Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Kiss of Fire	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 75165 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 40
- 41
- 42
Kiss of Fire
Chapter 41 – Loss
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I stared at her in disbelief, unable to speak, my thoughts still racing with the tidbits she had revealed in her journal – she had known Jet! Small world, indeed – before I let out a soft sigh.
“... How could you?” she asked, still staring at me, various emotions flashing through her eyes. Anger, hurt, fear...
“I just had to know.”
“Know what?” she challenged, stepping forward. “Know how close I am to figuring it all out? Snooping in my things, telling Ty Lee to not say anything...”
“There's no need, it's not important.” I replied automatically. It had been what I said every time she pressed me for the secret, and by now it was almost second nature.
“Then why was Ty Lee given a gag order? You did the same for Toph and Suki, didn't you? Every time I feel as if I have known someone, you demand their silence. What is it you don't want me to find out?” she demanded.
“I do this for your own good. You are my wife. As your husband, it is my duty to keep you safe.” If she remembered what Azula had done to her...
“You do your job well. But this isn't a matter of safety.”
“It is.” I insisted. “Haven't I kept you happy and safe?” I made my voice softer, reminding her of the good life she had. Why did she persist in trying to figure it out when she had everything she could desire in this life?
“Don't try to change the subject.” she replied, her tone icy. “If you're not going to be of any help, then give me my journal back and we will talk of this no more. I've already learned it's pointless to ask you for help.” She approached my desk, her palm turned upward, her fingers outstretched in a silent demand. I placed my hand on top of the small book. I didn't want to give it back. Katara hadn't yet figured out the last piece of the puzzle. I didn't want her to.
“What are these entries?” I asked, tapping the cover of the journal, “Where did these ideas come from?” I did suspect that she dreamed of them, remembering the few times she had startled awake from sleep, and I wondered how I might block these. With a sleeping drug, perhaps?
She stared at me, her eyes blazing with anger and impatience.
“None of your business. I will write in my journal whatever I please.” Again she approached, now within arm's length of the desk.
“Go to bed.” I murmured.
“Give back the journal.”
“You do not need it.”
“I do.” Now her hips were against the edge of the desk, and her hands slid along the smooth wooden surface. “Return it... please.”
I pulled the book back before she could grab it.
“Why are you acting like this, husband? Do you not trust me? If you read the entire journal – and I saw you reading my last entry – then you know it doesn't hold plans to betray you or tawdry accounts of illicit affairs.”
Trust. Such a powerful word. I swallowed.
“This is not a matter of trust. This is about your safety.”
“Damnit, Zuko!” she snarled, lunging across the desk, her fingers grabbing my collar before one hand reached down, groping for her journal. I kept it out of reach, trying to fight her off with the other. Wrestling my wife, I fell out of the chair. Dear Agni, Katara was strong! Her toned arms flashed before my eyes as we rolled around on the soft red area rug for custody of the little diary.
Give up the fucking journal Zuko. Let her have the truth, my conscience begged, yet I gripped her by one shoulder of her nightgown, the journal in my other hand as her hands flailed wildly at me. I roared in surprise as she delivered an expert kick, knocking the wind out of me. The journal was wrested out of my grip, but I would not be so easily defeated. I tackled her, hearing her startled cry as I kept her pinned down, my hands on her wrists. I made no move to take the journal, and simply stared down at her calmly.
“Please. Stop fighting. I don't like this any more than you do.” I whispered. She looked away, giving out an angry huff. Several loose strands of hair now framed her face, her braid slightly messy from our fight.
“Why is it that I remember you from a time I hadn't even been born? I am certain that what I see is myself... but it is impossible. The War ended before I was born. I remember all these people I had never met before. I see Avatar Aang, but it is impossible! Impossible!”
“You are simply confused.” I replied smoothly, trying to calm her, “Why don't we get you to bed, and with some soothing tea?”
“Don't patronize me.”
“I'm not. I simply want what's best for you.”
“What's best for me is your honesty.”
“And I am being honest. I have always been.” I replied firmly.
