Through the Rain

Intro

The palace was empty, or so he thought as he walked down the lonely hall ways of his beloved home. No longer was he an outsider, no longer the rejected prince scared by his father. No, he was the Fire Lord. The Ruler of the Fire Nation, and the idol of all young men.

Three months had passed since the war had ended and the war left scars so deep that the Fire Lord was unsure he could heal. Everyone was at peace apart from him. He was in charge of the Nation that had caused so much pain and fear in the others. His job now, was to make sure not only his nation was cared for and grew, but that the land that was stole from the other nations were returned. Sometimes the most dangerous of battles were diplomatic and fought in the meeting room rather than on the field. Although tiring, the Fire Lord held his head high and accepted everything. He returned most of the lands that were stole and made peace with the other three nations. He was praised and rewarded but there lack of trust was still there, and the Fire Lord felt that.

With a heavy sigh the Fire Lord stopped, unable to bear the sound of his lonely and cold footsteps on the floor. No birds sang, not even the guards made a sound when passing by. Was he deaf or had he drowned out all of his senses by over working? He took a breath in and held it, a smirk appearing on his lips as he heard the loud rowdy foots steps behind him, the smell of fire lily's filled the air for a moment, then replaced by the strong yet sweet smell of roses.

And there she was, as the Fire Lord slowly turned around, looking into her eyes, her blue ocean eyes, the same eyes that once held so much hatred for him. He stared at her, his gaze piercing and intimating, looking down on her small frame. She was indeed small but the Fire Lord knew that she was one of the best Water Bendering Masters, and to risk upsetting her was risking his own life.

"What is it Katara? Can't you see I'm trying to relax from a very important meeting?" The Fire Lord said in a gruff voice, rubbing his temples appearing very stressed. Katara had not returned home with the others, and he had stupidly allowed her to stay with him.

"Yes I know Zuko, I was there remember? Why didn't you return the Earth Kingdoms land, you only gave him 20% of it back" The Water Benders voice was full of questions as were her eyes, she held papers in her hands showing them to the man before her.

"Katara, the Fire Nation has had that land now for over 90 years; At least two generations have lived and are still living in those homes there. I couldn't just hand over what my people believe belong to them. Put yourself in their positions. Being taken away from everything you've ever known…"

There was silence between them; Zuko watched as the emotion played on the water benders face, smiling as Katara nodded. Zuko turned and slowly began to walk, listening to her footsteps behind him.

"I heard you received a letter from Aang? Is he coming to pick you up soon?" Zuko asked not looking back at her at all, focusing in front of him. Aang had left Katara in Zuko's care while he was on his own personal journey.

"…Aang found a young girl…An air bender like him. He's teaching her the ways of the air nomad so he wont be able to pick me up for a while yet" Katara smiled but her heart cried, her voice was breaking as if she was about to cry "Your stuck with me…for a bit longer"

Zuko could hear the sadness in the water benders voice, he never could understand Aang for leaving the person he was meant to be in love with alone. Why cause her so much unnecessary pain and sadness?

"I guess I'll have to bear it for a while longer then. Now what are the others doing?" He didn't want her to know that he had noticed her weakness, what strong woman would want to be reminded of it? It was best to change the subject to the rest of the gang and her family.

"Sokka and Suki are getting married, they said there going to hold the wedding at winter solstice, wow…umm lets see they send there love or well Suki does"

That's a relief, thought Zuko, at least Katara has something to focus on now. Zuko carried on nodded his head as they walked together listening to the water benders every word.

"Toph has opened up a school, teaching young Earth benders. Seems it's rather successful in Omashu. Oh there's even something about Ty Lee here. Seems she has become a kind of sister to Suki. They are planning the wedding together. It looks like there all doing fine, I'll write back to them later"

Zuko nods as his footsteps stop, he eyes the people in front of his door, all most cursing out loud as he turns back to Katara. An almost panicking look on his face, placing his hands on either one of her shoulders, looking into her eyes for a moment.

