The Midnight Meeting

~Flashback~

"Permission to speak freely sir." Seiichi kept his head bowed.

Nao resisted the glance to him.

She'd learned.

Very quickly.

Discipline; the most important rule.

It's not that she was completely unruly to begin with; however she did have a mind of her own.

She still does, however when you place in the number of pushups and extra miles she was forced to run; a bit of respect happens to catch on.

Seiichi was a stickler for the regulations.

The biggest in all the camp, he never rebutted.

The general nodded.

"She's not ready. I do not believe this is a rational idea. She'll endanger the entire mission."

Drive a stake through her why don't you?

"Permission to speak freely…sir." Nao reminded herself of the formalities.

Another nod.

"He's an idiot."

Simple as that.

"You haven't had enough training. A child cannot fully master a technique in two months." He faced her; his sober face was meant to add intimidation.

No effect.

"Actually, YEAH they do. And don't compare me to kid. I'm a god damn master aren't I?" She thought that card would play better than this.

"Which means you must be monitored carefully. It's still too soon to send you on the field. Many train for years before they can see any action. It would draw too much attention for you to suddenly be selected. Particularly with your track record." Seiichi directed this to the general.

"They think I've been training as long as they have, just in the colonies. I'm a firebending master now and have dead on aim. That should at least qualify me."

It was official.

The higher ups announced her a master only a week ago, not that there was any praise. Her skills with the inferno were nearly impossible to match. Already Seiichi had introduced lightning; something her talents seemed to favor.

The rush, the power. How it'd flow through her like a current and out, she loved it.

If she was given permission, she would have dropped the blazes altogether and would solely rely on the cold blooded firebending.

Only, "That would draw too much suspicion", more excuses of Seiichi's.

"You need more than an alibi and beginning marks to qualify." Nao was still a level one.

Seiichi was a level four.

He was superior in such a style that everyone practically dropped to their knees in his presence.

Strong or not, she wasn't about to take the belittling.

"And the only way for me to get stronger is to get out there and try. The practice sessions aren't cutting it anymore." She folded her arms across her chest.

This was one of the rare moments when she could actually be a girl, a simple tank top with tight flexible shorts; her hair was loose with a few strands attempting to move in her eyes.

"What if we get out there and you enter into Master's State? That'd blow everything." He was glowering at her now.

"Well then I'd just kill everybody there and we can blame it on the enemy. Say we were the only ones who made it out." The sad part was that it wasn't even a joke.

They could easily get away with it.

"You could very well kill me without knowing it." Seiichi grumbled.

'Saving your own skin? That's not in the rule book.' Nao blew on her bangs.

"Then you should be extra nice to me. Try to get some bonus points with my subconscious."

"That makes no logical sense." He blinked.

The two glared for a moment.

"Alright." The boss often wondered why these two hadn't killed each other yet, "I understand your argument Seiichi, however I do believe it's time we see how useful she may be."

~End of Flashback~

"WHOA! NOT COOL!" Iwao jumped confused.

Barely missing a kick to the shin, he punched blindly to the air.

A girl struck at him, the blow grazing his hair as he bent back, unable to perform any practical trick, he simply fell on his butt.

The arrow to his throat, he held up his arms in defeat; Izumi was shaking next to him without even attempting to fight back.

Yuu deflected the first few attacks; someone took a swipe at his feet, knocking them from beneath him. Someone yanked his head up by his hair while putting a knife beneath his chin.

"PURPLE BUNNIES!" Kenji was barely waking up, shooting to sitting position as two figures lunged at him.

Rolling out of the way, he was on his feet, sliding as a batch of needles missed his body completely.

"Did I miss something?" He asked.

Since when did they tick the Yu Yan Archers off?

No answer.

Undulating between the legs of a much large man, Kenji was behind him, pulling the end up the man's shirt over his eyes to blind him.

He dodged a bash at his head, trying to watch his footing the best he could.

Jumping back in extra height; the gust threw a sleeping bag against one of the poles, knocking a section of the tent flat; Kenji was flustered, tangled up in the giant cloth.

