CHAPTER 10

Mizumi awoke to slight nudging on her shoulder. She rolled over to her left side and opened her eyes to see a man sitting at the edge of her bed. "Shiu?" She croaked. The young waterbender heard a long, heavy sigh and then heard a bored 'No.' she chuckled softly "Hi dad."

"Hello waterbender." He said teasingly. Mizumi smirked and drew some water out of the bowl next to her bed. She bended it into her fathers face and watched him jump in surprise. She laughed out loud at her fathers reaction. The waterbender heard the sizzling sound of the water evaporating on the firebender's face.

He glared down at her "What did you do that for?" Mizumi propped herself up on her hand leaning on her elbow.

"You were teasing me." she stated simply. He raised an eyebrow, then looked away. Mizumi watched her father pick one finger up and shoot a small fireball at her. "AAA!! What did you do that for?!" she asked sitting up in bed.

The Fire Lord smiled "You were teasing me."

"Ha, Ha. Fire burns dad, water doesn't." she said to him crossing her arms.

"Water can hurt just as much if you use it right." He then mumbled "Your mother taught me that."

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

"Dad," he looked at her "I hope you didn't get mad at Shiu." Mizumi felt the blush run to her face, but she forced her self to stay calm. "I-I was the one who-" Her father held up a hand to silence her.

"Mizumi, it's okay I saw everything. Some how I always knew that you would be the forward one in the relationship."

"Oh." After what he said really processed she said defiantly "Hey!"

He just laughed it off and after a few seconds she joined him. "Mizumi how do you feel about him?"

Mizumi put her knees up and hugged her legs. "Well dad I…"

"Yes." He urged her.

"I feel like…" She hesitated.

"Yes."

"Like…"

"Yes!"

"Like…I don't want to tell you." She put on a sheepish smile and batted her eyes.

He sighed, defeated. "Well its pretty apparent, but I asked Shiu what his feelings for you were."

"Yeah…" She tried to sound indifferent but to no avail. Her heart beat was getting faster.

"And he said…" The Fire Lord said with a little enthusiasm.

"Yeah!" Mizumi asked her heart pounding.

"He said…"

"Yeah!!" she was so close to her father she could feel his hot breath on her face.

"…Not to tell you." Fire Lord Zuko smirked.

Mizumi was crest fallen. She groaned sadly "Dad." The waterbender fell back on her bed and pulled the covers over her head.

"I think you should tell him first." She heard the Fire Lord speak from under the covers and she pulled them down so that only her eyes were showing.

She glared at him and said "You're mean, you know that?" He chuckled, but she didn't let him free from the death glare she gave him. "What did you come in here to do anyway? And what time is it?"

He smiled a wicked smile "I just wanted you to get up. And it is 4:30."

"In the morning?" she asked releasing the glare and lowing the covers a little.

"Yes in the morning."

"Really?" She asked uncovering her whole face.

"Yes." He stated obviously.

She screamed and through the covers over her head "What do you think you're doing? Your not the Fire Lord! You're an imposter! Get out of my room I have to sleep!!" The young women made fake snoring sounds.

The Fire Lord laughed and pulled the covers off of her. "I'm kidding!" She made a confused 'o' face and Zuko laughed again then said "I'll leave to let you change." He got of her bed and opened the door Mizumi watched him stop at the door "I love you Mizumi. I always will."

She raised an eyebrow "I love you too dad." She watched him leave then shut the door behind him.

……………………………

"Well girls this is your lucky day!" The four women turned around to see Daiza holding his hands out in front of him like he was expecting a hug. Weather he was expecting a hug or not the girls just glared at him. "Aww come on." he wined at them. "Aren't you at least curious?" they all glared at him a moment longer then turned their backs to him. "Fine then I guess you don't want to go outside." he pretended to walk away and when no one said anything he turned around and huffed "Come on I know you hate me, but I know you don't hate mother nature."

"Why would you let us go outside when I can waterbend and we would know our surroundings?" Katara asked without turning around.

Daiza smirked "One, there is no water for you bend,"

"That's what you think." she thought triumphantly.

"And two, you won't recognize this place." Daiza finished with a evil smile. All four of them looked at him. Katara played dumb. She has been all around the world she could tell weather they are in the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom. If they were in one of the air temples there wouldn't be so much stuff. The air nomads were simple people. If they were in one of the water tribes it would be much colder and the house would be made out of ice.

Daiza led the four women to the front door. "We have a visitor." he opened the door to revel a very large man standing at the thresh hold. Katara looked up at him. He was covered in cuts and bruises. He was hunched over and looking at the ground. She saw him and had to fight her instincts to heal him. Before she could say anything she heard Neomi gasp. The waterbender turned to see her friend cover her mouth and start to cry.

Katara walked over to comfort her when the women said "Haku?!" and ran for him. Katara stopped in mid step and gaped. That was her husband!? No wonder he looked familiar. Haku walked forward to give his wife a hug and was stopped by someone Katara couldn't see. Neomi was stopped by Daiza. Katara walked forward to hold onto their daughters.

"My Lady," Kimi asked looking up at her.

"What's going to happen to mom and dad?" Karu finished looking up at Katara as well.

She couldn't look them in the eye when she said "I…I'm not sure."

They each clutched her robe and Kimi said "They won't get hurt will they?"

"They won't die?" Karu said her eyes widening.

She looked them both in the eye and said "No they will not die! I will not allow that!" She smiled warmly "I'll make sure they're okay. Just listen to everything I say, alright?" the girls nodded determinedly.

"Well now isn't this sweet." Katara heard the gentle sweet voice and her heart stopped. What was Azula doing there!? "I feel so happy that I am the one who reunited this pitiful family." she laughed at her on 'joke' and continued "if only for a little bit." Azula smiled wickedly.

"Please let him go! He has done what you ask now let us go!" Neomi begged Azula, the former Fire Nation princess just raised an eyebrow.

"Neomi, please stop. I don't want you to get hurt." Haku asked his wife lovingly. Azula glared at him and put one of her hands on the middle of his back.

Haku started screech in pain and Katara knew that she was burning him. Over the screams Azula spoke with authority "Did I say you could speak?" she removed her hand and Haku was still stunned with pain. He dropped to his knees and Daiza finally let go of Neomi. She rushed forward and held her husband. In Katara's arms she felt Kimi and Karu fight the urge to run to their parents. "You all can go inside now." Azula stated. "Daiza I wish to talk to you."

"Yes my lady." he answered her and bowed.

Neomi helped Haku in the house and Katara led the girls in. Before Daiza shut the door Katara looked back at the outside. There wasn't much but Katara saw a flash of red and gold. She strained her eyes to see what made the flash of color and then she saw it. The banner to the place where they were being held.

It was the Fire Nation insignia. "Wha-what? We are still in the Fire Nation?" she thought. The door closed and she knew that what she saw was the truth. They were still in the Fire Nation.