A/N: Alright ladies and gentlemen, good news and bad news. Good news first. I'm on the mend. Bad news, my inspiration is flagging as of late.
Now, I've worked my ass off updating this month, updating a bunch of fics, and the last few, Avatar of Change and Imperfection, have gotten almost no reviews. That rankles me a bit. Am I not trying hard enough? Do I need to devote more time to this site? I'm on it almost twenty four seven except when I'm working, so I don't see how that can change. I work really hard on every story and chapter that I publish, and, while I may not have time to update them all, I like to think they each have my heart and soul invested in them.
So...what's wrong? I dunno. I just thought I'd lay it out there for ya'll.
But eh, back to this fic!
I've rewatched several shows, reread manga to its latest chapter and pondered many things. Then I realized something. I want to try my hand at a slower-paced fic. My others are just fine, but I wanted to make this more realistic. More character time, instead of setting Naruto-or in this case, Naruko!-on a path and making him run it, he'll walk before he remembers what it truly means to sprint.
On that note, I should warn you. This Naruto is a bit more vulnerable-emotionally-than most. Why, you ask? Because not only is he a SHE, but unlike his others counterpart there's very little left to redeem here and she really isn't afraid to shed blood for the sake of her duty. However-her tendency to violence has also made her emotionally crippled of a sort. She's not exactly open to positive emotion at present, but that'll be a changing soon. She's been scarred-in more ways than one-and it shows in this chapter.
But she can shine brightly with the best of them!
Anywho, I managed to put this up here at points between my job. Prepare to laugh in this chapter so...
...aways we go! Sorry if its short, but consider this story revived!
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory."
~(a last message from a great, great man...)
When in Kiyoshi...
It didn't take Naruko long to realize she disliked being worshiped.
Perhaps dislike was too weak of a word.
She.
Hated.
Being.
Worshiped.
It wasn't the awe or the adulation that irked her; she could handle the burden of responsibility well enough. Not even the knowledge that she expected to save the world. She'd grown into her role as Avatar since she'd been a little girl. She knew what to expect in that theatre, at least. However, there was one thing she could not-would not!-withstand, despite her stoicism. Worse than being called arrowhead, traitor, or even being all but accused of hiding away from the world.
No, it was something worse. Much, much, MUCH worse.
It was the fans.
Fanboys. Fanboys. Fan! Boys! Everywhere, everyplace, the blasted FANS! Kiyoshi was covered with them, people wishing that the Avatar would return, and the moment they learned that she did in fact exist, well...
...merely a day of it proved unpleasant. A week...madness!
"Moh, leave me alone, 'ttebayo!" she whined aloud to herself as she took shelter in the dojo, gasping for breath. Behind the closed door the crowd rushed by, blissfully unaware that their precious idol was hiding only a few feet away. A blessed silence followed, broken only by her own heavy breathing.
With one final, relieved gasp, she slumped, the loose locks of her hair trailing behind her. "Never...again!" she decreed, slamming a small fist against the door. "These people are nuts!" And they were! Katara and Sokka were left well enough alone, but this was ridiculous! It was also the reason she hated boys! "Always so damn clingy!" she hissed. Not like girls; they, at very least, she understood. "Girls can see reason! Stupid boys, I'm so sick of them!" Girls could be persuaded. Not boys. They didn't listen!
Girls were softer. Sweeter. Not boys. Once they saw something they wanted, that was it, and that was precisely why-
"Having fun?"
"Grr!" The avatar colored right to the roots of her hair and spun about at the amused drawl, fireball in hand. "Who said that?!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! No need to flame me!"
Anger drained out of her visage as she found a painted face staring back at her. Suki smiled, one hand planted firmly on her hip. Naruto blanched, realizing she must've spoken aloud. To her dismay, she found the rest of the Kiyoshi Warriors gathered behind their leader, each looking at her in various shades of shock and surprise. Some were even smiling. Her flush deepened.
"H-How much of that did you hear?"
A slender eyebrow was arched. "Enough, I think."
The blond deadpanned.
"Oh, that's just wonderful."
Naruko wanted to die.
"If you're done running from your adoring fans," Suki offered, turning back to her girls, "You still owe us that sparring session. How about it? Are you up for it?"
She took a moment to consider that invitation, gently glossing over her earlier outburst.
