A/N: Another long long chapter! Are you ready? You never know what twists will come about! lol

Chapter 6

Katara woke up; this time, her dream had gone into further detail. As she went into the fire, Zuko emerged out of it. He pleaded with her to help him, but she was yanked away once more, and that's when she woke up. These dreams were trying to tell her something, but she didn't know what it could have possibly been. Well that didn't matter because she was going to go see Zuko anyway.

When she entered the room for breakfast, she was greeted by a stunning surprise. There was her whole family gathered, and even Yue was smiling. It looked like a real smile, but she was going to be on her guard. They clapped as she walked in and her mother smiled at her warmly. What was going on? Katara sat down and then Nasu cleared his throat.

"Today is a special day. It is the day our dear Katara turns sixteen. To celebrate, we will be having a ball tonight for all of the city to attend. Katara, we all give you the best wishes for your future. Now, let's begin this wonderful day with a wonderful breakfast!"

Nasu sat down and everyone nodded their heads as the food was brought in. Katara was numb struck. She had completely forgotten about her own birthday. Was it because she was thinking so much about Zuko? Katara smiled as the food was brought in and along with it came a few water benders. Pakku stood up and joined them. Each of them moved their hands in a different fluid motion, and in just a few minutes, the words 'Happy Birthday Katara' were spelled out in water that hovered in the air. All of them cheered and then the water benders bowed. Katara thanked everyone for their gracious display and breakfast went along as usual.

She finished up her meal as fast as she could because she wanted to go see Zuko. That would be a perfect birthday, spend the day with Zuko and then have the ball at night in her honor. Everyone had left except for Katara, Shira and Nasu. When Katara stood up, Nasu motioned for her to sit back down.

"Katara, we have something very important and exciting to discuss with you."

She shrugged, all she wanted to do was hear what they had to say and then get out of there.

"Yes? I'm listening."

Shira took the glance from her husband as a signal for her to begin talking, so that is what she did.

"Katara, we wanted to wish you the best on this wonderful occasion. We would also like to inform you… that tonight at the ball, you will meet many men."

Her eyes widened. What were they playing at? Nasu cleared his throat and took a drink of his water.

"Katara, since you are now of marrying age, we need to find you a suitable suitor."

"What?"

She stood up enraged. This couldn't have been really happening.

"Katara sweetheart, nothing is um… guaranteed. Just be yourself at the ball tonight, and you will see if you like someone there. I'm sure you will. Today we need to get you ready and as beautiful as possible. Yue's hand maidens will be assisting us with that task."

Her head was buzzing and she had to sit down so that she wouldn't fall over. How could this be happening? She didn't want to get married! Especially not to someone she hardly knew! This was turning out to be a bad start to her glorious day as a sixteen year old.

"We know this is a lot to take in right in the morning, but everything will turn out for the best. You will see. Now go on back to your room, there is already a staff waiting for you. Shira, will you go with her and make sure she is her best for the night?"

Her mother nodded and together, she and Katara stood up and walked out of the room.

"Mom! How could you two do this to me? Yue isn't even married yet! How come I have to get married so fast?"

"Well honey, your father just wants what is best for you. I think that he- we, feel that it is best if you have a man around to stabilize you."

"Stabilize me?" now she was yelling at her mother, "I don't need anyone to stabilize me!"

Her mother tilted her head and looked at her daughter seriously. Katara sighed. There was no way she was going to get out of this. The two of them reached her room, and in it was maybe ten or fifteen people waiting for her. Immediately, Katara was grabbed by the hand and taken into her room. The preparations started.

..:-:..

After about three hours of grooming, bathing, and picking out which outfit she would wear for each part of the day, Katara was finally able to look at herself in the mirror. When she did do that, she couldn't believe her eyes. Before her stood someone who looked so elegant, so mature, that she didn't think it was herself she was looking at. Her hair was combed through to perfection, with twists of it up and twists of it down. She looked spectacularly glamorous and she the smiling ladies in the room agreed.

"I wanted to thank you all for all of your hard work. Because of it, I am going to give you all the day off!"

