To be perfectly frank, Kyuri was suffering from a mixture of pure disbelief and irritated silence. Not two days before they had been faced with Aang's true power, so strong it had put even Sangilak back on his heels. Aang had finally come to understand what he was facing: a war. A bloody, violent, genocidal war. So what were they doing?
Swimming. Swimming.
Granted, this was mostly Aang's idea. Katara and Sokka were all for moving on, but persuading Aang was like trying to catch a hyperactive hogmonkey. They'd landed, he'd given his excuses, and then immediately stripped and raced into the water. Sangilak and Appa were off to the side, communicating in grunt and growls. Appa was still a bit wary of Sang, but the two were getting along better than they had at first.
"There is something productive we can do while we're here," Kyuri said, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head at Aang.
"What's that?" Katara asked. Kyuri reached behind her and drew her blades, twirling them once habitually.
"We can get started on your martial training," she said with a small amused smile.
"Why are you so determined we learn how to use a weapon?" Sokka asked. "I mean, I already can!"
"Your skills are limited mostly to Water Tribe weapons," Kyuri explained. "While useful, they're hardly going to be readily available at other places. A spear might be handy, but not a boomerang or a cudgel. A sword or dagger is infinitely easier to find."
Kyuri, in the water! Sangilak cried suddenly. Behind Aang! I'm going to get him!
Kyuri's head snapped up as Sangilak rushed past her. She stretched out her hand and snagged his spike as he swooped past low, his wings brushing the top of Katara and Sokka's heads. Kyuri used his momentum and pulled herself onto his back as Sangilak went overhead. Kyuri could see it then, a dark shape tailing the elephant koi Aang was riding. The young boy had no idea, too busy watching Sangilak swooping towards him in confusion. Sangilak stretched out his feet and scooped Aang up, carefully positioning his talons so as not to hurt him before arcing up into the air again. Below them, a long, black sea monster with a thin, lean body lurched from the water. Sharp spikes lined its back, a fin protruding from the top of its head. Four yellow stripes rested on each side of its neck behind its large, serpentine head. Greenish yellow eyes stared down at her hungrily. Two long barbels trailed from its jaw.
Kyuri's eyes scanned the anatomy, the barbels, the pupils, and the configuration of the head, and concluded that this creature was some sort of cousin to the dragons. Turning away as it splashed back into the water, they returned to shore, Sangilak gently depositing Aang before dropping to the ground himself. Kyuri dismounted, swinging down and moving to Aang's side as Katara rushed to see if he was alright. Aang was already tugging his clothes back on and looking shaken.
"What was that thing?" she wondered, glancing nervously out to sea.
"It was a relative of the dragons, am I correct?" Kyuri asked Sangilak, who nodded his great head.
"Okay, clearly the evil water dragon wants us gone, and I think we should listen," Sokka said, throwing up his hands. "Let's just pack up our things and go."
"Oh, I don't think they'll let us," Kyuri said conversationally.
"Who?" Katara asked, frowning.
"The warriors attempting to hide in the trees behind us."
There was a gasp and a series of murmurs, before eight figures burst from the trees. Their faces were painted with elaborate makeup, gold fans in their hands and armor over their green kimonos. They all had their hair up in identical fashions, held by a headband with a gold plate.
One crept behind Sokka, sliding her arms around him and throwing him to the ground before tying him up. Another lunged at Katara, going for her hood, but suddenly Kyuri was there, her armored shoulder taking the fighter the side and flinging her to the ground. She gave a swift hit to the temple before being dragged off by another fighter, her hands bound in a swift movement.
Kyuri's foot came straight up and nailed her attacker in the face. Jumping up and forwards away from another pair of reaching arms, she worked a small blade from the back of her slash and slit her bonds while jumping over a foot aiming for her ankles, easily avoiding it, as she herself favored that trick. She ducked and rolled under a slicing fan, coming up to face surprised eyes. She forced both her opponent's arms out wide and then struck with a punch to the nose, breaking it and sending them staggering with watery eyes.
