After our moment on the mountain, Zuko and went back to the abandon town, where we left Iroh and Kai. We stayed there for a few days for Iroh to rest before we hit the road again. We rode on Mirai for a few miles until Iroh suddenly started fake moaning in pain. Each step Mirai took, the more the retired general moaned. After the millionth moan, Kai and I looked to each other, annoyed before looking over our shoulders to Zuko with pointed looks.

"Maybe we should make camp." Zuko suggested as he looked over his shoulder at his uncle. "No please, don't stop just for me!" Iroh groaned out as we continued moving. Both Kai and I looked to each other with looks that said this won't last long. Like we expected, Iroh soon started moaning again, only this time it was even worst. "If you don't stop this ostrich horse right now, you are sleeping outside of the sleep bag for a week." The second he heard my threat, Zuko stopped the animal immediately.

Iroh chuckled slightly before climbing off Mirai. He moved over to a large rock, with Kai following after him, while Zuko climbed off and helped me off. Iroh barely sat down when Mirai and Kai suddenly jumped in alert, signaling us that something is coming. Zuko immediately moved in front of me and got in battle stance. "What now?" Iroh asked annoyed as he stayed seated on the rock with Kai on his shoulder. Before I knew it, the Rough Rhinos surrounded us.

"These guys again!?" I exclaimed annoyed as I shot the fire soldiers a death glare and got in battle stance. Zuko shot me a question look, but I just shook my head and silently told him 'Later'. "Colonel Mongke!" Iroh said cheerfully as he stood up with Kai on his shoulder. "What a pleasant surprise!" He said as he walked over to his nephew and laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "If you're surprised we're here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps." The leader, Colonel Mongke, said to Iroh with a glare before he and the others took out their weapons.

"You know these guys?" Both Zuko and I asked in surprise. "Sure. Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist." Iroh answered with a smile while petting Kai to calm him down, because he got a bit spooked when the fire soldiers surrounded us. "They are also a very capable singing group." "Are they now?" I questioned sarcastically and rolled my eyes as I stayed in battle stance.

"We're not here to give a concert. We're here to apprehend fugitives and the Avatar's Protector!" Mongke exclaimed as he glared at us. "Oh? So you have already met." Iroh questioned as his eyes moved to me. "We had a few run ins." I answered without looking away from the leader. "Interesting." Iroh said with an amused smirk as he petted Kai one last time before putting him down on the ground. As Kai run over to hind behind Mirai, Iroh spoke to Mongke. "Would you like some tea first? I'd love some." He said with a proud smile, making me mentally chuckle.

"How about you, Kahchi? I make you as a jasmine man. Am I right?" Iroh asked as his eyes moved to the fire soldier with the Guan Dao weapon. "Enough stalling! Round 'em up!" Mongke ordered to his soldiers. The soldier with ball and chain weapon, spun his weapon and swung it to Iroh. Before it could hit the retired general, Iroh kicked it away from him. Instead of falling to the ground, the chain wrapped itself around one of the komodo rhinos, which just happened to be Sai.

"Sai!" I called out, getting his attention as I took out a moon peaches that I was carrying as a snack for later. "Go get it boy!" I exclaimed and threw the fruit, using my airbending to send it further away. The rhino hopped in excitement and run after the fruit. "Bye-bye!" I exclaimed with a smirk and waved at the soldier that was still holding on to his weapon of chain. He frowned at me, but it soon changed as he screamed when his weapon pulled him off his rhino, and got pulled behind a running Sai.

While I was busy with distracting Sai, Iroh and Zuko were dodging fire blasts. After Sai runaway, I quickly turned around and used my airbending to kill a fireball that was fired at me from Mongke. "Nice try!" I exclaimed before backflipping away to dodge another fire blast from him. As I dodged the fire blasts, I saw from the corner of my eye how Zuko knocked an arrow that was send to him away. He raised his fist up and fired at the archer, sending his fire blast right through the bow, burning a hole.

