DISCLAIMER : I do not own avatar the last airbender.

Note : Heyy again everyone! :D Sorry it took a long time for me to update. I'm so busy with my art projects and commissions. Thanks for the comments and critiques that I've been getting. One flaw that someone pointed out was about the diary idea. In a way, I think yes, it was kind of silly. Why would Katara and Zuko so carelessly let their diary books open like that? I should've thought about it more. But oh well it happened lol. Off we go to the new chapter now!

CHAPTER 16 – Masks of Truth

"Katara? Hey, Katara?" a soft raspy voice whispered.

"Un-ugh…" Ugh my head, feels like a brick just fell on my forehead! And what's this annoying voice?! Katara shut her eyes tighter and slowly turning away from the voice besides her.

"Katara, wake up" a hand gently touched Katara's left shoulder and shook it.

"Urgh" Katara grunted, wishing inside that whoever that was, would leave her alone to her deep slumber, "Sh-shoo… ergh"

"Katara, we're here. We have arrived…"

Wait, this voice… is it? Katara couldn't help but slowly opened her eyes and turned her head softly to the source of the voice she heard. She saw that familiar pool of fiery golden eyes. One was perfect, and one was… "Z-Zuko..?"

Zuko smiled gently as he plopped down onto Katara's bed, "Hey Tara, we've arrived at the Earth Kingdom. I wanted to wake you up earlier but…" he lowly chuckled, "That would be cruel of me. You slept so peacefully"

"Hmph, as if…" as Katara realized what was going on, her eyes went wide and she immediately tried to sit up right, but resulted in swaying back to the bed, "Argh, so dizzy…"

"Hey hey, go easy on yourself" Zuko furrowed his eyebrow, "Seems like you really used a lot of your power"

"Oh Agni, how long have I been out? And-and, we're at the Earth Kingdom already?! But that's… that's impossible!" Katara shut her eyes close while she rubbed her temples.

With concern in Zuko's eyes, he gently asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks. Just… feeling tired that's all" Katara sighed.

Zuko sighed heavily, "Well, we're in no way hurry. So, take all the time you need. It's still dusk anyway. You've been away for around 3 days by the way". Zuko stood up slowly but stopped in mid action as he felt a hand grabbing his left arm. He turned his head back and stared straight into the deepest pool of blue eyes ever.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm… well-"

"Stay…"

"Katara I have to help the others"

"Argh, fine" Katara let go of Zuko's arm and gently pushed herself up. Zuko immediately lend a hand to help Katara up. "Thanks Zuko" she said, smiling, "I'll come with you. I kinda miss the land anyway. I need some fresh air"

"Yeah, I knew you'd like to walk around. Uncle suggested us to go. I didn't really want to go but, as much as I hate it, I have to come anyway" Zuko said boringly. He then looked at Katara up and down, "And uh, you should change"

Katara immediately rolled her eyes, "I know Zuko, I know". She walked over to her small wardrobe, "Hmm what to wear, what to weaarr? Is it hot outside, Zuko?"

Zuko tilted his lips upwards, "Um, yeah… kind of"

"Kay well, I'll just wear a normal top and pants silk cotton" Katara mumbled while she took out some clothes. She turned back around facing Zuko and cleared her throat, "Do you mind?"

"Huh?" Zuko looked at her dumbly.

"Do, you, mind?" Katara held up the clothes that she's holding.

Zuko's eyes went wide, a soft blush forming on his cheeks. "Ah-uh, oh no. I-I mean yes! I mean, agh nevermind!" he held up his hands, and quickly turned back and walked towards the door. "I'll be waiting outside. Change quickly"

"Hmph, what's with him"

"Wow, lucky us to have a good place to stay here!" Katara said cheerfully while putting down her small bag onto a queen sized bed. She plopped down to the edge of the bed, and taking in her new surroundings. Katara was pleased with the pale green colors in the enormous bedroom, contrasted by some golden ornaments on the walls. Finally, she thought, something different than red, black, and gold.

On the other side of the room, another queen sized bed lies near the wall. Zuko tossed away his belongings messily onto his bed. "Yeah of course we would get this one. We have to. No questions". Zuko idly kicked another bag on the floor next to his bed, "I won't ever imagine myself sleeping in a disgusting cheap small room" his face contorted into disgust.

"Hey!" Katara's eyebrows furrowed, "Don't be mean like that! We're just lucky! You have no idea how the lives of these poor people are. You need to get your ass off your high horse"

Zuko lay down onto his bed, "Lucky us then, just like you said"

"Tch, whatever!" Katara kneeled down onto the floor and searched through her personal small bag, "Oh yeah, I found a poster about a cool festival two nights later" she said as she pulled out a rolled poster and opened it, "It's a festival for the Spirits! There would be fireworks, many games, and dancing. Ouuhh and, it's said here to wear a mask too! Oh wow that sounds fun!"

