o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

"I did not!"

"Yes you did!"

I slammed down my bowl of rice and glared. "Sokka, why would I even go in your room, let alone steal your socks?"

He threw his hands into the air. "Well, someone did it!"

"Well it's not me." I rolled my eyes. "I would never go near the things."

"I remember kicking them off by the bathroom…" he muttered.

I picked my rice back up and smiled. "They probably grew legs and crawled off."

He shoved a large amount of food in his mouth and grinned. "Ha ha."

I chuckled. "Maybe you should have brought more than one pair."

"Takes up too much room." He mumbled.

I took the last bite of my dinner and spoke after I swallowed. "Well, if you didn't grab a souvenir everywhere you went, you might be able to fit them in your purse."

"Bag." He corrected.

"Whatever you say Sokka."

"Just go back to your sewing." He mumbled, offended.

I shook my head, but did as he said, picking up my needle and thread. Lately, every time I looked at my blood spattered tunic, it made me ill. With a bit of trepidation, I decided to take my new green dress and turn it into a new outfit. I took no pleasure in cutting off the bottom and turning the extra fabric into pants. Actually, it would have to have been shorts had I not ripped out the second layer of fabric and used them instead.

Now, I was just finishing up the final details. Soon, I could take this unsightly thing off and get rid of it. The blood of soldiers stained the outfit so badly, that if I didn't get rid of it, I knew I'd never be able to move on.

As usual, Toph and Zuko wandered in from whatever they were doing and joined Sokka in eating dinner.

"Where were you?" Sokka asked the duo.

"Oh, nowhere important."

"My socks are missing, have you any idea where they are?" he asked, jumping to the point.

Zuko's upper lip rose. "Ew."

I had to stifle my laughter.

"Oh no, those things are loose?" Toph grumbled, but whether sarcastically or not, I couldn't tell.

"My socks aren't that bad." Sokka pointed out.

I cleared my throat and continued finishing the hems of my pants.

"What are you doing?" Aang's voice came out of nowhere.

I jumped, startled at his sudden appearance. Before dinner, he had announced he would be off in search of a bathing spot. I had not expected him back till long after sunset. "Sewing."

Aang nodded and smiled. "I have something for you."

I glanced up and raised my eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah." He held out a hand to help me up.

I put down my stuff and allowed him to pull me to my feet, aware that we had drawn the attention of the rest of the group.

Aang pulled out a small woven bracelet, not unlike the one that already rested on my wrist. "I made this for you!"

Aang looked so proud that I could do nothing but smile. "Oh, you did?"

His smile grew as he happily fastened the bracelet on me. "Do you like it?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My fear was that I would say something I would regret. The bracelet was lovely; it just didn't have the same meaning as m other bracelet. "Thank you."

I twisted it around, examining the design, a strange set of swirls.

"I'm glad you like it." His face went red and he turned and scampered off to join Toph as she lazily drew patterns into the dirt with her foot.

Zuko glanced at me and gave me a look that I perceived to mean he knew way too much.

I quickly sat down and went back to sewing my clothes, but soon after, a cup of tea was pushed into my hands. I glanced up to see Zuko standing above me, staring at me intently. "Are we sparing tonight?"

I took a deep breath. We hadn't spared since we got here and a match was long overdue. I was ready though; I had done nothing but sneak off and practice for days. Finally, I'd be able to take him on. "Yes."

His smirk sent butterflies into my stomach.

A groan escaped my lips. Hopefully, when I finally kicked his ass, I'd stop feeling this way.

"You guys still spar?" Sokka groaned loudly.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes."

Sokka got up and walked away, muttering about my sparring with Zuko being pointless. He joined Toph and Aang and immediately began talking to them.

After a few seconds, Sokka motioned me over.

I joined them hesitantly, unsure if I was in trouble or not. "Yes?"

They glanced over my shoulder at Zuko, who was tending the fire. "Ok, here's the deal. We've been talking about this since yesterday, and we were wondering what you thought."

I frowned. "What is it?"

"Before I tell you, if you don't want to do this, or if you don't think you're ready, you can say no and we won't do it."

My brows furrowed. "Tell me."

"Well, Aang and I were talking, and Toph agrees, that we would be a lot better off with Iroh on our side."

"Zuko's uncle?" I snuck a quick glance at Zuko. "Does he know?"

"No, we didn't want to mention it at all until we had an answer from you. Yes and we'll go, no and we'll never speak of this again."

