A/N:
Decided to split chapter nine in half to make the half part a side story. I want to do this for a few chapters throughout the story. Figured it would be fun to focus on the story of specific characters. Well hope you enjoy.
Chapter 9.5:
I told that damn girl to use the tent! Ozai ranted in his head as he and Shinji made there way to a town named Gaoseng. A town widely known for its business in the slave trade. Sex slave trade to be exact. He wouldn't be surprised if the waterbender had already been purchased and sold by the time he found her. Tribeswomen were not easy to come by since the war. He had only ever met one himself and that being the girl. And with her being as young and attractive as she was, she was a goner in this sort of business.
"This place is larger than I thought." Shinji notes as he saw the busy streets of this slave town. There were so many people and so many buildings. The waterbender literally could be anywhere amongst the chaos of this place.
Ozai proceeded forward on his mount, as soon as he got his hands back on that waterbender, he was going to make her pay for wasting his time again. The girl had set him back enough. She was going to get it when he found her and she had better hope that he doesn't.
Somewhere within the city, the captured waterbender had been taken into a wash room and was scrumbed roughly by several working women. She was then taken into a room, dripping wet and cold, to be changed forced into her new clothes. It was the most skimpiest thing she had seen or worn.
A light blue silk band crossed over her chest, cupping her breasts, and tying in the back. A silk thong was pulled on her which were anything but comfortable for her. They tied a thin belt around her waist and pulled two matching blue linens to hang through them. Thigh high stockings with moon crescents on them. Katara kicked and screamed when they forced a belly piercing on her. This was absolutely insane. All this just to sell her?! Really?!
Katara was then sat in a chair where her short hair was pulled back, except for a few strands in the front that were cut into bangs. The back of her hair was made into a bun and a silver hair pin with blue beads was placed through it. Her eyes were painted in blue eyes shadow and lined underneath them with black liner. Silver and blue earrings were also forced upon her. She was starting to wonder if this was all really necessary. They were making her look and feel like some prostitute. A very expensive one.
"Look at ya. Yer' the best lookin' one we've got here." The man that took her smirked as he walked into the room she was being prepared in. "Yer' gonna sale fer' quite the fortune. I got several buyers already to purchase ya fer da sum of seven million yuan."
Seven million what?! Katara's eyes widened. That was literally the worth of a small mansion. Who the hell would pay that much for a sex slave?!
"Come on, girly. Gotta get ya ready to be auctioned." The man said as he came up to her with a metal clamp for her neck with a chain attached to it.
Katara was shown to a room that was surprisingly nicely decorated and smelt of jasmine tea and cherry blossoms. She was instructed to sit and wait for this evening when her buyers would all show up to purchase her. She hoped they took these chi-blocking cuffs off her wrists when they bought her because she was gonna kick some ass and get the hell out of here.
Back in the busy city streets of Gaoseng, Shinji and Ozai stopped in front of one of the auction houses the earthbender had told them to look. Seems the man only caught the women, working with people wanting to put the women up for sell. Before killing him, they were given the name of several locations. One of which was this place. A low end brothel that rented their women out for a decent price. It wasn't the first place either men would think the waterbender would be since she would be worth more on in this sort of market but it didn't hurt checking out the place.
Entering the brothel, both men instantly covered their noses at the stench. Clearly, this place wasn't at all sanitary and they were careful not to touch anything.
"Hello, gentlemen. Can I help you both?" A woman with black hair greeted them as they approached her.
"Only if you have a Water Tribe woman for sell here." Shinji replied as Ozai stood staring down the prostitute that was sending him suggestive looks.
Grinning as she placed her hands on her hips, "And what would you two men want with one of those? Us Earth Kingdom women are much more satisfying than those prudes."
Stepping in front of Shinji, Ozai took the prostitute by her chip and gazed indifferently at her. "We want a tribeswoman, now tell me where can we get one of those?" His words were laced in an icy fire that suddenly struck fear into the woman.
