Thank you! Thank you! And now without further adu...

Chapter 10 Pain

Katara walked back home with her basket full of red berries. She knew she didn't need to see Zuko, but then again, she really wanted to see him. He was, after all, the Prince. If he was displeased he could have anything done to her. Well maybe he wouldn't but she really wanted to see him. She stopped in her tracks when she saw several rhinos outside the house. The largest one had a huge scar on its side, that could only mean one thing. Katara walked quietly around the back. Inside she could hear several men laughing. As quickly as possible she made her way into Sokka's and Suki's house. Once inside she let out a deep breath. "There you are!" Suki exclaimed.

Katara jumped. Sokka helped her to a seat. "What's the matter? You look as if you've seen a ghost," Sokka asked.

"Toph has been outside trying to find you," Suki explained.

Katara sighed. "I went to go get berries for Tylee. And then went for a quick swim, only to run into Prince Zuko as I was getting out."

Suki gasped. "Are you alright?"

Katara nodded. "That's the least of your problems. Jet is here. He's inside. Quickly. Get inside," Sokka told her.

Katara shook her head. "No way! The last time he came around here all he could do was stare at me and give me subtle touches on my leg and butt! There's absolutely no way!"

Toph entered the house. "There you are!" she exclaimed.

Katara sighed. Toph grinned. "I've been trying to find you to show you something. You know how you're a water bender?"

Katara nodded. "Well, I just found out," Toph grinned, "I can bend earth! I'm an earth bender!"

The other three stared at her. "Watch," Toph said taking a position.

She concentrated on the ground. It twitched just a little. Then up came what looked like a small chair. Sokka and Suki smiled at their daughter. Sokka picked her up and spun her around. "My daughter's a bender!" he cried.

Katara laughed with the others. Toph was so excited. "The only problem is there is no one to teach me how to bend," she said disappointed.

Katara thought for a moment. "The Avatar is at the capital. From what I've heard at the capital, he's to be the guest of honor at the price's masque. When you take the others maybe you could meet with him."

"The only problem with that is we weren't invited," Sokka explained, "But since you're going, perhaps you could talk him into meeting with Toph. He only takes one student at a time. And I hear now that he doesn't have one."

Katara smiled. "I'll do what I can."

Sokka and Suki turned their attention back to their daughter. Katara, not wanting to disturb their moment, left the house. "There she is," Tylee screamed.

Katara turned around to the back door. Tylee stood there next to Katara's worst nightmare. Jet was tall man, with dark hair. Any woman would think him handsome and quite a catch, if she didn't know his line of work. He was a fighter. Not just a fighter. A man who worked with his fists when nothing would go his way. For as long as Katara had known Azula, she would be visited every once in a while by this man. Down at the South Pole he would come twice a year, but when they moved the visits doubled. "Katara," Jet greeted.

He kissed her cheek. Katara forced a smile. She handed the basket of berries over to Tylee. Tylee laughed and took them. She escorted everyone back inside. Katara walked into the kitchen to escape Jet and his crew. She could hear Tylee entertaining the group with a joke. Sighing she poured several drinks, and walked back into the sitting area. She passed out all the drinks. Jet stroked the outside of her leg. "When are you going to give all this up and come with me?" he asked.

"After everyone has perished," she answered.

Jet laughed loudly. He pulled Katara down onto his lap. She struggled against his strength. "Look here boys," Jet laughed, "She's quite the little fighter isn't she?"

Katara pushed herself away from him. She stood as far away from him as she could. Tylee and Jet talked for several more minutes, before Azula and Mai arrived. She took one look at Katara and pointed downstairs. Katara didn't hesitate. She took off downstairs. Jet smiled at the sight of his most devoted server. Azula turned her attention to him, sending her two daughters from the room. Katara sat downstairs pacing. Obviously she was angry. That was a serious understatement. She was more than angry. Katara kept pacing. It was a full hour before Azula called her back upstairs. Jet and his crew had left. Mai and Tylee were sitting down, leaving Azula standing alone. Tylee looked very confused about the situation, but Mai looked as if she had no care in the world. "Get over here now!" Azula screamed.

