Two things. 1. Sorry the update is late. I actually had this chapter being much lighter in mood but hated every bit of it. So I redid the whole thing. I think it makes it much more...real if that makes sense.

2. PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!

Chapter 12: Bad Blood

"So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?"

From "The Hand of Sorrow" By Within Temptation

Sokka entered the Earth Kingdom field hospital slowly. To say he was apprehensive at that moment was an understatement.

He had run into a Kyoshi warrior while running a message from his father to King Bumi that morning. He had of course asked about Suki right after he'd asked about the fight with Azula. She'd told him Suki was still recovering.

"Excuse me." Sokka said to a young girl in a hanbok. Her long braided hair swung a bit as she turned and looked at him.

"Yes?" She asked blinking friendly brandy colored eyes.

"I'm looking for one of the Kyoshi warriors still in here. Her name is Suki. Short redish-brown hair, blue-grey eyes, great warrior..."

The girl seem to think a moment before her eyes suddenly went wide before looking sad. "Yes she's still here. Come this way."

Sokka followed the girl further into the hospital and stopped when they came to a curtained off part.

"I want you to be prepared sir. Suki's injuries...they were severe." She started to say.

Sudden fear gripped him. "What do you mean."

"She was badly burned from the fight. One of the reasons I've been the one to tend to her. I know alot about burns." The girl told him as her hand rubbed one of her legs in an absentminded gesture.

Frantic Sokka yanked the curtain aside and stared at the person inside.

One could hardly tell there was anyone there under all the bandages. The smell of decay was heavy and the only way Sokka knew it was Suki under everything was that part of her face wasn't covered, part of him remembered what she looked like without her war paint on. She'd looked just as pretty both ways.

"That's not Suki." He stated.

"I'm afraid most of her body is covered in burns and she hasn't woken up once since she's been here. I...I don't think she will make it much longer."

"THAT'S NOT SUKI!" Sokka yelled at the girl, startling her. Then he tore out of the hospital, trying to out run the logic and reality in his mind.

But Suki's still form sitting in the hospital was burned into Sokka's mind. Another burn scar in the long series the Fire Nation had inflicted on him.

"What do you mean I'm not allowed!?" Zuko yelled at the man blocking his path.

The warrior sneered at him. "You heard me. Your not permitted into our camp. We don't want to deal with your trash anymore then we have to."

Zuko ground his teeth together. When his mother had told him and his uncle that this little alliance was hanging on a thread he'd never imagined it was to the point that anyone from the Fire Nation wasn't allowed into the other camps. The hostility had spread to the point that the Fire Nation kept everyone else out of their own camps as well.

"Then will you please tell Katara from the Southern Tribe that I would like to talk to her?"

The man growled at Zuko. "I'm not allowing any of our women to fraternize with scum like you boy!"

Just breathe. Zuko reminded himself. "I'm not going to do anything but talk. We could just sit right here if you want."

The man snorted at him and Zuko glanced at the other two with the man. This was not going good at all.

"What's going on here?" A familiar voice asked behind the men.

The men all turned and Zuko saw Sokka look at him. The boy's face went from grieving to enraged in less then a breath.

"Sokka, I was just..."

"This whelp wants to see Katara." One of the men said.

The water boy's eyes narrowed at Zuko as he stepped past the men. "Well to bad for him then." Sokka stated angrily.

Zuko openned his mouth to say something only to have Sokka pull his machete out and point it at him. "I'm only going to tell you this once. Stay away from my sister! You both saved each other's lives but there's no more reason for either of you to associate with the other. Leave us alone! Is that clear enough for you?!"

Zuko said nothing for a moment and returned Sokka's glare with equal distrust and hostility.

"Crystal."

When Sokka came into the tent that Katara and Toph were having lunch in he was muttering about killing and maiming all firebenders in exsistance and both girls shot him funny looks.

"What are you so angry about?" Toph asked.

"Nothing important." Sokka stated flatly. He wasn't interested in sharing his pain right now.

