A/N: Wow you guys really liked my last chapter! Thank you!! This chapter is dedicated to Chasingmydreams09 for being the 3rd person to fave ME, as an author, and I consider that a huge honor. My first official "Taang Moment" in this chapter!! *squeals* xD I've really come to love Taang…anyway refer back to Chapter 10 if you have some confusion about what "the prophesy" is. Sorry that this is gonna be a little depressing…ok, it's gonna be a whole lot of depressing but stick with me a little more alright? I'm going through violent mood swings so blame it all on Sky. xD
Song: "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson.
Why?: We're back to the Kelly Clarkson songs. =) She's just so awesome…this song brings out great emotion in Katara's part so hope you enjoy.
Chapter 20 ~ The Right Thing
After Sokka and Toph told Zuko everything about the physic's "prophesy" and their secret back-up plan, Zuko consulted with his Uncle and they all decided it was best that they all return to the Fire Nation capitol and gather stronger search parties/weapons while finding a different way to track this Assassin; now that they knew who they were dealing with at the price of the innocent girl lying in the cold room. Zunki agreed she would keep an undercover hideout and try to find out more on Sky's whereabouts while Ty Lee stayed behind and would inform Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors about the change in plans.
When Zuko turned and told Sapphire that she should stay behind, Sapphire simply shook her head and stared at the Fire Lord with hard stone, amber eyes.
"I go where you go." Was her only response when he stared back.
Zuko wanted to argue but kept his opinions tight lock. No one else knew yet who Sapphire was, let alone her reasons for hanging around Zuko like she had officially become his life-sized shadow.
And so the new plan had been formed well, although Zuko felt a huge amount of uneasiness at having to work with the Avatar again, not to mention the fact that letting Katara's trail go cold felt like a deep burning betrayal that he couldn't shake off. But after he saw that dead girl's body lying strangled on the floor of that ice cold room he knew right then and there Katara's kidnapper meant what he said. And he wasn't going to take the slightest risk of this happening…again.
Morning turned into late afternoon and Aang still hadn't returned. Toph could feel his vibration still close to the ground so she knew he hadn't left…but they didn't have more time to wait. She sighed and stood up with a bold expression.
"I guess I have to talk some sense into him. If you hear boulders crashing then we're still alive."
She spoke out for everyone to hear, then started walking toward the rocks and trees. It wasn't long before she found him – he wasn't that hard to find. Toph could feel the raging anger radiating 100 yards away. She took her stance and waited till Aang turned around and saw her.
"Leave me alone Toph."
Aang's voice sounded chocked and much older. The Earth-bender sunk her toes into the dirt and could feel all the rising ledges, boulders, and overall destruction he had made in his sudden moment of fury; Toph was slightly impressed but she didn't let on as she stiffly replied,
"Don't think for one second I'm gonna let you weep and moan cause we're all upset here. We each had to have different back-up plans and all we suggested was a new approach."
Aang's hands went up to his bald skull in a frustrated attempt to grab on to something.
"You don't understand Toph…"
He started but Toph sharply cut him off. "Think again Twinkle Toes. We all love Katara and want to bring her back as soon as possible, so don't you dare hint otherwise."
Aang lowered his hands and replied softly, despite Toph's threat, "It's not the same."
The blind Earth-bender's eyebrows narrowed as she crossed her arms and replied with real emotion in her voice, "No, it's not the same. Cause the rest of us can actually see past our own damn selfish feelings in order to actually help save Katara. You think you're the only one who cares? The only one who's suffering? Look around you Aang! Everyone is in pain. The world still needs you."
Aang cocked his head to the side in utter astonishment. "Huh?" Was all that he could say.
Toph smacked her forehead in obvious frustration. "I swear Aang, you can be so fucking blind…people have lost everything in this war. People have been trying to restore their lost homes, broken families, themselves. But some things just can't be healed. It's going to take a long time before things start getting better, and this is just the beginning. I know you love Katara, but she's not the center of the universe."
She paused, allowing her voice to soften slightly, "I also know you haven't been able to let go…but if it saves her, you have to."
