AN: The return of the Blue Spirit! Muwhahahaha! That rocks! Ok, who else here thinks Azula is really awesome (manipulative, psychotic and a bitch but still totally cool). And does anyone know why her flame is blue? Well, that's all I have to say at the moment, please enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: Yada, yada, yada. You know what I mean.

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Katara stormed into the room she was sharing with Ishi. "I'm gonna kill them. I'm gonna throw them overboard and let them drown. No, I'll hold them underwater and let whatever creatures are down there eat them."

Ishi chuckled softly from her spot on one of the cabin's beds. "Sounds like things are going just as well as they have been for the past three days."

Katara let out an exasperated sound and sat on the other bed in their cramped quarters. No matter how small, though, it fitted the girls fine. And, at the moment, it served as their refuge from the idiocy around them. "Either Sokka's making sarcastic comments and poking fun at Zuko causing him to start a fight or Zuko's attitude and comments to and about Sokka cause him to start one. I don't think they've said one word to each other that wasn't intended to be an insult. Thankfully, Iroh's teaching Aang or nothing would be getting done."

Ishi gave up on trying to meditate, a habit she recently picked up from a firebender on board, and laid down. "Those two aren't any better though. They're content to sit back and laugh at them. But, you got to admit, some of their arguments are pretty funny."

"Yes, but aside from their childish name calling. How are we supposed to work together if those two can't be anywhere near each other? And, in case you haven't noticed, it's kinda hard to keep them separated on a ship this size. So, how are we supposed to get Sokka and Zuko to at least be civil to each other?"

Ishi folded her arms beneath her head. "Simple. We just have to force them to spend time together."

Katara snorted. "What, so we lock them in a closet with each other till they're friends?"

Ishi shrugged. "That or until one kills the other. Either way, no more problem."

Katara stared at her, dumbfounded, for a moment before breaking down into laughter. "You are one strange individual."

Ishi smiled. "Thank you. I do try."

O.o.o.o.o.O

Iroh looked deeply troubled. "Are you sure it was her?"

Zuko paced across the room. "I'm not totally sure, but who else could it be? I didn't think about it the first night but, when I thought back, I realized that Ishi kept saying 'she'. What other female has enough power to control a crew like that?"

Iroh shook his head. "We've been away for three years now. Anything could have happened since then." The look Zuko sent him showed his doubt. "Fine, I admit that it's unlikely but it is still possible."

Zuko sighed and sat next to his uncle. "I wanted to be as certain as possible so I asked Ishi to tell me everything she remembered. She didn't see the commander but she heard her and the men called her 'Highness'. You know it's illegal to call any outside the royal family by that title. It has to be her."

"It does no good to dwell on it. We will face her when we have to and not torture ourselves with 'what ifs'. Now, do we tell everyone else who we're up against?"

Zuko thought. "I don't think it matters. They don't know her like we do. She'll just be another firebender to them."

"They know how determined you are, I don't think they'll underestimate her."

"Very well uncle. We'll tell them tonight." Zuko walked over to the window, deep in thought, while Iroh left the room. Memories of his childhood surfaced in his mind. He sighed. "Azula."

O.o.o.o.o.O

"Your sister? She's the one hunting you?" Katara looked surprised. Everyone was seated around the dinning table in the captain's quarters.

Sokka snorted. "If it's just a girl then we have nothing to worry about. Ow!" Katara elbowed him in the stomach while Ishi stomped on his foot. "Hey! What did I say?" They both pointedly ignored him.

Ishi turned back to the prince. "What's she like? What are we up against?"

Under the table, his fists clenched. "She's smart, there's very little that she doesn't see and even less that she can't twist to her needs. She's determined and won't let anything or anyone stand in the way of what she wants. She's a prodigy when it comes to firebending and she's ruthless to those she faces. She won't stop looking for me."

Katara laid her hand on top of his. "If she gets in our way, we'll do something then. But she won't be able to stand against all of us. If we stick together, we'll be fine." Zuko didn't look convinced.

Iroh observed the somber faces around the table and made a decision. "Come now, enough of these talks. We have already accomplished a great deal. We should celebrate. Tomorrow we stop to take in supplies but, tonight is music night."

