Take me down to the Paradise City

where the grass is green and the girls are pretty

Oh, won't you please take me home?

--Paradise City, Guns N' Roses

A single night had passed since the massacre at the northern airtemple and Gakuto-Oki still found himself incarcerated in the firenation outpost for crimes he did not commit. He was still a little sleepy from all the interrogation he had suffered through the night. The only reason that kept him under guard was some simpleton's inconclusive results.

Even though he hadn't been able to treat his leg wound, the treatment he and Mrs. Yoji received especially improved when their captors verified that he was indeed a medical doctor, as the commander correctly deduced. He soon found out that they actually were desperate in the medical department because they had lost their last man just before the fall of the eastern airtemple. The sun had just been swallowed up by the horizon as they approached the mash tent.

"Our medical area is right through here sir," said the old soldier as he held open a large tent-flap to reveal the facilities that had been designated for his trade.

When he entered he immediately noted the two nurses that were going about their tasks. One was apparently taking stock of their supplies and tools while the other was changing the sheets off of the rows of cots lined to the right of the entrance. As they noticed there new guest one of the nurses quickly finished what she were doing and approached both men while the other continued her duties.

The old soldier started the pleasantries. "Ladies this is gentleman is going to assist you with your medical duties. He is a medical doctor the commander has deemed trustworthy. Please show Mr. um…"

"Mr. Gakuto will do just fine," Gakuto-Oki replied. "But first I am in dire need of fixing my leg. Will you please have someone fetch my bag?"

The old soldier bowed his head and exited the tent to complete his errand leaving Gakuto-Oki with the nurses. He quickly found a chair and relieved his leg my sitting down. When he looked up he found the nurse that had been following him failing to hide from his gaze from behind her clipboard. He found the awkward that followed to be very unpleasant.

"Um, I didn't get either of your names," Gakuto-Oki spoke up.

"That's because neither of us gave it," shouted the other nurse two beds over.

The nurse standing next to Gakuto-Oki gave her medical counterpart a sour look.

"I'm sorry for her behavior," said the nurse and she hugged the clipboard to her bosom. She then proceeded to bend over to his ear. "She's really nice once you get to know her."

"I heard that," said the other nurse.

"Well anywho, my name is Aida and the nurse tucking in beds name is Yori. She likes sushi. But uh…" The girl started turning red and hid behind her clipboard again. "Please let us know if you need any assistance."

Gakuto-Oki was about to reply but the girl had already turned and ran out of the tent. He continued to stare in confusion for a few more seconds when Yori sidestepped into his vision.

"She means medically wise idiot."

Gakuto-Oki snapped out of his gaze looked up at a glaring nurse carrying clean sheets.

"Yes, I realize what she meant and no I did think what you thought I thought. And even if you thought that I had thought such thoughts, it is still rude to infer and assume that I was thinking those thought you thought I was thinking. Even so, my thoughts are private and mine for the thinking and yours for the… politely asking."

By this time Yori had put her hands around her ears and was speaking gibberish. "If I politely ask you what your thoughts are will you stop that?"

"I might," replied Gakuto-Oki.

Yuri turned and sat on the bed next to where he was sitting. She clasped her hands together and stared at him with bedroom eyes.

"Mr. Gakuto, do pray tell what are thou-ist thoughts?"

Gakuto-Oki stared at her with burning eyes that made her almost flinch. He then shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in the chair with his hands folded behind his head. "I believe Ms. Yuri that, while trying to be a good protective friend, you are rude and very impolite. And I will add the wonder of why you have not been kicked out of this army if you treat everybody who comes in here with that kind of insubordination."

Yuri face went from a red of embarrassment to the red of total fury. How dare he read me so completely, she thought, he act as if he was superior to me.

But before she could even backhand him the old soldier had returned with Gakuto-Oki's bag. "Here it is Mr. Gakuto. I apologize for taking so long… am I interruption something?"

Gakuto-Oki turned to Yuri then looked at the old soldier. "No, no, actually you are just in time. Ms. Yuri here was just explaining certain medical procedures she thought I was curious about. And I must say that when she talks about procedure that she gets very passionate about it."

Gakuto-Oki received an unnoticed punch to the ribs as the soldier passed the bag to him.

"Thank you for retrieving it for me but um… I have one more favor to ask of you. Would you help me up and assist me in walking to the back where I can mend my leg. I've been thawing it for the procedure and it's very tender right now."

The old soldier immediately helped Gakuto-Oki up and they started to walk.

"Think none of it son," replied the old soldier. "Although it's a shame for you to have received such a crippling wound at such a young age. War is hell and all that nonsense sayings."

