A/N: Hey y'all! So sorry I couln't update sooner. I got grounded off the computer, and technically, I still am, but the AKC/Eukanuba Tournament of Champions was on, so my mom decided that I could get on if, and only if, I would enter her vote for fave dog in each of the seven classes.I stayed up later than I was allowed, but my dad is very lenient.Not as much action as I anticipated, but I think I did a pretty good job on this chapter. P.S. It has no name, so let me know if you have a name that would work out.

Chapter V: (no name)

It had been three weeks since the incident with Zhao and Katara's wrists were healing well. Repeatedly, Zuko checked his telescope, and yet, nothing in sight. Iroh was playing Pai Sho with Aang, and Sokka was always hanging with Onya. Shaiya was keeping herself busy doing numerous things.

Later that day, after Iroh's first loss to Aang, and at Pai Sho, he decided to let everyone know that that night was Music Night. Aang jumped at the chance to make a complete fool of himself, Sokka's eyes lit up, and Katara seemed to get happier. Zuko was, again, going to avoid it, and Shaiya and Onya were going to do some singing and dancing.

Zuko was in his room meditating when his uncle knocked on the door.

"Come in." he said coolly.

"Prince Zuko, you are going to be the only one not at Music Night again. Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"Yes, uncle, I'm sure. I am just going to meditate all evening." As Zuko finished his statement, the ship lurched, knocking Iroh to the ground and the candles Zuko was using to meditate in his lap, dropping hot wax on him.

"What the hell was that?" Zuko yelled. He knew it wasn't the Avatar's bison, because he wasn't big enough to cause that big a lurch on the ship, even though he was ten tons. It had happened once before, a year ago when Zhao rammed his ship into Zuko's, damaging it. It then donned on him. Zhao had yelled he would be back for the Avatar with backup. Zuko quickly threw his shirt on and rushed to the deck.

He made it just in time to see Zhao drag Katara onto his ship. He rushed at him, but didn't make it far. He remembered seeing a shadow pass one window on Zhao's ship, and then he felt a searing pain on the left side of his chest. He stayed conscious long enough to hear a girl's scream, and then he blacked out and fell to the floor.

Zuko awoke to five familiar faces around him. Iroh at the door with tea, Aang sitting in the corner examining something, Sokka sitting at the foot of the bed, Onya leaning on him, and Shaiya above him. Evidently, his head was in her lap and she was cleaning his wound.

"Sh - Shaiya?" he mumbled.

"Yeah, its me. You feeling any better?" she replied, setting the damp rag down in a bowl and shifting to help him sit up.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Well, Zhao came, for Katara apparently, and when she noticed him coming off the ship, she tried to do some seriously advanced waterbending move, but she didn't get too far. Her wrists still haven't healed yet, and Zhao knew it. He walked right up to her, grabbed her wrists, and drug her onto his ship. You made it out before I did, and Zhao had one of his YuuYan archers shoot you. He mustn't have wanted you dead. The arrow hit you directly between your left lung and heart. God, your lucky. Half a millimeter in any direction and you would've died. You should be okay now."

"Where's the girl? Did you get her?" he mumbled.

"No, we didn't have too clear a shot at Zhao. Sorry."

"Don't be." Zuko noticed Aang, still sitting in the corner, wipe his cheeks. Zuko knew why. That little boy was crushing on Katara, and Zuko agreed she was pretty, but he definitely thought Shaiya was better looking than her. Zuko attempted to get up, but dizziness overthrew him, and he fell into Shaiya's arms. He groaned, and Shaiya pushed him up, keeping a firm grip on his shoulders. He never noticed before, but she was just as tall, and strong, as he was.

"You bent and intent on going somewhere?" she asked.

"Just want to stretch my legs. Do you have to question everything I do?" he retorted.

"No, just thought I'd ask. Mind?"

"No, guess not. To the deck then?"

"Sure, to the deck." Shaiya loosened her grip on Zuko and led him out of the infirmary and onto the deck. As they reached the railing, Shaiya released her grip on him and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked quizzically at her, but she didn't notice. Zuko let his head fall on Shaiya's, and the two watched the sun set.

Iroh stepped out to the deck, only to see his nephew and his girlfriend (though Zuko hadn't admitted to it) standing together, merely watching the sunset. He decided to head below deck and leave the 'couple' alone.

The next day, Zuko had returned to full health and decided he needed to train. He tossed on his training clothes, ordered Lt. Jee to do the same, and the two trained for nearly an hour when Kagouya and Vei began throwing a fit in the livestock hold.

