A/N:

I'm back from Hiatus! Been brainstorming and revisiting certain elements to the story that I can't wait to write in the chapters to come! Hopefully, you all get a kick out of the story already but there's so much coming and more arcs ahead of us. This one here will be a little more violent compared to my previous arcs but I promise you'll all enjoy! Thank you all so much for continuing to read and all the PMs I get! You guys are awesome!

Chapter 44:

"Okay, okay, okay!" Kya flipped as her father was pestering her about what he wanted done with her returning home as his proxy. He acted like she hadn't been the proxy Phoenix King before.

Slapping her in the back of the head, Ozai glared at Kya. She really needed to mind who she was talking to. "I'm just reinforcing what exactly I want. Security needs to be doubled around the city and tripled in the palace. I want all the governors made aware of the events that took place at the Gala. You need to be firm and make known that I've given you complete power to execute any order that needs carrying out. And for the love of Agni, if your mother, people associated with her, or either of your brothers show up, you make contact with me immediately. Don't take action. I'll handle it."

Kya rolled her eyes.

"Uhara contact me if she doesn't." Ozai turned to the more respectful of the two.

"Of course, your majesty."

Hitting the nobleman in the head, "I told you to call me 'father'."

Rubbing his head as Kya pulled him away, Uhara looked at his 'father' and realized he was getting hit just like Kya was now. I guess I'm family now?

"Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy!" Mailan yelled as she ran up to her father and hugged his leg.

"Yes, Mailan." Ozai pinched the bridge of his nose.

Smiling up at him as she continued holding his leg, "I made Ryu pretty."

The three turned to see Ryu running up to them in wearing makeup. He blew his grandfather a kiss as he waved at Kya and winked at Uhara. He was wearing his short length hair decorated in women's hair accessories. The kimono he wore was hanging off his shoulders as he waved his fan in his face.

"Grandma Hama said he looks like a harem lady!" Mailan cheered and went to Ryu.

The three adults watched as the two children twirled around merrily. Kya stared wide eyed at her younger siblings while Uhara seemed deeply confused. Ozai looked away from the two and tried not to show his ugly side to the kids but he was very disturbed. I'm going to kill Hama! Kya could see her father was fuming and quickly took both her siblings by the hand to take them away.

"Come on, guys. Let's get Ryu changed into something else." Kya told them sweetly as they held her hands, walking on opposite sides of her.

Ozai scoffed and immediately stormed off. As soon as Zuko was back, they were having a serious conversation about Ryu. That was the third time that Ozai noticed the boy's off behavior. First, the boy asked him if he had to like girls only or if he could like everyone. Then, he caught the six year old showing Mailan a dance that he clearly saw his father's new concubines perform. And now this.

"He's just a child." Uhara told the Phoenix King after seeing in his eyes that he was very disturbed by seeing his grandson dressed as a woman. "He might just be curious."

That wasn't curiosity. Ozai grumbled mentally. Something is wrong with the boy.

Trimming her hair, Katara was careful to make sure that her hair was even. Her tongue peeked from her lips a little as she squinted her eyes to be sure of the precision. She had become obsessed with maintaining her ear length hair. Besides, she had noticed that she was getting a few grey hairs and it had started sprouting up. Must be the stress. Not to mention, she wasn't a young woman anymore. In a few months, Katara would be thirty-nine and despite her ageless appearance, she could feel that she was aging in other areas.

Clipping the last strand, the waterbender looked up in the mirror to see Daikoku standing behind her with his satchel over his shoulder as he leaned in the doorway.

"Your hair looks a lot lighter." He commented. "Is that gray?" Daikoku eyed her hair.

"Yes, I'm getting old and under constant stress." Katara replied.

Rustling her short wavy hair for that cute messy look she loved so much, Katara grinned as she turned around and walked past him to her bed where her satchel was sitting. Throwing it over her shoulder the waterbender turned to him as he pointed to her dresser. There was a box with weapons Atsou wanted her to use on the mission. The waterbender opened and saw that there were duel daggers, throwing knives, and a short sword lying beside the box on her dresser. All white bladed with blue ribbon hilts. It was obviously made with the influence of the Water Tribes in mind. Katara could see Atsou had them specifically crafted for her.

"I guess using my bending is a 'no' this mission." Katara commented as she started to equip herself. Tucking her throwing knives into the protective coverings in the sleeves of her tight black stealth suit. She then tied the hoister for her daggers and short sword on her waist.

Seeing that Katara had tightened the bindings on her breasts to completely flatten them, Daikoku chuckled and looked her over. "If you were a man, I'd like you."

"I thought you already liked me." Katara teased. "My bad for thinking we were friends."

Grinning, "Of course, we're friends."

"Wonderful. I haven't been doing good in that department recently. So I appreciate the companionship." The waterbender had herself fully prepared to leave.

Patting her shoulder as he headed out the door of her bedroom, Daikoku led Katara outside to where they would meet up with Atsou and Lora, his water siren, by the lagoon. This was a mission only Atsou, Yoshiro and Lao knew about. None of the other agents, especially those not happy with Katara from the last one, knew anything about this mission. He wanted sirens and he saw Katara as his only means of obtaining them. She had spent time in the North Pole, knew the place, and he was sure she would appeal to the sirens that had been imprisoned for attempting to use taboo waterbending techniques exclusive to only men in the tribe. Atsou had faith that Katara would supply his demand and do so with swiftness.

Meeting up with Master Atsou, the two bowed in acknowledgement and waited to receive their orders.

Atsou eyed both of them as he held his hands in his sleeves, "I think you both know what I expect from this mission. I want as many sirens as you two can manage. Preferably those that are benders."

