HEY! I'm glad people want me to continue! For the record though, I was going to get this story out one way or another anyway! XD So enjoy!

Disclaimer: I always forget to do these! Anyway, I don't own Avatar!

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Glass Roses

Ch. 2

The Tower Full of Rainbows

Shortly after his discovery of glass making, Aang delicately wrapped the glass rose in his robes and quickly made his way back to the Airtemple. He had an idea. When he was long gone, he wanted others to remember him, more than just the fact that he had saved the world from the Fire Nation. Making his way to one of the towers, he earthbended a pedestal in the center of the room. In the center of this pedestal Aang made a small hole, the perfect size to hold the rose upright. Setting the rose in place he stood back to admire his work. His eyes lit up to see how the sun caused the rose to cast beautiful colors on the walls. Oh yeah, this definitely was a good idea. Leaving the tower, he raced up the stairs and back up top to his platform in the tree to create more glass roses.

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Now, the truth is, Katara really had ignored the fact that she hadn't seen Aang. At the moment, she walked right by him as he sped around the temple.

"Hey, Katara!" Aang said brightly pausing for a second to talk to her.

"Oh, hey Aang. Have you seen Zuko? We were about to go for a swim," she said barely acknowledging him. Noticing this, Aang's face fell. "Oh I forgot!" Katara said happily. Aang perked up, hoping she had just remembered to invite him to come to. But his hopes were soon crushed. "Zuko told me he just had to get something from his room! He must still be there," she said racing away. Sokka and Toph, seeing the whole thing walked over to Aang.

"Pathetic," Sokka said shaking his head in disgust. "Didn't even say a word to you." Aang's face fell once more and he slumped.

"It's not you, Twinkle Toes. She's been loopy ever since you started you business in the Spirit World. If only I were HER mother I would knock some sense into her," Toph said encouragingly.

"Guys, you don't need to cheer me up. Anyway, I was just on my way up top. See you later," Aang said opening his glider and taking flight.

Up he soared. Deciding to walk the rest of the way to his hideout he landed smoothly. Walking through the forest, he heard sounds coming from the lake, which he just so happened to pass on his way to the tree-platform. He could see Zuko and Katara splashing around as they did the night Aang let go.

"Hey, Aang!" Katara called happily.

"Don't worry about him, Katara. I'm sure he's busy doing something or other," Zuko interrupted before tackling her. Katara laughed hysterically, completely forgetting Aang was there. Walking on quickly, Aang made his way to the hideout. Taking up more earth with him than last time, he began his art.

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It was early, he could tell. It was still dark, but Aang could see the stars slowly begin to fade, although it would be an hour before the sun would rise. A week had gone by since he began making glass roses. Each rose he made, he would bend a pedestal in the tower for it. On each of the pedestals his name was carved, along with a small symbol, marking he had been here. He had also created a small flat surface for him to meditate on, right in from on the big open wall. It was the perfect getaway and he would often come here to carve instead of risk passing the lake with Zuko and Katara merrily playing along without even a glance towards him.

Last night had been awful. His back burned as if the lightning had recently struck it. He would get feverish and lie in bed for hours in pain. His friends, excluding Katara and Zuko, would stand around his bed worried; doing anything they could to comfort him. Once, Sokka had tried to persuade Katara to at least come and see Aang, but the plan backfired, and she claimed that Zuko had warned her about this. That her friends were just making things up because they were upset about the relationship was what Zuko had told Katara. But tonight hadn't been one of those times when Aang was completely incapacitated. He rose tenderly from his bed, not wanting to upset his back, grabbed his staff for support, and made his way to the tower.

