*Asami's P.O.V.*

It's been a few days since Zuko and I kissed, and I've been avoiding him ever since. I know what you're thinking. Why would I be avoiding him after sharing one amazing kiss with him? Well, my answer is one word and it is a name.

Zian.

After Zuko and I pulled away from our kiss, I felt my engagement on my left hand ring finger. It was almost like it was burning me, and was reminding me who my heart belonged to first. Seeing my ring, I felt guilty about forgetting about him and also felt like I was cheating on him. Even though I know that Zian is either very old or most likely dead, and won't ever see him again, I just can't help but to feel like I'm betraying him.

Zuko tried to talk to me after the kiss, but I run away from him every time I see him. Now I know I am hurting Zuko by avoiding him and I truly feel guilty about it. But every time I think about talking to Zuko, I think about the kiss, and when I think about the kiss, my engagement ring burns me and reminds me about Zian again. So, to top things off, my life just got more complicated than ever.

"There is a storm coming. A big one." Iroh said, interrupting me from my thoughts about what I should do with my Zian Zuko situation. Iroh and I, along with Zuko, Kai and a few crew members were outside on the deck. The crew were working while Zuko was looking through a telescope, most likely trying to spot Aang, while Kai was sitting on my shoulder, grooming himself. I was about to comment on Iroh's remark, but stopped myself when Zuko turned to us.

"You're out of your mind, Uncle." He said as he walked over to us. "The weather's perfect. There's not a cloud in sight." I looked up to the sky and agreed to Zuko, but when I took a deep breath through my nose, I could smell that fresh rain smell you always smell before or during a rainy day and/or storm. "A storm is approaching from the north." Iroh continued and turned around to face his nephew. "I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."

"We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same." Zuko said stubbornly and pointed up to the sky. "Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew." Iroh said in a stern, yet worried voice. "The safety of the crew doesn't matter!" Zuko snapped as he glared at his uncle. "Zuko!" I snapped back at him in shock while Kai squeaked in surprise at the sudden raised anger voices. Zuko's head snapped over to me and shot me a death glare. "Oh now you talk to me!" He exclaimed as he glared at me.

I open my mouth to defend myself but stopped when I noticed Lieutenant Jee standing not to far from us and was looking at us with raised eyebrows. Zuko looked over his shoulder when he realized my focus wasn't on him anymore and saw the Lieutenant as well. He growled under his breath and marched over to Lieutenant Jee. "Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety." Zuko said right in the Lieutenant's face with a death glare before marching away, back inside the ship.

"He doesn't mean that. He's just all worked up." Iroh quickly said to Lieutenant Jee as he and the crew member watched Zuko leave. Lieutenant Jee glared at Zuko while Iroh looked at Zuko with worried eyes, while I looked at Zuko with disappointed, sad and guilty eyes. "I'll talk to him." I said to Iroh and run after Zuko before he object.

"Zuko!" I called out as I run after him, but he just continued marching away, ignoring me. I finally caught up to him and quickly checked on Kai, who was still sitting on my shoulder, and walked along side Zuko. "That was really unnecessary, even for you!" I said walked next to him, looking at him in disappointment. "So what? It's the truth." Zuko said without looking at me as he continued on marching. "It is not and you know it!" I snapped with a glare as I grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop.

"How do you expect your crew to treat you with respect when you say things like that!" I exclaimed as I crossed my arms after Zuko ripped his arm out of my grip. "Keep it up and you'll have a mutiny on your hands!" Zuko glared down at me as his hands turned into fists. "Why do you care?" He snapped at me as he crossed his arms. "Because I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt!" I exclaimed as I uncrossed my arms.

Zuko hmphed as he looked me in the eyes with an ice cold death glare. "Funny... you sure have a weird way of showing that." I flinched at his words and looked down to the floor. Zuko hmphed again and started walking away again. I raised my hand to stop him, but stopped myself when I felt the guilt fulling in my heart. I closed my eyes tight to stop myself from crying and held my hand over my heart. Kai yipped softly at me and rubbed his cheek against mine. I pulled him off my shoulder and held him close to my chest as I tried to hold back a whimper.

***

After calming down a bit, Kai and I returned back outside on deck. When we got outside, I noticed a few crew members looking out on the horizon in worry. I looked to where they were looking, and was instantly filled with fear and worry. "Oh no..." I whispered to myself in worry as I watched how the bright blue sky got covered by dark storm clouds. Not a moment later, both Zuko and Iroh came on deck as well and saw the storm clouds.

"Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all." Lieutenant Jee said to Zuko as he crossed his arms. "Lucky guess." Iroh said as he smiled and stood next to me and petted Kai behind the ear. "Lieutenant!" Zuko exclaimed in anger. "You'd better learn some respect," He said and jabbed two fingers into Jee's chest. "or I will teach it to you." He finished and marched away from the Lieutenant. I sighed to myself in disappointment and looked down as I held Kai close to my chest.

