Chapter 4

In her dreams she was surrounded by fire. It burned and burned but never seemed to grow or diminish. She could feel the heat searing her skin, burning her alive from even a distance. She seemed to be there for forever. Out of the fire she could hear her name being called so faintly but she couldn't see past the fire. When she had all but given up a coolness started creeping up her arm. The tattoo began to glow and through the fire a hand reached out and the voice finally broke through the haze. It was so familiar to her. She reached out and grabbed the hand and the fire vanished. Her eyes flew open to a dimly lit room. A cloth slid from her forehead as she looked around at her surroundings. The room was quite large compared to her room back home. The bed was huge, pilled with pillows, draped with fine silk, and held together by large bed posts. A few candles were about the room to give light it in the midst of the dark. She felt a pressure on her left hand and looked over to see a dark mess of hair and a familiar face lying on the bed. A smile crept across her face. Zuko was there. A relief filled her heart and she felt much better. She noted that her clothes had been changed and for a moment panic set in. She looked over to see that her wrappings were still untouched. She let out a sigh of relief and apparently startled Zuko, whose head shot up. He was a sight to see. Hair was sticking out of his bun, everywhere. His fire nation crown was askew and drool was along the side of his face. Katara let out a chuckle as Zuko looked slightly frantic.

"Well that's a new look for you." She said.

Zuko was so shocked. Those bright blue eyes peering back at him were not Katara's.

"How did your eyes start glowing blue?" He asked.

"My eyes are glowing blue?" Katara asked in confusion.

Zuko went to the bathroom and retrieved a small mirror to show her.

Her eyes were glowing blue! She closed her eyes and called out through her bong, "Yue. What is going on?"

"I believe that your eyes may be glowing as a side effect of the tattoo. Maybe the more you have the tattoo the more blue your eyes turn. Hey it looks good on you, but you probably should tell him what you came for. He looks worried." She said.

Zuko sat still as Katara's eyes were closed. After a moment he straightened himself. Just as he finished Katara opened her eyes again and she began to explain all that had happened. Zuko remained very quiet through the story.

"So Yue is here?" he asked.

"Not physically. I just speak to her through this." She unwrapped the tattoo and showed Zuko the tattoo.

"May I?" Zuko asked, holding out his hand. She gave him her hand and he began to study the tattoo.

"Now Katara I didn't know you could turn so red." Yue said. Causing Katara to pull her hand back abruptly.

"Sorry, that tickled."

"Oh, sorry." Zuko said. "Well Katara you are free to travel through all of the Fire Nation, but I would like to accompany you. Especially if you are going to get heat stroke again."

Katara giggled, "Well isn't that so kind of you."

"I have Mia, my personal aid, going to fetch you a few walking around clothes so we can get you something lighter to wear into town. I also already took the time off to be here for you. Iroh has agreed to cover for me for this week."

"You don't have to." Katara said.

"But I want to. I have worked nonstop for six months and I need a break.

"Oh, thank you so much." Katara said. As she went to hug him she paused.

"What about Mai?" Zuko's face dropped its smile.

"She left me."

"Why? When?" Katara said in shock. Last she had known he was going to marry her.

Zuko stood up and walked to the window. He raised the curtain to reveal a rising sun. He realized that he had slept from yesterday evening till the morning. He took a deep breath letting the first light of the sun begin to energize him.

"A month after the war I asked Mai to move in with me and she agreed. She began to plan our marriage, which was to be this month" He turned his head to look at Katara. "Everything was fine for the first two months, but I worked so much and Mai started to feel neglected. Three months after she had moved in I planned to propose. We had our first night together and I proposed… She then told me that she was pregnant with someone else. So she left. That was two months ago. Right after you vanished."

"I am so sorry Zuko." Katara said with such sadness Zuko thought she might cry.

"The past is done. I need to move on."

In an attempt to lighten the mood Katara said, "Well let's go now."

Katara threw off the covers and stood up… too fast. She began to sway and started to fall. Zuko was there in an instant. Holding Katara close he said, "Not today. WE have plenty of time. You need to rest. I will be back with dinner and clothes for you."

He laid her down in the bed and tucked her in. "Now get some sleep, knucklehead."

Katara nodded still feeling a bit light headed. She closed her head and whispered, "Thank You."

After a moment of making sure she was asleep, he blew the candles out and exited the room. Turning to give one last look at Katara's sleeping figure, he smiled. He couldn't express how happy he was. He hadn't been so happy to have someone with him in a long time. He wished he could have her around for forever, but that was wishful thinking.