A/N: Thank you for all of the beautiful reviews, they've kept me going through this annoying writers block.
Zuko: All thanks to me!
Me: Huh?
Zuko: Well, if I wasn't such a charming guy, this story wouldn't have been this much of a success!
Katara: Oh, and I didn't have anything to do with it?
Zuko: Urr, uuh... No?
Katara: slaps Zuko, storms off.
me: Wow, Zuko, you must really like getting her mad.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to cayavatar, my very first reviewer. Thank you so much cayavatar!
Chapter 2: Tears of grief and gratitude
"She's gone!" Sokka's anguished cry rang out from the camp. He was running around the island where they had been staying like crazy, but no sign of Katara. As Sokka screamed his frustration at the sky, he heard a strange sound behind him, a sound that was somewhere a sob and a strangling noise. Aang was sitting on a rock, holding his staff, with his head in his arms. Tears were streaming down his cheek, and his whole body shook with heartbreaking sobs. Sokka sat down behind him, and did something very un-Sokka like. He gave Aang a hug. "It's okay Aang, we'll find her." This seemed to comfort Aang as much as the hug, and Aang managed a strained smile." Thanks." "No problem, but don't get used to it." Sokka grinned at Aang. "Now, lets go get something to eat.
Back on the Fire Nave Ship, more tears were being shed. But these were tears of gratitude. For Uncle Iroh had come to visit Katara in her rooms and brought some tea. He had allowed her to spill out everything that was bothering her, including Zuko's kiss. When she was done, he had given her a heartwarming hug, and some jasmine tea. Katara had no idea how to thank him, so she just gave him the most grateful smile she could and a soft, "Thank you." "Oh, no problem. It is a pleasure having tea with such a kind young lady. Would you care to come up to the deck and enjoy the sunset? I'm sure it would help you take your mind off your predicament!" With a smile once again gracing her face, Katara got up from her bed, followed Iroh to the deck, and gasped.
The sunset wasn't the only thing she could see from the observation platform. Below them, Prince Zuko was training with a member of the crew. Although the sunset was gorgeous, Katara couldn't help tearing her eyes away from the dimming light and watching those beautiful blasts of fire and the firebender who was their creator.
As the sun finally slipped beneath the horizon, two teenagers from the Southern Water Tribe stared up at one moon, and wondered where the other was, and if they were okay. Sokka whispered to the wind, "Love you sis, see you soon." and hoped that Katara would somehow hear him. The wind, as if carried by the gods, pushed his words to Katara's ears, and she smiled at the familiar sound of her brother's voice. "Love you too. Tell Aang I'm okay." A brother's ears, though not always the best, always manage to hear the sound of their sister's voice. And so Sokka heard his that lovely voice, filled with hope and joy at the sound of her brother's voice. The sound of the sibling's voice was like salve to a wound for the other. Katara smiled once again and turned to head back to her room. It was getting dark.
Zuko stared sullenly at the Fire Nation tapestry hanging on his wall. It seemed to taunt him, singing inside his head:
You're Fire Nation, she's Water Tribe, You're Fire Nation, she's Water Tribe...
He sent a flaming punch at the tapestry, but he couldn't take solitude in the charred wall hanging. All he could see was her face, and all he could hear was her voice. He moaned and sank back onto the bed, exhausted and worn out. He had been training nearly all day, trying to get her out of his head and focus on his plan.
Remember the plan, remember the plan, REMEMBER THE PLAN!
"Anything wrong, nephew?" Iroh poked his head around the corner. Zuko turned away from his uncle and growled," Go away Uncle. I want to go to sleep." "What's this? Why is you're Fire Nation Tapestry burned Prince Zuko?" "It was just an accident. Now let me sleep Uncle." Iroh slipped out of the room and padded down the hallway to his own.
Hold me darling,
Hold me my love,
Through the fire of the storm,
And the darkness of the flood.
You start a fire deep within my heart,
And wash away the tears,
You throw my troubles to the wind,
And bury all my fears.
I'll be there for you,
If you'll be there for me,
So hold me my darling,
Hold me my love.
Where had that dratted song come from? Zuko remembered hearing the Katara, the Water Tribe girl, singing it before he ambushed her. It was a lovely song, and it reminded him of the song his mother used to sing to him. Then Zuko remembered-his mother's old lullaby and Katara's song were exactly the same! He decided that he would ask her about it the next day, when he had decided to resume interrogating her.
A dark shadow slipped through the night, and landed solidly on the deck of the ship. Katara sat up in bed, listening to the noise, and screamed.
A/N: I'm going to try to update at least once a week, but schools starting soon, so I'll update whenever I can. I promise, I won't make you wait any more than 3 weeks though, I hate waiting for updates.
Toph: So do I.
Me: Toph! Get out of here! You're not in this story!
Toph: I am now! Hahahahahahahaha!
Me: Uuuuurgh! GET OUT OF HERE!
Katara: Yah!
Toph: Stay out of this, sugar queen.
Me: tries to wrap tree branches around Toph, Toph, knocks me on but
Me: Ow.