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.

21. Steam

Dying To Survive

Chapter 21- Steam

"Silence is the instrument that quells foolish thinking; for it is only when all is quiet does the truth emerge." – me

..::-::..

Katara breathed deeply and closed her mouth, furrowing her eyes at the same time. In the darkness of the cell, she had forgotten about Akizo, and as he stood up, he diverted her attention from Zuko. Katara shivered and stood with Akizo as they walked up to the iron bars. Laia waved at Katara and she managed to raise her palm loosely. This lightened Katara's heart slightly as she plucked away the hair stuck to her wet lips.

"Have we been sentenced?" Akizo asked stoically.

Zuko pushed his chin forward and turned to Laia.

"The Governor's possessions were secured, right?" Zuko asked her.

Laia nodded enthusiastically and motioned towards Katara.

"They didn't take anything. Please Zuko, just let them out of here. I want to go to bed sometime soon," Laia muttered. Zuko looked inside and connected his gaze with Katara. Her throat itched, trying to gather words, but her heart kept holding them back. Seeing him there, she wished nothing more than for him to become her savior, though she knew how angry he was. Zuko wouldn't let her off so easily.

"All right. The two of you, come with us," Zuko said curtly. Katara's lips parted and her blanket fell from her shoulders to the ground. The guards walked forward and unlocked the door. It creaked open and Akizo walked out of the cell immediately. Beneath the flickering shadows, he bowed and it seemed as if Akizo had disappeared before Zuko. Zuko gazed at her intently as he stood next to the unlocked door. "Are you coming?" he asked her quietly. Katara narrowed her eyes and puffed her chest out as she stepped out of her confinement. Zuko's actions defied his logic, and Katara wondered if she in fact was dreaming. The row of cells suddenly became filled with comforting warmth. Laia took Katara's hand as they followed Zuko. He pulled his hood back on quickly as the four of them reached the final door. Zuko looked at the walls on either side of him, at the flickering torches, and instantly snapped his fingers. Katara jumped and swallowed as the flames died and lit up again on Zuko's fingertips. He pointed into the door with the flame and it unlocked. Akizo surveyed this action with awe and called to Zuko as they passed through the doorway.

"How come the guards didn't have to do that when we came in?" he asked. Katara and Laia looked from one to the other as the silence crept up their necks eerily. Zuko turned his head and his eyes glinted in the darkness.

"The Core is known for having its prisoners detained with no hope of escape. Only the firebending of the higher class in charge is allowed to leave," Zuko explained coldly.

Katara squinted up the spiraling staircase which they had encountered on their way in. Seeing the darkness ebb away as they walked up made the journey out seem much less ominous than coming in. Laia yawned as they stopped atop the staircase, leading out into a broad open room where the officials sat in booths adorned with golden banners. The officials eyed the hooded figure but with one swift motion, noted that Laia was with him and bowed in respect. Katara gawked and looked at Zuko's straight back. Though his robes flowed away from his body, his strong presence remained dominant. It took a while longer until they passed through the questioning rooms and maze of halls. Laia lead them to the wrong door each time, and it was only on the tenth try did she find the right exit.

"I don't know why I listen to you," Zuko stated as they walked out into the pale night. Laia smiled and stuck her tongue out behind Zuko's back.

"It's because I've got such a great personality. No one wants to think I'm wrong in anything! Just like how I knew I'd convince you about…"

Zuko turned sharply and his robes spun out in a circle before closing in on him again. His hood fell off slightly and he grabbed Laia's wrist to silence her.

"Not now," he said. Laia's smile vanished and she stared into the prince's eyes haughtily.

"I don't understand what the big deal is, but fine. I won't say another word," Laia replied. He let go as Akizo walked up next to Katara. She looked at him and whispered so only Akizo could hear her.

"Is it just me, or does it seem like they're not really getting along?" she asked. Akizo shrugged as a carriage pulled up to them. The pointed ends of the roof glinted in the moonlight. The driver bowed his head and jumped down from the rhino to open the doors. Curtains swayed as the man pulled on a string to open the entrance. Zuko stepped inside first; Akizo, gentlemanlike in the highest regard, lent a hand to both Laia and Katara. They smiled in thanks and after Akizo got in, the rhino grunted as the driver reined him in. Katara sat opposite of Laia and next to the Rope Master. Akizo's long ponytail rested against his arm and Katara sneezed as the hair scratched her face. The tension eased only slightly. Laia gave Katara a sympathetic look as Zuko glanced subtly in Katara's direction for only a moment. The ride to the palace was utterly silent, except for a few stifled yawns. Laia started to fall asleep on Zuko's shoulder, but he quickly nudged her awake as the rhino grunted once more and they came to a halt. The dusty curtains swept aside once more and the four of them proceeded into the palace again, the arched entrance unfamiliar in the darkness of the night.

Zuko let his hood down and once they were on the second floor of the palace, he stopped and looked at Laia, a hidden understanding static between them.

"So, it looks like we split up here," Laia said wearily. She poked Akizo on the arm and waved her hand so that he would follow her. Katara's eyes widened as she took a step in Laia's direction. Her friend knew the concern that spread across Katara's gaze. "I'm sorry Katara, but we'll have to talk more in the morning. I've spent too much energy trying to convince the… Zuko will show you to your room. Come on Akizo. I'll find you somewhere to sleep," Laia stated sleepily as the two of them departed. Akizo glanced at Katara and raised his eyebrows as if to apologize once more. Defeated, Katara hunched her shoulders and turned around to face Zuko. In the moonlight streaming into the hall, Katara saw that Zuko had bags under his eyes. Immediately her fingers brushed the delicate skin under her own eyes and she dropped her hand, realizing that she too had deep lines rooted in them.

"Follow me," Zuko said sharply. Katara wrapped herself in her arms, wishing she had kept the blanket from the cell. She didn't know where Zuko was planning to place her, but she knew that anything was better than the shadowy dungeons.

"Am I going to sleep in another cell?" Katara asked hesitantly as they approached a staircase. Zuko didn't respond. Instead of walking back down, they walked up. Katara cautiously kept three steps in between them, but she managed to walk into Zuko's back as he turned to the side. She rubbed her head and blinked. The staircase had led them to a vast opening. Columns rose through the ground and into the ceiling as the open air swept by them. She could see most of Sozin's Turf from that point and the volcanic mountains that lay beyond. To her right, the opening closed off except for a narrow and dimly lit hall. Zuko was already half way down the hall before Katara caught up to him. He passed by one room where the door was made entirely of gold. Its carvings curled arbitrarily in symmetrical designs. Zuko walked just a few steps further as his robe dragged along the glazed floor. He took one look at Katara and then hung his head down, fumbling with the lock. Katara's heart seized control of her chest and she started to breathe rapidly. The door lacked any kind of quality like the one before. She feared Zuko would stuff her into a closet for the night.

"This is where you will stay from now on," Zuko told her as the heavy door groaned. The flickering flames from the hallway only reached into the darkness as much as to cast their own shadows into the room. Katara squinted and her heart calmed down.

"I can't see anything."

