First off, thank you guys for ALL of your reviews! I truly appreciate them! And also thanks for the emails I have recieved from those who were concerned with me, and curious about my writing. And also, I just want to say welcome to any new comers of this FanFic, and I hopeto continue seein your comments.
It's been a long time, I know. This past month has been kinda tough on me, with school and other stuff going on. There were so many times I would try and write for all of you, but I just couldn't focus enough :( I'm really, truly sorry that I have made you guys wait a full month, give or take, for another chapter. I haven't stopped writing in case any of you were wondering, but sometimes an Author just has long term brain farts, and I didn't want to give you guys a sucky chapter, so I waited until I was finally ready to write again which was unfortunate for you guys, I know. Hope you guys understand.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I don't own anything of A:TLA. Sorry for any mispelled words, bad grammering, or repeated words. Last time we left off, Katara and Aang had fallen asleep in the same tent, and we pick it up from there...
Katara's eyes popped open to the dark skies, feeling the heat around her as if something was burning. She hoisted her back off of the ground and onto her feet, feeling drained of energy and her mouth dry as sand. As soon as she looked around the Waterbender saw the most horrifying scene that she had ever gazed upon. There were absolutely no stars in the sky, because the black curtain of smoke from the forest's fire covered them all. Arrows, spears, swords, and every weapon imaginable was sticking up from the ground. She took a step, and felt a weird feeling in the ground. It was hard, but somehow soft. She was about to rub her eyes, but stopped when she saw the dried blood on her hands, and in between her finger nails.
Katara gasped at her palms, but then her sight caught something off to the side. Her eyes followed to her left, and there she saw a man with about six arrows in his back and bleeding from the mouth. He was an Earthbender, from the looks of his green Warriors outfit that was mixed with mud and red liquid. She looked around herself and saw piles of dead corpse, of both men and women around her. The blue eyed girl began to tear up while her stomach decided to act up and make her throw up at the deaths around her. She had never smelt a dead body before, and wished that she could forget the awful smell.
The scared girl called out to her friends. "Sokka! Toph! Suki! Zuko! Mai! Teo! Aang, where are you?" There no was response, but the sound of ripped colored flags hissing with the wind that was too hot to breathe into. She walked around for a few minutes, careful not to step on anyone even though it was completely pointless to attempt it. In the distance she saw a giant hill, with four people standing on top of it, and then there were screams of pain. She quickly ran to them, still breathing in the smoke screen around and making her eyes water up while coughing up the poison. She saw fire explode on top of the hill, and the sound of rocks smashing against something one another. The Waterbender could feel her calves burning as she kept on running towards what could possibly be a fight still going on, but by the time she got there death seemed to be her only friend. The people that she saw were all lying down in pairs almost. Each of them of the men was oddly with a woman by their side. Katara quickly ran to them, even though her legs felt like someone place metal in her shoes.
She went to the girl on her right, who seemed to be alone, and looked like the age of the blind Earthbender. The black haired girl's body was facing the ground, in an odd position. Katara pushed her over gently as if she was still alive and without a doubt, she knew it was Toph. Katara quickly let go of the deceased girl as she jumped back quickly trying to hold back her tears. Her eyes then caught a dagger that she would have noticed anywhere, sticking out of a young pale girl's back. She was laying a man's chest that had icicles in his stomach; which did not seem to be affected by the heat of the fiery inferno. The Waterbender turned her eyes away, and then caught the clothes of a Kyoshi Warrior. She sprinted to her soon to be Sister-In-Law, who held the hands with a Water Tribe Warrior. His face was facing to the right, with half of his face was in the red mud eyes still opened. Katara quickly shoved him onto his back. Sokka coughed up the blood from his mouth barely breathing; she gently grabbed his head and placed him on her knees, holding him in his last moments. The beautiful sword that Aang once gave him, was now sticking out of his chest, and it had been broken off.
"Ka-Katara…" he whispered in a struggle to his sister, as she could feel the life going out of him slowly and painfully.
"Shh, don't talk, don't speak. I'm going to take care of you." she promised, even though she knew that it couldn't be kept. Her eyes began to be blurred by her the salt water that fell accidentally onto her brother.
"Katara—run! R-run…" he breathed the last words with his eyes fixed on her, and didn't move anymore. The Waterbender began to ball her eyes out while she pulled her dead brother into her arms, apologizing and screaming at him to wake up. It had finally happened; she was left alone in this world, or what was left of it. She heard footsteps coming her way, and she knew that it had to be the killer who did this to them. She sucked her anger back into her nose, and placed her brother back onto the mud. Katara slowly stood up, and summoned the blood that was around her, forming her arms into long octopuses tentacles, and turned around ready to fight. But when she did, she stopped as she saw the most familiar face she had come to love. Aang. He was in his shredded Firebending clothes that were dripping of red liquid that also covered up his sky blue tattoos. His eyes were darker than the night sky that seemed to look straight through to her.
"Aang!" she cried out finally happy to see someone alive. She ran to him so full of joy in her tears this time and her arms open wide for him to take her into his strong arms. But instead of him holding her close in this dark time, he quickly grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up as if she was lighter than the wind itself. She gasped for air, but his rough hand grip tightened around her even more. She grabbed at his hand and tired to loosen it, but they were like stoned, cold hands.
"Aang! St-Stop! Wha-are you-doing?"
He looked up into her eyes and said in a voice that only demons would sound like, "Save him. Only you have the power to stop him!"
"Wha-?" she chocked out, feeling the blood stopping and the pressure building up inside of her head; she knew that in a matter of seconds she was going to pass out
"Save him Katara. Or this will be your future, and he will be forever lost." Aang said evilly at her while the darkness crept into her eyes…
Katara jumped up from her sleep gasping for air, as if she could truly feel Aang's hands still holding onto her neck. She reached up to the area where his grip had her, and sigh of relief came out of her mouth with the realization that she it wasn't bruised or sore. The Waterbender looked out to the tent, and could see the sun trying to creep its way into their small home. Katara didn't realize how hot she was until a bead of sweat dripped down her nose, causing it to tickle a little bit. She wiped her forehead, and looked over at Aang. For once he was still sound asleep while lying on his stomach and breathing a soft snore. Katara smiled at him, happy to see that he wasn't up just yet, and question her to the way she looked. As quietly as she could, she got up from her sleeping bag and walked out of the small tent.
The air was so nice and cool early in the morning, for which the dark skinned girl was thankful for as it cooled her body off and seemed to drive the darkness of the dream away. By the look of the sun, she could see that it was about ten in the morning and no one else seemed to be up. She thanked the Spirits for that, because Sokka wouldn't be breathing down her neck right now to fix breakfast for everyone; not that she minded cooking, but sometimes she just wanted to tell him to make his own breakfast…but too many things would happen if he did that. Katara headed into the village, where the people there seemed to be in a little bit more cheery as she walked into town. They offered her many things, from food, to clothing, supplies, medicine, and just about anything she had asked for. In the next few hours, she had everything she needed for their next trip in a couple of baskets, and was about to head out until a certain dress caught her eye. It was a beautiful green color, with a vanilla lace that could possibly go up to where the middle of her thigh would be, the color followed along to the bottom of the long sleeves that would go past her hands half way. There was also a vanilla spot to where her neck would be, and just below that, a darker green of swirls that sprouted from it, with the same swirls at the bottom of the dress. She had never seen such a beautiful Earth Kingdom dress before, but it looked to be too small for her though.
Katara hadn't noticed that a young woman was sitting to her right side, as she watched her reaction to the dress. She got up and said in a sweet voice, "Can I help you with something Katara?"
