Hello All
Please forgive for not updating, Its been a hard semester. I know its taken much longer then I hoped, but summers here I'm out of school, so I'll be writing 75% of the time.
Anyways thank you all for the reviews, messages and support it really makes my day.
Your all lovely and if I could give you all hugs and ponies I would. :)
Let me know what you guys think, whether good or bad I'm always fishing to learn something new.
As Always Happy Reading
Iroh and Sokka returned to the hotel around four in the morning, after Sokka had insisted they stay for the text ten rounds.
The now, very drunk, Watertribe warrior was now wandering around with a very sober Iroh following closely behind.
"You're the best man." Sokka said tripping over a table.
"I know, you have said that about fifteen times tonight, but you know I never tier of hearing it." Iroh chuckled. He sat down onto the couch and a cracking sound hit his ears.
"Ouch, I'm getting to old for this." He said, rubbing his spine. With a sigh he reached over for his tea cup.
Sokka ignored him and was now attempting to count the money he had won, but was having very little luck.
"Can you believe this, there is ten, twelve... wait what comes after twelve… who the hell cares, I'm rich. I'll never have to count again." He said, dropping down next to Iroh.
"Yes, you certainly can play a hard game of poker, now all I need to do is teach you how to play Phi Sho." Iroh said, rubbing his chin.
Sokka pushed his head back into the couch and nodded.
Trying to get comfortable he heard the sound of crunching paper.
"What the..." He mumbled, reaching into his back pocket. Sokka then pulled out the rolled up scroll.
"Hey, it's the map I won." He beamed.
Iroh raised an eyebrow as he watched a tipsy Sokka undo the ties. The case dropped to floor and Sokka studied the map for a moment, while Iroh poured his tea.
"That son of a bitch." Sokka yelled. Iroh watched in confusion as Sokka stubbled to his feet.
"That basted." He swore again.
"What is it?" Iroh asked sipping his cup.
"It's a fake, that jerk gave me a fake map." He said, glaring at the blank page.
"Let me see that." Iroh said calmly.
Sokka handed him the map and Iroh looked over it. It certainty didn't look like a fake he decided, but it wasn't until he saw the symbol on the right side of the map did he fully understand.
"Ah." Iroh said grinning at the map.
"What?" Sokka slurred, falling back onto the couch.
"The man wasn't lying, this is a map to treasure."
With that Sokka leaped to his feet. "But, I don't understand, why is it blank, you can't follow a blank map... Unless-" Sokka pointed his finger up.
"Only animals can read it, Momo where are you? I'm going to be rich." He shouted, while leaping not so gracefully around Iroh.
"Not so fast my boy, this is not just any treasure map, it's a firebending map." He said,
Sokka's face fell. "Awe man, now we'll never find a…. "
'Come on' Iroh thought, watching the drunk boy think.
"Wait! Iroh you're a firebender right?… Yeah you are, that means…, Yeah hoo!" He shouted, and yanking out his boomerang.
"Aang wake up were going to find treasure!"
Katara sat alone next to a tree, her head was set on her knees and she was trying to block her thoughts.
She knew exactly why she was upset and why she had spend half the night tossing and turning. Shutting her eyes she bit her tongue, jealousy was bitter, even in her head.
Zuko hadn't said anything about this Mai women, and Katara doubted he even knew that he had called her the name last night, but it was probably for the best that he didn't remember.
Sighing, Katara recalled when they had woken up on 'opposite' sides of mat. After breakfast they thanked Akio and Chiharu who had been more then happy to send them on their way.
They hadn't talked much, however it was not from anger, this time they simple had nothing to say to each other.
Yesterday seems like a distant dream in Katara's mind.
Had they really kissed? Had he really touched her like that, and then called her another women's name? Closing her eyes, she shook her head, all she wanted to do was crawl into the earth and vanish from the world forever.
"Katara." A voice broke through the trees.
"Crap." She sighed, she was hoping for a little more time to herself.
"Katara!" Zuko shouted, a bit more annoyed.
She sighed softly. This was going to be a long day.
She slowly rose to her feet and brushed herself off. Who was this Mai girl, was she his girlfriend, friend, some random girl? The puzzle burned through Katara and she pressed her back to the tree and closed her eyes.