The woman cheered happily, and while they were discussing their own preparations for the ball, Katara slipped off and she went to the one person she had been dying to see all morning long.

"The fish is in the hole!"

Zuko smiled and stood up like usual.

"Hi Katara, what are we going to do today?"

Katara sighed sadly.

"I'm sorry Zuko, I can't go anywhere with you today. Today is my birthday and…"

"Oh! Then, Happy Birthday. May all your birthday wishes come true…"

Katara smiled and chuckled quietly.

"Thank you… but you see, there is going to be a ball in my honor, so that means that I can't be here much longer. I have to prepare and everything."

"Oh… well… will I see you tomorrow then?"

"Yes! Most definitely. But you know what else? My parents told me I have to get married! Can you believe that? The nerve of them!"

Zuko chuckled and then he stopped when he saw her eyes become narrow and serious.

"You think that's funny? You think that because my parents are going to force someone to marry me, that it is funny? Zuko!"

"No Katara. You have it all wrong. I'm not laughing at that, but the irony of it."

She looked confused.

"What irony?"

"Well, another reason why I was so happy to be banished was because I was supposed to marry this girl, and I had no clue what she was like. I'm so glad I got out of there, or I would have been in trouble for the rest of my life!"

After he had said that, Katara became quiet. He realized that he shouldn't have said that, because she couldn't escape her situation like he did his. He was about to say something when she started to speak again.

"Before I go, one more thing. Did the guards do anything to you? Did they mention anything about you know what?"

"No they didn't. They really are trustworthy. That surprises me. At home, it would be completely different."

"Yeah… okay, well I'll you see tomorrow."

"Yeah… bye."

Zuko sat down and saw her eyes vanish. He put his head in his hands and muttered to himself. He had tried to seem happy for her. Zuko didn't want her to know that because of what she told him he was now saddened. Somewhere deep down, he didn't want her to get married, just as much as she didn't want to.

..:-:..

The rest of the day went by slowly for Katara. She received lecture upon lecture about how she must act, how she must dance, how she must do this and that. It was all so pointless to her, but as a princess it was her duty. Those stupid duties again! Once or twice in the day, she had thought about what Zuko said. He had said that he was glad to be banished… because he didn't have to get married. How lucky he must have been to escape that torture. She on the other hand, had to face it head on.

Night came and everyone was busy setting up for the ball. Katara was pushed around just like she had been all day. Finally the gong sounded, and she along with the rest of her family went into the Grand Ball Room from the back. Applause resounded through the room as the royal family took their seats. Katara had an honorary place today right next to her father. Occasionally, Katara would glance at Yue, who seemed to hate every single second of it. Her father stood up, and the crowd and musicians became silenced.

"Today, we celebrate a grand occasion. My daughter, Katara, has turned sixteen and is now of marrying age. Tonight we show her off to you all, we are very proud of our princess. Now, I would invite you all to enjoy this feast and to celebrate along with us!"

The crowd cheered and applauded as Katara stood up and bowed. Her cheeks became flushed. All of these people had come to honor her; tears wounded up in her eyes, but she held them back, smiled, and waved to all the people who were there. First the feast began, and they ate merrily. She saw Sokka and Yue talking and whispering to one another, but she discarded whatever they must have been talking about. Probably some kind of prank she didn't care about.

"Yue, look, she doesn't seem sad or angry. What if she didn't find out yet?"

"Oh she did. I overheard them at breakfast this morning. She was definitely angry."

"Well, she's not angry anymore! Yue, our plans are now all in the dumps. Whatever we do, just doesn't affect her anymore!"

Yue sat there with her arms crossed. But then a sly grin stroked her lips. Sokka just rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Yue, whatever you are thinking, it's not going to work. Nothing has worked."

"Sokka, all we have to do, is get her to spill out some kind of secret she has. Oh! What if she knows something about Zuko that we don't know about? I bet she does Sokka!"

"Well even if she does, how would we get it out of her?"

Yue stood up and smiled.

"Just watch and learn."

