A/N:
Back with a new Chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 42:
Watching Mailan and Ryu play in the gardens while he and his eldest son had tea, Ozai seemed interested to know how things had been since they had spoken months ago. Zuko was finally wanting to find someone special to be with and expressed that he was tired of being alone. Having already spent over twenty years without a relationship. Katara being the very last person he had been with. Stating that while he loved her and would never love someone else the same way, he couldn't torment himself. He shouldn't have hung onto Katara for as long as he did. She had made it clear a very long time ago who meant more to her and he should have just respected that. It would have saved him a world of trouble and possibly her as well.
Holding his teacup as he gazed somberly at it, "Katara and you had something that I couldn't compete with. And I hope I'll find the same with someone else."
Ozai pulled out his flask and poured the alcohol into his cup, shaking his head. "You don't want what Katara and I had. That shit was miserable and it killed her." Picking up his teacup to drink the tainted content.
"So, are you also looking?"
"No, I like being alone right now." He expressed.
"Not even for relief?" Zuko raised a brow.
"If I'm in need, I'll just happen upon someone. No point in making an effort when I don't feel like it." Ozai truly wasn't interested. Sure, he had sexual desires but like he said, there were plenty of women at court. Women that he didn't have to pursue and were readily available without him having to put in effort to woo them. His harem was still empty and it would stay that way until his overall mood shifted. The only ladies he had time for in his life were his two daughters and Hama when she wasn't being a bitch.
Seeming to understand this, Zuko told him that there were exotic dancers he would be having at the gala in a few days. They were from all over and said to be very desirable. He told his father that if he felt 'needy' the women were available.
Doubting he'd take a liking to any of the women, Ozai decided to change the subject and asked Zuko if he was going to speak with Kya. This matter seemed to cause Zuko to tense up.
"You owe her an apology." Ozai sipped his tea and shifted his gaze over to the children playing a game of chase. "You left a permanent scar on her."
Zuko's eyes widened. That had never been his intention. He didn't mean to hurt Kya. He didn't even want to fight her and tried to talk her down but she wouldn't stand down.
"Kya doesn't hate you but she doesn't know how to face you after that incident. She got stabbed by her brother and then lost her mother all at on-"
"Okay! Okay!" Zuko stood up as he felt enough guilt and shame already. "I'll talk to her."
Ozai smirked behind his cup he was drinking from as he saw Zuko begin heading to where Kya was. "Knock first." He warned Zuko.
…..
Blocking the jab headed for her side, Katara countered with an attack to the neck of her opponent before dropping down in a sweep kick, knocking them off their balance. Her gaze shifted to her next opponent that tried to come up behind her and she blocked the kicks and punches. She was pushed into the defensive as another came to attack her at the same time. Katara used this as an opportunity to take out both opponents.
Standing by with her arms folded, Ursa smoked her pipe and enjoyed the show the waterbender put on for everyone. She moved like this was a dance. Her graceful movements and agility made her performance every bit entertaining when watching her subdue her opponents. It looked like child's play and she didn't pull punches. Katara gave it her all. Sending many to the medical tents. She was focused and had her mind on one thing only. Escaping. No one noticed. No one knew but Ursa knew. She met Katara in the woods years ago and knew the woman wasn't going to lie down and roll over. She'd play her cards until she was prepared to make a run for it and Ursa was rooting for her.
When the match was over, the other squad leaders applauded as Katara snatched the towel offered to her by a fellow member and wiped the sweat from her face.
"You did excellent, 9437. You will no doubt own this mission." Ursa smirked as she handed Katara a sack of water.
Pouring some over her head to cooldown, Katara drank it and tossed it back to Ursa as she took a seat on the bench. She whipped her hair from out of her face and tilted her head up at the older woman.
"Is owning the mission what I want?"
Smirking, "In benefit of your real goal, yes. You want to make this mission your bitch. Think you can manage?"
Giving Ursa a knowing look, Katara grinned as she averted her gaze down. She and Ozai's first wife had been getting along nicely recently. They had a mutual understanding of each other. Neither of them wanted to be here and both of them hated Atsou's guts. Seemed he had his hands in a lot of things that rubbed Ursa the wrong way.
"Do you have any idea what Atsou plans to do with Zuko?" Katara asked.
Sighing as she folded her arms, "Don't know. Atsou keeps the major details between himself, Lao, and Yoshiro. Only those three know what's really going on here." Her eyes flashed to the second level terrace above the training yard.
Seeing the three conversing with each other, Katara seemed to notice that they were always watching from above and taking mental notes. As much as she hated to admit it, it might be more beneficial to get close to Atsou. He was the mastermind behind all of this. However; she couldn't be so sudden in her approach with him. It would have to be a slow build and she'd have to prove herself. Leaving here soon might be counter productive. She was still blind to what was really going on here and it would be to her disadvantage to remain so when she finally escaped his clutches. He could just as easily capture her out there as he had before.
I need to get stronger and learn more. I can't leave just yet.
Gazing down at Katara from the training yard terrace, Atsou held his arms in his sleeves and listened to Lao explain what they should do with the next phase of their plans. They had a lot riding on Katara becoming more and more lethal. Her fighting was definitely there. She was being driven by her built up rage over the years. Pain would craft her into a weapon far more beautiful than the ones he created. Katara only needed to become one with her siren and they'd have their weapon against Ozai.
"What will you do with her when she's given you what you've wanted, Master Atsou?" Yoshiro asked.
Smirking behind his fox mask, "She will remain beside me. You know...she was always meant to be mine." Atsou's eyes never left Katara as she got up and left with Ursa.
Lao nodded as he stroked his beard. "I can't wait to see what she does on this upcoming mission. I haven't seen her go all out in a very long time."
"I don't doubt she'll exceed our expectations."
….
