Hello again! Sorry this chapter took so long to get out…I was overcome by writer's block and I couldn't sit down and write. Also, I had no inspiration from my favorite fanfics as it seems with the summer months updating has slowed considerably. I am a prime example of that. blush Also, I realized that I should have had more build-up to a Kya/Katara relationship; maybe had her injured longer, I don't know; but you'll probably see the repercussions of that in this chapter of me finding a way to keep Kya 'angsty' because I don't think that would have lasted if this relationship with Kya and Katara kept up and we all love our angst here on Avatar…so without further ado…the sixth chapter of Scars Sometimes Fade.

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Oh! I also wanted to ask anyone if they wanted to do art for these as I posted the story up on and I wanted for each chapter to have some kind of picture with it. Kind of like how Harry Potter has something at the beginning of each chapter. If anyone is interested could they email me a sample drawing, one of Kya would be best; I want to see how you guys think she looks like, but if you want help, I can definitely give you some ideas.

--

The next four days past uneventfully for Kya, her life now following a very strict schedule: Wake up with the rising sun as she always did; wait for everyone else above to wake up, listen to them grumble about the morning and the Avatar about his training as they did sp; wait for Katara for food and a healing session; receive said food and healing session; spend the rest of the day changed to her bedroom alone although sometimes joined by the company of Toph or Katara; lunch; more alone time and then finally dinner with a complementary healing session and then eventually drifting off to sleep in her boredom. To say the least, uneventful put it lightly. 'My current state of boredom is unfathomable…so unfathomable that I have used to the word unfathomable to describe this fathomless boredom.' Kya let out an audible sigh, astounded by the incredible genius of the Avatar and his friends. Boredom was the ultimate torture, it seemed and if she ever got out of this god-forsaken place she would inform all of the Fire Nation prisons to install this method. Honestly, in any interrogation the questioned would be singing right now if they were put into the same situation Kya was in right now. She couldn't eat, talk to anyone or even move without the allowance of her captors when they came to visit her which was hardly a regular thing and she was practically begging for conversation when Katara came to heal her and would take any of Toph's quips for just the simplicity of the interaction made the day less mind-numbing. She figured this was the way they thought she would change sides that she would slowly become friends with the Waterbender during their healing sessions. It scared her as she watched the sun lower in the sky how her heart would leap with excitement at the prospect of dinner and the chance to talk to someone. There method was all but working, but she couldn't deny that Katara was actually someone she enjoyed talking to, someone, in her past she wouldn't have hesitated to befriend.

In no less than an hour's time (a time which Kya spent counting the cracks in the ceiling, again) the younger Waterbender dressed in her regular blue attire entered the room carrying a plate of warm rice and veggies and a steaming cup of tea. Kya's stomach roared as the smell wafted into her nostrils, her mouth also watering in response.

"I see someone's hungry," Katara said giggling as she placed the tray in front of Kya who quickly sat up and began shoveling food, rather ungainly, into her mouth. She heard Kya mumbled something that sounded like, 'Shut up,' in between mouthfuls which caused Katara to laugh again. "So I guess you're getting better then. I mean your appetite has obviously returned," Katara voiced earning her a stuffed cheek glare from the girl on the bed, "and you were able to sit up on your own faster, which you couldn't do as well yesterday…"

Kya swallowed, "I feel better, still weak though," she murmured pensively.

Katara nodded, "You want to try walking again?" The pained expression on the girl's face gave her her answer. The other day she had convinced Kya to try walking and although she had thought she had healed the mostly shattered bones in her right leg, apparently there was a fracture that she had missed and the pain from when the Fire Nation girl had put her weight on the leg was enough to send her to the floor, throwing up her meal in the process. She had spent the next day sick in bed, the thought of food disgusting her, and the lack of nutrients had caused the girl to be even weaker these past couple days. Kya had regained her appetite again but was still obviously unsure of her strength. She frowned, that general desire to help people consuming her. "Well, I mean you can't just sit here all the time," she tried, "you have to try to get your strength back and walking is the baby step to do so. I'll support you on your right leg so it shouldn't be so painful this time. I mean, the fracture is mostly healed and we have it wrapped up. It shouldn't give you too much trouble."