"Your lying." Toph said causing Sokka to spit out the food he'd just shoved into his mouth.

Katara simply smiled a bit at the pair as they started on each other and made her think of an old married couple. The thought of a couple though kept her from laughing.

She knew Sokka for one wouldn't appreciate it but she missed Zuko. She couldn't even define exactly what about him she missed so much. She stared at the tent openning for what felt like the million and first time that day and sighed. She could hardly will him to suddenly walk into the tent.

Sokka heard the sigh and looked at his sister to see a wistful expression on her face. "What's wrong?" He asked her.

"She's just wishing a certain Prince Charming would come in and wisk her off and away from the domestic work you and your dad keep making her do." Toph stated. She personally didn't blame Katara for wanting to leave in the least. If she'd been caged with domestic chores all day long she'd have gone nuts.

"But she's a girl, she's suppose to do that stuff." Sokka stated in an arrogant tone. He knew his sister and that comment would pull her mind away from that jerk firebender in no time.

Toph was about to retort that she was a girl too when Katara sighed and gathered up lunch dishes without a word of a comeback. Sokka could've sworn he heard her say something about "just wanting to see him" as she walked past. He quite suddenly felt like the lowest snake in the world. He was after all keeping Katara from seeing someone she cared about.

It's for her own good. Things will get better. Nothing good can come from firebenders. It's just a stupid little crush like that one she had on Jet. I'm not losing her to a firebender like I've lost Mom and Yue...and Suki...

Toph however felt the guilt vibrating off him. Her punch landed hard on his arm.

"OW! Toph what was that for? Ohh, my arm is all numb..."

"That was cause your a jerk Sokka." She stated angrily. "I probably should be using a rock on your thick skull but I'm sure the rock would give first."

Before Sokka could say a word she got up and stomped out of the tent.

Aang mentally groaned as he stared at the map in front of him. He was trying to concentrate on what everyone was saying, he really was. Who could stay awake at these things though? Tactical meetings? They should've named them Bore Fests.

He felt someone poke him in the arm and slanted a glance at Mari who gave a slight nod towards General How. Who was currently arguing with Jeong Jeong.

Aang shifted a bit hoping to get some feeling back in his currently numb rear end as he looked about the large tent.

Mari also looked about. She again questioned the sense of her being here. Aang had insisted saying the few Air Nomads and airbenders that had come forth to help needed a leader. While she was the furthest along in her airbending lessons that Aang had been giving to the other benders she didn't think she was cut out for leading the nearly exstinct people.

The older gentlemen sitting with her and Aang was helping some thankfully. Mari looked over at the old man and wondered if he'd fallen asleep with his eyes open.

Pathik simply looked at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled at her cause her to quickly look away and scold herself for being rude.

Across from the three of them sat four people who apparently spoke for the Earth Kingdom. Kuei (as Mari prefered to think of the Earth King) being one of them along with General How. King Bumi also sat with them, along with Lao Bei Fong who was apparently the one funding most of the camp with supplies.

To either side of them sat the Fire Nation and Water Tribes respectively. Iroh, Urse, Kuzon, and Jeong Jeong for the Fire Nation. Mari knew all four to be decent people.

Aang had told her a bit about the Water Tribe people. She'd even held relatively decent conversations with them. Well half of them. Hakoda seemed as friendly as his children and another man named Arnook also seemed friendly. The other two left Mari wishing she was elsewhere. Pakku she would tolerate on the basis of him being her elder. The younger snot Hahn; who seemed more into his hair and looks then winning the war, she wanted to throw off a cliff.

She sighed and directed her attention back to the arguement at hand. Jeong Jeong was apparently not happy about where General How wanted to attack. The former admiral stated that resistance would be too much and they'd all be kept in the sea for months. The general of course was stating that they needed to take the base due to it being the closest port to the Fire Nation's capital and thus the Fire Lord.

Mari frowned, it suddenly occured to her that none of the Water Tribe or Earth Kingdom representatives had said a word about the eclipse. Aang and Pathik had opted to sit and listen as oppose to getting into the verbal fray.

