Hi everyone! I decided to make this a full story! My friend gave me some ideas, and well I think I am going to use them, so I hope you enjoy it! Please read and review!! And thanks to Dragon Jadefire, Bauer1102, and TeenAnimeOtaku, for reviewing!
'So did you two find Zuko and Katara?' asked Toph, as Sokka walked into the library forlorn.
'Yeah, we did but I think they might be awhile.' answered Aang, as he sank down into a chair.
'What is wrong with you two?' asked Toph, sensing that both of them were a little upset over something, 'Are they fighting again? Sparing? What?'. Hearing quietness in return to her question, and automatically thinking the worst for Katara she asked some more questions, 'Did Zuko kill Katara? Or vice-versa? Or did Iroh die? Or someone else?'.
'No, but someone is going to if they lay one more-' started Sokka before he was interupted by Aang, 'Sokka why must you think the worst of him? If Katara can trust him, then we can too. Besides, I don't think the Fire Nation would appreciate you killing a good Fire Lord, especailly after Ozai, Azulon, and Solzin.' his eyes looked up to Toph then to Sokka, with a determind look on his face. Sokka said nothing to this and picked up the nearest book, and found interest in it.
'So, Sugar Queen has a boyfriend does she?' asked Toph, with a large smirk, knowing Sokka would not like that idea.
Sokka only glared at Toph, and well if looks could kill Toph would have died about a thousand times or more. Noticing the tension between Sokka and Toph, Aang decided that right then was a good time to review some earthbending moves. 'So, Toph would you like to spar? I'll use only earthbending, promise!' said Aang.
Toph shook her head, deciding that annoying Sokka would be more fun so she replied simply, 'No thanks Twinkle Toes, I think I'l stay here with Sokka, and well you know, just read a book or two.'
'Alright- wait!' then deciding against saying anything, and not wanting to be in the library when Sokka killed Toph, or vice-versa, Aang got up and left the library to check on Appa, even if it was going to be getting dark soon, but at least he was a firebender right?
'Make sure that both my komodo rhino is ready an hour after sunset' said Zuko firmly to the stable hand, 'and that an extra one is also prepared, just in case I need it.'
The stable hand said nothing, and only bowed his head and went towards the kmodo rhinos.
'Zuko?' asked a mild voice coming from the avatar, who was standing in the doorway.
'Hello Aang, I didn't expect to see you here at this time of day.' Zuko paused, resisting the urge to question the avatar, 'Are you trying to find Appa?'
'Yeah, I just want to make sure he is doing ok.' said Aang taking a few steps forward and was about to turn a corner but stopped, 'I'm going in the right direction right? Or is he on the other side of the stable?'. The Fire Lord only shook his head yes, and heard Aang mutter an 'Ok', in response. Zuko waited until Aang was out of sight before he left the stable to go check on his other guests, especailly one in particular.
Katara sat in a chair that was near the window in the guest bedroom, and let out a soft sigh. She let her hand travel up to her lips, as she thought about the kiss she had shared with Zuko, earlier that day. 'I wonder what would have happend if Sokka and Aang had seen us...' thought Katara silently, not hearing the knock on the door, 'Or what if Iroh told them? What will Sokka do to Zuko if he finds out?'. This time Katara heard the knock on the door and stood up and answered the door, glad to see Zuko there, instead of her brother or Aang.
'Hello Zuko, what do you need?' asked Katara, barely raising an eyebrow.
'To ask if you would accompony me on a ride to the beach, in a few minutes.' stated Zuko simply, as he looked into her eyes for the second time that day.
Katara had a puzzled look on her face but replied positive to what Zuko had asked, 'I would be honored, to but isn't it a little late to do so?'
A smile went onto Zuko's face and Katara felt a soft blush working its way onto her cheeks. 'Well, you are a waterbender are you not? So I thought you would enjoy seeing the moon and stars and being surrounded by your element, but if you don't want to-' Katara cut him off and quickly said, 'Alright, I'll go, and well I am ready now if you would like to go right now.' she took a step out and into the hallway and shut the door to the bedroom.
'Well then follow me.' said Zuko, taking ahold of her hand and leading her to the stable, where two komodo rhinos were waiting for them.
Aang woke with a start, finding himself laying on Appa's tail and that two people had come into the stable. He stood up and peeked his head out into the aisle. It took him a minute to spot a tall person who was standing behind a shorter person, well not that much shorter. Aang walked a little closer until he could see clearly that it was the young Fire Lord and Katara. He held back a sigh as he saw Zuko lead out two komodo rhinos.As Aang watched this, he tried to remember the Guru's words and kept repeating them in his head, as he walked back to Appa's stall, content to stay there until the pair had left.
