A/N: Back again with another chapter.

Chapter 10:

A small ray of light peered through the window of the bedroom. It laid on the short hairs of his arm. Feeling it's warmth pull him out of his sleep. Slipping from his unconscious state, Ozai stretched and noticed something. Well, noticed a few things. One, there was a cold substance wrapped around one of his wrist, holding it above his head. Two, he felt something weighing down on him. And three, a soft snore. Gold eyes opened immediately.

The former Fire Lord's eyes widened at the sight. A petite waterbender lying unconscious on top of him. Her hair was splayed across his chest as she rested her head there. The girl's legs were settled on either sides of his waist while her hands held to his bare chest. She snored softly above him. Snuggling into him like he was some pillow to find comfort in.

Ozai was utterly taken aback by it but then thoughts of the night before came flooding in. His dream. Panicking. The water girl running in to assist him. His resistance. Her persistence. The foul name calling. Him swinging her into the wall. Restrained. The girl continuing her efforts to help. Breaking free then strangling her. Her cold hands and then...nothing. Nothing but darkness as he left the realm of consciousness.

Now, here he laid with the same girl he practically tried to kill clinging to him. Ozai didn't know what to make of it. He had always known she was strange but a masochist? He was starting to question that. Anyways, he broke from his thoughts as he felt the girl move above him. A slight panic washed over him as he was not ready to face her yet. Especially not in this position.

Katara felt a warmth radiating from beneath her. As she laid in what she thought was her bed, she noticed the rise and fall of her body on this surface. Then there was the strange texture she felt under her fingertips. It was smooth, oily, and squishy almost. Katara couldn't comprehend what was going on until she felt a shift underneath her. She opened her eyes and started feeling around, her hand grazed across something fuzzy. Continuing her venture, Katara's finger came upon something warm and moist. Lips? Her eyes shot open.

The waterbender lifted her head hesitantly, she could already feel her gut churning from the fear swelling inside. Slowly but surely, a topless Ozai came into her view. His eyes just as wide with shock as hers. Katara then moved her eyes away from his face to analyze the rest of the scene before her. Her hands held her up against his naked chest. His wrist was encased in ice against the wall. Here she was again, on top of him, this time wearing her nightgown. It took a minute but a red taint bloomed onto her cheeks. This was like one of those scenes from those erotic scrolls she totally never read. She wanted to say something. Something to flip this awkward situation around. Probably tell him 'hey, I hit my head when you threw me into the wall but no biggie, I decided it's only fair if I use you as my personal pillow.' That would surely dispel any lewd thoughts from either their minds. This was just an accident that could easily be solved through communication.

Katara had opened her mouth to speak, sitting upwards while still mounted to her adversary, when she lost balance and almost toppled over. However; Ozai grabbed her with his free hand around her waist. She fell forward onto him. Hovering just inches from his face. The blush she was already sporting deepened. This was becoming more complicated than it should. Pushing herself back up, the waterbender stared at equally uneasy eyes.

"I-I umm…. This isn't- I mean… I-I didn't mean." Katara desperately looking for the right words but failed.

Beneath her, Ozai couldn't help but stare unsteadily to the girl on him. His hand sliding from her waist to her exposed thigh. This was too much. The lost look on her face. Their awkward position. His own discomfort. Her fight to find her speech. Even their little brawl last time. It was all overwhelming and even he didn't know how to respond to their current predicament.

As they sat there, unsure of what to do, Ozai noticed the bruising around the girl's neck. His eyes jumped from the discolored area to her blue orbs. Had he done that? When he was panicking, had he given her this? The water girl must have seen his unexpected apologetic expression, her hand instantly went to the tender area.

Ozai removed his hand from her thigh and hesitantly moved upward to his doing. He saw her fearful eyes widened but as he grew closer, she didn't as much as flinch. Finally, his callous hand met the sore skin of her throat. He let the tips brush gently along the bruise. He knew it hurt her from the wince she tried to hide. It surprised him how she just let him get this close after what he did. Maybe she was a masochist or maybe she wasn't afraid of him as someone should be. He was dangerous. Even when wasn't trying to be he was a threat. A man driven to wicked deeds regardless of his own choosing.

