As word of Kyuri's classes had spread, along with stories of her skill and… unusually hands-on teaching methods. Her classes swelled, again with many women, until she was no longer able to really teach as she preferred, giving each student some of her attention. She ended up splitting her classes. Teenage girls she taught in the morning, mothers and children in the afternoons, and men in the evenings.

It was the men that tried her patience. Some of them showed up clearly for the express purpose of either mocking her or proving they were better. She picked them out and quickly disabused them of the notion the same way she had the old warrior, by calling them up in front of everyone and laying them out flat. She suspected tradition and disdain for her gender was what had kept her classes from filling up with men the way it had with women who were finally being allowed to learn to defend themselves.

Akna and Pakak had soon become some of her best pupils. Akna was a surprisingly wily and cunning girl, great attributes for a knife-fighter. She used her small size and speed to her advantage, darting here and there, scoring small hits and wearing down their opponents. Pakak could dodge nearly anything thrown at him unless it was Kyuri, who was still able to flatten him if he got too cocky, which had been known to happen. He had come to be like her assistant and stayed for all three classes. He and his sister had the deepest respect for her and it was obvious.

Kyuri at first didn't know what to do with her newfound popularity. She had people waving at her on the streets, coming up and asking about classes. Sangilak found this highly amusing but it made Kyuri uncomfortable until she figured out that the simplest response was a small smile and a few quick comments before escaping back to the training field.

She was teaching the mothers and children when the black snow began to fall.

Her eyes immediately paused and her distraction meant that, for the first time, Pakak landed a hit on her for the first time. The sound echoed around the training field as all movement froze, everyone gaping. Kyuri simply raised a hand to her cheek, cupping it absently, as her eyes darted across the coal-blackened snow. That brought all eyes to it.

"Sangilak, fly over, check for Fire Nation!"

"What is that?" Akna whispered, going to her brother's side. He picked her up and held her closely.

"Kyuri?" Pakak asked nervously, sticking out a hand and catching a black snowflake. He stared at in confusion and Akna poked it with on gloved finger.

"Take Akna and get her home," Kyuri said tensely.

"What's going on?" one of the mother's asked, calling her son close.

"Get home, bar the doors!" Kyuri shouted, though she didn't need to. The field was absolutely silent, waiting for her to speak. "The black snow is from Fire Nation ships. The Fire Nation is coming, and judging by the amount of snow, they've got an entire fleet. Go home!"

The women gathered up their children, brothers grabbing sisters and racing for their parents before scurrying down towards the city. It took only seconds for Kyuri to be left with Pakak and Akna.

"Take Akna, get her home," Kyuri ordered. "Then both of you hide somewhere safe."

"No, I want to fight!" Pakak pressed. "You've taught me how, I can-!"

"No!" Kyuri snapped. "I've taught you how to defend yourself. You have no idea what a real battle is like, when you have to be aware of everything around you because anything might be an enemy. You don't know how to fight against a bender, how to find the weak points on an armored opponent and exploit them. Take Akna home. Warn everyone you can on the way to get to safety and prepare for battle."

"Are you going to be okay, Kyuri?" Akna asked fearfully, her big eyes wide. "You won't get hurt, will you?"

"Ships, dozens. An entire fleet is headed here as fast as it can."

"I won't," Kyuri swore, then amended, "At least, not badly." On impulse, she leaned forwards and kissed the little girl's forehead, brushing her floppy bangs back.

"Go!" Kyuri called to Pakak, who turned and ran home, Akna bouncing on his shoulder and looking back at Kyuri worriedly. Kyuri took off in the other direction towards the meeting hall. She quickly found Katara, Sokka, and Aand standing by themselves to the side of the room and joined them.

"You saw the snow?" Sokka asked without preamble. Kyuri nodded.

"There's so much of it," Katara wondered.

"Sangilak reported an entire fleet when he flew over," Kyuri said, nodding. "It looks like the fire Nation just declared war on the Northern Tribe."

"The day we have always feared has finally come. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness that I call my family here, knowing that some of them are about to leave our midst forever. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, I call upon the great spirits. Spirit of the Moon, Spirit of the ocean! Be with us! I need volunteers for a dangerous mission."

"Count me in."

Aang and Katara blinked as Sokka volunteered. Kyuri shook her head but said nothing.

"Sokka!" Katara hissed.

