Chapter 6

An hour and a half later, when everyone was awake and dressed, Kura walked by Zuko in a hallway – alone.

"Oh! Zuko?" Kura said, leaning against the wall. Zuko stopped and looked at her. "I've decided that I am going to tell Aang about you and Katara."

"What?" Zuko exclaimed, "You're going to do exactly what I told you not to do – and then tell me?!"

"Yeah, I just wanted to let you know." she said casually. Zuko gave her a smug look before waking out of the hallway. "Wait!" Kura said confusedly, "Where are you going?" Kura followed him hastily. "What are you doing?" Zuko smiled and shook his head.

"Just going to tell Katara something." he said innocently, then with anger, "And if you don't follow along you'll be very sorry!" Kura had no idea what he was talking about, but she knew she'd have to do what he said, if she wanted to make it out of this injury-free. Zuko and Kura walked up to Katara.

"Hi, sweetie." he said to her.

"Hello, Zu-Zu!" she said. Zuko clenched his fist a little at the sound of his horrible nickname, then became calm again. He put his arm around Kura and drew her close. Kura, despite her fear, smiled.

"I was just wondering if I could take little Kura here for a walk." he said sweetly, "I realized recently that she could use a male influence in life. Without a dad...well, I suppose I just don't want her to suffer as I did. She needs a father figure." Kura couldn't believe this! She knew who her real father figure was, and it certainly wasn't this jerk! But Katara was totally eating it up! She was even tearing slightly!

"Zuko that's so sweet of you!" she cried, and kissed him. "I can't believe we used to not trust you!"

"Well, that's what I want to stop. It was the lack of love from my father that made me like that, and I don't want that to happen to Kura. A father figure will keep her on the right path." Kura was ready to gag. Her real father figure was Sokka. He was always there for her, not threatening her like this guy is!

Kura then realized why Zuko wanted to take Kura for a walk. She got so afraid she nearly blew Zuko's cover. Well, that would really actually be good, but then of course he'd murder her. Meanwhile, Katara was talking.

"I support you one hundred percent, honey! You're the best boyfriend a girl could ask for! In fact, to give you two some real alone time," she patted Kura's head (she'd had a habit of that since Kura was about 4), "I'll make sure everyone steers clear. Thank you so much for helping her through this." Through what? Did Zuko have Katara believing that Kura was defecting to the bad side now? Kura respected Katara like a mother, but sometimes she is so stupid! Now she just made sure nobody would see her being severely burned!

"Oh, it's not a problem. I feel it's my duty, being as she's had the tragedy of her father's death. I just want what's best for Kura." Then why wouldn't he leave their group, never to return?! "Okay, then. We'll be by the docks. Good-bye!" Zuko said. Oh great, Zuko was taking her to the most deserted place in the North Pole, considering it was a day off from work for everyone. He looked at Kura. She guessed now was her time to prove she was believing the shit Zuko was spewing out.

"Good-bye, Katara. Thank you for supporting us! I think it will really help me. Things have been...pretty hard without...without a...daddy..." she pretended to trail off and get a little teary-eyed. Despite the fact she was helping Zuko's evil plot, it was kind of fun doing the acting part. Except for when Zuko played along and hugged her as they were walking away, murmuring comforting words to her.

"Good-bye, you two! See you both at the waterbending academy in two hours. Have fun!" Katara said as they exited the hall. Oh, yeah, Kura was sure this would be tons of fun! Getting burned at the stake sounded like a blast!

"Nice acting, squirt." Zuko said, once they were alone. "Why exactly were you helping me? You could've just said good-bye, you know that, right?" Kura shrugged.

"Yeah I know." she said. She didn't mention that she only did it for the fun of the acting.

"And why exactly did you tell me you were disobeying me, despite my...oh what the heck! My threat?." he said, with a grin.

"Well, like I said, I just thought you should know that I'm telling Aang how you are dating his one true love." Kura replied coolly.

"Well, I just think you should know that you'd better not tell him that!" Zuko flared, as he gruffly pushed her in the direction of the docks.

"Will you cut that out?" Kura said angrily, "I can walk for myself, you know?"

"But not where I want you to go!" Zuko replied with just as much rage.

"Yes I will! We're going to the docks, right?" Kura replied, as she pulled herself from Zuko's arms and walked ahead of him toward the docks. Zuko started to chase her, then realized where she was headed. Instead, he casually caught up to her and walked beside her, ready to grab her in case she ran off.