"Ugh, we don't have any here sir but I heard a rumor this morning that there's one for sell tonight at the Gaoseng brothel house. I hear a few wealthy men from Bei Seng Sei and Omashu have already put money on her." The prostitute informed them.
Letting go of her, Ozai's eyes lightened slightly as he smirked. "Hmmm, seems like the waterbender is more popular than we thought."
Of course she would be. Shinji thought in annoyance. Those perverted men were already making claims on her and it had only been a single night since she was taken. He couldn't believe this.
As for Ozai's feelings towards the woman's words as they went on their way to the Gaoseng brothel, he merely wanted to see just how badly the waterbender wanted to be saved. A part of him wanted to snatch her up and move on in their journey to Xiao Lu while the rest of him wanted her to beg him to save her. The very thought of those blue eyes pleading with him made him shiver in excitement. Oh he was going to make her beg. Only issue would be getting the opportunity to speak with her. For the likely high price on her head, it would be difficult getting to her without having already purchased her.
"We can pose as buyers and ask to see the product we're buying before we do." Shinji said as he climbed onto his mount.
Ozai nodded and pulled his hood back over his head, having spotted a few Fire Nation citizens in the crowded streets. He was going to need to be extra careful from now on. It seemed people who would be able to recognize him were out and about. Besides, he managed to see a few wanted signs up through this place. Getting caught this far along was not an option.
Maybe if she jumped from this height she'd make the fall without re-injuring her wrist. Or maybe she needed to take her chances with who ever buys her and take them out when she gets close enough. Katara didn't know exactly what she should do but she knew she needed to make up her minds soon. Night had fallen and any minute now, they would be coming ba-
"It's time, sweet cheeks." The slaver returned hours later.
Katara's eyes widened as she tried backing up but her captor only laughed at her attempt and grabbed her chain, pulling her to him. She struggled, planting her feet down as he dragged her closer, holding her chain to pull from his grasps. But in the end, he was physically stronger than her and managed to catch her by the shoulder.
Smirking at her, "We'll make sure yer master isn't sum old man. Gotta be a lively one to keep up with you, Ah?"
Lip turned in disgust, Katara submitted to the earthbender's will to take her from out of her room. She'd just have to take her chances against her buyer and escape then.
After being walked down a long hallway, hearing only the sound of her chains and ankle bracelets jingle, Katara was stopped in front of a metal door.
"Alright, girly. Yer gonna up on that stage and yer gonna let those men in there see just what ther' buyin'." The earthbender said as he opened the door and shoved her inside.
Falling to the floor in the dark room, the waterbender caught her breath as she tried to sit up. And as she did, suddenly the dark colored curtains lifted up and a bright light hit her in her face. She used her hand to block the light but immediately heard the whistling of men. Her eyes widened as she laid sideways on the floor, trying to get to her feet.
Sitting in the audience with his hood still over his head, wearing an extremely pleased look on his face. "Do you think she knows we came for her?" Ozai ask as he marveled at the waterbender current state. Wide blue eyes and that creamed brown skin in skimpy blue, if only she knew what she was stirring in him.
"She likely believes we left without her." Shinji was not immune to the waterbender's suggestive appearance. The slave attire suited her more than he wanted to admit.
Stunned as she stood to her feet and looked out at the crowd of men all wanting to purchase her. La, she couldn't believe this. Were these scumbags serious here? She was a human being for crying out loud. Not some product to be bought. This was utterly barbaric.
"All the way from the North Water Tribe is our beautiful and fiery, Sapphire!" Some random working woman announced.
I'm not from the Northern Tribe and my name isn't Sapphire! Katara's brows furrowed as she looked to the woman dressed in an equally skimpy green outfit. However; the whistling and cat calls only got worse as she wore an aggressive look on her face. Seems most of her buyers were wealthy Earth Kingdom men and Fire Nation colonists that had a thing for feisty women.
"Look at those eyes of her." A nobleman from Omashu pointed out.
"No those lips." A wealthy merchant from Bei Seng Sei stated.
"No, it's her body that stands out. Look at the shape on her." A Fire Nation colonist gaped at her.
