Burning Bright

Part XXV

He Shen was a mixture of hysteria and paranoia for the entire duration of their trip to Ba Sing Se. He violently shook and randomly yelled for the most part and whenever he managed to maintain a level of sanity for a few minutes, his voice was so wrought with anxiety that he began to increasingly push Jin into such a deep level of fear and concern. As they made camp outside of Ba Sing Se, He Shen, completely untrusting of everyone (including his own sister) shambled off to a corner where he made himself a small fort with his earthbending. Every once in a while he would suddenly chuck rocks at them and yell something unintelligible. On the whole about the matter, Jin was very upset and she was left deep in thought for many minutes.

"I don't understand what they could've done to turn him into this!" she scowled in frustration.

Zuko knew. He knew the many tortures and methods of torment that the Fire Nation used in their bid to win any information regarding their enemies. But he chose to simply watch Jin, unwilling to make her further upset by telling her exactly what the Fire Nation was capable of doing. As he lied down and started to fall into slumber, he held her close and stroked her hair as she continued her spiel of worry and concern for her brother.

He wanted to make everything better for her of course. But this was one of those situations that were out of his hands. No amount of money or effort or time on his part could help He Shen. He just wanted Jin to realize that as well so that she may be able to focus on the bigger problem at hand—finding Aang and possibly going through Sozin's Comet without him.

All of them slept on Appa's soft, downy fur and despite the weariness this day had caused them, they all slept restlessly. Sokka was nervous for the day that was to come while Katara was worried sick of what had happened to Aang. Suki was doubtful that they would ever find Aang , Zuko was worried of how they would fare without the Avatar by their side, Toph was busy wondering what would happen if she somehow got herself enclosed in a metal contraption and Jin, despite her efforts to remain focused on the comet, continually turned her thoughts back unto her brother. She was just grateful that everyone else was too preoccupied with their own ruminations to further comment or observe upon He Shen's erratic behavior.

Halfway through the evening Zuko felt Jin stir from beside him and he sat up and watched as she looked up in the sky, her eyes darting every minute or so to her brother who had finally succumbed to sleep, albeit it was a restless slumber for he continued to toss and turn and mutter incessantly.

"Hey. It's been a long day. You need to sleep," Zuko said as he scooted closer towards her.

Jin spoke without glancing at him, "I know. I just need time to sort things out first."

"He's going to be fine. We'll get help for him as soon as—''

"What kind of help, Zuko? How are we going to get it? We're going into war! There's no more time for anything!" Jin said, her voice cracking in frustration.

"Calm down. We're going to meet my uncle. He'll know what to do. Everything's going to work out," Zuko said as he grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Jin was now far beyond any level of comfort but Zuko's calm and reasonable manner of speaking allowed her to gain some control back. Yes, they would get He Shen fixed up—there was nothing seriously wrong with him to begin with, he was just shaken up. This whole matter would get sorted out, once they finished taking the Fire Lord down. Jin murmured firmly, "Yeah, you're right. It's all going to be fine."

Zuko thought that it sounded more as if she was trying desperately to convince herself that it was going to happen. He opened his mouth, ready to re-assure her once again when a curtain of fire suddenly enveloped their line of vision. Jin immediately sprang upwards as everyone, especially He Shen, became aware that they were surrounded by flames. He Shen began to yell hysterically and Jin, in her anxious concern, tried to make a dash through the flames. Zuko grabbed her hand in panic and yelled, "Wait!"

"He's going to end up hurting someone if I don't stop him," Jin said as she tried to fight off Zuko's grasp.

"Jin—''

"Zuko, I have to—''

Their little struggle was interrupted as the fire died down. Four stately and impressive-looking people in blue robes appeared from within the gate. Sokka, Katara, Toph and Suki looked up and relaxed from the tensed positions they were in as the four figures slowly started to come forward. Since Zuko was distracted, Jin chose the moment to grab her hand back and to run to her brother who was currently hacking a nearby bush with a rock.

One of them threw his hood back and snorted with laughter, "Well, look who's here."

It was Bumi.

Katara and Sokka immediately raised their brows in recognition as Bumi started to howl in laughter. Toph incredulously shook her head and said in confusion, "What's going on? We're surrounded by old people."

Katara gave a small laugh as she walked towards them and said, "Not just any old people. These are great masters and friends of ours."

Jin, who had finally managed to calm her brother down, looked up in surprise as she examined the four figures before them. They were all elderly and yet they looked extremely formidable in stature and in stance. One of them was stooped and hunchback; his face twisted into a slightly crazy expression. It was different kind of craziness from He Shen's however. It was a craziness that marked ingenuity. There were two with graying hairs—one had a large bald patch over his head and he looked of Water Tribe origin while the other had a scar running down his right eye. The other didn't look quite as old; he was a middle-aged man with a pleasant countenance.

Jin immediately recognized the stooped man and so did He Shen, despite the fact that he was hiding behind a tree and he was strumming his liuqin frantically.

"Bumi….it's that crazy old king! Ha! Ha! But he's not crazy as me now…" He Shen said in one rapid sentence, his voice giving way to a nervous laugh. Jin nodded in affirmation as she tried to hush him. He was indeed King Bumi and Jin had sometimes seen him along with other Earth kingdom kings in her father's war meetings.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries. Katara bowed respectfully to Pakku who in turn told her this, "It is respectful to bow to an old master but how about a hug for your new grandfather?"

He opened his arms wide and Katara collapsed into them in pure delight saying as she did so, "That's so exciting. You and Gran Gran must be so happy to have found each other again."

"I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything," Pakku proudly informed them, gesturing at his collarbone. Sokka comically pushed past Katara and enveloped Pakku in a great big hug, yelling, "Welcome to the family Gramp Gramp."

Pakku frowned and disgustedly pushed Sokka away, firmly saying, "You can still just call me Pakku."

"How about Grand Pakku?" Sokka hopefully said.

Much to Sokka's dissapointment, Pakku responded flatly, "No."

Katara then gestured to Jeong Jeong and she eagerly introduced him to Zuko as Aang's first firebending teacher. Zuko gave a respectful bow while Jeong Jeong commented that he felt honored to have met a respected (and respectable) member of the Royal family. Bumi meanwhile, having recognize his old acquaintance, Shangdi's proud and steely eyes in Jin, hurried over to her and enthusiastically shook her hand and after much difficulty, He Shen's. Jin felt extremely grateful that Bumi chose to ignore He Shen's strange behavior.

"You went to my father's house once, I believe," Jin said in a reserved manner, her cheeks flushing as He Shen shook and trembled, muttering obscenities against the Fire Nation and repeatedly calling Bumi insane under his breath.

