Chapter 23

Zuko

They were still awake when the moon was high in the sky. It was round, but still not complete, the full moon probably only a week away. Katara was just coming back from getting driftwood to build up the fire that Zuko had produced. It felt so good to firebend again, even for a task as simple as building a fire. She dumped the small pieces of wood on top of the dying flame, Zuko punching in the direction of the small campfire to build it up more.

They weren't talking, simply enjoying being around each other. Zuko didn't think he could have spoken even if he wanted to, exhausted from running and swimming earlier that day, and it was all Katara's fault. Of course, Katara also was the reason for his newly rediscovered ability to firebend, so he really couldn't be mad at her. In the caves beneath the cliffs, no one could see them, no one could hear them. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

Zuko looked out at the ocean, the moon being the only light in an otherwise midnight blue sky. The only distinguishable feature from the sea and the night, was the constant white foam spray as the waves hit the rocks. The water going towards the horizon was blacker than night, an indescribable blue, fading to black until the colors of the sea and sky blended and twisted in unison. Katara looked at him, and then followed his gaze.

"It's going to be a full moon in a couple of days…" Zuko said offhandedly. "What do you do in the Water Tribe when it's a full moon?"

Katara looked at him with playful eyes. "Who says we do anything?"

Zuko's cheeks colored. "Well I just assumed—I mean, with you guys honoring the moon and the ocean spirit, I thought—,"

She laughed lightly, coming over to him and sitting across from him. "No, we do, I was just messing with you. There's a big festival and everyone in my village throws a party and my parents, Sokka and I go and dance, and eat moon cakes and seaweed cookies—,"

"What's a moon cake?" Zuko asked, his eyebrows furrowed

Katara's mouth dropped open. "You've never had a moon cake before?"

"No…" He said to her as though it should have been obvious. He chuckled, "I live in the Fire Nation. We don't have moon cakes."

Katara held her hands out in front of her about three inches apart. "They're about this big, and you haven't lived until you've tried one because you're definitely missing out. The adults make them with Ice Wine, but the kids use seaweed oil instead. You fill it with snow jelly, and you wrap them in dough or bread like you would a seaweed cookie, only the snow jelly is in the middle. You can have them hot or chilled."

"Really?" Zuko asked.

She nodded. "Remind me to make some for you, one day." She paused as he nodded, and then she continued in excitement. "Sokka and his friends used to bury theirs in the snow, and then have a contest to see who could eat the most frozen ones without crying out."

Zuko raised an eyebrow. "I…don't understand."

She sighed as if he should know all these things, when in reality, he had no clue. He didn't know anything about what Katara was saying. The differences between them were striking, but…intriguing. "You know, when you eat something too cold…and then your head hurts because you ate it too fast? No? You have no idea?" He shook his head all the while Katara was explaining. She smiled at him before continuing. "Well, let me tell you, it's not very fun. I like mine hot because after we eat them, we dance outside, and I feel all warm and fuzzy inside."

"Does being too warm bother you?" He asked. Her face flickered in the firelight.

"No, not really," she said, clasping his hand in her own. "You make me feel all warm, sometimes…and I don't mind it all that much." Zuko's cheeks pinked and Katara smiled at him before yawning.

"What time is it?" He asked her.

She shrugged. "I guess sometime after midnight…but I don't really know."

Turning his head to her, he sighed. "You should get some sleep. You look exhausted."

His arms were wrapped around her, and there wasn't anything remotely sexual about how they were lying, they were merely content to be in each other's presence, no awkward conversations required. But he had something on his mind, something that had been bothering him since he'd first sat down. Of course, he hated to break the peaceful atmosphere, but he felt that he had to say it.

"Katara?" He started.

"Hm?" She answered back, eyes opening. She removed the hand that was tracing patterns along his skin and propped herself up with it. "What's it, Zuko?"

"I've been thinking—," He said, and she adjusted herself so that she was facing more towards him, "—About who could have tried to poison my Uncle—,"

Katara sat back on her heels. "It was Zhao, and Tiang. I heard them talking in his office, like I told you before."

Zuko sighed. "So, you said, but I don't think it was her. Because if she was in Zhao's office, without an escort, mind you—she'd be breaking about four palace rules."

Katara tapped Zuko's thigh lightly, forcing him to look at her. "I'm telling you, Zuko…they planned the poisoning on Kyoshi Island, they planned to kill your Uncle and they plan to kill me too."

"Why would they need to poison the people on Kyoshi Island? They aren't threat to most people in the Fire Nation." Zuko said as he re-adjusted himself, bringing his knees to his chest. "I mean, in terms of army and naval size…they're militaristically inconsequential."

She leaned into him. "Which would make them the perfect target for Zhao to attack, since he used to be a naval commander and he would think like one. He probably sent over the deadly nightshade, knowing that no one would be able to tell the difference until it was too late."

Zuko nodded in understanding. All the pieces were coming together for him, now. "Because Kyoshi has a small military, they'd be unable to retaliate if word got out that it was Zhao who did it."

"Exactly." She told him, but then looked confused for a brief moment. "But that still begs the question, why would Zhao want to poison your Uncle? He has no blood ties to the throne…unless…"

"Unless it was Tiang that pushed him to do it. Tiang would kill my Uncle, leaving Lu Ten an inexperienced Fire Lord…" Zuko said, the revelation shocking him. How far was Tiang willing to go to get the crown she desired? "The people would revolt…and put my father on the throne."

Katara turned and sat next to him, leaning on him a bit. "It's a good theory, Zuko," She said, looking up at him. "But why would Tiang want to put Ozai on the throne? Princess Ursa would be Fire Lady, not her."