Hearing men around them take notice at the waterbender's sex appeal bother both Shinji and Ozai. Call them possessive but the waterbender belonged to them first and they were taking her back.
"Oh don't be shy, Sapphire." The prostitute came walking up to the waterbender and wrapped her arm around her waist as she smile at the men in front of them. "Let us see just how fun you can be."
The crowd went wild and Katara's face turned as red as the lights in this district of town.
After thirty minutes of humiliation on stage by a prostitute in front of a crowd of pigs, the waterbender was taken back to her room and forced to endure even worse. Out of the two dozen of men that wanted to buy her, half of them paid extra to have a three minute session with her which was monitored by her slavers to protect the 'product'.
Katara was quiet and disdainful towards each man that entered her room. They asked questions and she ignored them. A few felt her up and she shoved her fist in their face. One of them asked for a kiss, she had them kiss her foot when she kicked them in the jaw. The waterbender was everything that they had expected her to be and it only made them want her more.
By the time the last buyer was about to enter, Katara was prepared to give them one hell of a beating. She lounged on her side in the black round plush bed that held a veil over it when her slaver peaked his head in.
"Dis one's paid a nice sum ta have a private meetin' wit ya. Be nice or we'll have to get rough wit ya." The earthbender grinned as he let the last buyer in.
There was an uneasy feeling spilling into the waterbender's gut as she watched a hooded man enter her room and close the door behind him. She sat up and prepared herself for a fight in the case there was one. The men she's met so far had been a little too touchy for her and this creep didn't seem like he was going to be any different.
The hooded man dropped down onto the sofa, throwing his arms on the back of it as he tilted his head. "Come." He told her, slapping his hand on his thigh for her.
Hesitantly, Katara made her way to the cloaked man and sat on his thigh as instructed to. Without her bending, she didn't want to get herself into an altercations with those that owned her. But if this guy tried anything funny, he'd get a fist to the face like all the others. No exceptions.
As the waterbender took a seat on his lap and kept her head turned away from him, Ozai studied her from her slender neck to the bare skin of her legs. She was even more appealing to him now. The fierce shyness only made her that much more delectable. He wanted to toy with her, of course. That's why he decided to go this route and not just bust in here and snatch her.
"I told you to use the tent, girl." Ozai said as he pulled back his hood and smirked at the girl now gaping at him.
Hands covering her mouth, "Ozai?! What are you doing here?!" She hurried to sit off of his leg.
"Taking back a waterbender that belonged to me first." His smirk faded as he stood and crossed his arms. "Tell me, waterbender, do you think I should have wasted my time coming here to save you?"
Katara was speechless as she looked to him. She hadn't thought for a second that Ozai would come here for her. She just kept staring at him with wide eyes as he gazed down at her indifferently. As for his question, she really didn't know how to answer it. Maybe it was rhetorical or maybe it was a trick question. Either way, she wasn't going to answer. She wasn't about to set herself up.
Sighing as he sat back down with his legs open, "You were not cheap to get alone, Waterbender."
"Well I'm sorry." Katara sat beside him and hung her head in apology. "But I'm truly grateful. Thank you."
Tapping her chin to get her to lift her head and look him in the eyes. "You owe me, girl. It's time you pay up."
"How?" She asked as she stared into his serpent like eyes.
"Like this." Ozai purred and pulled the girl to him, capturing her lips with his. When she tried pulling away, he grabbed her tighter and yanked her into his lap. Her legs straddled over him as he cupped her face and drank her in. Thirsting for the stimulation her lips would give him.
Breaking from him, Katara stared at him with wide eyes as his hazy gaze were train on her.
"This isn't right. Stop." Her eyes pleaded.
"Why?" His fingers crawled up the side of her face and toyed with her bangs. "We're both two consenting adults."
Katara's face flushed hard as she felt his hand move and down her thigh, sending tremors throughout her body. Heat pooled in her gut as his hand rounded the side of her thigh and grab her ass, forcing her to fall forward against him. This was bad. Worse than she had imagined because in some weird sudden rush of arousal, a part of her was attracted to him. His devil eyes, tall and broad statue, long black hair, and the huskiness of his voice. Not to mention his resemblance of Zuko and her lacking sex life.