Bumi nodded and said, "Oh yes. Shangdi was your father wasn't he? I thought so the moment I saw you're your eyes. You look like your mother except the eyes. It's your fathers. You have his chin too, I think. Shangdi was a very famous and great general, I've heard. People called him the Tiger for his ferociousness and for his streak of always winning. I do recall I went to Li-Jien along with Wang (he's the earth Kingdom king of Wuyi) to help him defend a neighboring city, Guanglou. He was a very good man but he was a little too stern at times."

"I'm so honored to have met you," Jin modestly said as she gave a great bow.

"As I am to have met someone as lovely as you. I remember you I think. I do believe that when I was there, you and your brothers were engaged in a game of mud wrestling," Bumi said with a smile on his lips. Jin remembered too—in fact, if she recalled correctly, Bumi even joined them in their childish game of mud wrestling. He was a man of eccentrics but he was also a much respected man by her father so Jin believed that he would be able to help He Shen.

"Um…sir—''

"Call me, Bumi," he said dismissively.

"Um…Mr. Bumi—''

"No, just Bumi is fine. Loosen up. As of now, I'm relieved of my kingly duties so no need for the formalities," Bumi said as he gave her a light punch on the shoulder.

Jin winced and said, "Um…Bumi. If you've noticed, my brother…he's….there's something wrong with him—''

"There's something wrong with him?" Bumi said, his eyes widening.

Jin stared at him in a mixture of disbelief and incredulity. Finally, she managed to find her voice and her reason again. She said, "He's….he's sick. They've done something to him—''

"Ahh, yes. Well, I see now. Now don't worry. It's not incurable," Bumi said.

"Do you know someone who'd be able to help him?" Jin worriedly asked him.

"Yes, in fact we have a couple of doctors back in our camp right now. I doubt if your other brother would be happy though," Bumi thoughtfully mused.

Jin brightened up and she said excitedly, "Ge Jiang is here?"

Bumi nodded and said, "Oh yes. He came after a few days your father arrived. How pleasant. A family reunion. Though your father and your brother have yet to see each other. Your brother in particular, seems uneager to meet your dad. Are you okay? You look sick!"

Jin paled and lost some color at the mention of her brother and father in one place. She stood there, completely speechless as Bumi continued to rattle of more instances when he and her father had crossed paths and of different doctors and physicians that would be of use to her and her brother. She was trying but failing to understand everything. Too many things were happening all at once. Her brother going crazy, Sozin's Comet coming, her brother and her father in one place….Jin couldn't make sense of it all and she felt herself beginning to unravel.

"There's this man named Cong but he's not a very good doctor so I don't know if—Wait!" he stopped his long rant about all the doctors they had. He spun around and said in a frantic voice, "Someone's missing from your group. Someone very important…"

Everyone tensed ready for him to tell them that Aang was gone.

Instead he faced Sokka and demanded, "Where's Momo?"

Everyone couldn't contain their shocked or confused expressions as Bumi peered down at Sokka impatiently. Sokka quickly said, "He's gone. And so is Aang."

Bumi then took a step back and gave Sokka an extremely forceful pat. Sokka flailed his arms as he struggled to maintain his balance. Bumi said in a relieved tone, "Oh well, so long as they have each other I'm sure we have nothing to worry about. Let's go."

After the brief introductions they all exchanged, Bumi and everyone else quickly explained how they all knew each other. They were members of a secret organization—an organization that transcended all boundaries of race and nationality. Zuko's uncle was the Grand Lotus. At the mention of his uncle, Zuko's gut twisted and he involuntarily grimaced, especially after he recalled the events that led to him betraying his uncle. He was overcome with shame and remorse and he found himself unable to pay attention to Bumi's story of how he singlehandedly took Omashu back from the Firebenders. Jin likewise was just as preoccupied and she remained restless and absentminded, at least until she was completely assured that He Shen was well taken care of. Her second eldest brother, who had been in a hysterical fit of delusion, was taken from their group albeit forcefully and he was led into a cozy tent where Piandao re-assured her that he would be treated.

"Are you nervous?" Zuko asked her. Jin looked at him and saw that he was paler than usual.

"About seeing my dad? About He Shen? Yes. I'm nervous. I'm scared even. But I have to deal with them somehow," Jin said, her face curdling into such an unpleasant expression.

"I'm scared too," Zuko said quietly.

Jin looked up and briefly met his eyes. It held a wealth of emotion—fear, regret, remorse, sorrow. She suddenly realized that she hadn't been paying any attention to him since she had met He Shen. He was obviously extremely distraught at the prospect of meeting his uncle—an uncle he had betrayed. Jin twined her fingers around his, laid her head against his shoulder and said, "He's going to be so happy when he sees you."

Zuko looked away and he extracted his hand from hers, saying glumly as he went forwards, "No. No, I highly doubt that."

"Well, here we are. Welcome to old people camp," Bumi said as they all entered an enclosure filled with sheltered tents and campfires. People milled in and out carrying weapons or maps. Zuko was suddenly reminded of the failed Ba Sing Se Resistance. A small smile played on his lips as nostalgia washed over him.

Just as quickly, it was put out by the reminder that he had yet to meet his uncle. His smile dropped and he turned to look at Piandao, nervously saying as he did so, "Where...where is he?"

Piandao noting his anxious expression gave him a re-assuring smile and pointed to a particular tent on the corner and said, "Your Uncle's in there Prince Zuko."

Zuko squared his shoulders as he tried to release all his apprehensions. Surely, there would be no warm welcome for him. His uncle would hate him—he would be angered and dissapointed at Zuko's betrayal. Zuko lurched forward, his hand extended, ready to pull the curtain separating him from his uncle. But he paused. He was afraid. He would not be able to take it if his uncle would regard him with such anger and contempt. His pride and his fear disallowed it. Disallowed him to move forward. He stepped back and squatted down, his head throbbing with things he could possibly tell the man he had had betrayed.

He suddenly felt a gentle hand enclosing his shoulder. He looked up to find Jin, staring at him kindly. She said, "Are you okay?"

Zuko scowled. He was obviously not okay. He was upset and he was nervous and if he had the choice, he would be anywhere but here right now. He snapped, "No I'm not okay. My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"

Jin smiled and she lowered herself so she was now squatting beside Zuko. Zuko felt slightly ashamed for being unable to hold his temper. He looked at her and he was relieved to meet her gentle smile. Jin said, "Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?"

Zuko looked at her and honestly said, "More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life."

Jin smiled at him re-assuringly and she leaned forward and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. She murmured as she stood up, "Then I have every confidence in the world that he'll forgive you. He will."

Zuko stared at Jin's confident face. He wasn't very sure of what she had told him. But he couldn't sit out there, waiting outside of his uncle's tent for forever. He took a deep breath, stood up, gave Jin one last weak smile, before pulling the curtains apart and plunging in, his voice hoarse and low as he said, "Uncle."

