Chapter 4

She loves me? Prince Zuko thought to himself. She just doesn't know me that well. It must be a joke something the Avatar put her up to. His mind tried to register what in the world was going on. But all he could think of was that she said she loved him.

Snatching his hand away from Katara he snapped out the first thing that came to mind. "It will never work. You're a pathetic weak water bender. I'm a strong fire bender. It just wouldn't work out." He sped up his pace as if to get away from her.

Katara looked at her hands wondering what in the world she was thinking telling Zuko that. Maybe she really did want to be his wife. But then there was Ruko. He actually treated her like a human being not some toy just waiting to be played with. Ruko put his arm around the young water bender.

"My brother isn't a ladies man. After all he's got a heart of stone. And nothing can get past it." Ruko winked. "But my heart on the other hand…"

Lana hit Ruko in the head. She gave him a leave the girl alone look. "Ruko's a major flirt. I'm surprise that Zuko even picked you up along on his journey."

Katara shrugged her words off. Zuko had treated her so well… okay not true. But he had the nerve to actually give Katara a place to stay instead of some cold, dark, and damp cell. But she actually had the nerve to tell him that she loved him. What was she thinking?

"You were a fool to believe that he'd love you back." Katara muttered to herself.

Zuko turned around and looked at his two siblings Ruko was flirting with Katara, big surprise, and Lana was having a friendly conversation with the girl. His uncle was in the back watching the two fire benders carefully. He knew that if Ruko had enough alone time with the girl he would have her in bed with him by nightfall. Zuko shook his head. He wouldn't allow Katara to fall into a trap like that.

Sighing Zuko waited for the group to catch up to him before storming into the castle without Ruko. He knew that there had to actually get in a real bed tonight otherwise he might be sleeping in a prison cell with the rest of the lowlifes. He almost needed a way to confuse fire.

"What's the matter Zukki?" Ruko asked putting a friendly arm around the young fire bender. "Mad because I've got your girl?"

"Remember your training Prince Zuko, remember to stay calm." Iroh said walking up behind the two teens. "Prince Ruko do you have any tea? I could use a lotus tile since Prince Zuko here was so kind of to chuck it off a waterfall while we are search of the Avatar."

Zuko hit his forehead. Just what he needed to add to his stress allowing his brother and sister to find out about the Avatar. Ruko looked over to his sister and smiled. Turning to Katara he offered a friendly smile.

"Avatar huh?" Ruko smiled. "I'll keep that in mind." Turning to Katara he asked, "Would you grace me with your presence at dinner tonight just the two of us."

Katara giggled at the prince's attempted of asking her out. "I'd love to Prince Ruko." She glared at Zuko before adding. "Your presence is better than some."

Zuko nearly gagged at his brother pathetic accuse for flirting. Then he realized what Ruko just asked Katara. He tried his best to hide his jealousy but it wasn't working very well.

"You really want to go with him?" He blurted out. Zuko found himself being stared down by eight sets of eyes. He shook off the feeling and turned to the side so no one could see him blushing. "Not that I care."

He continued to walk as his uncle caught up to him. "What was that all about?" Iroh asked falling in step with his nephew.

"Uncle I need you to spy on Ruko tonight." Zuko said seriously. "I need to know what happens. I'll pay you and replace that lotus tile that I lost."

Iroh petted his beard in a thoughtful type way. His nephew actually willing to replace the lotus tile that could win him any game and pay him. He had to ponder this some more.

"Well Uncle?" He asked obviously getting impatient.

"I'll do it for twenty gold coins." Iroh answered.

Zuko handed him the twenty gold coins. He knew that spying on Katara's date was wrong but he needed to find out his brother was doing. He wouldn't allow Ruko to move into his territory of capturing the Avatar.

Zuko let out a huge fake yawn when they answered the palace. "I'm tired. Uncle and I will like to head off to bed now."

Lana nodded and waved at one of the guards to lead the two to the rooms, which he did. Zuko gave Katara one last look wondering what in the world she was going to do. If she really did love him then she would stay loyal to him and him alone. But if not this date might end Ruko another girl in his arms.

Katara found herself in a silk blue dress. It was beautiful even though it was a fire bender creation. She never knew for fire benders to make such beautiful creations. There was a knock at her door and Prince Zuko stepped in. She turned to hide her face from him.

"Sorry about the way I acted earlier." She froze when she saw him behind her in the mirror. Had Zuko just apologized to her?

