Hey! It's been a while. I'm sorry, I've just been so busy with school and stuff, plus I have a bunch of stories at once. I had major writers block for this chapter, so sorry if it came out bad.
Sorry, I dont have time to be specific but thanks to all those that reviewed, subscribed, or favorited this story from last chapter. I really appreciate it! Thanks for sticking with me! I'll have more time to update over the summer.
"Zuko!" Jet yelled, dragging him into the boys bathroom. "You gotta tell me what happened!" Jet exclaimed.
"Wha-? Jet, when did you turn into a girl?" Zuko gasped. "You're a girl now! You shouldn't be in here!" Jet punched Zuko in the gut, hoping to knock some sense into him.
"Ow! You- you punched me! I'll tell- I'll tell myself on you!" Zuko laughed. "I can't tell myself! I already know!"
Jet firmly grabbed Zuko by the shoulders and looked him sternly in the eyes.
"Zuko. What happened?" Jet asked.
"Chocolate! Magic Chocolate, Jet! And then a magic book, and then a magic Katara, and-"
"Who gave you the chocolate?" Jet interrupted Zuko. Zuko gave him a confused look.
"Nobody gave me any chocolate?" Zuko replied.
"But you just said-"
"Oh! You mean the magic chocolate!" Jet smacked his forehead in frustration. It was like talking to a four year old.
"Umm, it was this girl, with black hair... pale skin, gold eyes..." Zuko closed his eyes in concentration. "What was her name again?"
"How about your sister..." Jet said slowly to Zuko, dumbfounded at his stupidity. Suddenly, Zuko's eyes burst open, and a wide smile appeared on his face.
"Azula!" he declared. "Her name was Azula!" he stood triumphantly at his accomplishment.
Jet's eyes widened. But that means...
'She actually went through with it?'
I thought she was kidding when she said she would drug him if it meant she would win 'The Game'.
"Aww man!" Jet said in frustration. "That means I lost!" he pouted.
"That's ok. There are plenty of lotteries to choose from!"
"I don't care, you're still going to that party tonight, we did not work that hard for nothing!"
"But I need to repay Master Katara!"
"You're going whether you like it or not!" Jet declared. Zuko pouted.
"No!" Zuko kicked Jet in the shin, and made a run for it.
"You'll never catch me alive, Moriko!" he yelled as he exited the bathroom.
"I'll get you Zuko! Mark my words, I will get you!" Jet said grabbing his leg with one arm, and shaking his fist at Zuko's retreating form with his other.
As Zuko ran in search of 'Master Katara' the bell rang, indicating the start of his free period. He made it to the school's main entrance in time to see Katara and her two friends leaving for their third period. Just as he was about to alert them to his presence, he heard the short one speak.
"Don't be dumb Sweetness, there's no way that's possible!"
"It's true! It wasn't hot, then Zuko grabbed it, I took it back, and then it was hot!"
"No way, that's possible." Toph said shaking her head in disbelief.
"I have proof!" Katara stuck out her tongue, and on it were several burn marks.
"Sthee! My thoungue isth burnth!" Katara exclaimed, showing Toph her mouth injuries.
"Maybe, Zuko's so hot, some of his hotness rubbed off on your sandwich." suggested Suki. Both girls glared at her. "What?"
"Or maybe little Miss Perfection over here forgot that she heated up the sandwich at home and got burnt because she didn't want to listen to High and Mighty when he said to blow on it."
"I don't heat up my sandwiches Toph, and even if I did, after sitting around for four periods, it wouldn't still be hot enough to burn me!" Katara shook her head. "I'm telling you! Zuko did something!"
"Did not!" Zuko yelled childishly behind them. They three girls gasped and turned around.
"Zuko?" exclaimed Katara.
"You always blame everything on me!" Zuko pouted.
"But it was you! You burned me somehow!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did-"
"Oh my GOD! Shut up!" Toph yelled above the bickering pair.
"I know! You guys are like an old married couple!" Suki pointed out.
"We are not married! Kimi's a love child!" Zuko corrected.
"Maki is NOT a love child! She's a toy!" she yelled. The child in her arms began to cry and Katara's eye widened.