Suddenly, Zuko raised his hand and shoved his palm into the room. A blast of red light sprang forth and Katara's knees wavered under her body. She never thought she'd see Zuko using the technique she had taught him at the temple. Zuko walked in as his arm dropped. Katara staggered forward, trying to swallow her stunned breath. The room was twice as tall as the ceiling in the hall. Golden banners hung on the walls with calligraphic writing while silk drapes floated down in the middle to where the bed lay. The thick mattress was coated in layers of red and maroon sheets. A long cylindrical pillow rested against the wall where the folds were tucked in. To the each side of the bed was a low table with a candle on top. Zuko walked over to them and lit the candles with his fingers. Katara walked onto the flat rug with the Fire Nation insignia and almost fell to her knees. She couldn't grasp the realism of the situation. Her fingers brushed the bamboo growing against the other wall and as she crossed the wooden floor, she peered into the bath area. Her shock at seeing a lavish bath prepared for her did her in. Katara shook her head and ran up to Zuko. She tugged on his arm as he began to leave the room.

"Why? You march right into the cell, tell us we're allowed to leave and when we get here, you show me to a room fit for…" Katara stopped before she said anything further. Her hand dropped to her side as Zuko leaned towards her.

"This was the room of Xiong's daughter, Raeya. She moved into a room that suited her taste more. It's on the other side of the palace," Zuko explained. His hair swept around his neck as he took another step.

"But why am I here? Why are you letting me stay if I've acted like a criminal?" she asked meekly. Zuko clenched his fists as her soft voice trickled past his ears. He turned towards her and spread his arms out to display the royal room.

"You really want to know?" Katara nodded as Zuko snarled at her. "It's because you are a criminal. Even though you didn't take anything from the Governor, it was your intention… just like it was your intention to kill me once." Immediately, Katara's eyes widened and she stared at him incredulously.

"Zuko!" she cried. "I thought we talked about that."

"You are to remain here where I can monitor your every move. My room is next to this one. If anything happens to me, the guards will know who the perpetrator was. You will be accused and…" Zuko's fury was building but Katara had had enough. He stopped mid-sentence to watch her drag on towards the bed. She stood facing him, and with bitter eyes, Katara sat down on the mattress.

"Nothing like that will ever happen, Zuko. I told you already that I don't want to hurt you or bring about your death. But since you think I'm such a monster, I'll stay here, just so that I can prove to you that you're wrong," Katara said. Zuko, taken aback, growled and extinguished the candle closest to Katara with a downward movement of his hand. He slammed the door shut and Katara fell down onto the bed fully so that she was staring at the ceiling. She grabbed a spare round pillow and buried her face in it while she muffled an agitated scream. After a few moments, Katara pushed the pillow aside and stared at the sliding checkerboard doors where the moonlight cast ghostly shadows. Not bothering to see what lay behind the doors, Katara smothered herself in the blankets and cradled herself to sleep, yearning for a morning to come where she could not feel the regret churning within her.

..::-::..

Katara's hair lay mangled in her face like a spindled web. The room was illuminated by the sun and Katara murmured in her fitful sleep as someone slipped onto the bed beside her. Katara's face itched as she realized someone was brushing away her hair. Her eyes widened instantly and her heart jolted her upper body forward. Laia smiled brightly and hugged her friend.

"Good afternoon, sleepy head!" she said. Katara played with her hair and rolled her shoulders back. "You missed breakfast!"

Katara sighed and patted her stomach. "I didn't know prisoners get to eat," she replied sarcastically. Laia averted her gaze and instead dragged Katara out of the bed and into a chair by the now open sliding doors. Katara plopped into the soft chair and leaned back as the view of Sozin's Turf encompassed her awakening body. A hairbrush wound its way through the knots as Katara winced.

"I can brush my hair without your help, Laia," Katara said with a sharp moan.

"Nope. I'll do it for you this time while you enjoy the view!" Katara sighed and held onto the armrests as her eyes scanned the balcony in front of her. The sun was right above the palace and no light crawled onto the surface of the walkway. The railings that stood tall at the end of the balcony didn't end where her room did; with a deep blow inside of her stomach, Katara realized her room was not only next to Zuko's, but it was connected via the walkway balcony as well.

"You can only brush my hair if you tell me what was going on with you and Zuko last night, and why on earth he gave me this room. I'm tired of not knowing anything. We didn't get to talk properly yesterday, and part of it is my fault but," Katara squirmed as Laia brushed through a tight knot. "You can't hide the truth from me forever, Laia." She heard a small mumble and then a deep sigh.

"All right. I'll tell you… Zuko told me a lot about how betrayed he felt after what happened in the Kuusu Mountains." Katara nodded her head and rolled her eyes. "I had experienced it just like he did, so I was the only one who would have understood. He didn't want to tell Jet because, well you know, they were never really close, especially with what happened before the war." Katara leaned back as the brush began to flow through her hair freely now. "When I found out that you and Akizo were missing, and that there was a chance the new prisoners at the Core were actually the two of you, I knew we had to check it out."

"Even if it was the middle of the night?" Katara asked with a smirk. "I'm still wondering how you managed to convince him to do this." Laia let her arm fall to her side as she put the brush down on the tidy table near them.

"I sort of used his betrayed feelings as an excuse. I came up with this perfect plan. You see… I was the one who suggested to Zuko that you be put here for the purpose of being watched." Katara spun around in her chair and gawked at Laia furiously.

"You were the one who told him that?" she asked.

Laia chuckled and shrugged. "It worked, didn't it? Now you're a special guest of the palace, even if you are just visiting from the Water Tribe. It makes things a lot easier for us now! My room is on the other side of the palace though."

"Let me guess… you share a room with Raeya?" Katara asked while she stood up.

"Oh no, she'd never let anyone share a room with her, but I am a few doors down. Wait… how did you know?"

"Zuko told me," Katara replied blankly. She glanced into the mirror hanging above the dresser table and straightened her wrinkled clothes.

"Ah, so you and Zuko talked?" Laia asked. Katara looked at Laia's reflection in the mirror and scowled while Laia tied back some of Katara's hair.

"Don't use that kind of tone. You know how Zuko thinks of me. He practically hates me. No matter what, he'll always use an excuse," she said.

"Yeah, he's a stubborn one, isn't he? But we can change that! Come on, we'll be late for lunch!" Katara's jaw hung down as Laia pulled her out of the room. Outside in the hallway, Katara felt like the world had been born again, giving her a new chance. The carpet rolled down into the terrace of the third floor. The opening she had seen the previous night where the columns carried the burden of the roof was now filled with streams of sunlight. Yet before they got there, they passed by Zuko's room and Katara shifted uneasily.

"Don't worry. He's been up for a while now. He's acted so differently ever since he saw you again! Zuko's finally burying himself in his work, not that he hadn't before, but I think he probably wants to avoid you. Sorry." Katara smiled meagerly and shook her head.

