As if it is commonplace, Katara finds herself once again in the presence of the shepherd whom she visits routinely. The chap, nearly a full decade younger than her, with broad shoulders and firm muscles under his tunic, is the person who provides her poison stigma sap upon her request. It's for the crimes she commits, a tool she uses to throw the police of their feet and make them think she's killing for Tu Di Zhong. She knows the young man through his visits to the brothel. The young man had engaged her services on exactly thirty occasions over the past couple of years.
His initial intention was to gain experience so he would perform well for the wedding night that had not yet been scheduled. Katara knew that this was merely an excuse to seek out a prostitute, but played along anyway. He wasn't one to talk much, though she had gathered that at that time, he had not yet found a partner.
She guessed that he grew weary of waiting and had opted to seek out a hooker. His ruse soon fell away, and his true intentions were revealed, clear as day. It was apparent to them both, although not said, that he was in it for the pleasure and had always been. Soon however, he fell in love with a girl who shortly after dating him, had agreed to marriage.
Katara didn't mind. In fact, she found this piece of information incredibly useful, for she now holds him ransom in a way. Despite her sympathy for the man, she has issued him a proposal, well, an ultimatum really, giving him the option of helping her or losing the woman he loves. She assumes he thinks she will let it be known, their shady… lessons. But really, she means that she would have no problem ending the girl. Such is the mind of a killer.
From a distance, she sees him and instinctively glances around her form. They are amongst the shrubs on the outskirts of the city, where few people venture. However, after a few incidences of nearly being discovered, the waterbender finds that slight paranoia descends over her every time she does things pertaining to the act of murder. She signals him to quicken his pace as tension presses against her chest. A faint expression of impatience crosses the man's face, even though he increases his speed.
"I'm glad you could come," she tells him. Katara has become accustom to his oddly severe features, and the stoniness that is normally present in his expression. He nods at her wordlessly, and brings a vial from his pocket. It is small, in no way substantial, to the untrained eye, but Katara is far from a novice and knows exactly how potent the poison is.
"Here," he says, his voice monotonous and a little nonchalant as he presses the thing to her palm. He has never asked why she requires the liquid, and she's never told him. The Water Tribe woman figures that he doesn't want to know her reasons and quite frankly this is a comfort to her.
"Thank you," she says and pauses. "How's your wife?" she asks. It is a loaded question, a reminder of his treaty with her. "I assume she's well," she says, her voice sickeningly sweet. The nineteen-year-old swallows hard, his mask of indifference quickly fading.
"She's fine," he tells the waterbender. In reality, his wife who is a full year younger than himself, has recently conceived their first child, but he will not mention this. Katara is way too calculating a woman to simply take the information as conversational. "If that is all," he begins, "I'd best be going," he says and she nods, thanking him again. Yes, that is all… for now, Katara thinks, as she promises that they will, eventually, meet again.
X
Zakai has heard much about her, the woman who looks most enticing with nothing on but her necklace. The retired naval officer turned ammunition mogul has come in search of a good time. This will be the first occasion, in nearly twenty years of being a widower that he will finally find the pleasure his old body craves. Zakai runs his fingers over the gold bracelet around his wrist- a token of love and commitment. There is heaviness in his heart as his mind drifts to his late wife.
She was everything to him and more. Together they have two daughters, both of whom are non-benders specializing in broad swords and nunchaku. After slight unease and reluctance, he has finally convinced himself that this is all right. After all, it was his two girls who openly encouraged him to find new love. The man of sixty, with slight nervousness and abounding excitement, approaches the wooden doors of the brothel.
He has walked pass on several occasions, never daring to enter. Tonight however, he has gathered enough courage and has ventured here. The reputable pleasure the Water Tribe woman can provide under the covers has come to his attention. The men at the factory he has recently set up often bring up the woman in blue and the amazing lovemaking she provides. The mere thought of how his body will finally experience sex again makes his loins throb.
Zakai is in Geylang as an adviser of sorts, and has been asked by one of his former subordinates, Zhao, to help build a weapons factory. Of course, he will be paid handsomely; the admiral has assured him a tidy sum. For almost two months, the old man has been working tirelessly but now… now he finds himself here.
He garners all his bravery within him and raps on the door. It is nearly midnight and he seldom comes out this late but Zakai couldn't stop thinking about this woman whom he has heard so much about. The doors open and a woman emerges. She is dressed in an exaggeratedly tight cheongsam, her curves exceedingly round. Her makeup is heavy, her eyelids painted a dark shade of purple. He sees the maturity on her features and the wrinkles around her eyes. She isn't attractive and Zakai almost leaves in a hurry.
