Okay… I am almost out of shock of the fact the stinky writers didn't put zutara in yet. But, it is okay… zutara will prevail! I mean, it IS the writer's story anyway right? I guess we should trust there decision. BUT THEY WERE SO CLOSE! And that dramatic outcome was really weird… and poor kyoshi warriors! I wonder where they are now.

Review please!

Quote of the chapter;

Is it good or bad if a vacuum really sucks?

Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

AvAtArIsSoCoOl…sOiSlOsTaNdHeRoEs…

Chapter 7 Tension

Meanwhile Sokka and Aang were devising a plan. The ship was heading northwest, towards Hangul Island, another one of the series of islands in the Earth Nation, probably to stop for supplies. It was getting dark outside. Either that or it was the dark foliage of trees. Neither of them could tell.

Sokka used a short dead piece of wood, brushed some leaves out of his way and carved a sketch of the plan into the ground. He went it over in his head many times to memorize it. The boys' faces were very serious, concentrating on the diagram and the diagram only. They did not hear the rustling of the leaves or the footsteps of another person heading straight for them.

Hazel Eyes penetrated through the leaves staring intently from above. They studied the diagram keenly, memorizing each and every step and repeating them in their head. The cat-like eyes moved from one tree to the next. The figure had rustled the trees rather loudly and Sokka was up in a flash.

"Who's there?" Sokka looked up around in the trees, Boomerang in hand at any time ready to strike.

The figure once again moved to the next tree, still in the air carefully watching every move the young boy made. Sokka started to walk around looking at the trees, staring into the dark brush.

"I know someone's up there! Come out! Show yourself!"

"Sokka, maybe it was just an animal? Don't worry c'mon let's finish studying the plan." Aang reached up to Sokka and slowly pulled his friend into a sitting position. Sokka warily looked up into the trees glaring at whatever creature was up there.

"I don't think so. It didn't sound like an animal to me. I'll check." Sokka stood back up and went to a tree. He slammed his boomerang into the sappy bark of the tree and held his ear up to it.

"No Aang, it is a human up there" He whispered "Shhhh… Hey you! This isn't a joke. We know you're there"

The figure moved a little lower till its mouth was right behind the boy's ear. A smooth, hushed voice came out of no where, sounding very mysterious and talked almost in a whisper. "How do you know that?" Sokka quickly turned around and tried to find where the mysterious voice was coming from.

"Get out here you coward! Afraid?!"

"Why would I be? Some silly boy isn't going to scare me." The figure moved up and around the two boys to keep them guessing. It worked and Sokka spun around in circles.

"COME OUT! Let's talk! Why are you following us?" Aang screamed. He cuased a distraction while Sokka tried to unnoticeably cover their plan with the many leaves surrounding them.

"Look, come on out and we won't hurt you!"

"What makes you think you can hurt me?" The voice whispered. Sokka and Aang stood up weapons ready and looked up. The figure came up from behind them and walked slowly and quietly towards them.

AvAtArIsSoCoOl…sOiSlOsTaNdHeRoEs…

"You remember?" Zuko questioned. He cocked his head to one side.

"How could you?! Get away from me!" She started to back up.

"You're injured and in shock. The doctor will change your bandages."

"NO! How can I trust you?! I'll heal myself!"

"You are clearly incapable of healing yourself! Look at you! Do you know how many scars you got?"

"No, but I do know who gave them to me! And, I know how I got them! And how do you know what I'm capable of?" The soldier and the doctor slowly edged for the door. This conversation was getting a little too heated up for their taste…

"Oh please! Just let the man do your bandages!"

"No! I'm not going to let some male stranger go around touching me!"

"It's just bandages!"

"I don't need them! I told you, I can heal myself!"

"And how do you suppose you are going to do that?"

"I have healing abilities stupid! I just need some water and I can fix myself."

"Like I'm going to fall for that! Give you water so you can escape? I don't think so!"

"If you haven't noticed I am injured! Just get me water and I will heal myself and you can go back to ignoring me."

"Oh…" Silence filled the room.

"Fine." Zuko turned around and faced the soldier who was right under the door frame. "Get a small bucket of water. And Dr. Ozona, help me get these bandages off." Both men nodded and walked out of the room.

"What! I'll take off my own bandages!"

"You can't do that! You're too injured. Stop making such a big deal of this. We'll just take it off and then you can heal yourself. Fair?"

"No! I can do it myself!"

"Fine" Zuko shrugged it off and smirked. "Take them off." Katara slit her eyes and obviously was untrusting.

"Fine, I will!" She started on the bandage on her waist. As she moved her arms pain once again shot up. She had a strong urge to wince but bit her lip and took the pain. She did not want that stupid prince to be right and make her out to be a fool. The prince crossed his arms and stared at her expectantly.

"C'mon. You can do it." Zuko smirked and watched as she glared at him. She carefully found the edge of the bandage and started to peel it away. She did this slowly and quietly, tensing as she did. The pain was overbearing. She pulled the bandage to one side of her hip. The bandage was wrapped around her waist. In order to do so, she needed to move herself up and swing it around. She sighed. There was no use in making herself look like a fool. It was better to give up now.

"What's the matter? C'mon! Take off the bandages!" Zuko smirked even more.

She rolled her eyes. She muttered under her breath. "Can you do it for me?"

"What? Say that again?" He put his hand up to his ear.

"Can you help me?"

"That's all you needed to say." He chuckled and walked over to her side. He gently helped her into a sitting position and grabbed onto her bandage. He slowly unwrapped it. She rolled her eyes and looked away, trying to think about anything other than how warm his hands were… but she knew why they were… fire bender! DUH!

"By the way… I'm sor-…" He took a deep breath and tried to apologize again… He was new at this after all. "I'm sorry" He took one more deep breath and attempted to undo the bandage. Katara winced as he pulled too tight on one of the ends. Zuko finished taking off the bandage on her stomach and moved to the one on her arm.

"Well you should be. You are the one who started the fight to begin with." He stopped for a split second and then went back to work and looked down.

"You're the one who brought me down there in the first place."

"Well you were the one who was so arrogant. Maybe if you weren't then I wouldn't be this hurt."

"I'm arrogant?! Look who's talking!"

"Well, you did start the fight."

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did! You shot at me first!"

"Well you asked for it!"

"Well excuse me! I think you should just fu-" Just then the doctor and young soldier walked in with a pail filled with water. The teenagers grew quiet. Katara rolled her eyes and Zuko went back to unwrapping her bandages, only a few more to go. The young soldier and the doctor made their way to the bed/table and helped with taking off her bandages. Katara blushed as the young soldier unwrapped her bandages, he was good looking after all (though not as hot as Zuko D). Zuko felt his face grow hot and his heart skip a beat.

After about a half hour, all the bandages were removed and the pail of water was at her side. All three men stood in a line on the far side of there room and watched the young woman bend the water to her will and place it on her stomach. It glowed as her wounds seemed to disappear…

AvAtArIsSoCoOl…sOiSlOsTaNdHeRoEs…

OMG!!! I am SOOO SORRY for the wait!!!! I kind of hate this story though… I want to write another one that's less boring… And I've been having a hard time lately… Me and my friends got into a fight and I've been depressed. But it's a little better now and I am able to write! ) Review!!!!