'Zuko, I think there is, well um...a problem. You see, well, I...uh don't know how to ride a komodo rhino, I mean the only things I have ridden is Appa and a penguin every now and then...and well other than that I have never ridden anything else...' Katara felt like the blush on her cheeks was going to be there permentaly as she looked at Zuko, as he tried to help her get up into the saddle.
A smirk was on Zuko's face as he listened to her talk. 'Well, then what do you think we should do? Walk for an hour?' asked Zuko, admiring the blush on her cheeks.
'Well, no...I really don't know...what do you suggest we do then?' asked a slightly questioning Katara, as she looked back up to his handsome face.
'There are a few things that I can think of. The first one you don't seem to want to walk for an hour or more. My second idea you probaly won't like either,' said Zuko pausing, watching her rais an eyebrow and stare at him for a second, 'and that idea is that you ride with me on my rhino. Then, my third idea is that we can walk back to the palace, and walk to the beach in the morning.'
Katara held her questioning gaze for a moment and let out a soft sigh. 'I think I like your second idea, since if you are going to try and pull anything I'll have more advantages on my side than you would if we went in the morning.'
Zuko only shook his head, 'You only expect the worst from me don't you?', he asked as he put the other rhino back into it's stall and helped Katara climb onto his.
'Of course, I wouldn't be a master waterbender, if I didn't look at every outcome of a senario, now would I?' she asked with a grin on her face and looked down at Zuko.
Zuko mounted his rhino, sitting in front of Katara and rolled his eyes, knowing that she wouldn't see him, and only spoke two words, 'Hold on.' Which had Katara confused, 'Zuko? What do you mean? Zuko?' she asked her voice becoming vibrant, making her put both of her arms around Zuko's waist as the rhino took off at a canter. Zuko rolled his eyes once more as Katara nearly shouted, 'That wasn't funny, Zuko!'.
'Toph get back here!' shouted Sokka as he chased Toph around the palace.
'Why? Then you will only try and keep me from telling the truth! Besides, its not like you can catch me anyways.' shouted Toph as she made a sharp turn and flew down the stairs.
'That's not what I was going to do at all, I just want to to test out my boomerang and make sure it still works!' shouted Sokka, as he stopped for a second as he noticed his boomerang was gone, 'And to get my boomerang back!'
Toph only let out a loud laugh and continued to run, forgetting to pay attention to where she was going, other than avoiding the walls, she didn't sense Aang come around the next corner and get in her way. This caused them both to fall to the ground and that moment's faulter, was enough time for Sokka to catch up to Toph.
'Finally! Hey Aang would you mind holding Toph for a second, while I make sure my boomerang works, sitll?' asked Sokka, as innocently as he could.
'Sokka, you aren't a little kid any more, so think of a more responsible way to control your anger.' said Aang calmly, as he stood up, causing Toph to voice her agreement with him and causing Sokka to glare at her again., 'Now, what are you two fighting over now?'.
'She stole my boomerang and won't give it back!' complained Sokka, sounding like a five year old and not the seventeen year old he was, 'Plus, she keeps saying lies about Katara and Zuko! Like that they are dating and that they are falling in love with each other!'
Aang let out a laugh at that idea, 'Well it's true!' said Toph, frustrated that neither of them would take her seriously, 'Besides, why are you listening to me Sokka, unless some where deep down you know I am right and you are only trying to keep from hearing the truth?'
'That's it!' shouted Sokka as he almost lunged at Toph, but Aang stopped him, 'What are you doing?'
'You two need to settle this in a more mature manner! Vilolence will solve nothing and angry words won't help either! Now, I think it would be best if we all got some sleep, besides we are here to relax for awhile, not fight.' said Aang softly, looking from Toph to Sokka.
'I guess you are right, I'll see you in the morning Twinkle Toes. Good night.' said Toph heading back in the way she came, and soon an angry Sokka followed suit and so did Aang.
As Zuko and Katara grew closer to the beach, Zuko slowed the rhino down to a walk, but Katara kept a tight grip around his waist, thinking that he would do something like what he did earlier. As if he could read her mind the firebender spoke, 'I won't do that again, well without warning you first, promise.'
Katara loosened her grip a little but still leaned against Zuko's back. It was nice and warm, and she was able to rest her head on his shoulder, so she was comfortable, well for a minute. When the rhino reached the sand, Zuko dismounted and tied the rhino to a hitching post, that marked the end of the trail, and then helped Katara dismount. There was an ackward silence between the two for a few moments, until they reached the water. Seeing the water Katara, on the spur of the moment, bended some of the water and splashed, a very surprised, Zuko. 'No fair!' said Zuko, vibrantly, taking a step closer towards the water.
