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[siyuki]

Siyuki was still running, even after they had got out of the forest into the barren roads. Lin was right with her, and they were both tired.

There she saw her own home town, it's small walls still being built to protect them from another attack. Siyuki sighed with relief. She was almost home. They were safe now.

But.....oh, wow! Would her Aunt be upset! She had just told her she'd be gone for an hour, maybe a little more. It was late afternoon now. How was she going to explain all that happened? Siyuki sighed. She'd figure that out when she got there. But for now, she was thankful she was able to get home.

But what of the others? She wished she knew what happened to them. It was painful seeing people and then watching them disspaear into fire.

Siyuki sat down against the wall, breathing heavily. "Well," she said quietly and tiredly, "This is it."

[sakurako]

A pair of golden eyes regarded the girl before the human spoke. "What is it?" She asked in a skeptical manner. Sakurako was a curious woman, which often lead her to trouble, but it was just a little kid. She couldn't bother her much, barely hurt her. She emerged from the dark of the alley slowly.

In truth, she was bored. As a traveler, she didn't exactly see much. It was all about seeing the world, but there were never any people who she ran into. A sad fact, it was, and sometimes she seemed rude when she pryed for information from random strangers. Sakurako wasn't trying to seem like a stalker, just a possible ally, or friend. There were too many enemies in the world.

Suddenly realizing she had spoken in a semi-odd way, she shook her head, averting her gaze. "I'm sorry if that sounded odd, I'm just bored. My name's Sakurako." She said with a kind smile. "May I ask your name?" The woman said meekly, hoping not to sound demanding again.

[chinagirl7594]

Lin leaned her back against the wall, tired. She was thankful that she actually got out of there alive.

Well? Happy you nearly got yourself killed? The voices said.

Shut up, if it weren't for you screaming in my head, I would've thought a way out of there sooner! Lin thought angrily. The voices then, stayed silent.

...Hello? You guys still in there? Once again, no response. Have they finally left Lin alone? She wanted to jump for joy, but she thought that Siyuki would think she's completely lost her mind. Lin snapped out of her little moment stood up straight, and looked up at the strange person. She decided to wait until Siyuki spoke to her first, because Lin wasn't much of a speaker. Speaking included getting attention, and Lin hated it when she gets attention. She leaned back against the wall. Her bow made a clank sound when her back hit the wall.

[siyuki]

Siyuki looked up at Sakurako. She had goldish kind of eyes. Wait, gold eyes? She was from the Fire Nation! Siyuki sighed. No more fire... she thought wearily. She'd had enough for a lifetime.

But this woman didn't seem so bad. So Siyuki decided to try talking.

"No need to apologise, M'am." she said calmly, though not so comfortably. She took a deep breath; her breathing pattern was turning back to normal. "My name is Siyuki."

She turned to Lin.

"I think we should get to my house," she said, "That way we can rest up, and have something to eat." Though, the thought of the others still rung in the back of her head.

They're probably OK, she thought, trying to cheer herself up. Though, the forest could still have firebenders in it. She sighed; she was always so pessimistic.

[sakurako]

She blinked, her eyes turning to another girl in the alleyway, looking exhausted and rather beaten-up. She raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was alright, when she suddenly sat up, staring at her. Feeling awkward, the woman looked back to Siyuki, who had spoken. Getting home? Saku doubted she was invited.

"Pleased to meet you, Siyuki." Sakurako thought it would be impolite to pry for information about their situation, so she remained quiet and observative. A twinge of pity flowed through her when she realized the kids must live in this broken city. Everything here was destroyed, filled with families who had no where else to make a life for themselves. It was sad to walk through the streets of the dead city.

She glanced back at the two girls, waiting for one of them to say something--anything, worthwhile. It was odd, just standing there while there seemed to be a lot of emotion running through both of them. She felt like there was this plot already in action, and the woman of Fire Nation heritage was simply watching it from the sidelines.

[chinagirl7594]

Lin looked at Sakurako's eyes and realized they belonged to fire nation.

Great, more fire nation... just what I needed after nearly getting killed in a fire...

Lin sighed. "My name is Lin, and if you're wondering this, 'what the heck is a water tribe girl doing around here?!', it's because I have my reasons." Then she turned to Siyuki.

"Sure, fine with me." She said calmy, while keeping her patience at a clean level, knowing that Sakurako was fire nation. Clearly, Lin thought they were to blame for her mother's disappearance and her father going out to help in the war. She had her hands behind her back, and one gripping the bow made of bamboo. Her mother passed it down to her from a few generations back, right before she disappeared. Then, Lin thought about the others.

...I know Xia Feng is safe, along with Tarak, Midori and Mesheiko are probably fine, but what of Ishi Toku? She thought. He was one of the people who saved her from a bunch of firebenders back in the woods, then she remembered the other earthbender who saved her. What became of him? Did he follow them into the woods? Lin still didn't know his name, but thought it didn't really matter right now. That was all in the past, and Lin doesn't look back there too often.

