I don't own Avatar.
Ok this next chapter is gonna be a little dull. At least there won't be major fight scenes. And It'll be short too. Anyway, yeah. Also, I'm sorry for the really long pauses in chapters. I'm in my senior year, so there's a lot to do.
Chapter four
My mother's Necklace
Katara looked at Aria who was still sound asleep, though her ears were erect and sensitive. Katara turned on her back and looked up. On the ceiling was a person. In a tight black body suit and a strange mask on their face. Katara's mouth flew open and she screamed as loud as she could.
Tatsuya and Rueshi sat quietly just outside Katara's room. Even though it was still early fall, it was a cold night. They sat, their swords in their laps and blankets about them, playing a card game.
"Ya know, this was just a little harsh." Rueshi looked up at Tatsuya as he spoke, "Making us guard Lady Katara that is."
"All we did was pull a little prank. The guy is always so st—" their conversation was cut short when the unmistakable scream of a woman pierced their ears. The leapt up, scattering their cards and not even bother to secure their blankets as they flew over the railing, and ran inside.
"I swear if it's a bug or somethin' I'll personally see to it that- Holy crap that's a Blue Demon!" Rueshi swore as the creature came into full view. It's long arms came down far cast it's knees and it's torso was unnaturally thin, though it's chest was huge. It was covered in all black and had a blue porcelain mask on. It turned away from Katara, who was standing on the bed with the little fox-bat in her arms, and began to make short clicking noises while turning its head from side to side.
"Rueshi! Get on the tube and get Zuko, NOW!" Tatsuya's harsh words cut through Rueshi's stunned silence and the guard leapt across the room to the golden tube in the corner of the room, "Are you hurt Lady Katara?" Tatsuya asked. Then he noticed the bubble of water floating above her head.
Katara shook her head, "It- it tried to attack me… I'm fine." She looked shaken and a little afraid, but alert and ready to fight. They all turned their attention back to the creature as Rueshi came to the little fighting circle. The Blue Demon was seemingly confused, unsure of what it's target was. It was only two minutes before Zuko burst through the door, but it seemed like hours.
He charged into the room, his chest bare, wearing only a pair of tight black pants, "Katara are you hurt?" Katara shook her head, "It's a Blue Demon, a badly made assassin." Zuko began to talk, which Tatsuya soon figured out confused the Demon even more.
"Made?" Katara asked, confused. She had never heard of ANYTHING like this. Its grotesque form and the smell of carrion rolled off it, "Made form what?" she was afraid of the answer.
Zuko looked uncomfortable, but said, "Humans, murdered humans." Suddenly, the creature attacked.
A black tentacle shot out of it's body and wrapped around Katara. She screamed and the sudden noise seemed to stun it. Zuko spun around, gathering momentum, and unleashed a stream of fire at the creature. It howled in rage and dropped Katara. She scrambled to a jar of water on her table by her bed and contorted the water out and shot it at the creature, freezing it with her breath. The Blue Demon hissed fiercely, but because it's badly made body was rocketing back and forth from hot to cold by Katara and Zuko's constant attack. They continued in volleys, getting faster and faster until. It exploded. Covering everyone and thing in a thick red substance.
"Blood." Whispered Tatsuya. Katara's eyes blurred and she fainted.
It was dark. Both in the room and outside. Katara rolled over and tried to focus on the darkness that had surrounded her only moments before. She felt something wriggle next to her and she knew it was Aria. But something else was bugging her. This wasn't the bed she had been on earlier. No, her other bed was covered in blood from that blasted blue demon. Stupid demon, she thought to herself. She rolled over and suddenly the puzzle was complete.
Katara rocketed out of bed. The room was unfamiliar and smelled faintly of something spicy and with and undertone of sweetness. She was lying on what was possibly the biggest bed she had seen, much less sat on. The spread was another dark red down comforter, but she had apparently kicked it off, instead she was wrapped in a warm, soft blanket that she snuggled into. It was saturated with the curious smell. Then she turned to pick up Aria and was struck with horror.
It was not Aria who had wriggled up next to her, but Zuko. His chest bare with nothing but dark red pants on. Her head spun wildly and nearly fainted again. She did a quick check and it appeared that she had not been touched. She fanned herself for a second then decided to wait before protesting loudly. He had been kind so far. She would let him sleep.
She felt an electric current run through her body and practically vaulted off the bed and to a rather plush chair in the corner of the room. It was odd. The way she felt around him. Alive and awake, and she had only been here about two weeks. But, he had saved her from the torture of Aang.
Aang. When did it happen? An image began to form in her mind, a gaze into the past, almost a year ago now.
