Dying To Survive
Chapter 5
"Emptiness is only overwhelming if you let it be."
..::-::..
The white daffodils were standing tall in a clear vase Katara had put them in. The morning light shined onto them with hazy beams of warmth and Katara opened her eyes slowly. Her arms lifted heavily above her head while she stretched and smiled remembering her dream from the night before. Jet had admitted hidden feelings for her.
"I don't know why I dreamed that though," she pondered. Suddenly, Katara's eyes widened and her vision became clear as she saw the flowers drinking in the clear water that was set at their feet. It hadn't been a dream; it really happened and Katara shook her head forcefully, not wanting to believe it all. She looked at the flowers again and sighed. "I have to face him sooner or later. But we're still friends, nothing really happened!" Katara said optimistically. She smiled to herself as she changed and headed out of her room, making sure first that her bed was made, the grey sheets were tucked in at every angle and the pillows puffed to their fullest. The door closed gently and Katara squinted to adjust to the morning light. It was going to be a good day; she could feel the positive energy flowing through her bones as she took each step.
A few students bowed their heads in greeting while she made her way to the Gathering Hall. Katara smiled and nodded back, a typical gesture for anyone she saw. The railings in the open halls looking down the courtyard vanished as she skipped down the shadowy staircase. Right when she set foot onto the first floor, Katara bumped into someone and she closed her eyes at the impact.
"Ow," she said as her feet momentarily jumped back. Her eyes looked up and her mouth became paralyzed into an oval. His dark charcoal hair glistened in the morning light, and his figure seemed to loom over her. Katara felt a rush of blood to her face as she cut the stare with Zuko. She chuckled and then shrugged her shoulders.
"Sorry about that," she said.
"No, I should apologize for not looking," he said quietly. The moment of embarrassment passed and Katara found herself smiling widely.
"Were you going to breakfast?" Katara asked. He nodded his head and looked away. There wasn't a moment in his time that Zuko could get away from Katara and her cheerful expression. Katara saw him sigh and she tugged on his sleeve lightly. "Let's go then, or are you suddenly not hungry because I ruined your morning?" she joked casually. Zuko looked back at her and let himself smile slightly. There was no way she could ever ruin his morning.
"No, you didn't do that," he said. Katara watched his eyes light up as he looked at her and she felt more assured of herself. She was finally getting to know Zuko like a human being and not the enemy. They started to walk the few steps toward the hall and once inside, they waited in line together. Tables of students were already filling up and Katara found one that was empty near the entrance to the hall. Quickly, the two of them took their seats and this time, they sat across from each other; the table was square, and large enough for only four people. Katara began to eat her noodles and cream with enthusiasm. Zuko just watched with amusement as she did this. She suddenly stopped and looked up at him mid-slurp. The noodle slithered into her mouth and then she wiped her face.
"Are you waiting to see if I die? The food isn't poisonous you know," she said with a smirk. Zuko looked down at his own meal and widened his eyes, realizing for the first time that it wasn't porridge.
"It's different than before," he commented blankly.
"It sure is! I haven't had this kind of breakfast in a long time… I wonder why they decided to switch the menu." Zuko took a bite of his food and found it superbly delicious. Katara caught the enjoyment written on his face and she smiled to herself. A few silent minutes passed by as they ate their food and listened to the drone of conversation around them. Katara pushed her bowl aside and leaned her head on the palm on her hand. Zuko looked up at her while finishing his own meal and watched curiously as she sighed.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Katara turned her head towards him and dropped it so that her eyes were pinpointed under her eyebrows, making her look like a hawk.
"I'm getting tired of this place," she said and then craned her neck up toward the windows in the walls. Her fingers reached for the sparkles of dust in a ray of sunshine near Zuko's hand and he withdrew it slowly, thinking at first that she wanted to touch his hand. Her fingers circled through the warmth and she sighed happily. "I miss the weather outside, going places I never went before and even the cold nights in the forests." She took her hand back and placed it in her lap. Zuko looked at her directly in the face and saw something change. Her eyes drooped and her mouth spread apart into a frown.
"You miss traveling… with the Avatar?" Zuko asked hesitantly.
A spark of light exploded in her eyes when he mentioned Aang. Her lips parted, she looked at him intently and then she shook her head. "It's not necessarily that I miss traveling with him, just that I miss… traveling…" Katara said distantly. At that moment, she saw Zuko's face, full of concern and even almost worry. She could feel the air around them circling, bringing more warmth to her body and heart, where she felt the words sweeping away the dust, revealing a nightmare that she never understood. The moment felt right; the two of them were being open and honest, and more than ever, Katara wanted to know Zuko's reasons when she asked him why he had saved her and hadn't bothered with anyone else.
"Oh," Zuko said, letting out a blast of air from his chest. For some reason, he felt relieved to hear she didn't miss the Avatar as much as she longed for adventure, yet it seemed like she wasn't telling him something. Zuko wasn't going to ask for an answer though; he had asked once and she had answered, even if it was not the whole truth. They weren't close friends yet and as acquaintances, it was as far as he could go. Suddenly, he met her gaze as she lifted her head. Her eyes were round and her chest was rising and falling faster than before, making him believe that her heartbeat was accelerating. Just this sense of awareness caused his own heart to beat faster as he awaited the intense look in her eyes to become words.
"Zuko, can I ask you something?" Katara asked quickly. Her fingers clutched onto the edge of the table and she pursed her lips while breathing deeply. The bulbs of sweat surrounded her forehead as she raced back and forth inside of her own mind. She desperately wanted to know, but then wavered and thought that he would be offended and angry. Seconds of agony passed for Katara as those seconds turned into a minute of curious anxiety for Zuko. He remained calm and collected though, patiently awaiting her next words.
