A/N: I've thought of something I would do for you, my readers. As mentioned by Love Like Wine.

As a special surprise, I'll update two chapters at the same time. So you'll have two chapters to read!

For me this will be a slight challenge but I think I can do it. Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing my story. Sharing and spreading the love! :)

Book 4 Air

Chapter 75 Concurrence

"Room service…" a servant male said as he knocked the door. Toph jumped off the seat of the chair and walked over to the entrance. Once she opened the oak wooden door, the servant bowed respectfully, "Here is a meal for you and the Avatar, miss." The servant said as Toph took the tray then nodded her head. As she closed the door and turned she saw Aang was resting peacefully on the bed. Toph then smiled to herself as she placed the tray on top of the dresser. Sheepishly she walked over to the airbender's side. She gracefully reached her hand and traced her fingertips over the boy's forehead. 'His skin is so soft…Like baby skin.' Toph thought as she blushed lightly, remembering how weak he was when she gave him a rock massage or rather a rock beating, during his sleepless nights on the black cliff side. Toph smiled as she recalled him running off after she suggested, performing acupuncture on him from a baby boar'pine.

Looking down at him, Toph got a better view of his blue arrows etched into the pores of his skin. It must have very painful for him when he got them. Looking further down his face, Toph noticed his mouth. Soft and thin lines of his lips slightly parted as he breathed out through his mouth then inhaled from his nostrils. Toph slowly leaned down as she caressed her hair out of her face. Her lips drew closer to his as her heart was beating fast.

The sight of the food tray was seen as the girl then pulled away. Pressing herself against the wall. 'I can't…' Toph thought as she then lowered her head then turned away.

Just then two gray eyes opened slowly as the boy turned his head. "Urh…Toph? Is that you?" Aang said as he tried to focus his sight. The room was dim with candles making the girl appear almost like an outline of a shadow. "Yes, Aang…It's me." Toph said softly as she stepped forward.

"Oranges…" Aang said.

"Uh?" Toph asked confused.

"I smell oranges and kiwi." Aang said as he sat up looking at the tray of food.

"Oh, right…" Toph said as walked over to the tray then lifted the lid and saw two silver bowls of small sliced mandarin oranges mixed with peeled kiwi. Toph then opened two smaller trays of steaming cabbage soup with rice.

"Mmm…It smells so good." Aang said as his mouth watered.

"Heh, don't drool on the bed now." Toph said as she picked up the bowl of fruit then the other bowl of soup with rice.

"Here…" Toph said as she placed the tray of food on Aang's lap.

"Thanks, Toph." Aang said with a smile as he picked one of the oranges and chewed lightly.

Toph smiled lightly as she pulled in a chair and ate her meal on her lap. The two ate their food in silence both the sound of metal was heard lightly tapped near beside the table.

"You're already finished?" Toph asked as she heard Aang laugh slightly, "Yea, I finished, it was very good. I'm so full." Aang said as he patted his stomach.

"It's so dark in here…" Toph complained as she chopped on a kiwi making a smacking sound as she chewed.

"Hmm, maybe we can ask for more candles?" Aang suggested as he then felt a petite form brush against him.

"Toph?" Aang asked concerned as he saw the girl's eyes look up at him. "I'm scared ok?!" Toph shouted as she then clenched Aang's robe. "I-I don't want to lose my sight. The darkness…I hate it." Toph said softer as she then buried her face in Aang's chest.

Aang softly held the girl closer to him as she lay across his leg and chest while the rest of her body dangled off the edge of the bed.

It was reasonable that the earthbender who has seen nothing but darkness her whole life, now fear it for the thought of never seeing the world again, there was still so much she hasn't seen.

As a monk, Aang admired nature and the beauty that all things share in life. Aang wrapped his arm over the girl as he spoke gently.

"It's alright Toph…You aren't going to lose your sight. Everything will be alright." Aang said as Toph lifted her head and tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

Aang held his breathe as he looked down at the girl. Her black hair down over her shoulders and pass her back with her bangs covering half of her eyes. Aang's lips parted as he blushed. Her face was so close to his, almost close enough to kiss her.

