A.N. 4-27-07 - This is the re-written version. Enjoy, and please review!

Chapter 4: Mutual Respect

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, its first rays glittering orange across the ocean's calm surface. It cast the ship's deck into long shadows.

Kat and Zuko were both already on the deck, in fighting stances. They glared at each other with silent anger. The soldiers who normally sparred not far from them had stopped what they were doing and backed up to the railings – they'd seen that look in Zuko's eyes before.

Neither teenager had slept much the night before, only worsening their attitudes. Without any warning, Zuko attacked.

He charged her, staying within melee range and keeping her on the defensive, retreating from his onslaught of kicks and flames.

Kat kept up with him, ducking and dodging a few of his attacks and blocking one by daring to grab his wrist, which he quickly twisted out of. She froze his feet to the deck with one smooth movement, giving her a chance to dash back a few feet and get some breathing room.

The ice didn't stop Zuko for long, but it did give Kat a few feet space. She slicked the deck down; the lack of traction would slow Zuko's attacks for a few minutes. It did, but not enough. Kat blocked a few more attacks with an ice shield. She attempted a water whip, only to have it evaporated. Every time she felt his flames burn her skin she got even angrier. And every time her water cut him, Zuko got angrier.

Zuko advanced again, narrowing the gap between then. Up close, Zuko was at an advantage; he was trained in melee combat while Kat was not. She'd been learning in the few weeks on board, but she wasn't even close to Zuko.

Bending more water from her pouch, Kat coated her arm in it, from wrist to elbow. Armored, she used it to block his next punch. Zuko cursed and grabbed for her arm. Defensively, Kat fell back with one leg and pulled her arm out of reach. With what water was left in her pouch, Kat bended it all out and sent one massive jet of water at Zuko.

It was enough to drive him back a few feet. Slipping on the ice, Zuko stumbled briefly, dropping to one knee before regaining his footing.

Kat raced to bend the water from the deck into something she could actually use; her pouch was now empty. She heard the roar of fury that came from Zuko as he regained his footing and launched a new wave of attacks at her. She managed to duck the first ball of fire, only to take the second in her right shoulder. It twisted her off balance and her own ice worked against her; Kat dropped to her knees.

Panting, Zuko stalked towards the waterbender. She clenched her right shoulder with her left hand, but glared up at him defiantly.

"I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son."

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!"

"I won't fight you!"

"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."

Zuko stopped dead in his tracks, the flames that wreathing his hand died out instantly. Unbidden, the duel with his father replayed in his mind. Before him, Kat was on her knees just a few paces away. What was I going to do?

Unlike Zuko so long ago though, she didn't prostrate herself nor say a word. She only glared at the approaching Prince.

Her shoulder throbbed. She could feel the warmth of the burn and the stickiness of blood beneath her fingers. "Are you happy, Prince?" Kat hissed the title with disgust. "You won." She continued to glare at him, waiting for him to make a move.

Zuko didn't respond; he only stared at her. The anger in his gold eyes was gone, replaced with confusion as he tried to shake the memory from his mind. Suddenly, he turned and walked away, the flames that danced on his hands dying out.

Kat watched him leave, her golden flecked eyes narrowed with rage. She climbed to her feet and with one fluid motion bended water off the ground, froze it into razor sharp daggers of ice and flung it at the retreating prince with all she had left.

He never had a chance to defend himself. Several pieces of ice embedded themselves in his back. Zuko dropped to one knee, catching himself with his hand on the cold, wet metal deck.

It was silent. No one even dared to breathe. Iroh burst from below deck, and paused to take in the situation.

What have I done? Kat thought. Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped in shock and horror at herself. "What have I done?"

Iroh rushed to Zuko's side, but already the prince was rising to his feet. His movements were slowed; he brushed away Iroh's helping hands.

Wide eyed, Kat suddenly ran past them. Moments later the ship once again reverberated with the slamming of her door.

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The physician was forced to give Zuko some herbal sedatives in order to stitch shut his wounds. The Prince was too wound up with anger and confusion to sit still long enough to get himself fixed up.

In a deep sleep finally, Zuko dreamed.

The arena was lit by torches, so many so that it was hard to tell it wasn't sunlight. The royal arena was crowded with people, but their faces blurred together. Zuko didn't need to see them to know who was in the crowd: Iroh, Zhao, and Azula.

He could feel the warmth of the ground against his forehead as he bowed, and begged. He could feel the warm wetness of his tears as they ran down his cheeks. It didn't matter what he said, his father kept advancing. Zuko squeezed his eyes shut in preparation of what he knew was coming.