"What are you thinking?" Katara added.

"Be warned," Arnook said as others rose. "Some of you will not be coming back from this. Come forwards and receive my mark if you accept this task."

Sokka moved forwards with the crowd of volunteers. He stood in line and waited, bowing as Arnook painted three wavy red lines on his forehead.

The Fire Navy arrived when the sun was high, at the height of their power. Water Tribe warriors were armed and assembled on the wall barring the city from the sea. Katara and Sokka stood beside Kyuri and Aang mounted on Appa and Sangilak respectively. They were the ones who saw the first attack as the tiny ship appeared on the horizon, heralded by a fireball that loomed ever larger the closer it drew. The wall shook, a hole blasted in it, as the missile connected. There were shouts as people were thrown clear and those in the town below not yet taken cover realized the attack had begun.

The second attack whistled overhead into the city proper, followed by another that hit the wall squarely, taking a chunk of the top away.

"We need to take out those catapults!" Kyuri shouted. Aang nodded.

"Yip yip!"

"Into the sky?"

"To win or die."

They both took off.

"There's only one," Aang blinked, taking in the lone ship.

"There's more," Kyuri disagreed, scanning the horizon. "This is the flagship. That means there's an entire fleet of Fire Navy ships coming behind."

"I've got this one," Aang said. "You go on ahead. I'll take it from here buddy," he added to Appa, jumping down and aiming for the ship. Kyuri and Sangilak flew on and sure enough an entire fleet bloomed on the horizon in front of them. Rows upon rows, columns of ships armed with catapults and soldiers. Nearly fifty ships strong, with some bearing six or more catapults on the decks, already loaded and ready to fire.

"Agni damn it all," Kyuri cursed as she saw the ships.

"Shall we?"

"You're going to enjoy this, aren't you?"

"Tearing into the Fire Nation? Oh yes."

Sangilak dove from the clouds, a thunderous roar ripping from his throat as fire spouted between his fangs. He swooped down, seizing the top of a catapult in his talons and dragging it into the one next to it, destroying the pair of them as the arms crumpled. Kyuri dropped to the ground and drew her blades, dodging a hammer strike to her head. She dropped low, hamstrung the man, rolled away from another strike, and hopped to her feet, sprinting towards another catapult. She stowed her swords and raised her hands, pulling water from the ocean below. She iced the chain of the catapult and then seized a nearby hammer, slamming it down. The chain shattered, rendering the catapult useless.

Claws gripped her tenderly and raised her up to deposit her on the next ship. Sangilak tore into the catapults with fangs and talons, destroying two for every one of Kyuri's and then ferrying her over to the next ship. This became their pattern, avoiding as many crew members as they could, and going straight for the catapults, taking out the main threats.

They accumulated their share of injuries for their efforts though. Kyuri took a long slice along her upper arm from an unexpected spear thrust from a man she though she had knocked out. Another had tripped her from behind and she had landed wrong on her ankle. It was throbbing now every time she put weight on it but she still pushed on. Sangilak had his scales scuffed and scratched by various sword thrusts. None had managed to find a chink in his scales yet, although a few were strong enough that they had definitely bruised the skin underneath. The tip of his tail had been burned by a soldier, who had promptly been devoured, armor and all.

Kyuri was fading fast when she finally jumped over the side of the ship and plummeted into the water below, followed by Sangilak. The two drew close under the water as Kyuri used it to heal their accumulated wounds, focusing on any close to Sangilak's wings and her ankle the most and giving a general pick-me-up to the other wounds.

With the haling completed, she stretched out her arms. Sangilak caught her in her usual seat and rose out of the water, Kyuri dragging a wave with her that concealed them. They burst out of it in a hail of glittering droplet as the wave crashed over the deck of a ship, dumping soldiers over the side and washing the catapults into each other, throwing a few overboard.

The ships were anchoring as twilight fell when Aang and Kyuri soared back into the city, landing next to Katar, Yue, and Alignak.

"Aang! Kyuri!" Katara called, rushing to meet them. Aang slid off of Appa, collapsing against his paw tiredly and placing his head in his hands.

"I can't do it," he mumbled. "I can't do it."

"Aang, what happened?" Katara pressed as she and Yue reached them.

"I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships but there's just too many," Aang sighed despairingly. "I can't fight them all."

"But you have to," Yue said, knotting her fingers pleadingly. "You're the Avatar."

