DISCLAIMER: I don't' own AVATAR.
I'm so sorry for not being here! Thing's are kinda rough right now, so my updates will be few and far apart. Forgive me…
Chapter 11: The Reason
Zuko saw her, and his heart sang. He walked to her slowly, made sure that this was not a dream. He had too often dreamt of her already…
The two men he had sent for her held her firmly, refusing the waterbender any chance at escape. Ignoring the swells of jealousy that washed over at the sight of another man's hands on her, the vampire walked up to the waterbender, and placed his hand on her cheek.
Katara flinched, and Zuko's eyebrow furrowed.
"Are you hurt? Do you need to lie down?" He asked gently. Katara felt sick with herself as she felt her heart speedup at the sound of his velvet voice.
"KATARA!" Zuko looked up at the call, his gold eyes flashing with passion and rage.
Sokka and Aang leaped on board, boomerang drawn and staff pointed threateningly towards the enemy. Zuko took his stance, ready to fight them back for his prize.
How I wish you were here, Uncle, to guide me…
Zuko thought with reverence, closing his eyes. As soon as his eyes shut, Aang blew a gust of air at him. The moment the Prince's eyes opened, he was blown off his feet, and straight in the railing. The vampire Prince gave a groan, and fell to the deck, unmoving, unconscious.
Sokka drew a giant wooden stake from behind his back, and walked towards the vampire, ready to end this and have his sister back. Ready to kill the vampire.
The waterbender the whole fight had been over had watched the whole ordeal in slow motion. Now, with her brother standing over her captor, Katara realized that somehow, she had grown attached to Zuko. She almost thought she loved him. Without thinking, Katara ran, ran towards the warrior and firebender in a last ditch effort to save her own happiness.
"Sokka no!" She cried out. When she reached the two, the waterbender placed herself between Sokka and Zuko, and threw her arms out in protection. Sokka, by will of God, stopped the stake's descent, which would have ended in Katara, stared wide eyed in horror at his sister.
"Katara…?" Sokka asked, bewildered.
"Please, Sokka, if you kill him, more firebenders, more vampires will come after us! If you just leave me here, everything will be fine!" Katara reasoned, never noticing the firebender she was defending was coming to.
"But-" Sokka started. Katara shushed him.
"No. Please, for all our sakes, just go!" Katara begged. Sokka looked at his little sister dead in the eyes, searching for a reason why in Heaven's name was she doing this.
He only saw care. Compassion. Compassion for the thing that had chased them across half the world! How could she do this?
But it was her decision. He didn't want to do this, but if she wanted to, fine. It was her funeral. Quite a bit literally.
"Come on Aang." Sokka said quietly, and made for the gangplank. When he noticed his companion wasn't following, he turned to the airbender and bellowed.
"COME ON!" Aang, frightened, followed quickly, sparing one last glance at Katara, watching them sorrowfully.
With her brother and friend gone, Katara disappeared through the hatch, and went below deck.
Sokka stared into the flames of the campfire moodily. Aang was watching him, worried. The warrior hadn't touched his dinner, and he'd been doing this a lot lately. It frightened the avatar greatly.
Aang sipped thoughtfully at his soup, and sighed inwardly. Dinner was horrible without Katara to cook it. Why had she stayed on that wretched ship?
Didn't Zuko mention something about her not being able to leave without his permission?
Yah, so?
Well, he was kind of unconscious, and Sokka was about to kill him. She'd be sort of screwed, don't you think?
Good point.
So maybe she just stayed on the ship until Zuko woke up, than asked for permission to leave!
Yah! Maybe that's it! And tomorrow, she'll be here, telling us everything is alright!
Hopefully…
Momo's ears pricked, and he hissed. Aang looked at his pet.
"What is it, boy?" Aang asked, then looked into the forest.
"Hey there, boys, mind if I join ya for dinner?" A young, rough, feminine voice asked just out of the fire's light's reach.
Sokka and Aang looked out into the darkness.
Zuko groaned as he stood up. He gingerly put a hand to his sore back and reminded himself to see the doctor about it tomorrow.
In a flash, everything that just happened to him returned! Katara was on the ship!
But instead of going to find her, he went up to the high deck outside the coop. He needed to think about some things.
Katara sighed. She had been sitting on Zuko's bed for half an hour now. She had saved him, didn't he want to thank her?
The waterbender rose to her feet, and left the room, looking for her lover.
She wandered the whole ship, and couldn't find him! Where was he? After a while of searching, Katara arrived at the coop, and saw Zuko outside on the deck. She opened the door that led to the deck, and winced when it creaked loudly. Zuko turned to face her.
"Why Katara, why did you do it?" He asked softly. Katara stared at him.
"Do what?" She asked.
"Why did you stop him from killing me?" He said.
"Because I didn't want you to die." Katara admitted softly.
"Why not? I've caused you nothing but pain! You should have been glad to see me dead!" Zuko said angrily.
"That's not true!" Katara shouted back.
"Why not?" The Fire Prince demanded, rage flashing in his eyes. Katara felt the full force of his angry gaze, his eyes turning molten gold. But she did not back down.
"I…" Katara started, and then realized she didn't have an answer. Sensing this, Zuko waved his hand at her, and turned his back to her.
"Go, you have my permission to leave." He said, dismissing her. Katara stared at the Fire Prince's back, bewildered. He turned his head.
"Did you not hear me? You can leave now, and never have to come back! I won't chase you!" He snapped.
"But-"
"LEAVE!" Zuko roared, flames flying from his lips. Katara, frightened, shoved the door closed, but remained outside. The vampire never noticed. He had already turned back to the view before him, sighing.
Zuko's thoughts were in a state of turmoil. He had seen Katara, his precious siren, but did not want her here anymore. He now realized how much pain he had caused the Avatar and his brother, and wanted it to end. Feeling his sorrow welling up, he started to sing.
I waited for you, today
But you didn't show
No, no, no
I needed you, today
So where did you go?
Katara felt her heart go out to the vampire. He was all alone in this world, and she wanted to comfort him.
You told me to call
Said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?
Zuko continued. Katara walked up to the vampire Fire Prince, took his hand, and started to sing.
I cried out with
No reply and
I can't feel you
By my side so
I'll hold tight to
What I know,
You're here, and I'm never alone
Zuko stared down at her, feeling his heart break. This was his soul mate, the one he was meant to be with.
Katara wrapped her arms around his middle, and buried her face into his chest, and told him her reason why she had saved him.
"I love you."
Woo! Finished! Are ya'll happy I finally got it up? Sorry I've been gone! Ut please, don't expect updates to be often!
INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE THE HIPPIES!
Zukoscute2