"Come, come Sir," she says and grabs his arm. He feels every bone in his body tingling with discomfort. Who the hell is she? He wonders as he hesitantly follows her. This is his first time actually stepping into a brothel and it isn't going well. He grumbles under his breath and tries to free himself of the woman's grip. "Katara!" she calls out, her voice awful and screechy. Curious, the man turns and looks up the stairs.
There, in a loose light blue tunic and a simple pair of pants, is the most beautiful woman he's seen since his late wife. He spots the necklace around her neck and watches her come from the stairs. She doesn't seem prepared for the night, judging by her lack of makeup and her dressing but he isn't complaining. If she would be willing to sleep with him for one night, he would be ready to pay her generously.
Katara… he quite likes the name and finds an instant attraction to the woman. He feels his old body respond to the seemingly sudden rise in temperature and smiles at her.
"Yes Madam?" he hears her say as she steps onto the ground floor. Her voice is sweet like honey and gentle, just as a woman's should be. "Good evening Sir," she says politely and bows. There is a small smile on her face. It doesn't seem forced, or reluctant and this comforts him. It makes him feel wanted, Agni, it makes him feel wanted.
"Take this gentleman, if he doesn't mind," the woman, whom he now knows is the Madam says. He doesn't quite like her because she doesn't seem particularly pleasant. When he finally gathers himself, he begins to speak.
"Yes, of course," he answers eagerly and takes Katara's hand in his. He catches her gaze and leans down to kiss her hand. Her skin is soft, smooth and smells like rose petals. "Good evening," he knows that he isn't all that attractive, after all, he is old enough to father her.
"All right then," the Madam claps twice. "Shall I then allow the two of your to chat?" her tone is bright as she steps away. Katara brings Zakai into one of the rooms on the first level of the brothel. She closes the doors and with his assistance, lights a candle. Katara recognizes an influential man when she sees one as she seizes him up.
He is elderly, clearly widowed and still very much in love with his wife, judging by the bracelet he still wears. He is probably just experimenting and doesn't know what to expect. She smiles lovingly at him. Katara has long since mastered the art of lying with her expressions and is a little amused when a huge grin plasters on his face. She leans in and the rest, as they say, is history.
X
After his wife's demise, Zakai thought he would never love again. This is in many ways true. In his earlier days as a widower, he found himself beside himself in sorrow. The only woman he had ever loved was dead. The grief drove him to retire early, he was only forty and could have stayed in the navy for a decade more. Promotion was looming, he had been among the three military men selected to be promoted to the rank of Admiral.
He had big dreams for himself and his family. With the highest naval honor on his shoulders, he would do his father proud. If the rumors were true, he would be the next officer in charge of the entire Fire Nation Fleet. On the eve of the promotion, he received a message via messenger hawk. The note was short, and all he knew from it was that his wife had a bad fall.
When he arrived home, she was already dead. The physicians assured him that there was nothing anyone could have done to save her. However, he never forgave himself for not being there to see her for the last time. He left the military after he was struck with a bout of depression. He didn't think he would ever heal.
Although, about half a decade later, after he had recovered considerably, he founded Power Corporation, an independent weapon's manufacturer that became the Fire Nation Military's biggest supplier. Although, even as he had known he would never get over his wife, Zakai felt as if life was beginning to turn for the better.
Years later, he finds himself here, in Geylang, the new centre of his company's growth. He didn't have the intention of meeting anyone special but his daughters' encouragement and his staffs' recommendations made him change his mind. Still, it would be better if this meeting remains a secret.
Zakai rolls off Katara's form and rests for a moment. He has mixed feelings about this night. On one hand, it was awesome and he is completely sated. On the other hand, he feels like he's committed a sin. Sighing softly, the man lifts himself from his position lying on the bed. He glances at the woman next to him. Katara is practically glowing, with her nipples still hard and droplets of her sweat between her breasts. She looks like a goddess and reminds Zakai of his first time.
"So what's your story?" she asks as she sits up and leans against the headboard.
"Well, my wife died," he tells her and watches as the woman glances at his bracelet. "She had a fall," he continues, their nakedness distracting him distantly. "And when I got back she was dead." Katara watches as his expression falls and his lips turn down at the sides.
"I'm so sorry to hear," she responds and he nods. "Any children? Grandchildren?"
"Yes," he answers. "I have two girls, who are both mothers themselves," he pauses, smiling a little. "I have four grandchildren and one on the way," the pride in his family does not escape Katara.