A bulky fist grabbed his shirt, throwing him on the floor; a foot to his back ensured he stayed still.

'Ouch.' Kenji felt his eyes circle to back of his head, still unable to get that sleepy head fuzz from his brain to think clearly.

"That is enough!" Shin'ichi's stern voice sent chills over all of them; he stood up, angrily throwing the sheet off his head.

Without his glasses his eyes were sharp, fiery burned in his unpleasant mood.

Mamoru, currently knocking out two of the invaders, passed him a gaze.

Bad move.

Terrible move on the master's part.

Shin'ichi was strict with few things; sleep, was on his top. With everything he dealt with; how much he relied on his intelligence and "special abilities", he had to rest in order to ensure his sanity. If he wasn't dealing with insomnia, which tended to come from time to time, you did NOT wake him up.

Mamoru could feel the irritation that'd far surpass his own, Shin'ichi's dark look seemed to halt the action for a moment.

'She's dead.' When Shin'ichi was in his mood…sometimes even the shadows ran away.

'I'm scared.' Iwao had only seen Mamoru with that look; he shrank, silently deciding the avatar held it stronger.

Izumi snatched his arm, squeezing tight; he'd have calmed her down were he not afraid of getting an arrow in his head.

'This is bad.' She decided.

Kenji tried to count the enemies; his face was forced to the floor.

"Not until you answer a few questions." A woman approached Shin'ichi; her long black hair was tied back with bangs hiding her forehead.

She wasn't intimidating in height, easily a foot shorter than him, Shin'ichi looked down to her, not even the strong hold of her posture helped intimidate him.

"If you wished for a confrontation it'd have been much more proper to ask face to face rather than disturbing us in such a way. I find this method quite uncouth." Without his glasses his unique sight was stronger than usual; the avatar could easily see through this set up.

Without even the patience to give her credit, he knew the easiest way out was to play along.

He sent a wave of energy to Mamoru; the two had an understanding, an entire silent language with the bond that no one else could even notice.

Mamoru responded with a blink of his eyes.

"What business do you have with the Master of Lightning?" The girl asked.

She had fit the role perfectly; flawless pastel skin with dark lashes and golden eyes.

'Oh…I get it.' Kenji gave himself an invisible pat on the back.

"I'd prefer to answer without all of these illusions as a distraction."

'Illusions?' Iwao couldn't tell what he was talking about, 'Is he saying this is all an illusion? Wait then no one's really here? So does that mean I can get up? But what if she's really holding a knife to my throat? Or what if we're in a tent that's on fire! Or what if-'he had his own false theories going on.

The girl smirked.

"My sole purpose is for distractions." She smirked.

Shin'ichi didn't waste time.

Unlike the Masters, he didn't have certain abilities strong and others lacking. Anything to do with battle was his strength.

Speed, he had her by her throat before anyone could react, on the floor, his knee was in her stomach while using his other arm to pin her.

The girl coughed blood, leaking on his hand, he only tightened his grip.

'This puppet act is getting old.'

"If that is your only purpose here I'd prefer it if you left now, before things become violent." Shin'ichi warned.

'If he doesn't consider this violent….' Yuu didn't want to know what qualified in his status.

Everyone in the group made a mental note.

Do not tick Shin'ichi off.

"You were so interested in the Master and suddenly you're kicking her out?" She barely made out the words through a crushed throat.

Shin'ichi slid his eyes across the others, across everyone in the room.

'Gotcha.' With everyone else looking at Rika, Shin'ichi made the mistake of looking around.

Already her fangs and ears were fixed; his eyes met hers, eye contact.

It was done.

She sent it; he could feel it; a sudden cover crossing his mind, Nao released Iwao and slipped out of the tent before he could stop her.

Everything spun, unused to the sudden intake, his hold loosened enough for the hostage to take a proper breath.

The entire scene was different, Shin'ichi could look around and find himself surrounded by enemies, one charged at him with a sword.

Almost instinctively he moved, his basic sense fought otherwise.

