I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS
This isn't how Katara thought her life would turn out like after the war was over she had imagined that she would settle down, marry Aang, and finally have a normal quiet life. She had tried to live that type of life but it had not worked out the way she had first thought it would. When the war was over she had returned to her home in the South Pole with her brother Sokka and their father Hakota. They had started to rebuild their home and it started to go even quicker with the help of Aang and the Fire Nation. Katara had finally excepted Aang's offer about them becoming girlfriend boyfriend and at first everything was going smoothly but then Katara turned 15. Katara soon realised that Aang was not the boy her mind had made him out to be, he was like a little hyperactive brother that would never take no for an answer and when reality finally sunk in she learnt that the love she had for him was the exact same type of love she held for Sokka and her father she did not love him the way she knew he loved her and she knew she would have to tell him. It had taken her a long time to break it to him but in the end they both agreed that they were not meant to be together and Katara was happy when she saw Aang confess his true feelings for Toph because she had always known the way that Toph had felt about Aang but she was to stubborn to fight for it. Katara's life was now not exactly the way she had imagined it but it was still more than she could have hoped for. That was until her father had told her that when she turned 16 years old she would be of marring age meaning she would be having an arranged marriage being the Princess of the Southern water tribe did not mean she had any say in anything when it came to things like this. Katara was outraged when she learnt that any suitor would pay her father with something to buy her hand in marriage she was not some prize to be won to the highest bidder. The South Pole had finally been rebuilt better than it had ever been it was now a city, a place to be proud of but that did not make Katara feel any more at home. She felt cramped in the huge city like there were four walls surrounding her not letting her out into the fresh air. She was once again trapped and this time there was not a way out without disobeying her family. But she really could care less anymore she was not going to be trapped any longer than she had already been she wanted to be free again like she had been when she had been travelling the world with Aang and the rest of their group. So this is how she got to where she is today.
~Present time~
Katara stood with her back to the world she lived by her own rules and her own beliefs she no longer followed others she was now her own person and she had never felt more free than she did now. Her family and friends still looked for her she knew this but she knew that they would not find her until she was ready for them to find her. She was now nearly 16 years old and she had changed not only emotionally but physically. She was now emotionally strong she had not shed one tear since she had left almost a year ago she had built a wall around her heart she let no one in unless she trusted them completely. Katara was taller and skinnier than she had been when she was travelling with a group of boys, a blind girl and a skilled girl warrior. She had curves in all the right places with a radiant chest that every girl her age would kill to have. She lips were now redder and her eyelashes were longer and darker. She had a tight arse and perfect legs. But the one thing that stood out more than all of her perfect body features was her hair it was now short.
~Flash Back~
It had been a week since Katara left the South Pole her friends and family were looking for her but she knew how to avoid unwanted visitors. But at the moment all she wanted to do way let go. Let go of everything that had been tying her down making her stay. She had left every personal possession behind that included her mothers necklace.
Her mother…
That was something she had not been able to let go of completely. She was a splitting image of her mother and her mother was someone Katara had always wanted to be like. But she finally realised that she needed to live her own life and stop trying to be like someone else.
Katara took a blade from her belt and walked to the edge of a cliff near by where she was camping. She stood at the edge of the cliff watching as the ski was exploding with a mixture of reds, oranges and pinks and the sun hit the mountain tops in the distance as it set. Her hair was blowing all around her captivating her face framing her flawless skin.
Her hair…
It had been something she had been always proud of something that made her look like her mother. Her hair was exactly like her mothers down to every detail. Long dark and beautiful. It needed to go.
Taking the blade in one hand and pulling all her hair into the other she took the blade and in one quick and graceful motion it was gone. Dark brown locks of wavy hair flew away in the wind leaving Katara standing there with hair that was now straighter than it had been long coming just above her shoulders. At the front her hair was still long. It was a very ruff job but…
This was her. This was the new Katara.
~End Flash Back~
Her hair was still something she was proud of but this time for a different reason this time it was because it reminded her of who she is and not who she is trying to be. After she had cut her hair she had styled it with the same blade she had used in the first place cutting her hair so it looked good. It was now layered and she had given herself a side fringe she then used a water bending technical of her own to make her hair permanently dead straight. Katara's hair wasn't the only thing that had changed her outfits had changed as well.
