I've had my first less-than-stellar review: my character is a quote "walking cliché." Well, I'm pretty sure I came up with the concept completely on my own, I didn't realize an orphan fire-water bender that was page to Zuko's mom with major issues was completely unoriginal. I suppose there are those stories that have the "Zuko's old friend returns" story but I wasn't to distract from the original story which I think such OCs tend to do. I only wanted to enhance the story with an interesting character with an interesting background and write a good, well-written continuation to one of my favorite television shows. *Shrugs* Well, if Kya is a cliché then damn, she'll be the best-written cliché out there! Anyway, rant over. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, as always R&R.

ALSO: STILL NEED SOMEONE TO DO CHAPTER ART!!!!!

So, here continues Scars Sometimes Fade

-----

Zuko was pleasantly warm, a mysterious source of heat emitting the glorious warm against him. He stretched, yawning his eyes still closed, not yet quite ready to greet the day. As he opened one eye he was met with a plait of short brown hair. He froze, remembering all that had happened, now realizing that the source of heat was in fact, his former best friend that was currently wearing nothing but the less-than-conservative wrappings that women in the Fire Nation wore. He blushed furiously, and made a move to get up but was stopped by a stir from Kya who snuggled closer, her nails lightly scratching his chest as she curled them. Her head turned, still, snuggling in the crook of his neck, her breath tickling him with every exhale, and he saw the look of peace that had been recently unfamiliar on the girl's face. The features which always seemed to be contorted in anger in his presence were relaxed and he realized the beauty she had gained from her parents: the strong, sharp jaw and high cheek-bones of the Fire Nation that retained a softness that was all Water Tribe, the skins of her people infusing to give her a mocha-cream complexion, somewhere in between Katara and Sokka's darkness and his own pale skin. If Fire Nation people weren't such elitists in their thinking they may have realized the amazing result from intermingling of the races. Kya shifted again, snapping Zuko out of his thoughts and causing him to blush harder. Why did he keep having thoughts about Kya?! He was…in love with Mai. Wasn't he? Her cruel comments from the night before reverberated in his mind and he wasn't so sure. His thoughts ran to the other members of the group each with different feelings of his old friend. Then he remembered:

"Kya!"

Kya groaned and pushed herself up until her half-open eyes met Zuko's. "S'matter?" she asked. Then after a pause, seeing the position she was in, on top of her old friend, her eyes snapped fully open and she quickly rolled off him, her blush matching the Fire bender's. She made a move to say something but Zuko silenced her.

"We need to get back before the others wake up, or else they'll know you tried to escape. They definitely won't trust you then…"

This seemed to bring Kya back to reality. "So?" she said agitated, slipping into her clothes which had dried by the fire during the night. Zuko was putting his clothes on as well, and she couldn't help but take a peek at the way his abs flecked as he stretched, pulling the shirt over his head. "Who says I want them to trust me?"

"Oh come off it, we can't let you leave and we don't want to keep you locked up. You might as well just join us."

She seemed to think about this for a minute. She obviously wanted to argue some more but then thought better of it. "Alright let's go."

-----

Aang sat meditating on a rock in the lower levels of the air temple. He felt the sun bathe his skin in its warmth as it rose higher and higher into the sky, announcing the beginning of the day. Aang slowly opened one eye and observed his surroundings. It was sunrise and one essential part of the scenery was missing: his hot-headed Fire-bending teacher.

The Airbender let out an exasperated sigh. 'Where is he?' he wondered, 'he's always on time. He's usually even early.' Then it hit him, this was part of the lesson. Yes, that was it! Zuko was going to sneak up on him, ambush him to see if he could fight with Firebending under such conditions. So with that he waited, and settled back on the rock, his ears pricked listening for any noise that would signal Zuko's movement. Suddenly, he heard a twig crack behind him and with his natural Airbender speed turned around to throw a barrage of fire balls at his attacker…to see that there was none.

"Aang, what are you doing?" came a voice to his side. Zuko was standing there his good eye wide, his eyebrow arched with a sort of amused smile gracing his lips. To the Fire Prince's right Kya was resting on his staff also with a bemused expression on his face. Aang felt the heat and color rise to his face. Of course, he had been getting Kya from her room in the temple. With her leg it would take awhile to get here.