Much like the airbenders of old. They just sit, listen, and do nothing, but if we don't do something things are going to blow up in our faces.

As if in answer to Mari's thoughts Ursa stood up. "Gentlemen why don't we call it a day? We're all tired of sitting in this tent I'm sure and our older members are starting to lose focus." She said with an amused grin glancing at Bumi who was starting to snore and Aang who was looking ready to fall over and sleep from sheer boredum.

The General seem to sneer at Ursa making Mari bite her tongue against saying something insulting to him.

"Finally I thought that meeting would never end!" Aang said when they were away.

"You should really pay attention and speak up more Aang." Mari told him. "And why are the other Nations not mentioning the eclipse to the Fire Nation?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom haven't mentioned it. All General How had to say was that the firebenders at that base wouldn't have their powers when we attack and I'm sure Jeong Jeong would've said that we could take it but he didn't. Aang this is the worst time to be keeping secrets from everyone, specially when we need to help each other."

"Then why didn't you say something Mari?"

"You really think they're going to listen to me Aang? You need to get your head out of the clouds." She growled and poke his bald head before stomping off.

Aang frowned after her. "Are you sure this is a good way to go about this Pathik?"

"I believe so Aang." The guru told him. "Mari will be an excellent leader in helping rebuild the Air Nomads. She simply has not yet seen it in herself."

"Still don't understand why I can't do it." Aang stated.

"You are the Avatar Aang. You'll be busy trying to put the Nations back together. Besides, Mari will also help usher in a newer way of thinking. The Air Nomad's tendency to avoid conflict was one of the reasons Sozin manage to destroy so many. Instead of preparing for the trouble, we closed our eyes and pretended it did not exist at all."

Aang sighed sadly and Pathik patted him on the shoulder. "The Air Nomads will fly the skies again soon. You shall see."

Zuko never admitted defeat. He certainly wasn't about to admit defeat in the situation with not being allowed in the Water Tribe's camp. After all, he'd snuck into better fortification then that camp.

He wasn't worried about getting caught, and he certainly wasn't thinking to go armed. He was just going to visit Katara for a little while to see how she was doing then leave.

Getting into the camp proved amazingly easy. There was always plenty of places to hide when guards walked by. Finding Katara's tent proved a little more difficult.

He was about to give up when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

This way.

Zuko looked about but he didn't see anyone. He stayed in his hiding spot though. Just in case.

Searching the shadows for the unknown speaker he thought he spotted a steel colored head rounding a corner.

Sen? What would that spirit be doing here?

Curious now Zuko crept off in the direction. Everytime he turned a corner though he'd just barely spot the steel haired spirit turning another.

Finally he turned a corner but saw nothing. "Sen?" He whispered quietly into the night.

There was no answer but Zuko heard people talking in a nearby tent and found another hiding spot.

Hakoda stepped out of his tent and gave his daughter a smile. "I might be gone for a while. You sure your alright by yourself?"

She smiled back but Hakoda mentally frowned about it not quite reaching her eyes.

"Dad, I'm in the middle of a camp full of our warriors and benders, along with being a master bender myself. I think I'll be just fine."

Hakoda nodded. "Your right. You just haven't been yourself lately and that makes me worry."

Katara did her best to hold her smile in place and assure her father that nothing was wrong. She wasn't sure how Hakoda would react to her feelings for a certain prince. Currently she wasn't even sure there was a point to mentioning them. It had been two weeks since they had arrived and while everyone else had visited, Zuko hadn't. Katara was starting to wonder if maybe she'd imagined his more romantic interests. She knew she was rather prone to developing crushes when there was nothing there.

"I'm fine Dad. You better go before your late for your meeting."

Hakoda frowned but nodded. His children had told him most of their trip but neither of them were very good at lying. There was something going on and he had a feeling it had to do with the Fire Nation Prince. Specially since the blind girl kept teasing his daughter about a 'Prince Charming' when she thought he was out of hearing and according to Pakku he had been with the group, along with Iroh when they'd been found. He hadn't gotten a chance to meet this prince and there was alot of rumors running around about the boy. He had to make it a point to met this Zuko sometime soon.

