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I was finally able to rest. We stopped in a deserted area by a beautiful flowing waterfall. The grass was the brightest shade of green, the water was crystal blue and the white fog that hovered just above the basin gave the impression of a cloud holding all children’s dreams for safe-keeping and to keep pure. I wondered if my dreams were in there... I hadn’t had them in so long. Ambition and fierce determination shattered my innocent dreams long ago.

Lying down on the plush, soft earth, every muscle in my back relaxes from their normal tense state. All pain in my body draining out from every pore. I could feel the suns warm on the different parts of my body that it was able to touch through the breaks and holes of the foliage above. It burned through my clothes and skin, straight to my core that kept me alight with not only fire, but life.

Hearing a loud splashing sound, I knew Uncle had gone into the stream to wash off and cool down from our run. How is it that when I lived in the lap of luxury and was only exiled, I was more tense and scared than now when I’m now seen as a criminal and on the run. I’m... relaxed... calm and for once... my thoughts are serene, not filled with violence or malicious acts that could break many laws of the four different nations.

“You should come on in Prince Zuko! The water is great!”

“No thanks, Uncle.”

“Come on, I know we both stink!” He let out a jiggily laugh.

I let a small contented smile grace my thin lips as I listened to Uncle’s happy but terrible singing. Singing that was so bad that birds were wanting to throw fruit at him.

Slowly, my eyes closed and I let a long awaited, well-deserved nap over-take my conscious being. A dark calm washed over me before the familiar yet vague nightmares followed in the calm’s wake; making a destructive path throughout my imagination and acting solely upon subconscious thought.

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The ningns voice sounded like one of those damned ‘dog whistles’ as Yuusuke called it. Botan said they were Makai whistles that used spirit energy to call demons out. Either way, it was as annoying as listening to harpy squabbles. Why are these damned animals tainting my water? A low growl erupts from the depths of my chest. I knew I should have put up some type of warning sings for trespassers to stay out. Well, no sense in denying myself some water just because of some pathetic ningnes. Jumping down from the shaded tree, I land without a sound and walk over to the stream, thanking Inari that the fatter oaf was already out of my water and it now ran with a clean flow.

The younger one looked about Yuusuke’s age, about his height and build too, but there was something strange and different about these ningens. They weren’t normal. Taking off my katana and cloak, I kneel down and begin to scoop water into my hands, bringing them to my mouth to drink. They didn’t have normal spirit energy... nor demon... it was something familiar, but at the same time too distant to place. Another scoop of water.

Without my knowledge, somehow, the bigger had quickly stoked up a fire and was now drying his wet clothes. Ugh... humans were disgusting...

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“UNCLE! PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!” I shouted, after having cracked one eye open to see what was blocking my sunlight and come to find out it was a full-moon that had risen way to early.

“Well, I have to wait for them to dry.” He said in a somewhat surprised yet childlike manner. I turned over on my side, not wanting to be surprised again myself; but I soon sat back up and looked down the stream with narrowed eyes. Uncle followed my stare to the same target. Who was down there? He looked like a child not even past the age of 10. Was it some rouge kid trying to escape my father’s army? Was there a village near by? He didn’t look to be part of any of the nations, his attire was entirely too different. We only watched as he continued to ignore us as he pulled fish after fish out of the stream. By the accuracy of his technique, he had done this many times before.

“Uncle, do you think he’s a spy?” I asked, thankful that my elder had finally gotten something back on.

“No, he would be much more hidden, even if he was trying to lure us into a false sense of security. But, we had better still keep on our guard, just because he may not know who we are doesn’t give us a right to brag.”

I nodded, listening carefully to my uncle.

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Where the hell is that damned fox? Another low growl escapes me as I pluck the last fish out. He better be here, I don’t want this fish going to waste.

I lick my fingers clean of blood and gore, having speared the fish out of the water with my claws. I look over at the intruders, wish they would leave soon, I would scare them away myself, but I’m already on probation with that ‘toddler’, Koenma.

Kicking some leaves and twigs with bigger sticks into a stone circle, I light up a roaring fire. Looking up, I notice this has caught their attention. I can tell by their strange Ki that they’re a warriorious people. We hold eye contact, the younger one and I. The bigger seems to be the other’s mentor. A relative; I can smell the blood resemblance.

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“He knows who we are Uncle!”

“Now, maybe he just is curious about who we are, remember, you said he could be a rouge, he obviously belongs to none of the Nations.”

“He’s gathering information to relay back to bounty hunters and armies!”

“Now Prince Zuko, think about this. Don’t let your paranoia get the best of you Zuko!”

There was no more room for talking, I sent out burst after burst of fire at the smaller kid, but before I could bring my arms back down, he was gone.

“Where did he go?” I ask, huffing slightly.

“Maybe he is an air-bender, or.... you disintegrated him.”

“This is no time for your jokes Uncle! You know there are no more air-benders!”

“That is what we thought for a hundred years... then we find the avatar...”

My patients was wearing thin. Uncle and his jokes, the kid who could be a spy. How could he tell me not to be paranoid. We had our own Nation looking for us and wanting to prosecute us for being traitors.

Another torrent of fire sent in the direction of a shadow that I swear looked human out of the corner of my good eye. Nothing there... either I was seeing things or this kid was quick.

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Hn. Amateur. I could tell by his movements that he’s had to fend for himself before, but not for long. Even for this type of martial arts, his movements were too rigid. I’m surprised he’s lasted so long, but then again, the bigger buffoon has probably helped him a lot.

They definitely have no demon in them at all, they can’t sense my presence, unless it’s that ningen sense that tells you something’s behind you. Otherwise, they can’t smell me, they’re relying only on their eyes and ears.