I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER. Greetings people. I'm just so excited for the chapters to come. I have big plans and in the next few chapters i'm going to have little side bits for the characters. Somewhat like tales of ba sing se, except for western air temple style and not written by amazing writers. Hopefully still up to par though. Feel free to review.

His hands snag in several small knots I misses while finger combing my hair. I cringe a bit, because I don't like looking unkempt in general. Especially in front of him. I was expecting a sudden surge of appologies. Instead he just works at them slowly taking care to be gentle. It feels so intimate. This small gesture. I can only hope my girly grin isn't showing on the outside. While he combs and untangles my hair, I absent-mindedly play with a little loose thread on the knee of his pants.

"ummmm... Zuko?" I said as a thought occured to me while he strokes my hair in the process loosening the pins and letting it down. The movement in the hallway tells me we are no longer free to speak or relax together.

"yes, my little fire flake?" His face stretches into a huge grin, as he grabs my wrists before I can give him a smack for such a stupid nickname. He lifts his hand and wriggles it in front of my nose before tickling my side and earning loud 'eeeps' and giggles out of me. The more I struggle the more he seems to tickle me. The only thought on my mind now is killing him. After a few minutes more of torture he stops, and allows me to catch my breath. Clearly he seems to forget that i'm not 100% yet, or that I absolutely hate being tickled (or touched in general) more than anything in the world. I purse my lips in annoyance and glare at him as a huff escapes my lips. I can hear small snickers from the hall since the door is still open. I'm guessing he can hear them now too since he's finally released me from his grip. I start to get up but then instead I sit back down and take a few moments to think of what I plan to do to him... I'll go easy on him for now.

I smirk and say with a sweet innocent tone (for me anyway), "Well Zuzu, I just thought you might wanna know that theirs an audience in the hall. You should also know, that as soon as you are alone..."

I turn on his lap and look straight into his eyes with low lids and a sexy smirk, "I will find my knives and pin you to the wall..."

His face looks a little pale now, and his eyes are big as dinner plates. That stupid grin he has just a moment ago has turned into a mix of shock, fear, and strangely arousal."And tickle you to a dark cold death. Do. not. tickle. me. again. Or else I will destroy you..."

"I don't know bout you guys, But i like her." The Little earthbender says as she proudly struts into the room pointing at her chest.

Suddenly the hall erupts with laughter. Katara, the avatar, the boomerang kid, fan girl, and the earth bender girl come through the door. Katara seems to be waiting for me to begin, while everyone else looks like their reconsidering my lethality. Except for the earth bender and warrior girl that seem to be sizing me up. The dirt covered girl confirms my suspicions with her next comment, "Finally! someone else with a little fight in them. What'ya say blades? Wanna take me on sometime? I might even take it easy on you."

"I don't really play well with others." I say trying back out of the invitation light heartedly.

"That's Ok, neither does toph." Says the water tribe boy, earning a punch in the arm from the earth bender. She grins widely as he runs to hide behind the warrior girl who pinching the bridge of her nose and mumbling something about 'just a little girl'. "Toph! Save it for the fire nation!..." When zuko and I both turn a glare his way, he quickly adds, "...I mean the, Evil fire nation he he."

Zuko and I exchange a glance, shrug and say in sync, "Whatever."

"So I think maybe we should all introduce ourselves. If we're gonna be allies and all." The avatar said then thrust his hand into mine and shook it excitedly. "Well you've met toph and katara already." He says while they both nod their heads at me. "This here is Suki, the leader of the kyoshi warriors." After he says her name and title we both stare right at each other. It seems like an open invitation to a rematch when she smirks. I raise my eyebrow as a sort of agreement. The avatar then clears his throat and says, "Oh right...You've uh...met. Well...Anyway, this is sokka. He's katara's older brother and our Idea guy. He's really smart." He says with an admiration that could move even my uncle. Then sokka proves his statement false by fighting with momo over a piece of jerky. Then he points to his chest and says," And my name is aang, I'm the avatar."

"No really? I thought you were the air bison." I sarcasticly remarked. However it seems my sarcasm was wasted on this kid. Sokka laughs and leans an arm lazily on my shoulder and says as he wipes away a tear, "Haa ha ha, Zuko why didn't you tell us how funny your girlfriend is?"

*Sigh* "You know, Sokka, I have a name. Its not zuko's girlfriend either." I say lifting his arm off my shoulder as though it were a dirty shirt. Then rubbing my hand off on his shirt, to give back whatever meat loving disease he might spread to me.

Aang then speeds closer to me, wedging his way between me and sokka. His face has lit up in excitement as he says, "I think you mean Appa, He's just outside. You wanna meet him? We could go check out more of the temple!" His ramblings could compete with ty.

Just as he's about to drag me out to see the giant flying furball, Katara grabs his hand. "Aang, I think we have some more important things to do first." She scolds, as his shoulders droop in defeat. "Like for instance the letter we found?"

"What letter?" I ask confused. When everyone's gaze lowers to the floor I turn to zuko, and see he's already pulled a letter out of his robes and is holding it out for me. I can tell the seal is my uncles personalized one. "Wha...When did this..." I begin to ask while my hand delicately traces the paterns of the already broken seal. Before zuko gently grabs my hands and says, "I'm sorry. I read it in case it was important." When his eyes seem to turn glossy I look down at the floor and squeeze the letter and his hands tighter.