Hearing movement, Kyuri whirled to face a pair of fans diving for her temples. She caught the elbow of one arm and grabbed the wrist of the other. She jumped, tucking her feet to her chest, before kicking out. The result was a powerful double blow to her attacker's chest. Kyuri let go and skidded along the ground before kicking her feet and propelling herself upright. Her hands reached up and drew her swords, facing down the last few non-injured attackers.
"I'll come quietly if you stop attacking," she said, holding her swords out wide in a gesture of peace. "We mean you no harm."
"It doesn't seem that way," said a red-haired girl, stepping forwards. Kyuri looked at her confident features and the way the other's had their heads tilted towards her. The leader, then.
"You attacked us first," Kyuri reminded. "We were set to leave." Sangilak swooped forwards, barreling through three girls and sending them flying with yelps. He curled around Kyuri and growled threateningly. Kyuri felt a growing respect for the red-haired girl when her eyes only widened slightly.
"Come to our village," the girl bargained. "We'll take your weapons and your friends bound and we can straighten this all out there with our headman present."
"Unbind the flying lemur and the girl," Kyuri countered. "The animal is clearly terrified and the girl is untrained. And I keep my weapons."
"How do we know that?" demanded one of the other fighters, the one with a bloody nose, glaring at Kyuri hatefully. "She could be like you!"
"Just the… flying lemur?" the leader rebutted. "Final offer. No weapons."
Kyuri frowned, thinking it over. Sangilak could easily set the entire village ablaze with a sneeze if worst came to worst, then get the others onto Appa, conscious or not, and they could be gone. It would take thirty seconds, max. She'd be weaponless until they reached a town, but it was preferable to being killed here and now. She held no illusions that she could take all eight girls if they charged her at once. That is, without Sangilak.
"Fine," she finally agreed. "If those guarding me are unarmed as well."
"Agreed."
"But… Suki!" protested one girl. "You saw what she did without weapons!"
"Hana, Tsuka, give me your weapons," Suki said and two girls reluctantly stepped forwards, one bearing a split lip and the other a limp, surrendering their fans.
Two uninjured girls came forwards and Kyuri dropped her sword to the ground before adding a series of five knives in increasing size from her sash. She uncoiled a meteor hammer from her hip and threw it to the ground, followed by a series of kunai knives from strategic places inside her bodysuit. Reaching under various pieces of armor she pulled free a series of smoke bombs and poisons, as well as a few throwing stars. With each progressive weapon, the fighter's eyes widened. They gathered everything up awkwardly.
Kyuri watched. Her eyes flew open as she saw a small box about to drop from one girl's arm. She ducked to the ground and seized it as it fell. The other's lunged, then fell back in surprise as she went not for the weapons, but the falling box. Standing up, Kyuri pressed it into one girl's startled hands.
"If this had opened, it would have released a poisonous powder for us all to inhale. It causes painful death by eating away your organs. Do be careful with it," she warned. The girl nodded, gaping, and Suki watched speculatively.
"Get them up," she ordered, and Sokka, Katara, and Aang were hauled to their feet while another girl freed Momo. He chattered and flew over to Sangilak, clutching a spike and shaking his tiny fist angrily. Two girls giggled and Kyuri had to admit it. Momo was cute.
"Come on," Suki said, and Kyuri's guards moved into place on either side of he, escorting them along a path silently. They arrived in a village. It was small, nestled in between the mountains, but it seemed to house a fair few people. There was a larger, more ornate structure at the end of the street and Kyuri guessed by the glimpse she caught through the open doors that it was where the girls in green trained.
"Sang, do you know who they are?"
"I suspect they are Kyoshi Warriors. Avatar Kyoshi was born on this island, and I believe these are the girls who follow in her footsteps."
"So don't underestimate them."
"No."
Kyuri was marched over to a statue where Sokka, Aang, and Katara were bound.
"You three have some explaining to do," the headman said.
"And if you don't answer all our questions, we'll throw you back in the water with the Unagi!" Suki added.
"Show yourselves cowards!" Sokka yelled. Suki leaned forwards and ripped his blindfold off. "Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?"