It was daytime. They had landed on a small island to rest and Katara was sitting at the water's edge, playing mildly with a tentacle of water. Sokka and her had been fighting and was… somewhere. Suddenly Aang appeared out of nowhere, "Hey Katara." She looked back over her shoulder, "Hi Aang." She whispered. Aang came to stand by her side, "You look very pretty today…" he said quietly. Katara looked down on herself and saw stains, rips and possibly a trail of green smoke whose origin was her skin. She looked up at Aang to say something smart but found a bouquet of flowers in her face. Aang spoke quickly, "I like you. A lot. You're pretty and understanding." Katara sighed heavily. She had sensed this coming and thought deeply on the subject, but Aang was like a little brother. Not a possible husband, "No Aang. I can't. I just can't. Not like this. Not now." She stood and walked away.
It was her harsh words that had broughtabout her punishment. But it still wasn't fair. And half the time, Sokka didn't know. Aang's jokes and pranks were small but painful. Both emotionally and physically. But Zuko…
Katara crawled over to him and whispered, "I know you don't know. But you saved me… I was planning to drown myself in that hot spring… thank you." She had closed her eyes as she whispered close to his ear, "please be my friend… but nothing more. I fear love." It was more for herself that she said that. He would be her friend and just that. Then she felt a calloused hand on her cheek. Zuko had woken up and heard her. She was frozen in place. Never once had she looked him in the eyes. But now she saw that he held a terrible power in them. They held her in place just as if he were holding her down.
He sat up and said, "Truce?" Katara looked at him and shook her head. Zuko raised an eyebrow, "Did you not just say friend? Oh well… I think I have something I can give you to make you trust me." Katara looked frightened and trembled. Zuko wondered what was going through her mind but chuckled. He got up and walked to a dresser with a small box on it. He opened it and an odd melody floated out. Zuko jumped and pulled out what he was looking for before shutting it while blushing.
"Why? Why did you take me? You've captured me before and it doesn't work." She said in a quavering voice. Although she really did not want to be rescued this time. Zuko smiled but didn't answer. Then he sat back on the bed, cross-legged from Katara. He held his fist out.
Katara put her hands under his but didn't take her gaze away, "Please trust me?" he suddenly whispered. There was no smile on his lips, and his bewitching eyes burned into her very soul. He dropped something into her hand. But Katara knew what it was. She closed her hand around her precious mother's necklace and smiled. Zuko smiled too, "Friend?" Katara was a little thrown by the word. Zuko wasn't one to throw words around like that. It was like, he was acting his age.
"Friend." She said. They sat in silence, enjoying each other's company, "Zuko?" she asked.
"Yes?" he was immediately aware of the change in her voice.
"Why did I wake up… in your bed?" Zuko suddenly turned beet red, "It isn't my fault." Katara's oddly calm appearance was derailing him, "B-blame Tatsuya and Rueshi! I told them to put you someplace safe. When I came in here, you were asleep on my bed! B-but I was tired. I've been running about the ship like mad. Organizing parties to search the ship for more trouble and such. So I just fell asleep. I assumed I'd wake up first! I-" he stopped. Katara was laughing like mad. Aria, seemingly appearing out of nowhere was looking at them incredulously.
"Zuko." Katara finally managed, "When will you realize that you're only nineteen not ninety? It's ok to act like a kid now and then… like now. You're properly embarrassed." She had fallen over and was lying on her side slightly curled up. Her long and loose hair flowing behind her. Zuko felt an unusual heat flood through his body, "You're red." Katara said.
Zuko laughed and so did Katara. They both sat there laughing loudly when they were interrupted by a booming knock on the door, "My Lord! We need to speak." It was the look out. Zuko looked over to Katara who was frozen in place. This looked very bad. Both of them in bed together, with disheveled hair.
"What do we do?" she whispered. Zuko's mind raced. Then an idea formed in his mind.
"Stay. I am the Prince of the Fire Nation. I bed with whom I wish." He smiled then reached out and pulled Katara into his lap.
"Remember, I said just friends." Katara hissed, making Zuko frown.
"Come in!" he barked. The look out walked in and turned bright red. Then he composed himself.
"My Lord we've spotted the ships of the dread pirate Kaizuko. He's spotted us and is headed our way."
Ok, short but I think it has a nice little ending. I'm sorry for the enormous wait. I'm a senior in High School and now I have a job. Don't be angry! Anyway, The next one will have plenty of action and such. Possibly a lot of dying. Anyway, I love Katara and Zuko. But I always hate how they make Zuko out to be a monster. He's not, just a little to old for his age. Anyway, I'll do my best to update soon… for real… no really.