She was answered by audible silence from Kya who knew the Waterbender's words were true but couldn't deny that she was afraid of the imminent pain she knew would come from trying to walk. She also saw the incredulity in the situation, before Katara had had to help her, because she was dying and Zuko had made her for whatever reason but now Katara was generally offering to help, simply to be nice. She was scared of the girl's compassion. Compassion wasn't new to her she just hadn't been shown any in a very long time. Kya let out an audible sigh, exasperated with herself. 'I shouldn't be sitting here, sorry for myself, I should be trying to get better so I can get out of this place. I should try to get better even if it means being helped by Kat– I mean that…filthy Water Tribe Peasant.' Now determined, remembering who she was she met Katara's gaze. "Fine," she said, "I'll do it. But I want to try on my own first." Katara made a move to protest but Kya spat, "I don't need your help. I can do it on my own," and she was silenced even though Kya was unsure if her words held any strength at this point.

Katara, still confused by Kya's sudden hostility, agreed. "Alright. That's fair, but I still want to do your healing session and for you to finish eating before we try."

Kya nodded and returned to her rice, picking up the chopsticks with delicate fingers now, eating the rice now slowly, and trying to stall the walking. Katara sighed and then sat down on the side of the bed, working on her legs, the glowing blue water searching for any sign of abnormality. All she could find was an extremely broken girl, and it wasn't the bones she was talking about.

--

Toph was lying on her back near the campfire, her sightless green eyes unfocusedly cast to the stone ceiling above her. Her small lips turned down into a frown as she felt Katara approach the group, along with a pair of unfamiliar light footsteps that must be Kya's. Her frown increased as she felt the weight distribution between them in their next steps, Katara was supporting most of Kya's weight on her left side it seemed, trying to keep the weight off the girl's bad right side. It wasn't the fact that Katara was helping Kya, as Katara was the queen of being helpful, that troubled her, and it was the reaction of her friends that made her agitated. She didn't care whether the Fire Nation general was once bad or not, she had a feeling that like Zuko, Mai, and Ty-lee that she could become part of the team despite her heritage. Of course the others disagreed; in fact ever since she got here the group has been down, particularly Zuko who would freak out and get all broody every time Kya's name was mentioned. She assumed the others just saw her as a burden and nothing more. She doubted that Katara having to help the girl do something as simple as walking would only support their argument. Finally, Katara was reaching the campfire and the room got oddly still. Zuko's heart rate quickened and she felt him shift nervously in place. The others, she felt, were also nervous but they kept their cool all with fixed glares at the Fire Nation citizen, but that Toph didn't realize. The only one who wasn't being bent out of shape by Kya's presence was Ty-lee who jumped up to greet her old friend:

"Hey Kya!" she called cheerfully, "I see you're finally well enough to walk. That's great! She bounced over and gave the girl a hug.

--

Kya stiffened with shock as the girl in pink wrapped her arms around her. She couldn't believe Ty-lee, acting like there had been no problems in their past friendship…if you could call it that. She hadn't even come to see her when she was stuck in bed, some friend. Kya didn't say anything as Ty-lee released her, looking up at her with curiosity, trying to read her emotions. As if the glare that threatened to burn a hole through the acrobat's stupid pink outfit wasn't enough.

"Kya's probably not ready to walk on her own yet, but maybe if we get her a staff, or walking stick like you, Aang she could do it without giving me a workout," she said, breaking the silence with a weak laugh. She was met by further silence from the group, whose angry eyes bore down on Kya almost making her flush, almost. She took a deep breath, gaining composure, but she had to admit that the group's animosity made her nervous. She had saved Zuko's life so she assumed they'd at least be grateful. But apparently, lifesaving doesn't induce friendship these days. After a few more moments of shattering silence she decided she didn't want to be here, she turned to Katara:

"Can I go practice somewhere else?" she asked, her voice sounding uncharacteristically timid.

Katara nodded sympathetically, and made to support her weight again but Kya waved a hand for her to stop, "Alone. You said I could try to walk on my own." Seeing Katara's skeptical look for just a few moments ago on her first attempt to walk alone she had fallen down in pain she offered, "I can use a walking stick or something."

"Where are you going to find one of those, hop on one leg into the forest?" Mai said her normal bored monotone slightly hostile.

"It was just a suggestion," Kya fired back, her voice and temper rising. Hers was a friendship she was glad to have burned.

