Here we go lovely readers

Sakura lied awake; it had been three days since they had invaded the earth king's party and got caught by Long Fang. They were at a loss concerning what to do next. Dai Li agents would now be spying on them-Sakura could tell when there was a presence watching her and her abilities would allow her to evade them easily but the rest of the group not so much.

Sakura's eyes narrowed- she was going to help find Aapa; she was going to help Aang inform the earth king about the war and she was going to find a way home.

'I'm not sure how long I'm going to be here so I should probably...'

People that are connected by fate will never be able to escape each other

"A job?" Sokka asked starring at her in disbelief "You want to get a job?"

Sakura nodded calmly as she sipped on her tea.

"Seriously; why would you want to do that?" Toph asked "Nothing but rules to follow and you've gotta do whatever your boss says! Who wants that?"

Laughing half heartedly Sakura rubbed the back of her head "I figured if I'm going to be staying for a while I shouldn't be penniless; I can't expect you guys to pay for me all the time and I did come to this world with only a couple of mission supplies-mostly weapons and food pills."

"Alright but where are you going to get a job?" asked Katara

Sakura smiled "I have that covered."

Sakura stared at the old run down building; the sign on top of it read 'Medical Clinic'; it was rather small for a medical centre but then again she was in the lower ring. From the looks of this place to the people; it pulled at her heart strings. That and she was certain that this would be a good place to investigate any illegal dealings; and blending in would make things easier.

When Sakura walked into the building she saw just how small the facility was; there were a few beds set up right there as you walked in and then at the back at there was a room as well as an area where a couple of people were sitting. The place was packed.

Sakura saw a women about in her mid twenties sweeping up.

"Excuse me; I was wondering who I could talk to about getting a jog here?"

"That would be me." Another voice interrupted; Sakura saw another women; in her forties or so wearing a green robe like dress that she had gotten use to seeing after barely being in Ba Sing se for more than a few days.

"I am Hina; I'm in charge of this medical centre." She said

Sakura bowed her head as she has seen people do as a form of greeting in this world "My names Sakura and I'd like a job here."

"Getting a job isn't a problem if you qualify"

"Well-

Before Sakura could say anymore; someone came rushing; two people carrying in a young man.

"Help! We need help!"

Hina rushed forward "What's the problem?"

"W-We don't know; Yang just said he was getting chest pains and having trouble breathing and now-Oh!"

"Set him down on the bed!"

Sakura rushed over and lifted the full grown man herself and set him down; she removed the top of his robe "He's larynx has shifted to the side; it's a tension nemo-thorax."

"Are you certain?" asked Hina frowning "You've barely looked at him"

Sakura nodded certainly "He's lungs collapsed; his hearts being pushed against his chest."

"What do you we do!?" the man that carried him in asked

Sakura looked around but this medical centre didn't seem to have the proper equiptment she needed to extract the fluid in the man's chest so that he could breath.

"We don't have the proper tools for treatment here!" Hina exclaimed

"Don't worry" Sakura said "Someone grab a bucket of water and fill it!"

The girl that was sweeping went to do that immediately.

Sakura turned to Hina "Are there any herbs here?"

"Yes; in the back room there are a few."

Sakura rushed to the back door and grabbed a few herbs quickly before returning to the man. The girl had brought the bucket of water and Sakura quickly took the herbs and started rubbing them together in her hands extracting its fluids and allowing it to fall into the water as quickly as possible. Sakura then used her chakra coated hand to reach into the bucket and pull out the water; it raised up and Sakura placed it over the man's chest. The fluid began to pour into the man's chest.

"What are you doing?!" asked Hina

"Gathering the fluid and fixing his lung." She said

After a few minutes Sakura withdrew her hand and the liquid appeared very different than before; almost a greenish colour was drifting in it. Sakura placed it back into the bucket.

"This is usually a method I use for extracting poison but I figure it would work the same."

The man was able to breathe normally again.

"Thank you"

Sakura sighed "He'll be alright now."

As she went to the back to dispose of the fluid Hina came up to her "That was quite impressive."

Sakura rubbed the back of her head "Well-

"That technique; are you by any chance a water bender?"

