Return to Omashu.
To say Team Avatar where shocked would be an understatement. They had just survived being stuck in the tunnel of love and where more than ready to rest up in Omashu where Aang would be able to learn earhbending safely... but the moment they arrived to the city, all their hope and relief turned in to shock and horror. The city had been invaded by the fire nation. No matter where they looked, all they could see was fire nation symbols desecrating the once beautiful city.
"I can't believe it. I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed...untouchable" Aang said.
"Up until now, it was. Now Ba-Sing-Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left" Sokka said.
Katara looked sad at the invaded city "This is horrible, but we have to move on".
"No. I'm going in to find Bumi" Aang said firmly.
Sokka reached out "Aang, stop. We don't even know if Bumi's still...".
Aang turns to look at Sokka, his expression hardening as he spoke defiantly "What? If he's still what?".
Sokka refused to meet Aang's eyes "...Around".
"I know you had your heart set on Bumi, but there are other people around who can teach you earthbending" Katara tried to reason.
"This isn't about finding a teacher. This is about finding my friend" Aang declared.
Kasumi sighed "Very well Aang. But how do we get inside? The fire nation guards are not going to be as easy to get passed as the earth nation guards".
Aang smiled at her "No worries Kasumi. I know just the way".
Later they traveled along the side of the city walls until they reached a pipe.
"A secret passage? Why didn't we just use this last time?" Sokka asks as Aang used his staff to bend the cap off, releasing a huge gout of greenish sewage, some of which washes over Sokka "Ugh!".
"Does that answer your question?" Aang asked in mild amusement.
The greenish sewage continues to pour out of the pipe as Aang swings inside and disappears up the pipe, a smile on his face. Kasumi, Katara, Sokka and Momo look into the pipe and the flies that are buzzing around it. Sokka jumps into the pipe and covers his nose as he moves forward. Kasumi did the same, it smelled awful, the kinds of horrors they go through to save a friend.
Inside the pipe, Aang airbends the sewage out of his way with his staff. Kasumi and Katara walk close behind him, evading the sewage the best they could, and then Sokka is making plenty of "ew!" and "ick!" noises as he is slowly covered in sewage from Aang's receding wake. Finally they made it out with the use of a manhole. Aang jumped out first with Katara and Kasumi close behind him.
"That wasn't as bad as I thought" Katara commented.
"Speak for yourself. It's going to take forever to wash all this smell out of my hair" Kasumi said, a little grossed out.
But then a blob of green sewage emerges from the manhole. The creature lifts itself onto the street. It moans like some monster from an old horror movie. Aang and Katara both look horrified, while Kasumi shook her head, knowing who the monster was. Katara bends some water from a nearby water barrel at the monster. The water washes the gunk away to reveal Sokka, who yells in surprise, then slumps, sopping wet. Aang swings his staff at the water tribe boy, whipping a gale that blows him dry, once again producing an outcry from his target.
Sokka sits up and has two purple octopus like creatures stuck to either side of his head. He is unaware of his guests until a second later they both palpitate a bit and squeak.
"Aaahhh!" Sokka grabs one creature in each hand and tries to pull them from his face, but their suckers keep them attached. He stretches them out to an absurd distance, but still they hang on "Aaahh! Aahhh! They won't let go! Help! Aaaak!".
Aang pounces on Sokka, pinning him to the nearby wall, then releasing him. Sokka now sits on a crate, a sour and resigned look on his face "Stop making so much noise. It's just a purple pentapus".
The pentapus' begin to palpitate again, making slight squishing noises. Sokka's eyes bug out as he looks to either side of his face in horror and terrified, but slightly choked noises emerge from his throat.
Aang grips the nearest pentapus. He rubs its head with his finger. It raises its tentacles from Sokka's cheek and pops off his face without further fuss. While rubbing his free cheek, Sokka repeats the process on the other side of his face. The other pentapus squeaks a bit and releases Sokka's right check with another little popping sound. The suckers on the tentacles have left little round red dots all over Sokka's cheeks. Sokka rubs his cheek for a second and Aang's removes a third pentapus from behind Sokka's neck before they are interrupted.