"Kya, calm down," Katara said softly.

"I am calm!" she shouted turning on Katara, her blue eyes flashing. She whipped back to Mai, "I don't get what your problem is. If it wasn't for me, your precious boyfriend there," she said nudging her head in Zuko's direction "would be burnt to a crisp right now. And if I'm right I save a guy who's a pretty good friend and teacher to the rest of you so you can stop glaring and maybe say thanks!" she yelled her voice getting steadily higher.

"I don't think someone who works for the most evil man on earth deserves a thank you," a tan, mustached teenage spoke, glaring daggers at Kya. "Besides if it wasn't for us, you'd be dead. I think you should be thanking us for healing you despite what you are."

"No, if it wasn't for Katara, Mustache-boy, I'd be dead; I don't have anything to say to you."

"Well I–" Haru started Sokka and the Duke standing to defend their friend before Zuko interrupted, silencing the group.

"Shut up, all of you! All she wants to do is practice walking is that such a bad thing; she's not out to get any of you and she's right, she does deserve our thanks." He turned to her, his face etched with nervousness, gold eyes glinting in the fire light, "So thanks," he said quietly, ducking his head. "Aang, why don't you let her borrow your staff? At least until I can find her a proper walking stick. She can go practice in the lower halls, away from us. Does that appease everyone?" He was met with a surrendered silence and Aang tossing his staff to the girl. Satisfied he sat down, staring at the fire, avoiding eye contact with a particular blue-eyed Firebender.

"Alone? What if she tries to escape?" questioned Sokka.

"I don't think she's going anywhere too fast, Sokka," Toph said, rolling her eyes, "Besides I'll feel her with my Earth-bending if she tries to do anything sneaky."

"And I'll go with her," Aang added. The others looked at him incredulously. "I don't want her damaging my staff," he said with a shrug. He looked to Kya, "Ready to go?"

She stared at him, confused for a moment, and then nodding, at least she'd be away from the others. She pushed herself off Katara and using the staff started limping away toward the lower chambers, Aang a few footsteps behind, ready to catch her if she began to fall.

"I don't see why you guys are being so nice," Sokka said, leaning back, "I mean, saving someone's life doesn't mean she's not a bad person."

"Shut up, Sokka," Zuko muttered before getting up, "I'm going for a walk," he said turning on his heels to go.

"Want me to come with you?" Mai asked softly, her eyes flashing with concern despite the rest of her straight face.

He turned to look back at her. It was true that the couple hadn't really gotten any alone time, since she arrived at the Western Air Temple. He always enjoyed her company but after her snide remark to Kya he honestly wanted nothing to do with her. "I'd rather be alone right now, thanks," he retorted sharply and then took off into the darkness.

--

Zuko couldn't understand why he was so angry but I guess he had set his hopes to high when in came to his friends' reactions toward the new addition to the group. They had accepted Mai and Ty-lee well enough despite all of their past conflicts with the group; in fact Suki and Ty-lee in particular had developed a friendship with the acrobat teaching the Kyoshi warrior to block Chi in exchange for being taught how to use a fan as a weapon. Mai had joined in that particular lesson as well so she was on fairly good terms with the female warrior and thus her boyfriend, Sokka. The others seemed to care more or less about their presence. He couldn't understand why they were so angry at a girl they met only a week or so ago. Her reception from the gang was much like when he joined the group, minus Katara who seemed to show a little compassion towards Kya and like Zuko believed that she wasn't all bad, so he had hoped that as they did with him they would eventually let her become part of the group. Now seeing Kya's equal animosity toward his friends he wasn't so sure it would be that easy. With a sigh, he continued his aimless walking until his ears pricked to the sound of Aang's chipper voice.

"So Katara told me that you're mother was a Waterbender and your father was a Firebender and that's why you can bend both."

Zuko approached the lower courtyard of the temple where he made out Kya's form limping slowly back and forth across the stone surface. The only light was from Aang who had a tiny flame burning in his hand as he walked back and forth with Kya.

"I suppose so," he heard her say after a beat. Her voice sounded exasperated, obviously giving into the Avatar to join into the conversation. He smirked at the thought of Aang pressing her with questions that she had ignored until then. He sat on a ledge and watched the two; listening to their conversation.

