sorry i haven't been updating i've been super busy and i've had a bit of writers block but heres the new chapter!
You awoke to the sound of an explosion. Your room violently shook as you and Zuko tried to process the danger in your sleepy state.
"What's going on?" Zuko asked no one in particular.
You shrugged as you began to get out of bed, "we should go find everyone else."
Another explosion rang through the western air temple, this time closer to your room. As the explosion occurred Zuko protectively pulled you under him, as bits of the ceiling fell. Once the room settled, both of you jumped out of bed and ran to the main common area.
As you ran in you noticed that the ceiling above Katara was about to collapse on her. Without thinking you pushed her out of harms way knocking both of you to the ground.
"What are you doing!" Katara yelled angrily.
"Saving you from being crushed" you replied gesturing to the pile of rocks that now occupy the space she was standing in.
"Well I'm not crushed, so stay away," Katara said as she dusted herself off and stood up.
You were about to reply with a witty comeback when a few smaller pieces of the ceiling were about to fall on you, theirs no way you would be able to get out of the way.
"Kana!" Zuko yelled as he ran to you.
You raised your arms to cover you face, and braced yourself but you never felt anything. You lowered your arms and looked up to find Zuko standing over you, he saved you from the falling rubble.
Zuko helped you up as you mumbled, "next time I'll let her get crushed."
"You did the right thing," Zuko whispered attempting to dispel your sudden bad mood.
"I know" you said, "thanks for saving me" you kissed him on the cheek.
He smiled and was about to speak when anther explosion went off.
"Come on we can get through there!" Toph yelled as everyone except you, Aang and Zuko ran towards the exit. Aang was trying to get Appa to leave with him. You had an idea of who was behind the explosions.
Zuko apparently had the same idea because he just stood and watched the airships.
"What are you doing?" Aang yelled in a worried panic.
"Go ahead! I'll hold them off" Zuko called, "I think this is a family visit" he added. Then he turned to you, "You should go too"
"I'm staying with you, besides I have a score to settle with Azula," you said as you grabbed Zuko's hand and squeezed it. He smiled slightly as he squeezed back.
"Zuko! Kana! No!" Aang yelled.
"Come on we have to get out of here!" you heard Sokka yell.
You and Zuko ran towards the airships as you avoided the debris falling from the crumbling air temple. You noticed that Team Avatar escaped unharmed. A bomb landed right in front of you and Zuko; you braced yourself as Zuko put himself in between you and the bomb. It detonated but thankfully both of your escaped unharmed and you continued towards the airships.
The two of you stood at the edge of the temple. One of the airships was in range; you and Zuko looked at each other before firebending a large fire blast at the airship. Both of you hit your mark and the airship began to lose altitude as it burned up. Suddenly another airship rose directly in front of you, Azula stood on top of it.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked in anger.
Azula smiled a sickening smile, "Isn't it obvious?" she asked, "I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child!" she yelled, she sounded completely crazy. She shot a fire blast at Zuko, that he easily dodged; you began shooting fire blasts at her. Aside from dodging your attacks, Azula completely ignored your presence. The temple was crumbling, soon there would be nothing left to stand on.
You'd have to jump onto the airship. You looked at Zuko, who nodded. The two of you ran towards the edge as you dodged fire blast. You leapt on top the airship just before Zuko did, but both of you landed safely.
"Well Zuzu I see you still have your little peasant" Azula said.
"I see you're still a homicidal maniac," you mumbled.
"Don't talk about Kana like that!" Zuko yelled as he attacked Azula, she easily dodged him. Zuko wasn't thinking clearly, he was far too blinded by anger.
Azula faced you, "You've become quite the nuisance," She said as she approached you. "You've even messed up father's plans, and," You got into a defensive stance, you know that you could hold your own against Azula but you're not going to be stupid about it. "It's your fault Mai and Ty Lee turned on me," she said as she began to attack you. Azula tired to punch you, which you easily dodged, you tried to kick fire at her but she was too fast. Suddenly the airship made a quick turn knocking you off balance. As you regained your composure Azula kicked you in the chest, so hard that it knocked the wind out of you. You gasped for air she kicked you in the stomach, nearly knocking you off the airship. Then Azula tried to shoot a fire blast at you, but Zuko kicked her arm.
As she recovered Azula pushed past Zuko so she had both of you in front her. Zuko gave you a look that said, 'this is my fight,' you nodded, as much as you wanted to punch Azula, you respected Zuko's decision to fight her alone, plus you were still trying to catch your breath.
Zuko and Azula faced off, waiting to see who would make the first move. Suddenly Zuko jumped towards Azula, who sent fire blast at him. He easily dodged them and responded with fire blasts of his own. They were evenly matched. The fire prince and princess punched fire at each other, the impact forced both of them to fall off of the airship.
"Zuko!" you yelled, terrified for his safety, Thankfully Appa caught him, and then flew up to you. You leapt on Appa you watched as Azula fell.
