To be quite honest with you, I understand your disappointment in the lack of updates to this and some of my other stories. But to continue being honest, I am not the fifteen year old kid who had the time to write constantly when I was doing the Infinity Legend. I have a life, one that is filled with college applications and financial aid and jobs and schoolwork and everything else that has to fit in an eighteen year old's normal routine. For those of you who have been patient, you have my thanks.

One Hundred Days
Rating M (R)
Day 7
One week. Seven days. One hundred sixty eight hours.

Five beatings. Four meals.

Too many moments. Too many tears shed and breaths taken.

Zuko had arisen with the sun, as was his nature. For being so beaten down, the sunlight through the small window was warm on his skin.

He felt the slightest bit stronger.

Katara slept in her corner, he had noted that she wasn't much of an early riser.

It was her nature, of course. She was the dark moon-child.

She was still asleep when the guards came for her, yanking her up and out of her safe dream world.

He could have sworn he saw a glint of blue. Blue fear. Blue despair.

Maybe that was the reason he shot up and lunged at the guard. The feeling in her eyes, the sense that she was alive.

One guard's helmet smacked against the metal bars of the cell as Zuko's fist slammed at his face. The other, unfortunately, was aware of the Prince's attack.

The hard boot of the guard slammed into Zuko's sternum, sending him into the wall forcefully.

"Stop. Stop it please."

He could hear her pleading. He could hear her voice cracking. He could hear her speak. He hadn't heard her speak in seven days. One week. One hundred sixty eight hours.

"Leave him alone, please, please just leave him alone."

Zuko looked up in surprise at Katara.

The guard had a tight lock on her neck, but she turned to look at him as she was dragged out of the cell.

Katara's eyes were a vibrant blue. They showed fear and despair and pain and everything Zuko was sure died within her.

He looked down as the door was shut again.

She did not come back that night.

But all of a sudden all he wanted was to see her again.

Because she was alive. For the first time in seven days. One week. One hundred sixty eight hours.

Alive. She was alive.

And somehow, that meant that he was alive as well.