“Then why won't you tell me? And don't tell me it's for my safety, because if you say that one more time, I swear to Tui and La, I will knee you in your groin right now.” She shifted her leg, showing ,me just where it was – and how capable she was of fulfilling her promise in this position. I swallowed before setting my jaw, pressing my knee between her legs and shifting my position, now rendering her threat much harder to fulfill. Still, I owed her something...
“Because...” I looked away for a moment. “I'm afraid it would shock and hurt you.”
I felt her body go slightly lax, and I looked back at her.
“Do you think I can't handle it?” she asked, furrowing her eyebrows. I shook my head.
“It has nothing to do with your strength – which I very much admire, by the way – and just trust me to know what's best for you.” I pleaded. She stared back at me for a moment before struggling against me again, and I growled at her, stubbornly keeping on top of her.
“Just let me go!”
“Give me the journal.”
“No. It's mine.”
“Give it!” I growled, baring my teeth. With a sudden burst of energy, she managed to push me off to one side, struggling to her feet as I grabbed her waist. She gave out a shriek of rage when I grabbed the little book, and I found her on top of me.
“You look rather becoming in that nightgown, beloved wife. And you are on top of me. What do you say we have some fun right here?” I asked, trying to sound seductive as I thought of how to pin her down again and have this whole stupid fight ended. I wiggled under her playfully, but she ignored that and grabbed for the journal. In the heated battle, things got heated... literally. Without thinking about it, a flame shot from my palm, setting the journal on fire. My eyes widened as I jerked my hand back, seeing the burning tome fall to the carpet.
“NO! How could you? You bastard!”
“I.... I didn't mean to!” I shot back. It had been so long since I had ever lost control of my Firebending.
“Didn't mean to, what a convenient excuse!” she shot back, her voice dripping with venomous sarcasm. I quickly beat at the journal with the sleeve of my robe, but since it had been a little book, much of it was already destroyed.
“I honestly didn't mean to!” I begged as I glanced back at her. She said nothing, rising to her feet before running out of the study. Immediately I went after her, seeing her throw the door to our apartment open and bolting down the hallway, startling the guards on night duty.
“Restrain her!” I roared as I chased her down the stairs, seeing the guards at the door leap into action, their hands out to grab Katara. But with agile movements that came from countless hours of Waterbending and martial arts training, she attacked with measured kicks and punches, driving them back without wounding them. I felt a pang of pride and admiration, but did not slow down. The guards also went after her, and we all ran out into the rain.
“Miumi, stop! Please!” I yelled, using her given name for the first time in a good while. The rain in front of us coalesced into a water whip that was used to knock us back.
“Leave me alone!” she screamed, running down the steps to the beach. I raced after her, determined to stop her before she could hurt herself. Fortunately it wasn't raining too heavily, and the moon provided some illumination. I called after her again, and she ignored me, turning sharply and starting to claw her way up the rocks that closed our beach off from the much larger public beach. I waved my hand, halting my men, gesturing towards the bottom of the steps.
“Spread out along here, be ready to catch her. Get on top of the rocks too.” I spun back towards my wife.
“Get down from there!” I roared. Katara looked over her shoulder at me for a moment before looking upwards, continuing her steady progress, alternating between a few easy steps here and having to use her arms to assist her journey, all of this done barefooted in a thin silk nightgown which was now clinging to her body due to the rain. “What are you doing?” I shouted after her as I started after her, carefully jumping from slippery rock to rock, glad I had slippers on. The rocks were cold under my hands.
“I'm sorry! Please stop and come inside so we can talk!”
“We'll talk later.” she replied without looking back at me. “Go away.”
“Come down.” I replied, trying to not sound too panicked. Fortunately, these rocks were not very high, and I reached the plateau. Suddenly I felt the water on my hands and on the rock turn to ice, and I winced at the sudden influx of cold before my hands generated heat, melting away the frozen water.
“I told you to leave me alone!” she screamed. This time I felt the water on my entire body freeze, but remedied that with more of my Firebending.
“I told you I was sorry! Now come inside before you catch a cold!”
