The Taming of the Shrew

by setlib

Zuko and Katara are seniors in high school. He teases her, then ignores her. She despises him. But when Zuko's father kicks him out of the house and he has to move in with his hippie Uncle Iroh, he begins to see Katara in a new light. AU Zutara/Blutara.

25. Chapter 25: Temple

Title: The Taming of the Shrew
Author: setlib
Rating: T-rated for language and sexual content
Setting: Alternate Universe – modern high school, no bending
Pairings: Zuko x Katara
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Summary: Zuko and Katara are seniors in high school. He teases her, then ignores her. She despises him. But when Zuko's father kicks him out of the house and he has to move in with his hippie Uncle Iroh, he begins to see Katara in a new light. But as the bard warned, "the course of true love never did run smooth."

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The Taming of the Shrew, Chapter 25: Temple

Aang's mother clicked the remote, shutting off the television and quieting the buzz of voices from our school auditorium. The hospital room was silent as we all tried to absorb what we had just seen.

"Well, I guess that wins the award for the strangest assembly ever," Aang finally said with a strained laugh.

His father just shook his head. "How fully has the lust for power corrupted that man? What a morally bankrupt life he must lead. I feel sorry for his son."

"Sorry?" I turned to face him. "Mr. Gyatso, remember that Zuko was the one who attacked Aang. He doesn't deserve your pity."

"He was forced to do it, Katara, don't you understand?" Aang protested.

"What I understand is that he had a choice. He could have stood up to his father before he hurt you. Now it's too late."

"It's never too late," Aang's father insisted. His voice was kind, but firm. "He can atone for the harm he inflicted through righteous actions. A person can always balance his karma if he just keeps trying."

"And one thing we know about Zuko – he doesn't give up. Right?" Aang smiled.

My scowl deepened. "What – so he supposedly has seen the light, and now we're all supposed to trust him again?"

"Zuko knew his father was wrong, and he went back to protect you," Aang said.

The memory of the pain he'd put me through was too fresh. My voice rose in frustration. "He betrayed me!"

"He loves you!" Aang shouted back. Everyone in the room froze in surprise at his outburst. Aang's mother bustled over to him protectively as he leaned back on his pillows, cradling his ribs. "I'm sorry, Katara, but love is too precious to throw away. I know if I had – someone – who loved me, I would do anything for her. Absolutely anything." His voice dwindled to a whisper, and for some strange reason I felt tears welling in my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Aang." I didn't know why I was apologizing, exactly, but he gave me a sad smile in return.

"Come with us, my dear," Mr. Gyatso said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Follow us up to the temple and clear your thoughts."

I nodded in agreement, then slunk off to the waiting room while Aang's family settled all the paperwork to discharge him from the hospital. I pulled out my cell phone and called my Dad, reassuring him that I was feeling better and explaining that I had left to visit Aang at the hospital. He cut me off, however, and had obviously been watching the newscast.

"Katara, what was Zuko talking about, when he told his father to leave our family alone?"

I sighed and twisted my fingers nervously in my shirt. "Well, he told me that his father controls the mortgage on our inn. He threatened to foreclose on us."

Dad sucked in a surprised breath. "I've got to call the bank. Find out what's going on. Are you okay, baby?"

"Sure, Dad. Don't worry about me. I love you." I hung up, staring off into space as I tried to remember what exactly Zuko had said. A flash of fear coursed through me as I recalled his hot grip on my neck, his face twisted in anger. One phone call, and your family will lose everything. Had Zuko been threatening me – or warning me?

I was still debating when Aang and his family came down on the elevator. We walked into the parking lot together, and after they bundled Aang carefully into their car, I climbed into my white truck and followed them. It had been several years since I had been up to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas campus on a school field trip. After passing through the main gates, the driveway wound past the administration building and lecture halls, surrounded by forest, gardens, and flowers along the side. It looked basically the same as I remembered, however as I followed Aang's parents they drove past the main buildings toward an area I had never seen.

Mr. Gyatso pulled up in front of a large, three-story building. A sign in the parking lot read "School Dormitory" which, since Aang's dad taught at the Dharma University on campus, was probably some kind of family or faculty housing. Aang and his Mom headed into the building, and I started to follow them but Mr. Gyatso stopped me.

