Disclaimer: Do I honestly have to say it again?

AN: Alright, this is one of the few very lucky times I was talking about. We had motivational speakers come today (As they will once a week til the end of this semester) and I didn't have too much homework. I will be awarding cookies at the end of the chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Nine: Smoke

Zuko was sitting on his blankets, watching the Avatar and his friend with slight amusement. They were scrambling around the campsite, trying to think of where Katara was, why Jet had taken her, and how they would save her. They somehow managed to trip over each other several times before hopping onto the giant fluffy monster with Iroh and leaving him there alone.

"The Water Tribe boy's idea no doubt." Zuko muttered aloud.

He reached up to a tree next to his blankets and pulled himself up. He then tore off a large branch and ripped off the leaves. Now that he had a make-shift crutch, he began to slowly make his way out of the clearing.

"Let's just see what he thinks when I'm not here."

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"Lermg grph!" Katara shrieked through her gag.

Jet only tightened his grip as he continued to walk through the forest. She had long since used her strengh struggling, so all she could do was scream words that they couldn't even understand.

"Don't worry Katara, we're almost to the hide-out." Jet whispered to her.

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"Again!" Zula shouted.

Ruhuo went through the complicated set for the hundredth time that hour. Sweat poured down his face, and it wasn't even noon. He had a feeling that she would continue to push him harder.

As much as he hated doing so, he kept the pictures of Zula's laugh, and her smile in his head. It helped to keep him going.

"Again!"

She had to push him harder. She had to remind herself of their place. As hard as she tried to keep them out, images of Ruhuo's smile constantly invaded her thoughts.

Great Agni, what is happening to me!

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Even the fact that he was handicapped did not affect Zuko's anger, patience, or determination.

His anger was shown as he peeked through the bushed ahead, seeing the band of rebels, and Katara, come to a halt. He didn't know exactly why he was angry. After all, the girl had been constantly nagging at him about his wound. Never the less, it bubbled inside him.

His patience was shown as he quietly waited in the bushes for each one of the rebel members to grab hold of a rope, a cleverly disguised one at that, and zoom up into the trees.

Even his determination was shown, when he snuck up to the rope and gave a sharp tug, and all of the events that followed.

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Jet took Katara to a small room, with only one door and no windows.

Jet shoved Katara into the room. Her hands and feet were still bound.

"I am sorry Katara," Jet said with false kindness, "but we have to keep you here until you learn to behave yourself."

She answered him with a glare of utmost anger and hatred. Jet's attention was snapped away from the girl before him when the burly Freedom Fighter known as Pipsqueak came to the door.

"Jet ... firebender ... crutch ... wants girl ... pain .. " He managed to gasp out before falling to his knees.

"Stay here and guard the girl."

Jet scrambled out of the room, locking the door behind him.

A firebender with a crutch? Who wants me? And was able to cause such a large man pain?

Putting the peices together wasn't that hard. But she had to know for sure.

"Hey, Pipsqueak, what did the firebender look like?" Katara questioned.

"Teenage ... black hair ... scar ... "

Zuko. She knew it was him, it had to be. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder why.

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He coulnd't help but wonder why he was doing this.

Another blast of fire, another good whack with his crutch, another rebel down.

Why, in great Agni's sacred name, was he helping the waterbender?

'Because you feel like you have to...'

Yes, but why?

'Wonder about that later, you've got to defeat half a rebel army right now...'

These conversations in his head were not only getting more frequent, but more annoying also. But, he'd have to worry about that later.

After a few more minutes, no one came after him anymore. They all kept their distance. Zuko reached out and grabbed one of the rebels by the collar of his shirt.

"Where's the girl?" He growled.

The boy just pointed, his voice lost in his fear. Zuko set him down and started of to the door he had pointed to.

With his uninjured leg he kicked the door down, only to see the face of a very shocked Katara.

"What, in great Shasa's name, were - "

"I don't have time for this. Are you coming or staying?" His voice was harsh, which also caught her off guard.

"I'm going." She said quickly.

She was already out the door by the time Zuko had turned around. She was about to keep going when Zuko stopped her.

"Wait,"

"What's the problem?" She wanted to get out of there before Jet returned.

"It's too easy."

"What?"

"It's too easy." Zuko repeated. "That guy, Jet, wouldn't just let us walk out of here. We are either being watched or he's set up a trap."

Katara nodded. What he said made sense. She had been so in hurry to get out she didn't stop to consider any of this.

"So then what do you propose we do?"

Zuko didn't get a chance to answer. Jet leapt down from the trees to block the way out.

"Now, now Katara. We wouldn't want you to get away from me now would we?"

