A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, hope you can forgive me. I'm really looking forward to what you guys might think about this chapter, which is why I'm rushing through this A/N. Don't hesitant to post your thoughts!
Chapter 24 – In the Darkness of the Night.
To assume that a journey with a haughty noble woman, a suspicious waterbender and sarcastic lieutenant who clearly did not like his disposition would go smoothly was to be optimistic to the point of foolishness. Yet time had been pressing on them, forcing Zuko to make decisions that would have had awkward repercussions for all of them. The original plan had been for Zuko and Katara start on their journey towards Niu Chengshi, from where they would take a boat to the Yu Yan Islands, Lee and Mai would follow them towards the small city but Iroh had stated that every hour delayed was an hour gained for the T'ien Ti and so for the sake of time, Zuko was forced to put together a group with the most awkward relationship and head towards the city. It was only a day's journey from Shu Jing to Niu Chengshi but with prevalent tensions, it seemed to have been much longer. Zuko was particularly haggard by Mai's aloof attitude and Katara's persistent mistrust. Mai remained as silent and gloomy as ever, gentle questioning by Zuko only made her turn away, with the kind of regal dignity that Zuko had come to respect, but nonetheless hated.
I'm here because your uncle can trust me she had said. And I'm no longer any under obligation to answer your questions, prince or not.
Had it not been for months of meditation, Zuko would have burnt her for her arrogance. This gloomy, aloof attitude was nothing new to Zuko, what was new was the epiphany that he could not love or hold any romantic feeling for someone who insisted on keeping up walls that prevented her from getting close to anyone. Zuko knew that Mai had a heart that could love with a fierce passion but he rarely saw that side of her unless she was pushed to express any semblance of feeling. The prince was more than aware of her stiff up bringing but he had thought that after months (nearly two years) of interaction, Mai would have had somehow learned a thing or two, but her stubborn attitude proved otherwise.
Zuko frown in contemplation as he began to pack up supplies. Perhaps that was one of the many reasons why he liked Katara, he realized. The waterbender knew when to control her emotions but she was not afraid to express them when the time came. Katara always told him what was on her mind, whether she was angry or happy, she never hesitated to let Zuko know. It was something that terrified and amazed Zuko, that a woman could be as sweet and sensitive as the tiger lilies that floated in the pond but could be as fierce as the storm that had stirred oceans and wrecked ships. The prince sighed in exasperation as something else occurred to him. Katara was still mistrustful of Mai, Zuko could not honestly blame her for her suspicion, but for the sake of peace, choose not to say anything to her or acknowledge her suspicion. The prince knew that a confrontation between Mai and Katara would culminate in a fight that would render him powerless and he did not want that. As if trying to keep Katara and Mai from killing one another wasn't enough for him, there was also the issue of Xiu Lee.
The Lieutenant's exuberant attitude was something that had once exasperated Zuko, but with time he had come to accept it and had come to appreciate crude, sarcastic humor. But ever since they had left for Niu Chengshi, Lee had been moody, quiet and contemplative, not the sort of person he would be, even when on a mission. Zuko was worried about Lee, for he had come to see him as a close friend rather than a loyal subordinate. Zuko did not know much about Lee's personal history, other than the fact that he had served briefly in the army and that he was Jeong Jeong's nephew through adoption, but it did not stop Zuko from trusting the man with his life.
"So...shuriken knives huh? Who trained you?"
"No one"
The conversation was enough to break Zuko's reverie and look up from his position next to the campfire. Lee was sitting on the ground, his legs folded and was looking up at Mai who was sitting with delicate poise on a wooden bench, that Zuko and Lee had crafted for her.
"You had to have learned from somewhere?"
"I taught myself"
"No way..."
Mai yawned. "I'm tired"
"You're tired? I'm the one whose stuck with you"
Mai glared at her companion.
"For you information, Lieutenant" she snapped. "The only reason I have not stuck these knives in your back while you're sleeping is because the Fire Lord needs you to perform a mission, but mark my words Lieutenant, my patience wears thin"
Lee opened his mouth, no doubt to unleash a hostile retort and Zuko felt that it was time to intervene.
"Enough!" he called out, getting up and walking over to the two of them, both young people acknowledged him with a brief look as he approached, Lee's eyes betrayed his apprehension while Mai's remained as stoic as ever.
"You two are on an important mission for the Fire Lord, can you at least try to get along?"
Zuko shot Lee a piercing glare that expressed his disappointment, the firebender shrank away but Mai glared back with a stubborn gleam in her eyes.
"I still don't see why we have to travel like commoners" she said.
"We're traveling like this so that we don't attract suspicion" said Zuko, wondering if this was the thousandth time he had said these words.
"Yeah" said Lee, and his interference made Zuko cringe. "We would have a bit of trouble doing a stealth mission if we paraded in a white palanquin, with announcer yelling 'Make way for Mai of the House of Yangchin"
Mai regarded Lee with a look that would have rivaled a mask.
"Your wit is dryer than a mirage in a desert, Lieutenant" she commented. "The Fire Nation army must be lacking men with brains for the likes of you to attain such a high position"
Mai did not wait for a response but turned and walked away, Lee could only stare at her with a gaping wide open mouth. Zuko glared at his Lieutenant and friend with a look of annoyance and exasperation.
