Dying To Survive
Chapter 4
"Sometimes, the timing can be just right. Yet other times, it's just a little too late."
..::-::..
Thunder rippled through the air as Mayuri sat up alert in her bed panting. She turned her head and saw the pouring rain slashing at the window. An ominous dark grey gloom spread throughout the air as she stood up and sighed. The morning chill hung in the air around her head and she turned slowly to wake her husband. He grumbled and then twisted his neck so that he was facing her as another loud crack rocketed through the sky above the temple.
"Is it morning already?" he asked groggily.
"Yes it is darling," she replied rubbing his shoulders. He blinked a few times and then winced at her soft words. She had never called to him like an equal before. The sudden change became the focus of his thoughts as her arms slithered around his neck.
"I know it is not necessary to say this but… I love you Taiko," she said quietly as the pounding rain plummeted against the walls and the roof. The sweeping rush of wind froze his body as she kissed his neck tenderly. He suddenly shoved her away and rose from the bed quickly before pulling on his robe for warmth. Mayuri sat on the bed, stunned at his rejection of her affections.
"We don't have time for foolish emotions right now Mayuri," he stated as he combed his frazzled hair. She looked away dejectedly and then began to dress herself as well.
"I only said that because I do not know when disaster will strike. I would regret it deeply if I was not able to say that to you because something happened," said Mayuri, turning away from him, holding back tears. Taiko sighed and then walked over to her, pulling her into an embrace.
"Nothing is going to happen to us. Our main task is to focus on decoding the prophecy and taking the necessary actions there after. Love is always between us, you do not have to speak of it," he commented and then let go of her. Mayuri felt the warmth slip away from her body and she shuddered, another blast of thunder shooting at her limbs. His words were intended to comfort her, but they made her heart feel emptier than before. It was then that she remembered what had occurred during the night. She muffled her shocked gasp and then hurried away to change. Taiko noted the difference but shrugged it off while he got ready for the day. He let his hair down and his bangs covered the sides of his face while the top most strands were pulled back into a braid.
Taiko wandered through their tower until he reached the very tip where there was a tiny domed room with a balcony and a door. The misty bitter air was at its coldest in the room and he braced himself while opening the door. Pelts of rain came into his view as a great hawk flew in, spreading his wings, dripping from head to toe with water. Taiko quickly closed the door and then stripped the animal of his message. The paper fell out of the tube, thankfully dry and in tact. He let the messenger hawk out into the storm again and then stood near a dimly lit torch to read the letter.
After a few minutes of reading the letter, his eyes widened and he gasped.
"This is what I have been waiting for," he whispered eagerly as he raced down the staircase, into the darkness that was spreading throughout the morning.
..::-::..
The distant growls of thunder and whips of lighting had vanished and in their place was a constant hum of lulling rain. That, paired with the already peaceful environment needed for her zazen class, Katara felt like her mind was floating among the beautiful clouds overhead the storm.
"And thus concludes our class for today. Remember that in rain there is radiance even though it may seem otherwise," the sensei said cheerfully. Katara stood up and stretched, bumping into a certain person that was doing the same.
"Do you ever look where you're swinging those arms of yours?" asked Jet with a laugh. She smiled and wiped his bangs away from his forehead, the place she had lightly scratched.
"Well I didn't think you'd be that close to me," she responded with a small laugh. Jet opened his mouth but then closed it and looked around, averting her gaze.
"So, where are you going next?" he asked as they were heading out the doors.
"I haven't gone to a white class in a long time, so I'll just meet you for lunch okay?"
He nodded and waved as they went in opposite directions. The rain was still drizzling and the transparent tarps were draped over the sides of the halls with the exposed railings. No one was allowed in the courtyard because of this and everyone would be eating in the Gathering Hall for lunch. Katara walked among the students and ran up the marble staircase to the second floor. Up ahead, she spotted a perfect pair of white doors. She smiled and began to walk in when she froze in her place. Zuko was in the room, his fire escaping into the air above him. Her heart jumped started her body and she moved forward. The students gathered were watching excitedly as Zuko spun the fire light in circles. His eyes suddenly caught Katara's glance and the fire disappeared instantly. Everyone, including the teacher gave each other puzzled glances.
"Bravo young man! That was surely a most interesting display of firebending!" he exclaimed. There weren't too many students there, as Katara quickly came to realize. The room was divided into four parts with an inner circle between the four sections. One was composed of rough earth and gravel while across from it was a flat square of paved flooring. Zuko stood among a growing plane of burnt grass while across from him stood three students who were looking into a pond of clear water. Katara walked over to the part of the room where the mist swam through the air and she could feel the tingle of water flowing through her body. Zuko looked at her through the corner of his eyes and then turned to face his partner. It was a man a bit older than him with long black hair. He pushed a ball of fire in Zuko's direction and then Zuko swallowed it with his hands, making the heat disappear. On the other side, Katara was demonstrating to the other waterbenders her technique of making the water disappear entirely into thin air. She raised her hands fluidly and then clasped them together. They stared in awe and then the sensei glanced from Katara to Zuko and back again. A grin spread across his face.
