The city had begun to rebuild after all of Zhao's forces were driven out of the city walls. In the moments that had followed after Zuko killed Zhao, he would hide behind the mask again as Captain Sokka and his troops raided the castle. Zuko was gone as they came in, leaving the door open to the small room where King Kuei was stashed in.

It was revealed that Commissioner Arnook died during the attacks. By the order of King Kuei, Sokka was made the new Commissioner. As his first act was enacted, Zuko was now regarded as a hero. Well, not Zuko, but The Blue Spirit, anyways. But Zuko could carry himself on that now. He was respected by the city had given his life to protect.

"So, Zuko, what do you do now?" Iroh asked him.

"I continue doing what I do," Zuko stated. "Zhao said that my father knew what I was doing. He's sure to keep trying."

"And what do you think he'll do?"

"I have no idea. That's what scares me."

They both took a sip of tea, Iroh beaming down at his cup.

"Zuko, this is the best tea you've made so far!"

"Thank you," Zuko chuckled.

The door opened; the bells on the top ringing. Zuko peeked up, seeing Katara standing there. There was a smile on her face that showed a mixture of happiness and relief.

"Hello, Uncle Iroh," Katara said first with a bow.

Iroh nodded back.

"Zuko, can I talk to you?"

Zuko nodded, and maybe a bit too eagerly. He rose from the table, leading her up the stairs into his room. He stared down at Iroh, who had a proud grin on his face. As he stepped into the room, he closed the door behind him, turning to Katara.

"I always knew it was you," Katara smiled.

"Liar," Zuko smirked.

"Can I see it?"

He nodded, squatting down next to the bed and pulling out his shozoku. He unfolded it, laying the swords out on the bed and then pulling out the mask.

"Why the Blue Spirit?" Katara asked.

"Uncle asked me the same question," Zuko replied. "It's because it scared me. I want others to share my fear."

"Even me?"

"Of course not."

They stared at each other, Zuko putting the mask down. She stepped closer, finding her arms wrapping around her neck, softly tangling in his hair. Zuko saw his hands on her hips now, and he was beginning to feel the blood in his veins rush through him. It was far more exhilarating than when he jumped from rooftop to rooftop.

"I never wanted to leave," Zuko admitted.

"Doesn't matter. You're back now."

"What about Aang?"

"I talked to him," Katara said. "He understands and knew as well."

"Pretty sure Toph did as well. It was the last thing she told me before she returned to Gaoling with her folks."

They shared a good chuckle.

And then he kissed her.

And she kissed him back.

Zuko pulled her closer, not wanting to lose her again. True, she had fallen in love with The Blue Spirit. But Zuko had finally become one with his alter ego. They weren't two different people. They were one in the same.

When she pulled back, the feeling of bliss still lingered.

"I love you," Katara said.

"I love you too," Zuko replied.

Zuko was beaming now, but it was his time of night now.

"I have to go now," Zuko said. "You know, patrol and stuff."

"Come back to me?"

"Always."

Zuko changed in front of Katara. She watched him slip into the black shozoku, and Zuko knew that she was blushing behind him. He was just lucky that his front was facing away from Katara. And then he was all in black, the dual dao swords strapped to his back.

"You should add some armor," Katara snickered.

"I'll talk to Piandao about it."

He slipped the mask over his face, rising out the window and taking off.

The Blue Spirit had risen.

"It seems that Admiral Zhao has failed me."

His voice was tough, full of anger and a rage that was incomparable to anyone around him. He sat high on a throne, draped in red and black robes with his hair in a topknot, a golden grown inside the hair.

"He was weak, father. Let me deal with Ba Sing Se."

"No, Azula," The Phoenix King snapped. "I want the city. I want you to go and break The Blue Spirit."

"That masked freak?"

The Phoenix King knew his son was behind the mask, but Azula, his daughter, had no idea Zuko was under the mask. She would become his true heiress when she struck down her own brother.

"He is a road block in our plans, my daughter. You will kill him and anyone that he loves."

"Of course, my father."

The night was silent.

Zuko stood across the Police Building, watching Commissioner Sokka and Kyoshi Captain Suki talk. His face was stoic under the mask as the lights were turned off. There was a real sense of peace now among the citizens of Ba Sing Se. He was the watchful protector that would never take his eyes off the city.

But now, there was something else that caught his eye.

It was a blur that came in the corner of his eye. He turned, seeing the figure in red. For some reason, the red of the shozoku stood out in the blue tint he saw the world in. He knew it was red, but he couldn't see. He could feel it.

Zuko turned to face the figure in red, whom also turned and stared at him.

Blood red eyes were the only thing visible under that red shozoku.

"Who are you?"

And now, The Blue Spirit had a new mystery for him.