To serve my master
by Etherealstar

Author's notes: My story is OOC. Very OOC. But it brings a promising relationship later on.
Disclaimer: Avatar and Avatar Manga is owned by Nickelodeon and Sitcom. All rights reserved.
Chapter 5: History in the library…

Zuko got up to a new day, the sun as usual was blasting through the windows burning his poor face all thanks to the vindictive girl called Katara. There were so many times in his life like he felt like killing her but hell, what kept him back?

Sitting on his chair, and that means his chair was the water-bender. She was reading a book. She seem fascinated with the book brought book up to her face, as if she would be in the story somehow. Angered that she had chores and she chose to past her time in reading he growled. The little termagant took no heed to his growl. Flicking his black sheets off, Katara jumped.

"Onna (woman)," he shouted.

Katara covered her face with the book. Grimacing that he caught her reading instead of working really made her feel like melting. 'Oh phooey! Caught in the act'

"Remove the book," he growled nastily.

Slowly she removed the book giving a frightened face. "Hheheheh, Zukoo you're awake. Ohhh damn," she cringed when she saw his brows narrow down.

"So this is how you work?" he gritted his teeth, "half-way?" he scowled.

"I-I was just distracted. I'm sorry," she bowed.

"Distracted huh? Well I'll give you something to be distracted for, not to mention sorry." He got out his bed, pointing for her to follow him.

Exiting his room, he lead her down the hall to a certain room. Opening the door he ordered her to enter. She swallowed. Obliging, she entered a room full of books.

"Since you like books, clean my library. You have until lunchtime woman. If you're not done then, I'll be force to punish you." He shut the door on her face leaving her in suspense.

Katara didn't understand. She tried, literally to be a good maid, be a good servant, but was he even realizing it? I mean though they're enemies she didn't quite show that she was a rival. In a way Katara showed the qualities of subservience and endurance. Two attributes of a friend, and a winner. Sighing that some people may never see others for what they try to do, she left it there. She could do so much for Zuko, but the rest, well…it was up to fate.

Getting to her task she met up with two girls of the Fire Nation. Maids to be exact.

"Trouble from Master Zuko?" asked a brunette with glowing green eyes.

"Yes" she sighed.

"Master Zuko, he's just a bit…what's the word I'm looking for?" spoke the brunette.

"Demented. Sick, I'm-so-great, a loser?" spoke the next girl.

The girls giggled.

"Yeah he is. That and more" the brunette added.

"So who are you? We just figured you're Zuko's new lil slave but who are you exactly?" asked the brunette.

"I'm Katara," she whispered.

"Well its pleasure to meet you." The brunette said, "I'm Ayah and this is my friend Chigi" she paused, "ready to work?"

"It's not like I have an option especially with that tyrant on my case" Katara notified.

Ayah giggled as she dusted the shelf of books. "You should feel lucky though,"

Katara who was picking up some books stopped, "excuse me?"

"Well" Ayah stopped dusting, "he was a lot worse than that. We've been working for the Fire Nation for years now and Zuko's been a lot worse than that. His past slaves. Tsk, it's a sad story with those girls"

Katara placed the books in the shelf, "wha-what do you mean by that?" Katara was beginning to get scared.

"Well, rumors have it that Zuko was once upon a time a man who chose slaves because he was stressed" she paused biting her lips.

"What's the part that I'm suppose to be afraid of?" Katara asked giving an incredulous look.

"Katara, when Zuko was stressed he took young girls, usually of his age group and—and" there was hesitation and Katara could see it in their faces.

"And he raped them" Chigi ended.

Katara gasped, her eyes wide in horror. "Oh my! That's horrible!" she whispered fiercely.

"The thing is, if Zuko feels stressed at any time he can chose any girl he wants." Ayah looked down, "even you" she looked at Katara, "you being his personal slave, accentuates a new factor that since you'll be the closest person to Zuko everyday, he at any point in time can ravage you and strip you of your virgin thoughts. Believe me Katara, Zuko is no friend…and that goes for all the men of the Fire Nation" they paused. "Scared?"

