Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.

The Shadow of the Past

Chapter 10 – Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire

Story by Last Butterfly

Summary: Modern AU, no bending. The first chapter is the background of the two characters, and it is the base of the story. How did Zuko gain his scar? What happened to Katara's and Sokka's mother? Read it to find out! - Zutara, Zuko x Katara

Ursa was the happiest when she had seen Zuko and Katara said their goodbyes. The girl hopped in the car beside her with a bright smile and her son did not move an inch from the place where he stood until they were out of his sight.

"So the two of you've come around, I presume." The woman said while peeking at the tanned girl.

"Yes. Yes, we have." The blue eyed girl answered quickly before moving her gaze down at her hands in her lap. Zuko had been clear about his emotions, but the words and the look in Mai's golden eyes left her lingering in doubt. Anyone could make mistakes, and the way she treated his boyfriend, after finding out his probably greatest secret, would have been more than enough if someone else showed care for him instead of her. Besides, that other girl always looked lean, thin and elegant. Katara couldn't help but feel that she had been the ugly duckling in a race against a dark swan…

"Honey?" Ursa called out, bringing her out of her thoughts. Only now did she see how her hands had turned into fists.

"I'm sorry, I just… have too much on my mind." The tanned girl apologized. When she looked around they already turned into the parking lot and that was why Ursa was eyeing her with worry.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked politely, looking at the building before them. "If you don't want to, we can go to the doctor another time. It's just a phone call. Are you nervous about this?"

"No." The girl started confidently but after that she added with a frown. "Yes. I mean now that too, but…"

As she nervously started playing with her fingers, Ursa put a hand upon hers, meeting her gaze with a calm one. "Is there something else you would want to know about?" She looked more content than she actually felt. She thought the girl would ask something about Ozai. He… had been the greatest mistake of her life without a doubt; and life taught her enough to accept that. But saying it out aloud? It still would not be too easy…

"Just ask," She spoke lowly, her expressions remaining serious as the girl looked up at her then away. "and I'll try to answer."

The momentary silence felt ill-omened but when Katara asked her question it faded just as fast as it came. Because completely differently from Ursa's thoughts, she finally popped this question up: "Do you think Zuko would be happier with Mai?"

The older woman could only blink then she let out a laugh before instantly giving a hug to her son's girlfriend. "Oh darling, what made you to even consider this?" When she pulled away and Katara looked a bit flushed but visibly serious, she cleared her throat. "Look, if it had been Azula who said something…"

"No, it's…" The tanned skinned girl spoke but after a pause she turned away, going on a different way. "It's not important. Just forget what I said." She was about to get out of the car then, but that sad look brought the mother out of Ursa at once. She pulled on Katara's arm, looking her in the eye.

"Was it Mai who did something?" When the pair of blue orbs left her golden ones, she already had her answer- She inwardly sighed. That girl did not have a good influence, not even on Azula. Zuko caught her attention while he had lived his roughest times… back then she didn't know a better way for him to change than spending more time with Iroh. He was such a good man and he did so much for them. And he never asked anything in exchange…

The strange, warm feeling suddenly caught Ursa by surprise. After all it had been Iroh who she was thinking about… The faintest of colours came to her cheeks before shaking her head. What she originally wanted to remember how Katara affected her son's life in the best direction. And then how Zuko was like after yesterday's events…

She was not stupid. She had caught a glimpse of her son's neck when he unconsciously scratched it. She remembered blood, then the roar of a Porsche's engine… It was not that hard to put the two things together.

"I'm not sure what that girl tried to do to my son and you," Ursa closed her eyes as she turned off the car's lamps. "But from how she stormed away from our house yesterday, I can assure you," She let a smile come to her lips, which was in a way reassuring but also surprising to see. In Katara's opinion, these expressions would have fit Azula more than her mother. "She did not get what she wanted from Zuko."

Blue eyes met gold again, and after a nudge the girl finally looked confident again.

They went inside the building without saying more.

Azula had a temporary problem. She had managed to be late after her class, and now – even though she ran to get her stuff to catch a bus heading down-town - she had to struggle with her damned locker. It caused her difficulties throughout the whole year, but now it just decided to completely ignore that it was supposed to open and close, not just stay closed. She might have brought her books with her if it had been all, but her bag was also inside and without that she could not leave.

