Another quickly-updated chapter! hopefully you ppl. will like this one better than the last one. I know Jet was a sore spot for some of you. Hopefully this chapter will make up for the last.

disclaimer: sadly, and must unfortunately, i do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. sniff

Chapter Twenty-two

Time passed slowly for Zuko as he sat in the chamber. His mind constantly shifted to Katara. He wondered what was happening. Where had she and Jet gone? The torches along the wall flickered, throwing deep shadows on the walls.

Was that how she saw him? Did Katara see him as only darkness and fire? Zuko sighed. It didn't matter now. Katara and Jet obviously had quite the past. And they were obviously rekindling that past.

Zuko stood and began to pace. He hadn't said anything. He had the opportunity and he didn't take it. Now Katara was drifting away, and he felt his own shadows more sharply than ever.

Suddenly, he punched the wall, small flames flickering around his fist. "Why?" he asked angrily.

"You are in much pain."

Zuko turned his head and saw the same mysterious woman as before. Her molten eyes looked at him, kindness swirling in their depths.

"Go away," he muttered. "I don't need your sympathy."

"Fair enough," the woman said. She walked away.

Zuko frowned and turned his back to the wall. "Where are you going?"

A small smile flickered on the woman's face as she settled herself on a low bench. "I'm giving you space. By all means, continue your ranting and raving. I don't mind."

Zuko stared at the woman in bewilderment but she blithely ignored him, intent on fixing the skirt of her garnet-red dress. After a moment, she began humming to herself, making little figures of fire in her hands.

The tune was haunting and familiar, one Zuko had often heard in his childhood. It was a song his mother used to sing to him. Curious now, Zuko took a seat on the floor beside her feet and watched her little fire figures walk around in the air.

He watched as two figures met beside an ocean of fire. The man and woman went through the motions of a courtship before falling into one another's arms. It pained Zuko to see it, but he could not tear his eyes away from the sight. He watched as more people came, to separate the lovers, to keep them from each other. But then they entered the Spirit World to beg help from the Moon and Sun. Their wish was granted and they were returned to one another, to live out their days in love.

But it was not meant to be. In death they were separated once more, one to live during the day, the other to live in the night. Only twice a day were they permitted to touch one another. When night and day blended into one, as they had blended, they met and could hold one another once more.

As the fire died away, Zuko glanced up at the woman. "But how can they go on, knowing they have only moments to be together?"

The woman sighed and placed a startlingly cool hand on his cheek. "Because they remember their struggles, and know that even a few moments will help them until the next."

The prince frowned. "Will they ever be free?"

Now the woman's sigh was filled with pain and longing. She looked off into the distance as she answered him. "'The price in death was paid, so that the two who loved lived a lifetime as one. In death they are parted, but for a moment when night becomes day and day night, until two of such like are made whole.'" She looked at Zuko, a smile forming on her face. "That is what drives us. Hope."

"'Us?'" Zuko echoed. "You--?"

She nodded. "Yes. I am Savitri. Nilam and I had our life together, free of dissention, and though we wish for more than this shadowed life, we are grateful for such a gift."

"But…"

Savitri placed a finger on his lips. "It is all right Prince Zuko. We accepted such a fate then. We will not back out now." She turned her head towards the door. "Ah. I must leave you now." She looked back. "But I will be here when you need me."

And with that, she was gone. A moment later, the door to the chamber opened and Katara stepped in, closing the door behind her. "Zuko?"

Zuko's heart leapt when he saw she was alone, but he tamped down his happiness. Instead, he rose calmly, his face blank, and walked towards her. "What happened to Jet?" he asked, trying to keep the jealousy from his voice.

Katara cocked her head at the odd sound in Zuko's voice, but she answered him. "I showed Jet around a bit, but he was tired so I made him go get some rest." Her brow furrowed with concern. "I'm worried about him, Zuko. He's still recovering and I don't want him to exhaust himself. I know he's had his rough patches, but he's still a friend."

Zuko was so relieved that Katara thought of Jet as only a friend that he didn't think. He simply marched right up to Katara and trapped her against the wall with his body. Her blue eyes were wide with surprise and curiosity at his bold behavior and he couldn't resist. He kissed her.

After a moment, Katara melted into him, unable to think of anything but him. She closed her eyes and gasped as he wrapped his arms about her waist, allowing his tongue to dart inside her mouth.

Zuko was amazed. She tasted like snow and honey. He pressed even closer, kissing her with all the emotions pent up inside of him. Katara's arms snaked around his neck, drawing him even closer. They couldn't have stopped if they wanted to.

When they finally broke apart, Katara was looking up at him, her eyes full of some unfamiliar emotion. "Zuko…"

He turned away from what he saw in her eyes, afraid of what was there. He reached up and brushed his fingers along his scar. "Why?" he asked her. "How can you not see, not be bothered that my face isn't whole?"

Katara's eyes filled with tears at the pain in Zuko's voice. "Zuko, that's not who you are." When he didn't respond to her words, Katara dashed the tears from her eyes. "And if you think it is, then you've made a grave error in judgment."

"But, I'm not…"

She moved forward and placed a kiss on his lips. "You're fine the way you are, Zuko. I offered to heal you once, and I would do so a thousand times more, but it wasn't for my benefit." She gave him a mischievous smile. "Besides, it makes you look mysterious and roguish. Live with it."

Zuko was taken aback. He looked at Katara, taking in her bright eyes and smiling mouth. The world was coming apart around them and she still found time to laugh. It was amazing.

Katara laughed and took hold of his hand, twining her fingers with his. "Now come on. I want to show you something."

Zuko said nothing, merely let Katara drag him from the room. "She seems to do that to a lot of people…"

Iroh watched as Zuko and Katara hurried down the hall together, never noticing that he was standing in the shadows. He entered the hidden chamber and bowed his head. "Thank you for watching over my Nephew. He is misguided and sometimes does not know his own mind. In return, I will tell you that your love has revealed himself to young Katara as well. Perhaps this curse has run its course."

Savitri stepped from the shadows. "Perhaps," she allowed. The woman cocked her head to the side. "But how do you know of me? And of my curse?"

"I have heard many stories in my travels. One was of two spirits kept from each other. It was said their bodies were placed in the possession of the Air nomads because their families would not allow either to rest in the other Nation. But I did not guess it was true until my Nephew slipped into the Spirit World."

Savitri bowed her head. "Then you know how we are to be set free. Do not think that I would manipulate your nephew. I am only attempting to help him. He is…conflicted. And I would not wish for him to be unhappy because of his family." She sighed. "I would not wish that on anyone."

"Again, I must thank you for watching over Zuko. And I must ask. Who is it that keeps this room so orderly when no one but spirits live here?"

For a moment, Savitri was silent. And then she leaned close to Iroh and whispered the answer in his ear. Shocked, the old General stepped back. "If this is so, then…"

Savitri nodded sadly. "She left when she spotted the Avatar's bison. When you leave, she will return. But she will keep her promise."

Iroh bowed once more and watched as Savitri faded away. The news had shocked him, yes, but he must not give such a thing away. He, too, had promised something long ago. He would not go back on that promise now.

Oooh…what could it be? Sorry, folks, but this one won't be known until the end…still, that doesn't mean there won't be hints…Did you like the Zutaraness? Oh, and sorry to all those who want more. I'm afraid kissing and hand holding is as deep as it's gonna get…well, there may be some places where people can assume something happened, but, for the most part, things will be kept clean. Disappointing, I know...Well, you know what I'm after…Review!