I rubbed at the back of my neck and addressed Aang. "What do you think?"

"Katara…" Aang mumbled. "I think we need him."

"Do we even know where he is?"

"Not exactly, but we're sure Zuko has a few ideas."

"Ok." I nodded. "We'll do it."

Everyone smiled and Sokka walked past me towards Zuko.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

Today was my day. Today…he was going down.

I would conquer this- no, him- and be the master of my feelings. I would no longer like the way he talked, the way he smiled, the way his butt looked when he walked. I would beat him and go back to the lovely time I hated him, where we couldn't go a day without fighting. How long had it been since our last argument? Too long. Once this was done, I would think of him no longer.

Stretch Katara, stretch out first and think about this later. I pulled my arm across my chest and continued to glare.

Zuko found this amusing and he chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure anger will help."

I rolled my shoulders and bent over to touch my toes. "Today is my day."

"To lose?" He questioned and copied my toe touch.

I ignored him and jumped back and forth on my feet before getting into a bending stance.

"Whenever you're ready." He commented and got into his own stance.

"Don't go easy on me."

"I'll make you prepared for tomorrow's rescue mission, I'll just say that."

"Yeah. Then maybe Iroh can spar with me." With a flick of my wrist, I pulled an orb of water out of the river. Zuko roundhouse kicked out a stream of fire at me. I pulled my orb, stretching, it, hardening it until the point that it absorbed the fire easily, turning onto steam.

I ran forward, water trailing after me. With a flourish, I pulled the water over my head and slammed it into the ground. The water splashed, and before it hit the ground again I used my momentum to pull it back up and throw it at Zuko. Moments before the water hit him; I clenched my fist and exhaled, turning it into sharp frozen shards.

His eyes widened. He spun, encasing himself in a ball of fire. The water burnt into steam upon contact. With no hesitation, Zuko rose and spread his arms, expanding his circle of fire, sending it my way.

From the river, I pulled a wall of water and used it to shield myself from the blast. Flames licked past me, singeing the hairs off my arms. I let the wall melt immediately, but Zuko was gone. My body froze, I was alert, looking for any movement and listening for any strange sounds, but Zuko was gone. Only the sound of crickets chirping met my ears. Where was he? He had to still be here, he wouldn't give up and leave.

An arm snaked around me and I gasped. Zuko grabbed my arms and pulled them behind my back, forcing me to my knees. I struggled and bucked, but he held firm. With one push, I was on the ground, my cheek against the gravel.

He knelt on top of me, pressing my wrists into the small of my back, leaving no way to escape. He leaned over slowly, bringing his lips to my ear. I could feel his hair brush my neck, covering it in goose-bumps.

"I win." He whispered. My breath caught in my throat as his breath ghosted over my ear.

I had to suppress a shiver as I craned my neck around to look at him. "You wish."

He chuckled and blew lightly in my ear. An innocent yet erotic gesture that sent my heart pumping.

I stiffened and turned my head slowly back to the ground. With no other way to get out of this, I did the first thing that popped into me head. In one move, I brought my head back, crashing it into his forehead.

Immediately, pain shot through my head.

Zuko groaned and rolled off of me, clutching his forehead. "Oh Agni…" he groaned.

"Ouch…" I whimpered in pain and used the water around me to form a healing glove.

Zuko's eyes shot to mine. "Why…would you do that?"

My headache went away as soon as the glove touched my head. "I'm sorry…"

"Did that seem like a good idea to you?" he took his hand off his forehead and winced in pain, already a red welt was forming on his skin.

"Didn't think that one through." I admitted.

He groaned. "Don't ever do that again."

I crawled over to him and soothed his head with my water. His eyes closed and his head tilted back in bliss as my healing powers worked over him.

My breath caught in my throat. Why did Zuko have to look so hot? The moonlight reflected off his pale skin, and with his lips parted in relaxation, he looked more like a statue of a Greek God than an annoying teenage boy…

His golden eyes flicked open. The fiery orbs staring my in the eyes. "Thank you."

I flinched and the water fell to the earth. Why did he have to use that voice? It sounded so…husky.

He stared up at me, a slow smirk tilting his lips.

Damn these feelings!

In anger at myself and him, I snapped a water whip at him, knocking him over and giving myself time to recover.

Immediately, he got to his feel and ran at me.

I pulled water into my hand, encasing my arm in ice. With a smile, I charged, meeting him in the middle, fist to fist.