"Ddddamn you!" She hit on its door but hissed as it actually hurt more than she expected. The, after narrowing her eyes, she got ready to take her revenge on it for making her miss the bus and for causing her physically pain. She took a step backwards before kicking upwards, right into the locker with one of her boots. Fortunately the stuck door only needed this kind of persuasion as after a loud creak, it finally opened…

"Nice kick." She suddenly became very still as she realized that Jet was standing right behind her. Her golden eyes rounded nervously while she tried to come up with a cool answer, but honestly, it was Ty Lee who knew what to say to guys, not her. All she knew was that she had been late, tired and she had just grunted pretty much unladylike as she kicked in her locker. What could she possibly say now which would have made the situation worse?

Her smile froze on her face as she slowly turned around. "Jet, hi…" She said through her teeth, her eyes catching every little detail about his dark skin, hair and eyes. His confident half-smirk unnerved her even further. She felt her palms turning sweaty as he looked her up and down.

"Yo." He picked out the toothpick from between his lips, nodding towards the locker. "Is it always this hard to open?"

"Well," She tried to force her smile to remain while drying her palms in the back of her jeans. "When it's getting stubborn, it just needs a good thrust!" Her palm met the locker's door to stop herself from making it meet her forehead. Tell me you did not just say That out loud!

Jet's smirk spread across his face as he leaned against the wall beside her. "I just wanted to say, you know, if you needed some 'help' with it the next time…"

Azula, who just disappeared from his view while shoving her books inside, stopped at this before getting her bag. The she smirked slightly before shutting the locker's door close with a swift movement then offered him an innocent face that meant – 'now I do'.

The dark eyed teen's mouth stayed open for a moment then he rubbed his neck with a grin. "I was about to say that I knew a good locksmith."

The pale girl's face fell and she let out a small noise while pushing her forehead against the newly closed metal door. I knew I should have grabbed my bag…

-- Not much later --

They were sitting on a bench in front of the school, talking and laughing about nonsense for a while. When it turned out that it was indeed her who Jet had seen in pink clothes a couple of days ago. And though it made Azula feel only more uncomfortable than she already had been, but the dark haired boy did not seem to mind that. In truth, he had things in mind about her before, but seeing her feminine side that night and her faint blush and insecurity this time… there was something in her that slowly but surely pulled him in closer…

She was rubbing her elbow nervously, her golden eyes moving to the side. She felt that her cheeks were burning. It was him. Jet saw her back then in the stupid clothes of Ty Lee's sister. That just hurt her pride; she wanted to win him over in her own way and here she was. It wasn't just that fact that she could simply not chit-chat like any other girl could but she felt horribly awkward too. She wished she could just sink into the ground right then and there.

"Hey," What she caught sight of had been Jet's smile and he let out a light laugh as she did not dare to turn back towards him. He slyly leaned a bit closer to her, his hand caressing her shoulder. "I thought someone like you did not care what others saw them in."

"I don't… as long as those are my own clothes," She spoke with her eyebrows furrowed. "Which are not that… pink." As she just turned to an even darker shade of red, she tried to bow her head a bit, but as she felt his fingers slowly trail down her upper arm her eyes met his dark ones. Her lips slightly parted and she felt her blood rush through her veins faster under his gaze. She had only dreamed that once someone would look at her like he did just now…

"It doesn't matter what you're wearing," Jet spoke smoothly, the corner of his lips curling up. He felt her shiver under his touch before her glance met his. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as he leaned closer to her, not breaking their eye-contact for even a second. To her displease he stopped a mere inch away from her face, and she could feel his hot breath against her skin. "You are beautiful in everything…"

The air only came in shallow gasps as she tried her best to answer. But it was hard as her inner self cursed him for stopping. So close and yet so far!

"Is… that so?" As she swallowed Jet's smile returned. The fact that Azula felt rather awkward but still tried to keep her confidence did not avoid his attention. A part of him wondered whether she had been so close to a man like before. Has she even been kissed before…?

He unconsciously licked his bottom lip followed by her almost mesmerized golden eyes. Then he finally moved closer, pressing his lips against hers softly.

Her eyes flattered close in that very moment and she answered to him eagerly, meeting his tongue with her own as her hands moved up to his face and hair while he pulled her closer by her waist…

"Khmm!" They barely noticed a newcomer until someone poked Azula on the shoulder. She pulled away, her eyebrow twitching as she saw who had disturbed them.

"What do you want?" Azula snapped at the other dark skinned boy who was standing behind them with a grin upon his face. His blue eyes barely meeting hers above a pair of sunglasses.

"Azula," Sokka spoke with a wider grin. "We need to talk."