The two nodded and lifted their heads.

"Daikoku, allow me to speak with Katara privately. Lora will open the portal for you to go through first."

Daikoku glanced at Katara before obeying his master and leaving first.

Stepping towards the waterbender, Atsou sighed as he pulled his hand from his sleeve to caress her face. "I'd kiss you goodbye but you'd only bite me."

"As long as you know that." Katara replied impassively as she stared forward.

"And maybe I'm okay with a little biting." Atsou moved in closer to her.

Swatting his hand from her face as she pulled away from him and finally met his gaze with her scornful one. "Kiss me and I'll rip your balls off and shove them down your throat." Katara snarled.

Slanting his eyes as he stepped out of her way, Atsou didn't let up his gaze as the waterbender followed after her mission partner into the portal. Honestly, he was getting annoyed with her at this point. Katara had made him break his very own rule and that was never letting anyone get over on him because he refused to have a soft spot for her. However, while he was very attracted to her and had been admiring her beauty from afar for years, Atsou had always been tempted to put his hands on her in a less than 'friendly' way. She provoked a violent trimmer to run through his body and to his hands, fueling him with the need to backhand her. But Lao reminded him that Katara was only more defiant if abused. The only time she yielded was if it was for the sake of family. Either they required her to back down or their lives were at stake. So he was trying his best to restrain himself with her.

Lora looked to her master as the two agents left, "Why you are intrigued by that woman is beyond me."

Snorting, Atsou offered Lora his arm and she held to it as they walked back to the manor. "You've seen her in your training with her. The power she has."

"Katara has chaotic energy and if not controlled, can become far more destructive than you know." Lora said gravely. "I hope you plan to rid yourself of the woman as soon as she runs out of her usefulness."

Atsou side glanced at Lora. "Rid?"

"Rid, like you did with the late Chieftain Arnook."

Smirking as he recalled slipping some poison to the late chieftain, he did hate having to send the old man to an early grave, he had a good fifteen to twenty years left on his life cycle. But he was a loose end. At the end of the day, Arnook had a conscience and he would have exposed the truth to even more people than just Ozai. However; with Katara, the case was different. "I have no intentions of being rid of her."

Lora shook her head as they arrived to the manor and let go of Master Atsou's arms to bow, "Then I wish you well on whatever plans you have for the demoness."

"Demoness?"

Lifting her head, Lora grinned. "Demoness. She-devil. Ice witch. Goddess of calamity. Take your pick. That woman is a reckoning you don't want to have turned upon you."

"Katara is not so foolish. She knows who she's dealing with." Atsou said confidently.

"You haven't a clue the adversary she'd be. Your twin brother will be the least of your worries." Lora said before bidding her master a goodnight.

Holding his arms into his sleeves as he watched after Lora, who was returning to her squad house, Atsou thought of the names the woman called her. It reminded him of what Hama used when she described the type of siren that Katara possessed. The old crone swore that Katara was dangerous to even be alive and she advocated for killing her before she grew even more into her siren power. He thought it was strange for a woman to want to kill her own granddaughter and figured it was because Hama didn't have the relationship necessary for her to care about that detail. However; Lora was expressing the same sentiment.

Atsou shrugged and turned to enter his manor. He wasn't afraid of Katara. If anything he was as Lora put it, intrigued by the mean one. She was a rare gem to have stumbled upon by chance. He'd heed the warning and be very careful with Katara. He knew she was already starting to merge with her siren. The violence and carnage of the Gala mission had lightened up her hair. If this mission became a violent one, she'd be that much closer to completing her merge. And then, she'd be ready for what he had specifically planned to do with her.

…..

Reaching the palace after returning home to the Phoenix Empire, Kya didn't even get the chance to settle in after her travels before she was approached by many ministers and nobles about the incident that took place in the Fire Nation. She had to call an emergency meeting immediately for all that were currently present in the palace to inform everyone that her father had stayed in the Fire Nation to provide support while Fire Lord Zuko was missing. As for her, she would be the proxy of the Phoenix with as she had been before. When the meeting ended with everyone bowing to her, Kya hurried to her office with Uhara to begin writing detailed letters to officials that had been present for the meeting.

As she sat at her father's desk writing out the letter, Kya noticed Uhara seemed lost in thought as he sat in the chair in front of her. She put down her quill and folded her letter up, getting up from the desk to walk around to him. The princess sat in her boyfriend's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling at him as she was curious to know what he had been thinking.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Kya asked as she moved her hand over his face and ran it up into his hair.

Uhara looked at her and his gaze was a concerned one. "I'm just a little worried."

"About?"

"Your brother was kidnapped...why aren't we going after him?"

Kya sighed as she chuckled, "Dad told us not to worry. Zuko will eventually return. Once he escapes."

Furrowing his brows, "But what if they kill hi-"

"Dad also says that Zuko is like a cockroach. You can stump him, set him on fire, and plant traps to set him up for the kill but he'll somehow find a way to survive."

Sounds like he's talking from experience. Uhara seemed a bit disturbed by this. He was fully aware of the relationship between the Phoenix King and his two sons. Kya had told him that was why her father pushed for them to be together because her father felt like he'd be a better son than Zuko and Zhiar. Zuko was the son he hated and Zhiar was the son that hated him.

Kya kissed her boyfriend's lips and giggled, "Leave my brother to my father. We have an entire empire to oversee here and I'd like your help."

