Thank you for the reviews for the last chapter! They truly mean a lot to me! I loved the review about being an Aang and Katara fan once minute and then becoming a Zutara fan :D Zutara is the best ;] Chapter eleven already? Haha :)

Disclaimer: I don't have the rights to ATLA.

~paperbackwriter9

Katara's Pov

We left the inn before the sun had fully risen. We were both soundless as we moved through trees that were just away from the shore. We ate along the way as we started walking north... very slowly. It was rather chilly with the sun still so low in the sky and I pulled the cape's hood over me.

I started to walk next to Zuko but he ignored me and I fell back behind him again. I was absolutely fed up with him and his confused feelings. First he had kissed me and then insulted me, and then last night he had almost kissed me, and we lay there on the bed together. Was this the only way he knew how to like people? Even just as friends?

There was nothing much I could do about it and I knew I would have to let things be as they were. I started to head out onto the shore and I did not stop for him. "Hey!" He called after me and I didn't look behind. I wanted to walk by the water, and I wanted to bend. "We have to be careful of getting spotted," he said slightly out of breath.

"Practice with me," I offered and he shook his head. "We need to prepare for anything and we both are out of practice," and he backed away and sat in the sand. Ignoring him, I slowly pulled the water from the ocean, and I let it glide around me like a slow moving tornado. It felt wonderful to feel the serenity of the water under my fingers and I even smiled.

I lifted the water high into the air above me and I let it flow in a circle. Strangely enough I wanted to show off to Zuko, but I was not skilled enough. I let the water freeze and it flew down in pieces around me. "Katara," he said and I looked up to see him stand. "Let's practice," and he took off his cape and let it fall into the sand.

This surprised me but I did not want to miss the opportunity to bend against someone. I glided a thin stream of water over to him and he simply bended fire and the water frizzled and disappeared. I huffed and bended a thicker stream of water and he simply waved it away with the fire.

Zuko smirked and I was getting upset. "Should we stop?" He asked but I knew he was enjoying himself... typical male. As he turned I quickly drew water from the ocean and let it crash on top of him and surprise him. I froze it so only his head was exposed and I smirked.

"Now we can stop, we have a long journey," and I turned and just as I did, he broke through and he fists flared with fire and caught my neck. I screamed as the fire licked at the fabric at my shoulder and he quickly patted it out.

But the burn was there.

He burned me! "What was that for! You had to injure me so you could beat me?" I yelled and his eyes were wide with apologies. "Why do you hate me so?" I said but not quite yelling.

"I- it was an accident!" I rolled my eyes and pulled the hood above my head. I went to the sack that was under his cape and took out the medicine and winced. Luckily it was not a wound like Zuko's, but it hurt and salty tears stung my cheeks. I saw his shadow and I turned to look up. I winced because the sun had risen in the sky and it was just above his head.

"You kissed me, yelled at me, lay with me, and then burned me. Do you hate me or not?" I asked with the best patience I could manage so he would know I was serious. But of course, like I had predicted, he was as silent as before. My heart sunk into my stomach as I clumilsy tried to heal my wound. He grabbed my arm and started to bandage it for me. The tears would not stop and I knew it was from more than just a burn.

I knew it was an accident but it was a chance that I could use to ask all of the questions about hating me. I also questioned myself. Why did I crave his attention? Why did I want him to answer my question? The horrible truth kept trying to come out and I tried to push it away.

You like him.

As he finished I felt the tears dry on my face and my hair was wind blown. The selfish prince had somehow gotten under my skin and since I knew that there was noting but heartache and a sad outcome, I was trying to change my feelings. Zuko only confused me more when he kissed me and then slept in the same bed.

There was never anyone there to tell me what to do in these situations. Gran Gran never thought to teach me anything yet, and then when my father took me with him, there had defiantly not been any lessons about men.

I was scared.

"I'm sorry," he said and I knew it was difficult for him to say for I barely heard the words and he sighed with relief when they left his mouth. "It was an accident. But it was my fault because I should never have practiced with you being a beginner."