Blasting them with fireballs was still very much an option, but she preferred not to charbroil innocents if she could. An angry, flaming goddess wasn't exactly what the world needed right now. With this thought in mind, and an effort of supreme will, Naruko snuffed out the fireball in her hand. A curl of smoke wafted up as she uncoiled her palm.
"Alright, alright." she muttered. "I see your point. No bending, but so help me, if someone sneaks in her and grabs my ass again...
That got a laugh from the brunette.
"Not much chance of that. Well," she smiled, casting the older girl an appraising glance as she brushed past. "A chance is a chance, after all...
Naruko stood there a moment, her brain refusing to process the words. A small, disbelieving smile ghost across her tan face.
'I did not just get hit on.'
Suppressing a pleasant shiver the blond preened instead, happy for a change of pace. "A spar, you said? Make it so!"
In short order she was whisked away into wardrobe, her sweaty, soaked Air-Bender attire exchanged for the traditional warrior robe, vest, and headdress the warriors themselves favored. Her face caked in generous applications of paint, her eyes shadowed by red, she scarcely recognized the girl staring back at her in the mirror. Blue eyes shown back at her, framed by golden tresses ending in a neat bun at the back of her head, completing the look, leaving a few golden bangs to hang neatly before her visage.
Bar the hair color and the whiskers, she really did look like Kiyoshi.
This strange, gorgeous creature staring at her looked as though she belonged in some Earth Kingdom gala, not an old training hall!
"You clean up nice." Suki's head appeared over her shoulder, appraising. "You'd be a dead ringer for her if your hair was brown. Its like she really came back to us, you know?"
Naruko recalled what little she knew about her past life and disagreed. With all this anger inside, she didn't deserve to be compared to her, and she felt lesser for it.
'There's nothing wrong with a little righteous anger, child.'
The Air-Bender jolted upright at the sudden, unexpected voice, but even as she tried to trace it back to its source, it was gone. As though it had never been. Avatar Kiyoshi? Her mind reeled for a moment, contemplating the sudden surge of warmth she felt. She wasn't even able to go into the Avatar State at will yet. Could she really have been contacted-reassured, no less!-by one of her past lives?
"Ready to get started?"
"Hmm? Eh? What? Oh...right." A spike of excitement stabbed through the blond at the prospect of stretching her muscles after a week of inactivity. "I was born ready." Her earlier anxiety was forgotten altogether as her opponent drew her fans, the subtle shing of metal promising combat.
"We'll see." the warrior sashayed away, taking up her place. "You don't have to use them, you can fight like you usually do. Just no bending. C'mon, don't be holding back!"
"Hold back?" Naruko blinked. "I don't hold back. And I like helping people. Its what I do."
"And theeeeen," cut in Sokka, who walked by the now opened door, muttering crossly, "they'll all cry out, 'Oh, Avatar! Sink the ship! Slay the platapus-bear! Find my hog monkey!' Really! This is what we get for making another pit stop! Bah, dumb girls and their dumb dances, what a load of...!" His drawling voice trailed away, as he disappeared around the bend. Both girls sweat-dropped.
"Friendly guy." Suki muttered crossly.
Naruko winced.
"You get used to him."
"So...are we going to do this, or what?"
"Alright...but don't say I didn't warn you." she settled into a strange stance, one foot forward, her right arm edged back. It wasn't the traditional Air-Bender stance, nor was it the aggressive tempo of a Fire-Bender. The form she'd taken was a blending of both, her boy weight leaning forward, ready to spring at the slightest provocation. "Last chance. You might want to raise your guard."
Suki's smile was just a little too patronizing for her liking.
"I'm sure I can handle myyyyyyiiiiiiiiiiipe!"
When the blond moved, she barely had time to react. Her left fan shot out, trying to parry, but the girl flowed like wind, twirling away and sweeping her legs. The Kiyoshi warrior righted herself almost immediately not a moment later; a heelpalm slammed into her chin, snapping her head back, but the blond took the blow, kept moving as though she hadn't felt a thing.
And then it was over.
Naruko flowed around her in an impossible movement and struck down in a blinding sweep.
The end result left Suki sprawled out on the floor, head spinning.
"Ha!" Naruko crowed, doing a little dance. "Eat boomstick!"
"Boom...what?"
"Eh, just a word I made up." Naruko laughed, offering her a hand. "Pretty sure we don't have any of those, yet."
Suki started when the blond hauled her forward. Too hard. She was suddenly intensely aware of just how close they were, of the girl's hand in hers, the other steadying her at the waist. A beat of silence passed. Then another. She gulped.
