Authors note: I really liked this chapter…a lot. I hope you all will too. Anyway, please review and enjoy.

Chapter Eight

Looking Through

"Dad is literally trying to kill me…"

Ty Lee sighed as she said this, clicking at the remote.

"No cable, I mean come on!" she screamed.

Throwing it on the floor she stood up.

"Well, that's another thing I hate about this place. Oh wait; I hate everything about this place."

Ty Lee looked up to see that her sister wasn't even listening.

"Hello, Katara? Hello?"

Katara bolted up, "Huh? Oh, sorry Ty Lee…I was out for a moment. What did you say?"

"Oh, nothing important. Well Sokka and I are going to the mall out of the city. It's no where close to what we had before but hey, what are you going do?

Katara grinned slightly before turning away from Ty Lee.

"I hope you have fun," she whispered.

Ty Lee was about to walk away but spun around half way to the door.

"Are you okay? You seem kind of distant these days."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean like ever since you saw Zuko or when you thought you saw Zuko."

Katara gazed downwards with a frown.

"I'm fine, just go shopping, okay?"

Ty Lee nodded, calling Sokka. After coming downstairs, the two walked out the door, leaving Katara.

She felt like bursting into tears once the door was slammed shut. They had each other to be happy. Katara had no one. So far, Souza had only called her once. Her dad had just been lies. And Zuko…she didn't even know what to make of that.

She hadn't seen him in ten months, almost a year. Katara didn't know how to jump back right where they had been. Katara had a boyfriend now. She had a sister. She was even going out of the country for the winter break. Katara had a new life that Zuko plainly was just not apart of.

"Maybe it's best to just forget him. What we had was just for four months which for me is good enough."

Katara nodded to herself. Standing up, she grabbed her coat and walked outside. Clearing her head would do her good.

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Then, out of no where, Richard suddenly entered through the door.

Lady Elizabeth gasped, jumping out of her seat.

"Oh Richard," she cried, "Oh Richard, you've come for me."

"And I will never leave you again."

"But you are beneath her," Sir John proclaimed.

"My love is stronger than rank or time. My love stands forever. It is…eternal."

"Oh Richard," Lady Elizabeth whispered, falling passionately into her lovers arms.

Zuko stifled his laughter as he swept the restaurant floors. It was seven o'clock and not one customer was at a table. The floors weren't even dirty at "Long Feng's Cuisine."

He looked at the old 18th century soap opera with a smile. Zuko could always get a good laugh before going home with this channel on.

"Zuko, sweep the floors!" he heard Long Feng scream.

Rolling his eyes he sighed, "Of course sir, I should have thought of that before."

"Don't be sarcastic with me, get to work!"

Glaring at the manger's office, Zuko "kept" sweeping the floors. When he was ready to sweep it all up, he went behind the desk for the dust pan. Zuko looked up, brushing his hair out of his face when he dropped the dust pan.

He moved back some, hitting against the back of the counter top.

"Hello Zuko."

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"I bet Souza is fighting with his younger brother right now."

Katara giggled when she thought of the scene. They were both probably pulling at the remote until literally broke in two. Souza's brother looked just like him, only two feet shorter.

Katara smiled as she pressed on with her walk. She was staring at the ground, thinking of her old house that she didn't even noticed she was coming into the older part of T. Haed.

"Oh, they're probably ripping the TV apart too."

Katara fell into a fit of laughter, not seeing the man on the other side of the street. She stopped her laughing and walking instantly when he spoke.

"Hey you," he said.

Katara didn't answer, she was frozen stiff.

"Now what is a little girl like you doing in T. Haed all alone?"

"I'm sorry but I have to go."

Katara started to walk away but he was already across the street, following her.

"No you don't. You're just scared."

"Excuse me."

Katara started to pick up her pace but so did the man. Within seconds, he caught her arm.

"I want your money!"

"I don't have any."

"Just give me the money!"

"I told you I don't have any!"

Katara's eyes were filled with terror as he grasped her arm harder. She tried to break free but he was too strong.

"Look, give it to me now or I'll-"

With whatever she could find, Katara mustered up all her strength and shoved her knee into the man's stomach. He groaned in pain, stumbling back. Katara wasted no time in quickly running away. Unfortunately, she could hear the man behind her.

Katara could barely breathe. She tripped along the crooked paths, trying to find the nearest store to hide in. Her heart almost leaped out of her chest when she could see a restaurant in the distant. She ran up to it but suddenly stopped and didn't go in.

Katara just stared at him. She stared at his laugh, his smile, and his frown. She felt entranced, like she just had to walk in but she couldn't. However, when she heard that the man had finally caught up with her she had no choice.

She quickly but quietly stepped in. He was talking to his boss or at least that's what it seemed like. He was wearing baggy, black pants and a black shirt with a white apron. He had a pencil behind his hear that made him look really professional.

Katara gazed on until he finally turned to her. She didn't say anything and neither did he.

Finally, her voice came to her. At first he couldn't hear her but then her voice slowly grew louder.

"Hello Zuko."

"Hey…Katara."

The two were immediately silenced. The man who had been chasing Katara entered through the restaurant door.

"You give me my damn money!" he came in, yelling at her.

Katara soon became terrified, moving back as the man moved forward.

Jumping from over the counter, Zuko came from between the two.

"Look, my boss won't like this. You'd better get out."

"That's fine with me punk but this girl stole money from me and I want it back."

"I didn't steal money from him I swear."

Zuko stared at Katara awhile and then turned to the aggressive man.

"Like I said, you better get out of here."

"I don't have to take this."

Throwing a punch, Zuko ducked and Katara ran around to the counter. She looked hurriedly around until she found the broom Zuko had been using. Katara grabbed it quickly and then ran back out. The man was still throwing wild punches that even she could dodge.

Zuko glanced at Katara and that happened to be just enough time. Katara gasped as the man finally hit him. Zuko stepped back in surprise, touching his face. Katara, the man now coming for her, held the broom upside down and flung it at the man's face.

"Ah!" he yelled out in pain.

"Get away from me!" Katara screamed, beating the man to the floor.

Zuko stopped feeling his face long enough to notice Katara. He ran up to her in a hurry.

"Wait!"

Katara turned in amazement. It was strange to hear Zuko's voice so urgent…like it had been long ago.

"What?" she asked

Zuko didn't answer her. He just turned to the ground. The man was staring up at them, a scowl on his face.

"You get out of here," Zuko stated, "Now!"

The man gradually stood up and exited the restaurant. Zuko and Katara watched him go down the road. Somehow, he started to look more like a lost being than a thief.

Both of the teenagers knew they would have to talk sooner a later. Katara was thinking of how she went on the walk to get Zuko out of her mind and then here he was, saving her again.

She glanced over at Zuko as he did to her. Katara thought she saw a smile but it was Zuko, anything could go for a smile.

"Thanks…" she muttered.

Zuko turned to her, "Thank you…for taking care of him with the broom."

With a short grin, Katara set the broom down.

"It's uh…nice to see you again."

Giving a short nod, Zuko picked the broom back up, "Yeah…nice to see you too."

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Authors note: I know…ah! They are finally together…I'll try to update soon.