Holy shnikeys! I am one sore little Lin! I went paintballing on saturday, but my muscles were still recovering from the flu, so I've been limping around. What sucked is that I only got shot three times! And only one of them hurt! I was mad. Someone needs to teach the scouts how to aim. Anyways, then yesterday I threw a football around with Tony, he was being a putz and he threw the ball as hard as he could. I think we impaled that football with my pinkie. Yup, so I'm typing with a sprained finger. That can't be good. Then I decided to take my horse, Kai, for a walk because she's really skittish. So I led her out on the rode for the first time and she was alright until we got to my cousin's house. She got really nervous around the goats. She was a turd the whole way back, she took me down twice and started rearing when we weren't walking fast enough. Anways. I've decided what to be for halloween! I want to by Marie Antoinette! I found this wicked mideival dress in an ad for Media Play. I want to get it and paint my neck all up so it looks like my head has been severed. Everybody else tells me I'm weird and that I should just be Tinkerbell. But i say, THEY WILL NEVER TURN ME TO THE DARK SIDE! MWUAHAHAHA!
cough
Plutobaby494: He won't take it very well, I can tell you that!
Evangline Angel: Are you Brittish? Sorry, inside joke. Well, I'm really glad you liked that...one line. I actually do know quite a bit about Bushido. Even though I'm as white as physically possible, a good portion of my family is from Japan plus my brother lived in Tokyo for two years. That stuff just kinda rubs off. And I don't think the firenation would be following Bushido since the entire series is based in an alternate ancient China (that isn't meant to by cynical I LOVE YOU). As for future stories, I have a few ideas revolving in my head but one of them can't come to pass until they reshow THE FIRST TWO FRIGGEN EPISODES! HELLO! NICKELODEON! WAKE UP! Plus I really need to get cracking on a story for my sci-fi class if I want to try and get it published by christmas. So...there will probably be a hiatus from me after this story is done.
Elenea Galad: You're just psychic! OH YAY! INUYASHA EPISODES! Actually, I'm not an anime fan. But I support you're excitement!
Zukoscute2: blink thanx
O-dragon: GOT YOUR LETTER TODAY! Hm, I'll explain the dream in a later chapter. Mostly it's just a whole conglomeration of symbolism. Thanx for your prayers, I'm feeling much better! YES! I'M STILL EVIL!
Katara183: Ew. That's icky. STAY AWAY FROM MY SOUP!
Petitio Principii: They went back to Utah because that's where the story ends you silly bean!
RandomWriter88: It was meant to catch you off guard.So tell me...WAS YOUR GUARD OFF CAUGHT?
Titan09: Ack! That's happened to me before. Haha, or he could get a marble stuck up his nose! "La vie este l'enfer" is french for "Life is hell". I'm glad you caught the grinch line, you're at least one out there who hasn't led a deprived childhood of misery and woe. Anomen is a guy we meet at the firenoble ball in chapter...something or another. It's the dancing monkeys one, I just can't remember the number. Then he showed up again at the other ball when they took Ozai down. I pawned Katara off on him so she wouldn't be conspicuous. I'll have to check out that new teen girl squad and as for kokishins, they aren't real. But if you want to know what one looks like, do a google search on red pandas! I based the creatures on one of those. And I wouldn't say the lack of time passage is convenient per se. This section has been really hard to write. Holy screaming Tonys batman! Sorry, I got a brain picture of my Tony squeeling like a fangirl when I read that.
SeethingxShadows: I hope you don't mind if I don't shoutout for all your reviews, my finger is sprained so I'm just trying to get through this fast. Smoking crayons? That's flippin' sweet! That's really cool that you teach kindergartners. I will probably get a church calling like that after I turn nineteen or so knowing my luck. Right now I'm Laurel president (ask the mormons if you don't know what I'm talking about). It ain't a very fun job, I have responsibility...and..stuff. bleck. YOU ARE SPECIAL!...erm...dammit. Your dream prediction was half right! Here's a cookie. I'll explain it in detail later on.
