Author's Note: So yeah I made a mini chapter because I didn't wanna make you wait any longer!

Chapter Nine:

Katara sat on the corner of Zuko's bed anxiously awaiting his return. Zuko was a mystery to her and she wanted it to be solved. For some reason she just couldn't leave him alone and go back to way things were; she had already become so attached in only a day.

Zuko turned around and abruptly jumped. His uncle had a tendency to pop out of nowhere and be less than 2 feet away from him when he did. This was something Zuko still hadn't gotten used to with his uncle even in three years worth of time.

"You seem tense. Is something on your mind Nephew?" Iroh stated sipping a cup of tea that seemed to be produced from the air itself.

Zuko blinked twice then turned to face the warming sun once again. Air blew in his face, ruffling his ponytail a bit.

"Have you regretted anything in your life Uncle?" Zuko questioned in an unusually calm tone for him

"I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person." Iroh said in his wise, old man tone

"The bad choices too?" Zuko added in a low voice to himself. He'd made so many bad choices already in his life, would one more really make a difference? Was it even a bad choice he was making if what he would be choosing was good for him. He just wanted to make sure he was doing something right for once.

Zuko walked loosely back into the haul of the ship, slowly creeping back into his room. He immediately saw Katara sitting on his bed and his eyes widened. She looked so....lost.

For the first time he had finally did something on pure instinct. Without even thinking about it for one minute he told hold of Katara's shoulders and brought her lips to his. For a moment Katara kissed back, subconsciously regretting just a second after she mentally registered what she was doing.

Katara pulled back and looked Zuko dead in his eyes...it didn't make any sense to her.

"W-what just happened?" Katara muttered in a low, confused term

"Katara...I,I----

Zuko couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. His pride was getting the best of him and the constant drilling in the back of his head of what other people would think. If father knew what would he think? What would he say?

Screw him! Zuko thought in the back of his head. He never cared before, so why would he start now.

Author's Note: Sorry about the shortness... I just hate making people wait! Promise the next chapter will be regular length! You can still comment if you want! ~Bre~