AN: I know, the kids are just too cute! Especially Razo. Yes, his is rather sickly, but his health will improve as he gets older…or will it?
Blind Are Our Children
KAI FELT THAT he had found his calling. Travel and adventure, however small, was exciting. It called to him as much as Waterbending did. He had heard tales of his mother's travels with the Avatar when she was only a year older than he was now. And he longed to do the same.
Although he didn't quite have an opportunity to travel with the Avatar, considering he'd been missing for the past five years. And the world wasn't encumbered with a war either. Too bad, he'd have been a great warrior, he mused.
But, regardless, the travel itself was exhilarating. The day they had spent at sea was interesting. He felt that Lian had enjoyed the sailing as much as he did. He eagerly taught his cousin all he knew, since he knew Lian loved the culture of the Water Tribe.
Once they reached land they rented an ostrich-horse and a cart to pull their belongings. They purchased food for themselves and the ostrich-horse, and Kato even reminded them to by sleep-ware. They had all decided that they'd sleep under the stars instead of some stuffy bed and breakfast.
The people they met and saw were interesting as well. They were diverse, unlike the inhabitants of the northern Water Tribe or Kyoshi Island. People dressed differently, had strange dialects, and all seemed to be traveling somewhere. And sometimes they found themselves helping out a person or two along the way.
He sighed, contently, out loud. They had just entered Gaoling; their trip had been a success.
"Kai, you okay?" Jie asked tentatively. She didn't want to snap Kai out of his good mood only to have him lash out at them as he was accustomed to doing.
He grinned, feeling very calmed by all of the travel. "Just in a good mood." He responded.
Jie nodded, giving his hand a quick squeeze before racing ahead. "Look, there's the Bei Fong estate!" she exclaimed.
Kato smiled, joining Jie's pace. "Great!"
Lian watched the two younger kids run ahead, the corners of his mouth twitching into a grin. "We made it." he voice echoed Kai's own thoughts.
He nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and nobody died."
Lian laughed and they reached the lavish gates of the Bei Fong estate. Jie and Kato flashed them annoyed looks, as if to imply 'what took you so long?' They rang the bell, which sang an elaborate tune, and a servant rushed to open the door.
The servant's eyes widened in shock. "Sir Lian, Miss Jie, Prince Kai, Prince Kato…" she bowed slightly, ushering them in. "We hadn't any idea you'd be here…" the servant seemed worried suddenly, probably concerned with the cleanliness of the estate – though it was pristine, as always.
Lian took the matter into his own hands. "Its fine, we didn't announce that we would be arriving. Could we see Zara?"
The servant nodded. "Yes, Lady Zara is in the courtyard, Bending." They were led to her, and the servant quickly left to inform Zuko and Toph about their unexpected guests.
Kai smirked, because he expected to see Zara's pitiful Bending and know that he was better than she. But he was pleasantly surprised when he saw her Bend the fire skillfully to her will, and incorporate complex fighting moves. When he focus on her instead of her Bending, he felt his breath leave his lungs violently.
Zara was dressed in loose red gi pants, tied at the waist with a black sash. She wore a red camisole which revealed her developing figure. And her face…most of her childlike rounded was gone, replaced by slim cheeks complimented with prominent cheekbones, thick lashed green eyes, and pouted lips just begging to be…
Kai tried to discard these thoughts. This was Zara, for Spirit's sake! Annoying, bratty Zara! But…she was just so pretty. When had this happened? He guessed it had over the past six months that he hadn't seen her.
Kai turned to the others, hoping his emotions and thoughts weren't obvious. Jie and Kato were too fascinated by Zara's Bending prowess and Lian…
His cousin's eyes were glazed over, his face slightly flushed, and Kai felt a streak of guilt course through him. Lian liked Zara. He liked her a lot, in fact. And he shouldn't be thinking of Zara as anything more than an annoying childhood friend. Lian deserved her more…
But damn, did she have to be so pretty? She looked practically nothing like her mother, Toph, save for her green eyes. And Kai vaguely remembered Uncle Zuko commenting on various occasions how much Zara resembled his deceased mother, Ursa. Ursa must have been a very beautiful woman, Kai concluded, and Zara would be as well.
