Hey. Gosh, I am so bad at getting these posted in a timely manner. I don't know why, because at first I was very good at it. Anyway, thanks for all the awesome reviews. I'll admit this chapter had me a little stuck, so any constructive criticism is accepted if you think it's horrible. Now, on with the show (finally…)!

Chapter Twenty-six

Aang was utterly stunned at the sudden turn of events. Sorano was an air bender. Could she bed fire as well? He shook his head in an attempt to clear the confused thoughts that were churning in his head. He would go after her and figure things out. But would that really be smart? She seemed to be very messed up and he did not want to make things worse. He was the Avatar and had to be unselfish. He wanted to run after her, though. The things she had said really mixed him up. Where had she gotten that theory on Katara and Zuko? Was there any ground for such accusations? If so, life for Aang could soon become very bleak and any extra friend would be a wonderful accomplishment. Aang never wanted to hurt Sorano anyway. He just had to remain loyal to Katara. It was not in his nature to betray those he cared about. That was something fire benders did.

Aang walked aimlessly through the woods for about an hour, sorting things out in his head. He would have taken to the air, but his head was so jumbled that he was not entirely sure he would be able to keep himself afloat. He realized, once he allowed himself to think rationally, that Sorano was most likely just saying things to plant doubt in Aang's mind. He realized that, he did, but somehow he could not banish that doubt. He knew that was senseless, but something inside him told him that Sorano may have some reason other than her infatuation with him for the things she said. That made Aang want very much to intrude on her solitude. After arguing with himself for a little longer, he decided to look for her. It could not be safe for her to be alone in the strange wilderness.

Walking through the foliage, Aang wondered if he cared about Katara too much. Was it really wise for the Avatar to put so much love and thought into one person? He did not have to wonder long. He knew in his heart that she was a liability. If it came down to her or the rest of the world, there was a dangerous chance he would choose her. That thought was not a comforting one, and what was worse was that he was not sure how to remedy it. He loved Katara with all of his heart and soul. To him it felt like all his other lives had led him to her, she was the culmination of his entire being. She was the center of his universe and he did not want to change that. That thought scared him because he knew things would have to change. Maybe it was a good thing she was taken from him. He could learn to carry on without her before they got to her. By that time he would be used to it and would not need her the way he did before. They could be friends.

When that thought came into Aang's head he stopped dead in his tracks and sat on the ground. Simply thinking about only being Katara's friend ripped his heart in half. He loved her so much that it would be incredibly painful to be anything less than her lover, maybe even her husband. Whenever he had looked into his future Katara had been at his side…as his wife. It was no wonder the monks had raised him. He would have been so much better off if they had finished his upbringing, then he would not even be temped by her. But as it was, he loved her more than anything and even though he knew it was wrong and horrible, it did not feel that way. His head was finally speaking up, though, since his heart had stopped talking due to its questioning and doubt. His heart started to voice itself again though, and Aang began to cry.

Aang cried out his heart, mind, and soul. He cried for his love of Katara. He cried for his being the Avatar. He cried for everything that had ever caused him grief at any point in his entire life until he had nothing left to either cry over or cry out. It was then that he realized someone was with him. An arm was around his shoulders, holding him. He turned his head and saw Sorano sitting beside him on the ground.

"I'm sorry, Aang," she whispered, clearly distraught. "I can't say that I didn't meant to hurt you, because I did. I wanted you to hurt as much as I was, but I felt horribly sorry after. I still feel horribly sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Aang. Please don't cry anymore."

"What?" Aang asked, his head too jumbled to understand what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry."

"I know. I don't understand why, though."

"What? You weren't crying because of what I said?"

"No. I was crying because of what I have to do."

"What do you mean?"

Aang took a deep breath before he started to explain. "I mean I have to break up with Katara."

"Oh Aang. Don't do that just because of what I said. If it will cause you so much pain, just don't. Forget what I said."

"Sorano. What you said has nothing to do with what I have to do. What you said made me realize how much I care about her, that's all. I have to break up with her because I love her too much. It's dangerous for the Avatar to be so close to a person. I should never have let it happen, but I've been so naïve that I just refused to acknowledge the thing. I can't do that anymore."

"Oh."

"I do have to wonder why you said those things, though. Is there any way that they could be true?"

"Gods, Aang, please don't ask me that."

"Why?"

"Because I won't be able to lie to you, and I want to lie to you so badly."

"Because what you said was a lie?"

"No, because it was all true. I never would have said any of it to you, though, if I hadn't been so hurt and angry. I would never mean to hurt you under normal circumstances."

"But it's true? It's all true?"

"Yes. Sokka really told me that he thought Katara wanted out of the relationship and Prince Zuko is really handsome and seductive. I don't know if Katara is being unfaithful, though. I only said that to be cruel."

"It is possible, though, isn't it?"

"Yes…I guess. But that doesn't mean anything."

"Have you ever met him?"

"Yes. I have."

"When?" Aang asked, suspicion glinting in his eyes.

"Don't look at me that way. I met him a couple of years ago in Mitsu when I was still a slave. He stayed with my master's family because they were the leaders of the rebels there so therefore unafraid of housing a fugitive. I was very taken by him, but he didn't pay me a second glance. There is something about him the commands the attention of every girl-we just can't help it. There's something irresistible about him. He, however, can easily resist. He stayed for nearly a month, and the entire time the only woman he was intimate with was the master's daughter, Akemi. Poor girl. I think she expected him to take her with him."

"Oh. I see. So there was never anything between you and him?"

"I only wished there was. I am a different girl now, Aang, but then I wanted nothing more than for him to take me away with him. Hmph," she laughed sarcastically, "maybe I am that same girl. I left with you and Sokka in the same fashion."

They were both silent. Aang was somewhat comforted by what he heard. Sorano admitted that there was no way to know how Katara was behaving, and that gave Aang hope. He knew he should trust her anyway. And if she was tired of their relationship status, that made things easier for him. Sure, it would still hurt him to end things, but it was a relief to know that he would not hurt her as well.

"We should get back and go to bed," Aang said finally.

"Yes," Sorano replied. After they walked for a few minutes she added, "Thank you for not mentioning my mistake."

"You mean the air bending?"

"Yes."

"No problem. I wish you had told me, though. It is nice to know that I'm not the only one. Are there more of us?"

"There are a few more, yes. They do not fight for you, though, Aang. They fight alongside the Fire Nation."

"Why!" Aang exclaimed.

"Because not only do they bend air, but they bend fire as well."

Thanks for being so patient! I really appreciate it! I hope everyone liked this chapter. Like I said at the beginning, though, if you didn't please let me know how I could have made it better. In fact, everyone is encouraged to tell me what I could have done or what I could do in another chapter to straighten anything up or whatever. I know where I want this story to go (after much debating with myself over the different things I could do…), I just need to get it all out and in a chapter format! I think everyone will be pleased with the end, both Kataang and Zutara shippers!