He gestured behind me and I turned to see the entrance to a stone-paved walking trail. "I think you need some time to collect your thoughts, my dear. Follow that path, it will take to you a relaxing spot for your meditation."

I wasn't really into meditation, but I didn't think this was the time to mention that. However I was still upset and thought maybe some time to myself might help me calm down. I nodded and headed in the direction he indicated.

Some of the trees and bushes still had their leaves, deep yellows and bright reds that combined to create a brilliant show of fall colors. The breeze was chilly and I huddled a little into my blue hoodie as I followed the stone path. Soon I came to a paved circular area, with stone benches scattered around, and a large fountain in the center. I sat on the edge and fished a scarlet leaf out of the cold water, rubbing it between my fingers until it began to shred, laying wilted and ragged in my hand like a crumpled little heart.

My phone rang suddenly, the sound jarring in the otherwise quiet garden. I winced and checked the screen – Zuko. I jabbed my finger at the End button, cutting off the call before it could go to voicemail, then changed the volume to vibrate and set it on the edge of the fountain. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to find a sense of calm. Moments later, my cell phone started buzzing, the vibration causing it to clatter loudly against the stone. I should have turned the damn thing off! I snatched at it before the vibrations knocked it into the water, almost hanging up before I realized that it was Suki calling this time.

"What is it?" I barked into the phone.

"Geez, what's wrong with you?" Suki yelled back. "First you freak out last night, and you don't talk to me, and then you skip school today, and you don't call me, and you miss the assembly and OH MY GOD YOU WON'T BELIEVE –"

"I saw it," I grumbled.

"What? You saw the assembly? How?"

"On T.V."

"Wasn't that the sweetest thing you ever heard? The creepy dude was all, 'You betrayed your family,' and Zuko was all like, 'I did it for love,' and you do realize he meant you, right?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you kidding me?" Suki's shriek was so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear for a second. "He just said he loved you! On television!"

"Look, it's more complicated than that."

"No, Miss Angst, you're just making it complicated. Look, where are you?"

"Up at the Sagely City."

Suki snorted. "Are you joining the convent or something?"

"Get real. I'm visiting Aang. He lives up here, remember?"

"Whatever. Look, don't move. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"No – Suki, no, don't come. I'm trying to get a little peace here!"

"Screw peace. What you need is to have some sense knocked into you."

She hung up and I groaned as I snapped my phone shut. I didn't want to have to justify my feelings to Suki or anyone else. I was the only one who had seen Zuko attack Aang, and had witnessed the savagery in his eyes. I was the only one he had seduced. I was the one he truly betrayed, because I was the one who had fallen in love with him.

Wait…love? Oh, please, no. How much more pathetic could I be? My hormones must be messing with my head. I mean, Zuko was handsome, yes, with all that dark hair and those damn golden eyes. His body was freaking unbelievable, long limbs and curved muscles that made me itch to touch him. And his voice, of course, was husky and low and sent a quiver straight through my belly every time I heard him speak. But…but that didn't mean I was in love with him!

I stood up and started pacing. An elegant rock garden lined the fountain, but I was in no mood to appreciate its beauty. I scooped up a handful of small white pebbles and began throwing them into the fountain, deriving a certain satisfaction from watching the way they disturbed the peaceful water, sending ripples out in jagged circles.

Zuko was a spoiled, arrogant little rich boy. Plop! Just because he went slumming with his uncle for a while didn't change the fact that he drove a car that cost more than my entire college education – not that I was probably even going to be able to afford college at all. Plonk! He may claim to hate his father, but after the way he was raised, he had turned out just like his old man. Sneaky, manipulative, scheming. Splash! He had planned his own father's downfall, arranged the press conference with the police and news cameras, had even won the race in order to set the whole thing up. I froze, my hand poised in the air to throw another pebble.

Oh my god. That morning in the library…he practically begged me not to come to the race. I didn't understand why at the time. He must have been planning this whole thing. He had to win the race to trick his father into confessing on tape. Did he really do all this just to protect me and my family?

