A/N:

We are back with Drowning Lessons! If you need to recap after several months of no update, by all means do so! Got some interesting chapters headed your way! Now enjoy!

Chapter 10:

"Avatar Aang?"

"Haru." The Avatar said as he climbed off his bison friend and walked up to the earthbender who had been in the middle of teaching a class to younger beginners.

Bowing his head in respect of the Avatar, Haru's entire class followed his lead and smiled when their eyes were back on the Air Nomad. It was a rare sight to see the airbender these days. He had been so busy rebuilding his people after finding some in hiding. Haru was pleased to see his old friend had grown and matured. However; he could see something was bothering him. The look of great despair was upon his face. Could this reappearance mean the world was at stake again?

Approaching the earthbender, "Can we talk somewhere privately? I do not wish to disturb these young ones with the news I have to bear."

Haru nodded his head and showed the monk inside from his outdoor dojo. In his office, the earthbender offered the Avatar tea to which he accepted and tea was prepared right away. Sitting on the patio at the low table with the sliding doors opened to see that his students were practicing diligently, Haru drank a sip of his tea.

"Is this to do with Katara's death?" He asked sadly. "Word just reached us yesterday."

Angry nodded his head. "Yes but I don't think she's dead. I think she was kidnapped or is on the run."

Haru raised a brow. "What makes you think-"

"I went to the sight where she supposedly died. Her home was burned down, locks of her hair and her mother's necklaces were left but not a single scent of human flesh. The sight was staged. Someone wants her to look dead when she isn't." Aang explained before sipping on his tea.

While he wanted to believe his friend, the earthbender knew how much he had been in love with Katara. It was the driving reason why Haru hadn't pursued her. And hearing the monk speak of how the waterbender was not dead when there was so much evidence saying she was, it just sounded like denial to him.

Aang leaned his elbow onto the table and held his cheek in hand as he looked out at the practicing young earthbenders. "Even if I'm not correct about my suspicions. I know for a fact that her son was kidnapped."

"Son?" Haru tilted his head to the side.

Nodding his head as he gazed down at his tea, "I know it's bound to get out with Sokka in the Fire Nation. So there's no point in keeping it a secret."

There was a long pause before Aang sighed and looked up at Haru. "Katara had a son shortly after the war ended. She kept him hidden from everyone outside her tribe and the father a secret from everyone outside our group. Even the father himself didn't know."

"But why?" It didn't make sense. The waterbender has been known to be the mothering type. She was definitely suited to be one eventually. Something she should pride herself with. Why would she hide this?

"If anyone knew the father, it would put her son's life in danger. But now, it would seem our efforts were futile and someone discovered who the father was."

Haru really didn't know what to make of this. Who was the boy's father and why did it force Katara into secrecy? If it was Aang's that made a little sense but it was clearly not him, seeing as he stated the father didn't know either. And it couldn't be just anyone. The father had to be someone of importance but likely closer in age to her. Haru just couldn't see an extremely older man knocking Katara up or her letting that happen. And was it that this would come to light through Sokka visiting the Fire Nation? Was the father a fireben-….it finally hit him.

Shaking his head, "Are you telling me that that exiled prince is the father?"

"Well he's the Fire Lord now but yes, he is." Aang said.

Standing up from the table and pacing back and forth. Hands behind his back as he was lost in thought. Katara and Zuko? They had been together? Since when? How was that even a thing? She hated him. Everyone knew how much she hated Zuko when he joined them. No one hated him more than she did. So why? Why would she- unless she was raped? Explaining why even he didn't know he had a son. But that didn't make sense. She became his ambassador for a while. Why would she work for her rapist? She wouldn't. Therefore it was mutual. They had something between them. Something no one on the outside knew. An affair. Oh, dear spirits. Of all the guys that Katara could have been with why the damn firebender of the group?!

"I don't know who would kidnap him but it seems like the work of rebels." The Avatar speculated as he pondered deeply.

The doors of Haru's office opened and one of the other instructors entered with great haste.

"Sifu Haru, there is urgent news!"

Both Haru and Aang rose to their feet.

"What is it, Master Pyo?"

"Word from the Fire Nation, former Fire Lord Ozai has escaped."

