Chapter 7

Zuko paced down the hallways of the royal palace, his every step brimming with energy. He had only just returned from personally overseeing his plans for the evening, a grand tour of the Fire Nation capital, all for Katara's benefit. While she had seen some parts of the capital, so many of the lesser known treasures remained hidden from her, and tonight Zuko planned to introduce the young waterbender to some of the more spectacular sights of the city during an evening walk.

The plan was for the tour to start in the old part of the capital, a relic of a bygone age, so very different from the rest of the city with its tightly pressed buildings and cobbled streets, so narrow that even a palanquin couldn't squeeze through. Through the winding alleyways of the old town, they would proceed onwards to the old marketplace, a haven for street vendors peddling their delectable wares, and for street performers, trying to earn a few coins by entertaining the passersby. As the darkness fell, they would reach the main canal snaking its way through the capital, where a boat would be waiting for them. In the dark of the night, with countless floating lanterns illuminating the canal, it was a spectacular sight to behold. Lastly, they would get off the boat to make a relatively short walk back to the royal palace, leading them through one of the city's parks, usually filled with young lovers, making passionate promises to each other under the blossoming cherry trees.

All in all, it was the perfect plan as far as Zuko was concerned. All he needed now was to secure Katara's participation, and he didn't expect any difficulties in convincing her to agree to join him. And why would she refuse? She seems to have enjoyed my company so far, Zuko thought to himself. It still surprised him just how much the visit of his old friend was affecting him, especially when he managed to do something that made her happy. The softness, the warmth in her eyes when she looked at him with gratitude, the kindness of her words... every such moment filled him with strange, but exhilarating thrill, feelings that he couldn't remember having experienced before. These sensations were so addictive that Zuko felt like he could never have enough of these moments.

Smiling broadly and humming a cheerful ditty under his breath, Zuko turned the corner on his way to Katara's quarters, passing a servant girl who nearly dropped a priceless vase she had been dusting, the girl shocked at his jovial mood. Somehow, that only made his grin wider as he walked up to the doors of the guest quarters and knocked. It took Katara a while to answer and Zuko almost began to wonder if she hadn't yet returned from the academy, but eventually the doors opened and Katara appeared before his eyes. She hadn't changed out of her Water Tribe garb, and overall appeared a little disheveled, as if she had been trying sleep. Doesn't matter, she still looks beautiful, Zuko decided, his conscious mind then doing a double take and reminding him of what he had just thought. Beautiful? Well... it's just a fact, isn't it? I mean, you'd have to be blind to disagree, right?

"Hey," he finally began after a mutual silent pause. "I thought I'd stop by and tell you what I have planned for tonight. We are going to-" he stopped abruptly, feeling instant worry when Katara raised her hand to stop him.

"Zuko, I'm sorry..." she spoke quietly. "I'm sure whatever you had planned would have been wonderful, but... I just simply need an evening off. I'm sorry..."

"Is... something wrong?" Zuko asked. His chest felt like a grown-up armadillo lion had rolled on top of it, crushing it to tiny pieces.

"No, no..." Katara tried to reassure him. "I'm just... really exhausted, that's all. I wouldn't be good company tonight, trust me."

"If you're sure," Zuko frowned. "But I wasn't planning to do anything exhausting. It would be a very enjoyable walk later in the evening. I think it would do you a world of good."

Katara looked utterly torn and conflicted at his words, but eventually she lowered her gaze. "I... don't think so. I have a slight headache on top of everything as well," she managed. "Please, Zuko... maybe some other time."

"Those kids at the academy running you ragged, is that it?" Zuko attempted some levity, but it fell rather flat. He knew he was struggling to keep his disappointment from showing in his face.

"I suppose that must be it," Katara admitted, but she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Well... I guess... I'll see you tomorrow, then," Zuko swallowed, stepping away from the doors.

"Yes, tomorrow... I'm really, really sorry, Zuko, but..." Katara managed, then slowly closing the doors, but the expression on her face was full of misery and unhappiness.

