AN: Here's Chapter 4 for my dearest readers. I know it took me long, please forgive (that is the theme of the story hihihihi). Er.. Well, enjoy.

Previously in Flowing…

He's changed, you know he's changed.

"I know he has, and that's exactly what bothers me. I don't feel like I've earned his forgiveness."

"That's a pretty valid thought. I guess it's alright; but you have to start calling him Aang at some point or another, okay?"

"Rainbows and butterf—? No! …Yes. Maybe? I'm not sure, really. All I know is that I need to give him a chance." Again, she added mentally. "It will be a long time before I can fully trust him, but he deserves one more try, doesn't he?"

Zuko's eyes tore open as the knife-like cry ended, its memory still ringing loudly in his head. They immediately shut again in a grimace as his hands shot up and grabbed his exploding head. A grunt escaped his lips; the overbearing pain jumbled his mind, leaving it in a state of confusion. The surrounding darkness had hurt his vision, and pain detonated throughout his head and neck area. Disorientation seemed to be seeping in, but he still wanted badly to investigate about the sound that had woken him up. It had sounded so urgent and… hurt. Unfortunately, the disorientation joined forces with darkness, pushing him helplessly into a deep slumber.

No! … Trouble… screamed… hurt, he mumbled into the air before giving in.

Fighting the entangling sheets of her bed, Katara rushed out of her room blindly, sleep having completely deserted her by now. She called the water from the jar with her as her feet pushed her past the doorframe, running down the hall in the direction she'd heard the scream come from. As fast as her feet were going, however, her mind was tripling their speed and had already imagined a hundred different scenarios in which those she loved most and held the closest had been injured. Her eyes scanned the hallways, looking for something—anything—that would serve to dissipate her worries as she neared the room. Out of breath, she arrived to a room where Sokka lay sprawled on the floor in a lifeless mess of limbs and her breath caught in her throat, releasing her hold on the hovering water. Moisture gathered in her eyes at the sight and she rushed to her brother's side looking—hoping, pleading—for a sign of life. She released a soft whimper when she felt his chest rise slightly, but she did not stop investigating. The new objects of her search were wounds or anything, really, that would tell her what had happened to her brother.

Toph rushed into the room with a loud rumble and mild splatter of rocks as her means of transportation came to a stop. Her eyes widened in Katara and Sokka's direction when she must have felt Sokka on the ground and Katara kneeling next to him. "His heartbeat is very faint," she announced quietly, barely audible.

Nodding, Katara asked her to take him to his room with the help of Haru, who had just arrived to the scene. She wiped at her eyes as she was left alone in the room once again. Questions, all unanswered, poured into her mind, nagging for attention and to be solved while she let her eyes roam over the few objects scattered around in the room, Zuko's few possessions. Her eyes finally fell on Zuko's lying form in the midst of rumpled sheets, holding his head and a look of pain evident on his scarred face. She was not surprised to find that instead of the usual concern she would feel at such a sight, she felt nothing. Eyes narrowing, she convinced herself that it was his fault Sokka had gotten hurt; that meant he'd already hurt two of the people she loved. Shaking her head, she looked to the window, towards Yue's half-darkened face in the night sky.

What… What is happening here? She questioned to no one in particular as she turned her back on Zuko, walking out the door without a second glance.

She neared Sokka's room where it seemed everyone was gathered and talking quietly. As soon as she appeared at the door, all eyes centered on her, transmitting different levels of empathy and compassion. Returning each one with a small, tired smile, she proceeded towards Sokka's bed, where he lay resting peacefully. She was careful not to reveal any emotions that would worry her companions on her face; she sat on the edge and put her hand on top of her sibling's own dark-skinned one.

"He's going to be okay," Aang said to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Katara turned her head slightly to look into his solemn eyes and not trusting her voice, she nodded. Thank you, she mouthed to him.

Toph, probably sensing that Katara would want to be left alone with Sokka, herded everyone out of the room and finally, turned sightless eyes to her with a smile at the doorway. "Snuffles might be clueless, but he's strong, Sweetness. Tomorrow he's just going to spring up and start yakking about how hungry he is. Get some rest." With a yawn, she left Katara alone in the room watching over Sokka.

Had any of them arrived earlier, they would have seen Zuko's eyes glowing from beneath his pale lids.

The morning rays reached down to Zuko's face, which he was still holding tightly in his palms, alerting him of a new day. Trying and failing to open his heavy eyes, he turned his face towards the dark side of the room. Energy was ever so slowly coursing through his veins, reviving the feeling in his limbs as if they had been asleep. The feeling of a thousand needles pricking his pale skin gave him the oddest sensation and he ceased all movements. Lying, then, in his bed with his hands on his face, memories and snippets of recollections were poured before his closed eyes. Images of Avatar Roku, a dragon, ice, darkness, his father, Iroh, and thousands more appeared in his vision, staying but a split second before vanishing and being replaced by the next. His breath quickened and his chest moved rapidly as the pace picked up. Ending with a cherished still image he had of his mother, the pictures ceased and darkness overcame. His other senses seemed to take a cue from this instance and commenced reporting to his brain. The sounds of nature reached his ears, as well as that of his slowing breaths; a pain in his right hand suddenly spread out, burning and freezing at the same time. The taste of blood registered in his mouth and reported to his head, making him frown. The weight on his lids was finally released and he was able to open them, revealing the light.

He remembered the dagger that had dug its way deep into his thigh, almost meeting the bone, and his hand instinctively shot towards the wounded area. Besides a faint remaining pricking feeling on his finger pads, he felt nothing on the inside of his thigh, but smooth skin.