The doctors and the physicians who examined He Shen told her that he was in his state right now, because of trauma. Something about how a single experience or several repeated experiences overwhelmed his mental and emotional state of mind and now, he is unable to respond or cope with stress properly. They don't know how to fix him. They don't know any medicine or herbs or tools that could fix him. It was a sickness in the mind and none of them, even the best doctors, had the slightest clue on what they could do. All they could offer to do for He Shen's recovery was that they would isolate him in an environment that was peaceful and free from situations that would induce stress.

Jin was extremely affronted and for a few minutes, she angrily repeated that her brother was not insane and she refused to believe so. But her resolve on the matter, that He Shen was just a little shaken up and not mentally deranged, weakened as the doctor continued to recount to her several despairing news about He Shen's state.

"You see, every little thing sets him off. To be sure, you are allowed to visit him but not so much. You are associated with too many events that have led him….to this," Hong, the doctor who met with Jin, told her. He was an old man, bent and stooped, his hair bald and his beard so long that it reached his waist. He was very kindly and he answered all of Jin's distraught questions as patiently as he could.

Jin paled upon hearing the news and she felt an air of despair and despondence settle in her chest. She said, "Can I see him now?"

Hong shook his head and said, "No. Someone already saw him earlier while you were with everyone else. I'm afraid he did not take it so well. Brought on too many horrible memories. Maybe some other time, okay?"

Jin frowned as she tried to rack her brains on who would possibly visit He Shen. The only persons she could think of were her father and her elder brother. They were both there and once they heard the news they certainly would want to gain better understanding of the whole matter. She was about to open her mouth, ready to ask who it was when Hong spoke again, "The man who visited your brother is over there by the weaponries. He's very upset. So upset that he nearly broke all of my porcelain teacups!"

Jin gave him a brief thank you as she looked over at the weaponries section. Before she moved forward, she grabbed Hong's elbow and asked him a question that had been plaguing her ever since she had seen how disturbed He Shen's state of mind was. She looked at him and asked hopefully, "Will he ever be the same?"

Hong shot her a sympathetic look and he said sadly, "I cannot guarantee that. Maybe, with time and patience, he'll get better. He'll be able to have proper conversations and go on public events without breaking out. But he'll never be the same. It will always stay with him. Always."

Jin's chest tightened at the news and she curled her fist as she tried to remain calm and unaffected. Hong gave her a look of utmost pity as he scurried away and returned to the tent.

The doctor's narration of He Shen's condition was devastating—he would never be the same again. The words rang in Jin's ear over and over again, their full meaning becoming clearer and more terrible as she rehashed over everything that has happened. He Shen, the fun loving, free-spirited, carefree young man who loved to sing and play his liuquin was now irreparable. He was broken and damaged by the war. He was yet again, another person that the Fire Nation had taken away from Jin. Jin clutched her head as she tried to gain some semblance of control. She had to pull herself together. The comet was coming. It would not do to be this overly-emotional.

She looked over to weaponries and saw a hunched figure on the bench, fully clothed in the traditional Earth Kingdom Army armor. Jin, at first thought that it was her brother who had come to see He Shen. It seemed more rational that way—despite the fact that her father was here, Jin highly doubted that he would be bothered to visit his second son or be inclined to be upset about it. He would most probably be more concerned with war plans and battle formations than with his children. As she neared the figure however, Jin saw that his hair was long and in knots instead of Ge Jiang's usual customary topknot and Jin was suddenly overcome with the surprising suspicion that it was not her elder brother that had come to see He Shen but her father.

And she was right.

He looked up at her and Jin saw that despite the look of regret and remorse he had in his eyes, his expression was still as fierce and as firm as it had always been before. He did not look like the picture of a man severely affected by his son's dilapidating mental condition. Instead, he looked as he always did—serious, grave, withdrawn and unconcerned for his children's welfare. Jin, who had always taken her father's apathetic and sometimes even violent behavior, in patience and in deference, now suddenly felt a strong anger rise from within her.

"Daughter," he acknowledged briefly. Jin's brows knit together in frustration as she heard his unconcerned tone of voice.

"Father," Jin said quietly. She stared at him, trying to assess whether he really was as upset as Hong told her. He was not.

After awhile Jin said, "So…you've heard about He Shen?"

Shangdi looked surprised at the question but he answered it with efficient calm nonetheless. He said, "Yes. It's an unfortunate thing. I saw him today. He lost himself with his screaming and such. But he will be well soon, I understand."

Jin stared at him expectantly, patiently waiting for him to say that he was sad or that he was angry or that he was upset with what had happened to his son. She was sorely dissapointed, however, to discover that her father had nothing else to tell her. Jin said meaningfully, "I'm really….really…sad over what happened to Shen….I mean…the doctors said that he might get well but…he'll never be the same…."

She hoped that that would prod her father along into saying something similar.

Her father's eyes betrayed a quick moment of agreement at Jin's emotions but it was just as quickly schooled into that of impatience and annoyance. He stiffly told her, "It's no time to feel as such. War is upon us, in case you haven't noticed. Feelings of that sort imply weakness and induce distraction. You can't entertain them especially when we're about to enter into a big fight."

Jin felt the tears slowly leaking from their ducts. How could he just say that? How could he just act as if nothing has happened to He Shen? That it was okay for him to be like this? That it was okay for her to be like this? He sat there looking at her as she tried to keep her temper and emotions at bay. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then she closed it again. Jin didn't know what else she was supposed to tell him and apparently her father was getting extremely bored with their practically nonexistent conversation. He stood up and said, "I have a meeting with the other Earth Kingdom generals in a few minutes. If you wish to see your eldest brother, he is down in the cookeries getting some food as I'm told by—''

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Jin blurted out, her voice rising in anger and cracking in frustration. Her father looked at her in sudden anger.

"You will do well to keep your tongue and temper, girl! Especially if you are speaking to one such as me—an esteemed Earth kingdom general and your father!" he angrily retorted.

Jin narrowed her eyes at him and exploded, "I will not keep my tongue or my temper for a crazy, old, stupid person like you!"

His angry expression morphed into one of utter surprise. Jin, who was now steadily regretting her impulsive act of yelling at her father, continued to ramble on in a shaky voice, "He's sick, father! Can't you see that! Don't you care about him at all! Why are….are….are you…so…why are you just like that? Why do you act as if it's nothing? Why do you act as if it doesn't matter? As if he doesn't matter? As if we don't matter!"

In the many years of Jin's existence, not once had she the courage to speak up against her father or defy him. Defiance, as defined and explained by Shangdi to his many soldiers and most especially to his children, involved any contradiction, any act causing him great displeasure and anger, and any behavior deemed rebellious or against the expectations of the great general. It seemed as if Jin and her brothers lived with this sort of expectance for years and years and whenever they have done something which went against any of his intentions, the price of discipline usually involved a long bout of insults and a heavy spell of beatings. This has caused them to remain obedient, passive and acquiescent, always silently bearing their father's difficult and violent nature.

