Hey guys, yep I am liking all the reviews, keep them all up! I personally didn't like that Avatar movie, I thought it pushed too much on us at one time. But ZUKO IS SOOOO HOT! Ahem, anyway enjoy the chapter!
FANARTIST WANTED!
Disclaimer: No I don't own Avatar for Agni's sake!
Katara walked through the brush to keep up a steady pace with Akiko and Iroh who all were lost behind Zuko's blazing trail. "Will you all hurry up? The Fire Nation will be here any minute!" Zuko barked.
"You said that an hour ago, they probably shifted course already, Zuko. Please let's stop at the next town." Akiko whined stumbling on a root.
"Yes Zuko, we must stop at the next town." Iroh agreed. Katara tripped through Akiko's feet causing them both to tumble through the dirt. Zuko rolled his honey colored eyes and walked even faster as if he didn't want to be seen with them.
"You all want to stop, than we will stop here." Zuko said pulling out a branch a small cozy looking town in view. All of them grinned insanely and nodded there heads and ran down for it before Zuko could object. Zuko groaned and followed them down. He had to admit the town had a nice warm feel to it but he wouldn't admit it to those softies.
Iroh sniffed the air of all the different varieties of foods as the girls were off doing Agni knows what. Zuko had to admit with all of them here it was more comfortable.
"Zuko look at this, have you ever seen anything like it?" Iroh asked musing over a golden dancer. But Zuko was no where to be found.
"Ah, that is what our town in known for, dancers." The owner of the stand whispered. He was a greasy looking man with one mad-eye and four browned teeth.
Iroh nodded in mild interest but gasped when he saw a tiny glass figurine of Mora of the Water Tribe and Fire Nation. "Err…What purpose does Mora have in this town?" Iroh asked picking the figure up and examining it in the sunlight.
The owner gave a wheezy laugh and grinned with his four rotten teeth. "Mora blessed this here town and anything that has any information on her we know about and try to get. I hear that a certain General Bong Su is going to be at our humble dance festival in a few days and he hold some…hidden secrets on Mora's life." The old man gave another wheezy laugh and began polishing a golden bear. "But that will be impossible to get, he always keeps it on the inside of his coat."
Iroh looked away in thought, he knew General Bong Su from one of his battles. He wasn't one to give anything up but he wasn't the brightest either. Someone could easily snatch it from right under his nose if they knew what they were doing.
The retired general looked over at his nephew who was scolding the two giggling girls that talking to boys they didn't know was dangerous. Iroh laughed in his throat, they would all grow on each other eventually. He looked at the Mora figure and thought it resembled… "UNCLE, TELL THESE GIRLS THAT THEY ARE BEING IMBISILES!" Zuko cried angrily with the opposing hollers of Akiko and Katara.
Iroh shook his head and walked over to them. "They are only being girls Zuko. It wouldn't harm you to look and talk to some of the girls around here either. We will be staying here for quite some time."
Zuko fumed and stalked off to look at some old cabbage while the girls struck up a conversation with a long haired boy with no shirt, enough said. They were being love sick fools, one of these days a boy is going to talk to them acting all nice and then WHAM something goes wrong.
"Hi I'm Tye Ching Lee, but you can just call me Tye beautiful." Tye winked at Katara. Katara blushed and kicked at the ground. Akiko suppressed a giggle and Katara glared at her heatedly and gave a sweet look to Tye. "I'm Katara."
"Mm, Katara, what a beautiful name." Tye said putting a long piece of grass in his mouth.
Katara laughed and chatted with Tye as Akiko was busy looking at some scarves in the stand next to them. Katara was lost in Tye's green eyes as if they were an ocean! He was so handsome she could die.
"Well Katara, I would love it if you would accompany me at the dancing festival this week." Tye said with a dashing smile.
Katara blushed and felt her breath hitch in her throat. HE WAS ASKING HER ON A DATE! Katara struggled to keep her voice low and cool though it was several octaves higher, "O-of course T-Tye." Katara smiled cheerily and mentally kicked herself for sounding so completely ridiculous.
"Wonderful, I'll see you in a few days beautiful." Tye winked and rubbed his thumb along her chin and walked away his shirt swung over his shoulder. Akiko popped her head around the stand and calmly walked over to Katara with a solemn expression on her face. "So, Tye asked you out." She said examining her nails. "Yep." Katara said coolly. They both turned to look at each other and began jumping up and down screaming.
"So the peasant can dance?" Zuko teased suddenly, he was standing behind them with a smirk on his face.
Katara stopped jumping and screaming, her face hard as rock. Shit! She didn't know how to dance. She spun around and faced him with a horrid glare, "Yes, a peasant like me can dance!" You're lying through you teeth, Katara thought.
