Book 4 Air
Chapter 51 Moonlit
His hot breath trailed over Katara's cheek, over her skin as she closed her eyes, barely feeling his touch made the waterbender feel warm all over. The breath of the dragon caressed her softly as she opened her blue eyes to see two golden ones gazing into her very soul.
The young man leaned in, kissing her plump moist lips.
Tasting the creamy chocolate from her mouth, Zuko deepened the kiss as he wrapped his arm around her, putting her closer to him. Katara moaned as she kissed back gently, enjoying the smacking sound that their lips made after they've kissed.
Zuko pulled away as he whispered, "Come to bed with me…" Zuko said in a low sensual voice.
Almost like in a trace Katara nodded her head as Zuko led her out of the dining room. The warm feeling pooled in the girl's stomach as she noticed the familiar settings of the hallway leading to the lord's chamber, Katara wasn't sure what the young man's intentions were nor did she care at the moment. She wanted to be close to him no matter what.
Walking further down the hall, hand in hand, Zuko's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure what he was thinking. Allowing the girl to come back with him to his bedroom. What will he do once they were there?
Of course one thing has popped in his head, which he in fact didn't want to really do. Yet his male hormones were raging and nearly all common sense was pushed aside. He wanted it. He wanted to take Katara has his and claim her, not the Avatar, not anyone else would have her.
At the same time, Zuko wondered what the girl next to him was thinking. Surely she would never agree to doing something so…intimate with him. Then again, it pleased him to know he can affect her so easily. Yes, Zuko was aware of her knees buckling while they've kissed or how she moans so softly in his embrace. That was prove enough she wanted more. But Zuko had honor and taking advantage of a girl, was not what he believe in.
As they walked to his bedroom door, Zuko sighed. He was afraid he might lose control if she were to lay with him in the covers of his bed. So, as a man with little choice he made his decision.
"Perhaps its best you return to your bedroom for tonight." Zuko said as Katara blinked.
"Is something wrong?" Katara asked as Zuko looked away ashamed to face her.
"No, I just thought it would be best for now. I wouldn't want anything to happen we might regret later on." Zuko said as Katara nodded her head.
She understood the Fire Lord position, at least somewhat understood. Maybe he was afraid he might get in trouble having a girl in his bed with him.
"Would you like me to escort you to your bedroom?" Zuko asked as Katara released her hold from his fingers.
"No, it alright. I wouldn't want you to have to walk all the way back just to take me to my room." Katara said as she took a few steps back and started to leave.
"Alright then." Zuko said as he continued to look else where.
"Good night." Katara said as she slowly turned away.
"Good night." Zuko replied as he watched the waterbender leave.
The Fire Lord sighed again as he opened the door and walked inside.
"So? You've been offered a new maiden, how humorous…" a young man of twenty-six said as earlier signs of a brown beard formed on his chin with thick side burns. The handsome man chuckled as the person next to him scoffed.
"Silence yourself, brother." The younger man said as he folded his arms over his chest.
"I just find it so funny…This will be the third woman to enter these walls. How many more will it take to please you, Prince Ozai?" Iroh said in amusement.
The young Ozai narrowed his eyes, "Don't worry, Princess Ursa won't be leaving this palace." The young man said sternly.
"Oh?" Iroh said interested to know more.
"Have you finally found the one? What makes her so different from the rest? Oh ho, I must see her then." Iroh said with a sly smile on his face.
"Shut up! It's not like that…I haven't court her yet." Ozai said as a small red tint formed over his cheeks.
"What was that? Did I hear right? My ruthless brother has not court a young, perhaps beautiful woman yet? Why the hesitation?" Iroh asked teasing his little brother.
Ozai sighed, "She is different…She's…She's not like the other Fire Nation women. She's has something they will never process." Ozai said as he started to leave his brother's side.
"Oh, and what's that?" Iroh asked as he watched Ozai turned his head pausing for a moment. He then smiled to himself.
"She's kind-hearted…" Iroh's younger brother replied softly as he left down the hall.
'Yes, that day…Princess Ursa has indeed claimed my brother's heart.' Iroh thought as he recalled the memory of how Ursa melted his younger brother's ice-cold heart.
Of course ever since his first born son Lu Ten was born, Ozai began to change back to the once merciless man, he knew from early childhood. Iroh knew his brother was the jealous type which made things even worse after Iroh met the young woman.
"Would you care for some tea?" the young woman asked as Iroh gladly accepted.
"My brother had indeed told me about you. Yet he never told me how beautiful you are." Iroh said in a flirtatious matter.
Ursa giggled as she covered her lips with her slender hand. "Oh you're such a tease, Prince Iroh."
Iroh chuckled, "Am I? Well I guess I'm as impetuous as they say..." Iroh said boastfully as he continued to flirt with the young sixteen year old girl.
"Brother, may you come here for a moment. I need to discuss something with you." Ozai said as he entered the dining room.
"Why of course, my brother. Princess Ursa will you excuse me for a moment." Iroh said as he stood up from the table.
Once in the hallway, Iroh was suddenly pushed to the wall. Slightly surprised by the violent act, he looked into his brother's eyes. "If you even think you have a chance with her, you're sadly mistaken. If you ever get close to her like that again, I will end your reign as prince." Ozai said in a threatening voice dipped with a bitter sound.
Iroh was shocked of how serious Ozai's words carried such venom as the young man back away then walked into the dining room, leaving his stunned brother against the wall.
Iroh never flirted with the young woman again, yet it didn't stop him from learning more about her.
