A/N - Thanks for coming back, reviewers! And please continue with the comments and support; it's greatly appriciated! XD

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

I rush of fear went through my head, but then I thought about it. How could a Water Tribe peasant such as this fool realize it? He probably had the wrong reason; he's not nearly smart enough.

But apparently Katara had told him more about me than I had thought. Because Sokka continued to say, "You're in love with my sister, aren't you?" I froze, eyes wide; for a moment, the little storage room went dead still. I was a shocked statue, while Sokka, a smirking one. After a time, my brai began to function once more, and I put it together that I was busted.

I leaned against a wall, sighed, then slid down the wall it the floor. "How'd you figure it out?" I asked, knowing I'd have no chance of convincing him against his suspicion.

"Well, Katara was telling me how you were so quiet after her and Aang...became an item. And I couldn't really muddle out why. But then you told me how you were letting me stay for her sake, and couldn't give me a reason why. So, I put two and two together and came up with you like her. I guess that means I'm right?" he asked, grinning ear to ear.

"Yeah, yeah, don't be so happy about it! I like her, big deal!" I huffed, trying to dismiss the matter. Sokka slid onto the floor next to me.

"Zuko, it is a big deal. You think I don't care that the Crown Prince to the Fire Nation has fallen in love with my sister! I care what happens to her, and I don't like how your little plan is going!" Sokka was suddenly quite angry with protectiveness, his comical demeanor now forgotten. I suppose he's just now thought about it and didn't like it!

But...why in the world would I ever care about this peasant's opinion? "I'm not looking for your approval, Sokka!" I said angrily, standing up, "Just be happy that I'm keeping the two of you together, and put on a guard's uniform!" I walk out, slamming the door behind me. I didn't bother seeing his reaction to my anger, and when he came out, the subject had already been dropped.

But, even if I didn't care, Sokka did. Unless I got his official approval, I could never date her. At the moment, Sokka was her legal guardian, seeing as her father will most likely never see her again. I didn't know about her mother, but I had presumed that she was just back in the Water Tribe village. At that time, I didn't know. But anyway, if I wanted to have a relationship with Katara, I would need Sokka to approve. Of course, I would need Katara to approve first, so I decided to focus on that dominantly. I took Sokka to one of my most trusted men.

"Lee, this is Lieutenant Bujing." Lee was the name I had told Sokka to go by around anyone who didn't know the secret. I reminded myself to tell Uncle Iroh and Katara this name, so they wouldn't spoil it in front of Zhao.

"Lieutenant, this is Lee, a new recruit I picked up when we stopped at that port of call. I would like you to make sure he's in the right place doing the right things, know what I mean?" He nodded, and I leaned in closer and said quietly, "And make sure to keep a pretty firm hand on him. His loyalty has not yet been assured," I eyed Sokka, "I'll let you know the details later, but for now, just keep a close eye and make him as inconspicuous as possible." Buijing winked knowingly. I knew I could always trust him with just about anything.

I left Sokka with Buijing and made sure Katara and Iroh knew about his fake identity. And then I decided to wait with the helmsman until we reached Fire Nation waters. At this point, I felt like I was running up and down like an idiot and was just about ready to shoot flames at the stairs, but when I reached the top floor, the Helmsman yelled to me, "FIRE NATION IN SIGHT, SIR!" I ran to the window and saw he was right. Ahead of us, maybe a mile or two away, the Fire Navy Blockade could be seen. I knew for a fact that Zhao would be stationed on one of these ships; I came to his on purpose. I wanted to rub his big fat nose in the fact that I had captured the Avatar and could finally go home and be accepted! He had always, since I had been banished with the task, wanted to come home with the prize himself. He wanted the fame and glory, and the knowledge that I had failed and would be banished forever. But he would have to live instead with the fact that I'd have all the fame and glory, and he'd just be another Commander at my feet!

The helmsman stopped as close as he could to the blockade, while still remaining safe. We stood at attention, and waited to be boarded. After a few minuted, four of Zhao's men came in and stood with two an each side of the door. As Commander Zhao finally entered, the helmsman and I dipped out head, the proper sign of respect for a man of his rank.

"Prince Zuko, why do you dare show your sorry face within a hundred miles of the Fire Nation?" he spat.

I lifted my head with a grin and replied smoothly, "Because I have captured the Avatar."

His eyes widened and he took a half-step back. "Impossible! How could you have ever done it before me?"

I shrugged, sighed, and said innocently, "It's a gift." Steam flew from his nose as he visible shook with rage.

"I don't believe it; not at all!" he yelled.

"If you don't believe it, come look for yourself." I said coolly.

He scowled. "I will! In fact, I'll check your entire ship to be sure there's no tricks!" he sneered. I gestured dramatically towards the door. I didn't care if he inspected every nook and cranny; I knew he'd want to, so I was ready. I quickly ran through in my head the little explanations I had for everything as we walked down the stairs.

