A/N : Yay part 2. Please Read & Review! ((and please don't hate on Suki for this part!))
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The next few weeks passed with little fanfare, Sokka had gone off fishing again and Suki was helping Katara with chores. The two girls were airing out a hut when Suki realized someone was missing.
"Hey Katara?" the waterbender peered around the animal skin blanket at her in response, "Where's Toph?"
"Oh," Katara smiled and continued beating at the blanket with a rod, "She went fishing with Sokka again."
"Really."
"Apparently." Katara shrugged and continued on her chores.
Suki frowned and grabbed a basin and went down at the river. She filled it and turned back towards the village. She felt ill at ease for some reason and did not understand why. She took a moment and looked at the village; it had grown since she had last been there. The wall was extended out and more huts had been built. Even Sokka's watchtower had been rebuilt. Suki chuckled to her self as she remember the despair in his voice when she had asked Sokka what had happened to the last one. In the distance she saw Ty Lee walking on her hands. The acrobat had decided to take it upon her self to keep all of the tribe's children entertained. She heaved a sigh as she lifted the basin and walked back to Katara.
Sokka and Toph returned not long after the sun had set. Sokka had rushed into the tent that Katara and Suki were setting up supper in.
"Katara! Dad's back!" He cried.
"Dad?!"
"His boat just docked." Sokka beamed.
Katara jumped up and flew out of the hut. Sokka walked over to Suki and helped her up, "You're coming too." he said, kissing her cheek lightly.
She let him lead her out into the snow as she pulled the fur-lined jacket he had given to her around her shoulders tighter. The sun had completely set, torches had been lit and a large fire had been started. The moon sat swollen in the sky giving everything outside of the reach of the flames' light a pale blue glow. She could see the water tribe ships' sails against the dark sky.
Heads turned as the two approached. The men of the tribe had been in the Fire Nation for the better part of the year aiding in training, rebuilding and restructuring of the Fire Nation's Navy. Sokka had even been asked to make plans for new ships, which Suki recalled him being very excited about, all at the Fire Lord's request.
They finally made it to the dock, while the other men were unloading the ships and reuniting with their own families. Hakoda had just finished hugging his daughter and giving his greetings to Toph as they approached. His smiled widened as they, making the corners of his eyes crinkle more. He looked very tired.
"Suki, it's nice to see you again."
"As it is to see you, Chief Hakoda." Suki bowed her head respectfully.
"Come come now, no need for formalities." He bellowed a laugh. He glanced at his son and then back at her, "I hope my boy here hasn't been giving you too much grief."
Sokka rolled his eyes, bringing a hand to his face, "Daaad!"
Suki laughed half-heartedly, "No more then usual. And Katara has been a splendid hostess as well."
"Well, it's good to hear I managed to raise decent children." he laughed again, looking around at the group, "Now then, my daughter was just telling me supper was ready. Shall we?"
The group made their way back to the hut and Suki and Ty Lee helped Katara set more places.
As they ate, Hakoda filled them in about how things were progressing.
"Fire Lord Zuko has done a fine job choosing his new generals." Hokada noted.
"I'm sure Iroh has something to do with that." Toph added, taking a bite of penguin-seal meat.
"What did they think of Sokka's blueprints?" Suki asked, smiling as she saw Sokka suddenly beam out of the corner of her eye.
"They were quite pleased. Especially with the one that could go under water, like the ones we used on the Day of the Black Sun. They were glad to have those plans. They even called Teo's father in to help start the building process."
"So they actually liked them?" Sokka asked, his voice heavy in disbelief.
Hakoda nodded, "You did the Southern Water Tribe proud, son."
Sokka grinned like a fool and took another bite of food.
The chief turned to Suki, "So what have the Kyoshi warriors been doing now that the war is over?"
Suki swallowed her bite, "We've been helping out in Ba Sing Se. They've been having some problem while rebuilding the walls with keeping order between the people. Some of the more radical Earth Kingdom Citizens are having a hard time coping with the fact that the Fire Nation is no longer an enemy and that the war is over. We've been trying to keep the peace within the city." Hakoda nodded, "Basically we're the homeland security unit."
"Well, someone's got to do it." Sokka interjected, "Especially since the Dai Li have been compromised."
Suki inclined her head in agreement, "That's what Ty Lee and I have been assigned to. Since we've both been close to Azula we were asked to interrogate all of the Dai Li agents."
"Sounds like a tough job for you guys." Katara said.
"Is it ever!" Ty Lee laughed, "But if they try anything fishy…." She poked the air with her fingers aggressively.
Suki chuckled, "Yeah, if it wasn't for Ty Lee, I'd probably have been earthbent halfway to Omashu by now by some of the agents we've brought in for questioning."
Laughter ensued all around the table, "Well its good to see you are both here in once piece," Hakoda replied.
"I'm just glad we finally finished!" Ty Lee stretched her arms in the air, "Those interrogation rooms are so stuffy." She scrunched up her face.
Suki nodded once in agreement, "We found a few that were unwilling to help in the efforts to bring us back to peace with the Fire Nation. We let King Bumi deal with them."
