Thanks, Yuka Tsukino! :-)

Chapter Nine: The Warriors of Kyoshi, part 2

Xun leaned against the window of the house where they had been given rooms, watching the citizens of Kyoshi as they rushed back in forth in great excitement. A few men scrubbed at Appa's horns and brushed his fur, and in the main square a team of women were cleaning and painting the old statue of their island's namesake. The market was open for the day, men and women chattering among themselves, and children ran back and forth between the stalls. There was joy here, an unspoiled beauty in the midst of the destruction she had seen, and she prayed it remained so. Behind her, Aang threw his hands up in celebration. "All right!" he cheered. "Dessert for breakfast! These people sure know how to treat an Avatar." His voice became muffled as he stuffed food in his mouth, and Xun glanced at him with a small twitch of the lips before she turned back to the window, ignoring the spread of pastries. Aang and Katara were enjoying them enough for all of them, she figured, and her fading headache and a previously steady diet of fish and sea prunes meant she wasn't much in the mood for sugar once again. She was afraid that the food would make her nauseous where the blow to the head hadn't, but admitted she could go for some fruit if they had that.

She had phased out, it seemed, because when she came back out of her musing of the village below, Sokka was gone, and Katara was warning Aang not to get too excited. She stayed out of the conversation, not really wanting to pick sides but knowing Katara was right. A town this excited was bound to talk, and talk would spread. The Fire Nation would inevitably come looking, and if Aang stayed here…

Xun looked out over the rows of wooden houses, dry torches in her mind's eye to the flames of the soldiers, and swallowed hard. This town, even with its warriors, would not stand well against the Firebenders, no matter what they thought of themselves. Aang was young, inexperienced—they all were. She needed practice, badly, and she needed a weapon besides this little knife.

Cheering erupted for the street below, and she set a startled glance to a crowd of girls. Aang was leaning out the window beside her, and she send a confused look at Katara. "What did I miss?" she asked.

Katara stuck her tongue out at Aang and turned away. "Nothing much," she answered dryly. "Care to go shopping with me?"

Xun glanced at Aang, still baffled by what had just happened, and nodded. "Yeah. I'm going to see if I can find a sword. Mom didn't pack mine for me, since that would probably have raised questions."

"All right, then, let's go."

"Sure thing…" Aang had just hopped out the window, and Xun shook her head. "I changed my mind. I don't want to know," she decided, and followed Katara out the door.

... ... ...

It wasn't long before Xun split up from Katara, with the younger girl having her own target in mind, and she looked closely for any sign of a weapons trader or a blacksmith's shop. But no matter where she searched, there was nothing, and she sighed heavily. "Well, plan A is gone," she told herself. "Plan B, maybe?"

She took a step, and frowned. "What's plan B?"

The noon crowd of villagers out doing their shopping flowed easily around her as she stood in the middle of the street, brow pinched as she looked around for ideas. The statue of Kyoshi caught her eye, and she sighed at her own obliviousness. "That blow must have taken more out of me than I thought," she muttered, rubbing at the back of her head. There was still a tender bruise there, but she didn't think she needed to worry about a concussion anymore. But would they teach her if they knew she was Fire Nation? Maybe if she just didn't mention it…

A quick request for directions led her to a wooden dojo at the edge of the village where the warriors could practice in peace. Aang was passing by, and he called out a greeting to someone inside. A quick jog led her to the doorway to see who had caught his interest, and she blinked in shock at a moping Sokka, in full Kyoshi Warrior dress. "This is a new look for you," she commented slowly, and if possible his shoulders sank even further.

The leader of the female warriors turned to face her, painted eyebrows raised in question. "Can I help you?"

Xun colored and bowed quickly. "I apologize. I merely… Well, not merely, but I hoped to ask for lessons, or a sparring partner if one of your warriors is willing. I am decent at the sword, but I only have this dagger until I can find one, and little experience with it."

The woman evaluated her carefully, and it was only then that Xun realized she was actually around her own age. It was surprising, though not too much so, she figured. Just because Kyoshi wanted to stay out of the war didn't mean some of its members hadn't already left to fight in it.

"Very well," she agreed at last. "I am Suki, leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. I was just about to give your friend a lesson with our fans. Miko, Ayame, you are in charge of…"

"Xun," she answered the obvious question, sketching another bow. "I am also Youko, if you prefer, which is the name given to me by my adopted family in the Water Tribe. Though, if you speak of me outside of here, I would prefer to be spoken of as the latter."