"That's okay. I'll learn to live with that. It's just a bit strange for someone to dislike me so much, especially because of a mistake on my part." Laia slid her arm around Katara's and together they walked down the grandiose marble stairs. They passed by the numerous servants and the halls of portraits that distinguished the history of the Fire Nation. Intrigued, Katara scanned the portraits for Fire Lord Ozai. To her surprise, he wasn't among the nobles, and instead, a jeering portrait of Iroh hung at the end of the hall. Katara smiled as she walked into the dining hall. It was almost as large as her new bedroom, but was more rectangular in its shape. The table came up to her knees and pillows were placed all around the table, enough room for the entire royal family to eat together.

"So the two of you finally made it," Jet commented. Katara smiled widely at his comical presence. Laia fled from Katara's side and sat next to him. Across the table from Jet, closest to where Katara stood, sat Akizo. He turned his head and raised a hand in greeting. Katara sat next to him and glanced at Laia who sat directly in front of her.

"What a nice afternoon! We're all here to eat some food," Laia commented. Katara laughed as her eyes traveled down the table. The bowls were full of steamed vegetables and meat. Rice accompanied the entrees and she eagerly took her utensils in hand before Akizo raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"You can't eat yet. We must wait for Prince Zuko," he said. Katara sighed but in the next moment, she heard footsteps brushing along the carpet. Zuko came and sat down in the propped chair, especially made for him, at the end of the table. Katara glanced at him and noticed that beneath the proper attire of a prince, his hair groomed into a bun and his clothing spotless, his eyes pronounced his sleepless night. Katara bent her head down while Jet nodded his head in Zuko's direction.

"Can we eat now?" he said somewhat sarcastically. Zuko grunted and crossed his arms.

"No. We have to wait," Zuko replied, irritated. Katara looked at Laia for an answer, but found her to be leaning into Jet slightly. A tiny smile appeared on Katara's face at the sight of the couple; it was the first time she had felt somewhat happy in Zuko's presence. Jet sighed as Akizo suddenly bowed his head towards Zuko, his hair sweeping closely by the bowl of brew on the table.

"I apologize for our misconduct last night. We thoroughly appreciate your consideration and for accommodating us appropriately," Akizo stated. Zuko raised his brow and looked away to the circular windows. Katara's eyes widened as she poked Akizo in the side. He looked at her and blinked.

"I don't thoroughly appreciate his consideration! Why did you say that?" Katara asked desperately. Zuko glanced in her direction as the whispers scratched the air around him.

"What was that?" he asked. Katara's back straightened and she swiftly looked at Laia. Her friend suppressed a giggle and winked at Katara as her cheeks burned. Katara's body stiffened, thinking that Akizo would reply, but fortunately, everyone's attention was diverted to the man stumbling into the room.

"It's all right everyone! Zhen is finally here, but you can save your applause for my exit!"

Katara saw Laia's face solidify in horror. Curious, Katara turned her head to see the face that came from the booming voice, but before she could react, Zhen had already knelt down beside her and had smoothly eased his arm around Katara's shoulders. She curled in as Zhen's dark green eyes stared at her, only inches away.

"So this is the mysterious stranger I set my eyes on yesterday. Why'd you run from such a marvelous sight such as myself? You couldn't possibly think I'd harm you," Zhen stated.

Jet furiously snatched his toothpick from his mouth and whipped it across the table at Zhen, causing him to back away from Katara at once. Laia's brow quivered as her face turned red.

"Don't you lay another finger on Katara!" she yelled. Zhen laughed vigorously as he examined the waterbender. He smiled and scooted around the table next to Laia so that he could get a better look at her.

"So your name is Katara. Well, nothing's more suitable for a striking lady than a striking name!" Zhen commented, leaning forward while reaching for Katara's hand. Laia smacked it and started arguing with Zhen while Katara leaned back and finally got the chance to see what he looked like. For starters, the pair of emerald eyes startled Katara; she never thought an earthbender would be living in a Fire Nation palace. What was more intriguing than his apparent Earth Kingdom style hairdo, with a bun at the top and the rest of his chestnut hair down, was that he wore Fire Nation colors like a true citizen. His arrogant demeanor was the least bit shocking; she expected it from the way Laia had written to her in their letters. Yet Katara didn't believe that he'd be so flamboyant as to wear a sleeveless scarlet top, left unbuttoned for the world to see his faultless body structure. Its ends folded in his lap as he sat then, being abused by Laia.

"And don't you ever do something like that again! She's not some play thing with an empty head, and she could take you on any time of the day, so," she said.

"All right, I get it, Laia. I'll have to impress her some other way," Zhen replied. His palms were facing up in the air as if to surrender, and it was then that Katara received the most unanticipated discovery about Zhen. Each hand was missing the last finger. Katara covered her dropped jaw quickly as Zhen got up. Jet stared at him narrowly as Zhen passed his back, nudging it a little with his knee. Zhen smiled widely and clasped Zuko's back while he took a seat next to his imperial friend. Akizo shifted slightly to make more room for him, and Katara sighed, knowing that with Akizo in between them, she would not have to put up with Zhen's display of prominence any longer.

"Zu-ko! My man! Had a tough morning?" he asked. Katara looked from Laia's still angered face to Zhen to Zuko, who sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Zhen, I don't need this now," Zuko replied. Katara stared and couldn't comprehend the fact that Zhen and Zuko seemed so familiar with one another. Zhen laughed and nudged Akizo in the side.

"He's so moody for a prince, isn't he?" Zhen whispered. Akizo turned even paler than he already was and instead of replying, looked down at his food mutely. Jet noticed this and spoke up.

"Prince Zuko," he said slightly agitated by the title, "are we allowed to eat now?" Zuko shifted uneasily, looking from the table to the door and back again. He nodded slowly and Jet moaned as he dove into his portions. "Finally! It took long enough."

Katara ate in silence while the group continued with small talk. Zuko sat with composure while Zhen tried to lighten the mood with inappropriate jokes. This came with Laia's infuriated response and resulted in Jet trying to calm her down. When Akizo was dragged into the middle of the argument, just to see what his opinion was, he leaned a bit closer to Katara and played the invisible card. There were so many questions running through Katara's head, and she didn't know how to deal with the overwhelming presence of the prince at the end of the table. Her feelings were scattered; Katara was lost and no one was helping her find a meaning to everything that was happening. Being thrown into a royal room fit for a princess at least, then being treated as part of the prince's closest entourage, her life had transformed over night. Her food tasted bitter inside of her mouth, but she choked it down when the door to the dinning hall burst open.

"Sorry I'm late, Zuko," said a dreary voice. Katara leaned forward to grasp some air as she turned around to see Mai heading over to sit down next to Zuko. Jet rolled his eyes and scooted closer to Laia, smiling at her warmly as he did so. Zhen shook his head dramatically and smiled.

"How will you punish the tardy mistress, Zuko?"

The prince glanced at Mai who smiled at him sweetly. "It's okay. She was finishing matters at the meeting we attended before lunch," Zuko stated. Katara raised an eyebrow and turned away so that no one would see her satirical smile. She couldn't picture Mai as being one to attend meetings and play the role of secretary. But suddenly, Katara's body twitched and she realized that Mai was with Zuko. Not only was she his assistant, but she was his. As the group continued eating, Katara noticed Mai smiling at the prince very often. He returned the gesture minimally, but Katara's heart felt a bit heavier once she realized this, though she didn't understand why.

