I don't know where this idea came from but I liked it, I think it's because the Fire Nation is an archipelago like Japan is.
I have them call the Japanese, Japanese just to make it easier on myself and because I'm too lazy to come up with something different to call it. So without further ado, I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I hope you enjoy this!
ATLAATLAATLAATLAATLA
"Baka na koto shinaide yo!(1)" The shout rang through the air, quickly followed by absolute silence. A mortified blush spread across Zuko's face as those present turned to stare at him.
"What did you just say," Sokka asked, head tilted to the side in confusion.
"Nothing," Zuko snapped, just then Toph burst out laughing,
"Looks like Sparky forget which language to speak in," she out out in between chortles, making Zuko's face turn an even deeper shade of red.
"I didn't forget! I just, um, I just," he stammered, still very embarrassed by the slip.
"What language was that," Aang asked, standing up from where he had fallen after trying an advanced firebending form he had seen Zuko preform.
"Seriously Twinkletoes? It's Sparky's native language," Toph supplied, Zuko glared at Toph, which was completely lost on her, even as he shifted uncomfortably under the other's stares.
"So what did he say," Sokka asked.
"How would I know, I don't speak Japanese," Toph exclaimed.
"Is that what it's called," Aang asked, Zuko sighed,
"Mendokusai.(2)" he muttered under his breath before walking over to Aang and proceeding to check him for injuries.
"Baka(3)you shouldn't have tried something that advanced this early, you're lucky you didn't hurt yourself," he said when he was done, ignoring Katara's glare for once, the thrill of speaking his native tongue coursing through his veins.
"You said that word before, baka, what does it mean," Aang asked, Zuko froze,
"It doesn't matter, why do you want to know," Zuko replied, hoping to get out of answering only for Toph to start laughing, saying that she did know that one, Zuko closed his eyes, "Agni, what did I ever do to you?"
The others had gathered around Toph at this point and completely missed his question.
"Well Toph, what does it mean," Aang asked, not noticing as Zuko tried to sneak away, only realizing when Toph stomped and earth lapped up around Zuko's ankles, trapping him in place.
"Oh no you don't Sparky, you're going to reap what you sow," Toph said, "that word he said before, baka, it means stupid." Zuko winced as the others turned to look at him.
"Dōshite kamigami wa watashi o nikumu no?(4)" Zuko asked the sky.
1 Baka na koto shinaide yo!- don't do stupid things!
2 Mendokusai - what a pain/what a bother.
3 Baka - idiot,
4 Dōshite kamigami wa watashi o nikumu no? - why do the gods hate me?
For this I'm using the Japanese word for gods in place of the word for spirits as the spirits in Avatar are pretty much the gods of that world.
I'm terribly sorry for my horrible Japanese.
