This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction thank you to LunaStar07 for helping out with my writing and beta reading my work hope you enjoy the next chapter of Blades and Fans and thanks for the wait hope you all enjoy

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

When Suki had left and gone back to her tent, she was screaming in her head.

"What is wrong with you!" she howled in her mind. "Why did you kiss him?" She questioned herself "Well, it was just a kiss on the cheek, but still," she groaned as she entered her small tent and began to strip down out of her heavy robes. Getting more comfortable, she kept replaying what happened in her mind. She had gone to him to ask him questions, learn about him and that's it. She never meant to confess to him what she did or kiss him. Though she did learn much about him even if he's still a mystery to her. Her mind began to trail to this uncle of his, this Mushi. From his stories, it sounded that they were close, but they aren't together anymore. "Did something thing happen to him? Or maybe-"

Her train of thought halted as she heard the flap of her tent open and someone entering behind her. Swiftly she spun around, drawing up her golden fan to press against the intruder's throat. Her eyes went wide once she saw who was sneaking into her tent "Aikio, what are you doing here!"

Aikio had her hands up in surrender as she lifted her head to avoid the golden blades from nicking her skin. "Sheesh, I just saw you leaving his tent so I came to talk to you."

Suki out a long sigh before pulling the weapon away from Aikio's neck, putting her hands on her hips. "Couldn't this wait till morning," she sighed.

"Yeah well, you are still up so might as well get it over..." Aikio paused as she turned to face Suki, her cheeks flushed red as she averted her eyes.

"Ummm you might... wanna put something on," She said causing Suki to arch her brow before glancing down. Her eyes going wide seeing her bare chest.

"This is why you ask permission before entering someone's tent!" She growled doing her best to keep her voice down, as she reached for her chest binds to cover herself up. Tying them tight she turned to face Aikio "Now what do you want?"

"I wanted to find out what you learned about ... him," she gestured behind her earning herself another groan from her captain.

"Look, Aikio I know you're anxious, but I'm not done talking to him. There is still plenty of questions I have, but it's getting late so I decided to finish them tomorrow," Suki began explaining. "Look, I promise once I've finished asking him what I need too, I'll tell you everything and we can all decide whether he stays or not," she then reaches over grabbing hold of Aikio's hands. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

She then let out a long and heavy sigh "I do trust you," she gave Suki's hand a soft squeeze and nodded. "I'll wait... till tomorrow."

"That's all I'm asking ... though I do hope you can keep an open mind about him, " She smiled.

"Now that I can't promise ."

Aikio and Suki both let out a soft chuckle before giving each other a gentle hug "Now I'm gonna head to bed and you should do the same," Suki said pulling away yawning and she stretched her back.

"Yeah, I think I'll do just that," Aikio said as she rubbed her neck. "Goodnight captain," she said softly with a soft huff as she left the tent.

"Night Aikio," Suki replied as she watched the young woman slip away into the darkness of the night. "Why does all of this have to be so complicated?" she groaned as she undressed and slinked down into her sheets, wanting nothing more than a good night's rest. Though her mind was still racing with questions, making finding sleep uneasy.

Meanwhile, Zuko was having similar difficulties getting rest.

"Why, why did she kiss me?" He wondered as he could still feel the warmth in his cheeks. His fingers gently tracing around where her lips met his skin. He could feel the base of his scar just on the edge where she kissed and as he pictured her so close to him, her soft skin against his own. It made his heart thump in his chest and his gut flutter and twist. "Ugh what is wrong with me?" he groaned to himself as the sense of guilt began to grow at the pit of his stomach. He had lied to her, he told her what he thought she wanted to hear, and now this. Were his suspicions correct, did she really care about him? He could hardly believe it to be true, and yet if it was then it seems that Firebender was right; he is a traitor just in more ways than one. "Forget it, forget her. Just focus, once you capture the Avatar and return home, none of this will matter, " Zuko mumbled to himself trying to shut everything out of his mind. "They don't matter, she doesn't matter, none of this matters, the only thing that matters is the mission. All that matters is capturing the Avatar and returning home, home... home, " he started chanting to himself shutting out all his emotions, his guilt, and his fears till his eyes grew heavy and he could barely move his lips to speak as he passed out and fell asleep.

Suki barely got any sleep as she laid on her cot, her mind was going back and forth between questions about the Blue Spirit and that kiss. That stupid kiss, it wasn't the first time she kissed a boys cheek, but what confused her is she wanted to do it again.

