Dying To Survive

by SweetStories11

ZUTARA After the end of the war they meet in an Earth Kingdom Temple. They learn powerful bending techniques and Jet's a student too. Katara then has to go on a mission and follow Zuko to fulfill her promise or otherwise suffer a doomed fate.

20. Criminal

Dying To Survive

Chapter 20- "Criminal"

"Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together." Author Unknown

..::-::..

A low hum buzzed in and out of Katara's mind as the light morning faded into the room. She sighed and yawned as slowly, her muscles tightened and relaxed. Katara pushed herself out of bed and blinked as she saw Akizo sprawled out on the chair. It leaned back into the wall and his head dangled to the side while both arms and legs spread out in odd angles as if he was a spider. Katara snickered and crept over to where Akizo slept. A sneaky thought bloomed in Katara's mind. She tickled his nose briefly with a feather she plucked from her bed's pillow. His nose wriggled but just as Katara thought that she was going to surprise him, one eye flipped open and it was she who jumped back. Akizo leaned forward and let the chair thud back into place. He leaned on his knees and Katara sighed.

"We should go eat breakfast," Akizo said lifelessly.

Katara shrugged and eyed him with a frown. "All right," she said.

They walked down the stairs to find Jet already sitting with his legs propped up on the table. Katara immediately flung her hands at him and he turned abruptly. She raised a hand to her brow and began to scold him.

"Jet! Don't you have any manners? People eat off that table, yet you've got your feet dangling over the edge!" Jet smirked and slid his legs under the table as Katara sat down next to him. Akizo took to the other side and surveyed the early morning crowd. There were only a few people out of bed and the atmosphere had a soft glow about it. Only a few murmurs escaped through the air as breakfast was served to them by a baggy-eyed Shinto. He scratched his beard and disappeared once more, not before giving both Jet and Akizo a quick, sharp glance. As the three of them finished their meal, they stood up to leave. Katara took a hold of her possessions and bowed curtly to Shinto's wife as she waved them good-bye. Outside, the sun greeted them with crispness in its light. Jet stuffed his hands into his pockets and cracked his neck.

"I'll lead the way since I know exactly where Laia is. You don't mind?" Jet asked Akizo. The man shook his head and Katara sighed, a steady calm engulfing her being. The three of them turned a corner, and when Katara followed behind Jet, a bulky man bumped into her. She blinked as her body teetered back, and she watched him as he walked away, expecting an apology. Nothing came and all she saw was the shadows of enmity in the man's aura. She glared after him, but soon caught up to her friends as they walked in and out of alleyways. The Town of Tuno wasn't exactly the most cheerful place to be, especially in the outer districts.

Soon enough, they were gone from the area and the dense forests sprang up once more. Akizo led the way with Jet, leaving Katara to follow in their footsteps. The grass lay subservient to her feet and Katara looked around at the tall canopy with a small hint of curiosity.

"Akizo," she asked, "have you traveled here before? I don't know why, but it seems like it has some kind of history to it, just like the Crow's Nest."

A slight smile carried through his lips as he kept walking forward next to Jet. Almost as if it strained him to keep that happy face, his lips slid back into a straight line while he explained.

"The terrain has seen many battles in its days. There was once a great conflict in this part of the Fire Nation. It happened during the time of Sozin's reign. You can see that the scars are still visible, up above us." Katara gazed upward again and peered at the tree's barks. Indeed there were slashes and burnt chips in the woods. After a few moments, Katara looked back to ground level and saw that the forest continued to grow anew despite its stained past. A curious feeling stirred in Katara's heart, as if something was telling her that she was just the same as this forest.

"If this place is so historic, it must have an extraordinary name then. But I just don't know what could ever beat the Crow's Nest," Jet commented slyly. Akizo turned his head and shook it once.

"No one has ever named it," Akizo replied. Jet turned away after staring at him blankly for a few seconds. Katara asked why that was and Akizo continued, his voice monotonous yet striking a chilling chord in the air so that Katara shivered. "That is to respect all of the souls that still wander, having left their bodies to rot in the forest after the battle. If people named it, that would confirm their deaths. Such an insult would stir up a commotion among those souls. There would be civil unrest to any traveler passing by."

Katara crept up next to Akizo on his left and gave him a puzzled look. "Does that mean… there are souls still living among the trees?" she asked. Akizo held her gaze and then looked up at the rustling leaves.

"Yes."

She shared a half-disbelieving glance with Jet, who shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as to silence her. They walked on again, and this time, Katara jumped at every slight movement near her. It was usually just a small toad or squirrel, yet she always imagined it to be one of deceased nature, hunting the three of them down. It had been a few hours, and Katara's neck was already strained from looking around every corner. Her feet were sore and when they finally reached the ends of the forest, she felt the ghostly chill leave her body, the eyes watching her back vanish. The sun was much higher in the clear blue sky, and she raised a hand to her forehead as she scanned the horizon.

Jet smirked and folded his arms as he nudged Katara. "See that tower in the mountains? Laia's waiting there." Katara's mouth hung open. She looked down the crumbled brick road that began to appear in front of them, to the gathering of huts and back up the mountains, all the way to the tips of a tower that seemed all too familiar. Akizo looked around and pointed to the road. Katara could do nothing but follow them as they left the unnamed forest. Seeing the huts, she imagined Laia to be residing there, in the middle of a small country village. But when Jet told her Laia was in the tower, she began to question her friend. There really wasn't too much Katara knew about Laia, except that she was from the Fire Nation and that she hadn't been back there since the war. She had become friends with her on a whim, going on that adventure the Masters had sent them on, to the chase that ended with…

Katara's vision suddenly blurred and she held her forehead as a stinging sensation built up in her heart. The pulsing of her veins gathered up in her head and then it passed immediately. This rising headache happened whenever she tried to think too far into that journey, the quest that had caused her to make friends, and possibly lose them. Katara didn't understand why that thought kept nagging her, but she shook her head and kept her pace steady as the brick road began to lose its deterioration. Hours passed; they walked by the huts and found some live stock grazing lazily by the families that tended to them. It all seemed so peaceful and Katara felt like she could live there herself, but she knew that living so peacefully was not for her. And so they walked on, as silence stretched itself along the bricks, becoming firmer as they pressed on. The mountains seemed to grow ever so slowly, but it was not until they reached the base of the hills that Katara caught sight of what lay ahead.

