A/N: Hi everyone and thanks for reviewing. To all those who just read, please review! I always respond as soon as I can and love hearing from you, critiques and all. This chapter is dedicated to Kaamenchan and Kataang412 because I can't respond to Kaamenchan and Kataang412, you're going to hate Bumi even more. )

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar

Chapter 7 Lessons and Interruptions

Katara and the others turned in surprise as the lemur glided onto Aang's shoulder and started purring. She also noticed he held a rolled up piece of paper in his hand.

"What have you got there?" Aang asked as he took the paper.

He quickly scanned it, and started blushing before he handed it to Sokka.

"Here, it's for you."

Sokka grabbed the paper and read it though three times, a grin coming over his features as he started blushing as he read and re-read the letter.

"Sooo, who's it from?" Toph asked in a sweet voice.

"Suki," Sokka replied, turning crimson. He looked over at Katara and smiled at her before turning his gaze back to Aang.

"She's in Gaoling with The Duke and another Kyoshi warrior. They've been spreading the news, but got intercepted by a fire nation patrol, and Liz, the other Kyoshi warrior got hurt. They're at a doctor now, and ask if we're in the area to stop by. Toph, your mom spoke to Suki and says she'd like to see you if you come by."

Sokka had turned to Toph as he stated the last. The earthbender frowned before sighing.

"I guess, but we should deal with what's on our plate at the moment. So, was that all that was in the letter?"

Toph's voice rose back into a sweet sing-song as Sokka started blushing again.

"No," he replied, his face a bright red. "But that's private."

Zuko smirked at the warrior while Katara smiled at her brother's embarrassment. She would have to get a hold of that letter later, just to see.

"Great!" Aang cried. "Ok, back to where we were. Sokka, you and Katara can practice over by Appa while we train out further."

Everyone nodded and Katara followed her brother as Momo flew past them to land on Appa, falling asleep almost immediately on the bison's back.

"Ok," Sokka said as he turned to face her. "For starters, you're actually a great fighter."

Katara felt her jaw drop as her brother looked at his feet.

"But that's only waterbending; I can't fight hand to hand like you."

"Yeah, you can," he replied before his eyes met hers. "I've actually been copying you lately, but adjusting it. Except for the swords, but I've, uh, kinda put waterbending moves into that too. Look, all you have to do is use the same movements and flow, except closer with a little adjustment. Now, I'm going to attack, and I want you to defend yourself, ok?"

Katara nodded, still dumbstruck that her big brother, the great warrior Sokka, had been putting her moves into his fighting style. Sokka stepped in, throwing a punch to her face. Katara moved to his left and struck her hand out, palm out, like she would if she had some water and hit his side. Sokka gasped and stopped, holding his side with his hand.

"Sokka, are you alright?" Katara cried as she moved to inspect his side.

"Fine," he wheezed, smiling at her. "See? You can fight. No, I'm alright."

Sokka walked around, breathing deeply as Katara tried to check the area again. He finally turned back to her, a smile on his face.

"Ok, again?"

Katara smiled back and waited for Sokka to attack. He punched to her face again, and again she moved to his left and struck at his side again, but Sokka ducked and went to grab her arm. Katara stepped back, pulling her arm out of his reach and stuck her leg out as Sokka stepped in again. He saw her leg just before he tripped over it and stepped back. He swept his other leg out, and Katara jumped over it.

Before she had landed, Sokka had stepped in and thrust his hand to her throat. She tried to step backwards, but landed on her bottom.

"Nice moves," he said as he held a hand down to her.

Katara eyed it before taking it and smirking at her brother as he helped her to her feet. "Not bad yourself. Again?"

Sokka grinned and struck at her again. She dodged and thrust back. They practiced for what seemed like ages, Sokka winning most of the time, but as time wore on, Katara started knocking her brother down more and more.

"Not bad," she heard Zuko saying from behind her as Sokka knocked her down again.

She looked back at him as he was walking towards her and noticed the sun had just set and lamplighters were out, lighting the lamps around the courtyard.

"Try to keep your center low," the firebender said as he stopped next to her.