The Waterbender looked at her, and could see that she was perhaps her age if not a little older. Her hair was dark, and she had the same green eyes that the fabric of the dress. Katara smiled, "Oh no, I was just looking at this beautiful dress of yours. It seems that it took you long time to make this."
She nodded, "You have a good eye Katara. I began on this many months ago and just finished it last night. For some reason I wanted to sell it, even though I swore to myself that I wouldn't."
Katara looked back at it, and then back at her. "I've never seen such work like this before." She said and touch it ever so carefully, "is that silk too?"
The young woman grinned, "Oh yes. Only on the inside it is. A woman should feel softer when she wears it; however I have never tried it on to prove that."
"Why not? I bet it would make you look so beautiful that the guys would fall at your feet."
They both giggled, "Perhaps, but I am already married."
Katara grinned at her, "Congratulations! Well I am certain your husband would love it."
"I know he would, but this dress is too special even for him to see it on me. I had not intention of making something this expensive, but it was like I was meant to do it. I've never really been into this kind of stuff…would you like to try it on?" she gestured towards Katara.
"Oh no! That's okay; I was just gazing at its craftsmanship. I don't have the money to pay you and—"
"Please" she interrupted her, "it would be nice to see it on someone before I sell it." Katara was about to object again, but the young woman grabbed the baskets that she was caring and pushed her into the little changing room. She handed it to Katara, and shut the curtain behind her. The Waterbender sighed at the black haired lady and did as she was told. She stripped her clothes off until she was standing there in her bathing suit and took her boots off too. The blue eyed girl put the dress on, and then straightened herself out. Katara was surprised that it actually fit her perfectly, almost as if it was made for her; the silk on the inside was like a cloud was hugging her. It was tight enough to leave nothing to the imagination, but not too tight to where she couldn't move or breathe in it. She opened the curtain to show the young lady, and as soon as she walked out the woman's eyes were huge, with so much joy in them.
"By the sweet Spirits, you look like amazing!" she said, which made Katara blush a little. "What do you think of it? And be honest, I can take it."
This time Katara smiled with her white teeth showing, "I don't think even royalty can even touch this dress that you have made." she said, meaning it whole heartedly. She saw a small tear drop from her eyes, as she quickly wiped it away. Katara nodded to her, and went back into the changing room to put her Waterbending clothes back on, that suddenly felt like hay laying across her skin. She folded up the dress up the way she saw it, walked out, and found that the woman just sold a twined blue and green bracelet to a little girl, no more than five. She turned back to Katara once she placed the money into the brown pouch that was tied to her waist.
The Waterbender held out the dress to her, "thank you for everything. Make sure that whomever you sell this too they don't lose sight of it. I think even a Queen would steal it if she could." Katara laughed, as did the woman.
The young lady bowed to her, "Then I would suggest that you keep it close to you then."
The dark skinned girl gave her a confused look, "What? No, I couldn't. I told you that I don't have the money for this dress!"
"After everything you have done for my husband and me, I believe that it was fate that made me make that dress for you; as soon as I saw you looking at it, I knew that you were suppose to have it."
Katara shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I cannot accept this. You can make a lot of money selling this beautiful dress, and yet you want to give it to me?"
The woman turned her back on her, and went to get the baskets. "It fits you perfectly, and I can't imagine anyone else looking so gorgeous wearing my dress. It would greatly honor me, if you would wear it someday. And I am sure the lucky fellow in your life would appreciate it too." she winked at her, and put the basket of supplies at Katara's feet and walked past her to her small old woodened chair.
"I…I don't know what to say..."
The green eyed lady smiled at her, "You just did."
Katara desperately wanted to give the dress back to her, but at the same time hug her too. No one had ever given her something like this before, and she was right. It was perfect. "Thank you so much!" she said and picked up her things, remembering that Zuko had some money in his supplies somewhere. She would pay her, and Zuko would help her too. Katara placed the dress inside one of the baskets, making sure that nothing would snag onto it. Katara turned back to the woman, "thank you again" she said, and walked back to their little camp site just outside of the town. It was about noon by the time she got there, and everyone was up except for Aang.
"Well it's about time Katara! I haven't eaten all day, literally!" he bellowed out, but his stomach was louder.
His sister rolled his eyes at him, "Suki can you help me really quick, and set this over there." She nodded towards the camps fire as the auburn haired girl came to her. She got hold of the baskets, and took the green dress out without Sokka noticing. Suki raised an eyebrow, with a look that said I want to see that on you. Katara quickly went into her tent, and saw that Aang was in the same position just as she left him. She knew he would be hungry, but didn't want to disturb his slumber that he was in. The Waterbender went over to her bag, and pulled out her other clothes. She placed her old ones at the bottom, then the silk dress, and then the rest of her clothing to cover it up as she tied it up tightly.
Katara headed went back out to cook their meals, which was going to be five flavored soup with some meat for Sokka and veggies for Aang whenever he would wake up. She cooked, and everyone else was packing up their things while her mind went back to the dream that she had last night. She had never had a dream that felt so real that it would make her skin crawl. Katara wondered if a Spirit was trying to give her a message or something. She had had her fair share of nightmares, but this…this was too different to ignore. In most dreams she could barely remember the beginning, middle, or end, but she could remember every detail in this particular nightmare. Katara had never seen so much death, blood, and the decay of Benders around her. She looked up at everyone, remembering exactly what had happened to them, and she could feel herself about to cry; but she shook her head and ignored it. However, the one thing she couldn't get over was that she believed Aang, her full of life Aang, would be the one to kill so many. He wasn't even willing to eat animals, because they were dead and he wasn't even willing to take Ozai's life when he was backed into a corner.
The Monks eyes were so dark, that it seemed like there was nothing left of the Aang that she loved. His blue tattoos were red, and his words were like a splinter stuck in her nails. "Save him, or he will be forever lost." How is she supposed to save him? How can she prevent so much death, save her new family, and make sure that Aang doesn't ever do that? When will this day come; tomorrow, next week, next month, next year? So many questions and no one would be able to answer her.
"Katara!" Suki said and then the Waterbender felt her whole body shake.
She snapped out of it, "Wha-?" she began, and hadn't even realized that the soup was boiling so much that it began to overflow onto the fire, trying to put it out. "Oh no!" she said, and bended it out of the pot so that she could save the rest of it. She held it up for a few minutes, and then placed it back into the pot once it cooled off.
"Whew, thanks Suki. I didn't even realize it was boiling…"
"Really? Sokka could hear the fire sizzling from over there, but you didn't even notice it?" she asked curiously. "Is everything alright?"
Katara put on her best lying face, "I'm fine, I just didn't sleep too well last night."
Suki smiled, "Hmm, I wonder why?" she said and winked at her. Right then, Katara knew about Aang and her sleeping in the same tent.
Katara half laughed, "Does he know?" she said nodding towards her brother who was walking to them with Momo on his shoulder.
"I'm sure he does, but I wouldn't mention it till after he's done eating…or you could just not mention it at all." Suki smiled at her best friend, hoping she knew how tough it was for Sokka to not go marching in there last night after knowing that Aang was sleeping in the same tent as her. She had to keep him detained last night, which wasn't too difficult to do.
"Thanks for the heads up. Has Aang come out yet?" she questioned, wondering if she had somehow missed him.
The short auburn hair girl shook his head, "I looked, but he was still asleep. I can't believe how long that he has been sleeping; usually he is the first one up. Did you slip him a drug or something to make him sleep?"