Zuko, seeing what I did, encased his arm in fire and swiped at me. I ducked out of the way and punched at him. With no problem, he knocked my arm out of the way, fire and ice meeting and melting,

I blew on my ice gloves, making them harder, harsher. I sidestepped a kick from Zuko and punched out at him, surprisingly enough, the hit connected. Without a second to waist, I let the water melt, surround him. His eyes widened, but before he could do anything, I made my move. With a jerk, I pulled him forward and hooked my led behind us. I pushed him backward and he tripped over my leg, falling to the ground.

In an imitation of his earlier move, I straddled him, holding him in place, in one move; I bent an icicle and pressed the sharp edge to his throat.

He stared up at me, a small smile playing on his lips.

I bent over him and brought my lips to his ears. "Now I win."

He froze, and I couldn't contain myself. I stood and started laughing uncontrollably. "You should have seen your face when you fell!"

He got to his feet and brushed dirt off of his clothes. "Congratulations."

I had to wipe a tear from my eye. "Oh man…that was funny."

Zuko avoided my eyes. "Alright, let's go."

"Wait…" I paused, "are you angry?"

"No."

My eyes widened. "Yes you are!"

"No I am not!" he mumbled, but his jaw was set.

"You're mad that I beat you, aren't you?"

He folded his arms across his chest. "This has nothing to do with the fight."

I smirked. "So you are angry."

He glared at me. "Just drop it."

"Not until you tell me why you're angry."

He growled.

I put my hands on my hips. "So you're mad at me…"

"No! I'm angry at myself!"

I sighed. "Listen, its no big deal, okay? Just because I accidentally hurt your ego, that doesn't mean you have to take it out of me."

"This isn't about you!" he yelled.

I smirked. "Isn't it?"

"Well it is, but its none of your business!" he yelled. "Just drop it!"

"If it's about me, then it is my business!"

"Drop. It."

"This is stupid. Just because I finally beat you…"

He walked over to me threateningly and stopped a foot from me. "This isn't about you beating me. I knew you would eventually beat me anyways, this is about something else!"

"Then why are you angry?" I poked him in the chest and glared at him.

"Don't poke me."

I smirked and poked him again, harder this time.

"Do it one more time…" He threatened.

His eyes were on fire as he glared at me, and I knew a storm was coming. He had never looked this frustrated, so pissed off before.

But I was just as angry. With force, I poked him in the chest.

Suddenly, he closed the last few inches between us and our lips met.

My hand suddenly fell to my side and I froze. Instantly, my eyes widened and I jerked back, putting distance back between the two of us.

Oh spirits, what just happened?

He stared back at me, his face full of nothing but shock.

Why had he kissed me? I thought he hated me. We were just fighting for spirits sakes! Was I wrong? Did he not hate me? Or was this an impulse he would regret later. And why had I liked it?

My breath caught in my throat

Why had the feel of his lips on mine sent a shock through me?

Did I like him? No, that would be crazy, stupid, impossible. But there was no denying that when he touched me, sparks flew. That brief second his lips were on mine made my heart go crazy. And strangely enough, I wanted him to kiss me again. No, that would be dangerous. There would be no guarantee that I could separate liking his touch, from liking him.

But, there was only one way to find out, and as I stared into his shocked eyes, I knew there was only one thing I could do.

I grabbed him by the hair and pulled him into a kiss.

There was no pause, no shock; it was like he had been waiting for me to do this, like he was expecting this. But he couldn't have been, even I hadnt been expecting it.

As soon as our lips touched, the spark was instant, intense. His lips moved against mine softly, gently, but there was an undeniable roughness to his kiss. Right away, something inside me snapped. My self control, my very pride, went out the window. It was like I was on fire and he was the only thing that would put out the flames.

I wrapped my arms around him, sliding my hands up his shirt, gripping his back.

We separated briefly, both gasping for air. Our eyes met, both full of emotion. He didn't say a word, just stared into my eyes. The only warning I had before he kissed me again was the brief flick of his eyes to my lips, then…we were on each other again.

His tongue slid against mine and my head spun as they battled. I grabbed his shoulders and hoisted myself on him, wrapped my legs around his waist to hold myself up. He stumbled forward until I felt the hard bark of a tree behind me.

I groaned into the kiss as his hands finally slid under my shirt and grabbed my hips, pulling me further into him.

He released my lips and kissed down my jaw, my chin, his hot breath ghosting over my skin. His teeth scraped down the side of my neck, sending tingles down my body. Teeth latched onto my collar bone and sent a bolt of lightning through me.