"Now what could the two of you possibly have to say that doesn't involve me?" Jet asked out of nowhere. He smiled and sat down next to both Zuko and Katara who leaned back in surprise. The tension of the moment was gone. Katara suddenly growled at Jet who shrugged his shoulders and looked at her with wide eyes. "What? Why are you giving me that look?" Once Zuko came to his senses again, he knew exactly what Jet was trying to do. Without a word, he stood up and bowed to them both. Katara's lower jaw fell slightly.
"I have to go to class. It was nice talking with you, Katara," Zuko said and then walked past her and out of the hall. Katara looked at his diminishing figure and leaned her body forward, but decided it was no use in shouting his name. He wouldn't come back anyways. She twirled around in her seat to face Jet and scolded him.
"Why did you have to do that? I was just about to ask him something!" Katara wailed. Jet raised an eyebrow and folded his arms while leaning his elbows on the table.
"What were you going to ask him?"
Katara took a deep breath and then held it in. She let go of it and let the tension in her face disappear. "It was nothing important. Sorry I yelled at you. Can you forgive me?" she asked sweetly, looking into his face. He smiled and nodded.
"Of course I can forgive you. What are friends for?" They stood up and Katara looked around to see how many students were left. Jet watched her and sighed. Hidden with his charade, he was still wondering how he could just be friends with her, and nothing more.
"It looks like almost everyone has gone to class. We should go too."
"Is it zazen time?" Jet asked cheerfully. Katara laughed and nodded. "Yes Jet, it's zazen time."
As they were heading out the door, Katara suddenly became paralyzed by recognition. It had taken her a few minutes, but just then she heard the echo of Zuko's voice in her head.
"He said my name…" Katara whispered to herself. She smiled lightly, a renewed joy forming in her heart. Jet turned around and cocked his head.
"You coming?"
She ran to catch up to him and they stepped into the gleaming sunlight.
..::-::..
When Katara walked into the room with colorful mats, she knew exactly where she was. She chose one with light blue fringes on the ends and sat down, raking her fingers through the edges before placing her hands in her lap. Jet took the flattened mat next to her with the gray and brown cotton fuzz sticking out of it. She smiled at him and then let her happy expression drop as she saw Zuko's scar a few seats away. Katara immediately looked down at her lap and tried to calm herself down. It had been a perfect moment, ruined by a perfect man she could never seem to stay angry with. The sensei began her session and the woman's calm soothing voice helped Katara initially.
When the room was silent, except for everyone's breaths, in the darkness of her vision, Katara saw Zuko's anticipating face. He wanted to know what she was going to ask. It even looked like he would answer whatever the question was going to be. Then the picture changed and turned into a reenactment of Zuko jumping right in front of her, among the flames and fire. She felt her heart racing, her body withering and helpless, just like on that day. Then she smelled the smoke, the burning smoke and she saw Zuko's glance, so powerful yet empty of words. Katara's darkness was overwhelmed by just his golden eyes then, sparkling and waiting, just waiting like an endless stream of light that never wanted to shine. It was scarred, she was scarred, and then everything turned to black.
Katara gasped as her eyes shot open. Most of the students were looking at her with concern, some with angry scowls on their faces. The sensei was seated next to her, holding onto her hands gently. Katara looked into her calm green eyes and let herself become peaceful once more. The sensei smiled and brushed the sweat off of Katara's face with her fingertips.
"Are you all right now?" she asked.
Katara nodded and swallowed. Her lips were dry and the inside roof of her mouth was scratchy and jagged. She needed water. Her eyes bulged and became blurry. The sensei let go of her and Katara turned to see Jet sitting next to her with a small smile, holding a cup of water in his hand. She took it gratefully and drank it in one swoop. Katara took a deep breath and gave the cup back to Jet. The sensei closed her eyes and placed her hand on Katara's head as she stood up. A murmur rolled through the class as the sensei came back to the middle of the room.
"I am sure that most of you are wondering what just happened. It is natural, however, that someone who is so highly ranked become so entwined into zazen that they find themselves recollecting the past in a vivid form of tension as was shown. However, this only happens if there is a deep inner conflict that has not been resolved. Katara will not have to reveal what that is, because it is her own situation, and so I must ask that each of you respect that and put these events away from your minds. This session is now over."
Katara stared wide eyed at the teacher and then turned swiftly to Jet.
"What does she mean? What happened?" she asked.
Jet scratched his head as he helped her stand up. "Well, while everyone was mediating, you sort of started to shout and scream loudly. It was a bunch of nonsense, but we all stopped and listened to you anyways. What was going on with you? It was like you were being attacked or something."
Katara stood back in horror as she put her hands to her mouth. She shook her head and leaned in, whispering. "Please tell me you're joking Jet. There's no way I could have done that!"
"I'm not lying Katara. Why do you think everyone was staring at you?" he said bluntly. She looked around and saw some students still staring at her with confusion. Katara immediately ran away from him as he reached out to grab her. She pushed through the crowd of students and stumbled forward out of the room. Katara felt herself lose her footing and then a pair of hands held her elbows in place as she stood her ground. Her loose strands of air blew across her face as she looked up into Zuko's face. His eyes were narrow and she felt his grip tightening. She gasped and pulled herself up at once.
"Are you okay?" he asked sincerely. Katara remembered every painful detail and nodded her head while trying to smile.
