Katara was used to guys throwing themselves to her, pretending that they're hurt and wounded. Being an attractive Sports and Injury Management student doesn't help that either. But she wasn't used to guys throwing other guys to her.

Three badly bruised guys.

She asked one of them, "What happened to you guys?"

One of them pointed to the person in the waiting room.

"Zuko?"

The aforementioned person looked up in surprise. "Katara..?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm the instructor for the Wu Shu class here."

"And these guys are...?

The three injured men piped up simultaneously, "Thom", said one burly guy. "Dave.", said the black haired one and the smallest one piped up, "Dio."

"What happened to you guys?", Katara asked curiously.

"Beginner's bruise and injury.", Zuko answered in behalf of them.

"I'll finish up with them. We can talk."

*******

She locked the doors to the clinic and pocketed the keys. He was waiting for her on the hallways.

"I'm so glad to see you here!", she said excitedly as she hugged him.

He chuckled softly. He missed his childhood friend. She is here of all the places! He returned the hug. She still have a longer hair, only wrapped up in a bun with hair loopies coming out of both sides of her forehead.

"What program are you in?", she asked. She gestured him to walk to the main floor with her.

"Animation.",

"Wow.You must be pretty good!It's hard to get in Sheridan animation program."

He smirked. "It's my second year. What about you?"

"It's my first year in Sports Therapy and Injury Management program."

He grinned. She was the exact opposite picture of a nurse, doctor or therapist, years ago. Those water balloon wars and food fights, who would have thought that she'd be in a "healing" sorts of program.

She looked at him inquisitively. He had been moved away from their old neighborhood a long time ago. And he looked...calmer...different.

She touched the scar in his right side of his face. How long ago was the sight of him, his right face all bandaged up and his blood stained the bandage.How long ago was it, when Ursa died and Ozai sent him away to live with Iroh in Toronto? How long ago was it when they still lived in Ottawa together?

He didn't look to comfortable when she touched his face.

She withdrew her arm quickly.

He bit his lips.

"...sorry.", he whispered.

She spoke softly back to him, "It's ok."

"What happened to you after I left?", he changed the subject. They are now ascending the stairs to the school's main floor. A whiff of freshly brewed coffee was in the air.

"Dad got scouted by the Ottawa Senators."

"No wonder they're starting to win the playoffs."

Katara giggled. The Ottawa Senators were famous for losing the hockey league most of the time until Hakoda started playing for the team. Hakoda was a good offense, just the thing that the Sens needed.

"Gran gran took me and Sokka to live in the reserve. She couldn't stand being in the city too much."

Zuko took a double take. "You're First Nations?"

"Duh. I'm an Inukshuk."

"So you go here for free?"

Katara grinned. "Nope. I ran away from home."

Zuko took another double-take.

"Well the mishomis didn't want me to be here. They said I should 'help out' in the reserve.But Gran-Gran thought they were full of crap. She said, more natives should be educated to help the community. So I ran away and Dad helped me finding lodgings."

Out of all the people, he did not expect Katara's grandmother would be the kind to agree with Katara's crazy ideas. "What about your brother?"

"Sokka? He's taking engineering at Queen's. But when he graduates he'll be playing for Toronto Maple Leafs."

Zuko smirked again. "Well that's ironic."

Katara laughed, "Haha, yeah, in two and half year Dad's going to have to face off with Sokka in the ice rink."

They took a seat in the main halls.

"What about you?", Katara inquired.

Zuko was quiet. He didn't really know what to say or mention. What should he say, the reason why Ozai banished him? The therapies he had to go through? His suicide attempts? What? It was strange meeting someone from the past happy life he had. It was not as if Katara did not know much about the incident. But should he say everything that happened to him?

"...long story.", he responded.

She just laid her head on his shoulders. She didn't have to know to understand. It was aleady painful enough to see his fourteen year old self in bandages.

"I didn't know you took Wu Shu.", she mentioned, grinning slightly.

He blushed. After his obsession on Blue Spirit years ago, he had decided to take Wu Xia to become like his childhood hero. Iroh had been very supportive about it.

"What about Phantom of The Opera?", she continued. Before he was moved to Toronto the both of them had developed a fascination to that particular musical. Ursa had the CD bought for Katara's Christmas gift. She remembered the nights when both of them would just stay up to listen to it over and over again.

Zuko grinned ear to ear. "I finally saw it in Princess of Wales theatre, six years ago."

"How was it?"

"Very good."

A flier caught Katara's attention. It was decorated crazily with Tim Burton-ish illustrations.

"Halloween Pub. Biggest event of the school year.", Zuko stated matter-of-factly.

"Really? Why?"

"The only event when everyone in every program actually participated in."

Katara looked at the flier thoughtfully.

"Want to come with me?", she asked him.

He looked at her. Halloween pub? Her and him?

Katara's cell rang. "Oh. um, uh-huh. Ok."

She stood up and apologized to him, "Sorry. My ride is here."

He shrugged.

As she walked off, she smiled at him.

And at that moment he decided.

******

October 31st.

It was a really dumb decision. She just said she's going to wait for him outside The Cage. the school pub. But she didn't even know what costume would he be wearing. Seeing crowds with heavily put on make-up and elaborately costumed she suddenly felt really stupid. Zuko could be any one of these zombies and mummies.

She was dressed up as Yui, the Blue Spirit's ninja accomplice. Fully clad in black suit and braided hair, she looked like she was ready for the kill.

There was a soft whisper in her ear, saying, "We're robbing the mayor's house tonight, Yui."

She grinned. She knew that voice.

"I'm ready.", Katara said.

The both of them walked into the pub.