A great big thanks to everyone reviewing! Your positive reviews are really helping me make this story quickly! I just wanted to say a few things before Chapter 3: Dreams vs. Reality!

First, just so you can know, Mushiatsui is Japanese for Water; that is where I got the idea, considering that fire bending doesn't work there!

Second, from the 17-24 of February, I am going on vacation and won't be able to update :( However, I will keep writing, so that I can suprise you all with a super long story, which actually brings up another point:

Chapter 2 was really short, so I decided to make this one super long to make up for that!

Happy reading :)


Zuko crawled into his bed and folded his interlocked hands along his chest. He subconsciously stroked the wound on his chest that Katara had healed for him on the day of his Agni Kai. He stared up into the ceiling and followed a moth around the room with his tired eyes. Finally his eyelids grew too heavy to bear and he closed his eyes and drifted into a haphazard dream.

"No!" Zuko screamed at the man standing before him. "Prince Zuko, do not grow angry with me. I'm just saying that destiny is a funny thing, hehe," the old man chuckled. "How can you say that! I know what my destiny is Uncle! I know what I have to do," Zuko screamed at the chubby Uncle Iroh. "And just what is that, Prince Zuko?" Iroh always made Zuko think of the big picture. "I have to find the lost Avatar. Then and only then can I regain my honor and go home," Zuko looked away, holding back burning tears. "Prince Zuko, a lot has happened to you this past week. You should rest and take it easy for a while," Iroh reasoned with his demanding nephew. "I don't have time for resting! I have to find the Avatar!" Zuko marched away from his uncle, aggravated.

Zuko twisted and turned in his sleep. Sweat was dripping down his forehead and his teeth were clenched. He gripped his sheets harshly.

Zuko often had this dream and even knew how it always ended: he beats his uncle, making his blisters look worse than they did when he brewed the poisonous White Jade Bush in his tea.

Iroh followed young Zuko to his room on the ship. "Prince Zuko, I wish to speak with you," he pleaded. When Zuko did not budge, he called, "Fine! But I'll wait here all night if I have to!" Uncle Iroh immediately started humming an ancient fire nation tune. After a long 3 minutes, Zuko acquiesced to finally opening the door. "Good!" Iroh cheered. "Hurry up, or I'll beat you to a rotting pulp," Zuko crossed his arms and his anger flared, making the candles behind him do the same.

Zuko knew what was coming at this point: his uncle would go on and on about destiny and other crap that Zuko never listened to until he finally said "that is why your father will never want you!" which of course made Zuko resort to fire bending his Uncle from his room, knocking him unconscious against the wall, where Zuko kept beating him with flaming fists of fire. Zuko's grip tightened on the sheets as he anticipated what was going down.

"...destiny can be changed, but only if you want it to," Uncle Iroh continued. "I know you believe that having your father hand you your honor is your destiny, but trust me: destiny is very unpredictable. I believe that your voyage finding the lost Avatar will help you to finally realize that no matter what you do, your father will -"

The moment Zuko had been anticipating finally came, except it never did. Iroh froze mid-sentence and stared behind Zuko, at the door.

Zuko was frustrated that his uncle didn't finish his thought. Zuko turned around to see which type of amazing tea-making plant his Uncle had spotted. What he saw though was small delicately pointed feet were standing in the threshold of his room and the hall.

The small blue shoes that encased the feet were narrow and round. Scrolling up, the calves belonging to the feet curved roundly and were muscular, yet smooth and soft. The thighs of the said body were a golden honey. They were delicate and positioned with the knees together. Scrolling higher up this gorgeous figure, Zuko noted the way the hips fell that made the legs look elongated. The hourglass waist was curved to perfection. The body's breasts were hidden by an awfully tight binding that Zuko desperately needed to tear off. The shoulders were smooth and well-rounded with a deep collarbone that made the neck of this creature look extended, even though it was relaxed. He furthered his gaze to the body's lovely face. Her olive skin was uniform among her entire body and he stared into her soulful blue eyes. She blinked slowly and her long, dark eyelashes followed the lids. Her nose was slightly pointed but her bridge was almost flat against her tan skin. The lips of this stunning woman were plump and filled with exotic hues of red. Zuko gazed on the girl's hair. Her bangs were pinned back into two loops that attached to a bun in the back of her head. The rest of her hair was down and voluminous. It was a deep mahogany brown that had a variety of red and brown strands. The wind from the porthole window was blowing softly onto the woman's face making her hair glisten and fall perfectly. Staring at her in utter belief, Zuko closed his eyes from the long needed blink.

He opened his eyes and he was staring at his unpainted wooden ceiling. He was panting, like usual from a nightmare, but this was much more of a perfect dream than a horrifying nightmare.