"Oh yeah? Woohoo…" Zuko boringly cheered while he lazily punched his fist into the air. "Tell me more about it"

Katara's eyes wide in amusement as she stared at the colorful poster, "I remember on our way here, I heard someone was talking about the village people selling masks already. We should check it out!". She put the poster down and turned her head to the right where Zuko was lying on his bed, "Do you wanna go out for lunch? So we could also check out those masks?"

"What?!" Zuko pushed himself up with his elbows, "You don't seriously mean to go, do you?"

"Pfft, of course I dooo!" Katara swayed her right hand. "C'mon, let's get changed now! We'll have delicious meals aaand then we'll go look around for our masks" she smiled widely.

"Wha-what? The hell no!" Zuko plopped back down onto his bed, "Good luck finding it on your own"

"Urgh!" Katara stood up and stomped her feet, "Want it or not, you are COMING with me!" she stomped her way towards Zuko's bed and stopped right at the edge.

Zuko turned to the side, away from Katara, "No, go away"

"Zukoo pleaassee?" Katara clasped her hands together even though Zuko couldn't see it.

"Hell no, you're being annoying" Zuko huffed.

"Pleaase, Zuchuu please?"

Zuko flinched at the word Zuchuu and tilted his head to the side so he could see Katara from the corners, "W-what did you call me?"

"Please, Zuko! It'll be fun!"

Zuko hunched his shoulders forward while growling in irritation, "Ugh, no! And don't use that chiptone voice on me"

"Pleassee, oh please please, have some fuunn" Katara grabbed Zuko's left arm and shake him harshly.

"Fuck, Agni! Fine!" Zuko whipped around to stare straight at Katara's eyes, "Only a quick lunch, get your stupid mask, and we'll be back! That's it"

"Okay, okay!" Katara grinned.

"Deal or no deal"

"Geez Zuko, deal!"

"I regret all my life to agree to this…" Zuko mumbled as he tossed around his food on the plate. "Why do I have to eat this peasant food, anyway? Why did I agree to this… Oh, Agni" he said annoyingly while putting his elbows on the table.

"Mmm, yummy! These foods are so delicious! Oh Zuko, you gotta try this one!" Katara picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and pushed it towards Zuko's mouth.

"Yeuck! Get that thing away from me!" Zuko immediately jerked his body back, "I'm not eating anything from here!"

"Ugh, what's wrong with you" Katara pouted. She quickly put the dumpling into her own mouth and decided to finish all the dumplings by herself, "Mmph-you know, it's-mm-yumm sometimes good to try-mphm different food that's not so luxurious"

Zuko rolled his eyes and waved his right hand, "Yeah, that's for you. Not for me" he slumped back into his chair and crossed his arms on his chest, "Plus, all these people been starring at us like weird, it's so annoying!"

"Okay, okay! I'm done now" Katara put down her chopsticks and raised her arm to call the servant, "Heyy! We're done here!" she called out to a shy servant boy standing at the corner of the room. The servant boy suddenly straightened up himself and paced over to their table.

Zuko abruptly stood up, "Just hurry up and pay them. I feel sick here. I'm getting out of this place!" he clenched his fists as he stomped away. Katara could only sighed and felt sad for what he had become. She quickly paid the food and walked outside the tiny restaurant.

"How much are these?" Katara asked the old lady standing behind many boxes full of weird masks.

"Oh, it depends on the details on them darling" the old lady politely answered. She then pointed out to some simple colored masks, "These ones start from 2 to 5 copper each". She turned to her back and pointed to 5 masks that were hanged on a small wooden wall, "And these are 1 silver each, as they have special delicate carvings. And, also meanings" she turned back towards Katara and smiled.

Katara made an 'O' with her mouth as she was amazed by them, "Well, I-uh… I really like that one" she pointed out on a mask hanged on the wall. It was a half face red mask, symbolizing a beautiful dragon. "That one looks interesting"

The old lady smirked, "Your pick's quite a fitting one. That is the 'Blood Dragon'. She is charming but strong in a way. She is delicate but very deadly at the same time. She's one for strength and confidence"

"Mhmm, really interesting. Sounds quite scary honestly buutt… I'll take it!" Katara offered the old lady 3 pieces of silver coins, "Here, just take it" she smiled warmly.

"Oh, thank you deary!" The lady took it eagerly and smiled brightly. "What about this young man here? Is he your boyfriend?"

"He's NOT my boyfriend!", "She's NOT my girlfriend!" Katara and Zuko shouted in unison. They blushed at each other and quickly turned their heads away.

"Ohoho, aren't you two just adorable!" the old lady giggled.

"Ugh, I have no time for this! You got your stupid mask, we're leaving. Now" Zuko grumpily said and turned on his heels but stopped as Katara quickly grabbed him by his right elbow. "Katara!"

"Oh Zuko c'mon now, you haven't chose one for you!" Katara pouted.

