Ch. 6

"Ow…" She mumbled as Zuko extended a hand to haul her to her feet.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were ready."

"So did I."

"You look tired. Want to take a break?"

He'd been asking her that all throughout and once again she shook her head. "I'm fine." As predicted, it had been a long night. Images of Ichiru haunted her dreams, waking her in a cold sweat more than once. She hadn't even been able to bring herself to go up on deck to enjoy the cool ocean mist. She was that scared to travel alone on the ship. It made her feel weak and vulnerable. Something she was not used to and was determined to change that as soon as possible. These were things she needed to know, things to make her strong again. Zuko's teachings were very helpful, but lack of sleep had left her reactions slow. She knew he was going easy on her, trying to teach, not harm, but her moves were sluggish, letting her get caught up in the simplest moves landing her on her back time and time again.

"Not even a lunch break?"

Katara shook her head again. "Not yet. I can get this."

Zuko started to protest, but held his tongue. He wasn't used to not being listened to and he wasn't going to be shot down again. He nodded. "From the top then." It was a simple sparring form and he was starting her off with long lengths of wood rather than a spear or sword.

At her nod, Zuko slid into motions so smooth and quick he appeared serpentine. Strike, block, strike, block. They were familiar moves, but he changed the pattern each time, testing her reflexes. He feigned for a strike to the ribs, but brought the other end around to catch her ankle; the move that had been laying her out flat all along. Eyes darting, she jumped back, stumbling as he came in for another strike. She moved to block it, having been on the defense the whole time, and continued to swing it on through, catching Zuko in the ribs with a loud thwack!

Zuko's stick clattered to the deck and he clutched where she had struck. Katara's eyes were wide; surprised that it had landed at all, let alone that hard.

She rushed to his side where he had taken a knee. "Zuko! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" She frantically fluttered next to him nervously. He held up a hand and waved her away, standing slowly, a hand still pressed into his side.

"I didn't mean to…" She babbled.

"You did good. I just wasn't expecting it."

"I didn't mean to…" She almost whined.

"It's fine. You did really good that time." He lowered himself into a chair on the deck and motioned for her to sit. "You're making fast progress. You're also tired, so we'll leave it here for now." Knowing she couldn't argue with him now, holding guilt over her as leverage he added, "I need a break after that last blow." She winced and started apologizing again but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. "You should eat something too. A work out like that ought to leave you famished."

Her stomach gave a faint rumble and she reached for a bowl for herself. "Maybe a little." She said sending him a weary smile as he peered at her over his teacup. "Anything I can heal for you?" She asked around a mouthful.

A cunning smirk crossed over his face. "No. I'm fine. I just wanted you to take a break to relax and eat something."

She set her own teacup down hard. "You tricked me." It was harsh, but she didn't quite sound angry.

"It worked didn't it?" Giving her an almost bored teasing look.

"You guilted me into stopping my training!" She accused, pointed a frustrated finger at him.

"You needed a break." He simply stated, shrugging and looking unrepentant as he continued eating.

"I do not need a break. I want to continue on with the lesson."

Zuko sighed, putting his bowl down. "And we will; after breakfast." He said soothingly as if speaking to a stubborn child.

Katara pouted and ate her food in a rush. Sipping her tea and watching him leisurely eat his breakfast, no sign of finishing fast enough for her liking. She was tapping her foot impatiently while nursing the by now cold cup of tea. She held it cradled gently in front of her face, peering at him over the rim, silently pleading him to finish faster. Yet he continued to eat, ignoring her completely. The tapping grew faster and suddenly his hand shot out faster than she knew what to do, covering the top of her mug and both her hands, bringing it crashing onto the table top.

