Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews on last chapter. I'm still hearing a few guesses for Jet and a few guesses for Azula when it comes to who Katara's stalker was. Will I reveal it this chapter or not? One way to find out. Shorter than last chapter, but get reading, minions! Mwahahahaha -coughcoughcoughcough- I am actually currently coming down with a nasty cold, right when I've got my final exams. My English exam was today. Three hours of sniffling as quietly as I could and trying not to choke... Well, read!

Chapter 13

The sound of voices dragged Zuko back to consciousness and for a moment, he considered letting himself drift back to his dreams. Next to him, Katara continued sleeping peacefully. His sleep-heavy eyes showed him the smiling face and messy hair. But the sound of voices elsewhere in the house became clearer, and Zuko felt his stomach twist as he recognized who was there.

"Wake up," he hissed, shaking Katara.

She gasped as she came around and then glared at him. "What –?"

"Shh! You need to hide."

"What?"

He didn't answer, but instead, grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her up from the bed. He threw his wardrobe door open and pulled her around to stand in front of him. "Sorry about this… please, just keep quiet."

Suddenly, that voice was right outside his bedroom door. "– so if you'll excuse me, Uncle, I'd like to see my brother." Zuko took one final look at Katara's confused and fearful face before he shut the door. He took a step back from the wardrobe and then turned towards the heater. The room had become unbearably hot since he'd left the bed. He reached forward to switch it off. That's when he saw that Katara's clothes were still hanging up in front of the heater next to his. That's when his bedroom door swung open. "Hello, Zuzu."

"Don't call me that," he hissed, turning steadily to face her. "What do you want, Azula?" Zuko stood so that Katara's clothes were behind him.

"Oh, Brother, when will you ever learn?" she said, staring uninterestedly at her nails as she leaned against the door-frame. "I've come to see if you've made your choice yet."

"What choice?"

Azula smirked. "I made you an offer the other night. I told you to think about it."

Zuko snarled. "I already told you, no. I'm not helping you."

"But Zuko," she sighed. "I thought we were family. Aren't we supposed to be helping each other? You're my big brother, aren't you? Help me to help our father."

"No!" he snapped. "You're not my sister and he is not my father. I told you, the only family I have now is Uncle!" Azula eyed him, still smirking. What he would give to be able to wipe that smirk off her face. "Get out!"

Azula stepped into the bedroom and gazed around the room, bored. "Tell me something, brother." He glared at her, silently. "When did you last see Jin?"

He frowned. "Jin?"

"That's right." Her eyes flashed. "You remember the girl you took out for dinner two nights ago, don't you?"

He scowled. "What about her?"

"When did you last see her?"

"That night."

Azula chuckled. "Do you know where she is now?" Zuko shook his head. "I do."

His scowl deepened. "What have you done?" he demanded.

"How much do you care about her, Zuko?"

"Only as much as I care for a stranger. But that's enough for me not to want you anywhere near her."

"Oh come on," she snarled. "You must care for her more than that. I know you kissed her, Zuko."

He felt himself flush red. "It was a date, Azula. Uncle set me up for it, or I wouldn't have been there."

"But you kissed her."

"One kiss. It meant nothing."

She considered him for a moment. "But you do care what happens to her."

"I know what you're capable of," he said.

Her widening smirk made him feel sick. "You haven't seen anything yet." There was a deep silence between them before Azula turned and began to walk towards the door.

"Where is she, Azula? What have you done to her?"

She faced him again. "That's for me to know, Brother. All you need to know is this: Tonight, midnight, I will be waiting in the abandoned underground market, at the entrance near the public section of the royal gardens. If you meet me there and agree to help me, I will let Jin go, unharmed."

Zuko said nothing for a moment. "And if I don't?"

She took one step back towards him. "You said it yourself. You know what I'm capable of. So, will I be seeing you there, or not?"

"Get out."

She glared at him. "I'm warning you now, Zuko. This is your last chance. I go back to Dad after tonight, with or without you. And if it's without you, then Jin gets it."

"I said get out!" He pointed fiercely to the door.

She smiled. "Of course." Again, she stopped in the doorway and turned back. "One more thing. If you don't join me tonight, she gets it too." Azula nodded towards the wardrobe.

Zuko stiffened. "It was you following us last night!"

Her face was so smug. She disappeared from the doorway and Zuko listened to her retreating footsteps. "Goodbye, Uncle."

Zuko let out a held breath as he heard the back door of The Jasmine Dragon swing shut. Behind him, Katara burst out of the wardrobe. His uncle appeared in front of him.

"Nephew, do you really think she means that about Jin?"

He cringed. "Azula always lies."

Iroh looked past him to Katara and didn't bother to hide his smile. "You're both late for school, but you're welcome to take your time to make breakfast."

Katara shook her head. "That's fine. I'll go without."

"Very well. You should head off soon then," Iroh said, looking between them somewhat disappointed. He left them alone.

Katara snatched her clothes away from the heater and stormed into the bathroom. Zuko watched her go, baffled. He got changed and sat on the end of his bed waiting. After hearing what she'd heard, she must be terrified, he thought. He stood up as she came back out and put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen… I don't know how to say how sorry I am that you've gotten caught up in this. But I promise you, there is no way in hell I am going to let my sister anywhere near you."

"Save it, Zuko," she spat.

He frowned. "Hey, what's your problem now?"

"One kiss. It meant nothing," she said. "I see how it is."

Author's Note: Just in case it wasn't clear, they kissed and then went to sleep. There was no naughty business. Just so we're clear. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to leave Iroh to his own imagination, at least for now. Oh, and ta-da! If you guessed that Azula was the stalker, you guessed right. Dun-dun-duuuuun... has Azula really got Jin? Will she really hurt Katara if Zuko doesn't help her tonight? Oh, how will we ever find out! And of course, I can't go a whole chapter without presenting some sort of conflict between our favourite couple.

Hope you enjoyed. Please do leave a review if you read. Tell me what you thought! Chance your guesses at the above questions while you're at it :D REVIEW!