Ironically enough, Zuko watched Hakoda walk off pondering him. Zuko wondered which of the two siblings took after Hakoda more.

Katara turned back into the tent as soon as her father started walking away. There was a mountain of clothes to be sewn thanks to Sokka and Hahn meeting again and she was apparently the only one the Water Tribe warriors would go to about it. Katara pondered making Toph and Mari learn sewing so she'd have someone to help her out.

I swear it's like they're trying to keep me to busy to do anything...

This thought made Katara frown. While she wouldn't put it past Sokka she couldn't imagine why the other men would be keeping her all but caged in the camp. Was there some danger she didn't know about?

A slight breeze flew in as someone openned the tent flap. Katara sighed. "What did you forget Dad?" she asked, not even looking up from the pants she'd picked up.

When no one answered she would've turned around to see who came in but then a pair of dark clad arms were wrapped around her and Zuko rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I didn't forget anything. Just finally getting to I've wanted to do for the last couple weeks." He whispered in her ear causing the most delightful shiver to run down Katara's spine.

"Zuk..."

He covered her mouth with a hand before she could get too loud as she finished turning to face him. "Gotta stay quiet. Don't want any guards to find me here."

Katara frowned. "Why not? What's going on?" She asked making sure to lower her tone.

"Well I wasn't allowed to come and see you due to the guards, so I snuck in."

"I don't understand. Why wouldn't you be allowed to come see me?"

Zuko frowned. "Cause I'm Fire Nation."

"So is Mari..."

"No, she's considered an air bender. Specially since she was nominated to be a representative for them in the council meetings."

"Oh..."

"Katara. I'm sorry if I was rude the when we were coming here." Zuko said in a small rush before he changed his mind about it. "That one older waterbender was glaring at Uncle and me and I didn't want your people to think badly of you."

"I was wondering about that. I thought...I thought you didn't want me around you anymore." Katara told him while rubbing her arms as if against a sudden chill. The thought of that still hurt her.

It was surprising how angry that comment made Zuko. The tears in her eyes at the thought though made him want to burn all the hateful people in this little camp to ash for making it so they couldn't be together in the open where they should be.

Just breathe.

He cupped her face in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Katara, look at me."

When she finally manage to blink away the tears enough to see he continued. "There isn't a time...a time that I...that I won't want you with me. I mean...you...your very...important to me and..."

Katara smiled a little bit at Zuko trying to explain himself. She planted one finger on his lips to silence him. "I understand." She said.

Zuko couldn't help but sigh a bit and hold her tighter. His forehead resting on hers. "How is it I always seem to feel like an idiot around you but you understand everything I say anyways?"

Katara giggled a little. She hadn't giggled in what felt like ages. "Maybe cause that's how you make me feel? It's like we're the same and yet total opposites."

Like a yin yang. Zuko thought for a second before he ducked his head the slightest bit and froze with less then a breath between his lips and Katara's.

"Katara? Can I kiss you right now?" Zuko whispered so low that Katara barely heard him. Any louder seemed like it would shatter the moment. He wanted to make sure he wasn't confusing her feelings towards him.

The fact that Zuko was asking made Katara's racing heart jump. Zuko never asked for anything, yet now he was asking to kiss her. Katara thought her heart was simply going to jump out of her chest and into his hands at any second.

"Ok..." She whispered back.

Before either could move though a slight breeze snapped through the tent.

"Hey Kata..."

Zuko straightened up and Katara blinked, still rather lost in the moment.

Sokka was not so slow however and rammed his fist into the firebender's face, knocking him to the ground.

"Sokka no!" Katara shrieked as her brother's hands attached to Zuko's throat and started squeezing.

"I told you to stay away from her!" Sokka yelled. "I'm going to kill you! Your going to pay for everything you've done!"