"I'm just fine Zuko!" she beamed. Zuko frowned and folded his arms. He saw her desperately trying to remain composed. Her eyes were beginning to glisten in the sunlight while others rushed past them.
"No you're not," Zuko stated. Her smile broke and the dam of tears fell down her face as she ran away from Zuko as well. At first he went after her, darting through the students and even shoving one or two out of his way, but in the end, she disappeared and he stopped, looking down into the courtyard where a few birds had flown up into the air. The water in the ponds sparkled as the warm breeze announced the day's wonderful presence, but to Zuko, it was far from a joyous day. He had heard her agonized moans and he knew that she had been thinking about something painful in her past. Zuko clenched his fists and walked away.
Near the door of the classroom, a figure stood near a pillar, clutching her breast while taking deep, choked breaths. Mayuri reached for the cold slab of marble as she slid down to her knees. Her damp hair clung to her white skin and she closed her eyes as she wrung her hands together as if praying.
"It is them… I have found the ones… Zuko and Katara…" she said with her breath slipping away from her mouth quietly. Her torso fell to the floor and she smiled happily as the pain shattered away into the darkness of the shadows that surrounded her. All of the students had gone the other way and thankfully hadn't spotted her. Suddenly, Mayuri's eyes widened as a familiar looking man came out of the room.
"Katara? Damn it! Where did you go?" Jet asked himself. He started to walk to his right, but heard a soft moan and turned around. He stood back aghast and then rushed to the woman's side. Jet lifted her head carefully as she sat up, leaning on him for support.
"What happened?" asked Jet with confusion. He looked at her glamorous robe and the beads she wore around her neck and wrists. Jet hadn't seen her in the temple before, but she seemed to be of a high rank. The emerald sparkles in her crimson robe made him blink continuously as they stood up together. Mayuri held her hand on his shoulder firmly until she was sure she could support herself. She clung to her aching sides and then walked away. Jet reached for her, only moving one step forward. "Wait, I don't know who you are!" Suddenly, she vanished from his view completely, in an instant, and then he shook his head as a flooding wave of thick air swept through his body. It left him and then he stood around looking bewildered.
"Am I going crazy? What am I doing here?" Jet shrugged and walked away into the empty halls. Farther within the building where there was no open air and no connection to the central courtyard, Mayuri walked among the halls that were lit with torches and walls that were covered in paintings. She found one that was a portrait of a deceased Avatar long ago. That Avatar was a woman wearing a brilliant red gown, ready to be ordained as the peaceful leader of the world back then. Mayuri took a deep breath and pressed her palm onto the Avatar's palm. She pushed forcefully, sending a simmering spark of fire into the wall. Mayuri caught her breath, using all of her energy into moving the sturdy marble back and to the side, revealing a hidden tunnel. She rushed into it and started to run down the dark corridor, not even noticing the scraping wall that was closing in behind her. She ran until her legs were so stiff that she thought they had turned into metal pipes. An open light was growing at the end of the tunnel and she smiled thankfully as she stumbled into her own tower.
"Mayuri? Why did you come from Ayama's Pathway? You know that we should only use it in case of emergency," Taiko stated. She ran towards him and lunged into his embrace, sobbing into his robe. "Woman! Get a hold of yourself!" he wailed.
"I have found them Taiko! I know who the two travelers are!" Mayuri cried. Her muffled words escaped into Taiko's chest as he gripped her shoulders and picked her chin up. His eyes darted quickly from her quivering lips to her tear stricken eyes.
"Are you positive?"
"As positive as ever. Katara… and Zuko… the one who came here only a few days ago."
Taiko pulled his wife into his strong embrace and stroked her back gently as her arms wrapped around his torso. He clenched his teeth and let his fingers fall through Mayuri's delicate strands of hair.
"How did you find out?" he asked quietly.
"I was following her and she came out of a class, bumped right into him, and as I watched them interact, as I watched him hold onto her, I felt it, the pain and torture withering through my body! I have felt it before, and this time, it was at its strongest level yet."
Mayuri gaped as Taiko left her side and stood up, pacing the room in circles. He placed his fingers around his chin and his other arm behind his back. His hair swayed back and forth, this time, all of it falling down his back except for the bun on the top of his head. Taiko suddenly bent down to his wife and helped her rise up. She looked at him in awe as she saw a smile form on his lips.
"There is no need to worry. I have just thought of the perfect plan to dispose of these assassins, and it has something to do with the Orb of Chi." Taiko's haunting voice sent chills through Mayuri's spine and as he said those words, an eerie calm spread through her head, resonating to the tips of her toes.
"How do you plan to incorporate the Orb of Chi?" she asked softly.
His eyes gleamed and Taiko's voice boomed. "I have researched it more, and have… received information from outside sources. The orb is located on the top of a distant mountain range, hidden so well that none have succeeded in retrieving it."
"If none have succeeded, than how shall we?" Mayuri asked with a small voice.
"We will not. That is why someone else will find it for us."
The realization overwhelmed her and she collapsed into her husband's arms. "Will this plan work?" she asked as her vision was dimming.
"Just leave this all to me, darling."
She felt his warm lips on hers and then her world went dark.
..::-::..
A dull tone sounded and Katara stopped running right away. Her feet turned the other way and she began to calmly walk to the third floor.
In the hidden shadows, Taiko darted through his tower and up to the third floor where the sun was shining brightly. He winced as his eyes weren't well adjusted to the light, but he found the pair of doors that he was looking for and he entered the room silently. The sensei that had been teaching Katara looked up and scrambled to his feet when he saw who was there.
"Master, you have come here of your own will, I am greatly honored."
