Authors note: I thought it was pretty good. I hope you all like it.

Chapter Twelve

When and Where

"So, what was the name of Raleigh's son?"

Katara, doodling on her binder didn't hear a world the teacher with the coke-bottle glasses said. She was busy writing the word "misunderstood" in graffiti style.

"Katara?" Mr. Zang said, "Could you answer this please? I'm trying to get out of here before my grandchildren die…"

Everyone else in the class groaned, knowing that he was just teasing their incapacity for learning.

"Katara?" he repeated.

Not listening at all, Katara continued her art uninterrupted.

"Mr. Zang is such a know it all," she said to herself, "It's like he plots to ruin the lives of others."

"Excuse me Miss Soku, but you of all people know that when…Miss Soku do you even here me?"

"I swear," Katara mumbled, not seeing the entire class gazing at her, "He is the ugliest man I know. I mean a comb over? That means it's just time to let it go…"

The class was now more ecstatic than annoyed. They were overjoyed to see the teacher's pet mouthing off.

"Miss Soku…Miss Soku…Miss Soku!"

Instantly, Katara dropped her pen. Slowly turning her face to the blackboard she noticed the sweat drops of anger perusing down Mr. Zang's face.



"Will you kindly answer the question?" he said, trying to control his temper.

Katara, short of breath answered, "I'm sorry but…I don't even know the question."

Suddenly, the bell rang and in a matter of two minutes the room was cleared besides Mr. Zang and Miss Soku.

"I thought you were different…" he muttered.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't hear you. I would have never-"

"Please, excuses are for washouts…like every other kid in this damn school."

Katara, obviously stung by the words, turned her stare at her desk.

"I'll try to do better next time, Mr. Zang. That is, if you give me another chance…"

Mr. Zang, picking up his briefcase, shoved his glasses further onto his face.

"Katara, in H. Taed there are no second chances…just first time disappointments."

Hearing the door slam behind Mr. Zang, she thought over his words. She found their meaning when a tear fell from her eye.

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"Are you sure this is food?

"Yeah, so eat it."

"Has it been…detoxified?"

"Just eat it."

Toph glanced at where she knew Aang was sitting. She could tell he had the same thought and feeling.

Zuko sat down at the table, looking at the grumbling faces.

"You know I can't cook…"

Toph's eyes when wide, "Yeah…we kinda guessed that."



With a smirk, Zuko stuffed "dinner" into his mouth. He looked up to see Aang staring at him with a peculiar way to it.

"Yes Aang?" he said under his breath.

Then, it started. Raising his hands from his lap, Aang began to rapidly move them in many types of methods. Toph just sat still as Zuko watched the memorized hand movements. After a few minutes had passed, Aang suddenly stopped.

"It's not like that," Zuko said, "I had to leave to do business."

While Zuko said this, Toph's hand moved up to Aang's face and lightly touched his lips. Feeling this, Aang began to now move his mouth as if he was talking, even though he didn't make a sound.

When he finally ceased, Toph quickly moved her hand.

"Yeah Zuko, where were you?" she asked.

Zuko frowned at the two fourteen year olds and sighed.

"Look, I had to secure some things."

Aang motioned his hands rapidly and Zuko nodded.

"Next time the gang needs me, I'll tell you."

Aang gave a faint smile but tapped Toph lightly. She then returned her hand back to his lips and smiled as he mouthed what he was saying.

"So Aang and I are wondering…" Toph asked after Aang finished.

Zuko rolled his eyes, "And what would you be wondering about?"

"Oh I don't know…that girl who was here a few days ago."

Zuko looked down, almost choking down his food. He underestimated his foster brother and his best friend a little more than need be.

"She was just…a girl."

Toph kicked Aang under the table. He kicked her back. Zuko just frowned at the two.

"She's nothing…" he mumbled, bringing the teasing to a sudden end.

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"So then she said "Do you want to be my boyfriend?"

Katara laughed to herself as she lay on her bed. Souza was telling her one of his "oh so interesting" stories. They had been at it for three hours. Katara guessed she was just trying to get over school but it was more than that. She really missed her boyfriend.

"So how are things there?

Katara gave a dull sigh, "You know…horrible."

"Well I make my stories sound too interesting. Really, it's pretty horrible here too."