"Well, looks like I'm done," Jet stated. Mai, pretending not to hear his remark, cleared her throat and pointed at Akizo who sat next to Zhen.

"Pour me some water," she commanded indolently. Akizo looked at Katara who shrugged her shoulders. He picked up the jar of water and leaned forward to follow her order, but Akizo accidentally fumbled and the water splashed onto Mai's face. Akizo's elbow hit the table top with a loud thud as his hair fell into the leftover food. Silence sliced through the air as everyone stared in shock. Mai shrieked and scowled furiously at the servant.

"What kind of service is this? Zuko, I'm not going to eat with these barbarians," she stated as she stood up. Zuko's mouth opened but before he could say anything more, Laia spoke up with a suggestion.

"Mai, it's not that big of a deal. Katara can just waterbend the water out of your clothes and hair, right?" Laia looked at her friend with warm smile, but Katara sat back, firmly against the idea. Mai glanced over at the waterbender and eyed her coldly.

"Sorry, but I'd rather starve," Mai replied. She left immediately and Zuko followed right after her. Katara watched him leave and when she turned back around, pushed her plates away from her.

Zhen laughed comically then, and the tension shattered as if a balloon had popped. He slapped Akizo on the back and bawled.

"That was perfect! The timing, it was right on! I think we're going to get along great," Zhen said enthusiastically as he leaned over to the reserved man. "My name is Zhen. I think we could make a great team. What do you say? I know when she'll be coming out of the shower. She takes them at the same time everyday! I bet we could come up with tons of ideas!" Akizo brushed Zhen's arm off of him as Laia and Jet stood to leave. Katara followed and extended her hand to Akizo as the four of them left Zhen alone. "Hey! Why is everyone leaving?"

At the door, Laia stopped and Jet looked after her. She frowned, irritated, and pet his arm while she whispered to him. "Go with Akizo and Katara. I need to talk to him. He's gone too far this time."

"Are you sure?" Jet asked, his brows furrowed. He didn't trust Zhen and didn't want to leave her alone with him. Laia nodded and Jet left, closing the doors behind him. He ran to catch up with Akizo and Katara. Katara shivered as they walked down the halls, back to their respective dwellings.

"I now know why Laia didn't want me to meet Zhen, but he's really such a pain! Is he like that all the time?" Katara asked Jet. His arms curled inside and Jet hung his head, shaking it.

"Laia's tried to change him, but it never works. Sometimes, I really want to have it out with him, but Laia won't let me," Jet said with a sour face. Katara's eyes widened.

"Jet! I thought about this, and maybe you can tell me! Why is it that Zhen and Laia seem so close?" she asked quickly. Jet stopped walking for a moment and stared at her, but shrugged the question off of his shoulders and looked her in the eye while they turned a corner.

"Zhen was born in this palace. There was a point when Laia came to live here for a year or so. It was during the war, around the time I met you," he said. Katara bit her lip and looked away, regretting her brashness. "You don't have to feel bad for me, Katara. Laia practically hates him."

Akizo blinked and looked at them with confusion. "But why would that question offend you? Katara just wanted to know. I don't understand." Katara gaped at him, but smiled meekly. Of course, Akizo wouldn't know about Jet's true feelings towards Laia, but since she did, Katara decided to change the topic slightly. Akizo shut his mouth tightly after the two of them ignored his question.

"If Zhen was born in the Fire Nation, why does he look like…"

"He was born in the Earth Kingdom? Laia told me about that," Jet replied. They passed by an opening down into the gardens from the day before. Katara's heart sank slightly, but Jet wasn't fazed by it and continued. "I think his mom was from the Earth Kingdom but Laia's not sure about his dad. Even now, Laia only knows that he can earthbend, but why he grew up in Sozin's Turf, she doesn't know."

Katara sighed and suddenly remembered the strange shape of Zhen's hands.

"Do you know what happened to his fingers? He was missing one at the end of each hand!" Katara exclaimed. Jet finally smiled.

"So you noticed? There are rumors, of course, but we think it was done as a punishment when he was younger. He's really rebellious, has done whatever he likes to do. But no one really knows for sure," he said.

"He seems suspicious. No one really knows anything then?" Akizo asked quietly. Katara looked at Akizo strangely. It didn't occur to her until then that Akizo was like Zhen in more than a few ways. They both had mysterious backgrounds, but on the other hand, Akizo was opposite of extraverted Zhen.

"Yeah," Jet said slowly. He looked back anxiously and stopped. "You guys go on ahead. I'm going to go see how things are going with Laia and Zhen." Katara waved as Jet jogged back to the dining hall. Akizo and Katara walked through the lavish halls and found their way to the staircase. As they made their way up to the next level, it was then that Katara realized she was back on the level where her room was. She turned to Akizo and raised her eyes as if finally awake.

"It's okay, Akizo. You don't have to walk me back to my room," Katara stated. Akizo bowed his head slightly, and as he was going to turn, he stopped. His hair settled along his spine and Katara opened her mouth, surprised that bits of food were still in it. She immediately started to pick the bits out of his fine black hair and smiled as Akizo looked remorsefully at her.

"Katara, I'm sorry."

She blinked and shook her head. "What for? It wasn't that hard to pick the food out of your hair," she joked.

"It's not that." Akizo picked out the rubies from his pocket and placed them back in after Katara saw them. "I shouldn't have made you come with me last night. I didn't think things would end up like this." He looked down the hall towards Katara's room and he sighed. "I'm still curious as to why the Prince deferred my punishments to the status of a servant. I should be rotting in the cells of the Core, but instead, I'm now a servant of the palace. I hope you can forgive me for letting the blame fall on you as well."

Katara stared at him with her face pulled back. She had helped him on a whim, still fresh from the pain of seeing Zuko again after what had happened before. There was no reason to it, but somehow it felt like it was supposed to happen. Yet she now understood why Mai had called Akizo's help a service.

"Akizo, I'm not Zuko's servant. I was given that room… because of something else I did, but it's not something I really want to talk about." Akizo's bright eyes broadened and then he closed them respectively.

"I'll leave you to enjoy your day then. I must get back to my duties." Katara watched him tread down the stairs again, his tattered clothing a little bit looser than before. Suddenly, she realized his ropes weren't around his chest anymore. Katara hadn't noticed before, but she shrugged it off and walked to her room with a heavy sigh.

Katara closed the door slowly so that in case Zuko was in his room, he wouldn't know she was back from lunch. She slumped over into a chair and looked out to the balcony and the horizon beyond her. Katara knew about Zuko's past with Mai, but she couldn't understand what he saw in the dull life of the woman. Suddenly, Katara sat up and shook her head. What good would it do to think about the couple? She got up and went into the bathroom to take the long overdue bath.

..::-::..