Her new outfit consisted of what looked like a one piece swim suit that had a slit starting about a inch below her belly button and splitting into two pieces of fabric that covered the middle of her breasts but left cleavage on either side (with the large gap in the middle showing off ski and cleavage) the two bits of fabric went up and connected behind her neck. At the bottom where the slit starts was a black skirt that is connected to the outfit there is two layers one and they both go diagonally inwards the second layer (and final layer) is very short and barely covers anything. Strapped around the bottom layer is two silver bits of cord also following the diagonal rote the skirt follows crossing over in the middle connecting to the right side of the cords are two blades both handles the same holding the same design of a dragon with aqua blue crystal eyes. There was two silver straps going diagonally crossing over right under her breasts pushing them up emphasising her new body more than it already was. She had fingerless black gloves on and black high heal boots that came up to just below her knees. She had a silver bandanna tied loosely around her neck she used this to pull up over her moth to hide some of her face if she was doing something that involved her not obeying laws, around her upper arms were silver rings one on both arm. Her hair was always down dead straight and framing her face. She wore little make up just mascara and eye liner.
This was the new Katara. When she looked in the mirror she saw the beautiful girl that had always been inside her she had just been to scared to let her out. But now she had confidence to be who she wanted to be without anyone standing in her way. She had chosen her outfit for two reasons.
1) Because it made her feel sexy
And
2) Because of what she now did
Katara was a Bounty Hunter she had chosen this because she wanted to travel again, because she wanted to rid the world of the bad people that were still left over from the war and because the money she got from each catch was a great amount.
~Now~
Katara was currently in Ba Sing Se the capital of the Earth Kingdom she owned a small apartment here. She owned a apartment in every major city so she could move around freely without having to worry about somewhere to stay. Her apartment in Ba Sing Se was above a pub she was friends with the owners and every other person who was a regular in the pub (Its called 'The Drill'). Only Bounty Hunters dared enter this pub and basically every night a fight or three would suddenly start Katara stayed out of the fights as much as she could because she couldn't be bothered beating them to a pulp. Katara was one of the best Bounty Hunters in the lands she had only been at it for less than a year but she had learnt fast.
"Kara?!" A man wearing a mask that covered his mouth and one eye said loudly in Katara's ear making her snap her head up from where she had been staring at a piece of parchment that had a picture of a wanted man on it. When ever she would read wanted posters she would go into her own little world.
"Sorry Torch what is it?" Katara asked she had developed the nickname Kara only her trusted friends knew her full name otherwise she just used her nickname but even her must trusted friends called her Kara. The man standing next to her where she was sitting on a bar stool was named 'Torch' he was around 25 years old and had been a Bounty Hunter since he was 12. Torch and a few others had taught Katara everything she knew today.
"I asked if you are planning to go after this one?" Torch asked pointing to the wanted poster. The picture on the poster was of a man the writing under the picture explained that he had been a torturer he had not only tortured and killed those who deserved it but he did it to innocent women and children for fun. After reading the description and the amount of money being offered as a reward her mind was already made up.
"Yes" Katara said simply looking into the scared and twisted face of the man she would be hunting.
"He is a hard one Hunters come in here all the time after attempting to get him but failing every time last I heard 'Mr Karoo' was in the Fire Nation" Torch said
"Than that is where I am going" Katara said standing up taking the wanted poster with her.
"Good luck Kara and stay safe we both know the risks of you going to the Fire Nation they are just as big as you going near the Water Tribes" Torch said as he hugged the girl he saw as a little sister.
"I'll see you hopefully before the month is over" Katara said before she ran upstairs to pack.
Torch smiled with a hint of mischief he hoped this was what his little friend needed he hoped that if she came back she would be more like she was the first time he ever met her. In a way she was still that same girl but she wasn't at the same time. He hoped what he had just done worked like Iroh had said it would.
- - - -
Katara stood on the edge of the Fire Nation Kingdom she had heard more rumours that her prey was here but she still had to be careful she had picked a terrible time of year to come visit the Fire Nation even if it was on business. It was the time of year that the 'Fire Days Festival' was on meaning that the place would be very busy and there was a chance that her old friends would come to visit and participate in the festival. She just hopped that they would not be here. But even if she did capture Mr Karoo she would have to deliver him to the Fire Lord and her old friend Zuko to hand him in and collect her reward. This is why she tried not to do business in the Fire Nation or in the Water Tribes.
