The soldier slowly removed his helmet while Katara formed an ice dagger under the folds of her jacket. Zuko braced himself ready to attack with his bending if need be. His primary focus was Katara. She had never fought a Fire Nation soldier before, and would most likely be overpowered despite her master bending. There were more guards than there were them.

Once his helmet was off, Zuko's eye brow rose in clear confusion. He had no idea who this man was. He was young, not too much older than Zuko and did not look Fire Nation. His dark brown hair was cut short like a warriors' was supposed to be and had a thin scar on his left cheek. The other soldiers behind seemed to shift almost uncomfortably, another act that had Zuko's mind jumbled.

"You don't know me, but I've heard a lot about you." Without the helmet muffling his voice, he had a familiar sounding voice, but Zuko still couldn't place him. He grabbed Katara's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as he was sure she was getting ready to attack. But for some reason, Zuko didn't think that was necessary, not against these men.

"You're right, I do not know you. But if you would be so gracious to enlighten me, I'd be obliged." Zuko did his best to keep his voice under control and not sound nervous. Because to be honest he was quite terrified at whom this was and that they knew who he was.

"My name is Sen Tzu." Zuko stared dumbly at him. He felt like he'd heard the name before, but couldn't remember where or its significance. Just as Zuko was about to open his mouth to speak, the soldier named Sen Tzu spoke once more. "You met my younger brother, Lee." Now Zuko knew who that was.

"You're Lee's older brother? You're alive!" Zuko did not even know what to say. The last he heard this man's platoon had been captured and might have been made into sacrificial lambs for the Fire Nation's frontline. "How is Lee doing?" Sen Tzu's face fell at this, and Zuko felt nerves boil up in his stomach. Had the young boy been killed? Even though he had rejected Zuko after finding out he was the exiled Prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko still cared about the boy and his families' well being.

"Lee is not well. He and my parents are here in the Fire Nation."

"Here? Why?"

"The Fire Nation soldiers who defeated my squad thought it would be fun, to take us back to our village and bribe our families. They would become slaves to noblemen in the Fire Nation and we would not get sent to the frontier. If they refused the village would be burned and my friends and I would become sitting ducks in the war."

"Naturally the families chose slavery."

"Yes, Fire Lord Ozai says that after he takes over the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe the surviving people will become slaves. Benders will be executed." Katara's fist clenched at this and she felt the ice dagger cut her hand, but it healed almost instantly. She imagined her Gran-Gran, with a leash around her neck being whipped and ordered around by an ungrateful Fire Nation nobleman. "My family is lucky enough to get a decent nobleman family. They even have a little boy that plays with Lee. I don't see them much, but because my old squad and I are positioned here at the entrance they visit me sometimes."

"That's good. So you're stationed here instead of being in the middle of the war?"

"Yes. I don't honestly think I'd be able to fight for the Fire Nation anyway and cut down any Earth Kingdom men. Why are you here though Zuko? Shouldn't you be far away from this place?"

"I joined the Avatar to teach him firebending. This is his waterbending teacher Katara. She and I are here to defeat my sister Azula while the Avatar defeats the Fire Lord. But we are striking tomorrow and must retire tonight inside the Royal Center."

"Of course, tomorrow the gates will be closed." Zuko nodded. "Then I will not keep you any further, and let you rest up before your fight. The best I can do now is bid you success and pray to the Gods that you and Miss Katara win, and the Avatar as well." The soldiers behind him nodded in agreement before opening the gates. "Be safe inside the city and take care."

As Zuko and Katara made their way inside the city, greeted by white buildings with red roofs, Zuko's heart sank knowing the future of the little boy Lee he had met when he traveled alone. He could only hope that after tomorrow, he would be able to change everything.

"I need a room please." Zuko placed the gold coins on the table, but the old woman still sneered at the pair of teenagers that entered her fine hotel.

"For the both of you?" Zuko briefly glanced at Katara who immediately blushed.

"Yes, please." She hastily grabbed a gold key in exchange for the gold coins on the counter.

"Just for tonight?"

"That's all we need." Zuko took the key and quickly ushered Katara to their room. The more he spoke to people or remained out in public the more of a chance there was for them to be recognized. Sen Tzu already recognized him, and the two had never met before. When they reached the room, Zuko gazed at his appearance and soon found out that his mask wasn't entirely covering his scar. Had they spent any more time out in public he would have been identified by the wrong person.

Katara removed her oversized coat methodically and folded it away. She and Zuko had just by luck infiltrated the inner circle of the Fire Nation. She was sure that even if it hadn't been an ally at the gate, Zuko would have gotten them inside. She didn't know who this "Sen Tzu" or "Lee" was, but Zuko seemed to know them, at least Lee. She was saddened to know that a possible friend of Zuko's was now being forced to be a slave for Fire Nation royals.

