Authors note: Just the usual. Enjoy…review…enjoy...it was a fun chapter…enjoy. Yeah…bored author here.

Chapter Seventeen

In Your Embrace

"Azula, Azula!"

"Zuzu, please calm down. You're giving me a headache."

"I'm giving you a headache!"

"What is your problem?"

Zuko looked away from his sister, a frown plastered on his face. He was surprised to see the gang's hangout completely empty besides Azula. He composed himself before turning to her again.

"What have you done?" Zuko asked coldly.

"Me? I'm not sure what you're talking about. The raid is tomorrow."

"This isn't about the raid. It's about…why did you call me?"

"Excuse me?"

"Aang came to the restaurant," Zuko explained, "He told me you needed me. Why?"

"Oh that. I wanted to go over some of the raid plans. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that's not what you want to talk about."

"You know very well what I want to talk about."

"Really?" Azula mused, "Well how about you enlighten me."

Zuko bent down, making it so that his face was within inches of his sisters.

"Where is she?" he whispered.

"Oh darn, Jin can't keep a secret. She'll get her just punishment."

"That's not the point Azula. What have you done?"

"Please stop acting so oblivious Zuko…I do what I always do and so far she hasn't given in. She's stronger than she looks."

"I thought you said you weren't interrogating anymore. You said you wouldn't."

"I lied, big deal. Besides, she won't last forever. I'm going to figure out who defected my group."

Zuko's face turned white and he backed away from Azula. He hoped she couldn't tell the anxiety running across his face.

"Something wrong, Zuzu?" Azula inquired.

"No…nothing at all; but if it's alright with you…may I see her?"

Azula gave a devilish smile, "Why are you interested?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, trying to cover up his excitement. He didn't want her to think he really wanted this when in fact he needed this.

"To ask her a few questions," he simply answered, "I've heard a few things around and I want to clarify what I've heard. Plus, I deserve it."

"Oh really?" remarked Azula.

"Really…"

"Well then…by all means, no."

"Azula, that's-"

"It's what Zuko, unfair? Well I don't care. I am the only one going in to see her. I have to break her and I'm not going to let one little visit by you mess it up."

Zuko stared at the smile on Azula's face. It disgusted him.

"Fine then…" he mumbled.

"I'm glad we see eye to eye."

Zuko gave Azula a little smirk before walking down the rusty hallway. Even though he was trying to keep his important cool, Zuko couldn't stand the wait. He had to see her. And not even Azula was going to tell him no.

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"Dad, we have to call the police! The kidnappers could already be driving off with her."

"I'm not bringing the police into this. I'm finding her myself."

"W-what?!" Sokka exclaimed, "Tell me you you're not serious!"

"I am very serious," Hokada said, looking quite serious as he said so.

Ty Lee was on the couch, sitting very still and quiet. She hadn't spoken a word after telling her father and Sokka what the kidnappers looked like. All she could think of was Katara.

"Dad, I'm worried about you," Sokka said in a low voice, "You're not the same these days. And being it how it is, I really think we should call the police."

Hokada glanced at his son and then grabbed the door knob.

"Things will change…once I find Katara. Stay with Ty Lee, keep her safe. I'll be back soon."

With that, Hokoda opened the door and walked quickly out, leaving the house with the feeling of cold air.

Sokka stood right where his dad had left him awhile. He wasn't even thinking of moving before Ty Lee came up from behind him. She held him close, tears falling from her eyes.

"Do you-do you think…" she sobbed, barely making out the words, "he'll find her?"

Sokka wrapped his arms around Ty Lee, still staring at the door.

"He said he'll be back," he answered, "So he will…with Katara."

Ty Lee nodded, trying to find a fragment of hope in an ocean of despair.

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"Hello, is anyone home? Hello?!"

Hokoda slammed his fist against the door, hitting it as hard as he possibly could. As the time passed on he could feel his heart sinking farther. His daughter was somewhere he wasn't. That was already enough to make him go insane.

