Author's note: So we left off with Aang outside of Katara's suite, begging her to let him in. Ahh, poor little puppy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. All of the amazing, charismatic characters belong to Mike and Bryan. Cry.
Chapter 4: What's Happening?
Little taps echoed throughout the hallway with Aang's whimpering voice. "Katara, please.." he begged. He was shaking, his knees gave in. Eventually, Aang sank to the floor breathing softly as he leaned against Katara's door.
However, Katara was not in her suite. She stood quietly around the corner at the end of the left wing of the palace, her eyes cast down, and her face streaked with tears. Her mind ran, full of useless and untruthful thoughts. 'He doesn't love me and he doesn't want to be with me. There must be someone.. else.'
Her thoughts were, obviously, a lie. But the recent – somewhat – rejection was having an effect on Katara. She started to doubt herself, her feelings, Aang. She soon began to think that love was something that wasn't meant for her. For years, she had felt that emotions always came in the way of duty. But now that her duty was done, why was it that emotions had no way in for her? That, even a boy who had spent an entire year travelling with her, couldn't bear to love her back with complete confidence.
She cared for him, she loved him. "I love him.." whispered Katara. But Katara slowly pushed those feelings behind her. She was so sure of Aang's feelings for her after the kiss. Now, however, she didn't know what to feel.
Katara was left in a state of confusion, drowning in all of this hurt that she thought could be healed by Aang's reassuring, mutual feelings. She heard Aang sigh as he got up from the foot of her door, and walk towards his own suite across the hall. A soft click sounded as he entered his room and closed the door.
Katara peered around the corner to see if it was safe. She waited a little longer, making sure her heart rate wasn't sky rocketing. And with a sigh, she tip toed down the hallway towards her suite, making sure that Aang wouldn't hear her enter her suite.
Once she reached the door, she was surprised to find her door unlocked. Katara slowly turned the knob, taking quick glances behind her to make sure that Aang had not heard. She slowly stepped inside, and found her room to be surprisingly dark; the curtains had been closed shut, and the moonlight could not find refuge in her room.
'Hm, maybe one of the maid's had come in earlier to fix my room.' She thought.
As soon as she took another step in the dark, Katara's senses heighted as she heard a rustling noise to her left. She prepared a stance, closely examining the space around her, unsure if she was alone or not.
"Who's there?" she asked defiantly. The room held and empty, yet questionable feeling and Katara sensed it. She walked to her right, remembering the pathway towards one of the grand windows. She held her arms in front of her, reaching for a curtain that trapped the light from the room.
After what seemed to be 20 steps, Katara finally felt the thick, satin cloth of the curtains. She immediately pulled back the cloth from the windows and examined at the brightly lit night sky.
'I should open the other one..' she thought. However, as soon as she turned her head, she jumped and gasped at the sight of a shadowed figure in front of her.
Katara was quick to act, but the figure was undoubtedly quicker. Katara attempted to deliver a swift jab to the figure's abdomen, but it somehow moved at an inhuman speed, sending the curtains on fire, and the soft, well made bed into flames. Katara soon found herself surrounded by flames; she screamed as the hooded figure ran out of her suite, light on its feet and impossibly swift.
In a matter of seconds, Katara's suite boomed into flames, as if the furniture in her suite had held some explosive and flammable material. Eventually, Katara spotted a water jug that sat idly on the dresser across the room and immediately bended the limited water as to create a path for her to escape the flaming suite. She, of course, had not had her pouch of water with her as she thought it wasn't needed.
The second she left her suite, Katara's eyes met Aang's frightened and worried face. He stood in front of the door of his suite, the expression on his face in shock. He had opened his door once he heard Katara's scream; but only too late to notice the hooded figure sprint into the darkness of the hallway.
"Where'd it go?" Katara asked in a panic.
Aang gave her a confused, shocked look. "Where'd what go?"
"The person! The one that did THIS," Katara pointed angrily behind her, "They ran this way—"
Katara took a swift step towards the direction that the figure had left. However, Aang was quick to grab Katara's arm before she completely left his presence. "Katara, are you okay? Please, just calm.."
"Aang, we have to catch that person!" Katara interrupted.
"But I didn't SEE anyone, Katara. Are you sure you didn't knock over a candle or…" Aang's voice trailed away; he looked worried. Eventually, Katara grew frustrated with the fact that Aang was, to some degree, not believing her claim.
"If you think that I'm lying—"
"No, no!" said Aang eagerly, "I just…I just wanted to talk.."
Suddenly, a group of Fire Nation servants turned the corner; their faces coated in shock as Aang and Katara stood mindlessly in front of Katara's burning suite. One Fire Nation woman flailed her arms as she saw the flames engulf the drapery through the open door. The couple looked towards the fear stricken servants, both afraid to say anything.
-oooooooooooooooo-
"Fire Lord Zuko!" a man said, eagerly knocking on Zuko's door. The Firelord had been sitting by his desk, carefully examining his notes, and going over possible political responses in his head. When he had heard the eager call from outside, he got up to open his door.
"Yes..?" Zuko said, not noticing the fear that covered the man's face.
The man raised a scroll placed in his shaking hand. "I had thought that you and the entire council would be at the meeting room. However when I arrived, no one seemed to be there. This scroll was supposed to get to you early this afternoon. It is imperative that you address this notice!"
Zuko slowly took in the man's urgent calls. He took the scroll from the man's trembling hands, picked off the red string, and unraveled the rolled paper:
'Firelord Zuko,
It has come to our attention that Azula, former princess of the Fire Nation, has been sending secret messages from her quarters in the Nation's mental unit. We have recently intercepted what seem to be 2 haikus from Azula that were meant to be distributed to the following Fire Nation citizens: Dao Yen and Tsi Wu.
The haikus intercepted were as followed:
"The blood brother reigns,
We let him rule the nation,
To see all destroyed.
The place of refuge,
You will establish our plan,
In the name of fire."
We have also attached the original copies written by Azula.
We have tracked the two citizens, Dao Yen and Tsi Wu, and have them in our custody. We do believe, however, that for the sake of you and the Avatar's safety, you two must remain alert. We have issued an extra fleet of guards to watch the outer corners of the palace. Former princess Azula may be playing tricks with our department again. However, we should not take any risks.
-FN Department of Mental Health'
The scroll was not signed by any specific person. However, Zuko knew that the Fire Nation Department of Mental Health would be contacting him frequently concerning the state of Azula's "permanent" stay. This message, however, seemed to catch Zuko's attention. He thanked the messenger before closing his door and examining the attached haikus.
The attached letters were beautifully written – however the paper was covered with dripped ink, probably a side effect of Azula's new mental jitters.
"You will establish our plan, in the name of fire…" Zuko whispered to himself has he read the haiku aloud.
And suddenly, something clicked. Zuko immediately dropped the scroll, and burst out of his room towards the kitchen. After what seemed to be only 5 minutes, Zuko half ran-half walked until he reached the kitchen, grabbing Sokka by the arm, and immediately walked out with him.
"Whaa—?" said Sokka in surprise, his mouth still full with rice.
"We need to see your sister." Zuko said, his face filled with determination and vigor.
End Note: I feel like I rushed this a bit, so sorry! I have a little plan going on for the plot, and I'm pretty sure there will be a few plot twists. Aang and Katara will talk next chapter, promise! I didn't want to place it in this chapter because it would've been.. I don't know. Out of place.
Please review! I really appreciate all your guys's feedback – it's the only thing that motivates me to keep writing, hee.