B/R - This was one of the toughest chapters for me, partly because it felt like an Anti-Smoking campaign, or one of those cheesy Valuable Life Lesson things. But I hope that won't be the case as you read it, because I did put a lot of heart to this and am trying to keep the Highschool universe believable. More Kataang to come!
"How is he?"
Mai couldn't believe she was doing this, even as she heard herself say those words in a quiet, husky voice to the scrawny girl under the Oak Tree.
What had caught her attention that week wasn't necessarily the fact that a certain boy was missing... but the fact that another boy – a shorter, dark-haired boy – had seemed to have taken his place. She had tried not to think about it at all.. letting herself paint in the same spot she always did, believing that the trip to Street Fest had been all but an intense study of her potential as an artist.
But still, her work was changing; she could see it herself. Mai had felt her mind recapture the intensity and the energy of those small quarters in Ba Sing Se, and her colors became more vivid... choppy... the darkness in his lines suddenly becoming more undulant with life. And she found herself drawing leaves... and vivid details of grass... the fruit from her mother's kitchen table... things that she once seemed to overlook, but ultimately carried a significant amount of life. And to top it all off, she couldn't get a certain boy's voice out of her mind.
Seeing the clan under the Oak Tree that week made her wonder about that mischievous tree-dweller... remembering how all of a sudden he had been gasping for breath under her arms, feeling that sense of helplessness suddenly come back to her again. Who was this new little boy who'd suddenly taken up residence under the tree, watching the older ones practice their dancing in the shade? Mai knew that it wasn't any of her business, but as she felt her small feet approach the Oak Tree that morning before school... it was like she had known these strange kids for a very, very long time.
"What does it matter to you?"
The girl named Smellerbee did not even pause from her dance with Longshot as she spoke to the pale girl, turning her head to exchange a glance with the bulky boy named Pipsqueak, silently telling him to prepare for the next routine.
"I... just wanted to know if he's alright." Mai then asserted just as quietly as before, but crossing her arms with a paintbrush in her hand.
"Why? So you can pretend that you care about him? Play with his feelings a little bit more?" Smellerbee turned her dark eyes sharply towards the girl, and Mai felt completely awkward once again. She felt her face scrunch up in a frown, and despite the warm temperature of the day, the girl could feel goosebumps forming under her skin.
"No," Mai attempted, flatly. Her eyes lingered around the tree, noticing the little boy sitting with them against the trunk of the tree. Something about the boy's sad, vacant expression kept itself in the girl's mind... and she couldn't pin point what it was that intrigued her about it. She turned to Smellerbee again. "I'm... I'm not trying to cause any harm... I just wanted to--"
"Jet's fine," came the scrawny girl's voice, short and crisp. Longshot sighed from behind her and nudged her on the shoulder, but Smellerbee scoffed and just walked over to another side of the tree... not wanting to face the strange pale girl any longer.
Pipsqueak felt extremely out of place... as if he'd missed an entire week of school, looking at Mai like a walking ghost and seeing an exhausted face to Longshot as he faced her now, by himself. He saw the lanky boy with dark hair then approach Mai, calmly, taking a second to look at the ground before finally saying something.
"We saw you walking in Street Fest last weekend."
Mai winced, but kept herself completely expressionless. Longshot shifted his eyes at her, calmly continuing to speak.
"What were you doing there?" It wasn't an interrogating voice that came from Longshot... but rather a simple question with curiosity.
And the girl could not find the energy to bring up another lie, at least in that moment of impulse. With a small intake of breath, she spoke from her heart. "I had to know what I put him through. I needed to see it... I–..." her voice trailed for a second, and she looked elsewhere. "Please don't think that I tried to hurt him in any way... I didn't mean to–...to..."
Mai could practically feel the goosebumps under her long, elaborate sleeves as she kept her arms crossed. Her discomfort... her guilt... was rising at every second that passed, and Longshot could feel the girl's painful thoughts trembling. He spoke again.
"Jet's been resting at home all week." The boy slowly placed a comforting, skinny hand on the pale girl's arm. "He's fine... he's actually upset that he can't go to school--"
"Yeah, and he can't take me camping on Saturday!"
Mai winced, looking over the little boy as his voice suddenly came into existence. Longshot did as well, in a sigh.
"Sorry, little buddy." Pipsqueak playfully rubbed the boy's head by his helmet. "Looks like you'll have to wait until the next one."
"It's the Boy Scout Survival Club... the one that Sokka runs," Longshot explained loosely to Mai. "They need more chaperones for this trip to the Kalmian swamps, or some kids might not be able to go--"
"I still wanna go!" the high-pitched voice of the little boy encompassed the girl's mind again.
And the big, bulky guy patted the boy's head sympathetically. "We know, The Duke... but we have a dance workshop this weekend. We can't take you."
