­­­­­­­­Hey peeps! School hols have officially started!!! So happy! Anyways, here's chapter 16 of Book 5: Water. Enjoy...

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, or it would be a horrible production.

*curtains open*

Book 5: Water

Chapter 16: Fire of friendship

Katara awoke the next morning to find Aang's head beside her, and him sleeping soundly, but frowning. Moving ever so slightly, she found herself struck by a headache, and moaned softly, waking the sleeping Avatar.

"Katara? You're awake!" Aang exclaimed and hugged her tightly, causing her head to throb even more. But she didn't care, she was just happy to see her love. She hugged his head.

A while later, the couple let go of each other, and Katara laid back on the bed. Aang climbed in too, having a rather sore neck from his awkward sleeping position last night. He slipped his arms around her waist, and she turned around to face him. He noticed the speck of silver in her now-blue eyes, but it actually brought her eyes out even more. At the same them, he felt a pair of arms winding around his neck, finding their way to the back of his head, and subsequently both sides moved closer to kiss each other, eyes closed.

Katara's scent was rather weak, as her body was still adapting to having blood flow through it. Weak, but still enough to dominate his senses, and intoxicate him. As both of them allowed sheer instinct to take control, their tongues collided by accident, and then, overlapped each other, moving in to taste each other. Katara moved the hand that was on top down Aang's body, stopping at his waist, and grasped onto him tightly.

Kissing was still a rather new thing to her, and she could still feel the afterglow of the spirit water, mercilessly keeping her alive with no will nor reason to live. It was painful to think about now, yet she didn't feel the pain then. She did not let go; they both had been deprived enough. Instead, she deepened the kiss, and let go, so he mind was fully focused on how he felt, and not what to do. Letting all her senses succumb to his presence, she could only kiss him back, and not think of anything else.

The couple descended into the dining room, each carrying their belongings. They were leaving for the firenation to reunite with the rest of team Avatar, since Gran-Gran made a full recovery.

1 week later:

"The table is significantly quieter without two of our couples." Ty Lee commented, and Suki replied, "Not to mention the absence of the two goofy guys to cheer us up after..."

She looked over to Toph, who shrugged, "Even if they were here, their attention would be on each other." Poppy nodded in agreement. There was an awkward silence, amplified by the metal walls of the room.

Somewhere else in the palace, muffled screams could be heard from the injured firelady. She had been burnt by Hino when he thought her threatening to his master. Till now, she still hadn't healed, and Zuko felt truly sorry for having his pet burn his wife. He was now accompanying her while the royal physician saw to her.

When she slept, he would go to the cave which Toph made to house Hino, and teach him not to fear all his friends. There were just four problems. He had nothing which belonged to Aang, Katara, Sokka and Yue, meaning they would face the same fate as Mai when they arrive, as he was using scent to get Hino to not attack the people he loved. And then there was Appa, Momo, and Ty Lang.

Great, he thought, as he stroked Mai's now undone hair. She had burn marks all over her left arm, which was closest to the dragon when he decided she was dangerous. Apparently he scented the knives on her, and that less-than-before-but-still-more-than-normal hostile and cold aura of hers.

Which, until now, I still haven't figured out the cause of change for. The healer was there again, for it was noon, the usual time he came for a check-up on the firelord's wife.

Out of the blue, Toph stood up. "I'm going out. This place is suffocating me." As she got out of the waiting room, Suki went out after her.

When they emerged onto the streets, Suki immediately rushed back in, while Toph continued on, not having seen anything.

Using earthbending to see her way around, she found a nice big plain, and began to earthbend. Wall after wall shot up, column after column collapsed. This continued until Toph was happy with what she did.

Finding some metal deep within the grounds, she coated the whole structure with it, keeping it from public eye, as well as protecting it from any earthbender, for they would not be able to bend through the metal armour.

Then she sensed someone approaching, and pretended to be an innocent blind little non-earthbender girl having lost her way and somehow found this big patch of land. Dropping to the ground on all fours, she crawled around, as though trying to find her way back home. After all, it would not do her any good to reveal her identity in this land of fire, especially when she helped to defeat a firelord. Even if the citizens preferred life post-Ozai, who knows what could happen.