I hoped for the Lieutenant to ignore the Prince, but luck wasn't on my side this time. "What do you know about respect?" Both mine and Iroh's expressions turned into panic. Iroh quickly made a cutting motion at his throat with his hand, trying to signal Lieutenant Jee to stop as I held Kai closer to me. But he ignored the retired General and continued speaking when Zuko stopped. "The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard-working crew to your esteemed uncle to Protector Asami, shows you know nothing about respect!"

Iroh facepalmed himself in frustration while I closed my eyes sadness and held Kai tighter and closer for comfort. "You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?" My eyes shoot open and shot the Lieutenant a glare, because this time he went to far. Before I could snap at the Lieutenant and stop him, Zuko turned around and with his right arm extended, showing that he wants a battle. As if things couldn't get worse, Lieutenant Jee goes and got in battle stance as well.

"Easy now." Iroh said as he tried to calm down the two soldiers, but they just ignored him. Both Zuko and Lieutenant Jee block the other's arm with their wrist, and not a moment later, smoke started coming out of Zuko's hand. Before it could go any further, I quickly place Kai on my shoulder and walked over to them, Iroh following soon behind. "Enough!" I snapped as I pushed Zuko away from the Lieutenant, while Iroh pushed the Lieutenant away from Zuko. "We're all a bit tired from being at sea so long." Iroh said as he looked to his nephew before looking over to Lieutenant Jee.

"I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better." The Lieutenant and the Prince shot each other one last glare before Lieutenant Jee and the rest of the crew got back inside the ship. "I don't need either of you to help keeping order on my ship." Zuko snapped as he turned his back to us. Iroh walked over and placed a comforting hand on Zuko's right shoulder, but Zuko shrugged it off. His uncle looked down in hurt before turning around and following the crew back into the ship. I looked to Iroh with sad eyes before looking back to Zuko.

"We're just trying to stop a mutiny from happening." I said and took Kai off my shoulder and held him in my arms again. "We don't want you to get hurt." "Why do you care?" Zuko asked with a neutral voice. "Like I said before, I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt.""And like I said before, you sure have a weird way of showing that." I flinched when I heard his words from our previous conversation and looked down before turning around and walked back into the ship.

***

I was sitting on my bed in my room, playing with my teardrop starfish necklace when Iroh walked in and spoke. "You know it was him who bought them for you." I frowned at him and dropped the necklace. "What are you talking about Uncle Iroh?" I asked him as I sat up straight. Iroh walked over to Kai first, who was playing on his jungle gym, and gave him a lychee before coming over to me. "Your orange dress and your necklace, Zuko bought them, not me."

My frown deepened even more. "Wait, what?" I asked as Iroh sat down on my bed. "I never bought those two gifts for you. I wanted to! But you wouldn't let me. Zuko bought them when you and I returned back to the ship." Iroh said, but what he said only made me more confused. "But if he bought them, then why didn't he tell me?" I asked him, but he shrugged at me. "Beats me, but I believe the main reason is because he was scared."

"Scared of what?" I asked as my confusion deepened. "That you won't accept them because you hate him." Iroh answered plainly, which made my eyes widen in shock. "I don't hate him!" I said in shock, not able to believe that both Iroh and Zuko thought that I hate Zuko. "I know that, but does Zuko?" Iroh asked and gave me a knowing look. "Of coarse he does!" I quickly said, but I soon looked down in uncertain. "Doesn't he?" I asked myself more than to Iroh.

Iroh hummed before placing a comforting hand on my hand. "I believe he had had his doubts, but that all change when you started avoiding him after you two kissed." I gasped in surprise before groaning and threw my face into my hands. "He told you?" I asked after moving my hands away. Iroh chuckled and shook his head. "No, I sort of walked in in your moment." He answered with a chuckle. "I went to ask if you two wanted some tea, but I found you kissing and left before either of you realized that I was there."

"Just great!" I groaned in frustration and threw my face back into my hands. "As if my life wasn't complicated enough!" "There is nothing wrong about caring and loving someone! It is entirely normal!" Iroh said with a chuckle. I looked up from my hands and gave him a pointed look before showing him my left hand. Iroh's eyes flickered over to my left hand and then to my engagement ring.

"Oh... OH!" He said in realization. I just nodded with a huff and looked down to my lap. "That explains things then." He muttered to himself before looking to me with a small knowing and pity look. "You feel that you have betrayed your fiancé." He stated, making me huff and wrapped my arms around myself. Before he could say anything else, I started telling him how I felt about the situation, including the burning engagement ring.

The retired general humped in thought as he played with his beard. "It seems more like for me that by kissing Zuko, means that you are ready to move on." He said before giving me a pointed knowing look. "But to move on, you have to let Zian go." The second Iroh said it, my right hand flew over to my engagement ring and brought both hands over to my chest as I looked at Iroh in shock. "No... it can't be it!" I said as I closed my eyes and shook my head no.

"Your engagement didn't burn you to remind you of Zian." Iroh said before taking my hands in his, making me open my eyes again. When I open them, I saw Iroh looking at me knowing look. "It burned you to remind that to move on, you have to let Zian go first." He said but I just shook my head 'no'. "No... I can't! Zian was my everything!" I said and held back a whimper. "Asami..." Iroh said gently and looked at me with a small fatherly smile.