"There were no men! We ambushed you! Now who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"Yeah right," Sokka scoffed. "There's no way a bunch of girls got the drop on us."
"A bunch of girls, huh?" Suki demanded, grabbing Sokka's collar and shaking him roughly. "The Unagi's going to eat well tonight!"
"Sokka, remember who you travel with," Kyuri said, narrowing her eyes from her post beside the statue.
"Hey, how come you aren't tied up?" Aang asked.
"She cut a deal," Suki explained. "And earned our respect as a fellow warrior. Which is more than I can say for you." She cast a disparaging look at Sokka.
"It's my fault," Aang said, jumping in before Sokka could open his mouth to reply. "I wanted to ride the elephant koi. We didn't mean to make trouble."
"How do we know you aren't Fire Nation spies?" the headman asked. "Kyoshi's stayed out of the war so far and we want to keep it that way!"
"This island is named for Kyoshi?" Aang said interestedly. "I know Kyoshi!"
"Impossible!" the headman snorted. "Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She's been dead for centuries!"
"I know her, because I'm the Avatar," Aang explained.
"That's impossible!" Suki replied. "The last Avatar was an Airbender who disappeared over a hundred years ago!"
"That's me!" Aang grinned cheekily.
"Throw the impostor to the Unagi!" the headman raged. The Kyoshi Warriors advanced, fans drawn. Kyuri tensed and angled herself so that her back was to the statue, defended. She stared down one girl, who looked a bit nervous.
"Aang, do some Airbending," Katara hissed nervously. Aang shot up, ropes stretching over the fan in the hand of the statue of Kyoshi. He flipped over the head and slowly descended to the ground.
"It's true!" the headman gaped. "You are the Avatar!"
"Now check this out," Aang said, pulling a marble from inside his wrap and setting it spinning. The crowd of villagers went wild, cheering and screaming, waving their arms about.
Sokka and Katara were untied and they were escorted to a large, empty house, the villagers apologizing profusely for their rough treatment. Sangilak and Appa took refuge in the backyard, where many people crowded around curiously. Appa seemed pleased by the attention, but Sangilak was annoyed. Kyuri could tell by how he was huffing.
"I suppose you'll be wanting your weapons back," Suki said as the villagers went back to their houses, many talking about preparing food for the Avatar and his friends. Only the Kyoshi Warriors were left.
"I would appreciate it," Kyuri said. Two girls came forwards, bringing her equipment inside and setting it in a corner gently. They recalled the lesson from the beach, and that particular jar was given special treatment.
"We practice every morning in the dojo at the end of the road," Suki said. "Maybe you could join us sometime."
"That sounds acceptable," Kyuri said, falling easily into her usual posture with her hands clasped behind her back and her feet shoulder-width apart. "I don't want to get out of practice while we're here."
"Do you think you'll stay long?" Suki asked interestedly.
"As long as Aang wants to," Kyuri sighed. "I've promised to help him, but that kid is the most easily distracted person I have ever met."
"Maybe you shouldn't expect so much of him," Suki suggested. "He is just a kid."
"He's the Avatar," Kyuri reminded her. "More will always be expected of him."
"I suppose your right," Suki agreed. The Kyoshi Warriors left shortly after and Kyuri went inside to find the others. They had already divided up the room, but Kyuri refused hers, preferring to stay outside with Sangilak. She stripped off her armor, piling it at her feet, and curled up beside him, head resting on the hard scales. At first it had been a painful way to sleep, but now it was more comfortable than a bed to her.
"I think you may have found some kindred spirits here," Sangilak offered.
"Perhaps," Kyuri agreed, absently naming constellations.
"Women who seek to prove they're more than what they seem, that they can protect themselves and those they love."
"What are you getting at, Sang?" Kyuri said tensely.
"Merely that you were only six. When you found that man in your family's hut you couldn't have been expected to-"
"They were my family, and I didn't protect them," Kyuri snapped. "Goodnight Sangilak."
Sangilak heaved a huge sigh, a gust of warm air hanging in the night. "Goodnight Kyuri."