"Look what you did." Zuko said shaking his head in disapproval. Katara gave him a quick glare before turning her attention back to the baby in her arms.
"Shh, Maki it's ok! Your not a toy! You're real! Mommy was only kidding, ok!." she cooed at the toy. It stopped crying and everyone sighed in relief.
"You finally got that cucumber to stop drinking my chocolate milk!"
"My god, I think he's actually getting worst." Toph stated in disbelief.
"If he's not high, what's wrong with him?" asked Suki.
"I don't know." answered Katara as she gave Zuko a very confused look.
"I feel perfectly fine, but Jet said I'm apparantly acting 'weird' because of those magic chocolates Azula gave me." Zuko said as if he's been acting perfectly normal all day.
"Oh no, he's talking crazy again!"
"You may be right Toph, but anything connected to Azula can't be good, maybe what he's saying has a bit of truth to it."
"Well Jet seemed to know what was going on, maybe we can ask him what's going on." Suki suggested.
"No! Jet's mad at me!" Zuko crossed his arms, closed his eyes and shook his head defiantly and childishly. "I don't wanna see him." he protested.
Katara took this moment to try to quickly grab his phone from his pocket so she could text Jet and tell him to come outside but before her hand could even get near him, he grabbed her by the wrist spun her around and crossed her arms behind her back.
"Zuko!" Katara cried in surprise.
"You tried to pick-pocket my phone!"
"Only because you weren't cooperating!" Katara defended.
"Yeah Zuko, we're just trying to help." Suki stated calmly. Zuko sighed and let Katara go. She lost her balance and fell to the ground.
"Fine, I'll text Jet." he gave in. "Sorry Master Katara." but Katara just stared up at him in disbelief. Even in his state, while his arms were crossed, his eyes were closed, and he was distracted, he was still fast enough to stop her from getting his phone even when she was moving quickly and standing mere inches away from him.
"Those are some reflexes you got there High and Mighty," Toph said, using her nickname for him as she and Suki helped Katara off the ground and Zuko pulled out his phone to text Jet.
"Toph, we already established that Zuko's not high." Suki corrected. Toph shruged as Katara dusted herself off.
"I know, but until we find out what's wrong with him, the nickname fits."
"She drugged her brother... to win a game." Katara asked in disbelief.
"Zuko and Azula are more like rivals than siblings." explained Jet.
"Azula always lies! Azula always lies!" Zuko sang to himself in a nursery rhyme fashion. Jet shook his head.
"That's usually something he says to himself whenever Azula's around. He doesn't usually sing it like that though." Jet said giving Zuko a weird look.
"He usually says it when Azula's around, you say?" Toph looked around. "Alright, Princess, you can come out now!" Toph yelled.
Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee walked out of their hiding places, Ty Lee still giggling, and Azula with a smirk on her face.
"Oh no, you've figured me out. And it was just starting to get amusing." Zuko brightened up at the sight of Azula.
"Hey 'Zula! Hey Mai and Ty Lee!" Zuko waved. Ty Lee waved back excitedly.
"Hi Zuzu!" she said before Mai elbowed her in the arm and sent her a glare. Ty Lee rubbed her now sore arm.
"What? I've always wanted to call him that." Ty Lee defended. Azula ignored her two friends and looked at Jet.
"And Zuko's friend who's name escapes me, you're wrong, I hardly think of Zuko as a rival. He's more of a pest that occassionally gets in my way." she said casually. Jet clenched his fists.
"I've known you since Kindergarten! Why can't you remember my name! It's three letters! It's JET!" he yelled, only stopping when Katara put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, calming him down.
"She's only trying to mess with you." she said honestly, succeeding in calming him down.
"Pest or not," Suki spoke up. "he's still your brother. How could you just drug him and make him a laughing stalk?" she asked disgusted. Azula rolled her eyes.
"Oh please. This is the least of some of the things I've done to Zuko."
Zuko nodded. "It's true." he agreed. "When we used to live together, she constanly lit me on fire."
"You...light your brother on fire?" Suki asked in disbelief. Azula merely shrugged.
