"Okay! I have had it!" Sokka said stomping into the courtyard where Zuko and Aang were training. Zuko raised his brow, "What's the matter now?" Aang asked. Sokka held out his hair brush, "LOOK!" Sokka exclaimed. Zuko and Aang took a closer look, "Uh, am I missing something?" Aang asked. Sokka pulled Aang's head closer and held his brush right against the monks nose, "See that strand of hair right there!" Sokka said pointing to a long strand of brown hair. Sokka pulled out the hair and extended it to the other boys, "Katara's been using my brush and!!!" Sokka continued as he removed a hair tie from his pocket pulling off a blonde hair, "Lillian used my hair tie!" Sokka whined. Aang stood there baffled, "So?" Zuko shrugged, "SO???? Can a man not have his own things anymore????" Sokka growled, "It's the hair brush now, but what if it becomes our toothbrush or razors???" Sokka added as he marched up and down, "We Need to call a meeting with all the men right away!" Sokka ordered before Lillian walked in, "A meeting for what?" Lillian questioned as she stood beside Zuko, "None of your business hair tie thief!" Sokka stated before rushing off. Aang sighed, "He's going to do something stupid.... and we are all going to be dragged into it." Aang groaned. Lillian looked over at Zuko who just shrugged, "Hey Aang, mind if I borrow Zuko for a moment please?" Lillian asked sweetly causing the Avatar to raise his brows suspiciously, "Uh, okay? No problem." Lillian winked at Aang before grabbing Zuko's arm and pulling him to follow her.

Lillian pulled Zuko down the temple stairs as fast as she could. They ran past the misty fall and finally reached the bottom. Lillian began giggling like crazy causing Zuko to raised his brow, "What are you up too?" Zuko asked as he took a small step back, "Oh? Nothing much! Just trust me!" Lillian giggled even more, "Close your eyes and don't peek!" Lillian said stepping back towards a boulder, "Lilly, what are you-"

"Just do it or else!" Lillian whined. Zuko shook his head and closed his eyes. He heard the soft shuffling of paper, "Open your mouth." Lillian whispered. Zuko nervously opened his mouth and felt something spicy touch his tongue.  Zuko opened his eyes as the familiar taste danced his tongue, "Where did you get spice cakes!" Zuko questioned as Lillian popped another piece into his mouth, "I have my ways." Lillian giggled as she sat on the boulder and the mist of the waterfall kissed her skin. Zuko sat beside her and took another cake, "Remember when your mother would bake these and we always came out covered in flour." Lillian said as she placed a piece in her mouth, "Yeah, we chased Azula around the palace having her believe that we were ghosts." Zuko snickered taking another bite. There was sweet silence as the two snacked away at their spice cakes, "I missed this, all of this." Lillian said reaching her neck to grasp her necklaces but only grabbed one, "Me too." Zuko smiled noticing Lillian's hand. Lillian looked over at Zuko and returned his smile. Zuko stared into Lillian's eyes and noticed them gleam and shift, "I want to kiss you..." Zuko whispered aloud. Lillian had a soft smile, "then do it..." Lillian whispered leaning in. Zuko nodded as he placed his hand on Lillian's chin and pulled her closer. Zuko felt the coolness of Lillian's lips graze his heated lips as he leaned in, Lillian seemed to relax at his touch and trust his movements. Zuko placed a small soft kiss on her lips, "I, i need to ask you something... I've been wanting to ask you for a while." Zuko's raspy voice added as he kissed Lillian again. Lillian placed her hands on his chest pulling him closer, "Then ask." Lillian whispered taking his lips again. Zuko pulled Lillian closer by her waist, "be..." Lillian pulled Zuko back for another long kiss, "my" Zuko licked the bottom of Lillian's lips,"girlfriend again..." Zuko finished as he pulled away flushed. Lillian's eyes fluttered open but there was happiness in them at his question, "Zuko I-"

"Zuko! There you are! Its Time!" Sokka called from behind, "Sokka do you mind, we're kinda-"

"Not a word from you hair tie thief!" Sokka said crossing his arms over his chest like a child. Lillian looked at him confused, "We have our meeting now, you can do the oogie thing with Lillian later." Sokka said while waving his hand in the air. Zuko seemed confused and angry at the same time, "Sokka, I DON-" Zuko was silenced when Lillian leaned over and kissed his cheek below his scar, "Go. we can talk later." Lillian encouraged before releasing her wings and shooting up the temple side with cheeks as pink as rose petals.

Sokka's shoulder's sank, "We have to climb all those stairs... don't we?" Sokka whined. Zuko rolled his eyes, "If you hadn't interrupted then I wouldn't have had  to...."