"Why do you keep insisting on annoying her?" he asked.
Lee raised an eyebrow.
"Who says I was annoying her?" he said. "I'm trying to find a reason to trust the partner who your uncle so liberally forced upon me"
Zuko sighed in exasperation, he knew that his uncle's name was bound to come into a conversation sooner or later.
Uncle, what in Agni's name were you thinking when you put them together?
There's no one in whom Zuko invested more unconditional trust then in Iroh, but now the young prince had to wonder whether the old dragon was beginning to lose it.
"Do you have any idea how you're going to persuade the Yu Yan?" asked Lee.
Zuko shook his head, to clear his mind of his own thoughts.
"Not exactly" he said. "But I'm not too worried, I have Katara with me"
Lee could only stare at his prince in amazement.
"You have so much faith in that girl, don't you?"
Zuko couldn't help the smile growing on his face. The very mention of Katara seemed to have sparked the rise of the sun within him. A warm sensation flooded his insides and for the first time since he left the castle. He felt like he was at peace.
"The look on your face tells the story" said Lee.
Zuko decided that it was time to move away from the subject before it got too awkward.
"Don't worry about me" he dismissed. "What I am concerned is about is you"
"Me?"
Zuko opened his mouth to say something, but he suddenly found his mind blank. All the words that he had planned to say vanished from his mind as he became aware of the fact that Lee was about to fight the T'ien Ti all by himself with a woman he barely knew or trusted. Zuko felt nervous, as he clenched his fist, if he was to get injured, he knew that Katara would be there to save him, who would be there to save Lee when he got injured? Zuko glanced at his friend and realized for the first time how much he would miss his company, when they had first met two years ago, Lee seemed to be a cruder, ruder version of Sokka, one he could never feel comfortable with. But they had grown accustomed to one another's company over the years and now, Zuko was not certain if Lee was going to come back, and the thought scared him. Somehow words such 'Be careful' or 'Watch out' no longer seemed appropriate, but there was no way he was going to say 'I'm going to miss you' or anything ridiculously sentimental.
"There's one thing I want to say before we part ways, Lee" said Zuko.
"What is it, my prince?" said Lee.
The prince paused for words, trying to search for the sentence that would somehow express his thoughts.
"Come back alive" he said. "I would hate to lose my best Lieutenant"
The prince immediately winced at the words, best lieutenant? He could already hear Katara's voice in his head, scolding him for not expressing enough emotion. Lee paused for a second before replying, and Zuko knew without have to look at him that he was smirking.
"Understood, sir"
Zuko nodded in relief. "Good, I'll expect you to behave around the Lady Mai"
"She ain't my type, prince" said Lee. "So don't worry"
"When will you be leaving?"
"Dawn, tomorrow" said Lee. "We will have a better chance of entering the city undetected during the morning rush"
Zuko turned to face his friend and Lee did likewise, , the prince realized that they were of the same height, even though Lee was two years, his senior.
"Take care, Lee, do a good job"
"Where you expecting anything less?" asked Lee, with a small wink.
Zuko smiled back at him.
"Of course not"
Lee bowed to his prince, giving him the Fire Nation salute, Zuko smiled and reciprocated.
Come back, Lee thought Zuko. I would hate to lose you, and not just because you're my best lieutenant.
Lee nodded and then did something unexpected. The lieutenant took a step forward and did something that was completely unexpected. Lee gave Zuko tight hug, embracing him around his shoulders. Zuko stood where he was, surprised by Lee's actions
"Keep safe, prince" he said. "Keep safe"
Before Zuko could move or reciprocate in anyway Lee had broken the hug and was already walking away. The prince could only stare in surprise and shock, Lee was never one to hug people, unless they were women.
Keep safe, prince.
"You too"
"Hey"
Zuko jumped as he turned around. The Blue Spirit was seldom caught off guard but Katara had a knack for making his heart jump out of his chest, even when he knew she was coming.
"Hi" he said, resisting the impulse to massage his chest.
"I just saw Lee chasing after Mai" said Katara, walking up to him. "Does he really think that's a good idea?"
The prince sighed.
"Apparently, he has no choice"
"Speaking of your friend" said Katara. "He seemed to be out of it"
Zuko frowned in contemplation.
"I noticed" he said. "But it's just the mission, and his partner but I'm sure Mai and Lee will work together when the time comes"
"Oh" said Katara, "Was that what you and Lee were talking about, just now?"
"Yeah"
"And?"
Zuko glanced at Katara, the waterbender was staring at him her blue eyes wide and round in question. Zuko smiled at her before turning to look at the green hills ahead of her, he would bait her for a bit.
"And what?"
"And… you know, did you guys exchange goodbyes or anything like that?"
"Sort of" said Zuko.
"Lee, gave his report and departed"
Zuko did not need to hear Katara's gasp to know that she was shocked.
"That's it?"
"Yep"
Before Katara could open her mouth again, Zuko cut her off again.
"Katara, I don't know what else to say, Lee's my friend but he's also my officer, there are lines you don't cross"
"Tell that to the guy who just gave you a manly hug"
Zuko felt his face flush with embarrassment,
"You- you saw that?" The look on Katara's face was more than enough to make him blush even more.