She shook her head "No; I'm not-I just have a skill for healing."

"Well whatever that was it was splendid; we could use someone like you around here." Hina said she pointed to the girl "My daughter Yuki and I are the only ones who work here. We don't have a lot of medical supplies to treat people and you can imagine how many sick people there are here but there's usually nothing we can do; since the Dai Li refuse to give us any money or supply enough medicine to us."

Sakura placed a hand on her chest "I know how to make some medicines as well"

"Then you got the job."

Sakura grinned "HELL YEAH"

Quickly she covered her mouth with her hands "Sorry..."

Sakura's entire week followed with her going every morning to the lower ring for her job; it didn't pay much but Sakura didn't care. She helped all of the sick people there with her medical jutsu and even though it took up a bit of energy for Sakura it was worth it. She would be able to utilise her skills and continue to search the city without arousing the suspicion of the Dai Li that would now be watching their every move.

'But what if there was more than one of me?' she thought

What she planned to do was send a shadow clone in disguise to go looking for answers while she worked at the clinic.

'Let the search begin...'

Sakura; Katara; Aang and Sokka were in the wash room together getting ready for the day. Aang was shaving his head; Sokka shaved what little stubble had appeared on his face and Katara and Sakura were fixing their hair-well Katara was fixing her hair while Sakura as cutting it with a kunai; it had grown a little too long for a liking. Sakura wasn't sure when she came to the point where she was so comfortable around them that she was able to share the restroom facilities with them-even if it was only doing things like washing your face.

Katara looked at Sakura's hair "You know I was wondering about your hair..."

"It's pink we established that can we please let it go?" Sakura begged

Katara held her hands up "It's not that! I was just wondering if it was customary for female ninjas to keep their hair short."

Sakura glanced at Katara before shaking her head "It's not; actually most of the girl's hair is long; I just keep my hair short because..."

Her fists tightened and her heart gave a painful clench 'He was supposed to like long hair...'

"It got in the way a lot on missions." Sakura said "Like when there were these exams for ninja; one of the other competitors grabbed me by my hair."

"How'd you escape?" asked Sokka; by now they were all listening to her story.

"Well I was in the forest-my two teammates were injured from a fight and were unconscious so I had to watch over them; I was attacked then by another team. One of them grabbed me by my hair-that was all it took to immobilise me. The others were going to kill my teammates so I took the kunai"

She lifted up her kunai knife "And cut off my hair; then I fought."

"Wow that's amazing!" Aang said "You're so brave."

Sakura's smile faltered 'If only they knew the rest of the story.'

How she had failed to protect her friends; how another team had jumped in and saved them; how one of her teammates had been injured because she couldn't fight to protect him. No she wasn't brave. She didn't believe she deserved such praise.

"Is Toph still sleeping?" Sakura asked as she completed the final touches.

"Yup" said Sokka as he checked himself out in the mirror. "Let her sleep; trust me the last time I tried waking her up she earth bent me in a cage"

"Yikes..."

"I'll get her." Katara said walking out

"That might be the last we ever see of her..." Sokka murmured

"So what are you guys going to do today?" Sakura asked

"I'm gonna go check out some of the shops to see if they have any weapons." Sokka replied

Aang looked at her solemly "I'm going to search for Aapa some more."

Sakura placed her hand on Aang's shoulder "Don't worry Aang; I know we'll find him."

"Say; what about your job?" asked Sokka

"I'm working night shift tonight so I only have to come in later." Sakura said

Katara suddenly came rushing into the room "Hey Sakura you don't have work until later right?"

"Yes."

"Well then come on; you; mean and Toph are heading into town right now."

"Why?" Sakura asked

"Because we're having a girl's day out!" she announced

"Huh?"

Sakura stared at the large building in front of them that read the Fancy Lady day spa. In all honestly Sakura was actually quite giddy to be going to a spa; she couldn't remember the last time she went to one. Toph on the other hand was not so enthusiastic.

"The Fancy lady day spa? Sounds like my kind of place." She said sarcastically

"Are you girls ready for some serious pampering?" Katara asked

Sakura raised her hand up enthusiastically "Hell yeah!"

