"Good Aang, it's much better than yesterday" You said with a smile, "Isn't that right Zuko," you added as you elbowed him.
He winced in pain then said, "Yeah, Yeah, much better. Anyway there's one technique you need to know before facing my father. How to redirect lightning. If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it." He said as he used his fingers to show the path the lightning should take. "You turn your opponents' energy against them." He finished.
"That's like waterbending!" Aang yelled in excitement.
"Exactly, my Uncle created this technique himself by studying waterbenders" Zuko agreed.
"Have you ever redirected lighting?" Aang asked curiously as be looked between you and Zuko.
"I have once, against my father" Zuko replied solemnly.
"I did against Azula," you added remembering Ba-Sing-Se.
"What did it feel like?" Aang asked curiously.
"Exhilarating" Zuko paused for a moment, "and terrifying you feel so powerful with that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move then its over"
Aang's eyes widened in shock, so you spoke up, "It's a valuable skill, it could save your life but I hope you never have to use it."
Aang chuckled, "well not over, over, theirs always Katara and a little spirit water action"
"Actually, I used it all up when Azula shot you" Katara replied.
A look of horror passed over the young avatar's face before he turned to Kaito frantically. "I can try" Kaito replied with a shrug.
"You'll have to take the fire lord's life before he takes yours" Zuko said
"Yeah I'll do that" Aang sighed sadly. You frowned the poor kid has the weight of the world on his shoulders; you wished that you could help more.
A bit later Aang, Sokka, Katara, Suki, Toph and Zuko went to the beach for training, you decided to stay at the house to meditate. You closed your eyes and tried to concentrate on your breathing but you couldn't stop thinking. You worried about Zuko because he plans to confront Azula. You worried about Aang because killing the fire lord goes against all of his beliefs. You worried about everyone. You wondered where your parents are, where Sung is and how Iroh is. You finally stopped trying to mediate as Zuko and the Gaang returned. Zuko tried to ask you about your worried expression but you couldn't talk about it, so he settled for silently trying to comfort you.
Daisuke and Kaito made dinner that night. Everyone sat around silently except for the occasional comment. Aang sat turned away from everyone.
Suddenly Katara spoke. "I have a surprise for everyone!" she said as she unrolled a scroll.
"I knew it!" Toph yelled, "You had a thing with Haru!" everyone looked at Toph strangely, seriously where did that come from?
"Um no" Katara paused to regain her composure, "I was looking in the attic for cooking pots and I found this" she held out a scroll of a happy baby boy playing in the sand. "Look at baby Zuko, isn't he so cute"
You and Zuko looked at each other as everyone else laughed, that was not a picture of Zuko, it couldn't be Zuko, he hid all of the pictures of himself because he was scared of Kaito and Daisuke finding them.
"Oh lighten up, I'm just teasing" Katara told him.
"That's not me. It's my father" Zuko said seriously.
"But he looks so sweet an innocent" Suki commented.
"Looks can be deceiving" Daisuke said.
"Yeah, Daisuke was an ugly baby" Kaito said, second later Daisuke punched him in the arm.
"Yeah well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in the history of fathers" Zuko said.
"But he's still human" Aang commented.
"You're going to defend him" Zuko asked.
"No I agree with you, Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person and the world would probably be better without him, but there has to be another way" Aang said desperately.
"Like what?" Zuko practically snapped.
"I don't know." Aang thought for a moment, "Maybe we can make some big pots of glue, and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore."
You frowned, "Aang" you said but no one heard because Zuko sarcastically said "Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures, and all those happy memories will make him good again."
"Do you really think that will work?" Aang asked hopefull.
"No!" Zuko yelled.
Aang started to pace back and forth, "This goes against everything the monks taught me, everything I believe in. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like"
"Sure you can" Sokka said. "You're the avatar. If its in the name of keeping balance, I'm sure the universe can forgive you"
"This isn't a joke Sokka! None of you understand the position I'm in" Aang yelled.
"Aang we understand, it's just…" Katara started.