"Well. It's pretty amazing, I've never heard of that happening before."

"Amazing?" Kya said with a weak laugh, "More like freakish…" Zuko detected a hint of sadness in the girl's voice, the strange shame in her power.

Aang paused for a few moments, obviously thinking of something nice to say to make her feel better, "No, you're not freakish," he paused, "You're unique!"

Kya laughed bitterly, "Great. Unique."

"I thinking it's cool," Aang muttered. "I mean, you can combine both elements into your fighting style and do some real damage."

"Like the Avatar?" she asked, slight amusement rang in her voice despite her bitter tone.

"Well, more like half an Avatar…A Half-atar," he said smiling broadly at his own joke even though it made Zuko slap his forehead and Kya shake her head, rolling her eyes to the Heavens with an expression that could only be read as 'Why me?' There was another moment of silence between the pair before Kya spoke again.

"I've never used my bending together. I didn't think my troops would follow me if they knew I was a Waterbender. I stick to Firebending most of the time but I know the basic forms for Waterbending, I guess."

"You know we wouldn't complain about you being a Waterbender," Aang added softly.

Kya sighed and sat down, looking at her hands, "Aang…Look, I wish that I didn't know you, because you are a surprisingly nice person, but I can't join your group. I won't join your group." She picked up a pebble, "Besides it's not like any of the rest of them would want me there."

"That's not true! I think you'd be a great asset to the team. Katara likes you…Toph, likes to make fun of you. I'm sure Ty-lee wants you here. The others will come around I promise. Oh, and Zuko of course wants you–"

"Zuko doesn't know what he wants. He's never known. First he wants to appease his father, in whatever way possible, prove his worth which led to his eventual hunt of you. Then suddenly, he decides he wants to go against his father. Now he wants to be friends but I remember seven years ago he would, I quote," her voice taking on a likeness to Zuko's: "Never was a friend with you. How could I be friends with a stupid Water Tribe Peasant?" She shook her head, her eyes shining, "You saw the scars on my back, right?" She watched as Aang nodded slowly, puzzlement etched on his face. "Well, let's just say karma sucks and he got a perfect example of that on his face."

"Wait, Zuko gave you those scars?!"

"No. He's just the reason they're there."

"I don't understand…"

"I'm not trying to make you!" Kya shouted, "I don't have to explain myself to a 13-year-old who's holding me prisoner! My sob stories aren't important and I shouldn't have even brought it up." She hung her head, "Just another sign of weakness I guess."

Aang looked like he was about to argue or at least try to comfort the girl. Instead he was silent and leaned down to pick up the staff at Kya's feet. He handed it to her and murmured, "I see you need some time alone; and I trust you enough that I know you won't escape or anything like that. You can get back on your own; I'll get my staff in the morning. Good night." With that he left Kya alone. Zuko, respecting Kya's obvious wishes to be left alone took off in the same direction as Aang.

Kya looked up; her once sullen expression replaced by a devilish smirk, "Idiots."

--

Aang plopped down by the fire, the others looking at him, expectantly waiting for details. He gave none. He simply sat there his hands clutched as he rested his head on them, pensively staring at the flames in front of him. The others shrugged and tried to go back to their other conversations despite occasionally looking back at the Avatar curiously. He ignored them. Minutes passed until he moved again and it was to look up at Zuko as he approached the group. The angry look on Aang's face made him stop in his path.

"What happened between you and Kya seven years ago?"

"What are you talking about Aang?" Zuko asked with a stutter. He knew exactly what Aang was talking about.

"The scars on her back, she said you gave them to her," Aang said, his gaze still cold.

The others looked at him, eyebrows raised with a mixture of curiosity and disgust on their faces.

"It's not like that," he said desperately, looking around at the group, pleadingly, "you heard she said that I was the reason that the scars are there, not that I gave them to her."

"So you were listening in on the conversation, I thought I had seen someone on the upper ledge. Any particular reason you were spying on us?"

"I was making sure she wouldn't kill you."

