ONE DAY, ON HER WAY TO WORK, SOMEONE AMBUSHES KIDA. Or, at least they try to, before Kida places them into a choke hold and pushes them against the side of the closest building. She's about to give this person a piece of her mind, before she sees who it is, which makes her 10 times as angry.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kida scoffs. She lets go of him as though he was something she'd thrown away. She hates that out of everyone she's ever known, it was Jet who had to be in Ba Sing Se, of all places. She doesn't care how or why he's here; Kida just wants him gone and out of her life for good, like she thought he was.

Jet smirks, putting his hands up dramatically. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."

"Then I guess you never really knew me," Kida retorts. It takes every muscle in her body not to do something she knows she would regret later. Kida steps back. Reflexively, she puts her hand behind her back, only to realize that she no longer carries a knife in her belt.

"I know you better than most," Jet counters, causing Kida to scoff once more. "So, I guess the Avatar and those watertribe siblings must be around here somewhere." When Kida stiffens, Jet's smirk deepens. "What, you split from your boyfriend?"

Kida has to resist the urge to strangle him right then and there, but decides that it's just not worth it to have a murder charge on her hands. "Fuck off, Jet." With that, Kida tries to leave, before Jet grabs her wrist. She snatches it away just as quickly.

"Wait," he says. His smirk disappears and instead he furrows his eyebrows. "I wanted to ask you about those two men you work with. At the tea shop. Do you notice anything different about them?"

"What? Why?"

"I think they might be Fire Nation."

Suddenly, Kida decides it would be worth staying for this conversation. "That's ridiculous, Jet," she defends. "They're just refugees, trying to find a better life."

"I don't think they are," Jet insists. "I swear I saw the old man heat up his tea."

Kida rolls her eyes. There might have been a time when she would have charged into battle with Jet for the smallest of reasons, but even the one he just gave seemed pretty weak. "Maybe that's because he works in a tea shop."

"It's not that Kida, you have to believe me. Please. I need your help." Something flashes through Jet's eyes. If it was anyone else, they wouldn't have known what it was. But Kida recognizes it, because she recognizes Jet all too well. She's seen it in him before and in her own reflection as well. Rage mixed with determination.

Kida ignores it. "Are you joking? After what you tried to pull last time I saw you? Leave it alone, Jet. Considering our past, I'll let you go, but don't think I'll turn you into the Dai Lee if you even try to pull something." Kida leaves before Jet can even reply and this time he doesn't try to stop her.

When Kida gets to the shop, Zuko is already serving customers. Iroh is probably in the kitchen brewing some tea.

Kida walks to the break room to change into her uniform, and promptly starts taking the customers' orders. Once the crowd dies down a bit and everyone has been served, Kida drifts over to Zuko.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" Kida asks as she sets a tray down and leans against the counter next to Zuko.

Zuko looks at her as though he couldn't be bothered. Despite the amount of time spent together, either at work or after, Zuko has yet to warm up to Kids. "What do you want?"

"There's this guy, Jet," Kida starts. "He might know about...I mean who you and Iroh really are."

"What makes you say that?"

"I ran into him just before work and he told me," Kida explains. "He wanted my help, for something. To find evidence on you guys, or I don't know what."

Zuko turns his head towards Kida, looking at her with semi-interest. "So, are you going to help him?"

"Are you seriously asking me that question?" Kida almost yells, but moderates her voice to a whisper. "As much as I'd like to see you pay for all the stuff you put my friends through, if you go to jail, your uncle follows. And then any chance I have of learning firebending leaves with him."

Another customer walks in, and Zuko straightens up in preparation to serve them. "I'm sure it's fine," he replies plainly.

Kida sighs. Maybe she'd have better luck telling Iroh.

»»---------------------►

KIDA TELLS IROH DURING THEIR TRAINING SESSION LATER THAT NIGHT. He essentially gives a similar answer to Zuko's, though Iroh was much gentler, unsurprisingly.