Having involuntarily chosen the path of defiance against her father that evening, Jin felt a turn inside herself, a metamorphosis that both freed her from all the pent-up emotions she has been steadfastly harboring for 16 years and that terrified her for the consequences that would come from her impertinent display against her father.

"Quiet, girl! You will cause a scene and embarrass me greatly against all the other generals!" her father hissed. His voice was angry but his face betrayed a look of hurt, sadness and disappointment. He was obviously struggling to maintain his strong and steely façade of apathy and indifference.

Shangdi had expected Jin to react with her familiar submission. As a child, whenever Shangdi got worked up into a state such as this, Jin and her siblings would immediately be silenced into ambivalent fear. He was sorely dissapointed with the outcome however.

Jin, for the first time in years, met her father's eyes, an act which she had never been brave enough to do as a child. Her lip quivered and tears threatened to burst out from her eyes with every passing second. She shakily said as she tried to gather her courage, "I'm—I'm not going to take orders from you anymore. I….I n-need to tell you something….you're going to listen!"

Fear momentarily overtook her but she rallied. Strengthened by the insurmountable anger she now had within her, she angrily yelled at her father, unconcerned of whatever scene she was about to cause. She roared, "I have never asked you a single thing for these past sixteen years! I was never angry at you, not once—not when you beat us, not when you turned mother away, not when you willingly gave mom up just to win a stupid battle, not when you were never there for us! And all I want….all I want….is for you to care! Just once! It's not much! I mean how hard could it be to ask us if we were okay once in a while or to be concerned about the fact that He Shen's crazy and he'll stay crazy for maybe forever!"

Jin took huge gulps of breath once she was finished. Her eyes were red and she was shaking violently but she was determined to not cry. She refused to allow herself to look so weak and broken in front of her father. Her father looked stony and completely unaffected. He looked at his daughter fiercely and looked down. The two of them said nothing for awhile. Only Jin's loud panting could be heard.

Her father said nothing as Jin continued to fume. Her rage has suddenly re-ignited her spirits—it had given her the will to fight once again. She was angry at everything. She was angry at the Fire Nation. She was angry at her father. She was angry at the war. She had spent most of her life living in happy denial. She was always willing to overlook the bad side of things and she always managed to keep her temper even and steady even in difficult times. But she couldn't find it in herself to overcome the great anger she felt against her father—an anger which she has tried to suppress, control and deny for the past sixteen years. Sixteen years worth of his neglect, his temper, and his abuse seemed harder to overlook, now more than ever and Jin finally allowed herself to feel resentful—something which she had not permitted herself to feel.

Jin sighed and every part of her shook. She tried to control herself as she admitted the horrible truth in a manner as if she herself was just realizing it as well, "All I've wanted was for you to love me and my brothers, for you to care. That's what I've been waiting for, for all these years. That's what I haven't given up on yet."

Her father finally found his voice as he snapped, "Then maybe you should because I don't care for children who are weak or who are ungrateful and disrespectful!"

Anger overtook her sorrow and fear.

"Maybe I am weak or stupid for feeling like this before a battle! But at least I feel or care enough to know exactly what I'm fighting for!" Jin said hotly. After a second's breath she said, "I'm not a heartless, unfeeling, inhumane person like you who only fights because he loves to fight, because he loves war!"

Jin angrily turned back and stomped off, giving him no chance to reply as she silently muttered, "Ge Jiang was right. There's no saving you or us. I just have to accept it and let go. No more turning back."

Zuko edgily looked over the whole campsite as he and his uncle waited outside of his tent for everyone else to collect. He had gone in his uncle's tent moments ago and in there, he gave an emotional and sincere apology and much to his relief, his uncle forgave him. Zuko could hardly believe it at first and he had spent the next few minutes debating on whether this was some sort of horrible trick pre-planned by his vengeful uncle or that this was a particularly pleasant dream in which he has finally atoned for all his mistakes. When he had finally managed to convince himself that what was happening was real and that his uncle had really forgiven him, he allowed himself to feel an indescribable rush of happiness.

That happiness however, quickly evaporated once he gave way to thinking of other more pressing problems. The comet was coming. The Avatar was missing. Currently, they had no one suitable enough to fight his father. They were all probably going to lose or die or be condemned to a life of misery. The thought made Zuko sick because he certainly didn't want to have that kind of life for him or Jin in the near future.

He suddenly paled at the thought of Jin. They were going into battle soon. He panicked a little at the thought of her going off in a war zone all alone. He knew that she was perfectly capable of defending herself. But that didn't stop him from being overprotective or being overly-paranoid.

Iroh was right beside him and his uncle noticing that his nephew was deep in thought, decided to pursue a peaceful and relatively comfortable silence. In the course of his nephew's silence, he had made himself two cups of oolong tea and once he was finished he saw Jin, wandering around at the far left. He decided to make his two cups a three.

He cheerfully broke the silence as he called, "Now what is a lovely young lady such as you doing here in a camp of sweaty, gross old people!"

Jin paused from her walking, turned around in Iroh's direction and gave a big smile as soon as she realized who he was. She quickly sped over towards him and brightly said, "Mushi—er, I mean Iroh! It's good to see you again!"

She didn't get around to being used to his real name yet.

She gave Iroh a huge bear hug and stepped back as she said, "You look really good for a sweaty, gross old person!"

Iroh laughed and took in her appearance. She looked tired; her hair was messy, she looked as if she hasn't slept in days and she carried around with her a certain air of depression and sadness. Iroh frowned as he thought of his also worried nephew. It seemed as if everyone's spirits were down. Iroh tried to cheer her up, saying as he gestured for her to sit down with him and his nephew, "And you look as lovely as a moon flower."

Jin laughed and shook her head as she squatted down next to Zuko, "You're just saying that. I look terrible."

"My nephew doesn't seem to think so," Iroh slyly said as soon as he caught Zuko staring at Jin. They all laughed as Iroh handed each of them a cup of tea saying, "In my opinion, a good cup of tea is always pleasing in any occasion."

Jin gratefully accepted it and shot Zuko a questioning look. She was curious on what the outcome of Zuko's talk with his uncle might be though judging from the contented way the two of them were interacting with each other, Jin assumed that they had patched things up between them. She suddenly felt sad. If only, she and her father were able to pull through. She silently berated herself for her rash and impulsive actions of yelling at him. It was wrong. Her thoughts were interrupted as Zuko shot her a bright smile and a quick nod, affirming his newly repaired relationship with his uncle.

"So, how have you been Jin? I have heard some rather….disappointing news about your brother," Iroh said empathetically.

Jin uncomfortably twisted her hands together as she said, "He's….he's a little off. But the doctors told me that they would be able to fix him up. He just needs time."

She didn't sound too convinced with what she said.

Zuko held her hand re-assuringly, sensing the anxiety that underlined her voice. Iroh noticed it too though he wisely pushed through some more lighthearted topics. He said, "Well, I am glad you have decided to do the favor I have asked of you during the Day of the Black Sun."

