Chapter 15 Running from Fear

Zuko walked out of the shop shaking his head at Katara. "You made me by a chicken suit."

Katara smiled and nuzzled his shoulder slightly before replying, "I have a plan and since the Blue Spirit is a traitor for his own nation now means that he's a wanted man."

Zuko smiled as they walked back up onto the ship hand in hand. He liked the feeling of going with Katara shopping. In fact he liked the feeling of Katara being around him period. Wait until he told his uncle. He sighed at the thought of Iroh being in a coma with nothing that he could do about it. It was that stupid myth's entire fault. He knew that he couldn't believe it but there it was rumored it focused on one royal family member to make his or her life miserable. And Zuko's life was the chosen one. It was strange trying to live a normal life when at any given moment 'Fear' can strike at your door and kill the person you love. It's happen twice now once to his mother and again to his uncle. Zuko thought that there was another time that 'Fear' was behind the reason he got banished and the scar placed on his face. But he wasn't for sure.

Katara looked over at the Prince's face wondering what was going on in his mind. His eyes were full of confusement; she had a feeling it had to deal with either this 'Fear' thing or about her plan. It didn't bother her too much, but at the same time the silence was getting to her. Focused on about the task ahead of her, her vision became blurry and what ever was going on around her became unclear. She stopped in where her and Zuko stood and focused on something off in the distance. It was a black shadow, and its hand was a bow and arrow. Normally Katara didn't pay any attention to things like this but something had made an exception.

She dropped the bag she was holding and made her way over there. Zuko noticed this and stared at her. Something seemed wrong; it was like she was in a trance of some sort. Looking around his surroundings he saw nothing.

"Katara!" He yelled a couple of people stared at the two teens who were now drawing attention to themselves. "Hey water peasant!" He still received no answer from the girl.

He remembered part of the myth when his mother told it to him years ago. 'Fear' knows everything about its prey. It draws out emotions that the person didn't even know about. The first reaction to a person is to run for help especially if it's someone you care about.

Zuko remembered his mother's words clearly from the day she told him. "'You may not be able to see it but 'Fear's prey will and it will seem…" Zuko wasn't able to finish his sentence with the realization that Katara was in greater danger than he thought. He noticed Lieutenant Ji walking past so he shoved the bags into his arms, without a second thought.

He ran in front of Katara and put his hands on her shoulders. "Snap out of it Katara!" He yelled trying hard to keep his temper.

His efforts were useless and Zuko knew it. But he wasn't about to allow the one person that he cared about aside from his uncle die from the hands of some myth. Wait a minute did I just admit to liking Katara? Katara muttered something about 'Fear' and it was then Zuko knew what she was staring at. 'Fear' was a black shadow in the shape of a human girl. He didn't know all the myths behind the whole story because there were so many of them. Each nation had a different story about it. But he did know that as soon as he got Katara out of its spell he'd find out why out of the four nations it chose the Fire Nation to haunt. But again first things were first and it was getting Katara back to her normal self.

"Katara wake up!" Zuko shouted shaking her. Again she muttered something about 'Fear' and 'Master'. Zuko rolled his eyes before shaking her a little harder. He knew he was going to regret this sooner or later but it was one of the only ways he was to get Katara out of the spell. He backed up a ways before launching a fireball at her face missing it by like a centimeter. It didn't phase her one bit. Zuko sighed before muttering, "I'm sorry about this." He pulled out a dagger from his left boot and ran towards her. He hit Katara in both arms and legs. After that he popped her shoulder out of place and broke her wrist. He figured that if he did some sort of pain towards than she might return to normal. Of course there was the added factor she would never speak to him again but he had to work with the current situation at hand.

He sat and stared at Katara for a little bit longer before she fell from the pain. Tears were rolling down from her eyes and it looked like she had returned too normal. Zuko took her in his arms before motioning back towards Ji to return the ship with him. People around there continued to stare at the Prince. He paid no mind to them except to snap at them for staring. Katara looked up at Zuko before turning to the side to avoid all eye contact with him. She was injured because of him and it was because she was careless enough to trust the fire nation's prince.

Zuko walked up onto his ship. His men scattered to avoid being blown up or something from Zuko's anger. He walked down the winding corridors to his room where he placed Katara on the bed. She had passed out from both the shock and pain of today. Plus it didn't help much that 'Fear' possessed her.

He left the room and watched the doctor enter without saying a single word to the prince. He walked down more towards were Iroh was staying still unconscious. He knew that talking to the old guy would be pointless but he needed someone to talk to anyway.

"Uncle," He started out. "I did something that is to beneath me today." He looked away from Iroh's sleeping form. He sighed before continuing. "I seriously hurt Katara."

Zuko explained today's events to his unconscious uncle. He was so in depth about everything he said he didn't even notice Katara slip in quietly.

"I care for the water bender more than I ever thought was humanly possible." He continued. "So when 'Fear' took her way from me I was scared. I didn't know what else to do. So far 'Fear' has taken away three people I love uncle." He paused before sighing.

Katara tilted her head and walked forward still trying to over hear what Zuko was saying.

"I can't keep running from fear. It's just not like me. But he's taken away mother, you and now Katara." Zuko felt a tear slip down his cheek. "I don't know what to do any more Uncle. All I can do is run away showing a sign of weakness."

Katara walked up carefully and put her good arm around the prince. From she had heard just barely he had good intentions for injuring her. She was a very forgiving person it was good thing too because other wise Zuko would have been shunned from her mind a long time ago.

"Zuko, running from something isn't weak. It shows you know when to back down from something." Katara leaned her head on his shoulder. "And don't worry. You're uncle's a strong man and I'm just as strong as any other fire bender. You have no reason to worry about losing us to your so called 'Fear'."

Zuko kissed Katara's head. "I know." He whispered. Katara looked up into his amber eyes and wiped away his tears before cuddling up in his arms and falling asleep. Zuko moved them so that they were leaning against the wall before falling asleep himself.

Unknown to the two teens and Iroh they were being watched. "My dear prince you can run away from me all you like but your fate has been written in the stars since before you were born." It was 'Fear'. "You'll die a horrible painful death after watching your love ones die. And I'll start with the girl."

K15: I know Zuko is a little out of character but he has good reasons to be. After all look at it if you were in his shoes. You're uncle is in a coma you're mother dead, your girlfriend being lost to some myth thing and your father wanting to kill you. Anyway it was just a mental break down on his part. So on a brighter note. Zuko will get back into normal character when he joins the avatar in the squel. Oh crap I just ruined it. (Shrug) Oh well. Yeah the squel is in my mind for a while but it won't be for a couple of chapters. They still have to rescue Aang and Sokka, get Iroh out of his coma, defeat Nyla, and defeat 'Fear'. So they have a lot to do. So it will probably be around twenty chapters if I'm lucky. Anyway I'll update as soon as I get the chance. So checkya later. Later. K15