The next day, Kida had a day off from the tea shop. She slept in later than usual, and when she woke up, Mika was already gone to her classes. Kida decides to spend the day doing chores: cleaning the house, going to the market, making dinner. When Mika got home that night, she was in an especially happy mood.

"How was your day?" Kida smiles as she finishes setting the table. Mika sets down her things and helps out.

"It was great!" she gushes. "I got full marks on my art project. The one I've been working on for a while."

Kida nods. "The one you wouldn't let me see?" she teases.

Mika blushes. "I wasn't sure if it was good or not, but my professor was very impressed."

"Can I see it?"

"After dinner," Mika promises. "I'm starving."

The two finish eating and settle down on the small couch Kida has been using as a bed. Mika gets her portfolio, looking through until she finds the drawing she was searching for.

"Here," she declares with a proud smile. Mika places the drawing in Kida's hand, who falls into a state of absolute shock.

First, by how talented Mika is. The determined strokes and faint use of color and shadow to paint a portrait that's so realistic, Kida feels as though she knows who the subject is.

But the tan skin paired with rosy cheeks and a splash of freckles, the toothy smile and the deep green eyes, practically twinkling with mischief. Kida feels as though she knows this person, because she does.

"Yoko," she whispers. Kida traces her fingers over Yoko's smile and she can almost hear her laugh. And suddenly, she's overwhelmed by a wave of emotions. Of sadness. Yoko is gone because of me. Of guilt. Yoko is gone. Of annoyance. How could I be so stupid? All the signs were there.

"What?" Mika whispers back, tilting her head in confusion.

Kida shakes her head in hopes of bringing herself out of her daze. "You're....you're Yoko's sister?"

"I....did Suki tell you that?"

"Her favourite color was purple," Kida states. "She loved to eat berries that were a bit underipe."

"Kida," Mika stops her. She takes her drawing back. "What's going on?"

It's then that Kida finally brings herself to look Mika in the eyes. The truth was, deep down, Kida thought she would never find Yoko's sister, and therefore would never have to have this conversation. Or, maybe she hoped that she never would, so that's why Kida chose to forget. Add that to the list of bad decisions Kida has made.

Kida takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She has to do this, for Yoko. She opens her eyes and meets Mika's once more. "When I was on my own, I ran into Yoko. Her village, your village, had been burnt down. She was the only one who survived." Kida waits for some sort of reaction from Mika, but all she is met with is a blank face. Kida continues: "She wanted to come to Ba Sing Se, to look for her sister. For you, I guess. I agreed to take her, but...."

"But what?" Mika interrupts. Kida still can't read Mika's expression, and finds that more unnerving than if she could have.

Kida swallows the lump in her throat. "She didn't make it. I'm....I'm sorry."

Mika scoffs. Her face is bright red with grief, or anger, or maybe a bit of both. "Oh you're sorry? My sister is dead and you said nothing this entire time!"

"I didn't know until now," Kida admits. "I really am sorry, Mika."

"Sorry doesn't bring my sister back!" Mika yells. She buries her face in her hands for a moment before looking at Kida once again. "You're the reason she's dead, aren't you?" Kida feels her entire body trembling, but remains silent. "That stupid archery Suki is always raving on about! You shot her, didn't you?

"I didn't —"

"Did you do it by accident?"

"That's not what —"

"Or on purpose? Did you get tired of having a little kid around?"

"I tried to save her!" Kida shouts, her voice cracking. She doesn't bother to hold back her tears, or her anger, anymore. "I was there with her, until the very end. That's more than you can say. Where were you? Drawing pictures of Yoko, pretending to be a good sister, when really, you abandoned her?"

Guilt flashes across Mika's eyes, but it's quickly replaced with rage. "You need to leave." The statement seems so final that Kida doesn't even try to contest it.

Before she leaves, Kida grabs whatever small amount of belongings she had with her. Kida removes the purple gemstone ring from her finger. She places it on the side table next to Mika.

"This was Yoko's," Kida explains. "She would want you to have it."