"All right. It is time for the first duel. It will be water versus fire. The two of you will face each other," the sensei commented, pointing both at Katara and Zuko. He stared at the teacher in shock and then looked at Katara whose face was edged in confusion and surrounded by concealed anger. They both locked into each other's eyes as they stepped into the center of the room. Everyone backed out of the way as a clear high pitched bell rang inside their heads. Katara immediately pulled the air from behind her and a wave of water propelled itself from the pond. Zuko shifted to the left and bent low so that his arm could spread out more. It circled the air in front of him as a sheet of fire formed and collided with her wave. Katara clenched her jaw tightly as the sizzling steam faded into her skin. Zuko stood up again and pushed his fists to the side, two fire whips forming in them. Katara gawked as her water whips found no opening. The hiss of combat made them both wince and she knew that in order to win, she'd have to try something new.
"They are both very similar and equal, yet there is something troubling in her moves," the sensei noted to himself. His whispers didn't reach Katara's ears so she continued her plan. Her whips slashed through his blazing attack and Zuko stumbled a bit, not expecting his fire to be extinguished. Katara jumped to the side and began to run at him, pulling the water towards Zuko. His gaze narrowed as Zuko saw the water speeding towards him, but he shielded himself in a flame filled wall. Katara smirked and instead of forcing the water directly towards him, she sent it underneath his feet. The water crawled up on his body, covering his legs, torso and finally his upper arms, until the water reached his neck. Zuko winced as he struggled to free himself of the watery grave. Suddenly, his anger burst and the flaming wall in front of him flew outwards, leaving Katara stunned and not ready to attack. She dived down to the ground and covered her head with her hands as the heat shot above it. The tunnel that wrapped Zuko like a present splashed down to the ground and he breathed deeply, a bell ringing in his head, signaling the end of the fight.
"It seems as if fire is the superior element, at least for now," the sensei remarked as Katara pushed herself off the ground. She glared at Zuko and then marched over to the sensei.
"What do you mean? How can the fight be over already?" she asked furiously. "I could have beaten him!"
The sensei shook his head and spread his hands apart. "Although you two are evenly matched, the imbalance of your center caused a significant decrease in the ability to maneuver your moves correctly. This interruption in fluid motion, for a waterbender, is critical and therefore you would have lost no matter what. Because you were not able to keep a hold of your advanced attack on your opponent while you defended yourself, I declare that the winner is the firebender. You should learn to keep your cool while in the heat of battle. For a student of the white level, it is a shame you cannot do that simple task."
Katara felt her face heat up as some students sighed with disappointment. Zuko shrugged his shoulders slightly and that made her even more embarrassed. She held his gaze as they walked off the field in order to let the next pair battle. Suddenly, she felt her legs walking up to him quickly and she couldn't tell them not to. Before she knew what had happened, she was standing right in front of him near the entrance of the room.
"I didn't know you had improved so much," she said with a hesitant smile.
Zuko nodded and looked towards the ongoing battle. "This white level class doesn't seem as difficult as I thought it'd be," he commented. Katara let her jaw drop and she was about to yell an insult at him, but she remembered what he had done for her the previous night. It was harder for her to attack him like she used to because of that unanticipated kindness he had shown her.
"Maybe that's why I lost. I underestimated you," she said as she smiled brightly, hoping he would understand her joke. He raised his brow and then glanced downward as if thinking about a past memory. Zuko suddenly turned and stomped out of the room. Katara reached out and her eyes became round and desperate.
"Wait! Zuko!"
She ran out after him but when she walked into the hall, he was no where to be found. Katara sighed and headed back into the room with uncertainty buzzing around her like an ongoing drone of bees. Her emotions regarding Zuko were constantly changing and she was considerably trying to be calm and collected near him, to be herself, which she was failing to do. There was still a blockade between the two of them, and no matter what, the past wasn't going to erase itself. She would have to try again later. It was decided.
"I'll talk to him during lunch and maybe then this problem will go away," she whispered to herself while she came back into the class.
..::-::..
The rain was still lightly drizzling outside but the clouds were thick and heavy, leaving the view from Katara's window to be very dull and unlike the one she saw at the time of beautiful sunsets. She scribbled quickly on the sheet of paper and then smiled, darting out of the door.
The Gathering Hall was full of students and it was hard to find him. Everywhere she looked, Katara thought she had seen Zuko, but when she tapped a man on the shoulder, it was always someone other than the man with the pair of golden eyes. After about fourteen tries, Katara saw another person relatively close to her, in a darker corner of the room, and she sighed.
"It's probably not him," she commented. Her feet walked forward anyway and she tapped the man on the shoulder. "Excuse me." He turned around quickly, his bangs swishing back and forth before his body became still. Katara's heart lifted inside her chest and she automatically smiled. He raised an eyebrow and backed away a bit from her eagerness. "Zuko! I've looked everywhere for you!" Katara exclaimed happily.
"You have?" he asked with doubt. Katara saw his finished meal and her stomach grumbled softly. She laughed to herself and put a hand behind her head while she extended the other hand towards him, in it a piece of paper. Zuko looked at it curiously and unfolded it while taking the paper away from her. Katara glanced at him and smirked as his face lit up with recognition. His eyes grew large and then he immediately turned towards her with a narrowed glaze.