'Well, as you have pointed out, many times in the past, I am a waterbender, after all. It's not my fault you are a firebender, there for it is fair.' said Katara, with a smile on her face, and her bright azure eyes shining and looking mirthful.
'True, I guess you have a point there, but you left out the part about how firebenders are better than waterbenders.' said Zuko, with a knowing smirk that made Katara angry that he had just called her weak.
'It seems you have forgotten that I am a waterbending master, actually a waterbending prodigy, to be exact!' said Katara, with pride as she stood on her toes, and pointing her finger at him, waiting for him to challenge her.
'Are you challenging me, peasent?' asked Zuko, saying the last word as if it was posion and looking down at her, staring into her eyes.
'Of course.' said Katara, and water whipped Zuko.
Not seeing the water whip coming, the young Fire Lord took a few steps back when it hit him, and then regained his concentration and threw some fire balls at her. Each time though Katara was able to block each one, and able to get in a few more water whips, some of which did hit the target. Katara then made a large, cylinder, of ice, that came up to her waist and threw some ice disks at Zuko. (A/N-Like what she did in the North Pole, while fighting with Master Pakku. That's where I am getting a lot of ideas for this fight scene.) Zuko made a large wall of flames, and each of the disks missed him. Then he made a whirlpool of fire that surrounded, Katara and him.
Katara tried to bend some water over the fire, or even under it, but Zuko would adjust the circle of flames to block each attempt and have the water turn into steam. Katara growled in frustration and this only caused a smirk to cross Zuko's face. 'You know that you have a bunch of advantages in this little fight, and yet they don't seem to be helping you, now do they Katara?' he asked in a teasing tone. Zuko made the whirlpool of fire smaller, and smaller, forcing Katara closer to him. Then, she did the unexpected, she had concentrated, enough that she had summoned a wave of water large enough, to make the whirlpool of fire turn into steam, as it crashed down onto it.She then hit him with a rather large water whip.
Then, mimicked Zuko's last move, and had a whirlpool of water around both of them. She made it smaller and stopped when he was a foot in front of her. Not wanting to lose the fight, Zuko decided to try and distract her. He then grabbed both of her wrists, and pulled her closer to him, and she let out a 'yelp' of surprise. He then kissed her, somewhat harshly, but Katara didn't mind, it felt right to be in his arms, kissing him, even if a moment ago they had been fighting. Then, Zuko quickly was able to lay her on the ground and get her into a position that she could not escape from, and Katara didn't notice until her back touched the ground. He then broke the kiss and leaned down to whisper in her ear, with a smirk, 'I think I win, don't you?'.
Katara growled in frustration, that he had gotten the better of her, and had ended up wining. 'But not fairly, you disracted me.' said Katara, now glaring at Zuko, and wanting badly to wipe that smirk off of his face.
'Distractions happen, it's apart of life.' he said softly, getting off of her, and sitting down next to her. She then followed suit, and sat down next to him. They both sat there for a moment before laying on their backs to look at the bright half moon and stars above them. They stayed that way before Katara broke the serene silence. 'When do you think we should head back?' she asked, dissapointed in knowing that this was going to end sooner or later.
'Whenever' said Zuko, nonchalantly, 'but I guess to keep everyone from worrying, we should probaly head back now.' With that, both of them stood up and Zuko helped her onto the rhino and then mounted himself.
'Zuko, could you please not canter back to the palace?' asked Katara, putting her head on his shoulder again.
'Sure', was the answer Zuko gave to her, enjoying the fact that she was so close to him.
When the couple had reached the stable, Katara had fallen asleep. The young firebender, not wanting to wake her from her peaceful sleep, picked her up bridal style, and carried her to her room. He walked slowly and carefully, and took extra care to make sure no one was going to be loud enough to wake her up, but why anyone other than the guards would be up at this time of night, was beyond him. When he did reach her room, he very carefully, opened the door. He took a few steps forward, until he reached the bed, and once again very carefully, put her down on it. Then seeing her shiver, pulled the blankets over her, and then finally leaned down to kiss her on her cheek.
He left the room as quietly as he had come, and soon was in his own room, sleeping.
Well, thats it, although I think this chapter didn't turn out the way I wanted it too, but oh well at least this isn't the end of the story, so I still have time right? i hope you enjoyed it! So, please review!