I ducked as a lazy blade of fire sliced over my head and spun to kick a swooping flame back at Zuko. He dodged it easily, but I'd been sparring with him for months and I could almost predict his every move. My mind detached and I sent my next flame exactly where I knew he'd place his left foot. His gasp of pain snapped me out of my trance and I blinked, watching him collapse on the cold ground of the clearing, gripping his leg.

"I'm sorry!" I said, rushing to his side. He glared up at me.

"What do you think you're doing?" he growled. "We're not actually fighting, here."

"I know, I just… let me get you some water." I ran to the edge of the clearing and picked up his water skin. Back at his side, I poured the water over the small burn on his ankle. Luckily, his clothes had taken most of the damage and his fall to the earth had put out any flames that remained. He hissed when the water touched the red skin. I glanced up to see him watching me absently, like he was immersed in his thoughts, carefully considering me, and he didn't like his conclusions. I'd caught this look from him before while training, and my curiosity finally got the better of me.

"What is it?" I asked

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head slowly, obviously still lost in thought. I raised my eyebrows. He swallowed and said, "It's just that… while we were sparring, you… reminded me of someone."

"Who?"

He wiped a bit of sweat off his upper lip before saying, "Azula, actually. Every bender has their own style, and when you get in that zone, yours is really similar to hers." The disgust must have shown on my face because his eyes went wide and he said, "No, it's not a bad thing, really. Azula's one of the best firebenders in the world. She's good because she can learn her opponent, she just seems to know what his next move will be. You do that sometimes, it's impressive."

"It's just because I know you."

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"It's not blistering," I said. "It should be gone in a couple days." I'd had enough of this conversation. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I had anything in common with the princess.

"Still, I think you owe me," he said with a smirk. I forced a smile on my face and let him press his lips to mine. Desire flared up inside me, but it was almost drowned by the absolute misery I'd felt for the past five days. I felt the prick of tears behind my eyes and kissed him harder, willing myself to forget. After Azula left my hut that night, I'd been trying to figure out why she would give me a week. Why wouldn't she just make me leave right then? Now I understood. Being with Zuko, knowing that I had an entire week to think about how wonderful this was and how I would have to leave it… it was torture. Every minute not spent training was devoted to thinking about how I could possibly let him go. It made me hate Azula and it made me hate Kenshin even more. The only comfort I had was in knowing that this would all be over soon. I'd be home within the month, and I'd either kill him or he'd kill me. He'd interfered with my life for the last time.

The water skin dropped from my fingers and flooded the ground next to me, soaking into my skirt, but I didn't care. Zuko was softly brushing my hair back from my face, kissing me almost leisurely. That wasn't going to cut it. I rose to my knees and grabbed either side of his face, tilting his mouth to kiss him deeper. I felt him draw back a bit in surprise before his hand slid around me to press against the small of my back, urging me against him. I straddled his lap and reached down to draw my skirt up. I needed more, it wasn't working.

His hand had just touched the bare skin of my leg when a tear escaped and fell from my cheek to his. His mouth left mine and my efforts went to waste when my eyes filled with those damn tears. His expression turned from confusion to concern and his hands reached up to brush the wetness from beneath my eyes.

"Rei, what is going on? You've been different since I stayed that night. Is it the vendor, are you scared he'll come back?" he asked.

I started to shake my head, but thought better of it. I couldn't tell him the truth, not yet. I didn't even really know why, but I needed to plan how I would tell him. It wouldn't be like this. I took a breath and dropped my eyes to say, "I think so. I'm just scared that he'll find me…" I still had one more day with him, after all.

Zuko put his arms around me and his hand pressed my head into his shoulder, comforting me. I closed my eyes and rested against him. "I've got you, you're safe."

I grimaced at his beautiful words. Yes, Azula knew exactly how to twist the knife. Still, Zuko was promising something he couldn't possibly deliver. I loved him for it, but I was also disappointed. Even if there was no Kenshin, no Azula, he still couldn't guarantee my safety. Not in the Fire Nation. He didn't even realize I was lying, though my words sounded so false to me. After everything he'd been through, everything he'd seen, he was still an idealist. It was what made him so loyal, and what made him so loving… It was also what made him weak.

My eyes snapped open at the thought. I hadn't had a thought like that in months, but I almost welcomed it. That firebender in me, who long ago combined with and consumed the healer, nodded in approval. It would be easier to focus on Zuko's faults. Maybe then it would be easier to remember exactly why I had to leave. How many times over the past few months had I thought about how stupid it was to fall in love with him? I always knew I would have to leave eventually, I just thought it would be on my terms. I clenched my jaw in anger at myself. Maybe some part of me was just as much of an idealist. I'd expected to stay until I had mastered my firebending, so that I could kill Kenshin with no problems. When had things ever gone so smoothly for me? Damn Kenshin, damn Azula. Damn me. I just had to hope I was ready enough.

Which reminded me. "Zuko?" I drew back to look in his eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

His face became just a little guarded. "Sure."

"Are you going easier on me in training?"