Zara was so intent on her own kata of Bending that she didn't tear herself from it to greet her friends. She had noticed them come in, and was both surprised and elated to see them, but she had to finish her kata. As a warrior, she couldn't allow herself to be distracted by anything, not even her dearest friends whom she hadn't seen in what felt like forever. She finished her kata, then picked up a towel to mop up her sweat. She sighed in satisfaction and turned to her friend whom she'd known since birth and allowed her happiness to light up her face.
"Zara, you were great!" Jie gushed. She ran to her best friend, engulfing her into a hug, not minding her sweaty state in the least.
Zara returned the hug without reserve, and both girls laughed. "I didn't know you were coming! Where are Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki? And Aunt Katara and Uncle Kuval?" she looked over to her other friends, feeling warm suddenly when her eyes rested on Lian. She brushed it aside, turning her attention back to Jie.
Jie laughed sheepishly. "Well…Dad and Mom are at Kyoshi Island…and Aunt Katara and Uncle Kuval are at the North Pole…"
Zara's gaze narrowed. "You snuck over here?"
Jie laughed, nodding.
Zara grinned as well, pulling Jie into a hug. "Whose idea was it?"
Jie smiled, beaming. "It was mine. I convinced the others to come."
"Yeah, well, we couldn't just let her go by herself." Kai commented offhandedly.
Lian rolled his eyes. "Kai was dying to come too." He said. He winced at the friendly punch he received on his arm.
"Lian's exaggerating." Kai added.
"And you four are in big trouble." Zuko's voice carried from the back porch off his lavish home.
The five turned to face him, and balked.
Zuko smiled, walking over to them. "Not quite. I received a letter from Sokka and Suki saying that you four may turn up sometime this week." He pulled the letter from his sleeve, presenting it to Lian.
Lian took the letter, reading it quickly, and grinned. "Well, so much for a surprise."
Zara scowled. "I was surprised!" she turned to her father. "Why didn't you tell me they were coming?" she demanded.
Zuko smiled, patting his daughter's hair. "But then you wouldn't have been surprised, would you?"
Zara blushed slightly, then grinned. "Thank you Daddy."
Zuko hid his pleasure at having pleased his daughter and merely nodded. "Dinner will be ready soon, so you should all freshen up." He looked at the travelers pointedly.
Lian chuckled, for he, his sister, and cousins hadn't bathed since they'd left Kyoshi Island. "Yes, Uncle Zuko, we shall."
Zuko grinned, quickly embraced the four youngsters, then left to wake his napping son.
"Your Dad's so cool." Kato commented, turning to face Zara.
"So's yours." She replied, engulfing the boy into a hug. "Look how big you are now!" she exclaimed when she saw Kato's forehead coming to meet her chin.
Kato blushed slightly. "You sound like Aunt Suki or something…" he trailed off, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Zara playfully pinched his cheek. "And you're so handsome too! Just like Uncle Sokka." For Zara could see that that was who Kato was coming to resemble more, in fact, he was practically like a mini-replica of him. Although there were hints of his father, Uncle Kuval in there too.
Kato only blushed more, and Kai decided to be a good brother, for once, and save Kato from possibly more humiliation. "I'm still more handsome." He said proudly.
Zara's green eyes locked on him, ad his felt his knees weaken. "You look more like Uncle Kuval, Kai." She announced.
Kai scowled, insulted. "Hey, my Dad's handsome!" he protested.
"Yeah, your Dad is. You're another story." Zara chuckled.
"Hey!" Kai felt more insulted that Zara didn't think he was handsome than her thinking Kato was.
Zara's eyes pierced through him. "I was only joking Kai, calm down. I'm sure some Water Tribe girl would like to marry you…someday."
Kato, Jie, and Lian all chuckled. It grated Kai's nerves. He rolled his eyes. "Whatever Zara, no boy will ever want to marry a half-breed like you…ever."
