Lillian leaned against a tree as she and Iroh waited for Zuko and Kasai to return from their hunting trip. Iroh was crouched before a red and white flower and had been studying it for the past 15 minutes, "Uncle?" Lillian spoke, "hmmm?" Iroh replied as he stroked his beard but before Lillian could ask her question Kasai had returned with Zuko following right behind. Kasai nudged Lillian as he placed a half eaten Bat-hound at her feet. Lillian's face turned green at the site before her, "uh... thanks boy." Lillian said as she stroked Kasai's fin, "But I don't eat...uh dogs?" Lillian stated as she slowly kicked the Bat-hound away. Kasai gulped down the last bite before making his way to sit beside Iroh, "I didn't find anything to eat. I can't live like this. I wasn't meant to be a fugitive." Zuko said as he stumbled out of the bushes. Lillian shrugged her shoulders and looked back at Iroh as Zuko kicked the ground in frustration, "This is impossible!" Zuko exclaimed as he threw his hands up in the air. Iroh sniffed the red and white flower which caused Lillian to raise her brow, "Uncle... what are you doing?" Lillian asked as she stepped forward. Zuko stood beside Lillian as he tried to look over his uncle's shoulder, "You're looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking! That, or it's the white jade bush, which is poisonous." Iroh said as he stroked his beard, "Uncle... You tried to may tea out of seaweed. Let's not risk anything." Lillian said as she patted his shoulder. Lillian gave Zuko a 'say something look', "We Need food! Not tea, I'm going fishing!" Zuko said causing Iroh to lift his head, "Lillian you should join him!" Iroh said excitedly with stars in his eyes. Lillian gave Iroh an odd look, "Okay?". Lillian shrugged as she fell into step besides Zuko. After the incident at the bath house Lillian had been off towards Zuko despite his many apologies, 'Lillian has distracted me from my destiny long enough! It's time she goes back home!' Zuko's voice echoed in her mind. Zuko found a long stick and began sharpening the edge, "We can use this to catch the fish." Zuko said in-between strikes. Lillian stood on the river bank with her back towards Zuko. Lillian baked in the small stream of sunlight that came through the tree tops, "yeah yeah." Lillian hummed. Zuko rolled his eyes before skipping along the rocks that led to the middle of the river. Lillian watched as Zuko began searching for the fish. Lillian began removing her clothes so that she was only in her warrior wrap and fighting tights. Zuko was so focused on his fishing technique that he didn't even notice Lillian climbing the rocks by the waterfall, "Hey Lilly, do you mind shocking the wat-" Zuko stopped in his sentence when he noticed the pile of Lillian's clothes on the floor, "Over here." Lillian called from on top of the water fall. The moment Zuko's eyes fell on her body he felt his blush burn on his face, "what are you doing?" Zuko asked as he tried to look away. Lillian just gave him a small smile before she dove off the edge into the crystal clear water below, "Lilly!!! Your scaring all the fish away!" Zuko yelled as he tried to strike two fish. Lillian let out a small giggle as Zuko nearly lost his balance, "What's so funny? I'm trying to get us food for tonight!" Zuko yelled. Lillian dove down to the bottom of the river and swam along the floor slowly. Lillian moved so slow that the fish began swimming around her peacefully. Zuko watched in amazement as Lillian's long hair flowed around her shimmering in the sun light like a wild yellow flame. As Zuko leaned over to watch the fish his foot slipped off the rock causing him to loose his balance. Lillian watched Zuko's figure from below the water and tried to swim away before he could fall on her. Zuko jumped out of the water and began hitting the water, "Stupid Fish! Stupid water! Stupid fishing pole!" Zuko ranted as he threw the stick on the shore. Lillian rolled her eyes as she followed him out, "Oh relax will you. It's your fault that you fell in and scared the fish away." Lillian said as she used her bending to dry her body. Lillian said as she used her bending to dry her body. Zuko pushed passed Lillian picked up his fishing pole and tried again. Lillian placed her hands on her hips, "If you keep rolling your eyes at me I'm going to pop them out!" Lillian said irritated. Zuko plunged his stick into the water and pulled out a small fish the size of a tea cup. Zuko stared at the fish for a brief second before Lillian burst out laughing, "Oh! That's going to fill me up and I'm sure Uncle will get full to!" Lillian said in-between giggles, "Well I don't see you trying to help me?!?!" Zuko growled as he tossed the fish on the side. Lillian cracked her fingers, "You want help? Okay then..." Lillian said as she closed her eyes and stood in a meditating form. Lillian's mind cleared as she picture her body absorbing all the heat around her. Zuko watched carefully as Lillian's breathing paused. Suddenly Lillian's eyes shot open and she took a stance similar to a water bending form and began pulling towards her body. Zuko raised his brow in confusion, "What are yo-" Zuko's breath got caught when he felt the air around him become cold. Lillian kept repeating her form, pushing and pulling was the only movement she made. Suddenly three large fish floated to the surface of the water. Zuko's eyes widened in shock as he collected the fish in the water. Lillian relaxed her stance and stared at the water, "There you go." Lillian said as she wiped the sweat from her head. Lillian collected her clothes and began walking back towards Iroh, "Lilly! What was that?" Zuko asked as he caught up to her, "How did you do that? W-what did you do?" Zuko asked slowly. Lillian stopped in her tracks and looked at the three large fish floated to the surface of the water. Zuko's eyes widened in shock as he collected the fish in the water. Lillian relaxed her stance and stared at the water, "There you go." Lillian said as she wiped the sweat from her head. Lillian collected her clothes and began walking back towards Iroh, "Lilly! What was that?" Zuko asked as he caught up to her, "How did you do that? W-what did you do?" Zuko asked slowly. Lillian stopped in her tracks and looked at the three fish, "I absorbed the heat from the river and it's surroundings. Like all living things need oxygen to survive... Many things need heat too and without heat or fire, there is no life." Lillian said before turning on her heels. Zuko was amazed at Lillian's technique.
