It didn't take too long for the three fugitives to find more appropriate clothing, though of the three of them Kouji looked the most natural. This was most likely due to his having spent his entire life in the Earth Kingdom, colonist or not. Even better, chasing after his sister constantly from the age of seven on had left him well-versed in local flora and fauna, and he was more than willing to use this knowledge to help them stay fed while they were on the run.

Of course, it took him a week to convince Iroh and Zuko to let him go off to forage.

Kouji had just finished his foraging run when he ran into Zuko down at the river. "Any luck?" he asked the prince.

"No." The prince had caught one (very small) fish. He did not look very happy.

Fortunately for his ego, Kouji didn't laugh. "Yeah, the fishing seems kinda bad in this area. Wonder why." He'd taken off his shirt and had it bundled around something.

"...What's that?"

Kouji grinned happily. "Berries!" he exclaimed, opening his shirt. There was a goodly pile in there, enough to sate a man's hunger — but split three ways, it was a meagre amount.

Zuko nodded. "At least one of us found something," he muttered.

"We'll find better fishing soon," Kouji said encouragingly as they approached the camp.

"Yeah," the older boy said, not sounding entirely convinced.

The younger just grinned irrepressibly back at him and walked to Iroh.

The old man was sitting crosslegged on the ground, his back to them. "Zuko," he said, sounding slightly sheepish. "Remember that plant I thought might be tea?"

"....You didn't."

Kouji blinked. "Plant? What plant?"

Rather than answering, Iroh turned around. "I did. And it wasn't."

Kouji stared at him. "White jade? You made tea out of white jade!?"

Iroh nodded, scratching himself.

Zuko made a disgusted noise. "He thought it might be white dragon or something instead."

"Damn it, General!" Kouji said, exasperated. "If you're not certain, don't eat it. And wait for me."

"But look what I found!" Iroh said, eagerly, pulling his scratching stick out from behind his back. It had two clusters of berries on it. "These are bakui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade plant. That, or makaole berries, that cause blindness." He stared thoughtfully at the branch, which Zuko snatched from him before he could do anything else stupid.

"We're not taking any more chances with these plants!"

Kouji took the branch from Zuko and looked closely. "Makaole," he said, shaking his head.

Zuko sighed. "We need to get help," he said, somewhat resignedly.

"But where are we going to go?" Iroh asked, practically. "We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom, and fugitives from the Fire nation."

Zuko flinched a little, inwardly, though managed not to show much outwardly. "If the Earth Kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed..."

"But if the Fire nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula."

This didn't require much thought. "...Earth Kingdom it is," Zuko said.

Kouji said nothing, but dug thoughtfully at the ground with one bare foot. Well, if anything else went wrong, he ought to be able to bluff their way out of trouble… One hand drifted to the bag of dirt on his right hip.

With Zuko leading the way, they found a small town fairly quickly. Once there, they were quickly directed to a hospital and placed into the care of a girl not that much younger than Zuko. On seeing her, Kouji flushed bright red and hid behind Zuko.

"You three must not be from around here," the girl commented as she tended to Iroh's rash. A soft laugh. "We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it."

Iroh laughed a little. "Oops?"

"So where are you travelling from?" she asked.

"Yes! We're travellers," Zuko blurted, a little nervously.

Behind him, Kouji buried his face in his hands.

"Do you have names?" the girl wanted to know. She sounded amused.

"Names...? O-of course we have names. I'm...Lee! And this is my uncle, uh...Mushi?"

Over the girl's shoulder, Iroh shot a glare at Zuko.

"K-k-kouichi," stammered Kouji.

"Yes," Iroh agreed. "Lee was named after his father, so we just call him Junior."

"Mushi, Kouichi, and Junior, huh?" she asked, turning to Zuko, who had made a slit-throat motion behind her back. "My name is Song. You three look like you could use a good meal." She turned and smacked Iroh's scratching hand away from his other arm. "Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"Sorry," Zuko said curtly. "But we need to be moving on."

"That's too bad," Song replied, putting a lid on the jar of the salve she'd used on Iroh's rash. "My mom always makes too much roast duck."

