-1Cactus juice! It quenches your thirst! Nothing's quenchier! IT'S TEH QUENCHIEST! (heehee!)
Chapter 10; a Battle on an Enemy's Ship
"General Iroh, I read somewhere that the sun has a lot to do with fire bending," Sukue said. She knew that the general's time was precious, and she should use this opportunity to learn what she could from the great Dragon of the West.
"Yes, the sun is a great source of power for us. Fire bending is at it's strongest during the day time, while water bending is strongest at night, when their patron spirit the moon most directly affects the tide." Iroh slowly turned his cup in his hand, watching the soft curves of the liquid.
"I see. Does that make the elements water and fire opposites then?"
"Some people believe so," he nodded. "But I recall that there was once a folk tale often told in the palace about the spirits of the moon and the sun and a great happening in the spirit world, but I can't seem to remember the exact details."
"Do you remember what book it might have come from? I could look in the library for you," Sukue offered. She loved tales about the spirit world, it was such a mysterious place.
Iroh shook his head. "I don't believe you'll find it in any libraries now." He stood up, bowing to them both. "I terribly sorry, but I was requested to meet with someone soon. I hope you both remember what I told you today."
Sukue jumped to her feet, bowing deeply again. "It's been an honor to speak with you, General Iroh. I hope we haven't made you late."
He chuckled, looking at Zuko as he said, "Prince Zuko, you'd do well to learn some politeness from your friend here. She speaks like a diplomat." Sukue giggled as Zuko stuck out his tongue at his uncle.
----
Sukue woke to shouts and gruff orders. She blinked twice, then bolted upright, wincing slightly. She hrew the light blanket off, recognizing new bandages on her arms and ankles. She felt surprised that Ji hadn't woken her putting them on. She changed as quickly as she could out of the colorless shirt and pants that'd begun to stink and into a pair of black Capri pants and black undershirt. She pulle the sleeves of a short red tope with mauve trim. Leaving it loosely closed, she tied a sash around her waist that was the same pastel red as the trim. Sukue ran a brush hastily through her greasy black strands, pulling some strands away from her face back into a tight ponytail with a leather string. She put another string between her teeth, opened the door and walked out.
While braiding her ponytail, she was jostled out of the way by men hurrying this way and that. She was startled by the unusual amount of activity; usually the crew was sitting around for a small noontime meal of dried meat and stale bread. Instead the raggedy bunch dashed about in an almost frenzied state, pulling on ropes, rolling barrels into the hull. Then men began pulling out weapons, fingering the hilts of swords and mallets that hung from their waists. She noticed many of them seemed to dart their eyes up menacingly off the port bow between running around like cockroaches before the light. She peered to the horizon, but didn't see anything for a moment, then she notice a dark blot making it's way towards them.
"Sukue," a voice called to her. She turned and found Kaeji standing right behind her, his hands balled into fists at his side.
"What's going on, Kaeji?" she asked through clenched teeth, nearly finished with the long plait.
His brow was only slightly furrowed; he was trying to conceal how worried he actually was. "You'd better come have a look for yourself." She followed him up the stairs to the second deck level, tying her braid off with the leather strip.
"Well, well Miss Shiro. 'Tis a true delight t'see ye out of bed at long last!" Captain Hue cried when she bowed a greeting to him. "Do believe t'was right on time, too. Seems we 'ave company." He handed her a brass spyglass, and after a moment the black blot that she'd seen on the horizon became clear.
"Fire Navy ship," she muttered, her mind abuzz with this discovery. "Captain," she began, turning to face the towering man, "the rebels are indebted to you for helping as you have, just as I am for having been cared for as I've been for the past week. Please allow me to help you avoid injury as much as possible during this squabble."
He winked roguishly at her. "So ye 'ave a plan then Miss Shiro?"
She nodded decisively. "Yes, a plan that should get us through this unscathed for the most part."
----
Some time later, the metallic Fire Navy vessel dropped anchor next to the smaller wooden ship. Only Sairo and Loki remained on deck to greet the dozen or so fire benders that jumped aboard accompanying their captain. He was a tall young man of maybe twenty years, with hawk-like eyes of gold and thin pursed lips. Half of his thick black hair was pulled into a high topknot, the rest hung just below his shoulders. He stood with his arms crossed behind his back, glaring down at Sairo, who sat repairing a fishing net while Loki tended the helm.
"Ahoy there. Don't know why fine people like yourselves would wan' t'pop aboard our lil fishin' vessel, but surely ye have a good reason to."
"A fishing vessel, huh?" the captain murmured. "I am Captain Tao Tsu of the Royal Fire Nation Navy. Do you have anyone aboard your ship named Shiro Sukue or Iharo Kaeji?"
"A Captain, y'say? Ain't that fancy, sis?"
"Aye, fancy indeed." Sairo's eyes drifted from the tangled threads in her hands up to the proud face of the Captain before flicking back to her hands. He noticed the glance, though his expression didn't change.
"Answer the question boy. Who else is aboard?" he asked impassively.
"Just m'sister, m'self, and our father. He's nappin' in the cabin there. Would y'like me t'wake him for ye?"
Tao Tsu looked coldly at him, and spoke loudly as if Loki was of a lower species. "That won't be necessary. We will search your ship, by permission of the Firelord, and if you truly have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear.
