Thankyou to the reviewers. I know that this story has a small hole in it. The part where Katara only went to meet the Prince to be able to go back home. Well I'll get to that soon enough. Here is the next chapter...

Chapter 9 Busted

Zuko wandered through the palace, his head down. He couldn't stop thinking about Kana. She had run away from him. She said that she didn't deserve him. That there were things he didn't know. Zuko pounded his fist on the marble wall, and grunted. Why did he feel like this? Did he actually love her? He had said he did. Would he ever see her again? Looking outside one of the windows he answered his own question. Yes. "Ah there you are nephew," Iroh said coming towards the young prince, "How was your engagement yesterday?"

Zuko's head shot up. "Engagement?" he asked.

Iroh nodded. "Yes, your meeting with someone."

Zuko's head fell back down. "Oh that," he whispered, "I'd rather not talk about it."

Iroh stared at his nephew. "How has the search for a bride been going?"

"Good," Zuko lied, "I just haven't really picked her out yet. I will soon though."

Iroh nodded again. "Very well," he said walking away.

"Oh and uncle?" Zuko asked.

"Yes," Iroh said turning around.

"I've been thinking about the rebels in the forests," Zuko explained, "I've extended an invitation to them. It's only a start to making peace with them, but a start none the less."

Iroh smiled. "I agree Zuko. We've been in a civil war against them for to long. You're already acting like a worthy ruler."

Zuko smiled at his uncle and went back to looking outside. Iroh walked away to get ready for his audience with the people of the capital. Zuko left his spot at the window. He had arranged for his aunt to meet with Mai and Azula today, and he himself had arranged a day with Aang. He walked towards Aang's room. Knocking loudly Zuko sighed. The door opened revealing a live dragon. "Ahhh!" Zuko screamed jumping back.

He fell to the floor. The dragon chuckled at this sight. Two hands appeared on both sides of the green dragon. Aang lifted the mask from his head. "I'm sorry Zuko, I didn't mean to frighten you."

Aang extended his hand to the fallen Prince. "Come, come, come. I've been looking through all the things I've collected over the years. Now then let's see what else I have in here," Aang said walking inside.

Zuko followed him. Inside the room were unpacked bags, several tapestries, bowls of fruit, and lots of little nick nacks from all over. Aang lifted up a long stick. "Ah here it is," he said to himself.

Zuko's brow furrowed. "It's a piece of wood," he said simply.

"No, no , no, my boy. It's much more than that," Aang explained.

He tapped the ground with it twice. Upon the second impact, beautiful orange wings spread. "I was given this glider from the monks at the Eastern Air Temple when I first started my training. It has been my favorite gift I've ever recieved."

Zuko admired the frail thing. "Does it still work?" he asked.

Aang looked as though he were a bird with ruffled feathers. "Of course it does," he stated, "Why don't we go try it out near the river? There's plenty of open space."

"And not many people to see you fall," Zuko laughed.

Katara helped dress Mai in her newest robes that she owned. She looked like a princess. Her robes were red and black with gold trim. She even wore a beautiful red diadem in her hair, and a small amount of makeup. "Not so tight," she told Katara, who was tying her sash around her waist.

Katara sighed and loosened it slightly. She was tired. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Azula, Mai, and Tylee had come in late, and eaten their dinner. Then they insisted that they all wash. Katara didn't get to bed until almost daybreak. She finished Mai's dressing and went to attend to Azula. Azula was ready and waiting on her favored daughter. She smiled at the sight of her. Tylee sat on several pillows, eating away at some berries. "Katara," Azula commanded, "You are to do whatever Tylee asks of you. Do not disobey her."

Katara nodded. "Good," Tylee said suddenly, "You can start by going down to the river and getting me some more berries. The red kind."

Katara groaned and took the basket and began walking towards the river. Azula watched her go. She and Mai left in the opposite direction for the day. Katara mummbled as she picked handfulls of berries. They left red juice all over her hands. She groaned. The river caught her attention after she did it though. She could go for a swim. It would definately cool her off, and possibly clean her up a bit. Stripping down to her white undergarments, she jumped into the water, and began swimming around.

"Okay, now I haven't done this since I was your age," Aang explained to Zuko.

Zuko sat beneath a tree, munching happily away on an apple. His mind was no longer on Kana, or his feelings for her. Now he was enjoying being free of any problems and watching a grown man humiliate himself. "Alright, here I go," Aang said taking off at a run towards the river.

For a few seconds Aang just kept running. He tucked up his feet as he reached the water. He felt the wind catch under the glider. Zuko watched in awe as the Avatar continued to bend the air around him. Aang laughed loudly. He felt just like a kid again. His eyes scanned the river. There was nothing but blue all around him, except for a little white dot in the water. It was a woman! Aang lost his concentration and fell into the water, right next to the young lady. She screamed. On the shore Zuko was laughing uncontrolably. It was the funniest sight he had ever seen in a long time. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright?" Aang asked the woman.