"There was no one to teach me," I said and the conversation ended because we knew it might lead to something else. To hell with this whole thing, I thought. I had been kidnapped and his plan had failed and now the spirits were punishing me in the worst way possible... liking the Fire Nation prince.

Zuko's Pov

Thank Agni when we reached the next town and there were other people around us. I felt bad enough for burning the girl, and then knowing that those tears had been my fault for so many other reasons. I didn't need this shit, I thought and we walked in silence. Before finding an inn to stay at, with two rooms this time, we were going to ask for news about my uncle.

The week was slowly going by and the urge to find my uncle was walked into a tea shop and I was going to walk up and yell the question but Katara got to the shop owner first. She quickly talked to the man for what felt like an hour, and then we left with our stomachs growling. She would not say a thing until we sat down and ate.

"He said there was news that a ship had been unharmed and that they had pulled into the port at the village just north. I even asked if he heard about your uncle." We were interrupted when the girl put down our food. Katara had ordered a plate of noodles with steamed vegetables and rice. I, on the other hand, was starving and ordered noodle soup, roast duck, and bean curd puffs. "That's a lot of food Zuko," and I ignored the remark.

"What else did the man say?"

"I asked about the general who liked tea and the man said that he wasn't sure if it was him. He said the famous Dragon of the West was there. Even though I don't know who-"

"That's my uncle!" I said and there was a faint smile on her lips but it did not reach her eyes. I felt overwhelmed with relief and even joy. "We will leave tomorrow morning and eat again along the way, and no practicing," I added and she didn't answer.

When we finished eating supper, we found an inn and the inn keeper was happy enough to ignore our odd appearances. "You're just in luck, there is one last room for the night," and I felt the joy I had been filled with disappear.

"Thank you," Katara answered and I felt the sinking hope of having the same events occur like the night before. We opened the door to our room which was just like the last one, and she clearly had been thinking over her words. "We found your uncle, almost, and that means you will pay me and I'll be on my way." Her voice was sad and I couldn't believe how those words upset me. "I think it's best to pretend nothing happened," and she finally met my eyes. "After all, you are royalty so you'll just forget me anyway."

"We will lie on the same bed again and nothing will happen," I said simply and ignored what she said, and the plan in my head grew.

"But Zu-"

"I am the prince, like you said, so you must do as I say," and her face scrunched up with anger and she went to wash up. When we found my uncle I would pay her, but I would offer her the chance to come with me to the capitol. As I thought over and over I knew that there would be nothing there for her at the palace. Was I going mad? I realized my feelings for the Water Bender were not going to stop growing.

I was scared, and I reassured myself that once I found my uncle I would ask him for help with this situation. When she came out I went in and took a fast bath and made sure to carefully clean my wound. It had almost healed and I could see the new scar.

"Can you help me?" She asked when I came out and she handed me bandages and the medicine. Katara pulled her hair back and lowered the damaged cloth on her shoulder. Her smooth skin was so pretty and tan and I had an urge to run my fingers over her skin.

She looked up with a nervous glance and I focused. There was so much wrong with feeling this way because I was taught to hate her and her people. "Thank you," she said softly and lied down on the bed. I did the same and was careful not to look at her.

"Good night," she said and I could not respond. Unlike last night, she lay on one side as far as she could before falling off and kept her back to me.

This was going to be the hardest talk I had ever had with my uncle. How could I describe to him the way I felt about her? Confused, angry, upset, but when she was there fixing my wound or offering her opinion I felt calm, like I could fight my way through anything.

For the rest of the time with her was it going to be like this? This fighting and crying, and then the random acts of kindness? I need my uncle's advice more than anything because I could not find the solution on my own.

The only thing this banishment had not done was get me the Avatar. Instead I had captured a pretty Water Bender who was tearing me apart.

A bit short, but oh well. And yes, I'm excited to write some butt kicking chapters later in the story! I'll try to update soon ;]

*Am I updating too fast?*