"Who is Lee?" Katara couldn't bite her tongue anymore. She had to know who it was.

"Lee was a boy I met while I traveled alone. I met him only two days before we all fought Azula and she struck down my uncle. His family and the entire village were being persecuted by not only Fire Nation, but Earth Kingdom as well."

"Earth Kingdom?"

"They were taking advantage of their position and were bossing around the townspeople. I fought them and tried to save the town."

"You did?" This surprised Katara considering this was while Zuko was the "bad guy." She couldn't really see him saving a town back then. But she also didn't see why he would be lying about that right now.

"Yeah, I did. But eventually I had to use my firebending and the townspeople, including Lee, kicked me out. Apparently they haven't forgotten me though, if Sen Tzu heard about me."

"Well, you're pretty unforgettable." Katara meant this as both truth and slight teasing. She remembered when Azula first gave chase to their group and Katara thought it was Zuko. Even though he had disappeared from their lives for quite some time, she never forgot him.

"So are you." Katara blushed like mad, and turned away from him. She thought maybe he would have taken a jab back at her, not compliment her and flirt. He turned her around to face him. "Don't look away. You should know that I always thought of you back when I was chasing Aang. I even had a crazy idea that I could capture you instead and lure him out. I kind of did that when I grabbed you and Sokka with Jun, but it wasn't to the degree of what I had imagined."

"Oh? What were you imagining?" Now it was Zuko's turn to blush, and he tried to turn, but Katara grabbed his tight sleeve. "Oh, now who's blushing? Come on, you can tell me!"

"It's pretty bad."

"I won't hold it against you."

"Promise?" Katara nodded and Zuko exhaled sharply. He couldn't believe he was about to tell her this. "I would have captured you, held you on my boat and if you didn't tell me where Aang was, I'd try to entice it out of you."

"And how would you have enticed me?"

"Like this." And he dipped his head into her neck to place a tender kiss there. Katara's heart sped up not only because of what he was doing, but at the knowledge of knowing this is what he would have done to her months ago.

"Oh yeah? What else would you have done, had I not told you where the Avatar was?"

"I probably would have tried this." Zuko brought his hand up to cup her round pert breast. Katara inhaled harshly at the contact. He squeezed soothingly and she stifled a moan. Zuko heard her restraining herself and smiled inward.

"And if I still didn't know where the Avatar was?" Zuko smiled broadly into her neck, as his other hand went to tenderly touch her womanhood. Katara gasped loudly in his ear, and clutched his shoulders. This was only the second time something had touched her down there and the first time wasn't so much deliberate but emotional and apprehensive.

"And…" Her voice was strained and full of lust. It was lower than usual and it turned Zuko on even more. Zuko rubbed her softly and she almost collapsed in his arms. Through the tight thin fabric he could feel her steadily growing wetter. He latched onto her neck with his mouth once again sucking on her sweet skin and teasing it between his teeth.

"Oh, Zuko…" It was only a mere whisper, but Zuko heard it and backed her up until the back of her knees hit the bed. She fell back but Zuko was right there with her never removing his mouth, or hands, from their current positions. He suckled her neck and shoulders on her, planting sweet and affectionate kisses on her soft skin. But he was mostly focused on his hands. The one softly kneaded her breast pinching the nipple under the fabric, while the other meticulously rubbed her womanhood. She bucked upwards into his hand and he applied more pressure, rubbing her faster.

"Katara." He breathed as he licked the shell of her ear. Her panting grew heavier the longer he stroked her faster and harder. The thin fabric separating them was continuously growing wetter and wetter as Katara's moans escalated. She grabbed his thick black hair and pulled hard, ripping his face from her neck. He stared into her blue eyes before she smashed her lips against his. The kiss was rough yet passionate and sent Zuko's mind reeling to the point of not even thinking. All he could concentrate on was making Katara as pleasured as possible. She continued to buck wildly against the hand that fondled her most private area. As his tongue slipped past her lips she nearly cried out in delight.

Zuko broke the kiss only to lick his way down to her breasts. He ripped away the clothes she wore and freed her oppressed, round breasts. Using his tongue he licked her hard, stiff nipple and used his hand to pinch the other. Her hands dug into the back of his neck sending chills up his spine, his scalp set ablaze. He took her nipple roughly in his mouth, pulling and sucking hard on it.

"Zuko!" Her cries echoed throughout the hotel room. His hand rubbed faster as she thrust upwards into it. His fingers cramped slightly but he was too worried about letting her reach an orgasm. She just had to. There wasn't anything Zuko wanted more in that moment than to hear Katara scream his name and reach ultimate satisfaction.

