Author's Note: It's been nice having all this time to add to my story daily. Because I really don't like Jet, we get to have a bit of a time skip. And it's not because I'm lazy! :) Anyways, here's the new chapter.

It had been months since Kai had joined Jet and his Freedom Fighters. It was an easy companionship, even if she was the only girl. Most of them weren't exactly talkative, especially Longshot, which was to her liking. She didn't exactly want them inquiring about her past. Jet had tried at first, but she had made it clear she didn't really want to talk about it. The grief of her "parent's death" was too much for her to talk about. So everyone stopped asking and she just sort of existed with them.

Becoming a rebel was actually fun. The small raids they did on nearby villages filled with Fire Nation soldiers were freeing. She already had experience using katanas and Jet had snagged her a pair. It was different not using her bending, but she couldn't risk the Freedom Fighters discovering her identity. Jet had an undiluted hatred for all Fire Nation citizens and she knew if he discovered she was a firebender, it could possibly be the end of her. There was nowhere for her to run out here and it would be five against one.

"Hey Kai. Whatcha doin'?"

She tore her gaze from the scene she was perched above to look at the small boy standing beside her. "Hey The Duke. I'm just admiring the view."

She had learned quickly that the helmeted kid was to be called The Duke, not just Duke. He was cute and she enjoyed spending time with him. She had always wanted a younger sibling and he had proved to be close enough to that when she joined their little group.

"How come? You see it everyday."

"It helps me think."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Just stuff."

"You're mom and dad?"

She sighed and looked up at him. "Yeah." She hated lying to him, he was such a sweet kid, but she had to keep up this constant act.

"I think about my mom and dad too sometimes." He sat down next to her and let his legs dangle over the wooden platform. She put a comforting arm around his small shoulders and he leaned against her. He had told her that his parents had died in a Fire Nation raid on his village and Pipsqueak had ended up finding him shortly before Jet had found them. Her heart went out to him and now she felt like it was her place to protect him, which Pipsqueak hadn't taken too much of a liking too. She had come in between the little duo and now the big guy wasn't too fond of her.

"It's pretty when you look at it this long, isn't it?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I guess."

She smiled and gave him a gentle squeeze. Footsteps on the wooden boards signaled someone coming up behind them and she turned to find Jet standing over her.

"Hey. I've got an announcement. Meeting in the tree house."

Kai rolled her eyes and got to her feet, helping The Duke up. It was annoying how Jet bossed them around but she went along with it. She had nowhere else to go anyway. She and The Duke walked into the tree house where everyone else was waiting.

"Now that everyone's here, I have a proposal. We're going to Ba Sing Se."

"That doesn't exactly sound like a proposal," Kai remarked, a frown on her lips.

"I didn't finish," he said in annoyance. "Some of us will go and some of us will stay and keep the base running. Smellerbee and Longshot, I want you to come with me. I'm looking for a third volunteer, too."

"I'll go," Kai interjected quickly. If she could get away from the confines of these woods, she could gather supplies and go off on her own. If she could get away from the constant danger of being around the Freedom Fighters, she would feel a lot better.

"Okay, Hoods. You're in. We're leaving tomorrow."

She sighed at the annoying nickname he had given her and bit back a remark as he left the room. The Duke tugged on her hand and she looked down to find him frowning.

"Why are you leaving?"

She instantly felt bad once she saw the pitiful look on his face. She crouched down in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. "Hey, don't worry. You still have Pipsqueak. And I promise I'll come back."

She pulled him into a hug and felt her eyes water as his small arms wrapped around her neck. She pulled back and gave him a reassuring smile. "Come on. You can help me pack."

The swell of the ship on the waves brought back memories and Kai could almost imagine Zuko and Iroh sitting on the other side. Wait…they were sitting on the other side! She quickly turned her head away before realizing she had worn a hood since leaving. They wouldn't recognize her from this distance. She took the opportunity to study them. Iroh had cut off a lot of hair and if his face hadn't been so familiar to her, she could have mistaken him for any old man. And Zuko…her eyes drank in his face, his strong jaw, the familiar edges of his scar, his-

"You okay?"

She was surprised by the sound of Longshot's voice and she quickly tore her gaze away from Zuko to fix it on him. "Uh…yeah. Fine."

He nodded and went back to his usual silence.

"Ugh! I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt...I'm tired of living like this!"

Kai refused to look up at the sound of Zuko's voice. Instead, she mimicked Longshot's pose, allowing the shadow of her hood to cover her face.

"Aren't we all?"

Kai's head snapped up as Jet answered. Why was he talking to the one person she wanted to avoid?

"My name's Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee, Longshot, and Hoods."

At least he hadn't used her real name. For once, the annoying nickname was useful. She felt Zuko's eyes lingering on her momentarily and she kept her eyes downcast.

