Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Air Bender nor its characters....

I wish I did though

But I do own Hamaya, she is a made up character for certain uses.

Chapter One:

Love and Hate: The Girl

China: 1919

He came in the night, like all other nights. The dark shadow that followed him spread across the village appeared and disappeared just as quick. He had only one object in mind, and that was to get her as his bride before the red moon disappeared at the rising of the sun.

The young girl, five-year-old Katara, heard him, even in her sleep. He was coming for her mother she knew it. She had a connection with him, but she didn't know yet. She was still too young to understand, but she stood up quietly in her bed and climbed off. She knew where he had gone and she followed.

He didn't sense her present. He should have, but he didn't. He was focused on the bedroom ahead of him as he zoomed by with amazing speed.

He found the door lock, and smiled to himself. Foolish mortals, they think they can lock him out. Without another thought, he turned into mist, sliding underneath the small gap under the door, appearing in his ordinary form when he reach the other side.

She was there, waiting for him. Her face deathly pale no longer its beautiful mocha color, her lips, once red and lush, were pale and blue now. Her eyes were flat, unmoving, unblinking. Soon, he thought, as he gathered her up in his arms. Soon we will be together.

"Halt!" The voice cried out in the darkness. It was from a corner of the room somewhere, he knew. He had sense his presence before he had entered the room and was wondering how long it would take him to call out.

"Let her go, Jet. She is my wife, not yours."

Jet's lips curled. "Yours for only your lifetime, Hakoda, but she is mine forever."

"Let her go, I will only say it once."

Jet turned around to face him. "And what if I do not? What will you do with me? Scare me off with a cross? Drive a stake through my heart?"

"I might just do that." Hakoda answered, but he was not so sure of his answer.

Jet laughed, "I have no time to entertain foolish mortals tonight. Can you not see she begs for me, not you?"

"You have her under a trance, a spell!"

As if she heard her husband's shout, she blinked, but only once, "Ha…"

"You see? You will only make her crazy by turning her into one of you," Hakoda laughed, the stake, he held in his hand. "You think she is in love with you? She will never love a beast like you! You live in the night, your kinds are dwindling, how long do you think you can last? A couple more hundred years?"

Jet's handsome face turned into the devil, the lips that were masculine, powerful and full, now twisted up in fury, his eyes flare red, and his fangs grew. "You think I will give her up just like this?"

"Let her go!" Hakoda charged towards the vampire, uncaring of how foolish he was acting. He wanted his wife back, the one who always smiled and laughed, the one who brought joy to his life, not the quiet one, the one who feared his touch now and called to a different name in the middle of the night.

Katara didn't move, didn't flinch as she saw the vampire drive her father's own weapon into his own heart. She knew he was going to do that, she had known. She didn't know why she had known, but she knew.

"You bastard," Hakoda gasped, just as the door opened and most of the villagers came charging into the room, not even noticing the small hidden shape in the corner of the room. "You will not get away!"

Jet didn't wait; instead, he wrapped her up in his cloak and disappeared from sight.

"Hakoda!" It was Hakoda's brother. "Are you all right?"

"Get Kya back…" Hakoda' gasped, struggling to breath, to keep his lungs alive.

"We must stop the bleeding!" Hakoda''s brother's sister said harshly as she came over with a wet towel.

"No use," Hakoda' was losing it, but he struggled to stay in focus. "My last wish, take…care of…Katara…"

"We will have to pull the stake out!"

"No, it will only deepen the wound!"

"Hakoda'!"

"Promise!" Hakoda' grabbed his brother's collar, eyes frantic, searching his face, "If she is change…do not let her get to Katara…"

"Brother!"

Hakoda's gripped on his brother's cease, and his hands dropped to the floor.

"I will revenge you!"

"Father…" Katara couldn't move. Her small body was planted right there as she watch her uncle pick up her father's body. Her mother was gone, but she will come back. She had to come back, Katara thought.

She waited until there was not a single noise in the house before she got out of her hiding spot. Something bad was going to happen. She knew it like she had known her father was going to die tonight.

(-)

Katara didn't know what woke her up, but she had only gotten a couple of minutes of sleep when she heard the cries. She tilted her head, as if studying the noise, and then got up from her bed and went downstairs. There were screams everywhere, cries of agony, and she smelled fire.

(-)

She opened the door outside, knowing whom she was going to see. She saw him, the vampire, and the one who had killed her father and caused her mother's death. She hated him then. He was evil, unlike her animal friends. He loved to kill, he loved to cause pain, and she stood there, watching as he drove his sword through her uncle's heart.