Kya was pacing back and forth in the sitting room of her chambers as she tried to think of how she was going to confess to Uhara. She knew she wasn't going to be sane much longer if she didn't tell him soon. Her skin was literally itching from the anxiety it caused her and it was making her stomach hurt the more and more she thought about it. She knew Uhara wasn't going to reject her. He always made his feelings clear to her. Telling her that he would wait for her to make her feelings known to him. However; though her feelings were known to her, she didn't yet know how to make them known to him.
Ugh! This would be far easier if Uhara and her were closer in age. But he had been a man for a long time and she was just becoming a woman. She didn't know what was the appropriate way for a woman to confess to a man. When she was with Toshi, they were both just two teens falling for passion and acting without a care in the world. But Uhara was different. Her feelings for him were more than passion. They built over the years of friendship that they shared. Being nurtured in the kind caring arms of Uhara. It was more than the wild fleeting flame of passion. She could see it growing the years to come and withstanding the winds of trial and tribulation. Their love wouldn't be so easily extinguished. Neither time nor circumstance would drive them apart.
Sighing as she plopped down on the sofa and hugged her arms around herself. Maybe I should just jump him like father said. Agreed.
"Kya, hey...can we talk?"
Kya's eyes lifted to see her eldest brother awkwardly making his way to her. She didn't know why but his uneasiness was making her cringe. Why did Zuko have to be so damn weird? You're both weird. Shut up. But not like him. He can't even get a girlfriend. Because weird girls are cuter than weird men. Kya wasn't going to lie...that made sense.
"Umm, sure." She tried to be pleasant though Zuko was making it hard for her not to feel more anxious. "Wh-what's up?"
"Ummm…-" Kya stared at him with her force smile as he struggled to find the words to say and call her a hypocrite but it was about to make her bust a fuse. Her eyes twitched a little as he couldn't seem to form a full sentence.
Eventually, Kya snapped.
"Hey! Spit it out, damn it! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Kya stood up and poked her finger at his nose. "You're forty something years old and you're acting like you don't know how to talk or something! Get over yourself! We fought! You stabbed me with your claws and tossed me in the sea! So what?! We're siblings! You're my brother and you've always looked out for me, okay?! I'm not mad at you or anything...I get it." Kya removed her finger from his nose and sighed. "I've forgiven dad and he actually pissed me off more than you did. So can we just go back to like before? I know that's a lot to ask given the family history but I'm not one for grudges."
Zuko stared at her wide eye before bursting into laughter and pulling her to hug him. He buried his face in her hair and held her tight.
"I swear, Kya. You made this a lot easier than I expected."
Nuzzling her face into his chest, "Cause I'm awesome."
Zuko chuckled and nodded his head, "Sure."
Kya allowed her brother to take her for a stroll around the inner sanctum so that they could play catch up. He wanted to know how she was doing after losing her mother and see if their father really was doing well behind the scenes. She told him everything that happened after they discovered her mother was gone. Leaving out the fact that her mother wasn't actually dead.
Smiling down at her as she clung to his arm, "So...you and Lord Totomi are back together?"
"Wh-what?!" Kya looked up at him and blushed. "Who said we were together? Was it dad?!"
Zuko pointed out that they're father was making them share living quarters. But Kya told him that she slept in their father's chambers last night because her and Uhara weren't together. Not yet, anyways.
Kya's face flushed as they kept walking. She figured since their father was giving her terrible advice, maybe her brother could help her out.
"We're not together but I'd like for us to be but…" Kya clung to her brother's arm tighter as she rested her head against his arm. "I don't know how to tell him. What should I do?"
Patting her hand, "Have you tried writing him a note?"
"Hmm?" Kya seemed to be interested in this and looked to her brother to hear more.
"Write him a note and maybe put together a place for him to meet you where you can set the mood to tell him in person." Zuko told her.
Liking this, Kya nodded. Yes, this was a perfect plan but where was a perfect place to tell him? Maybe she could have him meet her back in 'their' chambers but she'll create the mood and everything. Great!
Jumping up to kiss Zuko on the cheek, "Thank you! You're the best big brother!" Kya said gleefully before running off back in the direction of her chambers.
Zuko snickered to himself and shook his head, wondering where Kya got her personality from because it was nothing like either of her parents.
….
Ozai was annoyed that Kya was making him do this but if this got her to sleep in her own chambers then he'd suffer through and give Uhara the love letter but first, he figured he'd learn a few key details about Uhara. He told Kya he'd find a way to make him like them but in order to do that, he and Hama needed to figure out what kind of inhuman he was.
Inviting Uhara to drink with him and Hama, the Phoenix King studied the nobleman as they drank a few glasses and chatted pointlessly. Hama asked him a few questions that were a bit personal and invasive. Like how many women had he been with. If he was into any immoral fetishes. How big he was in inches. And what his thoughts were on men that had mistresses. They were things that Ozai was curious of but didn't bother asking. Uhara answered the questions honestly and Ozai was satisfied with his answers. Leaving one question unanswered, the size of his male part which the man didn't measure himself to know. And that was fine. Ozai didn't want to know that anyways.
"So, you're from a noble clan that has inhuman blood. Do you know what kind of inhuman you are?" Ozai cut to the chase.
Shaking his head, "I didn't even know I had inhuman blood until Kya pointed it out." Uhara told the Phoenix King.
"Well, we can find that out now." Hama said as she was eager to find out.
Uhara was instantly rendered uncomfortable as Hama raked her nails into his scalp as she came upon him and sat in his lap.
"Don't worry, darling. This is all a part of the process. Just hold still."
Uhara looked to the Phoenix King and wondered if they were about to do something awful to him because he walked in on Kya being naked this morning. Agni, he was so screwed. But that thought vanished as Hama pressed her lips to his and his eyes widened. He was about to throw the woman off of him when Ozai shook his head.
