A/n: I could torture y'all with the suspense…but I don't want to. XD It's suspenseful to me, too, even though I know what happens!

…battle scenes are incredibly difficult to write. Please don't eat me.

P.S. Chi is my original character. He may come into play later in the story.

Chapter IX: Reliving Nightmares

Zuko

"Well, well, well," a feminine voice says mockingly. "Isn't that the sweetest little love scene?"

"Azula!" I shout. "Don't touch her!" Katara is lying on the ground unconscious.

"I don't want the girl, Shu," she replies sardonically. "You got away last time, Brother, but there is something you owe me."

"I have nothing to do with this war now!"

"Right. Which is why you are with the likes of her, I presume?" My sister walks slowly, circling, like a hungry wolf-bat, but I will not turn my back to her. She appears to be alone, but it is likely there are Dai Li agents around somewhere.

"What do you want?" I ask coldly. She smiles – it is like the white jade plant Uncle consumed accidentally: beautiful, but deadly.

"I want to know where you've hidden away the Avatar and his friends."

My breath catches. "I don't know what you mean."

Azula's voice becomes icy. "Don't lie to me, Zuko."

"I'm not lying."

"Exactly two and a half months after you escape from me – after you've eluded me for so long – the very day, the very day, Zuko, I capture the Avatar and his little friends, he disappears. They all disappear. There was no struggle, Zuko."

I am silent. Katara's friends – they are alive after all?

"Tell me, brother," she says coolly. "Did the Blue Spirit return for another go?"

"No."

"Liar!"

A whip of blue fire rears at my head – like the blue dragon in my dream. I dodge it and summon the heat to my fingertips – ready to drive it at her. I swivel and punch a series of fireballs at her; she evades them, one by one. There is a crack as a burst of lightning comes towards me – I reflect it back toward her, as Uncle taught me, and Azula's eyes grow wide as she is forced to duck under it.

Once I have this advantage, I send a roaring wave of flames outwards, and she barely manages to shield herself.

Then she tosses fire at Katara. Helpless, unconscious, Katara. Or more like helpless, just-waking Katara.

I throw myself in front of her. The last thing I see is a flash of blue.

Katara

There is an oomph as Zuko is hit in the stomach by the flames. I scream. My head feels…woozy, but I summon a length of water from the pouch I always carry, and whip it quickly at Azula. If only Sokka was here – he was a trained warrior, after all. She is taken by surprise at how quickly I come to my feet, and I wrap the water around her arm. One down. Holding firm on the first one, I pull another whip to snake around her right arm.

Zuko

It burns. As if in a dream – it claws at my gut like a starving animal before settling, content with its work.

Everything moves, too, as if within a dream. Katara – where is she? There – slumped against a tree trunk. I am pulled by the arms, dragged through the copse. Something cries out – pain? My senses are incredibly dulled. Something slams into my ribs – someone kicking me. Then, a voice, wavering in and out of clarity, strikes me.

"Don't touch him, Chi. I need him alive."

"As you wish, your Highness. And what of the girl?"

"The same goes for her. I have a feeling she may be useful."

There is a sliding, rattling of metal, and suddenly a face is by mine.

"Oh, Zuko," Azula sighs. "Never were the smartest one, were you?"

My head feels heavy, but I can make out her words, her implications.

"I know nothing of the Avatar," I growl.

She smiles. "Dear brother," she replies smoothly, "Father will be just as glad to have you in custody as the Avatar."

I know this. Uncle and I had been forced to hide in Ba Sing Se under false names after my father, Lord Ozai, had placed a price on both our heads.

"Now," says my sister. "You owe me something."

"I owe you nothing," I spit out.
"Wrong answer." She strides away, heels clicking against cold, concrete floor.

Katara

"I'm sorry," he says quietly.

The burning – I scream. But they laugh, and I know the reason.