The soft breeze flitted through his ruffled dark locks, shivered his loose clothing and caressed his skin. It brought a fresh inhale of crisp air and the somber scent of salt water.

The sand gave politely under his feet, the grain relaxing to his rigid posture. The warm night air would have been soothing…

He was panting hard again.

It seemed that ever since he had set foot in his home nation, he couldn't breathe correctly. It felt like he was drowning, like the air was thick and stifling. The long missed pains for the sight of crimson, white and gold had long turn into pains of suppression.

He missed the gentle rolls of green and amber.

The olive eyes warmed, glinting in the sun from the tilt of her head.

Zuko shuddered, forcing his legs to keep on up the path towards the old and desolate building, looming from the top of the cliff. He wanted to be far away from everything else-- wanted to get off Ember Island. To get away from the Fire Nation…

But his old home would have to do…

"Your temper's out of control. You blow up over every little thing. You're so impatient and hot-headed and angry."

His jaw clenched at the memory of Mai's piercing words. It was the first time she had ever snapped at anything and the thought that the only time she expressed herself was when she was confused with him made him sick. He wanted to scream at her that she didn't even try to understand, that he at least tried to make her happy.

'That's not true.' His mind whispered menacingly.

His eyes dulled, the fury ebbing away at the silent shame. It wasn't true, he hadn't tried at all with Mai. He had done nothing less than pretend to hold her companionship and it had broken them. He had given her no chance to try to understand and his anger had slowly ripped from his inner hold to anything it could reach.

Zuko sighed loudly, the soft sand had long turned into a harder ground and now his bare feet felt the change to smooth marble stone.

He stopped at the entrance, gazing down the entry courtyard of the inner gate towards the large doors of the beach home.

The memories flashed in painful hazes. His father, his mother, his sister…

His family.

He closed his eyes, stepping forward and making his way slowly to the grand house.

His home.

He could remember his father's word of encouragement and the warm hand on his shoulder, his sister's small laughter as she patted her tiny hands on his own, and the gentle hums of his mother as she sang him to sleep.

The door creaked upon and golden eyes gazed calmly over the shadows of the house. The dust flitted in the moonlight and the stench of mold hit him strongly.

Walking inwards, he tried to catch the sweet scent of his mother's perfume, but the smell only came to him in his last memory's of her.

"Zuko--my son, you must wake up!"

He strained his ears to hear Azula's baby giggles, her tiny squeals of delight, but he could only recall her maniacal cackle.

"Why would father let you return? You've failed, you're a traitor to our nation."

He looked around and saw nothing of his father's presence. Nothing of the trailing smoke from his dragon pipe, or the dark form of his tall stance except for the horrifying loom in his mind's eye.

"You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher."

The days that were once spent at Ember Island were now a lifetime ago. Everything in that world had changed and everyone in it. Including him.

His sister was no longer a child and had not been since she had first entered school, perhaps even before that. She had the soul of Azulon now, and the wickedness of Sozin. She would no longer let her honey eyes twinkle at the sight of him or giggle when he made faces. The only childish mirth on her face was now the sadistic smiles of cruelty.

His father was as present as his mother. When Ozai had first began to abandon his family for the madness of power-- Zuko couldn't tell. The man who was once his father, died somewhere in his childhood. The Fire Lord known as Ozai today was someone Zuko had never known the warmth of-- someone who he had tried to believe was his father.

Someone who he was beginning to despise.

It seemed like everyone had changed completely except for his mother. She had tried so hard to keep them together. She had tried to keep Azula happy, tried to comfort her husband, had smiled at him with support…

Then again, she disappeared with the dreams of Ember Island a long time ago.

He wondered what she would think of their happy little family now… if she would still try to nurture her daughter and love her husband. What she would say to him, her precious son, after he had changed so much?

Would she forgive him?

Would she be able to look at him lovingly if she knew all that he had done?