Aang hung his head down while closing his eyes painfully, knowing every word Toph had said was true…but it wasn't what she said that hurt him, but how she said it. It was a rare moment indeed when Toph Bei Fong let her guard down and didn't use any of their nicknames as a shield for her emotions. She put everything out there and Aang couldn't deny them, but he wasn't willing to let go of the only thing that was keeping him sane. He couldn't.
"You expect me to let Zuko save my girlfriend?" The Avatar asked the question in a low tone as if the thought alone was unthinkable.
Toph frowned and swiftly walked next to Aang, when she was close she did something completely out of character…she held his hand.
"No," She started, gazing up at where his surprised gray eyes should be, "I expect you to do the right thing…for Katara. And then eventually…for all of us."
Aang had no idea what she meant in those last few words but he gave her hand a slight squeeze and whispered, "I'll try."
Toph nodded and dropped her hand quickly as she turned away with a slight flush to her cheeks. She finally answered in a rough voice, quickly grabbing back her shield.
"That's all we can do Twinkle Toes."
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The day dragged on till Katara never knew when it was going to end. She wasn't in physical pain anymore but what she felt emotionally seemed almost much worse. There it was. The sea, the water, staring right at her, yet she could do nothing. She couldn't touch it. She briefly wondered if she could actually try to approach Sky and flirt with him enough for him to let her go outside…Katara quickly dismissed that thought. She wouldn't sink that low…she doubted she could anyway.
That's when her thoughts turned into a darker direction…it was as plain and obvious as day that her former childhood friend had had feelings for Katara and the only thing time had done was to make those feelings even stronger. Katara didn't know what to feel in response to that. What could she say? That she loved him? She used to – but never in that same way. The Sky she had known was a stranger compared to this man who stood beside her now. He had given her the reason to why he was doing this but he hadn't told her anything as to what he wanted from all of this - from her. Although he hadn't told her, Katara couldn't help knowing regardless. This was where she felt utmost torment.
She did not love him…he wanted her to love him. How could he take what she could not give? And worse yet, what would he do if he did not get what he wanted?
The Water-bender swallowed hard and also couldn't help but guess what it was he was going to do…he was going to suffer. And make others suffer along with him. Katara couldn't let that happen…she had already put enough danger into her loved ones lives. Just when their lives were beginning to turn into the road of peace…this happens. She knew this was her fault, her problem. So she had to fix it. The only question left was…how?
"You're certainly deep in thought, aren't you?"
That familiar voice came from behind her and she turned from her blank stare out the window toward his light blue eyes. She nodded solemnly, "There's a lot to think about."
Sky's eyes sparkled for a moment, as if something she had just said was so very wise. He turned his stare toward the waving ocean outside, "Hm, yes there most certainly is. Care to take a walk along the beach with me?"
Katara's heart leaped at the offer of being that close to her beloved element…but she also felt wary. What if this was another part of his twisted trap? Though she couldn't completely see how…he was looking back into her eyes, a small smile playing on his thin lips, as if guessing the complexity she was making out of his simple question. Katara finally made up her mind.
"Yes, I'd like that."
She stood up and he politely offered his arm. Katara looked at it and felt that burning lump rising in her throat again. She awkwardly took it, holding him off at a short distance so they wouldn't be that close. They made it outside and Katara could immediately feel the refreshing breeze and smell the salt of the ocean in the air. Her head cleared up amazingly though she still couldn't shake off the slightly alarming feeling of having her enemy so close. She pretended to feel at ease though, and Sky either played along or thought her a great actress, Katara didn't know and honestly didn't care. Her resolution of last night quickly came back into her mind and she started to feel her temper boiling again. How dare he offer his hand like they were old friends? How dare he think she could even look him the same way again, especially after what he put her through? How dare he take away the only thing she had for herself – her mother's necklace. How dare he? And Katara had let him. Well, not anymore.
They were along the water's edge now, the waves breaking off some distant rocks so by the time they reached the shoreline they were mere ripples, but it was enough. Enough for a master water-bender. Katara looked down, trying to look meager though inside she was already a boiling furnace ready to explode…at just…the slightest…call.
