Back at it again with another chapter. Hope you guys like it. With all the time I have with the quarantine going on, writing stories has been fun.

It had been one week since the Avatar left the fire nation palace. He already started missing his friends the day after he left. He had even missed Katara even though the purpose of leaving was to get away from her in the first place. What he said in his letter wasn't completely false. He did want to help the people of the world in any way that he could as the Avatar, although it was also getting his mind off of the water bender.

Right now, Aang was training. He had started the day with some earth bending and then fire bending. He planned to do some water bending training at the nearby lake but decided against it because it would just remind him too much of his water bending master. He could always do it later after all. Appa and Momo rested by a large tree, watching their friend practice his bending. They could sense his sadness and had been hoping he would be okay soon. Although Aang seemed a lot happier since leaving their friends, the animals couldn't help but worry for him. They could not communicate with them like they could with each other, but they would still be there for him. After making one last fire blast, Aang decided that he had done enough training and walked back to where his friends were resting.

"It's always good to work out a sweat every now and then.", the air bender said to his mammal companions. Appa grunted as if he was agreeing with him and Momo just flew up to Aang's shoulder and started licking his face. Aang was giggling as he was being tickled.

Then a scream was heard within the forest. Aang turned in the direction the screaming came from and pulled his staff to him with his air bending. He brushed Momo off his shoulder.

"You two stay here while I go fly and investigate.", Aang said although Appa didn't want his friend to leave him behind.

"Don't worry buddy. I'll be okay.", the air bender smiled at his friend. He opened his glider and flew into the air. It didn't take him long to find the source of the scream. Aang saw what had looked like three bandits cornering a woman with jet black hair with a large injured creature by her side. The animal looked familiar to the air bender for some reason.

'Where have I seen that creature before?'. Aang pushed the thought back as he dived down and landed between the dark-haired woman and the bandits. He swung his staff to push back the bandits with his air bending. He then stomped on the ground and brought his hand up to make the earth rise up around the bandits and encased them together. The attackers wouldn't be moving anytime soon.

Aang turned around to the woman, "Are you okay Miss?".

The woman stood up, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for the help Avatar Aang."

"Wait…How do you know who I am?", Aang asked.

"We have actually met before. I once helped Zuko find you and your friends with my shirshu, Nyla", The woman responded. Aang took another look at the creature behind her and recognized it.

"Oh, it's coming back to me now. We had to confuse your shirshu's sense of smell to stop it from attacking us."

"Yeah, that's how I remember it going down too. Good times.", The woman giggled, "My name is June by the way."

Aang looked back at the three bandits, "Any idea why they were after you?".

"I caught one of their buddies for his bounty. They weren't too happy about it and so they made a sneak attack on me and Nyla while we were on our way to the fire nation palace.", June answered.

Aang was surprised, "The fire nation palace? So Zuko was summoning you for help?".

"Yup, apparently your fire lord friend needs me to look for someone.", June replied. Aang had a feeling he knew who Zuko wanted to her to find. His friends had already told him how they went to her before to help find him when he disappeared from Ember Island.

'It would make sense to go back to her for help finding me.'.

Nyla came up behind June limping behind. June stroked her pet's fur. "Looks like we're going to have to stop for tonight Nyla. You're too hurt to move any more today".

The shirshu just purred in response. Aang felt bad for the poor animal.

"If you guys need a place to rest then you can come with me to my camp. It's just me and my flying bison and lemur.", he suggested. June didn't see any problem with it, so she and Nyla went with him back to his camp. The sky became dark, so the air bender set up a fire and cooked some stew for June and himself. Nyla rested beside Appa, who wasn't so friendly with the shirshu at first until Aang asked him to calm down and be nice. Since his friend asked him then the flying bison did what he was told. Aang spoke with the female bounty hunter for a while about her hunts, how she met Nyla, and how she became a bounty hunter.

"So what are you doing by yourself Aang? Where are your friends at?", June asked him. She found it odd that he was just by himself.

"I'm just traveling alone. I needed some time to myself and just wanted to be away.", Aang replied, looking down at the fire.

"What prompted that? You don't strike me as an introvert.", June said.

"You're right, I'm not an introvert. Let's just say I needed to be away…for my own good.", The air bender replied.