"Where do you live, exactly?" Iroh asked.

Song laughed and glanced at Zuko again. "Your little brother could stand to eat a little more," she pointed out. Zuko said nothing, looking away from everyone.

With a shrug, she turned back to Iroh. "I'll show you the way when my shift is over."

"Excellent!"

With that settled, Song moved on to another patient, leaving the three Fire Nation refugees somewhat alone. This suited Zuko just fine — he was a terrible liar, and he knew it, and the girl asking questions made him nervous. Behind him, Kouji moaned quietly, "Why did it have to be a girl…?"

The older boy didn't answer, and Iroh thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure."

The boy peeked out at Iroh from behind the prince and scowled. "It was a rhetorical question."

"I'm sure," the old man said, smiling.

The sun had set when Song returned for the trio. Zuko was sitting right where she'd left him, his hat shading his eyes so he didn't have to look at anyone. Kouji was seated beside him, leaning against his arm and half-asleep. Song smiled at the sight before checking on Mushi's rash; luckily, everything seemed to be fast improving. "All right," she said cheerfully.

"Thank you again for the invitation," Iroh said, smiling.

"You're quite welcome," she replied, helping the old man up. "Follow me, please."

Zuko gently roused Kouji, and followed.

It wasn't far to the young doctor's house, and introductions were quickly made before the threesome was seated. Song helped her mother with dinner before joining them. As the older woman brought food to the table, she said, "My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves."

The prince looked slightly uncomfortable, and remained silent.

"When I was a little girl," Song added, "the Fire Nation raided our farming village." Kouji flinched; fortunately, he was shielded from sight by Zuko. "All the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father."

Zuko looked away. "I haven't seen my father in many years," he said, quiet, rough.

"Oh…," Song replied quietly. "Is he fighting in the war?"

The prince stiffened a little. "Yeah." He looked away.

Awkward conversation continued as the meal was consumed, Kouji speaking not a word.

Zuko, too, seemed to have lost his interest in conversation, so it was left to Iroh to concoct believable answers to the women's questions about their lives. When the meal was over, Kouji rose in silence to help Song's mother with the after-dinner chores; Song followed Zuko outside. He was sitting on the porch, crosslegged, staring out into space.

Kouji watched; he'd realised very quickly that the teenage doctor liked Zuko. She said something soft — he was too far away to hear anyway, but Zuko didn't reply. And then Song reached for his scar. He caught her wrist and pushed her hand away, not looking at her. She didn't seem offended by this. Instead, she shifted slightly, showing the prince something. His eyes widened a little, and he looked at her, stricken.

What…? Kouji thought, stopping as he stared at them. What could she possibly have shown him to get that reaction?

"If you want to listen in," Iroh said, quietly, behind him, "you should be a little more subtle."

Kouji jumped and dropped the plate he was holding; it hit the water with a splash, drenching his shirt. "G-gen— uncle…"

Iroh smiled slightly. "If you freeze and openly stare like that, you risk detection."

"I-I-I didn't mean— I wasn't—"

"It's all right."

Kouji looked down at the soapy water, slightly ashamed. Why was he spying on them anyway? Zuko could talk to whoever he wanted.

A little less than an hour later, the three refugees finally left Song and her mother.

"Thank you for the duck," Iroh said, bowing. "It was excellent."

"You're welcome," replied Song's mother, handing Iroh a package. "It gives me joy to see someone eating my food with such… gusto."

Iroh grinned, and patted his stomach. "Much practice." He bowed again. Zuko turned and started leaving. "Junior! Where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people."

He bowed, muttered, "Thank you," and continued on his way.

"Th-thank you," Kouji added, and ran to join Zuko.

Song's voice followed them. "I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope," she said. Kouji tensed, knowing what had to come next. Sure enough: "The Avatar has returned."

He paused a moment. "I know," he said, darkly.

Kouji reached for his hand, but pulled back before he could make contact.

Iroh sighed inwardly, and followed the boys out the gate.