"You know...
"My Lady Avatar!"
Naruko looked away from the brunette, momentarily discomfitted by that title.
She didn't know if was Suki, or the something else, she simply felt...drawn here. But what was it? Suki was a nice girl after all she supposed, she'd warmed to her considerably during the last seven days and although she remained loathe to admit it, she had enjoyed their spar, especially-stop! Stop stop stop! That way lay ruin! Shaking herself from those treacherous thoughts Naruko rose, wiped the sweat from her slim brow, and turned to face the messenger standing in the door.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Fire Nation troops have landed in Kyoshi!"
The blond nearly facepalmed at the news. So much for this peace and quiet.
"Not Zuzu again...
"Zuzu?" Suki asked as she slipped backwards.
"He's just some pesky prince I beat in the South Pole." Naruko replied, scrubbing the paint from her face. "And I may or may not have used him to learn firebending. Don't worry about it. In the meantime, I need you to get Katara and the others; we may need to bug out if things get heated in any case.
"But-
Naruko hissed, a dark look flashing in those blue eyes.
"No, I won't endanger your island any longer than I already have." A small pang twisted at her heart as he said this. In the lone week that they'd spent here, she'd actually felt normal around Suki. To leave that behind and voyage out into the unknown again...was strangely disheartening. "It was selfish of me to make everyone stay here this long; I've put you all in danger because of that."
"What, you don't think I can handle a few Fire Nation troops?" she challenged as she slipped on the last of his armor.
"No, I understand that you're a warrior...but Fire-Benders are way out of your league."
"So you just don't trust me, then." A pained note entered her tone, her painted face seemed strangely sad somehow.
Naruko sighed, spinning aeay.
"Damnit you, why won't you listen-
Her hand closed around her wrist, holding him fast."
"Yes, I may be a warrior." she replied softly, her voice the barest, breathiest whisper. Something soft touched a whiskered visage an instant later, lingering. Lips. But I'm also a girl. So don't get yourself killed." Naruko blinked, touching a hand to her cheek. Suki smiled and turned to leave-
Yank.
A small cry of surprise left her lips, and then she was hauled forward, a mouth violently meeting hers. The kiss was savage, short, and sweet and it made her melt like a candle before a firestorm. Naruko held her for all of an instant longer then pulled away, an odd look in her eyes.
"You be careful, too. I've lost enough people already. Oh," and here here eyes did sparkle, "Don't flirt with me if you're not prepared for the consequences, dattebayo." She opened her mouth to speak, but it was already too late. Naruko was gone, leaving her with his innermost thoughts. Where the hell had that come from? Brown eyes bulged.
'Naruko...
The Avatar crossed the streets with swift strides, reaching the docks almost in no time at all. Still no sign of Katara. She hoped she'd realize what was happening and be ready with Appa. If not...
Oddly enough, she didn't encounter any Fire-Benders. That was odd in and of itself. In fact, the closer she came to the docks the more certain she became; they were waiting for her there. The barge didn't even lower its ramp until she was a few feet away, clanking to the ground with a hollow thud. Steam poured forth, momentarily obscuring her vision.
Nevertheless, she prepared herself for battle.
"Alright Zuzu," she called, flexing her hands, knuckles cracking. "Kets get this over with so I can get back to training...oh."
She, for this was certainly a she, certainly wasn't Zuko. At all.
Golden eyes flashed in the fading light of the sun. Hair the color of night bound back in a bun, framing a pale, heart-shaped face. Every step bespoke of power and confidence-the red, curved armor immediately signified she was someone of great importance. But more importantly...
Her jaw clicked open as she finally beheld the figure aboard the ramp. "You...are not Zuzu."
"No," Azula smiled; it was a decidedly predatory thing that smile, and it spoke to something dark inside of her.
...I'm not."
"The hell-?"
Naruko was expecting an angry Zuko to step off that ship and face her. Not a girl. Certainly not someone her age! Sheesh! So she stood there and watched-wary as this newcomer surveyed her surroundings. There was something dangerous about her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, perhaps it was her aura? Or maybe it was the eyes.
In any case Uzumaki Naruko, Avatar, found herself just a touch uncomfortable.
"So, this is Kyoshi Island." the girl murmured to herself as she disembarked. "How quaint. Ah, a welcoming committee! Wonderful."
Suddenly wary, Naruko edged a foot forward. This girl wasn't like the others she'd fought...
