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Chapter 8

*** Zuko's P.o.v. ***

Dang that woman and her schemes! I should have known that the guy she was with was only a distraction, that she was only using him so I would focus on something other than her. Come to think of it, she was also using me too, and I really didn't like the feeling of being played like a well-tuned instrument. But that was off-topic anyway.

"What do you mean, she said she doesn't want him back?" I demanded from the short girl in front of me.

"She said she doesn't want him back," The girl said, slowing down her speech and enunciating her words carefully like I was an idiot that couldn't hear very well. "And she was telling the truth. At least about the part where she said you can have him. I'm not so sure about the rest."

"I don't want him either! He was just supposed to be a bartering tool, and then I could get rid of him! He's already driving me nuts with his 'Katara this,' and 'Katara that,' speeches! I'm about ready to kill him, and to heck with the consequences!"

The girl looked at me, or at least in my general direction, and cocked her head to the side.

"Sparky, have you been getting enough sleep? I think you're a little grumpy."

"Toph, this exceeds grumpy. This is as close as you can get to killing someone without actually doing it."

She just continued to look at me with an amused expression, then finally spoke.

"Wow, Zuko. Now, if you're finished with your toddler immaturity fit, can we get back to business? I have a fitting in fifteen minutes, and I don't want to be late again."

"A fitting for what?"

"My wedding dress. Didn't you notice the ring?" She held out her hand so I could admire the silver engagement ring she was wearing.

"Since when did you get some poor idiot to marry you? Oh, Agni, don't tell me you got knocked up with that fool earthbender you drank under the table a few weeks ago."

She didn't even look phased. "No, Haru was already stoned that night, and I couldn't wake him up. I'm engaged to an airbender."

"I thought you said they weren't your type."

"Since when have you known what my type is?"

"I know everything."

"Then how come you didn't know I was engaged?"

"Shut up."

"Can I go now?"

"Yes."

I waited until she had left the room, then turned and went through another door hidden behind a Fire Nation flag and into a narrow passageway with metal steps that led up to the deck.

"Captain!" I called as I emerged from the stairway.

"Yes, my lord?" He asked, bowing slightly in my direction.

"I would like to borrow a few of your men."

"I see. You won't maim any of them permanently, will you? I'd hate to have to hire more, especially with the blocks on the Fire Nation border."

"They won't die, and I won't purposefully damage someone beyond repair. That's all I can promise."

"Hmm. I'll call a few onto the training deck for you."

I nodded my approval, and he turned to call his men. I never knew why the older man had stayed with me after my banishment, but he had told me it was because he was doing a favor to my uncle. I might own the ship, but that doesn't mean I know how to run it. I leave all the navigating and ship management to the captain, and he leaves all the financial decisions up to me. It's a nice arrangement, and we both get along well because of it.

I almost smiled when I saw the ten men he had assembled at my request. My captain knew me well.

***Katara's P.o.v. ***

I should have known that idiot was going to get into trouble. Why I trusted someone as untrained as he was, I don't know, but Suki's going to kill me.

Now, I needed to get him back without seeming like I needed to get him back. I rather like my head where it is, and my neck would seem barren without it, which is what would happen if I told Suki I had lost her favorite child.

I really couldn't do much at the moment, but unless I miss my guess, Zuko didn't have the patience to keep Li for very long, especially if he was purposefully being annoying.

So all I really had to do at this point was send a message to the creeper that wanted me kidnapped.

***Zuko's P.o.v ***

I emerged from the training grounds sweaty and tired, but feeling much better than I had before I entered it, only to find a small blue box, about the size of a DVD, lying on my bed.

My laptop was already charging, so I turned it on and popped in the disk. I was extremely surprised at the image that popped up.

Katara sat looking at the camera, looking at me, and then she began to speak.

"I realize this is something different for you, so I'm going to make it as easy as possible to understand. Realize that you are perfectly free to reject this offer, but that I will think considerably less of you if you do.

"I propose a single combat between you and me to decide the outcome of the tasks given you by your employer. You may use as many weapons as you wish, and feel free to bend if it makes you want to. Meet me at the place it all began in a week. Don't keep me waiting."

The image vanished, and I left the room to go talk to my captain. I didn't notice the shadowy figure that slipped into my room and took back the disk, leaving me a rather nasty surprise.

***Katara's P.o.v.***

It had been a while since I'd been required to use the sneaking skills I'd acquired as a spy, and it almost felt good to use them again. After Zuko watched my video, I snuck back into his room to retrieve it.

The disk was actually a prerecorded message, this wasn't the first time I'd had a hostage situation, and I didn't want to leave any evidence. After leaving a very expensive mess in Zuko's room, I left. Some habits are hard to break, and I knew Jett would have to pay for it all, which made it all the more pleasurable. Pulling up the schematic for the ship in my head, I made my way to Li's cell. There are advantages to having a photographic memory and being a hacker. I had managed to lift quite a bit of Zuko's files from his computer before he came into the room. There was a lot of incriminating information on that machine. Oh, the blackmail I could use to get even with him, but Li was my focus at the moment, and I had to get him out before we were both caught by guards.

Reaching the door of his cell, I could see him slouched against the back wall, head bowed and eyes closed like he was sleeping.

"Come to try and get more information about Katara again? Or are you just here to feed me?" He asked as I silently picked the lock and opened the door. He didn't notice, and I had to bite back a snicker. If this was how he was treating Zuko, I wouldn't be surprised if the bounty hunter had been breathing steam.

"Well, I was planning on rescuing you, but if you want me to come back later when your schedule isn't so full, I might consider it." I said, leaning lazily back against one side of the doorframe of his now open jail cell, checking my nails. Which reminds me, I need to get them filed, but that can come later.

"Katara!" His eyes shot open, and he lurched forward on legs not yet used to walking.

"Hello, Li. Ready to go? I'd rather not get caught with you in the state you're in." I drawled, giving him an impish smile and raising one eyebrow in his direction.

"Yeah, let's go. You wouldn't believe some of the things he wanted to do to me."

"Actually, I can. And I could give him some pointers on torture. You don't look all that bad, considering you've been here at least twenty-four hours. Zuko must be soft."

"I wouldn't say that. You can't see most of what he did, and let me tell you, it was extremely painful."

I looked at him for a moment, then said, "I don't even want to know, so don't tell me. Come on, we need to get out of here."

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