Zuko mulled it over in his head. Katara did have a really good point. If his father did become Fire Lord, Agni forbid, Tiang would be no closer to the throne than she was now. The nobility would never let a concubine become Fire Lady, it just wasn't tradition, and for a nation rooted in tradition...even the very idea was horrible. "Unless she uses Azula." He said, suddenly understanding her plan. He looked at Katara, eyes filled with the knowledge that Lady Tiang wasn't as stupid as she led others to believe. "She's going to use Azula to show that she deserves to be Fire Lady."

"How would she do that?"

"Because," he explained, feeling a sense of dread come over him. "Azula can firebend, she can shoot lightning and she's never embarrassed the family like I have."

"Zuko…" Katara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That doesn't matter…"

"It does." He said pointedly. "On our way to the Fire Nation, with all of the nobility around her, Tiang had Azula demonstrate her new abilities to the entire court. Tiang made a mockery of me when everyone praised Azula and laughed at me because I couldn't do the same."

"Oh, Zuko…" Katara said, and suddenly she threw her arms around his neck, her now frizzy hair in his face. "I'm so sorry…I didn't understand…I didn't know…"

"It's okay, Katara." He said, putting his hand on her shoulders He looked into her eyes with his newfound resolve.

"It's not okay…we can't let her get away with this!" She said, standing up. She wrung her hands together in agitation, pacing back and forth before his feet. "I mean it's despicable and—" She stopped suddenly, and looked at him with concern, her blue eyes wide with disappointment. "We don't have any proof. We can't prove that she ordered Zhao to poison Kyoshi, and we can't prove Tiang's plan."

"You heard her say it." Zuko offered, "My Uncle would believe you, and then—,"

"She'd just accuse me of lying, Zuko." She replied, looking positively melancholic. "Princess or not, I'm a foreigner."

He nodded because he knew that she was right. Regardless of what the rest of the nobility thought about her, Tiang was married to his father, and had given birth to a princess. Because of that, she had more power in the Fire Nation than Katara, a girl who was from a tribe that people typically looked down on. Tiang definitely had more power than Zuko, someone who the nobility felt that he didn't even deserve the crown he had. They would need something else. He opened his arms out to her again and she curled up next to him, as they sat in silence, mulling over what they could do. After a few moments, he finally said, "So we need to find proof. Suki will provide the evidence for what happened on Kyoshi."

Katara looked up at him, a tiny smile on her face. "We just need to figure out exactly what Tiang paid Zhao with. Gold obviously, but given Zhao's…other ways of making money, she'd have to have given him something valuable."

Zuko smirked at her and chuckled a little bit. She looked at him questioningly and eyebrow raised. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing."

She elbowed him in the side lightly. "Obviously, something's funny to you."

Zuko chuckled again, wrapping an arm around her. He looked at her disbelievingly. "You really don't know what Tiang gave to Zhao? What valuable thing she offered him, and he had no problem taking?"

Katara shook her head, confused, and Zuko actually laughed this time. Katara could be so naïve at times. She stared at him for a few moments, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion before a pink blush stained her cheeks and she looked away from him, avoiding his gaze. "Oh…" she whispered.

"Exactly. Tiang is sleeping with Zhao." Zuko snickered again, and she gave him a mock glare. Then he sobered as a thought popped into his mind. "But Zhao is the type of man that is satisfied by the conquest of a woman…he wants power and he'll stop at nothing to get it."

Katara turned to him, a bright look on her face. She looked enthusiastic. "Zuko! Remember what he said to your mother yesterday?" Zuko shook his head. Katara rolled her eyes at him and he shrugged. He tried to pay as little attention to Zhao whenever possible. "Remember that he said he was going to regain the title of Commander soon? Maybe Tiang offered that position in exchange for his help?"

"You're right Katara…and he mentioned something about being called Admiral, too. Maybe she promised him a heavy promotion." Zuko told her, eyes wide. He sighed. "This whole thing is one big mess…but we should get some sleep…we'll be able to think better in the morning."

Katara nodded again and pressing his two hands together in the direction of their campfire, he smothered the flames. He could no longer see her face, but he felt her breathing on his skin, and felt her arms as the wrapped around his waist. She was silent for so long, he thought she was asleep, but Katara whispered a question softly in the dark.

"Do you think she loves him?"

Zuko shrugged, but remembered that Katara probably couldn't see that, so he said. "Does Tiang love Zhao? She's probably just using him."

"No…" She whispered to him, her voice shaky. "Do you think Tiang loves your father? Prince Ozai."

For once, Zuko didn't have an answer for that. He knew his father loved Tiang, he knew that his father loved Azula, but the reverse, whether they loved him never crossed his mind. He always thought so…since Tiang was clingy, since Azula was always the respectful daughter who obeyed her fathers every command…but maybe they were not doing these things out of love. Maybe they just knew how to play to his father's ego. Maybe they were just doing what they had to…maybe…maybe they didn't love his father.

"You know…I almost feel sorry for my father." Zuko said darkly, his voice filled with bitter joy at the epiphany that just crossed his mind. "It's almost sad how he doesn't love my mother, and yet she is the only person in this place that actually cares a damn about him."

Katara was silent for a while, before saying. "Does life in this palace, here in the Fire Nation, do that to people?" Her fingers moved along his chest, searching, but finally came to a rest when he covered her hand with his own. It was cool to the touch, just like she always was. "Does life here make your marriage strained? Makes the love between two people die out, so that they have to look for love in other places, like brothels and whorehouses?"

Zuko shook his head. "No. That doesn't always happen. My Aunt and Uncle have been married for 25 years, and no one has ever come between them."

"Ever?" Katara let out a nervous breath.

