Yo! I don't know how much longer I am going to able to update this fast!! I'm going to get mucho busy in about a week and I am going to be bushed. To Claria: You had some more questions: Was her memory taken? I don't want to ruin it, but yes, her memory was taken. How long has she been an assassin? That will be revealed later…hopefully. Did she know the person she just assassinated? That is a good question! Maybe, maybe not. On to the disclaimer!!

Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA, but I did buy a disposable camera yesterday.

"Why did you hesitate, assassin?"

Katara looked up from her kneeled position. She too had wondered this, but there was no way that she was telling Azula that.

"I believed that the man had further values. He could have given you information…,"

"And since when has it been an interest of yours to assist me?" Azula questioned as she crossed her legs and folded her arms.

"What? You mean freely?"

Azula's eyes flashed and her jaw twitched.

"What…did you just say to me, assassin?"

Katara weighed her options. She could repeat what she said, and die. Or she could try to repent…and still probably die. She slowly exhaled.

"My apologies. My tongue sometimes gets away from me."

To Katara's surprise, Azula simply nodded.

"Of course….,"

Azula's hand crept slowly towards that oh so familiar button. Katara visibly stiffened.

Should have went with the first option

Her long painted red nail stopped with the point pressed against the button, but did not push it down.

Azula's face darkened.

"…But straighten it out before I rip it out."

Katara swallowed and grit her teeth.

Azula pulled her hand back, but not too far away to reach the button.

She grinned.

"Now..," she said wistfully as she flipped a strand of hair out of her face. "I want to know the real reason as to why you hesitated."

Katara tried to avoid the question by glancing around the room. It was completely and utterly dark except for Azula's desk and her eerie candles.

Katara glanced back at the young woman. The only time you could see her was when the fire from the candle's wick would flicker across her pale features.

The candle flickered and Katara could see that Azula's patience was waning.

"Assassin?"

Katara blatantly ignored her, turning her face away and stubbornly raising her chin.

Azula's hand began to slide back towards the button.

Katara turned back and groaned.

"Idontknow."

Azula arched a brow.

"Excuse me?"

The other girl sighed and closed her eyes.

"I, don't, know."

Azula bit down on her lower lip.

"You don't?"

Katara's interest in her recent kill reached a new level.

"Yeah, I'm sure I don't."

Azula nodded and reached for her phone. She stopped and frowned.

"Why are you still here, assassin?"

Katara tried to choose her words carefully.

"I am waiting for you to complete our…agreement."

Azula leered and slowly leaned back in her chair. Her fingers, or more correctly, her nails began to drum the desk in a constant rhythm.

"Yes, that. Well, I'm going to have to talk to father about it."

It was Katara's turn to frown.

"I want to leave, Azula. There is nothing more I can do for you, and you know that."

Azula shook her head and tssked while still keeping rhythm with her nails.

"Don't underestimate yourself! You can do a lot more than you think you can!"

Katara clenched her fists.

Let me go, Azula! I've done what you told me to do! I refuse to serve you any longer!"

The drumming stopped. The silence that followed made Katara's blood run cold.

Azula narrowed her eyes. Her hand started to make its way towards the button once again.

Katara gulped and tried to stand her ground.

"You can't scare me, Azula." She narrowed her own eyes. "Not anymore."

Azula gave a short chuckle. "Oh, I don't plan to."

She slammed her fists against the button.

Katara felt the electricity course through her. She jerked and fell to the ground. She clasped her head in her hands and curled into a ball, but she couldn't escape the pain.

Through the bolts of heat that raced through her mind, Katara thought she heard Azula chuckle. She grimaced.

No. You can't break me.

Her fingers grasped the carpet as she pushed her legs underneath her. Katara slowly and unsteadily climbed to her feet. She raised her face to meet Azula's…and grinned.

Azula arched a brow and released the button.

It took all of Katara's strength not to fall down from exhaustion. Her body shook and her breathe came in short gasps. Her arms felt like mush and her legs were no better. She could feel a burn mark beginning to form under her chin and her skin felt ragged and raw.

And it was the best feeling she'd ever had.

She looked Azula in the eyes as she stood tall. "I will leave, Azula, whether you want me to or not."

Katara motioned to the button with slight nod of her head.

"…And I know you can't say no."

Azula's lips tightened, but she said nothing.

Katara inclined her head. "Good-bye, Azula." Her eyes narrowed. "May you rot in hell, you crazy psycho bitch."

With as much dignity as she could command, she limped out of the room and slammed the door.

xXx

Azula was left to ponder her words in silence. After a moments thought, she reached yet again for the phone. She dialed 10 digits then sat back in her chair. She studied her fingernails until the phone was answered.

"She knows." It was a statement, not a question. Azula repressed a sigh. What did she expect from her father?

"No, father, she does not know." Azula's fingers wound around the cord in controlled anger. "But she is getting a little…unruly."

"Punish her."

Azula closed her eyes. "That method no longer works."

A beat of silence. "Then send her here."

Azula touched her forehead. "She is gone."

She jumped when she heard a crash in the background.

Azula's eyes landed on the candle next to her. "Shall I have her killed?"

The crashing ceased. "No!"

Azula pulled the candle closer. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Her father was quiet for a time.

"Wait."

Azula blinked.

"What?"

"I want you to wait, Azula." Her father sounded a lot calmer than before.

Azula raised her hand and let it slide through the flame's tip.

"You want me to wait. For what purpose, pray tell?"

"You disappoint me, Azula."

Azula's hand stopped in the flame. "What?" She began to feel the heat and she quickly withdrew.

"She will remember one day," he continued. "She will remember and she will return."

Azula looked at the burn mark on her finger then glared at the flame.

"What shall I do then?"

Her father chuckled. "Whatever you wish to do."

She smiled and extinguished the flame with her fingertips.

"Perfect."

I was going to have this chapter a little longer, but, I changed my mind. I'll put the other half in the next chapter. That one will be kind of short, too. Zuko will be in the next chapter. I don't write boy scenes too well, that's why he's never alone for a long period of time. I'd also like to mention that Zuko is not falling head over heels with Katara. He just feels that he remembers her somehow. You know, like that song you just can't seem to get out of your head but you can't remember where its from? Anyway, R&R pleeaaaze!