"You were getting, Kya?"

"Yep. You said that she could watch our lessons, right?" Zuko stated, his voice smooth and calm, as it always was. The Airbender suspected nothing.

"Oh, right. Of course. So should we begin Sifu."

Zuko smiled, "Yes…tell me where we left off."

-----

"No. No. No." groaned the Fire Prince, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "You need to–

"Zuko I know how to do it!" interrupted the frustrated Airbender. "Something's wrong."

"You're obviously not doing it right," huffed Zuko.

"I'm doing it exactly as you told me!"

"Are not!"

"Are so!"

Kya coughed, interrupting the conflict. "Will you guys quit it, you sound like children…You're the Avatar!" she said pointing at the aforementioned, "and you're the Prince of the Fire Nation," she repeated to his partner. "You have to act mature! How in the world do you think you are going to vanquish the evil Fire Lord when you sit their like bickering five-year-olds! Besides I know what's wrong with the move!

"You do?!" the boys said in unison.

"Yes."

Zuko shook his head incredulously. "Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Just because I'm stuck here, doesn't mean I want to help you!"

"You said you were joining us!"

"No! You said I'd join the group," Kya shouted angrily, prodding Zuko hard in the chest. "Besides, if I had said no, you probably would have left me in that forest."

"What forest?" questioned Aang.

"Nothing!" the Firebenders shouted in unison, their eyes still locked angrily on each other, causing the Avatar to back away slowly with his hands up. "Okay sorry, never mind."

"So I suppose, even though now we know that you know what's wrong, you're not going to help us." Zuko said mockingly.

"No. I'm going to help. If it'll make you shut up, then I guess it's okay if I show him one move," she replied.

"Well, fine!" Zuko shouted, still angry. "Let's hear what you have to say..."

"Fine."

"His stance is off."

"What?! We've been working on this forever, I've shown him a hundred times."

"It's when he's shifting to the kick, it's only a slight error, I'm not surprised you didn't see it." Kya slid off the rock and limped over to the Avatar leaving his staff on the perch. She stood parallel to him and took the basic stance that started the move. "Okay so you know how you turn like this," she said as she performed the motion. "When you turn for the kick you're on your toes slightly, guess it's your natural Airbender lightness kicking in. For the move when you shift your feet need to be completely on the ground, your stance firm so you have the push off to draw enough power within yourself to complete the move. It's pretty simple really."

"It seems like it," Aang said with a grin and then performed the move perfectly, creating a wave of fire that emitted from his chop kick to the ground.

"That was great!" Kya beamed, excitement making her voice unusually high and feminine. "Now there's this really cool move that's sort of like this only the fire comes out more tunnel like this—

"Well this is just great!" interrupted a smiling Katara who had just entered the courtyard followed by a smirking Toph. "I guess we have two Firebending teachers now."

Katara's presence brought Kya back to reality; she coughed to clear her throat, her voice returning to it's normal pitch. She shrugged, "It was just to get them to stop arguing."

"Well for whatever reasons you did it, I don't care, at least I have this move down," interjected the still smiling Avatar.

"Yeah. It really helped, Kya, thanks," Zuko murmured from behind the group, eyes focused on the ground.

Kya felt a slight heat rise to her face at the compliments from the young fighters but she quickly heated the rest of her body up as to avoid flushing. "It was just a one time thing…"

---

"You've got to strike, Sokka!" the Fire Nation General yelled, exasperation dripping in her voice. "You can't just expect to find a hole dancing around Suki like that. She's too good a fighter; if you want an opening you have to make one yourself!" As if on queue Sokka lunged and Suki with one fluid movement of her own wooden practice sword effectively ripped the Water Tribe warrior's weapon from his hands. The object clattered to the ground, the hollowed crash echoing on the stone floor of the temple. Kya watched it, her jaw set, a frown etched upon her face, she looked up to see Sokka grinning meekly at her.

"Whoops."

"Whoops? Whoops?! If this was a real fight any Fire Nation soldier would have killed you before you could even say something as ridiculous as whoops."

Sokka frowned, "I'm sorry. But thanks for showing me that trick, once I get it down I think it should really help my technique."