"As long as they don't touch my feet!" exclaimed Toph

Oh those women did so much more than just touch Toph's feet; they were scrubbing so hard trying to remove all of the dirt that was on her feet from walking around barefoot that Toph lost patience and sent them flying through the wall with her earthbending. Sakura was worried that it might be like that all day-and she was usually the one to send people through walls.

When they came to the mud baths luckily there was no reason for Toph to send anyone through walls and the girls enjoyed a relaxing bath and mud masks. Toph did however scare one of the workers there by earthbending the mud mask on her face. That one was just too funny for them not to laugh.

Then they were all relaxing together in the sauna-in which case waterbending and earthbending were perfect for creating steam.

After that they had a full make over session; where their faces were painted in 'casual' makeup. It didn't seem very casual to Sakura since she wasn't really one to wear any makeup. They left the spa and were now walking back home.

"Well that wasn't too bad; I'm not usually into that stuff but I actually feel girly."

Sakura smiled "I hear you; I don't ever remember having this much fun in a while."

"I'm glad; it's about time we did something fun together." Katara said

The girls walked across the bridge where they passed three girls.

"Wow great makeup" one of them said to Toph

"Thanks." Toph replied

"For a clown!" the girl laughed and so did her two friends

Sakura clenched her fists angrily; Katara put her arm around Toph "Don't listen to them; let's just keep walking."

"I think she looks cute" the other girl said "Like the time we put a sweater on your pet poodle monkey."

"Though it was such a horrid colour" the other girl added

"Wasn't it pink?" the other girl asked laughing

"No come on that was mean." the girl said mockingly looking at Sakura "Her hair's not the problem; it's her giant forehead."

They started laughing again

"Let's go guys" Katara said frowning

Sakura started laughing hysterically "That was so funny! But not as funny as this!"

Taking out three kunai knives Sakura flung it at the girls which cut off the hair pieces on their heads as well as their hair; chopping it in an uneven manner.

Toph joined in laughing as the girls cried out about their hair "You're right; that was a good one; you know what else is a good one?"

Toph earth bended the ground under the girls and sent them into the stream bellow; Katara looked down at them and smiled "Now that's funny."

Then she water bended them away far down the stream.

Sakura; Toph and Katara started walking away.

"Don't listen to those girls Toph." Sakura said "No matter where you go there will always be bitches."

"Yeah they don't know what they're talking about." Katara reassured "Of course I wouldn't have used the B word..."

"It's okay." Toph said "One of the good things about being blind is that I don't have to waste my time worrying about my appearance. I don't care what I look like...I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am."

A tear slipped past her eyes.

Sakura placed a hand on Toph's shoulder "I admire that about you Toph. You're so self assured"

"Exactly" Katara said "You're so strong and confident."

"I'm actually jealous of that." Sakura admitted

"What you're jealous?" asked Toph in disbelief

"Yes. It took me a really long time before I finally accepted myself the way I was. My hair; my forehead-it took someone else to help me change and come out of my shell. She set an example for me that gave me a goal to strive for-she told me something that changed something in me."

"Who did that?" asked Katara

"Her name was Ino Yamanaka; she and I were worlds apart when we met no pun intended. She helped me come out of my shell. One day we were doing this assignment together on flower gathering and..." Sakura felt tears prick her eyes "She told me about the different flowers that complemented each other; like a Cosmose flower and a Therowarp. I asked her if she was a Cosmose then was I just a Therowarp? A compliment to her?"

"What did she say?" asked Toph

"That she didn't think I was a flower at all; but a bud waiting to bloom." Sakura smiled widely "She told me that she helped me because she didn't want to see me wither away as a bud. Her exact words...were: 'For all we know that little bud it might become a flower even more beautiful than a cosmose.'"

"It sounds like you really admired her." Katara stated

Sakura nodded as she wiped away her tears and then looked to Toph "You're the way you are without anyone's help because you weren't afraid to be who you are. That's a trait that's hard to find."

Toph wiped her tears away.

"And I know it doesn't matter Toph but you're really pretty." Katara said truthfully

Toph smiled "I am?"

