Hello everyone. Sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I just haven't had much time, energy, or ideas to write this story. This chapter may seem a little disappointing, but it's all I got for now. I just want to give thanks to ML7 and a new reviewer named minnieshon. Both have kept me going, especially ML7. She has always had my back with my stories. Minnieshon also has inspired me to keep going by explaining some important things to me. My response to her review is this:

Minnieshon: You are correct. This is possibly the most depressing story I have ever written. Katara is not at all what she is like in the series. Usually, she would be kicking and screaming the whole way, even if they did try to beat her to a pulp. There are two reasons why I have made her submissive. The first is because I have written stories where Katara never gives in easily. I wanted to experiment with how the story would carry out with her like this. The second reason is because there are so many stories out there in which Katara just keeps fighting back. I just wanted to try something new. I do this by binding her to an agreement to save her brother. She also is submissive because Aang has been pronounced dead by Zuko. She has nothing to live for. Don't worry. Her position will get better and she'll get her spirit back. Sorry about the nudity. That's why it is rated mature. Oh, and thanks for the challenge. And yes, I watch the show religiously, along with Chrono Crusades and Rurouni Kenshin.

And now, back to our story.

My Reason

Katara yawned as the sun crept into her window. It was a beautiful day in the Fire Nation. Not too hot and not too cold. She hummed as she made her bed and got dressed. She then strolled to the kitchen and started making scrambled eggs, ham, and toast. When she finished, she walked back up to her prince's room and opened the door.

"Still sleeping," she thought with a smile. She sat the breakfast on his nightstand and shook him gently. "Prince Zuko, it's morning," her voice almost sang. He just simply rolled over. Again Katara smiled as she pulled the shades open, letting the strong sun beam on his face. He moaned gently but finally gave in. "It's going to be a nice day today."

"I suppose it will," he replied as she sat his breakfast in front of him. "Aren't you going join me?" Katara quickly shook her head side to side.

"You know that I'll eat later, Prince Zuko," she replied. "Besides, it's not a slave's place to eat with royalty."

"There's enough for both of us," he stated. "As your master, I demand that you eat with me."

"Oh," she answered sarcastically. "And what if I refuse? Will you punish me?" Zuko smiled as he offered her some fruit. She nodded and started to eat.

It had been almost a month since Katara had become a slave for Prince Zuko. It wasn't at all what she thought it would be. She thought Zuko would be hard on her all the time. Instead, he was gentle and kind, nothing like the boy that had chased them around the world. He treated her with respect, unlike his father Ozai. Zuko was always kind to her, and she was kind to him.

As Katara, prepared Zuko for the day, she thought about how she felt about being a slave. Sure she could run away, or try anyways. She doubted she would get far. It didn't matter. She had decided this was how it was going to be for the rest of her life. She was going to be Zuko's slave for the rest of her life. She was fine with this. She could live a peaceful life serving her prince. That's what she wanted was peace, wasn't it?

"Katara?" She was brought out of her trance when she heard Zuko's voice. "Is something wrong? You seem distracted." She started to blush a bit. How could she let herself think about silly things like that?

"I was just thinking about things," she replied. "Nothing important, Prince Zuko." Zuko got up from his chair held her by the shoulders. He hadn't noticed how beautiful she looked. She was dressed in ordinary clothes. Still, she had that glow about her, and not just her outer looks either. He felt warm around her. She was so innocent. He loved being around her. He hadn't felt like this in a long time.

"Prince Zuko? Are you alright?" He looked back into those soft blue eyes, ones that used to be full of fire. Eyes that used to be full of hurt and sorrow. Now all he saw was warmth, content, and peace. "Now who's the one daydreaming?"

Zuko just huffed. He never daydreamed. He was a prince. He was strong. He never faltered before women. If that was so, why did he feel like this?

"Prince Zuko, why don't you go for a walk in the garden? I'm sure that would ease your mind." Zuko nodded and was about to leave when he stopped and turned.

"Katara, would you escort me?" Katara was taken aback by the prince's question. She had never been asked to join him on walks. Was she even allowed to do that? "I would really like you to join me if you could." Then again, how could she deny him? She quickly made her way with him to the park, always staying behind him a few steps.

They finally reached the garden with the pond full of turtleducks. He remembered his moments with his mother there. He wondered if he would ever see her again. He also remembered watching the cherry blossoms fall with her each year. It was that time again.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Zuko looked up to see Katara's beaming face. "I have never seen cherry blossoms before, being from the Water Tribe. It's almost like snow falling. I used to sit with my mother and watch the snow fall. That was a long time ago though." Zuko watched as she turned away. Why was she hiding her face?

"What happened to your mother?" Zuko asked. Katara seemed to freeze on the spot. Then she let out her response.

"She died…in a Fire Nation raid." Zuko gasped when she told her this. His people had caused so much trouble for people. It seemed he had hurt so many people himself. He hated seeing others suffer, especially innocent people like her.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I guess we're not that much different. My mother left me, too." Katara turned to him with a sad face. Those icy eyes pierce through him. How could she be so warm one moment and hurt the next?

"I'm sorry about your mother, Prince Zuko. It's not easy to lose your mother. When mine died, I felt so empty. It felt like I had no reason to live, but then I remembered I had Gran-Gran and Sokka to take care of. I couldn't leave them be. If I left them, they would be even sadder. I had to be strong for them." Zuko stared at the ground as she said this. Had he felt lost like she had? Why did he go on in life?

The next thing he knew he was being shoved into the ground. Katara had jumped on top of him. Once he felt her weight lift, he saw why. Katara was fighting a man in a ninja suit. More precisely, she was fighting an assassin sent after him. Zuko was about to step in when he realized he didn't need to.

Katara always kept him in her sight. He matched his timing perfectly, and Zuko could tell she wasn't even trying. The most important part was that she kept herself between the killer and Zuko, never giving him a chance to attack him. The assassin managed to clip her side before Katara finally decided to stop playing with him and freeze him to the tree. The guards had just arrived when Katara finished. As they took him away, he started to yell at her.

"But you're a waterbender! Why would you protect the son of the man that tried to kill your kind?" Katara just simply looked back at him and smiled.

"He's my reason for living. I am here to protect him with my life." The guards finally got the man out of the garden as Katara reached Zuko. She looked at his arm, which had been scraped against the ground when he fell. "I'm sorry, Prince Zuko. Let me take care of it." She started to heal it when he asked her a question.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because you're hurt, and it's my fault," she replied as she finished healing him.

"No, I mean, why did you say that?" Katara helped him off the ground.

"Because it's true, Prince Zuko. You are so kind to me, and I belong to you. I would give my life for you. You are my reason to live on now, just as my brother and Aang were." Zuko smiled and nodded. He had never had someone like this that looked after him because he was just a prince. She cared for him like a friend should. He was content with that.

Hope that wasn't too fluffy for you. I hope to get more action and even Toph and Sokka back. And a special surprise appearance? We will see.