Katara giggled, "No, but maybe next time I will if it comes down to it." By about this time, everyone was gathering around the food, and filling their bowls up all of the way; unfortunately for Sokka, it had spilled onto his hands.
"DAAAAAGGGGHHHH! Stupid bowl, stupid food, stupid heat!" he rambled onto himself, causing everyone to laugh. They all sat around the food, talking, discussing plans to do with Jet, but it just didn't feel the same without Aang. The Airbender didn't want to be the leader of the group, but he was and they all needed him. After about an hour, the sleeping Vegetarian still wasn't up, and it was already past two. They would leave in a few short hours, and it seemed like someone was going to have to talk with Jet…and unfortunately she was going to have to do it. She wanted Aang to rest, and there was no way she was going to wake him up just yet.
"Toph, feel like taking a trip down to the pit of the Earth again?" the Waterbender asked.
Toph raised an eyebrow, "Ugh, you wanna swing that one by me again?" she asked, as everyone listened and Sokka stopped slurping his food.
"Come on guys! We all agreed that we were going to have to bring Jet with us."
"I say the Hell with him!" Zuko proclaimed, and everyone nodded. "There is no way he can be trusted!"
"Don't forget Zuko, we were all enemies once…I didn't trust you either." Katara reminded him, which made him feel ashamed and Katara continued. "As much as I don't want to do it, we have to. I have a feeling that if he stays here, all of these peoples hate and pain would kill him eventually."
"So?" Sokka bellowed out, "There'll be one less evil guy in this world."
Katara looked at all of them and could tell that a secret meeting happened without her or Aang's presence. "Since when did you all decide on this?" Again no one said anything, and it seemed like the sky was in all of their interest except for Toph's.
Suki spoke up, "look we just think it would be safer if Jet didn't come with us. He is obviously not with us, he's against us!"
The Waterbender didn't know why she was defending Jet, especially when it seemed like a good idea to just hop onto Appa and leave; but who were they to hold someone's life in their hands. "You know Aang won't do it. He won't allow it."
"Won't allow what?" a familiar voice said behind them, with a yawn that followed. Everyone turned around quickly to see the tattooed boy without his shirt on. The bags underneath his eyes had faded a lot, but he was still going to need a lot more rest. No one said anything this time now with him awake, and for a few minutes they kept looking at one another hoping for someone else to spill the rice.
"Bunch of wimps!" Toph bellowed out finally, "look Twinkle Toes, we agreed that Jet isn't coming with us, because he's too much of a threat apparently." she added, since she knew that she would be keeping ears on him no matter what.
Aang looked at his friends, not surprised that they had done this. "I see…well I told you guys that you can only go as far as you want. The door to that is still opened if you all would like to go through it."
"You would rather take Jet than to have your friends, best friends I might add, along with you? The ones who have helped you out of the frozen ice, helped rescue Appa, trained you in all Bending elements, created cool inventions to fly, and the others who helped us escape from Azula's prison?" Sokka questioned, amazed that he would even consider this option.
Without a thought Aang said, "No, that is something I don't want to happen. You have all been with me and believed in me for so long that I would trust you with my life; but you cannot ask me to let someone die…no matter what they have done. I am going to talk to Jet, and if anyone of you guys leave then I will hold no grudges against you—neither will anyone else." He looked at each and every one of them, turned his back on them, and left his friends to think about his offer. He quickly felt Angel footsteps coming toward him as he went inside the tent to put on his Airbending clothes. Katara walked in quickly behind him, just as he barely put it on. He gazed at her, happy to see her smiling at him like she always did when a new day began. She rushed over and embraced him, with her head laid up on his chest. His arms wrapped around her, not really sure why he deserved it after what he just said to all of their closest friends.
He kissed her on top of the head, and sighed into her sweet ocean fragrance. "Still trust me?"
She grinned against him, "Always…I know you are going to talk to Jet, and I want to come with you." Katara felt him instantly stiffen up with the heat rising off of him.
"Why?"
Katara looked up at him, "For moral support." He smiled a little, and together they both went towards the hole as the rest of the group talked amongst one another.
OooooOooooOoooo
"Katara, it is a pleasure to see you again so soon. I guess I left a pretty good impression on you since you came back to me." Jet said to piss Aang off, and he could easily tell that it was setting him off.
"Not as much as what I left you with." she pointed out towards the dent in his metaled face and dried up blood.
He smiled, "a hit that I would gladly take again for a kiss from you." Jet winked at her. Katara felt the same rage that Aang was feeling, but she stopped him from losing control. Trying to help remind him why they came down here.
The Air Nomad breathed his hate out, and walked up to him. "Jet, we need your help."
This didn't seem to surprise the prisoner, "Really? Do you need me to take care of Katara for you then? I'm sure she could use a real man right about now."
Aang's hands tightened into a ball, not understanding why he was getting angry so easily. Maybe his friends were right…and then he felt a hand on his shoulders. Katara whispered something to him and he nodded to her. He took a few steps back, letting her take the lead.
"You know what Jet if you want to stay chained up here then be our guest. Because I guarantee you that you won't last long in her, especially with a mob who desperately wanting to blame someone for their missing children. You once said that you aren't our enemy and you now have a chance to prove that to us, to me." she said.
He tilted his head to the right, "Oh? How so?"
"You are the only survivor that has ever lived and even though you believe your memory is lost, you know that I can help you; and you can help us find these so called Death Stalkers."
Jet was silent, as he looked at her and then Aang. "No."
"What?" Aang yelled as it echoed in the tunnel.
"Is there another secret code for saying NO in the Airbending tongue?" he criticized, "I would rather die than to help you two find them!"
"Maybe death will find you sooner than you think!" Aang backfired, wishing that Jet would stop making him feel infuriated. He knew the Spirit of Ozai was messing with him, and he was feeding off of his temper.
"Aang!" Katara yelled at him, and turned back to Jet. "You have to help us, before this War gets worse. I am asking you to please do this, please."
Jet was now very intrigued, "Hmm…why should I be concerned with the state of the World? That's the Avatar's job, right?"
"It's everyone's job Jet! Aang is supposed to bring balance to all four Nations, and we can all make it easier on him."
Jet thought about it for a second and then began to chuckle, "what makes you think that I would help someone like him, when he didn't stop the Fire Nation from destroying my home? My family. Why would I make it easier for him, when my life was ruined?"
"You think you are the only who lost someone? I lost my Mother because of the Fire Nation, but it wasn't Aang's fault!"
The Assassin raised an eyebrow, as if he just found her weak spot. "Do you really believe that Katara? Are you telling me that after meeting Aang, and knowing that if he lived during his hundred year disappearance that he could have prevented the War and in doing that he could have saved your Mother?"
Katara hated that Jet knew how to manipulate someone memories and turn them against the people that she loved, but more than anything he hated it when he was right. There was a time in her life after meeting Aang that if he had been around, he could have truly prevented the War, and Kya's death. But she never though about it again after that, because she learned that Aang lost everything that he had too; Monk Gyatso and the rest of the Airbender's that had become his own family. She looked back at the fourteen year old whom she was fallen in love with, and she saw the face of shame in his dark shadowy eyes.
The Waterbender looked back at Jet, and decided to be honest with him. "There was a time in my life that I did, but I still believed in the Avatar. You think you lost everything, but what makes you thing Aang didn't? You may know the history of Aang, but you don't know the first true thing about him! He lost everything and everyone he cared about, and you don't think that he regrets running away too?"
"Only cowards run away, and innocent lives were paid for his mistakes!"