"Hey!" They look and see a patrol of Fire Nation guards walking up to them "What are you kids doing out past curfew?".
"Sorry. We were just on our way home." Katara said as the gang turn and walks away.
The guard notices the red welts on the back of Sokka's neck "Wait! What's the matter with him?".
The gang stop and turn around as Katara puts her hands on her brother's shoulders "Uh...he has pentapox, sir" The guard walks up to Sokka, and moves to touch him as Katara got a pleasing, earnest look in her eyes "Um...it's highly contagious!".
The guard hesitates, then pulls his hand back. Sokka realizes the ploy and begins to act ill. He raises his hands in front of him in a zombie-like fashion and begins to moan "Uuuuuu...It's so awful...I'm dyiiiing...".
"And deadly..." Katara added.
Sokka continues to moan and lurch forward, the guards begin to lurch backward to avoid contact "Wait, I think I've heard of pentapox" The guard said as he looked to one of his comrades "Didn't your cousin Chang die of it?" Sokka advances, coughing and spitting up gunk at them "We'd better go wash our hands...and burn our clothes!".
The guards hurries to run away in fear. Sokka stops his act and straighten up. Aang was smiling while rubbing the head of a pentapus he holds his hand "Thank you, sewer friend!".
Kasumi rubbed it's head with her finger "You know, for a sewer creature, they are pretty cute".
Meanwhile, Azula is on her ship, sitting within her litter which rests atop the dais on the deck on her ship. She is flanked on either side by her crone teachers. Below them on the deck, a row of Fire Nation soldiers lie prostrate on either side of the ship.
"When tracking your brother and uncle, traveling with a royal procession may no longer be an option" One Crone Teacher said.
"May no longer be wise...if you hope to keep the element of surprise" The other one added.
"You're right. The royal procession is dead weight. If I want to catch my prey, I must be agile...nimble. I need a small, elite team" Azula said.
"I take it you got some people in mind?" Ayane guessed from behind her.
Azula smiled "Indeed. It's time to visit some old friends".
Back in Omashu the gang is looking around and moving ahead while trying to escape detection. The hide behind some construction material as a patrol passes.
"Let's find Bumi and get out of here" Katara said.
"Where would they be keeping him?" Sokka asked.
"Somewhere he can't earthbend" Aang answered as he looked up and around "Somewhere made of metal".
"And sinse he is the king of Omashu, it must be at a heavily guarded place too" Kasumi added.
Aang nods "You're right. We need to look for a heavily guarded place made of Metal. Now let's do this!".
They walked for a while until they heard a sound. They looked up and saw a bunch of large boulders roll down a ramp towards a group of people that where walking down a path. At this rate they would be crushed by the large rocks. Aang got wide eyes and quickly used his airbending to destroy the rocks.
However, the group did not seem to notice the save as a woman points at them "The resistance!".
A young woman with black hair smiles slightly and in an instant fans out her arms, releasing a hail of small arrows. Aang dodges the arrows which embed themselves on the stack of construction material he is standing on, then he along with the rest run away, pursued by Fire Nation soldiers who climb up a couple ladders from the plaza below. Katara turns and using the water from her water skin she whips them off the ledge and onto the plaza below.
The girl from before runs at Katara, her arms spread to either side. She fires another hail of from needles some unknown mechanism around her hand and forearm. Katara creates a wall of ice in front her, stopping the arrows. The girl continues the pursuit as Katara flees. The girl sends out more needles, only for Kasumi to catch them between her fingers.
The girl looked surprised for a second before ducking down as Kasumi threw the needles back at her. She smiled, seeming to enjoy the challenge and sends out some knives, which Kasumi deflects with her sword before jumping back.