The earthbender and his Avatar friend both gaped at the news. This couldn't be. How did he escape?

There was a sharp pain surging through his head as he sat up from where he laid on the floor of the murky and dark room. Ozai braced himself up against the metal wall his back was to when he felt suddenly sick to his stomach. When he tried to move, his arms and legs could only move so much as he heard chains jingle. Damn it! His hand fell over his face as there was sweat running down it. This place was like a boiler. Where was he?

"You little bitch!" A man yelled from the doorway of the room as he and few others were dragging a naked woman in. She was fighting them back but had very little luck. One man finally gave her a good strike to face and she fell to the floor.

Ozai's eyes adjusted a bit more from the poor lighting of the room to see the woman was, in fact, the waterbender. He watched her try to crawl away as one of the men that brought her here climbed on top of her frail looking body. The man sat on her as he flipped her on her back and struck her in the face again.

"I should pull out every last tooth of yours, wench! Bite my cock again and I'll shove it right up your ass!" Katara cried as she delivered another blow to her face and then kicked as the man stood up.

Leaving the waterbender on the ground as he spits on her, the man looked up to his other captive and snarled. "Fire Nation trash! What are you looking at?!"

Ozai didn't say anything in response and only glared at the deviant man.

"What?! Got something to say?!" The man seemed to get pissed off at how he was being looked at. "Don't like how I play with your water friend?!"

It was meant to provoke Ozai when the man grabbed Katara by her hair off the ground and forced her to her feet. She cried out in pain as every part of her body felt sore and ached. Whatever they did to her before bringing her here must have been anything but pleasant. She was covered in bruises, scratches, cuts, gashes. It even looked like her wrist had been re-injured.

"Does this little cunt mean anything to you?" The man grinned as he tore Katara's arms away from her breasts and pinched tight on her nipple ring cause her to scream in pain. She slapped him and pulled away when he tried to grab her. No amount of pain or fear was going to subdue the fight in the waterbender.

Watching the waterbender attempt to fight the man again, Ozai turned his head as her fight was sure to be over and was over with the sound of a thud and her voice crying out again.

"You had better learn your place, girly." The man said before the sound of a loud metal door was slammed.

All that was left to be heard in the room was the whimpering of the waterbender as she dragged herself to the nearest wall and laid curled up against it. It didn't take a lot of wondering to know what must have happened to her moments before she was thrust into this room. Ozai tried not to dwell on it but it did make his blood boil. Men that did things like that to women weren't men at all. They were cowards and worms that deserved to be stumped out.

Glancing over to the waterbender, Ozai narrowed his eyes as he could better see the condition she was in. No matter how much the girl pissed him off or the desires he had to kill her at times, he'd never do this. Not to her at least. He was rather fond of her when she wasn't asking to get killed, that or he simply felt once again his property was being handled without his consent.

"I'll get us out of here, girl," Ozai told the waterbender laying not too far from him. "Just be patient."

The former tyrant tried standing to his feet and took a look around. There were no windows, no vents, no other way out besides the door at the front of the room. Which meant they need to wait till one of those bastards came back and attack. But he was chained. Katara was the only one of them that wasn't chained or bound. However; she was in no condition to fight. She had been dealt a terrible beating on top of whatever else these bastards had done to her. He needed to get free from these chains so he would be able to get them out before something worse happens.

"Help me get out of these chains, girl. You can't fight them alone."

"I can fight them! I'm not some weakling! I'm a fighter!" Katara groaned in pain as she held to her stomach where she had been kicked as she struggled to her feet. Holding her side as she stood and leaned against the wall, she looked to Ozai.

"It doesn't look that way, waterbender:" Ozai looked her over again. "You're one good hit away from being out cold for a week. You're in no condition to fight."

Glaring at him, "You would be too if you had to fight four men three times your size by yourself." Her voice was cold and still.

Well regardless, he had to give it to the waterbender for even attempting. Though he would have rather her submitted to cause her less trouble but then again, that just wasn't her nature was it? He couldn't get her to do simple things without her fighting him on it and he had leverage over her. So there was no way these Earth Kingdom scum would be able to do any better. She called herself a fighter, he called her a moron. Somehow he figured in the Water Tribes that must be the same thing.

