Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. So sad.

Recap:
Moments that seemed like painful hours crawled past at lightning speed, and Umi began to feel herself losing consciousness as more and more her body was being beaten by the winds and flying objects.

Suddenly, she impacted something large, and her body bent backwards as she was slammed into the cart that was also still inside the massive tornado.

Her last thought was of Zuko, and how much she loved him, before her world went dark.

The hungry tornado indiscriminately gobbled up everything in its path as it continued to cut a swathe of devastation across the landscape. Immediately after Umi had been sucked in both Saral and Kalek had been separated from the earth and all three, along with a myriad of other things that it had eaten in its march across the land, were being carelessly swirled and tossed about like so many ragdolls.

For the first few moments Kalek had somehow managed to keep a hold of his wife, and she of him, despite the violent treatment they were receiving, but it wasn't long before he was rendered unconscious by flying debris and released her from his desperate embrace.

Saral, still conscious, screamed his name even in her terror as he was ripped from her grasp, the word being sucked from her lungs by the force of the winds. She was quick to follow her husband as a large tree branch met her skull and she too, was lost to the world around her.

Less than one minute had passed since the huge twister had caught the fleeing cart and its occupants and it was advancing at a very high rate of speed, quickly approaching the town.

As it had been such a sudden storm, few of the villagers had even had time to prepare. Already there was severe wind damage and some houses were missing roofs, market stalls in pieces, and wares being blown every which direction. People tried to find shelter where they could, but against such a natural monstrosity, they had no real protection.

A small child, lost from his mother, forgot his crying for a moment to stand staring in awe at the wonder of the natural disaster fast bearing down on him that would not hesitate to end his young life. Too young to realize the danger he sucked his thumb and simply stared until the winds became too much for his small body to resist, and he was knocked off his feet.

Landing hard on the cobblestone, he curled up in a ball and began to wail, the cry from his small lungs reaching even past the winds to where his mother frantically searched for him inside the house she had taken shelter in, believing him to be with her.

The frantic woman raced out of the building, winds so bad she could hardly stand, and saw her child on the ground, directly in the path of a giant tornado that was just outside the town. Screaming his name she fought the winds, getting down on her hands and knees to crawl to him and cover him with her own body, curling around him as best she could.

Squeezing her eyes tightly shut she waited for the end to come; and while her body was being battered by flying debris, she was still conscious. Curious enough to chance a look, she opened her eyes and craned her neck to look in the direction of the tornado.

Eyes widening in shock, she clutched her crying child as she stared at the swirling funnel of death and destruction that was somehow being lit from within. The glow that began as a brilliant white changed quickly to a clear blue, radiating out from the very center of the tornado and illuminating in strange silhouettes everything still tumbling about inside the twister.

Before her very eyes the spinning slowed and everything that had been flying about was slowly lowered to the ground. In moments the tornado was no more, and in its place was a blue glow in the shape of a woman, floating above the ground. Looking around the distraught mother realized that not only was the twister gone, but the entire storm had completely dissipated, leaving only the sun, and a small rainbow that was gone moments later.

Unable to comprehend what had just happened, yet grateful beyond words she merely hugged her child and kissed his forehead and quieted his crying. Picking him up and setting him on her hip, with one last glance at the strange blue glowing woman still hovering mid-air she turned towards the disaster area that had been the center of town and began to assist the amazed townsfolk who had, just moments ago, believed they would all be dead and their town destroyed.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Her world had exploded in light and for a moment, Umi was very disoriented. The last thing she remembered was her body hitting something hard and she wondered if she was dead. All of a sudden understanding and knowledge flooded her mind as power flooded her bruised, battered and broken body.

In an instant she was fully healed and at the same time fully aware of just what had transpired and in her awe and wonder she almost forgot the tornado still bent on destruction.

Immediately she gathered her power, a power so much broader and greater than anything she had ever imagined, and almost on instinct calmed the tornado, reducing it to nothing in moments; easily levitating all objects and persons gently down to the ground. She dissipated the storm that had spawned it, allowing a small rainbow to flash before removing even the rain.

When the danger was past, she looked down from where she hovered high above the ground and saw a woman holding a small child, staring at her then turning and walking away with the child on her hip. Umi smiled. She had saved the town and didn't even know it needed saving.