Katara couldn't believe she let him touch her again. Especially after last night. He had roughed her up so badly and called her all those things, how was it that she allowed him to touch her again? Maybe because in the back of her head she felt he didn't mean to. Or perhaps, she didn't fear him as she should. That fearlessness is what landed them both in this position. However; she didn't make him stop or pull away from him. Katara just watched him as he touched her skin with such gentleness. She hadn't thought he could be like this. It was something she hadn't pictured the ex-tyrant doing to his enemy. If they could honestly still be called enemies after all this crap.

His hand then cupped her neck softly and he met her eyes again, "Katara…"

The waterbender's eyes bugled at the usage of her name from his mouth. He had always called her girl. Or waterbender. Or peasant. And last night he added a whole new list.

I'm sor-" his words died on his lips but not that he meant them to, his eyes left hers and went to the door on the other side of the room. Katara followed his gaze and her hands shot up to cover her mouth.

Standing in utter disbelief with his teapot slipping through his fingers was a shocked Iroh. His eyes were the size of the moon. His mouth had fallen to the floor.

Katara jumped to say something but her clumsy self only crashed back into Ozai causing them both to swear from the landing. Why couldn't she do anything right?

"Iroh!" She said crawling from off Ozai. "It's not what it looks like."

Wow, that certainly wasn't the most cliche thing to say in this moment. Katara hopped off the bed and went up to the distraught old man. She tripped over the sheets tangled around her ankle and slammed into the old man.

"Sorry!" She hurried and backed away. Why me?!

"Master Katara, I'd have to say this is a most disturbing surprise." Iroh managed through the shock.

Katara waved her arms around frantically, "I promise this was all an accident! It just happened without either of us really thinking and BAM! We're waking up like this. Please don't tell Zuko!" She felt so pathetic from her hysterical behavior.

"An accident?" Iroh came out of his trans. "No Miss. Katara this is well beyond an accident."

"I know. I know." She whined

"I mean look at this! How could this happen?! Look at how he's restrained!" Gesturing to look at Ozai who just tried not to be seen.

"Look at what you're wearing!" He turned back to her. "Look at your neck!" Finally seeing her bruise.

Katara's eyes fell in shame. This was all her fault. Had she been careful and less assertive in her attempt of handling Ozai, she would have avoided this all together.

"A young lady like yourself should never take part in these kinds of things! And with my brother, a foul man! What kind of sick lewd things has he gotten you into?"

The waterbender looked back at him, I don't think we're talking about the same thing?

"I mean, how will you explain this to your father or Aang that you've taken their enemy to bed." He voice lowering at the uncomfortable topic. "How will you face them?"

Katara wide eyed Iroh before looking over to Ozai who was literally doing everything he could to not be here right now. Did it really look like that? Did he seriously think that's what happened?

"And think of poor Zuko. How will he feel when he finds out you laid with his father, knowing his feelings for you?"

Yeah, it was time to clear this up. The old man definitely didn't understand the situation. "Uh, Iroh." interrupting his rant.

"Yes."

"That's not what happened here. This actually wasn't what it looked like." Katara explained.

"Oh!" He said taken aback. "Then what did happen?"

The waterbender dropped her head. This was going to take forever but first she might need to release Ozai from his restraint.

An hour later, Katara was dressed in her usual water tribe attire with her hair tied up in a loose ponytail, sitting on her bed twiddling her fingers. Her gaze focused on the gloomy sky from her balcony. It was going to rain. She could feel the heaviness of the cloud just waiting to let fall the water droplets. How she wanted to go out there and twirl in the massive abundance that would surely fall. However; she couldn't but not for her previous reasons for not leaving her chambers.

