Chapter 7
A couple days had past since Zuko and Katara came back to the GAang after confronting Katara's mother's killer and ever since that day everyone began to notice that both of them were getting closer then before. Even Aang was beginning to notice that both Katara and Zuko were getting closer though he didn't understand why and he felt the bits of jealousy coming to the front but believing he was just imagining things he didn't say anything about it. Zuko kept on with training Aang in Firebending. At the end of the training Zuko looked at everyone and said, "I know of a place where we can stay that will be closer to the Fire Nation and be a better place to teach Aang Firebending." "Where," Sokka asked looking at Zuko. "At Ember Islands on my families beach house because no one will be there at the time," Zuko answered. "That sounds like a good idea Zuko," Katara said. Everyone else agreed with Katara so they all gathered their things and put them on Appa's saddle and got on. Zuko told Aang who had got on Appa's head on where to go in order to get to Ember Islands and to his families beach house. He then got on the saddle and sat down beside Katara who gave him a smile. Ever since he had help her find her mother's killer she has been smiling at him a lot more and every time he see's her smile he couldn't help but smile back at her glad to see she was happy around him like she was when they were in the catacombs before his mistake. After about an hour or so of flying they soon made it to Zuko's family beach house. Once they landed they had a meal and decided to rest for the rest of the day. The next morning Zuko and Aang started their firebending practice once more.
Sokka and Suki had left earlier to look around and they came back with Sokka saying, "There's a play about us." "What how is that possible," Katara asked as she and Aang moved closer to get a better look at the poster that Sokka brought. Sokka began to read what was written on the poster while everyone listened to him carefully. "Uhg my mother use to take us ever year to see them. They butchered "Love Amongst the Dragons" every year," Zuko said. "Sokka do you really believe it's a good idea to watch actors pretending to be like us," Katara asked. Sokka nodded and said a few words in answer so they all decided to see this play. That night they went to the place that the play was going to be at and sat at one of the upper levels. Katara and Toph sat down first on the first bench on the level and while Aang was about to sit beside Katara Zuko felt a bit of jealousy on his side before he moved and casually sat down beside Katara forcing Aang to get back up. "Hey uh I wanted to sit there," Aang said. Katara looked at Zuko and Aang while Zuko said, "She's just sitting beside me what's the big deal." "Nothing I just… Okay," Aang said and sat down next to Zuko. Katara smiled and spoke to Toph a bit before the play started saying she will tell her feet what is happening. Everyone grew quiet as the play began. (only going to mention certain parts of the play that works for the story) The play began when Sokka and Katara was on their boat and met Aang in the iceberg with several complaints about how the ones playing their characters were really off and wrong especially the one that is playing Aang being played by a girl. Zuko slightly smiled at the one playing as Katara but he tried to not to show it and make Katara angry at him once again. The next scene came around causing Zuko to get upset and cause him to say, "They make me look humorless." "Actually I believe they have you right on," Katara said smiling her voice teasing. "How can you say that," Zuko said. They watch several other scenes that happened through their journey. When it got to the Jet scene Zuko felt jealousy raise its ugly head inside him once more. He heard Toph laughing at this scene and saw Katara in the corner of his eye showing embarrassment. After a few more scenes that actors took a break and so did the GAang. They all went out and complained about the way the actors were acting to them. After the break the next scene was when Toph came in and Toph seemed to like the idea of a guy playing her in the play. Then there was the scene about the ruins where everyone remembered where Iroh got hurt at and Azula's getaway. Then the scene of the catacombs happened causing Zuko and Katara to look at each other from the corner of their eyes as they remember that day. As the character playing Katara talked they really looked at each other before blushing and slightly sliding away from each other while still blushing. Katara did so because she didn't want to hurt Aang and Zuko moved because he was slightly embarrassed and shy about what was said because ever since that day he had kept Katara in his thoughts. Katara happened to glance at Zuko at that time and seemed to have read some of his feelings were showing in his eyes as she looked at him which caused her to blush even more. When it came to when Zuko made his mistake the character playing him went to the one playing Iroh and pushed him down before he went to Azula's side and said, "I hate you Uncle and you smell." Katara covered her mouth with her hand in shock and in pain for Zuko as she turned to look at him and said, "You didn't really say that did you?" "I might as well have," Zuko said feeling ashamed once more as he looked away. This caused Katara to grow more concern for Zuko and gently touched his shoulder to give him a small comfort. Zuko looked at Katara and smiled at her to show that he was alright. During another break the others began to talk and Katara asked, "Have any of you seen Aang." "He went to get me some Fire Gummies like 10 minutes ago," Sokka said. "I'm going to check outside," Katara said growing concern. Zuko watched Katara leave knowing she was worried and concern about Aang.
