I managed to worm a little back-story into this chapter, so you guys don't have to keep guessing about Zuko's past. And this one is a little on the short side, but progress is progress, right? I didn't make you wait two months for this last update, so I'm trying to get better.

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"I don't understand, what is Agni Kai?"

"It's a duel between firebenders," Iroh said, glancing at her, then looking pointedly at Zuko. "And I feel like this is unnecessary. I understand your anger, nephew, but there is no need to challenge him. You might be injured, and that will help no one."

Zuko ignored him. A crowd had started to gather on deck as word got around as to what had happened. The previous discipline they had displayed earlier was now gone as they stared at Katara, taking in her mussed appearance. She made a point of standing tall, doing her best to not let them bother her. Out on deck, where she could sense water all around, she was untouchable.

"If anyone should fight him it should be me," Katara told Zuko. "I don't want you fighting for me. What's the point? Iroh's already instructed the captain of the ship that Zhao's under arrest and is to be brought back to the Fire Nation for sentencing."

Zuko ignored her, too. He was still burning with the same anger he had felt when he had first opened that door and found Zhao on top of Katara. He was angry at himself, too, for letting it happen. He hadn't wanted to let Katara go off alone with Zhao, but he had never thought Zhao would attack her. He wasn't about to underestimate Zhao again.

The former Commander was already standing at the other end of the deck, stretching. The entire crew gave him a wide berth, unsure of protocol in such a situation. Iroh—a member of the royal family, brother to the Fire Lord himself—had denounced Zhao, so he was no longer their leader, but some had spent years under his command. Zuko eyed them, wondering if any would try to interfere. At the moment, they all looked content to stand back and watch what was about happen.

Zuko began to pull off his uniform, stripping down to the waist. He struggled to find the calm he needed to keep a clear head. Behind him, he heard Iroh explaining the rules to Katara.

"How does one win?"

"Submission of his opponent…or death."

"Death?" Katara exclaimed in alarm. She grabbed Zuko's arm and yanked him around to face her, breaking his concentration. "Zuko, are you crazy? He's already under arrest, there's no need to do this!"

"I already challenged him and he accepted," he said stubbornly. "I'm finishing this."

"For who?" she demanded. "Me? Or yourself? Because I don't want this. I want to see him thrown in jail, and I certainly don't want to see you get killed for something as stupid as this!"

Zuko glared at her. "You think I'll lose to him?"

"I think that if he gets the chance he won't hesitate to kill you," Katara snapped, poking his bare chest with a finger. "The man's crazy. He's got nothing left, and I bet everything I own that he'll try to take you with him."

"That won't happen."

Katara recognized the look in his eyes. It was the same look her brother got when he was determined on something. Realizing she wasn't going to change his mind, she snorted in disgust and threw up her hands. "Make sure that it doesn't," she told him, moving back to Iroh's side.

Everyone on deck was backing up against the railing in order to give the duelists as much room as possible. Iroh had taken up Zuko's discarded uniform, folding it neatly even as he frowned at Zuko. "Stay next to me," Iroh told Katara. "The flames are going to be flying everywhere."

The sky was quickly darkening, as the sun had already disappeared behind the waves some time ago. Katara could just make out the faint outline of the moon in its final night of fullness as the two firebenders walked out to the middle of the deck. They both glared at one another as they stalked towards the captain of the ship, who had been deemed judge of the duel.

Katara bit her lip as she looked at Zhao. He had also taken off his uniform, and the newly revealed muscles were daunting. He certainly looked in shape. She flicked her eyes over Zuko and tried to reassure herself. He wasn't any lightweight either. And she had sparred with him, she knew how good he was.

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Zuko stared down at the metal by his fist as he kneeled down, waiting for the captain to announce the beginning of the fight. He closed his eyes briefly and calmed his breathing. He could do this. He had been sparring with Katara every night, which had not only kept his skills sharp, it had given him an advantage he hadn't expected. His body was used to fighting at night. Zhao, like any other firebender, was trained for the daytime. So while the Commander's body was already cycling down, Zuko's system was just getting ready for its regular exercise.

The captain barked out an order, and Zuko swiftly took to his feet and spun to face Zhao. The older man stood with his arms up, and had the gall to smirk at him. He clearly had no doubts he would be able to beat the younger bender.

Zuko made the first move, shooting a flame at his opponent, merely getting a feel of him. The Commander laughed as he dispersed it, then retaliated, leaping forward and punching a burst of fire in his direction. Zuko ducked and rolled, spinning to keep Zhao in his sights, but Zhao had already sent a flurry of fireballs in his direction.

