Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"It'sall my fault," said a young boy with blue arrows going down the front of his head.

"No it's not Aang," Sokka said turning to face his friend, "we went over this already, it was everybody's fault that Katara's missing".

Aang sighed and hung his head, "I could have went with her, Appa had you and Toph to watch him," he looked at Sokka, then tilted his head so he was looking at the sky.

"And I could have put off food and went with her," Sokka tried to smile at him but Aang wasn't paying attention. He sighed and walked over to his worried friend, "Aang well find her, she's probably just… you know… checking out the forest."

Aang looked at him; Sokka could tell he totally did not believe that. "That's real believable Sokka." Aang said staring at him, "When's Toph supposed to be back?"

"Right now, Twinkle Toes," said Toph's familiar voice. The two boys turned around to see her working her way threw the rest of the branches and then using her earth bending to finally get threw and walk out into the small clearing. She was carrying a bag, which she threw to Aang.

"There's Appa's medicine," she said walking over and sitting next to them. She went silent after that.

"Well?!" Aang put up his hands and stared at Toph.

"What?"

Aang just stared at her mouth agape, "Katara! Did you find anything out about Katara," he looked at Sokka then back at Toph.

"Oh yea, sugar princess," Toph smiled but it was soon replaced with a serious face. She looked at both of them and sighed, "When I went to town and asked people if they had seen a girl in water bender clothing with brown hair, they said yes."

Toph looked down and Aang got annoyed by her silence and Sokka had also. Sokka stood up and paced around and then looked back at Toph.

"And? Do they know what happened?" Sokka wanted to know what happened to his sister now! He didn't want to have Toph going all quiet on them.

She looked up at him, sadness, worry, madness was all shown in her face and Sokka got scared. He went down on his knees so he and Toph were level.

"I talked to this lady who had seen a girl about a day ago with an older guy. She said the girl was acting a bit strange but she told me she didn't take much notice to it until the girl started screaming and kicking the man," she took a breath, "then she told me the man pulled out a knife and had pushed the girl to the ground- but the girl got up and started running away… which the man chased after her. And then…"

"And what?" Aang spoke. His hand was trembling by his side and his eyes were open in shock, "what happened Toph!?"

"He stabbed her," she said it above a whisper, "and then he started running away but he was killed by a fire nation guy," she closed her eyes tight trying to remember the name, "It was 'scar face'"

"Who?" Sokka was taken back by everything and now she starts making up names like 'scar face'. Wait! She means Zuko. "Zuko!"

"Yea that's his name," she nodded, "he killed the man and carried Katara onto his ship-"

"Wait! Zuko has Katara!?" Aang was trembling with anger and fear, "he probably let her die! And afterwards drank her blood!"

"Drank her blood?" Toph stared at him, "Don't get too worked up. Rumour's are going around saying that Katara is getting healed and that the Prince himself is staying with her until the operation is finished."

Aang yelled in frustration and got up and walked away and Sokka had a blank look on his face- it was soon replaced with worry and fear.

"Do you think she'll be ok?" Sokka asked trying not to have his voice crack. Toph crawled over to him and put her hand on his back, "She'll be fine. Katara's a tough cookie."

Sokka smiled at Toph, "If she's being healed that's good… but what about if she isn't?" Toph didn't answer.

Aang came back, his eyes red and puffy. He was holding his staff in one hand. "We have to find Katara."

Three days passed since then.

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Zuko woke up, stretching and yawning as he opened his eyes. He swung a leg over the bed and the other followed. He sat on the side of his bed, head hung, remembering he had to get Katara into another room… which, of course, was his bedroom.

He stood up and walked over to his large mahogany dresser and opened it up, pulling out a black underneath shirt, then everything else which contained the colours of: gold and red, expect amour. He got dressed and when he was finished he walked over to his bathroom.

He cleaned his face. There has to be somewhere else she can go. Nope just my bedroom. This sucks. How am I going to get her to actually agree to come? Force is always an answer… but I don't want to force her. Wait why do I care? She's just a stupid girl who's friends with the Avatar.

He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of thoughts. He dried his face with his golden red towel and headed for the bedroom door. Before he left he grabbed a small bag and put it in his pocket. This is going to be one loud morning.

