A/N: Will this be the chapter when Zutara begins? Who knows…you must read to find out…mwahaha!
I do not, will not, and always wish I could, own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Damn.
Chapter Four
They'd been in the forest for nearly a week, healing wounds and resting up. It was time to leave. Which was why Katara was, yet again, wandering through the woods, picking berries and nuts to eat. Who else would do it? Sokka?
Katara snorted at that thought. "Yeah, right. Like he would lift a finger for anything he deems 'women work.'"
So here she was, marching around, doing all the work, yet again. It wasn't as if no one else could do it. Sokka, if he wasn't so thickheaded, would be perfectly capable…all right, maybe not. Toph really couldn't get food and Aang was too busy with Appa. Still, Katara didn't mind, as much as she complained about it. In fact, it gave her a lot of much-needed alone time. Not to mention that she could defend herself if someone was stupid enough to attack her.
Humming, Katara began putting the food she found in the crease of her dress. Holding it out like a basket, the blue material was perfect. She didn't even drop anything. She went from plant to plant, unaware of what was about to happen.
Prince Zuko watched from the underbrush as the Water Tribe girl gathered food. Iroh had stayed with the ship, confident that Zuko could take care of himself. He was all alone, as was Katara.
As he watched, sunlight pierced the canopy of the trees and danced around Katara, playing in her dark hair and lighting her sapphire eyes. Zuko could barely breathe as he looked on the sight.
"She's beautiful!"
He shook his head. "Focus."
Zuko got himself under control and a moment later, Katara turned away, her back towards him. This was the perfect opportunity. He could capture her and gain the attention of the Avatar. The airbender would surely come after his friend. And, while Zuko could face him now, the firebender would rather speak to the Avatar on his own terms.
He crept forward, eyes focused on Katara. He would capture the waterbender and, by doing so, capture the Avatar. And after that…well, he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.
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She heard a sound behind her but, instead of whirling to face whatever it was, Katara stilled. She didn't want to attack one of her friends if they were just playing a joke on her. Calmly, she moved her hand as if she were picking more berries. Instead, she was readying her bending water. There was also a stream nearby. If worse came to worse, she could use that as well.
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He lifted his arms to capture her and moved closer, trying to be as quiet as possible. She still seemed unaware of his presence and Zuko wanted to keep it that way. He stepped even closer and then…
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She whirled around, readying herself for an attack. What she saw made her pause, but only for the barest of moments. With a cry, Katara began to bend.
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Zuko dodged Katara's water whip and shot a fireball from his hand, aiming, not for Katara, but for her water. If he could evaporate her water, he'd be able to stop her from bending.
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Katara growled low as she noticed what Zuko was trying to do. So the began to bend the water from the nearby creek, pulling it towards her. He would not beat her. She wouldn't let him.
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Dodge, duck, strike, dodge. It was almost like a dance but Zuko was growing tired of it. The water kept lashing at him, cutting his arms and slashing at his legs. She had even managed to call more water to her. He needed to end this quickly.
Smiling grimly, Zuko dodged another blow and jabbed at her with his hand, going for the one pressure point Ty Lee had taught him. It was the most important one and was dangerous to use. But he needed her to come quietly. He couldn't risk bringing the others to them, not if his plan was going to work.
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A stinging in her neck was all she felt right before she fell into darkness. She opened her mouth and whispered something she had never said before in her life.
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"You son of a—"
Zuko caught her right before she hit the ground. Making sure no one was coming, he lifted her up and carried her away, ignoring his own cuts and bruises to examine a small burn he had managed to give her. It was situated on her collarbone, visible where the fire had burned through her dress.
After a moment, he turned and disappeared into the woods, heading back to the ship as quickly as he dared. Zuko wanted her burn healed. When he reached the ship, his uncle said nothing, merely gave him an inquiring look. After a moment, Zuko realized why. He had been gazing down at the Water Tribe girl, staring in wonder at the curve of her tanned cheek and how her eyelashes were black crescents against her skin.
