A/N: Wow, basically three updates in less than 24 hours?! You guys are lucky I update so fast! More writers would at least take a week before updating and finishing their chapters. But me, since I do write everything on the top of my head, with a little researching here and there plus with my story in such high demand. I can't help but post more often. Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing my story!

*Mild rated scenes and mild violence. You've been warned!

Book 4 Air

Chapter 58 Mouth on Fire

As the sun rose lazily over the volcanic island and a haze of fog lay across the city below the palace, Zuko sighed as he walked out his balcony. It was difficult to adjust the shifting climate change in the cooler seasons. Steam would rise from the active volcanoes and form an overcast, blocking the sun's rays. It made Zuko feel lousy and tired. Pulling back from a big stretch, the Fire Lord held back a yawn as he entered into his room. Tossing his clothes aside, Zuko removed his night trunks as he prepared for a bath. As he stepped into his bedroom still holding his pants in his hand, he stopped after hearing something. A light tap rang in his ear as he quickly turned his head. Before he could react, a zipping ring of metal aimed at him. Stepping back from the quick movement, Zuko had his arm pinned to the wall with his pants clenched in his fist. Realizing where the knife came from Zuko yelled out, "Mai?! What are you-?

"Silence!" Mai whispered coldly as she stood in front of the naked young man. Zuko blushed as he turned and looked at Mai. Thankfully, when he stepped back the knife forced him to turn, thus his rear was facing the noblewoman. Still, Zuko was a modest man, and he grew embarrassed.

"Explain to me why you were so nice to that water tribe peasant!" Mai said as venom dipped with every word especially the last.

Zuko blinked then chuckled, she was jealous? How typical…Mai was so easy to predict…Of course at that moment, this was a bit extreme. Yet nevertheless, he knew her. She will stop at nothing to get what she wanted and now, she wanted answers.

"Should it be obvious? Katara and I are to wed…Thus I am to follow my manners and treat as though she was my girlfriend." Zuko said calmly as Mai clenched her fist.

"Still…You never once looked at me…You never once spoke to me." Mai said filled with hurt in her voice as she stepped to the young man.

"I was your girlfriend. We broke apart because they ordered it. I never wanted to leave you. But it seems you truly have broken from me…" Mai said as she loathes the councils' decision. They thought she was unworthy to become Fire Lady, all because she failed some stupid test?!

No, she has been in hell and back for this man. She won't go down without a resolution.

"It's not what it seems Mai…You know I never wanted this to happen." Zuko said as his cheek pressed against the wall as he struggled to speak.

"Yet it did…Tell me…Is she as graceful as they say? Has the water witch seduced you like all the other men she's bedded with?" Mai said coldly, starting to understand Azula's resentment towards the waterbender.

Zuko swallowed as he tried to look at Mai clearly, but his angled caused a blind spot. "Mai, I'm telling you. I never want-AH!

"Silence!" Mai cried out as she struck her knife into Zuko's hand.

"M-Mai…" Zuko said as he grunted in pain.

"I told you…Never to break up with me again." Mai said as she pulled out the knife.

"And you betrayed me…" Mai said darkly as she then pressed her body against Zuko's back.

"Does it hurt, my prince?" Mai said sweetly in a sick twisted tone.

"Does it hurt like the pain you've given me…?" Mai said softly as she started to kiss the lord's neck.

Zuko's eyes narrowed, he had to end this before it got out of hand. But how? Then it hit him…He can talk his way out this…

"Mai…I never thought you had this side of you. So wild and passionate, it's actually a turn on." Zuko said in his most lustful voice he could muster, yet inside he felt sick to his stomach.

Mai blinked then cooed at him as she bite his ear lobe lightly, "Does it now? Do you want more? Do you want me to express myself?" Mai said as she trailed her hand down his back then grabbed his bottom.

Zuko blushed as he continued, "Yea…Express yourself…Show me your true self…It's so sexy." Zuko said as he then held back the bile forcing up his esophagus.