He held out a hand and she frowned up at him before taking it. He helped her to her feet and crouched into a fighting stance.

"Like this, keep your center low. You'll keep your balance better. And keep your elbows tucked in."

Katara frowned, but did what he said. She saw a smirk on his face.

"Good," he said. "Now, defend yourself."

Zuko dove in, jabbing at her stomach. Katara back-stepped and ducked, sweeping her leg out. Zuko jumped up and over her, landing behind her. She turned and sent a punch to where his gut should be. He caught her wrist before he landed and she noticed he was still smirking.

"Nice shot, but that won't do it."

Katara growled at his remark and turned, kicking towards his head. Zuko kept her wrist in his hand and stopped her kick with his other hand, grabbing her ankle.

"What now?" he asked in a bored tone.

Katara smirked at him and saw a moment of hesitation on his face. She pushed herself forward with her free leg and hit his head with her own.

"Something I learned from my brother," she replied as he let go of her limbs and stepped back.

She crouched down as she heard Sokka and Aang cheering for her. She charged in and jabbed at his gut again. Zuko dodged, sending a punch to her head. She blocked it and spun, sending her leg out, knocking his feet out from under him.

"Not bad for a beginner, huh?"

Zuko looked up at her and smiled as she held her hand out to him. He took it and she helped him to his feet.

"No, not at all."

She smiled back at him as they walked over to where Sokka had joined Aang and Toph as they watched the fight. Sokka and Aang were all grins, but Toph was facing away, frowning with her arms crossed over her chest.

"That was great!" Sokka cried as they came closer.

"Yeah, just remind me never to use my head unless it's a last resort," Katara replied as she brought her hand to the sore spot on her head.

Aang smiled at her as he went to her. She wrapped him in a hug as she saw Sokka sigh and turn away. She then saw Toph stalk off away from Zuko as the prince approached the earthbender.

"C'mon," Sokka said. "I'm starving and its' dinner time."

"I'll catch up," Katara said as she broke away from Aang. She gave a reassuring smile to Zuko as she passed him and hurried to catch up with Toph. He looked startled for a second, but nodded sadly before he turned to follow Aang and Sokka inside.

Katara caught up with Toph as the earthbender turned down a deserted hallway.

"I don't want to talk to you," Toph growled as she stopped, with her back to Katara.

Katara stopped just behind Toph.

"What's wrong?"

"I said…I. Don't. Want. To. TALK!"

Katara leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest as she felt a smile tug at her mouth.

"I didn't ask Zuko to teach me, in fact, I'd prefer just to fight him and beat him, with waterbending."

Toph turned her face towards Katara and she saw the beginning of a smile form on the earthbender's face.

"He's mine first," Toph said.

"He's all yours," Katara said as Toph turned towards her, smiling.

"Fine, but no moves on your part," the earthbender said as she stepped in and poked a finger at Katara.

"With Zuko? Ugh!" Katara stuck her tongue out at the thought.

Toph started laughing and Katara joined her.

"Don't worry, I have trouble enough keeping up with Aang."

"Yeah, Twinkletoes is kinda fast. Not a bad dancer either."

Katara blushed as she remembered the dance they had done while in the fire nation.

"Yeah, so are you done moping? All that hitting has made me hungry. Now I know how Sokka feels."

Toph grinned up at Katara.

"Yeah, let's go. Training Aang with Zuko's hard work. At least water just gets you wet. Now I have to be careful of the fire."

Toph's face softened as they started walking towards the dining room.

"But he'd never burn me on purpose," she said softly.

Katara smiled. "I'm glad you two get along so well."

"So, have you found your moment?"

Katara stopped, but caught up again with Toph, blushing.

"Yes, well, kind of. We were…interrupted."

Toph turned her face towards the waterbender, surprised and curious. "When? What happened?"

Katara glanced at Toph and studied her.

"When were you so curious about that kind of stuff?"

Toph blushed and dropped her gaze to the floor.

"Since we talked. So, what happened?"

Katara giggled and relayed the afternoon's events to Toph, glancing over a few parts, and told of how she had kissed Aang before being interrupted by one of the members of the society.

