Chapter 10 Trailing Kagome
Kagome was frightened, unsure what to do in her current situation. She was afraid of being in this time period without the love of her close friends. She thought about going back home through the well, Kaede said that she could go home once she found the Avatar. Finding him seemed easy enough, she loved Inuyasha and now the world could be saved; the world had their Avatar so why did the thought of going home make Kagome uneasy? Was her longing to be with Inuyasha really stronger than her desire to go home?
Being in love Inuyasha was everything to her, she recalled the conversation she had with Prince Zuko about Inuyasha. "Kagome tell me are you in love with Inuyasha?" As she remembered that tears fell down her face she grew impatient and weary in the Fire Nation vessel. Kagome sat upward in the cell, her body ached for sleep but her heart was too hurt for that.
Meanwhile, Miroku the monk was in a trance. He was having a vision one that predicted summer's end. His vision told him of a comet that would help Fire Lord Ozai win the war and end it. He learned that the comet made all Fire Benders stronger and harder to defeat. The vision ended, scaring Miroku who ran to tell his friends the news. "I can't believe my Father would really use a comet to end the world. I now realize how truly evil he is," said Prince Zuko. "What does this mean Uncle? What does Miroku's vision mean for Inuyasha? He can air bend and water bend a little bit. He needs to earth and fire bend?!" "Well my Nephew, I think we can help Inuyasha with fire bending, we are fire benders after all. You should both train together Prince Zuko, he would benefit from a good teacher such as yourself," said Iro complementing his only Nephew. Their relationship was a powerful one; Uncle Iro was a powerful General at one time. While he was General he led a siege on Ba Sing Se, during the siege his son Leuten was killed. The news hurt Iro, his only heir had died. Prince Zuko dishonored his father and was exiled; through his banishment he found his Uncle. His Uncle healed, when Iro realized he could father his Nephew he felt happiness once more. Zuko in turn found love and a father figure from his Uncle. To Iro, Zuko will never replace Leuten, but to Zuko his Uncle had replaced that horrible man, the world knew as Lord Ozai.
"We should save Kagome first!" Inuyasha pointed out. "I am trained, I know how to track down people," shouted Zuko. Then the companions, departed to search for the visioned Kagome. Prince Zuko followed the trail easily, while Inuyasha picked up their scent.
It took Prince Zuko three days to track them. By the third day, they almost gave up hope. "Zuko, I know you're doing your best but it's almost impossible to track Kagome down. If we had a ship Prince, it would be easier to find her," Katara said. "Katara I told you to call me Zuko." Katara was trembling; she loved the Fire Lord's son. She was afraid of this, she sometimes wondered if Zuko was only playing nice, so he could get Inuyasha. She knew that this could not be true; she didn't want to be used by the first man she loved.
"Katara, why are you trembling? We will find Kagome, I promise. You can trust me, Katara. I was planning on chartering a ship tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion." "Zuko," cried Katara. "I'm scared and I don't know why. I fear for Kagome's life, I don't want her to die. I am having mixed feeling for you…and," she stopped. "Why are you having mixed feelings for me? Can't you trust me? I told Kagome that I would never hurt you again, that I could never be on the wrong side again," Zuko said.
"You really said that? You barely know me, Prince Zuko," said Katara; calling him Prince Zuko made it easier for her to hide her feelings from him. "Katara, I know there's something going on between us. I can feel it, well at least I think there is," replied the Fire Prince. "Zuko there's nothing going on between us. I think you are reading into something that's not there," blushed Katara, but at this point she was so nervous that her shoulders shook uncontrollably. "Then why are you shaking Katara? I thought we had something. I wanted us to; well at least I thought I did. My life has calmed down because my Uncle save me and you are healing me. You were the first person my age to actually take an interest in me. I didn't want to lose that feeling, so when I went after you I was hoping to get that feeling back. I wanted to share more moments like that with you Katara. I really care about you; I don't say that to a lot of people. I never really trusted people this easily before, do you understand?" he stopped, and then wrapped his arms around Katara.
"Katara, can I ask you something?" he asked while holding her, Katara could tell Zuko never wanted to let go. "What do you want to ask me?" she asked while hiding her face in the shelter of his shoulders. "Katara do you love me?"