Chapter Fifteen: Plans, reality, and pain.

Sorry for the really long delay (was depressed over ending, but realized I needed to get off my lazy but and finish this so everyone will get to enjoy this adventure, though I know this chapter is short, I will update another one by Sunday and will work to update once every week, promise!) Though I am working on a new ATLA story and trying to work on the rest of my others, please enjoy and thank you all so much for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or any of its original characters…..

Zuko couldn't believe that she was here and where the hell was Katara? However much he detested his formal fiancé, he was taught manners.

"Mai, I do not believe you should be dressed as such and why are you here?" he asked, still not moving from his desk.

"Oh Zuko, how could I forget that you liked my late night surprises when we were…well let's just say I was visiting and thought of all the fun we used to have. I know lately you've been busy with that piece of water tribe dribble, but I can see what you've really missed." She said, trying for seductive, but Zuko just felt like it was a bad dream with a girl he had no intentions of ever being around again was here in front of him.

'Where the fuck are my guards?' he thought silently, not letting his emotions show on his face and tried to remain clam.

"And what would that be exactly?" he asked, trying to figure out if he should use his dagger on attached to the side of his desk , fire bending or force to get her away from him and leave him in peace, especially before Katara came back. This was not something he wanted to talk to her about with this crazy stalker right here in her less than fully dressed state.

"A real fire nation woman, I know you're only with the water bender because of an arranged marriage, but you are allowed concubines and I already know you love me, I will be willing to play second fiddle in public, until of course you tire of her and send her away." Mai said, her smile on her lips told Zuko all he needed to know.

Royal Visitor Wing, Royal Palace.

Sokka, Suki, Aang and Toph were all seated over a map of the local area, hoping they could figure out where exactly Katara had been taken. They had the note that found its way into Suki's dressing chamber but did not dare show it to Zuko. If he even had an inkling of what was going on, he'd be riding out to rescue Katara and possible get her killed.

"Are you sure Zhao said in the western province area?" Toph asked Sokka for the tenth time.

"Yes, I would not forget something that would pertain to my only sister's life!" he nearly yelled, his anger and anexity reaching its peak. Suki put a hand on his arm to try to calm her love.

"It will be ok, Katara is not a weakling and she thinks fast in a tight spot."

"She's right, when have you known Katara to seriously start panicking?" Aang asked, trying to sound clam but Toph could feel his heart beat through the ground and could tell he was also worried about their friend.

"Knowing her, twinkle toes, she's probably forming a plan of how to exact her revenge! She's got a vicious mean streak if you piss her off enough." Toph put in, also worried about her normally solid friend.

"He promised he'd take out any punishment through her blood and flesh, so let's err on the side of caution." Sokka said, his face and body set in a determined and serious planning.

Governor's Cell.

Katara moved slightly as a foot gently nudged her ribs. She looked up into the eyes of a serving girl. She was barely past Katara's age and seemed to shrink inside herself. The girl gently kneeled next to Katara, her red skirt showed signs of wear and mending. Katara closed her eyes, trying to ignore the sting in her back. The whip Zhao used had small, round metal balls woven into the braids and hurt like no tomorrow. Lying on her stomach in nothing but the tattered remains of her dress, she wanted to fall back into the oblivion of nothingness and forget the pain. If only this girl would leave her be so she could fall back, but it seemed the maid had other ideas.

"My lady, please let me look at your cuts, I need you to be awake to tell me if it hurts." The girl said in shaky whisper. Katara looked at her with one eye, noting the black hair pulled into a tight bun and sincere brown eyes.

"It….hurts…all over." Katara whispered back, her voice also shaky and filled with her tears.

"I know my lady, but I need to know how deep the pain goes and if you need a healer trained better than my low self." The girl replied and began to wash Katara's back with hot water that held cleansing herbs. The sting of it woke Katara and the pain in her back. She smothered a scream into her arm as the girl cleaned her back gently.

"Tell…me…your…name please." Katara said through gritted teeth, she refused to allow Zhao any pleasure he'd get from her pain.

"My name is Kira and I am a healer in training, I specialize in burns and bad cuts, my master says I should be quite skillful once I master the basics." Kira said softly, understanding that Katara needed to hear a voice to take the focus off her pain.

"How…long…ahg!" Katara smothered another yell as Kira put a fresh and hot cloth on her back.

"Three years, I started when I turned thirteen. It is very intensive course, but i feel that I am learning a lot. There let me look and I can put a slave on it so you can sleep with some comfort." Kira said, looking at the deeper lacerations and made soft notes to herself as she mumbled. A few minutes later, the slave that she gently put on Katara's back eased the pain slowly. Soon Katara felt her back go numb, a relief to her senses.

"Thank you." Katara said, her voice hoarse.

"I am sorry we had to meet this way, my lady, but rest now. I will be on the other side of the bars keeping watch, I will not let those vile men come back to watch you in pain." Kira said as she pulled a light sheet over Katara's body. Katara nodded and closed her eyes, letting herself fall back into oblivion, glad to be away from the pain.