He glanced at Zuko.

Jin smiled at him, recalling how blatantly she had professed how she would never forgive Zuko ever again. She said demurely, "You're right. He did find it again."

Zuko stared at the two of them completely lost in their conversation. He suspected that they had met beforehand and he was suddenly curious as to what sort of things they were talking about. He certainly hoped that Iroh hadn't told any embarrassing stories about Zuko. He was very fond of that whenever any of Zuko's close friends were within his proximity. But a look from both of their expressions told Zuko that they were talking about something deeper, something more serious about him than he could ever imagine.

Iroh reached out and grabbed Jin's hand saying with a mysterious twinkle in his eye, "Are you proud of him as much as I am?"

The two of them looked at Zuko. Zuko looked at the ground pretending not to notice them or hear their conversation.

Jin looked at Zuko and said sincerely, "Yes. Yes, I am."

Zuko felt more lighthearted somehow, despite the fact that he had no idea what they were talking about or despite the impending doom that was about to descend on all of them.

Jin decided to go find her eldest brother before breakfast while Iroh suggested that he and Zuko gather some food from the cookeries. Jin didn't really want to be separated from Zuko anymore, not when this might be their last chance to see each other again. But she really wanted to see Ge Jiang for one last time and she had a feeling that Zuko wanted to reconnect with his uncle for some more. They have been without each other for so many weeks and they had to catch up on so many things. Jin didn't want to be in their way.

Jin walked through the campsite asking for her brother. After many inquiries, she finally found him in the armory where he was busily putting on armor on his ostrich-horse and on himself. He looked distracted, worried and scared as he put himself together. Jin was observing him from behind; her body leaned against the pole of the tent.

"So, it's true isn't it? What they're all saying? That Shen has gone….gone…" Ge Jiang trailed off as he fastened his left arm guard.

Jin lowered her eyes and said, "Yes."

Ge Jiang's shoulders sagged but he continued n with his work nonetheless. He wearily said, "I also heard that dad is here."

Jin nodded and said quietly, "Yes, he's here."

He stiffened but continued putting his armor on.

"I also heard that you're with that stupid jerk who nearly got us all killed in Ba Sing Se," he continued.

Jin shot him an annoyed look and said, "Yes, I'm here with Zuko."

"I heard the Avatar's gone missing," he said as he fastened his other arm guard on. His voice now intoned a hint of acidity.

"Yeah. Aang's missing. We can't find him," Jin admitted.

Ge Jiang didn't stop fastening his armor. Once he finished everything, he placed his helmet on his head, strapped a bag on the ostrich horse and quickly squared his shoulders. He then turned around and faced his sister. He looked grim and serious as he looked at Jin silently. He exhaled loudly and said, "What will we do now? The Avatar's not here? Doesn't that basically mean that we're doomed?"

"No. We're not. It's not over yet, Jiang. It hasn't even started," Jin said as she met her brother's gaze with ferocity.

Ge Jiang scowled in frustration and said, "Not over? Jin, he abandoned us all over again! Just when we needed him the most!"

Jin looked at him with determination. It wasn't fair to treat Aang in this manner. He was only twelve and yet, they were already asking too much from him. Jin could hardly believe that he managed to keep a sane head despite the fact that so many people's fates were resting on his shoulders. Jin felt guilty for pressuring him in the first place. It was wrong of her to ask so much from him. Maybe, they deserved the fate that they were about to get. Maybe, the do deserved to be abandoned by the Avatar.

Ge Jiang shook his head and scowled as he focused on his ostrich-horse, "I don't care. It doesn't matter. We could win this without him. I could win this without him."

He sounded more as if he was trying to convince himself of a terribly unbelievable fact.

He started to fasten the armor on his ostrich horse. Jin stared at him and said, "He doesn't deserve this Jiang."

Ge Jiang scowled and yelled, "We don't deserve this! None of us do!"

It was at that moment that Jin realized that Ge Jiang was on the verge of tears and that his hands shook badly as he tried but failed to fasten the armor on his ostrich-horse. His forehead was sweating profusely and his upper lip was trembling. His eyes looked dark and his pupils were dilated in fear. Jin stared at him in anxiety, sudden worry that he might be like He Shen in a matter of moments. The only thing she could think of saying was, "You're shaking."

Ge Jiang said snapped, "Of course I'm shaking!"

In a lower voice, he added, "I'm afraid, Jin."

Jin stared at her brother, surprised. Ge Jiang was never one to be afraid. He was always so calm and collected. He handled every situation with cool and he was never one to succumb in fear. Jin had always envied and admired him for that.

Ge Jiang caught her expression and he angrily spat, "What? You think that I'm not capable of being afraid? You think that I want to go riding into the sunrise to my death! I don't want to die Jin! I'm just a kid!"

Jin stared at her brother in sadness as he continued to vent his frustration out by violently tying the armor on the ostrich horse. Once he had finished, he said in a much calmer voice, "I just thought that when the time comes, I'd be ready you know? That I wouldn't be this scared. Between the three of us, I was always the one who could keep myself together. But I'm scared senseless. And it won't go away."

Jin drew closer to him. She put her hand in his and noticed that he was still shaking. She sincerely said, "I'm scared too, Jiang. We all are. I can't shake off the feeling of death—it's always ever-present and hanging on my shoulder. It drives me mad—the thought of waking up and just dying one day. It sends shivers down my spine, just thinking about it."

Ge Jiang swallowed at the word "mad" and said in a cracked voice, "I can't believe that this happened to Shen. No…on second thought I can believe it. I feel like I'm going crazy. The comet is going to make me insane. It's a now-or-never situation that's being held by a twelve-year-old. It could decide things. Decide our fates. Decide our future. I can't bear of the possibility of the Avatar losing and sending everyone back into war again. It's not something I can stomach. Or handle."

Jin said, "I don't think that I'd be able to handle that too."

"I've lost too many things in this war, already," Ge Jiang said as he looked down.

"I've lost a lot of things as well. I don't want to lose anything else. I'm so scared, Jiang. I'm not scared only for myself, I'm scared for you and for everyone else's. I'm scared for Zuko. I don't want to lose him. I don't want to wake up one day to find out that he's gone. But I haven't given up on Aang yet. He won't disappoint us again," Jin honestly said, her voice riddled with so much emotion.

"You really care about that idiot do you?" Ge Jiang chuckled.

Jin gave him a silent but firm nod.

"You deserve better," Ge Jiang informed her sternly though his eyes were twinkling. Jin decided that that meant that he had finally approved.

She shook her head and said, "No. He deserves better."

Ge Jiang sighed and looked at his ostrich-horse. Jin asked him, "Where are you going?"

"Home, Jin."

Jin stared at him in surprise.