Katara stepped closer. "Kneel down now," Azula commanded.

Katara placed her knees on the floor. Azula produced her whip, causing Katara's blood to run cold. Her eyes widened at the sight of the woven leather. Azula raised her hand and let the whip fly. It hit Katara's back causing it to bleed. Azula hit her again. Katara fell to the floor. Blood poured from her open wounds onto the marble floor. Azula let the whip hit again. Katara finally cried out. Azula didn't stop. Several more hits were administered before she was satisfied. Katara sobbed on the floor. "Tylee get Suki to clean this mess up. And you... dress her wounds. I don't want them to get infected. She's no good to us if she can't work," Azula commanded.

She turned to Katara. "You are not allowed to leave this house. You are not to go to the masque. Did you honestly think that I wouldn't find out about you and the Prince? Did you?"

Katara could only whimper. "Very well. Tylee do as I ask. Mai, let's go try on that dress. After all Katara won't be wearing it tomorrow."

Several hours later Tylee pressed a wet cloth onto Katara's scars. "Now now. Katara you know better than to cross mother," she explained, "Now look at yourself. You'll be scarred for life."

Katara didn't say anything. She just stared out the window. It was getting closer to sunset. She had to see Zuko one more time. Tylee finally left the room after Katara pretended to sleep. She could hear whispering on the other side of the closed door. There were several clicks and then silence. The sounds could only mean that she was locked in. She could go out the window, but she had nothing to wear to her meeting. She forced herself up. Toph peeked inside. "Over here," she whispered.

Katara whinced as she walked. "Are you alright?" Toph asked, "Mother said that she had to wash a rather large amount of blood from the floor. Are you in trouble?"

Katara nodded. "Azula found out about Zuko when she met with the Fire Lady. Listen I'm to meet Zuko soon. I need a set of your mother's robes and you to come with me."

Toph smiled and helped Katara from the window. Within a few minutes the two of them were headed in the direction of the ruins.

Zuko explored what was left of the ruins. A few centuries before, the temple was built in honor of Avatar Roku. Years ago the Rebels destroyed what they could of if. He ran his hand over the jagged stone. "Zuko," Katara whispered.

Zuko turned to her. "Kana," he whispered back.

He wrapped his arms around her. "Ahh!" she cried.

Quikly his arms fell back to his sides. "What? What did I do?" he asked.

Katara held back her tears. "It's nothing."

Zuko smiled. "I'm glad you came. There's something I need to say."

Katara looked up into his gold eyes. "At my masque tomorrow night I'm to announce who I... well, I am supposed to find someone that I want to marry. And I was hoping that... Well, Kana... I know that in the bottom of my heart, I love you."

He waited for her to say something. Katara turned away. As she did, Zuko's face fell. "What is it?" he asked.

"Zuko I really do care for you. I do feel something for you."

Zuko smiled again. "But I'll be going home soon."

Zuko gasped. "When? Why?"

"Tomorrow," she answered, "My cousin's stepmother found a ship. That's where I'll be. Back home. Away from here. I'm sorry."

Zuko turned away from her. "So all this time that I've been falling in love with you, you have been getting ready to leave. You lied to me. You said that you wanted to stay here."

Katara felt the tears run down her face. "I do, but I have to go home. My father's grave is there. I miss talking to it. And there are other matters I must attend to. Believe me when I say that I want to stay here. I want to stay with you."

Zuko didn't look at her. "I wanted you to come to the masque. I wanted everyone to know how I feel about you. I wanted them to see how wonderful you are. Your quick whit, your eyes, your smile. I wanted them to see what I fell in love with. I wanted them to see you."

Katara touched his shoulder. "Goodbye Kana," he whispered, "I don't think I'll ever forget you. You're my first love. I hope though for your sake that you can forget about me."

Katara couldn't speak. She watched as Zuko walked away. Instantly she fell to her knees. Toph walked up to her. She helped Katara back home and through the window. She left Katara alone. In the darkness Katara cried herself to sleep. The moon watching over her, almost as if it could cry too.