She needed to stop thinking, or starting drinking. Either one would be fine she supposed.
"Katara ow." Zuko muttered as he tripped.
Katara jumped when he stumbled in, landing in front of her.
"Ow! Son of a whore." He glared at her from the ground, and she bite back a giggle while he untangled the root from his boot.
"Damn it Katara, what the hell are you doing out here?"
Amused she watched him stand, still muttering curse words.
"I was just thinking." She said softly.
"You shouldn't just run off, what if those crazy bandits would have been out here, or Earth Kingdom soldiers, or worse, my sister?"
she simply looked at him, trying to hide a smile as the sun came through the clouds, making him glisten in the sun. Katara's checks blushed pink when she stared at the young man.
He was so handsome, even with the scar, it was like staring into a statue of perfection.
Shaking her head quickly the image faded, and she felt a ball form in the pit of her stomach.
"are you even listening to me?" He ranted.
Shifting back to reality Katara bite her lip trying to hide her blush.
"Ah, yeah, sorry, I was just enjoying the sun." She said looking up at the makeshift sky where the sun barley peeked through.
While she was looking up Zuko noticed her red face 'whats she thinking about?' Many things popped into Zuko's head making his check taint as well.
"Well..." He coughed. "We should go now." He said, tuning away.
Katara kept her face focused at the sky.
They rode on until they reached a small farm.
Zuko decided to sell the Ostrich Horse, Katara was sad to see the big guy go, but didn't fight Zuko to keep him.
She had grown rather attached to the animal, since he was her only company besides Zuko for the last two weeks.
They also ending up selling most of their supplies for money, Zuko said he wasn't sure if they would need it but he would rather be safe.
The more the day went on the more Katara noticed Zuko's little quirks, she saw how careful he was while talking to strangers, he never told them more then what was necessary, or how he would quietly check and listening for people nearby and how he never let Katara out of his sight for more then ten minutes.
Katara wondered how she could not have noticed this before.
Perhaps in some way he did care about her well being, 'or his own power', her mind shot back bitterly. She had been arguing with herself all day trying to find some way to ease her racing mind.
Dragging her feet a bit she watched the dirt on the bottom of her jacket and shoes, and she didn't notice Zuko stop.
"Will you just tell me what I did already." He snapped bitterly, making Katara turn her head in confusion,
"What?" She asked softly, how could he know anything about what was making her upset, she hadn't spoken all day.
"Well you've barley spoken all day. You didn't even argue with me when we sold Vincent, so obviously I did something to piss you off in the last twenty four hours." He snapped.
She blinked her eyes and then much to his surprised she smiled.
"You named him Vincent?" She asked.
Zuko flushed three shades redder then she had ever seen.
"Don't change the subject." He snapped embarrassed.
Katara hid her giggle. "I just hadn't felt very well today."
Zuko raised his eyebrow at the young Waterbender.
"It's really nothing Zuko, you haven't done anything." 'Recently' her mind added bitterly.
He looked a bit unconvinced but sighed anyway.
"Alright, come on its going to be dark soon." He said giving up.
"Are we there yet?"
"Does this look like the place Sokka?" Aang asked a bit annoyed.
Iroh was walking in front of the two boys with his face buried into the map.
After wondering around for about four hours the boys had decided to take a new direction.
"Now we should be coming up to a… oh there it is." Iroh said, pointing to the cave opening.
"Zuko, who's Mai?" Katara took a deep breath, feeling a bit proud of herself for finally asking, but she still had a hard time trying to calm her nerves.
All afternoon he had talked, but it had mostly been him telling her ways to prevent Firebending sickness, while he had been talking, she had been thinking of ways to ask him about the mystery girl Mai.
Seeming a bit shocked by her question, his eyes became wide and his body tensed.
"Mai's a friend of my sister's." He said shifting his eyes everywhere but avoiding Katara, she raised her eyebrow and then crossed her arms.
"A friend of your sister's?" She asked, a little confused.
She must be a girlfriend or a lover, or at least he wants her to be one of those things.
Feeling a bit sad she watched Zuko give her an equally confused look.
"Yes, why are you asking about her?" He asked, adding little to the puzzle.
