Author's Note: Hi everyone! Sorry for the super long delay… I was sadly abducted by aliens and they made me have a writer's block…
Zuko: Just get on with the story! *throws a fire ball at me*
Okay, okay, here's chapter four- Hey get back in the story Zuko!
Zuko: MAKE ME!
*Shoves Zuko into the story.
Enjoy!
(THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED 10/9/12)
Chapter 4
Stomachs Oh So Squeamish
"All that I'm wanted for,
Although I wanted more.
Lock the last open door, my ghosts are gaining on me."
Katara ran as fast. She took off with intensive speed after she darted out of that disgusting man's shack or whatever you would want to call it. Her flight or fight senses responded once she saw her enemy bare and ready to steal what was right fully hers.
Her pride.
Her dignity.
Her sanity.
She did not dare to look back until she felt safe. Many thoughts wear trying to rape her mind but her conscious didn't let them in like she did with Jet. Her only objective was to flee. Flee as fast as you can. Shaking her head violently, the Water Tribe girl stumbled over a rock causing her to fall down flat on her face. Leaves, dirt, and random wooden twigs began to swim on her body as her long brown locks descended in every direction. Katara groaned and managed to lift herself up. She hoped Jet was far back and went the opposite direction. Shivers were being sent down her spine when she realized she was naked and exposed to the environment around her
Well this is just great.
Warm tears began to swell in her eyes unintentionally cleansing stains of dirt off her face. Water was her born element, comforting and always there for her no matter what. Katara felt a sting of guilt at the fact of water being there for her. Where was she when her friends needed her? As the time flew by, she missed events due to her "duties" err… more like laziness. It was unlike her but she just didn't want to be around Aang, Toph, Suki, Sokka... or Zuko.
The thought of Zuko made her stomach twist and turn right now. A deep and secret attraction she always had for him developed as time went by. At first, she was in denial of it. It was something that was impossible to ever occur. The thought of even looking at him that way was wrong in every aspect. He had a girlfriend; he was a Prince, he was someone important to society (so was she) but… it was just that, he would never notice her, Katara kept her distance from her friends and him. It pained her knowing at a point they were all worried about her but through letters she insisted that she was just busy due to Southern Water Tribe issues that had to be dealt with and what not. To make matters even more difficult, he was going to marry Mai.
At first, Katara wasn't taken aback from the news, she knew it would happen sooner or later but a part of her had hope, believed and wanted to be wrong. Hoped for Zuko not to marry, believed he would ever consider her, and wanted to be wrong about hearing this news. She didn't want to feel empty or carless about it but she had to accept it.
A few hours passed as the young blue eyed girl kept walking hoping that she was not walking back or going in circles. Katara closed her eyes as she clearly replayed the science of how she escaped
She felt numb. A second felt like eternity. Fear injected its poison into her mind not knowing what to do, what to expect or how to escape. Katara felt Jet's length poking her inner thigh as she winced at the thought. How could she have let this happen, WHY IS SHE LETTING THIS HAPPEN?
The blue eyed girl's mind quickly remembered something dangerous that she can hold against him. Bit her lip knowing that it was wrong but that it had to be done in order for her to escape. Katara closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing trying to feel Jet's pulse. After what felt like a few seconds she felt him.
It was not a full moon, nor was she using her body but mind to control him. Jet's muscles tensed causing him to fall backwards into the cold floor. Still in control, Katara managed to get up as she saw the man stiff unable to move.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Jet roared.
With a free hand Katara opened her palm and closed it causing Jet to scream. She quickly reacted to his cry realizing what she had done. Katara had screamed herself and dashed out as quickly as possible.
She was blood bending him...
Without a full moon, without her arms motioning to do so. But how did she do such a thing? The only explanation was a motor of defense that activated in her mind like Aang with the Avatar state. I didn't make sense to her but at this thought, it was reasonable.
