A/N: So everyone, next chapter! Just to warn you, the end might be… um, very much rated T… you'll see why. Oh, and I'd like to make an edit. In the last chapter, at the very end with Zuko and Iroh, I didn't like how I made Zuko act, so I changed it, but I'll just repost it for you and start off from there.
..:-:..
Iroh had just woken up and he was now scratching his back. Groggily he stood up and went out of his room.
"HI UNCLE!"
Iroh stopped immediately and his eyes bulged.
"Zuko! What on earth are you doing out of bed already? And why did you have to wake me up like that?"
Zuko ignored him and he just walked right by, and into his room. He shut the door very loudly and Iroh flinched. He scratched his head as Zuko's actions began to further puzzle him.
Chapter 4Zuko sat on his bed and looked around at his surroundings. Dark red glows were everywhere and every single thing reminded him of what had happened with his… father. But now when he looked at all of his things, he didn't feel hurt, pained and anguished. Instead, he felt like none of it mattered anymore. Besides, had anything bad happened for the past couple of years, away from the fire nation? They had turned their backs on him, and they hadn't cared a single bit. Now his eyes walked over the wall, and rested on the two swords that hung there. And Zuko smiled. He smiled at remembering how exhilarating it was going against Zhao and winning. There was also the fact though, that the Avatar had rescued him.
He stood up instantly as there was a knock on the door.
"Zuko? It's me, can I come in?"
Zuko relaxed and sat back down.
"Yes Uncle, come in."
Iroh stepped inside and gently closed the door. He looked around the room, twiddled his thumbs and sighed.
"Yes?"
Iroh cleared his throat.
"Well… um, as your uncle, I have a certain parental … parental guidance that I should give you. For the past couple of days… you've seemed… very distant Zuko."
"So?"
"So… do you want to talk about anything? Something puzzling you?"
"Uncle, this is freaking me out. Why are you asking?"
"Because I actually care if you want to know!"
There was an awkward silence between the two, and then Zuko sighed.
"Fine… I'll tell you."
Iroh cheered up and beamed at him.
"Good! Good, then ah, what's the trouble Zuko?"
"The trouble? THE TROUBLE? We have been chasing the Avatar for over two years now! And when we have caught him, he has always slipped out of our reach!"
"I know! That kid has got some fighting power. We should rethink our approach perhaps…"
Zuko clenched his fist and stood up, surprising Iroh.
"Uncle, you don't get it! Time after time we've had him, but we never can keep him. Don't you think that's telling us something? I've been cast away from the fire nation, and only now do I fully understand it! They don't care uncle!… My father doesn't care…"
He looked away and his gaze fell upon the swords again.
"I'm sorry about that Zuko, but we can still try to regain your honor… if only…"
"Uncle, I really just don't care anymore… can you please leave?"
Zuko stood with his back against his uncle. Iroh sighed, and quietly walked out of the room. When Zuko heard the door close, he sprawled onto his bed, and the only thing that came to his mind was her. Did his life make any sense? Only that morning had he felt normal… but now? What was he going to do about it? Zuko couldn't leave his uncle, but what kind of a life would that leave them to live? He couldn't just go away with Katara. Couldn't. He couldn't do this, he couldn't do that, so then what was there left to do?
Zuko swiftly got up, and left of his room.
..:-:..
"What do you mean we are flying today?"
"Well it seems like Appa is rested enough, so I think we can fly today," said Aang reasonably.
"But… um didn't you say we needed the exercise? Besides Aang, I like it down here for once!"
"Katara, you have never been like this before, what's wrong with flying?"
"Well Sokka, for one, how are you going to be in shape when you sit around all the time?"
He gave her a smug look, because he knew of course that she was right.
"So what are we supposed to do Katara, just walk?"
"Precisely Aang!"
So she beamed, and walked right on ahead, leaving Sokka and Aang confused and with blank expressions on their faces.
Katara of course couldn't tell them the real reason why. If they would fly away, who knew how long it would take Zuko to find her again? That whole morning all she could do was think about how incredible Zuko was. She had never experienced that kind of feeling before, and she only had it when she was with Zuko. Her happy thoughts were interrupted.
"So, Aang, tell me which is more like him. Eh hem. Where is the Avatar? Or… I want the Avatar right now!"
Aang began to laugh at the impressions that Sokka was making. Katara seemed mildly interested, so she stopped and waited for them to reach her.
"Uh, who are you guys making fun of?"
"Why couldn't you tell Katara?" asked Sokka, a bit disappointed, "I was impersonating that slime ball fire prince of course!"
Her eyes widened just slightly, and then she relaxed.
"Oh, you mean Zuko…"
"Yeah, him. Doesn't it just annoy you how he is always after Aang?"
"You're right Sokka! I don't think he has a life, I mean, why would he spend his time just chasing after me?"
Katara had heard enough of it. She sped up a bit, so that she again was up ahead of them. Could she really have been so stupid? She had let her emotions get the best of her, without thinking properly. Why had Zuko even thought about her like that? He was just trying to get her trust, so that he once again could try to capture Aang. Her blood began to boil; she was blinded by her emotions, and she hadn't thought about anything clearly. Why had she kissed him? Why? Because she saw a hurt little boy, and she felt pity for him. So that's why she kissed him? No, it was something more, but now she knew it was false, it wasn't real.
"Hey, Katara!"
She spun around and glared at them.
"What?"
Aang and Sokka began to snicker, and this flared her anger even more.
"I said what? What is so funny?"
Sokka finally spoke.
"… I, I didn't know you could… fly!"
At this Aang and Sokka burst out laughing. Katara looked up and saw that Momo was above her head, with its wings spread out. She waved him off angrily, and then she practically exploded.
"You think that's funny do you? WELL I DON'T! You two have acted like little kids for practically the entire journey and rarely have you even been serious at all!"
Aang tried to interrupt but he failed.
"Katara…"
"I'm not done! Well actually, yes I am! I've had enough of this! I'm going for a walk, and don't follow me! Stay here. I need to go clear my head."
Katara marched away into the wood, and she didn't look back. Aang, Sokka and Momo, just looked straight ahead with no expression on their faces. Sokka finally came to a conclusion.
"Aang, I think that we will never know how a girl works. Hopefully someone will write a book about them."
The two of them started to laugh at this. From within the forest, Katara heard this, and rolled her eyes. She just wanted to get away.
..:-:..
And of course she did. She was well into the forest now. So far in fact, that she couldn't hear anything except the animals calling to each other. She breathed in deeply, and sighed. Her life had become so complicated in the past day. And Aang and Sokka were not making it any easier. Something in her now wished that he would come again, and make everything all better. Zuko, what was it about him? He was the enemy, a Fire Prince. She closed her eyes, and desperately wanted someone to come and comfort her. Maybe even…
Suddenly her eyes jerked open. Two arms wrapped around her, and she felt him against her back. She smiled.
"Zuko!"
But when she turned around, her smile vanished instantly. Her heart began to beat at a thousand beats per minute, it seemed, and the entire world around her seemed to stop. How could this have happened? All the way out here, so far away, and yet here he was. Katara gasped as he grabbed her by her wrists. This was even scarier then the time when Zuko had done it.
His deep melodic voice and his swooning charm somehow entranced her once again.
"Why hello Katara. Nice seeing you again."
She began to lose her strength and slowly her body gave way. He caught her, and then picked her up. Katara's eyes barely opened. Only one thought passed her mind.
'Zuko… Zuko, I need you…'And then her eyes closed.
..:-:..
Zuko was now making his way through the forest. He was going to go find her. Make everything right. Suddenly, he stopped. He turned his head to his left, and somehow it seemed that he could hear one thing and one thing only.
'Zuko… Zuko, I need you…'His eyes widened, and at once he knew that she was in trouble.
"Don't worry Katara. I'll find you."
And with that, he sped away through the forest.
..:-:..
"Hey Sokka, do you think we should go find Katara? She's been gone for a while now."
"Eh, I don't really care. She said not to follow, so I won't. But if you want to, then go right ahead."
Aang nodded his head, and picked up his glider. When he was about five minutes into the forest, he stopped. He shook his head, and then saw that there was nothing. But hadn't he just seen him? Wasn't that Zuko running by?
No. It couldn't have been.
So Aang continued walking.
..:-:..
He looked around to see if anyone was there, and then when he saw that the coast was clear, he stood Katara up, and wrapped his arm around her. With the other, he found a rope, and gave it a tug. Instantly the two went up into the air, and through the tree branches. Up at the top of the tree, was of course a tree house, small, but big enough. He picked up Katara once again, and then laid her down on the bed. He smiled as she began to wake up. When her eyes fully opened, she sat up with a jolt.
"What are you doing?"
"A very fine question to ask me."
"Okay, I know that we left you in a bad condition but…"
His smile was gone, and his face hardened.
"Katara, I never thought you would have acted in that way. You know I only protect people."
"No, you don't! You would have killed innocent people if it wasn't for us that day!"
He walked up to her, and stood there. He reached out to touch her cheek, but she pushed his arm away.
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way Katara. But I must say, I don't feel that way about you, at all."
Suddenly everything made sense. Sokka had said that he was getting a weird vibe from that one tree, and she had thought he was crazy. The same thing happened once before.
"What do you want Jet?" she asked coldly.
He shook his hair, and smiled at her. For a second her heart did a double take. Then he put his hand on her cheek, and it sent chills up through her spine. Jet leaned into her, so that their faces were only inches apart.
"I want you. I always have."
Nothing made sense to her. That voice was so dreamy, so wonderful and intoxicating, that she lost herself in it. What was happening to her? She was becoming taken over by him, and it was only the two of them there. His arms now wrapped around her, and she went completely numb. Katara closed her eyes, as Jet kissed her neck softly. When his lips brushed her skin, she felt that unbelievable sensation, that warmth, and it spread from his kiss. She knew that feeling. It was the feeling she had felt when Zuko's hands brushed her neck. But this was different. It wasn't Zuko; it was Jet; the person who had killer instincts, literally.
She jerked her eyes open, and pushed him by the shoulders. He didn't expect this, so naturally he fell back a few steps. Jet still smiled though, as if this was getting better.
"Katara, you are one special person, aren't you?"
And then he advanced again, and all Katara did was look around desperately for some water, any kind of water. But there was none, how convenient. Since she wasn't focusing on Jet, he was able to wrap his arms around her again, this time his grip was harder. Her thoughts were racing, and she finally came to a decision. As he was kissing her neck once more, she relaxed, to show him she didn't want to resist him. His grip began to loosen. All she would have to do, is pretend that everything was going to be all right, that someone would come and save her.
But who? She was stuck up in the tree, which was what seemed like miles from the ground. Jet's kisses left momentary warmth, but it disgusted her. She felt sick inside, and now she was beginning to get scared.
All she could think of was Zuko. How different his kisses had been. How his warmth comforted her, not how numb she felt.
'Zuko…'And then the evident happened. Katara looked at him with wide eyes, scared eyes, as he did it. His lips smashed into hers, and she gave a tiny whimper of pain. She winced as Jet pulled her into him with all of his might. Her lungs felt like they had stopped working, she couldn't breathe. He forcefully kissed her, and his hands felt like they were groping her back. Katara wanted to hurl, but she was too weak to, and Jet's mouth covered hers completely. She wanted to cry out, but she couldn't. Her eyes wanted to let the tears flow, but none came. Inside, Katara was becoming less and less alive, and more cold and hard.
..:-:..
'Zuko…'He ripped past the trees with even more speed than before. Katara was definitely in trouble, but he didn't know where. All he knew is that somehow he could hear her calling to him, and that if he followed that voice, he would find her. And then suddenly, he stopped. Zuko didn't know why, but for some reason he felt that it was important. So he began to look around, but all he saw were trees.
Trees.
That was it. Zuko looked above him and there it was, a tree house. Immediately, he began to search all around the tree, but he couldn't find anything. Wouldn't there have been some kind of way to get up there?
And as if to answer his question, there it was. A rope blended in with the tree trunk. Clever.
..:-:..
Aang was now beginning to worry.
"Katara? Kataraaa? Are you there?"
No response. Where did she go? Was everything all right with her? Did something happen?
He didn't know, but one thing he knew for sure, that she wasn't there, and that meant that he would keep on searching until she was.
A/N: I hope you liked that, I know… not very happy huh? Lol Still, I'd like to know what you thought! I want to thank everyone that's reviewed! Thank you so much for that! All of you are the best! And I wish you a great week, and for those that celebrate, A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Because of the break, I will most likely have this updated by next Sunday:D