'It's an illusion. She's just using her gift.' Squeezing his eyes closed he knew she wanted him to lash out at his own teammates.

It was what she had done to her own teammates.

Created a false scenario; probably had everyone believe this was a direct order from the general.

Nao needed him to attack his group without suitable cause, create such a commotion that'd buy her enough time to fade.

He refused; attempting to remove the images was difficult; he couldn't bend the energy that had already entered his mind.

Shin'ichi released the girl; the others had already ran out to the night while the group watched him. Taking a few breaths, he opened his eyes.

Senses clear, he was grateful she was still new to the gift.

It was one that could actually affect him, one that could be of serious danger.

With more practice she could become a problem.

Nao didn't stop until she was at the Dragon stables, inhaling her nose while exhaling through her mouth, she would hide out here until everything settled.

'He's not so tough.' She had him.

From now on he was under her control.

She smirked, resisting the urge to laugh.

"It's over." She whispered.

To beat her now; he'd have to be a Master himself.

She was safe, apparently the extra precautions had been for nothing. She removed the black extensions, peeling off the fake layer of skin with a scar, she wished for a mirror to check her appearance.

'Wait until Seiichi hears about this.'

The thought of his face when he learns she actually made it; that they actually won.

It probably wouldn't be any different actually.

He'd just act as if it was "as expected".

She hated the lack of rewards.

'Oh well. Might as well feed Jade.' Her dragon hated waking up to an empty bowl.

Lighting a torch in hand, the illumination was enough to glow against the ground; her boots crunched against a corpse's bone, some dragon's last meal.

People always forgot to remove the indigestible remains of the meals.

Nao shook her head in their laziness; a small case of OCD tempted her to pick up after them, fighting the urge while deciding it wasn't her responsibility.

She was suddenly forced forward, something threw her against the wall; half a second's hope thought It was just a misguided swish of the tail.

Wrong, panic flushed as she jerked her elbow back, hoping to catch an organ, he was stronger than her.

"You're predictable." It was temperate voice, cool that pinned her.

She threw her head back, a good hit in the face; she spun a side kick into his gut. He blocked it; catching her foot he twisted it to force her back to him.
Nao dropped to her hands, using her free leg to smash into his stomach.

His abdominal strength was enough to withstand without cringing, however his hold loosened enough for her to draw back her second leg, sweeping it beneath him, he moved his leg in time to dodge; she was on her feet.

Nao lifted her face, knowing it'd end if he looked.

It was the bodyguard, the emo boy; he didn't stare her in the eye, keeping his focus on her shoes.

"How did you follow me?" Nao checked for pursuers, she had been clear.

When did he get the chance?

"Your shadow has to stay with you."

She gave him a funny look, but took advantage of the momentary pause.

A jab at his shoulder, she went for a pressure point, he twisted enough to bring his own arm to her stomach. She exhaled enough to handle the impact.

A step back as she threw another kick, he ducked and exchanged his own; she was out of the way and heading for the exit.

'I can lose him if I get out of here…' Nao looked at the thirty meter sprint she'd have to make.

An open palm strike near his head, he deflected it, moving to strike a point in her arm. She retracted with another hit, this time catching a minor blow in his torso; she moved her footing to circle him. He followed subconsciously to keep a good stance, every move he avoided looking directly at her.

A move to hit her head, she preformed the perfect back handspring to evade, enough distance between them; she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled.

Jade, having woken up in the mix up, gave an angered roar. Recognizing the boy as the problem, she threw her tail against him, even he couldn't withstand it. He flew back on impact, skipping a bit across the floor as he recoiled in the pain.

Nao was gone, out of the door; she was dashing as the cold bit her skin.

If they didn't see her actual face; they wouldn't be able to pick her out of a crowd. So long as they didn't get too good of a look she still would win.

There was no way the avatar had; this body guard though.

She had to get away.

Weaving between the tents, Nao paused behind one to avoid drawing attention.

'Shit…' Her panting was more from relief than exhaustion.

If he never looked her in the face he never got a look right?

She was still safe right?