"What is this?" he barked.
"You know what it is Zuko. Read it again if you're not sure."
He crumpled the paper as his fingers curled. "I don't know why you're thanking me." Zuko retorted angrily. Katara raised an eye and then folded her arms.
"There's no way you can deny it Zuko." She stepped closer towards him and smiled warmly. "I know what you did for me. I wanted to thank you for bringing me dinner last night." Zuko's breathing deepened as a faint blush spread across his face. He clenched his jaw and then a flame lit up in the hand holding the note. Katara stared in shock and stood back alarmed. People eating lunch started to look at them as Zuko moved towards Katara.
"There's no proof I did that! Why would I help you?" Zuko asked full of rage. Katara's heart sank to her stomach as the embers drifted towards the floor. Her plan wasn't working; it was only making things worse. Suddenly, someone stepped in between them and Katara was even more surprised than before. Zuko stood back as Jet drew his swords into a battle stance, Katara standing behind him like a cowering little child.
"Get away from her!" he yelled.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and looked directly into Jet's frustrated face. "I didn't do anything," Zuko replied calmly. Katara pulled on Jet's sleeve and nodded.
"It's true Jet. We were just talking. Nothing happened," Katara said weakly. Jet looked past his shoulder to Katara's hopeful face and he remembered his promise before. He sighed and put the hooks away. Jet eyed Zuko and stepped towards him. In a deep and low voice, Jet hissed through his teeth.
"Remember what I told you yesterday. I meant what I said and I won't hesitate to…"
"What are you talking about Jet?" Katara asked, her hands on her hips, her composure regained. He looked over towards her questioning face and then back at Zuko. The two stared at each other with mixed emotions and then Jet walked towards Katara. His voice drifted past her as he disappeared into the crowd.
"It's nothing Katara…"
"Jet! Come back here and tell me!" Katara grumbled in frustration, stomped her feet and clenched her fists. She turned abruptly towards Zuko and walked up to him. "Will you tell me what he was talking about? Why am I always left out of everything?"
Zuko stared at her curious, angry face and shook his head. "It's just something between us. Nothing is wrong, so you don't have to worry," he finished. Katara suddenly let go of the building anger as if a dam of rushing water had been released by his words. She smiled with a hint of amusement sparkling in her blue eyes.
"So you can tell that I'm worried about the two of you?" she asked while leaning in and looking at him through the corner of her eye.
Zuko looked away from her and sighed. "It's obvious. You wanted to know as soon as he said something to me."
"You told me not to worry though. That must mean you're concerned about me too, right?" she asked confidently.
His eyes widened and then he returned his gaze back to normal. "No I'm not. I just don't want you to bother me." Katara's rising accomplishment had shattered in that instant and her gaze dropped to her fumbling hands.
"Oh, so I was wrong to assume…"
"Yes, you were wrong," Zuko said forcefully.
"Okay then, I'll leave you alone. As long as nothing's wrong between the two of you…" she said, her voice vanishing as she left his side. Zuko suddenly realized his mistake. She was trying to be nice to him, and he was pushing her away. So far, she was the only real friend he had, someone who knew about his past and accepted him for who he was, or that's what it seemed to be like. She had only gone a few steps before Katara felt someone grab her wrist. As her head twisted behind her, her jaw dropped. Zuko's firm gaze held her eyes and she was entranced by his close proximity and his forceful grip.
"I didn't mean it like that, what I said before, I meant…" Katara felt his fingers glide across her hand as he let go of her and then she turned around fully, smiling brightly towards him. Swelling warmth spread through her previously dented pride and she nodded.
"So you don't think I'm an annoying peasant or something?" she asked intentionally. Zuko wasn't expecting the reference to the first name he had called her. He shook his head and bowed.
"No, I don't. I'm sorry for calling you that before… your name…"
"Katara. My name is Katara," she responded cheerfully. "I already know you're Zuko, or do you have some other name I don't know about?"
He scratched his head, looking for an answer. "No, I'm just Zuko." Katara took his response to heart. He truly wasn't attending the temple to gain power over people. He wasn't even addressing himself as a prince anymore. Suddenly, her stomach growled again, this time louder than before. Zuko noticed and looked at her abdomen, almost allowing himself to laugh. The brightness in his facial expression was so refreshing that Katara thought she was looking at a stranger.
"It seems that you're hungry," Zuko commented. "There's still some more food I saved. Do you… want to eat with me?" he asked timidly and flustered. Katara smiled with the corner of her mouth and nodded.
"That'd be great." Zuko sat down, but to his surprise, instead of sitting across from him like he thought she would, Katara took a seat down right next to him. He looked down at the table quickly as Katara found some fruit on a plate and ate it. Taking a quick breath, he slid away from her slightly so that there was breathable room in between them. She reached for the bowl of rice and then smiled hungrily.
"So, do you like the temple so far?" asked Katara while facing him. Zuko looked up at the ceiling, around and then back at her. He nodded pleasantly.
"Yes, it's very… uh, rustic…" Zuko commented.
