Chapter 6: Affections

"And, that's basically what happened… so, no hard feelings, right?"

Sokka was doing his best to explain Katara's case of amnesia to a very embarrassed Haru. It was a few moments after Haru announced how Katara saved the village. Naturally, she had no idea what he was talking about, and accidentally insulted him.

"Of course not Sokka, it was all just a misunderstanding. I probably would have done the same thing."

'That's a relief. Haru sure does seem to be taking this well… he must really like Katara… Damn it!' It seemed that Sokka's fears of Haru still liking his sister were realized. 'You better pour on the charm, Aang, or else Katara is gonna be Haru's girlfriend instead of yours!' Sokka mentally scolded his friend. It wasn't that Sokka didn't like Haru; it was more that Sokka didn't like the fact that Haru liked his baby sister. If his sister had to be with anyone, he would want it to be with Aang, the timid monk. Plus Aang was his friend, and he wanted him to be happy. And he was a monk.

Sokka let out a long sigh. At the moment he and Haru were on hillside, away from the commotion of the festival. Sokka decided it would be best if he told Haru why Katara didn't remember him, while Aang told Katara how she saved the village. And Toph would… well; actually, he wasn't even sure where Toph was at the moment, much less what she as doing.

Sokka allowed his eyes to shift from the boy sitting next to him to the bright moon above them. Even with all of the lanterns hung around the town, the moon stood out as bright as ever against the dark night sky.

'Did you see what happened down there Yue? Well, of course you did, you see everything… what a stupid question… but anyway, it was hilarious. I know it shouldn't be funny, but I can't help but laugh when I think about it! Man the look on Katara's face! And poor Aang, he looked like he was about to explode when Haru grabbed Katara like that. I'm surprised he didn't glow it up all over that pretty boy, and show him Katara was his property. Well, actually Yue, I guess Katara is my property, at least for now, since I'm her older brother. But, I'm getting off subject again. "Man, you must think I'm so stupid sometimes."

"Why"

Sokka was snapped out of his trance at Haru's question.

"Wha- how did you, huh?"

Haru stared at Sokka as if he had grown another head. "You said that I think you're stupid, but why would I?"

Sokka became very embarrassed when he realized what was going on. He was so caught up in talking to Yue, that he didn't even notice when he said the last part out loud. How on earth was he supposed to recover from this one?

"Um, well, I kinda wasn't talking to you"

Haru only became more perplexed. "Then, who were you talking to?"

"The moon"

The explanation was correct, but Sokka wasn't the one who had said it. Both boys whipped around to see a small earth bender crawl out of the bushes and dusted herself off. Then she walked back over to them, head held high almost as if she hadn't been eavesdropping on them moments before.

"He does it all the time." Toph paused, then sat down next to Haru and gave a shrug. "Must be a water tribe thing."

"Oh, that makes sense, isn't there a moon spirit that watches over them. Yeah, I remember now." Haru offered a smile, before remembering Sokka telling him about the girl's blindness.

"So, I hear you can see with earth bending, huh? That's pretty cool."

Sokka just sat there gaping. Toph had been watching them this whole time, and now Haru was striking up pleasant conversation with her! After calming down a bit (and closing his mouth) Sokka decided he couldn't blame the poor girl. I mean, it was pretty obvious that she had a crush on him (we're not talking Aang and Katara obvious, but obvious none the less.) But when it came down to it, Sokka couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the girl, after all, he didn't feel the same way. But she didn't know that.

What if Toph thought he liked her! What if she asked him to dance with her at the festival! That would be terrible, he couldn't turn her down. Right then and there Sokka knew that he had to make a quick getaway, but before he could make his move he noticed Toph was walking off… and talking with Haru. It even looked like she was flirting with the pretty boy.

Just like she used to do with him.

Even though it would appear that Sokka's problems were over, he could tell by the rush of jealousy he got by seeing Toph with another guy that they were just beginning.

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"Are you sure it was me who did all of that?"

Aang couldn't help but smile at Katara's amazed expression. When she faked earth bending to find Haru was pretty amazing though. I mean, she got herself arrested all so she could save some boy. Some damn lucky boy.