The waterbender paced herself slowly to where Ozai was and went to his chains, hoping to get him free from them. She never thought in a million years she'd be freeing him from bondage but then again, she was stuck in here with him.

"It won't budge but it's rusty enough that I can break it if I have water." She said.

Damn it! Ozai swore. There wasn't any water in this blasted room. However; he watched as the sweat from his forehead moved from him to the waterbender's fingertips and form a blade. Next he knew, she was breaking through the rusted metal of his chains.

*Clink*

"There." Katara let herself slide to the floor. "You're free. Now get us out of here."

Ursa glanced at the noblewoman that silently ate on the opposite end of the dining room table from her son and his companions. As much as she would like to pretend she didn't, Ursa understood the hurt and frustration Lady Mai was undergoing. It was a stressful life, the bride of a royal man and to find out before one could even produce heirs, her husband to be had already received one, it brought shame and mockery to a woman. Ursa thanked Agni that had not been the case for her but still, being betrayed by a man she loved was something she knew all too well.

Looking away, Ursa sipped on her spoon full of soup and continued listening to the chatter of the young friends of her son.

"I think your father is in the Earth Kingdom. It's the only place on earth that would not be able to so easily spot him. It's vast and has Fire Nation citizens already living there for over a century. He would blend perfectly. And not to mention, most of his supporters fled there after you started hunting them down here. He has contacts and support there." Toph explained before taking a bit out of her dinner roll.

Zuko nodded his head and agreed with the earthbender. The Earth Kingdom was the perfect breeding ground for his father to become powerful once again and develop his plans to attack.

While her boyfriend scarfed down his food, Suki shook her head and turned her attention to Zuko. "I think Toph is right. We need to put a bounty on Ozai's head. One that will make even his supporters give him up."

"The treasury will not allow it. My father's escape is already exhausting enough expenses. Troops have to be paid to chase him down, not to mention I'm also helping pay for the troops in the Earth Kingdom seeing as this is my fault. My father was my responsibility and now he's on the loose." Zuko sighed in frustration.

Ursa had remained silent all through dinner as her son and his friends were still stuck on finding the best course of action to find Ozai. She had wished that she had more to contribute to the conversation but she didn't. It was by the skin of her teeth that she had managed to escape him without him knowing where she had fled to. The mere thought of her ex-husband made her want to cower in fear.

After dinner had ended, Ursa had watched her son say 'goodnight' to his friends and attempt to do the same with his fiancé but the noblewoman refused to let him finish and walked away from him. She felt bad for her son. Zuko had it rough and honestly, she couldn't find it in herself to be upset with him for what had happened. He had an affair with the now deceased waterbender before he was engaged to Lady Mai and it wasn't made apparent to him that a child was conceived from the affair until years later. This was just the cards fate dealt him.

"Zuko." She made her way to him with a smile on her face. "Would you like to walk your mother to her chambers?"

The young Fire Lord found something to smile for and gladly accepted his mother's offer. The two of them walked and chatted. Mostly his mother telling him her opinion of his friends. It was funny how she seemed fond of Toph and Sokka. They were easily the most annoying people to deal with. She mentioned how strong Suki had been in her sleeveless dress. Zuko informed her that Suki was a Kyoshi Warrior and did a lot of physical activities to have her in shape. It was when they were almost to her chambers that Ursa paused in her step and turned to her son.

Looking genuinely concerned, "Your fiancé, Lady Mai, do you plan on reconciling with her? She'll be your wife someday. It would be a shame to enter your marriage already hating one another."

"I'm thinking about calling it off," Zuko said as the smile fell from his face. "Even before this, Mai has never been happy about anything I did. She was always bored of any and everything I try discussing with her. I think the only reason she agreed to marry me was to become Fire Lady. Her parents have ingrained it in her head for years."

Ursa was not pleased with hearing this. So the young woman wasn't a match for her son and not only that, he looked miserable just talking about the woman. No wonder his attentions were elsewhere.