As she walked through the busy streets that were plagued with laughing and smiling people from all over not only Fire Nation were here this year but all the Nations.
'Crap this just makes it harder' Katara thought as she made her way through the crowded streets towards the one person who was from her past but was still in her life now.
She arrived at a small tea house that she had been to many times before it was risky coming here but she knew that Iroh would be upset if she didn't come and visit first. She knew that and was pleased to see that he was sitting in the tea house at one of the small tables sipping lavender tea. He was the only one in the whole store obviously at this time of day no one would want to drink tea when the sun is so hot and high in the sky that is why the tea-house didn't open to the public until 6pm. Katara smiled as she saw him look up as she closed and locked the front door behind her.
"Katara?!" Iroh said looking her up and down
"Hi Uncle Iroh" Katara said as she walked over to him as he stood and hugged her.
"You look different and I'm not talking about your hair, I have always liked it short" Iroh said as he let go of her
"Do you like my new outfit I thought it suited the new me better" Katara said as they sat down at the table Iroh had just vacated and Katara poured herself a cup of tea.
"You look as beautiful as ever but I hope that you are not letting ANY young men touch you. You outfit is very flattering but also revealing" Iroh said as he sipped his tea.
"Don't worry Uncle Iroh you know I can beat the shit out of anyone who tries anything like that" Katara said with a grin as she rested her head in her right hand leaning her elbow on the table.
"So what brings you to the Fire Nation?" Iroh asked
"New prey" Katara said simply
"By any chance is this new pray a man named Karoo?" Iroh asked
"How did you know?!" Katara asked shocked that Iroh knew how her prey was usually she had to tell him.
"Katara promise me that you will not get mad" Iroh said taking another sip of his tea before sitting it down and entwining his hands.
"Uncle Iroh what have you done?" Katara asked raising a eyebrow
"Promise?"
"Yes fine I promise" Katara said using her right index figure to make a cross over her heart.
"I made him up" Iroh said with a huge smirk
"What?" Katara said glaring at him and closing her fists.
"I made Karoo up, he isn't real. So with a little help from a friend of yours ands thanks to Torch you are here. I haven't seen you in months and I though it was time that you had a break, rest" Iroh said the same smirk on his face
"I cant believe this" Katara said dropping her head and bashing it on the table leaving a red mark.
"I travelled all the way here, risking getting caught by my old friends just because you and Torch think I need a break" Katara said looking up from the table rubbing her forehead making the red mark go away.
"Yes" Iroh said simply as he picked up his tea cup and continued to drink from it.
"You have to be kidding me you old evil man" Katara said shaking her head
"No I am not kidding you will stay here for the rest of the month that way you can join in with the 'Fire Days Festival' and at the end of the month there is to be a ball at the palace and you will attend you will relax and have fun. And if you do not I will tell my nephew and all your other friends I have known where you have been for the last year" Iroh said
"Your blackmailing me?!" Katara yelled
"Yes" Iroh said grinning
"OMG you are evil I tell you" Katara said growled throw clenched teeth this as going to be a very long month.
- - - -
Katara woke to the blazing sun of the Fire Nation she rolled over in her bed and pulled the covers over her head groaning. She had gotten to her apartment at 11:30 last night and didn't go to sleep until 12:00. Rubbing her eyes she pulled the covers off her sleepy form and stretched as she slid out of the bed and went and threw the curtains open to her balcony. Her apartment here in the Fire Nation was quiet different to her small apartment over 'The Drill' pub in the Earth Kingdom. This apartment was still small but bigger than the others she owned. It was decorated in dark reds and black. She had a balcony that looked over the city town square.
As she opened the curtains she squinted her eyes at the blazing light the Fire Nation were defiantly early morning people one thing that she had in common with this Nation. She opened the French doors leading out onto the balcony and walked out into the fresh air. She looked down at the already crowded streets she could see the joy and hear the laughter she smiled at how much the Fire Nation had changed under Zuko's ruling he really was the rightful ruler that Iroh had always said him to be.
Katara walked back inside her apartment and got changed she had decided it would be best if she didn't wear her usual outfit because it would draw attention to her. For the next month she just wanted to blend in with everyone else. When she finished dressing she was wearing a dark red skirt that came just above her knees there were slits up either side almost right to the top. Around the top of the skirt was a strip of gold fabric. She had a dark red boob tube on that finished just under her breasts the boob tube had a gold trim. She had a gold circle bar around each of her upper arms and using water bending she added gold hair dye to her hair. She had gold high heals on that had dark red rubies on them.