Remembering the couple that had become dear to her also caught up in the same storm she had been, she looked down and saw Saral's body and dropped to the ground and ran over to her. It was very obvious the woman had not survived the tornado and Umi's eyes filled with tears; hardly even able to think in her grief.

She put a hand to her mouth as the tears poured down her face and she turned to find Kalek not too far away and ran over to him, hoping to find him alive, and dreading that she would not.

It was the same.

Dropping to her knees she sobbed her loss into her hands. The two people who lay lifeless on the ground had become family to her. They had been how she imagined parents must be and now they were gone. She agonized for the loss of the life she had and screamed her pain into her hands for the cruelty of fate and hated her own limitations for death, she knew, was still not within her power alone to change.

She had the full knowledge of what had been done, and knew that this time she was not given the option of bargaining it away. If only there had been just the tiniest spark of life in either of them, she would have healed them straight away; but it was too late.

It was a cruel blessing that had been bestowed upon her, and her heart was sick with loss and grief. She almost wished that it had never happened, that she had simply died along with them so that she might have avoided the pain of surviving when they had not. They had not deserved such a terrible fate, they were good and kind people who should have been able to live and grow old together and die with dignity.

Not like this. Not like this...It was wrong, it was so wrong, and yet she was powerless to change it. The cruel irony was not lost on her; all the strength she now had, all these powers, and she couldn't even save them. Slowly, her bitter tears began to dry, and her heart began to harden.

By the time Umi stood up, the aqua glow of her body had taken on a purple hue and the atmosphere around her was pulsating with a miasma of grief, leeching the ground she stood on and turning it black; all the grass and nutrients lost from the soil causing complete death where her feet touched.

Hardly even aware of the consequences of her anguish, and in her current state, not really caring, Umi began to walk slowly towards the town she had been happy to save only moments before. Her mind filled with agony of sorrow, helplessness, anger and vengeance with no clear direction for it, the only place left was right in front of her.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Hayashi felt the moment Umi was granted what they had given her, and she had some concern as she knew the only way that would have happened so soon was because a tragedy would have befallen her. Anxious to find out what happened, she extended her roots into a stream that was connected to the real world outside the spirit world and allowed the nature of all water to connect her and show her what had, and was, transpiring.

To her great shock, the spirit of life watched the terrible tornado destroy everything in its path, including Umi's housemates, and then Umi herself until her powers kicked in and she halted the natural phenomenon in its path and dismantled it. She almost smiled as she saw the small child and his mother who had been saved, but immediately realized something was wrong as she observed Umi's tears.

It was then that real dread and no small amount of fear crept into her heart as she saw the consequences of the tornadoes' destruction and witnessed their effect on Umi's psyche. This was something they had never even imagined.

Sheer horror gripped the tree spirit when she saw Umi's aura turn purple and felt the unfocused vengeance in her heart. "This was not supposed to happen! This was not the way it was supposed to be! Oh what have we done?" She agonized.

With the Avatar still but a child without a fully realized Avatar state and no time to summon the council of spirits who had given the water spirit her powers to begin with, the spirit of life was helpless to affect the outcome of what was surely to be an even larger tragedy than had already transpired.

As she watched even the ground beneath the vengeful water spirit Umi had turned into instantly die, she desperately sent out a message asking for immediate help to anyone and everyone in the spirit world who would listen. They might be too late to save the village, but perhaps they could save the world.

0o0o0o0o0

Dodging a fast firebolt to his middle, Zuko sidestepped smartly and kicked off a couple small firebolts of his own, aimed at distracting his opponent from noticing his true attack, which was a powerful firebreath that nearly took Iroh by surprise had he not been expecting some kind of sneak attack from his son.

Blocking and dispelling the flames Iroh grinned and stepped into a normal stance, signaling an end to the training. "You have come far since our training on the ship, my son." He praised.

"I feel like I've lived a lifetime since then." Zuko stood at ease as well and wiped a hand over his brow.

"In many ways you have." The old general nodded. Noticing a strange vacancy come over his son's face, Iroh frowned and stepped closer.

"Zuko?" he asked questioningly. "What is wrong?"