"It was amusing." she then turned and waved them off. "I should be going. I don't have time to entertain this petty conversation." she started to walk off with Mai and Ty Lee following close behind.
"Wait!" cried Katara, but Azula continued to walk, finding her brother and his friends a waste of her time. This didn't stop Katara from yelling after her retreating form.
"At least tell us how long he's gonna stay like this!"
"You'll find out when he gets back to normal." she called over her shoulder.
Katara sighed. This was gonna be a long day.
Katara and Sokka constantly looked over their shoulders at the stragely calm looking Zuko that followed them home. Katara had tried to shake him off after ninth period, but he had caught her at her locker. He had insisted on following her to her house, to be sure of her safety, and nothing she said would stop him. Sokka raised an eyebrow at the gold-eyed teen.
"Don't you have anywhere to be?"
"Yeah, I have to be here protecting Katara." Zuko replied, outwitting Sokka, even in his current state. Sokka glared.
"Don't get smart with me!" Sokka warned. It was now Zuko's turn to raise an eyebrow in question.
"I'm not being smart, you're merely being dumb." Katara snickered at Zuko's retort and Sokka pouted.
"Do the effects of that drug turn on and off or something?" Sokka asked at Zuko's sudden ability to form coherent statements. Zuko shrugged.
"I don't know what type of deodarant the president uses?" was Zuko's confused reply.
"Yep, pretty much." Sokka decided.
"Alright, I'm here safely Zuko, you can leave me alone now." Katara stated as they walked up to the driveway of her home.
"You're not safe just because you're home. Besides, I still haven't repayed you yet!"
"Zuko, go home."
"No!" he protested.
"I'm not letting you into my house."
"I will not leave! I need to protect you Master Katara!" Katara stared at him before getting an idea.
"If I am your master, I forbid you from entering my home."
"Fine! If you won't let me protect you on the inside, I'll protect you from the outside."
"You are not staying in our backyard!" yelled Sokka.
"Then I'll stay in the frontyard!" he said to Sokka before turning his gaze back to Katara. "Whatever it takes to protect you."
Sokka shook his head before giving his sister a weary look.
"You deal with him. He's your problem." he said before walking into their house and leaving Katara to deal with Zuko alone. She sighed.
"Zuko, I'm not the princess of some tribe, and you're not some prince fighting for your honor," Katara explained trying to snap him back to reality. "I didn't even really save you! That was all your imagination." she gave him a sympathetic look. "When the drug wears off, do you really want to find yourself sitting in my frontyard?"
Zuko gave her a stern look and plopped himself defiantly on her lawn. "I'm not leaving." this made Katara angry, she had finally tried to be nice to him, and all for him to continue with his unreasonable behavior.
"Fine! Sleep outside in the cold for all I care! Whatever!" she screamed at him in frustration before storming back into the house and slamming the door behind her.
When she shut the door behind her, she was invited by the warmth of her home. She looked out the window and her heart clenched with guilt when she saw Zuko still sitting outside in the chilly November air.
"I didn't do the right thing just now." she said sliding to the floor and holding her hands in her head.
Zuko had been standing outside Katara's house for hours, he had finished all his homework, talked on the phone with Uncle, and glared at all the cars that had driven by the Miyuki estate. No one could be trusted. He wasn't very cold, because he was awesome like that, but he was still hungry. He winced as he heard his stomach release a particularly obnoxious growl.
"Quiet down tummy." he cooed to his stomach that merely growled in reply. He ignored it and continued to look around for any signs of danger that could threaten the Miyuki household.
His stake out was interrupted by a vibration in the right pocket of his grey jeans, that turned out to be his phone.
The caller ID read Jet, and a picture of his best friend filled the screen. He wearily answered the phone, knowing Jet wanted to interrupt the protection of his Master, but he answered it anyway, though very hesitantly.
"Hello..."he greeted meekly.
"I found out where Katara lives and I know you're there! I'm about to turn the corner and I'm taking you to that party!" Jet yelled happily into the phone, unknowingly putting Zuko into panic mode.