"Of course I did. Don't worry, Zuko I think it's sweet that you can hug your friends like that" said Katara, with a little twinkle in her eye.
"I didn't hug him!" snapped Zuko, feeling a bit defensive. "He came onto me!"
His words instead of mortifying Katara, made her laugh even harder.
"Just admit it Zuko!" she gasped. "You like him more than you want to admit"
Zuko froze mid-sentence.
She's got you there, princey boy.
"I…. Trust him" admitted Zuko. "He's been loyal to me ever since he started working for me"
"When?"
"Almost immediately after the war" explained Zuko. "Uncle found him when he was a palace guard and promoted him to head of the guard and eventually Lieutenant of my Dragon Regiment"
Katara nodded and Zuko knew that she had accepted the little information that she got and was not expecting anything else from him, but he wanted to continue.
"We didn't get along at first" admitted Zuko, Katara rounded on him, surprised that he was talking more than that was expected of him. "I admit, didn't like him, he was sarcastic, rude and well…. I just didn't trust him"
"He sounds like Sokka" noted Katara and the prince chuckled in agreement.
"Our country was in tatters after the war, and I set out with a plan to rebuild it. Lee was there, he had to be because he was my Lieutenant, over the months we were together, we just… bonded"
Katara raised her eyebrow in coy manner.
"Sounds like he made you his friend rather easily" she said.
Zuko smirked. "Under hard circumstances"
The two of them chuckled to one another before drifting off into uncomfortable silence. Zuko knew that the moment had come, the moment that they had been putting off for a while.
"Zuko, about our mission" said Katara. "Do you think everything will go alright?"
Zuko merely shook his head.
"I'm not worried in the slightest" he said. "I know the stakes are high, but I think you and I can persuade the Yu Yan to hold off their want of independence, until we've dealt with the T'ien Ti"
Katara sighed and stared off into the distance.
"I hope your right" she whispered. "Because my instincts tell me that something bad is going to happen"
Zuko rolled his eyes. "You're starting to sound like your brother"
Aang couldn't have picked a better day to travel, despite his apprehensions and misgivings regarding the Avatar State, the airbender couldn't help but notice the beautiful nature of his surroundings. The air was crisp and fresh, his surroundings made up of tranquil greenery that could be seen for miles. There was an air of serenity and calm that seemed to have dampened the anxiety that he felt. It was this feeling of tranquillity that reminded Aang of his old life in the Southern Air Temple, and all his apprehensions about the Avatar State gradually faded with each step he took. Unfortunately, his companion did not share his appreciation for sight seeing due to her disability.
"Why are these roads empty?" asked Toph. "I can't sense anyone on them"
Aang frowned as he rapt his brain for an answer, "General Iroh said that nobody would be too eager to travel up North given what had happened a week ago" he said, remembering the old man's words.
"That means, my dear Avatar said Iroh. You will be all alone with a certain Miss Bei Fong"
His words were followed by a suggestive wink, making Aang wonder what the heck he was talking about. As Aang walked on, he noticed a series of interloping hills, no further than a couple of kilometres from where he stood. The airbender immediately consulted a map that Iroh had given him. The map was highly detailed, highlighting every valley, river and mountain dotted throughout the diverse landscape.
"According to the map. There should be a town over those hills" he said pointing at the nearby hills. "Toph can you sense a town beyond those hills?"
"Let me check"
Both of them stopped walking, as the earthbender stomped her feet deep into the ground. While Toph frowned in concentration Aang was hit with the sudden impulse to give her an eye over. Almost, but not entirely against his will, Aang let his eyes roll over Toph's pale face that denoted soft, gentle features. Aang had never looked at Toph properly, perhaps his mind was full of Katara or because Toph had just been too rough around the edges to be noticed in such a manner, but for the first time in his life, Aang found Toph to be attractive.
"I'm picking up a couple of hundred houses amongst those hills" said Toph, pointing ahead of them. "It's probably a town or something" Aang shook his head, trying to keep his mind focused on the task at hand.
"What about the coast?" he said. "Anything that can tell us that we're near the ocean?"
Aang found himself watching Toph, her pale, almost delicate features refined into a delicate frown.
She's almost... cute, wait! Did I just think that? About Toph? What's wrong with me?
"Your heartbeat's picking up" said Toph, at once. "What's up, Twinkles?"
"Uhh, nothing, nothing at all"
Aang knew that his thinly veiled lie would not work and it didn't. Toph frowned at him.
"Quit, lying" she snapped, anger written all over her face. "Honestly, Twinkle Toes, do you have to be pushed between a rock and a hard place before you tell me the truth?"
"Um..."
"This is different, Toph" he said honestly.
If I tell you the truth you'll kill me!
"I was thinking about..."
"Sweetness, huh?"
Yeah, wait, what!
"I..."
"Yep, I can tell" said Toph. "Your heart's going way fast, the way it usually does when you're around her"
Toph's statement rather than soothing him, left him even more confused.
Why would she think that I'm thinking about Katara? But I was thinking about her!
"Hey, Twinkles!" called Toph. "What's with the hold up! Let's go!"
"Oh?"
He had been so preoccupied with his thoughts that he had not noticed Toph had started walking again and was already a few meters ahead of him.
Why did she just walk away like that?
Aang's taller build enabled him to cover the distance between him in quick time and Toph immediately opened the conversation between them.