Taiko slowly stepped to the sensei and smirked. "I have a feeling you know a student that is called Katara," he said confidently.
"Why yes, I do. Just recently I chose her to be one of my pupils."
"Oh? Is that so? It is very curious indeed that I was not informed… however I understand that some messages are not delivered to my tower. It happens. Would you care to explain what you have been teaching her, sensei?" Taiko asked while pacing gradually around the middle of the room.
"We have begun training in the Art of Knowing, the basic survival skill known as Hikku, to be exact."
Taiko stopped in his place and the resonance from his heels echoed throughout the walls of the hollow space. He turned his head to face the sensei and raised his eyebrow. "Has she mastered Hikku yet?" he asked.
"Almost, Master. In fact, I am summoning her just now for another lesson. She has the abilities yet she lacks resolve in finishing the task. Katara has performed only once and even then it took her a few hours. I could say that I was beginning to worry if she would still be alive."
Taiko's lips curled as a shadow encased his eyes. He stepped up to the sensei who bowed at his close proximity.
"Very well. I think that today is the perfect time for her to learn what pain feels like, am I right?" he asked the sensei.
"I am sorry, I do not understand what Master means." Taiko handed him a vial and it slipped into the man's palm as his eyes widened. "You surely do not mean that I must…"
"Yes, you must fill this vial with her chi. If not, I might find some other source that lies right in front of me, at my fingertips." Taiko's hand glided over the man's bald spot on his head and the sensei shivered. He nodded and sighed.
"I will do what Master wishes."
With that accomplished, Taiko walked out of the door, each step echoing in the sensei's heart. As the sunshine reached his face, Taiko swept his hand over his gaze to protect it. The balcony was empty and he didn't need to rush any longer. Up ahead, he saw someone coming towards him. At first he felt the need to hide his appearance, but then he felt a soft ping in his upper abdomen. He snarled and walked forward. As he got closer, Taiko saw the girl named Katara, her braid swinging back and forth, almost unable to stop as her body walked on its own. Her eyes were vacant and dim, her mouth hung limply and she walked right past him without noticing his presence. Taiko watched as she entered the white doors and he smirked. His plan was off to a flawless start.
Inside the room, Katara's body shifted and she felt in control once more. The sensei sighed as she sat down without even resisting. This time, her memories flooded her brain the instant she opened her eyes from the trance. She gritted her teeth and looked at the sensei defiantly.
"I'm here. Can we get this over with?" she asked bitterly.
"I understand your pain and agony. Your memories are not fully aware of what happens here, but in due time…"
"I don't care what happens in due time! I want to live a normal life, where I can smile when the sun comes out, knowing that there's nothing missing. You don't know what that's like, so don't say that you do!" Katara yelled and interrupted. The sensei sighed once more and held his forehead in his forefingers.
"All right, I do not understand. How about we focus this energy of yours into a simple fusion of good and bad chi to begin? Take this vial and hold it."
Katara took the small glass bottle into her hands and immediately took a sharp intake of air. Its icy edges burned her skin yet she held onto it firmly, noticing that there truly was no red mark or burn.
"Now focus on the vial, inserting your own chi, the part that leaves you frustrated and confused and any other emotion you do not want to feel, and leave it inside of the glass so that it will not bother you any longer."
She heard a certain change in the sensei's instructed voice, but ignored the warning. Her eyes stared into the glass bottle as she thought about everything that caused her life to be what it was now. It all whirled together into a large pot of stew inside her head, and then all she needed was the fire. The flames that Zuko brought into her life when he arrived at the temple, the confusion she felt each time she saw him, and then the easiness she felt as well, all destroyed by her past aches. She gripped onto the vial so tightly that she was sure it would crumble beneath her strength, yet instead, she suddenly saw a luminescent cloud form inside the closed container. Her eyes popped open from their frustrated state of mind as the tension flowed away from her. Thoughts that pounded against her head were no longer there and she felt a great sense of freedom. She smiled brightly as she handed the vial over to the sensei.
"Don't give that back to me! Whatever I just did, it feels wonderful!"
The sensei took the vial away from her with a small ounce of regret in his veins. Katara saw this expression and remembered the lessons she came to learn.
"Teach me sensei. I don't want to be weak like that anymore. I was a mess, a puddle of mud, and I never want to see myself in that state again," she said confidently.
"There is nothing more I can teach you. You have learned Hikku, the expelling of an enemy's chi, and you have performed it well. Now, you have resolved issues within yourself, and you can concentrate on the task instead of the outcome. You may leave."
Katara stood back, flabbergasted. "What? That's it?"
"Yes, that is all. Now go!" the sensei yelled furiously. A drifting wind lifted Katara's robes slightly and she suddenly became very cold inside. She shivered as the doors opened and her body curled, yearning for the warmth outside. All at once, the dread, the horror and the confusion was injected into her veins and her eyes bulged. Something was wrong with her; it was like half of her was missing. Even though she was becoming frantic, the sensei waved his hand and she started to walk away, calm, and collected, noticing nothing about her surroundings.
..::-::..
Her head was pounding and for once she wished that the sun would crawl into a cave somewhere and leave her in the dark where the light couldn't reach her face. She felt the emptiness building in herself again. This time, it was worse than before. Not only did she remember the awful memory during zazen, but she also felt a leak somewhere inside of herself and she couldn't plug it. She was being drained, and Katara became frail. An older woman passed by Katara as she made her way to the Gathering Hall. Katara blinked as the image of an old woman resembling her grandmother vanished into a man who was walking with his back bent from some kind of injury. She sighed and thought about her home, the place where nothing went wrong but where everything that was wrong started.