Sesshomaru's Woman: Hick? Hah! It's funny 'cause it's true. Tell Hannah I love her! I've only played part of kingdom hearts. My brother has it, but it's at his house. I've been contemplating comandeering it lately. It was a really cool game. And I'm sorry that I'm not an anime fan. I've tried watching them, but there's just something about anime that bugs me. But who knows, maybe my softening to Avatar will lead to more. And that commercial is awesome! I wanna see it!
Khazia: hee hee. You're dad punched Zuko again. Sorry, I just can't get that image out of my head. Someone punches him in this chapter as well! I'm not copying you, it's just a very plausible reaction in males. Especially my males.
Athenera: Didn't you like it? (bottom lip begins to quiver)
All right. This chapter is a really emotional uppy downy one. Sorry if it gets annoying, I just don't like mopeyness so I'm sorry if the transitions between moods is choppy. Plus this was running long, so in real life there would be a LOT more conflict if I brought a guy like Zukohome to a house full of overly protective adult brothers and a dad with access to a chainsaw, but I wanted to cut it a bit short for times sake.
"Hey, mom? Is Katie's car still out front?" Tony asked over his cell phone. He peeked around the corner and watched Katie and her "husband" as they sat on his couch. Brandi was sitting right across from them holding Irelind, and Brinn was playing with the weird little animal on the floor. None of them were saying anything.
"I don't think so, she's supposed to be at school. Let me check." There was a moment's pause, "Yeah, her car is here. Is everything okay?" Debbie sounded a bit nervous. She walked down the hall and knocked gently on Katie's door. She was expecting to immediately hear the sound of Katie sitting up and saying "Huh!" but there was nothing. Debbie tested the door knob but Katie had a habit of locking her door every night.
"Mom. Katie's here at my house right now. She seems really confused. There's a guy with her that she says is her husband." Tony said after a brief pause.
"What!"
"She just showed up on my doorstep a few minutes ago. What should I do?"
Katie ran a hand over the upholstery of the couch and then turned her gaze to her sister-in-law. Brandi was watching Brinn who was rolling around on the floor with a weird little creature. Brandi wasn't too comfortable with it, but she didn't know what to say. Everything was so confusing.
"Rado, come here boy." Katie said softly. Brandi jumped at the sound of Katie's voice. The Kokishin immediately responded to his mistress' voice and leapt onto her lap. Katie glanced up at Zuko. He was looking around the room in amazement. She could see that he was absolutely itching to ask about all of the electrical appliances. And speaking of electrical appliances, Katie was beginning to feel an unpleasant buzz from the energy that was coursing through the house like veins. It was a constant hum. It wasn't unbearable, but it was a bit annoying. After what seemed like an eternity, Tony came out of the kitchen and nodded at Katie.
"Let's load up in the bronco. We're meeting mom at the house." Tony said. Katie felt her heart leap into her throat. What was she supposed to tell her mom? She still had no idea what Tony thought of all this because he had retreated into the kitchen almost immediately. Whatever happened, she would just have to face it head on. So Katie grabbed Zuko's hand and pulled him after her out to the garage. Zuko froze when they reached Tony's bronco. He was somewhat all right with riding in the back of the pickup because he had still been in the open air. He could bail out if the need arose. But he didn't think he could stand riding in the belly of one of these creatures.
"Katie, I don't…"
"Just get in Zuko. It's fine." Katie said climbing into the back seat and scooting over so he could follow suit. Tony frowned at Zuko's hesitation and climbed into the driver's seat. Zuko finally took a deep breath and climbed into the truck. Katie showed him the workings of the seatbelt but this really didn't make him feel all that much better since it constrained him all the more.
"What's going on Katie?" Tony asked after they had pulled out of the driveway.
"I have no idea. I've been trying to figure it out for the last seven years." Katie said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
"What do you mean seven years? Have you been sneaking around with this guy?" Tony asked angrily. Immediately after he said it he knew it was wrong. Katie was too smart to do something like that.