Everyone was dancing now. Katara sighed as a man came up to her and bowed. She forced a smile and then looked at her parents. Nasu nodded his approval, and Shira gave her a comforting smile. The young man took her hand and put his other arm around her waist. She sort of shifted uncomfortably, but then she reminded to herself about the lecture she had received throughout the day about her duties. So she sighed, and put her other free arm around his shoulder. They danced and danced, and finally the song was over. He took her hand and kissed it gently, while smiling. Katara chuckled slightly and watched him leave. She was going to head back to her seat, when another man closer to her age this time asked her to dance.

"Of course. I'd be delighted."

So Katara sighed and once again found herself being twirled here and there. Yue grabbed someone, and started to dance her way over to Katara. The young man Katara was dancing with had some of his hair pulled back into a ponytail, but his bangs hung loosely around his face. His smile sent shivers up her spine, but not the same as when she saw Zuko. These were 'oh my god he's disgusting' shivers.

"Hello Princess. My name is Haan and you won't be disappointed with my skills on the dance floor."

She smiled sheepishly just to be nice. He brought her closer to him, and when she tried to push him away a bit, he just pulled her in closer. In the background, Nasu stood up, and Haan saw this, so he let go of her slightly.

"I hear you are a bit of a rebel. I like rebels. I'm somewhat of one myself. We could make a good couple Katara."

She felt the shivers go down her spine again, but she rested her head on his shoulder because she was just so tired from all the dancing. Haan smirked. He must have thought that she liked him, but Katara didn't care. She was just hoping the dance would be over soon. Yue finally got herself and her dancing partner right next to Katara and Haan.

"So, you know, I've heard that you were going to go fight off the Fire Nation. That is going to be so difficult, but it is so brave of you too."

Yue leaned into the man she was dancing with and he smiled. Obviously he liked being called brave.

"Well you know me, I like to go fight for my people. If I find any kind of fire nation trash, I usually take them out within a second."

Katara's head perked up when she heard this and she gasped. Yue saw her expression and smiled evilly to herself. Haan looked curious.

"Katara, what's wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing… Can you dance just a bit slower, I feel kind of dizzy."

"Whatever you say, your highness."

Katara tried her best to focus in on Yue's conversation. There was no way word could have leaked out about Zuko, she made sure of it, hadn't she?

"Wow, so even if let's say, there was a person from the fire nation right here, what would you do about it?"

"Attack them of course! I serve my people and I fight for their safety! I fight for your safety."

The man leaned into Yue, but she laughed coyly and pushed him away jokingly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Katara leaning on their every word.

"Would you be brave enough, even if the person was… a fire bender?"

Katara's eyes widened and her mouth dropped onto Haan's shoulder. Yue smirked to herself. She had gotten the fish; hook, line, and bait.

"Oh yeah! If there was a fire bender here, I would make them pay for all the suffering they have caused all over the world!"

That was enough. Yue danced with him towards the table again, and when they got there, she bowed to her partner, and joined Sokka again.

"Sokka, you will not believe what I just found out."

She whispered in his ear so that her father wouldn't hear what they were saying. Nasu had taken Shira by the hand and they headed out towards the crowd of people dancing. Yue smiled. This was too easy.

"Sokka, this is going to be unbelievable! Wait till you hear it!"

He growled angrily.

"Yue! I don't have all night you know! Just tell me already!"

"Okay, well I was dancing right? And I had this hunch that if I talked about something long enough, and Katara would get all scared, then I would have found out what she was hiding. Well… I started to talk about the fire nation, and the fire benders, and get this; she went completely white and scared stiff! Sokka… this means that Zuko is a fire bender!"

Sokka stepped back and gasped, while waving his hands in the air in front of him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on Yue. That is just a hunch you have! It doesn't mean right away just because she got scared, that Zuko is from the fire nation! Although it would be nice to find out…"

"See? That's just it! All we have to do is get some guards, tell them what we think, and there you go! Zuko gets interrogated like there is no tomorrow! So? You with me?"

Sokka glanced around the room, which was filled with happy people. Then he spotted a group of pretty girls.