Unsure of what had just taken place, Zuko simply stood there outside the doors for a while, trying to swallow his crushing disappointment. His chest felt painfully full and constricted as he began to slump away, his shoulders dropping. Was it something I said, or did the evening before? He wondered helplessly. But no, that didn't seem right. If he had somehow offended Katara, she wasn't the kind of girl who would just take it in silence and then hold a grudge, no, she would have come right out and spoken her mind.

She could be speaking the truth about feeling unwell, it's not impossible, Zuko reminded himself. And yet, somehow that didn't ring true, either. Katara was much too honest and forthright to make an even passable liar, and he had a very strong feeling that the exhaustion and headache were merely invented excuses. Excuses to... evade me and my company? But why? I thought we were getting along so well, Zuko thought to himself with bitterness swelling in his chest. But if she didn't want to spend time with me, why did she look so unhappy there at the end? None of this makes sense! Gah, I just can't figure out that girl!

Zuko was still struggling to make any sense of Katara's behavior as he rounded the corner, at which point he froze, an idea suddenly occurring to him. If she insists that she can't spend time with me because she's not feeling well, perhaps I could instead offer a way to help with that? Then she would either have to agree to spend time with me, or at least she'd be forced to tell me the real reason for being so evasive! I'm not going to leave it like this, I'm the damned Fire Lord for Agni's sake!

With newfound energy and determination, Zuko swirled around and walked right back the corridor up to the guest quarter doors and knocked again. Nobody answered at first, so after a while of waiting, he knocked again. He was about to call for Katara to open the doors, when she did so without urging, the doors slowly parting. "Zuko, I..." Katara began, but he did not allow her to finish, pushing past her to enter the room.

"I know what you said, Katara, but I can't just leave it like that," Zuko stated firmly. "I won't have you languishing here, what sort of a friend would I be if I didn't try to find a way to help? And I think I know just the way... you're drained from your work at the academy, all you need is to take a little break from it."

"Oh, no I couldn't... the children would be disappointed if I didn't show up for our waterbending lessons!" Katara protested with a hint of panic in her wide eyes.

"I will take care of that," Zuko reassured her. "I'll send some of the best entertainers the palace can offer to the academy tomorrow. You won't have to worry about anything."

"I... still don't think it is a good idea," Katara tried.

"Wait till you hear what I'm planning," Zuko spoke, feeling more and more confident, now that he could sense that Katara's resistance was visibly crumbling. "I'm going to take you to Ember Island, Katara. Remember the time we spent there during the war? I've had extensive work done on the family estate, and now it's more beautiful than it's ever been. I know for certain that you loved to spend time there, and you also enjoyed the beach. It's the perfect escape if you want to feel rejuvenated and regain your strength."

"Ember Island is such a beautiful place," Katara smiled dreamily, for a moment forgetting that she was supposed to look exhausted. "But... wouldn't that mean you would have to leave the capital for a few days?"

"We had already planned to go there over the weekend," Zuko shrugged. "I think we can depart a couple of days early and it won't be a problem. I'll wrap up all my remaining Fire Lord errands tonight, and then we can depart first thing tomorrow." Katara still looked like she was going to put up a token protest, so he quickly took her hand in his. "Please say yes, Katara. It would mean a lot to me if you'd allow me to help you."

Katara could not hold his gaze for long, blushing and removing her hand, a small shudder running through her. "Alright..." she breathed in deeply. "Alright, I'll come with you. But only if Mai is coming as well," she added hastily.

"Of course, Mai is coming," Zuko nodded. "With her and two of my Kyoshi guards, it'll be just the five of us."

"Oh... could you make it so that it's Suki and Ty Lee coming along?" Katara asked, smiling shyly. "I'd love to spend some more time with them."

"I can arrange that, it's not a problem," Zuko smiled back at her. "So, do we have an agreement? Four days at the sunny Ember Island? Doesn't that sound amazing?"

"It does," Katara nodded, a little reluctantly, but eventually breaking into a smile. "Very well, we have an agreement. Ember Island won't know what hit it."