Smiling at her reflection she did a little twirl admiring herself before she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a apple to eat before she walked out the front door.
She had promised Iroh that she would come and see him every day so he knew she was still in the Fire Nation. Walking through the crowded streets she realised how well she blended in with everyone the only thing that made her stand out slightly was her skin tone but than there were many other people here from all the other nations so she didn't stand out as much as she thought she would.
'Stupid Uncle Iroh and Torch tricking me into coming here and then blackmailing me to stay here for a whole month' Katara thought as she walked through the doors to Iroh's tea-house she was glad that the tea-house didn't open until night this way she didn't have to take the chance of seeing people she recognised.
"UNCLE IROH ARE YOU IN HERE!?" Katara yelled as the doors swung closed behind her she waited patiently but after a while of not getting an answer she started to tap her right foot impatiently on the wooden floor boards echoing in the empty teahouse's main room.
"IROH IF YOU DON'T HURRY UP I AM GOING TO LEAVE!" Katara said as she turned her back to the room preparing to walk away. But she heard the door to the back room open.
"SERIOUSLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME WAIT EVERY BLOODY MORNING IROH I WILL JUST LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING HELLO!" Katara yelled and twisted around as she yelled the last word. But who she saw made her throw her hands up covering her mouth in shock and embarrassment.
"Fire Lord I am so sorry" Katara said quickly bowing her head.
'CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!! WHY ME WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME' Katara screamed in her head.
"It is alright you thought I was my Uncle and I do not care if people yell at him because he usually deserves it" Zuko said as he walked forward he wasn't wearing the type of clothing the Fire Lord would usually wear he was wearing casual clothes like the type of clothing he had worn when they were travelling the world trying to defeat the Fire nation.
"You are very forgiving Fire Lord" Katara said raising her head 'This acting is getting on my nerves already'
"UNCLE" Zuko yelled "GET YOU ARSE OUT HERE YOU HAVE A VISITOR"
"ONE SECOND" Katara heard Iroh yell back from the back room.
Katara took this time to look at Zuko he hadn't changed that much from last time she saw him almost a year ago. His hair was still long and falling in his face he was still a good head taller than her and he looked even more musically than he did before. Over all he was still as handsome not if more than he was last time she saw him.
Katara wasn't the only one that was inspecting the other person in the room Zuko took this time to look at the unknown girl standing in front of him. She came up to just below his shoulders she was skinny and very curvy. She had breasts that most girls would kill to have. Her hair was short and layered with streaks through it. She had perfect legs and her skin was a tanned golden colour that proved she wasn't Fire Nation. But the one thing that stood out the most to Zuko was her eyes her beautiful aqua eyes that looked so familiar but yet he couldn't remember where he had seen them before.
"I'm Zuko please just call me Zuko no titles are needed" Zuko walking forward and holding out a hand for her to take. Katara felt a blush creep its way onto her cheeks. She took his hand and smiled weakly.
"I'm Kara" Katara said using her fake name.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Kara and please I hope you will act like yourself around me like you were acting before you realised who I was" Zuko said Katara blushed even harder when these words left his mouth he then brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Just as they let go of each others hands the door to the back room opened and Iroh walked out holding a tray of tea with three cups.
"Kara I thought I heard your voice" Iroh said pleasantly as he walked to the same table that he and Katara had sat the day before.
"You stubborn old man I was yelling at the top of my lounges for you to hurry up and you pretend you didn't hear me" Katara growled totally forgetting that a certain Fire Lord was next to her. This made Zuko chuckle as he walked past her and sat down at the table with Iroh.
"Like you said Katara I am a old man my age is finally catching up to me I am very sorry that I was unable to hear you" Iroh said as he poured three cups of tea.
"Finally catching up to you my arse" Katara mumbled but they both still heard her and they both chuckled.
"So I am guessing you to have introduced yourselves to each other" Iroh said as he took a sip of his tea.
"Oh umm" Katara said suddenly very embarrassed.
"Yes we have and I am hoping that I can get to know you better Kara you sound like someone who I could become friends with very quickly. Not many have the nerve to yell at my Uncle" Zuko said
"I umm well yes I would be pleased if we could umm get to know each other better Fire Lord" Katara said nervously forgetting what he had told her only seconds ago.
