AN; Hello again. Wow... 85 hits in 1 day. I feel honoured. Thats the most I've gotten... EVER. I must be a terrible author. lol. So anyways, have I ever desplayed my affection for reviewers? And reviews? Well, now you know! And if the chapter titles seem at all familiar, they are all song titles and lyrics. So yeah. Something special for you to know.

CHAPTER TWO...

Savin' me

Katara looked dazily up from her sleeping bag, expecting to see the sun rising and Aang happily running around freely as airbenders do. Instead of the sun, she saw fire insignia's everywhere. Above her bed, and around the room. And why was she in her swim suit?

'Ug, I must have fallen asleep and gotten kidnapped... AGAIN. Does Zuko know the phrase 'give up'? I say we teach them to him! Does he know how hard it is to watch your back every second of everyday? I could swear he was a sociopath or whatever. HE HAS THE EMOTIONAL RANGE OF A TEASPOON!'

But for some reason, she wasn't as mad as she pretended to be. Actually, she had rather looked forward to this moment (as much as she would deny it). Ever since he had kidnapped her and tied her to the pole, she had rather enjoyed his company. She tried to deny her feelings for him, telling herself that he was a selfish jerk, but the small side of her said that he could be tought to be respectable. (And personally, she would love to teach him anything) wink wink

Katara sighed and sat up on her bed. Well, at least she had gotten a nice room. She knew that any minute Zuko was going to pop in and begin quizzing her on the avatar and his where-abouts, so she decided to enjoy the peace and quiet while she could. She walked over to a large vanity and sat down and began to brush her long hair. She wasn't suprised when the door began to creek open. But instead of Zuko, Iroh walked in with a tray of tea.

"Care for some tea?" He smiled happily. Katara couldn't help laughing at his ear-splitting smile. He was always so happy and unfazed by everything around him, while his nephew was always so... serious.

"Sure! What kind do you have today?" Actually, any kind sounded nice, but just to start a conversation between the two.

"Green. Is that good? I have a few other kinds if you wanted another..."

"Oh no, green is perfect." Katara walked over to a small tea table in the middle of the room. Iroh set the tea down and poured a small cup for Katara. She blew on the tea and then took a sip.

"Won't Zuko be mad that your being kind to me? I mean he's always so..." Katara could finish that sentance in ssooo many ways. 'Mysterious, dark, sexy, romantic...'

"Fire-and-brimstone like..." Katara waved away all of those thoughts that she so hated.

"His actions have no effect on me. If I am kind, he can do nothing of it. He's not always like that. He's a very sweet boy in person. He's just a little bent on honour at the moment." Iroh's cheerfullness made Katara more comfortable talking to him.

"I wish I could see that side of him." Katara realized what she had said. She hoped that Iroh wasn't paying full attention to her.

"You will soon. He's just a little... distracted right now. He has a very kind side to him. Just give him some time to get used to it. He's not to such a beautiful young lady on the ship." Iroh smiled happily and gathered the tea supplies. He waved to her and left. he noticed he did not lock the door. She was free to leave.

'But I don't know where Aang and the gang are. I could get lost out there!' Katara knew it was just an excuse. She could leave and would if she had no feelings for Zuko. She would risk getting lost. But she did and she couldn't fight it. 'I'll stay for a while and then leave after a while... That way I can't yell at myself.'

Katara looked around for something else to wear. She didn't want to stay in her swimsuit. All the dresser had was fire nation robish kimono thingies. 'I think I can stand my swimsuit a little longer.' She sat down on her bed, and began to play around with her hair. Just when she was on the brink of boredness, Zuko burst in.

"WHERE'S THE AVATAR?!"

"Someone's lollipop lit on fire." Katara said calmly.

"DO NOT GET SMART WITH ME WATER-WENCH!"

"Don't be jealous." Katara snickered to herself.

Zuko ran toward Katara and before she could move he pinned her against a wall. As much as he denied it, he rather enjoyed it. Katara looked away.

"Now, where's the Avatar?"

"How should I know? When you so kindly kidnapped me, which is getting rather annoying, they move along. I always escape and find them. So, how do I know where they are?"

"You know where they're going. WHERE?" Zuko growled.

"HA! Your getting aggrivated. I love it!" Despite even though she seemed tough, she was extremely scared, but she knew that was her only defense. But Zuko too had his own little plan.

"So," He purred in her ear. "Looks like you and me are alone until then." Katara shivered.

"Not entirely. Your uncle is here with us." Katara managed to spit out.

"Actually, he's out right now." He moved closer. Katara began to lose her nerve.

"Look, I don't know where the Avatar is, OK?" She tried to push him off.

"Then you can stick here until he comes looking for his girlfriend." He laughed.

"I am SO NOT AANGS' GIRLFRIEND! AND NEVER WILL BE!" She blasted her final hope.

"Doesn't change anything. Well, a few things..." He winked at her and left, locking her door on the way out. Katara sat down on her bed and tried to breathe. As much as she hated to admit it, that was the greatest moment of her life. She smiled as she spread out on the bed. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad afterall.

Zuko walked down the hall toward his room smiling the entire way. He liked this battle tactic. And it worked, which was saying something for the banished Price. He couldn't wait until his next confrontation with the water maiden. This was going to be an interesting few weeks.

Little did Zuko or Katara know, Iroh watched nearby with a little plan of his own to unite the elements.