Her panting grew louder, and her body began to jerk uncontrollably. Katara felt this dark need swell in the pit of her stomach. No, not stomach; lower than that. It bubbled up and made her entire body tremble with bliss, until she couldn't take it anymore. With the last bit of her strength she pulled Zuko away from her breasts to give one last heated kiss before breaking it to scream out.

"OH ZUKO!" Her body shook as she came and Zuko dipped his head once again into her neck smiling widely. After a few moments she finally simmered down and softly kissed his cheek. He stroked her softly, gradually coming to a halt before wiping her damp hair off her forehead and placing a kiss there.

"You all right?" She licked her lips and nodded to him. Her eyes began to flutter and soon her weary eyelids began to droop.

"Zuko…" Her voice was barely a whisper, and he knew she was on the verge of passing out.

"Yes?"

"Zuko I…" He listened intently and watched her glazed blue eyes flicker back and forth for a moment.

"I…I'm tired. Good night." Zuko was getting the feeling that she was about to say something else, what that was he wasn't sure, but it was gut instinct. However, he looked her over and found himself incredibly attracted to her physically, but also mentally and emotionally. He was there for her when she needed him, and he knew that tomorrow she would be there for him when he needed her. Peering out the window he was greeted by the bright moon that wasn't quite yet full. Like Katara, he should slip into slumber as well and get some rest before his fight with Azula. It wasn't hard to fall asleep once he cuddled next to his waterbender.

Zuko rose with the sun, like he always did, but it didn't warm him like usual. Today he felt nothing but nerves rise up in his stomach. Today he would face Azula, with Katara by his side {the only redeeming thing about today}, and hopefully Aang would defeat the Fire Lord. Zuko could only pray to the Gods that Aang would be able to do it. It had been a few days since they last saw Aang, and he didn't know much about firebending. Another fact that scared Zuko to his very core.

He hadn't taught Aang all he knew about firebending because of his and Katara's eviction from the group. He didn't even get a chance to show Aang how to redirect lightning, a factor that could end up being life-changing. Panic flowed through him, and he eventually found himself climbing out of bed to stand at the window, looking through the paned glass down a the streets below. His body began to shake with a feeling he always tried to harbor from the population: fear.

Cool hands wrapped around his bare torso and he found himself in the embrace of a now awakened Katara. She held him close to her and he felt all of his emotions boiling forth, but refused to cry or yell in anger. They locked gazes, and all she did was smile at him. At the sight of her radiant face it was like a calm overtook him. The feelings of dread seemed to escape his body and were replaced with a different feeling. One that was indescribable.

"It will be okay Zuko. I know how you're feeling and you will definitely take her down." It was great to Zuko that she could remain her composure while speaking to him about the upcoming fight with his sister. He was a nervous wreck, and even if she was on the inside, she wasn't letting it show and the effect was calming Zuko down.

"Thank you Katara." He kissed her forehead and held her close. Who knew if it would be the last time he'd be able to do so. And so he had to drink it in now, and just hope that the two of them would be able to defeat his sister for good.

"Not to break the moment, but how are we sneaking into the palace?" Zuko smiled and disentangled himself from his girl.

"Don't worry about that. There a bunch of secret tunnels leading into the palace that only I knew about. Well, myself and my cousin Lu Ten."

"How did something like that get unnoticed by the guards? And for so long?"

"My mother and Uncle kept them occupied. And after a while Lu Ten figured out how we could disguise them so they'd never be noticed."

"That's amazing! But I have to ask, was Lu Ten your Uncle Iroh's son?"

"Yes, he was, and he was my best childhood friend. My mother would make me play with Azula and her friends, Ty Lee and Mai, but like I said she kind of forced me to. After a while, my I hardly saw Lu Ten once he turned thirteen and then he went off into war not too long after and was killed in battle. When we found out, my mother and I were upset. My father and sister saw it as a way to take control of the throne."

"That's terrible. I'm so sorry Zuko."

"It's okay. Once my father and sister are taken care of my uncle and I can fix this nation just like he and Lu Ten would have." Katara gazed up into Zuko's hopeful golden eyes.

"You really love your uncle…"

"I do. And other than you, I wouldn't want anyone else by my side if we win and I become crowned Fire Lord." It was then that Katara remembered something she had always wanted to ask Zuko.

"I have a question." Zuko nodded for her to Katara, and she actually felt her cheeks heat up. "When you marry, will she be called the Fire Queen or Fire Lady?"

"Why would you want to know that?" He laughed.