"Are you sure?" Uhara raised a brow at her. Sure, they were together and her father liked him but could he involve himself in the duties of the royals? His family would definitely tell him to go ahead with it. They would be thrilled to hear that the princess of the Phoenix Empire, who was acting in place of her father, wanted him to work at her side in taking care of her father's responsibility. However, he didn't want to overstep.

"Yes." Kya kissed him again.

Just as the princess was getting up from the nobleman's lap, the door of the office flew open and in walked Princess Ami. The Earth Kingdom royal seemed a bit caught off guard to see the Phoenix King's daughter and the nobleman from the Fire Nation in the office. She had expected to, at least, see Phoenix King Ozai.

Furrowing her brows as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the front of her father's desk, "Can I help you with something, your highness?"

"Ah, yes, I came to speak with your father. He and I are working on someth-"

"He's not here." Kya told the princess as she looked away from the woman. "He has matters to attend to in the Fire Nation and will be gone for an indefinite amount of time."

Ami could feel a bit of hostility in Princess Kya's tone and decided to ignore it. The girl was young and hotheaded. Likely took after her mother that was rumored to have a temper worse than most firebenders.

Maintaining her calm state, Ami nodded her head. "Then could you give word to him for me?"

"Write him yourself. I'm sure you two pass letters amongst each other plenty." Kya said dismissively.

Furrowing her brows in a bit of confusion, Ami decided it was best to just leave the office before the angry princess got any worse.

As they were alone again, Kya saw Uhara looked upset and shook his head at her.

"What?" She groaned as she rounded her father's desk to sit down.

"Did you have to be so cold to her?" Uhara asked.

Shrugging, "She didn't even knock. I would think of all people, with your wanting to uphold tradition and what not, that you'd understand how disrespectful that was. I mean, she came in here thinking my father was here, so imagine this wasn't her first offense."

Sighing as he stood up and looked over the young woman he was now involved with, Uhara scolded her. He knew she didn't like Ami. That wasn't lost on him. She could pretend that it was just because of a small offense of not knocking but it was more. The nobleman knew that Kya hated Ami only because she felt the woman and her father were messing around. Which he highly doubted due to the fact that her father never struck him as the type to have a private relationship or see someone without informing Kya at the very least.

"Your father doesn't treat you as a father typically treats his daughter. You are more to him than that. I do believe he would have spoken with you about this at some point." Uhara expressed.

Scoffing as she glared at the letter she'd have to make a ton more copies of, "My father and grandfather were messing around once. He never spoke to me about that. I had to confront him."

What?! Uhara was a bit disturbed by this detail but quickly played it off. "But he was honest when he answered you, was he not? Has your father ever lied to you?"

No but...Kya's hard gaze softened up. "Even if they're together. I don't want my father getting friendly with any other women. My mother is alive and she should be his only focus. Besides, Ami is the older sister of Princess Kikyo, who was used to frame my mother for murder. I do not trust her and I do not trust she is here for mere science. She's a snake lying low in the tall grass of a garden."

The mission was nearly complete. However; the guards were alerted of what was going on and the two had to fight them off to make their escape. Katara had managed to get all the sirens out of the prison before they were confronted. Which meant she and Daikoku could go all out, pulling no punches.

Wielding her duel daggers, Katara sliced through the waist of one guard as they're armor exposed that area of their bodies. Daikoku flipped over the same guard and sliced his head off his shoulders. The two went on to tag team the prison guards that flooded the cell they had been cornered in. Bodies dropped left and right and soon the guards retreated out of the cell.

Katara's eyes glowed a little as she ran her bloody hands over her hair that was fastly turning white. She felt her vision was blurring and a faint maddening wash over her. There was a sneaking desire to paint these white icy walls with the blood of these men. It wasn't like she was above it. These men showed her no mercy and had their way with her. Laughed and cheered each other on as they fucked and beat her. What did their lives matter to her? They were in her way and she had every intention of leaving their bodies in her wake.

"Are we really going to make a mess of this place?" Daikoku asked her as he saw she looked to be holding the side of her head with a pained look on her face. He knew she hadn't been injured but maybe she had a migraine or something.

Hissing as she got herself together, Katara snapped her neck one side to the next before focusing her gaze on the enemy. She hoisted her daggers in the sheathed tied to her lower back. Her eyes glowed blue as her nails sharpened, "The more we kill now, the less we deal with if we have to come back."

"Planning ahead?" Daikoku put his sword away. "Like how you think."

Little did Daikoku know, Katara had faded out of the spotlight as the siren within took over. It had been a long time since she had control and after all these years, she felt a level of ruthlessness swallow her in an abyss of darkness. All she craved was to return the favor to everyone that had wronged her. It brought a smile to her lips as she felt thrilled from knowing she had control over this body again. What Katara wouldn't do, she, the siren would.

Chuckling as she rolled her neck, "Time to collect a debt."

Daikoku smirked as his gold eyes glowed bright and scales formed on his knuckles, punching his fist into the palm of his hand. "Then let's start collecting."

After making a complete mess of the prison cell block where they took the sirens from, the two returned and reported to Atsou. Lao and Atsou seemed to notice right away that Katara was not herself. Quite literally. After giving Daikoku instructions to take the sirens to Lora, Katara was asked to stay behind. She did and they both circled around her.

"You're not Katara, are you siren?" Lao asked.

Smirking as her eyes watched the old man, "I would think that was pretty obvious."

Lao paused in front of the siren and furrowed his brows, "Why did you suddenly surface?"

"I can't say. Katara's the one who's fighting us becoming one. She's probably burnt out." The siren answered.

