Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of it's characters. I own Koima.
Chapter 12
Slavers
The next week or so was boring and awkward for the longest time and was scary a few times.
Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and Zuko would be gone. For the first few times it happened I freaked out thinking that something had happened to Zuko or he had left me. I stayed up all night until he showed up and he would scold me for worrying. The next morning we would a have a healthy supply of food that seemed to come out of no where.
He would never tell me where he got the food or where he went, but it never stopped me from worrying.
One time, I pretended to be asleep and watched him get up and walk away. I got up and followed him as quietly as I could. But Kotori gave me away, he had noticed that I left and cried out in annoyance, wanting me back.
Zuko turned around and saw me.
He was angry...
Needless to say, I was never able to follow him again.
We would pass the occasional traveler on the way as well. Zuko wouldn't want to stop and talk to them but I did. More often than not, we would be invited to share a quick meal with whomever we came across. Most were refugees like Song and her mother, trying to escape from the Fire Nation. Whenever our hosts spoke bad about the Fire Nation, Zuko would become very uncomfortable and would try to hide his scar.
No matter how long we were on the road, it didn't seem like we were really going anywhere. The scenery didn't change. Only the weather did. We were caught out side on the plains a few times and it was up to my earthbending to construct a quick shelter for us to stay in until the rain stopped.
So the whole time it was boring... nothing happened at all...
: That Night:
The two men watched the travelers as they slept beside fire that had already burned put into ashes but still smoked. Even in the darkness they were distinguishable in the moonlight. So stupid, both of them are; to sleep out in the open but oh well, it would make it a lot easier for them to be captured.
The boy looked strong, fully capable of doing hard work in the fields, and the girl... The two men grinned. A wealthy lord would pay a hefty sum for her. There was also an ostrich bird tied up to a nearby tree, they will deal with that one later.
"Ginta," One man, the smaller of the two asked the older, "When do we move?"
Ginta was a big rock-like man, a tough firebender, but a thief that was kicked out of the military for his dirty habits. His brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail at the nape of his neck and his sharp amber eyes now watched the two sleepers with an greedy interest. He looked at the sky and made some quick calculations, "We wait for another hour, when sleep is deepest. Then, We do what comes naturally." He grinned, exposing sharp white teeth. His favorite job. He could already smell the money he was going to get for these two.
His companion in slave driving, Kajo, was a smaller version of his boss. With a small face and fat grotesque body, he fit his name. Glut. Kajo was a lewd little man that had a real problem with keeping his hands to himself. He was not a bender, but was fire Nation as well.
He grinned happily, rubbing his hands together anxiously. They needed more slaves to sell. Their supply was running low. Since there was nothing to do for the time being other than wait, he went back to the slave line that he tied to a tree. Only 12 remained out of the 15 they kidnapped. 3 had died, too weak to move on.
Kajo smiled at the remaining slaves, "You're about to get two new friends. Hehe."
The slaves were children, too small to fight against Ginta and Kajo. The eldest was a teenager, a boy that was a runaway and now a captive.
The boy glared at Kajo with the utmost hate, "You already killed three children, how much more grief are you going to bring to the world?" He asked disdainfully.
Kajo pulled out his favorite sword brandished it. The children pulled away as best they could against the bonds that held them to the tree. But the boy was unwavering. His glare was proof that he would not be cowed by Kajo. Kajo pointed his rusted blade in his face, a hairs breath from his nose. Kajo smirked, "You talk too much. It's really annoying. Why don't I cut that tongue right out of your big mouth and silence you forever?"
The children whimpered in fear and the boy felt a brief moment of fear but it vanished quickly and was replaced by rage and he kept quiet, knowing that Kajo wouldn't hesitate to do it.
Kajo, satisfied, left to go back to Ginta.
When he arrived, Ginta motioned for Kajo to be silent.
"It's time."
They crept forward and Kajo went over to the girl and Ginta went to the boy. The girl would be the weakest, easy for Kajo for manage. The girl was all they really needed to make this work. The boy would submit if he sees the girl in danger.
Kajo stood over the girl, she slept on her back, her pack pillowed under her head. She was a pretty one, she would be fought over when it came time to sell her. Kajo leered, but not before he had some fun with her first.