Swinging his arms, Zuko sent out a wave of fire to meet Zhao's oncoming attack. He didn't expect Zhao to leap out of the flames and just barely got out of the way in time before the man flew past him. Zhao managed to swipe at Zuko's head, clawing with a flaming hand. Zuko winced as he felt heat splash over his scalp and kicked Zhao away, knocking the man to the side. He hastily ran a hand over his head to make sure it wasn't on fire and could smell the awful odor of burning hair.

Zhao stood laughing at him. "A few inches closer and I'd have made the rest of your face just as ugly as that scar you got there."

Zuko let out a enraged snarl and snapped out his leg, then was kicking with the other one before the first touched the ground. A spinning back kick followed those. Zhao managed to diffuse the first two flame attacks, but the third blew up in his face, making him stumble. Zuko charged forward and leapt, snapping out both his feet into twin kicks and jetting flame toward his opponent. He landed just as Zhao was struck to the ground.

Running over, Zuko pounced onto Zhao, driving both knees into his chest to make sure he was immobilized. The Commander grunted out and flinched when Zuko slammed a flaming fist down beside his head. He grabbed his throat and leaned forward, staring into Zhao's hate filled face. "You're lucky Katara doesn't want me to kill you," he growled fiercely. "She wants to see you tossed in front of the Fire Lord. I doubt my father will be as merciful as I am after he hears of your treasonous plans."

Releasing him, Zuko spared him one last disgusted look and got to his feet. He noted that the moon had just risen, looking giant in its low position to the horizon. A brief glance at the nodding judge assured Zuko that his win was accepted. He turned to look at the spectators in the dimming light, namely at Iroh and Katara.

His uncle inclined his head slightly, and Katara couldn't hold back her smile even though she still looked annoyed. Iroh spoke to some of the soldiers standing beside him and they nodded, walking forward to arrest Zhao. They strode past Zuko, giving him brief bows, which he returned with a nod.

He reset his focus on Katara, who was walking up to him. "And you were worried," he smirked.

Katara scowled at him. "Don't you mock me. He nearly took off your head." She moved in close to him and lifted a hand that was wreathed in water. "Now hold still, I need to take care of this."

He flinched away when her hand first made contact with his scalp, the pain just registering now that adrenaline was leaving his system. She glared and got a firm hold of his face, and seconds later Zuko felt a soothing, cool sensation tingle over his skin. He found himself leaning into her hand, eyes closed.

"Are you going to start purring?" Katara laughed, making Zuko open his eyes and straighten. His scalp healed, she moved her hand to his hair. "Now, this, I won't be able to fix so easily…"

Zuko watched as her face changed to a smile to one of alarm, just as a yell erupted from behind him. He spun just in time to see Zhao shake off the two soldiers who were trying to tie his hands. The crazed man roared and charged forward, reaching a hand back.

As Zuko put an arm out in front of her, raising his other hand to defend against an attack, Katara didn't stop to think. She didn't consider that the moon wasn't at its strongest, and that she had sworn to never use this technique unless there were no other options. She merely acted.

In a split second she had sensed his body system. With a twitch of her wrists she got a hold of it—but, as she had forgotten to consider, the moon had barely just risen—so she couldn't control it completely. Instead of stopping him dead in his tracks, as she had intended, he merely staggered for a moment, then regained his balance. But that disruption was long enough for the two soldiers to tackle Zhao to the ground.

Normal time came rushing back to her as Zuko pushed her behind him and people on deck were yelling out, rushing forward. As soon as he was confident Zhao was subdued, Zuko turned to Katara.

"I can protect myself," she said weakly as she pushed his arm off her. Ooh, she was dizzy. Zuko's hands were back on her arms even as she tried to step away, steadying her as she tottered.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking into her face. "You're bleeding."

"What?" she touched a hand under her nose and her fingers came away red. "Oh."

Iroh was suddenly behind her. "Is everything alright?"

Katara turned to face him, and saw his eyes widen. "I just want to go back to the ship," she said.

"Of course. Come on."

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By the time they reached the docks Katara had recovered, and was extremely embarrassed that both and Iroh and Zuko had seen her all but faint in front of them. She repeatedly told them that she was fine, washing off the blood from her nose by leaning over the side of the rowboat. Zuko kept a hand on her arm anyway, worried she would topple over into the water.