"With that leg I don't think she would put up much of a fight," he said with a smirk. "You weren't looking out for me; you were looking out for her. He paused, "You know what I don't understand why is your constantly protecting a girl who obviously hates you, and a girl you hurt in the past. You said that you didn't want to be friends with a 'Water Tribe Peasa–

"It wasn't like that! Zuko shouted, the desperation ringing in his voice. "Things just got out of hand! I never meant to–

"Zuko, why don't you just tell us what really happened between you and Kya, seeing as I couldn't get a straight answer from her," Aang asked calmly. Everyone's eyes fixed upon Zuko, Mai went over to squeeze his arm encouragingly, pulling him to sit next to her.

"Well. I might as well start the beginning. When Kya was just three years old her father brought her to the palace. He wanted the advice of an old friend, my mother…

"I don't know what to do with her, Ursa," said a frightened General Wei, "They just brought her to me, some Water Tribe peasants, claiming that she's my daughter."

"What of her mother?" Ursa asked, trying to calm the man.

"She died, from some disease or other. Apparently, her last dying wish was for her daughter, Kya to be taken to me, her supposed father."

"Are you her father?"

"What?!"

"A simple question enough, Wei. Are you the father?"

"Well, I mean, on a Water Tribe raid she was a prisoner. She wasn't a Waterbender so really, she was of no consequence so they didn't kill her right away figured she could be put to work in a factory or something. I was in charge of their watch and she was so beautiful…

"Wei, I don't need to know the gory details, just answer the question."

Wei's eyes widened, "It's not like–

"Wei…"

"Yes."

"Well then…she's your daughter, your responsibility."

"But, you don't understand! This whole fiasco has already brought disgrace to my name. If the officers, my wife," he shuddered visibly, "knew there was a child, well I don't know…"

"So you don't want her?"

He paused for a moment, ducking his head. "No," he murmured quietly. "She's a constant reminder of my mistake. I don't want her involved in my life."

Ursa looked at him for a moment, then sighed, "I suppose I'll find a decent orphanage to send her to. Where is she?"

"I left her in the gardens, with your young boy, Zuko. He's a handsome boy. Looks like his father, but got a lot of you in him as well."

She smiled at the thought. The pair walked in silence until they approached the gardens where Ursa couldn't help but giggle at the laughing children, and surprisingly laughing husband front of her. Zuko was showing a tiny tan, mocha-haired girl how to feed the turtle ducks with the help of Ozai and every time a duck would take the bread from the girl, who was obviously Kya, she would burst into a fit of giggles. Her laughter was contagious it seemed, her smile beaming, going to her eyes which were a beautiful, ocean blue. She was indeed a beautiful, exotic girl and suddenly the idea of getting rid of her was very hard to process.

Ozai noticed the pair and stood up, brushing bread crumbs from his tunic. He was grinning, "Lovely girl. Is she yours General Wei?"

Wei flushed and opened and closed his mouth like a cat-fish. Ursa answered for him, "Actually, she's from the Southern Water Tribe and she was taken from her family; Wei wanted to bring her to the Capital City orphanage but I suggested that she would make an excellent page for myself, once she's grown up a bit."

"A Water Tribe girl?" Ozai asked incredulously.

"Yes. I thought that it'd be a first step for the Fire Nations. Teaching this girl the greatness of the Fire Nation. So maybe she could share that greatness with her people."

Ozai seemed to mull this over before looking up a small smile gracing his lips. "Well, I guess it would be nice for Zuko to have a playmate. At least until his little brother is born," he said patting Ursa's growing belly. "I'll see to it that a bedroom is made for her." He bowed to Wei who returned it quickly. Ursa gave him a curt nod…

"And then he just left it would be years until Kya saw him again. So Kya stayed with us and she was my friend…probably the only friend I ever had. At least until you guys," Zuko finished, looking around, trying to read the gang's expressions. Hakoda was the first to speak.

"It never ceases to amaze me the cruelty of the Fi– of some people. Leaving his own daughter, because he was afraid of what people might think. Where's the honor in that?"

"Dad, I don't think that was the point of his story…"

"No, it was. I don't know much about their conversation except what my mother told me but I wanted you to understand Kya's history, her parents, one dead and a father that doesn't want her. That will…come into play later. But at least now you know how Kya got to know me in the first place…"

There was a moment of silence before Ty-lee asked, "So what happened to you and Kya then?"

"You don't know? Azula never told you?"