Katara nodded. "Are you alright sir?" she asked.

"I believe so," Aang told her, "But could you help me back to shore. I'm not a very strong swimmer."

Katara helped Aang back to the shore. "Aang is everything okay? Are you hurt?" Zuko asked helping the man from the water.

Aang laughed and helped up Katara. "Yes yes, quite alright. Luckily for me, an Angel broke my fall."

Katara gasped at the sight of Zuko. Instantly she fell to her knees. Zuko's brow furrowed. "Kana?" he asked.

Katara looked up at him. "When have you ever bowed to me?"

Katara tried to think of something quick. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."

Aang bended the water from his clothes. "Ah, much better," he proclaimed.

He turned his attention back to Zuko and the maiden. "Now then what might your name be?" he asked.

"Ka...na," Katara answered.

"Kana, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please forgive me I didn't mean to fall right out of the sky on you."

Katara laughed from relief. Zuko wrapped his cloak around her shoulders, as Aang went back to inspecting his glider for any damage. "What were you doing out here?" Zuko asked.

Katara thought for a moment. "I came out here to get away from the house. I didn't think I would run into you."
Zuko looked hurt. "Oh," he said.

"Oh no no, Zuko it's not that," Katara tried to explain, "I was just scared to see you again. The thing is I..."

"What?" Zuko asked harshly.

Katara chewed on her bottom lip. "I didn't want you to know that I was wanting to go home. I was hoping you could help me. I've been away from home for so long, and I don't have a way back now that I have no money."

Zuko looked back at her. "You just want to go home, and you wanted me to secure a position on a ship?" he asked.

Katara held back her tears. "Not anymore," she whispered.

"Then what is it?" Zuko asked.

Katara took a deep breath. "My cousin Katara isn't real... really the one who attacked you when you stole the rhino. That was me."

Zuko thought for a moment. "But she had white hair," he said outloud.

"Umm yes about that, I can change my hair color at will," Katara confessed.

"How is that possible?" Zuko asked.

"I'm a waterbender. I can do that. But nobody knows but you. Katara was the one who served you."

"But she had on the pearl that I guess that I gave you," Zuko explained.

"I gave it to her," Katara lied, "She saw it and liked it so much. I gave it to her because she doesn't ever get anything. Treated right, freedom..."

Zuko nodded at this. "Can you turn your hair white, now?" he asked.

Katara closed her eyes. Slowly her hair began to change from brown to a snowy white. When she opened her eyes only half of it had changed. Zuko chuckled at this. "What's the matter?" he asked.

Katara thought about what Yue had said. "It can only be done so many times. I don't really know how to explain it."

Katara concentrated again, making the white in her hair turn back brown. Zuko hugged Katara close. "Kana," he whispered, "It's okay, I believe you. Thankyou for being honest with me."

Katara squirmed in his embrace. Why did he have to say that? She gently pushed him away. "I need to be going. Katara needs my help. I came down here for berries, she'll wonder where I am."

Zuko thought for a moment. "Kana, will you meet me at the old temple ruins at sunset?" he asked.

Katara stopped walking. "I... I'll try," she told him.

She continued walking until Zuko couldn't see her anymore.

"It's so grand to meet you," Lady Yumi greeted, "I've heard a great deal about you."

Azula and Mai both smiled at this. The three of them were sitting outside enjoying the sun and drinking flowerwater. "I'm sorry my nephew couldn't be here today, he had a previous engagement with the Avatar. That and his mind has been on other things lately."

Azula nodded, "It's quite alright. Tell me what has the Prince said about my daughter. I'm a little eager to know."

Yumi smiled at Mai. "He says that you're beautiful of course, and that he finds you very entertaining."

Mai had the grace to blush. "I do hope I get to see him soon," she said, "I have been thinking about presenting him with a gift."

She produced a parcel that contained a beautiful dagger. On it there was a water tribe symbol. "This is to tell him that there are other places in the world. I have been to this one. It's grand but cold."

"It's very lovely," the Lady observed, "Is this the Southern Water Tribe symbol?"

Azula nodded. "It's from the time we spent down there, before my husband died."

"Oh then you must be the cousin's of the young woman Zuko was talking about."

"Beg pardon?" Azula asked.

The Lady sipped her flowerwater. "Yes, Kana of the Southern Water Tribe, I believe. She's here visiting her cousin."

Mai looked at her mother. Azula's eyes grew wide. "Oh, yes we are the cousin's. She's going to be leaving soon to go back though."

Mai threw another questioning look at her mother. "You know Mai, your cousin, your favorite cousin, your little ice berg."

Mai's face dropped, but quickly she recovered. "Yes my dear cousin who will be going home soon."

"Whatever is she going home for?" Lady Yumi asked.

"Why she's getting married," Azula answered.