"Yup, definitely you"

The two continued walking down the moonlit path, until they came to the edge of a very large forest. Now that Aang was finished with his explanation of who Haru was, and why it was Katara was so famous here, they decided that it would be a good idea to head back. That and the fact that the large forest seemed much creepier in the night.

As they started the hike back to town Katara shook her head in disbelief.

"Man, future me is pretty crazy, huh?"

Aside from a small chuckle on Aang's part, the two walked back to town in silence, each dreaming of what this night had in store for them. Once they arrived back in the midst of the festival people bombarded them for a chance to talk with the brave Katara.

"Finally, a place where I'm more popular than you."

Aang simply smiled in return, and then whispered to himself "You deserve it, Katara." He watched as her face lit up when the sound of music grew louder. She eyed him suspiciously, and kept glancing over at the dance floor. A plan formed in the young monks mind, but before he could do anything Katara had held her hand out to him

"So… do you wanna dance?"

Haru was stunned. He looked down at the small girl standing next to him, and then looked around himself in all directions, to see if she could possibly be asking anyone else.

"I said, do you wanna dance, and yes, I'm talking to you."

For once in his life, Haru had no idea what to say. He could tell that this girl was bold, she was an earth bender after all, and he searched for the right words to turn her down as kindly as possible.

"Well, you see… there is kind of this other person and-"

Haru was cut off by a pair of sightless milky green eyes staring into his own. "Lemme guess, this other person," She paused, and let out a long sigh before continuing. "They're water tribe, aren't they?"

"Yes, but how did you-"

"Lucky guess."

And with that she turned and shuffled away, the same words playing over and over in her mind. 'Damn it, Katara! Why do have to be so pretty! Damn it damn it damn it…'

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That night the group retreated back to their barn utterly exhausted. Toph was sulking over her rejectment, Sokka was plotting ways to rip Haru's head off, and Aang was fuming. Katara had asked him to dance! It was everything he could have ever wished for, after this most stressful day, yet it seemed the spirits couldn't even grant him that. Right before he was going to accept Sokka came barging through the festival, revenge clearly written on his face. Aang wasn't sure why Sokka wanted revenge, but they would deal with that in the morning.

He and Katara knew it was their job to see that Sokka didn't hurt anyone, and instead of the perfect evening spent dancing with the love of his life, Aang and Katara spent the remainder of the festival chasing Sokka around and tying to insure he wouldn't do something stupid.

Toph was more than upset. She was miserable. Words couldn't explain how embarrassed she felt at the moment. She had to do something to keep her mind off the frustrating events of the evening, so she focused on spreading her sour mood. As the saying goes, misery loves company, right?

Picking up her pace a bit, Toph caught up to Aang. She leaned in closely so he was the only one who could hear her.

"Hey, you better keep a close watch on Sugar Queen over there. It seems as though Haru's got hi eye on the prize as well."

That was it! Haru liked Katara! How was Aang supposed to compete with Haru! He was screwed.

Katara looked up from her close eye on Sokka to see Toph lean in closely to Aang. Despite what Sokka had told her, visions of Toph and Aang began to swim around in Katara's mind. That was it! What if Toph liked Aang! There was no way he would choose a water peasant over Toph and her rich family! Katara was screwed.

The moon watched the four tired teens from its high perch among the stars. Yue knew she had held onto Sokka for too long, and it was time to set him free. She had plagued him with guilt when he saw Suki because she wasn't right for him, but now that he was realizing his feelings for Toph, it was time for her to let him go.

But oh, that wasn't the only problem Yue was facing. Haru seemed to be tearing apart the gaang's friendship. Sokka wanted to kill him for walking with Toph, Aang wanted to kill him because Toph said he liked Katara, and then Katara was heartbroken because she thought Toph and Aang liked each other. How could the moon spirit let things get so tangled!

And even though she knows it shouldn't be funny, sometimes she can't help but laugh.

Note: Yay! Done with the 6th chapter. I do most of this from Aang's point of view, so I think in the next chapter I'll do thing's from Katara's point of view. Please check out my other fic, the Fravatar: Drabbles if you don't mind. Comment please!