Mongke started firing rapidly at both Iroh and I. Both of us dodged and deflected the blasts away from us by using our bending. As Mongke fired at us, Zuko run over and jumped onto the back on Mongke's rhino's back. Caught by surprise, Zuko was able to quickly kick Mongke right off his rhino. Once Mongke crashed onto the ground, Iroh ran over to Mirai and climbed on. He flicked the reins and head right to me.

Once he was close enough, Iroh bended down and offered his hand. Before he and Mirai could run past me, I grabbed his hand and let him pull me up to behind him. Once I was on Mirai, I was immediately tackled into a hug from Kai. "I'm okay bud!" I said with a chuckled as I held him against my chest. "Come on Zuko!" I called out once I saw we were about to run past Zuko, who was still standing on the rhino.

Zuko quickly flipped into the air and landed on Mirai, right behind me. He quickly wrapped his arms around me, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek as well, while we run away from the Rough Rhinos. I giggled softly of the kiss before frowning when I heard footsteps running after us. I looked over Zuko's shoulder and saw the soldier that was completely head to toe in metal armor, chasing after us. He was lighting a bomb and was about to throw it at us when he got knocked off his rhino by another rhino.

"Thank you Nico!" I called out to the komodo rhino gratefully while yipped his thanks. "It's nice to see old friends." Iroh said as we rode away on Mirai. "Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you." Zuko stated with an annoyed glare as he wrapped his arms around me and held me against him protectively. "You okay?" He asked while he tried his best to check me for wounds. "I'm fine!" I said with a smile, placing my hand over his, that was placed on my stomach, and gave it a slight squeeze.

"Hmmm... Old friends that don't want to attack me" The retired general said softly, his expression showing us he was deep in thought. I frowned at the retired general in confusion, along with Kai and Zuko. "You have a plan Uncle Iroh?" I asked him as we continued riding away from the Rough Rhinos. "You know what dear Asami? I might just have."

We rode for a while until we ended up at a tavern. As we climbed off Mirai, I inspected the place and soon realized that we are at Misty Palms Oasis. I looked around and was filled with sadness as I saw how rundown the place got. This used to be a beautiful place! Now it looks more like a desert than the actual one! I shook my head slightly in disappointment before following after Zuko and Iroh into the tavern with Kai on my shoulder.

"You sure we are at the right place Uncle?" I asked with a slight frown as we entered the tavern. "Most certainly!" He answered with a bright smile, but neither I or even Zuko were convinced. The whole tavern were filled with sandbenders, and other wanderers you can clearly see will give up everything just for a bit of money. The second either of these people realize that we are Wanted with a bounty on our heads, we are toasted.

Nervous that we might get attention on us, Zuko placed his hat on his head, while I made sure my boots covered my legs tattoos, before checking to see if my long sleeves were covering my whole arm to make sure my arm tattoos weren't showing. Luckily both the boots and sleeves covered my tattoos, and luckily the dress was a closed back, so my back tattoo was totally covered.

Iroh saw our expressions, but he simply just smiled at us. "Asami, why don't you get us a table while Zuko and I get us something to drink?" Iroh suggested as he nodded over to an empty table. I looked around the tavern before sighing and nodded yes. "Thank you my dear!" Iroh said with a bright smile and gently squeezed my shoulder before heading to the bar.

"I'll get you a passion fruit if they have." Zuko said with a small smile, which I returned. "Okay" I said with a small smile. Zuko smiled a bit wider before giving a quick kiss on the lips and followed after his uncle. Kai groaned in disgust from our kiss, making me laugh as I walked over to the empty table.

Zuko and Iroh soon joined us at the table with drinks. What surprised me, was that the glasses were actually from ice. Noticing my surprised expression, Iroh smiled in amusement and nodded his head outside. "The glasses were made from the block ice outside." He said before taking a sip of his drink. "Interesting" I muttered under my breath before taking a sip of my drink, which was passion fruit, my favorite. I send Zuko a thankful smile and continued drinking.

