Yin & Yang

Chapter 12.

Bending water around herself, Katara's mind was lost in thought about that night in Ba Sing Se. She didn't exactly know what overcame her, but she did enjoy the thought about being with a man that way. Zuko was handsome and a powerful man and bender. Lowering her head, her mind trailed to Mai. Were they still together? But what also would happen if she were to be with Zuko, the new Fire Lord? Would it even be possible? Finishing her bath quickly, she bent the water off her body and walked into the cabin to once again dress in the skimpy dress given to her by Buumi. It felt a size too small for her wide hips and growing bust, but it was the nicest garb she had on the ship as she had left all her belongings back at the celebration. She had been too angry to think about taking them along with her when she left on the ship. Sighing, Katara came to the conclusion that she'd have to purchase some fire nation garb.

Slipping the dress over her head, she pulled at it firmly to fit over her body in the correct places. She had kept it clean for the trip since it was at least a five day boat ride back to Sozun. The green fabric shown as she looked down to it. It was soft and light. Durable in all the correct places and stretched in the others such as her hips, thighs and bust area. Katara blinked as she looked down her body. Thinking she was seeing things, she strode over to the mirror in the next room. Turning side to side examining herself, Katara was pleasantly surprised to see that she'd grown a little in the last few days. Taking up the hair pins from the counter, she began to twist her hair around until it felt tight enough and secured it with the two needle like objects in an "X" shape behind her head. Nodding to herself, she exited her cabin and returned to the deck, waiting to dock.

Zuko stepped out of his own shower to dry himself by heating his body up. Steam rose from his shoulders and he shook his head, water splattering in all directions. Wringing it out as best he could, Zuko dressed his legs into the cotton red pants that had been set aside by his servants. His feet fell silently on the floor as he tred outside the wash room and examined what had been chosen for him. Two servants bowed as he nodded. They began to dress him and tie his hair up. The crimson robes chosen were embroidered with yellow into the shape of a dragon. Beads of a variety of colors were sewn onto the fabric giving it a majestic looking sheen as the serpent wove up the robe, around to his back, across his shoulder blades and back down to the front. The dragon's head finished as it wound toward the back again.

With his hair tied back tightly and the golden flame placed on top of his head, he held his head high as he proceded to the deck. Guards bowed to him as he passed and they fell into step behind him. Out on deck, he was flanked by two guards. Katara greeted him in the green earth kingdom dress with a bow and a friendly smile. He nodded to her and strode to the front of the boat. Already he could see a concession forming on the ocean side docks where several houses for the lower ranking people of the fire nation resided. His gondola stood in front of the docks just down the pier. A plethora of guards held the people back. "I am not ready to do this again." He whispered down to Katara with a definate forelorn sigh as Iroh soon joined them. Raising his hand, he greeted his people in a simple wave.

Coming to a slowing hault, the guards lowered the ramp down and ran out to aide in keeping the people back. Zuko's stern face softened as Mai stepped out of the waiting gondola. Katara stiffened when she saw the other woman. Since they were still together, she hoped that the older woman wouldn't do anything brash seeing her standing next to Zuko. Mai showed no expression towards Katara as they drew closer to her. Zuko turned to Katara and spoke softly. "I have much paper work to get back to." He nodded to Mai. "Would you take the time to show her around? Possibly shop for clothing with her?" Mai nodded silently. "I appologize for leaving you like this, but it's what I must do."

Katara smiled up to him. "You do what you must. You do run a country and you're still trying to get the war completely ended. Even after all these years." Zuko and Mai exchanged a brief hug and kisses on the cheeks. He climbed into the gondola. The four people standing around it promptly picked it up and began the journey back to the palace on the mountain. "I feel sorry for the people carrying that. It must be heavy." Katara mused aloud.

"Not as heavy as you think." Mai returned. It seemed that she had finally picked up some emotion. "You really need some new clothing. What in the world are you wearing?!" Katara blinked as she looked at the bland red and white dress Mai wore. Was she seriously asking that to another person? Or was she trying to be humorous? Katara rather liked the green dress. Even if it did feel too small. She thought that King Buumi had done this on purpose. "Let's get this over with then." Her usual drab and bored voice came back. A few guards trailed behind them as the crowd that had appeared to greet Zuko back slowly faded away.

The sounds of people unloading the ships filled Katara's ears. Looking over head to the dormant volcano, she marveled at the sight. "It's nothing like this back at home." Katara murmured aloud. "All we have is snow and ice."

Mai giggled out, "no wonder you left." Katara blinked. Where had she heard that line before? "We'll walk around for a little bit. But the evenings come fast here and we should really get you some new garb. What you have on looks atrocious and you stick out like a panda lily on a rock."