Longshot's eyes narrowed into disappointment as his gaze continued to focus on the boy.
Before she had even pinpointed the Kalmian swamps in a mental geographical map... even before she had rid herself of the uncomfortable goosebumps on her arms... Mai gazed over at the young boy, whose familiarity by the eyes and wispy hair took the girl by immediate surprise.
She heard her own voice dare to speak. "Where... where can I sign up for that?"
Smellerbee's face instantly peeked out in shock from one of the gaps in the tree... and it was like all of Mai's goosebumps had suddenly melted by an intense, rigid amount of heat.
It was in the most remote shadows made by the sunset on the Ember Island shore where Katara found the young man easily, spotting his form sitting on the sand. She wondered what was keeping his mind occupied out there... if it was the vibrant violet and pink colors of the sky, or the sounds of laughter from the young people who were splashing in the shallow waves of the beach.
Or... she wondered if it was something else; perhaps the fact that the girl he had prepared himself to see on the Island had decided not show up after all... making the boy feel guilty for inviting friend on the purpose that suddenly amounted to nothing. But Katara was still there, grinning over at the distant silhouette of Zuko, and she did not seem at all disappointed about being on the Island.
Slowly, like a sudden brush of deja vu, the young waterbender approached the young man sitting by himself on the beach, shuffling her bare feet on the sand quietly for the element of surprise. She smiled as she got closer, and noticed him hugging his knees, looking like a child who'd just been rejected by his friends playing out in the water.
He always seemed to cast a shadow onto himself, no matter where he went.
"I could sense you coming a mile away, you know that?" the raspy voice called out to her from a good 10 feet between them, and Katara's eyes rose for a second. Zuko looked over his shoulder, and stared at her intensely through his flowing dark hair, smiling in the way that said 'nice try'.
She made a fake surrendering sigh, and rushed over to sit herself comfortably next to her friend, feeling the light fabric of her sarong sail against the shore's breeze.
Zuko was returning to look over at the horizon, but one of his copper eyes glanced at the familiar dark red sarong that the young waterbender was suddenly sporting.
"So... I see you raided my mother's closet," the boy teased, easily noted the flowery detail of the golden thread that ran along the edges of the red sarong like a delicate tapestry.
"Hey, I was freezing, and she let me borrow it," Katara rolled her eyes, punching her friend lightly on the arm in annoyance."You didn't tell me how cold it was going to be here at night. Thanks a lot."
Zuko gave an exaggerated huff, but then glanced at the girl through his dangling hair, giving a vacant terse expression before returning his focus to the horizon.
"Is it okay?" the girl leaned over to study his face, wondering if the sarong was causing a bit of awkwardness. "I mean if it bothers you, I can– I can try and find a blanket somewhere..."
"No, really, it's fine." The boy looked at her reassuringly, holding back a sheepish grin.
Katara smiled, gingerly saying "thanks" and set herself comfortably on the beach, breathing in the mixed scent of salt water and seaweed coming in from the shore. A couple of minutes passed and the two friends didn't say anything, admiring the glowing sun as it slowly made its way behind the distant edge of the ocean. It entranced them, with the sunset's reflection undulating on the ocean surface, seeing the young people in the water slowly becoming nothing but dark, moving silhouettes.
"You having fun?" Zuko asked her politely, but then noticed how Katara was rubbing her arms to keep herself from shivering by the wind. "Oh... you're still cold-- dammit... I'm sorry, it's my fault--"
Quickly, the boy unwrapped his shirt robe and placed it gently onto the girl's shoulders, letting it blanket over before she took hold of it herself with her fingers. It felt a little strange, but she tugged on it loosely, sensing the warmth of the boy quickly diminish the goosebumps she had on her arms. Katara smiled as a 'thank you,' but Zuko just looked back at the sunset, feeling a bit awkward about the gesture, but trying not to think much of it.
It was hard not to, with the breeze was now brushing his bare frame.
"I guess being Fire Nation means you're warm-blooded?" was Katara's faint attempt to making a joke.
Zuko gave a barely audible chuckle, while his fingers traced lines on the sand beneath him. "You could say that. Our bodies just warm up easily... I think that's why I forgot to tell you..."
"Don't worry about it," Katara said, snugging the warm fabric of Zuko's shirt a bit tighter on her shoulders. "And yeah... I am having a good time. Great job with the music, by the way. I had no idea Lu Ten played the guitar like that."
"He and my Uncle are the real musicians of the family," the boy explained simply, without going any further into the subject. Katara raised a brow, wondering why the boy did not mention anything about his drumming.
"What about you? I mean, you play the drums amazingly well..." the girl said positively.