"I'm going with the division that's going to liberate Li-Jien. Dad's leading it. He doesn't know I'm in it. He won't be too happy if he finds out. But I don't care. If I'm going to die, I might as well die in my hometown, right?" Ge Jiang said, his mouth quirking into a smile.

Jin stared at him in sorrow. She and Ge Jiang were never the closest of siblings. Their relationship was often filled with arguments and fights and there was never one minute in which they weren't trying to go at each other. It was a little sad, Jin thought, that if ever any one of them were to die today, most of their memories with each other would comprise of struggles and arguments. She was suddenly very remorseful. She wanted to fix whatever discrepancies they had with each other with the last few minutes they had left.

She leaned forward and hugged her brother tightly as if it would fix everything.

He said, "I'm sorry that I'm such a jerk sometimes."

Jin laughed and said, "I'm sorry that I never listen to you sometimes."

"Give my best regards to that jerk," Ge Jiang snickered.

"Jiang! He has a name!" Jin scolded though she was laughing. The two of them weren't crying. It didn't seem appropriate to let what might be their last moment together, be filled with so much sadness.

"Watch out when you're out there," Ge Jiang warned.

"I will. You have to as well," Jin told him.

"Tell Shen that I hope he'll be okay."

"I can't see him. The doctors won't let me," Jin said in frustration. The thought of not saying goodbye to him upset her a little. But she was comforted with the fact that he would be out of harm's way. He'd just be in the tent trying to recover what's left of his sanity.

Ge Jiang shook his head and said, "I tried to see him as soon as I could but someone else beat me to it!"

Jin wisely decided not to mention that it was their father who had visited He Shen and that she and him had a huge argument in front of everybody. It didn't seem like the right time to bring it up.

After a few minutes Ge Jiang said bashfully, "I don't know what else to tell you."

Jin smiled at him and said, "Me neither."

Ge Jiang stared at his baby sister and he saw that calling her his "baby sister" was highly inappropriate. She had grown and changed in more ways than one. Gone was the young girl who saw the good in everything and everyone. Instead, here was a young lady who saw reality for what it truly was—she was hardened and toughened by the world and she was now able to accept some of the more unpleasant facts of life. But he was happy that she had not completely changed. She still supported the Avatar and believed in him and believed that things were going to be alright in the end. This twisted and unusual sort of bravery gave him strength again and his hands finally stopped trembling.

He didn't have a lot of things to hang on to. His brother was crazy. His sister was probably going to die. He didn't have a girlfriend. But Jin's unwavering optimism made him rethink a few things. Her sanguinity gave her things to hold on to, even when there was nothing left for her in defeat.

Maybe he should try being optimistic more often. Take a page from Jin's book. He closed his eyes and dreamt of peace; of the Avatar triumphant against the Fire Lord; of a nice bowl of soup after a weary day of battle; of a nice sleep in bed, free from any thoughts of war again; of He Shen being fine and of him being with his family once again. It gave him renewed hope. It gave him something to hold on to. Something to go back for. Something to keep him from being scared.

"Are you still afraid?" Jin asked him, aware that his demeanor had changed completely.

"Yes but not as much as before. Now…I'm just sad," Ge Jiang chuckled as he looked at his sister.

"I'm sad too. But I guess goodbyes are never supposed to be really happy, right?" Jin said as she attempted to smile.

"Yeah….unless you count goodbyes with our dad! Then that would mean that I'd be extremely happy!" Ge Jiang laughed and despite herself, Jin laughed as well.

The two of them stayed like this in comfortable silence until the gong rang and Ge Jiang finally hoisted himself unto his ostrich-horse. He looked down at his sister and said, "Well, I guess this is it."

"Bye," Jin said as he started to move outside.

Ge Jiang looked at his sister and said quietly, "Goodbye."

Then he rode off to join his division without looking back.

Jin went outside, sat down and stared at the sky. The sound of her brother's ostrich-horse clopping against the ground started to fade with each passing second. Her eyes felt heavy and she felt extremely tired. She knew that she should sleep, rest herself and prepare well for the upcoming battle. But she found herself unable to fall into slumber despite her wearied state. She thought of too much—so much that she sometimes felt herself shutting down because she was unable to process anything.

Is it normal for someone to be this nervous before a battle? Jin undid her braid and retied it in a firm ponytail, her fingers moving in slow and automatic movements, her eyes absent and deep with thought. She didn't notice that someone had joined her until she heard the rustling of someone's movements from beside her.

She looked up and found Hong, his countenance pleasant and his bearing cheerful as he sat down next to her. He gave her a toothy grin that showed off his rows of crooked teeth before he proceeded to tuck his extremely long beard in a neat corner. In his hands were two steaming cups of tea and he held out one for Jin.

"Goodness, do you ever plan on sleeping?" Hong said in surprise as Jin took the cup.

Jin flashed him a small smile and said, "I can't sleep."

Hong laughed and said "I think almost everyone here feels the same way. It's a good thing that I decided to bring you some green tea. It revitalizes a weary soul you know."

Jin laughed as she took a sip and said, "All of you seem to have this strange affinity for tea."

"I hope you don't mind," Hong said.

Jin shook her head and quickly said, "No. Not at all. I love tea."

"So I've heard," Hong chuckled. The two of them sat in silence for awhile. Finally, after about three sips, Hong added, "I've heard many things about you Jin."

Jin looked at him in surprise. She could not recall ever telling him her name.

"The Great Dragon of the West has told me lots of nice things about you," Hong said.

"You know Mushi—I mean Iroh?"

"Well once you're in the Old People club, you know everyone!" Hong said laughingly.

Jin allowed herself the luxury of a quick smile. It quickly faded and it was replaced by a deep frown.

"He's just exaggerating as always. I don't know too many nice things about me," Jin said sadly.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I mean it's practically my fault that Ba Sing Se is like this! And I mean it's also my fault that He Shen's the way he is now! If I hadn't been so stupid during the Resistance, things might have turned out differently!" Jin said in frustration. She rubbed her temples and said despondently, "I never get things right. I always manage to do the wrong thing."

"That isn't what I've heard," Hong said. He looked at her and said kindly, "I've heard about the girl who bravely led a rebellion and successfully brought down the Dai Li headquarters. I've heard about a caring and wonderful sister who loves her brothers so much. I've heard about a fearless girl who willingly followed the Avatar into battle and perhaps into death."

He then shot her another lopsided grin and said, "I've also heard that you're pretty good pai sho player."

Jin shot him a weak smile.

"I don't…"

"People always told me that it's going to be okay in the end. And if it's not okay…it's not the end yet. We all make mistakes and make stupid decisions. But that's why life gives us opportunities to fix them," Hong told her. Jin shifted her weight uncomfortably.

"I will try to do everything in my power to help your brother. I promise you. You don't need to worry. I'm a licensed professional," Hong said as he shot Jin another smile. A small giggle escaped her mouth.