"Sounds just as exciting as my afternoon," Toph said, blushing.

"Why, what happened?" Katara asked her, curious.

"I had another swimming lesson," the eathbender said, blushing more intensely. "And, well, our moment was interrupted too. Your brother sure knows how to interrupt something."

Katara was about to ask exactly what had happened, but they were already at the dining hall. She saw Kalaya hurrying towards them with something in her hands.

"Master Katara, please, wait," Kalaya said as she stopped in front of the two girls, breathing heavily.

"Yes?" Katara asked.

"Here, these are for you," Kalaya said as she thrust a wooden box at Katara.

Katara eyed the box before opening it and gasped as she saw the contents. Two ivory daggers were set in velvet. They were curved and looked like they used to be teeth. The handles were intricately carved with scenes of whales and sea serpents.

"I can't take these," Katara said as she tried to hand the box back.

"What are they?" Toph asked.

"They're ceremonial daggers," Kalaya said, still regaining her breath. "My father taught me how to use them. Since you can't bend, I though you might want to use these."

Katara looked at the daggers before meeting Kalaya's blue eyes.

"I…can't. I never learned. My father left for war when I was little after my mom died, and couldn't teach me. Thank you, but I'll have to pass."

Kalaya smiled, but refused to take the daggers back.

"I can teach you, after dinner. I won't keep you; the king is waiting for you two. Meet me in the fountain courtyard afterwards."

Katara smiled and nodded back as Kalaya took the box and walked back the way she had come.

"Sounds like you've got some good teachers," Toph said, smirking.

"Yeah, let's get inside, I'm starving."

Katara opened the door and waited for Toph to go through before following the earthbender. The boys were already eating, Sokka thankfully more polite this time than he had been at lunch. King Bumi and Lady Hu, as well as two of the generals had joined the boys for dinner.

Toph grinned at Zuko and he smiled back, obviously relieved as she sat down next to him. Aang smiled at Katara and gestured to the empty seat between him and Sokka. Katara grinned and went to sit next to him.

The dinner was delicious and the dialogue focused on Sokka's ideas and contraptions, as well as the plan for the next day. Katara was glad that no word of her condition came out. Aang took her hand in his as they finished and leaned over to whisper to her.

"So, any plans for tonight?"

"Yes," she whispered back. "Kalaya is going to teach me how to use daggers."

Aang looked dejected, so Katara squeezed his hand and smiled at him.

"You can watch, maybe we can do something after."

He grinned at her and squeezed her hand.

"Ok, I'll be there."

After dinner, Katara excused herself and hurried to the fountain courtyard with Aang following her. Sokka had disappeared into a room with several members of the society and Toph and Zuko had gone off in their own direction. Kalaya was waiting for them and had another set of daggers with her.

"Ready?" she asked Katara.

Katara nodded and moved to pick up the daggers from the box. Kalaya started by showing her some forms which Katara copied as Aang watched from his seat on the fountain ledge. They did forms late into the night, and would have continued later, but Kalaya stopped her, glancing at Aang.

"I think he's waiting for something," the healer whispered to Katara.

Katara nodded, feeling a smile come onto her face as she stopped and looked at Aang. He sat up expectantly when she put the daggers back into their wooden box and Kalaya picked the daggers up.

"You should practice more, meet me here tomorrow morning?" Kalaya asked.

"Yeah, that would be great, thank you again."

"No problem," Kalaya said, grinning as she hurried off.

Katara turned to Aang and saw he was blushing.

"Did you have any plans for tonight?" she asked him as she sat down next to him on the fountain ledge.

He blushed again and looked up at her.

"Well, I was hoping we could continue what we were doing when we were interrupted. That's only if it's alright with you."

Katara smiled as she felt a blush come across her cheeks. Aang was always so polite, and innocent. That's part of what she liked about him. He was still a kid, even with all the responsibility on his shoulders.

"Yeah, I'd like that," she said in a low voice as she leaned closer to him. Aang leaned in too and was about to kiss her when they heard Sokka and King Bumi talking loudly as they entered the courtyard.