Sighing before forcing a smile, "I loved your father once upon a time. Back when he was just a brooding teenager that couldn't stand his father or older brother. He and I were friends growing up." Ursa was rather fond of her early memories of her ex-husband. "For years, he never knew I had taken a liken to him but one day his father did. And being the granddaughter of Avatar Roku, Azulon was more than happy to arrange our marriage. This didn't make your father happy at all, he had several lovers and out of them, one he desired to marry. When he found out about the arrangement, our friendship ended and he grew to resent me, swore he'd make me hate him. And he did. I hated your father from our wedding night till this very day."

Zuko never knew his parents had been friends. Or that his mother was in love with his father. She had always seemed afraid of the man before she escaped their marriage and fled. His father never once seemed to smile at his mother. He only looked at her with hate and disgust.

"I tell you this because I want to keep you from the fate your father and I suffered. If your heart's not in marrying Mai, then don't marry her. You already have an heir and many Fire Lords before you have gone without a Fire Lady, your father and great-grandfather included." Ursa hoped that lightened the burden on her son's chest.

Yes, he knew he could reign without a Fire Lady but his heir, he needed his heir. And his father had kidnapped him. Zuko felt no less pressed to do something with the time he had to find his son, one Katara gave him.

As his mother and he stood outside her chambers, Ursa brought him into her warm embrace. "I love you, my little turtle duck."

"I love you too, mom." Zuko returned her hug.

"I heard we got us a waterbender and an enemy of the world all in one hunting. Sounds like we're gonna be rich boys." An old man with grey hair covering only the sides of his head said as he laced his fingers together and leaned back against his chair, looking out at his men.

The men of the room all cheered happily as they had hit them the jackpot. Their two captives were worth a fortune. A Water Tribe beauty with attitude and the former tyrant of the Fire Nation. They could literally demand any price for the two. Tribeswomen were rare to come by and the tyrant was an escapee that was wanted by two very wealthy factions, perhaps three if you include the Earth Kingdom that wanted revenge. Oh, they were about to be swimming in gold.

"But old man Toshiro, we've got us a little bit of a problem." One of the men said as he interrupted the cheering.

Narrowing his old withering eyes, "What problem, Po?"

"Ugh, well the water girl is a little more feisty than we expected. We bit one of our men and fought four other men. We roughed her up a bit and she's not looking too good." The man said as he rubbed his neck awkwardly.

Toshiro balled his wrinkled fists as he glared at his subordinate, "What do we do to girls that aren't receptive?"

"Slip purple leaf in her drink." He recited.

"Then why wasn't that done?! Why ruin our merchandise that's worth more than the lot of ya?!" The elderly man stood up from his desk as his men all backed down. "Take me to her. I want to see what you've all done to my money."

~The dungeon~

Katara was laying on the floor with Ozai shirt over her as he tried prying the metal door open. It was useless. The door wasn't going to budge. They were stuck here till one of those creeps came back to mess with her. Sighing, she decided to rest herself on the floor until it was time to leave. She was finally starting to feel the pain of her injuries and La, did they hurt.

Panting as he gave up, Ozai leaned his forehead against the metal door and tried to cool off. He was burning up in here. Back when he was a bender heat had no effect on him but now, he was having a hard time with this temperature.

"Damn it!" Ozai threw his fist into the metal door.

Rolling her eyes as she looked at the former firebender. Why did men always feel the need to prove themselves? The door wasn't budging any time soon, Ozai should just accept that and lay back. When those men return, they can take them and get the hell out of here.

"It won't open." He grumbled to himself.

"Duh!" Katara said as she lounged on the floor in an upright position. "You should just pretend you're still chained and surprise attack them when they come back."

Turning around to fix his eyes on the waterbender wearing his shirt, "We need to leave before that."

"Well that's not happening seeing as you can't get that door open, so...I say we wait." The waterbender watched as the former tyrant walked towards her and then sat beside her. He couldn't much argue with her on that. Not unless he could get the door opened or find some other way out of here.

Ozai tilted his head back as his hair hung over his bare shoulders. He watched from the corner of his eye as the waterbender crawled up to him and laid her head on his thigh. A part of him wanted to shoo her away or rather make some witted remark but seeing as she was beaten up, he would leave her be. Besides, it showed a milder side to the both of them that rarely seemed to show when they were around each other.