Just outside, Zuko paused, studying the ostrich-horse tied to a post.

"Z— Lee?" Kouji whispered.

Ignoring Kouji, the erstwhile prince approached the animal and untied it.

"What are you doing?" Iroh hissed. "These people just showed you great kindness!"

"They're about to show us a little more kindness," Zuko said, bitterly, from the ostrich-horse's back.

"But, Lee—" Kouji started.

Zuko offered him a hand. "Well?"

The boy didn't move. He looked even more disapproving than Iroh. The prince took his hand and pulled him up behind him anyway. Iroh mounted behind Kouji, and Zuko got the animal moving. Kouji looked back to see Song watching them go.

To his surprise, she raised no alarm, simply closed the door. Zuko didn't seem to notice, but he also didn't seem to much like what he was doing, either, judging by how tightly he was clutching the reins.

Not long after they left Song and her mother, the three refugees came to another small town, where they settled on a street corner to panhandle. Zuko had been practically writhing with bitterness and nervous energy in the time since he'd stolen the ostrich-horse, and had gone into his Brooding Place again (even if he couldn't lock himself in his room, the way he had on the ship), refusing to make much conversation with the others.

Kouji sat between Iroh and Zuko, staring at the ground and running his finger over the stone again and again. Unlike the two princes, he kept his knees pressed to his chest and one arm wrapped around them — his twin was apparently undergoing another monthly, and the boy was miserable.

Spare coins for weary travellers?" Iroh asked, holding his hat out to passers-by.

"This is humiliating," Zuko said, finally breaking his silence. "We're royalty, these people should be giving us whatever we want."

"They will, if you ask nicely," Iroh said. To prove his point, he held out his hat to a pretty young woman passing by. "Spare change for a hungry old man?" he asked, making his best pouty-face, which Zuko tried desperately not to see.

"Aw, here you go," the woman said, tossing a coin into the hat.

"The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile," Iroh said, slyly. Zuko buried his face in one hand.

Kouji groaned, though from second-hand pain or from embarrassment was not certain. Grimacing, he leaned against Zuko.

The woman giggled and wandered off. Zuko didn't push Kouji away, which was slight progress from his darker points the day before.

"How about some entertainment, in exchange for a gold piece?" a thin man said, wandering by and sneering.

"We're not performers," Zuko snapped.

"Not professional, anyway," Iroh corrected. He stood up, singing:

It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se,

But the girls in the city

They look so pretty...

Kouji buried his face in Zuko's arm.

"Come on, we're talking a gold piece, here," the thin man scoffed. He drew a pair of swords. Zuko looked up, eyes narrowing. "Let's see some action. Dance!" He cut at Iroh's feet, prompting the old man to obey the command.

They kiss so sweet that

You really have to meet

The girls from Ba Sing Se.

Zuko's knuckles were going white clutching at his knees, trying to hold his temper in check.

The thin man laughed. "Nothing like a fat man dancing for his dinner. Here you go." He tossed the coin at their feet.

As Iroh bent to pick it up, Kouji slipped from Zuko's side and hit the ground.

The thin man tripped as he walked away.

"Such a kind man," Iroh said, smiling.

Zuko watched him leave, a most unpleasant expression on his face.

That night, Kouji watched the prince sneak away from the rude shelter they'd constructed, then return with a very familiar pair of swords. "…Zu…?" he whispered.

"Go back to sleep," the prince said, somewhat woodenly. "I'll keep watch."

"Can't sleep," Kouji replied.

"Oh."

The boy uncurled and dragged himself over to Zuko. Were those swords…? The prince didn't provide any answers, just sat down just outside the shelter, staring off into space. With a sigh, Kouji curled up again, this time at Zuko's side, his back just barely touching one of the older boy's legs.

Zuko didn't object, and eventually, Kouji fell asleep. When he woke up, the prince was gone, but Iroh had woken.

"Good morning," the old man said. "Did you sleep well?"

"I guess," Kouji said tiredly. At least he didn't hurt now.

Iroh nodded. "Good, good."

"Where's Zu?"