"My Uncle has never had a concubine." He said adamantly. " I've seen it destroy my mother. It wouldn't happen with the girl I married…It would never happen with—," The unspoken 'you' came to his head almost instantly. But he didn't dare speak it aloud for fear of rejection.

It was best to leave it as is. It was too soon to think of marriage. She would be legal in the Water Tribe by the middle of next month, and then…maybe…perhaps…

"I see." Katara whispered still, and Zuko thought he could see the glowing of her blue eyes in the darkness, but shook his head, believing it to be merely a figment of his imagination. "We should get some sleep…we have a long walk back to the palace tomorrow morning. Zuko, will you wake up at dawn? We should be moving by then, before people wake up."

"Of course, Katara, I always wake up at dawn, remember?"

Usually he rose when the sun was beginning to make its way across the sky, when the entire horizon was painted with a rosy purplish glow, and Agni himself reached out his long fingers and warmed the earth. It was dawn then, and it was the time of day where he felt the most at ease, because the start of a new day meant the start of new possibilities for him to enjoy and live through.

The one time he actually needed to wake up early…he didn't. Sleeping with Katara in his arms and staying up so late into the night for once…he couldn't be the early riser.

He would remember it as the first time in his life that he slept after the sun came up.

Katara

The next morning, Katara found herself feeling really warm. Between the sun on her face, and Zuko's arms around her, she felt her body become rather heated. But…the heat of the sun on her face was too strong for it to be the emerging sunshine of the early morning. Her eyes popped open. Looking out into the mouth of the cave towards the ocean, she could see the bright blue sky, and hear the chirping of birds in the distance. She tried to sit up, but Zuko's arms wrapped tighter around her shoulders trapping her next to him.

But there was no mistaking it. The day had already begun, and there was no way they would be able to sneak into the palace without everyone knowing they had spent all night together. Looking to her right, she saw Zuko, still asleep, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

"Zuko." She whispered. "Zuko, wake up!" She tried again louder. Raising her hand, she tapped him on the leg, lightly, but when that wouldn't work, she pressed harder, hitting him in the thigh.

When he felt the pressure, his eyes squeezed tighter before opening, slightly. His arms grew lax around her and she was able to wiggle out of his grasp. He looked at her in confusion "Huh…? K-Katara what—,"

"Come on, Zuko we don't have time for this." She said standing up. "We're late. We are so dead."

Zuko watched as she smothered the embers of the fire with sand from the ground. The ash marked the spot where the fire once was. "Katara, calm down—,"

Katara spun around, ignoring him, and searching the sand beneath their feet with her eyes. "Where are your clothes?" Her hands fell to her bare stomach and then ran across her shoulders. "Where are my clothes?" Katara's eyes fell on the pile of his shirt and boots by the entrance of the cave. Walking over, she picked them up and thrust them into Zuko's hands who was now standing behind her. "Here, put these on." She said, and then turned around again to find her own clothes. "I don't remember—,"

Zuko's hand gripped her arm and spun her around to face him. "Katara, we'll make it back unnoticed. I promise." He looked around her towards the sun. "It's still early in the morning. We'll be fine."

"No, no, no, we won't be fine." She said, still looking for her clothes. Katara couldn't remember where she put them. Down by the beach? Further into the cave? She had no idea. "I was supposed to meet your mother for breakfast when I woke up. She's going to notice when I don't show up."

Zuko blinked in surprise, before nodding sleepily, finally understanding. "Okay…you're right…this may be a problem." He shrugged on his shirt, pulling it down over his hips. Katara felt a vague sort of sadness as Zuko's muscular body was covered up. He looked at her with a nervous glance. "My mother gets…sort of…well, let's just say it's not pretty."

She and Zuko walked out of the cave and into the bright sunshine. Katara shielded her eyes from the bright light, but Zuko walked around like it was no problem. They started to make their way up the beach and back to the harbor. They were not very far before Katara stopped. "Zuko, wait a second." She turned to him and gestured to her barely clothed body. She didn't register the weird look that came into Zuko's eyes, although it did cross her mind. "I'm only in bindings remember? And I can't remember where I put my clothes."

"Do you want to put my tunic over your …bindings?" Zuko asked, holding the hem of his shirt about to take it off again.

She smiled at Zuko's caring gesture before shaking her head. "No…but thanks for offering…I-I don't think it's a good idea for you to walk around shirtless…" As much as she hated to admit it, she didn't want Zuko just gallivanting around shirtless…some girl might see him, and then just fawn all over him like some—

She remembered jealously, of all the girls gossiping about Zuko, all of the girls making eyes at him whenever he walked by. They only wanted him for his looks and position of a prince, and not for the wonderful human being that he really was.

"Katara?" He looked at her questioningly. Katara blinked, his voice breaking up her thoughts.

She cleared her throat nervously, "Right...um…There's got to be some other way back into the palace."

"What about the cave?" Zuko offered. "What if it's connected to something, at least a little closer than walking up the streets, the long way?"

"I-I don't know…" She started to say, wringing her hands together, looking at Zuko. "What if it isn't connected to anything and we lose time by exploring it, and—,"

But Zuko didn't say anything. She just stared at him blankly, while he took her hand and led her into the dark recesses of the cave. She didn't like the dark, although it was true that the South Pole was dark for most of the year, she never liked it. She would spend her nights curled up in her parents' room as a child, and often, her mother would have to help her get into her own bed and finally sleep at night.

They walked along the sand into the cave, the light fading fast. They passed their resting spot, and Katara's breathing grew faster as her heart started to beat more. The walls of the cave closed in on her, making her feel like she was in a cage, squeezing the darkness closer, until it fell over her, like the pressure you felt when you went too deep underwater. She held Zuko's hand for dear life, and when she could no longer see the light, she squeezed it even harder.