The metal door slid open a few hours, waking both captives with a jerk at the loud sound of it. Katara's eyes were immediately on the men entering and as they came near, she pressed herself into Ozai.

"Oh don't be like that, girly." The man that had beaten her had a grin on his face.

Shaking her head as she tried seeking help from her fellow captive, Katara felt arms wrap around her waist and heard the growling of the man she was now sitting in lap.

"Keep your hands off her." Ozai glared dangerously at the man.

Po stopped just in front of the two and grinned even wider, "Why? She your girl? A little young for ya, I'd say." He reached down for her ankle and tried to pull her to him, however; Ozai got up and pulled her away.

Alarmed that their captive was free from his chains, the men that entered immediately took up a stance against the former tyrant as he held the girl out of reach.

"Come near and I'll snap her neck." Ozai's hand slipped to her throat as he held her up against him.

Clawing the hand on her neck, Katara squirmed and struggled against him. What was he doing? Weren't they supposed to get out of here together? Why was he threatening her all of a sudden?

As the men all stood down, Ozai pressed his lips to her ear as he kept her dangling off her feet. "Don't worry, waterbender. I don't plan on harming you."

"Sure, you don't." She answered him sarcastically as he focused back on the men he was holding her hostage from.

"You want your money's worth of me. Sell me to rebel forces in Xiao Lu. They're in a more flexible position to pay the sum you're all looking for." Ozai offered them.

Po was about to say respond with a refusal before old man Toshiro entered and patted his hand in his shoulder, using his cane to help him walk as he looked to the former Fire Lord. Smirking as he got a look at the man before him.

Chuckling as he shook his head, "A beautiful waterbender you have your hands on. I see my men have been anything but gentle with her and you, as expected, are no different." Toshiro looked from the former tyrant to the waterbender being held hostage. "Such a beautiful lily and none of you have been anything but brutal to her. Come, child, let me get you away from these barbaric men."

The old man had the entire room confused, everyone but the waterbender, who looked at him as an opportunity to get out of this dusty cell. Maybe this is my chance? Tapping her hand on the wrist of Ozai, Katara whispered quietly.

"Let me go. I think I can get us out of here."

"Nonsense. There's only one thing someone like him is after." Ozai warned her as he tightened his grip on her a little more.

"Same thing you are. Sure, I'll take my chances with the old geezer."

Mai stood on her balcony late into the night feeling the wind blow against her bare feet and face. She was alone until accompanied by her lover. His arms wrapping around her as he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"I want his child." Mai said. "I want to be the mother of the next Fire Lord and I want his bastard son dead."

Kissing her cheek, "then the boy shall die, my love."

"You'll go to kill him?" Mai turned around in her beloved's arms and cupped his face in her hands, a vulnerable look in her eyes.

"For you, my love, I'd kill the Fire Lord." Her lover kissed her lips sweetly.

Feeling overwhelmed with love and devotion, Mai broke the kiss and moved her lips to his ear. Whispering what she wanted to be done. She wanted him to go to Xiao Lu, find Ozai's regime, then the boy and kill him. A pillow to the small boy's face should be enough to send him to his mother in the spirit world.

~Next morning~

Mai was on her way to speak with Minister Chang, who acted as a mediator between her and her parents that still lived in Omashu. She had much to write them about. After consulting with her lover, the young noblewoman had figured out exactly what she wanted to do and what a better time than now to get what she wanted.

Sitting with a slight smile on her face while Minister Chang grinned at her, "I want them to know as soon as possible."

"And they will. Such delightful news is never to be delayed. I'm just surprised to know his majesty has decided to finally go through with this with all that's happened thus far." Chang said as he stroked his beard. "Hoping to secure a worthy heir since there's a bastard taken in his father's custody. I can't believe that water wench had dare bear the royal line a bastard child."

Mai smirked as she knew how much Chang hated Katara as Ambassador. The two of them never saw eye to eye. Even more, Chang had been one of the few residents at the palace that was aware of the affair between Zuko and the waterbender. He never missed the chance to taunt her about it.

After her meeting with Chang, Mai went about the halls wearing a rare look of pride and joy in her eyes. She looked like she had conquered all her obstacles and was ready to move forward. However; this look fade as she spotted her fiancé's friends making their way down the hall towards her.