Katara blinked back. "Why are you telling me this? It makes no sense." Katara suddenly said.

"Katara, Katara, Ka-tara, look. I just want you to know one thing" Ayah said, "Girls in this Nation look out for one another, I would only try to tell you the best thing. Look, if its one thing you should know, never provoke Zuko. Else, you're done for, especially when he starts throwing fire darts…ouch, there goes your pretty face" the girl said.

"I think I know how to control fire, Zuko however is another issue" Katara said.

"Control fire? Meaningg?" the girl asked

"I'm a water bender…" Katara spoke.

"Ahh, you're the girl Lily was talking about. How cool it must be to be a water-bender." Ayah spoke.

"Yeh" Katara grew tired of telling people controlling water was no easy task, its best she just gave up while she was ahead.

As the girls got down to work, they every now and then would make small jokes laughing to keep their sanity alive. For minutes they worked on a single shelf, using all their strength to move the bookcases. But minutes turned into hours. Sweeping and dusting and even a quick indulgent of reading the girls thought it wasn't a complete loss. Katara sneezed when she came to the end of the last isle. It was only now Katara realized that the room was dark and the wallpaper in the library was old and dingy. It was a decoupage of fire nation emblems. Amazing Katara thought. As she kept dusting down the isle, she came to a shelf that was in glass. Leaning forward she wondered, what book could be this protected. Biting her lips in curiosity she drew nearer, but the glass kept her off limits.

Sighing that she should be working, she went back to her dusting but her curiosity was getting the better of her. She dusted the books again and again, and over and over the haunting resignation of wanting to see the book was killing her. Letting out a frustrated growl, she tried to tell herself she just couldn't have her way.

Keeping herself distracted with packing the books in their selves and sweeping the ground of dust, Katara's eyes every now and then would fly across to the shelf.

'Come on Katara get a grip of yourself. It's just a book'

'A pretty book'

'Hey, stop it! It's a book. You have work to do for Zuko, now finish it'

'I want to see that book.'

Her two minds were beginning to back-answer each other as one wanted more control over the next. Shaking her head, Katara allowed the dust-broom to fall to the ground. Going forward to the glass shelf, she bit her lips. 'Zuko did say to clean the library and all books in it so—technically I couldn't be doing something wrong'

Pushing the glass shelf she realized it wouldn't budge. 'Oh come on'

The glass refused to open. Breathing in deeply, Katara closed her eyes allowing her hands to focus on the lock. Making the air condense into water, Katara applied the water to the lock causing the corrosion of metal to occur. The more pressure Katara applied to lock, the faster it rusted. Hearing the sound of metal falling on glass, Katara opened her eyes. Smirking she went forward. Looking behind her back she saw no one.

'The coast is clear, go ahead Katara'

Katara pushed the glass shelving to the side reaching out for the book. Reaching out for the book it began to somewhat burn her hand.

"Ouchh!" 'Damn'

Bending the water into her hand, it slowly cooled.

'Seems like this book can only be read by fire type' Katara thought.

Using a thin film of water over her hand, she went forward for the book. Opening the book she saw that most of the pages were blank.

'Huh?'

'Protected… but with nothing in it?'

As she flipped the pages she saw that at the middle of book there were writings. Katara focused down on the writings. It was written by Zuko as he constantly used the first person pronoun.

Katara mused on the writings. A lot of what she read dealt with exile. Zuko's exile. She read about how his father was a temperamental ruler and because Zuko was disrespectful he was banished wearing the burnt mark over his left eye. Katara felt weighed, she hadn't known that the mark was created by his father. She continued to read and she realized something she never thought she would. All through the readings, Zuko said he suffered pain. A pain never to be described. Katara softened her eyes, regardless if Zuko was her enemy, she would never wish him to be this hurt inside, this affected.