She huffed in annoyance.
"Who is she? Is she your girlfriend or something?" She asked imminently regretting the words that slipped out of her mouth.
Much to Katara's surprise Zuko chuckled.
"I hardly call the women who's been trying to kill me for the last few weeks a girlfriend."
She let out the breath of relief, she was still a bit confused but she felt her heart soar at the news until he continued.
"No, she's my fiance." And it dropped to the ground.
"I don't think we should be in here." Aang's small voice echoed off the walls.
Looking up nervously he shivered as the crystals on the ceiling shook with each word they spoke.
"Piff." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Just because there is sign that says Caution Falling Crystals, Certain Death, does not mean were in any danger, besides Aang, your always saying you what to see more of the sights." Sokka said looking around.
Aang had to admit it was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen Momo chirped in delight as the lights danced off the cave walls.
"Shh" Aang said placing his hands on his lips.
"Hey, over here." Iroh whispered from across the room, both Sokka and Aang sprang to his side.
"What does it say now?" Aang asked, trying not to cringe under the shaking crystals.
"It says there should be a secret hiding place, but..." He stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"It seems as if this part has caved in." He said, observing the pile of rocks in front of them.
"Here let me see that." Sokka said, taking the map from Iroh.
"Hmm." He said, scratching his head. He looked at the map for several minutes.
"Nope, still can't read fire language." Sokka sighed.
Iroh chuckled before he looked at Aang who seemed to be moving closer and closer to the exit.
Momo leaped from Aang and moved to the rocks. Iroh watched has be began to claw and move them.
"No Momo." Sokka pushed the lemur aside, however Momo hit a stone on the side. No one saw what he hit, but the next thing they knew the cave was shaking.
"Everyone get down!" Iroh yelled has he created a wall of fire to move the falling crystals, and at the same time.
Aang swung his staff and blew the pieces off to one side, preventing them from being crushed, but also blocking their way out. All the while Momo jumped around Sokka.
"Good going Momo." Sokka yelled sarcastically, trying to avoid the falling rocks.
Momo chirped before he pointed to pile of rocks revealing an opening inside the rubble.
"Momo." Sokka beamed. "Hey guys come on there's and opening." Sokka shouted.
"But we'll be trapped." Aang argued moving another big rock aside carefully.
"There is no time, the roof is moving again, lets go!" Iroh yelled before they made there way into the small opening.
"Fiance?" Nothing could describe Katara's face at that moment.
Zuko's never-ending headache pushed harder on his head, once again he had no idea what the hell she was taking about.
"What's this about, why do you care so much about Mai?" He asked, trying to settle things down.
"Who is she? You said her name last night, you called me Mai while you were sleeping."
Ahh well that was embarrassing Zuko thought.
"Mai is the black haired girl that's been traveling around with my sister." He said and watched her blush red.
"What, but why would your future wife try to kill you?" He moved his eyes back to Katara who was radiating with anger, it was kinda cute.
"What are you smirking at? This isn't funny." She snapped again making her blue dress drag further into the ground as she began pacing.
"I didn't think it was relevant, its not like I can marry her anyway." He said shrugging.
She breathed exploding with embarrassment.
"You...you should have told me… I mean us, I mean, we need to know these kind of things." She snapped again trying to regain her normal color.
Zuko simple started at her. "Why does it matter so much to you?"
'Because you kissed me' Her head shouted, but she bit her lip. He looked at her, waiting for an answer, but she didn't have one.
Instead she turned away from him and picked up her bag she had left on the ground.
"It doesn't, lets go It will be dark soon." She said, hiding behind her hair.
A stumped Zuko watched the young waterbender walk away. He was a master swords man, he could track a man in the dark however, he couldn't figure out this women.
He didn't want to discuses Mai, or his past, and even though he did feel bad he had called her Mai it was simply a habit.
She didn't seem to notice that he hadn't moved yet, and he didn't want her upset over nothing. Sighing he began moving trying to catch up with her.
Was she worried about Mai attacking them, because personally he thought Azula was the scariest one and he would take Mai on any day.
Did she think that just because he was suppose to marry her that he would let Mai slice and dice her, he doubted Mai wanted to kill them anyways, she was just following orders.