Purring against her neck, "We have thirty minutes before that earthbender comes back. I say we make this quick so I can get you out of here." Ozai's wandering hand reached for the waistband of her thongs and tugged on them. "Now pay up so we can leave, waterbender."
"You idiot!" Ozai hissed holding tight onto the waterbender's waist as she had their mount speeding through the streets.
Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Katara focused on the path ahead of her. Like hell she was going to having sex with Ozai to save her own skin. Shit, she'd rather take her own chances and save herself before she let that happen. Besides, even if she found him sexually attractive and she was aroused, the mere thought of sleeping with her father's murderer made her skin crawl. He could go to hell with that bullshit.
"Get back here, you water bitch!" The slavers yelled as they followed behind them. Shinji tried taking out as many of them as possible but too many had gained up on them. It seemed the whole city wanted to get their hands on her. She was worth millions and that was all anyone could think of.
"We should have done things my way and this wouldn't have happened." Ozai shouted at her.
Forcing their mount to go even faster, "Next time, get me drunk first and I might take longer to consider." She told him.
It didn't make any sense. Any logical woman would have just had sex with him and let him save her. But this damn idiot sucker punched him and ran from the room, fighting her slavers off until she made it outside to Shinji. He was fortunate that he could easily jump from the window of her room and climb onto the mount with her. But that fortune ran out when the whole damn town came chasing after them. Now they were screwed.
"Alright, We're gonna need to jump." Katara yelled so that Shinji could hear her.
Raising a brow, "Jump where?!" Ozai once again was not liking this girl's plans.
"Ahead! There's a cliff!" Katara shouted as she readied to take the leap.
Shinji road ahead of her to jump first. He figured he could find a ledge and hold to it so he could catch her when she jumped. When the firebender jumped, Ozai's eyes widened. He was not one to jump from great heights. Katara grabbed his hand and held it tight.
"We'll jump on the count of three. Okay?" She tried to coax him the best she could but he clearly was not up for this.
"One, two, jump!" She pulled him off with her and they went falling off the cliff.
"He's not responding!" Katara shrieked as she pressed down hard on Shinji's chest, hoping to get the water out of his lungs that he had swallowed.
Ozai paced back and forth. Angry that he was dripping and wet from falling into yet another stream. Most of all, he was still sexually frustrated from the waterbender rejecting him. Who the hell did she think she was?! After he had came looking for her!
Having to go with her second best option, Katara bended the water from Shinji's lungs and felt the heaviness of fear fall off her shoulders when Shinji started coughing up the rest of the water. Oh thank la. She laid back onto the grass and looked up at the stars of the night.
"Now that he's up, what's your plan, waterbender?! We've lost our mounts once again, we have none of our supplies with us, and we've likely got this whole region looking for us! What other genius plan do you have now because I'm all ears!" Ozai went off on the waterbender.
Rolling on her side in the grass, Katara threw him a look. "How about you shut the hell up, you pervert! I've lived out in these woods for an entire year and if it wasn't for my quick thinking, we would have been captured! They'd sell me but you would have your neck sliced opened! Now if you still want to make it to Xiao Lu, hush up and let me think." The waterbender stood to her feet and ignored the glowering of her enemy.
Shinji looked between the two and tried to understand what the hell happened back in the brothel. Nothing good, he could tell. The girl was standing her ground and Ozai was fighting her back. Clearly, there must have been a mishap between them.
This valley had to have run west which is where Xiao Lu was. But how could they know their current position without their map or the sun? It was best they stay out till morning and see where the sun rose from and head in the opposite direction. Katara went to the stream and placed her hand in it, shutting her eyes. Doing this would allow her to feel any other streams attached to it. Hopefully, she could find a village near it.
Opening her eyes, "We'll stay here tonight. Wait till the sun is up to move. There's a village ten miles north of here. We'll just get everything we need there and head to Xiao Lu."