"Nervous?" He asked. She looked up at him, and she could barely make out the outline of his jaw and the warmth of his eyes. Using his free hand, he snapped his fingers and a tiny ball of flame appeared in the palm of his hand. The light illuminated the two of them, casting menacing looking shadows onto the wall. Although she knew that they were their own shadows, she couldn't help but sidle a little closer to Zuko. Zuko chuckled a bit, teased her. "I thought you said that it's dark at the South Pole most of the year…so then why are you so nervous?"

She sighed. "Just because I'm used to the dark, doesn't mean I like it. And as much as I hate to admit it, being here has changed me a bit. I don't…I've sort of forgotten what the dark looks like."

Zuko chuckled again. "But when it's night, aren't you reminded of the dark?" The smooth sand became hard granite, as Katara realized they must be deep under the hill of the Palace by now.

She shook her head, her eyes not looking in front of her, but visualizing memories of her childhood, curled up by the fire pit in her grandparents' room, hearing stories of the times long since past

"It's not that kind of darkness Zuko." She said, feeling slightly more melancholic. "It's pitch black danger—It's the darkness that wolves hide in, the darkness that causes fear, the darkness that comes with the chill of the wind, with winter...there isn't any darkness like that here in the Fire Nation. Everything here is so bright, so light-filled…I feel as if I'm losing part of myself, sometimes."

"Katara…" he said, and she could barely detect his smile, but she knew that it was there. "Everything about you is the Water Tribe. So please, don't worry."

She nodded her head in understanding. "Besides, my brother and his friends used to tease me and scare me in the dark. It was all in good fun, but I was often frightened as a child."

"He sounds more like Azula than I care to admit."

"He's not…Sokka just likes to play a lot, and he's my brother, and as annoying as he can be sometimes, I love him."

"Must be nice…" he said with a hollow voice. "Having that kind of relationship with your brother…I'd trade siblings any day."

She felt an extreme sense of sadness then, as she realized that Zuko must have never had a tender moment with his sister, and even the ones they might have had were probably rare. She suddenly regretted even bringing up the whole thing in the first place, and was content to simply let the conversation die, and with it the subject and hopefully Zuko's bitter mood.

Katara looked behind her as they walked deeper into the cavern, the light at the end of the tunnel as big as a thimble would be in her hand. The granite beneath them gave way to cobblestone, much like the streets on top of the hill. Stones like this wouldn't be down here in perfect order naturally. Someone had to put them here.

"Zuko…does something strike you as strange about these stones?" She asked him, pointing beneath their feet.

Looking down, Zuko noticed the weirdly precise placement of the cobblestones as well. "Stones don't just do this by themselves. Someone had to put them down there." He told her.

"But why?" She asked him.

But Zuko ignored her question right away. Leaning forward, he seemed to be looking in the distance at something she couldn't quite make out. She looked in the distance and could make out a vaguely dark shape in the distance. The closer they got to it, the more she could make out what it was.

She gasped, and Zuko finally replied to her. "I think we just found out why…that's a door."

Azula

"They did what?" Azula snapped at Tylee, trying to control herself.

She had to convince herself not to injure one of her only friends, but what the other girl just said made that surprisingly difficult. Tylee leaned back in her chair in surprise. If it had been anyone else who told her that, she would have wrung his or her neck by now.

Mai's monotone held the slightest hint of irritation, and Azula would have been surprised had she not been shell-shocked at what Tylee just said. "Tell me you're joking."

Azula too, was trying to prove convince herself that Tylee was only joking, that she had made some terrible, horrible mistake. She, Mai and Tylee were all sitting in Tylee's bedroom, in Tylee's house in the Capital City. They were drinking tea that Tylee had prepared herself. It wasn't as large as Mai's stately manor, and compared to her room in the Palace, it may have as well been a hovel or a shack.

But she may have to, after the terrible news that Tylee just shared. Her friend looked at the two of them nervously, holding her teacup with shaky hands. She took a sip of tea and swallowed.

"I'm serious, you guys." She explained, setting the cup down, her eyes still wide. "I followed them just like you wanted me to. They went to this really, disgusting looking building, and then they got lunch."

"Did they argue? Or fight?" Azula asked, hoping that was the case.

But Tylee just looked blankly and shook her head. "Hm…no, I don't think so." She cocked her head to the side, thinking. "I remember, Zuko was really attentive to her. He had his arm around her and was always hugging her and whispering in her ear. It was really sweet."

"It was sweet?" Mai glared at their friend. "Tylee! Do you have any idea what you're saying? Zuko isn't supposed to like her!"

Tylee held her hands up in defense. "Sorry, right, I mean, I know you like him, but you didn't even let me finish!"

Azula sighed, waving a hand and gestured for Tylee to continue. "Go ahead, Tylee."

Tylee cleared her throat and smiled brightly, seemingly unaware to the anger building inside of the two girls. "Right, okay, so…um… they left the restaurant and then all of these big guys came to rob the restaurant. I don't even know what they were doing there, I mean they were clearly drunk, but I mean who gets drunk so early in the morning, anyway? He shook Wu, you know, the owner? And then they brought out this box, and there were super pretty gems that were in there, this sparkly pink one and I really liked it, but they just left them on the floor and—,"

"Where are you going with this?" Azula asked impatiently. "Get on with it."

Tylee blinked. "Well, I couldn't really see what was going on, but then all of a sudden Katara comes out of nowhere, and I said to myself, what's she doing? But she just walked into the middle of the crowd and yelled at one of the thugs. Then this really creepy looking guy attacked her, but she fought him off."