"Yes you are." Sakura said

The girls started walking together again; closer than they were before the day began.

"I'd return the compliment but I have no idea what you guys look like."

They laughed together.

"Thank you...Sakura and Katara."

Then she punched the girls on the arm at the same time as a sign of affection.

"Why are we going to the zoo again?" asked Aang as Sakura pulled him along the streets.

"Because that's one of the obvious places we haven't tried looking for Aapa yet." Sakura stated

Aang shot up "That's right! We should've thought about that sooner."

"Yeah we should've but we didn't." Sakura sighed as Aang started to rush towards the entrance of the zoo; pulling Sakura this time with him. When they entered it was not all what they were expecting. There were enclosures that were closely cramped together and cages hanging above those enclosures; it lacked the habitat settings that were usually prepared for animals of different kinds.

Sakura looked around and saw animals she has never seen before.

Aang went up to one of the animals that appeared to be a cross between a lion and a armadillo-Sakura just wondered which if it's habits it had.

"Hey there fellow you look hungry" as Aang tried to reach for it; it let out a furious growl making Sakura wrap her arms around Aang and he did the same as they watched the animal roll up.

Then they heard sweeping behind them and turned to see a man with dark hair in a long braid and a beard "They are hungry." He said

Turns out the lanky man was the owner of the zoo; he showed Sakura and Aang around after they asked him questions about Aapa; unfortunately for them they came up empty at least unlike the others who they have questioned he didn't flinch or break out into a cold sweat when they asked their questions.

Now he was sharing their problems with them; that was when Sakura asked about the conditions of the zoo.

"The Dai Li won't give me any money because the kids stopped coming and the kids won't come because my zoo is nasty and broke."

Aang stopped to look at one of the cages "What kind of animal is that?"

The animal Aang was referring to looked like a cross between a kangaroo and a rabbit.

"That's a rabaroo" the zoo owner said

Sakura's sweat dropped "Should've guessed."

"I wish I could get her a big open parry like she's use to and let her hope her way to happiness."

Aang jumped "Let's do it!"

"Say again?" asked the zoo keeper

"Yeah Say again?" Sakura asked exasperatedly

"There's a big open space right outside the walls of the city." Aang explained

"But how are you going to transport all of these critters?"

"Don't worry I'm great with animals" Aang reassured

Sakura gulped "Aang; shouldn't you think about this?"

"What's there to think about? Come on Sakura, what could go wrong?"

Screams filled the city of Ba Sing Se as they all ran for safety from the wild animals that had 'suddenly' appeared out of nowhere. They were wrecking up stores; chasing people down the roads; eating the cabbages of a cart.

Sakura looked at all of this and shook her head "Wait a go Aang."

"This went so much better in my head." Aang said rubbing the back of his neck

Crossing her arms over her chest she frowned "In your head were you by any chance playing a flute to lead animals through the city?"

Aang gasped "That's it!"

"I was being sarcastic you know!?"

Aang took out a whistle like object in the shape of a...buffolo? Then taking a deep breath he blew into it using his airbending to ensure it reached throughout the entire city.

The ground began to shake as all of the animals rounded the corner.

"Time to run." Aang said hoping on his air sphere while Sakura jumped on the roofs and began following after Aang.

They ran all the way to the gates that began opening on their approach; they ran out where Aang began earth bending and enclosure for the animals. Sakura watched in awe as he earth bended. In a few short minutes the zoo was recreated.

"That was amazing Aang!" Sakura said clapping enthusiastically

"Thanks I try."

The zoo keeper came up to them and Aang asked "So how do you like your new facilities?"

"Excellent job avatar; you should think about working with animals for a living."

And that's when they heard a couple of voices.

"Mommy Miss snowflake got out of the house again."

Sakura jumped on top of one of the highest points in the new zoo and spotted several people gesturing to the enclosures where their pets had ended up.

"Wait a minute...Aang does that whistle attract ALL animals?"

Suppposed that the whistle had attracted more than the animals from the zoo.

"Yeah I think the avatar will be sticking to saving people." Sakura said laughing