A new city emerged in her view as they rounded the corner on which the brick road took them. She had never once questioned why there was a brick road in all of that backyard country, where the grass grew plentifully and the animals grazed without a care. But as she spotted the bustling streets, the numerous government buildings, the enormous playground, and the widespread array of housing, she realized that she had seen this place from the skies, everything tiny dots back then. A distant memory flashed through her mind from the time of war, and the summer when battles raged daily. She was on the bison and looking down, she was informed that it was one of the Fire Lord's recreational cities, the tower and the minute palace it stemmed from, a summer home of his.

"This is where Laia's living?" Katara asked, flabbergasted. Jet shared a look with Akizo and instantly, Katara's temper popped inside of her gut as she grabbed a look at her map and found her answer.

"Did you two decide not to tell me exactly where we were going?" she asked. Jet smiled sheepishly as he scratched his head.

"Well you see, Katara, I thought you would have reacted that way, so instead…"

"Is there a problem? Sozin's Turf has been a prosperous hidden city for quite some time now. There's no curse linked with the forest from before, I thought I had explained…" Akizo interjected.

Katara flashed him a displeased stare and Akizo let the tips of his bangs scratch against his cheeks. "Thank you for your well rounded historical knowledge, but I've seen this place before. Sozin's Turf, if that's what it's called, is something I didn't expect to come across twice in my lifetime."

The lively noise swept towards her along the wind and Katara squinted. The sun was right above their heads now, if even a bit more towards the west where the mountains guarded the city. The brick road expanded as it swerved though the level countryside. Trying to restore her temper, Katara passed ahead of her two guides and walked down the road with her head held high. Akizo and Jet didn't mention anything to her again for quite some time. It wasn't until they were in the city's midst that Katara dared to speak to them. After all, it wasn't their fault that Laia had chosen this as their meeting point.

"Sorry about that before…" she said quietly. Jet shrugged but Akizo decided to respond rather informatively.

"It's known that upon sight of Sozin's Turf, people tend to become aggressive. It is in that very nature that the city came to fruition. Sozin had just become Fire Lord and had found this inlet, the place perfect for the start of a city, the ground matted by roots. He gathered his forces and men started to build from the ground up. Because it was Sozin who had established the area…"

"It was called Sozin's Turf," Jet finished. Akizo nodded and pointed at an open square where a statue of the city's founder stood embedded in stone. Katara gazed at the broad-shouldered man, knowing that he had been the cause of the Hundred Year War. Wanting to get away from the past, Katara briskly walked on further with her two bodyguards at her side. The tower was still some ways in the distance, and so after a while, they stopped for some beef on a stick. The vendor smiled and waved at them as they left. Katara had only taken a few bites of her food, just as she walked out into the street. The dirt beneath her rustled in a little cloud as an isolated rumble vibrated her core. Katara blinked and looked around to see where the disruption was coming from. Jet had noticed as well and brought out his swords. Akizo, always alert, was already crouching on a pile of wooden cargo boxes. The people out and about seemed unaware of the unsettling sense that clouded the trio's minds. Suddenly, Katara dropped her stick as an explosion erupted from the alleyway. A thick cloud of dust sprang into her view and Katara began to cough as she stumbled around in the street.

Heat swelled around her as whizzing darts flew by, inches away from her face. Bewildered, Katara fell to the floor and covered her head, thinking that an ambush of sorts was taking place. Her mouth dry, the grits of dirt stuck between her teeth, Katara coughed violently, all the while fiddling with her water pouch. Once she rinsed her mouth and took a drink, she stowed it away and stood upright. The noises of a battle had ceased for the moment. As Katara rose and looked to her left where the explosion had occurred, a band of women in tattered warriors clothing crawled out of the store's drilled through wall. People had scattered and store owners hid behind their booths as the scuffle halted. Katara gaped and looked to her right. Another group of women were assembled, dressed not as camouflaged fighters, but as highly ranked citizens of the Fire Nation. They wore bright red kimonos, laced with golden edgings, somewhat similar to Katara's clothing. She backed into their group, confusion slapping her face for every second she stared.

A leader stepped forward from each party and Katara watched dumbfounded as the two women, completely opposite of one another in terms of hygiene, eyed each other with identical smirks. Katara looked around for Jet and Akizo, but she couldn't see them anywhere.

"So it looks like you found a way out of this one," the ragged one said.

"We don't like to involve the citizens, if possible," said the women with the sleek black hair. Compared to the shorter woman, the nobler one seemed a more suitable leader, yet the woman who came forward from the pack of soiled faced girls had an aura of sly aggression around her. A stir came from behind the one with tanner skin.

"It's always excuses with you people! You take any chance you can get to run out of a fight! Cowards!" she yelled, and then spit on the ground. The noble leader squinted furiously as the heat grew within her.

"You'll regret that!" she yelled. At once, her bright red kimono became ablaze with fire. She shot out past her foe and towards the girl who had commented with her snotty remark. A scurrying of footsteps proceeded and arrows flashed through the dusty air. Katara felt the shots of fire zoom past her head, towards the warriors, and with this outburst, she suddenly felt dizzy.