"Letting Zian go doesn't mean you are replacing him with Zuko." He said and gently squeezed my hands in comfort. "You are a beautiful young lady, and you have a full life ahead of you. He would want you to move on, and live your life." He said with a comforting father smile. "And just because you let him go doesn't mean he will no longer be in your heart! He will always be in your heart! No matter what!"

I sat there in thought before looking up to Iroh who was smiling at me knowingly. "Mind looking after Kai for a while? There's something I have to do." I asked him. Iroh's smile brightened and nodded yes, giving my hands on last squeeze before standing up. "It would be my pleasure." He said and walked over to Kai. "Come on my little friend. I have a pot of lychee tea with our names on it." He said as he picked Kai up and left my room. "Oh! And Asami?" Iroh said as he stopped by the door.

"Good luck."

***

As soon as Iroh left, I quickly got changed into the dress I thought I'll never wear again and went to Zuko's room. He wasn't there when I got there, so I entered his room and waited for him by his mirror. It wasn't long until he came back. He opened his mouth, most likely to snap at me for being in his room, but froze with wide eyes when he saw what I was wearing.

"Zian got it for me." I said without looking away from the mirror. "He wanted me in a wedding dress that could show my tattoos. That way I could wear my tattoos proudly like a true proud airbender." I said and turned to him. I was wearing my wedding dress. It was a beautiful white dress with white flower patterns on. It was also a short sleeve and an open back dress. It was the perfect wedding dress for me with my tattoos. "He wanted me to stop hiding them."

"Why did you hide your tattoos?" Zuko asked as he closed the door and stepped deeper into the room. "And don't say that it is complicated like you always do." He quickly added and walked over to me. He gently placed his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "Please tell me..." I looked Zuko in the eye for a few seconds before sighing as I looked down.

"I was dishonored."

"What?" Zuko asked softly in surprise. I sighed again and walked over to his bed and sat down. Zuko quickly followed and sat down next to me and waited patiently for me to tell the story. "When the Monks found out about my feelings for Zian, they forbid me from seeing him. But I ignored their orders and continued seeing him after Monk Gyatso gave me his blessing to continue seeing him." I started saying as I looked down on my lap.

"They didn't know about the engagement, and that was a good thing! But unfortunately they knew I was seeing Zian behind their back. They started making me train without taking any breaks and took away my free days until I became a Master Airbender. But it didn't stop me from seeing Zian." I said with a smile, but my smile soon fell when I thought the day everything changed. "But it all changed the day after my birthday..."

*Flashback*

"You excited Asami?" Aang asked me with a smile. "There's no words how excited I am my dear brother!" I said with the biggest smile ever on my face. "Of coarse she is excited Aang!" Monk Gyatso said with a proud smile as he walked into the room with the tattoo equipment in hand. "Any airbender would be! If they weren't, then they're not all up there!" He joked as he tapped on the side of his head. Both Aang and I laughed at the joke and walked over to the table.

"Am I on time?" Zian asked as he walked into the room. "Zian! You came!" I said happily with a bright smile. "I wouldn't miss my fiancé's tattoo ceremony for anything." Zian said as he hugged me tightly before he kissed me. I returned the kiss before pulling away and hugged him again before sitting down on the table. I looked up with a smile to Monk Gyatso, who was standing in front of me with scissors and a proud smile.

"I'm gonna be honest..." I started saying as I looked at my guardian. "I'm really gonna miss my hair!" The three of them laughed at my comment before Monk Gyatso gently wiped my hair out of my eyes. "It will grow back my dear." He said without breaking his fatherly smile. I smiled back to him before looking over to Zian and Aang, who both gave me an encouraging smiles.

My smile brightened at their encouragement before looking back at Monk Gyatso and nodded. Monk Gyatso smiled brightly and started explaining how the tattooing worked. "After we cut your hair, we'll start on your back up to your forehead. We'll give you time to rest until the pain has faded, either wise we'll continue tomorrow with your arms and legs." I took one deep breath before nodding. "I'm ready."

Monk Gyatso smiled and took my hair in his hand and was about to cut them when a voice suddenly stopped him. "Hold it right there!" Dour Monk yelled out as he marched into the room with the other Senior Monks following behind. Monk Gyatso frowned at his fellow monks and pulled the scissors away. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked while Aang, Zian and I frowned in worry.

"She is not allowed to get her airbending tattoos."

"What?!?" All three of us asked in shock while Monk Gyatso looked at the Senior Monks with wide eyes. "After everything you have already done to her, are you really going to give her the worst punishment for airbenders!" Monk Gyatso yelled out as his wide shocked eyes turned into an angry glare. "She has brought it to herself!" Dour Monk exclaimed with is sour glare.

"Protector Asami has refused to live in the Protector's way for to long! The Avatar MUST come first!" He continued before his glare moved from Monk Gyatso over to me. "Protector Asami, we hereby dishonor you from your airbending tattoos!" Aang and Zian gasped in shock while I just sat there in shock before finally snapping out of it. "No... please!" I begged as I tried to hold back my tears started forming in my eyes.

