Chapter 11-Two Guilty
Bumi frowned and there were shouts of surprise from all around as a loud clap of thunder sounded from directly above the castle. "Strange," the king commented, glancing out a nearby window to see black storm clouds slowly dissipating.
"I'm gonna kill her," Sokka said, ignoring the thunder and shaking his head in disbelief.
Aang glanced sadly at the thirteen melted stubs on his cake that were once candles and then at the liquefied chocolate ice cream. "She's not coming, is she?"
"All in good time, Aang," said Bumi, finally turning his attention from the weather. He glanced over at Iroh, who looked worried as he awaited his nephew's arrival. "Do you know anything about Katara and Zuko's absence, Iroh?"
"I only know that Shisho said that Zuko was going to be personally assisting somebody for a while and led him off. Then a short time later, the girl invited me to this celebration and told me that Zuko would be present also. Then I guess she went to find him."
Bumi narrowed his eyes and glanced at each person present in the congregation. "There is one missing," he announced. "A soldier that keeps a room here in my palace. Zuko must be assisting Yoshito."
Iroh snapped his full attention on Bumi. "Yoshi? Oh no!"
Sokka stood up from his seat at the table. "What, what is it?"
Iroh sighed. "Zuko suspects that a guard or soldier or whoever named Yoshi has it out for him... been making trouble for him and such. Zuko may be in trouble as we speak, especially if that Yoshi is provoking him."
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from the stairs. "King Bumi!" Katara shouted.
All heads turned to the very disheveled Katara. "Somebody, help! Zuko and Yoshi have both been hurt badly, they need help!"
Aang dove over the long table and floated gently down beside Katara. "Katara, are you okay? What happened to your eye?"
"Yoshi did it, but that's not important now--"
"Oh, it's not, is it?" said Aang angrily. "We'll see about that!" He stomped up the stairs toward Yoshi's room.
"I assume they're in Yoshi's chamber?" Bumi asked Katara.
"Yes."
Bumi nodded and motioned to everybody. "Well, let us investigate. Katara, we will talk about what happened once the two men have been attended to. This way."
Katara made to follow, but Sokka grabbed her wrist. "Hold on, Sis... I have a few questions as well."
Katara glanced hesitantly towards the stairs. "Well... o-okay, make it quick."
Sokka crossed him arms sternly. "So, what took you so long, Katara?"
Katara stared for a second before her defenses kicked in. "Not like it's your business, but I was quite busy watching a lethal battle between a prince and a soldier over me! And if I hadn't shown up, then Zuko would've killed Yoshi... twice!"
Sokka scoffed. "Twice, huh? Amazing, even for Zuko. And you know what else? It is my business, because I am a true friend who KNOWS how to show up and had to watch Aang stare hopefully towards the stairs for an hour or so before he finally accepted that his best friend wasn't coming because she's too enamored with a selfish scheming conniving murderous loathsome evil Fire Nation prince!"
Katara's nails dug painfully into her palms as she clenched her fists tight, searching her mind for a retort. But she found none, because though he wasn't completely right, he was for the most part. Finally, frustrated, she growled and bended the melted ice cream... all over Sokka.
"Aaaagh, MY NEW OUTFIT!" she heard him wail as she stalked furiously up the stairs.
Katara hurried up the stairs as fast as her legs would carry her. She had to see how Zuko was. Plus, she had to ask Bumi to remove the ankle band. She had tried slicing it with a water-blade and freezing it, but it wouldn't come off or even budge. It had to be removed, however, so she could get to the burn wounds that had occurred when the band had caught fire.
She sprinted down the hall and burst into the room. She immediately caught sight of a large gathering around Yoshi, who had been revived, but looked dazed. Zuko was accompanied only by a frantic Iroh and a thoughtful-looking Bumi, and still appeared to be unconscious. Aang stood guard in the middle of the room, staff ready, glaring back and forth between Zuko and Yoshi.
Katara ran straight over to Zuko and kneeled beside him. Iroh looked at Katara, grief-stricken, as he hugged Zuko to him. "What do you think they'll do to him?" he whispered to her, tears welling in his eyes.