Katara heard Souza sigh, and then scream at his brother. She giggled to herself, observing the cracks on her ceiling. She was happy to hear he was a little bummed out as well.

"Sorry about that. He was trying to take my homework and a make a paper maché replica of himself."

Katara instantly went into another fit of laughter as she heard his brother scream over the phone.

"You're lucky you have a brother who is older than five."

"To tell you the truth, it's not much better."

Souza gave a small chuckle that soon turned into a sigh.

"I miss you…" he muttered.

Katara felt her eyes start to water as Souza said this.

"I miss you too…"

"Three months, two weeks."

Katara wiped the tear running hurriedly down her cheek

"Three months, two weeks…" she whispered out.

"I love you Katara."

"Love you too…"

"Bye," Souza finally said.

"Bye," Katara said, hearing the phone click.

It was tomorrow and she was sitting in her room, feeling lonely for Souza. Anything else that was supposed to happen that day quickly faded away.

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Aang cleared the table, waving goodbye to Toph. When he saw Zuko's distressed face he slowly walked over to his brother. Zuko saw the hands moving and nodded.

"No, she's not coming."

Aang looked down but suddenly bolted up with a grin. He motioned his hands again and Zuko glimpsed at them in the corner of his eye. He gave a short smile.

"Yeah…you can come to work if you want. Did you finish your homework?"

Aang nodded, pulling on his coat.

"Alright then, but we have to make a stop by the gang before we come. Leave a message for Konu and Acura that we'll be home late.

Aang frowned, language signing.

"I know, not worth it…but if they do show up-just write it, okay?"

Aang did as he was told and then walked outside. Zuko gave one more glance to the house before walking down the street.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hokada, do you think you can finish the paper for me?"

Hokada looked over his shoulder at Bato who was trying to see through all the hundreds of papers.

"Um…I could try," he said, not even looking up.

"Well, I can see that you're…swamped," Bato remarked, rubbing the back of his head, "I'll just finish myself."

"No really, I can do it."

Hokada jumped from his seat, not watching his footing. He tripped over one of his many books and fell to the floor. For a moment, a silence went from one cubicle to the next. After what seemed like eternity, the noise erupted again.

"Are you okay? You seem a little hassled these days."

Hokada took hand of Bato's out stretched arm. He stood up, brushing off his clothes with a shake of the head.

"Not really, why do you ask?"

"I don't know. You just seem kind of rushed."

"Everything's fine and I can finish that paper."

"Well…if you say so."

Bato gave a short smile, returning to his office. Exhaling deeply, Hokada went back to his desk. No one could know, not even Bato.

Hokada, studying the words and the photo was perplexed.

"What does a teenager named Jet have to do with the killer?" he murmured to himself.

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Zuko turned the corner, Aang at his heels. He hated having to have baggage, which right now was his foster brother, around but the gang wouldn't mind. Aang was mute; he wouldn't be able to say a word.

"Okay Aang, we're here. Just keep quiet…"

Aang rolled his eyes, pointing to his mouth. Zuko glared at his brother's sarcasm.

"You know what I mean."

Aang nodded like he meant it and then watched as Zuko hit a long pattern on an old metal door. When he finished, he could hear rustling inside. The door knob turned and a girl with pure white hair appeared. She had a mean smirk on her face, wearing a low cut shirt and faded jeans.

"He's can't come in," she said, looking at Aang.

"I know," Zuko answered.

"Well then, come in."

Zuko slowly walked in, seeing faces gaze at him. He was more frightened than nervous. His hands went numb and his heart began to beat uncontrollably.

"So Zuzu, do you have the information?"

Throwing a piece of paper on the floor, Zuko waited. Azula picked it up and smiled.

"Damn…"

"I hope that means you're satisfied," Zuko remarked.

"You would be correct…these are all the drug piers?"

"Every single one…"

Zuko saw Jin smile to herself. He was back. Back into the gang he had once vowed never to return to. For what they did, for what they believed. Zuko knew at that very moment he had crossed the line and now, he was going to drown.

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Authors note: Not a very huge chapter. Katara blew Zuko off and we saw how Aang talks to people. Plus a little Hokada mystery…anyway, I thought it was okay. I'll try to update soon.