AN: Hope all of u enjoyed chapter 10 and got a chance to check out my friends. I think their stories are really good so if you didn't check k them out you should give them a chance. So please remember to review I have some writers block so if you got any ideas please let me know.

DISCLAMER: I do not own the Avatar but I do own Kaori, Ryu and the plot.

Chapter 11

The Truth Comes Out

Zuko's Chamber

Zuko was sound asleep with his arms wrapped around Kaori holding her close to his body. As much as Kaori wanted to stay, she knew she had to free Sokka. So she slowly squiggled lose from Zuko's grip, got dressed and gave Zuko a kiss on the cheek before she left. Kaori walked down the hallways passing soldiers who didn't pay attention as she passed. All she had to do was look like she was looking for Zuko when she was in the hold and everyone that passed assumed that she wouldn't let Sokka out. But they were wrong.

"Sokka!" Kaori said in a loud whisper, "Where are you?"

"Kaori?" Sokka said in a surprised voice, "Is that you?" Sokka stuck his hand through the bars on the door.

"Of course its me, who else would it be?" Kaori responded sarcastically.

"What are you doing down here?" Sokka asked as Kaori ran to the cell door with the keys.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"What about Zuko? I thought he never let you go near another guy. And not to mention how angry he will be when he finds out that the both of us are gone."

"That's the thing," Kaori said opening the door and looking Sokka in the eyes, he could tell it was bad news and his big smile slowly got smaller, "I cant go with you. You have to get out of here while Zuko is asleep. If he wakes up and finds the both of us gone he will search even harder for Aang. And once he has both of us, he wont need to try and make me fall in love with him. Same for you I would do anything to make sure you didn't get hurt and you would do the same for me right?"

"I'm not sure what you mean…" Sokka said looking as confused as ever.

"You would do anything to make sure I was safe and unharmed, right?" Kaori started to cry.

"Of course I would." Sokka said taking Kaori in his arms.

"That's why I need you to leave. Without me." Kaori gripped Sokka tighter now then ever.

Sokka put his hands on Kaori's shoulders and pulled her away.

"Why can't you come with me?" Sokka said looking Kaori in the eyes.

"If I go with you Zuko won't stop at anything to capture me and Aang."

"ooo" Sokka looked down.

Thud

Kaori broke free of Sokka's grip and started to run to the deck being closely followed by Sokka. When they got there they were both speechless. Zuko was on the deck looking angry but relieved and Kaori knew why. Four guards came up behind her and Sokka, two grabbed Sokka and the other two pulled Kaori towards Zuko.

"Good job Kaori. Way to stick to the plan." Zuko said wrapping his arm around Kaori and pulling her close to him.

"You had this planned!" Sokka yelled trying to break free.

"No, Sokka this wasn't a plan!" Kaori responded trying to break free from Zuko.

"You try and do that do that again and I tell your friend about all the nights you spent in my room," Zuko whispered turning to Kaori, "and what we did. Or more likely what you let me do."

"You wouldn't." Kaori said turning to look Zuko in the eyes.

"Oh I would." Zuko looked Kaori back in the eyes.

Kaori leaned back onto Zuko.

"Sokka I'm sorry." Kaori looked down.

"You traitor! I can't believe we trusted you!" As Sokka said this Aang and Katara were dragged over to where Sokka stood.

"Kaori how could you?" Katara asked looking from Kaori to Sokka then Aang and back to Kaori. "We trusted you."

"Zuko, would you mind if I went to bed? It's cold, late and I'm tired." Kaori said turning to look at Zuko.

"I would prefer if you stayed here with me." Zuko wrapped his arms around Kaori as if he was hugging her. "Take them to the dungeon, I have to get her warm." Zuko said to the guards holding Katara, Aang, and Sokka.

Kaori was in Zuko's arms shivering as they walked to his room, and sat on the bed.

"I'm going to go get you a warm bowl of soup. Stay here." Zuko said as he wrapped a blanket around Kaori.

Kaori just nodded and looked at Zuko with a miserable look on her face.

He is so gullible.

Zuko left closing the door behind him. Kaori got up, walked towards the door and slowly opened it. Zuko stood on the other side of the door, looking like he was waiting for her to try to get out. He had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot.

"Did you really think I would fall for that?" Zuko said barging in the room and throwing Kaori on the bed.

"You can't blame a girl for trying." Kaori responded looking innocent.

"Actually, yes I can. Now that I have the Avatar I'm not letting you leave this room. And don't even think about trying to go free them at night, because there will be a guard outside of this room 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Plus, I'm a light sleeper so I will know if you get out of this bed. But if you do everything that I tell you I will let the Avatar go. Once I'm married to a fire bender and someone who could sneak fire nation soldiers into the Earth Nation's capital I won't need the him anymore." Zuko retorted.

"Will you at least let me go talk to Sokka?" Kaori asked sitting up.

"Only if a guard goes with you."

"Can it be Ryu?" Kaori asked raising an eyebrow.

"Only if someone else goes with the two of you." Zuko responded sitting next to her and pulling her close.

Kaori lend her head on his shoulder, Zuko leaned is head on Kaori's head. They just sat there listening to each other breath.

"Zuko," Kaori said breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Zuko said lifting his head and looking Kaori in the eyes.

"Do you really like me, or did you just want to capture me because I am friends with the Avatar? Be honest." Kaori said holding Zuko's hands.

"Honestly?" Zuko questioned as Kaori nodded her head, "At first it, I was just intending on using you to get to the Avatar, and when I was done with you I'd sell you, or something. But then I got to know you and liked you. Now I really like you."

"Oh," Kaori responded without realizing what he had just said, "Wait, you would sell me? I not a thing, I'm a human being!"

"I know that and now, and I would never even think to do something like that. I am even disappointed in myself for thinking that." Zuko said defensively.

"………………" Kaori stared into Zuko's eyes with a look that said you better not and more.

"So," Zuko said daring to brake the silence, "Tomorrow night is music night. Do you want to sign up to sing something?"

"How do you know that I like to sing?" Kaori questioned like a little kid.

"I have heard you singing in the shower, everyone on the ship has, and we all think you are really good."

"Were you spying on me?"

"More like waiting for you to finish your half an hour shower so I could take one."

"I'll only sing if you sing one song without me and then sing a duet with me."

"Fine, but I get to pick what I sing, and I have a say in the duet."

"Fine." Kaori finished saying as she leaned her head on Zuko's shoulder.