"Uncle!" She called out, not knowing why she did, but she did.

They both turned their attention to her, the vampire's eyes blazing with fire, burning with the color of blood. His mouth was covered with blood; his fangs glistened in the moonlight.

"Run, child!" Her uncle managed to call out to her before he fell to the ground, unmoving.

"Yes, run child, but that will get you no where," the vampire said, his voice soothing, surrounding her, trying to entrance her, but he was stunned by the sudden block he received from her.

"Do not do that!" she cried. "I no like you! What did you do with my mommy!"

Jet's anger flared up again. Her mommy eh? Her mommy, so Alys had a daughter, one she managed to hide from him, his anger rose even more. And why did he not sense her presence in the house?

Jet walked towards the girl, shifting his shoulders until he was facing her and then started walking slowly to scare her, or intimidate her, but she stood there, unmoving. Her eyes were already blazing, just like his, with the flames of hell. Why wasn't she afraid of him?

He stop in front of her, and knew, just knew that he couldn't kill her. Yes, she would grow up to be just like her mother, he could see it now. Lips full and lush that would taste like cherry, eyes, long chocolate-brown cascading curly locks, oceanic blue eyes with dark, long lash eyelashes; blood as sweet as nectar. He couldn't have the mother, he thought, as he remember how she had come to, and how she had killed herself when she learned of her husband's death. He can't have the mother, but he would have the daughter. He would raise her until she is old enough—

"Come here," he said, trying to cajole her with his voice, deep and soothing.

"No!" She answered him fiercely as she started to move now, back inside the house even though she knew she was helpless. But he was there! She knew it! He was here! He was coming for her! She just needed time.

"Come back here!" Jet commanded, but the girl shut the door on him and ran into the house. With a growl, he tore the door apart.

She ran, knowing which way to go, and which way to not go. Her mind seem as if it suddenly had a mind of its own, telling her to turn left, and then right, and then left again. She ran blindly, but quietly in the house, her breath coming in big gulps. He was bad; she had to get away from him.

"Going somewhere?" Jet appeared in front of the small girl. She was not crying, she was not trembling with fear. Instead she was staring at him with such loath in her eyes.

"You not get me!" she shouted loudly, as if she knew why he wouldn't kill her.

She was strong, he thought, for a mortal girl.

(-)

She turned back the other way, avoiding his hand just in time as it whoosh out to grab her. He gave an angry cry. No mortal has ever managed to get away from his this long. He was going to teach her a lesson once he got his hands on her, he thought.

He was outside, but she was gone. He frowned, where was she—

"I see, you have not change, have you brother?"

Jet turn around furiously as he recognized whom the voice belongs to, "Zuko!"

Zuko didn't move as he watched his brother, younger by fifty years. Jet was still killing, even after Zuko had warned him not to. He knew their numbers were rare, and if he was not careful, in a couple of hundred years, they would cease to exist, that was why he wanted to be careful, but his brother. He was making it damn hard, and even though he was only his half-brother, he will have to kill him for disobeying the laws of the undead.

"Give her to me," Jet demanded.

Zuko glanced down at the young girl clinging to his knees behind him. She was very brave, he thought. She was not trembling like other mere humans would at the sight of them, and though he knew she was afraid, she was doing a very well show of not trembling. He was sorry though, that he would have to kill her after his little confrontation with his half-brother.

"What is she to you?" Zuko asked. "Do you not know the laws of the undead, brother? What has happen to you?"

"I am no longer the weakling you all think I am," Jet answered, "and if you refuse to hand her over to me, I will kill you."

"I will kill her then." Zuko said, thinking it odd as he probed the girl's mind. She was not afraid of him, but she hated Jet. Then her mind was shut off from his completely, and he looked down at the girl. She looked up at him, fiercely, as if knowing what he had been doing and was giving him a warning glance.

"Then I will haunt you for life," Jet warn harshly. "Katara, come here!"

Zuko step aside, away from the girl. "It will be her decision, if she picks me, then I will kill her after I have dealt with you. But if she chooses you, I will let you two go in peace."

Jet frowned. He had to get into her mind, tell her; he needed to enthrall her so she will listen to him. But as he started to, he was shut off from her mind.

"You can not do that," Zuko struggled not to curve his lips as the young girl stood there and stared at Jet. "Come on, little one, pick."