"I... I like him?" she thought as it would explain why she felt so bad about lying and hiding that she was spying on him. Plus it would also explain why she didn't want him to go. "Ugh, I like him," she groaned as hung her head as she sat herself up. "What's worse is Aikio is right, damn I hate when she's right." she had gotten up and paced around in her tent. "How can I be objective, how can I choose between him and what's best for my sisters?" She argued with herself pacing trying to figure out what to do. "Okay Suki, this is what you are going to do. You are gonna do: ask him a few questions, learn as much as you can, and tell your sisters. That's all you have to do and then it's out of your hands, they will decide... whether he stays... or goes," she groaned again as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "why does everything have to be so complicated," she repeated as she huffed to herself before getting dressed and ready as she couldn't head back to bed. She left her tent and started preparing the Ostrich horses and her gear.

Once the sun peeked over the horizon, Zuko began to stir and rise from his uneasy rest. His mind was still clouded and confused, and being alone with Suki on this hunting trip again isn't gonna help. Even just the thought of her name seemed to cause his heart to twinge and his head to ache. He quickly shook his head, trying to quiet his mind as he got changed. Dawning his blue demon mask he left his tent eager to get this over with, but once he spotted Suki by the Ostrich horses he groaned "This isn't gonna be easy." He slowly approached her and sighed "Morning Suki."

Suki was startled by the soft voice turning as her hand lunged to the bladed fan on her hip, but stopped when she saw the familiar blue mask. "Hehehe sorry, guess I'm still not used to how quiet you walk," she admitted as her heart was beating fast in her chest.

"Sorry about that," Zuko apologized as he had his hands up reminding Suki so much about the first time they went hunting together.

"No don't be, it's actually a good thing especially with what we will be doing," she said smiling as she watches him bring his hands to his sides. She then turned back to the Blue Spirits Ostrich horse tightening the straps to a small cart to its saddle.

"What's this for," he asked walking over to her, helping tie off the knot.

Once she felt him come up next to her she felt her cheeks flush as she pulled away letting him do it for her. "Huh, oh this? Ummmm well we will need to keep our food stores up with so many mouths to feed, so we need to collect as much as we can," she explained as she went over and grabbed two quivers of arrows as the Blue Spirit was finishing tying off the cart. "If we can get a few Catdeers we should be good."

"Okay, understood," he said simply as he nodded his head. Then when he was done with the strap he turned to Suki, taking the quiver as she handed it to him pulling it over onto his back. She did the same, but she averted her gaze catching a glimpse of his amber eyes made her heart beat hard in her chest.

"Soooo ummm... we better get going before the others wake," she smiled nervously as she went and mounted her beast trying her best to keep a little distance from him.

When Zuko felt her pull away he wanted to say something but he decided against it, instead he followed suit and mounted up on his Ostrich horse as they started to ride off. Suki glanced next to her as she and the Blue Spirit rode side by side down the dirt path and she let out a soft sigh and said to herself "This isn't gonna be easy."

For a while, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Suki trying to figure out what to say while Zuko was trying his best not to say a word.

"Sooooo, lovely weather we are having," Suki says with an awkward smile.

"Yeah, very warm," he replied with a slight shrug as his Ostrich horse strode along next to her.

"Yeah warm..." Suki bit down on her lip trying to think of anything to talk about, not wanting to go back to the uncomfortable silence. "Ummm yesterday you talked about your uncle Mushu-"

"Mushi," He quickly corrected.

"Right, Mushi... you two sounded really close, travelling together," she started nervously glancing at the Blue Spirit. "Did... did something happen to him? Is that why you were alone when we met?" she asked cautiously hoping she isn't crossing a line.

Zuko was silent as he heard her question, his mind drifting from how he left to if his Uncle was okay. "I... I don't know. Last time I saw him was when I left him to go off on my own," he said softly.

She heard the sadness in his voice, the same tone she heard when she was spying on him it was broken and alone. She glanced around their surroundings and pulled on her reins slowing her mount to a halt as she remained next to the masked warrior. "We can stop here for now and go the rest on foot," she said as she dismounted and tying her rein to a tree branch.

He saw her stop and followed suit halting tying off the Ostrich horse to the tree next to hers before he grabbed the bows and arrows from their saddles. He then turned and handed the weapon over to Suki as she gladly took it draping the quiver over her back. "Thanks Blue."

"Welcome," He replied softly.