And with that, Kida walks out the door.

»»---------------------►

IT MUST BE PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN KIDA KNOCKS ON IROH'S DOOR. Zuko answers.

"I don't really have anywhere else to go," Kida whispers sadly. She can't anymore, but she can still feel the tears stuck to her cheeks. Something seems to shift in Zuko's eyes. Sympathy maybe, but it's barely noticeable. Still, he opens the door slightly and Kida walks in. She appreciates how he doesn't ask any questions.

Zuko leads Kida through their small apartment, holding a small candle for light. There's only one other small room, the door closed and the soft snoring barely audible. "My uncle's asleep," he explains. Kida nods.

The main room, where the two are now, seems to be where Zuko sleeps. There's a sleeping mat and a blanket on the floor. Silently, Zuko pulls another blanket from the small closet in the corner and hands it to Kida.

"Sorry, that's all we have."

"It's fine," Kida replies. "Thanks." She sets herself down on the floor a little ways away from Zuko, closest to the window.

For a moment, the world is silent, and for that, Kida is thankful. She looks out the window. It's a full moon tonight. The streak of white in her hair seems to shimmer in the moonlight.

"You were right, by the way," Zuko suddenly whispers. "About Jet. He confronted us at the shop."

"What happened after?"

"The Dai Li took him away."

Kida shifts around so that she lays on her back, mirroring Zuko's position. "Oh."

"You seem disappointed," Zuko remarks.

"It's complicated. You wouldn't understand."

"Trust me, I know complicated." Silence. "Can I ask you something?"

"You can, but I might not answer," Kida replies.

"Why do you suddenly care so much about firebending? I thought you hated everything that was the Fire Nation."

"I guess it feels like the one thing I can actually control," Kida explains. "Like for so long, I thought that I had to hide that part of myself, that I had to hate it. And...that only caused pain for the people I love. I can't help but think that if I knew firebending, if I was honest with myself and others, things would be better. Or, at least different."

"Different how?"

"I don't know," Kida admits. "Maybe I would be out there with...with Aang and the others." She pauses. "I could protect them in certain moments. But mostly, I would help secure a future for them to be happy and safe. And not only them. The people who have lost so much because of this war, but deserve to live in a better world. And the people who are gone who deserve to know that the world has become a better place than when they left it."

Zuko sits up suddenly. "That's it," he states.

"What?" Kida sits up as well, hugging her knees to her chest. Kida is surprised by how Zuko sounds almost excited as he speaks.

"That's your inner fire."

"Okay, and..."

"And maybe you can finally firebend."

Kida laughs. "I don't think it's that easy."

"Just listen to me," Zuko insists. "Open the palm of your hand." Kida rolls her eyes, but follows his instructions anyways. "Close your eyes. Think about everything you just told me."

She follows his instructions, and for a second or two, nothing happens.

"Are you concentrating?"

"Yes," Kida sighs,

"Concentrate harder, then." Still nothing.

"I don't think it's working."

"Think about your family," Zuko prompts. "Think about the Avatar. And that water tribe girl."

"Aang," Kida murmurs. "And Katara."

"Right. And Katara's brother?"

"Sokka."

"Yeah. Think about all of them and imagine everything you just told me coming true. A better world, for them and everyone else." More silence.

And suddenly, seemingly out of thin air, a flame appears. Kida opens one of her eyes, then exclaims with both surprise and joy.

"It worked! It worked! It actually worked!"

Zuko smirks, nodding his head proudly. "Get up. I'm going to teach you some new forms."

"Now?" Kida asks, the flame still dancing in her palm. "Won't we wake your Uncle?"

"He sleeps like a hibernating platypus bear," Zuko assures. "So, do you want to make the world a better place or not?" He outstretches his hand, an offer to help Kida up.

Kida stares at his hand for a second, then decides to take it.

»»---------------------►

author's note: 

i feel like so much happened in this chapter, what did y'all think

also it's almost the end of book two and im getting ahead of myself but i have so much planned for book three im EXCITED