It turns out that Zuko was just as adamant about not getting a job as I was.

He thought that he was too high class, and I absolutely hated the idea of having to work for some random stranger, especially since adults scare me- for the most part. Until I get to know them, I see them as strict and impossible to talk to. If they aren't laid back, I stay away.

We sat on the side of a building, with the ostrich-horse right behind us. Zuko had his signature scowl on his face and Iroh smiled as much as ever. What were we doing? Begging for money.

As someone walked past, Iroh held up his hat. "Spare coins for weary travelers?" Without a second glance the man handed us a couple of coins.

I picked it up out of the hat. "How does currency work here?" I asked as I inspected the coin. It seemed to be made of copper.

"You really don't know?" Zuko asked.

"We'll, from what I've seen and read is that in most fantasy settings, there are  copper coins, which are the least. Silver ones, which land somewhere in the middle, and gold pieces that are worth the most. Other than that, I have no idea." I explained.

"That's very true, Aiko-" Someone else walked by so he asked again for money. For which he earned a couple more pieces.

"This is ridiculous. We're royalty; these people should be giving us whatever we want." Zuko huffed. Even with the hat covering his face, I could still tell that he was glaring at nothing in particular.

Uncle grimaced. "They will. If you ask nicely." A young woman walked by in some expensive looking clothes.

"Spare coins for a hungry old man." He begged in a forced old man voice. He was older, but he still had a strong voice. This, however, was weak.

She giggled. "Aw. Here you go." She threw in a couple pieces.

He looked at the hat, and smiled slyly back at the lady. "The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile."

Zuko and I both facepalmed. "Uncle. Don't ever do that again, or I will grab the nearest heavy object and throw it at you." I sighed threateningly.

A man came up to us with a sword strapped across his back. "How's about a little entertainment for a gold piece." He held one up, as if to taunt us.

"We're not performers." Zuko growled.

"Not professional, anyways." Iroh stood up, obviously seriously wanting the coin.

"It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but the girls in the city, they look so prett- ay" Iroh sang exaggeratedly, and not to mention, off key.

"Come on. This is a gold piece we're talking here. I want the girl to perform for me." He smiled flirtatiously at me. A look that was returned with a glare. How dare he talk to me like that.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll take his offer to perform." I growled menacingly.

He shrugged. "Fine, but I want to see some action." He took out his sword- which turned out to be a pair- and swung them at Uncle's feet, making him jump to keep from contact.

He was making him dance. I'm going to kill him. Zuko was holding in his anger surprisingly well.

"It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but the girls in the city, they look so prett- ay." Iroh sang as he dodged the blades.

Zuko had to clench his fists, squeezing his knees to keep from punching the guy. I put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look at me.

I sent him a look saying, 'I got this', and stood up. "Ha, ha, ha! Nothing like a fat man dancing for his dinner." Before he could utter another word, my fist had made contact with his jaw.

"Keep talking, mister. You may just end up with a black eye." I laughed darkly. He sent a frightful look my way. "Give us the money and go."

He quickly tossed me the coin and sprinted off.

I sat back down next to Zuko, who had an approving smirk. Uncle, on the other hand, was not so happy. "He was such a kind man. There was no need to hurt him."

"That man, uncle, was rude and cruel. He's lucky that I didn't go ahead and give him a black eye." I scoffed and folded my arms over my chest. "I can't stand men like him."

"There was no need to attack him, Aiko." Uncle sighed. "He was not a threat."

"I thought it was a pretty good hit, if you ask me." Zuko whispered to me, so I smirked. "It was, wasn't it?"

☆¤☆¤☆

It turned out our efforts had earned us just enough to buy dinner for the night. We still couldn't afford a place to stay, which would still be nice.

I learned how to create a good sized fire today. Let's just say that I was ecstatic.

That night, after training, Iroh and Zuko had fallen asleep, but I lied awake. I couldn't place why, but I simply couldn't sleep tonight.

That was when I heard stirring. I pretended to be asleep, and watched the entrance to the cave. I saw a figure in the night walking away, so I decided to follow behind.

I couldn't make out who it was in the moonlight, but I could make out the movements. They seemed familiar somehow.

The figure made it to a tree and pulled something out. That's when he turned to face me, the figure's face could now be made out.

It was covered by a mask. A mask that I had seen before, but couldn't place where. It looked very familiar. Why couldn't I remember?

He had noticed me. It was too late to hide, so I walked up to the figure.

At this point, I could tell who it was. The way he stood, the subtle movements showing that he was nervous about being caught.

"Zuko? What are you doing?" I asked cautiously.

He sighed. He wasn't going to answer me. I rolled my eyes. "Fine, but be careful. You don't need to go doing anything stupid."