"That is what I can do for him. But what can you do for him?" Hong said, suddenly turning on her. He looked at her with a probing eye.

Jin looked down and admitted, "I don't know."

"You don't know or you're afraid that you won't be able to do it?" Hong asked.

Jin looked away, discontented that this strange old man was suddenly here, asking all these questions, making her feel uncomfortable.

"Your brother will never be the same again. But maybe you can fight so he won't change anymore for the worse. So he'll have the peaceful environment he desperately needs," Hong said. He then took another sip and together he gestured for Jin to look around Ba Sing Se—it still looked proud and tall despite its crumbled wall and burned-down houses.

He smiled at her, "And perhaps you could fight to atone for your mistakes."

Jin bit her lip.

Hong looked at her and he asked, "Do you know what you have to do?"

Jin nodded.

"Yes."

"Can you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Finish what you and your brothers have started in Ba Sing Se."

Jin's voice was barely a whisper.

"I don't know."

Hong looked annoyed. He continued to sip on his tea nonetheless and he retained his kindly expression as he said, "If you don't know the answer then I'll answer for you. Yes. You can do it."

"How would you know?"Jin asked him skeptically.

Hong shook his head and laughed as if he understood something Jin didn't get a grasp of. He looked at her and said, "My dear, you've played with the Great Dragon of the West have you not? Not anyone can get that privilege. You need to be pretty good for him to invite you to play."

He then stood up and shuffled away, laughing and chuckling as Jin was left with new thoughts to ponder.

Zuko was well aware that he should be resting for tomorrow's battle. But he found himself unable to sleep so he contented him with bringing breakfast, setting up the campfire and replaying all the day's events. He was extremely nervous and yet he had finally lost the frantic thumping that had dominated his heart. He was strangely calm and composed, ready to face whatever destiny dictated of him. He looked up when he heard the sound of shuffling and he caught Sokka going towards him. The Water Tribe boy squatted down next to him and said, "You ready for this, Zuko?"

Zuko grimaced but he said quietly, "Yeah. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. You?"

Sokka looked at him in disbelief. He then shook his head and said, "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of dying. Does that make any sense?"

Zuko looked up into the sky and said, "Yes. But you know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking that I don't want to die and I don't want Jin to die either. I don't want any of us to die actually. Makes me work twice as hard to keep myself alive."

Sokka sighed and looked at the stars. His sarcastic and wry demeanor was gone and it was replaced with a more serious façade. He had spent most of the evening sharpening his sword and shining his boomerang. Suki, as he was told, had gone off to do a couple of last minute drills while Katara and Toph had gone and attempted to get some sleep. Jin went off to look for her brother while his uncle left him alone to do some preparations as soon as they had gotten breakfast together. All of them were ringing with tension. It was almost ironic how calm everything was—a light breeze swept through the campsite, the sky glittered with hundreds of stars, and everyone was going about their business as if everything were normal. It was hard to believe that things would soon erupt into a state of chaos and combat. It was the calm before a battle that his uncle has always told him about. Zuko shook his head. His uncle had failed to mention how horrible it felt.

"This isn't how I imagined it to be," Sokka said in a quiet voice as he unsheathed his sword and examined it.

Zuko snorted and asked, "Well how did you imagine it?"

Sokka shook his head and said, "I always thought it'd be more epic than this. You know the typical before battle scene of glory."

"But it's different," Zuko stated.

"Very different," Sokka agreed. The two of them sat there in silence, waiting for the coming end. The two boys had built a rather interesting if not unusual friendship that often rotated around a sort of friendly rivalry. The two of them had always been adamant in their quest to outdo each other and tonight wasn't any different. Sokka and Zuko sat placidly in their places determined not to show each other that they were afraid.

But the two of them were very afraid. Sokka was afraid of what might happen to his sister, of what might happen to Suki, of what might happen to him and everyone else. He didn't want to be faced with the possibility of an unhappy ending and yet, he knew that that it might happen anyway. It was funny how he came to realize just how much people and life in general meant to him, just moments before he was about to go riding into his death.

"So this is it huh?" Sokka said as he saw Suki emerge from a corner along with Katara and Toph. Jin turned up from the right and she was coming towards them, her expression weary and her eyes tired. It was beginning.

Zuko nodded, "This is it."

Everyone had finally gathered for breakfast. Jin sat beside Zuko and despite Iroh's urgings that they needed to eat much to prepare for the day, Jin found herself absently picking at her food. For some reason she was shivering. The cold night air stung and it surprised her how she could only notice its cold just now. Zuko noticed her trembling and he quickly scooted closer towards her. He grabbed her hand and raised his body temperature several degrees higher in an attempt to keep Jin warm. Jin smiled at him gratefully though she still felt nervous.

"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko said after awhile. For the past few minutes they've been having discussions on what to do and Katara was absolutely against the idea of any plan that involved Aang's disappearance. But time was running out and despite their unwillingness to admit that Aang was truly missing, they needed a back-up plan.

"You mean the Fire Lord," Toph said, pointing her chopsticks at Zuko.

"That's what I said!" Zuko irately snapped. Toph shrugged, completely ignoring Zuko's outburst and resumed eating.

"We need you to come with us," Zuko told Iroh as soon as he calmed himself down.

"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well," Iroh gravely said.

Zuko looked at his uncle in surprise. He turned to look at Jin who shrugged. He looked back at Iroh and said, "You can beat him and we'll be there to help."

Everyone nodded.

Iroh looked at his nephew and said, "Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it will be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence. A brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

Zuko seemed unsure of his uncle's plan but he continued on, "And then... then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne."

Iroh said, "No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you Prince Zuko."

Zuko stared at him in utter shock. He said disbelievingly, "Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes."

Iroh smiled at him re-assuringly and he said, "Yes, you have. You struggled, you suffered but you have always followed your own path, you restored your own honor. And only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."

Zuko's face became grim, suddenly aware of the full bearing of the task he was assigned with. It seemed as if he understood his destiny at last. He said determinedly, "I'll try, uncle."

"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph said, throwing out the question that none of them wanted to face.

"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again," Iroh said as he looked at everyone in the circle.

"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Suki said.

"Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there, waiting for you," Iroh said as he faced his nephew.

"I can handle Azula," Zuko confidently said.

"Not alone. You'll need help," Iroh said.

Zuko looked startled but after a few seconds of thinking he brightened. He looked at Jin and said excitedly, "You could help me, Jin. We could go to the Fire Nation together."

There was something pleasing about not parting with her. The thought of them fighting side by side made him excited.

But Jin was looking at him with sadness. Zuko's face fell as she looked away and looked down, saying quietly, "A few minutes ago, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. But now I understand what my destiny is."

Jin looked at Iroh and she seriously asked, "You're reclaiming Ba Sing Se when the comet comes, right?"

Iroh nodded.

