The next day, we stopped in a small village. Zuko said that he needed to visit someone. That someone was his uncle. Iroh was still him, but a little older looking, and thinner. He recognized me, and told me that the Uncle Iroh's Jasmine Tea diet works well. I couldn't argue with him on that.
I guess that I have to explain why he recognized me. He started to teach Aang firebending basics, but stopped then he got sick. Those two were funny together, talking about tea and food. Tricks were always played on us.
Zuko was always leaving the group for something. We had never talked then. Actually, we hated each other then. Zuko still ignores me. He's told me straight up into my face, like Toph tells me things, that he would prefer not having me around and would rather see me go home. Home to where? The destroyed North, or the South where no one probably still lives? Toph corrected him, saying that one more person helping in their fight was gladly appreciated. I smiled after she said that.
But anyways, Iroh and I did have a good chat. He flirted half the time, but it was rather amusing to hear. He and Toph seemed like good old pals as well. Toph and Zuko were good friends, and it was odd to see. It was funny to watch them wrestle each other. Toph, being blind, and taller than me, (when did that happen?) would pin Zuko to the ground in no time. Zuko would always get mad and start blasting things, and then find himself buried in the ground. Toph would yell at him, making Zuko clam down, then they'd do all over again. Iroh would then have to separate them.
Iroh told me of some hot springs around the village. Oh, how I longed for a bath. In the slave markets, we didn't take them. I left quickly after hearing that. I could hear Iroh yell, "You're welcome, Miss Katara."
They were wonderful. It felt good to being the water. The water was a bit murky but..
"Hey, you can't just join me, Anzeng, without asking." I yelled watching him just walk into the springs.
"Is there a problem?" he asked like there wasn't one.
"Yes, I'm sitting in this spring, trying to take a bath. By myself."
"And I'm joining you."
I turned, and my face was red. I swear it was red. He joined me without asking first. Then more rebels came. I had to leave quickly. I bended the water around me like a towel, and went to the bush I had my clothes near. I stormed off cursing his name. My little time I had to myself was taken away by some prude.
I stayed in my tent the rest of the day. Nothing was worth walking out and possibly hearing about being seen naked.