…Rules of Engagement…
...The First...

Sokka spoke only of himself during dinner.

He went into immense detail about his suffering in the desert. A horrible dry, scorched, mound of shifting dirt is the way he described it. Hakoda readily agreed that the Earth Kingdom was too—earthy for a real man of the water tribe. An uneventful dinner left her ignored, and led to the eventful breakfast and meeting she could have never imagined.

Katara couldn't really call it a breakfast; there was no food present on the table. The entire kitchen seemed devoid of any crumbs. Sokka had stumbled into the kitchen only to lay his head on the table and fall asleep. A forming drool puddle began to form from under his face. Growing sick of the silence, she pushed away from the table and moved to rummage the cabinets. The sound of crunching cereal would be welcomed over Sokka's snores and the slight dripping noises from his forming puddle, Lake Sokka.

The random cereal she found was just about to be opened when the front door opened and shut a moment later. The table by the edge of the door scraped against the floor signaling that there was another person in their house. The cereal was abandoned in favor of moving towards the doorway to greet the visitors. Her blue eyes narrowed in confusion when she saw that there were two visitors with her father.

An almost oval face with high cheekbones and gray-blue eyes left this young man without a name. His hair was a dark chestnut color and hung to his chin leaving his vision cleared with the way he parted it. He was dressed in the attire of the Southern Water Tribe. Their sister tribe was a bit more modern and advanced. The bangs on the left side of his face were braided with various beads. She was more concerned with why he was here.

"Are you sure Katara will approve?"

Her gaze turned to the man who was about to sit down. The Southern Water Tribe didn't follow the marriage traditions of their sister tribe. Arranged marriages weren't required but there were still some families that preferred to follow traditions because it guaranteed political placements or just an heir. Their family was urged to follow the tradition because of her father's rank, but he stood firm in belief for his children to choose. He had faith that they would follow a wise path; they hadn't strayed into anything horrible so far.

"She will accept it."

Hakoda's voice was strange and his back to her didn't offer her any expression. She was wondering what she would approve and might accept. A confusing question and vague answer was not how she wanted to begin the day. Secrets within the household were not promising for her health as well. This is why she stepped into the room and cleared her throat. Katara brightly smiled at Bato despite the strangeness within the air.

"Good morning, Bato."

Her greeting was excited. Traveling the world didn't include seeing family and friends often. She couldn't just wake up and decide to visit people. The days she spent researching and digging in the dirt were often alone. It was ironic that she played in the dirt so often. A simple greeting and it voiced how glad she was to see her father's friend until he placed a hand upon the shoulder of the young man beside him.

"Let me introduce my wife's youngest brother, Tokala."

Before Katara could speak, Tokala took the liberty from her. He gave a nod of his head at Hakoda and Bato. Bato left the room quickly with a nervous smile. With a quick movement she grasped her father's arm.

"What's going on?" Katara's confused voice questioned.

He smiled and removed her hand so it was clasped in between his larger hands. A smile had never been so forced upon her father's face. The lines at the corner of his lips from his age were tight. His pupils were wide as he gazed upon his only daughter, his dying daughter.

"You will do right," he whispered to her before he left.

Inhaling deeply, she calmed her frayed nerves. There was no reason for this boy to be over; he didn't have any part in Hakoda's job. Bato had never spoken of this boy before. Moreover, what was she supposed to accept? The confusion was beginning to build a headache within her mind. There was only one thing left to do; she faced Tokala.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Katara," Tokala finally spoke. His words were even and she could tell thought out. Each word was spoken like he was singing, a nice lull.

"I don't mean to be rude," Katara suddenly said. It was an honest statement, but her blunt personality could seem brash to those that didn't know her. "Why are you here?"

He smiled at her, truly smiled. His wasn't a grin or smirk that promised a bad outcome, but a smile that seemed almost comforting. A flush to his cheeks and Katara's mind filled with possibilities.

"I have come to ask for your hand in marriage," Tokala finally announced.

The world went silent. The snow outside their house ceased melting and the sun's rays hesitated about shining through the windows. Katara's pupils widened in shock and she froze along with the world. How she wished that gravity would fail and let her float away. Her eyes narrowed…could she wish away gravity. Wish…something wasn't right. The young man in front of her was sweet, but her father had never brought home an intended. There was no man that wanted a dying wife that would only produce diseased offspring.

Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Her face twisted into an eerie smile. Tokala had no fault in this and she turned on her heel only to suddenly stop when Sokka's voice rang throughout the house.

"You can't marry Katara off!"

"Katara?" Tokala's voice softly questioned.

She ignored him and stepped into the kitchen just as her father shouted back at Sokka.

"Katara is past marrying age and shall be treated like all women of this tribe!"

Memories rose unbidden. The betrothal necklace was given at sixteen…no person approached her.

"Katara is dying!" Sokka hissed. "Does that Tokala even know that?"

Sick. She was sick; the moment she began to have problems she was withdrawn from school. Her father had tried, but the other members of the tribe knew something was wrong with her even before the diagnoses. Peeking around the corner, her eyes found Sokka; she had never seen him stand up to their father. His eyes were narrowed in anger, his chin jutting out in defiance, despite his bed head. Bato was silent as he stood off to the side, his pale eyes rising to find Katara standing inside the doorway with Tokala behind her.

"My daughter will not die a disgraced woman because she is frail!" Hakoda finally growled.

'A sick woman cannot produce healthy offspring, it is better if her lineage end now.'

'She is diseased.'