A moment of frozen silence passed as they stared at each other. Katara's mouth was a horizontal line, but suddenly, it exploded into a shining smile while she laughed shortly. Zuko's eyes widened and he scratched his head.
"Rustic? You think it's rustic huh?" she turned her body towards him. Zuko didn't understand why what he said was comical; to him, it was perfectly rational.
"I don't know why you thought that was funny," Zuko said sternly while looking away from her. Katara's wide smile toned itself into a bud of warmth.
"You gave me such a predictable answer, that's why I laughed. Of course the temple is rustic, but what do you think of it? I was expecting you to say how wonderfully calm the atmosphere was, or something like that."
"Oh."
"Well?" she inclined curiously.
"I guess I like it here… because I can finally talk to someone I know," Zuko said gradually, not knowing if he was truly letting her see that side of him. Katara's smiled widened slightly and Zuko saw the spark in her eyes, the one that had never been directed towards him before, but always someone else.
"Oh," she replied shortly. They stared at each other until the noiselessness surrounding them was sliced through by Zuko's hesitant chuckle. He glanced at her slowly and then saw her inviting smile. He immediately felt more comfortable sitting there, talking with her, almost as if it was usual for them to be having conversations like the one they were currently having. Just when the heated tension between Katara and Zuko started to cool off, a shriek made them both wince.
"Zuko! There you are!" Laia exclaimed excitedly as she bounced into her seat between the two. Katara and Zuko both edged back a bit in shock as Laia turned towards Zuko and flailed her arms in the air.
"I didn't know you were a firebender Zuko! That's so amazing, because, I can firebend too!"
It wasn't sure as to who was more stunned, Zuko or Katara. The waterbender suddenly felt that crawling green vine wrap around her arms as she folded them tightly together, pursing her lips as a heavy force pounded down on her back.
"How did you know I was a firebender?" asked Zuko while squinting.
"You're so silly! I saw you all the way from the entrance! I bet you scared her good!" Laia said as she casually flipped her thumb behind her to point Katara out to Zuko as if Katara was some insignificant painting on the wall. She clenched her fists and threw them downwards. Zuko saw Katara doing this behind Laia's back and his lips curled in an almost noticeable smirk. However Laia was fully aware of his change in attitude and she whirled around to face Katara who was perched on her seat and lunging forward like a hunter. "What are you doing?" Laia asked with confusion. "Can't you behave like a regular human and not a wild beast of some sort?"
"A wild beast? I don't resemble one at all! And Zuko's firebending doesn't scare me. I am not a weak coward! You're speaking to someone of white rank!" Katara declared triumphantly, waving her title in the air as if it were a prize to show off.
"White rank huh? Aren't those students supposed to have manners?"
Zuko saw the immediate fury boiling in Katara's eyes; she even started to perspire. Katara growled and suddenly caught Zuko's stare. Her anger left her body almost completely; Laia was right, she was acting like an enraged animal. Katara managed to pull off a fake smile behind her irritation and she even laughed shortly.
"Of course we do, don't we Zuko?" she asked casually.
"Since when was I a white level student?" he asked with surprise.
"Since you defeated me in our battle during class of course," she said with a smirk. He felt the spark fly from her eyes and reach his own as they looked at each other. Laia was left standing in the middle, shorter than both of them, trying to get Zuko's attention.
"I have no doubt that Zuko could become a white level student! He's a powerful firebender and could beat you whenever he felt like it. I'm the same way, did you know Zuko? Us firebenders have so much determination, don't we?" she asked while hanging onto his arm. Zuko tried to shy away but she didn't leave him alone.
"Yes, we're determined," he confirmed. Laia squealed and then her eyes suddenly became round and misty. It was as if she was reaching for a dream and it was coming true.
"Oh, I just thought of the perfect idea! Since I'm just a black level for now, how about you teach me some moves and tricks so that I can become a white level like you!"
Katara's jaw dropped but she was confident that she knew Zuko well enough to know he wouldn't help a random person, at least that's what she thought.
"Okay, but there isn't enough room here," he said without expression. Even though Zuko didn't like her at all, he wouldn't pass up another opportunity to firebend. He was even slightly curious to see how well she could firebend; it had been a long time since he had seen someone besides himself control fire.
Katara's stomach flipped over as she saw Laia jump up excitedly. "I know the perfect place! We can go to that room where you and that girl were yesterday! Come on!" She pulled forcefully on Zuko's arm and without even getting the chance to say anything to him, Katara was left alone, watching them fade away into the crowd. Zuko's head turned slightly towards her and Katara thought she saw him glance back, but she wasn't sure. The amount of chattering students was decreasing and Katara finally came out of her trance. She realized that it wasn't just Zuko and herself that had been in the hall, because for that time, it seemed like no one else had been there. Katara suddenly jolted herself out of the dragging misery she was feeling.
"What's wrong with me? Why should I care if she goes with Zuko, just the two of them… alone…" Katara growled at herself and then slapped her forehead. Just as she did, her body became numb and her eyes alert yet droopy. A shielding wind forced her forward and she started to slowly walk out of the Gathering Hall.
..::-::..
"All you need to do is trust yourself and put all of the power inside into your fist," Zuko instructed.
"Like this?" Laia asked in her solid stance.