"Zuko!" he practically shouted, to no avail. The young man appeared to be almost asleep with his eyes open.

Suddenly, a short, childlike, ghostly glowing female figure appeared in front of Zuko and blew on him. Iroh was so surprised he simply stood there in shock.

When Zuko's spirit flew backwards outside his body Iroh gasped and hollered.

"Hey, what do think you're doing with my son?!"

The small ghostly girl sharply turned and stared at him in apparent shock.

"You can see me?!" she nearly screeched.

"So it would seem!" Iroh barked as he caught Zuko's limp body as it fell. "Now what are you doing with my son? It had better be good." He glowered at her.

"It's a matter of life and death, if he doesn't come with me now hundreds will die."

"I'll help if I can." Replied a slightly dazed Zuko.

Somehow he believed her, even though it didn't seem like it should be right and Iroh nodded. "Go." he said, and they disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Before he had time to even process what had transpired Zuko was standing in the square of a small town that had obviously been nearly destroyed by some kind of natural disaster. Craning his neck he looked around him at the villagers dressed in earth kingdom clothing clearly beginning the long process of cleaning up and rebuilding.

All of a sudden one villager pointed at him and screamed, causing the rest of the people there to look in the direction the woman was pointing. They too began screaming and children began crying and suddenly people were dropping everything they were holding and running the opposite direction in fear.

Zuko's heart dropped. People's reactions to him never seemed to change. Before he could turn and walk away, a frightened dog that had begun to bolt the moment people started screaming, ran at him, and then right through him, before he could even move.

Eyes wide he held up his hand to look at it disbelievingly. It wasn't him they were pointing at, he was a ghost!

Slowly turning around in trepidation Zuko's shock was quadrupled and he froze in horror at the scene before his eyes.

Walking with slow, deliberate steps was a purple glowing figure in the shape of a woman leaving a trail of death where she walked. The space around her seethed and writhed with miasma and her eyes glowed red. He sensed immense power from within her and he shuddered inwardly. It was not his nature to be afraid, but even though he was currently a spirit, he was very, very afraid.

Knowing now why the little spirit girl had brought him here, and wondering what he could really do to stop this powerful creature, Zuko forced himself to stand his ground.

"Stop!" he cried, putting out his hand in a defensive gesture. "Please turn away. These people are innocent and have clearly suffered enough already."

The figure hesitated a moment before answering in an eerie yet familiar voice.

"They are irrelevant. Only vengeance matters now." The figure intoned.

"No! They are not irrelevant! They are people, innocent people who have done nothing to you at all and don't deserve your vengeance." He hoped he wasn't lying, but he didn't see how such a powerful and evil being could need vengeance on a small earth kingdom town.

The figure continued to advance slowly towards him and he quaked but stood his ground.

Trying to slow her down again, he started to ask questions.

"Why do you need vengeance?" he asked.

She stopped to answer, as he had hoped she would.

"I seek vengeance for the deaths of the innocent and undeserving of such a fate." Was the answer, and it was followed by her continued movement forward.

"Wait!" he yelled again. "If you want vengeance for the deaths of the innocent then why are you trying to kill innocent people?!"

"I want vengeance!" the unusual creature demanded. One again Zuko was brought up short by how familiar it sounded even in its eeriness, he just couldn't quite place it.

"It's not fair!" she cried. "They didn't do anything wrong, they didn't deserve it!"

In a quieter voice, "I couldn't save them…"

Suddenly, to his abstract horror, Zuko knew, without a doubt, with whom he spoke.

Even as she stood there, the aura of death and despair roiling about her, the ground under her feet dead and black and her eyes glowing red, Zuko knew her, and his heart wrenched in pain for her.

Something horrible had happened to her, and he had no idea how or where she had gotten the kind of power she now had, but this wasn't really her, at least, the Umi he knew wasn't a monster.

Now he really knew why it was he the spirit had brought here. Umi needed him.

"Umi."

Her glowing eyes snapped directly to his and she stood stock still, staring at him.

"Umi, you know it's me. You know who I am. That means you know that I know who you are, and this is not who you are." He stated firmly.

"You are the sweetest, kindest, most self-sacrificing person I've ever met, and you would never hurt innocent people for any reason." Zuko continued.

