A/N: So this is Chapter 10. And let's not forget to mention that I reached 50 reviews! Woot! Woot!
That means this chapter is two times longer than any chapter I have ever written.
FYI: Some people might get mad about how Aang is portrayed in this chapter. I am sorry in advance. I love Aang, I just think he is a little clueless sometimes. :-D
Also as part of the Chapter 10 50 reviews celebration I added some pretty cool stuff in the A/N after the story. If you want to check it out, if not I understand, this is a lot of reading.
Let's get to it then shall we. :-D Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Avatar.
The two stood there just looking at their room. Sure they had been gone for three days but still.
Someone had come and tossed their room. The bed was resting against the wall and had been torn open. The pillows were open and feathers were everywhere. Blankets lay in small pieces across the room. The dresser drawers were sprawled across the room. The bathroom had towels and soaps everywhere. The only thing that seemed untouched was the closet since the door wasn't open.
"Are you kidding me!" Katara said as she took in the room. "At least we didn't leave anything here."
Zuko stood in the doorway looking around the room with a stern look. Something isn't right. "Katara, why would someone toss our room? They don't know who we really are here. So no one should be after us. And Yami would have left shortly after us to attack us when he did, so he would not have had time to do this. Something isn't right."
As Zuko finished his sentence Katara had made her way to the closet and went to open the door to see the destruction that had destroyed the small room as well. Once the door was open a man dressed in black complete with a mask, jumped out and grabbed Katara holding a knife to her throat.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Katara screamed out pain. The man had grabbed her shoulder to hold her in place while the other held the knife to her throat.
Seeing the pain on her face Zuko continued with a small voice. "What do you want?"
A raspy voice spoke just as softly. "You took something from me, now I am going to take something from you."
"What did I take from you?" Zuko asked as he saw Katara's shoulder start to stain.
"You will find out eventually." The voice spoke to him. "Now it's time for her to die."
The man pressed the knife to Katara's throat and a small trickle of blood started to drip down the blade.
"No!" Zuko shouted as he saw the blood drip from the knife.
Katara flinched in pain and closed her eyes wanting it to come quickly if he was going to do it not slow and torturous. When she heard Zuko scream her eyes shot open and her shoulder started to glow red. All she saw was Zuko's scared face and then all went black.
Within milliseconds the man dropped the knife. Smoke was rolling of the knife and it was slightly melted. The man was looking at his hands as smoke rolled off them as well. "You crazy bitch! You will die for this in a worse way than before." The man yelled as he started to stumble backwards.
Zuko took this moment to run to Katara. Her entire body was glowing red now. He grabbed her now unconscious body and check to see if her vitals were ok. Once finding a heartbeat he looked up for the man. All he saw was an open window. He will pay with his life before she does! "Katara its ok. He is gone."
As soon as the last word left his lips the red glow was gone.
"She is seeing Nali first thing when we get back."
Zuko had bandaged Katara's neck after he inspected it. He figured it was shallow and she could heal it when she woke up. He waited until Katara had regained consciousness and healed herself before they slowly went down to ask for a new room. Lucky for Zuko she wasn't out but an hour. Unlucky for Zuko he had to pay for all the damage done to the room.
Katara didn't remember what happened at all after she heard Zuko scream. He tried telling her about it to jog her memory but it didn't help. They eventually said it was because she was terrified for her life so she just blocked it out. All Katara could remember was black but Zuko swore that her eyes were open until that man started to step away from her.
They were currently sitting on the bed in their new room. They were both on the end and both facing the door. After the conversation of trying to remember and it leading nowhere, they had slipped into a silence. Neither wanted to talk about who the man could be or why he wanted them dead. And Katara had no desire to be twenty questioned by Zuko about the weird red light. But neither were going to get much sleep that night, so it was inevitable.
"So who do you think he was?" Katara voiced still looking at the door as if it were going to do a trick.
"I don't know." Zuko sighed and fell backwards onto the bed, feet still touching the floor. "There are so many people that want me dead. There are so many people who want you dead. Who knows which of the hundreds is the one who attacked us tonight." Zuko finished sounding slightly defeated.
Katara turned to look at the man. This trip had shown her a few sides of Zuko she had not met and a few she didn't want to revisit. As she looked at him she saw the same worry as she had just a few hours before when his mother left. All she wanted to do was hug him and make it all go away, but she knew that would solve nothing.
The two had been through so many battles and war meeting that she knew sitting here would solve nothing. I wonder what it would be like to be normal. Would I have this gash on my throat or this hole in my shoulder? Or would I be married and be bored outta my mind. "Zuko, have you ever wondered what it is like to be normal?" Katara asked her question as she slowly went to lay down as well.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because. What is normal to you is different from normal to me. If we were all normal, then there would be no interesting people, nothing would be invented, no one would excel at anything, and everything would be basic. More or less, if everyone was normal the world would be boring." Zuko had started to ramble and he knew it.
He had thought about this many times while he was in meetings with his council. The one answer always came to mind when he thought of his life being normal. If I was normal I wouldn't have met Katara. This made his heart ache so he knew then that he never wanted to be normal. But for him to tell her that answer would have been horrifying. He was not ready to say that to her yet. He had things he had to do yet.
"Ahh I see." Katara rolled on her shoulder to look at the man. "But wouldn't it be nice to not have to look over your shoulder. Or have to think about an identity for different towns. Or not having to sleep on the ground because you are in hiding. It's just sometimes I feel like I need a break." Katara sighed as she finished her rambling about her life.