"What do you do for a living?" she asks casually as she leans against the headboard, not bothering to cover up.
"I own the factory here," he states. "We make weapons and produce uniforms," he tells the woman. Katara shuts her eyes. He seems nice; she had hoped he was merely an insignificant pawn in this cruel game of chess. She had hoped he hadn't done anything to harm the world. Yet, now that she that she knows who he is and what he is responsible for, she cannot let him leave.
"You should go wash up," she begins, pointing at the bathroom door.
"Thank you," his eyes sparkle gold, as a grateful smile comes onto his features. There is sincerity in his words as he nods once and ventures into the bathroom. This is the first time she has ever felt this guilty of what she is about to do. Katara considers letting him live, ignoring the oath she swore to freedom.
Alas, the waterbender cannot turn her back on the people who have been scarred by this man's actions. And so, with a heavy heart, she takes the vial of poison stigma sap from the pocket of her pants. With every drop of poison that falls into his wine, with every moment of suffering she witnesses, she slips closer and closer to the eighteenth level of Hell.
Katara
X
Even after being a hooker for more than a decade, I still haven't found a person I'm actually attracted to. Although, I have become very capable of giving them the false comfort that I indeed enjoy the whole experience. Sometimes the new girls will ask if I've ever fallen in love with my clients, to which my answer is always flatly 'no'. This is obviously true. The only reason I even do this job is because I need the money. Pleasure is most definitely NOT in the equation.
Most, if not all of my customers, are poor in bed, stink of alcohol and are pompous fools who have their heads so far up their ass they think they're a master in lovemaking. Most, I do nothing to, apart from sex and accepting payment. Even though, every once in a while, I find victims in them. Very often, my victims are high ranking military personnel or business magnates, sometimes they're just violent bastards with perverse fantasies. Either way, I always comfort myself in the thought that the world is better off without them.
I will admit that sometimes, these people are considerate, almost caring, and maybe even kind. Sometimes my heart will soften and I will feel sorry for the actions that will ensue, but that has never stopped me from killing. I think it must be made clear that I am not a monster, that I do feel guilt, that I sometimes am more than reluctant to murder. Tonight is such a time.
Zakai is a kind man, partly why I chose to let him have my body before killing him. You would think that by now, after taking fifteen lives in ten years, after disposing bodies in the most gruesome way possible, it has become easy for me. Well, sometimes it is very easy, especially if they've attempted to take advantage of me in unspeakable ways. Sometimes I even find it feels good to end their lives. Although, there are instances… when I feel pity and a tinge of longing that under different circumstances things could differ.
As I sit at the dresser and light a cigarette, I reflect on the pain I have inevitably caused his family. He lies in the bed, eyes open, naked and dead. The poison had made him incredibly sick as his eyes bled and his lungs caved in, to the point of no return.
I feel a tear fall from my eye. If life were kinder, we wouldn't even know each other. I would be living in the Southern Water Tribe with my parents and brother, he would be serving breakfast to his wife every morning and we would never cross paths.
If the Spirits had willed it, there wouldn't be a war, there wouldn't be suffering. Unfortunately, life is not kind, and neither are the Spirits. I have discovered that they delight in the suffering of man, that it is their goal to bring despair. I take a deep breath of smoke and quickly put the cigarette out. Dawn is coming and with it, the risk of being discovered. And so, I gather myself, put on my clothes and bend the blood from the sheets.
I dress him in all his many layers of clothing, which are obviously making things a little easier. When I am convinced that the coast is clear, I peer outside of the room through a small crack. Confirming that no one is there, I begin my hideous task of bringing him to the carriage Mammy had given me before she died.
And then we are away. Before long, I find myself at an abandoned warehouse East to the brothel. When we reach our destination, it is still slightly dark as the sun begins to rise. I glance up and in the dim light, see two things. The first- a sign written in dark, bold characters declaring the ownership of the place. Power Corp.
And second- the nauseating white of the Madam's son's smile.
A/N: Okay! it's finally here! i kinda got distracted with writing other stuff. i wrote a Zutara fic and an Irosami one that was deleted after some consideration D: do give me ideas for Irosami if you have any! i really love that pairing and would like to write about them.
anyways, so... Mika (the madam's son) is here! oh me, oh my! what will happen next? anyways read and review! oh and by the way, i keep forgetting to tell you all... Geylang is a red light district area in singapore! also, fallen tears chapter 12 is on it's way! probably out in a few days (hopefully).
okay! thanks everybody, thanks!