"I'm just one kid," Aang said helplessly.

"So?" Kyuri challenged, kneeling beside him with Katara. "I'm one kid too."

"But you're… you!" Aang said, gesturing to her. "You're an amazing fighter and a Master Waterbender and a Dragora and… and you never get scared or discouraged!"

"And I hung the sun and designate when it sets too," Kyuri said drily. "Aang, you think I'm never scared? I was terrified when I saw those ships come over the horizon. The difference is that I hid it and did what had to be done. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the knowledge that something is more important than fear. As for my other titles, I have worked hard to gain them. But so have you. You have overcome the loss of your people, overcome the Fire Nation countless times. You're the Avatar, Aang. In past lives you have mastered the four elements hundreds of times, saved the world from tyranny hundreds of time. You can do this because you've done it before."

Aang threw his arms around Kyuri who jerked, surprised, then patted his bald head hesitantly. "Erm, it's alright?"

"Thanks Kyuri," Aang said softly into her ear. Katara watched as Kyuri's features softened and she wrapped one arm around Aang, hugging him back.

"No problem," she whispered.

"Come on you too," Katara teased gently, helping Aang up. "Break up the love fest."

Yue lead them to a balcony overlooking the entire city. They stood, looking out over the peaceful city and knowing it was only brief. The moon hung in the sky, nearly full.

"The legends say the moon was the first Waterbender," Yue began slowly. "Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned to do it themselves."

"I've always noticed my Waterbending is stronger at night," Katara recalled.

"The strength of the Waterbenders comes from the moon," Kyuri said, closing her eyes and bathing in its glow, letting its strength fill her from her toes to her crown. "We are never more powerful than at the full moon."

"Our life comes from the spirit of the ocean," Yue added. "They work together to keep balance."

"The spirits!" Aang burst out, perking up. "Maybe they can help!"

"What do you mean?" Yue asked, confused.

"The Avatar is the bridge between this world and the Spirit World," Katara explained. "Aang can talk to them!"

"And maybe they can give you the wisdom to win this battle!" Yue concluded excitedly.

"Or maybe they'll unleash a crazy amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation."

Everyone stared at Aang.

"Or wisdom. That's good too."

"The only thing is that you got to the Spirit World by accident last time," Katara reminded him. "How are you going to get there now?"

"I have an idea," Yue said, smiling. "Follow me!"

They followed her through the corridors of the Northern Tribe's city until she stopped before a very low door shaped like a circle.

"Is this the way to the Spirit World?" Aang asked blankly.

"No," Yue chuckled. "You'll have to get there on your own. But I can show you the way to the most spiritual place in the whole North Pole."

Aang opened the door and stepped inside, followed by the girls. Kyuri stared around in awe.

It was a chasm, the bottom filled with water. Around the edge ran thin ledges of ice for walking. Bridges split off from the ledges and ran onto an island of grass. The island had three dominant parts. One was a pond in which two koi fish circled. The other was a bamboo stand at the back. The last was a tori arch in front of the bamboo.

"I never thought I'd miss grass this much!" Aang beamed as he dropped to the ground. Momo scurried over to the pond and stuck his hand in. He was treated to the glares of three unamused Water Tribe girls and quickly ran off into the bamboo.

"You're right Yue, I feel… something," Aang said, sitting down with his legs crossed and pressing his fists together. "It's so… tranquil."

"Why's he sitting like that?" Yue asked interestedly.

"He's meditating, trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration," Katara explained. Kyuri caught Aang's irritated twitch and smirked slightly.

"Is there anything we can do?" Yue asked.

"How about some quiet?" Aang demanded, turning to them. "Seriously guys, I can hear every word you're saying!" He turned back around and let out a calming breath. It was only a matter of seconds before the glow burst from his tattoos and eyes. Yue gasped in surprise, never having seen the phenomena before.

"Is he okay?" she fretted.

"He's crossing over," Katara soothed. "He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world."

"Maybe we should get some help..." Yue said, still anxious.

"No one can help," Kyuri said, shaking her head. "His spirit is no longer here. The only thing we can do in the physical world is keep him safe."

"He's our friend," Katara said, smiling tenderly at Aang. "We can take care of him."

"Well, aren't you a big girl now?"

"No," Katara breathed, turning to see Zuko stepping across the bridge onto the grass.