The undulating miasma around her flickered, shifting to a more bluish purple; the red glow of her eyes dimming somewhat.

"I don't want to…" she uttered softly.

"Then don't, Umi. Come back, be you again." He implored her.

"Back? There is nowhere to go back to."

She seemed distraught, and once again her eyes were bright red and the atmosphere around her somehow seemed to gather strength and thicken. Even the cobblestones now beneath her feet turned black.

He was losing her.

"Umi!" He shouted. "Umi don't do this, please don't do this!"

She began to walk again, slowly yet solidly advancing towards the center of the town.

He heard a woman's scream from behind him but, assuming it was just a panicked villager who had yet to run, he didn't even turn around.

To his great surprise, a very small boy, seemingly barely old enough to be running around and getting into trouble, ran right through him, then turned and stared at him momentarily before taking off again in Umi's direction.

"Hey, no!" Zuko yelled to the boy. "Stop! Don't go over there!"

Naturally, he was ignored.

With dread heavy in his stomach he watched the small boy as he ran right up to the creature Umi had become.

"You ma' ba' win' go 'way." The child stated matter-of-factly.

"Momma say san' you." He said, then stuck his thumb in his mouth and stared up at Umi curiously. No doubt wondering why she didn't respond like most adults did to a 'thank you'.

He popped his thumb out of his mouth and yelled "Sain' san' you!" Glaring at her as if she had affronted him.

Still standing motionless, Umi merely stared impassively at the child in front of her. Appearing unwilling to move forward, but also not willing to let go of her pain, she was unable to progress.

Her eyes changed slightly, and looked over at Zuko. He caught her eye and slowly walked up to her.

"I don't know what happened Umi, and I know it must have been truly terrible, but it's going to be ok. You're going to be fine. You're so strong, you've endured so much in your life and you've always triumphed over any obstacle you've faced. This is just one more obstacle to triumph over."

He glanced down at the small boy still sucking his thumb and glaring at Umi with a slightly red face, expecting her reply and refusing to let her off the hook.

He gestured to the child with his hand. "He is not to blame for what happened is he?"

Umi slowly shook her head 'no', still looking at the child.

"If you kill him, will you feel better? Will the pain go away?"

Suddenly the red glow disappeared from her eyes and the miasma all around her dissipated into nothing and even her water-blue glow vanished to leave behind Umi's mortal human form, wearing torn and tattered clothing.

Her eyes filled with tears and they quickly streamed down her face as she ducked her head in shame.

"Oh Umi…" Zuko murmured, and darted over to her. Knowing he couldn't even touch her, he stood awkwardly in front of her.

"Come into the spirit realm." He said, holding out his hand.

Before she took the proffered hand, she glanced down at the small child that had saved himself and his entire town, and herself as well. She was truly indebted to him.

Tears still streaming down her face, she knelt down on the blackened cobblestone and tried to smile.

"La'y saa'?"

"Yes, little one, I am sad, but I'm going to be ok, thanks to you." She patted his head and stood up.

"Oh and you're welcome, young man." Looking behind him and seeing his terrified mother, the same one she had seen watching her dissipate the tornado, she nodded to the woman and raised her voice slightly.

"You take good care of your mommy ok? She loves you a whole lot." Her voice quivered as the woman's eyes met hers and she could still see the fear in them.

She straightened her shoulders and mastered her tears for a moment before speaking in a louder voice.

"I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry." She began. "The…tornado…it just killed my family…I was mad with grief… I'm so very sorry."

The mother finally nodded and called her son to her, and he turned and ran back to her, hopping into her arms as she placed him on her hip once again.

Slowly she walked forward, the rest of the town that was uninjured gathering behind her now that the danger was over.

"I understand grief." The woman said shortly. "You say there are…bodies out there?" she said hesitantly.

Umi's tears began anew.

"Yes. They are..were…Kalek and Saral."

"No!" the woman gasped "Oh! I know you, you're Umi!"

Umi nodded tearfully.

"Saral was my friend." The mother said around a lump in her throat. "We will give them a proper burial."

"I will return, when I can, to help." Umi replied quietly. "Thank you."

