DISCLAIMER: The Wronskian of two linearly dependent functions is equal to the fraction of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise that I own.
IV. Tokka
Suki bowed her head as the coffin was brought to the Kyoshi Island cemetery. Her husband of two years was dead, apparently poisoned in his sleep. She vowed that his assassins—probably Fire Supremacists—would pay dearly. But for now, she had to be at her husband's side for his final journey.
If it was poison it must have been a slow-acting one, for he left a hastily scribbled will. It was simple: he was leaving everything to his wife. Oddly enough, he insisted on a burial in the Earth Kingdom tradition, rather than the Water Tribe custom of returning his body to the sea. He also wished his boomerang and his sword to be buried with him. More strangely, though, was the fact that he wanted an air-supply tube attached to his coffin. No one had known this, but he made it quite clear in his will: he was afraid of being buried alive (or being thrown into the sea alive). If he really was alive, he wanted to be able to call for help.
Suki had smiled when she read this. They were strange, but these things were scrupulously attended to nonetheless. Sokka would not have been the first to be buried with such a vent.
At the graveside, Aang spoke of his bravery, spirit, intelligence and humour. He recalled their long journey to end the war. Hakoda also gave a short speech about his son. Katara had wished to speak as well, but she could not still her sobs. Toph said nothing, but simply appeared numb. Zuko, accompanied by Mai, kept his lips tightly shut. His clenched fists emitted smoke—a visible indication of how he felt. There were few other people present. Sokka had wanted his funeral to be a quiet affair.
Oyaji uttered the traditional formula, then stepped respectfully away from the coffin. Everyone wore faces of sadness as they gazed for the last time upon the body of their fallen comrade. He was dressed in his best Water Tribe attire, with his boomerang in one hand and his sword in the other. The lid of the coffin was nailed on, the tube was attached, and it was let down into the earth. The weeping and sobbing reached a peak as dirt was thrown into the grave by the shovelful.
After the funeral, everyone gathered at Suki's house for the traditional meal. They did not serve Sokka's favourites—no one knew what they were, since he seemed to enjoy all foods equally—but there was plenty of meat. No one could eat very much, for the atmosphere was doubly oppressed: the death weighed heavily on them, and had it been anyone else Sokka would have lightened the mood by his heavy eating. No one spoke, save for a few comforting words directed at Katara, Suki or Kanna.
After the meal, everyone helped to wrap up any leftovers and to clean up. They then went and sat together in the living room for a while, carrying on various hushed conversations that seemed to peter off whenever Sokka was mentioned. Eventually a heated discussion arose over who or what could have killed him. It was generally agreed that he was murdered; everyone vowed to track down the culprits and kill them in various gruesome ways. Zuko sent a messenger hawk back to the Fire Nation, ordering that the investigation and prosecution of the Fire Supremacists be made a top priority.
The sun soon set on that terrible day. Most of the mourners went to their rooms at the inn. Katara stayed with Suki that night, while Toph stayed in an earth tent next to Sokka's grave. No one fell asleep without tears in their eyes.
Toph didn't fall asleep at all.
As soon as she felt confident that the cemetery was empty, she sent her tent back into the earth and Earthbended Sokka's coffin out. Using her Metalbending, she removed the nails and opened the coffin. She retrieved a small vial from her clothing, opened it and emptied the contents into Sokka's mouth.
Then—as if nothing at all had happened—Sokka sat up and yawned.
Toph motioned silently for him to come out of the coffin. He did so, taking his beloved boomerang and sword with him. Toph then shut the lid on the coffin and—amazingly—Metalbended the nails back into place. Within seconds, the coffin was buried again. Nothing looked amiss—even the breathing tube was in its place. Sokka chuckled when he noticed it.
They managed to sneak, unseen, onto Zuko's ship. Toph found a place for Sokka in the far corner of one of the larger storage rooms. He would not be noticed behind such a large pile of boxes and barrels. This being safely done, Toph left him and returned to the cemetery. As Sokka dozed off in the ship, Toph reformed her earth tent and went to sleep.
Most of those who attended the funeral stayed at Kyoshi Island for a week, to keep Suki company during her mourning. During this time, Toph snuck food to Sokka every night. She had already asked for and obtained permission to accompany Zuko to the Fire Nation, claiming that she had business there. After the week was over, Aang returned to the South Pole with Katara and her family. Zuko left for the Fire Nation with Toph that evening.
Three times during the journey to the Fire Nation, Sokka was almost caught. In the end, however, they managed to arrive without anyone noticing the extra passenger.
Getting Sokka off the ship was more difficult than getting him on. However, they managed the feat. Sokka stayed in an inn at the Capital for two days; he was a suspicious character, but he managed to keep the innkeeper quiet with plenty of gold. Toph was expected to stay in the palace for a night—Zuko would not have it otherwise.
After Toph managed to shake Zuko off, she proceeded through the Fire Nation with Sokka. Eventually, they settled down in a relatively small town. Sokka took on the name Inuk—he did not wish to adopt a Fire Nation name—and it by this name that he was known to the townspeople. He became known as a swordsman of some skill, and by passing his art to his students he was able to earn a decent living for himself...and his family.
Yes, his family. Did the reader for a moment wonder why Sokka and Toph colluded to fake his death? Was it not obvious? Sokka realized that his love for Suki did not run as deep as he thought. He discovered that his true love was for Toph. As for Toph...well, she had always been in love with Sokka. They put on this act because Sokka was a coward—he could not bear to divorce his first wife. He wouldn't be able to face his friends and family if he left Suki for Toph. He would rather "kill" himself than break Suki's heart.
They married as soon as they settled down, and they lived happily ever after...
"I'm back, honey!"
"It's about time! Go and make dinner, I'm hungry!"
Sokka—Inuk, rather—proceeded into the kitchen to make dinner. "You know, Toph, in most families it's the wife who cooks."
"Well, we're not 'most families' now, are we?"
At this point, someone banged heavily on the door.
"Wonder who that could be?" Inuk said as he sliced a chunk of meat.
Toph did not even have the chance to tell her husband to hide before Katara burst into the house, followed by an extremely angry Suki.