Atsou had noticed Katara looked like she was at odds within herself lately. And not just with her morals. She was fighting something within her. He figured it might have to do with the siren since her hair was whitening. But this was a confirmation. He had to say while the siren and Katara shared the same body, he could tell there was a distinct difference in their presence. Katara was guarded, unsure, insecure, and uneasy. But this siren, she was confident and radiated power. She was very sure of herself and her aura seemed to tower over his. Lora might have been right. This siren was dangerous. Atsou didn't feel the siren was friendly nor did he feel like she'd be trustworthy. There was something about her that was unsettling and he couldn't put his finger on it.

Eyeing Atsou, the siren smirked. "Hi, there."

"Mind giving us Katara back?" Atsou eyed the siren with a bit of disdain. He didn't like her.

"With a face like yours, I'll do whatever you like." The siren winked.

Ozai spent the first days of being Fire Lord again being briefed on the latest politics of the Fire Nation and the ways of court. Much had changed since he was Fire Lord but he wasn't complaining. Zuko had done a pretty good job of cleaning-house. Likely due to the high opposition he faced in the early part of his reign. For the most part, Zuko secured more control of the court than even Ozai had. Which meant this shit was going to be a breeze. The nobles didn't speak out of turn and the ministers didn't argue in court sessions. The servants were very attentive. The harem that was much smaller than his own had been were filled with very intelligent women. He didn't even know Zuko had a harem but from the concubines recollection, Zuko didn't visit for just pleasure. Sometimes he only wanted their company and allowed the women to serve the other men of the court if it were their choosing. These two weeks had been very laxed for the Phoenix King/Fire Lord.

Sure, there was the frostbite plaguing his body. Forcing him to exert most of his energy to fight it off with his bending but he didn't feel any more tired than he normally would. His facial graphs that Ami made for him had to be changed out regularly as they were ruined in hours due to the frequent changes in his body temp as fire and ice fought for domination. But he'd still say he was having a very splendid time in spite of.

Taking a break for the day to go check on Mailan and Ryu, Ozai found the two sitting in the inner-sanctum's garden playing with the flowers. They both climbed to their feet and ran to him as soon as they saw him.

"Daddy!"

"Grandpa!"

Mailan jumped in his arms while Ryu pulled at his robes.

"What are you two up to?" Ozai asked them both.

Mailan smiled as she told him that Ryu was showing her how to bend water. She was only able to move a drop of water but she was happy to find out she was a waterbender. Ozai was also pleased to hear this. He hadn't figured out if Mailan was a bender or not. He assumed the elders would have told him as it would be a concern of theirs given who her mother was but he guessed because she was a female, they didn't bother.

"My papa got me a waterbender instructor from the South Pole to teach me. Can Mailan learn with me?" Ryu asked his grandfather.

"Can I, daddy?" Mailan looked up at her father with her big blue eyes and Ozai agreed almost immediately. The children both cheered and Mailan wormed her way out of his arms to go run off with Ryu.

Leaving the children to play amongst themselves, Ozai ordered a few more guards to be stationed in the garden. He wanted eyes on the children at all times. Recent events made him more and more uneasy about their safety. Especially when their safety was so much a concern for Katara that she was acting against her will to ensure the children would be alright. While Zhiar and Kya weren't probably due to their status as phoenix, the youngest two were at risk. Ryu had dragon blood but he was too young to protect himself and Mailan, even if she were to be a siren, she was still vulnerable.

As he returned to his office for some work to complete, Ozai saw Hama waiting there with a page boy and a messenger from the North Pole. They all wore grave faces and something told him that he knew what this was likely going to be about. What have you done now, waterbender?

Ozai dismissed the page boy as he didn't want anyone else finding out that Katara was alive. This was strictly between him and the North Pole.

"Katara struck again." Hama said gravely.

The Northern man bowed all the way on his knees and his forehead pressing to the floor, "Your majesty, the elders need your help. A New Chieftain was decided and during the ceremony, we spotted your former wife. She rounded up several female prisoners and teleported them away. She even turned one of the cell blocks of the prison into a slaughterhouse. The woman has gotten out of hand and needs to be dealt with."

"And you've come here for what? My aid? What if I don't care?" Ozai laced his fingers together and cocked his head to the side.

The Northern man's eyes widened as he lifted his head back up, "Phoenix King Ozai, your majesty, please, this woman is dangerous and is working with even more dangerous people. This isn't just a matter of the North Pole, you know, this concerns the world. Please, consider."

Ozai rolled his eyes and looked to Hama for her input.

"As it stands, the only people that know it was Katara at that gala is us and them. If we don't do something with her, more will discover she's not dead but working as a mercenary."

Sucking his teeth, "And if they do, what does it matter?"

"You've seen and heard how people regarded her for simply having been your wife. Imagine what they will think when they discover this." Hama explained to him.

Ozai didn't care what people thought. Many still didn't trust him but what could they do about it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. When he finally did get a grip on Katara, he didn't care what everyone else felt or thought. However; he did care what others thought of Katara. Unlike him, her public image mattered to him because it mattered to her and he knew she wouldn't want people to see her as cold blooded. Especially, when he knew her hands were tied in this.

The Phoenix King turned his attention back to the Northerner, "I'll return to the North Pole with you in a week or two. I have a lot to oversee here and in the Phoenix Empire. But I will consider all options with the new Chieftain."

"How diplomatic of you, Ozai. Mending relations with the North Pole." Hama smirked.

Scoffing as he stood from his desk, "Arnook is dead and I'm sure Katara killed many that had caused her hardships there. I'm not above forgiveness."

Hama tried not to laugh as Ozai ordered the servants outside the office to have chambers prepared for their Northern guest. The messenger thanked him and followed the servants out of the office, leaving the Phoenix King and Hama to further discuss things.

