Author's Note: In response to one of my reviews, I am aware that Appa is a flying bison. However, Kai is not and some of the descriptions of things are filtered through the eyes of the character. Like when Kai assumed Smellerbee was a guy.

Kai stood in the ticket line with the other Freedom Fighters, a small frown on her lips as Jet watched Zuko and Iroh. The ferry had finally reached Ba Sing Se and she was glad she wasn't stuck in the confines of the ship anymore. She could leave in the night and stay on the other side of the city to avoid the others.

"I think Lee would make a good Freedom Fighter. He's just trying to find his way in the world, like us," Jet observed.

"You don't know anything about him, Jet," Smellerbee protested.

"Besides, he probably doesn't want to leave the old man," Kai added, in complete opposition to Zuko joining their group. That would complicate things even further for her.

"I know he didn't get that scar from a waterbender," Jet retorted.

"I thought we were going straight now," Smellerbee argued. Kai was relieved the other girl was on her side, although she didn't know her reasons for arguing against Jet.

"We are, and the new Freedom Fighters could use a guy like Lee," he replied with a shrug. "What do you think, Longshot?"

The silent boy shrugged and held Jet's gaze a moment before looking away.

"I can respect that," Jet said with a grin.

Kai frowned but their conversation was cut off as they reached the ticket gate. They went through quickly and followed the flow of refugees into a large waiting area. Jet spotted Iroh and Zuko and glanced at his small gang. "I'm gonna go talk to them."

Kai bit back a protest as he left and watched silently as he isolated Zuko to speak with them. She felt a touch on her arm and looked up to see Longshot staring down at her with curious brown eyes. Smellerbee was nowhere to be seen. He gestured his head toward Iroh and then fixed his curious gaze back on her. "I saw you two together last night."

She was surprised by the statement and knew he was asking her a multitude of questions with just a few words. She sighed and looked away. "He was a close family friend."

Longshot cleared his throat and she returned her gaze to his face. He didn't believe her. She could see it in his eyes and she saw a faint glimmer of suspicion as well. Before she had to explain herself, Jet returned with a frown on his lips.

"He declined my offer…" He had a far-off look in his eyes as he looked back at Iroh. Kai looked at the old man a moment before looking curiously at Jet. He turned back to them with a troubled expression. "I think those guys are firebenders."

"Last call for Ba Sing Se!" A conductor called.

"Come on!" Jet said quickly and started off toward the train. Kai's frown deepened and the Freedom Fighters followed after their leader. How could Jet know? And if he was suspicious…then Longshot might trace them back to her. He already knew she and Iroh were acquainted. She shot a glance at the archer, hoping he wasn't that observant.

"Jet, relax. So the old guy had some hot tea. Big deal," Smellerbee said. She must have wandered off with Jet, which had left Kai and Longshot alone.

"I'm sure you were just imagining it," Kai added. There was no way she could let Jet figure everything out.

"He heated it himself! Those guys are firebenders!" Jet hissed angrily. He pointed out Iroh and Zuko, who were boarding a train car. "We'll follow them and I'll prove it to you."

The Freedom Fighters stayed in the shadows as Zuko and Iroh passed by. Kai had to stay with them now if she wanted to keep an eye on Jet. At least she wasn't confined to the woods in the middle of nowhere. Now her life wasn't at as much of a risk if she could escape.

"I just want our new place to look nice in case someone brings home a lady friend," Iroh said, his voice drifting into the alley. The words caused a pang in Kai's heart, but she knew Iroh was trying to help Zuko move on. He didn't know if she would return. She didn't either and she shouldn't hold him back.

Jet peeked around the corner of the alleyway. "Look at them. Firebenders living right under everyone's noses," he said with disgust.

"Jet, you saw a man with a hot cup of tea. It doesn't prove he's a firebender. And what if he is? Are we supposed to attack them? We don't need to worry about this," Smellerbee insisted.

"I'll get evidence and then hand it all over to the police. Okay?" Jet said, looking back at the group. Kai bit her lip to keep from saying anything. She was afraid to defend them in case Longshot grew more suspicious.

"Can we just go back to our place now?" she suggested instead, hoping that was something more neutral to say.

"Fine. But I'll prove it to you soon. I just know they're really firebenders."