She smiled wryly and started to lead the way into the woods. Quietly stepping over the soft wet grass and fallen leaves, the fresh dew and moist air was soothing. Suki shut her eyes as she treaded softly and enjoyed the calmness of the forest. The Blue Spirit marching at her back, though she could not hear his footsteps over even his breathing. She glanced back to make sure he was following, and she would be greeted by the demon smile. She smiled nervously at him before turning forward, as her fingers fiddled with her bow testing and tightening the string. "So you mentioned that you left your Uncle to go on your own, but why?" She asked curiously.

Zuko took in a breath sucking in the moist air as his throat had gone dry. "I... I needed to find me myself, to find what and who I'm supposed to be."

Suki raised her brow quizzically "Soooo you are trying to find enlightenment," she asked, not really understanding.

He shook his head as he absentmindedly ran his finger along his bowstring. mimicking her actions adjusting the string "I'm trying to find hope," he answered a bit surer. She became even more curious slowing her pace so she was walking next to him wanting to hear him clearly as he continued to speak. "There is something you don't know about me," he said as he met her gaze. "I'm an exile... I was banished, from my home."

"Banished, why were you-," she quickly stopped herself knowing this was a sensitive topic and was wanting him to open up. "Nevermind, ummm continue please," she said as he shook his head but was glad she didn't try and pry too much.

"The condition of my Banishment is I was given a task to complete if I completed my task I could return home with my honour," He said trying his best to be as vague as possible. "That was three years ago and my task has become more and more impossible with each day that passes," he didn't even try and hide the despair in his voice, the hopelessness.

Suki felt her hand instinctively reaching out to touch his arm to give a comforting hand "Blue I-" She stopped as she heard rustling in the trees. Her finger going to her lips to silently signal to the Blue Spirit to go quietly. Zuko went silent and motionless as he watched Suki get down on her knees, nocking and drawing an arrow on her bow. She was quiet and focused, drowning out the rest of the world as the arrow was pulled up to her cheek before letting the arrow loose. The arrow whizzed through the air it suddenly stopped with a satisfying thunk as a Possum Chicken fell from a tree. "Yes! Oh sorry, I interrupted you," she said sheepishly as she strode over to where the Possum Chicken had landed stuffing it in a sack.

"It's alright we are supposed to be hunting," the Blue Spirit says with a shrug as he approached her.

"Yeah, but still," she bit her lip turning to face the masked man. "I can't imagine what that must have been like being banished from your home... away from your family," she said softly.

"Right... family," Zuko sighed as he crossed his arms. "I think they are actually glad I'm gone to honest," His said bitterly.

"How can you say that? I'm sure they miss you," she asked surprised.

"My father is the one who banished me," he replied plainly as he started to walk off leaving Suki a bit stunned as she then started to follow after him.

"I... I had no idea,"

"Of course you didn't, it's not something I like to discuss."

She sped up her pace to match his quick but quiet steps as she held her sack over her shoulder. "Blue, this task you had to complete, what was it? Maybe we can help," she asked but became startled as he jerked and turned to face her.

"No!"

"No?"

"This is my task, my mission, I have to do it on my own," he said angrily as he glared down at her. He knew he couldn't tell her anything about capturing the avatar, no matter how friendly they may become she would never betray the avatar over him.

She never heard him speak in such a way before it cut her off guard, but she remained stern not letting his anger intimidate her. "Blue I get it, I know all about the code of honour. We Kyoshi's follow it too. But isn't the honourable to do, is admit when you can't do something alone, to be able to ask for help, to know your limits?" she asked, but the Blue Spirit remained silent. "Blue, please we can help."

"I said no!" he shouts again at her, but even he knew he sounded too harsh as he looked at her his eyes meeting hers. "Look, I'm sorry but this task can only be completed by me and me alone... it is the only way my family will accept me ," he explained softly.

"I... I understand if this is something you have to do alone, I'll respect that," Suki sighed as she walked past him.

Zuko groaned and followed her as he felt a pang in his chest from the way he talked to her. "Suki, wait," he said chasing after her as she walked through the trees.

Suki was about to stop and turn to him until she heard something which peeked her ears. She slowly approached staying silent as the sound of rustling grass made her curious and cautious.

"Suki?" Zuko spoke softly as he observed her slow movements as he went to her side to see what she was tracking. Once they both reached the edge of the trees they saw a wide-open meadow tall thick grass gently swaying in the breeze. Then suddenly they saw red flashes among the green as a few Fox antelopes were grazing in the field.

Suki started to smile watching the beasts "They are beautiful aren't they," she whispered as she rested against her bow.