Akiko gasped, ignoring the bickering teenagers, and looked up at the sun to determine the time. "Katara we have to get you a dress before they are all gone!" Akiko squealed and pulled her into the nearest shop. Zuko laughed in his throat and went to go talk to his Uncle but yelped when the old man was already behind him.
"Uncle, don't sneak up on me like that." Zuko growled.
"I wasn't sneaking up on anyone Zuko, but I must tell you an important piece of information I just heard." Iroh said leaning in closer.
"This town is famous for not only dancing but also for…Mora. And a general carrying a very important piece of information inside his coat will be in town for the festival, we have to get it somehow." Iroh said and pulled away looking casual.
Zuko nodded his head and looked around in case there were any eavesdroppers. "Well our Mora won't be available for that evening, so she is out of the plan we need to come up with."
"Speaking of plans where do we plan on staying?" Uncle Iroh asked curiously.
Zuko thought about this for a moment until it hit him. "Well you said that this town basically worships Mora then there has to be a temple of some sort." Zuko said proudly that he had just come up with their shelter.
"I will ask that cart owner again, come with me." Iroh said tucking his hands into his sleeves.
"Excuse me sir but does this town have a temple to give respects to Mora?" Iroh asked innocently with a gigantic grin.
The own laughed with his tongue between his teeth sending spit onto Zuko's brow. Zuko's bad eye twitched in aggravation as he swiped the disgusting substance off. "Of course we do. But it has long since been closed down because of something to do with Resbuto being alive. We didn't need anyone sabotaging our town, see. It is at the northern corner of this town, it won't be too hard to find." He wheezed and spit in a bowl with oozing brown goo. Neither Zuko nor Iroh wanted to know what it was.
"Right, thanks." Zuko said hastily and grabbed his Uncles arm pulling them away from the greasy old man.
"Well, at least we know where we are staying." Uncle said with a toothy grin. Thank Agni his Uncle had a good sense of hygiene.
"Always the optimist aren't you?" Zuko said bitterly. "In case you haven't noticed we don't have a way to get in."
Iroh chuckled, "We force our way nephew, and you of all people should know that."
"We can't do that on sacred ground, Uncle!" Zuko barked.
Iroh suddenly became serious. "She had a deep respect for both Water Tribe and Fire Nation and we are Fire Nation and Miss Katara is of the Water Tribe. There has to be perks."
Zuko nodded, deciding his Uncle was right. They would find those two boy crazy girls and go check out that temple that they would be staying at for the time being.
"Let us talk about how we will be getting that information on Mora that could just be vital to get into the Fire Nation." Iroh said in a long sentence, obviously he felt the need to express the importance of the situation.
"Fine then, we need to put two and two together; dancing and Mora. What could we possibly do with those two?" Zuko asked more to himself than anyone. He had a finger to his chin and his face was focused hard.
"Someone would have to get close to him." Iroh mused, in thought.
"Yeah, maybe by dancing." Zuko said in the same fashion.
"A girl."
"That would be attractive enough to catch his eye."
"A girl who isn't busy that night."
"Hey guys we got some really great stuff!" Katara grinned pulling up to them with Akiko. They had tons of bags in their arms most that seemed to hold unnecessary things. Both Iroh and Zuko looked directly at Akiko.
"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" Akiko asked suspiciously.
"No reason." The two men said together.
Akiko arched a brow but before she could say anything Iroh began speaking. "We have found a place to stay."
0000
"You brought us to a dusty old temple?" Akiko said bitterly. All their necks extended up the dark stone building.
Zuko snapped his attention to her and gave her a nasty look. "Would you rather sleep outside?"
Akiko scoffed and readjusted the bags in her hands. "Fine, just find an opening or something."
"It doesn't look like a temple to me." Katara murmured to Iroh.
Zuko growled he liked it better when Akiko was shy at Aunt Wu's place. But he listened and looked for someplace to enter. There was nothing from what he could see, everything was boarded up and locked. But by the looks of it, it was a gorgeous building in its time.
"Oh, for the love of Agni!" Akiko yelled growing impatient. "Just let me, Zuko, wouldn't want your shoes to get scuffed by pulling some stupid boards or anything." She set her bags (more like dropped) them on the ground and walked up the boarded door. She began tugging fiercely with one foot pushing on the wood for extra strength. She succeeded.
She fell back into Iroh screaming at something she saw. As the boards fell but out came a screeching wolf bat. Katara screamed and grabbed Zuko's arm as it swooped over her head, instinctively Zuko covered her head and sighed in relief as it was gone. He looked down and snatched himself away from Katara and cleared his throat. Katara was breathing heavily as was Akiko; they were flushed and scared out of their wits.
"Get your bags and let's go in." Zuko said and lit up a fist, he stepped through the now open hole.
Katara and Akiko gave each other skeptical glances but picked up their things and walked behind Zuko and Iroh looking around like frightened little children.