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Katara woke by Hito shaking her gently. She looked up and smiled at him, then rolled over very slowly trying to make the least pain possible, then closed her eyes again.

Hito shook her again. "Lady Katara you must wake up. Prince Zuko will be here soon to talk about were you will be taken today".

Katara opened her eyes and let out a low grunting noise. "Why can't he wait until later," Katara then remembered that this was Hito's room- It was small but still his room, "Hito I'm sorry- It's just that-"

Hito chuckled, "Its fine, Its fine," he helped her sit up in the bed, trying not to have pain overcome her but she kept wincing and when they were done she was panting and let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Hito," she smiled at him. He smiled back, "You're very welcome Lady Katara".

"You can just call me Katara, Hito".

"No, No. Its shows respect to the Lady and shows that we are gentlemen," he nodded his head and smiled a warm smile. Katara smiled back, her eyes shining blue.

Hito and Katara chatted for 10 minutes until Zuko had showed up and walked threw the door, with Iroh by his side. He looked at Katara and she just stared back at him.

"I'll leave my lord," Hito bowed then walked out of the room and waited outside.

Katara watched him leave and wished he hadn't. She looked at Zuko, sending daggers at him. "Well," she snapped at him and he cocked one eyebrow up.

"Well," he had a blank look on his face, "I've figured out a place for you to go."

"And that would be where?" she crossed her arms and still stared at him, her voice had a bit of edge on it, "the prison?"

"No," Zuko said, watching her stare at him with those eyes. She wants to kill me… but she's kind of cute when she's angry- Wait! What? She's a stupid water peasant she's not the least attractive.

Katara had watched Zuko wrinkle his nose, she didn't think much of it. "One of the other ships?"

"No," he smirked, he would wait until she gave up and then he would tell her and he would watch her freak out- but he still didn't want to have to hear her screaming and have to figure out a way to get her into his bedroom- Wait. How am I going to get her into my bedroom- she can hardly walk.

"Zuko!" Katara looked at him annoyed, what was he daydreaming?

"What?" he snapped at her, even though he probably shouldn't have, he was the one lost in his own thoughts and didn't hear what she said.

She rolled her eyes, "Is there any rooms on this ship I could go on?" the same answer came, 'No'. "Then what the kitchen? The hallway!" her voice had risen, "Or maybe even-"

"My bedroom?" Zuko said interrupting her sentence. He watched her widen her eyes in disbelief and he grinned to himself- but of course the screaming was sure to come.

"What?!" she practically screamed it. Zuko and Iroh flinched at the sound and they watched as she jerked herself upwards causing another scream, much louder, to erupt from her. Iroh was already going to her aid and Zuko went to the other side to help her.

Stupid girl. It's like she totally forgot she had a major cut… but I guess I would have to, if someone told me I had to sleep with the person that was keeping me prisoner.

Katara whole body had sharp pains going threw it. Her stomach felt like she was jabbed with the knife again. She saw Zuko and his Uncle coming to her aid and at that time she really didn't care who helped her.

Iroh placed his hand on her back and rubbed it and Zuko got a bagful of ice. He walked over, pulled down the covers and laid it softly on her stomach where the cut was. When he did this she gripped his hand and squeezed. His hand hurt and her nails were digging into it- she must be in a lot of pain. She breathed out a long breath and let go of Zuko's hand.

"Better?" asked Iroh's soft worried voice.

She nodded and looked at Iroh and smiled, she said 'thank you,' and then she looked at Zuko and just glared at him. She turned her head and didn't say anything. Her hands were shaking and her stomach still cringed with pain. She let out deeps breaths, trying to get he breathing steady.

"What no thanks?" Zuko was annoyed. She didn't say anything, just looked back at him, "Whatever, like I really care."

She glared at him. "You can't," she put on an evil stare on him, "What are you some hormonal boy who wants to have a defenceless girl in his bed so you can do stuff?"

"What?! I would never!" he was so mad, he started to feel his body temperature rise. He wanted to blast her with fire for saying that. How could she think he would do that to her? "There's no other place for you to go! I'm not going to do stuff."

"Sicko," Katara looked at him and smirked, "I'm not going- you can't make me."