Katara tilted her head, acting old beyond her years. She looked at Jet, and then at Zuko. Without hesitating, without another thought, she moved backwards until she was standing next to Zuko, her eyes still held Jet's.

"I am going to kill you!" Jet lunged himself at them, angry that she had chosen his brother over him. He was going to kill her, torture her, he vowed, once he gets his hands on her.

Zuko picked the girl up easily with one of his arm and swung around so he was behind Jet. Without another thought, his sword, which appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden, lash Jet's back.

Jet gave a roar and turned around, but only to find air. Zuko was already gone again, standing a couple of yards behind him.

"Over here, brother." Zuko called out, his voice cold and unfeeling.

"One more time, give her to me," Jet yelled.

Zuko look up at the sky, the orange red sky signal the rising of the sun. "

You seem to have lost your sense, Jet. Look, the sun is rising."

Jet growled, his eyes blazing with vengeance, "I will come for her, on her 18th birthday, I swear I will." With that he disappeared.

"I will make sure she lives not past that age," Zuko reply softly, as the sun appear in the horizon, and he winced. He had been out in the sun all day yesterday, and though he could stand the light of the sun, unlike other vampires, he could only stand so much before the sun began to drain his energy.

"You are lucky," Zuko told the little girl in his arms, who was still staring up at him strangely. "You will have one more day to live, so enjoy it well."

(-)

Katara look at the sleeping vampire beside her. He was an old one, she thought, as she frowned. She knelt in front of him so their faces were nearly touching and examined him. He had stop breathing once the sun had shine its rays down on the earth. She wanted to go out, but she didn't want to leave the safety of the cave and him. She felt safe by his side. She didn't want to go back to her village, she realized. Her mommy and papa, to her knowledge, were in heaven now, protected. They would be watching over her now, just like how her grandmother had watch over her too when her grandmother had gone to heaven.

Did dead mean the same thing as heaven? Katara frowned as she brought her right hand up to touch his cheek. It was cold, but she didn't move back. She couldn't see very well in the dark, but he was pale. Just like her grandmother was when she had sneak in to see where her grandmother had lain before her parents had buried her.

He was her hero, she thought, as she smiled. Her hero, her very own hero, just like in the stories her mommy had told her. And he would be her hero. Without thinking, she yawned, and then set both her hands on his chest. Her head followed, and a moment later, she was asleep with him, but it wasn't the deathly sleep that he slept.

--

Zuko awakened, knowing the girl was next to him. She should have run, he thought. After all, he had slept like the dead, and he knew a lot of people who would have run off at the sight of him. He slept like the dead; in fact he is the dead. She should have run also, that way he wouldn't have to kill her. Who knew what cruel ideas Jet had for her once she was captured, and he didn't want her suffering by the hands of his half-brother? Neither did he want another Zukol on his conscious. He had had enough over the centuries, and each time, the beast within him grew until he could no longer control it. Now it was hidden. He had been living as a recluse from the outside world to control the beast inside of him. And he had control it, that was why he was out now, for only a decade though, and he was amazed at how much the world had change, but how little human kind had change. He wanted to stretch, to go out and feed. He had not feed for a while now, and he needed to feed if he was going to kill the girl beside him. But he didn't rouse from fear of waking her up. She was sleeping just like a baby; her steady breathing was the only noise heard in the quiet cave he had found a couple of miles away from the village. He would have to go back and burn the whole village. It would cease to exist; no one would care for the villagers for the village was a small one and those who live in it knew only each other and naught of the outside world.

The girl yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "You are awake."

Zuko didn't answer. Instead he got up himself. He was going to have to kill her, he reminded himself.

"I hungry." She complained as she stood up when he stood up. "Are we go back to eat?"

Zuko stared down at the little girl before him and closed his eyes. He did not want to start caring for her! He didn't want her, and just as soon as he was done filling his own hunger, he was going to kill her.

"How did you get that scar?" Katara asked. "Did it hurt?"

He went to the entrance of the cave, looking around for any danger.

Sensing none, he was about to go back to get the girl when she appeared at his feet. She moved so quietly, he didn't even sense her, he thought. This was a strange girl…a very strange girl indeed. She wasn't crying, wasn't trembling, wasn't acting like any mere mortal would in her situation, and to top it all, she was only five years, to be exact. How could she not be mourning for her loss?

"That way," she pointed, quite opposite from her village. "That where my mommy and my papa come from."

Zuko didn't comment. She couldn't possibly remember, he thought. She must have been quite young, probably just a little baby…

He picked her up, and she snuggled close to him, burying her face into his chest to keep out the coldness.