"This place couldn't be anymore—" Katara stopped when they got to the main room, "Beautiful." She breathed.
They weren't in a temple after all; they were in a living space that Mora used to stay in while traveling. There was a large ballroom and a big marble stairway that led up to a huge picture of Mora then there was a long hallway to the right that most likely was led to the bedroom and maybe a few other necessary rooms.
"Wow, she actually looks just like you Katara. It will be easy to fool the Fire Nation." Akiko noticed now up close to the painting. Katara walked up the long stairs and looked for herself. "She has violet eyes and her hair is black, but just look at her face."
Katara found herself becoming entranced in the eyes and she suddenly felt dizzy and had the urge to sit down, to sit down and look into herself forever. Something so paralyzing was hidden in this painting and it was quenching her thirst for knowledge.
"Katara, what are you doing?" Akiko asked snapping her fingers in Katara's face. Katara shook her head and smiled. "Sorry I just zoned out, I don't think she looks like me."
Katara was lying, they looked almost identical! Katara wanted to tell them that she was Mora but what would they think then? What would they do then? They would treat her differently or not even believe her. Actually she wasn't sure why she didn't tell them…maybe she was scared because she worried she couldn't live up to the title.
"We should find the bedroom and settle in." Zuko said interrupting her thoughts. Katara turned around and nodded in agreement. They picked up their things and walked into the extremely large bedroom. It had a humungous bed that had a view of the entire city through the biggest window Katara had ever seen. It was probably longer than all of them put together and was the bed. Katara gasped when she felt a breeze, it wasn't even a window!
"Wow, this room is amazing." Katara breathed.
"It's empty." Akiko pointed out negatively.
Katara gave her a puckered look before walking up to the big window and looking out over the town. The wind faintly blew against her cool cheeks and whispered into her ears. This place felt like home in so many ways. She had always dreamed of living in a big place like this that was fit to her taste. She sighed, she wanted to tell them who she was but something…or rather someone was stopping her. She didn't want to ruin anything.
"We should settle down." Iroh said unpacking his things, Zuko silently followed his example.
"Katara, we have to put that dress in a special place so it doesn't get ruined. You are going to be the best looking person there." Akiko grinned handing her a bag.
Katara smiled and took it before setting it in the corner where nothing would bother it. Zuko arched a brow, slightly curious but brushed it off and unpacked his own things.
"Well, I am off to bed." Iroh said curling up on one side of the huge bed. Akiko yawned and followed his example. " Me too." Katara said snuggling up into the blankets. Zuko rolled his eyes; he was stuck between the two girls. Splendid.
Akiko grunted, "Zuko, seriously stop."
Zuko sat up and looked at her with a funny face. "I'm not doing anything."
Akiko's eyes shot open and she flung the covers off her and screamed bloody murder. There on her stomach was a round fuzzy spider gazing up at her with numerous red eyes. He looked up at her like a confused puppy when she screamed and began thrashing around. The spider shook its fuzzy head and then turned to Katara, its eyes narrowed.
"GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!" Akiko screamed looking a sight. Katara pushed up against a deep sleeping Iroh to get away from the monstrous thing. Zuko scowled and approached quietly, he grabbed the big hairy spider by the leg and threw it across the room and it went out the big window. Akiko was now breathing heavily and curled up into a ball with wide eyes and a sweaty brow. "I hate this place."
Zuko growled at the disturbance and laid down to feign sleep. Like music to his ears and relief to his body he felt Akiko loosen up into a calm peaceful slumber and her deep breathing relieved almost all his stress. But next to him on his other side was Katara, she just wouldn't fall asleep like Uncle and Akiko would. She stirred a little and looked over at everyone; he immediately closed his eyes and pretended he was asleep. He felt a weight shift in the bed and then a weight lift off of the bed. He turned and looked at the young Water Tribe girl standing in the window through a breeze the moon highlighting her features. He shook his head and then rested on his loathing of her again.
Katara sighed; something about this place was calling to her. She could faintly hear music in the distance and decided that she should check the place out a little more. Just so Mora would leave her alone and let her sleep. She grabbed a lit candle that faintly flickered in the corner and crept out the door, not even aware that Zuko was watching her with mild interest.
She scurried down the hall and into the main room where she heard the faint music coming from. She yelped in pain and dropped the candle, clutching her ears. They were burning like mad from the sounds that had sudden became into a loud annoying screech.
She looked down and the candle was still upright blazing on. Slowly Katara lowered her hands to the soft murmurs of music again.
Cautiously Katara grabbed the candle and made her way down the marble staircase. She stopped and looked up. Along the walls were portraits of people, people whom she vaguely remembered. She took a sharp intake of breath and suddenly felt drained but when she opened her eyes she could have screamed and ran away.
