Chapter two

Looking for yourself

The night was just as worse for Katara than the day. At night, her memories can back worse than ever and more vivid. Zuko slipped from his room to watch as Yei held onto the hysterical Katara, trying to calm her down and put her to sleep. In the end, the healer had to use a special tea that knocked her out. He hated to imagine the fact that she had been used the way she did, by Zhou none the less. The man really did need to die, and soon.

Uncle Iroh came to Zuko after Katara had fallen asleep to speak with the boy, and found him not asleep, but awake and sitting by the open screen that faced out to the sea and port. He sat down quietly and watched his nephew carefully. It was a while before either of them spoke, and it was Zuko who did.

"How could he do that?" Iroh looked to the sea with a worn look on his face.

"What do you mean nephew? Forcing her or beating her?"

"Both! He's a Fire Nation admiral and yet he went so far as to do what he did! How disgraceful and cruel." Iroh nodded slightly and watched as the boy practically burst into flames.

"You must remember nephew, not everyone thinks like you do. Though I do agree, the great admiral Zhou is nothing more than an ass kissing suck up with no brain of his own." Zuko gave a light laugh and rubbed his eyes slightly feeling tired. "You should try and rest Zuko, we're leaving tomorrow and a man needs his sleep." The young fire prince nodded and watched as his uncle stood and left the room quietly. As he looked back out the cool night and wondered if taking Katara with him was a good idea or not. He put his hands into his pockets and found the girl's necklace and removed it to look at it again. He had seen it a hundred times but now it held a stronger meaning to him and he didn't quite understand why, but he thought that maybe he should give it back.

He stood up and walked to the slightly open screen of his room and pushed it open the rest of the way, and looked head on at the screen of Katara's room. He stepped into the hall and quietly slid it open to see Katara sleeping soundly thanks to the tea, on the soft mattress against the back screen. Quietly he walked over to her and looked down at her. Katara's shoulders were covered in healing burses and small cuts. Kneeling down, he put the necklace into the girl's hand which hung out from under the blankets and stood back up before heading back out of her room, closed the screen behind him, and entered back into his own. Zuko closed his own screen and walked back to where his mattress was against the open back screen and lay down. The moon was high in the sky and almost full, another day or two and it would be. Slowly his eyes closed and he fell into a warm, dream filled sleep.

-

Zuko awoke to the sound of a scream from across the hall. Instantly he was up and through his door and Katara's to find her awake and shaking in her bed. She looked horrified and he imagined she had a nightmare about Zhou. He walked over to her cautiously and knelt down, carefully placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Katara?" She looked up to him with wild, tear filled eyes, her whole body shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"I- I'm sorry… I didn't mean to wake you." Her voice was just as shaky and raw from the scream and god knows what else. He shook his head and gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

"It's alright. You didn't wake me." Her shaking calmed and he sat down slowly while keeping his hand on her shoulder. She looked at her hands as she sat there and wondered why she was feeling safe, and not scared of Zuko or angry. But for some odd feeling, she was just happy she wasn't in that smelly ship, that she wasn't bound and gagged, that she wasn't with that horrid excuse for a man. Leaning over, she put her pride aside and buried her face into his chest, her tears freely falling now. Zuko could feel her hot tears through his shirt and finding nothing to say, placed his hands on her shoulders. He thought perhaps he should hug her, but he also thought that he might scare her if he did.

She made no sound as she sobbed, crying silently into his chest. To Zuko this was new, he'd never seen a girl cry, and he'd never been close enough to one to realize the burning heat of sadness rolling off them. If she had been a fire bender she probably would have incinerated him in a heart beat. After a few minutes her crying died down and she fell asleep. Carefully Zuko laid her back down on her bed and watched her sleep. She really was beautiful for a water bender. Her hair looked soft as well as her healing skin, and her eyes were a deep cerulean that reminded him of the ocean, of her element. She had a tan shade to her body, an erotic and exotic color that brought out the color in her eyes in a sharp contrast. Her body was slim and looked fragile but he knew she was strong, much stronger than most the girls he come in contact with.