"Jet?" she cried out desperately. She was as lost as a bird without a master to return to. The open plane of the battle field erupted with noise once more and before Katara could do anything else, she felt a sharp rock slam into the back of her head. Her body fell forward freely and hit the ground with an inaudible thud. Out of nowhere, two glimmering ropes whipped into the middle of the street and wound their way around a pair of wrists. The startled screams echoed through the crowd as someone tugged on the captured prey. Arrows and darts stopped flying, and the flames subsided. Everyone halted in mid-step as they turned to look at their leaders, each entwined in shining silver ropes. The fiercer looking one looked up into the pair of bright aspen eyes and let her jaw drop.

"Akizo!" He walked forward, his hands holding onto the ropes' ends. He flicked his wrists and the ropes recoiled back into the palms of his hands. The two leaders stood up and faced the man as Jet scrambled to the spot where Katara lay unconscious. Akizo packed away his tools in his small pouch and whipped his head around to the woman, similarly dressed as him. His long black hair gleamed in the sunlight as she pulled on his ponytail, her eyes cross and dark.

"Why… why did you stop me?" she asked, somewhat humiliated.

"Eisa, this won't do. You shouldn't fight them here, in the middle of the Turf," he said. Akizo looked past the wild woman and towards her opposite. "Don't you agree, Raeya?"

Raeya, the other leader, stood proud and tall with her arms crossed. Her hair was swept up into a high bun and loose strands fell around her face and down her neck. The leader's face was thin and pointed, yet her eyes blazed gently. Raeya strode over to Akizo and as she did, her kimono dragged slightly off the ground. Eisa took a step aside and watched as Raeya snapped her fingers in front of Akizo's face, a few sparks flying into the air.

"That's a fine idea. Just tell your little friends not to provoke us like this again." She turned to Eisa, who stood crookedly, her tangled mane of hair further displaying her lack of status, and smirked. "Next time, we won't let you off so easily. It is only for the sake of the people…" Eisa growled furiously and was about to lunge forward when Akizo stopped her. Raeya jumped back and squatted before running away with the rest of her group. Suddenly, one of the girls tried to take Katara with them, but Jet pulled her back.

"She's not one of you!" he barked. The girl frowned and shrugged as she leapt away, out of sight. Jet turned to face Akizo and they shared a mixed glance, distrust leaking from Jet's scorned face. Eisa shouted to her fellow warriors and started to retreat as well as the street became lively once more. Before leaving, she turned to Akizo and stared at him coldly.

"It looks like you've made some new friends. I wouldn't be too friendly if I were you. Raeya and those people have spies everywhere. You can only trust those who are like you." Her dismantled clothing flapped in the wind and she was off before he could say anything else. Akizo turned around and walked over to Jet. He reached out a hand to examine Katara's head but Jet slapped it away.

"Just who do you think you are? She said you were some kind of Rope Master, but you never mentioned anything about being a part of a gang," Jet said angrily, as if Akizo had somehow betrayed them.

"I'm not. I simply know of them, and they know of me. Our paths have crossed before. As for her," he said, finally stroking the bruise on Katara's head, "we should get to the palace right away. Her friend would probably want to tend to her injury." Jet watched Akizo carefully as he stood up. With his help, they picked Katara up and placed her securely on Jet's back. The crowds of people whispered amongst themselves, but it felt like a storm of chattering had gone off in the street. The tower loomed greatly ahead of them, and they didn't waste any more time among the curious stares and prying glances.

..::-::..

Katara moaned as the darkness lifted from her eyes. The lump on her head pained her as she rose quickly from her horizontal position. She winced and held her head as Akizo looked down at her. Katara looked around, trying to figure out where she was. A dark wooden bench sat beneath her, rooted at the corner of a much larger welcoming square than she had seen before. In the middle was a crimson arch and behind it stood the palace, much larger than she had imagined it to be from so far away. Katara quickly glanced at Akizo and widened her eyes.

"How did we get here? What happened?" Then she added, "Where's Jet?"

Akizo closed his eyes briefly before sitting down next to her. "I stopped the fight. You got hit in the head with a rock." Katara grumbled as she rubbed the swelled bruise slowly. "Jet carried you on his back through the Turf and left you here. He's gone to find your friend."

Katara sighed deeply. The sun had shifted in the sky so that she knew it was the mid-afternoon. The thought of seeing Laia again cheered her up suddenly, but Akizo's presence caused her to give into concern once more. As Akizo spread his arms out over the edge of the bench, Katara turned on him and narrowed her eyes.

"Wait a minute. Why are you here? I thought you had to do some kind of work…"

"It's done. I finished what I came to do and am simply visiting as you are now. My job was to mend the fence over in that pasture." He shifted his head to the right and Katara spun around to see a garden with three blossoming trees. Some bushes surrounded them, and in the middle was a tiny pond. The fence gleamed with silver string and Katara sat back, her curiosity answered.

"Okay… then can you explain to me what happened back there? What was that fighting about? And who were those women?" Katara asked. Akizo looked off into the distance as he heard a distant ricocheting door slam. He leaned forward again and sighed.

"What you witnessed was one of the many occurrences here in Sozin's Turf. To put it simply, a fight between the Yin Yan Warriors and the Xiong Clan," Akizo answered. To this, Katara's jaw dropped, both out of shock and confusion. Suddenly, Katara jumped as a joyous shriek filled the air. Past the arch, on the other side of the square, the doors to the palace opened and a fast moving figure approached them, dressed from head to toe in vibrant red. Katara's heart lifted suddenly, and she stood, her arms spread out. The two women ran towards each other and when they met, hugged each other fiercely.

"Katara! You've finally made it! But wait! Let me see your bruise!" Laia said. Her hands took a firm hold of Katara's head and brought it down so that she could observe the minor injury.