Zuko turned on his shoulder as well so that they were both on their elbows. "Katara if you were normal, you would have never met any of your friends. No Aang, no Toph, no Suki, no Zuko, no Uncle, no May, no Jee, no anyone. You would be in the South Pole with your family."
"I never thought of it like that." Katara paused as she thought about this new information. "Yeah I think I don't want to be normal."
Zuko started to laugh as he returned to his back. "Good. Just so long as we are on the same page."
Katara smiled at him before she returned to her back as well.
"And I promise I won't make you sleep on the ground tomorrow night. You can sleep on Appa." Zuko said jokingly.
Katara started to laugh and pushed him with her shoulder. "That is not what I meant."
A younger man was standing outside of the hospital looking at his bandaged hands. It wasn't quite dawn. The colors were meshing into the sky, but the sun had not broken the horizon. "That bitch will pay. And so will the Fire Lord for what he did to my brother."
********flashback*************
Ryuji was standing in a dark doorway. "Is it done?"
"Yes, I let out my stupid brother and he is on his way to the town you told him of."
"Good." Ryuji paused as he turned away. "Follow him. If he doesn't get it done, kill him because if I see him again and the Fire Lord is alive he will be dead."
"Fine."
And with that Yami's brother was headed to the town as well.
He arrived the day after Katara and Zuko so he knew it would be a little hard to find them if they had set off into the mountains. He easily found his brother and in turn found the two targets. He slowly followed his brother, who was following the two around the market.
"Brother you are sloppy. I am surprised you have lived this long, let alone they haven't noticed you yet."
He followed them into the woods keeping his distance. He was supposed to get involved when his brother failed, but not until that point. He watched them cross the river and could hear his brothers comments from where he sat.
"Brother you have so much to learn."
Once his brother was out of sight he also crossed the river. Following them until they all made camp. Like a good assassin, his brother did not make a camp but set up a small place to stay within sight but not sound of the two he was following. He did the same, making sure he was far enough from both parties.
He had not slept in days so that he could catch up with his brother. He knew that sitting here would bring sleep to him quickly so he thought of what his brother would do that night.
"If he is smart he will stay where he is. Everyone's senses are more up at night because that is when they are the most vulnerable. Taking a short nap should mean nothing."
And with that the young man was asleep.
He woke a few hours later. It was still dark but the fire had been put out at the camp. He was concerned that maybe he had missed his brother killing them, so he got up from his hiding place and went towards the camp.
When he got there he saw a blood bath. It was everywhere. Yami has to be hurt somewhere. There is too much blood for just one person here. As he wondered around the camp he noticed the small grave marker and went over to it.
Only one grave? Could he be casing the other? But why would he take the time to burry one of them if the other is still out there? Slowly hoping that what he had realized was not true, the young man dug up the grave.
Once he saw who it was he screamed in pain and sorrow. "How could I have let this happen to you! I should have stayed up. Sleep is for the weak." He began to cry over his grave for his lost brother.
After his morning the young man looked at his brother one last time. He removed his brothers necklace and then reburied him. I will save this forever brother.
Standing he turned back towards town. "And I will kill the man who did this to you."
When he had returned to town he went straight to the only inn, knowing that is where the two had been staying. He needed something. Anything. To tell him where they were headed after they were done on this pointless quest for the Fire Lady.
He had looked everywhere and still had nothing to show for it. Slowly he exited the inn and went to stay outside of town in the woods. People remember your face. I can't stay somewhere long or they will know who I am. It is safer to stay here and return every day.
It was the night of the second day, when he spotted them returning to the village close to nightfall.
He quickly grabbed his bag and went to the inn where they were staying. Once in he went to their room and changed into his black assassin outfit. When he was finished he threw his bag out the window where it landed on the awing of the inn porch below. He entered the closet and waited for them to return.
Hours passed before they returned, the woman complaining about their room. He listened closely as a set of footsteps came close to the door. He had decided at that moment that the girl would die as well. When the door opened he grabbed the girl.
As he spoke with the Fire Lord he disguised his voice in case anyone had ventured upstairs at the girls scream. He also slowly began to notice that the girls shoulder under his hand was becoming wet. He assumed blood and felt a swell of pride that his brother had injured one of them and squeezed harder.
When he couldn't take it any longer he pressed the blade to her throat. As he did so one thing flashed through his mind. I have never killed a woman before. This caused a slight hesitation in his movement.
He heard the man scream and then he saw the girls shoulder glow red. Immediately he released her shoulder, because his hand was burning. Within a half a second he dropped the knife. It was melting on the floor. Not just the handle, the blade as well.
Slowly he stepped away from the evil girl as he looked at his hands. They were at least second degree burns. He yelled out at her and stepped further away as the glow started to spread across her entire body.
The Fire Lord ran across the room to check on the girl, so he made a mad dash for the window. Jumping out and landing on the awing before rolling to the ground. A few people looked at him for a moment but then walked on. They knew better than to get involved.
He removed the mask and slowly walked away.
***********flashback***************
He looked down at his hands again. She will die for this. He will die for what he did to my brother. Both will be slow and painful.
"It will take a few weeks for my hands to heal. Unless I visit a healer, in which they will speed it up." The young man looked at his hands again as an evil smiled crossed his face. "You two better sleep with one eye open from now on."