"Trust me, this is her process." Ozai told him, remembering what she did to him to awaken his phoenix power. Agni, that was the most painful shit he's been through.
The nobleman saw Hama's eyes glow blue as she pulled her lips from him and then her lips pulled into a smirk.
"He's a mix of a dragon and phoenix." Hama told Ozai over her shoulder.
Ozai grinned as he eyed Uhara, who seemed confused.
"I can only awaken one side at a time." Hama said as she caressed Uhara's hair as she gazed into his eyes with her glowing ones.
"Make him a phoenix." Ozai said in delight.
"Wha- Wait! You-"
"Kya wants you to be like us. She's stated that she wants you by her side always." Ozai smirked as he pulled a letter out of his sleeve and walked up to Uhara, handing it to him as he urged Hama to get up. "We'll let her talk to you and turn you herself. If all goes well, you'll be a phoenix in the morning."
Staring at the letter, a phoenix in the morning? Uhara was severely confused as he began opening the letter to read it. This was definitely written by Kya. She was asking him back to their chambers to talk.
Getting everything ready, Kya snapped her fingers and the candles all lit in the room. She decided to make them a dim magenta color. That way the mood was set. She was already dressed in a satin kimono Hama put on her. The kimono was hanging off of her shoulders, revealing the valley between her breasts. Her black waves hung over her shoulder and her lips were painted a deep red.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kya waited for Uhara. Hoping he'd show up soon so she could finally get this off her chest and they could be together. However; when he did show up, her eyes widened as she sat up off the foot of the bed.
"Kya?" He raised his brow as he was confused. "What's going on?"
"Umm…-"
Uhara's eyes roamed her and saw she was dressed very suggestively. He had never seen her like this before and while it did arouse him, he quickly went over to the bed beside her and pulled the covers off to throw over her.
"I respect your father and all but this is going too far." Uhara sighed as he shook his head.
"But-"
"It's fine, Kya." Uhara clasped both sides of her shoulders and pulled the sheets over her some more. "You don't have to do this just because your father wants us together. I told you I'm fine wit-"
"Uhara, I want this." She told him as she pulled the sheets off of her and stared up at him, seeing his eyes frozen on her. "My father didn't plan this. I did."
Stepping back, Uhara seemed a little confused as he swallowed hard. "Yo-you-"
Sighing as she shook her head and approached him, dropping the sheets onto the floor. "I've been wanting to tell you for a while but at first I thought because you were still human that I'd only be hurting myself if I got closer to you and you died." Kya told him. "But I realized I'd rather have a few moments in time with you than no time at all. I love you, Uhara. I just hope you still feel the same about me."
Kneading his brows, Uhara stared the princess in her eyes, almost not wanting to believe this. He had thought for sure that Kya would never come around and he was completely prepared for that but he never expected her to confess to him. All he knew to do was to embrace her in his arms and hold her tight to him, pressing his lips to the crown of her head.
"Do you still love me, Uhara?" Kya asked as she moved to look up at him.
Smiling as he looked down at her, Uhara reached his hand to her cheek as he continued holding her to him. "Of course, I still love you, Kya."
The two move to kiss one another and felt an instant neediness fall over them. Kya gripped the back of Uhara's clothes as he hungrily kissed her, nipping at her bottom lip. It sent a flare of heat into Kya's gut and she pulled him with her to the bed, urging him to remove some of his clothes.
Breaking apart to pull his tunic off with Kya's help, Uhara captured her lips again and she threw her arms around his neck as his hands moved up and down the side of her body, over the satin. Kya moaned into his mouth as he entered her mouth with his tongue. Her moaning only increased when he pulled at her kimono to remove it and moved his lips down her jaw to her neck, viciously attacking her as he got her down to just her panties.
"Are you sure about this, Kya?" Uhara asked her breathlessly.
Nodding her head as she took his hand to squeeze her breasts, "Yes."
Lifting his head from her neck to get a good look at her before he went any further. Agni, he didn't know how he had been able to hold back so long. Even more, Kya was far more beautiful than he had imagined.
Grabbing him by the buckle of his pants, Kya pulled him to the bed as she climbed into it. "I'm yours." She whispered to him and all self control he had was out the window.
….
Everyone on the mission was given their role and seemed like everyone was to be a servant for the evening, except for Azula and Katara. They would be among the exotic dancers.
"Spray yourself with this." Azula tossed Katara a bottle of perfume. It was to mask her scent from Ozai.
Spritzing herself in the scent of jasmine cherry blossoms, Katara tossed the bottle in her satchel and continued walking side by side with her partner on this mission. Their attire was rather comfortable. Katara took a liking to her short hair and therefore she cut it back to her ears after it had grown a little pass her shoulders. It looked sort of like Zuko's during the war back when he was a fugitive in the Earth Kingdom but Azula told her a few times on the way here that she wore it better. It made her smile a little getting a compliment after so long. Plus, Katara liked the rest of her get up. The top of her ear was pierced with a small hoop. She wore bindings tightly over her breasts to flatten them and a Fire Nation vest that a commoner would wear. Baggy dark colored pants and a pick in her mouth. Azula was dressed in a pretty pink hanfu dress and her hair tied up into a high ponytail. She wore peach colored lipstick, eye makeup, and a pretty matching fan. These weren't their disguises. Just the clothes they picked out before leaving the island.
Azula glanced at Katara and grinned as she took her arm in hers, "You know I've never been on a date before?"
Patting Azula's hand as they were arm in arm, "Don't feel bad. I've only been on two. One with your brother and the other with your father."
"Why don't you just fuck all the members of my family while you're at it?" Azula snorted. "Who's left? My mother, me, and my uncles. Oh Agni, don't fuck either of my uncles."
"Eww, to all of that. I'm not trying to fuck your whole family."
Azula waved her fan over her face and eyed Katara sharply, "So it's just a love triangle between you all?"