Zuko fought the emotions that were already climbing up, and manage to swallow them back down. She was going to die, a very easy death by his hands, or a slow and torturous death by his half-brother's hands. He preferred his way, quick and gentle, that way; she won't feel a single thing.

It didn't take him long to reach another small village, this time, a little bit bigger than Katara's village. It was a lot bigger, but a lot filthier too, he wrinkle his nose in distaste as he smell the foul scent of alcohol blended in with blood and days and days of unbath men, women and children.

Katara, on the other hand, was oblivious to it all but the feeling of being safe and loved in his arms.

He could leave her here, he thought, as he took a look around. She was able to block Jet, so Jet would probably never find her, maybe, just maybe a couple of old people might take her in and she would be able to lead a good life. It would be better than the death he had in plan for her; at least, she had a chance at life.

"Stay here." Zuko told Katara quietly, softly, as he set her on the ground next to a couple of houses.

"Where are you going?" Katara look up at him, trustingly as she tried to read his mind.

Zuko couldn't help but smile when he felt the tug in his mind, but he managed to block his thoughts from her. "No where. Stay here, and do not go anywhere all right?"

Katara nodded, already knowing he was going to leave her. But she didn't want him to leave, she thought. She wanted to stay with him. She stayed right where she was though because she didn't want to injure him.

But just as soon as he left, she twirled around to look in the darkness. They were there, more like Jet, she could feel them, could smell them, and she hated it. She took a step back, wanting to call out to Zuko, but he had left her. He might already be gone already.

"N'one vill miss her," one of the guy said to the other.

"And zat guy zust drop her off like she waz nothing to him." The other guy laughed.

"Daughterz dun mean much these days."

"I vant ze first zip."

"Go , but if she growz up, she might becomez of uze to uz, do not drink her dry yet."

Katara didn't answer; she just stood there and took a step back as they came at her. She stood, ready to fight, and when one jump on her, she move back suddenly, with amazing speed for such a little girl, surprising the two vampires.

"Get her, ye damn fool! She iz only a little girl!"

"Ye get her then!" the other yelled back at his partner as he lunged for her again.

This time, Katara had nowhere to run. But she didn't need too. She wanted to see mommy and daddy. She want to see them smiling at her, and she wanted to go to heaven. They would take her there, she realized. They would, and she wanted to see them so badly and tell them about the bad guys, and then how Zuko had come to her rescue. A dark figure appeared out of nowhere and Katara didn't know whether to be happy or angry at Zuko showing up. He didn't want her, so why did he come to rescue her?

Without really having to use any strength at all, Zuko snapped the vampire that was lunging for Katara first without any problem. His head fell back as his body laid limb, giving sign that he was already dead. Zuko threw his body away, angry enough already that they were willing to kill a girl without any home. The other vampire came at Zuko's back, but he was prepared and ducked. He grabbed the vampire by the stomach and heaved his body towards a tree. He would have easily summoned his sword and stab them through the heart, but they were weaklings compare to him, and he killed them easily without breathing a sweat. Katara stood there unblinking, unmoving. And then, without realizing it, she turned and ran.

"Katara!" Zuko called out to her, forcing her to stop, but she didn't listen to his voice and instead ran on.

She was really fast, Zuko could give her that, but he was faster, and within minutes, he caught her up in his arms, feeling her shoulders trembling.

And he was going to kill her, Zuko thought bitterly as he finally witness Katara's hard barrier breaking down, and she started to cry.

What was he suppose to do with her? Zuko thought as he glanced back at the village. He was going to leave her, but the other half of him was hoping she would cry out for him to not leave her, but she didn't. Instead she just stood there and watch him took off. Then he had sense vampire presence, and though as much as he hated to admit it, he feared for her and came running back, only to find her ready to die without a fight.

The vampires, he thought. He could train her, make her strong and during the day she can go out and kill the ones that were disobeying the laws. She could seek out the wrongs; kill the ones who were ruthless. She was strong, he knew that already. After all, he wasn't able to read her mind when she didn't want him too. It made him wonder, just whose daughter she really is, and how she managed to survive it all because she was weird from the rest of the villagers.

With his final decision made, he walked off into the night, carrying the crying little girl in his arms. Her crying ceased as he took her with him to his lair once again, to train.

Other Information/Authors Note: Whatcha guys think? I guess its pretty weird for Jet to be Zuko's brother, eh? I could of turned Azula a guy or... a lesbian but I thought that it didn't fit.