Aang moved Katara out of the way, "you are the one to talk Jet; especially since you sacrifice innocent people in order to get rid of the Fire Nation." Aang said so darkly that it sent chills down Katara's spine, just as he did in her dream.
"Go to hell!" Jet said.
"You first!" Aang retorted back to him, getting angrier and angrier.
"Aang!" Katara yelled at him, and he looked back at her. He was indeed angry, because he had once told her that even though he doesn't dwell in the past, it didn't mean that he could easily forget it. Katara cut to the chase before these two would fight it out, "The way I see it Jet, you have two choices: stay here in these chains and slowly die by these Earthbenders, or you can help us fight this war before it even begins."
Jet was quiet again for a few minutes, and finally he made a devilish smile underneath his busted up metal face. "I'll help you…if I hear it from Aang himself."
In the beginning Aang was all for helping Jet and was going to be the one to ask him to join them, but he would rather face Ozai's wrath again than to ask for his help. Katara had tried to help him, but maybe his friends were right. Maybe this was a very bad idea after all. He looked over at the Waterbender who had done so well at building the Prisoner up to this point and now all he had to do was ask for his help…easier said than done. He felt cool hands on his bare right shoulder, and it made him come out of his own trance.
"Everything okay?" she whispered so that Jet couldn't hear their conversation.
"…Maybe this isn't a good idea Katara. He obviously doesn't wan to help, so why should we help him when he doesn't care about us, or the others of this World?"
"But this was your idea" she reminded him.
Aang nodded, "I know, but now that I am here I don't know if I can handle a guy like him. He is very good at making you feel guilty for your own, or remind you of the pain. He knows how to undermine us…"
This indeed was a struggle for the Monk to do the right thing, and Katara had to remind him of why they needed him, even thought they didn't want him. "Aang look at me," but his focus was on the chained up Hit Man, "Don't look at Jet, I need to focus on me." The Airbender put his hands into a ball, and then finally looked back at her. "Deep down you know that this is our chance at finding the enemy, and I know you don't want him to die down here…even if he may deserve it" she hinted to Aang which made his eyes soften a little, but he still wasn't his normal self. He nodded, and let out a gasp of air as he walked back to Jet. He looked into those dangerous eyes of his that would make you shiver in fear, but there was so much arrogance behind them too; as well as pain, and torment…however his gut told him not to trust him.
"Either you come with us Jet, and help save the World or you can stay here. I am not going to plead or beg for you to come. It's a simple yes or no question." Aang finally said, not wanting to ask it again.
"Ha, all you had to do was say please, but this will do. I would love to accompany you, and Katara." Jet proclaimed, not letting them know that he was already willing to go with them.
Aang metalbended the chains off of the cave walls, with the sound of rusty metal hitting rocks. The Avatar broke the chains from his wrist, to which Jet quickly started to itch the raw, scabbed skin. Katara and Aang turned, with Jet behind them. Once the Waterbender was out of sight, the Monk stopped and got right into Jet's face. The Master Swordsman didn't even flinch with Aang's gray eyes blazing at him.
"Don't make me regret this." He gritted through his teeth, just in case Katara might be listening. "If you ever go near Katara or kiss her again, I will I promise, make sure that your life ends right then and there. Permanently." Aang starred at him, making sure that he was clear on this issue. He trusted Katara now, but trusting Jet is like saying a small spark could burn the whole forest down.
Jet only smirked, "I can't promise you anything, but you need to remember that you need me. And who knows how long those sessions of healing for my memory will take…but don't worry; it'll be a real pleasure messing with you."
OooooOooooOoooo
Aang shook forearms with Tyro, "Thank you again Avatar for everything you have done for us. We owe you our lives."
The Airbender shook his head, with a half-smile "You owe me nothing my friend. Thank you for your hospitality." He said, and released his arm so he could look back at his Gang. Sokka had just tied off the last piece of cargo to the back of Appa's saddle. Jet was tied up once again by rope that Suki tied. Jet had three ropes around his neck that was tied off with his left arm behind his back that faced upward, which was also connected to the right arm which was tied in front of his chest and around his waist. The rope continued from his right arm to in between his legs and they were tied off three ways; one on the back of Appa's saddle, and the other two were tied to the holes on the saddle. The trick was to make sure that if he moved, he would end up hurting himself to the point of possibly breaking a bone somewhere else. If he bent down, his left arm would be pulled up while he would be choked at the same time, and if he tried to get up half way, his right arm would be pulled, and the rope between his legs will tighten up. Suki said that she had learned how to tie rope since she was very small, it became part of their training as a Kyoshi Warrior; using the bodies force against itself. Even though she guaranteed he couldn't escape, they all sat near the top of the Bison's head, far away from the enemy.
"You know we can keep him here." Tyro suggested, seeing that none of us were really wanting Jet to come along for the ride.
Aang looked up at the older man, "As much as I wouldn't mind that, he will be safer with us. It's nothing personal, but I'm afraid that your people will take their anger and fear out on him to the point of death. I don't want that blood on your hands, or mine."
The white bearded tall man thought about it for a second, and then agreed with him. "I know I am asking a lot of you Aang, but I am begging you to please bring Haru back to us. I would follow you, but…"
The Airbender understood and completed his sentence for him, "your people need you too in this crisis; a leader that they can look too in times of trouble. Tyro I cannot guarantee anything, but I promise you this as the Avatar; I will never stop looking for him or the others until there is not an ounce of strength in me. No matter how long it takes." Aang swore, hoping it would be enough for the hurt Father who needed to stay behind and look after his people instead of looking for his son. It was a hard decision between being the Father and the Leader. This was something that Aang would never wish upon any Father; to choose between his only son, and his tribe who were so full of fear.
Aang then saw tears glistening in the man's eyes, and a slight smile underneath his beard. "Your word is more than enough for me Avatar Aang, and if you ever need anything from me please don't hesitate to send a Messenger Hawk. I will be there as fast as the Earth can get me there."
"I will. Oh and here." Aang said, handing him a small black Fire Nation bag full of money.
Tyro opened it, and his eyes became huge "what is this for?"
Aang shrugged, "Katara told me to give it to you, and to pass it along to the young woman who makes the clothing here."
Tyro nodded, "I will be sure to give it to her; you have my word on that."
Again Aang smiled, and then looked back at Katara who was the last one to climb up on Appa saddle. Tyro sighed, "You are a very lucky man to have someone like Katara in your life. Some people search their whole lives for a woman like her; brave, clever, full of love, and knows how to seek out the courage in you." Aang agreed with him. "Be careful Aang, I believe that there is something far more evil coming our way here shortly, and I fear that it will follow you and your friends."
OooooOooooOoooo
They didn't fly too long as they decided to go shopping once again, just so that Sokka would stop giving Jet the Killer look and the argument between them would stop. The tension in the Gang had risen to new heights, and Aang didn't like it one bit. They didn't stay at the market for too long either, just because they started to worry about Jet being alone with a Blind girl and a Wheelchair kid. Before anyone could say "Yip, Yip" they were already back in the air.
"So what did you do with my weapons?" Jet asked with a dry voice towards the arrow headed kid after another few hours of flying. Aang decided to go on ahead and buy some more clothes for him, since his others were about ready to jump off into the wind.
"Does it matter? There is no way you are getting it back right now, or ever." Aang said, with Katara sitting by his side and holding his hand.
Jet gave him a smile, "you may want to consider changing your mind on that. How will I protect myself or Katara for that matter?" he winked towards her.