In front of her own eyes were the people and then others, in very formal wear looking up at her with large smiles. Apparently this was some sort of ball and she was…she looked down at her hands, they still looked the same. She looked down in the marble reflection and gasped, she was wearing a large yellow gown with sheer sleeves and blue lining. Her hair was down in a thick ponytail and her eyes weren't blue anymore…they were a deep violet. She looked up at everyone clapping and the music was playing loudly and fast.
A man came up to her and grabbed her hand. She assumed he wanted to dance, but she didn't know how! She was soon swept away and was being turned in circles, pushed back in forth not knowing what she was doing. She was being passed between different men and then…everything stopped and the music slowed. Katara looked up panting to see a man with honey shaded eyes and shaggy black hair halfway pulled into a ponytail. He smiled lovingly down at her and kissed her hand before taking backward steps up the stairs and then stopped at the hallways corner, everyone disappeared as did the music but that man was still there, she found herself looking at him tears about to spill over. Looking at him caused such emotional pain and she didn't know who he was, but then again she did in a sense. Then he vanished and in his place stood Zuko staring at her in wonder, Katara promptly passed out.
0000
"What was she doing?" a feminine voice asked faintly.
"She was just standing there, looking at me." A male voice stated.
"What was her expression?" an older and wiser voice asked.
"I don't know. She looked like she had just seen a ghost."
Katara groaned and sat up to look at three sets on eyes looking at her in wonder. She looked at each of them and realized she was back in the large bed. She had a splitting headache.
"Miss Katara are you all right?" Iroh asked putting a cold clothe to her head.
"I-I think so, what happened?" Katara asked weakly.
Zuko cleared his throat but didn't say anything, Akiko rolled her eyes. "What Zuko wants to say is, is that he is a paranoid twit that was suspicious when he saw you get up and leave the room. He went to go see what was going on and he saw you staring at him in the ball room and you just passed out." She said sneering at a furious Fire Nation prince.
"Oh." Katara said vaguely and looked off out the window, it was already mid-day.
Iroh sniffed the air and smiled. "Well, if you are feeling better we might be able to resume your training on manners."
"We still have a long way to go with you." Zuko said bitterly.
Katara's eyes narrowed and she bolted up startling them all. She glared at all three of them, "Look I am not a barbarian like you think I am just because I don't belong to your precious Fire Nation okay? For La's sake, I know my manners and I don't need any of you to tell me I am a no nothing peasant that doesn't know how to act properly in the company of others!"
Enraged Katara flung the blankets off her and stormed out of the room. She stood outside the door and took in a deep and shaky breath. She had to get out of there, she ran down the marble stairs and out the door into the sunlight. Now she couldn't control them, tears came. This whole experience was so stressful. She didn't want to be Mora; she didn't want to even have to go to the Fire Nation she wanted to be with Aang and her brother again, even Toph for La's sake!
Katara ran through the town with her face in her hands crying until she couldn't cry anymore. She could have run on forever but her body collided into another and strong arms locked around her body, she thrashed and thrashed but those arms stayed locked and someone lovingly shushed her in her ear. "It's okay." The male voice said softly. Katara looked up into Tye's gorgeous green eyes and sniffed; he put his face in her hair and continued shushing her as she hiccupped her sobs.
"You want to talk about it?" Tye asked after Katara calmed down a bit. Katara bit her lip, she would love to talk about it but that would mean telling him their plan and she couldn't risk that. "I would but I just don't think that I could." Katara said sadly. Tye smiled and lifted her head up to look at him. "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow night gorgeous."
Tye walked away with a smirk on his face that made Katara's blood run cold. She turned around with a faint blush and decided she would just go to the nearest river and waterbend her troubles out.
The lake was large and perfect for Katara to bend her problems out of. She exhaled and lifted up the water into her control and let it spiral it all around her body with her eyes hard and her mind focused. She threw it all back into the water with a cry of anger and flopped onto her back with her face in her hands.
0000
"Katara, wake up, today is the day!" Akiko said lightly shaking Katara's shoulder.
Katara groaned and looked up at the luminous girl and smiled. "What do I possibly have to do today?"
"We have to get ready of course!" Akiko said now enthused. She threw the covers off Katara and pulled on her arm like a five year old. "Come on we have to go get ready! It's going to start soon!" she whined.
"Akiko, it starts at five." Katara moaned standing and stretching.
"Well its two now." Akiko said crossly.
Katara gasped, "What? How did it get so late?"
Akiko scoffed, "You didn't come back until we were all asleep anyway. What did you expect?"
Katara groaned and rubbed her temples with her indexes. "I guess we don't have as much time as I thought."
Akiko smiled and grabbed Katara's bag. "Okay now I get you ready!"
A nervous smile cursed Katara's lips as Akiko began brushing Katara's hair. "So, why did you let Zuko get you so upset the other day?" Akiko asked cautiously.