"Are you really going to strip her from her title as a Master Airbender just for loving me?!?" Zian snapped at the Monks as Aang wrapped his arms around me to comfort me, while I tried to hold back my tears. "Asami must live the Protector's way!" The Senior Monk said as he looked at Zian with a disapprove look. "Well the Protector's way is stupid!" Aang exclaimed as he glared at the monks, still holding me in his arms as I tried to hold back my tears.

"Aang is right!" Monk Gyatso said as he glared at his fellow monks in disappointment. "The life of a Protector is unfair! You can't just dishonor her for living her life her way!" "It is not up to either of you!" The Senior Monk snapped and stepped closer. "The Avatar comes first! That is the way of the Avatar's Protector!" He yelled out as he glared at the three most important people in my life before looking over to me. "The only way you can regain your honor is by leaving Zian from the Fire Nation and to never see him again."

My sad grey eyes got more teary as I slowly shook my head. "Please don't do this..." I begged as my voice cracked from trying to hold back my crying. But the monks just looked at me with disapproving eyes before they started leaving the room. "If you stay with the boy, you will remain without honor and you will not be allowed to get your Airbending tattoos." The Senior said as he stopped by door before exiting the room, the other monks, except Dour Monk, following soon after.

"The Avatar comes first." Dour Monk said as he his signature glare and left the room as well. The second he was gone, I burst into tears. Monk Gyatso and Zian quickly walked over to me and wrapped their arms around me, and held me in their arms with Aang.

*End of Flashback*

"They took away your honor for loving someone?" Zuko asked as he looked at me in shock. I nodded and looked down to my lap. "I thought them taking away your freedom was the worst thing they did to you, but taking your title away as Master, and your honor..." He said and took my left hand in his. "I can't believe you had to go through that." He added and gently squeezed my hand in his.

"Wait..." Zuko said with a confused frown. "You and your brother were on your way to Whale Tail Island for your wedding. You never cancelled it. The monks even locked you in your room to stop you from going." He said and traced the Fire Nation symbol under the arrow with his finger. "If you were dishonor from your Airbending tattoos, then why do you have arrow tattoos on your arms, legs and back if you never left Zian?" He asked as he looked into my eyes with his golden eyes.

*Flashback*

"Asami?" Monk Gyatso said as he entered my room. Instead of answering him, I continued crying into my pillow. He sighed softly and walked over to my bed and sat down. "Everything is going to be alright." He said gently started rubbing my back up and down. "I'm losing everything Monk Gyatso." I whimpered. "I can't leave Zian just to regain my honor for my Airbending tattoos." I said and finally looked up from my pillow. "But I can't live my life as a proud airbender without my Airbending tattoo."

"If I choose either love or honor, I lose the other." I said as I looked at my guardian with sad tearful eyes. "I know Asami... I know." He gently said as he continued rubbing my back. "What am I going to do?" I asked before throwing myself back onto my pillow. "You are not less an airbender without Airbender tattoos." Monk Gyatso said softly. "Their are plenty of airbenders without Airbender tattoos." "Yeah, but are those tattoo less airbenders Masters?" I asked without looking up.

"Airbender tattoos doesn't make you an Airbender Master, you yourself makes you an Airbender Master." Monk Gyatso said and pulled me up from my pillow. "Airbender tattoos doesn't make you a better bender. You are the same bender than before, you just have a tattoo to show it." "But the whole Temple knows that I'm a Master!" I said as I sat up straight. "They are going to question why I don't have my tattoos, and when they find out that I am dishonored, they'll never treat me with respect again!"

"Not if they know the reasons why you have been dishonored." He said as he looked me deep in the eyes. "There are many airbenders who are against the Protector's way of life. They will agree that what the Senior Monks did was wrong." "Yeah, but not all of them are as brave as you and I to go against the Senior Monks." I muttered as I looked down. "They won't stand up against the Senior Monks for me. And the Senior Monks will never change their minds and give back my honor."

Monk Gyatso sighed softly in sadness before opening his mouth to say something, but got interrupted when Kai run into my room and jumped onto my lap. Kai yipped a sound of comfort and rubbed his head against my cheek. I smiled a small sad smile and hugged him against me. "I thought he might cheer you up a bit." Zian said as he entered my room with a small sad smile. "Only a bit." I said honestly.

Zian walked over to me and sat down next to me. "We'll figure this out." He said and took my hand in his. Monk Gyatso stood up from my bed and walked over to my desk. "What's this?" He asked as he picked up one of my drawings. "Those are Airbender theme tattoo ideas I got when I did Protector training at the other nations." I answered and stood up from my bed and walked over to him.

"They're beautiful." My Guardian said as he picked up another paper up of drawings. On the one paper, there was a drawing of four arrows, where each pointed at their own direction, with a yin and yang in the middle. Each arrow had its own element's symbol with its name either written next, below or under it. Up was air, right was water, down was earth and left was fire.

On the other paper was two arrows pointing up. The one arrow had the air symbol under the arrow head, and had the words, freedom, and peace written under the symbol. The other arrow had the fire symbol, with the words, life, and power written under. On the other paper, was also two arrows, but with different elements and pointing down. The one arrow had the water symbol above the arrow, and had the words, change, and healing. The other arrow had the earth symbol, and the words, strong, and proud.