"I'm just curious, that's all. There's a lot I don't know about Fire Nation culture."

"Well, she would be called the Fire Lady. And hopefully I can teach you a little Fire Nation history in the future, as long as you tell me about the Water Tribe." He held out his hand to which she grasped it firmly.

"Deal."

The underground tunnel was dark, and Zuko's hand was engulfed in flames just to provide a flicker of light to see. He held onto her hand leading her through the dirt passageway that would lead them to the castle. To be exact, this certain pathway would lead them to the courtyard under a large oversized planter. There was a trap door in the planter that would allow travelers to crawl up and out of it. Zuko wasn't kidding when he said his late cousin Lu Ten disguised the paths.

They were almost there, and the comet was almost upon them. Katara wasn't sure how Aang, Sokka, Suki and Toph were holding up but she prayed to Yue and Tui to keep them safe. After taking care of Azula, the plan was for Zuko and Katara to run and provide backup to the gAang. Even if they weren't wanted, it didn't change the fact that they were the only ones there to cover the Avatar's back.

The only amusing thought, and it was on the dark side, that Katara could think of was how happy Aang would be she didn't stop waterbending. In fact, over the couple of days her bending had become more lethal. As easily as Hama could Katara could draw water from the air around her which came in handy in the Fire Nation. There wasn't much water around, and as a waterbender it was important she improvise and stay quick on her feet.

The same went for Zuko. Katara knew that all he wanted to be able to do was create lightning. And if he could it would definitely be an advantage to have on their side. But Katara didn't pressure him to practice. In fact, trying to learn how to bend lightning sounded quite dangerous to her. At least with water she could control it at all times. Lightning, she was told by Zuko, was unpredictable and the last few times he tried his attempts kept blowing up in his face.

Not subtle, or safe.

"We're here. Are you ready for this?" Zuko's whisper broke Katara's thoughts, and as she tightened her fist around her water pouch she nodded distractedly. Zuko cupped her face. "Katara, stay with me. Are you ready for this?" He held her firmly and spoke with a stern voice. It was of the most importance that both of them remained focused one hundred percent. She met his stare and nodded more confidently. He leaned in to give her a chaste, yet loving kiss to which she fully reciprocated.

"Let's do this." Her voice was deadly and he hadn't heard her speak with such conviction since she met her mother's killer. He nodded and gave her hand a squeeze before they climbed out of the secret passage and into the courtyard.

Azula was kneeling with the Fire sages all around her about to crown her the Fire Lord when Zuko cleared his throat. She looked up, annoyed, and smirked evilly at the pair of them.

"So you did have the guts to show up brother." She stood and waved the sages away.

"I'm here to fight you Azula one last time. Agni Kai." Her evil laughter cut through the red lit sky.

"You dare to challenge me Zuzu? Well, that's fine with me! It'll be your mistake to learn!" Her dastardly golden eyes shifted to the girl in blue. "Oh and you brought the water peasant with you, how sweet. When I'm through with you I think I will make her father's concubine. Maybe he'll like a girl with…more meat on her bones." Zuko clenched his fist but held it tight at his side. "Be prepared to go down brother."

"You're the one that's going down!" Katara stepped next to Zuko and glared defiantly at the Fire Nation princess.

"We'll see about that peasant." Azula held her hands in front of her, ready to start the battle between brother and sister. Zuko cast a sideways glance at Katara before stepping forward. His sister and he traditionally bowed and Azula removed her long cloak.

"I'm sorry it has to end this way brother."

"No you're not."

Author's Notes: Everybody's least two favorite words to see after a minor cliff hanger. I wanted a mixture of pain and pleasure in this one, and in case you guys don't remember Lee, go back and watch Zuko Alone. You'll know exactly who I'm talking about.

I also liked the idea of building a friendship between Zuko and Lu Ten even though one was never really detailed on the show. But I could really see the two of them being friends and hanging out while Ursa and Iroh drank tea.

As always, leave reviews. I won't ask for a certain amount this time, since I got way more that 75 for the last chapter. I hope this one keeps you guys reading because the next chapter is the Agni Kai. But if you guys think it'll go down the way it did in the show, well, if you haven't learned by now, that's just not happening. =)

Keep reading, keep reviewing and I'm thinking of making a "What If…" series. This would be part of it of course. But basically, it would be moment or even plot points that had they been different the outcome could have been in favor of Zutara and downright awesome. One of the ideas I have involves Lu Ten, while the other includes Ursa and Kya. Some of those ideas have been hinted at in this story slightly, and kudos to you if you picked up on them! I will reveal some next chapter!

Review! But more importantly, read and like the story as much as I do!

Vessa Blackheart