Thanks again for all of the reviews, favorites and followers, I'm so happy that this story is doing so well.
Maypl Bougher and Pokemonjkl- Always appreciate your reviews!
Clairabeth98- i read the first three chapters, i'll try to read more of it when i have time, but i'd say that you're off to a good start. Also I'm glad that you enjoy my story so much!
Early the next morning you saw the western air temple. You leaned on the edge of the basket; Zuko stood behind you, wrapped his arms around your waist and rested his chin on your shoulder.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked. You nodded, happy to be in Zuko's arms again, he may be a selfish jerk sometimes but you know he loves you. The memories of last night came flooding back, you and Zuko talked for hours as you cuddled and shared sweet kisses. You smiled at the memory.
"It looks like we're almost back," Zuko mumbled with his lips against your neck.
"So how do you land this thing? Because I almost cashed it."
Zuko laughed, "I'm pretty sure you just ruined the moment" then he kissed your cheek.
"It happens," you smiled, "their will be many more"
Zuko smiled in response, then walked you through landing the war balloon correctly. Once it was on the ground and the balloon started to deflate, Zuko jumped out of the basket and offered to help you out. You climbed half way out when Zuko spoke, "would it kill you to let me help you once in a while?" he asked innocently, using your own words against you.
You laughed, "no fair Zuko" you said as he put his hands on your waist and helped you down. You looked at Zuko, he was so happy; his smile was infectious. The two of you couldn't stop smiling. Zuko never took his hands off of your waist. You wrapped your arms around Zuko's neck as you closed your eyes and leaned in. You were about to kiss.
"Well you two look happy" Daisuke said as he and Kaito walked over, followed by pretty much everyone else.
"Yeah really, I'd say get a room, but then I'd have to kill Zuko" Kaito added with his arms crossed.
Embarrassed you let go of Zuko, but he still kept one arm around your waist. "Maybe we should have eloped" Zuko whispered.
"Stop it, you're so bad" you giggled.
"Prince Zuko eloping isn't what a gentleman would do" an unfamiliar voice said, you were shocked that they heard Zuko. At the sound of the voice, Zuko straightened up and took his hand off of your waist. You gave him a curious look.
"Hi General Sung" Zuko said nervously, "and its just Zuko now, after committing high treason I don't really think I'm a prince anymore"
This general Sung laughed, "that would mean I'm not a general anymore."
"What's going on?" you asked totally confused.
Zuko turned to you, "Kana, I'd like you to meet your biological father" Zuko said as he gestured towards Sung.
You were speechless, you stared at Sung for a moment, at first you couldn't see any resemblance but then you saw it. His red hair starting to dull, the same eyes as you, the tall slenderness, you were definitely his daughter.
"Oh this is so weird" you mumbled, you couldn't think of anything else to say, only a few days ago you found out that your biological dad was alive and wanted you, seeing him here now was too much.
Your father walked up to you and Zuko, "I'd like to get to know you, I thought maybe we could talk?" he asked.
You looked at your brothers they nodded in response. "Ok" you said, "But only if Zuko and my brothers stay with me"
"I'll always stay with you" Zuko whispered leaning close to you, then he remembered that your father is there so he backed away quickly.
"You have brothers?" Sung, er.. your dad, Dad? Or father? This is weird. Questioned.
You nodded and gestured to Daisuke and Kaito.
The five of you went one of the upper balconies in order to get away from everyone. You and Zuko sat on a pillar that fell over, Kaito leaned against the wall, while Daisuke sat on the floor near you, and your father sat across from you on the only actual chair. All of you sat in an awkward silence. No one knew what to say.
"You look just like your mother" Sung said awkwardly, breaking the silence.
"What was she like?"
Sung took a deep breath than spoke, "Well her name was Karin and she looked exactly like you, except she had light brown hair"
"Its pretty obvious where I got the red hair from" you said with a laugh.
"Yeah, but you're all your mother, you know I met her when she was your age"
"Really? How did you meet?" you asked curiously.
"She was the youngest of Lady Ursa's personal servants"
"She worked for my mother?" Zuko asked in confusion.