"Laia! I'm fine! It's only a little bruise. It will go away by itself," she said. Her friend sighed and let go, but instantly smiled, her joyful presence the same as when she had last seen it a few months ago.

"I'm just so ecstatic that you're here! It's been horrible without a girlfriend to keep my company!" With that, Laia laced arms with Katara, her black hair and bangs, a bit longer than before. She wore a thin red band on top of her head, tied together at the base of her neck so that her hair was spread out like a fan on her back. Akizo raised his eyebrow as the two women strolled towards the palace gates. He hesitantly followed them. Katara looked around in awe as they stepped through the large metal doors. Having walked through the outer wall of the palace, Katara saw the inside building and the charming landscape surrounding it. The beauty of the place lived generously with each leaf that dangled from the small trees and bushes adjoining the steps towards the inner house. As they walked around the exquisitely decorated building, the conversation came upon what happened earlier.

"It's unfortunate that you had such a rude welcome!" Laia commented, referring to the skirmish earlier.

"I'm not even sure what the fight was about, but it was clear that the two groups were rivals of sorts," Katara said.

"You must mean the Yin Yan's and the Xiong's. They've been having battles all around the Turf."

Suddenly, Akizo interjected, frightening the two women as they jumped to the side, unaware that they were being followed. "It's been that way for quite some time now," he said. Katara held her hand to her chest as she looked at him, panting.

"Don't scare us like that!" Laia snarled. Katara looked from one to the other and smiled suddenly.

"Laia, this is Akizo. He's nicknamed the Rope Master," she said. Laia eyed him up and down and smirked.

"If I were to call it on the looks, I'd say you were a part of the Yin Yan crew," Laia said. Akizo's eyes widened slightly, but he remained collected.

"No. I live on my own in the Crow's Nest," he said. Laia opened her mouth and nodded. She kept her eyes on him a bit longer but shrugged off any disconcerting thoughts. Katara told her of their meeting and how he had saved her from his own trap. Laia laughed at this and Katara scowled, not finding it funny. They made their way through the inner gardens and through the bridge that linked one side of the palace to the other. On each side was a small river, flowing into a covered underground water source. Laia took them through a door on the side, where a small dining room opened up. The table was long enough for twelve people to dine, but the three just took one corner and ate plentifully as servants brought them food. With one hand, Katara held a bag of ice to her head where her bruise was.

"I still don't understand why they just attacked each other in the middle of a street like that," Katara said suddenly, thinking out loud.

"You mean the Yin Yan's and the Xiongs?" Laia asked. Katara nodded and Akizo put down his bowl, preparing to answer her.

"The Yin Yan Warriors specialize in weaponry, archery and battle aspects of that sort. The Xiong Clan, on the opposite end, is a well known clan in the Fire Nation, a proud family of firebenders. They are of noble status and Raeya is their leader. She lives in this palace, or so I hear. But usually she's off in the Xiong headquarters off towards the northern side of the Turf." Laia smiled at Akizo.

"You know a lot for living by yourself in a deserted place," she said. Akizo shrugged and shook his head.

"I travel a lot though. I've visited Sozin's Turf numerous times." Laia turned to Katara and continued where Akizo left off. "I think I've seen Raeya, their leader, a few times. The leaders of the Xiong Clan, the Xiong Threesome, hold meetings in this palace every so often. She's one of their daughters, a successor to the Threesome. The leader of the women's Yin Yan is Raeya's life long rival. I don't remember her name though…" Laia concluded.

"Her name is Eisa. I've run into her a few times during my jobs," Akizo added.

"Right…" Laia said. Katara finished her afternoon meal and soon they walked out of the room. Jet supposedly had errands to run at the farthest corner of the palace, and so they didn't see him for quite some time. As the tour of the place dragged on, Katara's restless nature started to stir. All of a sudden, a question burned on Katara's tongue, and she was surprised it hadn't come to mind beforehand.

"Laia, why exactly are you living here? I thought you came from a village somewhere in the Fire Nation, not from Sozin's Turf, which is supposed to be an old city of wealth!" Katara exclaimed. Laia became hesitant after hearing the question. She averted Katara's gaze and instead pointed out tapestries on the walls or the fine gleam in the runes that held up the ceiling. "Laia, don't avoid the question! I want to know why you've…" Laia suddenly gasped and pulled Akizo and Katara down a hall. Her eyes darted around madly, to see if there was an escape route somewhere. "Laia, what's going on? Is someone going to attack us?" Laia quickly shook her head and pushed them along. Katara, however, was impatient and ran back to the other hall to see what was wrong. A man was coming from the other side of the bridge towards them; the muscles on his arms glistened of sweat as his open vest flapped in the wind. Before Katara could see any more, she was pulled back and dragged down a corridor.

"Laia! Stop! Tell me what's going on!" she said, exasperated and in between breaths.

Laia's heart was beating miles a minute and she took a deep breath before uttering one acknowledging word. "Zhen." At once, Katara knew why they were running away. A sly smirk caught her lips before they heard his shout. Akizo didn't seem to mind the running, and followed Laia without asking for a reason. They heard the yell once more, Zhen having run after them, intrigued at Katara's presence. Laia showed them down another hall, but it came to a dead end. A balcony graced them, and stairs ran down each side to a lower dug out garden. The tower Katara had seen from so far away was in front of her now, its entrance a single door.

"Let's split up!" Laia said. She hid in a room, which led to another secret hall. Akizo found a small closet and Katara ran down the stairs, not wanting to be stuck in a random room that could have been filled with suits of armors or what not. Instead, she saw the tower and figured that if she could make it in time, she would hide behind it. Katara ran as fast as she could away from the womanizer Laia had mentioned so often in all of her letters. Even though he wasn't dangerous, Zhen was someone to get away from at all costs, as Laia believed.

