AN: This is possibly one of my favorite chapters. In my opinion, things are finally getting good. BTW, I don't own Avatar. If I did, I'd...(pulling a blank)...I'd do something...Just read the darn story...

Chapter 11: The Rift

Early the next morning, Zuko had taken the time to draw Aang a map of the surrounding areas, detailing specific landmarks on the way to Kyoshi. By the time Katara and Sokka were up and fed, they were ready to go.

By early afternoon, Zuko, for the first time in his life, hated being a fire-bender. The high-altitude air was frigid and despite his hot nature, he was sitting next to Aang, clutching his knees to his chest and shivering. No one really paid much attention to him. Sokka had gone back to sleep, Katara was going through their supplies, and Aang was focused on spotting the landmarks Zuko had given him.

So Zuko sat back into the saddle, near where Aang was sitting on Appa's head, and tried to doze. But he was barely a moment gone when his head snapped straight. Standing immediately, he felt the presence within him going haywire. He began to pace back and forth across the saddle, and Katara was looking at him strangely, but he couldn't sit still. And then he felt it.

Standing in the middle of the saddle next to Aang, Zuko spoke calmly, and that in itself scared the rest of them. "Aang, for the next few minutes, I want you to do exactly as I say, alright?" Aang glanced at him, confused, but Zuko had his back to him and didn't see it.

"Alright, Zuko." And Zuko closed his eyes. They waited breathlessly for several moments, when Zuko said simply.

"Right."

"Huh?"

"TURN RIGHT!"

Aang pulled on Appa's reins and they swerved to the right just as a huge fireball soared past them. Katara glanced over the edge of the saddle and could just barely see a Fire Navy ship somewhere beneath them. But she never saw the fireball until Zuko shouted to Aang. "Pull up and more to the right!"

Aang followed his instructions and they avoided another fireball, and they continued like this for several minutes until finally the fireballs stopped.

"Zuko, the ship's still there." Zuko nodded to her, and he frowned, sighing. Turning to face Aang, he began to contemplate a drastic plan. The last fireball was falling towards the ocean, and Zuko called to Aang.

"Grab that fireball, Aang! I have an idea."

As Aang stood up and used air-bending to catch the fireball before it hit the water, Zuko slipped into his place, grabbed Appa's reins, and pulled the bison into a 180. Aang held the fireball in front of Appa and Zuko relit it. Appa began diving down toward the ship and Aang caught on to Zuko's plan.

"Aim for the center of the ship Aang!"

Aang concentrated and let the fireball fly. It landed dead center on the Fire Nation ship, and an explosion radiated from the blast. A huge cloud of black smoke billowed out from the ship and Appa pulled up through it, and they continued their course.

Sokka and Katara were looking at the two, surprised. Sokka was grinning, amazed, but Katara was suspicious.

"Well, you two seem to work together well." Aang and Zuko were grinning at each other and ignored Sokka's comment, or either didn't hear it.

"Yeah, I think I'd like to know where you two learned to be such a team." Katara nearly yelled it with more than a little suspicion in her voice. She still didn't trust Zuko. Zuko and Aang looked at her, and Aang's gaze slipped worriedly from her to Zuko, but Zuko was unperturbed.

"This is not the first time Aang and I have worked together." The subject was left at that, but Katara had every intention of getting the whole truth out of Aang later.

They reached a secluded island just as the sun was setting. This time, Katara left the fire immediately to Zuko, who took care of it in seconds and disappeared with an empty bag. Sokka and Aang took down the sleeping bags and the cooking supplies Katara needed.
They had just begun supper, which consisted of a thick stew, meatless for Aang, when Zuko came trudging back into the clearing. The bag he'd carried with him was now full of something. He knelt, opened it, and handed a smallish fruit to Sokka. Sokka immediately bit into it, and his eyes went wide.

"It tastes like…I don't know…a bunch of things." Zuko smiled.

"They're called tordi. They are a real delicacy in the Fire Nation, and one of my favorites. Since they tend to grow around here, I thought I check for some."

By now, Aang and Katara had tried one each and all three of them wanted more, ignoring the stew and the bag was filled with the pear-sized fruits. Zuko merely took a couple and a bowl of stew and sat down, leaning against a tree for support. He ate calmly, as always. Momo, who until this time had been hiding in Aang's bag, came out and curled up next to Zuko's leg, welcoming the unaccustomed warmth.