Embarrassed, Zuko looked away and trudged onto the ship with his charge. "I was making sure she's all right, Uncle," he explained softly. "It won't do any good to have her hurt."
Behind Zuko's back, Iroh smiled. "Of course, Nephew," he murmured.
Katara woke to the feel of the ocean. Muttering, she rolled onto her side and snuggled deeper into the blankets, convinced she was dreaming. She couldn't be on the ocean, wrapped up in warm blankets and sleeping on a soft cot…
Suddenly, she sat up. Blankets? A cot? She looked around and found that she was indeed on a ship, and most likely out in the middle of the ocean, too, judging on the gentle rocking of the boat. "What…?"
And then it started to come back to her. She had been gathering food—because Sokka would never do it—when she was attacked from behind by…
"Zuko," she growled, jumping from the cot. Katara moved towards the door, only to find that one of her ankles was tied to the leg of the cot. And that was when she noticed her water skin was gone. And there were no windows whatsoever. After a moment of panicking, Katara began to desperately pull on the rope. She tugged ruthlessly but it didn't even stretch. And the knot…it was too strong and tight for her to undo.
Tears gathered in her eyes and she slumped to the floor, leaning her back against the cot. She glared at the door. "I thought you changed…"
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Zuko paused in front of the door, hearing a whisper. So she was awake. He looked down at the tray in his hand and sighed. He would have to go in. As much as he wished he could, there was no possible way that her food could slip under the crack of the door.
"Afraid?" asked a voice in his head.
"No!"
"I think you are. You're afraid that she'll start yelling at you the moment you walk in."
Zuko shook his head and, balancing the tray with one hand, reached to open the door. "No. I'm afraid she won't say a word.
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Katara watched as the door slowly opened, revealing the last person she wanted to see. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was still hurt over his betrayal. She really thought he had changed. But then he had turned on her and spoken so coldly, as if the heat she had felt from him was nothing but an illusion.
Feeling fresh tears well up in her eyes, she turned away from him, from his impossibly golden eyes and the tray of delicious looking food he carried. She would not show weakness, not in front of him.
She held back a sob. Was she doomed to always trust the wrong guy? First Jet and then Zuko. Perhaps she was never meant to be anything more than a sister to those who did love her.
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Zuko paused as he saw tears filling those sapphire eyes. He stepped closer but stopped again as she turned away, disappointment and sadness coming off of her in waves. Sighing, Zuko bent down and placed his tray on the floor, pushing it so that it would slide to rest next to Katara.
He stood. "You should eat," he whispered, before turned and walking out of the room. As he closed the door, he heard a sob. Though it hurt, Zuko kept his face passive and walked away, determined not to care. He couldn't care. Katara was just a pawn, along with the Avatar.
Finally, he understood. His father would either give him back his honor or Zuko would take it back. There was no other way. He could not afford to feel for anyone involved. It would complicate things too much.
But, even as he told himself not to get involved, Zuko could still hear Katara's sobs. And it touched his heart.
"Katara! Katara, where are you?"
Sokka snorted. "She's probably just mad because I won't pick berries or flowers or whatever." He looked away. Despite his words, he was getting worried. They hadn't seen Katara for a couple of hours and it was getting late. They needed to go.
Aang glared at him. "How can you say that? She might be in trouble!" He moved away, gray eyes searching the woods beyond. "Katara!"
Sighing, Sokka walked in the other direction and cupped a hand to his mouth. They had left Toph with Appa and Momo, certain she could take care of herself. "Katar—" He stopped, spotting something strange. He moved closer to the tree and his blood suddenly ran cold. "Aang! Aang, come here!"
The airbender bounded over to his companion and cocked his head to the side. "What is it Sokka?"
The Water Tribe boy pointed to the burn on the tree. "Fire Nation. She's been captured."
A/N: Oooooh! Yay! The Zutaraness has begun! Isn't it wonderful? All right, ppl., you know the drill. Time to review! I'll try and get up my next chapter quick. Bye!