A/N: Okay so this is were things start to kick of and progress, I think this will be my last update until a least a few days do to me being busy, and me wanting to think more carefully about how I want everything to go in the story. Anywho thought I'd keep you guys updated! Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 6

When the next morning came the sun didn't shine quite as brightly as it once did, the birds remained silent, and the morning air felt dry and chilling. Nothing felt alive. It was only until Katara and Zuko encountered Moe did they find out why. Katara cried and Zuko held her as she released her emotions. Both of them were astonished and shocked, for another young soul had been taken away during this cruel war. Sora had passed away last night in her sleep.

Moe's face was ridden with sadness, and inside the house you could hear sounds of Nori's heart breaking. Moe broke the news to Zuko and Katara and even though his heart was breaking too he still offered them their coach ride because he was a man of his word. Katara and Zuko both tried to convince him to stay home but he shook his head and told them that it'd be better for Nori to have time alone, plus that Sora enjoyed spending the little time she had with them, so the coach ride was his pleasure.

Hesitantly Zuko and Katara decided to take the ride and packed their things unto the wagon. The sat together in the back and Katara leaned onto Zuko's shoulder still overwhelmed with shock and sadness, they both were. After everything was boarded onto the wagon Moe cracked his whip and the horses began moving and the creaks of the wheels squeaked out as they began to turn. Katara looked out the back of the wagon and saw the house distant itself from them and for a second she could've sworn she saw a shiny figure of a small girl with beautiful long black hair waving goodbye to her.

The coach ride was long and bumpy and had Zuko and Katara restless. There was no point in sleeping because the second you'd lay your head down to rest it'd just hop back up and then slam back down again. They both just sat up against the edges of the wagon.

The first half of the ride was silent and empty. Then Katara finally spoke out in the midst of the silence.

"She should be here… She had more motivation about the ending of this war than the both of us…" Her voice wobbled as she spoke.

She reached for their bag and pulled out the rolled up letter that Sora had asked to give to her father. Katara's tears fell over the paper. "How am I supposed to deliver this?" She whispered.

Zuko reached over and grabbed Katara's hand that held the letter. "I think… I think that she would've wanted us to stay strong, and Katara," he lifted her head so her watery eyes met his, "we're going to deliver it, I promise."

Katara lunged out and hugged him. Zuko was at first shocked by this but relaxed and hugged her back.

"I'm scared for us." She whispered into his shoulder.

Deep down inside Zuko was scared too, but there was a light at the end of this tunnel, he was sure of it. "I know," he whispered back to her as pulled her up and began to wipe her tears away, "but we're gonna make it. She knows we would too."

Katara softly smiled and wiped away her tears. "Thank you." She squeaked out. She then looked down at his shirt and saw it was stain ridden and had several holes in in. She chuckled behind her tears. "When we stop we need to find you some clothes."

Zuko looked down, and nodded in agreement.

Eventually the wagon came to a stop and both Zuko and Katara had managed to fall asleep, with heads leaning on each other. Zuko first woke up and noticed that the sky had grown dark during their travels. He nudged Katara awake, and she jumped in surprise.

"Shh the cart stopped." He whispered to her.

"Oh… Do we get out?" She asked.

Zuko shook his hand and held his hand up for her to stay put as he made his way to the opening of the wagon curtain, as he reached for it the curtain snatched open and he jumped back. Moe stood there at the entrance and signaled for them to stay silent, and then waved a hand over for them to follow him.

Slowly Zuko and Katara stepped out of the wagon. Lights shone everywhere and the sounds of music filled the air. People everywhere, kids and adults alike dancing and playing games. Everywhere there was a soldier in his fire nation army uniform, but with no mask. Moe leaned over to them and whispered, "There are guards everywhere. This is as far as I can take you guys." He pointed towards a building a bit off in the distance. "There's an inn beyond the center of the village if you stay towards the back parts of the town you should be able to make it there safely with no confrontation... This is where we part ways my friends, take care." He grinned at both of them and placed his hands on top of their shoulders.

"Thank you Moe" both Zuko and Katara said.

Moe nodded and then handed then a sack of coins, "Take this it's a little bit of money so you two can buy what you need, and hopefully find tickets to take a boat ride to wherever your going." He winks at them, and returned to the carriage before Katara could say anything about how they can't take their money. Then with a crack of whip he was gone, and Zuko and Katara stood there alone in the darkness wide eyed and a bit fearful of what waited ahead of them.

They exchanged looks and Zuko gulped, as Katara gave him a comforting smile and Zuko returns it as he pulls out Sora's headscarf and wraps it around his scar. They both nodded towards each other and walked forward.

Sneaking behind the shadows of buildings, Katara and Zuko carefully made their way through the shadows. Careful to not be seen or heard, until they ran into a drunk soldier, who was puking their guts out behind a building. Zuko and Katara stopped and tried to keep quiet.

