Yin & Yang

Chapter 7.

The sky was dark and lit only by the few stars that dotted the sky and the moon. Katara ran into the area, proceeding to ask people where Zuko had been taken. Once she had her directions, Toph, Suki and Sokka began to clear the way for her. Upon entering a small hut that had been quickly formed, Zuko's painful cries rang in her ears. As the rest of the world partied, he was here suffering. "Excuse me." Katara called out to the people tending to the pained man. They all turned in her direction.

"You're not supposed to be here." a tall muscular man stepped up to remove her from the earthen tent. Toph quickly shifted the earth beneath his feet and he was shoved off to one side as Katara stepped by him. The other doctors looked at eachother. Toph grinned at them and cracked her knuckles as they backed away slowly. "You best just leave her be now." Sokka looked at the large man, informing him the smartest way to stay alive or in the tent in one piece.

Katara kneeled by Zuko and put her hand on his forehead. His breathing was a little ragged and he had a fever. Nothing too big aside from the burning of his neck and shoulder. He opened his golden eyes to look into her large worried blue orbs surrounded by her mocha skin. "Let me help you." Katara said softly to him. He nodded. Relieved that she'd been saved from Aang in time, he relaxed more. Toph released him from the bindings that held him in one place as Katara drew up some water from the skin at her side. Her hands became encased in the liquid and it began to glow. "Relax. It'll help more if you're not so tense." She whispered down to him. He breathed out, trying to do just that. Ducking her head a moment, he didn't miss the tear that fell from her face. He said nothing.

The room glowed with the blue light emanating from her hands as she concentrated. Placing her hands down on his shoulder, he jumped at the coldness of the water. His burn slowly began to heal. He gazed up into her eyes as another tear fell from her cheek. He reached up to cup her face gently. Smiling up at her, Zuko's pain subsuded. Lowering his hand, he tilted his head so she could get his neck and lower chin. She smiled sweetly down at him and retreived more water from her skin to apply to the other two areas. The physicians vacated the tent with Suki, Sokka and Toph. Katara would be fine.

Katara's eyes watched as the skin began to regrow and take on the healthier form again. The healthy skin grew from the outter edges to the inside, the burnt particles turning from black to his light flesh tone. "Thank you." Zuko looked back up to her. She nodded silently as she let what was left of the water drop from her hands and splashed onto the floor. "I'm glad they were able to get to you in time." She broke down in a loud sob and tears spilled from her eyes. Zuko sat up and placed his hand on her head, trying to comfort her. "Katara. If you like, you can come to my palace." Sniffling, she looked up to him confused. "In case he tries to locate you and do it again. Stay with me for a while."

"Aang isn't stupid. I don't think he'll try to contact me for any reason now." Katara tried to wipe the tears away but they kept flowing uncontrolably. "You still have a temperature. Lay back down." She ordered the Fire Lord. He chuckled and pulled her up to him as he stood. Embracing her tightly, a sob caught in her throat. "Zuko.." she protested vocally but didn't try to push him away.

"If only you had been there for the first one." His voice was solemn as he spoke into her hair. "I will have an entourage ready for us at the docks to head back to my nation, if you so wish to join us." Zuko let her out of his embrace before the slow rising of his manhood could be brought to her attention. Stepping out of the earthen tent, he was met by the multitude that was the fire nation here at the celebration grounds. Iroh stepped up to hug his nephew. Katara slowly emerged from the doorway. People cheered, a few whistled and others just clapped. Zuko had no scarring showing that anyone could see on his shoulder where most of the blast had hit. Though the nerves would be damaged, there wouldn't be a result like the one on his chest or face.