I waited for Katara and Aang to finish their "date." When Katara told me she was ready to go, I led her dumbly up to bed. I didn't speak to her that night, or the next morning; I hardly spoke at all, actually. She, however, looked as giddy as ever. Normally, I would've enjoyed seeing her this happy, but not now. I had completely given up. I felt lost...forgotten...nearly dead.

At breakfast, I picked at my food, barely nibbling at it. Iroh didn't show up until Katara was almost finished. Speaking of which, when Katara had finished eating, she asked me if she could go see Sokka. I nodded my consent slowly, thinking of how she would rush up to tell him about last night. Feeling as emotional as I did, I actually wasn't really mad at her. I couldn't be; I still loved her. I was actually mad at Aang. But mostly I was just sad that she didn't like me as she did Aang.

Anyway, Katara didn't actually tell me about her talk with Sokka (like I really care about that anyway). So, I will tell you about what happened to me while she was gone, as that story will actually be interesting. Because we ALL know she just went to tell him about stupid Aang and how stupid Aang loves her and how she loves stupid Aang back! Whoa. Sorry about that; I get pretty angry about it.

Getting back to the actually story, as soon as Katara was heard going up the stairs, my uncle looked at me. "What is the matter, my nephew?" he asked kindly.

I sighed, knowing there was no lying to him anyway. I replied sadly, "Katara and Aang like each other and they kissed last night!"

"Oh, I see. You are jealous." he said.

"No, I'm not jealous." I said, again sadly. I actually wasn't. "I just know that she will never like me now. My chances were slim before as it was. But now...I know it's impossible."

"Do not lose hope, Zuko!" Uncle Iroh pleaded, "Do not give up!"

I shook my head. "But uncle, there is no way. All she'll think about now is Aang. She won't even look at me, much less like me." I said.

"Think about it, Zuko. Once we get to the Fire Nation, they'll never see each other again. And she will be spending every moment with you! She'll soon forget about the Avatar and you will be free to make your move." he said. I thought about it, and realized he was right. Being as philosophical as he was, it's easy to forget how much of a romance my uncle can be. Since his wife left him, he's always been flirting with TONS of ladies. Granted, these ladies are usually old and ugly, but he certainly charmed them all the same.

Anyway, I stood up with renewed hope and walked up to the helm-room. I knew we'd be nearing Fire Nation waters today, and I had to make sure the entire ship was perfectly normal. I checked how the helmsman was doing, and worked my way down. On the third floor, I stopped into Sokka's room.

"Sorry to interrupt you two..." I began, and paused.

"That's alright, Zuko; we were just finishing up. What is it?" Katara said, still having that "stoopid happy" attitude about her.

"Today we will be crossing into the Fire Nation, and everything as to be in tip-top shape. Zhao will be coming aboard and checking the entire ship, so we can't let him find anything out of place!" I said to them. Surprisingly, they both nodded, not at all angrily. I mean...Katara's agreement didn't surprise me. What did, was Sokka. I hesitated before speaking my mind, but eventually said to Sokka, "Why...Why aren't you rebelling at all?"

Sokka looked back at me determinedly, "Because I don't want anyone to get hurt. And, if that is to happen, I know I'll have to do whatever you want."

"Oh...well...thank you." I said, not finding another response that made any sense. Besides, isn't this how I wanted things? Anyway, Sokka nodded again, so I told them what today would be like. "Now, Sokka, I have a special plan for you. I'll be back once everything else is sorted out. Now, Katara, you come with me." I said, and walked out. I heard Katara's voice saying good-bye to her brother and her footsteps following me. I went down another floor and peeked into Iroh's room. He was cleaning up any little messes. He, too, knew Zhao would be making an inspection today. As Iroh turned at the sound of me opening the door, I said to him, "Good work, Uncle Iroh. Thank you." He nodded and went back to cleaning. I now turned into mine and Katara's room. She also came in and sat on her bed.

I sighed, expecting the protest that was about to come. "Katara, I'm sorry, but...I'm going to have to chain you up." I said, as gently as I could, trying to make it sound less bad. It didn't really help.

"What?" she screeched angrily, "Why do you have to chain me up?" She got up and started toward the door. Instinctively, I quickly stuffed my key in the door and locked it. She scowled and glared at me.

"Katara, just listen. Commander Zhao is an angry, ruthless man!"

"Oh, you must be related, then!" she retorted with a grin. My nose flared with steam at her insult.

"Do not get me angry, Katara." I tempted, trying to control myself. Her devilish smile turned into a look of fear, although Katara was trying to hide it. Now that I had calmed myself a little, I continued. "If Zhao sees that I let you roam free around the ship, he'll throw a fit! He'll never let me into the Fire Nation!"