"So what was it like breaking up with Sweetness, was it difficult?"
Aang paused to assess his thoughts, knowing that Toph could easily detect a lie.
"It was kind of hard at first" said Aang, honestly. "It was always going to be, I mean, I've loved Katara from the moment I came out of the iceberg, she's the first girl I've had feelings for... but then... the more I thought about it, the more it felt... liberating"
"Liberating?" said Toph.
"Yeah" said Aang, he himself did not realize this until this moment. "Yeah, I mean, Katara and I were in a really bad place in our relationship and I guess it was just too hard to fix and the more I thought about it the more I realized that it just wasn't going to work"
When Aang finished his story, Toph had a soft smile on her face.
"Wow, TT" she said. "For once, you didn't back away when things were rough. Real proud of you"
Before Aang could say anything, he felt Toph's fist collide with his arm. The Avatar didn't say anything, he didn't gasp in pain, he merely flinched.
"One of these days, Toph, you're going to end up breaking my arm" said Aang.
"Well look on the bright side" said Toph, with a snide smile. "At least you'll know how much I love you,"
For some reason, the words tugged at his heartstrings and he couldn't help but smile at those choice words. If Toph noticed the change in Aang's heartbeat, she chose ignore it.
Zuo Zuo was a small but pleasant town situated along the steep coastline of the Fire Nation's main island. Many of the town's scarlet, low-thatched roofs overlooked the brilliant blue ocean, narrow but tall buildings dotted the coast, some of them situated along impossibly steep terrain and the green pastures above it. Long steep roads wound their way up the coast forcing their way through the buildings, like snakes circling around it's prey. It's unique location, along with it's pleasant residents made it the ideal vacation spot for the lower gentry and government administrators who could not afford the lavish expenses of Ember Island.
"Wow" muttered Toph, digging her toes into the ground. "I never thought people would practically live on the edge of an island"
Aang stared down at the city with a sorrowful look on his face.
"What's up?"
The airbender shook his head.
"Nothing" he admitted. "It's just that this town reminds me of the Air Temples"
The last thing that Aang wanted to do was to reminisce about his people. Even now, more than a hundred years after their disappearance, Aang still left the pain of being the lone survivor.
"Come on" said Aang, starting to walk down the path towards the town. "We need to meet up with Iroh's White Lotus guy"
Iroh had arranged for somebody from the Order of the White Lotus to take Aang and Toph across the ocean towards the island where the Dragon Pagodas was located. The Fire Lord had advised Aang and Toph not to reveal their abilities unless circumstances left them no choice.
"I still don't get why we have to cross the ocean by boat, when we can just bend our way there" muttered a disgruntled Toph, as they approached the entrance to the town.
"Iroh doesn't want the T'ien Ti to know that the Avatar is here" said Aang. "He has the impression that not only will they not listen to me but they might go all out to kill me"
"That sucks"
"No need to tell me"
Entering the town was not a problem, the two young people walked under the overhead arch that supported a massive sign denoting the name of the settlement. The relatively narrow streets were crammed with people, many of them returning home after a long day's worth of hard work. Acting on instinct, Aang grabbed Toph's hand and pulled her close.
"Stay close to me" he whispered.
If Toph was surprised, she did not show it, she merely followed the older boy, playing the part of the helpless, young blind girl being lead forward by a very protective friend. Aang made his way through the crowd, trying to recall Iroh's instructions.
Seek out a pub he had told him Look for the man playing pai sho.
Aang had been so caught up in his thoughts that he accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry" he amended, rubbing his shoulder.
"That's okay" called the person. "Just be more careful"
"Will do"
"Where are we going?" said Toph, an uneasy look on her face. "All this claustrophobia is making me queasy"
Aang looked around the buildings.
"We... more like I'm supposed to find this place called the Dancing Phoenix" he said.
Aang gazed around at the buildings in dismay, he had no idea where this place was supposed to be. Aang had assumed that Zuo Zuo was like a village and it had not occurred to him to ask Iroh for a map of the town.
"Perhaps I should just ask someone-"
"Oh yeah, sure that would be a delightful conversation" snapped Toph. "Excuse me, can you please guide us to a bar where me and my under age friend have to meet a pai sho-playing man from a secret order?"
Aang sighed in annoyance. Aang glanced at the setting sun and knew that dusk was only a couple of hours away.
"I suppose you have a point" he stated, choosing to ignore her sarcasm. "But how are we supposed to find this place, anyway?"
To his surprise, Toph winked at him with a roguish smile on her face.
"That Twinkles" she said. "Is why you've got me"
Niu Chengshi was one of several settlements of it's size, to large to be called a town and too small to be called a city. In the backdrop of the setting sun, the small city made an impressive sight with it's red thatched roofs. From her view on the hill, Katara could see several tall buildings with the Fire Nation flag fluttering in the breeze. Katara knew that these places were famous for it's schools that produced a bulk of the Fire Nation's administrators and commanders.
Like much of the country, Niu Chengshi had fallen on hard times after the end of the War, it's once highly valued education system had declined in importance as the Fire Nation no longer needed so many commanders and administrators.
"You know" said Zuko, breaking the silence. "This was where Zhao received his education"
Katara frowned in confusion before turning to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Is there a reason we're talking about a man who has been dead for nearly three years?"