"Aye! Ms. Crabby pants! Watcha looking all giddy for?" Sokka chuckled as Suki and Toph walked beside him giggling at the name he gave Zuko's fiancé.

A stony look surfaced her face, "I have business to take care of this morning. I don't have time for this."

"Doesn't seem like you have time for anyone these days, do ya?" Toph smirked. "Not even for Zuko."

Mai balled her face and glared at the blind earthbender while Suki and Sokka exchange looks. They could have sworn they heard Mai and Zuko last night when passing the noblewoman's chambers. Unless...their eyes widened as they looked back to Mai. That couldn't be. No.

Pushing the noblewoman aside, Toph chuckled to herself before pausing behind Mai. "As a fellow noble, I'm pretty such women aren't allowed to have lovers. Could make your children look illegitimate. Especially as a royal."

Mai gripped her fist and tried to keep from fuming. There was no proof. None. What did it matter what this blind earthbender said? Besides, Zuko had no right to judge. Not when he had a mistress and a son while promised to her.

As the noblewoman stormed off, Sokka and Suki turned their attention to Toph trying to figure out how she knew. The earthbender simply shrugged her shoulders and continued walking. Mai having an affair was the least of her worries. Toph had come upon something while trying to discover more about her shipments going missing and somehow, the man she felt in Mai's room was linked to it. She had followed him last night all the way to the noblewoman's chambers. Something here wasn't right and the earthbender planned to get to the bottom of it.

Katara was sitting, soaking in a warm tub of milk water and scented oils with rose petals. Never in her life had she ever been so pampered. She reached over for the tea she had been given to drink. La, it tasted so good. Best of all, there were silk robes waiting for her to slide into as soon as she done bathing.

"My sweet water lily, how are we faring?" The old man stood on the other side of the divider as he spoke to her.

While he couldn't see her, she bashfully sunk into the water to cover herself. "Oh, I'm fine. I'll be out in just a minute."

"Take your time. There is no rush. I simply had a few questions to ask." Toshiro said. "I'll be waiting in the rooms I've provided you."

When the old man left, Katara slipped back up and looked to the window in the bathroom. It seems the dungeon like place she had been kept before was beneath ground. Everything above here was elegant and beautiful. Outside, from what she could see was nothing but tree and a view of the other part of the house. This must be an estate, she figured. This man was rich already and was trying to make even more money.

Out of the tub, servants immediately rushed to her with towels and began drying her off. She flushed a little but somehow being seen naked didn't bother her too much at the moment. Maybe it was because they were women or maybe it was because she had been naked in front of men for all of yesterday and then early this morning. She shrugged it off as silk touched her skin when the servants started dressing her.

Now bathed, dressed, and led to the room where her captor had arranged for her to stay, Katara stood at the doors of the room while the servants knocked. This place really was huge and beautiful. Touched with nothing but refined elegance and riches. Reminded her of Bei Seng Sei but much more. As the doors opened, the waterbender saw from the split in the door the old man raising from his seat at a low table. He smiled at her as he offered his hand for her.

"Come, my water lily. Join me." Toshiro said.

Not feeling at all worried or cautious, Katara slipped from the servants and went to this elderly men, accepting his hand as he leads her to sit across from him. The green silk kimono with lilies embroidered throughout it was a bit heavy compared to what she usually wore as she sat down. She was thankful for his help in sitting her.

"I see what they say of waterbenders is true. You have the ability to heal." Toshiro marveled as he sat and looked at the unscarred face of the waterbender.

Nodding her head as she bashfully kept her eyes low, "Yes, it's one of the first techniques I mastered in waterbending."

Observing the young woman some more, he was able to see just how beautiful she was. He knew she would sell for a high price. What man wouldn't want such a beautiful woman in his bed, let alone, an exotic one with passion and fire in her eyes. He wouldn't be surprised if she were the offspring of a tribeswoman raped by a Fire Nation soldier. There was just so much fire in her for her to only be a tribeswoman.

The waterbender could feel his eyes wander over her. It didn't make her nervous or uneasy like it usually would and she wasn't sure why. Maybe dealing those men and Ozai made her develop a thick skin for this sort of thing. It didn't get any worse than them.