After talking with Iroh and clearing up the air about her compromising position, the two decided Ozai should stay in his chambers. With her family arriving soon, their unsuitable interactions, and Iroh's own feelings regarding them staying together, it was the best choice. The old man told her she could still work on her patient but under his supervision. Talk about unconvinced.

Now she had a chance to leave her rooms, finally go into the city and enjoy her vacation she almost forget she was on. But she couldn't. Katara didn't understand why but she couldn't find the motivation to leave her rooms. She felt mentally and physically exhausted. Not to mention she was still in pain from last night. Her head and neck were aching. She tried to heal them both but she had waited too long to completely heal them, they would have to recover naturally.

Katara sighed as she tried to think of something to do. Maybe she could go tour the gardens. Go into town. Socialize with locals. Perhaps, see what Zuko was up to. Anything but mope in her room.

Getting up from her bed, Katara sunk to the floor. Her knees gave out. On her hands and knees, thoughts of Ozai and last night flashed in her head. Then this morning. The fear in his eyes. How afraid he was of her. But why? What did he have to fear? She would never harm him even though she had tried a few times. Katara figured he must have had dreamt of something overwhelming. There had to have been a reason for his outburst. Never once did he strike her as the type of man to do something without cause. Besides, it was obvious he wasn't in his right mind. His eyes looked too fearful. Ozai was not a man to show weakness, not if he was in actual control. But why? Why did she care so much to justify him? Why did she feel like defending him? Wasn't he her enemy? Hadn't he been indirectly involved in her mother's murder?

A single tear fell from her eyes, had she become attached to him? Had she allowed herself to see him as more than a monster? Spirits, what was wrong with her? She had become attached and maybe it had to do with the way he always looked at her. His eyes never held any hostility unless Zuko was around which she was sure was for show. He surprised her with his playfulness, teasing her to no end, make sarcastic remarks to everything she said. Ozai had even showed concern for her lack of sleep. Even this morning, she had saw how remorseful he was at what he had done. Those piercing gold eyes were so gentle and so caring. How could she have not thought differently of him? He was nothing like how she imagined. Even if it was all just a game, it was so convincing. Katara was so convinced and while she would never let his past go, she couldn't ignore the possibility that he may not be the same man as before.

Katara finally got up, she needed to meet with Zuko. She needed to tell him before Iroh did. There was no telling what the firebender would do to Ozai if he heard from anyone else but her. She needed to convince him it was an accident.

Iroh paced his floor, hands behind his back, eyes closed, brows furrowed, and an overall unpleasant look on his face. Lounging casually in a chair, Ozai watched with irritation as his older brother act like the foolish old man he knew him to be. He knew it had something to do with earlier but if they were in reverse roles, Ozai wouldn't be giving it this much thought. It would be none of his business as it was none of Iroh's business.

"What is going through your head, Ozai?" Iroh struggled to hide his anger toward his younger brother. He stopped in his tracks. "I want to know what would compel you to attack the young girl when she has done nothing but try and save your life."

Ozai crossed his arms over his chest and stared indifferently at the old man. What was he supposed to say. 'I had a dream that not only were we married but she was holding my son in her arms'. Because that definitely wouldn't make matters worse. While in his opinion, he had no intentions to hurt the girl, it would be hard for anyone to believe. So Ozai simply sat there in silence.

"I can't believe the extent of your cruelty, brother." Iroh threw his hands up in a fit of frustration. "I knew you were a cruel man but never would I think you'd do this. Do you not see that bruise on her neck and still she tried to cover for you?! Zuko told me there was something strange going on. I tried to tell him not to worry but I guess he was right to be suspicious. Something is wrong! Very wrong and I want to know what, Now!"

