Chapter Four: Ba Sing Se

I stared up at the walls of the city and shuddered. The Fire Nation's flag had been hung over the outer wall from when Azula had taken it over. My wrists grew uncomfortable from the weight of two heavy gray cuffs. They clanked and dug in with every step towards the great wall. I glanced at Zuko nervously as he led me up to the guards at the door.

"Halt, state your name and business," one of the Dai Li guards stated in a business like tone.

"Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, I'm here on orders from my father to witness the progression of the new city," he said smoothly and confidently.

"Very well, and who are your companions?" the other asked.

"My uncle, Iroh, and my prisoner," he said in a flat voice that made him seem bored with this scene.

"You may proceed," the man said finally after looking over the group again with a swift glance.

I eyed the man with hidden suspicion. He was going to let us into the city so easily? From his stand point, there was a lot of information he was missing. When we walked past the soldiers, I kept my gaze to the ground and feigned submissiveness. It wasn't the kind of role that I usually played before Aang had died, but I realized how much I truly hated it at that moment.

Red splashes of paint and cloth covered the city with red paper lanterns lit along the streets. This was no longer the noble and strong Earth Kingdom. I walked behind Zuko and stole glances at the marketed goods and multiple changes of the city. We walked through the inner wall and moments later we were upon the great doors of the palace.

Zuko turned to me when we stopped and took the chains off of my wrists, throwing them aside carelessly. "You will go with my uncle to my room. I will be there shortly. Please stay out of trouble."

"Me? Get into trouble? Never," I gasped in an overly dramatic tone. He smirked down at me and shook his head at my nonsense.

"I will make sure she is safely escorted. Now go before your sister becomes inpatient. I'm sure the Dai Li have already informed her of our arrival," Iroh said and then nodded to Zuko as he ushered me down the hall.

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He grimaced at the thought of seeing his sister. She was the last person he wanted to deal with right now. He would rather go back to his room and torment his 'prisoner' with emotions he hadn't known existed until he had met her. Debates over his sanity weren't in minimal supply these days. He cast away those thoughts as he passed through elegant double doors that were held open for him.

Azula sat lazily on the thrown before him with a confident smile gracing her face. She slipped from the engraved position of power and made her way to stand before him. "Long time, no see Zuzu," she said lightly.

"I told you not to call me that," he replied sternly.

"So, what brings you back to Ba Sing Se? I thought you were searching for the reincarnated Avatar. Could it be because you failed?" She smiled broadly at him with narrowed evil eyes.

"I am returning from the Southern Water Tribe to report my findings," he growled in irritation. "Must you always assume the worst?"

"And what did you find, dear brother? Surely you have no Avatar," she all but mocked him.

He was torn between telling her there was no Avatar in the Southern Water Tribe, to protect Katara's tribe, and telling her that he had captured the Avatar, to prove himself worthy. "There is no new Avatar. The cycle was broken," he stated finally. He dodged a bullet with a lie that was almost true. The cycle was postponed not broken.

"Is that so? And who told you this?" she asked suspiciously.

"I witnessed the Avatar's death remember? I searched the Southern Water Tribe and there are no infants. All their men are away at war. The Northern Water Tribe has been checked as well."

"Ah, yes. I suppose you're right. If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to. You know, Kingdom to run, hopes to crush, very busy schedule." Her sadistic smile assured him that she was the same as always.

He watched her stalk off like a tigress after her prey. He would do much of the same. He made his way back down the halls of the castle and found the vaguely familiar door of his quarters. He pushed the door open and his eyes met with that of her pure azure gaze. She was sitting on the bed and, from the looks of it, she had been chewing on her nails nervously.

"Is everything ok?" she asked standing up quickly.

He didn't answer right away and scanned the room. There was only one bed as he remembered which was covered in red and black silk. The rest of the room was dull in comparison to the dragon printed designs of the bed spread. The walls were beige and the carpets a dark brown. He went to stand by the window and then turned to face her. "Where is my uncle?"

"He was given his own room down the hall," she explained. When he moved to the door she placed a hand on his shoulder lightly. "He went to go shop in the city a little while ago."

"Crazy old man, he'll bring back a bunch of things we really don't need," he said while shaking his head.

"Zuko?" she asked timidly. She always became shy when asking him for something. He thought it quite odd that she should feel nervous around him at this point. He looked down at her expectantly. "I was wondering if maybe we could- Um- Go find Toph and the others?"

