Ruby of Raven here. Sorry for not updating sooner.

I do not own the show called, "Avatar the Last Airbender". I also don't own "Hot Topic".

Chapter 8: Life Is Good

"Clank!" went the chains as they fell to the floor. I had finally cut through all of the chains and now Zuko was free.

He had some cuts and bruises on his wrists and ankles but other than that he looked the same way he did in the picture (plus the cut on his neck and minus the chains, Mai, his shirt, and the gag).

He got up from the bed and stretched while I just stood there, silently crying tears of joy. 'He's okay. God, I thought I might not ever see him again.'

When he was done stretching, I just had to hug him to make sure he was there and I wasn't imagining it. Even though he was only kidnapped and captive for two hours or so, I still missed him.

He became tense when I hugged him so suddenly but slowly hugged me back while I cried into his bare chest. He whispered into my ear while stroking my hair,"It's okay 'Tara. I'm here, Mai and Azula will go to jail, everything will be all right." He was trying to comfort me but if anyone needed to be comforted it was him. So, I tried my best to stop crying so he wouldn't have to worry about me. He need at least some sort of medical attention for those cuts.

I became quiet with no more tears to shed. I pulled away from him and told him to sit down on the bed. He looked at me with confusion written all over his face. "You need healing," I simply said to him. He nodded and sat on the bed. I got to work on healing his ankles. When I was done with that, I started on his wrists, then the cut on his neck. Then finally the cuts on his face.

"Why did you come and save me? I've only known you for two months and you've already showed me greater kindness than anyone but my Uncle has shown me. Why?" he asked, my hand still healing his cheek.

"Well, we are dating," I simply answered.

"Every girl I've ever dated could care less, they'd just move on to the next guy. Your different. I know we've been dating for only two months but it feels so much longer to me. I can't explain it," he said.

"When you said to Mai that you were in love with someone else, who were you referring to?", I asked. I removed my hands from his now healed cheek and bended the water back into the my water flask that was still tied to my side.

"You," he said.

I looked at him in shock. Then I started blushing madly.

I smiled. "I was hoping you would say that." Before he could respond, I kissed him. As the kiss turned more passionate, I pushed Zuko onto the bed so that I was on top of him. To soon for my liking, we parted to get air. "By the way," I whispered to him. "I love you."

He smiled but didn't say anything, he didn't have to. He captured my lips with his and I knew he was over joyed.

"Hehem," someone said or rather coughed. We both broke apart to look at where the sound came from. There in the doorway stood none other than Ty Lee herself. 'What is it now? Can't she see we're having a moment?'

"Sorry to interrupt but the police are here. They say their taking Azula to a mental prison and coming up here right as we speak to grab Mai. They also want to see if anyone has any injuries and ask us a few questions," she said.

'Mai? Oh, right. Mai's still here. I bet she's pissed at hearing me and Zuko make out and stuff.'

"Right," I said getting off of Zuko.

We both got off the bed and stood up looking embarrassed.

Ty Lee just stood there smiling her stupid smile.

When they took Mai away, she wouldn't stop screaming about how she would kill me and get her revenge. I guess I should have expected that.

So after the cops took Mai away, checked for any big injuries and asked us a few questions, we were finally free to go home.

I drove Ty Lee back to the coffee shop because she said she drove there in her pink sports car. Then I drove Zuko home. I didn't think he was capable of driving home on his bike after what happened.

When we got to his house, we had to explain to his Uncle what happened and show him the picture Mai sent me. The old man did not seem surprised that Azula went crazy, he said that he figured it would happen eventually.

Finally we were done explaining and it was 11:23 p.m. So his Uncle told me to go home and rest while he takes care of Zuko. I didn't really have a choice because I knew my dad, Sokka, and Gran-Gran would be wondering where I was.

At home, Sokka was freaking out. He said that he was watching the news and something involving people from our school, raping, and kidnapping was on.

"Where were you? That could have been you!" he yelled while pointing at the TV screen that showed a picture of the apartment building I left over an hour ago.