Aang lets Kasumi pass as he turns to face the girl. As their assailant approaches, Aang causes some construction scaffolding on his right to collapse between them. As the scaffolding collapses, the girl is able to get one, ornate throwing star through the falling debris. Aang twirls his staff in front of him and stops it just in time. The dust from the falling scaffolding clears, once again giving the girl a clear shot. She throws another hail of arrows, but the gang disappear through a large trap door which closes instantly above girl sighs amidst the wreckage before she turns and walks away.
She finally had some fun, only for some stupid earthbenders to ruin it... back to being bored out of her mind again.
Green sewage drips from the ceiling as the gang sits on the floor of the tunnel where they fell from above. Aang and Sokka rub their heads but Kasumi looks up to see a bearded Earth Kingdom soldier looking down at them.
It was now daytime as Ayane and Azula arrived at a place Ayane was not expecting at all.
"Excuse me Azula, but why are we at a circus? I didn't know you liked this kind of stuff" Ayane said.
"I am not here for the circus, one of my old friends should be here... and there she is" Azula said as she points.
Ayane looks and sees a pretty, bright eyed girl with a long black pony tail, dressed in pink and red. And she was upside down while performing a head stand on her index fingers.
"Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?" Azula asked. Though Ayane could tell that she knew all along that she was here.
The girl named Ty Lee smiled widely "Azula!" She breaks her head stand with a couple graceful moves. She prostrates herself on the ground, then runs and gives Azula a bear hug. Azula smiles and returns the hug "It is so good to see you!".
"Please, don't let me interrupt your..." Azula began before raising an eyebrow, searching for the right word and failing "Whatever it is you were doing" but she saw that Ty Lee had noticed her companion and clears her throat "Ty Lee, meet my new friend and personal body guard: Ayane".
Ayane gave a quick bow "Good to meet you Ty Lee".
Ty Lee studied her for a couple of moments before her bright smile came back "Wow! Your eyes are so cool! And love the hair by the way!".
Ayane blinked "Ummm... thanks?".
"What kind of stuff did you use to turn your hair purple?" Ty Lee asked in exitment.
"This is just my natural hair" Ayane answered, not to sure what to think of Ty Lee, she was almost a little to bright in her personality.
Ty Lee blinks, looking very confused "Never thought I'd see anyone with natural purple hair. Are you from the spirit world?".
"Umm, no I don't think so" Ayane answered.
Ty Lee turned away, looking like she was trying to figure out the mystery of the universe "Then how...?".
Ayane got an unimpressed look before leaning over to whisper to Azula "Is it me, or is she a little dense?".
"She sure is, but we need her" Azula whispered back before speaking to Ty Lee "Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in... places like this. I have a proposition for you. I'm hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy duddy uncle, don't you?".
Ty Lee was resting on her chest and elbows, but with both feet planted on her head "Oh yeah. He was so funny".
"I would be honored if you would join me on my mission" Azula said.
"Oh...I...uh...would love to" Ty Lee said in a unsure tone before she springs back to her feet in a single, fluid motion "But the truth is, I'm really happy here. I mean, my aura has never been pinker!".
Azula looked at her outfit like she had been told something extremely obvious "I'll take your word for it. Well, I wouldn't want you to give up the life you love just to please me".
Ty Lee bows slightly and clasping her hands in a gesture of thanks "Thank you, Azula".
Azula walks away with Ayane following, as Ty Lee turns and with a smile raises her leg to her head in an impressive stretch. Azula turns to address her once more "Of course, before we leave, We're going to catch your show".
An expression of panic spreads over Ty Lee's face, and she loses her grip on her leg. She recovers and grips her leg once more, a sad and worried expression on her face "Uh...yeah...sure...uh...of course...".
Ayane was a little confused as she walked with Azula again "What are you up to?".
"Oh nothing, I am just going to convince her that my mission is far more important than her little circus life" Azula answered with a smirk on her face.