She broke off Sky's grip in a second and already had her arms turned in the position to send the waves flaring but nothing happened. The small ripples caressed her feet below but other than that it was as if they had not acknowledged her presence. Katara gasped and before her mind could understand her body was trying to command the waves again…again nothing. Her limbs were still moving so it wasn't as if she was being blood-bended…it was something far worse. Her precious water-bending…had been taken away from her.
All this happened in a single minute and by the time Katara's eyes had filled up with shocked, angry tears she felt two firm steel hands clamp around her arms and she was face to face with those dreadful blue eyes.
"What did you do?"
Katara's whisper was barely a raspy voice filled with unspeakable rage and emotion, her own sapphire eyes squinted into his but Sky did not flinch. He frowned deeply as he replied back coldly,
"You did this to yourself."
"Why Kenji!?!" Katara's voice screamed hysterically this time and she could hear it echo somewhere far among the woods of palm trees, while at the same she felt her will slipping as a horrible sense of panic crept up her spine. If he had taken away her bending what did she have left?
"I had to Katara!" Sky's cold façade slightly cracked under Katara's piercing gaze. Now the roles seemed slightly reversed…only slightly. Sky still had the upper hand, the commanding grip, yet at the same time he seemed to be the one suffering most.
"Damn you!"
Katara's tears poured down her face, feeling horribly weak but at the same she didn't care. She had nothing left, no way to defend herself…she only had experience in hand-to-hand combat and what use was that to a Blood-bender? The only thing she had to control were her tears and words now and she let them flow, letting the pain of losing her bending wash over her. Her bending had become part of her…so much so that without it…she was lost. A vulnerable bug ready to be squashed, an open wound ready to be stabbed.
"Damn you!!" She yelled again and this time fell to her knees and Sky fell right along with her, finally letting go of her hands.
The words of last night had no meaning anymore, they might as well have been dust in the wind. Like the sand under her feet, or the water running through her now numb hands. They were pointless. Absolutely pointless.
"What do you want Kenji?" She cried wrathfully, punching him weakly on the chest, forcing him to look at her glazed over eyes, "What do you want from me."
Sky slowly shook his head, as if unable to answer his own undoing. His Adam apple bobbed uncomfortably as he tried to hold back his own drastic emotions and the stinging burn he felt in his ice blue eyes. Sky had only seen Katara like this once; when her mother died. All her anger, pain, and sadness flowing mercilessly from her eyes and making every word she spoke a jab…a jab to the heart of anybody who had caused such damage to her. But the difference this time was that her jabbing words were pointed to his heart and now were doing their job at cutting at it…piece by piece.
But the young Blood-bender was not one to be easily broken down, and his own anger flooded back into his soul as he yelled back, punching the water in frustration.
"I want you! You! Is that so much to ask for Katara?! Is it? Is it so wrong?!"
Katara could not answer. She buried her face in her hands as she automatically rocked back and forth in the water. Sky did not know if he could take much more of seeing her like this…he forced himself to be calm enough to lay a hand as gently as he could on her rocking back. She did not move, just kept up her heart breaking sobbing. He sighed and whispered softly as he gazed down at the horizon,
"I wouldn't ask for much…I wouldn't ever hurt you again. I can control my temper, really. I can change…I just need you to be there Katara. I have to have you here."
His voice had turned unconsciously dark at the last sentence and Katara shivered under his one hand knowing he would never let her go…she would never be free.
Hope. Freedom. Those words had such a different meaning now. They weren't meant for Katara…they weren't meant for certain people and she just had to live with that.
Her tears had finally stopped and Sky slightly brightened up, thinking his words at meant something good, but he was wrong. They meant something to Katara alright, but nothing good, just the opposite. They meant a life full of pain, sadness, and fear. They meant the end. They meant so many horrible things…the worst one of all was that she had to let go. Let go of everything she had known before so no one else would get hurt…including herself.
Katara stood up with what was left of her shaky strength and promised herself she would never cry in front of him again, it did no good. Sky stood up with her and helped her along the path back to the little beach house, Katara didn't resist. She was too tired. She only hoped, as Sky closed the door to the outside world and she pushed all thoughts of Aang, Sokka, all her friends and Zuko out of her mind, that she was doing the right thing. The right thing to survive. But somewhere deep inside her, she knew…she would never be able to let go either.