Katara went outside and saw Aang looking at the night sky. "Are you alright," Katara asked. "No, I'm not. I hate this play," Aang said. "I know it's upsetting but it sounds like your over-reacting," Katara said. "Over-reacting, if I hadn't block my chakra I would be in the Avatar State right now," Aang said. Zuko listened while Sokka and Suki talked about going to see Sokka's actor for him and Suki explained it vividly. "Jeez everyone is getting upset about their characters. Even you seem more down the usual and that's saying something," Toph said. "You don't get," Zuko started, "It's different for you. You've got a muscled version of yourself that can down 10 bad guys at once and making sassy remarks." "Yeah that's pretty great," Toph said. "But for me, it takes all of my mistakes that I made in my life and shoves them back in my face. My uncle he has always been on my side even when things were bad he was there for me. He taught me so much and how do I repay him, with a knife in his back, it's my greatest regret and I may never get to redeem myself," Zuko said. "You have redeemed yourself to your uncle. You don't realize it that you already have," Toph said. Zuko looked at Toph and asked, "How do you know?" "Because I once had a long conversation with the guy and all he would talk about is you," Toph said. "Really," Zuko said. "Yeah and it was kinda annoying," Toph said. "Oh sorry," Zuko said looking away. "But it was also very sweet. All your uncle wanted is for you to find your own path and see the light. Now you are here with us he will be proud," Toph said. Zuko smiled softly as Toph spoke and talked about his uncle. He then felt Toph punch him in the shoulder causing him to cry out in pain and rub his shoulder. "What was that for," Zuko asked. "That's how I show affection," Toph answered. Back with Katara and Aang. "Katara did the really mean what you said in there," Aang asked. "In wear," Katara asked confused, "What you talking about." "On stage when you said I was just like a brother to you and you didn't have feelings for me," Aang answered. "I didn't say that an actor said that," Katara spoke honestly. "But its true isn't it," Aang said, "We kissed at the evasion and I thought we were going to be together but we're not. "Aang," Katara started softly turning away from looking at him and look at the sky as she thought about her words to say, "I don't know." "Why don't you know," Aang asked. "Because we are in the middle of a war and we have other things to worry about, this isn't the right time," Katara said. "Well when is the right time," Aang asked. "Aang I'm sorry but right now I'm just a little confuse," Katara said messing with her hair as she thought about the kiss she shared with Aang before the evasion and the one she shared with Zuko after they confronted her mother's killer. Then Aang suddenly kissed her causing her to quickly back away and grow a bit angry as she said, "I just said that I was confuse. I'm going inside." She then ran away from Aang to head back inside. Everyone went back to their area to finish watching the play. It then went to the 'future' scenes with Zuko facing Azula and being defeated yelling 'honor'. This caused everyone to look at Zuko. It then showed the scene of the Fire Lord defeating Aang. Everyone disliked the play as they left they said as much as they head back to the beach house.
Katara and Zuko walked together as the other's walked ahead of them. Aang is to upset to notice that Katara and Zuko were behind them. "That play was awful," Katara said softly to Zuko. "Yeah no kidding but still he was throwing all of my past mistakes back into my face Katara," Zuko said. Katara gently touched his shoulder and gave him a soft smile. They decided to walk to the beach so that they could talk a little more to each other. They walked beside each other in a comfortable silence for a while. "The ending was bad there is no way that you will lose to Azula and shout out 'honor'" Katara said smiling softly. Zuko looked at Katara and realized that she was teasing him causing him to smile as well. "You have that much faith in me huh," he said. "Yeah I know you can't lose to Azula. You're a lot stronger then you believe yourself to be Zuko," Katara said. Zuko smiled as he thought about it Zuko remember the scene in the catacombs that the actors did causing him to blush. At the same time Katara was thinking about the same scene and built up the courage to talk about it by saying, "Zuko the scene in the catacombs with the actors that were acting as us?" "Yeah what about it Katara," Zuko asked. "What did you think about it? I mean we both know that wasn't what really happened down there but…" Katara said shyly. "But what," Zuko asked softly. "What did you think of how they did that," Katara said. Zuko blushed and said, "Well at first when we were really down in those catacombs I did begin to care about you as a friend. To be honest I believe my caring about you happened even before that I believe at the time that I had you tied to that tree." Katara smiled as she remembered that. "But that scene made me realize something even more then what I realized myself. Ever since I betrayed you after that I couldn't stop thinking about you or about the pain and hurt I saw in your eyes when I betrayed your trust. I kept on beating myself up for hurting you so badly and ever since then I've been hoping that I could regain your trust as well as your friendship that I knew would have happened if I hadn't made the wrong chose at Ba Sing Se," Zuko said. Katara smiled and blush at Zuko's words. "When you asked to join us later on Zuko I was so angry and hurt about your betrayal that I didn't even tried to give you a chance. I always criticized you and everything but you never once lash out at me. You just took my words and my criticisms though I'm sure they really hurt you. Your betrayal really hurt me Zuko and that is the main reason I wasn't willing to give you much of a chance. I didn't want to get hurt again most of all hurt by you," Katara said feeling tears beginning to fall. Zuko saw this and gently grabbed her arm to stop her and get her to face him so he could gently wipe her tears away. "Katara I'm really sorry that I hurt you so badly and I don't know if there is anyway for me to make that pain go away but I promise you that I will do whatever I can to not hurt you again and I'll protect you if you will let me," Zuko said softly. Katara looked at Zuko her blue eyes darker because of the tears she cried as she smiled at him and nodded before hugging him tightly. Zuko returned Katara's hug and he made sure he remembered his promise. ~I swear it Katara I will do whatever I can to not to hurt you again. I know I love you but I don't think you are ready to hear that from me just yet especially since w have this war to worry about but I promise I will tell you of my feelings after these is over. I just hope you will be able to return those feelings~ Zuko thought to himself. Katara was thinking basically the same lines. ~Zuko I believe in you and I trust you to not to hurt me again. I know that I look at you more then as a friend now especially after this talk with you. I just need to find out how to tell Aang gently that I love you instead of him. He was already hurt a bit by that play and to find out that I realized that I really do just see him as a brother and a friend and nothing more then that I know is going to hurt him even more~ The two of them stayed like that for a while longer Zuko offering Katara comfort and Katara accepting the comfort.
(Next chapter is going to be the final battle and Sozin's comet. After that there will be more chapters that will be after that final battle. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up and I'll try to get the next one up as soon as I can find the time to do so)