Lillian and Zuko had finally returned to Iroh and at their arrival Lillian noticed that Kasai was hissing at Iroh, "Lillian, Zuko, remember that plant that I thought might be tea?" Iroh said slowly. Lillian's eyes widened as Zuko stood closer, "You didn't!" Zuko said horrified. Iroh turned to face the two fire benders to reveal his red, swollen face which he is scratching, " I did.And it wasn't." iroh said as he continued to scratched in all different positions, "EEP!" Lillian screeched as she stepped back, "When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing." Iroh stops scratching for a moment and held out a branch with red berries, "But look what I found! These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade plant. That, or macahoni berries that cause blindness." Iroh said as he inspected the berries. Zuko stepped forward and snatched the berries out of Iroh's hands and tossed it to the side, "We're not taking any more chances with these plants! We need to get help." Zuko said impatiently. Lillian swatted Iroh's hands as he tried to scratch, "But where are we going to go? We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom, and fugitives from the Fire Nation." Iroh said as he tried not to scratch. Lillian straightened herself, "If the Earth Kingdom, discovers us, they'll have us killed." Zuko said as he held his chin, "But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula." Lillian said calmly. All three benders looked at each other before nodding, "I vote earth kingdom." Lillian said as she raised her hand. The trio climbed onto Kasai and made their way to the closest earth kingdom.
"You three must not be from around here. We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it." the young nurse said as she applied ointment to Iroh. Lillian smiled as Iroh sheepishly laughed at himself, "So where are you traveling from?" The nurse asked. Zuko suddenly straightened his body at her question, "Yes, we're travelers." Zuko said nervously. Lillian choked on her laugh as Zuko tried to give her a death glare, "Do you have names?" The nurse asked. Zuko hesitated at her question which allowed Lillian to speak, "My name is L-" "LOTUS! My uh- cousin" Zuko exclaimed, "And this is my Uncle Mushi and My name is Lee!" Zuko said in a rush. Both Lillian and Iroh gave Zuko an unhappy look before Iroh got a sly smile on his face, "Lotus is just our nickname for my daughter, her full name is Kohana and My nephew was named after his father so we just call him junior." Iroh said as he grinned at Zuko. Lillian held her hand over her mouth as she giggled at Zuko balling a fist at Iroh, "Mushi, Kohana and Junior, huh? My name is Song. You three look like you could use a good meal. Why don't you stay for dinner" Song offered hopefully, "Sorry, but we need to be moving on." Zuko said as he looked over at Lillian. Song shrugged her shoulder's, "That's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck." Song said gaining Iroh's attention, "Where do you live, exactly?" Iroh asked. Lillian smiled at Song and thanked her for the offer as Zuko just left the sick room.
Lillian, Iroh and Zuko all sat around the tabled at Song's home. Song's mother came to sit after placing down the food, "My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves." Song's mom said. Lillian nodded at the woman, "When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father." Song said sadly. Lillian watched Zuko's face to be hurt at the thought, " I haven't seen my father in many years. " Zuko said as he looked at Lillian. Lillian gave Zuko a small smile, "Oh. Is he fighting in the war?" Song asked as she dished their plates, "yeah..." Zuko answered Softly. Once dinner was finished Lillian left to release Kasai so that he could go hunt in the nearby forest. When Lillian returned she found Zuko and Song sitting outside in the porch. Song lifted her dress revealing a fire bending scar. Lillian watch as Zuko's face fell with shock, 'Welcome to the real world Zuko' Lillian thought as she approached Zuko after Song went back inside, "You okay?" Lillian asked as she sat beside him, "Yeah." Zuko whispered. Lillian pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees, "You know... Our people have hurt so many people... Do you, do you ever think that were fighting for the wrong cause?" Lillian asked as she was deep in thought. Zuko didn't respond to Lillian's question until she took a deep breath and continued, "I love my nation... and I love the people but the rest of the world doesn't, so what are we fighting for?" Lillian asked, "enough Lilly..." Zuko said as he stood and returned inside leaving Lillian alone on the porch.
Lillian, Zuko and Iroh stood outside Song's house, "Thank you for the duck. It was excellent." Iroh said as he and Lillian bowed, "You're welcome.It brings me joy to see someone eat my cooking with such... gusto." Song's mother said as she handed Iroh some food for the road. Zuko began walking ahead of them, "Much practice.Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people." Zuko stopped and turned around and bowed at Song and her mother, "Thank you" Zuko said in a whisper, "I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!" song said quickly. Lillian looked over at her friend, "I know..." Zuko said as he continued to walk away. Lillian bowed once more before climbing onto Kasai waiting for Zuko and Iroh to follow. Once everyone was on Kasai jogged off into the moonlight, "So... Where to now?" Lillian asked as she tightened her hands around the reins, "Forward... We keep moving forward." Iroh said as he patted Zuko's shoulder, Lillian nodded at Iroh's statement. Lillian felt Zuko's grasp tighten around her waist, "We'll go home soon..." Lillian whispered as she placed her hand over Zuko's on her waist.
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Kohana means - Little flower.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
I love reading all your funny comments, guess I can't kill Lillian now? you seem to like her?
Vote and comment please!
Haha just kidding. She stays until the end.
Darkninja