Katara

For the last couple days it's been pretty quiet around the palace. Every time I tried to talk to a maid she'd just she was busy and move away from me as fast as she could. That and the royal guards seemed to be acting strange, but that was just a small number of them. From what I noticed they patrolled certain areas more then others, by certain areas I mean Ty lee's room and Azula's room. Whenever I left to go anywhere those guards would always watch me their hands holding their weapons a bit to tightly and their eyes a bit to focused. If it wasn't for Mai I had a feeling I probably wouldn't make it more then three steps. I don't know what it is about Mai that makes the guards so timid but whenever they see her they instantly take a few steps back and remove their hands from their weapons.

"Come on Katara, Ty Lee's expecting you" she says grabbing my hand and pulling me down the hall. Hopefully Azula would be back soon, not that I miss her or anything but at least with her here I have somebody to talk to. As we turned the corner to Ty lee's wing we were greated by two people that I hoped to never meet. Sozin and Ozai were standing right in front of Ty lee's door no doubt waiting for us.

"Ah if it isn't Lady Katara and her little bodyguard, a pleasure seeing you when our ruler isn't around." I really didn't like the way Ozai was acting but I really didn't like the way he was talking.

"Yes well I'm sure you gentelmen have other things to do so If you'll excuse me." When I tried to open the door Ozi made a point to block it.

"Oh but I wasn't finished speaking to you, but what else would you expect from Azula's pet." Before I could act Mai beat me to it and slashed Ozai's arm with a hidden blade from her robes. It wasn't a lethal cut but still deep enough to cause serious damadge. I couldn't stop myself from laughing as Ozai held his bleeding arm.

"You dare laugh at me peaseant!?" he roared using his good arm to clamp around my neck. Before he had time to squeeze a bolt of lighting came soaring down the hall hitting him square in the shoulder sending him into the wall. As I tried to catch my breath we followed the lightings path to see Azula standing in the hall holding a book and looking furious. Within seconds she's placing the book in Mai's hands and checking to see if I was okay. After a small nod from me she turns to Ozai.

"So not only do you disrespect me while I'm gone but you also threaten my bride. That's a very serious crime and unlike last time you've been caught red-handed."

Although still dazed from the blast Ozai tried to shrug it off.

"It was your pet's bodyguard that started it. I was just talking when she struck me."

Azula looked at Mai who shrugged with her usual nochalant expression.

"Be that as it may you threatened my bride which makes her not only my equal but also your future ruler." I was actually taken back by her words, never in all my time here has she refered to me as her equal. Ozai and Sozin were taken back as well but Azula continued on.

"Now I give you two choices, you can either get down on you knees and beg forgivness from Katara or you can be excuted." For a moment he looked at me eyes filled with hatred and then he turned back to Azula a smal fire burning in his good hand.

"I'd rather die with my pride intact then apolgize to your little pet!"

"Well it is your decesion but tell me Sozin what do you think of this?" Ozai turned to look at his father no doubt beleving he would come to his sons rescue but when he looked at his father he saw only indeference.

"Your have the right to kill him of course, but at least let him fight for his life in a agni kai."

"A dragon should meet their end with honor. Very well my guards will have him restrained in his room untill then, now get out of my sight before I change my mind." As soon as Sozin had lead Ozai away Azula moved me inside Ty lee's room where she pulled me into a hug.

"Azula?" I said trying to escape her embrace only to be pulled tighter

"I was worried about you. I knew Mai would protoct you but I still wanted to be here."

"O...Okay" being this close to her was making me feel a bit embarassed but I wasn't hating it.

"And I'm sorry for this" Before I could ask what she meant she'd grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss. I was more surprised then anything and by the time I could think again she was pressing her forehead against mine both of our cheeks burning red.

"What was that for?"

"You see I've been thinking lately about well a lot of things but mostly about you and me. And after a lot of thought I decided that whatever we have I want to explore it."

"And how do we do that?"

"Simple tonight I'm taking you out on a date and I'm going to show you all that my kingdom has to offer, that is if you want I don't want to force you into anything... again."

Well I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to get to know her a little bit. And besides she has a point, I need to know exactly what our relationship is. Am I a pawn or a friend? Or something more?

"Alright" As soon as the words left my mouth I was pulled into another hug.

"Great then I'll come get you as soon as I have everything set up, until then you just try to remain excited." Just like that she leaves the room smiling and I make my way over to Ty lee who was sitting up in bed a huge grin on her face.

"I could hear the excitement in Azula's voice from here. Is it true you two are having a date night?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it a date but yeah pretty much."

But was it? I mean I already knows Azula feels something for me the mark on my hand is evidence of that, but is she starting to have feelings for me? And better yet am I starting to have feeling for her? After searching my mind for any answer I was surprised when the word no never came up. In fact every time I thought about it the only reason I couldn't have feelings for her was because of Aang. And yet every time I compared the two Azula always came out on top.

This entire situation was easier to deal with when we both couldn't stand each other.

"Oh I can't wait for the two of you get married! The flowers, the music and of course the dancing. So when is the big day? I hope it's soon." As easy as it would be to lie to her I just couldn't bring myself to do it. She was just so innocent and if I told her the truth I just know she'd be devastated.

"Well we decided to have it in a few months." If Azula was here she'd no doubt back me up but right now I had do my best to not give in to anymore of her questions.

The time with her went by far to slowly especially since I had to lie more in that one hour then I did in my entire life just to answer her questions without digging myself further into the hole I already dug. By the time Mai escorted me back to my room I was to exhausted to do anything besides collapse on the bed. I didn't know what Azula had in mind later on tonight but whatever it was could wait a few hours so I could sleep.