He didn't want Jet to find him, but he couldn't leave Katara's house unprotected, so he did the first thing that came to mind and jumped into the shrubs that decorated the lawn of the brown haired, blue-eyed family. Unfortunately, as Jet pulled up in front of the house and got out of the car, he discovered Zuko's hiding place almost immediately.
He lunged at Zuko and grabbed him. Do to Zuko's extensive training in the martial arts since childhood, Jet knew he couldn't take Zuko alone and two of his friends also exited the truck to help him restrain their drugged friend.
"Come on!" Jet pleaded. "We worked too hard planning this party to have it ruined!"
"No! Mushrooms forever!" Zuko yelled as he struggled. In the end, the weakness of Zuko's drugged body, and only partially well-functioning brain were all factors that played in why he was now sitting in the back seat of Jet's friend's truck, on his way to his unwanted birthday party at an abandoned shed in the middle of nowhere. They had been driving for hours, and Zuko's close to non-existent patience had him pouting with his arm crossed and constantly asking how far they were from their desired destination.
"Are we there yet?" he asked again, to the chagrin of his friends who all groaned in annoyance. A vein popped out of the side of Jets head as he turned to yell at Zuko.
"We are there when we park the car, Zuko, for the millionth time!" Jet exclaimed.
"He's really annoying when he's like this." stated Yao, a friend of Jet and Zuko's and the driver of the car, who shook his head in annoyance. Jet rolled his eyes.
"Tell me about it." Jet agreed.
"Hmph." Zuko pouted at the insult. "If I'm sooo annoying, maybe you shouldn't have KIDNAPPED me!" Jet shrugged.
"You wouldn't cooperate. It had to be done." Jet replied.
"Woooh! PAR-TAY!" Zuko yelled excitedly as he danced with two girls and a beer in his hand.
Jet smiled in satisfaction as he watched his friend have a good time. He might not have won the game, but he definitely won best party of the year. Everyone was either flirting, dancing, or passed out on the floor. It didn't seem anyone was having a bad time.
"Let's Dance." said a girl with black hair, fair skin, and dark brown eyes as she interrupted his thoughts by dragging him to the dance floor.
"No problem." he complied eagerly as he watched her hips sway as she walked to the dance floor.
They danced and flirted for hours until something unexpected caught Jet's eye. It was Zuko sitting in the corner by himself. This caused Jet to roll his eyes.
"What's wrong now?" he yelled as he ignored the raven haired girl he was just dancing with and stormed over to Zuko. When he reached, Zuko briefly looked up sadly before putting his head in his hands and hiccupping.
"Jet." he said sadly.
"What is it, Zuko?" replied an irritated Jet.
"The polar bears."
"I'm sure she's- wait what?" Jet asked in surprise, since he had assumed Zuko would say something about 'Master Katara'.
"I'ts too warm. The polar bears have nowhere to go!" Zuko stated sullenly.
"I honestly have no reply to that."
"Don't you get it Jet! The glaciers are melting! The polar bears have nowhere to live! Jet, Katara's dead!" he yelled frantically as he shook Jet by the shoulders.
"Well...I-"
"And it's all my fault... no." he turned to Jet and glared. "It's all, YOUR fault, because YOU dragged me to this stupid party!" Jet felt a stab in the heart as Zuko called his precious party stupid.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm sure she's fine." Jet stated supportively, trying his hardest to hide his annoyance at him insulting his party.
"Nope, she's dead, just like the polar bears."
"Fine! I'll take you back to Katara's house to show you she's stilll alive, and probably glad you're gone." Zuko's eyes immediately brightened before jumping up excitedly and running to Jet's car. Jet remembered Zuko drinking, and dancing with those girls, at least Zuko, had some fun at the party for a few hours, and that was enough for Jet.