A couple of hours had passed since Katara had let her tired body relax in the comfort of the warm water she had laid in. Her hair was sleek and glossy while her skin felt as smooth as the surface of a lake. It sparkled subtly and Katara fell back onto her bed as the plum aroma drifted in the air from the bath to the main bedroom. She snuggled in her new bathrobe, the blond fabric silky and slightly seductive. Katara felt alive while she wore it, and she wore her confidence in her warm smile. Thoughts of Zuko drifted away out the doors as Katara remembered why she was really here; she was visiting Laia and Jet, her true friends. They wouldn't judge her, and she knew the excitement would only just begin.

A knock came to her door and she sat up alert. "Come in," she said warily. She was afraid it was Zuko, but thankfully, Laia's cheerful face popped up instead. Following her, Jet trampled inside with a sour face like a cat. Katara hid her laugh as she scanned Jet up and down. He was wearing baggy pants that flared out at his feet. His armor was still there, but shredded towels of cloth hung from his shoulders as if he was trying to sprout wings. Laia sat down next to Katara on the bed and held out her hand to show off her creation.

"This is Jester Jet! Don't you just love it? I made the outfit myself! But I can't get him to wear the white makeup and the red button nose." Katara leaned to the side and winked at her friend.

"We could always force him to." They laughed at Jet's expense as he found a chair to sit on. "Why are you dressed like that though?" Katara asked him. He rolled his eyes while Laia squealed.

"The fun is about to begin! I didn't get the chance to tell you, but you came to Sozin's Turf just in time for Globe Week! Today is the first day of festivities and it starts with a grand ball in the palace tonight! I'm so glad you're going to celebrate with us," Laia said. Katara glanced at Jet with confusion and he leaned on his knees as he craned his head up.

"Globe Week is something Fire Lord Iroh started after the war ended. He wanted to show the world that the Fire Nation was friendly. I used to think of him differently before, but the new Fire Lord is a good man. I admire him for doing this," Jet stated.

Laia beamed and added, "There's going to be a fabulous show tonight! All of the nations will be represented. You might even be able to be a part of the dance…" She stopped talking as the oak door swung open further. Katara's eyes shot towards the creaking sound and her heart failed her when she saw Zuko standing in the frame, his hair half down and gliding off to the side. He had changed into casual robes and his eyes widened as he looked past everyone and stared at her. Katara suddenly realized that she was wearing the classy bathrobe and she blushed madly while she combed her hair with her fingers and brought it down in front of her. She averted his gaze as Zuko cleared his throat while he took another step into the room.

"She won't be a part of anything tonight," Zuko stated. Laia jumped off the bed and spread her arms out.

"Why not? She hasn't done anything!"

"She's going to stay here, where the guards can keep an eye on her. The two of you can go now and get ready."

Laia growled furiously as Jet stood next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to Katara, tears flowing in her eyes. "I'm sorry the idiot is doing this to you," Laia said loudly. Katara gripped her bed and looked away while Laia barged past Zuko. Jet eyed the prince as he passed, but he didn't say a word. Katara dared to look up and to her surprise, Zuko was still standing there.

"What do you want? There's nothing else for you to say to me. I know that I have to stay here while everyone is having fun at the ball tonight, even though it makes no sense," she said coldly.

"You could slip away in such a large crowd. The guards will make sure you…"

Katara stood up and threw her hands in the air. "I've had enough of you barging on and on about how I'm some insane murderess who is out to assassinate you! But apparently, you don't have ears because you never listen. Just leave me alone. I don't want to see your face right now," she said, her breathing rapid and agitated. Zuko narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists tightly before he spun around and slammed the door in her wake, which made it the second time that day. Katara yelled angrily and paced her room before finally heading out to the balcony for the first time. She took deep breaths and calmed herself after a few minutes. The cool air skimmed her face and the anger simmered. Katara stood there for a while, trying unsuccessfully to get Zuko out of her head. The fact that his room was mere steps away from her on the balcony didn't help matters much. Katara finally leaned on the railing and looked down at the scenery below her. She wasn't too far from the ground, but it was third floor, so jumping down wasn't a brilliant idea. The time ticked away idly as the birds caressed Katara's anger and swept it away with their murmuring songs.

Before long, Katara's hair had dried. She rolled her head to the side and stretched after sitting in the chair for so long. Gazing out into the distance had soothed her soul and she felt slightly better after having the argument with Zuko, though the bitterness was still there. As Katara stood up, the doors from Zuko's room opened quickly and she stared open-mouthed, her heart racing in an endless cycle while the seconds slipped past her frozen limbs. Expecting Zuko to come out onto the balcony, Katara looked towards her room, hoping she could slip inside unnoticed. Yet when she looked back, it was not Zuko standing there, but an old man wearing a majestic smile.

"Greetings, Water Saint!" Iroh exclaimed. Katara's face exploded into a smile as she regained her position and bowed her head before the Fire Lord. Iroh walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder as she gazed up at him, her hair falling over her arms.

"It is an honor to see you again, Fire Lord Iroh. I'm surprised you remembered that nickname," Katara said with a sly smile. She recalled the day of the Black Sun and the amount of work she had done.

"How could I forget? You saved many lives back then, and please, call me uncle!" Iroh said with a gleeful chuckle. Katara nodded and helped Iroh stand straight as he suddenly coughed violently. Her smile faded instantly but Iroh sighed and shook his head.

"It's nothing."

"No, I should see if I could heal you. I heard you were very ill before…"

Katara couldn't finish her sentence. The painful regret swelled in her throat and she looked down over the balcony without saying more. Iroh looked at her seriously and waved a hand, his layered robes flowing in the air behind his movements.

"Really? I must not remember then! But please, let's not talk about silly tales." He looked at Katara then, solemnly as if trying to read the pain in her eyes. "Tell me what's wrong. I sense something is the matter."

Katara looked at him and tried to smile, but failed. Her eyes shifted past the Fire Lord and to the open doors of Zuko's room.

"Why were you in his room? Is he…"

"No. Zuko's not there. He left a while ago, but I was speaking with him about tonight's festivities and wanted to come here to enjoy the peaceful view," Iroh said. Katara exhaled sharply and shook her head. "It seems to me that my nephew is troubling your peace."

Katara rolled her eyes and looked at the glowering sun to the left with bemusement. "Something happened between us a few months ago. He hasn't gotten over it and so I'm his captive guest. He told me that I have to stay in this room. Zuko thinks I'm capable of endangering his life. I almost did, but… it's a long story."

Iroh folded his hands together and gazed out to the sky with a wise smile on his face. "Sometimes, I look at the sky and think about how vast its domain spreads. It'd be nice to live above the clouds, where all of the tension hides below and breaks out once in a while. But life isn't always perfect like that. Sometimes we have to see the grey areas and fight amongst ourselves, but only after we learn what is truly wrong does the sun shine anew. My nephew isn't always the easiest person to talk with, but I'm sure Prince Zuko will come to his senses if you keep trying to show him what's wrong with the grey sky."

Iroh flashed Katara a warm smile through his faint golden eyes. His words washed over her as if Katara had peeled a layer of dust off of her. Her guilt and frustration turned to ash and she stood there next to him with the breeze gently rubbing against her lush skin. Looking into Iroh's face, she felt like a grandfather had come to her aid at last, with simple words to make all of the problems seem so trivial. Katara couldn't hold back any longer and she gave the Fire Lord a hug. After so long, she had wanted to see Iroh, seek his wisdom though she hadn't thought of it helping her so much.