"Thank you." I said with a small blush as I petted Kai behind the ear as I held him in my arms. "Each arrow has it's own nation and what that nation represents." Monk Gyatso said as he stared at my drawings in awe. He continued looking at my drawings before his face suddenly brightened up. "I have an idea!" He said with a big smile.

***

"You want to what?" I asked with wide eyes, along with Aang, while Monk Gyatso and Zian stood in front of me with big smiles. "We're going to tattoo your design of Airbender tattoos on you!" Monk Gyatso said with a big bright smile. "But the Senior Monks won't allow her Airbending tattoos, why will they allow this design tattoo?" Aang asked with a frown. "We won't tell the Senior Monks!" Zian said, sharing a bright grin with Monk Gyatso.

"Then why can't we just tattoo ordinary Airbender tattoos?" Aang asked while I still looked shocked at my guardian and fiancé. "Ordinary Airbender tattoos needs a hairless head." Monk Gyatso said as he started getting the tattoo equipment ready. "If the Senior Monks find Asami with any Airbender tattoos, they will force her to remove the tattoos, and that is more painful that getting the tattoo. With this design, we won't need to shave off her hair. She'll be able to hide these tattoos until she's married."

"Why until she's married?" Aang asked before I could. "Because when Asami's married, the Senior Monks don't have a say over her anymore and they don't have the right to force her from removing her tattoo. Plus, she won't be living in the Air Temple anymore." Zian answered as he walked over to me and took my hand in his and pulled me over to the table. "Then why not wait after your married to get her tattooed?" Aang asked as he followed after us.

"If Asami returns to the Temple after she's married, the Senior Monks will mark her as a dishonored airbender, and no Air Temple will be allowed to tattoo her, if they agree or not." Monk Gyatso answered as he stirred the black ink in a bowl. "But if they claim her dishonored, then won't that still give them the power to force her to remove her tattoo?" Aang quickly asked, before I could. "I think Aang can read my mind." I said before yelping in surprise when Zian suddenly picked me up and place me on the table.

"Luckily, Airbender tattoo removing needs permission from ALL four Air Temples when Senior Monks don't have rights over an airbender anymore. If one Temple doesn't give permission, then the removing of Airbender tattoos is not aloud." Monk Gyatso said and walked over to the table with a smile. "And last time I checked, the Northern Air Temple disagree of the Protector's way as well. They won't give permission on tattoo removing on you."

"I can have my Airbender tattoos?" I asked my guardian when I realized that this was really happening. "Yes." Both Zian and Monk Gyatso answered. "And I don't have to leave Zian?" I asked as a hopeful smile started forming on my face. "Nope!" They both answered again with bright smiles. My smile brightened before I sat up straight and took off my arm sleeves. "I want the Fire Nation arrow on my left hand, and the Air Nomads arrow on my right."

*End of Flashback*

"A few days later, Zian got me this dress." I said and stood up from Zuko's bed and did a small twirl. "He never saw me in it." I said as I stood in front of the mirror again. "He begged me to see me in it, but I told him to wait until the wedding." I said and smiled in sadness. "If only I knew I'll miss my wedding... I would have showed him just once how beautiful his dress made me."

"You're always beautiful."

I looked up and saw through the mirror Zuko standing behind me. I looked at him through the mirror and smiled with a blush. "Thank you..." I said softly with a small smile. Zuko gave me a small smile back before frowning. "I'm glad that you are talking to me again, and I really appreciated that you finally told me the reason behind hiding your tattoos." He said as he placed his hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face him.

"But why are you talking to me now?" Zuko asked. I sighed and looked down at my left hand and played with my engagement ring before looking up to him. "Because Iroh made realize the real reason why I was avoiding you." I answered and looked down at my engagement ring again. "I wasn't avoiding you because of me hating you. I never hated you." I said and looked back up to him. Zuko looked at me surprised before looking down, avoiding my eyes.

"I was avoiding you because I was scared of letting Zian go." I said and started playing with my engagement ring. Zuko looked back up and frowned, but didn't say anything. "It took me a while to realize that. At first I thought it was because I felt guilty, because every time I thought of you, I thought about our kiss. And when I thought about our kiss, I felt my engagement ring and then remembered about Zian and just felt guilty." I continued without stopping playing with my ring.

"But Iroh made me realize the real reason." I said and took a step closer to him. "Kissing you made me realize that I'm ready to move on from Zian, but to move on, I have to let him go first." I said and looked back down at my ring. "As much as I miss him, I know have to let him go, because he'll want me to move on. Even though I'm letting him go, he'll always be in my heart." I said before taking a deep breath and took off my engagement ring.

Zuko's eyes widen in both shock and surprise when he saw me take off my engagement ring. "What are you doing?" He asked in shock. I held my engagement in my right hand and stared at it for a moment before looking back at Zuko. "Letting go." I said and walked over to his desk and placed the ring onto his desk. Zuko walked over to me and stared into my grey eyes with his golden eyes. He continued staring into my eyes before picking up my engagement ring.