The Water Tribe girl suddenly felt Aang tense up, and the heat of his body was flaring off of him once again. She grabbed hold of his toned right arm, and whispered to him "don't start it again Aang. He is just messing with you."
The Air Nomad looked down into her ocean blue spheres, and saw his own reflection in them as the fire was starting to dowse out in his stormy eyes. He nodded, and went back to ignoring Jet the rest of the time as he continued to taunt him. And after a long while, they all couldn't take it anymore. They landed, and tossed Jet down Appa's tail hearing him grunting in pain the entire time. The Gang jumped off of the giant Bison, and began to set up camp hours before they normally would. Suki headed towards the Hit Man, and untied him because she was the only one who knew how to do it without breaking any bones. Aang, Sokka, and Zuko to held him down in case he wanted to try and escape and then dragged him to a tree, which was any easier than holding down a platypus bear. Before the end of Suki's training, she had learned of a few new tricks from her last six months on Kyoshi Island. She told the Gang that she could do it without rope, but she knew that it was better safe than sorry.
The boys pulled Jets legs on both sides of the tree, not any bigger than any of their arms, just as the Kyoshi Warrior instructed. Zuko then lifted him up a little under the arm pits, where he sat at a ninety degree angle. Suki then grabbed his left leg, and hoisted it up underneath his right. She then wrapped his right leg around the tree, underneath his butt, and then told Sokka to ease him down gently. Suki then asked Sokka to push down onto his shoulders, and he was locked in place.
"Okay, you guys can let go of him now." She smiled at them, but they still clung onto him. "Trust me." The boys all looked at each other, and very slowly released him.
Jet then started laughing, "Do you really think this can hold me? Please, all I have to do is—" and then he stopped. He tried to move his legs, but they were far too tight to even try to adjust. The Assassin tried hoisting himself up, but again the grip of his legs were far too tight and it was causing some pain in his joints. "What the hell?"
The Kyoshi Warrior smiled confidently to him, and then said "not so easy is it?"
Soon the entire group was laughing at Jet as he tried to wiggle his way out of the tree for the next few minutes, grabbing pieces of grass to help loosen up his grip but he finally stopped as the pain in his legs began to burn. After laughing tears were wiped away, Suki handed the rope to Zuko for his hands. After capturing Aang in a rope, tighter than any Octopus could do. They had trusted him in this particular area; they were all very surprised to learn that Suki even knew anything about ropes. They were all just full of surprises.
Sokka then turned towards his fiancé and laid one right onto her lips. "Have I told you how much I love you Suki?" He hinted towards her, with his eyebrows rising up and down.
Zuko and Mai both began to gag at the sight of Sokka trying to flirt his way into the sheets with Suki. She only smiled at him, and whispered something into his ear and he instantly started to giggle like a little boy who was being tickled.
"Oh brother!" Toph said grabbing Teo's wheelchair and started pushing him away.
Katara became intrigued, "Where are you two heading off to so fast?" she said with her arms crossed.
It's called nunya! Nunya business!" she snickered at Katara, but the Waterbender knew that they were indeed getting closer everyday. Toph and Teo were spending more and more along time together, and they both seemed really interested in one another. The dark skinned girl wondered if Toph had even kissed him yet, and would she even tell her? The Waterbender just wished that Toph wouldn't pick up stupid lines like that from Sokka, who picked it up from the boys that wouldn't give out the information about Toph.
"Dinner is at six!" she yelled towards the couple.
"Okay Mom!"
Aang snickered a little, in which Katara turned to face him and before she knew it everyone had gone their separate ways. This was something that they would do every once in a while in new territory, to go out and explore the unknown, and it would also give them their "private times" as well.
"Doesn't she know how to keep her word after winning a bet?" Katara asked towards the Airbender who seemed to be off in his own little world.
He smiled at her, "do you really want me to answer a question that you already know the answer to? That's like asking if Sokka can stay away from meat for a whole day, let alone a whole hour."
The blue eyed girl smiled at the analogy, knowing well that there was one person in Sokka's life who knew how to keep his mind off of anything for a few hours at least. It was awesome seeing everyone getting along with their companions, and especially with Toph and Teo. In so many ways they were right for each other. Teo was smart and calm, but knew how to pick his fights and still win even though he was a handicap; Toph was obviously the complete opposite, tough, and always rushing in for a fight to prove who the best of the best is. The young inventor was able to bring out the girlie side of the Blind girl in which Katara loved, because it was just a side that she didn't see all of the time. Except there was one time, in Ba Sing Se, when they did have a "Girl's Day Out" and Toph turned into such a beautiful young lady. She was happy the way Toph was, but it was always nice seeing that soft side of her.
The Waterbender looked back at Aang's spot, and discovered that he was no longer standing there with her at all. She quickly scanned the area, as if a Mother had just lost her child, but sighed with relief when she found him unpacking all of the Gang's things. Katara went over and helped him out, and with the stillness of the area around them, the dark haired girl mind wondered back to the dream that she had last night. It felt so real to her, and she could feel the heat and pain of everything around her. But the lingering of those words Save him, or Aang will forever be lost…how is she suppose to save him? The dream made absolutely no sense, because Aang would never become that kind of, monster. She knew about the whole Ozai Spirit in him, but he seemed to be handling it pretty well. Aang had told of her of the pain he would always feel, and that she should never be around him if it were to ever happen, but nothing had happened still. Maybe the Spirit was gone?
"Is everything okay Katara? You seem to be in a dream stage almost?" Aang said while setting up the second tent.
Katara didn't even realize that she had been helping him out this whole time; it was like second nature to her, in which she could do in her sleep apparently. "Yes, everything is fine. I am just a little bit tired that's all." She beckoned towards him, not completely lying to him. The dark skinned girl was indeed exhausted, but she was a little bit afraid to fall asleep again.
Aang gave Katara her favorite crooked smile, "You know one of the best things about knowing you so well, is that you become an awful liar when you are around me. But I know you will talk to me when the time comes." He said to her, and then went back to work.
By the time they had set up camp, got the fire wood, and began cooking the Gang seemed to huddle back together with the smell of rice, mixed veggies, and some kind of meat that Katara picked up at Tyro's market. Sokka was the first in line as always, but he was nice enough to hand the bowl to his fiancé first before he started chomping down. Zuko and Mai came, and then Toph and Teo, and then Katara got herself a bowl of food. Aang told her that he wasn't too hungry that day, but he promised her that he would eat later on. After dinner, the boys decided to go off and have some training time with Aang, and Teo was willing to race the Avatar again since he had just customized his glider to a much more softer fabric that felt like silk, but strong enough to sustain the wind.
Once the boys left, Katara looked around and realized that this was the first time that any of them had actually had some girl time. It actually felt pretty nice in a way; not having to deal with Sokka's annoying musical arm farts, Zuko's grumbling with being away from the Palace, the sound of Teo's tools as he kept working on his wheelchair, and as for Aang…his silence is what drove the Waterbender mad sometimes. The girls were sitting around in a circle away from the huge pot of rice, with their empty bowl at their feet and the sound of fighting in the background.
"So you and Aang seem to be doing better." Suki said, to break the silence. She always seemed to be the one to do that sort of stuff, which made it a little bit easier on the other girls including Katara.
The dark skinned girl smiled, "Yeah, I guess it is."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"What?" Katara asked surprised a little.
"The way you said it, made it seem like it isn't?" the Keyoshi Warrior pressed. They had become like sisters, telling each other secrets, laughing, crying on the nights when she thought about Aang, and unfortunately she knew her all too well.