Jet let out a low growl as the girl pulled away from his embrace. "Why should we? Can't you see that I have better company at the moment?" She asked through gritted teeth giving him a glare in the meantime.

"Oh, sorry…" The blue eyed teen started at first but then – instead of walking away, he stepped forward, leaning against the side of their table. "Just carry on then." He stared down at them with humor in his expressions. "I have time."

Zuko decided to walk to Uncle Iroh's shop that day. The sun was shining brightly and his mood couldn't have been any better. While he thought that this would be one of the worst days in his life, everything turned out to be finally all right. Of course he still owed Katara the details of the fire, but no longer was he afraid of that.

But what made life so surprising was that while one thought that the rough times were over, it always proved otherwise. Just like when he reached the street the shop stood in, only to see the ruins.

The teen ran till he realized what he heard had been the glass-pieces breaking under his shoes. "Uncle!" He yelled but he stopped in front of the broken door, glaring wide-eyed at the trio of old women. They were sweeping and helped cleaning up the main area, while Iroh was nowhere in sight.

The grin they offered to him showed one thing: the current circumstances were not bad enough to let them forget how much they loved teasing young waiters; or just him in general.

"Hello Cutie Pie!" Hama smiled innocently and an echoing laugh erupted from the twins. Of course his scowl could have had more effect on them to actually stop snickering, hadn't he tripped in the lower edge of the glassless-door.

But at least he did not fall flat on his face.

By this time he was flushing like hell. "So, Iroh is…?" He pointed at the door over the counter questioningly, already taking a hesitant step in that direction when he got the echoed answer.

"In the Backroom."

The backroom had been in the worst shape. Tea leaves and coffee beans were all over the floor, among with some of the jars that lied in pieces.

"Uncle…?" Zuko called out while stepping through the doorway. Unfortunately, it caused his uncle to jump in his place, letting go of an otherwise untouched pot.

The pot loudly crashed against the floor from where Iroh previously swept the pieces away. "Fudge!" The old man cursed - but he did not say fudge. – He pushed his hands in his pockets hurriedly, before turning towards the newcomer. "Sorry about that nephew."

"It's okay… I guess." Zuko squinted, looking around. Now that he had a better look at him, Iroh looked paler than usual. No wonder why though, the shop needed a lot of work in this state. "Uncle, what happened here?"

The old man heaved a sigh while grabbing the sweeper again. "Some kids happened. Probably…"

The teen gave him a more than stunned stare, before taking the sweeper from him to work instead of him. "But that… doesn't make any sense. I mean most of the town knows you, no one would do such a thing!"

His uncle get a hold of a garbage bag to occupy himself – in the meantime one of his hands brushed over his pocket securely, which left his nephew frowning. "Someone apparently did. And that's what matters." Iroh answered. His expressions were darkening by the moment.

"But this is horrible! At least have you informed the police?" The scarred teen asked while sweeping a part of the pile into the bag in his uncle's hands. "Those who ruin a place like this so much just for fun should be…"

"I did not make a prosecution."

"What?!" Zuko frowned hardly, his fingers clenching on the sweeper by his side. "Uncle, what's the matter with you?"

"I have insurance. There's no need to make a bigger fuss about this than it already is." Iroh pulled the neck of the garbage bag close then dusted off his hands. His nephew was staring at him without finding the words about how stupid this move had been on his uncle's part. "On the other hand, I'm worried about your sister."

The teen was about to snap out at him for not changing the subject, but it was already too late. "Why? What happened with Azula?" In that moment his good eye widened. "Oh my god, tell me she is not the one behind this!"

His uncle frowned, hiding his arms in his sleeves. "Zuko, how could you say that? Your sister would never do such a thing."

The pale teen bowed his head to the side. Honestly, Azula actually could do something like this…

"Zuko, I said no."

"Alright, I believe you but… why are you worried again?"

"It's just…" The old man's gaze moved away, his hands falling beside him. But then, as if bringing himself together, he put his hand in his pocket again, going on with more confidence. "Nothing out of the ordinary. She just said that she would come by today and honestly, I could use some help now."

His nephew shrugged. "Then call her."

"I already tried that." Iroh said, untying his apron. When his hand left his pocket, a piece of paper fell to the ground behind him. "I just have this weird feeling and I want to check on her."

As the teen realized what his uncle was about to do, he put down everything from his hands. "Oh no, Uncle you can't leave now!" The old man started shaking his head with a small smile forming on his lips.