When he opened his eyes, he was standing. He stared down at a brown haired girl. Her mahogany hair hung in unkempt strands; a tangled mess that had come free of her braids. She was on her knees but refused to bow. Instead she glared with defiance, daring him to ….to what? He wasn't sure, but her defiance angered him. Zuko could feel the flames as they danced on his fist.

He raised his fist and prepared to strike. The girl on the ground lowered her head as if in defeat.

She looked up again, only, it wasn't a girl anymore. Zuko gasped. He found himself staring at his younger self. The tears still streamed down his cheeks.

He flinched, and found himself back on his knees. Except he wasn't staring up at his father, he was staring up at himself. He saw the flames coming towards him.

With a shout Zuko leapt out of bed. He was breathing hard. It was just a dream, he tried to calm himself down.

Zuko splashed water on his face from the wash bowl, trying to shake off the dream and wake up. The movement made his wounds throb with protest. He straightened, blotting his face with the towel. His reflection stared back at him.

I'm not like him; Zuko ran a finger across his scar. I'm not.

So what were you going to do? He still hadn't answered the question that plagued him. He knew the answer though, but it wasn't one he wanted to hear.

Zuko splashed his face with water again, as if it might wash the confusion from his mind. I almost let my anger get the best of me.

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Kat stood in front of her small dresser. It was battered old metal, dented and a bit rusted. A washbowl of clean water sat on its top, and a mirror rested half-hazardly against the wall.

She splashed some water on her face first, cleaning the sweat from her eyes. With her hand gloved in faintly glowing water, Kat began to heal her burns. One by one the angry marks closed and sealed shut; it was fascinating to watch. She'd never known water benders could heal until she had reached the North Pole. The fact they wouldn't teach her combat bending had angered her, but at least her healing skills were well advanced.

Focused on healing herself, Kat let the minutes tick by and tried not to think about what had happened. When she was done, she let the water drip back into the wash bowl.

Her reflection watched her movements, looking back at her with disappointment.

"How could you Kat?" Her mothers voice whispered in her mind. "How could you treat him like that?"

In the mirror she can see her dream replaying for her. "How could you Kat?"

"I…I…" she stammered. Her vision blurred with tears. She blinked rapidly to fight them back in a losing battle. "I let my anger get the best of me," she whispers, "and now I've become the kind of person I hate."

"If you carry so much hate in your heart it will corrupt you too one day."

Her tears finally broke free and cascaded down her cheeks. Her knees buckled and she sank to the ground, unable to look at herself in the mirror anymore.

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Hours later there was a knock on Kat's door. She wiped at her eyes and stood up, using the dresser for support.

Iroh waited patiently for the door to open, Zuko was still asleep from the tea. The physician had bandaged him and let him rest. When Kat did open the door, her eyes were still red and her brown hair tangled and disheveled.

She avoided his eyes and said nothing.

"Miss Kat," Iroh began with a sigh, "the soldiers have told me what you said to Zuko and what happened and –"

"Don't." Kat held up her hand to stop him. "I was wrong, about a lot of things."

"Oh?"

"I…I blamed him for the war, and all the pain it's caused, because he's Ozai's son. And I…I shouldn't. I can't blame him for what others have done. I just…I was wrong." Her voice is soft and distant.

"That is good to hear Miss Kat." Iroh shifted his weight from one leg to another, and folded his hands in his sleeves. It seemed to be a usual position for him while speaking.

"Zuko's kept his word in our deal, he rescued me from Zhao, and he stopped himself today, and I returned it all by stabbing him in the back – literally. I…I'm no better than the people I've grown up hating." She licks her lips slowly and stares at the ground; it hurts to say out loud what she's been thinking for the past few hours. I didn't mean to disappoint you Mom, she thinks.

"We all make mistakes, but we must learn to forgive, not just others, but ourselves, only then can we move forwards and make amends. My nephew is not a bad man, as I have told you before. I think it is time you knew how he got the scar that defines him."

She finally peeled her golden-flecked eyes from the ground to look at him, though the eye contact is only brief. "How?"

"I let Zuko in to a council meeting in the War Room. There, one of the older generals suggested a strategy which would have put new recruits on the front line, using them as a distraction for an elite team to sneak around back." Iroh's normally jolly features darken with old anger, "Zuko realized this would result in the deaths of many of the recruits, and he spoke out against it. Unfortunately, my brother does not have compassion, even for his own family. For his outburst, Zuko was challenged to an Agni Kai – a Fire Bender's duel - except it was not against the old general, but against his own father. Ozai gave him that scar when Zuko refused to fight him."

