To serve my master
by Etherealstar
Author's notes: Sorry I was late with the updates but I went out yesterday to the movies. My bad everyone. Hope this chapter makes up.
Disclaimer: Avatar and Avatar Manga is owned by Nickelodeon and Sitcom. All rights reserved.
Chapter 11: The hunt is on…
After Zuko's bath, the young prince ordered a new change of clothes for his ex-slave. Katara sat on his bed with a kimono on, looking at the moon. Some how the golden colour of the moon and slow sailing of the clouds made the ambience just right to talk. The world was silent with the gentle rustling of leafy trees under the warmth of the dark sky. The sound of waves crashing on the shore sounded like music to her ears. It was now she felt the refinery of the night and the happiness of being in Fire Nation's hold.
Katara went forward to the magnifying beauty of nature. Leaning on the balcony she breathed in the crisp air that filled her lungs with coolness.
Zuko watched her, the way her hair streamed in the wind. The delicate chestnut locks flying. The red kimono under the golden light of the moon made her look exquisite and absolutely enthralling. Indeed she looked divine and commanded attention. Walking forward silently, his amused eyes found it impossible to break eye contact with her.
"Nice night huh?" came his deep voice in the dark room.
She jumped. Turning around, she searched for his form in the dark room. And there in the thick darkness, golden eyes flashed and Katara knew she found him.
"Spectacular night indeed," she smiled, returning to stare over the balcony.
"What impresses you about the night?" he asked seeing the muse over her face.
He joined her, looking at the inviting scenery.
"Everything" she breathed in the word
"Oh, come on, that's too mundane. Really, what intrigues you about the night?" he asked. Turning to her. A small smile plastered its way on her face when she thought about it.
"I told you" she giggled, "everything"
"If you be honest with me, I'll tell you what I like about the night" he smirked.
"Oh? A secret aye?"
"Secret for secret…so tell me"
"How about you go first Zuko, and then I'll tell you my secret"
"Alright, but you promise?"
"Promise."
"Good. Well when I was younger, with my dad, we use to look at the stars and find our names. It was fun because every night since I was eight, dad would come in my room and say Zuko, lets go connect stars, and I with golly self would run out of bed and come scuttling to my father's balcony, and for hours we'd look at the stars and find names of animals, creatures, sprites, fays…anything." He thought for a moment, "I use to love that…a lot"
"I could imagine. Why don't you still do it?"
"Don't know, it hurts I guess to think after all the moments of father and son, it didn't matter in the end"
"Zuko…" she whispered.
"Besides, I'm alright with it now. It teaches me to be stronger…"
"You don't become stronger if you bury a past. It's unhealthy…"
"And who do I have to tell my pains?"
She leaned forward, "me"
"Katara" he whispered…
"Yes Zuko?"
He leaned forward with a smirk on his face. So very close to her face, his shimmering eyes gazed into hers, "its your turn"
They giggled.
Katara watched him laugh. She never saw Zuko laugh and what a beautiful thing it was.
'So wonderful' thought Katara…
They slowly stopped their laughing and Katara bit her lips, "the thing I like about the night, is that, it brings people together. Even enemies as you call them."
"That's your secret?" he laughed out.
"Zuko" she playfully punched his shoulder.
"Oh, that was, was such an insightful secret" Zuko laughed.
"Evil" she teased…
He slowed his laughing and turned to her, "you know I never imagine laughing this hard again"
"Hmm"
"It feels good, to feel…just to feel" he stopped…
"To feel what?" she battered her eyes…
He looked into her eyes and knew what was coming.
"To feel alive" he whispered.
The shade of soft amber flowed with so much sincerity and it almost made Katara's heart miss a beat. Never had she seen eyes that drew her in so deeply. Perhaps after all the trails she endured with Zuko this was the reward given to her for her patience with the arrogant prince. But she had to agree it was well worth it. Katara smiled. Everyone deserves to be happy, even the cruelest of beast deserve to have some small piece of kindness and goodness endowed to them. Just looking into his eyes she saw the soft shade dissolve back into something so familiar its only seen in scared men. The look of delicate care, so delicate that almost touching it would break him, made Katara flinch.
Slowly Zuko swallowed the thick lump and mustered up all the possible strength he had. Taking a breath of air, Zuko placed his arm around her petite waist, slowly and carefully he brought her near to him. Looking into her eyes he saw so many things about the beauty she was. Leaning his forehead just a bit toward hers, he whispered, "thank you…Katara"
And as an instinctive action, she wrapped her hands around his waist, "whatever for Zuko?"
