Chapter 14:
Zuko stared after the smirking Katara as a black demon stood in front of him. ' That rat! I can't believe this! '
As soon as she disappeared behind a door, he was punched and kicked by all the ghouls and demons in the chamber. Even if he fought back, with or without his firebending, he was in a loosing battle.
' I've got to get out of here! ' he thought frantically as he dodged a kick and evaded a near punch. The demons and ghouls had thought he was a pervert and was moving on to Katara, indecently. Blushing at the thought, he ran for the door and the demons chased after him.He made his escape but his heroic pursuers were hot on his tail. He dashed out of the house and moved deftly among the crowds until his pursuers lost him. Sighing in relieve, his eyes now scanned for his victim. ' She will pay for this. Oh yes she will.'
Katara and her escort walked quietly side by side along the rows of stalls. She was smiling happily to herself. ' Well, that wasn't so bad now, was it? '
She couldn't help but giggle a little at the horrified expression Zuko had on in the chamber earlier.' That was for making me play all those dirty requests. Now you know how it feels... '
She turned around and bowed to the tall escort who still had his costume on and was gathering rapid attention from curious passerbys.
" Thank you. I'll be going now. That was fun, really. You should do something like that in the future."
The ghoul nodded silently as a couple strolled towards him, eager to have a closer look at his costume. Katara waved and walked away, still smiling. Unknown to her a pair of glinting golden evil eyes watched silently from afar , and it disappeared among the crowds seconds later.
" AANG!! What on earth?!" Sokka screamed as the airbender sat cosily next to him, his arms snugly wrapped across the water tribe boys waist. Toph sniggered mischieviously beside Aang as they were surrounded by swirling pink mists that seeped out of the crevices of a brown pot. Infront of them was a gypsy with long flowing white hair and long green eyes. She batted them slowly at the cringing Sokka who was desperately trying to pry the hallucinating Avatar off his lean torso.
" What did you do Madasa?" he asked irritably .
The gypsy smiled alluringly and reached her hands towards Aang and carressed his cheeck affectionately," Oh nothing. I just allowed him some time off to bask in his realms of desire . That's all."
Sokka looked disgustedly down at the cuddling avatar.Aang mumbled something and nuzzled Sokka dangerously enough to arouse him.
" AHH...TOPH!!! GET HIM OFF!"
Toph grabbed Aang's shirt and pulled him off. Aang grinned stupidly and wrapped his arms affectionately around Toph's arm," Toppy, you're so Shweet. I woff you..."
" Yeah, Love ya too," Toph said dully. Sokka's face was bright red and his eyes picked out every detail between Toph and Aang . When Aang started to nozzle Toph , much to the gleeful joy of the gypsy, Sokka pulled the avatar away just a tad bit too roughly. He turned the airbender's face so that they were looking at him and punched him as hard as he could. Aang went flying a few feet away and quickly regained his consciousness.
" Why did you do that?" Toph asked with a flat voice. Sokka sat preotectively next to her and folded his arms.
" Are you blind and immune to your immediate sensors, girl? That idiot was getting slightly too perverted even for me. Sheesh, kids these days."
" I had no idea you were so caring Sokka, really. And all this while I was under the immpression that you hated me.."
Sokka started and glanced worriedly at her. The gypsy was smiling strangely at the three off them, her misty gaze lost in some memory that could only be perceived by she alone.
Aang sat beside Sokka and scratched his bald head," Anyone gonna tell me what just happened?"
" Yeah, we were on our way out, that's what happened ! "
" Oh but wait! You needed answers didn't you not?" the gypsy grabbed Sokka's hand with her long slender fingers that curled around his wrist.
" We don't want them anymore. We're leaving,"Sokka stalked out moodily, his face was still as red as a tomato.
" Avatar, wait a moment." the gypsy stood up and took something out of her scanty robes, which were close enough to reveal everything on her.
" Take this. It will help soon. " she produced a small round black sphere that was soft and squishy.Aang took it and looked at it in confusion.
Grining the gypsy patted his head," You'll find her soon enough."
Sokka stomped back in and grabbed the avatar's arm and stomped out. Toph was about to follow when the gypsy sighed to herself," That brother's heart will shatter in due time, for the truth that he doesn't know will destroy him, especially if he heard it from his own flesh and blood. A conflict is inevitable and the avatar's own heart will break. See what you can do to avoid all such confronta-"
" I know these things long before you did, Madasa," Toph said quietly as she left the tent.
The gypsy smiled mysteriously again ," I know fully well that you did miss Bei Fong..."