"Do you fear me?" he asked lowly as he came closer to her. He considered her question and thought the answer obvious. Why did she think he had brought her here in the first place? His arms wrapped around her waist and he could feel tremors of her excitement. Her hands went to his chest and she pushed at him halfheartedly.

"I don't fear you," she whispered. "I fear the power you have over me."

He smirked down at her and then kissed her hungrily. She kissed him back with rivaling passion and they found their way to the bed yet again. His feelings for her had grown stronger and his need for her was stronger yet.

She moaned beneath him, which brought him back to reality. He pulled away from her regrettably and went to stand by the window. He wanted her, but he couldn't take her. Not after what happened on his ship. If he had sex with her, it would mean something. It wouldn't be an act done simply out of momentary passion that would surely fade. He looked over at her and noticed a slight tremble in her lip as she returned his gaze. She quickly bit her lip and looked away.

He walked back to her and lifted her chin to meet his eyes once more, "We should go and look for your friends. There will be time later for things like this."

Anger flashed in her eyes. "And what exactly is this? First, I have to ask you to stop and now you jump at the moment I am willing. What's changed?"

"My feelings for you are the same, but my intentions are different," he said calmly. "Now come, I escort you to the city and you can find your friends." He ignored the shocked look on her face and pulled her towards the door. When they got to the lower levels of the city, where the refugees usually thrived, he let her lead the way. He figured that she would know where to find the quarters of her friends from previous experience.

She walked through the city with purpose making it obvious that she was no stranger to these streets. He watched curiously as she stopped for a moment and then switched directions abruptly. He choked back laughter as he watched her end up at dead end after dead end until finally she found what she had been looking for.

"I think it's this way," she mumbled to herself. "I remember there was- aha! Now I remember." She turned down a darkened street and he followed close behind. He was on high alert now as they made their way to a deep green door. It was probably the last Earth colored door in the kingdom.

Before she could even knock the door opened and arms wrapped around her waist. He moved to assist Katara when she held up a single hand to stop him. Her arms returned the hug and then he realized who it was.

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"I can't believe it's you Katara! You've been missing since the funeral and I thought I'd never find you again!"

"I'm glad to see you too, Toph," I said in return ignoring the depressing parts of her words.

"Um, who're you with? Because to me, it sure does feel a lot like…" She paused and backed away from me. "You led Zuko here?"

"Toph, wait! He's on our side!" I explained before she could launch an attack on him. "He's going to help us."

"Hah! Oh sure, now he wants to help! He kills Aang and he thinks he can just up and join the good side now?" she asked incredulously. "You have got to be kidding me."

"He didn't kill Aang. Someone else did. We should go inside and talk. I have so much to tell you," I said in a hushed tone. I figured that the Dai Li had been watching their every move since they got here, hence the reason I pretended to be lost.

I glanced over at Zuko and held my hand out to him. He accepted it and I led him inside behind Toph. He had an emotionless mask on his face as we sat down in the living room amongst many new Earth Kingdom people.

"So, do you have a plan to take out the Fire Lord or what?" Toph asked in her normal tone; sassy.

"Well, it turns out that I'm the new Avatar. I came to Ba Sing Se with Zuko's help and I was hoping to find you here. We're going to gather everyone up and re-plan the invasion. I know we can catch the Fire Lord off guard and take him down with everyone's help."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're the new Avatar? I thought the new Avatar must be just a baby at this point, right?" Toph asked quickly.

"If the cycle were the same as before, yes, but because Aang passed it on before he died, no. I am the current Avatar and I need you to teach me Earthbending."

"You are the new Avatar? When did that happen?" It was an endless game of ask and answer at this point. I explained everything to her about what we had discovered and about our plans to take Ozai down.

About an hour later Zuko leaned down and whispered into my ear that we should be leaving soon. I looked over at Toph quickly figuring she had already heard what he had said. "We should return before your uncle comes looking for us. I doubt he'd be able to find us. I'll be back tomorrow though, Toph."

"I'll be here. I'd say I'll see you then, but I think it's quite obvious as to why I won't." Toph smiled and with that, I giggled and stood up.

"Zuko, could you wait outside for a moment?" I asked sweetly.

He nodded silently and went out the door without a sound. I turned to look at Toph and noticed she had her arms crossed.

"So, how come he's being so submissive all of a sudden? What'd you do to him?" she asked.