"She doesn't like to bring up the subject," Mai said, "I don't know, she just said you guys had a fight or something…"

"That's strange, she usually loves to brag about ruining a person's life, or at least having a hand in it," he said, dripping malice. "Oh yeah, we had a fight, a big one…It was my tenth birthday party. Despite the fact that I had Kya and my father had a…strange affection for her, he felt that I needed more guy friends…"

"Hey I'm Chan," said a tall, strong-looking boy. He bowed politely to the prince, "Do you want to play Hide-and-Explode, Prince Zuko?"

"Sure!" said a happy Zuko. The boy called Chan smiled brightly and called others around them. "Alright we have enou–

"Hey! Can I play?!" asked the 10-year-old Kya smiling brightly running over, pulling at the red tunic she was wearing. Zuko smiled, Kya had been complaining about the tunic all day, that she couldn't move and play. His mom said it made her look like a beautiful young lady. With her dark brown hair tied up in a bun, a fire lily tucked in her ear. Zuko had to hide his blush, he thought she looked really pretty. A loud, sad "Why not?!" made him snap out of his thoughts. Chan had obviously told her no.

"Because I said so that's why! Besides, no girls aloud, right guys?!"

"Yeah!" the guys, minus Zuko, chorused.

"So why don't you be a good little girl and go play with your dolls or something."

There was another shout of "Yeah" from the guys but Zuko wasn't paying attention. He was watching as Kya folded her arms and lips pursed, her eyes glaring daggers at Chan. That was Kya's angry face, Zuko had been on the receiving end of it only once before, but the bruises were enough to realize he should never make Kya angry. Zuko's new playmates weren't going to like him or Kya very much after she pummeled him to the ground, he felt his stomach drop with worry. Fortunately, seeing Zuko's face was enough to make her arms fall down at her sides and her face relax. Hurting this Chan character was going to hurt Zuko as well. She sighed but surrendering, walked away, giving Zuko a sad parting glance before hurrying into the halls of the palace. The boys cheered and ran off to play their game. Zuko, after a glance at where Kya had run off, followed.

Kya entered her room. It was small compared to the royal family's but Kya loved it all the same. She flopped on her bed, burying her head into the pillow. Moments later she heard her door open and close, she looked up to find Princess Azula looking at her with an eyebrow raised.

"What are you doing?"

"The boys wouldn't let me play with them."

"So?" she rolled her eyes visibly. "Boys are just stupid that way, even Zuzu.

Kya shook her head. "No, Zuko was the only one who seemed to feel bad…"

"Yeah, but he still went with them right. Face it; those boys are probably Zuko's new friends." Azula saw Kya's head hang, her eyes wide and sad, she sighed.

"But, that doesn't mean you can't be friends with my brother," she said, her tone more patronizing than comforting.

"But they don't like me…"

Azula rolled her eyes. This girl could be so stupid sometimes, yet everyone loved her. She couldn't deny that she herself had once enjoyed Kya's companionship but now that she had Mai and Ty-lee, two friends her own age that had potential and power, Kya seemed obsolete. She sighed, yet sometimes she found herself…jealous of the girl. Moments passed as neither spoke a word, each in their own thoughts: Kya, thinking about the possibility of having to share Zuko or hang out with those stupid boys; Azula, plotting against the Water Tribe girl. Unfortunately Azula would put her plan into action.

"Well then, we'll just have to make them like you now, won't we?" She said causing Kya to look at her, confused. She continued, "You'll have to show them that you were here first and that you're Zuko's friend and that you're just as good as them." She started pacing, pretending to think although she had already had her next moves sorted out, "Zuko will probably be the last one to be found because he's the birthday boy and he'll know where the best hiding places are, right?" Kya nodded, now looking a little more excited, sitting up now. "Well, you know this palace probably better than he does so you find him before they do! Then maybe they'll see how great you are."

Kya smiled and jumped up, looking to dash toward the door only to be stopped by Azula's next words, "We might as well take care of the other problem as well."

Kya turned, "What other problem?"

"Well, you have a crush on Zuzu," she said simply causing Kya to turn beet red and duck her head, "but so does Mai…"

"So?"

"So…Zuko, as much of a dum-dum as he can be sometimes knows this. I mean he says he doesn't like girls but in time he will. You've got to show him how important he is to you, and why not on one of his most important birthdays?"

"I don't know Azula…"

"Well fine, I always thought Zuzu and Mai would make a good couple anyway," she said waving her hand and sauntering off.