Taking in Zuko's words as an invitation, Mai released the knife pinning the Fire Lord to the wall. As soon as the knife torn from the red wallpaper. Zuko turned then grabbed Mai twisting her around and holding her wrists firmly.

"Hmm...Mm…How kinky of you…" Mai said in a low voice as Zuko tensed, "Shut up!" Zuko yelled as Mai smirked. "Are you as aggressive with her in bed as you are now?" Mai said pushing the young man's buttons.

"You are not welcomed here anymore; you are banished from these lands." Zuko said sternly as he pushed forward towards the door, keeping her tightly secure in his grasp.

"Heh, it's not like I wasn't already…" Mai said in a sarcastically tone.

As he reached the door, he kicked it open his foot as he pushed through the doorway. "Guards, arrest her immediately!" Zuko called out as two nearby guards jogged to their lord's side. After they grabbed hold of the noblewoman, Zuko quickly clutched the closest cloth and covered himself. "Where should we take her, Sire?" one guard said daring not to ask why the Fire Lord was undressed.

"Near Azula's cell, have her watched frequently and tested for any signs for Azula's symptoms that she may have." Zuko said as the guards bowed their heads as they took Mai away. Mai lowered her head as she then laughed out loud manically. It shook Zuko to the core. That same hysterical laugh that his sister cried out during Agni Kai on the day of Sozin's Comet.

'Was it Azula's influence that led Mai to lose it?' Zuko wondered as he tied the sash around his waist as he wore a black robe.

"Zuko!" a soft voice called out as Zuko turned to the left, "Katara…" Zuko said lightly as the waterbender walked up to him.

"I heard some screaming and was wondering if everything was alright." Katara said in a worried tone. Zuko chuckled as he noticed the girl's bed head and light panting. 'Mai's cries or my shouting must have waked her up…' Zuko thought as he scratched his head.

Katara gasped, "Zuko! You're bleeding!" Katara said as she pointed to the young man's hand.

Zuko pulled his hand down and looked at it blankly. He didn't even notice it until now; the pain numbed away any more feeling in his palm. "It's just a flesh wound, nothing more. I'm fine…" Zuko said as Katara stepped closer to him, "No, it's not…Come on, let me heal it for you." Katara insisted as she led Zuko into his bedroom.


"I thought you liked that green stuff…" a familiar voice said as Aang picked at his food.

"Oh yea, well I guess I'm not that hungry." Aang said as he watched Toph chop on squid legs on a stick.

"You know, it would have been almost a year since you've seen your parents…Aren't you nervous?" Aang asked as Toph stopped chewing.

"Nah, I just hope they don't get all protective over me again. 'Cuz once I get there, I'm laying down the rules. I'm the greatest earthbender in the world! They should be bowing to my feet!" Toph said as she smirked.

Aang chuckled lightly as he then spoke seriously, "But they're your parents. You should respect your elders…" Aang said softly.

"That may be true. But when you got two parents who kept you from the world, I wouldn't show any respect until they've earned it." Toph said as she placed the empty stick on the plate.

Aang nodded his head, he could understand how the blind girl must feel, yet she shouldn't be so harsh on them.

"The women nomad monks used to say that 'you will never know the love of the parent till you become parents yourselves.'" Aang said as he watched Toph's expression tinted with red over her pale cheeks.

"Well that won't be for a long time, I know that much." Toph said as she kicked up her feet on the table.

Aang laughed as he smiled at the earthbender as he took a bite of his cabbage.

Aang opened his eyes as he sighed. Why did he just daydream that? Remembering the blind girl nearly torn out his heart, yet guilt hung over him darkly. The young airbender couldn't sleep the whole night. Confusing thoughts of both Toph and Katara filled his mind.

Over and over he played out in his head, when he saw Katara by the front gates. How lovely she looked. How older she looked.

Yet every time he thought of Katara, Toph' image would pop in his head. It was driving him mad.

He had to save Toph no matter what!

Maybe in the end, it will end his guilt for good.