"Tony, I've been gone for seven years."
"Are you listening to yourself? I just saw you two days ago. Do you remember the hot dog roast? That was two days ago, you were there!" Tony was almost yelling. Katie blinked back tears and looked out the window. By now they had just reached Little Caesar's. Katie looked out over the valley and there was her house. Out by the mountain with it's orange barn gleaming in the sunlight.
"I can't explain it." She said quietly and the rest of the journey was spent in heavy silence.
Katie wrenched the car door open and ran up the front porch to the door. She had been dreaming of seeing this place for so long. She had missed her house so much, with it's out of control grapevine, peeling paint and enormous trees in it's enormous yard. Katie yanked the front door open and there, just walking out of the kitchen was her mom. Katie let out a sob and rushed to her mom, wrapping her in a tight hug. Debbie hugged her back, this girl was her daughter, but her entire presence was different. She was older and even smelled different. Debbie pulled away and cupped Katie's face in her hands. The face was pale, almost deathly pale. There was scar across one cheek, and it was an old scar. For a second she seriously doubted that this girl was Katie. But those large, dark eyes were the eyes of her daughter and when she pulled back her bangs she saw the chicken pock scar above Katie's left eye that she'd had since she was a baby.
"What happened?" Debbie asked hoarsely.
"It's a really long story." Katie said through her tears. She buried her face into her mom's shoulder and cried. Debbie held her tightly and looked up as Tony walked through the front door. Zuko followed him uneasily; Rado perched once more on his shoulder.
"And who is he?" Debbie asked. She decided right away that she didn't trust this boy. He had done something to her baby! Katie sniffed and pulled away.
"He's most of the long story." Just then a man with a scruffy beard came down the stairs, whistling softly to himself with a pair of shoes in his hand. He stopped at the bottom when he noticed everyone standing around. "DAD!" Katie yelled and ran to him, wrapping him in a tight hug as well.
"I missed something, didn't I?" Dennis asked. They all took a seat in the living room and, with a very deep breath, Katie began telling them all that had happened to her up until she married Zuko (although she remained rather vague on the details). Debbie lifted a hand and placed it against Katie's forehead.
"Katie, you have a fever! You're obviously sick, let's just put you to bed and we can try talking again when…"
"Mom, I don't have a fever!" Katie racked her brain for a way to tell her mom about her firebending. "But there is something else…"
"Please don't tell me you're pregnant." Debbie said weakly. Katie let out a choked laugh at this.
"No, I'm not pregnant." Katie paused for another second and then glanced over at Zuko for confidence. He slid his left hand into her right and Katie took a deep breath. She raised her left hand so her palm was facing up and created a small ball of flame. Debbie drew away with a gasp. "I can do a lot more than that." Katie said quietly, extinguishing the flame. She glanced over to the lamp above her dad's chair. It was turned off, but Katie could feel the electric currents in the outlet. She reached out to them and bended them around so that they filled the lamp, turning it on in a sense. Dennis sat up a little straighter, Zuko also seemed to tense. He didn't understand the workings of a light bulb. Everybody sat around in a sort of stunned silence for a few seconds, then Katie's sister, Kim, chose that moment to enter the room.
"What can you do?" Kim asked airily. She had a knack for interrupting, she also seemed to feel that she needed to know everything that was going on around her. It was one of the many things that had driven Katie up the wall when she had lived here, but right now Katie was actually glad to see her. Kim's son, Alex came walking dozily around the corner. He walked straight up to Zuko and looked him in the face.
"I GOTTA TRAILOR!" Alex said proudly, holding up a toy diesel. Zuko seemed at a loss for what to do. Alex was holding the toy out to him, so he reached out and took it. Alex let him hold it for two seconds, then took it back.
"Aw, crap. I'm gonna be late for work." Kim said, looking down at her watch. "Come on Alex." She took his hand and left the house without another word. Everyone sat in silence after Kim left.