He held the ring in his hand for a moment and stared at it before his eyes moved back to me. He stared deep into my eyes with his before taking my right hand and placed the ring on my right hand ring finger. "You don't have to let him completely go." Zuko said before intertwining our hands. He cupped my face with his other hand and stared into my eyes before pulling my face closer to his and connected my lips to his.

I breathed softly through my nose as our lips connected and slowly started to move my lips against Zuko's. He let go of my right hand and wrapped his arm around my waist and brought me closer to him as he deepen the kiss. As the kiss deepened, I raised up my arms and wrapped them around his neck as he moved his other arm around my waist as well. Our lips continued moving in sync when Zuko suddenly gripped me on my waist and lifted me up and placed me on his desk.

I pulled away with a gasp and stared into Zuko's eyes as we both took deep breaths. "You're not going to avoid me again are you?" Zuko asked as he cupped my cheek again. "Never." I muttered as I graced my lips against his. "You sure about that?" He asked against my lips. "Absolutely." I said and crashed my lips against his and passionately kissed him as I wrapped my arms around him while he wrapped his around me.

Zuko licked my lip gently, begging for an entrance as we continued kissing. I parted open my lips and softly moaned as his tongue entered my mouth. Our tongues wrestled against each other until his won and roamed in my mouth as we continued to passionately kiss. Zuko groaned in pleasure and tightened arms around me as we continued to kiss with more passion. We continued making out until we both pulled away for air.

"Don't leave me." He whispered as he laid his forehead against mine. "Never." I said as I held on tight to him. "You sure about that?" He asked as his nose rubbed against mine. "Absolutely." I answered as I tightened my arms around him.

*Zuko's P.O.V.*

Asami and I were laying together on my bed cuddling. She was back in her previous outfit and had returned her wedding dress back to her room. "Where's Kai?" I asked when I finally realized that he wasn't with us. "Iroh took him when I came to you." She answered as she laid her head on my chest. "Of coarse he's with uncle!" I chuckled, making her chuckle as well while I moved my hand up and down on her shoulder.

"Yeah, those two are the best of friends!" Asami said as she drew patterns on my chest with her finger. "I should actually be jealous!" She joked, making me laugh. "Na! I like it actually!" I said jokingly. "I get you for myself!" Asami laughed and looked up to me. "You jealous over Kai?" She asked jokingly with a smile. "That little fire ferret has you wrapped around his furry little finger!" I said, making her laugh, but I was completely honest.

"I'm serious!" I said, making her laugh more before she raised herself up from me and sat up. I sat up as well and couldn't help but just smile brightly as I listened to her laugh. She soon calmed down and stared at me with a smile. "What?" I asked without breaking my smile when I realized she was examining me. "This is the most carefree I've ever seen you." Asami said with a happy smile. But her soon turned into a frown when she saw my smile turned into a frown.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Nothing." I muttered and turned my back to her. Hearing her saying seeing me carefree reminded who I was before all of this. Before my banishment, before I lost my honor... before I got scarred. "It is not nothing." Asami said and moved closer to me. She placed one hand on my shoulder and used the other to move my face to face her.

"What is wrong? You can tell me." She said as she stared into my eyes with hers. I stared back for a moment before sighing and turned my body to face her. "I wasn't always like this." I said and pointed to myself. "I used to be as carefree as you and Uncle Iroh." I said before looking down to my lap when I thought of the day that changed me. "Used to be happy and smiled like everyone else." 'What changed then?" Asami gently asked.

"It all changed on the day of my banishment." I said and looked up from my lap and stared into Asami's eyes. "What happened that day?" She gently asked me, moving closer to me and waited patiently for me to tell her my story. I looked to her for a moment before sighing and started telling her what happened on that horrible day. "It all started two years ago. There was a War Meeting and I wanted to join it."

*Flashback*

I was on my to the War Chamber and was about to enter, but was stopped by one of the guards. "Let me in!" I ordered as I gave the guard an annoyed glare. "Prince Zuko, what's wrong?" Uncle Iroh asked me as he came over and placed his hands on my shoulders. "I want to go into the War Chamber!" I said and pointed with my thumb at the guard that stopped me from entering. "But the guard won't let me pass!"

Uncle Iroh started leading me away with his left hand on my shoulder. "You're not missing anything, trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring." Iroh said with joking voice. "If I'm going to rule this Nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?" I asked with a hopeful smile. Uncle Iroh stared at me for a moment before speaking again. "Very well. But you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"

"Thank you, Uncle!" I said with a bow. Uncle Iroh smiled at me and wrapped his arm around me as we entered the War Room. We walked over to the map and sat down in front of it in a kneeling position. "Remember," Uncle Iroh started to whisper to me. "You do not say a single word. If you do, you will get in trouble." I smiled to him and nodded before looking in front of me and waited for one of the Generals to start the meeting.

"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." The General said and pointed on the map with a pointing stick. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the forty-first division." "But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" An older General asked with a confused frown. "I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?" The General answered with an evil smirk.