"Aang?" Toph asked as Aang quickly respond, "Y-yes?" the now nervous airbender said as Toph moved closer.

"Your cheeks are red…?" Toph said as she moved her hand up and lightly placed them on his burning cheeks.

"And they're really warm too, are you getting sick?" Toph asked as Aang took another sharp breath before holding it again.

"Oh, no…I'm fine." Aang said as he let all the air out of his lungs.

Toph then cupped the boy's cheek as Aang looked deeply into the girl's sightful eyes. Deep green, a striking jade with darker specks of brown, much like the earth; her new eyes made her skin and face look even paler almost like a porcelain doll. Aang then looked down at her mouth. A soft pink tinted her lips, almost like a pink sakura blossom. The airbender wanted to kiss her so badly.

'She's so cute…' Aang thought.

Slowly he leaned in, as Toph froze. 'What is he doing?' Toph thought as her eyes then widen. She felt his baby soft lips pressing against hers. She tasted the orange tang against his lips as Aang pulled away and he savored the sweetness of kiwi from the girl's small mouth.

"Yummy…" Aang said with a huge grin as Toph trembled with embarrassment. "Stupid!" Toph cried out as she hit his arm then sat up on the edge of the bed, turning away from the airbender.

Aang then chuckled as he sat further up, pressing his back on bedpost behind him.

'She's not just cute…she's adorable.' Aang thought as he rubbed his arm.


Slowly opening her eyes, Mai noticed something strange. She wasn't in her cell anymore. The ground felt soft yet loose underneath her as she sat up. Gazing around, she didn't see anything. The only ounce of anything visional was a ray of light beaming down on her. Looking up she couldn't make out where the golden light was coming from. Just then she heard a low voice.

"So, he has found someone else to replace, for his collection?" the voice said as Mai turned to the source.

"Who's there?" Mai asked as a form slowly stepped into the light. Mai's eyes widen as she saw a man. He was dressed in Fire Nation armor with traditional sideburns and knot top. He looked like an ordinary man expected, the only thing missing was his actually face!

"How are you able to breathe? What's going on? Where am I?" Mai said as she started to feel claustrophobic.

"Calm down…Mai" the voice said as his hands lightly reached out to try and clam the girl down.

Mai froze as she then turned her gaze at the faceless man, "H-how did you know my name?" Mai asked as she had a horrid look across her face.

"Mai right? The nobleman's daughter…? One of my cousin's friends?" the voice said as Mai's eyes widen.

"Lu…Ten?"


Lifting the ruby red strawberry to her lips, Katara softly nibbled on the fruit. The servants already came and left after the two teens got their meals from the room service. It was pleasant eating the fresh fruit and rice with stewed meat. Zuko reached over and grabbed a piece of sliced mango.

"So, how are the dance preparations going?" Katara asked lightly as Zuko swallowed his fruit before answering.

"So far, so good…All we need to do is re-open the ball room and put the decorations up. The guest invites are already sent along with the approval of the councils. Uncle insisted to buy our outfits for the dance. It would be nice to have Aang and Toph attend now, that everything is more settled." Zuko said with a small smile as he leaned forward and picked up a cup filled with warm tea.

"Yea…It is truly a blessing that Aang and Toph made it back safely." Katara said as she smiled warmly while her eyes closed, feeling grateful to the spirits.

"Yea…" Zuko said as he lowered his cup.

Yet, Zuko kept thinking back on the last report he read. It mentioned something terrible on Mai's condition. Although the paper was clear on what. Zuko wanted to know before he continued any further in the celebration. It wouldn't right to have a dance party while Mai stayed locked up. She should at least be with her family during the commemoration of their God and the entertainment of a festival.

'Even if what she did was crazy…I can't help but pity that fact she's lock up and alone.' Zuko said to himself as he then heard a soft voice that bought him out of his thoughts.

"Zuko, are you alright?" Katara asked again as Zuko looked at her.

"Yea…" Zuko said as he took another sip.

Katara frowned lightly as she then stood up. Walking to him, Katara then wrapped her arms around his neck as she embraced him from behind. Her brown hair hung over his shoulder as she rested her lips on the back of his head.