Sairo stood up, the net still in her hands. Her green eyes flashed with anger, but her grin was genuinely sweet. "Surely such an important man as yourself wouldn't be interested in a hull full of empty fish crates, waitin' for the first catch of th' trip?"
He smiled back at her just as kindly. "If it is as you say, my dear, then we shall be leaving you to your fish in a very short while."
Sairo formed her lips into a mock pout. "Oh, well, I was hoping to hear some stories of your life as a captain. I'm certain you must know some fascinating tales," she flattered, pulling a strand of sandy blonde out of her face.
His men shuffled restlessly behind him, so Tao Tsu waved for them to begin their search. "Perhaps, after we take care of this business, you and I could talk privately on my ship."
Loki did his best to keep a straight face as Sairo let out a girlish giggle. The idea of Sairo acting like this had put him in stitches just imagining it, but to see her actually convincing someone with her 'charms' was too much. Though thankfully it seemed to keep the Fire Nation soldiers from noticing the figure sitting in the crow's nest, watching as they marched towards the stairs leading to the galley. Taking a deep breath, she stood up, grabbing a rope with bothe hands, and vaulted over the edge, soaring through the air in a wide arc. As she fell, the rope she was grasping was running through several pulleys, pulling the pirate flag at the end up through the air, a blur of blue and black.
The wind whistled past her ears and whipped her long thin braid around as Sukue kicked on of the soldiers in the side of the head. She landed on shaky legs, having to roll forward to catch her balance. Sairo threw the net on top of the captain, yelling, "Yaharr, mates! Let's show 'em the pirates' way of dealin' with Fire Navy scum!" Sukue stood, still holding the rope with one hand, and gave it a final yank, pulling the flag ino it's place. It had blue ripples and swirls sewn onto a black canvas. Loki shouted to them, then began moving his hands up and down, like a growing wave. The girls joined him at the helm, which was already lashed into place beforehand, just as his hands began churning in circles. A huge wave crashed over the deck, washing the soldiers onto their own ship.
The crew burst from the galley, grapples and ropes in hand. The three teens were already swinging up onto the metal ship, greeted by an eruption of fire. Sairo swung high, flipping through the air over the flames, landing her feet in someone's chest slamming him to the ground. She wasted no time in punching man behind her landing pad in the gut, then grabbing him by the shoulder to block a fire blast to her left. He screamed in agony, and was forced back into the attacker, knocking them both down.
Sukue blew through the flames with Loki in her wake, knocking one soldier down with a sweeping kick, using her momentum to elbow drop him in the chest. Loki bent some water into iced blades, little more than silver blurs as he cut down two more soldiers. He helped Sukue back to her feet, who ran forward to block a punch aimed for Loki.
"Hey, this might not be the best time, but, um about last night," he said, countering a kick with his shin, spinning and slicing the soldier's arm off just above the elbow with a sharp movement.
"Can't this wait?" she called over the roar of the pirates that began their assault on the soldiers, shouting garrulously even though they were outnumbered.
Loki spotted a puddle of water under some soldiers exiting the interior of the ship to join the brawl. He turned it suddenly to ice, making them slip and fall. "Well, no not really." Sukue was forced back by a soldier, and Loki caught her shoulder with his left hand, slashing at the offender with his right. He looked straight into her eyes, completely aware she felt uncomfortable being so close. "Sorry for kissing you. I won't ev'r do it again."
She nodded, suppressing the urge to laugh at the situation. "And if you do, I'll be sure to slap you hard."
"Agreed." He jumped next to a friend of his that was having some trouble. Sukue turned and tried to find Sairo. When she did, she had to duck immediately as an armored body sailed through the air over head. Sairo was surrounded by five soldiers, but she was grinning madly. A spinning kick knocked one down, three punches took another. The last three threw fire blasts, so she backflipped once, landing with a loud thud that resonated throughout the entirety of the ship, then cart wheeled forward, twisting her body on one hand and spinning her legs through the air. Her skirted twirled around her legs as she kicked the three men out cold. She pushed off the ground and stood up straight, noticing Sukue was running towards the engines of the ship. She followed far behind her, knowing it was time to sabotage the coal powered engines. But, something was strange. Sairo stopped at a door that was emitting immense heat, so it stood to reason that behind it was the engine room. But the fire bender had run past it, to the end of the deck, where the railing was gone to allow the smaller boats access to the sea. This isn't part of th'plan Sairo thought, following silently behind her, hiding behind some barrels hidden under some thick canvas.
Sukue stood with her toes off the edge of the cool metal, looking down at the small tugboat being unloaded into the water. "Running away, captain?" she called to him as he removed the last of the chains.
"Yes, I'd rather not be killed by you pirates, if you don't mind," he answered, not bothering to look up at her.
"I'm no pirate," she replied softly. "Tao Tsu, look at me." When he did, he drew in a sharp breath.
( )'
MUAHAHA! Cliffie, aren't I evil. Heehee, I couldn't resist having Sukue swing in like a swash buckling bucaneer. Let me know what you all think, I KNOW more than one person's reading this, dammit!….teehee! tries to look innocent Also, as soon as I can get my scanner working, I'll provide links to some sketches of everyone, including this one really sweet picture I have of Sukue and Zuko…sigh, it's soooo cute.