Zuko's eyes bulged in disbelief, "Agni, Katara! You seriously think I'd buy one?!" He roughly pulled his arm away from her hand, "Let's go back now!"

"Uurgh!" Katara quickly stomped her way towards Zuko and stopped right in front of him. She put her arms on her hips and pouted like a child, "Zuko pleeasee c'moonn!"

Zuko crossed his arms, "Geez, what's wrong with you lately?"

Katara clasped her hands together in front of her chest, "Pweaase?" she purposely made her eyes looked droopy and puppy like.

"Agni, not that look. FINE! Okay, go pick one for me like whatever!" Zuko dismissed her by waving his right hand. Katara immediately smiled brightly and went back to the mask booth. The old lady heard it all and so she calmly said, "I'm sorry but the rule is that you have to buy your own mask. Each mask represents a real spirit. They choose you. Not you choose them"

Zuko rolled his eyes and walked towards the mask booth, "For the sake of making her shut up about this…" he mumbled to himself.

"Apples for sale! Apples for sale! 5 apples only 2 coppers!" a child like voice shouted few feet away.

Katara whipped her head towards the voice, "Oh wow, Zuko! Look at that poor child selling apples all alone"

"So, what? You gonna do something about it?" Zuko asked mockingly.

"Iyeap!" Katara turned on her heels and turned her head just a bit before she walked, "Go pick your own mask Zuko, I wanna buy some apples from him!"

"Geez, that girl…" Zuko sighed deeply and shook his head. He walked up towards the mask booth and crossed his arms, "I'll pick uuh-argh, I just don't care! That one!" he randomly pointed towards a bear-panda like mask. He then searched through his pouch and pulled out 2 silver coins.

The old lady grabbed the mask from the wall and handed it over to Zuko, "Alright, here you go". Zuko snatched the mask from the old lady's hand, and before he turned on his heels, the old lady spoke, "Though… I did notice you kept looking at that one" she said while pointing towards a blue mask hanged on the wall. It's a full mask covering the whole face, representing what looks like a demon with a sad look but a wide silver grin on its' face.

She took the blue mask from the wall, "This is the 'Blue Spirit'. I can feel it's calling for you. You should have it young boy. Just keep it for free" she outstretched her arm in which was holding the blue mask towards Zuko. "He shows you your true mirror. Makes you take action based on your true heart's desires. A very noble and loyal one indeed, hence the color is blue"

Zuko felt a weird sensation inside of him and without any arguments, he politely took the mask from her hand, "Um-kay, thanks.." he put both of his masks into his personal bag and turned away. "Katara! we're done here!" He called out to her as he walked away from the mask booth. Inside his head, he couldn't help but kept hearing those words over and over again. Your true mirror.

"Oh haha, I can't believe you succeeded in dragging him all the way!" Iroh laughed as he slumped into his chair and held his jiggling tummy, "And nonetheless, made him buy his own mask! Such a wonderful time you both had this afternoon."

"Yeah, I know right! And how cute was the mask that he chose! Isn't that right, Zuko?" Katara smiled widely towards Zuko on her right side; sipping her lily-jasmine tea.

Zuko hit his palm onto the table in front of them, "It's NOT funny! I regret that all of my life! Ugh!"

"Oh don't be too grumpy," Katara said-rolling her eyes. "Anyway, I'm getting sleepy now. Off to dreamland!" Katara said as she put down her teacup and rose up slowly, "Night-night"

"Night Katara," Iroh said.

"Night tara," Zuko said, gripping his teacup when Katara closed the door behind her. "Uncle, we need to talk about the whereabouts of the avatar. And also our next move"

Iroh looked up behind his grey-eyelashes, "Why the rush? You need to relax a bit, nephew. We just arrived here." He poured in his teacup, "You want some more tea?"

Zuko gritted through his teeth, "I don't want tea!" He huffed a puff of smoke, "Don't play dumb, uncle. You know this matter is utter importance."

Iroh sighed, "We shall talk about this tomorrow night. For now, just relax. Plus, you should be expecting the spirits day festival tomorrow night with Katara." He sipped in his tea, "Just have fun a little"

"Last time I tried to have fun, I almost burned myself to death. So haha, fuck it" Zuko stood up abruptly and marched to the door.

"Sleep well, nephew" Iroh quickly said before Zuko closed the door behind him.

Zuko flinched and tilted his head to the side a little, "When did I ever have a good sleep"

Note : Sorry for such short update! L But hey, at least I update after so long lol. I promise I will be posting the next chapter soon. I actually have been writing this chapter for quite a long time and planned to make it a lot longer, but since it's been forever since I last updated, I decided to stop it right here and post it. Again, recently I'm busy with my personal project (I'm writing a book and making a webcomic) so please bear with me. Pls give me your opinions, advices, or any comments. It really helps and encourages me to write more, thanks! :D