He brought his wing out, stretching it over her. Kyuri peered up at the thin membrane shot through with lines as she was enveloped in velvety darkness. Her eyes traced the webbing of veins until she drifted off.
Kyuri dreamed of that night again. She had been so young at the time that her memory was only brief sensory impressions. Black snow swirled in front of her. The smell of burning cloth and animal skins filled her nose. Flames flickered at the edges of her vision. Deep black eyes peered at her from the darkness.
"You're just a little girl. What can you do? Run along brat."
The voice was cold and scornful. It echoed tauntingly. Kyuri doubled over as pain exploded across her side.
Kyuri shot upright with a gasp, sunlight trickling through Sangilak's wing and illuminating her tiny isolated bedroom. She yanked at the collar of her bodysuit desperately, pulling it down until her torso was exposed. She leaned back, staring down at the angry line that ripped across her right hip bone. It was thick and puckered, the result of a deep wound that had gone without care beyond her own clumsy stitches. Sometimes it still gave her pains, but for the most part it was completely numb to any sensation. She couldn't feel anything touching her there beyond a small amount of pressure; the nerves were dead.
Sighing, Kyuri buried her head in her hands, gritting her teeth and breathing in deeply through her nose. A decade later and that bastard still haunted her dreams…
"Kyuri? Kyuri, are you out here? The villagers brought breakfast!" came Katara's voice. Kyuri sat up straight and pulled her top back up. She fastened her armor back on with secure knots and tickled Sangilak's wing. He raised it, snuffling slightly as he shifted position in sleep. Kyuri shook her head. Sangilak, the mighty dragon, the Living Iceberg… and a complete lazybones.
"Alright, dessert for breakfast!" Aang cheered as she walked in, stuffing his face full of pastries and cakes that covered the table. "These people sure know how to treat an Avatar. Mmm, Katara, you've got to try this! You too Kyuri!"
Kyuri caught the pastry Aang tossed at her and looked it over curiously. It smelled like sweet tangerine. Curiously, she raised it to her lips and bit into it. Sugar exploded in her mouth and her teeth throbbed. Wincing, Kyuri placed the bun on the table and sat down, searching for something not in the dessert category for breakfast.
"You don't like it?" Aang gaped. "Those are the best!"
"I'm not fond of sugary things," Kyuri said absently as she reached for the most normal thing, a roll of sweet bread topped with some spice. Katara raised an eyebrow. She remembered Kyuri once pouring an entire cup full of sugar into her noodles and then happily eating it while her father raged.
"Since when?" she asked. Kyuri met her eyes blankly over the top of her roll. Katara looked away. Her eyes landed on her brother and she frowned.
"Sokka, aren't you going to eat something?" Aang demanded, seeing where her eyes were fixed.
"I'm not hungry," he grumbled, pressing further into the corner where he was huddled, scowling heavily at the floor.
"But you're always hungry!" Aang shouted, scandalized.
"He's just angry that a bunch of girls kicked his butt yesterday," Katara snorted.
"They did not kick my butt! The snuck up on me!" Sokka snapped, suddenly animated.
"Hn. And then they quite soundly defeated you," Kyuri said. The corner of her lip twitched. Katara blinked at her, but smiled when she saw the twitch. Maybe the Kyuri she knew was in there somewhere…
"I'm proud of you Kyuri. That was almost a joke."
"Really?" she thought back disparagingly. "I am capable of humor Sang. It's emoting it that I struggle with."
"Oh, is that what it is?"
"Hush!"
"Hey, bring me a pastry!"
"What's he so angry about?" Aang wondered as Sokka stomped from the room and Kyuri came back to herself. "It's great here! They're giving us the royal treatment."
"Don't get too attached," Katara advised. "It's not safe for us to stay in one place for too long."
"Katara's right," Kyuri agreed. "Perhaps a stop of two days to resupply and let Appa and Sangilak rest, and then we should move on. I'm going to the dojo I saw on the way in."
"Are you going to train?" Katara asked eagerly. "Can I watch?"
Kyuri's expression flickered towards pleased. "I don't mind."