Zuko reached down and pushed a strand of hair from her face with his knuckle. His finger softly brushed against her skin and a shiver when down his back. Her skin really was soft and smooth, and slightly damp from the tears she had been crying. As his finger rubbed across her fragile skin, her head turned slightly into the touch and she let out a soft sigh, her face becoming lax and calm. Zuko let his hand fall back onto his leg as he stood up but her soft, almost whispered voice stopped him. "Please, stay. I sleep better when you're near." He looked down to her and nodded slightly before sitting back down beside her.

Katara shocked him when she reached out with her hand and took his own with her tiny little hands, but he shocked himself more when he carefully closed his hand around her own. He wondered if perhaps this girl had emotions for him other than anger, but he told himself (at least tried to) that he wouldn't care if she did, because he didn't for her. But for now, he would stay and watch over her, and make sure she got the sleep she needed.

-

Katara sleep most of the day peacefully, soundly, like there was nothing wrong with her at all. Zuko did not move from his spot all day, only once or twice to use the rest room and Yei brought him tea and lunch along with Katara's. Of coarse she didn't wake to eat, not till dinner at least. Even then she ate hardly anything but drank enough water.

Yei watched Zuko as he watched over Katara.

"She's not eating enough." He stated quietly while looking to Yei. The healer for a moment, thought she had seen compassion and worry.

"But she is drinking water and that is what her body needs. Take a panda Lilly from the ground and it will die, fire from the wood and it will die. Take this girl from the water, and she will die." Zuko felt his heart sink into his stomach at the thought of her dieing but held his tongue. He thought for a moment and closed his eyes before standing up.

"What's the quickest route to the beach?"

-

Zuko held the sleep water bender against him as he rode the roster horse through the woods to the beach. She stirred every now and then but didn't wake. It wasn't a long ride, no more than ten or so minutes, but with the beautiful girl sleeping against him, it seemed like hours. Finally the roster horse stepped onto the sand and came to a stop. He slid down from the side and lowered Katara down carefully but held onto her. Lifting her up bride style, he carried get to the water's edge and looked down at her. She needed this, even if she was dangerous in the water, she needed it.

He walked a bit further, to where the water came to his waist and slowly lowered Katara into the ocean. Instantly the water calmed and she floated quietly on the surface, his hands on her back to keep her from floating away. Her body began to glow. Dull at first, then brighter and brighter till it was hard to see, but he held onto her anyway. In a flash, the light died out and Katara floated on her back looking up at him with a confused gaze.

"W-what happened?" He helped her to stand on her feet in the salty water and looked over what skin he could, amazed to see no bruises or marks.

"You weren't healing fast enough so I brought you here." Now this confused her. She wasn't sure if Zuko was being nice or just doing this so because he was using her to get Aang. Now she was herself again, (at least a little) and the look she gave him chilled him to the bone.

"Why did you take me from Zhou's? What does it matter if you or he kidnaps me? Either way the Fire nation is not getting Aang!" She folded her arms over her chest and turned her back to him, looking down the coast line. She knew she should be thanking him, he really put himself into danger to save her, but why should she thank the enemy? All that happened was that she fell from the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. She snickered at the unintended pun and turned back around to face Zuko when he let out a low growl of anger.

"I saved your peasant life and you start yelling at me to leave you with that psychotic fire freak?!"

"You're one to talk Mr. "Where's-the-Avatar?!" 24/7!" Zuko nearly exploded into flames. But she was right, and he had set himself up for that one by calling Zhou a psychotic fire freak. But that was no excuse; he had risked himself and his uncle to save her pathetic life and for what?! For this little pain in the ass to yell at him! Well he wasn't going to stand for it.

Reaching out, he grabbed Katara by the forearm and spun her around, almost making her lose balance before starting back up the shore with her in toe.

"Where are you taking me?! Let go!" He turned and grabbed her other arm hard and squeezed, not hard enough to leave marks but get her attention.