She wanted to put this whole thing behind her. Really, today had just been awful. She was a strong waterbender, damn it, not the fragile girl they were treating her like! It wasn't as if she could blame them, however, because really…what had she done to prove otherwise? Not only had they rescued her from Zhao—a man she should be able to hold her own against!—but they doubtlessly thought she was so excited by the duel that she was nearly passed out.

It wasn't as if she could tell them the reason for her faintness was because she had attempted blood-bending when she really shouldn't have. She was lucky it had worked at all, with the moon not even an hour in the night sky. And firebenders weren't supposed to know about blood-bending in the first place.

It was stupid of her to have done it in front of everyone. And she had overreacted in response. There was no need for her to resort to blood-bending. Zuko was right in front of her, a skilled firebender that could doubtlessly have stopped whatever Zhao had thrown at them, not to mention the entire crowd watching was made mostly of other firebenders.

But Zhao had looked…completely mad. And he was aiming for both of them, her and Zuko. Fear had slammed through her when she saw him lock eyes on them, and Zuko had his back turned.

When they returned to the ship, preferring to let Iroh and Zuko explain what had happened, Katara went straight to her cabin. After a few minutes she found what she was looking for.

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Zuko sighed as he closed the door behind him and tossed his shirt onto his bed. He was glad to have been able to escape the crew—they had insisted on throwing a party congratulating Zuko on beating Zhao in the Agni Kai. He had refused, saying he was exhausted. And it was true. It wasn't every day he was almost killed by a great firebender. The last time that had happened…

Zuko shook his head and pushed that memory away, grabbing a towel from his dresser. As he wiped himself down, he glanced at the mirror. His scar stared back at him.

A frown tugged at his mouth. No, he would never be able to forget. Everything about that day would forever be in his mind.

Finding his mother on the ground, his father standing over her. Furiously demanding to know what happened. The searing heat from his father's backhand. Screams echoed in his mind…his own, and then the servants when the news of the Fire Lady's sudden death spread across the palace. He remembered the elderly maid seeing his face and dragging him to the doctor, even as he struggled, trying to get back to his mother.

He even remembered his sister, who for once didn't bully him. It was the first time—the only time, even to this day—that Zuko had seen her cry. She was brought into the room he was being cared for in, and the tears were falling fast and thick down her face. But the second she laid eyes on him, she stopped. She stared at the red, aggravated flesh, wet eyes wide and shocked.

She didn't say a word to him. Just stared, and when Zuko awkwardly tried to hug her, comfort her, anything, she shoved him away. And she ran. Azula ran away from him, out of the room and out of sight.

The maid that had held his hand while the doctor set the bandages on him clucked her tongue and reassured Zuko that she was upset, not understanding what was going on. That she was just as confused as he was, and that he needed to remember that she was even younger than him and that it was going to take time.

But Zuko knew differently. He knew that Azula immediately, just by looking, had known that their father had done this. He also suspected that Azula had an idea of what happened, to her mother. She had seen what had happened to Zuko when she had upset Ozai.

Since that awful day, Zuko felt like he had lost everything. His mother, gone. His father, who he had always looked up to and thought was the greatest man in the world—had taken away his mother, and attacked him. And his sister, who he had never been close to, put even more distance between them, determined to show their father that she was nothing like Zuko. No, she was the perfect child, who would do anything he asked, rise to any goal he set, and make him proud.

Zuko had been young, but he understood enough of what was going on to see that no one blamed his father. Of course not. The fact that his mother, and his grandfather (Zuko later found out that he had died the same day) had both died was publicly treated as an awful, tragic coincidence. The words 'poor health' and 'illness' had been murmured back and forth. But behind closed doors, other things were whispered. How on earth could they have passed on the same day? Was it a heavenly sign, a bad omen for the Fire Nation? Had something happened between Ursa and Azulan? And the fact that Ozai barely seemed grieved was strange. Had he not just lost two family members? And how that he was the Fire Lord now, even though Iroh, who was off in the Earth Kingdom, was next in line. The whispers quickly corrected themselves—of course, the newly appointed Fire Lord was merely putting on a brave face for his people. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to appear weak or grief-ridden.

The sudden appearance of a glaring scar on the young prince's face was hardly noticed with everything else going on.

A knock on his cabin door broke him out of his thoughts. He struggled to drag himself out of the memories as he turned to see Katara enter his room.

"I'm still not happy with you," she told him sternly.

"No, really, just let yourself in," he muttered. "And I heard you the first time." Zuko was tired, and thinking of his family never put him in a good mood. He didn't want to deal with people right now.

"I thought you could use a hand with your hair," she said, lifting the scissors she had in her hand.

