DISCLAIMER:

I do not own ATLA or the original works of "I See Sparks Fly Whenever You Smile".

Original AN: Hi Everyone,

This is my latest chapter, and I hope you enjoy it. I wrote it over the course of a busy week, school's killing me guys. Like, to the point were I am so overwhelmed with work I feel like I could die. Anyways, I know you don't want to hear my sob story about my own life so I just wanted to remind you that you need 8+ reviews in order to have another chapter. Also, the next chapter will be a little later than usual, because I am getting prepared for HPDH part one at midnight on Thursday. Hope you all understand. Now, read on and enjoy!

~ Katara Watertribe

Chapter 4

Letters and Rain Drops

Zuko's eyes fluttered open, the morning light blinding him. He rubbed his eyes, and yawned, and stretched his arms above his head. He laid down in Appa's saddle for several minutes, staring at the sky, his mind swimming with thoughts. His face looked fresh and ready for a new day, those golden orbs sparkling in the sunlight.

Yesterday night was fairly interesting. The way she rested on my shoulder… it was as if it soothed me or something. Never before have I felt this way towards someone else. It's like a foreign language that I have no idea how to speak yet. It's just that the way she moves is like… a full on rainstorm. I'm like a piece of parchment swirling in the howling winds of her, nothing. I just want to say how I feel, but I love you is way too… boring. It's something that I will definitely say to her if we are ever together, but the first time has to be special. Lemme try this um…" You are like a blossoming flower and I am the rain".

Zuko thought for a moment, but his solemn face turned to one of mild repulsion.

That is way too…not me, its kind of corny. Like Uncle. But worse. Let's see… "you are a beautiful…"

Zuko's face twisted into a more revolted look, almost looking as if he could gag.

NO NO NO! What should I say? I-I am so captivated by her so it's hard to think about how I'm supposed to express it to her. Wait… Uncle always said I would know what to say when the time is right. Perhaps it's not time to say it yet. I'll think about this later.

He sat up and once again yawned, as his face turned to the woman steering. Her hair was flying behind her, violently slapping her face. For some reason, this caused her smile to grow wider, as she lifted her arms up into the air and whispered, "I'm free!". Her pearly white dress was flowing with the wind gracefully. She threw her head back and breathed in the fresh air, grinning broadly. Her indigo blue eyes battled with the incoming air, rushing towards her. Her olive skin shimmered in the sunlight that beat heavily down on her. Katara, the Princess of the Water Tribe took Zuko's breath away.

"G-Good M-Morning K-K-Katara." Zuko stammered, still drinking in her exotic beauty.

The Princess swiftly whipped around, apparently startled. She gave him a half – smile and replied, " Good Morning Zuko." as she put some of her thick, brunette hair behind one ear. " It's a beautiful view isn't it?" she said pointing at the sun rising.

Zuko nodded and said, " Yeah, it is." However his attention was on the lovely waterbender, swaying with the ferocious wind.

" Do you think that we should set up camp, just for a day before we reach the fire nation? I mean, it will be nice to relax before we set off on this journey." She queried, as her eyes started to sparkle with hope.

" Y- yeah that will be good. I think I need to just take a rest before we start the search for my mother. We should shop for some more food, and gather some information. Why don't we land at Ember Island? That way, we won't even have to set up camp." Zuko said, pointing at the island up ahead, unable to tear his gaze away from her.

" I miss the sand and the water… I think that would be great." She replied. Katara noticed him staring, and her cheeks turned a vibrant shade of scarlet. With a toss of her head, the sun once again caught her attention.

Zuko quickly looked away from her, even though he could stare at her for eternity. His hands grew clammy, and his heart rate was sprinting a marathon as his head slowly turned to her once again.

"Where should I land? In your back yard?"

Zuko shifted his attention to the island, which was approaching rapidly. " Yeah that's fine. Once we get there, we should immediately go grocerie shopping. I'm starving."

" You sound like Sokka." She laughed, and said, " I'll cook something for you. After all, I bought food already and you said I was a marvelous cook."

Zuko blushed furiously and managed to say, " Y-Yeah I guess that would be good."

Appa let out a mighty roar as his front paws landed on the vivid green grass. He basked in the vast amount of sunlight that the Fire Nation had, and moaned in delight.