Not really feeling up to talking about her failed relationships with the woman's father and brother but somehow liking that she had someone she could talk to, Katara told the firebender all about the complexity surrounding her relationship with Zuko and Ozai. Seemed this was all too entertaining for the former Fire Princess and she laughed the entire time. But none of it was funny. Azula just had a twisted sense of humor like her father which Katara didn't really blame her for.
Seeing that the waterbender was brooding, Azula stopped them and turned to face her. She fixed the collar of Katara's vest and brushed the top of her hair. Fixing her up before meeting her gaze.
"Did anyone ever tell you that melancholy is a beautiful look on you waterbenders? You look so miserable, it's hard not to want to kiss you sometimes." Azula said. "Now get yourself together. You're about to see your exes soon and you need to at least learn some of the dance moves of the dancers you're going to be impersonating. We can mope afterwards."
Nodding her head, Katara cracked a small awkward smile and Azula kissed her cheek.
"Agni, you're too cute." she told her before taking her wrist and dragging her along to the inn they'd be staying in.
The entire way there, Katara was starting to see that perhaps Azula liked her in a not so friendly way. I guess the royals have the same type.
…..
Morning came and Kya woke to Uhara not looking so good. The two had made love the entire night but while doing so, Kya followed Hama's instructions to waken the inhuman part of him. She waited till they were at the climax of their evening before she did it. He was in immediate agony and she tried soothing him until he fell asleep in her arms.
Taking his temperature with her hand, Kya caressed the side of his sleeping face as she curled up against him.
"Are you still in pain?" She asked him in a whisper.
"No." He said in a groggy voice and rolled onto his side to pull her closer to him.
Snuggling up against him, "Let's stay like this. We don't have anywhere to be."
Grinning, Uhara nodded and moved to kiss her lips. Kya responded by throwing her leg over his waist. He moved his lips to her neck and with her help her entered her. He held her to him as he thrusted into her. The princess sinking her nails into his back as he had her again.
"I love you, Uhara." She murmured against his shoulder.
Moving to sit up off of her while still being inside her, Uhara brushed her hair from her face to look her in the eyes and gaze lovingly in her eyes as he continued thrusting into her.
"I love you too, Kya."
When the two finally got out of bed, Kya giggled as Uhara carried her to the bathroom to wash up together. After taking a little while to get cleaned, the two decided they'd probably needed to eat before they spent the rest of the day in their chambers. However; when they left they're chambers, Mailan and Ryu were standing outside their door staring at them.
Chuckling as she rustled Ryu's hair, "What are you two doing here?"
"Grandpa told us to let you know that he had the servants make breakfast late because you weren't gonna be early enough." Ryu said.
Mailan giggled and whispered in Ryu's ear and the two laughed.
"Were you guys kissing?" Ryu's eyes and mouth got wide like a child that had just discovered something so bad.
Kya shooed them both away and the young children laughed as they fled. Spirits, Ryu and Mailan were annoying enough when it was one of them but them together was a nightmare.
Chuckling as she took Uhara's arm and went to the dining hall to eat since her father was so nice to think ahead for them. "I'm honestly afraid to even see my father today."
"I feel the same. I guess he saw this coming." Uhara hoped the Phoenix King didn't go out of his way to embarrass them.
Unfortunately, Ozai was in a good mood after getting some sleep last night without his daughter wandering her way to disturb his rest and decided to congratulate them on surviving their first night together. Zuko spit out his drink when his father asked Kya to cover Uhara's mouth as he could hear the man shouting absurdities from his chambers.
Shrugging as he didn't see anything wrong with what he had to say, "I had to do the same with your mother. She liked to say the craziest shit during sex. I almost suffocated her with a pillow once."
Kya felt her ears could bleed as Zuko told the children to get lost as they giggled at Ozai's inappropriate remarks.
"Don't feel bad about it, Uhara." Hama patted his head as she entered the dining hall to join them for breakfast. "Us tribe women are just that good." She winked at Kya.
Averting her, Kya couldn't even finish eating breakfast as her father tried to tell Hama that he never as a man shouted absurdities while having sex with Katara.
"Oh shut up, it was Katara that smother you with a pillow not the other way around, you moron." Hama hit Ozai in the back of the head. "You weren't even using words!"
Snorting, Zuko shook his head and tried not to laugh.
"Don't even laugh, Zuko. I heard you moaning like a bitch at the beach house." Ozai folded his arms over his chest as he watched the mortified look appear on his face. "Hadn't even been a minute and you were spilling out. How embarrassing."
Uhara couldn't hold back his laugh as the Fire Lord got up and left the room. Kya sighed and tried eating as Uhara and her father laughed. Well as long as it wasn't just me being embarrassed.
…
With her father embarrassing the hell out of them and the kids picking on her, Kya and Uhara decided they'd stay at his estate in the city for the rest of the trip. Ozai didn't seem to mind and told them to have fun. He didn't enjoy the fact that he walked in on them and witnessed his daughter on her knees with Uhara's member in her mouth. Not like either of them were expecting him to enter without knocking.
Kya was greeted warmly by Uhara's grandmother, who was all too happy to see Kya back. She practically shooed Uhara away so they could have some tea together and chat. It wasn't until later that evening that they got to be together again.
"Grandmother wouldn't accept our break up." Uhara explained to Kya that his grandmother was very similar to her father in that aspect.
Giggling as she sat with Uhara on the sofa in his suite, "Well, I can say she was pleased to hear we're together again."
"I think I heard her shrieking from the other side of the estate." Uhara chuckled.
Nuzzling her head up to his arm, Kya asked him if it was alright if she stayed in his rooms tonight.