Kya paled at the thought of Zuko and Mai together. She was ten but had stumbled on some of the romance novels in the library which had turned her into a hopeless romantic. She didn't want to be the "other woman" as they said in those novels. "Wait, so what do I do?"

Azula stopped, her hand wrapped on the door handle. She smirked, her plan was going to be a success, and not that she ever doubted it or anything, "Why don't you give him a present? You're really good at drawing right? Make him a painting."

Kya seemed to think about this but slowly her head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, alright that's a good idea. Thanks Azula."

"Oh don't thank me; I was just trying to…help you out. What are friends for, right?"

Kya smiled softly and then began rummaging in her closet for the art set that Iroh had given her from a small yet important Earth Kingdom him and his men and conquered. He had given her the set for her own tenth birthday which had been a few months ago. Azula smirked at Kya's back before turning and leaving. She was humming the Fire Nation birthday march as she walked down the halls of mingling guests, a true Princess of the Fire Nation.

--

Zuko laughed to himself, no one would find him here. It was a perfect hiding spot, one of the closets that the maids and servants had outside their quarters that held all their cleaning supplies. It had been a long while since the game had started but Zuko would wait patiently, at least until he thought they had given up and he would show up back in the garden, confident showing those boys how to play the game. Suddenly he felt hurried, light footsteps outside his closets, 'Probably one of the servants having to clean a spilled drink or something,' he thought to himself. He stiffened when he realized they had stopped at his closet, he wasn't sure if the servants would appreciate him hiding in there. The door swung open and he closed his eyes waiting for some punishment but all he received was a light punch in the shoulder and a cheery "Got you!" He opened his eyes to see a beaming Kya in front of him. He sighed with relief, "What do you mean?"

"Those boys think I can't play this game well I'm showing them." She stepped into the cramped closet with him, "So I'm going to wait here for them and then tell them how I was the only one who could find you. Then they'll have to let me play."

Zuko grinned, a small chuckle emitting from him; Kya was always trying to prove herself and she hated it when she didn't get her way. Zuko shifted to make room for his new hiding buddy but there was little space to move and he and Kya ended up practically smashed together; not that either minded, they were around each other so much that this normally awkward situation was just…a situation. Moments passed before either spoke but they were so close in the closet that Zuko could hear Kya's unsteady breathing and felt her body was hot. Something was wrong, he voiced his concern. "Kya, you alright?" He lit a small flame in his hand and held it up to Kya's face, she was blushing furiously.

"I got you a birthday present," she muttered weakly, looking at her feet. He now noticed the scroll tied with a dragon-embroidered ribbon looped around it in a bow.

He grinned, "Ah, thanks Kya, you didn't have to," he said excitedly, grabbing the scroll and carefully untying the ribbon.

"I know. I wanted to though. Happy Birthday, Zuko."

He unfurled the scroll to reveal a beautiful, and not to mention fairly realistic portrait of the gardens with him and his Kya feeding the turtle ducks. On the bottom was a small note, 'To my friend on his tenth birthday, to show that even when things change, some things never change. Like our friendship. Happy Birthday Zuko. Love, Kya.' It was Zuko's turn to blush, Kya had always given him birthday presents on his birthday but most were little toys, usually with a joke on the bottom. He had never gotten anything so…serious. He had always known that Kya liked him, at least that's what Azula told him and he couldn't deny that he sometimes he thought Kya was pretty but "love"…Love was a strong word. He loved her sure, but more like a sister or how one loves a good friend, not that way. He realized Kya was no longer looking at the floor but that her eyes were fixed on him, waiting for him to say something.

"It's really pretty Kya, thanks. You're a really great friend."

Kya smiled brightly, "I just wanted you to know that I'll always be there for you. That you're my best friend in the entire world."

Zuko nodded, and boldly took her hand giving it a squeeze. Kya returned the squeeze, her smile reaching her eyes now that they crinkled in a very cute way. Zuko smiled lightly and turned to face her, "Kya…"

At that moment the door swung open to reveal a smirking Chan, "Well, what do we have here?" He looked to see the picture clutched in Zuko's hand and snatched it from him, reading it, he laughed, "Ah how cute, the wittle girl is in wuv with the Prince"

Kya glared at him but the blush on her face made it weaker somehow, "Give it back Chan," she ordered.