Zuko watched Katara walk with her head down, why the hell was she so upset? He sighed loudly and bit his tongue letting his thoughts wonder.
Maybe it wasn't because she was scared maybe she was… that made Zuko stop dead in his tracks.
No! Could it be that she was jealous of Mai. It all made since, she was angry because he had called her Mai and wanted to know if he felt something for her.
"I'm sorry we didn't' find your treasure Sokka." Aang said handing the blue rock to Sokka.
"It's okay Aang, i'm just glad everyone is ok, besides I bet that rock is worth something."
"I'm just happy there happened to be a back door in the room." Iroh said, while Momo jumped all over him.
They all nodded in agreement before Sokka began to observe the rock more closely, mostly by tapping it with his boomerang.
" careful Sokka, I have a weird feeling about that stone." Aang said eyeing the stone closely.
Sokka shrugged. "its just a blue rock, I'm sure there is nothing special about it." He stuffed the rock into his bag.
"anyways I'm hungry lets forget about this day and go eat." he said rubbing the never ending stomach, Iroh laughed before he glanced at the backpack.
Aang was right, there was definitely something strange about that rock.
Katara listened quietly to Zuko speak about Mai. He told how they had been childhood friends and how they had gotten engaged a year before Zuko's banishment.
He didn't go into deep detail, but he did tell her a little story about how he saved her from a flaming apple sent by a young Azula.
She would have thought the story was rather cute if it didn't make her heart want to die.
"So your father's got together and decided you guys would marry?" She asked fishing for more details.
He looked over at her and shrugged.
"No, not really I picked Mai, my father would have picked someone otherwise, and I would have had to marry some annoying nobel woman."
She nodded her head, so he wanted someone who was not as dull as a noble, but from what Katara had seen Mai seemed to be rather bored half the time anyway.
"Why did you pick her though?" She asked twirling a piece of hair in her finger.
"Why not marry someone else, she might be a lot happier?" She prodded.
He turned his head and opened his mouth but then closed it and thought for a moment.
"No reason, I just wanted someone who would be a good Firelady." He said simply.
"Someone who will listen and not question me, and Mai's good at taking orders."
Katara's face dropped, so he picked a girl simply because she would do anything he said.
"Don't you think you should marry someone you love? Do you even love her?" She asked softly, she expected him to blush or stop at the question, instead he staired into her eyes.
"Love has nothing to do with my marriage Katara, its simply an arrangement."
She was taken back by his statement.
"How can you say that Zuko, if you don't have love in a marriage how can you trust them, how can you sleep next to a person you don't even love?"
Zuko raised his eyebrow. "One, I don't trust anyone, two we can sleep in separate bed rooms, and three you don't have to love someone to marry them. There I just solved all your problems." he said without emotion in his voice.
Her sad eyes watched him, did he not think anyone cared about him?
"Do you trust me?" She asked softly.
Taken off guard he stopped and turned his head to look at her.
Before he could think his hand reached out to push the hair out of her round face, she blushed and shifted when his hand reached out to push her chin up.
Blushing deep red, this was just like yesterday, the lustful look and the touching, it made Katara's knees brought her face closer to his so that their noses were almost touching, she felt his breath on her face and smelled the sweet musky scent that was radiating off him.
"Your homeland is at war with mine, and your best friends with the Avatar; the one person that stands between me and my honor, this isn't about whether or not I trust you Katara, this is about getting things back in order." He pulled away.
Katara felt her heart sink. Even after all this time he still thought nothing of her. Humiliated, she clenched her fist to her sides.
"So what, we're just supposed to get our bending back and then what, go back to being enemies, hating each other? Zuko I can't pretend that yesterday didn't happen." She argued.
"Then don't." He said bluntly.
"do you not care about anything, about what happened about what you saw, do you even realize all the bad things your 'country' dose to people" she yelled, Zuko rolled his eyes at her.
"Katara this has nothing to do with the war, I'm the crowed Prince of the Firenation, I am not supposed to be a Waterbender" he ranted frustrated.
"Why do you do this " She yelled.
Zuko refused to face her.
"We need to get moving it's going to be dark soon." He said noticing the cart that was heading towards them, he really didn't want to have this conversion out here.