Zuko groaned and wanted to bang his head against the table to end his pain but his pride stopped him. Everyone else, though, looked intrigued. Iroh beamed at his annoyed nephew. "Come now Zuko, you know this is a great way to improve morale. Plus we haven't properly welcomed our guests yet. What better way to do so then with song and dance?" He looked around the table. "And, hopefully, one of our new companions will favor us?"

Katara blushed slightly, Aang and Ishi looked excited, Sokka just looked at Iroh strangely and Zuko dropped his head into his hands with a groan. This would be one long night.

O.o.o.o.o.O

Later that night, Katara was thoroughly enjoying herself. There were no sad songs tonight; the music was fast and passionate. And the later the evening got, the more relaxed the men became, the bawdier the songs grew. Katara laughed as Ishi belted out an Earth Kingdom drinking song, causing a few blushes from some of the younger men, much to the delight of their companions. Aang displayed some airbending tricks and Iroh began teaching Sokka how to play something called a sungi horn. There was only one person who didn't seem to be enjoying himself.

Zuko stood deep in shadows, the firelight making his eyes glint in the darkness. She declined Iroh's invitation to sing and went to join the prince. "Why don't you join us? It's really quite fun."

The moonlight did little to reveal his features so she had to rely on instinct to interpret his answer. "There's no need for me to join in. Besides, I'd hate to spoil the mood." Katara heard the self depreciation in his voice but couldn't understand it.

"Come on, it'll be fun. And I promise to protect you from your uncle." She laughed and took his hand to drag him towards the group but he refused to budge.

"I'm fine where I am. I never go to these things if I can help it."

"Why not?"

"I don't understand it. These men have been away from home for three years, what do they have to celebrate? They haven't seen their wives, they haven't seen their children and the younger ones have never even had a sweetheart. They live in close quarters, are constantly fighting boredom, faced with grave peril and live on sea rations." His voice dropped to a whisper. "They don't even know if they'll live to see their families again."

"That's why they celebrate. They never know when they'll have another opportunity, so they take advantage of what they can. For one night they forget about their troubles, forget about the loved ones left behind, forget that tomorrow they might die. This allows them to keep pushing forward."

"I suppose." Loud raucous laughter exploded into the night. "I just wish they'd be quieter about it." He looked up to see Iroh waving Katara over. He looked down at her. "You should go sing. You sing beautifully."

She blushed and looked at the deck. "Thank y… When did you hear me sing?" She looked at him suspiciously and felt him tense beside her.

Shit! Zuko scrambled for an answer, other then the real one, when one of Iroh's sayings rose in his mind. Flattery will get you everywhere. "Your speaking voice is so lovely that your singing voice couldn't be any different." His answer seemed to quiet her suspicions and she glowed at his praise. He was so proud of his intelligence at handling the situation that he opened his mouth again. "And that Water Nation lullaby is perfect for your voice." She turned to glare at him and he realized his mistake. Oh shit!

"The last time I sang that song was when we were at Bumi's. And I was in the bath. That's the only time I ever sing, when I bathe. And just where were you, your majesty?"

Zuko was cornered and he knew it, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "It's not like I wanted to see you." Her gaze darkened. "I was only trying to get information on your movements. I didn't enjoy it." He heard a growl in the darkness and realized that he'd gone too far.

Katara's fists were clenched and around them the sea began to roll. First he tells her he saw her naked and then he tells her he didn't enjoy it! She wasn't sure which she was angrier about. She hissed at him between clenched teeth. "You pervert." He reached for her arm but she jerked away. "Don't touch me." She stormed away from him and came face to face with Sokka.

He glared at the figure behind his pissed off sister. "What's the matter?"

As angry as she was, she wouldn't tell him. He'd use it as an excuse to hurt Zuko. And she didn't want that. Maim maybe… She shook her head. "Just a small fight, nothing to worry about." She gave him a small smile. "You know how I can be."

He nodded solemnly though there was a teasing light behind his eyes. "I definitely know how you can be."

She shoved him playfully and sat at the edge of the group. She felt Zuko watching her but she refused to turn around. She knew what happened had to have been an accident but she wasn't yet ready to forgive him. I'll let him stew a little while. Tomorrow will be soon enough to forgive him.

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AN: You didn't think that I'd let him get away with it, did you? Sorry for the long wait but it's the end of the semester and that means that every class is piling on essays and final projects. So it might be a little while till the next chapter but I know where it's going so it shouldn't take that long to write when I can spare the time to get down to it. Thanks for reading and review please!