Katara scoffed, "Zuko didn't make me angry, it was just the fact that everyone thinks I am so barbaric is all."
Akiko smirked, "Of course, Katara."
….
"Lady and Iroh," Akiko announced at the top of the marble staircase, causing Zuko to send her a hot glare. "I present to you, Miss Katara Mora of the Water Tribe!"
Iroh gave a deep "awe" at the sight of Katara timidly walking out from the corner of the hallway. Her braid was swung over her shoulder and headband for an accessory. Her dress was a light blue and was to her ankles. It was short-sleeved with upturned cuffs; it had a brown belt around her waist revealing how tiny it was. She had on some black tights similar to her old ones and her brown animal skin boots.
"Well what do you guys think?" Katara asked with a hint of a blush on her cheeks.
Iroh smiled warmly, "You look beautiful Miss Katara."
Zuko crossed his arms and looked at the ground, he wasn't about to say anything to that peasant. Iroh pursed his lips and elbowed his nephew, Zuko only grunted in response.
"You look lovely as well, Akiko." Iroh said not to leave the angelic girl out. It was the same dress she had at Aunt Wu's, a dusty silvery grey with baby blue lining and sash revealing how strikingly thin she was, her silvery blonde hair was only partly pulled up into a bun, the rest hanging down at her neck They both had light makeup on that complimented their dresses, Zuko hated makeup with a passion.
Akiko smiled vaguely and looked away, her smile faded instantly and she appeared to be deep in thought over something, or rather…someone. "Alright, let's just…go."
Zuko glanced at his Uncle, they hadn't told Akiko about their plan yet and they were prepared for the worst. Not that the plan would backfire but what Akiko would do to them when they sprung this on her.
Katara walked around with a small blush from all the stares she was getting. She couldn't wait for Tye to see her.
It was held in the square of the town and everyone was there, laughing and having a good time. There was a large bonfire in the middle of it and a band off to the side playing an old Earth Kingdom song about a rock and a flower that fell in love.
"Katara, hey Katara!" a voice called.
Katara turned to see Tye running up to her looking handsome as ever. She grinned as Akiko nudged her in the ribs to go up and talk to him. Zuko rolled his eyes and crossed his arms at there girly-ness.
"Hey beautiful." Tye said and used his thumb to trail along her lips. Katara smiled nervously, he sure was touchy-feely.
Tye turned and gave Zuko a dark look, "I'll make sure he won't make you cry tonight." He said bitterly.
Katara looked to see Zuko who has already narrowed his eyes on the dashing boy. How dare he disrespect the Prince of the Fire Nation! Zuko felt the heat swirl in his clenched palms. He could care less about the girl but when someone is disrespectful he would care, and now he cared, he disrespected him for no reason.
The Water Tribe girl laughed nervously at the tension that hung between the boys and tugged Tye past Zuko to dance by the fire. "Come on, let's… dance." Even if she didn't know how to dance; anything to get her out of there would be enough.
Tye brushed past Zuko and managed to whisper, "She's mine for the night." He said it so darkly Zuko almost shuddered but that would not be wise. He didn't even pay attention to what that might mean he was too focused on this guys ignorance and stupidity. 'He's perfect for that peasant.' He thought darkly.
….
Akiko was watching everyone dance with sad eyes. She remembered when these things would happen in her own village and she would attend with him. She greatly awaited going back into the Fire Nation and running into his arms and--
….
Iroh looked around the crowd to see if he remembered a face. And there in the corner he did and it was exactly who he was looking for. General Bong Su was drinking with a few of his friends. He was just the kind of man to go for young beautiful girls, especially girls with such a foreign and rare look as Akiko.
Iroh coughed and elbowed Zuko to catch the boys' attention. He pointed over to the general boozing it up. Zuko nodded and pulled Akiko away from her thoughts. "Hey, what are you doing?"
Zuko shushed her and made sure no one was listening. "Look I need a favor."
Akiko arched a brow. "Is that all you pulled me away for? Fine, what is it?"
"See that man over there?" he pointed over to the general. Akiko nodded suspiciously.
"Well, in his coat he keeps some very valuable information on hidden secrets of Mora. And we need someone-" But Akiko cut him off by jabbing him in the chest.
"Oh no, I am not doing your dirty work!" she stated and turned away from him with crossed arms.
Zuko growled and gripped her shoulder. "Just do it." He hissed.
Akiko spun around, "No, why don't you go dance with him and grope around a sweaty generals chest!" a few people stopped and stared.
Iroh who had been listening laughed until Zuko sent him a horrid glare. Zuko looked at her with a hard look but in his eyes he was pleading, "I want to go home and you're not going to stop me!" he barked.
Akiko looked up at him now suddenly remembering home. She sighed and grimaced up at Zuko, "Fine, but you owe me."
