Chapter 3

Enemies become Allies

Katara couldnt help but smile from ear to ear, she was very pleased with herself, she had gotten not just one firebender to teach Aang but she got two. But she couldn't help but notice that when she got really close to Zuko he froze. She smiled to herself, did I make him freeze, he was kinda cute…when he was all speechless and dazed. She turned around and saw Zuko and his Uncle trailing behind her.

"Are you sure you want to do this Zuko?" Iroh asked eyeing his nephew. It's not that he thought helping the Avatar was a bad idea, it's just he wanted to make sure that Zuko had thought this through. Zuko looked at the ground, then at his uncle and then at Katara who was a little ways in front of them. He had told her that he would train the Avatar, and for some reason he couldn't even think about letting her down. There was something about her that enticed him. Like when she got really close to him back on the beach, he burned for her...did she know what she did to him? He couldn't help but say yes when she asked.

"I'm sure Uncle." Zuko answered, his gaze never leaving Katara. Who just happened to turn around and find him staring at her.

"Are you ok Zuko?" she asked. He nodded his head and glanced to his uncle who just happened to me chuckling at the fact that he had just gotten caught staring at Katara. He wanted to smack that grin off his uncle's face. "okkk. Good. Well anyways don't expect a warm welcoming. Sokka's not going to trust you two at first." The two firebenders nodded in agreement.

As the neared the house, they saw Toph teaching Aang a new earthbending move, while Sokka was sitting relaxing and eating…as uaul. Hearing people approaching Sokka turned around and his eyes grew as wide as dinner plates.

"KATARA!! Watch out! Zuko's behind you!" Sokka yelled readying his boomerang.

"Wait! Wait Sokka!" Katara darted out in front of Zuko and Iroh. "They're friends now." Toph and Aang stopped the lesson and walked up behind Sokka.

"Are you sure Katara? This seems kind of fishy to me?" Aang inquired.

"Yeah, I'm with twinkle toes over here." Toph said giving Aang a slight punch on the arm. Aang winched and rubbed his arm where Toph had hit him.

"I don't know Katara…" Sokka said skeptically looking Prince Zuko and Iroh over.

"I assure you young man, we have turned over a new leaf. To our own nation we are considered banashed traitors. We have been in Ba Shing Se for awhile now. We are here to help the Avatar. We are no longer your enemy, now we are your allies, here to help and help alone. " Iroh said assuringly. Toph bent down to ground "He's telling the truth" she said.

"Well that's good enough for me. I most humbly thank you." Aang said giving a slight bow. Aang's eyes lit up with excitement "Can we start now?" he asked jumping into the air.

"Of course my young pupil." Iroh laughed gently at Aang's enthusiasm. "But first we must meditate. Meditation is key in firebending, it helps regulate your breaths and control yourself. Firebending is very powerful but dangerous. A Firebender must learn to emulate the sun's balance before they are allowed to progress to the creation and manipulation of fire. Firebending features quick, successive, ferocious attacks that evoke the danger of fire" Iroh said making sure his new pupil understood fulling what he was going to be doing. Zuko and Iroh began to set up candles around Aang's room. "O my I have forgotten one outside on the porch. Prince Zuko go out and fetch it for me." Zuko rolled his eyes, annoyed by his Uncle's forgetfulness.

Zuko walked out of the house and began looking for the candle. He bent down to look under the bench. "Not here…ughh" he mumbled to himself. "What'cha doing?" a sweet meldious voice behind him asked. Surprising him, he quickly jumped up and hit his head on the bench. Which unfortunately knocked him out. "Oops" mumbled Katara.

"hmm….oww" Zuko began to stir an hour or so later. "what the hell happ…" he was cut off by a small, soft finger placed on his lips. His vision came into focus and he saw Katara's face. His head was propped up on her lap and she had a cool towel over his head.

"Shh. You hit you're head. Sorry that was kind of my fault. I'm afraid I startled you." She explained blushing. She's so cute when she blushes…what am I thinking…but her hands are so soft. Zuko let his thoughts drift as he examined her face. She had taken her braids out so her beautiful brown hair cascaded down her back landing around her waist. Her crystal blue eyes gleamed down at him, shining with concern. Instinctively he reached up and grabbed her hand, softly caressing them. She stopped what she was doing and looked down at him. Her eyes grew wide with surprise. Zuko brought his head up to meet hers, feeling himself getting nearer to her face. Their eyes were locked on each other's, her sparkling cerulean blue meeting his passionate and fiery gold. As he leaned in closer he took in her sent, vanilla and lilacs. His face stopped moving, pausing a moment to memorize every, line and contour of her face.

"Zuko…" Katara mumbled.

"Katara…I…" Zuko slowly reached up to her face and stroked his thumb up and down her cheek. He leaned in closer, shutting his eyes slowly.

"Prince Zuko did you find those candl…" Iroh came out of the house looking for Zuko. "O umm…sorry I'll just…umm I'll be inside." He said rather quickly with a knowing sly grin on his face. Zuko sighed, leaned away from Katara, and got up. Deciding the moment was pretty much ruined. "Umm I should go back and help Uncle and the Avatar." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"O yeah sure, I'll umm…see you later?" Katara asked hopefully. Zuko nodded and gave her a sort of half smile and walked back in the house.

Zuko felt anger rising inside of him, he snorted steam out of his nose. "Thanks a lot Uncle." He murmured to himself.