"Yes it is. But thank you again. I didn't want to soil any of the clean sheets Ms. Yuri had so passionately thrown over the beds.

At that moment, Yuri tried to jab Gakuto-Oki again in the ribs but he caught her with his free hand.

"Ah Ms. Yuri, we were just talking about you," said Gakuto-Oki as he to grasp her hand. "Did you too decide to assist me and fellow man in our endeavors?"

The old soldier looked over Gakuto-Oki's shoulder with equal inquisitiveness.

Caught in the act, Yuri unwilling obliged and assisted the old soldier with carrying Gakuto-Oki to the operating room. The laid him down on one of the surgery tables and propped one side up so that he wouldn't have to strain his back to stay upright.

"Now comes the hard part," exclaimed Gakuto-Oki rummaging through his bag. "I'm going to need a good amount of gauze and cotton balls for the blood."

Pulling a small glowing vial out of his bag he set it aside the other supplies he had requested. He then cut a small length of gauze and rolled it into a ball. He then placed it in his mouth.

He was about to begin the procedure when Yuri interrupted him.

"Why do you need the gauze in your mouth?"

Gakuto-Oki spit out the gauze and turned to her. "Because even though muscle and skin can stretch, bones are not as flexible and so I will have to grow back the half a millimeter I lost… not to mention stitch the bones back together. It is very painful to connect bones at a rapid pace. But please no more interruptions."

Yuri looked at him with a murderous stare. With a heavy sigh, Gakuto-Oki twisted off the top of the vial and poured half of the shiny liquid water onto his deep cut. Placing both hands atop the wound he began healing the lacerated bone. The cut was very fine and proved to be no challenge but stitching the torn leg muscles proved to be very tedious. All during this time Yuri was patiently wiping away excess blood and drying his forehead. The whole process took an hour and a half to finish. At he finished healing the torn skin he looked at the former wound only to see a hairline scar that was hardly visible.

"I have good news Ms. Yuri," exclaimed Gakuto-Oki as he spit out the wet gauze. "My leg should be able to play the piano again."

Yori tried to suppress a smirk with a bored look while the soldier snickered.

Swiveling his legs off the table. "Now if you could find me a temporary crutch for walking we can go have lunch."

"Lunch, what?"

"Lunch, please."

For the first time since he had walked into this tent, Gakuto-Oki saw Yuri smile as she retrieved the crutch. "Here you go Mr. Gakuto."

"Please, call me Oki."

Just as they were about to leave Lieutenant Suzume walked into the tent with her hands behind her back. She carried a very peeved look on her face that lightened a little when she saw Gakuto-Oki.

"Yuri, I need you to compile a list of those that have been sick or died."

Yuri looked a little confused as she headed to the back of the tent.

"Well if your going to make me heal your wound why don't you show it to me," exclaimed Gaktuo-Oki.

"But how did you know I was hurt?"

"You're bleeding all over the place," he replied pointing to the trail of blood. "And I do not appreciate how easily you expect me to heal it by ushering your subordinates away especially after the sour treatment I received the day before..."

"I (sigh) I'm…"

"Yes, yes. I realize you're sorry now show me your hand before you bleed to death."

His reply having come so sharply, Suzume jump a little which also surprised her. She jutted her bleeding hand out for Gakuto-Oki to examine. He bended the seeping blood to a halt and examined the cut.

"It was a clean slice whatever it was. Did the butter knife slip at breakfast?"

"As a matter of fact no it did not. But I did want to talk to you about what did happen. The little boy, the remnant from the northern airtemple… did something happen to him?"

"His name is Ying. The poor kid witnessed his mother's death if that is what you mean. He did take it very harshly like anybody would do."

Suzume bit her lip as the man healed the cut on her hand with waterbending. "I believe he is seeking revenge for his mother against the female airbender."

"He what? How did he find out?"

"I believe he overheard me speaking to my subordinate when she said it. I had to stop him when he threatened to wound one of my soldiers and grabbed the blade."

"Hmm, this is a very bad situation. Even I am unsure of how to handle this situation but in any case your hand is healed. I hope that you keep a more secure leash on him while he is in your care. For both of their sakes."

Suzume scowled as she got up and strode out of the tent completely ignoring Yuri as she walked up with the requested information in hand.

"She said she'll retrieve the files later," said Gakuto-Oki.

"But why did she… and who bled all over the tent!"

Author's Notes: I actually enjoyed making this chapter. The humor and relations that formed really got me out of the rut I was in. As my readers may know, Siam is my main character and I normally go from her perspective but ever since I finished the last book I found that I wanted to continue trying new perspectives. SO with her sleeping peacefully (or not) I've decided to advance the story with several different characters. A lot of the story in this part will have to do with character development. Let me know how I did.