"Would it have anything to do with the water bending girl?".

He looked up at June in surprise. "How did you know?", he asked.

"Just a feeling I had. You like her a lot don't you?". The bounty hunter replied smirking.

Aang felt his face getting red and looked away, "I'm in love with her. But she doesn't feel the same for me".

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because she's with Zuko now.", Aang said with a flat tone.

"Huh? When they came to me to look for you I made a joke about them being together and they vehemently denied it.", June said astonished.

"They were keeping it a secret from the rest of us. I ended up finding out before I "disappeared" off the island". Aang had explained everything to her. He didn't know why he was telling June of all people, but he wanted to talk to someone about it since he wasn't with his friends. It felt good to talk to someone about it and she listened intently to everything he said.

"The reason Zuko probably summoned you might be because they want you to find me.", Aang finally said.

"Hell, I wasn't even trying to find you and yet here I am with you.", June giggled, "If that turns out to be the case then I won't take the job. I owe you for saving me from those bandits.".

The air bender was grateful. "Thank you. I would really appreciate that.".

The next day Nyla was feeling better from her injury, so June decided it was the time to head out and resume their journey to the fire nation.

"Thanks for the help again Aang.", June said as she was packing her stuff on Nyla's satchel.

"No problem June. I'm always happy to help.", Aang replied with a smile and then continued, "Can you actually do me a favor?'.

"Sure. What do you need me to do?".

Aang pulled out a scroll from his bag. "Since you're heading over to the fire nation I need you to give this letter to Sokka. I want to give him and my other friends an update on how I'm doing and where they can send letters for me to get. I promised I would stay in contact with them. Make sure to give it to him without Katara or Zuko knowing about it".

June took the scroll and placed it in her bag, "I can do that. I guess this is goodbye for now."

"Yeah, hopefully we see each other again. I had fun talking to you", Aang said smiling.

"Maybe we will one day. But before I go…", June put her hands on Aang's shoulders to keep him still and brought her face down to his level.

"What are you doing Ju-", Aang was cut off when brought her lips onto his. She was kissing him. He couldn't believe what was happening to him. He then felt June push her tongue into his mouth and play with his. The air bender started to feel goosebumps all over. He's never experienced a kiss like this before.

She stopped the kiss and took a look at Aang's expression. His face was completely red with a look of astonishment.

"Y-y-y-y-y-you kissed me…", The air bender couldn't stop stuttering. June couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

"You are just adorable", she said as she straightened up and climbed onto Nyla's saddle, "I hope that could at least help you get over that water bending girl. There are plenty of other girls out there for you Avatar Aang so I suggest you try not to be too hung up on her".

She took the reins and pulled, making Nyla take off. "See you around Avatar Aang", she yelled waving her hands back at him. Aang waved back, still in a daze. As soon as she was gone, the he fainted to the ground.

A few days later, June would arrive at the fire palace and meet up with Zuko. When Katara was informed of the bounty hunter's arrival, she ran as fast as she could to the meeting room. Since finding the letter that Aang left in his room for them, she had been worried sick. Her best friend had left her again to fly across the world and work on his avatar duties. It didn't make sense to her why he would just leave her like that without saying anything. She had been hysterical when she showed the letter to the team.

"AANG IS GONE!", Katara held up the crumbled-up scroll in her hand. Her friends just looked at her like she was crazy.

"Katara calm down. What do you mean 'Aang is gone'?", Zuko asked walking up to her. She gave him the scroll.

"Just read it. He apparently left to travel the world and work to fulfill his avatar duties.", the water bender replied. Sokka and Suki just looked at each other while Toph had her face down. The three of them were all thinking the same thing. 'It was a good thing we were able to at least say goodbye him before he left'.

"How could he just leave us again?", Katara said. She was in a state of shock. "We're his friends, he could have told us about his plan to leave. I just don't understand why he would just leave without saying anything to us?".

Sokka could not believe how badly his sister was reacting. Sure, Aang and Katara had been best friends for a while but he didn't expect her to take it this badly.

"Chill out Katara. Aang probably has his reasons for leaving abruptly.", Sokka said.

"Don't tell me to chill Sokka! What if something bad happens to him and I'm not there to help him?", she yelled back at him.