Katara remembered what had been said to her father when he sought a fitting husband. He had tried, he had failed, and he had endowed his daughter with the spirit of independence. Hakoda had enforced in her his wife's defiant will and courage. If the tribe were so willing to write her off then she would simply be independent of them.

'No,' Katara thought. 'This isn't my father.'

"Hello Katara," Bato simply spoke so all would notice her.

"I'm not going to marry," Katara calmly stated.

Sokka frowned but kept his narrowed gaze on his father. Hakoda scratched his chin and shook his head.

"It is a tradition and honor for two families to join," Hakoda began to say the speech that she had heard from her teachers, neighbors, and anyone with a mouth.

Stepping backwards, she pushed passed Tokala into the living room. Sokka closed his eyes as he listened to her steps vanish up the stairs. He couldn't stand to see his sister in pain and this situation only added more stress to her situation. The stress would make her symptoms surface more than usual.

"Are you happy now?" Sokka snapped as he left the kitchen.

She didn't know how this gem worked, but Zuko was lying upon her bed. His arms were crossed behind his head and his eyes simply shut. The prince of the Jinn was comfortable until she slammed her door causing him to jump. The glare she sent at him only caused his smirk to grow much like his eyes.

"What did you do?" Katara immediately questioned, her voice rising with each word.

"I did nothing," Zuko replied as he went to close his eyes.

Katara was across the distance and yanking at the bed sheets. He tumbled to the floor with her pull. Zuko yelped and jumped to his feet.

"I know it's your fault!" Katara shouted. "Tell me what you did!"

Zuko reached out faster than she could move and flicked her nose. Her own voice filled her head and then she knew. He had twisted her words into a wish and for what, she didn't know.

'I sometimes wish he would treat me like a normal woman.'

"You wanted to be treated normally." Zuko mused. "So follow customs like a good girl and go get married."

The anger literally burned within her. Her stomach rumbled and she ignored the signs. The symptoms were already acting up and she could feel it. The burning sensation filled her stomach and sweat began to trickle along her face. She knew her face was turning a shade of red, maybe pink as her anger swelled.

"You don't know my life," Katara hissed. "I can't be treated normally."

Zuko's eyebrows furrowed. The mocha skin of her face was quickly turning an unnatural shade of rose and a thin trickle of sweat coated her face. Katara exhaled quickly, but deeply inhaled. Her pulse was pounding in her ears, her lungs ached as she inhaled once more, but she went silent. There was one thing she needed to know.

"Tell me…did that wish change him?"

"I can only influence," Zuko explained. "I can bind free will almost like slavery, but I can only influence emotions. There has to be something there for me to work with."

A fine mist coated her eyes as she felt something within her snap. She had always known that her father had to feel something, but to actually have proof was another game. The room wavered and her form swayed. Another deep inhalation and her lungs wheezed in protest as the sweat trailed down her face.

Her body swayed and Zuko froze. The breaths she was taking in were becoming shallow and rapid.

A rapid knocking on her door and Sokka shouted for her. "Katara!"

Zuko didn't know what to do as she reached out and clutched her dresser. Her knees buckled, blue eyes rolled into her head, and she fell to the floor. His feet carried him to her side where he placed his hand upon her throat.

"Help!" Zuko cried out in her voice.

He vanished as the door slammed opened with a shocked Sokka barging in.

The warmth was back. It surrounded her much like lovers embracing. The warmth was somehow personal and intimate. She never wanted to leave the warmth, but her eyes slowly cracked opened. Her hands reached up and touched the barrier that surrounded her. Red silk cocooned her within safe and protective heat. She lazily pulled at the silk watching as it slid past her, feeling as it skirted against her skin. The ceiling was translucent crimson causing her to push herself up. Her eyes gazed around her surrounding to find that the walls were a translucent crimson. Twisting her form she glanced behind her to find that was silver.

"You're inside my tomb."

His voice echoed with each word and hearing it surround her caused her to jump. Zuko was leaning against the gem part of the wall staring out into something she didn't know. Katara shifted and glanced down at herself making sure she was dressed.

"What happened?" Katara suddenly questioned.

Golden eyes shifted to her and she could clearly see the confusion within them. He seemed to be watching her, maybe studying her.

"You should explain that," Zuko calmly said as he turned and walked toward the bed. "You were the one that dropped onto the floor."

She fell back into the sheets muttering, "They said I'd be fine for at least five years."

"What are you muttering about?" Zuko snapped, her secrecy making him angry.

"I have a rare cancer, the doctor told me I had ten years to live, but he said the symptoms wouldn't come into full for about five years," Katara explained as she closed her eyes.

"Seems like your doctor's an idiot," Zuko remarked.

"I think I have to go back to Ba Sing Se," she sighed before asking, "How did I get here?"

"I thought your body was failing, so I pulled your soul into my tomb," Zuko explained.

"Would you be freed if I passed on?" Katara suddenly asked.

"It's complicated, but no."

Turning his gaze toward the translucent wall, his eyes watched the events happening outside his tomb. It was just like before, never participating and always on the watch.

"Your physical form should be waking now," Zuko stated.

Everything froze for her, except Zuko was inches from her face. His mouth was moving trying to tell her something, but she couldn't hear him.

"Just close your eyes," Zuko's voice finally broke through.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she felt her form ripped from the warmth and pushed through a cold void.

Author's Note:

Much thanks to continuing reviewers and new reviewers. I forgot to turn on my accept anonymous reviews, feels sheepish.

Manola3: I'm working on longer chapters.
Sunbattle: I've added more Zuko, but he shall be making a major appearance in the next chapter.
Nephertiri: I've found some stories with that example you left in your review.

Much thanks and praise to PFnelly, the wonderful beta!

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