"So what's the plan, Ozai?" Hama asked as she tilted her head up at him and crossed her arms under her breasts.

Snorting before scoffing and looking away from her, Ozai walked over to the window, clasping his hands behind his back. "I don't really have one, if I'm being completely honest."

"Then how do you think we'll be able to get a hold of Katara and subdue the threat your brother poses against your little offsprings?" She walked up beside him and gazed out at the afternoon sun falling over the horizon in the west.

Furrowing his brows, "Zuko is very capable of defending himself despite getting kidnapped. Zhiar and Kya are immortals. Ryu and Mailan are the only ones that need protecting. All there is to do is protect them at all times."

"And what about Katara?"

"We take her the next time she shows up."

"Take her? What if she fights back?"

"Then I'll gladly fight her." Ozai grinned. "I've been meaning to settle the score since our Agni Kai was interrupted."

Katara sat with a warm blanket over her shoulders as she drank some tea that Ursa had made her, she smiled at the woman as she sat across from her. It had been a few days since the return from the mission and after returning as the siren, Atsou had kept her under watch until he was absolutely sure that she was herself again. Once she was herself, Atsou informed her what he was going to do with the sirens. His objective was simple. Have Lora train them to be proficient waterbenders and sirens. As far as what Atsou wanted to do with them once they were trained, he was giving them to her, for her to lead these women as their squad leader. Along with that, he told her one thing that had been weighing heavy on her mind.

"You're fighting it but you can't. Fighting what is inevitable will only make matters worse. Embrace it and you won't lose control."

It was something she asked Ursa about and she, too, believed it had to do with her being a siren.

Taking in the smell of the best pot of tea she's brewed in a while, Ursa smiled at the younger woman. "You felt good from killing those men, didn't you?"

Eyeing her teacup, "Is it bad if I did?"

"Not at all." Ursa said happily. "Not everyone gets to dish out their own sort of justice on those that have wronged them. You've been given an opportunity like no other. If I could get revenge on the person that made me suffer, I'd be happy too."

Katara watched the woman blow on the steam that rose from the teacup and drink from it. She wondered to herself. What had Ursa suffered? And who made her suffer? After being able to get past the bad blood with Ursa, the waterbender had found that she really liked the woman. She was more than a woman that prided herself on being emotionally detached and cynical. She was a woman that had convictions she had kept quiet and bide her time. Katara learned that Ursa was not truly an ally of Atsou but rather a woman that had her own goals in mind, just like her. They had a lot in common and Katara felt no one else could understand her the way Ursa seemed to be able to do. Not just that but they're relationship had grown plenty and Katara felt she relied on Ursa's guidance to get her through whatever was going on. It was the closest thing she had to a mother-daughter relationship since her mother died and she had grown to adore Ursa for making her feel less alone.

The two drank their tea and stared at the fire burn in the fireplace, cracking the logs stowed in it.

"So, have you gotten any closer to Atsou?" Ursa asked out of the blue.

"No."

Making a sound that showed she was a little disappointed, "Then why are you here wasting time if you're not going to find out what he's really up to? You can easily rebel against him and go home to protect your children. But you've chosen to stay and get your hands dirty so you can plan for his take down. Why are you dragging this out more?"

Katara's eyes snapped at Ursa, "I could ask you the same."

"We have different objectives." Ursa eyed Katara back.

"Are you sure about that?" Katara leaned back in her chair and smirked.

Finding herself giggling, Ursa grinned as well and leaned back. "I have a debt to pay."

"And I have a score to settle." Katara replied with a grin of her own.

Ursa scoffed, "I guess we can both promise each other to finish things up as quickly as possible and leave."

"If we had some wine, I'd toast to that."

"Who says we still can't?" Ursa laughed and held out her teacup in the air.

Mimicking Ursa's gesture, "I guess you're right."

"Of course, I am." They tapped the edge of each other's teacups. "Let's toast to revenge and making every man that caused us pain to suffer horrible deaths."

Katara chuckled. "Then it's a toast."

Both drank the last of their tea and laughed to themselves.

Later that evening, Katara was on her way to her room to rest for the night when she was stopped by a servant from the manor. A young girl dressed in a white and red kimono, short black hair with bangs and an impassive stare. Her gold brown eyes were practically vacant.

"Master Atsou would like me to escort you to him." The young girl stated.

Trying not to look so annoyed at being called this late at night, Katara nodded and allowed the girl to lead the way.

Arriving at Atsou's chambers, Katara watched the young girl slide open the door to his sitting room where a male servant stood in the center holding a tray of what looked like clothes.

Bowing his head as he held it up to her, "Master Atsou requests that you change into these before entering his bed chambers."

"Bed chambers?" Katara didn't like the sound of that.

"I only take orders, my lady. I do not ask why." He said.

Sighing, Katara walked up and took the tray from the man. Both servants left the room and closed the door in order for her to change from her clothes.

Changing into the silk black nightgown that had slits on both sides, going from her waist down to her mid-thigh. It hugged tight around her body and made her breasts practically spill out from the top. The matching robe that she quickly put over her to cover up the provocative nightgown did little to make her feel more comfortable. What the hell did Atsou want at this time of night that he had to make her dress like this?

Not bothering to wait for anyone to tell her what was next, Katara went to the door she knew led to his bedroom and slid it open. Upon opening the door, the waterbender saw Atsou was sitting at his low table in front of his bed and having a cup of sake. A smile played on his lips as he looked up to set his gaze on her.

"Well don't you look irresistible." Atsou placed his cup down as he began to stand up.