She made it down the flight of stairs and to the first floor where she walked into the bustling Gathering Hall. The noise irritated her more than ever and she could barely stand still in line. Her fingers flipped through her loose hair; for some reason her braid had come undone. Just realizing that now, Katara stared blankly at the wall and tried to remember when it happened. Yet there was a black wall in her mind and she couldn't remember. She sighed in frustration and took her meal. In continuation of that morning's spirit, she had an elaborate tray filled with meat, rice, sauce, soup and crackers. No one seemed to be staying in the huge room, so Katara remained and ate her lunch in peace. When she was done, she walked outside and relaxed, seeing that there were some clouds in the sky and that there was shade near the twisting tree trunks in the courtyard. As she approached the calm atmosphere, Jet came toward her with a smile on his face.
"Looks like I found you."
"Sorry Jet, I can't talk to you right now," she said with a sigh.
His head titled back and he scrunched up his face. "Why not?"
"I need to find Zuko and talk to him, alone. Sorry," Katara said and shrugged.
Jet watched in shock as she passed him without another glance. He scowled and clenched his fists. "How did I become second best over night? Damn fire prince!" He kicked the ground and stomped away fuming. Katara hadn't seen his tantrum and focused on finding Zuko somewhere. She knew he'd be there and when she squinted, she saw him near the tree she had first seen him near a few days ago. Katara ran up to him and sat down on the grass. He was lying against the trunk and he lifted his eyelids slowly when he heard the ruffling grass. When Zuko saw who his guest was, he immediately shifted and sat up, resting his hands on the ground.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
Katara pinched her cheeks so that she'd smile, but it turned into an obvious fake gesture.
"No, not really," she said. Zuko crossed his legs and leaned forward while Katara watched the wind roll through the blades of green grass. She sighed and looked up at Zuko, not knowing what to say. "The weather is becoming warmer. It's going to be summer soon," she said semi-cheerfully. Zuko nodded and then she looked down at her legs. Katara wrapped her arms around them and dropped her head onto her knees.
"I like the summer… it's a good season," Zuko stated while looking up at the sky. Katara's eyes glanced at him and she saw the strict curves of his jaw and neck as he watched the clouds up above. His narrow face pointed upward and when he looked back at her, she saw his rectangular eyes come alive, glistening in the heat like pools of gold water. They stared at each other without blinking and then Katara let her legs fall to each side as she crossed them like Zuko's. She sat up and took a deep breath of air, letting it rise and fall inside of her, almost filling the void.
"I should have known that… we're complete opposites you know…" she said with her words drifting into the air.
"You like winter then?" Zuko asked.
"That's right. But I don't like it when it's cold somewhere other than my home. Here, it's just unnatural. The warm weather should have been here a couple of weeks ago, but it's not."
"It's coming though, and then it will change," Zuko said optimistically. His hair danced across his face and Katara's eyes widened, the image coming in and out of focus. The smell of burning fire engulfed her and she couldn't take it anymore. Zuko saw her eyes watering and her fists clenching the earth beneath her. "What's wrong?" he asked as he scooted towards her. Katara backed away while gritting her teeth.
"Why Zuko? Why do you care if something's wrong with me?" she asked loudly.
He sat back, arrested by the unexpected question. For a moment, it seemed like she had paralyzed him and she worried, but then he closed his mouth and his eyes, calmly taking in the warmth of the air. Katara breathed less heavily and waited for him to say something.
"What do you mean?" were the first words he said to her, and Katara became furious. She stood up and pointed at him accusingly.
"Don't play tricks with me Zuko! I'm fed up with wondering about everything, so just answer me. Why did you decide to save me, why did you help us? Why did you suddenly decide that your father wasn't worthy of living?"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly and the anger was swimming away from her quickly, as if the hole inside of her had opened wider. Zuko narrowed his eyes and quickly stood up so that he was equal in height, even greater. Her hand fell down to her side and Katara watched in awe as Zuko's face burst into an explosion of fury.
"Why? Why did you help the Avatar? I don't need to explain myself to anyone, especially not to you! What I did is in the past. Don't remind me of it!" he exclaimed.
"You want me to not remind you of it? How can I do that Zuko? I remember it every single day! I was going to die, I had no one to help me, but… you did… you helped me and from then on I remembered that feeling, I lived in it! The choking smoke, the blazing flames, all ready to kill me! How can I not ask to get a simple answer from you?" she asked with desperation. Zuko clenched his fists more tightly and snarled at her. He had never thought she'd ask him about the past. He thought that maybe she would just leave it alone, they could start on new ground. There was no reason for her to bring it all back to him now. It was a living nightmare, and the pain was haunting him as she spoke of it all.
"I don't need to do you any favors. I look out for myself first and I refuse to tell you anything. I don't know what you want from me, what answer you must get from me. I don't have any confessions and there's nothing important about what happened. It was just a coincidence you were there! That's it."
Katara stood back with her mouth open. It wasn't the answer she had wanted to hear from him. Tears didn't sting her eyes. The air didn't make her shiver. Somehow, all of those words had made her realize that there was nothing in her hopes except for a far away dream. Zuko kept his glare low and directed towards her. There wasn't anything she wanted more than to rip it to shreds so she'd never have to see him again. Suddenly, amidst the invisible chains from the past that linked them together, Laia appeared next to them with a confused look on her face.
"Did I just miss something?" she asked simply. Zuko rolled his eyes and growled in frustration.
"Do you always have to come when we're in the middle of something?" Katara asked her bitterly.