Azula's mouth dropped open and she could honestly say for the first time in her life, that she was genuinely surprised. "She did what?"

Mai shook her head. "No way. That's impossible. I've seen those guys that run around, acting like they own the city. They're huge."

"She was waterbending. I'm not too sure where she got the water from, but the guy that attacked her got soaked and Katara was standing over him as a winner." She coughed a little, and then picked up her cup and sipped at it, talking all the while. "But then the leader-guy barked something at the rest of them and they started to close in on Katara—," She sipped again.

"And?" Azula's hand hit the table impatiently. Her heart sped up, and she was genuinely intrigued by what Tylee was telling them.

"Hold on a second, Azula." Tylee said, holding up a finger. Clearing her throat, put down her cup again and continued. The teenager looked at Azula with a bright smile on her face. "But then, Zuko showed up and he had these two swords in his hands, and he was standing there, and he said, 'Get away from her!'"

"He was talking about Katara?" Mai asked, her voice catching on the Water Tribe girl's name. "To the thugs?"

Tylee nodded excitedly, giggling. "Yep—oh Mai you should have seen Zuko! He looked like a hero out of a legend, ready to save the damsel in distress from certain danger! Oh, it was so cute!" Her hands clasped together, and a dreamy look came into her eyes then.

"Whose side are you on, Tylee?" Azula snapped at her. "Don't you want Mai to win the Hana Matsuri?"

Tylee's eyes grew sincere. "Of course, Azula. But don't you think it's a bit weird for Mai to go after Zuko if she's not even sure if he likes her or not—,"

"He's loved me since we were seven." Mai said confidently. Azula smiled at her friend. This Water Tribe Princess was just a phase for Zuko, "If Zuko wants the Water Tribe girl around that much, then he can keep her for a concubine for all I care."

"I told him that," Azula said, lying a bit to build up her friend's confidence level. She had to get Zuko and Mai together, it wouldn't be fair otherwise. Especially when she knew the truth. That Zuko was about as far away from loving Mai as she was to getting a boyfriend. "He seemed open to the idea, and he wanted you to know that he'd never see her all that much."

Mai, in turned, smiled at the two of them, assured of Zuko's love. Azula internally sighed in relief. "That's good to know. Thank you, Azula."

The Princess tried to push away the overwhelming feeling of guilt forming in the pit of her stomach at lying to her friend. These feelings of guilt would be her demise if she ever let it affect her. Pity she had to be born with a conscience, as small and insignificant as it might be.

"Anyway—they kind of disappeared, after the fight it got all…confusing." Tylee said, placing a finger on her chin thoughtfully. "They went into the restaurant, but then after a few minutes, Katara ran out. And she looked like she was crying."

Crying?

"Why was she crying?" Azula asked, feeling a perverse sense of glee, as well as hope stirring in her belly. Maybe Katara and Zuko's 'outing' (she refused to call it a date—disgusting)

Tylee shrugged. "I don't know. They disappeared, after. Zuko followed her towards the harbor, but Katara looked like she was really upset. I wonder why she was crying?"

"Who cares why she was crying!" Mai turned to her, actually showing emotion for once. "This is wonderful!"

A soft knock was heard on the door, and without even waiting for Tylee to say 'enter', it was pushed open to reveal one of Tylee's younger sisters. Nearly identical to her older sibling, the youngest, 9-year-old Sailee looked identical to the rest. Tylee was the middle of seven girls, and it was quite remarkable that Tylee and her six siblings looked exactly like each other. All had big clear eyes and long brown hair, most often styled the same way.

The little girl smiled brightly as she came to a stop by the table in the center of Tylee's small room. Her bed was against one wall, and a tin dresser was opposite. It was half the size of Mai's room and nearly a fifth of her own, but Tylee never complained, and Tylee would probably think her rude if she ever commented on it. Then again, maybe she wouldn't care.

In Sailee's hands was a white envelope. "Sorry to bother you, Ty-Ty," she said "but mom told me to give this to Princess Azula, it's from the palace."

Azula looked at the girl kindly. It was rare to see such childlike innocence; she wasn't even upset that Sailee didn't bow to her. She decided to let it pass. Sailee was still a child, and Azula had not been a child for a very, long time.

"Did your mother say who it was from?" Azula asked.

Sailee nodded "She said it was from Concubine Tiang."

"Your mother?" Mai asked. "But—,"

Azula silenced her friend with a sharp look. Mai clammed up instantly. Not in front of the child, she thought at her. ignoring Mai and Tylee's curious looks not only at her, but at each other, she turned back to Sailee and said sweetly, "Thank you, tell your mother to expect my repayment sometime soon."

Turning back to her friends, Princess Azula was surprised to find Tylee's usually smiling face was surprisingly dim. "You don't have to do that, you know."

"Do what?" She asked, feigning ignorance. She knew exactly what she did.

Tylee sighed, looking at her with sad grey eyes. "Give my family money for doing little things like that. We don't need it, Azula. We might not be as rich as you or Mai, but my father's business is doing fine…he's just in a slump at the moment…"

"Tylee—," Mai said quietly, "She's just trying to help."

"I know…" She said, looking down at her hands. Looking up suddenly, Tylee smiled brightly "What does the letter say?"

Azula and Mai shared a look. Azula knew that Tylee was changing the subject to avoid talking about her family's financial problems but decided to let it pass. This wasn't the first conversation that they'd had about the subject, and it almost certainly wouldn't be their last. But giving into her friend's request of the change, she opened the folded paper.

Daughter—

She snorted at that. Her mother couldn't even be bothered to use her name.