"Thank you. I won't give up. If I'm going to be living here, I should at least be able to go places with Laia and Jet. Zuko can't keep me here like a prisoner if I haven't done anything wrong," Katara said jubilantly. Iroh nodded and sighed.

"Still, it is unfortunate that you can't come tonight, however, I'll be sure to eat as if for two, so it will seem like you were there after all!" Another grandiose bought of laughter erupted from the old man and Katara smiled with renewed enthusiasm in her soul. Suddenly it occurred to her that she hadn't seen Iroh since the war ended. All of the dark memories from the final days came her way and she frowned.

"It was so easy for you to forgive Zuko. After everything he put you through during Azula's reign, weren't you angry? You took him back so easily," Katara stated curiously. Iroh was silent for a while as he contemplated the past. He grumbled and closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again, he stuck his chest out and held his hands together behind his back.

"Things happen for many reasons which are unknown to us. We can ponder over them aimlessly, never reaching an answer. I could have resented him for his actions, but he's my nephew, and I love him very much. The truth is, it hurt more for him not to be by my side than it was to forgive and forget."

"But if he learned his lesson, if became so good, why doesn't he do the same for me? Why can't Zuko just forgive me like you forgave him?" Katara asked.

Iroh glanced at her through the corner of his eyes. "Now that… is a very good question. I don't know why, but whatever his reasons may be, I assure you, Zuko will come around, I guarantee it."

Katara crossed her arms and looked into her darkened room. The shadows lingered and the silence inside taunted her. She shuddered and then looked back to see Iroh walking into Zuko's room.

"Wait! You're leaving so soon?"

Iroh winked as his head popped out from the lattice doors. "I have to get ready for the party! See you there!"

With that, Iroh shut the doors and Katara winced as the clatter hammered into her ear. Katara let loose and she stared into nowhere, utterly confused. Iroh knew that Zuko forbade her to go, but yet he left saying that they would see each other at the party. Katara closed her eyes and then opened them, looking down below into the gardens and servants quarters that were spread on the property. Giddy laughs floated through the air as she peered over the balcony's edge. Her eyes widened as Katara saw a particular group of girls in shimmering costumes. What surprised her the most though, was that they were waterbending.

It hit Katara immediately. Laia had said that if they went, Katara could be a part of the act. It made sense to her now after seeing the waterbenders. Iroh must have thought that she could fit in with the group and be unnoticed. If she joined them, she could go to the ball and Zuko wouldn't know. Katara smiled brightly as she began to change her outfit. She had lain in her bathrobe all day and putting on the red garment, she felt even more refreshed. As she was about to reach for the door, Katara stopped and grumbled softly. The guards would be outside, and they'd pay even more attention to her if she tried to leave that way. Katara looked around the room for a way out, and suddenly out of the corner of her eye she saw something glinting in the corner. Her jaw dropped as she jumped onto her bed and slid off of it to the floor. By the nightstand lay a coiled mass of silver ropes.

Katara didn't know why Akizo's ropes were in her room. Iroh had said that things happen for a reason. She couldn't recall if she had somehow taken a hold of them when they left the Core, but that didn't matter anymore. Katara ran to the balcony and tied the rope around the railing. It held tightly, binding together like glue, almost as if there was some other force working to keep the knots in place. Katara wound the other end of the rope around her hips and holding onto the main pillar for support, started to climb down over the edge. In a matter of minutes, she was at ground level, treading on soft grass. The silver rope blended in nicely with the marble of the outside pillar, and thinking that no one would bother to stroll around back, she figured it was safe to leave the ropes dangling down. The noise grew louder as she walked through the maze of bushes and various plants. Water splashed through the air and the girls laughed joyously as they prepared their routine.

After getting lost in the maze of gardens, Katara had found the group of waterbenders. She hid behind a miniature statue of a lone tower as a random girl stumbled over to her. Katara's

eyes widened drastically but before the girl could say anything to her, she fell ill. Katara winced and skipped over to the tent pitched out in the yard. The sun glowed fierce orange as she ducked into the tent where the girls were changing into the performance costumes. The distant sounds of a sunghi horn and string quartet started to dart in and out while the flaps of the tent fluttered in the breeze. Katara snatched the outfit quickly and exchanged it for her simple kimono. The top covered her chest and came down to a couple of inches above her naval. Her pants flowed outward as the layers of transparent cloth overlapped each other to exude the shimmering effect. Finally, she strapped into her hair red and gold lace ribbons so that they mixed in with her hair easily.

Katara came out of the tent, and for another hour, watched as various girls performed the waterbending tricks she had learned at the Northern Water Tribe with Master Pakku. She smiled as the excitement grew. Katara wanted to beat Zuko at his own game, but if she wanted to see Laia, it would have to happen very discretely. The leader of the group clapped her hands suddenly and Katara turned her head sharply at the sound.

"All right girls, time to show everyone what the Water Tribe is made of! We might not have as much experience as the guys, but we're going to put on a show they'll remember for days to come! Everyone, before we head out, please remember your scarves!" the leader exclaimed.

Katara looked from girl to girl, trying to figure out what the scarves were for. As each one picked up a sheer red material, Katara realized that they were using it to tie around their face, almost like a mask. A thin rope bound the cover into place that allowed Katara to let her hair down completely with no restraint. They walked into the palace again, and this time, from an entrance Katara hadn't seen before. There was a tall gate from which banners hang loosely. Lanterns glowed as the sun began to fade behind the mountains. The chatter rose as Katara's heart started to race again. The curtains were pulled aside and they came to a stop. She looked around the group and saw Akizo standing there with a sleek black buttoned robe. He bowed his head as each member passed; he held onto a thick velvet rope which stretched across the pathway to stop anyone from passing before inspection. Katara turned her head to the side so that he wouldn't see her face, but as she passed him, Katara realized she had the sheer fabric to hide her presence. The leader of the group thanked the assistant and Akizo bowed his head again as he tied the rope back into place.

Katara smiled and breathed a sigh of relief as she wandered into the ballroom. It was more exquisite than she could have imagined. Silver dragons hang from the ceiling from ribbons representing each nation in turn. They all came together in the center where a large mass of ribbons dangled. She walked beneath the array and felt the warmth spread through her. Tables upon tables were scattered throughout with miniature statues representing a symbol of each nation; a model of mountains, a tiny glider, a waterfall and a candle with a burning flame. For a moment, Katara smiled, thinking of Aang, but then the group of waterbenders started to move forward again. Everywhere she looked, vibrant colors clashed.

"Hey you!" a familiar voice cried out. Katara stiffened, turning her head towards Zhen's voice. For a moment, she thought the shout had been directed towards her, but she soon saw that Zhen was trying to attract a bunch of Earth Kingdom girls to his side. Katara grumbled and ran after the waterbenders. They wound in and out of the tables, paying respects to each of the nobles for a couple of hours. In that time, Katara hadn't seen Zuko or Laia anywhere, but when the greetings were done, it was time for the entertainment to begin. Katara followed the leader in through a draped doorway the size of a giant. It was then that Katara realized why she hadn't seen her friends.