We stayed seated at our table and continued drinking our fruity drinks, until Zuko spoke. "No one here is going to help us. These people just look like filthy wanderers." I frowned at his rude comment before giggling in amusement at his uncle when he spoke next. "So do we." "Yeah Zuko! When was the last time you looked into a mirror?" I joke, earning myself a glare from the scarred prince, I simply just smiled and continued drinking my passion fruit before giving the last bit to Kai.

"Ah, this is interesting. I think I found our friend." Iroh spoke again and nodded behind us. Both Zuko and I turned around and saw an old man sitting at a Pai Sho table a few tables away from us. "Pai Sho?" I questioned with a confused frown. "You brought us here to gamble on Pai Sho?" Zuko asked as he stared in disbelief. "I don't think this is a gamble." Iroh said as he stood up from our table and walked over to the old man. "This should be interesting." I muttered as I picked Kai up and followed after Iroh with Zuko.

"May I have this game?" Iroh politely asked the old man as we stopped in front of table. "The guest has the first move." The man said as he gestured to Iroh to sit. Iroh sat down and took a tile and placed it in the middle of the board. But he didn't just place any tile on the board, he placed the white lotus in the middle of the board. "I see you favor the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways." The old man said, placing his hands together and bowed.

"Those who do can always find a friend." Iroh said and copied the old man with the hands and bow. "Then let us play." The old man said and before I knew it, both Iroh and the old man was busy placing down tiles on the board without even thinking or even looking at what they were placing. "What's going on?" I asked Zuko as he, Kai and I watched intently at the two old men play. "I am as clueless as you." Zuko answered without looking away from the match.

Before either of us could speak again, both Iroh and the old man stopped. I frowned in confusion and looked down at the Pai Sho board, and frowned even when I noticed the tiles formed a white lotus flower shape. "Welcome, brother. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets." The old man said to Iroh as he smiled brightly to the retired general. "What are you old gasbags talking about?" Zuko asked rudely with a glare.

"Zuko!" I snapped at his rudeness and slapped his shoulder. "What?" He asked me, genuinely confused at my reaction, before looking back to his uncle. "I always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game." Iroh said as he rolled a tile between his knuckles. "Clearly" I muttered while both Kai and I frowned at the tiles that formed the lotus flower. "You guys made that tile lotus flower as if it was no effort at all!"

Before either of the old men could comment on me, we were confronted by Xin Fu, the earthbender that hosted the Earth Rumble, kidnapped Toph, Aang and I, and was prepared to hand Aang and I over to the Fire Nation just for money. "You again!?" I exclaimed out in frustration as I held Kai close to my chest protectively and shot the earthbender a glare, before scoffing in frustration when I saw Yu, Toph's old teacher, standing behind him. "You guys working together now!?" I asked in disbelief.

"You know these guys?" Zuko asked me as he frowned at the two earthbenders in front of us. "Unfortunately." I muttered as I glared at the earthbenders. "It's over! You three fugitives are coming with me!" Xin Fu exclaimed as he pointed at us. "Here we go again." I muttered under my breath, about to place Kai down to beat these idiotic earthbenders up, when the old man stood in front of us, with his back to Xin Fu and Yu.

"I knew it! You three are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your heads!" The old man exclaimed as he pointed at us. "Seriously!" I exclaimed in frustration as I rolled my eyes. "I thought you said he would help!" Zuko snapped at his uncle with a glare, but Iroh just stood there calmly, to calm in fact. "He is. Just watch." Iroh said as placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder to calm him down. Trusting Iroh, I stayed quiet and watched while holding Kai.

"You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?"

The second the word "gold" was mentioned, each and every single person in the bar looked up from what they were doing and looked to us. Some of them even stood up with their weapons out. The second I saw their expressions, I smirked in amusement. These guys will be so busy fighting each other for the priced gold, that they won't see us leaving the bar.