Zuko looked at her, considering telling her to leave, when he saw her throat. "Katara. Your neck," Zuko said. He should have killed Zhao. "It's all bruised." He gently lifted her chin with one hand, while carefully touching her throat with his fingers. Katara shivered as his fingers brushed over her skin.

"Give me a second and I can heal it," she said, trying to step away, but Zuko held her still. He reached around to the back of her necklace and undid it carefully, then let her go. Katara moved to his bureau, where the ice-knot he had taken (had that really only been yesterday morning?) had completely melted in its dish. Gathering the water, Katara faced the mirror and held her hand to her throat.

Zuko stared in fascination as she healed herself. Truly, it was amazing. When she was done she looked at him. "All better. See? Now sit down so I can get to work."

The bruises may be gone, but he wouldn't be forgetting what Zhao had done to her any time soon. He reluctantly sunk to the floor and crossed his legs. Katara knelt behind him, placing the towel he had been holding around his shoulders. Having seen her bend, Zuko couldn't stop the nagging thought that had been bothering him since they had left Zhao's ship. "Katara, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she said distractedly, as she took off the tie he used to bind his ponytail.

"Back on the ship…when Zhao tried to attack us. Did you do anything?"

Katara stopped moving. "What do you mean?"

"When Zhao stumbled. He's not the type of guy to lose his feet. And I thought I saw you move out of the corner of my eye."

He heard her take a deep breath behind him. After a moment, she answered. "I guess I owe you that much, since you did save me from Zhao. But I'm not supposed to talk about it—especially to firebenders. In fact, the entire thing is forbidden."

"So you did do something!" Zuko turned to face her. "But what?"

Katara met his eyes, and there was a mix of emotions on her face. Quietly, she told him, "I'm a waterbender. And every single living thing has water inside it. Sometimes—under the right conditions—I can manipulate that water. It's called blood-bending, but technically blood doesn't have to be involved."

Zuko stared at her. "Waterbenders can do that? Why haven't I heard of this?"

"It's something that's kept a secret—in fact, I really shouldn't be telling you," Katara admitted. "And few of us—waterbenders—can do it."

"But why don't you use it all the time, then?"

"Because it's—awful!" Katara snapped. Zuko blinked at her, surprised at her outburst. "It's wrong, and unnatural. No single person should have the ability to control another like that—from the inside, turning someone's own body against itself. How would you like it," Katara demanded, "if I forced you to grab these scissors, and forced you to hold them to your throat?"

Zuko stared at her, and Katara realized how heated she had gotten. She cleared her throat. "And besides that, it's dangerous. You saw what happened on the deck back there—I started bleeding just for making him trip. If my focus isn't absolute, if I don't have complete control...not only could I hurt myself, but I could seriously damage a person's body."

"Oh." Zuko dropped his gaze and turned back around, not sure what to say. He couldn't imagine having that type of control of a person. The responsibility…

"I would appreciate if you kept that to yourself," Katara said briskly, thinking once again that she shouldn't have told him anything. She smoothed the towel over his shoulders. "Anyway, there was another thing that I wanted to talk to you about. I want you to teach me how to fight."

"You already know how to fight."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "I think what happened today showed both of us that that isn't true."

Zuko didn't say anything.

"I never want to be helpless like that again," Katara said through gritted teeth. "I have to be honest—without water I'm completely useless."

"But your blood-bending—"

"No. That isn't an option."

"But you used it on Zhao—"

Katara's hands tightened on his shoulders. "I didn't even think about it. It just—came out."

"Why, then? If you're so against using it, why would you immediately resort to it?"

Because I thought he was going to kill you! Katara wanted to snap at him. But she kept that to herself, too embarrassed. She was never rational when other people were at risk. "Zuko, please. You were just telling me that you know how to use all of those," she nodded towards the weapons hanging on his wall. "I want you to teach me how to fight, without bending."

He couldn't argue with her desire to learn how to defend herself. "Fine. Keep in mind that I've never taught anyone, before."

"I'm sure you'll be a fine teacher," Katara assured him with a smile. "Now, why don't I actually do what I came here for." She ruffled his hair, now unbound, making him scowl.

Zuko closed his eyes as Katara lifted the scissors, making sure to hold still.