"Kara?" Zuko chuckled as he took a sip of his tea
"Oh! Umm sorry Zuko" Katara said looking down at her feet blushing deep red.
"Come Kara sit and join us" Iroh said suddenly making Katara look up and glare at him forgetting her embarrassment.
"Sorry Iroh but I must be going I have some business to attend to" Katara said as she turned to walk away but looked back over her shoulder when she heard her name being called Zuko was on his feet again staring at her.
"Promise I will see you again" Zuko said Katara was shocked at this
"I promise and I never break a promise" Katara said giving him a small smile before she fled from the teahouse and ran as fast as she could back to her apartment.
- - - -
Katara had been hiding in her apartment all day she didn't want to go back out again when she had arrived she felt like she was going to break down and cry but she had held the tears back remembering she had promised herself she would never cry again.
She had started to write a letter and was currently signing it before she started to read over it again.
'Dear Torch
I hope you are happy with what you and Iroh have done it isn't every day two of your closest friends plot against you. So far I have been here in the Fire Nation for two days and already I have nearly broken down crying but than I remembered what I promised myself to never cry again.
Earlier today I was faced with something that I had hoped that I wouldn't have to face while being blackmailed into staying here for the rest of the month.
Today was the day that I saw he again.
Today was the day that I saw the one person that you know very well I have loved from the first moment he turned good and risked his life to save mine on countless occasions.
Today I saw Zuko.
He is exactly the way I remembered him. Perfect in every way possible. But what hurt even more than seeing him again was him not recognising me. I mean it's a good thing he didn't and I know now that I have changed my look and I have grown up physically I don't look like I used to. But a little part of me had still wanted him to recognise me a little part had wanted him to know who I am. But he didn't recognise me and he didn't know who I am.
I knew being here would hurt but I never knew it would hurt this much.
WHY! Did you and Iroh do this to me. Both of you knew how I felt and I am sure both of you knew I would meet him sooner or later. But I hadn't thought it would be this soon. Today has to be one of the worst days of my life and I am NOT kidding. The only thing worse to what has happened today would be if her recognised me and than the rest of my past caught up with me sooner than I had planned it to.
I am starting to think this is what both of you and Iroh wanted to happen. I am starting to thing you both want to see me break.
Well let me make it very clear I will not break I am going to stay strong and that is a promise.
I have promised Zuko that he will see me again and I plan to take the risk of my old life catching up with me to prove to both of you that I am stronger than you think. I will keep both promises.
And tomorrow is the day I plan to confront my old life.
Love Katara'
She was happy with what she had wrote and than preceded rolling the parchment up and using a water bending move to insure it could not be opened by any other person than who it was addressed to.
- - - -
In her letter Katara had said that tomorrow would be the day she confronted her old life but doing so proved harder than she had first thought.
It had been a week since she had sent her letter and she still avoided Zuko and Iroh as much as possible facing what she had promised herself and Torch was scary. The one thing that ran through her mind every time she saw Zuko was 'What if I get to close what if I get to used to this what if I let my wall down and let him in what if I let myself love him what if he recognises me and what if he hates me for what I did?' They were all 'What if's' and she knew she wouldn't get any answers is she didn't take a risk she only had three weeks left and so far she hadn't proven anything to herself or Torch. Not that she cared what Torch thought anymore this was him and Iroh's fault she was in this mess.
"KARA!" Katara looked around from where her name was being called out from. Her eyes widened the one person she had been trying to avoid was walking towards her.
"Oh hey" Katara said putting on a fake smile she used whenever she was around him.
"Have you been avoiding me" Zuko asked suddenly when he was standing next to her.
"Now why would I try and avoid the Fire Lord who is on of the most powerful Benders in the whole world" Katara grinned
"I'm not sure but what happened to us getting to know each other better" Zuko asked with a smirk
"Well what are you doing today. Your not in the palace so I'm guessing you have just been visiting your Uncle" Katara said
"Yes actually I have been I was just on my way back to the palace when I saw you but now you ask I am completely free today if you are going to take me up on my offer to get to know each other better" Zuko said his cocky smirk still plastered on his lips
"I think I will take you up on that offer" Katara said with her fake smile.
"Kara by the end of the day I promise you that I will get you to actually smile and not just that fake one you use when you try and hide your heart from the world" Zuko said and than walked past her leaving her shocked and confused.
'He see's right through me' Katara thought.