The morning came. They had checked out the night before so they just sat at a table, ate their food and left. The two reached the gate and began to stand around to wait for Ursa.
The sun was past breakfast and heading towards lunch quickly. Zuko had started pace and Katara had taken a seat under a tree to stay cool. She could tell he was starting to get more worried than he was before about Ursa coming back or not.
"Zuko."
"She isn't coming." Zuko cut Katara off before she could start to comfort him. "I should have never got my hopes up."
Katara looked at the man she loved with a broken heart. "I don't believe she would do that Zuko."
Silence passed between them as his pace quickened. Then shock covered his face as he whipped around to face the startled Katara. "What if the man who trashed our room went after my mom."
Fear ran across his face and he turned and ran full speed into town. No not my mom. She is all I have left.
Katara got up from her seat following him as he ran. Why didn't we think of this sooner. Please don't be dead. Yue help us. I don't think he could take it.
Neither knew where his mother could be.
"Zuko where do we start?" Katara asked as they ran pointlessly into the village.
"We are going to start where we left her yesterday and ask people if they know where she is. Do you remember her friends name?" Zuko asked as he weaved around people in the market.
"I think it was Kami. She mentioned her while we were making dinner. But that could be a different friend." Katara said as she barely missed being hit by a cabbage cart.
"Ok let's just ask about her. If Mom isn't with her I bet she would know where she is." Zuko said as they finally reached the spot where they had left his mother the night before. "Ok I will ask this side you ask that side."
Katara nodded and they started their search. It did not take long to find where the woman lived. She was well known in the village. They only asked a few people to confirm it. Once they found out where her friend lived they made a mad dash for the house.
"Mom!" Zuko yelled as he threw open the door.
"Yes?" was the woman's quizzical response.
Both Katara and Zuko stood in the doorway with their mouths open looking at the two women sipping tea at the kitchen table. Finally Zuko spoke. "Are you serious? Where have you been? You were supposed to meet us hours ago. We thought something happened to you."
"Oh my. Did you not get my letter?" Ursa asked as she placed her tea down, asking them to sit with the two women. "I sent a letter to the inn saying that we had stayed up talking and I didn't get to bed until a little before morning. It should have been there for you this morning."
Zuko and Katara looked at each other. They did not even check with the desk when they left. They had made enough of a mess the night before that they didn't want to talk with them again.
"I just got up moments ago." She looked at her friend. "Kami would you mind if my son ate lunch with us?"
"No. I made more than enough food. You two are more than welcome to eat lunch with us before you leave." Kami smiled and went to get the two young adults tea.
Katara turned to look at Zuko as the woman left. He seemed like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. She smiled knowing he felt better. Thank you Yue.
Kami had made them a wonderful lunch that was more than filling for the trio. Once goodbyes were said the three were off to find Appa and head home.
"Mom this is Appa." Zuko said as they rounded the corner where they had left the massive beast.
There in the center of the clearing was Appa, on his back, feet in the air, snoring. Ursa laughed at how cute the giant animal looked. "How could anyone be scared of that?"
"Appa we are back!" Katara yelled as she laughed as well, walking towards the animal.
At Katara's voice the animal jumped up from this slumber. He looked at his friends and then to the new face. His head turned slightly before he moaned loudly.
"Appa this is my mom." Zuko stated as he walked towards the animal as well.
"It is nice to meet you Appa." Ursa said as she started to walk towards the beast.
Appa moved forward and started to smell Ursa. Her hair going up his nose each time he sniffed. Finally as if to say he approved he licked the woman.
Ursa started to laugh as she was covered in saliva. "He does that all the time to me too. I don't get it. But I guess that means he likes you." Zuko said as he watched his mom laugh.
"Good cause I like him too." Ursa stepped forward and gave the big animal a hug. She whispered to the animal as she hugged him "Thank you for always protecting my son." Appa moaned in response.
After the introductions everyone helped to reattach Appa saddle and then they were off headed to the Fire Nation.
"This is going to take two days Mom." Zuko called from where he was sitting in the saddle.
"Ok dear that's fine." Ursa said as she watched the ground fly past her. This is amazing!
Two days later found them landing in the Fire Nation. They landed close to the barns where they left. Everyone was standing by the palace waiting for them.
"Hey guys how did it go?" Aang asked as they approached the giant bison.
"It went great!" Zuko said as he helped Katara jump down. "Guys I want you to meet my mother." Zuko said as he helped his mother jump down.
Everyone's expression changed as they looked at the beautiful woman standing in front of them.
"Mom, this is Aang, Toph, Jee, and May. You already know Uncle." Zuko said as he pointed to each of his friends.
"Toph Bei Fong. Katara told me about you. I think you and I will get along just fine." Ursa said as she walked over to the young girl.
"If you are anything like Sparky we will get along great." Toph said as she extended her hand to shake the extended one.
Ursa smiled as she walked over to Aang. "Avatar Aang. Thank you." Was her only comments to the boy.
He smiled and shook her hand. "No. Thank you."
Something passed between them that was unsaid. No one could tell, but the two now held great respect for each other. Neither said what it was, but they continued on.
"Jee and May." Ursa looked at the two. "Jee you are my son's personal guard and friend. May you are his and Katara's personal servant and one of Katara's best friends." The two nodded as the woman spoke. "And engaged." She stated as she nodded to the young woman's figure.
"WHAT?" was heard from behind the woman. "You asked her when I was gone! Are you kidding! I waited forever and you did it when I wasn't here!"