"I'm going to go look around town!" Aang chirped, hopping up.
They all left the house, Aang taking off towards the waterfront and Kyuri and Katara heading for the dojo. It was early, so there was no one there yet.
Kyuri examined the room. The floor was covered in mats, scrolls and weapons hanging on the walls. A pair of crossed fans hung under a portrait of Avatar Kyoshi. The door was covered by a hanging rice paper screen, but the windows were open, letting in the morning air.
"So, what are you going to do?" Katara asked interestedly. "Some flips or something? Work with your swords?"
"Stretch," Kyuri deadpanned. Katara blinked as she walked over to a mat directly under the window, sunlight streaming in, and dropped to the ground, one leg pointing in each direction. She pressed her forehead to her knee, reaching out and pulling her toes back, before leaning back. Her head brushed against her calf, her hands falling gracefully to the floor. She moved her legs so they pointed to the side and leaned forwards, pressing her head to the mat.
"How do you do that?" Katara gaped.
"Good diet and practice. That's the key to most of what I do. That and Sang," Kyuri admitted. "Aside from not being able to eat much fatty meat and practicing every day this degree of flexibility is easy to maintain."
"Oh, is that all?" Katara blinked. "Is there anything I could maybe do? I'm not sure I'm quite up to the splits."
Kyuri stood up, rolling her shoulders, and circled Katara, looking her up and down critically. "I suppose I could teach you t'ai chi ch'uan."
"And that is…?" Katara asked blankly.
"It's a defense style based on the movements of Waterbenders," Kyuri said. Katara gaped at her.
"But… you said you couldn't teach me Waterbending!" she accused.
"I can't and I won't. However, this does not involve bending. Waterbending just inspired the movements," Kyuri said. "If you're interested, we can begin now."
"Of course!" Katara said, hastily moving to stand next to Kyuri. "What do I do?"
"We'll go through a taolu together."
"A what?"
"A form," Kyuri explained. "Now copy my movements." She slowly raised her arms and Katara followed, Kyuri coaching as they went. "Pay attention to the speed and don't go too fast. Take deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. The goal of a taolu is to build up a practitioner's flexibility, internal and external strength, speed and stamina, and teach balance and coordination."
For a solid half hour, Kyuri taught Katara as they very slowly moved about the room, shifting through the sequence together. Katara seemed to have a natural inclination for t'ai chi ch'uan, which wasn't surprising. Waterbenders typically did. The graceful, swaying movements were almost instinctual for them.
"You're already here!"
Kyuri paused in her forms and lowered her hands, shifting into her normal stance. Suki was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, with Hana and Tsuka flanking her.
"How long have you been up?" Tsuka said as she came in, casually slipping her fans from her sash. Kyuri narrowed her eyes at the unspoken threat.
"A while," she replied vaguely. Tsuka narrowed her eyes and Kyuri raised an eyebrow, daring her to press.
"Down girl," Suki said, putting a hand on Tsuka's shoulder. "She's a warrior, like us. What was that you were doing when we came in?" she added to Kyuri.
"T'ai chi ch'uan!" Katara jumped in. "It's this martial art based on Waterbending movements."
"I've never heard of it," Hana said, moving to stand by Tsuka. They crossed their arms in a show of solidarity.
Kyuri's eyes flicked to her. "To the best of my knowledge, you aren't a Waterbender, are you? I see no reason why you'd have heard of it."
It was an indirect insult and everyone there knew it. Suki bit her lips to hide a snicker as Hana and Tsuka's faces turned shocked and offended. She may love all the warriors like sisters, but those two could be catty when they got going, and this newcomer was slowly and methodically shutting them down without so much as a by your leave.
"Could you teach us?" Suki asked, cutting the feud off before anyone said anything they'd regret.
Kyuri's eyes went to Suki, showing surprise. "Me? Teach an entire class?"
"You did great with me," Katara pointed out. "That was helpful and educational."
"I just repeated what Sangilak said to me," Kyuri said, voice raising slightly.
"Would you please?" Hana asked sweetly, clearly looking for a reason to critique her.
