Weeee! Yay! I'm back to my semi-usual update schedule! That's right! One a day! And I'm not talking about the vitamin pill!

Okay, yeah. I know. I'm weird. Whatever. BTW, although I mentioned some Tokka at the end of the last chapter, I might not pursue that pairing. I just wanted to torture Toph. Lol.

Toph: Hey! That's no fair! (Earthbends a rock out of the ground and throws it at me)

I don't own anything but the clothes on my back.

Ch15

Sokka was sitting on a rocky outcrop that jetted out into the ocean. He had been there for about ½ an hour trying to catch his lunch. No luck. Typical. How very typical. And sad. Sokka thought to himself as he sat there in the sun awaiting the one fish stupid enough to get close to his line.

Then, as if they appeared on command, a large school of fish came out of nowhere, their metallic looking scales shining through the clear ocean water as the sun reflected off of them. But still, not a single fish dared to move close to Sokka's bait. He gritted his teeth and his stomach began making it's "I'm hungry" noises.

Looking in the large pile of fishing equipment he brought with him, he found a small net he used back in the South Pole to catch fish while riding in his canoe. He lied down on his stomach and ever so carefully scooted closer to the water. The school of fish made one more pass and Sokka positioned the net above the water. His eyes followed his target, and he saw the group of fish turn around to follow the pull of the wave. They got closer and closer, slowly and agonizingly. Sokka's stomach continued to rumble.

Just a little closer… "NOW!" He yelled out, dropping his net into the water as the school made its pass. He closed his eyes, imagining the satisfaction eating his catch would bring licking his lips as he laughed a little. He pulled the net up out of the water.

Something's not right… Shouldn't the net be heavier? Knowing his luck, he didn't want to open his eyes and see what had happened, but the incessant rumbling of his stomach eventually forced him to. His eyelids slowly parted and his eyes refocused on the net.

"SEAWEED?" Sokka cried out to the sky after seeing the tangled mess of green plants in his net. The spirits hate me. The spirits hate me. The spirits hate me…

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Aang and Katara were just about ready to leave their camp and begin their search. Katara was kneeling by the river refilling her waterbending canteen incase they came across any angry wildlife. Aang was leaning against one of the palm trees surrounding their campsite, considering whether or not to take his glider.

We might need it incase any wild animals feel like attacking because we accidentally walked into their nest or something… But it's just extra baggage. Besides, if we need to defend ourselves, I've got the other elements, right? He glanced over at Katara, who was still kneeling by the small stream. And I don't want to accidentally lose it out there if I leave it on the ground if Katara and I get… distracted again. Aang smiled at his last though. And we most likely WILL get distracted again.

Aang laughed a little to himself. He never had any thoughts like these before he met Katara… And he was just glad that they were about Katara. His subconscious mind told his eyes to wander the way they had done the night before as she was sleeping, and his conscious mind didn't protest. He traced her figure slowly, admiring her every strand of her beautifully braided brown hair, every square inch of her darkened sun kissed skin, every curve on that gorgeously sculpted body.

Katara had finished at the stream and re-corked her canteen. (Ha-ha that rhymed!) She stood up and turned around to find Aang leaning against a palm tree and staring at her. (That didn't rhyme…) She moved closer and his gaze remained fixed on her, but it was as if he didn't know he was doing it. She got closer and cocked her head to the side, wondering just what Aang was staring at. She looked at his eyes and followed his gaze down to a certain part of her body, her chest in specific. Katara blushed a deep crimson red and then slapped his arm. His head jolted up to look at her face, hoping that she slapped him for a different reason than the one he was thinking about.

"It's not polite to stare, you know. Especially there." Katara was still blushing rather heavily. She was trying to force herself into sounding angry at him, but all she could muster was flattered. And embarrassed.

Crap… "Oh, I was staring?" Aang began to blush just as heavily as Katara was, ashamed of what she saw him doing.