“NO!” The rain around her had stilled, forming a dome around her. I narrowed my eyes as it froze, encasing her in a half-sphere of ice. I stood there for several long moments, my heart pounding as I decided on my next course of action. With a carefully-placed blast of Firebending, I melted a large hole, grabbing her shoulder with one hand. Only Agni knew why I was going up against a pissed Waterbender when it was raining, but I had to end this.
“If you're not going back in, I'm staying with you.” I growled.
“I don't want you near me!” she sobbed.
o0o0o0o
Katara
This bluff felt rather familiar to me. Through my turmoil of emotions, I had another flashback. After Zuko refused to leave, I gave up on fighting him off and simply turned away, opening my mind as I did in meditation.
I saw a young, tear-streaked face in front of me, topped by a head of short, messy hair and a blue arrow on his forehead... wait. Was that the Avatar again? And why was he crying? We were standing right here in this spot, only it wasn't raining.
“You're the one I want to be with!” I heard him say, and shook my head. No. I loved Zuko, I wanted to be with him. The Avatar simply wasn't the one for me, and without meaning or wanting to, I had hurt him.
“I'm sorry, Aang. I'm so sorry.” I sobbed, reaching for him, wanting to comfort him. Suddenly, I realized that I was saying that in front of Zuko, the rain pouring down on us. My arms were outstretched, rain streaming down them to pour off my fingertips. The vision of Avatar Aang had been so real. My heart hurt from the pain I saw etched in his face. What had happened between us?
I felt a strong hand grasp my upper arm gently. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the Fire Lord. He had to have heard what I had cried out.
“No.” I murmured. If I could just stay in this spot, and meditate again, without him distracting me, I might be able to get back to that memory. But he kept tugging my arm, trying to drag me back.
“No!” I said more firmly, glaring at him. “I'm not letting you stop me!” I yanked away and ran along the bluff, which ended up being an huge mistake. In the darkness and rain, I was unable to see the sharp slope until it was too late.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
“NO!” I roared in rage and panic when Katara suddenly slid down the rocks, her frightened cry ringing through my ears as I went after her. Dear Agni, if she broke a bone or bled internally...
I did not hesitate to go after her, cursing the darkness and rain as I made my way to the bottom, where Katara lay on the sand. Already my men were rushing toward her, but I beat them to it and placed my hand on her shoulder. She gave out a sharp whimper and tried to pull away.
“My lord?” one of the men asked.
“Get Sylid! Now!” I roared, and nobody hesitated the slightest bit.
“Talk to me!” I gasped, praying to Agni fervently. Don't let me lose her again...
“Zuko...” She suddenly hissed loudly, her body stiffening.
“Tell me where it hurts!” I demanded, each second that Sylid was not here seeming like an eternity.
“My stomach...” she groaned. My heart stopped. Though Sylid was an excellent doctor, fixing internal bleeding was one of these things that remained a mystery to medical knowledge. No, Agni. Please. She groaned softly and started to roll over, and I shook my head.
“No, you're not supposed to move...” I whispered, trying to not panic.
“But it hurts...” She gave out a sharp scream and suddenly rolled to her side, curling up in a fetal position. She stared up at me, eyes wide with panic.
“My lord, please forgive me...” Despite the raindrops on her face, I was certain she was now crying. I shook my head. What did I have to forgive? I was the one who had wronged her...
“No, no. It's okay. It's I who should be begging you...” I murmured before she gave out another loud hiss. My eyes widened. I didn't think that internal bleeding was supposed to be painful.
“Is something broken?” I asked, fearing that the pain she had been referring to was one of her ribs puncturing her lungs or stomach – but her breathing was not filled with the bubbling sound of blood coming through her throat. She whimpered as her hands lowered to her stomach before disappearing from view as they went even lower. I had only seen this behavior when she had one of her cramps, before I would soothe it away with heat. What the hell? Carefully, I pried her open, stroking her arm with one hand as my other traveled down her stomach, squeezing past her tightly-curled up legs. Her nightgown was cold and wet from the rain, but then suddenly I felt something warm. Had she wet herself? In surprise, I drew my hand away – and even as the rain beat down on my hand, washing it away – I saw the unmistakable sight of blood.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I had fallen down so quickly that at first I had been too stunned to think or speak, much less move. I lay there with the side of my face pressed to the sand, unable to breathe for several seconds. After I caught my breath and wiggled both my fingers and toes, I heard the guards running towards me, and my husband dropped to his knees at my side. And then a stabbing pain shot through my lower abdomen, and already I knew what was happening...