"What was that?" Zuko thought aloud, trying to catch his breath. He had just dreamed of Katara – Katara for flame's sake! Everyone knew Katara was the Avatar's girl! What was he doing! Sure the hug they shared had been pretty intimate, for him anyway, but that didn't mean he was free to hallucinate sex dreams about her! Whatever it was, he had to put an end to it right away.

Katara stood slowly and glided out the doorframe. She gently shut the door behind herself and tiptoed to her own room on the other end of the hall. Her paces were long and she was able to quickly get to her room.

She reached for the door knob, turned it gently, and stepped in. She shut the door with a soft click and went to take her robes off. She folded her dress and placed it in the armoire where she undid her bindings and her hair. She stared at her night gown for a while before she decided she'd rather take a bath before going to bed to clear her thoughts.

She walked to the window and looked up at the clouds. They were a dark gray and looked like it was about to rain. Katara smiled, wonderful. She reached her arms out and bended the water from the clouds and into the tub. She looked down into the tub and decided that was enough water. Without thinking, she dipped both feet into the tub, but immediately jumped out. She had to bite her hand so she wouldn't scream. The water was freezing! She tried to think of a solution and even thought of bending the water warmer, but all she could do was freeze it, not heat it. In order to heat it, she'd need to be a fire bender. Wait! she thought, that was it! I just need to go get a fire bender!

Her first thought was to wake Aang, but she froze her knuckles two inches from the door and decided maybe it was better to wake someone else. Things had been intensely awkward between her and Aang since their break up and they only agreed to stay with Zuko for a while because the war had just ended. Still, Katara tried her best not to visit him on free will. She turned the other way down the hall and walked toward Zuko's room. Surely he'd still be awake; she had only just seen him.

Zuko sat up in his bed panting and pondering what he'd just dreamt. He knew one thing: Katara could not come with him to the Swamp. It was just too risky, if he was attracted to her, then something regrettable might happen. He threw his sheets off and hung his head in his hands on the side of his bed. He stood up and shuffled to the bathroom to wash his face with water. He was just reaching the bathroom when he heard a soft knock at the door.

Frustrated, Zuko raced to the door angrily and opened it violently. His expression softened the moment he saw who was standing before him.

Katara had looked just like he had his dream and he could feel the blush rushing towards his face. "Oh, hey K-Ka-Katara," he stuttered looking at the ground and scratching his head. "I wasn't expecting you," he tried to laugh, but the sound just came out dry and wheezy.

"Were you sleeping? I'm sorry I didn't even think about that," Katara apologized, sheeplishly.

"No don't worry about it; I had just woken up. It's a good thing you're here because I wanted to tell you something," Zuko declared, still not catching her gaze.

"What?"

Zuko inhaled deeply. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to come with me to the Mushiatsui Swamp. It's just too dangerous and I can't watch you get hurt because of me," Zuko's hung head finally looked up into tearfully blue eyes.

Katara blinked back tears and had to swallow the lump in her throat before responding. "You," her voice was hardly a whisper. She tried again, "You don't want me to come with you? Because…" Katara's tears instantly turned into tears of rage. "Because you don't think I can handle it? What's the matter? I'm just not tough enough for you? My assistance is needed and you know it! You'll never survive that swamp! You won't make it out of there alive, which I'm sure is just what your father wanted!"

Zuko was stunned by the furiousness in her voice. He gulped and, not for the first time, was scared of the Southern Water Tribe's last water bender. He was actually hurt by the words she had said and his expression must have revealed it because Katara's own expression softened.

"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for," Katara hung her head and twirled her hair. Zuko was about to respond, but Katara beat him to it.

"Look, we both know what I said isn't true. Anyways, the real reason that I want to go is actually kind of selfish…" Her voice trailed off as Zuko's voice overlapped it. "I know, you want to prove that you can handle what I can't," his voice was mournful and sad.

"No, actually, that's not really why. I'm not sure if you heard, but Aang and I kind of called things off. I think it'd be nice to get away for a while to just get some room between the two of us," Katara admitted.

"You and Aang broke up?" Zuko was hardly able to contain his joy; hardly being the key-word: he still had to keep a straight face. Still, that meant that his trip was okay, since she wasn't taken! And if one thing led to another… no, Zuko ordered himself, stop thinking that.

Katara nodded sadly. "About a week ago actually. Things got into a really intense argument when –" "You don't need to explain," Zuko offered a smile, which Katara kindly returned.

"Well the sooner we leave the better. It's late, so we'll discuss travel plans tomorrow at breakfast. Oh! And what did you need?" Zuko asked.

"What do you mean?" Katara had completely forgotten the reason she came here.

"I'm assuming you knocked on my door to ask me something: what was it?"

"Oh that! I just needed to ask a favor of you," Katara replied, innocently. Zuko finally looked up and asked Katara, "Sure. What do you need?"