"You've pulled that line on me before. And, yes, you were staring." Katara was still trying to sound angry but it just wasn't working. Her mind had reasoning of its own. You shouldn't be angry. If anything, him staring should be a compliment. He's been around the whole world, seen cities full of other women, and he chooses to stare at you. Lucky girl…

Aang saw a possible escape route. "You remember the first time I said that?"

"Yes, of course I do. And don't change the subject." Katara was looking at Aang's obviously ashamed and embarrassed face. She wondered whether or not someone had ever given him 'the talk'. "It's okay, Aang. It's just… You do know why you act like that, right? You know… staring, kissing, blushing… that kind of thing."

Aang looked confused. "Uhhh… Because you're beautiful and I love you?"

Katara blushed again and smiled. "That's not exactly what I was trying to get at, but thanks for the compliment. I mean, has anyone ever explained… growing up to you?"

Aang blankly stared at her.

"Ummm, 'the birds and the bees'…" Katara tried to get Aang to recognize one of the many expressions used for 'the talk'.

Aang's eyes widened and his face looked pale. "Ohh, you mean that… Yeah, I know about that. And I don't need to hear it again."

Now Katara looked confused. "Really? The monks taught you about that? I thought that it was against the rules."

Aang shook his head. "Not the monks. Bumi's dad. Back before I got stuck in the iceberg."

"Bumi's dad?"

"Yeah. It was kind of embarrassing… Bumi and I were playing around outside the palace in Omashu when this girl asked to play with us. I said yes and we played around, but Bumi wouldn't stop blushing and fidgeting around her. His dad must have seen him because after we finished, he gave him the talk. He gave both of us the talk."

"Why you?" Katara asked, wondering what kind of person gives some kid he barely knows 'the talk'.

Aang shrugged in an I don't know fashion, and began walking out towards the trees with Katara to begin there search. "Bumi is weird. Imagine how weird his dad must have been. Then it just doesn't seem that odd." Aang explained to her as he walked and talked.

"That makes sense, I guess…" It's still really weird.

"So, uhhh, you're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry? It's not your fault that your hormones have kicked in. Just do it a little more discreetly…" She took his hand and laced her fingers in between his. "Like when I'm not staring right at you!" She added with a mock angry voice and a laugh.

Aang smiled at her and raised her hand up to his face to kiss it.

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Sokka was still lying on the edge of the rocks, hovering over the water trying to catch his meal. Every single item in his fish catching arsenal had failed miserably and he resorted to grabbing fish with his bare hands. The large school of fish still swam nearby, but just out of reach of Sokka's grasp. Every so often a fish would stray from the group and get closer to him, only to have Sokka grab at nothing but water. The fish seemed to be playing a game of 'cat and mouse', each taking their turn at escaping from Sokka. Except in this case it was more like a game of 'hungry moron and fish'.

Sokka seemed to notice the occasional fish pass closer to him. "They're taunting me…" Sokka mumbled through his gritted teeth. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the bright shimmer of sunlight reflecting off of a fishes scales. But this time, it wasn't one fish. It wasn't even two. A small group of 5 or 6 fish were headed in Sokka's direction. His eyes widened and his mouth watered.

His head swiveled to follow the movements of his prey. They slowly got closer and closer… and closer… and closer… then they were all right under Sokka's nose, and the most unbelievable thing happened. The small group stopped swimming around right under him. He positioned his hands right above the water and hesitated. He took a deep breath and plunged his arms into the water. He didn't touch anything. He actually missed the group of fish by a few inches. He grunted in frustration. Slowly, he moved his hand closer to the fish, and the group stayed where it was. Sokka's hand was less than an inch away now and the fish remained. He grinned. He would surely get it this time.

"That's it. I've got you now…" He whispered manically. Then he suddenly swept his hand at the group of fish and quickly grasped his hand. He began laughing like an idiot at the taunting fishes' fate. He pulled it out of the water. But it didn't seem like a fish. It wasn't flopping around. And it was squishier…

"A SEA SPONGE?"

Ha-Ha! I like Sokka bashing. He has the perfect personality to have bad things happen to him.

Rest in Peace, Mako Iwamatsu (Voice Actor for Uncle Iroh)