Perhaps they were close enough now, for her to just drop Tom-Tom and Kiyi off and leave.
She pulled the sopping hood over her head and led them to the door.
"I think you guys can handle it from here." Azula stated.
"You mean you're not coming inside with us?" Tom-Tom muttered.
She set the boy down next to Kiyi. "No, I have something to do."
"We can come with you."
Azula sighed. She really didn't have a choice at this point. She'd stolen the children from the Kemurikage. They'd sooner kill her before taking her back. Even if she managed to evade them she'd really have nowhere to go. Nowhere worthwhile anyhow. She'd had enough of uncomfortable living in the Forgetful Valley. And on top of it all, the storm only seemed to be growing more turbulent.
At this point even if she did want to abort her mission she couldn't. For once again, Kiyi had proven to have a mind of her own and a determination to mach Azula's. The child had already heaved the door to the palace open, screaming, "we're home Zu-Zu"!
Azula could already hear footsteps padding swiftly down the hall. She turned to leave, only to find Kiyi's small hand tugging on hers.
"Please don't go."
Azula pulled out of the child's grasp, putting some consideration into staying.
That moment's hesitation cost her, her opportunity to leave.
"Zu-Zu!" Kiyi hollered, practically jumping into his arms.
He scooped the child up. Azula had never seen him look so happy. Had never seen him smile so brightly. He hugged Kiyi tightly, laughing like a little boy. "Mai, look who's back!" He looked up, his eyes falling on Azula.
She reflexively tugged the hood further over her head and adjusted the mask.
Zuko's cheerful expression tightened into one of confusion. "Why?"
Beneath her Kemurikage mask Azula let her own expression fall blank. She picked up the bottom of her cloak and turned towards the door.
"Wait, don't go!" Kiyi called. She burst out of Zuko's hold and ran over to Azula, catching her by the cloak. "I want you to stay with us. I want you to come home."
Home.
It is what she wanted. And yet she couldn't seem to find it in herself to stay at home. From there she came to admit it to herself; she was afraid. Afraid to face them all. Zuko, her mother, Mai, TyLee, all of them.
Azula tugged her cloak out of Kiyi's tiny hands and continued to walk away.
She didn't get very far down the hall before spotting them. The rest of the Kemurikage.
Azula walked back to where Zuko, Kiyi, and Tom-Tom had been standing. Apparently after her departure they decided to walk off as well. Now she would have to face everyone all at once. The thought sent a tingle rippling in her belly.
She entered the dining hall anyhow, where she found herself met by about eleven sets of eyes. The whole gang is here, she murmured bitterly to herself. Iroh, Zuko, Ursa, the Avatar and his posse, the children, Mai, and TyLee—all accounted for.
Katara stood first; "I won't let you take those kids again!"
"Not after we just got them back." Aang added, taking an offensive position of his own.
"I'm the one who bought them back to you." Azula pointed out.
"Then what are you still doing here?" Mai hissed.
"I'm here to…warn you. They followed me."
"How many?" Zuko asked.
"They still out number us by a few."
"Can we take them?"
"Depends," Azula replied. "On how many are human. And who they sent."
"This is so messed up!" Aang threw his hands in the air. "It's bad enough that Ozai escaped."
"What?!" Azula yelled more loudly than she wanted. A new feeling of dread seated itself within her. She tried to remember if the Leader had mentioned anything about breaking him out. They had already meddled with the New Ozai society.
But when would they have had the time?
And what would the point have been?
"Well, if you were looking for him" Azula remarked, "you many have just found him." She motioned to the dark shapes infesting the doorway.