"As much as I'd like you to stay and spend the night in my arms, I can only get away with that around your family." Uhara kissed her lips chastely. "Traditionally, it is inappropriate for us to be together like this until we're married. I've never been one to care about tradition but I don't want anyone to think ill of you. I have every intention of you being my wife and I can't have any ill said words of you coming from my family's mouths. It'll piss me off."
Kya kissed him back as she climbed into his lap and hugged her arms around his neck, "I'd like to see you get angry, Uhara. You're always so kind and gentle. I'd like to see what you're like when angry."
Furrowing his brows as he tilted his head, "Why?"
Shrugging, Kya didn't really know why but she figured it would be exhilarating to see him get pissed off. Pecking his cheek as she slid out of his lap. She fixed herself up before making her way to the sliding door of his suite. Looking over her shoulder longingly, the princess told him if he had any bad reactions tonight to wake her. Stating that her father experienced strange side effects before he fully emerged as a Phoenix.
"Sleep well, Uhara." She blew him a kiss before leaving.
For the rest of the night, Kya laid in her bed thinking about how much she wished they sucked it up to be together at the palace. Sure, her father was embarrassing but she'd be able to lay with him through the night and make sure he was okay.
Kya woke early to go check on Uhara and saw he was on the floor beside his bed throwing up blood. His eyes went to her and he looked utterly pitiful. From what Hama told her, this was a side that his body was changing. He'd vomit blood, his irises would change color, he would be cold to the touch losing his sense of temperature, and various different symptoms. Like a lack of heartbeat. Cuts or stabs resulting in fire and ash to appear and heal immediately. He was going to be a little down and depressed from what her father explained. Losing a bit of his humanity to become immortal.
Going to his side to help him into bed, Kya pulled out her handkerchief and wiped his mouth as there was blood all over it. He looked at her as if he was in extreme pain and Kya threw her arms around him.
"I'm sorry. This is just a part of the process. Hama says it'll take a few months for the symptoms to go away but in a few days you'll be officially inhuman." Kya caressed his face as she laid him back in bed. "I'll let everyone know you're unwell and that I'll be nursing you to health."
Smiling up at her, Uhara nodded as she kissed his forehead and left. Agni, he felt like crap but this would be worth it. He and Kya would be together for all time like this. When she came back, Uhara had to admit, he wanted her under the sheets with him again. He didn't know why but he felt an overwhelming need to have her.
As soon as she went back to sitting on the edge of the bed, Uhara made a move to bring her down onto the bed with him, rolling on top of her.
"I thought we couldn't do this here." Kya whispered.
Roaming over her with his eyes and his hands, "I need this."
"Then we'll need to be quiet." Kya said as she kissed his lips.
However, being quiet was out of the question as Uhara had Kya screaming her head off as he plowed her in his bed. The princess gasped as he sucked on her neck and gripped tightly to her hips. He became increasingly vigorous and it sent her over the edge. She cried out his name as she came. The next few hours were spent like this. Until Kya felt all too sore to continue.
"I'm sorry." Uhara apologized as he saw Kya was curled up in his sheets, seemingly worn out.
Smiling up at him, "Do you feel any better?" She asked him.
"I do."
"Good."
….
It was a bit awkward for Katara to suddenly surface dressed in an exotic dancer's clothes after knocking the original dancers unconscious and lying that she was the dancers' replacement. While the other dancers bought her and Azul's story, it made her nervous they'd be found out. However; her partner assured her that these ladies were thoughtless dancers. Katara never liked to underestimate a person but then the girls started gushing over the fact that they'd get to dance for the Fire Lord and his guests, all hoping he'd want to invite them to his chambers for the night. Yeah, these girls are idiots.
After spending a few hours learning the dance moves and impressing themselves at how quickly they learned it, Azula and Katara left practice to head back to their inn.
Tossing her wig on the bed as soon as the door was shut, Katara scratched her head from how itchy it was wearing that thing. Azula flopped down on her bed and groaned.
"I don't know how you ladies do this." Azula looked over to the corner of the room where the exotic dancers were tied up and gagged.
Katara went over to the women and warned them not to scream or they were going to regret it. The women nodded their heads as the waterbender ungagged them one at a time to give them water and fed them soup with bread. Azula wanted to kill them to make their burden easier but Katara figured she'd handle the caretaking of the women if it meant their lives would be spared.
After feeding the second woman, Katara heard her whisper a 'thank you' before placing her gag back on. She only gave a slight nod and then got up to set the food down on the table.
"I'm going for a walk." Katara said as she exited the room.
Doing just that, Katara pulled her hood over her head and casually walked about the city streets to take in the normalcy of being able to roam around. Sure, she knew anyone could be watching her but she wasn't doing anything wrong. All she wanted was to feel the wind blow the scent of the street vendor's food in her face and see the children playing their games in tight alley corners. There was a certain level of freedom she had not had in many many years. Not since before she was eighteen. War didn't impede her from going all over the world and seeing and meeting new people. No, Katara was free in those days and far more so than she was now.
A trickle of rain drops started coming down and Katara raised her hand out to feel the rain. In the realm Atsou kept her and the other members, the weather was always the same. It never got cooler than warm and it never rained. Small things like rain could easily be taken for granted. Just like one took for granted the ability to walk down the mere streets of a city or town. But once it was felt again. The rain. The freedom to do the little things. It was a moment of bliss that would forever be cherished. Who knew when would be the next time she'd enjoy a moment like this again?
"Mean one."
The small moment of peace she had settled into was shattered like the fragile glass it was and her stoic calm expression stiffen into a defensive one as her eyes shot to the side of her. Seeing a cloaked figure with a fox mask leaning against the wall of a tea shop, Katara's fists clenched as she forced herself to go over to him.
"Not expecting you to be here." Katara stared him dead in his fox mask.
Placing his hand on the mask, Atsou removed it and smirked at her. "I felt my presence would serve as a reminder."