"I forgot something haven't I? There's a party or celebration of some kind isn't there?" He asked Katara, his head turning to his dressmakers at his door then back at Katara as he watches her nod.

"It's the celebration of peace Zuko. It's been in planning for two months, how could you forget, you even planned this event"

Zuko groaned, she was right, she was always right about events and planning and such. He removed his hands and hung his head for a moment with a sigh. Taking a deep breath he stood up proudly as a Fire Lord should as she looked at Katara with a smile.

"Well then Lady Katara, I shall bid you farewell for now. I hope you'll save me a dance at this party." Zuko watched her smile so sweetly as she nodded, a smile which always made his heart burn "Well then, wish me luck"

They bowed to each other as Katara watched the Fire lord enter his room. A deep, burning sense of regret filled her body, why did she feel this way, maybe she was just lonely and tired of being left alone. She was in love with Aang, the Avatar, and he was in love with her. So why? Why was it that her heart beat with such power when she was near, touched or smiled at by the Fire Lord?

With a very heavy sigh she moved to her own room knowing the maids, or as she calls them the bringers of pain, would be there waiting for her return. She had still not gotten used to the whole "Your wish is our command" sort of thing from the maids, if fact she hated it all together. Why should she have that treatment, she was only there because her boyfriends went and left her there.

She walked down the cold hallway to the Guest quarters, watching carefully at the guards that were around, she still didn't trust Fire benders, well minus Zuko that is. With a smile on her face she finally stopped just before her room, already surrounded by the maids. Katara growled slightly as she turned around and glared at them.

"Right! This is how we're going to do this. One of you can run my bath, I do not I repeat I do NOT need help bathing. While I am washing you can place my dress in my room, I shall not be needed help to put it on. It is then and only then that I will call for you all to enter. Understood?!"

The maids all looked dazed, they were fully aware that Katara did not enjoy being helped when it came to normal daily things like bathing and dressing. So they agreed and bowed as three of the five maids entered the room, one to clean the room, one to run the bath and the other to pick out an outfit.

Sinking into the warm water was perfect for Katara, remembering back before the war when they would have to bath in lakes and rivers. Giggling softly in the memory, she bends some of the water around her head like a turbine, then grabbing the shampoo and bending that into the water. She then started to make the turbine smaller then bigger. This has to be the best way to wash someone's hair.

The bathroom door opened and a wet but radiant Katara came walking out, looking around she noticed that the maids had listened to her. Nodding to herself she began to dry off; she wanted to look her best for the event. She looked over to her dress, it was beautiful, and it was if it held her personality in it. The fabric was blue but to finish it up there was diamonds, real diamond, stitched into the dress it was perfect. Drying her self off faster, she threw the towel away, put on so underwear bindings and slipped into the dress. Looking at herself in the mirror she blushed, this was perfect but what had she done to deserve this? She wasn't royalty, well a chef's daughter, she was just a peasant. But nonetheless she loved the dress and called in the maids to help her with her hair and make up.

Images entered Katara's head as the maids worked on her, of her walking into the room and everyone turning and watching her as she glided down the stairs, her date already at the bottom of them waiting for her, his hand already out for her to take. His pale skin and warm touch, his amber eyes looking down at her, as he whispered to her how lovely she looked, and that he was glad that she was his. She sighed romantically as she wished something like that would happen that for a moment she would be a princess that everyone wanted. But dreams, even daydreams, don't come true.

AN

Hey guys, the link to Katara's dress will be in my profile so look it up, anyways this is kinda a work in progress Zuko and Katara fanfic. As you can see its set 3 months after the war, those 3 months Aang has travelled the world looking for Air Benders. Sokka and Suki have dated a lot, Toph opened up a School, and Ty Lee is carrying on her role as a Kyoshi Warrior. Azula has been sent to a mental health facility on an island where she receives constant care and supervision. Ozai is currently being held in an understand Jail in the Earth Kingdom. And what's this? Momo has a lady friend?

Please Comment on this chapter and wait for the next one. Hopefully it will be out by 20/06. Anyways Farewell