Onya and Shaiya ran out, still half asleep and in pajamas, to try to calm their beasts. Little did they know, Zuko was training on deck. The two girls ran right into him.

"What are you girls doing in . . . pajamas? It's mid morning." he asked.

"Shut up. Unless you want Kagouya or Vei to rip you to shreds, move." Shaiya yawned and hurriedly ducked below deck to calm and feed the ravaging animals.

When they returned to the deck, Zuko was still training, and they didn't even halt for the girls to pass unscathed.

After changing into some decent clothes, Shaiya decided she would teach Zuko a little lesson. There were two entrances to the livestock hold, and Shaiya used the roundabout way. She tacked Kagouya up, jumped on, and tore through the entrance on the deck, scaring the heck out of Zuko and Jee.

"What the fuck is your problem, Shaiya? Are you trying to give us a heart attack!" Zuko raged at his friend, who was circling him like a vulture.

"No, just figured I'd get back at you for trying to kill us earlier! Remember, during training, you and Jee wouldn't cease to let us pass untouched? Remember, Zukie?" Shaiya yelled as she flew in closer. She landed mere inches from Zuko, scaring the hell out of him again. She dismounted and glared at him, smiling evilly. Something she was really good at. The two stared at each other for a few minutes when Sokka came out.

"Hey, just when exactly are we gonna go try to rescue my sister!" he yelled in a rage.

"Settle down, Sokka. We're on course for Zhao's ship as we speak. Or at least Zuko's helmsman better not be as dumb as he is." Shaiya motioned at Zuko as she said that, Zuko's fists igniting in rage.

"Watch it. I can tell when you get stressed. Damn you look good when your stressed." Shaiya said. Zuko couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic. I really hope she's not being sarcastic. Wow, she's hot. Zuko thought, burning to say it all. Shaiya could detect a minor hint of confusion in his eyes.

About two hours later Zuko decided to rest for a little bit and have something to eat. Three hours of training will do that to a guy Shaiya had said as she saw him pass, sweating bullets. She had smiled so innocently, it was hard to believe that something that innocent could do so much damage. Zuko changed, showered, and headed down to the galley to snack on something. He met Shaiya and Onya down there. They were plotting ways to rescue Katara. He sat down opposite them and had some salmon brought in for him.

Katara had been thrown into one of Zhao's dirtiest prison cells, and not too gently either. It had been almost two days since she had been captured, and the only time she was allowed to see light was when a soldier brought her some food. She was lying down on the bottom of the two beds, and she jumped when the door was thrust open.

"My dear, I should like a word with you. In my quarters." Zhao hissed. He motioned for two soldiers to grab her and take her there. She knew what he wanted to do. He had probably been at sea for years, and hadn't seen a decent girl in all that time. She then remembered what her mother had said years before.

Firebenders aren't people. They're animals. They can smell fear. Never show your fear in front of a firebender. They'll just take advantage of you.

Those words kept ringing in her ears. She struggled and tried to get away, but it was no use. She was thrown into Zhao's quarters, and the door locked. Katara looked for a place to hide, but there wasn't a thing to hide behind. Then the handle rattled, and Zhao entered the room.

"Well, lets start off with introductions. You know who I am, right?" she nodded. "Good. Now, what's your name?"

"Katara." she answered, showing as little fear as she could. She shifted her weight uncomfortably when Zhao took a step toward her.

"Tense, are we? No need for that. Lets loosen things up a little, okay?" he hissed as he walked up to her and put his hands on her elbows. He jerked her close to him and began kissing her neck. She squirmed, but his grip was too firm and unmoving. His lips passed her ear, then her own lips, and then they reached the other side of her neck. She could've puked, had she anything to eat that morning. She was caught off-guard when Zhao threw her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her and continued his assault.

"Zuko! ZUKO! ZUKO!" Shaiya yelled as she ran up and down each hall. Zuko stuck his head out of his room, looking rather annoyed, but, with no shirt on, gorgeous nonetheless. Shaiya ran him down, landing on top of him, their faces only three inches apart.

"Yes?" he answered. She was panting, and barely managed to talk.

"Zhao… his ship…three…nautical miles…away…ten minutes…get ready." he pushed her up off of him, only to notice Onya smirking behind her. He nodded, trying to hold her still and keep her from shaking too violently, the running taking its toll on her.