Katara laughed with a lie in it, "Everything is fine. I just worry about him sometimes…"
"You mean about his dreams?" Toph asked, causing Katara to glance at her. "Last night was the first time I didn't hear him moaning your name in fear, and constantly moving around. I gotta say it was pretty nice not hearing Dream Catcher all night long."
The Waterbender rolled her eyes at her, and saw Mai look up from underneath her night sky bangs. It had come to her attention that Mai always seemed intrigued in everything that when on around them, but she had become too comfortable in the way she was. Silent and mellow toned.
Katara changed the subject, "What about you Mai? Does Zuko complain a lot to you about going back home?"
The pale girl made eye contact with her, and was a little shocked to be asked a question. She always assumed that she and the other girls didn't get along too well since they never really talked to her, but Mai still liked them in their own way. Katara seemed too much of an up beat person, Suki was like an interrogator, and Toph was…Toph. She finally spoke, "sometimes he does, but mostly he talks about finding his Mother." the girl said gloomily.
"Does this upset you?" Suki asked.
She shrugged, "Not really, but I feel bad that he can't go off and look for her with him being a Fire Lord now and all. He says that he knows that she is alive, but has no idea on where to look for her."
Katara nodded, remembering that time when they were in Ba Sing Se, and Azula tossed them down into the crystal caves. It was actually the one thing she had in common with Zuko; losing a Mother that you loved so much at a young age and never growing up with her around you. Zuko may have been her enemy back then, but that kind of changed her perspective on him a little. The Waterbender never really talked about it again with him, since it seemed to always bring pain back into their lives. It was nice to see the caring side of Mai, and anyone could tell that she truly loved Zuko very much.
"Have you managed to find any clues as to where she could be at?" Katara questioned.
Mai shook her head, "I found the best men I could find to help in his search, but they haven't found anything. They say that it is highly possible that she could have changed her name, remarried, live in a different nation, and so on. Zuko told them to stop looking for her…however he never did. I see him reading some of her old writings, and try to figure out clues through them. So far there is nothing that would link her through them."
Toph leaned back, and supported herself with both of her hands. "I'm sure he will find her."
"How would you presume that when Zuko doesn't even know where to star?"
The Earthbender popped her neck, "If there is one thing that Hot Head is good at, besides being in bed with you" she grinned secretly, which made Mai blush with her jaws clenching "is that he can track anyone, anywhere, anytime. I mean he always seemed to find us, and I gotta say that it got pretty annoying with him catching us all of the time, or sending Assassins after us like Combustion Man."
This actually made Katara laugh a little bit, because it was absolutely true. No matter where they went, he would find them with his obsession over restoring his affection for his father and the honor that went along with it. It's funny how things turned out for him once he joined up with the Gang, and he seemed to be the missing puzzle that helped them in their past; for her it was finding Yon Rah, he helped Sokka find their Father, and getting Suki out of the Boiling Rock Prison, and then Aang too, who both found the Sun Warriors and the Dragons that taught them the true essence of fire.
"She is right you know" Katara proclaimed, "If anyone can find her, Zuko is the one person I would bet my money on." She smiled politely to her, and Mai barely smiled but nodded with the reassurance of her, friends.
No one decided to ask Suki about their relationship, since Sokka seemed to brag about it all of the time and the fact that they always seemed to go to bed early more and more now. Plus, there were certain things Katara didn't want to know, and that included everything that went on.
"What about you Toph? You and Teo seem to be getting close." Katara asked.
The blind girl blew her bangs out of the way, "This may be a therapy session on boys, but this is not the thing I don't want to talk about Sweet Cheeks." Toph figured that would shut them up and unfortunately she should have known better when she is around a bunch of girls who all have a husband, fiancé, and a boyfriend who might as well be her husband. Instead of putting out the fire of curiosity, she seemed to make it even bigger.
"Is that denial I hear in her voice?" Suki said like a little girl who just found out the guy of her dreams has a crush on her.
Katara giggled, "I think you are right Suki, what do you think Mai?"
Mai was back messing with her daggers and back to her old self as she said "hmm."
"Oh come on Toph! You guys have been at it for almost two years, and I am sure that you guys have at least kissed by now." The auburn haired girl spoke with joy in hearing about Toph and Teo, but the Earthbender didn't say anything as she curled up into a ball while resting her chin on her knees. "You have kissed, right?"
For once, Katara saw defeat in those pale green eyes of hers. It was a sight that she had never seen before, and the only word that came to her mind as she looked at her was embarrassment. Was she embarrassed that she had never kissed Teo, or was Teo ashamed to kiss her?
"See? This is what happens when I am surrounded by girls who only want to talk about their love lives! Maybe I don't want to have a relationship, maybe I haven't kissed a boy, and so what if I haven't? Does that make me any less of a girl if I haven't? We can't all have perfect guys in our lives Fan Girl!" she said angrily to Suki, and got up as she stomped away from them with the ground shaking underneath the others.
Suki felt horrible for getting into her business, but sometimes she couldn't help herself with Toph. She and her budded heads sometimes and she was used to it, however this seemed to only upset the blind girl even more. "That was probably not the question to ask, was it?"
Mai didn't even look, "Nope" she said as boringly as possible.
Katara placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort, "I'll go talk to her. She just needs to cool off for a second, and don't take it personally. Don't you remember your first crush?" she said, and this made Suki grin a little bit, knowing that it wasn't always easy knowing if a certain guy liked you or not. The Waterbender got up, and followed the imprinted foot steps that were plastered into the ground, and found her sitting on top of a rock that only went up to Katara's hips, and was big enough for two to sit on.
Toph heard her, "Unless you feel like becoming smashed to the Earth you will leave me—alone." She sniffled, and quickly wiped away her tears.
Katara gave a half smile, and continued walking until she hopped up on the rock to her left side "Guess that's a risk I'll have to take then" she said, but then they both sat quietly for a few minutes just listening to the animals and the gentle breeze around them. Toph continued to hide the water marks on her face, but the Waterbender knew this wasn't easy for her.
"…is it so wrong that I haven't kissed a boy yet?" Toph finally asked.
Katara looked at her, and grabbed her left hand. "No, Toph. There is nothing wrong with that at all, it just perhaps means that maybe you aren't ready yet."
"What if I am, but" she paused for a second to find the right words "I'm too scared to try it?"
The Waterbender turned her head slightly, a little surprised to hear her say the word scared. "What is it that you are scared of?"
Toph licked her lips, not really sure why she was so nervous about this. "What if—what if he doesn't like me like that? What if Teo only wants to be my friend, and I ruin it all by trying to kiss him?"
Katara grinned widely at her and released her hand to only put it around her shoulder to put her at ease. "There is nothing wrong with being scared about this Toph, it only makes a little more nerve wracking. I think you are thinking about it too much, because I know without a doubt that Teo likes you. I mean what kind of a guy is willing to fight five or six guys who were making fun of you and get a black eye in the process, or who can handle with your sarcastic remarks? Call me crazy, but he is into you Toph."
"You really think so Katara?" she asked very sincerely, as if the wrong word would break the rock underneath them.
She nodded, "Absolutely. No guy would stick around if he didn't have a better reason than adventure and getting himself possibly killed. You may be able to read us Toph, but I know how to read a guy who likes someone."
"Ha! Says the girl who didn't realize her own true feelings toward a certain Twinkle Toes." Toph back fired, happy to be back to her normal self.
Katara let go of her shoulder as they both started to laugh, "That was a different situation! Aang was younger than me, and I never thought that he could turn out to be the one guy I would fall in love with."