Zuko smiled at her.
"Not really" he admitted. "But he became really popular here when he led the attack on the Northern Water Tribe"
Katara glanced at the town and at Zuko, her mind beginning to comprehend what Zuko was trying to say.
"If Toph had been here she would have told you to spit out what it is that you're trying to say" she said. "But I think understand"
The prince rewarded her with yet another smile.
"You were always able to understand me"
A tense silence followed these words as Katara stiffened. The sentiments had come out of nowhere and the sheer honesty behind the words had the waterbender on edge, tension over Mai's gloomy presence had driven out any awkwardness between Zuko and Katara but now that the noblewoman had departed along with Lee, the tension had returned in all it's intensity to the point where a simple sentence could bring old feelings rushing back in full swing.
Katara was not ready to address their complex relationship, she had ended her relationship with Aang on good terms and that was more than she could hope for. But the waterbender was painfully aware of the fact that things between her and Zuko was far more complicated, hidden feelings that could ignite with a single trod, murky waters that they could easily drown in, huge stone walls that needed to be broken down. Katara new that they had to talk but this was not the time or place. "Lee and Mai should be in there" said Katara, determined not to stray into uncomfortable waters.
"If they haven't already killed each other" said Zuko.
Katara cast him a disdainful look.
"It was a joke, Katara"
"Well, you have to work on your sense of humour my prince" said the waterbender. "It's disturbingly dry"
Zuko smiled at her, for a prince about to embark on a serious diplomatic journey, he seemed to be smiling a lot.
"I'll do my best"
Katara smiled at him before turning to look at Niu Chengshi which seemed to have expanded to a mighty fortress. The two of them just stood there, staring at the large town lost in their own thoughts, both of them that they were going on an extremely important diplomatic mission that was made even more complicated by their unspoken feelings. Katara knew that they were going down a path that would take them to a completely different place.
"Are you ready?"
The question had come from Zuko and from the look on his face, Katara could tell that he was steeling himself. The waterbender nodded, determined to match him step for step.
"Let's go"
Katara had barely taken a step forward when Zuko called out to her again.
"Katara, wait"
The waterbender turned around and was shocked to find the prince's face inches from hers. For a moment, Kaara was strongly reminded of their days together, before she forcibly brought herself back to the present.
"Zuko, what-"
The rest of her question was muffled by Zuko, as he pressed his lips against her own. The kiss was sweet and gentle. For a moment, Katara found herself enamoured by sensations she had not felt in such a long time. Without thinking about her actions, she melted into the kiss. Katara placed a hand on the back of Zuko's head and pulled him even closer, deepening their kiss. A warm sensation began to build up in the pit of a stomach. Katara found herself swimming in a pool of intense emotions and delightful sensations and she allowed herself to drown in them. Joy, ecstasy, pleasure, every possible delightful emotion a person could feel was dancing inside her, allowing no room for rational thought. It was like the time she travelled on Appa, flying in the sky with the ground far beneath her and nothing but the wind and the thin whispers of water vapour telling her that she was alive. Then just as abruptly as it started, it ended. Her lips suddenly turned cold as Zuko broke the kiss and she opened her eyes as Zuko backed away. Katara stared up at the prince in shock, unable to process what had just happened.
"Zuko" she gasped. "What-"
"I'm sorry Katara" he said, breathlessly. "Let's go"
Before Katara could even open her mouth to voice a protest, Zuko was already on his way, leaping down the hill in bounds and leaps. Katara sighed and shook her head.
"Katara, you fool" she berated herself.
Passing through the city gates was a relatively simple task. Zuko presented the guards with forged documents and mumbled an ambiguous purpose about visiting friends. The streets were quiet save for a few pubs that were filled with student, looking for recreation. Katara pulled her hood over her head, an impulse born out of years of travel. The waterbender waited till they were out of earshot of the guards, before speaking.
"That was easy" she muttered, thoughts of the kiss still lingering on her mind.
Beside her, Zuko mumbled a reply.
"Crime rates are relatively low, compared to other places" he said. "And people only come here for education, or to visit people who are in a school"
Katara frowned in thought, as something else had occurred to her.
"If that's the case, why would Lee and Mai want to enter at dawn?"
Zuko turned to give her a look that said 'You did not just say that?'
"Because Mai can be easily recognized" he said, as a matter-of-factly. Katara was not buying it.
"Did Lee say that was their reason?"
Katara watched Zuko for a reply, but he merely looked the other way.
"We need to go towards the coast" replied Zuko. "I know the way, follow me"
Katara frowned at the way she ignored his question, but nonetheless, nodded trusting Zuko's judgement and knowledge of the town.
The two of them walked down a bustling street before taking a turn onto a side road. Quickly and silently, the two of them crept down the little alleyway. They had barely turned the corner of a street when Katara felt it, a prickling sensation at the back of her neck. An uneasy feeling that spread her body like a bad aliment, the waterbender suddenly felt restless and was hit with the urge to turn around and look behind her, Zuko's firm grip around her wrist told her that she was not the only one who felt uneasy.
"We're being followed" he hissed, his tone betraying his anger.
Katara almost yelped in surprise.
"What?" she requested certain that she had misheard.
The prince merely pulled her along.