"Do you have no patience?" He asked, a dark frustration crept into his voice, his flashing golden eyes concealed behind a curtain on shaggy dark hair. His hand covering hers and her cup was becoming uncomfortably warm and she tried to pull out from under him and his fingers curled, trapping her beneath. As suddenly as his hand shot out did it retreat. Her tea was steaming again and she rubbed her hands together, staring at him. He was still staring into his breakfast bowl, still hiding behind the silky black curtain. He'd startled her badly, she hadn't meant to push him that far. She had just been eager to get back to their training.

She had pulled into herself, hands tightly in her lap and ankles crossed under her chair. She slumped lower in her chair, almost as if she were trying to collapse in on herself.

"I'm sorry." His voice was gravelly and rough and he still hadn't moved. She watched him warily from where she sat, feeling as if he were a serpent poised to strike at any time. Her experience with fire benders had left her guarded and watchful, but she never believed that Zuko would be capable of bringing this out in her. He was her savior, her friend, right?

He rubbed a hand over his face and let out a heavy sigh. He peered at her shrunken posture from between his fingers as he let his heavy hand slide down his face. "Katara…" He reached out to her and she flinched away from his touch. Her eyes still fixed on the tightly clasped hands in her lap, her lower lip was worried between her teeth. He let his hand fall away and slumped onto the table, letting his head thump onto it.

"Damnit. Agni help me…" He mumbled and pick up his head and looked at her wearily. "I'm sorry. I'm no good at this stuff." Her large blue eyes watched him cautiously and he slumped in his chair miserably away from her, trying to give her room. She watched him quietly, forcing him to continue. "You can ask my Uncle, I'm not… I haven't been around people in a long time. Just my Uncle and the soldiers. I'm sorry." He could see her softening in her eyes. "I haven't felt this calm in a long time. I used to be angry all the time. Have such a short fuse like you just saw. It's been getting better… ever since you came aboard." He felt self-conscious of her eyes on him. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry."

There was a soft pleading in his eyes, defeat in the slump of his shoulders. Katara swallowed her fear. He was sincere and hadn't meant to do anything to scare of hurt her. She slowly unclenched her hands, the color slowly returning and she stopped chewing her lip and took a deep breath. Her slow moving, shaking hand reached out until it covered his lying limply on the table. He watched it slowly creep towards him and remained still, not wanting to scare her off. When her warm hand caught his, he could feel the warmth spread up his arm, warming his entire body. He gave her a tired smile and turned his hand over, giving her fingers a squeeze.

"Thank you. I'm sorry if I scared you."

"No. It's fine. I know you wouldn't hurt me. You're my friend after all, right?" With these words, she pulled her hand out of his grasp.

"Friend. Ya." The words were a marvel to him. Less than a month ago, she was the enemy. No. Better yet, she was bait to his salvation. When had things changed so drastically? Friends with his enemy's ally. The Avatar's girlfriend even. None of this she remembered, she trusted him implicitly. And he? He… had a friend? A confidant? She soothed his inner turmoil, let him forget all that he had lost. Was he comfortable in his new life? Certainly roaming the seas and scavenging tiny towns on his hunt had not left him feeling fulfilled, but these past few weeks on the ship, he had felt content. Something he never thought he'd feel again. He started to question his resolve. He would capture the Avatar and restore his honor and his rightful place to the fire nation's throne. That was still what he wanted. Only now, he wasn't as sure as he had once been. A… friend, the concept was still alien to him, wouldn't sell another friend out, would they? Would he really jeopardize this water bender who had the ability to heal not only physically but emotionally as well? He just wasn't sure anymore.

"Zuko?" Katara watched him worriedly. His gaze was distant and she could see indecision warring at him within. "I didn't mean to be so forward. You don't have to feel obligated to be my friend. I just thought… Zuko?" She shook his arm gently to get his attention.

Pulled from his reverie, he focused on her, a bit startled. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He gave his head a little shake to clear his thoughts.

"I didn't mean to impose or anything, I just thought…" She let her words trail off, not sure how to finish her sentence.