We have received a guest. I require your presence—immediately.

Your mother, The Lady Tiang

Azula sighed and let her head fall into her hands, the letter slipping out of her grasp and to the table, nearly falling in her tea. To say that she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about being nice to Zhao was an understatement. She still had a hard time accepting the fact that her mother had kissed Zhao only a day ago, and an even harder time looking at her father and not being able to tell him anything.

Azula sighed. "My mother requests my presence, so I'm afraid I have to leave."

Tylee gave her a tiny smile; her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. "Your mother never sends for you. Is everything alright?"

"It doesn't matter if it is, or if it isn't. " she said, grimacing slightly. Tylee was far too perceptive for her own good.

"If you say so." Mai said, raising an eyebrow. Mai knew her well, a setback and a benefit of having close friends such as these two. Still, she couldn't exactly tell them about her mother and Zhao. Such things would make their way around the capital and then where would she be?

Azula sighed and then clapped her hands together. A maid positioned outside of the door entered and bowed. "You called for me, Princess Azula?" She said quietly. Azula liked this one.

"Get my things ready to leave—." She started, but Mai interrupted her.

"I'll come too. I'm not supposed to be out of the palace anyway." Mai said, standing. "Besides, I want to talk to Zuko."

"You won't get to see him." Tylee said from behind them. Azula turned to see Tylee fiddling with the ends of her ponytail, looking around nervously.

"What are you talking about?" Azula asked her.

The bright-eyed girl swallowed another gulp of tea nervously. "Didn't I tell you? When I came to get you guys this morning, I heard the servants talking and they said they hadn't seen any sign of Zuko or Katara since yesterday morning. They still weren't back even when we left." She looked at the two of them curiously. "Don't you guys pay attention to your own servants? I mean, if I had servants, I would listen to them all the time. I mean—that's not a huge deal, because if you ask me servants know everything, because—,"

"Tylee." Mai said sternly, waving a hand in front of the girl's face. "Focus."

"Right. I'm sorry." Tylee giggled. "I heard one of Katara's servants saying that she went to go wake Katara up this morning and she was nowhere to be found. Ooh! What if Katara and Zuko spent the night together?"

"What?!" Azula snapped at her friend. "Don't you dare think that."

"Sor-ry." Tylee shrugged sheepishly, offering her friends a classic Tylee smile. "But what if Zuko and Katara really did spend the night together? Is she even legal yet? I mean, I know things are different in the Water Tribe, but still, that'd be really weird."

"Tylee, aren't you supposed to be my friend?" Mai said, collapsing in the chair opposite the pink clad girl. She turned to Azula. "Now I really need to talk to Zuko."

Azula nodded. "Of course you do. We'll leave right now."

"I'll come with you guys!" Tylee stood as well.

Azula and Mai looked at each other. The Princess cleared her throat. "No No…I think you should go and ask around town…you know…to see what else you can dig up on what Zuko and Katara did yesterday."

Zuko

He and Katara made their way across the garden and into the walls of the Concubine's palace. They had been lucky, very lucky that someone hadn't seen them as they crossed the lawn. He felt like a hero of old, moving through shadows and sneaking around, trying to be as quiet as possible so that no one heard them. The door, and the resulting tunnel that they found connected the secret cove down by the beach through the servant's tunnels through a door that opened into the garden.

"It's late morning, where is everybody?" Katara said in a low voice as they walked around, past the redwood tree by the ponds edge. "This is weird."

Zuko looked around and had to agree with her. There was no one in the courtyard, no sign of servants or other girls or anyone else. It was strange, and yet…he was grateful for it because if anyone had seen them, the rumors would spread faster than wildfire. With Katara in her bindings, and he still wearing the same clothes he had on yesterday, people might get the wrong idea about what the two of them were up to.

"I don't know." He said, looking back at her. Even the ducks in the pond had mysteriously disappeared. Maybe they were sleeping. What time was it anyway?

They reached the gate to the Concubine's Quarters without being spotted and Zuko breathed a sigh of relief. Zuko's hand gripped the iron gate, about to push it open when Katara caught his arm. He turned to look at her, and she smiled at him. It seemed as though she was waiting for him to say something, but he didn't really know what she was expecting.

"It's strange, you know?" He said. "I never imagined that going to heal Jet would lead to this…to us. I mean, I didn't know how you'd react to me, and I just…what's wrong?"

While he was talking, Katara looked down at her shoes. When he asked her what was wrong, she looked up again, her eyes a clear blue, but deep inside, there was something bothering her. She whispered, "Zuko…What's this? What are we?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked her.

She let go of his arm, and pulled it towards herself, folding her arms across her chest. "I fought with you at the South Pole. I fought with you here. It seemed like you couldn't stand me. And it's not like you were my favorite person, either." Katara pointed out, and they both chuckled at the memory. To Zuko, it all seemed so long ago. He was different now. "Now, suddenly…"

"Now suddenly, things have changed – everything has changed."

Her smile widened. "Zuko…"

"I'm serious." He said, leaning towards her. "I don't think you can define what we are with a name…and I don't think we're supposed to. Katara, I lo—realize now that you're very important to me. You have given back a part of me that I thought I'd never be able to feel again. And that kind of feeling…you can't just put it into words."

She kissed him again, standing up on her toes to reach his lips. And even then, she had to grip his arms for balance. "I'm sorry I overthought this." She whispered against his lips. "I tend to do that."

"I know." He snickered, teasing her. When they pulled away from each other, Zuko suddenly remembered that she was still in her bindings, and that someone could see her at any moment. "You should go inside and get dressed now, Katara."

