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“Oh, please eat Miss Katara. Prince Zuko will be absolutely furious with me if you don’t eat. It’s my job to keep you up and well.” The nurse pleaded, but got know answer for the 8th day.

She had been silent ever since that fateful day. Not a sound passed her mouth. Her eyes had lost all hope. They were voids of absolute nothingness. He had not eaten either, slowly starving herself to death; a small part of her mind believing she deserved this fate. She had failed. It had been two years since her and her brother Sokka vowed to help and protect Aang, the forgotten Avatar. And she had failed… both of them had and now Zuko finally had the Avatar as well as his Father’s honor and his place as prince of the Fire Nation once again.

Lord Ozai had shown great admiration and respect for his son for capturing the Avatar and his friends… or so it seemed. Why wouldn’t he be proud? His son had defied all odds. He’d been banished and instead of giving up, he became more diligent and worked hard to gain everything back. Yes, Zuko really had made his Father proud.

“Leave us.” It was a simple command but said with a deep voice and a fierce attitude.

The nurse rose immediately and left with quick paces, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

Zuko walked over to motionless woman who now sat in front of the window… she had been there for at least three days now. The doctor said that she had gone temporarily blind from the shock. He knelt in front of her, gently taking her hand in his. She moved her hand slightly, reaching up to run her fingers across his scar. Once she felt it, her hand left and settled back in her lap where they’d stayed since the last time she’d felt his scar. She had to do this to make sure it wasn’t Ozai. Ozai and Zuko now sounded almost identical and Ozai had paid her a visit before… she had demanded to see Aang, he only slapped her and told her to know her place. In the Fire Nation, women were seen as mere objects to be possessed. They were, by social standards, allowed no free will.
Zuko looked at the ring that hugged her finger then back up at her blank face. They were engaged… she was Zuko’s prize when he came back with the Avatar. Aang was now being held in the dungeon of the palace. Katara hadn’t seen him, nor heard of him.

“Katara… how are you feeling today? You must be hungry. Please eat.” *He picked up the bowl up soup and held a spoonful to her mouth… it simply dribbled back down into the bowl. “Damn it, Katara!” He yelled as he threw the bowl down, Her shoulders jumped as a shock of fear flew through her spin. Tears began streaming down her face as she waited for a hard smack. It never came.

For the first time in days, her eyes moved away from the window… she searched for the heated prince. “Zuko?”

He spun on his heal and was in front of her in a heart-beat, gripping her hand once again. “Yes Katara. I’m right here. You’re finally talking. C-can you see?”

Katara shook her head and pulled her hand away from him. “You’re aren’t Zuko. What happened to the ruthless b*****d that chased us for two years?”

Zuko’s eyes dilated. He had never heard her use such language. Sure, she had been in his custody for only a month, but even during those two years, all the encounters they’d had, she had never once let a wrong word mar her perfect lips.

“Katara… don’t use that language anymore.”

“Yes, Zuko. I’m your property and if I ever wish to gain my eye-sight back, I will obey you.” She said with sarcasm dripping from every pour like venom from a vipers fangs.

“Are you insinuating that I’d hit you for not listening to a command.”

“No, I’m saying that if I disobey you, I believe in a strange conciquence that the God’s will keep my eye-sight from me.” Her voice was monotone and she knew it angered him.

She heard him growl. “Katara! I would never hurt you!” He yelled the quickly shut up.

He watched Katara stand up slowly and turn toward him, a look of pure fury etched upon her angelic features. “That is a lie, Zuko! You took Aang away from me! You’ve locked him up! I’ve had no contact with him! You’ve taken me against my will! And…” She was shaking with rage now, tears once again stinging her eyes then making up for the sting by tickling her cheeks “AND YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!” She flung herself at him, catching nothing, having tripped on the leg of the chair she had been sitting in. He caught her before she could hit the floor. Standing her back up, he simply stood still as she began to pound against his chest. Screaming and crying out, yelling ‘Why?’ over and over again.

He wrapped his arms about her waist and held her close. “I didn’t kill Sokka.” He simply said. She stopped immediately and reached up, grabbing his face and feeling his skin. The lines on his face. His lips, his eyebrows, his cheeks, nose. He wasn’t lying…

“Prince Zuko… you really didn’t kill him.”

Reaching up, he grabbed her hands once again, gently rubbing his cheek in her palm, nuzzling it like a cat. “Just Zuko, Katara. And no, I didn’t kill him… Admiral Zhoa did. I’m sorry.” Leaning in, he whispers gently in her ear. “I had him buried in the royal cemetery secretly, you can visit whenever you wish.”

She shook her head. “No, I want to talk to the Admiral…”

“You can’t.”

“I don’t care what meeting he’s in or if he’s sleeping. I want to talk to him!” She screaming, stomping a foot.

“Katara. The Admiral is dead.”

Her eyes dilated. “What? Did you…”

He shook his head, even though she couldn’t see it. “No… Sokka. They took each other out. I watched the entire thing. Your brother fought bravely. You watched it as well… I suppose you just suppressed the memory when you were in your state of shock.

Her breathing began to become ragged and she began to blink quickly, feeling like her eyes were dry even though they were drenched in tears. Slowly, blurry colors began to come into focus along with shapes then details… her sight had finally returned.

“And I’ve never taken you against your will, Katara. I have a little more class than that. I’ve only been trying to talk to you, simply holding your hands, but you haven’t moved. My maids have bathed you and tried to feed and water you. You must be hungry.”

She shook her head. “I want to see Aang.”

“You can’t. Not now. After supper, I promise.”

She gave him an apprehensive look.

“My word is as good as you are beautiful.” He said as he ran his fingers through her hair. Her brows collided in a very strange and surprised look. The look in his eyes… they were… peaceful… lustful and dare she even think it… loving.

“Why am I not with Aang?” She asked with a forceful voice.

“You were…” *He cleared his voice* “my prize… My father had no use for you, so he just kind of gave you to me.”

She moved out of his embrace with a strength that even she was surprised she had. “I will die before you take my body!” She nearly growled out with clenched teeth.

“Katara… I would never without your complete consent. I told you, I have more class than that.”

“Cut the act Prince Zuko! You are a fire-bender! Women are possessions in this Nation! I know how you think! I know your true intentions!”

“Then you know nothing.” Zuko said very calmly as he began to walk out. “Supper is at six. The maid will be back in 10 minutes before then to help you down. I’m going to train.” With that, he closed the door behind him.

She sat down on the guest bed and looked around at her surroundings for the first time. She began trying to remember everything from the past two weeks. She remembered Sokka going after Admiral Zhoa. Zhoa had captured Aang and slapped Katara across the face, knocking her down. Sokka went after him, his weapon drawn in pure, unleashed fury. He did fight bravely, just as Zuko said. He fought without fear, with great strength, not only physical but emotional; from his heart. A gift his father had left him.

Her pupils raced back and forth as her mind pulled up all these memories. Her brother’s death was no in vain, he had died valiantly to save her and Aang and he had. If Zhoa had lived, Katara surely would be next to Sokka in the wet ground somewhere and Aang… well… not much difference probably would have happened in that area.