Here we go. A brand new chapter. I know it's been a while, but I had chemistry homework and then I spent the weekend with my friends, having movie-thons and practicing with various weapons and what not…well, now… Will the two lovebirds-to-be find themselves alone? Let's hope so. here it is. Enjoy! And remember…review please!

Chapter Eleven

Katara watched Zuko as he stared into the fire. She wondered what he was thinking about. Was he thinking of his choices? Was he wondering whether or not he made the right choice? Or was he thinking about something else all together?

"Dream on, Katara."

She sighed sadly, entranced by the way the light of the fire danced across Zuko's skin. He could never feel the same way she did. She cared for him, this firebender, though she had told herself not to. How deeply that caring and affection went, Katara didn't know. But she did know that she could never tell Zuko unless she knew how he felt.

"He seems so lonely. Maybe the best way to begin a friendship is by offering solace in the midst of the storm."

Agreeing, for once, with her inner voice, Katara rose and crossed the cave to sit beside Zuko. Though he turned his head to look at her, he didn't seem surprised that she had joined him.

"What are you thinking about?" Katara asked, keeping her voice quiet. Iroh was asleep and she didn't want to wake him up.

Zuko turned back to the fire. "Nothing," he replied gruffly. "You wouldn't understand."

Katara moved closer. "Try me."

The firebender turned startled eyes on Katara. He was silent for a moment, his golden eyes simply searching her sapphire ones. Then he nodded. "I was thinking about my mother…and the night she disappeared."

Katara tried not to gasp. Disappeared? Though she, too, had lost her mother, at least she knew what happened to her. Zuko didn't. Anything could have happened to her.

Zuko went on, his words gushing out as if, now that he had told her one thing, he simply needed to tell all of it. "My father had taken our family in to see Fire Lord Azulon. This was just after Uncle Iroh lost his son and my father suggested that Azulon make him Fire Lord, though Uncle's older. Grandfather was furious and sent everyone but my father from the chamber. But Azula and I hid."

He sighed and Katara placed a hand on his arm, silently urging him to continue. "I ran away after a few moments but Azula stayed. That night, Azula came and told me that Azulon was going to make my father kill me. I shouted at her and our mother came in. She took Azula aside to speak with her and then left. Later, when I was sleeping, my mother came into my room and told me that everything she had done she did for me." A frown flickered across his face and he abruptly turned away. "I never found out what happened to her and, what's worse, I'm responsible. Somehow, I know it's my fault."

His shoulders began to shake and Katara gently turned him, wrapping him in a comforting hug. "It's not your fault, Zuko. You couldn't have known what was going to happen. And you don't know what did happen, only that she disappeared."

They fell into a comfortable silence and then Katara shifted away. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand. "Zuko? How did you get your scar?"

Zuko visibly jumped. "I—" Suddenly, he stood and walked towards the back of the cave. "I'm tired. I think I'll turn in."

"Zuko." He stopped. "Zuko, you can't run from this. If you ever hope to do any good, you're going to have to start trusting someone. You'll have to start trusting me."

For a moment he didn't say anything, merely stood there. Then, without turning, he said, "I'm a prince. Why would I ever trust a peasant like you?"

"W-what?"

"You heard me, peasant. I. Don't. Have. To. Trust. You."

Katara moved closer, hand held out in entreaty. "I thought…"

At that moment, he turned, a scornful look on his face. "What? That we could be friends? I'm joining the Avatar to get back at my father, not because I've 'turned good' or whatever."

Katara's arm dropped at the contempt in his voice. After a moment, her face hardened. "I thought you changed, Zuko," she whispered fiercely, her words all too familiar. "But it appears you're still the same heartless person I believed you to be. Have a nice time trying to find convince Aang without me." And with that, she ran from the cave, disappearing into the raging storm.

It took Zuko a moment for his anger to cool but, when it did, he nearly cried out. What had he been thinking?

"You weren't."

He had tried to avoid her questions, had tried to stop himself from telling her anymore, but when she kept asking, anger had boiled up inside. And it had spilled over, only to burn the one person that Zuko never wanted to hurt. Her sapphire eyes had filled with tears because of him. Again. And now she was gone. She was out in the storm, crying and upset.

I thought you changed… Oh, how he wished to never hear those words from her again. How he wished he would never give her another reason to utter them.

"Oh no." He raced to the mouth of the cave, ignoring the rain that blew in, soaking him to the bone. "Katara! Katara, come back! Kataraaaaaaa!" Glancing back at his uncle, Zuko stepped out into the storm and followed the only thing he could see; a dim patch of blue cloth. It was dangerous to run out into the storm like that, but he needed to find her. He had to.

-------

Iroh woke up to find the cave eerily quiet. Though the storm raged outside, there was no noise from inside. Frantically, he looked around, but the place was empty. A flash of lighting lit up the cave, followed almost instantly by a thunderous crash. Zuko and Katara were gone, probably lost in the storm, and Iroh knew that it would be too dangerous to go and search for them until morning.

Another crash shook the cave and Iroh bowed his head. "Agni protect them."

Katara ran through the trees, nearly sightless from tears and rain. She was blind and, though she could easily bend the water away from her, she was too upset and too tired to do it. She splashed through a deep stream and scrambled up the other side.

She shouldn't have left the cave. She knew that, but at the moment, she didn't want to turn back. Zuko had been so cruel. How could she face him again? Above her, lightning tore the sky in two. Thunder followed not a second later. She gave a small cry and went faster, wanting to find somewhere safe she could rest for the night. She would return when the storm stopped.

Through the trees, Katara spotted what looked like another cave. Grinning triumphantly, she picked up the pace, only to trip over a root. She went flying, letting out a loud cry. She felt herself hit a tree and then all went black.

-------

Zuko was thoroughly lost when the patch of blue he had been following suddenly disappeared. His heart stopped and he ran to the place where he had last seen it. Frantically, he looked around, hoping he could make out where she had gone, though he doubted he would.

Suddenly, he heard a faint moan through the sound of thunder and rain. He cast his golden eyes down and searched the forest floor, finally breathing when he spotted her crumpled next to a tree. But, as he drew closer, his heart started to pound again. Her face was covered in blood and her tanned skin was abnormally pale.

He knelt in the mud and gently lifted her. As he stood, Zuko looked around, needing to find his way back to the cave. He didn't find his own trail, but he did find what looked like another cave. Katara had probably been running towards it when she hit her head.

He walked as quickly as he dared with Katara limp in his arms. When he reached the cave, he thankfully rushed in and set about trying to find something for a fire. Luckily, there was a bit of wood in the cave, along with leaves and dried sweet grass.

When the fire was lit, Zuko tore a bit of his shirt and held it in the rain, wetting it so that he could clean Katara's wounds. Luckily, the cut wasn't too deep and he didn't think that she had had a concussion. Still, he lay down beside her and wrapped his arms about her, lending his body heat in addition to the fire. He kissed her forehead lightly and drifted off to sleep, hopeful that the storm would stop in the morning. He would apologize to Katara and they would return to the other cave. Everything would be all right.

-------

Unbeknownst to Zuko, the water was rising. Beneath the cover of thunder, there was a small roar and a creek began to swirl dangerously, its banks overflowing. Seawater flooded into the stream, having finally conquered the natural dam that had held it back. The water became deeper and deeper. No one would be able to cross this.

All right, sorry it's short, but I was kind of in a hurry on this one. I hope you enjoyed it, though. Please review!