Chapter Four
The first day everything went down hill for Katara, when she was taken and stabbed and then unfortunately taken prisoner by the Fire Prince himself, her friends were still back in the forest not having a clue as to what had happened to her. They were cluelessly in their own little world, all their worries surrounding Appa. They waited on Katara to come back with the medicine, oblivious to the fact that she was close to death herself.
As the first couple of hours came and went, Toph and Sokka didn't think anything of it but Aang had been worrying ever since he saw the last of Katara disappear through the trees and would constantly ask the others if he should go after Katara and help her out.
"Baldie, she's a grown girl, she can make it back and forth fine," Toph said, stretching her arms over her head and yawning as she laid against Appa, who had been sleeping and lazily opening his eyes from time to time. "Sit back and relax, stop your worrying."
As the hours began to pass by and nightfall started to fall however, they all began to become very anxious. At every noise that came through the forest, they all would look, besides Toph. They would all strain to hear every small sound that echoed, always hoping to see Katara come through the trees back to them.
Before they had really started to see a problem, nightfall had fell over them, covering everything in shadows and giving up the possibility to go out and try to find her. The forest was too dense, you wouldn't be able to see five feet in front of you and being unsure of what walked the forest at night halted everything in trying to find her. The three of them walked around the area surrounding their little campsite, fire in hands, calling her name. But it became clear that they weren't going to be answered.
The little group feel asleep hoping for the best, but imagining the worst as their thoughts got the best of them. In the morning Toph went to the markets where Katara had gone in search of her or for information. Even with her sight gone, she was probably the more efficient one in getting there. Aang had gone back and searched the forest while Sokka stayed with Appa.
"This is all my fault!" Sokka heard Aang's voice before he saw him. The young Avatar walked out of the trees, becoming visible. His shoulders were slumped and his head was down, trying to hide his red teary eyes. "How could I let her go off by herself?"
"Come on Aang, it's not your fault," Sokka got up from the ground where he was sitting and walked over to Aang. He felt awkward seeing his friend cry and was unsure of what to say. "It's both all of our faults and none of our faults. We couldn't have known anything would happen. And nothing's probably happened, she'll come back with Toph fine."
Sokka tried to give a reassuring smile but Aang could tell he was as scared and upset about his sisters disappearance as much as he was.
"I should have gone with her," Aang muttered and stared emptily at the ground.
"Well find her," Sokka patted the boy on the shoulder, "well find her Aang."
It was clear in Sokka's voice that it was only pure hope he spoke of, nothing of fact, nothing of actual truth. He was unsure if his sister was actually fine, and he had started feeling sick at the bottom of his stomach the longer he thought about it and the longer she was gone. He began thinking something bad may have happened. Seeing his friend so lost and angry at himself, he couldn't offer anything less than hope though.
Aang hung his head and sighed, wiped away the tears in his eyes and then looked up to the sky. If he had just listened to his gut and gone after her, had gone with her in the first place they wouldn't be in this position. Katara would be here safe with them. He grew angry at himself, and even though Sokka's words rang true about the fact no one could have knew something would have happened, it didn't change the fact he just watched her walk away by herself. He threw up his arms.
"When is Toph supposed to be back!?" Aang yelled.
"Right now, Twinkle Toes," Toph's voice rang out. The two boys whipped their heads around to see her working her way out and into the clearing. She held a bag in her hand. Aang desperately searched for Katara, hoping she was following closely behind. His hops fused out as he saw she wasn't.
"You didn't find her did you?" Aang questioned Toph has she walked her way slowly to them. She threw the bag at Aang and he caught it in one swift motion.
"There's Appa medicine," she sat down on the ground, crossing her feet and looking in the direction she knew Aang and Sokka stood. She didn't say anything else.
"Toph!" Sokka yelled at her as she stayed silent.
"No I didn't find her, Aang," she sounded very distressed and sad as she talked, it caused Aang and Sokka to exchange concerned glances at each other. Aang walked up to her and knelt down to where she was sitting so he was right in front of her.
"Did you find anything out?"
"Yea I did," She went silent again and Sokka threw up his arms and started pacing, "You two have to prepare yourself for what I have to tell you."