"Great," Zuko grinned. "I'll let you rest for now, Katara. See you tomorrow morning, Water Tribe girl."

"Until morning, Fire Lord," Katara smiled as Zuko left the room and began his way back to his private quarters, feeling both drained and relieved by the conversation.

Spirits, that was an epic struggle! Zuko let out the sigh he had been holding back, feeling a little light-headed. I'm so glad I didn't give up at the first attempt and kept persisting. And now I feel as exhausted as if I had been fighting a dragon or something equally dangerous. Still, I wish I could figure out what exactly is eating Katara. I wish there was someone I could ask about such matters... there's only really Uncle Iroh and mother I could turn to for advice, and neither of them are nearby. It's not like I could ask Mai... uh oh, and speaking of Mai...

Indeed, just as he had entered the large study back at the Fire Lord's chambers, he found Mai already waiting for him with an oft practiced glare in her eyes, instantly interrupting his musings. "So nice of you to join me at last, Zuko," she frowned. "Maybe now you can help me with planning..."

"Sorry Mai, that'll have to wait, I have some other things to take care of tonight," Zuko shook his head as he sat down at his desk, pointing at the stack of royal correspondence and various reports from palace advisors and regional governors, matters of state that he needed to catch up with this very evening if he wanted to depart for Ember Island the following morning. "I'm going to leave all the planning to you from now on," he added with a shrug. "It's something you're much better at, anyway."

Mai let out a frustrated sigh. "You don't have to bother with those letters tonight, we still have a couple of days before leaving for Ember Island," she exclaimed in annoyance.

"Actually, I don't. I've decided that we're going to depart for Ember Island tomorrow morning," Zuko replied nonchalantly. "So, I guess you should also make preparations for departure."

Mai actually jumped up from her seat, an unusual reaction, and as far as Zuko was concerned, he would have liked her showing such emotion more often. "Are you insane?" she shouted. "There's still so much to plan, we can't possibly be departing tomorrow! How did you come up with this idea anyway?"

"I just miss Ember Island, okay?" Zuko retorted defensively, unwilling to mention that the change of plans had anything to do with Katara. He didn't want Mai to be angry with Katara, he would rather offer himself as the lightning rod for his girlfriend's rage. "Now drop it, I've made the decision already."

"That decision wouldn't have anything to do with your water tribe peasant friend?" Mai asked, her fists clenched.

"Katara will be accompanying us, if that's what you're asking," Zuko replied calmly. "If you want to stay behind, that's your choice, but Katara actually wants you to come along."

"I see," Mai's lips formed a tight line. "I see what's going on here, I'm not blind. I'm warning you, Zuko, don't do anything stupid."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Zuko let out an annoyed sigh. "Does that mean you're not coming?"

"Oh, you bet I'm coming with you," Mai glared. "Apparently someone needs to come along and remind you about the commitments you made to me, to my father and my family. Because if you were to forget about those commitments, you can be sure there would be consequences."

"You are treading dangerous ground yourself, addressing me with such disrespect," Zuko finally lost his temper, rising from his seat and towering over Mai, the young woman taking an involuntary step back. "I suggest that you return to your quarters and reconsider your attitude. I'll see you tomorrow morning at the docks." At his words, Mai gave a stiff, almost mocking bow, before exiting the study and leaving Zuko standing there frustrated and fuming in silence.

Mai sure has gall! Regardless of her misconceptions about Katara and my relationship with her, I'll be damned if I let anyone threaten me in my own quarters, be it Mai or anyone else!

Sighing and shaking his head, Zuko tried his best to clear his head from all the anger and frustration Mai's accusations had stirred. He reached out and grabbed the first envelope from a weighty stack of letters, this one a report from a palace agent in the former Fire Nation colony city of Yu Dao. Arming himself with firm determination, Zuko settled in more comfortably and began to read. I'm going to make this Ember Island vacation a perfect one... even if it means pulling an all-nighter, reading boring official letters.