Iroh frowned a little. "Out."

"…again?"

"Yes."

Now Kouji frowned. "What is he doing…?"

"Nothing good," Iroh said, quietly.

At that, Kouji looked at the old man a little more closely. "General…?"

"You should probably get in the habit of calling me 'uncle,'" the old man reminded him. "So when there are people around you don't slip up."

Kouji flushed. "I… you'd let me…?"

"Of course."

Slowly, Kouji smiled. "All right… Uncle."

Iroh smiled back.

The boy rose to his feet and stretched, then looked out. "…should I go look for him?"

"Give him a little more time. If he's not back in two hours, we'll go look."

"All right." Kouji settled down again, idly digging in the dirt.

A half-hour or so, Zuko returned, with a pair of baskets, both full of food, slung over one shoulder. He tossed them at Iroh's feet.

Kouji's eyes widened. "Zuko!"

"Where did you get these?" Iroh asked.

"What does it matter where they came from?" Zuko asked, walking away.

"Zu!" Kouji got up and ran after him.

Zuko had settled himself next to a stream, and was skipping rocks.

The boy hesitated, then settled beside him. The erstwhile prince didn't look up or acknowledge him. "Zuko…?"

"What?" he asked, a little dully.

Kouji hesitated. "…let me go with you next time," he said.

He shook his head. "Have to go alone. Sorry."

"Why? Zuko, I could help you—"

"Not with this." Zuko tried to smile. It came out strained.

Kouji looked at him pleadingly.

The prince shook his head. "This is something I have to do alone. I'm sorry."

"Why?" the boy whispered.

Zuko stared off into space. He had no answer that he could give.

After awhile, Kouji groped for and found a small stone, which he hurled across the stream. It skipped nearly fifty feet before sinking.

"Nice."

"Th-thanks," Kouji replied, flushing. Inwardly, he was berating himself for bending like that. When he told Zuko, he would break the news gently.

After awhile, Zuko stood up and left on his own again, and Kouji returned to Iroh.

"How is he?" the old man asked.

"Stubborn. And dense."

Iroh sighed, unsurprised.

"I'm going to go practise," Kouji said, and turned to go.

"Be careful."

"Of course."

It took Kouji awhile to find a secluded enough spot where he could work on his earthbending, but once he got started, he didn't stop until his limbs felt like lead. Dusk was just setting in; with a groan, he dragged himself back to the shelter, to find Zuko and Iroh at the tail end of a heated discussion.

"...You must never allow yourself to give into despair," the old man was saying, grasping Zuko's shoulder. "Allow yourself to slip down that road, and you surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength."

Zuko pulled away and brushed past Kouji on his way out of the shelter.

"Zu…?" Kouji turned to go after him.

"Let him alone. And eat something," Iroh said, quietly.

There was something implacable to the old man's tone.

Kouji obeyed.

Zuko wasn't gone very long. "Uncle," he called, from outside the shelter, a little less than an hour later. "I thought a lot about what you said."

"You did?" the old man said, sounding pleased.

Kouji looked up, starting to stand.

"Good, good," the old man continued, smiling.

"It's made me realize something," Zuko pressed on. "We no longer have anything to gain by travelling together. I need to find my own way." The prince bent down, collected his things, and started off.

Grey eyes went wide. "Zuko!" Kouji ran after him.

"Wait," Iroh called, following after. Zuko paused, and turned back. Iroh handed him the ostrich-horse's reins. The younger man was still for a moment, then accepted them and mounted easily. He looked back for a moment, then rode off. Iroh put his hand on Kouji's shoulder to keep him from following.

"We'll give him tonight as a head start. Then we follow."

"Uncle…" Kouji looked at him, then at the retreating prince.

"He's partially right. He does need to find his own way."

"But we still follow."

Iroh nodded. "We give him a little space. But we keep track of him, just in case."

"Right." Kouji sighed and patted his bag of dirt.

"Get some sleep," the old man suggested.

"Yes, sir." He wandered over to where Zuko normally sat and curled up there.

Iroh sighed, and watched after his nephew.

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