"Wait, they didn't give out any names?" I asked him.

"No, they weren't allowed to. Why? Do you know who did it?"

I ignored his questions. "So who did they say was involved?"

"Some guys crazy ex girlfriend, guys sister, guy who was kidnapped, guys girlfriend, and his girlfriends friend."

I rolled my eyes at his stupidity. 'Isn't it obvious who was involved?'

"Shouldn't you have an idea at who was involved Sokka? I mean it is your class mates that were involved," my Gran-Gran asked.

"Give the boy a brake. There's a lot of kids in his school," my dad defended him.

"I know who was involved," I stated as I watched their shocked expressions.

"Does it have to do with why you where home so late?" my dad asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"Wait a minute! I think I know! You and Zuko saw the police and decided to follow them and see what was happening, right?" Sokka asked.

I face palmed myself in the forehead. "Your an idiot Sokka. That's far from what happened."

"So what happened then?" Gran-Gran asked.

So I told them what happened and showed them the picture.

"Wow," was all Sokka could say. He looked like he was about to faint. I'm guessing he couldn't believe what happened.

My dad and Gran-Gran hugged me, both saying how they where so proud of me.

Once they released me, Gran-Gran said, "You must be tired. How about you go take a nice long, hot shower and go to bed?"

I nodded in response. Then I slowly made my way up the stairs, only now feeling the effects of the day on my body.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

I woke up to my alarm clock that I must have accidentally set. I quickly slapped the snooze button and went back to sleep.

Three hours later, I woke up to Sokka crying to Gran-Gran about his lucky underwear.

"I can't believe you washed my lucky underwear! How could you?" He cried some where down the hall.

"Ssshhh! Keep it down! Katara needs to rest!" my Gran-Gran whisper shouted at him.

I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep if they kept this up, so I just got out of bed and thought, 'What's the use?'

It was nice not having anyone know I was awake because then I could get ready faster without Sokka coming in an asking, "Katara, have you seen my homework?" or "Where's my lucky underwear?"

After about half an hour of getting ready, I finally went downstairs to get some grub. I entered the kitchen to the smell of pancakes and bacon.

"Hello Sleepyhead," Gran-Gran said happily.

"Yes! Finally I can eat!" Sokka exclaimed. He quickly stacked his plate with five pancakes and six pieces of bacon. He was about to grab some more pancakes but Gran-Gran slapped his had away from them.

"Leave some for Katara! She's probably starving, after what she's been through I'd think you'd stop hogging the food in this house for at least one day because of it," she scolded.

"Sorry," he said. Gran-Gran nodded and handed me a plate full of pancakes and bacon.

Ten minutes later my plate was spotless. I couldn't believe how hungry I really was until the food was in front of me.

"Wow. If I didn't know any better I would think you turned into Sokka," Gran-Gran teased.

I smiled. "Hey Gran-Gran, is dad at work?" I asked because I just now seemed to notice him gone.

"Of course, you know he works Saturday to Wednesday," she answered.

"Right, I guess I forgot. I'm gonna go call Zuko and see how he's doing. Kay?"

"Okay Sweety," Gran-Gran answered.

I got up from my seat and grabbed the home phone. Then I went up to my room to get some privacy while I made my call. I called his home phone only because he could be asleep. I doubt it though because firebenders rise with the sun, like I rise with the moon.

The phone ringed once before it was picked up.

"Hello?" asked a male voice.

"Iroh, it's me Katara," I said.

"Why hello Miss Katara. Let my guess, you wish to see how my nephew is doing?"

"Yes, can I speak with him?"

"I'm afraid he's still asleep but he's fine, just tired is all," he said.

I looked at my alarm clock, it read 11:30 a.m.

"But don't firebenders rise with the sun? Shouldn't he be up by now?" I asked.

"He should but he's not because he doesn't know the sun is up. I made sure that the curtains were covering the widows completely so he wouldn't feel or see the sun's rays. That way he can sleep as long as he needs to."