"You have to!" Zuko yelled and threw up his hands which gave a spark of fire and then died out again, he saw his uncle in the corner of his eye put on a worried look. He yelled in frustration, "You can't stay in Hito's room! And there is no other place for you to go."

"Well if you hadn't kidnapped me we wouldn't be in this situation!" Katara yelled back. She wanted to get up and hit him.

"If hadn't kidnapped you, you would be dead!" he shouted back. He turned his back to her. Trying not to blast her with his fire bending. He took deep breaths trying to cool down. When he finally turned back around she looked at him- not with madness or frustration but with sad eyes.

"You're right," she bent her head down, "I would be dead."

He stood there shocked. Did she just say he was right? The person he had just been called a sicko by. He didn't know what to say.

"But you still kidnapped and have me as your prisoner!" she looked back up and pointed a finger at him, eyes filled with anger again but he could still see sadness.

Of course, she was yelling again. What did he think she was going to do- give him an apology and a thank you? He did- he wanted a thank you for saving her life. Rage boiled inside him, his body temperature rising again. He knew Katara and Uncle could feel the heat coming off his body, he knew they knew that he was mad.

Katara felt the heat- she grew scared that he would fire bend on her. But the worry made her yell at him because it was the only thing she could think of doing. "I'm your prisoner and want me to go and hop in your bed and sleep with you! You don't have any emotions and don't think straight. You don't love anyone-"

Zuko slammed her against the wall, nails digging into her skin. His hands started burning making Katara flinch at the heat. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again!" He pushed her harder against the wall.

Katara felt the burning hands on her skin. It hurt like hell, her eyes started watering. Zuko just glared at her, like he wanted to murder her- and she thought that he was.

"Zuko! Stop your hurting me! Please!" Katara felt a tear roll down her cheek, "STOP!" she screamed it in his face and he pulled away from her, "you were hurting me," she whispered and gave one glance at him and started to cry, holding herself In her arms.

"Zuko," Iroh's voice came.

"Don't start Uncle," he said. Watching Katara he felt regret rise in him, but he pushed it back down, hiding it from himself. He walked away from her looking for Hito.

Iroh stayed back and walked up to her. "I'm sorry Katara. My nephew has a temper and sometimes he," he looked at her and felt hurt for her, "lets it out the wrong way."

Katara sniffed and didn't look at Iroh. She knew he was much better than Zuko but right now she wanted to be alone.

"I'm sorry," he walked over to the table and picked up a white cream, "put this on the burns, it will make them heal faster."

He soon left, feeling very bad for Katara. He wished he had done something but Zuko had told him very clearly just to stand there and do nothing He was there if katara hadhurt herself,not if Zuko had hurt her. Next time he'll do something- he'll make sure of it.

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Zuko walked out of the room angry. It seems like whenever he leaves Katara he's in a much bad mood than he was when he had come in. He spotted Hito and walked over to him, taking out the small bag he had taken before he left his room, he shoved it in Hito's hands.

"Put that in Katara's drinking water. It's a sleeping powder, It will dissolve, so It'll look like perfectly clear normal water. She's not cooperating and I need some way to get her into my room."

Hito raised his eyebrows, then quickly put on a neutral face. He took the bag, bowed to Zuko, muttered a quick, "yes prince Zuko," and scurried off to his room which Iroh was just leaving.

Zuko waited in the hall until she fell asleep. Trying to rid his anger. Trying to rid his thoughts. You don't love anyone- Katara's voice rang in his head. She didn't know anything. She didn't know his past. His mother.

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Hito offered Katara a glass of water and she took it gratefully. She said a quick 'thank you,' and drank the water, feeling the refreshing liquid slide down her throat. She drank the whole cup and Hito took it and placed it on the table. Her burns had subsided when she had put on the cream Iroh gave her. Her shoulders and back still hurt though, from where Zuko had slammed her. And her stomach throbbed. It always throbs.

Katara felt a wave of sleepiness overcome her. Then another. She tried staying awake and upright but she quickly found herself falling closing her eyes and falling asleep. Why am I so tired? She then fell fully asleep- going into a dream.

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So how'd you guys like it? YoU KnOw ThE DriLL. Push the purple button and review. Thanks to everyone who has replied- the more replies the quicker the next chapter will be up! You guys get me motivated. 5th chapter coming! Might take me longer than the rest or maybe not.