Katara's How - Ch. 16

Katara’s How – Ch. 16

Within two days, Katara and Zuko packed their things and prepared to leave. “Kuzon, I am putting you in charge of the Fire Nation while I and your mother are away.” Zuko placed a fatherly hand on his eldest son’s shoulder. Kuzon simply looked away, scared of his new job. “Kuzon, don’t worry. I have full faith in you. You are the crown prince of the Fire Nation. It’s time you learn to lead the Fire Nation.” “But…father…son is not sure on how well he will do. What if son messes up the Fire Nation while father is away?” he countered, sounding more formal than needed. “Son, relax. Great Uncle Iroh and Grandma Ursa will be here to help. If necessary, write a letter to Uncle Sokka. He’ll be here if anything bad happens. Kuzon, I believe in you.” Katara watched the entire thing on the side. With each line, she admired how fatherly he can be, going against what she was thinking two days ago. “Ok Kuzon, that’s enough. Your father and mother have to leave now,” Iroh, who came out of nowhere, shouted. The three looked towards the elderly, but still walking, great Dragon of the West. “Uncle, it’s alright.” “No it’s not Zuko! You and Katara need to go now!” Katara eyed Iroh, curious about what he was planning or thinking. Suddenly, Iroh pushed both Zuko and Katara toward the ship, strangely stronger than them at the moment. Iroh ran back to Kuzon as the other two kids and their grandmother came out to send them off.

On the deck of the ship, Katara watched the group say goodbye to them, reminding her of how she had to say farewell to her father and the Water Tribe after the invasion. A small tear fell out of her eye. She reached up to touch it. Huh? I’m crying? But I barely know these people…hmm maybe it’s just the situation I’m in. Yea, that would be it. “Katara? Are you crying?” Zuko walked to her side, obviously noticing her state of mind. “Huh? No, I’m not crying! Who’s crying?!? I’m not!” He stared at her funny, then graced her with one of his sweet smiles. “I know that you don’t really know them that well, but inside you, they are there. You could say your body remembers things that the mind doesn’t?” “You know what Zuko? You’re too wise for your own good. I can’t remember a time…actually you never were wise…” Zuko raised an eyebrow, remembering that this Katara was of his past, not aware of his character now. “Aww common Katara. You’ll learn to live with it. How about we go inside to rest?” She took another glace around her. The harbor slowly grew smaller as more water surrounded them. Water. Oh how I missed you. “Zuko, is it ok if I stay out here a little longer?” As if reading her mind, he smiled and walked away. A dumbfound face was all Katara could produce. Does he really know that much about me to the point he can read my mind?

By midday, they reached the island. A voice began to ring in her head. Ember Island is a place for people to discover something about themselves. It was said to be a magical place, keep an open mind, give it a chance. It can help you understand yourself and others around you. The beach has a special way to smooth even the ragged of edges. “You know, as you have heard many times, we came here after that mission we went on to avenge your mom. Probably around the time you got to this time period,” Zuko interrupted that voice. She simply looked at him like a little child to their parent. “Yea, we also went to this play Sokka and Suki found. And we trained here before the comet came.” All she could do was smile. She had no idea whatsoever Zuko was talking about, even though he did mention those things before. The walk from the ship to the beach house wasn’t that far.

When Zuko and Katara found Ursa, Zuko remembered that the Ember Island beach house actually came out of Ursa’s pocket money for it to be built. What he destroyed while teaching Aang discipline was actually his mother’s. Over the next few years, the Fire Lord decided to rebuild it, of course, with Ursa next to him, making sure things are as she’d want it. He also added a few things, to prepare for Kuzon’s birth. By the summer after Kuzon was born, the beach house was rebuilt into an extravagant with a dash of simplicity beach house for the royal family. There, they had a big celebration for Kuzon and since then, the family had always went to this island in the summer.

“Zuko? If we were to go on the beach, wouldn’t people here recognize us?” Zuko smirked. “Katara, we come here every year. We go to the beach were there’s tons of people. Not once did people recognize us. Even to this day, I find that strange.” Interesting…but that message in my head says otherwise, Zuko… They entered the beach house. The design was amazing, despite its simplicity. Walls of paintings of the royal family having fun on the island hung in every hallway. There was one that caught Katara’s eye as they were walking to their room. It was of her and Zuko. They looked much younger, probably around their late teens, or in Katara’s mind, her age. She, wearing a red and gold swimsuit was on the left of the painting, Zuko, sporting a thin over coat covering his chest scar, on the right. Zuko’s arms were reaching over to Katara, appearing to try to tickle her. Her hands were pushing Zuko away. They were both smiling, laughing and having fun. It was the only painting of them in that hallway that wasn’t formal looking. They looked natural, like a moment in time. It reminded her of something that Sokka and Suki would probably do to each other. Zuko came to her side, smiling his smile. “I remember that day.” “You do?” “Yea…it felt like it was just yesterday. This was after Kuzon was born. Mom was holding him somewhere else on the beach. We were talking about how Mom might tickle him to death, as she could’ve done with me. I guess I was testing how good I was at tickling people. And after that, we had some more beach party fun.” “Oh……Zuko?” “Yea?” He now was looking at her. “I really like this painting…but I don’t know why.” He smirked. “You know, this isn’t the first time you told me you liked it. But I find it strange you know nothing of our relationship and yet you like this painting of us.” “Yea…weird…” “Ok, enough of this, it’s bringing back tears. How about we go to the beach now?” “Mmm ok.”

Katara was wearing a swimsuit where once on the beach, all male eyes turned toward her, causing any girlfriends to slap their man’s face. It was a deep burgundy red halter wrap top with the Fire Nation emblem at where the ties met above her chest. Her skirt was very short, nearly half of her upper thigh, the same color as her top, the sides had slits.  Her hair was half tied into a topknot without a crown, her curls falling down on her shoulders. Zuko, at her side, held her as a boyfriend would to his girl. He simply ignored all the gawking eyes, as if he were used to this. He, on the other hand, didn’t have any female eyes looking at him. He was wearing sleeveless thin overcoat, much like the one in the painting, tied on his waist. His trunks went to his knees, with a small sash wrapped around his waist, the Fire Nation emblem keeping them tied under his belly button. “Zuko…all the guys keep looking at me…” “Ignore them.” His voice was rough. Truth is, he wasn’t and never was used to guys looking at Katara like that. She could hear growling under his breathing. “Stupid hogmonkeys…” she heard him mumble.

Katara helped Zuko set up their place on the beach. She took a seat on the towel as Zuko went off to find some food to eat. Hm…so far, besides the other men on the beach, this feels nice. Hah! To think this place was gonna be trouble for me. I mean, me sitting on this nice beach in the Fire Nation, waiting for my love to get me food, basking in the warm sun……WAIT A SECOND!!! Did I think ‘my love’??? OH SPIRITS! A worried face appeared on her when a shadow loomed over her. “Hey, beautiful.” She looked up to greet not Zuko. “I saw you from afar and I’d like to get to know you.” His face was smug, very smug. Hold up, is this guy trying to flirt with me? “You don’t know who I am do you?” “Don’t you know who I am? I’m Chan, only the hottest man in the Fire Nation.” OK! This guy really thinks high of himself! Where’s Zuko?!? “HEY! GET AWAY FROM MY WIFE!” Zuko, as if reading her mind again, charged towards Chan.