Please note that all chapters occur at different times. The first chapter featuring a different woman in Zuko's life will be the 'present' and the next chapter will reflect on an important part in their history before moving ahead a few years to the next love-interest. Thank you, enjoy, and review!

The Sacrifice – Zuko and Arisu

Word Count: 752

He inhaled deeply, preparing for the blow his sister was about to throw at him. He cleared his mind, thinking only of the steps he would need to do in order to redirect the lightening. He had to defeat her. He was the only thing standing in the way of her and his two friends whom were hiding in the building behind him. There was no way that the two of them could take down his insane sibling.

No, it was just him.

In the same moment Azula released lightening from her fingertips, he noticed her eyes move to his right. She wasn't being discreet about it, like she wanted him to see. Knowing there was only one thing she could be looking at, he forced his feet to move, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to redirect it.

Then there was another blur of movement in the corner of his eye. A streak of red darted past, standing before him. Dread spread through him like fire and his eyes widened as he screamed, "No!"

But there was nothing he could do to stop her. Bright, blue lightening rippled through the air, and then there was a scream. A scream that would haunt his dreams forever.

The girl who had taken the hit fell. He let out a strangled yell a wild burst of flame erupting from his palm, a stream of water coming up from behind him to aid his attack on Azula. She barely missed Zuko's fire, but was slammed into by the water. She was thrown backwards, and Katara ran past him to finish the fight.

He fell to his knees beside the girl, cradling her small frame against his larger one. "Arisu," He whispered hoarsely, brushing her fiery red hair out of her face.

"Zuko," He felt her warm hand on his face, her thumb slowly and gently stroking his scar. "I'll miss you. But I'll see you again one day. That what makes me happy." A tear slid down her cheek, but there was a smile upon her face.

"Don't talk like that," he barely contained the exclamation from being vociferous, grabbing her hand and squeezing it until both of their hands were white. "You're going to be okay. You're going to live." He glanced at the wound just above her heart.

She laughed weakly. "We both know it's just the opposite. I'm not afraid of death. I've been surrounded by death since I was little," She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gaining a glassy and faraway shine. "Promise me, that when you become Fire Lord, you will end all that pain. I know you can't stop death altogether, but at least stop the deaths this war has caused. For me, please."

He knew she also meant her own death. "I promise," his voice cracked. "But you're not going to die. Katara will heal you!"

Her hand dropped to her side limply, energy quickly draining out of her. "Zuko, I'm going to die. This is my destiny…my destiny was to save you. I knew it all along. I didn't want you to get hurt. Why do you think I pushed you away for so long?"

"Because you didn't love me."

"Oh, Agni, Zuko! Don't be an idiot! Of course I loved you. I still do. It was hard not to, no matter how stupid, hot headed, or angry you got. I always loved you."

Her confession made it all that harder to let her go once and for all. He finally had her, and now he was losing her. "I won't let you die! There has to be a way."

"Will you stop that? Accept that this is happening. I'm dying, and there's nothing you can do to keep death away. Everyone dies at some point, and this is my time." There was a pause, and Arisu moved her head enough to look at Katara, who stood some feet away, Azula chained to the ground behind her. Tears were spilling out of her eyes and her hands covered her mouth.

"Katara, take care of him, will you? Make sure he moves on." Katara nodded vigorously.

Arisu's blue eyes stared into his. "Find Mai. Beg her to forgive you, and make her Fire Lady. She's the one you belong with, not me."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He pressed her lips against hers.

"Promise me one more thing,"

"Anything."

She took a ragged breath of air.

"Remember me."

And then she was gone.