Zuko turned his head toward Katara and folded his arms. "We're not in the middle of anything. We're done talking."
Katara's eyes bulged and she stamped her foot into the ground. Her shattered hope was in pieces, but she was gluing them back together with each second that passed. She was starting to hate Zuko more than before. He never stayed the same for a minute. One day, he was kind and apologetic, the next he was betraying her. It was the same old cycle and she was tired of going in circles.
"That's great to hear, isn't it Laia? He's yours from now on, all right?" Katara said as she turned around to walk away. Zuko stared at her unbelievingly and then leaned back.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
As Katara twisted around again, another person came to join them. Zuko's anger faded instantly as Oraka's smiling face greeted them all.
"Why isn't it nice to see you all out here in the sun! It's a beautiful day, huh?" she asked cheerfully. The three students didn't say a word and looked anywhere but at each other. Oraka laughed shortly and then stretched her back. "Well, as it turns out, the two of you need to come with me." Both Katara and Zuko looked up at her in bewilderment. "Don't look too shocked now! It's just a little meeting with the masters…"
There was a long gasp from Laia and then she squealed as Zuko passed by her.
"Oh wow! Zuko, you're so lucky! I wish I could go with you… I don't know what they want with her though," Laia stated pungently.
Katara glared at her and started to follow the gate keeper. They walked in a single file line, a few feet separating each other. The silence was bitter and finally shaken by Oraka's humming.
"You know that song? It's one of them folk songs they used to sing! Some crazy tale about two lovers… for-bidden from one a-nother… or something like that…" Katara growled in irritation as Oraka sang the few words. She remembered exactly what song she meant and it wasn't a great time for the gate keeper to be alluding to something as outrageous as the assumption that she and Zuko could fit that tune. Zuko turned his head slightly and raised his brow.
"What is it young one? You don't like that tune?" Oraka asked politely while they walked up the staircase.
"No, not right now, thank you."
"Oh well, suit yourself."
They reached the third floor and Katara felt a haunting chill sweep through her body, as if she had been there before recently. She bumped into Zuko's back without noticing and he turned around half way to acknowledge her. Her mouth opened and she was about to say something when Zuko responded bitterly.
"Will you watch where you're going?"
Katara glared at him and stood in her place while Oraka led Zuko to the right side of the temple.
"Stay where you are dear! I'll be back to fetch you when he's done talking with the masters!" Oraka yelled back.
Katara sighed deeply and then rested her hands on the railing overlooking the courtyard down below. She watched the few students who remained as they scrambled up to get to class when the dull resounded. Katara growled; she was fed up with hearing that tone. Her eyes dropped then when she realized how angry she had become by Zuko's response. She had been hoping he'd say that he was sorry for the pain he caused her, that he never meant to betray her trust in the first place, and that he saved her because he was human and didn't want to see her hurt. Katara had been apparently wrong though, and now she was being summoned by the masters, for what reason, she had no idea.
Down the corridor where Zuko and Oraka had disappeared, the older woman chuckled and Zuko raised his brow.
"The two of you would make a nice couple, you know," she said with amusement sparkling in her eyes.
"Don't even say that!" There was a pause and then Zuko said, "what gave you that idea anyways?"
"Oh, nothing really, just that I could hear your spat all the way from the second floor when I was coming to get the two of you. Mind if I give you some advice? Don't be too harsh with her. Women tend to be more sensitive to what you say, trust me. Okay, well this is it. Go on in, and I'll be waiting here."
Zuko stared at her incredulously. She had said nonsense, but it seemed to make Zuko rethink his actions. Yet there was no time to do that because the doors opened and he stepped forward into his future.
..::-::..
The doors closed behind him and Zuko saw the familiar couple sitting down in the middle of the room. A low table was set in front of them with steaming tea flowing through the air. He bowed immediately and sat down on his knees.
"I have come at your request," Zuko said.
"It is nice to see that you appear in good health. We have something very important to discuss with you Zuko," Taiko said seriously. Mayuri averted Zuko's gaze and she looked down at her shaking palms. She clasped them together and inhaled deeply, yet not making a single sound. Her eyes fluttered and then she breathed out, finding herself to be calmer than before. Mayuri's husband knew what he was doing.
"As you may have noticed, summer is coming soon, and it is actually sooner than we want to believe. You have only been here a few days but you have progressed more rapidly than any student we have heard of. Even though you are new here, every student will be informed just as you of a new tradition at the Second Temple of Sanoroi. As you may or may not know, the Sanoroi was a clan of benders that wanted to go beyond their natural abilities. They questioned how they became apt at their forms of bending and so on."
Taiko took a sip of his tea and paused while Zuko waited to listen further.
"It was their interest that supplied the founding of this and other temples. Each generation learns more about the world around us, and in us as well. I am sure that you understand what your chi does by now," Taiko stated.
Zuko nodded and replied, "I have learned and performed several tasks that have to do with my inner strengths, as one sensei told me."
"Good, then we are on the same page. You know that the entire basis for this temple's art of bending stems from the inner foundation of chi. Benders have that unique quality in their chi that allows them to bend, and it is the different types that supply us with that power. The Avatar has all four chi's created at birth, yet we, my wife and I, have managed to manipulate the elements closest to our natural chi. I am a waterbender by birth, yet I am sometimes able to bend the air around me at will. My wife, bends the earth, yet has the power to produce some fire as well."
Taiko looked at Mayuri and she finally picked her head up to look at Zuko directly.