The last time someone had cut his hair…it had been his mother. It seemed like his memories wouldn't leave him alone, today. She had kneeled behind him just like Katara did now, in front of a mirror. Except she had this silly little song that she sang while she did it. Zuko couldn't remember the words. He closed his eyes and tried to remember it. The tune was on the edge of his memory…he tried to focus. Her hands had been on his scalp and shoulders, carefully brushing away the stray hairs. Along with the song she sang, her jewelry clinked as she moved, the bracelets by his ears constantly swinging back and forth and gently tapping together. She laughed as she looked at his lopsided reflection, having only finished one side. She ruffled his hair as he scowled at her, pouting, and he could smell her perfume…

Except something was wrong. Her voice was off, and she didn't smell the same. Zuko opened his eyes and came back to his room, with Katara behind him. She was just finishing. "…looks funny now, but you can shave this fuzz off with your razor. You'll look fine. Besides, I hated that ponytail." She ran her fingers over the bristle that was left. "I saw a dustpan and brush in the galley. Since I made the mess I'll clean it up. I'll be back in second." She stood, brushing her hands on her knees.

"You remind me so much of her."

"I'm sorry?" Katara asked, blinking.

"So much. You act like her," he said quietly.

Katara frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"

"My mother." Zuko looked at her. "You remind me of her." She shouldn't. They didn't look alike. His mother had sleek black hair, she had wavy brown. His mother was thin and waifish, and she was curvy. Ursa was quiet and meek, while Katara was outspoken. The only jewelry she wore was that necklace he had never seen her without. But something in his mind just made the connection.

Katara didn't know what to say. Zuko rarely shared anything about his family. All the time they had talked, both of them had steered clear of his past. So why was he sharing now? "She…she must have been a great woman to have raised you so well," Katara said after a moment. "How…how old were you when she passed?"

She was murdered, Zuko wanted to say. By the man you plan to marry. But of course he couldn't say that. "I was nine."

With Zuko just standing there, looking more vulnerable than she had ever seen him, Katara wanted to hug him. Embrace him, like she would any other person that was hurting. But Zuko was not any other person. She doubted he would appreciate—or even allow—her comfort. So instead she told him, "I'm sure she would proud of you, Zuko. I'm not going to pretend to know how she felt, but I can imagine she would proud of what you did today."

Zuko gave her a small smile. "She would have hated that I was fighting. She never approved of Agni Kais for honor. But she would have liked that I was standing up for someone who needed help."

"You know, I lost my mother too, when I was little. It isn't easy growing up without them," Katara admitted. "My father was always off fighting, and of course my brother wasn't interested in playing with his baby sister. It can get lonely."

Zuko didn't say anything, but he silently agreed. He had certain felt all alone.

"But, of course, I had my Gran-Gran. And you had Iroh, didn't you?"

Zuko blinked. Yes, yes he did. When Iroh had returned from the Earth Kingdom and found what had happened at home, he could have secluded himself in grief. But he didn't. That first day when he had returned, Zuko remembered seeing him. His uncle, who looked so distant, had turned and set eyes on his bandaged nephew. And the sadness had washed away. Iroh had walked over, knelt down, and gave Zuko a giant hug. It had been improper, considering their ranks, and that other people were watching, but Iroh didn't care. And neither did Zuko. That was the first time he had been held since his mother had gone. If others hadn't been around, Zuko was sure he would have broken down in tears. But he had merely hugged his uncle back while the old man whispered soothing words into his ear.

Katara glanced back at the floor, where the evidence of Zuko's recent haircut lay. "I should go get that dustpan."

"It's alright. You go to bed, I can clean it myself."

"You're sure?"

Zuko nodded and she left. When the door closed behind her, he turned to the mirror to stare at his reflection. Several moments passed, and then he left his cabin. On his way to find a dustpan and broom, he knocked on his Uncle's door.

Iroh invited him inside, and he stuck his head in the room. "Would you like some tea before bed?" his uncle asked, glancing at his newly bald head.

Zuko shook his head. "No. I just wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything."

Zuko shut the door and continued on. Inside, Iroh blinked owlishly at the door. "You're welcome," he answered quietly.

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Let me know if you think the flashbacks were a little too quick or awkward. I had trouble writing them in and making it feel natural, I'm not too keen on flashbacks. Also let me know what you thought of the duel—usually I don't mind writing action, but it feels awkward trying to describe a fight between benders, because it feels so silly writing about shooting flames out of hands and feet while trying to keep it realistic.

And some of you might be totally creeped out that Katara reminds Zuko of his mother since this is a Zutara fic, but just bear with me. I feel like there is a nice parallel between them—both are the only females that have ever given Zuko any positive attention, and now that it's looking like Katara is going to be destined to the same fate as Ursa. It's definitely going to play on how Zuko acts later.

As always, let me know what you think. Please! I live for the reviews you send my way.