The view of Zuko's bedroom was seen as Katara was seated on a chair next to the Fire Lord's bedside.

"Just rest your head, that's it…" Katara said softly as Zuko lay on his bed and held out his hand on Katara's lap.

Placing the small bowl of water to her side, Katara then traced her hand out as the water seemed to magnetically pull over her slender dusky fingertips. Placing her palm over Zuko's, the lord held his breath as he watched the magical water glow brightly.

Its swirling energy purified over his skin as he felt his hand somehow healing slowly. Katara breathe in slowly as she exhaled through her mouth as Zuko then looked up at the waterbender. The soft glow of the water hued a light blue over her face as it enhanced the girl's beauty. Katara remained focus on healing the young man as Zuko marveled at the water princess.

Leaning over, Katara tried to get a better angle of healing his hand as she pressed her other hand in between the gap of his knees. Still gazing at the girl, Zuko's heart quickened as he saw the small traces of the girl's cleavage was showing. The more she leaned over, the more Zuko got a better view of her chest. All in all, Zuko was and foremost a man. So he was enjoying his view, there was no crime against it.

The girl's tangled hair then swayed pass her face as it flowed pass her chest. It aroused Zuko to no end as he tried his hardest not to allow the waterbender to see his rising manhood.

Unaware of Zuko's struggles, Katara smiled to herself. His hand was almost fully healed. The second she pulled away Zuko sat up. "Zuko, you should move so suddenly. You could reopen your-

Before Katara spoke another word, the Fire Lord had her in a passionate lip lock. The sudden action surprised Katara yet she didn't pull away. She actually enjoyed Zuko's lips against hers. His kiss was deep and hard, almost desperate as she tried to kiss him back. Zuko grabbed her, pulling her closer and also keeping her in place as he forced his tongue in her mouth. Katara moaned as she felt his tongue explore her mouth so slowly and light. She tasted his wild breath, like his mouth was on fire. Katara then placed her hand on his lap unintentionally as she then felt a hard lump underneath his robes. Katara then blushed as she pulled away breaking the kiss. Zuko smirked as he brushed his cheek against hers, "Go ahead…touch it…" Zuko whispered softly as Katara shivered in his embrace.

She wasn't sure what truly lie underneath those robes, but she knew the basics of it. Why was he being so bold? It strangely aroused the waterbender as she slowly rubbed her fingers over the bump. Experimentally, feeling its length and applied slight pressure to it, Katara curiously wondered what it looked like as she then heard Zuko moaned in her ear. Blushing deeply Katara pulled away as she gasped. This was too weird! Here she was trying to heal him and now she's feeling the Fire Lord up? A slight whimper escaped Zuko's lips as he then trailed his hand to the girl's chest, softly massaging her right breast. Out of instinct Katara suddenly slapped the young man. After a few seconds, Katara gasped out realizing what she did, before she could apologize, Zuko pinned her to the bed. "Ah! Zuko?!" Katara cried out as he started to kiss down her neck. "You're so damn hot…So fuckin' sexy…" Zuko mumbled as he continued to plant sloppy kisses over the girl's collarbone and neck. Katara squirmed as she cried out to protest. Yet she couldn't help it. It was making her hot all over, like a warm flame consuming her. This man…This man of fire was pressing his weight down on her, kissing her like a savaged beast, a blood-thirsty dragon. He had his prey right where he wanted, small and vulnerable underneath his powerful command. No…She was going to fight back, she was his equal.


I know. I know…Why stop here you ask? Why suspense of course! The yummy cliffhangers to keep my readers, reading on! Also reviewing…Can't forget those reviews! Now…I've been thinking if causing Mai to snap would have been an appropriate matter to allow for my story. Then again she did hang out with Azula more than usual along with her craziness… and to be honest I can't stand Mai, so why not just lock her up and throw away the key. I figured she'd show her true self sooner or later, right? Nah, I'll be good…

Anyways, more on our Zutara yummy goodness! Remember, more reviews, means quicker updates and more chapters containing Zutara hottness! Thanks for reading!