"Yes... beautiful," Zuko replied as he glanced at the Fox antelopes then to her, the painted warrior at his side, before turning his head away when she turned to him.

"Do you... do you wanna try this time?" she asked as she pulled an arrow from her quiver and handed it to him.

"You sure?"

"Yes we've practiced quite a bit, I'm sure you can take this one down," she said as he eyed the arrow before nodding, taking it from her nocking it on his bowstring. They had practiced shooting whenever they went hunting but in the end, he never managed to take any animal down Suki would be the one to shoot the animal that tried to escape.

As she watched the Blue Spirit about to draw the bow she stopped him resting her hand on his own. "Blue before you... I just want to say something," she said as she could feel the slight tremble in his hand.

"What is it?" he asked as he eyed her curiously.

"Blue, thank you for telling me what you have about yourself... I know it must have been difficult," she bit her lip as she looked back up at him seeing the gold light in his eyes as they knelt in the shade. "But I want you to know that you may not have your family with you right now, but you have me-us," she smiled a bit nervously as she gave his hand a squeeze but he didn't pull away. "The Kyoshi warriors isn't just a sisterhood, it is a family. And as long as you are with us, we can be your family," she said hoping to ease his mind.

As Zuko heard her, the shaking in his hand began to steady and his breathing slowed. "Thank you, Suki," he says before prying his eyes away from hers to the target. He slowly draws back the arrow like she had taught him aiming it towards one of the Fox antelopes. He took another deep breath calming and steadying himself following their lesson as best as he can before firing. When he let loose the arrow it whizzed through the air, but as it did he lost track where it went only a distant thud and the sound of panicked mewls could be heard before the Fox antelopes scurried off. He groaned thinking he scared them off missing once again, but when he turned to Suki she had a wide smile which confused him.

"Great shot, Blue!" she cheered before she got up and raced down to where the beasts were grazing.

Zuko was confused as he got up and chased after her. Following her to where he expected to find a lone arrow buried in the ground, but to his surprise found the large beast an arrow buried deep in its chest.

"Great job ,Blue, I knew these lessons were paying off," She said as she knelt down next to the animal and examined the kill. "Soon you may be as good as me... well maybe," she chuckled as she pulled out the arrow as the Blue Spirit knelt next to her.

Zuko was genuinely surprised that he had struck the animal, with his luck he thought he would have at least graze it or maybe injure the Fox antelope. Not the quick kill he had performed. "Well a student is only as good as their master allows," he answered.

"Huh, that's true, guess I should stop teaching you before you get better than me," Suki teased.

Though it was hidden under his mask he let a small smirk grace across his lips. "Maybe, but that would mean you are scared that you aren't as good as you think you are," he rebuttals earning him a punch in the arm from the painted warrior.

"Hahaha watch your mouth," she smirked wide before glancing over to the woods, seeing glimmers of red fur from the rest of the Fox antelopes herd. "Hey, Blue, would you mind carrying this back to the cart? I'm gonna see if I can get another one before we head back to camp," she asks drawing an arrow from her quiver nocking it in her string.

"Sure," he says as he pulls out some rope, binding the beasts legs and a sling in its antlers.

"Great, don't be long it's rude to keep a girl waiting," she teases again before turning and racing off towards the woods driving a path through the tall grass.

Zuko watched her disappear into the woods before turning to his kill. The beast unmoving except for the slight shifting of its fur as the gentle breeze passed over it. Zuko quickly pulled the makeshift sling over his shoulder as he pulled and dragged the carcass back the path they had trekked through. His mind became occupied with thoughts of Suki and their talks. He started to wonder about how open he was with her. Even as he lied about most things, he had never talked about his banishment to anyone except his uncle. Those that did know about it used it as a way to bring him shame, to belittle him as the banished prince, but not Suki. She seemed to care, to want to help even as he pushed her away. "Ughhh, I wish I knew what I'm supposed to do," He groaned to himself as he yanked the Fox antelope behind him.

As he made his way through the woods sweat dripping down his face he could hear the soft chirps of the Ostrich horses. They were not too far away and with renewed vigour, he pulled the beast's body even harder. Slowly making his way over as the two mounts as they came into view. As he stepped over he suddenly felt a familiar heat overwhelm him as a flash of fire blasted him off his feet. He was thrown back as the two beasts yelped and squawked in panic. Zuko groaned loudly as he landed on his stomach. He went to push himself off the ground before he felt a foot slammed in his back shoving him into the dirt. He tried to move but couldn't as he felt the person pinning him down unsheath the Dao swords off his back.

"Hello, Traitor."