"How long did he stay up to?"

"Until 1:30 trying to get rid of the "dirty feeling" he got from Mai. He took three long showers and once his head met that pillow, he was out cold," Iroh said. I could tell he was smiling even though I couldn't see it.

"So what time can I come over to see him?" I asked.

"Give him until 2:00 o'clock and come over," he said.

"Okay, I'll see you later Mr. Iroh."

"Good bye Miss Katara and I told you you can just call me Uncle or Iroh."

"Sure Uncle, see ya later," I said and hung up.

A couple of hours later and I already called all my friend to come to the mall around 2:30 so Zuko and I could tell them what happened. Jet needs to know his girlfriend went to a mental prison. They all needed to know.

When I arrived at Zuko's house, Zuko answered the door.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey, how you feeling?"

"Pretty good, you?"

"Pretty good. Hey, do you wanna go to the mall?" I asked.

He looked a little thrown off by my random question but ended up saying 'yes' anyways.

We rode in Sokka's blue van to the mall, I was still driving. As we got out of the car, Zuko asked, "So why did we need to suddenly go to the mall?"

"Because we need to tell everyone what happened," I told him.

"And who's everyone?" he asked.

"The whole gang but minus Azula and Mai," I said as we entered the mall.

There, sitting in the seating area by the front doors, was the whole gang.

"There you are Sugarqueen!" Toph exclaimed standing up.

"Hey Toph," I said with a friendly smile that she couldn't see.

"Hey," Zuko greeted.

"So what's up with the meeting on such a short notice?" Jet asked.

"Well, you guys saw the thing with those students from our school on the news right?" I asked.

"Yes," everyone said but Toph who said,"I didn't see it, I heard it."

"Well that was us." I pointed to Zuko, Ty Lee, and myself.

"What?" everyone asked except Zuko, Ty Lee, Sokka, and myself.

"Yeah, Zuko got kidnapped by his sister and Mai. He also almost got raped and killed by Mai too. Then me and Ty Lee came to the rescue," I said.

"W-what but how did this happen?" Aang asked.

So I went into the retelling of our little adventure with a couple of side comments from Zuko and Ty Lee. I felt bad because Zuko had to go through the retelling of this again but it had to done, no matter how much it might hurt him to remember (if it hurt him at all to remember).

When I was done, Jet asked,"So my girlfriend is in a mental prison?"

"Yep," Zuko said.

"You got a crazy family Zuko. The only sane ones are you and your Uncle, who's obsessed with tea," Toph said.

"Well, Azula was the best girlfriend I've ever had. I'll miss her," Jet said. A hot, tall, blond walked by. He whistled. "Might as well get a rebound girl to get over the pain. Hey Blondy! Wait Up!" he yelled as he ran over to her.

"I don't think his heart will ever heal," Suki said. We all laughed.

"Come on guys, lets go shopping!" Ty Lee squealed as our laughter died down.

The guys all groaned (this also included Toph)

"Well, we are at the mall. So why not?" Suki asked.

"Yeah, I brought my purse. Lets go," I said.

"Well you girls can go do what ever it is you girls do. Me, Haru, Aang and Zuko are going to the arcade," Sokka said as he stood up.

"Hey, I'm coming too! I hate shopping!" Toph said, also standing up.

"Kay, will meet you back here in a couple of hours," Suki said as everyone stood up to leave.

"Sure," we all said. Then split up and went our different ways.

I smiled as I walked beside Ty Lee and Suki to the shop called "Hot Topic". 'Things are pretty much back to normal now. Soon we'll forget about last night completely. No more crazy Mai and Azula trying to kill me or rape Zuko. Life is good.'

What Katara didn't know was that life wouldn't be to good for to long.

A.N.

There WILL be a SEQUEL! It might take awhile for me to make it but there will be one!

By the way, thanks everyone who reviewed, it meant a lot to know so many people liked it. Thanks!