Fire Alone

Disclaimer: I do not own avatar.

Katara didn't know what to do she just stood there. She closed her eyes and did what Zuko asked. She didn't think. She cleared her mind of all thoughts, which was fairly difficult for her, but she did it. When all thoughts were clear from her mind, she was relaxed.

"How do you feel?" Zuko asked.

"Relaxed." Was all she could say.

"How about now?" Zuko started massaging her shoulders.

"Relaxed, still." She told him.

"Good." They were both quiet as Zuko continued to massage Katara. After a few more moments Zuko spoke. "I'm very sorry about your mother, but Katara, you need to know that wasn't my doing or my fault by any means. If the blame be put on anyone, put it on my father, and the man who killed you mother. Not me. I care about you, a lot and I don't want you to hate me."

"Zuko... I don't hate you, I'm incredibly mad at you for betraying me back at Ba Sing Se. I just can't get over that, that easily." Katara started tearing up.

"I know and I'm sorry, I wish I could've done the right thing and stand by you, as much as I hated Aang at the time."

"You should've." Katara told him, no longer crying.

"Katara, do you think that maybe the reason you feel so terrible is because you care for me."

"No, Zuko I'm sorry but I don't care for you the way you care for me. Not after everything you have done in the past." With that Katara walked away.

Zuko walked back into his room and sat on the bed. Zuko was not one for tears so he didn't cry. He just sat on his bed and thought.

Why doesn't Katara like me? I know I betrayed her back at Ba Sing Se, but I have done worse things in the past to Aang, Sokka, and Suki so why aren't they as mad? She says she doesn't care for me but I'm just so confused. Sokka thinks she does. Does she? Is she lying?

Zuko groaned and lay back on his bed. He fell aseep on his back and woke up with a horrible back ache. His training with Aang was going to be a little difficult. He walked into the area where the group ate to find no one there, except Katara. She was sitting there eating some sort of fruit. Her hair was completely down, no hair loopies or anything. She had on her original water bending clothes. Her eyes were swimming with thought- as usual.

"Hey where is everyone?" Zuko asked.

"Aang said he was a little rusty on his air bending so he went to practice. Toph is practicing earth bending and Sokka and Suki are off making out some where." Katara shrugged and took another bite of her fruit.

"Is there going to be break fast this morning?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah, but I'm not making it, I'm going to practice water bending." Katara walked away. Zuko waited ten seconds than went and followed her. She was going as far away from the water fountain as possible and he figured she probably wasn't going to water bend. Zuko almost decided to turn around, then he noticed she was heading straight towards his room. When she got there she looked around and started digging through his back pack. Then he heard her mumbling, "There must be something here that proves he's no good."

Zuko was shocked. She really didn't trust him. Then he decided to barge right into HIS room and yell at her.

"I HEARD THAT! GET OUT OF MY STUFF!" He yelled.

"YOU FOLLOWED ME? YOU STALKER!" She yelled back.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST TRUST ME? I'M NOT GOING TO HURT AANG!"

"YES YOU ARE! I CAN FEEL IT! WHY ELSE WOULD YOU TRY TO CONVINCE EVERYONE YOU LIKE ME? SO YOU CAN GET CLOSE TO ME, AND EVIDENTLY GET CLOSER TO AANG!"

Zuko just stood there fuming and hurt. He just looked at her and choked out, "How could you say that?"

"It's true! That's how!" Katara said.

"Katara... that is the farthest thing from the truth." Zuko turned and left his room leaving Katara to realize just what she had said and done. She turned to the bed and plopped down crying. She stayed there all day, until she fell asleep come the night. Zuko came back to his room around the time Katara woke up.

"Zuko?" She asked sleepily.

"Yes?" She ran up and hugged him.

"I'm sorry, I'm not usually like that, I just this is so hard for me accepting you. It's just for so long I've hated you and now I'm expected to just accept you as a friend."

"No one's making you accept me. You're trying to force yourself not to. Just go with what your heart is telling you to do." He hugged her back and stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry again, I should probably go to my room though..."

"You look pretty comfortable, you don't have to go,"

"Uh ok I guess I'll stay... Where will you sleep?"

"I'll go sleep outside, it's not THAT cold."

"No Zuko you can't why don't you just get into bed as long as you stay on your side and I stay on mine it'll all be ok.

"Alright then." Zuko climbed into bed and turned towards the left and Katara turned towards the right, they weren't facing each other, but to them or to Zuko just being near Katara was like being in heavan.