Toph sat silent for a second, and then spoke "you know what I just heard was blah, blah, blah, something about Aang, blah, blah, blah, something about you being afraid."
Katara scoffed at her, but became very serious with her. "You are right, I was scared. But it was only because after losing him and bringing him back to life, that I realized my feelings for him and I feared that our relationship would mess things up with his destiny; however, destiny has a funny way of showing you things. I guess my only advice is don't wait too long before you tell him how you feel Toph, don't repeat the same mistake as me."
"Pshh! You are making it sound like I am in love with Teo, or something." She laughed at those words, "You're hilarious!"
"You may not want to admit it to yourself Toph, just like me, but I got to say that for a blind girl who can feel everyone else's emotions, you ignore your own heart."
The Blind Bandit sat there again in her own stillness, as those words hit her directly. Was she actually in love with Teo? After almost two years of being friends, could she fall in love so easily? Her mind said absolutely not, but her heart beat a different noise. She quickly composed herself, and suddenly punched Katara. Unfortunately her force was a little bit too hard, and she ended up sending the Waterbender off of the ground and into some dry leaves.
"Ah!" she yelled, "Really Toph, really?"
The Blind girl lifter her palms up to the sky and shrugged, "What?" she said hopping off of the rock, "you know that's how I show affection."
Katara rubbed her shoulder, knowing that it was definitely going to bruise up a little. "Well, you couldn't you have found a softer ground for me to land on at least!"
Toph shook her head, "nah, then there would be no fun to hearing you hit the ground softly. I hit Aang with the same amount of force, and he still sounds like a complaining girl."
"Yeah, but I bet he lands on softer grass." She mumbled a little, wanting so badly to hit her with water. But before she could conjure up that liquid she heard the words, thank you from the girl who was holding her hand out towards her. After hearing those two little words, she realized that it was well worth the hit to see her like that. Toph was growing up to be a beautiful girl, and with her black hair getting longer she had always wondered what she would look like with it down. After it was washed, combed, rewashed, and re-combed again. Toph may not see herself in a pretty manner, but Katara knew just how beautiful she truly was, and she believed that Teo knew how to make her feel that way too. He would always be looking out for her, and from the corner of his eyes he would just gaze at her sometimes. Teo was in love with her natural self, which was rare to find a guy like that, and those two seemed just right for each other.
The young Waterbender grabbed her hands, as she pulled her up. "Not really no" Toph laughed to herself. Katara dusted off the leaves in her hair and clothes, and then they both began to walk back towards the camp.
"Do you think I'm pretty Katara?" she questioned while placing her hands in her pockets.
The blue eyed girl looked at Toph, who was now her height. She had grown up so much, not really matured, but that still didn't mean that she couldn't change. "Why would you ask that question Toph? You said you really didn't care about that stuff."
Toph quickly nodded it off, "Well I don't, but what if—Teo does?" she said sadly, "I'm sure he's been around much prettier girls than me, and sometimes I just doubt myself because of that reason."
Katara stopped her, and made the Earthbender look straight at her…in a manner of speaking. "Toph, you are the most naturally beautiful girl that I have ever seen before. You have absolutely no reason to doubt yourself and I know that you don't, but more than anything you are just scared. I know how you feel Toph; it's not easy knowing if a guy likes you or not…believe me."
Toph barely grinned, "Thank you Katara."
This surprised the dark skinned girl, "For what, telling you the truth?"
She shook her head "no, because you didn't say I'm the most beautiful blind girl that you have ever seen."
Katara smiled, "you know that you are more valuable to our family than that Toph! Without you we would have never gotten this far if you hadn't joined up with us. We were already a good team without you, but with you, we became…" Katara thought about it for a second and took words from Sokka, "The Fearsome Foursome."
Toph laughed, "Ha! You got that right Sugar Queen, without me Air Head over there would never be the Earthbender he is today! And we need a better calling name than that one by the way."
"There's the Toph I remember!" Katara said joyfully, happy to see her old friend again before they finally reached their destination where another fire was set up around the circle that the girls sat around. The boys were all hot and sweaty from their training with Aang, who looked exceedingly tired and tried not to show it to his friends; even Teo looked a little worn out, Katara guess that Aang must have given a thrill of flying. The boys began to chow down on the food that was lukewarm now, but they didn't care. Aang ate a little bit, but not enough compared to what he normally eats. Katara went over, and sat next to her Airbender who was burning hotter than the flames that were only a few feet from her.
He kissed her on top of her head, smelling the pink carnation flower in her hair still. "So, how was your day?"
She bit her lower lip to hide her smile, "More successful than I predicted." Katara hinted towards Toph and Teo. Teo was looking at her with a smile that only Toph would love, and Toph only seemed to be looking straight at the fire, but looks can be deceiving with her.
Aang chuckled to himself, "ah, I see what you mean. Teo seemed to have the same idea too."
Katara turned and looked up at him, "You mean—"
"Yup. That's why we all left; he apparently needed some 'guy' advice."
"And, what did you have to say?" she asked curiously.
"Umm…he just asked all of us about relationships. Sokka said to remain aloof and wear armor around Toph, Zuko said to just keep being himself, and she will eventually come to you."
"Well what did you say?"
"Ugh—I…no, it's too silly."
"Well, I want to know" she said, giving him her best puppy dog eyes.
Aang tried to hold back his smile, "now that's not fair."
Aang wrapped his right arm around her and then moved a strand of hair behind her right ear. "He just asked me if I ever got these weird feelings when I am around you…I then answered him with a yes. I told him about how after waking up in your arms a hundred years later, it felt like I was coming home again. And after spending months with you in traveling I began to notice that those feelings kept on getting stronger. I went from having a small crush on you, to liking you, then really liking you, and within a blink of an eye, I knew I had fallen in love with you. I told him that those feeling never go away when you find that one person you know you are destined to be with."
Aang was always full of surprises when he gave advice, and he seemed to say it with such a gentle love. "What kind of feelings though?"
He kissed her on the nose, "the feeling of knowing that life will never be the same without you in it. Feeling of when I look at you, I feel completely terrified but courageous at the same time. You allow me to see the World through your eyes, but you also see who I am. And when I kiss you…I don't even think the Spirit's themselves could ever make something so sweet that it intoxicates you."
The Waterbender was now blushing wildly, "You said that?"
Aang gave her that crooked smile again, "No. I just told him that sometimes you have to show her how you feel, and pray that it works."
Katara opened her mouth, but smiled as hit him in the chest. "Oh, yeah like you were any good at telling me how you felt."
Aang gave her an odd look, "actually I did, but you didn't hear me."
"What, when?" She asked, trying to recall a time when he did try to tell her how he felt, besides the time at the play in the Fire Nation.
"Aunt Wu's Village. She was doing a cloud reading, and I pointed out that a certain cloud looked like a flower."
Katara tried to remember, but shook her head. "Why don't I recall that?"
Aang sighed happily, "because you were paying attention to Aunt Wu's prediction in the clouds; how it would be a good crops this year, nice big harvest, a great year for twins, and that the village would not be destroyed by the volcano. The crowds cheered, and that's when I told you that I liked you, but more than normal. I waited to hear your reaction, but you weren't even listening to me as you held a big grin on your face and ran towards her to get another reading."
The dark skinned girl brought her eyebrows together, "do you remember everything?"
The Air Nomad laughed quietly again, "only the memories I have with you; I cherish everything with you, good or bad."
Katara smiled and bit the bottom of her lip, because she did the same thing too. She then put her left hand on his hot cheek, and kissed him passionately, but the protective brother had to interrupt everything like always.