Ayane did not like this one bit. If there is one thing she had learned from her time with Azula, it's that her plans always involves danger. She hoped it would not be to bad, Ty Lee looked to sweet and innocent for any of Azula's dark schemes. Little did she know, Azula was planing something real bad.
Back with the gang, they were gathered in a underground cavern under Omashu. It is filled with Earth Kingdom resistance fighters. The gang and the Resistance Leader stand on the ledge in front of the main exit tunnel from the room, which is lit by several lamps hanging from the walls.
"So, is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance?" Aang asked
The Leader spoke in a quiet intensity "Of course not! The day of the invasion, we readied ourselves for battle. We were prepared to defend our city...to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered".
Aang was clearly disconcerted at this news. Katara looks at Aang in concern and Kasumi could not believe what she just heard.
"The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do" The Leader continued "He looked me in the eye and said... I'm going to do nothing! It doesn't matter now. Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom. And freedom is worth dying for".
"Actually there's another path to freedom. You could leave Omashu. You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation. But you're outnumbered. You can't win. Now's the time to retreat, so you can live to fight another day" Aang said.
"You don't understand. They've taken our home, and we have to fight them at ANY cost!" The Leader snapped.
"I don't know, living to fight another day is startin' to sound pretty good to me" One of the fighters said.
"Yeah, I'm with the kid!" Another fighter agreed.
The Leader looked defeated at that before turning back to the gang "Fine. But there's thousands of citizens that need to leave. How're we going to get them all out?".
Sokka, stroke his chin, thinking. He comes up with an idea "Suckers!" The rest of the group stared at him. Momo chitters questioningly "You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox".
Later that day, they used the small creatures from the sewers to cover the people in red marks to make them all look sick. If the leader of the city believed that a decease were spreading across the city, he would have no choice but to let them leave to prevent it from spreading to his soldiers and his family.
"The marks make ya look sick, but you gotta ACT sick, too. Ya gotta sell it!" Sokka said before an old man walks between Sokka and the crowd, groaning pathetically and holding a hand to his allegedly aching back. Sokka puts his arm around an earth kingdom citizen next to him "Now that's what I'm talkin' about".
The old man looks back at Sokka. He taps his wooden leg with his cane and smiles "Years of practice".
"Okay everyone! Into sick formation" Sokka instructed.
The citizens and Sokka began to walk. Katara moves to join, but turns as Aang heads in a different direction. Momo chitters excitedly "Aang, what are you doing? Aren't you coming with us".
Aang turns to face her "No. I'm not leaving until I find Bumi" Momo jumps onto Aang shoulder and chitters. He grabs Aang's mouth, but Aang picks him up and drops him on the floor "Sorry Momo, I'll feed you later".
"I'll go with you Aang. We have a better chance of finding him that way" Kasumi said.
Aang shook his head "No Kasumi. I need to do this alone. You go with the rest, they will need your help inc ase the fire nation sees through our plan".
Kasumi did not like this but sighed "Fine, just be careful Aang and good luck with finding Bumi".
Aang smiled and nods before taking of. Kasumi went with the rest. They were lucky that the plan worked, but Kasumi did not want to cover herself in red marks so she just used her ninja skills to sneak out. A while later, they were now at a safe distance from Omashu. However Kasumi heard Momo screech. She looked and what she saw shocked her.
"What the?!" Was all she could say as she saw Momo struggle with... a baby. Kasumi walked up and freed Momo as she picked the baby up "Where did you come from little one?".
The baby looked at her with a curious face, but then he began pulling on the chest area of her shirt as if he was trying to gain access to her breast.
Kasumi stopped him "Hold your hands there little one. I don't have any milk".
The baby boy pouts at her. Kasumi had no idea what to do, but sighed, she could not just leave the boy here, he would never make it. She held the baby to her chest and followed the rest. This was going to take a while to explain.