"It is true. It took us many years to perform, but we meditated and found the power within ourselves," she said quickly and then looked away. Zuko raised his eyebrow and observed her more carefully. He had never met anyone who could manipulate his element before; it was almost an insult to say it like that.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but could you explain why I am here and why you are telling me all of this?" Zuko said roughly yet within perfect manners. Taiko pursed his lips and looked at Zuko with a nod.
"I suppose you are correct in wanting to know those things. What I have said so far explains why I chose you for a special task. As I said, each generation in the temple tries to lead a way into newer realms of energy that can help us here on earth. We have discovered a specific Orb of Chi, which literally is a glowing orb of chi. It is so rare and valuable because it hides within it the balance of the chi in the entire world. If someone were to find it and take a hold of its power to use for the wrong intentions, the consequences would be devastating."
Zuko's eyes widened and he nodded. "So this Orb of Chi, what does it have to do with me?"
"Well, in our situation, as masters of this temple, we are obliged to find it and stop any evil minded person from abusing its intended creation. However my wife and I must stay at the temple and store our energy. It seems that we are aging more rapidly than we have thought we would, and since we ourselves cannot perform this task, we have chosen you as the student with the most potential to achieve this goal. Here is a map that I crafted to assist you on the journey. It is long and dangerous, but I am sure that it will be of no challenge to you," Taiko concluded and handed Zuko the scroll. Zuko opened it and stared at the markings and scribbled names of towns. He rolled it up and looked Taiko in the eye.
"I still don't understand why it is I you have chosen. What if I refuse?" Zuko asked calmly.
Taiko's smile disappeared and he sighed. "As I stated before, there is going to be a new tradition. Every summer, students will be assigned tasks to be completed. Your task is so significant that we needed to speak face to face and have this confidential conversation. I also wanted to hand you that map personally. You can refuse, but that will ensure your exile from all five temples and it will render the award money to someone else."
"Reward money?" Zuko questioned. Taiko produced a box of gold coins from behind his back and Zuko's eyes enlarged.
"This is what you will receive after completing the task and bringing the orb back to this temple. I will gladly give you some of this now to pay for the journey. Not only are you going to receive this monetary reward, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you saved the world from destruction," Taiko chimed in.
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Why can't the Avatar do this?"
Mayuri breathed sharply and turned toward Taiko. The man was intelligent and wasn't going to be fooled easily. Taiko remained poised under the pressure and relaxed his wife by squeezing her hand.
"The Avatar is running all over the world trying to maintain peace in every little corner of it. Do you really think he can do everything? What is your answer? I am pressed with time and need a response."
Zuko looked away and stared at the cream colored wall. Its rusty marks plastered all over it reminded him of the mountains and of journeying once more. He had come to the temple seeking peace, but he only found conflict and the past coming back to haunt him. Zuko turned to the pile of glistening gold and thought of the things he could pay for with that money. He bowed his head low and put his hands on the ground in respect before standing up and stowing the map away inside his robe.
"I accept your offer," Zuko said.
Taiko's lips curled and he nodded. "That is good to hear. I am certain of your success. There will be an assembly later on in the evening to inform everyone of this new tradition. Be sure to remain interested and shocked as everyone else."
"Thank you for everything," Zuko said, and turned to leave the room. He stepped into the open light where Oraka stood waiting for him.
"That took a while! I was almost going to just leave when you came! You're a lucky one! No one except me knows the way to the master's chamber! Come now, I need to fetch that girl and then I'm off for a break!" She chuckled but Zuko seemed to be alone in his thoughts. They passed the various rooms more quickly this time and soon enough, they saw Katara.
She picked her head up when she heard the footsteps coming towards her. It had taken them a long time and Katara wondered why it took them so long. Zuko's pace slowed down as they neared her and she stared at him, not knowing what happened or how he felt. His facial expression was less tense than before and his eyes were sagging, his scar burnt out of its striking expression.
"It's your turn missy! Come on now, I don't have all day!" she exclaimed jovially. Katara started to walk forward and she kept staring at Zuko's face. He was averting her gaze, until the very last minute when she was only inches away from him. His eyes lifted to his right as she looked up to face him. Zuko suddenly felt a sharp jab in his heart as he realized what was going to happen. He would most likely never see her again once he set out on his journey. In that moment, Katara saw a spark of realization and was ready to believe that his eyes meant he was sorry for their argument before. But she was done worrying about what he might have thought or the reasons behind his actions. Zuko felt her arm graze his as she finally stepped away from him and followed Oraka down the hall. He turned to watch them disappear and he sighed, closed his eyes and turned away, forcefully walking down to his room.
..::-::..
Mayuri was holding her breath and looking around the room nervously. Taiko growled quietly and slapped her hand so she'd stop hanging onto him.
"Do not be so foolish! She cannot harm us. I have full control of her no matter what. Be quiet, I think she is coming now," Taiko said.
Katara stepped inside timidly, not knowing what to expect. When she saw the pastel green glow surrounding the woman, her eyes zoomed in and stared into Mayuri's. The woman narrowed her eyes with a glare that sent chills up Katara's spine. Katara shook away the feeling of uneasiness and bowed her head shortly.
"We will make this quick and as painless as possible for you, Katara," Taiko stated without smiling. She tensed up just as he said those few words, trying to prepare herself for anything. "We are starting a new tradition this evening for the student's during the summer. There will be an assembly explaining further, but in a general summary of what is going to happen, I will tell you that you are going to be assigned a specific task. You will have to travel outside of this temple and possibly visit others along the way."
Katara stared into Taiko's hard face and tried to figure out what her task was going to be. No matter what it was, it seemed to be the answer she was looking for. A new journey sounded like a fresh start to her life.