"It was Lu Ten's idea," Zuko said tersely, before Katara could even finish her comment. "He needed a new drummer last year, so I just came in and did it."
Katara blinked, expecting a more elaborate answer. "Don't you enjoy it?"
"It's okay," Zuko responded flatly, looking down at the sand engulfing his toes. "It gives me something to do."
She knew something else must've been on his mind, but Katara did not have the heart to pry like that. His glances to her came half-heartedly, as if he wanted to acknowledge her more, but something else seemed to be forcing him not to. Her eyes narrowed, wondering if she should bring up Mai again... perhaps to discuss why she wasn't there... to see if that was clouding his mind at the moment.
"I'm sorry I wasn't a good distraction," Katara then said, with a hint of teasing. "I guess you didn't need me, after all."
The boy turned his head back to her at those words, with a firm, reassuring glance. "No, I'm glad you came. I'm just... I can't help but think about her... if she's alright..."
"I'm sure she's fine, wherever she is." The girl suggested humbly with hopeful eyes. "She probably decided not to come because she knew it would make you uncomfortable."
"Yeah... that could be it," Zuko stared to the ground, as if beaten out of thought, and the girl just looked at him sadly.
Another pause occured between them, and the young waterbender sighed as she practically felt the loss that Zuko was still getting accustomed to.
"She really meant a lot to you, didn't she?" came her soft voice, and Katara shyly avoided contact with his eyes, letting her hands explore the soft sand below her knees.
Zuko let his elbows rest on his knees, letting his body warm a bit more due to the setting sun. "Mai was the only good thing in my life for a long time."
Katara's eyes narrowed with concern, remembering her brief conversation with Ms. Ursa up on the beach house and instantly feeling a bond between her and her son. She had to disagree with him, however it would affect him.
"I don't believe that."
Zuko frowned, almost insulted by the girl trying to defy his own feelings. "Well, believe it."
"No, Zuko. Most of the people I've met here seem to think very highly of you... Do you have any idea how much your mother adores you? I think you're just putting a lot of misery over this one little thing..."
"It wasn't just one little thing, Katara!" the boy snapped at her in a frustrated voice, but looking out to the ocean. Having him say her name like that took the girl by slight surprise, but she knew he didn't mean it, from the way he avoided her gaze.
"I did everything I could to make her happy... and on our anniversary, I tried to praise her every being with a fire dance... but what happens? She tells me it's over, and I get a week of detention for fire-bending at school."
Katara's eyes began to glimmer at his harsh voice, but she refused to move her focus on him. He was hurt... badly... and she knew that something had to get through.
"But Zuko, you can't just wallow in self-pity over something you don't fully understand. Mai had her reasons for the break-up... and you just have to figure them out."
"I don't need to,." Zuko threw back at her flatly, letting his arms cross tightly as they rested on his elbows. "I already know it's because I failed... just like everything else I've tried to do."
The girl could feel her own teeth gritting against the soft wind of the beach.
"You are ridiculous..." Katara growled, aggravated, shaking some sand off of her foot over at Zuko's direction. The boy just turned his completely away from the girl. "How can you possibly say that you're a failure at everything?"
"I see it their eyes." Zuko muttered just clear enough for the girl to hear. "Everyone sees me as the son of Ozai, the betrayer. It's hopeless."
"Zuko, don't say that," Katara lingered her form closer, easing her anger a bit to try and meet his reluctant eyes.
"It's true," he said quietly.
"No, it's not," she attempted. "There's a beautiful person here who loves you so much, who cares about you and really wants you to do something great with your life. She wants you to be happy."
Suddenly, it was like Zuko had heard the sound of his name from a distance, looking at Katara with very awkward, confused eyes. His lips were almost trembling as he tried to talk to her then.
"I... I'm glad you feel this way...but... I really don't think--"
"W-what?" the girl's eyes widened, as if she had missed a certain page in a novel. Suddenly, a cherry-colored blush formed on her cheeks. "Oh... no!... I meant your mom, stupid!"
Zuko winced, taking in those words in a couple seconds, before feeling the embarrassing warmth of his cheeks as he closed his eyes. That's when he began to laugh...a genuine whole-hearted one that came in soft bits and pieces from his throat... and Katara had never heard such a sound come out from the boy.
Her musical laughter then followed, losing the strength to keep it in so softly.
"Okay... I'm not saying that I don't care about you, either," the girl said between her laughter, placing her hands into the sand beside her for ease. "But let's just focus on Ms. Ursa for now."
She noticed a bit more color appear in Zuko's cheeks, and it flattered her just for a second. He looked at her frankly, with much more comfort after that sincere laughing episode they had.
Her blue eyes gazed at him with much concern, and her voice suddenly became very soft. "Why don't you talk to her anymore, Zuko?"
