A/N: well, it only took forever, but it's finally here! yay! ok, as you probably know by now, this is the last chapter. well, I hope you guys liked it while it lasted, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 10 - Knowing Me, Knowing You
Aang sat quietly beside the unconscious Prince Zuko, thinking of all that had occurred within the past few hours. It had all happened so quickly…
Zuko stirred slightly. Aang looked over at the banished fire prince without really caring. Zuko's arms and legs were bound with the ropes that had been used for Mako. The group had decided that the boy wouldn't cause them any trouble, so had completely untied him. They let him go.
Aang sighed as Zuko woke up.
"Why does this keep happening to me?" Zuko asked himself, realizing that he was, once again, tied up.
"Because you deserve it," Aang replied, staring down at his prisoner.
"I already told you! I didn't take your stupid little friend!"
Aang sighed again. He was in no mood to fight back. "Okay."
Zuko sat up with indignation. He'd had enough of being captured. He was about to attempt to burn right through his bonds when Katara walked in, worry written all over her face.
"I can't find Sokka!" she exclaimed anxiously.
Zuko laughed. "Again?" He didn't stop when Katara gave him a dangerous look. "You've been losing him all day, haven't you."
"Shut up!" Katara shouted. "You're our prisoner, if you haven't noticed!"
Zuko laughed again. "You sound just like that Jet guy."
Katara was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"
"The guy who captured me and your idiot brother before. If you had listened you would have known sooner."
Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing. Zuko had been telling the truth. She forced her mind off of what he had just said and onto the problem at hand. She turned her attention back to Aang. "We need to find my brother."
"Are you sure he's missing?" Aang asked. "Could he have just gotten up for a walk or some—"
Mai ran into the room. "I can't find Suki anywhere!" she exclaimed. She saw the looks on Aang and Katara's faces and asked, "What happened?"
"Sokka is missing, too," Katara answered quietly and thoughtfully. It all started to make sense now. "I'll be right back." Aang, Mai, and Zuko watched as she left the room quickly and returned with a sheet of paper in her hand.
"Where'd you go? What's that?" Aang asked.
"I went to Sokka's room to see if I could find anything that would help us figure out where he went. I found this under his pillow." She handed the note to Aang. "It's a poem."
Aang looked at the poem in his hand with wonder. The characters that made up the poem were written gracefully. Mai looked over his shoulder and said softly: "That's Suki's handwriting…"
Aang read the poem out loud:
Ever since you went away,
I had trouble thinking everyday.
I wasn't sure just what to do,
Knowing me and Knowing you.
But now that you are here again
I want to be more than your friend.
I know that we can make it through,
Knowing me, Knowing you.
And now I hope to be your wife,
It's how I want to live my life,
My love for you is overdue,
Knowing me and Knowing you.
So let us both run off together,
Happiness now and forever,
Our love is right, our love is true,
Knowing me, Knowing you.
Now, our love we are pursuing
And our kiss we are renewing,
Loneliness we are subduing,
Knowing Me, Knowing You.
When he finished, Katara began to cry. "They've… they've run away together…" she stuttered. It was bad enough that she had lost her brother once today, but now it seemed as if she had lost him forever.
"Its okay, Katara," Aang said comfortingly. "At least we know he and Suki will be happy together…" He walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She put her face against his chest and cried softly. It hurt Aang to see Katara cry like this, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Sokka had run away and married Suki, and he knew that he couldn't do anything about it.
Mai watched from the other side of the room. She was upset about Suki, too. They had been best friends for so long, and it hurt her that she hadn't been told about this. She was broken out of her reverie, however, when she realized that besides herself, Aang and Katara were the only other people inside the room. Zuko was gone.
Later…
Zuko climbed aboard the ship wearily. Finding it had been no easy task, although the fact that the ship had come ashore for more supplies had helped matters greatly. He walked across the deck and stepped into the long corridor that led to his quarters. He tiptoed quietly along the length of the hallway, hoping not to bring attention to himself. Just when he thought he was going to make it into his room without being noticed, Iroh walked out of a nearby room, his back to Zuko.
"Better luck next time!" Iroh shouted back into the room with good natured ribbing. He was surprised when he turned around to find his nephew trying to sneak by. "Zuko! Where have you been?" He asked.
"I… Well you see, I was…" Zuko tried to come up with a plausible excuse, but could think of none. Desperate, he simply said: "I was practicing the Sungi horn!"
Iroh's eyebrows raised in disbelief and humor. "Really…" He stared at Zuko awkwardly, forcing the prince to look away.
Zuko couldn't believe that was the best he could come up with. "Of course, Uncle," he stated. "I…um…wanted to be ready for… music night!"
Iroh smiled knowingly. "Of course you do, Zuko. Come, I'll help you."
Zuko sighed. "I would love to, Uncle, but I've already practiced for so long already." He yawned convincingly.
Iroh eyed him oddly. "Well, you do look exhausted. Very well, we shall practice tomorrow."
Zuko smiled. "Thank you, Uncle." Without hesitation, he finished the trip to his room and lay down upon his bed. Content, he immediately fell asleep. Iroh watched from the doorway as his nephew fell into a deep slumber and smiled.
"Good night, prince Zuko."
THE END
A/N: Well... that's it... anywayz, I really hope everyone who read it liked it, and remember: REVIEW PLEASE!