"Was it?" I ask. Unable to look up from my fear of something being terrible, and anger at the loss of privacy.

"The hawk came about the same time you did...Your, well your uncle sent it. Before they.." He started until I put a finger over his lips. I walk over to the window and sit on the crate again. Looking off into the corner, wishing momo hadn't eaten the spider, because I really want a distraction right now. I look up at all of my allies who are staring at me intently, with pity and concern.

I sigh and finish for him, "Before they took him away for...interogation, right? More like azula's play time." ...Wait. Where's this hawk?" I ask, and then everyone points right at sokka while he shrinks further behind his girlfriend.

"Oh agni, don't tell me you ate it." I say shivering at all the things wrong with that image.

"Well...uhhhh. I didn't mean to kill it! We thought it was a spy or something! By the time we found the letter it was way too late...And, well...He was tasty." Sokka squeakily defended his actions. So this guy is their genius huh? I'm reconsidering sleeping alone. For fear that sokka may become famished and find nothing to eat.

I set my thoughts straight and ask, "So have you all read it and sokka ate the messenger." I sigh again and roll my eyes. These people were getting weirder by the minute. They were mildly amusing though. Plus they fit zuko's personality well, which is good, since he barely had any friends in the fire nation.

"Well technically everyone did." Katara starts, then aang interrupts with, "Hey not everyone. I'm a vegetarian." I roll my eyes and think, 'I wonder if all the air benders were air heads.'

"Maybe we should all give her some space while she reads. He was her uncle." aang says while lowering his head. I hide my hands in the tunic material as they all back out of the room. Toph walks over and gives a solid punch to my arm and adds, "You need anything, just give me a holler."

I rub my arm and cringe a little. I think i'm gonna bruise. I like her form of affection though. Its not all mushy and touchy feely. I notice all the emotions they seem to freely convey to me, a strange girl they've just met; Katara looks at me with concern then eyes zuko with a glare and backs out. Sokka has already rushed out of the room. Probably afraid of being in a room alone with me. Which is somewhat pleasing, since everyone else is being much too friendly and peppy for my liking. Suki looks directly at my and nods with a small half smile, but her eyes continue to glare with a fire. One that makes me concerned for exactly how bad the news in this letter is. When everyone else has left, zuko pulls me close and quietly whispers into my ear, "Would you like me to stay? or get ty maybe?" He pulls back and looks into my eyes. Everyones sudden change in behavior has made me nervous, and if its going to be that bad then the last thing I want is to be seen upset.

"No. This is something I need to do alone. I'll call. If I need you." I almost whisper as I turn and look out the window for something to distract me from the hot lump growing in my chest. After zuko closes the door behind him I shuffle slowly to the bed roll and place the letter next to me. I'm afraid to open it now. Mostly because I think I already know what he's going to tell me. We both knew the sacrifice he was making when he let me go. The only thing he could have left to tell me is everything we never said out loud. I pull my knees to my chest and rest my forehead against them. I hate emotions and meaningful speeches and letters, but I owe him. The least I can do is hear out a dying mans words. I lift my head and grab the letter, smoothing it out next to me.

I start reading it with my uncles voice in my head, "Well who would've thought after all these years, I'd be letting a prisoner go. Or that the prisoner would be you. I can't say I regret it though. I could never regret anything I do for you mai. I don't have much time now. The princess is on her way back from the capital with reinforcements now. As far as I know she'll be here any minute with at least a small fleet of airships, and a bad attitude. She doesn't know anything yet so i'm sure to be questioned first. I don't know if I can hold out forever, but i'll hold on as long as I can for you to get out safe. I hope the balloon will help. Never trusted those things myself, but with you traveling around with the princess so long I figured you'd be used to it.

Brace yourself. I'm about to get emotional. I never had a family of my own, but if I did, I'd want you as a daughter. Not like you. Exactly you. I'm so proud of you. I got to watch you grow into a beautiful young woman. Thank you for all the happiness you've brought me. When you get this, don't try to come back for me. We both know I'll already be dead by then. The princess is having me watched. I have a few loyal guards here at the prison that got this letter out for me. With their help I've also overheard her plans. She's going to get the location out of me, then track you down and destroy all of you. Even her own brother. Don't let that happen. I want you out of there long after you get this. I may not understand what your doing yet. I trust you though. Don't let me down kiddo. I'm sorry I can't be there for you when you get married and have babies. You'd better punch that moron boyfriend of yours. Give him two more from me. He's not gonna get away with treating you like that, is he? Don't forget this old fool my little firebug.

No matter what happens, don't be afraid and don't you dare give up.
love,
Your favorite Uncle toa"

My eyes are starting to sting and my chest is tight as i crumple the letter close to my heart. Dry sobs rack my body, as I try to rid my mind of the terrible image of my uncles demise. If only things weren't so fucked up. All I want to do right now is throw my knives and scream. Unfortunately, I can't try to rid my mind of pain just yet. I need to go and make plans to get out now. My uncle's sacrifice will not be in vain.