I know this upload took more time than I said it would but some unexpected things happened and I couldn´t concentrate on writing. This is why I´m rather unsatisfied with this chapter. But I had to be done regardless and I still like the ideas behind it.

„So do you want to go back to the ship, or...?" Sokka wasn´t sure what to say. It was nearly dark and there wasn´t much to do but somehow he didn´t want this evening to end so soon.

For the first time since their journey started he had really enjoyed himself and he had the feeling that it was the same for Azula.

„Well we don´t have to, do we?" „Errm no I think we have still time." „Sooo..." Azula put up a flirtatious voice „We might as well go for walk, the beach is really beautiful here."

Sokka gulped the thought of him being on the beach by night with Azula made him a bit uneasy but he didn´t really know why. He had nothig to fear from her but still what she said and how she said it made him nervous. For a short moment he thought that it might be because she was a woman after all and definitely not bad looking too. But he quickly discarded that thought again because there was no way she would make him nervous and he wasn´t the type to get uncomfortable around women.

„Sooo? Are you in?" when Azula finally spoke Sokka realized he had been deep in thoughts and hadn´t said a thing yet. „Ohh yeah of course, sounds great, sounds fun." Azula giggled „Are you nervous?" she asked him seductively. She loved all the confusion she caused in this water tribe boy, although she had always been a warrior she never was a tomboy. And she wasn´t ashamed to use other means of persuasion whenever she needed to. And even so there was nothing she wanted Sokka to persuade of teasing him was good way to get rid of her own nervousness at least she could persuade herself that she was the one in control.

„To tell the truth I am a bit nervous. I mean it feels a bit strange to do such things with you. Not that it isn´t fun and all but still I used to think of you as the enemy and now we are kind of friends, don´t you think?" Azula wasn´t sure what to think of this, she had wanted to make him feel unsure and confused so she wouldn´t be but now he had just admitted those feelings and even stated that they were kind of friends. True he was nice and the conversations they had were pleasant and she even had confided him her feelings towards the banishment. Still it was hard for here to admit she liked him and not just used him like she did most of her companions. Besides the concept of friendship was still spoiled for her. Regardless she chose to say what she really felt but only this time.

„Well to tell you the truth I am thinking the same. I am not used to have people around me that don´t fear me not to mention people I consider as friends. So it is kind of strange I come along so well with you considering you are, well were the enemy." They had begun walking towards the beach for a while now and were now walking along the shore while they talked.

„Wow that sounds a bit sad." „What that I come along with you? Yeah it is really sad for a fire nation princess but of what concern is that to you?" Sokka looked at her sheepishly she really drove him crazy at times

„No I meant that you never had real friends that is sad. I can´t believe everyone you ever met just feared you." Azula grinned at him „You wouldn´t believe everyone feared me?"

„Okay, okay I would believe that but the friendship thing. Didn´t you have that two girls with you all the time. You know we´ve talked about them before." „Yeah Mai was kind of a friend to me but she wasn´t exactly what one would call a caring person. She was rather uninterested and well..." „Bored?" They looked at each other and laughed. „Yeah but who can blame her." Azula giggled remembering the funny impression of Mai Sokka did earlier. „And what was with that other girl. Last time I mentioned her you did not want to speak about it. Why, did something happen to her?" Sokka looked a bit concerned she did seem like a nice girl and from what he could tell she had a great taste. „I don´t want to talk about it." Azula sounded bitter and and her mood had changed suddenly. „Come on you can tell me. That is something friends do, tell each other things they won´t tell anyone." „I think I can live without friends then, thank you." „Awww come on, don´t be ashamed. Do it for commander Chen." he looked at her with an expecting smile and he did not have to wait long. Azula had to laugh, she just couldn´t sustain her bad mood. She hated it that he could make her laugh whenever he wanted to but she liked it at the same time.

