Chapter 3 – Into the Night

The Fire Lord and the Avatar shared tea in the meditation pavilion on Air Temple Island. Aang surveyed his old friend. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but I'm wondering why you're here. The trade summit isn't for another month."

Zuko breathed deeply, inhaling the scent from his teacup. Aang's jasmine was passable, not nearly as good as Uncle's, but then, no one's was. "Aang, do ever wonder if we're doing the right thing? Do you ever question the wisdom of bringing people of all nations to live in one place?"

"What's brought this up, Zuko?" Aang asked. "Is it the murders? As much as I'd like to believe differently, there are evil people in the world. This could have happened in Omashu, or Ba Sing Se."

Zuko shook his head. "Fire Nationals don't emigrate to Omashu or Ba Sing Se. I just can't help but think that if those people had stayed in the Fire Nation, they wouldn't be targets."

"I don't disagree with you on that point, but you know as well as I do that the separation between nations is an illusion. Republic City is a beacon to the world of that truth. I don't doubt for a second it's the right thing to do," the Avatar said confidently. "But you still haven't answered my question, why-are-you-here?"

"I wanted to personally get a feel with what's going on. Maybe talk to Toph and get straight from her the status of the investigation. I can show my face, just to let the Fire Nationals know that their Fire Lord cares, ease some tensions."

Aang cocked an eyebrow. "Tensions?"

Zuko sighed, "Aang, you have to know that public confidence in the council has not been high since Sokka's amendment and the riots that followed. They're calmer now that they can petition and veto certain council measures. But as long as you, I, Kuei, and the Water Chieftains appoint the council members they'll never have confidence that the government has their interests at heart. The day must come when they make those decisions for themselves." Zuko started to stand. Aang stood with him.

"That day will come," the Avatar smiled and offered his hand. "I assume you're off to the embassy to talk to Kazef."

Zuko shook the Avatar's hand and said, "Eventually. For now, as I am unencumbered by my usual entourage, I am going to go see a man about a sword. Thank you for the tea."

…..

Sokka was studying a map of Republic City at his workbench. The killer was targeting recent Fire Nation immigrants. Most Fire Nationals congregated in the "Little Caldera" section of the city when they first arrived. That's where the Wolf would go tonight, and see what he could find out. He was interrupted from his planning by the unlikely sight of the Fire Lord walking into his shop. Zuko spoke first, "Peasant."

Sokka stood up and looked him the eye, "Jerkbender."

Both men regarded each other, and then broke into wide grins. Sokka doffed his filthy work gloves and grabbed the Fire Lord in a manly, back slapping hug.

"I heard you and Toph got married. Congratulations, by the way. The house on Ember Island is yours any time you want it."

"Thank's, buddy. How does Ursa like the Dao Swords?"

"It's almost impossible to get her to put them down so she can practice fire bending. They are fine blades. Rival's Piandao's work." Zuko's eye scanned the shop, taking notice of the projects in various stages of completion, including several Jian blades. "Looks like your business is brisk."

Sokka scratched the back of his head. "Well, ever since I made a sword for Bumi to celebrate his first command, it's become fashionable for United Forces officers to carry Sokka Original Jians."

Zuko smiled, "I brought my blades, think you're up for a 'sword bending' kai?"

Sokka shook his head, "Can't right now. I need to get home. See, while I did marry the world's most beautiful and powerful earth bender, I inherited the world's brattiest earth bending teenager. If I don't get home and get some dinner ready soon, it won't be pretty."

Zuko chuckled, "That's rough, buddy."

…..

In the Fire Lord's chambers of the Fire Nation embassy, Zuko removed his Fire Lord robes, and changed into a pair of dark gray pants and matching hooded pullover. He strapped his dao blades to his back and pulled up his hood. Last, he slipped the Blue Spirit mask over his face, went to the window and lept out into the night, toward Little Caldera.

…..

The Wolf staked out three story tenement in the heart of little Caldera. He didn't quite know what he was looking for, but was sure he'd know it when he saw it. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a shadow on a roof top two blocks away which didn't belong. He made ready to investigate when he heard a woman screaming. He ran toward the scream.

…

The Blue Spirit staked out a tavern from a nearby rooftop. He figured if he were looking for an unsuspecting victim, someone walking home drunk would be a likely candidate. He heard a woman's scream as began to settle in. He ran toward the scream.

…..

The Wolf found the source of the scream. A hoodlum with a thin mustache held a stiletto against the neck of a girl, not more than seventeen, he had pinned against an alley wall. The Wolf launched his boomerang, knocking the man off his feat. From under his hood, he asked the girl, "Are you all right?" Nervously, she nodded yes. "Did he hurt you?" She shook her head no. "Then go home. Me and handsome here are gonna have a chat.

The girl ran off, and the Wolf quickly bound mustache boy's hands and feet. He shot a cable up to the roof, slung his quarry over his shoulder, and ascended to the roof.

…

The Blue Spirit watched as a gray-cloaked figure ascended to the roof top with his victim over his shoulder. 'Huh. Metal bender,' he thought as he quickened his pace.

…..

The Wolf dumped mustache boy unceremoniously on the roof top. "So you like picking on little girls, scumbag? You like to crush their throats?"

"No, no! It ain't like that! She…she owed me money!"

"LIAR!" the Wolf screamed as he backhanded the boy.

"Leave him alone!" the Blue Spirit screamed as his roundhouse connected with the Wolf's jaw. The Blue Spirit took a dagger from his belt and cut mustache boy's bonds and ordered, "Run! Get out of here!"

The Wolf rubbed his jaw, watching in a daze as a freak in a blue mask released his only potential lead. He got up, and drew his blade. "I don't know who you are, but you need to learn to mind your own business."

The Spirit drew his blades, and swiped them back and forth, "And what's your business, killing Fire Nationals? If it is, it ends tonight."

"You have no idea what you're talking about, or who you're dealing with," answered the Wolf.

"I don't much care," the Spirit retorted as he launched his attack.

There are as many different styles of sword fighting as there are styles of swords. The Wolf knew that the wielder of a single blade has an inherent advantage over a dual wielder, as the man with a single blade is using a precision instrument. A master of dual blades, however, understands they are, in fact, parts of a whole, a single weapon. As they fought, The Wolf realized grimly, that he was fighting a master. They matched each other blow for blow. Every thrust parried, every parry matched with a counter thrust. The only dual wielder The Wolf ever encountered with this much skill was….

The Blue Spirit was amazed. This swordsman was truly in a class by himself. It was if he were a sword bend…he caught the black blade between this dao. There was only one blade like that.

"SOKKA?!"

"ZUKO?!"

They lowered their weapons. Sokka lowered his hood, and Zuko removed his mask. They stared at each other in disbelief. Finally, Sokka smirked, "Let's go get a drink."