"Don't look" he warned. "We can still lose them"
"How?"
"Can you conjure a mist?"
Katara raised a hand, feeling the air waft through her fingers.
"We're close to the ocean" she commented. "Not a problem"
"Good, do it"
Katara felt slightly miffed at Zuko's tone, as if he had just issued an order to one of his soldiers, but she decided to ignore it for now, she had far more serious problems to contend with. Katara called out to the water in the air, coaxing it into her fingers through the movement of her wrist. Katara could feel the water in the air, floating in the air, like a thin veil concealing a hidden world from her eyes, she pulled herself free of Zuko's grip and spread out her arms. The prince turned around to glare at her.
"Why did you-?"
Katara phased out the rest of his words.
So much for ordering me around she thought.
The waterbender spread her arms wide, feeling the invisible water swirling to her command; she held out her hands and clapped them together. The sound of palms slapping against each other echoed through the air and in an instant a thick, dense fog hung about them, hanging like a heavy veil across Katara's eyes. Somewhere to her left, she heard Zuko's hoarse voice.
"Brilliant"
Katara flicked her wrist and the fog around Zuko's pale face cleared away to reveal a small smile.
"Hurry, while they're distracted"
The prince's hands closed around her wrist and the two took off down the street.
"Your bending has gotten stronger" he whispered.
Katara couldn't help but glow at the compliment.
"Something tells me I'll be seeing how strong yours has gotten" she said.
A wry chuckle escaped Zuko's lips but he did not respond. The prince had once again, taken charge, weaving through streets and narrow alleyways with Katara clearing the path ahead for him. Occasionally, Zuko would stop to get his bearings right, requiring Katara to clear an entire street. Niu Chengshi seemed to be a hundred times larger in the fog but Zuko knew what he was doing and where he had to go. With each step she took, Katara could feel the pull of the ocean, like a mother calling out to it's child. Zuko was taking them directly towards the ocean and Katara wondered how they would get to the Yu Yan Islands and whether they had truly shaken off their followers.
"Do you think that the people trying to follow us were the T'ien Ti?"
"I can't imagine it being anybody else" replied Zuko as they took another term. "But how they knew is beyond me"
The statement made Katara a feel a little worried.
"Do you think we were betrayed? That somebody could have told them?"
Zuko did not turn around as he replied.
"At Sozin" he said. "The T'ien Ti knew me and my regiment were coming because somebody from within our government told them. That somebody had also called back the two regiments who were supposed to guard the city with me and my men. But at Shu Jing, it was just us and Lee. I can't imagine anyone in the castle who would betray us to the T'ien Ti"
Katara accepted the explanation but she was not satisfied with it. If the T'ien Ti were tracking them, it could only mean that they had already known that she and Zuko were coming. But in order for them to have known they would have to either infiltrate Piandao's castle or somebody from within their group would have told them. Katara immediately dismissed the possibility of the castle being infiltrated; infiltrating the castle meant fooling Toph's razor sharp senses and Katara doubted if any human could do that. The only other possibility was that they had been betrayed, but Katara knew that nobody within their group would want to betray Zuko in any form.
That means...
"We're here"
Katara shook herself out of her reverie, Zuko had stopped running and Katara could see why. The fog had grown fainter due to Katara's wane in concentration and she could see that they were now on the outskirts of Niu Chengshi. The fading mist exposed what looked to be a natural bay, similar to the one found in the Earth Kingdom.
For a moment, Katara forgot about her musings and reminisced in the past.
"It's just like Chameleon Bay" she muttered.
"Yeah" agreed Zuko. "Come on, there should be a ship waiting for us"
The two benders approached the steep cliffs, the sound of the waves of crashing upon the rocky shore was like music to Katara's ears, dark waters swirled in the depths of the unforgiving shore, calling out to the bender like an enchantress. Katara couldn't hold back the smile on her face as she scanned the dark horizon. True, to Zuko's word, a ship as large as the one he had commanded in his days of exile was waiting for them just beyond the shoreline.
"Katara, can you get us to that ship?"
The waterbender smiled at her companion.
"That's like asking Sokka if he likes to eat meat"
A brief smile flittered across Zuko's face before his eyes widened in pure panic.
"Katara, watch out!"
Everything happened so fast, that Katara hardly had anytime to react. Katara felt Zuko's warm body against her own, pushing her to the ground. Something small and sharp flew past her ear. The next second, she felt the wind being knocked out of her lungs.
"Stay down!"
As Katara took a deep breath, she felt Zuko's lithe presence leave her. Something had gained Zuko's attention and it didn't take a genius to figure out what it was. Still lying on her back, she could barely make out Zuko, flitting on the edge of her vision, throwing fire blasts and dodging something thrown at him. Katara pushed herself up and summoned a wave of water into her hands.
The T'ien Ti are here she thought, it could be the only explanation.
Katara looked up, tall rocky cliffs surrounded them and she could barely make out figures standing amongst these cliffs looking down on them. There didn't seem to be too many men and taking them would not even be an issue. Katara smirked to herself.
They choose the wrong people to mess with.
Katara raised her hands with the intention of performing the longest whiplash she had ever done. Before she could even move an intense pain exploded through her head. For a moment, Katara felt that she had been hit by Toph's boulders. It was like a firework going off. The pain was immediate, intense and it did not last long. But it had left her temporarily defenceless. The waterbender had barely regained her senses when she felt someone grab her neck and pin her arms to her side. She struggled against her hold but the person who held her had arms like steel.
