Sakura's relationship with Azula had been rocky since then. They hadn't spoken to each other but Mai and Ty Lee had had enough of their child's play. They tried to set them up to rekindle their friendship. The pinkette was willing to reconcile with the princess but Azula had been adamant in not wanting to even see her. Sakura had given up after five attempts, she was not going to be the one grovelling. She had been distant with Mai and Ty Lee since then as they stuck to Azula like glue. She didn't know whether it was they cared about her or feared her but as long as Azula had someone close by, it was all she could ask for.

And now, she was doing the one thing she had promised herself not to do. Sakura was a sucker for rules, she went by the book as she was practically raised by books in this place. So when she told Zuko that she was leaving the palace for a few hours to shop at the market, the Fire Nation Prince had been adamant that she take him with her. Sakura had refused, saying she wouldn't be able to face his father if anything happened to him.

She feared Fire Lord Ozai greatly. The man scared her to her very core. Immediately after healing Azula, she had been summoned to his private quarters for a demonstration of her healing abilities. She had practiced on the man himself as he had sliced open his entire forearm, even revealing the bone inside. He didn't flinch in pain but merely stared at her as he held out his arm to her. The pinkette had made her way to him with trembling knees and even proceeded to heal his injury with even more trembling hands.

After an hour, the pinkette was finished. She wiped the blood off his arms and on her hands before putting away the spoiled materials. She didn't know what going on in his mind as he stared at her with an unreadable expression with a hint of apprehensiveness. She didn't even want to know what was going on in his mind, if the tales of how he had forced the former Fire Lady to marry him simply because she was a descendant of Avatar Roku. He wanted to produce very powerful children and he had indeed, if Azula and Zuko's skills were anything to go by. She did not want the same fate to befall her.

"Zuko, you can't come with me. You just can't!" the ten year old girl tried to reason with the thirteen year old royal. "I can. If I ask Uncle Iroh, he'll let me," the dark haired boy argued. Sakura had met General Iroh on a handful of occasions and had even shared a cup of tea with him. He was wise and full of good humor. If he agreed to let Zuko come with her, then at least she could shift the blame onto him if the Fire Lord found out. She looked at Zuko who was looking at her with pleading eyes. She pinched her face and pretended to think hard. After a long stretch of silence, she finally relented.

"Okay fine. As long as General Iroh is involved," she told him. "Yes!" he cheered as he enveloped her in a bear hug. "But if anything goes astray, I am not involved and I don't know you. Do I make myself clear?" she warned him. "Crystal clear. You're the best Sakura," he said as he released her. "Of course I am," she preened like a peacock as she covered her burning face with the sleeves of her red robe.

Sakura had changed out of her usual red and golden robes in favour of a red qipao dress with golden linings. She wore a pair of dark tights which reached midthigh and a pair of sandals worn by most women. She tied her hair into two short ponytails at the nape of her neck with Zuko's red ribbon still tied around her head. Zuko discarded all of his royal attire and wore a brown sleeveless kimono top with golden linings and a pair of dark pants. He also wore sandals. He had removed his golden headpiece and tied his hair into a long ponytail at the top of his head.

Sakura was a little jealous at his hair as her occupation didn't allow her to keep long hair. With each of them holding a basket, they left through the secret exit that General Iroh had shown them. He had been supportive of Zuko's idea, saying he needed the skills as he was too much of a daddy's boy. This earned him a snicker from Sakura and heated glare from the said boy.

Sakura watched Zuko stare at the market in wonder as people bustled about the busy streets. He had never been there, she supposed, as he looked like a child seeing a toy for the first time. "You're going to stand out if you're gaping at everything like a fish out of water," she told him as she pulled him away from a cart of cabbages which had been dumped to the ground by a group of playing children. She heard the owner cry in indignation about his cabbages. She sent a silent apology to the man.

They bought a lot of herbs she didn't have access to at the palace, some utensils for mixing poisons and the standard tools required of a doctor. Everywhere she passed, someone always greeted her. She waved and smiled at them in return. "You seem pretty famous around here," Zuko commented as she passed a group of children who all started calling her name to get her attention. She waved again and blew a kiss, resulting in the children squealing in glee. "Kinda. I just know my way around people. As a doctor, you have to be kind to everyone, even the most difficult patients," she replied as she arrived at her final destination.