Meanwhile, back at the circus, Ayane and Azula where ready to watch the show as the circus master speaks "We're deeply honored to have the Fire Lord's daughter at our humble circus. Uh...tell us if there is anything we can do to make the show more enjoyable".
"I will" Azula assured.
The show began and Ty Lee, who wearing colorful clothing and a golden tiara like head piece, was doing a head stand using one hand holding a short stick. This stick in turn is balanced on top of what looks like the frame of a small tent. Incredibly, this tent frame, in its turn, balances on a high wire.
"Incredible. Do you think she'll fall?" Azula asked.
"Of course not" The Circus Master assured.
"Then wouldn't it make it more interesting if you removed the net?" Azula asked.
Ayane looked surprised at what Azula said. Why would she want them to remove the net? That's dangerous.
The Circus Master also looked concerned at the thought "Uh...the thing is...the performers...".
"You're right, you're right. That's been done" Azula said but fter a short pause she spoke again "I know. Set the net on fire".
The Circus Master had no choice "Of course, Princess".
He stands and shoots a gout of flame at the net which promptly catches fire. Sweat pours down Ty Lee's unhappy face. The Circus Master looks up tensely towards Ty Lee, his fists balled in frustration.
Ayane did not like this at all. What was Azula thinking?!
"Brilliant, just brilliant!" Azula said before she looks back down at the Circus Master "Oooo, what kind of dangerous animals do you have?".
The Circus Master looked nervous "Well, our circus boasts the most exotic assortment...".
Azula cutt him off "Release them all!".
Ty Lee had a terrified look on her sweaty face, as the wild animals erupts from their cages. That's it, Ayane could not stay silent anymore.
"Azula, stop this! She could get hurt, or worse!" She said, hoping Azula would under stand the danger she was placing Ty Lee in.
"Have a little faith Ayane" Azula said calmly.
Ayane's frustration was growing by the second as she watched the scared girl struggling not to fall... but in the end a flying animal hit her, making her fall. Ayane gasped and without hesitation, she rushed forward, jumped and managed to catch Ty Lee before she could hit the floor. It was not over yet as Ayane had to avoid the stampeding animals.
Ayane managed to gain a safe distance from the chaos and looked at Ty Lee "You OK?".
Ty Lee looked at her for a few seconds before her arms flew around Ayane's neck as she hugged her hard while shaking. Ayane did not know what to do, so she just let Ty Lee cling to her. Ayane looked at Azula who was still smiling like nothing was wrong.
Ayane had to fight the urge to glare at her. She went way to far. She could have killed Ty Lee... unless she was counting on Ayane to save Ty Lee, shoud it be needed.
Still, it was to far.
It was night time and Aang who was riding on Bumi's pet Flopsie, returned to the camp, Flopsie was making vaguely tired grunts. Sokka and Katara get up from a nearby fire and come over to him.
Aang looked down sadly "We looked everywhere. No Bumi".
Katara hugs Aang. Flopsie makes sad noises, and Sokka hugs him. The Leader walks up behind them "We've got a problem. We just did a head count".
"Oh no. Did someone get left behind?" Katara asked.
The Leader shook his head and points "No, we have an extra".
"I told you already, I don't have any milk!" Kasumi said while the baby boy was still tugging on her shirt, she noticed the looks and blushed "Oh. Well as you can see, we got a stowaway".
Later they all gathered near Appa. The boy did not want Kasumi to put him down, so she tried to entertain him the best she could by lifting him up and down in the air, making him laugh.
"You are one strange baby" Kasumi commented with a smile.
"Ooo, you're so CUTE. Mmmmm..." Katara cooed at the cute little baby.
"Sure he's cute now, but when he's older, he'll join the Fire Nation army. You won't think he's so cute then. He'll be a killer" The leader said.
Katara gently rubbed the baby's cheek "Does that look like the face of a killer to you?".
"Besides, I think he likes us. Don't you little one?" Kasumi baby talked and the little boy began tugging on her shirt again "I still don't got any milk".