Zuko felt quite accomplished with himself as he saw his friend hesitantly walk over to the drinking general. Though he felt bad, most likely he would be doing most of the groping.
Suddenly Zuko felt a tap on the shoulder. He turned around to face about five girls with cheap seductive grins on their overly powdered faces. "Hey handsome, I would love to dance with a big hunk of manly man like you." A busty brunette said batting her fake eyelashes not caring that one fell off and hung to her cheek. Zuko grimaced but Iroh (who had recently begun thinking of grandchildren) had shoved him into her arms where his face got squeezed by her world-conquering breasts. Iroh grinned as if this would do him good. Zuko…hated his Uncle.
….
Katara and Tye hadn't danced yet; he said he wanted to wait for a slow song. Katara was a bit skeptical because she thought slow dancing would be much harder than anything that was quick-paced. After many minutes of awkward silence a slow song was being played and Tye roughly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the firelight and pressed his body up against hers, grinning seductively. All they were doing was swaying around, Katara didn't realize that it was considered dancing, all she knew were the tribal dances and they were probably very different then Fire Nation dances. Katara noticed Tye's hands began to wonder and gave a little gasp; she grabbed his hands and gently stepped back with a small smile gracing her delicately painted lips.
"Look Tye your nice but—" she began but Tye cut her off.
"Yeah I know, hey why don't we uh- go for a walk." He said with a cheap grin.
Katara cocked a brow but didn't ask anything, "Sure that sounds nice."
….
Akiko groaned as she approached the now severely drunk general, she didn't want to have to put up with this tonight. Of all things, of all people! She hated him and she would want to give him the old one, two if her home wasn't on the line.
"Hello handsome. Would one such as yourself, give a lady the honor of dancing with you?" Akiko asked sweetly her eyes drawn to his face. He was a younger general and he didn't look too bright.
The general turned to his friends with a big seductive grin on his face as he took her hand and guided her into the firelight. Akiko tried to smile as much as she could and seem as pretty as possible
"So what's your-hic-name gooorgeous?" the man slurred swaying her around sloppily.
"Darcy, and yourself?" Akiko asked casually being spun into him.
"Hic- General Bong Su-hic- at your service." He laughed like a two-year old that just got a new toy, it was rather disturbing.
But Akiko still smiled none-the-less. "Oh I see; that will be for good use."
General Bong Su looked up at her and grinned like a mad-man and Akiko thought that maybe, she had said the very wrong thing that would get her into trouble.
….
"Look your nice but—" Zuko began but the girls insistent giggling was powering over his voice.
"Oh, your muscles, oh so big!" a red head mused grabbing a tricep and pinching it in-between her ridiculously long nails. Zuko looked at her grudgingly and snatched his arm back like it was precious gold, which the women thought it was.
"Oh, and that scar, so dangerous and rough." a girl said with a fake swoon. She was wearing a corset that looked too tight for obviously large size. "Well, I am dangerous and rough too." Zuko could have vomited at her last sentence. These girls weren't like Akiko or Katara, these girls were forcing beauty and it didn't look good. At least Katara and Akiko were naturally attractive, not that he would admit that to either of them, but he would take them over these goons any day of the week. That's saying something.
"Please dance with me." A girl squealed clinging to his middle. He gasped and looked at her as if she had grown three heads. She looked up at him with a puppy-dog look that Zuko wanted to smack off her face but he wouldn't do that, not to a girl that wasn't his sister anyway.
Zuko growled, she was the quietest out of the group and if it meant getting away from the 'dangerous fat girl in denial' then he was all over it. The girl grinned massively and pushed him out into the crowd and began dancing crazy even though it was a slower song. Zuko put his face in his hand in embarrassment. The rejected girls sat at the sides looking depressed.
"Come on girls, there plenty to dance with!" the girl called over her shoulder. All of the girls who had recently been 'depressed' shot up with hilarious grins and flung themselves into the firelight with the so-called quiet girl and an ever-so-sick Zuko.
….
"How's bout you give a general a kiss." The drunken General Bong Su slurred leaning on Akiko with almost all his weight.
Akiko gulped, she had to do it to get that stupid paper. She smiled and leaned it tenderly grabbing the sides of the mans face, "Only if you want me too." She whispered seductively.
The general grinned and lowered his face into hers, his drunken breath making her nauseous. Akiko put a hand on his chest and kissed his gruff face passionately. As they were locked up in the kiss she began groping around his jacket and there was the paper, but it wasn't a paper-it was a tiny black book. Deciding she couldn't remove it from his pocket without his noticing she yanked him closer, deepening the kiss further. She really didn't want to be there. But yes, her plan did work he was totally engrossed with her that he didn't notice her slid the book in her large sleeves.
