Disclaimer: I do NOT own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything pertaining to it or other copyrighted works featured in this story. Some quotes, flashbacks, and spoken and/or re-worded flashbacks come directly from the show.

Summary: Sequel to "A Journey in the Dark". Bluetara/Zutara. Zuko has abandoned Azula. A road is laid before him, and he must choose to follow it without falter. Betrayals have cost him much: trust, friendships, and more. But what will she think when she meets him under a new guise? The Blue Spirit

Silent as a Spirit

No one heard him. No one saw.

It felt good to move with such swift stealth again. To dart in and out of shadows as though he were a part of them. But he mustn’t let it become a part of him this time, no. He must be able to remove the mask at will, and everything that went with it, and return to the world of light, unchanged. It had been a difficult task once, but now it came easily, as though every string tying him to the mask had been cut away.

But for now, the night was his friend. It hid him from her eyes as he watched her, as he did nightly. For nearly a week now, he’d kept watch over her during the night, trying to muster up the courage to go to her…but he never did. Even when he managed to catch her alone, he could not or would not reveal himself to her. He had no desire to see hatred burning behind her blue eyes, as he knew it would when the time came. He would have to bear it then, but until that time was unavoidable, he would forestall her judgment on himself.

And now the shadows were growing longer, as the night crept over the Earth Kingdom, and the blue oni mask once again concealed his face as he went in pursuit of her. The sky bison should have covered much more distance than even a Spirit could on foot, but they went slowly. He guessed it was because they had nowhere to go to. With every major Earth Kingdom stronghold captured, no place was safe for them.

She was alone now, the Waterbender. The Avatar and the Earthbender had left to train as evening closed in, and her brother had gone off on the hunt. Even the lemur and the bison were asleep on the far side of the clearing. If ever there was a time to speak to her, it would’ve been now…but he didn’t do it. Instead he remained among the shadows, waiting patiently, waiting for a time when he would have the gall to beg for her forgiveness. That was what he told himself, but inside, he knew that the sole reason was very different, and he chided himself for his cowardice.

She could not see him from his perch among the trees, but he knew that she could sense him. Every few moments, she would pause in what she was doing and look around as if to ask, "Who are you?".

I am the Blue Spirit, Katara, he thought silently. Though you know me by another name.

When no answer came to the unspoken question, she returned to her task, glancing up at the trees every now and again, never seeing, never hearing her silent guard hidden among the shadows of the boughs.

He shifted soundlessly into another position, crouched on a strong tree limb, and considered for a moment revealing himself to her. He guessed that she sensed his presence, even though reason told her there was nothing there, for she looked up at him again just at that moment. Her blue eyes were looking right at him, but they saw nothing but lengthy shadows and gathering darkness.

He rocked back on his heels and forgot the notion of going to her tonight.

Someday, Katara, he thought silently. Someday soon…But not today.