"Maybe you should stay and relax just a little. The rest of us can handle him." she shook her head in disapproval at the idea, then let her head fall forward onto his chest. Onya smiled her I-told-you-so-and-here's-the-proof smile for just last night, she had told him that Shaiya was slowly but surely falling head over heels for him. She turned and walked to the deck.

Zuko couldn't possibly keep from hugging her now that the only eyes that would see him were hers. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders, the other he placed behind her head as he held her close. She returned the hug when she squeezed him gently around the base of his ribs, and then both let go sadly and slowly. Neither had to look up or down to see into the other's eyes, since both were the same height, and Zuko could see she had calmed down quite a lot. He smiled and turned to throw a shirt on.

Iroh's roar came from the deck. "PREPARE TO BOARD!" The entire crew was ready to board Zhao's ship, by force if necessary. They were just off shore of a small Earth nation village. The two ships pulled up side by side, and in unison all prepared to jump onto the huge fire nation ship. Two minutes had passed, and Sokka's nerves were mounting. Aang was ready, his staff in hand and his bison whistle tucked safely away in his shirt. Onya and Shaiya were atop their sujios, and Zuko was in front of the whole thing. At his command, the crew jumped on the ship as Onya and Shaiya took to the skies, their beautiful gold capes flowing wonderfully behind them. All split up in pairs, Sokka and Zuko, Aang and Iroh, etc. Another minute had passed when Zuko heard muffled screams to his left.

"This way." he whispered and both boys took off in the direction of the screaming Katara. Little did they know that she was in severe trouble.

"Hush now, you don't want anyone to hear you." Zhao whispered in her ear, the only thing left on her being her underwear and bra. He was working at her bra straps when the door flew open, revealing two very pissed teenage boys.

"GET YOURFAT ASSOFF MY SISTER!" Sokka yelled as he charged, boomerang readied over his shoulder. Zuko let fly as many fireballs and jets as he could. As soon as Sokka had Zhao off Katara, Zuko ran over to her and helped her up, trying to keep between her and the rogue flames Zhao was shooting at Sokka. In the corner by the bed lay her clothes.

"Sit." he commanded as he ran back to the corner to grab her clothes. He handed them to her as he blocked a huge fireball. Just as she took her clothes, Shaiya came in, brandishing a pair of beautiful Long Dao broadswords. She came at Zhao with a fury even Zuko didn't think she had. She was screaming cuss words, insults, and anything else that crossed her mind. A jet of fire raced toward Katara, but Zuko was too quick. In one sweeping motion, he had her on the ground and was between her and that blast in the blink of an eye. She was surprised at how graceful he was. And how warm his evenly tanned skin was. It must be a firebender thing, Zhao felt the same way. She thought.

Five seconds, or it seemed so, passed, and with the combined efforts of Sokka and Shaiya, Zhao was out cold on the floor. Katara had ceased her crying, and was leaning on Zuko resentfully. She would much rather be on Sokka's shoulder, but she didn't have to wait much longer. She ran to her brother, who immediately hugged her. Shaiya walked over to Zuko and wrapped her arm around his back. He returned the favor, remembering what Onya had told him. Both firebenders smiled as the reunion between the two siblings continued.

"We should get going. We are on a ship full of firebenders, Katara." Sokka told his sister, and the boys left so Katara could talk to Shaiya and dress.

"So, was Zuko just hot, or is really warm skin a trait of all firebenders?" Katara asked, breaking the silence between the two friends.

"It's a firebender trait." Shaiya replied as Katara pulled her belt around her and tied it. Both walked out of the room, leaving Zhao to die of frostbite for all they cared. Shaiya grabbed Zuko's hand and Katara Sokka's, and the four returned to Zuko's ship before any of the crew could wake up from the pummeling they received from Onya, Vei, and Kagouya.

A/N: Well, what did you guys think? Crappy, cool, ok? Please let me know! I still only have four reviews, three from the same reviewer! I just might dedicate a chapter to one of my reviewers! Ya never know! Though so far, the only ones I could dedicate to would be AirGirl Phantom, who has helped me become a much better writer, and Blossom of Death, whose lone review has given me a little shimmer of hope that others just might enjoy my work. I have gotten 135 hits, but only 4 reviews. Something's screwy. OK, the last person to review by my next update (whenever That'll be!)will get chapter 6 dedicated to them. And if you like this story, R&R so I'll continue it! Only one person so far wants me to, and I just might end up quitting fanfictioning altogether and offer to be her personal writing servant. And I know you people have certain words for things like that, but I'm still new, just remember. Now to see how many actually read the mui importante author notes!