She turned to Zuko and instantly shed her physical form, taking her water spirit form and disappearing from the sight of everyone there except Zuko and the little boy.

The child waved to her and she waved back slightly before shyly walking up to the man she was in love with.

Zuko took her hand and began to walk them out of the village and away from curious childish eyes.

They walked hand in hand for some time in silence before they found themselves somewhat deep in a forest much like the one they had met in.

Finally, seeing a fallen log they could sit on, Zuko led Umi over to it and sat down, releasing her hand.

Feeling bereft but not wanting to embarrass herself, Umi sat down next to him and folded her hands in her lap, her head down. Her water spirit form was not capable of truly crying, and her grief felt multiplied by her inability to release it.

Zuko put his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him, watery as her spirit form was.

Despite being water, her form seemed stiff, and his heart went out to her.

"You can cry Umi, you need to let it out." He said comfortingly.

"I can't!" she said with an anguished cry. "My spirit form cannot cry!"

"Then make a more human form so you can." He said simply, and she looked up at him, surprised that it hadn't occurred to her to try.

He released her shoulders and prompted her with his hands to give it a try.

Slowly, her familiar human form began to materialize before his eyes and before long she looked the same as she always had before she had become mortal.

Expressive and brilliantly blue eyes, now clouded with grief, long, flowing shimmering silvery white hair that he remembered glinted in the moonlight and somehow defied gravity and waved gently when there was no breeze framed a heart shaped face with defined cheekbones and porcelain skin.

His heart leaped within his chest, it was like meeting her for the first time all over again. He had almost forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful she was.

Once her transformation was complete, those gorgeous eyes filled with tears once again, and this time when he reached for her she turned around on the log and fell into his embrace, holding tightly to him as she sobbed her pain and anguish into his chest.

He held her and hurt for her as she grieved, knowing because of her conversation with the mother of the little boy what was the cause for her grief. He, too, was sad for the two people who had been so kind to them and so instrumental in helping them get reintegrated into society and helped them with supplies etc.

They were truly good people and he would certainly mourn their passing.

He held her, gently caressing her back once in a while until her sobs became occasional hiccups and she eventually fell silent.

At last, much to his great regret, she untangled herself from his embrace and scooted around to sit normally on the log again, fishing out a pretty handkerchief and turning away to wipe her eyes and face with it."

"That's a pretty handkerchief." He said, feeling dumb but unsure of what to say.

"Thanks." She replied quietly. "I..I made it."

"You made it?" he was surprised, it had been quite fancy.

She nodded silently, still not willing to look him in the eyes.

"It's beautiful." He said simply, leaving it at that.

"Thank you Zuko."

She hiccuped again and it made a funny sound and he grinned as she looked guiltily at him.

"I'm sorry, I can't seem to…"

He interrupted her. "I thought it was cute" he said as he grinned, wondering where his bravado to flirt had come from. Must be a spirit world thing.

"I'm so sorry this happened." She had given him a ghost of a smile before she became serious. Glancing up at him quickly she looked away again.

"I can't believe I lost control like that. I didn't know what was going to happen. I was just so mad with grief and pain and it was just so terrible…!" A small sob escaped her lips again and she wrapped her arms around her middle as if to protect herself from the memory.

"Umi, that's a part of being human. Maybe it's not a great part, but mistakes are part of life." Zuko said consolingly. "Granted, this one might have had further-reaching consequences than most mistakes people make, but you can't be responsible for something you had no knowledge about."

"It would be hard to expect anyone not to go a little crazy if they'd been through what you went through." He finished.

"Maybe. But they don't try to destroy entire villages, either." She murmured quietly in a self-deprecating tone of voice.

Zuko shook his head. "I don't think that was entirely your fault. Do you know how you got your powers back or why?"

Umi nodded. "It was…" she hesitated and looked around almost furtively "itwasbyjury" she said all in a rush.

He blinked. "Oh, jury, ok. Why?"

Glancing around again and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she seemed to calm a little. "I can't tell you everything, but basically a trade was made without my knowledge and choices made I wasn't privy to. It was decided I would receive the power I have now at a certain date, or if I was about to die or be…" she hesitated "or…be…despoiled…I would have them early."