Sung nodded, "Yes, you see Karin's family lived in the colonies, she has four younger sisters, so to help support her family, Karin moved to the capital and got a job at the palace. Not very glamorous but it paid well, she would send money home every paycheck." He paused a moment and continued, "I was 18 when I first saw your mother, I had just started working at the palace and I was a part of Ursa's imperial guards. I stood guard outside of Lady Ursa's chambers every day and everyday Karin would laugh when she walked past me."
"That sounds like Kana" Zuko mumbled.
You laughed, "It just so easy to laugh at you" you said as you leaned into Zuko, he smiled and wrapped an arm around you. You glanced at Kaito he looked upset. You couldn't help but wonder why.
Sung continued, "This went on for about six months, one day I finally worked up enough courage to ask her why she laughed at me everyday, she said that I was too serious, and should smile more, because the serious look on my face made me look silly." He smiled at the memory.
"That sounds familiar too" you laughed.
You talked with your biological father for a few hours; you had to admit he was pretty cool. He reminded you a lot of the father who raised you. The more you talked to him the more you resembled him, you shared a couple of the same mannerisms, like how you can never sit still and how you almost constantly mess with your hair. Meeting your biological father was cool and all but it made you miss your mom and dad.
Sung was telling an embarrassing story about Zuko, but you were too distracted to give it your full attention. Kaito and Daisuke looked so upset and you didn't understand why. Usually they're happy for you, Kaito always said that he hoped you would find your biological parents, but now that you have, he just looked upset.
"Hey jerk benders, dinner is 10 minutes" Sokka said as he walked onto the balcony.
"Maybe we should call you stupid ponytail," you mumbled, getting called a jerk bender all the time was getting on your nerves.
"My ponytail isn't stupid!" Sokka said in a panic, he looked really self-conscious about his ponytail.
"Sokka lay off, just because they're firebenders doesn't make them jerks," Daisuke said as he walked towards Sokka and everyone stood up.
"Well Zuko is but that's another story" Kaito said with an awkward laugh. Katio's laugh is never awkward. Something is up. Zuko shot a glare at Kaito, who responded with a 'come at me bro' gesture.
Everyone started to leave when you spoke, "Kaito, Daisuke, can I talk to you for a minute," they nodded, as Sung and Sokka left, Zuko gave you a look but you waved him off.
"So what's up?" Kaito asked timidly as soon as everyone was out of hearing range.
"I thought you could tell me, what's with you two, Daisuke you've been avoiding me and Kaito since when are you awkward and timid?" you asked as you crossed your arms. The tiny earthbender and bear-like waterbender looked away. Your expression softened, "what's going on, you know you can tell me anything" you said softly.
Kaito crossed his arms and looked away, Daisuke sighed then spoke, "We always knew that we would lose you, but we didn't think it would be so soon."
You cocked your head to the side in confusion, "What do you mean?" you asked.
Daisuke was about to speak but Kaito covered his mouth, "Before all of this we thought that all of us would always be together, eventually raise families of our own on the island, but when Zuko showed up, it was pretty easy to see that living on our island wouldn't be enough for you"
"We knew that one day you would probably leave to be with Zuko, but now that you're biological dad is here too, theirs just so much for you in the firenation." Daisuke added.
"We always knew that one day you would leave, we just didn't realize it would be so soon" Kaito finished.
You frowned, you were in shock, this is how they really felt? You pulled both of your brothers into a hug, "I love you two, and no matter what I'm always going to be your sister," you said. You pulled away and looked at them. "Its cool that my biological dad is here, and I'd like to get to know him, but I miss mom and dad, they raised me, I love them like I love you two. And just because I love Zuko doesn't mean I'm going to forget about my family"
Daisuke was red with embarrassment, and Kaito was trying to hide his embarrassment. "It was pretty silly wasn't it?" Kaito asked.
You nodded, "When this war is over, we'll go home, together," you said with a smile.
"I miss mom and dad," Daisuke said after a few moments.
"So do I" you said, as Kaito nodded in agreement. The three of you stood in silence for a few moments lost in thought. Suddenly you heard a rumbling sound, you and Daisuke looked at Kaito.
"Hey I'm a big guy, I need to eat" Kaito said with his hands up defensively.
Daisuke face-palmed.
"Come on lets go eat" you said with a laugh.