Really proud of my last few chapters... But Zai still has to rescue Toph and Aang. Coming up in this installment: A shocking confeesion is made, a little steel (meaning the opposite of fluff), and a runaway. Read and REVIEW!
It is 6 months after I ran away. I had managed to get to Ba Sing Se, I had been living without food for a week. It is burning hot, and I stop in a tea shop. Remember your fake identity. I think. My identity was a refugee in the inner wall named Jin. I had a messy ponytail and Earth Kingdom clothes. This alibi was my ticket to freedom, as long as I didn't Firebend. I walk into a tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon. There's a cute waiter there. Every day for 4 days I come in and order a cup of tea. One day I ask him out, and we go to this secluded pond after a dinner and some kinda awkward conversation. But as I stare into his amber eyes with my own, instead of Lee, it's Zuko.

I wake up from my dream with only one intelligible thought:

LeeisZukoisLeeisZukoisLeeisZ ukoisLee.

I sit up in my sleeping bag.

"Good morning, Zai." Zuko says when he sees me awake.

"Good morning, Zuko. Or should I say, Lee." I say in a sarcastic tone. Recognition floods his eyes and face and he looks astonished.

"J-Jin?" He asks, barely a whisper.

"Yes, Lee. So, can you show me your juggling, Mr. Circus Performer?"

"You make it look like I'm the villain. You had a fake name too."

"You're avoiding my question. Jin was my name because everyone was looking for me. I was a Fire Nation rebel and I like not being killed, or sent to Firelord Ozai, or stuck in a cell for all eternity. I don't see any reason for you to have a fake name. You lied. I saved myself from the Fire Nation." Inside, I'm hurting with the pain of another betrayal, another tragedy. On the outside, though, I'm as tough as nails, showing no emotion except for anger.

"I have a confession. I'm the banished prince of the Fire Nation. Son to Ozai and sister to Azula." At this, I get up and grab my shadow cloak.

"Today we rescue Aang and Toph. Let's go." I wake Katara and Sokka and tell them my plan.

"Today we rescue Aang and Toph. Since I'm sure that Zuko would like a family reunion, Zuko and I will go rescue Aang. Sokka and Katara, you guys get Toph from her family. It will take a lot of convincing on her parents' part, and quite possibly some smuggling and running." They nod, even though Sokka looks less than thrilled to be part of the less exciting mission.

"How come you get to rescue Aang?" He complains.

"The Fire Nation soldiers don't know me like they know you. And both of us have Fire Nation clothes, we'll blend right in." I motion to Zuko to emphasize my point. Both Water Tribe teens agree, and we split up, Katara and Sokka taking Appa for a faster journey. I hear a 'Yip-yip' and we start walking to the Fire Nation.

"You're mad." Zuko points out.

"When were you going to tell your GIRLFRIEND that you're the FIRE NATION PRINCE?!" I yell. He's at a loss for words.

-oO0Oo-

"I wanted to rescue Aang!" Sokka complains.

"I know. You've spoken of nothing else since we left for Toph four hours ago!" Katara snaps. Sokka makes a dejected face. The town comes into view far ahead.

"Finally, we're here!"

"Toph, here we come." Katara mutters.

-oO0Oo-

After a long, foot-killing, uneventful journey through the woods, we finally come to the Fire Nation and head through the city to the Fire Nation. I slip on my Shadow Cape, and Zuko puts his mask on. I slip in through the front door, and he goes through the air ducts. Our mission: Find Aang and release him at any and all costs.

Filler. The story gets good next chapter! Finally!