My eyes widen in shock at the Generals words. How can a General think that about his own Nation. My wide eyes soon turned into a glare as I jumped up to my feet. "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?" I exclaimed as I glared at all the Generals in disappointment. All the Generals, except Uncle Iroh, glared at me but I refused to back down and continued glaring at them in both anger and disappointment.

*End of Flashback*

"Here I thought the Monks were bad." Asami said as she looked at me in disbelief. "Were the Generals really willing to sacrifice an entire division just for a distraction?" She asked me as she frowned in sadness. "Yes, they were." I said as I looked down in shame. "Hey..." Asami said and gently rubbed my shoulder with her hand in comfort. "You stood up for your people. Any true prince would have done the same thing."

"I know that." I said as I looked up to her. "But unfortunately it was not my place to speak out. And me speaking out caused dire consequences." I said and looked in front of me. "After my outburst in the War room, my Father got very angry with me. He said the challenge against the General was an act of complete disrespect. And there was only one way to resolve that." I said as my hands formed into fists, tightening them as I heard my Father's words in my head.

"Agni Kai."

I looked over to Asami in surprise when I remember that she had seen mine and Zhao's Agni Kai. "I forgot that you saw mine and Zhao's Agni Kai." I said. "Yours wasn't the first Agni Kai I've seen." Asami said as she looked down to her lap. "Zian's cousin had one to win the General's daughter's hand in marriage. He won, but his opponent went against the rules and shot a fireball at him. He got burned badly." She said and looked up in sadness.

"That's how you got your scar, wasn't it?" Asami asked and cupped my left cheek and gently rubbed my scar with her thumb. "The General burned in the Agni Kai, didn't he?" She asked as her eyes filled with even more sadness. I sighed and looked down without my face away from her hand. I looked up again and placed my hand over hers. "I wish it was the General who burned me." I said in full honestly, which made Asami frown in confusion.

*Flashback*

"Prince Zuko!" My Father exclaimed in anger as the fire around his throne raised up in his anger. My glare disappeared as I turned to face him. "Challenging against the General is an act of complete disrespect!" He exclaimed as he glared down at me. "The only way to resolve that is by Agni Kai!" My eyes widen for a moment in surprise before it became a glare again as I turned to face the General. "I'm not afraid."

***

I was kneeling down on one knee with a shoulder wrap on me before standing up and turned to face my opponent in firebending stance. But when I saw my opponent, I dropped my arms in shock. Instead of seeing the General I spoken out against, I was my own father. "Please, Father! I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" I said as I immediately started begging for mercy.

"You will fight for your honor." My Father said as he walked closer to me. But I refused to get into battle stance, instead I kneeled down on my knees and forearms, looking down. "I meant you no disrespect." I said and looked up with tearful eyes. "I am your loyal son." "Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" My Father snapped as he walked closer to me.

"I won't fight you." I said as I lowered myself and looked down again. "You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher!" My Father said as I looked up to him again with tears rolling down my cheeks. He stopped in front of me and formed a fireball in his hand. Not a second later, he raised up his arm and shot the fire right at my face.

*End of Flashback*

I shook my head when I heard my screams of pain in my head and felt the burning pain on my face. "But... it was the General you disrespected." Asami said as she looked at me in shock. "Yes, I did." I said as I looked at her with sad eyes. "I had spoken out against the General's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's War Room, it was the Fire Lord, my Father whom I had disrespected." I explained as I looked down.

"But he is your father! You are is son!" Asami said as she stared at me with wide shocked eyes. "Why would he do that to you?" She asked, but I just turned and looked in front of me. "After the duel, my Father said that by refusing to fight, I had shown shameful weakness. As punishment, I was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then can I return with my honor." I said with my face expression neutral.

"Why would you want to return after what he did to you?" Asami asked as she put her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face her. But I just stared at her in sadness. "Where am I suppose to go?" I asked her as I stared into her eyes. "The Fire Nation is my home. It is where I belong." "Home is where the heart is." Asami said and placed her left on my chest, where my heart is. "Home is what you want it to be."

I stared at her for moment before opening my mouth to say something, but got interrupted when a lightning struck and the ship suddenly jerked. Both Asami and I cried out in surprised and grabbed on to each other to hold ourselves up from falling. "What was that?" Asami asked as I removed my arms from her and stood up. "We were hit by lightning." I said and run out of my room, out towards the deck.

*Asami's P.O.V.*

I quickly got up from Zuko's bed and followed after him to the deck. When I got outside, I got drenched by the hard falling rain. I looked over and I saw Zuko and Lieutenant Jee looking around as they tried to hold their balance over the rocking ship. "Where were we hit?" Zuko called over the loud wind and rain. "I don't know!" Lieutenant called out as they continued searching while trying to stay on their feet.

"Look!" Iroh yelled out and pointed up to the tower, where the steering room is, while holding a shaking Kai in his other arm. We all looked up and saw the Helmsman hanging outside, holding on to a pole for dear life. "The Helmsman!" Zuko yelled out and run over to the tower and started climbing up the ladder, with Lieutenant Jee following after him.