Katara looked at Kyuri, and for a moment, just a moment, an expression flashed across her face that she'd seen a hundred times in her childhood, but not a single time since Kyuri was found to be alive. It was the expression Kyuri used to make when caught in a lie, one of surprise and amusement, tempered by a mild sense of panic and a cunning gleam. It warmed her to see it again. It meant that that Kyuri was still alive inside, just stuck behind a wall of discipline.
Kyuri's eyes narrowed at Hana and Tsuka who both stood there smirking like they had one. She despised that look. She'd seen it on countless teenagers faces when she was younger, right after they finished telling her off for interrupting their games and gatherings. She had always seen that look as a challenge, and it was that look that had spawned some of her most humiliating pranks.
"I will teach," Kyuri said.
So she taught. More Kyoshi Warriors trickled in as it ticked towards noon. They were quickly apprised of the situation and took their places, following Kyuri's movements from the front of the room. Kyuri was uncomfortable, having several pairs of eyes on her back, judging her movements, including two pairs of spiteful ones. She countered the only way she knew how: by brutally critiquing Tsuka and Hana's forms, just as Sangilak had done the first few months after the Sankole. By the end of the class the two had pure loathing on their faces when they looked at her.
"You didn't have to be so hard on them," Katara said as they walked through the small market district, buying food for when they once again took off towards the North Pole.
"I don't like disrespect. I don't like people who think they can walk all over others. In short, I didn't like them," Kyuri said as she examined some of the produce, picking the best pieces and dropping them carefully into her shopping basket. "I didn't appreciate being talked down to."
"I noticed," Katara snorted.
Aang ran up to them then and poked Katara.
"Oh, hey Aang!" she greeted, while Kyuri nodded over a long bean. "Can you help me carry this basket back to the house? It's kind of heavy."
"Actually I can't," Aang refused.
"Why not?" Katara asked, surprised. Aang had never before refused to do his share of the work.
"I promised the girls I'd take them for a ride on Appa," he said, gesturing to a cluster of giggling, cooing girls standing a short distance away. "You guys could come too."
"No thanks," Katara said with a frown, turning back to the display of produce. "Watching you try and impress a bunch of girls isn't my idea of a fun time."
"Well neither is carrying your basket," Aang pointed out.
Katara's frowned turned thunderous as she said, "It's not my basket. These supplies are for the trip. I told you we have to leave Kyoshi Island soon."
"I don't want to leave Kyoshi Island!" Aang whined. "I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about this place that I like."
"What's taking you so long Aangy?" pouted one of the girls, stomping her foot petulantly.
"Aangy?" Katara muttered, while Aang waved at the girl.
"Just a second Koko!"
Kyuri cut Katara off before she could say anything. As children, Katara's temper had been an infamous creature that gobbled people up and spit them back out before stomping on them.
"Allow me to direct your finger," she said in a monotone as she placed a few eggplant in her basket. "You're reveling in the attention you're getting from those girls. However, that only comes from your title. Remember that. Were you just Aang, you would most likely be of much less interest to them."
"That's not true!" Aang protested.
"It is, and you're not fool enough not to have realized it. Katara and I have vegetables to take home," she said, turning and stalking away, basket clutched in her hands. Katara followed her, fuming. But to Kyuri's surprise, it wasn't Aang she was mad at.
"That was cruel! You know, you don't have to be so cold and… and blunt with people!" she ranted. "You keep this up and no one is going to want to be near you!"
"If he keeps basking in praise his head will swell. Overconfidence is dangerous. It can get you killed," Kyuri said sharply, not in the least pleased that Katara was berating her for helping the only way she knew how, with harsh honesty. Whatever cruelty she may have had was not the issue here.
The issue was Aang. If he reacted this way any time a group admired him, then she feared for all their sakes. What if he didn't want to flee soldiers because a girl was making cow eyes at him? What if, what if? She hadn't known him well enough to make accurate judgments about his character, and she wasn't pleased by what he was seeing here.