As he limped along, he happened to pass Katara's open door. He stopped for a moment to just look at her. She looks so beautiful… No, Aang! She's not yours anymore! he thought to himself, continuing on. Just as Aang made it past the door, Katara awoke upon hearing someone sigh outside her door. Thinking it was Zuko; she rose to follow, never losing sight of Aang's shirt tale as he turned a corner. Eventually, they came to the stairs that led down to the tower. Katara, still oblivious to the fact that Zuko was actually Aang, followed behind. She wanted to surprise him. Aang, who was lost in his thoughts, didn't hear Katara following behind him. Coming to the door that led to the tower room, he quickly stepped inside, quickly shutting the door behind him. Walking over to his "meditation platform" he began to meditate. His arrows glowed as if he were entering the Spirit World. Of course, they had been doing that every time lately and he certainly hadn't entered the Spirit World. As the sun slowly began to rise over the horizon, the rays met the glass roses on their pedestals, casting beautiful colors around the room. It was this scene that Katara walked into.

She gasped at the beauty, the mystic reservation she felt; she felt as if she walked into something holy. Although Aang heard her gasp, he didn't open his eyes and continued on meditating. If Katara could ignore him all of the other times, then he would do so now. Katara, just realizing that she had been following Aang all of this time, quietly tip-toed over to him. She sighed. It was enough of a disappointment that she hadn't been following Zuko, but now her friend was in the "spirit world" and she couldn't talk to him. Aang finally decided to break the silence. Not even opening his eyes he spoke.

"Did you need something?" he said emotionlessly. Katara was shocked.Weren't his arrows still glowing? she asked herself. As if reading her mind, Aang spoke again. "Katara, did you need something?" he asked still meditating.

"Y-you… you can hear me? Aren't you in the Spirit World?" Katara stammered in shock. Finally opening his eyes he shook his head. After airbending his staff over to lean on, he stood.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. There was no harshness in his words; they were entirely devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Katara was shocked by this lack of emotion.

"Is something wrong, Aang?" she asked. Aang didn't answer; he just limped around the tower room, delicately touching the glass flowers. He stopped at the rose farthest from her and finally looked up.

"What exactly did you need? Zuko must not be up yet is my guess," he said. This time, Katara could sense the chill behind his words, the curiosity, and the hint of sadness. Her face fell. She was caught red handed. The only reason she was up here was because she thought she was following Zuko. Aang nodded and proceeded to go back and meditate, his arrows alighting once more.

"How do you do that?" Katara asked.

"What?"

"Your arrows…"

"It just happens now that I mastered the Avatar State."

Katara nodded, looked around and noticed the roses for the first time. Her eyes sparkled and her face lit up as she smiled.

"These roses! They're gorgeous! Where did they come from?" she said walking around to investigate each one. They were all different. Some were closed while others were open. Some looked like little buds and others drooped. All of them sparkled in the growing light.

"I made them," Aang answered. His emotionless tone was back as he continued to meditate.

"You made these?" Katara asked incredulously. Aang nodded. "They're gorgeous," Katara breathed.

"W-well… Thank you." Some of the old Aang came out of that one. He opened his eyes and walked laboriously over to her. Noticing this, Katara frowned.

"What's wrong, Aang?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing. It's nothing. Don't worry about it," Aang said looking away.

"Well it must be something," Katara said inspecting him. When her eyes fell on Aang's injury that was peeping through his clothes she gasped.

"Oh, Aang! I'm so sorry! I can't even remember the last time we had a healing session! Here let me help you…" she said reaching towards him. But Aang shrank back, as if she had fire coming out of her fingertips. Katara felt hurt and pulled her hand away.

"I'm sorry, Katara," Aang said softly, not specifying what he was sorry for. But Katara knew why. She could feel the hidden meaning behind those words. Some how, a rift had been created between them. He had let go.

"When?" she asked, knowing he would understand. Getting close to her he whispered,

"When you let go too," before he walked out of the tower, leaving Katara alone.

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Very dramatic piece this is. I almost want to end it with… blek…. Zutara. But it would be onesided I swear! Like it's in the future and Katara is roped with Zuko and is just realizing she loves Aang. Not sure. Maybe I should do a vote:

Kataang?

One-sided Future Zutara?

You decide…..

Please review!