"So…what is your name?" Debbie asked, trying to fill the void.
"Zuko. Zuko Taki-bi Shujin." Zuko said quietly. Katie frowned a little at this. She didn't know he had a last name!
"Katie, this is crazy. I just saw you last night before you went to bed. You weren't gone for seven years!" Debbie said, shaking her head sadly.
"Then how do you explain this?" Katie asked motioning to the scar on her cheek. "Or these?" She lifted the sleeve of her shirt. The sleeve was loose and she hadn't had the time to bind it so she was able to pull it up to her shoulder. Not only was the scar from Marius visible, but all the gashes on her arm from the battle with Zhao's men were as well. Everyone immediately sent a glare over at Zuko, Tony and Dennis looked as though they were about to strangle the man. "Zuko didn't give me these," Katie said in his defense, "take me to a doctor, he can do scans to determine my age. Take me to a gynecologist even! He can tell you that I've carried a healthy baby full term! Stuff like that doesn't happen over night!" Fresh tears began spilling down her cheeks. Zuko stroked her hand with his thumb. He felt like he wasn't doing much good.
"A baby?" Debbie asked hoarsely. Katie just nodded, she didn't think she could say much more without breaking down and bawling.
"She died four years ago." Zuko said quietly. There was another silence.
"I'm going to need some time to think about this." Debbie said. Katie nodded and stood up. Zuko did the same and followed her to the back door. Once they were outside on the basketball court, Katie wrapped her arms around Zuko's waist and collapsed against his chest.
"I'm sorry I haven't been much help." Zuko said quietly.
"Yes you have." Katie said, but her words were somewhat muffled by his shirt. They stood holding each other for a few more seconds before Katie looked up at him with a frown. "You never told me you have a last name."
"You didn't know?" He asked with a frown. "You were named Katie Lin Taki-bi Shujin during both our wedding ceremonies."
"The ceremonies were in a different language." She said. "Oh well. Come on, I'll show you around."
"I don't like this." Debbie said, watching the two out the kitchen window.
"I don't believe any of it, we should call the police or something, that guy could be a convict for all we know." Tony said.
"But how can we explain those scars? What if what she's saying is true?" Debbie asked.
"Scars aren't hard to make with stage makeup mom. That guy is probably hypnotizing her or something. We shouldn't let him be alone with her." Tony said. Debbie let out a weary sigh and turned to watch Katie and Zuko. They had just been hugging on the basketball court, but now they were walking over to the shop buildings with their arms around each other's waists.
"Over there is the cellar." Katie said pointing to a small building that sat under a choke cherry tree. They walked down the gravel drive to a large building that split at the middle into three rooms. "The one on the left is my dad's wood shop. He does carpentry in his free time. The door in the middle is our meat room. It's where we butcher animals. The door on the right is our metal shop. It's where all our mechanical stuff is, but right now it's full of Calvin's stuff. He's the mad scientist I work for." They turned and continued walking down the gravel, Katie pointed out a bunch of things like an old school bus they had converted into a camper. Then Zuko noticed the corral next to a giant orange building. Three creatures he recognized as her horses were lounging in the shade. "Hey ladies!" Katie said happily. A dark red horse came running up to the fence and stuck its head over. Katie grabbed the horse's chin and kissed its nose (it's an old habit). The horse pushed its muzzle against Katie's hair and began wiggling its upper lip as though kissing her back.
"Wow, she's pretty." Zuko said, holding out a fist for Kai to smell (indeed, this horse is Kai). Kai's ears went back a bit. She loved people, but she always got jealous when Katie brought someone out with her.
"Come on." Katie said. She grabbed a brush and bridle and slipped through the gap in the gate. The other two horses had come over, a light tan one with black legs pressed her forehead against Katie's back when she started brushing Kai. Katie turned and began brushing Mama (indeed, this horse is Mama) while the white horse stood offishly to one side. After a moment, Katie slipped the bit into Mama's mouth and pulled the leather straps up around her ears. Katie led the large horse out of the corral and climbed on her back with the help of the fence. "Wanna hop on?" She asked Zuko, holding a hand out to him.
