Sooooo, hope the last chapter was okay, here is chapter 9... Today's chapter should be interesting...

Also, almost 1000 views! I just checked now, and there are 955 views on this story, and I know that isn't that much, but I still want to thank all my readers, reviewers, and followers for supporting me throughout this story. I am actually surprised there have been no haters. Thank you all soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! xx

And, for anyone who thought that Zuko was OOC last chapter, I'm sorry, but I didn't have any other ideas, and besides, Zuko was still angry with Katara and he didn't think that Zhao would actually attempt to r*** Katara. So that's why... and, a lot of people were requesting a r*** scene...

Anyway, Please Read, Review and...

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Suddenly, the door was slammed open, and Katara felt heat enter the room. Zhao turned around and glared at the person standing there.

"Zuko..." Katara sighed in relief and anger.

Zuko stormed over to Zhao and slammed his head into the metal wall. Iroh stood at the door as Katara sat up quietly and began to cry.

Zuko punched Zhao and threw flames at him. Zhao tried to fight back but was no match for Zuko's fury. He smashed Zhao into the metal wall leaving a large dent. He held fire next to Zhao's face.

"How dare you touch my prisoner? Is this how you interrogate women? Is this the respect you have?" he snarled.

Katara stared at Zuko in shock. Why did he come back to save her? Why was he speaking of respect when he himself didn't respect her?

Iroh walked to Katara and covered her with his cloak. Katara grabbed the shirt she was wearing earlier and began to wear it as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Zuko let go of Zhao and warned him to not go near Katara.

Katara was shocked, relieved, and angry as her emotions twisted inside her. Before Zuko or Iroh could do anything, she ran. Off of Zhao's ship and onto her kidnapper's ship.

She ran as tears blurred her vision, to the edge of the ship. Looking out to sea, she knew that she couldn't escape. There was no land for miles.

Katara felt herself collapse with relief. "Thank you Kami, Thank you Mother, Spirits, you saved me... Thank you..." she breathed.

She covered her face with her hands as she cried and thanked the spirits for helping her. She felt footsteps approach her and looked up.

"Go away Zuko." She whispered.

"Katara, are you okay-"

"I said GO AWAY!" she yelled at him.

"I just saved you! You should be grateful." Zuko yelled back.

"Grateful? Oh sorry Prince Zuko. Thank you. Thank you for leaving me with that monster and then saving me to show your uncle that you're a good guy." She answered spitefully.

"Katara! What is wrong with you?" he yelled back at her, stepping forward.

"No! Don't touch me..." Katara whispered "Please, don't hurt me..." she cried

Zuko looked at her. Although she was angry, he could see the fear in her eyes. Tears spilled down her face as she looked at the floor of the ship. She was traumatized, she had obviously never been touched like that or hurt that badly before.

"Katara... I-I-" Zuko stuttered. He walked closer to Katara as she sobbed. He sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you to Zhao. He hurt you, emotionally and, physically." He said quietly looking at her bruised cheeks.

"I-I'll go away now. I'll leave you in peace for a while." He said after he had no reply from the crying girl. He stood up slowly just as he felt something on his arm.

"No! Don't leave me!" Katara yelled standing up and grabbing Zuko's arm. "He might come back." She whispered, her body swaying slightly.

"Katara-"

Zuko caught Katara just as she fainted. It was near midnight and she hadn't eaten in panic. Of course she was going to pass out.

Zuko carried her to his room and shut the door gently. He put her on the bed carefully as she mumbled in her sleep.

"No, Zhao... Let me go... Zuko, help... Uncle Iroh please help me..."

Zuko stared at Katara's sleeping form in guilt. Why did he act so cruel at times?

After what had just happened, Zuko couldn't sleep, he decided to meditate to clear his mind instead...

Flashback

"No." Zuko whispered "I cannot allow a woman's innocence to be taken on my ship."

As he decided to go back, he bumped into his uncle.

He explained the situation as they began to hear Katara scream.

"Uncle Iroh! Guards! Zuko! Somebody help me!" Katara screamed louder.

"Mom! Kami! Please, anyone, spirits above, help me..."

Zuko and Iroh both ran across to Zhao's ship and slammed open the door.

Zuko was shocked to see that Zhao was on top of Katara and she had tears running down her face. Zuko had never seen Katara so weak and scared than she did then.

For some reason Zuko found anger building up inside him. Every tear on Katara's face reminded him of his mistake. Sure, he was angry with the waterbender, but even this was too cruel for the fire prince.

He was filled with fury as he punched Zhao, burning his foul beard with his fire.

"I do not want to see you around my prisoner again. Is that clear?" He snarled as Zhao choked.

BACK WITH AANG AND SOKKA...

Sokka couldn't sleep. As the young avatar snored beside him, Sokka felt a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. Was Katara okay? His brotherly instincts were warning him. They had to think of something. Soon...

Okay, so hope that was okay. I had to write it quiet fast because I had some work to do. I have read through it and I don't think there should be any errors, but forgive me if there are.

Sorry if it was sort of confusing how at first he let her go to Zhao, and then saved her. That was because he was angry with her for insulting the fire nation. That's why he left her at the mercy of Zhao. Afterwards though, he felt really bad and only then did he realise what Zhao's actual motives were. Also, this scene did make the story sort of darker, so I thought why not? The next 5 chapters I will try to make darker. Then, the love will blossom...

Reviewer, follower and favouriter Notes:

Inwunderland: Thank you for following and favouriting this story. By the way, I think your username is cute (in a non creepy way...)

Zutarafan1992: I agree with you that Microsoft can be annoying at times. You said you're writing a story? You should make a fanfiction account, then you can post it. I'm sure you write great stories, definitely better than me. Then I will actually be able to PM (Message) you on fanfiction! Anyway, I am glad you like my story, and as you have probably read, I decided to have Zuko and Iroh save Katara. Hope the chapter wasn't confusing. I didn't want Zhao to r*** Katara in the end. However, he is still on the ship, and knowing 'Monkeyface' he will definitely try again... (I am soooooooo evil... I love leaving cliffhangers.) I guess you'll just see how it goes over the next few chapters. Xx

Samhain. Necropolis: Thank you, for pointing out my errors, I actually read through them afterwards and was like "What! Did I actually post it without checking?" because I hadn't updated at my normal time, I felt like I was late so I didn't check. Lol. Thank you for helping. I hope you like the story and my ideas.

Guest: Thank you for the compliment, but I am definitely not an AMAZING writer, I do make many errors and I change the plot, about 10 times in one chapter. Lol Thank you though.

Until then...

Please Review, Follow, Favourite and...

Enjoy!

Lots Of Love

Zutara1267

Xx

P.S. I am sorry if the last 2 chapters weren't as good as you expected... I will definitely try and make it up to you all by making the next chapters more interesting...