They finished supper shortly after that. Sokka and his father went out for a walk as the girls cleaned up. Suki bid her friends good night and went with Ty Lee to the hut they had been given to use.
"You know its not so bad here." Ty Lee said, putting her hands behind her head and regarding the sky, "It's so peaceful. Kind of like a cold, icy Ember Island."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Suki looked over at her friend, "Thanks for coming with me"
Ty Lee smiled, "Of course, trust me, I'm in NO hurry to go back to see my parents."
Suki laughed, "I can understand. But at least you have them."
The acrobat shrugged as she entered their hut, "I suppose."
Suki followed her fellow Kyoshi warrior in and began getting ready for bed.
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Suki woke suddenly, hearing something outside the hut. She looked out the small window; it had to have been nearly midnight. Who would be outside at this time of night? Pulling her coat on and stepping carefully around the slumbering Ty Lee she inched quietly to the animal-skin door. She heard a laugh and then Sokka's voice. Suki lifted the side of the skin flap slightly. She could see the outline of Sokka and Toph in the distance. The earthbender was holding onto Sokka's arm tightly and was laughing at something he had said. Suki felt a tightening in her chest and heat rising to her face.
They walked out of her sight and she pulled her hood up. Being the stealth master she was, she stole out of the hut and followed. She quickly caught up, keeping low and hidden but still maintaining a line of sight. She strained to hear them but she was too far away to hear exactly what they were saying. All she could make out was them laughing. Toph's hand rose up suddenly and Sokka stood, laughing and leaning forward, knocking Toph into the snow and once again out of her sight. More laughter rose from the two into the silent night. The Kyoshi warrior blinked. Suki did not understand the tumult of feelings that were going through her at that moment. Feelings of anger, fear, confusion, rage, betrayal, and jealously rose in her throat. Tears welled up in the female warrior's eyes and she turned and ran back to the hut, staying low and undetected. When she reached the hut she threw the door flap back and dove under her covers, sobbing heavily.
Ty Lee rolled over, startled by the sudden noise and moments and turned curiously to her friend.
"Suki?" she asked, sleep still heavy in her voice, "Is something wrong?"
Suki lifted her head and look at her friend, "Sokka…and…and….Toph." was all she was able to say between her heavy sobs. Her whole body was shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"What?!" Ty Lee looked quizzically at her, "How did you come to that assumption?"
"I…just…saw them." She cried again throwing herself into the blankets again.
Ty Lee pulled her up from the bed and hugged her, "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."
"But I saw it Ty Lee." She sniffed, shoulders still shaking violently, "With my own eyes."
"Well," Ty Lee seemed to be searching for the right thing to say, "How about we get some more sleep and we'll get to the bottom of this tomorrow."
Suki wiped her eyes, "Alright."
Suki woke up the next morning feeling tired. Her eyes felt swollen and puffy. Suddenly the sleep cleared and what had happened that night suddenly came to her in great clarity. Her heart felt like led in her chest. How could this be happening? She looked around for her companion but she was not there. Suki jumped as Ty Lee entered the tent with two bowls of food.
She looked up at her friend with question in her eyes. Ty Lee shook her head, "Neither of them are up yet. I wasn't able to ask." She handed Suki a bowl.
Suki nodded numbly and looked down at her food, she did not feel hungry in the least.
"Eat Suki, you need it." Ty Lee pushed the spoon towards her friend.
Suki did not move to eat. She just continued to sit there, trying to sort out the flurry of thoughts and emotions that were going through her mind.
Ty Lee started eating after staring at her entrapped friend for a bit. Worry creased her brow.
After awhile Suki set down her bowl and steeled her voice, "We're leaving today, Ty Lee." She replied.
"What?!" Ty Lee's eyes grew wide.
"We still have things to do in Ba Sing Se. And I want to go home for a awhile." Her voice had a tone of finality in it.
Ty Lee nodded, realizing that it was not just Suki saying this, it was the Leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. She knew better then to disobey a superior's order, so Ty Lee just nodded again and continued eating her food.
Their boat was packed and ready shortly after. Katara and Sokka came out of their family's hut, matched expressions of confusion on their faces. Toph came out of her hut as well.
"Suki? " Sokka started towards her, "What's going on?"
Suki refused to look him in the face, "We're going home. I have things I need to do."
"Why so soon?" He reached to put a hand on her shoulder. She swatted it away looking at the ground and willing herself not to cry.
"Because I have to. Bye Sokka." She held back a sob and ran onto the boat, "Let's go Ty Lee!" She cried angrily behind her, trying to control the tone of her voice.
Ty Lee gave Sokka a look and then turned to her other friends; "We'll be in Ba Sing Se in a few weeks."
"Ty Lee!" Suki was starting to get angry and her voice reflected it, "NOW!"
Ty Lee turned and jumped onto the departing boat. Suki turned to look at the fast fading coastline and saw the look of hurt that crossed Sokka's face as he watched them sail away. It was then Suki collapsed to her knees and began sobbing heavily.
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Closing A/N: Yay all done with part 2. Sorry it's so short. Look out for Part 3 soon and dont forget to Read & Review~