----

The temple

"Right men! as You know I have called this meeting regarding the girls taking over our manly spunk." Sokka said as he started his speech to Aang, Haru, Theo, Zuko, Chit Sang and The duke. "We have lost our right to be men. All this cleaning and chores, it's enough to make us slaves. From now on we will use the bathroom behind you. It's a distance from the sleeping quarters but here our things will be girl free!" Sokka grinned, "We will shave together here, bath at our own times and talk about girls." Sokka said. Zuko stood and began walking away, "Where do you think your going your Honor?" Sokka teased, "Back to Lillian, this is a load of crap, Doesn't bother me." Zuko called over his shoulder, "That men! Is what it looks like to be whipped! Zuko from now on will only do whatever Lilly says." Sokka said batting his eye lashes, "What does it mean that his whipped?" Aang asked innocently. Sokka stood still, "uh don't worry about it buddy." Zuko smirked, "Whatever, at least my girlfriend let's me kiss her and hold her" Zuko grinned, "Suki allows me to do those things! And since when are you boyfriend and girlfriend again?" Sokka argued. Zuko's face fell, "I um whatever." Zuko stormed out. "See you tomorrow morning Zuko!" The duke called. Sokka crossed his arms, "men, I believe operation boy become man is in action." Sokka ordered. The rest of the guys just shrugged at one another as Sokka had a devilish look in his eyes.

---

Zuko found the girls scattered in the temple, Katara and Suki were making dinner and Toph was picking her toes, "Hi Katara, have you seen Lillian?" Zuko asked, "Why, do you want to kiss her and hug her before your man and man bathroom date tomorrow?" Suki teased. Zuko felt his cheeks heat up, "She's exploring the echo chamber." Katara said coldly. Zuko bowed and the walked off, "Why wont you let us have fun teasing him?" Toph asked Katara but she just kept quiet.

Lillian sat in the center of the echo chamber in her lotus position as she tried to meditate. The Crimson slayer over took her thoughts deeply. He was an incredible force of evil that Lillian had never thought she would come across. All those bodies... the scattered feather's that laid all over the floor of the lava prison. For how long has he been doing this? Why would someone become so evil and sick minded to torture innocent Tenshi who have only ever tried to only bring peace and love to this world. The vision of the slayer came clear to her, His shoulder length oily silver hair, his dull grey eyes that held no life, his long large arms that held her at her throat... 

'I'LL FIND YOU' echoed his voice as Lillian sat up breathlessly, she felt a tight feeling around her throat and held her hand there... Just a vision...

"Lillian?" Zuko called from outside the chamber, "Over here!" Lillian replied as she stretched her arms above her head, "Are you okay? Your pale as a spirit." Zuko said kneeling down beside Lillian. Zuko watched as Lillian ran her fingers through her hair, "I was trying to meditate and figure out who this Crimson slayer is, but... he's just... there's so much evil. It feels like he's watching me in a way..." Lillian confessed. Zuko raised his brow, "But we're safe here, he wont find us and even if he does, he doesn't stand a chance against all of us." Zuko said trying to comfort Lillian. There was silence as Lillian nodded slowly, "I guess, so what did Sokka want?" Lillian asked curiously... Zuko suddenly felt nervous, He wanted the guys to like him and accept him. Walking out of that meeting already put him in the bad books, "Uh... guy stuff. Don't worry about." Zuko said rubbing the back of his neck. Lillian could tell he was hiding something from her, "Oh really? So him calling me a hair tie thief has nothing to do with it or the secret meeting in the bathroom tomorrow morning?" Lillian  teased leaning in closer and closer and then..."It's just to shave together and man stuff and I am not whipped" Zuko rushed, "I mean I uh... yeah" Zuko blushed, "Whipped huh? Well if that's the case then...." Lillian placed her lips on Zuko's and then pulled away, "Just so you know, girlfriends don't mind if their boyfriends want man time." Lillian grinned. Zuko stared wide eyed at Lillian, "Does that mean?" Zuko smile grew, "Yes Zuko, I'll be your girlfriend... Always and forever..." Lillian smiled. Zuko pulled Lillian close and slammed his lips on hers kissing her deeply... 

--- 

The next morning Zuko went to the men's bathroom where all the guys were. Sokka said that he needed to train Aang in the way of 'Manly Arts' Whatever that meant... Sokka and Zuko painted a picture of a Sky bison with large horns to signify to the girls that it was boys only.

