Don't Touch My Body

Disclaimer: Bryke and Nickelodeon owned A:tLA… but I guess Demon is also involved, considering how the canons turned out. Just kidding.

A/N: Ooh… I got silent for a long time. Pfft. It sucks. I momentarily lost sight of my goal. (smiles)

Okay! It's time to jerk my lazy bones awake!

(drums and trumpets)

Chapter 11!! ;P


Chapter 11

"What are we gonna do now, War Paint?" Toph asked miserably. She was looking glum as ever that even Sokka's jokes couldn't cheer her up. She mysteriously kept glaring daggers at the direction where the bald monk was sitting.

Suki sighed tiredly and shrugged. She had never felt so distress than today. She turned to look at Toph and noticed that she didn't plant her feet on the floor.

Right. You can't "hear" me. "I don't know. They can't remember anything, right? If we do tell them of what happened, they would surely find it unbelievable."

There was a heartbeat of silence as Toph considered her reply. "That's why we needed to persuade Snoozles and Twinkle Toes to tell 'em!"

Suki didn't reply right away. She and Toph knew that it would be easier to sneak into the Fire Nation palace unseen than to persuade Katara's brother and the Avatar to tell the whole story to the used-to-be lovers.

A light bulb turned inside Suki's head. Speaking of used-to-be. "How about we invite that creepy ex of Zuko to come over and tell about it?"

Toph laughed bleakly. "She'd be more than glad when she will know that Sparky and Sweetness 'broke up'!"

-O-

Aang had been feeling a little bit spooked out under Toph's icy glare. Had it not been for his radar-like ears, he wouldn't have any idea why Toph was acting like that that day. He had wanted to scream at her and tell her that yes, it isn't his fault that Katara and Zuko couldn't remember those four days their spirits switched despite his Katara-will-come-back-to-me threat. It was just simply a coincidence!

He kept convincing himself to be happy since Katara "came back" but he can't help but feel guilty. He doesn't even know he should be.

Maybe it was because Sifu Hotman was hot-headed as ever during their firebending practice a while ago.

"That's not how you should stand!" Zuko roared as he almost kicked Aang's feet to correct his stance. "Place your right foot forward and bend those damn knees a little… and–"

"Like this?" Aang managed to squeak as he corrected his stance – right foot forward, left foot at the rear side, knees bent a little.

Zuko frowned as he studied his figure and nodded. "It's al– the angle is wrong!"

Aang swore that hell broke loose.

-O-

Sokka was lying on his bed, trying his best not move his poor aching limbs. He was muttering curses as he wondered if it was already the time of the month for Katara when she would become a "monster". No, Sokka persuaded himself that that was the reason and not because Katara and Zuko "separated".

He recalled getting inside the dining room to see the table laden with food, just like yesterday. He was sure that nothing has changed even when Katara had amnesia. He instantly grabbed some beef jerky before he even settled on his seat.

"Sokka," Katara scolded and gave him a warning look. He nodded and reluctantly let Toph get some of the food first. Eventually, he got impatient and started to pile food on his plate. He took a bite of the steak – and gagged. He hurriedly gulped down glasses of water.

"Katara! Were you planning to kill us by letting us eat lots of salt? You know that I can't handle–"

And there he was on the floor. He cried mentally as he imagined himself lying pathetically there. Poor me.

A knock on the door sent him shaking and wincing on his bed. "W-Who's there?"

"It's me," Suki called out. "We need to talk."


Demon: (raises eyebrows) My, that's too short, kusachi-tono.

Me: I know. This is supposed to be a filler chapter. ("And please don't call me 'kusachi-tono'")

Demon: Making excuses are we, tono?

Me: Kutabare!

(tackles Demon on the ground)

(huffs)

Anyway, please review!

(continues wrestling Demon)

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Chapter 10

Merci beaucoup:

- zutarababe for the message;

- nemiah, badonyx, zutarababe, Silverishmoon, Knucklesfanforlife, things24, spkdog, Turtle-chan in Blue, KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun, C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only, and EmpressVicky for the reviews (I really enjoyed your "violent" reactions);

- badonyx and Nadiakiara for the alerts; and

- Kafira Dalila, Yuul, and troth5 for the faves!