Must have been that spirit.

With the dagger came thoughts of that one he'd been fighting. He frowned, hadn't he heard a sound in the foliage? What if somebody had found them and overpowered Katara, taking them captives? Before he could continue that line of thought, the Avat—Aang appeared at his door. His face was unusually set to a solemn look.

"What did you do, Zuko?"

Zuko's eyes flickered from the stormy grey eyes now narrowed in suspicion to his own hands. He stared at them as if questioning what mess they'd gotten him into. "I… I don't know what you're talking about," he responded lamely, truthfully.

Aang sighed, slumping his shoulders. "That's what I was afraid of," he said as he walked to stand next to Zuko's bed.

"What happened?" asked Zuko as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I… I'm not so sure either. All I know is that last night I was awakened with a loud scream, so I ran down the hall and arrived to your room where I found Sokka on the floor barely breathing. Katara arrived and searched him, and then we took him to his room."

Zuko took it all in slowly, letting it sink in. After a long pause, he risked asking it. "So… they all think… they think it's my fault, don't they? That I did something to Sokka."

"I…- Well, they—the thing is-- … Yes," Aang responded quietly.

Of course, everything was going to well. Something had to go wrong, Zuko convinced himself calmly.

"Is there anything I can do to change their minds?"

"No. We'll just have to wait until we can talk to Sokka." At Zuko's crestfallen face, he quickly added, "but I believe you, Zuko! I… I don't think you'd do anything to Sokka."

"Thank you, Aang."

The younger boy's eyes widened. "Whoa, what did you just call me?" he asked.

"Aang. It is okay for me to call you Aang?" he asked looking up at the boy.

"What makes you think it is?" Aang asked, his voice icy.

Zuko's mouth opened and closed, searching for something to say, but a mere second later Aang laughed, "Of course it is, Zuko!"

Zuko's eyes narrowed, "That's Prince Zuko to you."

"What! I—but we—and you—"

Zuko smirked, "Settle down, I was just playing."

"The Prince of the Fire Nation playing? Maybe now Momo will start talking," piped in a new voice. Both boys turned towards the door and found Toph standing leaning against the frame.

"Hey, Toph! Come on in, we were just talking about last night," Aang invited cheerfully and the earthbender complied.

"So, what exactly happened last night?" she questioned with a voice as suspicious as Aang's had been.

"I don't know," Zuko said, hoping the human lie detector could tell he was being honest.

"Hm, you're telling the truth… So just tell us what happened to you, you look like hell and your heart was beating wildly last night," she ordered him.

Frowning at her comments about his appearance, he muttered, "As much as I'd like to, I can't exactly remember everything." He paused for thoughts, then continued almost to himself, "Meditating would probably help, though. I need to get out of here."

"Can I come with you?" pleaded Aang. Looking up at him doubtfully, Zuko considered it.

"You won't interrupt me," he stated and the Avatar nodded eagerly. "You won't talk," he added and Aang nodded more vigorously. Sighing, he gave in, "Sure, but if you do any of those two, you'd better hope your airbending will give you speed."

Grinning, Toph added with a sense of finality, "Alright, I'm going, too; can't miss out on a chance to see Sparky kick Twinkletoes all the way back to the temple. Oh, and Sparky--" Zuko looked at her inquisitively—"you're gonna have to carry me there." At this, she raised a foot and pointed to the still pink bottom of it, smirking.

Zuko hissed and muttered, "Right. Fine, I'll do it."

Something was hitting her head lightly but continuously. Katara tried to reach up and grab it—whatever it was—but a pain in her shoulders and her neck stopped her from finishing the action. Dropping her arm, she hissed softly and opened her eyes. When they finally settled and got used to the light, she looked at what lay in front of her. It was feet. Confused, she tried to figure out where she was, until a voice cut in loudly.

"Hey! Are you up? Good, you sleep like a platypus bear, Katara," the voice continued muttering about sleeping legs until she realized who it was that spoke to her.

"Sokka!" she said loudly, delightedly, lifting her body and ignoring the pain in her neck. Her brother's face came into view and she threw her arms around his neck as he protested loudly.

"Hey! Whoa, calm down. Settle down! I know I look good in the morning, but for spirits' sakes, woman, get a hold of yourself…" he continued rambling as his sister started sobbing into his neck. His voice got softer when he noticed she was crying, "Katara, Katara, calm down. What's wrong? You alright?"

She sniffed loudly and nodded her head, still unable to talk. His arms came up to her back and started patting her awkwardly. "Shh, shh, calm down. It's okay. Everything's okay, Katara," he comforted quietly.

Minutes later, when she finally started breathing regularly, Katara pulled back and looked at her brother's face. Smacking him strongly in the arm she said angrily, "No, it's not okay! You had me so worried! What happened to you?" then her voice dropped and she hugged herself. "I was so scared; I thought I'd lost you, Sokka."

"I'm sorry, Katara," he said staring intently into her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I couldn't have protected you if something had happened to you." She sighed, "What happened?"

Her brother took in a deep breath and began explaining the events of the past night.

AN: So, what'd did you think? I reeeaally want to know your opinions on it (negative, positive, neutral) and if you have any suggestions for improvement... drop me a review. And for those that do, here are the chocolate covered strawberries... and milk! Woohoo!

Oh, but I've also got bad tidings. I won't be able to write for a few weeks because I will be traveling and my pc-access shall be restrivted. Can I count on you guys to still be here when I'm back?

'Til the next one, PF smiles for you.