x o x o x
Katara lay in her bed, arm propped under head, facing the wall. "I can't marry him... I can't! I won't!" She screamed in her head. Her brow furrowed with her anger and frustartion at herself for letting the situtation go farther than it should have. Sun light filtered in through her shrounded veil that surrounded her bed. "Kat? Are you awake?" He asked as she stumbled into Katara'a room. "Hina? What's up?" She asked as she sat up. "It's nothing. But it's almost noon and you are still in bed. Are you sick?" She asked as she walked over to Katara's bed, pulling back the veil. "No... I'm not... I'm just very - yawn - tired..." Katara said as she stiffuled a fake yawn.
"Oh - okay. Do you want me to send for breakfest? Or do you just wanna talk?" Hina asked as she put her hands on her hips in a sarcastic way. "Sure..." Katara said as she made to draw back her thick, feather stuffed covers. "No. Just stay there." Hina said as she sat down next to her. "Um... okay - " Katara said as she laid her head back down on her pillow. "Can I ask you a question, Kat?" Hina asked as she lay on her stomach. "Shoot." Katara said as she looked out her window. "Why don't you give that Airbender guy a chance. He seems like he really-" Hina was cut off by Katara. "Hina! Why did you talk to him! You promised that you wouldn't!" Katara demanded as she bolted up. "Katara! Listen to me!" Hina said as she shook her best friend by the sholders. "Katara! The guy loves you! He is so sickly depressed about losing you to my moron brother that he said he is going to kill himself!" Hina said as she shook Katara even more. "Do you see what you have done to the poor guy!" Hina said, almost on the verge of tears.
Katara was so shocked at Hina's words that she bounded out of her bed and ran to her room. "Hina - I think I have made the biggest, most unfixable mistake of my life. Promise me, that even after this is over, you will be my best friend." Katara said as she looked defeatedly to Hina. "Sure, Kat. I will." Hina said as she ran from Katara's bed and wrapped her arms around her one true friend.
x o x o x
Aang stood at the steps that lead to the ocean. Waves crashed aganist the marble dock as he stood looking upon the horizon. He held a sword in his right hand, raising it to study the polished metal. Aang looked glanced at his reflection in the metal. His eyes where red from tears, his cheeks pink from dispair, dark circles hung under his eyes from lack of sleep. "She's gone... No more Katara..." He said as he reached into his pocket and drew out the combs that once adorned her jasmine scented hair. "No more...!" He said as he threw one of the combs into the ocean, the other held firmly in his hand.
He opened his hand and stared at the carved wonder in his palm. The teak and jade combs that once rested in her hair. He traced the intricate etchings that spelled out thier names. His heart fell. "Katara... why don't you love me?" He whimpered as he held the comb to his chest. "Katara..." He moaned as he collapsed onto the dock. Aang lay flat on his back; staring up into the heavens. "Katara..." He once again called. When he got no responce, he stood, looking at the sword at his feet. He reached for the blade, taking the metal in his hands. As he held the sword in his hands, he stood, facing the palace.
"Katara... Katara, I love you! And, if I can't have you - - - but that man, Taeko, can - - - " He said as he was drowned by his tears. Aang fell
to his knees, the blade infront of his eyes. "- - -then I will die." He said as he grasped the hilt of the sword, slowly bringing it to his stomach.
The tip of the steel at his abdomen, he plunged the blade into his stomach. He opened his mouth to scream, only a gasp and blood escaped
him. He fell over on his side, blood slowly leaked from him and onto the marble. His vision blurred, until he could no longer see straight. Aang
soon passed out from pain, heart break, and defeat.
x o x o x
Katara ran, her bare feet pounded on the pavenment as she ran to the docks. When she was about a quarter mile from her desitination, she noticed a crowd had gathered on the marble docks. The people surrounded something, they all gasped. Muffled voices and murmers where heard by Katara. She grew frigthened at what may lie beyound the gaggle of people. Katara had stopped running, her paces where now slow strides as she made her way to the crowd.
Once she had reached the giant crowd and slowly pushed her way into the center, she let out a scream. Tears poured from her eyes as she flung herself onto the body, surrounded by the people of Ba-Sing-Se.
Her cries, despreate and hoarse. "Get away! All of you!" She screamed at the people who surrounded her. "Leave!" She demanded the the top of her voice. The crowd slowly dispelled as she had whished. Yet, her cries and moans of agnoy had not subsided. When she had finally worked up the strenght to lift herself from the wounded man below her, she let out another scream at the sight below her. The blood had soaked all of his clothes, caked his face. She turned him on his back, wincing at the blade in his lower stomach. With all her might, she tried her best to heave the blade from Aang's stomach. Once she had it removed, she cast the death dealer aside.