"Sorry Yue, but you are on your own on this one. I don't know what's happened to you… it's like you're way too mean to be Yue. I mean, sure we've done bad things before, but this is just way too much. Besides, the ball doesn't come around that often. I'm going to go have fun. See ya."

Yue growled furiously as she watched Sokka head out to the dance floor. Oh well, she would have to go do this on her own.

Katara couldn't stand on her feet that well, so Haan wrapped his arms around her more tightly. Suddenly, she became stiff, and he could feel her heartbeat quicken.

"What's wrong? You're really tense."

"Um… nothing, nothing. I think I need a drink of water. It was a lovely dance, thank you."

She quickly bowed and hurried off. There weren't many people eating now, they were all dancing and having fun. Katara found the table with the water and took a drink. Once she was done with the whole cup, she scanned the crowd for any sign of Yue. There was Sokka, with a bunch of girls of course, but no Yue. All at once, she got a sick feeling in her stomach, and needed to sit down. Katara jumped when she felt two hands on her shoulders.

"Katara, you've done a magnificent job this evening, but there are many more men out there."

She looked up into her father's eyes and sighed.

"Father I'm so tired though. Could I go walk around in the fresh air for a while?"

"Sure… but first, I think that there is a man over there waiting."

Katara stood up and sighed. One more dance, and then she had to go find Zuko.

..:-:..

Yue found two guards just in front of the staircase the led downstairs. She told them of the situation, and they agreed to help her out. Then she readied herself to go get Zuko.

"Hello Princess Yue. Why aren't you at the ball?"

"Oh, well you see, my father thought it would be nice to bring him upstairs to come and join us. I've got two other guards upstairs already waiting."

They let her pass without any questions and she made her way. When Zuko saw the blue eyes, he didn't even bother, because he remembered that Katara said she wouldn't be able to see him until the next day.

"What do you want?"

"Well Zuko, I was just thinking, I don't see why you couldn't come up to the ball. You would fit right in, wearing that parka and all."

Zuko grimaced at the thought of having to go to a ball with Yue, but then again, Katara would be there. So he stood up and agreed. Yue clapped joyously and walked up the stairs practically bouncing. When they got out of the stairwell, Zuko scratched his head.

"Uh, why are we going this way? The music is that way."

"Oh Zuko, I'm so sorry, but it seems like there has been a change of plans. Guards!"

Two more guards came to join the group, so now there were four. One grabbed Zuko's arms, and pulled them behind his back. Another pulled a cloth around his mouth so he wouldn't be able to yell. The two others dragged Zuko into a room, and Yue checked to make sure no one saw, and when she was sure, she smirked and closed the door.

Inside, Yue gasped as she saw what the guards were doing. She hadn't any idea that these happened to be the guards that had wanted to beat him up in the first place. That's what they were doing now. Zuko trembled helplessly as they punched him in the gut, kicked his ribs and slapped his face. He tried to break free of this entanglement, but there was no hope. His efforts only made them hit him with more force. Finally, Yue couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop it! I said stop!"

Each one of them turned around to Yue. She had tears running down her face.

"Why are you being so cruel? I never told you to kill him!"

"Well, you did say he was a fire bender. It is our duty to protect our people. He is a spy, so we must do what we are meant to do."

"But we don't know that for sure! You should ask him first at least!"

Zuko's eyes stared at Yue's and she felt guilt wrap around her insides. Those golden eyes were like knives diving into her heart. Never once had she felt so terrible about doing something bad to another. What was the difference then? It was him, for some reason he just struck a nerve in her body. The guards took off his parka, then his other tops, so that his back and chest were bare. Slowly they took off the cloth around his head so he could speak. But when they did that, Zuko choked and gasped for air. He was already too weak from their previous beating, there was no way he could even try and escape now.

"Where are you from?"

No answer.

"Are you from the fire nation?"

No answer. The guards nodded to each other, and they took out a whip. Yue gasped in horror and had to look away as Zuko's pained cry filled her ears. When she looked back at him, there was a bright red streak across his chest. He nodded.

"Are you a fire bender?"