He knew just what to do. He drew out his rusted sword and pressed it against her throat without cutting her.
Immediately, her eyes flew open and stared into his.
Pretty eyes...Kajo mused, he smiled, "Don't move or you're dead." his voice low and menacing. The girl didn't move, but she did scream, "LEE!"
Kajo cursed and the boy awoke, jumping up to find Ginta's swords in his face. The boy had a horrid scar on the left side of his face, the black hair covered only a small portion of it.
Zuko stared at the two men, the smaller one holding a blade to Koima's throat. She was still in her sleeping blankets, staring up at the man that controlled whether she lives or not.
He turned his gaze to the one that had his swords at him, "What do you want." He said in a controlled voice.
The man cocked his head to the side and smirked, "You're cooperation."
The small man forced Koima to stand and held her in front of him with the sword still pressed to her lily white throat.
Cooperation? Zuko looked back at the man, "We are travelers. We have nothing. Let her go."
"We'll see about that... and no: we are not letting the girl go."
He shouted to the smaller man, "Kajo, does the girl happen to have any-" The man smirked, "-Valuables, on her?"
Kajo kept the sword on Koima's throat and searched her. He saw the crystal necklace and grabbed it, immediately sticking it in his pocket. "A necklace. Looks like it's worth a good amount." he called out and started to search through her clothes as well. Zuko made a move to stop him, but was awarded by a quick nick to the throat for his attempts.
Koima yelped and tried to pull away from the mans searching hand. Kajo's hand searched places that no valuables could be kept. He was only doing it for his own sick pleasure.
"Stop it! Get your hands off her!" Zuko raged, "I'll kill you!"
However, Kajo did not. A single tear rolled down Koima's cheek as she stared blankly ahead. Kajo pulled his hand away from between her legs and he pressed the blade harder against her throat, "All thats left is what we have to sell attached!" he said with a sick smile.
Sell?... Slavers! Zuko realized with a sickening bolt. Slavers were everywhere especially during times of war when there are many orphans and no parents around. Slavers are a constant threat to anyone traveling as Zuko and Koima found out.
The man that had Zuko, Ginta, smiled with greed, "Good. She'll fetch a hefty amount in the market. This one too, scarred as he is."
Zuko's eyes narrowed, "We are not going anywhere!" He set his fists aflame and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground and was about to jump on him.
"The girl Kajo!" Ginta yelled.
"STOP!" Kajo called. Zuko looked at him, then to Koima. A trickle of blood trailed down her neck to stain his shirt. Kajo pressed the blade deeper into her neck, allowing more blood to flow. Koima stared at Zuko with scared eyes.
"Do as we say or the girl gets it." Kajo shouted. Zuko and Koima were in a hopeless situation. Neither of them could do anything...
Koima...oh Agni... Zuko couldn't bare the thought of Koima being hurt or killed. It was hopeless.
Ginta had recovered. He stood up and punched Zuko in the gut. He doubled over with a grunt and Ginta's elbow slammed down on the back of his neck, putting him out like a light.
:Koima:
"No!" I screamed. Ginta stood over him and kicked Zuko in the side, "Damn brat. That'll teach you." Zuko didn't move, he was out cold. Terror seized me, all I could do was stare at Zuko and pray that he would jump up and save us. It didn't happen... Ginta smirked at me, seeing my expression, "Oh don't worry. He'll wake up in a bit." He stood in front of me, making me look in his eyes, "You'll be a good girl won't you, Pet?" I didn't answer, all I could see was Zuko's prone form. Kajo pulled out his sword and slapped me in the face with the flat of it.
"Answer!"
The stinging pain brought me back and I nodded. Rope tied my hands in front and I was roughly pushed forward towards Kotori. Ginta untied our bird and attached Zuko and my bonds to it. Zuko was left to be dragged. Ginta took our packs and didn't find anything worth keeping. Though he did bring out my doll, Mona and leered at me, "Aww. Still need your dolly?" I scowled, "Go to hell!" Bastard.
We left everything else at the campsite; our food, blankets...and some of our clothes.
Stolen into slavery, thats what awaited us. If not that, then Zuko would be recognized and turned over to Azula... Slavery or Azula... Which was worse?
Sorry about the wait. Things at home just got more complicated.