"There is evil spreading in this world, as I am sure you are aware. It was never completely vanquished when Fire Lord Ozai was defeated by yourself and the Avatar along with your friends. Once we found out that you had aided the Avatar and that you were a master of waterbending, we knew at once that the day might come when the world would need you."
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you are getting at," she said openly.
Taiko sighed and shook his head. "That is what he said as well."
"Who? Zuko?" Katara asked.
"Yes. As you know, he was sent in here before you. I assigned him a task, to bring back the Orb of Chi. You do not need to know what it is necessarily, however you must be informed that it holds the balance of this world inside and evil beings crave its power. One of those who are spreading evil is…" he paused and then looked up directly into her eyes. "Zuko."
Katara stood back and let her mouth drop in shock. Her heart started to race and she shook her head slowly. "So you're saying… he wants the orb for himself?" she asked, her throat dry.
"Unfortunately, it is true. The noble family of the Fire Lord who started the war has been tainted by their unholy use of bending to achieve higher power from the comet. Zuko has been waiting for the perfect moment, and I had my doubts when I let him become a student in my temple, but it was all in good reason. I was able to assign him the task of bringing the orb back."
"But he's going to use that power! How could you just tell him fetch it for you?" Katara asked incredulously.
"That is where you come in. Your task… your task is to follow him discreetly, and before he reaches the orb… you must kill him."
Her eyes widened and she almost choked on the dry air around her. She stared in disbelief at the two people sitting down in front of her and shook her head.
"No, there's no way I'm doing this! I can't kill him! I'd never do such a horrible thing… he hasn't even done anything! I know I helped defeat Fire Lord Ozai… but Zuko… it's not possible for me to kill him, or anyone else for that matter."
Taiko raised his eyebrow and laughed. "Is that so? Are you definitely positive that you cannot kill… it is as easy as looking into his face…"
Katara swayed slightly and narrowed her gaze. "What are you talking about… looking into his face? But what will that do?" She paused as suddenly, the energy that had been draining out of her forced itself back inside and into her mind. The whizzing thoughts scrambled to their respective places and she looked around the room in a confused daze as the memories flashed through her vision. In the room with tall white doors on the third floor, where she could almost reach the sky, she had learned how to kill. The painful truth and all of his instructed words caused her legs to wobble and she lost her strength. Katara fell to her knees and withered in front of Taiko and Mayuri.
"It's true… I know how to kill… and without even touching him… was that what it was all for? Did you have this planned out?" she asked as she looked up at Taiko with dread.
"No, it was not. It just so happened that the timing was right and the sensei had chosen the right student. Stand up, you may leave now."
Katara pushed herself off the ground and rested herself on her bent knees. She gripped the table's edges and looked from Mayuri to Taiko with a reserved quiet.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do it. Even though Zuko may be evil, and he's betrayed me before, you were the ones who gave him the task, the way to get there. There's no reason for me to be the one…"
"Yes, you will be the one who kills him. You need to save the world Katara. He has betrayed it into thinking that the Fire Prince defeated his own father, when the truth is he was just waiting for the right time to take the world as his own. Zuko will never suspect you of deception. You need to play on his desires for conquest and for a mutual companion. Then, you will rid the world of the last evil it needs to face."
"I still refuse." Katara stood up and was about to walk out of the door when she felt a familiar presence near. She turned around and saw the vial of her chi in Taiko's hand. "How did you get that?" Katara asked in shock.
"I asked the sensei to help me. I thought it might be useful in case you refused. See, with this, I will be able to make sure you carry out your task."
Taiko gripped the vial firmly and Katara wrapped her arms around her torso instantly, feeling a shot of fire burning inside of her body. She struggled to breathe through the torture and to remain standing. Mayuri's eyes widened as she realized finally how her husband's plan was going to play out. Taiko let go and Katara gasped. She stared at him in disbelief; the pain was gone.
"So you see, you have no choice Katara. I do not want to hurt you, but I will have to if you choose not to fulfill your task. It will be better if you wait a few days until you are farther away from the temple, then rumors will not spread. I will be able to tell, as will my wife, where you and Zuko are and what is happening. As masters, we have achieved the highest ability to use our inner chi and we can look far outwards from this temple. And now, you must leave us."
Katara stood her ground and shook her head. "You are sick and twisted! Now I know why no one has seen you before! The students would never come if they knew what their masters were truly like!"
"Oh dear, you do not understand, we are simply trying to save the world," Mayuri suddenly said.
Katara looked at her smirk and felt weaker than before. Taiko began to grip the vial and Katara felt the jab again, this time in her legs. She fell to the floor and hit her head, losing consciousness instantly.
A/N: Pretty heavy stuff huh? No, Katara didn't just die :P There'd be no fic then :) I tried to make as understandable as possible… but some things that you might have questions about will be answered in upcoming chapters! This is the biggest turning point I'd say… now the fic is going somewhere… onto the main plot… I'd even say that this is the end of the "Intro Arc" but that would sound weird… but it's true… they are going to leave the temple for now… Anyways, please don't hate me for the argument Zuko and Katara had :P It was necessary hehe…. All right then, this is the moment when I get to say: Please review!! The more reviews I get, the more influenced I am to write more! And share your thoughts openly, because remember how I said before that I'd shorten the chapters?
Well I thought of a way to keep them around the same length :D And that wouldn't have happened if those who said "I like the longer chapters" hadn't said anything! So any advice or comments would be so helpful! And as always, perhaps just saying what your favorite part was… or something if you don't know what to say lol Thanks SOO much for reading!! Until next time!
-Monika-