But then the leader noticed something "A messenger hawk!".
Aang hurried up to the hawk and took out the message and read it "It's from the Fire Nation governor. He thinks we kidnapped his son. So...he wants to make a trade. His son for King Bumi".
The next day they gather at a hill, Kasumi was holding the boy, who still was not giving up on trying to get the milk that Kasumi did not have.
"You realize we're probably walking right into a trap?" Sokka asked.
"I don't think so. I'm sure the Governor wants his son back as much as we want Bumi. It's a new day. I have a good feeling about this" Aang said.
Kasumi was not as confident, the fir nation's love for treason is not secret. And if the baby's family was anything like most fire nation people they've met, there is not telling what they will raise him to become.
Inside the city, Ayane arrived along with Azula and Ty Lee. They where met by the girl who fought team Avatar. She bows as Azula steps up and speaking in a dull voice "Please tell me you're here to kill me".
But Azula just smiles and the girl smiles back before they laugh and hugs each other with Azula speaking "It's great to see you, Mai".
Ty Lee runs over and hugs Mai who was somewhat surprised "I thought you ran off and joined the circus? You said it was your calling".
Ty Lee releases Mai and smiling widely "Well, Azula called a little louder".
'By almost getting you killed' Ayane thought in annoyance but did not show it.
"I have a mission and I need you both" Azula said while placing her hands on the two girls shoulders.
"Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place" Mai said before looking at Ayane "And who is she?".
Before Ayane could speak, Ty Lee jumped up "This is Ayane and get this. Her hair... is natural! Isn't that awesome!".
Ayane face palms "What is the big deal with my hair!? It's just hair!".
Mai could not help but to smirk a little "I got a feeling you and I are going to get along just fine".
Later they gathered inside with the Governor bowing to Azula who was sitting on a throne with Ayane standing next to her "I apologize. You've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back".
"Yes, I'm so sorry to hear about your son, but really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?" Azula asks before she stands, suddenly angry, and looks down upon him "My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things!".
The Governor looks down "Forgive me, Princess".
Azula walks between the Governor and her two friends "You stay here. Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don't have a chance to mess it up. And there is no more "Omashu". I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the City of New Ozai".
Some time passed and it was time for the trade. Team Avatar had the baby and the fire nation team lowered Bumi down with a crane. Bumi was trapped in a metal coffin but did not look worried at all. Ayane was wearing a hood that hid her face, but Kasumi could still tell there was something familiar about her.
"You brought my brother?" Mai asked.
"He's here. We're ready to trade" Aang confirmed.
But then Azula spoke to Mai "I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?".
Mai turns to Azula "Of course not, Princess Azula".
"We're trading a two year old for a king" Azula said as she turns to Bumi "A powerful, earthbending king".
Bumi smiles, closes his eyes, and nods at her "Mmm hmmm!".
Azula turns back to Mai "It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, does it?".
"You're right" Mai said as she stepped up to face Team Avatar "The deal's off".
Kasumi was shocked that Mai would give up her own brother like this.
She raises her left hand and Bumi is lifted back off the ground as the chain is reeled in from above.
Bumi was clearly enjoying himself "Whhhoa! See you all later!"
"Bumi!" Aanf shouted as he rushes forwards. As he approaches, Azula bends a plume of whitish blue fire at knee level towards Aang, who jumps high into the air to avoid it. He lands and part of the partially constructed building and jumps off again. He opens his glider in mid air, but loses his hat, exposing his tattoo. He grabs the hat with his mouth before it flies away, but it is too late, Azula has recognized him.
"The Avatar! My lucky day" Azula smirked and went after them.
Kasumi handed the baby over to Sokka "I will handle them! Protect him!".
Kasumi rushed forward but then the hooded girl met her charge with a powerful kick. Kasumi blocked it, but the force of the kick still sent her sliding back. Kasumi was surprised since she was yet to meet anyone in this world that was that strong. The hooded the girl did not give her a chance to recover as she charged in and threw several quick strikes.