I thought back to the news conference, the image of him smiling and shaking hands with Yon Rha burned into my memory. I clenched the rocks in my fist, the pain of their sharp edges clearing my mind. I could never forgive him for smiling at my mother's killer like that. I should consider myself lucky that our relationship ended before he hurt me even more. We were from two different worlds, and no matter how he claimed to have changed, the truth was that he just wasn't good for me. And he never would be.

I opened my hand, dropping the remaining rocks into the fountain until the water was cloudy and choked with dust. As the last pebble fell, I heard footsteps approaching on the stone path. I turned, ready to argue with Suki, but instead found myself frozen with my mouth hanging open in shock.

"Hello," said a familiar husky voice.

Oh god oh god oh god…

"I know you must be surprised to see me here." He slid his hands into his pockets, and somehow managed to look both sheepish and defiant at the same time.

Not now oh god I can't handle this…

"I was with Suki when she called you, and she let me ride up with her."

Suki you traitor…damn why does he have to look so good and smell so good and be so irresistible…

"Well, anyway, what I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed, and I, uh, I'm good now."

I licked my lips, trying to think of some way to respond. I was not going to give in to the temptation to run over and wrap him in my arms. Anger was the only thing that could salvage my pride now. "You can't possibly think that I – that any of us – would trust you, can you? I mean, how stupid do you think we are?"

He winced. "I can understand why you wouldn't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes in the past." He moved forward, and I reflexively stepped back until the back of my knees hit the fountain.

"Like when you insulted me in class?" I challenged. "Or stopped talking to me for two months? Or how about when you put your hands around my throat?"

"Look, I admit I've done some awful things." Zuko lowered his head, pressing a palm to his temple. "I was wrong to tease you, or ignore you. I'm sorry that I hurt you, and Aang. And I never should've let Yon Rha get away." He raised his head to meet my gaze, determination shining in his eyes. "I'm going to try to stop him."

"Wait, you let him get away?"

"Not on purpose! I was busy dealing with Father, and when I turned around he was gone. But I have an idea where he might be hiding. That's why I came here – I thought you might want to help me track him down."

Shock made me dizzy. My knees buckled and I landed on the edge of the fountain, my hands clenching around the rough stone for balance. Could I truly do that? Find my mother's killer, and bring him to justice? It was unbelievably tempting. But there was one problem – I would have to work with Zuko. I just couldn't do it. "There's no way I can trust you after everything you've done. You should get out of here, now." My hand slipped into the cold water and I was tempted to splash him with it, but I restrained myself, knowing the gesture would only make me look childish and spiteful.

"This isn't fair. Everyone else seems to trust me now. What is it with you?"

Anger gave me strength. I surged back to my feet, paced toward Zuko, and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Oh, everyone trusts you now? I was the first person to trust you, remember? I introduced you to all of my friends. The only reason they're even talking to you at all is because of me. And you turned around and betrayed me. Betrayed all of us."

Zuko closed his eyes, his expression pained, and took a deep breath. "I want to make it up to you. Let me help you bring your mother's killer to justice."

"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick?"

"Look, I've been through a lot in the past month, and it's been hard. But I'm realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth." Zuko spread his hands wide. "I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me. But I know now that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what's right. All I want now is to play my part in ending this chain of violence. Maybe my destiny is to help you restore balance to your family."

I crossed my arms. "That's a pretty speech, but I'm more interested in your actions than in your words. You might have everyone else buying your 'transformation,' but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So let me tell you something right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt me or my friends again... and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends right then and there... permanently."

He nodded. "I can accept those terms. But we don't have any time to waste. If we're going to track him down, we have to leave now."

I swallowed. It was now or never. "All right. Let's do this." I stalked past Zuko, up the path back to the parking lot.

To my chagrin, Aang was hanging out next to Suki's car with her and Sokka. Suki saw us approach and smiled. "So, you guys kissed and made up, right?"

I scowled at her. "We most certainly have not. How could you bring him up here with you? I told you I didn't want to see him!"

She shrugged, undaunted by my bad mood. "You can't keep avoiding Zuko just 'cause he's been acting like a dick."

I groaned while Zuko opened the driver's side door on my white truck and motioned for me to climb in. "I appreciate the vote of confidence, Suki," he said drily, "but if you'll excuse us, we're in a hurry."

