"Ahh" Sokka sighed happily. "Sun, sand, relaxation, this is th-"
"Ow!" Sokka was interrupted
"This is the li-"
"OW!!" Interrupted again.
"Katara what is your problem? Can't I just finish my sentence?"
"It's not…Ow…Me…Ow…Something's pinching me!" Katara reached for the back of her neck and tried to sweep something off.
"What's wrong?" Aang asked. The they all heard laughter and they turned around to find Zuko with an amused look on his face.
"What's so funny?" Katara asked not very amused.
Zuko walked to her "Pick up your hair."
"Excuse me?"
"Just do it." Katara picked up her hair and Zuko pulled a small animal from her skin.
"What is it?" Suki asked.
"Sea leach-crab. They pinch you and suck your blood at the same time. They like to hide under hair. So the girls here usually put their hair up." Zuko laughed and pointed. Once everyone noticed the bit mark that looked like a hicky on Katara's neck they all laughed.
"I still don't see why this is funny." Katara stood and put a hand on her hip.
Zuko smiled and grabbed her hand "Come with me."
"Why are we going back?"
"Because we just are." Zuko took her inside and to the closest mirror, he turned her around and showed her the mark. Katara's eyes widened. She bended water but it wouldn't reach the spot.
She huffed and then glared at Zuko. "This is all your fault."
Zuko laughed. "My fault?"
"Yes if you would have told me to put my hair up in the first place I wouldn't be in this situation."
He chuckled again and said "Come with me. I know how to get rid of that mark." He led her down the hall to the left and in to a room. It was huge. Beautiful silk red draperies hung on the windows where there was a sitting room right in front of a walk way from the inside to the outside beach. Zuko led her to another door where a bed big enough for the whole Gaang to sleep in was at the center. Golden silk sheets topped the bed.
"Oh my spirits Zuko this is the most beautiful room ever."
"It was my mothers." He gave a small smile. He walked over to a bed side table and began to look through it. Katara sat on the bed and let her hand go along the silk sheets. Zuko withdrew a vile and turned. Katara looked so perfect. She was sitting on the edge of the bed letting her delicate fingers run over the silk. The sun illuminating her flawless skin. Zuko opened his mouth then closed it. "Um…Katara can you move your hair so I can put this on your neck." She nodded. Zuko moved and sat behind her. Tipping the vile some so a few drops landed on his forefinger. "You have a few marks so I'm going to put this on all of them okay." and he started.
"So…" Katara said trying to start a conversation. "What was your mother like?"
"She was beautiful, kind, and basically my best friend until my father banished her."
Katara frowned. "I thought you said she was dead."
"No when I confronted my father on the eclipse he said that he banished her because she killed my grandfather so I could live."
Katara made an 'O' shape with her mouth. "Do you believe she's alive?"
"I think so. That's why I'm going to go look for her when Aang masters fire bending. There all done." He smiled.
"Thanks."
That night Sokka came and told the Gaang that there was a play about them and they should go watch it. They did and when the second half came up they saw the play writers version of what happened in the Crystal Catacombs. Aang was worried through the rest of the play.
"Katara can we talk?" Aang asked.
"Sure."
"Was that what really happened under Ba Sing Se with you and Zuko? Did you two really kiss?"
Katara's eye's widened "No! No Aang. I just offered to heal his scar."
"Katara that got me…worried…because I…I…" He stuttered
"You what?"
"I…"
"Aang are you going to tell me or wha-" Aang kissed her again, but this time she backed away. "Aang." she whispered. "Aang I'm sorry. I don't…Aang!" He flew away on his glider. She felt tears come to her eyes. Katara ran down the hall took a right then a left and skidded to a halt in front of a door, she opened it. "Zuko." She whispered.
"Hmm…Uncle…Not now…I don't want tea."
"Zuko." She said louder.
"I said no…Uncle."
"Zuko!" Katara pinched his arm.
"Ow. Katara?" His good eye widened. "Are you crying?" He sat up.
"Zuko can we go look for you mother now?"
"What? You want to help me?"
She nodded her head, "Please?" She pleaded.
"Katara I don't know. What about Aang and everyone else?"
"I don't care about everyone now. I just need to get away from them. Please?"
Zuko's eye brow furrowed, but he nodded his head slowly "We'll leave when you're done packing up." Katara nodded her head and turned to leave but stopped short and thought. "What is it?" She turned around and bit her lip, ran to Zuko, and hugged him. Then she was gone out the door and to her room to pack her things.
'This is the most rebel thing since I was the Painted Lady.' Katara thought and smiled.
'Her brother is going to kill me for this.' Zuko thought and chuckled to himself.