"Without a saddle?" he asked, slightly unsure.
"Duh. Besides, she's fat enough that she's real comfy to ride bare-back." Katie said, giving him a little smile. Zuko gave the beast a scrutinizing look. It was a very large animal, but not as large as any of the others he was used to riding. He doubted somewhat whether it would be able to carry them both. Plus he knew how passionate Katie was about riding. He got the feeling that maybe she could use some time by herself to think things over.
"You go ahead, I'll wait over here." He said. He reached up and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Katie smiled and prodded Mama into walking. She walked her around for a few minutes to get the horse warmed up, then nudged her ribs to coax her into a mild trot. Katie felt the immediate exhilaration of riding and began kicking Mama harder and whipped her shoulders with the reigns until she was flat out running.
Zuko leaned against the fence and watched Katie ride. She had just started running Mama when he heard the sound of gravel crunching behind him. A white vehicle pulled in and parked next to one of the shops, a man climbed out that Zuko recognized as Katie's second brother, Blair. Blair gave a little wave to Zuko and walked into the house. A few minutes later there was the sound of more crunching gravel and a red and white pickup pulled in. Zuko began feeling a little wary as a man hoisted himself out that he recognized as Katie's oldest brother, Dusty. Dusty began walking into the metal shop to borrow a tool or something when Tony, Blair and Dennis came out of the house. Dusty stopped and waited for them to walk over, but they just waved for him to follow them. Zuko knew right away that they meant to speak with him, call it a man sense. So he began walking towards them trying to look nonchalant.
"Just what shit are you trying to pull here?" Blair asked angrily.
"I'm not trying to pull anything." Zuko said, looking Blair right in the eye.
"Look pal, you're lucky we haven't called the cops. You're even luckier that we haven't shot your ass to hell! You have three minutes to get your ass out of here before we do just that!" Blair said. He was now only a foot away from Zuko.
"I'm not going anywhere." Zuko said boldly. Blair drew back and whalloped Zuko right in the eye.
"Do you want to try that again?" Blair asked, drawing his arm back again.
"What the hell is going on here!" Katie demanded trotting up on Mama. Mama's chest was heaving and she was plastered with sweat.
"Stand back Katie." Tony said angrily. All four men were standing around Zuko like a bunch of ravenous hyenas. Katie jumped off Mama's back and shoved the reigns in Dusty's hands. He was looking extremely confused but could tell whatever was going on wasn't good. Zuko had been knocked backwards from Blair's blow, but had remained on his feet. He crouched down, preparing to defend himself from more onslaught which Blair looked as though he was ready to give. Katie stepped forward and placed herself between them.
"Knock it off!" She said angrily. Blair grabbed her arm and began pulling her out of the way, but she wrenched her arm out of his grip. "I SAID KNOCK IT OFF!" Katie screamed. Flames erupted from her shoulders and scalp.
"Holy shi-" Blair took an involuntary step backwards with everyone else. Mama began roaring and fidgeting. Katie shot a glare around at all these men that she loved. It was too much. She let out a little sob and ran towards the house.
Katie just wanted to run into her room and slam the door behind her. Unfortunately, the door was still locked. She grabbed a couple of pins from her doorframe and picked the lock. Her mom had followed her and was asking anxiously what had happened. Katie couldn't talk, she wouldn't have if she could. She just unlocked the door, stomped inside and slammed it behind her. Dennis, Blair, Tony and Dusty had made it into the house by this time with Zuko trailing behind them cautiously. Debbie shot them a worried glance, then carefully opened the door. Katie was lying face first on her bed, sobbing into the pillow. It nearly broke her heart, she hadn't seen her daughter cry since she was nine.
"Katie?" Debbie asked quietly.