"You can't boss me around!" Chan then turned on his heels and ran laughing the whole way, yelling in a sing-song voice "Zuko's got a girlfriend!" Kya took after him down the halls, Zuko still stunned with embarrassment and all that had happened remained in the closet for a moment before shaking his head and running after the two. When he got to the gardens it was too late. Chan was already reading the scroll to the other boys, holding it out of Kya's reach. "…Love Kya" he finished. The group aw-ed in a mocking tone. "So, Kya, that's an interesting name…Sounds very Water Tribe if you ask me. Which she is, by the way," he told the rest of the group, "My father told me all about it, you're some Water Tribe peasant that is now Lady Ursa's servant or something." He laughed when he saw Zuko enter the gardens, "Hey boys Zuko's in love with a Water Tribe servant girl." The boys laughed, causing Zuko to blush, but his jaw was set, he was getting angry. The boys were now chanting "Zuko's in love." Kya looked to him for help but he simply glared at her. She had embarrassed him, Prince of the Fire Nation in front of his friends at his birthday party.

"I don't love her!" he shouted at the group, causing them to fall silent. "She's not my friend, either! She's just some stupid girl my family took in because her own parents didn't want her. He turned on Kya, "I was never friends with you. How could I be friends with a stupid Water Tribe Peasant?" He was seething, the anger boiling inside of him but when he actually looked at Kya, instead of just looking in her direction as he had when he was yelling, he noticed the unmistakable hurt in her eyes which were now the dark color of stormy waters. She was breathing heavily and a tear fell from her eye. She looked at him for a moment before running to the turtle-duck pond in the next garden. The others looked on silently, stunned by Zuko's outburst. They had just been teasing after all. Zuko sighed, now calming slightly; he hadn't meant what he said at all and soon followed Kya into the garden. She was sitting at the edge of the pond, sobbing. "Kya…" he murmured quietly as he approached, "Kya don't cry, look I'm so–

"Go away!" she said quietly, her voice deepened from crying.

"Please…I didn't mean what I said, I–

"Go away!" she repeated, her voice rising.

"Kya, it's not like that I–

"Go away!" she screamed, turning on him her arm flinging absently in the air.

Little did she know that water would follow slashing Zuko across the chest…

Zuko pulled up his shirt lightly, pointing out the faint line of the scar. "It used to be a lot worse, but they faded with time…But anyway…so Kya was accused of trying to murder me in the name of her people, the generals found her guilty and she was given a punishment of fire lashings and entering the military." He sighed, "It wasn't her fault…I mean she didn't know she was a Waterbender, it was an accident, I never meant for any of that to happen." He felt his eyes water slightly in regret but he held back his tears. He looked around at the group who was staring at him stunned. After awhile, Aang spoke.

"I guess she does have a right to be angry at you. You broke her heart."

Zuko hung his head in response.

"But I guess that means we'll have to try ten times harder to make her like us." The group looked up at Aang, surprised at his change of topic. "She would be a useful addition to our group so I want all of you on your best behavior with her tomorrow, I think I'm going to invite her to watch us train…Toph did Kya make it back?"

"Yup, sound asleep in her bed."

"Okay great, well, sleeping sounds like a good idea, and I'm going to do just that." He headed off toward the sleeping area giving Zuko a squeeze on the shoulder, almost to say he was forgiven, as he passed. Soon the others started to get up following their young leader.

"You think it's a good idea to let her watch us train, she could, figure out our strategy," Haru asked as they walked off, his prejudice still there even though he had heard her story. This earned him a punch from The Duke. The others were murmuring their opinions as well but Zuko ignored them and stared absently at the fire. Soon only he and Toph remained.

"What, you not going to bed," Zuko questioned.

"Zuko…Kya's gone.

--

OMG it's done, after forever! It took me a seriously long time to right this chapter, as it is my longest yet. But I loved every minute of it, maybe a bit too long, I can be so meticulous about descriptions. Also, a lot of reveals in this chapter. But I thought I'd get through the explanations of the past so we could start with developing relationships/characters and so forth. Should be an exciting next chapter, some serious Kya/Zuko interaction! Hooray! Okay well hope you like this one.

As always R&R!

-Ktsvillefan