"Sounds good to me..." Katara mumbled quietly. When she noticed me looking at her, she froze, probably hoping for her life that I didn't hear. I let her off easy and went on with my explanation, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I have to make it look like you are a prisoner here, or I'll be in big trouble." I took the tiniest step closer, "I'm so sorry, but it must be done." Katara sighed and shifted her weight irritably from one leg to the other.

"Alright..." she said, clearly not happy.

"I wish I didn't have to, really." I said. Now Katara looked at me, almost suspiciously. There I went again with my big mouth!

Why am I doing that? All the time, I wish desperately for her to know I love her, but when I let it slip, I kill myself over it.

Anyway, I tried to get Katara's mind off of it and got two pairs of shackles from a drawer in my dresser. "I always keep 'em around, just in case." I said slyly. Katara rolled her eyes as I nudged her over to her little cot. I now realized how wonderful an opportunity this could be...If I chained her up on the bed and locked the door...I knew we wouldn't reach Fire Nation borders for about another hour, so I had the time...Merely the thought of her body gave me chills. At this point, it couldn't be simpler...

But I knew I couldn't. Not just because I could risk her telling someone, but because I just couldn't. Not to her. She would be perfectly miserable and would hate me forever. No, if I wanted to do that, I would have to wait until she wanted to do so also. However, that would be a looong way away...No! I can't; I just can't. I did my best to put the idea out of my head; trying to stop its torture.

I told Katara to sit on the bed and I wrapped the short chain around a bar at the base of the bed, putting an end on each ankle. I did the same with her arms on the same bar. She now sat cross legged, glaring me to pieces.

If I had been in the situation a few weeks ago, I'd be marveling at her hatred of her current state. But now that I had spent so much time with her, I hated it as much as she did. However, I was careful not to let her know that. Her earlier suspicion had be paranoid now, so I was very careful.

"I'll be back with Zhao in a little over an hour. Bye, sorry!" and just like that, I walk out, closing the door behind me. I went down one more floor and checked on things in the kitchen, and everything was neat and tidy. I now went down below to tell Aang what was going on. He was just finishing being fed breakfast himself. I told him of the situation and gave him pretty much the same directions as Sokka, except I was a little more stern, considering my anger towards him for taking Katara from me. He didn't think of the logic that Sokka did, so he was not to pleased with me either. But that doesn't really matter. I went into the crew's galley to find a huge mess of plated, cups, utensils, and leftover food! I stormed angrily up on deck and stomped up to the first pair of crewmen I found. "You two! Clean up that giant mess you left in the galley!" I yelled, pointing to the trapdoor. They nervously bowed and scurried down the steps. I tried to calm myself again as I walked around to find the three men attending to the bison. Katara, as she promised, had spent plenty of time with the bison, making sure he was never unfed, or unloved. I still had to idea what on earth I would do with him. There seemed to be no other alternative to bringing him to a circus. I could NOT bring him home. As I said to Katara, I was risking enough requesting that she be my servant. If I asked Father if I could keep a giant flying bison, he'd be furious!

Anyway, I told the crew on watch to make extra sure the bison didn't do anything dangerous. Seeing the bison's sad face, I added, "And give him something to eat...And someone climb on and rub his fur on his head. He looks lonely." I always made sure the bison was never sad, especially when Katara was around. But, since it had become such a habit, I did it even when I was alone. I may be the son of Fire Lord Ozai, meanest man on the planet, but I've got a good side.

Now that everything was sorted out, I went back up to the third floor to deal with Sokka. "What's this 'special plan,' Zuko?" he said suspiciously when I opened the door.

"Don't worry, nothing bad. Now, you said you'd do what I want, right? So, can I trust you enough to unchain you?" Sokka laughed his silly, happy laugh; probably the first time he'd done it since their capture. And I couldn't help a smile, in spite of myself.

"Calm down, Zuko! I won't run away!" he said, still chuckling a little. I took off his chains, still a little wary despite Sokka's comical reassurance. I led him, with my hands holding his firmly behind his back down the hall to one of the storage rooms. This one happened to be filled with guards' uniforms of various sizes.

"Find one that fits and put it on." I said. When Sokka looked back at me in shock, I returned his surprise. "You mean Katara didn't tell you yet? Instead of shipping you off to be enslaved somewhere, I'm going to make you a guard. Or at least, make you pretend you are. This way, you and Katara will be with each other." I explained. Then, Sokka asked what I had prayed desperately that he wouldn't."

"...Why are you doing this for us?" he asked. I sighed, searching frantically for the answer that wouldn't come.

"Well, um, because...I, well, I..." I was about to nervously look at the floor, but I noticed Sokka grin. I suddenly got a little irritated. "What?" I asked.

"I know why you're doing it for us." he said slyly.

A/N - My glorious reviewers, where did you go?