He strained to remember the dark blur of his last sight of her… those soft golden eyes and that pale face…

"Remember this Zuko…No matter how things seem to change, never forget who you are."

But too many things had changed… and he had forgotten.

The dust swirled as he picked up a small clay plate, engraved with the tiny imprint of his hands nearly a decade ago. He placed his fingers against it, wishing for the times when things had been so much easier.

Zuko's amber eyes scanned the shelf of all the lost memories, collecting spider-webs from years of neglect. He felt his breathing grow uneven once more. Nothing helped. Everything he had fought for, everything he had done, was slipping through his fingers and it was all his fault.

And he didn't know why.

His brow furrowed in frustration. This was it, he had won the chance to be normal again. He had achieved his goal, to be accepted back to his father, to his family. To his home.

Why wasn't he happy?

His throat constricted.

His hand shot out, the clay plate falling to shatter loudly on the marble floor, breaking in a cloud of dust and debris. The action was followed by the angry crashes of his hands, shoving everything on the shelf to the floor. The pictures snapping in their wooden tome tapestries, the clay pots breaking near his feet, the brass figurines thudding to the ground and rolling across the surface.

The yell turned into a scream, his knees giving beneath him, hands shooting out to grip the floor.

The pained shout died on his lips to a cracked moan, his body shaking with anger and pain as he kneeled over the destroyed pieces of his life.

'Why..?' he begged silently, 'Why am I so confused?'

"….remember who you are…" His mother whispered.

The fists clenched and hot flames erupted blissfully, eating away at the scattered tapestries beneath it.

He gave out a shaken breathe, "Who am I…?"

The fire licked hungrily across the floor, his eyes shining molten in their shadows. He watched the heat burn away at the ink faces of his family, his nation's symbol, and the royal crest.

The figurine of a dragon burned black under his gaze, an old wood carving smoldering to ash. The clay pots blazed, melting as he urged the fire on, to rid the sight of the sorrowful past away from his eyes.

The flames greedily ripped apart the mold and curled the tips of the dead flower's leaves.

He sighed as it began to burn everything away….

An angry spark shot from near his hand, his reflexes snapping to bend the fire into the snapping flames to protect himself as it hissed wildly, backfiring into its master.

His gaze widened and he pulled the fire back desperately and it smoked into air, dissolving in his command.

But the snapping flame near the shattered vase stayed, the orange fire heating to a burst of white. Zuko's mouth parted slightly in wonder, drawing a bit closer as the white flames slowly swirled and red erupted from it's center.

The blood color unfolded, branching out, and soon another followed, and then another.

And it was only when the red had stilled, embers still glowing around it, that Zuko realized it was one of the dead flowers.

"The Fire Blossom…" he whispered quietly.

"You forget nephew that the red Fire Blossom lives only in extreme heat. Only from pure Firebending will it bloom amongst its green leaves."

He shivered, the sound of his Uncle's lyrical voice bringing unwelcome shame. His hand reached out hesitantly, before scooping the brightly glowing rose into his palm.

It fit perfectly, cradled in his fingers, and almost floated in the remnants of his heat. He could see the licking flames emanate from it, but it was strangely cool on his skin.

Like her hand.

His eyes blinked hard, throat heavy, and he let the thoughts of her finally flood through him after the weeks of denial.

The beautiful olive smiling gently from beneath those wisps of hair, her hand in his and a smile urging him on. The green of her dress fluttering in the warm sun, and her laugh gracing his ears. The sweet sound of her voice…

"Zuko…"

"Oh Agni…" He whispered as he remembered those last moments. Her desperate screams and the tears streaking down her pale cheeks.

"Please-- you don't have to do this--you were happy!"

He had hit her, had burned her. She had begged him to listen and after all she had done, he had burned her.

She had told him she loved him.

He had accepted her, lied to her, used her…

…and burned her.

Zuko groaned, his eyes shutting tightly and fists clenching, fingers unintentionally crushing the blossom in his hold.

