As promised, here is Chapter ten. Enjoy!

Chapter Ten:

-Zuko-

Katara didn't wake up again until much later that night when Uncle had already fallen asleep. I heated up the remaining broth for her which she took willingly. She finished it within a matter of minutes and thanked me before she laid back down and was asleep again within seconds. Whatever those herbs are they seem to really do the trick; I guess that's why Han said to use them as needed. Once I was sure she wouldn't wake up again for the night I laid down on my mat for some much needed rest.

The next morning I woke up to Uncle already gone and the sunlight reflecting from high in the sky. Upon further inspection I guessed it was roughly ten in the morning. Going back to my mat I noticed a note had been left there in Uncle's hand writing saying, 'Went to town to help Han again. Left some rice for you and Katara to eat. All you have to do is heat it up. Uncle.' Well at least I don't have to worry about cooking myself. I think if I tried I would either end up burning it or possibly poisoning myself and Katara.

Just by thinking her name I brought my gaze over to her where she was still sleeping with her knees pulled up loosely to her chest. It was the closest I had seen to her looking peaceful in the two days she has been with us. Part of me wanted to wake her up so she would eat something while another part of me just wanted to leave her alone so she could sleep longer; I mean she still needs it and it would help her body store up the energy she still needs to gain back.

After deliberating I decided to let her rest longer and I would heat up the rice once she was awake. Then, after not wanting to just sit there like a creep, I grabbed my duo swords and headed outside to practice since I couldn't really practice my fire bending. All the more reason why I hate hiding out here like a fugitive. Oh wait according to the Fire Nation I am a fugitive! I growled in frustration and then let it go before I did anything I would regret later.

I unsheathed my swords and pulled them apart; going through the movements I had observed by watching others and the ones I had taught myself. I made sure to keep close enough to the entrance to the cave so when Katara woke up she wouldn't think she had been abandoned, but I also wanted to make sure no one else would see me and grow suspicious.

After about a half hour and I swung my arm sharply to the right I heard a faint yawn and a "Zuko?"

"Out here" I called back. I faced the entrance to see Katara standing there groggily.

"What are you doing out here? Where's your Uncle?" she mumbled.

"Just practicing with my swords. You were still asleep and I didn't want to wake you. Uncle had already gone into town before either of us was awake." I noticed Katara taking in my words, but also eyeing my swords. Her eyes held what looked like a mixture of apprehension to the fact that I even had them and curiosity. Without thinking I offered her one of my swords; something I never did for anyone, not even Uncle. "You want to look?"

"Uh, maybe later" Katara replied nervously. "I'm just really hungry now." She brought a hand to her stomach as we both heard it growl. Not even a second later my stomach started growling as well.

"Uncle left us some rice. I just need to warm it up." I sheathed my swords and walked back in as Katara followed behind me. After we ate our breakfast (well technically by now it could be considered an early lunch) Katara asked again if we could work on her memories. I agreed as long as she promised to tell me if it started to become too much for her. Katara agreed and I thought of a list to go through from what I did know about her.

"Does the Southern Water Tribe mean anything to you?" Katara scratched at her arm until she shook her head no. "What about…traveling? Like going to a bunch of different villages and hiking through the woods" I added after seeing Katara's bemused expression to the word traveling. "Um, fighting?" Another no. "Going to the Northern Water Tribe?" No again. I'm quickly running out of ideas. I would ask about her brother, but I don't even know his name. Then I remembered that weapon he is always carrying around with him.

Deciding to go with that I said to Katara, "Do you remember having a brother?" Katara just stared at me. Maybe we're onto something, I thought so I grabbed a stick and drew the boomerang he's always carrying with him onto the dirt and directed her attention to it. "Recognize this?"

Katara looked down and coughed once while covering her mouth with her hand as she asked me, "What is that supposed to be?"

"It's called a boomerang." I looked down at it to see that it didn't look a thing like the real boomerang.

"What about it?"

Ok so I was wrong in thinking we were making progress. Angrily I scribbled out the pitiful drawing and threw the stick onto the ground. "Forget it!"

I crossed my arms together over my chest growing irritated. Then I heard muffled laughter.

Looking back at Katara I saw her with her hand still over her mouth and her body noticeably shaking. It was the first time I had heard her laugh, even before the amnesia. It was soft, quick and in no way obnoxious. Normally if anyone laughed at me they would have found fire balls aimed for their head, but I couldn't do that to Katara.

But I can still be annoyed with her. "Don't laugh at me" I commanded.

"I'm not" she squeaked.

"Yeah right." My voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry but you just looked like a little boy throwing a temper tantrum" she laughed again.

My mouth dropped to the floor. I do not act like a little boy! "I did not!"

"Yes you did" Katara replied smugly and started laughing again.

I have to admit her laugh is slightly contagious, but I tried my hardest not to show this as I said again, "Don't laugh at me" though it came out rather half heartedly.

"You can't make me."

"You want to bet!"

"Yeah actually I do." Katara's blue eyes got a mischievous glint to them as she continued to laugh.

I don't know what had come over me, but I found myself leaning towards her. My only thought was to get her to stop laughing at me by the only way I could think of; tickling her side so she would focus more on what was happening.

Unfortunately that was the worst idea I could come up with.

Just as my hand was no more than a millimeter away from her side Katara freaked out. She yelped and scooted as far away from me as possible in the cave and brought her knees close to her chest. The mischievousness in her eyes was completely wiped away with her eyes going wide with fear. She wouldn't even move a muscle, not even to blink. It was like she was paralyzed.

I face – palmed my forehead as I brought my gaze to the fire that had briefly increased in height with my anger towards myself. "I'm so sorry Katara. I wasn't even thinking" I apologized quickly.

I heard her let out a long breath before she spoke again. "It's not like I'm doing this on purpose Zuko. I just – it's complicated."

My gaze strayed back to her to see that she was looking down at her exposed wrists that had originally been hidden by her long sleeves. Involuntarily my hands clenched into fists before I spoke again. "Katara, would it make you feel better if we set up boundaries?"

Katara looked up at me again almost in a pleading manner. "I mean, what I can and cannot do?" I explained.

"Just," she began "please don't touch my waist or wrap your arms around me. It makes me really uncomfortable."

"And don't reach out for you to grab my hand?" I was confused about that. Katara only nodded and refused to say another word. "So basically little pats to the back and having you hold onto my shirt sleeve is okay?" Katara thought it over and nodded her head yes. "I can work with that." I grinned at her so she would know I was telling the truth and Katara gave a small smile in response.

We're still making progress, but not a whole lot. Afterwards Katara asked if she could have some water so I grabbed one of the cups and poured some out from the canteen. Handing it to her I told her I was going outside to stretch my legs for a minute. Katara nodded and stared blankly at the water before she moved over to the cave wall. Shrugging I went outside and breathed in some more of the fresh air, only to turn around as Katara yelped. Running back in I found her wide eyed, staring at a ribbon of water as it splashed back into her cup.

"I don't know what happened. I was just staring at the wall and I began twirling a strand of my hair when I saw the water rising up" Katara defended herself as I just stood there slightly wide eyed.

"Katara you did that" I stated matter-of-factly. "You're a water bender."