A/N: So chapter two is up! I'll try to update atleast once a week if anyone cares. I be having writers block. If anyone has any tips on how to improve my writing I'll happily take it into consideration. I know I suck compared to most writers out there. xD Also any story ideas would also be welcomed. :3 My friend helped me with this chapter actualy. lol
Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did Ozai would have more screen time. Yes.
Enjoy. 3 [crappy slogan] And live in days of the lives of us. [/crappy slogan]
This was Katara's plan; get up at five in the morning, get Sokka up, eat breakfast and get everyone else. She lay down on her stomach trying to talk herself out of getting up. But the thought that kept entering her mind was that this was for Zuko, and maybe his grandpa was nice.
Her alarm clock went off again. She looked over. 5:05 Am. She groaned and rolled over, successfully falling off the bed. She landed with a thud on the ground. She got dressed in an old shirt and pants. She decided to try and wake Sokka up.
She went into his room which contained arrays of smells of which were unidentifiable. She threw a smelly gym sock at his face.
"What? Ewwwwww!!! Katara!" Sokka flipped off the bed and landed on his head, successfully crushing a bag of potato chips in the process. "What was that for?"
"We have to get everyone up so we can get ready to go to Zuko's place." Katara helped get Sokka off the floor.
Katara's phone beeped. She looks to see that Suki sent her a text.
"Suki says that Toph and her are up and are about to go to Aang's. So hurry up. This is only phase one of my four phase plan." Katara glared at Sokka to make sure that he was listening.
"Four phase plan? I thought we were just going to go to Zuko's house and meet his grandpa." Sokka shoved Katara out of the room so he could change. "Tell me through the door."
"Ok Phase one is get up and get everyone here. Phase two is getting everything we need. Be it clothing or whatever. Phase three is going to Zuko's and try to survive the time that we are there. And finally faze four; get out of there as fast as possible." Katara's face was right next to the door so she wouldn't wake up Hakoda or her grandparents.
"I still can't believe that we have to dress up. Wouldn't a normal grandpa wear a polo shirt or plaid or ya know. Old people clothes?" Sokka walked out of the room and grabbed a brush from the bathroom. "Hey Katara I think I hear the doorbell. Do you mind?"
"Yeah, yeah. Lazy." Katara went to the door to see that Suki, Toph and Aang were there. "Hey guys. Sokka is getting ready. Cereal is where it usually is. Help yourself."
"Thanks Katara. Mom gave me enough money so all of us can rent something nice for the day." Toph held out the money for Katara. "I think you should keep it so we don't get distracted."
Sokka came in and grabbed some bowls for everyone. "Coca Puffs or Fruit Loops guys?"
I think Fruit Loops because that has more sugar. We need it. Hey Katara, would Hakoda mind if we had some of that cappuccino? With extra sugar?" Aang pointed to the cappuccino display case.
"Five chocolates coming up." Sokka grabbed the cappuccino mix and started making it.
"Ok guys, listen up. Phase one of our four phase plan of survival is now completed. Next is that we wait an hour to go to the clothing store downtown and when we do we have to rent something nice. That means no hot pink suits Sokka. After that we go and try to survive the day at Zuko's. Only talk when spoken too and use your manners. Toph. After that we get out of there and run here." Katara again explained the master plan.
They sat down to eat and discuss the plan even further.
"Yeah this is all great and stuff but why the Chinese stuff?" Sokka's voiced cracked as he whined.
"Take that up with Zuko. His house, his rules." Katara looked at each person in turn to make sure they got the point. "Ok guys lets go. We need to get there when it opens so we have maximum time to pick and choose."
Thankfully for them Hakoda let them take the car so they wouldn't have to walk. They drove down Main Street to see that the place was open. Sokka pulled his dad's car up in the closest parking space. They got out of the car and walked into the store.
"Why does it smell like a spice truck crashed and died in here?" Toph sniffed the air again.
"Because Toph, this is where the rich people go and rent clothes for one day instead of buying them like normal people." The last part was directed at Katara.
"Oh shut up Sokka. Ok guys here's the plan. Aang and Sokka you go in the men's section and find something Asian looking, me and the girls will go find our stuff." Katara started pointing in the directions that they had to go.
Later after they all picked out their outfits they met at the back of the store. Everyone in turn showed their outfits. Unsurprisingly Sokka's was pink.
"No, no, no guys! Its from the wrong period of time. Qing dynasty guys. Qing! And no hot pink!" Katara snatched Sokka's and Aang's and put them back where they belonged.
"Who died and made her Empress of the world. Yup all hail Empress Katara of the Qing Dynasty!" Sokka was walking around making bad China puns and swinging his hips. Everyone was doubled over laughing until Katara came back with outfits for Sokka and Aang.
"Ok guys, we need to get our act together. Sokka, me and you will wear blue, Aang, yours is orange, Toph and Suki yours are shades of green." Katara showed off her picks.
"Suki, do we match?" Toph asked in her monotone voice.
"Thankfully, no." Suki replied. "But it's girly. Very girly."
