Okay I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It's kinda short...but I think it came out pretty good...A lot of betrayal in this chapter...well R&R ENJOY!!

chapter eight

Alone

Katara let go and backed up. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that." She said and started toward the door. Reality really hit her during that kiss. This whole year her and Sokka have just been sitting around in a cell, and now they're skipping down the Fire Palace halls like little children in a festival.

"Aang." she breathed and turned around toward Zuko. He smiled a little at her and started toward her. "It's okay Katara, It's not wrong what we are doing." he said reassuringly.She frowned and flung her hand at his face. He staggered back from the impact and touched his cheek.

She guided a string of water out of a vase of roses and got into a fighting stance. "You bastard." she spat. "This whole time, you were...using me as a decoy as Ozia finished this war. And...and I actually thought..." she closed her eyes and opened them to slits. "I'll kill you! You used me!"

Zuko stood up straight and lit his palms. "You really want to toy with me Katara? I have an unlimited amount of fire, while you only have that slice." Katara scowled at him and froze it into a dagger. "This 'little slice' is all I need to kick your..." She was cut off as Zuko hit her in the stomach with his fists.

She collapsed on the floor and looked at him. "I'm going to kill you if it's the last thing I do Zuko..." He put a finger to her finger and cradled her head on his chest. "Just listen to me, all you said was not true. How about you forget about...killing me and go to the ball with me." Katara tried pathetically to get out of his embrace and spat. "I would rather marry Admiral Zhoa."

He frowned and looked at the vase of roses that Katara had gotten the water from. "If that is really how you feel. I was going to make a proposition with you about the avatar...but since you want to kill me so much...go on." he spread his arms out, his chest wide open. "I'm open, hit me with your best shot."

She stared at his chest and looked at his face. "You bastard, so this is your plan, led me into another one of your pathetic tricks, believe me it won't work this time." He looked at her and gave a wiry smile. "From the begging I knew my father was making a mistake. You know my mother told me to not get involved in this war as much as I possibly can..." He looked around and caught her eyes. "She wanted me to help the avatar if I ever ran into him. But I guess I wanted my father's love and honor more than I wanted to betray my country.So how about we make a truths and just forget everything that has happened, this silly little fight."

She shook her head and screamed thrusting her hand forward toward his chest with the ice dagger...

Sokka and Destiney walked down the hallway side by side. "So how did you like the garden?" Sokka smiled at her and laughed. "I loved it a lot, I haven't had fun like this since I was with Aang..." he trailed off and stopped. 'Aang, I forgot about him.'

"Destiney, what do you know about the avatar?" She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Why?" he frowned at her and looked around. He grabbed a sword off the mantel display and put it to her throat. "You! Where is Katara for real? I know she couldn't be looking at dresses. And I know you've been distracting me haven't you? This was all one of yours and Zuko's plan to get our trust so you could...kill Aang isn't it so we can't help him!"

Destiney pushed away the sword, but Sokka held a firm grip. She put her hands up and did a funny laugh. "Sokka...what are you talking about? Of course I wasn't decoying you. And yes Katara is looking at dressed with Zuko just a couple of doors down..." she was cut off by a loud scream coming from a couple of doors away.

"Katara!" Sokka yelled and ran toward the scream. He threw open the door and ran in. "Katara!" he yelled. He looked over to two bodies. Zuko was holding Katara in his arms a frown on his face. He looked at Sokka and stood up, bringing a limp form of Katara with him. Destiney ran in and gasped, falling onto the side of the door.

"Zuko what did you do to my sister?" Sokka screamed and charged toward Zuko. He threw Katara's body on the bed and shot a stream of fire at Sokka. It knocked the sword out of Sokka's hand and he fell to the floor holding his hand. He looked at Sokka. Sokka looked up at him, his teeth showing. "I'm going to kill you!" He snarled.

Zuko walked up to him and hit him over the head. Knocking him unconscious. He looked at Destiney and sighed. "What have you done Zuko?" He scowled at her. "Katara was going to kill me, I had to do something quick. So before she dug that ice dagger of hers into my chest I hit her over the head with my sword handle. That's all."

She nodded, and rubbed her temples. "What are we going to do know?" He looked at her and smiled and little. "Um...get some guards to put them back into their cells.

"Aang I need you to promise me, when and if you stop Ozia, get far away from here." Aang looked at him surprised and nodded. "Sokka, Katara and me will all go back to the South Pole." Iroh shook his head. "I am sorry but Katara and Sokka will be staying here. They have...business they must apply to." Aang stared at him wide eyed and frowned. "No, they are going with me, and I know that is what they want too."

Iroh sighed and nodded. "I know but, well they have been comfortable here, Sokka has been with Destiney and Katara has been with Zuko for a while now, and I think they like where they are right now." Aang shook his head and sluggishly walked backwards into the shadows again. "That is all Iroh, you can go know." Iroh sighed and nodded. "Very well." He said and walked down the hall.

"Let go of me!" Iroh frowned and looked down the next hall. He rubbed his forehead and grunted. Coming down the hallway was no other than Sokka and Katara fighting for their freedom. Iroh walked toward them and raised a hand. The guards stopped, but kept a firm hand on their arms. "Did you upset Prince Zuko or something?" He said with a giggle.

Katara frowned and tried kicking the man. "You had something to do with this too didn't you!" she spat. He raised an eyebrow and his face set into a serious expression. "What do you mean my dear?" Katara spit out a laughed and eyed the man from head to toe. "You Zuko and Destiney were trying to make us forget about Aang and let Ozia finish this war once and for all weren't you? You were the one who made him act so loving around me when really he's a bratty bastard!"

Iroh coiled back and stared to play with his beard. "I don't understand what you are talking about, but no I had nothing to do with this. So what did you do to upset him so?"

Sokka frowned and looked at Katara's form. "Ya Katara, what did you do? I thought you were dead when I ran into the room." Katara frowned and looked at her brother. "Me and Zuko were in a fight when he hit me in the stomach. Than he was telling me that he had a proposition for me, he said he would let me see Aang if I went to the ball with him and forget any of this had happened."

Iroh nodded and looked at the guards. "Report them to their cells, I'm going to have a talk with Prince Zuko." He said and started up the stairs. Katara looked up toward his disappearing form and felt tears pricking at the back of her eyes. 'I'm sorry everybody.'

EMO Katara and Sokka in this chapter don't you think??!!!Oh well I liked the chapter. Hope you guys did too. Like I said a lot of betrayal in this chapter kinda...well R&R

Z-F