Sokka immediately stopped pacing and felt his stomach drop as she said that, he slowly walked over to her and knelt beside Aang who was wide eyes, staring Toph done. Aang gulped.
"When I got to town, I just kind of strolled around, listening to hear her voice or hear something and at first I didn't hear anything. I came upon a group of people though who were gossiping and at first I didn't think any thing they were saying was of relevance until I heard of something that happened yesterday in the town. Something about a crazy man who stabbed a girl."
"No," Aang whispered under his breath, not liking where this was going, becoming extremely scared from what Toph was saying.
"I interrupted them and one of the women saw everything happen. A girl started screaming and running and when every one looked to see what the commotion was, a guy had stabbed the girl." Toph said, she started shaking, "It was Katara."
Sokka pounded the ground and started cursing, Aang froze up and stopped breathing, eyes wide. He then started gasping, tears forming instantaneous.
"What happened to her! Where is she Toph?!" Sokka roared.
"Don't yell at me! After she was stabbed, the guy was killed-"
"What?!"
"-a fire bender was there and tried to stop what was happening and when the guy didn't stop and tried to run away after, he went up in smoke."
"But what about Katara?" Aang whispered, he looked so helpless.
"The guy from the fire nation took her. He started barking orders and running away with her... back to his ship," Toph said quietly. " It was scar face."
"Who?" Sokka asked, frustrated Toph was using nicknames.
"She means Zuko," Aang whispered. "Zuko has Katara."
Sokka erupted in furious yells.
"Zuko has my sister! This can't possibly be real! He's probably let her die. Damn it! He's probably drinking her blood or something!"
"Sokka stop being an idiot! Really? Drinking her blood? You are so dumb," Toph almost laughed at what he had just said. "I've heard that scar face took her onto his ship to have her helped. The rumors are that she's being healed and that the Prince himself is staying with her until the operation is over."
Aang finally yelled out as he stood and walked away. Sokka's rage had seem to dissapear as he just stood there, a blank look on his face. His eyes darted around and his mouth opened but said nothing. He slowly fell to his knees.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Sokka asked weakly trying his hardest to not to have his voice crack.
Toph crawled over to him and put her hand on his back.
"She'll be fine. Katara's a tough cookie."
"If she's being healed and taken care of that's good, right? But what if she isn't?"
Aang came back, his eyes red and puffy. He was holding his staff in one hand.
"We have to find Katara."
Three days passed since then.
Zuko woke up and began to stretch himself out, and then yawned. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He did not want to get out of bed. He closed his eyes again and tried to fall back asleep but it was of no use. He swung both legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He hung his head as he remembered what today had stored for him. He had to get Katara into another room. His room.
He stood up and walked over to his very large mahogany dresser and opened it. He pulled out a black under shirt, then everything else else which consisted of the colors red and gold, besides his armor. He took his time to get dressed and walked over to the bathroom when he was finished.
He cleaned his face. He had been up all night trying to find someplace else other than his own room that she could go. No other options came to him. The fact that Katara was so very badly injured, rooms that could have kept her, weren't possible.
How in the world am I ever going to get her to actually agree to come. Force is always an answer... I don't want to force her though. Wait, why do I care? She's a stupid girl.
He shook his head and tried to just clear his head of all thoughts at the moments. He dried his face with a red towel and headed for his bedroom door. Before he left he grabbed a small bag and put it in his pocket. This is going to be one loud morning.
Katara woke to Hito gently shaking her. She looked up and smiled at him and then proceeded to close her eyes once again and roll over, very slowly trying to cause the least pain possible. Hito shook her again.
"Lady Katara, you must wake up. Prince Zuko will be here quite soon to talk about where you shall be taken today."
"Why cant he just wait till later," She grunted. Then remembering this was Hito's room and she had been taking it for the past few days, she uttered an apology.
"It's fine," he chuckled. He helped her sit up in the bed, trying to help her so that she was in as less discomfort possible but she kept wincing. When she was finally sitting up, she was panting and let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Hito."
"You are welcome Lady Katara."
"You can just call me Katara, Hito."
"No, no. It shows respect to the ladies and that we are gentleman," he nodded his head and smiled a warm smile at her. Katara smiled back.