Katara's feet dragged along the wooden boards that created the pathway. She couldn't hear anything except the rustles of creatures in the undertow. The door was inches away, but Katara decided last minute to run around, to the back. Once she reached it, she saw a fence guarding a tiny monument. She didn't care to check what it was for. Her chest heaved up and down as her back stuck to the cement of the tower.

"Hey! Are you there?" Katara heard the crisp yell coming from the balcony. A little gruff echoed throughout the lower level dwelling and she sighed as Zhen retreated back into the palace. She smiled to herself as the minutes passed by. Katara sat down against the stone and finally read the plaque that was beneath the monument; it was a woman standing next to the Fire Nation's flame. She read the writing out loud.

"To the women who stood and will stand beside the Lords of this Nation, we dedicate this tower to you."

Katara's voice trailed off as she gazed at the woman. She leaned forward, tracing the edges of the statue with her fingers. Her smile stayed put as she looked at it, reminding herself of her mother, and the secret power women had over men for centuries. The wind rustled her hair as her hand dropped to her side. Suddenly, Katara felt a heavy presence near her, but she wasn't alarmed at first. Her heart didn't change its pace, but when she heard the voice, her mind crippled under the strain of the past.

"What are you doing here?" a scratchy voice asked spitefully.

Katara spun to her right and saw the man she had planned to avoid for the rest of her life. Zuko stood there, his robes casual, but of Fire Nation nobility. His longer hair was pulled up into a bun. In his hands, he held a bouquet of white orchids. The instant he saw her, it fell out of his hands and floated to the ground. Katara's eyes widened and as shock first encompassed her soul, her gasp froze the dooming well of emotions. The world tilted in her mind, and the ocean of guilt and fury leaked out over the edge. She remembered everything, all of the pain she had caused and the ending to her journey a few months before. Katara grabbed a hold of her wrists, her mouth wavering as she recalled the chain, and how everything came to an end as she agreed to letting go of her past with Zuko. They stood still, gazing with their entire soul into the other's pair of eyes. The moment came, and Zuko's face contorted, mixed with despise and gnawing resentment.

"No… I never meant…" Katara couldn't make out the sentence. Zuko's raging face flushed with a dark hue, simmered under the sunlight. Realizing where he was, and what his original intentions were, he quickly picked up the flowers and set them at the foot of the statue. Katara watched his back in horror, not understanding why he wasn't attacking her the very first chance he had acquired. "Zuko…" she whispered fearfully. He snapped back around and stared at her fiercely.

"You didn't answer my question," he said. The tears that wanted to fly away, give their freedom to the world, were held back in their cage as Katara's eyes glistened.

"Laia invited me here! I thought you were coming to the Water Tribe, so I packed my things and left. I never… this wasn't supposed to happen!" she cried out. Zuko's lips pursed together as he turned his head away from her, taking a deep breath in order to try and calm himself down.

"I stayed here. The last thing I wanted was to see your face again." Katara breathed deeply as she fell onto the ground, her knees digging into the blades of grass. "Leave," he commanded. Moments passed by silently then, as the two of them didn't stir, didn't utter another word. Katara felt weakened by the impact; she now knew how horrible it was to see Zuko again, why she was supposed to avoid him no matter what. Unfortunately for her, the mistake had been on her part once more. Suddenly, she grasped the ends of Zuko's dark plum robe and tugged to get his attention. He turned his head back and looked down at her.

"Let go of me," he said, strictly.

"Zuko, I've done a horrible thing to you. I know you can't forgive me, but…" she leapt up from the ground and placed a hand on his shoulder so that he was facing her. A new fire burst inside of her and her eyes pierced him unexpectedly, shattering the shield he kept up to stay away from his feelings for her. "Why should I leave? Laia's my friend, and I have a right to see her. Just because you're here… and because I've seen you, doesn't mean that I have to disappear! We're adults, and you can't tell me what I can or can't do anymore!" She let her hand drop and suddenly, the tears slipped down her cheeks without a care, escaping the torment hidden inside. "It's not like before… the war is over now. You're not the same haughty brainwashed prince like back then."

Memories filled her mind, of the first moment she had seen the Prince, walking down from the Fire Nation ship, full of icy hate and ill doing. He was like poison, his grip on her grandmother sucking the hopeful life out of the fourteen year old. Then everything flashed past her eyes, every moment they had battled, the betrayal of all things, eventually leading up to the glorifying moment of Zuko's life. The day he had stepped up against his father was the day he had become a friend. Katara had wanted nothing but that, and she had ruined it. She had to live with that torment raging inside her head, because she knew with all certainty that Zuko, being the proud man he was, would never accept her as a friend.

The Prince gazed down at her and took a few steps before turning back around to face her.

"No, I'm not the same as before. I've found a life for myself, one where the people by my side care about my future. This nation keeps my heart going, and I won't have you stop that," he said, distrustfully. Katara's jaw dropped as she chuckled disbelievingly through her tears.

"You must be crazy to think I'd ever want to kill you again!" she yelled, the fury within her starting to rise. That sentiment spread to Zuko as well as the flames erupted from his palms. He stepped closer to her and began his attack as Katara weaved in and out of his punches.

"You did it once! What's to stop you from trying again?" Somewhere from up above, Katara heard her name being called. Laia was at the balcony, but she couldn't focus because of Zuko's fury. "Did you ever think to judge me for who I actually am? Would you still want to snuff my life then? Of course you would," he said panting. "I represent everything that's gone wrong in your life!" With that, Katara rounded around the corner of the tower as the flames dispersed in the air above her. The confusing statements didn't stop her anger from spreading to the tips of her fingers. She was reaching for her water pouch, when Laia ran up to them. Zuko turned his head and muttered something beneath his breath. Katara took the chance and ran towards the stairs, past the trees and the stains of error. Akizo stood atop the balcony, waiting for her arrival.