The Firebender hurriedly realized his mistake, shocked to find the flower had wilted once more in his palm, blackened and dead.

He shuddered and his fingers quickly curled, the flame spouting on his shaky breath to envelop the plant again.

The petals burst red from the white hot heat and when settled, cooled his senses.

"It's okay… I forgive you." She whispered, taking his hand, that shy smile looking at him… really looking at him-- Zuko, the Prince of the Fire Nation, and loving him despite it.

His eyes warmed.

He sat there, extinguishing the flower and reviving it brilliantly once more, wishing everything could have been as easy as this was… and hoping that his burns had not killed her…

----

She wondered if the moon was always golden in the Fire Nation.

Jin's finger's were reached out in the night sky, tracing the lines of the glowing orb.

The day had gone by lazily and quite happily. They had all exhausted themselves into sweet oblivion, having found the crater of water a great spot to relax and for a glimpsing chance, be children once more in the times of war.

Aang and Sokka had spent most of the day trying to find crevices and cliffs to slide into the great spring, while the girls had treated themselves to relaxing in the sun, bathing and some light training.

They had laughed heartily at everyone's pranks and Sokka's poor jokes (much to Toph's teasing chagrin) and were burned out from a well spent day.

Honestly, it had been wonderful.

But sleep had not been as delightful.

She had dreamt the same repeat of scenes for days on end and tonight was no exception.

Jin sighed, turning from the moon to walk the high wall of the crater. She had made it up there on a whim. It had been hours since she had awoken in a start and, not feeling up to going back to those nightmares, she had decided to take a walk.

The high cliffs gave her a fantastic view of the far off rolling mountains of the Nation's tremulous terrain, and the vast starry sky of the night. The air was crisp and cool against her newly sun tanned skin and she smiled at the light feeling it gave as it flitted through her loose dress and hair.

Much more enjoyable than the bitter tears of her dreams, and the cold ice of those stranger's eyes.

Her heart stung dully at the memory, but it no longer wept. She was past that now…

Jin blinked, looking down at her feet as she walked, her body feeling hollow.

She was happy today-- happy with everyone…but it was at these times alone that she realized it did not matter.

He had burned everything away until the only thing left of her was detached and nearly lifeless.

She could still recall the heat of his hands, his eyes, his lips…

But it was heat from someone else, she knew. It was a lie, all of it. Even when her heart begged that it had been real.

It had to have been.

The green eyes narrowed bitterly, but no angry words formed in her head, and she trudged on.

The wind was getting harder now and at this height she would be shivering soon. She started back the way she came, heading towards the dark shape of a boulder, near the crevice that would lead the way back down.

A flash of light caught her eye, glinting in the moonlight.

She titled her head, barely able to make out the shape of a figure when suddenly--

The explosion shook the rim and her legs gave, her body smacking to the ground as the rocks trembled. A blaze of heat streaked in front of her and illuminated the entire crater, hot flames exploding in the camp and carrying a thick cloud of black smoke and rubble into the air.

She gave out a yell, eyes wide and heart slamming in her chest.

Katara…Sokka… they had all been down there…

Just as her mind began to panic, a huge boulder shot from the far ground and she watched in awe as it slammed the rim, once more shaking the ground. Her hands gripped the earth, feet trying to gain stability as her mind heaved in relief.

That must have been Toph--

Another hot stream of light--- another bang of debris.

Jin could smell ash on the air, and while her mind whispered to get up-- to run-- to get down-- she heard yells from the ground, yells from the others.

Snapping her head up she looked around, spotting that flash of gleam and the illuminated figure of the intruder, large and opaque in the darkness.

She stood hurriedly and before registering exactly what she was doing, began to charge.

The attacker heaved a massive inhale before pushing out, the jet of light emblazoning the sky and shadowing his terrible face. The ground quivered from the explosion and she barely escaped a fatal trip.

Her heart hammering in her chest, she focused solely on the giant form, pumping her legs as fast as the would take her. Instincts drove her, thoughts scattered and a painful fear in her throat.