Everyone was looking at Katara now. "May you are telling me everything later." Katara said a little embarrassed.
A laugh erupted through everyone and congratulations to the newly engaged couple.
"Iroh. How I missed you." Ursa said as she finally approached her old friend.
He smiled as he hugged her. "You have missed a lot. But I am sure you are tired from your travels. Care for some tea?"
"I would love some tea."
"Let us retire to the gardens and enjoy some tea and stories. Everyone may come." Iroh said as he motioned towards the gardens.
"I am sorry but we must return to work. I will send someone with tea to you." May said as her and Jee turned to leave.
"We have something we have to do as well." Zuko said as he grabbed Katara's arm.
"We do?" Katara responded quickly.
"We do!" Zuko stated sternly.
"Well join us when you are finished." Iroh said as he looked at the two.
With the conversation over Iroh, Ursa, Aang, and Toph headed towards the gardens while Zuko, Katara, Jee, and May headed into the palace.
"May, is Nali here?" Zuko asked once they entered the palace.
"Yes, why did someone get hurt?" May responded worry evident in her voice.
"No we just have a question for her. Thanks" Zuko told her as they headed towards the infirmary.
Toph and Aang were walking slightly in front of the two old friends to give them their privacy as they spoke to each other. Toph could hear everything but Aang was in the dark. He walked slowly just enjoying the gardens.
Ursa and Iroh were talking about small things that meant nothing, like if the climate was the same and if some of the staff were still here, until they slipped into a short silence.
"I am assuming you know about the young ones and their feelings." Iroh spoke as they entered the edge of the gardens.
Ursa's eyes darted to the young girl mere yards from them.
"She knows." Was Iroh's response. "It's hard to hide things from her." He laughed.
"Yes. Zuko told me when we were alone one day and it is hard not to notice that Katara cares about my son." Ursa paused. "What do you think will happen?"
"What I think will happen and what I want to happen are two different things." Iroh paused "I want them to end up together. She would make a perfect Fire Lady and she balances him perfectly."
"I agree." Ursa said as she looked around the gardens she use to love.
"I don't know what will happen though. Zuko has the things he needs but he needs to act. And that is where I do not know what will happen." Iroh stated as they neared the table.
"I think he will, he loves her deeply. He isn't going to let her get away." Ursa spoke as she saw the table as well.
"I hope you are right dear sister." Iroh said as the two young ones sat down.
"I do too." She said softly as she sat in a chair.
"Ahh. The beautiful Southern Water Tribe Princess and the handsome Fire Lord. What brings you here?" Nali said happily as she slowly went to greet the two. Nali was an older woman around Iroh's age, but reminded Katara so much of GranGran.
"Do you mind if we return to my chambers. I have something I would like you to look at in private." Zuko stated as he looked sternly in the woman's eyes.
"Yes." Was her only reply, knowing that he only had her go to his chambers when it was something people were not suppose to know about. She grabbed her back and they left for his room.
When they got there Zuko sent the guards away and Jee replaced them. All knew that he would not say a word. He never had. The other guards could say anything for the right price.
"Ok Sir what do you need me to look at." Nali asked as she walked towards the man.
"It's not me. It's Katara." Zuko said as he nodded towards her.
Nali stopped in her tracks. "Katara?" She turned to look at the young girl. "Is something wrong with your healing?"
Katara looked at the woman and started to worry about what could possibly be wrong with her. "I'm not sure."
Nali nodded as she walked towards the girl. "Let's sit and explain everything to me."
Katara nodded and took a seat on Zuko's sofa. "We were on a journey to find Zuko's mother. When we were in the woods we were attacked. I was shot in the side and the shoulder. The side was just a graze but my shoulder got embedded. I broke off the arrow and continued to fight until we killed him with a fire dagger and an ice dagger. Shortly after I passed out from blood loss."
Nali nodded at the story. This had happened to many people she had healed. Nothing seemed odd as of yet.
Katara continued, "When I woke up Zuko had taken me to water and I healed myself. Or so I thought. The next day while we were traveling my shoulder ripped open again. And again. And again. I have tried to heal it fully many times. Each time it feels as if everything is healed but the wound will not close. One of the last times I healed myself I concentrated just on getting it to close and it ended up glowing red."
Nali's eyes grew wide at the last statement.
"Then when we were attacked again, a man dug his hand into the wound and it started to bleed. After a few minutes her shoulder started to glow red and then her entire body. The man's hands became burnt and the knife he was holding melted away. But when I ran to her she wasn't hot and the glowing stopped once he left." Zuko stated as he leaned against the wall.
Nali was confused. "I have never heard of anything like this. Have you tried to heal anything else?"
"No I haven't needed to." Katara said to the woman.
"I am going to have to look into this. I will write some of my healer friends and see if they know what it could be." Nali paused thinking, then turned to Zuko. "When she was passed out what did you do?"
"When she was fading in and out I just ran around to get her to some water." Zuko stated and then thought about the second time. "When she really passed out I just walked around camp and made food. I never touched her shoulder."
Now Nali was very confused. "I suggest you keep this quiet until we can figure out what it is. Katara I think you should come with me back to the infirmary and try to heal something. If it doesn't work then we will go from there."
Katara nodded and rose to follow the older woman.
"Let me know what happens. I am going to go join Uncle and the other." Zuko said walking out with them.
They nodded and parted ways.
"Don't worry we will figure it out." Nali said softly as they headed down the hall.