No answer.

"I said, are you a fire bender?"

Yue felt like she was going to be sick; she couldn't take it anymore. All of her evil schemes, they were really just sick. As she heard Zuko's cry once again, she closed her eyes shut and ran out of the room through a secret door. There was no way she would be involved in this. And no one would ever find out either.

..:-:..

Katara finally got out of the festive room after about five more men asked her to dance. It was incredible; the fact that she was sixteen meant so much, especially to those men. The only decent one had been Haan, but even he too was a bit too touchy feely. That didn't matter though at the moment to her; all she wanted to do was make sure that Zuko was safe and away from Yue's plots. Something in her compelled her to make her feet run. There was something wrong, something terribly wrong. She was going to go to the prisons, if it hadn't been for the sharp cry of pain she had heard from a room that was a distance away.

Her heart raced as she heard the cry, time and time again. It was so full of pain and hurt, so much suffering. As the cries pierced her ears, they became louder and louder until finally she heard one last cry, and a thud from the behind the door she was in front of. Breathing deeply, she opened the door. Her whole body went aghast as her eyes looked over the bloody mess. No, she was dreaming, it couldn't be real.

Katara yelled at the guards to leave and to go get help. They bowed and did as they were told.

"How could they do this to you?"

She was standing over Zuko's body. He was lying face down on the floor, and his red back shined with blood. It was horrible and she couldn't describe how sickening it was. Katara's heart pounded madly in her chest, but she didn't know what to do. First, she needed to see if there was a pulse. She put two fingers up to his neck, and then sighed with relief. Zuko was still alive. The room was empty except for the two of them. Katara bit her lip, and felt cool tears run down her cheek. She had to do it, even if someone found out about it.

Her hands circled around and then they pointed down onto Zuko's back. The water rushed over the blood slowly, and soon his back was cleared. Only the red stripes were visible now, at least he wasn't bleeding anymore. She bent down and concentrated, closing her eyes and placing her hands on his back. Once or twice, she winced as she felt his hard back become soft at the places where he had been whipped. After a few minutes of this, she breathed in deeply, and then rolled him over so that he would be facing her.

As if what she had seen before wasn't gruesome enough, when she rolled him over, she gasped as she looked over his bloody chest, and his bruised ribs, and his red face. Tears fell down freely as she tried to wash away the blood and heal his skin. Then she turned to his bruises. It was a very hard technique to master, but she had to do it. First she placed water on his ribs, and then froze it slowly. Finally, she would have to melt the water into his skin very precisely. Her head buzzed with hope, and then finally she saw that she had done it successfully. Zuko looked all better. Everything was going to be all right.

She studied him as his chest rose and fell. Now she had a good luck at him. The blood had been washed away, and now what she saw made her blush. His muscles looked so overused, but strong and powerful. His neck was bold and sturdy. Then her eyes gazed at his peaceful face. There had obviously been a struggle, and he had kept true to himself and all he stood for. Suddenly his eyes flickered open and Katara looked at him in anticipation.

Zuko finally woke up to find himself feeling much better than he had previously. Something was different, but he didn't know what. Then he saw her blue eyes shining down at him and he remembered. He had been beaten and somehow now, Katara was with him. As he tried to sit up, he saw that Katara had become transformed into an ultimate beauty. Her hair was unbelievably decorated, and her face so mature. She wore a stunning white kimono, but Zuko frowned. It was stained pretty much everywhere in crimson blood. His blood?

When he sat up he just smiled, and Katara broke out in tears. He looked at her gently and tried to calm her down as he took her into his arms. Katara broke out her pain and sorrows at what she had just experienced. He caressed her in his strong sturdy arms and eventually her sobs quieted. Zuko stroked her hair and reassured her.

"Katara, I'm okay now. I'm okay, you and I are both safe now."

"Zuko…" her voice was barely a whisper, "I couldn't believe what they did to you. I thought they had…"

She tilted her head off of his shoulder and looked into his fierce golden eyes. How good it felt to see those eyes looking at her once again.

