Hibachi
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Short, sweet and to the point.
AN: Zutara (duh) so if you don't like the pairing, don't read it. This is my first Zutara fanfic so don't beat me up about it. Please R&R. I got the idea when I was going to a hibachi restaurant with my friends. For those of you who don't know, hibachi is a style of Japanese cooking, which involves showing of with knives and fire as you cook the food. Very "Zukoesk".
"Zuko!" "Yes Katara?" "Where are you taking me?!" "Ah, but that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it." Zuko said mischievously as he led a blindfolded Katara down the halls of the Fire Nation Palace. "Fire Lord Zuko, there's something-" "Excuse me but I have a previous engagement with my wife. I'll deal with it later." Zuko said emphatically. Katara blushed as she imagined how they must look. "You didn't need to do that you know." Katara said shyly. "Yes, I did." Zuko replied. "It's your birthday; we need to do something special together." "Have I ever told you that I hate surprises Zuko?" Katara said, trying to trick him into taking her blindfold off. "No you haven't. But I'm sure you'll love this one." Zuko evaded, whispering in her ear. Katara gave up. "Fine" she said huffily.
Five minutes later, they stopped. "You know the thing about this palace that I hate?" Katara complained. "What?" Zuko questioned. "It's too big! I mean it just took about ten minutes for you to take me wherever you have just taken me!" "Well then," Zuko said slyly, taking off the blindfold "I hope you like it." Katara gasped. She was standing in a room in a palace that she had never seen before. Like everywhere else, it was decorated in red but in the middle of the room there was a silver hibachi table. "How did you know I loved hibachi?" Katara exclaimed in surprise. "You told me once. Besides, even if you hadn't liked it before you would have liked it after I did it. I'm a master cook, didn't you know?" Katara stared at Zuko impatiently. "Well are you going to start or what?" He smiled, "Take a seat Milady and let the festivities begin."
As Zuko began to cook Katara stared in awe. Apparently he really was a good cook. She barely noticed the food she was eating as she watched Zuko play with his knives. Part of her was concerned for his safety but the other part was noticing how handsome he looked when he was firebending her food to cook it. When the routine was done he sat down next to her in a seat by the hibachi table. "When did you learn how to do that?" Katara asked. "I figured it out by myself once I learned how to fight with broadswords. It's really not as hard as it looks. I bet even you could learn how," Zuko teased. Katara snorted. "You know, I may be a waterbender, but I'm not afraid of fire. I just doubt you could teach me right." She said. "Is that a challenge?" Zuko asked, raising an eyebrow. "Only if you take it that way." "Fine then. The first lesson is tonight." "I was kidding, you know!" Katara exclaimed. "Your point being…" Zuko asked, wrapping his arms around her slender form. She sighed, kissing him on the lips. Zuko returned it and it became more passionate. Finally Katara broke away from Zuko's embrace, breathless. Turning around she looked out the window at the sunset on the Fire Nation palace grounds. "I love you Zuko." She said tenderly. "Katara, there is always love between us, there is no need to tell me." Katara's face fell slightly. This was not the way she thought he would react. "But," Zuko whispered in her ear, "I like it."