"What?" Katie asked between hiccups.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No, I need to talk to Zuko." Katie said, she lifted her head from the pillow and wiped a few tears away. Debbie hesitated, but after a while she nodded and left the room.
"She wants to talk to you." She said to Zuko. Her voice sounded a little bit hurt. Zuko nodded and began stepping forward.
"If that door closes behind you, we'll kill you." Dennis said, grabbing Zuko's shoulder as he passed. Zuko looked him in the eye and nodded. Dennis finally let go of Zuko's shoulder and the young man stepped into Katie's bedroom. He made sure to leave the door open a crack, then went to sit down on Katie's bed. She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck and began crying again. He held her close and began scanning her room. Most of the surfaces were cluttered with knick-knacks and whatnot. One wall had a mural painted on it depicting a castle sitting on a cliff overlooking a storm tossed sea. The sun was setting and a cloud with a single bolt of lightening was drifting from the right. It wasn't great, but it was simple and distinguishable. The wall behind them that the bed sat against was covered with a large tapestry stamped with primitive horses and winding knots (it's celtic). There was a bookcase, a set of drawers, a locker, an antique chest and an old barber chair in front of the other two walls.
"What are we going to do?" Katie asked between sobs. She forced them back down and pulled her face away from Zuko's shoulder. She wiped her eyes and looked him in the face. "I was so excited when we first got here, but everything is wrong! What are we supposed to do? It's not like I can just pick my old life up and start going back to school and…OH SHIT!" Katie jumped up and began ran over to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of jeans then grabbed the first t-shirt she found in her closet. She pushed the door shut and locked it, indignant yells came from the other side and someone tested the doorknob. When they realized it was locked several fists began banging on the door. "KNOCK IT OFF! I'M FINE!" Katie yelled, pounding on the door as well. She quickly changed into her modern clothes then began searching for something for Zuko to wear.
"What is wrong?" Zuko asked anxiously.
"School! It's almost ten o'clock!" Katie said searching through her jeans. She finally found her baggiest pair, they were a worn pair of work jeans. She tossed these to Zuko, then as an after thought grabbed a pair of boxers from her sock drawer which she tossed to him as well. "Put those on."
"You're afraid to miss school in a situation like this?" Zuko asked incredulously. He pulled off his boots and began changing into the jeans while Katie scrounged for a somewhat manly shirt.
"No, but I was driver for my carpool. Kim and Danielle will be trapped in Orem if I'm not there in half an hour." Katie said pulling out a black t-shirt. Zuko had already put on the jeans and that sight cheered Katie right up. In fact, she almost laughed out loud.
"You don't seriously go outside in these?" Zuko asked.
"Don't worry, tight pants on a guy are in style." Katie said, shoving the t-shirt over his ears. "Hurry up." She pulled on her sneakers by the time Zuko was completely dressed. She grabbed his boots and his hand and dashed out of the room, dragging Zuko behind her. The men looked like they would like nothing better than to murder Zuko. Katie just trudged past them without a word. She grabbed her keys from the mirror and led Zuko to her maroon Crown Victoria. He really didn't want to get into the car, but it didn't look like he had much choice. They buckled up and Katie started the car. "You might want to start puckering your butt, I won't be slowing down for turns." Katie said as she put the car in reverse.
As you could tell, Blair is the more outspoken of my brothers. But they're all really big. Hahaha! Sorry, just the mental picture of Zuko in a pair of tight jeans and a black t-shirt has me all giggly. Yay! We're at 400 reviews! All those of you that read this and don't review, now's your chance to get into the loop before this story is over! Won't be much longer now! I would love to hear from you and know what ya'll think! I know you would just love to experience a genuine KatieLin shoutout!Plus I'm greedy for reviews. WE MADE IT TO 400! LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT TO 500! COME ON PEOPLE! IF WE BAN TOGETHER, WE CAN DO ANYTHING! You could also give me ten bucks while you're at it.