Zuko stared at her with his head tilted to the side a bit, listening to the melodious sound of her voice until he registered the last part. "Wait what? So…you were in danger from the tornado, right?"

"Mortal danger is the only way it could have happened in that instance. My power awakened at the time of my likely death to save me before I passed on as was decided."

"Wow…" Zuko breathed. "So, not only did you almost die, you had to see…" his voice trailed off, not wanting to cause another fit of crying by bringing it back up. He glanced at her. Too late.

Her eyes filled with tears again, but she nodded and talked around the lump in her throat. "They were…both…" she stammered, the tears flowing freely once again. "I couldn't save them!" she wailed curling over and tucking her head into her arms.

Her words came between shuddering sobs, and he placed a comforting hand on her back. "I thought…I w…was dead then…then I was…so powerful…I knew…knew I…I could pick up a…a lake if I wanted…and make it rain…any...anywhere. But I c…couldn't save them."

Zuko scooted closer and encircled her shoulders with his arm and pulled her close. She leaned into him as she cried; gut wrenching sobs that broke his heart.

Mist formed in his eyes at the depth of pain she was experiencing. He wished he could take it from her, but there was nothing he could do but hold her through it.

Once she was calm again she used her handkerchief a second time and sat quietly for a moment before turning to Zuko, who had regrettably been forced to remove his arm from around her once she had quieted.

"I'm so sorry to put you in this position." She began. "I know you've never been out of your body like this and then you've had to deal with my emotional issues…I am sorry Zuko."

It was great to hear her say his name, and for a moment he almost forgot what she said. "Oh…oh it's no problem at all Umi in fact it was my pleasure to be here for you when you needed someone the most."

"You're a…a good…friend, Zuko." She murmured hesitantly, as if she were afraid to say it.

A friend…yes…sadly, that's all he was, a friend. A part of him died just a bit more when he heard those words. He had never given up hope that she might change her mind, but, even now, he was merely a friend. Inwardly he sighed, bottling up the disappointment and pain and putting on a small smile for her.

She didn't need any drama from him; she'd had enough pain for a lifetime, much less one day.

"Um…I hate to ask…but…how will I get back to the real world and my body?" Zuko asked hesitantly. He felt the need to change the subject.

"Oh, that's easy." She brightened a bit. "I could send you right now."

"Oh, ok. I was afraid I might be stuck here for awhile…" he chuckled a little.

"No, no, it's easy to get back." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Did…did you want to go…now?" she stammered hesitantly, not truly wanting to have to be alone to face what she was sure was going to be quite the council once he left. She figured they were just waiting to pounce on her the moment he was gone.

"I'm not in such a hurry." He replied lazily. "This forest is nice, and the company is great."

She blushed and tucked her head, grinning behind her hair. Reality sank in quickly though, and she lost the smile as she remembered who they were, and where they should be.

"I think so too." She whispered softly.

Zuko almost missed her quiet words, but smiled when he realized what she'd said. His smile dimmed as she continued.

"But you are on your way to defeat the firelord, and I…" her voice trailed off. She heaved a sigh and stared off into the forest.

"I don't know what to do now. I had a life there…with them. I was sewing, and I did really good and sold a lot and they were proud…" her eyes filled with tears again, puffy and red as they already were.

In a flash, understanding as to why she was so bereaved came to him. "They were like the parents you never had, weren't they?" he said gently.

She nodded, sniffling a bit.

"I know it was short, but just remember how good the good times were. Appreciate that you were able to have that family experience, and take it with you into your future. Remember the things they taught you and then pass them on to others. That way, some part of them will be carried on, forever, through you."

As he spoke, Umi had stopped crying, and by the time he had finished speaking, she was staring at him in awe.

Suddenly she burst into tears again and threw herself into his arms almost too quickly for him to react.

"Thank you Zuko! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she repeated over and over as she hugged his neck tightly.

He hugged her back bemusedly and smiled, slightly confused at her actions. He truly didn't understand women.

She finally released him, much to his chagrin, and produced the lovely handkerchief again to wipe her face, the tears gone as quickly as they had come.

"You don't know how much that means to me" she said finally.