Seeing the looks surrounding us, Yu got nervous and took a slight step back. "Uh... Maybe we shouldn't." He said nervously while Xin Fu grinned. The earthbender went to grab us when two men jumped in front of him. Before I knew it, there was a whole bar fight in front of us. And like I predicted, they were so busy fighting, they didn't even see us running out of the bar.

After putting some distance between us and the bar, the five of us arrived at a flower shop. The old man opened the door and quickly motioned to us to enter before closing the door behind us. "It is an honor to welcome such a high-ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus." The old man said to Iroh as he bowed in respect. "Being a Grand Master, you must know so many secrets." Say what now?

"Now that you played Pai Sho, are you going to do some flower arranging, or is someone in this club going to offer some real help ?" Zuko asked rudely in annoyance as we walked through the flower shop. "Zuko!" I snapped as I slapped his shoulder with the hand that wasn't holding Kai once we stopped in front of a door with a peephole. "What?" He asked as he looked to me with a frown. "Be nice!" I snapped before frowning at the door.

"You must forgive my nephew. He is not like his beloved. He is not an initiate and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts." Iroh apologized to the old man before he walked over to me and took Kai when he noticed that my arms were getting tired from hold the fire ferret. I nodded my thanks to the retired general before continued frowning at the door in front of us.

The man knocked on the door twice and waited until the peephole was opened. "Who knocks at the garden gate ?" The man behind the door asked. "One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries." Iroh answered, making my eyes widen in surprise. This secret club of Iroh's is getting weirder and weirder. Iroh smiled brightly when the door opened, and he and the old man entered inside. Both Zuko and I looked to each other, unsure, before following after his uncle.

Just before we could enter the room, the slammed shut in our faces. "Uh, excuse me?" I questioned with a confuse glare and was about to knock on the door when the peephole opened. Both Zuko and I looked to the peephole and saw Iroh. "I'm afraid it's members only. Wait out here." Iroh said to us, making both Zuko and I pout in annoyance.

Before Iroh could close the peephole, I spoke. "But Kai is with you!" "He's sleeping, and I doubt he will go and tell people what he saw and heard." Iroh said in amusement and gave a small wink before closing the peephole.

Zuko huffed in frustration and crossed his arms as he rested against a table that was nearby. Meanwhile I saw still staring at the door in disbelief. "Well that just happened." I stated soon after as I shook my head. Zuko hummed while I turned around and walked over to him. I laid against the table next to him and stare at the door as we waited. We stayed like this in silence for a while, until Zuko leaned over to the flower that was on the table and sniffed it.

Seeing him smell the flower made me laugh softly in amusement. Hearing me laugh, Zuko turned to me and frowned questionable at me. I just shook my head as I calmed down from my laughter. We stayed in silence again for a few minutes until Zuko spoke. "You wanna do something to pass the time while we wait for Uncle?" I thought about it for a second before shrugging. "Sure. What did you have in mind?" I asked after agreeing to his suggestion.

Zuko thought for a moment before smirking. He pulled away from the table and stood in front of me. "I got something in mind." He said as he smiled to me. Before I could question him what it was, Zuko gently cupped my cheeks in his hands and placed his lips over mine. I immediately closed my eyes and returned the kiss. As our lips moved in sync, his hands moved from my face and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him, while I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Without removing his lips from mine, Zuko's hands slowly moved down from my hips to my butt and gave them a squeeze. I gasped in shock at the squeeze before gasping again in surprise when he suddenly lifted me up and placed me onto the table. Zuko looked me deep in the eyes as he gently cupped my cheek with his hand. "You want me to stop?" He asked me gently and was about to pull away from me when I grabbed his face.

"Never!"

I said and smashed my lips against his as I kissed him passionately. Zuko returned the kiss with the same passion as his hands squeezed my hips before pulling me closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and opened my mouth as I let Zuko enter his tongue. I moaned slightly in pleasure as I felt his tongue against mine, making the scar prince smirk. "Enjoying yourself?" He asked with his lips still against mine, not breaking the kiss once.