"It's complicated," the boy sighed looking over at the horizon, acknowledging the dark purples of the sunset.
"You can tell me," Katara took one of her hands out again and tossed a little bit of sand to the boy's sitting frame.
The young firebender flinched from the sand, but instead of saying anything, he just stared at the girl ominously, watching her long hair flow slightly in front of her face. He noticed that she barely blinked, waiting for him to start talking... but it was like all of a sudden, her concerned gaze was draining him of any words. The boy couldn't remember the last time that anyone had looked at him like that, not even with Mai, and he sighed subconsciously... asking his mind to begin explaining something. Anything.
At that point, the sound of a single violin began playing happily behind them on the beach, and Zuko blinked, shifting his gaze over his shoulder to acknowledge the musician. Apparently, a bonfire had been set up – just like how they did it every year – and as a small crowd of people gathered around the fire, Uncle Iroh was commencing the final piece of his mother's birthday tribute.
Zuko realized that he didn't need to say anything to begin explaining himself, and Katara promptly turned her own eyes towards the music, seeing that it was Mr. Iroh playing the violin sweetly to Ms. Ursa and the other guests around the bonfire. The old man couldn't look more pleased with that special serenade he was giving.
That's when the boy started to speak to her, with his natural raspy voice.
"She was only sixteen when they brought her to the Fire Nation palace."
Katara winced and looked over at Zuko again, taking in the start of his monologue, unsure of where it would be taking them.
"It was her destiny to marry my father, according to the Fire Sages. They said she was the granddaughter of the Avatar. They said that if she married into the royalty, she would give the Fire Nation great amounts wisdom and guidance. So on the day she became of age, they asked her...told her... to face her destiny and leave her home, because it was for the good of her country. She had never even met my dad."
The girl's eyes slowly frowned at this slow recollection that Zuko was telling. An arranged marriage... she thought... At least Gran-Gran got to run away from that fate, but... but this...? Katara glaced at the young, peaceful woman sitting by the fire again, and the waterbender found herself pressing the blue pendant on her necklace with her fingertips.
Now and then, Zuko would turn to glance at his mother again in the distance while he spoke, and Katara noticed how his eyes would slowly narrow sullenly, in wonderment.
"She never told me what it was like, but I still see it her eyes... She was scared. I think she was terrified of letting her country down."
The boy moved his legs a little, digging his feet slightly further into the sand as he paused to imagine his young mother in the palace. His voice remained calm, yet very exhausted and sad.
"After a while, she accepted my father as her destiny, and they loved each other... but I don't think they were ever really... friends."
Katara raised an eyebrow, confused, taking in the scent the beach as Zuko paused momentarily. The waterbender had a feeling that this boy's home life had never been a pleasant one... at least not in the way she'd seen her own parents together. The girl could not help but slump her shoulders, feeling a certain connection develop as the young firebender continued his story.
"But I see her with my Uncle... the way he always tries to cheer her up, and it makes her so happy. Even though he was destined to rule the Fire Nation, he's never been as serious as my father... and I can tell they've been best friends for a long time. I don't think she would've made it as a Fire Nation royal without him being there for her."
This made the girl turn back to glance at the people in the bonfire, and Katara gazed over at Mr. Iroh, playing the violin serenely for Ms. Ursa.
"That's wonderful that they've been so close," She smiled involuntarily back to Zuko. "Everybody needs someone to look up to."
"Yeah." But there was a sudden flatness in Zuko's voice then, and Katara could faintly hear it. "And for me... that person has always been my father."
Katara blinked, finally piecing the reasoning behind Zuko's story about his mom, and why he was slightly bitter as he saw his mother look so happy with Uncle Iroh. "Zuko... are you jealous of your mom's happiness? Is that why you don't talk to her?"
"No." Zuko frowned in frustration, trying to help himself explain it better. "It's because the one person who should've been there for me decided to take off and make me figure things out on my own."
And the young girl sighed, suddenly making sense to the boy's bitterness. "It doesn't have to be like that, Zuko."
"What do you know?" came the boy's sudden burst of angry words. "You didn't grow up under your father's shadow, did you? Learning... training as much as you could in order to prove to him that you weren't a failure?"
Katara's eyes blinked in response, and she could feel them already glistening as she felt the boy's intense disappointment in his heart. Zuko looked at her... not in a glaring way, but in a desperate plea for understanding, making sure she knew what he was going through. He felt his arms trembling then -- whether it was from the coldness of the dusk, or from the feeling he was pouring out, he couldn't tell.
The boy blinked and looked back at the people crowding near the bonfire, the soft violin music still playing joyfully, and certain voices talking and laughing in the background. He sighed and returned his gaze to the horizon, speaking to Katara once again
"My father left," he said plainly. "All he wanted was to prove to Fire Lord Azulon that he was the more capable leader to our country... and when he was rejected... he turned around and abandoned his country. He left me out to be a failure."