"Please, drink some more of the tea, my water lily. I'm sure you have not been well hydrated as of late." Toshiro told her as he pushed a teapot and cup to her.

Pouring herself a cup, Katara thanked him and then drank more of the tea she had had while bathing. It was a very sweet and yet minty tea. Something she had never tried before. Which was rare. Uncle Iroh, name which stuck with the gaang in the weeks of winning the war, had forced all sorts of teas on her and Toph. They had been the only ones willing to drink his many different blends. All of them were delicious and memorable. However; this one might as well be his from how strong the overall taste was. And yet, this was her first time drink such a tea.

"I see, you're enjoying the tea. It's a special one I've been making here at my estate. One that is purchased more than my other products." Toshiro said with such pride that it made Katara giggle into her hand.

Oddly, she hadn't giggled quite like that in a long time. It was so girly and flirty. What was wrong with her? Was she that comfortable?

Smiling as he started to see the effects take over, "Tell me, my water lily. What were you doing traveling with that foul man? Surely, you've known who he is."

Katara drank some more of the tea and sat it down, clumsy spilling a little on the table as she did. She looked to him unfazed by his question and smiled sweetly, too sweetly.

"He kidnapped my son and I begged him to take me too so that I could be with my son again." Katara answered a little too honestly.

Toshiro furrowed his brows. "How despicable! What could the likes of him want with a mere boy?!"

Feeling a bit hazy, Katara leaned forward with her elbow on the table, still smiling though it went from sugary to spicy as her eyes became slanted.

Pressing a finger to her lips. "That's a secret." She winked as her finger slid down suggestively from her lips, bouncing just off her plump bottom lip.

This had an effect on the old man as he watched her intently, not taking his eyes off her for a moment as the tea seemed to loosen her up.

"Has he made uses of you, my beautiful lily?" Toshiro reaches across the table and caressed her cheek.

Still smiling, the waterbender shook her head. "No." She answered as his hand rubbed against her face some more and sent a chill through her body that was running warm.

Feeling how hot and smooth her skin was to the touch, Toshiro had to pull his hand back. He was old but not too old. Women still had an effect on him and he still took women into his bed. However; with this one, he was afraid he wouldn't sell her if he had her.

"Tell me, my lily, how do you feel?" He asked as he sat back and watched her become more and more relaxed as the tea settled into her system.

Katara felt her body boil under the clothes she wore and heat pool to a certain part of her, causing her to nudge the hill of her foot against her heated warmth in order to tame it. La, she hadn't been this aroused in forever. Why was that? What had this man done?

Looking down at the tea, he drugged me. Her hand went to her mouth as she knocked the cup over accidentally when she tried to push herself away from the table. Her motor skills were in shambles and everything, including her vision was hazed. Falling over and trying to make an attempt to crawl away, realizing what has happened to her, Katara heard the sound of this man's boots and his cane as he walked to her.

Standing in front of the waterbender as she tried to escape, Toshiro grinned as he looked down at her. "The tea will wear off if you allow it to. In other words, unless you give in, you won't be able to overcome its effect. Only through release does it exit the body."

Shifting her head up to look at the old man, Katara's eyes widened. "You monster!" She hissed.

"You can't possibly believe your actions would go unpunished. We lost a lot of money at the brothel I own in Gaoseng because you ran away." He chuckled as he snapped his fingers and the doors of the room opened.

Toshiro's men made their way into the room with chains and cuffs. It was their orders to restrain the waterbender and keep her leashed by the wall.

"I won't treat a beautiful lily like you as a prisoner. You will have this luxury suite, servants to tend to you, and food brought here for you to eat. It will be the same kind of treatment courtesans receive." Toshiro explained. "And soon I will have you taught to be the perfect mistress to a highborn. Of course, I'm tempted to keep you for myself."

Katara felt worse as her body trembled from the drug causing her to feel overwhelmed with lust. Damn this! She felt like some hound in heat. It was the worse feeling imaginable seeing as there was no way for her to get the release she was looking for at the moment. Later, she would have to take matters in her own hands, literally, and remove this drug from her system.