Breathing in the scent of the trees around her, she sat down and decided to rest for a while rather than standing. What would her friends think of the incident that happened to her? Would they help her? Would they seek out and arrest Jet? Better yet, would they even believe her that he was still alive? Yet, Katara didn't want them to bother in helping her. They were all busy with their lives. She was not important right now anyways.
"Ugh... Miss who are you and why are you naked?" Lost in her thoughts, Katara yelped and turned around to see who intruded her. She quickly covered her breast to see a small girl around ten years old. The girl had green Earth Kingdom clothes in somewhat a Kyoshi warrior style but not quite. Her light brown hair was long but tied into a long pony tail ending down her lower back. Honey eyes pierced into Katara's soul with such innocence and curiosity that were displayed.
"Well I guess you're mute, My name is Lan by the way." Lan offered a warm smile at Katara.
"I am Katara... Waterbending Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe." Katara replied. The young honey eye girl awed at Katara and for a moment and spoke
"Um Master Katara, why are you naked? I didn't know that was the way of the Southern Tribe?" Lan blushed and blinked rapidly at Katara who's sweat dropped.
"I don't want to sound like a burden but I lost and I need my clothes… would you mind finding something for me to wear?" Katara blushed at her exposure. Well at least a little girl found her and not…
"Of course! Follow me!" Lan motioned her hand in the air as Katara stood to follow. Passing what seemed to be endless rows of bushes and trees, Lan lead Katara out of the woods.
"Where are we?" Katara asked.
"We're in my home. A small village called Laogai near Ba Sing Se and of course, Lake Laogai." Lan replied. The water bender nodded her head knowing that Lake Laogai was once the former secret hide out of the Dai Li. She supposed that as time flew by, a village was created.
"Master Katara, wait here while I fetch you some clothes."
Lan ran towards what seem to be her house. Katara decided to sit behind a bush and observe the small area. The atmosphere seemed calm and steady while few people were out buying last minute groceries. Children were playing as their angry mothers warned them to go inside since they were getting dirty. What caught Katara's eyes were two men making their way towards her direction. A wave of panic rushed through her until she saw something green from the distance also approaching.
"Hey! You two! I took all the wood from the depths of that side of the forest! How bout you try somewhere over there!" Lan was truly Katara's life saver. Both men shrugged and walked to where Lan was pointing.
The young girl approached Katara with a similar attire to hers. Green cloth emended with random yellow Earth Kingdom designs. Katara dressed herself with the help of Lan. The clothes fit her perfectly hugging her every curve. It was nothing that exposed skin but still showed off her figure by the tight waist belt attached to it. It reminded her of the Kyoshi's style of clothing but without the armor.
"Thank you Lan."
"No worries Master Katara. Come let's get you settled." Once again Katara followed Lan deeper into the village. Stares and glares from males and females were thrown her way to catch. Katara looked down avoiding eye contact with people.
Lan approached a door and signaled for Katara to enter. Behind her Lan shut the door. The floor was made out of what seem to be old wood and the walls were painted beige with some Earth Kingdom symbols carved in an alternate patter. At entering the small house there was a corridor that leads to five different rooms Three were doors and only two were doorways. What struck Katara was not the voices she was hearing from the nearest doorway but the topic those voices were talking about.
"Oh dear! Did you hear about the Fire Nation?" A woman's voice was heard catching Katara's attention.
"Hmmm?" Said a likely male voice.
"Lady Mai who was to be announced Fire Lady was found dead! In the place! Assassinated!" At this statement Katara's heart dropped. She felt like relived but mentally slapped herself
What the hell Tara?
Relieved because Zuko was not marrying but she was quickly filled with grief at the sound of Mai's death. Who would want to kill Mai? Why? None of this made sense!
"Umm, Master Katara?" Lan spoke out of the blue forgetting she was behind her.