Zuko's hair moved harshly against the breeze, and he felt the spray of the ocean hit his face as the waves got stronger, closing his eyes.
"I can't help but see myself as a failure, already. Lu Ten will be a tremendous leader, and Azula can work her way through anything for the greatness of the Fire Nation... she's already out done me in everything I can offer."
Slowly, the boy opened his copper eyes to look back at a gazing, concerned Katara. He studied her concerned look briefly, before melting his heart into the truth.
"I don't talk to her anymore... because after everything we've been through, I know that she just feels sorry for me. And I'm sick of the pity."
He looked at her for a brief moment, wondering if those words were too much for her, and Zuko sighed while reaching into his pocket to pull out a familiar cannister. The one with the blue dragon. Katara's lips pursed as she noticed that cannister, forcing herself to speak as the boy opened the cannister so casually.
"Zuko... listen to me..." she attempted, with as much assertiveness as she could muster in her voice. "Let go of your father. He may have abandoned his country, where ever he is now... but you're still here. You can still make something of yourself if you just quit thinking about everything your sister presses on you."
"It's not that simple," the boy's focus was still on the cannister, then on the cigarette he took out from it.
With one flick of his fingers, a small flame appeared on his hand, and Katara watched sadly as the boy took that lit cigarette into his mouth. It wasn't the scent that disturbed her then... it was the sudden sense of ease that came from Zuko when he exhaled that first puff of smoke into the breeze.
She knew she was losing him...
"Of course it's not simple, Zuko...but you have to face things the way they are!" Katara furrowed her brows in slight disappointment, looking out into the beach this time, caressing her water pendant around her neck as she spoke some more.
"You think my life has been peachy? Living with a brother who's right all the time? Constantly trying to make the best decisionsfor me ever since my mom died?"
Zuko blinked. He hadn't expected her to bring that up so sincerely. Whenever she mentioned her mother, before, there was always that hint of a pause between her actions, but as the young firebender looked over to her, there was no sign of sadness in her glimmering blue eyes.
When she spoke again, her upset eyes turned sharply back to Zuko.
"You know what? Give me that cigarette."
"Wha– No, Kat--" but the girl instantly snatched the burning cigarette from Zuko's grasp, and the boy moved further over to reach for it, but the girl pushed herself back.
She didn't place it in her mouth... she was just holding it, placing it between two of her fingers and letting the burning ciders of it dance along the breeze. Zuko didn't know why his eyes were glimmering, then, trembling as he hopelessly asked for the cigarette with his reach.
"If this is what you do when you have nothing to hold onto, then I guess I should start practicing... you just inhale and exhale, right? It's like breathing?"
"Katara, stop it– you don't--"
"I think I could get used to this..." the girl slowly moved the cigarette closer to her mouth, seeing the boy's copper eyes reflect fearfully against the tiny light. "I can forget about my life for a minute... I can pretend that I'm fine..."
"Katara–..."
"It won't be so bad..." the cigarette was just inches from her lips.
"DON'T!"
Before he knew what he was doing, Zuko smacked it harshly off of her hand, sending the lighted cigarette flying off into the distance. They both saw its burning cinders mark the passage it flew, right before landing onto the soft shore of the beach. Katara turned to Zuko, and saw that his copper eyes (even the one that was scarred) were bulging, and his breathing was harsh... as if his heart were beating rapidly by the way he'd reacted. He turned to look at her then, shifting his shimmering copper eyes along her cerulean blue, and yet they didn't say anything.
The funny thing was that Katara did not feel frightened, or confused about the whole thing. She somehow knew that Zuko would stop her, but she longed to see if he was strong enough to stop himself from taking out another cigarette. She looked at him sadly, not saying a word as he still panted in breath, and his reaching arm slowly went back at his side.
Zuko clutched the silver cannister in his hand, into a tight, almost confused fist... but he didn't throw it or crush it or do anything else violently. He was still gazing at Katara with all the sadness and guilt in the world. His clutching arm fell limply at his side as if the wind had suddenly become too strong for him, and he held his forehead with the palm of his other arm... thinking. Confused.
Suddenly Katara felt the wind brush along her shoulder, realizing that part of Zuko's sweater had slid off from the commotion. She quickly put it back in place, but still looked at the boy sternly, with much concern.
"I'm sorry, Zuko..." the girl said softly, choosing her words carefully, piece by piece. "...but what if he never comes back?"
The young firebender still panted, attempting to get a hold of himself, but too ashamed to meet the girl's eyes once again. His mind was still playing the reaction... seeing the girl snatch away his cigarette... how he immediately craved it back... and then seeing her hold it so steadily. It terrified him, somehow. That compassionate, beautiful face closing in on what had become an addictive ease to his pain... why did he snap?