Kai kept to the shadows as she watched Jet muttering to himself. He was spying on Iroh and Zuko and she was spying on him to make sure he didn't do anything to them. He began to walk away and she followed after him, her footsteps silent on the stone pathways of Ba Sing Se. He was making things steadily more complicated for her and she had a feeling she might have to do something about it soon.

Smellerbee, Longshot, and Kai approached Jet, who was spying on the shop in an alleyway. Smellerbee had decided they needed to pose an intervention once Jet became overly obsessed.

"Jet, we need to talk," she started.

"What? Oh great, it's you guys. Where have you been? I could use some help with surveillance here," Jet said distractedly.

"We've been talking, and we think you're becoming obsessed with this. It's not healthy."

"Oh, really? All of you think this ?" Kai and Longshot nodded in response to his question.

"We came here to make a fresh start, but you won't let this go. Even though there's no real proof!" Smellerbee said, gesturing toward the tea shop across the street where Iroh and Zuko worked.

"Well, maybe if you'd help me…"

"Jet, you've gotta stop this."

"Maybe you've forgotten why we need to start over. Maybe you've forgotten about how the Fire Nation left us all homeless, how they wiped out all the people we loved. If you don't want to help me, I'll get the evidence on my own!" He stormed off and Kai looked back at the other two Freedom Fighters.

"I'll go after him," she offered before starting after Jet. He reached the other side of the street before she could get to him and burst through the door to the tea shop.

"These two men are firebenders!" He yelled, causing her to stop in her tracks. There were officers in there! Why was he doing this? He pulled out his hook swords and she started toward him again, ready to stop him herself. Before she could reach him, Zuko pulled double broad swords out of an officer's sheath and readied to fight the Freedom Fighter. Instead of running into the tea shop, she slid into the alley beside it, ready to intervene if something went wrong. The sound of metal clanging and sliding on metal spilled out into the street, the boys' taunts along with them. The sound of feet running on the pavement pulled her attention to two strangely dressed men heading straight towards the shop.

"Drop your weapons!" One of them ordered.

"Come with us son," the other said. Moments later they left the shop dragging Jet away.

"You don't understand. They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!" Jet protested, struggling against the men. He spotted Kai in her hiding place. "Hoods, help me! Kai, please!"

Her eyes widened as he used her real name. Zuko was standing just outside of the tea shop, observing the scene. His head snapped in her direction at Jet's outburst and she moved deeper into the shadows before turning and running. She heard footsteps coming after her and she moved faster, turning a corner quickly. She couldn't let him see her. She couldn't face him now. The footsteps were persistent even though she had taken multiple turns and hadn't slowed down. She had to find somewhere to hide or he would eventually catch her. She spotted a small space between two houses and took the opportunity to hide there after turning a corner. Seconds later, footsteps stopped in the alleyway. She closed her eyes and asked the Spirits to send him the other way.

"Dammit!" Zuko yelled. He had lost her. She felt relief sweep through her as his footsteps faded and she let out the breath she had been holding. That was too close. She needed to be more careful now.

Zuko sat at a table in the tea shop with his face in his hands. She was here and alive, which meant she really had left him. He had been hoping all this time that someone had taken her and the letter had been a fake. But he had proof now. She really meant everything she had said. He slammed his fist on the table with an angry grunt. She had been right under his nose the whole time with that idiot Jet. What was she doing? Why had she left him? He couldn't understand what he had done. He knew he had done some stupid things before she left but had he really pushed her away?

"Uncle, I don't know her anymore."

"Who?" Iroh asked absentmindedly.

"Kai. I just told you I saw her!"

"What are you talking about, Prince Zuko? Why would she be in this city? They would capture her once they saw her hair."

Zuko huffed angrily. "She was the hooded Freedom Fighter. She hid right in front of us." He was greeted by silence and he looked at his uncle, who had a far-off look on his face. "Uncle, are you even listening to me?"

"I'm sorry, were you saying something? I wasn't paying attention," Iroh said with a sheepish smile.

Zuko threw his arms up in exasperation and got up. Iroh's voice stopped him before he reached the door.

"Women are a dizzying species, nephew. It is best you wait until she can explain things to you before making judgments," Iroh advised. Zuko shook his head and left their home to walk off his anger in the streets of Ba Sing Se.

"I won't stop until I find her," he muttered to himself.

A/N: Whew, Jet's gone. Now I don't have to deal with him anymore:3 R&R!