"Yes. Now you can move the attack in any direction you wish." She bit her lip and concentrated while striking her arm into the air above her. A swirling tunnel of fire shot up to the rocky ceiling and illuminated the room more than it was already. Zuko had called his inner light when they first entered the room and the red glow spread quicker than it had before. Since he had come to the temple, he had grown stronger each minute and he felt that rush of power inside of him, yet he was somewhat confused by it. Zuko heard a giggle and looked abruptly at Laia who had disrupted his thoughts.
"You know Zuko, you're not as bad as I thought you were. Sorry about getting mad at you yesterday. You don't hate me, do you?" she asked quietly.
The red glow bounced off her face naturally as a flame popped out of her forefinger. Laia held it in the air in front of her face so that the shadows jumped from her eyes to her nose and down to her chin.
"No, I never hated you," Zuko said calmly.
The flame extinguished as Laia excitedly clapped her hands. "That's so great Zuko… because, well, I never met anyone like you before. Everyone at the temple thinks I'm some stupid amateur who only cares about looks. But I'm not like that… and you're one of the few people who haven't assumed that…"
Zuko raised his eye as she brought her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. She sighed and closed her eyes, imagining Zuko's protective embrace around her.
"It's nice to know that I can count on someone to think of me like a normal person. I hate stereotypes, don't you?" she asked softly. He winced and thought of his title as a prince and shuddered. Zuko closed his eyes and shifted through his memories and the pain his past had caused him. False hopes resided in himself back then and he couldn't get rid of them, not until someone had come and turned his life upside down. She had shown him what little compassion the human world could offer; it was a true hope that began to breed in him slowly. He knew exactly what Laia meant.
Zuko opened his eyes, but to his surprise he saw a smiling pair of blue eyes in front of him, engulfed by the red glow of the room.
"What's wrong Zuko? It's like I'm a ghost or something! Don't look at me like that. It creeps me out a bit," Laia concluded and laughed a bit. Zuko shook his head as her voice destroyed the image in his mind. He stood up suddenly and Laia's lips parted sorrowfully. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I'm sorry. I don't feel well. It was nice firebending with you. We should do it again sometime," Zuko said and gave her a slight smile. Laia nodded enthusiastically and watched him walk towards the door. He recalled the light and suddenly the room was dim and covered in darkness.
"Zuko! Wait until I leave the room! I can't see anything!" Laia screamed in panic. Zuko sighed and spread the light out again, enough so that she could make it to the door without falling over something. It came back to him instantly and then they parted ways. Laia watched cheerfully as Zuko turned the corner.
..::-::..
In the isolation of her thoughts, Mayuri thought that maybe she was wrong about the girl. She had observed Katara throughout the day through the Art of Knowing. Her inner eye tracked Katara's movements and saw nothing peculiar. She had lost to the new student who reminded Mayuri of her son, and then she had talked to him casually about the temple. But then there was that other boy who had interrupted their feud. Her thoughts were burning the inside of her forehead and she took a deep breath in as she wiped her hair away from her face. Her eyes jerked open as a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders. Taiko's silky voice edged its way inside of her mind.
"You are extraordinarily beautiful today darling," he said softly.
She smiled and then turned around to face him. He held out his hand and she rose from her cushion in the isolation wing of their upper tower. Mayuri greeted him with a quick kiss and then they walked through the room and into another with more light. The torches flickered as they stepped inside and slid the door close. Taiko held a wicked grin on his face the entire time and Mayuri was beginning to question him.
"May I ask why I received such a warm greeting from you dear?" she asked sweetly.
"It is because this morning a messenger hawk came with news from the other temple," said Taiko excitedly. Mayuri's eyes widened and she immediately rushed to his side as he pulled out a scrap of paper and unfolded it.
"What news do they bring? Will it help us?"
"It has done more than help darling. As soon as I read the letter, I rushed to the library and found the book that has opened my eyes to the world beyond," he said, his eyes shining. His wife let go of his arm and Mayuri looked at him curiously but confused.
"What are you referring to? I do not understand…"
"In the letter, it was made clear that there is a way to reach ultimate power. As humans, we have a certain amount of chi, however, there is a way to obtain more."
Mayuri's eyes glowed with stimulation as she realized her husband finally knew how to become more powerful.
Taiko continued with a mystifying tone in his voice, "There is such an object called 'The Orb of Chi'. It holds the balance of the world in place and stores an endless flowing channel of chi. Whoever obtains it must be able to receive its energy and use it themselves. That is what I believe."
"So if we find the Orb of Chi…"
"We will be able to stop anyone who opposes us. It will be a matter of simply finding it. I searched for any mention of the orb and I found a description in an old book taken from a mythical library somewhere in the desert. I am not sure about the origins and who exactly wrote it, but I think we can trust it. There is a drawback however," he said grimly. "It is possible that once in the orb's presence, it may work on its own will and transfer us to another dimension."
Mayuri gasped and tears began to roll down her face. "Is it possible that we could see our son again?" she asked desperately. Taiko suddenly growled and pushed her clinging arm away from him.