"With what money, girl?"
"We'll steal. Not like we've done any better thus far." Katara plopped down into the grass just by the stream and waved her hand around in it as she shot Ozai a threatening look. If he knew what was good for him, he would stay put and keep his distance. As it stood, his days of having power over her were over, not that they lasted long. So if he wanted to get to his destination, he would need to cooperate with her or count his losses and they could split. Either way, her goals were very clear in her head even after everything she's had to endure because of Ozai. Taking back her son and returning home.
A few days passed before the trio was able to reach a small village with a stable. Katara sliced the locks off the stable doors and hurried inside to grab her a mount. Riding off before being caught, the waterbender looked over her shoulder to see that the two men were following her lead. Turning back around with a smirk on her face. Wow, I'm actually in charge here.
The group road several miles west before stopping in the third village they past. With all the supplies they were able to steal, they managed to take more than they needed and sold the extras.
"Stop glaring at me." Katara said as she checked them into an inn. "I'm not sleeping in a room alone with you after the other night."
The waterbender tossed him the keys to his room and then a pair to Shinji before ascending up the stairs.
"I swear I'm going to wring her neck." Ozai gritted his teeth.
"Something tells me you must like it because you go through so much trouble to keep her along with us." Shinji stated boldly as he walked past the former tyrant.
This was all she needed after days out on the run and stealing. A long relaxing hot bubble bath. She soaked herself beneath the bubbles and drank some of the wine she managed to steal by 'accident'. La, she owed it to herself after all she's been through. All at the hands of men. Her father warned her that boys and even men would be nothing but trouble for her. And it would seem he was right.
Sighing as her brows scrunched up together, Katara took a sip of her wine and tried not to think about how annoyed she was with Ozai. How dare he think she would have sex with him in order to be saved. Was he that desperate or did he think she was because she got them out of there quicker than he had planned to.
"No good, bastard." She mumbles into her bath just as a knock was placed on her room door.
Katara groaned as she was forced to cut her bath short, taking a towel to wrap herself in, she carried her wine glass with her to the door. "Who is it?" She opened it to see the last person she wanted to see right at the moment.
"Close that door on me and I'll bust it down. Your pick." Ozai said as he forced his way in, pushing her out of his way as he did.
Closing the door, Katara turned and eyed him disdainfully. "What do you want?"
"I know you stole several bottles of wine the other day. I want my share." Ozai said as he started going through her things, tossing things out of her bag and flinging them all over the room.
It pissed her off but Katara wasn't about to get into it with him. Clearly, anything she had, he felt entitled to it and that was fair. She set herself up for things to be that way, trying to save her own skin and her son's. Yet, still, it pissed her off. If he would ask first, then that wouldn't be a problem at all. But he wasn't one for tact. Ozai was an asshole that lost everything and wanted to piss her off if that was the very last thing he did.
When he found her sash, Ozai grabbed more than half and carried them to the door where the waterbender was standing in front of with a look he was taking as a challenge.
"Move aside."
"No, that's more than your share."
"All of them are technically my share seeing as I own you. Now move or I'll make you."
Scoffing, Katara rolled her eyes and moved out of his way. La, I hate you. She made sure to slam the door behind him out of spite. Call her petty, sure but was he any different?
In his room, changing into a long sleeve black tunic and grey trousers, Shinji took a moment to shave the stubble of hair he had been growing since they managed to lose most of their things. He wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet he got from being alone and to himself. However; just as he finished shaving his face, a knock disturbed him from his moment of quiet.
It could just be the innkeeper. Shinji tried telling himself as he went to open the door.
"Umm...sorry to disturb you, Shinji. I just wanted to know if you wanted some of this wine, I snagged a few of them." The waterbender was at his door with three bottles in her arms as she wore the nightgown he found in the closet of a house he raided.
Not holding anything against her as he knew she had been through a lot, Shinji offered her a smile as he accepted the gift.
"Thank you, Katara." He said.