"You are quite excellent at playing Pai Sho." Iroh said as he praised the young girl in front of him.
"Why, thank you. I have learned from my father. He once said his old friend taught him, an earthbender." Ursa said with a smile.
Iroh frowned slightly, "Why learn from an earthbender?" Iroh mumbled with disappointment.
"Excuse me?" Ursa asked as Iroh looked up at the girl.
"I'm just saying…Why not someone from the Fire Nation?" Iroh said unaware of the woman's flaring red cheeks as she stood up quickly.
"And why not someone from the Earth Kingdom?!" Ursa cried out as Iroh blinked.
"We are the superior country; you should take pride in it." Iroh said calmly as Ursa turned her head.
"May I ask you something, Prince Iroh?"
"Anything…" Iroh said.
"Why is it you care not about the other nations…? You people and your nationalistic ways…" Ursa said in a low tone almost disgusted.
Iroh became offended. She was a Fire Nation woman; loyalty to her country comes first.
Before Iroh could say anything the woman looked him in the eyes. Her once soft honey eyes became firm-flickering like a raging firm; those warm pools of gold irises.
"One day…You'll understand." Ursa said clearly as she left the table.
Of course at that time, Iroh didn't know what she meant. But later in his life he soon found out.
Yes, Iroh fell for the young woman of sixteen. But he had to let his feelings for her go. The palace soon buzzed with scandals and rumors alike, making the Fire Lord's title tarnished and Ozai's name in question. Iroh soon left the palace and trained. He became a high ranked general by age forty and had a long career ahead. He met a new woman and fell in love, had a child and took pride in his birthright of becoming the next Fire Lord. Soon, everything changed when his son died in battled, and his father passed away as well. Everything was taken from him…
His lovely wife of twenty years passed away due from an unknown sickness. He was alone. He soon followed Zuko, the banished prince. He kept his promise for Ursa. Before she left, she asked him to watch over her son and so he did. Training and watching over the young prince, who became a second son to him, Iroh never broke his promise…
The old general soon brushed away his feelings of remembering his past as he entered to the outskirts of the city. There were more serious things to be thinking about.
The view of a small adobe house came into sight as the moonlight's rays shone over the white clay walls in a mystifying blue hue. Iroh hopped off a saddle as he entered into the house. Step after step, Iroh made his way to the small cell lodging a feminine form on the clay title floor.
"Are you Ursa, mother of the Fire Nation?" Iroh asked quietly as the woman sat up.
Her eyes lit up into tears as she stood up and ran to the bars, "General Iroh!" the woman called out as tears fell from her face and her hands gripped on the slender pipes.
Iroh smiled, she was still as beautiful as when he first saw her.
"Don't worry, princess. I'll see to it the councils won't sentence you the death penalty." Iroh said as he held the woman's hands through the cell bars.
"Oh Iroh…Thank you so much…Please tell me, is Ozai alright?" The woman asked almost begging. Iroh tensed at his brother's name. Lowering his head, Iroh couldn't say it…He couldn't tell her the truth…
"He's locked up in the prison by the palace. He's fine." Iroh said as a wave of relief was seen from Ursa's features as she then spoke again, "And my son?"
Iroh's dim expression soon turned into a smile, "He is now the Fire Lord." Iroh said as Ursa closed her eyes.
"I knew it…" Ursa said softly as she leaned her head on the bars.
"Now, I can't stay for long. I'll talk the councils before they arrive…" Iroh whispered as Ursa lengthen out her hand and cupped Iroh's face.
"Thank you Iroh…For everything." Ursa said warmly as she smiled.
"Anything for you princess." Iroh said as he bowed and then left the small house into the night.
Patches of sunlight broke through the gray clouds as the view of the Kyoshi Island was seen.
The sight of the statue of Kyoshi was in view as Aang looked up at the figure's face.
"Aang? What are you doing? Don't tell me you were out here all night." Suki said with concern as she walked up to the boy.
"I've thought about what you've said…and, it makes sense." Aang said calmly.
"Who…Who told you, that you were related to Avatar Kyoshi?" Aang asked as Suki caught interest.
"It was Pakku, Katara's new grandfather. Apparently other members of the White Lotus knew as well, including General Iroh." Suki said in an almost sad tone.
"Then, why didn't they say anything sooner, if they knew this whole time?" Aang asked curiously.
"Pakku said it wasn't the right time and that Kyoshi herself came to one of the members in a vision and told them, to tell me the truth." Suki said as she fiddled with her fingers.
Aang narrowed his eyes; Avatar Kyoshi has been mention so many times. In his thoughts, all around him. His elemental opposite was closer to him now than ever, the stubborn earth. It reminded him of Toph…and why he came to the island in the first place. Aang had to find out.
"Do you happen to know anything about a dark spirit on the island?" Aang asked softly as Suki pondered to the airbender's words.
"A dark spirit? Do you mean the Betobeto?" Suki said as Aang turned his head to her.
"The Betobeto?" Aang questioned as Suki nodded her head.
"An invisible spirit that follows people at night, and talks with an eerie voice then makes the sound of footsteps." Suki said as she folded her arms over her chest nearly shivering from the old legends of the spirit.
"The sound of footsteps…" Aang said to himself as he looked back up at the statue.
I hope you enjoyed it so far! Also the Betobeto is a real Japanese folklore demon I used for this story which I think matches the ancient spirit, Koh perfectly. As for Zuko and Katara, I decided to wait a little bit longer before they do anything too serious. As for Ursa, what happens to her? Also where are Aeron and Cole? Please review for a fast update!