"Absolutely!"

Zuko chuckled at my reply before he continued kissing my passionately. We continued kissing passionately until we pulled away in the need of air. Before I could reclaim Zuko's lips with mine, he slowly started kissing down from my cheeks, down to my neck. I bit my lip in pleasure as he kissed my neck, before moaning when he a kissed a pleasure spot on my neck.

Hearing my moan, Zuko smirked against my neck and continued to kiss that specific spot, along with gently biting and sucking it. "Zuko" I moaned slight as my fingers run through his hair, while the other hand pulled him closer to me as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He laid one last kiss on the spot before pulling away from my neck and moved over to my ear.

"I love you." Zuko whispered gently in my ear and gently laid soft kisses on the side of my face. "I love you too." I muttered as I caught my breath before Zuko reclaimed my lips with his again. Our lips moved together in sync until it got heated again and passionately.

Before we could go any further into the kiss, the door behind Zuko squeaked open. Zuko immediately pulled away from me and got into fighting stance as he faced the door. "What's going on? Is the club meeting over ?" He asked as he looked around for danger, while I stayed seated on the table, biting my lip to stop myself from laughing. "Everything is taken care of." Iroh said as he walked over to us with Kai on his shoulder.

"We're heading to Ba Sing Se."

"I'm sorry what?" I questioned with wide surprised eyes while Iroh and the old man bow to each other in respect. "Ba Sing Se? Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom capital ?" Zuko asked, just as confused as me. "The city is filled with refugees. No one will notice three more." The old man answered us while Iroh scratched Kai behind the ear. "Four if you count Kai!" Iroh added with chuckle before looking to Zuko and I.

"We can hide in plain sight there. And it's the safest place in the world from the Fire Nation. Even I couldn't break through to the city." Iroh said with a happy shrug. I frowned at the retired general in uncertainty, but before I could voice my concern, a young man holding some papers entered the shop. "I have the passports for our guests, but there are two men out on the street looking for them." He told us as he handed the papers to Iroh.

"Most likely Xin Fu and Yu." I said in irritation as I hopped off the table and walked over to the window. Zuko and Iroh came over as well and looked through the window with me. Once I looked out, I shook my head when I saw the two earthbenders. "Yeah, it's them all right." I muttered as we watched the earthbenders asked around for us and showed people our Wanted Posters.

"Any bright ideas on how we're getting out of here without catching their attention?" Zuko asked as he looked out the window and glared at the two earthbenders that were searching for us. Iroh thought for a moment before smirking when he noticed two large plant pots. "You know what? I might just have a good one."

"I can't believe your uncle talk us into this!" I groaned, sitting on Zuko's lap as we both hid inside the pot plant. Iroh's great idea was to hide inside the giant empty pot plants and let the young man that gave us our passport, carry us on a wagon to the ferry that will take us to Ba Sing Se. There were only two pots, so Zuko and I had to share the one pot, while Iroh and Kai shared the other.

"I can actually." Zuko said before groaning slightly when I moved around a bit to sit down properly. "Asami, I know you are most likely a bit uncomfortable right now, but can you please stop moving?" Zuko asked with a painful expression. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" I asked worried and immediately stopped moving. "No, you're just rubbing something that should not be rubbed right now." Zuko answered with a slight blush.

Confused at what he was saying, I frowned at the scarred prince until my eyes widen when I realized what he was saying. "Zuko!" I snapped in disbelief, blushing deep red before slapping him behind the head. "What?" He said as he rubbed his head. "I'm just warning you while being honest." He added, making me roll my eyes while still blushing.

This is going to be a long trip.

*A/N*

Sorry about that! I had to remove this chapter and repost it! For some reason my speech brackets disappeared and had to fix it! Deeply sorry! Please continue reading.