Suddenly, he froze, stiffened. The moment his muscles stiffened under my touch. I finally realized what had happened.

I backed up, tried to scramble away, but I was wedged between Zuko and the tree. The only thing I could do was duck out of his way and go, but before I did, he stopped me.

"Katara." he whispered, his hand on my arm holding me still.

"Oh spirits." I whispered, mortified. He kissed me first; did that mean he liked me? Was he about to make a confession? Did he like me? He couldn't, he wouldn't, he better not. What would I do if he did? Would that make things awkward? Oh no…wasn't it already awkward? I kissed him! Why?

I had to ask him. "Do you like me?"

He backed up so fast it was like I had held a gun to his head. "What?!"

"Do…you…like…me?" I asked slowly, my face red.

"Oh Agni no!" he waved his hands in front of his face, but a second later, he stiffened. "Do you like me?"

I gasped. "No, no, no. No way."

He looked relieved. Too relieved. His whole body relaxed and his face, which had looked horrified, almost angry, was now looked peaceful. And why that made me angry, I wouldn't know. But for some reason, I was pissed. Was I that undesirable? Was there something wrong with me? Was I not good enough for him? How could he be that relieved I didn't like him? What if I did? Would he have turned me down?

I mentally slapped myself. My mind had definitely gotten away from me that time.

But still…did he really not like me?

No, it doesn't matter. Why? Because you don't like him. That kiss meant nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I turned away from him and walked away.

Somehow, my hand made its way to my kiss swollen lips. Man, he was a good kisser. I wasn't very experienced in the make out category, but with him I didn't need to be. Was he experienced? Did he kiss many women? Well, Zuko was a prince; he probably had the daughters of nobles crawling all over him. Did he kiss all of them?

Geeze, if I didn't stop this now, I'd develop an aneurysm.

I groaned. "What am I going to do?"

Suddenly, it came to me. Toph. Toph would help me.

Right?

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

"Toph!" I yelled, running through the hallways towards her room. I rounded the corner and burst through her door, not bothering to knock.

She was nestled in a cocoon of blankets. Her hair was a mess, like she just woke up. Sleepily, she replied. "What?"

"I need your help!" I begged and sat at the foot of her bed.

"What happened?" she asked, finally curious. "Your heart is going crazy."

"I kissed him!" I yelled.

"Wow. Hold on a second." She snapped in front of my face, getting my attention. "Kissed who?"

"Zuko." I wailed and flopped face first into her sheets.

"You kissed Zuko?" she asked.

"Yeah." I mumbled into the bed.

"You…Kissed Zuko." She repeated, I could hear the smile in her voice.

I moaned in answer. "But he started it!"

"So he kissed you?"

"Well, I did kiss him back…"

She chuckled. "So you liked it?"

I gave Toph an exasperated look. "That doesn't matter. What do I do?"

"Well, usually when you like someone, you kiss thim…right?"

"But I don't like him!" I yelled into my hands.

She mumbled something under her breath and rolled her eyes. "Both of you are crazy!"

"What do I do?" I moaned.

"You're screwed…" she shook her head.

"Screwed?" I shrieked.

"Yeah, screwed." She muttered and rubbed at her eyes tiredly.

"How?"

"Because…" she sighed. "you're delusional."

"Delusional!?"

"Yeah." She yawned. "You like him."

"No I don't!"

"Then why did you kiss him?"

My mouth snapped shut and it took me a moment before I was able to speak again. "I don't know."

"You like him."

"I do?"

"Yeah."

I stayed silent, thoughtful. "I'm not sure I do."

"Well, it doesn't matter anyways, want to know why?"

I groaned. "Why?"

"Because…" she yanked her blanket over her head. "Zuko has a girlfriend."

"He has a what?" I gasped.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

"You told her what?"

Toph groaned and rolled over, ignoring me.

"Why?"

"She needed to know."

"Oh, so now you care?!"

"I don't care." Toph pulled a blanket over her head and groaned.

"Then why?" I flopped onto her unused bed and sighed.

"I like you ok? In a strange way, you're my best friend." She finally pulled the blanket off her face and looked at me. "I did this to help, better she finds out now then before you get in too far."

"I am not going any further into this." I insisted. "trust me."

"Look, this is the second time a delusional person had barged into my room and woke me up." Toph snuggled into the dirt floor. "Can we talk about this later?"

I pulled myself upright and stared down at her as she dosed. "We will talk about this."

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o