She parted and smirked before walking away leaving a general to sway side to side without a clue of what just happened. She ran away feeling disgusted with herself and hid behind a shadowing tree as the general called her lied name. She looked over her shoulder and screamed suddenly. That big spider that was in her bed was hanging down looking at her with hatred. She backed away with the book clutched in her hand. The spider was still watching her as if it would jump out to kill her at any moment.
Now frightened beyond what she could take she smiled sheepishly and began backing away. When she got to a good distance she spun on heel and ran. That spider was the creepiest little stalker she had ever known!
….
Now slightly in the dark forest Katara and Tye kept walking. "Tye where are we…" Katara began but Tye has spun around and place his lips on hers. Katara shoved him back and gave him a horrid glare. "What are you doing?"
Tye nuzzled his face into her neck and wrapped his arms around her body causing her arms to be pinned to her sides. "Shh, don't worry beautiful. I'm not going to hurt you."
Katara reached for her flask with her finger-tips but she had left it back with her other things! She wanted to scream but once again his mouth covered hers. But Katara was not one to just stand there and take it. She bit down on his lips and pulled back kicking and thrashing.
Tye was angry…no…Tye was furious. He licked his now cracked lips and scowled at her and tugged on the top of her dress, ripping it all the way down to her waist. Katara gasped looking down at the torn fabric and her exposed tan flesh. She screamed with everything she had. Without her water she had nearly no defense considering how strong Tye was.
…
Zuko groaned as all the women pushed up against him, swaying side to side giggling like idiots. Blast his horn-dog Uncle! All he wants is Grandnieces and nephews and all Zuko wanted was that these cheap whores would go back to hell. He nearly cried with joy when Akiko came running up.
"AKIKO!" he cried. All the girls that were buzzing around him stopped and scoffed at a shocked Akiko. Then turned around and flung their hair around snootily murmuring comments like, 'he wasn't that cute anyway' and such.
Akiko calmly approached with a grin on her face. Zuko scowled and crossed his arms hotly. "Don't say anything, Akiko. Now where's the book?"
With a grimace Akiko pulled it out of her sleeves and handed it out in front of her. But before Zuko could take it she snatched it back. "You have no idea what I had to do to get this so it better be good."
Zuko grabbed it with a scowl and tucked it away. "We should wait for Uncle and the girl."
"Yeah, speaking of which…there's Uncle but where is Kat-"
A shrill scream sounded from the edges of the forest. Zuko's ears perked up, he recognized that scream. Akiko probably heard it but thought it was those crazy teenagers doing Agni knows what out in the dark. She rolled her eyes and walked over to Iroh who was taking his fill of ginseng tea.
'Zuko!' Katara screamed.
No, the voice wasn't screaming his name but it was definitely from the same girl. He ground his teeth suddenly remembering the other arrogant peasant she was with. That fool must have done something to her, and she didn't even have her defense-what an asshole.
Apparently no one heard the scream but him and he knew who it was. Suddenly enraged with the idea of a man abusing a powerful but unarmed woman he ran off into the forest. Yes, he loathed the girl that just might be being attacked but that didn't mean anyone else should harm her but him. He earned that title a long time ago.
…
"Let-me-go!" Katara growled and struggled against Tye.
"I'm just trying to kiss you." Tye defended with a sly grin.
"I don't want to kiss a scumbag like you!" she cried and thrashed harder, her eyes clenched so she wouldn't have to look at him.
Tye laughed and harshly pressed his lips to hers while Katara screamed into his mouth for some sort of escape. There was none so she began crying about ready to go deeper into hysterics.
"Hey!" a gruff and familiar voice rang angrily. Katara thought she would never feel anymore relieved to hear his voice but now she felt like crying with joy and running behind him so he would save her from this creep.
Tye's grip on her slackened and she fell to the ground holding her sore arms. She looked up see Zuko standing face to face with Tye staring him down with the most heated glare she had ever seen.
"Leave us alone pal, we were busy, she's staying." Tye barked shifting his gaze a bit. Zuko however did not shift his gaze. (He was pissed)
"Do you want to leave?" Zuko asked mono-tone to Katara, though his eyes never left Tye's and his face never changed. Katara lunged up and hid behind Zuko just peeping out from his back.
"I suggest you leave unarmed girls alone from now on, stick with the armed ones and see what happens." Zuko growled and shoved Tye on his back. Zuko turned his back and made sure Katara was walking in front of him the whole time, he never glanced back.
Katara walked down holding her dress together so no one would get suspicious. She looked up at Zuko's stone hard face and managed a genuine smile. She looked in front of her as they approached the square again. It was getting late and many families with younger children had already gone home, the music was slower now.
Akiko and Iroh ran up to them with shocked wide eyes as they caught her torn dress. Iroh looked accusingly at his nephew then back to Katara with concerned eyes.