Without time to even convince herself of this; she froze.

Her muscles numbed, every attempt to run was impossible, not a movement was possible.

"You're an idiot for allowing your shadow exposed twice." Mamoru caught her.

She lit a flame in the stalls, and with the moon as bright as it was, her darkened twin was trailing the entire time she left.

'Where the hell did he come from?'

Attempting to catch his entire figure on fire, her bending wasn't working.

He looked her in the eye; she couldn't even send her energy to overpower him.

"So long as I'm in control; your force is bottled." He explained, his black eyes were unpleased.

Nao clenched her jaw.

"You want this whole mix up a secret; you'll meet with us tomorrow, before the invasion."

~Flashback~

Nao surprised herself.

Calm, breath of a silent ninja, she had remained completely still for the last ten minutes, not a flinch or motion.

She knew beforehand she would be capable of fighting.

Since she was little she had been in dance; hip hop, street, break-dance. She had strong muscles built up with perfect balance and timing, flexibility and ease in learning.

Nao was used to training with specific steps, used to the knowledge that everything had to be exact, patience and took criticism well, adding in sass of course was a given.

Stealth, however, she had anticipated to be difficult.

To remain unnoticed, to prevent a scanning eye from noticing your presence.

Sneaking out of the house and invading a camp were completely different scenarios, yet this was no more nerve jerking than that.

Scouting.

They were tipped off that an Earth Kingdom town in the eastern coast of the Fire Nation was assisting the rebelling.

Those who didn't believe in the war didn't know how to shut up and stay clear.

Based off what she's seen, Nao knew they were guilty of treason.

Treason against the war was of higher punishment than others.

The settlement was small, perhaps less than two hundred residence, three hundred with some soldiers.

All would be dead by sundown.

A man walked into the shop, laughing as he carried a bag of gun powder, waving with his free hand to a grinning delivery boy.

'My part.' Her back to the trunk of the tree, the tight suit she'd normally love wasn't hugging the way she'd like.

The padding had been evened as straight as possible, an extra layer of fabric made it heavier but doable, stiff, she missed her baggy clothes.

Still, she silently lifted her bow; arrow already held in hand, she notched it in synch with the rustling leaves from an afternoon breeze; it hid any noise she'd have made.

Stepping out, the brush spotted her vision, messing a bit with her aim, it was needed to keep her hidden.

'I'll make sure he doesn't doubt me again.' Not just him.

But Everyone.

Everyone was watching.

This was Nao's first mission with them; they wanted to see if "he" was really good enough to be accepted as part of the team, if he was more than a simple trainee.

Pressure wouldn't scare her off.

Her eyesight was perfect, despite the speckles of leaves to disrupt her aim, she knew where to hit.

Released.

The boy, he couldn't have been more than fourteen, just hitting the best moments of his life.

And the end.

Her first kill, the arrow struck in the stomach, she was aware it was the most painful way. Slower, harsher, it was cruel.

How the blood leaked, how his eyes grew before shrinking, the way his legs crumpled beneath him in a sickening weakness.

From here there were no moans or screams, however somehow in her mind she heard them

'That's that.' The first would be the worst, she told herself the more she killed the more used to it she'd grow.

Why was this already natural to her?

It didn't hurt or make her cry.

Didn't send in shock or grief.

Just "Oh. He's dead."

Nao didn't hesitate.

Not a second thought.

She was moving with the rest of the group, all of them in bombarding the settlements, arrows flying with knives to throats.

Second kill.

A woman who had nearly screamed when she saw the boy, Nao caught her before it left her vocal cords.

No, it was her third as well.

The woman was pregnant.

They were aware by now.

Everyone.

People were in the streets, cursing; some held hands up cowardly while others made the foolish mistake of drawing weapons.

'Kill everyone.' Nao reminded herself of what was the mission.

With a few exceptions, these people weren't fighters. They were just people, people who'd become victims of a massacre.

No, they weren't just people.

They were traitors.

Everyone here, they had defied the Fire Lord.

That was all that mattered.

Nao took aim.