"Yes."

His face was looking the worse for wear, dotted with cuts and a nasty burn across his jaw, plus his infamous scar. He was dressed, not in armor, but in thick, white clothes, suited to the environment.

Yue fled and Katara took a stance but Kyuri threw out a hand, cutting her off.

"Kyuri?" Katara questioned.

"Go," Kyuri advised. "Get Sokka, find Chief Arnook, and tell him what's happening."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Katara asked, sending Zuko a sharp glare.

"I'll be fine. Go!"

Katara turned and ran, racing after Yue.

"Sending off your only help? That's awfully brave of you," Zuko commented.

"I've never needed help to beat you before and I doubt I will now," Kyuri said, looking him up and down. "You've come into this fight injured and sopping. There's not much left for me to do."

"Zuko's here," Kyuri thought to Sangilak. Through his eyes she saw the numerous ships still to be dealt with. They had anchored out in the bay. Zhao, the leader, was many things, but not a fool. He knew that even as the Firebenders grew weaker with the rising moon, the Waterbenders would get stronger.

"In the oasis? I'm coming!"

"No, keep an eye on the ships. We can't be caught unawares if they attack. Relay any signals to Alignak and have him tell Yue. We need to know what they're planning."

Kyuri drew her swords with her usual flamboyant twirl.

"No," Zuko said suddenly. He had come to realize something in their last fight. Her swords were only used when she felt confident she could beat an opponent without bending. He had proven he could take her when she used them, yet she continued to disregard him and use her blades. The thought that she was looking down on him made his blood boil. "You're a bender. Fight like one." Kyuri raised an eyebrow. "Don't patronize me!"

Kyuri paused. "You figured it out then. Why I don't fight with bending often. It gives one an unfair advantage. However, you're right." A small smile tugged at her lips. "You're the first person to understand. You're also the first person I've ever really needed to use bending to defeat. Alright then." Her arms crossed and she slid her swords into her sheathes.

Zuko had been waiting for the moment, when her hands were occupied, her arms raised, her torso open to a strike. He jumped forwards, fire flying in long streaks from his feet. Kyuri rolled to the side, swords stowed, and smiled. She reached out a hand. Water flew from the bottom of the chasm. Something told her not to use the water from the pond, not to disturb the swirling fish.

The water rolled up her arm and froze around her fingertips. She flicked her hand and the icy darts flew forwards. Fire burst in front of Zuko, coming towards her and melting the ice as it came. She rolled under the wave of fire and came up inside his guard, almost chest-to-chest. He swung a fist at her and she dodged to the side, grabbing his wrist and popping him over her hip. Zuko rolled across the grass and jumped to his feet, turning to face her.

Moving together, they both sank into bending stances, Zuko's fists flaming and Kyuri's coating with ice. Zuko made to swing at her jaw while Kyuri sent a powerful two-handed punch directly at his chest. The air around them exploded and the two were sent flying backwards in a cloud of steam. Kyuri cried out as her back slammed into the icy wall of the chasm and heard Zuko do the same across from her.

It happened again, she thought vaguely as she slumped to the ground. I can't hit him hit him with such a direct attack or my element interferes. At least he's at the same disadvantage…

Kyuri stood and Zuko did the same across from her. Zuko charged, fire streaming from his hands and feet. She raised her hands and jumped, flipping across the grass towards him in a series of staggering acrobatics that bent and twisted her around every jet of fire Zuko sent toward her. She dropped in front of him and he grabbed her shoulders. To his surprise, instead of wrenching away, she gripped his wrists and held him tight. She walked her feet up his torso and placed them on his shoulder. Kyuri twisted abruptly, flinging him to the side with his neck throbbing. She landed in a crouch with one leg extended.

Zuko hauled himself to his knees, turning to look at her. That fighting snarl she wore was there, but now it was not so much angry and vicious as it was… inviting. She was enjoying this, he realized. She was enjoying this fight and he wasn't quite sure how to take that. Was she enjoying it because she thought he was an amusing, weak opponent? Was she enjoying it because it was a challenge? From the little he knew of her personality he suspected the latter.

"Come on, on your feet," Kyuri coaxed, straightening. Zuko's legs snapped out, turning in a circle, fire streaming towards her from his thrashing feet. Kyuri jumped, flipping backwards and slipping over the side of the island into the water smoothly. Freezing liquid chilled her to the bone but she fought against it and came up on the crest of a wave. She rode it towards Zuko, sweeping across the small island and carefully avoiding Aang.