"You're right." She said, backing away from him. When she let go of his arms, he felt an immediate wish to regain the contact between them. It was like Katara was a part of him now, without her there, he felt a sense of loss. She walked to the gate and paused with her hand on the gate. "Goodbye, Zuko."

Why did this sound like they were parting forever? "Goodbye, Katara."

She pushed open the doorway, and stepped onto the landing, but paused to turn and look back at him. "I did have a good time, Zuko." She said, her hand resting gently on the door handle. She chuckled a bit, looking up at him with crystal sapphire eyes, as bright as the sky. "And despite the craziness of yesterday, I'm glad I got to know you better. I'm glad I got to know us better."

"Me too." He responded in a soft voice.

Katara was about to close the door when a raspy voice said from behind them, "Prince Zuko! Princess Katara! What in are you doing here? And what are you wearing?"

Oh no. We are so dead.

He heard Katara's intake of breath as she saw who was coming their way. Zuko turned, but as soon as he did, he wished he was back down by the beach. Actually no, he'd rather be facing Zhao's goons than be looking at the woman marching toward the both of them. Katara stepped out of the gate to stand next to him, and Zuko wished he'd gotten her inside just a little bit faster.

Turning around, he saw an irate Gu Zhi stalking towards them like a saber-tooth moose lion coming towards its prey. Her face was red in anger, and her fingers clenched together, although Zuko could tell she was trying her best to control herself. Her hands were quivering, and it was probably all that she could do to stop herself from charging up to Zuko and shaking him. But no, with a few collective breaths, Gu Zhi's face had returned to its normal color.

"Princess Katara…Prince Zuko…" Gu Zhi said breathily. She might have been able to keep the irritation from her face, but it was all over her voice. "What are you wearing? And where were you last night? The Fire Lady is frantic. Not to mention Princess Ursa."

"Is my mother really that upset?"

"Of course!" Gu Zhi looked insulted. "Her Highness Princess Ursa has been absolutely beside herself with worry. If the two of you had not shown up today, she would have sent out a search party!"

"Gu Zhi…We were…" Katara shifted uncomfortably, trying to come up with a believable excuse. "Um…"

The old woman turned her attention on Katara. When she saw Katara's exposed shoulders and bare midriff, Gu Zhi staggered backwards, looking like she was going to have a heart attack.

"Princess Katara! It is not proper for you to be exposed! We need to get you inside. Quickly."

Gu Zhi gave him a scathing look. "As I was saying, something else has happened."

"What's it?" Katara asked.

She took a deep breath. "His Majesty, The Fire Lord Iroh regained consciousness early this morning. Which explains why the Fire Lady was so anxious to see you, Princess Katara."

"He did?" Katara said excitedly. "That's wonderful! I'll go see him right away."

Gu Zhi fixed her with a stern look.

Katara flushed. "After I change, of course."

Gu Zhi didn't say anything, merely nodded and motioned for Katara to follow along, Song trailing in their wake. Zuko called out to them. "Gu Zhi, are my mother and Aunt with him now?"

"Yes, they are, Prince Zuko." She said to him, looking more than a little impatient.

He started to walk towards them. "Then I will come along as well."

Gu Zhi didn't turn. "It's best that you do, Prince Zuko." Your mother wishes to speak with you."

Zuko couldn't help the feeling of dread that built up in his stomach.

Azula

"Did Zuko really say that about me? That he loves me?" Mai asked as their carriage rocked from side to side as they made their way towards the Palace Gate.

Azula nodded, hoping that Mai wouldn't notice the wavering in her voice. The conversation with Tylee still replaying in her memory. How much of Tylee's story was to be believed? She had a vivid imagination, and often would say things for sheer amusement. She knew that the men who walked around as if they owned the city were Zhao's…her mother told her as much the last time they were together.

Still. She had to convince Mai that Zuko loved her, even if there was a slim, very slim possibility that he didn't. "Of course he said that. Zuko loves you. I'm positive, Mai. Don't you trust me?"

Mai nodded, a bit unsurely, but still it was a definite nod. " You know that I do."

The silence between them erupted like a volcano, filling the compartment. Azula was traveling in true Fire Nation royal style. In an enclosed carriage with only a tiny window on the opposite side of the door to let in light. She wasn't going to let the polluted air of commoners ruin her morning. Mai was leaning forward in her seat, looking out at the common folk with mild disinterest.

When they neared the gate, the carriage lurched to a halt. Azula jerked forward, opening sliding the door open slightly to address her maid walking alongside the carriage. "Why have we stopped?" Mai turned away from the window to look at her.

The maid approached the ajar door and bowed her head. "Forgive me, Princess Azula, but there seems to be a commotion up ahead."

"Well, don't just stand there making a fool out of yourself, go find out what it is!" Azula snapped at her. The maid sniffed a bit before running off. "Incompetence. These maids cry at every harsh word you say to them."

"She's what, fourteen?" Mai said, giving her a knowing look. Azula had treated all of her maids the same, from the young to the old. Age didn't determine your capability at doing a task. "You shouldn't be so harsh with them Azula. She's young; she still has time to learn."

"You would think she would know by now." Azula waved a hand in the air. "I mean, when you and I were fourteen, we were better at controlling our emotions than half of the men in the army. I mean, it's ridiculous."

Before long, the maid came back, and Azula realized that she didn't even know the girl's name. Oh well, there would be time for such stupid things as that later. "Princess Azula," the maid said, bowing. "Apparently a man got into an altercation with the guards…he's trying to get the guards to let him enter the Palace."

"Tell the guards exactly who is in this carriage." Azula said firmly, and the maid nodded and left. She turned back to Mai with a satisfied smile. "There, that should do it."