"Nothing," Katara said firmly. "From what I witnessed, he was acting in self-defense." She stroked Zuko's clammy face once before standing and addressing Bumi. "Sir, I was wondering if maybe you could remove Zuko's band? I need to heal that burn before he awakens."
"Already been done," said Bumi distantly. "It didn't do any good anyhow judging from the state of this room." He gestured to the scorch marks on the wall.
Katara hugged herself as she remembered the look in Zuko's eyes as he had unleashed his bolt of fury on Yoshi. "Nothing would've helped, King Bumi. He was in a trance, it seemed. His eyes became really intense, even changed color. Then, he used the electricity in some storm clouds to draw them in and then shot a bolt of lightening at Yoshi. You should've seen it; it kind of reminded me of Aang when he's in his Avatar state. I'm really surprised Yoshi is alive."
Iroh's jaw hung agape. "Wow! That Yoshi guy must've really ticked him off. It sounds as if he had an out-of-body experience, or just plain 'saw red.' His father never even completely mastered that move!"
"Oh yeah," Katara confirmed, nodding. "He was pretty miffed alright. That all took place right after Yoshi hit me."
Bumi put a hand on Katara's shoulder. "Why don't you tell us exactly what happened, Katara?"
Katara gave him the whole story on everything that had occurred up to Zuko's passing out, including what Yoshi had seen the day before. "So anyway, I grabbed Yoshi's water-skin and put out the fire before it could do further damage to Zuko. I tried to take care of the two myself, but I couldn't remove Zuko's band. So I made sure Yoshi was still alive and went down to tell you." She put her face in her hands. "I just feel so responsible."
Just then, Sokka rushed in. "I'm sorry to interrupt, everyone, but there is a visitor downstairs. She wishes to thank Bumi for her father's safe return home after many years of slavery and imprisonment. Her name is Song."
"Ah, yes," said Bumi thoughtfully, "daughter of Hironori. Yes, my soldiers in an Earth Army naval fleet managed to lay siege to a few Fire Navy ships a few months ago. Many older men were discovered on board. Apparently, one of these men was her father and had been taken from his farming village many many years before. Ever since his rescue, the girl has written every other week... letters full of praise and thanks."
"Must've been humbling," said Sokka.
"Yes, very," said Bumi quickly. "Anyway, I guess her promises of coming to thank me in person one day were not empty. So, I will make this fast."
Bumi turned to Iroh. "Zuko's sentence will remain stable and unchanging as he was acting in self-defense." Turning to Yoshi, he said, "Yoshito, you are to reside at the infirmary in the next building. While you are gone, your belongings will be packed and sent to your sister. You have abused certain privileges and will take up residence here no longer." With that, he turned and left.
Katara emptied the rest of Yoshi's water onto her hand. Iroh rolled up Zuko's pants and Katara proceeded to heal Zuko's injured calf. Just as the water finished its job, Katara heard a small cough behind her. She turned to see Yoshi standing there, two palace guards supporting him.
"Katara," he said softly, unable to meet her eyes, "I am so sorry. I am ashamed of my actions. I hope you will forgive me for my unreasonable behavior."
Katara sighed. "You were a good friend while it lasted, Yoshito. Do you want me to apologize to Zuko for you?"
He frowned at the prince's limp form. "No."
Katara watched as he hobbled off. "Jealousy is an ugly thing," Iroh said softly. "I am so glad Zuko is okay. If anything were to happen to him--"
"I know. Me too," said Katara without thinking. Suddenly, she blushed and looked at Iroh in surprise. "Umm, I mean... Zuko... er..."
Iroh raised a brow. "Is that so?"
Suddenly, Katara felt a tap on her shoulder. "Come on," said Sokka grumpily. "We're all headed down to Aang's party."
"Um, okay," said Katara, thankful for the interruption. She ran over to Aang and linked her arm through his. "Come on, Aang. I wouldn't miss... uh... th-the rest of your birthday for the world."
Aang touched her eye gently. "Are you sure you're up for a party? I mean, you're okay?"
"Never better," Katara said brightly, and she made a mental note to check in on Zuko later as they strolled from the room.