Why did he suddenly care so much about what this girl did?
His hand was still gently planted on his forehead, and he began to breathe normally, but the boy didn't speak. Not even when the girl willingly moved a hand comfortingly onto his shoulder.
"Look at me, Zuko..." she said softly, and it took a few seconds, but the boy's copper eyes eventually met her solid blue. "You are a lot stronger than you think... and I don't know why you're so afraid to show the world how you're not as weak as you make yourself to be."
She felt herself shifting closer to the boy's frame, to make sure he got every word. His eyes were shimmering, still, feeling the warmth of the girl's hand travel gently to the side of his face.
"The Fire Nation needs a strong leadership, and goodness knows Lu Ten can't run the entire country by himself. You'll have to help him out. He's going to really need you at some point, and you'll have to be ready to give him the best advice possible."
Katara paused, taking a deep breath as she caressed the boy's face and his messy hair.
"And you shouldn't feel ashamed to talk to your mother. She loves you so much, Zuko."
Zuko's copper eyes shifted, reading Katara's every word as they escaped her mouth, and as much as it made him feel uncomfortable, he couldn't help but feel hypnotized by her soft voice. It was a voice of reason... not unlike the things he usually heard from his Uncle or his own mother... but somehow, it was strange hearing them from a girl his own age.
Much less being on Ember Island at sunset, sitting on the beach.
"You're ridiculous..." the boy responded humbly, forming a tiny smile against the palm of the girl's hand. Katara laughed, seeing the sheepishness of the boy's features and knowing he had agreed with her rationality. As strange as it must've felt, she didn't hesitate to give him a hug then... wrapping both of her arms around Zuko's shoulders, not caring that the loose shirt robe had fallen off of her own.
And the boy received that hug with much tranquility, bringing his own arms below to secure them around the girl's waist, holding them there tightly. It was difficult to understand, even then, but this girl had brought him an extraordinary gift... and Zuko was just realizing how special she truly was. How lucky he was to have her.
They parted a few moments later, laughing softly within each other's reach, and Zuko made the daring move to plant his forehead against the girl's own. Katara just smiled at that, sweetly. In that enclosed space, the two friend's took in each other's valuable existence, letting the soft waves of the beach, the flowing strands of their hair, and the sounds from the bonfire give them an immense amount of peace.
"Hey, Zuko!"
A familiar old man's voice suddenly broke their connection, and the two friends turned their heads towards the bonfire, seeing Uncle Iroh waving a violin stick to the young firebender. It didn't take long for a blush to form in both of their cheeks, realizing how close they must've looked to the others.
"We need a drummer for the Saridana. Come on!"
Mr. Iroh didn't seem to acknowledge their closeness, and was instead gesturing the boy over to the bonfire, where his mother, Azula, Lu Ten, and many other relatives were sitting around with other various small instruments.
"The Saridana?" Katara asked, curiously, looking over at Zuko as her blush faded.
"It's a traditional fire-bending dance..." Zuko explained, half embarrassingly. "...about an injured dragon and a small firebird that helps him fly again."
Katara felt her mouth grin. "Cute."
"You wanna come check it out?"
The girl just smiled and nodded happily, letting the boy help her get up from the sand. They both ran towards the only source of light remaining along the shore... a great bonfire, encircled by what looked like twenty people of various ages, sitting on large stones and rocks.
Uncle Iroh seemed to be tuning his oriental violin with his bow, while Lu Ten sat next to him and was improvising on his maroon acoustic guitar. Another unknown relative -- a young man just about Lu Ten's age -- was tuning a bass guitar, while a smiling little girl with a missing tooth laughed and held two sand-shakers playfully as young woman held her tightly in front of the fire. The great fire in the center of the circle brought warmth to Katara almost instantly, and right before they entered the circle, she handed back the shirt robe to Zuko.
The young firebender found his spot in the circle where two large oriental drums had been set up, glimmering by the dancing flames. Katara, however, saw Ms. Ursa gesturing over to her with a hand, asking the young waterbender to sit next to her on the end of a log. The girl could not refuse such an invitation, and as the warmth of the flames consuming her, Katara felt as if she were temporarily becoming a firebender herself.
Ms. Ursa hugged Katara with one arm, as she was one of her favorite students.
Katara had never seen her History teacher sit so prominently straight and tall, and the girl could imagine the development she must have gone through to become part of the royal family. Everyone in the circle admired her graceful smile, that even Azula... who was sitting on the other side of her mother... seemed to be taking a break from her fearless gaze. Katara tried not to acknowledge her that much, but she could almost feel Azula's deadly copper eyes staring at the waterbender every other minute that passed.