"Xun will do here, but I'll keep your wishes in mind. You will work with Miko and Ayame, and they will get you fitted with a uniform. Can't give you an exception from the rule if I didn't give Sokka one," Suki decided with a smirk. "Miko, teach her how to use our fans. You and Ayame will also teach her how to use that dagger right."

The group split apart, and Xun grinned encouragingly at Sokka before she disappeared into the back with the two girls. Obviously a lot of things were going over her head today, but she wasn't sure if that was actually a bad thing at this point. She'd much rather avoid the drama she had spotted going on between the younger half of the group, and Sokka seemed to be in good hands. She'd ask him for the story later, how he ended up in a dress, but for now she had work of her own to do.

... ... ...

It was near sunset before the two girls finally pronounced her passable with the fans and decent with the dagger. "You need to be quick with that," Ayame instructed, demonstrating a series of rapid jabs. "In and out. Step in range, strike, get out. Don't give the enemy time to strike back. Think of it more as a supplement to hand-to-hand combat with a blade that small. Don't let them get the advantage of long or mid-range on you, but also don't stay too close that they can hit you back."

"Understood," Xun confirmed, following the warrior's lead. She let herself go through the moves, choosing a set of kata she had been taught, and tried to incorporate the sharp tool in her hand.

At the sidelines, Miko stiffened. "That is a Firebending stance."

Xun blinked, and looked worriedly at how her feet were positioned. "Is that okay? I mean, obviously I'm not a Firebender, never have been, but would the dagger work with that style?"

Ayame opened her mouth, frowning, but seemed to change her mind mid-thought. "It can work, since part of that style dictates that you get in and out quickly, but you might be better off treating the dagger as a fan. Using it to turn your opponent's blade back against him might be a better tactic."

The student nodded in agreement. "All right, I'll keep that in mind, and I'll be sure to practice the fan movements with the knife, too."

"Good," Miko pronounced. "All right, that should be enough for today. We'll start again tomorrow, and—"

There was a scream, and a shout went up from the village. "Firebenders," Ayame muttered darkly, and Xun shoved the dagger into its sheath and grabbed her pack to drop on the way so it would be closer when it was time to go. The fans were pulled from her waistband next, and she followed quickly after Miko and Ayame as they dashed toward the emptying streets.

The Kyoshi warriors were gathered along the rooftops, and Xun dropped her bag behind a crate before peering carefully around the corner. "Komodo rhinos," she hissed. "There's four of them, three with two soldiers apiece, and… Spirits, it's that prince again."

"Prince?" Miko whispered back, peering down at her.

"The Fire Prince, Zuko," Xun answered. "He came after Aang at the South Pole, and it seems he's bound and determined to get that kid no matter what." She turned and bowed quickly to them. "I will help you fight him, but chances are that my friends and I will need to leave quickly to draw him off. Thank you for the lessons."

"No problem," Ayame answered. "Quick! It's the signal!"

Despite her pledge, Xun held back as the others attacked, knowing she would only get in the way of their concerted effort. These warriors had practiced a long time together, and putting her in without knowing their strategies was a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, the soldiers were unseated quickly from their rhinos, and she stole around the perimeter to get an angle on the Prince. The skirmish moved quickly, and soon Suki was charging at Zuko with Sokka at her back, only to be knocked away by the rhino's long tail. A girl knocked him off his rhino with a good tackle, but when the Warriors closed in Zuko swept them back with flames leaping from his feet. "Nice try, Avatar!" he called. "But these little girls won't save you!"

Xun charged, knowing she had to give Aang time to either get there or to get to Appa. "Not little," she snarled, and tried her best to put her new training to good use. The principle was like Waterbending's movements, moving with the flow and turning strength back on itself. She was more used to Firebending's forms, and found herself confusing the movements right in the middle, tangling her arm with itself. It was only her knowledge of Firebenders' movements that saved her next, and she ducked low beneath a sweeping arm and jabbed upwards with a closed fan, as if with her dagger. It struck solidly into a soft part of his armor, and he jerked back in instinct before swinging down at her arm in retaliation. She pulled back, avoiding the strike. If her dagger had been in her hand it could have been a fatal blow, and it seemed he realized this by the angry look in his eyes.

"You'll pay for that," he warned her, closing in as she struggled to decide whether to stand her ground or keep her distance. A thrown fan came in from the side and struck his arm before he could touch her, and Xun jumped back in shock.

"Youko, run!" Ayame ordered from the rooftops. "Get out!"