The body came even closer, and Toph could feel that he was a firebender, from his body heat, but she also realised he was but 14, as she was. And he was alone.

What's a fourteen-year-old doing wandering alone in a field like this? She wondered as she dodged a fireball coming at her close to the ground, burning every grass and flower in its way.

Letting her anger get the better of her, she shouted, "HEY! Watch the fire!" She felt the figure look in her direction, and covered her mouth, realising the mistake of her outburst, having forgetting her part in this little play of hers.

The boy seemed to have just noticed her, due to her green robes blending in with the grass. "Oh! I'm so sorry! Did I burn you?" His tone was genuinely apologetic, seeing as his potential victim was a girl who looked but 11.

Going closer to her, he saw her eyes were a transparent green, which, he had been taught, green eyes belonged to earthbenders. But those pair of eyes seemed to see nothing, show nothing and were staring into the distance.

"Are you b...an erm...earthbender?" He didn't want to be rude by pointing out her weakness, if she was.

"Yes, I'm blind!" She snapped back with irritation, before realising she had made a mistake again.

Normal firenation people did not read minds, much less feel hesitation. Then his words sunk in.

"Oh... Erm... No! I'm not an earthbender! What makes you think so?"

"You are wearing green, your eyes are green, and..." he stopped, seeing she was face-palming herself.

"Ok. I didn't say you were an earthbender. I didn't realise you were so against them... And you probably don't know what you're wearing, so it's not your fault you're wearing green, I guess. Erm... So... I'm Yanre." He sheepishly extended his hand.

Toph managed to remember that blind people could not see helping hands, and kept them on the ground, replying, "I'm er..."

Only then it occurred to her she was the only one in the original Team Avatar who did not have a cover name in the firenation; Aang had been Kuzon, Sokka and Katara Mr. and Mrs Fire, even Zuko was Lee.

Then she realised she was keeping the any waiting, "I'm Ki."

She stood up herself, and wobbled for effect. Yanre immediately held her shoulders, stabling her, and Toph managed to stop herself from shoving him off and binding him to the ground, though it was good to think about.

She pretended to regain her balance, and drop back down to feel her way around.

Sighing, he said, "Where do you live? I'll take you home."

She nearly said, "In the royal palace with Twinkletoes and sugar queen", but instead, "Erm...I live on Sozin street." making up a name of a street.

Surprisingly, he nodded, and took her hand, beginning to lead her there. They were headed towards the palace, she noted.

But at the last junction, he turned to the right, and told her they had arrived.

"Your family must be nobility, to live so close to the palace."

Great, just my luck to choose the name of an ex-firelord to be my 'street'. Nobility, I guess we were fated.

"I live on the next street, Azulon Street. Slightly lower than your family, but we are still considered nobility." He sounded ashamed to say that, not the least proud or snobby. And he also felt regretful, Toph thought.

"Erm...I think I can find my way back now, thanks. If I need help, I can shout pretty loud. Thanks."

"Oh. I should be getting back too. Sorry about earlier. I'll...see you around?"

Toph smiled, and he relaxed, heading off. When the last of his footsteps faded into his house, she breathed a sigh of relief, and hoped to the spirits she never saw him again. And then she headed back to the palace, her feet alert for his vibrations.

The first thing she felt back at the palace was 9 pairs of feet.

"Hey Toph! Guess who's here to join us?" Toph heard her sister's voice welcoming her 'home'.

"Twinkletoes and the others!" she screamed excitedly as her mind registered the extra pairs of feet. Running over, the group gathered for a big group hug- the first in many months.

"Now that we're back, it's time to settle down for a few months and let Zuko rule his country in peace. And then we can decide what to do next later." Sokka announced.

So... what do you think? I'm just happy school hols have started. Anyways, I will give a preview of the next few chapters if you review. If I get 3 reviews before this Saturday, I will update before the usual weekend, AND on Sat as well. Because I'm happy.