Smiling back as her cheeks were a bit red from hearing her name again, "No problem, Shinji. Enjoy the rest of your night." She replied before turning and heading down the hall to her room.
About to close his door, Shinji heard the waterbender yelp before a door suddenly slammed. He sighed and shook his head. Why did his master have to taunt the girl so much? She was a rather easy woman to get along with but it seemed Lord Ozai didn't get along with anyone. Not even himself.
"You're pathetic." Katara said as she drank yet another sip of the bottle she held in her hands, leaning against the rails of the terrace on this floor of the inn.
Ignoring her disrespectful remark, Ozai slouched forward on the rails and stared grimly at the snow that had begun to fall. Honestly, he felt absolutely pathetic. No bending. No throne. No power. Hell, he couldn't even get this girl to yield to him. Threats, intimidation, humiliation, even breaking her wrist didn't get her to obey him. She was not the submitting type which he found attractive but frustrating at the same time. As soon as they reach Xiao Lu, he was thinking to cut his ties with her. No point in own someone that couldn't be tamed. She could have her freedom back. He didn't care. But then again, he knew that was bullshit. How many times had he wanted to get rid of her?
Watching the former Fire Lord drink the last of his second bottle and throw it as far as he could, Katara could see in his eyes the haze was coming down on him. If he wasn't drunk already, he would be if he didn't stop drinking. As much as she wanted to stop him, who was she to stop a man from sulking? Besides, she had own sulking to do. Everyday that past she grew more anxious of her son's well being. She didn't know who had him or what they might have done with him. The anxiety became too much at times and she started blaming herself for not having told Zuko. Even if they kept it a secret, together, at least their son would be safe and sound. This was her fault. If only she fought harder. If only she hadn't said yes to finding Zuko's mother, Ozai would have never made her his target and discovered she had his grandson.
"Damn it!" She yelled and threw her half empty wine bottle into the wall of the inn.
"Don't go wasting that stuff, girl." Ozai looked over her shoulder at the girl in the middle of a breakdown. "Just pass it to me."
Falling on her knees, Katara started pulling at her hair and shaking. This is what happens when she tries to be strong all the time. Tries to hold on. For everyone's sake but her own. La, how much more of this could she take?! She was trying to be brave, strong, invincible, and unstoppable. And yet, in front of her greatest enemy, she was breaking down into tears, defenses crashing down on her as she felt she was falling apart.
"I want my son, Ozai!" Katara turned to the monster that did this to her. "I want him back!"
Glancing the girl's way as she struggled to her feet, dizzy from the wine she had just drank. "I want my bending back, girl. I want my throne and my power back. But that's not going to happen if I just ask for it. You want something, you take it."
"Bastard!" Katara ran up to him and tried hitting him in the face but he took her arm before she could land the hit. Her other fist started hitting him in the chest and he simply watched her with not a single fuck given. He was too drunk to care. Maybe they should stop drinking and go to bed. He didn't want to drink alone and he didn't. The waterbender had been good company up until now, so it was clearly time for them to go to bed. She couldn't hold her wine.
When she finally calmed down, Ozai walked her back to her room and tried helping her into her room since she had a lower tolerance than him and couldn't figure out how to put the key into the keyhole. As he unlocked the door for her, Katara looked up at him and shook her head, tears drying on her face.
"You're pathetic."
"And you're a bitch. So I guess we both lose."
"I hate you."
"I hate you more than I let on."
Katara drunkenly swayed side to side as she leaned her back against the door and continued to stare at Ozai. His gaze hadn't let up either.
"I hope you get everything that was lost to you because I sure as hell would love to get everything that was taken from me." The waterbender said as she closed her bedroom door in his face.
Next morning Katara was in the middle of a hot shower, trying to wake herself up, when her bathroom door slammed open.
"What the hell?!" Katara shouted as Ozai and Shinji let themselves in, shutting the door behind them.
Looking at the waterbender and then down at the water dripping over her naked body, the two men stood silently as she tried covering up. She was about to yell at them again when Ozai grabbed her and covered her mouth.
"Keep talking and I will personally hand you over to them." Ozai hissed in her ear.