"I'm taking you back to the healers. And you're damned lucky I don't believe in hurting women or I'd have burnt your pathetic ass up already!" She winced and unconsciously shrunk away from his yelling and hard grip. He felt a twinge of guilt and loosened his grip slightly. "Look… I won't hurt you; I'm not even going to bother chasing you if you run. But you need to stay at the healers for a little longer. You've been sick for a few days now and if Zhou or my psychotic sister gets a hold of you then you can say bye-bye to your life and helping the Avatar. Understand?"

Katara found it slightly odd that Zuko wouldn't case after her, but she figured he was so prideful and stubborn that he wouldn't resort to kidnapping a girl just to get what he wants. Not like that ass Zhou. And she was at least thankful he hadn't hit or hurt her yet. But she was confused, not only about him but herself. She remembered how she felt when he carried her, the times she was at least awake. When she cried into his chest and when he held her hand as she slept. Even the fact that she asked him to stay… She needed to get away from him. She needed to clear her mind and she needed to fast.

"You said you don't care if I run away, then why are you still holding onto me and why do you care if I go to the healers or not?" He growled and shook his head. She was right, it really didn't make sense even to him and he's the one who said it. He looked at his hands, his rough hands around her small arms and let go reluctantly and watched as she brought her hand back, and watched as that hand flew forward and met with his cheek, sending his head to one side as she took off running. He wasn't sure if he should follow, kill her, or kiss her, which the last one truly scared even himself. He wasn't sure where the thought of kissing her came from, but after giving it a moment to think… it didn't seem so bad. He blamed the sudden thought on his body, being that he was for the most part a physically healthy young man, and like all young men had their moments of lust.

-

Katara ran through the forest along the small path as quickly as she could. But her days of pain and being dazed and confused had an effect on her body. She didn't get very far before she had to stop, her legs hurting and her chest feeling like its on fire. Katara leaned against a tree along the path and slid down to the ground, her rear supporting her as she panted and gripped her chest in pain. It was then that she realized her hand still hurt from when she slapped him. She really had no need to, he hadn't hurt her, he hadn't hit her or anything, only mentally confused her, and that was really no reason to hit anyone.

From beside her she heard a twig snapped and turned to see Zuko standing here looking down at her. His eyes were sharp and tawny but held no anger. Slowly Zuko came up beside her and sat down, looking ahead of him. It was silent between the two, the only sound was from the forest it self. The birds and the rustle of the winds through the trees. She missed Aang and her brother, and even Toph and Momo and Appa. She wanted to snuggle up in her big sleeping bag and just sleep, for days, weeks, even months. She wanted to get away from this increasingly confusing prince and find herself. She needed to find the real her, the real Katara of the Water Tribe deep down inside her and find her own path, her own solution.

Katara went to stand, but her legs were not ready to move and she began to fall toward the ground again, but Zuko was up and hand his arm around her waist to keep her from falling. Her body froze and she felt that she should fight, but she remembered that she wasn't on the ship anymore, it wasn't Zhou behind her, and she was free. Well free for the most part. It was Zuko who was holding her up from falling and hurting herself and it was his warm breath on the back of her neck that relaxed her body in an odd way, but chilled it as well.

Zuko brought her up to her feet and held onto her to make sure she could stand. "You won't be able to make it back to the temple by yourself. Hold on to me and try not to squirm around." Moving in front of her, he got down on one knee and looked back to her. She wondered what he was doing and realized he was going to give her a piggy-back ride. Katara stepped forward and down, and looped her arms around his neck. As he stood, hr used the tree to hold himself up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Getting his balance back, he put his hands behind him and locked his fingers together to hold her up against his back so she wouldn't strangle him. From behind he couldn't see the blush on Katara's face as his hands rested along her rear. She rested her check on his shoulder and closed her eyes, willing to focus on something, anything other than the warm body she was pressed against.

Well there's #2, sorry if Zuko seems a bit OC but I'm still kinda new at this

Review for me please!!!