Katara nodded as worry was creeping into her head. I hope so.
Zuko walked up to the table as his mother asked about the wedding. "So when are we leaving for this wedding?"
"Oh are we talking about Sokka and Suki's wedding. How did we get on this topic?" Zuko asked as he took a seat at the table as well.
"Well Katara told me about it so I was asking everyone about it as well. They told me you were in it. Which you left out when you were telling me about your friends." Ursa gave him an eye and then continued. "So I was wondering how long it would be before I got to visit the wonderful place I had never been."
The others smiled as she spoke. "Well Katara has to be home for a ball the Friday before. So we would need to leave in about two weeks and five ish days. It takes a week to get there. Sokka's wedding is a few days later." Zuko stated as he did the math in his head.
"Oh I didn't know I got to see the South Pole as well." Ursa stated happily as she looked at her son.
"And you get to be there for a ball." Toph stated with a giggle.
"I know!" Ursa smiled even bigger. "Poor Katara though. Maybe we can make it better for her than what she thinks."
"Maybe." Iroh responded as he side glanced at his nephew.
"Why don't we all try to dance with her." Toph said as she shifted to pick at her toes. "I mean she is going to be dancing with all those weirdoes all night we might as well give her a break here and there."
"Toph I think it would look odd if you or Ursa danced with her." Aang stated quietly.
"Why?" Toph asked as she stopped her foot. "We are her friends. She needs a break. Losers who don't get that shouldn't be considered as husbands or as friends."
"I agree with Toph." Zuko spoke evenly as he set down his tea. "She is going to need a break. We all know why and if they don't accept it then they don't deserve to be there."
"I agree."
"As do I."
Aang seeing that he was out voted spoke up as well. "I was just thinking that Kurai would be on her about it. He is really dead set on her being married as soon as possible."
They all nodded and then Toph spoke. "Who the hell cares! We hate the bastard so he can get as upset as he wants. I dare him to try and mess with us. I would love to have a reason to beat his face in."
Everyone sat there shocked for a moment before they burst out laughing.
"I really do like you." Ursa stated as she laughed. "We are going to get along wonderfully."
Toph laughed at what the older woman said and smiled at her. I think she will fit in just fine.
As the laughing died down Aang spoke. "Zuko where is Katara?"
"Oh she was going to help Nali in the infirmary and then she was going to join us. You know how she is. We ran into Nali and it was all over." Zuko spoke as he reached to refill his tea.
"Ahh well she does work too hard." Aang said looking at his friend. "We need to do something fun for her before this all starts and she is bored outta her mind."
"I agree." Iroh stated. "Let's have a welcome home party for Ursa. Those are always fun."
"Uncle you want to have another ball don't you." Zuko stated flatly.
"Oh I want a ball." Aang added not noticing how it bothered Zuko. "I missed the last one."
"A ball it is!" Iroh sounded all too happy to be planning another ball.
"Oh yeah a ball." Toph stated depressed. "I get to wear a dress."
Zuko started to laugh at his friends false excitement. As Aang spoke again, "I know right. I love to wear my formal robes. This is going to be so much fun."
Zuko's laughter grew to the point he was crying from the oblivious statement of Aang and the shocked face Toph made.
They seem to have fun together. I am glad he has friends. Ursa smiled as she looked from her son to Iroh, who smiled in return.
"Anything else you need?" May asked as she sat tea down in front for Zuko and Katara.
Katara had returned to meet her friends for tea and they had had a short conversation about their trip and what they did during it.
Zuko and Katara had left out the part when their room was trashed and Katara was held at knife point. They didn't feel like it was important to worry their friends. They did inform them that Yami was dead, to which everyone cheered and a toast was made.
Everyone had dispersed shortly after. Zuko had showed his mother to her room, as she wanted to rest. He was going to show her around the palace when she woke up. Toph, Aang and Iroh were headed into town to a tea shop. Katara went to Zuko's room to wait for him because she knew he would want to talk.
"No May we are fine. Thank you." Zuko said smiling at the woman.
"Ok call me if you need anything." May said as she exited the room.
Silence fell between the two. Katara was starring out the door to the balcony. Zuko was looking at her with worry plastered all over his face. He could tell there was something eating at her, but he couldn't tell if it was something new or still the same problem.
"So, how did it go?" Zuko asked as he placed his cup down.
"It went fine." Katara said with a sigh and placed her tea down. "It went fine."
"And what does fine mean." Zuko asked as he moved forward in his chair so that he was sitting on the edge.
She turned to look at him and spoke, "It went fine. I healed a broken arm, a burn, a cut hand, and a stab wound. Everything worked fine." She finished and looked away.
"Ok?" Zuko was confused as to what that meant.
"She tried to heal it too. And so did a few other people. It reopened every time in seconds when I stretched." Katara exhaled with defeat. "They all said that it felt like it was healed but a hole would still remain."
"What did Nali say?" Zuko was relieved that at least she could still heal and her waterbending seemed to be working since she was spinning her tea.
"She didn't know. She wrote her friends while I was with her and said that as soon as she knew I would know too." Katara said staring out the window, her gaze faraway.
"Well at least everything else works." Zuko tried to cheer her up and all he got in return was a nod. He turned to look out the window as well. The sun had set shortly before he said good night to his mother. The colors of the sky were starting to fade as the stars began to overtake the sky.
