To serve my master
by Etherealstar
Author's notes: Thanks a whole bunch for the great reviews. I'll be sure to add in some more humour. A little warning though, the next chapter contains a bit of a seductive-waff theme. Viewers discretion will be advised. But hey, its nothing 13 year olds can't handle.
Disclaimer: Avatar and Avatar Manga is owned by Nickelodeon and Sitcom. All rights reserved.
Chapter 6: What to do?
"Eww, absolutely disgusting!" Katara remarked as she scrubbed her hands over and over from Zuko's sweaty feet. The thought alone made her want to hurl. And the smell, it was enough to drive any sane person berserk.
Katara grimaced at the fact Zuko could be this gross and not to mention cool about it. 'And imagine I actually felt sorry for him…'
Hurrying along her scrubbing Katara wiped her hands returning to the common room. No Zuko.
Looking out the windows of the room she saw Zuko down below with his General and the army training. Katara mused at bit. He was a perfect soldier, perfect assassin and yet, perfect air-head.
Turning to the French doors (not exactly French doors) she opened them and saw a sight to behold. Gasping softly, her eyes bedazzled with something tainted by the hand of beauty. Something she had never seen rushed to eyes and stunned her senseless. A world, only seen in the mind of dreams was created before her very eyes. Not touched by ruthless hands of the Fire Nation, Katara found herself going forward to the wide balcony. Leaning forward, her eyes glowed candescently. Enthralled by a garden that resembled a well sculptured maze, she blinked back to see the sea in the distance of the garden.
The intricate pattern the garden created made Katara glow with thought. 'Hmm, since Zuko is busy and well, I'm not, does that mean I can have a break?'
'Why, of course Katara…nobody's around. Nobody's there. Go for it girl!'
Giggling in finality, she ran out the common room, running past maids, both old and young. Passing soldiers and commanders, Katara headed for one place, a place where a real dream was.
Running through the backdoor of the kitchen, Katara stopped when she saw him. Zuko.
Shirt off, muscles rippling over his sturdy body and sweat falling down, she swallowed. Never had she seen Zuko this way. This discernible. For a moment her eyes became hex by the body in front of her. As long as Katara knew herself, she could distinctively recall she 'disliked' Zuko, but right now, when she felt warm and her face was turning flush, she wasn't so sure if she hated the enemy or—or 'Get a hold of yourself' her conscience rose from behind.
Katara blinked back.
Still, her sapphire eyes could not take its glare off the fire lord.
"KYAHHHHH!" Zuko flipped over, his body dropping into a low stance, one that resembled a tiger's low pounce. Captivated by the sweat on his golden skin, and the low breath through his lips and the fire that burned almost desirably sickening in his eyes, trance her in a world of her own.
Her breath became shallow as she whispered, "Zuko"
Inside her conscience screamed. Awaking her back to reality's cold front, Katara couldn't believe what had just happened. 'I just desired over-over Zuko.' Not knowing what to do or how to react to what just happened, Katara swallowed the thick try knot in her throat. Wanting to tell her conscience she was not becoming weak and allowing the enemy to filter through her veins, the truth rushed back at her.
"I'm becoming…weak," walking away almost too frighten, Katara felt something heavy pang deep within her. Not sure what it was, she almost feared to find out.
"You can't do this Katara," she whispered under her breath…
No matter how many times she tried to show herself she was not becoming sidetracked, the more she saw herself in the enemy's grasp. Running to the opposite side of the building she saw the garden. Stopping she read the sign: Fire Garden.
Taking into a quick run, Katara entered the garden going from side to side, back to front through a maze that never seem to stop. Confused as to where to turn next, she found herself in a corner, bewildered. Around her were flowers. The garden being a maze of flowers seem for the first time to capture her interest. Dandelions, Orchids, Hibiscus and Jasmine roamed the air with its sweet nature's scent. The cold air from the plantation around her made her shiver. Lost, alone and confused, she dropped to her knees.
Where was the beginning of the maze? She wondered, and where was the end?
Letting out a tired sigh, she closed her eyes trying to calm herself down. Being extremely silent, she heard something in the distance. Besides from the stray calls of Zuko, she heard something that called at her. The sea. She could hear the sound of waves crashing upon the shores. Reopening her eyes, they became a potent colour of blue. Scuttling to her feet, Katara breathed in deeply. Raising a delicate hand within the air, she breathed in whispering to herself a mantra. Arching her hand, she brought her other hand back in a strained manner. Coming forward to her call was the water.
"Come to me." She whispered
The water vortex forward, spinning through the trees and grass destroying all in its path.
"And stop." The water stopped, "like a serpent come to me"
The water went through the maze finding its way to Katara. Katara slowly closed her eyes feeling the strength of the water weakening her. The water ripped through the lanes of the garden coming to its coy master. Reopening her eyes the water of the sea flew into her hand. She spun around collecting it in her hand.
"And freeze…" Katara saw the path the water made through the maze. Weak and tired, Katara trudged through the labyrinth. Bursting free, the wind blew on her face. The smell of salt came to her nostrils. Blinking back the sea stretched itself out. The amazing turquoise aquamarine water broke on the shores. The peaceful picture awoke a sense of longing in her. Striding forward she saw the birds in the sky and the small crabs running along the beach. Few palm trees scattered here and there gave the touch of paradise.