"Erm...you're not Zuzu." What came next honestly surprised her.
Azula laughed.
"Zuzu?!" she burst out between giggles. "You...You call him that, too?! Oh, this is too much...
...eh? How do you know...
The girl saw her hesitation and her laughter died, replaced by a smile then; it was a soft, deadly, dangerous thing, that smile. Despite her and all her power, Naruko actually blanched behind his guard. Then the newcomer spoke again.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" she chuckled. "You mean to say you're the Avatar that I've heard so much about?" Her gaze roamed across her lightly-armored body with intrigue, a spark of interest shining in those dark orbs of hers. "Hmm, you look...different... I'll give you that. But you should be humbled." A hand rose in a fierice flourish of blue flame. "You have the honor of addressing Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation! I do hope you've prepared yourself."
"Waitwaitwait...you're Zuko's sister?!"
"Not much of a resemblance, right?" Azula stifled another laugh behind her palm.
"Yeah, no kidding! He's all emo and broody and you're well...
"I'm?" Azula cocked her head aside, curious. Odd. She found herself rather enjoying this witty banter. "What am I, exactly?"
...well, if I say gorgeous, would you turn around and go home?"
Her lips thinned. "Sorry. I don't think so."
"Oh. Too bad." Naruko pouted. "I wouldn't stand there, though."
"Why-oh."
Whatever else she might've said died as a blast of wind scythe into the hull, slamming the ship backwards. Azula leapt away with all the grace and skill of an accomplished dancer, alighting nimbly in the street. Another blast was dodged as well, carroming off an empty hut. By the time she'd angled around, the young avatar had already yanked her fans free, bearing down on her.
She half-expected a physical assault; imagine her surprise then, when the girl flung them. For a moment, just a moment, the princess actually balked. The tactic was so unorthodox that she reacted a hair slower than a master might-her first blast caught the second fan and turned it to ruined metal. A blast of wind sent the already edged rims of the first slashing forward, opening a thin rent in the side of her face as they shot past. The silence that followed was smoldering.
...th-that was a lucky shot!"
"Avatar one, crazy princess zero." Naruko sang. "All's fair in love and war!"
"Don't you know fangs only makes fire stronger?" Azula sneered back. "And you just gave up your weapons!"
"Don't need 'em." came the counter.
"I take it that means you're finally serious about this?"
"Dare I ask why?"
"To fight, of course." Azula said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You didn't think I rushed here ahead of my brother just to have tea with you now, did you?"
"A girl can hope."
That eerie grin grew.
"Oh, you're cute. If you live, I think I might keep you."
"You can try." Naruko scoffed and raised her hands at the waist, palms crackling with a fireball each. "Might get burned, though."
"You know...I'm going to enjoy this far more than I should."
"Same."
That was all Naruko had time for before her vision erupted in a sea of blue fire.
A/N: And there we go. FIERCE FIGHT NEXT CHAPTER!
Yes, I say again, in case you haven't realized by now, there WILL be yuri-girl loves girl-action in this fic. Kiyoshi will also be more present in this fic than she was in the last. I apologize for those of you who don't like yuri, as one reviewer -I won't name names- has already made their dislike of that element clear. But that's the mindset for this story. Although NarukoxZuko remains an amusing possibility, given their painful pasts. After this we will be seeing a major departure from Canon-Naruko isn't Aang after all, so she won't be acting like him.
Finally, and I'm only going to say this once, I am NOT bashing Sokka. I merely took into account that he was very suspicious of Aang in the beginning, and here Naruko outright attacked him when he insulted her. Of course there would be some hostility there. He doesn't trust her, and she certainly doesn't trust him. Heck, she hardly trusts anyone at the moment. They won't be bickering for much longer, though!
That aside I sincerely hope you enjoyed the latest chapter and all of the chaos and hilarity that is to come.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would you Kindly? And of course, enjoy the Preivew! Also, the next chapter for Die Another Day is coming out soon-I've already got well more than Seven thousand words and I just want to live up to your grand expectations, is all =D
(Preview!)
Naruko yelped and ducked aside as a swathe of fire sizzled over her head. Bending it away, she turned to face the foe who'd been hunting her. Her hands lashed out with wind, followed by fire, a maelstrom of heat and flame barreling into
"Are you insane?!"
"No," Azula laughed, "I'm having the time of my life! Aren't you?!"
Naruko opened her mouth to protest...then realized that she was.
She really was.
R&R! =D