"That you'll kill my children and then me if I steer away from your goals. Yeah, I wouldn't be doing this shit ass mission if that were not the case." Katara spat as she looked around them. "I'm just trying to enjoy a walk. Completely harmless. I'm not planning to do anything. So feel free to watch but let me have this much."
Atsou leaned off the wall to loom over her and bring his hand to caress her face. He furrowed his brows as he looked over her features. "You miss him?"
Pulling her face away from him, Katara sucked her teeth and hissed. "I miss having a decent life before you or him had anything to do with it. I miss being Katara! Not Fire Lady! Not the Traitor! Or the water bitch! Or a siren! And all that other crap! I miss being me! I miss being just a person!"
"You can always be that again, mean one. There's just some things we need to take care of first." Atsou said as he looked at her with empathy. "When this is all over, I promise you, you can go back to being Katara."
Katara shook her head and tried to hold back her tears, "I can't be her again. Not after all this."
"Are you in pain, Katara?"
Sniffling as she looked away and nodded her head. "All the time." She admitted.
"I can make it stop."
Eyes shifting back to him.
"I can make it so you feel nothing."
Katara didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. Her mind was teetering on whether that would be the wisest thing to do. She could get the job done and not feel remorse or regret. It would be easy to carry out the orders to kill. But then, if that were the case, then she wouldn't care about her own mission. She would be able to turn on people she cared about all for mission's sake without caring. It would be dangerous to not care right now. She was in a world of pain as it was and it would only grow but at least, it was for her family's sake. The pain was her reminder of who she was doing this all for. So as much as she didn't want to feel it, she had to. Otherwise, what was the point of any of this.
Swallowing hard, Katara shook her head and declined.
"The offer is always on the table." Atsou told her.
"I'll consider it." She backed away from him. "Thank you."
Atsou watched the waterbender as she resumed her walk down the Fire Nation streets. He had been trying to figure out what she was thinking in her head. Wondering if she was still thinking of Ozai or was hopeful to see him again. But every time he mentioned his brother, Katara always looked tense. Daikoku told him that she had mixed feelings about her ex. While she might have realized that Ozai was not responsible for that horrid night many years ago, the woman had her issues with his brother long before that night even took place.
You would have given anything to save him had your roles been reversed and instead, he let you suffer. Atsou sighed and shook his head. Ozai was one stupid bastard. If he were him, neither the forces on earth or above would stop him from saving the person he loved. I really shouldn't have given her to you.
….
Morning of the gala, Ozai spoke with Hama about what safety precautions he wanted her to take with Ryu and Mailan. He was pretty convinced that something would take place at this gala. As much as he wanted to pry some information out of Katara this evening if he spotted her, the safety of the family came first. He knew she wouldn't do anything to harm them but he couldn't speak for her new 'friends'.
"You really think mom will show up?" Kya asked her father as she and Uhara decided to get ready for the evening here.
Nodding his head as they sat in his chambers with the heavy dark curtains pulled, "It's faint but I can smell her. She'd been her for a few days. Not sure what's being planned but they'll strike tonight."
"Any clue why?" Uhara asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine. She's not calling the shots on tonight. Someone else is pulling strings and I won't know what's truly going on until I see her."
Kya offered to search for her mother using flames or water. But her father advised against it as there was no telling who might be watching her mother. It was best to just wait for her to show up and confront her then. Sure, it was cutting things close because there was no telling what was actually being planned for tonight but they didn't have any other options.
"Then how about we tell Zuko?" Kya offered.
"Your brother is finally moving on with his life. He has a project that he is planning to announce and he's making an effort to find someone other than your mother to share his life with. Do you want to ruin that?" Ozai asked her.
Of course not. She didn't want to ruin any progress that Zuko was trying to make but this was an issue of safety. Zuko needed to know what the heck was going on here. It was one thing to not mention her mother was alive before they found out why her mother was resurrected. Her father and Hama had both equally been right and wrong in their proposed approach to her mother. Killing her mother was out of the equation but treating her mother like she wouldn't stir up some chaos given the fact that her mother already warned them was equally as stupid. They needed all hands on deck when it came to dealing with her mother and leaving Zuko out was only going to cause more issues.
Kya stressed this to her father but he still wasn't having it.
"We have Uhara in his place. That's plenty enough."
"He only just became inhuman, dad! He might know the situation but he's not prepared for the kind of fight we're getting into!"
"Well this will be a great way for him to learn."
"You're not going to get him mixed into this!" Kya's eyes glowed a purple hue.
Unphased, Ozai looked to his future son-in-law and asked him what he thought about this.
Not wanting to take sides, Uhara gave his own answer in this and looked to Kya. "If we're going to be together, Kya, we'll have to accept each other's families. And while yours is a 'little' unorthodox, I'll do whatever I can to help out."
"See! This is why I wanted you with this guy!" Ozai told his daughter.
Glaring at him, Kya raised a warning finger at him. "If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible."
Rolling his eyes, "He can't die anyways, Kya."
"Dad, we all die. We just don't stay dead."
"Then there isn't a problem." Uhara smiled at her.
Narrowing her eyes on him, "Have you ever died before, Uhara?"
"Um..no."
Clasping her hands over his face and squishing his cheeks together as she shook his head for him. "Then don't talk like you do because I've died before and it is the scariest and most painful thing I've experienced. I don't want you to know what it's like."
Chuckling as he pulled her hands from his face, "I'll be fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"But you're not even a fir-"
Uhara manifested a flame in his hand.
Tilting her head, "Is that new?"
"No," He put the flame out. "I just never had any use for it so I never used it."
Looking at her dad, "You can't use him. He's barely a bender."
"Oh, shut up, Kya! We can always teach him." Ozai was getting annoyed with his daughter trying to coddle a grown ass man.
"But-"
"Kya, just shut up! For the love of Agni, shut the hell up!" Ozai finally snapped and Kya shrunk.