The crowd in the circle quieted down, suddenly, as Uncle Iroh began to play his violin with a very serene tune. Ms. Ursa subconsciously held Azula and Katara tightly with her arms as the school counselor got the crowd's attention, and the young waterbender could see in the old man's eyes that he was about to tell the story of the Saridana.
With one lowering palm of a hand, Uncle Iroh dimmed the great bonfire before them, issuing only the smallest amount of light to his face. Lu Ten began to strum his guitar in the background, while his father began to speak.
"Thousands of years ago... on the island of Saridana... there lived an extraordinary fire-breathing beast, and he soared the skies... here and back... believing himself to be free.
But then a terrible storm occurred, taking what he cherished most... this great gift to see the world... with his injured wings, the dragon could fly no more."
Iroh firebended the small flames in the center of the circle, the delicate palm of his hand controlling the flames in an occasional flickering. Katara must've sensed that it was a way of showing the sadness of the dragon... and she could not take her eyes away from it. The school counselor then continued to tell the story, with Lu Ten's guitar playing in the background.
"Time went by, and the beast grew hopeless and sad, and alone... feeling that nothing else... nothing in this world... would bring him that freedom again.
And from the sky, a small bird appeared on the isle... a celestial bird made of flames... whose gift of music and song... awoke the dragon from its sleep."
Just as Uncle Iroh said 'sleep,' his free hand dramatically lifted up towards the sky, bringing the bonfire back into its magnificent flame. Katara's eyes widened gleefully, and the children in the circle laughed and clapped by the enchanted awakening of the fire in front of them. Lu Ten promptly began to strum his guitar in a much faster tune, showing how the music was influencing the flames of the dragon... and suddenly, the waterbender turned her eyes over to Zuko as he began to beat on the giant drums softly with his hands.
The boy with dark hair was concentratinghard on his drums, which made Katara believe that he'd been modest about his feelings for this instrument. She could tell that he loved it... he was passionate about the rhythm. Flames grew bolder and stronger around the bonfire, as the old storyteller seemed to hold it at the palm of his hand... but then he took his hand away from the fire and grasped his violin bow again.
He began to play it delicately, letting the strings of the bow practically move themselves along the instrument, and it reminded Katara of a bird's wings, as it flied beautifully across a clear sky. No sooner did he begin to play, when he looked over at Ms. Ursa from adjacently from the circle, smiling at her in a welcoming way. And the woman smiled back... took in a deep breath and closed eyes to the flames in front of her.
Katara couldn't help but grin... noticing the definite bond of friendship between Mr. Iroh and the young Ms. Ursa... imagining the great moments those two must've shared. And the waterbender gasped in delight, as she heard Ms. Ursa begin to sing the Fire Bird's song to the Wounded Dragon.
"Hear my voice... see me as I fly to you... let me be your guiding star. My wings of fire... will dry your tears."
"Hold me close... do not be afraid of rain... I will show you there is hope. My voice will help you soar again... to the sky."
Then Zuko, Lu Ten and the other guitar player promptly quickened the beat to the song, and Iron playfully ran the bow along his violin, giving the crowd the energy to clap cheerfully in front of the fire. Katara did, too, though she noticed how Azula seemed to be the only one not going along with the charade. She had her eyes closed... as if concentrating on the heat of the fire. As Ms. Ursa began to clap to the music herself, she began the chorus to the song in fast pace, which Katara could not help but memorize in her head.
"Take the stars, and make them yours.
Feel the wind against your roars.
You will be, You will be, You will be... strong.
Flex your wings and make them whole.
Use the fire from your soul.
Dance with me, hear me, believe in my song."
Ms. Ursa continued to clap joyfully at the music. As if the rhythm could not get any more intense, Katara heard Zuko beat the drums rigorously, putting more life into the clapping and music that surrounded them. And then, at the corner of her blue eyes... she saw Azula stand up fiercely from her place in the circle, moving closer to the flames without blinking once. It was like she was in a trance, but Ms. Ursa just smiled proudly at her daughter as she took what looked like a dancing position in front of the bonfire.
And Azula, in her stern, serious state... began to make fire-bending movements along the rhythm that surrounded her... as if she were feeding the fire (the Dragon) with her very own energy (like the Bird). Katara had to stop clapping, because the sinister young girl's movements brought her to an awe... the engulfing circles she threw with her legs, the tumbling she commenced with her arms... Azula was clearly a fire-bending prodigy. Her final move to the fire – which Ms. Ursa herself had to widen her eyes for – was a backwards tumble in the flames herself!
The children gasped and screamed in fear that she was going to get hurt... but Azula -- in all of her calm certainty -- jumped out of the flames to the other side from where she'd tumbled, and finished in an extravagant firebending pose. An immense applause from the children, Ty Lee, Chan and Ms. Ursa followed... but everyone else seemed too shocked to do anything except watch her sit down again.