The ballroom they had visited was for dining, but the arena for the spectacles was designed on the other side. At the front of the room was a broad stage on which only the royal could sit and watch from. Sitting in the center was Fire Lord Iroh, who was speaking with some servants who had brought him a tray of food. To the right of him sat Zuko and Mai, both hunched over and their eyes drooping. Katara's mouth stung slightly inside at the sight of them, but she quickly diverted her attention to Laia and Jet who sat at a table for two at the very end of the spectrum. Jet wore his jester outfit, and Laia complimented him by wearing a flirty costume with gold tassels around her wrists and hips.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please gather your attention to the main floor!" a man exclaimed as he hopped onto the stage before Iroh. "Here they are! The women of the Northern Water Tribe! A new act this year, they are sure to give us all a splendid performance!" All at once, a loud orchestral boom filled the air, making Katara jump out of place. The line of waterbenders leapt to the front where the main floor lay barren for them to perform. Katara rushed behind them, looking for the source of water they would use. Four large basins were planted on each side of the floor, and behind them the spectators stood with their glasses of rice wine in their hands. Katara reached to her side and brought a trail of water to her waist. As the music progressed, the ten girls spread out into a circle. Keeping to the beat, they jumped in place from side to side and passed the water along in a circle while the spectators watched amused.

Katara kept looking around nervously, not sure exactly of where the routine would go next. Suddenly, the girls spun around one by one and with them the water soared. Katara followed and shoved the water into the ground so forcefully, that it sprang back up into the air again. They did this on each side three times before running into a smaller circle. Katara was panting, trying to keep up with the rhythmic dance movements as she bended. Suddenly, the girls started to spin and they raised their arms up into air. The ten water snakes inched upward as each flick of the wrist sent it crawling higher still. To this, the crowd burst with applause but the water quickly fanned out in a sphere as the girls ran to catch their prey. Katara kept her eyes on the water but as it fell towards her straight line of vision, her eyes fell upon the prince's and she stiffened as the life awakened in him. Katara shook herself out of the momentary trance and listened for the cued downbeat in the music.

It came and she turned away from Zuko instantly. Her heart was pumping all of the blood around her body and the adrenaline was timed with the fast paced dance. The waterbenders now formed two lines and jumped in and out to form one again. Along with this, Katara threw her share of water to a girl from the next line, and they all did this consecutively so that the zigzag shape formed. This went on for a while, until suddenly, the girls stopped moving and then jumped straight in the air. As they twirled around, each started to juggle their water as their arms flew around with elegant ease. Katara, only a second behind everyone, was managing, but after the fancy footwork and hand movements ceased, they scrambled into a line. Katara bounced to the timing of the song and she saw that she was the second girl from the start. The one next to her was the leader. Quickly, she raised her hands in the air and draped them so that the water formed a letter. Panicking, Katara looked straight ahead of her and made eye contact with Zuko. Not knowing what the waterbenders were supposed to spell out, Katara scooped her hand and made a 'U'. The beats of the song coincided with each letter, and when the tenth girl finished, silence flashed across the room.

Katara stood panting and looked from a confused prince, to her horrified friend Laia, finally to the contemplative Fire Lord. Katara leaned her head back to see what had been spelled. Her eyes widened as with a deep breath inward, Katara saw that they had spelled 'PURE NATION'.

"Well…" the announcer began, "let's give a warm round of… appreciation for the women of the Northern Water Tribe!" he boomed awkwardly. Slowly, the crowd began to clap respectively. The leader turned her head to Katara and whispered fiercely.

"How could you have done this? You were supposed to draw an 'I'!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know. I'm just covering for the girl that got sick!" Katara murmured. The rest of the women had returned the water to basins and glared at her. The leader walked to the stage and declared her apologies for the new addition.

"It was supposed to read 'FIRE NATION' as a way to merge our two countries together. Her bending accidentally interfered with mine, and therefore we have the misunderstanding. We are truly sorry." To this, the crowd spread out an acknowledging sigh and applauded the leader with much more enthusiasm. Katara looked to Laia as she backed out of the group. Her friend stared at her incredulously, realizing that it was Katara who had made the mistake. Laia whispered something to Jet and pointed. She couldn't hold the embarrassment in any more and Katara darted off of the dance floor and into the crowd.

She didn't know how many drinks she had made people spill, and Katara didn't care. All she wanted to do was get back to her room, safe from the prying eyes that had surrounded her on the dance floor. If only Zuko had let her go with Laia, there wouldn't have been any problems. Katara could have been able to enjoy herself. As she pushed open a door in the larger dining room, she stumbled forward, shocked that it wasn't the way she had come from. The door swung close behind her, and to her astonishment, Katara had found herself in a peaceful garden. The noise and clatter of the party died down the further she walked from the palace. Each trail was surrounded with silver foliage. The moon was out, shining brilliantly on every leaf in the garden. As her legs started to prick, Katara sighed heavily, finally finding a gazebo up ahead on the trail. The trail turned into a bridge, connecting the main land over a lotus pond. Once she made her way into the gazebo, the pointed roof shielded her in silence as she gazed onto the reflecting pond.

Katara closed her eyes and leaned against a pillar while she caught her breath. The sweat gleamed on her arms and as the breeze floated by, she shuddered. It was all Zuko's fault. The guilt churning inside of her heart, the weak confidence that always seemed to shatter whenever she was near him, it was making her go insane. She grimaced at her thoughts and put a hand to her forehead as the sheer material lifted slightly in the breeze off of her face.

"That was an interesting performance," a strong voice said gently. Shock rippled through Katara's body, from her core, to her fingertips. Zuko's footsteps sounded closer to her and she let out a sigh of relief when he stood next to her, glancing not at her face but at the moon. She calmed herself down at once, not trying to figure out how he had managed to escape the party and follow her, but instead focusing on being a random girl from the water tribe, not Katara the Water Saint.

"I didn't know that hostility still remained in the world. You should know we've tried to change our ways in the Fire Nation. Your accident made me curious," Zuko said, finally turning his head towards her. She looked away at once, alarmed that he had figured out her identity. Zuko's brows furrowed but he looked away from her and gripped the railing of the gazebo. Its golden paint hid beneath the moon's glory as the prince sighed.

"Was it really an accident, or did you intend to make a statement? Are you fighting for the isolation of our cultures?" Zuko asked, deep with concern. Katara spun around to face him, astonished that Zuko was asking her such an evocative question. It proved to her that he didn't know who she was, hidden beneath the silky mask. She shook her head vigorously, not saying a word, but her wide eyes holding in all of her overwhelming emotion. Zuko's robes rustled against his body and he sighed, letting a tiny smile form on his lips.

"Good. I'm relieved to know that relations between our countries aren't injured because of this. You really did just make a mistake."