"Today, we will be teaching you how to shave." Sokka said as he and Zuko stood with foam on their chins. "I already know how to shave, I've been shaving for years." Aang said with his entire head covered in foam. Sokka came in from the side, "The middle 100's don't count!" Sokka said. Zuko picked up one of his duo blades, "The face is much harder. You have to be precise." Zuko said carefully placing the blade against his skin and gliding it across his cheek, "What do you think your doing?" Katara asked as she and Lillian walked in. At the sudden surprise of girls Zuko cut himself with his blade. All the boys stood in their underwear, "I thought you guys were training Aang?" Lillian questioned as she eyed Zuko. Sokka rushed up to the girls, "Katara! Lilly! Did you not see the sign? That bison has horns! It's a boy Bison, this is the boys room! The girls room is that way!" Sokka pointed in another direction. Lillian waved his hand away as she and Katara walked in, "I bet my sign would have been a lot more cleared." Sokka said placing his hand on his chin. Katara approached Zuko, "Aang doesn't need to learn how to shave, his 12 years old!" Katara argued, "Almost 13" Lillian shrugged, " I was 12 when I learnt to shave." Haru said from the back, "Not that you've made much use of it" The Duke said plainly. Sokka swooped in beside Lillian and Katara, "Yeah! Do you want him having a caterpillar haning from his lips?" Sokka asked. Katara crossed her arms over her chest, "Shouldn't you or Lillian be training him?" Katara stated at Zuko, "I am-" Zuko started but Sokka slid in, "In the manly arts!" Sokka added with his hand on his chin. Lillian smacked Sokka at the back of his head, "I heated the water! See!" Aang said excitedly as he bought a bowl of steaming water to Katara and Lillian, "That's very good Aang!" Katara said as she bent the water up and placed it back in the water. Lillian noticed Zuko giving her an odd stare, "What is it Zuko? Why are you looking at me like that?" Lillian asked with a raised brow, "This cut isn't going to heal itself you know..." Zuko said bluntly as he pointed to the deep cut on his chin. Katara placed her hand at her forehead as Lillian removed her crystal from her neck, "Ugh, your so needy." Lillian grumbled as she placed the crystal against his cut, "Stand still!" Lillian ordered. Sokka pulled Aang closer, "Remember Aang, you wont always have a healer or tenshi when you get razor cuts. You should cover them with snow." Sokka said in a matter of fact tone, "or mud" Haru added "Or leaves" The duke added causing everyone to stop and stare at him, "What? Pipsqueak told me how." The duke defended, "Are you done yet Lilly?" Zuko asked, "Hush, don't talk, you'll ruin it." Lillian said pulling her crystal away and inspecting Zuko's chin, "Yes I'm finished." Lillian said stepping back but Katara rushed in at Zuko's silence, "Well? Aren't you going to thank her?" Katara growled. Lillian rolled her eyes at Katara and then started at Zuko, "What? She told me to keep quiet." Zuko said biting Katara back. Lillian shook her head before kissing Zuko on his smooth chin, "See you later." Lillian whispered seductively as she followed Katara, "Hey Aang, watch this..." Sokka said mischievously as he took his towel and whirled it around, "Manly arts lesson 2" There was a sudden snap. Lillian turned to see Katara rubbing her backside and her brow twitching, "Uh oh." Lillian whined before running away. Katara bent all the water in the bath house causing a large explosion of water soaking everything!

When the boys were finally done they all went off to do their own things. Zuko decided that he should have a sparing match with Lillian. Zuko found Lillian reading a scroll in her room, "Hey there sifu cut chin" Lillian teased. Zuko sat on the bed beside Lillian, "Hello blondie." Zuko replied. Lillian placed her scroll down and moved closer to Zuko, "So... Whats on your mind?" Lillian asked. Zuko fumbled with something in his pocket, "I wanted to come check if you wanted to spar but first... I have something for you..." Zuko said sheepishly. Lillian raised her brow but then grinned, "Okay, so what is it???" Lillian asked excitedly, "It's your turn to close your eyes." Zuko said softly. Lillian closed her eyes and felt Zuko shift closer, he placed something around her neck and kissed her cheek, "you can open your eyes." Zuko whispered. When Lillian felt the familiar chain around her neck she couldn't help but feel tears at her eyes, around her neck was half of yin and yang, "How did you?" Lillian began to ask but Zuko shushed her with a kiss, "I have my ways..." Zuko said leaning his forehead against Lillian's, "I had a water bender fish it out 20 minutes after you left that night." Zuko admitted, "I guess I never really let you go..." Zuko whispered kissing Lillian's hand, "I loved you every day and every night wishing that I could take back the things said and done in ba sing sai, but I couldn't." Zuko confessed, "And I wish I had told you... I should never have kept my secret away from you as long as I did." Lillian said sincerly. Zuko smiled, "It's in the past, we're here now together willing to try again... I love you Lilly." Zuko declared kissing her hand again, "And I love you Zuko... No matter what." Lillian said kissing Zuko on his lips.

As the sun fell and night arrived, Lillian and Zuko spent the whole day and evening, giggling and talking about everything. Sometimes for a love to grow stronger, it needs to be broken down and rebuilt again...

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Hello all you weirdo Zuko rivals

Here is a special early valentines chapter. Below is the link of the actual video of storm bender where the whole shaving act takes place. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please don't forget to comment and vote!