He placed her necklace to her neck and strapped it on. She ran her fingers over the soft material and sighed. She turned around and saw him leaving. "Wait," Katara yelled running up to him. She flung her arms around Zuko's neck and smiled. "Thank you." She muttered giving Zuko a quick kiss on the lips.

Zuko pushed her away from him and snapped, "you're still weak and you're dating my brother now remember." He shut the door behind him hiding his smile. He came face to face with Ruko.

"What were you doing there?" Ruko snapped.

"Returning a stolen item to her." Zuko replied walking past him and down to his room. "I suggest you take good care of her. You'll never know who will be watching."

Shrugging his brother off Ruko entered Katara's dressing room. "Hey baby. Are you ready to go?"

Katara smiled fiddling with her necklace. Ruko looked at it and thought that must have been what Zuko returned to her. But why would he have it? He shrugged the feeling off and laced her arm with his. It was going to be a long date.

Katara looked around the garden that they were in. It was beautiful, some of the flowers she had never seen before. She turned and looked at Ruko, she did a double take when she saw Zuko in his face. I've really got to get that boy off my mind. Katara thought.

"So what do you think of my kingdom?" Ruko asked leading her to a balcony that over looked the whole kingdom.

"All of this is your?" Katara asked as he nodded. "Wow it's like as big as my whole village itself."

"Well it could all be yours if you join me in bed tonight." Ruko cupped her hands together.

Iroh gagged from the bushes. Zuko was right in saying that he only wanted Katara in bed with him. Zuko meanwhile was looking at the couple from his balcony. He saw her face go red.

"Oh brother please spare me the agony I can't stand to watch them any longer." He placed his hands over his heart as if struck with an arrow. He then noticed his uncle slipping away from the bushes and walking over to a guard. "What in the world is he doing?" He asked himself.

Zuko noticed a vine growing out from the side. He figured that his uncle was going to take a break and that was fine because he was going to take over anyway. Climbing carefully down the vine he snuck up to the group eating dinner.

"So you never did answer me." Ruko said cutting his steak.

Katara giggled a bit before answering, "I'm not sure if my brother would approve of that…" Ruko dropped his fork and knife and grabbed Katara's hands again.

"Oh please do. I've wanted find out what a female's body is like." He was practically begging.

Katara shook her hands of the boy and looked at her steak. "I'm sorry Ruko but I can't. I'm only fifteen years old." She shrugged. "I'll tell you what when I'm sixteen I'll be with you."

Zuko felt his heart break at that statement. She really didn't love him. He felt like burning his brother's palace down but he controlled his temper and listened on them so more.

"I really do love you. But I'm not ready for a commitment." Katara looked up into his eyes. "But I'm still trying to end this war."

Ruko sat back down in his seat and continued to cut his steak. Zuko on the other hand fell back further into the bushes and listened to their small talk. All he could think about was what she said. When she turned sixteen, was when she would marry Ruko. Which gave him the whole fire nation to himself. Zuko gulped, which meant that he would lose head if he didn't get out of there before Katara turned sixteen.

When the small talk quit Katara excused herself to use the bathroom. Zuko followed her carefully trying hard not to make a sound. She looked around and saw that Ruko wasn't in site any more.

"Ok Zuko you have some explaining to do." Katara said closing her eyes.

Zuko stood up from the bush he was hiding in. "How did you…"

"How dare you try to destroy my date with Ruko!" She yelled. "Can't you see that we were having a good time?"

Zuko opened his mouth to explain but shut it again. He turned on his heal and began to walk to his room. "I hope you are happy going around falling in love with everyone fire bender. Just stay away from me!"

"Fine I will!"

"Glad you will!"

"So am I!"

"Good!" Zuko stormed off towards his bedroom quickly turning a corner just to see what Katara would do next.

Katara stormed back to Ruko and sat on his lap. She looked around to see if Zuko was still in the area seeing his amber eyes she wrapped her arms around Ruko's neck and forcefully kissed him. Ruko was shocked at first but then wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss.

Zuko staggered backwards a bit before heading to his room. He suddenly felt like somebody took two daggers and stabbed them through his heart. It was going to be a long walk back to his room with the image of Katara kissing Ruko engraved in his mind forever. A tear slipped from his eyes as Zuko leaned up against the door.

"I'm going to kill Ruko." He muttered burning down the dresser before climbing into his bed.