Katara and Zuko clambered off of him, gripping their astronomical amount of supplies with their hands. They carried all of their things into the kitchen before dropping them to the floor with a loud clash.

" So… do you want to spend a day at the beach?" Katara asked timidly, rubbing her hands together with anxiety.

" That sounds like fun, I'll go get my swim trunks on." Zuko said, walking over to his room. The minute his door squeaked closed, a smile conquered his face.

With haste, he scrambled to his bag and pulled out his swim trunks, and slipped them on. He threw his shirt off, and headed to his closet were he found a light beach robe he could wear. It was blood red, outlined in shimmery gold. He sound his way to a mirror, which he rarely did. Zuko's face snarled at his " unappealing" scar that was etched upon his gentle face. His gold eyes looked down at his feet before he dared to look up again. Zuko ignored his scar, and ruffled his hair up a bit more, personally finding it more attractive. His eyes glimmered in the sunlight that streamed in from his bathroom window.

A fluttering sound seized his attention, as he looked out his window. A figure he could not desipher was hovering over to him, swaying from side to side with the slight draft. He peered at the shape curiously, until he suddenly realized what it was. He ran out his doors, and caught the monkey like animal, petting it.

"Momo, it's good to see you boy. How did you find us?" Zuko whispered to the animal, patting his back as he purred with pleasure. Three scrolls dropped from Momo's tail as Zuko fed him some berries. Zuko snatched them up roughly and read who they were for: To Zuko said the first one, written in careful and delicate cursive. The second read: My Dear Katara. He couldn't hide the disgust in his face as he recognized the handwriting: It was Aang's.

"Oh no." He murmered angrily.

It's probably a pathetic 'I'm Sorry' letter to Katara. Could he drop any lower than to send her a measly letter to express his sorrow? He couldn't even say it to her face?

Zuko shoved Katara's scroll aside and picked up the other one. He studied the 'To Zuko' handwriting. It seemed vaguely familiar, like a distant memory.

Where have I seen it before? Wait… it couldn't be… no it … it can't be! But it is!

Zuko slowly solved the puzzle. He should know the elegant handwriting more than a slap in the face. Mai.

"Shit!" He shouted, smacking himself on the forehead. " Why here, why now?"

He scrambled out of his room to Katara, clutching all of the scrolls in his hands before slamming them down onto the parlor room table.

" Here's a letter from your boyfriend." He snarled as he sat down in a chair his arms crossed.

" A letter from AANG?" She exclaimed, seizing the scroll, her eyes filling with anger and sorrow mixed together. Her eyes moved across the page steadily, each moment the silence between them growing louder. Zuko's arm trembled in fear as he once again reached for Mai's letter. He opened it as if something were going to come out of it and maul his face. His eyes slowly moved to Mai's first words, carefully inscribed in jet black ink:

Zuko,

Sometimes it's hard to realize when someone is truly gone, when they step out of you life never to return. I never wanted to believe that in my life that person would be you. Why Zuko? Is it something I did? Nowadays I don't even know what to expect anymore. One day you are at my side, being the man that I fell in love with, the next your beside her acting as if you are her boyfriend. You were flocking before her, basically throwing yourself to her, not even thinking about how I would have felt about it. I know. I'm not vapid. I have seen you comforting her in her times of need. Not that I care anymore, but why the hell would you ever think about taking an interest in her? Of all people, a peasant! And not to mention she is as ugly as a platypus bear! You can tell me she's a princess but she is a princess of a civilization that ought to have the same fate as the air nomads had. I don't know who you are anymore, and I certainly don't want to know. It was over a long time ago, I should have known. Goodbye Zuko. Forever.

Mai

The piece of parchment in Zuko's hands suddenly burst into flames, the tid bits of the remains falling to the floor. Katara gasped and shuttered at the crinkling noise the paper made as it shriveled into ash.

" What are you doing?" Katara said fearfully, moving towards Zuko in horror.

" Burning what should be burned. That woman is going to be the death of me." Zuko said with vexation, looking away from Katara's perturbed eyes.

" Who?"

" Mai."

Katara made a face Zuko had never seen the minute he spoke Mai's name. She looked away in odium, shaking her head.