"Oh sorry." Katara approached the doorway where the conversation of the unknown voices. Seeing now who was there, a teenaged girl around the age of sixteen stood holding a cup of tea. Her light brown hair was long, pin straight and flowing loosely cascading down her slender back. She had eyes like Lan and a smooth flawless pale completion. Taller than Katara, she would seem to be Lan's older sister. As Katara's eyes averted from the girl, she saw something that made her squeamish. Her stomach dropped five hindered feet down when her eyes widen.
Brown met blue.
Jet.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me?"
Fire Lord Prince Zuko scattered his desk, tossing and turning furniture in his elegant office. Paper, ink, scrolls, handmade books were everywhere. He cupped his face and shook his head.
No.
No.
No.
NO!
A knock in his door was heard.
"Enter" he said angrily knowing who it was.
"Prince Zuko, what happened?" Iroh walked in and almost dropped his tray of tea shocked.
"I can find the document!" Zuko growled.
"Oh wait... do you mean…" Iroh sipped his tea never leaving his nephew's piercing eyes.
"Yes!" Zuko replied.
"Don't worry! I always keep copies of important information such like those in my office." Iroh calmly sated. Zuko thanked Agni for his uncle's tendencies and let out a sigh of relief. Who knew such a piece of paper could be worth a... lot. Yet he lost it. It can be somewhere lost, destroyed, burned, or... in the hands of the wrong person. The golden eyed prince stomach dropped. Just at that moment...
"Tea?" His uncle offered him a cup with a sheepish smile at hearing his nephews belly growl.
"No thank you Uncle. I'll just clean up this mess." Zuko sighed once again.
"Well if you need anything I'll be at my head quarters!" The short man exited the room.
Zuko began picking up the mess all over the room. He would have easily called a servant to help or do the job for him but now was not the time nor was he in the mood. An hour or two passed and the room was spotless. Scrolls were in place and scattered spots of tinted ink were cleaned. Zuko sat on his maroon chair carve with golden Fire Nation symbols and random dragon designs. Signing her sat at begin to drift into his thoughts until...
Knock, knock.
"Enter" The young prince said with annoyance.
Gold met with gold. Her eyes held no emotion and so did his. Zuko had never really had any type of interaction or ever communicated with the woman as far as "Hello" and "Goodbye". HE eyed her wondering what she was here for. Heck! He even forgot what was her name! Linda made her way towards the young prince and waited to her inner displeasure for him to speak first.
"What is it that brings you to my office?" Zuko had his hands both folded on his lap as he waited for Linda's reply. She extended her index finger towards the air and spoke, but scowled to herself at the fact he didn't address her by her name.
"Fire Lord Price Zuko, I found this in the royal garden while taking an afternoon stroll with other nobles today." The brown haired beauty lied and reached into her robes pulling out the parchment Zuko was looking for. His eyes lit up and stared at the paper in shock for a few seconds but quickly glared at the woman standing before him.
He extended his hand towards her as she placed the document onto his hand. Zuko examined it to see if it had any wrinkles, or... if the seal was torn. Fortunately, nothing was wrong with it. It was perfectly sealed and in appropriate condition as he last seen it.
He looked up and stared at Linda. She flashed a genuine smile at him. Zuko was not taken aback from her gesture but he did have a weird feeling about her in the pit of his...
"I am sorry about Mai's lost." Linda looked down displaying empathy.
All Zuko could do was stare at her. The man didn't know her. She was just a random Fire Nation noble who he would see time to time. Linda was not a factor in his eyes, of no importance. She became frustrated with the silence Zuko was giving her and took action without thinking it through. Before either of them could see it, the Fire Nation noble made the Fire Lord Prince's stomach drop.
She kissed him.
I once again am sorry for not updating but I pinky promise to update as soon as I can.
Zuko: Bullshit. You're irrelevant!
Omg Zuko get back in the story!
Zuko: Sorry director uhh I mean author. It's break time!
*Tries shoving Zuko back into the story
Review tell me what you guys think!
Bye.
-SweetNightmares