"And I'd gladly cut my soul and burn my heart, if only you would look at me as your son again. Now the shadows have come to caress me in pain, as I slowly find myself becoming more of the temperament you are, my father. I allow the anger to chain my heart and like you, I become ruthless and vehement. With nothing but black shards of pain sticking in my soul, I breathe the corrupted air and I find my reflection, reflecting you." Katara read the lines.

Closing her eyes she felt sorrow. Sorrow for Zuko. All this time Zuko was trying to capture the Avatar for his father, and at the same time becoming his father. Zuko wanted nothing more than to be loved by his father but here in written lines it says it couldn't be.

Empathetic over Zuko's life, Katara returned the book to the shelf. She didn't need to read anymore, she knew where the story was going. And she cursed the fact that everything would end in such a blaze.

Shaking her head that there was nothing she could do, she returned to her cleaning, her heart still in disbelief, but more aware of Zuko's silent cries.

Zuko sat on the table with his soldiers on either side. Lunch was being served and many of the maids were rushing in to feed. Zuko closed her eyes waiting for his maid to get here. A scent of wild flowers entered his nostrils. Katara.

Running down the steps to serve Zuko his lunch, Katara took up a cup, a platter and began filling them with lunch. Tempura served along with juice, she placed the food in front of Zuko. Placing the chopsticks down, she bowed.

"Lunch is served, master" she whispered

Zuko opened his eyes seeing his lunch. Looking up at Katara he could tell something had definitely changed. It wasn't seen but it was present. From the way she spoke, she was beginning to sound like she actually respected him.

Arching a brow he wondered, 'what happened to you?'

Shaking his head he dug in.

Katara all the while stood to his side ready to take his every command. Even when the maids were called for lunch Katara stood at Zuko's side being very obedient and receptive. Zuko realized that her behaviour was not going unseen. Everyone was beginning to realize the new trend of his once witty slave. Leaning back into his chair, he wiped his mouth. Katara picked up all his dishes carrying them to the kitchen.

Even Zuko was impressed, just yesterday she was telling him he was a clumsy fool and today she's changed into some pristine angel. Narrowing his eyes a thought came to mind. Maybe this was a hoax, a joke, a way to get back at him for making her clean the entire library. Scowling at the thought he got up, Katara following right behind.

"Come my little slave, you have a task for me" a very cruel smirk on his face.

"Yes master."

They walked up the stairs to the common room where Zuko sat on his couch. He patted the soft cushion instructing Katara to come sit next to him. Katara arched a brow.

Katara obliged sitting to the furthest end from him waiting for him to instruct her the next task. Placing his foot up on the couch he placed them on her lap. Katara jumped. Why was Zuko doing this? Acting weird not to mention

"Take off my shoes Katara," he said

"Huh?"

"Don't start with deaf hearing problem"

She obliged.

Then in midst of taking off his second shoe she smelt a rancid scent. 'Ewwwwwwww!'

The feeling of wanting to hurl, die and possibly commit suicide all came to Katara as she inhaled the pungent scent of stinky feet. 'Kami, I'm going to die, aren't I?'

Dropping the shoe to the ground, she backed up from his feet. Turning her face the opposite direction from his feet.

"What's the matter Katara?" he smirked evilly.

He loved to see her suffer and fall mercilessly at the bottom. Ohh, that was his reward of being the boss around here.

"N-nothing, master" she lied.

"Good, now be a good slave and give me a good foot massage"

Katara nearly felt like face-faulting at what she heard. 'Ohhh my goodness gracious!'

"I'm waiting woman,"

Katara looked at his feet. 'Oh damn, I'm going to die, I can see it now'

Placing her hands on his feet, she winced when she smelt the horrid scent and not to mention Zuko's foot was sweaty. 'Ewwwww, aghh, disgusting!'

"Harder…"

'Kami, help me?'

To be continued...