"I knew it. That- that monster." Katara said with rage rubbing Zuko's back soothingly.

"What did your letter say?"

"Nothing important. I don't want to talk about it."

" Let me see it."

" Here. Keep it out of my sight." Katara said her fury growing stronger, as she shoved it into his hands. She abruptly stomped out of the house towards the beach.

Zuko opened the scroll curiously, and his eyes began to fly across the page:

My Dearest Katara~

I am so sorry for what happened between you and I. I know it is hard to believe, but after you left, I stormed off to my room and cried the rest of the day, unable to think or speak. All I did was sob. Then out of my rage I screamed at Zuko. I know I shouldn't have done what I did and I am so sorry. Tell him that I am too.

Your ability to make me so motivated to do my job being the Avatar is a pretty honorable thing that you should be proud of. I knew that when I kissed you at the war that we were meant to be together. It's fate, and I know you feel the same about me. I believe Zuko now: Nothing is going on between you two. How could I be so stupid?

Toph and I are traveling to the Earth Kingdom to buy a home for Toph. She really loves it there, and I can't bear to see her in the South Pole any more, it's not in her blood to be somewhere with so little land, or earth. So I have been sailing with Toph on one of your dad's old boats since you guys have Appa. I miss him, give him a carrot for me!

I hope you forgive me, I am sorry once again. I love you.

~Aang

Zuko groaned and threw this scroll aside, angry enough so he couldn't even look at it. He grabbed a towel, and headed for the beach.

He lolled in the sun, so happy that he was in a warm place again. As he strolled along the pathway to the beach, the cry of the sea gulls brought a memory he didn't want to remember to his mind. Two children playing carelessly in the hills, shouts of laughter escaping their mouths, sea gulls squacking above them. He put a hand to his scar, and a tear barely escaped from his eyes. He bravely wiped it away, not wanting to remember the past, but step forward into the future. Zuko couldn't take the sudden flash of memories that was about to bombard his mind, so he ran to her. Ran to Katara, who smiled up at him as he slowed down.

" Hey, sorry about storming off like I did… Aang just expects too much from me." Katara said, a frown overcoming her smiling face.

" I know, I saw it. Those weren't the best letters I could have gotten. Mai… she broke up with me." Katara turned away, afraid that he would see her smile. " And, she thinks I am a terrible person, and I'm not!" He gripped his hair angrily as he started to pace in the sand, circling around faster and faster. Katara shushed him, getting up to pat his back which was oscillating fiercely.

"Listen to me Zuko. You are a really special person, don't you ever forget that. You brought hope to everyone in the world, and that is something to be proud about." She brought her hands up to his face, so he had to look at her as she spoke. Her feisty blue eyes bore into his, seeming as if they could read his very soul.

"Come on, let's go for a swim." Katara suggested, gesturing towards the sea.

" I'm not in the mood…" Zuko anxiously started to ruffle his hair, and shuffle his feet in the sand.

" For me?" She made a puppy face, that Zuko couldn't resist.

" Alright fine. Just this once. For you." His eyes were serious, she could tell that he was thinking.

" Let's go!" She laughed, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the roaring water. The minute they touched ice crept up his back, making him shiver and blush lividly. Zuko glanced at her, pleasantly surprised that a shade of red painted her face as well.

The second they touched the water, Katara shoved Zuko full on into the shallow water. Zuko rose sopping wet, howling with laughter. He held out his hand for her to help him up, which she foolishly took. He pulled her into the water as well, an unexpected shriek of laughter. Katara grinned sheepishly as they wrestled each other in the water for a couple of minutes, laughter startling the people around them. They splashed each other playfully but viciously at the same time. Several minutes later, they both dropped down into the shallow water, panting fiercely. Katara was the first to rise, helping Zuko up they headed for their towels.

" That was fun." Zuko said, beaming. He looked at her by his side

Being with her, isn't so hard. It's kind of easy actually. She just keeps surprising me every day.

" Most fun I've had in quite some time. I really enjoyed that." Katara later answered, after drying herself off and handing him a towel.

Suddenly, several eyes wandered towards Katara as she waterbended some water out of her hair. Boys who were looking at her longingly and jealously before gave her a look of distaste, spitting at her very feet as they passed. Girls snickered and gossiped in each other's ears, giving Katara dirty looks and whispering things like, ' Stupid waterbending brat' or 'Arrogant water tribe filth'. Katara's eyes started to grow glassy, but she refused to cry.

