.
007 Cloudy Day
Zuko's flames span different, unimaginable colors as he stands steadily, waves his fists and goes through the forms that reminds Kazumi of a sturdy, infallible beast. Blue, red, white lick in the air, the warmth slapping on their faces. Zuko goes through the firebending drill with seven other benders. The display gives her excitement, makes her heart soar as she imagines herself with such impressive power. Blue flames, she thinks. It would be perfect. For the first time, she sees why Zuko is Fire Lord. Such strength…
And yet such weakness.
What kind of leader would slave his own men?
What kind of leader would let his critics trample him, harm his family?
The contradiction is there. But it is not Kazumi's place to ask questions. The plan. Don't forget the plan.
"You're amazing Zuzu!" a little girl's voice. Ten, she thinks, while looking at the plain, dark-haired youngster that stands beside a bearded man. Wide eyes. "Yeah? You hear all of that? My big brother is sooo amazing!"
Kazumi is not sure why she is surprised.
And why she feels an unfamiliar churn in her gut when she hears the nickname and sees Ursa standing just behind the girl.
She never heard of a second Princess.
…
.
"South Pole!" Riko chirps, more hyperactive than usual. The mischief in her eyes is as clear as day, her legs swinging as she goes on and on about the igloos, the Eskimos and the water benders. The plan. The plan. Of course, she would not forget about the plan. "Can you believe it Kazumi? We are going to the South Pole!"
"I don't understand why you are so excited about it." Sakura is as always, the voice of reason. Kazumi is always thankful of her presence to their group, despite earning more of Riko's attention. At least, she does not have to suffer through the group's lack of sensibility. She does not know if she could handle Riko's mood swings. "Last I heard of the place, it's just a barren wasteland."
"I don't really care how it looks." Riko says, mouth a thin, amused line. Her voice lowers into a conspiratorial whisper, eyes darting around. "But this is our chance. In this mission, we can get Firelord Zuko. What better way to eliminate him but when we are closest to him?"
"He is strong." Sakura's brows are raised. "You both saw him bend. I have never seen firebending like that."
"Kazumi could take him. We both saw how she kicked four benders' asses."
"He has beaten Princess Azula in an Agni Kai." She says this as though this proves her point. Kazumi keeps her silence. "That counts."
"He cheated." Riko insists but the words sound hollow. "We can do it though. The three of us have always pulled through. We can do it together."
"I'll do it alone."
Stunned looks.
Her two friends look at her like she just grew two heads. Maybe three.
"What?" Riko protests, violently starting off her seat. Her eyes are wide, frantic. "What in the world are you saying?"
"You are not ready." Kazumi states coolly, not bothering to catch her eye. She thinks of that time when they allowed themselves to be captured by the Elite. When Ty Lee got her grubby hands on them. They had been captured too easily. Kazumi does not think the three of them are ready. But the plan. The plan must not be forgotten. "I am going alone. Think of whatever reason for you guys to stay. It would be easier for me to escape."
"Escape from whom?" Even Sakura shows confusion. Her brows are furrowed, eyes almost glaring. "From the elite?"
"Kill them all." Riko says with the impetuous abandon of an immature child . "That's the plan, right? Do whatever is necessary. This is our only chance, Kazumi. If we have to finish all of them, we have to."
"The question is if we could."
"We could. You are strong. A freaking one-man army. But you are hesitating? I know it. I can see it. You are hesitating! Are you having doubts, Kazumi?"
Kazumi's breath is taken.
Riko prods again. "Doubts, Kazumi?" She frowns. "Are you having doubts?"
Is she having doubts?
But why?
Why?
"I am the leader." She just says. "Meeting adjourned."
…
.
The snow has stopped for the day but the clouds overhead promise a comeback for the next. Kazumi finds her place on the barrack's rooftop. It would have been perfect. It would have been the getaway she deserves. But Ty Lee decides to share the space she found, fills in the silence she so desired with inane conversation and mindless remarks.
"Tell me about your hometown." She finally prompts after Kazumi learns of her six sisters ("…who looks exactly like me." Laughter. "It's like I don't even have my own name."), her former leader Suki and a bestfriend that she has not seen for years. "How have you guys grown up? How was it? It must have been really fun, ne?"
Kazumi is momentarily thrown off by how interested Ty Lee actually sounds.
"It's a coal mining town. Nothing special." Except that people die every single day, children starve and men and women worked to the brink of extinction, all to meet the Fire Lord's ceaseless demands. A desolate, ash-covered island like theirs had no business for dreaming of independence. To live, they must sprawl themselves for the rations, to the miniscule morsel the soldiers the crown sent to maintain things. Of course, the Capital would want to know about it. Nothing like misery to make someone feel better about themselves.
"I am sure there is more to it than that." But this commander, so naïve, so innocent. Kazumi had already seen what she could do. So strong yet so weak… like the man she serves.
"There's none." She huffs irritably, heaving a huge sigh. "You and this Azula I keep hearing things about, what's with it?"
She does not expect Ty Lee to airily shrug. "She was my ex-girlfriend."
Kazumi has already figured that out, of course. "You were crying about her."
"I was."
"Tch." Kazumi cluck her tongue. Pathetic.
Ty Lee is looking at her with wide, expectant eyes. As though she has to say something. As though she needs to say something.
Then she speaks again. "Do you want to know more about her?" Hopeful. Why does she sound hopeful?
Kazumi shakes her head. She shrugs her own confusion off. "She does not really sound terribly interesting."
…
.
"Seriously Kazumi, why do you have to be so stubborn!"
"For the last time Riko…"
"No, for the last time Kazumi…" Riko's tone surprises Kazumi. Livid. Angry. It burns. It burns so much. "… why won't you believe in us for once?"
She never did?
…
.
"You don't trust us?" Sakura. She is calmer, more subdued.
"How can you tell?" Frankly, she is just weary of this.
"Riko does not really mean what she said." Defensive. Girlfriend to the rescue. Shoulder to shoulder, they sharpen their weapons. "About killing everyone. You know how she feels about the Fire Lord."
"You don't seriously believe he really is the one who kept our people enslaved, don't you?"
"I am sure you have noticed as well." Sakura shrugs. "Zuko is quite incompetent in political matters. But Riko's deep hatred runs deeper than that. That in itself is immaterial. The plan. Remember the plan."
"I know."
"Trust us, Kazumi."
"I know." She does not know why she feels so reluctant.
Trust is for…
…
.
The clouds give in to snow once more.
And she remembers how the impossible happened already.
"Fine, I'll trust you." She musters after relentlessly being pounded for the topic.
Sakura shakes her head in amusement.
Riko chirps something about her being so hard-headed.
It is not like it mattered.
It is not like how Ty Lee would look at her after this, matters.
.
The airships are ready, looking majestic and magnificent. Ty Lee briefs them one more time and takes the other ship with her so-called elite.
"This is it." She tells them, after her eyes lingered too long on the departing form.. Riko smiles. Sakura breathes out.
And the three sail through the clouds with the wings of their freedom.
(TBC)
Well thanks for the support so far. Even the shortest say about this is encouraging.