Kat's jaw dropped. He was branded for caring for his people, she realized. Her heart sank with a new degree of guilt for the things she had said.

"There are many things that Zuko still has to learn, or has learned but has yet to accept. I have faith that he will become the good man I know him to be."

"He's lucky to have you as an uncle, and a mentor, then." She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it down a little bit and sighed, "Can I see him?"

"Of course Miss Kat, he is in his room, resting."

"Thank you, Iroh."

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"Come in!" Zuko, sitting on the corner of his bed, assumed the knock on the door was Iroh.

The heavy metal door open just a little bit, Kat slipped inside, and shut.

"Get out." He demanded, shocked that she'd dare to show her face in his own room.

Kat didn't listen and approached him, biting her lip nervously. She dropped to her knees in front of him, but didn't bow her head. Sitting back on her haunches she said softly, "I'm sorry Zuko. I was wrong about a lot of things, and I was wrong to attack you with your back turned."

"Get up," he was uncomfortable with her kneeling, and with her apology. He stood up, wincing with pain, and paced to the other side of the room.

She rose as he demanded; swallowing a lump of guilt when he winced. "I really am sorry. I…I've never acted like that before." I've never felt that kind of malice before. "Let me heal your wounds."

It was rare that Zuko didn't know what to say; he could always come up with something. This was one of those few times, and so he kept his mouth shut. I can't remember the last time someone actually apologized to me.

A few moments of silence ticked by, and since Zuko didn't protest, Kat walked to the dresser and dipped her hands into the washbowl. The prince kept pacing. As she approached him again he stepped out of her reach. "Please, it's the least I can do. We can't pretend like it didn't happen, but no one has to carry any scars from it." He stopped pacing and turned around towards her.

The water was cool against his skin; Kat marveled at his warmth. She started with the shallow cuts on his bicep and chest, her eyes downcast and focused on her work. With nimble fingers she carefully began to remove the white linen bandage wrapped around his torso. She didn't ask him to move, but rather stepped behind him herself.

Zuko heard her gasp softly behind him and took a deep breath. Kat stared in horror, not just at the angry puncture wounds she had given him, but at the pale pink scars that ran down his back. He's been whipped, several times at least.

"These will sting a little…" she forewarned him before placing her hands over the first stab wound. They glowed a soft white; he grunted but otherwise didn't show any sign of pain. There were four deep wounds in all, taking Kat a good fifteen minutes to finish. When she was done, she let the water drip off her hands to the floor. Before stepping away, Kat dared to trace one of the old scars with her finger tip.

The world spun for a moment as Kat stepped back. She was exhausted physically and mentally, and now had over taxed her bending skills. She moved to the bed and sat down quickly before her legs had a chance to buckle on her, not thinking of the fact that this was the Fire Nation Prince's bed.

"Will you forgive me?" Kat broke the silence and finally lifted her eyes to meet Zuko's.

With a bit of surprise, he realized she had been crying, the faint pink hue to her eyes giving her away. Forgiveness is not an ability his father had had nor encouraged in his children.

Zuko nodded.

The corner of her lips curled with a smile of relief.

"I guess I should go get some rest," Kat stood up from the bed, not entirely sure if she'll make it to her room before falling asleep. Part of her hoped for an apology from him as well, but she knew not to expect too much; she could see how difficult it was for Zuko to handle her apology.

As she stepped past him, his hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm. She stopped and turned to him expectantly.

Suddenly all the things Zuko wanted to say evaporated in his mind, leaving him to murmur, "I'm sorry about your parents," before letting go of her arm.

"Thank you," she managed to respond with surprise before turning away.

At the doorway she stopped, with hand on the cool metal handle. She spoke to the door without turning around, "I don't understand why you hide your heart Zuko. Compassion isn't a weakness; it's an asset to a good leader. A good leader can balance compassion with power."

Zuko said nothing, he didn't move either, but watched her in his peripheral vision.

"I can't pretend to understand you. I just know that you're a damn talented fire bender and as stubborn and strong willed as I am. I'm sorry for this morning, and thank you again, for rescuing me from Zhao." With that, she pulled the door open and left before he could respond.

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Overhead the sky was overcast with dark grey clouds and below the water was shrouded in gray fog. It was mid-evening and Zuko and Kat stared out at the dark sea, searching for a horizon that didn't exist.