Never had Iroh been so upset. Not since Ozai had scarred Zuko. It was clear that the old man cared a great deal for the water girl but still Ozai didn't have anything to say. More like he didn't know what to say. He was just as upset about it himself. Even though the girl was his enemy, had attacked him, and called him out every chance she got, he had developed a bizarre and uncanny feeling of attachment to her. He hated it. Knowing there could be a slim chance that he had any feeling for her other than distaste or faint amusement of. But if he were being completely honest with himself, Ozai knew his dream was the manifestation of some subconscious thoughts he may not have even been aware of and this morning only proved that theory more. There was a different way he looked at her when he saw her lying on him. He saw he in a new light. Not just a peasant or a waterbender or a girl but as Katara. Ozai had begun to see her as she was and that didn't necessarily sit well with him. This wasn't supposed to happen.

The feeling of her skin this morning as he caressed the area he corrupted was so soft but like milk almost. As if she had bathed herself in milk and honey all her life. She had the texture of skin that a refined lady would possess, not a warrior as she was. The smooth milky feeling of her skin despite the damages would have cause any weaker man in his position to falter but not him. Ozai wouldn't hurt her. Not again. Not after she had continued to but her underserved trust in him even after what he did. That girl was so strange. She was something so different than what he was use to experiencing. The former tyrant, regardless of his discontent for his newly discovered feelings, would make this right. Someway. Somehow.

In the background, Ozai only heard Iroh ranting on and on about how selfish he was. Bringing up the past and making him out to be more of a monster than he really was. Ozai was so sick of that. Everyone acting like he was so wicked and foul. Iroh knew better and here he was pretending to be just as clueless as everyone else. How dare him?! He was no less guilty! No less responsible! There had been sins Iroh had commented that not even Ozai would have. How dare he forget!

"ENOUGH!" Ozai finally shouted as he stood up from his seat. "You think yourself above me?! Do you not remember our past, brother? Do you not remember how we both sought father's favor? And your own evil deeds. Or the one you're more commonly known for, dragon of the west!"

The two men glared hatefully into each other's amber eyes. "I may have been the usurper and the tyrant but you my dear brother were something way worse. You made me into this monster you claimed to loathe. After what you did, how could I have become any different than I had?! What would you have expected of me?! I want to know!"

Iroh grinded his teeth and turned away. "That was some time ago, Ozai, I have changed."

"And so have I." Ozai let his words hang in the air for a moment before he walked away. He didn't need this. Not now. Not after he had enough on his mind. The only thing he wanted to do was rest and think and be alone.

Zuko was on his way to his own private gardens to relax, is what he thought. He had the rest of the day to himself. He hadn't gotten message that Katara wanted to speak with him, supposedly, Iroh had things covered with keeping watch of Ozai. Upon entering the garden, the young lord noticed his friend seated at a bench near the pond where the turtle-ducks played. Her head was held down and from where he stood he thought there was a slight tremor in her posture.

"Katara?" He said slowing down behind the figure.

The girl turned around gradually. As her face came into his view he saw tears rolling down her cheeks. Zuko rushed over and knelt down in front of her, pulling her immediately into his arms. When she flinched back and brought her hand up to her neck in pain, Zuko's eyes widened. There was a dark red color around her throat. His eyes blazed as there was only one thought that came to his mind. Ozai.

"Did he do this to you?" Zuko seethed. "Did that bastard do this to you?" Smoke fuming from his nostrils. His father had done what he had feared. He hurt his Katara.

"No, Zuko. It's not like that." She forced through the tears. "He didn't mean to. He was panicking."

"What?!" Zuko barked. The young Fire Lord stood up and looked down at the girl. Her head remained down as it would have caused her pain to look up at him from his great height. "You're defending him?! Again!"

Katara tried to reach for his hand, "Please, Zuko! He didn't mean to!" She cried.

He snatched his hand away from her and glared, "Where is he?!"

"Zuko, please!"

"WHERE IS HE?!"

"Don't do this!" Katara fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around his middle. "It was my fault! I made him do it. I provoked him. He warned me and I didn't listen. He tried to tell him to get away and I saw how afraid he looked but I didn't listen. Ozai didn't mean to, Zuko, I promise. He didn't mean to."