"Nothing, I've just spent a lot of time with him is all. I was going to see if you could find Haru and the others as soon as possible. I want to learn the elements as we go, but we can't waste any time."

"Are you sure we can trust Zuko?" she asked while eyeing the door. "I think you should go ask him who he's talking to right now. He's not a lone out there."

I turned to the door and crept out into the darkened alley only to find Zuko and Mai. My heart lurched in my chest and I found my legs working overtime to get me away from the horrible scene. He was kissing her. He had kissed her! I ran until I reached the inner wall.

I only stopped when I ran into someone. A painfully tight grip had a hold on my arm and I looked up in horror to find Azula smirking down at me.

"Well if it isn't the Avatar's little Water Peasant..."

OoOoOoO ;)

"What do you think you're doing?" he growled and removed her hands from his person. "I thought I told you. I can't be with you anymore."

"Why? Tell me why, Zuko, because I'd really like to know. What kind of man breaks off a relationship over hawk? You're so insufferable!" Mai cried and slapped him.

"I found someone… She changes everything," he told her quietly and looked away. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Sorry? Sorry! Take your sorry and shove it where the sun doesn't shine!" she yelled and stormed off.

"Hey," Toph's voice called. "Where'd Katara go? She came out here a few minutes ago and I figured that since you were still here… Anyway, I just forgot to give her something."

"Katara was out here?" he asked quickly. "Oh, I'm so stupid!" He ran down the alley way to the other end and searched for her foot prints. They were easy enough to point out because of how small of imprints she left. He followed them until they stopped abruptly. There were signs of a struggle and then all the foot prints left back to the one place he was hopping they wouldn't go. They led him straight back to the palace only an hour later.

He rushed down the halls and made his way towards the cells he knew she would be taken to. Azula was a horrible woman and would likely be torturing the girl out of fun. She was as evil as their father and then some. He heard the snap of a whip echo down the halls, which was followed by the sound of a high pitched scream.

wOoOoOoO :D

A scream was torn from my body as the whip broke the skin on my abused back. The sinister looking princess circled me admiring her handy work. The whip twirled against the ground as if playing in a small devil of wind and then struck harshly again. Tears had begun falling from my eyes.

"Now, tell me what I wish to know. Who is the next Avatar? I know you, of all people, would protect it. It was to be born into your tribe. Now tell me!" She brought the whip down and smiled at her own cruelty. "No worries, if you don't tell me, I can always send you to my father as a war prisoner."

I closed my eyes tightly and shivered as the blood from my wounds dripped down my back. She seemed to grow tired of the whip now and I heard her throw it aside. She growled with impatience and then flames erupted.

I shrieked and howled in pain as she burned me with a whip made of fire. My vision blurred and my body slumped forward against the restraints. Azula had lost a losing battle. She would not get the information nor the pleasure of my pain filled screams.

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He had made it half way down the hall when the creaking of a cell door made him stop. He took cover in a shadowed doorway and held his breath. Azula walked down the other end of the hall and ordered the guards to stand guard on the cell she had just left. He heard her prominent footsteps fade and then turned down the hall again.

He moved swiftly and quietly before striking down the first unsuspecting guard. The second one yelled and was quickly silenced with a sickening crack. He stepped over the bodies and went straight to her cell. He opened the door with a key stolen from one of the guards and he quickly, and carefully, removed Katara from the restraints. He pulled her limp body up and over his shoulders and quickly maneuvered back to his room.

He panted and kicked the door opened. Once he got her to the bed and placed her on her stomach so he could treat her wounded body. Her face was contorted in pain and a whimper escaped her lips when he placed a hand on her cheek softly. Azula was a heartless woman indeed.

With a damp cloth, he wiped away the blood and stopped the bleeding on her back. He chastely averted his eyes as bed he could when removing her clothes and quickly bandaged the worst parts of her wounds. A frown worked deeper into his face as his anger grew. If he hadn't been careless, this never would have happened.

He vowed that he would never let anything bad happen to her again. He would become everything for her even if it meant turning away from his own nation and family. He glanced down at the girl and sighed. He could no longer deny her importance to him.

"We should have never come to Ba Sing Se," he whispered to her before placing a feather light kiss on her cheek. "I'm sorry…"

A/N: Thank you for the WONDERFUL reviews! This chapter is edited and complete. I hope you like it! A special thanks to KitsuneHitsugaya! I don't think I've ever laughed so hard from a review. :D Thanks again for reading and reviewing!