Katara watched him indifferently as he approached her and allowed his eyes to roam over her. Of course, he'd be happy to see she was wearing something he specifically bought for her. Ozai would wear the same look on his face whenever she'd wear something he bought for her. Sometimes it would even turn him on and she'd find herself bent over, letting him have his way with her. Clenching her fists as she regretted having that thought. Her sex life was nonexistent and she didn't want to be thinking of what it used to be while she was here in the presence of a man that would gladly take her to bed. And she wasn't going to lie, if he pushed her far enough, she might consider. But only because she had needs and her needs were all she would care about if it ever came to that.

"What do you want?" She asked him as she placed her hands on her hips.

Still taking in the sight of her, "I'm in longing tonight. I wanted to see you."

"Excuse me?" Katara felt she heard that wrong but no doubt, she didn't.

Fixing his eyes on hers, "I wanted to see you. Is that so bad?"

"Yes! It is!" The waterbender snapped at him. "I'm not having sex with you! Go fuck someone else!"

Katara tried to storm out but Atsou caught her by the wrist and stopped her.

"I won't touch you." He told her. "Not unless you want me to."

Yanking his wrist from his, Katara eyed him like he wasn't making any since.

"I simply want us to sleep tog- beside one another."

"What?" Her expression suggested that she believed he was crazy.

Atsou sighed as he ran his hand up into his hair, "If you haven't noticed, I'm a rather lonely man. Outside of working towards my goals, I don't interact with really anyone. Aside from you. I'd like your company."

Katara felt like he was trying to reach her soft spot but he wasn't getting very far. She had allowed herself to empathize with men like him before. Men that were always claiming they were lonely and that she was the cure to that loneliness. She was older now. She knew that there was nothing particularly special about her. She was just easy to prey on. People knew she was compassionate and merciful. They sought to take advantage but not anymore. She wasn't allowing it to happen again.

Shutting her eyes, "I refuse. I'm not your companion, your lover, or even your subordinate. I serve the purpose of protecting my children from the likes of you and anyone you send after them." Her eyes opened and she balled her fists. "If there is nothing of importance to a mission, please, allow me to return to my rooms."

Watching the woman leave his bedroom, Atsou narrowed his eyes and swore under his breath. He was getting real sick and tired of her constantly rejecting him. It wasn't like she didn't find him attractive. He literally had the same face as his brother whom he knew she was still in love with. It seemed to be why she was turning him away. She was still holding onto Ozai.

You idiot woman. I'm a far better man than he is. Atsou closed his eyes to her.

The following day, Atsou felt it was time he began his plans for Zuko. He didn't want to wait a moment longer. The sooner he was done with Zuko, he could move onto the next phase of his plans.

Entering the dungeons below the manor where he had his nephew stowed away in a cell, Atsou had Yoshiro and Lao accompany him. Approaching the cell, the leader of the three grinned as he saw his adult nephew look up from his stupor and stare in shock at him. Obvious that he was taken aback by what he saw. A man that was clearly not his father but looked exactly like him aside from a few differences.

Zuko's mouth was agape as he looked at the man on the other side of the bars. This is Atsou? He was indeed his father's twin. The man looked like his father if his hair had whitened from age while still remaining youthful in his face. It was uncanny. All these years there was another man walking around with his father's face. How did he go about life looking like the Fire Prince and Fire Lord without being noticed?

"So you are my eldest nephew?" Atsou smirked as he took a good look at Zuko. He knew what the man looked like for a while but he had never been face to face with him before. "You look more like your mother."

"My mother? What would you know?" Zuko narrowed his eyes.

Snorting in laughter, Atsou moved closer to the bars of the cell. "Your mother is here with me and must I say, you have her scowl too."

Zuko's eyes were wide again.

"She's not much of a team player. Much like Katara but they know what is at stake here, so they don't give me too much trouble. They still follow orders."

Growling at the mention, Zuko ran to the cell bars and tried reaching for Atsou as the man backed away, amused by his nephew.

"You bastard! I'll kill you! After everything you did, I'll kill you!" Zuko snarled as he started shifting into his dragon form.

Lao, then, grabbed Zuko's arm that reached beyond the cell bars as Yoshiro took the other arm. He struggled between the two of them and demanded to be let go of. However; neither of them were going to comply. His authority didn't reach them. Here, they were above him. Atsou reached into the sleeve of his yukata and pulled out a syringe. Zuko eyed the needle and then his gaze shifted to Atsou.

"Want to know something really fucked up, Zuko?" Atsou asked as he flicked the needle a little.

"What?!" Zuko growled as his gold eyes were glowing.

Grabbing his nephew by his jaw with his free hand, "What if I told you that everything from the moment your sister kidnapped Katara two decades ago to this very moment was my doing?"

Zuko tore his jaw from Atsou and snapped at the man's hand, biting it and attempting to rip it off. Atsou shouted and hurried to inject Zuko with the serum. When his nephew fell unconscious moments later, Atsou removed his hand from his mouth and winced as he glared at him.

Nursing his bitten hand, Atsou ordered the guards to remove Zuko from his cell and take him to the lab. As the guards followed his orders, Atsou saw Lao and Yoshiro look to his hand.

"It won't heal easily. A dragon's fangs and claws are poison to a phoenix. Perhaps you should have one of the sirens take a look at it." Yoshiro told Atsou.

Lao scoffed, "Wrap it and give it time. The poison will wear off and the wound will heal."

"I'll have a medic look at it." Atsou eyed them both before turning to leave, still holding his hand.