"Just what Katara" Aang snapped.
"Aang we're trying to help" Katara said.
"Then when you figure out a way to defeat the fire lord without killing him, I'd love to know" Aang yelled then turned and stormed away.
"Aang don't walk away from this" Katara yelled as she tried to go after him, Zuko stopped her.
"Let him go, he needs to figure this out on his own" you finally spoke up.
"No he doesn't he needs to be with us" Katara argued.
"Well that's clearly not working, the poor kid has the weight of the world on his shoulders and no one cares about what he wants" you argued, Zuko looked away feeling guilty, you decided to deal with him later.
That silenced her. Everyone just stood in silence, unable to think of anything to say.
That night you tried to avoid everyone, you walked down to the beach to try to clear your head.
(Zuko)
You couldn't find Kana, it was about an hour since Aang stormed off and now Kana is gone too. You couldn't help but feel like she was mad at you, about how you treated Aang, you felt pretty guilty about it but what other options were there? You found Daisuke, Kaito and Jet sitting around the fire outside. You hoped that Kana was with them but she wasn't.
"….then Daisuke fell out of the tree, and Kana screamed because the raccoon dog came out of nowhere. That was probably the best prank I ever pulled" Kaito finished one of his stories.
"Yeah yeah, but you're forgetting the part where the raccoon dog bit you and Kana put fire flakes in your tea as payback" Daisuke added.
You walked up to them as they fell silent. "Have you seen Kana?" you asked.
Jet shook his head, while Katio said, "I wouldn't worry, she…"
You cut him off, "I know she likes to go on walks to clear her head, and she meditates afterwards, I know" you said quickly.
"Somethings different" Daisuke commented.
"She won't talk to me, something is bothering her and I don't know how to help" you told them.
"I still wouldn't worry, Kana is fine, she always is" Jet added.
"She's not fine, she hasn't been since we came here" you snapped starting to panic, "she hasn't been able to mediate for days, she can't sleep, and I don't know how to help her"
Jet and Kaito looked at you but didn't know what to say. Daisuke looked at you, "she walked down to the beach," he said.
You mumbled a quick 'thanks' before turning and nearly running.
"Zuko" Daisuke called. You turned and looked at him curiously. "Take care of my baby sister," He said, he smiled as Jet and Kaito joined him. You nodded before running down to the beach.
You saw Kana she was sitting near the water with her knees pulled up to her chest, she was looking out into the ocean, it reminded you of all the times on your ship when she would go out on deck to think.
As you approached, Kana glanced at you and quietly said hey before turning back to the ocean. You sat down next to her and she leaned into you, you wrapped your arms around her, you never understood why but she was almost always cold for a firebender.
After a few moments you said, "Do you want to talk?" you asked she stayed silent so you continued, "I mean you don't have to but if you think it would help, or we could just sit here, it's whatever you want. I just want to help you…"
"Zuko shut up," Kana said softly. She sighed, "I'm sorry"
You looked at her, "You have nothing to be sorry about" you said as you lightly kissed her forehead.
"Yes I do," she ran her fingers through her hair "you keep asking me what's wrong and I know you want to help but I just don't know what to think, I can't stop worrying about you and Aang and everyone. You're planning on fighting Azula and I know she won't hesitate to kill you, and Aang is suppose to kill your father but how can we expect him to that, its so wrong."
You stayed silent for a moment collecting your thoughts, "I know its wrong," you said quietly, "I just can't think of any other way."
Kana rested her head on your shoulder and sighed, "why us?" she questioned. You gave her a curious look so she continued. "We're just a bunch of kids, and we have to stop a hundred year old war, I can't help but wonder why us. I mean I understand that it's Aang's duty is to restore balance but the sequence of events that brought all of us together its mind-blowing."
"I think we all play a part, we're all in this together," you added.
Suddenly Kana moved so she was sitting on her knees in front of you. "No matter what happens I'll always love you." Kana said with a smile. You couldn't help but smile but why did that sound like a goodbye?