"I should think so. I developed that technique myself and I've never lost with it."

"Well at least a win is guaranteed then; good to know," Sokka said with a wide grin. "You know it seems you've helped everyone in this past week, Kya…"

Kya shook her head, "No. Not everyon—

"Sure everyone," interjected Suki as she approached the pair, handing them water pouches.

"You've been helping Aang and Zuko with Firebending," agreed Sokka.

"Us with fighting," added Suki.

"Helped my dad make some good weapons…"

"Carved Teo a new axle for his chair…"

"Helped Katara with—

"Okay I get it!" Kya said, silencing the couple. "Look, it's not like I have anything better to do. I'm not going anywhere…"

"Well that's good to know," called a smiling Aang as he rode in on his air scooter. "So you've decided you're going to officially be on our team."

"No not exact—

"But you said you were staying—

"Yeah, because I'm your prisoner, and my leg."

"You're leg's been fine for the past couple of days; and no one would stop you if you left. We know you wouldn't reveal where we are, you're one of us!"

"Yeah!" agreed Sokka, his grin impossibly wide. Suddenly, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. "You know…you helped us so much, taught us a lot. Is there anything we could teach you something!"

"Yeah! So what do you want to learn?!" questioned the newly inspired Avatar.

"Do you want to learn how to duel with fans?" asked Suki.

"How 'bout a boomerang?"

The two warriors and Aang continued their barrage of suggestion, all of which were making Kya feel more and more overwhelmed. All the kindness was too much. She almost liked it better 6 days ago when they hated her. She sometimes missed the silence and space they gave her. Now that she was part of the "team" apparently that meant invasion of all areas of life.

"…How about.—

"Lunch," called the relieving voice of Katara. Kya sighed, at least she was off the hook about this whole thing for now. She looked to find the group already gone, Sokka dragging Suki along at an almost sprint and Aang on his scooter again. She gave a slight laugh at her new friends, 'Wait? Did I just call them my friends?!"

----

Zuko was lounging by the large fountain, enjoying the cool spray against his face. Mai sat against him, a soft smile splayed on her face as she played absently with the strong hand that was entwined with her own. Zuko couldn't help but think about his new residence and its peaceful perfection. Of course, what is peace without something to shatter it.

"Lunch!" Katara called from the kitchen carrying out, with the help of Haru, a large pot of steaming broth.

In an instant, Sokka, Suki, Aang, the Duke, Toph, Teo and Chet Zang came rushing into the room, all quickly grabbing bowls and standing in line for the imminent lunch. Hakoda who was sitting in the corner carving a piece of wood, laughed at the youngsters (and the large, incredibly intimidating convict) and took his place in the queue. Ty-lee followed, bouncing out of nowhere, cart-wheeling to the group. Mai smiled at her boyfriend and with a soft, predictably bored sigh went and joined the others. Zuko was just about to go behind her when he stopped in his motion by a figure coming over the steps.

Kya had certainly improved in the last week, she was walking easily, her ribs had healed except for some mild bruising; she had been well fed, her body looking stronger with each passing day. Also, her hair was starting to grow back; it was now at a point which it resembled Zuko's back in Ba Sing Se except her plait was a dark, mocha brown that exuded softness and shine. Zuko felt his heart race momentarily and his face heat; she was wearing one of Katara's Fire Nation outfits, Katara wearing her usual blue ensemble, and he couldn't help but notice combined with her healthy look and the revealing clothes just how beautiful she was. Also, the light was hitting her at a certain angle that gave her an angelic glow. As she reached her place in line her eyes momentarily caught Zuko's and she gave him, he couldn't even believe it, a smile. Well actually, it was closer to a twitch of her upper lip but it wasn't a scowl or a grimace so the Fire Nation prince wasn't complaining. It was a start.

"Zuko, are you going to get some food or not? You better hurry before Sokka goes in for seconds—

"And thirds," laughed a smirking Toph.

Zuko shook himself, everyone was getting seated, all had their food. "Sorry. Yeah, I'm coming." He joined the others.

----

Everyone was finished with their food and were now relaxing, full and content.