Toph sighed in reply. "Why do you get to pick out everything?"
"Yeah Katara. Some of the added on stuff looks impractical." Sokka added. Aang and Suki nodded in agreement.
"Well I want to get us our money's worth. And first impressions are lasting impressions. And unlike you four I want to make a good first impression. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for Zuko. Plus I took special care too learn how to say a compliment in Chinese." Katara beamed with pride as she said the last part.
"Sorry to go traitor on you guys but I do agree on the money's worth thing. It is my mom's money by the way." Toph turned her head to where she last heard everyone's voices. "And plus your friend's reflect who you are. So we should give Sparky the benefit of the doubt."
Everyone reluctantly agreed to Katara's choices and drove home. Sokka dropped everyone off at their houses to get ready.
"Ok Sokka we have three and a half hours until noon. So we have to have our clothes on in at least an hour. After that we will spend some time doing our hair and accessories. Than we will review the proper protocol. As in manners." Katara had her finger mere inches away from Sokka's nose.
He gently pushed it out of his face. "Katara, your really not helping the stress factor here. Everyone is stressed as it is from Zuko's stories of the guy. And the fact that we have to meet him, wearing these unnecessary clothes. Katara, your attitude is really adding to the stress. Please calm down with it a bit ok." Sokka had a pleading look on his face. It than turned into his signature goofy grin. "Oh and I call master bath!" He ran into his grandparents' room.
Katara sighed and made her way to the bathroom in the hallway.
After Sokka was done with his shower he heard the doorbell. He grabbed Pakku's ugly robe and made his way to the door.
"Hey guys. Apparently your secret plan to get ready at Toph's worked?" Sokka looked at their robes. He admitted to himself that the colors matched their personalities, but he would never tell Katara.
"The pants that go with this thing keeps crawling up and giving me wedgies." Toph looked uncomfortable at the moment, and to prove her point she adjusted the problem.
"You probably shouldn't do that while at Zuko's or in front of Katara. Honestly I think you'd have a greater chance at living if you did that in front of Zuko's grandpa. I gotta get ready before Katara has a fit. Sit down and relax." He looked to Toph. "As much as you can." He than went up to his room to change.
"Well I guess I'll be the one sitting around and waiting for you guys because my 'hair' is very low maintenance." Aang started pointing to his bald head. Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"Not exactly Aang. I'll make sure to have Sokka shine your head." Everyone turned around to see Katara. "Now doesn't my choices look nice?"
Everyone sighed. They had to agree because if they didn't, she would cause bodily harm. And they did look really nice.
Sokka came down with his on. "Katara I feel like a women trying to dress like a drag queen."
Everyone but Katara doubled over in laughter.
"Sokka! Be respectful!" Katara glared at Sokka.
"Yeah Sokka." Toph looked towards Sokka. He frowned and Katara gave a triumphant grin. "Be respectful. You never know. Zuko's grandpa could be a woman trying to dress like a drag queen dressing like a man." Her voice was seeping in sarcasm.
Everyone again doubled over and laughed. Katara couldn't even help but chuckle.
After that they all got ready and added final touches Katara went over the proper protocol and manners.
"Ok guys. When you first see him bow. Ok. And when we eat… Well uh follow Zuko's and Ozai's lead. They should know what to do. And after that we should be having introductions. And when I'm introduced I'll say my compliment in Chinese." Katara walked back and forth as she said this.
"Hey Katara what is your compliment anyways?" Suki asked the question they all wanted to know. "And say it in English. I don't want to wait until tomorrow to find out what you said."
"My compliment is 'Its very nice to meet you.' I looked it up somewhere…" Katara had a grin on her face. "Well guys c'mon its almost time to go."
They walked out of the house and into the direction of Zuko's place. Sokka's phone beeped. It was a text from Zuko.
"Zuko wants to know when we'll be there. I'll tell him we're on our way." Sokka started to text Zuko back.
"Hey look. That old house finally stuff in it." Aang pointed to the house across from Zuko's. It had a U-haul truck in front of it and movers taking everything inside. "I hope someone our age lives there."
"Ok guys remember. Polite and manners." Katara turned towards the house and rang the doorbell.
To them it felt like the longest wait ever. Finally Zuko answered the door. His clothes were more ornate and royal looking than theirs. But than his probably wasn't from a rental place.
"Glad to see you guys. I thought you would chicken out. Oh and my grandpa's name is Azulon." He let them inside the house and told them what to do.
"Hey does Ozai know Chinese?" Toph asked.
"He never bothered to learn it. It was my Uncle's idea for me to learn it." Zuko looked back to them.
Zuko turned towards the door to the living room. All of a sudden he got really stiff. He opened the door and bowed to Azulon. "Grandfather, I'd be honored to introduce you to my friends."
Zuko moved out of the way and allowed the group to file in. They all bowed like Zuko and Katara told them too.
They noticed that Azulon and Ozai also had traditional clothing on. At least they were not the only ones. Also Azulon creeped them out to no end and really couldn't blame Zuko for his seemingly unreasonable demands.