Jin bowed and said humbly, "Will you give me the honors of joining you?"

Iroh gave a hearty laugh and said, "Of course. I could not think of a more suitable addition in our endeavor."

Zuko grabbed her hand and said, "So you're going to stay here? Alone? In Ba Sing Se?"

Jin stared at him and saw that his eyes were full of fervent passion and disappointment. Her decision has just cemented the fact that they were going on separate ways, that this moment right now, would probably be one of the last few times she'd be able to see him. She tried to keep herself from being too overly-emotional. She swallowed and said, "It's not my destiny Zuko, to fight your sister. It's my destiny to get Ba Sing Se back. To fix my mistake."

"A mistake that I was the cause of," Zuko bitterly said. He looked down.

Jin shook her head and she firmly said, "No. A mistake that I was a cause of—me and no one else's. I know that now. You have your fights, and I have mine. Our paths have to diverge for awhile."

Zuko shook his head and insistently argued, "You don't need to be here."

"But I do. It's my destiny. It's what fate has given me and I have to accept it," Jin said just as firmly.

Zuko looked away, unhappy with her decision but after a few minutes of awkward silence he looked up again with renewed vigor. He looked at Katara and said, "You're right. Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"

Katara nodded and smiled, "It would be my pleasure"

Sokka suddenly spoke up, "What about us? What's our destiny today?"

Iroh's brow quirked and he said, "What do you think it is?"

"I think that... even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet," Sokka said, his face drawn with renewed determination.

"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us," Toph said as she slammed both of her fists together happy with what they all have decided.

Iroh then spoke up breaking their excitement, "There is one more thing all of you must be prepared to face."

Everyone looked at him with attentiveness and anticipation of what he was about to say next.

"Are you all willing to die for the cause? To die for Aang?" Iroh asked them seriously.

Though no one was particularly sure of their answer, they all chorused a firm yes.

It was the time to say goodbye.

Jin watched as Piandao led a couple of eel-hounds towards Sokka, Suki and Toph explaining how this was the fastest way to get anywhere through land or water. Her goodbyes with them were quick and brief but they were characterized with good humor and lighthearted sarcasm that both Sokka and Toph possessed. Sokka and Jin reminisced about their comfortable friendship, their disastrous first meeting, about their numerous misadventures as Sapphire Fire and Wang Fire and their insurmountable inside jokes. Jin told Sokka that she was really glad to have gained his friendship and Sokka likewise, told Jin that he was happy to have met her during that fateful day in Chameleon Bay.

Jin and Suki exchanged hugs and they thanked each other for their company and the many hours talking about weapons, fighting and their boyfriends. Sokka in particular suddenly wanted to know what sort of things they had been talking about him.

Jin gave a respectful bow to Toph and she thanked her for being such a good Sifu. Toph gave her a punch in return that quickly melted into a hug.

"You're a good student, Smiley. Don't forget what I've taught you out there," Toph whispered in her ear as she pulled Jin closer for a hug.

"I won't, Sifu," Jin whispered back.

They all mounted on their eel-hounds in high spirits. They all knew what they had to do. If Aang were to never show then the burden of defeating the Fire Lord must go to them. If they somehow fail, then Iroh and Jin and the order would be waiting for Ozai in Ba Sing Se. If everything does not work out, Zuko and Katara would be ready in the Palace. They all knew that they could never successfully do it without Aang. But they all, also knew that they were willing to die for this cause and for Aang if it was necessary. It was enough for them to leave this world with a legacy. With something to hang on to. With something to give them hope.

"Goodbye!" Jin yelled as Sokka, Suki and Toph's figures slowly started to grow smaller.

She then turned at Katara and the two of them hugged each other fiercely. Katara who had been crying during her goodbye to her brother, now allowed drops of tears to roll down Jin's cheeks as they hugged each other. Their goodbye was a silent but meaningful one. They both knew what they both meant to each other as a friend and as a confidant. Zuko, meanwhile, took the time to say goodbye to his uncle. Iroh offered Zuko a couple of last advices and a few old proverbs, much to Zuko's delight.

Then it was time to say goodbye to each other.

Zuko pulled Jin and he held her tight, almost unwilling to let her go. Jin suddenly felt dizzy and her chest constricted. Her knees buckled and she found herself unable to keep herself together for a short while. It felt as someone had taken her by the throat and choked her. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. She loved Zuko. She loved him so much that she couldn't bear the thought of losing him for forever. She loved him so much that she found herself steadily unable to focus on the task at hand. Was she supposed to feel like this? Did everyone feel like this? He might die. She might die. This might be their last moment together. This might her last chance to feel his warmth against her skin, to look into his golden-amber eyes, to feel the caress of his touch.

Since she found herself unable to speak, Zuko said, "Be safe out there. I want to come back to you. I want to come home to you."

Zuko was suddenly aware that he had just referred to Jin as his home. Jin realized it too and she felt unworthy of that title.

"I will," Jin managed to choke out.

"This won't be for forever. It's going to be all over soon. We'll go to the fountain once this ends," Zuko said as he tried to sound upbeat.

"I know we will," Jin said as she offered him a smile.

She leaned forward and kissed his scar, mumbling against his skin, "Don't die. Please. Come back to me, Zuko."

Zuko nodded seriously and said, "I will. I promise."

If they could stay like this forever, they would. But the time had come for them to go their separate ways. Jin and Zuko let go of each other unwillingly. Katara gestured for Zuko to go on Appa with her while Iroh took Jin's hand and slowly started to lead her away. Jin started to feel restless. Their parting felt incomplete. Like it was missing something. It was as if she had failed to tell him something particularly important.

Then she knew.

She broke free from Iroh's grasp, turned around and yelled, "Hey, Zuko!"

Zuko paused and looked at her as Jin rushed towards him. She lurched forward and kissed him passionately, her mind dizzy and swirling with thoughts of what she was about to say. Finally, she let go and breathed, "I love you."

Zuko stilled for a heartbeat. Then he reached out and pulled her close and planted a kiss burning with everything he was feeling. He leaned back and kissed her forehead and eyelids.

"I love you too," he said and he turned around and mounted Appa.

He continued to look at her as she watched him ascend and he never took his eyes off from the spot where she was, even long after Iroh had already led her away.

Two freaking months before I managed to update! I am so sorry! But I had really horrible internet connection back there in China. Anyways, I know the last scene was probably too cheesy for most of you but I felt as if that's how it would've gone. I know this is boring because all of you are waiting for the final battle. But don't worry. Don't expect for a long wait for the next chap. I'm about halfway there.

Thanks to those who added this to their favorite stories and added me as a favorite author.

Thanks to those who reviewed: Suki17, ArrayePL, DRBad39, Shakeru, Kaeso Corvinus, Boogum, Tokes (I'll keep what you said in mind) and Aurellius Maximus.

Please always take the time to tell me what you think.

R & R.

Thanks.