"Foolish woman! Do you want to protect our lives as stated in the prophecy or not? Our son is not coming back and there is no way we can see him again! Why do you constantly cause the memories of the past to resurface? We need to move on into the future Mayuri. Sometimes I feel as if you have no backbone in you. Stop clinging onto me and stand on your own." She became numb at his stinging words and then stood up straight, wiping her smudged face with her frail fingers. Her eyes focused in on Taiko's loose swinging hair and his braid as he walked away from her. "I am going to try searching once more for further knowledge. I will be back for supper."
The door slid open and Mayuri shuddered as it slammed shut. A slight breeze shifted her clothing and then she wrapped herself in her arms.
"I am not a frail woman… I am strong and I will not let anyone step over me. Taiko, you may think that you can order me around, but if there is a way, I will find my son. You have abandoned him, but I will not give up." She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. Every day now, it seemed as if the life inside of her was leaking out of an invisible hole. Mayuri shook her head and slammed her fist onto the drawer table. Quickly thereafter, she turned and headed out of the door, in search for her own source of knowledge.
..::-::..
Up on the third floor, Katara walked to the beat of an inner drum, slow and deep, like it was a mourning parade. Her arms stayed still at her sides while she turned the corner and entered the set of white doors, as she had done the previous day. The shielding force at her back was still there, as was the constant and humming rain. Without moving a finger, the doors in front of her opened and she stepped into the darkness. A white light glowed in the middle and then she felt the heaviness subside automatically. She gasped deeply and fell to her knees, her eyes widening in and out of focus.
"What just happened?" she asked herself between breaths.
"I know you are confused, but in a few moments you will remember everything," a familiar voice echoed to her ears. Then, as if she was struck with a bow in her chest, Katara realized everything at once. This was the room she was summoned to yesterday, the one in which she had been learning to separate a life. A bucket full of emotions was dumped out onto her head and Katara blinked repeatedly, hoping it was a dream and the light would go away.
"You're the sensei who was teaching me about the Art of Knowing," Katara barely made the words come out of her hoarse throat.
"Yes indeed I am."
The white light grew and soon she was surrounded by clarity; the darkness had vanished. She saw his old figure and his flowing beard. His thin hair was pulled back so that it resembled an animal's tail. Katara clenched her fists and then felt the fury unleash itself without thinking.
"Why didn't I know where I was going? Something just hit me and I blanked out. The next thing I knew I wound up here… and why wasn't I able to remember what I learned yesterday? I only remember it now… but before I completely forgot!" Katara exclaimed.
"It is only for your own well being. If I were to let your memories stay with you, you would go about your life as a student here differently. Some might notice, wonder what it is that is wrong with you exactly. That is why I clouded your mind, and called you back here with my own will. Otherwise, you would not have known about your lesson today," the sensei said calmly.
"Oh."
Katara rubbed her arm as the chilliness of the room enclosed itself into her body.
"Shall we move on with the lesson then?" She nodded and sat down obediently. "Please recall yesterday's lesson."
Katara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I was taught about the Art of Knowing. There are many branches in this form of bending, and it has many unique powers hidden within it. The masters of this temple have gained as many abilities as are known in the Art of Knowing. It's the act of repelling the chi from an enemy that we started to discuss and it's one of the first talents a pupil learns from their chosen sensei while becoming a student of the Knowing," she concluded and then opened her eyes.
The sensei smiled and nodded. "Good. I see that you remember everything clearly. All right then. Today you shall learn all there is to this first art. Please stand." Katara did as was told and then suddenly saw a deer come out from behind the sensei's glow. She stood back startled, but quickly regained herself. "This is a deer that would have been shed of life for a meal by the staff in the kitchens, however I saved it for our lesson. It will be your first target using this art."
Katara gasped and put a hand to her mouth. "What? I can't kill it! Why would I kill such an innocent creature?"
The sensei growled in frustration and then sighed. "I have already explained that no matter what you do, this creature will no longer live. We prey on them for nourishment. There is no harm in you killing it. All right, since we have passed that minor problem, I will begin your instruction. Keep your arms at your side. Now look directly into the deer's face and try to look into the deer itself."
Katara swallowed hard and concentrated on the deer, however she couldn't find its inside spirit.
"I can't do it… I just can't do it!" she exclaimed.
"You must! You must face the truth and learn how to defend yourself! There is no alternative when facing the enemy! Now focus harder. Find the darkness inside of this being. Every being has a darkness lurking inside of them, no matter how holy they may seem."
Katara looked at the deer once more and into the pair of dark black eyes. She stared for a few seconds and then, surrounded by the quiet stillness of her mind, suddenly found herself immersed in a sea of dark blue waves. An echo of the sensei's voice filled the area around her.
"Look through the sea of anguish in the being and find the light at its core. Wipe away the waves of pain and grab the light."
She looked from side to side and finally decided to use her waterbending. Spreading her arms out wide, she formed and arch and pushed away all of the water. When she did that, a small glowing ball of light rolled away from her. She rushed towards it and then took it into her hands.
"Crush it."
Katara realized then that she couldn't feel her body, even though she was moving it. She was a lifeless entity yet she could still curl her fingers around the ball. Her other hand covered the left palm and the light was gone; the world became dark.