"So, Zuko, will you teach me some of your moves?"

Zuko glanced up at Sokka, who'd just finished eating…everything he could get his hands on. Zuko had been lost in his own thoughts though,

"Huh?"

"I'm a poor water peasant who thinks he's a great warrior. You're a Fire Nation prince who's studied who knows how many deadly arts. Teach me."

"Oh. Okay."

Zuko then returned to his meal, but Sokka looked put out.

"When?"

"When I can get some broadswords and you some proper attire, and I get used to my Oath so I can move without effort."

"Oh, alrighty then."

Aang stood and stretched slowly. "Where'd you find those fruits Zuko?" Zuko pointed.

"Near the beach."

Aang grabbed the now empty bag. "Come on Sokka, we'll go get some for the trip." Sokka nodded enthusiastically and followed Aang into the brush. Zuko sighed, finished his meal, and in turn, helped Katara wash their bowls and spoons in a nearby stream.

Briefly startled by this moment of kindness, Katara chose not to comment. She sat down on her sleeping bag and began to sew up a rip in the sleeve of one of Sokka's shirts. As she did so, her thoughts turned to the day's battle. She frowned briefly in anger. "Stupid fire-benders."

"What?"

Katara looked up from the shirt to have Zuko staring at her, his eyes accusing and angry. Her frown deepened.

"I didn't…"

"Do you just have some permanent chip on your shoulder against the Fire Nation?" Katara stood up to have a better defense against Zuko's fire.

"Zuko, the Fire Nation killed my mother." She said with more than a little attitude, like it was obvious.

"Why don't you just blame me personally for that?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You might as well have when you place all fire-benders in the same boat!"

"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?"

"THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS!"

"WELL, NOT ALL OF US ARE KNOW-IT-ALLS!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

"THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS!"

Zuko hissed and the camp fire flared with his burning fists. Katara reached towards the water in the stream and they glared at each other.

"Why do you still protect the Fire Nation? Why do you stand up for those who cast you out?"

"Why should I abandon what I am? The Fire Nation is part of me and I will always defend it. Your mother's death is regrettable but nothing I can change."

Katara shook her head, and the words were out before she thought about them.

"Why do you stand by the very man who KILLED YOUR SISTER?"

It took her less than an instant to figure out she'd gone too far. Zuko yelled and through a fireball at her. She dodged it and formed a water whip in time to block a second arc of flame. They continued in this manner until the campsite was covered in clouds of steam and flame.

Somehow, they'd managed to get very close, too close for bending, and they'd descended to physical means. Well, actually, Katara did, Zuko was too much of a gentleman to hit her. His burning hands caught her shoulder and she screamed through the sudden pain. Then they were blown apart by a sudden blast of wind.

The next thing they both knew, Sokka had Zuko literally off his feet and Katara was trying to claw her way past Aang.

"Zuko, Katara, stop it!" Aang yelled. Zuko immediately froze and straightened as the flames at his fists died out, and Katara, seeing Zuko's inability to continue their battle, she stopped.

"What is with you two?" Aang continued, staring at the two in shock and confusion. Zuko had a cut lip and Katara's shoulders would be tender for several days after. They both were covered in small burns, cuts, and bruises.

"On second thought, I don't want to know." Aang took on the stance of the Avatar, the same stance he'd taken with the feuding tribes. "Zuko, you stay over here with me. Sokka, you and Katara sleep over there. We'll settle this in the morning."

"I doubt it." Katara hissed.

"For once we agree." Zuko commented and his right hand began smoking.

Aang and Sokka looked at each other and their eyes met, and they both knew that the two were right.

It was barely a week before Zuko's temper finally returned to normal, but neither he nor Katara said more than was necessary to the other. Both were too proud to apologize, and in their eyes, it was just easier to keep fighting than to take a bow.

Though Sokka and Aang tried desperately to resolve the issue between Zuko and Katara, but it was hard to fix it when neither one of the two would talk about it. The only clue they found was in their eyes, both golden and blue were full of hatred…and pain.

I finally got to the huge fight between Katara and Zuko! Now, you may wonder, how in the world can they fall in love after this? Stay tuned. I love impossible challenges.