Ah, snap. "Youko," the Prince repeated darkly, obviously remembering her. She stepped back again, composure crumbling, and brought her fans up in a guard position. It was now or never, she guessed, and—

"Hey! Over here!"

Never had she thought she would be more relieved to see Aang than now, she realized with a gasp. Zuko turned from her, effectively distracted, and Xun took the chance to run for the alley way where she had left her belongings, Now that Aang was here, it would be time to leave soon, and they couldn't afford to lose the money she had stored in her bag. Aang could handle Zuko, she was confident of that. For now, she couldn't, and would do more to hurt than help.

Appa was waiting in a side street by the time she came back from where she had dropped her things, and Katara pulled her up as she came in from the side. "Go!" Xun cried.

They took off, leaving behind a mess of smoke and burning wood. Had it been that morning that she had seen visions of this very fear? Xun had lost track of things in the time training, and she gazed mournfully at the wreckage her birth nation's people left behind.

Katara put a hand on her shoulder and turned to Aang. "I know it's hard, but you did the right thing. Zuko would have destroyed the whole place if we stayed. They're going to be okay, Aang."

Aang was staring down at the village with a look of heavy regret. Then, abruptly, he jumped, and Xun cursed as she dove for the side to track him. "What are you doing?!" she called after him, eyes wide with panic. He didn't answer with words, but disappeared beneath the waves of the bay. Soon after, the serpentine monster from before reared out of the water, snarling and throwing its head back and forth as Aang clung to the tendrils attached to its snout. Heaving, the boy pulled back as if steering a bucking ostrich-horse and the great Unagi of Kyoshi Bay spat out a stream of water to rain down on the burning village. The flames died and, the job done, Aang leapt and flipped backwards to be caught by a swooping Appa.

Xun leaned down and helped pull the boy up from where he clung to Appa's legs. "I know, I know, that was stupid and dangerous," he admitted.

Katara smiled. "Yes. It was." And then she hugged him close to her, tension ebbing from both their forms, and Xun collapsed back against the saddle and waved her fans.

"So my day went fine," she told Sokka in a dry tone. "How was yours?"

... ... ...

Zuko pulled off his armor with a growl of frustration. He had been so close! The Avatar was right there, they had fought, and then he had gotten away again. Why did this keep happening to him? It was obviously his destiny to capture the Avatar and regain his honor, but why was capturing a young boy four years his junior so difficult?

There was a knock on the door, and it cracked open to reveal his uncle with a tray. "Prince Zuko," he greeted. "I brought you your dinner and a mint tea to relax you and let you sleep. You— Ah, you are bruised."

Zuko looked down, surprised, as his tunic pulled up to reveal a purpling splotch just beneath his ribs. "So I am," he commented, pulling the shirt off completely so he could inspect what damage those female warriors might have done. The bruise was the worst of it, the rest warded off successfully by his armor and well-placed blocks, and he scowled at the sore spot as he thought back to its origin.

"The Earth Kingdom girl was there," he informed his uncle, "the one that claimed the Water Tribe village as her own."

"By there, I see you mean she got a little close," Uncle Iroh guessed, inspecting his nephew for himself. "It is fortunate that she wielded those fans, then, and not that dagger. A wound done with a sharp blade would have gone up into your lungs, placed such as that." He reached out and placed a warm hand on Zuko's shoulder. "I am glad that she did not."

"She had it," Zuko admitted, "she just wasn't using it." His expression turned sour. "She shouldn't have even gotten close in the first place! I was too slow, and I could have payed for it with my life."

Iroh sighed. "We will continue your lessons in the morning. For now, eat and rest, nephew."

"I want to know who she is, Uncle Iroh," Zuko told him. "She said her name is Youko but that can't be it. That name was given to her by the tribe, and she is no Water Tribe descendent. Her skin is too light, and her eyes are grey and not blue. She even implied she was from a colony."

The old man patted his shoulder. "You will have your answers in time, Zuko. She is traveling with the Avatar, so you will certainly encounter her again."

"You're right." He sighed, pulling on the robe at the end of his bed. "Thank you for the tea and the meal, Uncle."

"You are welcome. Goodnight, Prince Zuko."

Zuko sat and pulled the tray towards him, nodding once before digging in. "Goodnight, Uncle."

[posted 3-21-15]

Writer's commentary: Okay, so Zuko turned out a lot less angry than I thought he would in this section. I meant to have Iroh imply that a woman who can stand up to him is the right type of woman to have for a wife, but maybe another time once Zuko actually has a basis for any interest beyond what's here. I mean, they did just try to kill each other!