Hullo once again! Chapter 10 is up and here we have a bit of bending! Tell me what you think, I usually suck at writing action scenes but I think this turned out quite well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar

Zuko felt the earth underneath him tremble and jumped sideways to avoid being caught. Using his hands and feet he let loose a burst of fire that lashed uselessly against the wall of rock behind which his opponent was hidden.

He could hear Toph's laughter as a new bout of rocks rained down on him. She had pulled up a wall of rock against which all flames lashed uselessly and unlike most other people she didn't even have to look out from behind her place to find out where he was.

Zuko was tempted to simply use lightning to blast her shelter into pieces but another idea occurred to him and he started running towards her. Toph caused the earth to rise in order to block his path but he used this as stepping stones until he was finally above her.

Too late she realized what he had planned and she was forced to twist around and raise her shield to cover her head as Zuko sent a burst of fire raining down onto her.

"Nice move," she laughed and he grinned in appreciation as he landed on the other side. Using the short moment of distraction Toph kicked a boulder in his direction and this time Zuko was forced to resort to lightning in order to blast the rock before it hit him.

There was no shield between them now and he could see her enthusiastic grin gleaming out from between her bangs. They stood still for a short moment, both taunt and ready for the next move, then Toph's right foot slid out and the earth under Zuko's right foot twisted, making him stumble but he caught himself and used the momentum to spin his foot around releasing a jet of fire.

For one moment, for one short moment, he almost thought he had her but just in time she dropped low to the ground. Wasting no time her own foot shot out and described a semi-circle sent as a wall of rocks towards him which he dodged with amazing skill.

They were both panting now, breathless and grinning. Neither was about to give up, facing each other without yielding an inch.

Again Toph made the first move, raising her arms and jabbing forward. The earth rose and, like a wave, rushed forward towards Zuko.

The flames hit rock and licked helplessly against it as he jumped and landed, immediately dodging the rocks that came flying. But he wasn't fast enough to evade all of them and one caught him on the stomach making him lose his balance and fall to the ground. Instantly his hands and feet were caught by the earth.

"Caught ya," Toph grinned widely at him as he struggled against the cuffs.

"Next time will be different," he growled and she laughed and let herself her fall onto the ground next to him.

"I think next time will end just like this time," she answered sitting down.

"Aren't you going to let me go?" he struggled to raise his head from the ground, sparks shooting from his eyes. It was not very comfortable, laying on the earth hands and feet immobilized.

"I don't think so," she reached out and flicked her finger against his cheek. It stung and he yelped making her laugh again.

"You've got to be kidding me," he struggled against the cuffs. There was no way he could break out of course. These things were solid rock and they chafed his wrists as he struggled against them so finally he gave up and simply glared at her, "You're not going to leave me here?"

"I'm thinking about it," Toph grinned and flopped down onto the ground on her back. She turned her face towards the sun, smiling as it shone between the gaps in her bangs. So they laid on the ground, Toph on her back, hands behind her head, feet crossed at the ankles. And Zuko on his stomach, hands and feet bound, one cheek pressed against the warm earth, the sun tickling the back of his neck. His hair was loose and flopping into his eyes.

"I'm going to kill you," he growled.

"I don't think so," one side of Toph's mouth quirked up in a grin, "I just kicked your ass didn't I?"

"You did not kick my ass," he yelled, "that was a lucky shot!"

"Whatever," she sat up again and leaned back on her hands, tilting her back her head so that her slender neck was exposed to the sun.

She really hadn't changed much in all this time, still short and though. Toph wasn't a delicate person. She was small but compact, an earthbender in build as well as mindset. She wasn't delicate, wasn't breakable, wasn't feminine. There was too much roughness in her, too much attitude.

She wasn't beautiful, not classically pretty. But there was something about her; a certain symmetry of her face with its wide mouth and clouded eyes, which was attractive nevertheless. And she had proved at the wedding and the ball that, should she get dressed up, she carried herself with style and poise. But style and poise didn't suit her. They were for others. Toph beauty, her good looks; they didn't come from pretty dresses or jewels. They came from her emotions, the laughter, the enthusiasm, which lit up her face.

The short earthbender was unique. She was all her own person and that was what made her irreplaceable.

Zuko growled again even though he realized it would only amuse her even more. And Toph did shoot a grin his way but to his surprise her hand hit the ground once and the earth released its hold on his hands and feet.

The prince sat up rubbing his wrists. His hair was falling into his face, badly in need of a trim. The golden eyes narrowed as he inspected the damage that had been done when he struggled against his bonds.

"That was evil," he complained, "I'll get you next time."

"That's been established," Toph answered with a wave of her hand, "and I'll repeat my answer: whatever."

Zuko glared for a moment; then he sighed and let himself sink back onto the ground, on his back this time. He blinked once as the sun shone into his eyes, then he closed them, simply enjoying the feeling on his skin. Spring was here and summer wasn't far away anymore.

They stayed there in silence for a few moments. Then Toph lifted her face, "Someone's coming."

Zuko sat up and she was right. Hana was running through the garden towards them.

"Prince Zuko, Princess Toph," She said, bowing hastily to them. She was out of breath from her run. It must be something important, "Please come with me. A visitor has just arrived; you'll want to see him."

"Who is it?" Zuko asked as he stood up and shook the dirt from his pants. He wasn't wearing a shirt, it hadn't been necessary for sparring.

Hana's eyes were wide, "it's the Avatar, sir."

Unfortunately, I have some bad news. Well, bad for you guys. I'm going away to Spain for two weeks and won't have access to the net so no updates while I'm away.

On the other hand, I don't have anymore chapters written ahead. But don't worry, I swear on all that is holy (anime, yaoi, DDR) that I will use this time of rest and relaxation to get on with the story.

Review replies when I get back!