Most of the crew was still finishing eating; a few were playing various board games like pai sho. Kat wasn't really sure how she'd wound up on the deck with Zuko really, but she didn't mind. As far as she could tell, he didn't either. The friction had finally given way to a quiet understanding.

Zuko was thinking about her parting remarks from earlier. He hadn't ever been complimented on his bending before. In fact, his sister and father had reminded him daily of how bad he was. Unlike Azula, Zuko was not a prodigy, and he had to work hard to improve his fire bending. It seemed to him that Kat was the same way. He hadn't had the chance to reply, but he had realized he respected her skills.

A couple of parrot-dolphins broke the surface a few yards from the ship's bow.

"Oh! Look!" Kat was quickly distracted, seizing the opportunity to break the uncomfortable silence without having to come up with something to say.

"So? They're just parrot-dolphins." Zuko shrugged, "What's the big deal?"

"They're so neat! They're fun to watch." Kat beamed like a little kid as she watched the animals leap from the air and splash back down. "I guess you see them frequently though so they're not special anymore."

Zuko shrugged again. "I guess. I wouldn't really know I don't normally look for them." He glanced at Kat, who was still smiling as she watched the parrot-dolphins below. Something about the way she lit up at the sight of animals made him think of the turtleducks back home as a child.

Kat kept her eyes on the parrot-dolphins and mused out loud, "You didn't have a lot of friends as a kid did you Zuko?"

The prince frowned a bit. The only person who used his first name so casually was Iroh, and he was family. And that was only in private. Even his father never called him by name. She had done it before as well, but he hadn't really noticed it then. She really doesn't know how to treat royalty, he thought. No, she just doesn't care, he corrected himself

"I…no. Not really. Azula had Ty Lee and Mai, but I don't remember any real friends in the palace."

"Azula?" Kat still watched the parrot-dolphins; it unnerved him now that she wasn't making eye contact.

"My sister."

"Ahh." More silence. This is the most he's ever said to me I think, Kat realized. It was still uncomfortable, but it was lightening up a bit. "I guess it's sort of obvious." She laughed softly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Zuko felt his anger rising, she's laughing at me?!

"It just means that you don't seem used to having someone your age around." Kat shrugged and finally straightened and looked back at him. His gold eyes met hers.

"Royal family members don't associate with commoners, if that's what you're getting at." Zuko's gaze flashed with annoyance.

He expected Kat to snap at him, and for a whole new fight to start, but she didn't. Kat stared at him intensely for moment, before shaking her head sadly. "You don't get it Zuko. You're not better than anyone else just because you have more power. One day, you'll have to spend time with 'we commoners' and then you'll see. You'll learn it, one way or another. Everyone needs a friend or two eventually." She shrugged, and finally started walking away. She took only a few steps before pausing, and glancing over her shoulder. "And for what it's worth, Iroh told me how you got your scar, since you never did. And I think you did the right thing, speaking out against the general and for your people like that. I think your father was wrong. And I don't think you have to regain your honor; you never lost it." Again, she walked away from him, although this time he was too lost in thought to care.

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Iroh watched the girl as she drew water from the ocean below and began to practice. Her movements were fluid and smooth and had improved since the first time he saw her fight his nephew. He realized Zuko would be around soon to watch her; Iroh always knew what was going on.

"Evening Miss Kat," he said as he approached her, bowing a little. She startled a bit but didn't drop the water as she pulled and pushed the orb in her hands.

"Evening General Iroh."

"Please, it is Uncle Iroh, or just Iroh." He offered with a smile. It surprised her how calm he was considering she had tried to kill his beloved nephew. "I am glad that you and Zuko have reached a point of mutual respect."

Mutual respect? I guess that's a good term for it. She nodded a little bit. Kat stared at the water as she wrapped around her hand, then slipped it off and wrapped around the other. Iroh seems like a good man now, even if perhaps long ago he wasn't. And he's right, Zuko has a heart that he chooses to ignore. She sighed softly as she continued play with her water, letting the tendrils slither up and down and around her body. The Fire Nation Royalty has been corrupt for almost a century, yet these two aren't. Maybe if Iroh were Fire Lord this war would have ended.

Suddenly, Kat looked up sharply. "Zuko's the key isn't he?"

"What do you mean?" Iroh's normally jovial face grew serious and questioning. He didn't mind the silence, it was best for thinking, yet clearly she was considering complicated issues.

"This war has gone on for a hundred years. Defeating the current Fire Lord means nothing. His son assumes the throne, and the war continues. But if that son was different, if he was sick of the war, and the violence, and the destruction…."