"What are you doing outside with Kai, Uncle Iroh?" I asked as loud as I could over the strong wind and loud rain. "He didn't want to stay inside! He followed me outside!" Iroh yelled out over the wind and rain while trying to stop himself from falling down, and handed Kai over to me. I took Kai from Iroh and pulled him close to my chest. "It's okay Kai." I said as Kai whimpered and shook in my arms.

Thunder suddenly boomed before a flash of lighting came at us. Before I could react, Iroh pushed me away and caught the lighting with his hand. I watched in shock as the lightning entered the retired Generals body before he lifted his other arm and shot the lighting out to the ocean. Kai and I looked to where the went before looking back to Iroh, who was standing there with his hands smoking and his hair and beard standing up straight.

Seeing how Iroh looked, I couldn't help but laugh before I suddenly remembered what just happened. "Did you just redirect lightning!?!" I exclaimed in shock as I tightened my hold on Kai as I stood back up on my feet. "I believe I just did." Iroh said without moving, as if he's frozen in his stance. I was about to ask more questions but got interrupted a wave crashed against the ship and made it rock even more.

I looked up and gasped when I saw the Helmsman lost his grip and fell. Luckily, Zuko grabbed the Helmsman's arm in time and slowly pulled him over to the Lieutenant. Lieutenant Jee quickly wrapped his arm around the Helmsman and held onto him. After the Helmsman put his arm around the Lieutenant's shoulders, Lieutenant Jee looked up and smiled to the Scar Prince. Zuko looked down to his two crewmembers and smiled as well.

Zuko and the two crewmembers climbed down the ladder and walked over to Iroh and I. I run over to Zuko and hugged him with one arm. He quickly returned the hug before pulling back and looking down. "What's Kai doing outside?" He asked and looked down at a soaking wet, shaking Kai in my arms. I laughed at his question and hugged him again. "Stubborn little thing followed Iroh outside." I said with my arm around his neck.

I pulled back with a smile, which he returned, but it soon disappeared when we heard a familiar groan. "Appa?" I said in confusion and looked up to the sky with Zuko. "The Avatar!" Zuko exclaimed when he along with the rest of us saw Appa flying through the storm. "What do you want to do, sir?" Lieutenant Jee asked, surprising me. Zuko looked to his lieutenant for a moment before looking over to me. He stared deep into my eyes before answering. "Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety."

Iroh looked at Zuko with a proud smile, which I shared, before he turned and looked to an area. "Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm." He said as he looked to the area where it is. Zuko and the crew nodded before jumping into work and steered the ship towards the area where Iroh pointed. As the shipped moved to the area, I looked back up to the sky in worry, afraid for my brother flying in this storm.

"He'll be alright." Zuko said as he wrapped his arm around me. "He's the Avatar." "That doesn't mean he's invincible." I said as I tightened my hold over Kai. "He's still just a kid." "A strong, brave and powerful kid. He can handle a storm." Zuko said as he rubbed my shoulder. "He has done it before." "That's what I'm afraid of." I muttered under my breath. The world can't go another 100 years without the Avatar, and I can not lose my brother.

Zuko just hugged me again before pulling me along with him as he walked over to his uncle. We stopped next to Iroh and stayed next to him until we were directly inside the eye of the storm. The second we got inside, the rain just disappeared and the waves calmed down. "Wow... it is as if there was never a storm even." I said as I looked around in shock and placed Kai back on my shoulder.

Kai yipped in agreement and shook the water off his fur. "Kai!" Zuko and I exclaimed as his water splashed on Zuko and I. Zuko looked at Kai with a fake glare while I laughed at the fire ferret. "Like I said before, the little fire ferret has you wrapped around his furry little finger!" Zuko said with a chuckle. I just laughed and petted Kai behind the ear. "Don't listen to him Kai!" I said with a smile. "Prince Zuko is just jealous!"

"Who wouldn't be." He said as he wrapped his arm around me and kissed me on the side of my forehead. I just smiled up at him and laid my head down on his shoulder. "It is about time you two!" Iroh said cheerfully with a big smile. Zuko just smiled while I just blushed with a small smile. Kai yipped happily and jumped over to Zuko's then Iroh's shoulder. "Hello my Little Friend!" Iroh said happily and petted Kai behind the ear.

Both Zuko and I smiled at them before Zuko frowned slightly. "Uncle..." He started, catching his uncle's attention before looking down in shame. "I'm sorry." "Your apology is accepted." Iroh said as he placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder. He smiled to Zuko before he started walking back into the ship with Kai on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you." I said before wrapping my arms around him and laid my head against his chest. Zuko just hummed and wrapped his arms around me as well.

I looked up to him with a smiled and kissed him on the lips before pulling away. I was about to walk back inside, but stopped when I saw something glowing in the water. "What the-" Before I could finish, Appa suddenly flew out of the water and flew straight up to the sky. I started with wide surprised eyes up while Aang looked down at me, and most likely Zuko as well, with shocked eyes.

Zuko and I continued staring up at the sky until Appa and the Gang disappeared. "See?" Zuko said as he walked over to me and wrapped his arm around me. "He made it. Nothing happened to him." He said and gently squeezed my shoulder. I smiled happily up to the sky before turning to Zuko and wrapped my arms around him.