Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.
Ai listened with joy in her heart to her daughter's ecstatic cries and cheers. The young girl was reaching over the saddle of the enormous bison and was stroking his fur. Her husband Gen on the other hand could not stop looking down at the clouds and ground and was repeatedly crying out "We're up so high!"
As wonderful as it was to be soring through the sky with her family laughing and smiling by her side, Ai could not focus much on anything other than their gracious hosts. Master Katara and Fire Lord Zuko seemed to be, for lack of a better word, distracted.
Of course Gen had not noticed a thing. He had always been a little absent minded when it came to such things. Ai however, knew better. She had seen it many times and recognized romantic tension when she saw it, and she recognized it the moment they had sat down to dinner yesterday. Neither Fire Lord Zuko nor Master Katara had even looked at one another after they had invited the family to join them for the War End Celebration in the capital. Something had happened last night. Someone had taken the first step, and now it was a waiting game.
The flight to the capital was over before Shuchun was ready for it to be. She begged and begged for them to have Appa fly around the capital a few more times before going in to land, but Fire Lord Zuko kindly insisted he was too far behind in work to be going around in circles. Upon landing, the party was greeted by some very unhappy Fire Nation officials.
"Lord Zuko, where have you been?" one of them asked. Just as Fire Lord Zuko climbed down from the saddle, the elderly men noticed Master Katara. "Oh my."
"Wait," the Fire Lord gasped as he rose up his hands in defense. "If you'll just calm down I can explai--"
"Oh my, oh my, oh Spirits!" The old man was now pacing back and forth with his hands on his head.
"It's not what you think!"
"The Fire Lord went missing for an entire night just to come back with the Southern Water Tribe's greatest bender, and it's not what I think?" the man yelled.
"No, it's not," Ai said, rising from her seat. Everyone's eyes were now on her, including a nearly panic stricken Fire Lord. "Fire Lord Zuko invited my family to the coronation," she explained. "We happen to be friends of His Lordship's and Master Katara's. When we did not attend, they graciously came to get us so that we would not miss the celebration."
The old men now turned their attention back to their Fire Lord and the waterbending master that now stood beside him. The two of them nodded, but said nothing. A wave of relief washed over the officials as a few of them confiscated Fire Lord Zuko and started herding him back towards the palace. The annoying reminders of "About the demilitarization, Lord Zuko," and "Concerning the upkeep of the Gates of Azulon." Ai took advantage of the situation and took hold of Master Katara's arm.
"Would you be so kind as to show us around the city, Master Katara?" she asked sweetly.
"I guess I can try," Katara replied, still shaken from what very well could have erupted into an international incident. "I still don't know it all that well. Zuko only showed me around just recently. I have to stop by the docks and let my father and brother know that I'm back though."
"Excellent!" Ai cheered merrily. "Shuchun, dear, Mater Katara is going to show us around the city!"
"Alright!" Shuchun cried out. "Now, Appa, you be a good boy, okay?" Appa let out a deep bellied growl before licking Shuchun with a large slurp. "Appa!" she groaned with a laugh.
Master Katara led the family through the busy streets of the capital straight for the docks. It's almost as though the sea were calling to her, Ai thought. Gen and Shuchun continuously paused to stare and peruse through the booths and stands that were setting up alongside the walkways of town. No doubt the merchants were ready for the celebration.
Upon arriving at the docks, Gen marveled at the Water Tribe ship. He had never actually gotten to see one before and complimented the craftsmanship as he ran a hand over its boards. Master Katara shot up the plank quick as an arrow with the others right behind her. The men of the Water Tribe cheered when they saw her, save two. These two men stormed over and were both yelling incoherently at Master Katara at the same time.
Her family, Ai thought with a smile.
After a number of apologies and many promises to explain everything later, Master Katara was able to pull away from her family and get Ai, Gen, and Shuchun off the ship and back into the streets.
"So," Master Katara said with a slightly flustered smile. "What would you like to see first?"
"I wanna see the park!" Shuchun cried out.
"I'd like to see the palace," Gen said.
"How about somewhere to eat first?" Ai suggested. Gen and Shuchun's stomachs both let out matching groans of hunger.
"Food it is," Master Katara laughed.
The restaurant that Master Katara had chosen was small, but most welcoming. The proprietors themselves took their orders and cooked their meal for them. Gen told Master Katara all about the renovation plans for the town back home and Shuchun would butt in every once in a while and steal Master Katara's attention.
