Chapter 5 The Waterbending Academy

"… and that is why blood bending is a forbidden technique," said Katara ending her lecture. The class got up as the final bell of the Academy. Now Katara had to wait an hour until her meeting with the head of the school Master Pakku. She went to her office with a stack of essays on the ethics of bending in her hand. She was going to make use of the time she was waiting by grading papers.

As she came up to her office there was a pleasant surprise waiting for her. Her new husband Doru was waiting by her door. "Hey my love," said Doru as he reached in for a hug and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" asked Katara.

"I just got some orders at the Navy port it seems my brother in-law is coming to visit our base. I just wanted to come and share the news with you."

"That's nice, but you could have just told me when I get home. I'm busy. I have a meeting with the Headmaster in an hour, plus I have a bunch of papers to grade," said Katara as she unlocked her office to set everything down.

"You caught me red handed," said Doru in a playful voice. "I just wanted an excuse to come see my wife that's all." He grabbed Katara and looked her in her blue eyes. Katara looked back into his white eyes she stroked his black hair. "All right then I will leave you to your work. I'll see you tonight." Doru gave Katara a kiss and left.

Katara sat in her room in silence. She stared at the papers as her mind drifted off. She thought about how much her life has changed since the days of Aang and the gang. After they all went their separate ways, Pakku offered her a job as a Waterbending instructor. Soon after the school became really popular the Waterbending teachers of the Avatar were there. With Aang out traveling trying to find Airbenders and Katara's new job they grew apart. While Aang was gone Doru constantly tried asking Katara out. She refused him every time.

One day he came to her, Katara saw him and began to walk the other way. "For the last time Doru no I don't want to go get coffee or anything with you," said Katara with a fierce look in her eyes.

"I just wanted to ask why," said Doru. "Why do you wait for a love that may never be? I am past my old crush on you. I am just tired of seeing you stare out at the sea waiting. Aren't you lonely, I just want to be your friend?" Katara's eyes began to tear up but she held them back. "Your brother told me about the Avatar. He told me that is why you stare at the sea. He says that is the face he gets when he looks at the moon. I am not going to try to take his place. You need something or someone to bring you back here and now. The mind and body are not meant to be separated, so either bring your mind here or take your body there. That's all"

Katara was speechless, she wanted to say that he was wrong but deep down she knew he was right. Doru turned and walked away with his head high as if a load was taken off of his chest. Back then every day Katara would go and look out at the sea. She would normally wonder what Aang was doing or if he was okay. But that day all she could think about was what Doru said to her.

She stood in the ankle deep water. She tried to calm her mind with Waterbending but all she could do was make waves. She tried to tell herself that she was over Aang, but deep down she knew she would never truly be over Aang. She had to let go of him. She felt like the water she was bending. The distant moon tugs and pulls it but ultimately it has to stay on the Earth, it has a duty to the Earth. Katara had a duty to her new job. Once she realized that she regained her focus. She began to bend a stream of water. The water would dance like a snake in the air and Katara would dance like the snake charmer. The next day Katara invited Doru to eat lunch with her. She never figured out if the fun they had that day was a result of his charm of her lack of fun for a while.

The chair Katara was sitting on almost fell back knocking Katara out of her memories to the present. She looked at the time. 45 min had past as she day dreamt of the past. Now she had to go to her meeting. She stood up and flattened out her blue dress with her hand. She took her brush and began grooming herself. When she was ready she locked her door and marched to the Headmaster's office. On her way up some stairs she ran into Yakon, another highly regarded professor. They both nodded at each other as they awkwardly marched up the stairs.

Yakon and Katara did not like each other at all. When all of the teachers came together to come to a decision about the legality of Boodbending Katara and Yakon faced off about it. Yakon looked at it has an ultimate Waterbending technique. Katara saw it as the ultimate Waterbending taboo. The other teachers sided with Katara. Since then they both have been on the opposite sides of any debate becoming bitter rivals.

When they got to Pakku's office they both walked in. Master Pakku gestured with his old wrinkly hand that they both sit. Master Paku coughed a few times before clearing his throught and saying, "I am retiring. My health is gone and I will need t spend more time at home. I need one of you to become the new Headmaster of the Waterbending Academy."

Both Katara and Yakon looked surprised. The only thing they had in common was their love and respect for Master Pakku. They began to say it is an honor and what does he need. Pakku raised his hand cutting them off. "You both knew this was coming, I told the other teachers to evaluate you for the past couple of weeks. Katara you were voted to be the next Headmistress. You will begin in two weeks."

Now Katara and Yakon looked stunned. Yakon looked furious and stormed out of the room. "Sir, this is an honor," said Katara still stunned by the news.

"Your Gran-Gran would be proud of you. I am proud of you," replied Pakku as he grabbed his cane toget up. "Come now Master Katara we have much to discuss."