[siyuki]

Lin seemed cautious of the firebender as well. She must've had a bad experience too, Siyuki thought, Well, besides the forest we almost died in. Siyuki stood up; her strength was coming back.

She stumbled.

Well, mostly coming back.

Siyuki then looked at Sakurako. "Pleased to meet you as well, Ma'am." she said. What was a firebender doing near Tach Dai anyway? It was strange. So many people there had a grudge against fire, a firebender there by themself was like asking to get hard looks and threatening glares. Not pretty, not pretty at all.

Siyuki took a deep breath. She couldn't believe she wasn't just going to walk away. I should she thought, I should just keep going and get home, but her feet wouldn't listen.

"Sakurako, um, Ma'am?" she asked, "Are you, by any chance, lost?"

She was being nosy; that's what almost got her killed. But, she was home now, and some how she felt safer in the partially-decrepid town.

[sakurako]

Her head swiveled to Lin. Wow, what a rude kid. No need to be so hostile. Then it clicked. Oh, so they thought that she would burn them to a crisp just because she looked like a Fire Nation woman? Not so much. She only blinked at her, not sure how to reply to her, er, comment. Luckily, Siyuki had spoken, giving her a distraction.

"Lost?" She echoed with a faint smile. "I'm never lost, because I don't ever have a destination." The woman replied calmly, unphased by the hatred zinging off of the two. She then spoke yet again. "Look, you two, you don't need to be rude or hesitant with talking to me just because I look differently. Obviously you were never taught to never judge people based on how they look."

She observed in a firm, yet corteous manner. Her pet peeve was when people judged her because of what she looked like, but she rarely showed her anger, especially not in front of these little kids. She took a silent, deep breath in and out to calm herself. What did they know, they were just a couple of arrogant kids, right? She blinked, breaking the silence once more. "I think I shall leave now if I seem to bother both of you so much." She said, narrowing her eyes and turning to go, pausing to hear any reply from them.

[chinagirl7594]

Lin stayed silent, as usual. The reason she sounded so rude to Sakurako was, of course, she looked fire nation to Lin. But the fire nation almost killed her brother and sister as well, if her teacher, Kita, didn't protect them...

Why should I even care about my ignorant brother anyhow? She thought. He never cared about me, he only made fun of me, and that's all he ever did... Lin felt like crying while staring at the ground, but she held back the tears. I wouldn't care for that excuse of a human being even if my life depended on it! Her head was tilted down-wards, like she always does.

"Look, seeing Fire Nation people brings back certain memories," She said solemnly, still head down. "Memories that tears your family apart, one-by-one. And memories with one of your family members treating you like dirt... “ Saying that nearly made Lin's eyes fill up with tears, but she closed her eyes to keep that from happening. But the tears were beginning to gather deep inside her, bringing back the misery she suffered years before.

[siyuki]

Siyuki put her hand on Lin's shoulder. The girl was silent. Lin always seemed to be silent; she must think a lot, Siyuki thought, maybe about her past...

Siyuki knew exactly how the girl felt, though. She could remember the day when her father and mother dissapeared into the fire, and never came out. She remembered the town be burned down, and the fire soldiers ruthlessly burning any thing, or person in their path.

It made her shiver. But mostly, it made her angry. Look differently?! Siyuki thought, aggitated. Siyuki took a deep breath, but it wasn't enough to make her anger go away.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," she said, trying her composure, "But I was just curious. There aren't many firebenders around here, and surely you can understand why."

Her teacher told her not to show extreme emotion, and she truly tried to follow her master's teachings.

"Take a look around," she said bitterly as she looked into the entrance of the city, "Broken families and homes, not exactly pituresque, is it?"

She then turned red; how could she speak in such a manner to a stranger! She sighed.

"I apologise." she said, though for some reason, she didn't feel so sorry.....

[sakurako]

The woman did not turn as she listened to them speak. First Lin she listened to. "So what? Instead of lingering on the past, look to the future, and leave your fears behind. Don't base judgement off of others." She said plainly. Her pet peeve was when people gave her looks, snickered at her for looking like a Fire Nation woman.

But she wasn't! Sakurako was an independant woman, and she was not one of those killers from the land of fire. So why were people so stupid? Why did they judge her? They always made excuses, just like the two kids. "Oh, I've had a terrible experience, blah blah blah..." Well, Sakurako wasn't envolved in their bad experiences. They made it seem like she was the one who had brought the pain upon them. She narrowed her eyes at the thought. Idiots, all of them.

Then the courteous Siyuki spoke, calm and collected. But then her tone changed suddenly. Hm, a bitter and unforgiving tone. "Don't speak to me that way." She snapped. "I did nothing to create those 'broken families' of which you speak. And I have no relations with the nation that might have brought it upon them." She hissed, her voice aggitated and angry now. At her last words, she whipped around, glaring at her. "Don't apologize. You're not sorry for anything. Both of you still think I'm worse, just because I look like this!" She snapped, pointing at her face, not taking her burning eyes off of Siyuki.