However before he tell her they needed to stay hidden Katara stamped her foot onto the ground.
"Damn it Zuko, don't change the subject?"
Zuko turned his head back to see a very angry smoking waterbender, wait smoking
His eyes widened.
Smoke was literally pouring from her ears and mouth, and if that wasn't enough he could hear the carriage getting closer.
Crap she was going to explode. "Katara" He said calmly. as he watched her smoke.
"Zuko, whats happening?" She cried as her body temperature began to rise.
"Shit." Zuko swore, she was going to burn to death and on top of that there was a witness coming just up the road. Thinking fast he pulled off his pack and yanked out the canteen.
Luckily she wasn't on fire, yet.
Katara shook trying to calm herself, she felt the flames calm down a bit and she carefully breathed as her body regained a normal temperature.
"Zuko I think-" However, before she could finish Zuko had already splashed the water onto her.
Her face flushed red and her teeth ground together.
"I'm fine now." She said between her teeth.
Zuko eyes widen.
"I, you, fire." Was all he managed to get out before Katara tried to shake the water off with her arms.
"Hey kids." The man in the carriage had finally pulled up, interrupting the verbal abuse that Zuko was no doubt about to receive.
They turned to the man driving. He was young thin man with a long brown beard that almost covered his whole face.
"What the hell are you kids doing out in the middle of the road, it's dangerous out here." He snapped.
Zuko kept his eyes on Katara. "We're fine, just two happy travelers" he snarled back at the man.
Katara felt uneasy, she didn't know how she could go from being upset to angry to terrified all in a few hours, it couldn't be good for her.
"Hey why are you all wet girly?" The man asked, shifting the grass in his mouth to the other side.
Katara shivered in the cold air.
" No.. no reason, Do you think you could give us a ride into town?"
She asked changing the subject, anything she would say would sound ridiculous.
Let him believe whatever he wants.
The man raised his eyebrow at her.
"Sure I guess, are you all right miss?" He asked looking at the soaked water bender and turning a glare to Zuko.
Zuko rolled his eyes. 'Yeah I abuse her by dumping some water on her' He thought with irritation.
"I'm fine, just a little wet, thank you though." She said with a small smile.
The man eyed over her again this time a bit more closely, Zuko saw the dress stick to Katara's body.
"Can you give us a ride or not?" Zuko snapped with flared nostrils, fighting the urge to cover Katara up.
The man shot a glare. "Yea, get in the back."
Kartara and Zuko sat in the back on the hay truck. Another shiver passed through her, even though she had Zuko jacket to keep her warm, the wind ripped right to her.
Glancing up she saw the town's light, sighing in relief she pressed her head up on the side of the wagon.
Shifting her eyes to Zuko who was staring off into the distance, Katara realized that she didn't want to think about Zuko, bending, or anything else right now.
Before long the carriage stopped and Katara opened her eyes. She blinked to the bright lanterns that flashed in her eyes. She must have fallen asleep.
Rubbing them she heard Zuko and the man speaking before she felt the wagon shift.
Zuko came up in front of her and let her his hand. "We'll get a room tonight, and tomorrow we'll go see this Aunt Wu lady." He said.
A still woozy Katara rubbed her eyes again and hopped off the carriage.
"fine" she said sleepily, not having the strength to argue.
"Katara." A small voice came from the side.
They both turned to see the face of a meek girl with, her usually ponytails were lose and her black curls hung in front of her pretty face.
"Ming" Katara started wide eyed. She gave a small smile before it turned serious.
"Aunt Wu wants to see you two now."
"how did you know we were here" Zuko questioned suspiciously.
Ming cringed a bit before looking around.
"I think its best if you two just come" she said softly.
They both eyed each other, and let Ming lead the way.
Zuko remembered this village it was the same one that the tracker June had lead him too.
Ming lead them to a small building, and a shiver passed through him along with a stomach pang. He grabbed Katara's arm before she could go trough the flaps.
"What?" She asked as he pulled her to him.
"I have a bad feeling about this." He whispered to her.
She watched him in confusion.
"We came all the way here, we have to go in." she said trying to pull away.
"Katara I don't think this-"
"Ah, I see you have arrived, although I can't really see" A grim voice came through the door.
