Chapter 5
Zuko left the next morning. Katara watched him leave and wanted to scream. How had things gone from being so wonderful to so horrible?
Zuko rode home and thought about the toad. Katara had looked so sad when she told him about the girl. Why? Had she been friends with the girl and had been hurt by her rejection? Or--dare he think it?--was the toad the girl? Maybe she had been cursed to be a toad for the rest of time. How long she been in that form? He didn't like that thought. If she was the girl, then she could be the girl he had argued over with his brothers. Even if she wasn't, she was the kindest person he had ever known. How could she keep fulfilling his requests and never want anything for herself? He had never met someone that selfless. She was always ready to comfort him despite the sadness he now knew she was enduring. Was there anyone else like that in the entire world? Wait a minute, since when did he start considering the toad a person? Not that he minded thinking of her that way. She was more humanlike than animal like.
"Zuko!" Zuko was started at the sound of Jet's voice. He turned to see a swarm of dogs in his brother's carriage. "Brother, where did you find that linen on that dismal road? I couldn't see a settlement on it," Jet asked.
Zuko thought. "Near the swamp, I found a hermit who had it," he lied.
"Well, it doesn't matter," Jet continued. "Because I will win this round."
Zuko chose not to reply. They met up with Aang later and all arrived at the palace together.
Katara looked at the rain clouds above her. "Great," she said. "Just the thing to cheer me up," she spat.
It's hard to listen to a hard hard heart
Beating close to mine
Katara closed her eyes and huddled down on a rock. "Go ahead!" she shouted her voice shaking. "See what I care! I didn't like him all that much anyway!
"It's not like he loved me anyway! He's just attracted to my body!" Katara let out a harsh sob. "Man, I'm so pathetic."
Pounding up against the stone and steel
Walls that I won't climb
"Even if he did love me, I'm still a toad. A miserable little toad. I can't break the spell. I've tried. I'm stuck like this. I'm stuck in an invisible cage."
Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep
You think that you're gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep
With all this rain falling down
The rain began to fall. Katara tilted her head upward, closing her eyes. Against her flushed, slimy skin, the rain was refreshingly cool. It poured down her face. It felt a little like tears. She pretended they were because it helped her feel better.
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
But I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
"At least Zuko isn't seeing me like this. I wouldn't want him to worry about me," Katara whispered sadly. "That is providing he cares.
"Those clouds are really dark," she noticed.
It's hard to know when to give up the fight
Some things you want will just never be right
"I should just give up on him. It would never work out. He's a Firebender. I'm a Waterbender. We-we're opposites."
It's never rained like it has to night before
Zuko looked out the window. The rain streamed down it in wide rivers. He could see the mystery girl's, Katara's, face with streams of tears on it. He shut his eyes trying to block out the image.
Now I won't beg you baby
For something maybe you could never give
He could hear her asking what the scar was from. His dishonor. All his shame over being second best overwhelmed him. How could he tell her that?
I'm not looking for the rest of your life
I just want another chance to live
How could he hear her apologizing, saying he didn't have to tell her if he didn't want to? What had she done to him? He rested his forehead against the glass. Why couldn't he get her out of his head?
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
But I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
"It's raining really hard," June noticed. "Katara…" The rain always made her think of that little girl. She missed Katara. "…I'm sorry." A tear slid down June's cheek.
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
But I'm still in love on underneath this shroud
Rain
"Zuko," Katara whispered. "No matter what I tell myself, I can't stop loving you."
"Katara," Zuko murmured. "I love you even if you are a toad."
Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
But I'm still in love on underneath this shroud
Rain
Oooh, rain
Ooooh rain
A/N: Wow, this is turning into a full-fledged musical. It's not my fault, I swear! The characters are forcing me to. Katara has a knife to my throat and Zuko is about to roast me. Heeeeeeeeelp!
The song is called Rain (in case you couldn't tell by the repetition of the word.). I don't own it. I was listening to my lovey-dovey play list while I wrote this chapter and it came up. I couldn't resist putting it in (it helps that my characters are threatening my life). I love it. I used to remember the artist's name but I'm too lazy to look it up.
You might've noticed I changed the spelling of June's name. This is because I was watching that episode recently and in the credits, I saw they spelled her name like the month. So I changed it.
Yes, I know this is not included in the fairytale. The fairytale never has any sadness in it. But I felt some angst would be very appropriate. I also know the last chapter did not appear in the original story. Yet again, I say I'm adding as I see fit. I'm improvising. Don't be so picky! Otherwise, I'll sic Katara and Zuko on you.
Katara says hi and that she appreciates all you readers. Zuko says he'll roast you if you don't review. Providing you like the chapter, he says. Oh no! June has her Sheershoo breathing down my neck. I'm going to be paralyzed! (Authoress's fingers are freezing up after being hit by the thing's tongue.)
Can you tell I like joking around after writing a sad chapter?