"Why do you keep supporting my threats?" he said curiously, but still with a touch of irritation. Kura's plans were working quite well. All she had to do was give the signal to Sokka as to where Zuko was taking her. If she could get the chance, that is...Zuko was still looking at her for an answer.

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know!" she said, very hoity-toity. Zuko drew her face close at his.

"Yes, I would like to know, and you'll tell me! One way or another..." he said threateningly.

"Mm-hm, well we'll see how that works out." Kura said. Her brain kept screaming at her: 'Stop mouthing off, you idiot!! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!' But Kura knew she had to get him angry, so the plan could continue. But perhaps she was trying to get herself killed!

"Foolish girl!" Zuko muttered. "A little time alone should soften your tongue." he said. Kura cowered back in fear; she couldn't take it anymore. Just his face, his voice, it all sounded too cruel for Kura. She couldn't stay strong any longer. Besides, now that she'd proven herself to be headstrong, this action would get Zuko to think she'd given up, and he would underestimate her. That was always good. "That's what I thought." Zuko said, feeling very in control, so they kept walking, with Zuko now having Kura in hand again.

In a few moments, they arrived at the docks. At the docks, there was one stretch of ice that was a little higher up, held up by many thin ice pillars. Zuko sat Kura down on the lower dock, her feet dangling above the water, next to the higher dock. He procured a rope from his coat and uncoiled it. He tied one end to Kura's hands, binding them behind her back, and the other end to one of the pillars. Kura felt like a pet on a leash. She expected that was how Zuko wanted her to feel: helpless, and therefore intimidated.

"I have to check to make sure nobody's here, so feel free to occupy yourself for a moment – quietly!" Zuko said menacingly before walking off.

Kura took this as an opportunity to signal Sokka. She hoped he wasn't anywhere nearby, or Zuko might find him. She thought of the whistle for 'the docks' that the two had come up with. She gave one long, low whistle, then two quick, high-pitched ones.

Tweeeeeeeet! Twit, twit!

She waiting for the reply: three medium-length, low whistles.

Tweeet! One...

Tweeet! Two...

Twe-... The third was cut short. Kura soon learned why.

"Hello, Sokka!" said a cheerful voice: Zuko's.

"Oh, uh, hello...Zuko!" came Sokka's nervous, stuttering reply. Stupid Sokka.

"Why were you whistling like that?" Kura heard Zuko ask casually, "It sounded almost like a code." his voice turned icy cold. "In fact, it was right after another whistle that also sounded like code." His voice got a little louder to be sure Kura heard it.

"Uh, well...it's not a code, actually. It's um - it's um, just...just a -" Sokka stumbled.

"Just a plan to get me exposed, water tribe peasant?!" Zuko said angrily. Kura heard Sokka screech. The next minute, she saw Zuko dragging Sokka by his arm, hard, to where Kura was sitting. "You stupid girl, you told him, didn't you?!" he hissed, as he tied Sokka on the other side of the dock. Kura looked at them through the pillars and nodded dejectedly. This was not part of the plan. "I must've underestimated you, girl. It seems I should have waited to hear that entire conversation!" He finished tying up Sokka, and walked around to Kura. He untied the end on the pillar, stood her up, and retied the rope on a higher pillar, above the dock.

"Why are you doing this to her, Zuko?" Sokka asked angrily, his voice growing deeper. (He'd been a bit of a late bloomer, so his voice still went from low to high constantly.) "She hasn't done a thing! Let her go!"

"She hadn't done anything yet. She was going to tell Aang about me dating Katara. That would've made him very angry – at me! This is just a little something to stop the squirt from squealing." Yeah, that's the nice way of putting it...(Squirt?!! He'd called her that twice now! What was with that?!)

"How do you know that?" Sokka asked, clearly surprised. Kura knew he was faking, and he even had her convinced!

"The girl came right out and told me! But none of that matters now. Now it's time for her punishment for telling you. Let this be a lesson, girl. I was not lying when I said I'd be a father figure. But more like my father than a normal one. You will do as I say, or you will get hurt!" He pulled out his dual swords. Kura cowered in fear. Wait a minute! Why wasn't he using firebending? It would be easier for him...so why the swords?

But she didn't have time to think about that. After all, there was a volatile dude with dual swords standing in front of her!