Before Zuko had come, Hito and Katara chatted together, mostly about things that really had no relevance. When Zuko did show he had an unpleasant look on his face. His uncle was by his side. Hito got up to leave.
"I will leave my prince," he bowed and walked out of the room.
Katara watched as he left, wishing he has stayed inside of the room. She looked at Zuko, squinting her eyes and sending daggers his way.
"Well?" she snapped and he cocked one his eyebrows up.
"Well..." he had a blank look on his face, "I've figured out a place for you to go."
"Yea? And that would be where?" She crossed her arms and kept staring at him like he was the worst person in the world. "The prison?"
"No," He said simply
She want's to kill me. Look at those eyes, she hates my guts. Though she's kind of cute when she's angry- Wait! No! What am I saying? She's a water peasant, she is the farthest thing from attractive.
Katara watched Zuko wrinkle his nose, she didn't think much of it.
"No," he began to smirk. He would wait until she gave up, then he would tell her and he would watch her freak out- He still didn't want to have to hear her screaming though. And he still had yet to figure out a way to get her into his bedroom. He didn't even know how he would get her to his bedroom, she could barely walk. She'd have to be carried and how was that going to be possible with this girl.
"Zuko!" Katara looked at him annoyed, what was he daydreaming?
"What?" he snapped at her, even though he probably shouldn't have, he was the one lost in his own thoughts and didn't hear what she said. He watched her roll her eyes.
"Are there any rooms on this ship I could go on?" the same answer came, 'No'. "Then what the kitchen? The hallway!"
Her voice had started to rise, "Or maybe even-"
"My bedroom?" Zuko said interrupting her sentence. He watched as her eyes grew wide in surprise, and her face contorted into rage.
"What?!" she screamed it. Zuko and Iroh flinched at the sound and they watched as she jerked herself upwards causing another much louder scream to erupt from her. Iroh was already going to her aid and Zuko went to the other side to help her.
Stupid girl. It's like she totally forgot she had a major wound… but I guess I would have to, if someone told me I had to sleep with the person that was keeping me prisoner.
Katara whole body had sharp pains going threw it. Her stomach felt like she was jabbed with the knife again. She saw Zuko and his Uncle coming to her aid and at that time she really didn't care who helped her. She was full of so much pain and so much anger, that both her mind and body felt like they were bursting.
Iroh placed his hand on her back and rubbed it and Zuko got a bagful of ice. He walked over, pulled down the covers and laid it softly on her stomach where the wound was. When he did this she gripped his hand and squeezed with all of her strength. His hand hurt and her nails were digging into it but he dealt with it.
She must be in a world of pain.
She breathed out a long breath and let go of Zuko's hand.
"Better?" asked Iroh's soft worried voice.
She nodded and looked at Iroh and smiled, she said 'thank you,' and then she looked at Zuko and just glared at him. She turned her head and didn't say anything. Her hands were shaking and her stomach still cringed with pain. She let out deeps breaths, trying to get he breathing steady.
"What no thanks?" Zuko was annoyed. She didn't say anything, just glared back at him, "Whatever, like I really care."
"You can't," she stared evilly at him, "What are you? A raging hormonal boy that's going to try to put the moves on a defenseless girl? You want to put me in your bed so you can do stuff?"
"What?! You seriously think I'd do that? I would never do that to a girl!" He started to get furious and felt his body temperature rise. He wanted to blast her with fire for putting that accusation on him. How could she think he would do that to her? "There is no other place for you to go! I'm not going to do stuff."
"Sicko," Katara looked at him and smirked, "I'm not going- you can't make me."
"You have to!" He snarled and threw up his hands which gave off a spark of fire but it quickly died. He saw his uncle in the corner get worried. He had asked him to come in case Katara had harmed herself or gotten out of hand while he told the news. "You can't stay here. This is Hito's room, you have to go someplace else and there is no other place for you to go."
"Well if you hadn't kidnapped me we wouldn't be in this situation!" Katara yelled back. She wanted to get up and hit him.
"If hadn't kidnapped you, you would be dead!" he shouted back. He turned his back to her. He tried to calm himself, he didn't need to get out of control and send this room up in flames. She was silent, and when she didn't say anything he turned around again. She no longer looked at him with anger but sadness.
