing. But having such great friends definitely has an impact." I told him.

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad that you are the way you are. And that you are here with me." Warmth spread inside me at his words. He brought his hand to my face again, running his thumb across my bottom lip before kissing me gently. I had no patience for this though, and shoved him onto his back. I straddled his waist and resumed the kissing in a much rougher manner.

I pulled away as his chest heaved, and I realized that he was laughing. "What?" I asked innocently.

"Well that's certainly something that you haven't lost. I like this expressive you, but I also like the blunt and feisty you." I smiled at the thought, wondering how the two sides could co-exist inside of me without clashing. "It's like your elements," he said, as if reading my mind, "they are complete opposites, yet they exist in your body as one."

I squealed suddenly as he flipped me over and pinned me to the bed, ravishing my neck and face and any skin his could reach with butterfly kisses. I squirmed, impatient for him to kiss me for real. When he did it was as if molten lava had exploded through my body. He edged his fingers around my night shirt teasingly, but I'm sure it only felt that way because he was avoiding the scars on my back. With my shirt hiked up he began to travel down from my neck.

A loud series of knocks on the door startled us and we jumped apart. Zuko ran a hand through his mussed hair, and I yanked my shirt down. "Stop playing funsies and get up! You're already late for Aang's training, Zuko. And Katara needs your help with breakfast, Hikari." Toph's obnoxious voice scolded them from the hall way. I finally released my breath when I heard her footsteps retreat down the hall.

My scalp itched with embarrassment, knowing that Toph knew exactly what we were doing. Zuko's pale skin was flushed a red that mirrored my feelings. But as always, I was never one to blush.

I leaped from the bed and slipped into my everyday clothes of a red halter top, and red capris. Zuko wrapped his arms around me from behind as I was tying on the betrothal necklace that he had given me. "You know," I started, "it's really difficult to put this on in this position."

Zuko chuckled. "Then maybe I should help." He removed his hands from my waist, and grabbed the silky ribbon, tying it securely. I put my fingers to the ivory fire lily, fingering its smooth surface. He noticed this, and suddenly the air was a bit heavier for me. I watched Zuko's face that was reflected in the mirror. He acted as if was going to ask something, but wasn't sure.

"What?" I prompted quietly. "If you're going to ask something, then ask silly."

He opened his mouth for a moment then swiftly replied, "Nothing." I shrugged and watched him leave the room. Weird.

{BURNING WATER}

I leaned leisurely against the wall watched Aang and Zuko practice firebending. Both were sweating and panting, but neither seemed to be losing stamina. When they stopped for a break, Zuko cocked an eyebrow at me, a silent question that asked why I was still there.

"What? Can't I stay and watch?" I fake pleaded.

"No." Zuko said sternly, but I could see the amusement in his eyes, "It's either train or leave."

"Oh please." I waved a hand at him lazily. "You just want your butt kicked by a girl."

I could hear Aang stifle a giggle behind Zuko. I had to stifle one myself when Zuko whipped around to reprimand him. We both burst into laughter and I could practically see the steam rising off of Zuko's head.

"Alright. If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get."

I leaped away as he lunged for me. He recovered quickly, but then I was on top of him. We struggled and toppled and rolled all over and at some point completely forgot that we were supposed to be firebending. We paused and I threw my hands up in victory, screaming "I've won!" And then I was shoved off.

Jumping to my feet we ensued in a battle of fire, strike matching strike, fire matching fire. Eventually other spectators wandered over. Toph got a hoot out of it, laughing every time I made a fool of Zuko. Katara rolled her eyes, but even I could see that she was amused. Sokka, on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to incinerate Zuko on the spot.

I was too distracted to make out what Suki said to him. The next opportunity I got to peek at them, they were gone. I looked back at Zuko to see his hand coming straight for my face. I deflected it and his smiled triumphantly. "You seem distracted." He said.

"Not at all." I replied, licking my lips.

"Uh, guys?" Aang's voice barely penetrated my senses. "Aren't we supposed to be training me?"

Both of us stopped and looked at Aang. Zuko stood and then helped me to my feet. I scratched the back of my head. "Sorry, I guess we got a little carried away."

Aang and Zuko went back to their training, and I resumed my position on the wall. Sometimes I kind of missed the fighting.

{BURNING WATER}

I watched Katara serve dinner, barely listening to the idle conversation going on around me.

"So, Hikari…" I looked up as Toph directed her attention at me. "What about your parents. I mean, we know that mine were overbearing, and you've met Katara and Sokka's dad. And I'm assuming you're well acquainted with Zuko's dad." The last part was definitely meant for a joke. The whole group laughed, now attuned to our conversation. "But, you've never said anything about your parents."

I looked into my lap, and I could feel Zuko tense next to me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and I brought my eyes to meet his questioning ones. I inhaled sharply.

"My father was a Fire Nation general, and my mother is a Southern waterbender. I never knew my father and I was separated at five from my mother, to begin training. I haven't seen her since." I said quietly. The circle was hushed.

Zuko spoke up at this time. "We think she was taken to a Fire Nation prison."

"Oh, Hikari, we didn't know." Katara murmured.

"It's ok. I supposed you were bound to find out eventually. It wasn't like I was trying to hide it though." It was quiet again.

"I'm gonna go for a walk on the beach." I leapt up and was gone before anyone could protest. It wasn't until I slowed to a slow walk that I realized Zuko had followed me.

"Hikari?" He called.

"Yeah?"

"Are you ok? I know that's a tough subject for you."

"I'm fine." I reassured him. "Which prison do you think she's in?"

"I don't know exactly, but I'm sure that if we did some digging around, we could find out. Do you want to go through with this, this close to the comet?"

I turned toward him, leaning into Zuko. "I'm afraid I won't be able to if I don't now."

"You know that there's a chance that you mother…she could be…"

"I'm willing to take that risk."