Leaders were always in danger of overconfidence. Constantly praised and looked up to, it was easy to begin doubting that you were wrong. When that happened, a leader turned into a dictator only interested in themselves, and that lead to rebellion and strife, which was not something they needed in their little group. They had enough big personalities present, they didn't need any bigger ones.
The two girls returned to the house and set their food aside. Katara poured a bowl of water and sat down next to it silently, watching the ripples. It was a clear snub. Kyuri stepped out the back door and found Sangilak lounging in the sun, his belly exposed, stretched out like a cat.
"Fearsome dragon indeed. Giant kitten is more like it."
She sent a picture of what he looked like to him. Sangilak huffed and rolled onto his stomach, lowering his wedge-shaped head to stare at her.
"I've been flying for several days straight. I'm tired. Give me a break."
"I will. I just don't want to be around… well anyone. People are annoying Sangilak."
Sangilak let out a long-suffering sigh, but dropped his head to the ground next to her. Kyuri sat down, leaning against the hollow behind his jaw and scratching under his chin. He hummed in contentment. His lids clicked as he closed his eyes.
"What happened?"
Kyuri ran through what had happened in a quick buffet of words, feelings, and images. In the beginning of their relationship, the ability to communicate like this had staggered her and left her with pounding headaches, especially since they were constantly in contact and communicating. Now it was easier for her than talking.
"You were harsh."
Kyuri groaned. "Not you too."
"Yes, me too. Kyuri, I understand that you aren't the most social creature. I understand, believe me I do. For a century I was alone. Do you remember when we first met? I only communicated with images. I got angry quickly and was hard on you. Look at me now. It's hard though, and it will take time, but eventually you'll understand. You have to take people's feelings into account. And there's one other thing that's also important."
"What's that?"
"You have to know when to apologize."
Kyuri sighed but nodded. "You are correct Sang. I… was wrong." She grimaced faintly.
"You said it and didn't die. Hurrah, you are changing!"
The gentle scratching turned into a swat.
"Sangilak," she humphed.
The call came from Suki herself. Kyuri and Sangilak had been sitting there lounging in the dying sunlight when she ran into the house shouting for them. Kyuri had gone in to see what the fuss was.
"Firebenders," Suki said without preamble the moment she entered. Kyuri's eyes hardened and she nodded, moving to the corner where her weapons were still piled. Suki ran to alert the others while Kyuri strapped on her weapons. She didn't have time for all of them, so she ignored the poisons and settled for the knives she kept in her sash specifically for escapes, the various throwing stars and kunai, her meteor hammer, and of course her twin katana.
She stepped out into the streets and clambered up the side of the building onto the roof. Some of the other Kyoshi Warriors were stationed similarly. All eyes were fixed on the five komodo rhinos silhouetted by the setting sun. Each bore two riders but for the one with their young leader.
Kyuri's eyes narrowed at them intently as the leader spoke.
"Come out Avatar! You can't hide form me forever!"
"Kyuri, it's the Fire Nation. Do you want me to burn them?" Sangilak questioned.
"It's too dangerous. The buildings are close together and thatched. A blaze could get out of control in seconds."
"True. Shall I keep hidden?"
"Probably best for now. I'll call if I need you."
"You had better."
The riders were moving through the streets now. Kyuri could see the warriors flittering across alleyways and across roofs. As one, they lunged, secrecy abandoned. They leapt down and ran out, attacking in a surprise that sent most of the soldiers reeling instinctively.
Kyuri leapt down and came up in a dead sprint for Suki. She ran at the girl's side as they went for the leader. Her gritted his teeth, staring them down angrily and punched, fire flying from his fists. Suki and Kyuri split and then wove around another attack. Suki jumped and for a moment it seemed like she would knock him out of the saddle. But with a click of his heels the komodo rhino whirled, its heavy tail catching Suki in the stomach and sending her skidding across the ground. He punched and then Sokka was there in front of Suki dressed in Kyoshi Warrior garb, fire glancing off his fan.
"Sokka, get Suki up," Kyuri commanded. "Go help Tsuka." The girl was struggling under a pair who had hemmed her into a corner of a porch. Sokka nodded and pulled Suki up while Kyuri ran forwards, distracting their opponent long enough to get them clear.