The waterbender calmed herself down and relaxed against him as she tried reaching for her towel hanging up. Shinji got it for her as Ozai released her and wrapped it around her. They all stayed still and quiet. Seems like they had been tracked down. Slave trafficking was serious business. No one got away with ease. No one. And Katara would be no different. However; the two men in her company weren't willing to hand her over despite the trouble it seemed to pose.
Peeking through the cracked door of the bathroom, Ozai noticed that no one had entered the room yet. They had a chance to make it to the window and climb out. He turned and grabbed the waterbender, opening the door as Shinji followed behind him. Coming to the window, Ozai opened it and looked down it.
"Climb down and I'll throw her to you." Ozai instructed Shinji.
Nodding his head, Shinji maneuvered himself down to the ground and raised his arms up for the waterbender that was thrown with little care out of the window. She fell directly on top of him, crashing them both into the snow covered ground as Ozai jumped down with ease. They stared wide eyes at each other as it would seem, Katara's towel fell off of her and she was met with two pairs of eyes and the chilling cold.
"Come on, we need to leave now." Ozai grabbed her again but this time, forgetting her towel.
Katara squirmed as she tried reaching for it. Luckily, Shinji grabbed it for her as they hurried their way behind the buildings, hoping to reach the stables where their mounts would be. Getting far from these slavers was priority.
Reaching the stables, Shinji hurried onto his mount as did the rest of them. He planned to cause a distraction to buy his master and the waterbender time to get away. As Ozai rose out with Katara following behind him, Shinji set the stables on fire and let all the mounts loose. The commotion would no doubt attract the attention of their hunters.
"You're riding too far behind!" Ozai yelled as he noticed the waterbender was not riding as closely as he would want.
Katara didn't know what was up with her ostrich horse but it wasn't keeping up. She tried to make their terrain a little easier for her mount by manipulating the snow but it didn't seem to work.
"There she is!" They heard voices behind them.
Slowing down his mount, Ozai waited till his and the waterbender's ostrich horses were parallel before he grabbed her and yanked her from her mount. She was going to get captured again if he left her to try and catch up to him. Katara found herself straddling Ozai's lap as she was facing towards him. La, this can't get worse.
It was not long before taking the waterbender onto his saddle that Ozai realized these men were closing in on them.
"We might have to fight them." Katara said as she looked over his shoulder and saw a few men carrying weapons.
"Use your bending to get them off our trail!" Ozai growled.
Rolling her eyes. You could ask nicely. Katara moves some of the snow on the ground to sweep a few man away and knock their mounts off balance as she iced over another path to make it slippery for the others. However; one rode past all her obstacles and pulled out a knife that was then thrown towards them. Hitting their ostrich horse, they went down and tumbled over into the snow.
Ozai held onto the waterbender as they fell and rolled up against a tree. The impact practically knocked the wind out of him but he wasn't giving up the girl.
The group of slavers had all pulled themselves from the snow and headed towards them with their weapons and bending at their disposal, ready to attack.
"Don't kill either one of them." The one that knocked them off their mounts said, the leader. "They'll both grant us a lot of wealth."
One of the men narrowed his eyes at the gold eye fella holding onto the naked waterbender they had been searching for. "No one's gonna buy that Fire Nation feller. He's got an mean look to him."
"The new Fire Lord would or maybe the rebels would pay more for they're old master. Who knows?"
The groups of men all went silent as they stared harder at this pissed off looking Fire Nation Bastard.
"Nice to meet your acquaintance, Fire Lord Ozai."
Katara's eyes widened as she looked up to Ozai and gulped. We're screwed.
Clenching his teeth. You got us into this. He glared down at the girl.
"Knock them both out and let's take them with us. We got riches to collect." The leader told his men.
Ozai and Katara were about to attack but a blow dart was shot into both their necks causing them to pass out instantly.
…..
A/N:
Looks like more trouble for Ozai! A little tension between our pair! And Shinji, what are his feelings? Hope you guys enjoyed! Thanks for reading!