"No, I like the idea of a friend. I…" He glanced at her and a small smile slid onto his face. "I've never really had a friend before." His smile was so heartfelt and his gaze so soft and warm, Katara felt compelled to touch him, then embarrassed by that need, she quickly quashed it and couldn't help the light flush that colored her exotically tanned cheeks.

"Well, you have one now." She stood and stretched, her arms reaching as high as they could, his shirt raising up, revealing her soft navel. She glanced over her shoulder at him, flashing him a grin. "Ready to get back to work?"

His usually solemn features turned up in amusement. She was so happy all the time, so forgiving, it really was hard to get used to. He was more accustomed to quick, hot flares of anger, violence and as he had learned firsthand, punishment and exile. It was strange, not that he didn't enjoy it, but it was still hard getting used to it. He had proved earlier that his anger problems certainly didn't help any, but with a sincere apology, she was willing to forgive him.

"Sure you can keep up?" He muttered good naturedly.

"I'm getting better all the time." She said with a confidence he hadn't heard since the incident with Ichiru.

He twirled a staff in his hand before tossing it to Katara. "Let's see what you've got."

"Show off." She muttered and he chuckled as he hooked a foot under another staff and jerked his knee up, hand shooting out to snatch it out of the air. Her face set into a determined look and she charged, swinging the staff. A slow inhale, Zuko held still until the last possible moment where he stepped aside and let her blow glance off his staff. Her momentum propelled her back around and Zuko met her blow for blow. She tried to hook the end of her staff and trip him up like he had been doing to her, but since he had been using that move on her, he wasn't about to fall for it. He rolled to the side, trying to flank her, but she spun, catching his attack before it could land. The door leading to the deck opened, the metal hinges squeaking, with a flash of fear and panic Katara's head whipped up and around to catch who had come up. Her moment of distraction was enough for Zuko to drop down and sweep her legs out from under her. She landed hard on her back, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Zuko's concerned face appeared over her. "Sorry, I thought you'd be more prepared. Are you alright?" He helped pull her to her feet where she caught her breath.

She nodded and finally stood up straight and cast her eyes to where they had been before she had been knocked down. Zuko followed her gaze and she saw understanding cross his face and maybe even a quick flash of anger.

"Uncle." His tone was sharp. He was mad. Maybe not necessarily at his Uncle, but at the fact that she was still so scared that she'd let Zuko take her down. He silently cursed Ichiru again, and turned to his Uncle. "What is it?"

Iroh approached with a friendly air despite his nephew's rudeness. "Afternoon Ms. Katara. Zuko."

"Hello Iroh." Katara said sweetly. Zuko could tell from her tone that she was relieved that it had just been his Uncle instead of one of his soldiers.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Zuko I thought you should know that we are running low on supplies. We'll need to be stopping soon. We're close to Hitashi Island," He gave Zuko a significant look. They both knew that was fire nation territory which may prove a little difficult to Zuko, but terrifying to Katara. "or, in two days time we can make port at Shu Oma." Earth Kingdom territory Zuko noted. "Of course," his Uncle drawled on, "Shu Oma is a bigger market where supplies will be found more readily." That was a clear tell all to Zuko that meant he thought they should dock at the earth kingdom territory of Shu Oma.

"Shu Oma it is Uncle." Zuko agreed.

His Uncle ducked his head in acknowledgement. "I'll go inform the helmsman."

Zuko turned his attention back to Katara as his Uncle left. "I take it you'll be joining us on shore?" He had a small coy smile.

"I would love to." She said returning a shy smile.

"The ship gets old after a while, doesn't it?"

"A bit. I've really improved my bending, but…"
"But it gets old." He finished for her and she agreed with a nod. "Well, this will give you a chance to get out and have a nice change of pace for a while. Now, shall we get back to work?" He said, a teasing smile dancing on his lips.

Hey guys, sorry for the long delay, but between finals and work, well... anywho, back to the story writing. Hope you enjoyed. Comment and stuff.