"Sugar Queen, Twinkle Toes isn't a weakling. He's already mastered all the elements. He isn't a kid that needs to be coddled. Besides this ain't the first time he's left, we'll probably see him soon again.", Toph spoke up.

"Toph has a point. Did he say that we wouldn't see him again in the letter?", said Suki.

"Well…no he didn't say that. He didn't say whether or not we'll see him again.", Katara replied.

"There we go then. We'll probably see him again real soon, I'm sure he has a reason for leaving without saying anything.", said Suki. She felt bad about keeping the truth from Katara but Aang made it clear he didn't want her knowing the real reason for his departure. Katara could not believe how well her friends were reacting to Aang's departure.

"But what could possibly be his reason to leave like this? We've always fought together so why would he feel the need leave us out like this?", the water bender asked. Zuko walked up to her after reading the letter and gave her a hug.

"Don't worry Katara. I'll ask June to find him for us. I'll send her a letter offering whatever price she wants. She won't resist a good pay.", said Zuko. Katara just laid her head on his chest, she didn't have any other ideas and June seemed like the best choice. Maybe June will be able to find Aang unlike last time.

"You should probably just summon that hunter lady here Zuko. We can't risk that letter getting in someone else's hand or otherwise people might go after Aang and hurt him. Just tell her when she gets here", Sokka said. He only made the suggestion because he knew it would take a while for the bounty hunter to arrive with her shirshu, thus giving Aang more time to get farther away before he could be caught.

"Good point Sokka. I'll just send a summons for her.", Zuko replied. Katara hoped that the bounty hunter would come soon enough and find Aang quickly. She just needed to wait.

Now that June was finally here, maybe Katara could convince her to go along with her to find Aang. She wanted to see him as soon as possible. Katara was just about to open the door for the meeting room when it swung open from the inside with June walking out with Zuko trailing behind her.

"What do you mean you won't do it? I'll pay you whatever you want, just name your price", begged Zuko.

"It's not always about the money Zuko.", June replied.

"Then why won't you find the Avatar for me?", Zuko asked. Katara's eyes widened, 'She's refusing to look for him?'.

"Because I don't have to.", she replied. Katara ran up to the bounty hunter and grabbed her hand.

"Please don't go. I need you to find Aang.", she begged. June just looked back at her wondering who she was until she remembered. 'The water bender'.

"I already told your boyfriend that I'm not doing it. What makes you think I'm going to listen to you?", June said.

"Please!", tears were forming in Katara's eyes, "I need to see him. I need to talk to him. He's my best friend and he left without saying anything to me or anyone else. I have to know why; but he could be in danger."

June just thought to herself, 'For someone in a relationship with someone else, she is incredibly clingy to Aang. I promised him that I wouldn't take the job but that doesn't mean I don't have to tell her anything.'.

"No means no girl.", she pulled her hand away from Katara.

"But why?!", the water bender asked hysterically.

"He doesn't want to be found that's why.", June replied, "He said so in his letter that he left for you didn't he? I'm not going to look for somebody that doesn't want to be found.".

"But-"

"Besides I already met him on the way over here. He saved mine and Nyla's life from some bandits trying to kill me. When I told him I was coming here he had a feeling that I was going to be hired to look for him. I owe him for saving me so that's why I'm not doing the job".

"Wha-at?", Katara and Zuko just stared at her.

"So, you know where he is?", the fire lord asked.

"No, I don't. I doubt he's at the same spot we met anyway. He should be long gone by now.", June answered.

"Do you know where he's going?", Katara asked.

"I didn't bother asking and even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you. The kid just wants to be left alone.", June replied. Katara just let the tears fall down her face at this point. She couldn't understand why Aang was acting like this. Why would he need time to himself? Is there something wrong with him and he chose not to tell her?

"Did he tell you why he wanted to be alone?", Zuko asked as he wrapped his arm around Katara's shoulder.

June just gave them both an annoyed look. "Yeah, but it's none of your business".

The bounty hunter turned around and walked away from the baffled couple. She still had one more thing to do before leaving the fire palace. As she neared the exit, she noticed Sokka coming out of a room. June walked as fast as she should to him before he was too far.