"Where are you guys going?" Sokka asked.

"Make-up sex," Suki replied in a loud stage whisper. Sokka rolled his eyes.

Aang piped up. "Are you taking a little fieldtrip with Zuko?"

"It's not a fieldtrip," I snapped. "We're going to find the man who took my mother from me."

Sokka straightened and looked at me. "What are you talking about?"

"Katara told me about the drunken boater who caused the accident that killed your mother. I know who did it. And I know how to find him. "

"And what exactly do you think this would accomplish?" Aang asked.

I shook my head and started to climb into the truck. "I knew you wouldn't understand."

"Wait, stop, I do understand. You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. But you're not the only one who's ever felt that way," Aang said.

"She needs this, Aang," Zuko said. "This is about getting closure and justice."

"I don't think so," Aang countered. "I think it's about getting revenge."

"Fine!" I shouted. I was so frustrated, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. "Maybe it is. Maybe that's what I need. Maybe that's what he deserves. This man, he's a monster."

Sokka spoke up. "Katara, she was my mother too. But I think Aang might be right. You can't just take the law into your own hands. It's not safe. Let the police handle it."

"Like they 'handled it' last time?" I replied. "Yon Rha got away, and they never pressed charges. Are you saying that's okay with you?"

Aang stepped between me and Sokka, spreading his hands out. "My father says that revenge is like a two-headed viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself."

"That's cute. But this isn't temple pre-school," Zuko said. "It's the real world."

I appealed to Sokka. "Can't you understand? Now that I know he's out there, now that I know we could find him, I feel like I have no choice."

"Katara, you do have a choice," Aang said. "Forgiveness. Let your anger out and then let it go. Forgive him."

"That's the same as doing nothing!" Zuko countered.

Aang shook his head. "No it's not. It's easy to do nothing. But it's hard to forgive."

"It's not just hard. It's impossible." I slammed my door shut and shoved my key in the ignition while Zuko crossed to the passenger side and climbed in. I ignored the disapproving looks from Aang, Sokka and Suki and threw the truck into reverse, practically screeching out of the parking lot. My hands tightened on the wheel as I tried to get my emotions under control. Why did Zuko have to be on my side, and everyone else against me?

Zuko stayed silent, wisely, because I would have bit his head off if he had tried to comfort me at this point. He didn't say anything until we got to the gates of the Sagely City. "We have to go to my house to get some information. Do you know how to get there?"

I nodded and turned onto Highway 101. I had never been to his house, but when we were dating, I had looked up his address and mapped it online. I knew it was supposed to be some kind of huge mansion and had fantasized about being invited there. Now a feeling of dread curled in my stomach at the thought of having to go inside. I followed Zuko's directions and turned onto a long, pebbled driveway that wound past stately trees and shrubs. As we crested the top of a gentle hill, I was unable to keep an amazed gasp from escaping my lips.

I was looking at what seemed to be a British castle, a huge three-storied stone building with turrets and towers, surrounded by a variety of outbuildings. I could make out a large blue pool in the back followed by some kind of elaborate flower garden. The entire estate was flanked by miles of grapevines, the leaves largely brown and shriveled at this time of the year, but still impressive.

Zuko ignored the incredible sight – I guess he was used to it, damn rich kid – and pointed at the driveway. In my amazement, I hadn't immediately noticed the cluster of police cars parked in front of the house. "They're probably here collecting evidence," he said. "We're going to have to find a way to get past them."

"What exactly are we looking for?"

"Father told me that Yon Rha owns a small island off the coast. It's not in his name, though, so the police can't track him. My guess is that he retreated there until everything cools off and he's sure he's not going to get arrested for anything. Father keeps files on all his major partners, I'm sure we can get the coordinates of the island if we can just get past the police."

"And how the heck do we do that?"

Zuko gave me a confident smirk, and I felt my traitorous heart flutter in my chest. "You're going to create a distraction."

"Great," I muttered, pulling up to a stop behind an unmarked white van. Police officers were already loading crates of files and boxes of computer equipment into the back of the van. I shot Zuko a worried look but he just winked in return.