Zuko noticed this, ready to fight. Katara held him back, shaking her head.

" Don't bother… they are just mean. It- It doesn't mean anything to me." She stuttered with bravery, attempting to sound like it didn't mean a thing.

" They don't know who they're talking to." Zuko snapped, before he was interrupted by none other than Ron Jian.

"Hey water tribe peasant. Why are you here? So we can tell you who you truly are? A filthy wretch who is too arrogant to notice that we all find you so disgustingly ugly?" Ron Jian spat, smiling in triumph. He smacked her across the face, causing her to crumple down to the soft sand, sobbing.

Zuko turned around, his golden eyes fuming with anger. His presence made Ron Jiuan step back. Zuko said menacingly, " What did you say?".

Ron Jian shakily said, " T-That she is a filthy w-waterbender who is so f-full of herself it b-brings sickness to our s-s-stomachs."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?" Zuko screamed in rage.

"I-I…"

Zuko punched him in the face so hard you could hear something in his face crack violently. He grabbed Ron Jian's head and smashed his nose against his own knee as hard as he could. Ron Jian groaned in pain.

" DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK TO HER LIKE THAT AGAIN! DO YOU HEAR ME?"

"I- I am truly sorry Fire Lord Zuko." He groaned, clutching his head afraid to look into the amber eyes of his Fire Lord again.

" DON'T SAY THAT IT TO ME! APOLOGIZE TO HER YOU STUPID PIG!" Zuko roared.

Ron Jian said valiantly, " I am sorry, um, Waterbender."

" It's okay…"

Ron Jian quickly hobbled away at the crack of thunder that screeched across the sky. Katara watched him go, sadness filling her eyes as she sobbed harder.

Zuko sat down to shush her. He draped his arm around her as it started to drizzle. She was shaking profoundly fast, digging her face into his shoulder, clutching him for her dear life. He frowned as he saw the love of his life weeped. Zuko had never felt so much pain since his mother mysteriously disappeared. He held her close as the rain sarted to crash down on them harder.

" Wh- Why would you do that for me?" She said, a quiver to her voice. " No one has ever d-done that for me before."

He looked at her through the rain that was pouring down on them now. Katara felt her stomach flutter ferociously, her heart pumping against her ribs. Her chest was pressed against his a he got lost in her beautiful blue eyes. His insides were going wild, his mind whipping around in circles. And without warning, without caring that some people were watching from the shadows of the storm, Zuko kissed her.

The kiss seemed to go on for ages, fireworks exploding in both of their minds, different colors exploding into oblivion. Katara's mind was spinning, Zuko's growing dizzy. Katara started to shed hot tears of happiness as she gently pressed his face towards hers a little harder. Zuko tasted her salty tears and slowly separated his lips from hers.

" Because I love you are my world, the reason I wake up every morning. You are the reason I live. I love you more than life itself. And the moment I saw your face, I knew that something was changing. Your blue eyes are the most beautiful in the world and I am honored that you, the most beautiful person to walk this earth would ever be interested in me. I'm captivated by you, like a fireworks show." Zuko said seriously grabbing both of her hands gingerly.

Katara smiled and slowly put her hand to his scar. " You took away the agony that overcame my heart for the past years, and I don't know anyone who wouldn't be interested in you. You are so charming and witty, and even if you don't think so, someday in you're life you will know it to be true. You, Zuko of the Fire Nation, are beautiful inside and out." Her moist lips touched his scar. When she stopped, her hand trailed down to his heart, which was beating furiously through his body.

She mouthed the words inside and out. Katara took his hand, and despite the fact that it was pouring rain, they walked steadily towards the house in silence. They were both so enthralled with one another, that neither could express their love in words. They slid the door open and closed it as the rain splashed the sidewalk, and with an eerie silence, everything went black.

Another cliffhanger, I know. I'm sorry but I am jut as excited as you are so don't be mad at me J. Anyways, if you have any idea's about what Zuko and Katara should do , anything at all, contact me. I would be happy to take it into consideration. Have a great week, and for HP fans, I'm counting the days!