"I'll be back sooner than you would expect."

Zuko gasped when his uncle opened the backdoor. "But wait!" He hissed loudly, waving towards the main area where the evil trio had been. "You can't leave me here with them, they'll tear me apart!"

Iroh only offered him a sneak peek above his shoulder. "Nephew, I'm sure you'll be fine."

The scarred teen could almost hear how the hair stood up on his neck as his uncle left the shop. He looked around unmoving – he wanted to be sure that the three hags were not in his tail yet – when he caught sight of a small piece of paper on the floor. He kneeled down, getting a hold of the crinkled leaflet. He slowly started to open it to know what it was when somebody cleared their throat behind him.

"Didn't you forget something, waiter boy?" Li asked while she and her twin sister was leaning against each side of the doorway. His apron was hanging from Lo's wrinkled hands.

"Ladies, be gentler with him," Zuko soon forgot about the leaflet as Hama's arms fell around her friends necks with a sly smirk. "I bet he never had twins before!" Their throaty laugh made him pinch the bridge of his nose.

Oh spirits, why me? He grumbled something under his breath then threw the small paper in his bag without looking at it again…

Hakoda stepped out of his house, taking one last glance at the printed article in his hands. He got a copy of what Sokka and Theo had found about Zuko's father. It was something he wanted to look into.

Or at least that was what he would have wanted, had he been over his first cup of coffee. Unfortunately, Katara had forgotten to make some that morning but he had no idea how to use that 'new monster' his children just called coffee machine. The last time he tried it, he only got a lecture from his daughter about how he mixed up some filter with another one and it was only a miracle how he did not mess the whole thing up. He hated to skip coffee though, this way his eyes barely stayed open.

For an outsider, father and son looked especially alike when they were tired. Katara always teased them how they were both sleepy-heads…

Even though it was early afternoon already, the tanned man yawned tiredly. After picking up the newspaper – he previously stood on – he crossed the grass to get to his car. Then he turned on the radio before heading towards the station. He drove casually without being aware of the fact that his every move had been closely followed from a parking black sedan.

The car stood on the other side of the road, close enough to clearly see the house and whoever came near it.

Pale fingers drummed on the car's door when their owner turned back his gaze to the building.

The past few years tested his patience too much while he was waiting for the moment to return. But finally, the time was here to take his revenge. Now he only needed to find the best occasions…

Destroying Iroh's stupid shop had been the first step of crushing his little dream-world. Honestly, he would have burnt it down to the ground if it didn't have another purpose. It would probably take fatso some time to fin his little brother's message, which was the key to his planned second move… but Ozai knew that even the lined he left on the windows would give away who was behind the destruction. He gave enough credit to his older brother so that he would look further around.

You'd better be afraid, old fool… loosing those who are close to you would remind you too much of the past, wouldn't it?

The smirk creeping to his face could have definitely chilled one to the bone, even without knowing what he was thinking this girl… this girl, with her hauntingly blue eyes was also an essential part of his little 'game'. But the when and where had still been in question.

Or at least, up to that very moment: it had been.

Ozai was about to leave the place, his fingers were holding the ignition key to turn the engine on when something distracted him completely.

He heard the sound of a carefree laughter as a small red car passed by him. Zuko's tanned skinned girl brushed her wavy hair back with a hand on the front seat. She had a cheerful conversation with someone inside.

The pale man could not see the driver as they pulled over in front of the house. He did not know why he remained in his seat or why he was holding his breath while the girl got out of the car. His golden eyes glued to the driver, who stood up a minute later with a bright smile upon her face.

Ursa…

The silky raven hair, almost as long as he remembered; only the faintest make-up, which gave colour to her alabaster skin and her eyes, amber orbs that seemed to shine even in the darkest hour…

Even after all these years, she managed to take his breath away. The way she walked, gracefully following after the younger woman and away from his hiding spot, burnt into his mind like a black and white picture.

The key was about to bend within his tight palm as he got out of his car with his eyes following the target.

Now, is just as a good time as any other…

A/N: Ah, finally I can upload something! It's been a while... ^^; sorry about that but writing is not as easy as one would think.

Hehe, I just had to add the 'old lady trio' again. And a bit of Jetzula... though Jet is a minor character, but Azula deserves a bit of love.

Also, we're slowly getting closer into the finale ppl. XD Ozai is so much fun to write! XD

The title of the next chapter is: "Puppet on Strings"

Leave me a review plz, it might inspire me~ ;)