He inhaled-- and so did she.

Jin leapt, her knees bending as she threw her shoulder forward, arm extending and fist slamming agonizingly with the man's thick head. It went in slow motion before her eyes, but then the pain erupted in her fingers, the thick shoulder's of the attacker pressing on her knee, and everything sped up.

His inhale was choked from his breath, angry black eyes widening in the surprise attack of the unknown girl, his hand came up as she began to pass him in the air, metal fist grasping her wrist.

Her scream of pain was cut off as her body pulled backward, directed like a rag doll in his metal grip. She was released into the ground with a slam, dragging through the dirt as she rolled. Skidding to a halt with hot tears in her eyes, she gasped for air.

The nerves shot through her feet in seconds as she realized there was nothing there to hold her--

She began to fall.

She screamed, hands shooting out to scramble over the rocks and clutch desperately.

Jin caught and swung precariously, her legs kicking until they gained hold. She panted heavily, fear taking her as she felt the pain in her limbs and the sticky blood from her newly ripped hands.

Another explosion came from above, shaking the earth and blowing dust and rubble down the side. She gripped for dear life, shutting her eyes as the dirt came tumbling down.

She slid an inch.

She yelled again, but it was cut off by another explosion.

Her fingers slid, blood slipping through the grips. Her foot dug into the ground and her mind raced as her heart pumped.

Her eyes shut once more, before opening slowly. Her breath came out nothing more than the slightest whisper. "Zuko…"

The mountain shook, she lost the hold, and fell.

The whoosh of air was mind numbing, the whistle loud in her ears, the feeling in her body hollow and then suddenly, she slammed onto something, her body erupting in pain and a yell of protest in her throat.

"Giggles!" A voice called from somewhere near her.

"Katara, fly Appa up towards Aang, we got her!" Another voice called from above her.

"Appa, yip yip!"

The voices came loud and rushed, her eyes blinking dazedly in the night sky and all she saw was the gold of the moon, before the knocked wind from her body took her mind and she slipped into unconsciousness.

-----------

Oh no! I killed her!

Lolz.

Sorry for not completely rewriting Beach but uh-- we know what happens and yada yada yada. So next up is some good ol' Sokka time with Jin in The Firelord and the Avatar, and I'll be nice and throw some angry Zuzu in there.

And while I appreciate and am grateful for your reviews and encouragement (seriously, sometimes I feel my heart turn to warm fluff) You guys HAVE TO TRUST ME! I love you all, but the pms about it being a non-zukojin story gotta stop. I made this story--not to be a sappy piece of crap, but a good believable piece for all us zujin lovers. If I just throw in some lovey dovey goo, everyone will be happy for a good minute before you feel dissatisfied and anti-climatic. And then later you'll be all, "well that sucked." And it will get really boring.

So just trust me alright? I know what I'm doing, and you'll be thanking me later. Its just like the time in star wars where luke learns the force and your all, "Can we pleeasse just see some light saber fights?" Or in twilight when Edward disappears for months and we have a bunch of bella by herself and you skip ahead to see when he comes back. Or even in harry potter when theres all that lying around waiting for malfoy to get in gear in the sixth book and your all "wheres all the magic, dammit!?" Even Avatar had those times. (what was all that 'wheres Aang' and 'sealion' crap in the last and most important episodes?)

It sucks (I know, I mean I have to write the boring stuff, how do ya think I feel?) but its oh so very important for the biiiig moments later on. And if you want to see those big moments, you'll read quietly like good little reviewers (pats your head) heheh.

But if I satisfy you know, we'll both regret it. So just sit tight, and I'll treat you to some amazing fights to keep you distracted. If you want, I'll even skip the puppet master all together.

Here's a hint; I LOVE Combustion man and its about time we made him personal.

See ya then! Loves ya all!

Inspired by Darren Hayes for Zuko and Pendulum's Propane Nightmares for Jin's fight.