We climbed out of the car and Zuko strode directly over to a man who was dressed in a suit rather than a uniform and seemed to be directing the others. "Detective Kazinski, are you getting everything you need?"

The detective nodded and shook hands with Zuko. "Thanks to your tip, we're exercising our search warrant. I'm sorry, but you won't be able to stay in your house tonight."

Zuko just nodded. "That's okay, take your time. I'm going to stay with my Uncle. I just wanted to pack an overnight bag. You know – toothbrush, that sort of thing."

Detective Kazinski hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Sure, but I'll have to go with you, just to make sure you're not taking any sensitive items. You won't be able to take your computer or anything like that."

"No problem," Zuko said. "By the way, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Katara Iweda." Zuko then snuck an arm around my waist and pulled me tight against his side.

Girlfriend? I wanted to smack Zuko, but the detective was watching, so I plastered on a smile and shook his hand. As soon as he turned around to lead us up the front steps, however, I tried to twist out of Zuko's grip. He just held me harder with a self-satisfied little grin.

I decided that two could play at that game. I pretended to stumble on the top step, my heel coming down hard on the top of his foot. He groaned and dropped his hold on my waist. "Oh, baby! I'm so sorry! Are you all right?" The detective turned around and I tried to shrug helplessly. "I'm so clumsy. I'm always doing stuff like that." I turned to look at Zuko. "Does it hurt, sugar plum?"

"I'm fine," he gritted, limping up to the front door. "Don't worry about it, apple dumpling."

I batted my eyelashes. "I'm soooo lucky to have such an understanding boyfriend." Zuko held the door open and the detective walked through first. "Thanks, honey cakes," I whispered as I passed through, but while no one else was looking, I made sure to stomp down hard – on Zuko's other foot.

He grunted and followed behind me. "No problem, sweetheart. I don't mind that you're clumsy. You've got other assets that make up for it."

I whipped around to face Zuko. "Why you—"

He grabbed my arms tight, yanked me hard against him, and planted a kiss on my lips. I knew he was just trying to shut me up before I blew our cover in front of the detective, but I still couldn't stop the sudden heat that swamped me. I flushed all over – with anger, or embarrassment, nothing else – but kept my mouth shut when he pulled back. I could hear the detective laughing, saying something about 'young love' while Zuko grinned and nodded, but the furious ringing in my ears was blocking out the rest.

Zuko leaned down to whisper in my ear. "You pissed off?" I nodded stiffly. "Good," he murmured. "Take that anger, and channel it into picking a fight with my sister. You two are going to be the diversion while I slip away to Father's safe. Got it?"

"Anything for you, darling," I muttered.

"God, I love it when you talk dirty," he whispered before releasing me and heading quickly for the stairs.

I turned to follow him, mentally planning how much physical damage I could inflict on him without anyone else noticing. But when I finally looked around and realized where I was standing, my jaw dropped open.

The entire foyer had been built using some kind of white marble with green veins running through it. A chandelier shone overhead, and ornate mirrors on either side of the main doors reflected the spinning crystals until it seems that thousands of them were sparkling in the afternoon light. A massive staircase led to the second floor, splitting into two hallways, with a dramatic stained glass window in between them. I forced my feet to move across the hard floor, peeking from side to side quickly enough to make out room after room of outrageously expensive furniture and artwork. I knew Zuko's father was wealthy, but this was beyond even my wildest imaginings.

"Sorry, no time for a tour. Maybe later," Zuko said as he tugged on my arm, hurrying me up the staircase and down the hallway to the right. We passed a huge, state-of-the-art media room and a gym – an entire gym! – before I heard the screaming.

"You have no right to be in my house!" came a shrill voice from one of the bedrooms.

"Ma'am," someone replied calmly, "we have a search warrant. We could escort you outside right now, but we wanted to allow you to pack a few personal possessions first."

"I want to speak to your superior! This is outrageous! You have no right to treat me this way. Do you know who I am?" As we approached the door, I knew without a doubt that it was Azula's voice I heard. No one else could manage that perfect combination of scorn and disbelief.

Zuko stopped in the doorway and gave me a nudge into the room. The detective was already approaching Azula, and I followed while Zuko quickly disappeared.