As he began walking out of the dungeons, Atsou saw Katara up ahead on her way down to the dungeons with a tray that was likely for Zuko. He walked right up to her and saw she wasn't even looking at him but at the ground in front of her. She was avoiding eye contact. How typical.

"You won't be needing to look after him any longer. He's fulfilling his purpose for being here right now." Atsou told her as he towered over her, waiting to see her blue eyes glance up at him.

But they remained steady on the ground, "Fulfilling his purpose. And that would be?"

Chuckling as he leaned forward and took a lock of her completely white hair as it had grown down to her shoulders in just a few days, Atsou brough the lock to his lips. "You'd know that if you were more friendly, mean one."

"Friendly. Do you mean if I slept with you?" Katara's eyes finally rose to his.

Smirking with her hair still in his grasp, "That would have definitely gotten me to talk but it can't be helped, you still love my brother." He tossed her hair back at her.

"Who says I still love him?" Katara narrowed her eyes at him.

Inching closer to her face, "You could have taken him down with more ease but you figured seducing him was a better option. I wonder why. Were you just trying to ride him one last time or was there more to it?"

Casting her eyes back to the ground, Katara dropped her tray on Atsou's feet and turned to leave as he jumped back.

"Fuck!" Atsou winced as a fork stabbed into his foot and he fell over. "Mean one! Get back here!"

Lao and Yoshiro approached their master after having witnessed the whole exchange.

Helping Atsou up, Yoshiro sighed and shook his head. "You really have no idea how to talk to women, do you?"

"Do you see any wives of his laying around?" Lao scoffed. "Atsou, you should look elsewhere. That woman is trouble."

Yoshiro rolled his eyes at Lao, "You just hate the woman because she challenged you and sided with Ozai."

"I hate her because she has no respect for authority. She rose to every man above her and proceeded to fight them." Lao spat. "What an unhinged woman. I don't understand what you or your brother see in her. She would only be your undoing."

Atsou tried ignoring Lao. While he had a great respect for the man that raised him as his grandson, he didn't always agree with him. Especially in regards to Katara. Lao hated her and wanted her to remain dead as he felt she was better off out of their way. She'd have stayed dead had Yoshiro not told him to take pity on her. The woman took her life after finding she spent years hating the man she loved for something he did not do. It was pitiful. But Atsou gave her a second chance because he felt he could give her a better life. Yet...you fight me every step of the way. Atsou clenched his fist at the thought.

"No more." Atsou looked to Lao. "Do not talk of her that way."

Lao snorted. You'll fall just like your brother.

And did he not get right back up? Atsou's red eyes glowed at Lao.

Unphased, You may be his twin but you are not Ozai. He's come back from many things that you would not have survived.

…..

For the last week, Kya had been getting report after report from the governors of seven different provinces that were dealing with raids on small villages. Mass carnage in seven provinces. Refugees fleeing to other provinces, bringing fear and whispers of uprisings with them. This matter was becoming increasingly bad for the image of the Phoenix Empire. Kya contacted her father about the matter and he arrived immediately to address the issue and decree a massive reward for whoever captures a member from this rebel group.

"Have the posters plastered on every wall of the bounty hunters' dens! I want the bastards alive!" Ozai shouted at his ministers and officials.

As they all scattered out of the throne room, Kya walked to her father's side with her hands clasped behind her back. "What would you like me to do, father?"

"Where is Uhara? I need to speak with him." Ozai told her as he didn't bother to look at her.

Furrowing her brows a little, Kya didn't argue with him and went off to go find Uhara.

Several minutes later, Kya stormed into the office where Uhara was stressing over the massive amount of paperwork regarding the ministry of coin that was currently vacant after the ministers were killed earlier this year by Lady Katara. She could see he was burdened enough, so she would keep her comments to herself.

"My father would like to speak with you, Uhara." Kya said as she came up to his desk.

Rustling his tidy hair into a mess as he groaned in frustration, "What does he want? I'm busy. Can't you deal with it?"

"I would have thought so but he specifically asked for you." Kya tried not to sound bothered by this and worked around the desk to place her hand on his shoulder. "Go see what my father wants. I'll take over things from here."

Uhara sighed as he stood up from his seat as she offered him a smile, he shook his head, unable to return the gesture. "You don't have to. I'll go see what he wants and come back." He said, reaching to peck just above her eye.

"Okay. I'll take a nap." Kya cheered.

"Rest well."

Going to see what the Phoenix King wanted, Uhara saw the man was already speaking with someone, Princess Ami. He was suddenly thankful that Kya was not here at the moment. He knew how much Kya hated Ami and hated the woman even more when she was around her father.

"Lord Totomi." The princess spotted him before the Phoenix King could turn around.

Uhara greeted the woman and paid respect to the Phoenix King.

Ozai sucked his teeth at the man, "Still hellbent on not calling me 'father', I see."

"You'll have to excuse me, your majesty. I only mean to be respectful." Uhara said with a hint of annoyance.

Picking up on this, Ami and Ozai exchanged looks.

"So, what can I do for you, your majesty?"

Snorting as he looked away from the man, "Ami is working on a project for me. Something big, I believe. The second phase of her operation will require her to implement her project within the structure of the palace. I want you to oversee the operation. Can you do that for me?"

Uhara raised his brow as if to ask if the Phoenix King was serious. He was pulled away from managing the finances of the empire for this?

"I'd ask Kya to do it but I hear she and Ami are not on the best of terms."

Nodding his head, "Yes, let me just delay other important matters to focus on some science experiment here. Won't be any problem."

Ozai raised a brow as he was taken aback by Uhara's attitude.