As the men cuffed her neck with a thick metal collar and locked the chain into the wall, Toshiro prided himself with what he had reduced this fiery waterbender to. Gentleness was a sure way to get any woman to yield. His men would need to learn this.

Aang was traveling through Gaoseng when he heard the rumors flying around about a runaway waterbender. Supposedly, she was a new slave on auction that ran away with two men from the Fire Nation. It sparked his curiosity and he decided to look for more information.

The monk happened upon the said brothel that this waterbender had run away from and spoke with one of the large men posted outside two double doors. He wasn't in the least intimidated by them. Aang wasn't here for trouble, just information about whether the waterbender was who he thought it was.

"Hi there kind sirs, I was hoping you both could fill me in on this waterbender I heard escaped a little over a week ago." The young monk beamed.

The two men exchanged looks and then looked at the monk.

"She was a feisty waterbender one of our men found naked near a lake." The bigger of the two answered.

Feisty. Sounds like Katara.

"But some Fire Nation men came wanting to purchase her but it seems they knew the girl, sort of odd that they'd know a waterbender. Anyway, they left with her."

"They stole her?"

Shaking his head. "No, like I said they knew her and she escaped with them."

Knew them? Who were these men? If Katara had willingly gone with these men, then they couldn't be who he thought those men might be. But this definitely sounded like her. Tribeswomen didn't usually travel beyond their tribes without male escorts and the only one that did, was Katara. This only made it more clear to him that she was not dead but on the run. He just needed to figure out where.

Aang went on to ask the men if the waterbender had been followed or if they knew where she might be headed. They shook their heads and told him that the old man that owned the brothel had sent his men after the girl. The monk thanked them after they told him where the owner lived. This was his only lead on Katara but he knew she had to be alive, nearby. She couldn't have gotten far.

Imbeciles. Ozai thought as he cracked his knuckles. These fools really believed they could take him on in a fight. Seriously? Stepping over the men that had tried to attack him, the former tyrant looked around for a way out. There had to be one. It was clear they were beneath ground. Wherever Katara was, it had to be above.

Roaming around the underground catacombs, snapping a few necks as he did, Ozai finally found a way out but it required an earthbender's assistance. He swore as he threw his fist into the wall. How was he going to get out of here?

Suddenly, from above where some light peered through, a rope was thrown down to him. He furrowed his brows as he looked it over. Was this a trap? Who could have known he had escaped from his cell?

"My lord." A familiar voice called from above the elevation shaft.

Shinji? He had nearly forgotten about his subordinate. Before he and Katara were captured, the firebender had went to create a distraction. Walking up to the rope as it was clearly not a trap, Ozai latched on and started climbing it.

Shinji waited for his master to finally reach the top. It had been easy finding his location as well as the location of this estate. A few locals had told him of the brothel owner in charge of the establishment that Katara was taken by. It only made sense the two of them would be taken to his estate.

When his master reached the top, Shinji stood and looked around. He had managed to get this far into the estate without being seen or caught. But that could easily change once someone realized a prisoner was missing with no doubt a trail of bodies lying about. They needed to get to Katara as soon as possible and get out. He managed to catch a glimpse of her being lead off somewhere by a group of servants. So she was definitely somewhere within the estate.

"They took that idiot girl." Ozai said as he was on his feet and ready to leave already. It seemed as if she never spared a chance to waste his time.

Hearing foots, both men threw themselves up against the pillars lining the enormous poolside of the estate.

"I heard old man Toshiro is going to keep that water minx." One of the guards patrolling said.

The other partnered with him scuffed, "Isn't it obvious? He has her held up in his late wife's chambers."

"Really?!"

"Yeah, I say we go sneak a peek at her. Haji says they drugge her and she can't keep her clothes on for the life of her." The other guard chuckled.

Laughing with him, "Think she's horny enough to let us touch her?"

"You know what those purple leaves do. She's probably getting plowed right as we speak."

Ozai sent a look to Shinji as the guards headed off to where the waterbender was. He was anything but happy with what he heard. That idiot girl was not only drugged but probably being made uses of by every man in this place. No wonder security was shit around here. They were all taking turns with her.

This is ridiculous!

A/N:

So! Hope you guys liked it! I got one more chapter coming out today for this so stay tuned! Thanks for reading!