Azula spotted me and I swear the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. "This is all your fault," she screeched. "Everything was fine until you started whoring around with my brother."

I clenched my fists. So Zuko wanted me to start a fight with Azula? No problem. In fact, this was going to be fun. "There's only one whore in this room, bitch, and it's not me."

Azula let out a shrill laugh that sounded like a kitten being strangled. "Don't play innocent. My brother ignored his own date on Homecoming to go sniffing around after you the whole night."

"Homecoming? You mean the night you gave my date a blow job in your car?" Suki had told me the truth about Haru shortly afterwards, although I hadn't really cared at the time because I had already broken up with him. But suddenly I found myself completely incensed about it. I heard a few murmurs in the room and realized that we were attracting a lot of attention. Good. Let's see if I could step it up a notch. There was a table in front of me with a beautiful arrangement of flowers in a heavy crystal vase, and I started moving casually toward it.

"Haru wouldn't have come with me if you had been woman enough to hold his attention. He wasn't satisfied with a frigid little prude like you."

I snorted. "First I'm a whore, then I'm a prude? Make up your mind."

"How long did you wait before you jumped into bed with my brother? A day? Two?"

"You're the one trying to blow her way through the whole football team. The only reason any of the guys are interested in you is because you put out."

"That's a complete lie!" Azula was so enraged, it looked like a vein was about to pop in her forehead.

"Well, they sure as hell don't like you for your personality."

"You peasant! How dare you speak to me that way! You're just a greedy, social-climbing little slut who thinks she can fuck her way into money."

I picked up the vase and whipped it around, sending flowers and water flying across the room as I struggled to keep my grip on the slippery crystal. I managed to set the empty vase down on the table, then looked up to find Azula and several officers dripping wet with almost comical expressions of shock. I was on the verge of laughing until Azula launched herself across the room, evading the officers and reaching across the table to grab at my neck. I pulled out of her reach just in time but she managed to grip my arms, trying to draw me closer. I twisted and moved back, shrugging out of my blue hoodie and leaving it in her grasp while I backed up several steps.

At this point the officers were able to pull her aside, restraining her and speaking in low tones. "Ma'am, you can either calm down here or you can calm down at the station. It's your choice. But if you try to lay hands on anyone again, we may have to tase you." One of the officers patted the taser hanging from his equipment belt, pinning Azula with a warning frown.

Detective Kazinski came over to my side. "Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded and he looked up with a frown on his face. "Where's Zuko?"

"Here!" Zuko said as he came into the room from the hallway, holding a towel in one hand. He wasn't carrying anything else as far as I could see, so I couldn't tell if he'd managed to get to his father's safe or not. "Sorry about my sister. She's always had a bit of a temper." Zuko walked over to Azula and tried to hand her the towel.

She looked up at him with an expression so cold, so purely evil, that I reached out a hand to try to pull Zuko back. He was too close to her, though, and before anyone could respond, she lunged forward, pulling the taser from the officer's belt and jabbing it right into the middle of Zuko's chest. Blue light flashed, the air crackled, and I smelled something burning. The screaming voices faded into the background as I raced forward, unable to reach Zuko in time, watching in horror as he fell heavily to the ground. His head bounced as he landed, his eyes closed, smoke rising from the charred shreds of his silk shirt in the center of his chest.

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Author's Note: I apologize for making you wait so long for this update! This chapter is long and packed with drama, so I hope that makes up for it. I spent this last month reading lots of fabulous shojo/josei manga series (Mars, Blackbird, Hot Gimmick, Tramps Like Us, High School Debut). I don't think of this reading as "distracting" me from my writing – rather I like to think of it as refilling the well of inspiration!

My fellow über-fans probably noticed that I lifted huge chunks of dialog directly from ATLA. Let's face it, the original source material is so good, I won't delude myself into thinking I could improve on it (other than giving it a Zutara ending, obviously). I also condensed a lot of events and changed the order somewhat to keep the pacing tight. I think there are somewhere between 3-5 chapters left before my story comes to its conclusion, so please be patient while I work on wrapping everything up. As always, thanks for reading and giving me such supportive comments. They are better than chocolate!