A/N Hi! FINALLY! I don't have summer school! MUWHAHAHHA! Story time!

Disclaimer: I do not and will not ever own Avatar!

"Stand back," Katara said, warningly while raising water from the ocean below. Zuko chuckled and sighed, "You really don't know you are outmatched, I'm better than you at fighting, you, always cowering behind your brother and the Ava.."

"Shut up!" Katara used her pent up anger to unleash a bolt of water and ice at the prince. He grunted as he fell to the ship's metal floor. He growled and turned back to her, glaring, "So, you decided to fight huh? No brother or the Avatar to protect you, like I said, outmatched." Zuko smirked.

"Why are bragging? I just hit you squarely!" Katara yelled over the now thundering waves hitting the hull of the ship because of her anger. Zuko let out a battle cry and shot out multiple flames at her. Katara quickly made an ice shield and blocked the attack, then sending out multiple icicles at him. He melted them in midair and charged at the water peasant. Thinking quickly, Katara sweep kicked him, making him fall down. She then quickly shot out water towards his wrists and pinned him down. Using her bow, she quickly stood over him and made an icicle, stringing it on to the bow.

Katara glared at the prince, she aimed, but she just couldn't. Something told her she'd feel awful about it afterwards, she closed her eyes and loosened the grip on her bow. Sighing, she melted the ice on Zuko's wrists, turning them back into harmless water. The icicle, Katara threw to the sides, making a small dent in the metal floor.

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Zuko saw how she disregarded him, not wanting to kill him. He stood up and faced her, noticing that she had very soft looking hands and an even softer heart. Zuko shook the thoughts out of his head.

Am I falling for her? No way…right?

Don't you dare deny it, you love her

Shut the freak up!

He cleared his throat and walked up to her. Katara spoke so suddenly, he jumped a little. "I just want to go back by myself, I don't know where Aang is or my brother, so why bother capturing me?" She said, never once looking at him.

Yes, why did I capture her, I didn't need her for anything….

You like her that's why! Tell her!

No way! I can't love her! She's a peasant!

Whatever, your loss

Zuko opened his mouth to speak when Katara said, "Save it! I don't want to hear another word from you! You're the kind of people that only think of themselves and never about another!" She stormed away into the ship's belly.

He stood there shocked at what she had just said to him.

I can't believe that she just said that to me, and to think she was calm.

Hello! Go apologize! She's hurt!

About what? She hurt me!

There you go again with that "me" thing again! Go get your butt over there and apologize!

Really? About what though?

About everything! Capturing her, locking her up in a dark, cold cell….need more?

No thanks I get the point….

Taking a deep breath, Zuko rushed into the ship after her. He looked around for the girl, but no such luck. Then he saw her crying against the wall, tears dropping down to the cold, hard floor. Quietly, neared her and said, "Look, I know that, I've, caught you for my own selfish reasons, but…"

"Didn't I say to leave me alone? I don't need your apology! I already know you forced it or something."

Zuko noticed tears staining her cheeks.

That bad huh?

Nice going Romeo! Now she thinks that you're some monster or something! Apologize!

"I didn't mean to-"

"Just leave me alone!"

Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.

"Let me go! I don't want to see you!"

"Just listen to me!"

"Fine…"

He took a deep breath and sighed. "I know that I treated you like a prisoner, but I shouldn't have treated you like that, let alone capture you even though you don't know where the Avatar is. I'm…..sorry…." He barely let out those last two words, looking at her face for a reaction.

There was no reaction, just a blank stare, maybe she's surprised? He gripped her wrist tighter in hope for a good reaction. She continued to stare at him, she finally whispered, "Did you just say, you're sorry?"

Zuko sighed and nodded. Katara looked up at him again and asked, "Can I just be dropped off at the next town?" He couldn't believe it! He apologized and she just wants him to drop her off at the next town? The grip on her wrist started to heat up. Katara yelp in pain as she felt her wrists burning. "Let go! You're hurting me! Please!" Desperately tugging her wrists from his burning hand.

He quickly realized what he was doing and cooled down his hand. "Please let go…" Katara whispered at him. He didn't, but was overwhelmed with a desire to….

Starting to cry again, partly from the pain of her wrist and pain from the hurt that she got from Zuko. She looked up and saw an odd sort of feeling swimming around in his eyes. Not knowing what it was, she took precautions and backed up. She took a step back, he took a step forward, step back, step forward. This continued until Katara was up against the wall, cornered and nowhere to go.

"Wha…what are you trying to do? Please let go of my wrist." She shivered at the prince advancing towards her. She bit her lip and looked at him. He was right in front of her, their faces not a few inches apart. A tear escaped her eyes and slid down her cheek. Zuko gently wiped away the tear with his thumb and whispered, "Don't cry anymore…"

With that, he leaned in and was a few centimeters from her lips. Katara pressed her head against the wall more, in hope to avoid his kiss, she knew she had failed when she felt the warm breath of his tickle her lips. She closed her eyes and didn't lean in however.

Then, Iroh popped out from the corner and asked, "Am I interrupting something?"

Zuko stopped right in front of her lips, almost making contact, and faced his uncle. "May I have a word with you uncle?" Trying to hold in his anger. He lead his uncle to his room and closed the door.

"Uncle! Please! Don't disturb me and my business!"

"Well, I was just walking around I don't think I purposely followed you two."

"Uncle, I was…."

"What? Close to kissing her? I'm sorry Zuko," Iroh said, smiling still.

"Uncle…." Zuko groaned and fell back on his bed.

"Zuko, I never knew you would fall in love with her, but I did have a small feeling."

"Uncle, I don't like her."

"Zuko, does that mean you were trying to kiss her for no reason?"

"No, I….was….just…..just…please leave….." he pointed towards the door.

Iroh bowed and walked out the door.

Zuko groaned again and spread out his arms on his bed, while laying down on his back.

What did come over me?

Love, that's what…

Shut up….I don't like her, do I?

A/N HAHAHHA! I bet some of you thought they would kiss! Well they didn't! HA! I don't want to make the same mistake I made with some of my earlier fanfics, where I make the kiss happen like in chapter 3 or 4! I couldn't resist! I luv Zutara! But, I figured the kiss should happen slow and steady. R&R!