„Well okay I tell you but only if you tell me something first." „Umm what do you want to hear?" „I don´t know something that bothers you and that you didn´t tell everyone." „Okay I know something. Do you know Suki?" „I have never met someone with that name. It is a girl I suppose?" „Yeah she is a kiyoshi warrior. You´ve fought against them, remember? She was their leader." „Oh yes I remember her she was a could warrior for someone that can´t bend. What is with her?" „Well we are, errm I mean we used to be together." „Together as in boyfriend and girlfriend?" „Yes, we were a couple but we aren´t anymore." Somehow Azula was relieved although she didn´t know why. „Let me guess you were unfaithfull." „No,no of course not. It is just that she lives on Kiyoshi island where she trains young warriors and protects her home. And I live on the Southpole and I have to be there too because it is rebuilding and we need everyone that we have. So I did ask her if she wanted to come with me to the Southpole and at first she did say yes and we were so happy. But after we spend a few days together she told me that she couldn´t come. And when I asked her why she told me that I would still love Yue and under that circumstances she was not ready to leaver her home." „So you were unfaithfull." „No I said I wasn´t what is wrong with you?" „So who is this Yue girl then when it makes your girlfriend split up with you." „She is the moon." Sokka looked up to the sky but Yue wasn´t there. He explained the whole story to Azula in every painfull detail. „I can understand her I wouldn not want to leave my country for a half hearted romance either." „Yeah but there is nothing I can do about my feelings. Never mind it is your turn now. What is the story with that acrobat girl." Azula sighed she had hoped he would forget that part.

„Her name is Ty Lee and she was the closest thing to a friend I had. And she betrayed me." There was a big silence after that Sokka did expect any more details to come but when it was apparantley that Azula would not tell them by herself he asked. „Can you tell me more details, it isn´t very clear to met." Azula moaned „You do remember her a bit don´t you? Just like Mai she had one habit that drove me crazy. She was after any boy we met." „I think she had an exquisite taste." „And then she ended up with that guy named Jet." „Okay I take that back but how did that happened? I thought Jet was dead." So you know that guy and his comedy group named the freedom fighters?" „Yeah we´ve met them before the war and had a brief battle with them because Jet was crazy. But we met him again in Ba Sing Se and he helped us there but we thought he died in the process." Well no he did survive and the Dai Li captured him. But he fleed and created an underground resistance movement. Until we finally captured him again. I wanted to kill him but the Dai Li said he could be useful due to the fact that he can be controled via hypnosis. I wasn´t sure about this but Ty Lee thought it was a good idea she also thought he was cute." Sokka looked sheepishly he knew all too well were this story was going but just couldn´t believe it and he was still shocked Jet was alive. „Ty Lee wanted to bring him his food and in general care for him and since we had nothing to do I allowed her to do this. I knew she was attracted to him but I thought it would be over as quickly as usual and since this Jet guy always screamed how he hated the fire nation I couldn´t believe he would like a fire nation girl anway. But oneday Ty lee did not come back from her usual visit and when I searched her I found an empty cell." „So she freed him and escaped with him. How romantic." „Yeah and she betrayed me, deceived me, used me." Azula was getting angry only thinking at this. „Calm down you see this all wrong. Ty lee did not betray you she just followed her heart." „What difference does that make?" „It does make a huge difference she just wanted to be with the guy she loved but to do so she had to leave you. But that doesn´t mean she wanted to abadon you or your friendship. It just means she had no choice."

„You have always a choice." Azula replied cold she couldn´t see his point. „No you don´t when it comes to feelings. What are you supposed to do against feelings?" „Surpress them of course. Feelings are only for the weak." Sokka stared at her shocked. He was so sad and so sorry for her to be brought up with such ideas. It must have been awfull to always control ones feelings and never acknowledge them not to mention act on them. Suddenly he felt he had to hug her and so he did for he had not to control is feelings. „I am so sorry for you."

And for the first time in her life Azula felt truly weak so weak she did not know if she could manage to stand wasn´t it for Sokka to hold her.

Why had this simple,stupid water peasant so much power over her. Why couldn´t she just throw a lightning at him or burn his stupid warm hands that were caressing her back.

Why?

So now the Suki-thing is finally settled. I really did not know what to do with her because normally I love her and Sokka. But killing her was out of question too because that is too pathetic and who would have killed her other than Azula anyway and that would have made things complicated.

Big thanks to LADY KENDRA for the inspiration with Jey and Ty Lee, I just had to put that in XD Please review