"Please, is someone there?!" he called.

Hokoda rapped the door once more before feeling tears begin to welt in his eyes. He covered his face in agony as he started to walk off the porch. He was about to open his car door when he heard a door open from behind him.

He glimpsed behind him to see a thin woman standing in the door he had been knocking on for the past fifteen minutes.

"Were you...were you the one knocking?" she said, almost in a whisper.

"Yes," Hokoda answered running back up the walkway.

"What is it that you want?"

"Someone lives here…by the name of Azula."

The woman's face suddenly became worried and she started to close the door.

"I don't know anyone by that name."

"Yes you do…well, she lives here."

"But I-"

"Please," Hokoda pleaded, "I just need to talk to her. It's my daughter…she's been kidnapped. I think Azula might know who did it."

The woman glanced around the neighborhood, noting that no one was out.

"My name is Yuma," she said, "I'm Azula's guardian. Azula is always in and out of trouble, I don't even know how to keep a hold on her. I don't know where she is right now. She didn't tell me. But you can stay here, if you like, until she comes. I think you might get the answers you're looking for."

Hokoda gave a short smile, "Thank you, I really appreciate your help."

"Oh…" the woman muttered, embarrassed by the words just spoken, "Never mind that…just make sure that…the police don't figure out about this, for Azula's sake."

"I promise…not a word."

Yuma gave a nod before motioning for Hokoda to come inside the house on the rainy evening.

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Zuko turned the corner, trying to be as light on his feet as possible. One sudden move and everyone in the entire gang would know what he was doing. He edged against the wall and peeped around every corner. He gave a sigh of relief each time he knew he was in the clear.

Finally, the last corner came. He knew exactly were captives were held. Zuko was about to run to the door when he was stopped dead in his tracks.

"What are you doing back here Zuko?"

Zuko was silenced by Yue, who arms were folded across her chest. She had a strict look on her face that meant the wasn't playing around.

"I was…coming to…" Zuko murmured.

"Coming to what?" she asked.

"To…to take over your shift. Yeah, Azula assigned me here…sadly."

"Is that why she called you?"

"Uh…yeah?" Zuko replied, making it sound more like a question then an answer.

"Oh, well maybe I should check with her, just to-"

"No! I mean…no, that isn't necessary. I'll check with her and make sure. You can go."

"You're sure?" Yue inquired.

"Positive."

"Okay then, thanks."

"No problem…" Zuko muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

He heaved a heavy sigh after Yue had turned the corner. These were chances he couldn't take anymore. However, when he saw the door, he forgot everything but her. Slowly, Zuko reached for the handle…

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"Argh!"

Katara pushed her weight against one of the walls, trying to find a weak spot. The problem was, there wasn't one weak spot in the entire room. She had tried over and over to open the door but it was locked tight. She had tried everything. The room was sound proof so even if she screamed, no one could hear her.

"Damn…damn!"

Falling to the floor, Katara clutched her knees. She couldn't count how many times she had cried since being trapped in the room. There really wasn't anything else she could do. Katara tried to sleep and escape the nightmare if only for a few hours but it wouldn't come. So she sat there, desolate and frightened, with nothing to comfort her but her tears.

Suddenly, the handle on the door began to shake. Katara backed up from it quickly and groaned. It was Azula. Katara hated the girl with a passion. Every time she came in it meant yelling and flying punches. Katara was bruised and beaten but she wouldn't let Azula take the last thing she had. Her dignity.

Lastly, after many minutes of waiting in pure anxiety, the door opened. Katara looked up, her mouth dropping in shock.

"Katara?" he said.

"Zuko!"

Katara, even though she was exhausted, leaped to her feet. In the next moment, she was in Zuko's arms, feeling the warmth of his embrace.

"Thank god…" she whispered, half crying half smiling.

She was confused, hurt, and betrayed. Nevertheless, all that could wait. It could wait.

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Authors note: I really liked the one. It gives a little shining hope. Anyway, again please review and I'll try to updates soon.