The maid returned quicker than she had anticipated. Her face was red with embarrassment and there was fear in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, and she started to say, "Princess Azula…" but then thought better of the idea and stopped talking.

"Well? Why aren't we moving? What happened?" Azula snapped at the maid. Mai gave her a dry look. Azula played innocent." What? I asked nicely."

The maid twiddled her thumbs, and it seemed that she didn't want to say anything to Azula at all. But after she gave the young girl a sharp glare, she finally stammered out, "He said that if you're the Fire Princess...t-then he's the E-Earth King."

He had absolutely no idea who he was talking to. "I'd like to meet this Earth King." She resolved

The maid nodded and backed away. After a moment, the door opened, and steps were being set down, and as she rocked back and forth, a determined look came over her face as she resolved to put this rude peasant in his place. The maid slid open the wooden door and offered her hand to help Azula down.

Azula looked back at Mai. "Are you coming?"

Mai rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I'm staying in here. This is your problem, not mine." But before Azula took her maid's hand Mai reached over and grabbed her arm, a mischievous glint in her otherwise inexpressive eyes. "Azula, when you go out there, be nice."

Azula pulled a sweet smile, and she knew she looked like her mother in that instant, but she didn't care. "Aren't I always nice?"

Mai scoffed, but said nothing. Azula smirked and took the young servant's hand. Stepping into the sunlight, Azula's eyes zeroed in on a tall figure yelling at the guards by the Gate. She let go of her maid's hand and stalked over to where the man was standing. There was no one around, everyone was down at the marketplace, haggling or other nonsense.

She walked up to them, crossing her arms over her chest, and as soon as the two guards saw her, they froze and bowed their heads, standing at attention. "Your Highness!" They said in unison.

The man turned around, and for a brief—very brief second, Azula was taken by his appearance. He had shaggy brown hair, and wore an orange and brown tunic, and brown pants. He had dark skin and dark brown eyes. In his hand, he had a small brown box. He looked like none of the Fire Nation men that she had ever seen before. But when she saw his easy-going smile, she was immediately reminded of how upset he made her. She folded her arms over her chest and tapped her foot in anger.

"Can I help you?" He asked her, still with that laidback attitude!

"You should get out of my way." She said calmly, narrowing her eyes.

He pretended to think about it for a moment, tapping his finger on his chin and wearing a thoughtful expression. "Hm…" his face sobered. "I don't think so."

She stepped closer. "Do you know who you're dealing with?"

"No, do you?" He stepped to her.

Azula rolled her eyes, hands on hips. "Oh really, like you're that important, just who are you anyway?"

He puffed out his chest like a peacock. "The name's Jet. Leader of the Freedom Fighters. Or…well…I was, anyway."

"Well, Jet." She stalked towards him, feeling like a cat cornering her prey. "I'm not a person you want to make an enemy out of."

"Really? And why is that?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

She pointed to the guards, still standing with heads bowed, at attention. "See them over there? They're afraid of me, and they obviously have good reason to be."

"Well, you don't scare me, Princess." He said bravely, his jaw set. "You'd really commit murder in broad daylight?"

"Do you want to try me?" She said testily.

"Really?" He said, coming closer to her. He was now only about half a foot away from her. He was so much taller than her, and he was made of muscle, lean instead of bulky, kind of resembling her cousin. There was a piece of straw in his mouth that he chewed on leisurely. "If you really wanted me dead, you'd have said so by now."

He was right. She could have ordered him dead, or just fried him herself. But she didn't. Why?

She could smell him, he was that close. He smelled like dirt, sawdust and syrup, as weird of a combination that was. She noticed that he avoided touching his right side, and she suspected that he sustained an injury on that side, but from the confident way he walked, Azula couldn't tell if the avoidance was current, or merely habit. Besides, she liked confidence, especially in those who stood up to her. It's why she trusted Mai so much. Tylee followed her blindly, but Mai was always there with a sarcastic response, even telling her 'no' sometimes. She didn't mind it…on occasion.

She noticed her maid giving her nervous glances, as if she was really going to kill him. But she wasn't. She liked him…rude as he was. "How old are you?" She asked him.

He smirked, and Azula was taken aback. He looked, dare she say attractive when he did that…but no…she couldn't feel this way. Romance just wasn't her style, besides, those who believed in attractions were just fools falling into a fool's game.

He cleared her throat to get her attention. She blinked and he shrugged. "I mean, that's a bit weird to ask someone that you just met their age, even for you Princess. If you must know, I'm 17."

"I'm rude?!" She exclaimed, her mouth falling open in shock.

"Uh, yeah." He said, matter-of-factly. "You're rude. You just threatened a total stranger with bodily harm. Not exactly the best way to make friends, Princess."

"Oh, and I suppose you're a better expert." She said to him sarcastically, and he nodded enthused.

"Actually, I'm. See, look, I already made a friend today." He said, pointing in her general direction.

She looked around. "What are you talking about? Who?"

"Why you of course, Princess." He said, laughing.

"Don't talk to me like that!" She saw red. Ordinarily she would have fried him to a crisp, and it was mostly because she was in public that she was only able to restrain herself.

"Why? That's how you said it." He said, waving his hands. "You're the princess, and a big fucking deal."

"I'm a big deal." She nodded affirming. But her head tilted to the side, curious about something. "Why are you trying to get into the Palace?"

"I'm looking for a friend of mine, she told me to just go to the gate and ask for her, and she'd come to see me."

"Who's your friend?" Azula asked, mildly curious. Who was this friend of Jet's and if she was a servant, why exactly didn't she just tell Jet to use the Servant's Entrance?

Jet shrugged. "Her name is Katara and—,"

"Katara?!"