Although she was quite impressed by Azula's ability, Katara furrowed her eyes, knowing right then that the girl was nothing but a show-off. Exchanging brief glances with Zuko on the other side of the fire, Katara knew he felt the same way. Azula was trying to scare others who dared to dance the Saridana after her... as if forgetting that this was supposed to be a fun tradition.
But strangely enough, the next one who dancedwas none other than Lu Ten, who cued the bass guitar player to continue the music himself as he got up and prominently bowed down to the great bonfire. Katara could see a sparkle in Mr. Iroh's eyes as he saw his son dance fiercely in his own fire-bending moves... kicking and lancing his arms along the music, giving the great Dragon much life. His final move was a straight drop of an arm, and it triggered the flames to launch briefly into a stronger light. Children clapped, and Katara saw how the young girls blushed at the sight of Lu Ten's smile over to them.
A few other people in the circle then came out to dance, and Katara was mesmerized by their fire-bending abilities. Iroh escorted Ms. Ursa for a couples dance, and they fed the fire with beautifully-coordinated moves along opposite sides of the circle.
The girl had never seen such intensity and passion before... it almost made her OmaShu Earthbending dance look like child's play. The young waterbender cheered and giggled as the little children then started to practice their firebending moves with their parents around the bondfire, watching them feel so happy to contribute to the Dragon's flight. And the girl noticed Zuko still beating the drums... watching the flames in front with a slight grin on his face... but not at all intending to dance.
Katara frowned, seeing how others like Ty Lee had done backflips and tumbles along the circle of flames, bringing in her cheerful energy to the Fire Nation dance. Ms. Ursa smiled encouragingly over to her son from her side of the flames, and then, so did Mr. Iroh. The pressure was on, and Zuko tried his best to look away and focus on the drums. People were still clapping (except for Azula) and Lu Ten was then patting on his shoulder, saying "Come on, Zuko... the Dragon needs you!"
Some people laughed in the circle, but they still clapped their hands, and Zuko suddenly looked over at Katara through the flames once again. She wasn't expecting it, nor did she understand why he would glance at her all of a sudden for moral support, in a traditional dance she didn't even know about. But nevertheless, Katara smiled greatly for him, and Zuko moved his drums over to Lu Ten, letting his cousin give the drumming a try.
People cheered as the quiet boy walked up to the flames, and Azula's eyes were narrowing ferociously as she crossed her arms... preparing to judge this upcoming routine. But Zuko took off with his fire-bending, as if to another world entirely. With his eyes closed, he sent his arms soaring as if to the sky, lighting up the flames in front of him with the rhythm, and jumped in his kicks to it, squatting before every leap of energy he sent to the fire.
Katara's eyes glimmered happily as he made those intense movements; she had never seen this boy so enveloped in something, and she finally realized what he was passionate about. It made him stronger, more determined... more free to be himself without any fear of those around him.
In his final set of moves, Lu Ten banged on the drums harshly like thunder, and Zuko launched fists up to the air as he leapt around the flames, giving the bonfire a spectacular appeal to the children. It was as if they could finally see the Dragon taking off into the sky, with its strong wings finally being a part of him. And when he finished, Zuko opened his eyes and bowed at the waist to the great fire Dragon, smiling at Ms. Ursa when he turned to face.
And Ms. Ursa smiled back, watching her son sit and play the drums for the final lyrics of the song. Everyone clapped along, hearing the ethereal voice that came from Ms. Ursa as she finished the song of Saridana. Mr. Iroh still played the violin happily, keeping his eyes on Ms. Ursa and giving her the strength she needed.
"You and I... You and I... within these flames, we take our flight...and claim the sky."
The music ended just as Ms. Ursa finished her aria, and the children clapped and shouted instantly. Katara laughed, clapping along with the others in the circle, feeling slightly foolish about being the lone waterbender to witness a fire-bending dance... but at that moment, she didn't care. It was a dance that had ultimately opened her heart into a new sense of rhythm and fun that night, and the girl felt very special being in that tight community of Fire Nation to witness such closeness and tradition.
Zuko laughed softly, seeing that ridiculous smile on the waterbender's face as she sat next to his mother. He could see the fascination in her delicate blue eyes as they glimmered against the bonfire's light, and for the first time in his life, Zuko breathed a calm feeling of freedom.
A/N - So, what'd you think? Kataangers, don't throw anything at me. They're just friends! The bonfire thing was inspired by my own family, and I figured that the Fire Nation Royalty tends to have their fun traditions, too. I hope you liked it!I'll try to get another chapter (if not two) done before the BIG AVATAR MADNESS next week! --MM