They both turned to look at no other then the woman they had been looking for the last two weeks.
"Aunt Wu." Katara's eyes widened.
Aunt Wu chuckled, and Zuko controlled the urge to pull Katara away.
Katara gasped, this did not look like the same old women she had seen, her hair was mangled, and skin looked as if she had aged ten year over night.
However neither of them noticed for, they were both focused on the two empty holes where her eyes used to be.
"Hello dear, Prince Zuko I've been waiting for you."
Five Years Ago
'Mai, Mai what the are you doing all the way out here?" Zuko panted as he tried to regain his breath. It had been three miles of climbing and running to get to the meek fifteen year old.
Mai ignored him and started off into the sea watching as the birds danced around the shores, she wished she could be like that. Wild free. Sighing she turned back to Zuko who was eyeing her strangely.
"Are you okay? I heard you got into trouble with the head master today." Zuko moved and sat down on a rock next to her his face cringed when he saw the dirt on his new robes.
Mai watched him for a moment before leaning in, taking Zuko off guard, and planting a kiss on his lips. He jumped back for a moment before realizing what had happened. However she pulled away before he could do anything, leaving him dazed and confused.
Mai sighed and moved back to where she had been sitting and laid her hand on her head.
Zuko watched her, touching his lips. She looked board, upset, did he do it wrong? "Mai, why did you-"
"It's just not the same." She said softly, before sighing into her hand.
His face flushed with embarrassment. "Not the same as what?" He stood up angrily, glaring at the girl .
She turned her head slowly and looked at him. How she wished it had been the same.
"Not the same as who, some other guy, are you saying i'm a bad kisser cause you caught me off guard, and-"
"Zuko." She interrupted softly,
His anger died down when he saw the fresh tears roll down her check.
"Oh Mai, I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you." He said, before he crouched down next to her, he still cringed at the sight of his robes getting dirty but ignored it.
She shook her head. "It's not that Zuko, it's just... It's not the same as hers." She cried softly.
Zuko raised another eyebrow in confusion.
"Hers?" His eyes widened.
"Oh well, thats um..." 'Kinda hot' A little voice said.
Zuko shook his head trying to get the thought out before he had to run away.
"Mai, thats well ah..." He rubbed the back of his head.
"You don't have to say anything Zuko, I know its a crime and I'll never get to be with someone I really love." She sighed again feeling the tears fall down her face.
Zuko watched Mai in frowned as well. They sat in silence for awhile just watching the waves crash onto the rocks.
"You know, if you wanted, I mean we could..." His words died.
Her expression was blank and Zukos face was red as he tried to continue.
"If you wanted I mean you could..." He rubbed his head wishing to could disappear.
"Be my wife." He averted his eyes, and he heard Mai stand and smooth out her dress.
"Forget it." She sighed before starting to walk away.
"No wait!" he grabbed her sleeve, and he stood in front of her.
Zuko took her hand and held his head high.
" Is not what you think, Mai, I don't know exactly you're going through, but I do know what it feels like to be the black sheep, if you want, or if you would even consider being my wife, you could live freely."
Her eyes snapped to his.
"Live freely?" She question trying to find the trick in his offer.
"When I become Fire Lord you can change any law or live anyway you want, the only thing I ask is that you provided me with an heir, and always stand by my side"
Mai lifted her face up to meet his and smiled gently. "I would be honored, Prince Zuko." She bowed.
Present Day
Mai felt a chill run through her body while staring off into the distance.
She glanced back at the camp and watched the soldiers prepare to move out. She held her solemn expression while fighting the urge to cry and crushed the ring hard in her hand.
"Mai are you ready?" The cheerful voice of Ty Lee echoed trough her ears she looked up and gave her a small smile.
"Yeah I guess." She sighed trying to sound bored.
She quickly hid her smile and rose to her feet. Looking at the ring one last time, she sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before standing and turning to face Ty Lee.
"Lets go Ty Lee." She said taking her hand.
Ty Lee blushed before they disappeared into woods together leaving behind a ring that glistened alone on the rock.
I hoped you enjoyed it.
If you want R&R and let me know what you think.
Thanks For Reading and have a wonderful day/night wherever you are :).
MadGirl