In a fluid rush, Katara returned to her vision and swayed. She hadn't moved an inch; she was still standing as she had been a few minutes ago, however the deer was lying on the floor, dead. A few tears sprang up to her eyes and the sensei disposed of the animal.
"You did well, however I am concerned with your lack of definition and direct attack. It took you quite a while to perform this art, but that is expected as it is your first time trying it."
Katara's jaw dropped and she stepped forward. "What do you mean? That was only a few minutes!"
"No it was not. I assume it might have been a few hours. I grew very weary just watching you standing there, struggling inside of your mind. I will let you know this now. While in this state of mind, you appear to be alive and alert. Your eyes were open and your body was still. If you do not perform it quickly, there is a chance you can suffer the consequences of your actions instead of your intended prey."
Suddenly, Katara felt the irritation stinging her eyes. She rubbed them viscously and then felt the wet tears streaming out of her eyes even though she wasn't crying. If what the sensei had said was true, then she hadn't been able to close her eyes for a few hours.
"I don't know if I want to do this anymore, my whole body is shaking!" she exclaimed as she observed her arms and legs.
"That is quite all right. You will not remember this encounter until tomorrow when I call for you once again. Now close your eyes… and drift away from this place… return to where you belong…"
The sensei's lulling voice made Katara's body follow his instructions. Again, she felt the heavy force pulling her forward. The doors opened and a world of darkness claimed Katara's mind.
..::-::..
Dinner was actually appetizing for Katara that night. She was in the Gathering Hall, the rain had died out and a small ray of crystallized sunshine was streaming through the windows. Her meal consisted of some cooked meat and she ate it hungrily, along with the rice and dumplings on the side. She stood up and walked out of the quiet room. Katara stretched her arms out above her head and then recoiled when she felt a small jab in her ribs.
"Ow! Who… Jet! I should have known it was you!" She laughed slightly as his giant grin spread along his face.
"Katara, where have you been? I didn't see you anywhere… it's almost like you disappeared," Jet commented, slightly worried. They began to walk down the hall and towards the courtyard. The sunset was still covered by the dispersing grey clouds, but the presence of warmth drew them towards nature.
"Me? Are you sure you didn't see me? I was at class… I think," she said with confusion as she cocked her head to the right. Jet shook his head and smiled.
"You've been so forgetful lately. That's not like you Katara," he said, still smiling. They reached the courtyard and Katara ran into it gleefully. The tarps had been lifted and a wave of fresh air hit her lungs as she took a deep breath. There was such a light bounce in her step that Jet couldn't help but feel like he was walking on air himself. He had felt empty and hallow all day long, and he was especially angry with himself for not sticking around during lunch. Jet stepped onto the grass, dew still clinging to each crisp blade. The temple's courtyard somehow never became muddy, and at that moment, Jet was glad of that mystery. Katara twirled around with her arms open as she craned her neck back to see the sky above her. It was clearing up, but the light was fading. Still, she was able to see the brilliant array of colors fading in and out of the clouds.
"Isn't this so wonderful? We've been stuffed up in the temple all day! It's a refreshing change, don't you think so?" she asked Jet cheerfully as he came to her side. They stood in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by a bunch of tall skinny trees. He looked at her radiant smile and nodded.
"You're right Katara. Being out here was a wonderful idea."
She turned towards him then, her face pulled back into a question. "Why do you keep saying my name?"
Jet gawked, the question unexpected and he was surprised more so because he didn't even realize he was doing it. He shrugged and looked away towards the grass.
"I'm not sure… hold on, wait here," said Jet quickly as he spotted something with his eye. She watched him run a few meters over towards a small pond and then bend down to pick something up. He jogged back towards her with his hand behind his back and Katara folded her arms.
"What do you have behind your back?" she asked accusingly. He grinned and extended his hand slowly. Katara gasped and reached forward. In his hands, Jet held a small bouquet of white daffodils, dampened by the rain that day, but not by much. Their petals were stiff and in place as they should have been. Her fingers grazed her hand as he handed them to her. A warm smile lit up her gaze as Katara took the bundle and put them up to her nose.
"Oh Jet, these are beautiful! But why did you pick them out for me? I could have just looked at them…" His gaze became downcast and he sighed heavily. Katara realized her mistake and laughed. "But I'm glad you did. I really love them. Thank you." Jet picked up his head and grinned sheepishly.
"I'm glad you like them too. I thought you should have some in your room, in case it rained like it did today," he said consciously. They walked over towards the pond where the daffodils were growing and Katara bent down to graze her palm over all of them.
"What do you think Jet? Should I pick some more?" she asked, her head twisted so she was looking up at him. He shrugged and then smiled.
"Whatever you want to do I guess."
Katara beamed and picked a few more up by the stems carefully. She shuffled through each one and then stood up. The darkness of the night was creeping in and to her surprise, a few fireflies popped up, making the courtyard sparkle. Without thinking, Katara grabbed Jet's hand with her free one and tugged on it.
"Look Jet! The fireflies are early! It's our lucky day, isn't it?" she turned towards him and exclaimed with a warm, gentle face. The knot in Jet's throat loosened and he grabbed Katara by the shoulders suddenly, causing her to drop the daffodils in her hand. Her mouth opened slightly in shock as Jet's serious face was in front of hers. "Jet… what's wrong?"