"I have been feeling so lost, with no direction…but now I know what I'm going to do!" she smiled brightly "I have a mission now, to pass on what I received from Kalek and Saral to as many people as I can so their legacy will live on forever!"

Zuko couldn't help but smile with her, feeling her enthusiasm. "That sounds great Umi!"

"And it's all thanks to you!" she turned her smile on him and it almost blinded him with its brilliance. His heart ached and twisted as his happiness was bittersweet. Friends. He smiled back, happy that she was happy. It would have to be enough.

Her watchful eye caught his smile dim slightly. "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?" she asked quickly, concerned.

He shook his head. She was quite perceptive; he would have to be more careful in the future.

"As much as I am truly enjoying our time right now, I probably should be getting back, it's been awhile and I'm sure father must be worried by now."

"Oh Zuko I'm sorry! I shouldn't have kept you so long." She began.

"No, no, Umi I have really enjoyed our time here. I wish I didn't have to leave." He said truthfully.

"Me too." She replied quietly. "Are you ready?"

He stood up. "I guess so…" he looked into her brilliant deep blue eyes, and felt as though he might get lost in their depths. Blinking he had to look somewhere else. He chose her lips; bad idea. He had wanted to kiss those lips since he'd first seen them. Back to her eyes then. "What had he even been saying?" he simply couldn't remember.

"Zuko?" she said questioningly. "Is there something on my face?"

"No!" he practically shouted, then lowered his voice when she jumped. "I'm sorry! I mean, no your face is perfect!"

That made her blush, and he wanted to do a victorious fist-pump but settled for a large grin on the inside. What was it about the spirit world that completely destroyed his inhibitions anyway?!

He reached out and took her hand in his. "Take care of yourself Umi. I know you are going to do great things."

Inwardly, the conversation went differently. "Please be careful Umi, I am so grateful that I have my father with me, but you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you more than I can say. I don't want to leave you; I want to stay with you for all eternity. To wake up beside you every morning and go to sleep next to you every night, happy in the knowledge that you are mine and I am yours. I just want you, Umi. You, forever."

Something must have shown on his face because her eyes widened slightly, and she looked slightly surprised as she stood with her hand in his.

"Goodbye Zuko." She spoke softly.

"Goodbye Umi."

In the blink of an eye he was waking up on the ground with Iroh seated next to him, snoring. Groaning slightly, his body feeling rather stiff, he sat up and looked around. It was no longer early morning. It appeared to be early evening, in fact. Had father stayed with him all day? Why hadn't they moved his body?

Loathe to wake the older man but knowing his current position couldn't possibly be comfortable, he placed a hand on Iroh's shoulder and shook him gently.

"Father…"

"No no that's the wrong key, the song must be played in…Zuko?" Iroh blinked owlishly up at his son. "Zuko!" he cried, overjoyed that the young man had finally returned from the spirit world. "You're back!"

"I am. What were you dreaming about anyway? You said something about the wrong key." He grinned.

"Oh, music night back on the ship; the lieutenant got the wrong key to play it…oh forget my dream!" he huffed to have gotten sidetracked "what was so desperately important that you had to go to the spirit world so quickly?"

"It's a long story father."

"You can tell it at dinner then, the kids love a good story."

"It's…not that kind of story. This is between us. I know I will have to tell them something, but we will work that out when I'm finished." Zuko was serious, and Iroh realized this was not the time to be kidding around.

"Of course, let us take a walk down the beach and you can tell me all about it."

Zuko nodded and they set off slowly down the beach as he began to relate the events of the day to his father.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Umi stood quietly still staring at the place where Zuko had, moments ago, disappeared back to the real world by her hand. How she wished she could have kept him with her. He had been so kind and caring, exactly as she had imagined he would be. How she loved him. How she wondered about the look she had seen right before she sent him back. If she hadn't known better, she would have almost called it...love. That couldn't be though, and she knew she must be mistaken.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a very stoic Hayashi, who sprang up from the ground directly in front of her into a small tree. Her heart dropped. She knew her actions would have consequences, but she had hoped to bask in the sweet and peaceful time she had just spent with Zuko, even if her grief had overshadowed it.

A/N: To be honest this took a slightly different turn than I had originally planned, but we're still on track and moving forward! Until next time!