"So what's your favorite part of the city?" Shuchun asked. Master Katara blushed slightly before she answered.
"The fountain."
"Can we go there next?" Shuchun begged with a pouting lip.
"Of course."
After the meal came the short walk to the center of the city. No booths were set up around the fountain, leaving the large area void of any loud merchants. In fact, other than Master Katara, Ai, and her family, there was no one else to be seen.
"This is so beautiful," Shuchun gasped.
"Honey, why don't you show Master Katara you firebending now?" Ai said.
"Alright!"
Shuchun stood before the fountain and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply as her arms spiraled and danced around her frame. Every few seconds she would release a jab or kick that spouted small spurts of flame. As Master Katara watched the young girl's performance that was so reminiscent of a dance, she heard Ai's voice.
"So how did it feel when Fire Lord Zuko confessed his feelings for you?" she asked. She smiled inwardly when the waterbending master blushed and her eyes shot open.
"W-w-what are you talking about?" she asked, avoiding Ai's eyes.
"Master Katara, I don't know much about many things, but one thing I do know is love. You two haven't said two words to each other since last night. Either he said something or you did, and judging by your reaction, I would have to assume that he did."
"It wasn't anything like that," Master Katara whispered, never taking her eyes off of Shuchun. "Zuko told me he didn't think he could be the man he wanted to be without me."
"And that doesn't sound like a declaration of love to you?"
Master Katara seemed to be lost in thought, swimming through the confusing torrents that were swirling around in her mind and heart.
"I don't know," she finally answered. "Maybe. But I can't stay here. I'm from the Water Tribe. No one would want me here. Then of course there's my students back home, and Gran Gran, and--"
"But what is it that you want, Master Katara?"
A long stream of fire flowed forth from Shuchun's leg as she wheeled it high in the air above her head in a magnificent finish.
"Ta-da!" she exclaimed with a proud smile.
"That was wonderful, Shuchun," Master Katara approaching the young girl to congratulate her. Or perhaps to escape her mother's speculations. "Maybe if you bug him enough, you can get Zuko to find you a teacher."
"You really think so?" Shuchun asked excitedly.
"I don't see why not. So, how about we continue the tour with the park? It's on the way to the palace."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Gen replied.
Shuchun grabbed hold of Master Katara's hand and the two of them took the lead on their way to the park, smiling and laughing as they went.
"So what were you ladies talking about?" Gen asked while they followed Master Katara away from the fountain.
"Just some girl talk," Ai smiled.
Master Katara had dodged the question marvelously, but Ai knew that it must still be mulling around in the young woman's mind. That was perfectly fine with her though. It was the whole point of the conversation after all.
- - - -
The sea lit up by the light of the full moon was one of the most beautiful sights Katara had ever seen. Turning her back to her beloved sea, Katara looked over the streets of the capital. It was definitely not anything like the icy tundra that she gazed at throughout her childhood, but that did not mean it was any less beautiful. It was just different. She could get used to different.
"What am I thinking?" she asked herself. "I can't stay. Besides, maybe Ai was wrong about Zuko. Maybe it wasn't a declaration of love at all. Maybe he just wants me here as a foreign consult or something. Yeah right. Keep trying, Katara."
She paced over the deck of the Water Tribe ship as quietly as she could. It would not due at all if she woke Shuchun and her parents after they had finally gotten to sleep. It proved more difficult for them to fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the ship than Katara had first thought it would be, but sleep finally found them only about an hour ago. She herself had been unable to sleep thanks to last night's confession.
"Even if I want to, and I'm not saying I do, how could I stay here? The people would never accept me. And even if they did, how could someone from the Water Tribe ever be involved with the ruling family of the Fire Nation? I mean, if we got married what would our children be like? What if they were born waterbenders? How could a waterbender ever be named heir to the throne of the Fire Nation? It would upset the balance wouldn't it?"
Even though she had come up with a series of perfectly logical reasons not to stay, Katara's heart was still tightening in her chest. It ached and pounded within her, reminding her of everything that she already knew. How could he do this to her? Why couldn't the two of them just go back to playing the same game they had for the last three years? Why couldn't they just have their little awkward moments where they fought for the courage to take that step forward, only to take a step back instead? Why did he have to take that step forward? All of these questions burned within her mind, but her heart asked her another.
"Why can't I take that step too?"
A/N: Ooh, the angst. Kasamari is nearing the end of this wonderful roller coater ride. If you don't want it to derail, you better give Kasamari some reviews!