JIRO
HE ALMOST CALLED IT OFF, CAME SO CLOSE, HE STARTLED HIMSELF A BIT. He had been crouching in the shadows of the alley, his men huddled around him, fifty of the most brutal excuses for humanity who had ever put on a uniform. He had specially selected them, each and every one, even managed to hide it from Kojima. The plan was working perfectly, or near enough as made no difference. Sure, from what he could see, the Air Nomads appeared to be much better at aerial combat than he had expected, but the air attack had always been a diversion, in the end. Everything was a diversion. Even that attack out on the causeway was a diversion.
Like I would rely on a unit like the Ninety-Fourth ever giving way? Please.
He had even controlled for Kojima…maybe. He couldn't quite shake that doubt, and the longer he waited, the longer he hid, the longer he nervously scanned the skies, listened to the sounds of battle along the eastern cliffs move away, as if his men were losing ground, the more he worried. Had he waited too long with Kojima? How much had Kojima guessed? Why had he gone along so willingly?
Why wasn't that bitch of a waterbender rushing out of the temple right now?
And then he saw Azula race into the building. She ran up, slipped through the heavy stone doors. He waited, he didn't know how long. What was going on? What was happening? He didn't know. He didn't like that. He accepted it, because this was war, but still…
What if they know?
What if they guess?
What if Hama and her hideous sons have failed me?
He couldn't know. All he could do was crouch, and wait, and-
Yes!
He watched his cousin exit the building, watched the woman dressed in blue, a spark of purple flashing from her throat, rush out, watched the two woman race off, running…
Towards the east…
I did it.
He smiled.
See? Karma. All is as it was meant to be.
He drew his katana, raised it high. All around him, fifty more blades hissed from their scabbards.
Do you feel it, Avatar? Do you feel it coming?
His heart swelled with pride, nearly burst with joy.
My moment has arrived, Avatar.
He waited until the princess and the woman in blue were gone, waited for a good ten minutes after that, just to be sure, and then he stood, pointed his katana at their target, and gave the command to charge.
It's nothing personal, and, really, I'm sorry, but, the thing is…you're just in my way.
They charged.
Jiro let his men go first, though. He wasn't an idiot, after all.
Well, shit. Jiro is a real motherfucking bastard sometimes. Like, I honestly despise him. And it's not even like with Yoshihito, whom we all loved to hate. Jiro? You just hate his ass.
But I digress. Point is...I'm totally leaving you with that for the day. No joke; I am. Why? Because I'm cruel. Also, because I apparently outsmarted myself, and began writing this thing in five-chapter bursts. Cool, huh? Don't worry, though; my wife will totally punch me in the arm for this later. No, really; she even knows what's going to happen.
Moving on! In the next chapter, if all goes well, I'll make you hold your breath. Stay tuned!