"For showing me that some magic is real," he smiled gently…
And for the first time she enjoyed seeing that smile of peace on his face. This was the Zuko she wanted, who wanted to be free. And alas, he was…
No words could describe the picture of peace he emanated. And because of that, she soaked the feeling of the being the one to show him the light.
The next day: 8 am
Zuko and Katara were now having breakfast in his balcony. Katara was reading a book Zuko wrote and Zuko was watching her read it.
Amusing.
He couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun watching someone read.
"Amazing, you're such an emotive writer…" she whispered.
"Hey, I'm an emotive guy"
She smiled.
A knock came to his door.
"Come in"
It was Iroh.
"Ah, uncle, what brings you here?"
Iroh arched a brow, 'is Zuko being polite?'
"A letter came for you"
"Really?"
"Who's it from?" Zuko asked.
Iroh looked at Katara, "maybe, you should see for yourself"
"Alright then"
Zuko took the letter reading the back, Kimiko…
"Arigatou (Thank you)"
Iroh hearing the deep serious voice of Zuko understood he should leave him to be. Exiting he prayed all was going to go well.
Ripping the pink seal, he inhaled the scent of rich roses and Jasmines. Taking hold of the letter, Zuko read through with haste…
'A dance?'
Reading through he brought the letter down. 'Kimiko…why do you always do me this?'
"Alright everyone, we've discussed the situation already. You know your mission, be a shadow and don't get caught. We're rescuing Katara and it requires no mess ups. Are we clear?" Sokka asked
"Yes"
"Good, now, Aang you will take the Western side of the building while group A will take the South side, Group B and I will take the East side and Group C you will take the North side. Everyone knows what they must do, carry it out and be done of the mission. Find Katara and bring her back safely." He paused, "dismissed"
Everyone scattered leaving on their horses.
"Ready Aang, to kick some butt?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Let's go then!"
'Zuko here we come' Aang smirked.
Nightfall came in a rush letting the day die down.
Katara was sleeping in her room while Zuko was up. His fire parlour was alive and crackling with fires but Zuko just kept his eyes on the flames.
"Troubled?"
Iroh watched the young boy.
"Yeah"
"It's Kimiko isn't it?"
"How'd you know?"
"I know the look of upset, of betrayal…I know it when I see it" Iroh spoke.
"She always plays with me. I'm not her friend anymore uncle…those ties we had, they're gone" he flick the letter into the fire.
"Is that so?"
"What do you mean if that's so, of course it is, you remembered what happened"
"Hmm, I do."
"She asked me to get marry to her, I said I would think about it, what happened next, they caught in the common room sleeping with a General. I never forgave Kimiko."
"Then why did you keep her picture?"
"Her picture, you think I still I feel for her?" he went over to the table got the picture, tore it up and threw it in the fire.
"There, its done for. Its over. I will never love her, show my face or anything to her. I hate her…"
"Does this have something to do with the new girl as well?"
"Katara?"
"I really should learn her name…yes Katara"
"No. This has nothing to do with Katara"
"You sure?"
Zuko gave him a look.
"Well what can I say Zuko, don't go if that's how you feel"
"I already told you, I hate her and I never want to see her"
"I see…" the old man rubbed his digits.
"You're thinking aren't you uncle?"
"Yes…"
"Damn, I hate it when you think, you get freaky ideas"
"Ha! That's true"
"So what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, why does my Zuko bother and fret himself over this girl he has no connections with?"
Zuko was silent…
"I already told you"
"No Zuko, I think you had something too deep that it hurts to even talk about. You make the choice."
"I could only hate her"
"Then quit fretting yourself over her"
Zuko sighed.
They'd been traveling for hours and still no sign of the Fire Nation. Though Sokka was pretty sure he knew where he was going, Aang was beginning to question his surety. How much longer, thought Aang.
Sokka shouted out suddenly.
The horses slowly came to a halt.
"What is it Sokka?" Aang asked
"Fire Nation"
"Where?"
"The Fire Nation is dead ahead, look" he pointed in the distance for over a 200 km, the site of a huge establishment could be seen.
"Wow…"
"Out the fires, and be silent men, because tonight, we hunt"
To be continued