Zhao stopped on the third floor and checked in all the storage rooms. He found nothing out of the ordinary. However, when we came to the room where Sokka was previously staying, we found it was filled all of the things that Iroh had bought at that port while looking for his Lotus Tile. Zhao, of course, thought nothing of it. After all, it was completely normal. But...I didn't know it was put there, or who did it, or why! Anyway, when Zhao decided there was no evidence of trickery on this floor, we traveled down to the second level. He peeked into Iroh's room, where he was meditating. Zhao briefly questioned him about the Avatar's capture, and Iroh made it seem like a completely normal, quite hostile, capture. Then Zhao turned to my room and went it. He looked at Katara surprisingly, who said nothing, but looked at him curiously.

"And who exactly is this?" he asked, turning to me.

"She was traveling with the Avatar since I found him at the North Pole." I replied, "I didn't want to chance her rescuing the boy, so I took her with me as well."

"Was she his only companion?" the commander asked.

"No." I said flatly. Katara's eyes widened behind Zhao's back; she thought I meant Sokka. But I had no intentions of breaking my promise. "The boy had a pet lemur, which I sold to some pirates, and a giant flying bison, which his now being pulled behind out ship." Zhao looked a little surprised at the sound of the bison, but he still had plenty of questions.

"But why is she in your bedroom?" Zhao asked suspiciously. I suddenly realized why Iroh's things were in Sokka's room.

"I had no extra rooms, as you saw." If Iroh hadn't put his things in that room, it would have put a hole in my plan! He's a genius!...Sometimes.

"So, what will you do with her?" Zhao questioned. I faked a devilish smile.

"Probably a maid in the Fire Lord's Palace!" I said. Katara faked a surprised shriek. Zhao was totally buying it!

He sat down behind Katara saying with mock concern, "Oh, don't worry. It's not so bad. I hear the Fire Princess is pretty nice." He started cackling evilly. I clenched and unclenched my fists in anger. How dare he frighten her so badly! Only I can do that!

"Alright, everything's clear here, move on." Zhao said, now regaining his suspicious and angry composure. As we were walking out, I couldn't help but notice that Katara looked extremely frightened. I reminded myself to make sure she was okay later.

Zhao inspected my dining room and kitchens, again saying there was no problem with it. Seeing the time, I suggested that we take a little lunch break, and Zhao complied. The meal was short, and silent. Zhao and I both deeply despised each other, so there was no comversation. I decided to wait the gloating until he'd seen the Avatar himself. We went around back so he could examine Appa. "And what do you plan to do with this beast?" he asked, looking him over.

"...I'm not quite sure yet..." I said, also looking at Appa.

"You should sell him to the circus! It would fetch quite the hefty sum." he said. I nodded, acting absentminded about it. We now moved on to Aang's prison cell. This, Zhao preferred to save for last, so he inspected the crew's galley first, then we went to see him. When the door was opened, Zhao walked in slowly. Aang glared at him, showing no fear.

"So this is the Avatar? You've got to be joking! Just a little boy?" Zhao chuckled.

"Hey! I'm not weak! In fact, I bet I'm stronger than you!" Aang taunted. Zhao furiously raised an arm to punch him, but I grabbed it.

"No, Zhao! My father wants the Avatar unharmed." I said irritably. Zhao nodded reluctantly, and settled for just some unsettling words instead.

"Listen, kid! Don't you ever think your stronger than I am! I could kill you down in ten seconds flat! Don't your dare forget it! You watch your mouth, or someday, you'll pay!" he said through clenched teeth. His ego is even bigger than mine, and that is saying something! As the commander walked away, I tried not to laugh behind his back. Aang must have noticed, because he quietly snorted in amusement. I winked at him, sort of getting along with him for the first time.

Once we were out on deck, I faced Zhao head on. "So, would you not say that I have done what I was sent to do?"

"'Sent?' You were banished!" Zhao retorted.

I flared, "Well, it doesn't matter now, because I've done what you could not! You have been shown up by a banished teenager! I will go down in history as the savior of the Fire Nation for capturing the Avatar once and for all! You will have to once again bow at my feet, just as you do my father and sister! I will surpass you and take my rightful place as Crown Prince of the Fire Nation!"

Zhao stood for a moment, then fell to his knees. "I can have nothing to say to that. You are right." he said despairingly. I had won, Zhao was finished. As terribly cruel as that may sound, it felt perfectly wonderful.

So, a few moments later, Zhao was about to board his own ship and signal the blockade to let us pass. By now, he had gotten angry again, and we were back to bickering. "See you in the Palace, Commander Zhao!" I gloated.

"You'd better hope you don't!" he hissed, "And, by the way, it's Admiral Zhao now, thanks to your father." He grinned. I tried to hide my disappointment at my father's preference to Zhao compared to me.

"Just get off my ship and let me pass." I said through my teeth. Zhao walked swiftly across the gang plank, smiling all the way. So, I suppose in the end, it was a tie between us. I got the Avatar, but my father still liked him better. And Azula. And Iroh. And just about everybody else.

But that wasn't important right now. As we passed into the Fire Nation, I remembered to check up on Katara. Oh yeah, and unchain her...