"Katara! Wait! Please stop!" Laia begged. Her voice carried but echoed into the air and left a deep gap between where she stood and where Katara and Akizo had disappeared into the palace. Laia turned to Zuko and growled at him.

"Are you nuts? What did you yell at her for? Besides that though… what are you doing here? I thought you were going to leave on that trip down south," Laia said, exasperated.

"Well, it looks like I didn't then, right?" he retorted, a sting in Laia's face. She narrowed her eyes as Zuko glanced back to the place where he seen Katara again. He clenched his fists and suppressed the urge to punch something. Suddenly, the door to the tower opened and a woman in a flowing deep red gown came striding out. Laia rolled her eyes as Mai slid over to Zuko's side.

"Who was that?" she asked them. Zuko turned to her and shook his head as he began to walk away. Mai immediately began to follow and Laia's jaw dropped.

"Zuko, wait! We have to talk about this!" she cried out. Nothing worked; Zuko kept walking slowly back up the stairs and into the palace, with his assistant at his side. Laia moaned in frustration and gripped her forehead. Everything had gone terribly wrong, and it was only the beginning of what was to come.

..::-::..

Katara was out of breath. She couldn't feel her feet anymore, and as the strain punctured her muscles, she tripped and fell onto her hands. Akizo knelt down and put a hand on her back. He helped her stand up and in a few short steps, they found themselves in a small alley heading into a bathhouse. Akizo took a look around to make sure the coast was clear. He motioned his head forward and Katara took a sharp breath as she stepped onto the rock infested ground. She sat down on a reclining chair and tilted her head back. She stared into the darkening sky and blinked, her eyes dry and slightly red. Akizo walked over to the pool of cool water and gathered some in his hands. Alone in her own world, Katara didn't realize that he was coming back. She jumped up, startled, as Akizo opened his hands and the water crashed onto her face.

"Akizo!" she yelled. He immediately covered her mouth with his hand and peered around to see if anyone had heard. His gaze locked her breath as he pulled her behind a prickly bush. An old man came out from the house, slid the door open, looked around for a minute and shut the door closed again. Katara crossed her eyes and whispered forcefully.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"To refresh your face," Akizo replied. Katara rolled her eyes and held back a moan as she wiped her face dry. She was angry with him for dragging her so far away from everyone, but when she had made a run for it a couple of hours ago, she wanted to get as far away from the truth as she could. Katara still couldn't comprehend Zuko's words, but after all of that arguing, she wanted something to clear her mind. Akizo took that time to risk asking her a question.

"Was Prince Zuko once an acquaintance of yours?" he asked, both of them still huddled in their hiding place.

"What? No… I mean, yes, but… our pasts aren't exactly something to reminisce about," she said dejectedly. Akizo hung his head and poked the ground with his fingers. He brought a piece of the charcoal dirt to his nose and sniffed before speaking again.

"I see. That means you are not on speaking terms with him?" Katara nodded and he peered at her suddenly. "Want me to stop asking questions?" To this, Katara nodded once more and smiled slightly. She saw the glint of adventure in his eyes. "All right, but if you want me to not ask you further about why we ran for so long, you need to help me with something."

The serene bathhouse lulled her senses. The pool of water called out to her, and she suddenly longed to sit there and wash away her worries. She had not considered Laia until that moment, when she realized with guilt that she had run out on her friend. Being on the run with Akizo seemed so electrifying, like her life was open with numerous opportunities she hadn't had before. The tall wooden fence guarded the back yard by extending from the back of the house and around in a circle. There was a small gap in which they had come in from the outside, and now Akizo was looking back towards that place anxiously. The sky was dimming into a shade of scarlet and lavender. Katara realized that Laia would most likely be eating dinner at the palace.

"Katara, I'm going to tell you a secret." Her ears pointed as she looked back into Akizo's face earnestly. Out of his pocket, he pulled out a sleek ruby. Katara's lips parted as he positioned it inside of her hand. "Listen carefully. There's a reason why I guided our escape this way. The way I live in the Crow's Nest, it's easy to hear travelers gossiping, thinking that they can't be heard. That ruby is one of eight. These eight are highly rare and contain special minerals that divulge the properties to bending."

Katara looked from Akizo to her palm and back up again. Her mouth was open wide and her eyes enlarged. "What does that mean?" she asked, full of awe.

Akizo took the ruby back from her and stowed it away. "It means that these rare gems, when fused together in a special ritual, hold the power to create a flow of chi. When inserted into a non-bender, they acquire the powers most inherit through birth." As he explained the phenomena, all thoughts of Zuko vanished. Laia was a distant worry and her whole body reacted defensively. She backed away from him and crossed her arms.

"If this is so rare and powerful, why do you have it?" she asked. Katara had heard this kind of story before. It was the same thing that led her to the Kuusu Mountains, to the fateful place where she had betrayed Zuko. She shook her head as if not wanting an answer, though she truly yearned for one. Akizo didn't seem like the kind of person to lust after power, rather the opposite. This was true. As Katara looked at his face, his aspen eyes gleamed with as much righteousness as an innocent child could bear.

"Please, Katara, trust me. I have no intentions of seeking reunion of the Eight Gems. What I mentioned earlier, well, a pair of travelers talked about rumors of a Governor's journey into Sozin's Turf. He said that the Governor would rest at a bathhouse," Akizo said.

"So this must be that bathhouse," Katara filled in, looking at the still pool of water and the slight clouds of steam rising from it.