I could tell I'd surprised him and his eyes went wide. I knew the answer just from his reaction. I'd thought that he was slowing his moves, demanding less from me each time we trained. I clamored off his lap, letting anger wash through me. It hadn't been that big a deal to replace some training with… well, more relaxing activities when I'd thought I had more time. Now, my mind rushed over all the times I'd sacrificed a spar or a new technique in favor of seeing passion in those golden eyes. I pressed the palms of my hands to my closed eyelids. "Why did you do that?" I groaned, but mostly at myself.

He answered, "I… It didn't seem important anymore."

That made me snap my eyes to his face. "You think stopping Kenshin isn't important? You're the one who said I needed to confront him!"

"I know, but… Rei, that was months ago. So much has happened since then. Tell me honestly, do you still feel the same way?" He was waiting patiently, sure of my answer.

That's why it shocked him when I said, "Of course I do. I'm going to kill him." He clenched his jaw and looked away, obviously disappointed. "What?" I prodded.

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing, what is it?"

He finally took a deep breath and met my eyes again. "Maybe I just don't understand anymore. Why is it your job to punish him?"

I gaped at him for a few seconds before I exploded. All my anger and frustration at Kenshin, Azula and Zuko spilled out and I shouted, "Because no one else will! He deserves it, Zuko, he's a monster! You know what he's done. This whole damn nation does nothing but rape and kill and steal and no one ever does anything because it's too powerful. But now I can do something, and I will. That bastard will never hurt me again."

"But you just said it! You're concerned about him hurting you and that's why what you want isn't justice, it's revenge."

"It doesn't matter what you call it, it ends the same. With him paying for what he's done." I glared at Zuko, telling him with my expression that he would never change my mind.

He sighed and let his jaw relax. "You're right, I guess." The fight went out of me at his resigned words. I was suddenly ashamed of myself, not for how I felt, but how I reacted. I only had two short nights with him and I was wasting them arguing. He ran a hand over his face and said, "Maybe we should cut it short for tonight, cool down a little—" I leaned forward and cut his words off with a kiss before he could continue. I pulled him down with me as I lay back. As his mouth moved down my neck, I stared up at the unusually bright stars and wondered where the moon was. Then, his teeth grazed my breast and brought me back to him. I tossed aside any thoughts of training or Kenshin and tangled my fingers in his hair. My right hand brushed against the rough ridges of his scar and I wrapped my legs around him, holding him closer.

Our argument seemed to have evaporated and I tried my best not to give it any more thought, but everything was pressing down on me and it was almost overwhelming. I let him take his time, because I knew exactly how little we had left. Maybe some part of him knew that I was saying goodbye, because he kissed and caressed every inch of me, loving me with everything he had. I did the same for him, but I could tell he noticed my hesitation. Even as I held him, I was trying to shut my heart away, make sure that it was ready for the separation. When we finally came together, I was holding back tears again. He was still catching his breath as I pulled on my clothes. I didn't think I could say anything to him. It killed me, and I know it made me a coward, but I turned my back without a word.

"Wait," he called, still breathing hard. "You're going?"

I paused and nodded without turning around. "I'm tired."

"You want to train tomorrow, right?"

My face twisted, but I tried to keep my voice normal as I said, "Of course."

I tried to leave again, but I heard him jogging up behind me. I took a quick breath and rearranged my face into normal lines as he lightly grasped my arm to stop me. I braced myself and turned to look at his face, tensed into nervous lines. He'd put his pants back on and now he reached into the pocket and brought out a small, silver bracelet. My eyes went wide as he held it out to me. The links were delicate and diamonds dotted the entire length, except in the very middle, across from the clasp. Two small rubies glittered at me. "This was my mother's."

I took a step back, shaking my head. "Zuko, I can't accept that!"

Hurt flashed in his eyes, but I wouldn't let that sway me. Spirits, he was making this so hard. "I know you don't think you—"

"Zuko, please. I'm not… I'm not your fiancé, it isn't right."

He ignored my protests and grabbed my hand, pulling my fingers open to drop the bracelet in them. "I've told you before, you're… important to me. I swear I feel like I've been lost for so many years, my whole life. But these past couple weeks… I've had a lot to think about and I've made some decisions, but some I still have to make. Out of everyone in my life, even me, only you and Uncle ever seemed to know who I was, but I think I'm getting there." I listened entranced, my fingers lightly grasping the warm bracelet. "I just want you to know that… you're not alone."

I flinched a little, but I wasn't sure why. "Why are you doing this?" I whispered, but I wasn't completely conscious of what I was saying.

He closed my fingers around the bracelet. "I'll explain everything when I know it all." He dropped my hand and took a step back. I numbly turned away and headed toward the stacks, the bracelet gripped in my hand. Before I stepped on the path, he said, "Oh, and I might be late tomorrow night. I'm not sure, but I might have to go to a military meeting."

So I know that it's been way too long since I've updated, but I hope you guys are still with me. With school, moving, and betaing, I've had a very full schedule.

Thank heavens I'm single, right? *Sobs*

I already have a good chunk of the next chapter written, so I hope you'll forgive me for giving you this shamefully short chapter.