Zuko threw out a foot and raked it through the column. It disrupted the water and sent Kyuri flying. She hit the ground and slid on the wet grass painfully. She turned to look at him and stood, spitting mud out and coughing. Zuko watched as her eyes rose to his challengingly. Her hand extended and water coiled up into her grip.

Kyuri held it like a whip, the same move Katara had used to coax Pakku into a fight, and advanced towards Zuko, snapping it across her body in an X. The water cracked and popped like a real whip as she advanced and Zuko took a step back, not entirely sure how to counter such a maneuver. Kyuri snapped the whip out, coiling it around his raised hands, binding them together, and jerking him towards the ground. Zuko hit and broke free of the water. He rolled, feet flying dizzyingly and trailing fire around him in all directions. Kyuri jumped over the blast and landed next to him. A hand shot out and grabbed her ankle.

Zuko popped up just as Kyuri went down into a full split. She looked up at him in mild surprise before rolling onto her back and leaning onto her hands. She shot upwards, flying into Zuko legs first. Her knees hooked over his hips and she used her weight and force to bring him to the ground. They rolled, each trying to gain the top.

Kyuri's eyes widened as the ground dropped out from under her. She and Zuko plunged into the freezing water. She watched his eyes widen and his body immediately began to shake in the extreme temperatures, his breath puffing out in surprise at the sudden dousing.

She looked straight at his face, battered, burned, but determined. He was already freezing and injured yet he still came after her with that determination that she couldn't help but admire. Kyuri closed her eyes, mentally cursing herself and whatever strange power Zuko held to make her respect him as she cupped his face. The water around her hands glowed and he immediately began thrashing, not knowing what was going on. A few weak punches caught her in the stomach but she stubbornly clung on. When the healing was finished, she kicked her feet out and shot them to the surface.

They flopped onto the grass together, gasping like fish, Kyuri half on top of Zuko. She gasped and sputtered, rolling off of him and rising to her elbows, coughing up water onto the ground. She could hear Zuko gagging next to her and she reached out a hand, rolling him onto his side so that he could get the water out of his lungs.

"What… were you… thinking?" Zuko panted, slumping back onto the grass and staring at her.

"No… idea…" Kyuri admitted, sprawling on her stomach, huffing in great gulps of air. "No idea whatsoever."

"You get that I'm your enemy?"

"There's something about you…" Kyuri admitted softly. "You're just as determined as I am, just as passionate a fighter… I didn't want you to die here. You can't handle the cold plus this fight." She dragged herself to her feet weakly. She stared at Zuko as he rose.

"Big mistake."

Kyuri's eyes widened as a foot flew forwards her, connecting hard with her forehead. She was thrown back, rolling along the ground and landing against the arch, her limbs strewn limply around her and her hair falling in her face.

Zuko stared down at the girl he'd just knocked unconscious. There was a flicker of pride, just like there was whenever he landed a blow on this seemingly unbeatable fighter, but it was a small and sputtering thing as he wondered. She'd healed him.

"There's something about you… You're just as determined as I am, just as passionate a fighter… I didn't want you to die here."

No one had ever complimented his fighting, not even uncle. It was always about critique, whatever he did wrong. His uncle rebuked him for being 'obsessed' with the hunt for the Avatar, for being so angry. She saw them as good things. In fact, judging by the tone of her voice, she admired those qualities.

It gratified him to know that there was at least one person in this world that didn't look down on him as weak or damaged, even if she was his enemy.

Zuko scooped up the Avatar and was gone.

"Kyuri!"

Kyuri was snapped awake by the mental shout. Her eyes fluttered open and she groaned as her head throbbed. She rolled onto her back and looked up to see the large shape of Sangilak hovering overhead, gleaming in the rising sun.

Memories of the fight slammed back. Her one act of kindness, a mercy she was now cursing herself for, had ended with Aang gone and Zuko triumphant. Rage boiled in her blood and her fists clenched as she propelled herself to her feet. Sangilak's tail dipped down in front of her and she grabbed it tightly, climbing as he flew and radiating so much rage that Sangilak had to put a damper on the flow of their thoughts.

"You're furious."