"So you're Katara of the Southern Water Tribe"
The voice was close but still faint, because she her head was still ringing from the blow to her head.
"I can see why the prince liked you, stay still and you won't get hurt"
The aching in her head began to subside and she slowly opened her eyes to see what was going on. A pale arm was wrapped around her neck, firm enough to hold her but not tight enough to choke her. Ahead of her, Zuko had stopped fighting and was now looking at her with the person holding him with a look of open horror on his face.
"Sui?"
"Hey, prince long times no see"
It was this name and the tone of familiarity in Zuko's voice that kicked Katara into her senses.
Sui! Some other girl I didn't know about?
THe waterbender mentally shook off the pain and tried to assess her situation. Katara glanced at the surrounding cliffs, she could not see men hiding but she knew for a fact that they were there, pointing their weapons at Zuko. Katara glanced at Zuko and saw that his face was a map of fear, confusion and doubt. It was not a look she saw often but it was a look she hatedseeing that look on his face.
"B-but how?" said Zuko. "What happened after Sozin?"
Sozin? Did he meet some new girl at Sozin?
Against all rational thought. A fountain of jealousy sprung forth in Katara and begun to gush like hot lava, the fact that this woman had her disarmed only enhanced her dislike for her. As Katara struggled to remain rational, the woman named as Sui began to speak.
"After Sozin, I thought my life would be over" she said. "I had deliberately let you go, I thought that there was no coming back from that"
"You look alive to me" hissed Zuko, the look of confusion had faded away, replaced by a look of pure anger.
"Only thanks to the leader's good graces" said Sui. "He gave me a chance to redeem myself, provided I capture or kill you"
Sui's causal tone set Katara on edge.
There's no way I'm letting you lay your hands on Zuko! She thought fiercely.
But Zuko's train of thought was going down a completely different lane.
"It was you who sent those assassins to my palace!" said the prince.
Katara remembered seeing Zuko for the first time in months, sickly and pale, lying on the bed with his ribcage bandaged as if he were dead and she felt a spike of anger at those words.
"And it nearly got the job done" assented Sui. "But I couldn't have done it without a little inside help, that inside help also told me that you were coming"
The deduction that Katara had made merely minutes ago came back to her in full force and her eyes widened in horror and despair.
No! She thought. It can't be! But who else is left?
Katara glanced at Zuko, hoping to portray her message through looks alone. But from the look on the prince's face, Katara could tell that he too had drawn the same conclusion, but unlike her he, he was not buying it.
"Who was it?" he hissed. "Who told you I would be here tonight?"
"I think you already know, prince" said Sui, who had not released her grip on Katara. "I was given a very difficult task, to capture or kill the prince. It was a difficult task, but the informant had detailed knowledge of the palace walls, passages and guard shifts. With that information, my first attempt had nearly succeeded but thereafter you and your uncle disappeared without a trace and I was lost..."
Intricate knowledge of the palace walls, passages and guard shifts. Oh by Yue! There's nobody else, it has to be...
Luckily my informant came to me today saying that you would be here tonight to depart for the Yu Yan Islands... and he was right"
"Who is he!" roared Zuko. "Tell me who this traitor is!"
Despite her uncomfortable situation, Katara felt her heart crack at his words, for she knew, that his heart was desperately trying to deny what his mind was telling him. I
'm so sorry, Zuko. She thought. I'm so sorry.
"WHO IS HE!" roared Zuko, a puff of fire escaping his mouth.
For a split second, Katara feared that the men on the cliff to fire at Zuko, but nothing happened. An eerie silence pervaded Zuko's outburst, and the waterbender felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
"It was me"
A voice that Katara was starting to grow fond of but now hated echoed off the cliffs. In the darkness of the night, two new shadows strolled onto the rocky ledge.
"No..."
The gasp had come from Zuko, and Katara couldn't blame him.
"I'm sorry, my prince"
A fire sparked to life, in the hands of one the shadows, illuminating his face for all to see. Katara stared at the man in fury and horror, wondering what sort of man could have done this to his best friend.
Lieutenant Xiu Lee stared directly into the eyes of Prince Zuko. "I am the informant"
Katara was hit with the strong urge to turn away, she couldn't bear to look at Zuko's face, not after hearing this. The waterbender fought the impulse, turning away meant snubbing the prince, and that was the last thing she wanted to do, torn between turning away and not wanting to look away, she decided to direct herself at Lee.
"How could you!" she roared, her voice echoing across the cliff, like the drums, the emotion in her voice rolled over the cliffs, like the waves of the ocean not too far fro them. "How could you do this to Zuko? Wasn't he your friend! Your nothing more than a-"
Katara continued to rant, who had not only betrayed her good impression of him but had betrayed Zuko's trust, she did not care that there were at least half a dozen men hiding in the cliffs, waiting for a command to shoot her down and silence her, nor did she heed the stoic woman behind her who continued to endured the rant. All she knew was that a man who she dearly loved, a man who had felt the pain of betrayal was now subject to it's powerful sting yet again, this time in the hands of a man he thought he could trust. Katara continued to yell at him, calling him every obscene word she had ever heard in her sixteen years of existence. When the words had finally left her, when Katara could say no more, Lee did nothing more than acknowledge her with a glance. It was as if the wind had blown with all it's might to the mountain, and the mountain did not bow back.