Seeing this, Uhara sighed. "Forgive me, your majesty. I'm tired. Stretched thin as it is. But I can forfeit another hour of sleep to follow your orders."

"Just pass your tasks over to Kya."

Yeah, Uhara was not doing that. Kya was already doing so much and she wasn't really sleeping at all. She wasn't in her bed the last few nights. He always found her snoring at the desk. It was concerning him. He'd just suck it up and do his part to help her.

Shaking his head, "It's fine. I can handle it." Uhara sighed. "What exactly will I need to oversee?"

Ami went on to explain her project and what had been agreed upon by the Phoenix King. After the details were made clear, Uhara accepted the responsibility and proceeded to leave.

When he was gone, Ami folded her arms and smirked. "Sleep deprivation can make even the most cautious of people to act out. I fear that man needs some sleep."

"If he wasn't staying up to bed my daughter, I'd pity him more." Ozai scoffed.

"Lord Totomi has been staying at his villa in the city while your daughter sleeps at your desk. I doubt the two have any time for that sort of thing at all." Ami informed as she glanced up at him. "How is the Fire Nation doing?"

Ozai didn't want to say it but the place was practically self governing the way Zuko had things operating around there. There were very few things he had to do. It was like a vacation. He couldn't complain.

"Much better than here, it seems."

"Is it warmer this time of year?"

"It's warm all year round though around this time there is a slight draft of wind that blows in from the North."

"Wish I could go there." Ami shivered a bit. "The air is cooling around here now and I'm not my younger hot blooded self."

Ozai noticed she did seem a bit cold, "I can take you there."

"You sure about that, your majesty? Your daughter likes to think we have a fling going on. I don't want to come between a father and his daughter."

Scoffing, "So nice of you to think about a relationship that is already hanging on by a thread. No, I don't really care what Kya thinks of my personal life. She's never agreed I be with anyone but her mother."

"Ah, well, if that is the case then I do not mind, your majesty. I'd love to see what the Fire Nation feels like during these cool months."

Grinning, Ozai opened a black flame portal and took Ami's hand. "Then let's go." He pulled her through the portal with him.

"Bone marrow?" Katara raised a brow.

Lao nodded his head as he decided he would send the waterbender on a mission to hopefully get Atsou to focus on other more important matters. He figured with some of his research from years ago being stowed away in a secret location and his need for them as he was beginning his experimentation on Fire Lord Zuko, Katara would be the perfect person to send to fetch it. This hadn't been run by Atsou because he would no doubt object. Not wanting his brother in close proximity to Katara due to some personal feelings.

"Ozai might have told you this already but we ran a plethora of experiments on him while he was 'dead' and were able to make astonishing discoveries due to it." Lao explained. "The white crystals around your neck and the necks of all our vital agents are all made from his bone marrow."

Katara furrowed her brows as she looked down at the crystal necklace and studied it.

Standing from his desk as he further explained the properties of the crystals, "It was forged with pressure and the flames belonging to Atsou. So you have the immortality of Ozai and Atsou can observe you when you wear it."

Is that so? Katara made sure to store that piece of information away in the part of her brain that was collecting information for her own gain. She might be working with these assholes to protect her children but she had other reasons for operating under their instruction. Whatever they were planning outside of their personal vendetta against Ozai, she knew it wasn't going to be good. Atsou's true goal. His true mission. It was shrouded into much mystery for it to be as noble a cause as he tried to paint to her before. He wanted the world to accept their kind but she knew there was more to it. Far more than what he was letting on. She knew that while Atsou wasn't raised as a Fire Nation Royal, his blood was kin to them and she smelt tyrant all over him.

"With the research you bring back, we will be able to do much more with advancing our projects and development. Maybe even spend up our use of Fire Lord Zuko. You want him to return home to your son soon, do you not?" Lao wore that disingenuous smile of his as he looked to her with his narrowed eyes.

Pulling the mask up to the lower half of her face, Katara said nothing as she nodded her head in affirmation to the man's question. He wasn't asking for a lot of her on this mission. It was pretty easy and straight to the point compared to everything else she had done. Plus, there was no killing involved. As long as she remained out of sight and was stealthy, she wouldn't have to get her hands dirty. And the siren won't come out.

Lao gave her a scroll detailing where the secret location was and a funny looking key. It looked like it was located in the Fire Nation palace. Just below the dungeons. She'd have to get past a few palace guards, knock a few out in the dungeons but it should be a straight shot.

As the waterbender put the scroll and key in her sleeve, Lao gave her one piece of advice. "Ozai is currently governing the Fire Nation in Zuko's stead. You could easily get past the guards and everyone else but he will sense you the moment you step into the palace. He's warded the entire palace just in case any of us show back up. So you'll have to remain a few steps ahead of him and stay out of the light of his flames, the palace is filled with it to keep us from monitoring him. Tread carefully."

So basically I'm going to have to kick his ass is what you're telling me? Because there was no way she was going to be able to bypass Ozai even if he didn't ward the palace. If she was a hundred feet of him in a maze, he'd find her. That's just how it was with them. She existed anywhere and he'd be on her ass. Both figuratively and literally speaking.

"Now be quick. Atsou doesn't know I'm sending you out and will intervene." Lao told her. "And don't get caught."

"I won't." Katara said as she left Lao's office. She just hoped Ozai understood that if he got in her way she was going to have to hurt him. And La knew he was still going to get in her way. Smirking a little to herself, guess we'll have to settle that Agni Kai match, Ozai.

….

A/N:

Next chapter, we'll see who's stronger. Ozai or Katara. Anyone ready to see them finally go all out? Let me know who you all think is stronger in the comments or PM!