Her temper flared, and before Lian, Jie, or Kato could do anything about it, Zara struck him with a fist of fire.
He winced in pain at the physical blow and at the burn left behind. "You little brat." He got into fighting stance, and glanced to make sure the pond in the courtyard was still there. It was. Good. Now he could show Zara who was boss.
But he wasn't sure whether he wanted to fight her or kiss her. He scowled darkly, and decided it would have to be the prior of the two…for now.
"Hi guys!" a childlike voice rang out across the courtyard as a small ball of energy raced to them.
Lian was the first to have the wind knocked out of him. "Hey Razo." He ruffled the small boy's hair affectionately.
"Oh, he's so cute!" Jie cooed, plucking Razo out of Lian's arms to shower him with kisses.
Razo giggled good-naturedly, and Zara relaxed her fighting stance. She didn't want her little brother seeing too many of her and Kai's disagreements. He was a bit young for that much violence.
"Hi Razo!" Kato stole the young boy from his cousin and hugged him tightly.
"Hi Kato!" he crowed, hugging him tightly.
Kato grinned, pinching his cheek. "You're getting so big!" he echoed Zara's words teasingly.
"Hey now…" Zara warned.
Kato smiled innocently.
"Kai…what happened to you?" Razo asked suddenly, his eyes falling upon Kai's burnt cheek.
"I was trying to make him match Dad." Zara answered, plucking her brother from Kato's arms to hug him protectively.
Kai glared daggers at Zara, but she brushed them off.
"Well, you didn't do a very good job. You need to burn his eye, Zara." Razo observantly noted.
"Oh, you're right!" Zara exclaimed.
"Don't even!" Kai barked, backing away from the pyro-capable girl. She only chuckled at his outburst.
"Let me take a look, Kai…" Kato offered, worried for his brother's well being.
"Fine." Kai hissed, allowing his young brother to utilize his abilities as a healer.
Lian shared a small look with Zara. He had to hand it to her, not many could best Kai. He admired her for being able to reign over him, even if it were over a small argument. And he admired her for simply being her. So pretty, so strong, so…
Her eyes held his, and he felt himself blush. If she could only read his mind… "It's good to see you." He said mildly.
Zara stepped closer, her brother safe in her arms. "You've grown…" she said softly, her eyes roving over his body. He was taller, had become more muscular…more handsome. He looked just like his father, Uncle Sokka.
"You have to." He responded, entranced by her loveliness.
"For the better, I hope." She teased.
He nodded. "Yes, for the better."
Jie smiled, watching them both, and cleared her throat. "You know, we really need to clean up for dinner." She took Zara's arm, letting Razo gently onto the ground. "Let's take a nice hot bath together. We have much to catch up on." She dragged Zara away, leaving Lian slightly miffed.
"I'll get her back." Kai remarked darkly.
Kato playfully slapped the burn her was healing. "Stop that."
Kai winced and Lian laughed. "C'mon, let's go to the baths. A nice soak will ease away your temper." He told his volatile cousin. He looked down to Razo. "You coming too, big guy?"
Razo chirped a happy affirmation. Kai grumbled a bit more, but joined his brother, cousin, and the brother of his greatest enemy for a nice soak.
TOPH SMIRKED WHEN Zuko informed her that Lian, Kai, Jie, and Kato had arrived. "So mischievous of them to sneak out like that."
Zuko chuckled. "Does it remind you of anyone in particular?" he questioned slyly.
Toph turned to face him. "Oh, no, no one at all…"
Zuko bent and kissed his wife. "Hmm…I see." He pulled her into his arms, his chin resting atop her raven hair.
Toph sighed into her lover's embrace. "Zara's going to want to adventure now that they've all done it." she noted.
"I know." His voice was tinged with remorse.
"I traveled when I was her age." Toph tried to assure him.
"I know." He replied softly.
"She's a capable Firebender." Toph added.
"I know." He responded hesitantly.
"She'll be fine." Toph leaned up, kissing him. "No daughter of mine is a sniveling weakling."
Zuko sighed heavily. "I know." And he wished he didn't.