"I can't do this anymore Katara… I…"
He stopped his sentence as the glowing eyes dimmed in the sparkling darkness in front of his gaze. Katara seemed more beautiful at that moment than he had ever recalled. Jet took a deep breath of air and then continued softly.
"I can't help the way I feel about you."
Katara's eyes widened as Jet's head bent lower. His face shifted closer to hers and her heart started to explode into a run, yet her legs weren't moving. She closed her eyes, but just as their lips were going to touch, Katara turned her head away and pushed Jet's arms off of her shoulders gently. He jerked his eyes open and watched in suppressed sadness as Katara's gaze shifted uneasily to her hands.
"Katara… ever since you came to the temple, my life has had a meaning to it. I wake up everyday just to see your smiling face, no matter if you're angry or sad or happy to see mine. Please tell me you feel the same way," he asked desperately. She closed her eyes and then slowly opened them so she could look into his round eyes. Her heart had slowed down just slightly, yet her head was spinning out of control. The obvious clues had been dismissed and Katara had fully unforeseen his outpouring emotions. She remembered a time long ago when this moment would have seemed like a reality of her dreams, but now, she just considered Jet to be her loyal friend and nothing more.
"I'm sorry Jet, but I can't say that," she said, a tear forming in her eye. "I'm so sorry." She turned away from him so he wouldn't see her crying, but suddenly she saw a bundle of flowers in front of her. Katara looked up into Jet's smiling face and let her lips part.
"It's okay Katara, you don't have to say that. I should be the one apologizing. I expected too much. We're still friend though, right?"
She took the flowers from him again and smiled brightly. "Of course we are." Jet returned the smile and sighed. "Good. And you can have those flowers, I meant what I said before… they weren't just a way to make you fall for me or something…" he said jokingly. Katara laughed and hit him on the shoulder playfully. She saw his usual grin and knew that everything was okay between them. They walked out of the dazzling courtyard and took one last look at it. Jet sighed and Katara looked at him momentarily. His jaw dropped in surprise as he felt a soft pair of lips graze the skin on his left cheek. The feeling left as quick as it came and he turned towards her immediately. Katara was staring out at the courtyard with a smirk on her face. She looked at him and smiled.
"What's wrong Jet? Do I have something on my face?" she said playfully. He grinned and they both laughed as Katara bowed and began to leave. "Thanks for the flowers Jet! Have a goodnight!" she waved at him and then started to run into the dark halls. He sighed and his smile fell. Jet scratched the back of his head aggressively and then threw his hand away into the air.
"What did I do wrong? I thought she used to like me…" he said quietly to himself. Jet craned his neck up and saw the moon peaking through the hazy clouds. His foot scoffed the floor and then he walked away. Up near one of the balconies, a shadowed figure smiled mischievously as she slithered the words on her tongue.
"Now I am sure of it. You are the one I am looking for… Katara. You are not going to steal my power any longer. Taiko will know what to do. I will tell him tomorrow morning. As for that boy, he is useless. There is no power in him. At least the girl knows who she deals with. That just means I need to find the other traveler."
Mayuri took a deep breath and then disappeared. She had watched the whole encounter from her secretive corner. She had heard everything with her innate ability to track whatever sound she liked. However she wasn't the only one who had seen the encounter between Jet and Katara. The waterbender was walking to her room when she gasped. She saw Zuko up ahead but he was growling in frustration to himself and throwing shots of fire into the dim halls. Katara hid behind a pillar and peaked out to see what he was doing.
"Why does it even matter? I'm no better."
The comment confused her more than she thought it would. Her eyes became alert as she saw a sensei approaching him. Zuko stood straight and bowed in recognition.
"Young man, you know the rules. No bending in the halls. It is time for pupils to go to their rooms for quiet studies and thoughtful reflection before going to bed."
"Yes sensei, I'm new here and wasn't aware of those rules. I will go at once," Zuko said obediently. She heard the sensei's footsteps vanish and then there was silence. Katara chanced looking for Zuko one more time, but to her astonishment, he was nowhere to be found. It was like he had become completely invisible and his movements inaudible. She sighed as Katara looked down at the daffodils. The sensei was right. She needed some peace and quiet so that she could think everything over. Yet when it came down to it, something was missing. There was a hole in her thoughts and it was draining Katara of her memory.
A/N: Okay, you've got to admit, even though we all love Zutara, Jetara is also just so adorable!! So this chapter was my tribute to Jet and the possibility of "Jetara" (which is not happening because we all love Zuko way more hehe) ;) For those of you who don't dig the totally long chapters, they will get shorter in the near future… maybe in two chapters perhaps? I won't say why… but I think I won't be able to write so much lol :P Anyways, what did you think? I'd love to know what your favorite part of the chapter was when you're reviewing!! Thanks for even reading this far!! It's very appreciated!!
Until next chapter!! (Oh, and did you understand the whole "Art of Knowing" and "Orb of Chi" business?" I hope so! Thanks again!! Have a wonderful day or night :P
-Monika-