Katara was sitting in front of her TV watching cartoons, eating the chocolate chip cookies she had made for Zuko. Yes, she had made them for Zuko, no she was not warming up to him. She had only felt bad that he was standing outside in the cold, so she had made him cookies as a peace offering, but by the time she had finished making them, rehearsing what she was going to say to him, and was ready to give them to him, he was gone. Now she was alone, her dad works late, Sokka had gone to hang out with some friends. Suki was with her mom since her mom's birthday is today, Aang and Toph are at a really scary movie together since Toph bet Aang he couldn't go through the whole movie without crying or leaving, and Katara was in no hurry to see that. Even so, that leaves her alone, eating cookies, wishing for company, even if it was someone like Zuko. He wasn't himself at the moment though, so maybe he'd be entertaining. She just didn't like that he had to be so isolated and mysterious about everything.
"I told you to blow first." and what was that all about? How did he possibly make her sandwich hot?
Her thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on the door. She looked at the clock confusedly and saw that it was 10:41.
'It's probably Sokka. Dad doesn't get home until 1:30' she thought as she got up to open the door. But when she opened it, she instead saw a hiccupping Zuko.
"Hey, uh, I have to -hic- protect you and -hic- all, but I'm really -hic- hungry, so pretty pleeeease can I have some food!" Zuko begged.
"No, Zuko! You have to go! Sokka could be home any minute and if he finds out you were here, he might tell!"
"Ok fine." Zuko glared at the blue-eyed brunette. "I'll just sit out here and starve!"
"I made cookies but you were gone!" Katara accused.
"I was -hic- kidnapped!" Zuko defended.
"Yeah, wel-" Katara was interrupted by a loud growl that came from Zuko's stomach and she moved away from the doorway, allowing him entrance. She sighed as he eagerly ran into the house and quickly shut the door behind him to prevent too much of the cold November air into the warm house.
"You can stay and eat for a little, but then you have to leave!" Katara ordered. "I'll make macaroni and cheese." She went over to Zuko and sniffed him. "Have you been drinking?"
"Yep!" Zuko stated proudly. "It was fun!" he exclaimed. Katara rolled her eyes.
"I hope it's still fun when you go to the doctor one day and find out all the alcohol completely destroyed your liver." she said as she poured water into the pre-made macaroni and cheese packets.
"Well that was morbid." Zuko stated as he looked around the Miyuki living room. His eyes widened as they landed on a black, wooden grand piano.
"Ooo! Piano!" he eagerly rushes to it as Katara raises an eyebrow in confusion at his interest in the instrument.
"Uh, yeah, my dad plays." Zuko's eyes lit up.
"What a cowinkidink! I do too!" Katara's eyes widened in surprise as she put the macaroni package in the microwave and set the time.
"You do!" Zuko nodded.
"You wanna hear?" He asked innocently. Katara was a little skeptical at letting Zuko, especially in the state he was in, touch one of his dad's most prized possessions, but at the same time, she was curious to hear the extent of his playing skills.
"I... I guess you could give it a shot." she said unsurely. Zuko happily sat at the stool and placed his hands on the keys. Katara played with her braid in anticipation, but rolled her eyes and sighed as she heard Zuko merely play a childish tune of Mary had a Little Lamb. As the song ended, Zuko laughed at the mediocrity of the song.
"Just kidding, I can play much better than that." he admitted as he prepared himself for another piece.
"Actually Zuko, I think you've played enough for tonight." she said, slightly glaring at him for deliberately making a mockery out of the beauty of classical music.
"I was just kidding Katara! Come on! I really can play piano." Before Katara could reply, the microwave beeped, indicating the heating of Zuko's macoroni and cheese completed.
"Your food's ready anyway. And Sokka could be home any minute!" she looked at the clock, and saw that it was 10:59. "Oh no Zuko you really have to go. Here." she said, giving the macaroni to him. "Take it with you." she ordered as she shoved him out the door. She sighed, relieved at finally having gotten rid of him. After cleaning up the kitchen and living room, she went upstairs and showered before going in her room to read, due to the TV only showing reruns. However, when she got there, she realized how tired she was, and decided she would just go to bed.
'What a strange day...' she thought before drifiting off to sleep.
And we have finally reached our plot! Next chapter is where the real story begins. Thanks again for sticking with me! I hope you continue to read this story! I'll have the next chapter out as soon as possible! Hope you enjoyed Cactus Juice!Zuko. He'll be back to normal by the next chapter.
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