"I'm ju-"
"You know what, get out!"
"Dad-"
"Uhara, take your woman out of here before I choke her."
Uhara didn't bother objecting and grabbed Kya, pulling her out as Hama stood shaking her head.
"Well, that was annoying."
…
The night of the banquet was here and the two women were preparing for the evening. Katara put on her long black wig and gold contacts along with the vibrant makeup that all the dancers were going to be wearing. Her uniform was quite revealing. A short skirt that came up to her thighs and a matching bralette. The colors were bright red and gold. They were all to wear the red shawl on their arms as it was their dancing prop. Azula wore the same get up and told Katara to go get fucked tonight to which her partner rolled her eyes as she applied her lip paint.
"Well, this is going to be an interesting night. You remember all the targets, right?" Azula asked her.
Nodding her head as she did a few touch ups to her makeup, Katara recited back to her partner.
"You have to subdue my father first. Atsou told me to let you know that any means is the right means as long as we get results." Azula chuckled.
Fixing up his hair for the gala, Uhara combed it back and gave it a tasteful swoop to the side. He knew it would get messed up once the chaos began but he was fairly sure that it would be overlooked. As long as he managed to survive the night on a good note and didn't cause Kya anymore worry, he'd feel the night would be a success. However; he had never met Lady Katara in person before. He had seen her from afar when she originally married Kya's father. She seemed like a kind woman. Despite tasteless rumors, Lady Katara was never depicted as vicious or mean spirited. Worse people said was that she was the Fire Lord's/Phoenix King's whore or a traitor. So, he felt if he could handle Kya's father then her mother was a piece of cake.
Coming up beside him in the mirror, dressed in a deep red dress that hugged tightly to her body and the sleeves cuffed her wrists, Kya smiled at him. Her collar cuffed her neck as she wore matching earrings with the dress. The red paint to her lips had Uhara's attention as she pressed her lips to his neck and giggled.
"This will be our first public appearance together. Are you nervous being seen with me?" Kya asked him.
Uhara's eyes fell to her hands that were placed on his middle. He held her hands there as he looked back at her in the mirror. "The only thing that makes me nervous is that some other bastards will no doubt be looking at you."
Purring as she moved in front of him to look him eye to eye, Kya brushed her hand along his face and little by little, her fingertips made their way from his chin to the center of his chest. "Is that jealousy I hear?" Her eyes lit up. "That's new."
"I'm always jealous, Kya." Uhara confessed. "I'm just good at not letting it get in the way."
Pecking his lips as she stood on her tippy toes, Kya giggled as she turned around and stared at him in the mirror. She lifted her hair up and asked him if he could help her put it up for her.
"As you wish, your highness." He smirked as she laughed.
After her hair was tied into an elegant messy bun, Uhara installed her crown where her hair was secured and stuck her favorite phoenix feather hair pin through it. He then kissed her earlobe as he ran his hands over her shoulders.
"If we didn't have somewhere to be I'd-"
"You two can fuck each other's brains out later." Hama let herself into their chambers with Ryu and Mailan following behind her. "I'm watching the kids in here."
Kya turned around and glared at the woman as her younger siblings started giggling at the sight of her and Uhara. They were just dumb kids that didn't know what sex was and liked to make kissy noises and faces at them. Uhara always thought it was cute or funny but Kya was annoyed. Maybe it was because she was related to them.
"Are you two ready?" Ozai poked his head in.
"Yes." Kya felt a little annoyed, especially after Ryu and Mailan started whispering loud enough about her and Uhara kissing.
Following behind the Phoenix King, Uhara held Kya around her waist as they walked. It garnished them looks and whispers. Not many knew the two of them had courted before but they'd definitely know they were together now.
"Zuko is already in the grand halls greeting the guests." Ozai informed them. "I'll show you to where we're sitting."
"But won't Uhara be sitting on the tables for the Fire Nation guests?" Kya asked.
Zuko had arranged for the Phoenix Empire tables to be between the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom tables. Symbolic of the new nation being a mix of the two cultures. And it tied in with his announcement for the evening.
Reaching the enormous room where the gala would take place, the three were impressed by the decor. Zuko had really decided to show off the wealth of the Fire Nation. Practically spending a fortune on the entire evening.
"I don't want to even know how much this all cost." Kya murmured. She managed the treasury department for a little while when her father was out of commision and it made her look at money and wealth in a completely different light. Just seeing all this gold and the decorations along with the musicians orchestrating their music, the tables of food and drinks, fountains of chocolate, it almost made her cringe. Was any of this necessary?
Leading his daughter and 'son' to their tables, Ozai had Uhara sit on his left while Kya sat to his right. The two weren't too keen on sitting apart but Ozai told them to bear with it until the other guests entered.
"The party has started ladies." Daikoku whispered to the two women that were disguised as exotic dancers.
Azula and Katara walked over to him, both looking focused.
"The gala will likely last pretty late into the evening. Take your time and don't be sloppy." He told them.
Azula tried saying she was anything but sloppy as she went back to her group. Daikoku looked at Katara and told her to prepare for when Ozai spotted her. She needed to have nerves of steel. Agreeing with him, Katara was told that once Ozai was down, it would signal to the rest of them to take out their targets. She needed to be ready to get her hands dirty. Guards and all others trying to defend their marks were up for grabs too. Tonight would be quite the spectacle.
Joining up with the dancers as they all began entering the banquet hall filled with guests, Katara saw the lead dancer of the group rounding them up to inform them of how they were going to go out. She wanted a few of them to take center stage for entertainment while others mingled with the guests and danced for them. Katara saw an opportunity to get close to Ozai and distract him. She volunteered to mingle with the guests along with a few other girls. The leader told Katara that she was far too good at the group dance for her to be mingling and decided that she would lead them into the main choreographed dance. It would look suspicious if she didn't agree, so she did. Azula, getting told to entertain guests, told her she would try getting close to her father. One of their marks, Lord Totomi was with him and it would be a piece of cake to get him off their list.