"Well," Katara shuffled her feet while she explained. "I was just ready to take a bath and had bended myself some water from a cloud. I slipped off my robe, hopped in and jumped out almost immediately. I sort of forgot that clouds are cold," she smiled guiltily.

"Anyway I just wondering if you could –"

"– heat up you bath water?" Zuko finished. "Sure, no problem".

"Thanks!" Katara grabbed his hand and they ran to her room.

"Let me know how that feels," Zuko told Katara, patting his hands.

Katara dipped her finger in and shook off the water. "Yep," she replied. "That's perfect".

She turned around to face Zuko. "Thank you so much, I know it's late and all," she thanked him, sheepishly.

"It was my pleasure to help. Anyways, get some rest. We have a lot to discuss tomorrow and you need to be on your A-game," he reminded her.

"Got it, I'll see you at breakfast," Katara hugged him to show her gratitude and turned towards her freshly drawn bath.

"Well..." Zuko finished, awkwardly, "good night!"

Katara nodded, indicating she wished the same on him. He turned away from her, reached for the knob of the door and walked back to his room to finish the night's sleep.

Katara dropped her silk robe and dipped her feet in the tub. The water tickled her toes. This sensation went up to her ankles, then her calves and knees. She looked down into the water; it looked inviting and calm. She inhaled deeply and plunged beneath the water. It felt so good to regenerate.

Katara soaked her body in the warm bath with her eyes and nose just above the water line. Her eyelids grew more and more heavy as she blinked back sleep. Finally she gave in, feeling unbelievably relaxed in her element.

Katara let her subconscious take over as she began to dream.

Katara and Sokka were ice fishing on a canoe in their Southern Water Tribe. "Look," Sokka tried explaining. "All I'm saying is men are better warriors than women. It's not that big of a deal! Women are better sewers, cleaners, and cookers. I think they can give men hunting". Katara's anger raged. She stood up on the slowly moving canoe and her intense fury made her eye twitch. "You are the most self-centered, sexist jerk that has EVER walked through the four nations! You aren't even a warrior. I have to do everything around camp since mom died while you are off playing soldier! Well you know what? I'm done! From now on you can wash your own dirty socks!" Katara's swinging arms were moving the water behind her, pushing it to and fro. At her last snarled word, a gigantic wave jetted out the water, moving the siblings' small canoe over 50 feet away.

"Did I do that?" Katara asked, awed by her own talent. "Stupid magic water," Sokka mumbled, as he reached for his oar.

Katara knew this story. Soon, a blinding white light would shoot to the heavens from the water and an iceberg containing a boy would emerge from the water. Katara would break him free and he would fire bend at her, burning her face, and then take away her bending forever. She had had this dream often since her break up with Aang and she knew how it would end. Still, the water surrounding her was splashing violently as her anxiety increased. But Aang never came.

"Come on, sis," Sokka growled. "We still need to find dinner". Katara helped her older brother row the canoe looking for more fish to cook for dinner.

They reached a sheet of ice that seemed like a good resting spot for a while. Sokka pulled the canoe up the ice so the current wouldn't tug it away. Katara walked around the ice looking for softer snow. "Excuse me?" a velvet voice that she vaguely recognized called from behind her. Katara swiveled around and was face to face with a shadow of a figure. She blinked a few times to focus the silhouette. The figure's hair was dark and lustrous, and could have almost been mistaken for jet black. However, the sultry deep brown could be seen around the edges and in its wily shine; anywhere the sun could reach. As he spoke to her, shifting his head slightly, the light seeped down his hair, never settling on a given strand.

His glinting amber eyes were speckled with golden hues and were, in reality, a warm, luminous, golden shade. His long, curved lashes of his right eye shadowed over his face. His left eye was, however, a different story.

His left eye, actually the entire left side of his face for that matter, was burned; scarred by the hand of a fire bender. His pointed nose was thin and narrow; lips so full and wide. His neck was long and his shoulders were broad. His muscular arms were set in a natural, relaxed position. She moved her stare downward, gazing at his hard pecks and tight abs. His obliques were thick and strong. Thighs were hairy and firm, along with his calves and hamstrings. His ankles were wide and his feet large. She stared up into his honey eyes. His expression was soft and gentle. He reached to touch her, forcing her to step back and draw in a short breath.

Katara awoke in freezing cold sat up straight and looked around. How long have I been in here? She wondered. She reached for her towel and wrapped it around her waist, securing it under her arms. She stepped out the cool bathroom and into the stony room. She looked around and noticed that sunlight was coming through the window. Instead of her pajamas, she reached for her bindings and wrapped the restrictive cloth around her breasts. She pulled her dress over her head and slipped on pants and shoes. Adjusting her hair in the mirror before she left, Katara sprinted from the room, perhaps a little too eager to see Zuko.