He could see the moon light but knew the moon was still hiding on the other side of the palace. Oh Yue, if you can help her with this problem I will owe you one. Zuko tired reasoning with the moon sprit.
A soft voice entered his ears drawing his attention back to the young woman with him, "But what if it goes away?" Katara finished and turned to look at him, tears on the edge of spilling out of her eyes.
Zuko's heart dropped. The woman he cared for more than anything in this world, was breaking. The strongest woman he had ever met, minus his sister, was breaking into pieces. He had seen her hesitate when the man jumped out of the closest. He had seen the way she didn't want to heal herself out of fear. He had seen how she was afraid all around of what she could do.
No one should be this scared of themselves. She had burnt a man, and melted a knife, and they didn't know how or why she did it. Zuko was scared. He loved her, but he had never had experiences at comforting someone. Sure he had comforted a few people before but no one that he loved. And not something this important.
He realized he was rambling in his head. Just say what your heart says. "If it does we will get through it together."
Katara smiled slightly but then her frown returned. "But mom died…" She was now crying. Just a soft cry. If someone were not looking at her they would never know. But mom died to save me because I am a bender.
Zuko got up from his seat and walked to the softly crying girl. He sat next to her and then pulled her into a hug. Petting her head, he kissed it every so often while she cried.
"Mom died and I went and lost them." Katara said into Zuko's chest as she continued to cry, the sobs coming louder now.
Zuko let her get it out before he spoke his mind. Minutes passed before she finally stopped. She turned her head away from his chest, but there was no way she was leaving his arms. Her grip on his shirt was still as tight as when he first sat down. A sob escaped her every so often as they sat there in silence for a few minutes longer.
He rested his head on hers and with his arms still wrapped around her. "Katara no matter what happens I will be here for you. I will do whatever you ask and whatever it takes to get you your bending back." He paused hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. "But I think you are getting ahead of yourself. You still can bend. You still can heal. You still can fight. You can do everything you use to do you just have a new little thing in there. Sure we don't know how it works or why you have it but we will figure it out. You are one of the strongest people I know. If anyone can get through this you can."
Katara smiled. He knew just what to say. She was jumping to conclusions. She still had everything. She still worked. Why was she jumping the gun? He was right. She just had a new little power that was all. And it was like all powers she had to learn how to use it.
She now felt stupid. She had become hysterical over nothing. Ok, not nothing. But they didn't know what it was yet. She hugged him tighter, "Thank you. Sorry I blew up like that. I should have thought about it a little more."
"I am sure I would have done the same thing if I were you. So don't worry about it. I am here whenever you need to let it out." Zuko stated as she stopped hugging him, but they continued to hold each other.
She wasn't ready to leave his arms just yet. She did love him and being there just made everything seem perfect. She didn't have to worry about anything, not the man who was going to kill them, not the weird glow she gave off, not having to get married. It was just perfect. "Can we stay like this for awhile?"
"As long as you want."
The two stayed like that until Zuko felt Katara's even breathing of her sleeping. He didn't want to wake her by moving her, so he just shifted slightly so that he was in a better position and went to sleep himself.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Zuko and Katara's eyes shot open and arms reached for the door to send an element if need be. It was their first night back after having to be on guard at night. Not to mention a man was after them.
Something different happened than normal. As soon as Katara's arm shoot up a red glow went from her shoulder down her arm and out her hand. It was a split second but Zuko was within inches of it and could see the entire thing. The glow shot across the room and hit Zuko's door leaving a burn mark where it had been.
Katara froze.
Zuko's mouth hung open.
"Sir, are you in there?" Someone shouted from the other side. "Why is the door locked?"
"Shit!" Zuko got up from the couch as Katara looked at her hand as if it were magic. "You have to go. Now!" Zuko whispered as best he could.
Katara seemed to snap out of it then and got up. She could only imagine how it would look to someone. Zuko's door locked. She in the same clothes as yesterday. "How?" She whispered back.
"Over here." Zuko walked over to the wall that connected their rooms. He pushed on a nail that was holding a lamp on the wall and a pillar of the fireplace flew open. Katara looked through it and could see into her room. She turned to look at him with a stern gaze. "This is a palace, there are passages everywhere. You cannot tell me that you don't have them in the South Pole."
"." Katara said as she walked through the passage and Zuko shut it.
She slowly walked over to the door. Taking off his clothes as he went, so that he was only in his undergarments. Opening the door he responded to the man who caused all the trouble. "WHAT?"
"Sir, the sun has risen an hour ago. If you do not hurry you will be late for your breakfast meeting." The man stood looking at the Fire Lord, scared and confused. The Fire Lord never slept in this late.
"Fine. I will be there shortly." Closing the door he slid down its length. That was close. Wait, who locked the door?
Katara walked through the passage and heard it shut behind her.
"About freaking time."
Katara's head spun to look at her bed. There in the center of her bed looking bored out of her mind was May. "What do you mean?" Katara blushed as she made her way to sit next to her friend.
"Oh don't play dumb." May said as the girl sat on the bed beside her. "I came in this morning to see what kind of tea the Fire Lord wanted after his mediation, like I always do. And what did I find. A little waterbender and firebender all snuggled together on a couch." May giggled as her friend blushed even redder. "I know you guys didn't do anything. The way you looked last night after I left the tea, I would assume that you cried yourself to sleep over there."
Katara looked at her friend with a hurt face. "I want to tell you."
"But you can't." May finished for her. "I know the drill. It happens when your friends with important people." May giggled and the tension in the room relaxed.