The two entered the shop which was eerily quiet. There were several shelves lining the small space but they were filled to the brim with scrolls. "Woah," Zuko breathed out as he stared at the scrolls in wonder. "You haven't seen anything yet," Sakura said as she went to the counter. Zuko had been expecting to see a man around his father's age with many scars, maybe a missing limb or two and golden teeth. What he hadn't been expecting to see was a young boy almost his age who was very, very kempt down to the last hair on his head.

Zuko suddenly felt self conscious. Even he could see that the boy was handsome.

"Good afternoon Sakura," the boy greeted. "Hello Yun," the pinkette greeted back with a smile. Yun's smile was dazzling in return. Zuko didn't think he'd ever see another boy he would consider handsome. Was he still in his right mind? "This is my friend Lee, we just need some scrolls and be back on our merry way," she told him as she took a single gold coin out of her pouch and placed it on the counter. Yun took several scrolls and placed them in front of her. As the medic began perusing the scrolls, Yun turned his attention to the Fire Nation Prince. "Nice to meet you Lee. I'm Yun, a close friend of Sakura," his dark red eyes gleaming as he stretched out his hand. Zuko took his hand as he nodded only to feel Yun gripping his hand a little too hard.

Zuko stared into Yun's eyes, seeing a challenge in the boy's gaze. His eyes strayed to Sakura, who was looking through a scroll, oblivious to the war going on. Zuko felt a sudden flare of jealousy and possessiveness for Sakura and he was sure Yun felt the same way too. Well, challenge accepted. The two boys glared at each other, gold clashing with vermillion in a battle of who was going to blink first.

"Found it!"

The spell was immediately broken and the two boys broke apart. "You guys okay? You look a little worn out," Sakura asked as she stared at the boys curiously. "Just a little bro code we were talking about, isn't that right Lee?" Yun said with a strained laugh. Zuko could only nod as he was sure if he opened his mouth, he would curse the boy without restraint. "Bromance," the pinkette sighed with an eye roll.

The two played tag on their way back to the palace resulting them in being late by two hours.

They met with General Iroh as soon as they had gotten back through their secret entrance. "Zuko, I am not happy that you choose to be late at your first meeting. I will not be responsible if your father decides not to let you attend anymore," the older man said with a displeasing scowl. "My apologies General Iroh. We lost track of time, please don't blame it on Prince Zuko," Sakura apologized as with a bow. Iroh side-eyed the boy, watching him clench his fists in anger and shame. "Don't speak on his behalf physician. He should learn to apologize himself," Iroh chided her. Sakura's eyes dropped to the ground in embarrassment.

"Anyways, we'll speak about why you're late another time. Right now, we need to prepare the prince for his first ever war meeting," the General said with a sigh. Iroh dragged away Zuko whose shoulders were drooping. He seemed not to take kindly to his uncle's rebukes. She needed to do something to boost his spirits.

"Zuko!" she called out to him.

The Fire Nation Prince turned around to face her and she could see the tears which had welled in his eyes.

"I believe in you," she smiled at him with a thumbs up. Confusion laced his features before softening up. "Thanks," he said softly but her keen ears caught the sound. She heaved a sigh of relief as the boy followed after his uncle with a slight bounce in his step. She caught Iroh's knowing gaze and nodded in understanding.

Sakura had changed back to her formal Fire Nation attire consisting of long red robes with golden linings and the Fire Nation emblem on her back. She had let her hair out of if it's ponytail, leaving only her red ribbon. The medic was halfway through creating an antidote to a poison that Ping had given her when she heard a large commotion outside. She could make out the sound of many footsteps running towards the Royal Arena.

With her curiosity piqued, she left her lab and followed where everyone was rushing towards. It seemed as if even the general people had been allowed into Palace as she caught many of her friends in the marketplace amidst all the commotion.

But she couldn't see what was going on in the arena or who were fighting. Too many people were present and her short stature wasn't doing her any favors. She could hear familiar voices coming from the centre of the arena but couldn't make out what they were saying. There were ear-blocking cheers from every side, her sensitive ears said as much. She caught General Iroh's ponytail in the crowd.

Sakura shuffled through the sweaty bodies as she made her way to the Fire Nation royal. The crowd pushed her back but using strength she didn't know she possessed, she broke through the crowd until she reached her destination. She was about to greet the older man and ask what all the fuss was about when an all-too familiar voice caught her attention.

The sight she found was shocking to her. She could feel her disbelief in her bones. She knew that she was gaping like a fish out of water which she would've found unattractive on most days but she didn't care at the moment. Her face was wet with tears she didn't remember shedding.