Guess, I'll have to get his attention a different way. Katara thought to herself as a few dancers went out to mingle with guests as the servants all served wine and drinks.
"Koni, you really are such a great dancer. Have you danced before?" one of the other dancers came up to her. Her name was something starting with a J but Katara hadn't really bothered to remember any names.
Shaking her head, "I guess I was just hoping I'd be good. I didn't think I was very good at all." Katara said bashfully as she pulled her hair behind her ear. "You all are so much more graceful than me."
The dancers all giggled and told Katara that she was a cute girl, asking her age. Katara blushed and told them her real age but no one believed her and laughed. Of course, it was not believable that she was almost thirty-nine. She still looked like she was in her early twenties.
When it came time for them to start their group dance, Katara heard the music begin and got in the front to lead them all out as she had been told. They all marched their feet in place as they stepped forward so that their ankle bracelets would jingle. Their hands were all held to their middle in a palm to palm position as they moved their hips in a rhythmic fashion, causing the beans on their waist to also jingle.
As they appeared from under their veiled entrance into the middle of the dining guest, center stage, Katara stopped just midway as all the other dancers took their places all around her, still moving their hips. When the music stopped so did they but all striking different poses as instructed the day before. The music started up slowly but as it reached its peak, they all moved with it, all wearing suggestive grins as they pulled out their translucent sashes and veiled them over their face. Moving it side to side while their hips swayed. Katara had to say, she had too much fun with this dance yesterday and it only thrilled her even more as she saw eyes on her.
They proceeded into the rest of their dance and watching from afar, Azula moved towards her target. Hoped she sprayed enough of that cologne on. Her brother and father were going to figure it was her before the big reveal. Bad enough both of them were staring dead at her with a brow raised. The only thing that was keeping them from disrupting the dance to call her out was that one of them believed she was dead. Zuko, personally, examined her body and saw that it was in fact her. Katara trying to kill herself was quite useful. As for her father, he must not have recognized her yet. Only people other than the organization and Ozai that knew she wasn't actually dead were the elders from the North Pole, their eyes were glued to Katara as if in fear. They must know something was up.
Perhaps, I should get them another drink to ease their minds. Azula moved to the other side of the room where the Water Tribe delegates were all seated. She snuck a look at an elder and smiled at him as they made eyed contact, his eyes widened when she blew him a kiss. She mused at the blush on his face. Obviously, Water Tribe people didn't know how to take a compliment.
As she approached the elders from behind, Azula pulled a wine glass from a servant's tray and sat it down in front of one of the elders, leaning to his ear slightly. Whispering for only him to hear.
"We're not here for you, Batsu. You're free remember." She brushed her hand along his.
Flinching his hand away as he balled his fists, Batsu tried to get his shaking together but he was so uneasy after Azula had visited the North Pole. She caused so much chaos and frightened so many people with her goons. It was impossible to be calm when he could see Katara disguised amongst the dancers after having not seen her in over a year after she had jumped from the balcony. This was all too much for him.
"Drink." She pushed his glass to him. "If you blow our cover, then I'm going to personally drag you off to Master Atsou. Got it?" Her voice dripping with poison.
Batsu took the glass and hurried to drink it, praying it calmed him.
Azula grinned and patted his shoulder, "Good boy. I'll be over there if you need another drink. Wink at me if you need anything, okay?"
Nodding his head as his eyes remained glued to Katara.
When their performance was over, the dancers all dispersed as the Fire Lord gave a speech about the plans they had for the future of unity. Katara honestly liked this plan and she liked how passionate Zuko looked as he spoke. It made her smile. Smile a little too much. Seems he caught a glance of her as he spoke and she had to quickly avert her eyes. The dancers all around her giggled as they noticed the Fire Lord smile back at her.
"He's looking right at you!" One dancer told her.
"The Fire Lord was watching you the whole time! You lucky girl!" another said.
The speech ended and all the dancers disbursed as guests were up and mingling. Katara was on her way to find Ozai so she could get this night over with but when she saw him she had also seen Long Feng there with him. They were talking and from what she remembered Ozai telling her back at the beach house, Bei Seng Sei was watching him carefully. Maybe they were still harassing him about Princess Kikyo. She'd wait till Long Feng was gone and then speak with him.
Before Katara could figure out what to do until Long Feng was done talking to Ozai, a hand caught her shoulder and she stiffened.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." Really, Zuko?
Slowly turning around, Katara looked up at the Fire Lord and smiled, bowing to him as she did.
"Your majesty." She said sweetly.
And just like his awkward self, Zuko rubbed the back of his neck as he asked her for her name.
Unable to help laughing at how stupid Zuko could be when talking to strangers, "Come this way, your majesty. Have a drink." She took his hand and led him away from the crowd on the dance floor to where the drinks were.
"You give a whole speech in front of everyone but you can't seem to speak to me, your majesty, you are too cute." She said as she handed him a drink.
Feeling embarrassed, Zuko drank the glass and emptied it only to be met with another that the dancer was holding out to him.
"I'm not very good with women."
"Oh, I know, Zuko. When have you ever been good with women." Katara scoffed as she took a drink for herself.
The Fire Lord raised his brow, "Excuse me?"
Smirking as she held her glass to her lips, "How's our son, Zuko?"
…..
A/N:
Kya and Uhara are official. The mission for the evening is on. Katara likely is about to give Zuko a heart attack. Coming up, the night is about to get pretty nasty. Heads up for those that don't like a violent Katara, it is necessary for the story, not like she enjoys it but mama's gotta do what mama's gotta do.
Thanks for reading! and do let me know what you all think of the story so far. Who's your favorite character thus far and what are your hopes for this crazy family?