"Thanks." Katara responded.
"But I came in. Locked the Fire Lords door. Walked through the passage and locked your door. We do not need a rumor going around here." May smiled as she teased her now completely red friend.
"I totally agree." Katara giggled as she tried to hide her blush. "Thanks. I totally owe you."
"And I will so be cashing in on that one day." May said jokingly.
"Sounds like a great plan." Katara laughed finally feeling relaxed and like things were back to normal. "Now tell me how he asked you."
"Ahh, Ursa how nice of you to join us." Iroh said as she walked towards the table.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." She said taking her seat. "I see you never change. Tea with every meal."
"And in between." Iroh joked as the two shared a laugh.
They were all in the dining hall eating breakfast, except Zuko and Katara. He was in his morning meeting. And Katara would be along shortly. They all knew she slept in late.
"Now that the scheming people are all here, let's get started with his plan." Toph said as Aang gave her a confused look.
"Plan?" He asked.
"Yes I was thinking about that too." Ursa said as she looked at the young woman while buttering some bread.
"I was thinking we just make them dance together all night." Toph suggested while she poked her breakfast repeatedly with her fork. "Or lock them in a room until they discuss things. Or kill each other."
"Who?" Aang tried again as he became more confused.
Ignoring Aang, Iroh spoke, "I do not think that would go over well. I am pretty sure they would kill us before one another."
"Well then I give." Toph said forcefully stabbing her food one last time. "They are so hard headed. Why can't he just do it already?"
"Who?" Aang tried again becoming more angry than confused.
"He wants to ask her father." Ursa said before taking a bite of her food. "What if we did a couples theme ball."
"Theme ball." Toph gowned. "As if I didn't hate the idea enough already."
"What kind of theme should it be?" Iroh asked as the young woman across from him pounded her head on the table.
"What if we just did something simple. Like the Four Nations." Ursa stated trying to think of something simple yet good.
"Everyone would come dressed in Fire Nation attire." Toph stated bluntly as her head continued to hit the table.
"Well then we can make it that they have to dress as another Nation." Iroh stated simply as the girl across from him stopped hitting her head.
"So I could wear Water Tribe robes instead of a dress! I love this idea!" Toph stated as she was finally interested in the topic.
"For you yes, but everyone else is going to have to wear something formal." Ursa said laughing lightly.
"Deal. Now how are we going to get stupid and dummy together." Toph asked.
"Who are we talking about?" Aang was really starting to get upset. "Why won't anyone tell me?"
"I will talk with him." Iroh said as he finished his breakfast. "You talk with her. It is a couples ball, so they will need a date. And they wouldn't want to go with any of their weird followers." Iroh said with a glint in his eye.
"That is true. There are some weird people out there." Ursa stated in agreement with a glint just as big in her eye.
"What ARE we talking ABOUT!" Aang was on the bridge of yelling the entire sentence.
"Sounds fine with me." Toph stated as she placed her feet on the table to lean back in her chair.
"WHO ARE WE…" Aang began but was cut off.
"Aang stop yelling. And Toph feet off the table that's gross." Katara said as she entered the hall.
"Sugar Queen we were starting to think you got lost." Toph stated leaving her feet right where they were.
"No I was just sleeping." Katara said as she sat next to Iroh and began to eat her plate of food.
Aang leaned over to Toph and whispered in her ear, "Who were we talking about?"
Toph shrugged, "I don't know."
"GAH!"
"Aang stop yelling. It's rude."
"Uncle I get it." Zuko stated as he ate lunch. "I have to ask her to this ball so that she doesn't end up going with some wacko."
"Just so long as you understand." Iroh said as he sipped his tea.
"I somehow feel as if you were behind this, but I will forgive you, since I really don't care about having to ask the woman I love to be my date." Zuko said as he looked down at another paper before signing it.
"I knew you wouldn't mind." Iroh said with a smile as he lifted his tea to his mouth.
"Zuko do you have a minute." Katara came rushing it to the office out of breath.
"Katara what on earth are you wearing that parka for?" Iroh asked the girl to let his presence known and because he was curious.
"Oh Uncle. I am. Uh, I am cold." Katara said as her eyes darted around the room for an answer. "I think I might be getting sick."
"Child you should see the nurse. I heard that Nali is here." Iroh started but was cut off.
"No I am fine. I just need to talk to Zuko." Katara said turning to look at Zuko with a death glare.
"Uncle if you could excuse us." Zuko began as he got up to walk to the door.
"Sure nephew. Just remember what I said." Iroh said as he left the room. Worry slightly apparent on his face.
As soon as he left Zuko locked the door and spun around. "What happened?"
Katara dropped the parka to revile her shoulder. It was bleeding and glowing red.
Zuko repeated his question as he walked towards her. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I was just in the gardens meditating when all of the sudden it started to bleed and glow red." Katara said as he rubbed his fingers over it. "I wasn't even doing something that would pull it open. I was just sitting there."
Zuko could detect her worried tone. "What were you thinking about?"
I was thinking about you and how great it was to sleep with you last night. How I wish it could happen every night. And how scared I was this morning when I thought that crazy person was back to attack us. And how you might die in a fight with him. "I was just concentrating on the breathing." Katara said as she looked away from him to her shoulder.
"I don't know. I thought maybe it was attached to your emotions but I guess not." Zuko said as he walked away from her to get bandages. "You can stay in here as long as you need until the glowing stops. I have tones of paper work to do so I will be in here almost all day."