"You're right," she bent her head down, "I would be dead."
He stood there shocked. Did she really just admit to him being right? The person who had just called him a 'sicko'. He didn't know what to say.
"You've still kidnapped me though! And are keeping me as your prisoner!" she looked at him and pointed a finger. Zuko watched the anger return to her eyes but he could still see the sadness.
Of course, she's yelling again.
What did she think he was going to do? Give him an apology and a thank you? He did though want a thank you from her. 'Thanks for saving my life". Is that too much to want? Rage began to boil inside of him again, his body temperature rising once again. He knew Katara and his uncle could feel the heat radiating from his body. He knew they knew he was pissed.
Katara felt the heat and grew scared he would cast fire on her. The worry however made her yell more, it was the only thing she could think of doing and the only think she really could do.
"Im your prisoner and you want me to just go and hop in your bed and sleep with you! You don't think straight, you don't have any emotion for anyone. You don't love anyone-"
Zuko was suddenly in her face and slammed her against the wall, digging his nails into her skin. His hands started burning causing Katara to flinch from the heat.
"Don't you ever speak to me like that again!" He pushed her harder against the wall.
Zuko's burning hands on her skin caused her eyes to start watering. It hurt like hell. Zuko just glared at her, with such fury in his eyes it looked like he wanted to murder her. And she thought he was going to do just that.
"Zuko! Stop your hurting me! Please!" Katara felt a tear roll down her cheek, she then roared into his face, "STOP!"
He pulled away away from her and stared.
"You were hurting me," she whispered and began to cry, holding herself in her arms.
"Zuko," Iroh's voice came.
"Don't start Uncle," he said. Watching Katara he felt regret rise in him, but he pushed it back down, hiding it from himself. He walked away from her and simply left the room, in search for Hito.
Iroh stayed back and watched as she coward in the bed, crying. He shook his head at his nephew and he walked up to her.
"I am sorry Katara. My nephew has a temper and sometimes he," he looked at her and felt her pain and felt embarrassment for how his nephew acted, "lets it out the wrong way."
Katara sniffed but she didn't look at Iroh, she kept her head down. She knew Zuko's uncle was much better than Zuko and most of the fire nation but she just wanted to be alone.
"I'm sorry," he walked over to the table and went through the door and picked up a white cream out of it, "put this on the burns, it will make them heal faster."
He then left with deep sympathy for the girl. He had wished to do something but Zuko had told him very clearly to just stand there and do nothing. Not to utter a word, not to move. He was only there if Katara had begun to become to much of a problem and if she hurt herself. Not if Zuko had hurt her. He promised himself he would do something if there was ever a next time.
Zuko walked out of the room angry. Both at Katara but at himself as well. Whenever he leaves her he's always in such a worse mood than he was before he saw her. He spotted Hito a little ways down the hallway and walked to him. He took out the small bag he took earlier from his room and shoved it in his hands.
"Put that into Katara's drinking water. It is a sleeping powder, it will dissolve once it's put in, so it will look perfectly fine when you give it to her. She's not cooperating and this will get her to where she needs to go."
Hito raised his eyebrows, then quickly put on a neutral face. He took the bag, bowed to Zuko, muttered a quick, "yes prince Zuko," and scurried off to his room which Iroh was just leaving.
Zuko waited in the hall until she fell asleep. Trying to rid his anger. Trying to rid his thoughts. You don't love anyone- Katara's voice rang in his head. She didn't know anything. She didn't know his past. His mother.
Hito offered Katara a glass of water and she took it gratefully, unaware of what had been mixed into her drink. She said a quick thank you to him and drank the water, feeling the refreshing liquid slide down her throat. She drank the whole cup and handed it back to Hito who set it back onto the table. Her burns had subsided when she had put on the cream Iroh had given here. Her shoulders and back hurt though, from where Zuko had slammed her. And her stomach throbbed.
It always throbs.
Katara felt a sudden wave of sleepiness overcome her. Then another. She tried staying awake and fighting the urge and need to fall asleep but she quickly found herself falling. S closed her eyes and started falling asleep.
Why am I so tired?
She then fell fully asleep and went into a dream.