"He betrayed me. I was so stupid! For just a moment, I pitied him, and he used that. My emotions got the better of me and I was beaten!"

Sangilak was unnerved by the sheer amount of anger coming from Kyuri. He knew she could have dismantled him in a fight had she been willing. With this rage coursing through her she was most definitely willing to use such a technique now.

"It's daytime."

"But the full moon is nigh. It's enough power."

"Kyuri, are you sure?"

Sangilak feared terribly that this would put Kyuri back into her shell. She had trusted someone and been hurt and now she blamed her trust for that fact when she should be blaming the person she had trusted. This would in no way help the growing openness she had been nurturing.

"He hasn't gotten far in this blizzard. He's up ahead, near that cave I saw while scouting. He has Aang. He's probably looking for shelter."

"Fly and pray I keep from tearing his head off."

Sangilak's face twisted into the dragon version of a wince. He was truly worried that she would kill the prince. He had not felt her this enraged since the event that left her orphaned and alone. She could not handle more blood on her hands, the first time had nearly broken her…

"Kyuri… You know I have no love for the Fire Nation royals, but he was simply displaying the determination you so prize in him."

Kyuri's rage paused for a moment as she contemplated that. It was that very determination that had sparked her brief and now long gone swell of pity. Could she truly be livid with him for that? Logically, no, but her emotions seemed to have taken the reins and she could no longer keep the betrayed feeling from rising up and choking her.

"It doesn't matter," she said aloud grimly as they descended. "He will pay."

Zuko knew he didn't have much of a chance. The sow had turned into a blizzard, he had no idea of the terrain, he was dragging dead weight, and he had an undoubtedly annoyed Dragora after him. But still he had to try to get away and get the Avatar to his father.

His hopes were dashed when a large shadow swooped over him. The Living Glacier landed in front of him, head low and lips pulled back, baring wicked fangs. A long, low growl rumbled out of its mouth with a gush of hot smoke. Its wing lifted and revealed the riders seat, and its furious rider.

Kyuri dropped to the ground.

"Give him to me."

"No."

"You will regret it," she hissed, hating he fact that that pity was still there, a sick little flame in her stomach. His wounds were healed, but he was drenched, frozen, and tired. She still didn't want to hurt him.

"You know I won't!" Zuko snapped. "So just get it over with! Attack me!"

Kyuri's lips twisted back into a mocking snarl. "Attack you? Why should I bother? You see, before I was being polite. I could have taken you down with no more effort than drawing my blade. You should be grateful I decided that would be dishonorable. However, when I offered a kindness, you betrayed that and now I have no such inhibitions. Last chance."

Zuko took a step back. He genuinely feared this girl right now. He had never seen anyone look so furious, with such a draconic expression of rage on their face. Though he couldn't quite determine the reason, he knew that he had deeply wounded her by, literally, kicking her while she was down after she went out on a limb and helped him. Now she wanted payback.

Kyuri raised her hands, her will reaching out. Zuko's eyes widened as he felt his control wrenched from him. Without his mind's instruction he found his grip on the Avatar loosening. The boy fell from his shoulder to the ground and then slid towards Kyuri at a beckoning flick of her wrist.

"What are you doing to me?"he demanded, struggling against his invisible bonds. "You're… what is this?"

"This is aokniortitok," Kyuri said coldly, her hands flicking. Zuko's arms snapped around. "The darker side of Waterbending. What I'm doing right now is taking control of your very blood and using it to control your movements."

And it was making her feel ill. She'd learned of aokniortitok from Sangilak, mastered it, and then promptly sworn she would never use it. She knew what it felt like to have your control ripped away in a moment.

And here she was inflicting that on someone else.

Kyuri's hands dropped and she doubled over, retching in the snow. Zuko collapsed. Her nails dug into her palms, blood trickling into the snow next to the bile. An image flashed in her mind, a body pierced by an icicle and dangling like some sort of macabre puppet.

"Kyuri."

"Don't talk to me right now!" Kyuri snapped, holding up a hand.

"I didn't say-"

"Not you!" she said harshly, glaring at Zuko. She stalked to Aang and seized him, hauling him up over her shoulder. "There's a cave not half a mile from here. We'll go there while I think."

Zuko stood up glaring at her. She had ripped his control from him, violated him in an intensely personal way, and he loathed her for that. Sometimes since his banishment he had felt that his free will was all that was left to him, and then only just, and she had cruelly snatched that for herself. He felt betrayed.