He turned and hurled fire at her. Kyuri dropped to the ground, sliding in the dirt with one leg extended. That leg connected with the rhino's leg and she shoved hard against the dirt, using the combined force to jump into the air and flip over him. She dug her fingers into the ridges of his armor and yanked, using her momentum to bring him down. The pair of them rolled, separating as they hastened to their feet.
They stood, squared off, gold eyes on blue. The pair of them circled calmly while the battle raged around them.
"Move," the boy ordered.
"I make a habit of ignoring people who try to command me before so much as introducing themselves," she said calmly.
"Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation," he bit out. "You're in my way."
"Dragora Kyuri of the Water Tribe," she said, still keeping calm even though he was plainly furious.
He lunged, fire streaming from a fist, but Kyuri dropped, resting on the heel of one foot and flinging the other up. It caught his chest and his own momentum hurled him over top of Kyuri without much effort on her part. He regained his footing easily and then Kyuri was there, a fist knifing for his jaw while her other hand pointed and headed for his shoulder. He didn't have the time to block both.
Zuko made a snap decision and blocked her fist. Kyuri's lips twitched. This was a tactic that relied on timing, tricking someone into making an instinctive reaction. The brain would obviously judge the larger object to be the bigger threat, and so he would block it. In actuality, her tensed fingers were the threat.
She slipped them into the ridges of his armor, jabbing firmly at three different spots along his arm. He pulled away, looking at her warily.
Zuko couldn't understand. What on earth was that? She could have gone for his stomach or his kidney, why go for his arm? And with just her fingers? It was a bit tender, but there was no real damage. Still though, this girl, Kyuri, she was a fighter. She knew what she was doing. Something had just happened.
"What did you do?" he demanded. She didn't respond, merely stood and ran at him like a charging komodo rhino. Zuko threw the entirety of his body into a flaming hit, but… no fire. He reeled with shock, staring at his fist as she dove, her hands hitting the ground and propelling her into a mid-air flip. She came down on top of him, her legs looping over his shoulders and forcing him back. His head hit the ground and his helmet rolled away.
Zuko stared up at her, her thighs pressing against his neck. His bending was… gone. Those three tiny hits had taken it from him. Something so integral, so important… It was like she'd just ripped something away from him, like he'd lost part of himself.
"It's not permanent," Kyuri said as she watched his agonized and livid expression. "But yes, your bending is gone for a few minutes. Take my advice and don't pursue us anymore. You will not win."
Zuko grabbed her legs and tried to roll her off of him but it was no good. She had him trapped.
At least, she did until a huge jet of water came out of nowhere and blasted her off of him and into a house. Zuko gagged, spitting out water. He rose and staggered towards her as she picked herself up with a wince. Kyuri's head snapped up and for the second time their eyes fixed on each other for just a moment.
"Kyuri!"
Sangilak rushed down, his claws brushing the ground as he dipped low for her. Kyuri seized a passing spike and yanked herself up before she was up and into the sky.
Furious, Zuko stared after her and the departing sky bison. They got away again. The Avatar was gone, and who knew when he'd catch his scent again? It had been enough of a challenge to find him here That Avatar really was a master of evasive maneuvering.
And that girl, the Dragora. He'd never fought anyone like that before. Her style was like nothing he'd ever seen before. She was in the air or on the ground as often as not, turning his own force against him. She was definitely one to watch out for when he met the Avatar again, who was no slouch either. Those two peasants though, they were merely annoying distractions.
Zuko gritted his teeth. No more distractions. Next time, he would catch the Avatar.
New chapter! Like? I tried to get across that Kyuri's not just a pure badass, which was a comment I got a lot. She totally is, but that's not all. There's more to it than that, and that's what I was trying to show here.
Also, updates will probably pick up a bit these next three weeks. I'm on break and I'm getting my tonsils out tomorrow. They want me on bed rest for ten days, so all I'll probably be doing is writing and sleeping. Which is good for you guys, not so fun for me.