"Katara… if it wasn't for you, I might have not made it…"

Tears ran down her cheeks again, but Zuko wiped them away gently. He held her face in his hand, and with the other, he brought her closer to him. Katara was so thankful that he was still with her. She was amazed at how good it felt to be in his arms. And now she just couldn't help the overwhelming urge to just kiss him. In only a few seconds, he had leaned in and given her a long, beautiful kiss. She wrapped her arms around his bare back and felt rejoiced to know that she had saved his life. This had felt so right; she didn't care if he was the supposed enemy.

They let go of each other when they heard the shouts come from the end of the hallway. They quickly stood up and Katara helped Zuko get all of his clothes back on again. Katara looked down at herself, and saw her bloodied kimono. Zuko just shrugged, and quickly brought her in for another kiss. The embrace ended and Nasu came into the room. His eyes widened in shock and his nostrils flared as he looked over his daughter covered in a deep black red. Next to her was the prisoner. Nothing made sense.

"Katara!" he rushed to her side, and hugged her, which surprised her a great deal.

"What on earth happened?"

"Father, I'm all right, and so is Zuko."

He turned to Zuko and clenched his fists.

"What did you do to her?"

Katara pulled her father away before he did anything to him.

"Father! Listen to me! I went for a walk from the ball because I needed some room to breathe, and then I heard these awful cries. I followed them to find our guards whipping him. Father, it was horrible! He was covered in blood and bruises everywhere."

She felt the tears sting at her eyes from the memory.

"Father, I told the guards to go get help, but I tried my best to heal him, like Yugoda had taught me. I think I did a good job, and that is why my kimono is covered in blood."

His pulse died down to a steady beat and he relaxed. His frail face smiled slightly.

"So you helped him? My daughter, you make me more proud everyday. You have shown us all how sincere and dutiful you truly are. Come, we must get you cleaned up. You too."

Nasu motioned for Zuko to follow them, and so he did. Katara smiled at Zuko and he smiled back. They walked on a long distance in silence, until they finally reached their first destination.

"You… uh, Zuko, shall rest in here tonight. The healers will tend to you and make sure that Katara has healed everything properly."

The door opened and Zuko stepped in, not before he said something. He bowed and spoke quietly.

"I am sorry for everything that has happened. I am grateful to your daughter for having saved my life. I owe you and your tribe my services and duties."

Nasu cocked an eyebrow and looked at Katara who smiled and nodded to her father. A smile graced his lips.

"Very well. We will get everything sorted out in the morning. I think my daughter's birthday has gone off with a bang, hasn't it Katara? I don't think we need any more worries tonight."

They all bowed to one another, and then Nasu guided Katara back to her own room.

"I don't know what possessed those guards to attack and interrogate him in that manner."

Katara looked serious, but deep inside she was flaming with furiousness and with the knowledge that Yue had been behind it all.

"Father, I don't know either. It is sad to know that your own people can be the traitors sometimes."

She couldn't tell her father about Zuko and the reason he was attacked. He could not find out that he was a fire bender.

"Well, I don't want you to worry your head about anything but a peaceful night's rest. I suggest you sleep in tomorrow morning. After what you did, you have earned it."

Katara smiled joyously and hugged her father, who was surprised, but smiled and hugged his daughter back. Inside, she buzzed happily at the fact that she had finally earned her father's love.

"Good night."

"Good night father!"

She closed the door and hurriedly took off her kimono and soaked herself in a warm bath. Katara let all of her pains and memories fade away, all except one. His kiss. She felt so much more alive and whole after that, after he had kissed her. The sensation of her first kiss kept replaying over and over in her mind as she let the time slip by. Soon, she finally got out of the bath, and she slipped into her nightgown. Katara pulled back the covers and then wrapped herself in them, imagining and trying to remember how his arms felt around her. She dozed off to sleep smiling.

A/N: Hopefully that wasn't too sad! Lol Are you happy they finally kissed? After ALL this time? Lol I know I sure am! (smiles widely) I'll probably be able to get one more chapter up before school starts again on Monday… (curses damn school!) lol Hope you all liked it!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day or night!