"She's not going to make it" Zuko said, as you kneelt next to him and hugged him; he instantly wrapped his arms around you, as the two of you watched Azula fall. Then Azula used her fire bending to propel herself towards the wall; she pulled out her hairpin and used it to slow her fall, saving herself. "Of course she did" Zuko mumbled bitterly.
You couldn't stop thinking about what Azula said to you. You knew that Mai turned on Azula when she allowed you to escape from the Boiling Rock, but Ty Lee betrayed her too? And what did it have to do with you? Zuko noticed your troubled expression and asked what was wrong.
"Azula said it was my fault Mai and Ty Lee turned on her" you said.
"How could it be your fault?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah Mai just started attacking her, I don't see what it has to do with you" Sokka commented.
"I don't know" you replied.
"Well Azula is crazy" Aang said.
You leaned against Zuko and winced in pain when he wrapped his arms around you. Instantly Zuko released you, "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"It's nothing I'll be fine" you replied.
"Kana" Zuko mumbled as he carefully wrapped his arms around you again, making sure that he didn't hurt you; he rested his chin on your shoulder as you leaned into.
"Zuko" you repeated in the same tone he used, "don't worry."
"That's like telling me to stop loving you" Zuko mumbled in frustration.
You lightly kissed him on the cheek, "I love you Zuko"
"I love you too" Zuko said, then added, "and that's why I worry,"
Later that day everyone regrouped and made a campsite. Jet and the freedom fighters 'liberated' some tents so no one had to sleep outside. Everyone was gathered around the fire. You still couldn't figure out why Azula blamed you for her friends turning on her, you let the thought linger at the back of your mind.
"Wow camping… It really seems like old times again," Aang said, "Doesn't it?"
"If you really want it to feel like old times I could uh, chase you around for a while and try to capture you" Zuko said jokingly.
"And Kana can tell you how stupid you are!" Sokka added laughing.
"Ha ha" Katara said sarcastically. What's her problem?
Sokka held up his teacup, "To Zuko! Who knew after all of those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?"
"And to Kana! For keeping Zuko in line and always putting others before herself" Jet added.
Everyone raised his or her teacups except for Katara, "Hear! Hear!"
"Aw guys" you smiled as you blushed a light shade of pink.
"I'm touched" Zuko said, "I don't deserve this"
"Yeah, no kidding" Katara said in anger as she stormed off.
"What's her problem?" Sokka asked.
"I'd like to know" Zuko said as he stood up and followed her. You glanced in that direction, maybe Katara will be nicer to him than she is to you.
"What's his problem?" Sokka asked you.
You shrugged, "I never know what Zuko is thinking," you said.
Sokka shrugged, "well he is an angry jerk"
You giggled, "True, but he's so cute when he's angry"
After dinner you tucked the freedom fighters in after you told them a story, then you sat around the fire with Daisuke, Kaito and Jet.
"Where's Zuko?" Kaito asked.
"I don't know, I haven't seen him since he went after Katara" you replied. He has been gone for a long time you were starting to worry.
"I'm sure he's fine" daisuke said.
"Unless Katara killed him," Kaito added brightly.
Jet punched Kaito upon seeing how much his comment upset you. "You're a jerk!"
"Oh you say that like you're not!" Kaito argued. Jet and Kaito bickered.
Daisuke sat next to you so you could hear each other over the bickering.
"I'm sure Zuko is all right" Daisuke reassured you.
You sighed, "I know, I just hope he isn't going to run off and do something stupid again"
"Well it is Zuko," daisuke said, "sometimes I think the only people dumber than him are Kaito, Jet and Sokka."
You laughed, "I don't know I think Zuko and Sokka are equally stupid"
"Seriously who breaks into a prison without a plan?" Daisuke laughed.
You waited by the fire for Zuko, Daisuke was the first to go to bed, followed by Kaito. Jet waited up with you for a while.
"I can't wait for this war to be over" he mused.
"Neither can I," you agreed.
"Are your parents really ok with me and the freedom fighters staying with you?" Jet asked curiously.
You nodded, "I don't see why not, my mom already loves the kids and I'm pretty sure Domon is moving in with us too, I'm sure they won't mind one more" you reasoned, "Besides everyone deserves a place they can call home" you added after moment.
Jet smiled, "What's the island like?" he asked.
"Its pretty quiet, I swear if you try to 'liberate' anything I'll hurt you, but it's nice" you said with a smile, "We live in the middle of the forest, theirs a small pond that me and my brothers turn into a hot spring. The beach is pretty nice too."
You talked about your home for a bit longer but soon even Jet decided to go to bed and there was still no sign of Zuko. You waited a little longer before you went to the tent that you and Zuko share. He wasn't there. You laid down, trying to ignore the pain in your rib cage; Azula hit you harder than you thought. You winced in pain as you took a deep breath and attempted to sleep.