Azulon glanced at all of them and than allowed them to sit down. "So you are the friends that Zuko has told me about. You look just as I pictured you."
No one in the room could tell if that was a compliment or an insult. And they were to afraid to find out.
"Ozai, would you go and be useful and get us our food." Azulon dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Ozai looking grateful to be out of the room, left to get the food.
"You children do know how to use chopsticks, don't you?" Azulon looked across the line of faces in front of him.
"Yeah we do." Katara answered for all of them.
"Good." Azulon had a small smile on his face. Instantly the smile was gone. "Ozai, how long does it take for someone to bring us something to eat. Is this anyway to treat you guests?"
Shortly after Ozai came in with the food and drinks and handed it out to everyone.
Sokka looked to everyone. All using the chopsticks. Now was the time that he regretted eating with a fork instead of chopsticks whenever they had Chinese food. Even Toph who was blind was using them like an expert. Sokka grabbed one stick in each hand trying to maneuver them over the plate to grab some food. He successfully grabbed a dumpling. Sokka was trying to get it up to his mouth while also being well aware that Azulon was watching. Some how Sokka managed to fling the dumpling away from him. Right into Azulon's food. Azulon let out a surprise gasp and Sokka tried to get it out using chopsticks. Instead of getting the dumpling out, he face planted right into Azulon's food.
"Ouch! Hot, hot, hot!!!" Sokka bolted up almost head-butting Azulon in the face. "I am so sorry!"
Azulon glared but than took a deep breath. "Here, I need some more. Perhaps some that isn't ruined." He cruelly shoved the bowl into Ozai's hands and waved him off. Ozai just sighed and went to the kitchen. "And be quick about it!"
"Hey Katara, now is about a good time to compliment him." Suki whispered frantically to Katara.
"Um… Azulon, sir… Uh… Gài yī xiǎoyīngdiànlìwàzishù." Katara smiled at her 'compliment'.
Zuko choked on his noodles, Ozai not knowing any Chinese nodded in agreement with Katara and Azulon jus stared at her in shock.
"See everything is fixed. Just a few well thought out words were just the solution." Katara looked at Zuko who had a horrified expression on his face. "Uh Zuko… Did I say something wrong?" She had a worried expression.
"Katara. That wasn't a compliment. You said and I quote in English 'Gay kitty power sock tree'." Zuko looked from Katara to Azulon.
"I never agreed to anything." Was all that Ozai was able to get out.
They all turned towards Azulon. All of a sudden he began to laugh. That worried Ozai and Zuko alike.
"See he didn't take it to offence. It was supposed to be something different!" Katara stammered.
"Foolish girl. Perhaps if you actually learned the language, you can actually say something worth while and something that makes sense!" Azulon couldn't stop laughing. He had this angry expression on his face and it looked creepier when he laughed.
Katara was speechless by what he said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" She tried to get out but was unsuccessful.
"All of you go now!" Azulon said once he got control of himself. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand. "Zuko, after you escort your friends out I want to have a word with you." He than exited the room.
"Oh man buddy I'm so sorry about this! We tried we really did! Please don't hate us!" Sokka pleaded and the rest of the gang did the same.
"Hey its ok. It was an accident." Zuko looked behind him to make sure no one was listening. "Even though the cat tree thing was hilarious." He laughed.
"I'm really sorry Zuko. I tried to make everything perfect. I really did." Katara looked at Zuko pleading for forgiveness.
"Hey. I'm not in trouble yet. I'll e-mail you later." Zuko waved good bye to them as they walked down the drive way, than he closed the door.
Ozai looked at Zuko. "Well, well. Something bad happened while he was here and I'm not the one who'll get blamed. At least completely. I always wanted something to go terribly wrong and it has. But I really don't blame anyone. Azulon gives crows the creeps. That's saying something. I'll clean up while you talk to him." Ozai looked at Zuko again but leaned in closer. "By the way, we never had this conversation."
Zuko smiled and nodded in agreement. He went to his father's now Azulon's office. He stood stiffly at the door. He opened and did a quick bow.
"You wanted to see me grandfather?" He looked at Azulon who sat looking bored in the office chair.
"Yes. I did. Those friends of yours are quite…" He motioned for Zuko to come closer. "Those friends of yours are a bad influence. You are forbidden to see them. Ever."
Zuko stood there, mouth wide open in shock. "Bad influence? But how? Because one cant use chopsticks and the other can't speak the right thing in Chinese?"
"Silence boy." Azulon held up a hand to emphasize the point.
Zuko gave up and left the room. He had no idea how he was going to get himself out of this one. More importantly, how was he going to tell them.
Dun dun duuuuuuun. What will Zuko do? How will the gAang find out? AND WHEN WILL OZAI NOT BE USELESS??? Find out next time on A Day in the Life of Us!
Which may be a while becuase I has writers block. :P I'LL TRY THOUGH!!!! I'm a TROOPER! LIKE MARIO!
Ok I'm done now.
Zuko: You sure?
Me: Yes. Now go away. Dont forget to R&R peoples m'kay! :3