The waterbender began sobbing and clinging tightly to his robes. Her body trembled as she pleaded over and over again to understand. The Fire Lord tried to hear her out, tried to see things her way, tried to make sense of this but he couldn't. There was no way he could. This was his fault. Katara had been trying to get away from the stress of her homeland and ran to him for a safe haven. Instead he locks her up with his father and allows this to happen. How was he supposed to let her blame herself when she was the one telling him no from the start? She didn't want anything to do with this from the beginning and he forced her, he forced this fate onto her. Zuko felt just as guilty as his father was for causing her this pain. They both had been responsible.

Here she was, kneeling before him asking for Ozai's pardon and begging that he not do whatever it was he was planning. This wasn't Katara. This wasn't the girl who had stood up against him years ago. This wasn't the girl that defeated Azula. There was no way this was the same girl he knew. The Katara he knew wouldn't kneel to anyone, wouldn't beg, wouldn't allow herself to become this mess, and certainly wouldn't plead for the mercy of her enemies. Whoever this was, it was Ozai's doing. He had done something to her and Zuko needed to fix it.

"Guards!" Zuko shouted.

Katara forced herself through the pain and cranked her neck to look up at him with wide blue eyes, "Zuko! What are you doing?!" She panicked.

"Please take Lady Katara and escort her to her rooms." He ordered ignored the crawling of the girl's fingers into his arm. "Have a few men posted outside her door and make sure she doesn't leave."

"Zuko." Katara looked disbelievingly at him. "Wh-what are y-you doing?"

Three guards approached them and the waterbender grew frightened. This couldn't be happening. Was he arresting her? What was he thinking? Katara could not believe this. Why was he doing this? She buried herself into him, "Zuko, please! Don't do this!"

The Fire Lord's eyes were stark but steady, "This is for your own good, Katara."

The palace guards grabbed the waterbender by her shoulder and pulled her off of their sovereign. She struggled against them as tears filled her eyes. They dragged her by her shoulder away from Zuko. The waterbender dug her knees into the ground desperately trying to get out out of their grip. Before she was completely removed, it begun to rain. The thick clouds from earlier had finally reached its max. Katara's eyes flickered to Zuko's. He knew what she was going to do.

"Cuff her wrist!" He yelled, knowing she'd use the rain to escape. "She's a waterbender!"

His guards immediately secured her hands as they saw her wrist twist to bend. While two held tight to her wrist, the other took out a pair of metal cuff and placed them on her. They stood her to her feet and grabbed her by her forearm. Katara jerked in their arms, her lips now forming a snarl and growled viciously. How could Zuko do this to her? Because she was defending his father? Because was trying to explain it was an accident?

"WHY ZUKO?! WHY?!" She screamed at him. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" The girl was in so much pain. Her head was still sore and from all her resisting, her neck felt even worse. But as she noticed the pitiful look in her friend's eyes she realized he hadn't wanted to do any of this. He was just like Ozai. Trying to do right but forced to do otherwise. She had caused them both this trouble. Again, it was her fault! She stopped her fighting and stared in shame of herself at Zuko. All this craziness because she was defending one man. All this madness because she might have caught feelings for someone she shouldn't have. Spirits, save her.

As she gave up her fight, Zuko said. "I should have protected you more and now I am, I hope you'll understand." he dropped his head and turned away. There was nothing more for him to do but get to Ozai and fix the mess he's caused.

A/N: Really dramatic don't ya think? Katara and Ozai's morning after? Their sudden realization of developing feelings, though, I'd have to say Ozai is closer to figuring out his more completely than Katara. Iroh's past? Ooooowwww wonder what he must have done to make Ozai the man we know from the series. And Zuko and Katara's scene, just awful to see two friends in such a dilemma. But at least before being taken away Zuko apologized. Honestly, I side with them both. Well, nevermind me, tell me what you guys thought? Too much? Not enough? Reviews/PMs help me figure what I should do for my next chapter. Thank you to everyone who's read! :) Until next time.