"Whatever is troubling you…Just know, I'm here for you." Katara said softly as she closed her eyes.

Zuko lowered his head as he gripped on his tea cup. 'Katara…You always know what to say…' Zuko thought as he shut his eyes.

"There is something…That has been troubling me for some time." Zuko said opening up to the waterbender.

"What is it?" Katara asked softly as Zuko swallowed hard.

"It has to do with Ozai…and my own banishment." Zuko said as he explained how he wanted to go into the war meeting with his uncle. Then how he spoke out of term to the general and his father. He was challenge to an Agni Kai, and he accepted thinking he would fight the general. Only to find out, it was his father that he had to fight.

"I couldn't do it…I couldn't bring myself to do it…" Zuko said as his voice became emotional as he continued his story.

"He then told me that this will teach me a lesson…Because I was weak for not fighting him." Zuko said as he started to tremble.

"That is how I got my scar, Katara…" Zuko said as Katara gasped. "No…He couldn't have!" Katara cried out as she then placed her forehead against the back of Zuko's head.

"It can't be…" Katara whispered as Zuko slowly lifted his hands up then touched her wrists lightly as he grinded his teeth. Katara then smiled sadly as she tugged tighter on him. She then felt wet droplets fall pass her arm, her brows furrowed sadly, "Zuko…" Katara said as she then kissed the back of his head sweetly as she then lowered her head then kissed him on the cheek.

Tears collected on her lips as she then turned to the side and gently wiped them away.

"That's why…I-I can't tell her…I can't tell my mother what happened." Zuko said confessing his troubled thoughts as Katara sat on her knees and face Zuko from the chair.

"It's alright Zuko… You don't have to be afraid to tell her…Everything will alright." Katara said as she caressed Zuko's cheek.

'I can't believe he did that to his own son…Zuko. Now I understand everything.' Katara thought to herself as she smiled softly at the Fire Lord.


As Sokka entered into the room, he folded his arms over his chest. "You know, you could have told me." Sokka said as he looked at the outline of the girl as he stepped closer into the candle light.

The sight of Aeron was seen, with her knees up to her chest as she rested her chin over her hands.

"You must think I'm pretty stupid uh?" Aeron said in a low tone as Sokka smiled.

"No, I don't…In fact I think you're quite the opposite. You're like most of the people of the Fire Nation. They have the desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want, the element of power." Sokka said as Aeron's eyes widen as she then looked at the young Water Tribe man. She then smiled and chuckled lightly, "Now I see what you mean…It really does sound like something out of a story…" Aeron said as she turned her head and smiled at herself.

Aeron then held a serious expression on her face as she calmly spoke, "Where did you hear that from?" Aeron asked as a hint of curious was heard in her tone.

"Haha, just some old tales I've heard about the Fire Nation." Sokka said as he laughed lightly.

"Hmm, I see…Sounds almost impossible to imagine since we were considered to look like demons to the rest of the world." Aeron said coldly as she lowered her head.

"The Avatar…"

"Uh?" Aeron asked.

"The Avatar told me that…He knew the Fire Nation people over a hundreds ago. Full of desire and energy, something you have." Sokka said as Aeron blushed lightly, "Ok, I get it…" Aeron said as she then stood up.

"Heh…You sound like a good catch." Aeron said as she smiled.

"Heh, yea…" Sokka said with a cheeky smile.

Aeron then laughed as she watched the teen boy flex.

"You're silly…" Aeron said as Sokka stopped flexing. "Heh…" Sokka said mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head.

Just then a knock at the door was heard, Sokka walked up to the enterance and opened it.

"Mister Sokka, General Ryuan will like to speak with you, shortly." A servant girl said as she gave him a small scroll.

Sokka thanked the girl as he closed the door.

"What is it?" Aeron asked as Sokka unrolled the paper.

"It's a mention of meeting the general. They want me to be an eye witness to the trial." Sokka said as he then looked at Aeron.


Cute fluff-ness and harmless flirting! Yay! Haha. Now as for the next chapter it might have to wait a little bit to upload. But don't worry I'll update really soon!!!

PLEASE review!