It hit him then. This was what she felt when she attacked him, this loss of control, this powerlessness brought on by another person. This betrayal that was raw and deep and painful. Understanding flooded through him and he tripped over his foot, staggering a step as his wide eyes locked on her blue ones.

"Who took your control away?" he asked softly. Abruptly he found a dragon's head in his face, hot, fetid breath rushing around him.

"Don't ever pry in her life, worthless prince!"

Zuko stiffened as the voice, ancient and powerful, filled his mind, accompanied by a rush of dislike that went deep into the past and made him tremble.

"Sangilak," Kyuri said calmly, placing a hand on Sang's side. She had heard the command to. "You should feel honored. Sangilak usually doesn't talk to others."

Nodding dumbly, Zuko followed her into a cave. Kyuri laid Aang down and slit his bonds easily, tossing them aside and rolling a heavy, frozen stone against one wall of the cave. Zuko opened his mouth to question the action when a controlled stream of searing hot fire bloomed and bathed the stone. It sat there, cherry-red, exuding its own heat as Sangilak's massive jaws clamped shut with an audible snap.

"Sit," Kyuri said calmly, taking a seat by the stone. Cautiously, Zuko sat. He had his prize, but now a Dragora and dragon who had moments ago utterly incapacitated him stood in his way. The most he could do at this point was do what they said and pray another murderous rage didn't overcome Kyuri.

"I find myself at a disadvantage," she said calmly, keeping her eyes purposefully blank as she addressed Zuko.

"I don't see how," he muttered.

"I can't seem to find it in me to truly hurt you, emotionally or in terms of bending. This is, as you may have guessed, a rather new phenomenon for me. I find it irritates and confuses me."

Zuko looked up at her in surprise. Here she sat, looking completely emotionless, yet coming out with… that? He hadn't realized how socially inept she was until that moment. He recalled the surprise of everyone in the Water Tribe village when she had appeared. The peasant girl, Katara, had reacted like she had seen someone come back to life. So she had been on her own for… how long? Decades? Longer than he had, definitely.

She had mentioned not being able to hurt him with her bending directly, something he'd noticed as well, but that didn't seem to really phase her. It did, however, seem the safest course to follow with this conversation she seemed determined to have.

"You mentioned our bending," he began."

"That's not unique," she said, flapping a hand at him absently. "It happens sometimes when two benders are at truly compatible levels of bending. It crops up in legends all the time, usually among arch enemies or lovers, depending on how the story unfolds and the circumstances they meet. No, this feeling stopping me from hurting you interests me far more."

Zuko blinked at her small monologue. This wasn't unheard of? He thought he vaguely recalled some story, now that he thought about it. His father had never been the type to sit down and tell him bedtime stories. Archenemies or… lovers? His face heated slightly at the thought.

"It's rather inconvenient," Kyuri continued, becoming increasingly more agitated as she became absorbed in her thoughts and forgot who she was with. "It keeps me from protecting Aang like I swore to. Katara's attained near mastery by this point. I suppose I'm not really needed. I could return to my cave. No, I've already decided that's hopeless. I care for them. I care Sang, have you noticed that? I can't decide if I like that or not," she said with a slightly manic giggle.

"Kyuri…"

"No, and that's not the worst bit. The worst bit is I've been so completely stupid enough to allow myself to care about what happens to not just those close to me but others I come in contact with even if they're the enemy." She snorted harshly. "I used to be the perfect fighter, I worked for it, but now look at me! I'm sitting here near tears because I can't understand why I feel the way I do like some silly, naïve girl. Silly, naïve girls don't have a life on their conscience Sangilak, and I don't see how I can be a cold-blooded killer and some emotional fool."

"Excuse me?" Zuko blinked. A cold-blooded killer. She was violent and deadly efficient but he'd never seen her take a life. Could that be what had shifted her into this person?

Kyuri's head snapped towards him and she realized what she'd been blabbering about and to whom.

"You didn't hear that," she said coldly. "I won't answer questions."

"Kyuri?"

Kyuri turned to look at a groggy Aang who was sitting up and looking between the two in surprise.

"What's going on?" the little monk asked innocently.

Kyuri's eyes flicked to Zuko. "Absolutely nothing. I caught him dragging you off and got you back. That's all. Nothing else."