"Paradise in the enemy's home?"
Katara sighed. Seeing a log on the sand, she went forward taking a seat. Marveling at the sea which was constantly exhaling colours of rich blues and greens, Katara had little concentration of her beautiful environment.
Inside she was troubled. An internal battle never before fought now rummaged within her. What was is about seeing Zuko just a while ago made her feel so---vulnerable? Remembering the colour of liquefied gold amber eyes that made her shudder she tried so hard to kill the thought.
'Why can't I just get rid of it?' and as much as she longed to kill the feeling it resounded mercilessly within her. Again and again she was beaten by Zuko's image. An image that burned too deep. Gasping at what she thought, her lips trembled and her eyes slowly watered.
"Kami (God) please" she looked at the sky, "let me be strong"
Closing her eyes, she wished so much she could be with Aang and Sokka. The longing to be home was killing her. Memories of her brother's lazy sleeping and reveries of Aang's attempts to impress her, made a smile grow within her. She missed them greatly. 'I want to go home…' she told herself, but she couldn't. A dark image of Zuko came to her mind, 'because I am kept in the confines of Zuko.'
"Why me kami (God)?" she asked
Opening her eyes she wish she could see Appa, Momo, Aang and Sokka all waiting for her. Realizing it was that image she had to live for, she nodded her head. 'I know what I must do, question is, can I follow through?'
'If I don't follow through then all goes into hell, and I simply can't allow that. I simply can't!'
Smiling that she would rise again through the troubles amidst her, she saw the white fleecy clouds flying above her head. For the first time Katara felt restored on her kidnap. She felt like there was something to live for. Indeed there was. 'I will be home soon everyone, soon.'
"SOON!" she screamed out at the world.
Nothing could beat and drown her spirit now. It was effervescent with life. She stood up looking at the beach. The roaring waves vehemently hitting at the crackled shore invited Katara to go forward, into the rush. Walking into the untamed blue sea, the waves came in full force toward her, but with a cheeky smirk on her face, she screamed out, bending the oncoming wave. Both hands above her head she twirled the water in such a circular manner to form the awesome Ying and Yang.
Meanwhile:
"Where is she?" anger present in his voice.
"I-I don't milord," stuttered the young girl.
Fisting his hand in her hair, she cried out at his hold. "If you lie I will not hesitate to kill you," he gritted his teeth dropping her to the ground.
Amber eyes flickered with flames of anger, "where is my stubborn maid?" he shouted out.
Their faces. They were all empty and vacant. No one knew and he knew that too. Screaming out the burst of anger, he went in search of his maid.
His General knowing that Zuko expected much out of him, ordered everyone to keep their eyes open for Katara.
Zuko on the other hand was beginning to wonder if Katara wanted an early death wish, one he wasn't going to hesitate to give. Walking around the opposite side of the establishment his busy mind kept at its thinking. Wondering the many options she had, he only found two, the first being suicide and the second escaping. He didn't consider her to be a stupid girl although she acted like one, but still she would never endanger others for her selflessness. It was selfish, it was crude, it certainly was not Katara.
Walking pass the Fire Garden his foot splashed in a puddle of water.
"Fehh!" he growled.
Zuko wiped his foot on the dry ground when he realized something. 'Rain didn't fall, where did this water come from?'
He thought for a moment. Hearing the sound of crashing waves he scowled out. Katara.
Altering his direction he went forward through the seemingly wet floored garden. 'Oh she's definitely been here alright!' he tasted his wrath on his tongue. She would suffer for this, oh yes, he thought. Musing at all the possible ways he could taunt and torture her, he smirked ruthlessly, the possibilities were endless.
Seeing in the distance the young bender, he went forward in a haste. Walking faster and faster toward her, he stopped at what he saw next. In the sea was a huge Ying-Yang symbol. She was arching the circle using her hands to control the water and its shape. Amazed that water could be this impressive, he shook his head of the daze.
Rage, aggression and viciousness all clashed together when he saw her. Why was it that every time he saw her he wanted to hurt her? Scream at her? Possibly kill her? What was it about her that made his nerves feel unease at, what was it about her simple face that made him taste her all over his teeth in bitterness? Had she planted herself so deep in him that she was more hated than Aang? Realizing that there could possibly be no reason to keep her alive, he allowed his anger to volume up.
"KATARA," mightily he shouted.
Katara froze. With her focus disrupted a mountain of water came crashing down on her head. And into the water she went.
Zuko saw what happened. Seeing that she was not surfacing a smirk grew on his face. 'Good, die' was his expression.
A lecherous smirk came to his face, but within, something was panging. He was feeling something he didn't understand. The more he looked forward to seeing her dead the more the feeling grew within. His hands grew clammy and the butterflies within simply raced to all end. The wait of wanting to see her dead or alive was killing him.
'This is what you wanted, right Zuko?' his conscience asked.
Zuko looked at the water. The feeling panging and putting him in an uneasy façade.
For the first time Zuko didn't give an answer back at his demanding conscience. For first time Zuko didn't know if losing someone was right, or wrong.
All he did know, was that the suspense was killing him…
The next chapter contains a slight seductive waff.
To be continued…