"What happened, Katara?" Akiko asked nodding at her raw mouth. Katara looked down at her feet deciding that they were interesting enough to stare at.
"Tye." Zuko said gruffly.
Iroh tucked his hands into his sleeves. "He was a creeper?"
Zuko cocked a brow at his Uncle's interesting choice of words and nodded. "We should be getting home."
All the rest agreed as Akiko blocked Katara's torn dress and leaned over her comfortingly.
0000
No one wanted to even talk about the book that night; everyone knew full well they were all too tired and that they would go over it first thing in the morning. As all of them lay in bed only two still were laying awake deep in different thoughts.
Katara turned to her side to face Zuko, head on her arm. "Zuko are you still awake?" she whispered.
Zuko was on his back with his fingers laced over his belly. He nodded without even looking at her.
"Hey, I just want to say thank you for helping me back in the forest. It was really nice of you to help me when I was unarmed." She smiled.
Zuko turned on his side away from her, Katara frowned instantly and looked down. "No problem." Zuko said lightly. Katara smiled and closed her eyes, now ready to go to sleep.
0000
"Katara come on, we're going to talk about that book." Akiko called into the bedroom. Katara was humming and playing with a stream of water from her flask. She smiled and put it back into her flask and ran into the ballroom. She was actually excited now.
"It's about time." Zuko said bitterly leaning against the stairwell. Katara pursed her lips and looked over his shoulder to see the book. "I don't have it." Zuko sighed and pointed to Uncle who was waiting for everyone to get into a circle. None of the teenagers wanted to do 'circle time with Iroh' just yet.
"Do any of you want to know what this book contains?" Iroh asked waving the book in front of him tauntingly. The teenagers grumbled but sat in a circle anyway desperately wondering what the book contained.
Iroh opened the book and furrowed his brows. "It has old journal entries, people, and a few pictures."
Katara snatched it, and began reading.
"Dear Diary,
The ball was fantastic. At first I had no idea as to what I was doing, I was just being spun around by different men. But then he came to me and I immediately gave thanks that I will always have my lover to save me from internal madness. He said he wasn't able to attend but he managed to come for a few moments just to kiss my hand and walk up to the hallway, we made a lovers eye contact and all was bl-"
Katara furrowed her brow. "This is all it says, the rest is ripped." She swallowed a large lump in her throat. She had been there she had…lived it, in a sense. She set the paper down and picked up the next paper of names, many were so familiar! She shook her head and looked through everything she could get her hands on.
She picked up a picture and gasped. It was Mora and her lover. Mora looked exactly like her it was frightening and the man…he looked so much like…
"Hey, what's this?" Akiko asked giving her a piece of paper. Katara stopped her train of thought and sighed as it all vanished from memory. She looked at the paper and gasped. She clutched onto her necklace and felt the trinket inside of it. It was the picture of the trinket.
"It says that Mora handcrafted it herself to pass to her next generation." Iroh said in thought.
Zuko growled suddenly. "That means that she would have to have it and do we have that trinket, no!" he was in an awfully angst mood today.
Katara frowned and looked down, okay she would tell them; she had to. Akiko shook her head. "No, it says that it was long since lost after she made it. It was buried with her lover."
Lies, Katara thought bitterly.
"No, its not." Zuko grumbled indistinctly.
"Many of this is very useful, Miss Katara. We should begin studying after we set out." Iroh said leaning back on the floor.
Akiko had become engrossed with these things like she was with that book with the golden writing.
They went through many things and categorized them before tucking them away. They had to pack and leave; after all they couldn't live there forever.
"Come on, we have to convince all of the world that your Mora." Zuko said and tugged them all up to the bedroom to get their things and leave.
0000
Oliver grimaced when they found the book. He leaned against the staff that was beginning to glow. "Convince the world that Mora is alive. Ha! Master finished her off. Idiots." He said in his comical chipmunk voice.
"Isn't that right my friend, how are they-bah! You still glow?" Oliver leaned over and watched Katara sit there in an argument with Zuko. "Hmm, you don't she's really...? Then that means the master is still alive!"
Just as that was said the staff lifted up with Oliver clinging onto it for dear life with all his tiny eight legs. "Oh, boy."
And then he was thrown into the underworld.
Hmm. These chapters are just becoming flat out difficult to write! I don't want to shove too much info on you at once or anything and then things get poorly written. I'm sorry I am going to keep trying, and I'm sorry if this chapters plot was a little blah! But yes, we got a LITTLE Zutara action in here. Enjoy it because this is gonna go REALLY sorry. And little Oliver is so cute in my opinion and I HATE spiders. Well I hope you still review, I will really improve on writing this, it just needs to even out a bit, this is the rocky stage of the story. 17 pages : - D and expect to hear, "WHERE IS HE?" in the future and "AYE"
FANARTIST WANTED
REVIEW