The older man nodded faintly. "This war will not end until there is a Fire Lord who wants it to."

"So why not you?" Kat tilted her head as she studied Iroh.

"That is a long story, perhaps for another night. But simply enough, now I am too old to rule, and without an heir myself." Iroh stated, sadness creeping into his voice. "You are right, Miss Kat. If Zuko were to learn such lessons while outside of the Fire Nation and then become Fire Lord, the war could finally end."

"Then I hope he does learn, and I hope you can teach him well. A hundred years is too long."

"I agree," he replied, his voice tainted with regret. "I shall leave you to your practicing, Miss Kat, sleep well."

He passed Zuko in the hallway as he headed back to his room.

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Kat raced down the hallway, exploded out of the door onto the deck, and skidded to a halt. "Sorry!" she shouted. She had over slept by about an hour. It was understandable given her exhaustion from the previous day, but she still felt bad. Land was in sight; the ship would be docked by the afternoon and Kat would leave. She didn't want their last sparring session to be the previous days fight.

Across the deck Zuko was finishing a round with a soldier. Dodging a blast of flame, Zuko cleanly executed a spinning jump-kick and the blast of fire from his foot sent the soldier tumbling back.

He looked over at Kat. "It's about time you go out of bed, damn water benders," he yelled.

Kat saw the soldiers tense up, even at a distance. A few looked away. They suspected another fight was coming. Instead, Kat laughed, and made her way across the deck. "Not everyone is a morning person. Besides, I wasn't given permission to sleep until late last night," she shot back at him with a playful smirk. And for once, Zuko didn't take it as an insult, but accepted her sarcastic teasing.

The two benders took their fighting positions, and the sparring match began. Kat could feel that Zuko was holding back on her. She could only figure that he was afraid of repeating yesterday, of seriously injuring her. But Kat wanted a fair match for their last one, and so she went all out.

Trying something new, Kat let part of her whip break off and fly at Zuko. As it went through the air, she froze it, effectively turning it into an ice spear. He dodged it with ease, but his face reflected his awe.

She pushed harder, forcing Zuko pushed harder in return. Even so, Kat won and demanded a rematch in which he wouldn't let her win. Zuko denied doing such a thing. The second match, he won.

By then the morning was almost gone; the sun had climbed high in the sky, and the port was in sight. Kat washed up, changed, and packed what few things she had.

She emerged onto the ship's deck for the last time.

"Here, take this." Iroh thrust a brown leather sack at her. It was bulging; Kat guessed it was food, but she wasn't sure what else.

"No I –"

"I insist!" He hooked the bag onto her arm.

Kat shrugged it up onto her shoulder and smiled. "Thank you." Impulsively, she threw her arms around the old man's neck in a big hug and whispered, "Thank you. Good luck with him, and fare well Uncle." She stepped back. Zuko had appeared on the deck near the gangplank, pacing back and forth.

"Prince Zuko, I...Thank you, for everything. I hope you've learned as much as I have."

"Farewell Kat." It was all he said. Zuko was clearly uncomfortable. Goodbyes were always awkward, especially this one. He still wasn't sure what to make of her.

That's the first time he's used my name, Kat realized with a smile. "Good luck finding your way home. Remember that home is most than we were raised, it's anywhere our loved ones are." In her heart, she didn't want him to catch the Avatar. Zuko thought the only way home was to capture the Avatar and return to his Father, but Kat had faith that he would find another way. "Maybe we'll meet again some day. Farewell."

Kat turned, walked down the gangplank, and never looked back.

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The ship left port the same day. It was quieter without Kat around, and calmer. The crew relaxed; they weren't afraid of another fight breaking out between the stubborn water bender and their stubborn prince. The tension was gone.

The sun set and the stars came out. The ship was far from port. The moon over head remained only partially full, offering a little light, but not much.

The deck was quiet except for the soft sound of water lapping past the ship as moved. It was deserted, except for one figure, leaning against the wall.

Zuko stared at the empty space near the railing. As usual, his mind raced with a dozen different thoughts and just as many questions. Except tonight, there was no waterbender to watch to help him relax. Tonight, there was only a memory of a girl who dared to defy a prince, who refused to bow to anyone, and who had earned his respect.

He watched the empty deck for an hour, and then retired to his room.

A.N. This concludes "Faith in the Enemy" but the story of Kat and Zuko continues in "The Other Waterbender: Finding the Way" so please go to my profile and follow the links from there to the second part!