Didn't See That Coming
by Rebirth of the Phoenix
Hi there! A big thank you to all those who reviewed. I realize that I usually update every day but I needed a break yesterday. I did miss getting you feedback though! So on with the story and I hope you enjoy!
Don't forget to Review.
- - - - - - - -
Iroh was sitting on the deck of the ship. He was seriously worrying about his nephew's and Katara's well being. If what the man from earlier had said was true, both Zuko and Katara were in a dire situation. Iroh sighed and looked into the distance. He could see the dark forest; a few of its trees swaying in the evening breeze. Iroh knew the spirit world existed; and he knew that the two teens were going to be lucky to survive if they were indeed, fighting a demon.
- - - - - - - -
"Sokka will you sit down, you're gonna fall off in a minute!"
Sokka stopped his pacing and sat down on Appa's saddle "I know Aang, but I can' help it. I've got all of these things going through my head! I'm imagining all of the bad things happening to Katara. It's been days since we've seen her and Zuko's ship is nowhere in sight!"
Aang sighed. "I know Sokka, I know. Just remember Zuko too Katara to lure me to him. I don't think he'd hurt Katara if he's using her as bait."
Sokka said nothing. He sat glaring down at the ocean below. He stared at the restless water not really seeing anything.
'Katara better not be harmed in anyway. I'll kill those stinking Fire Nation soldiers if she's hurt!' Sokka thought furiously. 'Stupid Zuko! Stupid ocean! Stupid Fire Navy ship! Wait... Fire Navy ship?'
Sokka jumped to his feet and peered into the distance. Sure enough there was a port in the distance. The unmistakable shape of a Fire Navy ship was docked there.
"Hey Aang!"
Aang turned to his friend. "What is it now?"
"There's a Fire Navy ship docked in that town over there! Maybe it's Zuko's ship!"
Aang grinned and nodded. He pulled on Appa's reigns and the flying bison swung around. Sokka fell back onto the saddle with a thud and the bison and it's passengers headed for the docked ship.
- - - - - - - -
Kaen looked grimly at the pair in front of her. "You're quite tricky, little girl. I should have realized that as a Waterbender you would have been pretty helpful even against the Fire Lord."
Katara said nothing, but she felt Zuko's grip on her tighten.
Kaen continued. "Although you did raise a good point. There are now six stones left. That would mean I have six more chances each to kill you both. If I send both of you fully into each others fears,as well as your own, I have twelve chances to kill each of you. I think that makes the odds better for me, don't you agree?"
Zuko sneered at the demon. "I see you're starting to realize that it's not going to be that easy to kill us."
Kaen scowled. "Don't flatter yourself. I just think it will be more entertaining to watch how you little girlfriend handles herself in her next fear. "
Zuko looked at the demon confused.
Kaen smirked at the young Prince. "Oh yes boy, I've seen into both your souls. The next fear is the Fear of the Present and I was surprised to find that what our pretty little Waterbender here fears about the Present isn't what is going to happen during these Fears. Yes, she fears something else about how her life is going at the moment, and I think you'll enjoy being a part of it."
Zuko was even more bewildered. "What do you mean be a part of it?"
The demon seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. "I don't really appreciate being outsmarted by a Water Tribe peasant, so I've decided that I'll have to show you both who's in control. While you're in each other's fears, I may decide to make you useful. I do not intend on becoming predictable."
Zuko growled at the demon. Katara, however could think of nothing to say or do. She knew that things weren't going to get any easier. She racked her brains to try to think what she feared in the present. Well, right now she feared Kaen, but Kaen said it was something else, something deep in her soul.
Kaen waved a hand carelessly through the air. The stone in front of the one Zuko and Katara were crouched on illuminated with the word 'Present'. The demon stared pointedly at the pair before her. "Well I haven't got all eternity. Well, actually I have, but you haven't. Go ahead."
Zuko and Katara stood up as one and stepped forward onto the second stone. Once again the world fell away and the two teens existed in nothingness.
- - - - - - - -
Katara blinked. She was in Zuko's room on the ship, lying on the bed. She had no recollection of how, or why, she was there. She sighed, she must have drifted off to sleep and Zuko must be meditating or something. She smiled to herself as she thought of Zuko. She would never have thought she could have been friends with the 'enemy', but that's just what they were: friends. She knew that she felt for Zuko something more than just friendship; she just wasn't sure how he felt. Katara sighed again and sat up on the bed. She was surprised to see Zuko himself standing in front of the closed door, watching her.
- - - - - - - -
Zuko looked around at his surroundings. He was in his room; Katara was lying on his bed and he was stood in front of the door.
'What on Earth is Kaen up to this time? Hey! I can remember everything!'
"Of course you can," said a voice inside Zuko's head.
'Kaen? What the hell are you doing in my head, and why can I remember everything?"
"You can remember everything because Katara's thoughts have no power over you." There was a pause. "But I do."
'What?"
"It's called a possession, you foolish mortal. And this is where your part comes in this Fear."
Zuko found his feet approaching Katara as the girl sat up on his bed.
'Wait! Stop it, I don't know what you're doing but I don't want a part in it!'
Kaen smirked, and so did Zuko's face. "You, my dear boy, have no say in the matter."
