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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
- 239
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- 241
Chapter 237
The Waterbender gazed dow at the doctor in confusion.
“Your hand, stop moving it,” Amayu whispered dread filling her as the bleeding took on a more natural pattern.
Toshio noticed the change as well and arrived at the same conclusion. Filled with trepidation he moved to Prince Zuko’s side and measured the pulse at his wrist, calves and instep. They were weaker than when the Waterbender was controlling the movement but stronger than when he first took them.
Katara cradled Zuko’s head against her chest with both hands. She was nervous and fearful as she spoke to them, what she had been doing to Zuko was so very close to Bloodbending. “Water healing works by applying water and energy to the chi pathways of our patients bodies. He’s lost so much blood…”
Katara trailed off and looked down at Zuko. She wiped one of her teardrops off his forehead, “Blood is liquid. I wasn’t sure if it would work but I had to try it. I had to. I can’t…he’s been so cruel to me and treated me so terribly but I can’t let him die. Not this way…I promised…”
“It’s okay Katara, he will be fine,” Amayu whispered reassuringly while nudging her fellow physician.
The man looked at her and the blood pressure device in his hands, “Yes, the prince’s pulse rate has risen. It is low but back within acceptable levels at all points of measurement.”
“He’s stopped bleeding enough that we can safely put in him into bed,” Amayu advised. “Prince Zuko would you like to lie down?”
She wasn’t surprised to hear a muffled “yes” followed by “I need to use the restroom first”.
“I’ll assist you,” volunteered the room’s other male occupant. Toshio was careful as he lifted Zuko by the armpits and waited for the prince’s legs to stop wobbling before helping him across the room.
Now that Zuko was gone there was nothing to distract Katara from the sight of the bloody bandages. She was staring at them remembering what she had lost in the aftermath of that terrible night. Amayu placed her hand on Katara’s arm to distract her. Prince Zuko had told her why he wanted tampons brought to her and knew what she was most likely envisioning. There were certain size rocks her sister couldn’t look at without freezing.
“You did well, Katara. Come on, let’s get this cleaned up,” she said brightly. “Zuko did well, didn’t he? I thought for sure he’d be whining like most men when they are injured. The big babies. Do you know what’s funny? You can’t tell anyone I said this but Princess Azula turns into a three year old if she feels the slightest hint of a tummy ache. Not menstrual cramps, just a plain old bellyache. The night of that so called manhood ceremony she called me into her room to rub her belly for her because she drank too much wine and ate too much of the leftover candy.”
“Can you believe it?” Amayu teased blushing lightly as she remembered the next morning when the Princess’ stomach ache had subsided and Azula had asked to be rubbed just as intensely somewhere lower. “Royals huh?”
“Yeah,” Katara murmured now that Amayu had moved the chair from its place on the sheet, scooped up all the bandages and carefully wrapped them in the sheet so not a single speck of red was showing.
“Amayu, I…” Katara began then closed her eyes and clutched her head as the dizziness washed over her. Healing took more energy than regular bending as it tapped into a different reserve.
For the first time Amayu noticed there were circles beneath her eyes. Katara and Zuko had both been awake both times she came to the room.
“How much did you eat today and how much rest have you been getting?” she inquired sizing up what seemed to be her next patient.
Mu had confessed he’d made arrangements for Katara to receive a soothing aromatherapy treatment two nights before as well as hornyweed so she may not have slept as well as he had hoped. Last night was the battle and the founding of the Ursa House. Amayu had been in the Navy 5 years but had been in the army for 4 years prior. The sights and sounds were not unfamiliar to her but she still had not slept well after seeing them. She guided Katara to the bed and retrieved a bowl soup from the pot, “Sit. Eat. You cannot help him in this condition. You barely look capable of helping yourself.”
Katara ate both bowls of food Amayu gave to her and had almost dozed off when Toshio finally came out of the restroom. The physician picked up a basin, soap, towel, and his medicine bag then went back in. Katara attempted to rise but Amayu placed her hand on her chest, “The drugs we use to treat blood poisoning are given for a specific reason as we need to ensure the organs and internal functions have not been affected. I know you do not care for him but Toshio is a male and trained physician. It is best we leave this part of Prince Zuko’s care to him. He is an ass but that same clinical detachment is what is needed for certain injuries and treatments.”
“I had planned to call him all along when you told me he had blood poisoning. I am certain Prince Zuko would not allow either of us to inspect his waste even if it was for diagnostic purposes.” Amayu looked at the door making sure it showed no signs it would reopen, “If you tell anyone I will kill you, but in a way I am envious of Toshio’s reserved demeanor. That stick up his butt has allowed him to build up quite a lucrative side business. He is known among the nobility as a man of knowledge and discretion. He’s the first they call if they are the recipient of an unanticipated social gift from a companion.”
Katara’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth to suppress a giggle.
“I have it on very good authority that the destruction of Roku’s temple had very fortunate timing for General Iroh in that it allowed Toshio a chance to slip aboard the Albatross with a much needed dose of penicillin and cream to stop the itching. Without your group sneaking to the Fire Nation I imagine that General Iroh would have no doubt found a way and paid a considerable fortune to craft a legitimate and non suspicious reason to get him to the Earth Kingdom,” she confided covering her mouth while Katara hid her face in a pillow.
Once she had composed herself Katara whispered, “How do you know this?”
“Fan likes to gossip when he’s drinking so does Toshio’s wife but she doesn’t need an occasion. If ever there was an odd couple it’s the two of them. She’s so bubbly she makes Lady Ty Lee seem as reserved as Lady Mai. I tease him but Toshio’s not a bad person all things considered. I trust him with my life and the lives of my patients. You can trust him with Prince Zuko,” Amayu confided lifting Katara’s wrist and taking her pulse.
The doctor frowned, “You need rest. Perhaps even more so than Prince Zuko; you may feel fine but your body is still recovering from repeated traumas. Toshio and I will sleep here tonight so both of you can rest. We will have to report for duty tomorrow and you will be tending to the prince by yourself.”
Katara was asleep when Toshio half-carried Zuko from the restroom. He guided the prince to the chair, changed his bandages and gave him more medicine before helping him to the bed. Katara’s eyes opened when she felt the mattress dip. Zuko’s face was scrunched and his eyes were glassy with pain and unshed tears. Katara rolled onto her back spreading her legs and extending her arms.
“Huh?” Zuko whimpered in question
“You’ll sleep better,” Katara yawned sitting up and reaching for him once more. She placed her hands on his sides and gently lowered him down with her. Zuko fidgeted and he understood why she offered to let him lay like that when she lifted her hips raising him so he could get more comfortable.
Zuko waited until the two doctors had set up the privacy screen and made a pallet on the other side of it to curl his arms around Katara. The long suppressed tears were already starting to fall when he laid his head against hers, “It hurts Katara. It hurts so bad.”
She pulled the sheet up high enough to completely hide them and held Zuko as he wept. She sang a song she’d heard in the Fire Nation as she gently stroked his hair and rubbed his sides. The other two occupants of the room pretended not to notice she began singing louder the moment the quiet whimpers turned into pained gasps and sobs.

Raa.Maa.Daa.Saa.Hung: Thank you for your kind words and constant support. I really do hope I can meet your expectations. As for how a twisted relationship turns to love there are several kinds of love and even the purest is not always pretty. I am glad you like Azula and see all the different facets of her personality. We’ll see more of her goodness in the upcoming chapters.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story