Zuko followed her, plotting his revenge. ' So, you want someone to take advatage of you do you? Well, I can arrange that..'
He neared a looking man who was leaning at the wall and biting a fish bone boredly. Zuko leaned on the wall beside the man.
" What do yer wan?" the man asked in a thick accent, not bothering to look at Zuko.
" A favour, and I'll pay you."
" What kind of favour?"
Zuko folded his arms and pointed with his finger at Katara who stood peering at the different fans in a stall not too far away from them ," That girl. I want you to frighten her."
" Oho. In wha' way, violence , threat , kidnap or maybe.. my fave' , rape?"
Zuko almost punched the man for that, but smirked his anger away," No harm , just frighten her."
" Got it. It'll be five gold pieces." Zuko dropped the coins into the man's large hands .He was about to leave when the prince grabbed the man's sleeves," Don't harm her, at all... I'm warning you."
" Easy mate. I got it." he walked off trailing Katara.
Zuko leaned back and watched the two figures silently, and he felt his mind blaring the horns of guilt and irritation. And his uncle's voice suddenly resounded," YOU FOOL!"
Katara was enjoying her walk when suddenly an unknown man grabbed her roughly around the waist and pulled her into the dark side street, one hand firmly covering her mouth. She struggled and punched and kicked , but to no avail. He brought her to the darkest corner of the alley where no souls lingered in that festive night and thrust her crudely onto the earthen wall.
" Tonight, I'm gonna feast on a delicious meal." he neared her lustfully as she backed away in fear.
' Oh my god... I can't believe this is happening to me. Oh my god! '
" You must be an idiot to think you can harm me, moron." she said defensively, quickly searching for a puddle.She found none. ' Of all the places! '
She tried to get up, but the man pounced on her like a hungry tiger and pinned her down deftly with his hands.She struggled and screamed, but the clamour in the streets were too loud and dampened her voice.
" HELP!! SOMEONE! PLEASE!" she cried out in agony as the man started to rip her clothes off, his face buried in her neck and working his way down to her chest. His mouth salivated her and she felt suddenly so worthless . Katara's eyes were watering as she realised how helpless she had suddenly become.' I'm doomed.. Why me? why me?..'
As the man grabbed her legs , Katara heard a voice she knew all too well and opened her eyes to see the person.
" WHAT-" Zuko grabbed the man by the collar as he sprang from the shadows," PART-" he punched the man in the face and sent him flying ," OF-" he grabbed the man again and kicked him in his chest," STOPPING," he slamed his fist into the man's forehead and kicked the man's head ," WHEN YOU SHOULD," he stomped on the man so hard that several cracks were heard,"DIDN"T YOU UNDERSTAND!!?" he threw the man into a wall and the wall crumbled onto him.He merely twitched for a while and stopped moving altogether.
Zuko looked at Katara who was sitting , huddled in the corner and shivering. He couldn't move his legs to near her, but wanted to so badly. She looked at him from teary eyes and stood up suddenly.
" Ka-Katara I-"
" I'm going back to the Inn," she walked out of the streets, holding her tattered clothes tightly across her chest . As if upon impulse , the prince walked up to her and held her shoulders gently," Wait."
He took off his robe and sash , literally , and placed them on Katara . She accepted it without looking at him , her face downcast and shadowed . They walked back in silence, all the way to the Inn.
And the whole while, Zuko was mentally murdering himself.
Sokka walked irritably ahead of Aang and Toph, his eyes scanning the crowd thoughtfully. Toph however looked disconcerted and hoped that they wouldn't accidentally bump into Katara or Zuko. She could already fathom the outcome.
" Oooh, look! Mini bison toys! I want one!" Aang ran off to the stall selling the toys and was making a ruckus with the owner, happily bargaining away.
Sokka groaned and folded his arms, " Where the hell is Bhumi, Toph? You keep leading us in circles! I swear I saw that fountain 3 times already!"
" Patience is the fruit of virtue Sokka. Didn't you know? Besides, Bhumi said to meet him here in this place.I just don't know when," Toph replied dryly
" Incase you haven't notice, which I'm sure you can't, it's nearly midnight! Are you sure Bhumi's here?"
" Yes," she was looking up at the sky and this creeped Sokka out.
" Sokka, do you want one of this cute little bisons? They're really cheap, you know. Only 2 copper coins ! Wow!" Aang exclaimed happily, holding a handful of tiny palm sized bisons. Sokka frowned and grabbed Aang's collar. He dragged the avatar away from the stall to the fountain and sat down." Why don't we all just sit down here, all nice and dandy and wait till that maniac comes along."