"I need your help. The Governor has heard of the story, and has two of the Eight Gems. These rubies mustn't be grouped together. The person who receives that chi will gain the ultimate firebending power." Akizo's face elongated and he clasped Katara's hands. "Will you help me, for the sake of the citizens? There is unrest, as I'm sure you saw today, between the two most powerful types of people here. I need a decoy. All you have to do is get into the bath and create a ruckus while I scope the house."

Katara let her arms drop as she sighed. Her reasoning must have been turned off because she nodded and saw Akizo's rare crooked smile. She responded back with a smile herself and he motioned her towards the bath. Katara slipped out of the bushes and headed towards the water. She began to unbutton her sleeveless red kimono as she heard Akizo darting towards the house. The cloth fell onto the grass softly and in her undergarments, Katara dipped her toe into the temperate water. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into the bath, causing a loud splash to occur as the water flowed over the rocks circling the pool.

"Ah! This feels so glorious! I could just bathe here all night long! I'll just stay here, for free, watching the sky as the stars come out and shine up above!" she boasted loudly. Katara waved her hands in the water and watched as the lights inside the house glided swiftly from room to room. Akizo had found a door on the side and had already slipped in. Katara's heart began to race as the heat swam in her head. Someone was approaching; she had to think fast.

All of a sudden, the door slid open, and the man from before stood back in horror as he saw Katara's back facing him. The poor old man, frightened, didn't know quite how to react. Katara instinctively turned her head and screamed, mocking horror. The old man screamed back, and soon an old lady showed up at his side. Katara yelled once more and embraced herself, flushing madly.

"What are you doing? Can't a woman bathe in private nowadays?" she asked. Katara panted as her eyes darted around for some sign of movement. Akizo needed to come quickly if she were to get away without the bathhouse keepers pressing charges. The old folks were recovering from the scare, thinking that someone was going to rob them from the back entrance. A nasty scowl appeared on the woman's face as she began to move forward. At the same time, the door from which Akizo entered the house, opened once more. He was moving swiftly behind the bushes as Katara began to step out of the bath.

"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere, you cheapskate! We run a fair business! And here you are, getting in for free! Who do you think you are? The Fire Lord Iroh himself?" the old woman barked. Katara grabbed her clothing and ran for it. As she slid her arms through the holes in her kimono, Akizo's head popped out of bushes, his eyes wide. Katara squinted, not understanding what was wrong. Suddenly, she halted in mid-step as a hand pulled a trail of hair up from the bushes, as if it were plucking a sunflower from its roots. Katara's mouth opened up in the shape of an oval and she gasped as a burly man, a towel around his waist, pulled Akizo out into the open. From behind her, Katara heard the woman gasp and the old man comfort her. Akizo moaned as the man pushed him forward. Katara's knees weakened; there was no where to run to. She fell and gazed up at the hairy man, whose beard fell pointedly down his chest. He was around middle-age and had a smirk as wide as his face plastered on his mouth.

"Looks like I've caught myself some hoodlums."

"Governor! We were just about ready to prepare your bath, when I found this woman lapping about in it! I didn't even know that the man was there as well!" the old man spoke. Katara whimpered once more. She had been caught. The Governor had spotted Akizo and all she could think of was another pair of handcuffs around her wrists.

"I saw the man sneaking out from your inner housing. I believe he may be a thief, and this woman, his apprentice. It appears I'll have to postpone my bath. The two of you are coming with me," he said slyly. Akizo lifted his head and mouthed an apology to Katara. Her eyebrows lifted as she tried to smile, making a feeble attempt at it. The old man, trying to seem significant, walked up to Katara and grabbed her hands, holding them behind her back so that her chest was exposed. Katara rolled her eyes and squirmed; she'd rather have a taunting prince tie her up than have an old man holding her as a prisoner. At the thought, Katara saddened and she hung her head low so that her hair fell in front of her face. The Governor apprehended Akizo and threw a chain around his wrists. His hands sent small sparks into the metal and it hardened its shape so that Akizo couldn't move his hands even if he tried.

"Call my deputy from inside. These two are heading off to the Core for investigation," the governor explained. The old woman nodded vigorously and headed inside. A few moments passed and she reappeared with a woman, about a decade older than Katara. She took Katara's hands and tied them together with string. She smiled gently and motioned the two criminals forward. Somehow, Katara had thought things would go smoothly, but situations like these didn't tend to favor her in the end.

..::-::..

The walls of the dungeons below were infested with shadows and dirt. The ground gritted beneath Katara's feet as she walked forward in the line of people guiding her towards the cell. It had never occurred to her that this would happen. She thought back to the times when Aang was there with Appa and they got out of situations with childlike ease, but she was a grown woman now, and the consequences had to be met with obedience. The Governor led the procession with a smug look on his face; behind him, Akizo walked forward sluggishly, his back bent. Katara followed him and behind her, two Fire Nation soldiers guarded them. The torches on the walls flickered as she passed by, and she sighed, wishing she had not left Laia's side after all.

"Here we are. We'll continue our investigations in the morning. In the meantime, you can stay here together. Don't you be thinking about any escape routes, now. The Core is legendary for keeping all of its prisoners at bay," the Governor proclaimed. He shoved a heavy key into the cell's iron door. The iron bars produced a crate like environment and the insides were only equipped with a thin worn out blanket, some hay and bits of rat dung. Katara squirmed as she was pushed inside, bumping into Akizo on the way in. The Governor's men cut off the cuffs that bound them and stepped outside, the door creaking as it closed.

"What about food?" Katara asked, her stomach churning desperately.

The Governor laughed shortly and shrugged. "There might be arrangements made after dawn. For now, sit tight." He yawned and stretched as he headed out. "I'll be going off to bed now. Boys, you know what to do." The soldiers bowed as the Governor headed out of sight. They took stations down the end of the hall and the dim light that was left glowed from the torches on the wall across from the cell. Katara sat down on the floor, her jaw dropped low and her face long.