The soldier lifted his head as he wiped his mouth. Slowly they tried to move past him, but he looked over at them with half lidded eyes and saw them.

"Aye," he croaked out, "little lady." He looked over at Katara, and made his way to her. Katara froze in her tracks while Zuko proceeded to walk a bit further until he realized Katara had stopped.

"What are you doing out back here alone?" He licked his lips as he spoke to her.

Katara screwed up her face in disgust. He reeked the smell of Fire Whiskey. "I'm not alone." She coughed out. Katara gestured towards Zuko who walked up behind her.

The man sneered at the sight of Zuko, then looked back down at Katara. "I can make your night way better than he can." He murmured as he reached to grab Katara's hand. Katara tried to snatch her hand away but he held on to it and pulled her close.

"Let me go, you creep!" She yelled. Zuko ran over to her after a moments of hesitation and shock.

The man pulled her close and inhaled her scent before taking a punch to the face. He fell to the ground with a soft thud and blood slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth that was already turning a purplish tint. Zuko loomed over him and held his fist. "Garbage." He grumbled towards the unconscious man on the ground.

"Come on Zuko lets get out of here before anyone notices." Katara insisted.

"Just one sec…" Zuko bent down and took off the mans uniform and handed it to Katara to place into their bag.

"Come on Zuko hurry!" Katara exclaimed frantically as she saw another man in a soldiers uniform approach them.

Zuko saw a note sticking out of the man's sock and briefly looked at it before hearing a voice yell from beyond.

"What are you two doing?" They exclaimed.

Katara tugged on Zuko's arm and pulled him up to his feet and then they ran.

"Hey! Get back here!" The voice boomed through the alley ways behind the buildings, but they ran and ran.

Katara and Zuko laughed as they ran from Agni knows who, all the way until they got into the inn. They stumbled inside with the little breath they had they requested keys to a room. The front chairman looked at them strangely, but he'd had plenty of drunk couples stumble in here asking for a room, so it was nothing new.

"I'm assuming one room? Or is it two?" The man asked them.

"Two please." Katara requested breathily.

The man looked down at the clipboard and then smacked his lips, "My apologies dear, but there is only one rooms left."

"Ok whatever, just give us whatever you got." She panted.

The man then asked them to sign their names on a clipboard and handed them keys to their room.

"Okay your room is located on the second floor—"

"—Okay thank you!" Katara said as she and Zuko then ran up the stairs to their room.

Katara hurriedly open their door and shut it behind them. She stood in front of the door and then collapsed on it with a sigh, followed by giggles.

"Zuko why'd you strip down that man?" She chuckled.

"Because he was a dick.. and I need new clothes to blend in." He blatantly told her as he read the note that he found.

"What did you find..?" Katara asked as she finally caught her breath and moved toward him.

"It's a message to another soldier, but it's in code, so I can't entirely read it, but it's basically stating that they've found or encountered something…"

Katara looked over his shoulder to read it. It was written in different Chinese characters that Katara couldn't read, except for one. "Hey I may be a little slow in knowledge about the Fire Nation, but don't those two characters mean fire and bird?" She suggested.

Zuko looked at the paper strangely and shook his head. "Yeah but…. How does that… Ooooh phoenix…" Zuko lowered his hands.

"They've found my father…and possibly the Avatar too." He whispered in shock.

Katara squeezes his arms, "Zuko this is good news! We have a lead!" She squeals. Zuko kept his gaze straight forward… "What is it?" She asked him.

In Zuko's head he's thinking that the letter means found them dead, but he couldn't bear to tell Katara that, after all he needed an actual soldier to decipher it. He just shakes his head in response and turns around to face her.

"Nothing. It is a lead though and we'll find them." He told her as he lifts a hand and puts it on her shoulder.

They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment before Zuko loudly gulps and backs away from her. "Heh, um we should probably get some rest." He babbled out.

Katara stared at Zuko for a moment and realized that she cared a lot about him, and to be stuck here in this mess, with everything gone to hell, he still comforts her and makes her feel… safe. Katara blinked a couple times before nodding.

"I'm gonna sleep on the floor tonight is that okay with you?" He asked her.

She blushed as she nodded. "Yeah you don't have to sleep with me it was just that one uh time… Sorry if I made you a bit uncomfortable." She sputtered.

"Ha, no it's no big deal, I didn't mind it, I'd do it tonight even, but we're indoors and… yeah." He stumbled out.

She smirked at him and shook her head, "Yeah no, I don't wanna wake up to that face anyways." She sassily stated as she sashayed to the bed, and laid down in it.

"Goodnight Lee."

Zuko rolled his eyes and pulled out a sleeping pad and grabbed a blanket to pull over him. "Night, June."

A/N: Okay so now things are starting to take a turn and also Zuko and Katara are beginning to progress feelings if you couldn't already tell... More awaits in late chapter to come. Please continue to REVIEW and stuff it really helps. Until next time guys!