Aang blinked at Sokka and looked at Toph," Sure..."
Toph leaned against the stone wall of the fountain and held her gaze skyward , presently she looked down and smiled," Hmm, It's about time."
" Hello there my friends! How nice to see you again!" Bhumi walked out of the crowds to the three of them, his hands full of the toys and gifts he won. Beside him, was Iroh, striding perfectly at ease with Yuura happily gigling and gurgling.
At first glance, Sokka and Aang looked glad to see Bhumi, but their faces fell the instant they recognised the old Fire general and Sokka's eyes narrowed when he saw the tiny menace in the fire general's arms..
" YOU!? A-And th-that hing!!" Sokka screamed out and pointed one long finger at Iroh and Yuura accusingly.
Iroh grinned sheepishly ," Nice to meet you'll again . I'm glad you still remember me."
" Why the hell do you have- wait! Katara! She's here!!!
" I'm afraid Katara isn't in this place but I-"
" Then how did you get that?" Sokka asked jabbing his finger at Yuura's soft brown head.
Iroh pulled Yuura away and grinned," I found him of course!"
Sokka and Aang blinked." You what?"
" Somewhere on my way here, I found this little chap in the forest playing with Bhumi, right old friend?" Iroh nudged the grining King, who nodded enthusiastically back. Sokka's face dropped and he went back to scowling.
" Oh, that's too bad, cause we thought that maybe Kata-" Aang started but was cut off by Sokka who was glaring again at Iroh ," Zuko's here! I know it! I can feel that pests aura-"
" My nephew isn't around this vacinity or in this place. He is in a far more adequate place with someone whom I believe has quite stolen his heart."
Aang and Sokka blinked as Iroh and Bhumi suddenly went into fit of laughter. Toph giggled slightly.
" What are you old farts talking about? Stolen his heart ?" Sokka asked with a frown. Aang scratched his head in confusion.
" Zuko has found a girlfriend you dimwits," Toph answered their doubts wth a flat voice.
They all went silent and looked at each other momentarily , blinking. Then suddenly all four of them burst into an uncontrollable laughter. The passerbys became freaked out and mistook them for excited psychos on the loose.
Toph yawned boredly and sat down crossed legged," This is going to be one long night."
Katara and Zuko walked into the inn amidst the wild party and the cheers in the bars. They were all celebrating the festival and no one noticed the two sullen teenagers. Not even the Inn owner, Hang Han saw them. Katara trudged silently up the stairs and stood at their door. Zuko was behind the whole while,wrought in guilt. She opened the door and walked into the dark room.
Zuko, just stood outside, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. ' I'm such an idiot. Uncle will kill me if he ever found out.. '
He glanced into the room and saw that she had sat down at the edge of the bed, and she was shivering . He turned to go when she called out his name.
" Zuko.."
Heart beating he entered the room and closed the door behind him. But he didn't go near the bed.
" Katara I just want t-to apologise for-"
" Please, just forget what happened. I don't want it brought out again."
He nodded silently," I'll be in the bar then, if you need anything.."
" Yes, I do..."
He looked at her , guilt screaming from his eyes. ' Just kill me Katara. Just say it! Say it!Say you hate me and my very existance! Destroy me!! Agni!'
" Can you stay with me tonight?"
Although he heard those words clearly, he was shocked from the ringing in his head. ' D-did she just ask... she doesn't know... I.. I nearly caused her too... I-I don't deserve to...'
Zuko didn't answer her and Katara stiffled a sob," I understand. Thank you for everything, especially for what you did to-" she stopped because Zuko was standing right infront of her, his face was shadowed.
Katara looked up at him and saw that he was shaking slightly. Zuko knelt on both his knees and hugged her close to his chest. Katara didn't move and didn't utter a sound.
" No Katara. I'm sorry for causing you all the hurt. I'm sorry."
Tears fell down her cheeks as she leaned onto his chest , crying her heart out . Crying because she almost lost everything that night and also because she betrayed her friends, her promise to Aang and her brother.
' I'm sorry Sokka... I really am so sorry .'
Hey ya'll!!
I know that at some parts here the characters were slight OOC. My bad. I was just pushing the limits here. Don't mind the OOC's though, It was on purpose. Sometimes, people need to break free from what they usually show themselves to others , and show the new side of themselves. I'm doing that right now , and to tell you the truth, I'm liking my new self alot!
And, for last chaps lack of spice... I hope this is accountable... hehehe... comments are welcomed...the Good , the Bad and the ugly..
ENJOY AND REVIEW!!
Pilgrim.
Chapter 15: