Chapter 3: The Aftermath

AN: Yay! New Chapter! Whoohoo! I'm sorry if I have been super slow. I am studying for my exams. Yaaaay….fun….. : Anyway, I thought I would take a break from endless note cards to write another chapter! I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

"What have you done?" Zuko whispered.

"I…I…It was an accident…" Katara stuttered "…I didn't know that my healing powers would…I'm sorry…." Zuko glared at her. He was hurt, confused, and was about to take it all out on the girl in front of him when he suddenly wondered if the girl had seen the memory of the Agni-Kai with his father.

"What did you see?" Zuko's question surprised Katara. She had been expecting him to yell at her, not question her. The truth was that Katara would have preferred the yelling to his simple question. The answer to that question would probably raise the horrible memory again and would inevitably bring Zuko's wrath upon her.

"I…nothing…I saw nothing." Katara answered quietly. She quickly lowered her head to hide her lying eyes from Zuko's penetrating glare. She moved too slowly and Zuko knew. He knew that she had seen the entire thing. All the way from the battle to the present, she had seen all the humiliation.

I have to get away…she knows… Zuko thought. He was starting to panic and was about to make a bolt for the forest when he felt a small cool and on his arm. Zuko turned to face the waterbender. Katara meant to tell him she was sorry but stopped when she saw his face. She took in the picture of his unmarred face in the moonlight for the first time. He was handsome, no, beautiful. His muscled body and his strong features practically glowed in the light of the full moon.

"Waterbender…" Zuko said softly. Katara looked back up at his eyes and waited for his next thought. Zuko stared at her for a few moments and then…

He shoved her hand off his arm.

"…Don't ever touch me again." Zuko said sternly. He turned and fled into the woods, and didn't look back.

Katara stood there shocked and hurt. She fell into the water and stared at the retreating figure with blurry eyes. The battle and healing Zuko's scar cost her all the energy she had. She didn't check on Aang, she knew he was safe from Zuko for a while.

He will probably come after me now. Katara thought wryly.

The water rushed around her exhausted body soothing it. As she began to faint, all she could see was fire, burning and Zuko's heart wrenching scream.

At first, Zuko didn't return to his uncle. He wandered the woods oblivious to direction and time. The scar was gone…his scar was gone…It still burned inside of him though. The memory burned even brighter than ever in his mind. Zuko stopped running and kneeled down in the undergrowth of the forest.

I have to put it back.

He slowly raised his hand up to his eye and prepared to unleash a fireball.

I have to put it back.

The end of his fist started to glow orange and red and a soft heat hit his eye.

I have to put it back.

Zuko suddenly saw big blue eyes and an angel's sweet face pleading with him.

But I have to put it back

His arm began to shake and become unsteady. The angel's eyes were crying.

Zuko lowered his hand slowly into his lap and silent tears slid down his cheeks. Zuko brushed them away, disgusted at the sign of weakness. I need to get back to Uncle Iroh. Zuko thought crossly. He still needs my help.

Zuko found his original trail again and headed for camp. All along the way, he thought of how he was going to explain his…condition…to Uncle Iroh. He walked into camp quietly. The fire was burning very softly now and he saw his uncle curled up near it. Iroh was ghostly pale, shivering violently, and barely breathing. Zuko realized that the fire was reflecting his Uncle's health condition and both were not faring well at all.

What am I going to do now? He is worse than ever and I have no medicine. Zuko built the fire up to a roaring blaze and covered his uncle in all the blankets they had. He even took off his own clothing to the bare minimum to cover his Uncle. He finally stopped shivering but just to make sure, Zuko slept near his Uncle to give him extra warmth. Zuko slowly closed his eyes and rested his tired body. He tried not to dream but he still saw the angel's eyes, those beautiful eyes that were once filled with tears now smiled at him and Zuko felt a great sense of calm wash over him. It was like the calm he first felt when that waterbender healed his scar…

Zuko sat up quickly. The waterbender had healing powers…she could heal Uncle Iroh!