Okay, I wasn't totally sure about the last chapter. I've been battling about continuing or not. I love the story, and Zuko and Katara are very special to me. Mostly because fire is the sexiest element ever and Katara reminds me of my best friend. So I got one of my friends to read this. One of my friends who watches Avatar that is. She loved it, reading it all through our computer class, then strangling me for more. So with Momiji-chan's encouragement I'll continue. I hope the rest of you guys like this. I've gotten some great ideas whilst reading a new book. Ideas, not scene stealing.
So anyway, I don't own Avatar, don't wanna. I'd ruin it.
Also, I've been going back and forth with doing a sex scene. You guys decide for me. Just send me a comment saying yes or no.
Chapter EightLetting Go
Sokka was walking a small distance behind Katara and Zuko and he saw something that he did NOT approve of. As they walked, Zuko reached out and tenderly touched Katara's shaking hand. She smiled up at him with warmth she usually only shared with him. He glowered at Zuko's back, I wonder what's been going on with my sister dear?
"You're crazy. Both of you!" Sokka accused mildly, shaking a chicken leg in Katara and Zuko's face. A piece of deep fried skin flew off to land with a soft plop in front of Katara. Everyone stopped to look at it a little nervously. The atmosphere in the room was tense if anything. Katara picked up the piece and popped it into her mouth, in an attempt to lighten the mood. If worked a little bit. But soon enough everyone was frowning again. Iroh seemed incredulous that Katara and Zuko had kept such a big secret from him. Sokka had been keeping a close eye on Zuko and his sister. And Aang had been silent, nibbling an apple.
Zuko waited a few moments before speaking, "We're not crazy. We're telling the truth. The diary is right there in front of you." It had been taken out first thing, as evidence. Sokka had protested loudly.
"How are we- I- supposed to believe that my sister can become water. And you fire? I've been around Katara my whole life and she's never done anything like this." He looked at Katara, but she was gazing at the glass of water in front of her, her eyebrows knit together.
She slowly lifted her head to look into her brother's deep, brown, and understanding eyes, "I have many secrets Sokka." She said slowly. Ever since they had sat down for lunch she had been quiet. Speaking only in odd and sad tones, "I'm sure you have your share of secrets too." She said to his disbelieving face.
Iroh shifted uncomfortably. Most of the contribution to the bad atmosphere had been due to Katara and Sokka. He was convinced that he knew his sister and that they were crazy. Katara was determined to calmly resolve the situation. She sighed, stress lining her voice. Suddenly Aang spoke for the first time, "Show us." Katara and Zuko looked at him, "You said that you could become your elements. Show us. We'll believe." Katara automatically knew that this was all for Sokka. He knew, deep in his heart. But Sokka would need convincing.
They were still near shore, having set anchor not long after receiving Aang and Sokka. Zuko had a small ship made ready and soon they were on their way. They didn't need oars or anything. Katara simply stood at the bow, her hair blowing lightly in the breeze. They made it ashore in less than ten minutes and were soon trekking across the terrain. Zuko walked diligently by her side, whispering to her quietly while Sokka and Aang followed. Iroh too followed but walked slowly, under his own power. It wasn't long before Katara found the perfect place to show Sokka the truth. It was a lake with a good one hundred foot cliff over looking it. They climbed the cliff quietly and at the top Katara turned to them, her eyes peaceful.
Katara looked at her always-disbelieving brother, the ever trusting Aang and the wise Iroh. They looked back at her expectantly, "You know Sokka. It's always made me sad. How disbelieving you are." Sokka frowned. He opened his mouth to say something, but Katara held up her hand, "I'm not insulting you. That's just the way you are. However, I feel that this is something that must be shown, not explained. You MUST believe." While she talked, she backed up to the precipice of the cliff. Zuko made no move to stop her, but Aang and Sokka both rushed forward. Zuko's iron arm prevented them from stopping her.