Zuko crossed the room from his desk and began to bandage her arm. "Thank you." She began to relax. She could stay, nothing was wrong with Zuko, and no one would see the bleeding. As soon as she exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding, the glow stopped.
"Well that was perfect timing." Zuko said as he finished. "You can still stay if you want."
"Thank you. I think I will." Katara said as she went to sit on the couch where Uncle was moments ago. "This is too stressful for me. I need to relax for a little."
"Stay as long as you like." Zuko said as he sat at his desk. Silence lasted but a minute before he brought up what had been bothering him all day. "You threw a fire ball."
"I know."Katara responded as she looked down at the floor. "How would I have possibly thrown a fire ball?" Her gaze rose to meet his.
"I don't know. It wasn't a normal fire ball though. It was just a glow not fire." Zuko thought as he placed his chin in his hands. "It was like the glow was representing your chi flow. I saw it come from your shoulder and down to your hand."
"I felt it. It was odd." Katara said as she turned to look out the window. "It didn't feel hot. It didn't hurt. It felt warm and comforting."
"Well in any case, I don't think anyone should go around scaring you any time soon." Zuko said as he rubbed his hands over his eyes. Things were starting to get to complicated. He needed to solve some of the problems before it got out of hand. "You need to tell Nali about this."
"I will no worries." Katara sighed as she leaned back into the couch. "I just need to relax for a little bit."
"Ok. I am going to let Uncle back in so he can help me with some papers." Katara nodded and Zuko went back to the door and unlocked and opened it. Uncle slowly made his way back into the room.
He poured Katara a cup of tea and started to discuss things with his Nephew about the document he was holding. Within minutes the two noticed Katara was passed out on the couch.
Zuko smiled. She really was stressed. Maybe that's it. I will have to mention it another time. "Just leave her. She said she wanted to relax in here for awhile."
A/N: So what did you think? O_O Please say you liked it. :-D This took me a long time to write. I had most of the first part written but the rest just got written this past week.
As part of the Chapter 10 50 reviews celebration I am going to share a few things with you now. :-) I know I am excited too.
1) This chapter was 9,153 words. My longest to date. It would be awesome if I got the most reviews for a chapter. More than 12. Hint. Hint. :-P
2) If you were secretly wondering how I got the names for some of my characters here it is.
Yami: means dark
Kurai: means dark
Ryuji: means dragon man
May: means roman goddess Maia
Simon: A man who I worked with. He was a cook too.
Nali: means Mothers mother
Kami: A friend of mine; meaning spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith
Kimi: My cousin :-D; meaning upright, righteous
3) I want to thank all 13 of those reviewers by commenting to each of you. :-D
Jane Keybored: I haven't heard from you in awhile but I love that you are still around. Let me know how you liked the rest of the chapters since your last review was chapter 7. Hope you still love it.
Tearainy: I am glad to hear that you like it. I love hearing from new people. :-D Sorry if I gave you night mares.
Forget-me-not writing: If you squealed when I mentioned you. What are you going to do since I wrote you back? I can't wait to find out. :-P I hope you liked this one just as much.
ArrayePL: You have reviewed every chapter! Thanks times a million. You are absolutely amazing. :-D Can't wait to hear what you think of this one.
Scarcasm22: Thanks for always reviewing. :-D
Aaliyah92: It's like your part of the story. You totally got where I was going. Thanks for the confidence boost. :-D
KJun: Kat, what does your name mean? It makes me wonder and think. I like it. Glad you are enjoying my story.
Renthread015: I wanted them to have the groupie thing in common but I figured that some of Katara's aren't that nice. Lol. But just wait until you see what some of Zuko's are like next chapter :-P
PI: More you wanted and more you received. What did you think? Live up to the standards of the rest of it.
Jmac1220: I know right. Sad times for Zuko. If you guess what the red glow is I will totally dedicate a chapter to you. :-D
Patty cake rocks: :-) Thanks. Love your name FYI
Amandyrae: Thanks. :-D I hope you liked this chapter too.
Trupetgurl92: They didn't see each other naked :-( I know right. Maybe next time. Thanks for commenting on my other chapters too. Means a lot. And I have to say every time I look at your comment I laugh out loud. :-D
A special thanks to all of you who have ever reviewed.
Aaliyah92, AllyCat211, Amandyrae, Animallover2000, ArrayePL, Cutegenius, Eternal Eyes, Forget-me-not writing, Jane Keybored, Jmac1220, j-u-l-i-a'tardis, KJun, KK Renee, Mrs. Brianna Black, Patty cake rocks, PI, Renthread015, Rin The Shadow of Darkness, Scarcasm22, SnoopyGirl213, Tearainy, Trupetgurl92, Veritasviperzz, westdallasbutterfly
An understanding thanks to the rest of you who read but don't review, I would love to hear from you, but I know how it goes. I accept anonymous, if you don't have an account. :-D
A random thanks to those of you who have made me a favorite story or have added me to your story alert. I was going to name you all as well but I wasn't sure if you wanted me to, you know privacy things. So in short, you know who you are and I love you for it. :-D
And a bizarre thanks to the few who added me to their favorite author. Next up I think is going to be Inuyasha, unless this goes well, then another Avatar. :-) We will have to see.
That is it for the celebration over this way. Enjoy you week until we meet again. Review please and thank you. :-D