"I'm terribly sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to help me," Akizo whispered. Katara turned her head. She shook it and shrugged.

"Don't feel too bad. I've been through worse. At least you're here with me and I'm not alone, right?" Akizo looked at her, his appearance almost that of a lifeless being. His face glowed in the flame's presence and she could tell he regretted his actions.

"I couldn't find anything so the charges won't be that heavy, but in the Fire Nation, an attempt at a crime is just the same as going through with it." Katara faced him and set her hands in her lap.

"Where do you think the rubies are then? You said that you couldn't find anything in his belongings," said Katara quietly.

"I looked through his things, but now I think that he's taken them to a safe where no citizen could randomly show up like I did. He knows the value and he was smart to keep it away from his assets."

Katara thought over this in the darkness of the cell. She shivered suddenly as the cold draft finally passed by her bare arms. Akizo immediately took the blanket and placed it over her shoulders. Katara's lips parted as a smile formed. Akizo didn't see it though; he was busy looking back at the ground, contemplating the events that had occurred.

"So what will we do now?" Katara asked.

"They'll most likely ask for the stories separately. That way, they'll know if one of us is telling the truth or not. We should come up with a back up story while we have the chance," he said.

"How about we say that I was covered in dirt, and that you were trying to find a way inside to pay for the expenses?" Katara asked hopefully.

"No, that won't do. The Governor already knows that I went rummaging through his possessions. I'll have to think of something else."

Katara yawned and closed her eyes momentarily. She wrapped herself in the blanket as she looked through the crated doorway and into the flames suspended on the wall. Zuko's anguished face crawled back into her thoughts and she shut her mouth fiercely. She had halted the memories twirling around her head that evening, but now they came back vividly. Then she remembered the statement she had made after seeing Zuko again. There was some truth in it. Katara was entitled to live a normal life. One mistake shouldn't hold her back from being happy. With that thought giving her heart warmth in the dead cell, Katara opened her eyes and stared at Akizo drowsily.

"Do you mind if I lay down while you think? My head's hurting a bit," Katara said. Akizo nodded and patted his thigh. Katara blinked and stared at him, bemused.

"There is nothing here to rest your head against. The scattered hay will give your face a rash," he said. Katara sighed and scooted over to him. She put her hand against the chilly floor and laid her head down on Akizo's thigh so that she could see his outstretched legs. Akizo rested his head against the wall and Katara heard his deep sigh.

"You're thinking about him, right?" he asked a few moments later.

Katara smiled, half asleep. "I… I thought we made a deal. I help you, and you don't ask me… any more questions." Silence drifted in and out of the cell while the flames flickered. The two guards shifted slightly and their presence made Akizo stiff.

"I can be forgetful at times," he whispered. Katara yawned and curled into her blanket.

"Sure…" a few more peaceful moments passed and finally Katara uttered an answer. "…yes, I am…" Akizo looked down at her sprawled hair and put his hand on her head. He closed his eyes and the two of them drifted off to the pleasant welcoming of sleep.

..::-::..

It was a few hours later when the door to the hall creaked open. A scuttling of footsteps entered the dungeons at a brisk pace. A woman's pleading voice echoed briefly towards the cell at the end where Katara and Akizo were harbored as criminals of the Fire Nation.

"Please! If it's her, you've got to get her out of there! She doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!" Laia begged.

The guards bowed as Laia and a tall hooded figure passed by them.

"You don't even know for sure…"

"Yes I do! I haven't seen Akizo in the palace either! The prisoners must be them," she responded. Akizo stirred and opened his eyes as the whispers reached his ears. He sat erect, his hand falling from Katara's head and onto the floor. The footsteps were coming closer, and in that moment his heartbeat soared. From the pitch darkness in the cell, he could tell it was still nighttime, not even a few hours had passed since they had fallen asleep. Suddenly, the two figures loomed in front of the cell and Akizo saw Laia's worried gaze, her eyes swollen and her lips dry.

"Katara!" she almost screamed. Akizo shook the waterbender awake. She murmured Akizo's name and then he lowered his head to whisper into her ear.

"Laia is here," the he added reluctantly, "someone's with her." Katara opened her eyes and rubbed them as she adjusted herself to the darkness. She turned towards the door, where the flames outlined Laia's short figure against another one, taller and deeply hooded. As the person raised a hand, the hood fell off and a stream of shoulder length hair fell against his face. Katara's mouth widened and her heart skipped a beat. Her arms stiffened and the cell itself seemed to expand, carrying her soul into the prince's dark gaze.

---

A/N: GAHH!! It's been almost a month! sorry? forgive me?... was it worth the wait? I really hope so! I finally got around to writing this... and actually, finishing Harry Potter (finally!!) helped

but now... many new exciting things to talk about!! so please feel free to mention these things and others I might have forgotten about, in your comments!

-creepy forest oO
-Sozin's Turf!
-Yin Yan's/Xiong Clan
-Eisa/Raeya
-Sozin's Summer Home (the palace)
-Zhen (you'll be formally introduced ch 21 )
-Zutara FTW!
-The Eight Gems!!
-Katara a criminal?
-Zuko the savior?? hmmm...

I just felt like making a list hehe because I know that my chapters are full of stuff and it's hard to remember everything I've had such a strange month... and college starts on Monday... so I knew I just had to get this in no matter what!! PLEASE COMMENT!! that would make this nervous girl very very happy!! again, sorry for the wait!!! the excitement is just about to start now!! are you excited? I know I am

and before I forget! ? of the Ch: Should the OC's be described more? Does the new setting give off that FN vibe? (sorry, 2 questions haha!) oh-- and I know it seems like Zuko and Katara are taking forever with this... but please be patient!! A whole new story is about to unravel!!

-Monika-