"Hey Pony tail!", she called out to him. Sokka turned around and saw her coming up. The bounty hunter took the scroll from her bag and handed it over to him.

"It's a letter from Aang. Make sure your neither your sister nor her boyfriend know about this.", She said and then walked away from the water tribe warrior. Sokka was bewildered but put the scroll in his pockets, he figured that he could wait until he met up with Suki and Toph in private. They would want to know what the letter said.

Later at night the gang got together to eat dinner. Zuko had told them everything about how the meeting with June went. Sokka, Sukki, and Toph were surprised to hear that June turned down a large amount of money to find Aang but understood why. Even though Katara and Zuko didn't know why Aang needed to be alone, the three of them did. Sokka looked up at his sister who was just picking at her dinner with her fork. She had been quiet since they all sat down to eat. Eventually she just got up muttering that she wasn't hungry anymore, excused herself and went up to her room. Sokka was able to get a good look at her eyes, she looked like she had been crying a lot. After they all ate and Zuko left, he whispered to Toph and Suki to meet him in his room.

"So, what's up snoozles?", Toph asked with an annoyed expression on her face. She would rather be sleeping. Sokka just took the scroll from out of his pocket to show her and Suki.

"June gave me this letter from Aang. Figured I should read with you two.", he said.

"That's great Sokka! I was hoping we would hear from him soon.", Suki said with a smile.

"Well don't keep us in suspense, read it.", Toph responded. Sokka nodded as he opened the scroll and started reading.

Dear Sokka,

Hope you, Suki, and Toph are doing well. I met June while she was on her way to the fire nation palace and figured I could send you a letter with her help since I wasn't near any post offices. I didn't want you to wait too long for any update from me. I'm doing fine on my own, Appa and Momo are well too. Since I left, I have been flying around the earth kingdom, making stops at villages and helping where I can. I'm already feeling a little better, but I still need time to myself. I hope Katara and Zuko are doing well in my absence, I've been worried about how Katara especially would take the news of my departure. I didn't leave a lot to say in the letter that I left on my bed, thinking back on it I am glad I was able to at least say bye to you and the girls. By the time you get this letter I will be flying to the southern air temple. I spoke with King Kuei and he set me up with a mailbox for you to send me letters in Ba Sing Se. I hope to hear from you soon. I miss you guys a lot.

Sincerely,

Aang

"I'm glad to hear that he's doing well", said Suki.

"Me too. Good thing he got that mailbox set up for us. Now we'ss able to contact him whenever we need to.", Sokka said.

Toph smirked, "Leave it to twinkle toes to worry about Katara even though she's the reason he left.".

Sokka turned to look at her, "Well he still loves her, so it's not surprising that he still cares."

"And Katara obviously still cares for him", said Suki, "She hasn't been the same since Aang left us.".

"Nothing has been the same without Aang. I miss him.", Toph said. They all missed the air bender immensely.

"I'm going to write him a letter. Maybe we can make a plan to meet up somewhere", Sokka finally said. Suki and Toph liked that idea, hopefully Aang will be able to make time between his avatar duties and hang out with them like before. Although it would likely have to be without Katara and Zuko, seeing as Aang still would not want to see them. Toph left for her room while Suki decided to stay and sleep with Sokka for the night.

'Aang is right to worry about Katara, she is taking this a lot harder than we thought she would. I know Aang was in pain seeing her with Zuko but maybe he could have at least planned this a lot better. I hate seeing my sister being so sad.', Sokka thought to himself. Suki could see that he was in deep thought.

"You okay Sokka?", his girlfriend asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just worried about Aang and Katara. I know he has to deal with the pain of a broken heart, but I feel like he could have just said something to her before leaving.", Sokka replied sighing.

"Aang probably could have handled this better but it's already too late. We just need to accept it and do what we can for the both of them.", said Suki as she wrapped her arms around him, "Whatever happens now, we can deal with it together."

Sokka hugged her back, "You're right. We'll give him the time he needs and whatever happens will happen."

This is where I will end chapter 3. The next two chapters will be more centered around Aang on his travels and the people he meets along the way. I'll get to work on that after I do chapter two for 'Yandere Katara'.

If you liked this chapter then please leave a review, also I am trying to be active on tumblr again so feel free to follow me Coconutsaiyan.