Katara suddenly felt her stomach drop inside of her. At that moment, she saw the warm and generous man she had taken for granted those few months ago. She didn't understand how she could have thought of him to be evil. He looked out for the good of his country, and even followed her to make sure things were okay. Katara thought she had known Zuko before, yet she never had bothered to ask him directly about himself. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked out onto the water.

"You performed well. Do you mind… teaching me a few tricks? My uncle once taught me a move that I could incorporate into firebending," he said. Katara took a step back and gasped. The longer she stayed, the more likely it was she would slip up again and reveal her identity. She shook her head, but Zuko grabbed her wrist and looked directly into her eyes, round and serene with a hint of innocence.

"Please? I need to learn… I… it's the only way our nations will be able to become friends," Zuko said, letting her go. Katara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She didn't understand if Zuko really meant their nations, or if he meant it in a personal sense. Katara let the notion go; she knew Zuko would never forgive her, but if he wanted to see some more waterbending, it wouldn't do her any harm. She nodded her head and Zuko stood tall with a straight face, ready to learn. Katara stretched her arm out and rolled her fingers as a stream of water floated out of the lotus pond, to her beckoning call. She held it in her right hand for a while before she suddenly scooped her hand out to the right and up above her head. Her wrist twisted and she played with the water while shifting it to her left hand. Katara did this repeated motion slowly, gathering the fluid and then shifting her fingers so that the water circled down and around Zuko's body. It reached her again and she continued to hold the water while Zuko nodded and spread out his arms. The flames burst to life in his hands and he looked at them while trying to feel the blending motion within him.

Katara watched him, her heart swelling with admiration as he struggled to form a fire that flowed as evenly as her water did. At times when he struggled, he grumbled but she shook her head and did the movement once more. He studied her every step and twitch until he gave up. Katara sighed and shifted closer to him.

"I can't do this. I'm just not cut out for it," he said, defeated. Katara smiled underneath her mask, finally free to let her spirit soar when she was around him. She tickled his chin with her water so that he would look up at her, and when he did, the smile sparked in her eyes and he suddenly felt the irritation wash away from him. His jaw dropped as Katara took another step to stand directly in front of him, still enough room for her to wave her arms around. Silence commanded her words, but the stillness of the garden created an orb of calm, surrounding only them in that time and space. Katara touched Zuko's hand briefly while guiding it up and around in the oval shape that she acted out while bending. This time, instead of staring at his hands, he stared into her soul, into her eyes that spoke with the words she kept hidden inside of her. After a few repetitions, Katara let go and started to bend the water in front of him while nodding her approval. He was finally feeling it as she did, and what was more, Zuko's frustration had dispersed almost completely.

Katara wove the water around him playfully and twisted to the side so that she could walk away, but she stopped awkwardly and reeled back into Zuko's chest as a trail of fire circled around them, flowing from around their heads to the floor and back up again. Katara's arms were still flowing, the trail of water breathing against Zuko's fire. Her heart suddenly started to pound against the slow beat in Zuko's chest as his hands brushed against her arms. The cool wind chilled her skin but as her back leaned against Zuko's upper body, Katara closed her eyes and sighed deeply. After a few seconds, the two of them were synchronized and their arms reached out and up at the same time.

"Am I doing this right?" Zuko asked. Katara murmured in approval as their arms came down gradually. His hand now deliberately traveled down her bare arm and as it did, the heat pulsing in Zuko's hand bathed into her skin. The trails of water and fire now collided, Katara unable to think straight at his touch. A loud sizzle awoke her from the comfort she felt in Zuko's embrace. He now had his arm around her gently; standing with her in the gazebo, the moon locked onto them, the party became a far away memory. Zuko's flames went out completely and the light that reflected onto her skin vanished as they were surrounded by a cloud of steam. Katara gasped as Zuko's left hand reached for her small scarf. Her body lurched forward just as Zuko grabbed her mask away from her.

Katara leapt through the foggy air and ran out onto the other bridge connecting the island in the middle of the pond to the other side of the gardens. She ran ahead, but suddenly her arms were pulled back and her body hit an invisible wall. The more she struggled to move, the more the heaviness bore down on her. Katara moaned and pushed her muscles to the limit before she was finally released from the unforeseen force. Zuko clenched his hand, the red mask in his grasp, but the woman who so serenely calmed his spirit had vanished into the night.

He leaned against the gazebo's outer pillars and peered over the water's edge, confused, his breath taken away by a woman he didn't even know. Startled, he jittered as a very familiar one stepped next to him. Zuko let go of the sheer cloth as it drifted into the pond. Mai smiled and kissed her prince on the cheek as she sighed.

"I thought I'd find you here. Looking at the moon again?" she asked.

"Yes," Zuko said shortly. He glanced away and shifted. Mai glared at him from the corner of her eye, but let it pass.

"Come on. Let's go back inside." Zuko turned around and followed her as she held his hand in her own. He couldn't help but think of the time he spent with her before his life changed completely. When he came back though, after his adventure in the Earth Kingdom, Mai had welcomed him as if nothing had changed. But Zuko couldn't pretend any longer; his heart had stirred for the first time in years, and even though it hurt, he longed to feel alive again.

..::-::..

Katara stumbled into her room, gasping for her breath. Her head was spinning and all she could do was twirl around and flop onto her bed with her arms spread out. The outfit had fallen apart as she tore through the gardens in search for the tent, but when she had found it, the strings in her hair had fallen out and her skirt was falling off of her waist. She quickly pulled on her kimono and after a few minutes, ran to the palace where Akizo's rope hung from the balcony of her room. Katara's body relaxed as the tension eased; she was safe in her room, the guards most likely still waiting outside. Katara moaned as she crawled under the covers. Her eyes opened slowly as she stared at the dark blue sky that pulled away from the balcony. She sighed, remembering how exhilarating it felt to be free of her burden, her identity kept secret while she became so close to the prince. A sad smile formed on her lips but twisted tightly as she heard a knock on her door. It sounded again, and she pulled the covers closer to her shoulder, her knuckles grasping the blankets as if she was clinging to the edge of a cliff. The knock sounded once more and she shut her eyes as her body ceased moving.

The door creaked open and Zuko came inside, letting his hood down as he did. He narrowed his eyes as he focused on Katara's still body. Zuko clenched his fingers and muttered a few words that were incomprehensible to Katara's ears. The wind swept by and ruffled his hair as it obscured his vision.

"It wasn't her," he said quietly. His face scrunched, his golden eyes observing the moonlight that swam over her sleeping form. Katara breathed in slowly as she opened her eyes, feeling the warm summer's breeze crawl over her sweaty face. She counted the seconds, but Zuko still didn't move. Her entire body yearned to breathe, to move, but she could only imprison it in time. Finally, Zuko took a step towards her, but decided to leave at once. The door closed with a soft click, and as it did, Katara exhaled, letting all of the tension buried inside her disperse with the fading warmth Zuko had given her.

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A/N: So that was horribly long. XO Longest chapter to date! And I'm really sorry about not updating sooner… I had updated it on deviantart a week ago… but since I don't get as much feedback on here… I forgot about hehe ; so sorry!!

Well, so that means you should get to commenting! Please? Por Vavor:D

-Monika-