"Hey," Smellerbee said and Longshot gave them a nod of greeting. She chose to remain silent. She knew they would recognize her voice instantly.

"Hello," Zuko replied, surprising her. She risked looking at him. Why were they here? What happened to his ship? She wanted to ask so many questions but she remained silent."Here's the deal," Jet said boldly. "I hear the Captain's eating like a king, while us refugees have to feed off his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it ?"

"What sort of 'king' is he eating like ?" Iroh inquired.

"The fat, happy kind. You want to help us 'liberate' some food ?" Jet asked and Kai instantly wanted to punch him in the mouth. Why were the Spirits being so cruel to her? He was trying to pull the very people she couldn't be near into their group.

"I'm in," Zuko replied, turning to look at the other boy with determined golden eyes.

Kai leaned against the rail while the others ate their newly salvaged food. She was too nervous to eat. Too much was at stake at the moment and she couldn't get off the confines of the small ship if something went wrong.

"So, Smellerbee, that's an unusual name for a young man," Iroh commented in between scarfing down bites.

"Maybe it's because I'm not a man. I'm a girl!" she replied. She got to her feet and stormed away, Longshot following after her. There was a little bit of a shocked silence before Iroh called after her.

"Oh, now I see! It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl!"

Well, that was different. For the longest time Kai had thought Smellerbee was a guy…

Jet walked over and sat down, causing Kai to shift uncomfortably. There was always a chance he would use her real name and then her cover would be blown. "From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall," he commented, allowing her to relax a little bit.

"It is a magnificent sight," Iroh remarked and she heard the pain in his voice. Lu Ten…she sighed softly to herself. She was traveling to the city her brother had died in.

"So you've been there before ?" Jet asked, a curiosity she hadn't seen appearing in his brown eyes.

"Once, when I was a different man," Iroh replied. It took a lot of control for Kai not to reach over and hug him. Instead, she glanced away, focusing her blue eyes on the water.

"I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of. But that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se, for a new beginning. A second chance." Kai rolled her eyes at Jet's words. He was going to Ba Sing Se to recruit more Freedom Fighters.

"That's very noble of you. I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances." Kai bit her cheek. She had betrayed them and she knew a second chance with Zuko was unlikely. She risked a glance in their direction and caught Iroh looking at her. She looked away quickly, her heart jumping with the fear that he might know her identity.

Sleep was hard to come by and Kai let out a frustrated sigh before getting to her feet. Maybe some fresh air would help her. She walked to the railing and closed her eyes, wishing she could let her hood down and feel the breeze blowing through her hair.

"I'm glad to see you are safe, my dear."

Kai jumped at the low voice and turned to find Iroh beside her. She looked away, her knuckles turning white on the railing as she gripped it.

"Was it that easy to figure out?" she asked.

"Only because you still wear the necklace. Don't worry. He doesn't suspect anything. I'm just an observant old man."

She sighed in relief and grasped the golden ruby-embedded pendant hanging from her neck. It was a gift from Zuko from a few years ago and she had worn it ever since. "I forget I'm even wearing it most of the time," she observed, tucking it into her cloak.

He chuckled and studied what he could see of her face for a moment. "You have grown in the past months."

She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"You don't have the same softness from our royal life. Have you been eating well?"

"Yes. I've just been doing a lot."

"May I ask what you've done with yourself since you left?"

She hesitated a moment before answering. "I was stranded on a beach for a day. Jet found me and I told him my ship was wrecked. He took me in and I've been a Freedom Fighter since."

Iroh nodded, relief on his wrinkled face. "At least someone's been looking after you."

There was a moment of comfortable silence between them before Kai asked the question she had been hesitant to ask. "How is he?"

"He was devastated when you left." She looked away in shame. "But I think he has grown used to the idea of you being gone. Don't worry about him. I'm glad you finally found your way."

She sighed, her breath coming out in a small cloud in the cool night air. "At least you understand."

"My dear, I will support you, whatever path you choose. As long as you're doing what you think is right."

She nodded and then pushed of the railing. "We shouldn't be seen together. I'm already at a high enough risk as it is."

Iroh smiled in understanding. "Of course." He pulled her into a hug and she tensed a moment before relaxing into his embrace. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered before pulling away. "Take care of yourself."

She nodded and they parted ways. They would pretend to be strangers once again, but at least she now knew that she hadn't made the wrong choice in leaving Zuko.

A/N: Yay, it's Zuko! I just can't leave him out too long since some of you guys were so crestfallen. But Kai's stuck between a rock and a hard place. If Jet figures out her identity, he'll probably try to kill her. And if Zuko finds out...who knows what'll happen. Thanks for reading! R&R!