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I felt the blood pound within my temples as I stood on the balcony, dressed in a dry robe as the rain continued to fall, making a cascading screen off the roof just past the railing. I heard Katara's pained cry, and Sylid's gentle shushing words as he attended to her along with the girl that Katara had as her closest servant. I closed my eyes, lowering my head, praying to Agni as I had been doing since she had fallen. It had been one and a half years since we married, and a blissful time it had been. I had never thought I would be happier than I was when I had first loved Katara, but being married to her was even better.
I heard a quiet whimper and then silence. There was some whispering.
“Get some clean sheets, and get rid of these, burn them. And one of you will need to fetch some towels and hot water. The... mess needs to be cleaned.” Sylid's voice was filled with sadness, and the lump in my throat got bigger. I turned around slowly, seeing Katara on the bed, apparently passed out. The sheets under her had red streaks of blood, and her wet nightgown lay on the floor in a wet and crumpled pile, the dark red stain blazing against the pale blue. A red nightie had been hastily pulled over her as the old one had been discarded. Sylid glanced up at me as I approached. Hinode silently stripped off the soiled sheets and followed the rest of the doctor's instructions.
“May we talk outside so that your wife may be attended to?” he asked. I nodded.
“Your wife shows no other damages other than several scrapes, and the bruises are already developing, but I have seen nothing to worry about. She is lucky -”
“Then why did she -” I growled.
“I meant that she herself is fine. She simply needs rest, and to take it easy the next couple of days. The baby, however...”
“... Baby?” I asked incredulously. Sylid's eyes widened in surprise.
“You... were not aware of it, my lord?” he asked. I simply stared down at him.
“Uh. Well. The fall down the slope was obviously a shock to her body. It is true – despite what some men might say – that pregnant women do need to be considerate to their bodies, as to ensure the safety of the little one.” He glanced down, as if the topic made him uncomfortable.
“Haven't you been giving her her herbs every week?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“I have. And always I make sure she gets enough and that the herbs are fresh. But in rare cases, the woman's body might get so used to the herb that it is not as effective as before. I've seen it happen a couple of times before. It is not her fault. I should have given her more. I humbly offer my apologies...”
I waved my hand. “Might it have something to do with the fact that she's a Waterbender?” I asked. He shrugged and nodded.
“The herbs I use are native to the Fire Islands. Much of the Earth Kingdom uses another herb, and as I have not worked there, I cannot say whether it's any more effective on their women than it is for ours. Still, it's possible. I assure you, your wife was not at fault.” It was nice how Sylid was defending Katara so fiercely. But he didn't have to worry, since I believed him.
“Mmm.” I nodded, staring off. She had been pregnant. I thought about the question she had asked me in the past about having a baby. A pang of guilt hit me when I thought about my brusque answer. Oh, that must have hurt her...
“I assure you my lord, she will be fine. Just make sure she gets green vegetables when she wakes up, it will give her the strength to make up for her blood loss. She has been given a light sedative for now to soothe her. Would you like me to stay at her side?”
“If you think it's necessary.”
“Yes, my lord.” He bowed before retreating, and I gripped the railing hard. Katara had been pregnant. How often had I wished that for years? What would have happened if I had not burned her journal? Would the baby still be alive? Dear Agni. Was this my fault? It surely was. I had been the one to go through her things even when I had trusted her. I turned back to the bedroom and stared down at her. Sylid had pulled the comforter over her, and right now her face was peaceful, revealing none of the turmoil of recent events. My heart thudded as I thought about what would happen later. What would Katara say when she woke up?
- 40
- 41
- 42
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Kiss of Fire