Chapter Twenty – two:

-Zuko-

We took our time walking home. We were in no hurry and I wanted to make sure Katara didn't pass out on me because of how tired she was. Every now and then it looked like she was about to doze off, but then she would shake her head and would become slightly more alert than she had been. This happened just about every five minutes. Once we were about ten minutes away from the apartment I stopped her and had her face me. She looked up at me groggily. "Katara you're about ready to pass out. Why don't you let me carry you?"

"Zuko you don't have to. I can walk a little longer" she tried to persuade me. Yeah, I'm not falling for that.

"I'm sure you could if you weren't so tired, but right now you're in no place to argue. So please let me carry you. It would put my mind at ease knowing you won't fall over from lack of sleep."

"Fine" she sighed. Katara stepped closer to me and wrapped her arms loosely around my neck as I picked her up bridal style. "Hey Zuko?" I looked back down at her and nodded for her to continue. "This really was the best day I ever had. Thank you so much." And with that she rested her head against my shoulder and I could feel her cool breath on my neck as she closed her eyes.

I smiled and whispered, "Your welcome" but I highly doubt she heard me. Her breathing was steady and she never responded. Not even ten seconds and she is already out like a light. That doesn't bother me though. She still needs her rest and I don't mind carrying her.

I carried her the rest of the way back to the apartment and found myself struggling to think of a way to be able to open the door while still carrying Katara without waking her up if Uncle wasn't home yet. Luckily I saw the light reflecting from underneath the door way. So I used my foot to kick on the door. "Uncle" I whispered loud enough for him to hear without disturbing Katara. He opened the door and a bemused expression flashed across his face at what he encountered. Then he was about to comment and I was not in the mood for his sly remarks so I said, "Don't start. Just please open the door so I can get Katara to bed without waking her up."

Uncle stepped out of the way and went over to our room to push the doors open and took the basket from me before he closed the door once Katara and I made it to our room. Gently I laid her down on the bed, took the flower out of her hair, and pulled the blanket up to her chin so she would be warm. I stroked the side of her face and she sighed, but didn't wake up.

Then without even thinking about it I sat down by the head of the bed and watched her as she slept.

My mind was going at full speed reviewing what had happened from the moment I found Katara in the woods up to everything that had just happened within the past few hours. I can't make sense of what is happening to me. If Katara could remember right now she would undoubtedly hate me and would want me as far away from her as possible. None of this ever would have happened had I not found her in the woods that night. Had I not been there the exact moment that she went running by me that other fire bender would have taken her back with him. And then… I can't even think of that. Just the thought of how close she could have possibly been to death had she not ran away and our paths crossed sent shivers down my spine. Then I went over how my Uncle commented that I had changed.

I would never admit it out loud, but I have changed. My temper isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. I would smirk every now and then, but I had never smiled so much in my life since my mother disappeared. Then noticing Katara's beauty whereas when I would encounter her with the Avatar and her brother I had never even given her a second thought where that category was concerned. And the two times within this short time that I wanted to kiss her; I don't understand that at all. Growing up I never gave girls a second thought except to give my usual proclamation of 'girls are crazy' out loud, not caring who heard me. I had never even considered kissing a girl once in my life. But then Katara comes along and everything I thought I stood up for, who I was when she knew me before her accident, practically goes out the window. I leaned my head against the wood wall and covered my face with my hands in frustration.

But I'm still technically her enemy, I reminded myself angrily.

And yet this thought rarely occurs because you have become attached to her. You don't see her as an enemy anymore. You see her as a friend, maybe even more. You have fallen for this water bender and you won't admit it, I argued with myself.

Back and forth, back and forth I was arguing with what I thought were my rational and irrational sides inside of me. I growled lowly as I dug my hands into my hair feeling like I was about to rip it out. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. I don't know what to do.

Suddenly I noticed the light from the moon shining through the window after being hidden behind the clouds for a while and fall upon Katara's face. She truly looked beautiful. The feeling that I had when I wanted to kiss her earlier today resurfaced inside of me. But I'm not an idiot. If I were dumb enough to try and kiss her now and she were to wake up there is no doubt she wouldn't punch me in the face. No one said you had to kiss her on the lips! Yeesh Zuko use your head! You could just give her a goodnight kiss on the forehead or on the cheek! That's not a crime! After arguing with myself for a couple of more minutes I sat up on my knees to face Katara. A strand of hair had fallen across her face so I carefully pushed it out of the way as I found myself leaning forward to give her a quick kiss on the cheek when all of a sudden Katara shifted and turned herself towards me.

And I ended up kissing her near the corner of her mouth.

After that I immediately retreated back to my spot where I had been sitting for at least the past half hour. I was so shocked that my hand literally flew to my mouth and I felt my eyes widen. Sneaking a glance back at Katara I sighed with relief that she had not woken up. Thank goodness! If she had woken up she would have killed me, literally! I had come so close to actually kissing Katara on the lips. My lips were tingling just from that one kiss; although in all honesty it wasn't a real kiss.

My head started spinning again. Maybe I do like Katara more than a friend, but what good could come of this? I was questioning myself over and over again. Somewhere along the way I hadn't realized I fell asleep with my head resting on the mattress close to Katara's head.