"Why?" In contrast to Katara, whose tone could have rocked the heavens.
Zuko spoke in a soft voice, one that expressed all his anger, all his disappointment; in a man he had once considered a brother.
"Tell me, why!"
Lee's glance shifted from Katara to Zuko and in the dim light of his fire, Katara could not read his expression.
"I wish I can tell you" said Lee, with a small smile. "I really wish I could"
Zuko narrowed his eyes at him.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
There was a flash of movement next to Lee, and before Katara could comprehend what had happened, Zuko was gasping in pain. The waterbender glanced at him and saw that there was a red gash across his cheek and she immediately felt a surge of anger. Mai had thrown a shuriken at him.
"There is no need to have this conversation now" said Mai, her cold detached voice grated on Katara's nerves.
I knew Iroh, couldn't trust you.
But at the back of her mind, Katara knew that staying here would get them killed.
Mai's actions could trigger a reaction from the men hiding in the cliffs, men who had been waiting in the onslaught of the cold wind and were now losing patience, the blood leaking from Zuko's fresh wound was an indication that he was now vulnerable, encouraging the men to release the weapons that they had been holding back. Katara knew that only she alone could do it, Zuko was far too preoccupied with Mai and Lee, and in any case, the men would be focusing on him. Katara on the other hand, was still being held by the ringleader and no one, would pay much attention to her. Katara knew that the window of opportunity was small, but she had to be swift and decisive or they would be captured or worse killed. Zuko wiped at his cheek aggressively, and Katara couldn't tell whether he was emotionally hurt or just angry.
"Hey!" A deafening voice bellowed into Katara's ear, a voice that spoke of panic. "Back down! Nobody ordered you to attack him!"
It was the ringleader, the one to whom Lee had sold his soul too. Mai surveyed her with a cold glance.
"I don't take orders from a peasant"
"Why you-"
Katara could feel the woman's grip on her collarbone loosen. The waterbender took advantage of this distraction and stomped hard on her foot. The woman named Sui, cried out in alarm and Katara swung herself out of her grip. Before Mai or Lee could turn to face her, Zuko was already on the assault, a firebender with the ferocity of a dragon and the wounded pride of a friend. Katara turned towards the murky waters of the coast; the waves seem to respond to her fury and swelled up the rocky ledge before she could even lift a hand. Red and orange flashed in the corner of her eye followed by a grunt. Zuko and Lee were duelling one another.
That means...
Instinct horned through years of combat took over her body. Without thinking about her actions, Katara brought a large wave of water over her head and formed a tall, wide arc over her head that covered her entire body. The water had barely hardened into ice when she heard the sharp, metallic noise of a dagger piercing ice. Seconds later, she heard the low of thud of several arrows hitting her shield. The waterbender glanced behind her, she was merely inches away from the edge of the coast, the ship that had been waiting for them was still hovering off shore, and she was thankful for that. Had it been the full moon, or dawn, Katara would have stayed on to fight, but the weather was against them and she knew that no matter how good she and Zuko were, fighting a group of archers they could barely see in the dark was futile and pointless. Katara only hoped that Zuko would be rational enough to realize this.
"Zuko! We have to go!"
For a moment, she got no response, and Katara gritted her teeth in determination, preparing herself to drag Zuko away if she had to. But then she felt a lithe presence beside her and she turned around to see a pale, scarred face that seemed ablaze with anger.
"Ready when you are"
Katara nodded, she could still hear the dull sounds of arrows hitting the ice and the screams of the woman who had ambushed them, determined to reign control of a situation that had been wrested out of her hands. The waterbender took a deep breath, before turning her head towards the water. Only seconds ago, the water seemed to be black, sloshing about in turmoil but now under it rose up to greet her. Katara raised her hands and flicked her wrist, a block of ice, glaringly white in the black white took shape. It was wide enough for the both her and Zuko to ride in. Katara glanced at her companion and saw the gleam in his fiery eyes. With a single nod, the two of them leapt onto the ice. Katara saw the ice block come up at her and the air rushing through her hair and lungs. Before she could comprehend that she was falling, Katara's feet found solid support. Without a second's hesitation she, stood up straight while Zuko remained crouching. The waterbender begun to swing her arms wildly, right over her head, she could feel her joints moving within her sockets.
The ice block lurched forward and was soon speeding out of the cliff. Ahead of her, Katara could see the small ship, with it's dim yellow lights, she began to head towards the ship, praying to the moon that the T'ien Ti were not there too. Katara felt the wind blowing at her face and the further she got away from the cliff, the more relieved she felt. They had managed to escape a well-laid out ambush but at what cost? Katara refused to look at Zuko, knowing that he needed a few moments to himself, to ponder the tragedy that had just taken place. Katara knew at the back of her mind, that they're situation had just gotten even more complicated. Not only did they have to persuade the Yu Yan to back down, they had to do it with the T'ien Ti behind their backs, led by Zuko's former right-hand man.
A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, but school has practically taken over my life, but rest assured I'm doing all I can to finish this story.