Thank you for being patient readers! I'm currently in a long distance relationship and Christmas break was time to spend with my boyfriend. I have seen long distance relationships work out but no one understands how it can break your heart having to leave after such a long visit unless you have been in the same place as me.

Must admit that I haven't undated in a while but it could be worse lol.

Anyway on with the story, by the way idk I might have to put a little bit more Azula slash Katara in this story… sorry can't resist but this will also have plenty of Zutara coming up.

Chapter 11

Katara's POV

The next few days went by so fast all I can remember is being sore. I trained all day. I spent my mornings doing a few yoga moves with TyLee. She would lay out two small pink mats and guide me through various positions. I had various routines memorized and I noticed it improved my control when water bending, I could focus, and move my body fluidly.

Then Azula would spare with me with hand to hand combat no water bending or fire bending. Sometimes she would stop me when she saw me poorly perform a basic move and have me practice a single movement over and over until I could do it in my sleep. Mai would sit on the sidelines and watch our every movement.

After my break for lunch I would work on my water bending till dinner time. After dinner Mai would teach me basic skills with various fire nation weapons. She didn't speak much and occasionally she would spare with me and I couldn't help but notice the little oversteps and the swing of a knife that came almost too close. I tried to keep my distance from her as often as I could.

Yue was summoned to Zuko's room every night and I would meditate with Azula during this time. After a few hours I would go and get Yue and lead her back to me room. Zuko would smile at me most of the time but I couldn't help but feel like he was hiding something from me.

Before I knew it a whole month had passed and I only danced on Sundays, my day for relaxation. Yue would come and watch me dance and she would smile when I tried to mimic some of her movements. If I turned around fast enough to catch her off guard I could see her disappointment if I had just done a fire nation dance move.

Yue would talk to me about my brother just before bed and tell me all about where she grew up and what it was like living in the northern water tribe. She continuously reminded me that I was considered a southern water tribe princess and someday I would live like one and we wouldn't be held prisoners here for long.

I would get really quite in times like this. I couldn't help but want to stay at the fire nation. I lived like royalty and I was learning how to hold my own in battle and even to water bend. How much more accepting could the fire nation be towards a water bender? Azula was giving me an opportunity to discover who I was.

I am a water bender raised in the flames. I am persistent like water and powerful like fire. Azula would smile every time my temper got out of hand during training. I was her protégé. Fire nation solders looked down when I walked past them in the halls and none wanted to spare with me. Azula and her two friends were the only ones who didn't seem to fear me even as I began to master water bending.

Yue continuously made remarks when she watched me bend. I moved like a fire bender, my moves were nothing like water bending, yet the water obeyed. I knew it was times like this when Yue looked down on who I was. Why wasn't I fighting against the fire benders? Why was my temper not directed at them, why didn't I speak poorly of them?

I had no answer for her. I knew that my brother was below my chambers in a cell but I also knew that because of me he was being treated well. Yue went to visit him often and she always tried to drag me along. I couldn't bring myself to see my brother. I didn't want him to hate what I have become. I was fire nation in everything except my looks. My dark skin, brown hair, and blue eyes singled me out as a water bender.

Monday rolled around and Azula came to my chambers early in the morning. She wasn't wearing her usual training outfit but a long black kimono. She pulled me by the waist so we were inches apart.

"I'm going out for the day. I have to meet with a few generals and their sons orders from my father. I want you to spend the day relaxing. I know you dance on Sundays and you need to give your body time to breathe and relax. Meditate today and maybe take a walk but nothing more." Her hand came up and wrapped under my chin and pulled my face towards hers. She planted a soft kiss on my lips. Then turned around and left my rooms.

I felt my lungs heave in pain then I let go on the long breath I didn't realize I was holding. I turned back to my mirror. In the reflection I could see Yue sitting on my bed. From her facial expression I knew she hated who I was at the moment. I ran to the closet and put on a thin white kimono that had long off the shoulder sleeves and stopped just above my knees. I left the room without a word to Yue and went to find a quite place to meditate and get my mind off of the disappointment I knew I would find every time I looked into a pair of eyes as blue as mine.

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