"Come on you two, at least wait until my food has the time to digest!" Sokka roared out to them while holding Suki by the waist.
She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him, "later on then" she whispered to Aang, and saw the acts of hope in his eyes.
Toph decided to interrupt the love birds, "well someone should go feed the guy tied up to a tree over there. I can hear his stomach growling, and I gotta say that Sokka's couldn't even win against him."
"Hey!" he said to her, "my stomach can be just as loud as his when it hasn't eaten in hours!"
"Or minutes." Toph said, and this caused everyone to chuckle at him.
Katara voted herself, "I'll go first, and we will switch on the job. One person will hand him some food a day." She got up, and got the bowl of rice in her hand, but before she could walk Aang stopped her by grabbing onto her right hand.
"Let me come with you, I don't want him to get any ideas." He hinted to the memory of a certain kiss that had set him off, and ruined things with them almost.
Katara shook her head, "I'll be fine Aang. If he wanted to get out so badly, he would have done it by now. I can take care of myself; don't forget I am a Master Waterbender."
Aang thought about it for a second, but she could still see doubt in his eyes. Jet was very clever and he did not want her to go alone. He trusted her, but Jet would never be able to regain that honor of being his friend. The Airbender had once looked up to him seeing as how he fought against the Firebender's to protect the innocent, but the innocent people really didn't matter to him at all. His mind was so twisted up with anger, and pain that it had become his only friend and he would do whatever it took in order to take down just one Firebender. Aang hand released hers, and walked over to the tree where I was. The air had suddenly gotten colder as she went closer to him, just twenty yards away from the camps fire.
His dark brown eyes looked up at her, "ah, finally! You know I have a little itch on my back, maybe you could scratch it for me seeing as I am tied to a tree." He said jokingly through the piece of metal on his face.
Katara placed the plate in front of him, with enough room to where he could reach it but not able to touch her. "Eat up."
Jet looked around to see not chop sticks, "how do you expect me to eat this when my hands are tied, and I have no utilities to eat it with?"
The girl shrugged at him, "well if pigs can find a way to do it, then I'm sure that you can fit right into that category somehow."
"You really hate me don't you?" he asked with a serious face, as he picked up the food.
"I don't hate you, I pity you."
"Hmm, you pity me…well I guess I will take what I can get from you. It's a start at least."
She crossed her arms, "there was never a beginning with us Jet, and there won't ever be one. Eat up before it gets cold." Katara turned and walked away from him, but then stopped and walked back to him. "You better realize which side you are on Jet, because I promise you that if you do anything to hurt Aang, those Death Stalkers will be the least of your worries."
Jet seemed to be enjoying this a little too much, "Mmm, I might actually enjoy that threat." He winked at her, and before he was about take a bite of rice from the bowl he was lifting towards his face, Katara grabbed it out of his hands. "I was actually gonna eat that you know."
"Jet please stop doing this. I can never fall in love with you like I am with Aang, so please stop with these games."
The Assassin clenched his jaws, "what makes you think this is a game Katara? I know what I want, and I'm not going to lose you a third time."
The Waterbender sighed in anger, and walked squatted down at him as she handed back his food. "You can't force love Jet, because in the end it really isn't love at all. Look, I don't want to fight with you anymore, but I can never forgive you."
"Why? I died saving Aang, but death won't even let you give me another chance?"
"Jet you have no idea how deeply you hurt me. It got to the point where it blinded me from loving someone else, and it wasn't until I brought him back to life that I realized that those feelings I had been hiding to protect myself, had finally resurfaced. I can't forgive you, because of who you have become now. You're a killer Jet, and even back when you were a Freedom Fighter that was your nature back then too…I was too naïve to realize it."
The brown haired boy looked up at her, and then looked at his metal face with the moon glistening off of it. Before he could say another word to her, she got up and walked off determined this time not to go back. Jet looked back down at the bowl of rice and placed it down on the green grass. He thought about all of the kids he had kidnapped, parents he had to slain in order to get them, hearing Mothers and Fathers crying out to their lost children. Every night he would see their faces over, and over again as he slept or at least tried to. This was never the life he wanted, and he had Long Feng to thank for that matter. The old Jet had died, and became a Monster, Killer, and now he had nothing. Katara was in love with Aang, and he was still in love with her too. She would never have him, that was clear enough, but that didn't mean he was going to stop trying.
In his training he had learned that if he failed, he would be brutally beaten until they left him barely breathing and bleeding on the floor until he finally realized that failure was never an option with this clan. Jet knew what he had to do, but it wasn't going to be an easy task. He would complete the real mission he was sent here to do. It's the only way he would ever be able to truly leave the Death Stalkers, and at long last find the Rough Rhino's; the ones who killed his parents, as he watched them from a distance scream with fire consuming them. If he didn't get Katara, then he would steal her and make her his. All he had to do was one other matter, and then Long Feng would give him the location of the Rough Rhino's, and Katara would forever be his. Sometimes the smallest amount of doubt in a relationship can be mightier than the bending of any element. Jet then took off his mask, and ate the rice as quickly as he could while watching his target.
"Soon," he thought to himself, "soon I will have what I have always wanted, and more."
Katara had just joined back up with the Gang, who were laughing and just enjoying themselves as always. Aang asked if there were any problems, in which Katara shook her head in response. She knew that Aang didn't like Jet, and neither did she, but she had to do something to keep the peace between the two. With Ozai's evil Spirit in him, she didn't know what he was capable of. He told her that if the good in his heart ever faded, he would take over his body. Aang had also mentioned that sometimes he would attack him when he was weak or hurt, but she had never seen that happen.
Suddenly Toph stopped in the mid-sentence of her ghost story, with the posture of her back went straight up and her hands quickly to the ground. By now everyone knew that Toph could hear someone coming towards them.
Teo put a hand on her left shoulder, "Toph, what is it?"
"I—I hear…a flute, banjo, bongo, and lots of footsteps."
"Your powers of perception are frightening." Sokka said, not really sure if her special gift worked anymore.
"How far out?" Zuko asked.
"About twenty yards" Toph said confidently in her range.
They all became quiet, and listened with the sound of the fire cracking at their feet. At first there was nothing, but then they heard singing. Rum-buh-dum, da-da-dum, de-dum, don't fall in love with the traveling girl, she'll leave you broken broken hearted!"
The music stopped, as five adults came into their sight. One of them pointed out to them, "hey hey, fire people!" he said in a voice that Sokka would never be able to forget.
"You have got to be kidding me." Sokka said in a disgusted tone as he looked out towards the ban of Carefree traveling nomads.
Okay, so the only reason I let Katara see the dream that Aang was having was because of their strong bond with one another, and I figured that she should have the same dream, but with a warning that could PERHAPS change his future. And I'm guessing you guys can tell that Jet is still with the Death Stalkers, and he obviously has another plan in store for the gAang. I know some people don't like this side of Jet, but you have to understand that he was literally brain washed persay, and he has lost who he is. Will Katara be able to help him, or will he follow through with his true mission?
So I figured it was time to bring some old friends back from their past again, and give you guys a better, upbeat chapter which I've already started brain storming on. I'm going to try and bring back some fun and laughter in the next one as best as I can :) Hope I surprised you guys with the Hippies coming back, and I will put another chapter up ASAP. Especially now that I don't have school till January 20th! Whelp, you guys know what to do! Comment/review or email me if you want to; whether you liked it or not. I do read all of the reviews, and I look forward to reading what you guys have to say. Sorry again for the long wait, but I kind of HOPE it was worth it sorda.