"Umm, actually, yes we would."

"Well, I suppose that's just too bad then." A dark look passed over his features. "I'm never letting you get away from me again."

His attention snapped to Zuko. The fighting had openned up his wounds, and blood was visible through the bandages.

"You," Jet took a step closer, "are injured. You wouldn't have gotten too far anyway. You have a brain though, I'll give you that, and one hell of a beating."

Jet charged at Zuko with his fist held high, ready to strike. Zuko gripped the end of his branch and, when Jet was close enough, smacked him hard in the chest. Furious, Jet drew his hooked swords. Katara, seeing as how Zuko was outdone, looked around for a source of water, any water at all. All she found was a bucket. Deciding that it would have to do, she drew the water from the bucket and bombarded Jet with a series of attacks.

How long they continued the fight, none of them were sure. Zuko, with his powerful firebending and handy tree brance, Katara with her waterbending and bucket, and Jet with his unique swords. Finally, he had had enough. Jet threw one sword at Zuko, which left a large, deep gash in his shoulder. He then took the other sword and, with it pressed harder to her neck than neccessary, pinned her to the wall. He was choking her.

Zuko, still dizzy with pain, aimed a fireball at Jet. It missed...

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"Do you see anything?" Aang shouted to Sokka as they flew over the forest.

"No." Sokka shouted back.

"If I may," The boys looked back at Iroh, "It was unwise to leave my nephew alone. Plus, from the story you told of this Jet, it would be impossible to find anything from above."

Sokka nodded, and Aang flew lower, looking for their campsite.

"Aang!" Sokka screamed, waving his arms frantically. "Aang! Smoke! There's smoke right there!"

There was indeed, rising from the trees with a few visable flames, smoke. Aang only continued to fly lower, hoping that his suspicions were not true.

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The fireball went just behind Jet's head, and, while this had him destracted, Katara was able to kick him hard in the face. This loosened his hold on her enough so that she was able to get free, grab Zuko's branch, and smack Jet so hard over the head that it knocked him unconsious.

Now that they were rid of one problem, they were faced with another.

Zuko's fire had missed Jet, yes, but it hadn't quite missed the trees. It was spreading quickly, and smoke filled the air. Soon, she and Zuko were completely surround by fire.

Her lungs were screaming for fresh air, and she was sore from the battle with Jet. She grabbed Zuko, already on his knees in pain, and made her way to what she hoped was the exit.

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The sun was setting, and so the lessons were over for today.

Zula leaned on the railing, watching as the sun stained the clouds different colors as it slipped beyond the horizon.

I don't feel anything for him. I can't feel anything for him. I won't feel anything for him. I -

All of her thoughts vanished when Ruhuo came to stand beside her, straight and tall, with his hands behind his back.

"What exactly is your plan, Princess Zula?" He asked calmly.

"I plan to teach you everything I know by the time this ship reaches the port city of Lunro, of the Earth Kingdom. Then we will head to Omashu, and continue our search for the Avatar. You will assist me in doing so, considering you will be a master by then."

She didn't take her eyes off of the sunset. She couldn't. She knew that if she did the images of his eyes, of him in general would remain in her mind. They stood in silence for a few moments before he nodded, bade her good night, and went to his room.

Zula let out a sigh.

"Why do I have to be burdened with an emotion as this?" She whispered.

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AN: Yay! That was a pretty long chapter. You have to wait until weekend to figure out what happens to Zuko and Katara though!

IT'S COOKIE TIME!

The answers were:

A.) Zuko rescues Katara, despite his injury...

Yes but I added a small twist, because as you read, She saves him too.

D.)Zula is constantly getting onto herself for thinking about Ruhuo, but she still goes on with her plan.

I didn't realize that at the time you guys didn't know all of her plan, terribly sorry about that.
E.)They all ignore their feelings for eachother for now.

This will, unfortunately, continue for a few more chapters.

These are the readers who will get delicious cookies :

C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only - You got it, but why on earth have you not had a cookie in three months?

RetaroO - Lol. Although that would be funny, I'm afraid not, but you got 2 outa 3. A cookie for you!

Ice Witch101 - Thanks tons, and don't worry, the best is all I try to give!

darkavatar13 - You know, your a pretty good guesser.

That's all the cookie winners!

Don't worry, I'll add in some Zutara stuff in the next chapter. Just innocent little things like tending to injuries, talking, and a simple lullaby. Yes, I said Lullaby. Which, by the way, I have no idea how to spell.

Again, I would greatly appreciate anyone who happens to know when the new episode comes.

Until Next I Update...

JAAF