"I'll see you in the morning." He spoke. With that, he sprinted off to who knows where.

I went back to camp and fell asleep.

☆¤☆¤☆

I woke up the next morning, thinking that last night's conversation was just a dream.

Well, I did until Iroh asked where Zuko was. I sighed inaudiably. "I don't know."

It was only minutes later that Zuko returned. He was no longer wearing the mask he had on last night. He did, however, have two baskets filled with food and supplies.

He tossed them in front of Iroh and I. "Where did you get these?" Uncle inquired.

"Where does it matter?" Zuko's tone implied that he wasn't going to answer any questions.

Uncle picked up a dessert of some sort, humming in dissapprovement.

He then took a bite and let out an approving sigh of delight, while letting some of it drop from his mouth.

"Since you seem to be busy, I'll go talk to Zuko." I sighed and went to go find the Prince.

I found him sitting off by the tree where he was playing with the mask. He seemed to be thinking.

I placed a hand over the mask, causing him to look at me. "Penny for your thoughts?"

He sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

I thought for a second. "You're confused. You don't know what to do, am I right?"

He looked at me, confused. "I can tell. You're not the only one who's been this way, you know. I've gone through times where I questioned my entire existance.

"I thought that maybe I just wasn't good enough. My own parents had abandoned me. I don't know what's causing your confusion, but whatever it is, Uncle and I are here. You should know that."

He sighed. "I've been at sea for so long looking for the Avatar. I've been so close to finding him so many times, and I've failed all of them. I haven't seen him since the North Pole.

"I'm afraid I'll be stuck living as this- this peasant the rest of my life. I want my throne back." I smiled at him.

"Stop worrying so much, Zuko! You'll get to be the Firelord. I promise you. It may not be for awhile, but I promise you that I'm not going to give up until you've earned your title back. The question is: are you going to give up? Give up to that bratty sister of yours? I can only do so much for you, but if you want to win, you need to find your inner strength."

He didn't respond, but instead he just sat there staring at the mask. "I'll leave you to do some thinking."

I walked back to the camp and told Iroh that Zuko was afraid that his situation is never going to get better.

"Could you try to talk to him? Maybe something you say will get through to him." I begged. "I hate seeing my brother in this state."

"I'm not so sure. You two seem to be really close, if you can't get through to him, I'm not so sure that I can."

"Please try. You've been helping him for three years, and I've only been here for a month or two. You have more experience." I pleaded.

"And in those three years, he's made more progress towards the better since you've gotten here than he did while at sea with me." He reasoned.

"Please..." I tried once more.

"I will try." He succeeded. I ran up to him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

☆¤☆¤☆

Later that day, Zuko had come back with a fancy tea set.

It was awkwardly silent as Iroh made tea. It was until it became too much for Zuko, at least. "Do you like your new tea pot?"

"To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it's from a porcelain pot or a tin cup." He sighed. He decided now would be the time to talk to him.

"I know that we've had some difficult times lately. We've had to struggle just to get by, but it's nothing to be ashamed about. There is a simple honour in poverty." He put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"There's no honour for me without the Avatar." Zuko's response saddened me. What if Iroh's right?  What if he can't get through to him? How can we help him then?

Uncle sighed. "Zuko, even if you did capture the Avatar, I'm not so sure that it will solve our problems. Not now."

"Then there is no hope at all." Is there no way to help him see past this block?

"No, Zuko!" Uncle had to grab him to stop him from walking off. "You must never give into despair. If you allow yourself to slip down that road, and you'll surrender to your lowest instincts.

"In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength." Zuko turned to look at him at the mention of inner strength.

I hoped that it would mean something to him, but I was wrong. He walked off to go think. I hope.

Uncle gave me a solemn look that told me that he tried.

☆¤☆¤☆

He came back hours later. Uncle and I were packing up to head out once again.

"Uncle, Aiko. I've thought a lot about what you two have said." That statement have gave me hope. Have we truly gotten through to him?

"You did? Good, good." Iroh was just as pleased.

"And it's made me realize something."

"It has?" I asked hopefully.

"We no longer have anything to gain by traveling together." I looked at him sadly, but he remained firm. "I need to find my own way."

He grabbed a backpack with supplies and began to walk off, before Uncle stopped him. "Wait!"

He took the ostrich-horse and handed the reigns over.

Before Zuko could get on the horse, I sprinted over and hugged him. "Stay out of trouble, big brother." He quickly patted me on the back with a nod, before pushing me away.

He rode off.

I wasn't going to let him go off on his own without back up, so without another word, Uncle and I set out to find him.

He was going to be okay, if it kills me.