Kasumi blocked them before jumping back. She jumped up on the building that was still under construction, but the girl was hot on her heels. As soon as Kasumi gained balance, the girl was on her again. They began trading blows and blocks before the girl landed a kick to Kasumi's gut that sent her in to a scaffolding.
This girl's fighting style... Kasumi knew what it was, but could it be?
Kasumi avoided an ax kick that shattered the scaffolding before jumping back down. The girl came after her, but Kasumi blocked her strike before sending her elbow in to the girl's ribs, making her cough in pain. Kasumi followed it with a knee to the gut and then a kick that sent the girl in to the air. Kasumi then grabbed the girl's hood and spun her around until the hood ripped and the girl flipped through the air and landed on her feet like a cat.
With the hood of, Kasumi saw who it was and got wide eyes "Ayane...?".
Ayane looked at her for several moments "Do I know you?".
Kasumi was so shocked by all this, that she left herself wide open for the girl to strike her in the chest with her palm, sending her over the edge. Luckily, her friends arrived with Appa. Kasumi looked back at her half sister who was glaring at her. Kasumi looked down in sadness.
After the ordeal, Kasumi stood on a cliff while holding the baby. She was still trying to wrap her mind around that Ayane was here too... how did she get here? Why did they not end up in the same place? And why does she not remember her? So many questions. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Aang's voice.
"Kasumi" She looked as he continued "I am going to take him back to his parents. The trade failed, but no parents deserves to lose their child".
Kasumi hesitated as she looked at the baby boy in her arms "But what if they are not nice to him? You saw that his own sister was willing to give him up. What if his parents are the same?".
"You make a good point Kasumi. But I do believe they want him back. The governor did not show up, so I think he was forced in to it. I know he will have caring parents" Aang reasoned. But then he finally noticed what was up "Oh, I see now. You have grown a little attached to him".
Kasumi said nothing as she looked down at the baby in her arms who still wanted milk while looking at her happily. Kasumi smiled a little as a tear ran down her face. But she knew what she had to do.
"You are right Aang... I did grow a little attached... but you are right about returning him too... he deserves to grow up with his family" Kasumi said as she handed the baby boy over to Aang before giving the baby a kiss on the head "Grow up to a fine young man".
The baby seemed to understand what was going on and cried as Aang flew back to towards the city.
Kasumi wiped her tears as she watched him go.
Meanwhile, Azula and her team where leaving the city.
"So, we're tracking down your brother and Uncle, huh?" Mai asked
""It'll be interesting seeing Zuko again, won't it, Mai?" Ty Lee teased.
Mai turns away and smiles for a brief second before looking ahead again.
"It's not just Zuko and Iroh anymore. We have a third target now" Azula declared.
Ayane said nothing, still thinking about that girl she fought. She knew her name. But how? Have they met before? She really needed to get her memories back so she could find out the answer.
"You have been more silent than normal Ayane. Is something wrong?" Azula asked,
Ayane wondered if she should tell her about the girl who knew her name. But she decided not to since she wanted to be sure of a few things before she talked about it, but now she needed an excuse "That girl, the oldest among them. She was strong and she knew how to fight too... she is a worthy opponent" Ayane then smirked "Kind of exciting really".
Luckily, it looked like Azula bought the white lie and smirked too "Glad to see you are having fun. Just don't let it go to your head. Besides we want some fun too. Right girls?".
"YAY!" Ty Lee cheered.
"As long as I'm not bored" Mai said bluntly.
Ayane smiled before they continued on. Still her goals where to find out who she really was and that girl might be the key to that. Meaning the next time they meet Ayane will not let her get away. If she could help her restore her memories then Ayane will make her her do it.
She wanted her life back. And she would do whatever it took to achieve this.
.
Tell me what you think.