Katara was wearing a robe that could double as a dress. She undid the sash and not even Zuko could keep his eyes from bugging. But he knew it was essential that they see everything. Her hair also flew from its blue ribbon, creating a shield around her nakedness. She was balanced on the very balls of her feet right on the edge. Then she shifted her weight slightly backwards and began to fall. The wind rushed passed her as she made the deadly decent. But she flipped so that her feet made an arrow pointing down her arms out to her sides, parallel to the ground. She seemed to slow so that she was no longer rushing towards the water. When her feet touched the surface, it was very light. But the ripple was huge, spreading to the edges of the lake. It shimmered oddly, as did her skin. The translucent water raced up her skin in a spiral starting at her toes and winding up her torso. It split at her arms to twine around them and her hair flowed out behind her. Her skin seemed to retreat from the water until she was nothing but a woman of crystalline liquid. She lifted her arms and face upwards and opened her eyes.
They glowed a light blue, an inner light setting them alive. The water seemed to ripple underneath her and a tower of swirling, spiraling, water began to form. She opened her eyes and began to sing. The tower grew higher, lifting her with it, until she was level with her friends. The song that flowed from her lips was a song of calling. It hung in the air and lingered in ones mind in a disturbing and comforting way. Zuko felt the heat of the fire within begin to hum. He was being drawn in and tried to resist it as Katara held out her arms to him, beckoning. Finally he let himself be taken over by the terrible and ancient power within and felt the flames begin to lick at his skin till he too was consumed with his own element.
He jumped straight off the cliff and flew over to Katara circling around her once as she too jumped and they spiraled back down the tower as it retreated to its home. They met at the bottom and Katara used her Water Bending to skate across the lake effortlessly. Zuko followed and they danced together, revealing in the freedom.
Aang helped Sokka and Iroh make a quick decent to the ground, then joined them. As Katara and Zuko flew close they realized that not only were they beautiful. They were terrible. The fire coming off Zuko was immense and Katara was beautiful and powerful, the song still coming from her lips. The words were unknown, but their meaning was felt. Zuko had joined her flutes and harp tones with his raging and crackling voice. They weaved a song together that went as high as the heavens and shook the earth itself with its low notes. Soon the two of them stopped before the party of three. Katara looked like a true woman and Zuko a powerful and deep-chested man. Aang looked into their eyes and felt a resonate power in his heart and didn't give a second thought about unleashing it.
All color and substance left him, blowing into a sudden and powerful wind, but he kept his form though even that seemed to flicker and change. He leapt onto the lake with Katara and Zuko and all three took off again. Katara gliding effortlessly across the lake, Zuko flowing behind her, sparks flying out behind him and Aang flitting around them. All three of them spiraled into the air one last time and began to sing again. Aang's voice made Sokka think of the wind blowing through trees, making the nuts and leaves sing in the rush. Their song grew so powerful that he found himself cowering on the ground, his hands over his ears. Iroh was somewhere behind him, but that wasn't important.
Inside his own heart he heard the roar of the warrior with in. He could, he WOULD protect these three and whoever the son of earth was. He felt energy and bravery burst through his veins. He leapt up and added his voice to the song, singing deep with the roar of a tiger. Iroh remained on the ground. He knew he was witnessing things he would never see or hear again. Though all four of them sang, Katara's voice pierced through the others. Her voice was powerful, and when the song reached an end it was her voice that shot through time and space to reach the ears of their soon to be brother.
"Do not hide, Brother of Earth. We have awakened and we come for thee!" they called in unison. An Answering cry, like that of a rockslide, answered.
"I await Oh Sister of Water. Brothers of Air and Fire, and Protector of the Four." Came the reply. And it was over.
Katara stood at the water's edge, fully clothed, but still slightly glowing. Beside her was Zuko, standing tall and powerful and Aang on her other side his eyes had a now sharp edge. And Sokka stood before them his boomerang and club in his hands, prepared to defend them all to the death.
Iroh looked up at them with tears in his eyes, "Thank you." He said to the silence. However the silence was a listening one.
This is a very short chapter, I know. But I kept going to write more and it just didn't work. I think this chapter is ok with ending early. So I'm going to ahead and put out two chapters at once. Also, I need advice. This is beginning to come to a close, and I want to keep writing. I have a couple of ideas. One is a Fruits Basket fanfic, the other is another Avatar. However the setting may not be popular as it is set in the very distant future when Zuko is entering his thirties and Katara is 28. And… it's after the Fire Nation has won the war… or has it? Anyway, I've totally fallen in love with this story and I think I'm going to do it after this.