Katara gingerly removed his shirt, reaveling where he had stabbed himself. Her hands wandered over his bare flesh. The blood he freed from
his body, now on her hands. She placed her hand in the ocean, drawing up water in her cupped hands. Closing her eyes, she said a prayer
as the water glowed a brilliant shade of teal. Once she had completed her ritual, she poured the water from her hands and onto his wound.
Almost instantly his wounded healed. She breathed a deep sigh of relief. But her contentment was soon cast aside, she noticed her had not
opened his eyes.
His eyes had stayed shut. Aang looked as if he was in a deep sleep. His symbols glowed, his face contorted in pain. His body began to tremble as she caressed his arm. "Aang...wake up..." She pleaded softly as she placed her head on his chest. "Please..." She begged in her small voice.
x o x o x
Aang's eyes opened, slowly coming to his sences. He noticed that he was not in the pshyical world. "Roku?" He asked as a tall, lanky, old man appered before him. "Aang...it's been too long..." He said in greeting as he slowly walked to the Avatar. "Master!" Aang said as he bowed his head deeply. "No need, Aang." Roku said as he placed his hand on the teen's shoulders. "I have summoned you here today, to discuss the young women who has you so smitten." Roku said as he watched Aang regain his composure. "Master, I am more than smitten with her. I LOVE her. But she dosn't love me..." Aang said as he sat before Roku. "Can you be so sure?"
Roku asked, a slight smile played on his lips. "She dosn't. She loves - - Taeko..." Aang mumbled as he held his head in his hands. "Take a look,
my young lad..." Roku said as he pointed to an orb of floating light. The orb grew in size, a smoking ring around the outer most part. When it had
reached it's maximume capacity, Aang saw Katara in the orb. She was hunched over his lifeless body, crying.
Aang staried at the vision before him. The exalted, once beautiful Katara, was leaning over his body. Her shoulders heaved with her tears. Her tears which where dripping onto his face. Her tears, which he had broguht about. "Young Avatar, if you truly love this woman, go back to her. Show her how deep your love for her really is." Roku said as gave a gental push with his hand. "You are not ready to join us in the spirit world. The next time I see you, you should have lived out your life. Had a great life." Roku said as he tunred his back, fading into nothing.
Aang nodded. "Thank you, Roku..." He said as he stood.
x o x o x
It had been a whole day since that incident. Taeko had recieved no word of what had happened. Of how, his beloved, Katara had once again joined the man she loved. Of how she carresed him, held him in her arms as she silently wept from happiness. Of how, she had met him on the beach, giving herself to him.
Katara and Aang sat alone in the bath house. In the center of the pool, thier bodies joined as one. Even though they sat in cool water, sweat
ran down the sides of thier faces. Katara drew in deep breaths to soothe her nerves. She closed her eyes, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
Aang wrapped his arms around her thin frame, drawing her as close as she could come. "I love you..." He said as he kissed her cheek. "I love
you..." She said as she held him tight.
They sat like that for what seemed like all of eternity. Katara lifted her head from his shoulder, and drew away from his embrace. "What's wrong"
He asked as he followed her as she wadded to the wall. "Aang... I can't keep meeting you like this..." She said with sadness as she hugged
the side of the pool, her head resting in her arms. Aang slowly came behind her, resting his head on her shoulder. "Then leave with me. You don't
have to marry him." He said sweetly. "I wish it where that simple..." Katara sighed as she turned to face him.
"Hina knows... about us..." Katara said softly as she placed a kiss on his lips. "Is that bad?" He asked as he returned the kiss. "No... she would never tell Taeko..." Katara moaned as she melted into him.
"She would never need to tell me." A male voice said from behind them.
Katara and Aang looked up in horror to see a pain stricken Taeko. He looked a deafeted man. "Katara, all you had to tell me was that you loved
the Air Bender... I would have stopped the wedding..." He said through a pained voice. Katara said nothing. "But this is the way I find out... You,
him... making love in my bath house..." Taeko said as his voice cracked. "Taeko..." Katara said as she made to get out of the tub. "Don't say
any thing. Just leave. Take the Avatar with you, never return here!" Taeko shouted, tears streamed his face.
"Don't come back..." He mouthed as he slowly walked into the water.
x o x o x
TBC...
Sorry, its not as long as the others. I'm on a time crunch!