"Please Father, I'm sorry," Zuko cried as he knelt before the Fire Lord. Ozai didn't say anything as he stared distastefully at his son. "Fight me Zuko. Isn't that what you wanted when you challenged my authority?" the man asked as he took steps towards the quivering boy, a single flame ignited in his right hand. Zuko only stared back fearfully as tears ran down his cheeks.

"You're pathetic."

Zuko's screams reverberated to her core as Ozai burned the left of his face. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nostrils and she almost dry heaved. "No! Zuko!" she attempted to run towards him but was held back by General Iroh. He shook his head pitifully when he caught sight of her tear-stricken face. "Let me go!" she cried as she tried to pry off his hold on her arm. "Now is not the time, young one," he told her softly. "I need to help him! He's going to die!" she shouted as she managed to remove his hands, rushing towards the sobbing boy on the arena only to be held back by guards.

"Let me go you bastards! I'll kill you!" she screeched as she pushed her way through. She could feel many arms pulling at her in every direction but she overpowered them, even going as far as hauling them a fair distance away. But the guards were persistent in holding her down.

Sakura caught sight of Ozai as he stared at her in amusement and she bared her teeth at him. She hated him. She absolutely loathed him with ever fibre of her being.

There was a pinprick at the back of her neck. Her mind faintly registered a sleep inducing poison as she succumbed to the darkness.

She woke up three hours later in her room. It was almost dusk. Immediately, the memories of Zuko and Ozai assaulted her. The pinkette bit back a sob as she got out of her bed. She hadn't been dreaming, it was real. Where was Zuko now? Did he get proper medical treatment? It could probably scar if treated by an untrained medic.

With that thought in mind, she quickly dressed in her physician robes. Jumping out through the window, she made her way to where she could feel his Chi burning inside of him. Sakura found herself at the port where battleships departed to conquer the rest of the world. He wasn't leaving without seeing her, right?

The medic found him watching the few turtleducks which were at the sea shore. She took measured steps as she approached the boy, not sure if her heart could take seeing what Ozai had done to him.

"You're awake," he stated without looking at her. "I am. I woke up a few minutes ago, my body can break down the poison faster than normal," she told him as she stopped at arm's length. Zuko turned around to face, revealing the left side of his face. A bandage was wrapped around the wound and over his head. A thick gauze covered his eye entirely. He had shaved his head entirely, leaving only his ponytail. The Fire Nation Prince watched her warily as she closed the distance between them, eyes fixated on his injury.

"Can I see?" she asked as she raised her hand gingerly, not wanting to scare him. The trauma was too much for the both of them. "I can make it not scar," she prodded as her fingers ghosted over the bandages but he turned his face away from her. Her hand dropped to her side in defeat. She understood why he didn't want anyone else to touch it.

"Are you leaving?" she asked him. "Yes. Father has banished me from the Fire Nation. I can only return on the condition that I bring the Avatar with me. Alive," he bit out. Sakura was in unison with the bitterness and resentment he was feeling. "But the Avatar hasn't been seen since a hundred years ago. Where will you find him?" she asked him. How could Ozai expect Zuko to find the Avatar who hadn't been seen for the past century?

"It doesn't matter. I need to find the Avatar to regain my honor," he said as he turned away from her. Sakura made her resolution there and then. "Take me with you. I can help. You need someone to treat your wound and-"

"No!"

His voice was sharp and it cut deep inside her. Zuko took a deep breath and turned back to face him. "Sakura, I can't take you with me. You have too much at stake to risk losing for my sake," he said as he watched tears well up in her eyes. "I don't care. Take me with you. Life won't be the same without you," she pleaded. She was now crying. "Sakura-" "I don't care Zuko! I don't give a damn what happens in that palace. Please, let me come with you. I can't risk losing you, you're too precious to me," she whispered the last part.

A horn sounded from the ship, signalling its departure.

"I'm sorry Sakura but I have to go. I can't take you with me. You're too much of an asset to the Fire Nation. It would only make me more of a traitor than I already am," he said as he embraced her. "But you're not a traitor," she sobbed as she hugged him back. They stood there for a few moments before Zuko retracted himself from her. "Take care Sakura. Thank you for everything," he said as he gave her a head pat before jogging over to the ship. He didn't turn back once.

Sakura felt a large part of her sailed away with him as the ship disappeared beyond the horizon.

sniff* *wheezes* *wipes nose with a piece of paper*

It was always meant to be. He had to leave eventually. So we're now approaching the three year gap between Zuko's punishment and when he meets the Avatar. This will be covered in the next chapters. Thank you for reading and your support. Don't forget to leave a review! I hope you like how I made it long.

Tozoonana

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