"So we were talking about Kya has been helping us so much with everything in the past week," started Sokka, everyone perking up to attention, including Kya who quickly started looking for food in her bowl that obviously wasn't there.

"Well we thought we could help her out," finished Aang, "teach her something."

"That's a great idea Aang," smiled Katara, "what do you want to learn?"

At an instant all eyes were on Kya. She looked up nervously then quickly put her head down. "Oh I don't know…"

"Oh come on, Hot-head, I'm sure there's something you don't know," said Toph, "actually I'm sure that there's a lot you don't know." This got a short laugh from the others, while putting Kya more at ease, at least she could be angry at the blind Earthbender.

"I could show you some of the inventions I made," suggested Teo.

"I could show you how to bash some heads," added the Duke, this also gaining a laugh from the group.

"How about some native Water Tribe hunting styles?" added Hakoda gaining a look from his son. "What? I'm a guy, that's all I got."

Katara's eyes widened, "That's it!"

"What? Look I know Dad's not exactly being—

"No, Water Tribe stuff. I can teach you all I know about Water Tribe culture; and I can help you with you're Waterbending, not that you're bad or anything but maybe some new moves? I could teach you how to heal if you've got it in you."

Kya scratched her head, "Well…"

"That's a great idea, Katara! I have to do my Waterbending lesson right now anyway, Kya can just join in," piped in Aang.

"…actually I…"

"Alright then it's settled," settled Sokka.

----

"So the octopus form is not too difficult, you just have to concentrate on every aspect of the form so you can attack your opponent at any level," Katara motioned, providing a perfect example of the move.

"Okay, yeah that makes sense," Kya said as the water tentacles rose up around her, "I think I've almost got it," she twitched slightly and the water broke apart. For what felt like the hundredth time since the Waterbending lesson had begun she had failed at learning the complex forms Katara was teaching, including the one that was splashing back into the pond. Kya growled, exasperated, "God! Why can't I get this?!"

"Don't worry," Aang said, sickening positivity ringing in his voice, "with a master like Katara you'll be a master yourself in no time."

"Yeah, you're getting the forms down basically, there just needs to be some tweaking, but I'm sure you'll get these motions down soon," aforementioned master piped in, her voice equally optimistic, "I wouldn't worry too much about it."

Voices chorused their own encouragement from the sidelines, all had gathered around the pond beneath the setting sun to watch Katara and her pupils train. Kya was about to thank them, and stop them from being so insanely confident in her abilities when a gruff laugh interrupted her thoughts.

"What's up, Zuko?" asked the young Airbender as he floated on his back in the water. The others looked at him, eyebrows arched, all curious about the sound the Fire Prince had emitted; they had never heard him laugh before.

Zuko was about to take offense to their surprise but he decided it best to explain himself. "You're obviously not trying, Kya."

Kya snapped, "Excuse me!"

"Did I stutter, Ky?'

"No I just think something's wrong with your eyesight, 'Z.'"

"Well, if you were trying you'd have had the move by now, wouldn't you? You just feeling apprehensive because this is going against everything that you've believe in…or that you've been brainwashed to believe."

"Well you try living in army barracks for six years and see if they don't have some influence on you."

Zuko smirked, "Look, it's understandable to feel this way. That accepting this teaching is betraying your country somehow, and that it's wrong to learn actual Waterbending. Trust me, it took me a year after having the idea of Fire Nation superiority being pushed down my throat for 16 years before I could really see the light. It's okay to be our side—"

"Is it?!" Kya blurted, frustrated, "It might have been easy for you to get out of it, it obviously doesn't matter to you what people think, but I work incredibly hard to get where I am, I had to make a lot of sacrifices. Doing this bending means I'm basically throwing all that away. Besides I really don't care if I get this stupid move or not," she yelled, splashing the water vehemently, "I just did it because I thought it would make you guys happy…But you know, I don't know why I care! This is just stupid, trying to take on the Fire Lord, even with the Avatar, I don't know why I allied myself with such a hopeless cause!" She looked to the shocked faces around her and ducked her head. "I'm done for today," she murmured and took off toward her room.

----

The group was seated around the campfire, silent.

"You think Kya's right?" Aang murmured his eyes locked on the crackling flames in front of him. "That it's hopeless to try and fight to Fire Lord."