[chinagirl7594]

FYI, I don't care. Whatever, how'd I get here in the first place? I didn't really want to be here anyhow. Lin thought to herself. Nobody tells me what to do about my life. Nobody tells me to forget things, and absolutely nobody bosses me around... After how Sakurako just treated Siyuki and herself, Lin felt like attacking Sakurako like a wild animal.

Who cares if I'm a shrimpy, annoying, and rude little 13-year-old, I have my reasons why I get mad at people. She thought angrily.

Keep your physical self in peace, and keep your mind in peace. The voices said.

Great, they're back...shut up and leave me alone. She thought.

Either you deal with it, or you can die a horrible death. The voices said. Lin sighed within her head.

Fine, what the heck do you want from me now...?

Keep yourself at peace, and stay silent. Angering each other in this conversation only makes matters worse. The voices said. Lin started thinking in a mocking tone.

'Keep yourself at peace' whatever... Lin thought angrily. Lin kept her head down, but her blood was boiling from how angry she was right now. She obviously doesn't care about this situation anymore, she just wanted to take her anger out on someone as soon as possible.

[siyuki]

Siyuki couldn't take this any longer. She felt her blood boiling, her face turning warm. She didn't care anymore: she felt sick and angry, nearly as angry as seeing those soldiers talk to them as though they were lower.

And Siyuki wouldn't take any superiority complexes from anyone anymore.

"Maybe I shouldn't be sorry!" Siyuki spat, her voice shaking. "I try to ask if you if you're lost, and you snap at me! And I may be a coward, but I have a good reason to be skiddish around fire, and firebenders! And I don't know where you've been, but in case you couldn't tell, there's a war going on!

"And try telling these people to get over their past! You don't know how hard they've worked to try and rebuild their home, and live without the ones they love! But moving on is easier said than done, Miss Sakurako!"

She breathed again, to try and stop the tears.

"Maybe you should take your own advice, about not judging people by first glance, because these people have seen family members burned alive, alive, right in front of their eyes! Their homes burned down, and everything they once had- gone."

Tears were streaming now, but she didn't care. She couldn't stop them, and she was too angry to try.

"So don't you dare tell me, or any of these people to not "linger in the past" like you're better! Because for most of them.....the past is all they have........."

Siyuki sighed. She felt awful. Not only angry at fire, and Sakurako, but herself.

She put her other hand on Lin's shoulder. Lin's head was down, she was quiet again.

"Lin, are you OK?" Siyuki asked softly, in a surprising contrast to her mood not to long ago. Lin was nice and all, but sometimes Siyuki worried about the girl.

[sakurako]

The woman watched them burst out at her like angered beasts. Well, they deserved everything she snapped at them. If everyone held onto the past, no one would exist in the future. She could have killed them, like a Fire Nation soldier would, but that was just the thing; she wasn't a Fire Nation soldier. With a scowl, she leaned against the wall of the nearest building.

"Both of you are too young to understand the complexity of this thing we call the world. But I expected you both to understand not to hold your hatred up inside you. If you choose not to leave your anger and hatred behind now, then it will forever consume you, and even long after this hundred year war is over, you shall still have a heavy and hardened soul."

She explained. Maybe if she sympathized with the kids, they would understand. She sighed silently, preparing herself. Saku seldom shared her past with many, but it was worth it this time. "My only family was killed by the Fire Nation. Yet I hold no hatred towards them." She explained. It had taken her years, a decade, maybe, to accept that the past was over and that the whole nation was not responsible for their deaths. "I know how it feels, I do, but you need to let go." Her voice was pleading now, desperate to show them the light. "If you hold on, eventually it will cling to you, and you'll never feel happy again." She said, imagining how she had felt after she had fled from her town.

[chinagirl7594]

Oh, first snapping at me, now a lecture? What's next, lessons about how to fly?! Lin thought angrily.

Pfft, you're not my teacher, lady... She thought. Sometimes Lin hated the fact that teachers have to boss her around, and how she always has to listen to them.

God, you're such a stubborn brat... The voices said.

Shut up, damn it! Lin yelled in her head. Nobody tells me what to do unless I want them to!

This is why we're in your head, because you never listen and you don't make the right choices!

Well, this is my choice. Though in her eyes Lin didn't look like she was angry, but she was burning inside.

Why don't you just leave me alone, why doesn't anyone leave me alone?! I want to know why I can't be left alone when I want to! She shouted angrily inside herself. Then, she couldn't hear anything.

Damn it, She thought again. They left me alone again, well, actually it's a good thing now. The only problem now is being left alone in the physical world... For now, in her own little mental world, she was alone. But, she still listened to what Sakurako had to say, quietly, even though Lin didn't quite think the information would be useful to her...