- - - - - - - - -
Katara watched confused as Zuko took a few steps forward and he smirked. She got off the bed and went to stand in front of Zuko.
"Zuko, is something the matter?"
Zuko's smirk merely intensified.
"Zuko, you're starting to scare me now. What's up?"
Katara looked at Zuko as he answered. "Nothing's up. I was just thinking about something. That's all."
Katara winced slightly. Zuko's voice sounded much colder than usual. "What are you thinking about?"
Zuko took a step closer to Katara. "I was just wondering why I wanted to be friends with such a pathetic excuse for a human."
Katara blinked. "W...What are talking about Zuko?"
"That's Prince Zuko to you peasant! And you heard me. I'm completely at a loss as to why I asked for your friendship."
Katara could feel tears brimming. "Zuko, please stop it! This isn't funny!"
Zuko sneered at her. "It's not supposed to be funny you imbecile! I'm deadly serious. I've decided I don't want to look at your lowly face anymore. I want you back down in the brig now!"
Katara took a step back. "No, stop it Zuko! You don't mean this, just shut up!"
The words had barely left her mouth when Zuko's hand made contact with her face.
- - - - - - - - -
Zuko felt his hand make contact with Katara's face. He had no control over his body and he hated himself for what he was doing. He saw Katara stagger back and fall on his bed.
At the same time he felt Kaen using him to speak. "Don't ever tell me what to do wench! I am the Prince of the Fire Nation. You are merely a peasant!"
A single tear fell down Katara's swollen cheek. "You... you can't mean this Zuko."
"Oh? Why can't I?"
Zuko tried to fight back against Kaen.'Get the hell out of me you demonic bitch. I swear, if you hit her again.'
"I'm not hitting her Princey, you are." The voice in his head hissed.
Katara was sobbing now, completely unaware of the battle raging within Zuko. "You can't mean it because I... I love you Zuko."
She whispered the last four words, but they echoed around Zuko's mind.
'She loves me? Since when? Oh, I've got to shake off this possession.'
Kaen, however, could hear Zuko's thoughts and a sneering voice answered him. "This is what she fears you know. Her life at the minute revolves around the feelings she has for you and her greatest fear is that you don't care for her. I wonder how she'd feel if she found out you didn't feel the same way?"
'You can't do this to her. I won't let you!'
"What's the matter Zuko, do you love her too?"
- - - - - - - - -
Kaen was surprised when she didn't hear Zuko's thoughts answering her. She lit a ball of fire in her hand and pointed it at Katara.
"You'd better answer me boy! If you don't your girlfriend is going to go up in smoke." Kaen hissed silently to Zuko.
Zuko heard the demon and made up him mind. 'Yes.'
"Yes? Yes what?" Kaen asked.
'Yes I love her too.'
"Perfect." The demon smirked, unseen. "That's all I wanted to know."
With that, Zuko felt the demon leaving his body. He dropped the hand that was pointing a fire ball at Katara and looked at the sobbing girl.
- - - - - - - - -
Katara saw Zuko extinguish the fire he was holding and saw his arm drop to his side. He stared at her for a moment then took a step toward her. She flinched and scooted back on the bed away from him.
'He hit me! He's never done that before. What's the matter with him?' Katara thought miserably. She refused to look at the Prince.
Zuko stopped approaching when she flinched and Katara heard him speak.
"Katara, I am so sorry. It wasn't me saying those things and it wasn't me who hit you."
Katara looked up at him uncertainly. His voice sounded different, softer and there was a definite hint of regret in it. She didn't understand what he meant though. How could it not have been him saying those things. She'd heard his voice. She shook her head and looked away.
- - - - - - - - -
Zuko sighed. He could tell Katara didn't get what he was saying.
'She still can't remember that this is a trick She must sill be afraid that I don't care for her. Well, I'll just have to change that.'
- - - - - - - - -
Katara didn't look up as Zuko sat next to her, but she didn't move either.
"Katara," his low voice called out to her. "You need to remember that this is all a trick, nothing here is real." He paused and Katara looked up at him questioningly. He looked at the redness on her cheek where his hand had made contact. He reached out and touched it softly.
"Well, I suppose that we're actually real in here, Katara. So I guess it wouldn't matter if I told you how I feel while we are in here."
Zuko shifted closer to the girl.
"Katara, we're here because you're afraid I don't care for you, but that is something you don't have to worry about." He placed his forehead on hers and searched her cobalt eyes. "I care deeply for you Katara. I love you."
Katara watched in amazement as he leaned forward and pressed his lips gently onto hers.
In that moment Katara's fear that Zuko didn't care for her disappeared, and so did the illusionary world.
- - - - - - - - -
Kaen watched as the two mortals appeared back on the stone. They were currently in a lip lock and Kaen grimaced. She may not have succeeded in killing the pathetic teens but she'd gained some valuable information in the process. Some very valuable information indeed.
- - - - - - - - -
I know, I left it hanging a little there, but while I was writing this a new idea popped into my head that I think will work quite well later on; so I've kind of changed my story plan a little (but it's should be great!). I hope I didn't confuse you with the whole Zuko – having a – conversation – with – Kaen – in – his – head thing but it's how I wanted it to happen.
Review and let me know what you think!