"No," Zuko said simply, "It's not hopeless, Kya's just really confused, she says things she doesn't mean when she gets angry. There's a lot of reasons for her not to be here and she can't understand why she wants to stay…"

"You think she wants to stay?"

Zuko nodded, "I'm sure of it."

"Zuko, how can you be sure?" Ty-lee asked, "I want Kya to be here, I want her to feel welcome but it really seems like she wants to go back home. It's not like she had a chance to make a decision on her own on this matter."

"Ty-lee's right, we've kidnapped her, imprisoned her here, and even now when she could leave any time, we force our friendship on her. It's a lot to think about…" Aang said thoughtfully.

The rest of the group started to add their own opinions on the matter, Zuko stood up silencing them. "Look! Kya wants to stay here—

"Zuko how can you—

"Because I've been her friend a lot longer than the rest of you. I know her." With that he took off into the darkness, leaving the rest to their thoughts.

----

Kya kicked her feet in the water of the fountain, looking up to the large moon overhead. The others had finally gone to bed and now she could walk around and think. She ended up at the fountain.

"Why do you think it is that makes you want to stay?"

Kya jumped and turned to see Zuko's face appearing out of the shadows. She clutched her heart but after the initial shock she turned her back to him. "What do you want Zuko?"

"I want to figure out why you just won't leave…So answer my question." Zuko joined her on the ledge of the fountain, dipping his hand into the water, swirling it around. "Talk to me, Ky.'"

"Why should I?!" she said suddenly angry. "What have you done for me, all—

Zuko laughed slightly, "Jeez, you really like to pull one-eighties on us don't you. One minute you're our friend, then you're snapping at us. And don't get on my case like that, at least I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my friend. I could have just let you go."

"Why don't you?! And you're not my friend anymore, Zuko."

Zuko was silent for a moment, then he spoke again, "I'm the one here who knows you best. We both know that. I'd like to at least try to find a way back to the relationship we had. I want my best friend back."

It was Kya's turn to be silent now. She was left speechless by the boy's heartfelt words. She sighed then whispered, "I don't think that's possible, Zuko." Suddenly, Zuko placed his hand on hers. Instinctively, not used to the contact, she pulled her hand away. She saw Zuko shake his head in the corner of her vision.

"Please let me try, Kya. Let me try to be a good friend to you. Regain your trust. It's all I want from you." There was a beat of silence between them. "Please tell me why you won't leave."

Kya released another sigh, "Well. You figured out basically why I don't want to stay…But," she shook her head, exasperated, " is it wrong to be friends with the enemy?" She didn't wait for Zuko to respond. "Of course it is! But that's what's happened, I feel close to you guys, like I have real friends for once. And even though all of you support everything I'm against, I think I'd miss the good feelings I get when I'm around you all. I feel like I have a family here." She was silent for another minute. "I'm sorry for my outburst today, I was just…scared."

"It's not wrong to be scared," murmured Zuko, "but you are doing the right thing."

Kya nodded, "I hope so…"

The pair again fell into silence. Zuko nudged Kya. "You know what I think would make the group see that you really want to be here?" Kya looked to him inquisitively. "You could really learn the moves Katara taught you. Show them what you learned in the morning."

Kya smiled, "That's a good idea. But I'll probably have to work all night to get it."

"Well I watched most of the lesson, I'll stay with you to help. With that the pair rolled up their clothes and hopped into the water.

----

The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. Aang shook himself awake, feeling the sun begin to heat his face. He looked around at the pleasant scenery, listening to all the noises of the wild as they too greeted the day. He then heard some soft laughing, he turned to see Kya and Zuko, both looking exhausted, but somehow confident, coming up the stairs. He grinned at the pair. Obviously, Zuko had a talk with the Waterbender. He relaxed back onto the ground when suddenly a cylindrical objected whistled through the air. Aang immediately recognized it as a bomb and using his staff flung it away from him and his sleeping companions. The bomb hit a pillar, exploding and shaking the whole place. Zuko and Kya rushed to his side, everyone waking up in the chaos. Zuko and Kya turned to look at the balloon rising into their vision and there was Azula looked down at them with a mixture of surprise and amusement.